Frommer's Washington, D.C., With Kids (Frommer's Family Travel Guides) (Paperback)

by Beth Rubin (Author), Beth Frommer's Family Travel Guide Washington, D.C., With Kids Rubin (Author) "Kids and Washington, D.C., go together like peanut butter and jelly..." (more)
Key Phrases: most main courses, extended summer hours, booster seats, White House, Dupont Circle, Wisconsin Ave (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Over the years, millions of kids have been dragged to Washington to see the grand edifices and historic monuments of our country's capital, and most of those millions have returned home without the desire to ever see a statue, senator, or Supreme anything ever again. But it doesn't have to be like that. Beth Rubin not only knows Washington D.C. backwards and forwards, she knows kids, too, and that makes for a very good guidebook. Well organized, with a variety of useful information on family hotels, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment, this is a full-service guide with a family focus. Aside from such necessities as which hotels offer cribs and rollaway beds, Rubin knows where your children can take simulated orbital flights, dine with U.S. representatives, touch a moon rock, crawl through an African termite mound replica, pet a horseshoe crab, or go swimming, biking, or in-line skating. It'll take the family Washington trip to new heights.

Product Description
This completely updated edition is packed with ideas and activities for every day of the year, and gives you the lowdown on child-friendly hotels and restaurants. It's full of incredibly detailed tips - right down to which hotels offer cribs and rollaway beds and which restaurants offer high chairs and kids menus. Inside you'll learn where to find hands-on, interactive educational experiences and children's entertainment, from concerts and children's theater to puppet shows, and there are plenty of tips for how to introduce your kids to historic attractions. All this, plus details on parks, kid-oriented shopping, and places to play. Beth Rubin has written extensively on family topics for more than 30 years, and has lived in the D.C. area since the early 1960s. During that time, she has played tour guide to her own two children as well as the offspring of numerous relatives and friends. Her experience and tell-it-like-it-is style make this well-researched book indispensible to anyone living in or visiting the nations capital with kids in tow.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company; 4th Updated edition (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028620658
• ISBN-13: 978-0028620657
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,371,670 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 113 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Going to D.C. with kids? Don't buy this book!, July 17, 1999

By A Customer

If you're going to Washington, D.C. with kids, this is not the book to buy. Everything we looked up in the book before and during our D.C. trip was accurate or misleading. We made reservations at a hotel listed as "economical" only to find the real price was $40 more than listed. When we entered the restaurant listed as one that welcomed children, our brood of three was scowled at , mutterings ensued and we were then led to a back table. There was no room to put down food (obviously cocktails were what the establishment had in mind) and the closest thing to food children would like was a plate of fish and chips for an exorbitant price. Every other time we consulted the book, it turned out badly, one way or another. So don't spend $16 on this book because it not only isn't helpful, but it's actually a hindrance. You end up in unsuitable places with unsuitable prices because you think they'll be good for kids.Wrong! So, after our trip, here's what I recommend for 3 days in D.C. with kids: The Smithsonian--as many as you can stand in a day The White House Tour A tour of the Capitol--write to your congressperson beforehand and get a private tour--an aide of Tammy Baldwin's gave us a crackerjack tour and we got to watch Tammy and others vote on the flag ammendment. Buy food and souvenirs from the street vendors--every age can find something cheap to take home that would cost twice, or three times, as much in a store. And it's fun to sit in parks or benches and eat and watch all the different people.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for travel to DC-- even without kids, July 4, 2006

By	Sewlady2 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Washington D.C. with Kids (Frommer's With Kids) (Paperback)

I have four editions of this book and I would not consider going to DC without it. It is worth the investment to make sure that you are getting the latest and greatest information. I have NEVER had a problem with the information if the edition is current. A quick flip through the sixth and eighth editions shows how much info has been updated, plus almost every listing provides a web address (in addition to all the other contact information) so you can get more detailed information if you desire.

When we are in DC, this book stays in my backpack at all times. The maps are clear and conscise, and the authors helpful hints have saved us a lot of time. I have all the info from the washington.org and AAA and just about everything that it covered in scores of brochures and booklets is in this book. It truly is the only book you need!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great for things to do, not so for hotels and restaurants, February 12, 2006

By	Robert Lipsitz "study but doubt, question and... (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Frommer's Washington D.C. with Kids (Paperback)

This book is an excellent guide for things to do in the D.C. area with kids. We live in D.C. and were looking for new things to do, especially with our 3 year old in mind. We bought the book and learned about exciting locations and activites that we never knew about. For example the Doll and Toy Museum, Naval Observatory and Amazonia exhibit at the National Zoo.

The restaurant and dining guides though are way off, the do not include the best food (including child friendly) nor convenient, fun and affordable hotels, infact they recommend some of the worst! Of course we've gained this knowledge from living here for 6 years, still would expect better form a guidebook...for food dining and hotels I'd recommend Lonely Planet's guide to D.C. area.

Only other downer was driving to the Childrens Museum only to find it was closed until 2009. Still I have the 6th edition and the 7th edition hopefully is updated with this info.