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When Los Angeles comes to mind, do you think of sunny beaches, over-the-top luxury, and celebrity-laden parties -- or smog, traffic jams, and lackluster urban planning? Indeed, few cities strike as delicate a balance between their environmental and cultural heritages as the City of Angels: Ask a longtime resident what recent events stand out, and you're as likely to hear about the fires and increasingly horrific traffic conditions as the revitalization of downtown. In spite of its faults, however, there is much to love -- green and otherwise -- about Los Angeles. And while the city doesn't have the sparkling eco-friendly reputation of the likes of Portland, Oregon or San Francisco, it has made progress in bolstering its once tattered eco-cred.
In addition to (slowly) expanding its public transit system, L.A. has embraced many trends in green design and architecture, and aggressively implemented citywide initiatives by raiding residents' environmental consciousness and pushing ideas such as water conservation and biking. In this new climate, several green bloggers have risen to prominence, to provide ready advice for eager readers. Notably, Siel, who dispenses a daily dose of witty, informative eco-friendly banter from Green LA Girl, a fantastic source for the eco-minded traveler. Both sites are fantastic sources for the eco-minded traveler. For more tips on going green while visiting L.A., check out Greenopia's Los Angeles page for an exhaustive list of resources in the L.A. area, and TreeHugger's Los Angeles archive.
- Take Public Transportation: The Metro
First things first: How to get around Los Angeles? Unfortunately, it's still a challenge without a car. If you're keen on public transportation, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transport Authority, or the Metro is your ticket; the rail and bus systems provide access to most areas of interest and the Metro Web site has a handy trip planner for easy navigation of this city's vast expanse. Google will soon offer another trip planner option, when it brings its helpful Transit app to L.A. - Rent a Car with Zipcar or a Limo with Eco Limo
Prefer personal transportation? Try the Zipcar service, which provides you with a car only when you need it. The more upscale option is Eco Limo, which offers chauffeured transportation in hybrid/fuel-efficient luxury vehicles. - Stay in a Green Hotel
For green accommodations, check in to the Ambrose hotel in Santa Monica, which provides a low-impact yet luxurious experience; the Hotel Angeleno in plush Brentwood and part of the Joie de Vivre line of hotels, is conveniently located off the 405 freeway in the heart of the West Side. Last but not least, for a truly sustainable experience, you'd have trouble topping the Venice Beach Eco Cottages. - Find Local Produce at the Farmers' Market or Skratch Restaurant, Go Vegan at Pure Luck
Los Angeles and its surrounds offer a dizzying area of food options that cater to all tastes, from Ethiopian food to Korean BBQ. A can't-miss experience for first-time visitors, especially those staying in Santa Monica, is the Farmers' Market on Third Street. Here you'll find the best local, organic fare every Wednesday (8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and Saturday (8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) morning.
For a more casual, sit-down experience, try Pure Luck Restaurant in the Wilshire Center area, a vegan option that is also a popular hangout for the city's blogging crowd. For a quicker, slap-and-dash fix, there's Skratch Restaurant in Culver City, which only uses all natural ingredients from local farms to whip up healthy meals like the warm BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich and the Waldorf Turkey salad. - Dine at a Hip Newcomer, the Eco-friendly Akasha Restaurant
One of the hottest new eco-friendly restaurants in town is Akasha. The latest debut from chef Akasha Richmond, this hip destination dishes out fresh, organic produce and fair-trade coffee -- and gives you a reason to check out the wait staff. They are all dressed in organic cotton and hemp. - Join a Biking Group Like RIDE-Arc and Santa Monica Critical Mass
A bicycling revival is underway in L.A., with a plethora of groups offering monthly or weekly bicycle rides all over the city as a way to explore its architectural and cultural heritage. At the top of the list are RIDE-Arc, organized by students from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and Santa Monica Critical Mass, which rallies a monthly ride. - Take Advantage of the City's Art and Culture
Design and art are vital components of Los Angeles, and the city swims in a diverse range of venues well worth visiting, including the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) (where you can pick up a solar backpack by Voltaic Systems bags in the gift store), and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA).
For the green crowd, there's Epoxybox, an eco store that specializes in green art: At a recent exhibit, L.A.-based multimedia artist Dianna Cohen showcased creations fabricated from plastic bags. Or, if you'd like to step in the much-lauded LEED certified prefab Wired LivingHome, you can swing by Brentwood. - Relax at a Green Spa or Go Eco Shopping
This next tip is for spa-lovers and eco shoppers: The Los Angeles Times has a long list of eco spas in Los Angeles, Burbank and Santa Monica, with links and in-depth reviews of many. There are also reviews for several eco stores in the area, including Organic Rush in South Pasadena, Soft Forest in Pasadena, and Livingreen in Culver City. - Go Outdoors at the Joshua Tree National Park
For more of an outdoors-y experience, make the trek to the Joshua Tree National Park, located a few hours outside the city. The scenic desert park is abundant with opportunities for hiking, camping, and climbing -- at least a two-day time investment is necessary for full appreciation. - Network with Green Mover-and-Shakers at Green Drinks
If new eco-minded pals are what you are looking for, Green Drinks is a popular evening get-together for green thinkers, businesses, and organizations. Here, you can network with the L.A. crowd and discuss hot topics hitting the environmental circuit.
Like this? Check out more of Planet Green's Green City Guides.
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