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Luckily, the gorgeous and cosmopolitan city of Seattle includes plenty of options. Even getting there offered sustainable choices. Carriers like Alaska Airlines now offer preferences where passengers can select a slightly increased fare that supports carbon offsetting and sustainable aviation fuel. With several direct flights per day from San Diego, this was an easy decision. While traversing the city to various destinations within Seattle, we opted for using Lyft, which offers a Green option to choose electric or hybrid vehicles to lower our carbon footprint. e cost was the same as the standard fare. e Greenest Hospitality To be clear, we've become accustomed to a certain standard for travel that we're not willing to concede. We quickly discovered this would not be an issue in Seattle. While most hotels across the globe are committed to lowering their environmental impact, their total effort might be putting blue recycling bins in each room. In Seattle, many hotels go way beyond the norm while keeping their luxury status. e 1 Hotel is just such an urban sanctuary, located in the heart of Seattle in the South Lake Union neighborhood. We love the 1 Hotel brand and have stayed in several of their hotels across the U.S. (Honestly, we're addicted to their signature woodsy scent that wafts through all 1 Hotel lobbies.) Here in Seattle, they are just as committed to their inherent sustainability practices in a luxury setting. With interiors inspired by the gorgeous surroundings of the Pacific Northwest, the 1 Hotel Seattle is adorned with natural materials like bark, moss, and woven textiles harvested from nearby forests. Live plants unfurl everywhere — another 1 Hotel signature. ere is little to no plastic found anywhere in the hotel, with filtered water spigots in every room. Our suite was so comfortable that I got the best sleep I have had in weeks and weeks. Sipping sustainably-grown coffee from Costa Rica, I lounged on the pillowy couch enjoying the morning view of the nearby Space Needle and Puget Sound. Across town near the ballpark, the Populus Hotel just opened in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square neighborhood as the city's only carbon positive hotel (and the second in the world). Escorted through the entrance by the doorman, we felt like we had walked into a well-curated designer forest. Enormous tree stumps with ferns growing from them brought the spirit of Seattle's nature inside the hotel. Past the front desk, an inviting staircase rose up to the bar and restaurant, green with live foliage as we ascended. e walls in the public spaces and throughout the Populus are brightly splashed with more than 300 pieces of original art, commissioned from local artists specifically for the space to represent their personal interpretation of nature. e Populus was years in the making, giving new life to the building frame originally built for railroad storage in 1907. Much of the original materials have been repurposed throughout the property, including hardwood floors, thick wooden beams, and worn brick façades. e result is both charming and sophisticated. OPPOSITE The 1 Hotel Seattle leans into a natural vibe, with earth tones and live plants that highlight the luxury hotel's commitment to its positive impact on the environment LEFT Wild Haus offers passengers a unique floating sauna experience, complete with essential oils, cozy robes, and an optional cold plunge into Lake Union RIGHT Atop the new Populus Hotel in Seattle's Pioneer Square area, Firn serves inventive rooftop cocktails and bites with amazing views of downtown @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE MAY 2026 63 >>