"If you're looking for a reliable guidebook, the leader is the Unofficial series."
—The Mail (London)

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

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

"I have been to Washington, D.C., many times since my first visit in 1977. I was most recently there just this summer. We have done episodes on Washington, D.C., on Amateur Traveler, and I feel like it's a city that I know. So I will admit that I was a bit surprised how much I learned about the city before even getting to page 15 of the The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C.... If you want an insider’s guide to the District of Columbia, check out The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C."
—Chris Christensen, AmateurTraveler.com

Renee Sklarew is a native Washingtonian who enjoys exploring her city’s many attractions, especially its incomparable museums and national parks. As a young girl, her family lived in Switzerland, where she began her passion for travel. Renee is a Study Leader for Smithsonian Associates and leads tours of historic sites and parks in the Washington, D.C., area. She contributes travel articles and photos to newspapers and magazines, including “The Washington Post,” “Washingtonian,” “Northern Virginia Magazine,” and “AAA Traveler.” Renee serves as dining editor for “VivaTysons” magazine and is the co-author of the popular book, “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Washington, D.C.”

List of Maps

About the Authors

Acknowledgments

Introduction

• Welcome to Washington
• About This Guide
• Why “Unofficial”?
• How Unofficial Guides Are Different
• Comments and Questions from Readers
• How Information Is Organized: By Subject and by Location
• Washington, D.C.: Portrait of a City

PART ONE Planning Your Visit

• When to Go
• Crowds
• Weather
• Gathering Information Before You Leave
• Making Advance Reservations for Monuments, Museums, and Tours
• How to Get to Washington, D.C.
• Where to Go
• What to Pack
• Special Tips for Special People
• A Calendar of Festivals and Events

PART TWO Accommodations

• Deciding Where to Stay
• Washington, D.C.’s Iconic Hotels
• B&Bs
• Vacation Rentals
• The Best Hotels by Neighborhood
• Getting a Good Deal on a Room
• The Internet Advantage
• Travel Agents and/or Vacation Packages
• When Only the Best Will Do

PART THREE Arriving and Getting Around

• Coming into the City
• Arriving by Car
• Arriving by Plane
• Arriving by Train
• Arriving by Bus
• Getting Around Washington
• Taking the Metro: Just Do It
• Metrobus and Other Bus Systems
• Taxis and Car Services
• Things the Natives Already Know

PART FOUR Sightseeing Tips, Tours, and Attractions

• So Much to See, So Little Time
• Happy Hours (The Sightseeing Kind)
• Taking an Orientation Tour
• The Best Tours in Town
• Washington’s Attractions
• Washington Attractions by Type
• Washington Locations by Attraction
• Maryland Suburbs
• Virginia Suburbs
• Day-Tripping
• What’s New in Washington, D.C.?
• Hidden Gems and Free Things to See and Do

PART FIVE Dining

• The Washington Cuisine Scene
• Prime Dining Neighborhoods
• The Wharf on the Southwest Waterfront
• Restaurants by Cuisine
• Capitol Riverfront and Navy Yard
• Capitol Hill and Barracks Row
• H Street Corridor and NoMa
• National Mall and the White House
• Penn Quarter, Chinatown, and Convention Center
• Foggy Bottom
• Georgetown and West End
• Dupont Circle and Logan Circle
• U Street Corridor
• Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights
• Upper Northwest: Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, and Van Ness
• Maryland Suburbs
• Virginia Suburbs
• Two Dining Destinations Worth a Drive
• The Best . . .

PART SIX Entertainment and Nightlife

• Washington Nightlife: More Than Lit-up Monuments
• The Big-Ticket Venues
• Cutting Curtain Costs
• A Washington Tradition: Live Local Music
• Nightlife Neighborhoods: Clubs, Bars, Live Music, and Dancing

PART SEVEN Shopping

• Mall Shopping
• Museum Shops
• Great Neighborhoods for Window-Shopping
• Specialty Shopping

PART EIGHT Exercise and Recreation

• Working a Workout into Your Visit
• The Basic Drills
• Bicycling
• Fitness Centers and Core-Strengthening
• Yoga Studios
• Recreational Sports
• Tennis and Golf
• Swimming
• Ropes and Rocks
• Boating, Paddleboarding, Floating, and Water Parks
• Segway Tours
• Ice and Snow
• Spectator Sports
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Football and Soccer
• Hockey and Roller Derby
• Horse Shows and Horse Racing
• Tennis

Index

Unofficial Guide Reader Survey