Best map for walking around DC area
 

Is "Streetwise Washington, DC" a good map? We'll be walking and taking public transportation. Couldn't find a recommend. when I searched. Or are there good printable ones online?

Anyone have a favorite tourist guide book? I've looked at quite a few at the bookstore and can't decide which one to buy. Yup, some of these guidebooks have decent looking maps too.

Thanks!

You have FT, who needs a guidebook :D ... Seriously there are some great threads of the good spots to hit which you might want to peruse. I don't have anything to offer on specific guidebooks but if you want more info on something in the area, please post as I'm sure someone can respond.

As for maps, I like the small books that fold out, usually laminated. I don't think they are streetwise, but don't recall the name - sorry

Thanks. We pretty much have decided on all the major sites that we have time to see but just looking for a good, general, map to carry around. :) I agree, FT is a wealth of great info.

The AAA city map of DC is good, showing locations of most of the museums, monuments, and Metro stops. The map in the guide to the Smithsonian Museums is good for things right along the Mall, but not so good beyond that. An online resource that I've found useful is www.stationmasters.com, which shows exactly where you exit and enter the Metro (though the maps of the surrounding areas are a little out of date). Even after living here for 16 years, it can be easy to get turned around when you emerge from a Metro stop you use very infrequently. And as GoingAway implied, there are a lot of FTers with excellent knowledge of DC who are more than happy to help and offer suggestions.

check out the Access guide to DC by Wurman. good maps with restaurants hotels and sites marked. i go through and circle all the restaurants on the maps in red.

you should be able to find many guide books in your public library. even the 5 yo books are acceptable.

AAA has 2-3 excellent maps of DC.

MisterNice

Is it possible to get AAA maps if one is not a member?

I don't believe it's possible to purchase AAA city maps, but I'd be surprised if you don't have a friend or acquaintance who is an AAA member who'd be willing to acquire the maps on your behalf.

The best map I've seen is from the Washington DC Convention and Tourism Corp. Website is Washington.org.

+1 for the Access guide. Good stuff. But in terms of maps, I like the Popout Maps by The Map Group. There's one that has the Mall on one side and Georgetown on the other. Good for walking around.

As an aside, when you're in DC, you can also visit my favorite store to buy maps ... the ADC Map and Travel Center (http://www.adcmap.com/catalog/where_to_buy.php). This place rules.

They are for members only but I often get them for friends and neighbors and many maps can be ordered (without charge) via the internet by a member. HINT: often if you walk into a busy AAA ofice they dont check for a AAA membership card. Hey you got nothing to lose.

MisterNice

when i was there in july, the best maps i could find without paying turned out to be the ones in the phone book.

Wirelessly posted (goingaway's phone: SAMSUNG-SGH-I607/UCHA1 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 6.12))

the flyer magazine at the airport has a decent map inside but it is focused mostly on the mall area

would this work for you?
http://www.aaas.org/dcwest.pdf

That's a good map but not sure I can print it out in a big enough font so I can read it. :)


Thanks to all for the good suggestions.