The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C.

by Joe Surkiewicz, Eve Zibart

* Guides travelers to Washington's best cultural and historic sights-and offers helpful hints on how to beat the crowds and avoid long waits
* More than 75 in-depth restaurant reviews explain where to find a good meal
* Incisive hotel ratings show how to find the best lodgings at the best prices
* Shows how to get around, how to see the government work, and where to find parks and outdoor activities

428 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 1997

About the author

I'm a former newspaper reporter, columnist, and travel guide author living in Vermont and writing stuff I actually like. For now, that means noir, crime fiction and humor (allegedly).

A major influence is Holly Martins, the pulp fiction writer in the 1949 classic The Third Man (played by Joseph Cotton). No one's heard of him except Sgt. Paine (Bernard Lee, later "M" in 11 Bond flics), the Other Ranks Brit soldier who has read some of Martins' cheap Westerns (and ends up socking him in the jaw). At the end of the movie, Martins doesn't get the girl. Set your sights low, I always say.

Holly Martins : Did you ever hear of "The Lone Rider of Santa Fe"?

Maj. Calloway : Can't say that l have.

Holly Martins : "Death at Double-X Ranch"? Uh, "Raunch".

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for anyone planning a trip to Washington D.C. It could use more moderately and inexpensive restaurants, but for understanding the sights to see this book was the best one I found.