Green trips in Southern California’s most ’sustainable’ cities

SustainLane.com, self-described as a “people-powered guide to sustainable living,” has released its ranking of the 50 most populous U.S. cities on urban sustainability. Its “2008 U.S. City Rankings,” lists the cities in order of how well-equipped they are for the future, based on categories including planning and land use, public transportation, green buildings and air quality.

It’s no surprise that ever-green Portland, Ore., tops the list, with its environmentally minded city planning having begun way back in the 1970s. But two of the three largest cities in our freeway-entangled, smog-immersed Southern California don’t fare too badly: San Diego ranked No. 26 and Los Angeles No. 28. Long Beach ranked No. 42.

So what can we do as day-trippers or vacationers, to support these cities on the green track (besides giving ‘em our tourist dollars, of course)? Hop on a bus, tour by bike, be as conscientious on others’ turf as you are on your own, and check out some of the following events and/or exhibits:

San Diego: Between trips to the zoo, Sea World, Old Town and other sites on your list, stop by Family Solar Day at Spanish Landing Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2008, to listen to live music, play games and learn about how cool solar energy is. At the Museum of Man in Balboa Park, catch the current exhibit “Beyond Reasonable Drought,” which examines the connections among culture, climate and water. And if you’re staying near the beach, think about lending a hand at one of San Diego Coastkeeper’s regular cleanups.

Los Angeles: Over 100 fuel-efficient and ultra-efficient vehicles will be displayed at the Altcar Expo, Sept. 26-27, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (not technically L.A., I know, but close enough so I’m including it). On the night of Oct. 14, join TreePeople in Coldwater Canyon Park for a full-moon hike. The Natural History Museum, with its permanent collections that feature marine dioramas, walk-through habitats and multiple educational opportunities, and the California Science Center are always great trips if you’re looking for reminders about how amazing and intriguing our planet is.

Long Beach: Feel good about your focused efforts, however brief, with the 30-minute Beach Cleanup, every third Saturday of the month at Belmont Shore. One of my favorite spots, the Aquarium of the Pacific — like the aforementioned L.A. museums — can make for an interesting, educational afternoon as well as a reminder to be a good Earth steward.

[Update 10/3/08: The original post did not make clear that SustainLane's ranking featured only the 50 most populous cities in the U.S., rather than 50 cities of any size.]

— Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: Cycling in Venice, L.A. County; Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times ]

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This entry was posted on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 7:15 am by Susan Derby and is filed under California, Eco-Travel, Los Angeles, San Diego. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.