The Pacific Northwest is green to the extreme. Yet a day trip can go from pristine wilderness to downtown Seattle, Portland, or Vancouver. How are these commercial and cultural hot spots keeping nature and growth in balance — and what's coming next? Trace the path from forests and fish to bikes and brews in a tale of three cities leading the way to smart growth.

Planning the Pacific Northwest continues the APA Planners Press series on how planning shapes major American cities. The series also includes Planning Atlanta, Planning Chicago, and Planning Los Angeles.