text:
Gao

Gao is a city of 90,000 inhabitants in the Gao region of Mali.

Understand
The city was founded in the 7th century as a trading post, but it was during the 15th and 16th centuries that the city flourished and its height was the center of the Songhai Empire.

By plane
Gao has an international airport, and Point Afrique offers flights to Paris and Marseille as well as other cities along the Niger.

By boat
A ferry service links Gao to other cities on the Niger, such as Timbuktu.

By road
Gao is connected to Bamako by a paved highway and can be reached in a private car or by bus. Buses also travel to Niamey several times per week, but the road to the border is still unfinished.

See

Buy

 * Traditional markets. The vegetable and meat markets are in the center of town beside the river. They feature the usual assortment of produce and spices as well as blocks of salt mined in the far north of Mali. The Marche Washington, down the road towards the Askia Tomb, sells clothing and fabric and is full of tailors at work.

Stay safe
Information on the security situation can be found in the warning box at the top of the Mali page.

Go next
Buses leave Gao for Bamako two-three times per day. Buses also travel to Niamey several times per week, but the road to the border is still unfinished.

title: Gao


text:
Gao (region)

Gao is a region in Mali named after the largest city in the region.

Stay safe
Information on the security situation can be found in the warning box at the top of the Mali page.

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

title: Gao (region)


text:
Gaoua

Gaoua is a market town in the Black Volta Region of Burkina Faso.

Understand
Gaoua is known as the home of the Lobi people, the majority ethnicity is this corner of Burkina. It is also the home of the Dagara, Birifor, Jula, Dogose, Gan, and Gwan, to name a few. It is a hilly city in the southwest of Burkina approximately 60 km on a paved road from Cote D'Ivoire and 50 km or so from Ghana through the bush. Gaoua is generally viewed with distaste among travellers and Burkinabès alike.

By Bus
From Ouagou: TSR is a bus line that reliable and goes everyday. It leaves the Wemtenga bus station at 07:00 and from the other TSR gare at 19:30. Also buses at 13:30 and 15:00. Cost is 6,500 CFA.

STMB, whose station is on the Bobo road west of central Ouaga,  also has daily buses to Gaoua leaving at 08:30.

The trip to Gaoua can be between 6 and 8 hours. It is recommended that you go early unless you have a plan for when you arrive in G'town.

There is also a Transmif bus that goes there.

From Banfora: take the Rakieta at 14:00. It is a five hour trip and is dusty. The cost is approximately 4,000 CFA. You can also take bus taxi.

From Bobo: take TSR. One leaves early morning and the other in the afternoon. Sogebaf also has a car.

None of these options have A/C.

Get around
Taxis make a killing here compared to other parts of the country. From the gare to the center it costs 300 CFA. However if you are going further than the centreville (i.e. le desert or the campement allemand) it is 500 CFA.

See

 * Caves
 * Caves
 * Caves
 * Caves

Do
If you're an architecture buff, be sure to check out the Lobi "villages", which are actually mini-fortresses scattered around the countryside.

Drink chapolo (millet beer) in a cabaret (just a fancy word for a chapolo bar). As of 2006 a calabash of chapolo cost about 10 cents.

Eat
Besides the street food available (fried ignames, fried bean cakes, fried millet cakes, liver, etc.)

For the morning hours, try Chez Francois' omelette sandwiches and yogurt. Around 10:00-11:30 you can get phenomenal porc au four at Souvenir (before the hospital on the paved road) and at the campement militaire (they have mustard there!)

Lunch options can include PP and Flamboyant. Both are in the center of town and include the basic options of To, rice and sauce, riz gras, spaghetti, and depending on the season, salad, ragout, and futu. Additionally there are some great restaurants at the main gare.

For dinner, Gaoua has a great chicken place (caution, only serves chicken) called Le Piedmont. It is sauteed or grilled. There are also PP and Flamboyant. PP also serves chicken at night.

Drink
The usual beer options can be found anywhere. There is also the dolo option, aka chiapalo. It is cheap and is fun to hang out at a dolo cabaret.

If you want something higher class, the alimententation across from the market (directly opposite of the meat area) has other things such as juices, wine, and booze.

For your nonalcoholic options, there may be nonfermented dolo available at a cabaret. The streets are also littered with people selling bisap, ginger juice, etc.

Le Flamboyant restaurant is also the main nightclub in Gaoua, and as such gets going after 23:00.

Sleep
Hotel Hala on the outskirts of Gaoua is about it. More expensive than you'd expect but given that it's the only real choice there's not much you can do. Has both fan and A/C rooms.

Connect
There are a few places to connect. The first is called CyberSpace, it costs 1400 CFA an hour, but they have newer computers with USB connections. There is also the place on the side of the BIB building, but the computers are awful and it is 1500 CFA an hour. There is an air-conditioned place at the Cinema.

Go next
You can book outings to outlying villages through the museum. Some villages are known for basket weaving and pottery.

title: Gaoua


text:
Gaoyou

Gaoyou (高邮 Gāoyóu) is a city in Jiangsu province. Gaoyou has a long, rich history, beautiful scenery, and 59 historical sites. With this in mind, it is easy to see why the Jiangsu Provincial Government has designated Gaoyou a “Famous Historic and Cultural City”.

Understand
Gaoyou City is a historic city of 150,000 on the eastern shore of Gaoyou Lake, in central Jiangsu Province. A rapidly growing city today, Gaoyou’s history stretches back over 7,000 years to the ancient settlement at Longquizhuang. The name “Gaoyou” translates as “high post”, referring to Gaoyou’s important role as part of China’s early Imperial postal system. In celebration of this heritage, a roundabout at the center of town features a large sculpture of the post couriers. The Grand Canal of China, the world’s longest man-made waterway, runs west of the city, and beyond that lies Gaoyou Lake. The Beijing-Shanghai expressway is just east of the city, providing easy access for visitors and goods.

Gaoyou is a suburb of Yangzhou, which is 40 km (25 mi.) to the south, and falls under its political jurisdiction. Gaoyou County has an area of 1963 square kilometers (755 sq. miles) and a population of approximately 830,000. It includes over 20 townships, including the Hui Nationality (Muslim) township of Lingtang, which is home to eastern China’s largest Mosque.

The garment industry plays a major role Gaoyou’s broadly based economy, producing over 30 million pieces of clothing per year. Other manufacturing and industrial businesses in the area include the machinery, textile, mechanical, building materials, and electronics industries. With a location in China’s breadbasket, agriculture also plays an important role in the economy. Fresh produce abounds in the city’s markets, and local specialties include Gaoyou Double Yolk Duck Eggs and Lotus root.

Gaoyou double-yolk duck eggs are one of the region’s most famous exports. The County has been renowned for the eggs since the Song Dynasty, 900 years ago. Qin Shaoyou, a famous poet during the North Song Dynasty, gave Gaoyou eggs as presents to his best friend and teacher, Su Dongpo, who was the governor in Xuzhou at that time. Many writers and poets in Chinese history have written of Gaoyou eggs, and described the eggs delicacy in their works.

Gaoyou is off the beaten path, as far as tourism goes, and the industry isn’t well supported. If you see a Gaoyou souvenir you like even a little, buy it. They are few and far between. Unlike some of the larger cities in China, you will find few people in Gaoyou that speak English. This can make ordering food, and making even minor arrangements with the hotel staff, a challenge. On the other hand, you can walk freely down the streets without vendors selling cheap knock-off goods hounding you.

You may have a hard time cashing traveler’s checks in Gaoyou as the hotel doesn’t take them, nor do they exchange US dollars. There is a bank, one block north of the Hotel (left out the front door) where you can exchange funds. It also has a bank machine out front where you can withdraw cash with a credit card. It is probably best to travel to Gaoyou with all the money you need already exchanged for RMB.

History
The first record of Gaoyou’s residents resides at the Longqiu archeological site just north of Gaoyou. There, scientists have uncovered a 7,000-year-old village where farmers grew rice near an ancient river. The Chinese Government has recognized the significance of this site and given it national level protection.

Emperor Ying Zheng founded Gaoyou in 221 BC, during the Qin Dynasty, when he had a relay station for the postal courier system built on the site of today’s city. This post gave Gaoyou its name, with Gaoyou meaning “High Post”. In AD 1375, the Ming Dynasty upgraded Gaoyou’s postal services with the building of the Yucheng Post station. Located adjacent to the Grand Canal, the station made it possible for imperial special messengers to not only change horses, but also take boats and ferries, which were always at their disposal.

Gaoyou has two ancient pagodas, the Jingtu and Zhenguosi Pagodas. The 30-meter high Jingtu Pagoda, in central Gaoyou, was constructed in AD 1612 during the Ming Dynasty, and has gone through an extensive renovation. The 25 meter Zhenguosi Pagoda is located on a small island on the western side of the Grand Canal. Although the more than 1,100-year-old Pagoda is in poor repair, the adjoining Buddhist temple has undergone an extensive renovation, and a new bridge now allows access to the island.

In 486 BC, The Grand Canal was constructed through Gaoyou. It finally reached its maximum length in AD 1291 stretching 1794 km from Beijing in the north, to Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province in the south. The canal has gone through many cycles of building, use, disrepair, and rebuilding over the centuries and has been a significant factor in the development of China. Today the canal is still a busy waterway used to transport massive quantities of gravel and other bulk goods for China’s bustling economy.

Gaoyou Lake and the Grand Canal are suspended above the surrounding plains by an extensive system of dikes. Over the centuries, breaks in the dikes have lead to massive floods, including a flood in 1931 that killed as many as 3.7 million people. On the grounds of Wenyou Tai, a historic site on the north side of the city, there is a museum dedicated to remembrance of the 1931 floods featuring aerial photos of a flooded Gaoyou taken by Charles & Anna Lindbergh.

Several notable figures in Chinese culture and history are associated with Gaoyou. Among them are Qin Shaoyou, a well-known poet of the Song Dynasty; Wang Nian Sun and Wang Yin Zhi (father and son), celebrated classics interpreters during the Qing Dynasty; Sun Yunzhu, the modern paleontologist; and Wang Chenqi, the contemporary writer.

By plane
The nearest airport is Yangzhou Taizhou Airport in Yangzhou. There are direct buses from the airport to Gaoyou, which run about 5 times a day. The fare is ¥35.

Walking tour: South Loop — pagodas and old town
Gaoyou is a small city that lends itself well to walking around. This tour starts from the Runyangcun Holiday Hotel on the SW corner of Wenyouzhong Lu and Haichao Lu (street signs in Gaoyou are written in characters and pinyin). Wenyouzhong Lu is the primary north-south arterial through Gaoyou, and Haichao Lu runs through the center of the city from east to west. This makes a great starting point for walks to the north and south.

This 2½-mile loop will take you past both of Gaoyou’s historic pagodas, as well as the old city wall and Old Town. The Yucheng Post is also included, but it is probably best to visit it with a guide to get the most out of the exhibits. Make sure and carry some drinking water. From the hotel, start by walking south on Wenyouzhong Lu. Being a major thoroughfare, the street is often busy with cars, trucks, and bicycles. The sidewalks are wide though, and all the streets are level.

Continue south to the next major cross street, Pipa Lu and turn left (east). Through a couple of alleys on the left, there are views of the 600 year-old Jingtu Pagoda. In November 2006, the pagoda was being readied for visitors but the facilities weren’t complete.

Continue west on Pipa Lu for another block and the Kuixing Pavilion, perched on a remnant of the Gaoyou city wall, will come into view. To view the pavilion closer, circle around through the large plaza to the north east of the Pavilion. The plaza is popular for exercising, and contains a small children’s carnival.

Continuing west along Pipa Lu the street will start a gradual incline and pass over another street. From this overpass, you can look south, through a large arch, down into Old Town Gaoyou. A walk through Old Town is short but rewarding. Tour guides tell visitors that the buildings here are up to 600 years old, but this is hard to verify. This is about the only place in Gaoyou to find “antiques” and other curios. There are only a handful of shops, with limited selection, but you can some treasures, and bargaining is welcome.

At the south end of Old Town there is another arch, through it the Drum Tower of the Yucheng Post is visible. Opening hours for the museum vary, so it would be best for to have a guide arrange your visit. The museum includes a monument commemorating Marco Polo’s visit to Gaoyou. There is a small gift shop at the museum but it has a very limited selection (sorry, no Yucheng Post t-shirts).

As you exit the Museum, return to Old town and climb the stairs to the small pavilion on the dike. The pavilion houses a large tablet commemorating the post Museum with an ancient version of the Gaoyou name on one side.

From this point on the dike, you may look out on a “marina” of houseboats moored in the Grand Canal. Proceeding north on the dike you can leisurely take in all the activity on the Grand Canal, and on the other side of the dike, look down onto the homes of Gaoyou. From the dike, you can easily see how the canal is above the city, and imagine how disastrous past dike failures must have been. You can also see the Zhenguosi Pagoda and Temple on the far side of the canal.

Approximately ½ mile north of Old Town there is a wide set of stairs leading off the dike, through an ornate gate, and down onto a major street, Fuqian Jie. A roughly ¾-mile walk down Fuqian Jie will take you past the Post Riders Sculpture and back to the hotel.

Walking tour: North Loop — Gaoyou CWI and Renmin Park
This walk is roughly 2½ to 3 miles in length and, like the first one virtually, flat. It passes through Gaoyou’s shopping districts, outdoor markets, by the Gaoyou CWI and through Renmin Park.

To get started, take a left out the front door of the Runyangcun Holiday Hotel, and walk across the parking lot to Haicho Lu, turn left again and continue west down the broad avenue. If you are out walking in the morning, you may notice a side street where local vendors have set up an impromptu market. It is worth a walk through this market as you may see interesting sights you won’t soon forget.

About ½ mile west of the hotel, on Haichao Lu, is the large roundabout that is the town center, or square. In the island at the center of the roundabout is famous sculpture of two men on horses, along with a third rider-less horse. The monument, a Gaoyou icon, represents the hard riding ancient postal carriers. On the far side of the monument is a grocery store where you can pick up snacks and bottled water.

As you continue west from the roundabout, Haichao Lu becomes Fuqian Jie. Continue along Fuqian Jie for another ½ mile or so, then take a right on Zhongshang Lu. The first street on the left is Gaogongqiao Lu, where you’ll find the Gaoyou CWI about a hundred meters down this street on the north side, and the Gaoyou Gymnasium across the street, a little farther to the west.

Following Gaogongqiao Lu to the end will take you up on the Grand Canal dike for views of the canal. From here, you’ll also see, just to the north, the “Second Bridge over the Grand Canal at Gaoyou”. A short walk over the bridge will give you views along the canal and of Gaoyou Lake just on the other side.

As you head east back across the bridge you will be looking down another major Gaoyou street, Tonghu Lu. Loop under the bridge and proceed east on this street. The first intersection you come across will be Zhongshang Lu again.

If it is still in the morning, and you have time, you can take a left on Zhongshang Lu and walk the short distance to the Beimen Market. The market is empty in the afternoon, but in the morning is full of vendors These farmers’s type markets are a great insight into the lives of Gaoyou residents.

After backtracking to Tonghu Lu, continue east a short distance, watching for the entrance to Renmin Park. A gate, set back from the street a little ways, on the left (south) side, marks the entrance. The park is a nice place to duck for a break from the chaos and noise of the city. If you like jade, check out the jewelry store next to the gate, it has a large selection.

Back on Tonghu Lu, continue on until you see the KFC (the only American place in Gaoyou). This street is Yucheng Lu, a very busy shopping area with lots of small shops selling clothes and shoes. This is a great place to buy shoes for the kids at US$3-5 a pair. There is also a bakery with great baked goods.

Continuing south on Yucheng Lu takes you back to the Post Rider Monument, where you can bear left, and follow Haicho Lu back to the hotel.

Do

 * Take an early morning walk. Gaoyou can get quite loud and busy during the day. The morning is a refreshing time to walk around the quiet streets, and observe the residents starting their day. You will find dumpling vendors stuffing a day’s worth of dumplings and many people out exercising among other sights.
 * Take a walk through Old Town. It’s short but very interesting. If you want to buy antiques or other items with a local flavor, this is the place. The shops seemed to keep 07:00—16:00 business hours during the summer. In the winter, many didn’t open until much later, if at all.
 * Stop at one of the open-air food markets. They offer a fascinating look into the local culture. You will see large piles of produce and meat of all types spread out on tables for purchase. There are two established markets, the Beimen Market north of the CWI (see map), the Zongshikou Market near the Renmin Hospital. There are also several markets that appear on the streets every morning. In the morning, you can follow the crowds to the larger markets. The markets are busiest early in the morning.
 * Hire a pedi-cab. If you’re feeling tired from walking around, take a pedi-cab, they’re everywhere. Bring along a card from the hotel to show the driver, who will get you back to the Hotel for only about ¥5. Car Taxis don’t cost much more.

Buy

 * For souvenirs, try the China Post office. It is kitty-corner across the intersection of Wenyouzhong Lu and Haichao Lu from the RunYang Cun Hotel. During a visit to Gaoyou in 2005 it was a great (and about the only) place to find souvenirs. There were find nice postcard books (¥15 ea.), Gaoyou commemorative coin sets (¥80-120), and Gaoyou Stamp/History books (¥138-380), among other items. A return visit in 2006 found that they were no longer selling Gaoyou related souvenirs, but it’s worth checking in to see if they are again. Of course, you can also mail home your postcards from there to get that priceless Gaoyou postmark.
 * If jade jewelry is your thing, there is a jewelry store at the North Gate of Renmin Park. It has an excellent selection of jade jewelry at reasonable prices. It is a great place for a keepsake, or gift, from Gaoyou. Make sure to bring along your guide or interpreter, as they don’t speak English.

Sleep
The Runyangcun Holiday Hotel (formerly the Hongsheng (弘盛) Hotel) a nice, modern, four-star hotel with spacious rooms. It is centrally located, and a great base from which to explore the city.

title: Gaoyou


text:
Gap year travel

A gap year is an extended break that some people take at a life transition, such as between studies, between study and work, or between careers.

There's no need for such a trip to be precisely a year, of course, but a year is a typical length of time for people who have just finished secondary school: they typically have to delay university entrance for a year to take the time off. Some of the same principles can be applied to just a summer between school and college, or any extended break "between jobs".

This article discusses options for low budget long-term travel of the type that a gap year traveller might be interested in. See Volunteer travel and Working abroad for more general but related discussion.

Prepare
Pre-departure planning is important. No matter how much you plan for the trip there may be instances where you have to throw all the planning out the window. However, there are certain things you should watch for and plan for:

Visas
Check with the appropriate consulate or embassy in your country to find out if you will need a visa to visit the country of your destination, especially for an extended period of time. Some countries have extremely detailed and complicated entry/departure laws, and treat visits of a week or two very differently from longer stays. Some pairs of countries have an agreement for working holiday visas which allow a citizen of one to work in the other for a limited time.

The IATA Visa Database, provided by Delta Air Lines, is an excellent place to check whether you need a visa or not. That database is what airlines rely on; if it says you need a visa and you do not have one, then they will not let you on the plane. Many will not refund the ticket either; they consider visa troubles your problem, not theirs.

The need of a visa also depends on what you are going to do; even if tourists may be visa exempt, travelling for studies, volunteering or work (or anything that may be regarded as such) can require the appropriate visa.

To get a visa for work or studies you probably need a letter from the employer or institution, and possibly other paperwork. Details vary. Such other kinds of visa may take several months to process, check in time.

Itineraries
Itineraries are important for two people: the traveler and the traveler's family. Some parents will be more supportive of allowing their son or daughter to go abroad if they know where they'll be. An itinerary may be helpful in the event that an emergency happens and somebody needs to contact you while you're away, and helps to satisfy a parent's instinctive need to know where their children are. An itinerary describes the route of the journey or tour or the proposed outline of one.

Money
Since gap year travellers are gone for long time, forfeiting their work income, they usually need a tighter weekly budget than they would have as holiday travellers.

If you're traveling to one area, check the cost of living there. If it's high you'll probably want to budget more carefully and save some money before leaving. The lower the cost of living the less you'll have to save, but be sure to have a back up reserve in emergency cases.

Consider opening a second account in your home country and allow your parents or a close relative to have access to the account. In the event that you have to come home early they can withdraw money from the account, which can be used to purchase a return ticket for you – or the other way around. Consider whether making the accounts as independent as possible makes sense. In some situations, such as if your ATM card gets stolen or compromised, it can help to have access to another account, but this can also make things overly complicated. Some cash in a secure place can help in similar situations.

Timing
Gap year travellers are less dependent on time management. At major holidays and tourist seasons, both transportations and venues are overcrowded and expensive. If you have an empty schedule, visiting tourist destinations off-season on weekdays will save both money and effort.

Get in and around
If your gap year is going to involve several stops in several different countries and continents, you should look into the many budget tickets designed for long term travel. Gap year travellers are often referred to as backpackers and will often receive discounted travel. Examples include:

By plane
Open ended return tickets allow you to come home at any time within a given period (often a year, sometimes six months, rarely 60 days.) They're generally more expensive than regular discount round-trip tickets, but generally much cheaper than a fully-flexible/refundable round trip (or two one ways, except on some routes where there are the inflexible discount one-ways.)

Open-jaw tickets allow you to return from a different city than the one you flew into, and may be worth saving you the cost and time of returning to the city you started in; fares will be highly variable - in the best case, the cost will be in essence the average of two discount round trips, in the worst it will be comparable to two one-way tickets. It always pays to check for yourself in these cases.

If your travel plans are more ambitious than that, round the world flights might fit your needs.

Some options and issues:
 * Most major airlines schedule flights out to 330 days out, rather than a full year.
 * While it's generally possible to change discounted tickets for a fee to allow more time, most discount fares have a limit on their time of validity (often 30 or 60 days, sometimes 6 months) and exceeding it will often result in a very large increased fare on top of the change fee.
 * Another alternative a one way ticket is to buy two return tickets and "toss" the second half of the ticket. While this is fully legal, it violates many airlines' "Conditions of Carriage" and can mean a loss of frequent flier miles earned on the first half of the flight.
 * This can also be handy if your travel plans are open, but border crossing or visa rules require proof of an onward ticket (alternatively, look at low-cost carriers within the region.)
 * Also with legacy carriers, never "toss" or skip a middle segment of a single ticket without formally cancelling it, as a no-show segment will result in cancellation of later segments. Cancellations in advance may or may not be allowed, and if allowed will often require paying a change fee or fare difference. Low-cost carriers are often more flexible on this – check with the individual carrier for their rules.
 * In some cases for legacy airlines, it's cheaper to buy tickets departing from within the developing world from the airline or local travel agency after you get there, rather than directly from an airline or from a travel agent at home. This is almost never the case with low-cost carriers.

By train
There are long term train tickets aimed at backpackers and travelers. Sometimes these will let you travel more cheaply than any local fares. Examples include the Interrail and Eurail passes in Europe and the Backpacker rail pass in Australia. For travelers in North America, see Rail travel in North America.

By boat
A less common option is to go for a cruise with a boat of your own (or as crew with somebody else). For a year of travel this often means crossing oceans, which requires solid skill and experience, at least if you are in charge, and commitment regardless. A yacht cruise of a few months is quite feasible also along coasts or inland waterways, with somewhat lesser requirements on you and your boat.

On a long cruise, you probably want to spend quite some time in places you like. The main marina may not be the cheapest option, and the marina may have special offers for long time stay, at least off season. There are several ways to cut down living cost with a city in reach.

If staying a long time in a single country (abroad, or with a foreign flag), check customs rules etc., as you probably don't want to have to pay import taxes. In Europe, all of EU counts as one country in this respect.

By car
If you take your car with you, you probably want to be able to camp to maximize your liberty. You'll at least want a tent that suits the local conditions (weather, pests) and a camping stove (for which fuel is available locally). These can be bought locally or brought in.

Foreign cars and driver's licences are accepted in most countries, for a limited time. In some cases buying a local car and bringing it back makes sense, at least if you can work the tax and duty system to your advantage. You could also buy a used car cheaply and sell it when leaving, but this includes many pitfalls, both in avoiding lemons, and tax-wise.

Work
A long trip may be impossible to save for in advance. Often gap year travelers want to support their journey by taking work, often of a low-skilled and/or intermittent nature. Unfortunately, working in other countries often requires a work visa. Typically these are onerous for gap year travelers: you need to find an employer to apply for the visa, the visa is expensive, and the employer must show that they cannot hire someone with your skills locally. The work visa will be tied to your term at that employer. However, there are some visa schemes and work schemes that cater specifically to those who are looking for a job to support their travel.

If you are a citizen of certain countries, you can work in some other countries without needing a visa at all:
 * citizens of a European Union country can work in other EU countries without a visa
 * citizens of Australia and New Zealand can each work in the other country without a visa

Gap year travelers who are under 35 should look into working holiday visa arrangements where you can go to a country for a certain period of time, often 12 months and sometimes up to 24, and work intermittently. The intention of the visa is that you work to fund your trip, and there will typically be restrictions on your working, including: not working for more than a certain amount of time during the visa period, not working for any one employer for a long period, working only in specified industries and sometimes not working in jobs that further your career path.

These are typically reciprocal arrangements: your country will offer visas of this sort to citizens of certain other countries and those other countries will do the same for you. Hence it is best to check with your own country's foreign affairs officials to see if you have reciprocal visas, and if so, with which countries.

See Working abroad for suggested employers and industries, Teaching English for one type of job, and Volunteer for volunteer opportunities.

Learn
An increasingly more popular option for those planning a gap-year is to travel and learn. This is especially popular with school leavers, allowing them to take a year out before university, without compromising their education. In many cases, enrolling on a gap-year course abroad can actually improve your chances of moving into higher education back in your home country.

Typically there will be a tuition fee to enroll in these educational programs. There are two reasons for this: firstly, many of these courses are run by private institutions, and secondly, because international students rarely attract government funding.

There are a number of organisations offering gap year educational programmes.

If you are enrolled already, you may have the opportunity to study a semester or a year as exchange student, at an institution your university or department has cooperation with, or through multilateral programmes, such as Erasmus. The studies may be in a speciality directly relevant for your exam or on separate related subjects. Some universities offer self-contained cross-subject packages for exchange students, to be added to your exam (such as studies on human rights and related issues, or on the region of the country). The exchange is usually not targeted at first-year students.

Cope
It is every traveler's dream to take an extended trip - whether it's three months in Europe or a year of around the world adventures. The first thing to realize when considering a long trip is that travel can be hard work. A trip isn't the same as a vacation and can often be more taxing than the work or school that you're leaving behind. A long trip can involve dozens of new places or an extended stay in just one or two. In either case there will be the daily challenges of functioning in a new environment. Things as simple as buying a bus ticket or fresh vegetables at the grocery store need to be relearned - often again and again.

Before you go

 * Talk to other people who have done a trip similar to the one you are planning. If you don't know anyone personally, try any of the dozens of online travel web sites full of first-person travel stories covering every possible type of trip.
 * Plan big and loose. Read everything you can about the area you will be visiting. There may be sights and attractions you didn't know about. A rough outline of your trip might have three or four target points and a variety of ways to get between them. You don't want to find out that the weather isn't what you thought, or the guide book was incorrect, after committing to 6 weeks in a specific spot. Some trips will allow you more leeway than others. Travel plans in Asia can often be made day-by-day while summer travel in Europe should be organized at least a few weeks ahead, unless you're prepared to hunt around for hotel rooms and train seats.
 * Set up a pre-trip time-line so you don't end up with a full todo list your last week of work or school. Things to consider are doctor's visits for a check up, inoculations, and prescription refills; purchasing plane tickets; renewing passports and obtaining visas and other documents; checking your insurance coverage abroad and purchasing additional travel insurance if needed; and don't forget visiting friends and family members!
 * The longer the trip, the lighter you should pack. This might seem counterintuitive, but it's true you can afford to lug a heavy bag around for a week or two, but do you want to have anything extra for a year? Stick to the absolute basics and know what you can and cannot buy at your destination(s). There's no point in bringing 6 months of toothpaste to Europe or buying a sarong at home to take to the tropics. If you are visiting several climates, try to arrange it so you visit the warmer places first and coldest last. That way you can purchase sweaters and long pants and not have to carry them any more than needed. Alternately, visit cold climates first and then ship unneeded layers home – or sell them off. A good rule of thumb is to bring one outfit for the hottest day you're likely to encounter, one for an average day, and one for the coldest. Make sure everything goes with everything else (if that's important to you), and remember that layers are always best.
 * Be prepared for uncomfortable trips. You will often find yourself in a busy, cramped, economy class environment and it could be for many hours – especially long plane trips and long bus trips. If you want to arrive at your destination refreshed and able to enjoy the sights, then try a good quality travel pillow to support your head, some ear plugs to block out the screaming babies, and an eye cover to block out the sun or cabin lights. Just avoid those cheap U-shaped pillows from airport shops – your head drops forward and you wake up with a stiff neck.
 * Plan your trip around activities, not just sights. Looking at every church in Paris or every temple in Katmandu can quickly turn into a blur of monotony. Activities such as cooking, language classes or volunteer work can keep you from turning into a spectator in your own adventure.
 * Make contact with the locals before you go. Maybe you have a friend-of-a-friend or a foreign exchange student from high school you remember, or just found a friend through a travel web site; almost everyone is happy to welcome a foreign visitor to their home town. This might be as elaborate as a home-stay for a few weeks, or just coffee in their home or dinner at a local restaurant.

On the road

 * Keep a travel journal. This can be as simple as a list of dates and places or as complex as a full diary and scrap book. Looking back over your trip can bring back amazing memories that might otherwise be buried under new sights and experiences. Set a time each day to write - over breakfast or an evening cocktail are both good times to step back and reflect on all you've accomplished. If you are traveling alone a journal can be a companion to confide or complain to. Journals are also great ways to give advice to other travelers by recording recommendations or criticisms of hotels, restaurants, and travel services.

 * Budget time and money to treat yourself along the way: living hand-to-mouth just to add an extra week or month to your trip can sometimes drain the joy out of the entire venture. A special meal once a week, or a night at the movies once in a while.

 * Take vacations from your trip - and travel partners: look for local treats like sauna and massage in South East Asia or hot springs in Europe. Sometimes a few hours of indulgence can recharge your travel batteries. Plan a few days or hours each week where you and your travel partners can have some time alone. This will help ensure you remain happy to see each other for the rest of the journey. Two people can see more than one, and this way you'll have something new to talk about over dinner.

 * Vary your style. It's easy to get into a rut on a long trip - always the same sort of hotel, always the same mode of transportation and soon every place starts to look the same. If you're an independent traveler, try taking a guided tour - you'll make friends and find out new things about the places you're exploring. If you're usually a tour groupie, strike out on your own for a day or two and find adventures off the beaten path. Many travelers buy one guidebook before they leave and stick to it like a holy book. Think about trading guidebooks with a fellow traveler for a day (or forever). One night spending a little more or a little less on hotels, restaurants, and transportation can show you a whole new side to a city. Even just seeing a different time of day can keep the days from running together. Night owls might be surprised at what's going on at day break - especially at local marketplaces or just watching the morning commute from a cafe.

 * Make a basecamp: pick a central transportation hub (someplace with a lot of travel resources and cheap plane or train tickets. You can use this as "home" even if you only spend a few days there. Pack several different small bags for each park of your trip and keep them in a locker or left luggage in your "home town". After each portion of your trip you can stop by, rest up for a few days, and grab another bag for the next part of your trip.

 * Learn a language: a long trip is the perfect time to really get to know a culture and its language(s). Even if you are planning on visiting several countries, pick one that you have always been interested in and set a goal of learning as much as you can.

 * Bring your hobbies: doing any activity, even traveling, all the time can get boring quickly. Find something you enjoy and make that the point of your trip. Bring a musical instrument and play it in every park, learn a local board game like Chinese chess and play with a new person everyday. Any interest can be the backbone of your adventure: follow in the footsteps of a historical or literary figure, journey from the ancient past to the present looking at art or shipbuilding or military costumes, learn a new recipe every week.

 * Leave the guidebook in the hotel room: try showing up in a new town knowing nothing about it. What do you find there? What do the locals suggest going to?

 * Get some exercise. Exercise helps you maintain a good mood.

 * Socialize. Other travelers are easiest to meet and will probably be most amenable to befriending you while you're passing through.

 * Stay in touch. Reach out to people back at home every so often.

 * Know your travel partner. After a long trip, two great friends can easily turn into two great enemies, and this will make for a much longer trip. A way to find a good traveling partner is to pick one with whom you have had a fight, so you have seen them at their worst.

title: Gap year travel


text:
Gapyeong

Gapyeong is a small town of 20,000 people (2019) in Gyeonggi-do province, South Korea. Gapyeong is in the eponymous county, famous all over Korea for pine nuts (찻) and Nami island (남이섬). In October, Gapyeong hosts the annual International Jazz Festival on Jara island (자라섬). Gapyeong is popular with people taking a weekend away from Seoul. It can become busy on the weekends with people coming to stay in the many pensions in the surrounding area. The area is very mountainous so hiking and MTB are popular things to do here.

By subway
Gapyeong Station is located on the Gyeongchun line (경춘선) of the Seoul Metro system. This line starts at Sangbong (상봉역) on the northeast of Seoul, and runs all the way to Chuncheon (춘천역). The train leaves Sangbong approximately 3 times per hour takes 55 minutes to get to Gapyeong. From Chuncheon it takes about 20 minutes. A journey on the Seoul Metro costs from ₩1,050 to ₩2,050 depending on the length of the journey. A typical journey to the center of Seoul from Gapyeong on the Seoul Metro involves 2 to 4 line changes and takes between 90 minutes and 2 hours.

By train
The ITX departs Yongsan (용산) Station on the hour every hour and stops at Cheongnyangni (청량리), Pyeongnaehopyeong (평내호평), and Gapyeong stations on the way to Chuncheon(춘천). From Yongsan it takes 55 minutes and costs ₩4,800 to reach Gapyeong. In the opposite direction, the train leaves Chuncheon every ten minutes past the hour, takes 17 minutes and costs ₩3,000 to Gapyeong Station.

By bus
Many intercity buses going to Chuncheon departing from destinations in Gyeongi Province will stop at Gapyeong bus terminal (가평버스터미널). Also the red 1330-3 bus runs between Cheongnyangni (청량리) in Seoul and Gapyeong costing ₩2,200 with a T-money pre-pay card.

Get around
The train station is located a little way away from the town center. You can take a taxi (about ₩3,000) or walk (15–20 minutes). When you come out of exit 1 of the station (there is only one exit) turn left and follow the road until you come to a T-junction. Right at the T-junction will take you to Nami island, left will take you towards town and Jara island.

Buy
Pine nuts are a local specialty.

title: Gapyeong


text:
Garamba National Park

Garamba National Park is a national park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980. It was labelled a site in danger in 1980, removed in 1991, but regained the status in 1996 due to poaching and a fall in rhino numbers.

Understand
Garamba was home to the world's last known wild population of northern white rhinos, but it has suffered greatly from Congo's decades-long civil war, with heavy poaching and 50,000 refugees fleeing from Sudan into the park. The last white rhinos were likely killed by poachers by 2008, and the species is expected to be announced extinct within the next few years.

Rhino-less, the park remains one of the last true wilderness areas of Africa, and its jungles and savannah remain true wonders to be beheld.

History
Designated a national park in 1938, Garamba National Park is one of the oldest on the continent.

Landscape
Lots of savannas.

Flora and fauna
Garamba's charismatic megafauna include large herds of African elephants, as well as buffalo, Ugandan kob, and giraffes.

Climate
June–December is Garamba's rainy season, and it becomes nearly impossible to reach the park when the roads wash out.

Get in
Good luck. First, visitors must find a domestic flight to Aru, at which point they will have to switch to a charter prop plane for a 50-minute ride to Nagero, the launch point for expeditions into the park. It's theoretically possible to travel by land from Aru to Nagero, but you would have to be crazy to try, both due to the impassibility of the roads and the ever-present security dangers posed by instability in the northeast DRC.

Fees and permits
Permits are not an issue here, as visitors are so few—just a handful of foreign tourists per year. The park entrance fee is a one-time payment of US$50 for foreign non-residents, US$25 for foreign residents.

Do
The principal activities are day-long drives at US$70/vehicle, and guided hikes for as little as US$10/day, which presumably would be an incredible way to experience this remotest of remote African bushland. The so-called "Aerial Safari" is the other thrilling option at US$420/hour in a Cessna 206, from which you'll be able to view herds of elephants, solitary giraffes, and the landscapes from a unique view, while generally living out Robert Redford Out of Africa fantasies.

Lodging
Rooms at the camp are US$120/single and US$160/double, which include full board.

Backcountry
Camping safaris can be arranged through the official channels, which will provide you with a guide and a tent to give you a true wilderness experience perhaps unparalleled on the continent.

Stay safe
Remnants of the Lord Resistance Army attack civilians in this area, brutally and without warning. The security situation improved enough to allow the re-opening of the park to foreign visitors in 2012, but you should check the current conditions before traveling. The last serious encounter between park rangers and the LRA occurred in June 2012. A repeat of the January 2009 retaliatory assault on the park headquarters did not happen, but rangers continue to fight a long-running battle with poachers who have decimated the park's elephant population. In 2015 three rangers were killed in a clash with poachers, who remained very active in March 2016. This is an adventure only for the intrepid.

title: Garamba National Park


text:
Garberville

Garberville is a city in Humboldt County in California's North Coast region.

Get in
Garberville is easily accessible via California Route 101.

Get around
The town has no public transportation system nor is it frequented by tour buses. If you plan on using Garberville as your base of operations for exploring the redwoods, there's no option other than bringing a vehicle.

See
Garberville is a very small town with no attractions for tourists within its borders. It is, however, ideally located for travelers who wish to explore the Humboldt Redwoods without camping in the wilderness.

Do
Garberville lies only about 3 miles south of the entrance to the Avenue of the Giants, a 30 mile long stretch of scenic highway featuring several of the tallest trees on the planet. Many of the biggest and best groves of redwoods can be seen on short loop hikes, no longer than 1.5 miles. It is therefore very easy to venture out in the morning from Garberville, drive the Avenue in its entirety, take several hikes at a leisurely pace, and be back in town before sundown.

Buy
The Garberville-Redway Chamber of Commerce is located at 773 Redwood Drive, just a short walk down the street from the Best Western. There are a number of shops there where one can buy, among other things, souvenirs such as shot glasses or t-shirts.

There are also three gas stations located on Garberville's main strip.

Eat
One block down Redwood Dr. from the Best Western is a restaurant called Cecil's. It is upstairs and somewhat hidden from the street so read the signs carefully. The menu consists of authentic Creole food, emphasizing fish and beef dishes.

Drink
There are two Western-style bars on Redwood Dr. near the Best Western, heavily populated with locals on the weekends.

title: Garberville


text:
Gard

Gard is a department in Occitanie, France.

Cities

 * - location of the Pont du Gard
 * - location of the Pont du Gard
 * - location of the Pont du Gard
 * - location of the Pont du Gard

Understand
The Département du Gard includes three main natural regions: the coastal plain and swamps of the lower Rhône, to the South; the "garrigues" (mediterranean shrubland, here used as a geographic name) in the center; the Cévennes mountains to the North.

The plains and the Lower Rhône area are rich in historical towns and sites, including lots of Roman remains (such as the Pont du Gard aqueduct, or the amphitheater in Nîmes). The Cévennes are medium altitude mountains (1565 m at Mont Aigoual), but offer sensational landscapes as their southern slopes is actually quite steep. The garrigues, in the middle, are limestone plateaux with caves and gorges, some wineyards and many small villages with white houses and shady, winding streets.

The Gard forms the Eastern portion of the Languedoc (the historical province rather than the administrative unit), and despite proximity and similarities does not belong to Provence (located on the Eastern side of the Rhône). The locals will appreciate it if you do not add to the confusion.

Since the 16th Century, the Eastern Languedoc (present day Gard and Eastern half of Hérault) has been a Potestant stronghold, and was greatly affected by wars of religion in the 16th to early 18th century. Interested visitors can discover this history in the Musée du Désert in Mialet, near Anduze.

Climate is generally pleasant, with hot and dry summers, mild winters, warm springs and autumn. The weather is dry and sunny most of the time -- with 3/4 of the rainfall concentrated in Autumn (late September to October), typically during a handful of cataclysmic thunderstorms ("épisodes Cévenols") lasting a day or two, but accumulating up to a quarter of the yearly rainfall in a day. The region is quite touristic and can be packed in Summer (mid-July to mid-August), with associated traffic jams, price hikes, difficult to find accommodation and a mediocre experience overall.

By plane
There is a small airport in Nîmes, mostly catering for some low-cost seasonal flights from UK. The airports in Montpellier and Marseille-Marignane  are better served by regular airlines and are both some 50 km from Nîmes.

By train
A TGV line connects Paris to Lyon, the Rhône Valley, Nîmes and Montpellier. It's a 3-hour ride from Paris, and there are even some direct trains from CDG airport, Probably the best option.

By car
One of the main motorway in France (A6/A7/A9) runs along the same route as the TGV line, from Paris to Lyon to Montpellier. An easy, and rather scenic drive, but the A7 in the Rhône Valley (South of Lyon) is almost always busy, and tends to be very crowded at peak times -- spring week-ends, holidays and most of summer. Driving times of up to 5 hours (instead of the regular 3) from Lyon to Nîmes are common in busy week-ends.

Get around
Unfortunately, like most of France outside of the main city, it is difficult to go everywhere without a car.

By train
Local trains (TER) run a handful of lines around Nîmes. The main route goes from Avignon to Nîmes to Montpellier, running through the more densely populated part of the département in the southern plain. A line goes due North to Alès, and beyond through the Cévennes into the Massif Central, towards Mende and Clermont-Ferrand.

Although the trains are rather reliable and reasonably fast, the trains are not terribly frequent.

By bus
A network of buses, operated by the Région Occitanie (LiO), goes to most towns and villages in Gard. They are cheap, but not particularly fast, and can be ridiculously infrequent (one or two buses per day) on most lines. It is a viable option, if you plan in advance and make sure you do not miss your bus!

By car
Like most of Western Europe, the Gard has an excellent network of roads, with well-maintained tar roads going everywhere. Some of the local roads in the garrigue or the Cévennes can be very narrow and winding; all roads except the main thoroughfares go through every village, most of them having been built before the advent of motorcars. Traffic can be heavy in Summer. So in general, take your time, relax and enjoy the scenery. Do not expect an average above 60 km per hour on any given trip outside of motorways, probably less than that.

Villages, towns and cities can be tricky to negotiate with a big car: they mostly have narrow winding streets. If possible, avoid the core portions, park your car on the outskirt of town or on the main square (more often than not, there will be some parking available on the "place de l'Eglise" or, in larger places, on the "place du Marché", or places going by similar names) and walk. Many places have a weekly market - trying to drive into town on a market day is going to be time-consuming and frustrating, parking on a market day may be close to impossible especially in the more popular spots (Uzès, Anduze...).

The Southerners have the reputation of being terrible drivers. Whether they are more aggressive or reckless than the average French driver remains to be seen - there is certainly a tendency to blame the neighbor. People from Northern France are convinced that Southerners are crazy, drivers in Montpellier roll their eyes in dismay when they see a car with a Gard licence plate, and people from Nîmes take it as granted that Alès drivers are insane...

Sports
Hiking, paragliding, kayaking and canoeing are practiced in this departement. Hiking and paragliding particularly in Cevennes. Kayaking in Gard river is an original way to see the Le Pont du Gard. Cèze river is a quiet river ideal for family trip.

Swim
During summer, one of the most popular pastimes for tourists and locals alike is spending the day "à la rivière" (at the river). Most rivers have beautiful swimming holes and small pebble beaches, often nice rocks or bridges from which the local kids love to jump in the water. There are simply too many such spots to offer a full list. Ask your hosts, or simply look around: if you are on a road that follows a river and see several cars parked on the side in the middle of nowhere, it is most certainly because there is a swimming hole there. Some can be quite popular, and some are real gems. Access to the river is commonly tricky (climbing down steep slopes / bushes), very often on public land and if not almost always tolerated by landlords, unless explicitly stated otherwise ("accès interdit").

Eat
French food with a Mediterranean twist.

You want to try olives and products made of olive (tapenade); in fact it would be a rare meal in Southern France that does not include olives in some form.The local cultivar is the picholine (green), originally from here; you will commonly find tanche (black), often sold as "olive de Nyons". Olive stalls on the market will typically carry an amazing range, easily 10 or 20 different kinds...

Goat cheese (Pélardon).

A range of pastry ("viennoiserie"), like most France; a local specialty is "fougasse". Depending where you are exactly, a fougasse can be different things. The one from Aigues-Morte is a sort of brioche, flavored with orange lower water. In the garrigues region, it will be made of a pastry similar to croissant, but filled with bits of bacon or, traditionally, pork fat ("grattons").

Fruits, especially in summer: melon, peaches, apricots, etc.

Although the sea is close, this is not really seafood territory: historically most of the coast of Languedoc was swampy and infected with mosquitoes, with very few harbors. Fish can be found, but is neither particularly good nor cheap. As an exception, you can try brandade in Nîmes (an emulsion of salt cod crushed in olive oil and potato). Use as a spread on bread, or cooked in a potato gratin for instance.

Most towns have a weekly market, which is a wonderful opportunity to discover what the region has to offer. Get a fougasse, a handful of olives, some fresh bread and goat cheese, a small bag of fruits and head for the river for a picnic -- the true recipe for a memorable summer day!

Stay safe
This is a touristic place, so take normal precautions about pickpockets etc.

Realistically one of the biggest hazard is related to the heat, especially in summer. Temperatures above 35°C are not uncommon. While this is probably the reason you came here in the first place, it would not be a good idea to go hiking without a sizable amount of water, sunscreen, hat, etc. Even standing in the sun at a touristic site for the whole day is not going to be pleasant. Follow the local habits: look for shade, especially in the hot hours of the day!

If you decide to go swimming, be prepared for cold (to very cold) water, unequal bottom, rocks. Pay special attention before jumping from a rock, make sure the water is deep enough!

title: Gard


text:
Garden

Garden is a city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Get around
Here in Garden Village there are 3 major types of transportation car, (the most efficient) your feet, & the most common 4 wheelers.

See
Well, there not much to see here. There's 2 bars, a post office, historical museum, 2 stores, 2 churches, Bed & Breakfast, Big Bay De Noc Fisherys, Garden Orchards, a park, Artistans shop & Marygrove. About 15 minutes or so away there is Fayette campground, there's the old ghost town there.

Do
Once again, there's not much, they occasionally have a band play in the park, then there is the 4th of July celebration.

Buy
The Village Artistans Shop, some of the village artists sell there work here, most of the art is UP's nature and such.

title: Garden


text:
Gardena

Gardena is a city of about 60,000 people (2018) in the South Bay of Los Angeles County in Southern California.

Understand
The community evolved from part of the Spanish land grant, the Rancho San Pedro, given to Juan Jose Dominguez around 1800. It was incorporated as a town in 1930, combining the rural communities of Gardena, Moneta, and Strawberry Park.

Farming became Gardena's main industry early in the 20th century especially strawberries.

Gardena has a large Japanese population.

Get in
GTrans Line 1X leaves from West 1st St at Main St in downtown Los Angeles ($1, senior 35¢) about every 45 min 8AM-6PM.

Do

 * - located in Gardena
 * - located in Gardena

Go next

 * Torrance
 * San Pedro
 * Palos Verdes
 * Long Beach

title: Gardena


text:
Garden City

There is more than one place called Garden City:

United States of America

 * Garden City (Alabama)
 * Garden City (Colorado)
 * Garden City (Georgia)
 * Garden City (Idaho)
 * Garden City (Iowa)
 * Garden City (Kansas) - A town in Kansas.
 * Garden City (Michigan) - A town in Michigan.
 * Garden City (Minnesota)
 * Garden City (Missouri)
 * Garden City (New York)
 * Garden City (South Carolina)
 * Garden City (South Dakota)
 * Garden City (Texas)
 * Garden City (Utah)

title: Garden City


text:
Garden City (Kansas)

Garden City is a town in Western region of Kansas.

Get in
Amtrak's daily Southwest Chief Chicago-Los Angeles line stops in Garden City. The westbound train arrives at 6:45AM and the eastbound train arrives at 11:35PM.

Garden City is served by Bee Line Express. The station is at the Finney County Transit building (next to the Valero).

Get around
There is only one cab company in town.

By bus
Finney County Transit operates the City Link Bus Phone: +1 620 272-3626. Buses run between 6AM and 7PM, Monday through Friday. The fare is $1. A monthly pass is available for $30 from the transit office at 1008 N. Eleventh Street.

See

 * Finney County Museum, 403 S 4th St. Daily 1PM-5PM. Free but donations welcomed. +1 620-272-3664
 * Finney County Museum, 403 S 4th St. Daily 1PM-5PM. Free but donations welcomed. +1 620-272-3664
 * Finney County Museum, 403 S 4th St. Daily 1PM-5PM. Free but donations welcomed. +1 620-272-3664

Do

 * Garden Rapids at The Big Pool, 504 E Maple St. City pool with water slides.
 * Garden Rapids at The Big Pool, 504 E Maple St. City pool with water slides.

Eat

 * Selam East Africa, 1110 Campus Dr. Here you can try some injera and other Ethiopian specialties right in Garden City.

Sleep

title: Garden City (Kansas)


text:
Garden City (Michigan)

Garden City is a city of 26,000 people (2016) in Wayne County in the state of Michigan. It is part of the Metro Detroit region and is approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) west of the city of Detroit. The city was patterned after the "garden city" concept that became popular in England during the 19th century, with most home sites sectioned off into 1-acre (4,000 m²) plots to allow adequate farming area to support the family with fruit and vegetables. Most sites are now considerably smaller, some as small as 40 feet by 135 feet.

Do
Garden City is home to the world's first K-mart at 29600 Ford Rd.

title: Garden City (Michigan)


text:
Garden City (South Carolina)

Garden City is a coastal city located in the Grand Strand region of South Carolina's northern coast.

title: Garden City (South Carolina)


text:
Garden City (Utah)

Garden City is a town in the Wasatch Range of Utah.

Understand
Garden City is the largest town in Rich County with a population of just over 500. It sits on the shore of Bear Lake.

Get in
Drive north on I-15 from Salt Lake City. Take exit 362 (Brigham City), and follow US 89/91 to Logan. Continue on US 89 to Garden City. It is about 2 and half hours away from Salt Lake City.

Get around
A car will be needed to get around most of the time. There are bike rentals and many miles of trails.

Do

 * Biking
 * Boating
 * Hiking
 * Camping
 * Golf
 * Fishing
 * Fishing

Sleep

 * State Park camp grounds
 * State Park camp grounds

Connect
The area code is 435

Go next

 * Minnetonka Cave
 * Paris Ice Cave
 * National Wildlife Refuge
 * Oregon Trail Markers
 * Idaho Historical Museum in Paris, Idaho
 * Rails and Trails in Montpelier, Idaho
 * Bear Lake State Park (Idaho)

title: Garden City (Utah)


text:
Garden Grove

Garden Grove is a city in Orange County in Southern California.

Get in
Off state highway 22 between the I-405 and I-5.

Do

 * Play Go - Little Seoul in Garden Grove is one of the only places in Southern California to offer several Go parlors catering both newcomers and seasoned pros.

title: Garden Grove


text:
Garden Route

The Garden Route in the Western Cape is one of South Africa's main tourist attractions and is generally considered to stretch from Mossel Bay to Storms River along the Indian ocean.

Regions
The Garden Route is bounded on the south by the coastline of the Indian ocean, and to the north by the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains.

Towns

 * — this is where Bartolomeu Dias set foot ashore in 1488 and South Africa`s first post office was founded in 1500.
 * — the largest town along the Route.
 * — one of the most popular tourist destinations, famed for its forests and lagoons.
 * — popular with beach-lovers
 * — one of the few remaining areas of truly outstanding natural beauty along the Garden Route
 * — the gateway to the Tsitsikamma National Park.

Other destinations

 * — encloses one of the most beautiful coasts in South Africa between Storms River and Nature's Valley.
 * — one of the Cacadu District's seven wonders, the area is covered in large tracts of indigenous forest and Fynbos with deep river gorges
 * — a holiday resort renowned for its tranquil sea, seemingly endless beaches and natural lakes and lagoons

Understand
The Garden Route is the name given to the 170 km Mossel Bay to Storms River section of the 700 km route between Cape Town and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). This route, which runs roughly east-west, lies between the Indian Ocean to the south and the Langeberg-Outeniqua mountain range to the north. The mountain range is between 10 and 30 km from the sea. On average, the area receives 700 mm rain per annum with average summer high of 25°C and, at sea level, an average winter low of 7°C, though snow is often seen on the mountains during the winter months (July-August). The sea, which is fed by the warm Mozambique current has a typical temperature of 21°C.

Since there are no easy routes inland from this section of coastline, the area has not attracted much industry other than forestry. With the development of good roads during the last 50 years it become one of South Africa's popular tourist areas.

By plane
There are regular domestic flights to George and Port Elizabeth. The nearest international airport is in Cape Town.

By car
The Garden Route is part of the N2 (highway linking Cape Town to Durban and beyond). It is easily reached from
 * Cape Town : Follow the N2 highway eastwards for 350 km to arrive at Mossel Bay.
 * Durban, Port Elizabeth : Follow the N2 highway westwards (150 km from Port Elizabeth) to arrive at Storms River.
 * Pretoria, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein : Follow the N1 southwards as far as Colesburg, then follow the N9 (in total about 600 km from Bloemfontein). Either take the R339 at Uniondale for Knysna (70 km) or, when the N9 terminates, take the N12 for George (20 km)
 * Kimberley : Follow the N12 southwards for about 620 km for George.

By bus
The main companies offer regular services along the Garden Route from Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The region is also on the Baz Bus route.

Get around
The best way to tour the Route is by car. You can hire a car all the major towns along the Garden Route, but be aware of one-way fees for rental cars.

Classic Rail is working to restore service on the narrow-gauge steam train line (the Choo-Tjoe) between George and Knysna.

Eat
As a main tourist destination there are many restaurants for every taste. Enjoy superb fish from the ocean ; Knysna is the place to taste some oysters.

Sleep
There is no shortage of all kinds of accommodation but book ahead on weekends / holiday. Especially during the summer the Garden Route is a popular holiday destination, not only for foreign tourists but also for South Africans.

If you are backpacking, the area has numerous hostels. Campers will find excellent facilities at sites like the Ebb and Flow campsite in Wilderness,. The Tsitsikamma sites at Storms's River mouth and Nature's Valley are also places of scenic beauty, and out of season can be havens of peace where otters appear on the beach. If its elephants that you're after then the best place to stay in is the Main Camp located in the Addo Elephant National Park.

Stay safe
Compared with the larger cities the towns along the Garden Route are quite safe. As always use your common sense. Driving at night is fine.

Go next

 * Go ahead for Cape Town or Port Elizabeth.
 * Jeffreys Bay is well-known for its surfing beaches.
 * Visit an ostrich farm at Oudtshoorn (50 km north of George).
 * Visit the Little Karoo - a valley 40 km north of the Garden Route demarcated by the Outeniqua Mountain range.

title: Garden Route


text:
Gardenstown

Gardenstown, or Gamrie as it's known, is a fishing village on the northeast coast of Aberdeenshire, with a population of 560 in 2020. It's the largest of the string of attractive villages clinging to this rugged coastline: the other main settlements are Crovie and Pennan.

Get in
From Inverness by car follow A96 east past Elgin to Fochabers, then A98 through Banff and Macduff, then B9031 along the coast.

From Aberdeen the simplest route is A96 northwest, then just before Huntly take A97 to Banff then B9031 as above.

Watermill Coach 273 runs along the coast from Banff and Macduff to Gardenstown, taking 30 min. There are five M-F, and the last stop is on Main St just above the harbour. The bus from Fraserburgh has been axed.

From Aberdeen take Stagecoach Bus 35 towards Elgin and change at Macduff. This runs every 30 min and takes two hours.

Get around
You need wheels to get between Gardenstown, Troup Head and Pennan. A bike would do.

See

 * is a scenic ruin on the headland west of town. It was rebuilt in 1513 but fell derelict from 1830.
 * is a tiny coastal village, just a single row of cottages, no longer fishing since its pier was wrecked in a storm of 1953. Walk along the clifftop path from Gardenstown. If you drive, use the south end car park and don't try to scrape along the village lane.
 * is the site of a castle, on a pinchpoint on the headland cliffs. A series of fortifications have perched here since maybe the 7th century BC, with the last an 18th century gunnery point, but only earthworks remain visible and you come for the view.
 * is another tiny coastal village that has lost its fishing trade. It was "Fenness" in the 1983 film Local Hero, when a Texan tycoon tries to buy up the land for an oil refinery. The red phone box on the quay became iconic, a red exclamation mark as the hero's links to his city-slicker world stretched thin. The beach scenes were filmed the other side of the country near Mallaig.
 * is the site of a castle, on a pinchpoint on the headland cliffs. A series of fortifications have perched here since maybe the 7th century BC, with the last an 18th century gunnery point, but only earthworks remain visible and you come for the view.
 * is another tiny coastal village that has lost its fishing trade. It was "Fenness" in the 1983 film Local Hero, when a Texan tycoon tries to buy up the land for an oil refinery. The red phone box on the quay became iconic, a red exclamation mark as the hero's links to his city-slicker world stretched thin. The beach scenes were filmed the other side of the country near Mallaig.

Do

 * Hike along the clifftops and watch the birdlife.
 * Golf: no course in town, there's a couple in Macduff / Banff.

Buy

 * Spar on Macduff Rd is open M-F 6:30AM-7PM, Sa 6:30AM-5PM.

Eat

 * Garden Arms on Main St (see Sleep) serves food daily till 8PM.

Drink
Garden Arms is the main pub.

Sleep

 * Harbour Cottage is self-catering right on Gardenstown harbour. Dog-friendly.
 * Two Bears Cottage is self-catering at 162 High St AB45 3YW.
 * Harbour Cottage is self-catering right on Gardenstown harbour. Dog-friendly.
 * Two Bears Cottage is self-catering at 162 High St AB45 3YW.

Connect
The reason that the Local Hero of 1983 tried to conduct international business from a red coin-operated phone box was that he couldn't get a mobile signal. Perhaps to preserve the area from corporate sharks, you still can't: as of March 2023 Gardenstown, Pennan and their approach roads have no signal.

Go next

 * West is Banff and Macduff, attractive linked coastal towns with the impressive Duff House.
 * East is Fraserburgh, the large fishing port near the tip where the coast turns south.
 * South is Huntly with its ruined castle.

title: Gardenstown


text:
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen

Oslo Airport, Gardermoen is the main airport serving Oslo (the capital of Norway) and most of East Norway. The airport is at Gardermoen about 40 km north of Oslo about 20 minutes by train. The main railway line south-north runs through the terminal and the main road south-north runs close to the terminal. European route 16, the east-west route Bergen-Oslo-Sweden is connected directly to the terminal.

Oslo airport is the most important gateway to Norway by air and a hub for all of Norway. This is the airport of choice for visits to areas north of Oslo, that is Hedmark and Oppland, as there are no main airports between Oslo and Trondheim. It is also the airport closest to Oslo and most of its suburbs and nearby towns in the Oslo region including Ringerike and Hønefoss. Drammen is however halfway between Oslo airport and Sandefjord airport.

Understand

Norway's largest airport and the country's main international gateway. It is officially called just "Oslo Airport" (in Norwegian: "Oslo lufthavn"), but in practice "Gardermoen" is often added to the name. This is to prevent confusion with the other airport serving Oslo: Sandefjord Torp Airport) and the airport in Fornebu, which closed in 1998. The airport is at Gardermoen, an unincorporated area within Akershus, 37 km north-northeast of Oslo. It is very well connected by ground transport and the terminal is very efficient, but because it is large, allow some time to transfer.

In May 2017 a new northern pier was put into service followed by the extension of the eastern pier in 2022. This significantly increased the capacity of the airport.

The airport is a secondary hub for the joint Danish-Swedish-Norwegian flag carrier SAS Scandinavian Airlines.

Flights
A large number of flights arrive and depart from the airport. Many airlines operate flights to and from international destinations. Most domestic flights within Norway are operated by Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe. In 2020 Wizz Air challenged them by launching their own domestic flights within Norway.

There are flights to 112 international and 30 domestic destinations in Norway. There is a large number of intercontinental connections to the airport, as well as a dense network of short-haul connections to destinations throughout all of Europe, especially the Nordic countries. Several airlines operate direct flights to UK, Ireland and USA from Oslo Airport. There are around 30 airlines that operate at the airport that do have international flights. If you are transferring at Oslo, don't pick a flight with a too short connecting time.

Ground transportation
The train is fast and convenient; buses may be cheaper but have more destinations. Taxis are sometimes terribly expensive. The Oslo Airport website provides information on getting to and from the airport.

If you are unsure how to get to a destination by public transport in the Oslo area, click here.

By train
is located in the basement of the airport terminals. The first trains arrive and depart at 05:00.
 * Vy (formerly Norwegian State Railways or NSB) operates trains from Gardermoen from or to all stations on the Norwegian railway network. There are trains both southwards towards the capital of Oslo and northwards towards stations such as Hamar, Lillehammer and Trondheim. Where there are no direct trains from the station, you have to change trains at Oslo S (Central Station). Vy trains to Oslo are slightly slower than the Airport express train, though the difference in travel time is only a few minutes considering the distance. From Oslo Central Station: kr 124 (one-way), 23 min. The one-way ticket includes about two further hours of transfer to Oslo's public transport network, Ruter.

By car
To the airport: It is easy to get to the Gardermoen from the E16 or the E6 motorway (a four-lane slip road right up to the Airport Terminal). Follow the signs to Gardermoen on the E6 until the exit for RV 174. Follow the signs to Terminal all the way to the airport.

Close to the terminal, the ground traffic area is for arrivals, the upper is for departures. There is a 7-minute limit to stay in the dropoff area for free, enforced with camera-operated licence plate readings. Long-term parking areas are west of the runways (see map).

Further to Oslo: Travellers to the capital of Oslo are advised not to bring a car to central parts of the city. There are few and expensive parking spaces and a very well functioning public transport system.

Car parking, long-term

 * Like any other modern airport, Oslo Airport has a huge car park facility, ranging from cheap long-term spots connected with a free shuttle bus, to expensive parking house right next to the terminal, as well as a valet service on the departures. These facilities are operated by Avinor, the airport owner.
 * In addition, several independent car park operators in the area also offer free shuttle buses to the terminal:

Car rental
Oslo Airport has several large car rental operators. They are to be found in the parking garage which you can walk to from the arrivals area of the airport.

Price comparison website.

 * Avis Bilutleie Oslo Lufthavn
 * Budget Bilutleie Gardermoen
 * Europcar Bilutleie Gardermoen
 * Hertz Bilutleie Gardermoen
 * Rent a wreck, Gardermoen
 * Sixt Bilutleie Gardermoen lufthavn

Rent a motorhome
 * Benzini Campers
 * McRent, Jessheim
 * Cabin Campers

By bus
Buses that stop just outside the airport:

By taxi
The taxi stops are to the south, right outside the terminal building. Taxis in Norway can be extremely expensive. Airport hotels are served by shuttle buses. Downtown Oslo is faster and cheaper by train.

Get around
The halls for arrival and departure at the terminal are relatively compact, but due to the size of the airport the distances may seem great. As in any big airport travellers need to allow generous time for moving around inside the terminal. However, it is quite easy to orient yourself in the terminal area.

Orientation
The terminal area consists of four floors: In the first floor, there is only one, huge. (Connected to the security area)
 * The railway station is in the basement.
 * The arrival terminal is on the ground floor.
 * The departure terminal is on the first floor.
 * The second floor of the departure terminal (some domestic flights)

There are three "piers", all consisting of a number of gates:

There are a large number of restaurants and shops both in the arrivals hall and within the security check in the departure hall. The floors in the airport terminal outside the security control are connected with stairs, escalators and lifts. The check-in hall is well signposted. Baggage trollies are available.

In the vicinity of the airport, buses are the cheapest and best option.
 * Parking companies have free shuttle service to the parking areas.
 * Free or low-fare buses to hotels.

On foot
Walking to the hotels or other facilities that are in quite close proximity to the airport will not take long.

The hotels, the long-term-car-parking-spaces and the museums west of the airport's runways or the hotels southeast of the airport are further away, so it is not recommended to walk there if you are carrying heavy luggage. Use a shuttle bus instead.

Wait
Oslo Airport has three lounges. Access policy can be decided from based on your ticket and membership status. Most lounges includes comfortable seating and a buffet.
 * The OSL lounge is accessible to anybody, for a fee of kr 400. It is free for status holders with some Oneworld and Skyteam airlines. Opening hours are 05:45-20:30. Located after the large tax free shop on International departure.
 * The SAS Lounge International which is free for any traveller holding a Star Alliance Gold card, or that are travelling on business class on these airlines. Other Star Alliance ticketholders can purchase access. Same location as OSL Lounge.
 * The SAS Domestic Lounge has the same rules as SAS Lounge International, and are near gate A2.

Eat and drink

 * For a complete overview, click here.

 * Several kiosks sell simple food, soft drinks and coffee.
 * Both hotels at the airport have a breakfast buffet. See Sleep section, below.
 * Free water drinking and bottle filling stations available several places in the terminal. Don't drink water from toilet sinks.

Domestic terminal

 * Humle & Malt : Beer, Norwegian craft brewery traditions.
 * Bølgen & Moi Food Garage: Specialities: Komper (Rutabaga and salted lamb) and a rare creamy fish soup.
 * Two Tigers: Asian flavours and specialties. On the menu there are sushi, sashimi and noodles.
 * TGI Fridays: Authentic American cuisine and drinks.

International terminal

 * Norwegian Aquavit Bar
 * Real American Sportsbar!

Duty free

 * At the duty free shops in the International terminal or the International arrival area of the airport, before passing the customs control.

Note: In Norway, both alcohol and tobacco are very expensive, but stick to the strict duty free quotas. Then you'll avoid having trouble with the customs office.

Speciality stores

 * Apotek1, Oslo Lufthavn (Pharmacy at the arrival hall)
 * Rolling Luggage (Arrival hall), where you find bags, suitcases as well as all the travel accessories you need.
 * Æra Dame (International terminal) offers trendy fashion as well as simple, classic and timeless garments, bags, shoes, accessories and clothes for ladies, while Æra Men/Æra Active nearby offers finer gentlemen's tipping.
 * Tanum  (International and domestic terminal) sells Norwegian and English books, including new releases, bestsellers, classics, fiction and travel guides.
 * Way Nor (International terminal) offers a wide range of Norwegian souvenirs and tourist gifts.
 * Elkjøp Travel (International and domestic terminal) offers electrical components and information technology.
 * Fine Food - Salmon House (International terminal) offers Norwegian salmon, cheeses, game products, seafood and cured meats.
 * Ting (International terminal) offers brand-named Norwegian and Scandinavian design.

Sleep
Save your money: don't take a cab. Virtually all hotels here have pick up services, sometimes for a small fee. Just give them a call on arrival.

Airport hotels
There are two hotels at the airport

Hotels

There are also hotels with shuttles in the nearby Jessheim and Eidsvoll. Within the city boundary of Oslo, farther away from the airport, there are a lot of accommodations.

Connect
There is free access to Wi-Fi at the airport and at the hotels nearby.

Static internet kiosks are also available at some departure gates. Payphones are located at various points. There are also wireless phone charging points in the terminal. Fax and photocopying services are provided at the information desk in the arrivals hall.

Cope
Most people you meet at the airport will respond in English. Also airport signage has an English version.

There is a staffed information desk in the arrivals hall which offers airport information, hotel reservations and tourism information.

The airport is well-suited for disabled people. If any disabled person needs extra assistance, it can be arranged in advance.

Showers are available for free in the toilets close to gate A2. If you're travelling internationally this can be accessed before going into the international zone.

Loomis operates many ATMs (in Norwegian: Minibank) throughout the airport which allow you to withdraw a number of currencies. It also has a booth with exchange service in the arrivals hall. All shops and eateries accept payment cards.

If you are looking for even more information about the airport than you have already found on this page, an own app is available for download.

Stay safe

 * For airport security information, click here.

Emergency numbers
If you are unsure which emergency number to call, 112 is the central for all rescue services and will put you in contact with the correct department.

For non-emergencies, the police is to be called on 02800 or Gardermoen Police Station at (responsible for the border control at the airport). The police post in the Arrivals Hall is open 24/7.

Nearby

 * Jessheim is the closest city (bus 420-440-450).
 * If you have more than a couple of hours between flights, Oslo is within reach via the Airport Express Train.
 * A somewhat closer, and cheaper, option is Eidsvoll, a lakeside town where the Norwegian constitution was drafted.

See
Close to the airport

Go next

 * Sandefjord Airport, Torp is the next other international airport, 10 km from the city of Sandefjord, 118 km southwest of Oslo and 155 km (96 mi) from Gardermoen.

title: Oslo Airport, Gardermoen


text:
Gardiner

There's more than one place called Gardiner:

Canada

 * Gardiner (Ontario) - A town in Ontario.

United States of America

 * Gardiner (Maine) - A town in Kennebec County in Maine.
 * Gardiner (Montana) - A town outside of the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
 * Gardiner (New York) - A town south of New Paltz, New York.

title: Gardiner


text:
Gardiner (Maine)

Gardiner is a city in Kennebec County, Maine.

By plane
The nearest airport is Augusta State Airport and can be reached with non-stop flights from Boston.

title: Gardiner (Maine)


text:
Gardiner (Montana)

Gardiner is a small town located near the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. It is the only entrance to Yellowstone Park accessible by car year round and has served as a home base for thousands of tourists visiting the area.

Understand
Gardiner was founded in 1880, but the area has served as a main entrance to Yellowstone National Park since its creation in 1872. The iconic Roosevelt arch stands as a symbol to the national and international importance of America's first national park. Grazing elk, bison and antelope are a common sight in the field right across from main street.

By car
Gardiner is the only four-season gateway to Yellowstone National Park accessible from highway 89 S to the north and from Yellowstone National Park and Mammoth Hot Springs to the south.

By thumb
Hitchhiking is more common in the Yellowstone area than other parts of the country. It is still not considered a safe or reliable way to travel, but at major attractions and entrances of the park, pairs or even groups of hitchhikers are a common sight.

By plane
The closest airports are in Bozeman and West Yellowstone the Billings airport is also convenient.

Get around
Gardiner is small enough that it can all be reached on foot and several trail heads into the surrounding wilderness start right from town.

See

Gardiner is the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, it is divided by the Yellowstone River and lies just to the south of the Gallatin National Forest and is in a major migration route for animals coming and going seasonally from the higher elevations of Yellowstone Park. Elk and deer are regular visitors and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the last remaining large, nearly intact ecosystems in the northern temperate zone of the Earth.

National Parks
Yellowstone National Park is a United States National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the world's first national park, set aside in 1872 to preserve the vast number of geysers, hot springs, and other thermal areas, as well as to protect the incredible wildlife and rugged beauty of the area. The park contains 3,472 square miles (8,987 km2), and 3 of the main 5 entrances to the park are in Montana at Cooke City, Gardiner and West Yellowstone.

National Forests

 * Gardiner District forest service offices 805 Scott St. Gardiner, +1 406 848-7375

Eat
Gardiner offers a wide variety of foods for the hungry traveler. Try searching out locally sourced game such as wild trout or even an elk burger.

Drink
Montanans take their Bars Pretty seriously and Gardiner is no exception. Bars can be a great source for local news and fishing reports as well as a chance to rub elbows with the locals.

Sleep
Located right on the park border, Gardiner is a popular place to spend the night and offers a massive number of options. In addition to hotels and campgrounds there are a number of rental cabins available.

Connect
Most hotels offer free wifi. It is a common sight in town to see a weary backpacker hunched over their laptop in one of the few coffee shops in town taking advantage of the free wifi.

Stay safe
Though many of the animals in the park area are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. Stay at least 100 m away from bears and 25 m from all other wild animals! No matter how docile they may look, bison, elk, moose, bears, and nearly all large animals can attack, and every year dozens of visitors are injured because they didn't keep a proper distance. These animals are large, wild, and potentially dangerous, so give them their space.

The weather can change rapidly and with little warning. A sunny, warm summer day can quickly become a cold, rainy or even snowy experience. Hypothermia can be a concern. Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions by bringing along appropriate clothing. Lightning can and does injure and kill people in the park area, so watch the sky and take shelter in a building if you hear thunder.

Finally, with so many people visiting the park each year petty crimes are something to be vigilant against. Lock your car doors and exercise sensible precautions with valuables.

Go next
Yellowstone National Park is to the south and Livingston is to the north via highway 89

title: Gardiner (Montana)


text:
Gardner

There is more than one place called Gardner:

United States of America

 * Gardner (Illinois) — A town in Illinois.
 * Gardner (Massachusetts) — A town in Massachusetts.
 * Gardner (North Dakota) — A town in North Dakota.

title: Gardner


text:
Gardner (Illinois)

Gardner is a city in Central Illinois.

title: Gardner (Illinois)


text:
Gardner (Massachusetts)

Gardner is a city of 21,000 people (2019) in Massachusetts. Gardner is known as the "Chair City" and "The Furniture Capital of New England", due to its long history in furniture production.

History
Named in honor of Col. Thomas Gardner, the community was settled by Europeans in 1764 and incorporated as a town in 1785 after receiving land grants from the surrounding towns of Ashburnham, Westminster, Templeton and Winchendon. Dating from about 1805, it became a center for lumber and furniture industries. By 1910 it had 20 chair factories which produced 4 million chairs per year. It was also noted for silversmithing. The Gardner State Colony for the Insane pioneered the use of cottage residences. Gardner was incorporated as a city in 1923.

Get in
Route 2 West From Alewife station in Cambridge will take you right to Gardner.

If you're coming from the south, I-190 North to Route 2 West will bring you to Gardner.

From the West Route 2 East goes from the New York border in Williamstown to Gardner.

The closest commuter rail station to Gardner is the Wachusett Commuter Rail Station. From the station State Route 2 West will take you to Gardner.

Get around
The best way to get around Gardner and the surrounding region is by car.

There is some bus service in and around the area provided by The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority it's rather limited though.

Buy

Go next
If you head north you can take in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire, and hike MT Monadnock.

Take Route 2 East to 190 South and head to the second-most populous city in New England Worcester.

Head west out of Gardner on Route 2 West and experience The Mohawk Trail one of the first Scenic auto-touring roads in the country.

If you take Route 2 West to 202 South you can go see the Quabbin Valley, and the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts, the Quabbin Reservoir.

title: Gardner (Massachusetts)


text:
Gardnerville

Gardnerville is a city in Nevada, about 2 miles east of Minden. It is located in the Carson Valley a few miles south of Carson City.

title: Gardnerville


text:
Garfield County

In the United States of America, there is more than one place called Garfield County:

Colorado

 * Garfield County (Colorado) - A county in Colorado.

Montana

 * Garfield County (Montana) - A county in Montana.

Nebraska

 * Garfield County (Nebraska) - A county in Nebraska.

Oklahoma

 * Garfield County (Oklahoma) - A county in Oklahoma.

Utah

 * Garfield County (Utah) - A county in Utah.

Washington

 * Garfield County (Washington) - A county in the Palouse region of Washington State.

title: Garfield County


text:
Gargnano

Gargnano is a picturesque small town on the edge of Lake Garda in the province of Brescia.

Understand
The town itself has just over 3000 inhabitants, so is one of the smaller towns bordering the lake. Gargnano is particularly picturesque with narrow, winding medieval streets, a small waterfront with a marina and a large church with an impressive spire.

The majority of the shops and restaurants are within a few hundred meters of the waterfront, but there are shops and hotels spread along the entire length of the main road that is set a little back from the waterfront.

Aside from its impressive history (there are buildings dating back to the 9th century), Gargnano is also renowned as a centre for sports, including athletics, sailing, archery and clay pidgeon shooting. It is sailing that Gargnano is best known for, as since 1951, it has been hosting the Centomiglia sailing regatta.

The area around Gargnano is littered with orchards, olive-groves, gardens and ancient lemon-groves. The lemon groves are idiomatic of the region; their huge stone walls (to reflect the heat) and tall stone pillars are easily recognisable on the hillsides and testaments to a once flourishing economy. Nowadays, they are now mainly relics tended by enthusiasts.

Get in
The main road from Salò to Riva del Garda goes through Gargnano.

Regular ferries sail between all the major towns on the lake. Tickets can be bought from the small wooden ticket office on the quayside.

See
Just above Bogliaco (a little south of Gargano) is the, that boasts a 5th-century wooden statue of St. Peter and paintings by Pilotti, Brusasorci, Celesti and Ricchi. Nearby is a sanctuary where a wooden crucifix of the German Gothic school is venerated.

Along the lakeside is the 8th century villa Bettoni, which has very pretty gardens, and at the entrance to Gargnano is the former convent of St. Francis, founded in 1221. The centre of Gargnano boasts a town hall built by Traffegini in 1581.

Following the Via le Rimembrazana from the centre and heading North, a few minutes walk brings you to a park with a playground, a beach and a restaurant. Walking further, brings you to the

10 minutes or so further along this same road, passing picturesque gardens and lemon groves brings you to the tiny 12th century. Hidden down a side street and lying next to a small harbour, it has some impressive frescoes of the 4th Century Veronese and Trento schools.

Along the Gardesana is the 11th century neo-classical, which was built on the remains of a Roman building. The church was enlarged in 1837 based on designs by Rodolfo Vantini which added two majestic domes. It has five altars with paintings by Andrea Celesti, Andrea Bertanza and G. Bettino Cignaroli. Inside there is also a ‘Last Supper’ by the Veronese School as well as other works by the Lombard School which date back to the 11th Century.

700 meters above Gargnano is the. San Valentino can be reached from Sasso (a village above Gargano), or for the more intrepid, there is a steep trek up directly from Gargnano, which includes a section on a via ferrata.

A few kilometers from Gargano, on the hill overlooking it, is the village of, where the church has paintings by Bertanza and Muslone, fragments of frescoes dating back to the 4th century and a wooden madonna by Bussolo dating back to 1521.

Do
It is possible to rent mountain bikes, wind surfers or sailing boats from oksurf, who are situated in the lakeside park a few minutes walk from the centre. They also provide sailing and windsurfing courses.

title: Gargnano