No comments about 100 hikes in the North Cascades: Mt. Baker area, North Cascades NP, Ross Lake NRA, Pasayten Wilderness, Methow-Chelan.

1 comments about Cross-Country Ski Tours: Washington's North Cascades (2nd Edition).

1. This book helped me out a lot in terms of finding areas to ski in when I first moved to Washington from Montana. However, some of the dialogue disturbed me, as I am a cross-country skier who also works for an organization that fights for the elimination of catastrophically damaging logging techniques. One quote is as follows: "In the rosy glow of the 1980s, it seemed that the overcutting of timber on forest lands was, if anything, a boon to the cross-country skier: more forest roads to explore in the winter, more clearcuts for downhill runs, and easier access to high meadows." At one point, it even described clearcuts to be "picturesque." I see clearcuts as the rape of the land, and because I learned how to cross country ski on narrow trails used for hiking in the summer rather than forest service roads, many of the descriptions turn me off to areas rather than draw me in. Where can I ski in a truly wild area, enclosed by frosted trees?

1 comments about ADC the Map People Metro Washington, DC. Pocket Atlas (Laminated Folding Maps).

1. I was very disappointed after purchasing this street map book. Apparently majority of Montgomery County isn't considered Metro Washington, DC. Don't expect to see any streets north of Bethesda - Whiteflint, Rockville, etc. are all missing. This definitely isn't a map street finder for someone living in the MD suburbs

No comments about Washington D.C. (America Series - Mini).

4 comments about Birder's Guide to Washington (Birder's Guides).

1. This is one of the best guides for Washington State birding. If you live in Washington, I'd say this is a must.



2. This book is good if you already know your birds. It doesn't have photos or descriptions of birds. It tells you where you are likely to find a species. It's no good if you want to know what that bird is in your backyard.



3. There has been a need for a comprehensive guide to birding locations in Washington state since the old guide by Dennis Paulson and Terry Wahl has been dated for some time. Diann MacRae clearly has lots of knowledge about birding in Washington and has tried to organize it for birders in a useful and handy guide. Those who want information on where to find birds in Washington state will find some help in this book. The problem is that the book lists birding sites only in a general way; MacRae frequently doesn't describe specifically where they are located, so that even birders who know Washington state well may have trouble finding the sites MacRae recommends. The guide is also not attractively formatted, and my copy was sloppily bound and should really have not been sold. Comparing "Birder's Guide to Washington" with first-rate productions such as the Falcon guides: "Birding Utah" or "Birding Northern California" one becomes aware of the gulf between the title under discussion and what it could (should) have been. Washington birders will profit from MacRae's guide, but they will wish for a better one.



4. I spent six days in Washington with this as my guide.It took me to many wonderful birding spots all around Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula. It's only flaw was it did not say WHEN to visit these places, ie. time of day, time of year. Most of the places I visited, the birds hadn't yet arrived or had already left. But I will use it again for the next trip.

No comments about Wyomings Snake River.

No comments about Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (True Books).

No comments about The Best Free Historic Attractions in Oregon & Washington (Favorite Freebies, Vol 1).

3 comments about Hiking Washington's Geology (Hiking Geology).

1. This is a great book outlining interesting geology in Washington State, and offers suggestions of which hikes should be done.



2. This is an excellent read! The book highlighted some outstanding hikes and I learned lots about the interesting geology of the PNW. This book is a must for any hiker in Washington!!



3. Hiking Washington's Geology is a well-written, informative book that describes the geologic evolution of a wide and varied landscape. I especially appreciate the detailed directions on how to get to the trailheads and equally detailed descriptions of things to look for while hiking. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in the geologic natural history of Washington....

4 comments about Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2006 (Frommer's Complete).

1. Frommer's continues its tradition of excellence with the 2006 guide to D.C. Most helpful to us were the "Getting to Know Washington D.C" chapter, and the chapter on "Suggested Itineraries". The pullout map is invaluable. If you've never been to D.C., or have not toured the city, this book is a fabulous reference.



2. I rated the 2004 edition of this book at 5 stars, but this edition has slipped just a bit for containing outdated information and omissions of a few other things, so I would say it deserves a 4-and-a-half star rating.
   
   The major thing missing is a mention of The Circulator. This is the bus that loops from Capitol Hill through the K-street corridor to Georgetown, and is $1 to ride, and runs until 10pm. It is cheaper and runs much more frequently than the blue bus that is mentioned in the guide. The Circulator started in early 2005, so it should have made it into this year's edition of the Frommers.
   
   The guide lists a Smithsonian Museum Hotline, and when I called this month (August 2006), the number was out of service.
   
   The Phillips Collection is listed as being free during the weekdays. Wrong. The Phillips Collection is donation-only during the weekdays, and the gal at the desk did watch us drop some money in the donation box. Not a huge deal, but the information was inaccurate. The Phillips has doubled in size since the renovations were completed, and "The Boating Party" is once again on display after its long absence in a traveling exhibition, as is my favorite, "Woman With Dog" painted by Pierre Bonnard.
   
   In the 2004 edition, there was a restaurant that my wife and I loved named Olives. It was not in this edition, but it is still in business and was a fabulous experience when we went (as it was 2 years ago). We enjoyed Olives vastly better than La Tosca (don't order the chicken at La Tosca...blah).
   
   Another place that should be mentioned in the guide is The Capitol City Brewing Company right near China Town (with another location on Capitol Hill). The variety of micro-brews was fantastic, the staff was very friendly (especially Benny!), and during weekdays from 4pm until 7pm, they have half-price beers and appetizers at the enormous bar section (the sesame-covered seared tuna and the Asian quesadillas were absolutely delightful). A great place to visit if you are on a budget.
   
   Even with these minor errors and omissions, it is still a highly valuable guide.



3. This book gave us all the info we needed to plan our trip. The maps inside the cover were very helpful. Book has a lot on where to stay and eat, but only if you have lots of money. For the budget traveler, that info was too much considering how much everything they reviewed cost. Gave lots of info on where to go and what to see. Would recommend to anyone traveling.



4. No feedback yet from the actual owners.
   I have found Frommer's to be the best in travel books.
   LOVE them for where to go and all the information I need for a great visit.