Community Corner

Go Green: It Might Be More Fun Than You Think

Help the environment while at play by staying in eco-friendly hotels or volunteering to clean up your city.

Editor's note: This is the third installment in a series of articles full of tips for how you can help make the earth a better place. The first featured ideas for your home and workplace, then suggestions for what kids can do to become aware of good green habits. This article focuses on how you can help the planet while in the car.

Plan outings closer to home: Try taking a break somewhere local. Cramped car rides and overbooked flights can be overwhelming—leave the stresses of long-distance travel behind. Trade them in for a weekend at the local bed and breakfast, or go camping at a nearby park. Save gas and the environment.

Enjoy the outdoors: Hiking, camping, kayaking and canoeing—all outdoor activities that make for great, environmentally-friendly vacations. Rather than a long road trip, take a walk in the nearby woods.

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Participate in sustainable volunteer events: Spend a little time outdoors, giving the environment a makeover. Visit local parks, hike in Palos Verdes, the Santa Monica Mountains or Malibu. Take a walk on the beach from one pier to another.

Turn down thermostats while on vacation: If you’re not at home, why heat or cool your house? Give your home a vacation while you’re on one and save some energy at the same time.

Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Choose environmentally-friendly hotels: You might not have heard, but green hotels are not only eco-friendly, they're also a smart business for hoteliers. Numerous sites online will help you choose, such as the Green Hotels Association. Fluorescent bulbs, ceiling fans, linen cards, lights out cards and motion sensors for public restrooms are just a few of the ways hotels are going green.


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