Whether you intend to get out and walk, or just want a nice read, Walking Washington's History: Ten Cities, by Judy Bentley is an excellent choice. There's a nice synopsis of the history of each of the towns included, and a detailed description of the walks. Good maps and nice pictures, too. :-)

For something closer to home now, two books for local walking. First up is Old Sehome Historic Walking Tour. A short walk (less than two miles) takes you past many houses and businesses from what was the little town of Sehome. Where that name came from is explained, too. Second is a tour for Bellingham. The route for the Downtown Historic Walking Tour has two options, one a bit shorter, the other a bit longer. Many of the places pictured are still standing (some with modifications). There's a nice bit of history for each entry with wonderful pictures! Love some of the images of places that are so familiar, and yet, are not. (Sort of a 'something is missing' feeling).

Much like London's Lost Rivers (April 18, 2017 post), Hidden Waters of New York City, by Sergey Kadinsky, is both history and guidebook (in fact, that's included in the subtitle). This is one of those books with short entries so it is easy to pick up and put down if your reading time is short, or likely to be interrupted. Nice histories of the areas, where (or if) you can still find a river, and how to get there might just inspire a tour or two, if you are headed for New York City.

Reading Hermit With Dog