There's nothing like getting out of town, even for a day, and Magnolia resident Fiona O'Leary is trying to make it easier than ever for Seattleites to get out and explore their city's backyard.

This July, with the help of Fremont's Freelock Computing, O'Leary launched Cool Day Trips, a website dedicated to reviewing, rating and enabling the best day trips the city has to offer.

"The thing that makes Seattle truly unique is the high concentration of great day trips within the immediate area," said O'Leary, who spends many weekends taking trips.

O'Leary said she was inspired to create Cool Day Trips out of a desire to combine her passion for website development with her enthusiasm for exploring the local area.

"You come back to the city feeling rejuvenated," she said. "It's almost like taking a mini vacation."

Day trips can be a great way to relax and unwind, but it is often difficult to know where to go and if it the destination will be worth the trip, O'Leary said. said.

Cool Day Trips includes recommendations, reader reviews and rankings of the best day trips in the area. It also includes maps, directions and instructions on what to do at each destination.

Users can search trips using criteria such as "Romantic Getaways" or "Best Islands." And, the site includes lists of the best overnight accommodations for anyone wanting to expand their day trip.

"The website does all the hard work for you," O'Leary said.

As a newly professional day tripper, O'Leary has a good idea of what makes a great day trip.

"I love seeing something completely different and unexpected, like a spectacular glacier or a fascinating historic town" she said. "I was just up at Paradise, Mt. Rainier a few weeks ago when much of the snow had melted and the surrounding meadows were in full bloom. It was absolutely magical."