Going Green in America's Cities

Where to stay: Habitat Suites (800/535-4663; habitatsuites.com) opened in 1985 and became part of the "Green Hotels Association" in 1991. The hotel was designed to support ecological consciousness; the photovoltaic system powers about 20% of its energy.

Where to eat: Get your green on at Leaf restaurant (512/474-5323; leafsalad.com), which looks and feels like a farmer's market and supports local farmers and business. It uses only biodegradable, compostable, or recycled products, including cutlery made from potatoes.

How to travel: Alien Scooters (512/447-4220; alienscooters.com) gets you around town on environmentally friendly electric scooters and e-bikes.

Green activity: Zip over to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (512/232-0100; wildflower.org) to enjoy the native gardens and plants. It uses solar power, has a green roof, and offers community outreach programs to restore the environment.