5 comments about Lonely Planet Washington, DC.

1. An easily portable and thoroughly user friendly compendium of invaluable information on America's capital, "Washington, DC: City Guide" offers more than maps, but provides a complete introduction to the city in terms of its nightlife, arts, history, sights, and memorials. Of special note is the section on the 'National Mall'. Whether the traveler is in Washington for business or pleasure, this outstanding and very highly recommended guide offers descriptive recommendations for walking and biking tours, dining establishments, bars, entertainment, activities, shopping, sleeping, and excursions. Enhanced with the inclusion of a directory, an index, and maps, "Washington, DC: City Guide" is the ideal companion when planning a stay in one of the most dynamic of America's major cities.



2. Good book, lots of detail, good maps, good details of accomodation (though this is a bit pointless in the internet age I think), food options... just a standard, good LP. If you like format of LP you'll like this.



3. I took this book with me on a one week trip to DC. I was mightily disappointed. It started with the trip from the airport. I had to pre-plan on the internet, which took awhile, because the book offers no advice for getting from BWI or Dulles into DC.
   
   There is no useful information on how to get around DC, most notably to the Jefferson, Lincoln and FDR Memorials. It wasn't until the end of the trip that I figured out what options there were for public transportation to this end of the mall and the Tidal Basin. A good guidebook should guide you, not make you search all week for the answer.
   
   The authors apparently used a car to get around. Lots of info on parking spaces. So if you're traveling by car (fat chance at hotel parking being $41 a night), this book might be for you.
   
   The restaurant listings dwell excessively on expensive places to eat. Mostly with bad food. I guess if you can afford to park in DC, you can afford to spend $50 on a bad dinner.
   
   Contrary to another reviewer below, the book seemed to be entirely without opinion, at least where it was needed. But this has been a pattern at LP lately. The Air and Space Museum? Feels like walking into a museum that hasn't been changed since 1986. All the guys walking around with sub-machine guns strapped over their shoulders? Makes you feel like you're visiting El Salvador. And the 'bag checks' at the Smithsonians, one after another, each making you hold your bag in a specific way unique to each security guard. Those would be useful opinions.
   
   You can get just as much useful information as contained in this book (actually more) from the DC's visitors websites.



4. I went for a vacation in Washington DC for a week. This book kept me going. I had a little problem with their updates (the walking tour for Embassy Row still lists a certain mansion as the Pakistani Embassy, but it turns out that the embassy moved somewhere else back in 2005, a good two years ago). But aside from that, things were still well-covered.
   
   I disagree with the previous reviewer saying that there were no directions from BWI or IAD, but p. 263 gives the information about this. Regarding public transportation in the National Mall and Tidal Basin, there aren't a lot of options, but all the available options were given in the extensive maps at the back of the book. One really should prepare for large amounts of walking for this area of the city. And regarding the parking spaces, the book also gives information about how to get to places using public transportation, for every time that they give information about parking spaces. So I do not see why it can be concluded that the authors researched this using a car.
   
   A travel guide is just that, just a guide. It shouldn't be mistaken for a tour operator. One should not rely on it a hundred percent. It simply gives suggestions on where to go and what to visit. For my purposes, it served its purpose well.



5. Being a travel junky I found this guidebook very valuable. Some points:
   
   1. It has color maps all located in the same place (back of the book). On the backside of each map is an index with a page reference! So you see the map, you flip and find the attraction/restaurant/whatever, and you go to the referenced page for more info. This is invaluable since the last thing I like doing is flipping through maps embedded throughout a book only to not get any information on what's around me.
   
   2. Did I mention the maps? There is also a subway map overlay on each map so you can plan getting there and getting back. There's also a complete map at the very back.
   
   3. It's a compact book. This is a BIG deal. Lug around a monstrous book for a day and you'll be ripping out unneeded pages later that night (which is a good idea anyway, really). This guide was slim and fit nicely in an outside pocket. Just enough history to occupy the time on the subway, not so much as to displace Washington's biography.
   
   4. It's a well built book. Bend it, fold it, get it wet. It's going to stay together and readable. While weathered guide books held together with rubber bands show some flair, it's no good when you're standing there on a corner with pages falling all over.
   
   Overall a highly recommended guide book. I try and find the best overall guide book for whatever my destination and keep coming back to the Lonely Planet.

2 comments about Fodor's Around Washington, D.C. with Kids, 5th Edition (Around the City with Kids).

1. I purchased this book after getting a great deal on a hotel in a posh DC neighborhood. While I was excited about the hotel, I was quite concerned about finding affordable, child-friendly places to eat in the area. I chose this guide because along with descriptions of kid appropriate attractions, it recommends nearby eateries. The recommended places to eat were just what I needed to keep our daytime food expenses reasonable. Be warned that many of the recommended attractions are either seasonal or too far from public transportation to reach on foot (we traveled pre-Memorial Day and swore not to drive in DC traffic after parking our car at our hotel). Also, you'll need a separate map because only street addresses are provided. Otherwise, it was a helpful, compact travel book that paid for itself in meal money saved.



2. My 10 year old son loves this book and so do I! It tells us the important stuff, location, contact info, prices, ages & hours. It also gives us little things like places to eat and fun other thing to notice and do while we are at each place. We LOVE this book!

4 comments about Moon Pacific Northwest Camping: The Complete Guide to Tent and RV Camping in Washington and Oregon (Moon Outdoors).

1. As indicated by reviewers of earlier editions, the Moon Outdoors (previously Foghorn Outdoors) series of campground guides is not without flaws. Even so, we know of no directories which do a better job of addressing campground aesthetics than these wonderful guides. In our experience, the look and feel of a campground is often the single greatest factor influencing the quality of a camping experience . . . and the factor totally ignored by nearly all other campground guides.
   
   There are a number of directories which rate facilities, provide directions, tell you how to make reservations and give you an idea of the cost for a night's stay in a specific campground. This series gives similar basic information and then goes beyond that. This guides from Moon Outdoors actually gives you a feel of what it is like to stay in a specific campground - a bit of a narrative description and a "scenic beauty rating" for each campground plus information about nearby recreation opportunities. We like that a lot.
   
   Have we found instances where we liked a campground more or less than the book's author? Of course. Tastes differ and things change over time. Even so, we would rather have an admittedly subjective rating of a campground's intangibles than to have nothing to go on but a recitation of facts and figures.
   
   Are the Moon Outdoors Guides the only ones we use? No. But they are ALWAYS the first place we turn when selecting a destination campground.



2. If you camp this is the book to have, espcially if you tent camp and want to find all the small campgrounds. I love finding all the tent campgrounds, this is the definite book for the NW.
   five stars is not enough for the work that went into thsi book.



3. This book arrived in A-1 condition, and in a timely manner. I recommend this seller.



4. My husband enjoy going on camping adventures, and we use all of Tom Stienstra's camping books like bibles. I have noted only one mistake on his California book, but on the whole they are useful and informative.
   We plan a trip up the California coast to Oregon, then to Washington.
   We plan to tent camp all the way using his books. We did it before a few years ago and it worked out great. I strongly recommend this book or any of his books to anyone who wants to have fun, cheap, exciting adventures camping!

3 comments about Frommer's Washington State (Frommer's Complete).

1. I found this to be an excellent user friendly, tradtional tourist guide book. However, it was published in 1998 and would be better if updated. It offers "The best of" in more than a dozen categories such as restaurants, B&Bs, hikes, etc which gives good starting points for trip planning. Phone numbers and web site address are available to obtain more detailed information on areas of interest. A map of "Washington State Driving Times " was very helful since we have found that in unfamiliar locations, driving times are sometimes easy to misfigure based only on milage.

   Like other Frommer's guide books that I have used, I find this type of advice the best because it lists good choices from expensive to budget. For an average family tourist, this book is an excellent general guide.




2. This book is a Gem! We found it highly informative, accurate, and useful on our recent trip to Seattle and Ocean Shores, Washington. The book provides the essentials without being too wordy. Interesting tidbits galore! One example of the book's usefulness was a recommendation to dine at Ocean Crest Resort in Moclips because "you won't find a more spectacular view anywhere on the Washington coast." Well, from the outside, this Resort is nothing special. In fact, were it not for the book, we never would have thought of stopping there. But are we glad. What a view! Dense trees, framing an ocean view, with a winding wooden staircase leading in erratic zig zags down to the beach below. It was worth the cost of the book! ....



3. We only cracked this book open for comparisons to the Moon book and found Frommers lacking. Frommers had very few suggestions if any in the smaller towns for lodging and eating. Carried info only on the expensive restaurants and lodging :(

2 comments about Best Hikes With Kids: Western Washington & the Cascades (Best Hikes with Kids).

1. I have purchased several copies of this book, everytime a new edition comes out actually. I can't believe I am the first to review it. If you are a parent and you are new to hiking with kids in the western Washington region this will probably be the only book you need. It is superbly written, with great details on the hike itself,knowing ahead of time what difficulty level you are facing is a must in my opinion, as well as directions on how to find the trail head, tips and tricks to hiking with your children in a way that you will all enjoy it and so much more. I highly reccomend this book, you will not be disapointed.



2. It is the most accurate rated hiking book I've owned (I have alot) and most used I would also say its an accurate place to start if your out of shape the ratings are realistic you dont feel like your regretting it half way threw the hike You finish without feeling like the only thing you lost is a few pounds (not your mind or breath) your kids arent whinning and are ready for the next one!!!!

3 comments about Weird Washington: Your Travel Guide to Washington's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets (Weird).

1. Weird Washington by Jeff Davis and Al Eufrasio is a truly remarkable and valuable book for tourists,affcianados of the unusual and all those interested in the wonders of Washington State. It includes items on The Maury Island UFO Incident, DB Cooper, The Seattle Museum of The Mysteries, Mel's Hole, famous hauntings.Thornewood Castle, and even the grave-sites of Bruce and Brandon Lee. It is informative and factual, and has great pictures. Its not flaky in any way. It would make a great gift to anyone who is new to Washington or appreciates the amazing things the state has to offer.



2. Perfect fill the time reading and learn at the same time book. Good for out of time guest or for one to appear as well-knowledged to out of town visitors. Also great for the bathroom office( a good thing).



3. This is a great book for people that like to know lots of strange things about places where the live.

4 comments about Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to and Living in Seattle (Newcomer's Handbooks).

1. The latest edition of THE NEWCOMER'S HANDBOOK FOR MOVING TO AND LIVING IN SEATTLE is a book intended for people moving to the area, but even people who are not going there may enjoy it. It describes in full the best and worst neighborhoods, schools, shopping, dining, and fitness opportunities in the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, as well as their surrounding suburbs. This book is more up to date than the last edition, so it's worth checking out and getting rid of your old edition.



2. This book was most complete of any I have seen so far, author certainly must have deep knowledge of Seattle area. Lots of tidbits that were completely unexpected!



3. The book is filled with lots of info, though I don't think it is much more updated than the older version (also very useful)



4. This book has served as an outstanding relocation-tool during our move to Greater Seattle region. It's well-organized and provides thorough information for multiple neighborhoods. The author covers various aspects of everyday life, such as neighborhood profile, commute, schools, dining, and shopping etc. Although it covers suburbs of Bellevue, Redmond, Everett, Kenmore, Bothell and Tacoma etc., but the coverage for suburbs is not as extensive as for the city of Seattle. I wish the author had covered Eastside in a little more detail.
   
   I would rate the material "Five Star", but deducting one for no color, few maps, and no pictures. The author has done an amazing job, if the publisher can follow some style elements for color and pictures from DK Publishing, it could make this guide an undisputed leader. Even after living for a year in Seattle suburbs, I still use it as a reference document and every time I learn something new and interesting. For example, I recently learned about the business partnership between Seattle PI and Seattle Times, and where does the NE (North East - e.g. NE 145th St.) starts etc.
   
   I strongly recommend this book to all new comers to Seattle area. If I ever decide to relocate again, I will never do so without buying any such guide as it certainly makes learnings straightforward and relocation a little less stressful.
   
   PS: I personally own the 2nd edition, the content for both editions is worth every penny.

2 comments about Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. This was the first guidebook I purchased when planning a trip to Washington, DC. Frommers always covers the bases and this book is no exception. Hotels, restaurants, local attractions, and more are all covered here. I also found the "Best" lists that Frommers always includes to be useful. It helps me zoom in on the best of the best experiences when time is short on a trip.
   
   The problem I had with the book is that the level of detail for many of these entries was lacking. Hotels get a nice write up but the vast majority of those covered are above the budget for a typical traveler. The information on the tourist attractions also seems fairly comprehensive... until you compare it to the The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C. (Unofficial Guides) and realize how much more clear and complete that guide is. While I used this guide for the early stages of planning, it was my frustration with it that prompted me to look at other books and I ultimately stopped using this one and didn't even bring it with me on the trip. The Unofficial Guide has roughly 100 pages of additional content and none of it is filler.
   
   In closing, this is not a bad guidebook for Washington, DC. Most of the basics are covered competently and I'm sure a lot of people have used it and been satisfied. Once you read the Unofficial Guide, however, you'll realize just how much useful information is left out of the Frommers Guide.



2. Excellantly laid out with invaluable "tips". Could not have planned my 6-day vacation without it.

2 comments about Not for Tourists 2008 Guide to Seattle (Not for Tourists Guidebook).

1. Amazing breakdowns of the neighborhoods - color maps, lists and locations of businesses and more. Nice glossy pages and more info than a short-term visitor could ever use - we bought it as a relocation guide and it has paid of in dividends for us! It helped us decide on which neighborhood to live in, helped us find businesses and services, and showed us fun places to eat and hang out. Use it for visiting but remember that it is also a fantastic book full of info to help you move to Seattle!



2. I gave the book, 'Not for Tourists' as a gift and it was received with much interest and delight. The book is very informative, covering various districts in and around Seattle. The information is very detailed and acurate, with good readable maps, great information about the many areas that it covers and a fun book to browse through. I've lived in Seattle for many years and it was great fun reading through this delightful book. I will be purchasing 'Not for Tourists' for my self.

5 comments about Top 10 Seattle (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. We took a few days off before attending a business meeting in the Seattle area. I wanted a short-and-sweet guidebook that would direct me to the places I most needed to see (expected destinations like Pike Place Market), as well as a few less obvious places to go. Since I couldn't spend very long in town, I wanted something small and portable enough to stuff in my purse. Top 10 Seattle did a good job at this goal.
   
   In addition to the top ten overall spots, and in some cases the top ten at each spot (such as the most important places to see at the aforementioned market), the book covers each of the major neighborhoods, with recommendations in each one. Not all of them are "tourist" spots, either; for instance, it directs you to walk a few blocks off Broadway (where I was staying) to check out the architecture of area homes. That was good advice, and I wouldn't have ventured that way on my own.
   
   Each neighborhood gets restaurant recommendations, too; we relied on it for one or two meals and were generally pleased. There's also shopping recommendations, though I didn't explore them as much.
   
   The book also has very clear maps, which was definitely appreciated, though I'm not sure how helpful they'd be if you go outside their major areas of focus.
   
   Where the book falls down is in the details. Not the info on each site (it's tiny, that's what I wanted) but in logistics. If it's 10am on Sunday, which of these places will be open? Should I go downtown on the off-chance that the museum is open? The book gave me no guidance.
   
   Nonetheless, this was a good book to carry along on a short trip. I'd do it again.



2. If you need a quick answer for places to go and enjoy in Seattle, this book will be a good and low cost reference guide. Am planning to go to Seattle, will take it with me.



3. We have been fans of all the Top 10 books...Washington DC, NYC, et al
   
   It provides money-saving tips for budget-minded travelers of one, two or family with children(food, accomodations, etc). The book helps you be time-wise for sightseeing for one, two or family with children. Definitely recommend to all travelers. We look forward to our Seattle trip. Will be our first time in the great North West!



4. Seattle is a great cosmopolitan city. The books in this series are usually excellent. This one is sub par, it doesn't do the city justice. It's o.k. if you want info concentrated on one city, but you'll gleen as many insights from the Chamber of Commerce visitor information.
   
   I was disappointed in the book, not the city.



5. Invaluable tool for our trip to Seattle over New Year's. Helpful info and pictures, fit our tastes to a tee.