The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C. (Unofficial Guides) [Paperback]

Eve Zibart (Author), Joe Surkiewicz (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Unofficial Guides | Publication Date: February 27, 2007

• Guides travelers to Washington's best cultural and historic sights-and offers helpful hints on how to beat the crowds and avoid long waits
• More than 75 in-depth restaurant reviews explain where to find a good meal
• Incisive hotel ratings show how to find the best lodgings at the best prices
• Shows how to get around, how to see the government work, and where to find parks and outdoor activities.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:

1. Details on the best guided tours on foot and by boat, bus, horse carriage, Segway, bicycle, and trolley
2. A complete guide to Washington's cultural and historic sights—with helpful hints for making the most of your time
3. Hotels reviewed and ranked for value and quality—plus secrets for getting the lowest rate possible
4. Proven strategies for enjoying Washington with your kids
5. Everything you need to know to get around quickly and easily—including complete details on the Metro

Sample Rating

Washington National Cathedral *Five Stars

Location Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues NW; # 202-537-6200 or 202-537-5596 for tour information; www.cathedral.org/cathedral

Nearest Metro station The Woodley Park/National Zoo station is about a half-hour walk; drive or take a cab.

Type of attraction The sixth-largest cathedral in the world (guided and self-guided tours).

Admission Free; suggested donations are $3 adults, $2 seniors, and $1 children.

Special comments A Gothic masterpiece; take the optional 30- to 45-minute, docent-led tour.

How much time to allow 1 hour.

About the Author

Eve Zibart, AUTHOR OF SEVERAL BOOKS, INCLUDING The Unofficial Guide to New Orleans, The Unofficial Guide to New York, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Grown-ups, and The Ethnic Food Lover’s Companion, is a feature writer and restaurant critic for the “Weekend” section of the Washington Post; as the former nightlife columnist, she drew on her intimate knowledge of D.C.’s diverse after-hours scene as well as the area’s vast array of dining spots when writing our entertainment and restaurant sections. Eve also scoped out where to find the best deals for our chapter on shopping and gently reminded Joe that biking is only one form of exercise.

THE CONTRIBUTOR OF MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL WORK on this guide, Joe Surkiewicz has coauthored five titles in the Unofficial Guides series and written two guides to the best places to ride a mountain bike in the Mid-Atlantic states. Joe is communications director at the Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland. He lives in Baltimore with his best friend and counselor, Ann Lembo. When not traveling or bicycling, they enjoy evenings curled up on the sofa with their black-and-white feline companions, Molly and Trixie, to watch blackand-white movies starring 1930s film divas Kay Francis, Norma Shearer, and Miriam Hopkins.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 9 edition (February 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470042087
• ISBN-13: 978-0470042083
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #898,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Travel > United States > Washington, D.C.

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable planning guide, April 30, 2007

By 

Joseph Boone (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C. (Unofficial Guides) (Paperback)

The Unofficial Guide to Washington, DC offers comprehensive information in a clear, concise style. There is plenty of basic information about how to get around in the city using the Metro, what time of year to go, how to stay safe, etc. In addition, you will find hotel ratings and detailed entries on all major attractions inside the city. The hotel section is probably the weak point of the guide. It offers a numerical rating system but only a few basic items of information on the hotel. There is no written description with the pros and cons of each hotel spelled out for you.

The section on attractions is where this guide makes up for the lack of hotel info. It covers all the museums, memorials, monuments, government buildings, etc. Each entry is highly detailed with full contact information, nearest Metro stop, tips on when to go, full descriptions, touring tips, and other things to do nearby. It is literally everything you want to know when considering a visit to one of the many tourist attractions in the city.

While planning my trip to Washington, DC I bought three guidebooks to the area. This is the only one that I used in the latter stages of planning and also the only one I used when I got to the city. It was easily the most comprehensive and useful of the lot once I had booked my hotel. If you're planning a trip to the capitol and can only buy one guide, get this one.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't Leave Home Without It, February 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Unoffical Guide to Washington D.C. (Unofficial Guides) (Paperback)

We bought this guide because of our very positive experience using the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. This Guide did not dissappoint, although there were a few inaccuracies (i.e. Capitol tours leave every 30 minutes, not every 10; you don't need a time ticket for the White House during the off season). The most helpful information was the detailed description of D.C.'s Metro system. We were pros at commuting by the end of our trip. The restaurant guide was also extemely helpful. We didn't have one bad meal. The Guide also helped us to take a family vote on the sites we wanted to see and plan our itinerary before leaving home (a must). Get this book 3 to 6 months before your trip so you have time to write your congressmen to request VIP tours of the things you want to see. We bought the Guide 2 weeks before we left. Even though we had a great time, our trip could have been enhanced with more planning.

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book. Too heavy to carry., August 24, 2000

By 

Seano "seanob" (Quincy, Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unoffical Guide to Washington D.C. (Unofficial Guides) (Paperback)

Imagine the comprehensive guide to good deals, unfamiliar sites, and transportation options in the Washington D.C. area! This is a great collection of reviews and suggestions, tips and recommendations. Spend some time in advance of your planning to scope out great deals on rooms, tours and seasonal advantages. You can plan a great trip with unexplored opportunities such as breaks to rest in parks and gardens, or ways to avoid long lines and frustration.

There is even a great section for business travellers. A good purchase and a fine resource.

The maps and the guide to the public transportation system are the best I have ever seen.