text:
Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county and urban region in North West England. It was created in 1974 from the city and associated towns that had formerly been in Lancashire, plus a few lying south of the River Mersey that had been in Cheshire. The whole area was based upon the textile industry, which collapsed in the 20th century. Manchester city has been the most successful at re-inventing itself, and is now a lively modern destination. The other towns all have things to see and do. Although administratively separate these days, most locals still consider the area to be part of Lancashire, and the rivalry with Yorkshire still persists, perhaps best epitomised by the bitter rivalry between Manchester United and Leeds United football clubs.

 * Visit Manchester tourism information.

Cities and towns

 * is at the heart of it. Its many attractions include two top-rank football teams, the John Rylands Library, the National People's History Museum, the National Football Museum, the National Museum of Science and Industry, the Central Reference Library and the Trafford Centre.

 * is a city in its own right, separated from Manchester by a loop of the River Irwell. The two cities together were a major seaport in the 20th century but then the docks fell derelict. They were revived into The Quays, spanning the two, with The Lowry, Imperial War Museum North, Media City, and other attractions.

 * The M60 orbits this inner conurbation. Beyond it, clockwise from the south in what was Cheshire:

 * , unlike its cotton-spinning neighbours, processed silk especially for fine hats. Sights in town include the hat factory, the extensive underground air-raid shelters, a town hall with a massive Wurlitzer, and Bramhall Hall; Lyme Park is just south.
 * sits on a canal, which ascends from Ashton by a flight of locks and crosses the river on a fine aqueduct.
 * has Dunham Massey Hall, with Tatton Park to its south.
 * is a nearby suburb with accommodation and eating places, handy for Old Trafford.

 * North of the Mersey and formerly in Lancashire is most of the metropolitan area:

 * is something of an outlier, less associated with the big city. You come here for the cultural history rather than the sights: Wigan Pier, rugby league, the pie-eating championships where no-one can get close to the 2007 record set by a small yappy dog, the abode of "Wallace & Gromit" (claymation charecters), and one of the final acts of the English Civil War.
 * has bold Victorian architecture, with the grand town hall, and Prestolee canal aqueduct. Hall i' th' Wood is a 16th-century mansion that was the birthplace of the "Spinning Mule".
 * has a museum and the world black pudding hurling championships. In the valleys leading into the Pennines is the pleasant old mill village of Ramsbottom.
 * has a fine town hall, and a museum at the birthplace of the Co-op movement. Up the valley is the town's best attempt at an Alpine spa resort, popular and even scandalous in Victorian times — it's just the feeder pond for the canal.
 * has a museum, but its most attractive areas are the Pennine valleys, with a canal climbing up through locks to disappear into a mile-long tunnel.
 * is the borough east of central, with Ashton-under-Lyne its main town.

Get in
Most people staying in Greater Manchester will be based in the city itself so much of the information needed for Greater Manchester can be found under Manchester or links to other towns or districts in the conurbation.

By plane
serves the entire northwest of England. It has excellent flight connections with price competition between carriers. It has its own railway and bus station, and onward transport usually means taking the train into Manchester Piccadilly then changing. (There are no trains 01:00-04:00, but the bus runs 24 hours.) An hourly direct train continues beyond Piccadilly to Salford and Bolton, heading for Preston and Blackpool. There are also direct buses from the airport to Ashton-under-Lyne, Stockport and Altrincham. The airport is on the city tram network but this is much slower and not much cheaper than the train.

By train
Fast trains from London Euston and the Midlands run to Manchester Piccadilly. Many of them also stop at Stockport: change there for the train to Altrincham, heading for Chester.

Trains from across the north of England plus Edinburgh and Glasgow run via Piccadilly to the airport. Slow, elderly trains from across the north lumber towards Manchester Victoria, and several of these also stop at Wigan, Rochdale, Bolton or Salford.

By road
The area is ringed by M60 - Britain's only orbital motorway, as London's M25 is interrupted by the Dartford Tunnel. A leash of other motorways fan out towards all parts of the country, notably M6 from the Midlands and south towards Scotland, M62 between Yorkshire and Liverpool, and M56 for Cheshire and North Wales.

Long-distance coaches run from London Victoria to Manchester airport and city centre, and some also reach Oldham and Rochdale.

Get around

By tram: Metrolink trams run through central Manchester via St Peter's Square, Deansgate / Castlefield and Cornbrook. The lines then fan out:
 * - light blue and orange lines west to Salford Quays, Media City and Eccles; and east to Piccadilly, Etihad Stadium and Ashton-under-Lyne.
 * - green and purple lines west to Old Trafford, Stretford and Altrincham; eastbound the purple line ends at Piccadilly while the green line goes west to Victoria, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.
 * - yellow line starts at Piccadilly and joins green line at Victoria then to Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.
 * - red line (opened in March 2020) west to Imperial War Museum and Trafford Centre.
 * - dark blue line south to Wythenshawe and the airport; and east to Victoria.
 * - pink and lilac lines west to East Didsbury; and east to Victoria, Oldham and Rochdale.

Trams normally run every 5-10 min or so between 05:30 and 00:30.

Cornbrook is a key, if somewhat windswept, interchange station as most lines serve it on just two adjacent platforms.

See the TfGM Metrolink website for fare deals, service updates and travel planner; you must buy your ticket before boarding.

Stockport, Bolton and Wigan are not on the tram network, use train or bus for these.

See

 * Albert Square is a great place to view Manchester's architecture such as the Gothic Manchester Town Hall. A Christmas Market is held here from mid-November to Christmas Eve.
 * Jazzy modern architecture is concentrated around The Quays, the former docklands revived with major attractions.
 * Stately homes: the standout is Dunham Massey Hall near Altrincham, and Salford has Ordsall Hall, a fine Tudor mansion. Others lie just across the boundary into Cheshire, but are more easily visited from Manchester: Tatton Hall south of Altrincham, and Lyme Park south of Stockport. Manchester's industrial tycoons didn't care to live too close to the source of their wealth, and several other mansions are derelict or demolished but leaving a landscaped public park. An unusual mansion is Hall i' th' Wood in Bolton: this 16th C timber-framed building was never a single home, but divided into sub-units for artisans to live in and ply their trade. One of those was Samuel Crompton, inventor of the "Spinning Mule", which produced a much finer thread than by hand.
 * Irwell Sculpture Trail is a 30 mile footpath dotted with large sculptures. It runs from The Quays via Prestwich, Radcliffe, Bury, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall to Bacup.

Do

 * Watch football ie soccer: there's quite a choice. In Manchester itself are the two Premiership giants, Man City and Man United. Their fixtures are arranged so that whenever one is playing at home, the other is playing out of town, except for the two "derby matches" between them. Wigan Athletic and Rochdale play in League One; Bolton Wanderers, Salford City and Oldham Athletic play in League Two. Others play in the minor leagues beneath - some of them (such as Stockport County) were well-known teams in bygone years but fell on hard times. And finally there's the sad example of Bury, who don't play at all: in 2019 they were promoted to League One but went bust and were kicked out of the league structure.
 * Watch rugby: in rugby union (15-a-side) Sale Sharks play Sept-Apr in the English Premiership. In rugby league (13-a-side) both Salford Red Devils and Wigan Warriors play Feb-Aug in the Super League. The Sharks and Red Devils share a stadium off M60 west of Salford.
 * Skydive and other unlikely amusements such as skiing are available within the Trafford Centre at the west edge of the city. It's all indoors, with no parachutes involved, or anxiously looking for a playing field to land on amid the crowded city rooftops.
 * Walk, cycle or boat along the canals: a leash of them snake east from the Irish Sea. Wigan pier is simply a canal wharf in that town. Time was when Manchester and Salford were a major seaport 40 miles inland, served by the Manchester Ship Canal. Their docks fell derelict but have been revived into the buzzing riverside district of The Quays. The most attractive sections of canal are above Rochdale and Oldham, where they climb up into the Pennines through locks and tunnels to reach Yorkshire and eventually the Humber and North Sea. Manchester is also on the Cheshire Ring, a 97-mile circuit of lowland canals.
 * Walk the Pennine Way which follows the crest of the ridge bordering Yorkshire, and there many are other walking trails around Saddleworth Moor, Wessenden Moor and Standedge. It's not the most scenic part of the Pennines, being a plateau of impervious millstone grit topped by a peat bog, without the limestone that embellishes the Peak District to the south and the Yorkshire Dales further north. But the trails are well marked, with boardwalks over the boggier sections, and the landscape is haunting and spare. The entire trail is 268 miles / 429 km from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders, and tough nuts do it in 2-3 weeks. A more leisurely approach is to take a series of there-and-back weekend strolls, joining up but in no particular order, whenever there's decent weather. OS Landranger Map 109 covers the Greater Manchester stretch and there are multiple access points.

Eat
The city centre has got the lot, with all types of cuisine and in all price brackets. The outlying towns have the usual fast-food outlets and budget restaurants - Italian is normally the best bet, but there's nothing outstanding that you'd travel to reach.

Drink
"Wine!? D'you think you're in Cheshire?" No, those days are gone, the area remains staunchly beer-drinking but nowadays it's likely to be continental or craft-brewery, and there's a good choice of everything else. The supermarket booze is as cheap as you'll find anywhere.

Stay safe
Manchester Arena was hit by a suicide bomb on 22 May 2017, with 23 deaths and 139 injuries. The city remains vigilant, and paradoxically the attack has made central Manchester safer, with CCTV, stewarding and policing especially around big events and in crowded public places: disorderly behaviour is now curbed more promptly. Show usual caution around late-night drunks and where you park the car. These benefits have yet to reach the rougher outlying districts, but you have no reason to go there.

Go next

 * East across the Pennines into Yorkshire for the old walled city of York, the landscape of the Dales, and the rugged coast around Scarborough.
 * North is Lancashire: much is industrial but there is extensive upland countryside above Clitheroe.
 * Further north, Cumbria is the Lake District. It'll be raining of course.
 * West is lively, rejuvenated Liverpool, the old city of Chester, then the North Wales coast towards the mountains of Snowdonia.
 * South is Cheshire, with bucolic market towns such as Knutsford.
 * Jump on a flight at the airport, fly several hours east to some strange country, and try to figure out why its entire male population wears Man United football shirts, which they don't in Manchester.

title: Greater Manchester


text:
Greater New Haven

Greater New Haven is in Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area.

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

title: Greater New Haven


text:
Greater New Orleans

Greater New Orleans is a region centered on New Orleans, Louisiana's biggest city and top visitor attraction, and encompassing the south east part of the state, including the lower Mississippi River, smaller cities and towns, bayous, wetlands, and nature preserves.

Hard hit by Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the levee system in 2005, recovery has been taking place over many years. Still, a wealth of attractions are available for travellers.

Understand
The city of New Orleans and the surrounding region is the main center of Creole culture in Louisiana. The Louisiana Creole people are from a mix of different ethnic origins, with their culture being largely a fusion of African, Native American, French and Spanish influences.

Roman Catholicism is the largest religion in Greater New Orleans, which makes it stand out together with neighboring Acadiana in contrast to the rest of the largely Evangelical Protestant South.

Talk
English is almost universally spoken and understood; French and Spanish are the most common second languages. Some older residents speak a French-based creole known as Louisiana Creole, though this language is now moribund, and most younger people cannot speak it.

Get in
The major International Airport is in Kenner, a suburb of New Orleans.

Interstate 10 is the main highway in and out from east to west; Interstates 55 and 12 have their southern ends here.

A number of cruise ships dock in New Orleans.

Get around
A private automobile is the best way to get around the region. While the city of New Orleans can be enjoyably experienced without a car, outside of the city transport options for those without a vehicle range from inconvenient to non-existent.

See

 * New Orleans has a wealth of attractions, detailed in that city's articles.
 * Jefferson Parish to the west of New Orleans, is where you can find Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY), in Kenner, and also Metairie, home to antebellum houses, golf courses, and Lakeside Mall. Further away are bayou towns and the Gulf coast island of Grand Isle.
 * Saint Bernard Parish is has the city of Chalmette, site of the historic "Battle of New Orleans" in 1815, and is home of Louisiana's distinctive Isleño culture.
 * Plaquemines Parish offers historic plantations and forts, tasty citrus fruit, and fishing at the end of the Mississippi River.
 * Old plantations line the old River Roads on either side of the Mississippi River north of New Orleans towards Baton Rouge

Do
Visit the historic French Quarter complete with St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Café du Monde, and of course, Bourbon Street.

The Central Business District (Downtown) is home to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (home of the Saints), Smoothie King Center (home of the Pelicans), the National World War II Museum, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and Insectarium, and several casinos near the Mississippi River.

Uptown is known for the charming and historic architecture of its homes as well as its stately live oaks. New Orleans' famous streetcars traverse through Uptown on St. Charles Avenue, and Carrollton Avenue. The famous Audubon Zoo is also located here. If you happen to visit during February or March, Mardi Gras parades should be placed high on your bucket list.

Eat
New Orleans, and wider Louisiana, has the best food in the US, with more selections than you can count.

Stay safe
New Orleans may seem very enjoyable and fun, but there are many parts you don't want to go to. New Orleans has one of the country's highest murder rates. It is also best to be out of the French Quarter by 9:30 PM or so; locals say that nothing good happens in the Quarter after midnight.

Go next

 * Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital
 * Acadiana, Louisiana's "Cajun country", to the west
 * Florida Parishes, across Lake Pontchartrain
 * Biloxi, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, about an hour to the east

title: Greater New Orleans


text:
Greater Oklahoma City

Greater Oklahoma City is in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma and includes Oklahoma City as well as the surrounding towns, cities and suburbs.

Understand
Greater Oklahoma City consists of Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Noble, Moore, El Reno, Yukon, and Midwest City. If you have any questions regarding these cities call these numbers

title: Greater Oklahoma City


text:
Greater Phoenix

Greater Phoenix is a region of Arizona surrounding Phoenix. The total area accounts for 4.8 million residents (2020 census) and is the 11th-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Thanks to the recent housing boom and bettered economic conditions in the area, approximately 100,000 people move to the region every month, making it one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States.

Greater Phoenix/the Phoenix Metropolitan Area is also commonly referred to as "The Valley", the "Valley of the Sun", the "Salt River Valley" or just "Metro Phoenix".

Phoenix

 * – the capital and largest city in Arizona.

West Valley

 * – includes Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand.
 * – includes Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand.
 * – includes Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand.
 * – includes Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand.
 * – includes Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand.
 * – includes Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand.
 * – includes Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand.
 * – includes Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand.
 * – includes Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand.

By plane

For Alternative airports and Private aviation listings throughout Greater Phoenix, see: Phoenix - By plane

By car
There are 7 main routes into the Phoenix area:

 * I-10.svg Interstate 10 (I-10); a cross-country route running east-west across Arizona. It originates in Los Angeles and runs through the city and continues to Tucson and Las Cruces, NM. It continues to Jacksonville, Florida. Most major freeway in Phoenix, provides access to downtown.
 * I-17.svg Interstate 17 (I-17); an intrastate route running north from Phoenix to Flagstaff. Subject to closure in the winter; hazardous during snowstorms.
 * US 60.svg U.S. Route 60 (US 60, or "the 60") running (generally) east-west across Arizona, east of downtown Phoenix it is known as the Superstition Freeway and runs to Globe and New Mexico, east of the Valley. From downtown Phoenix it goes northwest to Wickenburg (known as the Phoenix-Wickenburg Highway, runs as arterial street Grand Ave through the city). The Superstition Freeway is the widest freeway in Arizona and services the East Valley cities of Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, and Apache Junction. The highway runs further west (ends at I-10 about east of Quartzsite, and further east to Virginia Beach. Portions of this highway through Arizona are set to become the future Interstate 11.
 * Arizona 347.svg AZ-347 (Arizona State Highway 347) is a major state highway running south from Phoenix through Maricopa to meet with AZ-84 which continues to I-8. Watch for dust devils. Stop the car during dust storms.
 * Arizona 87.svg AZ-87 (Arizona State Highway 87) is a major thoroughfare serving the East Valley. It enters the area in Mesa near the McKellips Rd and Loop 202 interchange and becomes Country Club Dr. It continues south into downtown Mesa, crosses the Superstition Freeway, and enters Chandler, where it becomes Arizona Ave. It continues south through downtown Chandler and exits the metro area at Hunt Highway, where it continues southeast toward Tucson and has an interchange with I-10 near Picacho Peak, about northwest of downtown Tucson. To the north, it continues as a divided highway in freeway grade to Payson, and becomes a scenic route through the mountains to Winslow and ends at Second Mesa in the Navajo Nation. Great alternative to I-17 if there are delays. Subject to closure in the winter; hazardous during snowstorms.
 * Arizona 85.svg AZ-85 (Arizona State Highway 85) is a major state highway that runs between Buckeye, in the West Valley, south to Gila Bend, a city on I-8 running from San Diego to Casa Grande. This state highway is a freeway for most of its length and provides a quick and more direct route between Phoenix and Yuma or San Diego.
 * Arizona 74.svg AZ-74 (Arizona State Highway 74) is a minor state highway that runs between Morristown and Cave Creek in the North Valley. Great bypass if heading to the North Valley from Las Vegas.

By train
For more information, see: Phoenix - By train

Amtrak passenger train service to Phoenix has been discontinued, making it the largest city without Amtrak service in the US. The nearest station is 35 mi (56 km) south of Phoenix in the town of Maricopa and is connected to Phoenix, Tempe and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport by an Amtrak Thruway shuttle bus (operated by Stagecoach Express) or by taxi.

By bus and rail
The Valley Metro bus system runs through the greater Phoenix area; the Valley Metro Rail light rail line connects Phoenix, Tempe (including Arizona State University) and Mesa. There are major light rail stops in downtown Phoenix, at Sky Harbor Airport, and Arizona State University. Great way to get into downtown from Tempe and Mesa. There are numerous park and rides along the course of the light rail.

By car
Freeways

As with all large cities and metropolitan areas, Phoenix is criscrossed by a myriad of freeways. Some of these are the widest freeways in the United States (most of the Superstition Freeway has seven lanes going each direction, and I-10 going west around the Broadway curve has eight lanes), and as a result, Phoenix is one of the largest cities with the best traffic and commuting times (if not the largest). These freeways include, in addition to I-10, I-17, and US 60:

 * Arizona 101.svg AZ Loop 101 (commonly called "the 101") is a beltway freeway beginning at I-10 and going north through Glendale and Peoria, paralleling the Agua Fria River (Agua Fria Freeway) before turning east and traveling across the North Valley (Pima Freeway). It intersects I-17 and AZ-51 then turns south and heads through Scottsdale and parallels the border of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. It forms the border between Tempe to the west and Mesa to the east, and south of Baseline Road forms the border between Tempe to the west and Chandler to the east (Price Freeway). It ends at Loop 202 in Chandler.
 * Arizona 202.svg AZ Loop 202 (commonly called "the 202") is a beltway freeway primarily servicing the East Valley. It begins at the interchange of I-10, AZ-51, and Loop 202, and runs east along the north side of Tempe and roughly parallel to the Salt River and Tempe Town Lake. It has major intersections with AZ-143, which services Sky Harbor Airport and Loop 101. It also has an exit onto Sky Harbor Blvd which goes directly into Sky Harbor Airport, and provides an easy access point for people in the East Valley. After Loop 101, it runs along the north side of Mesa, between the city and the wilderness (Red Mountain Freeway). It turns south and intersects US 60 near the Maricopa-Pinal County Line and continues south until it intersects AZ-24, where it turns west. It runs through the south side of Gilbert, enters Chandler near Gilbert Rd, and intersects Loop 101 a few miles later (Santan Freeway). It continues through I-10 (which runs north-south through this part) and skirts along the south slope of South Mountain before turning north and ending at I-10 (which runs east-west through this part).
 * Arizona 303.svg AZ Loop 303 (commonly called "the 303") is a beltway freeway that services the West Valley. It begins at I-10 near Goodyear and runs north (Bob Stump Memorial Freeway) near the edge of the city, then turns east and heads through wilderness areas before meeting up with I-17 at the extreme north end of the Phoenix metro area, just south of AZ-74.
 * Arizona 51.svg AZ-51 (Arizona State Highway 51) is a freeway going north out of downtown Phoenix, through the Phoenix Mountains, and terminating at Loop 101 in the North Valley. Runs roughly parallel to I-17.
 * Arizona 143.svg AZ-143 (Arizona State Highway 143) is a short freeway running between I-10 and Loop 202 just east of Sky Harbor Airport. It provides access to the airport and facilities in the vicinity.

Arterial streets

The Phoenix metro area is laid out in a grid of one mile by one mile squares with shopping at the major corners. Roads run the length of the Valley. Roads sometimes change names when entering a new city, and will definitely change direction. On a stretch of Warner Road, in the East Valley, it begins as W Warner Rd in Tempe, but becomes E Warner Rd after crossing the 000 marker. It then becomes W Warner Rd after crossing into Chandler, but becomes E Warner Rd after crossing AZ-87 (Arizona Ave). When it crosses McQueen Rd it enters Gilbert, but becomes W Warner Rd again. Then once it crosses Gilbert Rd, it becomes E Warner Rd again. Always make sure to check whether the road is N, S, E, or W and what your destination's road is. Also make sure to check the city.

In the North Valley and the West Valley, the roads running north-south are numbered streets to the east of Central Ave and numbered avenues to the west of Central Ave. Double-check if your destination is on a numbered street or avenue and don't read the street signs wrong. 94th Ave and Thunderbird Rd (in Peoria) can be over an hour away from 94th Street and Thunderbird Rd (in Scottsdale) depending on traffic.

Directions are usually given by telling how many miles to go before a turn, and giving the intersection that your destination is closest to.

See
The Phoenix area has a lot of local and regional attractions. Some "must see" attractions include:

The Phoenix Zoo (Phoenix) is the largest privately-owned, non-profit zoo in the United States. It showcases 3000 animals spanning five exhibits. Located in Papago Park. Best times to go are in spring and fall (or winter if you live someplace cold).

The Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball is always a fun attraction. Ride the light rail in from Mesa, Tempe, or northwest Phoenix and grab a bite to eat in downtown. Watch Madison Bumgarner and Ketel Marte. Chase Field also has a batting cage for kids and a play area.

The Arizona Cardinals Football is the next sports team in the area. Get loud at the Cardinals games (or get loud against them and for your team) till you've screamed yourself hoarse. Watch Kyler Murray and Hollywood Brown do their thing. Grab a beer and join in on a tailgate party.

The Phoenix Suns Basketball is the third professional sports team in Phoenix and boy are they hot!

The Hale Centre Theatre is an iconic feature of the Phoenix entertainment sector. This 350-seat theater hosts some of the most famous plays -- done to top notch perfection. There are great restaurants in the area so you can grab a bite to eat.

Do
The area also has a lot to do. If you are an outdoors enthusiast, this is the place for you! Some things to do are:

Hike on South Mountain, the large ridge that rises directly to the south of downtown Phoenix (hence the name South Mountain). It is the site of a large park and preserve. Over 50 miles (80 km) of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding traverse the park, as well as roads leading to trailheads. Dobbins Lookout, elevation can be a little crowded, and rightly so. This vantage point affords visitors unobstructed panoramic views of The Valley.

Salt River Lakes: the Salt River is dry through the Valley, but just east (anywhere from 1-2 hours into the Superstition Mountains) there are four lakes created by damming of the Salt River. These lakes are, in order beginning closest to Phoenix, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, and Theodore Roosevelt Lake, with this one being the largest. These lakes offer kayaking, swimming, fishing, jet skiing, and other water activities in the height of summer. Water level is significantly lower in summer and during dry periods. Roads leading to these lakes are subject to closure in the winter.

Tortilla Flat is a remnant of an Old West stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail (AZ-88). It is now an iconic tourist destination near the Valley. With a population of 6 (yes, there are people who live here), this is a tiny town with a big reach. There is a gift shop, restaurant/saloon, country store, and museum. Don't forget to see the wallpaper made from dollar bills of people around the world, taste the prickly pear gelato, and sit on a saddle barstool. You'll be yee-hawing all the way back and dreaming of Buffalo Bill at night. Great for a lunch outing. It is about an hour and ten minutes from downtown.

Phoenix is surrounded by many Indian reservations and as a result, there are numerous casinos on the edge of town. Two of them are located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Reservation just east of Scottsdale, and there are four in the Gila River Indian Community. Additionally, there is one in the West Valley on Tohono O'Odham land, and there is another one in the works. Some of these casinos also provide lodging.

Eat
Because Phoenix is such a large city, it has just about every restaurant imaginable. But when you travel to Phoenix, be sure to stop in at a restaurant that serves Authentic Mexican Food. Because of its close proximity to Mexico, the Phoenix area has a high concentration of Hispanic immigrants. This means that there are a lot of Mexican restaurants in the city. Like, a lot. If it is authentic Mexican food, and the restaurant doesn't look sketchy (like people go there in their pajamas at 3AM to get a burrito and swear at everybody) and the area doesn't look sketchy, then the food is bound to be good and worth your business.

Sleep
Phoenix also has a lot of hotels because of its size and draw. There are also hotels in many of the major shopping areas, and they provide access to many shops and restaurants. Most hotels in the area provide airport transportation, but always check to make sure. As with all major cities a variety of accommodations are available and many hotels are located near the airport for easy access.

Go next
Outside the Greater Phoenix area and within Arizona:

 * For cooler temperatures (sub-100 °F (38 °C) in the summer, snow in the winter), head north towards Prescott, Sedona or Flagstaff in Northern Arizona area, or head east towards Alpine and Hannagan Meadow in the Mogollon Rim area. Payson, about an hour and a half northeast, has sledding and skiing. Sedona's iconic red rocks are stunning any time of year
 * For Arizona's mountains and canyons, head north past Flagstaff to "The Big Ditch" the Grand Canyon, or even further north to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and the North Rim.
 * For more of the Sonoran Desert or Arizona's Old West, head to the "Old Pueblo" of Tucson in South Central Arizona, or Tombstone in Southeast Arizona, or Yuma in Western Arizona.
 * For some time on the water, the Colorado River downstream of the Grand Canyon has activities at Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Boulder City, Nevada, the Bullhead City/Laughlin area, Lake Havasu City, and wildlife refuges along the Colorado River in the Western Arizona region.

Beyond Arizona:

 * For other metropolitan areas, you may want to visit Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Albuqerque. Adventurous people may try to reach Denver, Colorado Springs, Fresno, or San Francisco. Very adventurous people (or perhaps college students staying awake with Starbucks and Red Bull) might try to reach Dallas or Oklahoma City (not recommended. It is best to overnight in El Paso, Las Cruces, Amarillo, or Albuquerque).
 * Or for the ocean beaches in Los Angeles or San Diego, or of the Gulf of California in Puerto Peñasco (also known as Rocky Point) in Sonora, Mexico.

title: Greater Phoenix


text:
Wielkopolskie

Wielkopolskie is a voivodeship (province) in the west of Poland, whose name is derived from the historic and geographic region of Greater Poland. The regional capital is Poznań. It is the birthplace of Polish state being the first seat of Piast Dynasty rulers from which it expanded. The region has strong German influences due to 19th century occupation, especially in cuisine. Home to over 100 cities and towns its residents hold specific sense of regional pride and patriotism, result of general prosperity and industriousness of the province. In terms of economy it has strong electromachinery (cars, trains, buses), warehousing and agricultural industries.

Major

 * — capital of the Greater Poland Voivodship, with a history going back to the end of the 9th century, full of monuments from all epochs, including the oldest Polish church, a cathedral built in the 960s, beautiful Gothic and Baroque Old Town and buildings from around the turn of the 20th century erected by Prussians.
 * — historic capital of Poland in 10th–11th century with the oldest archcathedral (from the year 1000), famous for its chapels and bronze Gniezno Door from 12th century, a modern and interactive Museum of the Beginnings of Poland, picturesquely situated between lakes
 * — second-largest city, popularly regarded as the oldest continuous Polish settlement
 * — Baroque town
 * — Baroque town
 * — Baroque town

Other places of interest

 * — town close to Poznań with a Gothic church, castle and large dendrological park. Also many lakes with developed water infrastructure.
 * — a small village close to Poznań with a Baroque Cysterian monastery and neglected noble estate
 * — world-famous for its working steam trains depot, the only one in Europe still in operation; also offers wonderful lakes, an open-air museum and the Robert Koch Museum
 * — world-famous for its working steam trains depot, the only one in Europe still in operation; also offers wonderful lakes, an open-air museum and the Robert Koch Museum
 * — world-famous for its working steam trains depot, the only one in Europe still in operation; also offers wonderful lakes, an open-air museum and the Robert Koch Museum

Other destinations

 * — the largest church in Poland and major pilgrimage site
 * — beautiful renaissance castle, European bison enclosure and the aurochs stockyard
 * — Ethnographic Park showcasing traditional 18th- and 19th-century architecture and windmills
 * — the biggest operating salt mine in Poland, with guided tours
 * — remnants of the Duke's palace and a fortress from the early history of Poland, together with 2 preserved baptismal fonts from the 960s
 * — Baroque palace of noble magnate Raczyński, complete with a park and some of the oldest (about 800 years old) oak trees in Poland
 * — national park protecting the wildlife of the Greater Poland Lakes, close to the interwar villa suburb of Puszczykowo

History
The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied throughout history. The region roughly coincides with the present-day Wielkopolskie voivodeship, although some parts of historic Greater Poland are within the Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubuskie and Zachodniopomorskie voivodeships.

Originally, during the first decades of the Polish state the region was called "Poland" ("Polska" in Polish; the name comes from the word "pole" - a field, which means, that the tribe (Polans - in Polish "Polanie") forming the Polish state was an agricultural one. The name was changed to "Wielkopolska" ("Greater Poland") later on, during the reign of Przemysł II at the end of 13th century. Nevertheless, the region was the cradle of Poland - here the first cities were founded. The first capitals, Gniezno, Poznań, Ostrów Lednicki, are in Greater Poland as well.

Cities like Biskupin and Kalisz in this region date back to the 7th century BC and 1st century after Christ, respectively. Greater Poland was the also the core of the early medieval Kingdom of Poland and is often regarded as the cradle of Poland, as the Polish Piast Dynasty emerged in the 9th century in this region, conquering the other Polish provinces in the 10th century. The first Polish capitals and church centers were in Giecz, Gniezno and Poznań. However, Poland's capital moved to Kraków in Lesser Poland in 1040.

When in 1138 Poland was divided in duchies united by the rule of the senior, Greater Poland became an independent duchy, and few decades later there were two small states with capitals in Poznań and Kalisz - for most of the time Gniezno - the third biggest city in the region at that time belonged to the Kalisz duchy. Greater Poland was also a core of the restoring of the kingdom in 1295 and for short time became again the capital of Poland, as the king Przemysł II came from the Greater Polish branch of the Piast dynasty. In the beginning of the 14th century Greater Poland became a voivodeship of the Kingdom of Poland.

In the period between 15th and 17th centuries, when many wars affected central and eastern Poland, the Greater Poland was spared, which helped grow and expand the cities and the region. Thus, many cities and towns in region are dominated by Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

During the Second Partition of Poland in 1793 much of its territory was annexed by Prussia, but briefly regained independence as part of the Duchy of Warsaw between 1807–1815. After the Congress of Vienna it was again annexed by Prussia. Opposition to occupation took unusual form contrary to other regions of Poland as local residents "fought" with occupant within the legal framework, creating local enterprises, using legal tricks (for example Prussia forbade Poles from building houses) and built international recognition of Poland. The region was a part of the Prussian state and later German Empire till 1919, when a successful Greater Poland Uprising (27th December 1918 to June 1919) enabled it to join the reborn Poland.

Following World War I it became part of the short-lived Second Polish Republic, however it failed to bridge gaps between western and eastern parts of voivodeship which belonged to different empires. Soon it was annexed by Nazi Germany as "Warthegau" after the Nazi-Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939. It was restored to Poland in 1945.

The Poznań June, an anti-Soviet uprising, took place in 1956, prompting the beginning of the Hungarian Uprising that followed this event. After collapse of communism in 1989 its proximity to now united Germany attracted lots of foreign investment, especially in electromachinery and warehousing industries beginning prosperity period in the region. Additional European Union funds provided since 2004 helped bring gap between Greater Poland and Western Europe especially in terms of infrastructure.

Climate
Climate in the Greater Poland is much milder than average in Poland and much milder than expected by most of the visitors, who join Poland with Siberian frosts. In fact: severe frosts (minus 10-15C) last in the region no more than 10-12 days yearly, there hasn't been for a few years a seriously lasting snow cover - it's mostly snow inconvenient from sledge, not to mention skiing. Spring is usually short, quickly turning into pretty warm summer. In June, July and August expect quite high temperatures (reaching even 30-32C) and periods of drought. Autumn can be both rainy and foggy (so suitable for guests from the UK) and sunny and mild (16-18C).

Talk
As Polish has been homogenized after the many large-scale population movements after World War II and the development of mass media, there is not much left of regional variations of the language. That said, some vocabulary remains specific to Wielkopolskie, mostly nouns and verbs derived from German. However, the knowledge of those is not required to get by.

The German legacy and closeness to the border leads to a higher prevalence of German-speakers than in eastern regions of Poland. English is spoken by most of the younger generation, and by those in service jobs, although not necessarily in state-owned enterprises like the railways or post offices.

By plane
Poznań-Ławica airport is main international airport in the region with scheduled connections to many cities in Europe including hub in Frankfurt  and flights to London Luton  and Stansted  airports. It is mostly served by Ryanair and other low costs though some legacy carrier flights may be found, usually by LOT Airlines or Lufthansa. Airport is located inside city and thus easy to reach with transfer connection (lines 159, 148) to main train and bus station. Another options are Warsaw-Chopin and Berlin-Brandenburg  airports with both cities well connected to Poznań with both bus and train connections about 3 hour long ride away.

By train
The main railway hub in the region is Poznań Główny station, which is also one of the largest train stations in Poland thanks to its central position thus providing ample connections with virtually all larger cities in Poland including Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Kraków and Szczecin. Daily international connections to Berlin, Munich, Zurich, Amsterdam and Innsbruck with Deutsche Bahn are also available, however transfers may be unreliable due to delays in Germany. Domestic trains also usually stop in Leszno, Gniezno, Piła, Kalisz and Konin as well and these cities should be easily reachable. The fast (pospieszny in polish) trains stop as well in smaller towns however it is best to consult timetables.

By car
Wielkopolskie is easily reachable by car from any direction by A2 (Berlin, Warsaw) and S5 (Gdańsk, Wrocław) motorways. Note that A2 motorway is quite expensive at about €12 to reach Poznań from either direction. Southeastern and northwestern parts of voivodeship including cities of Kalisz and Piła are trickier to reach and will require using narrow and congested regional roads.

By bus
The bus station in Poznań is served by international connections from nearly whole Western and Central Europe including cities of Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Paris, Prague and Vilnius usually operated by Flixbus or Ecolines. There are also frequent connections to virtually any regional city in Ukraine provided by Ukrainian carriers. Domestic connections are available to any larger city and usually are served by Flixbus, Ecolines or Sindbad. Though it may be better to use train inside Poland as it is usually cheaper and faster than bus. Bus stations in other cities serve only local destinations and may have slow connection (if any) with Poznań.

By train
Trains are the basic mean of transportation in the region. Main regional carrier is Koleje Wielkopolskie which provide services to most major towns and cities in Wielkopolskie. Typical frequency is once in every 2-3 hours with furthest stations (Kalisz, Kutno) being reached after 1½ hour ride. Certain stations closer to Poznań are also part of PKM (Poznań Metropolitan Rail), these are served twice as frequently. Polregio is another regional carrier similar to Koleje Wielkopolskie however it often reaches outside voivodeship. Many larger stations can also be reached by PKP Intercity. It is more expensive and has more delays than others, however on some routes it may be much faster than regional rail. If station has open ticket booths you should buy your ticket there as operating company will incur additional fee at conductor for buying tickets.

The main and the most important junction is Poznań Główny station, through which nearly all trains in the region pass. Other important junctions are; Leszno, Ostrów Wielkopolski and Piła which offer many good connections as well.

By bus
Buses are mostly used for short to medium distance travel and usually connect small towns and villages with main cities of the region e.g. (Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Piła, Leszno). Poznań and its suburbs (powiat poznański) are well served by municipal buses, including in night hours. In the rest of the region it is a patchwork of private companies with driver and a minibus, local municipal bus companies and leftovers of regional bus companies (PKS). There are few inter-regional connections between cities and towns and these are too unreliable and rare to depend on during travel. Often towns located as close as 5 km from themselves will be reachable only by train (if lucky), through larger city, or by foot/car. Connections between larger cities are also non-existent and you will have to rely on other modes of transportation for these.

By car
Car is probably the most reliable and comfortable method of transportation in whole province. Some places like Ostrów Lednicki are only reachable by car as they have no public transport connection. Fuel prices are one of the lowest in Poland and by extension European Union, which is also a factor to consider. Quality of infrastructure varies and is best in central part of voivodeship around Poznań, while worst quality roads are in southeast around Kalisz, which is long ride away from everything. Driving in centre of Poznań should be avoided by car as it is slow to navigate and has expensive parking spots, driving in other cities should be fine. You may also prefer to use DK92 to A2 as they cover similar areas, but DK is free and has no annoying toll booths, however in exchange it is less safe and more congested.

See
The pearls of the region are the first co-capitals (plural!!) of Poland from 10th-11th century with many monuments referring to the beginnings of the Polish State:
 * Two most important centres of the first Poland: Gniezno and Poznań
 * other, which used to be important in early Middle Ages, nowadays - small villages: Giecz (40 km eastwards from Poznań) and Ostrów Lednicki – on the way from Poznań to Gniezno.

Smaller towns with interesting monuments, events and traditions:
 * Kórnik (18 km south-east from Poznań) with a neogothic castle with wonderful interiors and furniture and a dendrological park and - last but not least - with an extremely precious Library with manuscripts dating back to the 13th century
 * Rogalin (16 km to the south from the city) with a baroque-klasicistic palace and its famous painting collection of Raczyński family, horse cabs and very famous oaks (in total: more than 500), including three well-known trees: Lech, Czech and Rus.
 * Puszczykowo (15 km to the south very easily accessible by train) - a very interesting travel museum of a polish traveler Arkady Fedler, the seat of the management of Greater-Poland National Park with a nature museum.
 * Swarzędz (just out of the city limits to the east, toward Warsaw) - a small city famous for the unique in Poland (and one of few in Europe) bee-keeping open-air museums.
 * Nowy Tomyśl with the biggest basket of the world and the Basketry Museum
 * Szamotuły - a town 35 km NW of Poznan with an incredible Icon Museum, Halszka Tower and collegiate church

In Greater Poland it's worth sometimes to drive out of main roads to see e.g.:
 * palaces in Dobrzyca, Śmiełów, Gołuchów or Antonin
 * Szreniawa (15 km to the south-west) - famous for the Agriculture Museum and the Bierbaums-family viewing tower
 * Kazimierz Biskupi near Konin with an old romanesque church
 * Kłodawa with the biggest working salt mine in Poland
 * Tarnowo Pałuckie with the oldest wooden church in the country
 * Wełna with a unique water mills museum situated on a popular canoe trail along Wełna river

Another thing interesting for history-lovers can be the Greater Poland part of the Cistercian Route. In the region the main places on the route are: Wągrowiec, Lekno (where the first Cistercian monastery on polish territories was erected), Owinska - all three north-east of Poznań and Przemet, Obra and Wielen in the south-west part of the region, nearby Wolsztyn. Another monastery was placed in Lad - 70 km east of Poznań, just next to motorway A2.

Do
Greater Poland has a lot to offer for all train-lovers. First: the regions owes the steam-engine depot in Wolsztyn, which is the only one operating in Poland. More: daily there are several regular courses (so not tourist trains) from Wolsztyn to Poznań aln Leszno.

Besides the region offers the biggest number of operating narrow gauge railways:
 * Stare Bojanowo - Smigiel - Wielichowo (SKPL)
 * Środa Wielkopolska - Zaniemyśl
 * Pleszew - Pleszew Miasto (SKPL)
 * Opatowek - Turek (SKPL)
 * Gniezno - Witkowo
 * and nearby Bialosliwie (Piła region) mailto: zarzad@twkp.most.org.pl

The railways marked above are owned by SKPL company, which is the first private rail operator in Poland. More informations (Polish only) can be found:. Both SKPL and other operators can organize (on request) special trains for groups.

Another thing to do is active tourism, which is very easy to do in the region. Greater Poland is known very well for its network of cycle trails: Several trains on the routes from Wolsztyn to Poznan (departures from Wolsztyn appr. 5:30 and appr. 11:30, and from Poznan appr. 9:30 and 15:30) and from Wolsztyn to Leszno (departure from Wolsztyn appr. 6:00, back from Leszno appr. 15:30) are served - as the only ones in Poland - by steam locomotives. (Departures are given "appr." because of frequent timetable changes, which are the result of many track-works, especially in the Poznań junction).
 * The One-Hundred-Lakes Trails leading from Poznań north west to the Miedzychod-Sierakow Lake District
 * The Piast Trails from Poznań through Ostrów Lednicki, Gniezno to Mogilno and to Kruszwica in the neighbouring Kujawy region.
 * The trans-wielkopolska trail from the northernmost parts of the region north of Piła to Poznań
 * The trans-wielkopolska trail from Poznań, through Jarocin, Gołuchów, Kalisz to picturesque Ostrzeszów Hills in the south of Greater Poland
 * The Nobility trail – linking many preserved palaces of nobility families in the central and southern parts of the region, starting in Mosina (18km south of Poznań) leading south through Leszno to Rawicz
 * The Amber trail – linking tourist places in the east of Greater Poland from Kalisz to Konin
 * The Warta trail – from Poznań more or less exactly along Warta river to the south and east, ending in Koło

Eat
Regional cuisine borrows heavily from German one and is based around two ingredients: potatoes and dairy, with heavy emphasis on former. Many of below mentioned dishes were created in 19th century as a result of introduction of potatoes in Prussia and influx of German migrants into Greater Poland.

St. Martin's Croissant - famous pastry with long history dating to pre-Christian times. Their shape was supposed to resemble ox horns, later Catholic church associated it with lost horseshoe of St. Martin's horse. It is made with white poppy seeds, raisins, orange peel, walnuts, biscuit crumbs, eggs and almond flavour. Traditionally baked on 11th November for namesday of St. Martin and donated to poor. Croissants can have certification, however you may prefer to look for non-certified croissants, as the protected recipe was unfortunately rearranged to cut corners and uses margarine instead of traditional butter.

Pyry z gzikiem - potatoes with cottage cheese, very simple regional dish originating in 19th century. Potatoes are often unpeeled. Best eaten in summer, or early autumn when potatoes are fresh and tender. Served with handful of dill and pepper.

Golonka po wielkopolsku - boiled pork knuckle, borrowed from and similar to German Eisbein. Hearty and fat regional dish boiled over long time. Half way through boiling carrots, onions, leek and spices are added. Served with cabbage, peas, horseradish and mustard. There are many restaurants which specialise in golonka.

Ser smażony (Roasted cheese) - crushed cheese (twaróg) left over for few days then roasted on butter and mixed with egg yolk. Sometimes cumin is included too. Very intense smell and taste. Also sold in stores as Wielkopolski ser smażony.

Szagówki - named so because the dough is cut at angle. Dumplings made from potatoes. Usually eaten sweet with smetana and sugar. Can also be eaten savoury alongside pork or beef, in this case it replaces the usual potatoes.

Szare kluchy - Delicate noodles made from potatoes, served with sauerkraut and bacon. Often accompanies more hearty dishes.

Stuffed goose or duck - Polish dish with regional twist. In Greater Poland it is usually served stuffed with apples and served with red cabbage and pyzy - local knödel like yeast bread. It is customary to eat it on 11th November similar to St. Martin's croissants.

Drink
Greater Poland is strong on beer and you should definitely look for local brewed beer. Restaurants and liquor stores usually sell one. It is best to ask seller as these brands may not be easily recognizable.

Stay safe
Greater Poland is quite serene when it comes to crime. Region is relatively prosperous and unemployment is virtually non-existent even in smaller towns. Even bike theft is uncommon. If you are ever to encounter crime it will usually be in Poznań which struggles with clip joint. Stay away from rail neighborhoods as they tend to attract shady people.

Eastern part of voivodeship is less developed and may be less accepting of people of colour or LGBT with city of Konin and its environs being conservative stronghold.

Go next
Greater Poland Voivodeship borders seven other Polish provinces:
 * Dolnośląskie,
 * Opolskie,
 * Łódzkie,
 * Kujawsko-Pomorskie,
 * Pomorskie,
 * Zachodniopomorskie,
 * and Lubuskie.

title: Wielkopolskie


text:
Greater Portland

Greater Portland is a region in Maine around Casco Bay. It is the southern portion of Cumberland County.

title: Greater Portland


text:
Greater Santo Domingo

Greater Santo Domingo is an area of the Dominican Republic containing the capital city of Santo Domingo and its surrounding towns and beaches.

Other destinations

 * El Quemaito
 * El Quemaito
 * El Quemaito
 * El Quemaito
 * El Quemaito
 * El Quemaito

Understand
The city of Santo Domingo is the economic, political, and cultural center of the Dominican Republic, and it is well worth a visit. It was the first European settlement in the Americas, and it consequently possesses a great historical and cultural heritage, its "Zona Colonial" being a UNESCO World Heritage site. Santo Domingo has developed very quickly, and is earning itself the nickname of the new "Miami" of the Caribbean. Places to see in Santo Domingo include the first cathedral, street, fortress, monastery, convent and university in the new world, as well Columbus's residence at the Alcazar de Colon, all visible in the Zona Colonial. You should also visit the Santo Domingo Malecón, the upscale malls and restaurants of downtown Santo Domingo, and the Faro a Colon--which houses Columbus's remains.

While Santo Domingo doesn't have a beach of its own, the beach town of Boca Chica is about a half-hour drive away. Boca Chica is filled with nice and trendy restaurants--such as Boca Marina, El Neptuno and Aura--that are not to be missed by any tourist staying in Santo Domingo for more than a few days. The Hotel Hamaca in Boca Chica is the closest large beach hotel to the city of Santo Domingo. Further East from Santo Domingo is the beach town of Juan Dolio, which has witnessed an increased development trying to emulate a Miami beach-like skyline. These new areas of high development are known as "Villas del Mar." Those who are interested in boats and yachts should visit the "Club Nautico" in Boca Chica, as it has had a huge face-lift, and has restaurants and bars. Other nice beaches close to Santo Domingo are Guayacanes, right by Juan Dolio, and Playa Caribe, popular among surfers. Be careful, as Playa Caribe is known to have very strong waves and currents, and is considered to be a rather dangerous beach. Concerts and parties often take place on the beach of Playa Caribe.

For more adventurous tourists who like to get off the beaten track, the town of Baní to the West can provide with a unique and possibly unexpected adventure: the town is surrounded by desert dunes facing the Caribbean Sea, which offer great dune-bashing opportunities. The town of Bani itself is often considered to be one of the most beautiful small towns in the country. Also, the neighboring beach of Playa Salinas is quite unique, as it functions as a natural salt mine.

title: Greater Santo Domingo


text:
Greater Toronto Area

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is centred on the city of Toronto, in Ontario's Golden Horseshoe. It is generally considered to extend west to the border with Hamilton, east to the border of Port Hope, and north to the shore of Lake Simcoe. It is by far Canada's most populous urban/suburban area, with 6.7 million inhabitants (2021); nearly half of Ontario's population. The GTA is a commercial, distribution, financial and economic centre, and is the second largest financial centre in North America.

Cities

 * — founded around a World War II munitions factory, it grew into a bedroom community for Toronto after the war
 * — one of Canada's fastest-growing cities with a significant Sikh and Indian population
 * — a pleasant, wealthy suburban community that is home to the amazing Royal Botanical Gardens
 * — a growing suburban community and technology centre with several charming heritage districts, and a significant Chinese population
 * — Toronto's largest suburb and Canada's sixth largest city
 * — its Main Street Heritage Conservation District includes several historic sites
 * — an affluent suburb of Toronto whose downtown has a quaint, small-town atmosphere
 * — the home of a massive auto manufacturing facility that has been gradually closing down through the 2010s, it is trying to transition to an education and health sciences hub.
 * — the city bordering Toronto, it is also home to the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station
 * — a growing suburban town with a significant Chinese and Persian population.
 * — famous as the home of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, with a significant Italian and Russian-Jewish population.
 * — during the Second World War, it was the location of Camp X, a secret spy training facility established by the "Man Called Intrepid".

Understand
Greater Toronto consists of the City of Toronto and four surrounding regional municipalities: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York; which in total contain 25 urban, suburban and rural municipalities.

The region generates about a fifth of Canada's GDP and is home to 40% of Canada's business headquarters. In 2010, over half of the labour force in the Greater Toronto Area was employed in the service sector, with 19% in the manufacturing, 17% of the labour force employed in wholesale & retail trade, 8% of the labour force involved in transportation, communication & utilities, and 5% of the workforce was involved in construction.

The Toronto CMA also has the largest proportions of foreign-born residents (46%) as a share of the total population out of all metropolitan areas in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

History
The Greater Toronto Area was home to a number of First Nations (Indigenous) groups who lived on the shore of Lake Ontario long before the first Europeans arrived in the region. At various times the Neutral, Seneca, Mohawk and Huron nations were living in the vicinity. The Mississaugas arrived in the late 17th or early 18th century, driving out the Iroquois.

By the 17th century, the area was a crucial point for travel, with the Humber and Rouge River providing a shortcut to Lake Simcoe and the upper Great Lakes. These routes were known as the Toronto Passage. The area would later become very crucial for its series of trails and water routes that led from northern and western Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Known as the "Toronto Passage", it followed the Humber River, as an important overland shortcut between Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe and the upper Great Lakes. For this reason area became a hot spot for French fur traders. The French established two trading forts, Magasin Royal in the 1720s, although abandoned within the decade and Fort Rouillé in the 1750s, which was burnt down and abandoned in 1759 by the French garrison, who were retreating from invading British forces.

The first large influx of European settlers to settle the region were the United Empire Loyalists arriving after the American Revolution, when various individuals petitioned the Crown for land in the Toronto area. In 1787, the British negotiated the purchase of more than a quarter million acres (1,000 km²) of land in the area of Toronto with the Mississaugas of New Credit.

Climate
The Greater Toronto Area is classified as a humid continental climate. In winter, which begins in December and ends in March, typical high temperatures will range from −5 to 2 °C (23 to 36 °F) and low temperatures from −11 to −6 °C (12 to 21 °F). Occasional cold spells hold daytime highs below −10 °C (14 °F) for several days, while low temperatures sometimes drop below −18 °C (0 °F). Mild spells are also a feature of Toronto's winter, with temperatures occasionally surpassing 5 °C (41 °F) for several days. Spring is short and often mild, although snow sometimes falls as late as April. Summer is warm, sometimes hot and humid and begins in June and ends in late September. High temperatures typically range from 24 °C (75 °F) to 31 °C (88 °F) while low temperatures hover around 15 °C (59 °F) in the suburbs and 18–20 °C (64–68 °F) downtown and near the lake. Although fairly sunny, summers do feature occasional heavy, thundery showers. Heat wave conditions featuring temperatures between 32 °C (90 °F) and 35 °C (95 °F) are not uncommon. Temperatures are lower near the lake and higher inland. Although rare, the mercury sometimes rises above 38 °C (100 °F). Autumn alternates between wet and dry periods. Temperatures fall sharply in November and by December, cold and snowy weather is common. The summer of 2016 was one of the hottest summers on record with 38 days at or above 30 °C (86 °F).

By plane

 * Toronto Pearson International Airport is the area's major international airport, in Mississauga. It is well-served by many North American and international airlines.
 * Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is on the Toronto Islands, connected to the Harbourfront by ferry and pedestrian tunnel. It is much closer to downtown Toronto, but there are far few airlines and flight options than Pearson.  Airlines mostly serve airports in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, as well as Boston, Chicago, New York-Newark, and Washington DC.

By bus

 * Flixbus, Megabus, Ontario Northland, Red Arrow, and Rider Express provide intercity service focused on the Toronto Union Station Bus Terminal. Some trips also serve Mississauga, North York, or Scarborough.
 * GO Transit provides regular regional transit services by bus, extending to a few locations outside the region. Major terminals are in downtown Toronto, North York, Mississauga, Burlington, and Oshawa.

By train
Trains serving the Greater Toronto generally use Toronto Union station as their terminus station.
 * Amtrak operates the Maple Leaf train service daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and New York City include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls (Ontario), Niagara Falls (New York), Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers.
 * See Rail travel in Canada for more details. Train routes operating to Toronto:
 * Between Montreal and Toronto including stops in Dorval, Cornwall, Brockville, Kingston, Belleville, Cobourg, and Oshawa.
 * Between Ottawa and Toronto including stops in Smiths Falls, Brockville, Gananoque, Kingston, Napanee, Belleville, Trenton, Cobourg, Port Hope, and Oshawa.
 * Between Sarnia and Toronto including stops in London, St. Marys, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton, and Mississauga.
 * Between Vancouver and Toronto on The Canadian, which operates several trips per week.
 * Between Windsor and Toronto including stops in Chatham, London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Brantford, Burlington, and Oakville.

By car
The entire region is connected to the rest of Ontario by modern highways and major roads. Highway 401 connects Windsor with Quebec, through Halton, Peel, Toronto and Durham. Highway 400 is the route to cottage country, running north to Barrie and beyond. Many routes are congested even outside of rush hour.

By public transit
GO Transit operates the commuter transit services serving municipalities within and near the GTA. It operates 7 commuter rail lines, radiating from Union Station at the base of Toronto's financial district. The Lakeshore West and Lakeshore East lines operate every day from 6AM to 1AM between Burlington and Pickering. Three other lines have limited mid-day service to Unionville (Markham), Aurora and Brampton. Otherwise, all other GO rail destinations are commuter-oriented, inbound to Union Station during morning rush hour and outbound during evening rush hour. GO buses often complement GO Transit rail service for destinations or time periods not covered by GO trains. Many GO bus route originate at four stations along subway Line 1 Yonge–University; they are Union Station, Yorkdale, York Mills and Highway 407.

There are various local transit operators to serve the different municipalities within the GTA. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the largest, running all the buses, streetcars and subways within Toronto. York Region Transit operates buses in York Region, to the north of Toronto. YRT also runs 6 bus rapid transit (BRT) lines, known as VIVA; most connect to a TTC subway station. Durham Region Transit operates local bus service in Durham Region, east of Toronto, serving cities and towns between Toronto and Oshawa. MiWay operates bus service in Mississauga to the west of Toronto. Most of its services are centred on the Square One shopping centre and many of its routes connect to subway Line 2 Bloor–Danforth at Islington station. Also, to the west of Toronto, there are three small cities (Brampton, Oakville and Burlington) that have their own local bus systems.

Toronto International airport in Mississauga is served by GO commuter buses (to Yorkdale/York Mills), Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto local buses and a TTC bus (at regular fare, $3.25) directly to TTC's Kipling subway station in Toronto/Etobicoke. There's also the UP Express, a train direct to Union Station in Toronto/Downtown with on-board wi-fi (cash fare $12.35, or $9.25 with a Presto card, credit card or mobile app payment, as of Mar 2021).

Presto fare payment system
Presto is an electronic fare payment system used by most transit systems in the Greater Toronto Area plus Hamilton and Ottawa. Presto is used by GO Transit and UP Express and the local transit agencies in Burlington, Brampton, Durham Region, Hamilton (HSR), Oakville, Ottawa (OC transpo), Mississauga (MiWay), Toronto (TTC) and York Region. Presto accepts payment by credit card, debit card, Presto card and (for TTC services only) Presto ticket. When you pay by credit or debit card, the standard fare is charged (i.e. no senior or youth discount available). Presto cards can be set for senior or youth discounts; see the Presto card infobox. For GO Transit and UP Express, you can tap a credit, debit or Presto card on a Presto reader but remember to tap off with the same card at your destination. For other systems such as the TTC that support Presto, tap your card against the Presto reader on the bus, streetcar or when passing through the subway faregates. To avoid accidental double charging, keep any unused credit or debit cards away from the Presto reader, and always use the same card during your trip. If travelling as a group, each rider must use a separate card. Debit card users may be charged a refundable pre-authorization fee.

The Presto ticket (different from the Presto card) is used only on the TTC. Unlike a Presto card, a Presto ticket has no stored value, and can only be used once for a specified period on TTC vehicles; it cannot be used on non-TTC vehicles. See the fares section of the Toronto article for details on Presto tickets.

Presto is not used by Via Rail trains nor by intercity bus routes not operated by GO Transit.

GO Transit
GO Transit operates a system of regional trains and buses within and near the Greater Toronto Area. Many of these services, especially trains, are oriented to weekday commuters travelling to and from downtown Toronto. There is a system map showing GO Transit rail lines and bus routes.

GO trains
The following table summarizes service levels on all seven GO Transit train lines. There may be seasonal variations; riders should check the GO Transit website for precise train times. In the following table: "rush-hour, peak direction" means inbound to Toronto during the morning rush hours, and outbound in the evening; "mid-day bidirectional" means two-way service between the morning and evening rush hours; "limited bi-directional service" means inbound service runs roughly from late morning to mid afternoon and outbound from about noon to early evening; "weekdays" excludes holidays. Trip times are for one-way trips from Toronto Union Station.

For tourists and visitors, GO Transit offers the Niagara Weekend GO Train Service to Niagara Falls year-round.

GO trains operate in trains of 6-to-12 double-decker passenger coaches. Each GO train has a Customer Service Ambassador, who is responsible for making station announcements, answering questions, and dealing with emergencies. The CSA is stationed in the Accessibility car (the 5th car behind the locomotive).

GO buses
The GO bus network is much more extensive than the GO train network serving areas or time periods without GO train services. Most GO bus routes operate out of bus terminals at various locations within and near the Greater Toronto Area.

In many cases, a GO bus will not stop unless you indicate you want to be picked up, even if you are standing at a bus stop. You must flag the bus down by raising your hand or ticket in the air as the bus approaches.

GO Transit bus routes often complement GO train service, or serve communities away from GO train lines. The following is a partial list of GO bus routes:
 * Barrie on route on route #68, transferring at Aurora GO station to the Barrie train route to Toronto, or on route #68B, transferring at East Gwillimbury GO station to route #65 to Toronto. Travel time to Toronto from Barrie is 2.5-2.75 hours.
 * Brantford on route #15, transferring at Aldershot GO station to the Lakeshore West train route to Toronto. Travel to Toronto from Brantford is 2.25 hours.
 * Guelph on route #33. Some trips operate directly to Toronto in 2.75-3.25 hours, including all trips on Saturdays and Sundays. Some trips from Monday to Friday involve a transfer at Mount Pleasant GO station to GO Transit's Kitchener train route with a trip time to Toronto from Guelph of 2.25 hours.
 * Hamilton on route #16 to Toronto in 1-1.25 hours.
 * Kitchener on route #30, available from Monday to Friday only. Transfer is required at Bramlea GO station to reach Toronto, on either GO Transit's Kitchener train route or route #33, depending on which is scheduled for the timed transfer. Travel time to Toronto from Kitchener 2.25 hours if trip involves the Kitchener train route and 2.5 hours if travel involves route #33.
 * Niagara Falls on route #12, transferring at Burlington GO station to the Lakeshore West train to Toronto. Travel to Toronto from Niagara Falls is 2.75-3 hours.
 * Peterborough on route #88, transferring at Oshawa GO station to the Lakeshore East train to Toronto. Travel time to Toronto from Peterborough is 3 hours.

GO fares
GO fares are the same on buses and trains, and are distance-based. Children 12 & under can ride for free on all GO Trains and buses. GO Transit does not have ticket counters at railway and bus stations, GO trains and buses have no on-board ticket vending machines, and bus operators do not accept cash.

Fares can be paid and validated by tapping a credit, debit or Presto card (more details at previous link) on a Presto fare reader, which are available at GO train station or platform entrance, and at the front of a GO bus. Unlike for credit and debit cards, Presto cards can be configured for senior (65+) and youth (13-19) discounts, which receive a 55% and 40% discount off regular (adult) Presto fares respectively. The fare for cards that use the Presto reader is 11.15% less than for paper tickets or e-tickets.

If you use a debit, credit or Presto card for fare payment, you must tap the card against Presto reader at the start of the trip, and again tap at the end. If you transfer between a GO train and a GO bus, or between two GO buses, you must tap off the first vehicle before tapping onto the next. For GO trains, customers tap in and out at the station or platform entrance/exit. For GO buses, you must tap both on and off inside the bus door. Remember to tap off when you disembark in order to avoid paying an excessive fare. To cancel a trip after tapping in but before departing, press the "correction" button on the Presto reader menu, and tap again. If your wallet has multiple credit/debit cards, keep other credit/debit cards away from the Presto reader to avoid multiple fare payments. People traveling together must each have a separate card.

When transferring between GO Transit and a local transit operator using Presto readers, you may be eligible for a free ride on that local transit system; just tap your credit, debit or Presto card on the local transit vehicle whether going to or from a GO Transit train or bus. The local fare will be refunded by the end of your trip.

Paper tickets can be purchased before boarding at a ticket vending machine at a station. There are 3 types of paper tickets: single-ticket, day pass and group pass (for up to 5 persons travelling as a group on the same ticket with a maximum of 2 adults and 3 youths).

If you have a smartphone, you can buy e-tickets to pay your GO fare. Some GO promotions such as the $10 one-day weekend pass are available only with e-tickets. Senior discounts but not youth discounts may be available. Purchase your e-tickets online, after which an email will be sent to your smartphone's email address containing a link. Click the link on your smartphone to activate your e-ticket at least 5 minutes before you board your GO train or bus as it takes 5 minutes for the GO computer to validate your ticket. Once activated, the e-ticket is valid for 4 hours.

GO Transit and the Niagara Parks Commission jointly offer weekend passes including GO train ride to Niagara Falls, local WEGO bus service and admission to a few attractions.

GO trains operate on the Proof-of-Payment system; passengers must possess a valid paper ticket, e-ticket or a tapped-on credit, debit or Presto card for the entire length of their journey before boarding a train. There are no gates or staff before boarding to ensure you have a fare for a particular train. GO Transit enforcement officers conduct random inspections of tickets, issuing expensive fines to anyone without the correct fare. (Enforcement officers carry a special handheld inspection device which allows them to electronically inspect a customer's credit, debit or Presto card to see if that card was used to purchase the fare).

GO trip planner
Here are a few tips for using the GO Transit trip planner. If you are departing or arriving at Toronto (downtown), enter "Union Station" rather than "Toronto". "Union Station GO" is the railway station, "Union Station Bus Terminal" is for GO buses, "UP Express Union Station" is for the airport train and "UNION STATION TTC" is the TTC subway station, all four of which are in close proximity. For downtown Hamilton, select "Hamilton GO Centre". However, for hourly train service to Hamilton, select West Harbour GO as Hamilton GO Centre has mostly bus service. Most GO train stations are identified by the location name followed by the acronym "GO", and most GO bus terminal names end with the words "bus terminal". Thus, "Newmarket GO" is the GO train station in Newmarket while "Newmarket GO Bus Terminal" is 2 km west of the railway station.

GO Transit also has a Full Schedules page with links to bus/train schedules by GO Transit corridor. The linked pages include route maps for the corridor.

By car
While it is expensive to park in downtown Toronto, driving remains convenient for many areas of the GTA (or necessary in the outskirts of GTA). Pay attention that Highway 407 is tolled. They charge based on distance and time of driving (highest charge during weekday rush hour, lowest at night and on weekends). You do not see toll booths. All tolls are charged electronically. A toll-free alternative to Highway 407 is Highway 401.

See
The City of Toronto is the biggest draw for visitors to the region and a good starting point to explore other reaches of the area. The CN Tower is North America's tallest free-standing structure, and takes visitors up nearly to observation decks, a restaurant, and a glass floor. From the observation decks, look toward the horizon to appreciate the sprawling scale of the GTA; silhouettes of high-rise apartments to the west in Mississauga are about away, and the shapes of tall smokestacks in Hamilton are are over  away. Look downward to see how daily life throughout the GTA converges on a busy downtown core; day and night, the trains, buses, airplanes and expressways passing by the tower connect the downtown to the rest of the region and beyond.

Heritage
Canada's history is woven into the GTA's oldest neighbourhoods. Monuments, protected buildings, and historic markers turn these areas into destinations for seeing what life was like several generations ago. Toronto's Old Town preserves some of the region's oldest buildings still accessible to the public, such as the St. Lawrence Market, the Cathedral Church of St. James, and various buildings in the Distillery District. Just north of Downtown is Casa Loma, an impressive castle completed in 1914, open for tours and overlooking the city from a small ridge. Head further north to North York to see Black Creek Pioneer Village, a living museum near York University.

In Toronto's suburbs, Old Oakville, has a few small buildings restored to the pioneer era, with costumed interpreters. Parkwood Estate Gardens in Oshawa is a grand private estate featuring architectural, landscape and interior designs of the early 20th-century English Arts and Crafts period. It operates as a museum and public garden. Unionville Main Street historic village developed in the 1840s in what was then Markham Township. As typical of a small village, it boasts numerous quaint period buildings in an idyllic surrounding.

Museums and Galleries
The Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum are among the largest in the country, with permanent collections and special exhibitions that could take your entire day to explore in detail.

In Vaughan, the McMichael Canadian Art Gallery focuses on Canadian art, including the Group of Seven and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists. In Brampton, the Peel Art Galley Museum and Archives presents local historic and contemporary art, and international pieces of interest to the communities of Peel while museum artifacts tell the stories of the towns and communities to the west of Toronto.

Science and Nature
The Toronto Zoo occupies a huge area of land near Rouge Park in Scarborough, home to many exotic animals and Canadian wildlife. Toward the western edge of the GTA in Burlington, the Royal Botanical Gardens preserves over of nature sanctuary that forms part of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve. With several gardens, an arboretum and conservatory, the complex is one of the largest botanical gardens in North America.

Arts and Culture
Toronto has a busy live theatre calendar, including locally produced shows, shows being prepared for Broadway, and touring shows. Venues are focused in the Entertainment District and Yonge-Dundas. Smaller theaters located in the suburbs also offer quality programming throughout the year, including many shows for children. North of Toronto, York Region is home to the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Peel has the Brampton Rose Theatre and Mississauga Living Arts Centre, and Halton has the Oakville Centre for Performing Arts. These venues also host each city's local symphony orchestra, as well as visiting musical performers.

The Toronto International Film Festival, over 10 days in early September, is one of the leading film festivals in the world. Unlike the Cannes Film Festival, TIFF is open to film fans, showing a massive 245 films to almost half a million movie-goers in 2019. Through the rest of the year, the festival's headquarters at the TIFF Bell Lightbox is open to the public for screenings of Canadian and international cinema, special exhibits, and research at the provinces' film library

Sports
Toronto is represented in most of North America's major sports leagues, including the Toronto Blue Jays (baseball), the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), the Toronto Raptors (2019 National Basketball Association champions), the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian football), and Toronto FC (soccer/association football). Woodbine Raceway is a major horse racing venue in Toronto/Etobicoke.

Other professional or regional leagues can be a great way to experience popular Canadian sports up-close, or when the major leagues are sold old. For Hockey, check out the Toronto Marlies, (playing in the American Hockey League), the Mississauga Steelheads or Oshawa Generals (both in the Ontario Hockey League). The Raptors 905 play basketball in Mississauga, while Lacrosse is played by teams in Oakville and Whitby.

Outdoors and Recreation
Rouge Park is a 63-km² urban national park crossing the boundaries of the cities of Toronto, Markham and Pickering and the Township of Uxbridge. It has 13 hiking trails ranging from 500 m to 5 km and from easy to challenging.

Public beaches, playgrounds and picnic spots dot the Lake Ontario waterfront. The Toronto Islands are most central, but feel a world away thanks to the short ferry ride from the city and the panoramic view over the lake. The Burlington Beachway near the Hamilton border is popular among families in the west end of the GTA. The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail runs parallel to the shoreline connecting many of the parks together, but note some segments of the trail are on-road and shared with traffic.

Further from the lake, the Niagara Escarpment touches the GTA in Milton, providing the region with access to the Bruce Trail, scenic look-outs at Rattlesnake Point, and a small ski and snowboard hill popular with beginners at Glen Eden. In Vaughan, the Kortright Centre for Conservation provides 16km of trail through forests, marshland and meadow, and runs nature and environmental education programs for children and adults. Events range from demonstrating maple syrup production to displaying renewable energy technology. Uxbridge offers winter sports and hiking through the Oak Ridges Moraine, in the east reaches of the region.

Canada's Wonderland is a Cedar Fair theme park in Vaughan.

Events
The Canadian National Exhibition is an annual agricultural exhibition and carnival that combines food, technology, gardening, live entertainment, arts, sports, shopping and the Canadian National Airshow. Held each year in late-August until the first Monday in September, it has grown since 1879 to become a modern end-of-summer tradition not just for residents of Toronto, but for families throughout Ontario. For a taste of the small town fairs that once defined spring or summer throughout the rural parts of the GTA, head to the fairgrounds in Whitby (June) or Milton (September).

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival (formerly known as Caribana) is a huge Caribbean festival held over three weeks in July in early August, with parades and parties and music and dancing and food. It is the largest festival of Caribbean culture in North America, drawing over a million people, and serving as a reunion for people of the Caribbean diaspora in North America.

A huge LGBT Pride Festival and parade, held usually near the end of June, brings several hundred thousand people to downtown Toronto.

Buy
The busy main street of Toronto, Yonge Street, draws a more diverse collection of merchants with more independents than the malls.

There is a very authentic Chinatown in Toronto/Downtown, near the Kensington Market district. The Pacific Mall in Markham is also very Asian in character.

Toronto was once headquarters for two rival national department store chains, Eaton's and Simpsons, which both have either closed or been merged into other chains. The largest malls are the Toronto Eaton Centre and Hudson's Bay Centre in Toronto/Downtown, Yorkdale Mall at 401 and Allen Road in Toronto/North York, the Scarborough Town Centre in Toronto/Scarborough, Sherway Gardens in Toronto/Etobicoke and Square One in Mississauga.

Pickering (Ontario) operates an extensive indoor flea market on weekends.

Eat
A few national chains claim Toronto or its suburbs as home base; the Swiss Chalet roast chicken restaurants originated in Toronto and the Pizza Pizza delivery chain has strong enough ties to the city to have registered as a trademark the last seven digits of their heavily-advertised Toronto number, +1 416-967-1111. The Harvey's flame-broiled hamburger was first served in York Region. Many smaller regional chains grew from a successful single location to serve a growing suburban population.

Because of strong and growing immigrant communities, ethnic foods in Toronto are of good quality and comparable to those of the respective home countries. Dishes are often prepared by cooks and chefs from those countries and entice expatriates to travel around the region for a "taste of home". While authentic restaurants are found in each of the local main streets and downtowns, you'll also find dining gems scattered in some otherwise quiet neighbourhood strip malls and commercial areas, taking advantage of cheaper real estate and additional space to offer groceries or catering services in addition to dining.

In Toronto, you'll find Greek food on Danforth Avenue, Chinese foods in Chinatown, Caribbean food in Scarborough among others. Elsewhere in the GTA you'll find Indian foods in Brampton, Lebanese and Hakka cuisine in Mississauga, a variety of Chinese restaurants in Richmond Hill and Markham, or Italian in Vaughan. If a local refers you to their "local" spot for a particular dish, it may well be on the other side of the GTA and worth the trip.

Entire books have been written as collections of reviews of Toronto-area restaurants, which span every segment from takeaway foods to the most expensive of haute cuisine. Within Ontario, very high standards protect food safety and restaurateurs in most cities are legally required to post the results of regular inspections.

Toronto is home base to the Loblaw supermarket chain, one of the big three nationally (its rivals Métro from Montreal and Sobey's from Nova Scotia are also widely present). Loblaws city markets tend to be large stores with an assortment of sidelines, ranging from clothing to housewares.

Drink
Plenty of bars along Front St. in downtown Toronto.

Sleep
The widest range of accommodation is found in Downtown Toronto, especially in the Entertainment District and Yorkville. Hotels outside the core tend to be found along major highways, especially in Burlington, Oakville, Markham, and Mississauga around Pearson International Airport. Many of these suburban hotels are national chains and cater to travelers arriving by car.

Go next
Hamilton (in the west) pretty much picks up where the Toronto sprawl ends (with a bit of overlap), but it's the urban heart and gateway for communities that don't tend to associate with Toronto, with a food and arts scene all its own.

Some options for further travel include:

 * The Niagara Region - home to the Falls, the Shaw Theatre, a multitude of wineries, and many other tourist attractions.
 * Prince Edward County and Eastern Ontario - an opportunity to get out of the city, even pick your own apples and strawberries in season.
 * North of Barrie, Central Ontario - cottage country for many Torontonians. Head around the west side of Lake Simcoe toward Orillia and Muskoka, or head east through Peterborough and the Kawarthas toward Algonquin Park.
 * Many people in the region make regular trips to Collingwood through the winter months, drawn to the Blue Mountain resort village for skiing, snowboarding, and other outdoor activities. The town has a snowier climate than the GTA; a balmy, slushy winter in Toronto could still be a perfect day on the slopes.

title: Greater Toronto Area


text:
Greater Upper Nile

Greater Upper Nile is a region of South Sudan.

Cities

 * (Kodok)
 * (Kodok)
 * (Kodok)
 * (Kodok)
 * (Kodok)
 * (Kodok)
 * (Kodok)
 * (Kodok)

title: Greater Upper Nile


text:
Greater Wellington

The Greater Wellington region is the southernmost part of the North Island of New Zealand, governed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council. It is far bigger than just Wellington city, the area governed by the Wellington City Council. The population of Greater Wellington about 513,900.

Cities and regions
The region includes:
 * Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, consisting of Porirua and Wellington City itself
 * Hutt Valley, consisting of Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt
 * Kapiti Coast, with communities of Otaki, Paekakariki, Paraparaumu and Waikanae
 * Wairarapa, including communities such as Masterton, Carterton and Martinborough

Get in

 * Wellington International Airport

Go next

 * Manawatu

title: Greater Wellington


text:
Great Exuma

Great Exuma is part of the family isles located in the Bahamas (capital is Nassau). Population is around 2000.

title: Great Exuma


text:
Great Falls

There is more than one place called Great Falls:

United States of America

 * Great Falls (Montana) - A town in Montana.
 * Great Falls (South Carolina) - A town in South Carolina.
 * Great Falls (Virginia) - A town in Virginia.

title: Great Falls


text:
Great Falls (Montana)

Great Falls is a city in Central Montana. It is the third most populous city in Montana with approximately 60,000 people. It is the hub for commercial and financial dealings in the center of the state.

Understand
There is no waterfall to see in Great Falls. This refers to other definition of "falls" meaning "rapids." That said, there is a waterfall in Big Falls, about a 20 minute drive to the northeast.

There are two military installations in the city - Malmstrom Air Force Base and Montana Air National Guard. Malmstrom is the city's largest employer.

The Missouri River bisects the town. Crossing the bridge at 15th St takes you to the suburb of Black Eagle.

By car
Interstate 15 goes through the outskirts of Great Falls. Either the Central Ave. exit or the 10th Ave. S exit will go to the center of the city. The road from Helena to Great Falls, hugging the long curves of the Missouri river, is one of the finest stretches of interstate in the country.

By train
There is an Amtrak station about 90 miles north of Great Falls in the small town of Shelby. The Empire Builder, which runs from Seattle to Chicago makes stops daily. There are rental cars available near the station.

By bus
Salt Lake Express and Greyhound provide intercity bus service.

Get around
Montana is huge: most residents think nothing of driving in what most of the world consider long distances, so with that in mind like most of Montana, you're going to need a car. Although Great Falls does have a bus system, it's limited to the city proper. Another option for seeing the area is by bicycle. In an area with so many sparsely traveled roads, there is plenty to be seen on a road bike.

The Historic Trolley runs during community and themed events. Tours discontinued in 2022 but the owner is hopeful to resume.

Airport Shuttle Express of Calgary Canada offers year-round charter van service between Great Falls and Calgary, Banff & Lake Louise.

By bus
Great Falls Transit operates bus service in Great Falls. Fare is $1.00. Buy a day pass for $4 for unlimited rides. A pass good for 11 rides is $10. Buy passes from the bus driver or the transit office at https://cmrussell.org/3905 North Star Blvd.

Do

 * Disc Golf - Great Falls has 3 disc golf courses. CMR is on 17th Ave NW. Warden Park, at 101 13th Ave S, has 18 holes and is on the highest hill in town. West Bank, at 1600 4th St NE, has 9 holes and runs along the river.

Buy
There are two Albertsons grocery store locations.

Eat
You can find pretty much any fast food places/chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Applebees, etc.) you're looking either for on 10th Ave South, the Northwest Bypass, or Smelter Ave. The exit signs on I-15 will indicate which exit you should take if that's what you're looking for.

For those looking for something different than the same old fare here are a few local restaurant suggestions:

Drink
As is common with most cities in Montana, Montanans love to whet their whistles after a long hard day of work; if you're not within walking distance of a bar in Great Falls you're probably not within the city limits. If you're looking to get your drink on you have pretty wide assortment of options. From dance clubs to hole-in-the-wall dive bars there is something to suit almost anyone's taste, heck most of the gas stations in Great Falls have casinos attached to them for your drinking/gambling pleasure while you fill 'er up.

Great Falls is not that populous, but it is fairly spread out, so depending on which part of the city you're in you're probably close to one of the main drags and its plethora of drinking venues. 10th Ave South has the most bars by a long shot; it is the main street in the city and stretches on for about 8 miles with dry stretches few and far between. You'll also find plenty of bars on Central Avenue and its surrounding streets in the downtown area of Great Falls. Smelter Avenue/The Northwest Bypass possesses many options for those visiting the Northern portion of Great Falls. For those located out towards Malmstrom Air Force Base 57th St, River Road, and the Eastern End of 10th Avenue South provide your best options to find some libations with friends. Suffice it to say, no matter where you are in Great Falls a frosty cold one is never far away.

Stay safe
Great Falls has one of the highest crime rates in America, compared to its size. That doesn't mean it's unsafe for visitors, but lockup your valuables, and keep them out of sight.

Winter snow can come in quickly. Keep a snow brush in the car.

Connect
As a larger town, most coffee shops offer free wi-fi.

Go next

 * Glacier National Park - Widely considered one of the most beautiful areas in the world. It's approximately 3 hours northwest of Great Falls. Glacier is at the very least an absolute must do day trip.  See incredible mountain peaks, dramatic valleys carved by glaciers, isolated alpine lakes, raging waterfalls, active glaciers, and more wild life than you ever imagined.  Camp at one of the many campgrounds and spend some time just soaking in the natural beauty of one of North America's Crown Jewels.
 * Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons National Park - Approximately 4½ hours south on US 89, Yellowstone is the most famous national park in the US. See thermodynamics at work in nature!  Visit Old Faithful, hike to breath taking Yellowstone Falls, see wolves, bear, and bison in their natural habitat, see the spectacular vistas of the Grand Tetons.  Yellowstone pretty much explains itself.  While it would be a difficult day trip, there's doubt that anyone would only want to spend a single day in one of the most incredible places in the world.  Warning, Yellowstone gets incredibly crowded during the summer months as it is a world wide tourist destination.
 * Fort Benton - Approximately 45 miles north of Great Falls on Highway 87. A Nationally Registered Historic Landmark.  Fort Benton's claim to fame is that it was as far west as Steam Ships could go on the Missouri River and thus became a vitally important to the expansion of the United States into the western territories.  Once gold was discovered in Montana, Fort Benton became a primary destination for goldminers as they expanded into the western US and Canada in search of gold.  Visit the still intact actual Fort.  Walk along the levee and see an actual steam-ship.  Visit the museums and learn about the history of one of the Wild West's Wildest towns.
 * The Highwood Mountains - From Great Falls, go east on US 89 6 miles, east 13 miles on MT-228, 16 miles east on County Road 121, then 2 miles east on Forest Road 8840. The latter are dirt & gravel. Want to get out of the city and into the Montana wilderness? The Highwood Mountains are a mountain range located approximately 40 miles from Great Falls.  Get out, hike some trails, camp out at Thain Creek Campground and get away from it all.  Always remember safety, know where you're going, let people know where you're going, dress appropriately, take plenty of food and water as you can become isolated, never leave food out in the open as you may attract wild life, if you're staying over night make sure to take shelter with you, and take a sleeping bag as it can get chilly at night, especially in the spring and fall.  Camping in the winter in Montana is not recommended for the inexperienced as conditions can become extremely harsh.

title: Great Falls (Montana)


text:
Great Falls (Virginia)

Great Falls in Virginia, within the United States of America. It's a suburb outside the DC beltway. Nearly all the businesses are found at either end of Walker Road.

Understand
For those who want to experience the best of nature in the Washington area, Great Falls Park, including its waterfall, is a must-see.

Public transport
There is no direct public transportation to Great Falls. However, it is 6 miles from the Spring Hill metro station on the Silver Line of the Washington DC metro system. A taxi from the metro station costs approximately $15.

Get around
You're probably going to need a car. There is a dearth of sidewalks and the winding roads are rarely attempted by cyclists. Avoid driving between 3 and 6PM on weekdays.

See

In Great Falls Park, there are several viewing platforms that provide vantage points overlooking the falls.

Parks
Great Falls contains three contiguous parks on the banks of the Potomac. From east to west, they are Great Falls, Riverbend and Seneca. Popular activities in the parks include hiking, boating, fishing, picnicking, disc golf, and hunting.

Drink
Visit the Old Brogue for a frosty pint of Guinness.

Stay safe
An average of 7 drownings per year occur in Great Falls Park, most of them alcohol-related. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is illegal within the park. The Potomac river is notoriously dangerous for swimmers.

title: Great Falls (Virginia)