Travel Kindly: Santa Monica

To further sustainability awareness, travelers also have an opportunity to learn about the sustainability, wellness and community impact features of each property. For example, The Shore Hotel is Santa Monica’s first LEED Gold Certified hotel; The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows boasts an eco-friendly spa; and The Ambrose Hotel was the first prestigious LEED EB (existing building) hotel in the U.S. and boasts a State of California’s Green Lodging Program Certificate, to name a few. Local neighborhood guides are shared with each hotel profile inspiring conscious, mindful, local travel opportunities and other ways to do good for the day or give back locally.

A Kind Destination: Santa Monica

As the first city to achieve Platinum level certification in LEED for Cities Version 4.1, Santa Monica has long championed sustainability. Boasting 3.5 miles of sun-kissed beach and year-round warm weather, Santa Monica was the first city (1994) to adopt a comprehensive Sustainability Plan. Kind travelers will love direct access to the world’s longest oceanfront bike trail (South Bay Bicycle Trail), 100 miles of bike facilities, 19 miles of green biking lanes, 150 public car charging stations, and the world’s first solar-powered Ferris Wheel, the Pacific Wheel. With 97 percent of the electricity drawn from renewable energy sources and a goal by 2050 to be carbon-neutral, Santa Monica makes for the perfect homebase to explore Southern California, naturally and responsibly.