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Washington, D.C. '97: The Complete Guide with Monuments, Museums, Arlington, Annapolis and Best Bets f or Kids
The best guide to the area, updated every year
Walking tours in town and day trips to nearby sights
The inside line on shopping, sports, and after-dark spots
With your kids? A chapter on how best to see the city
Where to stay and eat, no matter what your budget
In both the city and suburbs--hotels vintage and modern, B&Bs, motor lodges, housekeeping suites
The best restaurants in every the ethnic, the elegant, politico haunts, and quick-lunch spots
Fresh, thorough, practical--from writers you can trust
Costs, hours, descriptions, and tips by the thousands
All reviews based on visits by savvy writer-residents
36 pages of maps--and dozens of unique features
Important Contacts; Smart Travel Tips; Fodor's Choice; What's Where; Pleasures & Pastimes; festivals; U.S. presidents and a historical time line; background essays; complete index; and more!
Walking tours in town and day trips to nearby sights
The inside line on shopping, sports, and after-dark spots
With your kids? A chapter on how best to see the city
Where to stay and eat, no matter what your budget
In both the city and suburbs--hotels vintage and modern, B&Bs, motor lodges, housekeeping suites
The best restaurants in every the ethnic, the elegant, politico haunts, and quick-lunch spots
Fresh, thorough, practical--from writers you can trust
Costs, hours, descriptions, and tips by the thousands
All reviews based on visits by savvy writer-residents
36 pages of maps--and dozens of unique features
Important Contacts; Smart Travel Tips; Fodor's Choice; What's Where; Pleasures & Pastimes; festivals; U.S. presidents and a historical time line; background essays; complete index; and more!
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
About the author
Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.
1,837 books63 followersFodor's Travel Publications is a United States-based producer of English-language travel guides and online tourism information. It was founded by Hungarian Eugene Fodor in 1936.
Fodor’s was acquired by Random House in 1986 and sold to Internet Brands in 2016.
Fodor’s was acquired by Random House in 1986 and sold to Internet Brands in 2016.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 29, 2019
Absolutely essential to the enjoyment of my trip to DC. Every bit of advice was spot on.
January 20, 2025
I wasn't born with empathy. My mama had to drive it in to me time after time. I well remember running home from school, repeating Charles Woods "krispy kritter" jokes to my mama. Each time, she patiently talked to me about the heroes who surrendered their beauty so I could enjoy the freedom to joke about their deformities. Living in Montgomery Alabama, we always saw Charles Woods walking around as he ran for Governor and took roles of leadership in our area. The jokes about his appearance never ended; they followed me from grade school through college. Now as an old lady, living near Valley Forge, I found myself crying at every single page of this book meeting Mr. Woods along Alabama streets as well as Surburban Station in Philadelphia. I think I now have the empathy I wish I had as a child. And I realize how flippantly we say, 'thank you for your service'. When we say that, we have no earthly idea what our freedom cost that service member.
Regarding the book: The Sun Rose Late: The Incredible Story of Charles Woods by John Frasca and Michael Harris IBSN 87636-168-3 library of Congress 74-83698. 160 pages. 1974 Non-Fiction
Regarding the book: The Sun Rose Late: The Incredible Story of Charles Woods by John Frasca and Michael Harris IBSN 87636-168-3 library of Congress 74-83698. 160 pages. 1974 Non-Fiction
March 21, 2023
This was one of the better travel guides on D. C..
July 20, 2026
I'm getting ready for a trip to Washington DC. I like to browse through travel guides to get an overview of the city.
May 9, 2016
Very interesting and comprehensive guide to visit that wonderful city; a city that every American should step in at least once in their lives. It is full of history and culture. I love it.
This is the book I read:

One of the features I like the most, is the fact that the authors create itineraries for you to visit places in the cities. I like to follow them allocating more than one day per day in the book. I love the feel of freedom when the pressure of time is absent.

Here is a very interesting page of an aeronautical museum with vintage aircraft exhibits. If you are anything like me, you'd love to visit these kinds of places.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the select and correctly chosen list of restaurants a tourist would more likely want to try. I really liked their thoroughness with this listing and descriptions.

There was even some space for humor in this funny page depicting the prevalent features of lobbyists, the strange exotic animal that breathes and breeds all over DC.

Finally, there was a beautiful pocket-size unfolding map. I loved how practical it is to take out in my city explorations.

I hoped you liked this entry. If you feel like viewing more of the books I read, you are welcome to visit my blog: http://lunairereadings.blogspot.com
This is the book I read:

One of the features I like the most, is the fact that the authors create itineraries for you to visit places in the cities. I like to follow them allocating more than one day per day in the book. I love the feel of freedom when the pressure of time is absent.

Here is a very interesting page of an aeronautical museum with vintage aircraft exhibits. If you are anything like me, you'd love to visit these kinds of places.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the select and correctly chosen list of restaurants a tourist would more likely want to try. I really liked their thoroughness with this listing and descriptions.

There was even some space for humor in this funny page depicting the prevalent features of lobbyists, the strange exotic animal that breathes and breeds all over DC.

Finally, there was a beautiful pocket-size unfolding map. I loved how practical it is to take out in my city explorations.

I hoped you liked this entry. If you feel like viewing more of the books I read, you are welcome to visit my blog: http://lunairereadings.blogspot.com
July 9, 2021
Cherry blossoms
Food trucks
The Metro - SmarTrip card needed that also works for the bus
Dupont Circle - shops, restaurants, museums
Eastern Market
The Pentagon - free tours
Shaw - artisanal bars, restaurants, boutiques
Union Market - high-end brands
The Mall -
Lincoln Memorial
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing - free tours
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington Monument
Downtown -
CityCentre - shopping district
International Spy Museum
The FBI Experience
National Portrait Gallery - free
Nando’s Peri-Peri - had in London, Niall Hiram favorite
Caption Hill and Northeast -
Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument
Flea market - weekends
Library of Congress - largest library in the world, free tours
Smithsonian National Postal Museum - free
Supreme Court of the United States
Union Station - train terminal, shopping mall
United States Capitol - free tours, Capitol Visitor Center
Foggy Bottom and West End -
Daughters of the American Revolution Museum - free
Federal Reserve Building - free tours
Immigrant Food - restaurant
The White House - free tours, White House Visitor Center
Georgetown -
Georgetown Park - mall
DuPont Circle and Kalorama -
Russia House Restaurant and Lounge - bar (vodkas), Russian dinner options, Russian rap
Food trucks
The Metro - SmarTrip card needed that also works for the bus
Dupont Circle - shops, restaurants, museums
Eastern Market
The Pentagon - free tours
Shaw - artisanal bars, restaurants, boutiques
Union Market - high-end brands
The Mall -
Lincoln Memorial
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing - free tours
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington Monument
Downtown -
CityCentre - shopping district
International Spy Museum
The FBI Experience
National Portrait Gallery - free
Nando’s Peri-Peri - had in London, Niall Hiram favorite
Caption Hill and Northeast -
Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument
Flea market - weekends
Library of Congress - largest library in the world, free tours
Smithsonian National Postal Museum - free
Supreme Court of the United States
Union Station - train terminal, shopping mall
United States Capitol - free tours, Capitol Visitor Center
Foggy Bottom and West End -
Daughters of the American Revolution Museum - free
Federal Reserve Building - free tours
Immigrant Food - restaurant
The White House - free tours, White House Visitor Center
Georgetown -
Georgetown Park - mall
DuPont Circle and Kalorama -
Russia House Restaurant and Lounge - bar (vodkas), Russian dinner options, Russian rap
September 11, 2024
Out of the four books I read to help plan travel to Washington, DC, Fodor’s Travel was the best. In addition to thorough and current reviews of restaurants, hotels, and activities, this book includes recommendations for much more. I especially liked the section on “What to Buy,” which described popular souvenirs and locations to find them. The history of the city was woven throughout, giving context to the different sites to visit. The “In Focus” sections for the National Mall, Congress, and Arlington National Cemetery provided lots of helpful tips to ensure efficient planning to make the most of a visit. If you only want to read one travel book for Washington, DC, this book does the trick.
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April 17, 2008Most helpful on my journey to our nation's capitol last weekend. It even has a handy Metro train map on the front, which I recommend consulting while you're still in the hotel room in order to not stand TOO far out as tourists!
We weren't too thrilled though to find that even among the restaurants listed in the book as 'cheap' that we never spent less that $50.00 for a meal anywhere!
We weren't too thrilled though to find that even among the restaurants listed in the book as 'cheap' that we never spent less that $50.00 for a meal anywhere!
October 29, 2011
I highly recommend this travel guide. It gives great tips on times to visit different points of interest. Tips for kid friendly activities. And wonderful snippets of history and meaning of points of interest. It also tells you what areas to be careful of after dark.
February 4, 2014
Really Liked this. It was great for preparing us for our trip
September 6, 2014
Informative, interesting read. Some great reminders and new ideas of things to do in and around my new home.
December 28, 2014
I read this book prior to moving to Washington D.C. for the semester I studied there. Very helpful for getting me acquainted with the ins and outs of the city.
October 14, 2015
If I ever go to Washington D.C. this is the book I will purchase. It tells everywhere you need to visit there.
March 16, 2016
I used it to research for my trip. It has a lot of good and interesting informtion.
April 24, 2018
I love Fodor's guides! Made our trip so much more enjoyable and relaxed. Especially when no wi-fi was available!
April 5, 2022
We are planning a trip in May/June 2022 to Washington DC so we purchased this book. It has lots of helpful information which we are using to plan. I definitely recommend.
March 20, 2023
Excited for our trip!
June 7, 2023
love a travel guide
July 29, 2024
I preferred this one to Eyewitness. Enjoyed the maps, the “free things to do in DC” section and the films/shows set in DC section. Feeling excited about my move in Sept 🤓
November 1, 2024
Other things to do. I will borrow again and review before my trip to DC on 11-20-24.
December 4, 2024
After my trip to DC I have to wonder about the use of travel books at all. I borrowed 3 and they were all equally useless.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews


















