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.

The Columbia River

Kiteboarding Sets Sail

But the Gorge-born sport isn’t taking the wind out of windsurfing.

07/24/2015 Photography by Allison Williams

The Columbia River

The Hardest Job on the Columbia

The giant ships of the Columbia River don't drive themselves.

07/24/2015 By Allison Williams

The Columbia River

A Brief History of the Columbia River

Impress your friends on your next trip with some historical trivia.

07/24/2015 By Allison Williams

Cover Story

The Complete Guide to the Columbia River

Where to hike, bike, paddle, stay, and eat along the state's mightiest waterway.

07/20/2015 By Allison Williams

Weekend Pass

Summer City Getaways: Portland vs. Vancouver

North or south? Vancouver or Portland? If your idea of summer vacation is scorching sidewalks and urban energy, choose your own adventure.

07/06/2015 By Allison Williams

Explainer

The Waterfront Returns from Seawall Sequester

The downtown piers reopen for business as the city’s actually successful project nears its end.

07/01/2015 By Allison Williams

Travel Dispatch

Northwest Travel News, Summer 2015

Where you’ll want to go, and what’s happening there.

06/10/2015 By Allison Williams

Questions Answered

A New Kind of Recovering Addict

One Seattle drug recovery program is changing the way we help drug users.

06/10/2015 By Allison Williams

Mountain Adventures

The Four Kinds of Washington Hikers

It’s okay if you recognize yourself.

06/09/2015 Illustrations by Eric Larsen By Allison Williams

Mountain Adventures

5 Places to Stay in Washington's Wilderness

These lodges are truly above it all.

06/08/2015 By Allison Williams

Mountain Adventures

Washington’s Kettle River Mountains: The Other Range

There’s another whole string of mountains on the other corner of the state.

06/08/2015 By Allison Williams

Mountain Adventures

The Other Outdoors

Four alternative ways to be a mountain person.

06/08/2015 By Allison Williams

Mountain Adventures

Day Hike Summits in Washington

You don't need expedition gear to get high.

06/08/2015 By Allison Williams

Mountain Adventures

You Climbed Rainier. BFD.

Does anyone still care about the state’s biggest mountain?

06/08/2015 By Allison Williams

Mountain Adventures

That Wimpy Winter Is Going to Mess with Our Summer

What the lack of snowpack will mean for the rest of year.

06/08/2015 By Allison Williams

Mountain Adventures

Washington's 6 Signature Mountains Are Waiting

Where to find them, how to climb them. This is how you reach the top of the world.

06/08/2015 By Allison Williams Illustrations by Eric Larsen

Backseat Climber

6 Great Mountain Drives

We give you no choice but to take the scenic route.

06/08/2015 By Allison Williams

Mountain Adventures

This Is Mountain Food

We’re talking gourmet meals, not trail mix.

06/08/2015 By Allison Williams

Cover Story

35 Mountain Adventures

Look up. We’re surrounded by the most dramatic mountains in the world. They’re home to glaciers and goats, meadows and ghost towns—some even erupt. It doesn’t take much to get high out here, but we can’t promise you’ll want to come back down.

06/01/2015 By Allison Williams

Local Rooms

Lusty Lady to Become a Boutique Hotel

Sleep over at the old peep show.

05/29/2015 By Allison Williams