Native Washingtonians Judy Colbert and Denis Collins have grown up and lived amid some of the most exciting sightseeing in the country--in their own grand urban backyard. They share this knowledge in Peaceful Places: Washington, DC. Their diverse peaceful finds unfold in 12 categories of tranquil spots: Day Trips & Overnights, Enchanting Walks, Historic Sites, Museums & Galleries, Outdoor Habitats, Parks and Gardens, Quiet Tables, Reading Rooms, Scenic Vistas, Shops & Services, Spiritual Enclaves, and Urban Surprises.

Each entry includes vital information such as locations for the nearest Metro stations or local parking facilities, admission charges (and any free times), and operating hours. Plus, the authors provide a "peacefulness rating" based on three criteria: always peaceful, usually quite tranquil, or peaceful during the times or seasons specified in the peaceful place entry description.

Peaceful Places: Washington, DC is not a coffee-table book. It's one to keep in the car, the briefcase, the backpack, or the purse. Whether the reader is a native, who has lived in D.C. long enough to be considered a native, or is a visitor with only a few hours between business meetings or a hectic tourist schedule, this book will be a treasured asset.

About the Author: Author and teacher Denis Collins grew up in Washington, D.C., surrounded by fascinating raconteurs, such as his uncle who owned the stables where Jackie Kennedy would ride whenever she could sneak away from the White House. Determined to create and write stories of his own, Collins began his journalism career in the basement of the Washington Post. There, he stripped the outer wrapping off 400-pound rolls of print paper, but in off hours he scoured the city for freelance material. That led to reporting for the Washington Post, Miami Herald, and San Jose Mercury News, covering sports, political features, and books. When he returned to Washington, DC, after a few years spent living in New Zealand, Belgium, and the Netherlands, he rediscovered America's capital city and tracked down its tranquil nooks and corners for this book. He is also the author of 2004's Spying: The Secret History of History, a nonfiction work; and ForeWord Magazine awarded his novel, Nora's Army, its 2006 Book of the Year for Historical Fiction.

A past U.S. legislative aide, prolific author Judy Colbert has penned some 20 books since 1980. She is the Washington area's resident expert for where to go, when to go, and what to do when you get there. That is evidenced by her many titles such as Fun Places to Go with Children in Washington, D.C.; nine editions of Maryland and Delaware: Off the Beaten Path; and 10 editions of Virginia: Off the Beaten Path. She is a frequent contributor to the Howard County Times[Maryland], Chesapeake Life, and other publications. Among her honors are Maryland Writer of the Year and the National Easter Seal Award for a piece in American Way magazine. An inveterate traveler, she has visited more than 35 countries and all but three of the U.S. states.