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Winter sports in Austria

Austria is well known for its ski resorts. Most of them are medium-sized, less spectacular and glamorous as the mega-resorts found in Switzerland and France, but they are more cosy, less prone to mass tourism and a little cheaper; particularly for beer.

While most ski tourists in Austria are from Germany, Austria is accessible from all parts of Europe.

History
Winter sport tourism has become a billion euro industry in Austria and helped some towns to attain formidable wealth. Most Austrian ski resorts are former farming towns that have grown into resorts many times their original size, but often they retain some of their original charm particularly in the old town core. A handful of ski resorts such as Obertauern were built completely from scratch in the 1960s and 1970s.

Many resorts have responded to warmer winters by investing heavily in artificial snow generation. Some resorts are now so well-equipped that they're capable of offering excellent skiing conditions on most pistes even if the natural snow cover is just 5cm, as long as cold weather prevails during the night. All of this comes at a price of course, both environmental and financial. Ski pass prices have risen sharply during the last decade. Austria is also home to many of the high alps glacier skiing resorts.

When to go
The ski season lasts from early December to late March. A small number of ski resorts keep their lifts open all year on glaciers located mainly near the Italian frontier.

The best conditions for skiing are in mid-January, the coldest time of the year. Late February is a good time for sun-seekers.

The most crowded time is the period from December 25 until January 2. Advanced skiers may want to avoid this time as slopes can be too congested to be enjoyable. All of February is also rather crowded because of school and university vacations.

The least crowded times are early December, mid-January and late March.

How to go
Package holidays are normally more convenient and often cheaper if you plan on skiing for a week only. Airport transfers, flights and accommodation are usually included.

However, they have the disadvantage that they mostly run from Saturday to Saturday, they feature few resorts outside the mainstream, and there is a distinct lack of self-catering accommodation or rooms in private houses in most brochures. These types, however, make up the most popular forms of accommodation in the country.

The increase in low-cost carrier flights to Salzburg, Munich and Friedrichshafen has meant that an increasing number of visitors arrange their own transport and accommodation.

Price, size and location
As a general rule, the larger the ski resort and the higher the elevation above sea level, the higher the price. Ski passes will consume a large proportion of your budget. Beginners will normally find that they are unable to use most pistes covered by a ski pass in a large resort such as Arlberg.

Ski resorts in Carinthia and Styria tend to offer better value than those in Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg and are less crowded.

Large ski resorts have a tendency for mass tourism while smaller ones make more of an effort and offer a more personal service.

If you're skiing in late February or March it might be a good idea to head for resorts located at higher elevations (above 2000 m), as milder temparutures can turn the snow heavy and slushy (danger of knee injury) below that.

Athletic experience
Fast lifts (chairlifts and gondolas) mean more skiing than slow lifts or the dreaded (T-bar lifts). You get what you pay for. Some resorts have a high proportion of black slopes and are less suitable for beginners. Backcountry type experiences can be found in many of the larger resorts in Vorarlberg and Tyrol, offering a high altitude powder bowl environment.

Apres-ski
Apres-ski is about getting together after an exhausting day of skiing and talking to people in the many bars and pubs, moshing to Swedish rock group at 5pm and then not remembering having dinner. Nowadays, larger resorts also offer organized Apres Ski get togethers and pub crawls.

Please note that alcohol and skiing do not mix well, and that on higher altitudes alcohol may impair your reflexes more than on sea level.

Other activities
Some ski resorts are geared to ski and snowboard alone and others toward a wider range of activities or family tourism. If you're more after relaxation than skiing and partying staying away from purely athletic ski resorts will offer you better value for money.

By plane
Unlike many countries, getting in to Austria for skiing shouldn't imply flying to the capital city first.

Consider the following alternatives to Vienna; when comparing alternatives, consider: Only with all these factors considered, choose your interinary.
 * cost and duration if driving by a rented car
 * cost, duration, connection time and number of connections if riding by a train
 * cost of plane
 * final arrival time: whether it will allow you to prepare everything to start skiing just from the very next morning

It also reverses a typical sequence of travel planning when you first buy airplane tickets to a capital city, and then start choosing your final destination.

The majority of Austrian ski resorts are no more than a 1-2 hour drive away from a large airport.

Closest airports are:
 * for resorts in Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg: Innsbruck, Salzburg, Zurich, or Munich;
 * for resorts in Carinthia, Styria and East Tyrol: Graz, Klagenfurt, Ljubljana and Venice

Vienna airport is best avoided; it's a 4 hour drive away from the nearest medium-sized resort, and even longer by public transport due to its proximity to Slovakia and the eastern part of the country.

Many packages include the flight and transfer to the airport. If you're travelling independently, you'll need to take a taxi and/or train/bus. Some hotels will offer shuttle buses for their guests for a good price.

By train
Some ski resorts are poorly served by rail services due to their remoteness. Arlberg, Bad Gastein, Kitzbuehel, St. Johann im Pongau and Zell am See are larger ski resorts served by frequent rail services, and are easily accessible by train from neighbouring countries. Most large ski resorts that don't have a rail station can be accessed by train followed by a 30-45 min bus transfer.

There is a train from Zurich airport to Arlberg which serves St Anton via Feldkirch.

By bus
Most resorts are served by public transport. The skibus networks are normally very well organised and punctual and almost always included in the lift pass.

By car
Austrian ski resorts are compact and pedestrian-geared so you're unlikely to need a car during your stay in a resort. Some areas (such as Ski Amade in Salzburgerland) offer many different towns spread about a large area all on one ski pass so if you wish to try different places to ski each day then a car is advisable. If you arrive in your own car, bear in mind that driving conditions can be challenging on routes to some higher resorts although roads are often cleared, gritted and salted very regularly. However, it is a good idea to take snow chains and to have some experience in winter driving. Instead of renting a car for a week, it is often cheaper to connect by taxi on departure or arrival.

Eat
Food on the ski slopes normally consists of Austrian specialities of the stodgy variety, but is often overpriced. Some larger restaurants have a canteen styled service where the food is mass produced and the quality can be mediocre when compared to the rest of Austria. It can be hard for a vegetarian to have a varied diet throughout their stay as even the salads are often served with chicken.

In the towns themselves, choice and quality of food is better than on the slopes. Hotel food is normally excellent, since hotels compete for guests with their cuisine, while slope restaurants compete with their location. Therefore it might be a good idea to book half-board instead of eating on the slopes. Guest houses can provide you with traditional cuisine but it is always easy to find a Kebab or Pizza/Italian restaurant.

Sleep
Book accommodation as far in advance as you can. The number of beds in most resorts is limited, and the later you book the less likely you are to find good value. Be aware that accommodation in some cheap packages is not located in the main ski resort, rather in a nearby town from which you must connect by bus.

Many hotels in Austria are family run and offer personal service and surprisingly good facilities at reasonable prices, especially in smaller resorts. Going to the sauna after the pistes to warm up and relax tired muscles, as well as fine dining is considered as important as the skiing itself by many Austrians. You'll miss out on a great part of the Austrian ski experience if you book accommodation without sauna facilities.

Self-catering accommodation is also widely available, but bear in mind that the difference in total price between a half board hotel and a self catering apartment is not huge, and many skiers find they have little energy or desire to cook a meal and clean up themselves after a tiring day on the pistes.

Avalanche danger
As with all ski resorts, avalanches are an underestimated hazard.

Off-piste skiing is available and there are often Itinerary Runs. Some ski areas offer a 'Free Ride' area. This is a 'safe' area to ski and board off piste. Remember that just because there are tracks in the snow on a certain hillside does not mean it is safe and a good idea to ski there.

Skiing off-piste is always an excellent activity but it is strongly recommended that you do it with a guide, unless you know exactly what you are doing, carry appropriate avalanche rescue equipment and are proficient in its use.

Equipment
There are numerous ski and snowboard rental shops in every larger resort. The choice is normally best made by convenience to the slopes or to accommodation.

When hiring equipment it's a good idea to turn up early, and since Austrians get out of bed early in general, that can mean before 8:30 am. Queuing for an hour to have your ski boots fitted can be very frustrating when you're eager to get to the pistes.

It is almost always better to try to arrange ski hire, ski lessons and lift passes as soon as possible after arrival in the resort, i.e. in the arrival afternoon when you most likely won't go skiing. Most of the offices will stay open until late afternoon on a Saturday (the main resort arrivals & departures day).

Tuition
Austria's ski and snowboard instructor industry is centrally regulated by the government. Licensed ski instructors must take a series of comprehensive state exams to climb up the hierarchy of Skilehrer (conventional ski instructor, mostly part-time workers), Landesskilehrer (regional ski instructor) and Staatlicher Skilehrer (national ski instructor). Courses can be taken privately or in groups (ski school). Beginners normally book a ski school for their first week.

List of ski resorts

 * Austria ski resorts list

Austria's best and largest

 * Lech and Zürs am Arlberg - famous for its royal clientele, an underrated ski area in Vorarlberg
 * St. Anton - Tyrol's best-known resort and perhaps Austria's most extreme skiing
 * Ischgl - a progressive resort with a link into Switzerland and the village of Samnaun
 * Sölden (Ötztal) - popular with snowboarders and apres-ski enthusiasts

Other popular resorts

 * Kitzbuehel - famous for its nightlife and charm, which attracts Austria and Germany's "beautiful people". Host to the annual Hahnenkammrennen, arguably the world's most important ski race.
 * Flachau/Wagrain - cosy, good for beginners and intermediates
 * Innsbruck - Tyrolean city that hosted two winter Olympics; 3 ski areas adjacent to city and several more close by.
 * Obertauern - compact, very good snow cover due to location and altitude but can be problematic in bad weather
 * Achensee — 3 ski resorts aimed at families around the Achen Lake: Maurach, Pertisau, and Achenkirch
 * Nassfeld - popular with Italian tourists
 * Mayrhofen /Finkenberg- a busy resort, popular with foreign tourists. Has a nearby glacier in Hintertux.
 * Zell am See - a scenic location on a lake attracts visitors for skiing and walking and has a small snowfield/glacier
 * Bad Hofgastein - famous for thermal baths too.
 * SkiWelt -Largest ski area covering villages of Scheffau, Söll, Ellmau, Brixen, Hopfgarten, Westendorf

Off the beaten track

 * Heiligenblut - spectacular scenery
 * Turracherhoehe - small and idyllic
 * Wildschonau -Literally wild place, includes Niederau, Oberau and Auffach

Summer ski resorts

 * Hintertux - a large area for a summer ski resort close to Mayrhofen, in Tuxer Valley
 * Kitzsteinhorn - the glacier above the village of Kaprun
 * Moelltaler Gletscher

title: Winter sports in Austria


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Winter sports in Switzerland

Switzerland offers a great choice of ski resorts, from the small village to the large station. Most of Switzerland's ski resorts are surrounded by impressive landscapes such as large ice fields and high mountains (48 four-thousanders are located in the swiss Alps).

Almost all winter resorts in Switzerland are frequented in summer by hikers, alpinists and tourists due to the many natural wonders and facilities.

History
Switzerland has a long tradition of winter sport tourism. St. Moritz is usually referred as one of the first winter resort in the world (1864).

Usually, Switzerland ski resorts are original mountain villages that have retained some of their charm, even if they have grown much larger with the development of tourism. Some villages in Bernese Highlands or in Valais are themselves considered as tourist attractions.

When to go
The ski season lasts from early December to April. In some areas it is possible to ski later or even all year (summer ski).

The best conditions for skiing are in mid-January, the coldest time of the year. Late February is a good time for sun-seekers.

Price, Size and Location
As a general rule, the larger the ski resort and the higher the elevation above sea level, the higher the price. Ski passes will consume a large proportion of your budget.

Large ski resorts such as Zermatt, St. Moritz, or Grindelwald are the best in the Alps, but also the most expensive ones. Many less known resorts can offer cheaper alternatives, but have of course smaller and lower ski areas. Which can mean that they lack snow later or early in the season

Apres Ski
Ski resorts across the Alps will always have a bar in the village, right at the bottom of the piste. This ranges from a loud glass temporary bars, perfect for a drink at 4 o'clock, to classy nightclubs great for spending the night.

Other Activities
Larger ski resorts will offer various other winter activities, such as cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and winter walking tracks. Telemark and ski touring equipment will generally be available.

Avalanche danger
As with all ski resorts, avalanches are an underestimated hazard. Off-piste skiing is available and there are often Itinerary Runs. Some ski areas offer a 'Free Ride' area. This is a 'safe' area to ski and board off piste. Skiing off-piste is always an excellent activity but never be unprepared and ski safely!

Equipment
There are numerous ski and snowboard rental shops in every larger resort and in many smaller ones. The choice is normally best made by convenience to the slopes or to accommodation.

List of Ski Resorts
This is a non exhaustive list of mountain resorts in Switzerland. Many ski areas are situated well above 3000 meters (3900 m in Zermatt, 3600 m in Saas Fee for instance) and are snow sure until late in spring or even in summer. As mentioned above these resorts are also great for summer vacations.

Valais

 * Verbier (ski until end of April)
 * Zermatt (summer ski, highest ski area in Europe)
 * Crans-Montana
 * Saas-Fee (summer ski, best summer ski area in the Alps)
 * Saas-Grund
 * Leukerbad
 * Anzère
 * Nendaz
 * Ovronnaz
 * Vercorin
 * Evolène
 * Lötschental
 * Grächen
 * Blatten
 * Belalp
 * Riederalp
 * Bettmeralp
 * Fiesch
 * Chandolin
 * Zinal
 * Grimmentz
 * Champéry
 * Morgins

Berne

 * Grindelwald
 * Mürren
 * Wengen
 * Meiringen
 * Kandersteg
 * Adelboden
 * Lenk
 * Zweisimmen
 * Gstaad

Graubünden

 * St. Moritz (ski until end of April)
 * Sils
 * Samnaun
 * Scuol
 * Arosa
 * Davos/Klosters
 * Lenzerheide
 * Laax Flims Falera (The Alpenarena)
 * Brigels
 * Disentis
 * Sedrun
 * Obersaxen
 * Vals
 * Savognin
 * Bergün

Central Switzerland

 * Engelberg / Mount Titlis
 * Melchsee-Frutt
 * Andermatt
 * Stoos
 * Sörenberg

Eastern Switzerland

 * Flumserberg
 * Pizol / Bad Ragaz
 * Braunwald
 * Elm
 * Wildhaus

Ticino

 * Airolo
 * Bosco Gurin

Vaud

 * Les Diablerets (ski until end of April)
 * Leysin
 * Villars-sur-Ollon
 * Château-d'Œx

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

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Winterthur

 Winterthur is a cultural city with many different museums, among them the Oskar Reinhart Museum am Römerholz exhibiting modern art, the Technorama science centre and the Fotostiftung Schweiz showing Swiss and European photography. It is Switzerland's 6th biggest city, with a population of 112,000 in 2018.

Understand
In the late 19th and early 20th century, local companies such as Rieter and Sulzer turned the formally quiet little town into a booming industrial city with an incredible wealth and ever-growing workforce. Diesel engines built in Winterthur powered large ships on all seven seas, while Winterthur-built textile appliances were in service worldwide.

Starting in the 1970s and 80s, blue collar jobs started to be outsourced to countries with lower wages and unemployment rose in Winterthur. Factories were standing still and entire neighborhoods turned into "ghost towns".

However, the IT and Telco boom, and smart decisions by the local authorities have helped to redevelop those areas into new economy and urban lifestyle areas with many offices, restaurants, schools and a go-kart racing track.

By train
There are direct trains to - from Zurich, Zurich Airport, Berne, Geneva, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, Basel and Munich. Winterthur is only 20 minutes away from Zurich or 15 minutes from the Zurich Airport.

Timetables

 * Swiss Federal Railway for national and international trains.
 * Public transportation company of the Canton Zurich (local buses, boats on the lake of Zurich, trains)

By car
Use the highway from Zurich, St.Gallen, Kreuzlingen or Schaffhausen.

Public transport
Public Transport in the canton of Zurich has useful information on getting around and what to do in the canton of Zurich. Use the Swiss Federal Railway Site for Public transport and its fares in Switzerland.

See
There are 17 museums in Winterthur. Here you can find more.

Do

 * Football: FC Winterthur play soccer in Swiss Super League, the country's top tier. Their home ground Stadion Schützenwiese (capacity 8550) is just west of town centre.
 * Football: FC Winterthur play soccer in Swiss Super League, the country's top tier. Their home ground Stadion Schützenwiese (capacity 8550) is just west of town centre.
 * Football: FC Winterthur play soccer in Swiss Super League, the country's top tier. Their home ground Stadion Schützenwiese (capacity 8550) is just west of town centre.

Learn
The most famous school of Winterthur is the ZHAW - Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, which offers mostly technical courses. They also offer some limited language courses. Contact them on their website, if you're interested in studying in Winterthur.

Budget
Try the Migros Restaurant (nice Wintergarden) at the Neuwiesencenter or the Coop Restaurant in the Manor Shopping Center on the 2nd floor. Both are self-service and close to the railway station.

For Take-Away food, you can also go for Migros (same place as Restaurant) and have some salad or noodles, usually around Fr. 6. They have a small coffee there, in which you're welcome to enjoy the food. They also offer pizza, sandwiches and other food, like the famous Swiss "Wähe" (pie) with all kinds of taste, from sweet over salty to spicy. Give it a try, if you like some Swiss food, and not international fast-food.

McDonald's, on the other side of the bus station right at the train station, offers you the usual food you're used to everywhere. Keep in mind that a menu costs you somewhere between Fr. 11 to 14, so a visit in Migros Restaurant is usually cheaper.

Different kebab take-away places, giving you a large variety of mostly Turkish specialities. For a regular "Döner Kebap", you will pay somewhere between Fr. 7 and 8. If you like hot sandwiches, consider Papaya and Sandwiches Kandil, where you get a big, hand crafted one with your chosen ingredients for Fr. 10.

Mid-range
In the ancient part of the city, there are several good restaurants: Trübli, Rössli, Akazie, National, Strauss (all with international kitchen). Swiss specialities are available in Walliser Kanne (Fondue, Raclette) and Sonne (Roesti).

Splurge
Schloss Wülflingen, Taggenberg

Mid-range

 * Hotel Ibis (From central station take bus Nr. 1 Töss-bound till "Loki")

Connect
As of June 2022, Winterthur has 5G from all Swiss carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Zürich is the big city 20 km southwest.
 * Schaffhausen stands in a salient of Switzerland north of the Rhine. The Rhine Falls are the big attraction.
 * Konstanz is the pleasant lakeside city northeast.

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Winthrop

There is more than one place called Winthrop:

Australia

 * Winthrop (Australia) - A town in Western Australia.

United States of America

 * Winthrop (Arkansas) - A town in Arkansas.
 * Winthrop (Iowa) - A town in Iowa.
 * Winthrop (Maine) - A town in Maine.
 * Winthrop (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.
 * Winthrop (Minnesota) - A town in Minnesota.
 * Winthrop (Washington) - A town in Washington.

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Winthrop (Massachusetts)

Winthrop is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 19,000 (2020).

Get around
The MBTA operates bus 712 and 713. These run throughout Winthrop from the Orient Heights Blue Line station seven days a week.

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Winthrop (Washington)

Winthrop is a city in the North Cascades region of Washington State.

See

 * Shafer Museum

Do
Winthrop Ice Rink

Sleep

 * Riverrun Inn, secluded cabins, rooms and a house on the Chewuch River, walking distance to downtown Winthrop
 * Sun Mountain Lodge, luxury hotel

Go next

 * Pearrygin Lake State Park, 4 miles northeast of Winthrop

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Winton

Winton is a town in Outback Queensland between Longreach and Mount Isa

Understand
Winton is a very small outback town in Central Queensland that, despite its small size on the map these days, has a rich history. Alongside Longreach the town has a strong link with Qantas, the Australian national carrier. Despite the common association of Qantas with Longreach, the then Queensland and Northern Territory Ariel Services company was actually first headquartered in Winton.

The legendary Australian folk-song Waltzing Matilda, once National Anthem contender and now generally accepted unofficial national anthem, was written by A. B. 'Banjo' Paterson in 1895, at the nearby Dagworth sheep and cattle station, and first performed at the Gregory Hotel in town later that year. This legend inspired what has been said to be the only museum in the world dedicated to a song: the Waltzing Matilda Centre and Qantilda Museum, one of the town's key attractions. Sadly, the Waltzing Matilda Centre aspect of this museum complex was destroyed by fire in 2015.

Winton is increasingly known as a "palaeontological paradise" for the rich fossil record that lies in the earth in the surrounding area. The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, on the eastern side of town, and the Lake Quarry Dinosaur Stampede Trackways, 110 km southwest of the town, connect visitors to this rich history. The museum attracts students on practical experience and other interested volunteers to the town for extended periods to assist with the processing of finds from regular digs.

As Winton is an outback destination, the climate is particularly harsh in the summer months, with temperatures often reaching 40º C / 100º F during the day. Visitor season runs from April to October. Outside of visitor season, expect tours and experiences offerings to be reduced.

Get in

Bus Queensland operates coach services to Winton from Brisbane via Charleville. The services leaves the Brisbane Transit Centre at 4pm daily, arriving at Winton at 12:45pm the following day. The return service departs at 1:25pm daily, arriving in Brisbane at 9:20am the following day.

There is a coach connection to Winton from the Spirit of the Outback train, operated by Queensland Rail, that terminates at Longreach.

Winton is approximately a 2 hour drive from Longreach on the A2 highway.

Get around
There is no public transport in Winton. A visit to the town and surrounding areas would be aided by having a car. The nearest cars are available for hire in Longreach. If a vehicle isn't an option the towns key experiences can be enjoyed via tours that operate from Longreach during visitor season.

Eat
There are several pubs along Elderslie street, including Tattersall's, The North Gregory Hotel, and The Australian Hotel, that offer reasonable food and accommodation.

Connect
Telstra is the only mobile phone network with coverage in the town. You've got no hope if you're using Optus or Vodafone.

Go next
Long Waterhole is 2km from Winton on the Jundah Road.

The Combo Waterhole is 132km northwest of Winton off the Landsborough Highway, and is believed by some to be the setting for the story of Waltzing Matilda, or at least part of the inspiration. 'Banjo' Paterson visited the site in 1895 while staying at Dagworth Station and later wrote the words to a song that captured the spirit of Australia – ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Once part of Dagworth Station, the series of waterholes now make up the 49ha Conservation Park.

Bladensburg National Park starts 7km south of Winton. Access is via dirt roads.

Longreach is a couple of hours drive southeast and Cloncurry is about 3 hours drive northwest.

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Wirksworth

Wirksworth is a historical market town 4 miles south of Matlock with a population of around 5,200 (2023) in Derbyshire, England.

Get in
Travelling to Wirksworth is easy from most directions. There are regular bus services to and from Bakewell, Matlock, Derby, Ashbourne and Sheffield Meadowhall. The town is 11 miles north of Derby, and 4 miles south of Matlock and is located on the B5023 between Duffield and Cromford.

Get around
Wirksworth is a small town and it is easy to get around. However, Bolehill and The Haarlem Mill areas are both around 1.5 miles from the town centre and it is advisable to get the 6.1 bus to either destination if you are old or less able to walk. Central Wirksworth is completely walkable, though quite steep in some places.

See
There are several attractions around the town, including St. Mary's Church, Puzzle Gardens — a group of small alleyways and jitties in north-west central Wirksworth — the restored Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, the Star Disc star-gazing site, and a Heritage Centre near the Market Place.

Sleep
Wirksworth also has a range of campsites, hotels, youth hostels, and bed and breakfasts.

Connect
As of March 2024, Wirksworth and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers, though it's patchy with Vodafone. 5G has not yet reached this area.

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Wirral

Wirral is in Merseyside and Cheshire in England, and partly in Flintshire in North Wales. The northern part of the peninsula contains the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, which is wholly within Merseyside. Most of the southern part of the peninsula lies in Cheshire, and the whole peninsula lies within The Historic County Boundaries of Cheshire. To the southwest, a slice of the peninsula is in North Wales at Deeside, east of the River Dee.

Wirral provides a more laid-back and recreational atmosphere than nearby Liverpool and has a rich heritage and landscape, in its own right. The northern coast of the peninsula provides a continuous stretch of sandy beach. There is an excellent view across to North Wales from the western side of the peninsula and, on the other side of the peninsula, the unique view of Liverpool's waterfront. Wirral also provides a useful central location, for a holiday to the wider Liverpool and Chester area.

Towns, villages and rural areas
Rural areas:
 * and Eastham
 * , covering Greasby, Frankby, Irby, Upton, Woodchurch, Moreton and Leasowe
 * at Garden City and Sealand
 * and Hooton
 * and Bebington
 * and New Brighton
 * , Caldy, Hoylake and Meols
 * and Bebington
 * and New Brighton
 * , Caldy, Hoylake and Meols
 * , covering Two Mills, Burton, Puddington, Shotwick, Dunkirk, Capenhurst and Ledsham
 * , covering Barnston, Brimstage, Thornton Hough, Raby and Willaston

Understand
The Wirral peninsula is situated across the River Mersey from Liverpool. It is accessed via one of two Mersey tunnels connecting Liverpool with Wallasey and Birkenhead. Wirral is a short drive away from Chester and North Wales to the south and is within one and a half hour's drive from the Lake District to the north. It forms one of the metropolitan boroughs of Merseyside.

Get in

 * By road use the M53 motorway (via the M56 and the M6). Birkenhead (Queensway) and Wallasey (Kingsway) toll tunnels also connect the Wirral to Liverpool. You can also go on a guided tour through the Mersey foot tunnel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 5PM and Saturday at 10AM.

 * By train go to Hamilton Square Station (in Birkenhead) on the Wirral Line, via Chester Station or Liverpool Lime Street Station. Lime Street has a great service connecting you to the likes of London & Leeds.
 * By coach (National Express) to Birkenhead.
 * By boat from Twelve Quays
 * By Plane from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Liverpool

Get around
There is also the much less used Borderlands Line, where trains run only hourly, via stations Bidston, Upton, Heswall, Neston to North Wales terminating at Wrexham.
 * Merseyrail (part of Merseytravel) provide the main train services in the Wirral with a dedicated Wirral Line, trains running every 15 minutes until midnight most days.
 * Merseytravel operate buses across the Wirral. Birkenhead bus station has an information counter.
 * Car rental, Hertz, 119 New Chester Rd, Birkenhead, (20 minutes walk from Green Lane Station) CH41 9BN.
 * Bicycle rental, Liverpool Bicycle Co-operative Limited, Wirral Country Park (Book in advance!).

Do

 * Wirral Country Park, south of West Kirby
 * The Wirral Way. The Wirral Way, a path on the track of an old railway, 12 miles long and goes from West Kirby to Hooton in mid-Wirral. It is situated within Wirral Country Park.
 * Climb Thurstaston Hill, Thor's Stone, Sandstone outcrop, Thurstaston Common.
 * Sustrans National Cycle Network road/track Route 56 runs through the Wirral and is signposted.
 * Seacombe Ferry all the way to Wallasey Golf Course has a segregated cycle lane.
 * A cycle map of Wirral from any Local Council office. Shows the many Wirral Council cycling routes around the Wirral.
 * North West Wirral route starts and finishes at Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston, (northwards) via Ashton Park, West Kirby, North Parade and Meols Parade.
 * North East Wirral route starts and finishes at Seacombe Ferry Terminal, via Seacombe Promenade, Wallasey Town Hall and New Brighton Fort Perch Rock.
 * South West Wirral route starts and finishes at Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston via Heswall Golf Course and Parkgate.
 * South East Wirral route starts and finishes at Eastham Country Park, via Port Sunlight Village.
 * Windsurfing at Marine Lake, West Kirby.

Events

 * Wirral International Guitar Festival, November at various venues.

Go next

 * Liverpool One Shopping Centre, 44 St John Street, Liverpool, Liverpool, (10 minutes walk from Lime Street Station or Central Station) L1 8BJ.
 * Met Quarter Designer Shopping Centre, 35 Whitechapel, Liverpool, Merseyside, (5 minutes walk from Lime Street Station) L1 6DA.
 * Albert Dock (including the Beatles Story and the Maritime Museum), Liverpool, (10 minutes walk from James Street station) L70.
 * Chester
 * Belfast, via the ro-ro Stena Lines MS Norbay ferry terminal in Twelve Quays, Birkenhead.
 * Dublin, via Isle of Man Steam Packet, MS Ben-my-Chree during winter.

title: Wirral


text:
Wisła

Wisła is a mountain resort in the Silesian Voivodeship of southern Poland, 90 km south of Katowice. In 2019 its population was 11,000. Poland's largest river, the Wisła or Vistula, arises nearby in these Beskids mountains.

Istebna to the south is a separate township (gmina) stretching to the Slovak border; its attractions are also described here.

Understand
Wisła was a tiny farming village until hill-walking, winter sports and other leisure activities developed in the 19th century. For centuries this area was part of Bohemia then Austria-Hungary, with a majority Lutheran population, joining Poland at independence in 1920. It's now an all-year resort.

Tourist information is available at the "Hapsburg Palace" just north of Uzdrowisko railway station, open Tu & Th 14:00-16:00, W F Sa 09:00-14:00. It's an old hunting lodge transplanted from elsewhere. Just be careful which door you enter as part of it is an escape room.

By plane
Katowice, Kraków and Ostrava  all have a good range of European flights and are about 90 minutes drive.

By train
Regional trains run from Katowice every two hours, taking two hours to Wisła via Tychy, Pszczyna, Zabrzeg, Skoczow and Ustron. Trains make five stops in Wisła:

 * is the main station.
 * is the end of the line.
 * is the end of the line.
 * is the end of the line.
 * is the end of the line.

By bus
Long-distance buses don't come here, Wispol is the local bus line: The main bus halt is outside Wisła Uzdrowisko railway station.
 * W2 from Bielsko-Biała: six a day, taking an hour via Ustroń.
 * W3 from Cieszyn: six a day, taking an hour via Goleszów and Ustroń, and continuing from Wisła to Przełęcz Salmopolska and Szczyrk.
 * 52 from Cieszyn hourly on the same route, and continuing to Wisła Głębce, Istebna and Koniaków.

Get around
This is a long straggly valley where you need wheels to carry all your winter sports clobber.

The trains from Katowice and buses from Cieszyn serve the main valley.

Some half-a-dozen taxi firms ply the valley and wait at the railway station.

See

 * Special Forces Museum (Muzeum Spadochroniarstwa i Wojsk Specjalnych) is a personal collection of parachuting and special-ops equipment. It's at Przylesie 1A, north end of the village.
 * Lutheran church is just south of the central marketplace. Wisła, unusually for Poland, is predominantly Lutheran, and this church was built in neo-classical style in 1838. It's seldom open.
 * Source of River Wisła is the barrage lake east of the President's Palace, gathering two tributaries into the great river at the heart of Poland.
 * in Istebna can be visited by appointment only. He worked internationally but lived (1884-1979) mostly in the Beskids.
 * Lace Museum is next to Centrum Pasterskie, open daily 10:00-16:00. Craftswomen make and sell their lace here.
 * is the tri-border point of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, reached by short easy trails from each country.
 * in Istebna can be visited by appointment only. He worked internationally but lived (1884-1979) mostly in the Beskids.
 * Lace Museum is next to Centrum Pasterskie, open daily 10:00-16:00. Craftswomen make and sell their lace here.
 * is the tri-border point of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, reached by short easy trails from each country.
 * Lace Museum is next to Centrum Pasterskie, open daily 10:00-16:00. Craftswomen make and sell their lace here.
 * is the tri-border point of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, reached by short easy trails from each country.
 * is the tri-border point of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, reached by short easy trails from each country.
 * is the tri-border point of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, reached by short easy trails from each country.

Do

 * Winter sports: some dozen lifts take you onto the nearby mountains, and several also run in summer for hikers and mountain bikers. For example Nowa Osada has a main run of 1 km descending 200 m from top to base. Cieńków – Malinka is a somewhat larger area.
 * Ski jumping: Adam Małysz Ski Jumping Hill is on Highway 942 southeast of the village. It hosts Grand Prix competitions and the record (set in 2024) is a 144.5 m jump. Adam Małysz (b 1977) has retired from jumping and rally-driving, and since 2022 is CEO of the Polish Ski Federation.
 * Hiking: Kazmierz Sosnowski Main Beskid Trail (Główny Szlak Beskidzki imienia Kazmierza Sosnowskiego, "GSB") is a 496 km trail through the mountains. The record for running it is a shade under 94 hours.

Buy

 * Aldi is the main supermarket, at 1 Maja just north of Uzdrowisko station, open M-Sa 06:00-22:00.
 * Several convenience stores along the valley, Żabka and Biedronka are the commonest chains.

Eat

 * Rynek the market square has Stara Karczma (within Beskid Museum), Pizza Tutto, Ondraszkowa Izba, PHU Tomaso, Fajno Chatka, Hospoda s Knedlíkem, U Zosi, Pizzeria Palermo and Robert Fiedor.
 * Rynek the market square has Stara Karczma (within Beskid Museum), Pizza Tutto, Ondraszkowa Izba, PHU Tomaso, Fajno Chatka, Hospoda s Knedlíkem, U Zosi, Pizzeria Palermo and Robert Fiedor.

Drink

 * Cafes serve alcohol, there isn't a stand-alone pub.

Sleep

 * The valley is packed with hotels, guesthouses and rooms for rent.

 * Crystal Mountain is a vast slab on the mountainside above Pensjonat Karina.
 * Crystal Mountain is a vast slab on the mountainside above Pensjonat Karina.
 * Crystal Mountain is a vast slab on the mountainside above Pensjonat Karina.

Connect
As of July 2024, Wisła and its main approach road have 4G from Orange and Play, and 5G from Plus and T-Mobile.

Go next

 * Szczyrk is another mountain resort in the next valley east.
 * Cieszyn straddling the Czech border has many medieval buildings.
 * Hairpin roads climb over the Beskids into Slovakia.

title: Wisła


text:
Wiscasset

Wiscasset is known as the Prettiest Village in Maine.

Get in

 * U.S. Highway 1 North - South.

title: Wiscasset


text:
Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a state in the Midwest in the United States of America. Being home to two Great Lakes, thousands of inland lakes and waterways, the state could easily be called the nation's "waterworld". Tourism is one of Wisconsin's largest industries, relying on people from Illinois and others who enter during the summer for fishing and its parks and recreational facilities such as those in Wisconsin Dells, those entering during the fall for a very popular hunting season, and winter for ice-fishing, ice-sailing, ice-skating, skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling, etc.

The southern portion of the state is mainly agricultural and urban while the northern half is mostly rural and forested and is more similar in appearance to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The central region acts as a transition zone with both forests, farm land and small cities. The state's largest city and urban area is Milwaukee in southeastern Wisconsin. In south-central Wisconsin lies the state capital Madison. Green Bay is listed as the state's third largest city. Wisconsin is a popular Midwestern travel destination both in the summer and winter months.

Cities

 * — Progressive university town as home of the University of Wisconsin main campus and capital city on an isthmus between two lakes
 * — largest of the Fox Cities (a region named due to its position on the Fox River), childhood home of Harry Houdini
 * — Largest city in northwest Wisconsin, home to many different music festivals and museums
 * — An industrial town on the Green Bay of Lake Michigan, home of the Green Bay Packers, the last small town team in the NFL
 * — A college town that features many beautiful nature areas, on the mighty Mississippi River
 * — An exurb that has a connection to the RTA Metra that makes it more a part of Chicagoland
 * — The 'City of Festivals,' Wisconsin's largest city and known for its breweries and Harley Davidson, on the coast of Lake Michigan
 * — A Lake Michigan industrial city.
 * — Gateway to the Northwoods

Other destinations

 * — Wild beauty on Lake Superior with boat tours just off the Bayfield shore
 * — Family tourist destination with scenic Duck boat tours and amusement parks
 * — "Cape Cod" of the Midwest. beaches, nature, museums and historic sites
 * — 1,200 mi hiking trail that spans the entire state

Understand
The name Wisconsin means "meeting of the waters" and is of Native American origin. Wisconsin is known nationwide for its dairy heritage, or as "America's Dairyland". People from Wisconsin are called cheese heads.

Early history
Wisconsin has been home to a wide variety of cultures over the past 14,000 years. The first people arrived around 10,000 BCE during the Wisconsin Glaciation. The first European explorers made their way to Wisconsin in the 1650s and 1660s. Explorers got to the state through the Great Lakes. The cities of Green Bay and Prairie du Chien were founded as explorers made their way down the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway, eventually ending up on the Mississippi River. These cities were critical in Wisconsin's growth throughout the Fur Trade. Some of the first permanent settlers came to the state after the British took complete control of the state following the French and Indian War. Some of the first settlers were French-Canadians, New Enganders, and some freed African-Americans.

The state became a US territory in 1783, after the Revolutionary War. In 1787, it became part of the Northwest Territory. As territorial boundaries subsequently developed, it was then part of Indiana Territory from 1800 to 1809, Illinois Territory from 1809 to 1818, and Michigan Territory from 1818 to 1836. Throughout this time, the British remained in control of the state. Around the late 1830s, many settlers came to cities such as Mineral Point and Dodgeville with promising ore deposits of lead and zink. These people dug holes in the hills of the "Driftless Area" to live in. These were called "badger holes," giving birth to the state's nickname, "The Badger State."The sudden influx of white miners prompted tension with the local Native American population. The Winnebago War of 1827 and the Black Hawk War of 1832 culminated in the forced removal of Native Americans from most parts of the state. Following these conflicts, Wisconsin Territory was created by an act of the United States Congress on April 20, 1836. By fall of that year, the best prairie groves of the counties surrounding what is now Milwaukee were occupied by farmers from the New England states.

The Erie Canal facilitated the travel of both Yankee settlers and European immigrants to Wisconsin Territory. Yankees from New England and upstate New York seized a dominant position in law and politics, enacting policies that marginalized the region's earlier Native American and French-Canadian residents. Yankees also speculated in real estate, platted towns such as Racine, Beloit, Burlington, and Janesville, and established schools, civic institutions, and Congregationalist churches. At the same time, many Germans, Irish, Norwegians, and other immigrants also settled in towns and farms across the territory, establishing Catholic and Lutheran institutions. The growing population allowed Wisconsin to gain statehood on May 29, 1848, as the 30th state.

Geography
With its location between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, Wisconsin is home to a wide variety of geographical features. In the north, the sea level is lower, and there are a lot of rocky hills, forests, streams, and sandy areas near Lake Superior. Just to the south, you will find massive mixed hardwood and coniferous forests including the nearly 665,000 acre Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, as well as thousands of glacial lakes, and the state's highest point, Timm's Hill. While Wisconsin considers smaller bodies of water to be lakes, when moved up to Minnesota's requirement, Wisconsin still has more lakes than "The Land of Ten Thousand Lakes." Moving along, the middle of the state has some unique sandstone formations like the Dells of the Wisconsin River in addition to rich farmland. The Southeastern part of the state some high ridges and lowlands, with lots of marshy areas, such as Kettle Moraine State Forest. Six of the state's largest cities (by population) are in the southeastern part of the state. In the southwest you'll find a rugged landscape with a mix of forest and farmland, including many bluffs on and near the Mississippi River. This region is part of the Driftless Area, which also includes portions of northeastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois, and southeastern Minnesota. This area was not covered by glaciers during the most recent ice age, the Wisconsin Glaciation. Overall, 46% of Wisconsin's land area is covered by forest. Langlade County has a soil rarely found outside of the county called Antigo silt loam.

Climate
Wisconsin can have one of the most diverse climates in the United States. Just like nearly everything else in the Badger State, the climate depends on what part of the state you visit, and when you visit. Winters can be very cold, with temperatures averaging from between 20°F to 10°F in the Winter (in Madison), with the wind chill dropping below 0°F on many different occasions. During the wintertime, the state also receives a lot of snow, averaging nearly 40 inches of total snowfall. However, some areas, such as the Lake Superior Snowbelt, can average over 150 inches of snow every year. This can make for lots of opportunities for Wisconsinites and tourists to go snowmobiling or go ice fishing. The snowy season will usually begin in Late October/Early November and run to Mid March, but snow and cold temperatures can hit the state as early as September and as late as May. If you want to avoid the snow, Late April to Mid October is usually going to be safe, but check the forecast if you visit right at the end or beginning of snow season.

However, Wisconsin has a very different climate in the Summertime. High temperatures (in Madison) usually average between 75°F and 85°F on the hottest days in July, but there are never any guarantees with Wisconsin weather. There can be random week-long stretches of temperatures over 90°, growing even higher due to the high amount of humidity that there is in Wisconsin; when looking at average humidity in Madison during the summertime, an 80°F day can feel like it's closer to 95°F due to how thick and heavy the air feels. Just remember that the humidity will not also be this high; it will vary based on day and location in the state (proximity to water). However, temperatures will drop into the 50s and 60s most nights. Another thing to watch out for is storms. Most of the time you will know when bad weather is coming, via your phone, or a local broadcast. Severe Storms in Wisconsin can include very high winds, torrential rainfall, and occasional hail or tornadoes (of which most occur between May and July). However, on a mild summer day, there may be sun in the sky at noon, and a ten-minute long downpour under an hour later. The moral of the story is to be prepared for anything when it comes to weather. Check the forecast while packing for your trip, and make sure to bring appropriate clothing in case the weather shifts.

If you are traveling to Milwaukee, don't be surprised if you are encountering windier conditions, or if the temperature is ten degrees cooler than it is in Madison (one hour to the west via the Interstate). This is affectionately called the "Lake Effect" by Wisconsinites. You never know what meteorological oddity Lake Michigan will throw your way.

People
Depending on what part of the state you visit, you will find many different people. Wisconsin is made up of mostly white people of European descent from countries such as England, Germany, Norway, Ireland, and Poland. 6.3% of the state is made up of African-Americans, with the remainder of the population being Hispanic, Asian, or of Native Descent.

Here is the make-up of religion practiced by Wisconsinites: Christian 81% (Protestant 50%, Roman Catholic 29%, Mormon 0.5%), Jewish 0.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Buddhist 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%, and unaffiliated 15%

Most Wisconsinites are very friendly- especially in smaller cities, where everybody knows everyone else in their community. If you find yourself in a smaller town without many restaurant reviews, don't be afraid to walk up to somebody on a sidewalk, say that you are visiting, and ask for food recommendations! The person you meet will most likely be happy to help familiarize you with the area you are visiting.

Talk
Wisconsinites speak with a specific type of Midwestern accent (similar to that of Minnesotans) and tend to emphasize vowels, using the longer pronunciation and drawing them out. Examples include the words "bag" and "rag" (using the same vowel sound found in "bagel," sounding like "bayg" and "rayg").

People in the state commonly refer to a drinking fountain as a "bubbler". Unlike much of the Midwest, Wisconsinites in the eastern part of the state (especially the Milwaukee area) refer to soft drinks as "soda" rather than "pop".

People in some areas may use the phrase "Uff da!" as an exclamation.

It's common for people in many parts of the state to refer to ATMs as "TYME Machines" (named for what was the most common type of ATM in numerous areas meaning Take Your Money Everywhere).

Some people will use the phrase "Stop 'n Go Lights" to refer to traffic lights.

You might also hear parking garages referred to as "parking ramps".

In some more rural areas where farming is common, the noon meal may be referred to as "dinner" with the evening meal being called "supper".

You may also hear "real quick" added onto phrases, such as, "Can you stop by da store, real quick?". It would also be common to hear the ending "or tree" added onto phrases, such as, "Can ya get me a beer, or tree (or three)" meaning, "Can you get me a few beers".

When asking about directions, most Wisconsinites will give the distance between location in time, not miles or kilometers, as most of these people know how to get everywhere they need to go by heart and how long it takes to get there. Another thing to remember, is that when somebody says they are "going up" to something/somewhere, they aren't necessarily going north. Somebody in Green Bay might say they are going up to the Brewer game in Milwaukee even though the drive is directly south. The same might go for somebody in Milwaukee "going up" to the Badger game in Madison, even though it is a drive that goes straight west.

While these phrases are specific to the Midwest, and sometimes specifically Wisconsin, it is not super challenging to comprehend what locals are saying if you use context.

Time
Wisconsin is in the Central Time Zone (GMT-6 hours during the wintertime, and GMT-5 hours during Daylight Savings Time), as are all neighboring states except Michigan, which is in the Eastern Time Zone (with the exception of a small portion of the Upper Peninsula, which is also in the central time zone).

Tourist information

 * Travel Wisconsin website

By plane
If you are traveling to southern Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee or Dane County Airport in Madison are good choices. If you are traveling to northern Wisconsin, Appleton International Airport in Appleton is a good choice with fares competitive with large airports such as Milwaukee and Minneapolis. At these airports, Delta Air Lines provides frequent flights from Minneapolis, Detroit, and Atlanta. United also provides frequent service from Chicago O'Hare and Denver. American has a lot of flights from Chicago O'Hare. There are also a few other airlines like Southwest, Frontier, and Allegiant who offer a couple of daily flights from these airports.

In addition to the airports noted above, there are also airports with commercial service in Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Mosinee, and Rhinelander. Use caution when choosing these airports, however, because they tend to have higher fares than Milwaukee, Madison, and Appleton.

If you want to fly into Wisconsin in your own plane, there are well over 120 GA airports where you could fly.

By boat
These services are only available from late Spring through early Fall.

By bus
Greyhound and Megabus serve Milwaukee, Madison, and other cities. Also check Van Galder and Jefferson Bus lines. Check their websites from services, schedules, and fares.

By train

 * Amtrak connects Chicago to Milwaukee via the Hiawatha service. The Empire Builder line, stretching from Chicago to Seattle/Portland, travels through Wisconsin, making six stops in the state (Milwaukee, Columbus, Wisconsin Portage, Wisconsin Dells, Tomah, and La Crosse).
 * The RTA's Metra also has a line that stretches up all the way to Kenosha.

By public transportation

 * The Wisconsin Department of Transportation puts out Wisconsin Get-Around Guide: Intercity Public Transportation Information. Information on transit can be found here.

By bus
Several bus companies provide service within the state.

By train
Amtrak has two lines that service the state. The Hiawatha has 7 daily roundtrips between Milwaukee and Chicago, with additional stops outside of Racine and at Mitchell Field Airport. The Empire Builder runs once daily, and effectively parallels I-94 to Chicago, coming all the way from Seattle. The Milwaukee train station has been remodeled into a nice clean and modern-looking building in the downtown.

By car
As is with most of the United States, travel by car is one of the most popular ways to get around. The following are the major routes in Wisconsin:
 * Interstate 94: A major east-west route, I-94 enters Wisconsin in Kenosha County and connects Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee and Madison before it briefly merges with I-90. After splitting at Tomah, I-94 passes through Eau Claire before entering Minnesota and heading toward the Twin Cities.
 * Interstate 90: Another major east-west route, I-90 enters Wisconsin in southern Rock County and connects Beloit, Janesville and Madison. It joins I-94 north of the city and services Wisconsin Dells. It splits from I-94 at Tomah and passes through La Crosse before entering Minnesota.
 * Interstate 43: A major north-south interstate, I-43 originates in Green Bay and heads south along Lake Michigan and connects Sheboygan and Milwaukee before heading southwest and terminating at its juncture with I-90 in Beloit.
 * Interstate 39: A north-south interstate route, Interstate 39 runs concurrent with I-90 when entering the state in Rock County and breaks off immediately north of Madison where it connects Stevens Point and Wausau.
 * US 151: A major north-south route, US 151 connects Manitowoc with Fond du Lac and Madison before heading southwest and entering Iowa immediately northeast of Dubuque.
 * US 41 now also marked Interstate 41: A north-south route connecting most of the Lake Michigan cities including Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee before heading northwest and servicing Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton and Green Bay.
 * US 53: A north-south route originating in La Crosse and connecting Eau Claire and Superior before crossing into Duluth, MN.
 * WI 29: An east-west route in Northern Wisconsin, WI 29 connects Green Bay, Wausau and Eau Claire.
 * WI 11: An east-west route in Southern Wisconsin, WI 11 originates in Racine and connecting Janesville and Monroe before terminating at US 151 immediately northeast of Dubuque, IA.

Unless there is a sign saying otherwise, it is legal to make a right turn after stopping for a red light.

County road-naming system
When traveling through the Wisconsin countryside, non-natives may be confused when navigating their way through county roads. This is because Wisconsin is the only state in the United States that uses letters rather than numbers to designate county roads. In Wisconsin, each county has its own set of roads. It is important to know that County Road A in Dane County is a different road than County Road A in Jefferson County. While these two roads may be connected, they may also be completely separate roads. It is also important to understand that county roads may have multiple letters. Some roads may feature double letters, such as County Road AA or County Road AAA, whereas others may contain contain mixtures of different letters, like County Road AB or County Road ABC.

See
Milwaukee has a number of good attractions:

 * Milwaukee Public Museum: has exhibits like a butterfly room, European village, and rainforest replica. There is also an IMAX theater.
 * Milwaukee Art Museum: an impressive lakefront building designed to resemble a sailboat, and contains a lot of great art.
 * Maier Lakefront Festival Park: where the world's largest music festival, Summerfest, is held. Other festivals are held here as well.
 * Miller Brewery Tours - The Miller brewery, 4251 West State St, a couple miles west of downtown, offers tours and samples.
 * The city has many neighborhoods such as Bay View, Brady Street, Bronzeville (Martin Luther King Dr.), Riverwest and Third Ward which are known for shattering the stereotypical "beer, brats and bowling" views of many outsiders. These areas tend to pride themselves on their racial and/or social diversity and each is home to an eclectic mix of ethnic restaurants, shops, clothing boutiques, bars and nightclubs.

Madison is the state capital. The capitol building has one of the world's largest domes. The University of Wisconsin has several small museums and a large hill crowned by Bascom Hall. State Street connects capitol square and the university, and features many shops and ethnic restaurants. Other attractions include the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, UW Arborteum, and Henry Vilas Zoo.

Wisconsin Dells has many touristy attractions:

 * Noah's Ark - world's largest waterpark
 * Mt. Olympus: competing water and go-kart park
 * Wisconsin Ducks & other tours: The Ducks and other boats provide tours of the scenic bluffs along the rivers of the area
 * Mini golf courses: there are many, like Pirate's Cove

Door County is a scenic peninsula with many sites. Peninsula State Park is the third largest in the state and has beaches, campsites, a lighthouse, and an observation tower high on a bluff. There are several other lighthouses, and wineries. A ferry runs to Washington Island off the northern tip, through an area littered with shipwrecks. Most cities are along the western, Green Bay side of the peninsula. These cities are littered with shops, restaurants, and activities that families and couples can enjoy. Heading further north, there are more old fishing cities. This area of the county is more heavily wooded and desolate than where the main line of towns are. The county is also well known for its cherries, and there are many stands selling them in cities, and many markets and orchards in the central part of the county. Most destinations in Door County are north of Sturgeon Bay.

There are four places in the state managed by the National Park Service, they include:

 * Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - an area on Lake Superior that consists of 21 Islands, Lighthouses, and many caves eroded into the coastline
 * Ice Age Trail - a trail in forested areas Central Wisconsin that is 1,200 miles long. This is one of 30 Nationals Scenic or Historical Trails
 * North Country National Scenic Trail - a 4,600-mile-long footpath stretching from Vermont to North Dakota
 * Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway - a federal protection of over 200 miles of riverways in Minnesota and Wisconsin

There is one place in Wisconsin managed by the US Forest Service: the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Family fun
Wisconsin Dells, in the Greater Madison Area, is known throughout the Midwest as a major family fun destination due to the number of water resorts there such as Noah's Ark, Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari and others. Wisconsin Dells is full of water parks, amusement parks, shopping and shows. It also includes Tommy Bartlett's Watershow, one of the world's greatest waterski shows. Wisconsin Dells is also famous for its ducks, truck-like vehicles that can travel on land and sea that travel from lake to lake and along the rivers of "the Dells" to demonstrate the sights and nature.

Sports
With historic franchises, exciting new teams, and classic fan-favorites, Wisconsin has a sports team for you to watch at any level for any occasion. Green Bay is home to one of the oldest teams in NFL history, the Green Bay Packers. With countless Hall-of-Fame players, MVP's, and 11 league championships under their belt, you can't go wrong with a day at Lambeau Field. If you are planning on going to a Packers game, get there many hours before the game starts for one main reason: tailgating. Tailgating is very popular among Midwestern sports fans, and is a great way to get the full experience of going to a game. Pull up to a spot in a lot surrounding the stadium, and pop the trunk. Many fans will bring a small TV to watch other games happening that day, cornhole (also called "bean bags” in this area) boards and bags, a football, and LOTS of brats, cheese, and beer. Tailgating is a great way to meet locals and get the full experience of Wisconsin life. Just remember- dress warm!

Another place you will find a ton of tailgaters at, is just outside of Miller Park on a summer afternoon in Milwaukee. The largest city in the state is home to the Milwaukee Brewers of the MLB. After tailgating, head into American Family Field for one of the best experiences in the league. If a Brewer hits a home-run, be sure to catch Bernie Brewer going down the slide! Another thing you won't want to miss out on, is the Famous Racing Sausages.

However, heading a little bit further into downtown Milwaukee, you will find another professional sports team in a very different environment. This being, the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks. After threatening to move, the City of Milwaukee agreed to build the team an all-new facility and surrounding district. A few years later, the team and city got one of the most state-of-the-art areas in the NBA, the Deer District and Fiserv.Forum. Explore the district before the game. Grab a beer or a burger at the many restaurants (but don't eat too much...) and go shopping at some of the nicest stores in the Milwaukee area.

As previously mentioned, Wisconsin has many teams from smaller leagues to feature:

 * Forward Madison FC: One of the fastest growing fan bases in the state’s sports scene belongs to Forward Madison FC of the newly started USL League One (Division 3 of the US Men’s Professional Soccer). With many fan groups growing and coming together, the Flamingos have managed to create a strong culture and atmosphere in just a few years of coming to Madison.
 * Wisconsin Herd: Now in Oshkosh, you can find the Wisconsin Herd, playing at the Menominee Nation Arena, as the top minor-league team of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
 * Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: Playing at the Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, the Timber Rattlers are the High-A level affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers in the Minor League Baseball System
 * Beloit Snappers: Set to complete a move to ABC Supply Stadium in downtown Beloit, the Snappers are the High-A level affiliate of the Miami Marlins in the Minor League Baseball System

Wisconsin is home to a large number of teams that play in the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is a summer league, with locations in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ontario. Athletes with college eligibility have the ability to play in this league during the summertime to help boost their game. The following Northwoods League Teams are in Wisconsin:

 * Eau Claire Express
 * La Crosse Loggers
 * St. Croix River Hounds (Hudson)
 * Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
 * Green Bay Booyah (Ashwaubenon)
 * Kenosha Kingfish
 * Lakeshore Chinooks (Mequon)
 * Madison Mallards
 * Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
 * Wisconsin Woodchucks (Wausau)

However, some of the most popular sports teams in Wisconsin are the teams that are affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Wisconsin Badgers compete in Division I-A of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Badgers have had much success on the late 2010s with their Men's Basketball, Women's Ice Hockey, Women's Volleyball, Women's Lightweight Rowing, Men's Rowing, and Men's Cross Country, all making deep runs in the NCAA Tournaments specific to the sports they compete in. Madison has been voted as the top college town by Sports Illustrated multiple times over the past few years. There are also many traditions that Badger fans relish such as the playing of House of Pain's "Jump Around" at Camp Randall Stadium. Badger fans also tailgate across the city, at locations such as Union South, a building between the Kohl Center and Camp Randall that works as a study space, tailgating center, restaurant, bowling alley, hotel, etc.

UW-Milwaukee, UW-Green Bay, and Marquette University also compete at varying levels of NCAA Division 1 Play. Many Private and Public Universities across the state also compete in Divisions 2 and 3 of the NCAA, as well as the NJCAA, NAIA, and the WJCAA.

Outdoor recreation
Hiking, bicycling, and in the wintertime, cross-country skiing are popular overland activities. Wisconsin was one of the first states to begin conversion of abandoned railroad right-of-ways into bicycle trails. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail traverses all parts of the state, extending for more than 1,600 km (1,000 miles), and offering evidence of Wisconsin's recent natural history. The most popular segments of this trail, since they are nearest to large urban centers, are in the Kettle Moraine region.

Boating is a major activity throughout the spring and summer. In addition to Lakes Michigan and Superior, Wisconsin is dotted with other lakes such as Lake Geneva, Lake Winnebago and the various recreational lakes in the Greater Madison Area, like Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. You'll find many of these busy with boats and jet skis. Many streams and rivers also have active boating, canoeing and kayaking.

Agritourism
Wisconsin's strong agricultural industry has contributed to strong growth in agritourism. Each year, thousands of people come to locations such as Door County to pick apples, berries and, most commonly, cherries. Throughout the fall, corn mazes, farm stands and apple picking also dominated rural areas throughout the State.

Fairs
Like other Midwest states, Wisconsin has a very strong county and State fair tradition. These annual celebrations tend to occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day include a number of different parts including shows, auctions, agricultural competitions, concerts, rides, fair food (think deep fried everything) and demolition derbies. You'll often find neighboring counties will schedule around each other to avoid conflicts, meaning there's almost always a fair going on during any given weekend in the summer.

The State Fair is held annually at State Fair Park in West Allis, usually in early August.

Festivals
The state of Wisconsin, especially the greater Milwaukee area, hosts many festivals. In fact, Milwaukee is even known as the "City of Festivals!" Throughout the summertime, you will find many cultural festivals, such as Scottish Fest, Polish Fest, Greek Fest, Bastille Days, Asia Fest, African Cultural Festival, Festa Italiana, Croatian Fest, Armenian Fest, German Fest, Puerto Rican Festival, Irish Fest, IndiaFest, and Mexican Fiesta. That's a lot of festivals! If you are looking for one for the premier music festivals in all of the United States, be sure to look into Summerfest. This festival takes place yearly at Henry W. Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee and is home to many performances from mainstream artists.

Eat
Like the rest of the Midwest, traditional Wisconsin food is generally of simple and hearty meat and potatoes variety.

As a consequence of the large German immigration to Wisconsin, German meals found their way into the local eating habits. Bratwursts are common and well liked, with Sheboygan claiming to be the home of the bratwurst. The Bratwurst is a state delicacy served during summer cookouts, preferably boiled in beer prior to being grilled.

The modern hamburger was said to have been first served as a meatball-like product when its creator realized they stayed on the bun better if flattened. It was first sold at a Seymour, WI fair.

Frozen custard is also a Wisconsin delicacy not found often outside the Midwest. Frozen custard is similar to ice cream (but do not call it ice cream!) It is unique in that there is far less air in it (making it less "fluffy" and far more smooth and creamy). It contains egg, making it richer and creamier. It has an inappropriate reputation as unhealthy relative to ice cream when in fact most frozen custards have less calories, less fat and less sugar, being less healthy only in that it has slightly more cholesterol than ice cream. Culver's is a fast food chain from Wisconsin with a presence throughout the Midwest that is known for their frozen custard and other Wisconsin specialties like cheese curds, but while you're in Wisconsin, seek out some of the local establishments that do not have a presence outside their home cities. Examples include Kopp's, Leon's and Gilles in the Milwaukee area, and Michael's in the Madison area; ask locals for their recommendations.

Wisconsin and the surrounding area is famous for its dairy products, and there are various regional specialties following this theme. Even fast-food chain restaurants in this region often give the option of fried cheese curds as a side in addition to the more common French fries. A history of Swiss-German immigration to the region has also made Wisconsin famous for its Swiss cheese (known as Emmentaler in Switzerland itself), which is used extensively in the local cuisine.

Supper clubs
The quintessential Wisconsin Friday night involves a supper club. There's no real definition which separates a restaurant from a supper club, but most supper clubs focus on nostalgia, old timey atmosphere and specific food, such as prime rib and fish fries. A relish tray is often also served with dinner. Since many of these clubs originated as speakeasies, there's a very strong sense of tradition and you'll likely see that, with the exception of the beer and wine list, the original food and cocktails from the club's opening are most likely still on the menu. Anyone visiting is strong encouraged to visit a local supper club.

Alcohol drinking age
The drinking age in Wisconsin is 21. However, persons under 21 and over 16 who are with a parent, legal guardian, or spouse (if the spouse is 21 or over) may, at the discretion of the establishment, be sold and allowed to drink alcohol beverages.

Beer and pop
Milwaukee is home to the Milwaukee Brewers - both the baseball team and numerous breweries. Until Pabst closed its Milwaukee brewery and began contracting out its production during the late 1990s Milwaukee was the brewing capital of the nation. Although only one major brewer (Miller) remains in the city, its brewing heritage lives on in the large number of micro-breweries and brewpubs it has to offer. Some more famous "small" breweries in Wisconsin include Point (in the college town of Stevens Point), City (formerly G Heileman), New Glarus, Berghoff, Leinenkugels (in Chippewa Falls), Riverwest and Sprecher (both from Milwaukee, the latter also makes many fine sodas). Many restaurants and bars have their own local breweries inside the facility such that patrons can see the tanks as they eat.

Grays Brewing is well known for its sodas also using real grain sugar (rather than the fine, processed sugar used almost everywhere else in all American food) which gives the flavor a unique and outstanding flavor. Gray's makes primarily fruit-flavored sodas and reuses (not recycles) its bottles, so bring 'em back.

Point Brewing is now offering various sodas, including rootbeer, diet rootbeer, cream and other flavors. The tour of the brewery is said to be quite fun and extensive and concerts are held in the summer (Rock the Brewery).

Sprecher Brewing also is well known, and is gaining recognition nationwide, for its sodas, particularly its root beer and unique labels such as Orange Dream, Raven Red, etc. A Root Beer or Orange Dream float with vanilla frozen custard is about the best beverage one can find. Tours are held Fridays and Saturdays all year-round, and everyday during the busy summer season. The cost of the tour is $4 for adults and $2 for those under 21. The price is well worth it, however, considering that the tour includes plenty of social time with unlimited samples of their sodas, and up to 4 samples of their beer.

Wine
Though Wisconsin is known for beer, it has a small but growing wine industry. Three American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) cover Wisconsin - the Wisconsin Ledge (which covers Door County and some areas to the south), Wisconsin Lake (which covers portions of Southeast Wisconsin and Southwest Wisconsin) and Upper Mississippi Valley (which includes the entire Driftless Area). Famous wineries include Wollersheim (near Baraboo) and Parallel 44 (near Kewanee). Many farms have also started producing local varieties.

Cocktails
Wisconsin has no official state cocktail, but if you asked, most Wisconsinites would probably say it's the Wisconsin Old Fashioned, a variation on the traditional bourbon cocktail. The Wisconsin version uses brandy and is served either "sweet" (with lemon-lime soda) or "sour" (with sour mix). Sour Old Fashioneds are sometimes served with olives for saltiness. Traditionally, Korbel is used as the brandy, but applejack is also popular.

With a large Nordic and German community, old world spirits like Aquavit (flavored with caraway or dill) are more common than in other areas. Aquavit is commonly served on the rocks, but it can also be mixed in cocktails. It tends to be better with more herbaceous flavors (such as Angostura Bitters or Chartreuse). Some bars may have a house cocktail using it as well - be sure to ask about it before trying it though as Aquavit can be an acquired taste.

Sleep
Wisconsin offers the usual assortment of chain motels, usually just off the interstate highways, as well as a number of larger resorts. Bed & Breakfasts-- from the one bedroom in a home to large, historic, buildings, and inns are also popular. Some areas, such as Baraboo, also specialize in casino hotels.

Respect
Locals in Wisconsin have a strong rivalry with those from the neighboring state of Minnesota, which manifests most strongly in sports, particularly in college football between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers.

Go next

 * Michigan - Michigan's Upper Peninsula lies to the northeast of Wisconsin and features stunning natural beauty.
 * Illinois - America's crossroads and home of Chicago, Illinois lies across Wisconsin's southern border.
 * Iowa - Rural Iowa is Wisconsin's southwestern neighbor and provides the opportunity to explore America's agricultural heartland.
 * Minnesota - Known for cold winters and its ten thousand lakes, Wisconsin's western neighbor is an ideal destination for wilderness enthusiasts, while shoppers need to travel only 20 miles (32 km) from the Wisconsin border to enjoy shopping in the Twin Cities at the Mall of America.

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Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells is a popular vacation area in central Wisconsin, best known for its rock formations and water parks.

Understand
Wisconsin Dells is an hour north of Madison and two hours from Milwaukee. It is one of the most popular destinations in the Midwest, famous for the steep and scenic bluffs along the rivers that make great cruising, and is also famous for the many water and theme parks.

Carefully vet Dells-related websites -- most are dot com sites but there are some dot org and dot edu sites that have valuable information. Pick up a free travel and attraction guide to help planning. Many feature ways to save money with coupon books and discount cards. Check online newspaper sites for events and festivals. Look for online reviews and specials to see what other travelers are saying before you book. Many times you can subscribe to a dells website for free coupons, email offers and last minute specials. The area marketing has grown so you can get many discounts, savings and offers directly to your mobile devices. While you're there having a good time make sure you remember to save enough gas money to get home!

By plane
The Dane County Regional Airport in Madison is an hour to the south. Further away lies O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and Milwaukee Mitchel International Airport in Milwaukee. Also, there are general aviation airports: Sauk Prairie Airport in Sauk City/Prairie Du Sac, and the Baraboo/Dells Airport for Baraboo and, of course, the Wisconsin Dells.

By train

 * Routes stopping at Wisconsin Dells:
 * Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.
 * Borealis operating daily between Saint Paul and Chicago, making all the same stops as Empire Builder east of Saint Paul.
 * Borealis operating daily between Saint Paul and Chicago, making all the same stops as Empire Builder east of Saint Paul.

By car
Interstate 90/94 passes right through the Dells area with four exits leading directly to the Wisconsin Dells area. U.S. 12 also passes through the Dells from major cities such as Madison, Tomah, and Eau Claire.

By bus
The Greyhound Bus stops at the Citgo/Burger King at 611 Frontage Rd.

Get around
The majority of Wisconsin Dells tourist attractions are along Broadway (Downtown Dells) and the Wisconsin Dells Parkway (Dells and Lake Delton). Both of these streets merge to form an "L" shape curving along the river as it progresses through town. This route can be traced from highway 16, where Broadway essentially begins, to Interstate 90/94. If you continue to follow this route past the interstate, you will eventually come to the Ho-Chunk Casino followed by the neighboring community of Baraboo.

Taxis

 * Wisconsin Dells Taxi, +1 608-253-7433
 * A1 Wisconsin Dells Kangaroo Taxi!, +1 608 432-4627

Do
Wisconsin Dells offers a wide variety of attractions and activities ranging from waterparks and rides to shopping, as well as boat rides on the upper and lower Dells on the Wisconsin River. The terms "upper" and "lower" Dells refer to the areas above (upper) and below (lower) the Hydro-Electric Dam which partly powers the City of Wisconsin Dells. The two regions differ in geography and scenery. Upper Dells Boat Tours travel upstream from Wisconsin Dells while The Lower Dells Boat Tours travel downstream. The area boasts Noah's Ark, Americas Largest Waterpark, along with several other waterparks, like the resort waterparks: Kalahari Resort, Wilderness Resort, Great Wolf Lodge, Chula Vista Resort, Mt. Olympus water & theme park giving Wisconsin Dells its motto: The Waterpark Capital of the World!. Special coupons and promotional packages for multiple attractions throughout Wisconsin Dells can be found at www.dells.com. Also, check out the championship golf courses and world class spa and day spas.
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 * - located in Wisconsin Dells
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Boat Cruises
Many companies operate boat tours, including:
 * Dells Ghost Boat 11 Broadway Ave, +1-608-254-8555
 * Upper & Lower Dells Boat Tours, +1 608 254-8555. April to October.

Buy
Downtown Wisconsin Dells offers a wide variety of shopping options. Explore the area and the broad mix of stores including gift shops, antique stores, art galleries and apparel boutiques. Indulge in sweet treats, like fudge, saltwater taffy and gourmet caramel apples. All of this lies along the scenic river walk of downtown, providing beautiful views of the Upper Dells. Further down the parkway, you can find some of the standard faire, such as Walmart and Kohls Department Stores, as well as some more unique shops like Parson's Indian Trading Post & Museum, which boasts one of the worlds largest collections of Native American crafted products. And then at the end of the parkway, you can find the Tanger Outlet mall (Also known as Outlets at the Dells), which offers discount merchandise from popular retailers such as Coach, Adidas, American Eagle and Banana Republic. Finally, after passing the 90/94 overpass on the Dells Parkway, there's the Wisconsin Dells Antique Mall, offering everything from World War II memorabilia to antique toys to sports merchandise.

Budget

 * Grateful Shed, +1 608 253-0588, 1470 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy. 11AM-2:30AM (Kitchen closes at 9PM). An Indoor-Outdoor Restaurant with food from savory Grilled Cheese to amazing shakes, you have to stop by and give it a try! Recommend the cocktails and their Signature Smashburger.
 * Grateful Shed, +1 608 253-0588, 1470 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy. 11AM-2:30AM (Kitchen closes at 9PM). An Indoor-Outdoor Restaurant with food from savory Grilled Cheese to amazing shakes, you have to stop by and give it a try! Recommend the cocktails and their Signature Smashburger.
 * Grateful Shed, +1 608 253-0588, 1470 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy. 11AM-2:30AM (Kitchen closes at 9PM). An Indoor-Outdoor Restaurant with food from savory Grilled Cheese to amazing shakes, you have to stop by and give it a try! Recommend the cocktails and their Signature Smashburger.
 * Grateful Shed, +1 608 253-0588, 1470 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy. 11AM-2:30AM (Kitchen closes at 9PM). An Indoor-Outdoor Restaurant with food from savory Grilled Cheese to amazing shakes, you have to stop by and give it a try! Recommend the cocktails and their Signature Smashburger.

Drink

 * River's Edge Pub & Grub, +1 (608) 253-6600. 30 Co Rd A
 * River's Edge Pub & Grub, +1 (608) 253-6600. 30 Co Rd A

Stay safe

 * The Wisconsin Dells Police Department is at 712 Oak St. Next to the Kilbourn Fire Department. Emergency Number is 911, Non Emergency is +1 608 253-4375.
 * Lake Delton Police Department is at 50 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy. Emergency Number is 911, Non Emergency is +1 608 254-8331.
 * The Wisconsin Dells Clinic is at 1310 Broadway, +1 608 253-5451.
 * The Lake Delton Clinic is at 530 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy., +1 608 254-5400.
 * St Clare Urgent Care Center is at 530 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy. +1 608 254-5959.

title: Wisconsin Dells


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Wiseman

Wiseman (population 22) is a village in Arctic Alaska, located 3 miles from the Dalton Highway at Mile 188.

Understand
The town was founded as a mining community by persons who had abandoned the town of Coldfoot in the 1910s (dates vary by source from 1912-1919). In 1930, a stay by noted wilderness activist and novelist Robert Marshall led to the writing of the classic Alaskan novel Arctic Village about the town, labeling it "the happiest civilization of which I have knowledge." In the early 1990s a bridge was finally built over the Koyukuk River, connecting Wiseman with the Dalton Highway.

Remember that everything in the town is private property, so be sure to meet a resident to give you a tour before walking aimlessly about the town.

Get in
The only practical way of entering Wiseman is via the Dalton Highway. Wiseman can be accessed by taking the highway to Mile 188 and taking a road to the west leading over the Koyukuk RIver.

There is no airstrip at Wiseman. The nearest airstrip is at Coldfoot, which lies 13 miles to the south. There are no car rentals in Coldfoot, nor regular transportation along the Dalton. Visitors who fly into Coldfoot will have to hitchhike with one of the many vehicles which travel along the highway.

For the adventurous, one can enter Wiseman via dog sled, although there is no such regular service with any other town in the region.

Get around
As the town is very small, the only practical means of getting around is by foot. In winter months, extreme cold can make walking deadly if not dressed appropriately.

See
The town contains several historic buildings. There is one family in the town which has a pack of sled dogs but have posted signs that say "Do Not Approach Dogs."

Do
While this town is not known for gold panning, the 3rd, 4th, 14th, 17th, & 20th largest gold nuggets ever discovered in Alaska were found here (146, 137, 61, 55, & 42 oz, respectively). The latter sold for $50,000 in 2000. You may wish to try a little gold panning in the vicinity.

Other activities which the region offers include: hiking, camping, fishing, skiing, and rafting/canoeing.

Buy
There is nothing to purchase in Wiseman.

Eat
There are no restaurants or groceries in Wiseman. Anyone visiting must supply their own food and drink or head 13 miles south on the Dalton Highway to Coldfoot Camp (a restaurant/truck stop in nearby Coldfoot, AK).

Drink
There are no places in Wiseman to purchase alcohol. Drinking is not recommended as being intoxicated leads to bad judgment in a land where exposure and dangerous animals pose a grave danger to humans.

Sleep
Two families offer accommodation.

Go next

 * Coldfoot Located 13 miles to the south, has an airstrip, restaurant, and a gasoline station.
 * Dalton Highway is an excellent itinerary for persons visiting the region.

title: Wiseman


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Wismar

Wismar is a city in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania which lies on the Baltic Sea coast. The historic center is a.

Understand
The city was established in the 13th century during a period of Germanic colonisation of Slavic areas. Wismar was first mentioned in a document in 1229. It was part of the Hanseatic League, which began as an association of North German merchants, and grew to become a trade network of about 200 ports and inland towns. During the Thirty Years' War (1618–48) Wismar came under Swedish rule, a status which it kept until 1803. Today, Wismar's old town contains traces of history going back to the middle ages, including several outstanding brick Gothic churches and old houses.

By car
Two main Autobahn routes serve Wismar. The A14 arrives from Magdeburg in the south via Schwerin to join the east/west-oriented A20 at Kreuz Wismar. Motorists coming from Schleswig-Holstein and Lübeck on the A20 will exit before Kreuz Wismar at Wismar Süd, while those travelling westwards from Stralsund, Greifswald or Rostock can leave at either junction.

Get around
The old town (Altstadt) and harbour areas are easily covered on foot. If you want to visit some of the outlying suburbs or countryside, either check out the local bus services or take a bike.

Sleep
There is a general tax on all accommodation charged locally on top of VAT. While it is required by law to quote all prices including VAT unless otherwise noted, there is no such law regarding the hotel tax.

Go next
The island of Poel is relatively unspoiled and easily reachable by bus, bike or boat from Wismar. A long-distance cycle path connecting the whole of Germany's Baltic coast runs through Wismar. Alternatively, take the train south to provincial capital Schwerin, or travel east to the commercial, industrial and university town of Rostock. Further east lie Wismar's fellow UNESCO cultural heritage city of Stralsund and the island of Rügen.

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Wister

Wister is in the Choctaw Country of Oklahoma and near Wister Lake. The 2000 census population was 1,002.

Get in

 * US 271 runs east-west. From Heavener to the west or McAlester to the east of Wister.
 * US 270 runs north-south. Travel south from Poteau.

Get around

 * Driving, but Wister has one of those small town downtown areas that is nice to walk around in and see the older buildings and stores that have more history then the living.

Buy
Shop the Antique shops in town.

Go next

 * Talimena Drive from Talihina, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas 54 Mile scenic drive in Oklahoma and Arkansas along the ridge of the Ouachita Mountains and the Ouachita National Forest. The drive has frequent turnouts so you can enjoy the scenery. Convenient access to the drive near the midpoint can be accessed from Heavener by taking Hwy 59 south.

title: Wister


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Witbank

Witbank (Emalahleni) is a city of 109,000 people in Mpumalanga.

Understand
The name Witbank is Afrikaans for "white ridge", and is named after a white sandstone outcrop where wagon transport drivers rested. The city is known for its coal-mining in the surrounding region.

Witbank was renamed to Emalahleni, meaning "the place of coal", in 2006 by the government of Mpumalanga.

Emalahleni is in a coal mining area with more than 22 collieries in the municipal radius. There are a number of power stations (such as the Duvha Power Station), as well as a steel mill (Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium Limited) nearby which all require coal. The region has the dirtiest air in the world due to the coal mining and plant power stations.

As Emalahleni is en route to travellers from the Gauteng province to the Kruger National Park, attempts have been made to capture some of the potential tourist spend. Apart from a few hotels, there are many guest houses. These vary from the utilitarian to the luxurious, and also cater for many of the business travellers visiting Emalahleni as well as those travelling to Mbombela, eSwatini and Mozambique.

Get in

 * From Pretoria, follow the N4 toll road
 * From Johannesburg, follow the N12, or follow the N1 towards Pretoria and then the N4 toll road to Witbank

The N4 from Pretoria and the N12 from Johannesburg converge at Emalahleni and then continue to Komatipoort, on the border of Mozambique.

Buy
The Highveld Mall is immediately next to the casino and is a retail hub for locals and for many residents of towns in the vicinity.

Sleep
There are some guesthouses you could spend the nights in like Deletz Guesthouse.

title: Witbank


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Witham

Witham is in Essex, England.

Understand
Remains have been found dating habitation back to neolithic times. As the town lies on the main Roman London to Colchester road it is not surprising that Roman remains have been found; specifically a Roman temple and a pottery kiln. The parish was listed in the Doomsday Book (1086) and in 1148 the manor was given to the Knights Templar.

In the 1960s & 1970s the town expanded rapidly, building 3 major housing estates.

Today the town caters mainly for residents, the area being regarded by some as a "dormitory town" for London. Good rail links mean that many from the area commute to work in London.

By road
Witham is on the A12 about 1 hours drive north/east of London. Witham is located roughly in the centre of Essex with Chelmsford around 10 miles south, Colchester 10 miles north, Braintree 8 miles west and Maldon 8 miles east.

By bus

 * Stephensons of Essex service 38/38A runs between Witham and Bocking and Halstead.
 * Stephensons of Essex service 90 runs between Witham and Maldon
 * Stephensons of Essex and Hedingham Buses service 91 (different operators at different times for same service) runs between Witham and Tollesbury
 * First Buses services 71/71A/71X run between Colchester and Chelmsford via Witham.
 * First Buses service 72 runs between Witham and Chelmsford.

Get around
Witham is a small town that'd take no more than 1½ hours to walk end to end. Most places are easily accessible by foot with a picturesque River Walk running bisecting the town from the Powers Hall/Rickstones border through to Maldon Road.

Bus services are provided by three minibuses circling around the various estates.

Taxi services are also common and widely available.

Connect
Witham and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Feb 2023, 5G has not reached town.

Stay safe
Although Witham is not a particularly dangerous town, it is fairly gritty and largely working class. Tourists especially should take care if they decide to venture outside the town center. Walking around at night is not advised.

Go next

 * Chelmsford
 * Colchester
 * Braintree
 * Maldon

title: Witham


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Witney

Witney is a thriving market town in Oxfordshire, just off the A40 Cheltenham to. Like many towns in the Cotswolds, Witney is known historically for its textiles specifically woolen blankets.

Understand
Those familiar with the writings of A. A. Milne, in particular Winnie-the-Pooh, might remember the game of "Pooh Sticks" from the book. The game is played on a bridge over a river and competitors drop their sticks in the river (at the same time) and see whose stick emerges downstream first. Childish fun, but these days the town hosts the annual World Pooh Sticks Championship. Organised by the Rotary Club of Oxford Spires and raising funds for the Rotary Club of Oxford Spires Charitable Trust Funds, it is held over the River Windrush close to the centre of town. There are both team and individual competitions, though advanced registration is required.
 * Witney visitor information

By car
The town lies on the A40 London to Fishguard main road. 12½ miles from Oxford, 30 miles from Cheltenham and 25 miles from Swindon (via the A4095 and A420).

By bus
The main buses to and from Oxford are the Stagecoach S1 and S2 from Carterton via Witney to Oxford.

S1 (Stagecoach): Carterton → Curbridge → Witney → Eynsham → Botley → Oxford

S2 (Stagecoach): Carterton → Curbridge → Witney → Eynsham → Summertown (Oxford)

Witney is on the route used by the Stagecoach 853 bus from Oxford to Gloucester. The Market Square bus stop is outside Blue Boar Inn to go towards Oxford and the other side of the road towards Gloucester.

853 (Stagecoach): Oxford → Cassington (A40) → Witney → Minster Lovell → Burford → Northleach → Andoversford → Cheltenham → Gloucester

By train
The town railway station was closed in 1965 and has now been re-developed into an industrial estate.

By bicycle

 * The town is on National Cycle Route (NCR) 57 that runs from near Northleach to the W to Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. NCR 57 links to NCR 5 at Oxford, NCR 6 at Harpenden and NCR 12 at Welwyn Garden City.
 * National Cycle Route (NCR) 442 passes 3½ miles NE of the town. NCR 442 runs between Oxford and Worcester. Incormation of riding the route can be found on cycle.travel.

Get around
Witney town centre is compact and can easily be covered on foot. Even the surrounding housing estates are no more than a brisk 15-minute walk from the town centre.

Do

 * Riverside Festival is a free music festival in Charlbury six miles north of Witney. The next is 29-30 July 2023.
 * Riverside Festival is a free music festival in Charlbury six miles north of Witney. The next is 29-30 July 2023.
 * Riverside Festival is a free music festival in Charlbury six miles north of Witney. The next is 29-30 July 2023.
 * Riverside Festival is a free music festival in Charlbury six miles north of Witney. The next is 29-30 July 2023.

Buy

Witney's main shopping areas are the appropriately named Woolgate and Marriotts Walk which have many familiar chain stores:

Witney like most market towns, also has a handful of independent shops:

There are also a large Sainsbury's supermarket in the area:

Drink
Witney is home to the Wychwood Brewery, and many of the beers which it produces are available around the town. Priced around £2-3 per pint or bottle.

Sleep
Witney has a few hotels including a Premier Inn. The Marlborough overlooks the Market Square in the town centre. The Witney Hotel and the Fleece Hotel, a great gastro pub can be found nearby on the beautiful Church Green.

Go next
Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby
 * Oxford is close by
 * Cheltenham
 * Swindon

title: Witney


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Wittenberg

Wittenberg is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The official name is Lutherstadt Wittenberg for its close connection of the town with Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation. It was here that in 1517, according to the legend, Martin Luther posted his famous 95 Theses on the portal of the Schlosskirche. While historians doubt this particular part of the tale, it is certain that Luther disseminated his Theses from Wittenberg. In 2017 the town celebrated the 500th anniversary of the event. Luther Memorials in Wittenberg are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Other historical people with a close connection to Wittenberg are Luther's fellow reformer, Philipp Melanchthon, and the painter Lucas Cranach der Ältere.

Wittenberg should not be confused with the much smaller town of Wittenberge in northwestern Brandenburg.

Get in
No matter which transport you use, the two closest hubs are Berlin and Leipzig/Halle. If you aren't in the vicinity yet, you will likely pass through one of them.

By car
The A9/E51 motorway passes west of Wittenberg. Use one of the exits Klein Marzehns, Köselitz, or Coswig (Anhalt). The town lies at the crossing of the main roads B2 and B187.

By train
Hourly ICE trains on the Leipzig-Berlin line stop in Wittenberg in both directions. The ride takes 40 minutes from Leipzig Hbf or 45 from Berlin Hbf. As a slower but cheaper option you can also use RE trains, which also run about hourly. The ride takes 1 hr 15 min from Berlin, 1 hr 5 min from Leipzig, or 1 hour from Halle.

By plane
Berlin Airport and Leipzig/Halle  are the closest airports. Of these two, Berlin offers the widest range of international options.

Get around
Most of the Altstadt (Old City) is pedestrian only. All the major historical sites are within easy walking distance.

See

Mid-range

Go next

 * Dessau (35 km west), more parks of the "Garden Realm", Bauhaus school of architecture and the model housing estate of Törten, museum of Junkers aircraft factory; 35 minutes by train.
 * Torgau (50 km southeast), another place closely linked with Martin Luther and the Reformation; 1 h 10 min by train via Falkenberg.
 * Köthen (60 km west), former residence of the petty state of Anhalt-Köthen, where Johann Sebastian Bach worked and Samuel Hahnemann created homeopathy; 1 h 35 min by train via Halle.
 * Leipzig (70 km south), 30 minutes by hourly high-speed train.
 * Potsdam (70 km) and Berlin (100 km northeast), 40 minutes to Berlin main station by hourly high-speed train.
 * Halle (80 km southwest), one hour by local train.
 * Eisleben (110 km southwest), the town where Luther was born and died and the other half of the Luther World Heritage Site; no convenient public transport link.
 * Halle (80 km southwest), one hour by local train.
 * Eisleben (110 km southwest), the town where Luther was born and died and the other half of the Luther World Heritage Site; no convenient public transport link.

title: Wittenberg