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White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park is an American national park in the southeastern region of the state of New Mexico. The park contains the world's largest gypsum sand dune field— of fine white sand, formed by the prevailing winds into large ridge-like dunes.

History
White Sands became a national monument on January 18, 1933 by order of President Herbert Hoover. Efforts to preserve the area's brilliant gypsum dunes had begun in the late 1800s, but it was the enthusiasm of local booster Tom Charles that finally led to the park's creation. In his words "gypsum may be divided into two classes - Commercial and Inspirational. The former everybody has, but as for recreational gypsum, we have it all. No place else in the world do you find these alabaster dunes with the beauty and splendor of the Great White Sands."

The park's creation coincided with the Great Depression, which was in some ways fortuitous due to the Roosevelt administration's focus on public works. WPA funds were used to improve many park areas and White Sands benefited by achieving a full measure of development within just a few years of opening. In its first year the park attracted 12,000 people, and today as many as 600,000 people visit the park annually.

White Sands was redesignated as a national park in December 2019.

Landscape
The obvious natural feature of this monument is the pure gypsum dunes, but perhaps less obvious are the sources of the dunes, Lake Lucero and Alkali Flat. These two areas are the result of the gradual drying of an extensive Pleistocene lake that was rich in the mineral gypsum, with the dunes being the result of weathering and wind transport of these exposed surfaces.

The translucent golden-yellow crystals of selenite (gypsum) grow in saturated mud beneath the lake's remains. When exposed on the surface, these crystals are subject to weathering and erosion and may eventually become gypsum powder and sand grains, which can be carried by winds as dust or sand storms to become the white sands of White Sands National Park.

Flora and fauna
Most of the animals of White Sands have developed nocturnal habits to escape predators and the desert heat. Due to the white color of the sand, some animals have evolved lighter coloration, resulting in white reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates that blend with their white background; however, of the 44 species of mammals, 26 species of reptiles, 6 species of amphibians, and nearly 100 families of insects recorded in the park, the vast majority have normal coloration. Lizards can be readily observed in the interdunal areas where vegetation can be found for shade and protection. The park's mammals are primarily nocturnal, so are not as easily observed. The light-colored spadefoot toad only ventures from underground following thunderstorms when water is available for breeding and egg-laying in the pools of rainwater. Tadpoles quickly develop into adults and burrow into the moist sand, awaiting the next season's storms.

Climate
The Tularosa Basin, a high desert area, averaging 4000 ft in elevation, is subject to harsh, and sometimes rapidly changing climatic conditions. Summers are hot, with high temperatures averaging 95 F 95°F (35°C) in July and August. Winters are relatively mild, but nighttime temperatures often go below freezing (32 F) and cold spells can send the mercury below 0 F. The lowest recorded temperature is -25 F. Snowfall is infrequent, but heavy snows have occurred on occasion. Precipitation averages about 8 in per year, with most falling during summer thunderstorms, often accompanied by lightning and hail.

Wind is the dominant climatic factor, especially from February through May. The prevailing southwesterly winds blow unimpeded across the desert and at times reach gale force. Wind storms can last for days in the spring. Living conditions for animal and plant communities become extremely harsh as the greatest dune movement occurs during this time.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By car
A private car is the best way to reach the monument as no public transportation services exist in the area. The visitor center is on U.S. Route 70/82, 15 mi southwest of Alamogordo and 52 mi east of Las Cruces. The monument is open daily, except Christmas Day. Summer hours (Memorial Day through Labor Day): visitor center 9AM to 7PM, Dunes Drive 7AM to 9PM. Winter hours: visitor center 8AM to 5PM, Dunes Drive 7AM to sunset.

Missile testing on the adjacent White Sands Missile Range occasionally causes the Dunes Drive to be closed for periods of up to two hours, for visitor safety. Route 70/82 between Alamogordo and Las Cruces is also closed during missile tests. Visitors on a tight schedule are encouraged to call the day prior to arrival for information on closures.

By plane
The closest major airport is in El Paso, Texas, from which the park may be reached via Interstates 10 and 25 and U.S. Route 70/82, with Las Cruces en route.

Fees and permits
Entrance fees are $20 per vehicle ($15 per motorcycle) or $10 per adult (age 16 and older), whichever is lesser (Dec 2019). Children 15 and under are free. Entrance fees are valid for entry for seven consecutive days from the date of purchase. An annual pass may be purchased for $40 which allows free park entrance for one year.

By car
An 8 mi scenic drive leads from the visitor center into the heart of the dunes. Wayside exhibits at pullouts along the drive provide information about the natural history of the park. Driving on the dunes is not allowed.

By bicycle
The dunes drive is an easy ride for individuals on bicycles. During full moons the park service offers reservation-only full moon bike rides, during which the drive is opened after-hours to bicycles. A special use fee is charged. Reservations can be made by calling.

See

Hiking
Visitors are free to roam over any area within the park, but should avoid walking on the cryptobiotic crusts of the inter-dune areas. Entering the White Sands Missile Range is not allowed, so be aware of your location. Marked trails include:

In addition, there is a monthly ranger-led hike to Lake Lucero (located in the missile range). The cost is $8 per person, and the round-trip takes three hours (Dec 2019). Reservations are required and can be made by calling +1 505 479-6124 or +1 505 679-2599. The tour schedule is posted online, and is also available from the visitor center.

Dune-sledding
Some of the dunes are tall and steep enough to provide a good ride on a plastic toboggan or sled. While some visitors attempt sledding on everything from cardboard boxes to garbage bags, you'll want to bring your own sled for the best experience.

Stargazing
The park service hosts a Perseid Meteor Shower Watching Party in August.

Photography
Dune photography is best in the morning and evening when the sun is low on the horizon, producing interesting shadows on the dunes. Camera meters may be fooled by the white sand, so it is a good idea to meter slightly higher than what is reported by the light meter to avoid having the sands appear grey.

Buy
The gift shop at the visitor center offers books, maps, posters, films and other souvenir items for purchase. Gas and supplies must be purchased outside of the park.

Eat
Light snacks and beverages are available in the visitor center gift shop, but there are no restaurants in the park. The nearby town of Alamogordo, 15 miles east of the park, has several restaurants available.

Drink
Water is available outside of the visitor center. Alcohol is prohibited within the park at certain times of the year; check at the visitor center for specific restrictions.

Lodging
The park does not offer overnight lodging, but the town of Alamogordo, located 15 mi east, has several hotels.

Camping
The park has a group-use area requiring a $25 non-refundable reservation fee, and an additional fee if camping overnight (Dec 2019). A minimum of 12 people is required for tent camping in the group-use area (also see backcountry camping below). Public and private campgrounds are located near the park in Alamogordo (15 mi east), Las Cruces (52 mi southwest), Oliver Lee Memorial State Park (22 mi from park on highway 54, south) and at Aguirre Springs, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recreation area (35 mi southwest).

Backcountry
White Sands National Park offers ten primitive backcountry campsites located about 1 mi from the scenic drive. Groups are limited to no more than six people per site. The trailhead to the campsites is 6 mi from the visitor center. The campsites are primitive with no water or toilet facilities. No ground fires are permitted, and visitors must pack out all trash and biological waste. The backcountry fee is $3 per person age 16 and older and $1.50 for anyone age 15 and under (Dec 2019).

Note that during testing at White Sands Missile Range the backcountry is closed and no permits are issued. Since missile tests are subject to change, please call the park the day before you plan to use the campsite to verify that the site will be available that night.

Stay safe
While hiking on the dunes, be aware of your location as it is easy to become disoriented. Watch the weather, as sandstorms can reduce visibility and make it nearly impossible to find your way. Heat-related issues are also a concern; carry water with you, and drink at least a gallon of water per day on hot days. Sunscreen is a must.

When driving on the park roads, follow speed limits, use turnouts, and lock your vehicle when not attended.

Go next

 * White Sands Missile Range, known locally as WSMR (and often pronounced "whiz-murr"), is nearby, with an interesting museum that covers some of the area's history and examples of some of the rockets and missiles that have been launched there. Generally open 10AM-3PM or 8AM-4PM, but call +1 575 678-8824 to verify hours; as it is on the territory of the Air Force base, closures or restrictions due to security concerns are possible.
 * Continuing on the space/science theme, the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo is worth a visit; the International Space Hall of Fame and a piece of lunar rock are among the attractions.
 * Continuing on the space/science theme, the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo is worth a visit; the International Space Hall of Fame and a piece of lunar rock are among the attractions.

title: White Sands National Park


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White Sulphur Springs (West Virginia)

White Sulphur Springs is a city of 2,350 people (2019) in West Virginia. Like neighboring Lewisburg, it's known mainly for its status as a luxury resort town, with lots of leisurely activities and the impressive five-star Greenbrier Resort. White Sulphur Springs was incorporated in 1909, and the large clear spring that inspired its name is now housed in a domed spring house on the grounds of the Greenbrier. The Civil War battle of Dry Creek was fought here in 1862.

By car

 * Two main roads run parallel to each other through White Sulphur Springs: US-60 — which runs from Charleston to Richmond, Virginia in the east — and I-64 — which runs from Beckley through Charlottesville, Virginia to Richmond, Virginia.

By train

 * Route stopping in White Sulphur Springs:
 * Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark.
 * Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark.

By plane

 * The nearest airport is Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) just west in Lewisburg.

Get around

 * Mountain Transit Authority, 1096 Broad Street in Summersville, +1 304-872-5872 or +1-877-712-9432. Daily bus service throughout Greenbrier County, as well as Fayette, Nicholas, Pocahontas and Webster counties.

See

 * President's Cottage Museum. A historic building containing documents from the Greenbrier's early history and mementoes from the visits of 26 US Presidents.

 * The house made of coal, WV-60 east of the I-64 overpass. Built in 1959 by Tip Myles using 30 tons of coal. In the past, it's served as a visitors' center, a lounge and a gift shop. There are three coal houses in West Virginia; one of the two others, a privately-owned ranch-style home, is only a few hundred feet away. (The third is in Williamson.)

Eat

 * Valley View Country Club, 2640 Big Draft Road, +1 304-536-1600. Open 8AM to 8PM March through October. Lunch, dinner and homemade specials.
 * Valley View Country Club, 2640 Big Draft Road, +1 304-536-1600. Open 8AM to 8PM March through October. Lunch, dinner and homemade specials.
 * Valley View Country Club, 2640 Big Draft Road, +1 304-536-1600. Open 8AM to 8PM March through October. Lunch, dinner and homemade specials.

Camping

 * Gheny Nook Campground, 12322 Pocahontas Trail (near Neola), +1 304-536-9017. Over 200 campsites. Two fishing ponds, ATV trails, biking trails.

Go next

 * Lewisburg is about 15 minutes west on I-64.
 * Covington, Virginia is about 30 minutes east on I-64.
 * Beckley is about 1 hour west on I-64.
 * Roanoke, Virginia is about 1.5 hours southeast on I-64 / US-220.
 * Charleston is about 2 hours northwest on I-64.
 * Lynchburg, Virginia is about 2 hours southeast on I-64 / US-501.
 * Charlottesville, Virginia is about 2 hours east on I-64.
 * Richmond, Virginia is about 3 hours east on I-64.

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

title: White Sulphur Springs (West Virginia)


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Whitewater

For information about rafting, kayaking, and canoeing on whitewater rivers, see Whitewater sports.

Whitewater is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin.

Understand
Founded in the 1850's by settlers from New England, Whitewater, like many towns in the area, grew around a gristmill.

Beginning in the second half of the nineteenth century, Whitewater became an increasingly large center of Spiritualism with Morris Pratt, a prominent Spiritualist, establishing the Morris Pratt Institute in town in 1889. The Institute operated until the 1930s. This contributed to much of the local lore around Spiritualists and associated them with witches. For this reason, Whitewater is sometimes known as the "Second Salem." The town does celebrate this history to some extent.

Do

 * Freeze Fest

Eat

 * Rocky Rococo Pizza & Pasta, a no frills fast food pizza joint combo that offers various dining options such as pizza by the slice, pasta, whole pizzas, salads and etc. It is a staple Wisconsin franchise.

title: Whitewater


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Whitewater sports

Whitewater sports are the art of bobbing about in a boat, large or small, in moving water. You can also do more quiet journeys, with only the occasional rapid, mostly enjoying the landscape and your company. Some of the most remote and beautiful areas of the world can be seen during one of these adventures.

Understand

Kayaks and canoes used for whitewater tours have one or two paddlers, while whitewater rafts usually seat more people. Traditionally also rowing boats, big or small, have been taken through rapids. There are also river bugs, very small one person crafts.

Rafting is more accessible for the casual traveler, as navigation is handled by a professional and even beginners can come along for a white-knuckled ride. With kayaks and canoes, a professional guide can guide a company and give instructions, but once in a rapid you are on your own. On the other hand, a kayak or canoe is useful also along minor waterways.

Rapids are graded by class to indicate their rough difficulty level. The practical scale ranges from class I (no skill needed) to class V (experts only), with class VI rapids considered hazardous even to pros. Don't place too much faith on the number though: difficulty can vary considerably based on the season and the water level, and rivers of one grade may have harder individual rapids that need to be portaged (boat carried) past.

Rafting, canoeing or kayaking is not always fast, big water adventures. Instead of choosing just the whitewater parts of a river, you can float or paddle along the more quiet parts, or paddle in lakes. The less whitewatery journeys are often mostly or partly about wildlife viewing and nature, but there are also e.g. culinary rafting trips and even spiritual and yoga rafting retreats. The rafting travel industry has branched out to all demographics and travel desires.

Especially longer canoe or kayak journeys often combine the elements: the river may partly be a series of lakes and also many river parts may be quiet, but between these there are also rapids or series of rapids – if we are talking about whitewater sports. For quiet canoe and kayak trips, see Canoeing; also advice on sea kayaking and wilderness backpacking may be relevant.

Experts have developed sports and even arts out of going down rapids: one approach is river running, where the paddler tries to mostly use features of the rapid rather than the paddle to steer the craft, another is playboating, where the features are used for doing tricks, such as surfing, spinning and flips.

Approaching rapids
One should never get into a rapid without preparations. The rapids change a lot depending on water level and the best route may be affected by this. There may even be fallen trees blocking the passage. A tour organizer may have studied the rapids beforehand, but especially on wilderness journeys, expect to take a walk to study the rapids before deciding how difficult it will be and what route to take. A whitewater route description is still very helpful. An experienced person is able to deduce depths and currents from the looks of the water. With a kayak or canoe, you must also be capable of recognizing the different sections while in action. If the rapids are too difficult, you will have to carry your craft past the rapids. In some cases it is also possible to lead it from ashore, guiding it with ropes, or to wade with it down the rapids, perhaps along a route too shallow for canoeing.

Destinations

Whitewater can be found on every continent of the world. From arctic glacier rivers to tropical jungles, there is a whitewater experience for everyone. The top rivers for whitewater rafting span the globe.

South Africa
The African Paddling Association is a voluntary group that focuses on developing paddling sports of all kinds in South Africa.

Many operators offer training courses, guided expeditions and short outings. Clubs will also be able to guide you to the best water around.

Japan

 * Oboke and Koboke, Shikoku

Malaysia

 * Sabah — Many tour operators run whitewater rafting tours out of Kota Kinabalu. The Kiulu River near Tamparuli and the Kadamaian River near Kota Belud have Grade 1–2 rapids and are most suitable for beginners. The Padas River near Beaufort is Malaysia's best known whitewater rafting destination, and provides more of a challenge with Grade 3–4 rapids.

Indonesia

 * Pekalen River, Probolinggo, East Java

Australia

 * Queensland — The Tully River in the tropical north of Queensland near Cairns is perhaps Australia's best known river for whitewater rafting.
 * Tasmania — The Franklin River in southwest Tasmania is the island state's best known whitewater rafting destination, but due to its remote location is only accessible in multi-day rafting expeditions lasting 7-11 days, and requires participants to camp in the wilderness, meaning that it is not for the faint of heart. Tours are available from Launceston or Hobart, and typically end in Strahan, with transportation provided by the tour company back to the starting point. A more accessible river is the King River, with single-day trips available from Queenstown.

New Zealand
New Zealand is world renowned for its whitewater rafting. In the North Island, the Tongariro River that flows into Lake Taupo has some Grade 3 rapids, making it suitable for beginners looking for a moderate thrill. The Kaituna River near Rotorua is known for Tutea Falls, the highest commercially rafted waterfall in New Zealand at 7m. In the South Island, the Shotover River near Queenstown is known for its stunning views, though the relatively short whitewater sections may disappoint hard core thrill seekers.

Canada

 * British Columbia — The Kicking Horse River in eastern British Columbia is Canada's most popular river for whitewater rafting. Most tour operators are located in Golden.

Mexico

 * Veracruz has some of the world's most challenging whitewater rivers, with everything from easy Class I waters to death-defying Class VI. The best place for whitewater kayaking is the town of Tlapacoyan, where river guides can be hired and cheap tacos and beer consumed after a tough day on the river. The three rivers near Tlapacoyan are the Alseseca, Filosbobos, and Jalacingo. The rivers feature deep gorges, fast water, dense jungle foliage, and jaw-dropping drops. Two of the most famous whitewater areas are Big Banana Falls with its 130-foot drop and a deep pool that's a popular put-in spot, and Truchas Drop with a 60-foot drop that's still a heck of an aderenaline shot. Jalcomulco can be a good base camp for trips to the Pescados area of the Rio Antigua with its runs of Class III and Class IV. A large number of whitewater adventure guide services operate in town.

 * The Huasteca Potosina region of San Luis Potosi has a number of whitewater hotspots, which shouldn't be surprising given its proximity to Veracruz. The two best areas in the state are near Ciudad Valles Easy river day-trips from Ciudad Valles include the Micos, Rio Tampaon, Santa Maria, and El Salto (de Meco). Runs range in difficulty from easy Class I to challenging Class IV. River guides can be hired in Ciudad Valles.

United States
The American Canoe Association offers instructional materials and accreditations.

 * Grand Canyon

Costa Rica

 * See Costa Rica

Europe

There are whitewater options in many parts of Europe, see e.g. Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The land border between Finland and Sweden is one of Europe's longest waterways with no dams: from the tripoint with Norway near Kilpisjärvi to the river mouth in Tornio/Haparanda; 470 m/537 km (1,540 ft/334 mi); except at the very start, there is very little need of portaging. E.g. Ivalojoki provides for kayaking through wilderness with many rapids (82,5 m/70 km). For a one- or two-day adventure, Oulanka National Park has two good whitewater rivers. There are many other rivers suitable for whitewater canoeing/kayaking, worth looking around for at any destination, but most rivers are quite gentle, often with several lake sections. Rafting is arranged only at a few locations, such as at Ruunaa.

Learn
As with all water sports, whitewater related activities come with some level of inherent risk. Proper preparation and education is key to staying safe and having an enjoyable time.

Stay safe

 * Be sure you understand the nature of the trip and what level of expertise is expected from you.
 * Use safety gear, such as helmets and life jackets.
 * Secure your equipment.

title: Whitewater sports


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Whitianga

Whitianga is a seaside town in the middle of Mercury Bay on the east side of the Coromandel Peninsula in northern New Zealand. It has a deep water harbour from which cruising boats depart for trips around the scenic Mercury Bay coves and cliffs to Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve and its abundant sea-life. The town is on Buffalo Beach and numerous beautiful beaches are nearby. With a permanent population of 5,000, it's the second biggest town on Coromandel Peninsula (after Thames) and the biggest on the east coast of the Peninsula, and hosts a variety of dining and accommodation options.

Understand
Coromandel Peninsula is on the north-eastern coast of the North Island, due east from Auckland. Whitianga is north of other Peninsula towns Tairua and Pauanui. Mercury Bay is called such because Captain James Cook and his crew came here in November 1769 to make scientific observations of the transit of Mercury across the sun. On the other side of the harbour, which is accessible by a short passenger ferry trip, is Cooks Beach, which is also named after the visit by Captain Cook.

By car
It is 40 km and about 40 minutes drive north of Tairua, and 14 km (16 min) south of Kuaotunu.

By plane
Sun Air has scheduled flights from Ardmore (Auckland), Great Barrier Island and Tauranga to Whitianga Aerodrome.

By scooter
There are scooters for hire at Ferry Landing, just a short way up the hill on the right. You only need a car drivers licence.

Scenic sea cruises
Several operators run similar cruises, with some variations, around the cliffs and coves to Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve and its abundant sea-life. The main cruises last between 2 and 2.5 hours, and some operators also run a 1 to 1.5 hour cruise early or late in the day, which may suit better if you are arriving or leaving Whitianga that day. All leave from Whitianga Wharf and some will also pick up from Ferry Landing if pre-arranged. If you are lucky, you may see dolphins or orca, but they are transient, rather than resident here. In May–Sep you may see fur seals. Some cruises offer snorkeling for 15 minutes to look at the marine life, with the gear provided – just take your togs (swimsuit) and towel.

Go next

 * Hahei and Hot Water Beach – near the Marine Reserve, not far due west as the crow flies, but 35 km (about half an hour) by road – at Hot Water Beach, two hot springs come up through the sand near low tide, and you can hire a spade and dig your own hot pool
 * Kuaotunu – to the north
 * Tairua – very scenic location to the south

title: Whitianga


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Whitman

There is more than one place called Whitman:

United States of America

 * Whitman (Massachusetts) - A town on the South Shore of Massachusetts.

 * Whitman (North Dakota) - A town in Nelson County, North Dakota.

title: Whitman


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Whitstable

Whitstable is a town on the north coast of Kent in southeast England. It's famous for its oysters, and grew up in the 18th and 19th centuries as a fishing port, general harbour and seaside resort. It's nowadays governed as part of the city of Canterbury, and in 2011 had a population of 32,100 in its constituent communities. They extend from Seasalter to the west through Herne Bay to the east.

By plane
All the London airports have similar travel times to Whitstable, as by public transport you have to head into central London then come out again. (It's almost as quick to fly to Paris and take Eurostar.) By hired car, Gatwick  or London City  are closer: that's more of a factor on the return, when you have to consider traffic congestion on M25 to reach your flight.

By train
Trains from London Victoria run every 30-60 min, taking 80 min via Rochester,  Chatham,  Gillingham, Sittingbourne and Faversham, where the train may divide. You need to be in the portion running along the north coast to Whitstable, Margate and Ramsgate. The other portion heads south to Canterbury East and  Dover Priory.

Trains from London St Pancras run hourly and take 75 min via Stratford, Ebbsfleet, Gravesend, Rochester then the same route to Whitstable and Ramsgate.

is quarter of a mile east of High St. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, toilets and a coffee machine. There is step-free access to both platforms.

By bus
There are no direct buses from London. National Express runs from London Victoria to Canterbury, change there; those buses continue to Ramsgate or Dover.

The Triangle bus runs every 15 min from Canterbury to Whitstable (30 min) then Herne Bay then back to Canterbury; and vice versa.

There isn't a bus station in Whitstable. Buses stop along High St then east along Tankerton Rd towards Herne Bay.

By road
From London get onto M2. From west of the city that will involve cutting across from M25 via M26 to M20, then near Maidstone use A229 to reach M2. At Faversham M2 becomes A299, follow signs into town along Thanet Way. A299 continues east to Ramsgate.

Parking can be difficult in Whitstable.

Get around
The Triangle Bus is the best option along the coast between Whitstable, Tankerton, Swalecliffe, Hampton and Herne Bay. It doesn't reach Reculver.

The eastbound trains run half a mile from the coast, stopping at Chestfield & Swalecliffe and Herne Bay, before heading across the fields to Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.

Abacus Cars are the local taxi firm, +44 1227 277728 or 277745; from Herne Bay call 283666 or 283777. There's also Uber in this area.

See below for the Crab & Winkle cycle path from Canterbury.

See

 * Stroll round the harbour and fish market, which is active daily 8AM-5PM.
 * is a shingle spit which at low tide extends half a mile out to sea from Tankerton beach, unusually, at right angles, so you get well away from shore. Keep an eye on what the tide is doing, because it floods behind you and can cut you off.
 * A blue plaque at Seaway Cottage on the seafront west of High St commemorates the actor Peter Cushing (1913-1994). He lived here with his wife Helen Beck from 1959; she died in 1971. Cushing's roles included Dr Who, Sherlock Holmes, Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars, and dozens and dozens of Hammer horror films where according to the critic Robert Ebert he always stood between Vincent Price and Christopher Lee and declared "But good heavens, man! The person you saw has been dead for more than two centuries!"
 * is a small resort five miles east of Whitstable. Little reason to linger, the isolated end of the derelict pier is not an uplifting sight. You come for the sake of the coast walk from Whitstable then return on the bus, or vice versa.
 * is a smock mill built in 1789. It's undergoing restoration and remains closed in 2021.
 * is two miles east of Herne Bay, a length of grassy cliff-top that is an SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest. The imposing towers are of the ruined medieval church of St Mary, built besides a Roman fort - they're maintained by English Heritage and free to visit in daylight hours.
 * See Ramsgate for the Isle of Thanet, sundered from the British mainland by the channels of the River Wantsum (which flows out just east of Reculver) and the River Stour. Or so it was until medieval times, but the Wantsum is now little more than a ditch which passing motorists won't notice.
 * See Ramsgate for the Isle of Thanet, sundered from the British mainland by the channels of the River Wantsum (which flows out just east of Reculver) and the River Stour. Or so it was until medieval times, but the Wantsum is now little more than a ditch which passing motorists won't notice.

Do

 * Walk along the beach. A pebble beach with groins runs along most of the seafront with a concrete path alongside.
 * Boat trips sail from the harbour. Depending on conditions and length of trip, they may take in Herne Bay "island" pier, the outlying sandbanks where seals haul out, the offshore wind farms, or the two Maunsell forts built in World War II further out. (Both forts were used in the 1960s as pirate radio stations, Shivering Sands as Radio Sutch and Red Sands as Radio Invicta.) Boat operators include Whitstable Boat Tours, Oyster Coast Watersports and Greta.
 * Crab & Winkle Way is a 7.6-mile walking and cycle route between Canterbury and Whitstable along the track bed of the C&W Railway. This opened in 1830 to bring coal and minerals to Canterbury, but has a good claim to be the world's first steam-hauled passenger railway. (The Stockton & Darlington Railway steam-hauled passengers for the opening ceremony in 1829, but for the next five years those passenger trains were drawn by horse, slower but less liable to shed wheels or fatally explode.) The C&WR used the wheezing locomotive Invicta, now in the town museum. It couldn't cope with the line's gradients, so static cable engines hauled trains uphill. The route always struggled financially, especially once the direct coastal London-Ramsgate railway arrived in 1860, but "the Crab & Winkle" continued to carry passengers to 1931 and freight to 1953.
 * Crab & Winkle Way is a 7.6-mile walking and cycle route between Canterbury and Whitstable along the track bed of the C&W Railway. This opened in 1830 to bring coal and minerals to Canterbury, but has a good claim to be the world's first steam-hauled passenger railway. (The Stockton & Darlington Railway steam-hauled passengers for the opening ceremony in 1829, but for the next five years those passenger trains were drawn by horse, slower but less liable to shed wheels or fatally explode.) The C&WR used the wheezing locomotive Invicta, now in the town museum. It couldn't cope with the line's gradients, so static cable engines hauled trains uphill. The route always struggled financially, especially once the direct coastal London-Ramsgate railway arrived in 1860, but "the Crab & Winkle" continued to carry passengers to 1931 and freight to 1953.

Buy

 * There are many good craft shops and artists' studios, as well as a variety of small independent shops.
 * Co-op Food on Oxford Street is open daily 7AM-10PM.

Eat

 * The Lobster Shack is a seafood cafe on East Quay, open daily 11AM-9PM.
 * The Lobster Shack is a seafood cafe on East Quay, open daily 11AM-9PM.
 * The Lobster Shack is a seafood cafe on East Quay, open daily 11AM-9PM.
 * The Lobster Shack is a seafood cafe on East Quay, open daily 11AM-9PM.

Drink

 * Shepherd Neame Brewery is in nearby Faversham and offers tours. Six of their products are badged for the town, the most distinctive being Whitstable Bay Oyster Stout.
 * Shepherd Neame Brewery is in nearby Faversham and offers tours. Six of their products are badged for the town, the most distinctive being Whitstable Bay Oyster Stout.
 * Shepherd Neame Brewery is in nearby Faversham and offers tours. Six of their products are badged for the town, the most distinctive being Whitstable Bay Oyster Stout.

Sleep

 * There's not much B&B as most visitors day-trip. The few are around High St, not along the prom where you'd expect to find them.

Connect
As of April 2022, Whitstable has a 4G signal from all UK carriers. 5G has not yet reached this area.

Go next

 * Margate for a different kind of coastal town.
 * Faversham for the national fruit collection and breweries.
 * Canterbury is a must-see, a historic city and.

title: Whitstable


text:
Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsunday Islands are a group of 74 islands that lie off the coast of Queensland, Australia and form part of the Great Barrier Reef. The islands are one of the most popular Australian tourist destinations. The vast majority of islands are designated national parks and major attractions include access to coral reefs for snorkeling and diving, pristine beaches, especially Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island and clear aquamarine warm waters. They are well connected by two major airports on Hamilton Island and the mainland town of Proserpine. Over half a million visitors come to the Whitsundays each year.

Understand
The name comes from Captain James Cook, the first European to navigate the east coast of Australia, when he sailed here on 4 June in 1770. He was struck by the area's beauty and named the island after the day he thought it was - "Whit Sunday", the seventh Sunday after Easter, in the Christian calendar. It later turned out his calendar was wrong, it was not Whit Sunday, but the name has stuck. From looking around you can see many expensive yachts sailing about, the playground for Sydney's rich and Queensland's property developers. For those who are still saving for their own yacht, several ferry companies operate from Airlie to bring people on daytrips around the sights. A typical daytrip might include a visit to Whitehaven beach, a trip to a part of reef for some snorkeling and a prepared lunch. The most visited island have accommodation, but that still leaves many less visited islands with no accommodation in the protected national parks. But for the more adventurous an enormous choice of camping sites dot every island, where nobody else will come.

History
Before tourism, the Whitsundays were used for logging. Aboriginal people had traditionally used the trees here for timber, which might account for references in Captain Cook's diary about grasslands when he first came here. White settlers did the same, after the Aboriginal population had been nearly annihilated by European diseases and bloodshed. Nowadays, there is no visible trace of logging ever having happened in the Whitsundays (except for the old dam that was used by the sawmill on Sawmill Creek in Cid Harbour Whitsunday Island), although on Hook there are two clues of previous industry. One is that at the Nara Inlet there are Aboriginal cave paintings. This can be accessed by boat, either on private charter (bareboating) or on one of the backpacker sailing yachts who sometimes stop in. The second is that if you stay on Hook (and on some other islands) you may hear bleating in the forest. Goats were introduced by the colonialists so that ship wreck survivors could find food and later so that loggers could have something to hunt in the event that food ran out.

Get in
and  in Proserpine are the airports that service the region. Boats depart from adjacent to the airport at Hamilton to many of the Whitsunday Island resorts. Alternatively you can get the bus from Proserpine to Shute Harbour, and out to the islands from there. There are agents that will offer and price inclusive of this transfer.

There are buses from Airlie Beach to Shute Harbour as well, and it is a popular stopping off point. Sometimes standby rates for the island resorts are available there.

Even though it isn't that far off the Queensland coast, access by private boat isn't as simple as you may first think. Hamilton Island has many coral reefs near it and the tidal range is 5.9 m. There is a marina (call in on Marine VHF radio Ch 68 or ) but prices start at about $17 per hour or $60 per day (2011). It makes stopping by for lunch at one of the many restaurants a bit less attractive.

Hamilton Island is visited occasionally by cruises. Most must tender their passengers to shore, where they have immediate access to a modest selection of rather nice resort shops and restaurants.

Ferry
Ferry transfers from different arrival points and between some islands are provided by Cruise Whitsundays. Ferries are available from: Ferries are scheduled to meet most flights to the two airports. Ferry prices are quite expensive, at $50–70 for adults and children depending on route. Children under 4 are free. Bookings are available from Cruise Whitsundays directly or through your resort, for the same price.
 * Hamilton Island Airport to: Long Island Resort, Daydream Island, Shute Harbour and Abel Point (Airlie Beach)
 * Hamilton Island Marina to: Abel Point and Shute Harbour
 * Prosperpine Airport via Abel Point to Hamilton Island marina, Daydream Island and Long Island Resort

Get around

 * Bus from Proserpine to Airlie beach
 * The airport, some residences, and most of the hotels, shops and restaurants on Hamilton Island are serviced by free shuttle buses.

Boat companies

 * Atlantic Clipper Whitsundays is one of the largest vessels in the Whitsundays that has onboard diving.
 * Avatar Sailing is one of the fastest sailing vessels in the Whitsundays.
 * Cruise Whitsundays takes you to many places and also a catamaran called Camira and a pontoon on the reef at Knuckle Reef.
 * Mantaray Charters takes you to Whitehaven Beach and to a beautiful reef for snorkelling. Scuba diving possible for certified divers and introduction dives. Maximum 34 passengers in a chilled atmosphere.
 * Ocean Rafting. Fast and fun with high speed boats that can brave all conditions. This company actually caters for the island hopping day trippers, but can comfortably fit a few campers' packs and water on board. The price is $164, according to their brochure available in Airlie beach (the website quotes $180, possibly to get more money from an unknowing distance booker). This is part of their two-day package for touring all around the islands, and should mean taking you to several different locations for snorkelling. If this does not interest you, there is no reason that they should not charge the normal day rate of $97, if you plan on going to one of the locations that they visit on their typical route (e.g. Whitehaven beach). The staff are super friendly, professional and efficient. They lend you stinger suits (should you feel the need for one) and snorkelling equipment for free, but do not give you water, so you just need to sort it out in Airlie.
 * Pacific Sunrise Whitsundays provides sailing trips of the Whitsunday islands and the great barrier reef from Airlie beach.
 * Schooner Whitsunday Magic, a 115-ft Mediterranean luxury schooner doing Whitsunday Island sailing trips.
 * Solway Lass Whitsundays is a restored tallship, over 100 years old, doing cruises of the Whitsunday Islands from Airlie Beach.
 * Spank Me Whitsundays, a maxi racing yacht doing Great Barrier Reef and island trips with onboard diving.
 * Wings Diving Adventures, a sail and dive tour operator with two boats in their Wings and Emperor Wings fleets. They offer guests the opportunity to sail and scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef. Eco-certified tour operator with high standards of safety on all their vessels. They offer live aboard cruises on 2- or 3-night adventure tours around the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Their tours depart Airlie Beach 6 days a week.
 * ZigZag Whitsundays Day Tour, a company that started in Airlie Beach in 2017, uses dynamic pricing and has a good staff. The boat has 1,200-horsepower Suzuki engines with comfortable padded seats and includes lunch and snorkel equipment in the price of the ticket. The tour visits Whitehaven Beach, South Whitehaven Lookout, Chalkies Beach and Haslewood Island Lookout plus one snorkel location.

Whitehaven Beach
Whitehaven Beach is by far the most recognised of all the Whitsundays landmarks. Stretching about 4.5 km and consisting of fine, brilliant white sand, it presents the image that is used most often in tourism brochures and regularly on TV advertising in Australia. The view from the lookout across Hill inlet is remarkable and on a sunny day (Like most days are), it is nothing short of spectacular.

The sand at Whitehaven Beach is 98% pure silica. The water lapping along the beach which is usually sheltered during the south easterly trade winds (Most of the year) and so the water where the sea meets the beach is often crystal clear and makes for perfect swimming. It is also a "nursery" for baby sharks and stingrays which can be seen just by walking along the flood line.

In 2019, National Parks opened a new lookout platform at the southern end of Whitehaven Beach. The walking trail to the lookout is an easy grade of 900 metres each way. 180-degree views from the south platform include the full length of the beach in one direction and back towards the mainland in the other direction.

Hamilton Islands
Hamilton Island is the most developed and populated Whitsunday island and has its own airport, post office and bank. It boasts some of the most valuable real estate in Australia, and has many options for accommodation, which range from a standard hotel room to your own house! The most cost effective way of staying on the island is a house or apartment, especially for larger groups eg for weddings. There are many developments including unit complexes, the Great Barrier Reef Yacht Club, the newest resort, the 6-star Qualia (on the island's northern tip) and the golf course and accommodations planned for Dent Island. High rise is on the island - the Reef View Hotel, Whitsunday Apartments and Yacht Harbour Towers are iconic. A bit 1970s/80s in style from the outside, they are nevertheless testaments to the island founder Keith Williams' genius as the views from the upper rooms are stunning.

Hamilton Island and Dent Island are privately owned by the Oatley family, founders of Rosemount Wines in Australia. The island is owned on a perpetual lease from the Commonwealth Government. Bob Oately bought the island from previous owners Banker's Trust, a publicly listed company. The island was founded in 1984 by Keith Williams, who also started Sea World, on the Gold Coast. In the 1990s Williams went bankrupt due to complications with a pilot's strike and banking problems and the island was briefly taken over by Holiday Inn.

Despite development, the island remains a haven for options in getting out to reef areas and Whitehaven Beach (about 1/2 hr by boat, Great Barrier Reef about 2 hours), fine accommodation, plenty of restaurant options, good walking around largely untouched island (Passage Peak hike is a tough effort but being the highest point on the island the views are very well worth it, it takes about an hour hard walking from the back of Reef View to the summit or allow 3 hours round trip if you want to stroll. Some brave souls run it or take their mountain bikes!), and nice beaches. There is certainly plenty to do on Hamilton (or Hammo to the locals) or you can definitely just relax by one of the pools.

There are regular ferry services from the mainland and other islands, but even though it isn't that far off the Queensland coast, access by private boat isn't as simple as you may first think. Hamilton Island has many coral reefs near it and the tidal range is 5.9m. There is a marina but prices start at about $17 per hour or $60 per day (2011). It makes stopping by for lunch at one of the many restaurants a bit less attractive.

Don't expect a deserted tropical island though - it can get very busy during peak times (September/October and Christmas period). The feel is more small town, down to the community atmosphere, stopping for chats along the street and friendly helpful locals. Quite a few locals have been on island for years but there is also a huge number of young "transients" who only stay a few months. Due to the developments there are also many who regularly holiday on the island, whether they rent an apartment or own their own.

The island's populated areas are loosely divided into three main areas - Marina Village (or Front Street) - this is where most of the shops and restaurants, the bank, the post office, the general store and the newsagency are; Resort side - Catseye Beach, the main pools and the resort accommodations - Reef View Hotel, Whitsunday Apartments, Palm Terraces/Bungalows and the Beach Club are here; and the "northern end" where most of the apartments and houses are as well as the newest resort Qualia on the island's northern tip. None of these areas are more than 5-10 minutes by golf buggy (the main mode of transport) away from each other.

Dent Island
Dent Island is west of Hamilton Island and is owned by the same owner as Hamilton under the same lease from the Commonwealth Government. It has been known in the past as Hamilton Island West.

Whitsunday Island
Whitsunday Island is the largest island in the archipelago, and home to the famous Whitehaven Beach. Most day boat trips come here and it is on most people's "must-see" list of things while here. Whitehaven beach faces east towards the open sea, making some boat journeys there very choppy. The size of the island also means there are dozens and dozens of little coves and inlets where people with yachts or boats can pull in away from it all. Many boats also go to Tongue Point, which has a well trodden trail up to a built lookout over Whitehaven. Some of the boat packages on offer for first-time visitors can have the feeling of a troop march for one camera shoot place to the next, so if doing daytripping, choose your boat company wisely.

Whitehaven beach's main attraction is the pure white silica sand, along a 7-km (4½-mile) stretch. Sunglasses are essential (seriously!) Different theories about the sand exist, one of the more interesting that Australia's tectonic plates rubbed together and the silica oozed up from the Earth's, before being washed up here. Because of the sand's purity, it was almost mined by the American government in the 1960s for military uses. The substance can be used for satellite dishes. Luckily that did not come to pass, and the beach is now protected under the national park. Well over a hundred people dock here daily on tours, and it is always being voted one of the best beaches in the world, by the people who vote for these things. But between about 4PM and 10AM it is entirely deserted, for the intrepid few that camp overnight (or people who own yachts). There is a pit toilet behind the beach and no running water.

Hook Island
Hook Island is the second largest in the archipelago. The first maps of the area were drawn incorrectly, and depicted Hook Island in the shape of... yes, you guessed correctly! In fact, Hook is shaped something like the Peloponnese in Greece, looking like three downward pointing fingers. Hook is home to an underwater observatory, leaving 95% of the island as national park.

Enquire at Coral Sea Marina in Airlie on the Queensland Coast for excursions or charters.

The Coral Observatory
A local businessman built an underwater coral viewing station here for opening in 1969. Apparently, in order to build observatory's foundations, he exploded the coral bed and thousands of dead fish floated the top. Frustrated at what he had just done he exclaimed, "Struth, I wanted people to see the bloody coral, but I can't get to it without blowing the bastard up!"

Today the observatory is distinctly unremarkable. The windows for your "observing" are 30 cm wide and fogged up. It does however serve as a pier to the island. Try not to be sold this as a reason to come, because snorkeling is a better option, and the rest of the island is lovely anyway.

Hayman Island
Hayman Island is beautiful, and by far the most exclusive resort in the Whitsunday group. The whole island is privately owned and people without prior arrangements may not dock. Some of the most beautiful coral reefs are just off shore from here on the north west side of Hook Island.

Daydream Island
Daydream Island is a small single resort, with paths connecting the resort activity centers with the accommodation rooms. The island is quite family friendly, and includes a range of activities for guests.

Long Island
Long Island is mostly undeveloped save for three resorts. One is largish — the Club Croc Resort on Happy Bay. The other two are smaller, more intimate "eco" style resorts — Peppers Palm Bay and Whitsunday Wilderness Lodge on Paradise Bay.

South Molle Island
South Molle is a small resort island. The company also operates Koala Resort backpackers in Airlie Beach and three backpacker boats that are run out of Airlie.

Lindeman Island
Lindeman Island is being redeveloped.

Events
Outrigger Cup. During June or July each year is the Outrigger Cup. Outrigging is a Hawaian sport using canoes with one "outrigger ama" to balance the boat on the ocean. During this week the action is mostly centred on Catseye Beach (on the resort side of the island) with 1-, 2- and 6-person canoes competing over days in various events including short sprints and longer marathons, the most difficult being the Hamilton Cup marathon where the paddlers go right around Hamilton Island. For the fitter crews (Hawaii mens are particularly strong) this takes about 3 hours — that's hard paddling! The atmosphere is festive, the competition fierce and well-known Australian Iron Woman Lisa Curry-Kenny is a regular competitor. Her Noosa team is a very strong competitor in the women's divisions.

Hamilton Island Race Week. August sees the famous Race Week, started by Keith Williams in the 1980s. This sees hundreds of yachts from 30-foot boats rented for the week to billion-dollar super yachts finely tuned for serious racing. Famous yachts that regularly compete include Skandia, Alfa Romeo and one of the Wild Oats yachts - owned by the island's now owner Bob Oatley. Various classes of racing range from cruising division (despite the name some crews in this division are very competitive!) to IRC divisions for the yachting professionals. Race Week is when the island really comes alive with hundreds of sailors filling the marina and hotels, from the serious bustle of the mornings getting ready to race, the colourful spinnaker starts (on the last day various tourist boat operators take their vessels out with guests to watch the starts), to the sunburnt yachties straggling one and two boats at a time into the marina after a days racing to crack open a beer, put some music on and then head to the Marina Tavern for some hard "relaxing" after a day of hard racing. The night life is almost as important as the day's racing! Many Australian entertainers such as Jimmy Barnes have regularly performed at Race Weeks and there is live music every night from various performers. By far the most anticipated highlight is the Whitehaven Beach party - no-one wants to miss it! Only two divisions race over to Whitehaven but all the yachts go, along with the tour boats and ferries and barges. Bars and barbecues are set up on the beach and everyone plays beach cricket (during the 1980s, famous Australian cricketers would play on the beach, and famous Australians such as Elton Flatley and Lachlan Murdoch have attended), throws a frisbee or a footy, plays volleyball and generally mucks around. Footwear not required, bikini or boardshorts, hat and sunnies essential. Some island local girls plan their bikini outfit well in advance!

Sleep
See Hamilton Island for Hamilton Island facilities.

Camping
There is a superb variety of choices for campsites on the Whitsunday islands for people who want to get away from all the pre-packaged tourism. The first thing to check out is the basic brochure online from the Queensland Government. It gives a good outline of the different campsites and a map of where everything is. To stay on a campsite you need to phone up the Queensland Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing on, or visit their office in Airlie. It costs $4 per person per night and offers a brilliant way to see the scenery unhindered during the day, and stars when night falls when no one is left in sight. You just need a pack for some food, some water and a tent and you are away.

The national parks of the Whitsundays also fall under the regulatory oversight of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). As detailed in the online brochure, campers are required to have sufficient water. The recommendation is five litres per person per day, and three days more for emergencies. In practice three or four litres a day will last people who are careful. So as not to be overcharged purchase the water or big containers to carry some at a petrol station or supermarket in Airlie. Another regulation, from the collective wisdom of the two authorities, is that boat companies need special permits in order to drop campers off on an island (even though someone with their own boat would need no permission!)

Splurge
Hayman Island is the most upmarket of the Whitsunday resorts. Lindeman Island has quite a few facilities, if you go for the "Club Med" resort feel.

"Qualia on Hamilton island and Paradise Bay Eco Resort on Long Island will cost you as much, if not more than Hayman and all are unique experiences.

 * Fantasea's Reefsleep accommodation is on Reefworld, a floating pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef, 40 nautical miles (74 km) from land. It provides either a king-sized bedroom or a four bunk-style bedroom suitable. Overnight, only the staff are on location to look after you as all other guests have departed to the mainland, leaving you with exclusive use of the pontoon and its underwater viewing chamber. Overnight guests also get an al fresco dinner including wine, full breakfast, buffet lunches, sunset beverages, and two scuba dives or a guided snorkelling safari.

Go next
There are many daytripper boats out to the Whitsunday Islands, but you can also take a day or two trip to Airlie Beach on the mainland if you like.

title: Whitsunday Islands


text:
Whittier (California)

Whittier is a city of 86,000 (2018) in Los Angeles County in Southern California. It was founded by Quakers in 1887 and incorporated in 1898.

Get in
Although bordered on the west and north by freeways, Whittier is harder to get to by car than most of the Gateway Cities. This gives parts of the city a secluded feel, but what residents gain in peace and quiet they pay for in long commutes.

From Downtown L.A. take the Pomona Freeway (60) east. Merge onto the San Gabriel River Freeway (605) south and exit at Whittier Boulevard. Turn left at the off ramp onto Whittier Boulevard. (Exiting at Beverly Boulevard East is faster, but it's more confusing.)

Whittier can be reached by Montebello Bus Lines 10, 40 and 50 from the West, Metro Line 270, Foothill Transit lines 274 and 285 from the North, and Metro Lines 120 and 270 from the South.

Get around
To get to Uptown Whittier, the city's historic business district, turn left onto Hadley Street and then right onto Greenleaf Avenue. The majority of Uptown's small businesses are on Greenleaf between Hadley and Mar Vista Streets, but you'll find other shops and restaurants a few blocks east and west of Greenleaf.

If locally owned small businesses aren't your thing, continue to head south on Greenleaf and turn left onto Whittier Boulevard. At the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Painter Avenue, you'll find The Quad, a formerly indoor mall. After years of being a ghost town, it was completely redone after the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. It's now like every other strip mall in suburbia, which means there's plenty of parking and chain restaurants.

Still haven't had your fill of cookie-cutter corporate America? Continue southeast on Whittier Boulevard until you come to the Whittwood Town Center. Formerly called the Whittwood Mall, this outdoor strip mall was built as an outdoor strip mall. Following the trend of the time, they enclosed it in the late 1970s. The roofed part of the mall ran from the eastern entrance of Sears (formerly the Broadway) to the western entrance of JC Penney. Where Target now stands used to be more parking, a gym, and a tire shop. After years of empty storefronts, a plan was hatched to — (are you sensing a trend here?) — tear down the indoor part of the mall.

Bus lines 270, Montebello 10 and Montebello 50 serve uptown Whittier. Line 270 continues south on Santa Fe Springs Road, while Lines 10 and 50 continue south on Painter Avenue.

title: Whittier (California)


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Whyalla

Whyalla is a city on the northeastern Eyre Peninsula, which was developed around the steelworks, port and nearby iron ore deposits in the early 20th century. Today it is a modern and vibrant country town, with good weather, beaches, fishing and boating, and is the third largest city by population in South Australia.

History
Hummock Hill, the hill adjacent to the current town centre, was named by Matthew Flinders in 1802, during his voyage in the Investigator. The first population came to develop the nearby iron ore deposits in 1900 and developed into a small town soon after.

With the establishment of the steelworks in Newcastle Whyalla developed into a major port for iron ore shipments to the east, and in the 1950s a steelworks opened in the town. BHP started operating dual steel works in Newcastle and Whyalla, shipping coal from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales to Whyalla and returning the ships laden with iron ore to Newcastle.

The town also has a history of shipbuilding, and the naval ship Whyalla, now on display at the museum, was constructed in the town.

By car
Whyalla is about 45 minutes' drive south of Port Augusta via the Lincoln Highway. The highway is sealed, well travelled and maintained.

By air

 * Regional Express (REX) operates at least twice daily flights to Whyalla from Adelaide. Car hire (Avis, Budget, Hertz) is available in the terminal.  The airport terminal is located at the southern entrance to the city, about 6km from the city centre, and about 3km from Westgate. QANTAS Link also operates to Whyalla from Adelaide.

By coach

 * Premier Stateliner connect Whyalla with Adelaide, Port Augusta and Port Lincoln twice daily.

Get around
There is a local bus service, operating three bus routes. All three operate between Westlands shopping centre and the city centre every hour during the day on weekdays, offering a reasonably frequent service for this trip. Anywhere else will require a taxi, which are available on the national 131 008 number.

The foreshore, marina, city centre, and Hummock Hill are within reasonable walking distance of each other.

Whyalla is the ideal size to traverse by bicycle, there are cycle facilities out to the museum, and the city roads are wide and flat. There are no bicycle hire facilities in the city.

Major national rental car companies operate kiosks at Whyalla Airport including Enterprise

Do

 * Iron Knob. The original ore deposit that created Whyalla is visible on your right as you drive the Lincoln Highway down from Port Augusta. It is a short drive from Whyalla, and you can do tours of the mining site for a small fee. There is a small community and a park out at the town or Iron Knob, that are worth a visit if you are heading out that way. The landscape is quite harsh and desolate, but if you are making the drive on the Lincoln Highway, it isn't that different to what you will see from the road.
 * Iron Knob. The original ore deposit that created Whyalla is visible on your right as you drive the Lincoln Highway down from Port Augusta. It is a short drive from Whyalla, and you can do tours of the mining site for a small fee. There is a small community and a park out at the town or Iron Knob, that are worth a visit if you are heading out that way. The landscape is quite harsh and desolate, but if you are making the drive on the Lincoln Highway, it isn't that different to what you will see from the road.
 * Iron Knob. The original ore deposit that created Whyalla is visible on your right as you drive the Lincoln Highway down from Port Augusta. It is a short drive from Whyalla, and you can do tours of the mining site for a small fee. There is a small community and a park out at the town or Iron Knob, that are worth a visit if you are heading out that way. The landscape is quite harsh and desolate, but if you are making the drive on the Lincoln Highway, it isn't that different to what you will see from the road.
 * Iron Knob. The original ore deposit that created Whyalla is visible on your right as you drive the Lincoln Highway down from Port Augusta. It is a short drive from Whyalla, and you can do tours of the mining site for a small fee. There is a small community and a park out at the town or Iron Knob, that are worth a visit if you are heading out that way. The landscape is quite harsh and desolate, but if you are making the drive on the Lincoln Highway, it isn't that different to what you will see from the road.

Buy
Whyalla has an unusual scattering of shops for a city of its size.

Westlands Shopping Centre is a modern shopping mall, around 4km west from the city centre. It has chain stores and supermarkets. The city centre has a strip of shops, but perhaps less than you would expect in a city of its size, and no large stores except for a Harvey Norman furniture/electrical. There is also a small group of shops on Playford Avenue (Lincoln Highway), and several other small clusters in other parts of the city.

Eat
The town centre of Whyalla is not a restaurant or cafe precinct. After the shops shut at 5pm the town centre will be totally deserted. Restaurants, clubs and pubs are distributed around the city, and it is best to do some research before you set out. There is not a huge selection of restaurants, and pubs may end up being your best choice for dinner out.

There is a cafe on the town beach, open daily until 6pm. There is fast food and roadhouses on the Lincoln Highway (B100).

Drink
There are several hotels in Whyalla with bars. The Hotel Bay View and the Hotel Spencer are located in the city center. The Playford Hotel is located on Playford Avenue. The Westlands Hotel is located behind Westlands Shopping Center on McDouall-Stuart Avenue. The Sundowner Hotel is located on the Lincoln Highway (B100).

Connect
Telstra and Optus should have a connection in Whyalla, but Vodafone's and other networks might be weak.

Go next

 * Point Lowly, north of Whyalla, about 30 km from the main road. A lighthouse, and the spawning place of the cuttlefish in winter. A nice, shallow scuba diving spot, but there are no dive shops near by, so you'll have to bring your own gear.

title: Whyalla


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Wichita

Wichita is the largest city in Kansas — since Kansas City is divided between the states of Kansas and Missouri. It is not the biggest or flashiest city in the US, but it is a medium-sized city with a small-town feel. It offers much to tourists from both near and far with its variety of attractions.

Tourist information

 * Visit Wichita website

Understand
Wichita is a city in the heart of the great plains in Central Kansas. The city is home to large aircraft manufacturers which make up a large portion of the local economy. In 2021, it had almost 400,000 residents.

By car
Wichita is at the junction of Interstates 135 and 35 (Kansas Turnpike) and approximately 3 hours' drive from Kansas City or Oklahoma City. It's 1½ hours from I-70.

By plane

 * Alaska Airlines. Service from Seattle.
 * Allegiant Air. Service from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.
 * American Airlines. Service from Chicago-O'Hare and Dallas/Fort Worth.
 * Delta Air Lines. Service from Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul
 * Southwest Airlines Service from Chicago-Midway, Dallas-Love, and Las Vegas.
 * United Airlines. Service from Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, and Houston.
 * United Airlines. Service from Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, and Houston.

By train
While Amtrak doesn't serve the city directly with any passenger trains, there is a shuttle service to the Wichita Transit Center at 214 S Topeka St from Newton for the Southwest Chief and also from Oklahoma City for the Heartland Flyer.

Get around

 * City Bus. As the only form of public transit serving the city, bus service may cover the areas near some sights you'd want to see, but not nearly all. Routes are long and the wait for the next bus can stretch to an hour. In general, this is not a good way to get around.
 * Taxi Hailable only at the airport, they don't even queue at downtown hotels. Points of interest are far enough apart that a rental car quickly becomes cost-effective.  Unlike other cities of its size, you can't even find any at the bus station.
 * Rental car If you didn't drive to Wichita, you'll likely want to rent a car when you arrive.
 * Navigating Wichita Wichita is almost exclusively a driving town. Even so, traffic is generally lighter than most larger cities, and parking is almost always free and plentiful, even downtown. Wichita's streets are laid out in a fairly easy-to-navigate grid system.
 * Ridesharing Uber and Lyft both operate ridesharing services in the city.
 * No trip to Wichita is complete without an excursion through the nearby Flint Hills, and that's only possible in a car (preferably a convertible).

title: Wichita


text:
Wichita Falls

Wichita Falls is a town in the North Central Plains of Texas, named for Wichita Indians who lived near waterfalls on what is now the Wichita River. In 1882, Fort Worth and Denver Railroad brought the first train to the area, establishing the town as an agricultural and trade center. The oil boom in the early 1900s made city headquarters for north Texas petroleum production, service and manufacturing. The city is the seat for Wichita County and a leading gateway to Texas on I-44. It's a major trade and industrial center with economy based on Sheppard Air Force Base, oil processing and other varied manufacturing.

Get around

By bus
Falls Ride is the local bus service. Fare is: $1.50 - adult, $0.75 - adult, $0.75 - 5-18 years old, children under 5 are free. You can receive one free transfer for each fare you pay. A pass for 20 rides is available for $25 for adults. Senior citizens pay $12 for the 20 ride pass. Buses run every hour between 5AM and 7:30PM. Some bus lines stop running at 5PM. Some buses run in a big loop in one direction only. There are two main transfer stations: the downtown travel center where the Greyhound bus stops and Sikes Mall. Routes 2, 6 and 7 travel between the downtown travel center and the Sikes Center Mall.

See

Do
There are many things you can find to do in or around Wichita Falls. It has a bowling alley, a central shopping mall, and two movie theaters (Carmike Cinemas in the mall and Cinemark Theaters in Parker Square).

For the outdoorsman, there are several lakes nearby, including Lake Wichita, and the larger Lake Arrowhead. The long and winding shape of Lake Arrowhead and its location make it a great lake for sailing at high speeds. Fishing and other activities are permitted on the lakes. Additionally, Wichita Falls has some fishing ponds located inside the city (Plum Lake to the north of town and the new fishing pond on Southwest Parkway).

Events
There is a full throughout the year.

Annual events include:

Buy
Wichita Falls is also home to many retail chains including Kohl's, Lane Bryant, Ross, TJ Maxx, Dillards, JC Penney, Old Navy, Maurices, and many more.

Eat
Wichita Falls is home to many great local "dives". This is one of the few cities featuring a drive-in style bar. (Yes, they actually bring your beer out to you while you sit in your car!) And of course, as a proud Texas town, there are a multitude of BBQ and Tex-Mex restaurants to choose from.

There is also an abundance of restaurant chains to choose from, including: Cheddar's, Applebee's, On the Border, McAllister's Deli, The Olive Garden, Johnny Carino's, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Cracker Barrel.

title: Wichita Falls


text:
Wick

There's more than one place called Wick:

United Kingdom

 * Wick (Scotland) - a town in the Scottish Highlands
 * Wick (Wales) - a village in Wales

title: Wick


text:
Wick (Scotland)

Wick is a town in Caithness in the far northeast of Scotland, with a population of 6870 in 2020. The name comes from Norse vik, meaning a bay. The town first grew up north of the river: in the 19th century the fishing port of Pulteney was established to the south, when herring shoals moved away from the Hebrides to the seas around here, and initially only a rickety footbridge connected the two settlements. Caithness Glass originated in Wick in 1961, though production has now moved to Crieff in Perthshire. Wick (along with Thurso) is a good base for exploring the rugged northern coast around John o'Groats, or as a stopover for the Orkney ferries.

Get in
By plane: has flights by Eastern Airways from Aberdeen, Su-F taking 40 min. Loganair no longer flies here. The airport is 1½ miles north of town off A99 to Thurso: Bus 82 stops on that road, or take a taxi, or walk. There's a small cafe in the terminal.

By train: Four trains M-Sa and one Su run north from Inverness via Dingwall, Tain, Golspie (for Dunrobin Castle), Brora, Helmsdale and Georgemas Junction (for Halkirk) to Thurso, then double back through Georgemas Junction taking 4 hr 20 min to Wick. The return trains dance the same hokey-cokey via Georgemas Junction and Thurso then head south to Inverness. Thurso to Wick takes 30 min.

is central. The ticket office is open M-Sa, no machines. The toilets and waiting room are open during office hours. There is step-free access to both platforms.

By bus: Stagecoach Highlands X99 runs twice M-Sa from Inverness via Tain, Dornoch, Brora and Helmsdale to Wick, 3 hr 15 min, and continues to Thurso and Scrabster.

By road: the A9 from Inverness crosses Kessock Bridge and Black Isle, running north via Tain, Dornoch, Brora, Helmsdale and Latheron. Turn off onto A99 for Wick: in total about 100 miles (160 km) of undivided highway, reckon three hours. A99 was the historic A9 via Wick to John o'Groats, but the A9 now runs to Thurso and Scrabster.

By boat: see Thurso for the Scrabster-Stromness ferry, and John o'Groats for the Gills Land - St Margaret's Hope and John o'Groats - Burwick ferries.

Get around
Bus 82 takes 55 min between Thurso, Halkirk and Wick, hourly M-F, every two hours Sa, only four on Sunday. You can also take Bus X99 or the train to reach Thurso.

Bus 77 runs from Wick to John o'Groats, three times M-F taking 30 min, and two continue to Thurso. In summer a couple of extra buses continue to Gills Land for the ferry. Buses 77A / C just circle Wick town.

Bus 75 runs south every couple of hours M-F to Lybster, Latheron, Dunbeath and Berriedale.

Taxis are Jimmy's (+44 1955 602727) and Miller Cabs (+44 1955 606464).

Car hire is available from Hertz at the airport.

In town

 * is Ebenezer Place, according to the Guinness Book of Records. At 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) long, it's just the tip of the flatiron building between River Street and Union Street, so it has only one side. No 1 Ebenezer Place is the entrance to the bistro of Mackay's Hotel and that was the clincher for Guinness, since it created a postal address.
 * Herring Mart on Harbour Terrace, opened in 1832, is maintained as part of the Heritage Museum.
 * Isabella Fortuna is a 45-ft sail fishing vessel, built in Arbroath in 1890. An engine was fitted in 1919 and upgraded in 1932. According to season you may find her berthed in the harbour, under maintenance in the Old Lifeboat Shed, or at sea.
 * The Pilot Station is the little brick hut south side of the harbour, turn of 19th to 20th century, and looking like a deckchair hire kiosk.
 * , built in 1915, is the winter home of Isabella Fortuna. The modern RNLI Station is on the harbour middle quay.
 * is set into the cliffs. Cave-dwellers long existed here, not because news of the Iron Age, Normans, Agricultural Revolution or Steam Age was slow to travel north, but because these were down-and-out casualties of modern advances; a report of 1866 described their abject poverty and squalour. Cave dwelling here was made illegal in 1915 not on welfare grounds, but because their fires might assist enemy submarines.
 * is set into the cliffs. Cave-dwellers long existed here, not because news of the Iron Age, Normans, Agricultural Revolution or Steam Age was slow to travel north, but because these were down-and-out casualties of modern advances; a report of 1866 described their abject poverty and squalour. Cave dwelling here was made illegal in 1915 not on welfare grounds, but because their fires might assist enemy submarines.

Further north

 * Noss Head is the scenic promontory half a mile east of the castle, use the same car park.
 * Ackergill Tower is a restored 16th-century centre tower house a mile west of the castle. It was a guesthouse for a time but closed down, and you can't visit.
 * gripping the cliff edge was built around 1600. It was abandoned in 1755 when the owners built (but couldn't afford) the baronial pile of the new Keiss Castle, which remains a private residence. The old castle is free 24 hours, but mind that cliff edge.
 * Keiss Broch a quarter-mile south of that castle was occupied from 1st century BC to 3rd century AD. Its remains are scrappy, as is the adjacent Whitegate Broch.
 * is Iron Age, and The Broch Project have decided that Caithness needs more broches, so they're re-building one here. Volunteers welcome and you don't have to wear woad.
 * See John o'Groats for points further north. Yes, more broches.
 * See John o'Groats for points further north. Yes, more broches.

Further south

 * is a natural harbour six miles south of Wick, which gave shelter but until mid-18th century had no practical land access. Then the famous 365 steps were cut, zigzagging down the cliff, and half the fun of coming here is to negotiate these. They made Whaligoe into a fishing port, where the women would gut the herring then lug the creels up to the road. The fish and the fleet moved elsewhere in the 19th century but the steps and harbour have been maintained.
 * half a mile inland from Whaligoe is a well-preserved 5000-year-old chambered burial cairn. This hillside is dotted with prehistoric remnants, including the earthworks of Garrywhin hill fort, but the limekiln cut into the slope is maybe 19th century.
 * Bruan Broch is an Iron Age mound along A99 a mile south of Whaligoe.
 * Gunn's Castle is the scraps of a small medieval castle, partly eroded into the sea, a mile south of the broch.
 * has an array of some 200 stones up to a metre tall, maybe from Bronze Age 4000 years ago. Aligned stones are common but large arrays like this are rare. Reach them up Red Burn Lane, off A99 at Clyth.
 * are two large burial chambers (the "long" and the "round"), likewise 5000 years old and partly restored in the 1980s. You can drive there on the narrow lane between Watten and Lybster, and crawl inside, 24 hr free.
 * Clythness Lighthouse is a stubby 3-storey building of 1916, now automated.
 * Lybster Lighthouse is just a beacon for the village harbour, built 1849.
 * teeters above the cliffs near Latheron. It was built circa 1200 and abandoned around 1600.
 * , in Gaelic Latharn a muddy place, is the junction of A9 to Thurso and A99 to Wick. Clan Gunn Heritage Society is in the old church, open M-Sa 11AM-4PM. Wag of Forse half a mile north is a type of Iron Age settlement that came after the brochs. Latheronwheel is the small harbour for the village.
 * See Helmsdale for Dunbeath Castle and other points south of Latheron.

Do

 * North Baths on the north harbour shore are a bracing tide-filled pool.
 * Golf: Wick GC is on the coast on Reiss, four miles north along A99. White tees 6123 yards, par 69, visitor round £50.
 * Look up your ancestors: Caithness Archives are at Wick Airport, open M Tu Th F 10AM-4PM. They are also gathering together the archives of Britain's civil nuclear industry, which are scattered over multiple sites: it will be some years before this is complete.

Buy
Tesco is on the main road north edge of town, open M-Sa 6AM-midnight, Su 8AM-8PM.

Eat

 * High St north bank of the river has most eating places, with Spice Tandoori, Bord De L'Eau (below), Devitas Pizzeria, Bombay Spice, Sabz Spice and Wick Fish & Chicken Bar.
 * Queens Hotel at 16 Francis St south of the river has rooms but you mostly come for the food.
 * Wickers World at 21-23 Harbour Quay is a very good café.
 * Wickers World at 21-23 Harbour Quay is a very good café.

Drink

 * Alexander Bain is a JD Wetherspoon on High St. Crown Bar is next door.
 * E' Iron Wellie was a chalybeate (iron-rich) well at the tip of the headland north of the harbour. Only a marker remains: it's a mercy there are no plans to re-instate it, as its flavour was compared to sucking pennies.
 * E' Iron Wellie was a chalybeate (iron-rich) well at the tip of the headland north of the harbour. Only a marker remains: it's a mercy there are no plans to re-instate it, as its flavour was compared to sucking pennies.

Sleep

 * B&Bs include Bank Guest House, Queen's Hotel and Kirkhouse.
 * B&Bs include Bank Guest House, Queen's Hotel and Kirkhouse.
 * B&Bs include Bank Guest House, Queen's Hotel and Kirkhouse.
 * B&Bs include Bank Guest House, Queen's Hotel and Kirkhouse.
 * B&Bs include Bank Guest House, Queen's Hotel and Kirkhouse.

Connect
As of July 2022, Wick and its approach roads have 4G from EE, and a basic mobile signal from Vodafone; nothing from O2 or Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * North to John o'Groats and the rugged north coast past Castle of Mey and Dunnet Head to Thurso.
 * To the Orkney Islands there's a choice of routes. Scrabster-Stromness is best for onward public transport.
 * South to Dunrobin Castle at Golspie, see dolphins in Moray Firth, explore the scenic Black Isle, and over the bridge to Inverness.
 * North Coast 500 is a 500-mile circuit of the coast passing through Wick.

title: Wick (Scotland)


text:
Wickford (Rhode Island)

Wickford is a small village and seaport in North Kingstown that seems to keep its historical charm despite being a tourist attraction. The tides lap its grounded shores and echo a story of its distinguished past.

Understand
Wickford began as a small island bounded on the north by Mill Cove (North Cove), the south by Academy Cove (South Cove), and on the east by Wickford Harbor. According to Historic Wickford, to the left of the harbor was a small body of water that connected Mill Cove and Academy Cove.

In the early 1700s the village of Lodowicke Updikewide had streets leading to the harbor. Lodowicke Updikewide is now known as Main Street. The name Wickford, has no known origin. Some believed the name originated from England while some believe it originated from “Wicke’s Ford” a crossing through the west boundary neck of water near Newton Avenue. Although its origin remains a mystery, Wickford was known for a time as Updike’s Newton.

Historic Wickford says that in the early 1700s the harbor was a primary port for supplying and transporting the produce of plantations. Eventually, the port expanded to facilitate shipping and shipbuilding after the Revolutionary War. This boom period was from 1780-1830, as seen from the historical houses that were built and still stand today.

After the 1830s, steamboat and railroad lines bypassed Wickford. This helped maintain and preserve the village. In the late 19th century, Wickford experienced a revival and joined Narragansett and Newport as a summer destination.

Wickford is a thriving village with a year-round community who work to keep its unique heritage alive.

By car

 * From the highway, you can get to North Kingstown from Route 4 South, exits 5A and 5B, and Route 4 North, exit 5. There are 2 "Park & Rides", one off of Ten Rod Rd. and the other off of Frenchtown Rd.
 * From Newport or Jamestown Bridge, drive off of the Jamestown Bridge and take the first exit to the right, “to Wickford”. Drive straight on 1A (Boston Neck Rd) until you reach Wickford.
 * From south take route 1N (Tower Hill Rd). At the Route 4 North split, bear left continuing on route 1N. At Phillips Street turn right and continue straight into Wickford.

By plane

 * Quonset State Airport,, in North Kingstown.
 * T.F. Green Airport,, Rhode Island’s main airport 30 minutes from Wickford

By train
Kingston Train station,. Serves Amtrak trains and is next to the University of Rhode Island. 25 minutes from Wickford. Wickford Junction Train Station,. 1051 Ten Rod Rd # 5 North Kingstown. Rates to T.F. Green Airport $2.25 and Providence $2.50. July 1 T.F. Green $3.00 and Providence $3.25 each way. Wickford Junction to Boston $9 one way, $11 starting in July. Half price for seniors and people with disabilities. Free for children with paying adult.

By bus

 * R.I.P.T.A. Rhode Island Transportation Authority, . Bus stop in Wickford, right across from The Wickford Market Place.

Get around

 * R.I.P.T.A.,.
 * Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 6980 Post Rd., . Hours and prices may vary. Must be 25 years or older to rent a vehicle. Building is 10 minutes from Wickford.
 * Vineyard Fast Ferry,, Terminal at Quonset Point, very close to Wickford. Travels in Narragansett Bay.

Drink
Wickford is notorious for all the shops closing around 5PM This means that you have to travel down the road a bit to find a bar open late.

 * Beach Rose Cafe- Nice bar inside but only open for breakfast and lunch. Nice place to have an afternoon cocktail right on Wickford harbor.
 * The Wickford Diner- The second level of this small restaurant has a full bar but again only open till around 5PM. Locals use this bar on weekend mornings to grab a quick breakfast and a drink but mostly dead during the week.
 * Duffy’s Tavern- This restaurant is just about a mile outside of the Wickford Village and has great seafood and drinks. Indulge in lobster, scallops, mussels, and a variety of fresh fish. The prices are normal for a seafood restaurant and the portions are very well sized. They also provide a variety of other foods such as great burgers and steaks. It is definitely worth the trip and is some of the best seafood around!

Sleep
There are no hotels in Wickford but there are a few in driving distance.

Go next

 * North- If you go North along Post Road you will go through the rest of North Kingstown where Wickford is incorporated into. Keep going and you’ll reach the cities of East Greenwich and Warwick.
 * South- Plan on driving south along the coast on Post Road or Scenic 1A and you’ll enter South Kingstown, Wakefield, and Narragansett and all the beaches they have to offer.
 * East- Take Post Road and take a right that takes you to the Jamestown Bridge, which in turn will take you to Claiborne Pell Bridge ($4 toll) entering another historic city: Newport.

title: Wickford (Rhode Island)


text:
Widnes

Widnes is a town in Cheshire, England.

By plane
The nearest airport is Liverpool John Lennon Airport, a short bus or taxi ride away. However Liverpool is not served by direct flights to London or by trans-Atlantic flights. Manchester Airport is the main airport for these flights, and is about 45 minutes by taxi or car, 90 minutes by train.

By car
Widnes is easy to reach by car from the M62 Junction 7. It is clearly signposted from the motorway. The town centre is quickly reachable by taking the A568 bypass south (Watkinson Way) and turning west onto A562 (Fiddler's Ferry Road). Mersey Gateway Bridge is £2 toll and there are no booths. If you are looking to go to the market and pedestrianized section of town near Albert Square, turn right at the large round about onto Green Oaks Way. Follow the signs for parking. After walking through the market building, you will be on the best street for shopping or dining. Unlike most towns in the region, free parking is available 7 days a week.

By train
does not have a direct rail service to London but trains stop at Runcorn, a short bus or taxi ride away. Widnes station is about 20 minutes walk to the north of the town centre and is served by frequent trains to Liverpool and Manchester. Hough Green station, which is in the western side of the town, is also on this line, though more trains pass through here without stopping compared to Widnes station.

By bus
There is a very limited coach service from London (about 4–5 hours), however more often then not it works out considerably cheaper to get a coach to Liverpool instead - if bought in advance online coach fares to Liverpool from London can be as little as £5. Buses run to and from Liverpool, Runcorn, Chester and Warrington. National Express do not have a dedicated station in Widnes, however they do stop near the town centre occasionally, usually close to the main library. Local Bus services by Arriva and Halton Transport regularly head into Widnes from Liverpool, St Helens, Warrington, Knowsley, and Runcorn. Day passes are available for both bus services for between £3 and £4.

Get around
The town is small enough to walk around, but there are bus and taxi services. Most of the main attractions in Widnes are no more than a half-hour walk from the town centre, due to the town's small size.

Halton transport, a local bus company, run very frequently and are also a cheap way of going to other nearby towns, such as Runcorn, St Helens, or Liverpool. They offer a day-pass service which can be bought on the bus.

See

 * A number of Grade II listed buildings
 * A number of Grade II listed buildings
 * A number of Grade II listed buildings
 * A number of Grade II listed buildings
 * A number of Grade II listed buildings
 * A number of Grade II listed buildings
 * A number of Grade II listed buildings
 * A number of Grade II listed buildings
 * A number of Grade II listed buildings
 * A number of Grade II listed buildings

Do

 * Walk/shop/dine in town centre and market
 * Visit one of the 6 Green Flag awarded parks
 * See the views of the town and the surrounding areas from Pex Hill or the Silver Jubilee Bridge
 * See the views of the town and the surrounding areas from Pex Hill or the Silver Jubilee Bridge

Stay safe
Widnes is a safe area and as with any area general caution and common sense should be used. If a place doesn't feel safe then simply move on - the layout of Widnes's roads and areas can be unusual, with very safe roads right next to streets which would be considered rough, so often there aren't really unsafe 'areas' as such.

There have been repeated cases of assaults and muggings on the Jubilee Bridge. As such the bridge's footpath is closed at night, and it is best to avoid crossing the bridge on foot after dark.

Connect
As of Oct 2022, Widnes and its approach roads have 4G from O2 and Three, and 5G from EE and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Liverpool - 25 minutes west, easily accessed by either bus or train, which will both take you into the city centre without having to transfer
 * Chester - 30 minutes south, by public transport you need to get a bus into Runcorn - Halton Lea shopping centre, where you then transfer onto another bus into Chester
 * Manchester - 40 minutes east, both Widnes and Hough Green train stations run regularly into Manchester.

title: Widnes


text:
Wieliczka

Wieliczka is a town near Kraków in Małopolskie Province in southern Poland. It's best known for its ancient salt mines, which are now a museum.

Get in
It is easily accessible from Kraków by car, bus or train (the trip from Kraków should take around 30 minutes). You can look at routes and buy tickets directly on the official Jakdojade app.

 * MPK in Kraków buses 204, 244 (or 904 at night).
 * Regional Bus Station in Kraków
 * Koleje Małopolskie - regional trains leave for Wieliczka Rynek Kopalnia from Kraków Główny railway station and take 24 minutes

Buy
There are many shops and souvenir stands, many of which sell bags of salt from the mine.

Eat
There are several places to eat and drink around the salt mine and in the town centre.

Go next
Most onward routes take you back to Kraków.

title: Wieliczka


text:
Wielkopolski National Park

Wielkopolski National Park is a national park in Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland. It is known for its beautiful nature and post glacial lakes making interesting landscape (see Ice Age traces). Deer, boars and other animals are highly represented in the park.

Get in
Most easy way to enter park is from Puszczykowo and Mosina. Easily accessible by regional train from Poznań.

Fees and permits
Entrance to park is free of charge.

Get around
Best way to get around is hiking by marked trails or cycling.

title: Wielkopolski National Park


text:
Wiener Neustadt

Wiener Neustadt is a city and Vienna suburb in Lower Austria. For travellers the city might be a starting point to explore the southern parts of Greater Vienna: to the west there are the foothills of the Alps, to the east Neusiedler See and Hungary are not far away, and to the north central Vienna.

Understand
The city was nearly completely destroyed in World War II, therefore there are not many historic buildings left. Traditionally Wiener Neustadt is an industrial suburban town. It's also a commercial center for the surrounding area. There are many schools, among them the primary military academy of Austria.

By car
On the Südautobahn, Wiener Neustadt is within 40 minutes from Vienna or 2 hr from Graz. From Hungary it's 30 minutes.

Do
Friday or Saturday night go to Herrengasse close to the city centre. There are many bars and sometimes fun nightlife.

Eat
The Wiener Neustadt Tourist Office (see listing above in 'Understand') has a helpful PDF listing all restaurants located in the city.

Sleep
The Wiener Neustadt Tourist Office has a helpful PDF for download listing all accommodation options.

Connect
The train station offers free Wifi access via their network "OEBBfree" thanks to the Austrian railroad company.

title: Wiener Neustadt