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

Hilary Franz Has Her Eye on Public Lands—and Beyond

Washington's commissioner of public lands reimagined wildfire fighting and isn't ruling out a run for higher office.

01/23/2023 By Allison Williams

Heat is on

A Floating Sauna Hides in the Vancouver Island Wilderness

The unusual retreat near Tofino redefines getting away from it all.

01/17/2023 By Allison Williams

Late Checkout

Checking In at Some of the Best Hotels in Washington

We linger at a mountain spa, a city lobby, and other favorite overnight spots.

12/21/2022 By Allison Williams

Short Stops

A New Gourmet Food Stop Elevates Snoqualmie Pass

Laconia Market brought the gourmet sandwiches and fancy sodas we didn't know we needed after a day of skiing.

12/19/2022 By Allison Williams

Map Quest

A Road Trip Through the Columbia River Gorge

When winter descends, the north side of the Oregon border sets a not-so-snowy route to Eastern Washington.

11/22/2022 By Allison Williams

Snow Business

Volunteers Patrol the Slopes at Washington Ski Mountains

The crucial duties of ski patrol, from emergency care to chairlift rescues, are mostly done by unpaid workers at local mountains—even at for-profit resorts.

11/18/2022 By Allison Williams

Feature

The Ancient Spirit That Settled in Small-Town Washington

An hour south of Seattle, JZ Knight channels a god-like warrior named Ramtha. To outsiders it can look like a cult, a religion, a 40-year-long fake. Clearly, something otherworldly has come to a sleepy corner of Thurston County.

11/15/2022 By Allison Williams Illustrations by Jonathan Bartlett

Short Stops

The Fighting Forts of Puget Sound

A single day trip to Forts Casey, Worden, and Flagler bounces from history to nature and back again.

11/14/2022 By Allison Williams

Turkey Travel

Hotels for a Vacation Thanksgiving

Make the long weekend a vacation without dishes.

11/10/2022 By Allison Williams

The house of mouse

How to Take a Disney Vacation from Seattle

The big question: Disneyland or Disney World, California or Florida?

11/04/2022 By Allison Williams

Snow Plans

The Washington Ski Season Pass Guide for 2022–23

Changes are afoot at the buffet of buy-once, ski-all-winter tickets.

10/31/2022 By Allison Williams

Quote Unquote

Jo Koy Impersonates His Mom All the Way to the Tacoma Dome

With a new movie and a series of Netflix comedy specials under his belt, our homegrown stand-up has learned a little about being specifically American.

10/25/2022 By Allison Williams

Map Quest

A Fall Color Road Trip through Central Washington

A road trip to Wenatchee heads past iconic larch trees to rich fruit orchards.

10/21/2022 By Allison Williams

No Layover

How a New Direct Flight Lands at Sea-Tac

Our airport has more new routes than ever. How do we end up with so many global connections?

10/11/2022 By Allison Williams

Fall Wine

Washington Wine Levels Up

An escape to wine country never looked so good.

10/10/2022 By Sean P. Sullivan, Allecia Vermillion, and Allison Williams Photography by Brooke Fitts and Amber Fouts

First-Timer’s Guide

Walla Walla Travel Basics

The when, why, and how of visiting Washington’s signature wine country—even as a total newbie.

10/10/2022 By Allison Williams

Fall Wine

How Hotels Are Changing in Walla Walla

Then: Land of chain accommodations and one classic high-rise. Now: Blossoming resort town in wine country.

10/10/2022 By Allison Williams

Extremely online

How the Department of Natural Resources Won Social Media

A Washington state agency's Twitter and Instagram are going viral with wholesome memes.

09/21/2022 By Allison Williams

Trail Tales

Mailbox Peak Is Seattle's Quirkiest Hike

You’ve got mail: One of the hardest trails on the I-90 corridor also holds the weirdest summit treat.

09/16/2022 By Taylor McKenzie Gerlach

Cheers?

The Duel of the Oktoberfests

Two festivals are raising a toast in Central Washington—and one of them isn't in Leavenworth at all.

09/14/2022 By Allison Williams