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Fredensborg

Fredensborg is a city in North Zealand in Denmark.

Get in
From Copenhagen, the most convenient way to reach Fredensborg is to catch an S-train to Hillerød, and change to the Lille Nord train towards Fredensborg and Helsingør, which sees departures towards the city twice per hour most of the day. It is possible to use the same line from Helsingør. The trip from Copenhagen takes about an hour.

It is also possible to catch a bus from Humlebæk (Louisiana Art Museum, bus 844 and 733E, 25 minutes). From Nørreport station in central Copenhagen there is a rushhour express bus (06:00-09:00, 13:00-17:00), which completes the journey in 45 minutes (bus 173E)

If you have your own wheels take the Helsingørmotorvejen highway (E47 and E55) to exit 7 (Kokkedal), turn left, and follow Fredensborg Kongevej to the end.

Get around
For all practical purposes, use your two fine legs. It is a 1 kilometre walk through the nice town to the palace.

Splurge
There are not many high end restaurants in town. The best is the restaurant at the hotel Fredensborg Store Kro, see listing in the sleep section.

Go next
A good one day itinerary, which we could call "a day in the Nordsjælland of the kings", if we were the local tourist organisation - but we're not - so let us just say that it involves the three grand palaces of the region; Take the S-train to Hillerød and see the Frederiksborg Palace and museum and go for a stroll in the nice barque gardens - retrace your steps to the station and jump on the train to Fredensborg to see the palace from the pretty park. Jump back on the same train (though unless you are superman, the same train 2 hours later), and continue the journey to Helsingør, do an L through the old town, pass the harbour and finish the castle viewing with Hamlet's Kronborg, and nice views over the sound and Sweden. Head back to station and take the Kystbanen Railway back to Copenhagen. If you have time to spare, you could stop by the fabulous Louisiana Art museum in Humlebæk on your way back.

title: Fredensborg


text:
Fredericia

Fredericia (IPA: ['fʀɛðɐ̥ɪɕa]) is a medium-sized fortress town, founded in 1650 by Frederick III (after whom it was named) in the Fredericia municipality, eastern Jutland, Denmark.

Understand
Fredericia was almost selected as the Danish capital, due to its central location and large port, but in the end, Copenhagen retained the title due to its larger population.

By plane
There is no local airport in Fredericia. There are several nearby domestic and international airports in Aarhus, Billund, Esbjerg & Copenhagen. All of these airports are served by buses and/or trains which then travel onwards to Fredericia. The closest airport to Fredericia is Billund.

 * Aarhus Airport, take the airport shuttle-bus to the train station in the city centre where you may take a train to Fredericia. Trains depart roughly every 30 minutes during the day & every two hours after 01:00. It is served by Ryanair, SAS & others.
 * Billund Airport, this is the closest airport to Fredericia. From Billund airport there is no direct train line, instead you should take a bus to Vejle, Kolding or Aarhus (Vejle & Kolding are much closer) & then get a train onwards to Fredericia. Trains depart roughly every 30 minutes during the day & every two hours after 01:00. The total trip is roughly 70 minutes. It is served by Ryanair, SAS & many others.
 * Copenhagen/Kastrup Airport, take the train from the airport directly to Fredericia via Copenhagen City. This trip can take about 120 minutes. (On trains leaving from Copenhagen Airport it is important that you clip your train ticket prior to boarding).
 * Esbjerg airport take the local bus from the airport directly to the town centre where you can then take a train to Fredericia. It is served by Ryanair from London.

By train
DSB provides rail-links between Fredericia & many of Denmark's major towns + cities. Because of Fredericia's position next to The Little Belt Bridge connecting Jutland to the island of Funen (And thus linking it with Copenhagen) Fredericia has a very well serviced line. Danish IC & Regional trains are of a very high quality, offering travellers very comfortable seating & have food + drinks served on board. So you do not have to worry if you miss breakfast, it should be available on board. (Food & drink are not served on regional trains, for example the train between Odense & Fredericia.) During peak times it might be advisable to book yourself a seat, this cannot be done on the ticket machines, you can book your seats at the ticket desk. Booking a place is generally not required very early in the morning or late at night. Trains are very regular & generally leave exactly on time. Ticket checks take place on every journey, thus it is very important that you are in possession of a valid ticket. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the train or in the train stations.

Fredericia is:

 * Roughly between 1½ hours & 2 hours from Copenhagen City. Trains depart every hour. (Average cost: kr 250)
 * Around 35 minutes from Aarhus.
 * Around 45 minutes from Esbjerg in southern Jutland.
 * 45 minutes from Odense on Funen.
 * Between 4 and 5 hours from Hamburg in Germany.

The train station is outside of the main tourist part of the city, follow signs leading to Centrum, it will take about 5 minutes. Similarly there are taxis available outside the station.

(There are two exits in Fredericia station, make sure that you leave via the ticket desk & shop, the other exit leads away from the town centre.)

For further details on train schedules & visit, www.dsb.dk. (Available in English, German & Danish.)

By car
Fredericia is just beside the Little Belt Bridge linking Funen & Jutland. Thus it is quite easily accessible by car on the highway to & from Funen and Zealand.

By foot
The majority of Fredericia's tourist attractions, bars, restaurants, hotels, beaches & shopping areas are very easily accessibly by foot. It is strongly recommended that visitors go for a walk along the city walls & the sandy beaches. Much of the main shopping areas in the city centre are fully pedestrianised streets.

By taxi
Taxis (Danish: taxa) are available right outside of the train station. These can be quite expensive, especially for longer trips. Since taxis are restricted to roads it can also be difficult to see some of the towns best attractions if you restrict yourself to taxi travel.

By car
There are 2500 free parking places available in Fredericia, however to use these places you need to drop into the Tourist Office for a free parking disc.

Cars can be rented in Fredericia from Hertz. Details are as below.

By bike
Like most Danish towns Fredericia is very well suited to cyclists. Cycling in Fredericia is one of the fastest, cheapest and environmentally friendly ways to get from place to place. If you already have a bike in Denmark it can be taken on-board trains or taxis so that you can transport it with you directly to Fredericia.

However if you do not have a bike in Denmark you could consider renting one for your stay in Fredericia. Below is a company which specialises in renting bikes to tourists.

By boat
Some local companies offer trips along the fjord, this can be a great way of touring the coastline & getting a much closer look at The Little Belt Bridge. Details can be found in the 'Do' section of this article.

See

Do

 * Football: FC Fredericia play soccer in First Division, Denmark's second tier. Their home ground is Monjasa Park (capacity 4000) off the ring road near Messe centre, 3 km northwest of town centre.

Go next
Fredericia's position next to the bridge between Funen & Jutland means that many of Denmark's other towns and cities are easily accessible by rail & by road. For a day trip or a few hours outside of Fredericia you could try some of the following:

 * Odense, a city located on the adjacent Funen island. Birthplace of fairytale writer H.C. Andersen.
 * Billund, the home of Lego, visit Legoland.
 * Kolding, a historically important Danish town.
 * Jelling, featuring the Jelling Stone.
 * Aarhus, Denmark's second biggest city in the north of Jutland.
 * Vejle, The regional capital of south Jutland

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Fredericia


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Frederick

Frederick is a charming city of approximately 80,000 people (2020) in Maryland. It is a major antique center with many shops, eateries, galleries and antique dealers.

Understand
Frederick is the county seat, largest city, and commercial and geographic center of Frederick County.

History
In colonial times, Frederick was on an important north–south Indian trail.

The town was founded around 1742 and was likely named after Frederick Calvert, the 6th and last Baron Baltimore.

By car
From Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, take Interstate 270 north. Traffic is heavily congested southbound during morning rush hour and northbound during evening rush hour.

From Baltimore and points east, take Interstate 70 west.

From Hagerstown and points west, take Interstate 70 east.

From Gettysburg and points north, take U.S. Route 15 south.

By train
MARC provides commuter rail service to Frederick Monday through Friday on the Brunswick Line, which originates at Union Station in Washington DC. is located at 100 S East St. Also, from the MARC train station in Point of Rocks, there is a bus service to/from Frederick.

By plane

Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Washington National Airport , or Washington Dulles International Airport are the nearest large commercial airports. They are all within around an hour driving time of Frederick.

By bus
Route 515 provides service between Frederick and the Shady Grove Metrorail Station, whereby connections can be made from Washington, DC. The bus operates only during rush hour and costs $3.50.

Greyhound operates service to/from Baltimore for $11 if purchased online in advance.

By car
A car is the easiest way to get around Frederick. There are public parking garages and street parking in the historic downtown area.

By bus
TransIT operates bus services within Frederick. Buses operate between 6AM and 9PM and cost $1.50.

By rideshare
Uber is a popular method of transport in Frederick for those without a car.

See

 * Schifferstadt.jpg
 * Schifferstadt.jpg
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 * Schifferstadt.jpg
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Parks

Buy
Frederick is known for a high concentration of antique stores. The majority are in the historic parts of the city along Patrick St, East St, and along Carroll Creek. There are also a variety of small shops along Market St.

Budget

Fast food and national chain restaurants are located to the west along Route 40, known as "the golden mile", and south along Route 85 and South Market Street. Smaller, local restaurants are located mainly along Market street in the center of the historic part of town.

Go next

 * Brunswick
 * Gettysburg
 * Sharpsburg is the site of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest one day battle in American history
 * Harpers Ferry

title: Frederick


text:
Frederick County

Frederick County is in the Capital Region of Maryland.

Cities and towns

Other destinations

 * — Cunningham Falls is the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland
 * — Cunningham Falls is the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland

Understand
The mysterious snallygaster, a dragon-like beast with sightings going back hundreds of years, supposedly dwells in the mountains of western Frederick County.

Braddock Heights, an unincorporated community in the county, was the setting for a third-season episode of the TV series The X-Files, although it was filmed in Vancouver, Canada. See X-Files tourism.

Get in
Frederick is the center of Frederick County in every way—most of the transportation options will take you here.

By car
Interstate 70 (from points to the east and west) and Interstate 270 (from the south, including Washington, D.C.) are important highways.

By bus
Maryland Transit Administration commuter buses 204 and 515 and Greyhound intercity buses serve Frederick.

By train
MARC provides commuter rail service to Brunswick, Frederick, and Point of Rocks, on the Brunswick Line, which originates at Union Station in Washington DC.

See
Many attractions are located in Frederick, which has an attractive historic downtown area and several Civil War sites. Outside of Frederick, see the beautiful mountains in Catoctin Mountain Park and the exotic animals at Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo in Thurmont.

Vineyards
Frederick County has its own wine trail.

title: Frederick County


text:
Fredericksburg

There is more than one place called Fredericksburg:

United States of America

 * Fredericksburg (Iowa) a town in Iowa.
 * Fredericksburg (Ohio) a town in Ohio.
 * Fredericksburg (Pennsylvania) a town in Pennsylvania.
 * Fredericksburg (Texas) a city in Texas.
 * Fredericksburg (Virginia) a city in Virginia.

title: Fredericksburg


text:
Fredericksburg (Ohio)

Fredericksburg is a village in Wayne County in Northeast Ohio. The population was 487 at the 2000 census.

Get in
Very close to the traditional Ohio Amish tourist area of Holmes County. Routes 501(north), 201 (south), 192 (southwest), and 94a/2 (northeast) merge in the center of town.

Get around
Drive, bike, walk, or carriage.

See

 * This area has a scenic countryside and an Amish community.

Go next

 * Wooster (northwest)
 * Millersburg (south)
 * Mansfield (northwest)
 * Columbus (southwest)
 * Canton (northeast)

title: Fredericksburg (Ohio)


text:
Fredericksburg (Texas)

Fredericksburg is a city of 10,500 people (2010) in Texas, west of Austin and north of San Antonio.

Understand
Fredericksburg was settled by immigrant families from Germany in 1846, led by John O. Meusebach. Although settlement was on Comanche frontier, the Meusebach-Comanche Treaty of following year established lasting peace. Many older buildings retain traditional German styles; several units comprise the National Historic District. German is still spoken occasionally, and old customs are regularly observed: Schuetzenfests (marksmanship tournaments), Oktoberfest, Weihnachten, and Kinderfest. Visitors are attracted by the scenic beauty, European atmosphere, historic landmarks, excellent fall and winter hunting, and famous bread and pastries. It is the birthplace of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet during World War II.

Get in
Primary access to Fredericksburg is by private car. It's about 40 miles north of IH-10 on US-87, north west of San Antonio (71 mi total drive), or about 80 miles west of Austin on US-290.

The closest commercial airport is San Antonio International. Fly in there and rent a car.

However, if you have access to a small plane, you can fly into Gillespie County Airport which is right outside of town. There is a restaurant and very nice hotel at the airport.

Get around
Most of town is along Main Street and is easy to see on foot. Some of the attractions are just a little past walking distance.

See

 * Fredericksburg is a quaint town with many stone buildings and pretty views.

Hunt
Fredericksburg is an outstanding spot for sportsmen to find year-round opportunities to hunt native and exotic species of animals. Fall hunting leases are available on many ranches throughout the area, and the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce offers a brochure on leases that is available at the Visitor Information Center.

Wine
There are also a number of wineries in the area that offer free tours and tastings.

Buy
Fredericksburg has many unique and distinctive gifts and handcrafted items. Stroll down Main Street to take it all in, but allow yourself at least 3-4 hours for the experience!

Eat
You can stay a week and probably not have time to see all the local restaurants. German cuisine with a hill country flair is what you'll most often see. Most local places close at 9PM unless otherwise noted. A surprising number of places do not take credit cards, so check for a logo or a sign, or carry some cash.

Drink
Drinking in public areas such as on sidewalks is allowed provided the drinker remains well behaved.

Connect
As of Dec 2021, Fredericksburg has 5G from AT&T Mobility and T-Mobile / Sprint.

Go next

 * Enchanted Rock State Natural Area Offers views, trails, and camping around a huge pink granite exfoliation dome believed by the Tonkawa Indians to be haunted by spirits.
 * Hill Country a more general overview of the area, most destinations are an easy day trip.
 * New Braunfels - 72 miles southeast of Fredericksburg, this town is best known for its German culture and heritage, not to mention the Schlitterbahn, persistent in being voted the world's best waterpark.
 * San Marcos - 70 miles southeast of Fredericksburg, San Marcos is the home of Texas State University and its Aquarena Center, as well as two massive outlet malls that have more than 350 shops.
 * Pedernales Falls State Natural Area
 * Stonewall about 15 minutes east of Fredericksburg.

title: Fredericksburg (Texas)


text:
Fredericksburg (Virginia)

Fredericksburg is a city nearly halfway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia.

Understand
Fredericksburg was founded in colonial era as a port city on the Rappahannock River—the fifth longest river in Virginia. At the time, it was at the farthest point navigable by large ships trading goods with the Old World. Although the city became a key trading center for the plantation owners and farmers nearby, it never achieved the level of commerce enjoyed by Richmond and Alexandria.

The city was contested during the American Civil War, changing hands numerous times between Union and Confederate forces. In the most famous battle in Fredericksburg, Union General Burnside repeatedly marched thousands of his troops across the Rappahannock River and up Marye's Heights to their doom.

The population of Fredericksburg and surrounding communities has boomed as housing costs closer to Washington, DC, has forced commuters to seek neighborhoods farther out. Many living in Fredericksburg drive up to two hours or catch the VRE commuter rail to work in DC. Fredericksburg is also a popular home for military families employed by the nearby Quantico Marine and Dahlgren Naval bases.

The downtown area has experienced a revival since the 1970s allowing a strong arts community to thrive. Galleries, music venues, and fine dining can all be found in the historic district. While the city has seen massive growth, the downtown area and battlefields have been well preserved due to strong local commitment to historic preservation, providing a unique blend of old and new culture.

By train
One Amtrak train station serves Fredericksburg at Caroline St. and Lafayette Blvd., which is a stop for Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont and Regional trains.

By car
Fredericksburg is about fifty miles south of Washington D.C. located directly on Interstate 95 at exit 130. It is also one hour north of Richmond on Interstate 95.

Travel time from the north (Washington, DC) will vary due to traffic conditions (avoid rush hour). Between 2:30PM and 7PM, typical travel times to Fredericksburg are 1½-2½ hours. Alternative routes include taking either State Highway 28 through Manassas to US Route 17, or by taking US Route 29 through Warrenton to US Route 17. Both routes take about an hour and a half, but the traffic is much more bearable and most of the trip consists of rural driving at full speed.

Another alternative to I-95 South from Fairfax is to take the following routes:

 * Fairfax County Parkway to Hwy 123
 * Hwy 123 South to right on Hwy 641 (Chapel Rd)
 * Hwy 641 to left on Hwy 610 (Wolf Run Shoals Rd)
 * Hwy 610 to right on Hwy 643 (Henderson Rd)
 * Hwy 643 to left on Hwy 612 (Old Yates Ford Rd)
 * Left onto Hwy 3000 (Prince William Parkway)
 * Right onto Hwy 642 (Hoadly Rd)
 * Left onto Hwy 234 (Dumfries Rd)
 * Right onto Bristow Rd
 * Left onto Hwy 646 (Aden Rd)
 * Left onto Fleetwood Drive
 * Left onto Hwy 612 (Brent Town Rd)
 * Straight onto Hwy 610 (Garrisonville Rd)
 * Right onto Hwy 648 (Shelton Shop Rd)
 * Left onto Hwy 630 (Courthouse Rd)
 * Exit onto I-95 South

This way takes about 2 hours, but you avoid the stop-and-go traffic from the mixing bowl (I-95/I-495 interchange) all the way to the Express Lanes merge (just south of the Garrisonville/Aquia Exit). You also avoid the bottleneck on Hwy 123 at Occoquan. As of 2021 the Express Lanes are being extended another 10 miles into Fredericksburg, and are expected to open to traffic in 2022. This along with other projects along I-95 should help speed up the drive to and from Fredericksburg.

By bus
Greyhound buses stop at 1400 Jefferson Davis Hwy.

Get around

 * Downtown Fredericksburg is a walking city - the sidewalks are wide, inviting, and mostly paved in brick. Many locals frequent the streets as well as the occasional street musician.
 * Biking downtown can be fun, but stay off the sidewalks and be sure to follow the traffic laws.
 * Taking the local bus (known as the Fred) is convenient and inexpensive. There are stops throughout downtown, at all major surrounding shopping locations, and most local subdivisions.  Racks on the front of the buses allow you to take a bike along for the ride. Fare is 75 cents for adults, children under three ride free.  Schedules and route planning can be found at the official website, ridefred.com
 * Driving is a good option. Downtown roads are largely straightforward aside from some non-standard intersections and one-way streets; outside the city numerous signs point to places of interest and major through ways. If possible, avoid driving during rush hour as traffic is intolerable, especially on I-95, US-1, US-3, and US-17.  There is plenty of free parking downtown, either on the street or in the many public lots (PDF map). During normal business hours (8AM-5PM), much of the street parking has a two-hour time limit, after which cars will be ticketed. Parking at a city-owned garage at 600 Sophia Street is free for the first two hours.  After that, the rates vary, but they are roughly $1 per hour, $8 or less per day.

See

 * Just outside the city in Spotsylvania County (a separate political jurisdiction in Virginia), 3 other large major battlefields to see: Chancellorsville, Lee's "masterpiece" and where Stonewall Jackson fell in battle; The Wilderness, known for its brutal fighting in some of the most dense forest and thicket in Virginia; and Spotsylvania Courthouse, known for its 2-week-long bloody stalemate on Grants march to Richmond in 1864.
 * Just outside the city in Spotsylvania County (a separate political jurisdiction in Virginia), 3 other large major battlefields to see: Chancellorsville, Lee's "masterpiece" and where Stonewall Jackson fell in battle; The Wilderness, known for its brutal fighting in some of the most dense forest and thicket in Virginia; and Spotsylvania Courthouse, known for its 2-week-long bloody stalemate on Grants march to Richmond in 1864.
 * Just outside the city in Spotsylvania County (a separate political jurisdiction in Virginia), 3 other large major battlefields to see: Chancellorsville, Lee's "masterpiece" and where Stonewall Jackson fell in battle; The Wilderness, known for its brutal fighting in some of the most dense forest and thicket in Virginia; and Spotsylvania Courthouse, known for its 2-week-long bloody stalemate on Grants march to Richmond in 1864.

Do

 * Canoeing or Kayaking on the Rappahannock River. The river can be very dangerous if you are not careful. There have been many drownings since the early 1960s.  It is not unheard of at least one or two drownings to occur along the river each year.  Therefore, if you decide to go adventure on the Rappahannock River, be sure to check out the safety information and water levels before you begin your adventure.
 * Hiking along the Rappahannock River near Francis Thornton's Mill just off of Riverside Drive on the south bank of the river, upstream of the US-1 bridge. It is also possible to hike up along the canal to where the old Embrey Dam used to be. There are a network of hiking/biking trails all the way up along the river, well past the I-95 bridge.  Beware when hiking through the quarry, that there are "No Trespassing" signs posted.  As tempting as it would be on a hot day, do not swim in the quarry, lest you want to run the risk of meeting Frederiskburg's Finest.  If merely hiking through the area, it is unlikely you'll be hassled, however.  If you hike up the river far enough, you may be able to get a glimpse of some of the old canal locks.
 * Golfing at any of the several nearby golf courses, such as Meadow Farms, Cannon Ridge, or Lees Hill.

Buy

 * Downtown Fredericksburg has many antique shops with war and sports memorabilia and collectible toys and comic books. The Card Cellar sells trading cards and action figures as well as other new and used novelties, while the Made In Virginia store sells fudge, popcorn, and other locally-produced candy and snacks alongside other Virginia-themed souvenirs such as T-shirts and lapel pins. Aside from gifts, antiques, and treat, you can also shop at stores like the Latitudes Fair Trade Store, which sells various handcrafted home decor and clothing. If you are looking for a quieter place, bookstores like Riverby Books offer new and used books and a quiet reading space.

 * Spotsylvania Towne Centre is a lively local shopping mall located off Virginia State Route 3 (Plank Road), with major stores including Macy's, Sears, Books-A-Million, Costco, JCPenney, HomeGoods, and Michael's. The center is consists of both an indoor building, which offers many clothing stores and a food court, and an outdoor plaza space where restaurants and cafes are located along. The mall even includes a library and a post office.

 * Central Park is located on the other side of VA 3/Plank Road, adjacent to the Towne Centre. Central Park is a more traditional-feeling shopping center, but offers an enormous variety of major chain stores and is larger than Downtown Fredericksburg. Stores include Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Kohls, Barnes & Noble, PetSmart, Ashley HomeStore, Total Wine, Pottery Barn, Designer Shoe Wearhouse, Dollar Tree, Five Below, BuyBuy Baby, and That!, Hobby Lobby and many more. It even features entertainment establishments such as the Regal Fredericksburg movie theater and the Fun Land Fredericksburg arcade and amusement park.

 * Gateway is a small shopping center, but has chain businesses such as The Home Depot and Goodwill as well as the locally-owned Gateway Comics, which has a massive selection of comic books, toys, and other collectibles.

Budget
In addition to the numerous fast-food options scattered around the area, such as McDonald's, Arby's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Burger King and so forth, it is worth trying out the following local places for a cheap meal or snack and to get a taste of the local culture.

Central Park
Central Park has many notable (if not generic) chain eateries, including Panera Bread (with free wireless internet), Chipotle, Bonefish Grill, Olive Garden, A&W, Long John Silver's, TGI Friday's, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday's, Joe's Crab Shack, Melting Pot, and many more. The Stafford Marketplace has a few places to eat, most notably another Panera Bread (also with free wireless internet), and other generic chains.

Downtown
Downtown Fredericksburg may not be huge, but due to the presence of a college and a fun-loving local crowd from both the city and the surrounding counties, it does have a good number of decent places to catch a drink. Catering to those who want a relatively low-key atmosphere to catch up with friends and to those who simply want to let loose and get drunk, there should be something for everyone. A good route for a downtown bar crawl: start at Capitol Ale House for some good beers and burgers; hit Spirit's for a can of PBR; stop by J. Brian's for a pint of Guinness; then check the scene at Fatty J's, Brock's or The Colonial Tavern, and stop in if they're hopping and let loose.

Central Park
While downtown is far more charming, inviting and local, if you are more into the strip-mall bar scene, Central Park (Route 3 West, just outside of the city) has several places to go hang out, not all of which are totally generic. Yes, Central Park has its fair share of dime-a-dozen joints like TGI Friday's, Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday's; but do yourself a favor and skip them in favor of these places:

Sleep

 * Hilton Garden Inn, 1060 Hospitality Ln, mid-range hotel located in or near Central Park.

Go next
George Washington's boyhood home, Ferry Farm, is located across the river in Stafford county. Many other sites of historical interest are a short drive away, including Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Lake Anna is about 20 miles or so outside of town, which is a popular boating and fishing destination. The Lake Anna State Park offers some 15 miles of hiking trails, a beach on the lake, picnic areas, and camping.

A trip down to Kings Dominion, which is a large theme park a mere 35 miles to the south along I-95, is worth a day to see and experience. In decent traffic, it takes around a half an hour to get there from Fredericksburg. The park features many roller coasters and other rides, including some world class rides such as Volcano, the Blast Coaster and the Dominator.

About 20 miles (32 km) to the north along I-95 is the awesome National Marine Corps Museum near the Quantico Marine Corps Base. This museum features all kinds of interactive displays detailing the history and evolution of the United States Marine Corps.

For those that love to shop, Potomac Mills, one of the largest outlet malls in the country is only about 1/2 hour or so to the north (assuming decent traffic). There are more than 220 outlet stores in this place, so all kinds of options for the shopping fanatic. There are also several restaurants as well as an 18-screen movie theater.

About and hour and half west of town is the Shenandoah National Park, which includes over 500 miles (800 km) of hiking trails, and camping. If you are not the hiking nor camping type, at the very least, a drive down Skyline Drive can be worthwhile to check out some of the incredible views. During the peak of the fall colors (later part of October to the first part of November), it can get pretty crowded.

During the winter, there are two places within 2 hours of Fredericksburg to go skiing, Wintergreen Resort and Massanutten. Massanutten also has the added benefit of an indoor waterpark, featuring one of the east coast's only Flowriders. During the summer months, there is also an outdoor section with a wavepool and additional slides available. These resorts also feature golfing, fitness centers, and spas. Either one would be a worthwhile get-a-way. If you are willing to go even farther, there are other places that offers skiing that are within a few hours of driving from Fredericksburg.

title: Fredericksburg (Virginia)


text:
Fredericton

Fredericton is the capital of New Brunswick, Canada. It is located along the St. John River. Fredericton is the cultural, artistic and educational centre of the province. Fredericton is home to two universities - the University of New Brunswick and the liberal arts-focused St. Thomas University. Fredericton is also home to cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the Fredericton Region Museum and the Playhouse, the latter which serves as a venue for local talent/writers. Adding to the city's rich cultural milieu, Fredericton is the annual Harvest and Jazz and Blues Festival every fall which attracts regional and international jazz and blues artists. The city's IT and commercial sectors are growing, and it has the highest percentage of residents with a post-secondary education in the province and one of the highest per-capita incomes.

Understand
The population of Fredericton proper was 58,000 in 2016, with a metropolitan area population of 102,000.

Fredericton is located along a river bank which splits the city in two parts which the locals call the "North Side" and "South Side". The majority of hotels and tourist destinations are located on the South Side, while you can find some hidden gem restaurants in the North Side. The City of Fredericton comprises Fredericton proper, and the boroughs of Silverwood, Nashwaaksis, Devon, Barker's Point and Marysville, which were incorporated into the city in 1973.

The city is situated in the west-central portion of the province and, along with Moncton and Saint John, is one of the main urban centres in Southern New Brunswick. The St. John River flows in a west-east direction, bisecting the city and providing the dominant natural feature for the municipality.

As the capital city of New Brunswick, Fredericton benefits from the presence of the Provincial Legislature, and many organizations operating at a provincial level. Although New Brunswick is officially bilingual, a rule which also applies to City services, the vast majority of Fredericton residents are Anglophone (native English speakers), and the availability of tourist services in French varies considerably.

By car
Fredericton is 180 km from Moncton on the Route 2 (Trans-Canada Highway), and 120 km from Saint John on Route 7 (turn west on #2 at Oromocto).

Airport
Direct flights to Fredericton within Canada include from Montreal (1.25 hours) and from Toronto (1.75-2 hours).

Airlines
Airlines operating to Fredericton include:
 * Flies from Montreal and Toronto
 * Flies to Ottawa.
 * Flies to in winter to Varadero and Holguín (in Cuba).
 * Flies to Toronto–Pearson.
 * Flies to Toronto–Pearson.

By bus

 * Operates the following bus routes to Fredericton:
 * Between Edmundston and Moncton including stops in Grand Falls, Perth-Andover, Florenceville, Woodstock, Fredericton, and Fredericton Airport. Travel time to Fredericton from Moncton is 2.5 hours and from Edmundston is 3.5 hours.
 * Between Saint John and Fredericton including a stop in Fredericton Airport. Travel time to Fredericton from Saint John is 1.25 hours.
 * Travel to Edmundston from the following destinations involving same day transfers is as follows:
 * From Charlottetown (5.25 hours) with transfers in Amherst and Moncton
 * From Bathurst (7.5 hours), Campbellton (8.75 hours), Halifax (6.25 hours), and Miramichi (6.5 hours) with a transfer in Moncton
 * From Antigonish (7 hours), North Sydney (9.75 hours), Sydney (10.5 hours) with transfers in Truro and Moncton
 * From Bathurst (7.5 hours), Campbellton (8.75 hours), Halifax (6.25 hours), and Miramichi (6.5 hours) with a transfer in Moncton
 * From Antigonish (7 hours), North Sydney (9.75 hours), Sydney (10.5 hours) with transfers in Truro and Moncton

On foot/bicycle
The downtown can be easily explored on foot or bicycle. To get to the north side of Fredericton, you can take the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge (restricted to pedestrians and cyclists) to cross Saint John River.

By car
Streets in downtown Fredericton are in grid-like pattern and easily navigated. There are plenty of on-street parking and some parking garages in the downtown area. Pay attention that the major thoroughfares (Brunswick St. and Queen St.) are one-way streets in the downtown core.

See

Eat
Most major fast food chains can be found on Prospect Street on the south side and Main Street on the north side.

Stay safe
Bike theft has been rising in the region, be careful if you are going around the city in a bike.

Also vehicle theft continue to rise in Fredericton.

Go next

 * Woodstock. About an hour by car to the north-west.
 * Miramichi. To the north-east.
 * Moncton. To the south-east.
 * Edmundston. To the north-west.
 * Quebec. To the north-west.
 * St. Andrews. To the south-west.
 * United States. To the south-west.
 * Saint John. Due south.
 * Marysville. A historic mill town.

title: Fredericton


text:
Frederikshavn

Frederikshavn is a port city on the Kattegat in North Jutland, Denmark. It is popular with vacationers, especially for its clean beaches with gentle surf. The city offers many leisure activities. There are a variety of excursion destinations in the area, such as the Grenen headland. Through the ferry port, trips to Gothenburg and Oslo are possible.

It had a population of 60,000 (in 2017).

Understand
Frederikshavn describes itself as the northernmost municipality on the European continent.

Frederikshavn was named Fladstrand, until 1818 where it was changed to Frederikshavn. Frederikshavn translates to "Frederik's harbour", named after Danish King Frederik VI.

Get in
Passengers traveling from other parts of Denmark can reach Frederikshavn by train, bus or airplane. The journey time by train or bus from Aalborg, the nearest large town to the south, is approx. between 1 hr 10 min - 1 hr 45 min (40 minutes in car). From Aalborg Airport to Frederikshavn station the journey time is about 1½ hours by bus.

By train
The is not far from the town centre and it connects you to pretty much all of Denmark.

Frederikshavn is on the Hjørring, Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense, Roskilde, Copenhagen, Line. It takes approximately 5 hours 50 minutes to reach Copenhagen and is operated by DSB

There is also a train line between Frederikshavn and Skagen, known as Skagensbanen, which is operated by Nordjyske Jernbaner and stops in Strandby, Jerup and Ålbæk. It takes approximately 40 minutes to reach Skagen.

By bus
X-bus from Aalborg.

By boat
Frederikshavn can be reached by ferry from Norway (Oslo) and Sweden (Gothenburg) and connects Læsø Island to Jutland.

 * operates the route Gothenburg—Frederikshavn which takes 2 hours with Stena Line Express and 3 hr 15 min with Stena Danica/Jutlandica and the route Oslo—Frederikshavn which takes 12 hours.
 * operates the route Læsø - Frederikshavn which takes 90 min.

By car

 * From Aalborg: Use the E45 northbound to Frederikshavn.
 * From Aarhus: Use the E45 northbound to Frederikshavn via Aalborg.
 * From Hirtshals: Use the E39 to Hjørring and from there use Road 35 towards Frederikshavn.

Get around
Frederikshavn does have a public bus system, that mainly connects the rim areas of the city with the city centre. For getting around in the centre, walking is the easiest solution, given the size of the area.

Frederikshavn has a public bike system, where bikes can be borrowed for free, with a DKK 100 deposit in one of the bicycle hubs (at the tourist agency, by most hotels and at the camp site). The bicycles are available from Easter until November. The bikes can be used to getting around to attractions, outside of Frederikshavn city centre easily, as the city has, and expands on, a quite well functioning web of bicycle paths and roads and it is also possible to take the bike with you on the train to Skagen if space is available.

Getting around in own car is rather easy, as Frederikshavn has quite a number of parking areas, of which the majority is free. City centre is an exception to this, with a couple of paid parking areas.

See

Nature
Frederikshavn is a starting point of the truly epic hike of Hærvejen, leading down the entire Jutland peninsula for 500 kilometres, all the way to the border with Germany. The trail follows ancient trails used in olden times to transport cattle and soldiers, and presents the nature and cultural of Jutland in its variety. It is designed for an 18 day journey, but you can chose to hike shorter individual parts and still get a great experience.

Buy
Frederikshavn has a small pedestrian area, surrounding the main pedestrian street, which contains the south end of Danmarksgade and north end of Søndergade. The main pedestrian street is approximately 750 metres long, and the area houses a number of retail shops with various consumer goods, such as clothes, telecom shops, radio/TV shops and restaurants.

For bigger shops such as supermarkets, DIY retailers, furniture shops and such, the north/west end of the city houses the majority of those along Hjørringvej between Suderbovej/Knivholtvej and Toftegårdsvej/Maigårdsvej.

Opening hours follows those otherwise found in Denmark; supermarkets are mainly open between 09:30 and 18:00, other shops between 10:00 and 17:30 and restaurants between 11:00/16:30 and 22:30-23:00.

Go next
There are lots of beautiful nature areas around, easily accessible by car. There are also several smaller cities in Frederikshavn municipality which offers cosy small town feel.

 * Sæby - Small town with a seaport.
 * Skagen - Denmark's northernmost town with a thriving tourist industry.
 * Strandby - Small coastal town 4 km north of Frederikshavn.
 * Ålbæk - Also a smaller coastal town.
 * Østervrå
 * Elling - Small village where the Elling Å stream is and a 13th-century church.
 * Kilden
 * Gærum
 * Dybvad - Quiet small town in the south of Frederikshavn. Dybvad hosts an open air music festival in August, called Dybvad Open Air.
 * Ravnshøj
 * Jerup - Here the State Prison of Kragskovhede is located.
 * Voerså

title: Frederikshavn


text:
Frederikssund

Frederikssund is a city in North Zealand in Denmark.

Get in
Frederikssund is the terminal station for H- and C-line S-trains. The trip from Copenhagen will take around 45 minutes.

title: Frederikssund


text:
Frederiksted

Frederiksted is a town on the island of Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Get in
Frederiksted is best accessed by rental car from the island's airport,. Cruise ships also occasionally dock at its pier.

Go next

 * Christiansted – toward the eastern end of the island

title: Frederiksted


text:
Frederiksværk

Frederiksværk is a city in Zealand.

title: Frederiksværk


text:
Fredonia

There is more than one place called Fredonia:

United States of America

 * Fredonia (Arizona) - A town in Arizona.
 * Fredonia (New York) - A town in New York State.
 * Fredonia (North Dakota) - A town in North Dakota.
 * Fredonia (Wisconsin) - A village in Wisconsin.

"Fredonia" was at one time proposed as an alternative name for the United States, and there are probably many other small towns and settlements in the United States bearing this name (many of them having been officially renamed to something else, but keeping some "Fredonia" place names for historical reasons).

Colombia

 * Fredonia (Antioquia) - A town in Antioquia

title: Fredonia


text:
Fredonia (Arizona)

Fredonia is a small town in Northern Arizona.

Understand
Although it is debatable where the center of the town is, many locals say it is at Judd Auto. Others claim it is where highways 89A and 389 come together. Fredonia is a small town in a beautiful location. It is about 1.5 miles long from one end to the other. South of it is the Kaibab Plateau and the Grand Canyon. North of it is Zion and Bryce National Parks.

Get in
Fredonia is on US highway 89A and is a gateway city to the Grand Canyon. Most people who come to Fredonia are driving to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon or are Grand Canyon river rats (rafting tours of the Grand Canyon) on their way to Lees Ferry. The closest large city to Fredonia is Las Vegas, Nevada, about, about a 3 hour drive to the west.

See

 * The stars in this part of the world are incredible. There is very little light pollution.

Stay safe
Don't speed. Fredonia is one of only a handful of towns on the Arizona Strip and there are more law enforcement than in cities many times larger. There are speed traps on both the north and south limits of town.

Go next

 * North-bound - on US 89A:
 * Town of Kanab, Utah, about - with Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument nearby.

 * South-bound - on US 89A south, then AZ 67 south:
 * The North Rim of the Grand Canyon, about - with a view that is not as crowded as the South rim and is only open during the summer.

 * East-bound - on US 89A:
 * Rafting tours of the Grand Canyon begin at Lees Ferry on the Colorado River, about.
 * Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, about - with Lees Ferry and Lonely Dell Ranch.
 * Horseshoe Bend - near Page.
 * City of Page, Arizona -.

 * West-bound - AZ 389, then UT 59 and I-15.
 * Pipe Spring National Monument is nearby, with historical sites; there are half-hourly, ranger-led tours.
 * St George (Utah), Utah -.
 * Las Vegas, Nevada -.

title: Fredonia (Arizona)


text:
Fredonia (New York)

Fredonia is a small town in New York's Southern Tier, near the shores of Lake Erie.

By car
Fredonia is right off exit 59 on the New York State Thruway (I-90), it can also be reached via NYS Route 60 from Jamestown and other parts of Chautauqua County.

By bus
Coach USA (Erie) serves Fredonia with five daily round trips (two on Sunday) to the Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center. Bus departs from the Mason Hall traffic circle on the SUNY Fredonia campus, purchase tickets at the main campus box-office in the Williams Center, or when that building is closed, from the driver. At Buffalo, connections can be made to Greyhound, New York Trailways, Megabus.

By plane
Buffalo-Niagara International Airport has non-stop, mainline service to many destinations primarily on the east coast, although Southwest has direct flights to Phoenix and Las Vegas. Erie International Airport in Northwestern Pennsylvania on the other hand is primarily served by smaller regional carriers. Both are around a 45 minute drive from Fredonia, or from Buffalo you can take NFTA to the Metro Transit Center to grab a bus to Fredonia (see above).

There is also a small airport in the neighboring City of Dunkirk (DKK). There is no scheduled passenger service, but the airport is a viable option for private aviation and charters.

By train
Despite the plethora of rail lines intersecting through Fredonia and Dunkirk, Penn-Central discontinued rail service to Dunkirk in the early 1970s leaving only freight service primarily for the power plant and the City's few remaining factories. Although there are discussions to have Amtrak's existing Lake Shore Limited stop in Dunkirk and the infrastructure (station house and platform) already exist, of 2011 this has yet to materialize. The nearest Amtrak stations are in Buffalo (Buffalo-Depew), with direct service to Boston, Chicago, New York City, Toronto, and many points in between and in Erie, although the latter is unstaffed with the only departures being between midnight and 6AM.

Get around

 * Walk - The Village of Fredonia is fairly compact, and most attractions worth seeing, including the University, are easily walkable.
 * SUNY Fredonia operates a community shuttle service serving Fredonia. Free if you're a student, faculty or staff member; $0.75 for everybody else.
 * Several bus lines of CARTS (Chautauqua Area Regional Transit System) do run through Fredonia. They are not city lines, however, and are more useful for reaching some of the more rural areas of the county rather than travelling point to point in Fredonia.

Do
There isn't a whole lot to do in the town of Fredonia, but the university always has concerts, plays, open mic nights, etc. There is a lot of public land around the neighboring towns that makes for great hiking, not to mention some pretty impressive secluded ponds, gorges, and waterfalls.

Drink
Possibly the only thing to do for people between the ages of 20 and 50, there are over a dozen bars to choose from packed into a couple blocks. Since there are so many bars and such a small population to use them, competing establishments have some ridiculous drink specials to lure the crowds.

BJ's is the main hub for live local music, Fredonia rock bands, Indie, etc. Not to mention specials for every night of the week. Tequila Tuesday (Dollar Shots), Quads on Thursdays (4 shots, 4 dollars), Saturday dollar pints from 3pm-8pm and free hot dogs, as well as dollar well drinks and bottom shelf shots all night long.

Heenan's Pub is a favorite for many locals because it is a traditional Irish Pub. You can find your Irish family crest on a map next to the dart boards. $5 pitchers and friendly bartenders make it a good time for all. If you frequent the bar enough, or if a bartender appreciates your compliments or tips they'll flip you a wooden Heenan's coin that is redeemable for a free drink.

Liberty's is a bar in a residential area. Students hardly ever go near the place, but usually the student bartenders are so happy to see someone their age that they will give you some great deals. Everybody smokes indoors and there is a big room with pool tables/games/etc.

The best place for specialty beers and micro brew, as well as a rooftop patio, live music, and great food. Ellicottville Brewing Company (EBC) is the place to be. They feature many house beers and this is the place to purchase growlers. Bring them back for a cheap refill any time.

Sleep
The White Inn. The place is as old as the town and it is pretty expensive. It is said to be haunted. There is a very classy restaurant and martini bar. This is a great place for wedding receptions, gala events, and celebrations.

Go next

 * Jamestown
 * Buffalo
 * Erie
 * Canada

title: Fredonia (New York)


text:
Fredrikstad

Fredrikstad is a city and municipality in Østfold county in Norway, home to around 85,000 people (2023). Its old town is Northern Europe's best preserved fortified town.

Understand
The city of Fredrikstad was founded and named in 1567 by King Frederick II of Denmark-Norway. The oldest part of the city was built as a fortified town behind protective walls. The city's location is at the estuary of Glomma, the largest river in Norway and not far from the Swedish border. The river was used for transporting timber. The city still has a significant wood processing industry. The main settlement is along the river banks. Today, the city has an important trading business and is a popular tourist city.
 * Fredrikstad city website

By train
Fredrikstad is served by the Norwegian State Railway on the Oslo-Halden line. Also some trains to Gothenburg and onward connections, and almost as long (plus waiting time in Oslo) between the airport and the central station of Oslo to Fredrikstad.

By plane
There are two main airports serving eastern Norway, the larger one is Oslo Gardermoen (OSL), which is 50 km north of Oslo while Fredrikstad is about south of Oslo. Nevertheless, there is a bus service (line FB11 between Fredrikstad and the airport taking slightly over two hours.

Some people find a good deal if they fly to Gothenburg instead, and take the train or drive from there.

About 230 km to the south, Gothenburg airport Landvetter is even further from Fredrikstad than OSL is (though the difference in driving time is less than an hour), but sometimes the tickets might be better there.

By bus
Hourly to Oslo via Moss by TimEkspressen. Several daily to Strømstad in Sweden, corresponding with a ferry to Sandefjord.

Get around
It is fairly easy to get around the city as public transportation in form of bus is frequent and goes around town and to the suburbs in all directions from the centre of downtown.

Taxi is available from the main taxi central in downtown, just opposite of the main walking street.

There is a ferry from downtown to the old town which is quite frequent. It is an affordable and scenic means of transportation, and you get to see the city from a different view as well, as the river offers a unique view of town. It also goes to the neighboring suburb Gressvik.

If you have a rental car, traffic is usually unproblematic, but there may be some traffic jams in the main entry roads to town around 16:00-17:00 (rush hour).

Old Town
The old fortified city, founded in 1567, and Kongsten fortress.

Activities

 * Go swimming. There is a plethora of swimming south of downtown just waiting to be discovered.

Drink
There are three coffee shops in the city centre that make very good coffees, milkshakes, smoothies etc. One is Verdensspeilet (World Mirror) right opposite the cinema. The second is Syversen Tea and Coffee and the third is Malenki, next to the cinema. All three have friendly staff and great coffee, and are great for a quick bite. If you want to stay a little longer, maybe have a beer and play a board game then Verdenspeilet is the best choice.

The riverwalk has a lot of restaurants and bars, and in the summertime, especially, it is a very busy area where people go to eat, drink a beer in the sunshine by the water and in general have a good time. People also come by boat, staying directly at the guest pier.

Stay safe
Norway is a fairly safe country in general, and Fredrikstad is no exception.

Go next

 * Oslo - The capital of Norway
 * Bohuslän - Cross the border into Sweden
 * Gothenburg - The second largest city in Sweden

title: Fredrikstad


text:
Freedom

There's more than one place called Freedom:

United States of America

 * Freedom (California) - in Santa Cruz County, California
 * Freedom (New Hampshire) - a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire
 * Freedom (Pennsylvania) - a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania
 * Freedom (Wisconsin) - a small town in Outagamie County, Wisconsin

title: Freedom


text:
Freedom (Wisconsin)

Freedom is a city in Northeastern Wisconsin.

Get in
Freedom is easily accessed by car from hwy 41.

Get around
Easiest way to get around Freedom is by car. If you don't have a car and are just staying in town, most things (school, gas stations, bars, churches, etc.) are within walking distance.

Hitchhiking is very uncommon and will probably be met with stares as people pass you on the road.

See
Lots of farm fields. If you are into high school sports, the local high school has a team for most common sports. There is a Catholic church in town.

Do
Go to the local taverns, which is very popular with locals. If visiting during the winter, snowmobiling is very popular, and there are plenty of well-conditioned trails in the area. Hunting is very popular with locals, although most travel north to partake. A 10-minute drive out of town during the right time of year will land you in the middle of the Mackville tractor pulls, which is truly a sight.

Buy
Most locals drive into nearby Appleton to shop for clothes and things of the like because there is really no stores in town that sell them. There is a local grocery store (Freedom Foods) with reasonable prices. The high school has a small spirit shop, but it is not open during school hours. There is also power equipment shop, Freedom All Season Repair & Rental. It's on the north end of town on State Hwy. 55.

Eat
Only fast-food in town is Subway, located right across the street from the high school. There are one or two small restaurants in town. Mama D's Cafe is one of them and is right next to Subway. Most taverns have menu that you can order from with relatively good prices and good food.

Drink
Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in town and can be bought at any gas station, the grocery store, and of course the bars.

Sleep
There are no hotels in town, but Appleton is just 10 minutes down the road and Green Bay is less than 30. Sneak into someone's barn if you are desperate, but be aware that if you're caught, trespassing is not met lightly (this is a joke, do not sneak into barns).

Connect
Local area code is 920.

Go next
The same way you got in, any road from the center of town will take you to another one of Wisconsin's wonderful small towns.

title: Freedom (Wisconsin)


text:
Freedom Trail

To travel back to Revolutionary Boston—to understand the people, the events, and the ideals of the 1700s—is a great leap for us today. But the sites along the Freedom Trail speak eloquently of that time. Bostonians and other colonists shared a notion of liberty as something precious and worth fighting for. The Freedom Trail sites include the scenes of critical events in Boston's and the nation's struggle for freedom. Some visitors choose to trek the entire 2.5 mile route or select an individual site to visit at length, while others experience the Freedom Trail as a cohesive story built around four chapters, organized along geographic and thematic lines.

Understand
In the 1870s, imbued with the spirit of the nation's centennial, Bostonians began saving colonial and Revolutionary era buildings that were critical in the struggle against British rule. A century later, in 1974, Congress ensured the continuity of this effort—and the preservation of important parts of America's heritage—by creating Boston National Historic Park.

Today the park is an association of sites ranging from steepled churches, grand meeting halls, and battlegrounds to America's oldest commissioned warship. The park is distinctive, mixing historic buildings and landscapes owned by the city, the state, the federal government, and private organizations. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile walking trail of 16 colonial, Revolutionary, and federal sites in downtown Boston and Charlestown that tells the story in four principle chapters of the people, places, and events that sparked the American Revolution against England and highlights Boston's role in laying the foundation for a new nation.

Chapter 1—Revolution of Minds and Hearts For more than a century before the first musket was fired in America's War for Independence, Puritan-bred Bostonians embraced a strong heritage of community and a culture of freedom that was remarkable among colonial settlements. The sites here include places where townsfolk assembled to proclaim their rights, drill their militias, bury their dead, educate their young, govern their own church congregations, and protect their lands from British meddling. "The Revolution was effected before the war commenced," observed John Adams. "The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people." Sites in this chapter include Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church and Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel and Burying Ground, and the site of the first public school.

Chapter 2—The People Revolt In 1760 breaking away from Great Britain was unimaginable to most Bostonians. Between 1761 and 1775, however, differing views of the rights of the colonies under British rule led to actions, reactions, and tumultuous encounters between Britian and the Boston colonists that snowballed toward war. The sites here feature places where liberty-loving men and women began to take collective action, culminating in events like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. They include Old South Meeting House, Old Corner Bookstore, Old State House, Boston Massacre Site, and Faneuil Hall.

Chapter 3—Neighborhood of Revolution In the course of two pivotal days—April 18 and 19, 1775—years of growing unrest burst into insurrection. Among the families of the North End, downtown Boston's oldest surviving residential neighborhood, were artisan Paul Revere, his second wife Rachel, and seven of his children. It was patriot Revere who planned the hanging of warning lanterns in the steeple of the Old North Church on April 18 before his famous ride. By morning, colonial militia had assembled in Lexington and Concord for what became the first military encounters of the Revolution. The North End sites in this chapter include Paul Revere House, Old North Church, and Copp's Hill Burying Ground.

Chapter 4—Boston Goes to War Less than two months after Lexington and Concord, patriots and British troops engaged in one of the bloodiest encounters of the War for Independence—the Battle of Bunker Hill. Though the British won the battle, their losses were immense, inspiring patriots to continued resistance. By 1783, the United States had won its independence. To defend the young nation against pirates, the British, or any other would-be challenger, the newly formed US Navy built the seemingly invincible frigate USS Constitution. The Charlestown sites in this chapter include Bunker Hill Monument and USS Constitution, berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

History
The Freedom Trail originated in 1951 when Old North Church sexton Bob Winn proposed to reporter Bill Schofield the creation of a trail to help visitors find Boston's historic sites and to boost tourism. Schofield promoted the idea in his newspaper columns. In June 1951, with the support of Mayor John B. Hynes and the Chamber of Commerce, the city placed signs painted with a colonial rider directing visitors to 12 historic sites from the State House to Copp's Hill Burying Ground.

Over the years the Freedom Trail has expanded and evolved. Today it extends from Boston Common to the Charlestown Navy yard and is marked by a line of contrasting bricks, red paint, and distinctive signage. More than 1.5 million people walk the trail every year, discovering the Revolutionary past embedded in a major modern urban environment.

Prepare
The National Park Service maintains two visitor centers here, as many of Boston's historic sites are considered part of the NPS. Swing by to get up to date information about the status of Freedom Trail, its buildings and events. If you have a mobile phone, try out their Freedom Trail app. It's filled with historical anecdotes and helpful information.

National Park Service Rangers lead a free 90 minute walking tour along the heart of Boston's Freedom Trail. Discover Boston's role in the American Revolution. For more information call +1 617 242-5642. Tours are offered weather permitting. Each tour is limited to 30 people: first come, first served. On day of tour, rangers will distribute free stickers 30 minutes before tour time. Reservations are not accepted. Tours fill up quickly in summer months. Tour times for 2008: Jun 21 - Aug 31: Daily at 10AM, 11AM and 2PM. Apr 19 - Jun 20; Sep 1 - Nov 30: Weekdays at 2PM only, Weekends at 10AM, 11AM and 2PM. Last day for Freedom Trail tours is Sunday, November 30.

Self-Guided Tour
The visitor center at the Freedom Trail also offers GPS enabled self-guided audio tour guide app for both iPhone and Android. It works offline; the password to access the Tour/App can be purchased at the visitor center or online via Viator. Each point of interest along the tour has a narrated story, narrated directions, and helpful images. As you walk along the path and approach a pin, its story automatically pops-up and starts playing professionally narrated stories (prepared by local guides). The self-guided tour eliminates the need to follow any scheduled tour timings, one can skip crowded groups.

By public transit
If you are starting in the park like everyone else, your best bet is to take the Red Line or Green Line to Park Street. If you're going in reverse, try Community College on the Orange Line. The roads are so small and congested down here even busses often find themselves stuck in traffic.

By car
In short: Do not drive a car through downtown Boston if you value your sanity. It will not be a fun proposition and you won't get there faster than by public transit anyway.

Stay safe
This is a heavily trafficked and touristed area, so take normal big city precautions securing your valuables. Some historic sections of side walk are over 200 years old and may be uneven, or more slippery than you are used to if it has rained recently. Keep an eye out for crazy drivers swerving around the construction that is no doubt occurring. Remember to stay hydrated!

Go next
The trail winds through the districts of Back Bay/Beacon Hill, Downtown, and Charlestown. So whenever you step off the trail you are never far from a great restaurant or transit station.

See also Boston Black Heritage Trail.

title: Freedom Trail


text:
Freehold

Freehold is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Freehold is a great day or weekend trip for those who love history, architecture, shopping, and food.

Understand
Freehold is the seat of Monmouth County, and one of the original townships of Monmouth County. Freehold is a city which contains much 18th-century history, as it was here where the Battle of Monmouth was waged. In the 19th century, many quaint Victorian houses were built, along with the Freehold Raceway.

The city is a bedroom community of New York City, home to the Freehold Raceway Mall (the third largest mall in the state) and steps away from trendy dining spots, bars, taverns, museums, and art galleries on Main Street.

By train
There is no designated station for Freehold; the nearest train station is Aberdeen-Matawan, which runs along the North Jersey Coast Line towards New York City/Hoboken and Bay Head. The station situates on the intersection of Main Street & Atlantic Avenue in Matawan, approximately 10 miles/20 minutes away along Route 79. The two towns are separated by Marlboro Township.

By car
U.S Route 9, New Jersey Turnpike, Route 18, Route 33, Garden State Parkway, Interstate 195, and County Routes 522, 524, 527, and 537 all provide access to Freehold:

 * U.S. Route 9 runs through the 'heart' of Freehold. Freehold Raceway and Freehold Raceway Mall are located across from each other on US-9. Many strip malls, restaurants, and car dealerships are also dotted along US-9.
 * State Route 18 briefly runs in the northeast section of Freehold Township at a junction with County Route 537. The route is a vital link for the Jersey Shore and Raritan Valley region in Central New Jersey. The route can also be accessed in Marlboro via Route 79 and in Old Bridge via US-9.
 * State Route 33 passes through near the center the city. It is further divided into two sections:
 * Freehold Bypass is the freeway section of Route 33 that bypasses the urban commercial areas of Freehold Borough
 * Route 33 Business is the 'old' section of Route 33 that travels through the urban commercial areas of Freehold Borough
 * State Route 79 runs through the 'heart' of Freehold, from US-9 near Freehold Township into Freehold Borough briefly running concurrent with County Route 537, before heading northwest towards northern sections of Freehold into Marlboro.
 * County routes 522, 524, 527, and 537 traverse the municipality.

Other major roads provide access to the area:

 * Garden State Parkway is 10 miles east in Tinton Falls (Exit 100)
 * Interstate 195 is in bordering Millstone, Jackson, and Howell Townships
 * New Jersey Turnpike Interstate 95 is 10 miles west in East Windsor Township (Exit 8)

By bus
New Jersey Transit provides bus service between Freehold and New York City from Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan via bus routes 131, 135 and 139. The Academy Bus Line provides bus service between Freehold and New York City from Wall Street in Manhattan.

By plane

 * Old Bridge Airport Public-use airport 5 miles (9 km) south of the Old Bridge CBD in Old Bridge, Middlesex County. The privately owned airport is roughly a 15-minute drive to/from Freehold and is next to Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

The city is also served by several nearby international and domestic airports

 * Newark Liberty International Airport
 * John F. Kennedy International Airport
 * LaGuardia Airport.
 * Philadelphia International Airport
 * Atlantic City Airport  provides some minor domestic service.

See the New Jersey article for more detailed information on these airports and services.

By boat
Ferry service is available through the SeaStreak service in Highlands (near Middletown). The ferry slip is roughly a 30-minute drive to/from Freehold. Some residents (particularly residents in the northeastern section of town, near Route 18) opt to commuting to New York City via SeaStreak, as it offers ferry service to Pier 11 (on the East River at Wall Street) and East 35th Street.

Get around
While public transportation is provided, most residents and visitors get around by car.

Do

Emergency services

 * 911 for immediate attention by the Police, Fire Department or an ambulance.

Go next
Tri-city region of Jersey Shore cities:
 * Asbury Park
 * Long Branch
 * Red Bank

Other nearby cities:
 * Princeton
 * New Brunswick
 * New York City

title: Freehold


text:
Freeport

There is more than one place called Freeport:

Caribbean

 * Freeport (Bahamas) - A city found on Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas.

Indonesia

 * Freeport - A mining region in Papua (Irian Jaya), a province in eastern Indonesia.

Philippines

 * Subic (Freeport Zone) - Two and a half hours north of Manila in the Philippines.

Switzerland

 * Freeport Lounge - Place de la Gare in Lausanne, Switzerland.

United Kingdom

 * Freeport - An outlet mall in Fleetwood, north of Blackpool in England.

United States of America

 * Freeport (California) - A town in the state of California.
 * Freeport (Florida) - A town in the state of Florida.
 * Freeport (Illinois) - A town in the state of Illinois.
 * Freeport (Kansas) - A town in the state of Kansas.
 * Freeport (Maine) - A city located on the Mid-coast of the state of Maine.
 * Freeport (Michigan) - A town in the state of Michigan.
 * Freeport (Minnesota) - A town in the state of Minnesota.
 * Freeport (New York) - A town in the state of New York.
 * Freeport (Ohio) - A town in the state of Ohio.
 * Freeport (Pennsylvania) - A town in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Freeport (Texas) - A city located south of Houston in Texas.

title: Freeport


text:
Freeport (Bahamas)

Freeport is a city on Grand Bahama. With a population of 27,000 in 2000, it was the second most populous city in The Bahamas. It is a free trade zone built on swamp land and scrub land.

The city was severely damaged by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

Climate
Freeport has a tropical rainforest climate, specifically with hot humid conditions that vary only a little throughout the year. Seldom do temperatures drop below 16 °C (60 °F). Average temperatures are around 27 °C (80 °F), with water temperature varying between 22 and 26 °C (72 and 78 °F). The winters are usually mild and dry (with the exception of some rainfall due to cold fronts), while the summers are usually hot and wet.

By boat
There are many cruises departing from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) that offer cheap tickets to Freeport and Nassau.
 * There are numerous marinas for arrivals by private boats.
 * There are numerous marinas for arrivals by private boats.

The port and the airport of Freeport are not near the city so you will have to pay US$5 ban to reach the city centre.

Get around
The Bahamas is expensive; expect to pay approximately 10% or 15% more than in USA for the same things. American dollars are accepted everywhere, and if you pay in cash, many sellers will not charge you tax.

The drivers for the taxis which are available at all the major tourist stops discuss a flat rate before the trip, depending on how far you are going and the number of passengers. There are many tour bus services available to give you a tour of the city of Freeport and highlight its features. Rental cars are also available. If navigating for yourself, be aware that many maps are based on the development plan for Freeport and include roads that are still unfinished. If your destination is signposted, then the signs normally indicate the most practical route.

See
Although Freeport may not have as many attractions or tourists as Nassau, there are many activities and places to see for those that are willing to explore.

Places worth visiting:

 * Fish fries - Although there are many local fish fries, the most popular is located on Taino Beach and held every Wednesday evening/night.
 * Beaches - Freeport has a ridiculous number of amazing white-sand beaches. Some of the more popular ones are located at Our Lucaya, although for those looking for their own private location, it is well worth the trip to check out some of the others. The further you travel, the less other tourists you will see. Recommended locations - Coral Beach, Williams Town Beach, Xanadu Beach, Taino Beach, Barbarry Beach, Plane-crash Beach, Gold Rock Beach etc. In general, the entire south side of Grand Bahama Island is beach, while the north side is mainly mangroves and swamps.
 * Fish fries - Although there are many local fish fries, the most popular is located on Taino Beach and held every Wednesday evening/night.
 * Beaches - Freeport has a ridiculous number of amazing white-sand beaches. Some of the more popular ones are located at Our Lucaya, although for those looking for their own private location, it is well worth the trip to check out some of the others. The further you travel, the less other tourists you will see. Recommended locations - Coral Beach, Williams Town Beach, Xanadu Beach, Taino Beach, Barbarry Beach, Plane-crash Beach, Gold Rock Beach etc. In general, the entire south side of Grand Bahama Island is beach, while the north side is mainly mangroves and swamps.
 * Beaches - Freeport has a ridiculous number of amazing white-sand beaches. Some of the more popular ones are located at Our Lucaya, although for those looking for their own private location, it is well worth the trip to check out some of the others. The further you travel, the less other tourists you will see. Recommended locations - Coral Beach, Williams Town Beach, Xanadu Beach, Taino Beach, Barbarry Beach, Plane-crash Beach, Gold Rock Beach etc. In general, the entire south side of Grand Bahama Island is beach, while the north side is mainly mangroves and swamps.

On the water - Various ocean relate activities provide a completely different perspective than what you will tend to find on land. For those who love swimming, either snorkeling or scuba diving the coral reefs are a must. The amount of tropical fish you will encounter is amazing. As well, various dive shops offer other interesting dives such as exploring ship wrecks, diving with sharks or dolphins, as well as exploring under water caverns in the limestone caves.

The rest of the island - For those more adventurous a trip either out to Maclean's Town or to West End is well worth while. If you are willing to explore you may be surprised by what little restaurants, shops, beaches, and hang out places you may discover. It will also give you a better understanding of the 'true' Bahamas, in contrast to what you will find in Port Lucaya.

Do

Other water-related activities include parasailing, jet skiing, glass bottom boat tours, as well as Booze Cruises.

Eat
In Port Lucaya Market are many international restaurants. The cheapest hamburger is US$5: a decent lunch will cost you US$20 approximately.

Elsewhere can be found:

Drink
Some alcohols are cheaper than in USA or at least are duty free.

Freeport nightlife may not be as vibrant as Nassau nightlife, but it still has a lot to offer.

Sleep
The hotels are really expensive, and there are no cheap accommodations; it is better to book a hotel (4 or 5 stars) before travel or to rent a cabin in cruise.

Freeport has a wide variety of sleeping accommodations to cater to whatever your trip specifically needs. From all inclusive resorts to hotels.

title: Freeport (Bahamas)


text:
Freeport (Maine)

Freeport is just north of Portland in Maine and hosts the headquarters of L.L Bean. Because of the popularity of L.L. Bean, other stores were drawn to the area and it has become a shopping destination.

By plane
The nearest large airport is in Portland. Visitors also often fly to Boston, Mass. or Manchester, NH.

By car
From the south: Take I-95 to the Maine Turnpike, Exit 52. Follow signs to I-295 North Take Exit 17, 20 or 22 for Freeport.

From the north: Take I-95S to Exit 103 to I-295S Take I-295 Exit 22, 20 or 17.

All of these exits lead directly to U.S. Route One, which is the Main Street.

By train

 * Route stopping at Freeport:
 * Downeaster operating five or six trains in each direction daily between Brunswick and Boston with stops Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard Beach (seasonal), Saco, Wells, Dover, Durham, Exeter, Haverhill, and Woburn.
 * Downeaster operating five or six trains in each direction daily between Brunswick and Boston with stops Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard Beach (seasonal), Saco, Wells, Dover, Durham, Exeter, Haverhill, and Woburn.

Other transportation
Concord Trailways can take you as far as Portland, but you're on your own getting to Freeport.

There is also cruise shipping docking in Portland, Maine. There are two convenient schedules available.

Get around
The main street in Freeport is Route 1.

There are also rental car companies located in Portland, Portland Airport, and Brunswick

Buy
Freeport is a shopper's paradise with the L.L. Bean flagship store, outlets, small shops, and specialty stores.

Go next

 * There are more outlet stores in Kittery.

title: Freeport (Maine)


text:
Free State

The Free State Province, "South Africa's breadbasket", sits in the heartland of the Karoo semi-desert.

Fezile Dabi

 * — a popular weekend trip from Jo'burg because of its shops, art galleries, restaurants, coffee shops and adventure activities
 * — a farming town in the Vredefort Dome (Crater)
 * — the centre of a rich agricultural district, producing maize, wheat, dairy and meat products and wool

Thabo Mofutsanyana

 * — the heart of the picturesque north-eastern Free State
 * — a convenient base for visiting Golden Gate Highlands Park
 * — home of an annual cherry festival
 * — a good place to prepare for visiting the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho

Lejweleputswa

 * — a gold mining town known internationally for its efficient road traffic

Mangaung

 * — known for its abundance of roses and the annual rose festival held there

Xhariep

 * — a popular outdoor destination for boating and water sports, and a good break on the journey between Cape Town and Johannesburg
 * — site of a British concentration camp during the Secongd Boer War

National parks

 * — the province's prime tourist attraction gets its name from the brilliant shades of gold cast by the sun on the spectacular sandstone cliffs

Other nature reserves

 * — near Caledon
 * — just outside Theunissen
 * Gariep Dam Nature Reserve, at Gariep Dam
 * — close to Fauresmith
 * — near Bloemhof
 * Soetdoring Nature Reserve, just outside Bloemfontein
 * — outside Bethulie
 * — near Ventersburg
 * — near Harrismith
 * , near Harrismith
 * , near Harrismith

Understand
The former Oranje-Vrystaat (Orange Free State) was the heartland of the white Afrikaner population and therefore most people in this region speak Afrikaans, although the majority have SeSotho as mother tongue. It was one of the first independent states, before joining the South African Union, and the people here still live up to the Voortrekker traditions of braaing. The rich soil and pleasant climate allow a thriving agricultural industry. With more than 30,000 farms, which produce over 70% of the country's grain, it is known locally as South Africa's breadbasket. The Free State is an important agricultural area in South Africa, with beef and maize the primary products.

The flats in the south of the reserve provide ideal conditions for large herds of plain game such as black wildebeest and springbok. The ridges, koppies and plains typical of the northern section are home to kudu, red hartebeest, southern white rhinoceros and buffalo. The Southern African wildcat, black wildebeest, zebra, eland, white rhinoceros and wild dog can be seen at the Soetdoring Nature Reserve near Bloemfontein. South African cheetahs were reintroduced in the Free State in 2013 after a hundred years of regional extinction.

Climate
The Free State enjoys warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters. Areas in the east experience frequent snowfalls, especially on the higher ranges, whilst the west can be extremely hot in summer. Almost all precipitation falls in the summer months as brief afternoon thunderstorms, with aridity increasing towards the west. Areas in the east around Harrismith, Bethlehem and Ficksburg are well watered. The capital, Bloemfontein, experiences hot, moist summers and cold, dry winters frequented by severe frost.

Talk
Afrikaans is still the first language of many, but most will definitely understand and speak English. Be prepared for understanding through the accent.

By car

 * The N1 highway runs through the Free State. It comes from Cape Town and goes further to Johannesburg and Pretoria and from there to Harare in Zimbabwe. Use this route when coming from/going to Mozambique, too.
 * The N3 runs in the east of the Free State through Harrismith. Use it to go to Durban or the Gauteng area.
 * The N8 goes from Bloemfontein to Kimberley and further to Upington.
 * The N6 goes south to the Eastern Cape

The N5 only serves as a connection between the N1 and the N3.

By plane
Bloemfontein Airport has flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town and some other cities in South Africa. Flights are operated by the South African Airways family.

Get around
Best by car, as there are little means of public transport and great distances between each of the towns and cities.

The traffic police are very active, especially on the N1 — keep to the speed limit!

See

 * Bloemfontein
 * The Gariep Dam — one of the biggest dams in South Africa
 * Golden Gate Highlands Park — a famous park in the north of the Drakensberg Mountains

Do

 * Rock climbing

Stay safe
Always have enough water with you, in case your car has a break down. Tell your last hotel where you are going to and which route you use, especially when going into a less populated and rural area.

Go next

 * North-west are Kimberley with its diamond museum and Upington near the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
 * South-west lies Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and the Garden Route.
 * North-east is Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park.
 * South-east is Durban and the Sunshine Coast.

title: Free State


text:
Freetown

Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone and is the heart of the Western region, with around a million inhabitants. It is on a peninsula on the south bank of the estuary of the Sierra Leone River. The city lies at the foot of the peninsula mountains and faces one of the best natural harbours on the west coast of Africa. The peninsula is home to some of the finest beaches in Africa - Lakka Beach, No. 2 River Beach, Bureh and Toke Beach are some examples.

Understand
Freetown, like the rest of Sierra Leone, endured some very difficult times during the civil war. It was occupied by rebels twice and the resident population and infrastructure suffered badly. As stability returned, many Sierra Leoneans fled the rural areas to the city to escape the carnage.

Though the country has been peaceful since 2002, the population of the city is still much higher than it was prior to the war. This has put pressure on land and local services. Many areas of jungle have been cleared to house the new residents. Some claim that the US government has not helped the situation with their new embassy development at Leicester. Some blame the new developments for severe flooding of the city during the rainy season. Deforestation has also been blamed for a shortage of water in the city.

Climate
Freetown has a tropical monsoon climate. Daytime highs normally averages around and nighttime lows around  around the year. December to April is the driest time of the year, with hardly any rain at all. During that time of the year, the dry Harmattan wind blows from Sahara. From May to November, expect heavy rain, especially in July and August each with more than a metre of precipitation on average, and rainfall practically every day.

By plane
Getting from the airport to Freetown can be a challenge and the safety of the various operators has been questioned. There are a number of fast boat services that cross the estuary, and most foreign visitors use this option for roughly US$45. To pick them up, just walk to the right after exiting the airport building. Sea Coach Express operate boats from next to Mahera Hotel to the Aberdeen bridge for NLe1,080 (leones)). Sea Bird Express can take you to Murray Town and Sovereign Ferries to government wharf. Sea Coach Express or Sea Bird are convenient for most foreign travellers as they avoid the slow route through the crowded east end of Freetown. Construction of a bridge is expected to start by the end of 2024.

Another possibility is on the overloaded Government ferry which runs to the main part of Freetown. A seat on a bus which uses the ferry costs Le60,000. The bus takes passengers to Rawdon Street in the center of Freetown. This trip can take 3 hours or more, and has been known to take 8 hours. By road it is at least 4 hours to the city, via Port Loko.

The ticket for Government ferry costs Le11,000.

Finally, some private boats cross the estuary. This is not recommended at night.

Because of possible thefts, especially when leaving the country, it is wise to carry anything of value in your cabin luggage. Having your checked baggage wrapped in cellophane at your point of origin is another good tactic.

By train
Sierra Leone's public railway service was closed in 1974. A railway museum has been opened at Cline Town and is well worth a visit. Many of the original railway buildings and signs can still be seen in and around Freetown, particularly at Hill Station and Congo Cross. It used to be possible to walk along much of the track bed, starting near the Hill Station Club and dropping down the hill via Congo Cross into Freetown, but road construction has made the route hard to find.

By car
Many roads in Freetown have been reconstructed and a bypass road has also been built to link the western part of Freetown to the rest of the country, cutting out the congested eastern part of town. The roads via Leicester and along the coastal part of the Freetown peninsular are also being reconstructed. Work has been completed on the roads through Aberdeen and Lumley, including the beach road. Regent Road from Wilberforce through Hill Station has been completed as a dual carriageway. Maintenance of other roads is often very poor.

By bus
Governmental buses by the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation run from major cities. Alternatively, get in by poda poda (minibus).

By boat
Some cargo ships, mostly from Conakry and Banjul also take passengers. From places in Sierra Leone, along coasts and waterways, it may be possible to get in by speedboat. Seacoach Express have a fast ferry service from Conakry.

By taxi
Local taxis run fixed routes and are shared rides. For the uninitiated, there is no real way to figure out where they are going, and they're busy making a living rather than trying to explain everything to foreigners. But they're so cheap (Le1,000), you can just hail one and see how long it takes you the right way before making a turn! Empty taxis will assume that foreigners want to charter a taxi (see below) and not share it. To let them know you prefer a shared ride, just declare "no cha cha" when you get on board.

You can charter a taxi (cha cha) for a few hours, a day, or even days if one wishes. A decent price per hour is about US$5, for a day around US$50. Taxis can be hired for a complete journey, which really should not exceed the equivalent of US$4 for a trip within Freetown. The drivers do expect to be negotiated with, so don't be scared—be cheeky and negotiate! A very convincing bargaining tactic is to let the driver know that if he gives you a good price and you like his service, you will keep him on your speed dial for longer chartered rides. Having a trusted taxi driver on your phone shortlist is generally a very good idea for female travellers, anyway.

By poda-poda
Poda-podas (minibuses) are a more miserable shared ride option, but are more straightforward for longer trips, as they display their start and end points on the front of the vehicle. If only you knew what those landmarks meant! "Lumley" will take you to Lumley Beach via the southern bridge, "Aberdeen" will take you to Aberdeen via the north bridge from Murray Town, "Eastern Police" will take you to the big clock tower at Kissy Road on the East Side (this is a good place to get dropped off to find a poda-poda to Waterloo). If you are looking for downtown, locals call it "Tong".

However, if you feel this isn't the route for you, hotel taxis are usually available in much better condition; and they are regulated. These will also cost up to around US$10.

By rental car
Car hire is possible and can normally be arranged through the hotels or local car dealerships. They will normally come with a driver. Journeys outside of Freetown often may require a 4-wheel drive vehicle and will cost more, typically US$150 plus fuel per day, including driver.

However, if you wish to mingle with the locals—which is encouraged, as it creates more social inclusion—you may be surprised. Local people can help you find your way around town, hire taxis for you, and introduce you to their friends and families and, in some cases, ceremonies taking place. They can also cook for you, as Sierra Leoneans are very hospitable people. Many tourists tend to fall in a trap where they visit and hang around with only familiar people. It's better to see visiting Sierra Leone as a social/cultural holiday, allowing visitors and locals to exchange customs and at the same time experience the "diamond in the rough". Seeing the good and bad parts is what makes visiting Sierra Leone an experience to remember.

See

Many of Freetown's attractions are underdeveloped and not well publicised. The relatively low numbers of tourists visiting has meant there was not adequate incentive or financial reward for developing them. However, there are many hidden gems that can be well worth finding. It is not unusual to be the only visitor to some of them.

A visit to the Aberdeen district will give a break from the busy city centre. It's a short drive from any part of Freetown by car or taxi. The roads are now very good, but watch the speed bumps on the beach road and Sir Samuel Lewis Road. There are small stalls along the beach road selling 'tourist' fare. There are some more modern shops on the beach road at various points. There are plenty of hawkers on the beach selling sunglasses, fruit, peanuts, clothes, etc. Just behind the Tourist Office is a good craft market and is much less hassle than Big Market.

There are several colonial stilt houses at Hill Station. Most are in a poor state but offer insight into how Colonial Officials lived in the past. Downtown the old board houses are typical Krio architecture showing influence from the Caribbean.

Wilkinson Road is home to many larger businesses and retail outlets. Also some of the more popular restaurants.

Beaches
The beaches are beautiful and mostly unspoilt. Most popular places like Lakka Beach, No. 2 River Beach and Bureh Beach offer simple but descent accommodations. Poda's (minibusses) will only take you until Lakka junction. If you want to continue with public transportation you'll need to go by okada (motorbike). If you're driving yourself a good vehicle will be required as the road conditions are pretty bad once you leave the main road. The peninsular-road is being reconstructed and it is complete from Lumley to Sussex. The beaches are often not well sign-posted, so watch carefully or use GPS. The tracks to the beaches can also be very poor.

The following beaches are listed counter clockwise around the peninsular, starting at Aberdeen.

As from Tokeh junction you'll find yourself driving on an excellent, modern and smooth paved road. However, the following beaches are also well reached driving around the other side of the mountains (Bai Bureh Rd or Regent Road), depending on your starting point from Freetown. If you take this route, turn right at Waterloo.

Bunce Island
is one of the most important historical sites in Africa with regards to the history of the United States. Attempts by African Americans to find their ancestry via DNA testing have shown more ties to Sierra Leone than to any other country, and the slave forts of Bunce Island were the busiest in the then-called Rice Coast of Africa, sending countless numbers of captured slaves to the Southern US.

While the ruins are fairly large, they are completely overrun with vegetation, and long-awaiting restoration. There is no development of tourist infrastructure here whatsoever, unless you count the guestbook.

Getting to Bunce Island is simple enough if you are willing to drop at a minimum $150 to charter one of the long wooden fastboats from Kissy Ferry Terminal. For a nice speedboat from Aberdeen, where the speedboats leave for Lungi Airport, you'll need about US$300. Neither option guarantees much guidance when you arrive, though.

So, if you are a solo traveller without US$150 to blow, this becomes a gruelling adventure. The most sensible way to do this (and it's anything but sensible), is to catch a passenger boat (one of the long dugout wooden motorized fastboats) from Big Wharf (to the east of Kissy) in Freetown straight to Pepel (~US$2). There will in all likelihood be only one of these per day, only on weekdays, and it should leave around 3PM or so, so you would need to be there earlier to make sure you get on it. Try to see Bunce Island upon arrival, so you can catch the fastboat back early in the morning, after staying in Pepel with the permission of the chief (budget at least US$15-20 in leones so that you are able to pass 10,000 notes to all the necessary hands). Realistically, this won't work, though. So plan to spend the morning going to the island, then return to Pepel and hire a moto-taxi to take you on the 90 minute dust-choked journey back to Tagrin (~US$5-10) to catch the Ferry to either Kissy or Government Wharf in Freetown. The boat back and forth to Bunce Island from Pepel, including waiting, is going to run at least US$30 in leones. Budget travel to Bunce Island doesn't really work.

Do

 * Search out the remains of the railway infrastructure, from Hill Station, via Congo Cross to the center of Freetown.

 * Discover colonial warship wrecks by scuba diving or snorkeling at Banana Island and a bbq on Jonobo beach

 * Sport fishing Charter a boat for some world class game fishing or join the amateur angler's short fishing trips from Banana Island's fishing lodges.

Buy
Local crafts are relatively expensive and little is unique to Sierra Leone (some items on offer not actually made here) except country cloth, gara (tie-dyed) cloth, batik pictures and wood carving.

Eat
Freetown has a few high-quality restaurants, but very little in the tier below that. Being on the Atlantic coast, some excellent seafood is on offer. Barracuda, grouper, and lobster are readily available. Freetown has a large Lebanese community. Consequently, some very good Lebanese food is available at most restaurants. Following the opening of an ice-cream factory, ice cream cafés are becoming popular.

Budget

 * Fresh peanuts called "Granite" (ground nuts) from the local sellers on Lumley beach and throughout Freetown.

Drink
Apart from the hotels and restaurants, there are many bars along the beach road.

There are countless small bars along every street, often catering for just a handful of customers.

A former "must-see" for any visitor was Paddy's on the road into Aberdeen which was renamed as Quincy's. This bar was famous and was the only place to be consistently open during the war. Now only the derelict entrance remains and is likely to be replaced with an apartment block. Star beer is available on tap in better bars. Also worthy of a visit is the Hill Station Club at Hill Station. This old gentleman's drinking club was looted during the war, but the building survived and the bar will be opened for visitors. If you are lucky you will be allowed to see the snooker room, where the tables appear untouched for many years and old champions' names are still on display.

On Sir Samuel Lewis Road (same as Paddy's) there is also a small local pub, called Tribes, with a pool table.

Sleep
Freetown has some high standard hotels. All in the splurge section will offer air conditioned rooms with power available 24 hours per day. Hotels in the Aberdeen area are closest to Lumley beach. There are very few options in the main part of the town itself. During the busiest time of the year (December–March) it can be hard to find a room in the better hotels. Booking ahead is advised.

Embassies

 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇷🇸 Serbia
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Stay safe
Violent crime is rare in Freetown. However, there have been some incidents in Lumley and Aberdeen at night, near the clubs and bars. Petty crime is common - take care of possessions and be wary of leaving valuables in rooms. Thefts from luggage at the airport on the way out of Sierra Leone aren’t as common anymore, but do not leave luggage unattended.

Cope
The unrelenting heat and humidity can make life uncomfortable. For anyone not used to this, an air-conditioned room to sleep in will be almost essential.

BBC World Service can be heard on 94.5MHz (FM) and Western style commercial station Capital Radio on 104.9MHz.

Connect
Orange, Africell and Qcell have fast 3G and 4G/LTE coverage in Freetown.

Go next

 * Government buses depart for Bo at 06:00am. Le150,000.
 * Banana Islands
 * Makeni

title: Freetown


text:
Freetown (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Freetown:

Sierra Leone

 * Freetown - The capital of Sierra Leone.

Caribbean

 * Freetown (Antigua) - Tiny (pop 619) hamlet on a peninsula at the southeast of the island between Willoughby Bay and Nonsuch Bay.
 * Freetown (Bahamas) - Small (pop 3138) settlement between Deep Creek and Waterford on the island of Eleuthera.

United States of America

 * Freetown (Alabama) - a town in Alabama.
 * Freetown (Indiana) - a town in Indiana.
 * Freetown (Kentucky) - a town in Kentucky.
 * Freetown (Louisiana) - a town in Louisiana.
 * Freetown (Massachusetts) - a town in Massachusetts.
 * Freetown (New York) - a town in New York.

title: Freetown (disambiguation)


text:
Freetown (Massachusetts)

Freetown is a rural town on the Assonet River in the SouthCoast region of Massachusetts. It includes the villages of East Freetown and Assonet.

Eat

 * Harry's Diner, 63b So. Main St., +1 508-644-3339. (lunch/dinner)
 * Harry's Diner, 63b So. Main St., +1 508-644-3339. (lunch/dinner)
 * Harry's Diner, 63b So. Main St., +1 508-644-3339. (lunch/dinner)
 * Harry's Diner, 63b So. Main St., +1 508-644-3339. (lunch/dinner)
 * Harry's Diner, 63b So. Main St., +1 508-644-3339. (lunch/dinner)

title: Freetown (Massachusetts)