Before you even reach your hotel in Seattle, you can do your part for the environment by taking the Link light rail from the airport to downtown Seattle. If you must rent a car, you can get a hybrid car from Enterprise or Avis.
If you don't want to be sleepless in Seattle worrying about the environmental impact of your vacation, book a room at the Hyatt at Olive 8. When it opened in 2009, it became the first Seattle hotel certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an organization that certifies environmentally sustainable construction practices. Although this is primarily a business and convention hotel, it is conveniently located and offers some great amenities, including a spa and a pool. The Kimpton Hotels chain (www.kimptonhotels.com), which operates the Alexis Hotel, Hotel Vintage Park, and Hotel Monaco, also goes out of its way to be environmentally friendly and socially responsible.
When it comes to eating out in Seattle, you've got loads of eco-friendly options. At many of the restaurants listed in this guide, you'll find that the chefs rely on local and organic produce as much as possible. The locavore movement (eating foods grown or raised nearby) has been wholeheartedly embraced here in Seattle. Restaurants emphasizing organic and sustainably produced ingredients include Tilth, Spur Gastropub, Portage Bay Café, and Agua Verde Cafe.
Caffe Ladro espresso bars serve organic, fair-trade coffee, and Theo Chocolate, a local maker of chocolate bars and other chocolate confections, uses fair-trade cocoa beans. You can even tour its factory in the Fremont neighborhood.
If you plan on heading out of town on an adventurous outing, consider booking your tour with EverGreen Escapes, which uses biodiesel tour vehicles. In addition to the resources for Seattle listed above, see frommers.com/planning for more tips on responsible travel.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
