text:
Grimsby

Grimsby is a fishing port in Lincolnshire, standing on the south bank of the mouth of the River Humber, on the east coast of England. It merges into the seaside town of Cleethorpes, and this conurbation and rural hinterland comprise the unitary Local Authority of North East Lincolnshire, also called Great Grimsby.

Understand
There has been a fishing settlement here for over 1000 years – “Grimsby” is a Viking name – and probably over 2000. It grew up at the point where a creek flowed out of the surrounding marshes into the Humber. The marshes were drained and became farmland in the 17th century but the town remained small until the industrial 19th century. Then the harbour was expanded to accommodate a thriving fishing fleet. The town’s civic buildings and sights of interest date from this period and cluster around this first dockland, the Alexandra and Old Fish Docks. Above all Grimsby and Cleethorpes owed their growth to the Victorian railway network, which carried away a boundless supply of fish to the nation’s dinner tables, and carried in Yorkshire coal for export, and holidaymakers keen to escape from their mills and collieries to the seaside.

Fishing and sea trade continued to expand in the 20th century and larger docks were built. These remain in use and are busy workplaces, not for casual sightseeing, though the port owner APH holds mid-summer open days. At its peak in the 1950s, Grimsby was the largest and busiest fishing port in the world. Related industries were the processing of fish and other food (Young’s, the seafood firm, are based here), maritime services, and haulage. The big decline began in the 1960s, when Iceland claimed rights to Atlantic fishing grounds (the “Cod Wars”) that British fisherman had traditionally used. And fish catches everywhere were dwindling because of overfishing, and restrictive European catch quotas were imposed. Grimsby was never a pretty town, but now it became very run-down, and its modern developments were ugly.

It has survived thanks to new industry along the Humber. Much of Britain’s oil comes ashore at nearby Immingham, to be refined and re-exported or distributed domestically. Many of the cars to burn that oil are imported via Killingholme. So, perhaps against the odds, Grimsby is nowadays this country’s largest port complex in terms of tonnage. But it has further suffered from the 21st century economic downturn, much remains to be done to regenerate its centre, and the big uncertainty in early 2018 is over the impact of “Brexit” on fishing and other maritime business.

By car
From the south leave the A1 at Newark, and follow the A46 north-east past Lincoln all the way to Grimsby. Or from the M1, take M18 north past Doncaster to M180 and follow it east. This passes Scunthorpe and the Humber Bridge turn-off, becomes the A180, and approaches Grimsby past the oil refineries of Immingham. From the north, join the M62 and go east to M18, take this south to the M180, then follow this east as above. The last services along the route are at the M18/180 junction, "Doncaster North", there's nothing for 40 miles (65 km) before central Grimsby.

By bus
The chief bus operator in this area is Stagecoach. Most buses run Monday to Saturday daytimes only. The “Humber Flyer” (number 250) runs hourly from Cleethorpes & Grimsby to Humberside airport, Barton Humber Bridge, and Hull Interchange. Bus 53 runs seven times a day from Grimsby to Lincoln, sometimes with a change at Market Rasen. Bus 51 runs hourly to Louth.

National Express service NX448 runs daily from Hull via Grimsby & Cleethorpes to London Victoria, via Sleaford, Peterborough and Stevenage. Service NX339 runs daily to Cornwall via Newark, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Taunton.

The central bus stops (you couldn't call it a station) are next to Freshney Place Shopping Centre.

By train
Trains run hourly from Manchester Airport via Manchester Piccadilly, Sheffield and Doncaster - change here for London Kings Cross, Leeds and the north. From Hull, take the connecting bus across the Humber Bridge to Barton-on-Humber, from where a single-car train rattles through the fields to Grimsby.

The main railway station is. All eastbound trains continue to Cleethorpes where the railway ends. In between are two small stations, Grimsby Harbour and New Clee. But the Manchester express doesn't stop there, just the slow train from Barton-on-Humber, so you're unlikely to use them.

By plane

Consider flying via Manchester MAN (especially given the good rail service), Leeds-Bradford LBA, East Midlands EMA, or the London airports.

If your budget stretches to it, the flat lands of Lincolnshire are dotted with small airfields, and HUY is quiet enough to welcome private light aircraft and helicopters.

Get around
Stagecoach buses run between Grimsby and Cleethorpes every ten mins or so (Bus 3 or 9), taking 20 mins. Otherwise walk, or cycle to outlying attractions such as Waltham Windmill or Louth.

See

 * Events: see www.visitgrimsby.co.uk for and www.visitlincolnshire.com for forthcoming events.
 * Events: see www.visitgrimsby.co.uk for and www.visitlincolnshire.com for forthcoming events.
 * Events: see www.visitgrimsby.co.uk for and www.visitlincolnshire.com for forthcoming events.
 * Events: see www.visitgrimsby.co.uk for and www.visitlincolnshire.com for forthcoming events.
 * Events: see www.visitgrimsby.co.uk for and www.visitlincolnshire.com for forthcoming events.
 * Events: see www.visitgrimsby.co.uk for and www.visitlincolnshire.com for forthcoming events.
 * Events: see www.visitgrimsby.co.uk for and www.visitlincolnshire.com for forthcoming events.

Do

 * Football: Grimsby Town ("The Mariners") were promoted in 2022 so they play soccer in League 2, the game's fourth tier. Their home stadium is (capacity 9000) in Cleethorpes DN35 7PZ, a 20-min walk from that station and 30 from Grimsby's (or 10 min from New Clee). Don't try to park around here, the Victorian stadium is hemmed in by narrow terraces.
 * Walk or cycle the Humber coastline either north or south of the port, for views across the Humber estuary to Spurn Head. It's mostly a firm broad track along the shore wall, though there are tracts of coastal industry (especially at Immingham) that you need to swing inland to get around. Use OS Landranger Map 113.
 * Fenland scenery of Lincolnshire stretches inland, with windswept fields and big skies. Away from the shore industries, the coast is empty of people and rich in birdlife, and the beaches improve as you move south away from the Humber mud.
 * Go-karting for both kids and adults at, Cheapside, Holton-le-Clay DN37 0JE, 6 miles (10 km) south of Grimsby off the A16. For bookings email steve@karting.cc or call +44 1472 823823.
 * Walk or cycle the Humber coastline either north or south of the port, for views across the Humber estuary to Spurn Head. It's mostly a firm broad track along the shore wall, though there are tracts of coastal industry (especially at Immingham) that you need to swing inland to get around. Use OS Landranger Map 113.
 * Fenland scenery of Lincolnshire stretches inland, with windswept fields and big skies. Away from the shore industries, the coast is empty of people and rich in birdlife, and the beaches improve as you move south away from the Humber mud.
 * Go-karting for both kids and adults at, Cheapside, Holton-le-Clay DN37 0JE, 6 miles (10 km) south of Grimsby off the A16. For bookings email steve@karting.cc or call +44 1472 823823.

Buy
Most shops in Grimsby are in or around the shopping centre.

Eat
As a fishing port, Grimsby is famous for its fish and chips. Traditional smoked haddock is a must. The best-regarded fish restaurant is Steels in Cleethorpes market place, see that page. There are lots of small eateries: Indian, Italian, and so on. For something different, eat Greek at at 25 Bethlehem Street DN31 1JN.

The stand-out restaurant in this area is the, 10 miles (16 km) west on the A18. It's also a hotel. For bookings call +44 1469 569998.

Drink

 * The has several bars & clubs as well as shopping outlets
 * The has several bars & clubs as well as shopping outlets

Sleep

And see entry above for the New Inn Great Limber.

Stay safe
There’s a run-down, rough edge to Grimsby. You should be safe enough daytime but at night the main area to avoid is around the docks, Riby Square and Freeman Street. For a quiet drink with your friends, maybe head for Cleethorpes.

Connect
Grimsby and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Nov 2022, town centre has 5G from EE and Three.

Go next

 * Cleethorpes along the coast has seaside and related attractions.
 * Hull is the big busy port across the estuary, with a maritime heritage.
 * Lincoln has a charming preserved medieval centre.
 * Louth, 15 miles (25 km) south, is an attractive market town much used for 1950s TV locations.

title: Grimsby


text:
Grimsby (Ontario)

Grimsby is a town of about 27,000 people (2016) in the Niagara Peninsula region of Ontario.

Understand
It is named after the English fishing town of Grimsby in north-east Lincolnshire.

History
The town of Grimsby was founded in 1790 as Township Number 6 after a group of United Empire Loyalists fleeing persecution in the United States settled at the mouth of 40 Mile Creek in 1787. It was later called 'The Forty'. Robert Nelles, a politician and later lieutenant-colonel in the War of 1812, was one of the town's founders. His home on Main Street West was used for many planning sessions during the war. In 1816 the village became known as Grimsby, the name of the surrounding township. Canada's first Chautauqua was established in 1859 in Grimsby Park and Beach, but by 1900 interest had declined, and by 1909 it had ceased.

The town has gone through many changes, from being a small rural village; to a centre for the manufacture of farm machinery, hospital furniture, furnaces and other metal products; and later the hub of the Niagara Peninsula's fruit-growing industry. Grimsby also had a successful fishing industry which lasted until the 1960s. With a number of wineries and distilleries, Grimsby now serves as the starting point for touring the Niagara wine region.

Climate
Grimsby's climate varies throughout the year; 12-15 °C in the spring, 21-33 °C in the summer, and 10-17 °C in the autumn. Temperatures in the winter months vary between 4 °C and −16 °C, with about 190 cm of snow per year.

By car
Grimsby is on the Queen Elizabeth Way (highway), about halfway between Hamilton and St. Catharines. The QEW has three exchanges in the town, with Casablanca Boulevard in the west, a central exchange for three roads (Christie Street, Ontario Street, and Maple Avenue), and Bartlett Avenue in the east.

By train

 * Amtrak operates the Maple Leaf train service daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and New York City include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls (Ontario), Niagara Falls (New York), Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States.
 * Amtrak operates the Maple Leaf train service daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and New York City include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls (Ontario), Niagara Falls (New York), Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States.

By bus
Bus operators GO Transit and Megabus (Coach Canada) serve Grimsby. has a stop at South Service Road and Casablanca Boulevard, about 3.4 km from Downtown Grimsby. stops on Main Street in Downtown Grimsby just east of Christie and Mountain streets.

Get around
In order to see the various attractions around Grimsby, it's best to rent a car in Hamilton or St. Catharines, the closest cities. The Town of Grimsby has no local public transit service.

Do

-79.5651580,43.1908426

Wineries and distilleries
There are more wineries in nearby Beamsville.

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

title: Grimsby (Ontario)


text:
Grindelwald

Grindelwald is a mountain village in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. It's in the valley from Interlaken up to the pass of Grosse Scheidegg, a traditional cattle trail, and in Old High German grintil walt meant "barrier forest". It became an Alpine tourist resort when it was reached by road in 1872 and by rail in 1890. The population in 2018 was 3801.

Get in
For inter-city routes, travel via Interlaken, which has trains every 30 min from Bern. Change at Interlaken Ost for the BOB train - the Berner Oberland-Bahn. Don't get off at Interlaken West, which is town centre.

You need to be in the rear portion of the BOB train. This runs every 30 min via Wilderswil, Zweilütschinen (where the front portion detaches for Lauterbrunnen), Schwendi and Grindelwald Terminal (for gondolas to Männlichen and Jungfraujoch), taking 30 min to Grindelwald main station. WAB trains ascend the mountain every 30 min from Grindelwald via Grund, Brandegg and Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg, taking 40 min. Eurail passes get you a 25% discount on the BOB and WAB trains but are not in themselves valid for travel beyond Interlaken. A Swiss Travel Pass is valid to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Mürren and gets you 50% discount on the WAB trains.

The last train from Interlaken is at 23:00. Moonliner is an even later bus: it isn't running in 2022, but late evening train services are sometimes "bustitutions".

is in the main village on the north slope of the valley.

Cars are permitted in Grindelwald but parking is limited. The Terminal car park has 1000 spaces - pre-booking is advised as it can be congested by day-trippers heading up to Jungfraujoch, or to Kleine Scheidegg which has no vehicle access. 5 to 24 hours cost Fr. 12 and the car park is open 24 hours.

Get around
is the station on the BOB line five min before you reach the main village. Change here for the gondola to Holenstein (1619 m) and Männlichen (2230 m, for the main skiing area on the ridge to the southwest) and for the Eiger Express gondola towards Jungfraujoch (see Kleine Scheidegg).

The WAB train (Wengernalpbahn) to Kleine Scheidegg initially descends to on the valley floor before climbing south. This is 500 m east of the Terminal gondola and Eiger Express, is at the foot of hiking trails, and might be more convenient for accommodation on the south slope of the valley.

is on Dorfstrasse 500 m east of the main railway station. This ascends via Bort and Schreckfeld (1955 m) to First (2168 m) and accesses all the north-side slopes.

The cable car to Pfingstegg is on Ribygässli 1 km east, Bus 122. This runs May to mid-Oct for the mountain restaurant and hiking trails.

Grindelwald Bus has half-a-dozen routes around the valley, varying by season. They're included in ski passes and all run from the main railway station. Bus 121 runs to Terminal and Schwendi, and Bus 123 runs by Terminal and Grund.

See

 * Churches: Reform Church is next to the museum, and the RC Church is by the Co-op near the station.
 * (3967 m / 13,015 ft) is the great peak soaring to the south. Mönch and Jungfrau are hidden behind it as seen from the village but come into view as you ascend. See Kleine Scheidegg for hiking and climbing routes.
 * Glaciers: two are visible southeast of the village. The Upper Glacier arises between the Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn. The Lower Glacier (pictured) is in the next valley south between Agassizhorn and Strahlegghörner, but in rapid retreat.
 * Glaciers: two are visible southeast of the village. The Upper Glacier arises between the Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn. The Lower Glacier (pictured) is in the next valley south between Agassizhorn and Strahlegghörner, but in rapid retreat.

Do

 * Paragliding Jungfrau (+41 79 77 99 000) operate tandem flights year-round, though in winter the icy breeze will freeze your knees. They launch from First, Männlichen, Eigergletscher and Mürren. A flight in 2022 is about Fr. 200, which doesn't include your ride up the cable-car to the launch point.
 * Paragliding Jungfrau (+41 79 77 99 000) operate tandem flights year-round, though in winter the icy breeze will freeze your knees. They launch from First, Männlichen, Eigergletscher and Mürren. A flight in 2022 is about Fr. 200, which doesn't include your ride up the cable-car to the launch point.

Winter
The ski season is from mid-Dec to mid-April: Grindelwald and First have a somewhat shorter season, but there's easy access to the higher slopes of Kleine Scheidegg. The lifts run for a couple of weekends before main season, then daily. It gets a bit scratchy by late March.

The standard lift pass suitable for most skiers is the Grindelwald-Wengen pass. This grants access to all 27 lifts in the area covering 155 km, including Grindelwald, First, Kleine Scheidegg, and Wengen the far side of the ridge, as well as all public transport. In 2021 / 22 an adult pass is Fr. 69 for one day, for six is Fr. 324. The Mürren-Schilthorn area is a separate pass, or you can buy a Jungfrau Pass for the combined areas. The latter is valid down to Interlaken Ost, so you can use the BOB trains to link between areas.

No pass is valid above Eigergletscher on the train up to Jungfraujoch, but you can buy an add-on ticket for Fr. 49 return.

Summer

 * Golf: Golf Grindelwald is a nine-hole course open May-Oct. It's above the village on Aspi, Bus 122.
 * top station (2168 m) has ski trails, or ride the chairflift further to Oberjoch (2500 m) and Schildt. Gliders and paragliders launch from First and there's an 800 m zip wire. A popular hike from here is 3 km west to Bachsee, a lake set in Alpine meadows.
 * Faulhorn (2681 m) is reached by continuing another 3 km west up the valley from Bachsee via Gassenboden. There's a mountain hotel and restaurant at the top. A choice of trails descend via Burg, Bira or Schynige Platte, which has a mountain railway from Wilderswil May-Oct.
 * is the pass at 1962 m at the head of the valley, between the Schwarzhorn north and the Wetterhorn south. The name means "great watershed" and it was the traditional cattle-droving route until the coming of the railways. There's a hotel here, and a summer road crosses into the valley towards Meiringen - this is closed to public traffic but has an hourly bus from Grindelwald. From here you hike north along the ridge then ascend along the shoulder of the Schwarzhorn to First top station, 6 km. Hike in this direction for the best mountain views and frequency of transport to the village.
 * Schwarzhorn (2928 m) has superb views. It is just about within scope for experienced hikers without mountaineering skills, but the exposed final ridge needs care. Start on the trail from First towards Grosse Scheidegg then at Distelboden branch off up the southwest col. The standard route is straight onto the ridge, or there's a branch via ferrata route northwest via Grossi Chrinne. Reckon 2 hr 30 min to ascend from First.
 * Eiger Ultra Trail is an ultra-marathon of 101 km. The circuit is from Grindelwald to Grosse Scheidegg, First, Bachalpsee, Faulhorn, Schynige Platte, down into the valley at Burglauenen then up again through Wengen and Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, traversing the base of the Eiger North Face before descending into Grindelwald. The next starts at 04:00 on 16 July 2022 and will take almost 24 hours: there are 14 intermediate checkpoints where toiling competitors are removed for their own safety.

Buy

 * Stores are along Dorfstrasse east of the railway station. The Co-op is open daily 08:00-19:00.
 * Vogt's Corner near the Co-op sells Swiss Army knives and Swiss watches. They're open daily from 09:00, May-Sept to 22:00 and Oct-Apr to 19:00.

Eat

 * Jasmine Garden has good Chinese food. It's within Hotel Grindelwalderhof at Dorfstrasse 155.
 * C&M is a café-bar at Almisgässli 1 with a sun terrace. It's open W-F 11:00-23:00, Sa Su 09:30-23:00.
 * Onkel Tom's is a snug pizzeria at Dorfstrasse 194, open F Su M 12:00-23:30, Tu Sa 16:00-23:30.
 * Da Salvi is within Hotel Steinbock at Dorfstrasse 189, open daily 11:30-22:00.
 * Mountain restaurants may be open in winter if they're in skiing areas (such as Jägerstübli), or summer only (such as Marmorbruch).

Drink

 * Avocado Bar at Dorfstrasse 158 is open daily 16:00-00:30.
 * Avocado Bar at Dorfstrasse 158 is open daily 16:00-00:30.

Connect
As of Feb 2022, the town has 4G from Salt and Sunrise, and 5G from Swisscom. The signal is good approaching up the valley from Interlaken but patchy on the mountains.

Go next

 * Kleine Scheidegg is the tiny resort at the top of the pass towards Wengen, with magnificent views of the Jungfrau. You can also reach Jungfraujoch from here, though it's quicker via the Eiger Express.
 * Lauterbrunnen in the next valley is a short hike to Staubbach and Trümmelbach Falls.

title: Grindelwald


text:
Grinnell

Grinnell is a town of almost 10,000 people (2020) in Central Iowa, home to Grinnell College.

Understand
Grinnell is a town with strong agricultural roots that hosts a highly rated liberal arts college, Grinnell College.

Climate
The climate in Iowa is pretty much the same everywhere. In the autumn, when the daytime highs get down in the 50s, people break out the sweaters and talk about how cold it is. In the spring, when the daytime highs get up to the 50s, people break out the shorts and start talking about how warm it is. The difference has more to do with what you've become accustomed to, rather than any meteorological difference. After months of cold weather, sometimes not rising above freezing for a week or more at a stretch, anything reliably above the freezing point feels warm.

By car
Grinnell is along Interstate 80 about midway between Des Moines and Iowa City.

Get around
You will either need a car or a bicycle, as there is no mass-transit option. Alternatively, sidewalks are plentiful in the central portion of the town, near the college and several small bed and breakfast inns.

Buy
There are several chain stores, including the discount stores Walmart, DollarTree, and Dollar General, as you head south towards the interstate. There are also several convenience stores, including the "Almost Always Open" (which isn't open overnight), and some vintage and consignment stores downtown.

Eat

If you are looking for grocery stores, there are two in the downtown area: McNally's and Fareway. McNally's, which has a deli counter and sells hot food at lunch during the week, may be the best option if you're looking for high-quality picnic fixings. Fareway (closed Sundays) is a low-cost grocery store with a butcher counter in the back. The biggest grocery store in town is the Hy-Vee, close to the interstate. Some food is also sold at the Walmart and the DollarTree across the street from Hy-Vee.

Sleep
The large hotel chains are south of the main part of town, near Interstate 80. They often cost around $100 per night for a basic room.

Usually, it's easy to find a place to stay in Grinnell. However, you should book your accommodations early for the weekend when the students of Grinnell College return to school (end of August), family visitation weekend (end of September), graduation weekend (one week before Memorial Day), and alumni reunion (the weekend after Memorial Day).

Go next
Grinnell is about halfway between Des Moines and Iowa City on Interstate 80 (I-80).

title: Grinnell


text:
Grodno

Grodno (Belarusian: Гродна Hrodna, Russian: Гродно Grodno) is a city in Belarus, on the Neman River, close to the borders of Poland and Lithuania (about 20 km and 30 km away respectively).

Understand
This is a very pleasant town, with a nice pedestrian area and central square worth a visit, but it may remind you more of western Europe than the former Soviet Union until you get out of the center. There are still some interesting remnants of the Soviet era which might be hard to find elsewhere, such as Lenin statues or some street names.

Visa-free regime
Western parts of Grodno oblast form the so called “Grodno tourist region” foreigners from EU and some other western countries can visit without a visa for up to 15 days. Instead of a visa a tourist voucher for about €12 is needed. These can be obtained online from travel agencies like “Grodno Visa Free” or “Belarus visa free”. It is not necessary to book more tourist services than you need in fact. For stays longer than five workdays (Saturday is a workday!) a registration at the migration office is needed. If you stay in a hotel, registration formalities are done by the hotel. Individual travellers must either by go to the OVIR, queue, fill in forms and so on, or do it online on the site of the Ministry for Internal Affairs. Health insurance is needed, but not necessarily from a Belarusian company. Registration is free of charge.

By plane
On Fridays and Tuesdays, there are flights from Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad to Grodno at 09:10, and Grodno to Kaliningrad at 11:30. Flight duration is around 45 minutes.

By train
The train station at Grodno is where the change of car trucks (wheels and axles) takes place to accommodate different track gauges on east and west routes. It is a place of almost terrifying size, disorder and noise. Carriages are uncoupled from the others and, in turn, lifted about ten feet as the trucks are changed. This is done without notice and while the operation takes place one has a good view of the acres of rusted, obsolete and unused equipment that litters the area. Cigarette smuggling is very common, and many people will be doing it.

Domestic trains from Minsk are daily, departing 16:22 taking five hours, with several night trains. There are several international trains from Russia, the one from Moscow is daily and for a 16-hr journey. From Saint Petersburg there is up to three departures a week taking 22 hr. During summer additional routes are added, Odesa (39 hr) via Kyiv, Simferopol (37½ hr) and Sochi (62 hr). From Poland, you can take a train in Białystok. There are two direct trains per day, at 06:50 and at 19:02. A ticket is about 20 zł.

By car
Roads are pretty good, you can easily get here from Minsk, Brest, Vilnius (Lithuania), Białystok, Warsaw (Poland).

Be aware of borders, and possible waiting in line (especially on the Polish border Kuznica-Bruzgi or, with usually smaller lines, Berestavitsa). Even if there are only a few cars waiting in the line, you might spend there considerable time due to their still surviving Soviet police attitude. To get your stamp, you have to be proactive and decently remind the policeman of your presence.

If coming by car from Poland or Lithuania, be sure to fill the customs declaration, even on one day trip using the visa free regime. You can fill the declaration online and just bring a printed copy of it. When coming from Poland, do not use the motorway bypass of Grodno, as a motorway fee is required for this and there are reports of cops checking for these just after the beginning of the bypass near the Polish border. You can pay the motorway fee at the first petrol station beyond the border, but there is no need for it if you are going only to Grodno.

By bus
There are a lot of buses from Minsk (costs around 45 Belarus rubles for the express route, which takes 4 hr) from Vostochnyj Station or from Druzhnaya Station (behind the main train station), few from Brest (the same price), few from Vilnius, one bus from Warsaw (departure around 10:00-11:00 from Warszawa-Stadion station); a few buses from Moscow.

Get around
There are plenty of buses and trolley buses going around town. In the evenings though, they get down to travelling on the outskirts once an hour or two. A ticket for a trip costs 0.13 rubles. Buy the tickets from kiosks near the bus stops. If you speak no Russian, just say "Talony," and hold up fingers to indicate how many.

When you get on the bus, find a grey metal device that they have near the windows, put your ticket in and clamp down on it with a little lever next to it. Then, it is validated and if a ticket controller comes in, you will get no fine.

Taxis are cheap and plentiful: taxi trips within the city cost about BYN5.00.

Do

 * Bike. The relatively flat and beautiful landscape around Grodno present a good place to bike. When planning your biking trip, use OpenStreetMap based app, such as mapy.cz, as these seem to have the best coverage.

Buy
Booze (especially vodka), cigarettes and petrol are the most popular items for visitors from the west. These are much cheaper than in Poland or Lithuania due to the small excise duty. Also other articles are cheaper, but not that remarkably. You can find numerous large western-style shopping malls in Grodno and surrounding area. When buying petrol, there is no need to look for the best price, as these are the same at all petrol stations. Also, you have to pay for you petrol before fueling. If your tank got full before you could spend all the money paid in advance, go back to the petrol station and ask them to get your money back. No language skills are needed for this, as the petrol station staff will understand what you want.

Be sure not to exceed the import duty. From outside the EU (Belarus), you can import only 10 packages of cigarettes, 1 liter of booze and only the petrol that fits into your car tank, no canisters allowed. Of course, you can bring more if you are willing to fill the declarations form and pay some tax. You can see a lot of people smuggling excess amounts of these articles, but this can not be recommended, as the border controls are sometimes quite thorough.

Sleep
A good way to find cheap accommodation is to rent an apartment for a short period. You can find ads in the newspaper Iz ruk v ruki or on this website (in Russian)

Connect
EU citizens be careful, as the free roaming area ends here and instead begins an area with extremely expensive roaming, so it might be better to switch off you mobile connection if you are not planning to buy a local SIM card.

Some restaurants feature free Wi-Fi, but this is not as common as in the EU.

Stay safe
Grodno is a safe city, resembling its Polish counterparts much more than you would probably expect.

Consulates

 * 🇱🇹 Lithuania Lithuania https://consulate-grodno.mfa.lt/
 * 🇵🇱 Poland

Go next

 * Białystok
 * Druskininkai

Day trips
Belarus side of Augustow Channel. 30 km away from Grodno, near the Sapotskin village and near the Polish border, you can visit the still functional Augustow Channel, with interesting drawbridges and sailing chambers. In summer, this place gets quite lively, and you can even get here by boat from Poland. From Grodno, you can get here by bike or car.

title: Grodno


text:
Grodno Oblast

Grodno Oblast, or Hrodna Voblast, is a region in the western part of Belarus.

Cities and towns

 * — the center of the region and one of the oldest cities in Belarus. Hrodna is a home to a 12th-century church, an old castle, and numerous remarkable buildings from the late 17th-early 20th century.
 * — a town with several interesting churches and a well-preserved brick synagogue.
 * — some interesting churches in the town, and more in the neighborhood.
 * (Дзятлава) — a small town with a nice Catholic church from 17th century and a number of interesting secular buildings.
 * — a settlement with an old Catholic church and an unusual wooden mosque, one of the few surviving pieces of the traditional architecture of the Belarusian Tatars.
 * — an old city with a Gothic castle from the 14th-century.
 * (Масты)
 * — an ancient town with the ruins of a 13th-century castle and fine churches from the 18th-19th century.
 * — a town with well-preserved churches and secular buildings from the 18th-early 20th century.
 * — an interesting old church (originally Kalvinist) and some World War I fortifications.
 * — a town with picturesque surroundings, including the hills on which the mediaeval settlement originally stood.
 * (Зэльва)

Other destinations

 * (Гервяты) — a village with a magnificent neo-gothic church
 * (Гнезна) — a village that preserves a fine gothic church from the 16th-century.
 * (Holszany, Гальшаны) – a village with a ruined castle and a Baroque monastery, once a seat of a princely Holszanski family.
 * (Gieranony, Геранёны) – the ruins of a Gothic castle which once belonged to Olbracht Gasztołd (d. 1539), the Grand Chancellor of Lithuania.
 * (Крэва) – a town with a 14th-century castle where Kęstutis of Lithuania was murdered and the first union treaty between Poland and Lithuania was signed.
 * (Любча) – yet another Renaissance castle of the Radziwill family can be seen in this small town.
 * (Мір) — one of the most-known destinations in Belarus, with an original castle from the 16th century and a nice old town with 19th-century buildings.
 * (Usyalub, Уселюб) — a village with a Catholic church from the 15th century. In the 19th century, the village was owned by a branch of the Irish O'Rourke family, whose funeral chapel survives to the present day.
 * (Жыровіцы) — a village that is home to a large monastery dating back to the early 17th century.

Fortified Gothic churches
Fortified Gothic churches can be seen in several regions of Europe (notably in Transylvania in Romania). Those in Belarus add one more element to the curious blend: they are Orthodox, and the corresponding architectural tradition has its share of influence on these buildings as well.

Struve Geodetic Arc
A world heritage site with two points in Grodno Oblast:

 * - About 500m southwest of the hamlet lies the marker; apparently at a height of 311 m ASL. It's marked by a small black obelisk with a globe representing the Earth on the top of it.

 * - The Lopati marker is easily accessible in the middle of a field right next to the P141 road.

Go next

 * Poland
 * Lithuania

title: Grodno Oblast


text:
Groningen

Groningen is a lively student city in the Northern Netherlands. It is the capital of a province with the same name and home to about 217,000 inhabitants (2023), making it the largest city in the north. A university town with some 50,000 students gives the city its famous vibe; a pleasant youthful atmosphere, some fine historic heritage and with plenty of things to do.

This article includes the former municipality of Haren, with which Groningen merged in 2019.

Understand
Archaeologists have found traces of habitation from the Neolithic and the later Iron Age. The city appeared in writing in the year 1040 as "Villa Cruoninga", apparently already a place of some significance. The city has a rich history, which can be seen clearly from the Medieval buildings in the downtown area.

In the 13th century, when the city was an important trade centre, its inhabitants built a city wall to underline its authority. The city had a strong influence on the surrounding lands and made its dialect a common tongue. The most influential period of the city was the end of the 15th century, when the nearby province of Friesland was administered from Groningen. During those years, the Martini Tower was built, which loomed over the city at (then) 127 m tall, making it the highest building in Europe at the time. The city's independence came to an end when it chose to join forces with the Spanish during the Eighty Years' War in 1594. It was later reconquered, and joined the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.

In 1614, the University of Groningen was founded for religious education. In the same period the city expanded rapidly and a new city wall was built. That city wall was tested during the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672, when the city was attacked fiercely by the Bishop of Münster, Bernhard von Galen. The city walls resisted, an event which is celebrated with music and fireworks on 28 August (as "Groningens Ontzet" or "Bommen Berend").

The city did not escape the devastation of World War II. In particular, the main square, Grote Markt, was largely destroyed in April 1945, during the Battle of Groningen, which lasted several days. However, the Martinitoren, its church, the Goudkantoor, and the city hall were not substantially damaged.

Nowadays the city of Groningen is nationally renowned for the university, the museum and its vibrant atmosphere. 50% of the citizens are below the age of 30, making this the youngest city in the country. For decades, the bicycle has played a central role in the lives of people in the city, and today accounts for no less than 60% of all traffic movement with more bikes than citizens.

Climate
The temperate climate is pleasant in Groningen, without extremes due to its coastal climate. Due to its location in the north of the Netherlands, during winter the average temperatures of this city are slightly lower than the average of the rest of the Netherlands. Snow and freezing temperatures are common in the winter but rarely last more than a few days. 30°C in the summer is not exceptional. Most average daytime highs in summer are around 22°C. Daylight hours run from 05:15 - 22:00 in the summer months to 08:45 - 16:15 in the winter.

Tourist office

 * The Tourist Information Wall at Groningen Airport Eelde provides information flyers about the city and its surrounding area in Dutch, English, German and Polish.
 * The Tourist Information Wall at Groningen Airport Eelde provides information flyers about the city and its surrounding area in Dutch, English, German and Polish.

By plane
Groningen is served by

Groningen is also easily reached by direct train (2.5 hr) from Schiphol Airport, which has far more direct connections than Groningen Airport.

To travel between the airport and the city:
 * Bus 9 runs twice per hour between the airport and city. The journey to the centre takes approximately 40 minutes. €5 one way, tickets can be purchased from the driver, or use the OV-chipkaart. Not all line 9 buses go to the airport, but this is clearly stated on the digital rollsigns. You can no longer buy bus tickets with cash. Make sure you have a card valid in the Netherlands (Maestro is best) or be ready to negotiate with the driver.
 * Bus 100 is a special shuttle bus to and from the airport starting at the Central Station, but only around the Copenhagen, Brussels, Munich, London and Gdansk flights. Besides Central Station, bus 100 also stops at the main down town places and hotels (including Hampshire Plaza Hotel in the southern part of the city), and the academic UMCG Hospital. This bus trip takes about 20 minutes from the Central Station and costs €5 one way, tickets at the driver.
 * Taxis are not always available at the airport. If you wish to travel by taxi, book in advance. A taxi to the city will cost you €25-30.

By train
By Dutch standards, it's a fairly long way from the major destinations in the western Netherlands. Getting here, however, is not hard. Groningen has three train stations, the central station (, often called 'Hoofdstation'), and. All trains eventually arrive at the central station; only a few trains stop at the smaller stations. Tickets for all train journeys can be purchased at the train station or online at NS.nl.

There are two trains departing from Groningen Station to southern destinations like Amsterdam and Rotterdam every hour. One train terminates in The Hague and the other train terminates in Rotterdam. The train towards The Hague also calls at Amsterdam South Station and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Station. Amsterdam Central Station can be reached with one change at Almere. Brussels and Paris can be reached with one change at Schiphol Airport Station. A regional line operated by Arriva runs west to Leeuwarden three times per hour. Some popular destinations include:

Train service between Leer (Germany) and Groningen is replaced by a bus service until around 2020 due to a ship crashing into a bridge on the rail line in 2016. You can either take a direct bus (55 min, every 2 hours), or take a bus to Weener then a train to Groningen (1 hr 30 min, every hour).

Commuter trains, all operated by Arriva twice per hour, run towards Uithuizen/Roodeschool, Appingedam/Delfzijl, Winschoten and Veendam.

By bus
The main bus station is right next to the central train station. At the bus station you can find a wide range of city buses and lines to virtually all large and small destinations in the region, and direct buses to Emmeloord, via Heerenveen and Lemmer.

Flixbus operates a couple of domestic intercity bus lines from Groningen. Line 821 runs to Hengelo and Enschede and line 822 runs to Apeldoorn, Arnhem, Nijmegen and Eindhoven. These bus lines leave at P+R Haren (near Postillion Hotel) and opposite the central train station, at the other side of the road. Booking in advance is cheaper. The buses are in most cases cheaper and faster than making the same journey by train.

International buses
There are several direct buslinks to Germany and Belgium operated by German carriers. For example to Bremen, Oldenburg, Hamburg, Berlin, Antwerp, Brussels and Leuven (starting at €9, one-way) by Flixbus.

Destinations in Belgium, France and England are reachable with one transit in Amsterdam. Destinations in Sweden require a change in Copenhagen. It is not possible to book a domestic journey. Ecolines operates a bus line towards Warsaw and stops en route to Poland in some German cities like Bremen and Berlin.

All international bus lines leave opposite the train station. Book a day in advance to get the lowest fare.

By car
A myriad of roads lead to Groningen, making the city well reachable by car. The major highways are the A7 (west-east) and the A28 coming from the south. Several fine N-roads connect to the city from nearby destinations, and are the way to go further north. The most notable ones are the N360 from Appingedam and Delfzijl, and the N361 north, direction of Winsum.

Driving in the old city, particularly within the central canal ring, is not the best option. Parts of town are car-free, there are many one way roads, parking is not always easy to find, and none of it is free. You can, however, park for free overnight at IKEA (a 5 minute cycle from downtown).

There are several Park & Ride facilities around Groningen. At these facilities you can park your car for free and take a fast and frequent bus to Downtown for a small amount. One of the biggest facilities is on Sontweg, to the east of the city and near Ikea. It is clearly marked when driving on the ring road. Parking there is free, and for €2 (one way) or €5 return for 5 people, a regular bus service takes you right to Downtown. If you come from the direction of Assen (south), the Park & Ride facility Haren is your best option. From the west, from direction Drachten, P+R Hoogkerk is on your route. If you are coming from Germany you can park at "Kardinge". Follow the road to "Eemshaven" and take the exit "Kardinge". All P+R facilities are clearly marked on the motorways.

Get around
Like most cities in the Netherlands, Groningen's historic city center is surrounded by a canal, the diepenring. Most of the sights are within this area, and the Central Station is 50 m outside it, and the museum built in it.

Within the diepenring, traffic is very restricted; Groningen's centre is designed to be as traffic-free as possible, and it is very difficult to drive and park within this area. Even resident parking permits are strictly rationed. However, the central area is compact and can be easily crossed on foot or with a bicycle.

Further out, Groningen has a loosely connected ring road, consisting of several N-roads forming a rather square ring shape around the centre. The city sprawls somewhat and crosses this ring in places, but most of the population live within this area.

By bike
Cycling is the best way to travel around. Getting from any place in Groningen to the centre will take at most 20 minutes. This makes the bike a fast, cheap and easy way to travel in Groningen. Don't get scared by the overwhelming number of bicycles. The city houses tens of thousands of students, whose primary means of transportation is the bike. Bicycle theft is pretty high. Most bikes have one lock, but it is best to use a good second lock (preferably a strong chain lock for least €30).

By bus
If you don't have a bike, the bus is the best option for distances you don't want to walk. All buses run through (or end on) Central station. Most buses have a stop at the Grote Markt square (central downtown). The major bus lines are listed below. Tickets are available from the driver (during off-peak periods you can buy a Eurokaartje, cost €2.50) or use the OV-chipkaart for payment. The Central Station is listed as bus stop "Hoofdstation" in and on buses and on bus stops. As mentioned earlier, buses no longer accept cash. Bring a card that works in the Netherlands (Maestro is best) or be ready for disappointment.

Q-Link
Q-Link is a group of 5 bus services which are air conditioned, have a WiFi connection, and run from city destinations to places just outside the region. One exception for line 15 which is a student express line to Zernike.
 * Line 1 runs from the Central Station to the Zernike/Zuidhorn, via Grote Markt, Noorderplantsoen and Paddepoel.
 * Line 3 runs from Lewenborg to Leek via Kardinge, Grote Markt, Central Station and P+R Hoogkerk.
 * Line 4 runs from Beijum to Roden via Kardinge, Grote Markt, Central Station and P+R Hoogkerk.
 * Line 5 runs from station Europapark to Annen via UMCG Hospital, Grote Markt, Central Station, P+R Haren and Zuidlaren. Sometimes this bus terminates at P+R Haren, so make sure Zuidlaren and Annen are mentioned if you travel this way.
 * Line 6 runs from P+R Haren to Ten Boer/Delfzijl via Central Station, Zuiderdiep, UMCG Hospital and Ruischerbrug.
 * Line 15 is a student express service from Central Station to college campus Zernike. It is just north of Paddepoel and line 15 runs via Rembrandt van Rijnstraat and Paddepoel. These buses are very crowded in the morning to Zernike, and in the afternoon back to the Central Station. This route does not run in weekends.

See
Downtown Groningen is pleasant and interesting. The city centre provides plenty of cultural heritage and a laid-back atmosphere. Together with the excellent Groninger Museum, it forms the main attraction for visitors.

Like many cities in the Netherlands, the centre is surrounded by a canal. Several historic canals have been "gedempt", or filled, however, and turned into streets. This is reflected in their names, and you'll likely find yourself strolling along the Gedempte Zuiderdiep. The heart of the city is formed around the two adjoining market squares, The Grote Markt (or Great Market) and the Vismarkt (or Fish Market). Standing tall on the edge of the Grote Markt is the Martini Tower, a true landmark for Groningen and one of its main attractions.

Architecture
Warfare left hundreds of buildings in ruins in 1945, but a good number of monuments remain. Strolling through the city centre you'll encounter former canal warehouses, the city hall, several churches, the former Gold Office and many other historic buildings. The city has, with success, attempted to find a balance between modern architecture and historic grandeur. The latest initiative is a major renewal of the eastern side of the Grote Markt.

Typical Dutch architecture is the Amsterdamse School, a style of architecture that arose from 1910 through about 1930 in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam School movement is part of international Expressionist architecture, sometimes linked to German Brick Expressionism. While Amsterdam has the most buildings in this style, Groningen also has some wonderful edifices, and sometimes called the northern capital of Amsterdamse School. at Parkweg in the lovely Grunobuurt district and at Gedempte Zuiderdiep 96 are worth walking along.

There are a number of special architectural skyscrapers. The Kempkensberg is a 25-storey high-rise building in the south of the city and is commonly called 'The Cruiseship' by locals. The Gasunie Building is considered to be a great example of an ‘organic building’, situated on the edge of the Stadspark.

Museums
As in many cities in Europe, Groningen's museums are generally closed on Mondays.

Historic heritage
Most of the historic heritage can be found within the ring of canals. The most visited tourist attraction is without doubt the Martini Tower, but there is much more to see in Groningen: old canal warehouses, guesthouses, typical Dutch gables and beautiful gardens. Probably the most characteristic streets of the city are the. These two streets run along the A canal and are known for the dozens of national heritage sites, in particular the outstanding warehouses from the Middle Ages and a 17th century brewery named 'Batavia'.

Scattered through the city centre are several late-medieval Guest Houses (Gasthuizen). During daylight hours these picturesque courtyards can be visited for free. The houses are not open to the public: the people living in them enjoy their quiet and privacy. Access is through gated doorways that will be unlocked during daylight hours and locked during the evening/night. The largest and oldest one is the courtyard of the, located in the Pelsterstraat, next to the Pelstergasthuis church. The Guest House consists of several courtyards connected through archways. In the Peperstraat, near the end on the left when viewed from the Poelestraat, is the. The Peper Guest House was founded in 1405. Part of the medieval city wall is still visible from the courtyard. At the tourist information is a city walk available through many courtyards. Other important heritage listings are:

Do

 * Football: FC Groningen were promoted in 2024 so they play soccer in Eredivisie, the top tier. Their home ground Euroborg (capacity 22,500) is 2 km southeast of city centre.

Cycling
Groningen is a cycling city par excellence. The inhabitants of Groningen possess an average of 1.4 bikes per person. The city features the highest cycling rate for anywhere on the planet; almost 60% of journeys are by bike. Groningen is arguably the world's best cycling city. 40 years ago the local government made a radical choice to ban the car from the centre of the city to increase liveability in the city. Since then, cycling has evolved into the new normal. Some cycling features:
 * Bikes everywhere
 * A bunch of guarded bike stalls across the city
 * Free way for cyclist with the many cycling lanes
 * Priority on roundabouts
 * Shared space with pedestrians in quieter and narrower streets
 * Traffic lights with rain sensors to give quicker priority to cyclists on wet days
 * Traffic lights that go green for all bikes from all directions (has to be seen at rush hour to be appreciated!)

Bicycles are available for rent at a number of places around town like, (only e-bikes),  and  (carrier bikes!). Bikes are also available at the Central Station with the OV-Chipkaart. Many hotels offer bike rental to their guests, usually for fees of roughly €10 or less per day. Renting an electric bike is a little more expensive, but a lot of fun and very interesting for longer trips outside the city. Bike maps are available at the tourist information centre. Use the map to explore the city and the surrounding areas or follow a signposted cycle route using the Dutch cycle junction network.

There is also a possibility to discover the city's highlights with a 2½-hour. You have to book this tour in advance. Departure from May through October every Friday at 14:30 and Saturday at 10:30.

Paterswoldsemeer lake
Locals love to spend their leisure time at Paterswoldsemeer south of the city, and cool down on hot days. On windy days sailors and surfers find their way to the lake. It is also popular with cyclists and joggers. There are beaches, marinas, boat rentals, restaurants, and accommodations. Rental sail boats and canoes are available at the is the place to be if you want to rent a boat or canoe. , at the north-western corner of the lake, is a lovely location for a drink with lakeview. At the adjacent water skiing club you can take introductory waterskiing lessons or have a fun ride on the banana. Call ahead to find out what's available. Restaurants include, and.

Other hotspots

 * (Ebbingekwartier) is a real hotspot and a must-visit during sunny days. The location is superb, located just adjacent to the centre of the city. So take a dive after a hard day shopping and have a drink at the bar of DOT.
 * Noorderplantsoen (mentioned in § See) is the perfect place to relax after a hard day's work. On a sunny day, join the students which gather on the grass or take a seat on the stairs at the fountains.
 * Hoornseplas lake is the perfect place to visit on a hot day with children. They can play at one of the two beaches or clamber on one of the biggest publicly accessible playgrounds of Europe.

Festivals and events

 * Every year in January: 'Eurosonic-Noorderslag', European's biggest showcase festival, Where dozens of bands from all over the world perform on various stages spread throughout the city.
 * Every year on Good Friday: 'Bloemenjaarmarkt', the biggest flower market of Northern Netherlands, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year. Among the visitors are a lot of Germans.
 * Every year on April 26: 'Koningsdag' (kingsday), a holiday celebrating the birth of King Willem-Alexander. Many events in the city, including a lot of vrijmarkten ("free markets") at which the Dutch sell their used items. The night before Kingsday is called Koningsnacht ("kingsnight"): many young people celebrate in the streets and squares throughout the night.
 * Every year on May 5: 'Bevrijdingsfestival' (Liberation Festival), together with many other festivals throughout the country.
 * Every year in August: 'Paradigm Festival', one of the most innovative electronic music festivals in the country, organized by Paradigm050 (which was chosen as best underground electro-house club in the Netherlands)
 * Every year in August: 'Noorderzon Festival', a festival focused on music, visual arts and performance arts.
 * Every two years in September/October: 'Noorderlicht' a photography festival.
 * Every year in autumn: 'Jonge Harten', a nine-day theater festival that takes place in almost all theaters in Groningen. It is a festival to discover. Including a lot of young creators, visual physical theater, performance, dance, music and a captivating festival heart.

Buy

Groningen is the largest place to go for shopping in the region, and offers a wide range of large and small stores, including international and national chains and a good number of small speciality shops.

Opening hours
With some exceptions, shops close at 18:00 on weekdays and Saturday and Sunday at 17:00. Thursday is "buying-evening", on this day a lot of shops are open until 21:00. In downtown almost all shops are open on Sundays, but not before noon. Supermarkets are generally open from 08:00-22:00.

Downtown area
All streets within the central canal ring are low traffic due to restrictions - but watch out for cyclists, who don't often pay attention to pedestrian crossings. The Herestraat, the city's longest pedestrianised shopping street, runs south off the Grote Markt and contains most of the city's everyday shopping needs and 'standard' Dutch clothing stores and chains. This is where you'll find Hema, Blokker, C&A, Zara and so on. The Westerhaven, at the western edge of the centre, houses some big stores like Media Markt and Primark.

Other shopping streets extend out from the Grote Markt and the Vismarkt. This streets are often worth a look too. AKerkhof contains higher-end brand shops, for example Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss and Marc O'Polo, but also houses some great food stores. For example 'Droppie', a store selling typical Dutch liquorice. The Zwanestraat and the Grote Kromme Elleboog contain a lot of specialty shops selling beer, herbs and spices, coffee, cooking utensils, etc. Especially take a look at the Dille & Kamille shop and the gift store Truus & Bregje.

The most picturesque shopping street is called the Folkingestraat; it runs south from the Korenbeurs (the former wheat exchange) at the end of the Vismarkt towards the museum bridge and the Central Station. It has a lot of little shops full of firsthand and secondhand little gifts, intercultural foods and great books. 'De Bourgondiër' is a specialty shop in the Folkingestraat selling local products like wine, typical Groninger sausages, mustard, cheese and candy. Have a look into oriental supermarket Le Souk.

The lovely Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat has different characteristic shops including plenty of art galleries, a travel bookshop, two branches of a great coffee and tea chain, an excellent independent bakery, a particularly nice cafe, shops selling toys and games, and a few second-hand furniture and clothes shops. Place for the best cake in town.

Other noteworthy shopping streets in downtown are Oosterstraat, Oude Ebbingestraat and Zuiderdiep.

For fair & eco fashion have a look at Koko Toko at Oosterstraat, Schone Zaken at Nieuwe Ebbingestraat and Diezijner at Zwanestraat. Vintage lovers go to Stardust at Carolieweg, Recessie and Kroy Classic Wear at Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat; for vintage furniture have a look at Verroest at Donkersgang.

Markets
Both main squares are filled with market stalls during the week markets on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. You'll find food, street food, fashion and other stalls on the markets. The Vismarkt is named after the fish that were sold on the spot during the centuries and still you can find many fish selling stalls today. Try the typical Dutch fish street food like kibbeling, haring and lekkerbekjes.

Local product and market for foodies Ommelander Markt settles on Harmonieplein square every second Saturday of the month. Local food producers sell their ware at the market such as cheese, meat, honey, fruit and vegetables.

Klein Berlijn is the annual market for vintage fashion and other stuff. Grote Markt square will be covered in vintage treasures. Also good food and coffee.

The large free Flea market at Koningsdag is an institution in Groningen. Many people are selling their second hand or hand-made goods during the Dutch national holiday. It is a large market and the vibe is superb. The market's location is the Singels between the central railway station and the city centre.

Local specialties
A typical 'Groninger' specialty is Groninger worst, a sausage made from raw minced pork which is then air dried. You can buy this sausage in every supermarket and butchery. When visiting a snackbar, you should try a eierbal. The eierbal is a ball-shaped croquette, filled with veal and a whole egg. The eierbal is seen as the Groninger variant of the Dutch croquette.

The Netherlands is known for its cheese. Groningen has some typical Dutch cheese stores:

Groningen continues the 'simple and straightforward' cuisine that the Netherlands is known for. Nevertheless the centre of Groningen has many nice little cafes or restaurants where you can eat. As befits a real university city, there are plenty of cafe-restaurants where you can eat for about €15.

Drink
Groningen's reputation as university town is borne out in its nightlife, which is comprehensive, with numerous options for drinking and clubbing. There are also several places to play pool/billiards. Most bars have the standard Dutch beers, but more and more international, especially Belgian, beers are beginning to have a presence. Bars in the down town area do not have fixed closing hours. Theoretically they can stay open for 24 hours a day, which a few bars do.

The largest nightlife area in Groningen is the Poelestraat area, located southeast of the Grote Markt. Here you'll find a lot of clubs and bars. The busiest nights are Thursday to Friday (studentnight) and Saturday to Sunday.

Some of the biggest electronic music parties in the Netherlands can be found here and are listed on Partyflock (in Dutch).

For a drink
This is a list with bars which are excellent for a drink during the day and during the evening. You'll find most bars and cafes around Grote Markt square, Gedempte Zuiderdiep and Poelestraat. Don't forget however to have a look for bars in the other streets.

Nightlife
Nightlife in Groningen is as important as life during the day. The city never sleeps and no venue has to close early. Venues ranges from life music podiums which originate from the underground scene, clubs, night cafes, and a fully grown-up electrohouse/techno scene.

Gay nightlife
Groningen is not renowned for its gay clubs. However, the normal nightlife scene is quite open-minded, especially the clubs with roots in the alt scene. Luckily there are LQBT+ and LGBT+-friendly bars and clubs in the city.

LGBT+ people are also very welcome in VERA, OOST, and night cafe Warhol.

Electrohouse & techno scene
Other than its size of it suggests, there is a mature electrohouse and techno scene in Groningen. Groningen was quite alternative in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. This has resulted that the unofficial underground capital of the Netherlands provides residence to a few great internationally renowned music venues.

Coffeeshops
Groningen has a few excellent coffeeshops, where you can buy and smoke cannabis products at a reasonable price. Alcohol is not served in any of the coffeeshops.

Red light districts
Window prostitution in Groningen takes place in the Nieuwstad area, with over a 100 windows in the street. A typical price is €50 for 15 minutes.

Sleep
As it is a fairly popular city trip destination among the Dutch, Groningen has plenty of choices for places to stay. There are no real top-end hotels however, so if you're out for luxury, you'll have to resort to some of the better mid-range places. Still, there are several very nice, historic hotels as well as a range of semi-modern and modern mid-range options. Travellers minding their budgets will find that accommodation here is relatively cheap.

Hospitals
In case of medical emergency, Groningen is well-served by a wide variety of hospitals and other medical facilities. The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is the main hospital. It is one of the largest hospitals in the World, offering supraregional tertiary care to the northern part of the Netherlands. The Martini Hospital is the second hospital, located in the south of the city.

Connect
As of July 2022, Groningen has 5G from all Dutch carriers.

Go next

 * The small town of Appingedam with its medieval town centre is well worth exploring, and it is famous for the "hanging kitchens".
 * The star fort of Bourtange is another good choice and is less than an hour away by car.
 * Explore the historical region of Middag-Humsterland by car or bicycle. The region is one of the oldest cultural landscapes of Western Europe and known for the villages built on wierdes (artificial hills) to shelter themselves and their stock from the high tide.
 * Visit the seal rescue centre in Pieterburen.
 * Catch a bus to Lauwersoog, only to hop on a ferry to the island Schiermonnikoog. This small island is a popular day- or weekendtrip destination.
 * Take the train to Uithuizen and visit the Menkemaborg, a particular kind of castle and one of the oldest and best kept examples of its kind in the region.
 * Visit the Drentsche Aa National Park and take a walk in the valley of the small river the Drentsche Aa, through the wide heathlands or the diverse forests. The famous dolmen sites are also here.

title: Groningen


text:
Groningen (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Groningen:

Netherlands

 * Groningen (province) - A province of the Netherlands.
 * Groningen - The capital of Groningen (province).

Suriname

 * Groningen (Suriname) - A city in Suriname.

title: Groningen (disambiguation)


text:
Groningen (province)

Groningen is the northeasternmost province in the Netherlands. It is mainly agricultural with its capital, also called Groningen, as the only big city around. Although the flat countryside may seem uneventful at first glance, there's plenty of heritage and typical scenery to discover. This area was the stage for one of the oldest human efforts in Europe to conquer the water and shape the landscape through ditches, terps and pastures. There are picturesque villages, historical mansions and ample opportunities to just enjoy the laid-back countryside life in this most northern part of the Netherlands.

Other destinations

 * Bourtange — an old Dutch fortified village

Understand
For centuries, the city of Groningen has acted as a city-state, trying to dominate the surrounding agricultural areas. In the 16th century, the city and the surrounding areas (the Ommelanden) were merged to become one province in the Dutch republic. The official name of the province at that time, Stad en Lande (City and Countryside) shows how two separate areas were merged. Although in later centuries the animosity between the city and its surroundings has decreased, until today there is a clear division of the city on the one hand, and the remainder of the province on the other hand.

Apart from this division between city and Ommelanden, each of the regions in the countryside has its own story. The large presence of extremely exploitative landowners in the east of Groningen during the late 19th and early 20th century left a relatively strong communist movement. The area is therefore regarded as the last stronghold of the communist party in the country. In this region, the Oldambt, very large farmhouses of the wealthy landowners are ubiquitous. In the southeast, in the so-called 'Peat Colonies' (Veenkoloniën), peat was dug and used as fuel (mainly in the city), resulting in a characteristic landscape of canals (for drainage and transport) and linear villages. In other areas, such as the Hogeland region in the north, the landscape has been shaped by battling the water of the Wadden Sea, with traditional artificial dwelling mounds (wierden) and the sea dikes. On the other hand, the southwest of the province, in the Westerkwartier region, has a slightly higher elevation and its landscape resembles that of neighbouring Drenthe province.

The city of Groningen is the economic, political, and cultural capital of the province, and its large university, hospitals, and shopping facilities are important for the wider region. Traditionally, agriculture has been the mainstay of the economy in the remainder of the province. However, nowadays this is much more diverse. In 1959, one of the largest natural gas fields in Europe was discovered near the village of Slochteren (Midden-Groningen). Furthermore, there is a large industrial area in the port city of Delfzijl, and also the port of Eemshaven in the Hogeland region is important.

Talk
While some locals speak a Low Saxon dialect called Gronings, everyone also speaks standard Dutch. English and German are widely spoken. Especially at markets and fairs, many buyers will be German.

By train
It is easiest to arrive in Groningen by train into the city of Groningen. Groningen city, although on the edge of the province, is a transport hub; lines running to the north of the province join the main rail network here.

Convenient services run from the south of the country. Regular direct services run from The Hague via Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, and Zwolle, and from Rotterdam via Utrecht and Zwolle (the blue lines on the map). From Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport the journey typically takes 2 hr 10 min.

Trains also run from Leeuwarden in Friesland, and from Germany. Bremen can be reached in about 2 hours 40 minutes, with one change.

By bus
Frequent scheduled buses are available to Groningen city from larger towns in the Northern Netherlands, including Emmeloord, Heerenveen, Emmen, Assen. German bus companies, including Flixbus, offer regular direct bus connections from Oldenburg and Bremen, and multiple daily connections from cities including Hamburg and Berlin. Long-distance domestic services include those from Enschede and Eindhoven.

By air
There is an airport about 10 km outside the city of Groningen, in Eelde (Groningen Airport Eelde). This airport is quite small, with mainly charter flights from Southern Europe, but also scheduled flights from Copenhagen, London, and Gdansk, amongst others. Via Copenhagen Airport, many European and worldwide destinations are available with one transfer. Other flight connections require a train journey; Schiphol Airport is the biggest and best connected airport, but Bremen is a similar distance away by train (2–3 hours) and well served by budget airlines. Train tickets for Schiphol are €25.70 one-way (2016).

By car
Groningen is well connected to the national motorway network, with the A7 (Amsterdam-Friesland-Groningen-Germany) and A28 (Utrecht-Zwolle-Groningen) being the key road connections. From Amsterdam, Groningen is clearly signposted, with the fastest way (approximately 1h 30m - 2h 15m, depending on the location in Groningen province) being via motorways A1, A6, and A7).

Get around
Best way to get around the province is by car or bike. As the province is quite spread out, take a car if you have not much time to spare. In general, the roads in Groningen are quiet and serious traffic jams are rare, although rush hours tend to get busy in and around the city of Groningen.

Parking a car in the city of Groningen can be expensive, and especially on Saturdays the parking garages may be full. You can park your car at a park-and-ride facility (P+R), and travel by bus to the city centre for a small fee

Car rental is available in the city of Groningen, at Groningen Airport, and in several of the larger towns throughout the province.

By public transport
From the city of Groningen, most towns and villages across the province can be reached easily by train and/or bus. Trains by Arriva run to amongst others Delfzijl, Roodeschool, Zuidhorn, Winschoten and Veendam. Buses, both within Groningen city and throughout the province, are operated by Qbuzz. During daytime, larger towns throughout the province can be reached from Groningen city at least twice per hour. Connections that do not involve Groningen city may be more cumbersome.

Some buses in the country side require prior reservation ("bel bus"). Another option is the so-called "treintaxi", a cab that operates as a mini-bus and connects trainstations with private addresses (even in nearby villages) for just a few euro.

See
Apart from the provincial capital city Groningen, there is also a lot to see in the so-called 'Ommelanden' (the countryside surrounding the city, i.e. the remainder of the province). There are many picturesque villages, little fishing communities, little castles ('borgen '), churches, and windmills.

Museums
The most visited museum in Groningen province by far is the Groninger Museum in Groningen city, showcasing modern and contemporary art of local, national, and international artists. (> 200,000 visitors annually). Other popular museums include the open-air museum of star fort Bourtange, the Ter Apel monastery in Westerwolde, the heritage railway and railway museum STAR in Stadskanaal, and the Veenkoloniaal Museum on the history of the 'Peat District' in Veendam. In addition, many of the 'borgen ' as listed below house a museum.

Some more intimate, less visited, museums that are well worth a visit include the Abel Tasman Museum in Lutjegast (Westerkwartier), on the famous Dutch 17th century seafarer and namesake of Tasmania that was born here, and the Kapiteinshuis (Captain's House) in Nieuwe Pekela (Veenkoloniën), on the maritime history of the Peat District region.

Borgen
'Borg' is the local name for a former stronghold or villa. There used to be more than 200 'borgen', but many of them have been demolished in the 19th century and less than twenty are remaining. However, several of these surviving 'borgen' are in a good condition and can be visited. Some of them are in use as a museum. More information on the 'borgen' is available in the articles on the respective towns/regions.
 * Fraeylemaborg in Slochteren — 16th century borg with English landscape style garden, with a historic house museum
 * Menkemaborg in Uithuizen — 14th century borg, with a museum showing life in the 18th century
 * Borg Nienoord in Leek — 19th century borg with beautiful gardens and the Dutch National Carriage Museum
 * Borg Piloersema in Den Ham — 17th century borg now in use as a restaurant and hotel
 * Verhildersum in Leens — 14th century borg, decorated in 19th century style

Other landmarks
There are several churches in the province that are worth a visit. The 13th century Martinikerk, in the centre of Groningen city, is the largest church of the province. Its clock tower, the Martini Tower, is 97 metres high, and from the top of the tower you have a wide view over the city and surrounding regions. Other famous churches include the 12th century church of Midwolde (Westerkwartier), the Walfriduskerk in Bedum (Hogeland) with a tower leaning more than the tower of Pisa, and a few churches in 20th century Amsterdam School architecture style, e.g. the Oosterkerk in Groningen city and the Zaalkerk in Musselkanaal (Veenkoloniën).

With the Netherlands being famous as a country of windmills, also the province of Groningen has its fair share, with more than 80 traditional windmills surviving. Most of the windmills in the province are polder mills (for drainage of reclaimed land) or grist mills. Many of the windmills can be visited, although opening times are usually limited (e.g. only on Saturday afternoons, or only by appointment). A famous windmill is the Goliath polder mill in Eemshaven (Hogeland) because of its location among many modern wind turbines, offering great photo opportunities. The town of Winschoten in Oldambt is known as 'windmill city' because of its three windmills in one street in the centre.

Do
When in Groningen province why not try:

 * Wadlopen (walking through the mud during low tide). It is a great way to experience the Wadden Sea, starting in the Hogeland region. The Wadden Sea, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an area of great natural beauty full of seabirds and seals. For more experienced "wadlopers" there are even trips to the island of Schiermonnikoog.
 * Take a bath or spend a day in the sauna at the Spa of Bad Nieuweschans.
 * Try the Groningen City walk, a guided tour through the inner city of Groningen. Lots of interesting buildings (like the Prinsenhof) and stories.
 * Take the stairs at the Martini Tower in Groningen city. Climb to the top of the tower and enjoy the view.

Water sports
There are several lakes in the province of Groningen, with possibilities for swimming, sailing, kayaking, etc. The largest ones, with facilities such as boat rental, are listed below. All of these lakes are interconnected through a dense network of rivers and canals.
 * Lauwersmeer National Park — at the border of Groningen's Hogeland region and Friesland province
 * Zuidlaardermeer — in Midden-Groningen, at the border with Drenthe province
 * Oldambtmeer — artificial lake in Oldambt
 * Paterswoldsemeer and Hoornsemeer — two connected lakes at the border with Drenthe's Tynaarlo region, immediately south of the city of Groningen
 * Schildmeer — in Midden-Groningen
 * Leekstermeer — at the border of Groningen's Westerkwartier region and Drenthe's Noordenveld region

Eat
There is a wide variety of restaurants in the province of Groningen. Common cuisines that are available in most of the towns and villages throughout the province include Dutch/French, Italian, Turkish (mostly fastfood), and Chinese/Indonesian. The selection of restaurants in the provincial capital is much more diverse. Especially along the Wadden Sea coast, fresh fish and fish restaurants are available, for instance in Lauwersoog, Zoutkamp or Noordpolderzijl (in the Hogeland region) or Termunterzijl (Delfzijl). Or get yourself a Dutch Pancake (pannenkoek) in the 'pancake ship' that is docked in a Groningen city canal, or at the Nienoord estate in Leek (Westerkwartier region).

A typical dish from Groningen is poffert, a type of raisin cake that is eaten for lunch or dinner, or as a snack. This regional dish is served at Koffie- en Theehuis Tante Til in Enumatil (Westerkwartier). Other typical Groningen food products include Groninger mustard (whole-grain mustard), Groninger worst (dried pork sausage with cloves) and Groninger koek (spice cake with rye and syrup).

Drink
Groningen city is famous for its nightlife. Nowhere in the Netherlands will the pubs stay open longer. Especially at the area to the southeast of the Grote Markt (central square), like the Poelestraat, the Oosterstraat en the Peperstraat, there are a lot of pubs that stay open until early in the morning. Dutch pubs, student pubs, Irish pubs, bars, coffeeshops, you name it, Groningen has it. Try café Hooghoudt at the southside of the Grote Markt square Hooghoudt is a local liquor brand (it produces vodka and traditional Dutch liquors like 'Jenever', Dutch gin) and the café acts as a barrelhouse.

Most towns and villages in the province have limited nightlife, but usually there are a few cafés or pubs that are open until after midnight in weekends. There are popular nightclubs in Stadskanaal and Veendam (in the Veenkoloniën region).

Stay safe
In whole, Groningen is a safe place to stay. There are only a few basic rules to follow:
 * Lock your car and don't leave valuables in your car.
 * Double lock your rental bike; the Netherlands is famous for bicycles, but also for bicycle theft.
 * Hard drugs are illegal in the Netherlands, but possession of a small portion of soft drugs for personal use is allowed.
 * Groningen city centre is observed by CCTV cameras (with noise-sensitive warning equipment). If you are the victim or the witness of a criminal act, the police will normally arrive in a few minutes.

Go next
Most places in the Netherlands can be reached within four hours of travel (either car or train).

Nearby places in the Netherlands

 * Schiermonnikoog — West Frisian island where no cars are allowed, direct ferry connection from Groningen province (Lauwersoog port)
 * Drenthe — province to the south of Groningen, famous for its bicycle routes and the annual Dutch TT MotoGP race
 * Friesland — province to the west of Groningen, famous for its lake district

Across the border in Germany

 * Borkum — East Frisian island in Germany, direct ferry connection from Groningen province (Eemshaven port)
 * East Frisia — large rural area in northwestern Germany
 * Oldenburg — twin city of Groningen with an old city centre

title: Groningen (province)


text:
Groom

Groom is a town in the Texas Panhandle on historic Route 66.

Get in
Interstate 40 leads straight into Groom.

Get around
Interstate 40 and Texas Route 40 encircle Groom.

See
Miscelleaneous Route 66 remnants line Main Street.

Go next

 * See more of Historic Route 66 to the west in Conway or to the east in Alanreed, McLean, and Shamrock.

title: Groom


text:
Grootfontein

Grootfontein is a city of 24,000 people (2011) in Otjozondjupa, Namibia. Like all the towns in the Otavi Triangle, Grootfontein is very green in summer but drier in winter. In spring, jacaranda and flamboyant trees bloom in profusion.

Understand
The economic mainspring of the area were for many decades the Berg Aukas and Abenab mines to the north east of the town. These produced zinc and vanadium but have since closed. This is dolomite country and the carbonate deposits in the upper parts of the mine have yielded interesting fossils of simian or pongoid creatures that lived millions of years before modern humans evolved.

Get in
Grootfontein is on the B8, a major highway in Namibia's north-east that leads from Otavi to the Caprivi Strip. When you arrive from the north or from the east you will cross the Red Line where all meat will be confiscated due to veterinary health regulations.

Grootfontein are is on the route of the big coaches that travel between Windhoek and Lusaka.

Drink

 * There is a water-tap at the Shell station where you can fill your supplies.

Go next

 * travelling to the east: Tsumkwe and Bushmanland
 * travelling to the northeast: Caprivi Strip
 * travelling to the south: Otjiwarongo and the Waterberg Plateau Park
 * travelling to the west: Etosha National Park

title: Grootfontein


text:
Gros Islet

Gros Islet is a town at the far northern end of Saint Lucia. It is the newest town in Saint Lucia, being the most recent to have been promoted from being a village.

There is a small beach at Gros Islet, but there are larger beaches and several large tourists resorts within walking distance to the north. Heading south, past the marina, the main beach on the west coast is Reduit Beach. The beaches on the east coast are exposed to the Atlantic wind, but are still largely untouched.

Rodney Bay Marina is to the south and becomes a hub of activity when the Atlantic Ralley for Cruisers (ARC) finishes there in December.

Beausejour Cricket Stadium is just outside of Gros Islet and was a venue for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Get in
The local bus service 1a runs regularly from Castries. A single should cost about EC$2.50.

Get around
Buses are the least expensive method of travelling. The bus route (1A) leaves from Gros Islet to Castries every few minutes. Minimum fare is EC$1.50, maximum fare is EC$2.50, per person. The buses have an 'M' prefix on their registration plates.

Taxis are numerous outside the large resorts, Rodney Bay and Castries, cost should be EC$60 between Gros Islet and Castries or EC$25 between Gros Islet and Rodney Bay. Taxis have a TX prefix on their registration plates.

Beaches
There are a number of beaches within walking distance of Gros Islet.

Do

 * Gros Islet Street Party, Every Friday evening, the streets of Gros Islet are closed off to cars and a vibrant street party ("The Jump-up") takes place. The bars stay open till late and numerous street vendors set up stalls selling local food.
 * Cricket:
 * Kite surfing. The windier beaches to the east of Gros Islet are popular with kite surfers. If you don't have your own kite, you can hire one (or arrange lessons) at the Kite Surfing St. Lucia on the Cas en Bas beach.
 * Kite surfing. The windier beaches to the east of Gros Islet are popular with kite surfers. If you don't have your own kite, you can hire one (or arrange lessons) at the Kite Surfing St. Lucia on the Cas en Bas beach.

Buy
Rodney Bay Mall, about 5-10 minutes walk south of the marina, has a good range of shops and a well-stocked supermarket.

title: Gros Islet


text:
Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne National Park is a Canadian national park on the west coast of Newfoundland. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Gros Morne National Park protects an area of impressive natural beauty, rural Newfoundland culture, and unique geological wonders.

Understand
The park's namesake mountain, Gros Morne, is the second highest point in Newfoundland at 806 metres. Its French meaning is "large mountain standing alone," or more literally "great sombre."

It covers an area of 1,805 km² (697 sq mi).

Gros Morne is a member of the Long Range Mountains, an outlying range of the Appalachian Mountains, stretching the length of the island's west coast. It is the eroded remnants of a mountain range formed 1.2 billion years ago.

The park's operating season is from mid-May to mid-October: most facilities are open seven days a week, including holidays. This is the high season, so you should book your accommodation well in advance. The park is open in winter with some activities available in winter. All major travel routes are maintained throughout the year, although temporary closures or warnings may come into effect in the event of adverse weather conditions.

History
The Gros Morne National Park Reserve was established in 1973 and received UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1987. It became a national park on October 1, 2005.

Landscape
The park is in the Long Range mountains, an extension of the Appalachian chain running up the west coast of the island of Newfoundland. The landscape of the park is mountainous and rugged, and has a number of interesting geological features, including a number of fjords and the barren Tablelands.

The park's rock formations include oceanic crust and mantle rock exposed by the obduction process of plate tectonics, as well as sedimentary rock formed during the Ordovician, Precambrian granite and Palaeozoic igneous rocks.

Tablelands
The Tablelands, found between the towns of Trout River and Woody Point in south west of Gros Morne National Park, look more like a barren desert than traditional Newfoundland. This is due to the ultramafic rock—peridotite—which makes up the Tablelands. It is thought to originate in the Earth's mantle and was forced up from the depths during a plate collision several hundred million years ago. Peridotite lacks some of the usual nutrients required to sustain most plant life and has a toxic quality, hence its barren appearance. Peridotite is also high in iron, which accounts for its brownish colour (rusted colour). Underneath this weathered zone, the rock is really a dark green colour.

Fauna
The most notable animal in the park is the moose, part of a booming population that was introduced to Newfoundland around 1900. Other common wildlife in the park include an ecotype of caribou (R.t caribou), black bears, red foxes, Arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, red squirrels, lynxes, river otters and beavers. Harbour seals are common in St. Pauls inlet, and whales (pilots minkes, humpbacks, fins) may be in the area especially during the capelin season in early summer. Many bird species can be found in the park, from shorebirds along the ocean to birds of the bogs and interior forests.

Climate
The climate in this part of Newfoundland is on the cool side of temperate - daytime highs are around 20°C in the summer and -5°C in the winter. Annual precipitation is just over 1300 mm.

Get in
Most visitors to Gros Morne will probably either fly in to the airport at Deer Lake, about an hour away, and rent a car there (a number of major rental companies have a presence), or take the ferry from North Sydney in Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques. Reservations for the ferry are essential.

By car & ferry
If driving from the Canadian mainland, the shortest way to Gros Morne is via the ferry service between North Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. It is 300 km from Port aux Basques to the southern park boundary, about a four-hour drive.

Fees and permits
As of 2024:
 * Daily fees
 * May 16-Oct 31: adult $11.00, senior $9.50, family/group $22.00, children under 18 free.
 * Nov 1-May 25: adult $9.00, senior $7.75, family/ $17.50, children under 18 free.
 * Annual passes are available for less than the cost of 5 day passes, and less than the cost of 4 day passes if purchased before June 30.
 * Wilderness hiking fees: $92-165 per person, depending on the trail.

Get around
A car is probably the most convenient way to get around, because the park is huge, and things are far apart. Biking may also be an option, if you don't mind lots of hills.

Be careful if you drive at night, since moose are often spotted on the roads in Newfoundland, and collisions are common. An adult moose can weigh well over a ton, and hitting one at highway speeds is likely to be fatal. Moose are most active around dawn and dusk, so be vigilant if you're driving at those times.

See
The landscapes in Gros Morne are breathtaking. Even the views from the roads around the park can be pretty impressive.

Do

 * There are about 20 marked day-trip hiking trails in the park, ranging from fairly short, relaxing walks to the challenging climb up Gros Morne mountain. Don't miss the Tablelands, and the view from the top of the mountain really is worth the hike.
 * One of the more strenuous day-hikes is the 16-km hike over Gros Morne Mountain. This trail is also called the James Callaghan Trail after the former British Prime Minister, who visited in 1976, in recognition of his conservation efforts.
 * The interior of the park can also be accessed, notably through the multi-day Long Range Traverse between Western Brook Pond and Gros Morne Mountain.
 * The park is home to many arts festivals, including: Gros Morne Theatre Festival[, Writers at Woody Point, Gros Morne Summer Music, and Trails, Tales and Tunes.
 * Explore the villages and towns within the park - there are lots of small shops and restaurants.

Buy
Handmade wool clothing (especially socks) is ubiquitous.

Snowshoes, homemade quilts, wool sweaters, wood carvings, photography, Newfoundland preserves, handmade porcelain jewellery, Newfoundland music.

Rocky Harbour has several gift shops and art & craft galleries, including:

Eat
Seafood! There are restaurants in Trout River, Woody Point and Rocky Harbour. Try cod tongues if you get a chance.

Drink
Beer is available in convenience stores - look for something made by the Quidi Vidi Brewery if you want to try something local.

Sleep
There are B&Bs, motels and hotels in the various towns within the park. B&Bs are amazing in Newfoundland. Just ask around and don't be shy. These are great people, you often feel like you are visiting family. In the high season (summer), you will need to book early as accommodations fill up quickly.

In Rocky Harbour
There are several B&Bs in Rocky Harbour that cost around $90-130 for a double with bath.

Camping
Parks Canada maintains five campgrounds in the park. The services available vary campground to campground, but may include toilets, showers, hot water and kitchen shelters.

Camping fees per night (2024):
 * Serviced, water and electricity	$36.00
 * Unserviced with toilets and showers	$28.50
 * Winter camping unserviced with pit privates  $17.50
 * oTENTiks glamping, and rustic cabins $133.25

Backcountry
There are primitive and backcountry campsites scattered around the park. Reservations through Parks Canada are often required.

Stay safe
Encounters with wildlife can be a real concern, even on short, front-country hikes. Bears, moose, caribou and other large animals are common in the park, so be sure you know what to do should you run in to one. Ask the park staff if you're not sure.

Some of the hikes in the park can be challenging, and weather conditions can change rapidly. It's a good idea to always carry plenty of water, some food, and rain gear.

Go next

 * Corner Brook, the largest town on the west coast of Newfoundland, is about a 90-minute drive to the south.
 * L'Anse aux Meadows, the site of the first Viking landing in the New World, is several hours drive to the north along route 430.

title: Gros Morne National Park


text:
Grosse Pointe

Grosse Pointe is an area in Wayne County in the state of Michigan. It includes the cities of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Shores, and Grosse Pointe Woods. This article also covers the city of Harper Woods.

Get in
The nearest freeway is Interstate 94, which runs through Detroit and Harper Woods.

Get around
Airport Shuttle Services are available by reservation. $59.00 one way to Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, Mich. Contact Detroit Airport Shuttle and Taxi at.

Sleep
There are no hotels in Grosse Pointe. The nearest accommodations can be found in Detroit or in some of the nearby suburbs in Macomb County.

title: Grosse Pointe


text:
Grosseto

Grosseto is a small city in the Tuscany region of Italy.

Get in
The nearest airports are in Pisa (about 160 km north), Florence (about 85 km away) and Rome (about 180 km south).

See

 * Medicean Walls
 * Palazzi
 * Pizza Palace

Go next
Monte Argentario - Almost an island. Main towns - Porto Santo Stefano, Porto Ercole

title: Grosseto


text:
Grosseto (province)

Grosseto is a Province of the Tuscany Region of Italy.

Cities

 * – Capital of the Province

Other destinations

 * – A region including parts of Livorno, Grosseto and Viterbo.
 * – An island.

Do
The cascades of Saturnia is a must to visit. The unique geological formation is a great place to relax after a busy schedule. The thermal water runs through a number of natural pools where you can just sit and enjoy.

title: Grosseto (province)


text:
Groton

There is more than one place called Groton:

England

 * Groton (England) - A town in Suffolk, England.

United States of America

 * Groton (Connecticut) - A city in Connecticut.
 * Groton (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.
 * Groton (New Hampshire) - A town in New Hampshire.
 * Groton (New York) - A town in New York.
 * Groton (South Dakota) - A town in South Dakota.
 * Groton (Vermont) - A town in Vermont.

title: Groton


text:
Groton (Connecticut)

Groton is a city in Connecticut. The tourist village of Mystic lies in the eastern part of Groton.

By car
From either New Haven or Providence, take Interstate 95 to exit 30, or U.S. Route 1. From Worcester, take Interstate 395 to CT Route 85, to Interstate 95/U.S. Route 1.

By train
Amtrak services southern Connecticut to New York and points south; and Providence, Boston and points north.

By plane

Larger airports in the area with scheduled flights are Bradley International Airport Windsor Locks, T.F. Green Airport, Warwick (Rhode Island), and the smaller, regional Westerly Airport, )

Do
Holiday Bowl-

title: Groton (Connecticut)


text:
Groton (Massachusetts)

Groton is a town of about 10,500 people (2010) in Middlesex County, in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts. Groton, like a lot of towns in New England, has a plethora of historic homes and structures to see.

Pepperell is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 12,000 (2020).

Understand
Groton is part of the greater Boston metropolitan area, but it is very much a small New England town. The town takes pride in the fact that a little over 40% of the land in town is protected by the town, state, or through private organizations & trusts, and is accessible to the public.

History
Groton started with the trading post of John Tinker, who conducted business there with the Nashaway at the confluence of Nod Brook and the Nashua River. It incorporated as a town in 1655, and named for Groton in Suffolk, England. Called The Plantation of Groton, it included all of present-day Groton and Ayer, almost all of Pepperell and Shirley, large parts of Dunstable, Littleton, and Tyngsborough, plus smaller parts of Harvard and Westford in Massachusetts, as well as Nashua and Hollis, New Hampshire. During King Philip's War, on March 13, 1676, Native Americans burned all buildings except for four Groton garrisons. during King William's War, on July 27, 1694 a group of native warriors raided the town killing some 20 people,and took captive some 13 others. On April 19, 1775, word arrived of fighting in Lexington & Concord. The common in Groton was used as a staging area for two companies of Minutemen under the command of Colonel William Prescott before beginning the march to Concord.

By car
you are coming from Boston take Interstate route 90 west to route 3 north. From route 3 north get off onto state route 2A/119 west.Route 119 and route 2 diverge in the center of Littleton. Stay on 119 west and you will arrive in Groton.

Coming from the southwest, take interstate route 90 east to 495 North. Take 495 North to exit 31, from here take state route 119 west to Groton.

Coming from the northwest, the easiest way is state route 2 east to exit 25 where you will take state route 2A east. In Lunenburg route 2A east will meet up with state route 13 north and run concurrently for approximately .2 miles. When 2A and 13 north diverge take 13 north to Townsend where 119 and 13 cross each other. Take 119 east all the way to Groton.

From the south, take either interstates 91, 84, or 395 to interstate Route 90 east. From here Route 90 east to 495 north to 119 west. Alternatively from the south take interstate route 95 north to 495 north to 119 west.

Pepperell is served by state routes 111, 113, 119 and 122.

Get around
There is no public transportation within the town so walking,biking our driving is going to be the only option to get around the town. Most of the down town area of Groton can be traversed on foot, and the Nashua River Rail Trail makes walking or biking a feasible option to get around.

Buy
There is not really a variety of specialty shopping options in town. Groton has the average stores that you'll find in most towns in the area a couple gas stations,drug store,grocery store, etc,etc. If you are looking for a wider variety of shopping establishments the surrounding towns of Littleton, Westford, and Ayer should be your next stops.

Drink
The best options to get a drink in Groton are Forge & Vine and Gibbet Hill Grill (see Eat section).

title: Groton (Massachusetts)


text:
Grove (Oklahoma)

Grove is in the Green Country region of Oklahoma. With Grand Lake o' The Cherokees at its doorstep, it's a retiree's and fisherman's haven.

Get in
US 59 will give you quick access to the town from Interstate 44 to the northwest.

See

 * Motorcycle Museum And Cafe, 14 E 3rd St. A private collection of motorcycle models. Tu-Sa 11AM-3PM. Tel: +1 918-787-8707
 * Motorcycle Museum And Cafe, 14 E 3rd St. A private collection of motorcycle models. Tu-Sa 11AM-3PM. Tel: +1 918-787-8707
 * Motorcycle Museum And Cafe, 14 E 3rd St. A private collection of motorcycle models. Tu-Sa 11AM-3PM. Tel: +1 918-787-8707
 * Motorcycle Museum And Cafe, 14 E 3rd St. A private collection of motorcycle models. Tu-Sa 11AM-3PM. Tel: +1 918-787-8707
 * Motorcycle Museum And Cafe, 14 E 3rd St. A private collection of motorcycle models. Tu-Sa 11AM-3PM. Tel: +1 918-787-8707

title: Grove (Oklahoma)


text:
Grove City

There is more than one place called Grove City:

United States of America

 * Grove City (Florida) — A town in Florida.
 * Grove City (Illinois) — A town in Illinois.
 * Grove City (Minnesota) — A town in Minnesota.
 * Grove City (Ohio) — A town in Ohio.
 * Grove City (Pennsylvania) — A town in Pennsylvania.

title: Grove City


text:
Grove City (Pennsylvania)

Grove City is a borough in Pennsylvania.

title: Grove City (Pennsylvania)


text:
Groveland

There is more than one place called Groveland:

United States of America

 * Groveland (California) - A town in California.
 * Groveland (Illinois) - A town in Illinois.
 * Groveland (Florida) - A town in Florida.
 * Groveland (Massachusetts) - A town in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts.
 * Groveland (New York) - A town in New York.

title: Groveland


text:
Groveland (California)

Groveland is a city in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Tuolumne County, California.

title: Groveland (California)


text:
Groveland (Massachusetts)

Groveland is a town in Merrimack Valley with a population of 7,000 (2020).

Georgetown is a town of 8,000 (2020).

West Newbury is a small town of 4,500 (2020).

Boxford is a town of about 8,000 (2020).

Get in
Take an exit off of route 495 or route 93.

Get around
To get around Groveland, you'll need a car, a bike, or a pair of legs.

Sleep
There are no hotels.

title: Groveland (Massachusetts)