Earlier this year, Seattle launched a whimsical campaign imagining it might be Mother Nature’s favorite city, and one can easily believe it just might be, what with 6,000 acres of parklands; a 28 percent tree canopy cover; more than 200 miles of shoreline; and soaring mountains in the distance. It comes as no surprise the outdoorsy nature appeals to travelers, proven by a recent study showing leisure and business travelers alike find the city’s natural offerings a key motivator to consider and plan a trip to the Pacific Northwest.

“Seattle is well-suited to meet travelers’ desires to be in nature while still being in a thriving city,” said Stephanie Byington, chief marketing officer and senior vice president, Visit Seattle.

With all of these incredible “green” attributes, no wonder Seattle is also known as the Emerald City, nor that sustainability lies at its core, from transportation infrastructure and public spaces to the convention center, hotels and even private homes. For example, the city harnesses hydroelectric power to generate 90 percent of its electrical grid’s output, making Seattle’s the first recognized carbon-neutral utility in the United States, with a goal of all city-owned buildings running off renewable energy by 2035. And all of Seattle’s households and businesses are legally required to compost food and yard waste.

Seattle Convention Center © Lauren K Davis / Feinknopf

To that end, all restaurants, lounges and take-out spots within Seattle-Tacoma International Airport must use reusable or approved compostable food service ware and packaging, like cutlery and plates. The initiative is intended to divert 60 percent
of all terminal waste from the landfill.

Composting food waste proves just one of the ways Seattle Convention Center practices sustainability: The food waste dehydrators in its new LEED Platinum-certified Summit building, which reduce waste volume and weight by up to 90 percent, are complemented by the composting program in its LEED Silver-certified Arch building, both of which convert food waste into fertilizer which is then used in plantings in both buildings and Summit’s 14,000-square-foot Garden Terrace.

“Our current mission identifies specifically sustainable operations, and it has multiple meanings for us,” said Jon Houg, COO, Seattle Convention Center. “Sustainable operations is not only being financially sustainable, but it’s also being sustainable in terms of stewards of the environment, sustainable in terms of practices of purchasing.”

Not far from the convention center lies one of the city’s biggest sustainable projects, the recent redevelopment of the Seattle Waterfront. Gone is the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a 1950s-era double-decker highway that separated the city’s Central Business District from the waterfront. Today the people-centered space boasts a linear park promenade; bike lanes; nine permanent art installations; play spaces; an elevated connector to Pike Place Market; and more than 150,000 new plants and trees to enhance the Emerald City.

“It has been a tremendous change from a Brutalist viaduct transportation element that was on your doorstep to one of the greatest assets of the city to this beautiful boardwalk and park structure,” Houg said of the new Seattle Waterfront. “It has been transformational in terms of what our corridor looks like from Capitol Hill to First Hill to the downtown core to Pike Market down to the waterfront. It is really breathtaking.”

© Erik Holsather / Courtesy of Friends of Waterfront Park

“The new Seattle Waterfront is a once-in-a-generation transformation, a civic milestone that reconnects people to the water, to each other and to the city’s story,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce A. Harrell. “Just as the Space Needle symbolized an era of possibility, this waterfront stands as a new icon of what is still possible for Seattle — restoring salmon habitat; strengthening climate resilience; and creating a public space that is vibrant, sustainable and welcoming to all. It truly is the front porch to our region, reflecting who we are: our history; our diverse population; and the values of inclusion, innovation and stewardship that guide our city today.

“As we prepare to welcome the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the waterfront offers the perfect first glimpse of Seattle at its best,” Harrell continued. “It embodies the city we are building: walkable, green streets; thriving hubs for small businesses and entrepreneurs; dynamic spaces for arts, culture and events; and safe, clean, inclusive places that inspire pride and belonging. More than a destination, it is a microcosm of our values and our commitment to sustainable growth; equitable opportunity; and a vibrant, people-centered city ready to welcome the world.”

Not far from the revitalized waterfront is 1 Hotel Seattle, which opened its doors this spring. The nature-inspired sustainable luxury hotel features reclaimed materials from local artisans, fully electric house cars, zero single-use plastics and a commitment to divert 90 percent of waste from landfills. And the carbon-positive Populus Hotel in Pioneer Square plants a tree for every guest night booked through its One Night One Tree program.

As far as getting around the city, in addition to the electric-powered Link light rail connecting the airport to the city center and beyond, with newly expanded service to University of Washington, Northgate, Lynwood, Bellevue, Redmond and Federal Way, Seattle is also expanding its bike lanes and pedestrian walkways to increase accessibility.

SCENIC DRIVES
You’ll find no shortage of stunning scenic drives from Seattle, winding through and highlighting the best of the dramatic Pacific Northwest landscape. The 29-mile Cascade Valley Heritage Corridor follows the footpath Native Americans took to reach Puget Sound, stretching from Woodinville, about 30 minutes northeast of the city and known for its wineries, through small towns and past waterfalls and hiking routes en route to North Bend.

For spectacular views of Mount Rainier, Chinook Scenic Byway travels from Enumclaw, about an hour southeast of Seattle, over Chinook Pass a little more than 100 miles further east to Naches. The drive is well worth it, not only for views of the iconic mountain but also for its old-growth forests, subalpine meadows, streams, lakes and waterfalls along the way, all ripe for outdoor adventures.

Drive about an hour north of Seattle and hop a ferry bound for Whidbey Island to drive Whidbey Island Scenic Isle Way, starting in Clinton, a historic community dating back to the early 1800s. Pass by The Village by the Sea, botanical gardens and a lighthouse before arriving at Deception Pass State Park with hiking, kayaking and a bridge leading to neighboring Fidalgo Island, providing breathtaking views.