Since joining Seattle Met in 2011, Allison Williams has overseen the magazine’s travel and outdoor coverage, including deep dives into Olympic National Park, the Columbia River, and a Burger King drive-thru in Canada. She edits the travel-focused blog Tripster and contributes service, news, interview, and narrative pieces to the magazine, including long-form features about mountain mysteries and puppies in prison. She’s earned awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and been nominated for a City and Regional Magazine award. 

Allison was raised here in Olympia and studied writing at Duke University, Oxford University, Columbia Journalism School, and University of Alaska. She began her career in New York City in the newsrooms of Metro newspaper and Time Out New York, then hightailed it back to her native habitat so she could write guidebooks and climb mountains.

Quote Unquote

Kellen Mendez Is Ready to Represent His Country

The Longview runner will be part of Team USA this summer at the Special Olympics in Berlin.

04/05/2023 By Allison Williams

Mountain Menu

Leavenworth's Dining Scene Finally Transcends Kitsch

Forget the giant pretzel: the Bavarian town's food landscape levels up in unexpected ways.

04/03/2023 By Allison Williams

Short Stops

In Working Class Central Oregon, a Hotel Devoted to Mindfulness

The city of Redmond is quietly distinguishing itself from neighboring Bend.

04/03/2023 By Allison Williams

Seattle Dining Guide

Brunch Is Back: Here Are 30 Seattle Favorites

A straight-up spree of waffles, bloody marys, french toast, and chilaquiles.

03/29/2023 By Allecia Vermillion With Allison Williams

And on your left

The Top Guided Tours of Seattle

You don’t have to be a newbie to appreciate a shrewd insider look at the city.

03/28/2023 By Allison Williams and Allecia Vermillion Illustrations by Ryan Snook

Look, honey!

Ranking Seattle's Tourist Traps

From the Space Needle to Smith Tower, just how cheesy are the city's biggest attractions?

03/23/2023 By Allison Williams

Road Warriors

How to Rent a Camper Van in Seattle

Four wheels, a bed, and the open road: Van life is within reach.

03/21/2023 By Allison Williams

Map Quest

A Road Trip from Fort Spokane to Kettle Falls

Deep in Central Washington, the mighty Columbia spreads itself into Lake Roosevelt, and a scenic highway traces its shores.

03/17/2023 By Allison Williams

Spring to It

Where to Hit the Slopes for the End of Ski Season

Goggle tans, jean-clad ski bros, and blue skies—spring skiing is here.

03/15/2023 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach and Allison Williams

not refreshing

New Reservation Systems Have Complicated Camping

First came the online systems for calling dibs on a campsite—then the ways to circumvent them. Who wins in the battle for a few square feet of dirt?

03/09/2023 By Allison Williams

Book It

Seattle Book Readings and Literary Events During AWP

A massive creative writing conference is coming to town, so it's time to party with the wordsmiths.

03/02/2023 By Allison Williams

Show-offs

Where to Take Tourists in Seattle

This is how Seattle Met editors show off the city to guests.

02/27/2023 By Allison Williams

Locals

Walking the Streets of the New Downtown Seattle

The city's core emerged from the pandemic with a burst of energy—and some old issues.

02/22/2023 By Allison Williams

Short Stops

Crystal Mountain's Famed Snorting Elk Bar Sold to New Owner

But the nachos aren't going anywhere at the classic post-ski spot.

02/21/2023 By Allison Williams

Well Curated

Seattle's Essential Museums

A guide to the artistic and cultural institutions that define our city’s past, present, and future.

02/20/2023 By Sophie Grossman, Zoe Sayler, Benjamin Cassidy, and Allison Williams

Cold sleep

How to Go Snow Camping in Washington State

Pitch a tent in a blizzard? Yep, really. Here's how.

02/17/2023 By Allison Williams

Destination Guide

Port Townsend: Where to Eat, What to Do, and Where to Stay

The Olympic Peninsula's prettiest town is here for a good time.

02/13/2023 By Allison Williams

Map Quest

A Road Trip through Out-of-the-Way Oregon

Partway between Portland and Bend, a quiet stretch of high desert holds a quirky escape.

02/07/2023 By Allison Williams

Short Stops

Whistler's Bobsled Ride Delivers Bone-Rattling Realism

Cue the Olympic fanfare and hold on tight.

01/30/2023 By Allison Williams

on the cheap

Portland's Hostels Bring Back Bunk Beds

Can luxe linens and rooftop bars make the shared-room model appeal to travelers beyond the backpacking set?

01/24/2023 By Allison Williams