2 comments about Walking Seattle.

1. If you're new to the city or even a longtimer who always wanted to explore the colorful districts of this town on the Sound, Walking Seattle by John Owen is your best guide by leaps and bounds. you won't just read about the sights and sounds of Seattle, but also its origins and beginnings, from the first day of commerce at the Pike Place Market. Most of the city's great walks are covered quite well--the Market, Ballard, the Arboretum, Alki, Diswcovery Park, the Locks. Fremont is the perfect foil for Owen's quirky brand of humor. All in all, Owen won't lead you off course



2. This is the perfect guide for exploring the city on foot, although Seattle has changed since the book was written 5 years ago. The maps are clear, the directions precise, the information interesting, the organization flawless. There were no major problems even when places had changed (an Italian restaurant en route which was now Chinese...), but an update would be nice. Highly recommended.

No comments about Yakima, Washington (Images of America).

1 comments about A Shunpiker's Guide to the Northeast: Washington to Boston Without Turnpikes or Interstates.

1. If you have hesitated to leave the Interstates on your trip along the NE corridor, then this book is invaluable. It provides exact routes winding through scenic countryside and towns, and also offers recommendations for eateries and unusual points of interest. The book is a great resource if you want to, say, bike from New York to Boston, but you aren't sure how to reduce your exposure to the 18-wheelers and other hazards of modern road travel. This is all presented in a portable and easily understood format, with maps and directions. One of my favorite routes is from New York to Baltimore, all taken on quiet roads. Even if you use this book for a single trip, it will pay for itself by rewarding you with charming towns, and some places that are pretty bland, but accompanied by rolling hills and splendid vistas around every turn.

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

1. I first bought the 3rd edition several years ago when I went back to DC as a part-time museum intern. On my extremely limited budget, this handy book of maps proved indispensable both for me personally, and on the job during assignments as a fill-in concierge. One look at the well-worn cover and others recognized its usefulness as well.
   
   Maps primarily focus on areas of interest for tourism, embassies, and the downtown business core including The Mall. The two maps of Metro (the subway) show the full metro area system and downtown, the latter of which is detailed enough to show the multiple entrances for each stop down to which side of street. Certain sites and areas rate their own special maps, like the three area airports, the core Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, the White House, historic Alexandria, Georgetown, Embassy Row, and several others. Like the others in the Flashmaps series, there are separate maps identifying hotels, restaurants, transportation, shopping, and other general areas of interest; hotels and restaurants do have a price guide range identified by dollar signs. The WWII Memorial was built/completed after the 6th edition came out, so it does not appear on the maps yet.
   
   The book consists entirely of maps. If you're looking for sight-seeing blurbs containing verbose details, buy an additional resource since this book contains none. If you're visiting Northern Virginia and/or Maryland, I recommend buying additional map(s) (especially if you're driving) as these areas are not covered in depth.
   
   As hotels have changed hands, embassies have moved, and phone numbers are no longer the same, last year I opted to purchase the 6th edition. Even knowing my way around, this book is still as helpful during my annual return trips as when I first bought it.

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

3 comments about Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Washington, D.C. (Irreverent Guides).

1. If you don't have a cousin living in D.C. this guide is the next best thing. It's good scoop from a native. I enjoy visiting the District and this book has helped me get beyond the mall to new places of interests. I especially appreciate the info on safety, given that other guides are squeamish about this subject.



2. I've only briefly skimmed through this book, basically because I didn't see any information that would be particularly helpful. Granted, that could be because I already own and have read "The Insider's Guide to Washington, D.C." and "Frommer's Washington, D.C." I would recommend both of those books over "The Irreverent Guide." I bought this book thinking it might provide me with a more honest, less deferential review of things, letting me know what really was and wasn't worth my time. However, I haven't seen anything new or particularly different about this book. This book would do the job, but the other books are much more thorough, and I would recommend either one of them instead.



3. Now in an updated sixth edition, Irreverent Guide to Washington D.C. is a travel and tourism guide that cuts through useless promotion to give the straight scoop on Washington D.C.'s attractions, accommodations, dining, shopping, night life, and much more. Maps, memorials, directions, radio stations, tip recommendations, an index for quick lookup, and much more fill this no-nonsense, accessible and easy-to-read guide. Of especial interest is the "You Probably Didn't Know" section filled with advice about how the locals handle things - from the strict efficiency with which parking violations are prosecuted to the D.C. etiquette of standing only on the right side of an escalator so that those who wish to walk may climb up the left side. A "must-have" for anyone visiting D.C., whether for business or pleasure.

No comments about Seattle Birds: An Introduction to Familiar Species in King County.

3 comments about Moon Handbooks San Juan Islands: Including Victoria and the Gulf Islands.

1. The latest addition to the "Moon Handbooks" travel guide series, San Juan Islands: Including Victoria And The Gulf Islands is a travel guide precisely written by Don Pitcher for vacationers looking to make their own travel and entertainment choices by create a unique and personalized travel plan suited entirely and specifically to their own personal tastes. With key information on accommodations, activities, points of interest, transportation, history, climate, and more of each island, San Juan Islands is an excellent travel planning and guidebook resource which is especially recommended as a quick and easy reference.



2. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in traveling to the San Juan Islands. It gives helpful advice on everything from hotels to restaurants to activities. It has more indepth information than most other travel books. I found their recommendations on ferry travel very useful. Highly recommend.



3. Book is packed with useful information for traveling in the San Juan Islands. Includes a number of islands and how to get there. Topics cover a variety of topics for people who have different interests: camping, bed and breakfasts, bicycling, restaurants, beaches, museums, resorts. Makes it easier to plan a vacation. Highly recommended.

3 comments about California's Nude Beaches/Plus Hawaii, Oregon, & Washington.

1. Another popular regional guide to nude beaches recommended by Dr. Leisure is Dave Patricks' California's Nude Beaches. A hundred and fifty pages of good information and some very fine black and white photography of nude beach inhabitants. Dave even has a section called Naturist Photography in the '90s. It is obvious from the photographs that Dave knows what he is talking about. Highly recommended by the number one source of information on nude recreation on the net. DrLeisure.com.



2. Since nude sunbathing is illegal in Hawaii, this book is a work of fiction.



3. nudism in hawaii may not be so called "legal", but a lot of people do and just find there own private or group area of like minded people and ignore the rest. tourists who happen upon one of these areas usually just walk on by and will let you be, or they sometimes will ask questions respectfully and leave(which my wife and female friend found out to be true on our last visit to the kona coast)

2 comments about The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C.: A Comprehensive Historical Guide (Smithsonian Institution Press Publication No. 4829).

1. This book is the definitive guide to outdoor sculpture in Washington, D.C. For each or over 400 sculptures, Goode identifies the sculptor, architect, medium, installation date, etc. followed by paragraphs (sometimes pages) of additional information about the subject, the history of the sculpture, the meaning of allegorical figures, etc. He has divided the city into 14 areas & provided maps of each showing the locations of each entry. This is a great book.



2. Goode is a renowned authority on the classical art/architecture of the nation's capital city. This book demonstrates this fact. It is an essential compendium of the famous sculptural works in the district with the vital information about them as well as an analysis of the style they were modeled upon as well as great B&W photographs of each work. It explores the obviously important sculptures in D.C., but also addresses some of the less-known works. It is a must for anyone interested in enriching their understanding of D.C. sculpture.