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Offa's Dyke Path

Offa's Dyke Path (Llwybr Clawdd Offa in Welsh) is a National Trail which runs through the varied landscapes of the Welsh Marches along or near the border of Wales and England between Prestatyn on the Irish Sea in the north and Sedbury Cliffs on the Severn estuary near Chepstow in the south.

Understand
Offa's Dyke Path is a popular walking route through the border regions of England and Wales. The dyke itself (Clawdd Offa in Welsh) has partially disappeared in places, although in the parts where it is preserved, it's about 20m wide and 2.5m high. In particular, there is an 130km (80mi) section between the Wye Valley and Wrexham where the Dyke is easily seen. The route is approximately 289km (177mi) in length, and takes between 12 and 14 days. The path was inaugurated in 1971 and thousands of people walk the route each year.

Much of the history of the Dyke is based on some speculation, but it is named after Offa, King of Mercia between 757 and 796 AD. It's believed that construction was started around 785 AD but it's not known if the Dyke represented an agreed border or a defensive structure. However, some sections still form the England/Wales border more than twelve centuries later.

Relations between the Welsh and the English haven't always been comfortable. To quote George Borrow in Wild Wales: "It was customary for the English to cut off the ears off every Welshman found east of the dyke, and for the Welsh to hang every Englishman whom they found to the west of it."  Thankfully it's more civil these days.

There is much variety in the route, passing as it does through historic towns such as Knighton, Kington, Hay-on-Wye and Monmouth, some wide river valleys, moorlands, remote villages and woodlands. The route passes near old forts and castles, including famous ruins such as Tintern Abbey near Chepstow.

All of Offa’s Dyke Path follows legally defined Rights of Way for all walkers and is clearly signed with an acorn symbol. Some, but not all, sections are also available for horseriders and cyclists.

Prepare
The route is quite convoluted in some places so a set of Ordnance Survey maps covering the area would be a help. Or a realistic and sensible lightweight alternative would be the National Trail Guides 'South' and 'North' by Eric & Kathy Kay and Mark Richards (Aurum Press) which include an OS Explorer strip map which is all that is necessary.

Get in
The south trailhead is at Sedbury Cliffs, near Chepstow. The train station at Chepstow is about 3km (2mi) from the trailhead where there is a commemorative marker, about a mile east of Chepstow on the east side of the River Wye.

The north trailhead is at Prestatyn which is 0.5km (0.3mi) from the train station.

After backpacking all the nineteen (2017) British National Trails, mostly wild camping and this one twice. This trail has got to be walked south to north. Maps go this way and the worst terrain is met near the end, when the backpacker is fitter. Also at Sedbury is one marker in a field where as at Pestatyn there is a bustling seaside resort, markers and at least a tempting paddle in the sea.

Walk
There are many types of accommodation along the route, including inns, B&Bs, campsites, hostels and self-catering facilities.

Listed below are a very small selection of things to see and do, places to stay and where to find food.

A sample 12-day walking itinerary from north to south would be as follows:

 * to Bodfari - 21km (13mi)

 * to Llandegla - 27km (17mi)

 * to Froncysyllte - 19km (12mi)

 * to Trefonen - 21km (13mi)

 * to Buttington Bridge - 24km (15mi)
 * to Buttington Bridge - 24km (15mi)
 * to Buttington Bridge - 24km (15mi)

 * to Brompton Crossroads - 19km (12mi)
 * to Knighton - 24km (15mi)
 * to Knighton - 24km (15mi)
 * to Knighton - 24km (15mi)
 * to Knighton - 24km (15mi)
 * to Knighton - 24km (15mi)

 * to Kington - 21km (13mi)

 * to Hay-on-Wye - 23km (14.5mi) - Hay-on-Wye is well known for its many antiques and bookshops and antiquarian fair. There are also ruins of two Norman castles.

 * to Pandy - 27km (17mi) - This section is either within or abutting the Brecon Beacons National Park and includes the "summit" of the route at 700m (2,300ft).

 * to Monmouth - 28km (17.5mi)

 * to Sedbury Cliffs - 28km (17.5mi)

Stay safe
Although few of the villages and towns along the route have hospitals or medical centres, fixed line telephones and mobiles are common and in any emergency you should just dial 999. Then tell the emergency operator whether you need the Fire, Police or Ambulance services.

When it’s less urgent than a 999 call, contact the local police in England and Wales on 101. This number should be answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Don't refer to the Welsh as "English".

Connect
Cell phone coverage is patchy in some parts, but all towns and most villages along the trail have a public phone box. Most of them need coins and do not accept cards.

Many of the pubs and hotels will have Wi-Fi service.

Go next

 * Clwydian Way - If the Offa's Dyke Path has whetted your appetite for long distance walking, consider this 196km (122mi) circle route that connects at Prestatyn and Llangollen. The route south from Prestatyn to Llangollen actually intertwines with the Offa's Dyke Path.
 * The Wales Coast Path (Welsh: Llwybr Arfordir Cymru) intersects with both the start and the finish of Offa's Dyke Path and offers a 1,400km (870mi) long dedicated footpath along the entire coastline of Wales - the first country in the world to provide such an opportunity. This path runs through eleven nature reserves and Lonely Planet rated the coast of Wales first in its Best in Travel: top 10 regions for 2012.
 * Either at the beginning or the end of your hike, a visit to Bath, Bristol or Cardiff would be worthwhile.

title: Offa's Dyke Path


text:
Offenbach

Offenbach-am-Main is a city just outside Frankfurt, Germany with 122,000 inhabitants.

Understand
More than 1,000 years old, this city on the river Main could call itself a metropolis since 1954. Jürgen Eichenauer was the leader of the city's story. The history of the city is recorded in detail in the archive and in the museum. Offenbach is a factory city and was a center of the leather industry. In truth, Offenbach is simply a friendly little town just outside the city of Frankfurt with a neighbourly atmosphere. People could call it a suburb of Frankfurt but Offenbach residents would never agree to that and like to think of it as its own entity. Both cities are lined up right next to the Main, which are perfect destinations to get to by bicycle. After Frankfurt, Offenbach has the highest population of foreign residents in Germany, who work mainly in banking and service industries.

Get in
If you want to go to Offenbach, your best plan is to go to Frankfurt and then take either a car (or taxi), or the train.

By train
Offenbach Hauptbahnhof (main station):
 * Regional train (Regionalbahn), abbreviated RB 33 direction Hanau

By train underground
Several lines will take you from Frankfurt to Offenbach City:
 * S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 direction Offenbach Ost or Hanau
 * S-Bahn lines S2 direction Offenbach Ost or Dietzenbach
 * S-Bahn line S1 direction Rödermark-Ober-Roden

By tram

 * Tram lines 15 and 16 from Frankfurt, direction Offenbach Stadtgrenze

Get around
Bus Service gets you everywhere. Main Station for S-Bahn and Buses is Marktplatz. Ticket vending machines can be found at most bus station or just buy it from the bus driver (who can sell you 24h tickets, group tickets and tickets for the entire RMV-network.

To plan your trip with bus, S-Bahn or trains visit RMV

Buy
Shopping in Offenbach is really calm and friendly. They have pedestrian zones all along Frankfurterstraße and Herrnstraße making it easier for people to get around and see stuff without it being to overcrowded. Wilhelmsplatz has a Farmers Market that is open every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings where everyone stops by to get fresh products and for every Saturday morning, and there are varied items for sale at the Offenbach Flea Market.

Eat
Since Offenbach is a city with many immigrants, restaurants are very international.

Very good restaurants can be found at the Wilhelmsplatz square.

Go next

 * Frankfurt is a just 20 minutes to the north-west
 * Neu-Isenburg for dining

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

title: Offenbach


text:
Offenburg

Offenburg is a city in the Black Forest in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

Understand
Offenburg is best known for being the capital of the wine region Ortenau. It sides west to the Black Forest at the Upper Rhine, lying at the entrance of the Kinzigtal and the Renchtal.

Climate
Winters are moderate but usually with frequent frosts. Offenburg is one of the warmest places in Germany and therefore considered as a viticultural area like neighbour villages such as Durbach, Oberkirch or Gengenbach.

By plane
The nearest airports are as follows:

 * Baden Airpark Karlsruhe / Baden Baden
 * Strasbourg Airport
 * Euroairport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (, MLH or EAP)

Frankfurt Airport is a bit farther away but offers much more connections.

By car
Offenburg is connected to the German highway system via the A5, running along the Valley of the Upper Rhine from south to north, starting at the Swiss border. It also is accessible through the Kinzigtal Black Forest via the B33. From Strassbourg/France it takes about 30 minutes by car. From Freiburg it is about 50 minutes. Baden Baden is a 30-minute car ride to the north, using the A5. The town can be reached from Freuenstadt in one hour through the Renchtal via the B28.

Buy
A reasonable sized town with about 450 stores. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, there is a farmers market held along the Steinstraße and Fischmarkt streets.

Go next

 * Baden-Baden
 * Kehl
 * Strasbourg, (France)

title: Offenburg


text:
Offroad driving

Offroad driving is driving off roads usable by ordinary cars. Often this means driving along dirt roads damaged by heavy rain, sometimes driving along mere tracks or (rarely) without any road whatsoever.

Understand
Offroad can mean many different things. Some "offroad" cars are made for use on primitive roads and roads in bad shape due to neglect, while others are meant for "real" offroad, where the road is obviously bad. Still, no offroad car is capable of going through any terrain, the terrain has to be studied for feasible routes. The ground has to be smooth and hard enough, and not too steep. The limits vary depending on vehicle, and less experienced drivers should keep wide margins.

In addition to offroad cars, also some trucks are built for bad or missing roads, and all-terrain vehicles (quad bikes) can be used in similar and sometimes worse terrain.

Differences between 4x2 and 4x4
Besides from the obvious fact that all four wheels are driven and thus giving more traction, there are other important differences between a two-wheel and a four-wheel drive:
 * Low transfer gearing: Needed to take steep, difficult terrain slowly and carefully
 * Differential locks:
 * Centre differential lock: Must be locked immediately when driving through difficult terrain, because if it not locked and one wheel loses traction, all power will be distributed to this (now free-running) wheel. If the centre differential is locked, then two wheels have to lose ground contact for this to happen, and it must be one wheel from the front and one from the back.
 * Axle differential locks: Do not lock on tar (excessive tyre wear). May create difficulties on flat terrain where the surface is slippery, but traction almost the same for every wheel (e.g. sand), under-steer. The rear lock always has to be engaged before the front lock!
 * Rule of thumb: Engage the centre lock immediately when leaving tar, engage axle locks only to get out of difficult situations.
 * Higher clearance

General

 * For all offroad driving remember:
 * This track is not actually meant for driving. Doing so anyway requires experience and skill.
 * That the road was passable yesterday does not mean it is today. Stretches now might be washed out, chipped away, or submerged.
 * That the car in front of you can pass does not mean you can. It might have more ground clearance, better tyres, or less weight.
 * That the guy in front of you can pass does not mean you can. They might have more experience, better nerves, or sheer luck.
 * Responsible offroad driving is not what you watch on YouTube: Revving engines, taking obstacles at speed, bouncing off rocks. Responsible offroad driving is slowly maneuvering the track without loosening rocks, spinning tires, overheating the engine, or ever losing control.
 * Always remember to wear a seat belt, even if driving at low speeds!
 * Make it a habit to never brace yourself with a "roll bar", in the event you overturn, you may crush or lose fingers.
 * Make sure your safety helmet has face protection. (Broken jaws are common.)
 * Do not fight against the vehicle. Let the steering wheel slip through your fingers a bit and gently guide it on the ways you want.
 * Never grip the steering wheel with your thumbs on the inside. Hitting a boulder or pothole at speed will cause the steering to turn fast and hard, resulting in a bruised, dislocated or broken thumb.

Terrain
For all challenging terrain described here: Switch on your 4x4! Most vehicles that call themselves 4x4s or off-road vehicles, have this capability switched off by default. Even on a good gravel road the 4x4 should be active, not least because such roads deteriorate faster from 2x4 traffic. Differential axle locks, however, should only be activated once you are stuck, or on patches where you do not drive faster than walking speed (5 km/h).
 * Gravel: Release tyre pressure to about 1.7 bar which will result in just about visible "pockets". Avoid any hard veering and breaking. If an obstacle appears, hold the steering wheel as tight as possible and go off the accelerator, rather than braking or steering.
 * Corrugation: On gravel roads sooner or later corrugation will build up. This will result in shaking if you drive more than about 20 km/h. At a higher speed (70 km/h) it will get better, as the car skims from wave to wave, but the car will have very little grip at such speed. Any touch on the brakes and any movement of the steering wheel might give away the control of the car.
 * Rutting
 * River: Try to avoid water deeper than the hub of the wheel. Carefully watch other cars driving or wade through to see how deep it is. If it isn't safe to wade through then it isn't possible to drive.
 * If the engine block is hit by the water it will be cooled down very quickly, this might result in cracks. Rather switch off the engine and let it cool down to 70 or 80 degrees Celsius before crossing.
 * If the water gets into the air intake of the engine, then that's the end of the engine. It will attempt to compress water instead of air, which is not possible, and the engine block will burst. You can fit a snorkel which lifts the air intake to above the passenger compartment. Without a snorkel just turn around or wait for the water to subside.
 * Even with a cold engine and a snorkel fitted, water of a certain depth (about the height of the wheel) can be dangerous, as the air in the tyres might help lift the front of the car. This will make the car unsteerable and pull it into the river, particularly when the water is flowing.
 * Sand: Release pressure from the tyres before hitting a sand track. The tyres should form large, clearly visible pockets. Depending on vehicle load and tyre type this could be as high as 2.0 bars or as low as 0.7 bars. Do not try to steer against resistance, the car will usually search his track. Do not shift gears. Do not brake as this will build up small hills of sand in front of you tyres, making it difficult to start again. If you get stuck do not try to accelerate as this will only dig you more into the sand. Try driving backwards instead. Use high ratio because the additional momentum given by the low transfer gear will cause wheel-spin.
 * Mud: Try to drive as steady and as straight as possible through a patch of mud. All corrections on vehicle speed and direction will have a delayed response, be prepared for that. If you need to turn in mud, the car will first understeer (react too little), and once it got the required grip, oversteer (react too much, possibly spin). Correct slightly into the opposite direction, that is: first steer a bit more than you would on a dry surface, and once the car reacts, steer slightly in the opposite direction. Make sure you have plenty of wiper washer fluid: If you hit a hole, mud might be all over the windscreen, and you would have to wash it off quickly to regain vision of the road. Unless you are in the tundra where the mud potentially is several meters deep, you cannot sink in mud: Don't panic, and drive slowly to keep control over your vehicle.
 * Sharp rocks and stones: If the track consists largely of sharp rocks, switch on the differential locks: The last thing you want is a tyre spinning close to a knife-like rock; you might slice that tyre in pieces. That also means: drive very slowly. Perhaps a bit counter-intuitively, tyres will wear fast on sharp rocks if their air pressure is high. Unless you have very old and brittle tyres (that you should replace anyway), the rubber will not take much damage if you allow it to 'flow around' sharp rocks.
 * Snow

Learn
There are many places where one can receive advanced off-road driver training training. Most of the major off-road vehicle manufacturers offer courses on their own vehicles.

Recovery kit
It is highly recommended that you carry a recovery kit when travelling off-road. A simple kit can mean the difference between getting yourself out of a tight spot within an hour or being stuck for days waiting for help to arrive.

A basic recovery kit should contain at least the following:
 * Gloves - Most injuries occur while trying to extract a stuck vehicle. Gloves are also useful to change hot or damaged tires and to (carefully) open radiator caps.
 * Tow straps
 * Tree protector - Do not use your tow straps or winch cable directly around trees, as this might cause damage.
 * Snatch Block - To double your winching power or allow your vehicle to be pulled even when there is no space for another vehicle in front of it.
 * D-Ring Shackles - To attach things together.
 * High lift jack - In most places where you might get stuck, the standard jack will just not be high enough.
 * Torch
 * Spade - You cannot dig out your car with a spade, but there are useful tricks where you might need one. For instance, in a sandy area without rocks or trees you can jam the spade underneath the wheel to give it traction. You'll also need a spade for the classic 'desert recovery': to attach the winch cable or a tow strap to your spare wheel and bury the spare wheel in the sand to pull you out against its weight.
 * Recovery shovel
 * Kinetic rope - A kinetic strap helps rescuer get a running start conveniently, without is suddenly snapping under heavy machinery.

Always ensure that the equipment is from a reputable manufacturer and of good quality. When stuck in the mud 100km from the nearest town, a working snatch block is worth a lot more than a broken one with a 12 month no questions asked exchange warranty.

Due to quality concerns it is generally better to build your own recovery kit by purchasing each component individually than to buy a complete all-in-one recovery kit.

Tools

 * Repair manual
 * The normal assortment of spanners and screwdrivers. Hammer and pliers.
 * Puncture repair kit
 * Compressor - To re-inflate tires
 * Plastic sheet or tarp (2x2 meter) - Vehicles break down in the worst places and weather. A sheet will protect you from sunburn, rain or sinking away in mud while effecting repairs.
 * battery jump cable
 * a funnel
 * spark plug wrench
 * chisel
 * monkey wrench

Spare parts

 * fuses
 * engine oil, gearbox oil and brake fluid
 * fuel filters: Especially when driving in third world countries, as the fuel is often contaminated with dirt and water
 * fan belts
 * spark plugs
 * fuel hose
 * wire
 * insulation tape
 * duct tape
 * epoxy putty (to seal big holes in the radiator)
 * self tapping screws (various sizes)- used with epoxy putty to seal holes in fuel tanks, fuels lines, brake lines etc.
 * cork (larger than your oil drain plug) - situated at the lowest part of the engine the oil drain plug is a prime candidate to be ripped out by boulders in rough terrain. When this occurs the drain plug threads are normally also damaged and you will not be able to fix a replacement plug; cork and epoxy can create a very good temporary seal until you can have the problem professionally seen to.
 * portable jump starter
 * u-joints (driveshaft and front axle sizes)

Overheating
First check the cooling water level. If it is low, refilling does not help too much, because as you have lost it during the last short period of time (you have checked it before you started your journey, haven't you?) you will probably lose it again very soon. So you have to search the leakage. Check the tubes from and to the radiator, and the radiator itself.

Bigger punctures in the radiator can be repaired with epoxy putty, smaller ones by putting egg white in the radiator. But be sure to clean this as soon as you can. If you have a leakage in the radiator hose put a (used!) chewing gum on it and fix it with some duct tape.

If the cooling water level is ok, but the engine is still running hot, something might prevent the water from being cooled. Check the fan belt, is it loose or broken? Have a look at the radiator, is grass or seeds disturbing the airflow?

A defective radiator cap may allow coolant to slowly evaporate instead of holding it in under pressure. Did you carry a spare?

Another common problem is a defective thermostat. The thermostat is responsible for by-passing the radiator as long as the engine is cold, allowing the engine to reach its optimum operation temperature quickly. But if it is broken, the cooling water will not reach the radiator and the engine heats up too much. To work around this problem without having a spare thermostat just remove it. Then the water will always flow through the radiator and your problems should be gone. Replace it soon.

Heated parts of the car might cause a wildfire.

Clutch
With some practise you do not need the clutch to change gears.

Off-road cars

 * Landrover Defender
 * Nissan Navara: a pickup truck
 * Nissan X-Trail: Not necessarily a 4x4, there is a 2x4 type, too.
 * Toyota HiLux: The workhorse for off-road driving! Very reliable and, because it is very commonly used, spare parts are even available in Timbuktu.
 * Toyota Land Cruiser
 * Jeep: several models

Cars by Toyota have a reputation for being very reliable (as of 2010). They are used in many third world countries, so it is easy to get spare parts almost anywhere, at least for older models.

All-terrain vehicles
ATVs are small 4-wheeled vehicles, usually open with a seat for one or two persons, with a cargo bed. They are used e.g. on small islands were distances are short and real roads would be unnecessarily expensive or intrusive, in national parks, where one doesn't want tarmac roads, or as an off-road vehicle where an off-road car would be unnecessarily expensive. Off-roading with an ATV can also be a sport.

Hiring a car
Most companies require a minimum age to rent a car.

Check-list:
 * Tyres: Spare
 * Jack and wheel spanner (Check to ensure that the wheel spanner actually fit, equipment sometimes end up with the wrong vehicle at hire companies)
 * Oil
 * Water
 * Brakes

Camping gear is sometimes included in off-road rentals, this allows you to combine your transport and accommodation requirements in one.

Be sure to check on the cost of insurance and the excess payable in the event of an accident or theft of the vehicle.

Organized tours
Organized tours are becoming quite popular. It ensures that there is at least one experienced driver in the group and that there is always someone to assist in recovery if a vehicle gets stuck. Many people also prefer the social interaction of a larger group rather just one or two vehicles travelling on their own. Some tours may even be fully catered with regular meals provided.

Destinations

 * California
 * Namibia
 * Oregon

title: Offroad driving


text:
Off-roading in California

There are many off-road vehicle opportunities in California, but there are also a lot of legal requirements for off-roading in America's most populous state.

Understand
First, you must make sure that your vehicle is registered. All vehicles operated on public lands in California must be registered, either with a street-legal registration or a off-highway vehicle registration. Registered off-highway vehicles receive either a red sticker or a green sticker, with red sticker vehicles only allowed to operate October 1 to May 31.

Many dirt roads are open to registered OHVs, but there are a few exceptions. For example, dirt roads in Death Valley National Park are open only to street-legal vehicles. Also, in many National Forests, some "maintained" dirt roads require street-legal registration and a license. Always check before-hand.

Helmets, of course, are required, and other safety equipment, such as proper clothing, boots, and sunglasses are recommended.

Terms

 * Open Areas are open to all vehicle travel, including cross-country travel.
 * Limited Use Areas are a gray area as the term is somewhat ambiguous. Occasionally travel on all existing, well-defined roads is allowed, but many times travel is restricted to only signed, marked routes. If it is the latter, be very cautious or you could find yourself with a ticket.
 * Wildernesses do not allow motorized travel. In many instances, such as National Forest wildernesses, all mechanized (i.e. bicycles and motor vehicles) are prohibited.

Central California

 * , 5 miles north of Oakhurst near southern entrance of Yosemite. The trails are open in winter. Beautiful forest scenery; exciting trails with many roots and ruts. It's easy to get lost in as the forest is thick. There are 60 miles of trails. Mainly for motorcycles and ATVs, Trails are marked and are rated from easy to difficult. Dirt roads are not all that challenging and wouldn't be very exciting for 4wd enthusiasts. There are two staging areas, but there are many other good camp sites in the area. Free. Operated by NFS.
 * , 5 miles south of Hollister (California). Open all year round. Small area, but many short easy trails and hill climbs. Five motorcycle tracks, one ATV track, and a 4wd practice area. There are two different sections -- one for motorcycles and ATVs, one for 4wd vehicles. Day use $4, camping $6. Operated by State of California.

Southern California

 * , just south and southwest of Ridgecrest (California). Open all year round, winter is the best time to visit as temperatures are very high in summer. Huge, highly recommended desert open area with some challenging areas of sand washes and rocky mountains and some areas of nice whoops and hill climbs. Open camping available anywhere. All types of vehicles. Free. Operated by BLM.
 * , just east of Gorman, about an hour and a half north of Los Angeles. Open all year round; can get quite hot in summer and snow can close some areas in winter. Many miles of trails and some open areas. Trails of all difficulty levels. Camping and campground and open camping in part of the park. All types of vehicles. Day use $4, camping $6. Operated by State of California.
 * (5) about 20 minutes northeast of Victorville or 40 minutes east of Lancaster. Open all year round; very, very hot in summer. Good sized desert open area. Many sandy trails and hill climbs, and a huge dry lake for novices. Open camping anywhere. All types of vehicles. $15 per day dawn to dusk, $30 for a seven day pass or $90 for an annual pass good from Oct 1 to Sept 30. Operated by BLM.

title: Off-roading in California


text:
Off the beaten track in Japan

Off the beaten track in Japan is your guide to interesting places in Japan that don't get many visitors (or at least many foreign visitors).

Understand
This is not really an itinerary — unless you have a couple of months and unlimited funds at your disposal — but rather a listing of interesting places scattered around Japan. Find the region you'll be visiting below, and see if you can work in a few of these into your own itinerary. From north to south:

Hokkaido

 * Shiretoko National Park — hot spring waterfalls, bears and rugged scenery

Tohoku

 * Dewa Sanzan — the Three Holy Mountains of Dewa
 * Hirosaki — the self-proclaimed Kyoto of the North
 * Shimokita Peninsula — featuring a heavenly mountain valley and the Japanese entrance to Hell
 * Shirabu Onsen — ski, hot springs and piles of snow away from it all, yet surprisingly accessible from Tokyo
 * Hachimantai Plateau — Volcanic alpine meadow which bridges Akita and Iwate prefectures

Kanto

 * Odaiba — Tokyo's newest district on a reclaimed island in Tokyo Bay, very popular among Japanese but still under the radar for most foreigners
 * Kawasaki — dull industrial Tokyo suburb known for the inimitable Iron Penis Festival (April) and its home shrine

Chubu

 * Oku-Hida Onsen Villages — luxurious hot springs nestled in the Japan Alps
 * Ono — castles and temples without the tourists
 * Sado Island — place of exile and gold mines, now featuring the yearly Earth Celebration and the self-proclaimed Alcohol Republic
 * Sekigahara — Site of perhaps the most important battle in Japanese history, which enabled the victorious Tokugawa Ieyasu to come to power. Easy to get to from Kyoto and has an excellent museum and monuments to the battle. Trails between the monuments allow for visitors to hike the course of the battle in about 4-5 hours.
 * Eiheiji Temple — head temple of the Soto Zen School of Buddhism. It was founded in 1244 by Zen Master Dogen.
 * Kiso Valley — Area in southwestern Nagano Prefecture / eastern Gifu Prefecture. Contains a fairly well-preserved section of the old Nakasendo (mountain road used for traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto in olden times) as well as two checkpoint towns, Magome and Tsumago.  Going between the two towns makes for a nice hiking day-trip.  Onsen abound as well.

Kansai

 * Asuka — The nation's first capital, today visitors come to cycle trails around the ancient historic sites
 * Mount Koya — secluded hilltop complex of Buddhist temples only a short hop away from Osaka or Kyoto
 * Koka — small town near Kyoto famous for its ninja history, unique ceramics and location on the Tokaido Road
 * Ise Grand Shrine — Recognized as Japan's holiest and most significant shrine, said to enshrine the supreme Shinto deity. The area is also home to the "Wedded Rocks" as well as Toba, the town where pearl cultivation was invented.
 * Iga — along with Koka, this city is where the art of ninjutsu originated. Every year in April, the town conducts a "Ninja fest" where people can come and dress up in rather authentic ninja garb and wander around town.  There is a "ninja house" as well, full of trap doors and other ninja devices.
 * Yoshino — known throughout Japan as the best place in the nation for cherry blossom viewing, with over 30,000 trees, south of Nara City.

Chugoku

 * Akiyoshidai — Home to Japan's largest plateau and largest cave.
 * Takahashi — A beautiful castle town surrounded by mountains, it contains the majestic Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan's few remaining original castles, as well as the highest.
 * Onomichi — A pleasant little temple town home to many Japanese authors. Also the starting point of the Shimanami Kaido, a 70-km journey across the Seto Inland Sea that is considered Japan's best cycling route.
 * Tsuyama — A beautiful historic town offering Kakuzan Park, one of the best places in the region to view cherry blossoms in the spring, Shurakuen Garden, and Joto Street, a well-preserved historic road located along the pilgrimage route to Izumo Shrine.
 * Bizen — The city where some of Japan's best swords and pottery originated and continue to be produced today.
 * Daisen — A city most famous for Mount Daisen, a great place in the West to hike, climb, and skii (in the wintertime). A walk through the trails to Daisen-ji Temple is quite peaceful and serene.
 * Misasa — Radium spa and home to the mysterious Mitokusan Sanbutsuji Nageiredo, a temple built into a cliff.

Shikoku

 * Oboke — Japan`s best white-water rafting. The Yoshino river is a fantastic place for rafting.
 * Iya Valley — one of Japan's Hidden Valleys, known for its vine bridges
 * Mount Ishizuchi — Shikoku's highest mountain, climbed with iron chains
 * Uwajima — a nondescript little rural town with an original castle, bouts of bull sumo and a shrine devoted to fertility & phalli
 * Kochi — home to Kochi Castle, one of Japan's original castles, and the only one with its original main keep and palace buildings still standing

Kyushu

 * Ikeshima — Former coal mining island now catering to intrepid ruin explorers
 * Karatsu — A small town where the famous Karatsu pottery originates
 * Mt. Aso — A humongous volcanic caldera smack in the middle of Kyushu. Hiking and onsen opportunities abound.
 * Yakushima — A mountainous, rain-soaked island, home to giant cedars thousands of years old.

Okinawa

 * Yaeyama Islands — the beaches of Ishigaki and Taketomi, the jungles of Iriomote and the underwater ruins of Yonaguni

title: Off the beaten track in Japan


text:
Oga

Oga (男鹿市; oga-shi) is a city in western Akita prefecture. The city covers a large peninsula -- the Oga Peninsula (男鹿半島; oga-hantō).

Understand
Oganavi is the city's official multilingual guide site.

Get in
The JR Oga train line connects Akita and Oga, by way of Katagami City.

Get around
Like most of Akita, a car is very convenient. While there are some buses, they run infrequently and may be impractical.

Go next
The capital city Akita is just to the SE. From Akita, there are many travel options in and out of the prefecture.
 * Katagami
 * Ikami
 * Ogata
 * Mitane
 * Noshiro
 * Shirakami-Sanchi
 * Daisen
 * Yurihonjo

title: Oga


text:
Ogaki

Ogaki is a small/mid-sized city located 10 minutes by train from Gifu City, the capital of Gifu Prefecture. The population of Ogaki in 2012 was 164,000.

Tourist information site
水都旅 すいとりっぷ is a Japanese-only tourist guide site for the city and surrounding areas.

Get in
Most travelers will arrive via the Tokaido Main Line. The line runs from Maibara to the west through Ogaki and onward to Gifu, Nagoya, and Toyohashi. Although Gifu-Hashima Station is within Gifu Prefecture, those traveling by Shinkansen can get here faster by transferring at Maibara (from the west) or Nagoya (from the east).

The Yoro Line runs from the northern city of Ibigawa (Ibi Station) to Kuwana down in Mie Prefecture. The Tarumi Line connects Ogaki with Motosu, although if you're in Motosu, you probably already went through Ogaki to get there.

The Sunomata area can be reached by bus from Gifu Station.

Get around
Ogaki is a city divided into three disconnected areas thanks to city mergers. Most travelers will be coming to Ogaki Station. This area is the city center and original Ogaki. The castle and Matsuo Basho museum can be reached on foot. Akasaka Station is within walking distance of Akasaka-juku, the 56th station of the Nakasendo.

The merged districts are Sunomata and Kamiishizu. Neither of these areas has a train station, so you'll have to take a bus to reach them. Ogaki City Community Bus has lines to the Kamiishizu area. Meishin Kintetsu Bus connects Ogaki with the Sunomata area (buses bound for Shotoku Gakuen Daigaku).

See

Go next

 * Gifu Gifu City is 10 minutes away by train (¥230), and has about 400,000 people, making it the go-to "city" in Gifu prefecture.
 * Sekigahara
 * Yoro
 * Ibigawa
 * Mino
 * Gero
 * Inuyama
 * Hikone
 * Nagoya Nagoya is definitely a good city-getaway if you feel suffocated by the ample countryside of Ogaki.

title: Ogaki


text:
Ogallala

Ogallala is a city in South Central Nebraska.

Get in
Interstate 80, U.S. Highways 26 and 30, Nebraska Highway 61.

Go next
Cheyenne- 80 West. About 2 hours away.

Denver- 80 West to 76 West. About 2 1/2 to 3 hours away.

Scottsbluff- 26 West. About 2 hours away.

title: Ogallala


text:
Ogasawara Islands

The Ogasawara Islands (小笠原諸島 Ogasawara-shotō) are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical and tropical islands. Almost the whole area of the islands is included in the Ogasawara National Park. You can visit the marine park as well. This is an area known for whale watching. It is a tourist destination, even though the only access is via a 24 hour-long ferry ride from Tokyo.

The Ogasawara Islands were added to UNESCO's list of World Natural Heritage sites in 2011 as animals and plants there have undergone unique evolutionary processes since these islands have never been connected with a continent, thus often dubbed as the "Galapagos of the Orient".

Understand
The Ogasawara Islands are about 1000 km away from Tokyo, which administers them. Of the more than 30 islands, only Chichijima (父島 "Father Island") and Hahajima (母島 "Mother Island") are inhabited.

The Ogasawara Islands has a very diverse and rich history. The first inhabitants to live in these islands were a mix of Europeans, White Americans, Polynesians, and Kanaks. After claims by the British and USA governments. the islands were made part of Japan in 1862 and Japanese migrants were brought in.

They were known as the Bonin Islands, and many fierce battles were fought in the area during World War II, most notably at Iwo Jima (硫黄島 Iōtō). The original inhabitants of the islands were forced to take Japanese names, were viewed with suspicion and many were expelled from the islands as potential spies in 1944. After World War II, the United States took control of these strategically-important islands, returning them to Japanese sovereignty in 1968.

Tourist Information Sites
All these islands belong to Ogasawara Village.

 * The village's tourism department has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Chichi-jima and Haha-jima have separate tourist associations. Their Japanese-only guide sites:
 * Chichi-jima
 * Haha-jima

Get in
There are no airports on the islands, so transportation is limited to the Ogasawara Kaiun ferry, the Ogasawara Maru, departing from Takeshiba, Tokyo to Chichijima. The ferry runs every three days in each direction and takes 24 hours one way in good weather, but longer if the sea is rough (and it often is). Please note that in bad weather the Ogasawara Maru travels at a slower speed and thus arrives late. As a result, many tourists have missed onward connecting transport. Buy travel insurance and schedule your travel itinerary to compensate for this unpredictable event. One-way tickets start from ¥29,250 for second class tickets.

In addition, some cruise ship routes include Ogasawara as a stop.

There is only one way to get to Iwo Jima (硫黄島 Iōtō) and that is through the Military Historical Tours, which have been granted exclusive rights to conduct tours of the island. The tours are only open to U.S. citizens.

In an emergency, the JSDF naval base on Iwo Jima can retrieve a person needing medical treatment by helicopter and then send them on by plane, or a seaplane can be sent from the mainland (from the U.S. Marine Corps base in Iwakuni).

Get around
A public bus runs around Chichijima several times daily, connecting most points of interest. Single fare ¥300.

Chichijima Taxi will chauffeur you anywhere on the island via air conditioned car. Chichijima Taxi, as well as numerous other companies on the island, rent 50cc mopeds to drivers with a Japanese driver's license. Seibi Kojo rents large vans and passenger cars at reasonable prices. Bicycles can be rented at many guest houses (or used for free in some cases). Additionally, some guest house owners will lend their automobile to guests.

The Hahajima-maru, operated by Izushoto Kaihatsu, runs between Chichijima and Hahajima roughly every other day, with services timed to meet the ferry to/from the mainland. The trip takes about two hours.

There is no regular service to any of the other islands, although the Mukojima group to the north of Chichijima is occasionally visited by charters. World War II sites like Iwo Jima are dangerous due to unexploded ordnance and thus off limits without a permit.

See
The most famous spot in Ogasawara is Minamijima. There, you can see a very beautiful arch over a turquoise blue lagoon. You can often see rare birds, including the ahōdori, or albatross.

Another famous location is Kominato Beach. You can see a white sand beach and stunning limestone rock formations.

Anijima is a nice spot. You can go fishing in Cabbage Beach. Cabbage Beach has many tropical fish.

Weatherstation is a beautiful spot where you can look at a beautiful sunset!

In the flat fields behind Mount Suribachi, you will find the ruins of an airfield assaulted by Allied Shermans during the Battle of Iwo Jima, plus burned out bunkers lying on hillsides or in the ground.

Do

 * Whale watching
 * Scuba diving
 * Dolphin swimming
 * Snorkeling
 * Sport Fishing
 * Trekking

There are many well marked and maintained trails in Ogasawara. On Chichijima, the Ōgiura-Yuhodo Trail (扇浦遊歩道) was opened in 2011. The starting point is Ogiura Beach, and the trail encounters a tunnel constructed during World War II by Japan for use on a war road. Next, the trail crosses a small river before arriving at the Renju Dam (連珠ダム). The trail follows an old road from before World War II that was used by the people to travel between their farms and town. The trail next takes us to Tengunohama (天狗の鼻) Viewpoint, where you can see Futami Bay, Ōgiura Beach and Yagiyama (山羊山). Following the trail, you arrive next at Renju Dam Viewpoint, where you can see Renju Dam and the entire valley. The trail continues up into the forest where the trees are high and wet. If you are lucky, then you may see Chichijima's endemic pigeon and endemic fruit bat.

Boasting many beautiful beaches, Chichijima offers plenty of opportunities to get in the water.
 * Swimming and snorkeling

Sakaiura Beach (境浦) has a shipwreck and many beautiful fish. Also, sunset is very beautiful from Sakaiura.

Aotōdai (青灯台, "blue lighthouse") is very exciting and popular with young people and locals.

SUP is a popular pastime in Chichijima. During whale season, you can go whale watching on a stand up paddleboard. Also, bring snorkel equipment to enjoy beautiful underwater viewing.
 * Sea kayaking
 * Outrigger canoeing
 * Water skiing and wake boarding
 * Windsurfing
 * Surfing
 * Stand up paddleboarding (SUP)

Takonoha-zaiku (タコノ葉細工) is a traditional island craft using the boiled leaves of the Takonoki tree (Pandanus boninensis). You can make many items from the woven leaves: bracelets, bags, rings, boxes, photo frames and charms. Asuka Craft (あすか工房) sells these items and the owner of the craft show will kindly show you how to make them.
 * Traditional Crafts

 * Organic farming
 * Nature conservancy
 * Bird watching

Eat
Tetsuya has Japanese cuisine. Although they do not have a menu because they have a set course, their cuisine is satisfying and delicious - an islanders' favorite! Don't forget to make a reservation before you get there. Tetsuya is near Kominato Beach. It is difficult to walk there, and if you walk, it takes about 1 hour.

Buono Horizon This restaurant serves Italian cuisine. They have delicious handmade pizza and pasta. If you have a date with an important person, you should go there.

Gorosuke (五六助) is a “hole in the wall” shop. Gorosuke only serves bento, or boxed lunches. Gorosuke is popular because you can get a big bowl of food for a very reasonable price. Gorosuke is known for it’s Papaya Curry, which is rich, spicy, and served with a huge heap of rice.

While it might be seen as ethically problematic, you can sample sea turtle in Ogasawara. Turtle meat is a traditional island food that dates back to the early 19th century when the island was first settled. It is considered a delicacy and in no way is prohibited under Japanese law. There are two dishes made with sea turtle meat. Kame sashimi (Turtle Sashimi) is raw meat served chilled with wasabi and soy sauce. Kame stew is preferred in the winter months where it is served hot in a light broth. Turtle meat dishes can be found at many restaurants, most notably at Kanza, Fukuchan and Como. Additionally, turtle products (canned turtle meat, turtle eggs) can be purchased at both of Chichijima's major grocery stores (Super Koiwai and Seikyo).

Shimazushi is the traditional island sushi. It is made from the sawara fish (wahoo in English). Sawara is sliced and lightly marinated in soy sauce. Instead of using wasabi, a dab of spicy mustard is placed under the sliced sawara and then rested on a bed of sushi rice. This traditional island sushi migrated to the Ogasawara island from Hachijojima in the 19th century, when natives from Hachijojima were sent to Ogasawara to form a colony in order to strengthen Japan's claim on the Ogasawara islands.

Try the local island sushi as well, it's made from katsuo tuna and served with soy sauce and pickles.

Drink
There are only two main streets in downtown Chichijima, both having several comparably priced bars.

Sleep
Before choosing a place to stay, please consider what kind of accommodation you prefer. There are 2 hotels and many minshuku, which are Japanese-style bed and breakfasts. Many minshuku can provide meals for their customers, but most minshuku have shared bathrooms. Also, most minshuku only accept cash. Once you know what kind of place you're interested in, contact the Ogasawara Tourist Association. They will give you the telephone number of the accommodation that will fit your needs.

There are about ten minshuku and a youth hostel in Hahajima. If you would like to stay in Hahajima, you should contact the minshuku beforehand as they might be full.

Chichijima

 * Seatopia. A minshuku.
 * Noa. A minshuku.
 * Nadowado, Miyanohama. A minshuku.
 * Seatopia. A minshuku.
 * Noa. A minshuku.
 * Nadowado, Miyanohama. A minshuku.
 * Nadowado, Miyanohama. A minshuku.

title: Ogasawara Islands


text:
Ogden

Ogden is a historic railroad town in Utah's Wasatch Range.

By plane

 * Salt Lake City International Airport is approximately 40 miles (65 km) away from Ogden, making it the closest major air access to the town.
 * Salt Lake City International Airport is approximately 40 miles (65 km) away from Ogden, making it the closest major air access to the town.

By car
Ogden is on Interstate 15, about 40 minutes north of Salt Lake City, and 1 hour and 10 minutes south of the Idaho border.

By bus

 * The Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Phone: +1-888-RIDE-UTA (743-3882) operates an extensive bus system all across the Wasatch Range, so you can easily and readily reach Ogden by public transportation from almost anywhere along the Wasatch Range.
 * The Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Phone: +1-888-RIDE-UTA (743-3882) operates an extensive bus system all across the Wasatch Range, so you can easily and readily reach Ogden by public transportation from almost anywhere along the Wasatch Range.

By train

 * The FrontRunner commuter rail line runs between Ogden and Provo. Service runs every hour on weekdays (with more frequent service during rush hours) and every hour or two on Saturdays. One-way fares range from $3.00-$9.50 depending on how far you travel. Future plans call for an extension of the FrontRunner.

By bus

 * The Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Phone: +1-888-RIDE-UTA (743-3882). UTA buses travel to all of the major points around town.

By foot
Downtown Ogden is very walkable. Most of the major hotels and many tourist sites are clustered around a few city blocks along 25th Street between Wall and Washington Avenues.

See

Buy
The is anchored by Dillard's and a Cinemark movie theatre.

Historic 25th Street has a variety of quaint shops and galleries.

Alcohol
There are several bars on Historic 25th Street, including the famous Kokomo Club, which was featured in Jack Kerouak's book Visions of Cody. There is also Roosters, a classy brewpub.

Some restaurants also feature a full bar, but since this is Utah, not nearly as many serve alcohol as might be expected elsewhere.

Utah has alcohol laws known by the rest of the United States to be restrictive. This leads to lower ABV drinks being served, as well as a hard limit of of hard alcohol (anything over 5.0% ABV) being sold in stores. However, bars and pubs can serve higher alcohol content beverages.

Coffee
If you're just looking for coffee, the local favorite is Ogden-based chain Grounds for Coffee has three locations in town. The most popular is on 30th and Harrison.

Go next

 * Snowbasin is around the corner. It's a nice place to ski, but it doesn't get as much or as good snow as they do in Park City. And there's no lodging on the mountain.
 * Antelope Island, accessible by car about 30-45 minutes from downtown Ogden, is known for its bison and scenic hiking trails.

title: Ogden


text:
Ogi

Ogi (小城) is a city in Saga Prefecture, Japan.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site. with integrated Google Translate/machine translation.

Get in
The main station in Ogi is Ogi Station located on the Karatsu Line. There are direct trains from Karatsu in the north and Saga to the south. From Saga Station, trains travel on the Nagasaki Main Line until Kubota Station where they head up the Karatsu Line. Those coming from Nagasaki or Takeo in the west can transfer at Kubota Station. Ushizu Station along the Nagasaki Main Line is also located in Ogi.

Go next

 * Taku
 * Karatsu
 * Kubota
 * Saga
 * Higashiyoka
 * Kawasoe
 * Omachi
 * Takeo
 * Shiroishi

title: Ogi


text:
Ogliastra

Ogliastra is a beautiful natural theatre that opens from the mountains of "Supramonte", on the border with Barbargia, towards the central-eastern Sardinian coast. The name comes for "Olivastro", the local wild olive three.

Ogliastra is known and admired for its magnificent coastal area, surrounded by mountains and cliffs, and for some of the most untouched coast of Italy. Its natural Mountain-Sea park includes famous spots and landmarks like the "Cale" (beach-harbours); among the most famous ones Cala Gonone, Cala Sisine, Cala Goloritze, and Cala Luna.

Another impressive natural landmark is the massive "Pedra Longa", a natural cliff literally planted into the sea.

Ogliastra is becoming a popular area for lovers of nature, wild landscapes and fabulous local food, it is the area of the island most loved by conscious tourists that like to escape from the crowded areas of the north and the south of the island.

Ogliastra was a separate province from 2001 until 2016 when the province was merged into the Province of Nuoro.

Cities
The two major towns of the area are Lanusei and Tortoli. Together, they were the administrative capitals of the Province of Ogliastra. Lanusei is a very ancient mountain town overlooking the valley of Ogliastra. Tortoli is a coastal settlement that reached the status of economical centre of Ogliastra thanks to the proximity of Arbatax port, the main gate to the area from the sea.

The population of Ogliastra is very small, around 55,000 people, with some of the lowest densities in Italy. Dozens of minuscule villages spot the region of Ogliastra, each one with its tradition and its proud heritage.

Talk
Italian and the Sardinian language are widely spoken as in most of the Island.

English is spoken among the young people, while many elder ones can be surprisingly good in German thanks to the emigration in the 1960s and 70s.

By sea
The port of Arbatax is the main gateway from the continent.

By plane
There is a small airport in Arbatax with just a few flights, only seasonal. They are working on the extension of the landing lanes to make it more accessible.

By car
From Olbia (Port and Airport) follow the SS125 (Strada Statale no. 125) southbound for 2 hours; a very scenic journey by the way! From Cagliari, follow the same SS125 but northbound for 1½ hours. From Alghero you need to cross Inland Sardinia: follow first Sassari, then turn towards Nuoro and then follow Lanusei. This will take you 2½-3 hours. Another worth doing journey, with beautiful scenarios.

See
The ancient village of "Tiscali" (yes, it gave the name to the company...) is hidden inside an empty mountain and was discovered when part of the mountain's roof collapsed. It was built probably during the Roman invasion by the locals that do not wanted to be submitted and the abandoned. It is very well preserved and shows how people used to live 2000 years ago, without any later intervention.

The oldest olive trees of Europe are local heritage; you can see them in the square of Santa Maria Navarrese Village.

Cala Luna, Cala Mariolu, Cala Goloritze, Cala Sisine, Cala Cartoe... some of the most magnificent and untouched sea spot in the Mediterranean.

Itineraries
"Trenino Verde" (the little Green Train) is one of Italy's oldest railways. It connects with a journey that may vary from 4 to 6 hours (according to how many cows need to be moved away from the train's Itinerary!) Arbatax to the south of the island, crossing some of the most wild and beautiful untouched natural treasures of Italy.

Another classic one is the itinerary by boat from Arbatax to Cala Gonone or Vice versa, stopping by in the many enchanting bays of the marine parks (the famous "Calas").

Itineraries in the Supramonte mountains are quite adventurous and can be made trekking, by horse or land rover. It is possible to cross the forest, or explore the river canyons, and reach some of the less accessible Calas.

Eat
"Culurgionis", strictly hand-made filled pastas, with local variations in every village, are delicious big kind of ravioli, filled with mash potatoes, aromas and several kind of local cheese. Pecorino cheese is very good, as in many parts of the island, and its quality benefits from the proximity of the mountains.

Roasted meat is a "must", as everywhere in Sardinia, especially suckling pig, lamb, goat and sheep.

The valley of Ogliastra produced also a wide range of delicious fruits, thanks to the volcanic soil and the cool influence of the Supramonte (watermelons, oranges).

Fish arrives from the harbour of Arbatax, where local fishermen cooperatives grow also the famous "Bottarega" (fish eggs smoked and aged).

Some nice places to eat are:
 * La Peschiera in Arbatax, the fishermen coop serves only fresh fish of the day, very rustical stay, in an open-air restaurant inside of the fishing lagoon.
 * Cooperativa Goloritze, in the mountains around the village of Baunei, in the hearth of the natural park, serves great roasted meat and handmade Culurgionis.
 * Da Lenin is a popular restaurant in Tortoli, modern style, with good selection of fish.
 * Cala Mariolu is one of the most beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Orosei. Reachable on foot or by sea from Santa Maria Navarrese or Cala Gonone.

Drink
The red wine "Cannonau" is the flagship of the area, as the best Italian expression of this variety (aka Grenache in France and Garnatcha in Spain) grows in Ogliastra.

It is consumed as normal red wine, or, recalling some Spanish heritage, served by the local chilled with cutted slices of peach in it; a sort of Sangria.

Pubs and bars are mostly located in the coastal villages and near resorts, especially in the area around Tortoli and Arbatax.

Go next
Nightlife is mostly focused in the summer season. Arbatax, Tortoli, Santa Maria Navarrese are the towns where most of resorts, cafes, bars and discos are located.

If you are lucky enough to be invited by locals to so called "Spuntino" (little snack), you will spend your whole day eating, drinking and making party with them; it's a great local tradition. Spuntino can be held in somebody's house, on the beach (by day and/or night), or in a kind of picnic way.

title: Ogliastra


text:
Ogrodzieniec

Ogrodzieniec is a town in the Silesian Voivodeship of southern Poland, in the Ojców mountains 62 km northwest of Kraków. It's famous for its Gothic-Renaissance ruined castle, 2 km east in the village helpfully called Podzamcze, which means "by the castle". The area's limestone outcrops also attract climbers. In 2023 Ogrodzieniec had a population of 4100.

Get in
Trains run hourly from Katowice to Zawiercie the nearest station, taking 50 min via Będzin and Dabrowa Gornicza. They may start from Gliwice and continue to Częstochowa, but some are inter-city trains from Vienna and Ostrava to Warsaw and Gdańsk - you pay extra to ride these. From Kraków you have to travel via Katowice.

Bus 7 runs M-F every hour or two from Zawiercie railway station to Ogrodzieniec, Podzamcze (for castle, 30 min) and Kiełkowice.

Get around
Everything of interest is near Podzamcze and the castle.

See

 * Galeria Motoryzacji is a collection of well-restored East European motorbikes. It's at Zuzanka 7B near the castle entrance, open daily 10:00-22:00.
 * (Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Skałkowej) is a shrine and chapel set into a rockface. A villager saw a vision of the Virgin Mary here on 14 Oct 1818 and it became a pilgrimage destination. A chapel was built in the 1950s and replaced by the present larger one in 1999. The site is free to access 24 hours.
 * is a rocky outcrop, where the first thing you need to see is the gaping hole in the path, to avoid tumbling into a World War II bunker. The outcrop has views of the castle, sanctuary and Birów mountain. The short path starts from Partyzantów lane towards Mount Birów.
 * is probably 14th century. It's just a crumbling stump on an outcrop and you may find it fenced off.
 * Zawiercie is a transport hub but has little to occupy you. The Church of Holy Trinity and St Floriana is from 1598. The Church of St Nicholas is from 1651. The Basilica of St Peter and Paul is from 1896. Szymański Palace is a mansion of 1897, now a cultural centre.
 * is probably 14th century. It's just a crumbling stump on an outcrop and you may find it fenced off.
 * Zawiercie is a transport hub but has little to occupy you. The Church of Holy Trinity and St Floriana is from 1598. The Church of St Nicholas is from 1651. The Basilica of St Peter and Paul is from 1896. Szymański Palace is a mansion of 1897, now a cultural centre.

Do

 * Dom Strachów means "Haunted House" and it's at Zamkowa 42 by the castle entrance. You go through a series of darkened rooms and hear spooky legends. It might amuse a child of 5-8 but most reckon it's not worth the 20 zł. Open daily 10:00-18:00.

Buy

 * Edars store in Podzamcze is by the castle entrance, open daily 06:00-20:00.
 * There are ten convenience stores strung along the main street of Ogrodzieniec.

Eat

 * Restauracja 511 is within Hotel Poziem 511, see below.
 * Ogrodzieniec has Bistro u Dziewczyn and Zabka, both on Plac Wolności.
 * Restauracja 511 is within Hotel Poziem 511, see below.
 * Ogrodzieniec has Bistro u Dziewczyn and Zabka, both on Plac Wolności.

Drink
The restaurants serve alcohol. Pub u Reni is on Plac Wolności in Ogrodzieniec.

Sleep

 * Ogrodzieniec has self-catering rooms in the former Ratusz - town hall - but otherwise lacks accommodation.
 * Hotel Zawiercie is a decent-enough place at Wierzbowa 6a in Zawiercie town centre.
 * Ogrodzieniec has self-catering rooms in the former Ratusz - town hall - but otherwise lacks accommodation.
 * Hotel Zawiercie is a decent-enough place at Wierzbowa 6a in Zawiercie town centre.

Connect
As of May 2024, Ogrodzieniec and its approach highways have 4G from all Polish carriers, though T-Mobile is patchy. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Kraków is a must-see for its walled medieval city.
 * Katowice is far from scenic but has a rich industrial heritage.
 * Częstochowa has the pilgrimage site of Jasna Góra, with the Black Madonna.

title: Ogrodzieniec


text:
O Grove

O Grove is a coastal town of 10,700 people (2018) in Galicia, in the heart of the Rías Baixas. A popular tourist destination during summer, O Grove is famous for its beaches, its nature, its hot springs and its seafood.

Understand
O Grove is a town in the peninsula of the same name, some 30 km west of Pontevedra.

By car
O Grove is easily reachable by car, and is less than an hour ride from Pontevedra and Santiago de Compostela. The main road (AG-41) is a highway and is in good condition, but traffic can be heavy on sunny summer weekends since the beaches around that area are very popular for Galicians to spend the day.

By bus
There are buses from Pontevedra and Santiago de Compostela, operated by Monbus.

Get around
The town is best explored on foot. The center lies around Rúa Castelao (nicknamed Calle Catorse -14th Street- by locals) and Beiramar, and most cafés, shops, restaurants and nightclubs are in that area.

The island of A Toxa is also at walking distance from the town centre.

However, a bike or a car are highly recommended if you want to visit the rest of the peninsula, including some of the most popular beaches and attractions.

See

 * A Siradella: this mount is the highest point of the peninsula, and offers a stunning view of the Ría de Arousa, the A Lanzada beach and the surrounding towns and islands. Although usually reached by car, the place is 3-4 km from the centre and has a picnic area, so it can make for a nice half-day excursion.
 * Capela da Toxa (A Toxa chapel): a nice and small chapel, built in the 12th century and completely covered with scallop shells.
 * Aquarium Galicia: claims to be the first aquarium in Galicia. Small and perhaps a bit expensive (€10) for its size, but a worthwhile visit anyway.

title: O Grove


text:
Ogunquit

Ogunquit is a seacoast town in Maine. The name is the Algonquin Indian word for "beautiful place by the sea". It features over three miles of beautiful sandy beach.

Understand
Ogunquit possesses a decent sized gay and lesbian population. There is a concentrated area of restaurants and shops near the intersection of Main Street and Shore Road, and access to the beach is nearby. The town's sidewalks (where they exist) are packed with tourists on weekends during the summer.

Ogunquit has much to offer in terms of fresh seafood, fine dining and romantic restaurants, ice cream joints, beaches and an array of boutiques and shops. You can find the standard tourist-y items as well as high quality art work, jewelry clothes and some shops that offer unique local shells and products.

Summer nights bring a bustling excitement to downtown Ogunquit and the trolleys are an enjoyable and convenient form of transportation throughout the day.

By plane

 * Portland International Jetport
 * Manchester Airport
 * Pease International Airport
 * Logan International Airport

By train
From Boston's North Station and Portland, Amtrak provides service on the "Downeaster" to the town of Wells, just north of Ogunquit. Seniors get a half-fare rate by entering the code V543 when ordering online, or requesting it from the agent.

By bus
There is no intercity bus service direct to Ogunquit, however you can take the train to Wells, and then take the local trolley to Ogunquit. At the Wells / Ogunquit line, you have to board another trolley (Ogunquit Trolley Company) to travel along Route 1 into Ogunquit center.

By car
Interstate 95 is the direct route from Boston (1.25 hours) and other east coast cities. When coming from the south, take Maine Exit 7 to Route 1 North for access to Ogunquit and The Yorks.

Interstate 95 throughout Maine and New Hampshire can experience major traffic jams from tourists traveling between the Boston metro area and vacation areas in the north. Using an EZ Pass or compatible transponder will avoid waiting in line at toll booths on 95. Using a GPS navigation system that can route you around traffic jams could also save a considerable amount of time, if you are not familiar with the area.

Route 1 is a viable coastal alternative to 95, and is also more scenic. Shore Road is even more coastal, connecting with Route 1 further south.

During the tourist season, Ogunquit experiences major traffic jams on Route 1 (Main Street) and Shore Road, centered around the intersection of the two roads. Public parking is in high demand and be quite expensive ($25/day). See the Town of Ogunquit website for a map of available parking lots and rates. If driving, it is advisable to carpool if applicable, and determine where you would like to park in advance. Most overnight accommodations, like inns and resorts, provide their own free lots. Obed's Lot on Cottage Street requires advanced payment, which can be inconvenient if you do not know how long you wish to park, but which does allow you to leave without waiting in an exit line (unlike the main Beach Lot).

Taking the Ogunquit Trolley between your parking lot and destinations of interest can be cost effective. Paid dedicated motorcycle parking is available in the main Beach Lot, and is underused compared to automobile parking. Taking public transit or parking outside of town and bicycling in would also avoid traffic hassles.

Get around
Ogunquit is said to be the most walkable community in Maine. Walkers, runners and bikers are always on the sidewalks and roads and downtown Ogunquit, Perkins Cove and the beach are always filled with pedestrians. If you are staying locally, there is no great need to travel within Ogunquit with a car.

Buy
Long a town of art galleries, there is plenty to see while browsing in Perkins Cove or in Ogunquit Village center. Nearby Kittery, 20 minutes south, has over 120 outlet stores.

Drink

 * Live Music on weekends and huge firepit.

Sleep
Ogunquit has a very large number of places to stay.

Go next
The nearby villages of Wells, Saco and Kennebunkport hold some attractions.

title: Ogunquit


text:
Ohakune

Ohakune is a town of 1,400 people (2020) in the Ruapehu district of the central North Island of New Zealand, adjacent to Tongariro National Park.

Understand
Ohakune is well regarded as a winter destination within New Zealand. It is at the base of Ruapehu mountain and is known as the ski capital of the North Island. Winters are the busy season for Ohakune, attracting skiers from all over New Zealand, Australia and beyond. The town makes a delightful stopover in the summertime too, when visitors are fewer and the walks and hikes around town are inviting, with mountain biking particularly popular.

The town is divided into two parts. The "upper" part, also called the Junction, is around the train station and its vicinity. It is home to a number of lodges, inns and cafes, and is also closest to Tongariro National Park. The lower part of town is larger and contains shops, restaurants, a tourist info center (i-site), as well as a riverside park.

By car
Ohakune is on State Highway 49 off Highway 1, about 3.5 hours north of Wellington and 4.4 hours south of Auckland. You can also come in via Highway 4 from Whanganui (1.5 hrs), which is quite twisty but scenic.

By train
The Northern Explorer has trains three times per week from Auckland or Wellington. The train station is within easy walking distance to lodges and hotels in the upper part of the town.

By bus

 * Intercity has a daily service from Auckland and from Palmerston North

Get around
You can walk from the upper to the lower part of town in a 45 minutes or so. During the winter, a bus service runs every half hour until the bars close. Other car and taxi services are available during the winter months. Ask at your lodge.

While you can walk along the sidewalks to get from one part of town to another, for better views take scenic walkway along the riverside also connects the two. From the upper part of town, cross the river over the old bridge, then walk 100 metres or so to the trail opening on the left side of Old River Road. Enjoy the swinging pedestrian bridge.

See

Do
Particularly in winter, most visitors come here to ski and snowboard, with Tūroa only 20 minutes away and Whakapapa around 45 min. Conditions permitting, you can self-drive or take a shuttle from town. See Skiing on Mt Ruapehu for the full scoop.

 * Walk or hike in Tongariro National Park. The park's entrance and Ranger Station is located on Mountain Road, just north of the train station.  The Rimu and Mangawhero Forest are short walks and easily accessible for those staying in Ohakune.
 * Skateboard on the half pipe, located along Clyde Street in the lower part of town.

Go next

 * National Park Village
 * Raetihi
 * Tongariro National Park
 * Turangi

title: Ohakune


text:
Ohio

Ohio 's nickname is "the Heart of It All", purportedly because of its shape (kind of like a heart), its central location in the American Midwest, its mosaic of big commercial cities, small towns, industry and farmland, and its critical role in "America's Heartland".

The terrain is generally flat in the northwestern parts due to ancient glaciers, and gradually gets hillier as one heads east and southeast toward the Allegheny and Appalachian mountain ranges. Aside from a Great Lake (Erie) and a major navigable river (Ohio), the State of Ohio offers a national park (Cuyahoga Valley), a national forest (Wayne), a number of National Wildlife Refuges, and a bundle of islands on Lake Erie.

Regions
Comprising 88 counties, Ohio can be roughly characterized by these regions:

Cities

 * Columbus - the state capital and regional hub of 2 million residents
 * Akron - the county seat of Summit County, used to be known as the Rubber Capital, and has made the transition from the world's tire manufacturing hub to its high-tech Polymers Research Center, now referred to as the Polymer Capital. It is also the home of the All-American Soap Box Derby.
 * Canton - home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
 * Cincinnati - regional hub of 3 million residents (Cincinnati Metro and Dayton Metro), the "Queen City" is home to the Bengals and Reds. Cincinnati was the first boom town and first major inland city in the United States, and its Over-the-Rhine district is the largest National Historic District in the United States.
 * Cleveland - traditionally one of the more liberal US cities, regional hub of 3 million residents, the "Rock and Roll Capital of the World" and home to one of the five richest collections of arts and culture institutions in the US
 * Dayton - a mid-sized city famous for being the home of the Wright Brothers, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Dayton International Peace Museum. Dayton can be a wonderfully charming place to visit.
 * Newark - a city with historical ties to the glass-making industry and the second-largest city in central Ohio, Newark is the home of the "Basket Building," a 4-story picnic basket-shaped building which is the corporate headquarters of the Longaberger Co.
 * Sandusky - home to Cedar Point Amusement Park.
 * Toledo - "The Glass City" is home to the Toledo Mud Hens Baseball team, a world-class art museum, a nationally ranked zoo, and the famous Tony Packo's Cafe.

Other destinations

 * Cuyahoga Valley National Park - The only national park in Ohio. According to the US National Park Service, the Cuyahoga Valley is the 5th most frequently visited park in the National Park System.
 * Lake Erie Islands - north of Sandusky (between Cleveland and Toledo), a group of picturesque and festive islands in Lake Erie are accessible via ferry. In addition to several Ohio state parks on the islands, there is plenty to do including visiting wineries, restaurants, bars, marinas and beaches. One of the Islands, Put-In-Bay, is known as the "Key West of the North" for its party atmosphere, especially during the summer months.
 * North Coast Beaches - Along the southern shore of Lake Erie are a large number of public beaches. The largest natural sand beach in Ohio, Headlands Beach State Park, is east of Cleveland, in Mentor. Cleveland Lakefront State Park also includes a large beach at its Edgewater Park, just west of downtown Cleveland. Many other beaches are available throughout Northern Ohio, including Huntington Beach, Euclid Beach and Fairport Harbor. In addition, Maumee Bay State Park, near Toledo, boasts an extensive Lake Erie Beach as well as an inland beach and various resort and banquet facilities, not to mention a challenging Scottish-links style golf course.
 * Ohio State Parks - Ohio has many states parks, spread throughout the state. Fees vary from park to park, but all are very affordable. To the north, the parks around Lake Erie have some of the best beaches and camping areas. Many have boat launches. Inland, most are in forest areas and offer outstanding amenities to campers, picnickers, boaters and horsemen.
 * Ohio Prehistoric Sites -
 * Wayne National Forest - in the Southeast portion of the state, includes the scenic Hocking Hills region and Lake Logan State Park.
 * Holmes County - halfway between Columbus and Cleveland, Holmes County is home to the world's largest population of Amish residents, along with famous attractions like Heini's Cheese, Skyview Ranch, the Amish Door and dozens of other historical Amish attractions.
 * Warren County - Warren County, Ohio is the ultimate getaway for Ohio family fun. As the home of attractions such as Kings Island, Great Wolf Lodge, the Beach Waterpark and Ozone Zipline Adventures, Warren County is truly "Ohio's Largest Playground".
 * Ohio to Erie Trail A mostly paved, 325 mile trail from the Ohio River to Lake Erie
 * Camp Chase Trail

Understand
Ohio is the 35th largest state by size, but 7th by population (11,459,011 residents in 2004 according to the US Census Bureau). The state has natural boundaries to the north (Lake Erie) and to the south (Ohio River) and is bordered by the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Ohio also shares Lake Erie as a border with the Canadian province of Ontario.

Ohio has always played and continues to play a critical role in the development of the United States history and government. One of Ohio's contributions to history was the Underground Railroad network which helped escaped slaves move to the free northern states and Canada. Many Ohioans, most notably Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe and John Brown, campaigned against slavery. Ohio is in the "Heartland," which can refer to the Midwest agricultural sector and the Great Lakes industrial base.

Ohio has also been home to eight American presidents, giving it the nickname Mother of US Presidents. American Presidents from Ohio were Ulysses Grant (18th, born in Point Pleasant), Rutherford Hayes (19th, Delaware), James Garfield (20th, Orange), Benjamin Harrison (23rd, North Bend), William McKinley (25th, Niles), William Taft (27th, Cincinnati), and Warren Harding (29th, Corsica/Blooming Grove). In addition, William Henry Harrison (9th), was born in Virginia but settled (and is buried) in North Bend. Ohio is considered one of the most important states in presidential elections due to its 20 electoral votes and is often one of the few states that can go to either party. Unlike California, Illinois, New York that lean Democratic and Texas which almost always votes Republican, Ohio's voting tendencies changes from election to election. As a matter of fact between 1856 (the first time a Republican ran for president) until the 2020 election, no Republican won the presidency without also winning Ohio. (Donald Trump won Ohio in 2020, but lost the election to Joe Biden.) Given the somewhat forgettable record of some of the Ohio presidents however, there is a somewhat irreverent saying about presidents: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some were just born in Ohio".

The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, inventors of the airplane, were from Dayton in Ohio, giving the state one reason to call itself the Birthplace of Aviation (though the brothers actually flew the airplane first in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Dayton was their home and the place where they conducted their research, development, and fabrication activities, as well as test-flights of various glider prototypes). Ohio, however, has additional claims to the nickname. Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk the moon, was an Ohioan, as was late U.S. Senator and astronaut John Glenn, who was the first American to complete an orbit of the Earth from outer space. Ohio has also been home to 23 other astronauts and is home to the Wright Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton.

Inventor Thomas A. Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. His birthplace and home have been preserved.

Tourist information

 * Ohio Tourism website

Talk
Despite what you may have heard, Ohio is actually very diverse with regional dialects. In the middle of the state, especially Dayton and Columbus, many people speak what is commonly known as General American Dialect, or Standard Midwestern Dialect. Around Cleveland and Toledo people speak with what is known as the Northern Cities Vowel shift of same dialect, sounding way more like a Chicagoan (think Da Bears from Saturday Night Live for a really exaggerated example).

In the Amish Country between Cleveland and Columbus, English is actually a second language for the Amish populations with Pennsylvania Dutch, their first. Pennsylvania Dutch is related to German. Pretty much all Amish speak English outside of the home but with a distinct accent.

In inner cities of Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus there are hundreds of thousands of African-Americans who speak what is called African-American Vernacular English, or Ebonics. As you move South and Southeast, you may encounter those who speak Southern American English-- especially in the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area. White non Appalachian populations in the Greater Cincinnati area have a slight dialect differences influenced by their heavily German population with a few local colloquialisms like “Pony Keg” for convenience store, and using “Please?” instead of “What?” when asking someone to repeat themselves.

By car
Ohio is served by many interstate highways.

By train

Ohio is a bit under served by rail, however a few Amtrak routes crosses through the state. Notice however that most trains arrive at inconvenient times, often in the middle of night.

 * Capitol Limited: Daily between Washington D.C. and Chicago, calls at Alliance, Cleveland, Elyria, Sandusky and Toledo.
 * Cardinal: Runs three times per week between Washington D.C. and Chicago, taking a more southerly route via several cities in West Virginia. Its only stop in Ohio is in Cincinnati.
 * Lake Shore Limited: Daily between New York City/Boston and Chicago. Calls at Bryan, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria and Cleveland.

By bus
Greyhound and Megabus offer intercity bus service.

By boat
Many boaters use the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and their connection points as a travel route. There are many marinas and public boat ramps available for this purpose. Also, the Great Lakes Cruising Company and the American Canadian Caribbean Line provide cruises that include Cleveland on the itineria. There are also steamboat and cruise options connecting points along Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.

By foot

 * The American Discovery Trail connects Ohio with Indiana, West Virginia and both coasts.

Get around
Most points within Ohio are easily accessible by auto with longest distances across the state of about 300 miles (480 km) and less than 5 hours in driving time. For instance, driving from Cleveland-to-Columbus and Columbus-to-Cincinnati via I-71 takes about 2 hours (give or take 15 minutes). The larger cities in the state all have public mass transit systems.

By bus

 * Greyhound connects over 39 of Ohio's cities. The following cities have a dedicated Greyhound station: Akron, Ashtabula,, Cambridge, Canton, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lorain, Dover, Elyria, Findlay, Warren, Lima, Mansfield, Maple Heights, Marietta, Marion, Sandusky, Springfield, Toledo, Van Wert, Lima, Port Clinton, East Liverpool, Vermilion, Amherst, Napoleon, Wooster, Youngstown, Zanesville, Blakeslee, Leavittsburg, Kellys Island, Put-in-Bay, Mogadore, Defiance, Euclid.

Information on transit can be found here.

By car
North Coast Scenic Byway (OH-2) is a principal route between Sandusky and Cleveland that provides easy access to the Lake Erie Islands and one of the worlds most famous amusement parks Cedar Point.

By thumb
Like most of the midwest, highways are long, straight, and flat, and drivers are often going long distances--in other words, a hitchhiker's dream. Be aware that most if not all interstate highways are closed to pedestrians, so you're probably better off trying to catch a ride from an on-ramp. I-80 is the preferred route for those trying to travel across the state east or west.

Itineraries

 * The Lincoln Highway. If you are a visitor to United States or Ohio, an alternative to the well developed interstate highway system, is the Lincoln Highway which is an east/west transcontinental highway conceived in 1913 specifically for automobile traffic. It is not a speedy road to follow as it passes through, rather than around the cities and villages on its path from coast to coast. In Ohio it was (not now, in a lot of cases) known as US Route 30, although US Route 30 remains, much of it has been moved from the original Lincoln Highway, to a newer four lane highway also known as US Route 30. In Ohio the Lincoln Highway runs from East Liverpool, Ohio, west to Fort Wayne, Indiana, through the center of Ohio, and through many of its more scenic areas and communities. You will have no problem finding and enjoying food and lodging, that will be extremely different and likely less expensive than the "cookie cutter" offerings along the Interstate highways.

Sports

Amusement parks

Ohio has been nicknamed the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World" due to the number of record breaking amusement park rides that call Ohio home. The two most noteworthy parks in Ohio are Cedar Point and King's Island.

Cincinnati

Cleveland

 * Pioneer Waterland is a waterpark in Chardon, Ohio.
 * Pioneer Waterland is a waterpark in Chardon, Ohio.

Columbus

 * Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark is in Columbus.
 * CoCo Key Water Resort at Cherry Valley Lodge is in Newark near Columbus.
 * Splash Harbor is in Bellville, Ohio.

Nature

Eat
Not only are there great places to dine and things to eat throughout Ohio, but these cuisines, several of which define American Food, were born in Ohio:

Northwest

The Toledo metro offers the main culinary scene in Northwest Ohio. In particular Hungarian immigrants brought some trappings of their cuisine with them.

The agricultural communities dotting northwest Ohio are often known for their snacks. Findlay, Ohio is known for its confections, ice cream, and spiced nuts.

Northeast

Southwest
 * Maple Syrup go to Geauga County in Northeast Ohio, the Village of Burton is the heart of maple country, but maple syrup is produced and is available throughout most of the State.
 * Salisbury Steak created by and named for Clevelander Dr. James H. Salisbury who desired to perfect the meat curing process (you can pay homage to him at Lakeview Cemetery near University Circle). Just ask the Menches brothers who must claim, "It's just a fancy hamburger covered in gravy."

 * Banana Split - Ernest Hazard of Wilmington is one of the supposed inventors of the banana and ice cream treat
 * Goetta - is a peasant food of German origin that is popular in the greater Cincinnati area. It is primarily composed of ground meat and oats. Traditionally used as a breakfast meat.
 * Cincinnati Chili - is a regional style of chili characteristically served over spaghetti or as a coney sauce. While served in many regular restaurants, it is most often associated with several fast-food chains in the Cincinnati area, including Skyline Chili, Gold Star, Empress, and Dixie.

Statewide
 * Roasted/Candy Buckeyes - where else would you go for either delicious snack but the Buckeye State?
 * Paw Paw the State native fruit can be hard to find, but offers a traditional taste.
 * Buckeye Chicken a relatively rare breed of chicken grown in the area, known for their superior taste.

Drink
Ohio's liquor laws are somewhere in the middle in terms of restrictions. Beer, wine, and liquor can be found in many stores. You can search for stores and products using the Ohio Liquor agency's website OHLQ.com. It can be sold until 1AM (some stores don't have the permit to sell some or all types of the alcohol on Sundays). Hard liquor can be purchased at state liquor agencies (some of which are found in grocery stores). These stores also sell wine, beer, soda, mixers, etc. and have an earlier closing time.

Two provisions may affect purchases of alcohol for personal off-premises consumption. First, it must be sold to you by an employee above the legal drinking age of 21, which can sometimes mean the cashier will have to go find someone who can, and if you're at a convenience store with no other employee available, you're out of luck. Second, it must be carried out of the store in a bag that conceals it, even if it's a single.

Like all other states, Ohio vigorously enforces its drunken-driving law. It is also illegal to carry an open container of an alcoholic beverage in an automobile's passenger compartment regardless of who is consuming it. And anyone carrying a firearm, even lawfully, while under the influence can expect to face a charge of using weapons while intoxicated, which can be a felony.

Breweries
Columbus

 * Columbus Brewing Company (CBC)
 * Seventh Son Brewing Co.
 * Wolf's Ridge Brewing
 * Land-Grant Brewing Company
 * Parson's North Brewing Company
 * Ill Mannered Brewing
 * Olentangy Brewing
 * Zaftig Brewing

Cleveland

Cincinnati

 * Rhinegeist
 * Madtree
 * Braxton Brewing Company
 * Listermann Brewing Company

Toledo

Akron Athens

 * Jackie O's Brewery

Wineries
The first major winery in Ohio was founded by Nicholas Longworth near the banks of the Ohio River in Southwest Ohio. Due to the fertile land wine producing became one Ohio's important industries and by the 1860s was leading the U.S. in wine production. Due to crop disasters and prohibition wine producing in Ohio dwindled. Wines produced in Ohio have become increasingly popular, though, still largely undiscovered by tourists and locals alike.

 * Al-Bi Winery Company
 * Broad Run Cheesehouse & Swiss Heritage Winery, Tuscarawas County
 * Chalet Debonné Vineyards, Madison (www.debonne.com)
 * Dankorona Winery, Aurora
 * Ferrante Winery, Geneva (www.ferrantewinery.com)
 * Firelands Winery
 * Flint Ridge Vineyard
 * Harmony Hill Vineyards and Estate Winery
 * Heineman's Winery, on Put-In-Bay
 * Jilbert Winery, Valley City
 * Kinkead Ridge
 * Lonz Winery, Middle Bass Island
 * Maize Valley Farm Market and Winery, just east of Hartville.
 * Shamrock Vineyard
 * Winery at Versailles
 * Woodstone Creek Winery & Distillery
 * Virant Family Winery, Inc.
 * Winery at Versailles
 * Woodstone Creek Winery & Distillery
 * Virant Family Winery, Inc.

Spirits
Ohio is home to a few micro distilleries. Some popular Columbus distilleries are Middle West Spirits, Watershed Distillery, High Bank Distillery, and 451 Spirits. High Bank Distillery's Whiskey War bourbon has won multiple Buckeye Vodka is an Ohio made vodka that can be found in liquor stores and some bars throughout the state. Most of the other local spirits are hard to find outside their home areas.

Sleep
Visitors may want to consider staying at one of Ohio's resort lodges or state parks, which are spread throughout the state. Most are very pleasant to visit and offer an opportunity to visit Ohio's great outdoors. The lodges offer outstanding locations and amenities, while the parks usually offer primitive camping, camping, backpacking, group camps, horseman camps and boat camping. All are State of Ohio owned, some are operated by contractors.

Smoking
Smoking is banned in most public areas with very few exceptions. Hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities may still allow smoking in designated rooms. Restaurants and bars are forbidden from allowing smoking or ashtrays on their premises unless they have an outdoor patio.

If you're at a place that is in violation of the law you can report the violation to the Ohio Department of Health by calling the toll-free number:. Alternatively, you can email a complaint to [mailto:NoSmoke@odh.ohio.gov NoSmoke@odh.ohio.gov]. You must include the following information for a complaint to be followed up on: the business' name, nature of the complaint, a complete address; including the street number, street name, city and zip code.

Winter weather
Even if you are driving through Ohio, in the winter months you want to make sure that you have enough clothes to keep you warm in the event you have difficulties. Temperatures often get below. Drivers heading into Ohio from the South will want to make sure their vehicles are prepared for freezing weather. Have the antifreeze in your radiator checked, and replace the window washer solvent with a product that will not freeze. Be prepared with extra warm clothes, shoes, head cover and gloves.

Stay safe
In general, Ohio is a fairly safe state. During the day most places are completely safe, however, take normal precautions against crime. The biggest threats to visitors are the winter weather and potential for traffic accidents. If you travel by car, be safe while driving in inclement weather and always be aware of traffic alerts around major cities.

Go next
Ohio is geographically in the Heartland of the United States-- which makes it easy to take a trip to much of the United States of America and even Canada.
 * Indiana- State directly to the west, home of Indianapolis and the Indy 500.
 * Kentucky- State directly to the south, home of Louisville and Lexington, the Kentucky Derby, bluegrass music, and Kentucky Bourbon.
 * Pennsylvania - State directly to the east, home of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Known for its revolutionary war era historical sites (mainly in Philadelphia) and its steel industry.
 * Michigan - State to the north, home of Detroit and Mackinac Island. Has about 12,000 inland lakes, 38 deep-water ports, more miles of coastline than any state but Alaska, and more lighthouses than any other U.S. state.
 * Ontario - Canada's most populous province, directly across Lake Erie. Its capital, Toronto, is Canada's largest city, and it hosts the capital of Canada Ottawa.
 * West Virginia - State to the southeast, home of Charleston and New River Gorge National Park. It's often called the "Mountain State", being the only state in the USA to lie completely within a mountain range (in this case, the Appalachians).

title: Ohio


text:
Ohio prehistoric sites

Evidence of humans in Ohio goes back as far as 13,000 BC, with the first inhabitants after the last ice age most likely being Paleo-Indians who seemed to have disappeared after the Younger Days impact event. Later they were replaced by Archaic people who are referred to as Native Americans. The Archaic period is divided into Early, Middle and Late Archaic periods, it is thought of as (possibly) the second period of human occupation that took place 8,000 BC to 1,000 BC. The Woodlands Period went from about 1,000 BC to 700 AD and included the Adena and Hopewell peoples who are sometimes referred to as the Mound Builders. Other cultures extended the Mound Builders period to about 1300 AD.

For reference:
 * Stonehenge about 3,100 BC.
 * Teotihuacan construction dates back to about 200 BC to 100 AD.
 * Chichen Itza about 600–1,000 AD.

Locations
The list below is far from a complete list of prehistoric sites in Ohio. Finding a clovis point in a farm field from a Paleo-Indian roaming your land 11,000-15,000 may be more memorable than visiting any of the historical sites. Ohio is literally littered with early human artifacts. There are many private and public displays throughout the State of “field finds”, which are far from uncommon even today.
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These sacred sites have endured much over time and have diminished more since white settlers showed up in the Ohio Valley than any other time in history. One of the biggest enemies of these sites has been the invention of the cast-steel plow. Property owners have ignored the importance of the remnants of early man and have plowed over burial sites, mounds and artifacts without concern. The most common way of discovering artifacts today, is during the plowing of fields (field finds). This lack of care or respect for these monuments reflects badly on current inhabitants.

Exhibits
There are excellent exhibits throughout the State. This is a short list.
 * Ohio Historical Center, 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, +1 614 297-2300
 * Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, 16062 State Route 104, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601.
 * Flint Ridge State Memorial 3 miles south of Cynthia, near (south/east) Newark off of SR 668.
 * Lowe-Volk Park, 38 acre Nature Park, located on SR 598, 4 miles north of newer SR 30. Annual Arrow Head Day brings out some of the best of the areas private collections.

Associations and societies

There are also numerous local chapters of both of the organizations listed above.

Related

 * Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Illinois - Site of one of the largest native cities north of Mexico.
 * Moundsville, West Virginia - Contains a large mound built by the Adena culture.
 * Ohio State Parks - Many mounds are within state park boundaries.

title: Ohio prehistoric sites


text:
Ohiopyle

Ohiopyle is a lovely resort town along the Youghiogheny (yaw-ki-GAY-nee, ) River in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. The town is surrounded by the Ohiopyle State Park, with its beautiful scenery and many recreational opportunities.

Get in
Ohiopyle is along PA 381, about 6 miles north of US 40 at Farmington, and around 20 miles south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It's a scenic and winding route, due to the hilly terrain.

Get around
Ohiopyle proper is a small enough town that's easy enough to get around just by walking, and most of the scenic attractions and the campground are accessible by hiking trails. However, you'll probably need a car just to get here in the first place and to get to most of outlying attractions. The roads are often narrow and winding.

Do

 * There are a good variety of trails in the park suitable for hiking and biking, ranging in difficulty and length. The main trail through the park is the Youghiogheny River Trail, a nice, flat trail that's part of the Pennsylvania-Maryland Great Allegheny Passage trail. The trail runs along (and at times over) the river and is ideal for biking, hiking, and jogging. You can access the trail from the visitor's center at the north end of town.
 * The Youghiogheny River has some of the best whitewater boating in the area, with great rapids for canoeing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. There are two stretches of river good for boating: the Middle Yough, which has mostly class I and II rapids; you put in near the town of Confluence several miles to the east and take out just north of town. Then there's the Lower Yough, with mostly class III and IV rapids; you put in just below the Ohiopyle Falls in town and take out either just after rounding around the peninsula (about a mile) or continue another several miles to Bruner Run.
 * The Meadow Run Waterslides just south of town (at PA 381 and SR 2019 intersection) are a popular attraction for local teenagers, with the current moving fast through some slick rock "slides". For the less adventurous, the slides and adjoining rock formations are quite scenic.
 * The Youghiogheny River also offers some good fishing areas, with stocked trout along the entire section of the river within the park. The park is also open to hunting, with good opportunities for deer, turkey, grouse, rabbit, squirrel and other small game.
 * During the winter, the park has a number of great cross-country skiing trails. The Surgarloaf Snowmobile & Mountain Bike Area along SR 2012 east of town has plenty of great trails for snowmobiling and a sledding area.

Eat
If you are not opposed to traveling about 10 miles over the mountain to Confluence, there is a wonderful cafe called The River's Edge. A delightful place to relax and enjoy a great meal while also enjoying beautiful Yough! Prices are not bad and the food is great!

Stay safe
Caution is always needed when swimming, boating, or rafting in a river. The Youghiogheny River is no exception. Care must especially be taken when near the falls. The most popular swimming are in the park is located within a quarter mile of the falls, so swimming here while the river is high can be rather dangerous if proper precautions are not taken.

title: Ohiopyle


text:
Ohio state parks

Legislators over the years have set aside some of Ohio's more scenic areas for public use. The parks are scattered all over the state to give access to all. To the north, the Parks around Lake Erie have some of the best beaches and camping areas. Many have boat launches. Inland, most are in forest areas and offer outstanding amenities to campers, picnickers, boaters and horseback riders.

If you are visiting Ohio, visiting any of the parks may be a great choice at reasonable cost. All parks are open to the public and basic admission to all parks is free. Facility fees vary from park to park, but all are very affordable.

Ohio has approximately 57 state parks that provide places to sleep. Some provide year-round camping, showers, swimming, boat rental, bike rental, horse camps, sport fishing and a variety of other activities. Some of those that provide a place to sleep are listed below.

Note
The mailing address and actual location of these parks may be two different locations: For more detailed information on these and other Ohio State Parks, contact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Stay safe
During hunting season, wear brightly-colored clothing if you go into the woods.

If you are backpacking, biking or any off-road adventure, register with the Park Office. Make sure you call or visit on the way out. It only makes sense, you may get lost, or break something. Cell phones may not work in these areas.

Go next

 * Wayne National Forest - Ohio's only national forest.
 * Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Ohio's only national park.
 * Ohio Prehistoric Sites - Indian mounds and other archaeological sites in Ohio
 * Hocking Hills State Park

title: Ohio state parks


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Ohio Valley

The Ohio Valley region is in West Virginia.

Other destinations
Marietta,Ohio Belpre,Ohio

By Car
Interstate 77

By Ferry
Sisterville to Fly. About $3.00 per car. They handle 150-200 cars per day.

Get around
One of the more scenic paths in the Ohio Valley is to drive along the Ohio River on WV Route 2, that extends from Huntington WV north to East Liverpool Ohio. Most of the road is 2 lane following the river. If you are driving a large motor home, you may want to consider a four lane road.

See
There are some spectacular homes on both sides of the Ohio River, both new and restored. You can exit Route 7 in Ohio and Route 2 in WV to roads closer to the River.

title: Ohio Valley