Lonely Planet Seattle (1st Ed)

Organizing "Things to See & Do," "Places to Stay," "Places to Eat," "Entertainment," and "Shopping" sections largely by neighborhood, this guide gives the reader a true feel for the city as well as a helpful orientation. Pithy sidebars scattered throughout cover a gamut of topics, from "Totem Poles of the Northwest Coast," to "Seattle on the Web," to "Body Art & Accessories." A nice inclusion is the "Excursions" section, which suggests outings and day trips to nearby places such as the San Juan Islands, Mount Rainier, and the Olympic Peninsula. With 20 pages of superb maps, Seattle introduces not only one of the Northwest's great cities, but the stunning region that surrounds it.--Byron Ricks