A Green Beach Vacation with Easy Access to San Francisco - Alameda, California

One of the best places to stay for an eco-beach vacation is Alameda, California. An island nestled in the San Francisco Bay, this charming beachfront town remains largely separate from the urban atmospheres of San Francisco and Oakland, while being no more than 20 minutes away from any Bay Area location.

Visit Crab Cove, a nature preserve specializing in education related to bay-friendly plants and animals as well as erosion prevention. Then, take a windsurfing lesson not half a mile up the beach, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the San Francisco Skyline and nearby mountain ranges. Walk to the local town center at Park Street and enjoy shops, boutiques and restaurants, many of which have become local institutions. The MarketPlace offers local, organic meats, cheeses, wines and produce, and Tucker's Super Creamed Ice Cream is the perfect after-dinner treat.

Walking or biking around Alameda's historic homes (particularly those on Grand Avenue and Central Street) gives you a taste of the summer community that Alameda once was, and gives you a chance to get off the beaten path. Visit Pagano's hardware store on Lincoln Avenue and have a traditional meat pie with a pint at the New Zealander in the Historic Croll's building on the Corner of Webster and Central for a sampling of local flavor.

Alameda's efficient bus system can take you to the now-defunct naval airbase, which houses the USS Hornet, a floating museum built on a World War II Aircraft Carrier; listen carefully because the docents are veterans and can tell you some hair-raising tales. Visit Ploughshares, a local nursery that teaches sustainable gardening techniques to low-income families, who use the lessons to build a community garden. Finish your afternoon on the Naval Base with a vodka tasting at Hangar1, where all the spirits are handcrafted, or tour the facility and enjoy the tasting room with the skyline views of San Francisco at the Rosenblum Winery - where your dog is welcome to join you!

Using the Bay Area's bike-friendly transit systems, (which include a comprehensive network of buses, a clean and fast subway, and even a ferry, which is a great way to get your bearings and enjoy the brisk bay breezes with a glass of wine in your hand) you can get to San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and even up to wine country without ever setting foot in a car. You can also get to and from the San Francisco and Oakland airports with little effort. A beach vacation (and so much more!) in Alameda can have minimal impact on the environment and allow you to visit all the corners of the Bay Area without fuss or worry.