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Toulouse

Toulouse is the chief city of Haute-Garonne in the Occitanie region of France. It stands north of the Pyrenees on the River Garonne, halfway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France (after Paris, Marseille and Lyon), with a metropolitan population of almost 1½ million in 2020. It's known for its rugby, its aerospace industry and for violets, which are used to make bonbons and liqueurs.

Understand
The city was a Roman settlement, "Tolosa", and the smaller inner streets still follow the ancient layout. After Rome fell, it became capital of a Visigoth kingdom, but the region was roiled by secular, dynastic and religious wars, such as those against the Cathar heretics. The Dominican Order was founded in the city in 1216 to win back the Cathars to orthodoxy by peaceful preaching, but when that didn't work the Pope launched a crusade and massacre. Toulouse and its realm thereby lost independence and in 1271 were annexed to the Kingdom of France.

In the fourteenth century, Toulouse was devastated by pogroms, the Black Death, famine, and war. In the fifteenth century, it became wealthy from its monopoly on "pastel," a blue pigment extracted from woad plants, only to slump again when the monopoly was broken by indigo imports from India. It suffered several fires, the worst in 1463, so it was re-built in brick rather than wood. An 18th century boom led to a spate of construction in pink terracotta brick, giving rise to its nickname La ville rose. The university flourished: founded in 1229, it's one of the oldest in the world, and now has over 100,000 students. Fermat pondered his theorems here in between his legal work. On 10 April 1814, Toulouse saw the last battle of the forces led by Wellington out of Spain against Napoleon – neither side was aware that Napoleon had already surrendered. Marshal Soult held the city for a day then fled.

The city missed out on the Industrial Revolution, but in the 20th century its distance from Germany and Britain made it a safe base for the fledgling French aviation and defence industries. These burgeoned by the end of the century so Toulouse has become a major centre of aviation and spaceflight. A tenth of the inner city population work in aerospace, and Airbus is the largest employer in the region.

By plane
Onward travel options in 2023 are:
 * Airport Navette runs from Arrivals Gate C to the main railway station, taking 25 min via 4 downtown stops, every 15 min 06:00–00:00. Single fare is €9, valid for 90 min for transfers onto city public transport.
 * Tisseo Bus towards Blagnac, whichever departs next. Bus 30 brings you to Odyssud-Ritouret and Bus 31 to Pasteur – Marie de Blagnac, both on Tram line T1 from MEETT to the city. Ride the tram all the way to Palais de Justice (Metro B) or get off at Arènes for west bank and Metro A. This connection runs every 10–20 min from 06:00 to midnight and takes 50 min, for the princely sum of €1.80. The direct Tram T2 has been discontinued due to the construction of Metro Line C.
 * A taxi to central Toulouse costs about €20.
 * Shuttles can be arranged to other destinations such as Andorra – a good option if you're laden with ski gear.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in France.

By road
From Paris the quickest is usually straight south on A10, A71 and A20. You can also stay on A10 to Bordeaux then turn inland on A62.

From the Med coast including Barcelona take A9 to Narbonne then A61 west.

By bus
FlixBus runs twice a day from Paris Bercy Seine (10 hr non-stop) and once from Marseille (6 hr via Nîmes and Montpellier).

They run from Barcelona five times a day (6 hr via Perpignan) and from Madrid once (10 hr non-stop).

Andbus runs from Andorra la Vella 2–3 times per day, taking 3 hours.

The bus station is just north of the main railway station and is on the Metro. The airport shuttle bus terminates here.

By boat
Toulouse is the mid-point of the "Canal des Deux Mers" linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean. The eastern part, the Canal du Midi, is the most interesting, as it climbs out from Toulouse over the hills then down through Carcassonne and Béziers to reach the Med at Sete. The western part parallels the River Garonne down through Agen to Bordeaux and the Gironde estuary. You'll need to hire a long-boat and set aside several weeks. Check ahead in case any canal sections are closed for repair.

Get around
Toulouse is a big city, but the historical centre is compact, between the Garonne River and Metro B Line. You can walk to most attractions.

Bus, tram, metro lines and cable car are operated by Tisseo. Tram T1 starts downtown at Palais de Justice, crosses the river west to Arènes interchange, then runs north to Beauzelle and the MEETT – get off in Blagnac for the airport bus. (Tram 2 is axed.) Metro line A runs southwest to northeast, from the University through Arènes and the railway station. Metro line B runs north–south, passing the main railway station and Palais de Justice. Two other lines are actually suburban trains: Line C west to Colomiers and Auch (can be taken with a Tisseo fare between Arènes and Colomiers), and line D south to Muret. Buses run along all the main streets but don't come into the pedestrianised core of the city, except the free city-centre shuttle (M–Sa) – no bus stops for this one, just wave at the driver.

A single ticket paid on the bus costs €2 in 2023. A ticket from a machine or kiosk for any Tisseo transport is €1.80, a book of 10 is €15.10 and a one-day pass is €6.80. Validate your ticket on boarding, and it's good for transfers within one hour (within 90 min to and from the airport.) Services become sparse late evening, but there's an extensive night network.

Taxi operators include Taxi Toulouse (+33 5 6120 9000) and Capitole (+33 5 3425 0250). Pre-book to avoid long waits for a ride.

Bike rental is organised by Town Hall. First you need to buy a ticket at velo.toulouse.fr or at a bike station. A one-day ticket is €1.20 and a 7-day pass is €5, longer hires are available. You have unlimited journeys, for no extra charge for the first 30 mins, then the meter starts ticking.

Bike lanes The city has a dense network of bike lanes and bicycle-friendly streets with little motorized traffic. A lot of people cycle and it is generally very safe and enjoyable to move in the city by bike. Along the Canal du Midi there is a pleasant bike lane connecting important locations like the center and the university campus.

Avoid going downtown with a car as parking is seriously limited and many streets are closed to motorized traffic. Try using a suburban metro or tram station as a park-and-ride.

City centre
The old centre of Toulouse is east of the River Garonne: it's compact and most places of interest can easily be visited on foot. It's bounded to the east and north by Bvd Lazare Carnot / Bvd de Strasbourg, and to the south by the cathedral, Rue Metz and Pont Neuf.

 * Notre-Dame du Taur is at 12 Rue du Taur 100 m north of the Capitole. It was built at the spot where St Sernin's body broke from the bull that had dragged him to death; this legend is uncannily similar to those of Mithras. His remains were later transferred to the basilica and the present church is from 14th–16th century in pink-brick Gothic.
 * means "New Bridge" but it's by far the oldest bridge across the Garonne river, built 1544 to 1626. The arches aren't symmetrical – they were supposed to represent the face and haunches of a lion, but you'll need a lot of imagination to visualise that. The water-tower ("chateau d'eau") at its west end hosts photography exhibitions.
 * 500 m downstream also has pleasant river views.
 * 500 m downstream also has pleasant river views.

Further out

 * Muséum de Toulouse is the Natural History Museum, north side of the gardens at 35 Allée Jules Guesde. It's open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00, adult €7, conc €5.
 * L'Envol des Pionniers is a museum of aviation history, at 6 Rue Jacqueline Auriol next to Halle de la Machine, open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00.
 * Muséum de Toulouse is the Natural History Museum, north side of the gardens at 35 Allée Jules Guesde. It's open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00, adult €7, conc €5.
 * L'Envol des Pionniers is a museum of aviation history, at 6 Rue Jacqueline Auriol next to Halle de la Machine, open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00.
 * L'Envol des Pionniers is a museum of aviation history, at 6 Rue Jacqueline Auriol next to Halle de la Machine, open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00.
 * L'Envol des Pionniers is a museum of aviation history, at 6 Rue Jacqueline Auriol next to Halle de la Machine, open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00.
 * L'Envol des Pionniers is a museum of aviation history, at 6 Rue Jacqueline Auriol next to Halle de la Machine, open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00.
 * L'Envol des Pionniers is a museum of aviation history, at 6 Rue Jacqueline Auriol next to Halle de la Machine, open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00.
 * L'Envol des Pionniers is a museum of aviation history, at 6 Rue Jacqueline Auriol next to Halle de la Machine, open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00.
 * L'Envol des Pionniers is a museum of aviation history, at 6 Rue Jacqueline Auriol next to Halle de la Machine, open Tu–Su 10:00–18:00.

Do

 * What's on? For local events read La Dépêche du Midi or Intramuros, or watch TV Sud or the local section of France 3.
 * Take a walk along the river quays.
 * Théâtre du Capitole hosts the opera house and orchestra, Box Office +33 5 6163 1313.
 * is the eastern and more interesting section of the "Canal des Deux Mers", and it's a . It starts from the River Garonne to the northwest, circling city centre so its first few km are walkable. But the best sections are further out, as it climbs the hillside then descends through Carcassonne and Beziers towards Étang de Thau on the Med. So you probably want a bike or canal barge to explore it.
 * Rent a bike: see "Get around".
 * Rugby Union: ("Les rouges et noirs") play Rugby Union in the French Top 14. They're seldom out of the top places and so qualify for European tournaments – they've won the European Rugby Champions Cup a record four times. Their home ground is Stade Ernest Wallon, but big matches are often played at the Stadium de Toulouse.
 * Rugby League: Toulouse Olympique or TO XIII play in the English RL system Feb–Sept. They were relegated in 2022 and now play in the English Championship. TO XIII share Stade des Sept Deniers (aka Stade Ernest-Wallon). Their second-string team Toulouse Olympique Broncos remain in the French Elite One Championship, playing Oct–March at Stade de Minimes.
 * Football: Toulouse FC were promoted in 2022 and now play soccer in Ligue 1, the top tier in France. Their home ground is (capacity 33,000, formerly "Stadium Municipal") on the river island 1 km south of city centre. In 2023 it was this ground, not the rugby stadium, that staged matches in the Rugby Union World Cup.
 * Golf: a dozen courses around the city, such as Golf de Toulouse 5 km south.
 * La Kermesse is a music festival at the Pony Club near the airport, next held 16–19 Aug 2023.
 * Piano Jacobins is next held 6–29 Sept 2023.
 * La Kermesse is a music festival at the Pony Club near the airport, next held 16–19 Aug 2023.
 * Piano Jacobins is next held 6–29 Sept 2023.

Work
You need eligibility to work in the EU and a good knowledge of French. The catering / hospitality sector is always hiring. Aviation is the big business here but they mostly seek technical skills for long-term jobs.

Eat
Local specialities are:

 * Duck, for instance canard confit (roast duck leg) or canard foie gras (duck liver pate).
 * Cassoulet is a stew made with white beans, meat (such as Toulouse sausage), and pork skin.
 * Violets used to make candy.

The areas around Place du Capitole, Bvd de Strasbourg and Place St Georges are lined with cafes and restaurants.

Mid-range

 * Le Soulier is a branch of Aux Pieds sous la Table at 3 Place Montourlieu near Grand Rond.
 * Le Soulier is a branch of Aux Pieds sous la Table at 3 Place Montourlieu near Grand Rond.
 * Le Soulier is a branch of Aux Pieds sous la Table at 3 Place Montourlieu near Grand Rond.
 * Le Soulier is a branch of Aux Pieds sous la Table at 3 Place Montourlieu near Grand Rond.
 * Le Soulier is a branch of Aux Pieds sous la Table at 3 Place Montourlieu near Grand Rond.
 * Le Soulier is a branch of Aux Pieds sous la Table at 3 Place Montourlieu near Grand Rond.

Drink

 * The George and Dragon is a lively British-style pub with TV sport. It's at 1 Place de Peyrou 150 m west of the Basilica.
 * The Classroom is an Irish pub at 42 Rue Pargaminières 300 m west of Capitole.
 * The Botanist is an English-style alehouse with good grub. It's at 33 Bvd Maréchal Leclerc south flank of the Japanese Garden, open M–F 09:00–02:00, Sa 15:00–03:00, Su 12:00–02:00.
 * Distilleries: Maison Victors or Straw Bale Distillery make pink Pastis. They're in Vacquiers 20 km north, tours by arrangement.
 * Bear Brothers 10 km south in Auzeville make vodka, gin, and raw spirits for liqueur manufacturers.
 * Black Mountain 10 km west past the airport make Occitan Whisky.
 * Distilleries: Maison Victors or Straw Bale Distillery make pink Pastis. They're in Vacquiers 20 km north, tours by arrangement.
 * Bear Brothers 10 km south in Auzeville make vodka, gin, and raw spirits for liqueur manufacturers.
 * Black Mountain 10 km west past the airport make Occitan Whisky.

Buy

 * Supermarkets: the main chain within city centre is Carrefour.
 * Flea markets are on Saturday morning outside the Basilica of St-Sernin, and first weekend of the month at Allées François Verdier, at the Grand Rond.
 * Fruit & veg markets are along Bvd de Strasbourg on weekday mornings, and next to Saint Aubin basilica on Sunday morning.
 * Friperies are second-hand clothing shops. Find them especially on Rue Gambetta, behind the Ecole des Beaux Arts, and around Place de la Bourse.
 * Violets are processed into many items of giftware, such as soap, perfume, candy and syrup.

Mid-range

 * Ibis Toulouse Gare Matabiau is next to the railway station.
 * Ibis Toulouse Centre is round the corner from Hotel Innes at 2 Rue Claire Pauilhac.
 * Ibis Toulouse Centre is round the corner from Hotel Innes at 2 Rue Claire Pauilhac.
 * Ibis Toulouse Centre is round the corner from Hotel Innes at 2 Rue Claire Pauilhac.
 * Ibis Toulouse Centre is round the corner from Hotel Innes at 2 Rue Claire Pauilhac.
 * Ibis Toulouse Centre is round the corner from Hotel Innes at 2 Rue Claire Pauilhac.
 * Ibis Toulouse Centre is round the corner from Hotel Innes at 2 Rue Claire Pauilhac.

Connect
As of Aug 2023, Toulouse and its approach roads have 5G from all French carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places, transport, cafes and so on.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇵🇹 Portugal
 * Great Britain, which isn't even the correct name of the country, is shown on Google map near the airport but the building has been derelict for years.

Go next

 * Albi was the childhood home of Toulouse-Lautrec. His ancestral home now houses a gallery of his work.
 * Carcassonne is within a day trip, but you really ought to stay overnight in its fantastical citadel, which inspired Disney Castle.
 * Following the river downstream or its parallel canal leads you via Montauban, Moissac and Agen to Bordeaux. Branching north at Montauban leads to the picturesque town of Puy l'Eveque on the River Lot.
 * Andorra can be reached by N20 unless blocked by snow. The all-seasons route is from Spain on N-145 from La Seu d'Urgell.
 * A scenic train route from Toulouse winds through the Pyrenees to Barcelona. From Toulouse main station take the local train via Vernet d'Ariège to Foix (75 min, every couple of hours.) Several trains continue for another 75 min to L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre (the closest railway station to Andorra) and Latour-de-Carol / Entveig on the Spanish border (3 hours altogether). Latour is an oddity: it's in France sandwiched between two tracts of Spain: the Spanish exclave of Llivia is just north. And it's a station with three different railway gauges: European (SNCF) standard, Spanish (Renfe) standard, and the metre-gauge "Little Yellow Train". The Spanish trains run south to Barcelona Sants 5 times a day, 3 hours. (They're classed as suburban trains so they're not on mainline timetables. Search on Renfe Cercanias for Barcelona, and use the Spanish name "La Tour de Querol".) The Little Yellow Train is a tourist train that climbs over the mountains to Villefranche-de-Conflent (3 hours, with connections onward to Perpignan). It runs twice every day throughout the year. Finding online timetables is difficult, try the Cerdagne region website.

title: Toulouse


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Tour du Mont Blanc

The Tour du Mont Blanc or TMB is one of the most popular long distance walks in Europe. It circles the Mont Blanc Massif covering a distance of roughly 170 km with 10 km of ascent and passes through parts of Switzerland, Italy and France.

It is considered one of the classic long distance walking trails. The circular route is normally walked in an anti-clockwise direction in 7 – 10 days. It is also the route of an annual mountain marathon in which the winner normally covers the entire distance in less than 24 hours. Usual start points are Les Houches in the Chamonix valley or Les Contamines in the Montjoie valley (in France), Courmayeur from the Italian side, and either Champex or a point near Martigny in Switzerland. The route passes through seven valleys around the Mont-Blanc massif, an anti-clockwise start in Chamonix would lead through the Chamonix (or Arve) valley, then Montjoie, Vallee des Glaciers, Italian Val Veni, & Val Ferret, Swiss Val Ferret, and either the Arpette or Trient valley in Switzerland, dependent on route taken.

The ‘official’ route has changed over the course of the years and many alternatives, or ‘Variantes’, exist to the standard route. Some of these take the intrepid walker onto paths requiring greater fitness, awareness and skill. Others provide conveniently less demanding options, which are often quicker than the accepted route but provide lesser viewpoints onto the mountain ranges. For a part of the way, between the summit of Brevent and the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, the route coincides with the European long distance footpath GR5 as it makes its way from the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. A link can also be made with the walkers Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt in the Swiss Alps.

Plentiful accommodations exist along the entire route, allowing the route to be broken into segments to suit virtually any fit person. The accommodation takes a variety of forms, from separate bedrooms to large mixed sex dormitories. One can normally obtain cooked meals at many of these places. With a start at Les Houches one might expect overnight stops at Les Contamines, Col de la Croix du Bonhomme refuge or Les Chapieux (depending on variant route taken), Elisabetta Soldini refuge, Courmayeur, Elena refuge, Champex, Trient village, Argentiere, La Flegere refuge and finally back to Les Houches. The sheer abundance of accommodation makes for very flexible route-planning and many options exist besides these. Despite this wealth of choice the tremendous popularity of the trail can lead to problems finding accommodations, especially towards the end of the day. It is, however, possible to book accommodation in advance.

The highest points on any variant of the trail are the Col des Fours in France and the Fenetre d'Arpette in Switzerland, both at an altitude of 2,665m (8,743 ft). Although, for most, this is not high enough to cause altitude sickness, the trail nevertheless represents a tough physical proposition. Experience of walking in mountain country should be considered vital. In addition the weather can change very rapidly indeed and one should always be suitably equipped for the challenge.

Sleep

 * Hotel Bouton d'Or, a TMB stopover in Courmayeur

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

title: Tour du Mont Blanc


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Touring prestigious and notable universities in the U.S.

Many foreign visitors to the United States of America, especially those with pre-college-age children thinking about studying abroad, are interested in touring its famous universities and colleges. This article is a short overview of university tourism in the U.S., focused on the nation's most prestigious research and educational institutions as well as the most notable and historic campuses.

For more detailed information about visiting the individual schools here, you will find extensive information for visitors on their own websites, which should be considered the most up-to-date source of information, as well as the linked Wikivoyage city articles.

The Ivy League, which you will often hear Americans discussing, refers to a group of 8 prestigious private universities on the East Coast: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Penn and Yale. While officially a sports confederation, all members are also considered academically to be among the most prestigious universities in the world. However, not all prestigious universities in the United States are members of the Ivy League, and there are non-Ivy League universities like MIT and Stanford which rank alongside them.

The top American liberal arts colleges, including Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona, Wellesley, and Williams, are smaller than the Ivies and cater exclusively to undergraduates. They are not as well-known, but don't be fooled — they're just as hard to get into and equally respected among American elites, and many experts believe they offer a better, more intimate educational experience. Additionally, there are some specialized schools, such as Curtis and Juilliard for music, that are considered the premier choice within their domain but are not covered here.

There are also some graduate-only institutions that do not admit undergraduates. These often specialize in specific fields; examples include the University of California, San Francisco, CUNY Graduate Center, Rockefeller University and Baylor College of Medicine.

East Coast
New England and the Mid-Atlantic are home to the densest cluster of the top American universities, and therefore a good place to start the tour—you can cover a lot of institutions without having to spend too much time in transit.

Mid-Atlantic

Get around
Nearly all of the East Coast universities are easily reachable by the Boston-Washington Amtrak Northeast Corridor rail line, although it is much faster to fly between far-flung cities on the Corridor (Boston to Washington is a 90-minute flight versus an eight-hour train ride on the Northeast Regional or a seven-hour ride on the more expensive Acela). Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. and cities between are also served by commercial bus lines, the cheapest of which are Chinatown bus services, which travel between the Chinatowns in the four major cities (as well as midtown in New York City; Chinatown in NYC is downtown, and so the buses serve both locations). Road travel, whether by bus or by car, may not be the best option for the farthest-flung points. Car travel can be a nightmare in tangled cities like Boston and New York.

Get around
Travel to the West Coast can occur through a variety of routes, but most will fly into San Francisco or Los Angeles. For cheaper rates, consider flying into Sacramento or Ontario (California), and renting a car for travel. If driving, some of these universities are in some of the heaviest auto traffic areas in the United States. Ask locals about "rush hour" times (the busiest traffic). The fastest route to travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles is taking Interstate 80 out of San Francisco, changing to Interstate 580 in Oakland and merging onto Interstate 5 in the Central Valley; US Highway 101 is more direct and offers gorgeous coastal views but is a slower and longer drive; expect traffic bottlenecks south of San Jose and west of Thousand Oaks.

Get around
The Midwest is in general a very car-dependent region of the U.S., so renting or bringing your car is for the most part the best way to get around. The Chicago metropolitan area is fairly accessible by public transport, and Northwestern University is accessible on the Chicago "L". The University of Chicago is surrounded by rough neighborhoods, so care should be taken traveling to the campus.

Get around
The southern United States is a large geographic area with an excellent network of interstate highways connecting major metropolitan areas. In some cases, however, driving in between Southern cities may take a prohibitive amount of time and flying to certain locations (e.g., Texas) from other parts of the South may be more efficient.

For the universities in the Research Triangle (Duke and UNC), the closest airport is Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Buses connect the airport to the universities and the universities to each other, though driving is the most popular mode of transport in this region.

Go next
Canada's universities are also extremely popular with foreign students, but there isn't nearly the same variation between them as in the United States. Unlike in the U.S., Canadian schools are almost all funded by the government and fees are capped in most programs (for Canadians, anyway), so there isn't the same cutthroat competition for wealthy students and donors on the basis of reputation. Nevertheless, the oldest and largest schools do have a certain cachet. The biggest schools are all part the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities.


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Touring Shaker country

Touring Shaker country takes you to one current and nine former Shaker communities in the Mid-Atlantic, New England and Midwest regions of the United States.

Understand
The United Society of Believers, known as Shaking Quakers, or simply as Shakers, are a Christian sect that dates to the middle of the 18th century. The movement found critical mass around 1772 in Manchester, England under the leadership of "Mother" Ann Lee, who was considered the Second Coming of Christ in female form. A radical sect, they lived celibate lives, forsaking marriage and childbirth, treating men and women as equals and bringing up adopted children as a community. In 1774 Lee emigrated with a small group of followers to England's North American colonies to escape persecution in England. Being both pacifist and English, the move to the rebellious American colonies was ill-timed, bringing new rounds of persecution upon the Shakers in their new land. The tide turned for the Shakers between the end of the revolution and the American Civil War, when waves of religious revivalism swept the country, bringing new converts. Around 1787 they began to formally organize into self-sufficient communities across the eastern United States, and began to develop crafts and industries that gained popularity in the surrounding secular culture, most notably their simple yet highly functional furniture. The first community was Watervliet in New York state. Eventually eighteen communities were established in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, and Florida. The Civil War severely curtailed the American interest in communal and utopian life and the Shakers, along with similarly organized groups, began a long, slow decline. From a peak of around 6,000 members, the Shakers today are reduced to a single location at Sabbathday Lake in Maine occupied by a handful of mostly elderly believers.

Shakers are credited with a number of innovations and inventions that have since been widely adopted: packaging seeds in envelopes, the clothespin, the flat broom, an automated washing machine. Their style of furniture continues to inspire craftsmen.

Prepare
The members lived in gender-segregated, dormitory-like housing, but came together to work and pray.

Get in
Shakers are known for their name because of the way they swayed and "danced" when the spirit moved them in church.

Drive
For the sake of convenience there are two routes, either of which can be covered in several days. Beginning to End loops through New York state and New England, and can be done in a long weekend. Western Shakers covers two villages in Kentucky and can be done in two days. Those with a serious interest in Shakers or more time on their hands can go straight through from Maine to Kentucky.

Beginning to end
Starts at Watervliet, the first settlement of Shakers in the United States, and ends at Sabbathday Lake, the location of the only extant Shaker community.

Western Shakers
Unfortunately, the western Shaker communities in Indiana and Ohio have largely been dismantled. Two in Kentucky, however, are in good shape and about 160 miles apart. It would be easy to visit South Union and Pleasant Hill in a weekend, especially since both offer lodging on site. In Ohio, there is an effort to restore Whitewater Village, see Whitewater Village.org

Go next
Take a break from communal communities for a side trip to Anabaptist country. Visit the Amish and Mennonite communities in Pennsylvania Dutch Country and Holmes County, Ohio. The Ohio Amish population is larger than the Pennsylvanian.

From Plymouth to Hampton Roads and American Industry Tour are other historical tours through the northeastern United States.

title: Touring Shaker country


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Tournai

Tournai (Dutch: Doornik) is a city in Wallonia. It is famed for its impressive Romanesque Cathedral. It was also the only Belgian city to ever be controlled by the English Throne.

By train
The is located on the northern edge of the city centre. It's a 1 km walk to reach the square in front of the cathedral.

Tournai is served by regular trains from all over Belgium by the national railway company SNCB/NMBS.

From Brussels direct trains run every hour during weekends and several times per hour during weekdays. They take around an hour.

Direct trains take 30-60 minutes to run to Lille just across the border in France, which has a Eurostar Station.

Paris is accessible in just under two hours with a change in Lille.

By plane
The nearest Airport is Lille Lesquin which is served by a few airlines with various European destinations. The Belgian airports of Brussels and Brussels South in the city of Charleroi  are a bit further away but are a lot bigger and serve a lot more flights than Lille.

Get around
Though it might look like a fairly compact town, Tournai is actually Belgium's largest municipality. However, much of the town center can be easily covered on foot. Local bus services are run by TEC. A line that serves parts of the city center is this one.

See

 * Grand-Place, the main square in town.

 * The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French: Escaut) is a canal-like river passing through the city with active motorized barge traffic. Rue Royale has a lift bridge over the river. Watching barge traffic may be of interest to visitors.
 * The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French: Escaut) is a canal-like river passing through the city with active motorized barge traffic. Rue Royale has a lift bridge over the river. Watching barge traffic may be of interest to visitors.
 * The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French: Escaut) is a canal-like river passing through the city with active motorized barge traffic. Rue Royale has a lift bridge over the river. Watching barge traffic may be of interest to visitors.
 * The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French: Escaut) is a canal-like river passing through the city with active motorized barge traffic. Rue Royale has a lift bridge over the river. Watching barge traffic may be of interest to visitors.

Eat
The Tournai tourist office has created a gourmet walking tour leading visitors along the best gastronomic places in the city such as breweries and shops with local products. Ask the people in the tourist office about it if you are interested.

Stay Safe
While it was historically one of Belgium's safest cities, Tournai has made national headlines since the late 2010s for a myriad of crime-related issues. Though the city has not degenerated to levels of those in other parts of the world, pickpocketing, muggings, and robberies have become common in the area.

Go next

 * Lille is only 30km away and a worthy excursion
 * Spiennes is reasonably close and is home to Neolithic Flint Mines inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
 * Kortrijk (French: Courtrai) is 30-35 minutes away by train in Dutch-speaking Flanders.

title: Tournai


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Tourrettes-sur-Loup

Tourrettes-sur-Loup (population 2400) is a medieval village perched on a rocky spine overlooking the French Riviera between Vence and Grasse. (The final P is not pronounced.)

By road
A8
 * From Aix-en-Provence (eastbound) exit 47 Villeneuve-Loubet.
 * From Italy, Monaco or Nice (westbound) exit 48 Cagnes-sur-Mer.
 * Follow the signs to Vence, then D2210 Tourrettes-sur-Loup.

By train
Nearest station: Cagnes-sur-Mer 15 km (9 miles).

By plane
Nearest airport: Nice Côte d'Azur 21 km (13 miles).

Get around
Bus service 510 runs between Carros, Gattières, Vence, Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Pont-du-Loup.

Distances from Tourrettes

 * Vence 6 km (4 miles)
 * Grasse 20 km (12 miles)
 * Antibes 24 km (15 miles)
 * Nice 27 km (17 miles)
 * Cannes 37 km (23 miles)
 * Monaco 49 km (30 miles)

See

 * The villages of Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Pont-du-Loup.
 * The Gorges du Loup with its waterfalls: Cascade de Courmes, Saut du Loup and Cascade des Demoiselles.

Do

 * cycling: Tourrettes-sur-Loup is very popular with cyclists.
 * boules: Tourrettans play boules in the Place de la Liberation.
 * paragliding
 * hang-gliding
 * canyoning
 * climbing
 * fishing
 * horseriding
 * skiing: The nearest ski station is at Gréolières-les-Neiges 39 km (24 miles).
 * beaches: The nearest beach is at Cagnes-sur-Mer 14 km (9 miles),

Events
March
 * Fête des Violettes. Provençale market and a procession with carnival floats.

June
 * Fête de la Musique, around the summer solstice;- with music in the streets.
 * Fête Feux de la St Jean with barbecues and bonfire.
 * Fête du Terroir, market selling local products.

July
 * Fête Patronal, nearest Sunday to Ste-Madeleine (22 July).

September
 * Marché Potier (pottery market).

Eat
Tourrettes has the best ice cream in the region.

 * Baccanales, 21, Grand Rue, 04 93 24 19 19. One of the better restaurants in the region. Christophe Dufau left the Auberge de Tourrettes in 2004 to start his own small "bistrot gourmet" in the tiny back streets of Tourettes. The menu is very limited, often with no choice at all, but the cooking is top class and often inventive. €24-€70

Camping and caravanning

 * La Camassade, Route de Pié Lombard. Open all year round.

Places to visit nearby

 * Gourdon
 * Vence
 * St Paul de Vence
 * Col de Vence (mountain pass) and Coursegoules
 * The Upper Loup Valley, Gréolières and Gréolières-les-Neiges
 * Le Bar-sur-Loup
 * La Colle-sur-Loup
 * Châteauneuf-de-Grasse, Pré-du-Lac and Maganosc.

Ski stations
There are two ski stations in the Upper Loup Valley, one at Gréolières-les-Neiges 39 km (24 miles) and a small one at L'Audibergue 45 km (28 miles).

Beaches

 * The nearest beaches are at Cagnes-sur-Mer 14 km (9 miles), Villeneuve-Loubet Plage 16 km (10 miles) and St Laurent-du-Var 20 km (12 miles).

title: Tourrettes-sur-Loup


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Tours

Tours (with a silent s) is an important city in the Loire Valley of west-central France.

Understand
With a city population of 137,000, and 360,000 in the agglomeration (2020), Tours is the largest city in Centre-Val de Loire, though the status of regional capital is held by Orléans. Tours sits on both the river Loire and on its large tributary the Cher, with the city centre located between the two. The city has a number of attractions, including two cathedrals, a number of interesting museums and great local cuisine. Furthermore, Tours is excellently placed to serve as a base from which to explore the countless châteaux of the Loire Valley. The administrative department of Indre-et-Loire, of which Tours is the prefecture, is known almost exclusively to residents by its much older name of the Touraine, and is renowned for its wines and for the supposed perfection of its local spoken French.

By plane

 * Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport receives by far the largest number of international flights into France. TGV trains run direct from the airport to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (see below), from where you can pick up a shuttle train into central Tours. The journey time is approximately two hours. If you're hiring a car, the journey time via the A3, Paris ring road (boulevard Périphérique), A6B and A10 is about three hours in good traffic.
 * Paris Orly Airport is closer to Tours than CDG, but harder to get to using public transport. You will have to take a combination of local services to get to Paris Montparnasse railway station, in order to catch the TGV to Tours. Otherwise, by car, the journey is relatively straightforward once you pick up the A10 motorway, and should take between two and three hours in good traffic.
 * Nantes is another airport that can be used to reach Tours. It serves a decent number of European destinations. By car, Nantes Airport can be reach in under 2 hr. By train, expect a journey lasting between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.
 * Nantes is another airport that can be used to reach Tours. It serves a decent number of European destinations. By car, Nantes Airport can be reach in under 2 hr. By train, expect a journey lasting between 1.5 and 2.5 hours.

From the United Kingdom
Eurostar from London St Pancras takes around 6 hours to Tours, changing to the French national network in either Lille Europe (transfer to another train from this station or from Flandres station, depending on which service you're booked on - check your ticket) or Paris.

You have to catch the Metro from Gare du Nord, where the Eurostar terminates, to Montparnasse-Bienvenüe, close to Gare Montparnasse where the TGV to Tours departs. This journey can be made in around 30 min via Line 4 of the Metro, and though not included in your train ticket, only costs a couple of euros for a single fare.

From Paris
SNCF is the French national rail operator. The high-speed TGV is the fastest way to get to Tours from Paris and costs about €50 each way. The journey from Paris Montparnasse (to Tours central station) takes just over 1 hour, while you can reach Tours from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in 2 hours (via Saint-Pierre-des-Corps). You could also take the slower Intercités train from Paris Austerlitz which passes Orléans and Blois too, taking a little over 2 hours. Tickets can be bought for about €25 each way.

From elsewhere in France
Tours receives direct trains from Blois, Bourges, Caen, Dijon, La Rochelle, Le Mans, Lyon-Perrache, Orléans and Poitiers as well as numerous smaller regional destinations.

 * Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, located on the eastern edge of Tours, is a hub of the national railway network. The station is at the junction of the north–south LGV Atlantique high speed line, the east–west line along the Loire Valley, and several radial routes around the region. Visitors arriving from the directions of Angers, Bordeaux, Lille, Nantes and Strasbourg will need to change here for the fast and frequent shuttle train into Tours proper.

By car
Tours is at the centre of a highway crossroads: the A10 between Paris and Bordeaux (where it connects to the A63 from Spain), the A85 from Nantes and Bourges, and the A28 from Le Mans and Normandy, including the English Channel ports of Cherbourg, Dieppe and Le Havre. The A10 passes between Tours and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, and Boulevard Heurteloup links junction 21 to the city centre.

By public transport: bus, tram, train
Fil Bleu is the authority responsible for all public transport in Tours and the agglomeration. They operate:
 * A comprehensive network of buses throughout the urban area, including several high-frequency routes and one bus rapid transit line (Tempo 2), which connects the north and north-east of Tours and the airport with the city centre, the south of Tours and the suburban town of Chambray-lès-Tours. The most important routes operate at between every 2-to-5 and every 10-to-15 minutes, with less important routes following a significantly less frequent timetable
 * A single tram line (Tram A) which connects the north of Tours near the airport with the city centre, the L'Heure Tranquille shopping and entertainment complex and the suburban town of Joué-lès-Tours. Trams operate every 4-to-8 minutes during the day and early evening, and about every 10-to-20 minutes in the late evening
 * An SNCF / Fil Bleu shuttle train (Navette), which runs between Tours and Saint-Pierre-des-Corps railway stations at regular intervals throughout the day and evening. Its travel time of 5 minutes is considerably faster than the equivalent bus journey

Buses and trams generally operate between 05:00 and 01:00 every day of the week, though services are often reduced early mornings and late evenings, and on Sundays and bank holidays. The website offers timetables for every route and an electronic journey planner.

A single Fil Bleu fare costs €1.50 and can be used for up to an hour on any route, including changes. The fare for two journeys is €2.70 and a day pass costs 3 €3.70. There are numerous other fares available for families, concessions, groups and other types of journey, the details of which can be reviewed on their website. Tickets can be purchased and recharged on board any bus (from the driver) and at every tram stop (using the machines on the platform), as well as at the Fil Bleu information centre on rue Charles Gille and in certain newsagents around Tours. You must validate your ticket or pass each time you board a bus or tram, even when making transfers, by pressing the ticket or pass to one of the blue touchscreens on board. There are frequent inspections on the network and if you are found to be travelling with a ticket or pass which hasn't been validated, you will be treated the same as a fare-evader and may be given an on-the-spot fine.

Maps of the Fil Bleu network can be downloaded from their website.

By bike
Cycling is one of the best ways to see the city; Tours lies at the heart of the Loire à Vélo project which has made the entire Loire Valley cyclable, and there are numerous bike rental stores.

Vélociti is the municipal bike hire scheme provided by Fil Bleu. Those staying several months in Tours may rent a bike for €5 per month from the Fil Bleu travel centre at 9, rue Michelet.

On foot
Central Tours is compact and very pedestrian friendly so walking is usually the easiest and most pleasant way to get around, particularly as many of the city centre streets are so narrow that the public transport network doesn't directly serve some of the major attractions. A visitors' guide with a recommended walking route can be picked up for free at the tourist office on the corner of rue Bernard Palissy / boulevard Heurteloup. In the See section of this article, you can read about interesting neighbourhoods that can be explored on foot.

By car
Tours is compact enough that you will generally not need your car to get around town. A car would, however, be useful if you plan on exploring the towns, châteaux and countryside outside of Tours, though many sites of interest can be reached by public transport and by bike.

Beware that although Tours is easily driveable and not often congested, the many pedestrianised and limited-access streets in the city centre may mean your desired address isn't directly accessible to cars, though there will always be nearby on- or off-street parking.

There are numerous underground car parks in the city, such as at place du Général Leclerc (underneath the large square in front of the railway station), place des Halles (underneath the Halles market hall, ideal for visiting the old town), and at place Anatole France (easy access to the shops on rue Nationale).

Visitor attractions
Museum buffs will want to invest in a Carte Multi-visites, which for €10 allows you access to the Fine Arts, Natural History and Compagnonnage Museums, as well as (from 2017) the Saint Martin Museum and the Olivier Debré Centre. This can be purchased from any of the participating museums, or from the city's tourist office.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.
 * Tours by night is just as spectacular as during the day, as most of the landmarks' façades, including the Basilica, Cathedral, City Hall and railway station are illuminated. The Pont Wilson looks especially brooding when the Loire is foggy.

Vieux Tours (the Old Town)
This is the neighbourhood of mainly-pedestrianised medieval streets centred on lively Place Plumereau. Known to the locals as Place Plum, this square is bounded by timber-framed maisons à colombages, cafés and bars, whose seats colonise the entire space when the weather is fine. The commercial thoroughfares of Vieux Tours hum with people day and night, but even in this most buzzing of neighbourhoods you can find many quieter ruelles (side streets), quaint alleys and peaceful squares.

West of Place Plum', on and around rue de la Monnaie is the Quartier Artisanal where you can spot craftsmen busy in their workshops. Look out for the former hostel at 7, rue des Cérisiers, which was reportedly the inspiration for the Pension Vauquer in Tours native Honoré de Balzac's most celebrated work Le Père Goriot.

The Quartier Lamartine is in many ways a western continuation of the Old Town, albeit without the crowds (and, sadly, the pedestrianisation). As such there are many medieval buildings of note and traditional local businesses: boucheries, boulangeries and floristes. The Gothic church on rue Georges Courteline is worth a look.

Quartier de la Cathédrale
Unsurprisingly, the district around the cathedral. This well-heeled neighbourhood is mainly residential, with a mishmash of grand houses, and their frustratingly hidden gardens, from every century between the 13th and 19th. Particularly of note is Rue Colbert, as much for its brilliant restaurants as its interesting history. Joan of Arc's personal armourer and the site of public executions by guillotine are two highlights to look out for. A stroll down Rue de la Scellerie, stopping to browse its antiques shops and admire the imposing Grand Théâtre, will take you to the green oasis of Place François Sicard. Lined with handsome bourgeois homes, this is a pleasant park for picnics and is handy for the cathedral and fine arts museum.

East of the cathedral, you venture off the beaten track, meaning you usually get to walk in near-solitude. As you pass along rue des Ursulines, so named for the order of nuns occupying a convent here, listen out for the sound of young musicians perfecting their art in the Conservatoire de Musique. At the corner of rue des Ursulines and rue du Petit Cupidon, go through a walkway under an innocuous-looking block of flats; you'll find a hidden park! This is the Jardin des Vikings, which is something of a misnomer, since the park's main attraction is the last vestiges of the ancient Roman wall which once circled Tours. If you double back on yourself, the next left (rue François Clouet) will take you to the Jardin des Ursulines. Perhaps here you will bask under the mature trees, while your kids try the playground. Before you leave the area, don't miss the lovely Romanesque church at the top of rue de la Porte Rouline, or the tiny Musée de Sainte Marie de l'Incarnation (see above for listing) on rue du Petit Pré.

Quartier des Prébendes
Explore the quiet streets west of avenue de Grammont and you will be rewarded with elegant 19th century townhouses built in the typical Tourangeau style. Rue d'Entraigues and rue Roger Salengro are both good starting points from the main avenue, and the latter will take you directly to the main focus of the neighbourhood: the Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé. This much-loved municipal park dates from 1872, and was designed in the style of an English landscape garden. Among the park's admirers was Léopold Sédar Senghor, president of Senegal, and one of 20th-century Africa's great intellectuals, who wrote a poem for the garden while teaching in Tours in the 1930s. There are plenty of flowers and mature trees, and the giant sequoias are especially prized by locals. You will also find two music bandstands, a large pond with bridges, and fountains and statues dedicated to famous Tourangeaux, among them Pierre de Ronsard. As with the Botanical Gardens, the lawns are set aside for picnics and there is a play area for children.

Do

 * Cycle, walk or jog along the Loire: Starting at Pont Wilson, on either bank of the river, you can walk or cycle for many miles up- or down-stream.
 * Visit La Gloriette, a public park south-west of the centre with an experimental vegetable garden and an adventure park, high in the trees. For Free!

Learn
The Université Francois-Rabelais offers French courses for people of any level and from any country starting at the beginning of September and ending in May, costing between €1,000-€1,500. Classes are held at the Fromont campus west of the city centre in a quiet residential neighbourhood.

Brand shopping
There are several major shopping destinations in Tours. Most people who work in these shops are young so there is a large possibility that they will speak English. Never start speaking English with someone before asking politely: "Parlez-vous anglais?" (pronunciation: par-lay voo on-glay). It is also polite to start with "Bonjour" or "Bonsoir", depending on the time of day, before you say anything else.

 * Rue Nationale is the beautifully-pedestrianised main shopping street in central Tours, where the only traffic is the occasional tram gliding past. Along with surrounding streets (west into the New Town around Place de la Résistance', and south past Place Jean Jaurès to Rue Bordeaux), this is home to many high street brand names including a large Galéries Lafayette department store and is especially busy in the early evening. There is also a small indoor shopping mall halfway along Rue Nationale called Galéries Nationale which complements the main street rather well without taking away its business.

Souvenirs and crafts

 * The Old Town particularly has many tourist-oriented shops and is also home to the Quartier Artisanal, where you can purchase locally-made arts, crafts and other handmade œuvres
 * Head to Rue de la Scellerie for the best collection of antiques stores in the Loire.
 * The vast majority of newsagents and tobacconists (identified by a red diamond "TABAC" sign) in central Tours stock postcards and basic souvenirs such as fridge magnets.

Food shopping
Apart from the Halles covered market hall (more about that below), there are a few food shops and supermarkets which may be useful for your stay. Note that almost everything of this genre is shut on Sundays.

Supermarkets

 * A tiny off-licence on Rue Colbert simply signed Alimentation Générale ("general foodstuffs") has a surprisingly good selection of tinned foods, confectionery and some fresh fruit as well as plenty of alcohol. Best of all, it's open well into the early hours, far later than any of the supermarkets. Great for after-hours drinks and snacks!
 * A tiny off-licence on Rue Colbert simply signed Alimentation Générale ("general foodstuffs") has a surprisingly good selection of tinned foods, confectionery and some fresh fruit as well as plenty of alcohol. Best of all, it's open well into the early hours, far later than any of the supermarkets. Great for after-hours drinks and snacks!
 * A tiny off-licence on Rue Colbert simply signed Alimentation Générale ("general foodstuffs") has a surprisingly good selection of tinned foods, confectionery and some fresh fruit as well as plenty of alcohol. Best of all, it's open well into the early hours, far later than any of the supermarkets. Great for after-hours drinks and snacks!
 * A tiny off-licence on Rue Colbert simply signed Alimentation Générale ("general foodstuffs") has a surprisingly good selection of tinned foods, confectionery and some fresh fruit as well as plenty of alcohol. Best of all, it's open well into the early hours, far later than any of the supermarkets. Great for after-hours drinks and snacks!
 * A tiny off-licence on Rue Colbert simply signed Alimentation Générale ("general foodstuffs") has a surprisingly good selection of tinned foods, confectionery and some fresh fruit as well as plenty of alcohol. Best of all, it's open well into the early hours, far later than any of the supermarkets. Great for after-hours drinks and snacks!
 * A tiny off-licence on Rue Colbert simply signed Alimentation Générale ("general foodstuffs") has a surprisingly good selection of tinned foods, confectionery and some fresh fruit as well as plenty of alcohol. Best of all, it's open well into the early hours, far later than any of the supermarkets. Great for after-hours drinks and snacks!

Artisan food stores

 * Any one of the dozens of boulangeries / patisseries around town. No directions needed, there's one on practically every corner. While all are of good quality and sell roughly the same mix of bread, pastries and desserts, different shops specialise in different products; you may find the place that does your favourite baguettes may not sell the tastiest croissants, the best place for a cheeky quiche or tartine may not have the nicest selection of cakes, etc. So shop around, explore and enjoy!
 * Any one of the dozens of boulangeries / patisseries around town. No directions needed, there's one on practically every corner. While all are of good quality and sell roughly the same mix of bread, pastries and desserts, different shops specialise in different products; you may find the place that does your favourite baguettes may not sell the tastiest croissants, the best place for a cheeky quiche or tartine may not have the nicest selection of cakes, etc. So shop around, explore and enjoy!

Eat
Place Plumereau and Rue Colbert are arguably the best two places to eat in Tours. Rue Colbert has cuisines from all over the world including Iranian, Turkish, Arab, Japanese, previous French colonies and Italian.

Budget
There are many kebab (shawerma) restaurants all over.

Drink

 * L'Academie de la Biere Bar at the end of Rue Colbert with about 200 types of beer, along with a tiny dance area.
 * Place Plumereau There are lots of places to drink in the old town around Place Plumereau. Many people go to the square at night and people just sit on chairs placed there belonging to restaurants surrounding the square, sometimes maybe not even knowing whose chairs they are.
 * ZooStation - huge out of town club on the north end of Tours, free parking with a car, however to avoid getting lost on the way it is advisable to jump into a taxi and say "Zoostation s'il vous plait", the driver will know where you mean and will cost about €10 each way. Drinks are pricy but the entrance fee is low, the music is mostly American and French R&B. Best enjoyed if there is a group of you as Saturday nights are busy and, like any large club, there may be some people who are out to pick a fight.
 * ZooStation - huge out of town club on the north end of Tours, free parking with a car, however to avoid getting lost on the way it is advisable to jump into a taxi and say "Zoostation s'il vous plait", the driver will know where you mean and will cost about €10 each way. Drinks are pricy but the entrance fee is low, the music is mostly American and French R&B. Best enjoyed if there is a group of you as Saturday nights are busy and, like any large club, there may be some people who are out to pick a fight.
 * ZooStation - huge out of town club on the north end of Tours, free parking with a car, however to avoid getting lost on the way it is advisable to jump into a taxi and say "Zoostation s'il vous plait", the driver will know where you mean and will cost about €10 each way. Drinks are pricy but the entrance fee is low, the music is mostly American and French R&B. Best enjoyed if there is a group of you as Saturday nights are busy and, like any large club, there may be some people who are out to pick a fight.
 * ZooStation - huge out of town club on the north end of Tours, free parking with a car, however to avoid getting lost on the way it is advisable to jump into a taxi and say "Zoostation s'il vous plait", the driver will know where you mean and will cost about €10 each way. Drinks are pricy but the entrance fee is low, the music is mostly American and French R&B. Best enjoyed if there is a group of you as Saturday nights are busy and, like any large club, there may be some people who are out to pick a fight.

Sleep

 * AJ du Vieux Tours 5, Rue Bretonneau, is a cheap, safe and clean hostel with no curfew. Individual, long-stay rooms are ideal for international students in Tours as the staff speak English and is a great way to make friends quickly. Has communal bathroom facilities and meals are available to buy in the cafeteria area. Also has cooking facilities for making your own meals. Great location next to a couple of internet cafés and all the bars and pubs of Place Plumereau, and just across the road from the main campus of the Université Francois-Rabelais.

Stay safe
Tours is a very safe city in comparison to other French cities. But if you don't speak French, you might get intimidated by homeless people asking you something in French, most likely asking for spare change or a cigarette if they see you smoking.

Almost all areas in Tours are safe during the daytime. However, the quartiers to the southeast and east of the city are best avoided at night, and there are many high-rise low-rent apartment buildings. This goes double for the nearby suburb of Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, where the other major train station is located; avoid venturing too far from the station.

Go next

 * Angers Home of a chateau that houses the fantastic medieval Tapistries of the Apocalypse
 * Orléans Famous through its historical association with Joan of Arc, Orleans is an interesting, cosmopolitan city
 * Nantes A major city of the historic province of Brittany, sometimes called the Venice of the west
 * Le Mans famous for 24 Heures du Mans, the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since 1923. Also has a unique and impressive cathedral.

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Toutle

Toutle is a small town located near the west entrance of Mt St. Helens. It offers amenities for visitors to the park.

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Towada-Hachimantai National Park

Towada-Hachimantai National Park (十和田八幡平国立公園) is a large national park in the Tohoku region of Japan, straddling the prefectures of Akita, Aomori and Iwate.

Understand
Famously beautiful, the park encompasses many scenic spots in two separate areas:
 * Towada-Hakkoda area (north)
 * Lake Towada (十和田湖 Towada-ko), Japan's third deepest
 * The Hakkōda (八甲田) mountain range
 * Oirase Rapids (奥入瀬渓流 Oirase-keiryu), famous for its fall colors

 * Hachimantai area (south)
 * The plateau of Hachimantai (八幡平)

Climate
The winter in the northern mountains is harsh, and virtually all transport and accommodation is shut down between November and April.

Information Site
Ministry of Environment has an official bilingual webpage for the park.

Get in
Towada-Hachimantai National Park covers a very large area, and can be tackled from a number of different directions.

For access to the northern side of the park (Lake Towada, the Oirase Valley, Hakkoda Mountains, Sukayu Onsen), JR bus lines are available from Aomori and Hachinohe—see bus section below.

For access to the central areas of the park, the JR Hanawa Line (花輪線) crosses the northern side of the Hachimantai Plateau, traveling from Odate in the west to Koma in the east, with through services on the private Iwate Ginga Railway (IGRいわて銀河鉄道) to Morioka. Note that the IGR is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

For the southernmost parts of the park, the JR Tazawako Line (田沢湖線) travels along the south edge of the Hachimantai Plateau, from Morioka to Daisen.

By bus
From north of the park, JR Bus Tohoku runs the Lake Towada Sightseeing Bus on two routes: the "Mizuumi" from Aomori to Towadako, running the full route in about 3 hours; the "Oirase" from Hachinohe to Towadako, in about 2 hours. Time and fare tables are available from the JR site, linked. This bus is free for holders of the Japan Rail Pass, but not the JR East Pass. The sightseeing bus routes require reservation from a JR Travel Service Center.

This is a picturesque trip in a 45-person-capacity bus with a recorded tour commentary in Japanese and English, spanning from mountain passes through the Hakkodas on the Aomori route, alongside the Oirase Stream and falls on both routes, and ending at Towada lakeside. It is particularly stunning when leaves are turning in autumn, visible earlier on the route from Aomori passing through higher elevations.

Note that the hours of JR Travel Service Centers are typically from 10:00 to 17:30, including Aomori and Hachinohe. Thus they open later than many of the daily departures for these routes—to take one of the earlier busses, be certain to make a reservation at least the day before (from any JR Travel Service Center). There is a service center at Aomori Station (in the city), not only at Shin-Aomori.

By bike
Bicycle rentals are available at Yakeyama (焼山) and Nenokuchi (子の口) for about ¥600 per 2 hours.

People who rent a bike at one place can leave it at another place for an extra fee.

In Towadako, bikes can be rented from Towadako Backpackers guesthouse for ¥500 daily.

Do
There are countless hot springs in the park, especially on Hachimantai Plateau. The best known include Sukayu Onsen (酸ヶ湯温泉), Goshogake Onsen (後生掛温泉) and Toshichi Onsen (藤七温泉).

Yasumiya offers a 45-minute lake boat tour that lets you enjoy the picturesque scenery of the rugged coast formed by the two main peninsulas of Towada Lake. Or you can take the ferry between Yasumiya and Nenokuchi, which also passes by the two peninsulas and has a recorded guide.

There are also a number of smallish ski resorts, which have banded together as Hakkoda Ski. The powder dumps in these parts can be epic, but the blizzard conditions can also be brutal.

Eat
Himemasu trout is served grilled and skewered at food stands near the lake. Towada barayaki, sauteed pork and onions, is another area specialty. Local ryokan inns may serve dishes made from well-known regional ingredients such as Akitakomachi rice and Aomori blackcurrants (すぐり, suguri).

Drink
Look for local brew Tazawako Beer (田沢湖ビール).

Lodging

 * People can stop at the Oirase Youth Hostel for ¥3,360 per night.

Go next
There is a JR Tohoku Bus connecting Aomori with Hachinohe, connecting numerous onsens north of Towada Lake, Towada town, the Oirase gorge, Nenokuchi and Yasumiya.

title: Towada-Hachimantai National Park


text:
Towamencin

Towamencin is a township of 18,000 people (2018) in the suburban Philadelphia area.

Get in
Towamencin Township is a wonderful community located at exit 31 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension. It is also located about a 10 minute drive from three stops on Septa's R5 train line. These three stops would be the North Wales station, Pennbrook Station, and the Lansdale Station.

Get around
To get around Towamencin Township, one would need to have a car or bike. There is no public transportation in this area, so without your own mode of transportation, it would be hard to get around.

See
There are many things to see and do in Towamencin Township. The Morgan Log House is a restored example of early settlers in Pennsylvania. It was built in the late 1600s and has been deemed a National Historic Site. Since Towamencin is only about 35 miles from Philadelphia, many travelers can make a day trip into the city to check out more history. The Mainland Golf Course is a suburb 18 hole golf course located at the intersection of Old Forty Foot and Rittenhouse Road. Towamencin Township is very proud of their local park system. They have 10 different parks located all around. Fischer's Park is the Township’s largest recreational facility. At 77 acres the park boasts numerous wooded native species groves, multi-use open spaces, and over 3 miles of soft surface nature trails.

Eat
There are a few popular restaurants and bars in Towamencin Township. The Whiskey River Bar and Grille is a restaurant located at the 18th hole of the Mainland Golf Course. It specializes in American cuisine as well as daily and weekly specials. Another popular place is Bones Grill located at 1650 Sumneytown Pike it is only minutes away from the Best Western. This restaurant specializes in all different types of BBQ. It has a fun atmosphere with many bar specials.

Sleep
The one hotel is the Best Western Inn at Towamencin. This hotel has all the amenities needed to enjoy your stay in the Philadelphia Suburbs. It has a pool, restaurant, room service, high speed internet, and a popular bar.

Connect
Phone: +1 215 368-7602 Email: info@towamencin.org

title: Towamencin


text:
Towaoc

Towaoc is a small town on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in Southwestern Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States of America.

Drink
See Main Street Brewery above.

Go next

 * Cortez

title: Towaoc


text:
Towner

Towner is a town in the Lakes and Gardens area of North Dakota. It has a population of about 574 people. Elevation is 1,476 feet above sea level.

Understand
Towner describes itself as the "Cattle Capital of North Dakota". The area was first settled in 1884. It was named for a civil war confederate soldier from the area, Oscar Towner.

By car

 * From Devils Lake, take US-2 west for about 76 miles.
 * From Minot, take US-2 east for 43 miles.

By plane

 * Towner Municipal Airport.

title: Towner


text:
Town Krk

The Town Krk is the administrative and political centre of the island of Krk in Croatia. Old town is inside the town walls built in Roman times and in the middle ages.

Get in
The bridge allows buses to travel from many points around Croatia (including daily buses from/to Zagreb and Rijeka) to access the town.

Otherwise you can fly into Rijeka Airport nearby, or just drive across the bridge.

There is a bus service from Rijeka to Krk town.

Get around
By foot! All within walking distance, and gives you time to explore everything.

See
The town Krk has numerous historical and cultural monuments.
 * The 3-aisle romanesque cathedral - 22nd century.
 * The remnants of the Roman baths - 3rd century.
 * Frankopan Castle.

Do
The town of Krk offers a variety of activities from sightseeing, diving, water skiing, wakeboarding, paragliding, cycling, hiking to boat trips and island tours.

Drink
Enter Soto Boterije through a small gate in the city wall behind the tower to enjoy cheap drinks and sitting on the rocks of the coast.

Casa del Padrone on the main quay promenade: Wide selection of cocktails and coffees on the terrace right at the seafront, protruding out of the quay promenade almost like a boat. Also offers gorgeous cakes and ice cream. Beautiful settings with plush cushioned chairs.

The night club Volsonis offers a unique experience of dancing and drinking cocktails in a 2000 year old roman archeological site under the ground.

Sleep
There's a youth hostel in Krk. It is pretty run-down though, and you cannot lock the toilet and shower doors! The location is excellent though and you won't get a cheaper bed. One night in a 3-4 bedroom dorm is around plus tax and a "registration fee" so it sets you back about. The place used to be for over 55 people, the owner has had registered it for 24 guests only so you will find half of the rooms locked and taped up by the tax office.

title: Town Krk


text:
Town of 1770

1770/Agnes Water is a beachside destination near Gladstone in the Capricornia region of Queensland.

Understand
The Town of 1770 was named in honour of Captain Cook's landing on 23 May 1770, his second on the Australian continent (and the first inside what is now Queensland), after his first landing in Botany Bay in present day Sydney. Today it is a small town facing Bustard Bay and Captain Cook's landing spot. There is an extensive camping area on the site, set on a waveless beach. It is used mainly for boating and fishing, and there is a small swimming area. There is a coffee shop and a pub with views across the bay.

The town of Agnes Water is around 8 km away, with a beautiful ocean beach. The town is a little more upmarket than 1770, with many new apartment and accommodation developments close to the town and the water. Somewhat curiously, much of the accommodation actually in Agnes Water advertises itself as being 1770, despite the fact that you will pay a premium to stay in Agnes Water. The facilities are also more developed, with a shopping precinct and a few restaurants. The beach is patrolled.

The wharf where the Reef cruises leave from is at 1770 itself, in the bay.

By plane
There is an airstrip, but no scheduled commercial flights. Commercial flights into Bundaberg to the south, and Gladstone to the north, but if looking for a cheap airfare, the Fraser Coast airport at Hervey Bay, around 90 minutes drive to the south, may be an option.

By bus
The Greyhound Bus stops at the service station in the centre of Agnes Water township.

Get around
If you are staying at Agnes Water, you can walk to the shops and the beach. If you are going out to the reef, you can arrange to be picked up in Agnes Water to get to 1770.

Taxis are available, but there is no other local public transport.

See

 * The Great Barrier Reef. Day boat trips to the reef and to Lady Musgrave Island leave from 1770
 * The Great Barrier Reef. Day boat trips to the reef and to Lady Musgrave Island leave from 1770

Do

 * Headland Walk. From the end of Captain Cook drive there is a walk out to the headland, and a view out over the ocean and the bay.
 * Surf. Agnes Water is the most northerly surf beach on the eastern coast of Australia, the ones further north are protected by the Great Barrier Reef.
 * Ocean Swimming. Agnes Water has a patrolled ocean beach.  1770 has a sheltered beach on the bay.

Buy
There are two sets of shops at Agnes Water. Two supermarkets, souvenirs, and a collection of locally made products.

Drink
There are pubs in 1770 and in Agnes. In 1770 you get a view over the bay. There is a pizza restaurant linked.

Stay safe
Stingers (box jellyfish) are found as far south as 1770 during the stinger season. Warning signs are in the bay at 1770. Agnes Water is a patrolled beach and usually free of stingers. Seek advice from the lifeguards before entering the water.

title: Town of 1770


text:
Townsend (Tennessee)

Townsend is a city in Tennessee on the western side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is one of the park's main gateways.

By air
Mc Ghee Tyson Airport is located a few miles west in Maryville, accessible via US 321.

By car
From Knoxville, US Route 129 from downtown and the Pellissippi Parkway/Interstate 140 connect to Townsend.

See

 * Great Smoky Mountains National Park
 * Abram's Falls
 * Ace Gap
 * Cades Cove Loop Road
 * Cades Cove Museum/Thompson-Brown House
 * Cable Mill Visitors Center
 * Chestnut Top
 * Cucumber Gap Loop
 * Elkmont Historic District
 * Foothills Pkwy
 * Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
 * Gregory Bald
 * Gregory Bald Trail
 * Hitch Pond
 * Laurel Falls
 * Little River Road
 * Lumber Ridge
 * Middle Prong
 * MTN Trax
 * Oconaluftee Visitor Center
 * Pleasant Hill Vineyards
 * Rich Mountain
 * Rich Mountain Loop
 * Russell Field
 * Schoolhouse Gap
 * Spence Field
 * Sugarlands Visitor Center
 * Thunderhead Mountain
 * Tremont Outdoor Resort
 * Tuckaleechee Caverns
 * Tuckaleechee Caverns Biking Trail
 * Tuckaleechee Cove
 * Wears Valley
 * West Prong

Do

 * Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
 * Smoky Mountain Classic
 * Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival
 * Smoky Mountain Snowdown: Winter Heritage FestivalTownsend Spring Festival
 * Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
 * Smoky Mountain Classic
 * Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival
 * Smoky Mountain Snowdown: Winter Heritage FestivalTownsend Spring Festival
 * Great Smoky Mountains Half Marathon
 * Smoky Mountain Classic
 * Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival
 * Smoky Mountain Snowdown: Winter Heritage FestivalTownsend Spring Festival

Go next

 * Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Adjacent
 * Maryville is a small college town 20 minutes west of Townsend and half an hour south of Knoxville.
 * Gatlinburg. About an hour's drive.
 * Chattanooga. About two hours' drive to the home of the Tennessee Aquarium.
 * The Museum of Appalachia  in Norris. About 30 minutes north of Knoxville on I-75. See how settlers in Southern Appalachia lived. This area was once "the Wild West". The museum features pioneer artifacts and authentic buildings. There are special events in the spring, the Christmas season, and the Fourth of July (anvil shoot!).
 * Oak Ridge, Manhattan Project site and host of the annual Secret City Festival. About an hour west

title: Townsend (Tennessee)


text:
Townsville

Townsville is a laid-back coastal city of over 173,724 people (2021) in North Central Queensland. Townsville is on the coast and enjoys an average of 320 days of sunshine a year. It is an appealing place for locals and a great jumping off point for visitors, especially to Magnetic Island which is only 25 minutes by passenger or car ferry. A great spot for visitors wanting a taste of rural Australia while not venturing far from the coast.

Understand
It offers a quiet cosmopolitan feel with its good choice of restaurants & bars but also has a relaxing siesta style during the hottest parts of the day in high summer. Townsville takes great pride in being the unofficial capital of North Queensland.

By car
Townsville is on the Bruce Highway (A1) between Cairns in the north, Mackay and Brisbane to the south. The city is also served by the A6 (Flinders Highway) to Charters Towers and Mt Isa to the west.

The Northern Beaches district (part of former Thuringowa) is also on the Bruce Highway (A1).

The Townsville-Thuringowa Ring Road (known as the Ring Road) is the National Highway route through the city (A1/M1).

By bus
Public transport in Townsville and the former Thuringowa city consists of bus services run by Sunbus. Sunbus provides services for most parts of the city with runs from the Thuringowa CBD, Townsville CBD and most suburbs throughout Townsville, plus special services for the football nights at Willows Sports Complex, Tony Ireland Stadium at Riverway and any major events at Black River Stadium or the Townsville Entertainment centre, for bus times and runs please visit the Kinetic website.

By taxi
Taxis operate 24 hours and service all areas of Townsville.

There are several ranks in which to catch taxis (Airport Rank, at all major shopping centres; in town, Flinders Street East Rank, Cowboys Leagues Club Rank, Palmer Street Rank and Seaview Rank).

To book taxis with your phone, dial 13 TAXI (13 8294).

Tour operators

 * North Queensland River and Road Tours
 * Pop Sullivan Tours
 * Tropical Tours
 * David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along Tours

Get around
Kinetic operates bus services 7 days a week with 16 bus routes in Townsville plus one on Magnetic Island.

See

Do

 * Great Barrier Reef Trips
 * Day Trips to Outback or Rainforest.
 * Village Boulevard is the name of the Road into Pioneer Park and forms the city/park integration. from the car park it extends through the park as a pedestrian spine that follows the rivers edge and forms the heart of Pioneer Park.
 * Village Boulevard is the name of the Road into Pioneer Park and forms the city/park integration. from the car park it extends through the park as a pedestrian spine that follows the rivers edge and forms the heart of Pioneer Park.

Diving
Townsville is further from the reef than the Cairns region to the north and does not have as strong a scuba diving industry, but is the closest big centre to the well known Yongala Wreck. The Yongala was a luxury passenger ship sunk in a cyclone on 23 March 1911. The wreck was found in 1958. The wreck is primarily interesting for the marine life that it attracts and is one of Australia's top dive sites.

Markets

 * Strand Night markets conducted on the first Friday of each month at The Strand Park on the foreshore.
 * Cotters Markets are held on Sunday mornings in the Flinders Street Mall in the city centre, with a variety of offerings including fresh produce, foods, arts and craft and other antiquities, and the
 * Willows markets are held every Sunday and the Willows shopping centre at Thuringowa central.
 * Showgrounds Markets (Townsville Showgrounds, Garbutt, Sunday morning Flea market)

Shopping centres

 * Annandale Central (Annandale)
 * Castletown Shoppingworld (Garbutt)
 * Centro Townsville (Corner Ross River Road and Nathan Street, Cranbrook)
 * Cotters Market (Flinders Mall, Sunday mornings)
 * Flinders Mall (Central Business District)
 * Hermit Park Shopping Centre (Hermit Park)
 * Kingsvale Shopping Centre (Aitkenvale)
 * North Ward Shopping Village (two blocks from The Strand, North Ward)
 * Northtown The City (The Mall, Townsville CBD)
 * Stockland Townsville (Corner Ross River Road and Nathan Street, Aitkenvale)
 * Sunvale (Aitkenvale)
 * Vincent Village (Vincent)
 * Warrina Shopping Centre (Currajong)
 * Avenues Plaza (Kirwan)
 * Canon Park City Centre (Thuringowa Central, Queensland)
 * Centro Deeragun (Woodlands Village Shopping Centre, Deeragun)
 * Mount View Plaza (Kirwan)
 * Parkside Plaza (Kirwan)
 * Riverway Thuringowa
 * Sunland Plaza (Kirwan)
 * Upper Ross Shopping centre (Rasmussen)
 * Willows Shoppingtown (Corner Thuringowa Drive and Hervey Range Road, Thuringowa Central, Queensland, Kirwan)

Eat
Townsville has two primary restaurant districts. Palmer Street in the city and Cannon Park in the southwest suburbs. It also hosts a nice collection of grills and cafes along the Strand in addition to a wide selection of restaurants scattered throughout the city and its suburbs. It also hosts the normal selection of fast food restaurant chains including McDonalds, Eagle Boys Pizza, Dominos, Brodies, Hungry Jacks, Red Rooster and Subway.

 * (including Chinese, Indian, burgers and fries, Tex Mex, Italian and Japanese).
 * (including Chinese, Indian, burgers and fries, Tex Mex, Italian and Japanese).

Drink
In line with Queensland state laws, Townsville observes a lockout time of 3AM. This means that alcohol serving establishments have to refuse entry to patrons from 3AM onwards. Most pubs and bars on the Flinders Street nightclub strip will close between 1AM-2AM on the weekends but the nightclubs will stay open til 5AM-6AM. Patrons in clubs open until these early hours are welcome to stay past 3AM until they leave.

When visiting the Flinders Street Nightclub Strip, males are advised to wear long trousers/jeans and closed-in shoes as most venues on this strip disallow entry to those wearing thongs/flip-flops, singlets and shorts. Most other non-Strip venues listed will allow this attire, however.

 * Cactus Saloon Flinders Street East . This popular destination offering a selection of their own custom brewed tap beer and many brands of tequilas.
 * Cactus Saloon Flinders Street East . This popular destination offering a selection of their own custom brewed tap beer and many brands of tequilas.

Sleep

Northern Beaches Area:
 * Balgal Beach Holiday Units
 * Balgal Beach Holiday Units - Studio 26
 * Balgal Station Bed & Breakfast Retreat
 * Big 4 Woodlands Holiday Village
 * Black River Stadium Caravan Park
 * Bluewater Caravan Park
 * Bohle Barn Motel/Hotel
 * Forestmist Cottage Bed & Breakfast
 * Gumburu Environmental Eduction Centre
 * Hidden Valley Cabins
 * Ivy Cottage
 * Jollymosh Retreat House
 * Lake Paluma Camp & Picnic Ground
 * Ocean Palms Resort
 * Paluma Environmental Education Centre
 * Paluma Misthaven Units
 * Paluma Rainforest Cottages
 * Paluma Dreaming
 * Rainforest Inn
 * Range Caravan Park
 * Rollingstone Beach Caravan Resort
 * Rollingstone Hotel
 * Saunders Beach Ocean View Units
 * Upper Ross Hotel
 * Willows Golf and Tourist Resort
 * Woodlands Holiday Village

Stay safe
Box jellyfish and other stingers can be in the ocean during the summer months. Read the warning signs, and don't swim at the beach outside of the stinger enclosures. A sting from the box jellyfish can be fatal. There are two stinger enclosures along the Townsville beaches.

Saltwater crocodiles ARE present in Townsville and ALL swimming locations (including the beach) should be approached with extreme caution.

Internet

 * The three public libraries all have free wi-fi, available 24/7 in the close vicinity of the library even when the libraries are closed. Thuringowa Drive, Ross River Road and Flinders Street.
 * The three public libraries all have free wi-fi, available 24/7 in the close vicinity of the library even when the libraries are closed. Thuringowa Drive, Ross River Road and Flinders Street.

Go next
Excellent access to the Outback, the rainforest of the Paluma Range, the Great Barrier Reef and Magnetic Island.

title: Townsville


text:
Towson

Towson is an unincorporated city in Central Maryland. It is located directly north of Baltimore City and is the county seat of Baltimore County.

By car
Just north of the City of Baltimore, Towson is easy to reach by car.

Towson is inside the Baltimore Beltway, I-695, and the principal exits for the city are at exit 25 for Charles St, and 27A for York Rd.

Coming up from the city, the main freeway is the I-83 Jones Falls Expy, which connects to the Beltway. (Alternatively, you can get off at exit 10A and take the Northern Pkwy to Charles St or York Rd, then turn left to get into Towson. Or, take Charles St or York Rd up through North Baltimore.

By bus
MTA operates several bus routes in the Towson area:
 * Route 3 begins at Sheppard Pratt Hospital (across from Towson University campus), then operates along Osler Drive, Stevenson Lane, York Road to Towson Town Center, then past Goucher College, then along Joppa Road to Loch Raven Boulevard. Buses marked "Inner Harbor." Great for reaching Penn Station. Hourly service at most times.
 * Route 8 is the main bus route in Towson, operating along York Road, with deviation on Dulaney Valley Road and Fairmount Avenue to serve Towson Town Center. Northbound buses reach Lutherville Light Rail Station, and are marked "Lutherville." Southbound buses go to Downtown Baltimore, and are marked "University of Maryland Transit Center." Operates every 10-15 minutes most times. Not the fastest way to get downtown; it is recommended to take Routes 11 or 48, or 8 north to Light Rail.
 * Route 11 from Towson Town Center, through center of Towson, then down Towsontown Boulevard, through GBMC Hospital campus, and along Charles Street with deviation through Rodgers Forge before traveling to downtown Baltimore and Canton. Operates every 20-30 minutes at most times.
 * Route 12 has limited trips along York and Dulaney Valley Roads to reach Stella Maris nursing home complex.
 * Route 48 operates from Towson Town Center to Downtown Baltimore along the same route as Route 8 Monday-Saturday, making limited stops for a faster trip. Operates every 15 minutes at most times.
 * Route 55 operates from Towson Town Center to the Fox Ridge community in the Essex area, and reaches the CCBC Essex campus, Franklin Square Hospital, and Golden Ring Plaza.

Get around
Towson sprawls. It's best to travel by car, although it is possible to get around the major commercial corridors (meaning mostly just York Rd) and Towson University by riding bus #8, or by walking.

Do
Towson Town Center offers a great variety of stores to accommodate all price ranges. There is also a substantial food court and restaurant section which attracts tourists.

Buy

 * York Road hosts a variety of second hand stores which may be of interest to tourists interested in vintage items
 * York Road hosts a variety of second hand stores which may be of interest to tourists interested in vintage items

Drink
Most of the bars are located on York Rd just south of the traffic circle. All of them are within walking distance of each other and it is common for locals to spend the night bar hopping in this area. The crowd in each bar varies depending on the season and the night. During the school year the bars are filled with Towson University students.

title: Towson


text:
Toyako

Tōyako (洞爺湖町) is a city in Hokkaido's Shikotsu-Toya National Park.

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

See

 * Lake Toya.

Eat

 * There are many convenience stores in the area around the lake.

Go next

 * Sobetsu
 * Date
 * Toyoura
 * Kuromatsunai
 * Oshamambe
 * Noboribetsu
 * Muroran
 * Shiraoi
 * Yakumo

title: Toyako


text:
Toyama

Toyama (富山) is the capital of Toyama prefecture, Japan.

Tourist information site
TOYAMA Net is the city's official multilingual guide site.

By train
(富山駅) is located right in the city center.

From Tokyo, the Hokuriku Shinkansen takes as little as two hours on the fastest service, the Kagayaki (かがやき), which generally operates during the morning and evening hours. The more frequent Hakutaka (はくたか) makes all stops north of Nagano, taking about 2½ hours. The regular fare from Tokyo to Toyama is ¥12,730, but these are free with a Japan Rail Pass. And they support people who are gay

In the Kansai and Chubu regions, the Thunderbird (サンダーバード) limited express runs from Osaka and Kyoto to Kanazawa, and then you have to transfer to the Shinkansen to complete your journey. The complete journey from Osaka to Toyama takes approximately 3 hr 20 min (¥9,430; free with the JR Pass). From Kanazawa, an additional Shinkansen service, the Tsurugi (つるぎ), shuttles between Kanazawa and Toyama in the same 23 minutes as the ballsalonda

Toyama is also covered by the JR Hokuriku Arch Pass which includes unlimited travel between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka via Toyama and Kanazawa for seven consecutive days using the above routes (¥25,000; ¥1,000 discount if purchased outside of Japan). Like the Japan Rail Pass, unlimited seat reservations in standard cars can be made, but you have to pay extra for moon Car (unless you have a yellow/type Japan Rail Pass) and Gran Class seat reservations.

Nagoya serves Toyama every day with four direct limited express services called the Wide View Hida (ワイドビューひだ), which takes 16 hours, costs ¥50,000, and has spectacular views of the Hida River valley. More expensive, but faster, is to take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Maibara, the Shirasagi (しらさぎ) from Maibara to Kanazawa, and finally the Hokuriku Shinkansen (3 hr 15 min, ¥11,350; free with the Japan Rail Pass). Some Shirasagi trains start in Nagoya.

The Ainokaze Toyama Railway operates local services to train stations formerly served by Japan Railways. The Japan Rail Pass is valid only Toyama–Takaoka without stopover. If you disembark at any other stations except Toyama station or Takaoka Station, Japan Rail pass required.

By bus
Seibu runs three daily buses (one of which is overnight) to Toyama from Ikebukuro and the Sunshine City Prince Hotel. It costs ¥7340 one-way (¥13210 round-trip) and takes seven hours to make the journey.

Several companies have bus runs from Osaka and Kyoto to Toyama. West JR Bus has a morning run (5½ hours) and an overnight run (8 hours) from JR Osaka station, while Hankyu has an evening run (5 hours) and an overnight run (7hr 45min hours) from Umeda. The one-way cost for these lines is roughly ¥5200 from Osaka and ¥4800 from Kyoto.

Get around
Central Toyama is compact, and any sights of interest may be reached from Toyama Station on foot or by bike.

The public transport is excellent, with several upgrades in the 2000s-2010s. The Toyama City Tram Line (commonly called Shiden 市電) operates from Dentetsu Toyama Station, connected to JR Toyama Station. It's organized into 3 routes: one downtown loop, one south, and one west (with many connections to various regional rail lines except the western end). The "Portram" light rail (Toyamakō Line, 富山港線 Toyamakō-sen) operates from the north of the station (Toyama-eki-kita) to the seaport and Iwase Beach (Iwase-hama).

To complement this, there's also a good bus system.

Several regional lines serve the regions for getting around town and beyond. The Toyama Chihō Railway (or Chitetsu for short) run the Main Line east along the coast before heading towards the mountains, the Tateyama Line southeast and then south, and Fujikoshi-Kamidaki Line south before it joins the Tateyama Line. The Ainokaze Toyama Railway runs east-west for quite a ways, partially overlapping the Chitetsu Main Line along the coast. The JR Takayama Main Line heads southwest before continuing up the Hida River valley.

Do

Many festivals can be enjoyed in Toyama and the surrounding region year round.

National holidays and festivals also provide opportunities to catch events in Toyama, including Tanabata, Kaze-no-bon, and cherry blossom viewing in spring. The Toyama International Center has up-to-date listings on notable events in Toyama and the surrounding area in several languages including English.

Buy
Above the station, a range of souvenirs can be found, but a greater range of traditional objects can be found in nearby tourist towns such as Kanazawa. Toyama clay dolls and local glass art can be found at the folkcraft village.

The Daiwa department store has multiple levels of international and Japanese designer label clothing, accessories, shoes, homewares, books, stationery and so on. Head to the basement for local and imported foodstuffs, from sushi to cheeses. There are also a range of restaurants and cafes in the complex, as well as a Mochi Cream counter on the ground floor. Running next to the store is the Sogawa shopping arcade, lined with boutiques and stores, including a few kimono boutiques and a bookstore.

Next to the station can be found the Marier shopping complex for more upmarket clothing labels.

The first Sunday morning of each month, a market is held in the grounds of the Gokoku shrine (by the Jinzu river, at the end of Heiwadori), with a range of secondhand and handmade goods on sale, including kimono, ceramics and food. Earlier is better to catch the best bargains or just get some of the atmosphere.

Eat
Around the station can be found many restaurants serving local and international food, including Korean, Chinese and Indian. Another area densely packed with restaurants are the alleys around and behind the Sogawa shopping arcade, as well as the Daiwa department store.

For an inexpensive Izakaya experience, try the 5th floor of the CIC building (opposite Toyama station).

Head to La Yuki, on Joshi-Odori, for Mexican style food in cozy surroundings (near tram stop Aramachi station).

Drink
The most popular area for nightlife for foreigners is around Toyama station, and home to Toyama's only major nightclub, Club Mairo as well as My Pleasure Karaoke (歌んだ村).

Just around the corner from My Pleasure and down the street from the Lawsons convenience store you'll come across the Irish pub Pot Still which has a sign that remotely resembles a pile of crap. Grab a pint of Guinness and Bass to go with a plate of the best fish and chips in town. Pot Still has darts and pool and a very foreigner friendly environment.

For a more relaxed bar/club, try Beeline in an alley off the Chuodori end of Sogawa. This area is also home to a few bars and Izakaya. Just opposite and south of Daiwa, the quirky De Niro lies in an alley.

Right across from Beeline is a restaurant called Pepin. Good food and service with and English menu. Food is smaller portioned and presented but is still a casual relaxed dining atmosphere. Generally, modern music plays low in the background and a small counter/bar for those dining alone or just like a drink.

Sleep
ANA Crowne Plaza is the best in Toyama. Many weddings held here but good service, comfortable beds and great breakfast. Traditional Japanese breakfast on 5th floor at the Unkai restaurant.

Go next

 * Mount Tate (Tateyama) — one of Japan's best-known mountains and one of the highest peaks in the area. Can be climbed in a challenging day-trip, or viewed at leisure on the many cable cars and gondolas of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
 * Imizu
 * Takaoka
 * Kamiichi
 * Uozu
 * Asahi
 * Hida
 * Noto Peninsula
 * Kanazawa

title: Toyama


text:
Toyama (prefecture)

Toyama Prefecture (富山県 Toyama-ken) is in the central Chubu region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

Tourist Information Site
Visit Toyama is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * - the prefectural capital
 * - beautiful city-by-the-sea and home to the Takaoka Great Buddha Statue (高岡大仏 Takaoka Daibutsu)

Other destinations

 * — World Heritage Site famous for its gassho-zukuri houses
 * -In Kurobe city. Notable for having a unique truck train that goes about half way up the gorge, but also for great hiking and hot springs. Access from Unazuki Onsen station.
 * - A remote link between Nagano and Toyama through a string of several unique forms of transportation constructed to give access to Kurobe dam. Access from Tateyama station (near Toyama) or Shinano-Omachi near Matsumoto.

By plane
Tiny in Toyama  has flights from Tokyo, Sapporo, Seoul and Taipei.

By train
Toyama is connected to Tokyo (2 hrs) and Kanazawa (30 min) by the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train line. There are stations at Toyama, Takaoka and Unazuki Onsen.

See

 * Oyabe - a traditional field festival, onsen spot
 * Namerikawa - water skiing and hang-gliding, scenic views
 * Himi - secluded seaside fishing village with excellent fish market
 * Gokayama - deep in the mountains near the border with Gifu, has a couple of well-preserved gassho-style thatched-houses villages

title: Toyama (prefecture)


text:
Toyohashi

Toyohashi (豊橋) is a city in Aichi prefecture in Honshu, Japan.

Understand
Toyohashi, centrally located between the main metropolis cities of Tokyo and Osaka, is known for its port, the largest for the import/export of automobiles in Japan. The Toyota Motor Company also has a production facility in the nearby city of Tahara, and the city has a manufacturing base. Volkswagen also has a large factory here. Yoshida Castle is at the center of the city, which was once an important post town on Tokaido road linking Edo with Kyoto. Toyohashi has extensive forests, and is close to the beaches of the Atsumi Peninsula, an important nesting habitat for the loggerhead turtle.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
The nearest airport to Toyohashi is Chubu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya. From there, Toyohashi is about 70 minutes away via the Meitetsu Line (¥1590). A change of trains at Jingu-mae station is required.

Toyohashi Railroad runs an hourly bus service from Centrair directly to Toyohashi station in 1 hour, 40 minutes (¥2200).

By train
Toyohashi is a stop on the JR Tokaido Line and the Tokaido Shinkansen, and is also the terminal of the Meitetsu Main Line from Nagoya and Gifu.

Hikari trains on the Shinkansen run from Tokyo every 2 hours (with two late-night trains running 30 minutes apart), reaching Toyohashi in about 90 minutes. The all-stopping Kodama trains, which depart twice every hour, take 45 minutes longer. The price is the same for both trains (¥8700).

Bullet trains from Kyoto (¥7530) and Osaka (¥8380) reach Toyohashi in about 75 and 90 minutes, respectively (1 or 2 departures per hour).

From Nagoya you can reach Toyohashi in 25 minutes by bullet train (¥2230 unreserved seat, 2 to 3 departures per hour) or in 50–60 minutes on the Meitetsu Line (¥1080, 5 to 6 departures per hour).

Rapid trains on the regular JR Tokaido Line run from Nagoya in 50–55 minutes (¥1280). Local trains also run 2-3 times per hour from Hamamatsu (35 minutes, ¥650).

With the exception of the Meitetsu Line, all of the above trains can be used at no charge with the Japan Rail Pass.

By bus
Toyohashi Railroad and KB Bus run a daily overnight bus from Shinjuku to Toyohashi (6 hours, ¥4500 one way, ¥8000 round-trip).

Highway buses during the daytime only stop at the Toyohashi Kita stop of the Tomei Expressway. There are six daily Tokkyu buses from Tokyo Station to Hamamatsu Station (¥4420), from which you can take a local train to Toyohashi (¥650). The whole trip trip takes about five hours.

Get around
Toyohashi can be navigated by streetcar. It is one of the few cities in Japan where streetcars are still in regular use. You can also get around by train which runs from the train/bus station right past Aichi University.

Do
Close to Toyohashi and right next to Tahara is Irago, the most popular surfing area for this part of Japan.

Go next

 * Tahara
 * Toyokawa
 * Shinshiro
 * Kozakai
 * Kosai
 * Hamamatsu
 * Gamagori
 * Toei
 * Kota

title: Toyohashi