Author Robert H. Bruton has written an excellent travel book for people who love exploring regions by foot. His book, Exploring Washington on Foot, includes descriptions and directions for 12 scenic and high-interest routes throughout the D.C. metro area. Each route, ranging from 4 to 10 miles, begins and ends at a metro stop. The book’s detailed maps allow travelers flexibility, however. Metro stops along the way between the starting and finishing points make it possible for you to shorten or elongate the length of your walk depending on your interest or the time you have.

Travelers often forget to use what resources they have in exploring a city without the use of a cab or car. Bob Bruton’s book helps you take advantage of the opportunity. Among the best months for walking in D.C. are January, May, and November. In these months, winter, spring, and autumn are their best for outdoor activities. The weather is crisp and the scenery—be it snowfall, budding blooms, or the luscious, deep colored hues of changing leaves—makes strolling through the neighborhoods and cities of the MidAtlantic region absolutely breathtaking.

Here are few ideas for how you can incorporate a few of Bob Bruton’s walking paths into your next trip to the Washington, D.C. area.

• Ready for some serious shopping? Try trip #4. This path guides you through the trendy neighborhoods of Adams Morgan, Woodley Park, and Georgetown. Georgetown is also home to the famous university of the same name. Take this trip if you’re a student who wants to get a feel for the university neighborhood before you apply.
• Are monuments what you crave? Trip #7 passes through all the major monuments, including the Jefferson Memorial, the Veterans Memorial, the Capitol Building, and more.
• Looking for quality time with the kids? Trip #4 goes through the National Zoo. This trip is easily adaptable for the needs of children. There are plenty of places to take breaks, get food, or catch the metro back to hotel if needed.
• On your way home? If you’re traveling with nothing more than a backpack, consider walking from the metro to the airport and then taking a shuttle to your airline. Trip #5 leaves from the King Street Station metro in Virginia and leads to the Reagan National Airport. Trip #8 ends at Union Station, a major hub for fine shopping, dining, and easy connection to major travel lines, including Amtrak and Greyhound. You may also reserve a seat on several tour bus lines from Union Station as well.