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Laixi

Laixi (莱西, Láixī) is a city in coastal Shandong. It is located in the middle of Shandong Province surrounded by Qingdao, Laiyang, Yantai and Weihai.

Get in
Laixi is located 80 kilometers away from the Qingdao Airport, where there are several buses to reach the city. It is 90 km away from the Qingdao Harbor and 120 km away from the Yantai Harbor, where ferries from Japan and Korea dock.

Get around
Laixi has a convenient bus system through the city. Taking a taxi starts at ¥10 for the first 3 km and ¥1.5 for every additional one.

See
Laixi is famous for its painter Cui Zifan who is honored with a museum in the city. At the museum spectators are able to view many of his classical Chinese paintings and calligraphy works.

The Laixi Park is situated in the city center and serves as a great place to relax. Apart from the park It also has a small zoo, a theme park, two restaurants and pool tables.

Laxi also has a large lake named "Laixi lake" that is situated 10 km outside of the city. Its beautiful surroundings and the nearby restaurants and a hotel makes it a great resort.

Do
Make a picnic and go either to the city park or the Laxi lake. If you accompanied with kids, they might enjoy the small theme park in the city park.

Try the local cuisine which has a mild flavor to it.

Buy
Food

Laixi has several big department stores such as Li Quin, Lian Mao, Li ke lai and Jia Jia Yue.

Jia Jia Yue offers a good selection of Chinese food and a small selection of western food, although it is limited. One can found products such as Australian cheese, peanut butter, marmalade, salad dressing, ketchup and tomato sauce over there.There are several Korean import shops in the city that provide some western products such as cereal, chocolate and snacks.

Lian Mao has a small import-shop selling products such as western coffee and tee, wine, pasta, meat-sauce, ketchup and more. One can also find imported cigarettes such as Marlboro and Davidoff as well as small selection cigars. It also serves as the biggest shopping mall in city.

The city has several bakeries, most who produce Chinese style bread and cakes although western style bread can also be found.

Clothes

Laixi has several shops selling clothes. ITAT is probably the biggest establishment, next to Lian Mao and Li Ke Lai and Li Qun who sell Adidas, Nike, Baleno, Septwolves, Li Ning and Anta among others. There is also a market that sells non-brand clothes.

Eat
Laixi has a good selection of local dishes and Shandong-style food. Owing to the large number of Korean people in the city, one can also find Korean food for a great price.

The city has 2 pizzerias and 3 western restaurants. For western food, the biggest established restaurant is U.B.C Coffee known as 上岛咖啡 (Shangdao Kafei). It is situated around the corner of the Li Qun Department store. The restaurant has well designed interior and large menu with Western and Asian dishes. There is also an Italian restaurant further down the road to the East from the Li Qun Department store.

There is one McDonald's open 24/7 next to Lian Mao, and one KFC next to Li Ke Lai open on regular hours.

Drink
Laixi has its local beer and white liqueur.

Sleep
Laixi has several hotels ranging from budget to high-range.

Go next
Laixi has several KTV (karaoke) establishments, where the locals go and sing and drink with their friends in private rooms.

In the summer there are several places selling beer and barbecued sticks with meat, fish or tofu on the streets. This is where most people hang out and socialize.

Laixi only has one bar, usually populated my mostly Korean people since most locals usually go to restaurants to drink and eat.

title: Laixi


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Laiyang

Laiyang is a city in coastal Shandong. Laiyang is located in the middle of Shandong Peninsula. It is bordered with Haiyang on the east, Laixi on the west, Qixia and Zhaoyuan on the north and Jimo on the south.

Get in
The nearest airport is located in the nearby city of Yantai. Access by sea is also available via tho city of Yantai. A bus drive from Yantai will bring you to Laiyang in about 2 hours. Taking the train is another choice. High-speed trains from Yantai take only 30 minutes to get to Laiyang.

Get around
Get around by car is the most effective and efficient way in Laiyang. Ideally a four wheel drive.

See
Laiyang Chi Pear, which is generally called liayang pear, is one of the traditional rare species of Shandong pears. Laiyang Pear Flowers, due to its large number of pear trees, Laiyang city is referred to as the "City of pears".

Do
Tour around the city, enjoy the cheap but quality food. Try Laiyang Chi Pear, and look at modern development of the city.

Buy
Fresh fruit is a good buy. Cheap but so juicy and nice!

Eat
Shandong cuisine is famous in China. And is well-known in Korea and Japan.

Drink
Local beers is a good choice.

Sleep
Five hotels are located in the city. These are Laiyang hotel, Laiyang Lidu hotel, Laiyang Communication Hotel, and Laiyang Huitong Hotel.

Go next
Travel back to Yantai for flight.

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

title: Laiyang


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Laiza

Laiza is a city in Northern Myanmar, on the border with China. A village prior to 1994, it became one of the most important cities in Kachin State after the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) made a ceasefire agreement with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The ruling military junta is demanding a hand-over of Laiza and Mai Ja Yang, cities built by the cease-fire group, before implementation of the new constitution drawn in favour of the government.

Get in
You can reach Laiza only by car. There are many cars run by businesspersons, 24 hours a day. Foreigners may need special permission to go beyond Balamintin Bridge near Kachin State's capital, Myitkyina, on the way to Laiza.

There are two checkpoints before and after the bridge from Myitkyina and one checkpoint on the outskirts of Waimaw and last Myanmar (Burmese) military gate in Laja Yang, and you will find another combined checkpoint at the entrance to Laiza City and on the way to Bhamo.

Do

 * Casino or shopping, visiting and talking with villagers.

Buy
Chinese goods, traditional Kachin goods, jewellery, and jade.

Eat
Enjoy varieties of Chinese, Kachin, Shan and Burmese foods, and you can even get fast food and sour fruit, grape wine in Country Restaurant.

Drink
Enjoy varieties of Chinese, Kachin Rice-state-beer or rice wine, Sour Fruit Wine, Shan drinks.

Sleep
There are many guest houses and hotels. Laiza Hotel is suitable for foreigners.

Go next
Once you are in the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)-controlled areas, you are safe unless government military check-points give you trouble.

title: Laiza


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Lajitas

Lajitas is a town in the Trans-Pecos region of the state of Texas.

Get in
Lajitas is situated on FM 170 between the Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park, along the Rio Grande River.

By plane
Midland is the closest commercial airport to Lajitas, approximately a 4-hour drive. El Paso is the next closest commercial airport to Lajitas, approximately a 5-hour drive.

You can also reach the area by train from San Antonio and Austin, which have an Amtrak train three times a week to Alpine, about 90 miles from Lajitas. You can then rent a car there, or get the Lajitas Resort to pick you up for a fee.

There is a large private airport at Lajitas, owned by the Lajitas Resort with a runway. The airport has a landing fee for the aircraft of non-guests.

Rental cars are available at the Midland and El Paso airports.

By car
From Midland-Odessa. Approximately 245 miles. Head West on IH-20 to Monahans. Take Highway 18 South (left) toward Fort Stockton, then turn right onto FM 1776. Cross over IH-10 West. FM 1776 turns into US-67 South. Follow US-67 55 miles to Alpine, then turn left onto SH-118 South (Cockrell Street). Follow SH-118 South 80 miles to the Study Butte-Terlingua junction, then turn right onto FM 170 and continue 14 miles to Lajitas.

From El Paso, approximately 300 miles. Take IH-10 East 118 miles to Van Horn. Take US-90 78 miles through Marfa. Continue to Alpine and turn right onto SH-118 South (Cockrell Street). Follow SH-118 South 80 miles to the Study Butte-Terlingua junction, then turn right onto FM 170 and continue 14 miles to Lajitas.

See
Lajitas was likely best known for its mayor, Clay Henry III, who happened to be a beer-drinking goat. Alas, beer drinking goats have short life spans, so his mayoral stable gates have closed for good.

title: Lajitas


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La Junta

La Junta is a town in the Eastern Plains of Colorado. It is notable to travelers as the nearest town to Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, preserving an historically important locale along the Santa Fe Trail.

Get in
The daily Amtrak service Southwest Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles makes a stop-over here.

title: La Junta


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Chickasaw Country

Chickasaw Country is in the south-central part of the state of Oklahoma.

Cities

 * - home to Choctaw Casino
 * - home of Blake Shelton
 * - home to Winstar World Casino and Resort
 * - home to Choctaw Casino
 * - home of Blake Shelton
 * - home to Winstar World Casino and Resort
 * - home of Blake Shelton
 * - home to Winstar World Casino and Resort
 * - home to Winstar World Casino and Resort

Understand
This region of Oklahoma is also home to the government of the Chickasaw Nation. After the Trail of Tears, the Choctaw Tribe was given the entire south-central and south-eastern region of Oklahoma. The Chickasaw Nation was assigned to live in the lands within the Choctaw Nation, but a treaty in 1854 gave the Chickasaws the full south-central region of Oklahoma. As a result, the Chickasaw Nation, headquartered in Ada, Oklahoma, has a large influence in the region.

Get in
Interstate 35 runs through the heart of Chickasaw Country in Oklahoma.

Ardmore is served by Amtrak's Heartland Flyer route.

The closest commercial airports are in Oklahoma City and DFW in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Gambling
Throughout south-central Oklahoma, there are many casinos owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation. The largest casino in the United States, WinStar World Casino and Resort, is in Thackerville, Oklahoma on the border of Oklahoma and Texas.

Sleep
This region has a variety of overnight options. Camping grounds and RV parks are found all over the region, as well as a few high-end boutique hotels that are very well-known in the area.

Stay safe
Both Oklahoma and Chickasaw (Lighthorse) law enforcement have jurisdiction in this part of the state.

Go next

 * Choctaw Country
 * Frontier Country
 * Oklahoma City - Oklahoma's capital and largest city
 * Dallas

title: Chickasaw Country


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Lake Arrowhead

Lake Arrowhead is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, California. Its population was 12,400 in 2010.

Get in
Take Highway 18 up from the city of San Bernardino. Lake Arrowhead is about 35-45 min away from the bottom of the mountain.

Get around

 * By public transportation - The Mountain Transit is the only public transportation service provided to the mountain communities.
 * By taxi - There is no regular taxi service in Lake Arrowhead, however taxi service can be arranged to and from the mountain communities.
 * By car - Many of the roads in Lake Arrowhead may seem very confusing to someone who is not familiar with the area. As with many small mountain communities, there are many unmarked access roads as well roads that meander for seemingly endless distances. However, all major routes are clearly posted throughout the community.
 * Hitch-hike- People use this as a form of transportation from time to time in Lake Arrowhead and surrounding communities, but its reliability can be less than desirable. It is a perfectly legal form of transportation on all surface streets in the Mountain Communities. However, it is illegal to hitchhike from freeways (which Lake Arrowhead lacks), and it is also illegal to stand in the road to solicit a ride, so make sure you are on the sidewalk or far shoulder!

The Lake
The lake is private property. Visitors may not use the lake except as guests of property owners who must assume full responsibility for them. Failure to obtain permission prior to using the lake may result in arrest for criminal trespass.

Buy
Lake Arrowhead features a shopping complex named the Lake Arrowhead Village. The Lake Arrowhead Village offers a variety of outlet stores along with independent boutique stores. There is also a range of dining options in the complex.

Eat

 * Jensen's Finest Foods, 27264 Highway 189, Blue Jay, +1 909 337-8484, and 211 N State Highway, Cedar Glen, +1 909 337-3500. They make pretty filling, very good sandwiches in the back and a variety of BBQ meats and plates for a decent price too.
 * Jensen's Finest Foods, 27264 Highway 189, Blue Jay, +1 909 337-8484, and 211 N State Highway, Cedar Glen, +1 909 337-3500. They make pretty filling, very good sandwiches in the back and a variety of BBQ meats and plates for a decent price too.

Drink
Understand, though a popular resort Lake Arrowhead pretty much shuts down come the evening hours and as such nightlife is non-existent.

Sleep
There are numerous rentals and bed and breakfasts throughout Lake Arrowhead's upscale area. In addition there is the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, a full service resort featuring a spa and a private beach on the lake.

title: Lake Arrowhead


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Lake Atitlán

Lago de Atitlán (English: Lake Atitlán) is a beautiful volcanic lake in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and is one of Guatemala's most important national and international tourist attractions. German explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt called it "the most beautiful lake in the world". It is ringed by small towns, many of which are favourites among backpackers. The region encompasses the lake and the towns around them. Panajachel is best known, and a good entry point, but more off the beaten track are San Pedro La Laguna or the "less party, more meditation" village of San Marcos. Due to the region's popularity, other towns along the lake, such as Santa Cruz la Laguna and San Juan, are now starting to see growing tourism.

Towns and villages

 * - Lake Atitlan's most-visited town
 * - a laid-back small town with established backpacker reputation
 * - "less party, more meditation" than San Pedro
 * , small town on south side of Lake Atitlán, famous for a shrine to Maximón
 * - small village on north side of Lake Atitlán. If getting away from it all, but still being a short boat ride away from a night club is your desire then this is the place to be.
 * - very small village with its own lancha stop, which is just as well as the only other way of getting there is by footpath
 * - emerging destination
 * - Laid back and simple Mayan village. Can service tourists nicely but only a couple dozen at a time
 * - an authentic Mayan village with an abundance of traditional Kaqchikel culture

Understand
Lake Atitlán and its villages are a winning combination of scenic beauty, a relaxed atmosphere, easily accessible Mayan culture, and a good tourist infrastructure, at 1562 m of altitude, and the Tolimán volcano at its extreme southern end (3158 m). The maximum depth registered on the charts is 340 m. It is shaped by deep surrounding escarpments and three volcanoes on its southern flank. In fact, the whole lake was formed by a prehistoric supervolcano eruption, leaving a giant hole in the ground (technically a "volcanic caldera") that later filled up with water. A layer of volcanic ash from that eruption can still be identified by geologists in places as far away as the US state of Florida.

Get in
Most travelers arrive in Panajachel. Bus and other transportation instructions are in that town's article.

Get around
Many lanchas (small outboard powered boats), provide transport from village to village around and across the lake. Prices are often, but not always, posted on the docks, though locals (potentially including foreign residents of Guatemala) usually are given cheaper rates.

Unless you hire the whole boat (privada), lanchas depart when the lanchero feels like it, which is usually as soon as he accumulates enough passengers.

On the most popular route, running along the west shore of the lake between Panajachel and San Pedro with stops at each lakeside town in between, there's usually a boat every 5-10 minutes until at least 5pm. Several docks have signs indicating departures until 7:30pm, but be sure to ask someone to double check, especially if you have a return ticket for a certain company. Also be aware that boat operators (lancheros) are known to sometimes lie to tourists that theirs is the "last boat".

Some of the less frequent routes, like direct from Panajachel to San Pedro or Santiago, have scheduled departures every half hour or hour but will cancel them if there aren't enough passengers.

See
Lake Atitlan itself is probably the most beautiful place in Guatemala, especially since it acts as a giant mirror to the three volcanoes that surround it.

The Indian's Nose/Rostro Maya at the top of the mountain above the villages of San Juan and San Marcos. It is accessible through various tracks and there are also organised trips with horses to the top.

A large collapsed volcanic cone can be found right at the lake. The descendants of the ancient placed called Maya even today live off the land, which is rich in volcanic soils. The maize farming methods have changed little through the years, and in many ways the local people continue to live in the same way they have done for centuries.

Do
Around Lake Atitlan can have many activities such as hiking, volcano tour, bike tour, tour in the villages, coffee tour, birdwatching tour, trek around the lake, kayak adventure, cultural tour by village around the lake. Note that some visitors have reported being robbed by bandits on hikes both around the lake and up the volcanoes - inquire carefully about which areas are considered safe to go to.

There are a number of activities you can do on the water, such as kayaking (rent from Casa del Mundo below, or San Pedro la Laguna) and jet skiing. Diving is also possible in Santa Cruz la Laguna through the hostel "La Iguana Perdida". Or, if you're not the watery type, there's horseback riding, and hiking galore.

There exists a vague, and at times somewhat precarious, path that encircles pretty much the whole lake. New holiday homes and hotels have restricted some of the access to the lakeside path, but it's still possible to walk it. It's a very rewarding and enjoyable hike. Swim in the beautiful water anytime you need to cool off. Wave down a boat from any of the countless jetties if you get tired and want to return back home.

Another option is to rent out and tour via bike, spending a night in different village around the lake.

Climb the three volcanoes. San Pedro from San Pedro, guided for Q100. Atitlan and Toliman can be arranged from Pana. It is not recommended to book tours for climbing the volcanoes in Pana. Most of the prices for climbing the volcanoes will be very similar at most agencies (around US$40 for San Pedro) and they probably collude to keep the price there. However the Pana tour agencies will outsource the work to another tour agency in San Pedro. Agencies in Pana will act as middlemen and take a cut of Q100 to Q200. It is better to approach the agencies in San Pedro directly and cut out the middleman. It is also possible to do the hikes completely on your own for under Q200 (approx US$24, the bulk of which is the entrance fee to the park for foreigners and the boat fare). Most of the people you will meet on the mountains are indigenous people who will be very nice. It seems safe to hike the mountain by yourself (without a guide, but if you hire one you will be helping the local Quiche people), except for the risk of robbery on some trails - it's debatable whether having a guide protects you from this or not. Please bring a plastic bag with you on the hike and pick up any plastic bottles or plastic packaging on your way down. You will be a good citizen of the world. Climbing Atitlan can be done in one to two days.

However you could do it on your own: the best/easiest would be to bike/rent a motorcycle and go from Pana as far as you can. Look at summitpost for detailed description. If you want to commute there, the easiest would be boat to Santiago, and pickup to San Lucas, this will if you carry luggage though incur a lot of hassle (from people), so better get a cheap hotel room somewhere and leave as much as you can there before you go. Do it as early as possible in the morning.

Volunteering opportunities: many of the schools around Lake Atitlán offer built-in volunteering opportunities. For medical students wanting to offer service and gain experience, Hospitalito Atitlán in Santiago Atitlán (another pueblo on the lake) accepts medical students and clinicians. The new Hospitalito Atitlán, scheduled to be completed in November 2010, can mold any volunteer work to fit the skills available (carpenters, MBA students, computer work, group volunteering for construction, etc.).

Eat
Many of the towns around the lake have restaurants, at a variety of price points from luxury to budget. See the individual town articles for details.

Drink
Lake Atitlán is a better place to relax than to party. Some towns, like Panajachel and San Pedro la Laguna, have thriving bar scenes. Others go to sleep when the night falls.

Sleep
Each of the towns and villages around the lake offer a wide range of hotels. See the individual town articles (under Cities above) for details. The following hotels or resorts are not in a specific town.

Stay safe
As of July 2024, the following information may be out of date, but word is that at least some parts of the ring trails and volcano hikes still carry a risk of armed robbery. Inquire carefully before walking such trails, especially if you'll be without a local guide.

On the road around the Lago de Atitlán, especially between the villages of San Juan and San Marcos, some daytime violent crime has been reported (Nov 2004). Tourists have been robbed (although not injured), and there were also rapes against women. The road from San Lucas Toliman to Cerro de Oro, once dangerous, is now considered safe.

Although the road from San Marcos La Laguna to the next northern village is now controlled by the Tourist Police, walking this way with backpacks or large amounts of money is not recommended.

Hiking in the mountainous areas around San Marcos La Laguna is not recommended- there are several known thieves in the area and police and community members, while helpful after an assault, have very little control of the situation. If you feel you must explore these regions definitely go in a group of three or more, or if you're alone take nothing of value with you.

title: Lake Atitlán


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Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal (Russian: Байка́л bigh-KAHL) is a lake in Eastern Siberia, Russia. It is the biggest and deepest freshwater lake in the world, and a.

Understand
The lake is located in Eastern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and Buryatia to the southeast. It is the planet's deepest (1637m) and oldest lake, as well as its largest body of freshwater by volume, containing over one fifth of the world's supply. The origins of the name are unknown, but several hypotheses are these: deep water (Yakut), rich lake (Turkic), rich fire (Mongolian), northern sea (Chinese). Russians sometimes call the lake Baikal sea because of its size.

History
The lake's geological formation started around 20-25 million years ago in the Mesozoic era. Its rift is continuing to widen 2 cm a year. The first mention of its name appeared in Chinese writings in 110 BC as "Beihai" (Northern Sea). Several cultures have flourished on its shores, and in the 18th century Buryat nationality came into being. Russian sources first mentioned Baikal in 1640. Exploration and description by Russian Cossacks and the Church continued until the first scientific expedition in 1723. On 13 October 1905 the Circum-Baikal Railway was opened. In 1916 Barguzinsky Nature Reserve was organized. In 1990, wind-surfers from Russia, Austria and Czechoslovakia first crossed the widest place of the lake. In 1991 the deepest spot on the lake's bottom was reached. In 1996, the Baikal became a part of UNESCO Heritage. The vessel "Sevan" began cruise tours in 2003.

Landscape

Baikal mountains surrounding the valley and the lake consist of a few ranges. In the west there are the Baikal Mountains, in the east the Zabaikalskie Mountains. The Angara River is the only outflow of Lake Baikal. The ranges, rivers and valleys are tourist attractions of their own.

Flora and fauna

 * Baikal Seal

Climate
The water mass is a key factor to the climate of the lake's banks. Winters are often milder, summers are chillier. Spring-time is late 10-15 days than the outer regions and fall is rather long. The area is distinctive for sunshine longevity which is record-high for the of whole Russia. Specific traits are added to the climate of the Baikal by winds: barguzin, sarma, verkhovik, kultuk. It is a common thinking that the Baikal is best for visit in July, when temperatures and winds reach favorable condition. The water in summer is cold, normally +8 to 9 °C and can reach +15 °C in bays. It's so pellucid that one can see the bottom 40 m down.

By air
The nearest airport is in Irkutsk, which can be reached from either Domodedovo or Sheremetyevo 1 in Moscow. Charters from Bangkok are often operated by tour companies.

Domestic flights are taken in from Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Magadan, Yakutsk, Yekaterinburg, Saint Petersburg, Sochi.

By train
Lake Baikal is one of the most scenic parts along the Trans-Siberian Railway. Coming from west, a bit after Irkutsk, the train descends along serpentine curves to the lakeshore and follows much of the southwestern edge of the lake for several hours, almost all the way to Ulan Ude. This is a scenic ride you may want to ride it at daytime (check the schedule of your train), especially if it's the first time you travel along the Transsib. Of the stations right next to the lake, long-distance trains stop at least in Slyudyanka.

The Baikal-Amur Mainline follows the lakeshore from Severobaikalsk and further north.

By bus
Buses leave from Irkutsk station throughout the day. The ride is about an hour and a half, with several stops along the way, and ends in the small town of Listvyanka, at the shores of the lake.

Get around
From Listvyanka you can go by hydrofoil boat to Bolshoie Koty, in the hearth of Baykal national park. One way costs ₽180. Boat tickets to and from Bolshoie Koty can be purchased at an office inside Hotel Irkutsk. Prices are the same as on the boat. Stops are Irkutsk - Listvyanka - Bolshoie Koty. First boat goes from Listvyanka at 10, last at 16 o'clock. From there you can get by boat at 18:00 or by foot by Baykal tourist trail. It is and most of the path goes around the shore of a lake. A two day hike is also possible; first day, second day. From Bolshoie Koty you can go to Irkutsk by the same boat. It costs ₽360.

It is possible to buy a boat ticket at 09:00 at Hotel Irkutsk, take the bus to Listvyanka, hike the first part of the Baikal Trail (5-8 hours), and take the boat back to Irkutsk at 18:00. You must hike fast though.

In the winter there is an ice road from Listvyanka to Bolshoie Koty.

From Listvyanka you can go to the Port Baykal that lies on the opposite side of river Angara. Boat costs ₽34 and goes from the place just under the Baykal limnological museum. It takes around 5 minutes to get there. However it is recommended to go the other way, from Port Baykal to Listvyanka.

To Port Baykal you can go by train as well. It goes from Sludyanka at the southern corner of the lake. It takes around 4 to 6 hours, since the train is really slow. But you have time to look around, because the railway is going by the shore of the lake. It costs ₽46. It is so slow because it is the old Baykal railroad was built at the beginning of the 20th century.

See

 * Olkhon. The largest island on the lake.

In Irkutsk Oblast (west of the lake)

 * Vitimsky Nature Reserve
 * Baikalo-Lensky Reserve

In Buryatia (east of the lake)
 * Baikalsky Nature Reserve
 * Barguzinsky Nature Reserve
 * Dzherginsky Nature Reserve

Do
Take part in yearly cross-country six-day race TransBaikal-20xx in July. Hovering and the dislevello  it starts in Buguldeyka village takes two-days turn to Olkhon and ends in Yelantsy down south.

Itineraries

 * Frolikha Adventure Coastline Track, as part of the future Great Baikal Trail.

Buy
Souvenirs are sold near the omul sellers (see below), and tend to be cheaper than in other Russian cities. There are several boats at the main dock who take on tourists when not fishing. The prices are negotiable, try to find other tourists who want to ride and get cheaper prices by being in a large group. Sometimes a kid with broken English acts as an intermediary for the price haggling.

Eat
The smoked omul sold by several fish sellers on the edge of the lake is wonderful, and there is a restaurant on the lake's edge with good fish, along with several bars and small groceries. But in 2018, it was forbidden to catch during spawning because the population had declined, so you will not find omul.

Everything in Listvyanka is within walking distance, including a small post office.

You should taste local Buryat dumplings - Boozy.

Drink
Baikal water is drinkable and almost distilled as the amount of mineral salts is infinitesimal.

Sleep
You may stay in Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude, make a day trip to the lake and get back.

Lake-side towns:
 * Listvyanka, Irkutsk Oblast, the most popular destination with a number of hotels.
 * Severobaikalsk, Buryatia, the city in the north with a number of hotels.
 * Slyudyanka, the southmost village.

Islands:
 * Olkhon

Rest bases
'Rest bases' of the Baikal are Russian type of countryside wooden houses with facilities offering excursions to the local sights. They often are located in villages or nearby.

Eastern shore

 * Barguzin bay (Баргузинский залив) and Saint Nose Cape (Мыс Святой Нос)
 * Chivyrkuisky bay (Чивыркуйский залив)
 * Maksimikha village (Максимиха)
 * Sukhaya village (деревня Сухая)

Western shore

 * Severobaikalsk
 * Maloe Sea (Малое море)
 * MRS (МРС)
 * Krestovsky Cape (Мыс Крестовский)
 * Buguldeika (Бугульдейка)
 * Bolshoe Goloustnoye (Большое Голоустное)
 * Bolshoe Koty (Большие Коты)

Go next
Irkutsk is the biggest city nearby, but the BAM and the Trans-Siberian can take you from one side of the country to the other.

title: Lake Baikal


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Lake Balaton

Balaton (Plattensee in German) is the biggest lake by surface area in Central Europe and gives its name to this entire Hungarian Lake Balaton region.

Other destinations

 * — most famous winehill for its wine, on the northern coast
 * — popular, family-friendly tourist destination on the south shore of Lake Balaton
 * — perfect for hiking, visit the basalt organs
 * — with the ruins of a Castle on the hilltop
 * — nice peninsula with an inner lake and church visible from most of the lake
 * — north of Lake Balaton
 * Exhibition sites: Arboretum Zirc, House of Forests Bakonybél, Lóczy Cave Balatonfüred, Hegyestű Geological Exhibition Site Monoszló, Manor Salföld, Lake Cave of Tapolca, Kotsy Watermill Zalaszántó, Folk House Vörs, Buffalo Reserve Kápolnapuszta, Csodabogyós Cave Balatonederics, Kőlik Cave of Szentgál, Disused Sand Quarry Várpalota
 * Exhibition sites: Arboretum Zirc, House of Forests Bakonybél, Lóczy Cave Balatonfüred, Hegyestű Geological Exhibition Site Monoszló, Manor Salföld, Lake Cave of Tapolca, Kotsy Watermill Zalaszántó, Folk House Vörs, Buffalo Reserve Kápolnapuszta, Csodabogyós Cave Balatonederics, Kőlik Cave of Szentgál, Disused Sand Quarry Várpalota

Understand
The Balaton was popular during the Cold War with both Easterners and Westerners because it was cheap and relatively easy to reach from both sides of the Iron Curtain. Some "German-German" family reunions took place here as that was easier than for either part to travel to the other German state. After falling by the wayside following the fall of the Soviet Union, the Balaton area has seen a resurgence in popularity. While Hungarians love spending time there, you will also encounter people from places like Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Germany. The combination of natural beauty, cheap price tags, and cultural events make the lake a must-see in Hungary.

By train
Frequent trains from Budapest Déli run down the south side of Lake Balaton. Intercity trains stop at main stations such as Siófok, Balatonföldvár and Fonyód. Slower trains stop at all stations. Allow between 1.5 and 4 hours for the journey, and about Ft 5000 for the one-way fare. There are discounts for families (33%), adults under 26 (33%), and students (50%). Not all ticket windows at the terminal accept credit cards so you should check the signs.

By car
From Western Europe:
 * From the direction of Linz/Vienna: turn off the Motorway A1 towards Eisenstadt on the motor-road A3 and cross the border in Sopron (Klingenbach). From here there is a highway leading through Ukk and Sümeg to Lake Balaton or more precisely to Balatonederics. lf you take road 71 westwards you can reach Keszthely within a short time.
 * From Graz: if you turn off the motorway A2 towards Fürstenfeld you can cross the border in Heiligenkreuz (Rábafüzes). Lake Balaton from here is about 100 km. Through Körmend and Zalaegerszeg on the highway 76 the journey by car takes maximum one and a half hour.

From Southern Europe:
 * From Slovenia: from Lendava/Lenti you can reach the West-Balaton Region on road 75 from Croatia on the E71 towards Balatonszentgyörgy. For those who are coming from Italy, take the road leading through Tarvisio and Graz.

From Eastern Europe:
 * From Poland, Romania: Through Budapest on the motorway M7 towards Lake Balaton.
 * From Slovakia: You can come either through Budapest and after on the M7 or from Bratislava on the road E65 through the frontier station of Rajka and then through Mosonmagyarovár on road 86, then you take road 84 towards Ukk/Sümeg to the direction of Lake Balaton.

From inland: If you are willing to take a little more time to reach your destination you will be rewarded with a more scenic route using highway 71 along the north shore of lake Balaton. This route will take you first a couple km away Gyenesdiás further going through Balatonfured and passes the Tihany peninsula, which is well worth a detour.
 * Keszthely is easily reached by road from Budapest using M7 / E71. This highway bypasses Székesfehérvár and Siofok on the southern flank of Lake Balaton and is relatively traffic free except in the peak tourist months of June, July and August.

See

 * Badacsony: the most well-known, most popular hill of the region. On this truncated cone of volcanic origin. Viticulture. Hiking routes and a four  km long study path
 * Balatonederics: Africa Museum and Zoo
 * Balatonszentgyörgy: Csillagvár is a star form hunting mansion
 * Small-Balaton: A study path on Kányavári Island. Buffalo Reserve in Kápolnapuszta near Zalakomár
 * Szent György Hill: Basalt organ pipes nature monument
 * Szigliget: Castleruin of Szigliget on top of a 230 m high volcanic hill
 * Tapolca: Grotto - Cave Lake with length of four km

Do
Beautiful national parks, protected quarters, they demonstrated the old times, reservatums, theatres, aquaparks, sea baths, sport opportunities on earth, water and air, concerts and beautiful museums await every visitor.
 * Caving — see Exhibition sites above
 * Hiking in the northern hills.
 * Exploring wine cellars. A well worn trail is the climb up Badacsony Hill, which is peppered with small wine growers selling their wines by the glass and bottle. Much of it is mediocre but you may find some gems. Treat it like a pub crawl and have fun.

 * Relaxing in thermal spas. The two best known are at Héviz and Csisztapuszta (just south of Fonyód). Marcali, in northern Somogy county
 * Sailing. There are several annual sailing races for those preferring competition. For boat rental Fonyod, Balatonlelle and Balatonfüred are the best places. An 8-m yacht from about Ft 70,000/day.
 * Swimming. Summer water temperatures range from about 16 °C to the mid 30s; because the lake is shallow, yesterday's air temperature will be a good guide to the warmth of today's water. There are many places to go down waterslides and just take in a bit of shallow bathing, but be aware that the shallow banks of Balaton are very murky. You can scarcely avoid getting silt everywhere. Beaches on the north shore tend to have more facilities, but have an entrance fee.The shore here tends to be rocky and the water deepens rapidly to a maximum of about 14 m. Most beaches on the southern shore are free, though large sections of the shore are privately owned by hotels and campsites. The lake shelves slowly, so you can walk out for 500 m or more before you are out of your depth, so it's very safe for children. Large free beaches are at Zamárdi, Balatonboglár, Fonyód and Balatonfenyves. There are many hundreds of access points to the shore, so you are unlikely to have to walk far to find a pleasant place to swim.

Since the lake is shallow, summer storms can create very large waves, and people have drowned in most years. A system of warning beacons around the lake alerts bathers to expected strong winds and storms: 30 flashes/minute, colour white/yellow means winds 40-60 km/h, and you should move close to the shore. 60 flashes red/white means winds over 60 km/h. Time to get out quickly!

 * Kite surfing. On windy days this is an exciting sport, but it takes a few days to learn to stop falling off. Needs a reasonable level of fitness. Centres are Balatonboglár and Balatonfenyves.

Buy
Buy local wine of course!

Eat
The land of Balaton delights not just your eye, but your stomach. On every area receive you a real gastronomical history. You can taste the traditional foods of lands, or the famous wines of the land of Balaton.

One kind of local food is lángos, a bread-like pastry usually sold on beaches. It is offered with different toppings like cheese, sour cream, and ham, or often plain just with garlic-sauce on top. Another common "beach food" is cooked corn on the cob (főtt kukorica), grilled sausages (sült kolbász) and of course, ice cream (fagylalt, or more colloquially, fagyi).

You can also try a special Lake Balaton fish called fogas (pike-perch or Zander), served roasted.

Drink
The hills north from Balaton are known for their wine. The best you can do is going for a wine spotting tour.

Sleep
Lake Balaton has been the holiday playground of ordinary Hungarians for over a century, and most of the accommodation is in private houses and apartments rented by the owners, often through agencies. All along the road there are signs for "Tourist information" which are really agents for accommodation and tours, rather than the official tourist offices (called Tourinform). Many visitors arrive without booking and can usually find rooms for around €15 per person/night. Costs for a house with 3 bedrooms can run from about €300/week to over €1,000 (luxury house on lake shore).

It's worth to book the accommodation before arriving because in July and August most of the places are totally full and it is hard to find a free room.

High season for Hungarians is the school holidays, from mid-June to the end of August, but many people go home by St Stephen's Day (20 August). The whole place becomes very much quieter by mid-August, and you can easily find accommodation. On the downside, lakeside bars and restaurants also closed for the season.

Go next

 * Central Transdanubia
 * Southern Transdanubia
 * Western Transdanubia

title: Lake Balaton


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Lake Barkley

Lake Barkley is in the Western Waterlands of Kentucky and in Central Tennessee.

Understand
The Cumberland River was dammed in Grand Rivers, 2 miles from the Kentucky Lake Dam, to make Lake Barkley.

Tourist information
There are multiple websites online today that provide information about the Kentucky Lake region. Whether you want to learn about Kentucky Lake fishing, golf courses, area restaurants, boating information, hunting information, community information, or more, the following websites can help you do research about where to go and what to do in the Kentucky Lake region:
 * Lyon County Tourism

Fishing Licenses in Kentucky
Resident Licenses-
 * Fishing License (annual) $20.00 (resident), $50.00 (non-resident)
 * One (1) Day Fishing License $7.00 (resident), $10.00 (non-resident)
 * Joint Fishing License (husband & wife) $36.00
 * Combination Hunting & Fishing License $30.00
 * Senior/Disables Licenses $5.00

Other Non-Resident Licenses-
 * 7-Day Fishing License $30.00
 * 15-Day Fishing $40.00

No Closed Angling Season in Kentucky

By Car
The Kentucky Lake region is accessible by car using Interstate 24, US Hwys 62, 68 & 641, the Western KY Parkway, the Purchase Parkway and KY 80.

By Bus
There is a Greyhound Bus Terminal in Paducah.

By Train
There is an Amtrak train terminal in Fulton, KY, 50 southwest of Benton at the end of the Purchase Pkwy.

By Air

 * Nearest Small Craft Airport - Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Airport in Gilbertsville.
 * Nearest Scheduled Airline Service - Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah.
 * Nearest International Airport - Nashville International Airport in Nashville.

Do
Anglers will find the fishing exceptional on Lake Barkley.

While the lake is probably best known for its spring crappie run, catfish and game fish such as large and smallmouth bass can be caught year-round.

Spring, summer and fall months are filled with swimming, camping, boating, sunning, skiing, horseback riding, fishing, and golfing. Paved boat ramps are available along the shoreline, with area marinas offering a variety of services. If you don't own a boat, you can easily rent a fishing boat, pontoon, houseboat, or ski boat for the day or week. Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, with a freeflowing canal, provide more than 600 miles of round-trip cruising.

Buy, eat and drink
Local marinas offer shopping that includes clothing, specialty items (fishing & water sports) and gift items, along with restaurants overlooking Lake Barkley where you can enjoy a delicious meal in a relaxing atmosphere. Don't forget to eat a country ham biscuit at the Cadiz Country Ham Festival in October.
 * Miss Scarlett's, Exit 31, off I-24, Grand Rivers, 928-3126. Miss Scarlett's offers a complete menu of fine southern cooking, including steaks, pork chops, seafood, walleye, bison burgers and more. Daily 6AM-9PM.

In addition to these restaurants, there are more in the towns listed above in the cities listing.

Sleep
Accommodations vary from scenic lakeside lodging to motels, hotels, and bed and breakfast establishments. These scenic lakeside resorts offer town houses, efficiencies, cottages, condos, and cabins. For the family who camps, both privately and publicly owned campgrounds are available. Campers can choose from primitive sites to developed campgrounds.

There are numerous lodgings in nearby cities such as Paducah, Eddyville and Murray.

Stay safe
Useful phone numbers in case of emergency.
 * Fire/Police/Ambulance: 911
 * KY State Police Emergency: +1-800-222-5555.
 * Poison Control Center: +1 270 753-7588.
 * Marshall County Rescue Squad: +1 270 527-9092.

title: Lake Barkley


text:
Lake Billy Chinook

Lake Billy Chinook is in Central Oregon, near Warm Springs and Madras.

Understand
Lake Billy Chinook contains of shoreline, and has a surface area of. The reservoir is surrounded by public land. While staying at the lake people can fish, camp and participate in water activities of all sorts.

History
Lake Billy Chinook was created in 1964 at the same time the Round Butte Dam was created by Portland General Electric. The lake was named after Billy Chinook, a member of the Wasco tribe who acted as a guide for John C. Frémont in the region of the lake.

Landscape
Near the area is the Cove Palisades National Park. The park is surrounded by cliff lines. The area offers excellent hiking trails, and beautiful landscape.

Climate
The temperature around the area is hot in the summer, and fairly cold in the winter.

Fees and permits
Day-use permits are required year round. Annual or two-year passes can be purchased at the Cove Palisades State Park in the summer time.

Do
Fishing is a popular activity at Lake Billy Chinook. The lake is filled with Kokanee and Large Mouth Bass. Water sports are also a major attraction. This makes boating of all kinds, water-skiing, and swimming very attractive to people who visit.

Buy
There is a local convenience store, and sporting good store near the park where people can shop for general goods. The small town of Culver, Oregon, also has a small country store and is located only about ten minutes away.

Eat
At Lake Billy Chinook there is a restaurant, where people can purchases a wide variety of entrees.

Lodging
The park has log cabins for overnight stays.

Camping
The park has 272 campsites, of which 87 are full-hookup, and 94 are tent sites. Many of these sites also have electric and water hookups. If you are planning on camping with a group, there are multi-tent group sites available as well.

title: Lake Billy Chinook


text:
Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa (琵琶湖 Biwa-ko) is Japan's largest freshwater lake and the defining feature of Shiga prefecture.

Understand
The lake is most likely named after the Japanese stringed instrument biwa, whose shape resembles the lake. The entire lake is now designated as a protected Quasi-National Park.

The lake is an important water source for Osaka megalopolis area. Shiga people jokingly threaten Osaka people with "We can stop water from Lake Biwa at any time...". Osaka people reply, "Flood yourself".

Cities

 * - an old castle town on the route between Kyoto and Nagoya
 * - A small city with a number of historical attractions.
 * - the capital of Shiga prefecture
 * - gateway to Mount Hiei

Other destinations

 * - temple complex home to the esoteric Tendai sect of Buddhism
 * The islands of Chikubu and Takeshima are popular spots of pilgrimage
 * The Okishima island in the lake is the only inhabited lake island in Japan.

By train
The JR Tokaido Main Line and the Tokaido Shinkansen lines run more or less along the southern and eastern coasts of the lake, connecting Otsu and Hikone to Kyoto and Osaka in the west and Nagoya in the east. The private Keihan Keishin Line (京阪京津線) provides the cheapest way of getting from Kyoto (京都) to Otsu (大津) and onward with a change of train to Sakamoto.

By train
The quieter western and northern coasts are covered by the JR Kosei Line (湖西線).

By boat
Cruises around the lake and ferries to Chikubu and Okishima islands in it depart from Otsu and Hikone. The main operator is Biwako Kisen (Japanese only).

See
Lake Biwa attracts many birds and along with them birdwatchers. There are a large number of historical towns surrounding the lake, including Hikone, with one of Japan's 12 remaining original castles, Omihachiman, with an attractive restored canal area and a number of museums, Sakamoto, with the World Heritage Site temple Enryaku-ji, the famous temple of Ishiyama-dera, where Lady Murasaki wrote The Tale of Genji, and Nagahama, with Japan's oldest remaining train station building, an attractive historical district, and some significant temples and shrines, as well as a reconstructed castle. The lake is also known for beautiful sunsets, especially when viewed from the east side of the lake as the sun sets over the mountains to the west.

Visit Omimaiko Beach. The water is very clean and the beach is very relaxing. Many people flock there on weekends and you can also camp there. It is better than going to most seaside beaches in Kansai as it is so clean. From Osaka it takes 1 hour by train (JR) to Omimaiko Station and only 30 minutes from Kyoto.

Do
Lake Biwa's tourism industry subsists on fishing, boat rentals and an assortment of watersports, including even scuba diving for those who want to plumb the depths of this rather murky lake. There are a number of hot springs in the towns and mountains that surrounded the lake. There are also good hikes in the Hira-san mountain range on the west side of the lake.

A bicycle rental for ¥500 per day for a "mama-chari" type bicycle (a single speed 26 inch bike with a highly adjustable and comfortable seat and a basket in front) from right next to the train station from Osaka. Bicycling around the Lake Biwa area is great fun, with wide paved paths in many places, and approximately a 220km bike ride to go around the lake. Bicycle friendliness is evident everywhere and you should be able to find places to stay at various points around the lake if you bike tour. Witness four man or woman rowing teams in action on the Satagawa River during your tour. Ride a functioning sternwheeler, the "Michigan". Many parks, public restrooms and places to get water or drinks are near the southwestern part of the bike path. A volleyball court is on the beach northwest of the southernmost bridge and many joggers also share the bike paths. Fishing from a boat or the shore, kayaking and sailing are popular here. A successful cicada hunt by a young boy with a butterfly net was witnessed, but giving off a loud buzzing sound, the cicada got away when the boy lifted his net. Kite flying during windy conditions could also be fun here, with no nearby wires to foul the kite line.

Eat
Bring a portable BBQ set out to Omi Maiko or Shiga Beach.

Alternatively, at Omi Maiko, in summer are food vendors.

Drink
Load up a cooler full of whatever you like. There is a reasonable, tropical-themed, outdoor beach bar on the eastern end of Omi Maiko. Part of a hotel, they offer BBQ dinners at brick tables.

title: Lake Biwa


text:
Lake Bolsena

Lake Bolsena is the largest lake in the northern part of the region of Lazio in Italy and the largest volcanic lake in the whole country, having a circumference of 43km. It is known for a strange phenomenon, known locally as “sessa”, which causes tidal-like movements in the lake. Its formation began 370,000 years ago following the collapse of a caldera of the Vulsini volcano, which stayed active until 104 BC. The two islands in the southern part of the lake were formed by underwater eruptions.

Get in
By car Lake Bolsena can be easily reached from Rome by taking the Cassia bis road. It can also be reached from the main A1 tollway (Autostrada) that connects Rome and Florence, by exiting at Orvieto.

The towns of the lake are served by buses that depart from the bus station at Viterbo.

See

 * is an island in Lake Bolsena. It is accessible via a ferry service from Capodimonte. A curiosity is its evergreen oaks. There are also Italian gardens, a couple of churches and a convent. The Malta dei Papi, was a prison for priests found guilty of heresy, created out of a small cave.
 * . The town that gives its name to the lake is now mainly famous for an apparent miracle that occurred in 1263. A consecrated host bled onto a corporal, the small cloth upon which the host and chalice rest during Mass. The appearance of blood was seen as a miracle to affirm the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, which states that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The Corporal of Bolsena is now kept at Orvieto cathedral and is venerated because the red spots on the cloth appear to show the profile Jesus Christ.
 * . Not to be confused with the Capodimonte near Naples that gives its name to the famous porcelain, this Capodimonte has an interesting castle that used to belong to the Farnese family. It was mainly a fishing village.
 * . Interesting cathedral and some famous white wine.

Do
There are several places where it is possible to go swimming in the lake.

Eat
Lots of restaurants close to the lake offer dishes cooked with fish from the lake. Well worth trying. Dishes of eels from the lake may also be available.

Go next
Nearby cities of interest include Orvieto and Latera.

title: Lake Bolsena


text:
Lake Bracciano

Lake Bracciano (Lago di Bracciano) is a volcanic lake in the Italian region of Lazio, 32 km northwest of Rome. It has a perimeter of approximately 32 km surrounded by volcanic hills, and one mountain to the north called Rocca Romana. Two towns sit on the lake shore: Anguillara Sabazia and Trevignano Romano, in addition to Bracciano which overlooks the lake from a high hill to the South West, Manziana which is set about 3 km back to the West, and Vicarello, the site of the ancient Aqua Appolinaris baths to the north west. The lake is a popular location for Romans at weekends, particularly during the summer when the area can get extremely crowded. It serves as a drinking water reservoir for Rome and the use of motorboats is forbidden. This makes Bracciano one of the cleanest lakes of Italy. Swimming, sailing and other watersports are permitted.

Get in
The towns of Anguillara and Bracciano can be reached by train from Ostiense railway station in Rome. By car, take Rome's ring road (the GRA) to the Cassia bis exit and follow the signs to the lake. Alternatively, you can take the coastal A12 Autostrada or the Via Aurelia in the direction of Civitavecchia, leaving it at Cerveteri or Furbara-Sasso and following signs to Bracciano.

Get around
Regional buses called COTRAL are operated by the region of Lazio and call hourly at Canale Monterrano, Manziana, Bracciano and Anguillara then descend to Rome along the via Clodia terminating at the Saxa Rubra bus garage close to the RAI television Studios on the via Flaminia. Approximately one bus every two hours from Bracciano passes Trevignano Romano in each direction, and one bus every two hours also reaches Bracciano Hospital.

The local municipalities of Manziana, Bracciano and Anguillara also provide small orange mini-busses which connect their outlying communities at certain times of the day.

In the summer months, a tourist boat connects Bracciano's Lakeside beach area with piers in the centre of Anguillara and Trevignano. The boat makes three complete tours of the lake in a day in a triangular route missing out most of the west side of the lake.

See

 * is a small town mainly famous for a well-preserved 15th Century castle (Castello Odescalchi)
 * is built on a small cape that sticks out into the lake. Three kilometres east of the town lies the small Lake Martignano. This is not accessible by car and requires a short walk from the parking area. Unlike Lake Bracciano it is very undeveloped.
 * is on the north side of the lake. It has some pleasant lakeside walks and is the lake's main sailing center.
 * The picturesque town of is on the west side of the lake, with great views of the whole lake, beautiful boutique shops along the main shopping street and the region's finest cuisine, at Il Sorcetto restaurant.
 * the ghost-town is 15 minutes west of Manziana destroyed by Napoleon's armies in 1790.

Do

 * Explore the conduit and sources of the ancient Aqua Traiana, Trajan's Aqueduct which circumnavigated the lake and had sources all around its volcanic foothills, from Pisciarelli, and Santa Fiora, to Vicarello and Bassano in the North and also East of Trevignano Romano. Trajan's Aqueduct was partly rebuilt by Pope Paul V in 1612 and named the Acqua Paola and much of the Acqua Paola remains in working order today.

Drink
Bracciano has two particularly western-friendly eating and drinking establishments:

Connect

 * Historians and Archaeologists may like to contact the Forum Clodii society based in Bracciano, and who run their own museum.
 * Those interested in local etruscan archaeology can contact the Manziana Archaeology Group Gruppo Archeologico Romano Sezione Manziana.
 * For further information about the conservation area around Lakes Bracciano and Martignano, visitors can contacts the Parks Authority Parco Regionale Naturale Bracciano Martignano.
 * Those interested in visiting Lake Bracciano can contact Associazione Turismo Lago di Bracciano or Visit Bracciano.

Go next
The Etruscan tombs of Cerveteri are just 20 minutes from Bracciano to the southwest. Closer, but along a winding road to the northeast, leaving the lake at Trevignano, is Sutri, which has an interesting Roman amphitheatre carved out of rock.

title: Lake Bracciano


text:
Lake Buena Vista

Lake Buena Vista is a municipality in Orange County, in Greater Orlando. It is home to Disney Springs, Typhoon Lagoon, the headquarters of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Reedy Creek Improvement District, and most notably the headquarters of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Understand
It is one of two Florida municipalities, founded on July 3, 1969, controlled by the Walt Disney Company, the other being Bay Lake.

Lake Buena Vista is sited southwest of Orlando, between Orlando and Kissimmee, along the Interstate 4 corridor. Walt Disney's original plan for Lake Buena Vista included at least one futuristic living area, but was never built. This futuristic idea was later used at Epcot.

By plane

 * Orlando International Airport . The entry point for most international and domestic flights, is the closest airport (about 20 mi/30 km) to Lake Buena Vista.  Airport security lines can become extremely long (1 hr), especially during the summer tourist season and near holidays.  Combined with long check-in lines, it is advisable to arrive 2-3 hours before your scheduled departure. The airport offers transportation, shuttles, taxis, and car rentals while Disney offers its free Magical Express transportation from the airport to Disney World for visitors staying at the Disney World Resorts.

By car
Most visitors will arrive by taking Interstate 4 and then traveling west on exit 68 from I-4.

By public transit
LYNX, the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, offers limited bus service to Lake Buena Vista and Disney World, catering mainly to the workers in the Disney complex. Bus Link 50 connects the Magic Kingdom with Disney Springs. Bus Link 111 connects Disney with the Orlando International Airport.

By private bus
Many hotels on offer complimentary scheduled bus service to and from the Disney theme parks. Check with the hotel for details.

By car
Most convenient for getting around the sprawling theme parks complex. However, parking may be an issue if you do not go early.

Do

 * Walt Disney World - the most well renowned theme park in the known universe. If you are in Lake Buena Vista, you are at Walt Disney World... sort of. The mailing address for the resort is Lake Buena Vista, but all of the theme parks are physically within the city of Bay Lake.
 * Walt Disney World Resort includes, , :, , , , ,

Buy

 * Disney Springs has a large variety of specialty shops, including World of Disney (the largest Disney character store in the world) the Lego Imagination Center and an Harley-Davidson Motorcycles store. Access to Disney Springs does not require park entry fees.

Sleep
''Lodging in Lake Buena Vista is mainly for travelers visiting the Walt Disney World. Other cities and towns nearby offering lodging are: Celebration, Davenport, Kissimmee, and Orlando.''

Go next

 * Tampa and Busch Gardens are one hour southwest on I-4.
 * Miami is to the south, or about a 4-hr car ride.  Accessing the Everglades National Park is common from Miami.

title: Lake Buena Vista


text:
Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi is a charming lake dotted with little islands in Western Uganda. The terraced landscape and vibrant colours make it almost cartoonish.

Get in
From Kabale, take a taxi or boda-boda to Rotindo Market (8 km, 20-25 minutes). From Rotindo you can hire a canoe or motorboat to the destination of your choice.

See
Excellent bird watching, especially from a trip on a local boat around parts of the lake for a couple of hours.

title: Lake Bunyonyi


text:
Lake Charles

Lake Charles is the second-largest city in the Acadiana region of Louisiana, with 87,000 residents in 2022. It is well known for gaming and the great outdoors, culinary delights and rhythm and blues. There are over 75 annual festivals from the splendor of Mardi Gras to the swashbuckling days of the Contraband Days Pirate Festival, there is something going on nearly every weekend.

By rail
The tri-weekly Sunset Limited train between New Orleans and Los Angeles, run by Amtrak, stops in Lake Charles. is at 100 Ryan St, north of the city centre.

Get around
Driving is the best way to get around Lake Charles, although Historic Downtown is a pedestrian friendly area and it is easy to walk to most downtown attractions.

title: Lake Charles


text:
Lake Chatuge

Lake Chatuge is an area of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northeastern Georgia, bordered on the north by North Carolina. It surrounds and takes its name from the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) electric generation reservoir located here. This area became a resort destination soon after the lake was constructed and is now one of the fastest-growing areas of the region.

Understand
Many retirees have moved here from Florida to escape the heat of the summer and hurricanes, but the area is being discovered by more and more people from other areas of the US all the time.

The Appalachian Trail passes to the south very near to Lake Chatuge and the nearby town of Hiawassee, Georgia, is a favorite stop-over for many hikers on the trail.

Cities
Surrounding towns include Young Harris and Hiawassee, Georgia, and Hayesville, North Carolina.

Do
There is a wide-variety of activities on and off of the lake.

Home to the Georgia Mountain Fair, Hiawassee becomes a very busy place in July and August as vacationers from all over the Southeast converge for many things, including top-name Country Music concerts at the Georgia Mountain Fair, and fine dining at many of the areas high-end restaurants.

Sleep
Lodging facilities of campsites to high-end resorts available year round.

title: Lake Chatuge


text:
Lake City

Lake City is a city of 12,000 people (2019) in North Central Florida. Lake City is known as "The Gateway to Florida" because it is adjacent to the intersection of Interstate 75 and Interstate 10. It was founded as the "Town of Alligator" in 1821.

Get in
Lake City's location at the intersection of Highways 90, 441, Interstate 75 and just off Interstate 10 have long made it a convenient stopping place on long highway drives. US-90 approaches the town from the west, while I-75 passes west of the town from north to south.

See
The old part of town is on either side of Highway 90 around the intersections of Main and Marion Streets. It has a pleasant appearance with old houses and shops and Lake DeSoto and is worth a look if you're not too much of a rush.

Do
Check out the downtown by day. Pretty much everything downtown closes up at 5PM. Places near the Interstate remain active at night.

From the end of November through December, the Festival of Lights is a spectacular Christmas display downtown.

Buy
Antique shops along Marion Avenue.

Eat
The standard national chains are well represented in the area by the Interstate exits. The old downtown also has several local places.

Go next

 * Osceola National Forest

title: Lake City


text:
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, along the gulf coast of Southwestern Alaska, is the most remote and least visited of the national parks, with a mere 5,000 annual visitors.

History
Lake Clark's first people are of Alaska Native descent and came to this region a millennia ago. In more recent times, Russian explorers and missionaries arrived in the 18th century, quickly followed by prospectors, trappers, and entrepreneurs from Western Europe, Canada and the United States. Despite this relatively rapid exposure to the wider world, the native communities of the region retain their traditions and languages. Today's Lake Clark is a mix of various ethnicities, founded upon a collaborative history.

Landscape
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is a place where natural processes dominate. Four of the five biotic communities found in Alaska - coastal, lakes/rivers/wetlands, tundra, and boreal forest - exist in the park. Two active volcanoes - Mount Iliamna and Mount Redoubt - tower above the landscape. Glaciers wind their way down into valleys where the Alaska and Aleutian ranges join.

Flora and fauna
A full complement of subarctic fish, wildlife,and plant species make their homes in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve's various ecosystems. Salmon pass through tidal estuaries on their way to spawning grounds in mountain lakes and streams, chased by hungry seals and brown bears. Dall sheep share treacherous mountain slopes with delicate alpine wildflowers. Once-endangered peregrine falcons occupy eyries on cliffs where they can easily hunt migrating and nesting waterfowl. Follow the links below to explore the plants and animals of the park and preserve.

Climate
Lake Clark has two distinct climate areas: the coast and the interior. The coast is wetter and experiences milder temperatures. The interior gets half to one fourth as much precipitation, but temperatures are hotter in summer and colder in winter. Frost and snow can occur any time parkwide, but are most common from September to early June. Lakes here typically begins freezing in November and melting in April. Ice conditions dictate whether planes need floats or skis to land on lakes.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Almost all visitors must arrive by air. The park's lands and waters are open to fixed-wing aircraft. There are no fixed runways or FBO services within the park. Port Alsworth, immediately west of the park, has two private airstrips (ramp fee will be charged) where fuel is available.

Weather and tides permitting, the coastline may be approached by boat.

There is no car access to any part of the park.

Fees and permits
There are no fees or permits anywhere within the park.

See

Backcountry
Backcountry hikers are requested to fill out a free registration form, which can assist rangers in the event of a rescue.

title: Lake Clark National Park and Preserve


text:
Lake Como

Lake Como (Lago di Como; also called: Lario) is in the provinces of Como and Lecco in Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is part of the Italian Lake District. It has been popular with visitors since the early 20th century for its combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather.

Understand
The lake is shaped like an inverted 'Y', with two 'legs' starting at Como in the south-west and Lecco in the south-east, which join together half-way up, and the lake continues up to Lecco, Varenna and next Colico in the north. The first few kilometres of the legs at the southern end of the lake are relatively flat, but Lake Como becomes more mountainous as you head northwards into the Alps. Some of the nearby peaks go slightly above the tree-line so the views are really impressive. In the winter, there is skiing in the nearby valleys.

The area around Lake Como is pretty characteristic. It has a kind of flair and sense of history that tends to impress its visitors in a sense deeper than only from a touristic point of view. It has been appreciated for its beauty and uniqueness for ages, and even as early as the Roman times. Its atmosphere and natural surroundings have been the inspiration for an important part of the creation of Naboo, in the Star Wars movies (in the same way as the atmosphere in Tozeur and Matmata have been recreated in Episode IV, A New Hope).

Cities

 * — very exclusive Borgo near Varenna, is called the "Portofino of Lake Como", the whole town was sculpted by sculptor Giannino Castiglioni, purposely kept secret to maintain VIP privacy, often taken off the maps. Many empresses, queens, princesses and nobles found refuge and peace in Lierna for centuries. The Villa di Plinio, called Villa Commedia, is from Ancient Rome times. Lierna is historically a holiday resort of the high international nobility (the village is the place where the Knightly Order of the House of Savoy was founded) and of international celebrities and VIPs who want absolute privacy. Lierna Lake Como is the most portrayed place in the paintings of the whole of Lake Como over the centuries and enjoys the most view of Lake Como overlooking the tip of Bellagio.
 * — in front of Lierna, 10 minutes by boat, has nice views at the top of the lake. The Rockfeller family villa was in Bellagio.
 * — nice views at the top of the lake, but the town is not that attractive. There is a World War I fort with guns nearby, open one day a week.
 * — at the southern end of the lake, the lake's main town is a good base and, although not as attractive as some of the other towns, it remains an elegant resort. The town has a population of 80,000 people and has Roman or pre-Roman origins.
 * — a mountain village, at the end of Lierna Mountain, that hosted the Wikimania conference in 2016.
 * — the town at the end of the south-eastern branch of the lake. Population of 45,000 people.
 * — the main town on the western shore, it's attractive and not as touristy as Bellagio and Varenna opposite. Parking your car is a nightmare. It has a youth hostel (often full at weekends). Has a nice pedestrian-only area, around two squares at the lake-front or Lungolago with shops, coffee-bars, hotels, ice-cream parlours (gelaterie) and restaurants. Along the lake-front there's a mini-golf with a snack-bar.
 * — a village in the southwestern leg of the lake
 * — a very small town about half-way between Como and Bellagio on the western leg of the lake.
 * - a village close to Varenna
 * — a town in the southwestern leg of the lake
 * — beautiful little town, now part of Tremezzina, and right across from Bellagio. Main attractions are Villa Carlotta with its splendid botanical garden and nice waterfront, and nearby Villa del Balbianello.
 * — another attractive town on the eastern shore opposite Menaggio and Bellagio. Worth visiting for the attractive and relaxing gardens of Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero. Also has the remains of a castle (Castello di Vezio) where a falconer gives shows occasionally. The castle is a steep hike, with a rise of many hundreds of vertical feet.
 * — another attractive town on the eastern shore opposite Menaggio and Bellagio. Worth visiting for the attractive and relaxing gardens of Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero. Also has the remains of a castle (Castello di Vezio) where a falconer gives shows occasionally. The castle is a steep hike, with a rise of many hundreds of vertical feet.

Other destinations

 * Isola Comacina — an island near Tremezzina

Southern Lake Como district
The southern part of the district contains the northern part of the historic land of Brianza, which lies between this district and the Grande Milano district. This is a wealthy and mostly industrial and residential area.

Paderno D'Adda and its surroundings, with the old San Michele bridge and Leonardo's connections

Montevecchia and the Curone park, which offers great views on the entire Po Plain, and is therefore known as the Tetto della Brianza (Brianza's rooftop)

Get in
The main access to the lake is from Milan and Bergamo. It is also possible to cross the border from Lugano (Switzerland), and arriving at the lake at Menaggio. In the north, the lake can be accessed through the Splügen pass (closed from end of autumn to the beginning of spring), or from St. Moritz, both entering from Switzerland.

By train
Regular trains run from Milan to Como (which has 2 stations: Como San Giovanni and Como Lago). Como San Giovanni Station is outside of the center, but there are buses that stop there. You can buy tickets at the tobacconist in the station for a few euros, or walk to the center of town.

Overnight sleeper trains run from Amsterdam via Duesseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt and Basel stopping at Como San Giovanni on their way to Milan. Similar daytime trains also run.

Trains also run from Milan and Bergamo to Lecco, some of them also continue up to the Eastern Shore to Varenna and Colico and then to Sondrio and Tirano.

By bus
Frequent buses run up the Western Shore from Como to Menaggio. A few then continue on to Colico.

By boat
Several boats and hydrofoils a day travel all the way up the lake from Como to Colico stopping at most of the towns en route. The distances are long, so you shouldn't expect to visit more than 2–3 villages in a day. For example, the regular ferry takes around 2 hours to go from Como to Bellaggio. There are fast services that travel faster, stop at fewer places and cost more. Less frequent boat/hydrofoils travel down the eastern leg between Bellagio and Lecco.

There are additional frequent services between the 'triangle' of towns in the centre of the lake: Menaggio, Bellagio and Varenna. In season, there is a boat service for the mid-lake (Bellano, Lenno, Villa Carlotta and Tremezzo in addition to Menaggio, Varenna and Bellagio). It runs hourly 09:00–18:00.

Timetables are available at tourist information offices, at the quayside or online from Gestione Navigazione Laghi.

You can get a day pass that covers most of the lake for €25.80 (Sep 2019), and other passes that cover only part of the lake for less. With these passes, you must pay a supplement to use the faster hydrofoils. By comparison, a one-way ticket on the regular ferry from Como to Bellaggio (ca 2 hr) costs €10.40, while a return ticket on the hydrofoil (45 min) costs about €30 (Sep 2019).

If you want to discover Lake Como by yourself, you can rent a 40 hp motorboat to drive without any ship's license. If you stay in Menaggio, Bellagio, Tremezzo, Cadenabbia and Varenna you can contact AC Boat. Good rates and service and very nice boats.

By train
On Lake Como a railway is available only on the eastern shore of the lake, with stations between Lecco and Colico. Regional trains stop in all stations; while direct trains only in few of them; the stations on Lake Como are: Lecco (also direct trains), Abbadia Lariana (some direct trains), Mandello, Lierna, Fiumelatte, Varenna (the name of the station is Varenna Esino at it is actually located in Perledo; also direct trains), Bellano (also direct trains), Dervio, Dorio, Piona, Colico (also direct trains). From south to north, the railway line connects Milan to Morbegno, Sondrio and Tirano (in Valtellina); in Colico another line allows to reach Chiavenna in Valchiavenna.

Direct trains depart from Milan central station; while regional trains from Milan Porta Garibaldi. In general there is a direct and regional train every two hours, which means that basically there is either train every hour; the service is more intense in the morning and evening (for commuters moving in the morning towards Lecco and Milan and in the evening from Lecco and Milan); it starts at around 06:00 from Milan and it finishes with the last train from Milan at 21:20. It is important to take attention to the different timelines during weekdays and weekends (there is also a winter and summer timeline); in general through trains are not a reliable mean of transport on the lake by night.

The railway on the eastern shore of the lake is a convenient mean of transport also to reach other destinations on the lake. Considering the fast direct trains from Milan to Varenna (the name of the station is Varenna Esino) take around 1 hour, from Varenna is the possible to connect by boat to other towns, such as Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzo with frequent boats and other towns with less frequent boats.

By car
Roads run up and down most of the shores. On the Western Shore, road works are common and travel duration can vary greatly. You can expect to average 40–60 km/h. Despite the construction of new tunnels, the road on the Western Shore still crosses the centre of many villages. Avoid the road if you are not a keen driver and dislike small roads, hairpins, steep inclines, sharp bends, and heavy traffic. Fatal accidents, often involving motorcyclists, are common.

The Eastern Shore is served by the SS36 highway, a two-lane fast road that connects Milan and Lecco to Colico and the adjacent Valtellina region. Be aware that there are no exit other than Lecco, Bellano and Colico. The other villages are served by the old shoreline road, which offers good views to the lake but it's also a bit challenging, due to its small lanes, sharp bends and dark tunnels.

Parking in some areas can be problematic, especially if you have a big car. A small car can be much more convenient for both travelling and parking.

By motorcycle
The entire lake area is popular with motorcyclists from all over Europe.

By bicycle
On Lake Como you can ride with rental bike shops available for easy biking itineraries and rental services without guide, bikes can be rent with special accessories and with free delivery at hotels and B&B.

See

 * Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo offers great views of the lake from its large impressive gardens which are famous for the wide varieties of plants. The villa is also a museum containing a number of sculptures and artworks.
 * Villa Monestero in Varenna.

Itineraries

 * The Wayfarer's Path of Leonardo da Vinci
 * Sentiero del Viandante (Lierna)

Boat and plane trips
Take a boat trip. The most popular tourist towns seem to be Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna. Gravedona and Domaso (in the north) and Bellano, Lenno, and Argegno (mid-lake) are also worth a stop (no more than two hours required for each).

Take a flight over the lake. Aero Club Como offers flights in seaplanes.

Hiking, skiing and water sports
The nearest skiing area is the Piani di Bobbio site. This is a quite basic resort, with easy and intermediate downhill ski slopes. This is the nearest ski area from Milan and a very good one for beginners (but not very thrilling for experts).

Hike in the mountains. There are various paths, from the easiest one to the most strenuous, and many mountain huts and resting points. Most paths offer spectacular views across the lake and sometimes it is even possible to see both Lake Lugana and Lake Como from the same place, such as Monte Grona. The tourist office in Menaggio has a wide selection of possibilities. Lecco is also a good base to start a hike, particularly because you can reach many starting points without a car. You can also find good sites for rock climbing.

Try a round of golf or tennis at the Villa D'Este or Monticello golf clubs. Menaggio e Cadenabbia Golf Club, just a few kilometers inland from Menaggio, is where George Clooney is said to be a member.

Do some water sports on the Lake. There are two locations that rent motor boats. Lower horsepowers do not require a boating license.

More water sports: in most of the lakeside towns, you will find opportunities to rent various kinds of boats. Many towns also have sailing and/or (kite) surfing schools. Water skiing is possible from some towns.

The Lake Como Greenway is an almost 6.4-km walkway on the west side on the lake. While some parts are not lake-front, it is mostly lake-front and its route near Bolvedro/Tremezzo goes through a very nice lake-front park. The best towns to join the green way are Lenno and Tremezzo.

Buy
Market days:
 * Como on Saturdays (at the town's Medieval walls)
 * Lenno on Tuesday mornings
 * Dongo has a market once a week.

An article of silk
Como has been for many years the most important centre for silk production in the world, boasts a long tradition in this sector and holds the title of "world capital of silk". It is said that it all began thanks to Mr. Pietro Boldoni of Bellano and we are talking about 1510. He was the first to open a silk industry in Como. And to further testify to the importance of the sector for the Lake Como area, there are the Silk Museum (in Como) and the Civic Museum Setificio Monti (in Abbadia Lariana). Two must-see places if you are interested in getting to know this fascinating world up close. In any case, whether you buy a tie, a foulard, a scarf or a dress, if it is made of silk you will have bought the souvenir par excellence in these parts!

Gastronomic products
Yes, I think there is nothing more linked to its territory of origin than its food and wine products, that is, those products that the locals bring to their tables! Depending on the conformity of a place, the products available vary greatly. And since Lake Como is, first of all (and by definition) a lake, but certainly also a mountain, its typical products to put in the shopping cart are: cheeses (zincarlin, semuda, Lariano di capra, Lariano d'Alpeggio, ricotta ... just to name a few), fish (probably the most "famous", and also the easiest to transport on a possible return trip, is the missultin), oil, honey, local cured meats (head salami, mortadella di liver), flour for polenta and of course desserts (braschin, miascia, mataloc, resta…). For fans there is no shortage of craft beers and IGP wine.

Wooden souvenirs
Because even in this sector on Lake Como the artisan tradition is well rooted: in the past there were many carpenters, producers of more or less valuable furniture (the Cantù carpenters were very famous) or even cabinetmakers. Not to mention the renowned shipyards that, scattered (once many, today fewer) around the lake, have given and still give life to splendid boats, more or less elegant, maximum exaltation of craftsmanship. In short, the Larians know how to do it with wood! So, you can certainly overdo it and buy a piece of furniture or a boat made in these parts, but of course it will be fine to take home even just a model of Lucia (typical boat of Lake Como), plates, bowls, cutting boards or trays made of wood. , even better if olive.

An article in lace
A slightly unusual souvenir with a slightly retro taste, perhaps, but certainly linked to the traditions of these lands. If it meets your tastes, it may be another idea to consider. Also in this case the typical production area is Cantù (very famous, in fact, the Cantù lace), a town not far from Como, but there are also skilled women with bobbins on the Lario, capable of creating objects of extraordinary finesse!

Eat
Gelato – many of the small towns around the lake have excellent gellaterias. This dessert/snack is wonderfully flavourful and perfect for enjoying from a bench at the side of the lake.
 * Locanda dell'Isola Comacina on Isola Comacina
 * Creme Caramel in San Siro (parking may be problematic)
 * La Baia in Cremia
 * Trattoria Il Pontile, Musso
 * Pizzeria Laguna Beach in Pianello del Lario

Drink
This is not a destination known for its singles scene.

Every town should have at least one bar or cafe available.

Bellagio probably offers the greatest number of bars and caffes. Bellagio also offers a wine-bar (enoteca). There are one or two open-air, lakefront bars if the weather is good.

Some of the regularly scheduled lake boats have small, staffed beer and wine bars. In addition the is one 'cocktail' boat built in a retro steam boat style. Also, the Orione was commissioned in 2005, with three full levels and is the largest boat in the fleet. The Orione operates the length of the lake and offers beer and wine. (They also offer full evening meals for people that board in Como in early evening.)

The nearby Sondrio valley is a well known wine-producing area. It is not that known as Tuscany, but some of the local wines are quite good.

Stay safe

 * Beware of wild boars in the forests surrounding the lake.
 * Expect motorcyclists to overtake in a seemingly suicidal manner.
 * Make sure your car is in good condition, especially your tires, brakes, and handbrake, because of the steep and bendy nature of the roads.
 * Locals love tailgating slow tourists. Allow them to overtake you, so you can follow them safely.
 * Do not try to swim across the lake: it's larger than it seems, cold and very deep. If you want to try, there are special events where locals and tourists can try this challenge safely with support boats and rescue teams. Ask the tourist office.

Go next
In winter, you can visit the Madesimo skiing area in the north by car, on the road to the Splügen pass. It is a 60 to 90-minute drive from the Menaggio area. Make sure your car is prepared for winter weather conditions.

If you don't mind driving a little further, it is also possible to visit St. Moritz and its ski slopes in Switzerland. However, the Maloja pass is part of the route to St Moritz. Although it is kept open throughout the winter, adverse weather conditions may force it to be closed on some days. Smaller skiing resorts in the area are Chiesa and Valgerola.

title: Lake Como


text:
Lake Constance

The popular tourist region of Lake Constance (German: Bodensee) spans three countries. It is the third biggest lake in Central Europe and is on the path of the Rhine River. The lake shore is shared between the German federal-states Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the Austrian federal-state Vorarlberg and Eastern Switzerland.

Germany
Most of the German part of Lake Constance is covered in Bodensee Region.
 * (on Zellersee)
 * (on Überlinger See)
 * — the city on the German side of the German-Swiss border, is a beautiful city, noteworthy for its cathedral and ancient houses and shops. Its vibrant centre (in which live music almost always plays during the day) and harbour, dominated by the statue of Imperia (who holds the Kaiser in one hand and the Pope in the other) make Konstanz a fantastic city to visit. Konstanz has a palpable Mediterranean feel to it.
 * — good wine area, historic town and castle
 * — Zeppelin museum
 * — the beautiful old town of this city is on a small walkable island

Austria

 * — world-famous floating stage on the lake; known for many cultural events; local mountain with great views

Switzerland

 * (on Untersee)

Islands
There are eleven islands of which Reichenau is the biggest.
 * Mainau (in Germany) — flower island
 * Reichenau (in Germany) — vegetable island and on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its abbey

Understand
All three nations have developed a specific culture around their part of the shore.

The lake is divided into three main parts: the Obersee ("upper lake"), which covers the main area, the Untersee ("lower lake") in the south-west and the Seerhein, which is the short part that connects the first two bodies of water near Konstanz. The part of the Obersee in the north-west is referred to as Überlinger See and the ferry link between Konstanz and Meersburg approximately defines its boundary. The Rhine feeds into the lake at the south-eastern end and exits in the west. It is the third largest freshwater lake in Europe after Lake Balaton and Lake Geneva. It is 63km long and 14km wide and the deepest part is at 252m.

Lake Constance is also notable for the boundaries not being agreed upon by the three countries having a shoreline on it. In practice this has few effects for the traveler because none of the countries in question grants ius soli citizenship and questions of migration are mostly irrelevant due to the Schengen Agreement. Furthermore Germany, Austria and Switzerland routinely cooperate in cross-border law enforcement and disaster relief.

Its German name, Bodensee, derives from the town of Bodman, whereas the international name is derived from the city of Konstanz and was adopted mainly by the Roman-Catholic world after the Council of Constance.

The lake is also a major source of drinking water for the surrounding regions.

Talk
German is spoken all the way around the lake. In the Swiss towns, people normally speak the Swiss German dialect but will be able to understand and speak high German. Most people in this area speak some English, especially young people and people working in the tourist industry.

By plane
The closest commercial airport is in Friedrichshafen.

Other relevant airports within about 2 hours' drive of the lake are in Memmingen, Stuttgart , Munich , Zurich and Basel.

By train
There are trains going around the lake and stopping in most cities of interest. The most important junctions are at Radolfzell, Konstanz, Friedrichshafen, Lindau, Rorschach, Romanshorn and Kreuzlingen. (None of these stations are big; they are simply where various train lines meet.)

By boat
A joint webpage offers an overview of the boat and ferry routes. Check the ship schedule (valid in 2016) for details on pricing, available connections, different timetables according to the season and more.

The major boat/ferry operators are:
 * Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe (Germany)
 * Vorarlberg-Lines Bodenseeschifffahrt (Austria)
 * SBS Schifffahrt (Switzerland)

The fastest boat crossings are:
 * The car ferry between Meersburg and Konstanz (for cars, bikes, pedestrians). Runs several times an hour from 06:00 until 24:00, and once an hour from 00:00 until 06:00. Driving your car onto a big boat to cross a wide body of water is very civilized excitement. It's a delightful quarter-hour ride with cars, trucks, motorcycles, motorbikes, bicycles, and pedestrians.  The upper-deck lounge sells coffee, sandwiches, snacks, and cold drinks. Crossings are frequent and you shouldn't have to wait long as there is often a ferry loading when you drive onto the slip. Even at night times, ferries cross the lake hourly. If you travel by foot, be aware that buses might not be available all night, while ferries still are. There are usually taxi cabs waiting around the ferry docks though. Tickets for passengers cost €3, for cars between €8 and €13.90 depending on the size of your vehicle, and for bikes €2.30.
 * The car ferry between Friedrichshafen and Romanshorn (for cars, bikes, pedestrians). Runs hourly from approx. 05:30 until 22:30 (slightly reduced hours on weekends/holidays/winter season). Tickets for passengers cost €9.20 or Fr. 10.20, for bicycles €6.10 or Fr. 7.50, and for cars (including the driver) from €31.40 or Fr. 34.50.
 * The katamaran between Friedrichshafen and Konstanz (for bikes, pedestrians). Runs once an hour from 06:00 until 19:00. The journey takes about 50min. Tickets cost €10.50 for adults, and €4.80 for bicycles.

There are also more relaxed crossings between many cities and towns on the lake, giving you more time for a beer, meal, or even a nap out on the sunny top deck. These boats normally only run from April until October and don't run at night.

A particularly nice time to be out on the lake is on a sunny day when there is a good view of the Alps.

By train
All cities and many towns on the Bodensee are serviced by the three national railroads of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The best service (amount of time spent between stops) is by far better in Germany and Austria than on the Swiss side. Lindau, Friedrichshafen, Konstanz and Bregenz all offer major connections further on into Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Consider the Euregio Bodensee day ticket which offers you unlimited rides on trains/buses around Lake Constance and discounts on specific ferries.

By bicycle
The infrastructure for bicycles is well maintained and cycling along the lake is easy since it is mostly flat. The Bodensee-Radweg ("Lake Constance cycle path") is a 260km long cycle path around the lake and many parts are separated from the other traffic. Shorter options for cycling around the lake are possible by skipping the Untersee (reducing the route by about 75km) or by taking the ferry to skip the Überlinger See (reducing the route by about 65km).

In summer it can get very crowded especially when you want to take your bicycle on the train. You should plan for alternative train connections in case there is no space left.

See
The Bodensee and its shores are very beautiful in a quiet, cultivated way. The views are serene, not spectacular. If you want dramatic scenery, drive a couple of kilometers south into Switzerland or south-west to Upper Bavaria (Allgaeu) and Austria, (Vorarlberg) and visit the Alps. The area sits in a kind of bowl and tends to be very foggy in the winter months.

 * The Stilt house museum in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen.
 * Harbour and old town in Lindau.
 * Kunsthaus Bregenz (KUB). A museum in Bregenz exhibiting contemporary art often specifically made or adapted for the museum.

Do

 * If you want to spend a pleasant afternoon swimming and sunbathing go to a beach. Buy an ice-cream cone. Watch people change into their bathing suits right out in the open (this is Europe). Doze on the grass. See how many sailboats you can count in one minute.
 * Hiking. The Pfänder (1064m) is accessible from Bregenz and offers great views of the lake.
 * Wine. Explore the vineyards along the lake especially around Meersburg and Hagnau.
 * Floating Stage. Go to an open-air opera performance on the lake in Bregenz.
 * Floating Stage. Go to an open-air opera performance on the lake in Bregenz.

Drink
Typical wines from the region are Müller-Thurgau (white wine), Weißburgunder (white wine) and Spätburgunder (red wine) among others.

Germany

 * Ravensburg — medieval city famous for the jigsaw puzzles made there
 * Wangen im Allgäu

Switzerland

 * St. Gallen
 * Schaffhausen — with the Rhine Falls

title: Lake Constance


text:
Lake Country

Lake Country is in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. It is a collective name for administrative and travel purposes given to the communities of Winfield, Oyama, Okanagan Centre and Carr's Landing.

Get in

 * Kelowna International Airport is located about 10 minutes south of Lake Country by car along Highway 97.

Get around

 * You're can bike or walk around the area as most of the roads off the highway aren't usually that busy. There are bike lanes and pedestrian areas along most of these roads as well.

See

 * Access to many different lakes (Okanagan Lake, Wood Lake, Duck Lake, Kalamalka Lake, Beaver Lake, Dee Lake)
 * Various hiking areas
 * Beaches in the immediate area
 * Beaches in the immediate area

Do
There are also beaches in OK Center (Follow Oceola Road down). There is also a - with enough room to park your vehicle and trailer there. Watch out though, the road down there is small and winds a lot, and a lot of traffic builds up down there in the summer.
 * Wine tasting. Lake Country is at the north end of the Okanagan's vineyard and winery region.  See the "Drink" section for local wineries.
 * Various hiking trails in the area - Drive up Beaver Lake Road, and there are a few trails along the way. A popular one for hikers/atv/dirtbikers is The High Rim Trail - which runs from Vernon, through Lake Country to Kelowna. WALC (walk around lake country) has created a map of walking trails.
 * Lots of opportunites to do water sports in the summer - you can choose from one of the many lakes in the area, and test your skills at wakeboarding, water skiing, or just dragging the kids behind the boat in tubes.
 * Various sport areas - soccer, baseball, basketball. Every park located in Lake Country has a soccer field. (Located on Woodsdale Road) is the most popular park for soccer. It also has a beach area, as well as a trail that leads to (which also has beach access) that is right beside it. Reiswig park also has picnic tables that can be used for families to picnic at.  has walking trails, baseball diamonds, and a tennis court available for the public to use.
 * Many different beaches to swim at. As already mentioned, there is Reiswig park, and Beasley Park (located adjacent to each other on Woodsdale Road)
 * Lots of opportunites to do water sports in the summer - you can choose from one of the many lakes in the area, and test your skills at wakeboarding, water skiing, or just dragging the kids behind the boat in tubes.
 * Various sport areas - soccer, baseball, basketball. Every park located in Lake Country has a soccer field. (Located on Woodsdale Road) is the most popular park for soccer. It also has a beach area, as well as a trail that leads to (which also has beach access) that is right beside it. Reiswig park also has picnic tables that can be used for families to picnic at.  has walking trails, baseball diamonds, and a tennis court available for the public to use.
 * Many different beaches to swim at. As already mentioned, there is Reiswig park, and Beasley Park (located adjacent to each other on Woodsdale Road)
 * Many different beaches to swim at. As already mentioned, there is Reiswig park, and Beasley Park (located adjacent to each other on Woodsdale Road)

Buy

 * Most of Lake Country's retail stores are in this area along side Highway 97.

 * and nearby stores:

Eat
There is a variety of choices food wise in Lake Country, it just depends on how much time you have, and what you're in the mood for.

Drink
If you want to sit and drink in a pub, then try either Woody's Pub or Turtle Bay Marina Pub (see under "Eat") as both have specials every night of the week, and both have great staff.

Cope

 * Although the nearest hospital is in Kelowna, due to less traffic congestion and traffic lights, it will take less time to reach the somewhat farther hospital in Vernon.

title: Lake Country


text:
Lake County

There is more than one place called Lake County:

United States of America

 * Lake County (California) - A county in California.
 * Lake County (Colorado) - A county in Colorado.
 * Lake County (Florida) - A county in Florida.
 * Lake County (Illinois) - A county in Illinois.
 * Lake County (Indiana) - A county in Indiana.
 * Lake County (Michigan) - A county in Michigan.
 * Lake County (Minnesota) - A county in Minnesota.
 * Lake County (Montana) - A county in Montana.
 * Lake County (Ohio) - A county in Ohio.
 * Lake County (Oregon) - A county in Oregon.
 * Lake County (South Dakota) - A county in South Dakota.
 * Lake County (Tennessee) - A county in Tennessee.

title: Lake County