The Rough Guide to Seattle (Rough Guides)

Rating:
Summary: great book to keep in a backpack
Review: On it's own, this book is too tiny to help anyone who's visiting seattle for more than a day. It has a paragraph or two about the most common attractions, restaurants, parks, etc. However, since it has great, detailed maps, and it's so small, it's great to tuck in a backpack. When I have friends come to visit, I give it to them to carry around during the day- it's wonderful to consult to find a good spot to grab a lunch, or to be reminded what sights there are to see in whatever neighborhood they're in. If you have a bigger guidebook that you normally use, this is a great, portable supplement.

Rating:
Summary: Great cultural tidbits!
Review: One of the reasons why I use this book is beacause it has wonderful tidbits and stories about the people and places that influence the Seattle scene. The book is easy to read and can give travelers a quick review on Seattle customs. Descriptions of the restaurants are thorough and offer suggestions of affordable places to grab a quick bite or sit down for a luxorious meal. The authors are honest about the social mix of people found here in the city...providing a section that talks about the areas populated and visited by the gay community. The small book can easily fit into the palm of your hand and is petite enough to fit into any small side pocket of travel gear - a handy feature for the frequent traveler! I reccommend this book in combination with the Lonely Planet: Seattle book and the Fodors Compass guide for Washington (state, that is).