10 Ideas for Great Getaways with Modest Carbon Footprints

Mendocino County, CA -- (Spring 2009) -- As the first county in the US to ban genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Mendocino has long been recognized as being eco-friendly and environmentally-oriented. In fact, Mendocino County has been at it so long, they have actually advanced living in harmony with the earth to the point where it is positively luxurious!

Here are ten ways to make your Mendocino vacation both earth-friendly and fabulous. And all of these suggestions are budget-friendly too!

• Sip on an organic wine. Mendocino County has the highest percentage of organic vineyards of any other appellation in the United States, with more than 18% of the vineyards certified as organic. It’s also home to more than a third of all certified organic vineyards in California. One standout amongst the organic wineries is Parducci Wine Cellars, the first winery in the US to be carbon-neutral. Parducci practices biodynamic farming as well (in addition to using tree-free papers and soy based inks for its labels and utilizing biodiesel tractors in the field), making Parducci a model of quality and environmental sustainability for other wineries to follow. Most Mendocino wineries are still mostly family owned and wine tasting is usually still free!
www.mendowine.com

• Go Solar. The Hopland-based Solar Living Institute is one of the premiere places in the world to learn how to minimize your energy impact on the earth. They offer everything from classes on making your home solar, to how to retrofit your car to run on bio-fuels, to workshops on energy-efficient building, organic gardening and more. Their increasingly popular annual SolFest celebration in August is educational and fun for the whole family.
www.solarliving.org

• Behold the Wonder of Whales. California Grays, Humpbacks and Orcas can be seen migrating north along the Mendocino Coast from March through April, and then returning south from late September through December. Three weekend festivals are dedicated to whales in March and April in Fort Bragg, Mendocino Village and Gualala.
www.mendowhale.com

• Enjoy an Organic Beer. Owned and operated by the Cooperrider family since 1999, the Ukiah Brewing Co. & Restaurant is the nation's first all-organic brewpub and restaurant. They also produce Pilsner Ukiah, the nation's first organic beer in a can. At the brewpub, all ingredients used in the restaurant and brewery must be grown and produced on certified organic farms without the use of artificial or toxic chemicals.
www.ukiahbrewingco.com

• Savor the Taste of Local Bounty. Mendocino County yields delectable edibles year round, including mushrooms, crab, and salmon, and locally harvested sea vegetables Tour an organic farm and see how local farmers maximize flavor while minimizing resources, then visit a Mendocino County restaurant and enjoy world-class cuisine prepared with local produce and paired meticulously with local wines. Farmers’ Markets throughout the county sell fabulous local organic produce, cheese, seafood, and meat.
www.gomendo.com

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• Admire the World’s Oldest Trees; Beautiful Birds. Some of the world’s tallest redwood trees rise up to the heavens in Mendocino County – the county with the highest percentage of certified sustainable forest in the U.S. Visit Jackson State Demonstration Forest and learn firsthand how Mendocino County is making sustainable forestry a reality. Mendocino’s many state parks feature waterfalls, bike and hiking trails, wildflowers, wild mushrooms and historic exhibits. MacKerricher State Park, just outside of Fort Bragg, has recently implemented the “Save Our Shorebirds” project, where visitors can learn about and contribute towards the preservation of the endangered American golden-plover, black turnstone, and red knot species.
http://www.parks.ca.gov

• Visit the Only Coastal Botanical Gardens in the West. Discover 47 acres of beauty and serenity while strolling in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens by the sea. An easy half-mile walk takes you from well-tended gardens, through a fern-filled canyon, to spectacular vistas at the ocean’s edge. A must for bird-watchers and picnickers alike! Winesong!, Mendocino’s acclaimed wine auction takes place at the gardens in September.
www.gardenbythesea.org

• Rolling Down the River. Meander down the Big River, Northern California’s largest undeveloped estuary, comprised of 7,334 prime acres of river, estuary, wetlands, and forest. Rent a handcrafted boat made from a single piece of local wood! For the more adventurous, there’s always sea kayaking on the Pacific Ocean, and landlovers can bike or hike up the old logging road next to Big River.
http://www.stanfordinn.com/innlight/canoe.html or www.liquidfusion.com

• Relax at an Eco-Spa. Enjoy a massage or a facial at one of the many spas in Mendocino County that offer environmentally friendly products and services and make use of the very finest organic botanicals and ecologically sensitive methods.
www.gomendo.com

• Green to a Tee. The Little River Golf Course is a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program which recognizes golf courses that protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and provide wildlife habitats. Plus, the ocean views are pretty darn amazing.
http://www.littleriverinn.com/

For more information and help planning your green Mendocino County vacation that saves you green, visit http://www.gomendo.com or call 866-STAY-MENDO (866-782-9636).
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Media Contact: Heather Thompson, 415-788-4114, heather@hypehouse.com