
Here in Sonoma County, Life Opens Up with experiences that connect you to nature, as well as to each other.
We believe that being good stewards of the Earth, our natural resources, our beautiful spaces, and the people of Sonoma County is vital to our thriving community as well as to visitors. Participate in activities and experiences that promote a healthy environment.
Join us where laid-back luxury meets a deep commitment to sustainability, and where experiencing Sonoma County through the Leave No Trace Seven Principles gives travelers an opportunity to make a difference. Together, we can protect and preserve this special corner of the world for generations to come.

Pledge to Travel Kindly
We invite you to pledge your support to ‘Traveling Kindly’ across Sonoma County, and choosing to make a...

Travel Kindly in Sonoma County
The heart that loves travel is the heart that can do good things. Book your next visit to Sonoma County...
Sustainable Travel Resources
The Gables Wine Country Inn Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods Sailfish Retreat Creekside Inn & Resort Safari West A Redwood Dream Bodega Coast Inn and Suites Sea Ranch Abalone Bay Bodega Bay & Beyond...
Here in Sonoma County, laid-back luxury meets a deep commitment to the tenets of sustainability — supporting a healthy economy, society, and planet. We encourage you to fly to Sonoma County more...
Travelers are empowered to make a positive impact to the local community and the environment when visiting Sonoma County, because of a partnership with Kind Traveler, the first socially conscious...
This article comes from Jessica Blotter, CEO & Co-Founder of Kind Traveler, the first Give + Get hotel booking and media platform that empowers travelers to positively impact the communities they...
In Sonoma County, the word “sustainable” is more than an eco-friendly catchphrase—it’s a big-picture approach to caring for land, people, and wine. Most of Sonoma County’s 425 wineries, and 99% of its...
Adopting a sustainable lifestyle means, among other things, eating healthy, locally-produced foods and using handcrafted local products created with a minimum of impact on the environment and the...
One of the best ways to explore Sonoma County's backroads is by visiting local farms, and thanks to the maps created by Sonoma County Farm Trails — a non-profit organization devoted to creating and...
For those who’ve visited or who are familiar with Sonoma County, it’s no secret of the importance and preciousness of our water resource. Sonoma County, after all, is home to 55 miles of Pacific Ocean...
Calculate Your Travel Carbon Footprint
Help our destination in its mission to reach carbon neutrality by offsetting the carbon emissions from your Sonoma County experience. Sonoma County Tourism has partnered with Sustainable Travel International to offer its carbon calculator on our website below. After determining the carbon emissions from your trip, you will have the option to effortlessly purchase carbon offsets from Sustainable Travel International. Doing so will provide you with a personalized certificate verifying the amount of CO2 you offset, and your dollars will go towards meaningful climate projects that meet the most rigorous standards for carbon offsetting. Thank you for traveling green and contributing to the vital work of global climate action.
Understanding Sustainability
What Does Green Lodging Mean?
In order to achieve these multi-pronged efforts toward sustainability, green lodgings might opt to purchase reclaimed building materials, energy-efficient lighting, and low-flow water fixtures. A property's water might be recaptured and used as "gray" water for plants, toilets, etc., or guests might be given the option to reuse their towels and/or linens. Read on to see what specifically makes Sonoma County's green lodgings, well ... green?
What Does LEED Certification Mean?
Designed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification used around the world, for all types of buildings — including a few here in Sonoma County. The LEED certification process helps land developers, architects, and building owners implement practices that decrease a building's environmental footprint and operational costs, increase its energy efficiency, and ensure the productivity, comfort, health and wellbeing of the people who use it. Read more about LEED Certification and how our Sonoma County partners are leading the way.
What Does Carbon Neutral Mean?
Carbon neutrality is the act of releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but then offsetting those emissions through carbon sequestration efforts, which is important to limit the effects of climate change. Many Sonoma County farmers, land managers, businesses, and residents are working hard to achieve carbon neutrality here, and happily, visitors to Sonoma County can join in this pursuit. Read on to learn more about carbon, its sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as vital ways we can help improve our planet.
What Does Organic Mean?
First developed in reaction to environmental pollution caused by the U.S. agricultural industry’s heavy use of toxic fertilizers and pesticides in the first half of the 20th century, organic farming focuses mainly on the strict use of pure, natural products (e.g., composts and meals) derived from mineral, plant, or animal matter. In switching to these natural products, the goal is to encourage biodiversity in the soil web, which will increase the soil's carbon content and strengthen its ability to resist pests, diseases, and erosion, as well as capture and filter water. Read more about what it means to farm, grow and sell organic produce and products.
What Does Regenerative Farming Mean?
Regenerative farming is a way of farming that focuses on the continued improvement of soil health and combating and/or adapting to the effects of climate change. The focus of regenerative farms is on increased biodiversity, the sequestration or preservation of water reserves, building resilience to drought, and helping farmers adapt to a changing climate. It’s a more holistic approach than sustainable farming in that it goes beyond the maintenance of the soil and is more deeply focused on a response to the changing climate in a variety of specific ways. Read on to see how does it differ from sustainable or organic farming and which businesses in Sonoma County are leading the charge or have already paved the way?
Listen to our "Responsible Travel" Radio Spots
Sustainable Activities at Wineries
Sonoma wineries increasingly employ environmentally ethical practices to their businesses, not only to produce better wines but to take care of the land for future generations, lower carbon footprints...
Sonoma County wineries are among the leaders in the organic and Biodynamic wine movements, which can be very generally summed up as systematic, forward-looking returns to the 'roots' of agriculture...
Visit some of Sonoma Wine Country's outstanding wineries and spend time outdoors in the bargain with the free Sonoma County Vineyard Adventures program. Started in 2010 by the Sonoma County...

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