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111 Places in Washington, DC That You Must Not Miss
Step away from the traditional highlights of the city of innovators, great benefactors, artists, presidents and hucksters to discover innumerable interesting and unknown sites, artifacts and other treats in Washington, DC. Visit places hiding in plain sight, that may go unnoticed or simply be unknown to long-time residents and visitors alike. Play a round of miniature golf among the cherry trees. Buy original art works out of a vintage cigarette machine. Catch a show at one of the refurbished theaters where Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington used to gig. Commune with the Godfather of Go-Go music in his memorial park. Get away from the tourists and peace out by walking a labyrinth alongside the Potomac River. Try a salad made of indigenous root vegetables at a Native American café.
240 pages, Paperback
Published April 27, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 25, 2024
As you can imagine, author Andréa Seiger has something for everyone in this exhaustive guide to our nation’s capital — including plenty off the beaten tourist path. Sure, the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History (No. 52), the National Zoo (No. 83), Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (No. 110), the U.S. Holocaust Museum (No. 92), the National Gallery of Art (No. 26), the Folger Library (No. 91), Lafayette Square (No. 61), Ford’s Theater (No. 16) and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (No. 46) are included.
But Constitution Garden (No. 2), Rock Creek Planetarium (No. 89), the U.S. National Arboretum (No. 8), the National Cathedral (No. 18 and where Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his final sermon), LeDroit Park (No. 57), the African American Civil War Museum (No. 3), the U.S. Library of Congress (No. 108) and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (No. 67) — mostly known only to locals — are here, too. Seiger includes popular bars and restaurants and many, many other attractions. What a gem of a guidebook!
Seiger also includes events, such as the National Cherry Blossoms (No. 32), which appear in spring, and the 50 State Bike Route (No. 1), in which cyclists cover the avenues with state names. And you can thank John Dean (no, not that John Dean of All the President’s Men) for the gorgeous color plates.
But Constitution Garden (No. 2), Rock Creek Planetarium (No. 89), the U.S. National Arboretum (No. 8), the National Cathedral (No. 18 and where Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his final sermon), LeDroit Park (No. 57), the African American Civil War Museum (No. 3), the U.S. Library of Congress (No. 108) and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (No. 67) — mostly known only to locals — are here, too. Seiger includes popular bars and restaurants and many, many other attractions. What a gem of a guidebook!
Seiger also includes events, such as the National Cherry Blossoms (No. 32), which appear in spring, and the 50 State Bike Route (No. 1), in which cyclists cover the avenues with state names. And you can thank John Dean (no, not that John Dean of All the President’s Men) for the gorgeous color plates.
January 7, 2026
I lived in DC for 12 years, and I didn't know about most of the places in this book. And for the places I did know, the book gave me a new story. It's the perfect book for people who have lived here forever and for people who are new to the city. It's like a treasure hunt through the capital!
March 18, 2022
This is one of the best and most unique guidebooks I've seen related to Washington, DC. I lived in the District for over a decade, and many of the places listed were new to me. Author Andrea Seiger includes many hidden gems, along with parts of tourist favorites that often go unnoticed.
March 31, 2023
A book that explores some more off the beaten path DC area landmarks and activities. Some of them seem hard to get to or like too much work just to visit a plaque for a few short minutes. However the stories presented were interesting and I learned some new things which kept me reading the book. Not as useful as a travel ideas book but still a decent read.
December 30, 2019
Perhaps this isn't the best travel guide for a first-time visitor to the Nation's Capital and, as someone who's lived in the DC suburbs most of my life, that's what I appreciate about 111 Places in Washington That You Must Not Miss.
Okay, sometimes this is a little deceptive. A tourist may well find, for example, The National Cathedral in Fodor's. Seiger sneaks it in by highlighting the Canterbury Pulpit as the Thing To See, but the pulpit is, of course, found in the Cathedral. So there's stuff like that. But there are also obscure things to do, such as the tour of the NPR headquarters,the Rock Creek Planetarium, and the country's oldest, continuously operating miniature golf course in East Potomac Park. Are these sites tops on most tourists' lists when they come to Washington? Probably not. But for those of us who've seen the many monuments and Smithsonian museums, there are still a lot of fun day trips here.
Seiger does a great job of giving a little history of the places (or highlighted items) that she's chosen. The text will add depth to your visits. Don't miss the easily overlooked "tips" that can be found amid the logistical information - often other little known places of interest in the same vicinity.
Seiger included a few of my favorites that may be new to you:
Hillwood - the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, which houses a wonderful collection of Imperial Russian items, including several Fabergé eggs
The Franciscan Monastery - lovely garden and cloisters, and even some catacombs
The Willard Lobby - The Willard Hotel, just a few steps from the White House, has hosted movers and shakers from U.S. Grant to Mark Twain to MLK, Jr. There is even a small museum area that highlights some of the hotel's illustrious history.
Okay, sometimes this is a little deceptive. A tourist may well find, for example, The National Cathedral in Fodor's. Seiger sneaks it in by highlighting the Canterbury Pulpit as the Thing To See, but the pulpit is, of course, found in the Cathedral. So there's stuff like that. But there are also obscure things to do, such as the tour of the NPR headquarters,the Rock Creek Planetarium, and the country's oldest, continuously operating miniature golf course in East Potomac Park. Are these sites tops on most tourists' lists when they come to Washington? Probably not. But for those of us who've seen the many monuments and Smithsonian museums, there are still a lot of fun day trips here.
Seiger does a great job of giving a little history of the places (or highlighted items) that she's chosen. The text will add depth to your visits. Don't miss the easily overlooked "tips" that can be found amid the logistical information - often other little known places of interest in the same vicinity.
Seiger included a few of my favorites that may be new to you:
Hillwood - the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, which houses a wonderful collection of Imperial Russian items, including several Fabergé eggs
The Franciscan Monastery - lovely garden and cloisters, and even some catacombs
The Willard Lobby - The Willard Hotel, just a few steps from the White House, has hosted movers and shakers from U.S. Grant to Mark Twain to MLK, Jr. There is even a small museum area that highlights some of the hotel's illustrious history.
February 6, 2019
Very up-to-date listings and nicely idiosyncratic suggestions. She includes eight or nine restaurants and shops and some places you can just walk by or through. Her choices include all four quadrants of the district, not just the monumental core. The photos are also good.
April 2, 2023
Very informative about hidden gems.
December 31, 2023
91 to go!
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April 3, 2025A handy reference for some of the lesser known sites in DC
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews