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Honest and Outspoken Advice Helps Plan Your Next Trip
Written by Washington, D.C.’s Renee Sklarew, this is the insider’s guide to Washington at its best with more than 50 restaurants and nearly 100 hotels reviewed and ranked for value and quality—plus secrets for getting the lowest rates. With advice that is direct, prescriptive, and detailed, it takes the guesswork out of travel by unambiguously rating and ranking everything from attractions to rental car companies. The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C., digs deeper and offers more than any other guide. With an Unofficial Guide, you know what’s available in every category, from the best to the worst. Step-by-step detailed plans allow you to make the most of your time in Washington, D.C.
There’s a reason why more than 6 million Unofficial Guides have sold: these books work! The guides have been cited by such diverse sources as USA Today and Operations Research Forum.
"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
- Special Features
- How This Guide Was Researched and Written
- Letters, 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
- The Most Iconic Hotels in Washington
- B&Bs
- Vacation Rentals
- The Best Hotels for Families by Neighborhood
- Getting a Good Deal on a Room
- The Internet Advantage
- Travel Agents and/or Vacation Packages
- Accommodations: Rated and Ranked
- What to Look for in a Room
- The Hit Parade
- The Best Deals in Washington
- When Only the Best Will Do
- HOTEL INFORMATION CHART
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
- Taxis and Car Services
- Things the Natives Already Know
PART FOUR Attractions
- The Mall
- The Tidal Basin
- Pennsylvania Avenue
- Capitol Hill
- Chinatown, Penn Quarter, and Judiciary Square
- Logan Circle
- U Street
- Dupont Circle/Kalorama
- Foggy Bottom
- Georgetown
- Northwest Washington, D.C.
- Northeast Washington, D.C.
- Arlington, Virginia
- Suburban Virginia
- Southwest and Southeast Washington, D.C.
PART FIVE Dining
- The Washington Cuisine Scene
- Prime Dining Neighborhoods
- Penn Quarter and Downtown
- Mid City and Logan Circle
- Capitol Hill
- Atlas District
- Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom
- Georgetown
- Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, and Adams Morgan
- Maryland Suburbs
- Virginia Suburbs
- Dining Destinations: Restaurants Worth a Drive
- The Best . . .
- RESTAURANTS BY CUISINE
PART SIX Entertainment and Nightlife
- Washington Nightlife: More Than Lit-up Monuments
- The Big-Ticket Venues
- Cutting Curtain Costs
- Live Music
- Nightlife Neighborhoods
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
- Walking, Running, and Bicycling
- Fitness Centers and Core-Strengthening
- Yoga Studios
- Recreational Sports
- Tennis and Golf
- Swimming
- Ropes and Rocks
- Boating, Paddleboarding, and Floating
- Segway Tours
- Ice and Snow
- Spectator Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football and Soccer
- Hockey, Roller Derby, and Tennis
- Horse Shows and Horse Racing
Subject Index
Unofficial Guide Reader Survey