The Geomancer’s Apprentice books are set in Washington, D.C.

In case you’ve never been to our nation’s capital, here are photographs showing a few of the landmarks and areas referenced in the series. They may help you to visualize the books’ plots as they unfold.

I lived across the Potomac River from D.C. for more than two decades, and worked in D.C. itself for much of that time. It’s a beautiful city, with incredible museums, parks and monuments, and a great zoo. I commuted to work using the Metro (which may be why the subway appears so frequently in the books), and walked many miles of the city’s streets in all kinds of weather.

My favorite places in D.C. include the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History, the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, the Smithsonian Gardens, the National Mall, the Smithsonian National Zoo and, of course, Chinatown.

If you’ve never visited, you should!