Since joining Seattle Met in 2011, Allison Williams has overseen the magazine’s travel and outdoor coverage, and has contributed to all sections of the magazine. Allison was raised in Olympia and earned degrees from Duke University 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.

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