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Mariehamn

Mariehamn is the capital, and the only town of the Åland islands. The town's Finnish name, Maarianhamina, is rarely used, as less than 6% of the population of 12,000 (2021) speaks Finnish.

Understand

 * Tourism website

History
A youthful town, Mariehamn was founded in 1861 while Åland and Finland formed part of the mighty Russian Empire. Maria, consort of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, gave the town her name. The name Mariehamn is Swedish for Maria's harbour.

Mariehamn grew up round the farming village of Övernäs, situated on a peninsula. The harbour's built-in sheltered bays came to be of great importance. The streets of Mariehamn are wide and straight. Housing sites were large from the beginning, but today they have been divided to provide space for several houses. A distinctive feature is the Esplanade, an avenue of lime (linden) trees stretching from west to east, from harbour to harbour.

The Russian heritage is mainly responsible for the layout of the town. It follows the same basic guidelines as can be found in many Russian cities, with large avenues with promenades in the middle of the street. Apart from that, the only Russian signs left from that era is the multitude of tombstones in the graveyards in Åland.

During the Russian times seafaring expanded from shipping local goods to Stockholm to global trade, continuing after the independence. Between the world wars Gustaf Erikson got famous by gradually buying most of the big sailing ships still left in the world, and successfully operating them. One of the former German P-liners acquired by him, Pommern, has become a symbol of Mariehamn. Many of the beautiful wooden houses were built by shipowners. Shipping still contributes considerably to the wealth of the town.

Get in
Mariehamn is well connected by cruise ferries: from Stockholm, Norrtälje, Turku, Helsinki, Tallinn, and occasionally even Riga. For those cruise ferries that call in Eckerö or Långnäs, there are buses to Mariehamn. Note that while a single bus trip from Långnäs harbour to Mariehamn costs only €2.50 in daytime, the night bus by Viking Line costs €19.

The airport is small, with flights mainly from Stockholm, Turku and Helsinki.

Mariehamn is a common first port for those arriving by yacht from Sweden.

NB! As Åland is outside European Union VAT area the customs regulations are different from normal traffic between EU countries. The amounts of alcohol and tobacco that are allowed in duty free import into EU apply also here, but free import of taxed EU products for personal use may not.

By ferry

The passenger port is at the western edge of the centre, in, the Western Port. The terminal is open when a boat is due to leave. Facilities are limited. There are several lockers, toilets and a customs office. Just outside, there is a café and a small kebab restaurant. Visiting cruise ships have their own terminal 300 m north from the main terminal, facing the Adlon hotel and pizza restaurant.

There are a few cruise ferry services from Stockholm specifically to Mariehamn. The cruise ferries that travel between Turku and Stockholm in the day call in Mariehamn, while ferries passing in the night mostly call in Långnäs, 25 km away (with bus or taxi connection), as do the ferries between Kapellskär (Norrtälje, Greater Stockholm) and Turku or adjacent Naantali. There are also ferries from Grisslehamn (Norrtälje) to Eckerö, the shortest and cheapest passage, with bus connection to Mariehamn. The cruise ferries have tax-free sales, often slightly cheaper than the equivalent on-shore products.

There are buses between Stockholm, Uppsala and Norrtälje, often specifically connecting to the ferries.

It is possible to come island hopping with smaller ferries from Finland. This is much less straight-forward and not necessarily cheaper, but can be rewarding as an experience in itself. You end up in Långnäs or Vårdö, with bus connection to Mariehamn.

For the specific services, see Åland.

By yacht
For those with a yacht, Mariehamn is conveniently between Sweden and the Finnish mainland, with only a short passage over the Sea of Åland. There are two marinas, one in the west harbour (Västerhamn) and one in the east (Österhamn). The distance between them by sea is considerable, so know your plans. Åland has border control service, check procedures if you are arriving from outside Schengen, have a pet or otherwise need customs clearance (Åland is not in the EU VAT zone).

Get around

As of summer 2023 there are five local bus lines operated by Ålandstrafiken, and identified by direction: N for northern line, S for southern, Ö for eastern, and V for western. The J line drives south all the way to Järsö. The bus routes are circular, so do not be surprised if the bus does not return the same route as it arrived. The local transport hub is on Nygatan. Single ticket cost €2.5 (€1.25 for children 6-11 years old, children less than 6 yo free). The ticket is valid for 2 hours.

Your other options to get around is by taxi, car, bike or foot. The town is quite compact, a car is mostly useful to get to the surroundings.

Long distance buses leave from the, next to the library.

Bikes are available from or  (see their webpage for prices and conditions). And probably from every accommodation business for their own customers.

See

 * Inside Ålands sjöfartsmuseum 3.JPG
 * Inside Ålands sjöfartsmuseum 3.JPG
 * Inside Ålands sjöfartsmuseum 3.JPG

Do

 * Football: IFK Mariehamn play soccer in Veikkausliiga, Finland's top tier. Their home ground Wiklöf Holding Arena (capacity4500) is shared with the women's team Åland United; it's central in town. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * RockOff is a music festival in the last week of July, in Torget the main square.
 * Football: IFK Mariehamn play soccer in Veikkausliiga, Finland's top tier. Their home ground Wiklöf Holding Arena (capacity4500) is shared with the women's team Åland United; it's central in town. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * RockOff is a music festival in the last week of July, in Torget the main square.
 * RockOff is a music festival in the last week of July, in Torget the main square.

Buy

 * The northern part of is the main shopping street. Shops usually close at 17:00 or 17:30 on weekdays and at 14:00 on Saturdays. Some close at 20:00 on Thursdays. Most shops accept Visa and MasterCard, but some of them do not accept Visa Electron. ATM's ("OTTO") are scarce. There are some in the city centre, outside the four bank offices along Torggatan. One is situated in Strandnäs, at the Ålandsbanken bank office.

Notice that most prices are somewhat higher than on the Finnish and Swedish mainland. There are local products widely available but groceries are mostly the same as in Finland mainland.

Eat
Iconic Ålandspannkaka, the Åland pancake, is available in every café in town.

Drink
Nightlife in Mariehamn is sparse and revolves around the two restaurants Dino's and Indigo – although heavily frequented by locals they don't compare well to establishments in larger cities. Between midnight and 02:00 those restaurants close, and almost everybody migrates to the nearby nightclub Oliven (formerly known as Arken). Considering Åland's history (a Swedish archipelago until 1809, then Russian and later Finnish since 1918 – Ålanders speak Swedish, they use some Russian expressions and they drink like Finns) the later hours are dominated by the occasional bar-brawl, heavily intoxicated teens and vomiting. The Oliven closes at 04:00, and then it's all over.

Cottages

 * Gröna Uddens Camping. See above.

Stay safe
Crime is extremely low in Åland. The only prison (having 3 cells) was closed in 1975 and is nowadays a museum (see Sund). In statistics, the situation seems very different as drunken fights and assaults on cruise ships are recorded as occurring in Mariehamn!

Go next
Mariehamn is the natural starting point for all the other destinations on Åland such as Kastelholm Castle and Bomarsund Fortress ruins in Sund or the Post and Customs museum in Eckerö.

title: Mariehamn


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Mari El

Mari El (Russian: Респу́блика Мари́й Эл rees-POOB-lee-kuh muh-REE ehl) is a region in the Upper Volga, bordering Nizhny Novgorod Oblast to the west, Kirov Oblast to the north, Tatarstan to the southeast, and Chuvashia to the south.

Cities

 * — the capital is the only city of any size in the region, its name means Red City in the Mari Language, and lost virtually all its industry during perestroika
 * — has a large open-air ethnographic/architectural museum of the Mari people
 * — the region's second largest city is on the Volga River
 * — a village with one very large and eclectic 19th century Sheremetyev Castle, formerly a popular Volga retreat for European and Russian royalty, but now a museum/hotel located in a beautiful area on the Volga and undergoing restoration
 * — a town on the Volga River

Other destinations

 * Bolshaya Kokshaga Nature Reserve
 * Mari Chodra National Park

Understand
Mari El is notable for being one of the last strongholds of organized paganism in Europe. While many of the Mari people have converted to Russian Orthodoxy, a sizable number practice the Mari Native Religion, which combines Christianity with significant native shamanistic traditions. The Russian and Soviet governments have been suspicious of Finno-Ugric nationalism within Mari El (and Udmurtia), however, and have discouraged the Mari Native Religion; accordingly, it may be difficult to have any experiences with the Mari Native Religion while visiting the region. But if you do, you may be lucky enough to experience some of the Mari People's millennia old traditions, like their marriage ceremonies in sacred forest groves.

Today, ethnic Russians comprise a narrow plurality of the population, just under 50%, while the native Mari people comprise about 42%.

Mari El may also be an alluring destination to visitors looking for "the real Russian forests." Its unspoilt forests and numerous lakes make the region an intriguing choice for back country horseback riding and hiking, as well as hunting and fishing.

Talk
While English will not get you far, everyone you meet will speak Russian, although many of the Mari speak it as a second language in addition to their native Mari language, which is a relative of Finnish.

Get in
Kozmodemyansk, Volzhsk, Yurino, Zvenigovo are all reachable by boat on the Volga River. Otherwise, it is easiest to arrive through the capital and regional road hub of Yoshkar-Ola via rail from the railway junction at Zelenodolsk (Zeleny Dol), Tatarstan, which is near Kazan and Kanash/Cheboksary. An overnight daily train runs from Moscow's Kazan railway station to Yoshkar-Ola, which takes about 14.5 hours.

Do

 * Outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, horseback riding, hiking, and relaxing by one of the region's many lakes.

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

title: Mari El


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Marielyst

Marielyst is a seaside resort on the island of Falster in Denmark, known for its long beautiful beaches and lovely city life both day and night. Marielyst is for both young people and families, and offers fun activities during the day, and good opportunities to cool off in water when it gets too hot.

Understand
Although the permanent population is only about 725 (2021), there are over 6000 holiday summer homes. Other localities along the beach are Eikenøre, Sildestrup, Stovby, Klit, and Bøtø with Marielyst at the centre. During the summer period, the population rises to over 50,000 in the high season, when the neighbouring settlements Bøtø, Elkenøre, Stovby and Sildestrup are included.

Behind the sand dunes along the beach, there is a dyke which was built at the end of the 19th century to protect the inland area from flooding, enabling it to be used for farming.

Do
Enjoy the Marielyst's beach, which stretches 20 km (12 mi). The soft white sandy beach was judged to be particularly suitable for children.

A footpath (too narrow for bicycles) offers pleasant walks over the full 20-km stretch next to the sea.

Golf & Fun Park offers different forms of minigolf and various facilities for children. Other amusements include a go kart centre and a kite and windsurfing school. The folk high school, Højskolen i Marielyst, offers a variety of courses and music events in its fine concert hall which looks out over the sea.

Eat, drink and sleep
Marielyst, built in the style of a Mediterranean resort, has a wide selection of hotels, restaurants, shops, holiday apartments and discothèques.

title: Marielyst


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Mariestad

Mariestad is a town with about 15,000 inhabitants in the province Västergötland in Sweden. It is by the lake Vänern. It has a long history and has played an important part in Swedish history.

Understand

Mariestad is located at the mouth of Tidan river. Marieholm, an island in the mouth of Tidan, was the site of a large manor during the middle ages. The manor was used both as a royal residence and as a residence of the governor of the historical Skaraborg County. In 1583 Mariestad was founded by Duke Karl, later crowned as Karl IX of Sweden. He named the city after his wife Maria of Pfaltz. The Protestant Karl was in a feud with his pro-Catholic brother and King Johan III and one of the reasons for founding Mariestad was to build a protestant cathedral in the area, and thereby prevent Skaraborg Diocese from turning catholic. The city thus became an important religious centre, and Mariestad Cathedral was built between 1559 and 1615 in gothic and renaissance style. The cathedral is however unique in Sweden as the only cathedral which has never had its own bishop. The city was also dominated by trade with Värmland and the mining centres in Bergslagen on the other side of lake Vänern.

In the 1660s, Mariestad became the county seat of Skaraborg County. However, the city remained rather small, with a population of some 900 people in 1760. The 'old city' of Mariestad was mainly constructed during the 18th and 19th centuries, and during this era Mariestad hospital was opened as one of the first in Sweden. During the 19th century Trollhätte and Göta kanal were constructed, contributing to increased trade and industrialization in Mariestad. Traditional Mariestad manufacturies include the whiteware company Electrolux and the paper industry Katrinefors. Mariestad was also the main place of production of the vulcanised lump paper material unica.

By train
Mariestad central station is located on Nygatan by the railway Kinnekullebanan. It is connected to Gothenburg and Hallsberg, and is operated by the regional company Västtrafik (+46 771-41 43 00). The national operator SJ carries traffic between Stockholm and Gothenburg, with stops on the nearby Töreboda and Skövde, from where you can get a bus to Mariestad.

By bus

 * Västtrafik operate the regional bus traffic in Västragötaland County, including Mariestad.
 * Säfflebussen (in Swedish and Norwegian only) stops at the Mariestad bus station with the lines 201 and 203 (Uddevalla-Vänersborg-Trollhättan-Lidköping-Mariestad-Örebro).
 * Swebus Express makes a stop in Mariestad with the buses 801 (Gothenburg-Mariestad-Örebro-Stockholm) and 839 (Karlstad-Mariestad-Jönköping).

By car
The E20 highway between Stockholm and Gothenburg passes through Mariestad. Route 202 carries traffic to Töreboda in the east while route 26 leads to Skövde in the south.

By plane
The closest international airport is Gothenburg's Landvetter Airport  south west. Örebro airport, north east of Mariestad serve domestic flights.

Get around
Central Mariestad is very small and easy to cover by foot or bike.

 * Bicycles can be rented at Sjötorps upplevelsecenter, Tallåsvägen 6, (+46 501-511 33) in Sjötorp north of Mariestad, which can be accessed with the regional train Kunnekulletåget.
 * Västtrafik operate the regional bus traffic in Västergötland County, including bus traffic around Mariestad municipality.
 * The local taxi company is Taxi Mariestad (+46 501-180 80), whose main hub is by the train station.

See

 * Vänern - the biggest freshwater lake in Europe. Nice boats, and supposedly a lot of Swedish tourists in summer.

Do
Go swimming, rent a bike, or have some other fun. On Saturdays, there's a market at the main square.

 * Bathing. There are 15 bathing areas in Mariestad. The three closest to Mariestad are Ekuddens camping, Sandviken and the recreational area Snapen. Ekuddens camping include a temperate outdoor swimming pool. Mariestads Badhus (+46 501-75 62 00) is an indoor pool on Göteborgsvägen 4.
 * Miniature golf. There are several miniature golf courses in Mariestad. One course is located opposite of the police station and has preserved its look since the mid 20th century. Another is located by Ekuddens camping, Ekuddenvägen (+46 501-106 37).

Buy
ATMs can be found by Nya Torget, Esplanaden, Nygatan and ICA Oxen at Stockholmsvägen. Since Mariestad is the birthplace of the unica-material, unica items, such as boxes, are popular souvenirs.

Eat
In 2003 the local women's organization Kvinna Skaraborg launched a type of salmon canapé as Mariestad's unofficial signature dish.

Drink

Some times the city hotel organize club nights.

Go next

 * Götene
 * Lidköping
 * Skara
 * Skövde

title: Mariestad


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Marietta

There is more than one place called Marietta:

United States of America

 * Marietta (Georgia) - A city in Georgia (state).
 * Marietta (Ohio) - A town in Ohio.

title: Marietta


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Marietta (Georgia)

Marietta is a city of 61,000 people (2019) in Metro Atlanta. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Dobbins Air Reserve Base on the south side of town and a Lockheed Martin manufacturing plant are among the major industries in the city.

Get in
Travel north on Interstate 75 from Atlanta. Downtown Atlanta is 20 miles (32 km) to the southeast, and Cartersville is 24 miles (39 km) to the northwest.

Get around
CobbLinc (Marietta/Cobb County's Transit System) and Xpress GA Buses serve the city.

Drink
Cheerwine, a regional soda from North Carolina, can often be found in and around Marietta.

Go next

 * Atlanta

title: Marietta (Georgia)


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Marietta (Ohio)

Marietta is a city of 13,000 people (2019) in Southeast Ohio. It is at the confluence of the Muskingum River and Ohio River. Founded in 1788 it is the oldest city in Ohio. From the beginning it was one of Ohio's more important Ohio River ports. It is adjacent to part of the Wayne National Forest.

Understand
Marietta, the county seat of Washington County, the first organized settlement of the Northwest Territory, is a small town that has maintained its small-town charm due to having been left off of the rail lines and having had no connection to a highway until 1967. Since the construction of Route 7 and the new bridge across the river, Marietta has been on a slow path to resurrection. It has grown to extend from the Ohio Riverfront to the intersection of Interstate 77. The historic downtown has gone through several renovation phases, with a streetscape program being the crowning touch. The town's name is derived from Marie Antoinette, the French Queen, who supported the American Revolution. It is now one of the Ohio Valley and Southeastern Ohio's favorite destinations.

Get in
Interstate 77 connects Marietta with central Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Or by boat, at the Ohio Riverfront. It is on the State line with West Virginia. The Ohio River separates the two states. Directly across the river bridge on Ohio Route 6 is Williamstown. Parkersburg, West Virginia is a short distance south with access to I-77.

Get around
Marietta is a small town on the banks of the Ohio River. The historic downtown is easy to walk, except everything is uphill from the river. There is a public boat ramp. Exploring the river with a guide should not be too difficult.

Harmar is a historic district of Marietta, found across the Muskingum River from downtown Marietta. Once connected by the Historic Harmar bridge a railroad bridge converted to a pedestrian crossing. The next closest crossing is the Putnam Street Bridge which includes historical information signs at stopping points along the crossing.

See
Marietta is rich in history as is made visible by a scattering of Ohio Historic Markers as well as markers placed by the Rotary Club in front of historic buildings. Walking along the streets and through the parks you will encounter dozens or more. In addition to these there are a variety of specific locations to see including the following.

Go next

 * West Virginia
 * Parkersburg

title: Marietta (Ohio)


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Marigha

Marigha (Berber:Imarighen) is a village in the mountainous High Atlas region around Marrakech in Morocco.

Get in
Marigha is between Marrakesh and Taroudant on road 203.

See
Visit the old salt mine where people are still mining.

Go next

 * Anraz village & the Jewish Merabot
 * Visit Tassaouirgane & discover the Toubkal national park

title: Marigha


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Marigot Bay

Marigot Bay is a city in the country of Saint Lucia.

Understand
If you are coming for the beaches, be prepared for something else. The roads are curvy and steep. You have to drive on the left side of the road. However, it is fun for the adventurous.

Get in
Saint Lucia has two airports,
 * George FL Charles Airport, which is near Castries.
 * Hewanorra International, which is near Vieux Fort.

- George FL Charles Airport is closer to many of the all-inclusive resorts, has a modest terminal and runway able to easily support inter-island commercial flights. Larger commercial aircraft can not land here.

- Hewanorra is larger, but can be an 1 hour by Taxi from most of the major resorts in the north. It is where most of the larger airline companies from the US and Europe land. The journey north is a good way to see the island except if you arrive at night. When driving to Marigot Bay, take the east coast road unless you have a reason to go on the west coast road. The west coast road seems shorter, but the time is much quicker on the east coast road.

Get around
- Taxis are available to and from most locations.

- Water taxis will take you to most places you want to visit also.

- If you are really brave you can use the taxi/bus stations along the road.

- Best bet is to rent a JEEP or vehicle with plenty of ground clearance. You will understand once you traverse the roads.

 * Renting is at rates similar to those found in the United States or Canada. Driving is on the left-hand side and drivers require a permit ($12 US for one day, $21 US for 3 months).

See
-Fantastic views of the bay from the mountain side.

-The boats in the marina. There are usually a few yachts of famous people around.

Do
Visit Castries market.

Visit Soufriere

 * The Black diamond falls has a garden and water fall. This is where a scene in "Superman" was filmed.
 * The drive through volcano is a great sight. There is a sulfur mud bath that is good for the skin. View the hot bubbling sulfur mud pits.
 * Experience the best view in Saint Lucia from the Ladera hotel. Stop in for a drink or grab a bite at the restaurant.
 * The Mineral Springs - just south of Soufriere, these hot springs are one of the main attractions on the island. There is a pool that the hot water runs through, so make sure to take your swimming trunks and go for a dip!

Take a sail boat ride down to the Pitons. Snorkel along the way. http://www.sailsaintlucia.com/

Find a private beach by asking the locals for a good beach to go to. Be prepared to walk down a winding road.

Stop on the side of the road and take pictures of the fantastic view.

Buy
Get you groceries before you get to Marigot Bay. Try the Super J's in Castries next to the market.

Drink
Locally produced favorites include Piton Lager beer – with a refreshing and lively character – and many types of rum, created at St. Lucia Distillers which is virtually next door to Marigot Bay.

Bounty Rum is one of the local favorites, along with Chairman's Reserve.

title: Marigot Bay


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Mariinsk

Mariinsk (Russian: Мари'инск, mah-reeh-EENSK) is a city in Kemerovo Oblast founded in 1698. It bears the name of the last Emperor's wife.

Understand
A nice city with historic atmosphere. Former village it turned into the city after Golden rush came here. In Soviet times the city hold administration of Siblag, the Siberian gulag.

Get in
Mariinsk is at the Trans-Siberian. By train from Novosibirsk it takes 5 hours; from Tomsk 3 hours.

See

 * Museum of regional studies.
 * Museum of beresta (birch bark).
 * Monument to Empress Maria.
 * Traditional wooden and stone architecture.

Do

 * Kiya river rafting. A three-day flowing inside the rocky landscape.
 * Trekking through the biologic reseve Archekas to the ancient campsites.

Buy
Beresta is artwork here!

title: Mariinsk


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Marikina

Marikina City known as the shoe capital of the Philippines because of the booming industry of shoe factories in the city. It is home to the world's largest pairs of shoes, and has a museum that contains collections of shoes owned by famous (and infamous) celebrities and personalities, notably that of the former first lady, Imelda Marcos.

Understand
Marikina has a reputation for its local shoemaking industry.

By train
The LRT Line 2 (LRT-2) serves Marikina; the present eastern terminus, Santolan Station, serves is found in Pasig, but it brings you across to the city. Crossing the pedestrian overpass from the station brings you to the Riverbanks area.

Get around
Various modes of transportation are easily available in and around the city. The most affordable mode of transport for the locals is the tricycle that can sit up to 2 persons with a little extra leg room for carry-on in the cabin. It is the most preferred as it zips around the small lanes easily. However, they are not permitted on the highway. Other common modes of transport are the jeepney and taxi cabs.

Marikina is the first bicycle-friendly city in the Philippines; bike lanes are placed on major roads, unfortunately, not all drivers respect this.

See

Buy

 * SM City Marikina is a shopping mall is located in Calumpang. It has more than a thousand parking slots including provisions for motorcycle parking, a jeepney terminal for commuters, a 4-m wide pedestrian overpass to and from the main mall area to Line 2 Santolan station and another 2.4-m-wide overpass to the Bus Bay 2 area.
 * Riverbanks Mall is a shopping mall which contains many outlet store that you can find cheaper branded things. It also contains Save More Supermarket.
 * Circle Mall
 * Marquinton Mall is a shopping mall located within the Marquinton Residences. Has a Robinsons Supermarket.

Stay safe
Many parts of Marikina City are prone to heavy flooding due its geographic character and its proximity to the Marikina River. The water levels on the Marikina River may rise at a relatively fast rate during heavy downpours. Water level markers and automated warning sirens are in place that warn the population once waters begin to reach critical levels.

title: Marikina


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Marina

Marina is a city in Monterey County in California along the coast of the Monterey Bay.

Understand
Marina is a coastal city on Monterey Bay in the Central Coast region of the Pacific Midwest. To the east of the city center is Marina Munical Airport, and State Road No. 1 passes. Major attractions include the Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge and Salinas River State Beach. Every year, the Festival of the Winds, the Marina Air Fire, and the Marina Labor Day Parade are held.

Stay safe
Though Fort Ord is available for public recreation nowadays, there are still a few sections that are fenced off due to unexploded ordnance that has not been cleared. These areas will be well marked with signage and fences, do not try and venture into them.

Go next

 * Moss Landing - Ten miles north of Marina, this tiny town is often overlooked but offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities at Elkhorn Slough, one of the largest saltwater estuaries in California and a great place to spot sea otters. The harbor is also the departure point for several whale watching companies.  Amenities for travelers are limited, although there are several restaurants in the harbor area.
 * Seaside - Seven miles south of Marina, Seaside is most often visited by those looking for lodging or restaurants close to the town of Monterey. However, the town does have a few attractions of its own, including the Bayonet & Black Horse Golf Courses, part of the former Fort Ord military base, which hosted the 2012 PGA Professional National Championship.  The town is also home to Sand City, an artist community located within the city limits that hosts an arts festival each August.

title: Marina


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Marina del Rey

Marina del Rey is a community of 39,000 people (2018) on the West Side of Los Angeles that is best known as the world's largest man-made small craft harbor, capable of berthing 5,300 boats. Today it is also home to a wide array of hotels and restaurants, and its close proximity to Los Angeles International Airport and popular local destinations makes it an excellent option for visitors looking for a base to explore the Los Angeles area.

Understand
Prior to the development of the marina the area was a massive salt marsh, remnants of which can still be seen in the neighboring Ballona Wetlands Reserve. The ancient Gabrieleno Indians were likely the region's first fisherman and hunters, living along the bluffs above the ocean. The Spanish arrived later, followed in the 1800s by the first Angelenos. During the first half of the 20th century automotive races were held in the area, running from Playa del Rey to Venice along a roadway on the Marina peninsula now appropriately known as Speedway. Oil was discovered in the 1930s, and oil rigs can still be seen in the Ballona Wetlands near Playa del Rey.

Plans for development of a harbor date back to 1888, although other areas were deemed more suitable for a commercial port and the Port of Los Angeles is today located in San Pedro. It wasn't until 1953 that the county allocated funds and construction of the current marina began, with the Army Corps of Engineers in charge. A massive storm in the winter of 1962-1963 caused extensive damage and led to the addition of the breakwall at the harbor entrance. On April 10, 1965 the marina was dedicated.

Get in
Marina del Rey is less than four miles from Los Angeles International Airport, within walking distance of Venice Beach, and less than ten minutes by car from Santa Monica.

For those driving, the Marina Freeway (State Route 90) leads to Marina del Rey from the east, while Lincoln Boulevard (Highway 1) is a more congested option when approaching from the north or south.

Various shared vans will also take visitors from the airport to local hotels, and taxis are prevalent at the airport and will cost $20-25. Several hotels offer complimentary airport transfers, so ask when making a hotel reservation. Most major rental car companies have offices in town. Public parking is plentiful and inexpensive.

Three bus systems service Marina del Rey:
 * Metro #108 takes visitors to Venice.
 * The Santa Monica Big Blue Bus #1 serves the western side of the marina directly from Westwood, Santa Monica, and Venice, stopping at the intersection of Via Marina and Marquesas. The #3 and #3 Rapid run between Santa Monica and the LAX area, both stopping at the corner of Mindanao Way and Lincoln Boulevard on the eastern side of the marina.
 * Culver City Green buses (#2 and #7) services Culver City.

Get around
There are walking and biking paths throughout the marina, but while biking is a great way to get around, the area is large enough that walking from one side of the marina to the other is probably not feasible. During the summer months (weekends, holidays and concert nights), the Marina WaterBus operates between Fisherman's Village, Burke Marina Promenade, Marina Beach, Burton Chace Park, and several other stops. This water taxi is just $1 (one-way) for each boarding and is a convenient way to leave the car and visit several other areas in the Marina.

Also during summer weekends, the free Marina Beach Shuttle runs from the neighborhood of Playa Vista (south of the Marina) through Marina del Rey and to Venice Beach Pier; again leave the car in one place and take this shuttle bus all around the Marina/Venice Pier area. Buses operate approximately every half hour. Printed schedules are available at local hotels and the Marina del Rey Visitors Center.

Bike rental
Biking is popular in Marina del Rey thanks to the flat, well marked bike trails through the Marina and beyond. In addition to trails within the marina, the Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail, known by locals as "The Strand", travels for 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades south through Marina del Rey and all the way to Torrance County Beach in Torrance. Along the way there are hourly bike rental locations, restroom facilities, water vending machines and food concessions.

Water activities
Boating, fishing, sea kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and whale watching are the most popular water activities, and numerous businesses throughout the marina will provide services, particularly around Fisherman's Village. In addition, there are several dinner cruises and party boats that set sail each night, making loops around harbor.

Beaches
Acres of sand extend to the north and south of the entrance to the marina along the Pacific Ocean, offering plenty of room for sunning, beach sports, or lounging. The waters are great for bodysurfing and swimming, although a wetsuit might be a good idea in winter months. The majority of the ocean beaches around Marina del Rey are in other cities: Venice Beach (to the north) is one of the most famous beaches in the world, and Dockweiler State Beach (to the south) is a great option for those looking for less of a carnival-atmosphere than what is found in Venice.

Within the marina there is one non-ocean beach for those looking for sand and a calm place to swim or paddle:

Hiking
The Burke Marina Walk Promenade begins at Marina Beach and leads past waterfront hotels, restaurants, picnic areas, bike rentals and yacht clubs. Another lovely area is at the south end of the Marina, along Fiji way, starting at the cobble stone paths of Fishermans' Village to the Ballona Creek path. Walk along the path, passing the UCLA Marina Aquatic Center and the various university rowing teams' paintings. Then heading along the Main Channel path to go towards the South Jetty. You can either walk out on the South Jetty watching the boats coming and going, or cross the bridge over the creek and head over to the white sand beach. In addition, the Marina Peninsula Neighborhood has an interesting walking trail. This residential community is separated from the mainland by Ballona Lagoon, and is an attractive area to explore on foot. Besides the interesting architecture, there are residential gardens to admire and of course, birdwatching.

Events
There are several local events (both ongoing and yearly) including:

Buy
Marina del Rey offers neighborhood shopping within walking distance from local hotels.

Day spas
If you're looking for a special treat for your body and soul, look no further than Marina del Rey.

Eat
One of the best things about Marina del Rey is the numerous restaurants and cafes that are clustered around the waterfront. Offering a rich diversity of gourmet cuisine, this could be the one place where eating out at every meal is a joy rather than a chore.

Cafes
The casual environment of the Marina lends itself to coffee shops and cafes, which can be found in abundance. The normal complement of Starbucks and other chain stores are present, as well as places with more local flavor:

Nightlife
Marina del Rey's most popular restaurants become the city's epicenter for nightlife. Live music, dancing and lively bars spring to life at night.

Sleep
Marina del Rey's close proximity to Los Angeles International Airport makes it an excellent lodging option for business travelers.

Connect
Several cafes offer WiFi-connection including Panera's Bread Bakery Cafe, Cafe Buna and the local Starbucks, as well as all the hotel restaurants.

Go next
The cities and neighborhoods that share borders with Marina del Rey include the following:

 * Venice - Marina del Rey's neighbor to the north and west is a beach town that offers miles of sand, an eclectic nightlife, and the infamous Muscle Beach.
 * Culver City - Marina del Rey's eastern neighbor is the home of Sony Pictures Studios. Culver City has been undergoing a rebirth in the 21st century, and has a number of very impressive restaurant options.
 * Westchester - This town to the east is home to Los Angeles International Airport and a number of lodging options.
 * Playa del Rey - South of Marina del Rey and adjacent to LAX, Playa del Rey is home to extensive beaches and a variety of dining options.

title: Marina del Rey


text:
Marina di Ragusa

Marina di Ragusa is a city in the province of Ragusa.

Understand
Until the 1950s it was just a small fishing village but today it is one of the major beach resorts of the island.

Get in
See Ragusa

By bus
There is a regular bus service running all year from Ragusa Bus Terminal to Marina.

By boat
Marina di Ragusa has its own touristic port, one of the 3 Sicilian main hubs for those who want to sail around the island. There are over 800 mooring spaces, mechanic, bar-restaurant and Coast Guard station. Hydrofoil service to/from Malta is in program for the near future.

http://portoturisticomarinarg.it/

- The nearest port is in Pozzallo at 30 km from where is operating a Hydrofoil service to/from Malta by Virtu Ferries.

http://www.virtuferries.com/

Get around
There is a bus service in Marina that runs along the coast. Two lines A and B.

title: Marina di Ragusa


text:
Marin County

Marin County in the Bay Area of California is a bedroom community across the Golden Gate Bridge to the north of San Francisco. Affluent Marin County is home to ex-hippies and dot-com millionaires. It has rugged wilderness areas on its western coast, while towns on the Bay have a nautical air dating to the 1800s.

Cities

 * : A counterculture enclave whose residents notoriously remove any signs pointing the way into town.
 * : Another counterculture enclave and the gateway to the rural western half of the county
 * : A pair of small towns best known for upscale shopping and the county's main ferry terminal.
 * : The starting point for hikes in Muir Woods and on Mount Tamalpais.
 * : Large and quiet bedroom community
 * : The cultural and political center of Marin, home to the unique Civic Center, lively Fourth Street, the historic mission, and China Camp State Park.
 * : A picturesque hillside town with sailing and views of San Francisco right across the bay.
 * : A small, wealthy town on a peninsula, home to historic buildings, attractive hills, and the gateway to Angel Island State Park.
 * : A small, wealthy town on a peninsula, home to historic buildings, attractive hills, and the gateway to Angel Island State Park.

Other destinations

 * - This national monument, located in Mill Valley, has some of the oldest remaining giant coastal redwoods in the world.
 * - a clean beach, and not too crowded, though the water is a little chilly for swimming
 * - This national monument, located in Mill Valley, has some of the oldest remaining giant coastal redwoods in the world.
 * - a clean beach, and not too crowded, though the water is a little chilly for swimming
 * - a clean beach, and not too crowded, though the water is a little chilly for swimming
 * - a clean beach, and not too crowded, though the water is a little chilly for swimming

Understand
Marin is known for affluence and left-wing politics, even compared to the rest of the famously liberal and economically booming Bay Area. To give you an idea of the politics, Marin County's Fairfax is the only town in the nation with a Green Party majority in its town council. Meanwhile, the money in the area means that there's no shortage of fine restaurants and shopping, as well as a fair share of performances, festivals, and so on.

But the big draw for most visitors is Marin's nature: steep hills, rugged beaches, ancient forests, and state parks for hiking, biking, and camping.

Climate
Marin has a temperate climate, with warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Temperatures rarely go below freezing. During the summer, it's usually sunny and almost never rains, which means that this is the best season for planning outdoor activities, and it's the time when outdoor festivals and other interesting events tend to be scheduled.

The temperature tends to change a lot over the course of the day, so dress in layers. Always bring a sweatshirt or jacket (even on warm days), especially if you plan to be out past sundown.

Like its neighbor to the south, Marin can sometimes get foggy. The typical pattern is for the fog to come in overnight and burn off during the day. Be careful if you plan to drive after midnight. The fog can interfere with the views on a hike, but the good news is that it burns off—so if you get to a lookout and feel like the fog is blocking a good view, it might be worth waiting a few minutes to see if it clears.

By plane
The closest major airports are San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco and Oakland International Airport  in Oakland. Convenient airport bus service is provided by the Marin Airporter from San Francisco International Airport (every 30 minutes, 5AM to midnight, fare is $23 to be paid when you get off the bus, stops in Sausalito, Mill Valley (Manzanita and Seminary Drive), Larkspur Landing, San Rafael (Anderson Drive and the Transit Center), and Novato) and by Groome Transportation from Oakland International Airport (every two hours, early morning to evening, $37 for adults and free for children 12 and under).

By car
The three main routes into Marin County are the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge from the East Bay, and US 101 from Sonoma County.

By ferry
The Golden Gate Ferry from San Francisco to Larkspur or Sausalito is a pleasant way to get to Marin. Sit on the top level to enjoy the fresh air and views of the bay.

By bus
Golden Gate Transit offers public bus service from other parts of the Bay Area. There are several GGT buses into the county; two of the key ones are the 101 from San Francisco and Santa Rosa, and the 580 from El Cerrito and Richmond in the East Bay. Both of these have connections to BART.

Greyhound buses stop at the San Rafael Transit Center (3rd St and Hetherton St).

By commuter rail
SMART (Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit) provides commuter rail service to Sonoma County on a line from the Sonoma County Airport to Larkspur, with stops in between including Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Novato, and San Rafael. The Larkspur station allows connections to ferries to San Francisco. Fares range from $3.50 to $11.50 depending on how far you go, and must be paid by Clipper card or an "eTickets" app.

Marin is not served by BART, the commuter rail system that connects San Francisco with the East Bay and the Peninsula. If you're travelling by BART, you'll have to transfer to a ferry or bus in San Francisco, or to a bus in El Cerrito del Norte.

By bike
A popular way to reach Sausalito is by biking across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. From Sausalito, a network of bike routes lead to Marin County's other cities.

On foot
The walk into Marin across the Golden Gate Bridge is charming and scenic, if it isn't too foggy. If you want to continue past the immediate area north of the bridge, the navigation is a bit tricky but still possible; see Sausalito for details.

By car
Most people get around by car. The main highway is US 101, which continues north to Sonoma County and south to San Francisco.

By bus
Marin Transit provides bus service. In addition to connecting the Marin County cities, it offers a seasonal shuttle to Muir Woods (buses 66 and 66F), and the West Marin stagecoach goes to Stinson Beach (bus 61) and Point Reyes (bus 68). The system's biggest hub is the San Rafael Transit Center in San Rafael, with smaller hubs in Novato, San Anselmo, and Marin City. Connections to Golden Gate Transit buses to San Francisco, Richmond, and Sonoma County are available.

Unfortunately, Marin Transit's service is optimized for locals rather than visitors. It's useful (though sometimes awkward) for getting between the main cities along 101, but service is sparse at best for the outdoorsy attractions that are the county's main draws. Still, sparse is better than none, and Marin Transit has a webpage to help you find your way to the county's parks by bus.

Service is infrequent enough that you should always check the schedule before setting off, and for the West Marin routes frequencies can be as low as one bus every two hours, or even less. Delays are not uncommon.

By commuter rail
In addition to providing service to Sonoma County, SMART connects Novato and Larkspur, with three stops in Novato and two in San Rafael, one at the Civic Center and one downtown.

By bike
Marin has a strong biking culture and lots of bike trails, and drivers here are used to making room for bikes. So as long as you don't mind hills, biking can be a very effective way to get around Marin. Not only that, Marin is one of the places where mountain biking first got started – people have been enjoying the county's renowned nature on two wheels for decades.

See

 * Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed government building in the world
 * Point Reyes Lighthouse at the end of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Point Reyes National Seashore
 * Old-growth redwoods, the tallest living things on the planet, in Muir Woods
 * Views of San Francisco across the bay from Sausalito

Do
Marin has lots of beaches and mountains and is a great destination for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, and sailing.

 * Hike from Mill Valley to the peak of Mount Tamalpais, which has beautiful views of Marin and (on a clear day) San Francisco and the East Bay.
 * The annual Dipsea Race is one of the oldest footraces in the U.S., a 7.5-mile (12-km) cross-country race on a scenic route from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach. Held on the second Sunday in June.

Sleep
As a rule, lodging is expensive in Marin.

Hotels range from familiar chains to more distinctive local inns. Airbnbs are available too. If you want to sleep out in nature instead, there are a couple of hostels (one in the Marin Headlands and one at Point Reyes) and plenty of campsites.

Stay safe
Lower-income areas (the Canal in San Rafael and Marin City) can carry a slight risk for violent crime. In central San Rafael, exercise caution at night. In other parts of Marin, crime is generally not a significant concern.

Be careful to check for ticks after hiking in fields in the bay area. There is a high rate of lyme disease transmission in the Bay Area. If a bulls' eye rash develops at the tick bite site, immediately seek medical help and treatment with antibiotics.

Rattlesnakes, bobcats, and coyotes can be found in Marin, but they usually avoid humans, and you're unlikely to see one. If you do, don't bother them and they won't bother you.

Connect
The Marin County Free Library has branches scattered throughout the county's cities, with public computers and free Wi-Fi.

Media

 * Marin Independent Journal – the "IJ" provides daily local news coverage.

Go next

 * - Although its wineries may not be as famous as those in the Napa Valley, Marin County's northwestern neighbor is actually the largest wine producer in California Wine Country and home to over 250 wineries. More than seven million visitors each year explore the county's open spaces and beautiful coastline, including the big trees at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and the seaside town of Bodega Bay where Alfred Hitchcock's thriller The Birds was filmed. For those interested in early California history, Fort Ross is a state historic site that preserves a fur trading outpost that was operated by Russia from 1812-1841.
 * - Neighboring Marin County across the Bay to the northeast, America's preeminent wine-producing region attracts more than five million annual visitors to over two hundred wineries, often overcrowding the roadways on summer weekends. Travelers will find world-famous restaurants to complement the wines, and lodging that includes luxury spas, B&Bs, and upscale hotels. Those uninterested in viticulture may choose to enjoy the hot springs of Calistoga or hike/bike the many parks and trails in the area's beautiful rolling hills.
 * - Located across the Bay to the east of Marin County, Solano County is far more rural than the other Bay Area counties, and includes significant portions of the California Delta, as well as parts of San Pablo Bay. Two of the county's cities served as early state capitals: Vallejo was the capital in 1852 and again in 1853, while Benicia served as the capital from February 1853 until February 1854; today Benicia Capitol State Historic Park provides the opportunity for visitors to explore the Capitol building from that era.
 * - Across the bay to the east, Contra Costa County is a primarily residential county that offers a vast array of food, shopping, and lodging options for Bay Area visitors. The landscape is dominated by Mount Diablo, a peak that provides excellent hiking opportunities and, on clear days, summit views that stretch for well over 100 miles in all directions. Other attractions include the John Muir Historic Site in Martinez, the estate of Nobel winning playwright Eugene O'Neill in Danville, and a WWII shipyard, now a national historic site, in Richmond.
 * - Alameda County is located across the Bay to the southeast of Marin County. The densely populated northern part of the county is home to the many parks and museums of Oakland, the counter-cultural hub that is Berkeley, and even a historic aircraft carrier in Alameda.  The county's southern region provides a chance to experience dozens of immigrant communities, particularly in Fremont, while the eastern part of the county is rural, with the windmills and rolling hills surrounding Livermore offering opportunities for outdoor activities.
 * - The heart of the Bay Area, famous for its scenic beauty and unique culture

title: Marin County


text:
Marinduque

Marinduque is an island province in the Luzon island group of the Philippines, east of Mindoro, south of Quezon Province and north of Romblon. The province, which is shaped like a heart, is often called the "Heart of the Philippines", and is the home of the Moriones Festival held during Holy Week.

Towns
Marinduque is divided into six towns, which are normally divided into east and west.

 * Buenavista
 * Mogpog
 * Torrijos
 * Mogpog
 * Torrijos
 * Torrijos

Other destinations

 * Tres Reyes Islands.
 * Maniwaya Island
 * Sir Diomer Dy's Paradise
 * Mongpong/Polo islands
 * Santa Cruz Church
 * Balwarte ( Brgy. Lapu-Lapu look for Kagawad Jose "Tita Pilar" Riego)
 * Mount Mapayong Payong
 * Mount Malindig ( Torrijos)

Talk
Marinduque is a Tagalog-speaking province, similar to neighboring Mindoro and Quezon. However, Tagalog as spoken on Marinduque has a number of features retained from older Tagalog, as well as from the Bikol and Visayan languages, which distinguish it from other Tagalog dialects, including the national language, Filipino (the standardized Tagalog of Manila). These include the following:

 * A unique set of prefixes which are used instead of standard Tagalog prefixes. These include ma- and ga- for future tense (masulat and gaaral instead of susulat and mag-aaral), and a- for past tense (atulungan instead of tinulungan).
 * The use of in-, which is used for the present progressive, as a prefix, rather than an infix as in other dialects (inatawag instead of tinatawag).
 * The demonstrative pronoun dini/diri is still used to mean "here". In other Tagalog dialects, this merged into dito.  Similarly, iri is still used to mean "this"; this merged into "ito" in other dialects.
 * The interjection ngani, similar to the ala eh of Batangas.

However, Marinduqueños will understand and speak Filipino, as it is the language taught in school. English is also spoken, though to varying levels of fluency.

Get in
Marinduque can be accessed by ferry from Dalahican port in Lucena.

By air
Marinduque Airport is in Barangay Masiga, Gasan, near the border with Boac. After several years of seeing no air service, Cebu Pacific has begun offering flights to Marinduque from Manila, flying on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

By boat
There are three ports of call for Marinduque: Balanacan Port in Mogpog, Cawit Port in Boac and Buyabod Port in Santa Cruz. Most visitors headed for Mogpog, Boac, Gasan or Buenavista by sea will enter Marinduque via Balanacan or Cawit, while those headed to Santa Cruz or Torrijos will enter via Buyabod.

Lucena City in Quezon is the main hub for passenger and roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) ferries headed for Marinduque. Montenegro Shipping Lines (MSLI) has daily service to the island from Lucena from per way. alternating between all three ports. Cawit is also served by Starhorse Shipping, connecting it to Subuquin Port in San Juan, Batangas.

There is also a daily passenger boat plying between Gasan and Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro.

By bus
Visitors who intend to go to Marinduque by land will have to do so via Lucena or San Juan, transferring to a ferry along the way. Two bus lines have service to Marinduque: JAC Liner has bus service to Marinduque via Lucena, while RRCG Liner has bus service to Marinduque via San Juan.

Get around
Jeepneys and tricycles are the main means of transport in Marinduque. Jeepneys are often used for travel between towns, while tricycles are used to travel within towns. Pump boats (bangka) meanwhile are used to travel between the mainland and the outlying islands.

Because there are relatively few cars in Marinduque, it is possible to get around with a car or a motorcycle. However, gasoline sold in Marinduque is more expensive than in the rest of Luzon, road upgrading works often slow down travel times between towns as normally two-lane roads are reduced to a single usable lane, and outside major provincial roads, interior road quality is generally poor. In addition, driving entails having to bring a vehicle in from Luzon, and there are no rental agencies on the island.

See

 * White Beach - White Beach is in Barangay Poctoy within the municipality of Torrijos. Poctoy's white beach is one of the finest beaches on the Marinduque Mainland, surrounded by clean, clear, deep water. The area is also a hangout for the local community, and you can spend the night singing karaoke or talking and meeting the locals. Not only is it a social area, it also doubles as a small market area by day. You can purchase the latest catch of fish from the fishermen, you can buy products from the Sari-Sari store or sit back and drink a beer at the adjacent resort.
 * Tres Reyes Islands - The Tres Reyes Islands (also known as the "Three Kings") is a chain of 3 islands off the coast of Gasan. The main island is known as "Gaspar Island". It is famous for its empty beaches, perfect white sand, amazing diving and clear azure water. These beautiful islands can be accessed via boat only: You must organize a boat trip with one of the resorts along the coastline or with a local fisherman. Don't be scared to haggle with either of the two, as long as you're realistic.
 * The Bathala Caves - This massive cave system is in the mountains of Santa Cruz on private property. You must ask the owners for permission to access the caves; they usually charge a small fee. It is wise to take a guided tour for an additional fee if it's your first time, as you have to climb and hike some fairly rugged landscapes. The caves offer a great view, especially during sunset and sunrise when the cave named the Cathedral lights up entirely, showing off its amazing lines. The Python cave is also a must see, although if you have a fear of snakes you'd better skip it. It is a large system of caves with rock pythons living in the walls and other areas, but do not fear as they are relatively harmless as long as you don't do anything to upset them (don't worry, the guides keep you fairly far from the action anyway).
 * Red Mountain - Red Mountain is the site of the Battle of Pulang Lupa in the Filipino-American War. After a long hike to the top, you will be rewarded with a full 360 degree view of the surrounding Marinduque area and valleys. The name "Red Mountain" was attributed to the amount of blood that was shed in the fierce battle involving Filipino and American forces during the war. The Filipino forces won that battle and a memorial was built to commemorate the historical event. Hiking to the memorial can be a challenge, particularly on hot days. Visitors can access half the track up to the Main Memorial with a vehicle, but the hike is still difficult for those not in the best of shape.

Do

 * Go diving - Marinduque has a lot of places to explore underwater, generally the drop-off into the reefs and marine life in Marinduque is a few hundred meters off shore (depending where you are). The Tres Reyes Islands are great to start you off in diving or snorkeling, the islands are surrounded by abundant marine life and warm tropical waters.
 * Watch cockfighting - Generally every weekend (Saturday especially) the local cockfight begins around noon. If you do not agree with cockfighting or prefer not to know anything of it, you should avoid the Cockfight Arenas during the weekend. If you wish to take part in the activity you can, by paying a fee at the door you can enter the arena and place bets. It is an amazing sight to see, the arenas are typically packed and very noisy and social.
 * Take part in the Moriones - The Moriones is an amazing festival that takes part all over Marinduque during Holy Week. During the Lenten season, Marinduque comes alive with people from all over the countryside visiting to witness the very popular and famous Moriones Festival, a colorful religious celebration that links to the story of Longinus with Christ’s Passion and Death. This festival is known as the most colorful in all of the Philippines, if you plan on visiting during the festival you should prepare in advance, as a lot of people travel during the holy season (peak travel season).
 * Relax and explore - You have many options of what to do on Marinduque, typically a lot of coastal resorts will have a boat on offer (Also known as a "Bangka"), you can take the boat out and explore your own way or go for a relaxing snorkel offshore. If you wish to visit more inland, there are a number of things to do. Exploring and bargaining at the local markets is always a good way to socialize and take in the sights. There are also a number of traditional places to visit, you can purchase traditional crafts made by local artisans or you can even purchase your own "Moriones Festival" Mask.

Eat
In the bigger cities such as Gasan or Boac, you have more of a range of things to eat. Resorts around Marinduque also serve meals, but when it comes to the more rural areas you will likely have less of a choice, typical Filipino food is only served around the rural areas. Street barbecues can be common around some sari-sari stores and the city areas. In some resorts you also have the option of cooking for yourself.

Drink
There are many bars on Marinduque Island. Most of the normal bars can be found in the main cities whilst in rural Marinduque you have Sari-Sari stores and beach-side bars. Karaoke bars are dotted around the island, where you can usually find a drink nearby.

Gasan
Gasan has a number of hotels and resorts spread out along the coastline.

 * Katala Beach Resort. Many facilities on offer such as a running restaurant and bar, air-conditioning, a boat you can hire and clean rooms with friendly staff. The resort is located directly on the beach.

Torrijos
Torrijos has primarily resorts located along the coastline.

Boac
Boac has a number of Pension houses, Inns, and lodges available.

 * Lucky 7 Pension House. Magsaysay street Boac. +63 3322-7777. has a roof restaurant. From a night. A nice place for budget travellers and backpackers to stay.
 * Marina Marinduque Hotel and Resort  Balaring Boac Marinduque Beachfront  tel#(042) 7545272 cell# 09605861545 https://www.facebook.com/Marinamarinduquehotel

Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz has a number of hotels and resorts available.

Stay safe
Marinduque has one of the lowest crime rates in the Philippines. Just use common sense (avoid leaving your valuables unattended, etc.).

Go next
To get out of Marinduque, you simply have to get to one of the nearest ports on time. Jeepneys, tricycle and FX's can always take you to the port. In the larger cities, such as Gasan, Torrijos, Santa Cruz and Boac the bus liners tend to stop off at the local terminal. They wait until the bus is full or when it's time to leave for the port. If your unsure of the time of departure for the port, ask around, especially to bus or jeepney drivers. They always know the right time.

title: Marinduque


text:
Marin Headlands

The Marin Headlands are located in southern Marin County, in the North Bay region of the Bay Area of California. Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Marin Headlands offer beaches, hiking, history, and spectacular views of the California coast.

By car
Follow U.S. 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, or south from other parts of Marin County. Exit at Alexander Ave. If coming north, this is the second exit, after the "Vista Point". Going either way on Alexander Avenue can take you to the Marin Headlands.

If you go west, turn right before the road goes back into the freeway. You can park in a lot right next to the highway, or proceed on the road (Conzelman Road) up the hillside. Various roadside parking areas line this road. Along this road you will see breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Eventually this road becomes one-way steep downhill "roller coaster" heading west, so if you pass this point you will have to return by a different route.

If you go east, turn left at the first intersection, with signs pointing to Marin Headlands. (If you enter Sausalito, you've gone too far.) This road goes through a one-lane tunnel (Bunker Road) controlled by a traffic light. After you pass through the tunnel, you will be in the Tennessee Valley area of the Marin Headlands.

If you want to search direction from your place to Marin Headlands, use the following address:

948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, CA 94965, US

Get around
There are two parallel roads into the Marin Headlands: Conzelman Road (the Coastal Route) and Bunker Road (the Tunnel Route). Conzelman Road is more scenic. Bunker Road goes through an old one-lane tunnel at one point. After Hawk Hill, Conzelman Road turns into a one-way section, which eventually intersects with Field Road. Field Road goes to the Point Bonita Lighthouse trailhead. You can also use Field Road to return to Bunker Road for the return trip (Bunker Road is the only way back after passing the one-way Conzelman Road.) McCullough Road also connects Bunker Road and Conzelman Road after the Bunker Road tunnel, but before one-way section of Conzelman Road, so you can use it to switch between the roads if one of them is blocked by construction.

Do

 * Drive the
 * Drive the

title: Marin Headlands


text:
Marinilla

Marinilla is a city located in the East subregion of the department of Antioquia, Colombia. Bordered to the north by the municipalities of San Vicente and El Peñol, on the east by the municipalities of El Peñol and El Santuario, to the south by the municipalities Santuario and Carmen de Viboral, and to the west by the municipalities Carmen de Viboral and Rionegro. It is 47 kilometers from Medellín.

Get in
By bus from Medellín (1 hour) or from Bogota (8-12 hours).

See

 * Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
 * Capilla de Jesús de Nazareno
 * Capilla de Belén
 * Seminario nuestra Señora
 * Seminario del Monasterio de la Visitación
 * Templo de María Auxiliadora
 * Templo del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
 * El Museo Histórico y Arqueológico
 * Casa de la Cultura José Duque Gómez.
 * La Plazoleta de los Mártires
 * Parque Carolina Gómez
 * Monumento a la Batalla del Cascajo.

Buy
There are traditional places where guitars are manufactured as well as tiples, endemic stringed instruments.

Eat
A wide variety of crops are farmed here. Potatoes, cassava, maize and vegetables are part of the economy of this village, apart from trade, industry and tourism.

title: Marinilla


text:
Marion

There is more than one place called Marion:

United States of America

 * Marion (Alabama)
 * Marion (Arkansas)
 * Marion (Illinois)
 * Marion (Indiana)
 * Marion (Iowa)
 * Marion (Kentucky)
 * Marion (Massachusetts)
 * Marion (Montana)
 * Marion (New York)
 * Marion (North Carolina)
 * Marion (Ohio)
 * Marion (South Carolina)
 * Marion (Virginia)

title: Marion


text:
Marion (Illinois)

Marion is a city in Southern Illinois. Named in honor of Francis Marion and settled in 1839, Marion isn't exactly replete with places to see but has forests and recreational areas nearby.

See

 * Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 8588 IL-148. Wildlife area on Crab Orchard Lake west of town where you can hike, boat, and see deer, mushrooms, etc. $5 per vehicle.
 * Marion Clock Tower, in downtown Marion Clock Tower Square.
 * Marion Clock Tower, in downtown Marion Clock Tower Square.

Do

 * Lake Of Egypt, south of Marion. Boating and swimming.

Sleep

 * Quality Inn 2600 W. Main St.  (618) 993-6221.  Located in the heart of Southern Illinois, the hotel is near many of the region's major employers including, Ameren CIPS, GTE North, Pennzoil Products, etc.  Secure Online Reservations.
 * Baymont by Wyndham Marion 2608 W. Main St.  (618) 997-9133.  This Gold Hospitality Award winning hotel features 64 beautifully decorated double and king suites each with distinct sleeping and work/leisure areas.

title: Marion (Illinois)


text:
Marion (Indiana)

Marion is a small city in Central Indiana, the home of Indiana Wesleyan University, and birthplace of James Dean.

Get in
The Cardinal Greenway is a bike path that connects with nearby towns.

Do
James Dean Festival every summer. Every other year the YMCA puts on an Easter pageant!

Eat
Baldwin Cafeteria of Indiana Wesleyan University has a great Sunday breakfast after church time.

Sleep
College Inn Bed and Breakfast. S. Washington St. Directly across from Indiana Wesleyan University. Quiet, quant place with friendly staff!

title: Marion (Indiana)


text:
Marion (Massachusetts)

Marion is a town in Massachusetts in the SouthCoast area. It is largely a residential community with a pretty harbor.

Understand
The state capital is Boston. It faces the Atlantic Ocean to the east and shares its borders with New Hampshire and Vermont to the north, New York to the west, and Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south.

The eastern part of Massachusetts consists of coastal plains along the Atlantic Ocean, with sandy cod capes protruding in the southeast, along with numerous islands. In the central region, the New England upland, an extension of the Appalachian Mountains, runs north to south, and the Connecticut River, which originates from this area, flows from north to south, forming a broad and fertile valley. The highest point in the state, Greylock (1,064 meters), is located to the north of the Taconic Mountains near the western state border. Massachusetts has a humid continental climate. Winters are cold and lengthy, especially in the western mountainous areas, where there is approximately 2,000 mm of snowfall, which often does not melt until spring. However, the coastal regions have milder winters, and Boston receives an average annual precipitation of about 1,000 mm, which is evenly distributed throughout the year. Coastal areas are often covered in thick fog during the summer due to the influence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean.

Beaches

 * Silvershell Beach, Front Street.
 * Island Wharf, Front Street.
 * Veterans' Memorial Park at Old Landing, Front Street.
 * Washburn Park, Washburn Lane.
 * Bicentennial Park, Spring Street.
 * Holmes Woods, Spring and Mill Sts.

title: Marion (Massachusetts)


text:
Marion (Ohio)

Marion is a city in West Central Ohio and is the county seat of Marion County, Ohio. It is home to the Marion Popcorn Festival, an annual event that is held in September, the weekend following Labor Day every year in downtown Marion.

By plane

 * John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus has direct flights from most major American cities.

By car

 * U.S. Route 23, Marion can be accessed by U.S. Route 23 which provides access to Delaware and Columbus to the south and Toledo to the northwest.
 * Ohio State Route 4 runs through Marion and its historic downtown business district. It provides access to Richwood, Marysville, Springfield and Dayton to the southwest and Bucyrus and Sandusky to the northeast.
 * Ohio State Route 95 runs through the city of Marion and its historic downtown business district. It provides access to the village of La Rue to the west and Mount Gilead and Interstate 71 to the east.
 * Ohio State Route 309 runs through the city of Marion and its historic downtown business district. It provides access to the cities of Galion and Mansfield to the northeast and the cities of Kenton and Lima to the northwest.
 * Ohio State Route 423 runs through the city of Marion and its historic downtown business district. It provides access to the village of Waldo to the south and U.S. Route 23 near Morral to the north.
 * Ohio State Route 739 begins in the city of Marion at Ohio State Route 4. It provides access to Honda of America and Marysville to the southwest.

By bus
Greyhound provides service to Marion. The bus station is located at 137 S State St.

Buy
There are a number of branded outlets north of the Ohio State Marion.

Drink
There are plenty of choices for alcohol. Most grocery stores carry it, as well as the gas stations, drive-throughs and convenience stores.

Stay safe
Dial 911 from any telephone for emergency police, medical, and fire services.

Go next

 * Delaware is about 35 minutes south on U.S. Route 23.
 * Columbus is about an hour south on U.S. Route 23.

title: Marion (Ohio)


text:
Marion Bay

Marion Bay, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.

On the 'foot' of Yorke Peninsula, Marion Bay is the gateway to Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park.

Understand
Being on the foot of the Yorke Peninsula, Marion Bay experiences high winds of a south-easterly nature during the summer months. The best times to visit are the months of March, April and May, when the winds die down and the seas are calm with a mild temperature. Summer months can become very hot and winters can be bitterly cold. Marion Bay has a moderate rainfall and generally does not receive as much rain as Adelaide or surrounding districts.

Get in
Marion Bay can only be accessed via car, from a 2.5 hour drive from Adelaide, and a 1.5 hour drive from Port Wakefield. From Adelaide, use the North South Motorway, and then exit onto  Port Wakefield Highway and use the divided dual carriageway for about an hour until Port Wakefield, where you should then exit onto  Copper Coast Hwy, and then turn off at  Yorke Highway until the very end of the town.

Fishing
Marion Bay is a base for many deep sea fishing charter operators, who offer short or long tours off Yorke Peninsula. For those interested in deep sea fishing, and fishing at Wedge Island, Marion Bay based charters offer packages and accommodation.

Connect
Cellular (mobile) telephone network reception may not be available in many areas especially those distant from cellular network repeater towers normally located along the major highways and near larger townships. Hilly terrain will also effect reception. In an emergency seek higher ground. Some networks provide a poor coverage in regional and rural areas. It is generally considered that the best reception is available from either Telstra or Optus when in areas such as Yorke Peninsula.

For emergency services, including police, fire services and ambulance, call 000 from any telephone and ask the operator to connect you. Such calls are placed without charge to the calling party.

Go next

 * Dhilba Guuranda–Innes National Park
 * Edithburgh
 * Corny Point
 * Maitland
 * Minlaton
 * Stansbury
 * Stenhouse Bay
 * Yorketown

title: Marion Bay


text:
Marion County

Marion County is the name of seventeen counties in the United States:

 * Marion County (Alabama)
 * Marion County (Arkansas)
 * Marion County (Florida)
 * Marion County (Georgia)
 * Marion County (Illinois)
 * Marion County (Indiana)
 * Marion County (Iowa)
 * Marion County (Kansas)
 * Marion County (Kentucky)
 * Marion County (Mississippi)
 * Marion County (Missouri)
 * Marion County (Ohio)
 * Marion County (Oregon)
 * Marion County (South Carolina)
 * Marion County (Tennessee)
 * Marion County (Texas)
 * Marion County (West Virginia)

title: Marion County


text:
Marion Island

 * Prince Edward Islands redirects here. For Canada's smallest province, see Prince Edward Island

Marion Island and Prince Edward Island (sometimes collectively called the Prince Edward Islands, even though Marion is the larger and more visited island) are two Subantarctic islands, south and territory of South Africa.

Get in
The only way to travel to Marion Island is as a team member on board a South African research vessel. Communication is served by the ship S.A. Agulhas that travels Cape Town-Marion Island once a year.

Understand
Marion Island is run as a research station by South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP).

Marion Island is not a tourist destination and access is limited to SANAP team members. Research team members remain on the island for 14 months, but it is also possible to visit the island as part of the relief team.

Buy, eat, drink and sleep
There are no shops, eateries or accommodations on Marion island, other than those of the research teams.

Go next

 * The Crozet Islands is another Subantarctic archipelago around east. It's administered by France, but a trip to the archipelago on the Marion Durfense can cost up to €9,000.

title: Marion Island


text:
Mariposa

Mariposa is in the Sierra Nevada region of California near Yosemite National Park.

Understand
Mariposa is located along Highway 140, west of Yosemite, and is an inexpensive option for motel lodging when visiting Yosemite.

By car

 * From Yosemite, take Highway 140 west out of Yosemite Valley. Mariposa is about an hour's drive away.
 * From the west take Highway 140 east out of California's San Joaquin Valley. Highway 140 crosses both Interstate 5 and State Route 99, which are the main north-south routes within the valley.

By train
The closest Amtrak station is in Merced where you can transfer to a YARTS bus. You can book a thruway bus with an Amtrak agent or at Amtrak.com. The bus trip from the Merced Amtrak Station to midtown Mariposa takes about 45 minutes.

Get around
Walk. The commercial district about 10 blocks long and runs along Central Yosemite Highway, Route 140.

Go next

 * Yosemite National Park

title: Mariposa


text:
Mariposa County

Mariposa County is in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It was originally the largest county in California at the time of statehood in 1850, but over the years was split up to form twelve other counties, giving it the nickname "the Mother of Counties".

Other destinations

 * is one of the best-known national parks in the United States. The dramatic peaks north and south of the valley are found in endless publications.

Understand
Rural Mariposa County has no incorporated cities, and in fact does not even have a permanent traffic light within its borders. The county was one of the eight original counties of California when statehood was granted in 1850, and while it was originally the state's largest county, over the years has ceded most of its territory to twelve other counties, giving it the nickname "the Mother of Counties". The county is named after Mariposa Creek, which was named by Spanish explorers after the great clusters of butterflies ("mariposas" in Spanish) that they found.

Go next

 * - While still primarily an agricultural county known for its almond trees, parts of Mariposa County's western neighbor have become a bedroom community for people trying to escape the high housing costs of the Bay Area. Travelers will find plenty of amenities, although most only see Stanislaus County while passing through on their way elsewhere.
 * - Mariposa County's northern neighbor was one of California's original counties at the time of statehood, and today offers a glimpse into the region's gold mining and logging history, as well as numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation. Portions of Yosemite National Park lie in the county, and with limited parking and lodging inside of the park, the YARTS shuttle system makes the county's towns an option to consider for park visitors.
 * - Located east of Mariposa County, remote and expansive Mono County is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It is the eastern gateway to Yosemite National Park, home to the Old West ghost town of Bodie, and Mammoth Lakes is a favorite winter skiing getaway.  The gigantic Mono Lake is perhaps the county's premier attraction, a stopover for millions of migratory birds and thousands of tourists who explore its alkaline waters and bizarre tufa formations.
 * - South of Mariposa County lies Madera County, whose agricultural western half offers plenty of hotels and amenities for travelers, while the mountainous eastern half features unspoiled Sierra Nevada wilderness that is home to portions of Yosemite National Park, the Ansel Adams Wilderness, and Devils Postpile National Monument with its impressive basalt columns and iconic Rainbow Falls. There are no roads crossing the county from west to east, so it may be a very circuitous route for those who want to see everything Madera has to offer!
 * - Mariposa County's western neighbor is located entirely within the San Joaquin Valley. Most travelers will likely just take advantage of the county's hotels and other amenities, but there are a few attractions worth considering.  The Castle Air Museum in Atwater is home to over 50 planes, while the Merced National Wildlife Refuge hosts thousands of waterfowl during winter months, including huge flocks of snow geese and sandhill cranes.

title: Mariposa County


text:
Marken

Marken is a village in Zaanstreek-Waterland, North Holland, Netherlands. It is known for its characteristic wooden houses and traditional costumes. It's a peninsula in the IJsselmeer lake, but connected to the mainland by a causeway.

Understand
This picturesque little village was originally situated on an island. Floods were regular and often disastrous. To protect their belongings and themselves from the water, the inhabitants created artificial dwelling hills on which they build their houses. As fishery became the main economic activity, the population grew rapidly. When the Afsluitdijk was finished in 1932, and the Zuiderzee became the fresh water IJsselmeer with no access to the sea, fishery activities came to an end. When the dike between Marken and the mainland was closed in 1957, Marken wasn't even a real island anymore. Nevertheless, the village still has the looks and feel of a fishermen's town and an island. For over a century, it has drawn in visitors who wanted a glance at its traditional costumes and picturesque houses.

Get in
The N518 connects Marken to nearby Monnickendam. There, it connects to the N247. If you're coming from Amsterdam, take the A10 and then follow the N247 and N518 to Marken.

 * Bus 311 runs from Amsterdam to Marken and back, and passes through Broek in Waterland and Monnickendam.
 * Bus 610 connects Marken to Volendam

In the main tourist season, 24 March - 6 November in 2011, there's also a ferry connection to Volendam, which leaves about once in 30 to 45 minutes.

A great way to get to Marken is by bike. There are many cycle routes that will take you there.
 * From Amsterdam Central Station - Marken Cycle Route (51 or 45 km).
 * From Purmerend train station - Volendam Cycle Route (45 or 37 km).

Get around
Marken is a village and you can easily get around on foot. Alternatively, you can rent a bike via:

Volendam and Monnickendam have a larger number of bike rental options, and are a comfortable biking distances from the peninsula.

See
Marken's main attraction lies in its lovely old wooden houses, traditional atmosphere and folklorist elements.Traditional costumes are now rarely worn, and usually for tourist purposes, but are still fun to see. Many of the wooden houses are listed as National Heritage Sites and some are placed on wooden poles, to protect them from the water. The main sights include:

Buy
Marken has been a popular tourist destination for decades and souvenirs are all around. You'll find a good range at the Sijtje Boes house, which is the oldest souvenir store in town. Marker Folklorestoffen (Buurt II 5) sells the typical fabrics that you the traditional Marker costumes were made of. On Rietland 4 there's a shop that sells the actual costumes.

Eat
There are a few restaurants. As Marken is originally a fishermen's town, there's a lot of sea food around. Hotel Hof van Marken also has a restaurant.

Sleep
Accommodation is limited on the peninsula, and most people stay in Amsterdam, Volendam or Monnickendam. There is a hotel though, and it gets good reviews.

Go next
Nearby villages include:
 * Monnickendam
 * Volendam
 * Broek in Waterland

title: Marken


text:
Markham

Markham is a suburban city directly north of Toronto in Ontario, Canada. It includes the historic village of Unionville, which is now a heritage district, and can offer the traveller some cheaper accommodation options if you don't mind the distance from the attractions of Toronto.

Understand
Markham is host to a wide variety of technology company headquarters, which included video card maker ATI Technologies, Motorola, IBM Software Labs and Sun Microsystems (with the exact list prone to change as companies are acquired by rivals). The Town's slogans 'The Mark of Excellence' and 'Canada's High Tech Capital' are well emphasized, with a multicultural community, a variety of events and attractions, and an embracement of old town nostalgia and modern high-tech living. In 2021, its population reached almost 340,000.

Main Street
Note that the City of Markham has two streets called Main Street and they are in different parts of the city. Main Street Markham is essentially the same as Markham Road and runs north-south through the city's old town centre called Markham Village. "Main Street North" is a more specific name for "Main Street Markham". Various maps may identify the street as both "Markham Road" and either "Main Street North" or "Main Street Markham". (There is a "Main Street South" south of Highway 7, but it is not as interesting as Main Street North.) Main Street Unionville is further west of Main Street Markham and runs north-south through the heritage district of Unionville. The two Main Streets are over 4 km apart and both cross Highway 7 near the south end.

Heritage districts
There are three heritage districts within the City of Markham where there is a cluster of 19th century structures. They are:
 * Main Street Unionville is the quaintest of the three heritage districts which is residential at the southern end and commercial (mainly eateries) at the northern end.
 * Main Street Markham (a.k.a. Markham Village) still retains Markham's pleasant small town centre with a number of heritage buildings intermixed with more modern structures. Main Street Markham has more shopping opportunities than Main Street Unionville. Both have a number of eateries.
 * Thornhill has a cluster of heritage buildings along Colborne Street, a quaint residential street. There are few eateries near this heritage district, and hardly any shopping opportunities. While Main Street Unionville and Main Street Markham may be each a day trip, Thornhill is mainly a brief stopover. Thornhill's advantage is that it is the easiest of the three districts to reach from Finch Station.

By plane
Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga is the nearest major airport.

By transit
Public transit access from Toronto to Markham typically begins at Finch Station on TTC subway Line 1 Yonge-University, and then transferring to York Region Transit which offers bus service in York Region (including Viva express buses) serving Markham as well as other communities in York Region such as Newmarket and East Gwillimbury.

However, if you are visiting Pacific Mall, the best way to access these malls by transit is via TTC route #53 (Steeles East) which departs from Finch Station on subway Line 1 Yonge-University. If you are travelling in the east-end, TTC route #43 (Kennedy) going north from Kennedy Station on subway Line 2 Bloor-Danforth and Line 3 Scarborough may be more useful for you.

For Main Street Unionville, take the Viva Blue bus from Finch Station to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. From there, take either the Viva Purple bus (signed to Markville/Stouffville Hospital rather than Enterprise) or YRT bus route 1 to Main Street Unionville; cross the street to the north side to enter the heritage district.

For Main Street Markham (a.k.a. Markham Village), take the Viva Blue bus from Finch Station to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. From there, transfer to Viva Purple (signed to Markville/Stouffville Hospital) to Vivastation Hwy 7 / Main Markham.

GO Transit provides train and bus service from Toronto to Markham with stops at the Milliken, Unionville, Centennial, Markham and Mount Joy GO stations. GO trains on the Stouffville Line operate to Mount Joy seven days per week from morning to mid evening. GO buses on routes 70/71 are an alternative when trains are not available. Keep in mind Unionville GO Station is 1.33 km from the south end of the Main Street Unionville heritage district. Markham GO station is about 400 metres north of Markham Village. The major stop for GO buses is, with route 45B from Mississauga, route 54 from Highway 407 bus terminal and route 56 from Oakville and Oshawa.

By road
Unsurprisingly for a suburb, most travel is typically done by private automobile, with numerous highways and arterials leading in and out of the town.

Highway 404 goes north to south, starting at Green Lane in East Gwillimbury and ending in Toronto as the Don Valley Parkway.

Going from east to west is the privately-held toll Highway 407, which begins in the east at Brock Road and ends 108 kilometres west in Burlington. The 407 is the most overpriced toll road in North America, per kilometre; this road is problematic for rental car drivers as the inflated bill is sent to the vehicle's owner. Alternatives are old Highway 7 (a very busy local east-west surface street) or a trip south on the 404 to Toronto to pick up Ontario Highway 401, Canada's busiest freeway.

For Main Street Unionville, the heritage district is north of Highway 7 which intersects Main Street Unionville at a traffic light. On the north side of the intersection there are signs marking the entrance to the district. There is parking off Carlton Road on the south side, east of Main Street.

By road
The main street of Markham is nominally Markham Road (old Highway 48). There is a small downtown, which is largely lost in all the Toronto suburban sprawl.

Like the rest of the Greater Toronto Area, Markham is laid out in grid fashion. The main east-west local avenues in Markham (from north to south) are Stouffville Road, Elgin Mills Road East, Major Mackenzie Drive East, Highway 7, 14th Avenue and then Steeles Avenue East which is the border between Markham and Toronto. Most businesses are located on Highway 7 and Steeles Avenue East.

From west to east, the major roads are Yonge Street (border between Markham and Vaughan), Bayview Avenue, Leslie Street, Woodbine Avenue, Warden Avenue, Kennedy Road, McCowan Road, Markham Road (sometimes known as Highway 48) and then Ninth Line.

By transit
If you are travelling by public transit, three transit agencies operate within Markham: YRT/Viva, GO Transit, and TTC (see the Get In section).

Viva Blue, Viva Purple and Viva Pink are YRT bus rapid transit routes each having good service frequencies. Viva Blue runs north-south along the western boundary of Markham from Finch Station on Subway Line 1 Yonge-University. Viva Purple operates east-west through Markham. One can transfer between Viva Blue and Purple at the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. Viva Pink follows the route of Viva Blue from Finch Station to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal, then follows the route of Viva Purple to Unionville GO Station (which is 1.33 km from the heritage district Main Street Unionville). Use Viva Purple if need to go further east of Unionville GO Station.

TTC route 53 Steeles East starts at Finch Station and runs along Markham's southern boundary with Toronto. Unlike YRT and Viva buses, TTC route 53 has overnight service from 2AM to 5AM, coming every 30 minutes. Rush hour frequencies are particularly good for this route (every 3-5 minutes), reflecting the fact that it is the 19th busiest TTC bus route out of 148.

TTC route 102D Markham Rd offers half-hourly service from Warden Station on Subway Line 2 Bloor-Danforth into York Region through Main Street Markham. Customers paying by credit, debit or Presto card only need to pay once when boarding (either a TTC fare when boarding in Toronto or a YRT fare when boarding in York Region, but do need to tap off to validate the 2 hour transfer if crossing the municipal border at Steeles Avenue). Route 102D provides most of the local service within Markham Village along Main Street Markham.

Main Street Unionville
Unionville is a historic village that developed in the 1840s in what was then rural Markham Township. It's now amalgamated into city of Markham but the quaint period buildings have been preserved as a heritage conservation district, Main Street Unionville. Many of the old buildings now house pubs, eateries or other small businesses, and the area is worth a stop if you're in the area and have some time.

From Highway 7 north to the railway grade crossing, Main Street is lined with elegant old houses which are private residences. From the railway grade crossing north to Carlton Road, Main Street is commercial with most businesses having a tourist orientation. Many of the businesses are located in former houses. Station Lane branches from Main Street just north of the railway grade crossing and has a few old residences as well as the former Unionville railway station and Stiver Mill; the latter two buildings serve a community functions today.

Here are some sites of interest listed from south to north:

Main Street Markham
Main Street Markham has a retail and residential districts with a number of buildings from the 19th century intermixed with more modern structures. The area is also called Markham Village. Main Street Markham is extends from Highway 7 on the south to 16th Avenue on the north. The retail area is long and is located at the south end.

Here are partial list of interesting structures along Main Street Markham:

Thornhill
Thornhill has a small heritage district with over a dozen structures from the 19th century. Most of the old structures are along Colburne Street, a picturesque residential street, where most heritage houses have a white picket fence around the front yard. A few others heritage houses are along John Street.

Main Street Unionville
Stores along Main Street Unionville are in small heritage buildings.

Eat
Markham has a large variety of foods to choose from in a variety of price ranges. The Chinese population is especially high in this area (~40% in the last census), so if you enjoy Chinese food, this is the place to look for it.

Stay safe
Markham has a hospital:. It is located on the east end of the city, on Ninth Line just north of Highway 7.

Consulates

 * Flag of Ghana.svg

Go next

 * Newmarket has its own attractive heritage Main Street.

title: Markham


text:
Markha Valley Trek

Markha Valley is a trek in the union territory of Ladakh, India. It is an amazing trip to get introduced with remote Buddhist Kingdom of Ladakh. While trekking on through this trek tourists passes through beautiful Buddhist monasteries, Mountain Villages, High altitude pastures of Nimaling and High altitude peak Kangyatse. The Markha valley is part of the Hemis National Park.

Understand

 * Duration: 5 to 8 days depending upon where you start and where you end your trek. The shortest way of doing this trek is to start from Chilling Village and end the trek at Shang Sumdo village.
 * Season: Mid-May to mid-October

A deservedly popular trek, that follows the beautiful Markha valley. It is almost always done in the direction described, as in the reverse direction the approach to the Gongmaru La is very steep and unpleasant. This means you get an impression of there being fewer trekkers on this route than there in fact are. It is a reasonably straightforward trek, with many villages on the way, and even the odd tea "house" tent, it is possible avoid camping out except for the night before crossing the Gongmaru La, which necessitates a tent, and good sleeping bag as it gets very cold here even in summer.

Landscape
Markha Valley is between Zanskar and Ladakh ranges of the Himalayas. This valley runs parallel to the Himalayan range. Markha Valley has beautiful, wild and barren landscapes. These landscapes are linked with the Ladakh also known as “Little Tibet”. These landscapes are very dramatic and enticing.

Climate
Markha valley remains cold in the month of November to February and minimum temperature goes down to 4 °C during the month of January and February. March to Early may, sun shine remains abundant. Summer remains from May to August. From Mid of July till October is the rainy season, when this area is wet due to heavy rain fall which can continue for days.

Best time to go for this trek is from March to June and from September to December.

Get in
There are three major entry and exit points to the trek, depending on how long you want to hike:
 * – The most western village of the trail
 * – A mountain pass close to Leh, which ultimately leads to the trail. It seems however that many people prefer
 * – A village with a trail leading to the middle part of Markha Valley.
 * – The most east village of the trail
 * (Skiumarkha) – you will come by here, soon or later
 * – A twin town which also has a Buddhist monastery from the 11th century

On foot
It is possible to do this trek entirely on your own without any equipment, ponies, etc., by staying in homestays on the way however it is not recommended to do it solo.

By tour
Prepare for hard haggling. A 8-day trek including guide, cook, mules, horsemen, tents, sleeping bags, and vegetarian dishes, can cost as low as ₹1,000 per day per person, up to ₹2,000. If you have time, do not go through an agency and hire your equipment from stores in Leh, and your guide, cook, mule, and horsemen from the Tibetan Refugee Camp. It will be much cheaper.

Foreigners are usually given a foreigner price and it is extremely hard to get the "Indian price" (i.e. ₹1,000 per day per head) as quoted above. But with the number of agencies in Leh offering this trek, it is worth a try.

Choose your agency carefully. Some agencies do not hesitate to leave trash behind—find an agency which will bring back the trash.

Do
The following is a route description of the short Rumbak-Hemis itinerary:
 * 1) Cross the bridge over the Indus, follow the jeep road across the empty uninteresting flats. It gets hot here, so try to be threw before the sun gets high in the sky.
 * 2) After about 7 km turn up the Zhimgchan valley, with scattered trees, to Zhingchan village a small settlement of a few houses, and a few campsites.
 * 3) Keep going a few km to Rumbak village, a good place to spend the first night (6–7 hr from Spitok).
 * 4) Yurutse village, is the first village you come to.
 * 5) Lartsa campsite, with beautiful views, is further on, and makes a good place to set up your tent. (4–5 hr from Rumbak)
 * 6) An hour or so from here is Kanda La (4,870 m). Looking south west you can see Shingo village (with camping area), a few km further on.
 * 7) Spend the night in the area around the villages of Skyu Yokma, and Skyu Gongma. (6–7 hr from Lartsa)
 * 8) It's 17 km from here to Markha village, far but not a difficult walk up the Markha valley. You will first pass Pentse campsite, then the settlements of Nakdi village, Sara village , and Chalak village, before coming to Lhatho campsite.
 * 9) Shortly before Markha village with its plentiful campsites. (7–8 hr from Skyu)
 * 10) Continue past Tetsa village, Umlung, Da-amo campsite, the highest permanent settlement in the Markha valley: Hangkar village(4,000 m).
 * 11) From here the trail goes up to the Nyimaling Plains, a high and remote area, route finding becomes more difficult. The normal campsites are Tsigu campsite and Nyimaling campsite (7–8 hr from Markha), but there are lots of options on the high plains.
 * 12) From here is the most difficult stage of the trek, take your time and be aware of the possibility of altitude sickness.
 * 13) Follow the clear trail up the Gongmaru La (5,130 m) (2 hr form Nyimaling camp). On descending from the pass you come to Lhartsa campsite and Chuskyurmo campsite just outside Chokdo village. (6 hr from Nyimaling campsite)
 * 14) From this point it's an easy descent past Ozang village to Hemis village, with its famous Monastery (4-5 hr), restaurant, and shops. You can camp here or take the bus back to Leh.

Sleep
The cost of homestays is ₹2,000 (2023) per night per trekker. It includes one night stay, dinner, breakfast next morning and a packed lunch for next day. You will not have to pay for your guide's accommodation, if you have one, or food as homestay for guides is free.

Considering the price of the homestay, it does make sense to bring your own tent and just rely on the food of the homestay.

title: Markha Valley Trek