1 comments about Lonely Planet Washington, DC.

1. Just so no one else gets confused...this is a city guide of Washington DC, not a 'traditonal' Lonely Planet guide book. That having been said, I do love the small size of the book makes it a lot more handy to carry around. The content however is a little more heavy on the history of the town and little usless tidbits then on the what to do & where to go. Single paragraph discriptions of the various museums & attractions are good for an on the fly type book, but not so much for doing resarch on planning a trip.

   Of course there is so much in DC that I can understand the smallish descriptions, all in all, good to keep in the pocket when in town. 3 stars for not identifing it's self as a City Guide other then in the picture.

No comments about DC for Free, 3rd Revised Edition (D C for Free).

2 comments about Let's Go Washington, D.C. 13th Edition (Let's Go Washington, Dc).

1. I've always been a faithful Lonely Planet user, but my old standard didn't stack up to this Let's Go. Since it is the 2004 edition, it has much more updated info than LP, and I've only found one mistake so far (that being that a camping store supposedly located downtown is not there because it looks like they're turning that block into a parking garage). It's only other downfall that I've noticed is that it's a little heavy on the nightlife side, and I'd like to see more of the suggested walking tours that they have in the front of the book. Otherwise, it has my reccommendation!



2. I really enjoy the Let's Go series, and have used them as a college student traveling overseas, through graduation and during my work experience in eastern Europe.
   I was tranferred back to Washington, D.C., and thought of no better reference book for cool, interesting, and affordable (!) sightseeing and entertainment options in the area than Let's Go.
   
   This book, like all other books I've read in the Let's Go series, displays standard characterisitics:
   
   Strengths: lyrical, entertaining prose, wide range of places and things described, in both tastes and prices. Sometimes when I'm feeling a little "wanderlust," I'll glance over my Let's Go books from overseas trips and just enjoy the write-ups of local history and sights!
   
   Weaknesses: some things are out of date by the time the book is published, and I've found the indexes in the Let's Go books to be weak for the most part. You often can't find very common things in the index based on how you expect them to be listed. They are either in the index under an obscure heading, or simply not indexed. Minor qualm.
   
   Another nice feature of this book is that it is written with interns or recent graduates who are moving to the area for their first jobs in mind.
   
   So whether you're coming for a few days and want a guide book, moving for the summer as an intern, or perhaps taking up residence for an extended stay, I'd highly recommend this book.

No comments about Mountain Bike! Mid-Atlantic States: Charleston, SC to Washington, DC (America by Mountain Bike - Menasha Ridge).

No comments about Washington DC (Eyewitness Travel Guide).

5 comments about Fodor's Washington, D.C. with Kids, 3rd Edition (Special-Interest Titles).

1. While this is a great guide for parents, it is particularly helpful for those who may not have children at these ages. An Aunt, Grandmother, family friend who wants to spend time with children but doesn't know where to start and may not have a crew of friends with children needs this book. It can be the beginning of really great time with and for the children and adults together.



2. I found that this book was an interesting and direct source of information that helped me to find places to visit as well as how to get there. It is a wealth of information for where to take kids of all ages that would be of interest to them in Washington, D.C. I found it helpful also to know the phone numbers to be able to call about questions that I might have before visiting the places. I would highly recommend this book to anyone such as teachers or parents who are interested in taking kids to the Washington,D.C. area.



3. This guide may be good at highlighting attractions, but it's woefully impractical for real-life touring.
   
   We used--or, I should say, tried to use--this guide on a recent trip to Washington, D.C., and we wound up very frustrated with it. We were attempting to do as much as we could by Metro and taking the car only when it was practical and necessary. We followed the guide for Metro stops and wound up walking, sometimes miles, with two young kids (aged 6 and 3).
   
   For instance, we took the Metro to the zoo, got off at the stop recommended in the book and had an uphill walk for more than a mile. Someone told us later that there would have been ample parking, had we driven. I wish the guide had mentioned it. Another time, we followed the instructions on which Metro stop to use for the Lincoln Memorial. We popped out of the station onto a street filled with mainly government office buildings and no signs directing us to the memorial, which, again, was a long hike away. (A kind man saw our "lost" looks, asked if we were looking for the memorial and pointed the way there.) We found out from locals that it would have been better to have taken Metro stops along the Mall--possibly the same distance but with more diversions, like a carousel and grass to run around on, for youngsters.
   
   This is not a trivial complaint when you're dealing with kids. And, given that this book is specifically about touring D.C. with kids, I would have expected the authors to do better.
   
   By the time we were leaving, it had become a joke to consult the book's maps and station recommendations. We came to the conclusion that whatever it recommended, we should do something else.



4. I ordered this book to help plan a trip to Dc for my family. I was excellent. This book was also passed to our high school principal who used this book for a personnel trip to DC. This was his favorite book to use for learning about DC.
   
   I found this book VERY valuable and will be used for future trips to the area.



5. Authors' tone indicates they are clearly amazed by Washington DC, but this doesn't translate into any new or interesting information about the city for visitors. Lots of info out of date.

3 comments about Riches, Rivals, And Radicals: 100 Years of Museums in America.

1. For a book on art museums - the photos are pretty darn poor quality.
   As a coffee table book - you would be embarassed.
   Of course if you are really into museums, and I admit to be, there is some content here worth reading. However, it definitely could have used an editor. It reminds one of Mark Twain's "I didn't have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one." As in we hurried this out to market, put little effort into it, and hope it will sell to well-heeled customers that won't care or have much time to read it anyway.
   
   So for those that LOVE the subject matter - 3 stars, for those that are only mildly interested - beware.



2. Schwarzer deftly gathers threads from many sources, weaving together a beautiful, inspiring tapestry of museum work. Perhaps what is most fun about this book is that you'll find your own history here... waiting in line as a teenager to see King Tut, going on a field trip to see Juno the Transparent Woman at the Cleveland Health Education Museum, or recognizing a favorite diorama from these richly illustrated pages.
   
   The book is coffee-table beautiful, while its soft-cover price makes it affordable. The gorgeous design showcases the amazing photographs, unearthed from a variety of archives. The photos bring the text to life, as Schwarzer spins tales of brave souls dedicated to the craft of museums. Schwarzer clearly loves museums, warts and all, and she showcases how museums and interpretive sites have served America by saving our culture, teaching hundreds of thousands of children, showcasing diversity, supporting the war effort in World War II, and healing spirits after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A must-read for anyone in the museum (or cultural) field.



3. If you want to learn more about museums in America without getting museum fatigue, this is your book. It is a good read, wonderfully informative and offers rare insight into the factors that made American museums what they are today - not just the broader social/historical context but also the individuals and colorful personalities. The text, photos and quotes are all chosen with care and the book is beautifully produced while being affordable.

No comments about Michelin Green Guide Washington D.C. (Michelin Green Guides).

No comments about ADC The Map People 2005 Greater Washington, DC: Street Map Book (8th Edition).

1 comments about Fodor's Washington D.C.'s 25 Best, 6th Edition (25 Best).

1. I haven't been to Washington, DC yet to use the book so I'll have to complete the review after the trip