Seattle and its metropolitan area are enjoying rapid economic and population growth — thanks in large part to the major companies calling the Emerald City home. In fact, 2015 marked the third consecutive year Seattle ranked among the top five big U.S. cities for population growth, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. And there’s no sign of a slow-down.

The city’s robust local economy is perhaps best reflected in housing prices, rising at a record-setting pace. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index released in June showed single-family home prices across the metro area rose 10.7 percent in April 2016 compared to a year ago —more than double the national average growth rate of 5 percent.

These developments are inextricably tied to the success of corporations based in the greater Seattle area including Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing and Expedia. Facebook and Google also have offices in town. And numerous startups are choosing to call Seattle home thanks to its reputation as a business incubator and an atmosphere welcoming creativity and innovation.

That growth isn’t confined to the technology industry, however. Household names Starbucks and Costco also opened headquarters in town, and Expedia and Weyerhaeuser recently announced plans to move their offices to Seattle’s downtown.

Amazon is perhaps the most visible local corporation, thanks to an ever-expanding presence in the city’s South Lake Union area, just north of downtown. The company is currently constructing multiple new buildings to add to its already large campus; it will soon cover around 10 million square feet of Seattle real estate, accounting for roughly 25 percent of the downtown area’s office space.

Google, for its part, announced plans to build four six-story office buildings smack in the middle of Amazon’s South Lake Union territory, with work starting in 2017 and finishing in 2019. There’s so much tech buzz here it’s entirely possible the next big thing will come out of Seattle rather than Silicon Valley — the Emerald City is one to watch.

Meanwhile, Seattle’s infrastructure — from public transportation to convention facilities to hotels and its airport capacity — seems to exist in a constant state of catch-up.

The city is currently undertaking an expansion of its Link Light Rail, which opened two new stations this year and now runs from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport through downtown to the University of Washington. Seattle will add 3,000 new hotel rooms in the next three years in the downtown core, and an array of other civic projects are underway as well.

The long list includes an expansion of the convention center, improvements at the airport, the first expansion to the historic Pike Place Market in 40 years and a massive project to improve and redevelop the downtown waterfront following the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a tunnel currently being dug beneath downtown.

“When you total all those big civic developments, it comes out to $20 billion of investment, conservatively, in the next decade,” says David Blandford, vice president of communications, Visit Seattle.

Sea-Tac Airport also feels the strain of growth — it saw 42.3 million passengers in 2015, marking a 13 percent increase over the previous year. “Sea-Tac is the fastest-growing large hub airport in the U.S.,” Blandford says. “In 2015, for the fifth straight year in a row, passenger traffic increased.” Sea-Tac responded with a master plan that includes new international arrival facilities because of booming overseas flight growth. It will add up to 35 new gates, too.

The cruise industry is big business in Seattle, which operates two terminals for ships heading to Alaska and beyond. “The growth over the past decade has been incredible both in the number of sailings and passenger volume,” Blandford says. Enhancements at one cruise terminal are in the works as the city anticipates further growth.

Another large project involves the Washington State Convention Center, which sits in downtown. The convention center plans to add a second, separate building to keep up with demand for meetings and events. “We are currently turning away as much business as we book,” says Jeffrey Blosser, CEO, Washington State Convention Center.

The new facility will be located about a block and a half from the current center and will double the center’s booking capacity. The plan is currently in the design, development and permitting phase, with the goal to break ground by mid-2017. After a three-year construction phase, the new facility should open in mid-2020.

Blosser says Seattle is an easy sell for companies that have held events here; some may like it so much they’re persuaded to relocate to the city after trying it out for a few days. “If you’ve ever been here, the beauty of the water and the mountains are striking. There are tons of opportunities for whatever you like to do, all in a beautiful setting,” he says. “I’ve been here 27 years, and I’m staying put. Seattle really is the complete package.”

SCENIC DRIVES

To enjoy the agricultural bounty of Western Washington — and scope out its scenic farms — drive north from Seattle to the Skagit Valley region. Heading west off I-5, journey along Chuckanut Drive, stopping at pick-your-own berry farms like Bow Hill Blueberries and local cheese makers (Samish Bay Cheese is a must). Lunch in Edison should be on the list, too; the miniscule town is big on charm, with locally focused restaurants and art galleries. Then head into the Chuckanut Mountains for scenic hikes, beachcombing and fresh oysters at Taylor Shellfish Farms.

Heading east from Seattle on I-90, you’ll climb into the Cascade Mountains. Between the city and Snoqualmie Pass, numerous options for outstanding day hikes bring you to waterfalls, alpine lakes and scenic overlooks. Among the most popular are Rattlesnake Ledge, Snow Lake and Twin Falls. Or drive to the overlook at massive Snoqualmie Falls, which doesn’t require hiking boots to access. Relax and unwind at the luxury Salish Lodge & Spa, situated dramatically at the top of the roaring falls. Opt for a massage, a yoga class with a view or a therapeutic soak in the dreamy indoor pools.