Spend an afternoon wandering the vibrant downtown where red dots on the pavement lead you to a dense collection of artist-owned galleries and studios. Stop for coffee at Tranquilbuzz Coffee House, an eclectic local favourite with a patio built around burbling recycled-water ponds; then pop into Power & Light Press, a letterpress studio that revitalised a 50-year-dormant craft. For a dose of local history that doubles as a greenway, walk The Big Ditch Park, a former main street reclaimed by nature and transformed into a lush, urban pedestrian trail system.

9. Arcata, California

Long before sustainable travel was a buzzword, Arcata was quietly doing the work. Its pioneering 225-acre Arcata Marsh uses wetlands to treat wastewater while creating a thriving habitat for birds and native wildlife. It’s a must-visit for twitchers and trail walkers. In addition, the town’s walkable core, co-ops and renewable energy programmes are a draw for eco-minded travellers.

A perfect weekend might include an afternoon at Finnish Country Sauna and Tubs where visitors can relax in a hot tub among the lush forest trees, decompress in a traditional sauna cabin and sip specialty coffee by the fire. Continue the Northern California adventure with a hike through Arcata Community Forest, admiring the ancient Redwood trees. End the day on the coast, watching the sunset over the Me-le’l Dunes.

Alamy With multiple Dark Sky Parks nearby, Moab has become one of the US's most reliable places to see the Milky Way with the naked eye (Credit: Alamy)AlamyWith multiple Dark Sky Parks nearby, Moab has become one of the US’s most reliable places to see the Milky Way with the naked eye (Credit: Alamy)10. Moab, Utah

Best known as the gateway to the red rocks of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Moab is pioneering a new kind of tourism that protects the fragile desert environment that draws visitors in the first place. The town’s “Do It Like a Local” initiative encourages travellers stay on trails to protect the fragile soil crust, pack in and out to reduce litter and support certified sustainable businesses.

Rise early to explore red-rock trails, cool off with a tasting at The Moab Brewery and end your visit with a night of stargazing at a certified Dark Sky Park, of which Moab has three.

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