The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C.

by Zibart, Eve

• ISBN13: 9780470886076
• ISBN10: 0470886072
• Edition: 11th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-03-15
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Washington D.C. welcomes approximately 15 million domestic visitors each year, and 1.5 million are international visitors. (Washington D.C. Tourism Board) There are more than 100 restaurants in the downtown Washington DC area alone with Travel & Leisure calling it "one of the most exciting restaurant cities of the East Coast." The Washington Nationals Ball Park is the first green-certified ballpark in the United States. DC is also the first major city to require developers to adhere to guidelines established by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Author Biography

Eve Zibart, author of several books, including The Unofficial Guide to New Orleans, The Unofficial Guide to New York, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Grown-ups, and The Ethnic Food Lover's Companion, spent many (many!) years as a feature writer, nightlife columnist, and restaurant critic for the Washington Post and now contributes to Washingtonian and other magazines. As a frequently chastised aging athlete, she also keeps track of the fun trails, team stats, and hot workout trends—even when she’s on the DL, which is more often these days. Her other passions are her black cat (she’s a Halloween baby) and her vintage sports car (also black). And when it comes to shopping, she moves as fast as possible—usually in the opposite direction.

Table of Contents

List of Maps
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
Welcome to Washington
About This Guide
Why "Unofficial"? Creating a Guidebook
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
Planning Your Visit to Washington
When to Go
Gathering Information
Where to Stay
What to Pack
Traveling with Children (and Perhaps Grandparents)
Tips for International Travelers
Travelers with Special Needs
Picking a Flight Plan (or Not)
A Calendar Of Festivals And Events
Accommodations
Deciding Where to Stay
Some Considerations
Getting a Good Deal on a Room
Special Weekend Rates
Getting Corporate Rates
The Internet Revolution
Reservation Services
Bed-and-Breakfasts
Helping Your Travel Agent Help You
If You Make Your Own Reservation
How to Evaluate a Travel Package
Tips for Business Travelers
Lodging Convenient to Washington Convention Center
Convention Rates: How They Work and How to Do Better
Accommodations: Rated and Ranked
What's in a Room? Room Ratings 54 How the Accommodations Compare
Good Deals and Bad Deals
Hotel Information Chart
Visiting Washington on Business
Not All Visitors Are Headed for the Mall
The Washington Convention Center
Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center
Getting In 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
Things the Natives Already Know
How to Avoid Crime and Keep Safe in Public Places
Sightseeing Tips, Tours, and Attractions
So Much to See, So Little Time
Happy Hours (The Sightseeing Kind)
Sign Up for a Group Tour or Fly Solo? Taking an Orientation Tour
The Best Inside Tours in Town
First-Timers' Tips and FAQs
Washington's Attractions
Washington Attractions By Type Washington Attractions By Location
Maryland Suburbs
Virginia Suburbs
Excursions beyond the Beltway
Dining and Restaurants
The Washington Cuisine Scene
The Restaurants
Bubbling Under the Hot	p. 100
The Best
Restaurant Profiles
Restaurants By Cuisine
Shopping in Washington
Mall Shopping
Museum Shops
Great Neighborhoods for Window-Shopping
Specialty Shopping
Entertainment and Nightlife
Washington Nightlife: More Than Lit-up Monuments
The Big-Ticket Venues
Saving at the Box Office
Live Music
Swing Your Partner
Comedy in Washington
Gentlemen's (and Ladies') Clubs
Nightlife Neighborhoods
Profiles of Clubs and Nightspots
Nightclubs By Type
Exercise and Recreation
Working a Workout into Your Visit
The Basic Drills
Walking and Running
Fitness Centers and Aerobics
Recreational Sports
Tennis
Golf
Swimming
Ropes and Rocks
Bicycling
Rowing, Canoeing, and Kayaking
Ice Skating
Skiing
Horseback Riding
Spectator Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Football and Soccer
Hockey and Racquet Sports
Horse Racing and Polo
Subject Index
Unofficial Guide Reader Survey
List of Maps VIII List Of Maps
Metro inside cover Washington at a Glance 2-3 Washington, D.C., Accommodations
Dupont Circle Accommodations
Washington, D.C., and Vicinity
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Washington-Dulles International Airport
Baltimore-Washington International Airport
Washington Old Town Trolley
Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C., Attractions
The National Mall
Arlington National Cemetery
Old Town Alexandria
The White House Area
Washington, D.C., Dining
Dupont Circle Dining
Georgetown Dining
Rock Creek Park
C&O Canal Towpath Trail
Mount Vernon Trail.
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