Seattle, Washington

From the waters of Puget Sound, the United States' northernmost major city cuts a neat outline against the sawtooth Cascade Mountains. One of the fastest-growing parts of the US for decades, Seattle has grown in population by more than 20% in the 21st century, resulting in a cityscape filled with swinging construction cranes and rapidly growing high-rises. The city's expansive shore has also seen its share of renovation: Once roofed by the drab, concrete Alaskan Way Viaduct—demolished in 2019—the downtown waterfront on Elliott Bay was renewed in the early 2020s as a pedestrian-friendly corridor of parks and piers, centered on the Seattle Aquarium and overlooked by historic Pike Place Market.