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Allentown

Allentown is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, the county seat and largest city in Lehigh County, and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with a population of 125,845 as of 2020.

Understand
In the Lehigh Valley, Allentown borders South Whitehall Township to its northwest, Emmaus to its southeast, Whitehall Township to its north, and Bethlehem to its east. The city lies in the center of the highly populated U.S. Northeast megalopolis region, 19 mi west of the Skylands and the New Jersey state line, 63 mi north of Philadelphia, and 93 mi west of New York City.

History
Allentown was founded in 1762 by William Allen as "Northampton Towne." It was renamed Allentown in 1838, and was incorporated as a city in 1867.

Founded in 1762, Allentown has deep roots in American history. The city was among the first to support American independence, establishing a Committee of Observation as early as 1774. During the American Revolutionary War, the Liberty Bell was hidden under the floor boards of an Allentown church for nine months from September 1777 to June 1778 to avoid its capture by British troops. In the 19th century, following the Confederate victory at Fort Sumter in April 1861, Allentown deployed the Allen Infantry to aid the Union Army and protect the nation's capital from Confederate attack. Allen Infantry and its associated regiment proved among the Union Army's most effective and bold fighting forces, leading some of the Union Army's most daring attacks against Confederate bases in the deep southern states of Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina.

In the early part of the 19th century, Allentown was among the first U.S. cities to emerge as a hub for industrialization with significant mining and heavy manufacturing industries, including anthracite coal, iron, and other minerals, that helped spark America's Industrial Revolution. In the early 20th century, the city blossomed as a national hub for heavy manufacturing. The late 20th century erosion of these industries in the area was captured in the 1982 Billy Joel single "Allentown," which elevated the city globally as a symbol of industrial decay and the devastating social impact associated with the Rust Belt.

Geography
Allentown lies on the Lehigh River, and the river has historically been a centerpiece of the city's economy and culture, serving as a means of transport for its mining and manufacturing products and closely associated with its rise as an industrial city. Allentown is above sea level. It lies along the Lehigh River in the Lehigh Valley, which is so named because of the prominence of the river and because it is located in an actual geographic valley between two Appalachian mountain tips, South Mountain and Blue Mountain.

Climate
Allentown's climate is highly seasonal. July is the warmest month with an average high-temperature of 83.8°F (28.8°C). January is the coldest month with an average low-temperature of 21.6°F (-5.8°C).

The city experiences an annual average of 145.1 days of rain with 27.24 inches (692mm) of average annual rain precipitation and 20.4 days of snowfall with an average of 13.82 inches (351mm) of annual snow accumulation. July is the month with the most rain with a monthly average of 15.7 days of rain and monthly rain precipitation of 3.03 inches (77mm). March has the most snow with a monthly average of 5.3 days of snowfall and 4.37 inches (111mm) of snow precipitation.

September is the driest month in Allentown with 11.5 days of rain and a monthly average of 1.61 inches (41mm) of precipitation.

Tourist information

 * Discover Lehigh Valley, 1250 Simon Blvd., Easton,
 * Discover Lehigh Valley, 1250 Simon Blvd., Easton,

Talk
English is the dominant language and accents and tones are sometimes rough-edged and blunt as you might find in New York City or Philadelphia. Spanish is used by roughly five percent of the city's population. On the outskirts of Allentown, you may find people speaking Pennsylvania Dutch, a German dialect, that was the initial language at the time of the city and region's settlement but is vastly less common today. Other languages found here include Arabic, Portuguese, and Vietnamese.

 * Down the shore is used locally to describe the New Jersey beaches, approximately 75 miles southeast.
 * Hoagie refers to a submarine or sub sandwich.
 * Soda is used to refer to cola, pop, or any soft drink.
 * Youse is used to say "you all", similar to "y'all" in the south.

By plane
The primary and most convenient point of airline entry to Allentown and other Lehigh Valley locations is Lehigh Valley International Airport, but three primary options exist:

 * Philadelphia International Airport , the busiest airport in Pennsylvania, is not nearly as close as ABE but offers an even greater selection of international and domestic flights to the area. PHL is 71 mi south of Allentown. Cars are available for rent at PHL, and roughly a dozen buses a day depart for Allentown from the airport or from Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal at 1001 Filbert St. in Center City Philadelphia. Phone: 1-800-PHL-GATE

 * Newark Liberty International Airport  in Newark. New Jersey, roughly 80 miles (129 km) east of Allentown, is even a bit further away than PHL but is sometimes worth considering, especially for international travelers. Like PHL, it offers car rentals and bus service to Allentown. Phone: 1-973-961-6000

By train

 * 30th Street Station, a major East Coast United States train station at 2955 Market Street in Philadelphia, is the third busiest Amtrak station in the U.S. and the closest commercial rail station, 61 mi south of Allentown. Cars are available for rent inside the station.

By bus
The Allentown bus terminal is at 325 Hamilton Street in center city Allentown, and several commercial bus companies offer transportation to Allentown, including:
 * Trans-Bridge Lines offers daily service to Allentown from New York City and Newark, New Jersey. There are several express buses per day into New York City.
 * Trailways offers service from most major Northeastern cities.
 * OurBus offers daily service from New York City and weekend service from Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Binghamton, and Ithaca, arriving at the I-476 Allentown Service Plaza near Wescosville.

By car
Allentown is easily accessible by several major highways. The two interstates most commonly used are:
 * Interstate 78, which is a major east-west highway that runs from central Pennsylvania in the west to the Holland Tunnel and Manhattan in the east. Allentown-area exits are 57, 58, and 59.
 * U.S. Route 22, which is a major freeway that runs from Cincinnati, Ohio in the west through Newark, New Jersey in the east. Exits 45, 49A, and 49B (Fogelsville) are all Allentown or Allentown-area exits.
 * If you are driving to Allentown from New Jersey, note that all of the major bridges across the Delaware River are free eastbound, but some require tolls westbound. Locating the free bridge in Phillipsburg is possible, but not recommended to those unfamiliar with the area. It is called Northampton Street and adds only about half a mile to the trip.
 * From points southeast and northwest of Allentown, PA Route 309 provides fairly quick access and is a good road to travel.
 * PA Route 33 from I-80 is the best approach for travelers coming to Allentown the Poconos.

Get around
Once in the city, Allentown is relatively easy to navigate and most of it is even walkable or bikeable. The main east-west streets are listed from north to south: Sumner, Whitehall, Greenleaf, Cedar, Washington, Green, Tilghman, Allen, Liberty, Gordon, Chew, Turner, Linden, Hamilton, Walnut, and Union. Numbered streets run from north to south. They begin towards the west at 1 and continue to 42.

By bus
Extensive public bus service in Allentown and South Whitehall Township is provided by  Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA).

By cab
Multiple cab and limousine companies operate throughout Allentown and Lehigh Valley, including:

 * Allentown Taxi
 * Always Available Transportation
 * Skyline Taxi,

By limo

 * A&A Limousine Service, or
 * Bella Luxury Limo,
 * J&J Transportation, or
 * Your Way Taxi & Limo,

By car
Most visitors to Lehigh Valley will want to either rent a car or drive their own.
 * Because 7th street in Allentown is one-way, if you aim to go north to Whitehall Township, you will want to be on 6th street. Route 145 turns off 6th Street at Greenleaf Street for one block, and then joins 7th Street (beginning as two ways). Continuing on 6th will bring you to the same place, but will not carry the PA-145 designation.
 * Hamilton Street is a continuation of US 222/Hamilton Boulevard and provides easy access for travelers from Reading and Lancaster. Hamilton Street continues into nearby Bethlehem as Hanover Avenue, providing direct access to its downtown as well.
 * Tilghman Street is also a useful east-west urban thoroughfare that also provides access to Bethlehem and Easton as Union Boulevard.
 * US Route 22 is a four-lane limited-access freeway across the north side of the city, and is often the best route of approach. However, this road is prone to minor traffic jams and accidents, especially during rush hour.  Don't panic, though; most traffic jams are only a mile or so long, and usually take less than half an hour before opening up into freer travel.
 * Interstate 78 is a better bet during rush hours as it is as wide as eight lanes in some areas.

By bike
Riding a bike can also get you around in Allentown and its fabulous park system. The city is known for its extensive trail and park systems, especially the Bridle Path in Lehigh Parkway (stop to feed the fish in the Fish Hatchery, go to the Museum of Indian Culture, or pedal along a trail that takes you to a covered bridge).

On foot
The main Allentown downtown area is small and easy to walk. You may want to park your car in one of the many garages and walk downtown.

See

 * There are several covered bridges in South Whitehall Township.
 * There are several covered bridges in South Whitehall Township.
 * There are several covered bridges in South Whitehall Township.
 * There are several covered bridges in South Whitehall Township.
 * There are several covered bridges in South Whitehall Township.
 * There are several covered bridges in South Whitehall Township.
 * There are several covered bridges in South Whitehall Township.

Learn
Allentown is home to two four-year colleges, Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest College, and Lehigh Carbon Community College-Allentown campus, a two-year satellite campus of Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Work
The largest employer in Allentown is Lehigh Valley Hospital, Pennsylvania's third-largest hospital, with over 7,800 workers. Other companies headquartered here are Air Products & Chemicals, St. Lukes Hospital, Capital Blue Cross, and PPL. Throughout most of the 20th century until the 1980s, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley were globally-recognized leaders in heavy manufacturing, especially steel, coal, and iron. But those industries faced multiple challenges and diminished or dissolved completely beginning in the late 1970s,. Today, small scale manufacturing is still an important part of the local economy.

Allentown is the county seat for Lehigh County. Center City Allentown is an important employment center with approximately 15,000 people working there.

Buy

 * Much of the Allentown area's shopping is actually located in neighboring Whitehall, which is about five minutes north of downtown via PA Route 145, which is also Whitehall's main commercial street. Shopping malls in and around Allentown include:

Other shopping locations include:

 * The 19th Street area near Muhlenberg College is a funky little commercial district with a coffee shop and art house movie theatre.
 * A small commercial district is also available on the eastern portion of Union Blvd., near Plymouth Street, Club Avenue, and Pennsylvania Avenue. This area houses Giant Food, Marshalls, Dan Schantz Greenhouse, Wells Fargo, Staples, HomeGoods, a Big Lots and other stores.
 * For an original shopping experience, try the Allentown Farmers Market at 17th and Chew Streets, this farmers market features everything from fresh meat and produce to local gifts.
 * For local produce, go to the Plaza Growers Market on Wednesdays at lunch over the growing season, May through October. It's on Hamilton Street in the downtown between 8th and 9th.
 * More shopping is available at Crest Plaza on the west side of Allentown, on Cedar Crest Boulevard, including Weis Markets, Fashion Bug and Target Greatland.

 * From the area of Cedar Beach Park to Dorney Park there are a slew of shops along Hamilton Street/Hamilton Boulevard/PA-222 (same street, three names). Heading from downtown Allentown going north toward Interstate 78, there's Phoebe Floral & Home Decor, PopCorn To Go, and the shops at 3900 Hamilton Center, like a Robbin's Jewelers.
 * From the area of Cedar Beach Park to Dorney Park there are a slew of shops along Hamilton Street/Hamilton Boulevard/PA-222 (same street, three names). Heading from downtown Allentown going north toward Interstate 78, there's Phoebe Floral & Home Decor, PopCorn To Go, and the shops at 3900 Hamilton Center, like a Robbin's Jewelers.
 * From the area of Cedar Beach Park to Dorney Park there are a slew of shops along Hamilton Street/Hamilton Boulevard/PA-222 (same street, three names). Heading from downtown Allentown going north toward Interstate 78, there's Phoebe Floral & Home Decor, PopCorn To Go, and the shops at 3900 Hamilton Center, like a Robbin's Jewelers.
 * From the area of Cedar Beach Park to Dorney Park there are a slew of shops along Hamilton Street/Hamilton Boulevard/PA-222 (same street, three names). Heading from downtown Allentown going north toward Interstate 78, there's Phoebe Floral & Home Decor, PopCorn To Go, and the shops at 3900 Hamilton Center, like a Robbin's Jewelers.

Eat
Allentown offers numerous family-run eateries featuring various authentic ethnic cuisine, including Japanese, Chinese, Lebanese, Mexican, Jamaican, Dominican, and Puerto Rican restaurants. A variety of casual dining and fast food restaurants are available around the Whitehall Township and Cedar Crest Boulevard business districts, as well as in Center City. You can even catch a hot dog on the street from a vendor on Hamilton Street or 7th Street. A good number of national chain restaurants also exist in the city.

Drink
Allentown is well known for its nightlife, and many Allentown clubs feature major New York City, Philadelphia, and Allentown DJs and live bands. They include:

Stay safe
Allentown has a crime rate almost twice the national average in every category, including rape, robbery, theft, auto theft, murder, assault, and burglary. Rougher areas include parts of East Allentown and some neighborhoods of Center City north of Linden St. and south of Tilghman St. and the area between the American Parkway and Lehigh River, just east of Center City. Random acts of violence and crime against visitors are rare; most of the crime in the city and region involves drugs, gang rivalries, and other illicit activities. It would be unwise to try to buy drugs or other contraband in the city.

It is fairly easy to stay safe by following common sense. Car and other forms of theft are issues, so be sure to lock cars and stay out of poorer areas at night. Prostitution and street racing are also very prevalent in Allentown. Don't walk alone late at night or on dimly lit streets. The most likely victim of a mugging on an Allentown street is someone who is alone and intoxicated, so keep your wits about you. If homeless approach you for change, just keep walking if you don't want to give anything. Pickpocketing is not a large problem, but don't flash around your money.

There is a large police presence in the neighborhoods most frequented by visitors, especially Hamilton Street, and many officers in Center City Allentown patrol by bicycle.

Stay healthy
If you are in need of medical attention, here are the primary hospitals in the area:

 * Lehigh Valley Hospital - 17th Street, 1627 W Chew St.
 * Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, 1200 S Cedar Crest Blvd. The third largest hospital in Pennsylvania with 877 beds and 46 operating rooms.
 * Sacred Heart Hospital, 421 Chew St.
 * St. Luke's Hospital, 1736 Hamilton St.

Respect
As in many parts of the country, residents may not want to share religious or political views.

Tourist information

 * Allentown at Visit PA

Phones
In Allentown, you must dial an area code when you place a call. Area codes in Allentown and the Lehigh Valley are 610, 484, and (since 2022) 835.

Religious services
Catholic churches: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Episcopal churches: Hindu: Jewish: Lutheran: Muslim:
 * Diocese of Allentown
 * Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena is the home of the bishop of the Allentown diocese..
 * Immaculate Conception..
 * Our Lady Help of Christians..
 * St. Francis of Assisi..
 * St. John the Baptist Slovak Church..
 * St. Stephen of Hungary..
 * St. Thomas More..
 * SS. Peter and Paul..
 * Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints..
 * The Episcopal Church of the Mediator..
 * Grace Episcopal Church..
 * Hindu Temple Society..
 * Congregation Sons of Israel..
 * Christ Lutheran Church..
 * St. John's Evangelical Church..
 * St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church of America..
 * Lehigh Valley Islamic Center..

Other Lehigh Valley locations

 * Bangor, 28.3 mi
 * Bethlehem, 6.2 mi
 * Easton, 17.2 mi
 * Emmaus, 6.2 mi
 * Fogelsville, 11.4 mi
 * Hellertown, 8.1 mi
 * Nazareth, 15.2 mi
 * Phillipsburg, NJ, 19.3 mi
 * Slatington, 15.7 mi
 * Whitehall Township, 4.6 mi

Regional cities and locations

 * Atlantic City, 125.8 mi
 * Harrisburg, 84 mi
 * New York City, 93 mi
 * Philadelphia, 63.8 mi
 * Reading, 40.1 mi
 * The Poconos, 54.7 mi

title: Allentown


text:
Allentown (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Allentown:

United States of America

 * Allentown (New Jersey) — A town on the Jersey Shore.
 * Allentown (Buffalo, New York) — A neighborhood in Buffalo, New York.
 * Allentown (Pennsylvania) — A town in the Lehigh Valley.

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

title: Allentown (disambiguation)


text:
Allentown (New Jersey)

Allentown is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Allentown's shopping district has antique and specialty shops, as well as restaurants. Many historic homes and historic buildings are located in the borough.

Understand
Allentown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 29, 1889, from portions of Upper Freehold Township. The borough was named for William Allen, who served as Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania. This tight-nit community is a great spot for its boutiques, restaurants, and historical sites. One of the oldest surviving mills in the state of New Jersey, the Allentown Mill, has been renovated inside to feature additional shops.

By car
Allentown is accessible from the New Jersey Turnpike, Exit 7A, to Interstate 195 East.

Go next

 * Freehold The County Seat
 * Jackson Township The home of Great Adventure Amusement Parks
 * Trenton The State Capital

title: Allentown (New Jersey)


text:
Allgäu

The Allgäu is the south-eastern part of Bavarian Swabia at the northside of the Alps. The biggest part of it is located in Bavaria, a smaller one in Baden-Württemberg, but also on the borderland of Austria with the Kleinwalsertal belongs to Allgäu.

Regions
There is a political division of the Allgäu into the German counties of Oberallgäu, Ostallgäu and Lindau. It also contains parts of the Württembergian county of Ravensburg. The county of Unterallgäu belongs about 2% to Allgäu. The rest of the county is a part of the Middle-Swabian territory.

In geographic aspects the Alps form the demarcation of the southern part of Allgäu. The river Lech is the south-eastern border. The western frontier runs by Lindau and Wangen, generally Memmingen is seen as northernmost city of Allgäu.

Southern Allgäu is embossed by high mountains. The highest summit on the German side of the region is the "Mädelegabel" with 2645 metres. The highest top at all is "Großer Krottenkopf" with 2656 metres in North-Tyrol. In the west of the high mountained Allgäu there is Kleinwalsertal, a valley that can be travelled on the German side, but belongs to the Austrian state of Vorarlberg.

North of the high alpine parts around Oberstdorf plus in the west the alps of Allgäu are embossed by lower and wooded ridges.

In the foothills of the Alps the landscape is embossed by the boulder periods. Moraines form a hilly scenery with can reach heights over 1000 metres. Northwards nearly the line of Dietmannsried - Kaufbeuren these moraines expire and Allgäu turns into Middle Swabia.

The Allgäu is embossed by grasslands and numerous lakes - from tarns to the Forggensee with shipping.

The regions:

 * Unterallgäu - only the southernmost part of the county of Unterallgäu nearly Bad Grönenbach belongs to the Allgäu, the rest of it to Middle- and Upper Swabia.
 * Westallgäu - The Westallgäu mostly consists of the county of Lindau and the Wurttembergian Allgäu of the county of Ravensburg in Baden-Wurttemberg with the cities of Wangen, Isny and Leutkirch
 * Oberallgäu - Oberallgäu is located around the city of Kempten, from Dietmannsried in the north to Oberstdorf in the south
 * Allgäu Alps with the Allgäu high Alps southern and eastern of Oberstdorf and the Hörnergruppe south-western of Immenstadt.
 * Kleinwalsertal in the state of Vorarlberg
 * Ostallgäu - Ostallgäu is located around the city of Kaufbeuren
 * Tannheimer Berge and the enclave Jungholz in the state of Tyrol

Cities
Larger cities:

Other destinations

 * (Austria)
 * Fellhorn: In spring also known as Blumenberg. In winter it is in company with the Kanzelwand one of the most modern skiing regions.
 * Hoher Ifen and Gottesackerplateau: unique Karst-plateau.
 * Alatsee: mountain lake near by Füssen, a popular swimming lake due to position
 * Waterfalls in

Understand
The Allgäu is a touristic region. The landscape is characterized by mountains and lakes. Apart from tourism this region has traditionally been a center of dairy-farming.

By plane
Since June, 28th 2007 Allgäu airport near Memmingen is opened for regular service. Other airports are in Munich (Munich Airport) and Stuttgart (Flughafen Stuttgart).

By train
Arrival via Ulm, Augsburg, Munich or Lindau.

By car
From north by Autobahn 7 and Autobahn 9 and Autobahn 96. From east by Autobahn 96 (from Munich) and federal highway 472 (from the direction of Garmisch). From south from Fernpass or Bregenz.

Get around
The most important places of interest can be reached by train or by bus.

See

 * (chine at the river Argen)
 * (castle ruin near Pfronten)
 * Historic towns in Memmingen and Wangen
 * Historic towns in Memmingen and Wangen

Do

 * During summer: discover the beauty of the landscape, do some hiking, mountain biking or climbing.
 * In winter: skiing, ski mountaineering, cross-country skiing.
 * Routes for a huge variety of mountain sports as well as huts and weather information can be found on the website of the german alps society DAV at alpenvereinaktiv.com. You can also download the routes on the website outdooractive.com or on the mobile app outdooractive and use it for navigating with your mobile device.
 * In winter: skiing, ski mountaineering, cross-country skiing.
 * Routes for a huge variety of mountain sports as well as huts and weather information can be found on the website of the german alps society DAV at alpenvereinaktiv.com. You can also download the routes on the website outdooractive.com or on the mobile app outdooractive and use it for navigating with your mobile device.
 * Routes for a huge variety of mountain sports as well as huts and weather information can be found on the website of the german alps society DAV at alpenvereinaktiv.com. You can also download the routes on the website outdooractive.com or on the mobile app outdooractive and use it for navigating with your mobile device.

Eat
A typical regional meal are the Kässpätzle, type of egg noodle of soft texture with cheese topping.

Drink
At most pubs you will find beer from regional breweries.

Go next
Other nearby regions are Upper Swabia and the Lake Constance region.

title: Allgäu


text:
Alliance

There is more than one place called Alliance:

United States of America

 * Alliance (Nebraska) - A city in Nebraska.
 * Alliance (Ohio) - A city in Ohio.

title: Alliance


text:
Alliance (Ohio)

Alliance is a city in Stark County, Ohio. Alliance is the home of Ohio's State Flower, the carnation.

By car

 * US 62 begins in El Paso, Texas and ends in Niagara Falls, New York. US 62 runs East and West through southern Alliance.  US 62 intersects I-77 near Canton.
 * State Route 173 begins North of Louisville and ends in Salem. SR 173 intersects and becomes US 62 in southwestern Alliance.
 * State Route 183 begins in East Sparta and ends near Edinburg. SR 183 runs north and south through downtown Alliance.
 * State Route 619 begins in Barberton and ends in Northern Alliance. SR 619 intersects I-77 in Green.

By plane

 * Akron-Canton Regional Airport, . It is on the north end of Stark County about a 30-minute drive from Alliance.
 * Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, . A hub for United Airlines, the Cleveland Airport, combined with an approximately 90-minute drive is a convenient means to visit Alliance.

By train

 * Routes stopping at Alliance:
 * Capitol Limited operates daily between Chicago and Washington, D.C. including stops in South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Alliance, Pittsburgh, Connellsville, Cumberland, Martinsburg, Harpers Ferry, and Rockville. Timings are not great, with trains in both directions arriving in the middle of night.
 * Capitol Limited operates daily between Chicago and Washington, D.C. including stops in South Bend, Elkhart, Waterloo, Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland, Alliance, Pittsburgh, Connellsville, Cumberland, Martinsburg, Harpers Ferry, and Rockville. Timings are not great, with trains in both directions arriving in the middle of night.

Get around
The best way to travel in Alliance is by driving yourself. The cab companies in Canton will probably take you back to Alliance, but trying to find a cab to pick you up is pretty much impossible. Expect to pay at least $50 for a taxi ride. Or, take a SARTA bus (Route 139) from Alliance to Canton for $1.15.

 * Stark County Regional Transit Authority (SARTA), tel: +1 330-47-SARTA (+1 330-477-2782). $1.15 regular fare, $.50 reduced fare (seniors, disabled), children under 6 ride free.  SARTA provides reliable public bus service throughout Stark County. Transfer Centers are located in: Alliance, Massillon, and Canton.  There is a bus to the Akron/Canton Airport (Route 115) and an express bus between Canton and Downtown Akron (Route 81).  Buses on main routes generally depart each stop every hour. SARTA buses run 365 days per year. On Holidays, buses run the Sunday schedule.
 * Lakefront Lines, a private bus company, operates an office in SARTA's Canton Transfer Center. Lakefront Lines goes through Canton on its route between Cleveland and Charleston, SC.

See

Go next

 * Amish Country centered in Holmes County to the southwest of Stark County.
 * Cuyahoga Valley National Park is primarily north of Canton. This park follows the course of the Cuyahoga River and the historic Ohio & Erie Canal between Cleveland, Akron and Canton. A number of older buildings are preserved here. The Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad, with train cars from the 1940s and 1950s also runs through the park from Cleveland to Akron and Canton. The Canal Byway extends from Lake Erie in Downtown Cleveland through the southern suburbs past Akron, Canton, New Philadelphia and into rural Bolivar and Historic Zoar.
 * Hartville. About 15 minutes to the west, Hartville offers two flea markets, antique stores and a handful of restaurants.

title: Alliance (Ohio)


text:
Allinge-Sandvig

Allinge-Sandvig is a city on Bornholm. These two amalgamated towns on the northern coast of the island are romantic and pretty and have hundreds of old fashioned half-timbered houses.

Allinge is especially lovely and famous for its Smokehouse and its annual Jazz Festival. For a week during summers, Allinge is home to 'Folkemoede' with hotels, hostels and private accommodation reserved up to a year in advance. Sandvig is the closest town to popular tourist destination Hammershus Castle.

Get around
Finding your way around the top, north coast of Bornholm can be a bit daunting if arriving by bus or self-drive for newcomers since it is basically 4 towns grown together over time. From north-west to south-east they are: Sandvig-Allinge-Sandkaas-Tejn.

Eat and drink

Sleep

 * Near Hammerknuden, only some steps to the beach. Nice for families.
 * Near Hammerknuden, only some steps to the beach. Nice for families.
 * Near Hammerknuden, only some steps to the beach. Nice for families.

title: Allinge-Sandvig


text:
Grande Salvador

Grande Salvador (Greater Salvador) is in northern coast of the state of Bahia in Brazil.

Cities

 * — the first capital of Brazil is home to a unique blend of indigenous, African and European cultures; its Carnival fun is famous, and the influence of African culture and religion is remarkable
 * — the majesty of its baroque houses, churches and museums, led the city to achieve the status of "National Monument City"
 * — an island at the entrance of Todos os Santos Bay with 40 km of beaches and exuberant tropical vegetation

 * — a city of 200,000 people that draws many pilgrims to its mass and procession for Santo Amaro de Ipitanga in January

 * — very touristy, but it's a beautiful and pleasant spot, and a good way to relax from the noise and crowds of Salvador

 * — the largest center in the Reconcavo region

Get in
Take a flight to the international airport of Salvador.

title: Grande Salvador


text:
Allyn

Allyn is located on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound region of Washington state. This quaint town overlooks the North Bay-Case Inlet on Puget Sound.

By car
Located on Hwy 3 between Shelton and Belfair.

By boat
Boat launch and moorage facilities are available at the Allyn Pier, owned and operated by the Port of Allyn. this is a transient moorage facility and boats can moor for up to two weeks during boating season - May thru September.

It has 10 slips, and an 80-foot gangway making it easily accessible during all tides. At a minus 2.5 foot tide there is a minimum of 2 feet of water at all points around the floats and up to 4 feet on the finger pier.

Potable water and a coin operated marine pump out unit are available throughout the boating season. No fuel is available at this facility.

Do
There are two boat launch ramps, one ground level and the other elevated. These are accessible during most tides.

title: Allyn


text:
Alma

Alma is a city in Central Michigan, nicknamed "Scotland, USA," and is the largest population center of Gratiot County, with 9,275 residents.

It's small-town atmosphere is ideal for people who are looking for safe neighborhoods and easy driving, yet its active community organizations still provide a vibrant calendar of events for people who enjoy theater, music, and other forms of entertainment. Alma's historic downtown district is located on Business US-127. Alma is famous for its annual Scottish-themed Alma Highland Festival & Games, held on the campus of Alma College, a prestigious 4-year private liberal arts institution founded in 1886. Both the City of Alma and Alma College have embraced a Scottish heritage. Another historic landmark, Masonic Pathways Senior Living Services has been located in Alma since 1911, and is also home to the Michigan Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.

By car
Centrally located near the crossroads of US-127 and M-46, the city of Alma is easily accessible from all parts of the state of Michigan by car.

By bus
Alma is served by both Greyhound and Indian Trails bus lines with connections to the larger metropolitan areas of Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Chicago. There is a local bus service known as Dial-A-Ride Transit (DART) that provides service throughout Alma and neighboring St. Louis.

By rail
The Great Lakes Central Railroad and Mid Michigan Railroad bisect Alma, used predominately for freight service. However, special passenger train tours are a summer tourism attraction, transporting riders from as far south as Owosso, north to Mt. Pleasant or Cadillac and back. Often tours temporarily stop at Alma College, allowing riders to explore the Alma College campus and the downtown shopping district.

By bicycle/foot
The Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, a paved converted railroad line, connects Alma to the hamlets of Elwell and Riverdale to the west. It is expected that the trail will soon be completed between Riverdale and Edmore, which will make the trail one of the midwest's longest uninterrupted paved trails, reaching from Alma to Greenville. Area residents frequently utilize the trail for bicycling, jogging, walking, and inline skating.

Get around
Dial-A-Ride Transit (DART) provides transportation service throughout Alma and neighboring St. Louis. Alma's 2.6-mile Riverwalk follows the Pine River, connecting the northeast and southwest corners of the city, also linking to the extensive Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, making Alma an exceptionally walkable community.

Go next
Alma is a good starting point to head to the "mitt" of Michigan - aka Northern Michigan. Here are a few other places that aren't necessarily in Northern Michigan to get you out and away from Alma:

 * Mount Pleasant is 20 minute drive north from Alma. Mt. Pleasant is home to a Saginaw Chippewa Indian community, which throws a big pow-wow each year.
 * Lansing, the state capital, is about an hour away via car. It's a college town, being home to Michigan State University, one off the biggest universities in the country.
 * Holland, Michigan, not the Netherlands! It's about a two hour drive. Go during the spring, to see all of the beautiful tulips and enjoy the town's Dutch heritage.
 * Muskegon is two hours away and has clean lovely beaches with bike trails to visit on Lake Michigan.
 * Detroit is also two hours away, and one of the most famous American cities - home to the car industry, revitalization, soul music, and more.

title: Alma


text:
Alma (Arkansas)

Alma is a city in the River Valley region of Arkansas.

Get in
Interstate 40 East-West.

See

 * Alma is nicknamed "The Spinach Capital of the World".

title: Alma (Arkansas)


text:
Alma (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Alma:

Canada

 * Alma (Québec) — A town at the eastern edge of Lac St. Jean.

United States of America

 * Alma (Arkansas) — A town in the River Valley region.
 * Alma (Michigan) — A town in Central Michigan.
 * Alma (Colorado) — A town in the Denver region, population about 300.

title: Alma (disambiguation)


text:
Almada

Almada is a city of 174,000 people (2011) on the Setúbal Peninsula in the Estremadura region on the south bank of the Tagus river, just across from Lisbon.

Understand

Almada (ahl-MAH-duh, /aɫ.ˈma.dɐ/)

By boat
From Lisbon take the €1.20 ferry boat across the river Tagus (Tejo) to Cacilhas ferry terminal. The views are awesome and is the best way to witness Lisbon's beauty from afar. www.transtejo.pt

By train
You can also get in by Fertagus train leaving from the Roma/Areeiro, Entrecampos, Sete Rios or Campolide stations towards Pragal. Here there are several buses taking you into town. This trip is also beautiful as you have the chance of crossing the 25 de Abril bridge over Tagus river with breathtaking views.

By bus
There are also the 152, 160, 176 and 260 TST buses running from Lisbon.

By car
You can access Almada by car by using the A2 highway: there's no toll when going from Lisbon to Almada, but there's a toll charge (€1.85) when going from Almada to Lisbon.

By bus
Transportes Sul do Tejo offer a wide network of busses that run quite frequently between many places in the city.

By tram
Metro Transportes do Sul operates a tram with 3 lines, that connect several points in the city. A single ticket costs €0.85 (you have to buy a card which costs €0.50 but is rechargeable).

See
Almada has the best views over Lisbon. Just head towards the higher parts of the town, specially in the old part of the town.

 * Cacilhas: Visit the Church of Our Lady of Good Success and lunch at the great surrounding restaurants.
 * The Riverside area of Cais do Ginjal with its views across the river to Lisbon
 * The 25 April Bridge from the Boca do Vento elevator.
 * Casa da Cerca contemporary art center in Almada Velha.
 * Fábrica da Romeira
 * Almada Velha (Old town)
 * Museu da Cidade (Almada's Museum)
 * Museu da Cidade (Almada's Museum)

Do
Costa da Caparica Beach, located just south of Lisbon in Portugal, is a renowned destination for beachgoers and surfers alike. Known for its extensive stretch of golden sands and impressive Atlantic waves, the beach is a favored spot for a variety of beach activities. It's particularly celebrated for its surfing conditions, which cater to all levels of expertise, from beginners to experienced surfers. While the beach itself is a haven for relaxation and seaside enjoyment, it also offers the opportunity for surf lessons. These lessons are a point of interest for those looking to try surfing for the first time or improve their skills, with several experienced instructors available along the coastline. However, the primary allure of Costa da Caparica Beach remains its stunning natural beauty, lively atmosphere, and the excellent conditions for a wide range of water sports.

Eat

 * Praça São João Baptista.

Go next

 * Seixal
 * Sesimbra
 * Palmela
 * Setúbal
 * Cascais
 * Fátima

title: Almada


text:
Almaty

Almaty is the largest city and the financial and cultural centre of Kazakhstan. Standing astride the Silk Road, Almaty is the gateway to the region. Just south of the city, snow-capped mountains mark the border with Kyrgyzstan. The city is known by local nicknames as the Apple City and the Big Apple.

Understand
Almaty was the capital of Kazakhstan until the city of Astana was declared to be the new capital of Kazakhstan.

Under Soviet rule, it was known as Alma-Ata. Following the independence of Kazakhstan, the city was re-named to its current name, Almaty, in 1993.

The city is relatively modern, laid out on a grid pattern, so if you're going uphill, you're probably going south. It is relatively inexpensive by international standards. The people are friendly and hospitable; there's also a significant expat community.

Pogulay is a helpful guidebook to the city, printed in English and Russian and sold at newsstands. It's priced at US$3 and covers all the attractions, including photos and descriptions.

 * Tourist Information Office VisitAlmaty. There are eight locations: Abay Avenue 15/1; Panfilov Street 84; Nazarbayev Avenue 139; Gogol Street 40A; Almaty-1 railway station; Almaty-2 railway station; Almaty airport; next to ice skating rink at Medeu's bus station. The one in Abay Avenue was wery useful (as of July 2022), free maps and guides (also for hiking). English-speaking staff there. Daily 10:00-20:00.
 * City government website
 * City government website

Get in
See Kazakhstan for entry requirements— most westerners don't need a visa for visits up to 30 days.

By plane

International flights – The national flag-carrier is Air Astana, with flights around central Asia and the Middle East. Flights to Almaty include Antalya, Baku, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Beijing-Capital, Bishkek, Delhi, Dubai-International, Dushanbe, Kazan, Hong Kong, Istanbul IST, Kyiv-Boryspil, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Saint Petersburg, Seoul-Incheon, Tashkent, Tbilisi and Ürümqi. Other carriers fly directly from Ashgabat, Dubai, Frankfurt, Novosibirsk, Osh, Riga, Samarkand, Sanya and Xian. So most journeys from the west will involve at least one change of flight, Frankfurt and Istanbul usually being the most convenient.

Low cost WizzAir flies from Abu Dhabi, while FlyArystan connects Almaty with Sharjah and Kutaisi.

Domestic flights – Kazakhstan is a very big country, so most cities have regular flights to Almaty with Air Astana or SCAT Airlines or both. These include Aktau, Aktobe, Astana, Atyrau, Karaganda, Kokshetau, Kyzylorda, Kostanay, Oral, Pavlodar, Petropavlovsk, Semey, Shymkent, Taraz, Uralsk, Urdjar, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Zhezkazgan.

The low-cost airline FlyArystan opens up more and more domestic routes.

Getting there/away
Buses run daily from about 05:20 to 23:00, every 30 mins or better, and take 30 min between the airport and the center. Every taxi tout will assure you that buses are not running. But of course they are, otherwise he wouldn't be so insistent. A ride into town is 150 tenge—pay the driver or conductor.
 * Bus 92 is the only one from within the airport, the stop is just outside Arrivals. This zigzags through the northern Turksib district to Sayakhat bus station, then west along Raiymbek Batyr (for Almaty-2 railway station and city metro), along Nauryzbai (southbound) or Zheltoksan (returning northbound) to Abai Bvd, then away out to the western burbs.
 * The other buses all run from Mailin Street, the boulevard just outside the airport. From Arrivals follow the traffic flow through the barriers onto the street, keeping right for traffic into town. You cross Zakarpatskaya St which is where your bus will emerge from, pass the Favorit Hotel and a small supermarket, to find the bus-stop where folk as cheapskate as yourself are waiting. Say 10 mins walk. Bus 79 runs to Nazarbayev Ave (formerly Furmanov), and Bus 86 also runs downtown. The main advantage of this stop is Bus 106, which bypasses downtown and runs to Sayran Bus Station, for onward inter-city connections; say 50 min.

Taxis can be ordered at the booth in the arrivals hall. It may take 10 min to arrive, but it will be a sensible price, around 1,500 tenge. At least, that will be the price quoted to you, the taxi driver may have other ideas. It's a common scam here that at the end of your journey the driver will claim that the 1,500 tenge was per kilometre, taking the total to about 35,000 tenge. It's tempting, but unwise to argue too much as they turn violent quickly. The safest thing to do is to avoid taking a taxi from the airport - either take the bus, or get your hotel to send you a driver.

Yandex.Taxi is a good option if you have internet access or a SIM card. A ride to central Almaty should be around 1,500 tenge (Oct 2019).

By train

International connections from:
 * Astana via Karagandy – 6 trains per day, the quickest taking 13 hr.
 * Russia – There's no direct train, but you have to change in Astana, or (on odd dates) in Saratov. From Yekaterinburg or Omsk change in Astana or Petropavl. There is a direct service (on odd dates) between from Novosibirsk via Aktogai and Semei.
 * Tashkent – Every 2nd day, 16 hr via Taraz and Shymkent.
 * Bishkek – This is a round-about route changing near Taraz. By bus is much faster.
 * Urumqi (Wulumuqi), China – There is one train per week (leaving Urumqi Monday 23:00), 30 hr via Dostyk. A second, Chinese train may run, leaving Urumqi Sa 23:00, taking 24 hr via Khorgos, is around US$100 and comfortable. For details see Moscow to Urumqi rail itinerary.

From China
Sleeper buses leave Urumqi at 18:00 daily except Saturday and take 24 hours to reach Almaty. Tickets for a lower bed are ¥420, upper beds are ¥400, and a berth in the back bed of the bus is ¥380. Buses depart from the international area of Nianzigou Bus Station (碾子沟客运站), 50 m to the left of the main station (as you look towards the front) on the other side of the Wenshabao (温莎堡) building. Beware that the border crossing at Khorgos (霍尔果斯) is closed on Chinese national holidays, including the first week of October for National Day.

Buses also run from Yining, 100 km east of Khorgos, taking 10 hours to Almaty, fare US$30 or ¥150. They run two or three times a week, ask the bus drivers at Yining for times. Local buses also run from Yining to Khorgos (¥30-38), from where you can walk across into Kazakhstan. A taxi onward to Almaty might charge 3,000 tenge and take 4-6 hr. Tacheng (Qoqek) further north also has buses to Almaty several times a week.

From Kyrgyzstan
From Bishkek, go to the Western Bus Station. From Platform 11, a large, double decker coach bus leaves for Almaty every 2 hours. Start and end times are unclear, but it leaves at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00. The ticket costs 500 Kyrgyz Som (May 2023). The bus will stop at the border crossing and you will have to get down and cross with your luggage. After exiting the building, cross the street. There will be some toilets and a parking lot where the bus is waiting. The bus will wait for all the passengers on the other side. Make sure to have some cash with you, there are no ATMs around. There is a money changer who hangs out by the toilets, immediately after the border crossing. Be sure to change your money here and use the bathroom before the 3 hour ride to Almaty. About 30 minutes after the border crossing, the bus may stop for a toilet break at a gas station.

Another feasible option is therefore to take a taxi to Korday Border crossing (Yandex costs about 600 som from Osh Bazar to Korday Border crossing) and then take a marshrutka on the Kazakh side to Almaty (2,500 tenge) or a shared taxi (5,000 tenge). Marshrutka goes to Sayran Bus station in Almaty.

Another option is a little more adventurous but more flexible and cheaper—take local transport from Bishkek to the border, cross, then pick up onward transport: In Bishkek, take any bus to Alamedin Market (corner of Jibek Jolu and Kurmanjan Datka)—use the 2GIS app to find a connection there. The bus stop for the border transport can be found towards the border. Look for a marshrutka signed таможня (meaning "customs"), or bus 333, or ask around. Apparently bus #285 also goes from the center of Bishkek directly to the border. The fare is 25 som from the junction and 30 som from the center to Korday. Then either share a taxi to Almaty (say 1,500 tenge), or take a marshrutka for 1,000 tenge—bargain hard or just pretend to wait for a better option.

On border formalities see Kazakhstan.

For the return journey, see Bishkek.

Get around
The city is laid out on a modern grid-pattern, and "up" usually means south, towards the mountains. However it's a gentle gradient, and in places the gradient east is similar. By day you can reality-check against the position of the sun, but at night or on dull days you could do with a compass to avoid tramping the wrong way. The other difficulty for visitors is the changed street names. Ask a local, who'll remember the old name that's in your guidebook.

By Metro
The Metro has a single line. The northern terminus is on Raiymbek Batyr east of Almaty-2 railway station. The line runs south to Abay, then turns west along Abay to Moskva Station just short of Altynsarin Ave.

The Metro is open from 06:00-24:00. The Metro is safe and guarded by police at all times. A single trip costs 80 tenge, regardless of length of trip. The tickets are plastic yellow tokens, buy them at machines or booths ("kassa") within the stations. Contactless payment at the gates is also possible by Mastercard, Visa or Union Pay. There are no day tickets or similar deals for visitors, but for frequent travellers there are rechargeable multi-trip smart cards.

The Metro stations starting from the north are:

Here the line turns west and runs beneath Abay Avenue to:

Further extensions will serve the northern and western burbs, with little relevance to visitors until the airport is linked.

By buses, and trolleys
There is an extensive network of buses and trolleybuses in the city. You can find routes and schedules using journey planner. It's a flat fare of 80 tenge within the centre, 150 tenge for the outskirts. Locals use a prepaid yellow transport card "Onay" presented to a smart-card contactless reader, but it's okay just to pay cash to the driver or conductor on boarding. You don't need exact change but you'll be unpopular if you offer a large note. Younger conductors speak a bit of English and will point out your stop.

The collection of city buses behind the corner of Rayimbek and Zheltoksan is just a depot and there are no passenger facilities here.

By taxi
There are both official and informal taxis. Official taxis can be booked in advance and normally show up rapidly. The fare difference between official and unofficial taxis may vary up to 3 times. Just raise your hand and a car will eventually stop. You should negotiate the price and direction in advance. Normally the fare varies from 200-1,000 tenge depending on the remoteness of the area. These are really efficient, and, although it takes a bit of getting used to, it is the perfect solution to getting around. Nevertheless, single travellers should be aware of muggings late at night. Avoid cars with more than one male occupant at night. Usually a car will stop within 30 seconds to 3 minutes of having your hand out. If the driver does not wish to drive to your destination, no problem. The next one will stop a minute or two after. You will need the name of your destination street and the nearest cross street, in Russian, in order to get to where you want to go. Very few people speak or understand even basic English. It is necessary to have small money. Usually drivers avoid giving change, so it is better to have the exact amount in hand.

Yandex Taxi is available, it can be ordered using smartphone app.

By bike
There is a city bike scheme, with pick-up/drop-off stations dotted around. Almost every bike store rents bikes, thus just ask in your hotel for a bike store. The prices are 2,000 tenge for a day and 2,500 tenge for 24 hr.

Do

 * There is a great range of different spas and steam rooms, Morrocoan, Finnish, Russian (including Venik (leaves to beat youself with)), Sufa at three temperatures.
 * , fare 3000 tenge one-way, 5000 tenge return (May 2024). The base station is by the corner of Abay and Dostyk. Nice views over the city & bosky burbs and towards the mountains. At the top station there's The Grill restaurant (good beer and shashliks, but you're paying for the view) and cafes. The top area is a kids' amusement park and "zoo", donkeys and hens being among the exotica. So it feels more like Sunday in the park than truly away from it all, and it's not a stepping stone into the mountains - Kok-Tobe hill stands apart from the main range, and the top is fenced in so you can't go off exploring.
 * The Film Festival last took place in mid-November of 2021.
 * Football: FC Kairat play soccer in the Premier League, Kazakhstan's top tier. Their home ground is Central Stadium, capacity 24,000, on Abay Ave (Metro Baikonur / Stadion). International games are played in Nur-Sultan.
 * Football: FC Kairat play soccer in the Premier League, Kazakhstan's top tier. Their home ground is Central Stadium, capacity 24,000, on Abay Ave (Metro Baikonur / Stadion). International games are played in Nur-Sultan.

Mountains

 * Route P22 (Dulati Street, becomes Svezhest St) runs south up the valley of River Bolshaya Almatinka. Along this route are Kok-Tobe, Tau Spa Centre, Alma-Arasan and Big Almaty Lake:
 * is a scenic lake at 2510 m altitude, surrounded by high mountains. It glistens like a mirror, changing colour with the season (a deep turquoise in autumn), and freezing in winter. Towering over it to the south east is Soviet Peak (4317 m), to the south Ozerniy (4110 m), and to the southwest Tourist Peak (3954 m). Great for hiking and climbing. Getting here and back is obviously easiest by car, otherwise:
 * Bus 28 runs from the roundabout at Al-Farabi and Navoi up Dulati St and ends at the last left turn before Alma-Arasan. Taxis here will take you to within 4 km of the lake for around 2000 tenge. Otherwise it's a 15 km hike and 1000 m rise of altitude: think about the weather and the coming back. Follow the road about 8 km until you reach a big water pipe, and then follow the steep trail next to the water pipe.
 * Or take a taxi all the way from Al-Farabi and Navoi.
 * Or take a taxi all the way from Al-Farabi and Navoi.

 * Dostyk Ave south becomes Gornaya St which climbs the valley of River Pravy Esentai. Along this valley are Medeu Ice Rink, Ile-Alatau National Park, and Chimbulak Ski resort. A bus runs up to Chimbulak from the corner of Satpaev and Baitursynuly daily at 08:00.
 * Ski & snowboard at Chimbulak, Ak-Bulak and Tabagan ski resorts, open Nov-April, lifts closed Tuesday. And hike anytime, beyond the resort up to the dam and then the glacier: tough but beautiful.
 * Ski & snowboard at Chimbulak, Ak-Bulak and Tabagan ski resorts, open Nov-April, lifts closed Tuesday. And hike anytime, beyond the resort up to the dam and then the glacier: tough but beautiful.

Buy
Good buys:
 * Handmade carpets
 * Felted goods. Handmade dolls, rugs, and slippers made with boiled lamb's wool and natural dyes
 * Handcrafted metal jewelry, including a "tumar", which is a pendant that opens like a locket
 * Handcrafted leather chess sets in a leather folding case with a board pattern stitched on. In most souvenir shops, and on ground floor of Silk Way (Zhybek Zholy and Furmanova).

Supermarkets
Almaty has many modern supermarkets, offering everything from a bakery section to toiletries and vodka. Any food you could possibly want to find is readily available. There are four major supermarket chains: Ramstore, SM-Market, Gros, and City. And plenty of single supermarkets and small local grocery shops. The chain called "Gros" has convenient locations around town and a good selection of drinks and snacks. Ramstore also has at least three locations, but is a bit pricier. The favorite stores among locals are Stolichni (Ablai Khan and Kabanbai Batyr). Super helpful staff and decent fruits and vegetables year around, but vegetable prices are very expensive. Dastarkhan (Gogolya St between Ablai Khan and Furmanova) has excellent baked goods, especially cakes and cookies.

Eat
Cheap Kazakh restaurants are all over the place, selling shashlik, soup, salad and others. Fast food places are also everywhere; the local favourite is hamburgers, with sliced kebab meat on a hamburger bun with pickles and garlic sauce.

Drink

 * Black Market, Timiryazev St 42/16, Daily 14:00-00:00 (02:00 on F and Sa). Great bar, with a fantastic atmosphere.
 * Black Market, Timiryazev St 42/16, Daily 14:00-00:00 (02:00 on F and Sa). Great bar, with a fantastic atmosphere.
 * Black Market, Timiryazev St 42/16, Daily 14:00-00:00 (02:00 on F and Sa). Great bar, with a fantastic atmosphere.

Internet
Free wifi is common in hotels but it may be unreliable. Some bars and restaurants offer free wifi.

Stands selling pre-paid SIM cards are ubiquitous and fairly inexpensive. There is one at the airport. You can easily get internet and phone access for a month for 1,500-3,000 tenge.

Crime
Almaty enjoys a relatively low crime rate and is, generally, a safe place to travel. Use common sense at night, particularly on Friday and Saturday when the youth hit the streets to get drunk, and in some unfortunate cases, look for trouble. You should abstain from any arguments with locals; otherwise you may end up in the hospital. Kazakh people are extremely friendly and welcoming towards foreigners and nothing should happen to you unless you really want it yourself. Never go to places which you don't trust or don't know about, unless you have a local person with you to help out with the language. Racism is a generally of very minor concern although the average visitor is highly unlikely to encounter any problems. You must be always respectful to the country and locals. In this case, you will feel comfortable with anyone.

Driving
Central streets such as Furmanov, Abay, Zheltoksan, Dostyk, and Abylay Khan are strictly regulated and constantly monitored by police officers. Video cameras are installed on 70% of city crossroads. There are some Kazakh drivers who reveal their aggressiveness on the roads. Therefore, it is always best to take great care when crossing the roads.

Emergencies
In the event of an emergency, call:
 * 101 Fire
 * 102 Police
 * 103 Ambulance
 * 104 Gas Service
 * 112 Emergency rescue

Registration
Very few western visitors nowadays need to register upon arrival, and for those who do, your hotel will usually sort it for you. But a few will have to attend OVIR in person, e.g. if you hope to stay longer than 30 days.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
 * Almaty also has embassies or consulates (as of Oct 2019) for Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Japan, Lithuania, Switzerland, Tajikstan, Thailand, and United Kingdom. It's not known what services these nowadays provide, since the capital has moved to Nur-Sultan.

Go next

 * Winter sports & hiking around nearby Chimbulak, Ak-Bulak and Tabagan ski resorts; an easy day-trip.
 * Sharyn Canyon (Шарын шатқалы, Шарын каньоны): Canyon 80 km long and as much as 300 m deep, eroded into fantastical shapes, especially along the 3 km stretch known as "Valley of the Castles". It's 200 km east of Almaty towards the Chinese border (follow A351) and often done as a day-trip, but longer tours of the area are recommended. Not far from the "Singing Dunes".
 * Astana is the new showcase capital, and while Almaty feels like a Russian city, Astana has more of a mixture of cultures.
 * Lake Balkhash is along the road between Almaty and Nur-Sultan, so you could break the long journey here. Balkhash village (12 hours by bus) has a few hotels. The lake is salty east of here, but fresh to the west where the Ili river flows in from China. It's the closest you'll get to beach action in this very land-locked country.
 * Bishkek the capital of Kyrgyzstan is a 4-5 hr drive. From there see Lake Issyk-Kul.
 * Tamgaly Petroglyphs ("Temple of The Sun"): This UNESCO site is 2-3 hours away by car (170 km west, 30 km past Copa off the road to Bishkek). The petroglyphs range from ancient (3,000 years) to "modern" (75 years), and feature pictures of the Sunman and hunting nomad tribes. There are also several grave sites. Watch out for snakes when it's hot.
 * Turgen Gorge. In the national preserve or Ile-Alatau, 90 km east of Almaty. The gorge is some 44 m deep, with hot springs, waterfalls, and forests: these include the last stands of Chim-Turgen moss fir woods that once carpeted the area.
 * Kolsai Lakes. Beautiful lakes 250 km east of Almaty. The first lake can be reached by car, to see the other lakes you have to hire a horse. You can stay overnight in a small two storey house for about 2,000–5,000 tenge per night. The lake water is fresh, clean and drinkable.
 * Urumqi in China can be reached by train once or twice a week.

title: Almaty


text:
Almaty Province

Almaty Province is in the southeast of Kazakhstan. The province surrounds the nation's largest city, the former capital Almaty, which is administered separately. Almaty city is the most popular destination for foreign visitors, especially those looking to trek in the Tian Shan mountains. It is also home to the principal border crossings into and out of Xinjiang.

Cities

 * — the only city of more than one million inhabitants in the country; the former capital, and the cultural center of the country.
 * — the administrative capital of Almaty Province. It is worth visiting if you interested in fantastic natural view: mountains, rivers and forests.
 * — the small border town opposite the Chinese town of Alashankou.
 * — a 1,000-year-old small city in the high Zailiysky Alatau mountain range.

Other destinations

 * — Bronze Age petroglyphs constituting a UNESCO World Heritage site
 * — Ski resort close to Almaty

Get in
Almaty International Airport

title: Almaty Province


text:
Almàssera

Almàssera (Spanish: Almácera) is an agricultural village of 7300 people (2018) in Valencia (province) north of Valencia. It has several museums and interesting buildings.

Understand
The village began as an Arabic farmstead, and still carries its Arabic name (المعصرة – al-ma'sara, or 'olive press'). Today agriculture remains the primary economic activity.

By metro
From Valencia, use the metro line in direction Rafelbunyol and alight at, straight after Alboraya. The red line provides direct connection from the Valencia airport, passing through the city centre. Trains run every 15 to 20 minutes and it takes about 10 to 15 minutes from the centre of Valencia, or 35 to 45 minutes from the Valencia airport.

By bus
Valencia's EMT bus 16 departs every 8-16 minutes from the city centre, and stops both in Almàssera and in Tavernes Blanques, the small town just to the south. A single journey costs €1.50 (Bonobus and Bono Transbordo cards are accepted).

By car
Once in Valencia it is convenient to take highway V-21/E15 direction Castellon/Barcelona and then take the exit Port Saplaya/Alboraya. Alternatively use the Ronda Nort/Avenida Juan XXIII and continue passing Tavernes Blanques.

Get around
The best way of getting around is to rent a car or bike. For more local activities a bicycle is sufficient. To go sight seeing in Valencia use the above mentioned metro line 3.

title: Almàssera


text:
Almere

Almere is a city in Flevoland, a western province of the Netherlands which was reclaimed from the sea in the 20th century.

Understand
Almere is the largest city in the Netherlands' youngest province - Flevoland. Like virtually all of Flevoland, it used to be covered by the waters of the Zuiderzee well into the 20th century. Due to its lack of history and old buildings, Almere is sometimes decried as a bland or "artificial" town but it is also one of the fastest growing in the Netherlands with a more youthful population than the Dutch average and more people moving in than out, so there must be something drawing people here. Certainly one aspect is the relative proximity of Amsterdam and the Randstad while housing prices are still notably lower than in the bigger cities. Working from (nearly) a "blank canvas", town planners and architects could put into practice their ideas of an "ideal community" when Flevoland was first settled and there are still some aspects of that apparent to urban planning enthusiasts like Christaller's concept of "central places" placed at the corners of a honeycomb shape. Almere had about 191,000 inhabitants in 2011, which makes it the 7th city of the Netherlands by population and one of Europe's largest cities founded in the 20th century.

By train
The busy railway corridor called Flevolijn/Hanzelijn runs right through Almere from East to West. Along it, no less than six train stations are strung within Almere: ,,, , and. There are direct train connections from Almere to Schiphol, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Hilversum, Leiden, Delft, Dordrecht, Roosendaal, Vlissingen, Lelystad, Dronten, Zwolle, Leeuwarden and Groningen, among others. One can easily transfer to trains taking you to almost any other station within the Netherlands in one of those destinations.

Only Sprinter trains stop at all of the stations in Almere. Intercity trains generally only call at Almere Centrum. Consult ns.nl or 9292.nl for up-to-date schedules.

By bus
Apart from its bus rapid transit (BRT) system, Almere is also served by transregional bus lines utilizing the same BRT infrastructure. They are distinguished by their three-digit numbers (city bus lines in Almere are only numbered using one or two digits).

Some of the lines stop at Almere Centrum, but some do not. Since December 2017 all the local bus lines have their endpoint at Almere Centrum. Most regional buses also stop at Almere Centrum, but there are some exceptions. They usually, however, stop at some other railway station within Almere or at the bus transfer point Almere t'Oor on the outskirts of Almere.

The bus lines are meant to supplement the railway by offering direct connections between more remote areas without the need to use the congested trains during peak hours. Therefore, for most tourists, it will be much more convenient to stick to using trains. If, however, you indeed want to start or finish your journey in a point not close to a railway station, consult 9292.nl for up-to-date information on connections and schedules.

By car
Almere is at the intersection of two motorways - the A6 going through the entire Flevoland, connecting to the Amsterdam-bound A1, and the A27, which forks southwards, towards Hilversum and Utrecht, from the A6 in Almere.

By plane
Almere is close to the Schiphol Airport, one of the best-connected airports in the world. From the train station directly underneath the airport concourse, you can take a direct train to Almere. There are longstanding plans to turn Lelystad airport into a "reliever" for Schiphol but as of 2021 it is unclear when, if ever, they'll come to fruition.

Get around
Almere has six train stations. Almere Poort, Almere Muziekwijk, Almere Centrum, Almere Parkwijk, Almere Buiten, and Almere Oostvaarders. Almere also has an extensive network of freelaying bus routes. On most of these routes, buses run every five minutes from Monday to Friday. In the weekend, early in the morning and in the evening and night. The buses drive less frequently.

The city also features an extensive network of free laying bike paths covering the entire city. Bikes can be rented at the bike shops at the train stations Almere Centrum and Buiten.

Modern architecture
Almere is rife with prominent examples of modern architecture from 1970s onwards, and prides itself in its collection thereof. If this is one of your interests, you will surely not be disappointed in Almere.

Your tour of the architectural marvels of Almere would head off to a good start with a visit to those two places, both housed in rather interesting buildings, close to each other and right in the centre of the city:

Some of the most prominent works of architecture are to be found in the town's new centre (Stadshart):
 * De Citadel, Jewel and Smaragd and Angle form a multi-functional centre with shops on the ground level, residential quarters over them and parking and transit hidden underneath
 * De Nieuwe Bibliotheek complements them with a striking building with functions beyond that of a traditional library and more of a true community centre. Next to it is the sprawling city hall, Stadhuis Almere
 * The waterfront of Stadshart is a collection of striking residential buildings: Lakeside, The Wave, Side by side and The City. Next to them, striking De Kunstlinie houses the local theatre (Schouwburg Almere)

Art and culture

 * Utopolis - the local outlet of the multiplex cinema chain

Do

 * Walk! - Almere is a very walkable municipality, offering both urban and natural landscapes to explore. There are plenty of organized and pre-planned walks available via VVV Almere . Or you can simply grab a map and explore yourself.
 * Football: Almere City FC were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in Eredivisie, the Dutch top tier. Their home ground Yanmar Stadion (capacity 4500) is 2 km north of town centre.
 * Football: Almere City FC were promoted in 2023 and now play soccer in Eredivisie, the Dutch top tier. Their home ground Yanmar Stadion (capacity 4500) is 2 km north of town centre.

Buy
In the City Centre - [1 ]  of Almere are branches of all major retailers. Besides, there are also many local and special shops. In Almere Haven you will find Haven Centrum, this is a community center. In Almere Buiten you will find BuitenMere, a community center and DoeMere- [1 ] a large shopping center that is completely specialised in home and DIY. In Almere Poort are two supermarkets, a pharmacy, a drugstore and a number of small eateries. Besides these, there are many local shops, for instance at the C. van  Eesterenplein, Literatuurwijk, Muziekwijk, Parkwijk and De Meenten

Drink
Most bars are on the Grote Markt. There are some bars in the Havenkom, this is harbor of Almere-Haven, here you can eat and drink while enjoying the view of the bay in a very calm setting.

Sleep
There aren't many accommodation options in Almere, and all are geared towards business travellers - expect modern, non-nonsense design and the usual features.

For more accommodation options, you may want to base yourself in one of the neighbouring provinces of North-Holland or Utrecht.

Go next

 * Lelystad — has some interesting sights, such as the recreated VOC ship
 * Oostvaardersplassen — this nature reserve is one of the prime birding areas in Europe
 * Schokland — this island used to be similar to Urk, but had to be evacuated; a ghost village remains and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * Urk — traditional old Dutch village community that once was an island

title: Almere


text:
Almería

Almería is a city in Andalucia, also called "the Hollywood of Spain".

Understand
The word Almería is an Arabic word which means mirror of the sea. Like many Andalusian cities, Almería kept its Arabic name after it had been recaptured by the Spanish. It is an average-sized city by the Mediterranean Sea with a population of around 200,000 (2018). In its region lies the Natural Resort (Parque Natural) area of Cabo de Gata.

Climate
Almería has a hot, arid climate. Almería's winters are very mild, around 18 °C (65 °F). Summers are long and hot and often reach and exceed 40 °C (104 °F) in the shade during July and August.

By plane
As an alternative you can flight to Málaga Airport (AGP) instead. It's the fourth busiest in Spain and thus has flights to most of major European airports and some non-European ones (Montreal, New York, Casablanca, Tel Aviv) and it's 214 km away of Almería city.

From Málaga Airport to Almería city alternatives:

 * By bus through Málaga: a bus service is available connecting Málaga Airport with Málaga city. It stops at the main bus station and train station of Málaga. There you can get ALSA buses  to Almería city, taking between 3 and 5 hours depending on the intermediate stops. You can buy your tickets at the ALSA website. Bus stops at Estación Intermodal, in city downtown.
 * Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a daily direct bus connection operated by ALSA between the airport and Almería city, but it is not available as of March 2022.

By train
The route from Madrid is quite slow (almost 7 hours), but incredibly scenic, as the train winds along a serpentine route though the desert, revealing a landscape like nothing else in Europe, with barren mountains, and tiny, remote arroyos (wadis) where a few cactus and palms survive on underground moisture. The train also offers a spectacular view as it approaches Guadix, a town in the desert backed by a massive cliff, into which numerous cave buildings have been carved. After a few hours the train breaks through the mountains and beyond the desert into the flat tableland of the Meseta, from where it sprints towards Madrid in a dead straight line. The Almería-Granada train route has been praised as recommended slow travel by the Guardian.

By road
Almería has a good land communication with all the Mediterranean coast by the highway, which join up to France frontier in La Jonquera and, on the other side, ends at Algeciras.

To the interior, Almería is connected by the, another highway that connects with the rest of Andalusia and Madrid. This roads are toll-free.

By bus
The bus station is combined with the train station, and is immediately south-east of the city centre, near to the Cable. Buses arrive from Jaén, Málaga, Granada and a variety of other cities all day. Less frequent long distance buses run from points along the coast to Barcelona, and up to Madrid. Additional options are available if routing through Granada, which is quick and simple. The bus station only serves long-distance buses. Some municipal buses stop outside, but don't start or terminate from here.

Get around
Despite the mountainous terrain surrounding the city, Almeria itself is mostly flat, and getting round on foot is easy and pleasant, due to the dry conditions and shaded streets. There is also a comprehensive, if not terribly frequent, network of municipal buses, operated by Surbus. Fares are affordable, and routes and timetables can be found on the company website.

See

Do

 * Visit the great beaches of and.
 * Football: UD Almería were relegated in 2024 and play soccer in Segunda División, the second tier. Their home ground Power Horse Stadium (capacity 17,400) is 1 km east of city centre on the riverbank.
 * Football: UD Almería were relegated in 2024 and play soccer in Segunda División, the second tier. Their home ground Power Horse Stadium (capacity 17,400) is 1 km east of city centre on the riverbank.
 * Football: UD Almería were relegated in 2024 and play soccer in Segunda División, the second tier. Their home ground Power Horse Stadium (capacity 17,400) is 1 km east of city centre on the riverbank.

Buy

Eat
There are numerous tapas bars around the town, offering a choice of meat, fish and seafood as well as some typical tortillas and potato dishes. Tapas bars are typically visited by the locals before the night fiesta.

Drink
Most of the bars are in the area known by the locals as cuatro calles (the four streets) in the very centre of the city and just under the Cathedral plaza. Depending on the day, a litre of beer could cost as little as €2 in some bars.

Connect
As of June 2022, Almería has 4G from Orange and Vodafone, and 5G from MasMovil/Yoigo and Movistar.

Stay safe
Almería is generally a peaceful town. Robberies or crime is highly unlikely although the locals might advise to keep away from a couple neighbourhoods at night.

Consulates

 * 🇷🇴 Romania

Go next

 * Province of Almería
 * Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park
 * Granada
 * Melilla
 * Málaga
 * Route of the Landscapes of Cultural Interest in Almería

title: Almería


text:
Almería (province)

Almería is a province in Andalusia, Spain. It is largely unspoilt for the time being. The province has a lot to offer, with great beach resorts, national parks, desert and mountains as well as the city of Almería.

Cities

 * — called "the Hollywood of Spain"
 * — has some nice beaches, and a museum
 * — the coastal strip, especially in Balerma and Almerimar, has a marina and the Almerimar golf course
 * — a village that is a nice place to have lunch facing at the sea, but it is especially worth going to a nearby beach called "El Playazo"
 * — part of the network "the most beautiful towns in Spain"
 * — an extremely picturesque, typically Moorish, agricultural town close to the breathtaking Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park
 * — has many long, blue-flag, beaches which are kept meticulously clean
 * — made up of simple houses, with one or two floors, with whitewashed walls and tiled roofs

Other destinations

 * — Andalusia's largest coastal protected area, a wild and isolated landscape with some of Europe's oldest geological features

Understand
With the most hours sunshine and lowest rainfall in Europe, Almería is often regarded as one of the most desirable destinations to live. Summer days are long, warm and plentiful and even in January you might still be wearing a t-shirt if the sun comes up bright enough. The area is known as one of high unemployment but with its hot climate, new wealth is arriving in the form of agriculture; fruit, vegetables and flowers. Due to the climate much of the landscape is dry and desert-like, but lunar landscapes and fabulous rock formations are abundant and this amazing terrain made Almería home to some of the greatest spaghetti westerns ever made.

The most important economic activity is greenhouse farming. Millions of tons of vegetables are exported to other European countries and other parts of the world each year.

Tourism is also a key sector of the economy, due to the sunny weather and attractive areas such as Roquetas de Mar, Aguadulce, Almerimar, Mojacar, Vera or Cabo de Gata.

By plane
Almería's international airport is about 10 km outside of the city of Almería. The nearest international airports outside the province are in Málaga and Alicante.

By car
The province can be reached via the following highways:
 * Mediterranean Motorway   : Perthus (France) - Girona - Barcelona - Tarragona - Castellón de la Plana - Valencia - Elche - Murcia - Almería - Motril - Málaga - Algeciras
 * motorway: Seville - Antequera - Granada - Guadix - Almería

See

 * Los Millares, Europe's most important settlement from the Copper Age, near Almería.
 * The Moorish fortress of Alcazaba in Almería
 * Research and development for solar technologies is carried out on the Plataforma Solar de Almería test site near Tabernas

Do
For resort type beaches try Roquetas de Mar or Mojácar north towards Murcia which has lovely sandy beaches, Med sea and in season is full of laid back beach bars and clubs.

For the more unspoilt feel, try Cabo de Gata (Nijar) which is a national park containing a stretch of rocky/ covey coastline with small villages. Los Escullos is a beach with a large Moroccan marquee bar during the summer season, a nightclub, a hotel and a hostel. A great place to see the dawn in.

Mini Hollywood is inland from Almería (Tabernas) - the studios where many Spaghetti Westerns were shot which put on cowboy shows and have a museum of Western films there.

The Landscapes of cultural interest in Almería route could be an excellent way to delve into the landscapes and ethnography of the province.

Eat
In Almería near to a town called Tijola, you will find a traditional, quiet and charming village named El Higueral. Here on the main road through you will find an inconspicuous bar/restaurant called Bar Azahara; and here they serve steak that will probably be better than any you have had in years. The food is delicious, reasonably priced and your meat is cooked in a fire that dominates the rustic décor. It really is worth a detour.

Go next

 * Granada

title: Almería (province)


text:
Almolonga

Almolonga is a city in Guatemala on the road between Ciudad de Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango City) and Zunil. It provides medicinal sulfur baths, an up-close look at every day agro-business, and a taste of Guatemalan culture.

Understand
Its population in 2018 was 16,000, people, 99% of whom were indigenous to the K'iche' ethnic group.

The town is known as the "Vegetable Basket of the Americas" (La Hortaliza de las Américas) due to the intense cultivation of vegetables in its vicinity. Its agricultural production includes onion, cabbage, carrot, turnip, beetroot, radish and lettuce. Various flowers are grown. Its artisanal production includes cotton fabrics, basketry, candles, leather and fireworks.

Tourist attractions include nearby thermal baths and Paradise Valley.

Get in
Just like going to its neighboring village Zunil, take a bus from either Minerva bus terminal or Rotonda bus terminal.

See
Most of the vegetables are grown on small family plots and there is something growing in Almolonga year-round.

Market Day: Wednesday & Saturday

title: Almolonga


text:
Almonaster la Real

Almonaster la Real is a village of 1,800 people (2018) in Huelva. It is known for its 10th-century mosque.

Get in
Casal bus from Aracena or train from Huelva. The train station is several kilometres from the village. Bus times are not easy to check from a distance and anybody planning a visit would do well to contact a hotel there for information.

Get around
Numerous way-marked walks in the area.

See

The Mezquita is a fortified mosque on the hill top with an adjacent old bullring. The Mezquita was built in the 10th century from a visigothic basilica from the 5th century, reusing its materials. It is one of the few surviving Spanish rural mosques. It is an oddly-shaped building, made of brick and stone in a trapezoid shape, probably because of the hilly terrain.

Sleep

 * Hotel Casa Garcia - at the entrance to the village.

title: Almonaster la Real


text:
Almonte (Ontario)

Almonte (pronounced "AL-mont") is a historic town of about 5000 people (2013) outside of Ottawa. It is part of Mississippi Mills in eastern Ontario's Lanark County.

History
Almonte's first European- settler was David Shepherd, who in 1818 was given 200 acres (0.81 km2) by the Crown to build and operate a mill. The site became known as Shepherd's Falls. Shepherd sold his patent after his mill burned down. The buyer of the patent, Daniel Shipman, rebuilt the mill and the settlement became known as Shipman's Mills by about 1821. The majority of the early settlers were Scottish and later Irish. A textile town almost from the start, by 1850 it was the home of seven busy woolen mills of Messrs B & W Rosamond. It was one of the leading centres in Ontario for the manufacture of woollen cloth. The construction of a railway line to Brockville stimulated the economic growth of Almonte.

In 1869, Almonte was a village with a population of 2000. It was a station of the Brockville and Ottawa Railway. By the 1870 the town had 30 stores and 40 other businesses. During this time of rapid expansion the town changed its name from Shipman's Mills to Ramsayville, and then to Waterford. When in 1855 the newly created Canadian post office pointed out there was already a Waterford in Ontario, the town needed yet another name change.

Relations between the United States and Great Britain had been antagonistic since the Revolutionary War and later the War of 1812. Border wars between Mexico and the United States in the 1830s increased this antagonism. Mexican general Juan Almonte had fought honourably in these latter wars, and by 1853 had become Mexico's ambassador to the United States. It appears likely that Waterford saw the General as a "principled David fighting a Goliath interested in swallowing up all North America."

After the last textile mill closed in the early 1980s, Almonte no longer had a dominant industry. It has since turned its attention towards tourism. It offers museums and several historical spots, such as the home of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, and the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum.

Almonte retains much of its 19th-century architecture. The former Almonte post office, designed in 1889 by Thomas Fuller (the architect of the Parliament Buildings), and the Rosamond Woollen Mill, the largest 19th-century textile mill in Canada, are designated as National Historic Sites of Canada.

Get in

 * From Ottawa: Almonte is 52 km (by road) from Centretown. Go west on the Trans-Canada Highway 417 and turn southwest onto March Road.
 * From Carleton Place: Almonte is on old Highway 29, which leads from Carleton Place through Almonte and Pakenham to Arnprior.

By bus

 * OC Transpo Route 61 (54 min, every 30 min, $4) from Albert/Bank in Ottawa to Hazeldean Rd/Carp Rd in Stittsville, then by taxi (27 km, $50-65) to Almonte.

Get around
There is no public transit in Almonte.

Go next

 * Arnprior
 * Carleton Place
 * Ottawa-Gatineau
 * Ottawa Valley

title: Almonte (Ontario)


text:
Almora

Almora is a hill station in Uttarakhand State.

The town is typical of crowded hill towns in northern India, but the natural beauty around it is astounding. Almora is called a town of temples. Situated in the centre of the town is the temple of Goddess Nanda Devi. The mountain is also visible from the nearby areas.

Understand
Almora is a town of about 36,000 (2011) in the Kumaon mountains of the Himalayas in eastern Uttarakhand. Most of the town sits on a crescent-shaped mountain ridge about 5 km long, and most of it is above 1,800 m. The rivers Kosi and Suyal flow around Almora providing a natural barrier. Unlike Shimla, Ranikhet and Nainital, which were developed by the English, Almora is a hill station totally developed by the Kumaoni Indians.

Almora is an agricultural base and also a trade centre.

History
Almora was the seat of power of the Chand Dynasty who ruled the land of Kumaon for almost one thousand years. An interesting fact about the discovery of Almora is that unlike other hill stations, it was not discovered and developed by the British. The Katyuri Dynasty ruled the region around Almora from the 9th century AD, till it made way for the Chand dynasty. Raja Balo Kalyan Chand made Almora as his new capital in 1560 AD, when he transferred his capital from Champawat to Almora. The Chands occupied Almora till the 19th century AD.

There is an interesting local legend about the discovery of Almora. Raja Kalyan Chand, the ruler of the Chand Dynasty was riding on the horseshoe shaped ridge in the pursuit of a prey. The hunted quarry protected its life by taking refuge behind the thick bushes of Kilmora, a local wild barberry bush, and revealed the place to the king. The story might not be corroborated by any literary or archaeological evidences but continues to be told by the locals. The Gorkhas captured Almora in 1790 AD and finally British took it over from the Gorkhas after the Gorkha wars of 1814-1815.

Jawaharlal Nehru served a term of imprisonment in the jail at Almora during the British rule. He left behind an elaborate account of the pleasures of solitude and the varied moods of nature in his various letters written from this place to his daughter.

Get in
Almora can be reached by three different routes. The most common of it is via Nainital. Almora lies 90 km north of the nearest railway station at Kathgodam.

By train
The town is served by the Kathgodam station, which is located approximately 35 km away. Taxis charge ₹600 to Almora. You can also share a cab at ₹125 per person. Most hotels will arrange for pick up on prior request, ₹700-1000. The station handles 46 express trains per week.
 * Shatabadi Express (12040) daily-EC, CC-Dep New Delhi 06:20, Arrival Kathgodam 11:20

 * Bagh Exp (daily) - Dep. Howrah 21:45 Arr. 09:35 - 2 nights
 * Dehradun Kathgodam Exp (W Su) - Dep. 22:30 Arr. 07:25 - 1 night
 * Ranikhet Exp (daily) - Dep. Delhi Jn 22:45 Arr. 05:00 - 1 night
 * Sampark Kranti Exp (daily) - Dep. Delhi Jn 16:00 Arr. 22:45 - 7 hours

By road
There are daily bus services from Delhi. The buses leave from ISBT Anand Vihar and are run by Uttarakhand Roadways.

Driving to Almora takes 10 to 12 hours. From Delhi, it's highway driving throughout. NH 24 connects Delhi to Rampur via Hapur. At Rampur, turn and head north on NH 87 all the way up to Almora. En-route halts include the Wonderland, Rwy crossing, Moradabad and The Kaichi temple, Kaichi.

By plane
Contrary to popular belief, flying into Almora is the fastest way to reach the hill station. Almora is served by Pantnagar Airport, which has only IndiGo flights to Delhi and Jaipur. Taxi fare to the airport is ₹1200-1500.

See

 * Binsar temple The Bineshwar temple is a large temple complex 8 km from Almora. In addition, there is a good view from the nearby Binsar Top.

Kasar Devi, 8 km from the city, has great views.

Do
Walk the famous bazaar - still with glimpses of the old Kumaouni culture

Buy

 * Copperware
 * Woolen garments.

Eat
Bal Mithai, a famous milk sweet of Almora. Also Choklate (not chocolate), a condensed milk sweet with fudge-like consistency and Singauri, again a kind of milk sweet wrapped in a green Malu leaf, which gives it its acclaimed flavour.

Drink
Lots of 'adrak' (ginger) tea - the popular local drink - is offered to welcome guests and also to keep warm.

Budget
Hotels include the upscale Club Mahindra and the relatively down-to-earth KMVN (Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam) Tourist Rest House.

Splurge

 * Binsar Resort.
 * Kalmatia Sangam - just outside of Almora.
 * Khali Estate.
 * Sitala Estate.

Go next

 * Binsar is a wildlife sanctuary 25 km from Almora. Taxis can be taken at the Almora taxi stand. The sanctuary has one resort (Club Mahindra Resort) and a forest guesthouse with an attached restaurant. Binsar has a beautifully lazy feel around it. There are jungle walkways and one can see lots of birds everywhere. In the winter Binsar can be very cold and heavy woollens are required.
 * Quaint hill resorts such as Chaukori, Ranikhet, Sitlakhet, Binsar, Kausani and Bageshwar are all around Almora and attract nature lovers.

title: Almora


text:
Al Mukalla

Al Mukalla is in the Yemeni Highlands and is eastern Yemen's biggest city, the gateway to the historical Hadhramaut region. A bustling port, it is well developed by Yemeni standards, with good roads and a reasonably smart waterfront. In 2021, it was home to about 566,000 people.

Understand

Al Mukalla is close to Cane, the ancient Hadrami trading post between India and Africa, with incense producing areas in its hinterland. The city was founded in 1035 as a fishing settlement. While Al Mukalla has fared slightly better during the ongoing Yemeni Civil War, it was held by Al-Qaida between 2015-2016.

By plane
National carrier Yemenia operates a few domestic flights to Mukalla.

See
The old historic city core, located on a small peninsula, has many small alleyways worth exploring.

Do
Nearby are Hadhramaut Mountains, such as Husn Ghuraf.

Sleep

Go next

 * Socotra – an island that is a UNESCO world natural heritage site, and very safe (in contrast to the Yemen mainland)

title: Al Mukalla


text:
Almuñécar

Almuñécar is a small coastal city in Granada province that lies between Salobreña to the east and Nerja to the west. A once-laid back fishing town, it has become a resort for Northern Europeans and North Americans to escape from the frigid winters at home. With the expansion of the European Union, more Eastern Europeans have been drawn here too by the sub-tropical climate where the sun shines at least 320 days of the year.

Understand
The municipality includes the villages and neighbourhoods of La Herradura, Cotobro, Taramay and Velilla and has an approximate population of 26,000 inhabitants (2018). This number varies as during the summer months the number of people can be multiplied by 5 times.

Since 1975, the town has become one of the most important tourist towns in Granada province and on the Costa Tropical; it has good transport connections and a football (soccer) stadium.

Almuñécar is an important setting in Laurie Lee's account of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, and referred to as "Castillo" to disguise people's identities.

Get in
Almuñécar is equidistant from the Granada and Málaga airports, 55 minutes by car on the highway.

From both airports there are several bus lines that cover the passenger transport service to Almuñécar. The best known and operating in both cases is ALSA, although there are more options. You can also count on the taxi stands at both airports. The price is usually around €130 in both cases (Apr 2023), although this price may be higher depending on the day and time. Another option is private airport transfer companies that operate a very similar service to taxis but with fixed rates. International companies such as Uber also operate in both cities. There is no train line that goes to Almuñécar.

Get around
The local bus transportation is quite good, but alas there is no train service.

See
The sights include ancient Phoenician, as the fish salting factory in the Parque del Majuelo, which is also a botanical park that houses the largest variety of palm trees in Europe. Also Roman ruins, castle, an archaeological museum, the historic old town of Muslim origin, gastronomic museum, and an expansive stretch of inviting beaches. For the sportsminded, all types of water sports are possible, as well as rural walks into the surrounding hills (where the panoramic views are amazing), horseback riding, paragliding and mountain biking. During the warm summer months, "tapa" bars are bursting with life well into the wee hours of the morning.

Do
The area surrounding Almuñécar features some outstanding geography, making it a good spot for extreme sports. Climbing, canyoning, mountain biking and parapenting are popular in the area. Due to its proximity to the coast there is also scuba diving and snorkelling to kayaking and kitesurfing. The Alpujarra mountain area nearby is known for its serene natural environment and ski resort.

Due to the richness of the seabed and the rugged topography of its coasts, Almuñécar is a fine place for scuba diving, especially in the nearby town of La Herradura, which belongs to the same municipality. There are several reputable businesses with considerable experience in practicing underwater activities safely.

Eat
Almuñécar's gastronomy focuses mainly on fresh fish and tropical fruit. Monkfish (rape), red sea bream (besugo), squids (calamares), grouper (mero), croaker (corvina), and shellfish paella are typical examples of local seafood. There are several restaurants next to the beach where meals featuring these can be eaten al fresco (at tables outside) in the sea breezes. Pub crawls with stops at several bars to try different tapas are also popular.

The soil in the area is very fertile, and due to the semi-tropical climate, tropical fruits can be grown here. The most notable are mangos, avocados, loquats, and cherimoyas, but it is also easy to find papayas, guavas, lychees, kiwis, figs and even prickly pears, the fruit of the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus, which are used to make ice cream and jams sold in several local coffee shops.

Some typical dessert cakes still made locally include:
 * Cazuela Mohína: an almond-based cake made with brown sugar, sesame and aniseed.
 * Torta de Alhajú: an almond cake wrapped in wafers and honey.
 * Merengazo: a sponge cake topped with egg white meringue.

Drink
Almuñécar is not an area known for its wine production, but some beverages are produced in the area thanks to some crops that grow in the area's mild climate. The chirimoya liquor is specific to the area and one of its flagship products. You can also find the herbal liquor known as "Palo de Almuñécar," which is produced from a mixture of herbs and spices macerated in brandy.

Sleep
There are several 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels, campsites and rural lodgings (called "cortijos") in the area.

Connect
To Almuñécar can be reached by two roads. The coastal highway A-7 or through the known as "Carretera de la Cabra" which is the old regional road A-4050 that connects the city of Granada with the coast. From the A-7, you have to take either of the two entrances to Almuñécar through the national road N-340, which provides access to the town either from the east or the west.

Go next

 * Malaga
 * Granada

title: Almuñécar


text:
Almyros

Almyros (Greek Αλμυρός) (Population: 18,614 (2011)) is a city in Greece.

Almyros is a small town, just next to Volos airport.

By regional coach
There are frequent buses between Almyros and Volos. Details on buses, can be found online here

title: Almyros


text:
Alnmouth

Alnmouth is a beach resort town in Northumberland, England. The name is pronounced 'Allenmouth'. Many non-locals get this wrong, including many conductors on British trains.

By road
Alnmouth is about 5 miles from the A1 trunk road north to Scotland and this is the main access route for the town.

By bus
Alnmouth is on Arriva Bus route 518 running between Newcastle and Alnwick. There are three stops in Hipsburn (including one at the top of the Station approach), one in Lesbury and three in Alnmouth. The service runs hourly in each direction and is generally very reliable. Travelsure also operates their 519 Service between Alnmouth Station and Alnwick during the summer season.

By plane
Newcastle International Airport is about 40 miles to the south.

By taxi

 * Alnmouth Private Hire (Don Hume) (Tel: +44 1665 830096)
 * Alnmouth Station Taxi Knights (Paul Dixon) (07760 715667) For all your needs cars, estate cars (for extra luggage) and 7 seaters available. Alnwick, Amble and outlying areas.
 * The Yellow Taxi (Russell Draper) (+44 1665 541250) - Up to six passengers can travel in a genuine London taxi. Call +44 1665 541250 or look for The Yellow Taxi.

Sleep
Alnmouth has many b&bs and pubs offering accommodation.

There are also lots of self-catering cottages to chose from.

Connect
As of July 2021, you'll be lucky to get a mobile signal in Alnmouth from any UK carrier.

title: Alnmouth


text:
Alnwick

Alnwick is a pretty town in Northumberland, England. It is best known for Alnwick Castle, which gas been used for the filming of many TV shows and movies, including the Harry Potter films. Its name is pronounced 'Annick'.

By bus
Arriva Bus X15 MAX runs hourly from Newcastle upon Tyne Haymarket, taking 90 min via Gosforth and Morpeth, as of July 2022. Alternate buses continue north up the A1 to Beal (for Lindisfarne), Scremerston and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

By train
The nearest railway station is Alnmouth southwest, with trains on the London King's Cross-Newcastle-Edinburgh route. The Arriva Bus X18 and X20 MAX routes run every half hour from Alnmouth Station to Alnwick (13 min) as of July 2022 or organise a taxi (£12 as of Oct 2022).

Get around
On foot or by taxi.

 * The Yellow Taxi (Russell Draper) - Up to six passengers can travel in style in a genuine London taxi.

Do

 * is a theme park within Alnwick Castle grounds.

Eat

 * A good cheap pizza place is on the high street.

Sleep

 * Bailiffgate Hotel by the castle opens in Aug 2024.
 * Bailiffgate Hotel by the castle opens in Aug 2024.
 * Bailiffgate Hotel by the castle opens in Aug 2024.

Connect
As of July 2021, Alnwick has a patchy 4G signal from all UK carriers. 5G has not reached the town.

title: Alnwick