SLO CAL® Ecotourism Experiences Offer Environmentally Friendly Travel Options In A Beautiful Coastal Setting

In recent years, ecologically sustainable travel has outpaced traditional sun/sand tourism by an increasingly wide margin. But what if you could get a side of sun and sand during your ecotourism getaway?

With everything from agricultural adventures to wildlife preservation experiences, SLO CAL® (located half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco) offers an array of low-impact, eco-friendly ways travelers can explore the destination. Following are a few of the top eco-friendly spots to visit in SLO CAL, and how visitors can get involved:  

SLO CAL Farm Trail

Located throughout SLO CAL, the Farm Trail celebrates the region’s deeply embedded culture of agriculture. It introduces visitors to nine local farms, ranches and food purveyors, from handcrafted alpaca goods to organic lavender essential oils. On the Farm Trail, visitors can choose their own agricultural adventure learn the stories behind SLO CAL’s fertile soil.

How to get involved: SLO CAL Crafted workshops, classes and demonstrations are available along the trail through FARMstead ED, such as a YES Cocktail Co. demonstration on how to transition locally grown produce into creative cocktail infusions and a Giving Tree Family Farm class on how to card alpaca fiber. Visitors can  buy tickets in advancefor classes and workshops or book an appointment to just visit the farm.  

Grassy Bar Oyster Co.

Did you know? Seafood Watch includes oysters in "the best of the best" on their Super Green List of seafood recommendations, based on the low level of environmental contaminants and rich health benefits. SLO CAL’s Grassy Bar is an oyster bed owned and operated by the Trevelyan family since 2009. Every oyster here is cultivated and harvested by hand with careful attention.

How to get involved: The guided Morro Bay Short Paddle kayak tour through  Central Coast Outdoorsis an action packed adventure on the wildlife rich waters of Morro Bay National Estuary, which is protected from the open ocean by a four mile long sandspit. During this tour, participants visit Grassy Bar Oyster Co., sampling raw oysters straight from the sea.  

Morro Bay Estuary The Morro Bay National Estuary Program works to protect and restore Morro Bay and its watershed by conducting monitoring and research to track the health of the estuary. The organization repairs natural habitats to protect water quality and wildlife and educating residents and visitors on how to be good stewards of the bay.

How to get involved: The estuary’s #2minutebeachclean challenge encourages visitors to gather wind-blown trash, lost items and other litter. Don’t forget to  track your trashso Morro Bay Estuary can use the data to inspire changes to the community.  

SIP-Certified  

Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified helps farmers and winemakers demonstrate their dedication to preserving and protecting natural and human resources. SIP Certified is a rigorous sustainable vineyard and winery certification with strict, non-negotiable requirements, committed to standards based on science and expert input, independent verification, transparency, and absence of conflict of interest.

How to get involved: Travelers can schedule their Central Coast wine tastings at SIP-certified sustainable wineries such as  Ancient Peaks Wineryin Santa Margarita. This family-owned vineyard, located along the southern border of Paso Robles, was once part of California’s famed Mission Trail.