No comments about The Secrets of Masonic Washington: A Guidebook to Signs, Symbols, and Ceremonies at the Origin of America's Capital.

3 comments about On This Spot: Pinpointing the Past in Washington, D.C..

1. What a great book! It is refreshing to read a historical guide that doesn't take itself too seriously. On This Spot brings the sights and history to life for us transplated Washingtonians. While the book can be used as a walking tour guide, it can just as easily take you on a tour through history from your living room. Makes me feel like I am in Washington again!



2. I LOVE THIS BOOK!! i love learning about the little trivia type things. And this one is full of them. Now I just want the same thing for other cities.



3. This book is wonderful. There are places pointed out in this book that are not pointed out anywhere else. If you are going or live in DC please buy this book and use it as you walk around.

1 comments about Cascade Alpine Guide: Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass.

1. The series of books by Beckey on climbing and high routes in the cascades gives the most comprehensive and complete presentation of cascades. Each peak is described with great detail and the photos and pictures are great. This is truly a great guide!

2 comments about Washington State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide (State Parks).

1. Whether you're an active outdoors enthusiast or a weekend admirer, the diversity of Washington State's parkland offers something for every outdoor pursuit. To quench your desire to be at one with nature, authors Marge and Ted Mueller offer the complete recreation guide "Washington State Parks." The Muellers are Seattle residents who are active in the outdoors around Puget Sound for over thirty years. To research this book, they logged several thousand miles by land and water to visit every state park in Washington.

   The publication is a definitive guide to over 200 public parks throughout Washington State. Featured is everything the visitor needs to know to enjoy each area to the fullest. Every state park is thoroughly reviewed, including information on park hours, size, facilities, access points and main attractions.

   The book offers detailed information about camping, hiking, bicycling, sightseeing, boating, nature-watching and a multitude of other outdoor experiences. Information such as current season, reservations and fee listings, moorage and navigation data for boat access, and accessibility for disabled visitors is also included.

   Each park or heritage site is detailed in background and historical information. Plus informative tips on local foliage and wildlife are offered. An easy-to-use chart matches outdoor activities with suitable parks, making this guide a must-have for year-round outdoor fun.




2. this is a great and specific guide for WA parks..black and white pictures are clear but woudl still prefer color...

1 comments about Fun Places to Go with Children in Washington D.C.: Third Edition Revised and Updated (Fun Places to Go with Children in Northern California).

1. We live within a couple of hours from D.C., and find this to be a wonderful resource. I would recommend it to people who live nearby and are looking for a fun family outing for the day or weekend.

   Descriptions of landmarks are accurate and up-to-date. Directions give street addresses and nearest sbuway station. A city map is needed since no directions are given from the station to the landmarks.

   For families spending less than a week in D.C., I would recommend purchasing a more detailed Frommers or Fodors guide since they offer more bang for your buck. This book only lists attractions. For restaurants (besides Hard Rock) and hotels, you will need another guide.

2 comments about Challenge of the North Cascades.

1. When my grandfather died and we were going through his books I came across this gem. Beckey has first ascents on more than half of all the peaks in the Cascades. He owns the mountains. This is his poem to his love. I had long valued Fred Beckey's extensive guide books to the Cascades, but had never read any of mountain narratives. What a treat this was! I also highly recommend his book on McKinley.
   
   I've read scores of mountaineering books, but this one I rank as one of the very best. Beckey tromps across the mountains of Washington state as a young man in the early days of mountaineering with joie de vivre. In one exuberant push he and a companion set out to hike and bag whatever peaks in between from what is now I-90 to Highway 2. A week later they emerged on the highway and hitched back to Seattle.
   
   I hope you find as much pleasure in this overlooked classic as I have.



2. Living in the NW with roads and highways criss-crossing most stretches of the Cascades it's almost hard to imagine that not so long ago all of that was remote and climbing back up in there meant long multi-week treks from road to road, bagging peaks along the way.
   Beckey and company enjoyed these peaks in the best possible way, back in the day day when one climbed in boots or tennis shoes, protected rarely and then with pitons or more likely a slung horn or chockstone, and where the route was what you made it not what you find on-line or in a book. Most of these peaks aren't terribly technical, and modern ascents always have something of the anti-climatic feel to them. There are epic moments here and there when things go south, but by and large it's dull sort of adventure. Better to have done it back then with less hardware, more pluck, and the frequent use of one's younger brother for shoulder stands.
   This book along with Exum's collection of climbing stories are probably the two most important records of the pre-yosemite generation of climbers. It's invaluable record American alpine climbing in it's infancy, and it's funny.

No comments about Hiking Washington's William O. Douglas Wilderness: From Nature Trails to Multi-Day Backpacking Treks (Regional Hiking Series).

No comments about Washington Wildlife (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press).

1 comments about National Geographic Driving Guide to america, Washington DC.

1. Ideal for planing your trip to Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virignia, Maryland and Delaware , Delawer. You will have several routs to explore this part of the country. Tips, Maps and Photographs that give you a very good picture of your trip. This will help you to don't miss any of the important places of the road. Ideal for visiting the historic places of DC area

2 comments about Take a Walk: 100 Walks Through Natural Places in the Puget Sound Region.

1. Sue Muller Hacking's Take a Walk is a guide to some established trails in the Puget Sound region. The descriptions are concise, include a map and may include a black and white picture. The book summarises the highlights of the trail, other usage (e.g. bicycles), steepness, connecting trails, park services (e.g. restrooms, picnic areas) and whether there is disabled access. There is then a brief description of the trail (usually a couple of paragraphs) followed by directions to the park.

   This would be a good book for families with young children, because most of the parks seem to be "family friendly" and you will have essential information on facilities. You will also have 100 ideas of places to visit that are a short drive from Everett, Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma or Olympia.

   I was rather disappointed with this book as I was expecting to find a book of short hikes on non-paved trails. I had the distinct impression that I could have put together a similar book by contacting the Parks and Recreation Department and asking them to send me flyers on each park. There is also a dearth of historical information.

   If you are new to Seattle and want a concise guide to the many different parks and trails of the region, then this book might be just what you are looking for. If you are a day hiker looking for some varied, challenging and interesting trails, look elsewhere.




2. I used this book while temporarily living in Olympia, WA, and it was a great guide to experiencing the abundance of natural beauty around the small city. Most guide books on the state of WA only cover more obvious areas like Seattle or the Olympic National Rainforest or Mount Rainier. "Take a Walk" is a great resource for walking trails in areas that are more off the beaten path. Also, the author provides helpful information regarding the description of the trails, difficulty level, handicap access, and directions. I can't vouch for the trails in areas outside of Olympia but, based on my experience, I would highly recommend this book as a useful, descriptive resource.