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.

Open Secrets

The Top Things to See and Do Inside Mount Rainier National Park

More than two million people visited the park last year. How does a first-timer tackle its 369 square miles?

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Cover Story

The Secrets of Mount Rainier

The uncrowded campsites, tucked-away trails, rare wildlife, and hidden histories inside the crown jewel of the Cascades.

07/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Wild Life

Ballard's Ascent Outdoors Is Back from the Dead

The sudden April closure was a shock, but a local mountain guide is resurrecting the outdoor retail shop.

06/26/2019 By Allison Williams

Dock Watchers

Where to Spot Seattle's Most Venerable Vessels

These seven boats have illustrious histories.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams Illustrations by Jane Sherman

Cannonball

Great Swimming Holes within 2 Hours of Seattle

You don’t even need a boat for water hijinks—just hit the road to the region’s best swimming holes.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

Sailor Chic

6 Ways to Get the Nautical Look in Seattle

Seattle shops work that Gilligan’s Island style.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

Float On

How Seattle Folk Fit Boat Life into a Crowded City

From fold-up dinghies to commuting by kayak, we do what it takes.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

Art & Craft

This Tiny School Builds Boats the Old Way

Out on the Olympic Peninsula, the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding brings new life to seagoing tradition.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

All Aboard

Sail the Local Seas on These 8 Boat Rentals and Cruises

How to travel our waterways the easy way.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

Boat Town

Seattle Is Defined by Its Maritime Pastimes

From Ballard’s shipyards to the madcap chaos of Duck Dodge, our culture is shaped by the sea.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

SUMMER ON THE WATER

A Shipshape Guide to Boating in Seattle

Water is the city’s favorite playground—a place for sports, relaxation, even a creative commute. Come aboard with our guide to splashing around Seattle’s lakes, bays, and waterways.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams Photography by Tegra Stone Nuess

The Chosen Frozen

Taste These Next-Level Seattle Ice Creams

This summer’s best chilled treats put plain scoops to shame.

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

Cover Story

78 Ways to Make the Most of a Seattle Summer

Our season is short, but it’s full of promise. Here’s how to maximize the sunny spell.

05/29/2019 Edited by Allison Williams

Quote Unquote

Citizen University Founder Eric Liu Preaches the Good Word of Civic Engagement

"Democracy works only when enough of us believe democracy works. That’s it!”

05/29/2019 By Allison Williams

Tacoma, Ahoy!

A Tacoma–Seattle Ferry Route Could Soon Be a Thing

Is it time for a new golden age of Puget Sound ferry travel?

04/23/2019 By Allison Williams

Feature

Where on Earth Is Sam Sayers?

On a perfect summer day, a solo hiker went missing from a Cascade trail. A search ensued unlike anything the state of Washington has ever seen. Nine months later, the mystery has consumed the lives of thousands. Where did she go?

04/23/2019 By Allison Williams