Easy Hikes Close to Home: Washington, D.C.

I'm a walker, and I love to get out and explore the areas around Washington, DC. (There are a lot more parks, forests and wild areas than you might imagine if you don't live here.) This little book has become one of my favorites when I don't have time for a longer hike. Many of these walks can be done in sneakers, but a few do demand real boots.

Most of the walks in the book are 5 miles or less, so you can do them in 2 3 hours, plus travel time. The hikes are easy to follow, and the information about each one is well-organized. The author tells you what you need to know in advance: length, whether it's a loop or out-and-back, trail surface, what kind of scenery to expect and lots more. Plus he's introduced me to a few places I didn't know before...and I've been walking in this area for many years.

The book is so small and lightweight it's easy to carry with you. It's only a quarter of an inch thick, but contains 18 walks. The diagrammatic maps are helpful and properly inserted in the book with North at the top. (Don't laugh; I've encountered too many books where North could be anywhere on the page.)

Easy to use, clear, and full of good ideas. If you want to walk in and near Washington, DC. The book calls these "hikes," and those in the regional parks are hikes, but many feel just like long city walks to me. And that's just fine. This is a great little book to get you out walking.