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.

Pets

The Seattle Pet Owner's Guide

From play places to cat cafes to pet psychics, here’s everything an animal lover needs to know.

04/17/2017 By Allison Williams Illustrations by Kiki Kita

Seattle Pet Guide

Why Is It So Hard to Open a Cat Cafe?

Coffee and kitties are a dream come true—but turning that combination into a business is way harder than you might think.

04/17/2017 By Allison Williams

Seattle Pet Guide

At Seattle Humane, 7,000 Dogs and Cats Get New Homes Every Year

Hold the Kleenex: Things aren't so dire at this no-kill animal shelter.

04/17/2017 By Allison Williams

Who We Are

Books Are Dead. Long Live Books!

Three-quarters of Seattle readers prefer paper books to ebooks. We didn’t kill print after all.

02/23/2017 By Allison Williams

Who We Are

What It Really Means to Be a Seattleite in 2017

Can you feel it? Something is shifting in Seattle. But we’re not talking tectonic transformation. We’re talking about a subtle realignment of how we see ourselves.

02/23/2017 By Matt Halverson With Allison Williams and Josh Feit

Who We Are

What It Really Means to Be a Seattleite in 2017

Can you feel it? Something is shifting in Seattle. But we’re not talking tectonic transformation. We’re talking about a subtle realignment of how we see ourselves.

02/22/2017 By Matthew Halverson With Josh Feit and Allison Williams

Travel

Cuba and Seattle Just Got a Lot Closer

Vintage cars, Caribbean breezes, the famed Hemingway mojito: now just a flight away on Alaska Airlines. But Cuba is more complicated than that.

02/20/2017 By Allison Williams and Alison Klein

Sanctuary City

Visit Seattle Has a Message About Protest (and You Know the Tune)

A new video shows the world how mayor Ed Murray's "Shine a Light" initiative lit up Seattle.

02/08/2017 By Allison Williams

Weekend Pass

Escape to Canada: How to Spend a Weekend in Vancouver

The whole world is right across the border—oh, along with a brand new, unmentionable tower.

01/23/2017 By Allison Williams

Inauguration 2017

Sally Jewell Has Left the Building

Obama’s Secretary of the Interior is returning to Seattle. We asked her where that leaves America’s public lands.

01/20/2017 By Allison Williams

Environment

The Northwest Is Now "The Thin Green Line" of Blocking Coal Exports

Our local policies in Washington have global environmental impact.

01/19/2017 By Allison Williams

Silver Linings

Planned Parenthood Is Back on Defense. Just the Way They Like It.

The local CEO is ready for the fight over reproductive health services.

01/19/2017 By Allison Williams

Travel

The Seattleite’s Ultimate Guide to Hawaii

Come explore Hawaii’s four main islands with us, each with its own distinct vibe, perfect for Pacific Northwesterners.

12/20/2016 By Allison Williams and Ethan Chung

Ultimate Hawaii Guide

The Seattleite’s Guide to Kauai

What to do on the outdoorsy, green, out-of-the-way island

12/20/2016 By Allison Williams

Ultimate Hawaii Guide

Where to Find Aloha in Seattle

Get the Hawaiian spirit without boarding a flight.

12/20/2016 By Allison Williams

Ultimate Hawaii Guide

The Canlis-Hawaii Connection

Seattle’s fine dining has a tiki soul and an island past.

12/20/2016 By Allison Williams

Ultimate Hawaii Guide

Where to Buy Hawaiian-Made Leis Right Here in Seattle

Plus seven things you probably didn’t know about floral neckwear.

12/20/2016 By Allison Williams

Ultimate Hawaii Guide

The Seattleite’s Guide to Maui

What to do on the sandy, relaxing, legendary island.

12/20/2016 By Allison Williams

Ultimate Hawaii Guide

The Seattleite’s Guide to Oahu

What to do on the urban, surf-crazy, history-up-close island.

12/20/2016 By Allison Williams

Getaway Guide

The Seattleite’s Ultimate Guide to Hawaii

Come explore Hawaii’s four main islands with us, each with its own distinct vibe, perfect for Pacific Northwesterners.

12/19/2016 By Allison Williams and Ethan Chung