By Julie Sharp (Updated: Thursday, May 22, 2008 9:14 AM PDT)
The thought of a vacation may provoke mental images of overindulging, mass consumption and relaxation for some, but one Manhattan Beach resident hopes people will want to bring along their environmental savvy and spirit of volunteerism when traveling.
Kim Rowe is excited about green travel and is in the beginning stages of providing people with eco-friendly choices along with volunteer opportunities while traveling nationally and internationally. Go Live Give is Rowe’s Web site project along with host and co-creator Maria Warman. The two hit up vacation spots in search of environmentally friendly accommodations, retail and dining locations, and offer suggestions of where one can volunteer when they get there.
The two came up with tips for a Los Angeles visit that include lodging, dining, shopping and volunteerism. They suggested staying at the eco-friendly boutique hotel The Ambrose, volunteering in a Heal the Bay beach cleanup project at the Santa Monica pier, shopping at Fred Segal for the eco-friendly clothing line Sworn Virgins and eating at the Urth Caffe while sipping organic drinks.
Still in the infant stages, Go Live Give has covered Los Angeles and Hawaii so far. “We wanted to present what the average person can do to make an impact on the world around them,” said Rowe. “Some of us don’t have two weeks or a month, but there are daily options, even while on vacation.”
Rowe explained everyone could be a lighter shade of green, making simple choices such as dining at the restaurant that buys from local farmers rather than a larger franchise chain. Her job is to get in on the local secrets of a destination. “Research is the bulk of my work and a lot of it builds from word of mouth, then the process just starts unraveling,” said Rowe.
Warman is the cosmopolitan environmentalist, living, working and volunteering abroad since childhood. She met Rowe while working on the NBC show “YourLA.” Warman was the host and Rowe was the producer. The two are now melding their interests with their professional backgrounds, hoping to provide an appealing eco-friendly travel itinerary with 26 cities lined up for coverage including San Francisco, Portland and New Orleans.
Go Live Give South Bay tips begin with lodging at the Eco-friendly Belamar, which sells organic items in the gift shop and its management said it is pushing for further environmentally friendly practices hotelwide. They also suggest dining at the Veggie Grill in El Segundo or The Spot in Hermosa Beach, both organic and healthy. Shopping would include the eco furniture shop My Bali House in Hermosa Beach and working the body at Lyfe Yoga Center. Volunteer time could be spent cleaning up the beach with organized beach cleanup times offered through Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Department - visit www.citymb.info for times.
GoLiveGive.com webcasts the duo’s volunteer travel episodes. The thought of a vacation may provoke mental images of overindulging, mass consumption and relaxation for some, but one Manhattan Beach resident hopes people will want to bring along their environmental savvy and spirit of volunteerism when traveling.
Kim Rowe is excited about green travel and is in the beginning stages of providing people with eco-friendly choices along with volunteer opportunities while traveling nationally and internationally. Go Live Give is Rowe’s Web site project along with host and co-creator Maria Warman. The two hit up vacation spots in search of environmentally friendly accommodations, retail and dining locations, and offer suggestions of where one can volunteer when they get there.
The two came up with tips for a Los Angeles visit that include lodging, dining, shopping and volunteerism. They suggested staying at the eco-friendly boutique hotel The Ambrose, volunteering in a Heal the Bay beach cleanup project at the Santa Monica pier, shopping at Fred Segal for the eco-friendly clothing line Sworn Virgins and eating at the Urth Caffe while sipping organic drinks.
Still in the infant stages, Go Live Give has covered Los Angeles and Hawaii so far. “We wanted to present what the average person can do to make an impact on the world around them,” said Rowe. “Some of us don’t have two weeks or a month, but there are daily options, even while on vacation.”
Rowe explained everyone could be a lighter shade of green, making simple choices such as dining at the restaurant that buys from local farmers rather than a larger franchise chain. Her job is to get in on the local secrets of a destination. “Research is the bulk of my work and a lot of it builds from word of mouth, then the process just starts unraveling,” said Rowe.
Warman is the cosmopolitan environmentalist, living, working and volunteering abroad since childhood. She met Rowe while working on the NBC show “YourLA.” Warman was the host and Rowe was the producer. The two are now melding their interests with their professional backgrounds, hoping to provide an appealing eco-friendly travel itinerary with 26 cities lined up for coverage including San Francisco, Portland and New Orleans.
Go Live Give South Bay tips begin with lodging at the Eco-friendly Belamar, which sells organic items in the gift shop and its management said it is pushing for further environmentally friendly practices hotelwide. They also suggest dining at the Veggie Grill in El Segundo or The Spot in Hermosa Beach, both organic and healthy. Shopping would include the eco furniture shop My Bali House in Hermosa Beach and working the body at Lyfe Yoga Center. Volunteer time could be spent cleaning up the beach with organized beach cleanup times offered through Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Department - visit www.citymb.info for times.
GoLiveGive.com webcasts the duo’s volunteer travel episodes.
Question: Throughout this edition of The Beach Reporter, we highlight individuals, organizations and programs with an environmental bent all aimed at promoting a green lifestyle and healthier planet. Each city has created a “green” task force to develop unique programs and create opportunity to reduce waste. *What else can be done to create a clean environment for everyone to live, work and play in?
*Is enough being done?
*Is government spending too many tax dollars on green programs? Should the private sector and individuals lead the way?
from Archives: Manhattan Beach News 
