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Waitsfield

Waitsfield is a ski resort town in Central Vermont. Mad River Glen and Sugarbush are both nearby.

Get in
If you are flying to the area, you are most likely to fly into Burlington International Airport in Burlington. There are smaller state airports closer to Waitsfield, however. Those include Edward F. Knapp Airport in Barre and Morrisville-Stowe State Airport in Morrisville.

For getting in by car, the closest major interstate is I-89 which stretches from Concord, NH, to Burlington. Waitsfield lies on Vermont Route 100, a scenic and winding road that connects the northern and southern ends of the state. Waitsfield is about 10 miles south of I-89 at Duxbury, Vt.

Get around
A car is necessary to get around. A four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle is recommended in winter. The narrow, winding roads can be hazardous to drivers who are inexperienced driving on snow or ice. This is especially true when approaching from the West via Route 17 as it crosses the Green Mountains at Appalachian Gap. Large vehicles such as RVs are advised to seek another route.

Taxi cabs are less common in Vermont than in more populated areas.

Sleep
Although it is a small town of about 2,000 residents, Waitsfield's proximity to Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski resorts means that there are many lodging options when you travel here. The variety of accommodations includes bed and breakfasts, inns, motels, hotels and vacation homes.

title: Waitsfield


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Wajima

Wajima (輪島) is a small town in Japan, on the Noto Peninsula, north of Kanazawa. The Wajima morning market, which was one of the town's most famous attractions, was destroyed by fires in the 2024 Noto earthquake. The Wajima Market website contains information about how to donate to rebuild the market.

Understand
Since the middle ages, Wajima has been famous for lacquerware (漆器 shikki) production, to an extent that "Japan" used to mean lacquerware in the same sense that "China" meant porcelain ware. Japan's finest lacquerware still comes from this town, although industrial lacquerware production (of perceived lower quality) is distributed around the nation.

Tourist information site
The city government and the local tourist association have a Japanese-only guide site.

By train
Trains to Wajima have stopped running, although you can still get as far as Nanao by JR and Anamizu on the private Noto Railway.

By bus
There are a few direct buses daily from Kanazawa. There are also some regular guided bus tours for local tourists.

Do

 * Wajima Kobo Nagaya (輪島工房長屋) In the north of the town, 200m from the ocean, is a small "lacquerware production village" for tourists. In it, a chain of 8 artisans required to produce a rice bowl are illustrating their jobs and explaining it to visitors. A translator for non-Japanese is also available. The location is directly west to the Juzo shrine.
 * Wajima Kiriko Art Museum (輪島キリコ会館) A little out east, there is a great "lantern hall". Lantern (kiriko) means carry-able by up to 80 men and up to 15m in size (not been in use for a while; since electrical lines came up, they are generally restricted to 6m). Once a year a big festival is held where all the quarters of the town compete with each other on who has the best lantern.

Sleep
No youth hostels, but a good number of ryokan (Japanese inns) and a modern hotel (Hotel RouteInn Wajima). These are more expensive than elsewhere (e.g. Kanazawa) because competition is less and it is more remote.

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

title: Wajima


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Wakatobi

Wakatobi is a small archipelago, regency, and national park in South East Sulawesi in Indonesia.

Understand
Wakatobi is well known among divers as one of the world's best dive sites. The name is an acronym of the four largest islands in the area: Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomea, and Binongko. Wakatobi forms a regency, of which the capital is Wangiwangi. The regency is also a national park.

Get in
Most travel to Wakatobi departs from Kendari and arrives in Wangi-Wangi, either by boat or plane.

By plane
You can fly into Wangi-Wangi (also known as Wakatobi, airport code WNI) by plane operated by Wings Air from Kendari. As of 2024 there are two flights a week, namely on Monday and Friday, which can only be booked on the Lion Air website. Flight prices vary, but are usually around IDR 1,000,000/person or US$100/person. The logistically quickest way to reach Wangi-Wangi would be to first fly to Makassar (Bandar Udara), then to Kendari and afterwards to Wangi-Wangi / Wakatobi.

Be aware that the airport on Wangi-Wangi is on the exact opposite side of the island to its only city, and that there is no public transport available. If you've booked ahead at a resort, they will probably have someone waiting for you. Otherwise, someone at the airport can call a taxi or ojek for you: you will have to wait for around thirty minutes for it to arrive before starting your thirty-minute-long journey into town. An ojek costs IDR 50,000.

Some divers also arrive on Tomia Island of Wakatobi via the exclusive Wakatobi Resort's scheduled chartered flights from Bali, but this is not a necessary precursor to diving at Pulau Tomia.

By boat
For travelers with more time and a smaller budget there is a ferry connecting Kendari to Wangi-Wangi. It usually departs beginning at 09:00 AM from the Wanci port of Kendari (just slightly east on the northern end of the Kendari Bay Bridge / Jembatan Teluk Kendari). The ferry takes about 10 hours to reach Wangi-Wangi and there are different boats and operators, such as KFC Jetliner(Pelni), KM Aksar Saputra and KM Al Sudais, each with different departure dates. The ticket price is around IDR 86,000/person for KFC Jetliner and other boats IDR 200,000/person.

Alternatively it is also possible to reach Wangi-Wangi from Bau-Bau on Buton Island. Sadly, as of 2024, there are no boats anymore departing directly from the city of Bau-Bau, but instead at least a 1 hours drive away from either the town of Pasarwajo or from the town of Kamaru. You have to take a taxi or shared car from Bau-Bau to one of these two ports (Pasarwajo is closer). From Pasarwajo to Wangi-Wangi it approximately takes 3 hours, from Kamaru about 5 hours. The ferry ticket prices are approx. IDR 80,000 – IDR 150,000/person.

When arriving on Wangi-Wangi (which depending on the ferry will be either at the Panggulubelo Port in Wanci or at the Numana fishing port a bit south of it) you can take an ojek to your accomodation. Usually there are always ojek drivers waiting for incoming ferries.

By boat
The Cantika fast boat connects the main islands of Pulau Wangi-Wangi, Pulau Kaledupa and Pulau Tomia on a rolling schedule, leaving from each island every two to three days. There is no shortage of smaller boats connecting the various islands, so on any given day you should be able to move from one island to another. It's best to just ask around (for example, at your accommodation reception) a day or two before you want to travel.

On the official Wakatobi Tourism website there is also boat schedule with information about the departure times and which piers to go, but the schedules on Wakatobi Island are subject to change in the dynamic Wakatobi. Also note that some boats cannot depart on bad or stormy weather, meaning that you should always bring a good amount of flexiblity with you, especially when leaving Wakatobi for catching any flights.

By ojek
On the main islands, ojeks (motorcycle drivers) are easy to flag down on any main road or harbour and usually cost around IDR 5,000 - IDR 20,000 for a short trip, such as from a hotel to the harbour.

By scooter
You could also ask at your accomodation or at some rental shops in Wanci for a scooter, a fine way to explore the islands.

Scuba Diving
Scuba Diving at Wakatobi is excellent, with a high diversity of corals, rich marine life, and very few divers relative to more popular Indonesian marine parks such as Komodo National Park and Bunaken National Park. The best diving in Wakatobi is around Pulau Tomia, although excellent coral diving is also possible around Pulau Hoga, a small island near Pulau Kaledupa. People also dive from Pulau Wangi-Wangi.

Snorkelling
Snorkelling in Wakatobi can be just as good as Scuba Diving, provided you enter the correct spot and stay safe. While some accomodations may have snorkel equipment for rent, rather don't count on it and take your own with you to Wakatobi. Some snorkelling spots are subject of strong currents, so always take precautions or go there with someone on a boat.

Motorcycling

 * Tour the islands by motorbike, WangiWangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, Binongko. You can rent motorcycles at Jelly in WangiWangi, at Villa MM in Kaledupa, at Labore stay in Tomia, as well as at Anjungan Busoa in Binongko. It's fun to cruise the islands and see village life. In Tomia there are serveral forts that can be visited and some nice beaches. You can get a map of Tomia showing all attractions at Labore Stay.

Eat
There are various Warung and small restaurants on Wakatobi, mainly in the respective main towns of the four islands.

Sleep
Most of the accomodations on Wakatobi are centered in the respective main towns of the islands, with some individual resorts scattered around.

Stay safe
Be careful when snorkelling independently - some snorkel spots are subject to strong currents. Inform yourself at local dive shops, or hire a boat driver who can watch over you while you are snorkelling.

Go next

 * Kendari, take either a flight from Wangi-Wangi (WNI) to Kendari (twice a week, every Monday and Friday) or a ferry from Wangi-Wangi to the Wanci Port of Kendari
 * Bau-Bau, take a ferry from Wangi-Wangi to Bau-Bau on Buton Island
 * Makassar, then to the north to see Butterfly Paradise in Bantimurung Waterfall area and then spend a few nights in Tanah Toraja.

title: Wakatobi


text:
Wakayama

Wakayama is the capital of Wakayama prefecture, Japan. Having played an important part in the history of Japan, Wakayama has a unique culture with many important shrines.

History
Seven centuries ago, Wakayama is said Ki no kuni (木国). Ki means wood. Wood is important materials. Wood is used everywhere in Japan, for example shrine, temple, house, ship, hoe, lacquerware and chopsticks. According to Nihon Shoki (日本書紀), Isotakeru (五十猛) planted a tree in Japan. Ooyatsuhime (大屋都比賣神) and Tsumatsuhime (都麻都比賣命) planted a tree in Japan too. They are brother and sisters. They came back Ki no kuni. They dedicated Itakiso Jinja Shrine (伊太祁曽神社).

According to Kojiki (古事記), Isotakeru help Ōkuninushi that is targeted his life. Ōkuninushi dedicated Izumo Grand Shrine in Shimane Prefecture. Ōkuninushi and Sukunabikona (少彦名命) cooperated. But Sukunabikona go to Tokoyono kuni (常世の国). Sukunabikona dedicated Awashima-jinja Shrine (淡嶋神社) in Kada.

According to Nihon Shoki (日本書紀) and Kojiki (古事記), Emperor Jimmu and Hikoitsusenomikoto come to Wakayama. Hikoitsusenomikoto is Emperor Jimmu's older brother. He was wounded. He died in Onominato Wakayama, and buried in Kamayama. He dedicated Kamayama Jinja Shrine (竈山神社). Emperor Jimmu present Higata no Kagami and Hiboko no Kagami to Takeshi-uchi no Sukune that is Ki clan in Wakayama. Higata no Kagami and Hiboko no Kagami are equivalent to Yata no Kagami is a sacred mirror that is part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan.Yata no Kagami is said to be housed in Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture. It means Amaterasu in Ise Grand Shrine. Ki clan established Hinokuma Jingu / Kunikakasu Jingu (日前神宮・國懸神宮). In the Middle Ages, visitors to Kumano Hongū Taisha dropped in Hinokuma Jingu / Kunikakasu Jingu.

Kataonami (片男波) Beach and Tamatsushima (玉津島) in Wakanoura (和歌浦) are scenic spots from the ancient times. Many people write Waka (和歌). Waka is Classical style Japanese poem. Man'yōshū (万葉集) that is oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry was written 13 poems. According to Man'yōshū, Yamabe no Akahito (山部 赤人) with Emperor Shōmu wrote the poem.

"若の浦に 潮満ち来れば 潟を無み 葦辺をさして 鶴鳴き渡る"

Kataonami (潟を無み) was named the beach. Subsequently, Kataonami (潟を無み) changed Kataonami (片男波). Emperor Shōmu was established Tamatsushima jinja Shrine (玉津島神社). Heian period, Many visitor to Kumano Hongū Taisha dropped in Wakanoura (若の浦) and wrote many Waka.Many waka use Tamatsushima for Utamakura (歌枕). Tamatsushima became famous. Tamatsushima jinja Shrine became shrine of Waka. Then Wakanoura (若の浦) changed Wakanoura (和歌浦).

Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真) dropped in Wakanoura wrote two poems. Subsequently, he was Tenjin (天神). Emperor Murakami was established Wakanoura Tenmangu Shrine (和歌浦天満宮). It was said Tenmangu with a historyaboard Kitano Tenman-gū (北野天満宮) in Kyoto and Dazaifu Tenman-gū (太宰府天満宮) in FUkuoka.

In 1585, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) visited in Wakanoura (和歌浦). He was built a castle in Okayama (岡山). Okayama changed Wakayama (和歌山). Wakayama (和歌山) means Waka-noura (和歌-浦) connected Oka-yama (岡-山).

Climate
Most travelers experience Wakayama during the worst weather of the year, in July and August.

Money
There is an international ATM in the lobby of the central post office, which is on your right as you exit the east side of Wakayama cattle, and JR Wakayama station Mio 1F. International ATMs with English menus are also available at 7-Eleven and Lawson convenience stores, which are open 24 hours in plentiful quantities throughout the city.

If you need to change money, Wakayama central post office and kiyo bank change money.

Orientation
Most visitors arrive at JR Wakayama Station, which is a 30-minute walk or get 5 minute on the Wakayama bus Line 0 from the Wakayama Castle. If you arrive by Kansai International Airport shuttle bus, you will be at the east side of the station. There is an underground pedestrian walkway leading to the main side of the station (west exit).

Visitors arrive at Nankai Wakayama-shi Station, which is a 15-minute walk from the Wakayama Castle.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a stubbornly Japanese-only guide site.

By plane
Kansai International Airport connects to domestic destinations in Japan.

ANA and JAL have daily services to Tokyo-Haneda (from ¥12,000 one way), Sapporo (from ¥14,000 one way), and Okinawa (from ¥12,000 one way) with online booking in English available.

Peach Aviation (LCC) have daily services to Tokyo-Narita (from ¥3500 one way), Sapporo (from ¥7000 one way), Sendai (from ¥4000 one way), Fukuoka (from ¥7000 one way), Matsuyama (from ¥3000 one way), Nagasaki (from ¥4000 one way), Kagoshima (from ¥5500 one way), Okinawa (from ¥6000 one way), and Ishigaki (from ¥8000 one way) with online booking in English available.

Jetstar Japan (LCC) have daily services to Tokyo-Narita (from ¥3000 one way), Sapporo (from ¥7000 one way), Fukuoka (from ¥7000 one way), Kumamoto (from ¥6000 one way), Ohita (from ¥7000 one way) and Okinawa (from ¥6000 one way) with online booking in English available,

The JR Hanwa Line connects the airport to JR Wakayama Station via a transfer at Hineno. It takes 50 min and costs ¥890. The Nankai Line connects the airport to Wakayama-shi Station via a transfer at Izumisano. It takes 47 mins and costs ¥870. Buses connect the airport to JR Wakayama Station. They take 40 minutes and cost ¥1150.

By train
Wakayama can be accessed on the JR Hanwa Line and the private Nankai Main Line, both of which run south from Osaka City.

JR Wakayama station can be reached by Limited Express trains from Shin-Osaka station, departing every hour. The Kuroshio, Super Kuroshio or Ocean Arrow run from Shin-Osaka to Wakayama in one hour at a cost of ¥2660. From Tennoji the run takes about 45 minutes (¥2280). There are also five daily Limited Express departures from Kyoto (90 minutes, ¥3660). From major stations on the Osaka Loop Line, regular Rapid trains run to Wakayama every 20 minutes: look for the Kisyuji Rapid (紀州路快速). It takes about 90 minutes from Osaka (¥1210) and one hour from Tennoji (¥830). Be sure that you are in the correct car, as part of the train splits off to Kansai International Airport.

The above trains are free with the Japan Rail Pass.

Nankai Railway has two stations: The main station, located marginally closer to the castle than JR, is called Wakayamashi. The other station, Wakayamako, is adjacent to the Nankai Ferry terminal where ships operate to/from Tokushima. Wakayamashi is served by Nankai Railway's Limited Express train, appropriately called the Southern. Trains depart every 30 minutes from Nankai Namba station, running to Wakayamashi in about one hour at a cost of ¥1390. Select trains continue on to Wakayamako, five more minutes away. By regular train it takes 75–90 minutes to reach Wakayamashi with a change of trains required en route, at a cost of ¥890. All trains pick up and discharge at Shin-Imamiya station, which is a stop on the JR Osaka Loop Line.

By bus
An overnight bus service operated by Narita Kūkō Kōtsū runs daily from Keisei-Ueno station in Tokyo and Yokohama station in Kanagawa to JR Wakayama and Nankai Wakayamashi stations. The one-way cost is ¥9000 from Ueno and ¥8600 from Yokohama.

By ferry
Nankai ferry operates daily service to and from Tokushima in Shikoku to Wakayama Port. Ferries arrive in about 2 hours at a much-reduced cost of ¥2000. Nankai Line connect the Wakayama Port to Wakayama-shi Station (5 minutes, ¥150).

By car
From the Hanwa Expressway, take exit 21 for Wakayama. Heading west on National Highway Route 24 will take you to the center of town.

Get around
Buses that run between the two train stations pass the castle. The maximum journey is ¥220 and takes ten minutes or so. Taxis also operate in large numbers, and are very easily found.

By train

 * JR West
 * Nankai Electric Railway
 * Wakayama Electric Railway

By bus
Wakayama Bus (和歌山バス) is Bus lines in Wakayama. Bus lines run through Wakayama and out to the suburbs. Two bus terminus are JR Wakayama station west side and Nankai Wakayama-shi station south side. 1day pass price is ¥1000. Major bus lines are 3 lines, JR Wakayama station - Nankai Wakayama-shi station line, JR Wakayama station - Wakauraguchi line and Nankai Wakayama-shi - Wakauraguchi line. JR Wakayama station - Wakauraguchi (和歌浦口) line is line No. 25, 26 and 27. JR Wakayama station - Nankai Wakayama-shi station line is line No. 0, 40, 42, 44 and 52. Nankai Wakayama-shi - Wakauraguchi (和歌浦口) line is line No.13. Wakauraguchi (和歌浦口) start Wakanoura Area.

By bicycle

 * Shiromachi eco kanko rental cycle is rental bicycle service. 1-day price is a basic bicycle ¥200, an electric assist bicycle ¥500 and a sports type bicycle ¥500. Tel. +81-73-423-6003.

Wakayama ramen taxi
Wakayama ramen taxi is taxi driver guide on Wakayama ramen.

Wakanoura Area

Do
By car, you can reach a small amusement park called Europa city, which is not very tourist-orientated or well advertised. It was built to capitalise on the Kansai airport, but has faced financial problems because of its somewhat awkward position out of town.

Smartball
It is like pinball.

Keirin
It is gambling that is a form of motor-paced cycle racing in which track cyclists sprint for victory following a speed-controlled start behind a motorized or non-motorized pacer.

Work
Wakayama features the standard array of English teaching opportunities, with branches of major eikaiwa like Geos, AEON and ECC as well as small, niche language schools. The Wakayama International Exchange Center (see Connect) is a good place to make inquiries.

Buy
Wakayama specialises in Mikan (oranges) and various other regionally-known products. There is a small gift shop adjacent to Wakayama castle, but little else. Wakayama has one main department store, Kintetsu, which is relatively expensive. Other than that, the best place to do any shopping is in Burakuricho, which has a DonKehote shop.

Eat
The Yakkinikku shop near JR station, Karibicho, is very good, and the family set meal is reasonably priced.

Tai (red sea bream)
There are three famous red sea bream area in Japan, Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture, Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture and Kada in Wakayama Prefecture. Kada red sea bream are each is delicious served grilled, stewed in a hot pot, and fresh sashimi. Famous cuisine in Wakayama is Tai Meshi and Sudume Sushi. Tai meshi is red sea bream on rice with an earthen pot. The rice is very delicious by bream soup stock. Sudume Sushi is small red sea bream sushi.

Shirasu (young sardines)
Shirasu caught in Wakaura Bay. They are most plentful in the spring and fall. The fall catch is especially firm and succulent. Famous cuisine in Wakayama is Shirasu Donburi. Shirasu Donburi is Young sardines bowl. It is eaten with grated Japanese radish over rice.

Ashiaka-ebi (red-legged shrimp)
Red-legged shrimp are caught at the Saikazaki and Tanoura fishing ports from the middle of October until May. Fall is the best time of the year for AShiake-ebi shrimp. they taste especially sweet from November to the end of January. They are served grilled, boiled, fresh sashimi, and fried as tempura.

Wakayama Ramen

Ginpei Modern Japanese Fish Cuisine
Fresh fish in Wakayama and Tai-meshi. Tai-meshi is red sea Bream and rice.

Drink
There are some atmospheric izakayas here but nothing special. Arochi has the token seedy area, which has a lot of hostess bars and other expensive vices.

Sleep
There are a few small hotels in Wakayama, none of which are really used to dealing with tourists. The most easy to spot is the monstrous Daiwa Roynet, which towers above the city near Wakayama Castle. Nearby, in Burakuricho, there is a new business hotel, and there is the Granvia hotel, a rather exclusive and expensive hotel near JR station.

Kada Area
Situated in the north of Wakayama City, there are 8 hotels in the vicinity of Tomogashima and Awashima-jinja Shrine. This area is suitable for those who seek fish cuisine or who wish to go fishing. Within 50 minutes by car from the station.

Connect
Find free wireless hotspots across the city online at Wakayama Free Wifi.

Go next
Perhaps one of the best features of Wakayama is that it is well connected, and provides good access to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and so on without being on top of them. Wakayama is a smaller city which seemingly makes little effort to embrace tourism, so is a good example of a "normal" Japanese place untouched by the demons of tourism.
 * Kainan
 * Iwade
 * Kinokawa
 * Kudoyama
 * Mount Koya
 * Yuasa
 * Kishiwada
 * Tanabe
 * Shirahama
 * Nachikatsuura

title: Wakayama


text:
Wakayama (prefecture)

Wakayama Prefecture (和歌山県 Wakayama-ken) is located in the southwestern part of Kansai region.

Tourist Information Site
Wakayama Travel Guide is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * - the prefectural capital
 * - town on the southernmost point of Honshu
 * - Mt. Nachi and Katsuura onsen
 * - Shirahama Onsen and Nanki-Shirahama Airport
 * - a little mountain town surrounded by three great onsen
 * - Shirahama Onsen and Nanki-Shirahama Airport
 * - a little mountain town surrounded by three great onsen
 * - a little mountain town surrounded by three great onsen
 * - a little mountain town surrounded by three great onsen

Other destinations

 * - mountaintop monastery town, the stronghold of mystical Shingon Buddhism and the site of Japan's strangest graveyard

By train
The main train hub is Wakayama, about one hour south of Osaka, or two hours to Kyoto on the Ocean Arrows limited express.

By train
A train line runs around the southern coastline. Other train services are sparse.

See
Shirahama beach is crowded with tourists every summer. The water is clear and there are lots of hotels near the beach.

The three shrines of Kumano Kodo, namely Kumano-Hayatama, Kumano-Nachi and Kumano-Hongu (formerly Kumano-Niimasu), have been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Go next

 * Ise - small town in Mie prefecture with its famous shrines, can be reached by train.

title: Wakayama (prefecture)


text:
WaKeeney

WaKeeney is a town in Western region of Kansas.

title: WaKeeney


text:
Wakefield

There are more than one place called Wakefield:

Australia

 * Port Wakefield - coastal town in South Australia

Canada

 * Wakefield (Quebec) - a lovely tourist town near Ottawa

New Zealand

 * Wakefield (New Zealand) — a town in Nelson Tasman

United Kingdom

 * Wakefield (England) — a city in West Yorkshire

United States of America

 * Wakefield (Kansas) — a town in Kansas
 * Wakefield (Massachusetts) — a town in Massachusetts
 * Wakefield (Michigan) — a town in Michigan
 * Wakefield (Nebraska) — a town in Nebraska
 * Wakefield (New Hampshire) — a town in New Hampshire
 * Wakefield (Rhode Island) — a village of South Kingstown, Rhode Island.
 * Wakefield (Virginia) — a town in Virginia

title: Wakefield


text:
Wakefield (England)

Wakefield is a city in West Yorkshire, England, lying 15 km south of Leeds. It's home to the Hepworth Gallery and the National Mining Museum for England. It's also a transport hub, and alternative base for visiting Leeds or York. The name “Wakefield” also refers to the metropolitan district, which includes several smaller towns plus rural areas.

Understand
Wakefield was historically the county town of West Riding, and later of West Yorkshire. It grew rapidly in the 19th and early 20th centuries through textiles, coal mining and related industries: each small town had its own colliery and its own Rugby League team, with fierce local rivalry. The pits have all closed and their sites have been landscaped, and Wakefield has diversified into mixed manufacturing, retail and distribution, as well as public sector employment. It’s also a commuter town for Leeds. The city centre is compact, walkable and mostly non-descript modern, but a parade of fine Georgian and Victorian buildings extends up Wood Street to St Johns.

The other main towns are Ossett and Horbury in the west, Castleford, Pontefract, Knottingley and Normanton in the east, plus the southeast corridor of Hemsworth, South Kirkby and South Elmsall. Away from the towns, the district is surprisingly rural, a rolling farm landscape on the edge of the Pennines; the tall Tolkienesque tower gleaming in the distant southwest is Emley Moor TV mast. To the east, beyond the A1, the terrain merges into the flatlands and pig farms of the Aire/Humber plain.

By rail
Wakefield has two train stations:

There is also a metro rail network, serving Wakefield Westgate station and Wakefield Kirkgate station, the other townships across the district, plus Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield.

Castleford also has two train stations:

By road
Major highways bestride Wakefield district like a rugby goalpost, with M1 on the western edge, A1 on the eastern edge, and M62 as the cross-bar. M1 and M62 are often snarled during rush hours, A1 is usually clear but can catch the tailback from Doncaster. There are services at Woolley Edge (M1) and Ferrybridge (A1/M62), but turn off for supermarket petrol as cheap as you'll find anywhere. Always beware that you may be about to meet a tractor, even on the A1: this is Yorkshire.

By coach, direct National Express services from Wakefield city bus station run from London Victoria (2 or 3 per day, 4-5 hours) and from the Southwest (one per day) via Derby, Birmingham (4 hours) and Bristol. From other places, travel via Leeds, which is much better served. When the Wakefield coaches return north, they continue to Bradford and Huddersfield, but will seldom be the best option for getting there.

By plane

 * From the London airports, take the train to London King's Cross (but for Stansted Airport, change at Peterborough). From Heathrow Airport take the westbound London Underground Piccadilly line (1 hour), or from Gatwick Airport  step across the street into London St Pancras for the direct Thameslink service (1 hour) towards Brighton. Even Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport  is only two hours away.
 * From the London airports, take the train to London King's Cross (but for Stansted Airport, change at Peterborough). From Heathrow Airport take the westbound London Underground Piccadilly line (1 hour), or from Gatwick Airport  step across the street into London St Pancras for the direct Thameslink service (1 hour) towards Brighton. Even Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport  is only two hours away.
 * From the London airports, take the train to London King's Cross (but for Stansted Airport, change at Peterborough). From Heathrow Airport take the westbound London Underground Piccadilly line (1 hour), or from Gatwick Airport  step across the street into London St Pancras for the direct Thameslink service (1 hour) towards Brighton. Even Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport  is only two hours away.

By ferry
P&O Ferries run (usually overnight) between Kingston-upon-Hull (Hull) and Rotterdam/Zeebrugge. For Hull ferry terminal, by car follow M62 then A62 east, about 1 hour. By coach, change at Leeds. By train change at Leeds or Doncaster; there’s a shuttle bus between Hull station and the ferry terminal.

By canal
Wakefield is traversed by the Calder and Hebble Navigation, and the Aire and Calder Navigation. There are visitor moorings on the former above Fall Ings Lock (72 hr) and also below Wakefield Flood Lock (72 hr). There are no water points or sanitary facilities along the cut here, except for rubbish disposal at the residential mooring site. The waterways meet at Castleford.

By car
Good connections to the motorway network.

By bus
Local bus services are provided by Arriva and (for points south) by Stagecoach. They are designed around the needs of commuters and shoppers so they are frequent Monday to Saturday till 6PM, but sparse thereafter. So for planning a day trip, bus is generally the best option for points within Wakefield district and for Leeds; for further afield take the train. Some of the bus routes are round-about so always check that you’re taking a reasonably direct service.

A free bus runs clockwise around the city centre M-Sa every 10-15 min. Its route is Bus Station → The Springs → Kirkgate Station → Hepworth Gallery → Ings Road Retail Park → Westgate Retail Park → Westgate Station → Westgate → Bus Station.

Arriva Bus 110 runs from Leeds every 15 min, taking 45 min via Outwood.

Bus 148 / 149 runs every 15 min from Knottingley via Pontefract and Featherstone.

Timetables and route maps are available on the West Yorkshire Metro website.

See

 * Pontefract is a small market town 10 miles east (bus 148 or 149 runs every 10 mins, 40 mins). The main attractions are the castle, the museum and the racecourse.
 * Pontefract is a small market town 10 miles east (bus 148 or 149 runs every 10 mins, 40 mins). The main attractions are the castle, the museum and the racecourse.
 * Pontefract is a small market town 10 miles east (bus 148 or 149 runs every 10 mins, 40 mins). The main attractions are the castle, the museum and the racecourse.
 * Pontefract is a small market town 10 miles east (bus 148 or 149 runs every 10 mins, 40 mins). The main attractions are the castle, the museum and the racecourse.
 * Pontefract is a small market town 10 miles east (bus 148 or 149 runs every 10 mins, 40 mins). The main attractions are the castle, the museum and the racecourse.

Do

 * Country parks are at Pugneys (3 miles south of city), Anglers / Wintersett (6 miles SE, series of small lakes with wildlife reserve and angling areas), and Newmillerdam (6 miles south, a wooded vale). Use OS Landranger map 110 for all these.
 * Aire and Calder rivers, once major industrial arteries, are now an important habitat for wildlife, though much remains to be done to rehabilitate the brownfield areas. The best parts (e.g., the RSPB reserve at Fairburn Ings) lie on the north bank of the Aire, over the boundary into Leeds, so see that page for details.
 * Rugby league (13-a-side): West Yorkshire is the heartland of this game, played Feb-Sept.
 * - Castleford Tigers play in Super League, the top tier, at The Jungle on Wheldon Rd Castleford. The women's team pays in their top tier.
 * - Wakefield Trinity (aka Wildcats) were relegated in 2023 and play in the second-tier Championship at Belle Vue stadium in Wakefield.
 * - Featherstone Rovers play in the Championship at Post Office Road in Featherstone near Pontefract.
 * - Castleford Tigers play in Super League, the top tier, at The Jungle on Wheldon Rd Castleford. The women's team pays in their top tier.
 * - Wakefield Trinity (aka Wildcats) were relegated in 2023 and play in the second-tier Championship at Belle Vue stadium in Wakefield.
 * - Featherstone Rovers play in the Championship at Post Office Road in Featherstone near Pontefract.

 * Football: The nearest pro soccer team is Leeds United. The strength of rugby league makes Wakefield one of the biggest cities to have no professional team. Semi-professional teams in the district include Frickley Athletic, Ossett United and Pontefract Collieries.

Buy
Wakefield has kept its shopping central, rather than way out on a ring road. The main malls and retail parks are Trinity Walk, just south of the bus station, The Ridings a little further west, and Ings Road/Westgate a little further south.

Out of town, the biggest retail park is Junction 32 (off M62), adjacent to Xscape, Castleford.

Eat
Beyond that, you might do better in Leeds, but reliable nearby choices include:
 * Italian choices include Prego Pizzeria(107 Westgate, ), Bella Roma (63 Northgate, ) and Capri at the Vine (82 Leeds Rd WF1 2QF, ).
 * Italian choices include Prego Pizzeria(107 Westgate, ), Bella Roma (63 Northgate, ) and Capri at the Vine (82 Leeds Rd WF1 2QF, ).
 * Italian choices include Prego Pizzeria(107 Westgate, ), Bella Roma (63 Northgate, ) and Capri at the Vine (82 Leeds Rd WF1 2QF, ).

Wakefield district is the core of the “Rhubarb Triangle”, with an annual rhubarb fair in spring.

Drink
Wakefield used to be renowned for the Westgate Run, the pub crawl down the strip of pubs, clubs and fast food joints stretching west from the centre down past the station. It’s frankly not what it used to be, when coach parties would come from afar – like the English pub scene in general, it has dwindled thanks to supermarket off-sales, laws on drink-driving and clean air, the accessibility of Ibiza, and the economic downturn. Also, Wakefield doesn't have a university, so it lacks a student buzz. Wakefield's students are often older and doing vocational courses (e.g., nursing) at Huddersfield or Carnegie (Leeds Met), and have limited appetite for pubbing & clubbing. Notable city centre pubs include:
 * Worth going the 5 km east of town to
 * Worth going the 5 km east of town to
 * Worth going the 5 km east of town to
 * Worth going the 5 km east of town to
 * Worth going the 5 km east of town to
 * Worth going the 5 km east of town to
 * Worth going the 5 km east of town to
 * Worth going the 5 km east of town to

HB Clarks have a brewery on Westgate.

Sleep
Wakefield city centre is short of accommodation – most are out of town to suit motorway travellers. Within walking distance are: Further out, if you’re travelling by car:

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

Go next

 * Lots more industrial heritage in Huddersfield and Halifax.
 * Easy day trips include Leeds, Bradford, Saltaire, Haworth and the Worth Valley Steam Railway; Harrogate, Knaresborough and Skipton; and Sheffield.
 * York is a national treasure and a must-see.
 * Day-trippable at a stretch, but deserving at least a weekend, are Manchester and Durham.

title: Wakefield (England)


text:
Wakefield (Massachusetts)

Wakefield, Massachusetts is a scenic town 12 miles north of Boston with a population of about 27,000 (2020). Wakefield has preserved much of its historic New England appearance and is recognized for its strong community involvement, quality school system, thriving businesses, public library, and for beautiful Lake Quannapowitt, which plays host to outdoor festivals and benefit activities each year.

Lynnfield is a town with a population of 13,000 (2020).

By car
Wakefield is off route 128/I-95. The town spans from Exit 38 to Exit 42. Any of the five exits will take you into the center of town. Route 129 can also take you in to Wakefield from the east.

By rail
Wakefield is served by MBTA commuter rail from Boston, as well as the 136/137 bus.

Get around
The easiest way to get around is by car. There is limited public transportation -- only the 136/137 bus and 2 commuter rail stations serve the town. If you are active, a bike is also a good choice.

title: Wakefield (Massachusetts)


text:
Wakefield (New Zealand)

Wakefield is a small town in the Nelson Bays region of New Zealand's South Island, 25 km south-west of Nelson. This travel guide also cover the town of Brightwater, 4 km east of Wakefield.

By car
From Nelson drive 25 km south-west through Richmond and on along State Highway 6.

By bus

 * EBus (Nelson's city bus service) operates six services a day (M-F) to Richmond and Nelson.
 * Intercity Coaches operate coaches from Nelson to Greymouth, which stop (at/opposite the Caltex) in Wakefield. Four per week (Sept 2023).

Buy
There is a supermarket, pharmacy and a baker.

Eat
There is a small bakery, fast food eateries, and some very nice little cafes and restaurants.

Drink
There is a pub.

title: Wakefield (New Zealand)


text:
Wakefield (Quebec)

Wakefield is a picturesque village Municipality of La Pêche on the Gatineau River in the Gatineau Hills near Ottawa. It is on the Quebec side of the river, but is predominantly English-speaking.

Understand
Wakefield was founded in 1830 by Irish, Scottish, and English immigrants. It went on to become a lumber town (like so many others near Ottawa), then became a bedroom community suburb of Ottawa/Gatineau. Nowadays, it's best known as the home of the Black Sheep Inn (see below).

By car
Take any bridge from Ottawa to Gatineau but the Macdonald Cartier bridge from King Edward Street is the most direct. Take Highway 5 to Maniwaki. Go north about 15 minutes past the Casino exit. Take Exit 28 and Wakefield Exit at the immediate roundabout. The Main Street is just down the hill. Total trip time from Byward Market area is about 20 minutes.

By bus
Autobus Gatineau offers service from Ottawa and Gatineau, and from Gracefield and Maniwaki.

Get around
Expéditions Wakefield rents bicycles; see their entry in the "Buy" section.

Seasonal

 * Fall leaves in the Gatineau Hills are incredible. Usually best in late September and early October, the whole region is a feast for your eyes.
 * During the spring months, and "break up time", locals place a barrel on the ice of the Gatineau River. Bets are placed as to when this barrel will sink. Nothing spectacular to see, but if you look for it, it will be there.

Outdoors
Gatineau Park can be accessed from the village and from several other locations nearby. Hiking, walking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing trails abound.

Walking trails starting from several points in Wakefield Village will give visitors historical or nature perspectives. Groomed and marked baths run along the outskirts of the Village and can be accessed by MacLaren House, near the Mill.

Kayak and canoe in the Gatineau River or one of the hundreds of lakes in the area. Rentals can be arranged with Boutique Burro Borracho at 721-B Riverside Dr beside Solstice Books. Canoe trips can also be booked with Expeditions Radisson

Swim in the Gatineau River near the Wakefield Covered Bridge.

Buy
There are several small shops featuring local artisans and interesting articles; these are only a few of them.

Go next

 * North along Hwy 105 for about 20 km will take you to Low, Quebec. A small town with a hockey arena.
 * Chelsea, known for Gatineau Park, is the next town south on Hwy 5, the highway to Gatineau.

title: Wakefield (Quebec)


text:
Wakefield (Rhode Island)

Wakefield is a village of the town of South Kingstown in the state of Rhode Island. Settlers came to Wakefield early in the 18th century due to its proximity to the Saugatucket River. In the middle of the 19th century, Kenyon’s Department Store was founded, and Wakefield soon became the business center of South Kingstown. As time progressed, the mills throughout the village became bigger and allowed for population growth. By 1895, there were 1,543 people living in the village. The first hospital was created in 1919 inside a house, and by 1925, the South County Hospital building was erected. It is still in the same location today. The village of Wakefield is rich in history, and its proximity to beaches and other attractions bring in thousands of tourists each summer.

By plane

 * T.F. Green Airport, 2000 Post Rd, Warwick, +1 888-268-7222, . Parking as low as $11 a day or $56 a week (Lot E). T.F. Green Airport is easy to get to off RI Interstate 95 North and South at Exit 13. It is also accessible via Rt.295, connecting to 95.

By car

 * From Boston or all points north: I-95 S to Exit 9 in RI. Stay left to take RI-4 S (Exit 9) toward North Kingstown. Merge onto Tower Hill Road/Rt. 1 by taking a slight right. After 7 miles, take the Wakefield ramp off the right.
 * From New York or Connecticut: I-95 N to Exit 92. Take a right onto Liberty St/Rt. 2. Merge onto CT-78 E toward Westerly. After 5 miles, take a left at the light to go onto Rt. 1 N. Take the Wakefield exit off the right.

Get around
Because Wakefield is small, you can get anywhere by talking a walk through town. If you have a car, it only takes 5 minutes to get from one side to the other. There are buses that run from Wakefield to other locations all over the state.
 * RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority), +1 401 781-9400, . The RIPTA has many pick-up and drop-off locations scattered throughout Wakefield, and the busses travel all over the state. The 66 bus, which is the one that serves Wakefield, runs from 6AM to 10:05PM on weekdays, and until 10:25PM on weekends. It starts at Kennedy Plaza in Providence and ends at the Block Island Ferry (Galilee). $1.50 per ride, $5 for a day pass.

See
Wakefield is close to all of Rhode Island's beaches, ranging from Misquamicut beach on the western edge of the state to Second Beach in Newport. South Kingstown, the township of which Wakefield is a village, is home to three of the most beautiful beaches in the state, East Matunuck state beach, South Kingstown town beach in Matunuck, and the Moonstone Beach National Wildlife Refuge, the longest stretch of undeveloped beach in the state. There are numerous tourist destinations within an hour's drive, including the mansions of Newport, Rhode Island's Renaissance city Providence, the aquarium and seaport at Mystic, the world's largest casino Ledyard, and the ferry connecting to the breathtaking beauty of Block Island.

Buy
Main Street has a variety of shops of all kinds including jewelry, shoes and clothes. There are also a number of antique shops.

Cope

 * Bi-Design Hair Salon, 382 Woodruff Ave, +1 401 783-8292. A salon that accommodates men and women for their hair-styling needs. A bit pricey, but a great value for the money.

Go next
Most of the people that come to Wakefield end up vacationing on one of the many beaches close to the town. If that doesn't appeal to you, here are a couple of things that you might want to do.

 * Mystic, Connecticut, a 45-minute drive from Wakefield offers great shops and restaurants by the water. Mystic Aquarium is on 55 Coogan Blvd, and is ideal for families with children who want to get away and enjoy a stroll or the shows that are available. Mystic is a great place to get ice cream or a drink and sit by the water and watch the boats and relax.
 * Newport: Newport is one of the most beautiful places in Rhode Island. There are many fine restaurants and bars that are in walking distance of each other. If that doesn’t sound like something you’d like to do, take a ride down Bellevue Ave. to see all of the historic mansions. First beach is also right next to the mansions if you want to catch some rays.

title: Wakefield (Rhode Island)


text:
Wake Island

Wake Island is a tiny island in Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean, 2/3 of the way from Honolulu to Guam, best known for its role in World War II. It is an unorganized United States territory, with no permanent residents, just members of the U.S. military and civilian contractors who manage the facility. Positioned a few hundred miles west of the International Date Line (UTC +12), Wake Island is "in the future" from most of the world, and the rest of the United States. Wake Island is considered the most isolated place in the world.

Landscape
"Wake Island" is an atoll of three islands: Wake itself is V-shaped; Wilkes and Peale Islands are extensions of the legs of that V, separated from Wake by narrow channels. They surround a shallow lagoon (the crater of the volcano that spawned the atoll), and are themselves surrounded by a coral reef. The highest point is only above sea level. The islands cover about, with a coastline of. The island's airfield, including a runway running the length of the southern leg of the V, covers a substantial percentage of the land area.

History
The island was first discovered in 1568 by a Spanish explorer who named it "San Francisco". A British ship captained by Samuel Wake re-discovered it in 1796; his name actually stuck. The 1840 United States Exploring Expedition led by Charles Wilkes with naturalist Titian Peale gave their names to the smaller islands. But it was Pan American Airways that "put it on the map", building a "PAAville" and a 48-room hotel on Peale Island and using it as a refueling and rest stop on their then-new "China Clipper" passenger and mail route between San Francisco and Hong Kong in 1935.

The Japanese Navy helped put Wake Island on the silver screen, by attacking it just hours after Pearl Harbor (December 8 local time, due to the time difference), then laying siege to it over the next few weeks. They successfully took the island, but not before the out-manned and out-gunned U.S. military and civilian force stationed there sank two of their destroyers — one with shore batteries and one by air — sank a submarine, substantially damaged their other ships, and killed nearly 1000 of the invading force. Eight months later, Wake Island – a stirring dramatization of the island's defense – was released by Paramount Pictures, garnering four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

The island returned to U.S. control following the Japanese surrender (although there is now a conflicting claim by the Marshall Islands, which became independent in 1986). It has since served as a refueling stop and staging ground during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Operation Desert Storm. It served as a waystation to the U.S. for 92,000 Vietnamese refugees in 1975, and evacuees of the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines. It participates in the testing phase of possible ballistic missile defense systems.

Wake Island was struck by Super Typhoon Ioke, a category-5 tropical storm, in August 2006. The atoll's population of 188 at the time was fully evacuated. 70% of the buildings were damaged, but not as badly as feared, and major components of the island's infrastructure survived, including the airfield.

By 2014, the U.S. Military disbanded operations on Wake Island, but later returned and restored operations by 2017.

Get in
Commercial air service to Wake has been discontinued, and the atoll is no longer generally open to visitors. The airstrip remains available as an emergency landing site for trans-Pacific flights; if you don't have official business there, that's perhaps the most likely circumstance in which you'll visit the place. In non-emergency situations, a "Prior Permission Request" must be filed to use the airstrip (and will probably be denied) +1-808-424-2101. From time to time, Military Historical Tours offers day trips to the island, but these tours are only open to US citizens. They include a flight from Guam on a chartered United Airlines 737-800.

The island does not have a navigable harbor; the lagoon is cut off from the ocean by a coral reef, and itself is rarely deeper than a few meters at high tide.

Get around
Most parts of the islands are easily accessible on foot, though sturdy shoes are recommended to protect from sharp coral rocks in many places. There are also roads on the islands; trucks, minivans, and full-size vans are available to authorized personnel. +1-808-424-2227.

See

 * The beaches and lagoon are highly praised as examples of tropical beauty.
 * The "98 Rock" is a memorial for the 98 U.S. prisoners of war who were forced by their Japanese captors to rebuild the airstrip as slave labor, then blind-folded and killed with machine guns on 5 October 1943. An unidentified prisoner escaped, and scratched "98 US PW 5-10-43" on a large coral rock near their mass grave, on Wilkes Island at the edge of the lagoon (near the current fuel tank farm).  He was recaptured and beheaded by the Japanese admiral, who was later convicted and sentenced to death for these war crimes.  The rock still bears the original inscription and a small plaque identifying it; a bronze plaque naming the victims has been placed at the site.
 * There are also memorials for the military and civilian personnel who died defending the islands from the Japanese take-over.
 * The remains of Japanese fortifications during World War II are still visible around the islands.
 * The "PAAville" hotel and China Clipper dock are in ruins.

Eat

 * A base dining facility provides meals to those stationed on the island..

Drink
Wake Island has no natural fresh-water sources, so huge catchbasins for rainwater were built but are no longer in service. Water now is made through reverse osmosis processing units that pull salt water from the ocean and convert it to potable water.

 * Drifter's Reef (on Wake, by the channel separating it from Peale). This long-standing establishment is the only official bar on the island.

Sleep

 * Barracks capable of housing 154 are maintained on the island. Double-occupancy rooms are provided to visitors, with VIP quarters sometimes available. +1-808-424-2797.

Work
The facilities on Wake Island are managed by the civilian Chugach Alaska Corporation, 3800 Centerpoint Dr., Anchorage, AK 99503 +1 907-563-8866.

Stay safe
Sharks swim in the waters of the Pacific around Wake Island.

Go next
Depending on the direction, either Guam or the Midway Islands was the next stop on Pan Am's "China Clipper" route, both of which also played important roles in World War II. The Marshall Islands are the atoll's nearest neighbor, a few hundred miles to the south.

title: Wake Island


text:
Wakhan Corridor

The Wakhan Corridor (وخان in Persian) is the panhandle of Badakhshan Province in the far northeast of Afghanistan, a long (220 km) narrow (16-64 km) area wedged between Tajikistan to the north and Pakistan to the south. It runs across the southern part of the Pamirs range. The area is mostly very rugged mountain country, though there is some relatively flat land in the river valleys; most of the routes through it follow those valleys. Its eastern tip is the only place where Afghanistan and China have a border so the corridor is the most direct route between those countries, and a minor trade route, It has never become a major route because the terrain is quite difficult and at times the hill tribes can be as well. The main routes from Afghanistan to China start by going either north over the Salang Pass to Bactria or east through the Khyber Pass into central Pakistan.

The corridor is an artifact created by the Great Game, the intense competition between the British and Russian empires for influence in the region during the latter part of the 19th century. Its northern border was originally between Afghanistan and the Russian Empire (now between Afghanistan and Tajikistan) and was defined in an Anglo-Russian treaty. The southern border was established between Afghanistan and the Raj (now between Afghanistan and Pakistan), and defined in an Anglo-Afghan treaty. The main reason for creating the corridor was that the British wanted to avoid having a direct border between the two empires.

The entire district has been designated Wakhan National Park. This is mainly a wildlife preserve; among the rare species found here are snow leopards and several types of wild sheep and goats.

Understand
The latitude is about 37 °N (roughly that of Washington, Lisbon, or Seoul) but the whole area is at high altitude — Lake Zorkul is above 4,000 m or 13,000 feet — and there are no large bodies of water anywhere nearby, so winters are quite severe.

26 km long Lake Zorkul, the source of the Pamir river which is a tributary of the Amu Darya (known in ancient times as the Oxus) is the only significant body of water and provides fantastic ice skating in winter if you can survive the altitude and cold. You may be able to shelter in the minute settlement of Qarabolaq at the eastern end of the lake. The lake's northern half lies in Tajikistan where it is protected as part of the Zorkul Nature Reserve.

Talk
There is a local language called Wakhi, spoken mainly in the corridor but also in some nearby areas. Persian, either the Tajik dialect or the Dari variant of Afghanistan, is also common.

Get in
While both China and Pakistan border this area, there are no legal border crossings, and you stand a good chance of ending up in prison. It is possible to enter the corridor from Afghanistan, in particular from Bactria in the north, but that is very dangerous. The only way in and out that is legal and might be relatively safe is crossing the Oxus from the north, via Ishkashim, Tajikistan.

There has been word of a possible new border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Broghil Pass. There are no checkpoints, but, if you're willing to do a lot of legwork to get the necessary and arduous permissions, start your enquiry in Kabul.

The adventure travel company Secret Compass arrange expeditions to the Wakhan, usually in the summertime. As of mid-2023 their web site shows one scheduled for July 2024, but they say that might not be possible and Plan B is the Tajikistan part of the Pamirs.

Get around
You can hire a Jeep. A jeep from Eshkashim to Sarhad-e-Wakhan (8-hour trip) cost US$400 in June 2011; to Sarhad-e-Broghil, the price would have been US$200. Getting back down from the valley can be difficult if you haven't arranged for a pick-up, as traffic is very scarce.

There is no modern road through the "Corridor" which has not been an official transit route from China for more than 100 years. There's a rough road from E/Ishkashim to Sarhad-e Broghil that was finished in 1968 but only yak tracks and sheep paths beyond. It's more than 100 km from where this road finishes to Chinese territory at Wakhjir Pass and further still to the far end of the Little Pamir.

See

 * Concord Peak 5,469 m (17,943 ft) straddles the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. On the Afghan side is a tiny settlement of the same name (also known as Qareh Būlāq). It was from there that the people of Qarabolaq in Tajikistan moved at the end of the 19th century before the border with what was then Czarist Russia was delineated.
 * Lake Zorkul is azure blue. Ole Olufsen, leader of a Danish expedition in 1888-9, wrote in his journals that local people said the lake had loads of sea-horses that "come out of the water to graze and then pair with the horses in the fields, and this crossing is said to be very good for the breed. To venture out on these lakes is death, as the sea-monsters would immediately pull one down into the deep."

Do
Trekking is the main reason you would come to this region.

If you want to do wildlife photography here, you will certainly need a telephoto lens and you may need an extremely long one for shots where the beast is across a valley.

Stay safe
This is a rural and undeveloped region. Visiting should not be attempted without good skills, good equipment and trustworthy local guides.

The entire country is an extremely high-risk area where travel is strongly discouraged; see Afghanistan. The corridor is isolated enough that some risks may be lower but others — such as local banditry and a lack of police or other government presence — are quite likely higher.

Altitude sickness is also a serious risk. Most of the region is above 3000 m (10,000 feet) and some parts are considerably higher.

title: Wakhan Corridor


text:
Wakkanai

Wakkanai (稚内) is the northernmost city in Japan. It has a population of about 34,000 (2019), and is in the subdistrict of Soya in northern Hokkaido. It is Japan's gateway to Russia's Sakhalin Island.

History
The city was established in the 17th century as a frontier trading post to the aboriginal Ainu people who used to inhabit much of Hokkaido. It prospered through trade and as a strategic outpost in the far flung northern reaches of the empire, in the century that followed. The modern city was established in 1900, and when Japan recaptured parts of Sakhalin Island after the Russo-Japanese war of 1905, it became the main transit point to the Karafuto prefecture established there with regular steam-liner operations to Otomari (today Korsakov), a status that only increased when the Sōya railway was finally extended here in 1926. With the loss of Sakhalin in the aftermath of World War II, the town's fortunes faded; it reverted to being little more than a military post during the Cold War, home to some American troops.

While the population is still dwindling, the end of the Cold War might change Wakkanai's fortunes once more: a regular ferry route to Sakhalin was reopened in the 1990s, and trade and ties with Russia are slowly but steadily increasing.

Climate
The average summer temperature is around 20°C (68°F), but it can get cold at night, so you may need to bring more than a summer jacket. In the depths of winter the thermometer frequently drops below zero, but the −20°C (-4°F) you see inland or across the Okhotsk bay in Russia are extreme occurrences here, as the air is heated by sea currents. The very strong winds can make it feel like Siberia, though.

Tourist information site

 * The city government's official site has a good Japanese-only tourism section.

 * The local tourist associations has a Japanese-only guide site, covering Rishri and Rebun islands too. (Clicking on "languages" lead to the prefecture's multilingual site.)

By plane

By train
The JR Soya Main Line (Soya Honsen) connects Wakkanai to Asahikawa. There are two stations within the city limits: (station code W80) and (W79) to the south.

Wakkanai sees limited train service, with only six arrivals and seven departures per day. Of these, three round-trips are limited express services: The once-daily Soya which runs directly to and from Sapporo (5 hr 10 min, ¥10,450), and the twice-daily Sarobetsu to and from Asahikawa (3 hr 45 min, ¥8,300, change to either a Lilac or Kamui limited express service at Asahikawa for Sapporo). There are no extra charges for these trains with the Japan Rail Pass and / or Hokkaido Rail Pass.

By bus
Several buses operated by Soya Bus run between Wakkanai and Sapporo daily: the journey takes around 6 hours and costs ¥6000, advance ticket purchase or reservation is (at least in theory) necessary, (Sapporo) or  (Wakkanai) to make your reservation. One of the departures is a red-eye service, which might be a useful way to save some money if you're one of those who can sleep anywhere. There is also a single daily round trip to Asahikawa. While this is a cheap and convenient option in summer, during the winter suspension or delays are commonplace, and snowstorms frequently close the highway altogether.

By boat
The ferry terminal, directly east of the train station, hosts frequent (in summer) connections to the National Park islands of Rebun and Rishiri; there are also a few shops and restaurants and a tourist information desk in the building.

All ferries out of Wakkanai are operated by the Heartland Ferry Company.

International ferries
Right across from the domestic terminal is the international terminal. Heartland Ferry has biweekly departures for Korsakov, on Sakhalin Island, Russia (5½ hours, ¥24,000 one way). You will need a Russian visa before you buy the ticket. You must also buy your ticket at least two days prior to departure: you will not be allowed to purchase a ticket the day of departure. Service is suspended Oct–Apr due to sea ice. See our Russia to Japan via Sakhalin itinerary.

To purchase a seat on the ferry to Russia:
 * 1) Go to the domestic terminal, across the street from the international terminal.
 * 2) Ask at the front desk for an English speaker, there may be someone. To be sure of being understood, have Sakhalin written in as many ways as possible: 樺太 (kanji), からふと (hiragana), サハリン (katakana), Сахалин (Russian).
 * 3) Ask for a ticket to Russia, point at your multi-lingual piece of paper, and give them your passport. You will fill out a form which will be sent to their offices in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Then you just come back two days later to pick up your ticket. (While it may be possible to do the preliminary paperwork over the phone or by e-mail, don't count on it!)

Alternatively, have a Japanese speaker call and ask for availability. You will then fill out and fax an application form to 011-233-2783 or 0162-23-6730. They will then fax back a confirmation form, which is in Japanese and English.

Get around
Since the town is fairly compact, with most sights within 10–15 minutes of each other, you can easily walk through town. There is a city bus with departures every 10–15 minutes operated by Soya Bus, and it is also possible to walk to Cape Noshappu: it's about 4 km (2.5 mi), which should take you around 40–50 minutes. For sights further afield like Cape Soya, there are about 4 buses per day going there, but be careful not to miss the last bus, as there is no other way of getting back other than to walk the 30 km (19 mi)!

See
While there are plenty of attractions on paper, few of them are really that interesting, and hardly anything is worth going out of your way to see. But since Wakkanai is en route to the fascinating Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park which is worth travelling for, you might want to check out the following sights, which will fill out a day or two if you are in the area waiting for a ferry. Ryuhyo (流氷, floating ice) is of some interest in winter, and occurs either in February or March. It is ice that drifts in from the sea. If you need to kill time waiting at the airport, the nearby Meguma Wilderness Garden (メグマ原生花園) is an option in spring when 300 different flowers are in bloom.

Wakkanai Park

 * The park also has an eclectic collection of statues and monuments - none of them are particularly pretty, but they sometimes come with interesting stories: the Statue of Nine Women (九人の乙女の碑) is a memorial to the 9 women working at a Sakhalin telegraph station who committed suicide when they learned about the fall of Karafuto (Sakhalin) to Russian troops. Less dramatic is the Ice and Snow Gate (氷雪の門), a bronze statue of a woman facing the direction of Karafuto, longing for the home she was forced to leave behind. Without the nationalistic undertones is the Monument to Taro and Jiro (南極観測樺太犬記念碑), two Siberian huskies that an Antarctic expedition was forced to leave behind. When their trainer returned with another expedition the following year to bury his beloved dogs, much to everyone's surprise he was warmly greeted by the two dogs, who had survived a whole Antarctic winter. There are some more details of their story in the Youth Science Center, and their story is detailed in the 1983 film Nankyoku Monogatari.

Cape Soya

 * In the hills behind the cape near the lighthouse, there are several additional monuments. The Tower of Prayer (大韓航空機撃墜事件の慰霊塔) is a memorial to those who lost their lives when Soviet fighters shot down Korean Air flight KL007 over Moneron Island in 1983. Fittingly right next to it, you find the Bell for World Peace (世界平和の鐘) a replica of a bell located in the garden opposite the United Nations Building in New York.
 * There is also the Wahoo Peace Memorial dedicated to the 1943 sinking of the famous American submarine USS Wahoo off the coast by Japanese air and sea forces. The memorial commemorates the Wahoo's crew who was entirely lost and to the Japanese who lost their lives as a result of her attacks.

Other attractions

Do
Try biking north along the coast to see the dozens of small seaweed drying family operations to know where the seaweed in your food comes from. At the northern tip a nice lighthouse and an excellent aquarium await you - with great views of Government radars on green hills - and the islands of Rishiri and Rebun and occasionally Sahkalin are visible. The Moshiripa Youth Hostel rents out bikes at ¥200 per hour or ¥1000 for the day, and also have some slightly more expensive mountain bikes. There are also two golf courses out on the countryside.

Events and festivals

 * Hokumon Shrine Festival (北門神社例大祭, Hokumon Jinja Reitaisai)

Buy
The only ATMs in town that take international credit cards are at the post offices: no Citibanks or 7-Elevens here.

Most of what you would want to buy here is seafood omiyages, readily available, but if don't follow this Japanese tradition, there really isn't much shopping of any interest.

Eat
Wakkanai is known for its variety of seafood. The catching and selling sea-dwelling creatures (fish, crab, octopus, etc.) and the drying of seaweed may be considered the industry in Wakkanai. Some of the best restaurants are the local ones located around Minami-Wakkanai station. If it's all just too much to cope with there is also a McDonald's.

Drink
The night life of Wakkanai is hardly the most happening in the world. For a regular bar visit some of the large hotels; the ANA and Wakkanai Grand hotels have some decent ones. Many of the restaurants listed above also serve alcohol, commonly izakaya style, so that can be an option if you're in a group. There are also izakayas (居酒屋) along the central street (Nakadori, 仲通り) and in the south along Oranjidori (オレンジ通り) — none of them really stand out, so just pick one and hope for the best.

Sleep
There are three large hotels in Wakkanai: the ANA hotel, the Wakkanai Sun Hotel and the Dormy Inn. They are all quite pricey, however. Expect ¥8000 for a single room and ¥16,000 for a double. One can wonder why a small town with 40,000 inhabitants needs a great luxury hotel like the ANA hotel. The answer is probably an influx of tourists. All directions given below assume you're starting at the main railway station.

Mid-range

Cope
There is also a small hospital with an emergency room.

Go next

 * Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park — Japan's northernmost national park.
 * Fascinating Sakhalin, Russia is just a short ferry ride away, but visas are complicated. Also refer to Russia to Japan via Sakhalin
 * Toyotomi
 * Sarufutsu
 * Horonobe
 * Hamatonbetsu
 * Nakatonbetsu
 * Teshio
 * Nakagawa

title: Wakkanai


text:
Wakura Onsen

Wakura Onsen (和倉温泉) is a hot spring resort near Nanao on the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa, Japan.

Understand
With 1200 years of recorded history, Wakura is one of the oldest bathing towns around, even by high Japanese standards. But don't come here expecting a time warp into the past: while hotels here are built in traditional Japanese style on the inside, most of them are ugly, hulking concrete monsters from the outside.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site

By plane
Noto Airport is a 40-min shared taxi ride away (¥1100).

By train
Wakura Onsen is the terminus of the JR Noto Line, which connects from Kanazawa (1 hr) and Tsubata on the JR Hokuriku Main Line. However, only limited expresses (from Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya) go all the way; all ordinary JR services terminate at Nanao, one stop down the line, from where you'll have to wait for a connecting Noto Railway train (¥180, roughly hourly) or take a bus (¥350, every half hour or so). You can also use the Noto Railway to come in from Anamizu to the north.

All that said, the train station is actually located a rather inconvenient 3 km out of town. Many ryokan offer pickup/dropoff services, or you can wait for the buses from Nanao which stop at the station on their way into town.

By bus
Wakura Onsen's diminutive but centrally located bus terminal offers frequent services to Nanao (¥350, 20 min) and occasional services to Kanazawa (¥2300) and Anamizu.

Get around
The core of Wakura Onsen is easily covered on foot, but if you want to explore the vicinity, rental bikes are available from the tourism office from 09:00-17:30 for ¥800/day. tel 0767-62-1555 Wakura Onsen Sightseeing Association (和倉温泉観光協会).

See
Sights in Wakura are distinctly limited. There's a rather contrived Seven Lucky Gods Lucky Lucky Course (七福神福々めぐり) connecting seven spots around town, each housing a statue of one of the Seven Lucky Gods, that can be covered in two hours even by the most leisurely tourist.

 * Kado Isaburō Museum (角偉三郎美術館) and Tsujiguchi Hironobu Museum (辻口博啓美術館), at the seaside behind Yumoto no Hiroba. Located in the same matte black box of a building, the Kadoi side is devoted to lacquerware, while Tsujiguchi is a master confectioner trained in the French tradition, whose delicacies can be sampled in the cafe (no ticket required).  Joint entrance ¥700.  Open daily 08:00-17:00, cafe 09:900-19:00.
 * Yumoto no Hiroba (湯元の広場). The central point of town, this is the spot where the hot spring bubbles up and is shunted off into all the hotels via a proudly displayed if rather unsexy set of pipes and pumps.  It's surrounded by a small park, and there's also a spot to boil your own eggs in spring water (15-20 minutes).

Do
The only activity in Wakura Onsen is bathing. The hot spring water here contains sodium and calcium, and can be as hot as 90°C when it comes out of the ground.

 * Foot Onsen (足湯 ashiyu). There are two free outdoor public foot onsen located near the core of Wakura, one of which features a nice view of Notojima. They can be quite relaxing and are recommended all year round.
 * Wakura Onsen Sōyu (和倉温泉総湯). Public baths featuring lots of hot water and a sauna. Entry ¥480. Open daily 07:00-22:00 except the 25th of each month (or following day if 25th is a Sunday/holiday).

Private onsen with a view can be had from the upper class hotels such as Kagaya starting from ¥30,000.

 * Sunset Cruise Sunset cruises around the area are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in September, from 17:30-18:00 for ¥800. There are also similar night cruises in August from 19:50, 20:15, and 20:40 for ¥500. Contact Wakura Onsen Sightseeing Association (和倉温泉観光協会) for more information.

Buy
There is a small supermarket next to Hosenkaku and a scattering of souvenir/convenience stores around town.

Eat

Wakura Onsen has a decent selection of places to eat.

 * Janome Sushi (蛇之目寿司). The "Snake's Eye" is a friendly family-run sushi joint specializing in local Noto delicacies.  The top seller is akanishigai (赤ニシ貝, ¥500), a chewy mollusk found exclusively in Nanao Bay, but you won't miss much if you skip it.  Instead, try their seasonal nigiri set (四季限定にぎり shiki-gentei-nigiri, ¥2000), which gives a good sampling of the best seafood Noto has to offer.

Drink
The small alleyway of Yūrakuchō (有楽町) offers a typical selection of mildly dodgy karaoke hostess bars.

Sleep

Wakura is famous for its ryokan (Japanese inns), which in turn are famous for their fresh seafood. All prices below including two meals and unless otherwise noted require at least two people staying per room.

Go next

 * Noto Island — just across the bridge

和倉温泉

title: Wakura Onsen


text:
Walayar

Walayar is a small developing town, in the Ernakulam District of Kerala, India. It is near the border between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on NH 47 where the sales tax, motor vehicles check post, and excise check posts are. Due to the high traffic on this route (most of the goods import into Kerala happens through road and predominantly through this road), the place has also become notorious for the traffic jams. Most of the passenger vehicles coming from other states, viz buses, tourist cabs, pilgrims enter Kerala through this gateway. Walayar is the gateway to Coimbatore city from Kerala state. Walayar is a place where you can refresh yourself when you are on the way to Kerala. It has a few good roadside hotels and lodging facilities. There is also a Deer Park beside the NH 47 which in a poor condition due to lack of facilitation.

By bus
Bus service to Walayar is very frequent from Palghat and Coimbatore. Both KSRTC and TNSTC operates buses via Walayar. All the buses from Palghat to Coimbatore have a stop at Walayar.

By train
Passenger trains to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu stop at Walayar Railway station. Walayar has a railway station which is about 100 meters away from NH 47. All the passengers trains have a stop here. Walayar is good place to take a small break.

Get around
The roads in Walayar are in a bad condition with lots of potholes and frequently closing one lane due to the lining up of the trucks. Traffic is especially heavy during Sabarimalai pilgrimage season.

See
Jayaprakash Narayan Smrithivanam and Deer Park beside National Highway-47 at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border close to inter-state Walayar check posts will be converted as a Safari Park as per the guidelines issued by Zoo Authority of India.

The park is spread over 110 acres of forest area mainly of Teak plantation. It started in 1997 and was recognized the Zoo Authority with conditions to convert it as a Safari Park providing more amenities for the Deer and other animals and also to the visitors.

The park is 22 km from Palakkad town, and could be developed as a tourist centre as you can see deer and other small animals roam about in their natural habitat.

There could also be facilities made for elephant safari in the park to make it a major attraction for visitors.

Walayar Dam is also nearby that attracts a lot of tourists from Tamil Nadu.

The park now houses 75 deer and 10 stag apart from small animals. Walayar is also the gateway to Kerala and the main centre for movement of goods to the state. Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Hanuman Monkey, Common Monkey etc fount here.

Do
Walayar is surrounded by some picturesque spots notable for photography.

Buy
Walayar is also famous for lottery shops which are in abundance here.

Go next
Since Walayar is a gateway it is also the main entry point to the main tourists centres of the District like Malampuzha, Kanjirapuzha, Nelliampathy, Silent Valley, Mangalam Dam etc.

title: Walayar


text:
Walcha

Walcha is a town on the Northern Tablelands of the New England (New South Wales) region, 425 kilometres north of Sydney via Thunderbolts Way and 184 km west of Port Macquarie. The area is the southern gateway to the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park which can be accessed at the Apsley Falls, 20 km east of Walcha and 1 km off the Oxley Highway via a sealed road.

Understand
Walcha is a great place to enjoy fishing, four-wheel-drive trips and bushwalks into wilderness areas with gorges, rainforests and waterfalls. The town is recognized for its unique Open Air Gallery, historic buildings, cafes, restaurants and quality accommodation.

Climate
Walcha has a cool climate with some snow falls and frosty nights, producing extremely low temperatures, during the winter months. However, frosts are usually followed by clear sunny days. In autumn, the town has the changing colours of the trees which make for great photographs. But summer is a great time to visit Walcha, although even on warm sunny days the temperature can suddenly drop. Due to its altitude, the town is rarely humid, and even days where the temperature reaches 33°C are tolerable. Be prepared for a sudden drop in temperature at anytime of the year by bringing adequate warm clothing.

During a very cold night untreated (summer) diesel fuel can "gel" (turn from a liquid to a semi-solid). At temperatures below freezing, diesel engines may experience starting problems and warm-up slowly. As the morning warms (usually before 9AM), the vehicle will operate normally without intervention.

By car
Walcha is located at the junction of the scenic Thunderbolts Way and the Oxley Highway. When travelling from the south (Sydney) on the Pacific Highway past Raymond Terrace you will see an exit sign pointing to Bucketts Way and Gloucester on the left hand side of the road. Take this exit, and turn left at the round-a-bout in Gloucester and follow this road (Thunderbolts Way) all the way into Walcha. This route is about 70 km shorter than the alternative trip on the New England Highway through the Hunter Valley and Tamworth and mostly has a 110 km/h limit except in the Hunter. When travelling on the New England Highway, after crossing the Macdonald River at Bendemeer, turn right onto the Oxley Highway which takes you into Walcha. Motorcycle rides from Gloucester and Port Macquarie are also very popular scenic trips for riders. Do not speed through the town. The boys in blue have some new play toys that they are trying out.

By train
Walcha does not have a railway station, however it is serviced by the station at Walcha Road, which is located approximately 20 km west of Walcha. Trains arriving or departing Walcha Road are connected to Walcha by bus, which must be booked at the same time as booking your rail ticket. This rail service connects Sydney with Armidale where the service terminates.

Get around
There are not any public transport services in the town and you will need a vehicle to visit the many out of town sightseeing locations. A 4WD with low range is needed if trips are planned into the wilderness areas of Riverside Camping Area and Youdale’s Hut. Trips to the spectacular Apsley and Tia Falls in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park are easily accessed using a regular vehicle.

See

 * Visit Walcha’s Open Air Gallery where local, national and international artists have combined to create a unique streetscape with about 35 sculptures and artworks, plus 30 sculptured verandah posts in front of local businesses. Obtain a brochure on these works from the visitor centre before taking a walk or self-drive tour around them.
 * At the Pioneer Cottage museum and complex view a genuine 1860s shingle roofed and slab sided cottage. See the Tiger Moth plane that was used to drop the first superphosphate in Australia. The wool hall here gives a good insight into the history of the sheep and wool industry.
 * Walcha has four churches representing the Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian denominations. The old Anglican church was built in the 1861 from stone taken from the demolished homestead, 'Villa Walcha', erected on the Wolka run in the 1840s.
 * Visit the grave of Nathaniel Buchanan, who is buried in the Walcha Cemetery. Nat was a highly skilled drover and bushman who opened up droving routes through central Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Kimberley regions.
 * There are some interesting buildings scattered through the town including the Court House, churches, banks and the Post Office. Langford is a stately home, situated about 1 km south of Walcha on Thunderbolts Way, which can be viewed from the road.
 * Research Walcha history or your Walcha relatives at the local history archives and library.

Do

 * See Walcha’s Golden Gate Campdraft and Rodeo which is run over four days in January each year.
 * The New England Merino Field Days (biennial), which display local studs, wool and sheep, are run over two days in January each evenly numbered year.
 * Walcha Races are another very popular event, which is held over two days in February each year.
 * Walcha Show is an annual three day event conducted in March or April.
 * A Timber Expo is held as a biennial event in May.
 * The biennial Garden Festival is held in the spring of even numbered years to display some of the beautiful local cool climate gardens. Proceeds from this event are donated to services such as Angel Flight, Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service or Riverview Hostel.
 * The Walcha Food, Wine and Craft Festival is held on the last Sunday in October. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Mountain Bike Teams Challenge event, ridden over 100 km, is held the same day.

Other events include the Music Hall, opening of the trout fishing season, pony club events and camp, Nowendoc Rodeo, Woolbrook Stampede and Woolbrook Spring Fair.

Buy
Purchase stud and commercial beef cattle, and Merino sheep from the many breeders in the district. Several annual local weaner sales present excellent opportunities to purchase top quality, large lines of young beef cattle.

See also: Walcha Business Directory

Cafes

Connect
For internet services: Walcha Telecottage, 32w Fitzroy Street; ; Fax:02 6777 1112; E-Mail: telecottage@optusnet.com.au

For free computer and internet usage (during opening hours): Walcha Library, Derby St.,

There are many areas in the district and surrounding area where mobile (cell) phones (including next G country models) will not operate.

Go next
Walcha Shire has approximately 156,000 ha of National Parks and Wilderness in the region. The wilderness area incorporates most of the Oxley Wild Rivers and Werrikimbe National Parks.

The spectacular Apsley Falls, which has disabled persons access, about 7 viewing platforms, a gorge rim walk, picnic and camping areas is 20 km east of Walcha on a sealed road. Tia Falls are about 44 km east along the Oxley Highway. These falls are part of the 90,000 ha Oxley Wild Rivers National Park which is one of the largest National Parks in NSW. The park contains the scenic Macleay Gorges Wilderness Area and is listed on the World Heritage Register in recognition of its importance to nature conservation.

Riverside is a rare area where one can take a low range 4WD into a wilderness area for a day trip or camping, after paying a fee and obtaining a key at Apsley Motors.

Youdale’s Hut is another low range 4WD vehicle destination that is also possible to access after paying a fee and obtaining a key at Apsley Motors.

Werrikimbe National Park, 60 km east of Walcha is a pristine wilderness. It's a World Heritage park, wrapped within the dramatic fold of the Great Dividing Range where two rivers, the Forbes and Hastings, begin their journey to the coast. Racecourse Trail runs for 20 km across the top section of Werrikimbe and gives access to the park's highlights. Here you'll see subalpine swamp, heath, snow gums and the soft grey-greens of the cool climate eucalypt forests. In spring, the high country wildflowers alone make this a spectacular drive. There are many other National Parks and Nature Reserves in or near the district, including: Mummel Gulf National Park.

Other tourist attractions include scenic 4WD trips, hiking, visiting the State Forests, fishing (mainly for trout) and fossicking opportunities.

Destinations

 * Uralla - north of Walcha: 41 km via Derby Street northbound, pass Jamieson Street turn-off on the left and continue ahead as Thunderbolts Way, continue ahead to Uralla (27 min)
 * Armidale - north of Walcha: 64 km via via Derby Street northbound, pass Jamieson Street turn-off on the left and continue ahead as Thunderbolts Way, at Uralla turn left onto Salisbury Street then right onto Bridge Street/New England Highway (A15), at the roundabout turn right onto Uralla Road (B78), at the next roundabout turn left onto Dangar Street (47 min)
 * Wauchope - south-east of Walcha: 163 km via Oxley Highway (B56) eastbound (2 hr 11 min)
 * Port Macquarie - south-east of Walcha: 183 km via Oxley Highway (B56) eastbound, through Wauchope, cross the Pacific Highway (A1), continue into Port Macquarie (2 hr 31 min)
 * Gloucester - south-east of Walcha: 146 km via Derby Street southbound, pass the Aberbaldie Road turn-off on the right and continue south as Thunderbolt's Way, pass the Nowendoc Road turn-off on the left, continue into Gloucester (1 hr 44 min)
 * Bendemeer - west of Walcha: 50.5 km via Oxley Highway (B56) westbound (35 min)
 * Tamworth - south-west of Walcha: 90.5 km via Oxley Highway (B56) westbound, at Bendemeer turn left/south onto the New England Highway (A15), continue into Tamworth (1 hr 6 min)

title: Walcha


text:
Waldo County

Waldo County which borders Maine's Penobscot Bay on the Atlantic Ocean is divided between the more populated coast and the interior highlands.

Cities

 * (pop. 9000) - the county seat and home to many good places to eat, with many good fresh lobster establishments.

Get in
Waldo County's main transportation route is Route 1. Many visitors use Route 1 or Route 3 from Augusta, to travel to Acadia National Park.

See

 * Fort Knox State Historic Site and Penobscot Narrows Observatory, off US Rte 1, on Rte. !74, Prospect, Maine.

Located on the west bank of the Penobscot River in Prospect, Maine, in an area known as the Penobscot Narrows, Fort Knox is one of the best preserved fortifications on the New England seacoast. The Fort has many architectural features present only to itself, as well as a rich history behind it's cannon batteries. Maine was repeatedly involved in northeast border disputes with British Canada, and the area between Castine and the rich lumber city of Bangor was invaded and occupied by the British during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Despite the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, Fort Knox was established in 1844 to protect the Penobscot River valley against a possible future British naval incursion.

The Fort was engineered by famous West Point graduate Isaac Ingalls Stevens, who superintended fortifications on the New England coast from 1841 until 1849. Named for Major General Henry Knox, America's first Secretary of War, friend of first president George Washington, and a native of Maine. The Fort garrisoned troops from 1863 to 1866, mostly volunteers who were in training before being sent to their active posts, including members of the celebrated 20th Maine, and again in 1898, but never saw military action.

Come explore the Fort and discover this treasure of Maine and United States History. Fort Knox is open May 1 - Nov 1, from 8:30 - sunset. The grounds are open year round for your visiting pleasure. The newly constructed Penobscot Narrows Bridge boasts an observation tower, rising 420' above sea level, which may only be accessed through the Fort. Set to open this spring the observation tower will provide a breathtaking view of the Penobscot River Valley, and is the only observatory like it in the Western Hemisphere!

Do

 * Kayak the rocky coast.
 * Take a schooner sail trip.
 * Visit nearby Camden or Acadia National Park.
 * Visit Lake St. George State Park in Liberty. A high mountain spring fed lake. One of the cleanest lakes in Maine.
 * Frye Mountain State Park- trails to walk.

Events

 * The Maine Organic Farmers and Garderners Association in Unity is home to the Common Ground Country Fair, which draws 50,000 people to the Fairgrounds every September. The Fair celebrates sustainable living for three full days.

Buy

 * Liberty Graphics, in Liberty is a factory store selling top quality cotton and organic tee-shirts.
 * Liberty Tool Company, also in Liberty, is two buildings full of antique and exotic tools and things.
 * The Belfast Food Co-op is Maine largest food cooperative. Anyone can shop here and the store is full of unusual and healthy food items.

title: Waldo County


text:
Waldo Lake

Waldo Lake is one of many cascade lakes in the Central Cascade region of Oregon. The lake is known for its crystal clear water.

Understand

 * Waldo Lake is Oregon's second largest body of natural water.
 * Waldo Lake is one of the clearest lakes in the world, on a bright day one can see over 100 feet in depth.
 * The chemical makeup of the water in Waldo lake has been compared to distilled water.
 * The closest bodies of water to Waldo Lake are: Eddeeleo Lakes, and Quinn Lakes, and Six Lake Basin.
 * The forest around the lake is made up of Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Western Fir, and True Fir.
 * The lake area is: 6928 acres (9.8 sq miles).
 * The lake's maximum depth: 420 feet.
 * Average lake depth: 128 feet.
 * Length of shoreline: 21.7 miles.
 * The soil is made up of weathered volcanic ash, and boulders of basaltic bedrock.
 * This area may be subject to heavy mosquito infestation through early August.

History
Waldo Lake was effectively isolated from human activity until the late 1800s, when it appeared on a map prepared by the Surveyor-General of Oregon dated August 24, 1863. The U.S. Forest Service granted permission to A.R. Black for the construction of a canal on the lake’s natural outlet in 1905; Black later sold the rights to the project to F.N. Ray and Simon Klovdahl in 1908. Ray and Klovdahl intended to monopolize water rights to the entire Willamette Valley using their newly formed Waldo Lake Irrigation and Power Company. Projecting to supply enough water to irrigate 100,000 acres of farmland and to generate 40,000 “horsepowers” of energy, Ray and Klovdahl would’ve had a significant effect impact on the economic, social, and ecological status of the Willamette Valley had they succeeded. Financial and logistic difficulties led to the demise of the project in 1914, but not before the Klovdahl Tunnel was constructed on the lake’s southwestern edge. The tunnel has since been deemed a Natural Historic Place, and stands as a reminder of the first entrepreneurs set on manipulating the lake’s natural processes.

The Forest Service took jurisdiction over the Waldo Lake area in 1934; investigations of the lake’s limnological properties began shortly thereafter. A 13-mile-long paved road between Highway 58 and Waldo opened in 1969; since then, the number of visitors to the area has increased from a few hundred in 1967 to 170,000 in 1994.

Landscape
Waldo stretches 9.6 km in length and 2.65 km in width, giving it a total surface area of roughly 26 km² and making it the second largest lake in the Oregon Cascades. Its maximum depth (128 m), at its southern basin, is considerably greater than its mean depth (39 m). It is 1,650 meters above median sea level. The lake and its watershed are within the Waldo Lake Wilderness Area, and included in the Oregon Scenic Waterway system.

Acclaimed for its intense blue color and transparency, Waldo Lake is a marvel to limnologists, biologists, geologists, and the public alike. Its water is incomparably dilute, chemically similar to distilled tap water. The combined effects of having a small watershed area (barely twice that of the lake’s total area), organically poor soils, and a heavily forested boundary result in a very low amount of nutrient flow into the lake. As a consequence of having low nutrient levels, phosphorous in particular, low rates of phytoplankton production typify Waldo Lake. This feature has changed since the 1950s, as human access and use of the lake has increased.

Flora and fauna
Roughly 80 percent of the Waldo Lake watershed is forested, namely with mountain hemlock, western hemlock, lodgepole pine, western white pine, Douglas fir, noble fir, true fir, and Engelmann spruce. Mountain hemlock, true fir, and lodgepole pine dominate the immediate area surrounding the lake. Soils are organically poor, highly permeable, and less than 2 meters deep: basalt bedrock is visible at many places around the lake.

Get in
Waldo Lake is 58 miles southeast of Eugene. About 10 miles off of highway 58. Waldo Lake is surrounded by the Waldo Lake wilderness area, the northern border of Waldo Lake Wilderness is the southern border of the very popular Three Sisters Wilderness.

 * From the north (Portland, Eugene, Salem) -- Take I-5 South until Hwy 58 exit 5 miles south of Eugene, Travel on Hwy 58 East for 70 miles, About 40 miles past Oakridge take a left onto Waldor Lake Rd #5897. The first campground (shadow bay) is the first turnoff (about 6-1/2 miles down Waldo Lake Road). The last turnoff (12 miles down Waldo Lake Road) is to both Islet and North Waldo campgrounds.
 * From the south (Roseburg, Medford, Grants Pass)-- Travel north on I-5 until Hwy 58 exit towards Oakridge (this exit will be about 5 miles south of Eugene). Travel on Hwy 58 East for 70 miles, about 40 miles past Oakridge take a left onto Waldolake rd # 5897.  The first campground is shadow bay (6½ miles down Waldo Lake Road) the last turnoff (12 miles down Waldo Lake Road is to both Islet and North Waldo campgrounds.
 * From the east (Bend, Madras, Redmond) -- Travel on Hwy 97 (south if from Bend Madras or Redmond) until the Chemult intersection with Hwy 58, then travel west for 55 miles on Hwy 58, 15 miles past Willamette pass turn right onto Waldo Lake Rd # 5897. The first campground is shadow bay (6½ miles down Waldo lake Road) the last turnoff (12 miles down Waldo Lake Road is to both Islet and North Waldo campgrounds.

By foot
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a well known trail that extends along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. It passes through California, Oregon, and Washington State.

Get around
Waldo Lake is the only major lake in Oregon with a shoreline trail good for backpackers.

Do

 * Hiking. Miles of trails surround the Waldo Lake wilderness area, the most popular is the lake perimeter trail (22 miles).
 * Sailing. There is a 10 mph speed limit on the lake, so the majority of boats are sailboats, the lake is usually calm but its very common for wind to come from the NW. There are boat ramps at all three campgrounds.
 * Camping. There are 3 campgrounds on the east side of the lake.
 * Swimming. Swimming is possible in the summer months but lake temperatures stay below in warm summer months.
 * Snowmobiling. Snowmobiling is popular during winter months when most of the lake is frozen. Waldo Lake Road is closed during winter months, as most snowmobilers park here and make the 8-12 mile ride up to the lakes campgrounds and trails.
 * Fishing. Waldo Lake supports several species of fish including rainbow trout, brook trout, and kokanee salmon.  The best time to fish is generally in the early morning or the late evening hours.  The best time of the year to fish is in early June or late October (though the lake is well documented as having "poor fishing due to water that is too pure to support fish".

Camping
Waldo Lake has 3 large campgrounds. All have boat ramps, water, bathrooms, and gravel trails. They are also handicapped accessible.

Stay safe
Waldo Lake is well known for mosquitoes. A visitor should bring several bottles of repellent if visiting during summer months. Mosquitoes are common in most Cascade lakes. It's most important to wear insect repellent around the lake in the evening hours.

title: Waldo Lake


text:
Waldorf

Waldorf is a city in Southern Maryland.

Get in
Waldorf is served by the roads US 301 MD 228, MD 5, and MD 925. On US 301, which runs north to south, there's a toll bridge some travelers use to go between Waldorf and nearby Virginia.

By car
Cars are probably one of the most common means of transportation here. However, traffic can be heavy in the area because of the large population of commuters.

Public transportation
The town is served by several routes owned by the Maryland Transit Administration and operated by bus companies that transport the city's many commuters and residents in, out, and around.

title: Waldorf


text:
Waldport

Waldport is a charming if understated Central Oregon Coast town approximately 34 miles north of Florence and 16 miles south of Newport. Most likely you will just be passing through, but the Alsea Bay Interpretive Center may be worth a stop if you are interested in the construction of the Alsea Bay bridge or local history. Opportunities for subdued activities like kayak rental, crabbing/clamming, viewing seals (often seen lying on the southern terminus of the north spit at the mouth of Alsea Bay) or bald eagles exist.

title: Waldport