DC Washington Books

What a help in planning low-cost, fun outings for our family! DC offers such great opportunities, but sometimes it seems too hard to organize a day together. This book helps enormously, with age suggestions for each activity, parking/public transportation information, and tips about all important food and bathroom locations. A must-have to make the most of the wonderful resources in our Nation's Capital!

I was disappointed with this book. After reading many positive reviews I decided to buy it. Unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. First, it is not up to date. Several museums (most importantly the Children's Museum) either did not exist any more or were under renovation. Make sure to check individual attractions before relying on the book's info. Second, what I thought was missing was information about parking availability for each attraction. If you are driving, this is something you defintitely need to check. Third, information regarding restrooms and/or changing rooms would have been helpful since this is a book for families and young children. For example, there was no restroom in close vicinity to the Washington Monument and this would have been helpful to know. Finally, a map would have also been useful in order to plan an outing for the day. Although the book provides information regarding the closest Metro stop, it is difficult to map out a plan for getting from one place to another.

The book was just okay. Not much detail on the acctrations. I ordered it with Washington, D.C. with Kids 2002-2003. I used Around Washingtion with Kids as a guide and read more detailed information in Washington, D.C with Kids. The good thing is that is is small enough to throw in my backpack and bring along during my tour.

I was skeptical when I first saw this book. After all, it's pretty small. Yet on a recent family trip to DC, I used it more than the two others I bought. No hotel reviews, no Metro maps, this book simply tells you about 68 child-friendly spots to hit--one spot per page. I particularly liked the sidebars that clued you on places to eat near the attractions, like the inexpensive US Department of Agriculture cafeteria across the street from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the fun facts. One omission, however, The International Spy Museum!

I purchased this for my Mother when she moved to the D.C. area so she'd have ideas of where to take the grandkids. Everytime we're there I see it out on a counter or on the nightstand. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins have all used to it while visiting. It's a great gift and a great reference. We've definitely gotten our money's worth!

Wonderful guide to the C & O Canal park that includes history and detailed information about the various mile marks. This edition is revised from the original. However, with the make-over of the Monocacy Aqueduct in 2005 and other changes the book should again be updated to include this information.

Still this book covers every aspect of this unique national park that spans almost 185 miles from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland, whether you are a hiker or biker or just a traveler visiting the various sites along the canal.

I purchased this book to help prepare for a trip my brother and I plan to take next summer. I have only scanned it, but it looks like it will have all the information we need to make our preparations easier and our ride more enjoyable.
It looks like a very thorough description of the trail, the sights to see along the way, and the amenities available on the trip.

I was thrilled to find and read this book, the most complete one about the Canal I've found. As a frequent runner on and veteran of several cycling trips along the entire length of the Canal--as well as a resident of Georgetown--I have long had an interest in and love for the Canal.

The author, Mike High, uses many interesting and entertaining vignettes to tell the story of the Canal. He divides the book into four parts: "Historical Sketch", "Structures along the Canal", "Visiting the Canal", and "Canal Guide".

The first two sections put the Canal into a fascinating historical and engineering context, including George Washington's role in the development of the Canal, and the Canal's involvement in the Civil War. The last section is a concise, mile-by-mile guidebook.

In addition to history, High also presents useful information, including accommodations located nearby the Canal and suggested activities on/near the Canal.

For $... a "best buy".

I organized and led our high school youth group (23 people) for a week long ride on the trail. This book was invaluable in pulling it off. It has all the info for logistical planning, as well as providing excellent historical context (which the high schoolers loved.)

While we were on the trail, I was tracking our progress via the book at every water stop. Even if you have minimal map reading skills, the maps in the book will allow you to determine your location with great accuracy (again, which the high schoolers loved.)

Finally, the book is organized wonderfully and is an easy and interesting read. It combines information with background and context.

In sum, if you are going to ride the C&O Canal trail, don't leave home without this book in your possession. It is as important as water and a first aid kit.

This summer, I started biking the C&O Trail starting at Cumberland. I wanted a book that would tell some of the history of the trail as well as providing good landmarks for Civil War crossings, etc... This book fit the bill. I looked for several books on Amazon, and I'm happy that I choose this one.

The book is seperated into two parts, a general overview and history, and then a mile-by-mile breakdown of what to expect on the trail. I first read the history section and every night now before I head on the trail, I pull out the book and see what area I will cover the next day. The book has been great for planning with parking spots, etc...

One suggestion that I can think of is to offer a book that starts in Cumberland instead of Georgetown because reading the book backwards is somewhat awkward (I realize that most people start from the Georgetown end, though). Additionally, it would be great to have GPS coordinates posted of the landmarks in addition to the mileage marker. I would love to be able to load the coordinates in my GPS so I know exactly where these landmarks are while biking.

I had traveled to Reston, VA with my dogs to go to the Pet Fiesta while there I picked this book up and used it to travel all over the Washington D.C. area with my dogs. I am so glad that I did because I was not sure what I was going to do after the Pet Fiesta was over and this book opened up lots of options and lots of ideas for future trips.

I advise taking a pen with you so you can write in additional things that you find that may not be listed in the book. While at Old Town Alexandria today we ate at an Irish restaurant that had a doggie menu that was not listed in the book but was a must go to if you travel there.

I loved this book and only wish that there was one for my area.

I bought this based on the great reviews, so perhaps it was a let-down because I had high expectations. This is a guide book with a slight dog orientation, but honeselty, I didn't feel like this really gave me much valuable information about living and traveling in the DC area with a dog- other than telling me where parks are (info available on many web sites). The actual dog-friendliness of the parks, and rating system seemed totally off with how I would have rated parks. Seems like they are rated more for person-appeal than dog-appeal.

But maybe I'm just biased as I have a hound and value FENCED off-leash parks above all :)

I highly recommend this book to dog owners who love to take their little four-legged friend(s) everywhere. It is well organized and the writing style used is perfect for dog lovers.

It covers almost all the parks in the Washington D.C., Virginia and Baltimore. Have you ever looked up a park on a map and it looked huge and perfect for your dog, and when you got there, you and your dog were very disappointing with the park? Well, the review for each park is quite accurate. With this book on hand, you can look up a park and find out if it is suitable for your dog before driving there. It covers important information that a dog owner needs to know about the park/area - such as the poop scoop law and the leash law.

It also contains information (ie. hotel, restaurant, pet stores, etc...) that is very useful for dog owners who like to take their pooches on vacation with them.

Embedded into the book, you will find dog adoption information. The book encourages suggestions from readers. I've already written to the publisher suggesting to include information on various rescue organizations and local animal shelters - a way to help promote pet rescue/adoption.

I bought this book when it first came out for a friend of mine who was moving to Baltimore with her dog. Two years later, I borrowed it from her when I discovered I was moving to D.C. I found it enormously usefull for choosing a dog-friendly neighborhood with good access to parks. The authors understand the basic qualities of a good dog park: safety, space, a group of 'regular' neighborhood go-ers, and access to a good espresso bar for weekend dog walking. Overall, the writers do an excelent job.

I have only a few complaints. One - due to the impossibility of visiting every park in this populous region more than once, I've found that the park's ratings can heavily reflect the day and time of the visit -- not necessarily what the park is like on a typical weekday at 6pm. Also, some park ratings reflect a nice place to go with a small dog on a leash, you won't necessarily have the same experience with your massive Great Dane tugging at every new smell. The writers also disapprove of dogs being off-leash, and rate more lowly some parks that are true jems for those of us with larger dogs that require more exercise.

Overall, a great guide, and certainly unique. A must for all dog owners in this area, particularly if you moving to this region.

This is one of my favorite books ever. Really. I moved to the D.C. area with my lab three years ago, and while we were used to having dozens of places to go for various reasons or times, I didn't know where to begin to find good places to take her around our new home. This book was a godsend for finding fun places to go, especially because I found the reviews to give a me a very accurate idea of what sort of place we were going, including what sort of "feel" it might have for dog-friendliness. Some of the features of the book I have found extremely helpful are:

* Birds-eye maps showing where the reviewed locations are in the counties covered (perfect for finding a park near odd places that I might run errands)
* How strict the leash law is followed (this is a biggie for me -- while the authors point out excellent reasons to use the leash, they very helpfully suggest where we can get away without it)
* Rough idea how crowded the area in question might be, and how easy or difficult to get to (varies of course by time of day and season)
* Whether there's a place for doggie swimming

In my area (Sterling/Ashburn, VA) I've found the book to be amazingly comprehensive for my local and outlying areas, and find that the park descriptions have always given me a pretty accurate idea what to expect. The book covers a wide enough range (including some pseudo-local vacation destinations) that I've used it on countless occasions to find nice stopover while on short trips outside my "home turf". Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys finding varied places to visit with their pups.

I wish this book had been around when I came to the DC Area. It contains everything you need to know to get your new home connected with services and to find your way around the area. An invaluable book! I highly recommend it as a gift to someone you know who is moving to the area. I also find the book a great reference to keep in the office for "visiting dignitaries" and their families. It's a quick resource on Metro DC tourist sites.

This is a great book for those relocating to DC, VA, or MD. It explains the different neighborhoods and cultures, gives tips to getting past the utility and licensing red tape, and has some fun weekend acitivity suggestions, too. It's certainly not the definitive book on DC, but it has a useful level of detail on a broad array of topics.

I moved from Indiana about 6 months ago and this book was worth the price about 10 times over.

Having just moved to DC, I was inundated with books about the city. Unfortunately, most of them were meant for tourists rather than new residents. This book offered helpful and entertaining information about life in the Capitol, and some very practical tips, especially regarding transportation/getting around.

This book provides a good "intro" for a newcomer to DC- especially if you will be relying on the metro for transportation, as it lists what metro lines to take to local shopping centres. This may seem trivial, but when you need a can opener two days after moving and have no car it becomes very important.

The only problms is that the info is very likly to become dated very quickly- especially the restaurant guide. Newer establishments and attractions weren't listed. As well, there seems to be a bias to certain areas with more "trendy" attractions, and a glossing over of less popular (and less expensive to live in) areas.

As a recent college graduate and a new arrival to the DC area, I have found "Mastering DC" to be a fantastic resource. It gives the details without the fluff that I have found in many of the DC guidebooks. In addition to information on the immediate DC Metro area, it also gives in depth coverage of the surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia, which I have found useful. The recommendations are opinionated without seeming biased and the descriptions are enjoyable to read.

I recommend this book as a gift to anyone with a loved one or friend moving to the area!

this is a remarkable book--it is a must for anyone curious about the architecture of our nation's capitol (and even the briefest walk around town will make one curious). the selections are interesting and very well written; the reviews are largely objective and that was a relief. one major flaw in this book is the lack of good or appropriate photography to support the descriptions--i found myself confused when reading descriptions of buildings i wasn't standing right in front of and trying to decipher what i was supposed to see in the photo provided. for such an exceptional architectural guide, the author should really consider splurging on better and more descriptive photos! i thought setting up the guide along suggested walking routes was helpful as well.

one more thing--why no comment or information on that odd and misplaced structure stuck on to the side of the washington monument?

Of course, Washington DC is known for immense neo-classicism, designed by the country's (and the world's) most important Beaux-Arts architects. This guide does a nice job of presenting the impressive array of neo-classical structures to the reader. The book is really quite good. The essays are well written, for the most part. Editorializing is kept to a minimum, which is nice considering the stark emotions Washington DC is able to inspire. The building selection is also good, with a nice balance between neo-classicism and modernism. I wish the authors had spent a little less time on the neo-classical theme and fleshed out federal Georgetown more. An excursion to Alexandria would have been nice too. I know, you can't have it all.

Most of the photography is off-the-shelf and is characteristically mundane, though practical.

This guide is a tremendous improvement. The attention to detail is impressive, the guide is timely and VERY informative. I particularly liked the images with each entry. A basic concept and a welcome addition to this edition.

This guide is a must for MD/DC/VA natives, particularly to share with visitors so they can customize their own walking tours.

I have the previous guide, which was good, but not as good as many of these AIA guides, but alas this one is a real improvement. The images are better and the guide itself is of better quality, frankly Washington should have a great AIA guide, the city of full of intesting buildings. This guide is still not up there with the AIA guide to Houston or the one for Detroit, but it's better and i do recommend it if you have any interest in the architecture of the nations capitol.

A confession: I'm not a big architecture afficionado and had never heard of the AIA or its guides before my in-laws gave me this book, but I do live in Washington and am always looking for new sources of info about the city. This is a great overall guide to DC, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone ranging from locals to tourists.

Why? This book is great for three main reasons.

First, it's a great source of history about the big picture of DC and its most prominent areas as well as the nooks and crannies of the city. At the same time, that history isn't presented in an overwhelming way that makes the reader feel as if s/he is preparing for a high school history test. And even the minutiae that it contains are really pretty interesting, partly due to the high quality of the writing (more on this below.)

Second, it does a great job of organizing the city and guiding the reader through the different areas. All guide books break down the city into areas to some extent, but I often wonder if the writers have actually spent much time in DC. One can always quibble about where certain neighborhoods begin and end, but this book is far better than most and gives a good feel for what the actual areas are really like and how they got that way.

Finally, it's a great source of architectural info about tons of buildings throughout the city. Although I live here, it turns out that I've often walked past many notable buildings without a second glance. Now, not all of these buildings are notable for their strengths (which is one of the fun features of the book - it includes some dogs along with the highlights), but what I've found having read through much of this book is that I now notice some of the more subtle features of the buildings that the book points out.

Best of all, the book is eminently readable, so much so that I have actually used it as bedtime reading to get some entertaining history and insight into my neighborhood - what other guidebook have you done that with? And many of the descriptions are really fun (e.g. the Kennedy Center is what would happen if a "Las Vegas developer were to open a casino under the theme of 'Palace of the Soviets'" since it exhibits a "hefty dose of Stalinist bombast") or at least interesting (e.g. the Eccles Building of the Federal Reserve is "uncomfortably reminiscent of the...work of Albert Speer.")

Now, the book isn't an ideal guidebook since it naturally doesn't include (many) hotels, restaurants or detailed descriptions of the contents of, for example, the National Gallery. But for the first, you only need one rather than a long list, so find it online and skip the rest (assuming you're a tourist since locals don't need that info at all - unless you need someplace to put up your in-laws.) For the second, use Fodor's CityGuide Washington. The last is best available at a place like the National Gallery itself.

Get the Fodor's CityGuide and this book, and you've got a ton of things to explore whether you live here or are just visiting. For visitors, that combination would be more interesting, informative and entertaining than almost any other guidebook on the market for DC (and this book would be great reading if you've got a long trip to DC from, for example, the west coast or Europe.)

We used this guide daily - took it everywhere we went.

The descriptions of the places we visited - tourist sites, Smithsonians, art museums, things-to-do, restaurants - were accurate and succinct.

Frommer's Guide has a highly detailed map of the Metrorail inside and a quick-reference guide inside the back cover; the METRO is a great way to (literally) get around DC (SF Bay Area's BART pales in comparison.) Many free maps of the city are available at various sites, but the heavy-duty foldout included with this guide is the one we used the most.

I would think that even a long time resident of DC could benefit from this guide.

From dining to sightseeing to sleeping, we are always happy with the tips and recommendations in Frommer's Guides.

This was the first guidebook I purchased when planning my 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 nearly double the pages of this book 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.

This book is full of information that you will use, not just wordy passages to fill the pages. It's a pretty quick read and in my 30 day stay in DC I used it almost daily.

This was the first time I used a Frommer's guide and I will definitely choose Frommer's again for other places when I plan to visit.

This book, accompanied by a Streetwise Map of DC, is all you will need to make the most of your time in the nation's capitol!


Update/Additional Comments August 4, 2008
I am adding this comment because my previous review doesn't give much info. The Frommer's DC guide will help you in many ways:

How to travel to/from/within DC

Where to stay in DC with pricing info, etc.

Food in DC - where to eat with kids, special occasion dinners, late night snacks, happy hour specials

Leads you to the most popular sights as well as special interest locations

With relation to the sights and dining, the location, metro stop (or other transportation), hours and details of visiting are provided with each entry

After reading this book I felt like I had a friend sit down and tell me all about DC and the best way to enjoy it.

FROMMER'S WASHINGTON D.C. 2007 is a great book on Washington, D.C. and its surrounding suburbs, discussing all of the historical sights, museums, and some interesting shopping, but giving very little space to the malls in the suburbs. However, even if you're not going to visit Washington in the near future, anyone who says that they're a loyal American will really get a lot out of this book.

"This is the ultimate guide to romantic weekend getaways."

"The authors introduce travelers to lesser known treasures of Maryland and Virginia."

"Wraps up lodgings (including many inns), restaurants and attractions in appealing weekend getaway packages.... A nice attention to detail."

A brand new edition of this unique guide to getaways in the tri-state region, including the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Well researched and laid out in easy-to-use sections that profile one trip each, this book covers Virginia's Blue Ridge, the Tidewater, the Shenandoah Valley, Chincoteague, Charlottesville, Central Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Maryland's favorite spots on the coast, in Baltimore and Anapolis, and to the West are also covered. In addition to the best places to stay and the finest spots to dine, the book is packed with things to do that will rekindle a romance... or get one started in the first place. Local cultural festivals, winery visits, carriage tours, balloon rides, plantation tours and more.

"... [a] unique perspective on traveling as a couple, pointing out places where privacy is paramount, lodgings offer special romance packages, and [places on] the Eastern seaboard to sneak a kiss."

This is one of those tough reviews to write. The book, as described on the jacket, captures the lives of a number of characters in Washington, DC - 1996 style.

Or, does it capture Washington through the eyes of a number of characters. Maybe it captures politics both local and federal through the eyes of this nations capital city.

Maybe what it really does is capture relationships in as many variations as described above. Friends, co-workers, lovers, confused social climbers, some straight, some gay all are here to be discovered by the reader.

The backdrop is the Washington of 1996, but sometimes, the city insists on taking over and becoming the main character.

I don't think it is possible to get tired of one character in this story since the variations on the theme - you can decide what the theme is - keep the pages turning

One can't write something about this book without mentioning the politics that play a role in the lives of these sometimes likable, sometimes not, intelligent, and all so human characters.

At times it seems the author's sole intention is to write something which can only be described as a polemic view - of course, that description may only apply to the reader if they disagree with it. And then, just when this reader felt some of the views which the characters were discussing were as polemic as some of the 1980's Japan bashing novels, the writer insists on showing us other viewpoints through our very fun characters

The title does say it all. The story follows a musical cadence. Variatons - like the ones so present in my life. So, I suggest you put on a nice piece of music and sit down for a fun read.

So, where does the star field title of this review come from? In thinking about the book I was struck by how many points there were in the bood (points being the city, the many characters, the 38 variations, and more). I then thought of our galaxy (don't ask how I made that jump). Looking up from earth we know that what we see is a 3 dimensional image, yet from here, our eyes are hard pressed to see the difference in distance between the many stars. But enter the star field and we can see that we are surrounded by these points of light. We can draw many lines from one star to many other stars. This book is somewhat like that. If I plot out the story lines, the characters, the politics, the city, and the relationships I come up with a star field. And there is nothing boring about something that offers me so many ways to experience something. Enjoy.

This is one of those tough reviews to write. The book, as described on the jacket, captures the lives of a number of characters in Washington, DC - 1996 style.

Or, does it capture Washington through the eyes of a number of characters. Maybe it captures politics both local and federal through the eyes of this nations capital city.

Maybe what it really does is capture relationships in as many variations as described above. Friends, co-workers, lovers, confused social climbers, some straight, some gay all are here to be discovered by the reader.

The backdrop is the Washington of 1996, but sometimes, the city insists on taking over and becoming the main character.

I don't think it is possible to get tired of one character in this story since the variations on the theme - you can decide what the theme is - keep the pages turning

One can't write something about this book without mentioning the politics that play a role in the lives of these sometimes likable, sometimes not, intelligent, and all so human characters.

At times it seems the author's sole intention is to write something which can only be described as a polemic view - of course, that description may only apply to the reader if they disagree with it. And then, just when this reader felt some of the views which the characters were discussing were as polemic as some of the 1980's Japan bashing novels, the writer insists on showing us other viewpoints through our very fun characters

The title does say it all. The story follows a musical cadence. Variatons - like the ones so present in my life. So, I suggest you put on a nice piece of music and sit down for a fun read.

So, where does the star field title of this review come from? In thinking about the book I was struck by how many points there were in the bood (points being the city, the many characters, the 38 variations, and more). I then thought of our galaxy (don't ask how I made that jump). Looking up from earth we know that what we see is a 3 dimensional image, yet from here, our eyes are hard pressed to see the difference in distance between the many stars. But enter the star field and we can see that we are surrounded by these points of light. We can draw many lines from one star to many other stars. This book is somewhat like that. If I plot out the story lines, the characters, the politics, the city, and the relationships I come up with a star field. And there is nothing boring about something that offers me so many ways to experience something. Enjoy.

This is one of those tough reviews to write. The book, as described on the jacket, captures the lives of a number of characters in Washington, DC - 1996 style. Or, does it capture Washington through the eyes of a number of characters. Maybe it captures politics both local and federal through the eyes of this nations capital city.

Maybe what it really does is capture relationships in as many variations as described above. Friends, co-workers, lovers, confused social climbers, some straight, some gay all are here to be discovered by the reader. The backdrop is the Washington of 1996, but sometimes, the city insists on taking over and becoming the main character.

I don't think it is possible to get tired of one character in this story since the variations on the theme - you can decide what the theme is - keep the pages turning.

One can't write something about this book without mentioning the politics that play a role in the lives of these sometimes likable, sometimes not, intelligent, and all so human characters. At times it seems the author's sole intention is to write something which can only be described as a polemic view - of course, that description may only apply to the reader if they disagree with it. And then, just when this reader felt some of the views which the characters were discussing were as polemic as some of the 1980's Japan bashing novels, the writer insists on showing us other viewpoints through our very fun characters.

The title does say it all. The story follows a musical cadence. Variatons - like the ones so present in my life. So, I suggest you put on a nice piece of music and sit down for a fun read.

I don't normally read fiction, but this book was so entertaining and gripping that I wanted to finish it in one sitting! It normally takes me months to finish a work of fiction. I highly recommend this book.

Purchased prior to our first trip to D.C. The kids enjoyed reading it as much as we did. Was a great help in planning our days in D.C. Recommend using this and Frommer's Washington D.C. with Kids (Frommer's With Kids), especially if travelling with children in a range of ages as our were--7, 9, and 16.

My family and I recently took a trip to DC, and brought along this book. It had lots of great tips on what to see and where to eat. We've used the "Boston" version of the book for years, and I was glad to see that the "DC" version was just as helpful.

We are traveling to Washington, D.C. and this book is going into our suitcase as a reference while we are there! We have really enjoyed reading it and learning about Washington, D.C.

Got as a gift but spent time reading through.
Looked like it gave great suggestions for teachers too on what to visit and where to go while on field trips.

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.

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.

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.

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.