DC Washington Books

I really enjoyed this book. As a baseball fan (and a NYY fan), I had to read about Ruth. A great person from some aspects, this book took a look at the Babe from every point of view. It showed Ruth from his private and public life, his love life to his Saturday night (to Sunday morning)life. This was a very good book.

This book is an excellent visual record of Washington baseball in it's own right but is outstanding as a companion piece to Tom Deveaux's The Washington Senators, 1901-1971 (a top notch history containing no pictures). It's great to put a face to a name from a bygone era. This book is chock full of historical photos (all b&w) that extend beyond just the Senators. After all this glowing praise, why do I rate it only 4 stars? I received it a week before Ted Williams' passing. In going back through it a week later, I was struck at the gloss job that the expansion Senators (1961-1971) received. At 14 pages (out of 128), the Senators of my youth are barely represented here. One photo each of Ted Williams and Frank Howard? Reprehensible!!! Hondo isn't even given an action photo (of him crushing another homer) but a tame head shot. Sort of reminds me of James R. Hartley's Washington's Expansion Senators (1961-1971). All in all, a must have that could have been so much better.

Though not all the small details and streets are noted on this laminated folding map, I find it very useful to keep in my glove compartment or purse. You never know when you might need to find a different route or find your destination so the size and durability of this map makes it ideal for keeping on-hand. The National Mall is present which makes it ideal for tourists and residents alike.

The information is excellent on the attractions and general layout of the areas. Good insights on transportation, best times to go, hours and prices. Less focus on hotels, dining than other books.

We found this book very useful with a lot of trivia info that was very helpful. Tour information, transportation information, hours of operation, etc.

If you're moving to the D.C. area, this is a wonderful guide to have around in the weeks up to and during your move. It focuses a little too much on D.C. proper, and not quite enough on the Northern Virginia or suburban Maryland areas. There are some minor errors scattered here and there that could have been easily checked and corrected. And not wrong, but irksome: on the beigish-yellow portions of map 13, the Yellow Metrorail line is all but invisible. Smart thinking, Fodor's.

But the sheer amount of useful information in this book is staggering. The maps are clear, the neighborhood descriptions put me right in the middle of the bustling crowds, and the places and activities listed could keep me busy for a good five years without repeating anything.

If and when I move to D.C., this book is going to be creased and cracked and dog-eared in mere days. I'd also recommend it for people who are just traveling to the city for a few days.

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

Fodor's is a good all around travel guide, but I think the author of this D.C. guide emphasize art and sculpture way too much. The sites that the book recommend usually have something to do with the art, sculptures, and freizes contained within the building. I'm not a lover of the arts, but I still know that there is much to do in Washington that I can really enjoy. One thing that really disheartned me was the side mention that the National Archives received. It was described as the "nation's basement." The original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are not something that any American should regard as basement material.
I thought the book lacked on the little known sites around D.C. I knew of most everything that was listed in the book.
With all this said, the book was a great reference and the city and Metro maps are very handy. The iteneraries are great and even tell you what time of the day you should see the monuments close to the Mall. The information in the book sometimes gives you enough material to skip the tour of a site...a real time saver in a city with so much to see and do.

I found this guide extremely useful. I bought it the night before my Memorial Day weekend in DC, read it on the plane and carried it everywhere with me. My favorite feature was the "Women who have made a difference" section which was a guide to places in DC celebrating Women and their accomplishments. Every guide book should have such a section. I used this and other sections to tailor a three day tour that focused on Women and it was delightful. Very useful also were the guides to the subway (I didn't feel at all like a tourist and saved a bundle) and the other special sections that highlighted especially significant features of this city that you could otherwise spend an entire lifetime exploring. Well worth the purchase price. Only one phone number was incorrect.

This book is very comprehensive in terms of areas covered -- lots of suburban restaurants included -- and thus especially useful for people who live in the area. Only quibble is that it's time for a 2nd Ed.