Washington, D.C. Off the Beaten Path

by William B. Whitman

Go beyond the Mall to see Washington, D.C.'s lesser-known gems with this guide, from the National Museum of Women in the Arts to the peaceful urban forest of Olmsted Woods.

Genres: Travel

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Residents of the DC area are more likely to benefit from this travel guide than one-time tourists, who will want to devote their time to the more traditional destinations (National Mall, White House, Smithsonian, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and so on). The volume I read was the 2nd edition, so the shops, boutiques, restaurants, and places to stay -- and the fees -- were out of date. There were still a lot of interesting, unusual, or little-known destinations for folks who want more than a cookie-cutter experience of the nation's capital. Most of the places are accessible via public transportation. Whitman includes local maps and there are illustrations to help identify some of the venues. A useful guide.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite series of guide books, by any means, though it has some interesting information. I don't know how "off the beaten path" some of these sights really are -- certainly, many are beyond the purview of the average Mall tourist. Arranged by area, so it's possible to use on a self-designed walking tour (though no walking routes are specifically suggested). The organization is otherwise a bit hodge-podge, with museums or historic homes listed alongside cafes and shops. Not a bad resource, though, for those with time on their hands who want to do a bit of exploring.

[Cyndie Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned about some cool things available close by that I knew nothing about despite growing up in Northern Virginia. Dog eared a lot of pages and definitely puling this book out any time we want to find a DC adventure. There are a lot of references to historic houses you can see from the outside but not the inside that made me feel a bit disappointed, but otherwise a book I'm looking forward to putting to good use. Some highlights include outdoor performances by comedic political satirists, how to get a flag that was flown over the capitol building, and how to do a kayak tour of the city.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for people like me who have visited Washington DC, and maybe want to see something beyond the usual.

[Brooke Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very helpful when we lived in Washington DC. My copy is marked up and highlighted!