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Fish River Canyon Park

The Fish River Canyon in Namibia is one of the largest canyons in the world. It is part of the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.

Understand
The Fish River Canyon (Afrikaans: Visrivier Afgronde) in Namibia's South is one of the world's largest canyons and one of Namibia's most recognised natural wonders. For more than 160 km the Fish River, Namibia's longest river, washed into the ground up to 550 meters deep and up to 27 km wide.

The Fish River has its source in the Eastern Naukluft Mountains and in Richtersfeld flows into the Orange River, after travelling for more 650 km through the desert of Southern Namibia. In its lower part (between Seeheim and Ai-Ais) it crosses a mountain range and thereby forms the Fish River Canyon. Today nearly all of the Canyon is preserved by nature reserves: in the south where the deepest part is located by the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, in the north by private nature reserves such as the Canyon Nature Park or Vogelstrausskluft.

By car

 * Southern part (National Park): (Hobas Viewpoint) From Karasburg and B1, take C12 to C37 to the main Fish River Canyon Viewpoint. From Keetmanshoop, take B4 to C12, then to C37. (Ai-Ais) To go directly to Ai-Ais Hot Springs from B1, take C10 to Ai-Ais. The hiking trail, begins near Hobas on D601 and ends at Ai-Ais Hot Springs at the C10.
 * Northern part (Private Nature Reserves): From Keetmanshoop or Lüderitz take B4 and turn on D463.

By airplane
The Fish River Canyon Area supplies several airstips for private and charter flights:
 * at Ai-Ais
 * at Fish River Lodge and Vogelstrausskluft
 * at Seeheim
 * in the vicinity at Grunau, Keetmanshoop and Bethanie

See

 * The Fish River Canyon, of course. The nicest places to enjoy the view are near Hobas at the northern end of the canyon, reachable with a 2WD car on a horrible dirt road. You must pay a small entrance fee at Hobas (about 40 N$ pp for foreigners, plus 10 N$ per car, February 2018) because the canyon is part of the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. There is also a spot about 10 km south of the main view point, for which you will need a rugged car (It says '4x4' but that's not strictly necessary). The view is not better but at a different angle.

Do

 * Fish River Canyon TrailStart of Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail - panoramio.jpgh a very tough trail, the Fish River Canyon Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Southern Africa. It is an 85-km hike (90 km if you don't find the shortcuts—bring a GPS or a good map) from Hobas to Ai-Ais. Hiking is only allowed from 15 March to 15 September, in groups of between 3-20 people only. Be aware of the following:
 * Everyone needs a doctor's permit on a form that cannot be downloaded. Hobas office, where you can get a paper copy, has no doctor. Make a plan.
 * You have to carry everything except the water. A tent is not necessary, as there are suitable places along the track, including shelter from wind and sun. Unless you are an athlete, plan for five days.
 * At about km 16 there is an emergency exit near the Sulphur Springs. It is not possible to get out of the canyon by climbing the mountains after this, for about 50 km. If anything happened, one person stays with the injured, and another climbs out to get help, that's why the minimum group size is 3.
 * Don't forget a small cooker; you don't want to drink this water without boiling it first, and if the river didn't recently flow you will not find a single piece of firewood. It is also not allowed to collect it, or to make a wood fire. Water from the puddles in the river can be undrinkably salty. You can try different pools of water, sometimes there is a good one among them. A trick is to bring instant soup where a bit of additional salt is not a problem, and quench your thirst with that.
 * Do not attempt this hike on your own, or in summer. Even in Winter temperatures of 40 °C are not uncommon on the trail, and if you have to sneak into the canyon then nobody will know that you're there. There have been people dying in the canyon for that reason.
 * Do not jump from one rock to another. Your body is likely not used to the additional weight on your shoulders; injuries are likely.
 * There is quicksand throughout the first third of the hike. Watch and follow the animal spoor rather than invent your own shortcut.
 * Sulfur Springs hike: Between March and September you may climb down into the Fish from the 4x4 viewpoint near Hobas. It is pretty much a full-day hike: 500 m down into the canyon, a break and a bath in the sulfur springs, and then up again. You need a permit from the office at Hobas to do it, with the same conditions (and at the same price) as the full hike.
 * Scenic flights from several vantage points
 * Most lodges offer hikes into the canyon at other spots than the very steep and long descent of the full hike.

Buy
A stick (or trekking pole) and hardy sandals. Both of these are invaluable during the many river crossings sometimes over slippery boulders - the stick to aid with balance and the shoes to save your boots from getting wet! Ziplock bags to keep your food and other goods dry and a larger plastic bag to keep your sleeping bag dry.

Eat
You will need to bring all your own food.

Drink
When doing the hiking trail, water is mostly available in large pools in the river, but in dry years the quality can deteriorate drastically. Always use water purification tablets and if possible boil the water before use. Larger pools generally have cleaner water than smaller stagnant pools. The turbidity of the water gives a rough indication of the quality. Always carry at least 2 liters of water with you at all times, especially when making use of shortcuts as no water is available there.

Go next

 * Lüderitz
 * Keetmanshoop

title: Fish River Canyon Park


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Fiskardo

Fiskardo is a small fishing village in the north of Kefalonia.

Get in
KTEL run infrequent buses from Argostoli.

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

title: Fiskardo


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Fisterra

Fisterra is a town of 4,700 people (2018) in Galicia. Fisterra is believed by many people to be the most western point of Europe, and the alternative finishing point for the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James). In fact the most western point of Europa is in Portugal, near Lisbon and it is called Cabo da Roca.

Understand
Fisterra is on the rocky Costa da Morte (Galician: "Coast of Death"), named because of the large number of shipwrecks along these shores. The name Fisterra comes from Latin finis terrae, meaning "land's end". This name stems from the fact that this area is on a remote peninsula that is one of the westernmost points of land in Galicia, and hence in Spain.

Fisterra is an ancient port and fishing village, formed by narrow streets leading to the Plaza de Ara Solis. The chapel of Nosa Señora do Bon Suceso, dating from the 18th century, is on the plaza. There is a lighthouse on a 600-metre promontory called "Monte Facho" at the tip of Cape Finisterre overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. On the road up to the lighthouse is the parish church of Santa María de Fisterra which contains the Chapel of Santo Cristo.

Get in
Fisterra is 108 km from A Coruña, and 98 km from Santiago de Compostela.

 * Walk the Camino de Santiago
 * Get the bus from Santiago de Compostela

Get around
Walk.

See
The sunset over the sea - the last place in Europe to see it.

 * Castle of San Carlos, built during the reign of Charles III of Spain.
 * Church of Nosa Señora das Areas (late 12th century, modified later). It houses the image of the Holy Christ of Fisterra.
 * Bon Suceso Chapel (18th century)
 * Fisterra Lighthouse, the main on the Costa da Morte.

Do

 * Don't burn something you used on your camino, like your shoes (if you walked the camino). You can be fined by police. Also you may cause a wildfire.
 * Don't burn something you used on your camino, like your shoes (if you walked the camino). You can be fined by police. Also you may cause a wildfire.

 * Fisterra has several beaches like O Rostro, Arnela, Mar de Fóra, Langosteira, Ribeira, and Corveiro. Many of the beaches are framed by steep cliffs leading down to the "Mare Tenebrosum" (or dark sea, the name of the Atlantic in the Middle Ages).

 * Every Easter there is a local festival featuring the Christ of the Golden Beard.

Go next

 * If you didn't come from Santiago de Compostela, go there next and see the magnificent cathedral.

title: Fisterra


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Fitchburg

Fitchburg is a small city in central Massachusetts and is home to Fitchburg State University. Fitchburg's main attraction is the Fitchburg Art Museum, while in the Harry Potter universe, the city plays host to the Fitchburg Finches Quidditch Team.

By Car
Fitchburg is accessible by car from the east or west via MA 2. I-190 will bring travelers to the city from the south.

By Train
There is an MBTA Commuter rail station in downtown Fitchburg. Trains are infrequent on weekends.

On Foot
Fitchburg covers a fairly large area, but most attractions are in and around downtown so walking is a good option.

By Car
Should be easy enough, the traffic generally isn't too bad. Be aware that this is a New England city that grew up before the automobile so there is no street grid and the streets can be narrow.

See
Fitchburg's past as an important industrial center has bequethed it with an art museum of a size and quality that most people wouldn't expect to see in a small post-industrial mill town. Possibly because of this and lots of cheap real estate, there are a few art galleries in the city as well.

Buy
Fitchburg doesn't have a lot of shopping options of interest to travelers. Some of the art galleries mentioned in the "See" section have works for sale and there is a gift shop at the Fitchburg Art Museum. Whitney Field Mall is in neighboring Leominster, but it is just a typical American mall.

Eat
To be perfectly honest, Fitchburg hasn't experienced the dining renaissance that some other mid-sized Massachusetts cities have.

Drink
Fitchburg isn't a major nightlife destination, in part due to proximity to Boston and Worcester. The neighboring town of Westminster is home to Wachusett Brewing Co., the largest in Central Massachusetts.

Sleep
Fitchburg doesn't have many lodging options, but there are a few hotels just across the city line in Leominster.

Go next
Check out neighboring Leominster, head west towards the Pioneer Valley, south to Worcester or east into Greater Boston.

title: Fitchburg


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Fithian

Fithian is a village in Central Illinois.

title: Fithian


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Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald is a small town in Georgia's Plantation Midlands region, and is the (get this) center of the Fitzgerald Micropolitan Area. It was founded in 1895 by former Union Army drummer boy Philander H. Fitzgerald on behalf of Union Civil War veterans, leading to the nickname The Colony City. You'll see the Civil War history in the street signs: Union generals on the east, Confederates on the west, and at the Blue & Gray Museum. More importantly, though, tropical jungle chickens.

By car
Fitzgerald is off I-75 at the intersection of US-129 and GA-107, an hour and a half drive south of Macon—three hours from Atlanta.

By plane
If you have your own wings, you can fly into Fitzgerald Municipal Airport.

See
Wandering around town, keep an eye out for Red Junglefowl, a tropical pheasant from India or Burma or somewhere that looks an awful lot like a chicken, several of which were introduced for reasons well-masked by a Fitzgerald sense of humor. They have fled the boring old woods for the charming city center—look for them downtown. Today they are the city mascot, loved and unloved by a whimsically ambivalent populace.

Connect

 * The local area code is 229 and is not required for local calls.

Go next

 * Ashburn and its Jail Museum are just a half hour drive west on GA-107.
 * The Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village (Agirama) is a half hour drive southwest in Tifton.

title: Fitzgerald


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Fitzgerald River National Park

Fitzgerald River National Park is in the Goldfields–Esperance region of Western Australia. It is on the southern coast, and is accessed from the South Coast Highway.

Understand
Most of the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia was cleared for agriculture between the 1890s and the 1950s, with awkward areas of land like Fitzgerald River NP, Stirling Range NP and many other smaller areas being too difficult to exploit. As a result, the national parks of the region were not planned, but happened because the exploitation was either not easy or not possible.

Flora and fauna
The most botanically important regions in the state with 1,800 known plant species in the park and 62 found only in the park.

Get in
The only way to get into is by taking the South Coast Hwy from either  Albany or Esperance and should take some hours to get here.

Fees and permits
A fee of $11 per car is collected at each entrance gates

Get around
The roads are graded gravel easily traversed without a 4WD. Some minor roads to remote areas are 4WD only. Occasionally roads may be closed if they have become flooded after wet weather.

See

 * Whales – The bay at Point Ann is where migrating southern right whales calve around Jun–Oct. A viewing platform up on the point is will give you the best vantage point.
 * Barren Range – The dominant feature in the landscape stretches along the coast for the length of the park. The range is not continuous and has three distinct peaks aptly named West, Mid and East Mt Barren. The unflattering name was given by Edward Eyre in 1841 on his near fateful journey from South Australia to Albany where he described it in journal as "wretched arid looking country". The range is composed of granite, gneiss and some volcanic rock forced upwards by the earth movements.
 * West Mt Barren – The highest peak on the range at 372 m is reached by a road off Pabellup Dve. A track start at the carpark for a 2-hr return easy hike to the top that allows unrivaled views.
 * Mid Mt Barren – Not so easy to get to.
 * East Mt Barren – Easy to get to.

Do

 * Boating – You can launch at the boat ramp at Point Ann.

Eat
There are no places to eat in the park, and you will need to bring your own food.

Drink
Drinking water is not available anywhere in the park

Camping
There are prescribed camp sites in the park. Only Point Ann and Four Mile Beach are accessible with a 2WD The campsites are only large enough to be suitable for tents or very small caravans.

Backcountry
While it might be tempting to drop your tent on the beach, camping rough outside of the prescribed camp sites or in parking lots is not permitted.

Stay safe
Fitzgerald River NP has had some very serious bushfires in the last few decades. Make sure you keep your possessions with you, and an easy escape route available if you are there in the bushfire season – take care if you see smoke, and always check any details about fires or other things to do with weather conditions and fire conditions before setting up camp.

Go next

 * Albany – An ex-whaling port now makes its fortune from taking people to look at them alive.
 * Esperance – Arguably some of the best beaches in Australia.
 * Stokes National Park – Next park along the coast.
 * Hyden – A wave of a different sort.

title: Fitzgerald River National Park


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Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island is one of the most visited islands of the Great Barrier Reef, close to Cairns.

Understand
The island is in size,  of which is protected as Fitzroy Island National Park. The island is within sight of the mainland; in fact, it's a peak in a mountain chain which lies south of Cairns.

Get in
Fitzroy Island is only accessible by ferry from Cairns. Ferries depart at 8AM, 11AM and 1:30PM. The trip takes 45 minutes. A day return trip costs $82. Contact Fitzroy Island Resort. . stay@fitzroyisland.com@undefined. You can buy tickets that include some combination of snorkeling equipment hire, a barbecue lunch and a glass bottom boat tour.

Get around
The island's roads are for walking only; they're just dirt tracks of varying quality. Reception, the eateries and the accommodation are all very close to the ferry wharf, so you won't have to walk far with bags in tow. You can travel around the island by water in a sea kayak, or rent one of several kinds of boat.

See

 * Take a glass bottom boat tour of the island's fringing reef.

Do

 * Swim at any of the islands calm beaches. Nudey beach is about ten minutes walk through the rainforest from the ferry wharf, but contrary to the name, is not a nude beach - clothes/swimsuits are required. The island isn't a particularly good place to sunbathe though: the beaches are made of large smooth pieces of coral skeletons, rather than sand.
 * While the fish life is not as spectacular as on the outer reef snorkelling on Fitzroy Island will let you see many kinds of coral and a lot of fish life, including large parrot fish, no more than a two minute swim off the beach. One good spot is the rocks seen to the right of the ferry wharf as you arrive. Swim out around them rather than trying to climb over them into the water.
 * Scuba diving is not offered at the Fitzroy Island Sports Hub (as of Oct 2023), but they still offer stand-up paddleboarding, glass bottom boat tours, snorkel tours and other activities.

Eat
The resort has several small eating establishments:

 * Zephyr Restaurant for breakfast between 7AM and 10:30AM. Buffet or continental breakfasts are available. Dinner is available between 6PM and 8:30PM
 * Foxy's is available for lunch - noon to 3PM and dinner between 6PM and 9PM

Drink

 * Foxy's is licensed from 10AM to midnight.

Go next
Ferries to Cairns leave at 8AM, 11AM and 1:30PM

title: Fitzroy Island


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Fiuggi

Fiuggi is a city in the south of Lazio in Italy.

Understand
Fiuggi is effectively two cities. One is a typical medieval Italian hill town, at 2500 feet above sea level. The other, at a slightly lower elevation, is a 20th-century spa town, called Fiuggi Terme (Baths). The water of Fiuggi Terme is bottled and distributed widely in Italy under the Fiuggi brand name. Fiuggi first became famous in the 14th century, when Pope Boniface VIII claimed his kidney stones had been healed by the waters but it was not until the 20th Century that it became fashionable to “take the waters”. The health benefits of many Government employees now include a trip to Fiuggi or a similar spa.

Get in
From Rome, take the A1 Autostrada south in the direction of Naples. Exit at Anagni and follow signs to Fiuggi to the east.

See

 * Santa Maria del Colle
 * Church of San Pietro, built on the ruins of the ancient castle
 * Palazzo Falconi
 * Church of San Biagio
 * Piazza Piave

Do

 * Play golf. Fiuggi has a very pleasant, relatively short (5884m) 18-hole Golf Course. The smell of the pine trees and the hill atmosphere makes it particularly attractive.
 * Take the waters. There are two Sources. The Fonte Bonifacio VIII is open year-round. The Park is even equipped with an escalator. The Fonte Anticolana (or New Source) is open from April to November. Both are in parkland.

Sleep
There is an abundance of relatively cheap hotels in Fiuggi to cater to visitors to the Spa. Note that many are open only in the summer months. In the winter they close up and the staff head north to the Ski resorts.

title: Fiuggi


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Fiumefreddo di Sicilia

Fiumefreddo di Sicilia is a city in the province of Catania on the north eastern slopes of Etna on the Ionian coast.

Understand
The territory is almost entirely flat, especially in the part that extends towards the sea and the beach of Marina di Cottone.

It has a Mediterranean climate. Winter ensures generally mild temperatures during the day, but the difference in temperatures compared to the night-time hours can also be quite pronounced. The long-lasting summer is very hot, sometimes with high levels of humidity. Precipitation reaches a very marked summer minimum and a moderate peak in the autumn season.

Get in
Fiumefreddo di Sicilia is served by a junction of the Messina - Catania highway and is crossed by the north-south direction (A18, SS114).

Through it (SS120), you can reach Etna and the Madonie.

Get around
During the summer, shuttle services are set up towards the seaside resort of Marina di Cottone.

title: Fiumefreddo di Sicilia


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Fiumicino

Fiumicino is a city in Lazio. This city is on the coast near to Rome, and close to the airport that bears its name.

Understand
Fiumicino was originally a fishing village and is still an important fishing center. It is situated on the west coast of Italy, in the province of Rome. The town is home to approximately 60,000 inhabitants.

This region enjoys a Mediterranean climate similar to that of Rome, with occasional sea breezes to keep it cooler in summer. Spring and autumn are the best time to visit as the weather is most pleasant at this time. In the peak of summers, the temperature tends to regularly go over 35°C. Winters are mild.

Lately, it has also become a popular retreat for people from Rome. It is also a popular place for visitors to stay while visiting Rome. If you are flying out from Fiumicino airport it could be a pleasant place to stay your last night, avoiding the hassle of Rome's traffic on the way to catch your flight.

By plane
Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is close by and is more normally referred to as Fiumicino Airport. The center of Fiumicino is located only a short drive away from the airport. However, taxis will probably refuse to take you there. They will probably have been queueing for two hours expecting at least a €40 fare to the center of Rome and will not want a €10-€12 fare to Fiumicino. If the first taxi refuses to take you, try another.

By boat
Battelli di Roma: A great way to go from Rome to Ostia and at a very reasonable rate. The boat picks up/drops off in Ostia Antica, Fiumicino's neighboring town.

By train
There is no train station in the city center. The nearest train station is at the airport. Alternatively, you can get off at Ostia Antica station on the Roma-Lido suburban railway line. From there it is about a 15min car ride to Fiumicino.

Do

 * Fiumicino is on the Western coast of Italy, so it has beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean Sea.

Go next

 * Ostia — Fiumicino's neighboring town; also has wonderful beaches and the nearby archaeological site of Ostia Antica

title: Fiumicino


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Five Blues Lake National Park

Five Blues Lake National Park is on the border between the Stann Creek and Cayo districts of Belize. Read that name carefully: the park has a lake with five shades of blue, not five lakes all the same color ("Five Blue Lakes"). It is known for its wildlife, caves, and of course the lake.

Understand
Five Blues Lake National Park is unusual in that it's managed entirely by the local people of Saint Margaret's Village, with a volunteer board of directors drawn from the various ethnic groups of this small community.

History
The park was established on Earth Day in 1991.

Landscape
The geographic centerpiece of this park is Five Blues Lake, a cenote formed by the collapse of a huge underground cave. The varying depth (up to 200 feet) and composition of the bottom, and the light filtering through surrounding trees give the water different colors, which is the origin of the lake's name: Five Blues.

Get in
Although located in Stann Creek, it is accessed via Saint Margaret's Village in Cayo district.

title: Five Blues Lake National Park


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Fjærland

Fjærland is a tiny town at the end of the Fjærlandsfjord, an arm of the Sognefjord. In Sogn og Fjordane county. It is a particularly enjoyable gateway to the Jostedalsbreen National Park, and is close to two glacial tongues.

Understand
If you want a close-up view of a glacier without actually climbing on it, then Fjærland is the place to go. In addition to this, Fjærland is Norway's bokbyen - book town. Almost every shop in the town sells a range of new and used books, and there is even an "honesty book shop", not far from the ferry stop, where books are sold from a stand without any staff.

By plane
The closest option is Sogndal airport. Alternatively Førde airport.

By car
Fjærland is 38 km northwest of Sogndal on route 5 on the way to Skei, which is on E39.

By boat
In summer, Fjærland can be reached by ferry from Balestrand, a trip that gives ample photo opportunities - there's an amazing view of the Josteldalsbreen glacier behind the fjord as you approach the town.

By bus
There are buses each day to nearby towns, including Sogndal and Skei, both five times daily. The bus stop is 2 km out of the town centre, just across the road from the Norwegian glacier museum. It's a bit of a walk, so leave ample time to avoid missing what might be your only bus out of there.

Get around
A bus leaves from the ferry port once a day in May and September, twice a day in June–August, taking passengers firstly to the Glacier Museum and then to the glacier. Alternatively, catch a taxi, hire a bike at the tourist office, or use your own car.

title: Fjærland


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Fjerritslev

Fjerritslev is a city in North Jutland.

See

title: Fjerritslev


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Wikivoyage:Joke articles/Flaccid Peninsula National Park

Flaccid Peninsula National Park is an occasionally popular region of You. It's one of the few rapidly moving land masses on Earth, and completely changes direction almost daily... it can go from a calm southerly position to more of a north-northwest in a matter of seconds. While many enjoy their visit to the Peninsula, others fear it like the plague and believe setting foot there, especially early in life, leads straight to Hell.

Landscape
Dense forest cover the northern most region known as the Harry Woodlands. However this region may at times be subject to massive deforestation. Across the bay, on the mainland is a swampy area known as the Testiglades.

Climate
Fairly warm climate, period of warmer and wet weather occur when the peninsula faces north.

Get in
Entry into the capital city, Point Conception (see map), is strictly prohibited. Visitors are however encouraged to explore the surrounding areas outside the city.

Fees/Permits
Special permission is required before visiting. Once permission is granted, you are free to your own devices, except that you may not harm the environment in any way, including lighting a camp fire or excessive stomping.

Get around
There are no speed limits, but avoid excessive speeds in dry conditions.

See

 * The Spitzer monument of flagging flaccidity. 9 Emperor VIP road, Mayflower 817. Erected, March 2008.

 * Mushroom Mountain. An active volcano; white hot lava streams out at rates of 45 miles per hour. Watch out.

Do

 * Treat the landscape with care.
 * Approach with caution.
 * Avoid stomping or lighting fires

Buy

 * Protective gear.
 * Safety measures.

Eat
Although something of an acquired taste, peninsula milk is rich in protein and vitamins. Most visitors to the peninsula prefer to taste rather than swallow the local speciality. Some visitors do prefer to use the milk for facial treatments. Recent studies show that regular consumption of Flaccid Peninsula Milk prevents breast cancer.

Drink
Avoid drinking the liquid at all costs.

Sleep
The whiskey crop on the Peninsula has been known to cause a rare form of "Landmass Narcolepsy" and prevents the regions frequent earthquakes.

Backcountry
Lots of undocumented experimentation has gone on in this region. Exploration of this region had previously (and is still) somewhat of a taboo, but recent developments show that most if not all individuals enjoy exploring this area.

Stay safe
purchase a close fitting raincoat when possible. Also a closed toed pair of shoes on the beach should be used as protection from the Native Crab population.

Go next

 * Dildo — an option when Flaccid doesn't quite hit the spot
 * Dingle Peninsula — the Irish counterpart to Flaccid
 * Fucking — a pleasant Austrian rural village for the hard-up traveller


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Flagler Beach

Flagler Beach is a town in Florida's First Coast.

Understand
Nestled on Florida's east coast between Daytona Beach and St. Augustine, the flourishing City of Flagler Beach is home to over 5,411. residents. Since its incorporation in April, 1925, Flagler Beach has grown from a sleepy fishing village to a unique seaside community while still retaining much of its original charm.

The City is home to six miles of uncrowded beaches, many great fishing spots including the Flagler Beach Municipal Pier, restaurants with ocean front dining, gift shops and a whole host of recreational facilities. The Intracoastal Waterway also flows through the town providing countless opportunities for boaters and fishermen.

Get in
A1A, the beach road, goes through the city from north to south and is the main route to the beach town. It goes north toward St. Augustine and south toward Ormond Beach.

Go next

 * Palm Coast
 * Ormond Beach

title: Flagler Beach


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Flagstaff

Flagstaff is a city of over 75,000 people (2019) near the San Francisco Peaks mountain range of northern Arizona and the Grand Canyon. At an altitude of, Flagstaff and much of the surrounding region are substantially cooler than the low desert that dominates the southern part of the state. Though still dry by east coast standards, enough rain and snow falls in the area to allow a forest of ponderosa pine trees to cover the landscape. Winters tend to be cold, and heavy snowfall is expected on an annual basis.

Climate
Although located in Arizona, Flagstaff has a very different climate from the southern desert areas of the state. Winters are cold and sometimes very snowy, depending on the year. Temperatures can dip below in the coldest months. Snow tends to melt quickly, as the temperature is usually above freezing during the day, even in winter. The spring season is windy and chilly, albeit otherwise mild, with occasional rain and snowstorms.

Flagstaff's summer begins around May, when temperatures warm substantially; the highs can exceed during the hottest days. During the monsoon season (roughly June - September), intense, frequent rainstorms occur, lowering temperatures and ending the dry spell that tends to set in when the weather warms. The cool temperatures and frequent rain continue into the fall, and the first snowfall is often in November or December.

By car
Flagstaff is at the intersection of I-40, which runs west to California and east to New Mexico (following historic Route 66) and I-17, which runs south to Phoenix.

By plane
American Airlines provides service from Dallas-Fort Worth and Phoenix Sky Harbor as the only commercial airline to Flagstaff. Otherwise the airport serves a general aviation airport.

The nearest major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Driving time between Flagstaff and Sky Harbor is greater than the 150-mile separation would suggest: the airport is on the east side of Phoenix, traffic jams in Phoenix are a problem, and I-17 can be shutdown for accidents or wildfires. Allow 2½ hours or more to get from one to the other by car.

Get around
Flagstaff is stretched out along historic Route 66, which runs roughly east-west. The fairly small (about 5 blocks square) downtown is on the western side of town, near the base of Mars Hill, the location of Lowell Observatory. The I-40 highway and the BNSF railroad tracks run roughly parallel to Route 66. Northern Arizona University is south of downtown and the tracks, but north of I-40. Here the north-south oriented Milton Road, which becomes I-17, is the main thoroughfare, with Route 66 heading west north of the railroad underpass.

The city is fairly bike-friendly, with many roads having bike lanes. In 2006 the Flagstaff was designated a "Bicycle-Friendly Community" by the League of American Bicyclists. The Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) includes more than 50 miles of paved and unpaved trails that wind throughout the town and are used extensively for recreation and transportation. One well-traveled FUTS path runs along the south side of Route 66 from downtown to the east side of town.

The Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority operates The Mountain Line, fixed-route bus service that extends throughout Flagstaff and carries more than one million passengers per year.

Do

Outdoors
The area surrounding Flagstaff is a hotspot for outdoor activities.
 * Many of the bicycle and outdoor sports stores in downtown Flagstaff carry Favorite Hikes: Flagstaff and Sedona and Mountain Biking Arizona Guide: Fat Tire Tales and Trails, two excellent guidebooks written by local Flagstaff mountain bike enthusiast Cosmic Ray.
 * Trailriding
 * Trailriding
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 * Trailriding

Drink
For beer fans, Flagstaff boasts several brewpubs and microbreweries.

Sleep
Because of its proximity to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff has a wide array of hotels and other lodging, with over 5,000 rooms available. Cheap rooms are available at older non-chain motels, but you get what you pay for, and prices may not be that much cheaper than discount chains. Be sure to shop around and bargain as proprietors are often willing to drop prices during the off-season.

Many motels of the older variety are located along Route 66 east of downtown. More older hotels and most newer motels are located south of downtown along Milton Road. There are a few historic hotels downtown, as well as two hostels. Various B&B establishments can be found near downtown in older neighborhoods. Campgrounds and RV parks can be found on the outskirts of town. Note that the BNSF rail line is very busy and in many hotels train horn noise is prominent (though not overwhelming as no facility is directly on the tracks). Sensitive sleepers should look to the Milton Road area for more quiet. Visible from the I-40 freeway off the Butler Ave. exit on Lucky Lane is a large selection of national chain economy class hotels including Econo Lodge, Motel 6, Quality Inn, Super 8 and Howard Johnson.

Camping
Dispersed camping (free) is permitted almost anywhere in the Coconino National Forest, which abuts town in many places (i.e. Thorpe Park, Mt Elden). Specific sites set aside for dispersed camping include Cinder Hills, Freidlein Prairie, and Marshall Lake (free, no water or facilities). Some of the choicest camp sites are on the San Francisco peaks and inner basin where a breathtaking aspen color changes happen every fall.

Stay safe
Although Flagstaff is well within the southern half of the U.S., it receives more snowfall than just about any other American city. Always come prepared in wintertime.

There is not a huge crime problem, but certain areas noted below should be avoided, mainly at night:

Sunnyside, one of Flagstaff's larger neighborhoods, is on the east side of town (bordered by Cedar Ave. on the north, 4th St. on the east, Izabel St. and Cedar Hill on the west and Route 66 on the south). Sunnyside is an incredibly diverse and interesting neighborhood but is also one of the most poverty-stricken neighborhoods in the city. Most points of interest are restaurants located on the edge of the neighborhood in the business districts which are generally safe any time of day. The area has been afflicted with some gang activity, mostly in the very center of the neighborhood. Just don't walk the neighborhood at night or hang out in an area that seems unsafe.

The other area that becomes unsafe at night is some areas of what locals call the "South Side". South of the railroad tracks, west of Lone Tree Road, east of Milton and north of the NAU campus is the general designation of this area. The exception being most of the areas along South Beaver St. and South San Francisco St., which are safe even at night because of the night-time music, restaurant and bar scene that takes place along these streets. Areas closer to campus and on side streets such as South O'Leary and South Fontaine should be avoided at night. Though a lot of college students inhabit the area, drug addicts and transients do also, and there is some gang activity.

Go next
An unusual number of national parks and monuments are close to Flagstaff, the largest and most famous of which is the Grand Canyon, but there are three right nearby. Note that there is a $25 Flagstaff Area National Monuments Annual Pass which works for all three monuments, and covers entrance fees for up to four people which may be cheaper for groups visiting multiple sites.

For more of the canyon landscape: the Grand Canyon is just a short drive further north, and to the northeast is Navajo Country and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. The detour through Sedona on the way south to Phoenix offers a scenic route west of I-17.

For more forested high-country, head southeast to the Mogollon Rim area or southwest towards Prescott.

For more of Historic Route 66 and the Old West, head east towards New Mexico, going through Williams and onwards to Gallup, Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Or head west to Kingman, with options to continue into California towards Barstow and eventually Los Angeles, or veer north at Kingman from Route 66 to Hoover Dam and Las Vegas.

title: Flagstaff


text:
Flagstaff (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Flagstaff:

South Africa

 * Flagstaff (South Africa) - A town in the Eastern Cape.

United States of America

 * Flagstaff - A city in Arizona.

title: Flagstaff (disambiguation)


text:
Flaine

Flaine is in Le Grand Massif ski area in the Haute Savoie department, in the Rhône-Alpes of Southeastern France. It was designed by Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer in the 1960s, has one of Europe's fastest gondolas and is known for being an eco-friendly car-free ski resort.

By plane
Regular shuttle and bus services operate between Geneva International Airport and Flaine during the winter season. Distance is 70 km, transfer takes 1h 15min by car or taxi, 1h 45min by bus.

title: Flaine


text:
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Flaming Gorge is a United States National Recreation Area and it is one of the most popular landmarks located in Ashley National Forest.

Understand
The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area (NRA) is a large reservoir found within a canyon on the Green River. The reservoir contains 207,363 acres (839 km²) of land and water, which is divided almost evenly among Utah and Wyoming. The canyon was named by explorer John Wesley, who upon first looking at the red gorge believed that it was on fire.

In 1958 the Flaming Gorge Dam was created, which today is what keeps the water contained in the reservoir. The Flaming Gorge reservoir is extremely popular for boaters for it contains 5 full-service marinas, which offer launching, storage, and maintenance facilities. Because the water in the reservoir always remains cool, even in the extreme heat, it is an avid spot for water sport enthusiasts. The reservoir is also known for attracting a large number of trout, which makes it a keen area for fishermen. The Green River, which is part of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is also very popular for fishing. The river is additionally well-liked for rafting. The Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area in addition contains many campground and hiking trails found along the 360 miles of shoreline, including some secluded grounds only accessible by boat.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
The Flaming Gorge NRA is located in the northeast corner of Utah and the southwest corner of Wyoming. It is south of I-80, between Green River and Rock Springs, Wyoming and extends into the Uintah Mountains towards Vernal, Utah.

By plane

 * Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport (RKS) has daily service to and from Denver on United. Delta also runs regular service to and from Salt Lake City.
 * Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City, about a 3.75-hour drive.
 * Denver International Airport in Denver, about a 6.5-hour drive.

By car

 * From Salt Lake City (approx. 3.75 hours), take I-80 E towards Fort Bridger, WY. Keep right at the fork to continue toward I-80 BUS E and merge onto I-80 BUS E.  Turn right at WY-414 S.  Continue onto UT-43 E.  Turn right at UT-44 S/Main St and proceed to enter Ashley National Forest.
 * From Cheyenne (approx. 5.5 hours), take I-80 W toward Laramie. Take exit 99 for US-191 S toward E Flaming Gorge Rd and proceed to enter Ashley National Forest.
 * From Denver (approx. 6.5 hours), take I-70 W toward Grand Junction. Take exit 90 for CO-13 N toward Rifle/Meeker.  Turn left at CO-64 W.  Turn left at US-40 W/Brontosaurus Blvd.  Turn right at US-191 N/N Vernal Ave and proceed to enter Ashley National Forest.

Fees and permits
There are no entrance fees into the recreation area.

Get around
Information and interpretive facilities are found at the Northeastern Utah Visitor center in Vernal, Flaming Gorge Dam, the Forest Service office in Manila, and at 14 interpretive sites along WY-44.

See

 * Sheep Creek Geological Area/Loop
 * Red Canyon
 * Cart Creek Bridge
 * Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Dam
 * Mustang Ridge
 * Scenic Byways and Backways

Trails
There are over 1,000 miles (1600 km) of mix-use trails in the Ashley National Forest. The following are some of the highlights. They are also good choices for day hikes.

 * Canyon Rim Trail -- Starts at the Red Canyon Overlook and follows the canyon rim for approximately 1.5 miles before ending at the Greendale Overlook.
 * Little Hole Trail -- Starts at the Flaming Gorge Dam spillway and ends at the Little Hole boating site. This trail follows the Green River.
 * Dry Fork Flume Trail -- Starts at the forest boundary to the northwest and ends with a connection with the Sink Ridge trail.
 * Rock Creek Trail -- Runs along the west edge of Upper Stillwater Reservoir and then follows the Rock Creek before entering the Wilderness.

Fishing
The Ashley National Forest has many opportunities for Blue Ribbon fishing. Whether fly fishing in the Duchesne or Green River, or jigging on Flaming Gorge Reservoir, this area is an angler's paradise.

Boating and water sports
The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is a popular spot for boating and water sport. There are boating ramps and marinas located at several sites around the Lake. There are 4 campgrounds in the immediate area of the Gorge that are accessible only by boat. The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam also provides adventures for non-motorized water craft meeting state and federal regulations for river running. of the Green River are open to approved water craft without permit. However, permits from the National Park Service are needed for the 26 miles of the Green River within the Dinosaur National Monument.

Horseback riding
Parts of the hiking trails are suitable for horseback riding. There are parking, horse unloading facilities, and comfort stations at most trailhead locations.

Off-highway vehicles
Many areas and trails on the Forest are open to off-highway vehicles.

Winter sports
Many of the same areas and trails used for ATVs are open to cross country skiing or snowmobile use during winter. There are facilities called "yurts" that are available to rent for overnight stays. The yurts are about four to seven miles from the Flaming Gorge on the Uintas Scenic Byway.

Buy
There are gifts and souvenir shops at the Red Canyon Lodge and the Flaming Gorge Dam. The gift shop at Red Canyon Lodge serves as a general store for nearby campgrounds.

Eat
Dining is available at the lodges and marinas.

Campgrounds
There are 43 campgrounds hosting over 700 campsites and 27 group sites, all spread over nearly 91 water-miles. There is also the opportunity to set up "primitive" camping for those wishing a more secluded adventure, or river camps for those extending their river runs for more than a day.

Lodging

Search also in Manila, Dutch John, and Vernal for accommodations and other services.

Stay safe
Boaters and water sport enthusiasts should be especially careful since high winds may be encountered, and the waters of the Lake are cold. Know and obey all State and Federal regulations while using the Lake.

Go next

 * Dinosaur National Monument
 * Rock Springs
 * Vernal
 * Cheyenne
 * Salt Lake City

title: Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area


text:
Flanders

Flanders (Dutch: Vlaanderen) is the Dutch-speaking, northern part of Belgium wedged between the North Sea and the Netherlands in the north and Wallonia and France in the south. This region has an immense historical and cultural wealth made visible through its buildings, works of art and festivals.

Cities

 * (Antwerpen) — Flanders' biggest city, with a large cathedral, the second-largest port of Europe, and plenty to see and do.
 * (Brugge) — also known as the "Venice of the north", a very nice medieval town with lots of small canals
 * — the capital city of Limburg, with a lot of greenery and shopping possibilities
 * — an old city with famous medieval towers (Broeltowers) and a big pedestrian shopping district
 * (Gent) — a more medieval city located approximatively in the centre of Flanders, halfway between Antwerp and Bruges[[Image:Ghent3.JPG|thumb|Ghent]]
 * — an old town with a very old university and a beautiful town hall
 * — small town with a famous cathedral
 * — offering nice cycling opportunities and boasts Belgium's largest market square
 * (Ieper) — made famous by its destruction during the First World War; many memorials and museums

Understand
Nowadays, Flanders is one of the three federal regions of Belgium (the other two being Wallonia and Brussels). This means that it has its own government, a parliament and separate laws. The capital, however, is Brussels, over which Flanders has only partial jurisdiction. But Flanders has travelled a long historic road before arriving at its present situation. Once being its own County of Flanders, the territory has been part of several larger countries or empires. Since Belgium's founding in 1830, tensions between the Flemish and French-speaking population have led to the federalisation of Belgium. There is an active independence movement in Flanders, but the struggle has largely been peaceful and is of no danger to any tourist.

The split between the regions is quite noticeable when travelling via public transport. The bus line operator in Flanders differs from the one in Brussels and Wallonia, resulting in different ticket types and different prices. The train network is a uniform network, however, but the announcements are adapted to the language of the region the train is driving in. Also when travelling by car, you'll see that the traffic signs are translated, so it's better to look up the name of your destination in Dutch and French before you leave.

By plane
Flanders has several airports:

By boat
There are several ports of entry at the coast and on the Schelde you can find several small ports too.

Calais and Dunkirk (France), a short drive from western Flanders, receive dozens of ferries a day from Dover in England. The overnight ferries from Hull to Zeebrugge were axed in 2021, though ferries still run from Hull to Rotterdam (Netherlands), which has good road and rail access to northern Flanders.

By car
The E19 goes through Flanders, also the E40 crosses the region.

By train
Big cities in neighbouring countries such as Paris, Amsterdam and London have connections to bigger cities in Flanders. From there you can change train and reach every city in Flanders.

Other means
By bicycle or on foot. As we are in the European Union there are no borders and you can travel freely. Several places have nature parks and allow you to walk in and out (often following old-smugglers routes).

By car
All roads are free of charge in Flanders except that some tunnels, such as the Liefkenshoektunnel in Antwerp, have tolls.

The roads and signalisation are pretty good and almost completely lit during the night. However, since 2017 the default speed limit outside built-up areas is 70 km/h, not 90 km/h as in the rest of Belgium. This speed limit is seldom explicitly signposted.

Many foreigners find in-town traffic nervous due to the many twisty, small roads with very busy traffic. Older towns can appear to be a maze of one-way streets, where a single missed turn might takes you to the other side of the town. One-way streets also often change, causing navigation units and paper maps to be outdated very soon (even if you just installed new updates). Often it is better to park your car and continue on foot. Be sure to look out for bicycles when you're driving in a town; bikes might ride fast and appear from everywhere. Car drivers are also held completely responsible when they are involved in an accident with bikes or pedestrians. The maximum speed in towns is normally 50 km/h, and quite often reduced to 30 km/h. In general, the towns are not large, and most towns have a ring-road, allowing you to drive to the other side without driving through the town.

In-between smaller towns, the road-network consists mostly out of 2-lane roads, where the speed limit changes between 70 km/h (in the fields) and 50 km/h (when you cross a village). The roads are quite straight, the road surface is well-maintained, and the cyclists normally have separated lanes. So outside towns, driving cars is a better option.

The motorway network in Flanders is quite well developed, and connects all bigger cities, and gives good access to the neighbouring countries. But during rush hour (around 8:00 and 17:00), there are many traffic jams around Brussels and Antwerp. In the summer, there are also traffic jams on the E40, connecting the coast to the mainland. The maximum speed on motorways is 120 km/h.

By public transport
The national train company is called NMBS. Trains will get you to most cities.

In cities you will find buses, trams and metro from De Lijn (The Line). The same ticket is valid for 90 minutes for one zone. You can buy multiple-ride tickets (Lijnkaart), this is cheaper than buying a ticket per ride. Depending on the number of trips you make in a day, buying a day pass might be cheaper than using multiple single tickets or tickets for multiple zones. Buying tickets from a machine or ticket office (Lijnwinkel) is cheaper than buying from the driver. De Lijn ticket offices might be closed in the off-hours. De Lijn tickets are valid in every Flemish city, but not in Brussels. Brussels has its own transport company called MIVB/STIB. However, De Lijn offers a few buses in Brussels and on these buses the regular De Lijn tickets are used.

Antwerp and Ghent have a tram network, and the coast also has a single tram-line, connecting all coastal towns. The tram networks are, just as the bus lines, operated by De Lijn and the same tickets are used as on the bus. There are no metro lines in Flemish cities.

By bike
Flanders has a vast network of special roads for bicycles. Get a map in a tourist office, because sometimes they can be hard to find.

Inside towns, when there is no separate lane designed for cyclists they ride between the cars due to the narrow streets, so be cautious. If however there is a bicycle lane, you are obliged to use it. If not, you can face a fine. Outside towns, most big roads have dedicated cycle lanes, though small roads (even when they have no dedicated cycle lane) are more relaxing to ride on.

At some train stations, there are bicycle rental opportunities.

The cycle node network
Flanders implemented a cycle node network. See the map. The network connects streets where cycling is relaxing. Every crossing between relaxing streets received a node number. When you create a route, you only need to write down the node numbers on a small piece of paper, and tape it to your bike. This way, there's no need to mess with big paper maps, or trying to attach a navigation device to your bike. However, you should always carry a map with you, in case you miss a sign. The cycle node network is ideal to create your own roundtrips in the countryside, or to bring you from one town to another.

By foot
Getting around by foot is by far the easiest inside towns. You don't need to take one-way streets into account, and most streets have raised sidewalks. Quite often, streets in the town centre are completely reserved for pedestrians. Many of the historical streets do have cobblestones as their primary pavement, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Most towns are also small enough to visit them purely on foot.

Talk
The official language of Flanders is the Flemish dialect of Dutch. Flemish Dutch has some vocabulary not used in the Netherlands and a distinct, soft accent but it is still standard Dutch. Nearly all Flemings, with the partial exception of seniors, are capable of speaking standard Dutch.

Most people know English at least moderately, and the younger generation (younger than 30) in particular can be expected to understand English properly. Not everyone can engage in a conversation with native English speakers due to lack of spoken English experience. Above 50, the chance of successfully communicating with someone in English decreases rapidly. Basic French is, just like English, taught in schools to everyone, but with the exception of areas in the proximity of the language border, French language skills are usually insufficient for an effective conversation. Flemings are extremely proud of their language, and in the Flemish region around Brussels for example, many locals might not appreciate you ask something in French. Either way, English is a better bet to ask something or start a conversation. A considerable number of people also understand German, but many have difficulties speaking it due to the different pronunciations and conjugations. If you speak German slowly, Flemings will likely understand what you're trying to say. Other languages are most likely unknown, with the exception of Arabic, Turkish and Berber in some Antwerp suburbs where immigrants accumulate.

Tourist brochures are often available three or four languages (German is sometimes excluded). Official information, such as public transport schedules and traffic signs, is very often only in Dutch. Francophone town names on traffic signs are also translated to Dutch (e.g Luik instead of "Liège", Rijsel instead of "Lille", etc.)

Viewing a movie in Flanders is also possible. Most films are shown in the original version (labelled OV at cinemas) with French and Dutch subtitles. Only children's movies are habitually dubbed (NV).

See

 * Historical cities, like Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven, Lier or Mechelen.
 * Belfries of Belgium and France — 24 belfries in Flanders are part of this geographically large
 * Flemish Beguinages — a kind of Medieval monasteries. 13 such beguinages have been listed as s; they can be found in Hoogstraten, Lier, Mechelen, Turnhout, Sint-Truiden, Tongeren, Dendermonde, two in Ghent, Diest, Leuven, Bruges, and Kortrijk.

Music festivals
There are many music festivals organised throughout the summer. The bigger ones happen in small villages, because there is lots of space and not many neighbours to complain about the noise.

Some of the famous ones are:

The festivals organised in towns are often free and very nice. They stay away from commercial music and have good bands playing combined with small local bands. Flanders has some nice music bands with some international fame (dEUS, Das Pop, Zita Swoon, Soulwax,...)
 * Pukkelpop (near Hasselt) is still an independent festival organised by youth movements. They figure big names but try to have alternative groups too.
 * Rock Werchter (near Leuven), owned by Clearchannel features all big commercial bands.
 * Maanrock (in Mechelen) is one of the larger free festivals. It's inside the city.
 * Marktrock (in Leuven) has many different stages with different kinds of music all over the city. Most music is popular music, though there are many small bands playing there. The main stage is the only stage not to be free. Every time you enter you pay a small fee (5 euro in 2003).
 * Sfinks (near Antwerp) is a world music festival. It has a really nice atmosphere. There is a lot of side animation, like a big market.
 * Pole-Pole (in Ghent)
 * Openluchttheater Rivierenhof (near Antwerp) isn't really a festival, though it has big bands all through the summer. Usually they "pick up" artists that have a few days without a gig.
 * Couleur Café (in Brussels)
 * Werchter Classic (near Leuven) mainly offers classic rock bands, but has been featuring artists that had their break-through only recently. It's mostly a re-use of the Rock Werchter facilities.
 * Graspop (metal music), Rhythm 'n Blues, Dranouter (folk music), Cactus festival, Rock Ternat, Rock@Edegem ... (there are too many to sum up)

Stay safe
Flanders is very safe. You will find that people are usually very helpful. In towns, you should of course beware of the usual petty crime (pickpockets in tourist places). Some suburbs around Antwerp have high concentrations of immigrants and should be avoided at night for safety, but tourists are usually unlikely to visit them because these areas typically offer little tourist value. The police force in Flanders is professional and the corruption levels are low in comparison to other government structures. When in trouble, do not hesitate to address police officers, who can be expected to engage in a conversation in English anywhere in Flanders. In tourist areas in particular, police officers will be able to fluently communicate in English.

The relatively flat topography of Flanders favors cycling, but unlike its northern neighbor, cycling infrastructure is poorly developed in many parts of Flanders. Cycling roads are absent outside the major cities, and where cycling roads are available, they are often in a state of disrepair. Wearing a fluorescent vest and safety helmet are not mandatory in Flanders, but of course highly recommendable.

With the exception of wild boars with young offspring, there is no dangerous wildlife in Flanders, and woods or forests are safe any time of the day. In the summer season however, ticks are known to reside in tall grass, and have a small chance of carrying Lyme disease. Check your legs when walking through tall grass or wear long trousers. If strongly discolored concentric circles show up on your skin, you might be bitten by a tick, and it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately.

Jaywalking is not a crime in Flanders, and vehicles will slow down or stop if you stand at the side of the road with the visible intention of crossing.

Tap water is safe to drink anywhere in Flanders, so drink bottles can be refilled at any occasion. Surface water however (streams, rivers, wells) are usually heavily polluted as a result of Flanders' high population density, and unsuitable for consumption regardless of how clean they look.

Respect

 * Flemings don't like to talk about their income or political preference. They do like to talk with you about beer and chocolate.
 * Although the vast majority of Flemish people are indifferent to Flemish nationalism, the Flanders-Wallonia question can be a controversial topic, avoid asking strangers about their views on this. Once you get to know them better and you feel they are open for it, you can ask them about it.
 * Although many Flemings speak French, avoid speaking that language, as it may be regarded by some as disrespectful. Explaining you're a tourist (and don't live there) will make people understand, though.
 * Most people enjoy helping tourists, and a lot of people speak, apart from Dutch, also English, French and some German (especially the students). Don't hesitate to ask locals if you have a question.
 * Throwing garbage or gum on the street is frowned upon – don't be surprised if someone talks to you if you do. You'll soon notice Leuven is a very clean city and locals respect this and try to keep it this way. Use the many bins.
 * Giving tips shows that you were content with the service given, but you are certainly not obliged to do so. It is sometimes done in bars and restaurants. Depending on the total, a tip of to  is considered generous.

Go next

 * If you visit Flanders it would be very logical to also visit Wallonia. Though there is a different mentality, you will find that they are Belgians just like the Flemish (lots of beer and good food).
 * There are also some towns just across the NL border which are very near and within easy day-trip distance from Flanders. They are very popular among Flemish people to visit (especially on Sundays, as all shops and supermarkets are open in the Netherlands). The most historically interesting and popular places are Hulst (near Antwerp and Sint-Niklaas), Sluis (near Bruges and the Belgian coast at Knokke-Heist, and Baarle (a curious enclave inside NL territory, near Turnhout.
 * Paris is pretty close, so are London, Cologne, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. These destinations can be reached by train easily.
 * The West Frisian Islands in The Netherlands are also not too far.

title: Flanders


text:
Flandrau State Park

Flandrau State Park is located along the Cottonwood River in the southern part of Minnesota, on the outskirts of New Ulm.

Get in
From the Twin Cities, take highway 169 south to highway 99. From 99 take highway 15 west to New Ulm. In New Ulm, follow Broadway (State Highway 15) to 10th Street South. Proceed west on 10th Street South up the hill to Summit Avenue. Then turn left heading south and proceed three blocks to the park entrance which will be on the right (west) side of Summit Avenue. Park entrance is right next to the New Ulm Country Club.

Vehicle permits

 * Annual permit $25
 * Second vehicle permit $18
 * Minnesota handicapped annual permit (MN handicapped plates or certificate) $12
 * Daily permit (Same rate for all vehicles.) $7
 * Daily group permit (10 permit minimum, 24-hour notice. Check at park office for details.) $5

Camping
For all visitors, the semi-modern campsite rate is reduced to a rustic rate during the off season when showers and flush toilet facilities are not available. Half-priced camping is available Sunday-Thursday for Minnesota residents with disabilities. This reduced rate applies to semi-modern and rustic rates only.
 * Semi-modern site (with showers) $15/night
 * Rustic site (no showers) $11/night
 * Electric hookup (where available) add $4/night
 * Water and sewer hookup add $4/night
 * Backpack or canoe site $11/night
 * Group camp (Call the state park reservation system to reserve group camp sites. A $45 non-refundable deposit is charged for all class III group camps. This fee is applied toward the first night's camping.) $45-$75/night or $3 per camper per night, whichever is greater
 * Horse camp (where available) $15 add $4/night
 * Campsite reservation fee (Fee per campsite reserved. Fee is nonrefundable) $8.50
 * State forest campgrounds $11/night
 * Special state park camping rates

Get around
The park offers road access to all camp sites. There are also several hiking trails that connect to all of the park facilities once you're there.

Do
The park features a sand-bottom swimming pool replete with zero-depth access, with seasonal life-guard and refreshment services. The park also features a variety of hiking and cross country skiing trails.

Go next
The park entrance is right in the city limits of New Ulm. New Ulm has a Wal-Mart, various restaurants, and many small businesses.

title: Flandrau State Park


text:
Flaxmere

Flaxmere is a satellite suburb of Hastings city in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand.

Understand
Flaxmere has a population of 10,000. It was intended as a housing development area so Hastings could continue to grow without damaging the valuable horticultural land of the Heretaunga Plains. Flaxmere was built on the poor soil areas of the Heretaunga Plains, and not much grows there. The value of the gravel-filled soil that Flaxmere is built around has since been recognized, leading to a proliferation of vineyards. These vineyards produce some of the best wine in the world.

Get in

 * Turn left at the huge roundabout where Omahu road leaves Hastings and crosses State Highway 2a
 * Enter near Flaxmere from the Bridge Pa aerodrome

See
Being a suburb that was planned with modern town planning knowledge (about 1964), Flaxmere has many large and varied green spaces that are good value to explore.

 * Flaxmere Park. This huge park has very nice rose gardens and is interesting to explore.
 * Flaxmere Avenue. Travels the length of Flaxmere.

Do

 * Flaxmere is surrounded by many of Hawke's Bay's more famous wineries and vineyards
 * Flaxmere Waterworld, Swansea Rd, +64 6 8797676. A large heated indoor swimming pool. Cost $1 to get into the heated pools. They have huge inflatable toys for the kids to play on.

Buy

 * Most of Flaxmere's CBD is on a long strip along Swansea Road.
 * Rural roads leading into Flaxmere offer roadside produce stalls and shops

Drink
Like most of Hastings, Flaxmere is surrounded by wineries. All are excellent places to eat and drink. All of the hours presented here are cellar door hours for visiting and buying – restaurant hours are probably different, best to check.

Sleep
Flaxmere itself has little accommodation, most local lodging being in the rest of Hastings.

title: Flaxmere


text:
Flåm

Flåm is a village in Sogn og Fjordane county, at the innermost point of the Aurlandsfjord arm of the Sognefjord. Flåm is among the busiest cruise ports in Norway. This article also covers the neighbouring villages of Aurlandsvangen, Gudvangen and Undredal, located approximately 10 km (6 mi) away in either direction; and Myrdal station at the junction of Bergen railway and Flåm railway. The small village of Gudvangen is at the other end of the popular boat ride Flåm-Gudvangen. The area is known for iconic fjords, numerous tall waterfalls, canynon-like valleys and impressive railway engineering.

Understand
Flåm sits at the south end of the Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the great Sognefjord. Flåm is also the end station for the Flåm railway, the only railway in Sogn og Fjordane and connection to the Bergen railway between Oslo and Bergen. Thanks to the railway and the sightseeing boat to Gudvangen (as well as a large number of cruise ships), Flåm has become one of the most visited places in the Western Fjords. These deep fjords allow the largest cruise ships to enter.

Nærøydalen and Flåmsdalen valleys are home to several impressive waterfalls, including some of the tallest in Norway.

Villages

 * Flåm is the end station for Flåmsbana and a good starting point for a cruise to Nærøyfjord, an arm of Sognefjord, and designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. Flåm sits at the mouth of Flåm valley that runs from the high plateau at Myrdal station to the fjord.

By plane
There is a small airport in Sogndal. The closest international airport flights is Bergen airport. Oslo airport, Gardermoen is some 5-6 hours driving.

By car
Flåm is on the European route 16, and could be reached along this from Bergen in 2 hr 45 min. Driving from Oslo would require 5 hr 30 min. Flåm can be reached from Geilo in Buskerud on route 50. In summer this is also the quickest connection from Oslo. In winter, the route 50 can be closed due to bad weather conditions.

By bus
Seven daily departures from Bergen, Sogndal and Lærdal.

By boat
Flåm is Norway's fourth largest cruise port, with about 175 cruise ship calls annually, bringing hundreds of thousand visitors to the tiny town. Flåm has space for one cruise ship to dock at its pier; others would tender to the central pier.

A catamaran route links Flåm with Bergen and other villages along the Sognefjord. This is a great way to see the fjord. Departures once daily between 1 May and 30 September. There is also a car ferry which goes from Flåm to Gudvangen (kr 665 for a car and its driver).

By rail
The famous Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) from Myrdal, a station on the main Oslo-Bergen line, is in itself a major tourist attraction. Many travellers continue onwards with a scenic cruise through the fjord itself to Gudvangen, from where you can catch a bus back to the mainline. This roundtrip is known as Norway in a nutshell.

The Oslo-Bergen railway is operated by the Norwegian State Railways. If you buy your ticket online well in advance, fares may be as low as kr. 199 for a one-way ticket. For an additional fee of kr. 90 you may upgrade your ticket to NSB Komfort, the equivalent of first class, with better seats, free coffee and tea, power supply and a more quiet spot in the train.

There should be a special car accessible for people using a wheelchair on all trains between Oslo and Bergen. A reservation is recommended. The train staff will assist you to get the wheelchair on board.

Alternatively, access Myrdal and Flåm by bike on Rallarvegen (Navvies' Road), running from Haugastøl via Finse and Hallingskeid.

Get around
Walking is a good option since Flåm near the fjord is very compact. The rest of Flåm near the fjord can easily be covered by foot. More of the village is located a few miles up the river, along the route of the Flåmbana. The railway and bicycle are good options in the Flåm valley between Flåm village and Myrdal station. The upper part of Flåm valley and Myrdal station is not available by car, and caravans/motorhomes can only drive in the lowest part of the valley. The local road in Flåm valley is dead end and there is little traffic. Until the church the valley floor is flat and barely above sea level.

A good place to start is at the Flåm Railway Station and Visitor Center (Flåm Turistinformasjon), where one can pick up a map of the village, browse a large gift shop, and buy tickets for boat, train, and bus sightseeing tours/rides. They also have wifi (must purchase vouchers) and washrooms.

Aurland is also a compact village that can be covered on foot. Stegastein viewpoint is a long walk steep uphill. Aurland valley from the village to the lake is flat and easy, but to Vassbygdi better use car or bus. Gudvangen is a very small village only 200 meter across. Nærøydalen valley is largely flat and easy, but traffic can be fast. About 10 km to Stalheim.

Bus, car or cycle are the options between Flåm and Aurland. Undredal is accessed through a 5 km tunnel from Flåm (12 km tunnel from Gudvangen), and hiking and cycling to Undredal is not possible from Flåm or Gudvangen. The European route E16 highway passes by Flåm and Aurland. Heading west, E16 enters the Gudvanga Tunnel on its way to the village of Gudvangen, located at the end of the narrow Nærøyfjord where the Nærøydalselvi river empties into the Nærøyfjord.

Do

Get on Flåmsbana and enjoy one of the steepest train journey along the Flåm valley. With a gradient of one in eighteen on 80 % of the 20 km-long ride.

If you have the guts, get on your bike to Vatnahalsen and further on through the 21 twists and turns along the 19 km of Rallarvegen down the Flåm valley.

Buy
Goat milk cheese, geitost from Undredal is considered a delicacy. Norwegian goat milk cheese differs from the Greek feta cheese. There are several types, but the most common one has a sweet taste.

In the wilderness
Camping under the open sky or in a tent is permitted in the wilderness such as in the uplands beyond Myrdal station. According to the Norwegian right to access, you may stay for up to two nights in one spot, provided that you leave no trace.

Go next

 * The mountain road to Lærdal. This road reach an altitude of 1306 m (4285 ft). It is named the Snow Road because snow is piled up beside it, several metres high, in summer. From the top of the serpentine road from Aurland there is an awesome view over Aurland, and the fjord.
 * Catch the train to Finse, and cycle back on Rallarvegen(Navvies Road). This road was used under the construction of the railway. You will pass over mountain passes, before cycling down the steep valley to Flåm. The distance is 55 km (34 mi), the trip takes about five to eight hours. Bicycles are available for hire in Flåm or Finse for 250 NOK.
 * Voss and Bergen
 * Balestrand

title: Flåm


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Fleetwood

Fleetwood is a seaside resort and fishing town, in Lancashire, in the North West of England.

Fleetwood is surrounded on 3 sides by water--the Irish Sea to the north and west and the River Wyre to the east.

Get in
Fleetwood is about 8 miles (13 km) from Blackpool.

By car
Fleetwood is reached via A585 from Junction 3 of the M55.

By bus
Local bus services run from Blackpool and other local towns.

By tram
The Blackpool tramway runs between Fleetwood and Blackpool.

By train
The nearest stations are Poulton-le-Fylde and Blackpool North. (Fleetwood no longer has a link to the national rail network.)

By plane
Fleetwood is reachable by bus from  (change of bus needed).

is also easily accessible and offers a greater selection of destinations.

Do

 * Football: Fleetwood Town were relegated in 2024 and now play soccer in League Two, the fourth tier. Their Highbury Stadium (capacity 5300) is on Park Avenue in town centre and on the tram route.

Connect
As of April 2022, Fleetwood has 5G from Three, and 4G from the other UK carriers.

Go next
The Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramway offers escape to the south including Cleveleys and Blackpool.

A passenger ferry operates between Fleetwood and Knott End across the mouth of the River Wyre.

title: Fleetwood


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Flemington

Flemington is a town in Hunterdon County in the Skylands region of New Jersey. It is in part a charming, quaint town of almost 5,000 people (2021) with tasteful old buildings and in part a large outlet shopping area.

See
The beautiful countryside of Hunterdon county. Farms and cows in the surrounding area.

Do

Buy
Flemington is known for its high-end outlet stores and car dealerships. There are also many farmer's markets with fresh NJ produce in and near Flemington.

title: Flemington


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Flemish Brabant

Flemish Brabant is one of the five provinces of Flanders (Belgium). The province completely surrounds Brussels, the national capital. Brussels however is not a part of the province. The capital Leuven is one of Belgium's largest student cities. The university is one of the oldest universities in this part of Europe and makes the city one with an impressive student tradition.

Cities

 * — capital of Flemish Brabant and a thriving centuries old student city.
 * — famous for its abbey and internationally renowned beer with the same name.
 * — municipality with rich industrial heritage along the Maalbeek and Sonian Forest.
 * — its belfry is one of 56 belfries designated as s.
 * — on the outskirts of the Sonian Forest, a.
 * — its belfry is one of 56 belfries designated as s.
 * — municipality with rich industrial heritage along the Maalbeek and Sonian Forest.
 * — its belfry is one of 56 belfries designated as s.
 * — on the outskirts of the Sonian Forest, a.
 * — its belfry is one of 56 belfries designated as s.
 * — its belfry is one of 56 belfries designated as s.
 * — its belfry is one of 56 belfries designated as s.
 * — its belfry is one of 56 belfries designated as s.

Understand
Flemish Brabant can be subdivided in the following regions, each of which has its own character:
 * Pajottenland (West of Brussels)
 * Groene Gordel (Green belt (around Brussels))
 * Dijleland (West of Leuven)
 * Zuid-Dijleland

 * Hageland (East of Leuven)

Talk
Dutch is the language spoken in the province of Flemish Brabant, and it's the only official language in the province and the rest of Flanders, except for the facility municipalities around Brussels where French is also spoken; the local dialect is called "Brabantian". English is also spoken by most people.

Itineraries

 * For a good hike or bicycle ride through the woods south of Leuven or for more information about what this region has to offer, have a look at Ad's Path.

Do
Local tourism services in Zuid-Dijleland have created a hiking or walking node network which spans from Tervuren to Leuven and to Ottenburg next to the linguistic border in the South.

title: Flemish Brabant


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Flensburg

Flensburg (Danish: Flensborg) is a city in Schleswig-Holstein located on the east coast. The 90,000 (2018) inhabitants live around the Flensburger Förde (Flensborg fjord). Its main claim to fame besides being a border town is the fact that the central registry for traffic offenses committed throughout Germany is headquartered in Flensburg. While Flensburg, like much of Schleswig Holstein, had received an enormous number of refugees after the war and thus its population jumped above 100 000 in 1945, making it a Großstadt according to the German definition of the term, it had lost this status again by 1952 when the population fell through refugees moving on to more permanent housing. As population has been on the uptick in the 21st century, there is talk locally of achieving the population of 100 000 again in the near future.

Understand
Flensburg has long been a bi- or even trilingual community with a strong Danish minority and a German majority that gradually switched from speaking High German ("Hochdeutsch") only with out-of-towners and speaking Low German ("Niederdeutsch" or "Plattdeutsch") in virtually all other situations to speaking less and less Low German - though there are efforts to preserve the language.

As the Danish border is just across the fjord, virtually all government offices and museums (even smaller ones) will offer their website in German and Danish and often also English. Dutch and Low German historically formed a dialect continuum and written Dutch is close enough to written German that competent speakers of one can make out the gist of a text in the other, but don't count on mutual intelligibility.

Due to the border, many Danes come to Flensburg to buy goods which are either unavailable or more expensive in Denmark, particularly booze, which is highly taxed in the Nordic countries. On the other hand, people from Flensburg like hopping across the border to places like Sønderborg to sight-see or shop.

The tourist information center is in the old town centre.

By bus or train
There are bus and train connections both from Denmark and Hamburg. Search Bahn.de for public connections in Germany, and DSB for Denmark.

By car
Most people arrive here by car. Flensburg is situated at the border of Germany and Denmark, beside the motorway ( in Denmark) leading to Hamburg in the south and to Kolding and further north in Denmark. It's one of the most important routes between the Nordic countries and Central Europe.

By plane
The nearest airports are Hamburg about  away offering a wide array of flights to domestic and international destinations and Sønderborg (, in Denmark   away; flights from Copenhagen only). Hamburg airport is served by the Hamburg S-Bahn and from Hamburg main station direct RE and Intercity trains leave for Flensburg with a travel time a bit under 2 hours. From Sonderborg airport take a taxi to the rail station and then DSB train.

Get around
Walking is the best way to get around in the city centre.

See
Flensburg offers a nice shopping district with old houses and gardens as well as a variety of museums and churches. The harbour is the hosting place for sailing regatta and events.

"Museum mountain"
There are combined tickets for all the museums on "Museum mountain" (which are rather close to each other) which cost €8 for adults and €4 for people who qualify for reduced entry.

Ferries
A nice way to enjoy the maritime atmosphere of Flensburg is to take a tour on one of the 5 different ferries.

Buy

Lots of people arrive in Flensburg from Denmark and the other Nordic countries for shopping. In the old centre of Flensburg are numerous shops along the pedestrian street Holm (Danish: Holmen) and Große Straße.

Malls
Thanks to being close to the border with Denmark and being served by a major Autobahn, the surroundings of Flensburg boast many major malls. Price differences between Denmark and Germany may make a certain item a bargain for Danish people but it might be expensive for Germans.

Budget
All these are in the city centre:

Go next

 * Kiel
 * Lübeck
 * Hamburg
 * Schleswig

title: Flensburg


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Fleurieu Peninsula

Fleurieu Peninsula is in South Australia, east of Adelaide

Understand
Before British colonisation of South Australia, the western side of the peninsula was occupied by the Kaurna people, while several clans of the Ngarrindjeri lived on the eastern side. The people were sustained by the flora and fauna of the peninsula, for food and bush medicine. The bulrushes, reeds and sedges were used for basket-weaving or making rope, trees provided wood for spears, and stones were fashioned into tools.

The Fleurieu Peninsula was named after Charles Pierre Claret de Fleurieu, the French explorer and hydrographer, by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin as he explored the south coast of Australia in 1802. The name came into official use in 1911 after Fleurieu's great-nephew, Count Alphonse de Fleurieu, visited Adelaide and met with the Council of the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia, which recommended to the state government that the unnamed peninsula terminating in Cape Jervis be given the name Fleurieu Peninsula "in honour of one who is worthy to be remembered in the annals of Australian geography". The government approved the name later that year, making it one of the few Australian places with a French name.

Cities

 * — the gateway to Kangaroo Island, the third (or fourth) largest island of Australia
 * , including — a popular weekend getaway for people from Adelaide
 * — for recreational fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling
 * Strathalbyn
 * – home to some of the most beautiful hills in the region

Other destinations
Encounter Bay - see Victor Harbor
 * – the start of the Heysen Trail

By car
It is an easy 45 minutes to drive the Fleurieu Peninsula south from Adelaide, although where in Fleurieu Peninsula you'd want to go would mean you'd have to take different paths out of Adelaide. You'll initially have to use the Southern Expressway, but then the road after the southern terminus of the freeway diverges: use  towards Victor Harbor and Granite Island, and  to go to Yankalilla, Kangaroo Island or Cape Jervis.

By rail
Train services operate between Adelaide and Seaford.

By air
There are airstrips in Aldinga and Goolwa for private and charter traffic.

Get around
It is easy to get around by car. If hiring a car consider getting a 4x4 if you want to get off the well beaten paths.

See
There are many good beaches to see here. Although they can be a bit cold at times, the beaches near some particularly beautiful rolling hills near Yankalilla, provide good photo opportunities.

Granite Island near Victor Harbor is home to Australia's only horse-drawn tram. It's also known for its population of fairy penguins in addition to its rather unusual signage.

Do
Some of the many popular things in the Fleurieu Peninsula are swimming on the many beaches here is popular, but that's if you happen to be by the coast. Be careful, as most of the beaches have hazardous rocks that may make swimming dangerous and unpleasant.

As with most other Australian areas, hiking trails always present, and mostly have different things to offer with different difficulties and lengths, suitable for different ages.

Fishing and other water recreational activities are possible to do here, but large parts of the Fleurieu Peninsula are "no fishing zones" as a bid to preserve endangered species, but other things like jet skiing or surfing are something not to be missed, and the beaches on Victor Harbor provide just that.

One things that is not to be missed is what is possible with the large sand dunes in South Australia, and Fleurieu Peninsula isn't short of sand dunes, and in some areas, they may be offering tobogganing and some other things.

Eat
There are some good cafes in this area, particularly in Victor Harbor, although that's no surprise given it's the largest city and harbor in the region, but the quality of the cafes might not be as good as you'd expect in Melbourne.

Drink
There are four wine regions on Fleurieu Peninsula. Each has a number of wineries offering great wine tasting and cellar door wine tour experiences.
 * McLaren Vale
 * Langhorne Creek
 * Currency Creek
 * Southern Fleurieu

Also cafés, vineyard restaurants or charming country pubs are to be found all over.

Stay safe
In an emergency, call Triple Zero 000.

Go next
Kangaroo Island ferry leaves from Cape Jervis

title: Fleurieu Peninsula


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Flevoland

Flevoland is the Netherlands' youngest province, almost completely formed through land reclamation in the 20th century. It is fair to say that most tourists would find it less interesting than neighbouring provinces. All the larger cities and most of the smaller settlements have only been created in the latter part of the 20th century, and there are only two older villages on former islands. That said, Flevoland can be of interest for those into urban planning, land reclamation, nature (it features the country's largest nature reserve) or, to some extent, archeology. It also has a fair share of lesser-known attractions.

Cities
Flevoland is divided into six municipalities, each offering a very different set of experiences:

Understand
Flevoland was created by a large land reclamation project in the former North Sea inlet of Zuiderzee, called Zuiderzeewerken (Zuiderzee Works). Planning for it started in late 19th century, led by government minister and engineer dr Cornelis Lely, but it took several decades to complete it. Flevoland consists of two polders: the larger Flevopolder, only reclaimed in the late 1960s, which includes the largest city of Almere and the provincial capital of Lelystad, and the older Noordoostpolder, created in late 1930s and early 1940s around the former islands of Urk and Schokland, which are now incorporated into the newly created land mass. Having been an island before the creation of the polder, Urk contains the highest natural point in the province, such as it is.

While Flevoland has been the Netherlands' fastest-growing province, first in land area and then in population, it remains one of the smallest and least populated. Population distribution is very imbalanced: Over half of the population lives within the boundaries of the municipality and city of Almere in the westernmost extremity of the province, where population density is comparable to that of the Randstad. The city of Lelystad, the province's capital, also has an urban character, while Emmeloord and Dronten are small towns. Most areas outside of them are rural or completely uninhabited. The natural reserve of Oostvaardersplassen was created in the vast space between Almere and Lelystad, and several species of wild animals were introduced there, living in almost completely undisturbed conditions.

The landscape of the province, due to the nature of its construction, is almost entirely flat. Most of its development took place in the second half of the 20th century or later. The opportunity to create new settlements of large magnitude from scratch provided proving grounds for urban planners, and the effects of their efforts can be seen and studied today, particularly in Almere. While Flevoland may seem to be lacking in rich heritage, the province contains many sites devoted to history and conservation. Lelystad features an archeological museum and a collection of reconstructed ships raised from the bottom of the drained Zuiderzee, while the communities of Urk and Schokland remain preserved. The area of the present Flevoland also used to be inhabited by the mesolithic "Swifterbant culture", named after the present-day village of Swifterbant, and thus Flevoland remains an archeologically rich and interesting location.

By train
The only railway line in the province runs across the Flevopolder, forking out of the railway between Amsterdam and Utrecht, continuing through Almere, Lelystad and Dronten, and then onto Zwolle. This is a popular through line with frequent trains stopping in Almere and Lelystad, and continuing either way to many destinations across North Holland, South Holland, Overijssel Friesland and Gelderland. Changing trains, one can reach pretty much every province and major city in the Netherlands within up to 2–3 hours.

There is no railway station in the Noordostpolder. One has to change for a bus in Lelystad or Dronten, or reach it by bus from Overijssel or Friesland.

By bus
Several inter-province bus lines traverse Flevoland, connecting it to North Holland, Utrecht, Gelderland and Overijssel.

By car
The main motorway crossing the most important towns in the province is the A 6. It forks out of the A 1 south of Amsterdam, in Muiderberg, runs through Almere, Lelystad and continues through Noordoostpolder around Emmeloord, eventually joining the A 7 in Friesland. Another motorway, the A 27 connects Almere to Utrecht.

The Noordostpolder is a peninsula, so it can also be accessed by local country roads from Friesland and Overijssel, with all the roads concentrically leading to Emmeloord, which somewhat aids navigation.

The Flevopolder is in effect an artificial island—entering it by car requires following either of the motorway links or smaller country roads that cross bridges. Such connections are available from Kampen in Overijssel, Elburg and Harderwijk and Nijkerk in Gelderland. A scenic way of entering Flevopolder from North Holland is to drive over the Houtribdijk (road N302) from Enkhuizen to North Holland.

By plane
The province's only airport is Lelystad Airport, which only serves general aviation, being the biggest general aviation airport in the country. It was developed to become a reliever airport for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with a tentative starting date of 2020 for the first charter and low cost flights which was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It remains questionable if and when flight numbers at Schiphol will again reach a level making the use of Lelystad Airport as a reliever necessary. For now, Schiphol Airport, which owns Lelystad Airport, has moved the Aviodrome museum there. Various aviation events are also held at Lelystad Airport, which both provides for a reason to come to Flevoland and restricts air access on some days.

The easiest way to get to Flevoland by air when not flying one's own plane is to land at Schiphol Airport and take a direct train from Schiphol to Almere or Lelystad.

Get around
Between Almere, Lelystad and Dronten one can travel on the railway line with frequent connections. Otherwise, buses are the only public transportation options. There are frequent and convenient city bus systems in Almere and Lelystad (bus lines are numbered one or two digits). Apart from those, a network of medium-range buses connects the cities in the province with each other and destinations beyond the province borders, those are numbered with three digits and some are limited to weekdays and peak hours. You would be best advised to consult 9292.nl to make sure a connection you want to take is available at a particular time.

Otherwise, the province is navigable by bike or car. Biking around the province requires covering much longer distances than in some other areas of the Netherlands, and there may be little to see along the way, except for undisturbed (man-made) nature. Almere has a well-developed bike path network, including a central "spoorbaanpad" (bike highway) constructed for fast biking across the town in lieu of taking the train or the meandering buses, and you can rent a bike from the local VVV in the library building in the city centre. Driving around should be uneventful and comfortable, and finding parking places relatively easy.

See

 * Schokland - Walk around this old island.
 * Oostvaardersplassen - Take a tour of this magnificent area.

Do

 * Modern architecture and urbanism - wander around Almere and visit the "Casa CASLa" in the city centre to learn more about how the city was planned and developed literally from scratch
 * Nature - go for bird and wildlife watching in the Oostvaardersplassen, or just wander or bike around the Flevopolder to discover the eerily flat human-made landscape
 * Learn and understand - visit the Nieuw Land Erfgoedcentrum to learn about the history of the polders and how they came about, follow on to Urk and Schokland to feel the atmosphere of days gone by
 * Ships and airplanes - go see the Batavia and other ships in Bataviahaven in Lelystad and/or the planes and aviation artifacts at the Aviodrome at Lelystad Airport
 * Veluwemeer - if you like watersports, hit the water on the Veluwemeer.

title: Flevoland


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Flic en Flac

Flic en Flac is in Mauritius.

Understand
It is a local fishing village that has expanded to become a popular destination for tourists and expats. Flic en Flac has a very long white sandy beach stretching down the west coast to Tamarin which is enjoyed by both locals and tourists. Scuba Diving is a major attraction here with excellent diving just a few minutes from the beach. There is a reasonable supermarket and a variety of accommodations and restaurants to suit all budgets.

Get in
Flic en Flac is located on the west coast and is linked by road to Port Louis to the north, Quatre Bornes to the East, and Tamarin to the South. Regular public buses run to Quatre Bornes and Port Louis.

See
Very long beautiful white sand beach and lagoon.

Do
Scuba Diving is very popular here with excellent dive sites just minutes away from the beach.

Eat
Traditional snacks such as Dahl Puri can be purchased from the local vendors.

Drink
Phoenix Beer on the beach.

Go next

 * Vacoas-Phoenix
 * Tamarin

title: Flic en Flac


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Flims

Flims is a small town of 2,800 people (2018) in the Surselva region of Graubünden in Switzerland.

Understand
Flims is a historic town in the Surselva valley yet not in the district of Surselva it is in Imboden. Flims has several distinct neighbourhoods, the most recognised being Flims Waldhaus and Fidaz, Fischeisch is a neighbourhood at the top of Flims, the town is centred on the base station in winter and the main street in summer. Flims is also part of a 220 km² ski resort known as the 'Alpenarena', the 'Weisse Arena', Flims Laax Falera or just Laax. The third of these names is the most descriptive, the resort links these three villages together, yet all three retain distinct identities. From the Flims base station lifts run to Plaun and Foppa.

Traditionally the economy of the town was based on agriculture, farmers would bring their fresh milk into town every week for villagers to buy, cutting the long grass in the meadows by hand. Flims nowadays relies on skiing and tourism, with a UNESCO World Heritage Site to its name, the iconic Flimserstein, the aquamarine Lag la Cauma (Lake Cauma) and being the meeting point of Romansch and Germanic Swiss cultures and languages, Flims certainly has much to offer.

By public transport
Flims can most be accessed by postal bus from Chur. The trip takes between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on whether it is a direct bus or not. There are 1-3 trips an hour depending on the season and the time of the day. The bus continues on to Laax.

From Illanz there is also a bus, however the trip requires a change in Laax. There is only hourly trip and the journey takes around 45 minutes.

By car
The main road through the Surselva goes leads through Flims, so either from Illanz or Chur, just follow the main road to Flims. If coming from the A13 express way take the exit Reichenau and follow the signs in direction of Disentis.

Get around

 * By bus: In winter several free bus routes operated by the 'Alpenarena' ski resort run around Flims, this stops during the summer however and the only option is the Post Bus running along the main road.
 * By bike: Electro-Bikes are available to rent from the base station in Flims, these include batteries which boost the rider and replenishing stations are situated around the resort.

title: Flims