A new "daycation" website places Alki above the rest. It is www.cooldaytrips.com and is operated by Magnolia resident Fiona Gardella. A former Microsoft employee from Adelaide, Australia she loves day-tripping with her rubber soles. That means many West Seattle residents searching for a quick trip are already here.

Full disclosure: While Alki has so far earned four out of five stars, it is the closest of the 61 destinations listed to downtown Seattle, at a mere 7 miles, edging out Bainbridge Island by 2.3 miles. Walla Walla ranks last, at 272.6 miles. High-ranking destinations include Deception Pass, 82.8 miles from downtown, and Roslyn, about the same distance.

Dining options in Alki listed include Dukes Chowder house, Siam Pura Thai Restaurant, Slices Pizza, Celtic Swell and Salty's.

"I created the starting point but want the community to build on it and refine it," said Gardella, whose site encourages viewers to suggest restaurants, shops, and bed & breakfasts. She said she is doing this website out of a passion.

"First and foremost is people finding my site useful and deriving benefit from it," she said, adding, "Than I might start thinking about other things, like pushing display ads."

Gardella links the day tripping trend to the challenging economy, but pointed out that you can plan an affordable, extended weekend trip using her suggested destinations in combinations. She also encourages exploring the relatively nearby northwest spots year-round.

"I enjoy viewing the Pacific Coast beach destinations in all seasons," she said. "The beaches around Olympic National Park are rugged and come into their own in winter."

A newlywed, Gardella and her husband honeymooned on New Zealand's South Island. While it was of course even further afield than Walla Walla, she was drawn to the exotic location because, she said, "With its glaciers, ocean views and wooded areas it is reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest."