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Pienza

Pienza is a city in the Val d'Orcia region of Tuscany. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is considered the "touchstone of Renaissance urbanism". It had a population of about 2,100 people in 2017.

Understand
Pienza, formerly the village of Corsignano, was renamed and redesigned as a completely planned Gothic town, in honor of and at the command of the most famous of all its inhabitants in history, Pope Pius II (1405-1464; reigned as Pope starting in 1458). Its Centro Storico is a UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO's listing for Pienza can be seen at this link.

Get in
Buses run from Montepulciano (8 per day, 30 minutes), Montalcino (10 per day, change to line #114 in Torrenieri, lengthy changing time) and Siena (SITA runs several, though the number varies by season, 1 hour 15 minutes travel time; however, the latest bus returning from Pienza always leaves at 14:44).

Get around
Walk. There's no need for public transit in this compact town.

See

 * Piazza Pio II: A grand & elegant square, surrounded by the city hall, with its bell tower, & the Piccolomini family palace
 * Duomo: It dominates the Piazza, with a fine interior & beautiful windows. Works of art in the duomo include five altar paintings from the Sienese School, by Sano di Pietro, Matteo di Giovanni, Vecchietta and Giovanni di Paolo. The Baptistry, dedicated as usual to San Giovanni, is located next to the apse of the church.
 * The Diocesan Museum is filled with church paintings from the 12th to 17th centuries, €4.10, open W-M 10:00-13:00 & 15:00-19:00, closed Tuesday, open only on weekends in winter, on Corso il Rossellino.
 * View Terrace To the left of the church is a lane leading to a panorama of the countryside.
 * Palazzo Vescovile, on the third side of the piazza, was built by Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, the future Pope Alexander VI, to comply with the request by Pope Pius II for the Cardinals to have a residence in the town. It became the residence of the Bishop of Pienza when the town was elevated to a bishopric in 1462. It is now home to the Diocesan Museum, and the Museo della Cattedrale. The collection includes local textile work as well as religious artifacts. Paintings include a 12th-century painted crucifix from the Abbey of San Pietro in Vollore, 14th century works by Pietro Lorenzetti (Madonna with Child) and Bartolo di Fredi (Madonna della Misericordia). There are also important works from the 14th and 15th centuries, including a Madonna attributed to Luca Signorelli.
 * Palazzo Comunale: Across from the church is the town hall, or Palazzo Comunale. When Corsigniano was given the status of an official city, a Palazzo was required that would be in keeping with the city's new urban position. It has a brick bell tower that is shorter than its counterpart at the cathedral, to symbolize the superior power of the church. The set-back addition to the tower dates from 1599. It is likely that Bernardo Rossellino designed the Palazzo Comunale to be a free-standing civic mediator between the religious space before the cathedral and secular market square to its rear.
 * The travertine well in the Piazza carries the Piccolomini family crest, and was widely copied in Tuscany during the following century. The well-head resembles a fluted, shallow Etruscan Bowl. The flanking Corinthian support a classical entablature columns whose decorations are clearly based upon actual source materials.
 * The travertine well in the Piazza carries the Piccolomini family crest, and was widely copied in Tuscany during the following century. The well-head resembles a fluted, shallow Etruscan Bowl. The flanking Corinthian support a classical entablature columns whose decorations are clearly based upon actual source materials.

Do

 * Market Day is Friday
 * Market Day is Friday

Eat

 * Ristorante dal Falco is a modern place with outdoor & indoor seating, €6 pastas, open Saturday to Thursday 12:00-15:00 & 19:00-22:00, closed Friday, on Piazza Dante Alighieri. Telephone: 0578-749-856, open Wednesday to Monday 12:30-14:30 & 19:30-21:30, closed Tuesday, at Porta al Giglio on Via San Carlo. Telephone: 0578-748-606
 * Ristorante dal Falco is a modern place with outdoor & indoor seating, €6 pastas, open Saturday to Thursday 12:00-15:00 & 19:00-22:00, closed Friday, on Piazza Dante Alighieri. Telephone: 0578-749-856, open Wednesday to Monday 12:30-14:30 & 19:30-21:30, closed Tuesday, at Porta al Giglio on Via San Carlo. Telephone: 0578-748-606
 * Ristorante dal Falco is a modern place with outdoor & indoor seating, €6 pastas, open Saturday to Thursday 12:00-15:00 & 19:00-22:00, closed Friday, on Piazza Dante Alighieri. Telephone: 0578-749-856, open Wednesday to Monday 12:30-14:30 & 19:30-21:30, closed Tuesday, at Porta al Giglio on Via San Carlo. Telephone: 0578-748-606

Go next
Buses leave for Siena (6 per day, 90 minutes) & Montepulciano (8 per day, 30 minutes). Buy bus tickets from bar right buy town gate.

Aside from these towns, the cities of Florence, Pisa, & San Gimignano are great to go to.

title: Pienza


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Pierce County

There is more than one place called Pierce County:

United States of America

 * Pierce County (North Dakota) — a county in North Dakota
 * Pierce County (Washington) — a county in Washington (state)

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

title: Pierce County


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Piermont

Piermont is a village in Rockland County, New York along the Hudson River.

See

 * Dederer Stone House
 * Sparkill Creek Drawbridge
 * Swamp Church
 * Eleanor Stroud Park
 * Piermont Station, now a Museum.

title: Piermont


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Pierre

Pierre (pron. "peer") (Lakota: Čhúŋkaške, lit. "fort") is the capital of South Dakota and the seat of Hughes County.

Etymology
The city is named after Pierre Chouteau, Jr., a fur trader and entrepreneur of French heritage.

History
The area that now comprises the city was first discovered during Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804. Sioux Indians were the majority in the area before European immigrants started settling in permanently.

Around the 1810s, fur trading entrepreneurs established a trading post in the city, which is commonly regarded as the first "permanent settlement" in the city. It wasn't until the 1880s when the city became part of the western terminus of the Chicago and North Western Railway and was named "Pierre".

When South Dakota was admitted to the union in the 1880s, Pierre was chosen as the permanent capital of the state. As the capital of South Dakota, many of the city's inhabitants work for the local government.

Pierre is one of the least populous state capitals in the United States; as of 2022, the population is 15,000.

Tourist information

 * Visit Pierre website

By car
Pierre is not served by an Interstate highway or by any major expressways.

 * If you are driving from North Dakota, take US Route 83 and then take US Route 14.

 * If you are driving from Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Illinois, take US Route 14.

 * From Interstate 90 Pierre is another  north along US Route 83 from Vivian (Exit 212 of I-90).

By plane
There is only one airport in the city.

By car
As Pierre is one of the smallest cities in the United States, you can very easily cover the city by car. A trip to the Capitol from the airport will take you 7-10 min depending on traffic conditions.

By foot
A lot of attractions are within walking distance.

If you're up for the challenge, you can literally walk to Ramkota Hotel from the airport and it'll take you around 60-65 mins!

See

Fishing
Launch down the Missouri River and catch some fish! The Missouri River provides plenty of fishing opportunities.

Hunting
South Dakota has a deep hunting history, and Pierre offers plenty of hunting opportunities. Pierre is a good place to breed and develop your hunting skills.

title: Pierre


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Pietermaritzburg

Pietermaritzburg is a city in the centre of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. The capital of Kwazulu-Natal, it is famous for its history and architecture.

Understand
Its Zulu name, umGungundlovu, is the name used for the district municipality. This is popularly translated from the Zulu as "Place of the Elephant", although it could also be translated to mean "The elephant wins". Umgungundlovu is thus thought to be the site of some Zulu king's victory since "Elephant" (Indlovu) is a name traditionally taken by the Zulu monarch. Pietermaritzburg is popularly called Maritzburg in Afrikaans, English and Zulu alike, and often informally abbreviated to PMB. It is a regionally important industrial hub, producing aluminium, timber and dairy products. The public sector is a major employer in the city due to the local, district and provincial governments being located here.

The city was founded by the Voortrekkers, following the defeat of Dingane at the Battle of Blood River, and was the capital of the short-lived Boer republic, Natalia. Britain took over Pietermaritzburg in 1843 and it became the seat of the Natal Colony's administration. Fort Napier, named after the governor of the Cape Colony, Sir George Thomas Napier, was built to house a garrison.

There are two interpretations about the origin of the city's name. One is that it was named after Piet Retief and Gert (Gerrit) Maritz, two Voortrekker leaders. The other is that it was named after Piet Retief alone, since his full name was Pieter Maurits Retief. In this interpretation the original name was "Pieter Maurits Burg", later transliterated to the current name.

Summers are warm and occasionally hot, with frequent rainfall. Winters are dry with high temperature variation, with light air frosts being possible.

By car
Access to Pietermaritzburg by road is easy, lying as it does on the major N3 freeway from Durban to Johannesburg. The R56 connects Pietermaritzburg with Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London to the south-west.

By train
Pietermaritzburg is on the route between Johannesburg and Durban. Passenger trains are few and far between, Shosholoza Meyl overnight trains in each direction every second day. Journey time from Johannesburg is just over 11 hours. It's possible to travel on long-distance trains from Durban too, journey time for this stretch is 2½ hours.

By plane
Pietermaritzburg receives daily flights from Johannesburg. Service can be slightly erratic or heavily booked, so keep that in mind when booking important flights.

By bus
Regular daily bus services connect Pietermaritzburg to major cities in South Africa. The bus station is located in Burger Street, opposite the McDonalds and it serves major bus companies. Grey Hound is the most reliable and it operates several round-trips from Durban to Johannesburg daily, where Pietermaritzburg is the last stop before Durban.

Get around
Private transport is the best way of getting around. Car rental is strongly advised. Otherise, minibus-taxis are cheap but uncomfortable and occasionally unsafe. Some of the sights of Pietermaritzburg are within walking distance, if you don't mind trudging along for a few kilometres. Private taxis (cabs) can also be hired, but they are substantially more expensive than the minibus-taxis.

The central minibus-taxi rank is in Market Square, which is in the Central Business District near the Natal Society Library and the City Hall.

To get to the Central Business District from any of the suburbs by minibus-taxi, look for a taxi that is travelling to "eTuwen" or simply "Town". (There should be a guy leaning out the window announcing this loudly.)

You don't want to go to eThekwini, which is Durban. You want to go to "town". Ask the conductor if you're unsure.

Minibus-taxis have set routes, so there are a lot of places you can't get to using them.

The CBD isn't as safe as the suburbs. The area around the City Hall is pretty good, but I'd advise against long rambling walks into unfamiliar parts of it.

See

The City Hall, which is in the CBD, is the largest red brick building in the Southern Hemisphere. It contains a large organ, and occasionally hosts concerts.

The Natal Society Library is behind the City Hall, and has a large children's wing.

Further afield, Queen Elizabeth Park up on the hills above the city contains zebra, buck and the like. No leopards or dangerous creatures, so you can walk around and enjoy the park on foot. Make sure you don't get your food stolen by monkeys, though.

The KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Gardens in Mayor's Walk are spectacular and worth an extended visit. The gardens focus on indigenous flora and offer diverse walks through forests and open ground. A restaurant and coffee shop is located at the entrance. Weekend visitors will witness a stream of wedding parties going to the gardens to have their photos taken.

Do
The nightlife in Pietermaritzburg is pretty limited. Two or three clubs dominate the scene. Crowded House (in the CBD, fairly near to the City Hall) is one of the most popular, playing pop and dance music. Exclusive Lounge nearby plays kwaito and house music. Franki Bananaz is a cocktail bar in Armitage Road that is popular with the twenties set. For a more alternative scene, the Red Door in Quarry Road (off Victoria Road) plays alternative rock/punk music on Friday nights. Live folk and rock music can be heard at the Red Door on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Pietermaritzburg offers pubs and sports clubs. The Stagecoach which is near the university has a lovely pub atmosphere.

Caffe Vacca Matta at the Golden Horse Casino (in Scottsville) has a more upmarket pitch. Serving as a restaurant in the afternoon and early evening, it becomes a nightclub later on. Dress tends to be slightly more formal, with collared shirts, no jeans or takkies, and the like. The minimum age at Vacca Matta varies, so phone in advance.

Every year in May the Comrades Marathon is held. The course alternates between the "up" run (Durban to Pietermaritzburg) and the "down" run (Pietermaritzburg to Durban). The distance you have to cover varies slightly from year to year, but is approximately 89 km.

Buy
Liberty Shopping Mall (which is far away from everything else) contains masses of shops, including specialist stores for a host of different goods. In town you can find plenty of shops that sell food, including fast food outlets. There are also vendors on the pavements, although their goods aren't much to write home about.

Downtown in the CBD you can find large clothing stores, as well as smaller Indian shops that sell anything you can think of. Fireworks are particularly popular around Diwali.

Go next
Pietermaritzburg Airport can connect you to all cities in South Africa via Johannesburg. Durban is only about 50 min drive away, and Durban International Airport can get you direct to Cape Town, East London, Bloemfontein, Mozambique, Eswatini and anywhere else you need to go (with a connecting flight through Johannesburg International.)

In the other direction the Drakensberg Mountains lie about two hours drive away, offering an array of outdoor activities, with plenty of resorts and the like dotted around.

20 min out of Pietermaritzburg, the town of Howick offers a small touristic place with the Howick Falls as the highlight.

Johannesburg is about 600 km away via the N3 highway. Cape Town is much farther, about 2000 km.

title: Pietermaritzburg


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Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee, 5 miles (8 km) north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pigeon Forge is a tourist destination that caters primarily to Southern culture and country music fans. The city's attractions include Dollywood, Dollywood's Splash Country, gift shops, outlet malls, amusement rides, and musical theaters. In 2019, it was home to 6,300 people.

By air
, about south of Knoxville.

By car
From Knoxville, US Route 441 connects directly to Pigeon Forge.

Get around
The Fun Time Trolley is a public transportation system serving Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Fares range from $0.50 to $0.75, and it has over 100 trolley stops throughout the city. Trolley stops include places such as Dollywood, Dolly's Splash Country, Tanger Outlets, and many other stops along the parkway and other points of interest. The Fun Time Trolleys run daily 8:30AM to midnight during the months of early March to October and daily 10AM to 10PM in November and December but close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Understand
After the Treaty of Dumplin Creek in 1785, Robert Shields and Samuel Wear took advantage of lands ceded by the Cherokees to build forts in the area. Wear's fort came under attack, but the site is where Pigeon Forge City Park is located today. Later, around 1820, a fellow named Isaac Love built an iron forge and gristmill along the Little Pigeon River, hence the name of the town. Even though the forge was dismantled, the mill was restored and is like the centerpiece of the town, with tourists flocking to eat at the restaurant there.

When Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened up in 1934, entrepreneurs started toying with the idea of tourism on this stretch en route to the park. First there was a Rebel Railroad attraction, then a Silver City Amusement Park, and finally what Pigeon Forge is seemingly synonymous with today - Dollywood. Only it is chock full of other tourist attractions and resorts, so you may have to plan your time carefully.

Do

 * Dollywood Amusement Park and Splash Country.

title: Pigeon Forge


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Pigeon Lake

Pigeon Lake is rural area composed of more than a dozen small villages surrounding the lake of the same name, located in the Central Corridor region of Alberta, Canada.

Understand
Pigeon Lake is one of the most intensely used recreational areas in Alberta, with 10 summer villages, 4 unincorporated communities, and numerous private cottages along its shores. The lake has a total area of 96.7 km2 and a maximum depth of 9.1 m. The Pigeon Lake area does not have a significant urban area; however Wetaskiwin and Leduc are both about 30-45 minutes away.

Settlements
The following are Summer Villages (very small permanent populations with seasonal homes) or hamlets.

Get in
Pigeon Lake is about 1 hour southwest of Edmonton via Highway 2; take Highway 616 (exit 497) to access the north shore or Highway 13 (exit 482) to access the south shore.

Get around
The lake and its communities are accessed along Highway 13 on the south side, Highway 771 on the west side, Highway 616 on the north side, and Highway 780 on the east side.

Buy
The Village at Pigeon Lake offers a small selection of shops including apparel, furniture, liquor, groceries, and a spa.

title: Pigeon Lake


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Piha

Piha is a beachside settlement of about 600 people on the west coast of the Auckland Region of New Zealand, near West Auckland. It is a popular summertime retreat for Aucklanders and others from further afield. The beach is divided in two by a stream and Lion Rock, a large outcrop that looks like a resting lion.

See

 * North Piha Beach is north of Lion Rock and is a long, wild beach filled with numerous tidal rips and holes. As with the more popular Piha Beach, swim only where the surf club recommends.
 * Piha Beach (or South Piha Beach) is New Zealand's premier surf beach. Its black iron sand, pounding surf and rugged natural beauty are a favourite with local, national and international surfing communities. It has strong tidal rips, so follow the directions of the surf life saving club, which often places flags on the beach to indicate where it is safe to swim. If you are a novice to intermediate strength swimmer, it is recommended that you do not swim if surf life saving guards are not on patrol.
 * Piha Beach (or South Piha Beach) is New Zealand's premier surf beach. Its black iron sand, pounding surf and rugged natural beauty are a favourite with local, national and international surfing communities. It has strong tidal rips, so follow the directions of the surf life saving club, which often places flags on the beach to indicate where it is safe to swim. If you are a novice to intermediate strength swimmer, it is recommended that you do not swim if surf life saving guards are not on patrol.

Buy
The rugged natural beauty has attracted numerous artists into the community over the years. A great piece of art can be purchased during your stay. Given its local surf culture, you can stock up on the latest (and sometimes exotic) surf gear. Fishing gear is available so that you can try your hand at catching that big one!

Eat
The RSA (Returned Services Assn) and the Bowling Club are private clubs but welcome guests who just have to sign the visitors book.

Drink
Guests who sign in can drink at the RSA or the Bowling Club.

Stay safe
If you decide to go swimming or surfing at Piha Beach, do so with caution and follow any safety instructions posted by lifeguards. The surf at Piha is known for being incredibly strong, even with minimal wind. A strong swell and powerful rip currents have led to a number of drownings over recent years. The rip currents are strongest with the outgoing tide.

Go next

 * Muriwai – a beach further north
 * West Auckland (Waitakere)

title: Piha


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Pikesville

Pikesville is a city in Maryland, just outside Northeastern Baltimore.

By car
The center of Pikesville is accessible by exit 20 (Reisterstown Road) off I-695 (Baltimore Beltway). Various parts of Pikesville can also be reached by beltway exits 21 (Park Heights Avenue) and 22 (Greenspring Avenue).

From I-83 coming from Baltimore, take exit 12 (Ruxton Road) and head west for several miles; this will bring you into Pikesville.

By public transportation
The Baltimore Metro Subway operates from downtown Baltimore, with stops in Pikesville at and. From these locations, various bus lines can bring riders into the center Pikesville. Be sure to purchase an all-day pass, since transfers are not available on the MTA system.

Along Reisterstown Road, the nos. 53 and 59 buses run frequently. Bus #53 runs between Old Court Metro Station in Pikesville and Mondawmin Metro Station in Baltimore city. Bus #59 runs between Reisterstown Plaza Metro Station and Owings Mills Mall.

Milford Mill Road crosses Reisterstown Road in Pikesville. On Milford Mill Road, bus #54 runs between Randallstown and then down Park Heights Avenue.

Pikesville can be reached from the Light Rail into Baltimore by getting off at the stop, then catching bus nos. 58 or 60.

Get around
Public transportation is easily accessible in Pikesville, with Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) buses going to and from the area or various stops nearby along several routes. Taxi companies also operate in the area providing private transportation by cab, but are not as easily found in Pikesville as in downtown Baltimore, so calling for service is typically necessary.

See
Pikesville does not offer a significant amount of attractions. Much of the tourist activity is centered a short drive away downtown, at the Inner Harbor.

Do
Because it is for the most part a suburban area, Pikesville offers few notable attractions for tourists to visit. There are numerous places to shop and dine, all of which are relatively within walking distance from the center of Pikesville or just a short drive away. has easy walking trails encircling it. It's about a two-mile (3-km) walk around.

Buy
There are a number of strip malls, bookstores, clothing boutiques, and shopping centers in Pikesville. A relatively new and upscale shopping center,, features a Fresh Market, Walgreens, day spa, restaurants, and stores surrounding one of the largest manmade quarry lakes in the state.

Kosher
For the kosher consumer, Pikesville offers most of the kosher dining establishments in the Baltimore area. These include:

Meat
Two certified kosher Dunkin' Donuts  locations operate in Pikesville as well.

Drink
Several bars do business in Pikesville, although a much more varied selection of bars and pubs are located downtown.

Go next

 * The Baltimore Inner Harbor is a 25-minute drive (traffic permitting) from Pikesville, offering the majority of tourist attractions in the city.
 * Washington, D.C. is about a 1-hour drive from Pikesville
 * Philadelphia is a bit more than 2 hours' drive.
 * Ocean City, a popular summer destination for Marylanders and tourists, is about a 3-hour drive from Pikesville, depending on traffic conditions which can congest the Bay Bridge (especially on weekends and during the holidays).
 * New York City is about 3½ hours away by car.

title: Pikesville


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Pilanesberg National Park

The Pilansberg National Park  (sometimes also called Pilanesberg Game Reserve) is a few kilometres from Sun City in South Africa. It is known for its beautiful landscape and ideal, if you are staying near Johannesburg and do not have time to go to the Kruger National Park.

By car
Take the N4 or R24 when coming from Gauteng (Pretoria or Johannesburg). From Rustenburg take the R565 when going to Bakubung Gate or the R510 when going to Manyane Gate.

Gate opening times are:
 * April-August - Open 6AM, close 6:30PM
 * September-March - Open 5AM, close 7PM

Entry is R20 per vehicle and an additional R65 per person.

By plane
Pilanesberg Airport .Located just outside Sun City. There are weekly flights to Johannesburg with South African Airways and connections to Cape Town are planned.

Get around
Drive around in your own car. Most of the roads in Pilanesberg are dirt roads, but are in good condition and can be utilised by ordinary passenger vehicles.

There are a number of bird hides and picnic spots scattered around the park, where visitors can get out and have a relaxed lunch or just sight-see.

See
The park is very good for seeing many different animals, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffallo). There are a number of giraffes, hippopotamus, cheetahs, antelopes and countless birds. Bird watching is excellent with over 300 species recorded. Some are migrants, others permanent inhabitants; some eat carrion or live prey, others eat seeds, fruit or tiny water organisms.

There is a self-guided trail in the Walking Area at Manyane Complex in the east, which offers environmental education whilst enjoying game viewing and bird watching on foot. Also at Manyane is a walk-in aviary with over 80 species of indigenous birds.

Eat
Many of the resorts, including Sun City, have good restaurants.

However, nothing is better than enjoying a typical South African barbecue outside under the stars.

Sleep
Accommodation ranges from upmarket lodges to rustic self-catering, tented camps. The camps in the park are: Kwa Maritane, Tshukudu, Bakubung, Manyane Camp, Bakgatla Camp.

Stay healthy
Pilanesberg National Park is in a malaria-free area.

Go next
Right near the park is Sun City which has plenty of other recreational activities (water slides, wave pool, gambling, cinema, restaurants).

There is also a Crocodile Farm just outside the entrance to Sun City.

title: Pilanesberg National Park


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Pilani

Pilani is a small town in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. It is 200 km west of Delhi and 220 km north of Jaipur. Being a university town, it has little of interest to tourists.

Understand
Pilani is a university town, home to the BITS-Pilani (Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani).

By road
Direct buses to Pilani are frequently available from Delhi (ISBT, Kashmiri Gate) and Jaipur (RSRTC Bus Stand, Sindhi Camp). It takes about 4 hours by taxi and 6 hours by bus from either of these two cities to reach Pilani. Rajasthan Roadways Bus Service is available for Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and other destinations all day. Haryana Roadways Bus Service is available towards Delhi and Chandigarh.

From Delhi (via Bhiwani-Rohtak or via Dadri-Jhajjar)

This bus route brings you directly to Pilani. The bus takes 5½ hours to reach Pilani from Delhi. The appropriate buses are those that leave Delhi from ISBT (Kashmiri Gate) for Pilani, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, and Churu as their destination. The bus frequency is about every half-hour during the early part of the day (6-10AM) and is about every hour during the rest of the day. There are no bus between 5PM and 10PM. The last bus is only at 10PM.

From Delhi (via Narnaul-Singhana-Chirawa)

This bus route requires changing bus at Chirawa for Pilani. Chirawa is 16 km away from Pilani. The total bus journey is about 5½ hours by this route. The appropriate buses are those that leave Delhi from ISBT (Sarai Kale Khan) or from Dhaula Kuan (which is about 5 km from Airport) for Jhunjhunu/Churu/Sikar. The bus frequency is about every half-hour.

From Jaipur (via Sikar-Nawalgarh-Jhunjhunu-Chirawa)

The total bus journey is about 5½ hours. The appropriate buses are those that leave Jaipur (Sindhi Camp Bus-stand) for Pilani. The bus frequency is about every half-hour. Private buses to Pilani are also available from just outside the Sindhi Camp Bus-stand.

By train
The nearest railway heads to Pilani are Loharu (26 km away) on the Northern Railways and Chirawa (16 km) on the North Western Railway Delhi-Loharu Route. Sadulpur railway station is also close by, and is connected to Pilani through regular bus service (buses ply to the Rajgarh bus stand, which is close to the Sadulpur railway station). The BITS Pilani website can be referred to for more details.

By plane
Nearest airport is Jaipur or Delhi.

Get around
In Pilani, the distances are walkable, the roads however are not. A bicycle can be a good way to explore the town. Secondhand bicycles are available owing to the large student community. Auto rickshaws are also available and quite popular, but the price should be negotiated before starting the trip to avoid getting overcharged. They can be hired to go to the Loharu bus stand, alongside cabs. Buses to nearby towns (Loharu, Chirawa, Sadulpur) do stop on the way as per passengers' requests and can be used if your destination is on the way.

Eat

 * ANC - A place which serves you all the night at minimal charges. (BITS Campus)
 * Annapurna Restaurant (BITS Campus)
 * Bunty da Dhaba - A family Restaurant where you can eat and spend time.
 * Burger Stall - outside Sarla bar (the best burgers you will find in the city)
 * Chicken Corner
 * Golden Dragon Restaurant - (BITS Campus)
 * Green Field Restaurant - (BITS Campus)
 * Nobles Bakery - (BITS Campus)
 * Sharma's Restaurant - (BITS Campus)
 * Sky Lab - near Birla Museum
 * Vatika Restaurant
 * Looters Truck (BITS Campus, next to SAC): For snacks and midnight cravings.
 * Looters Truck (BITS Campus, next to SAC): For snacks and midnight cravings.
 * Looters Truck (BITS Campus, next to SAC): For snacks and midnight cravings.

Drink

 * Sarla Bar & Restaurant
 * SkyLab - (No Alcohol Served here, Only fruit beer)

Sleep

 * Birla Guest House - (01596-242105)
 * Maheshwari Lodge - (01596-242967)
 * Sitaram Yatri Niwas - (01596-244672)

Go next
Pilani is near the Rajasthan-Haryana border, 170 kilometers from Delhi (by road), the national capital. Jaipur, the state capital, and one of the most popular tourist destinations especially among foreign visitors is 225 kilometers away. Direct buses are available to both Delhi and Jaipur. Those interested in forts and palaces may also visit Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Jodhpur. For nature enthusiasts, Rajasthan has the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Bharatpur bird sanctuary (in Keoladev national park), and Mount Abu (Rajasthan's only hill station). Gems of western Uttar Pradesh like the Taj Mahal and temples of Mathura and Vrindavan are not too far either. In the North, one can visit Chandigarh and Dehradun.

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Pilar

Pilar is a city in Southern Paraneña in Paraguay.

By bus
Daily buses run directly between Pilar and Asunción.

Buses between Encarnacion and Pilar require a change in San Ignacio de Misiones. You will need to walk around a corner to the opposite road to catch the appropriate bus. Depending on your destination there may be a small bus shelter or people may collect in front of a local shop. It is best to ask someone to ensure you stand in the proper place.

See
Pilar is one of the most safe and clean cities in Paraguay.

 * Fiesta Hawaiana
 * Fiesta Hawaiana
 * Fiesta Hawaiana

Do
Fishing and boating on the Rio Paraguay

Go next
Pilar

title: Pilar


text:
Pilbara

The Pilbara is one of the nine administrative regions of Western Australia, with a population of almost 62,000 in 2018. These people are concentrated in a handful of mining towns and ports, leaving the region's 505,000 sq km (195,000 sq mi) very thinly populated. The name may drive from bilybara, meaning "dry", which the Pilbara certainly is except when scourged by cyclone rains. It's in the north of the state, bounded by the Indian Ocean northwest, Kimberley region north, Northern Territory east and by Goldfields, Mid West and Gascoyne regions to the south. The name of the region is pronounce "PILL-buh-ra", with first first syllable stressed and the second syllable shortened.

Understand
The Pilbara is remote – it covers an area of, which is larger than California, but yet just shy of 62,000 inhabitants. To give another comparison on just how remote the region is, just the Shire of East Pilbara covers an area about the size of Japan, but only has 11,000 inhabitants. Today, the region's biggest industry and draw is mining.

The earth's original crust of 4+ billion years ago fractured and was re-absorbed deep within the planet through the forces of plate tectonics. But several primeval "cratons" persisted, one being Pilbara, with mineral-rich rocks around 3.5 billion years old. Australia became a separate continent 30 million years ago and was inhabited from 40-50,000 years ago, by which time the climate was already hot and arid. So it was only a blink of an eye ago that the first Europeans arrived in Pilbara, from 1861.

These settlers were hampered by lack of natural harbours along a shallow, mangrove-choked and cyclone-battered coast, but they established sheep farms and later pearl-fishing. Their numbers remained small, though large enough to be disastrous for the Aboriginal population. There was a brief gold rush in the 1880s, but what transformed the region was the discovery in the 1960s of huge reserves of iron ore. Mining towns such as Newman sprang up inland, a network of railways was built to the coast, and Port Hedland and Karratha-Dampier burgeoned into big dusty ports shipping out the ore. And then Pilbara's industrial importance was magnified by the discovery in the 1980s of offshore oil and gas fields.

This means that large tracts of Pilbara are despoiled and ugly. Don't avert your eyes - it's worth seeing and understanding the industrial processes if opportunity arises, though of course company sites are off-limits as hazardous workplaces. But in such an extensive region, you can easily pick your way past all this to the many remarkable natural wonders, Aboriginal artefacts and poignant historical mementoes.

Towns

 * is a large industrial port, shipping out iron ore, yet turtles nest on its beaches.
 * and its port of Dampier is industrial, but is next to Murujuga National Park.
 * is a small port. Offshore lie the Mackerel Islands for diving and fishing.
 * may be the world's hottest town: summer temperatures routinely exceed 45°C. Doolena Gorge is scenic.
 * is little more than dormitories for mine workers.
 * is a mining company town and stop-off on the Great Northern Highway.

Other destinations

 * is this region's top attraction, with deep red canyons and magnificent trekking.
 * is a former sheep range, a relatively lush oasis.
 * Murujuga National Park north side of Karratha has a dense collection of rock art.
 * Islands: the Dampier archipelago is easily reached from Dampier near Karratha. The are reached from Onslow: Thevenard has accommodation. Further out, Barrow Island is large but with oil and gas installations and no public access.
 * was created in 1907 to build the "rabbit-proof fence" across Australia, and home to Molly Craig (1918-2004), twice abducted by the government to "de-Aboriginalise" her but escaping 1000 km home along the route of the fence.
 * (aka Rudall River) is remote even by Pilbara standards, in the eastern tract that underlies the Kimberley coast like a foundation slab. Reach it via Marble Bar and Telfer, or from Newman via the Talawana track. You need 4WD and complete self-sufficiency.

Get in
The economy of Pilbara depends on FIFO workers, who fly-in, fly-out for shifts of a couple of weeks duration. This means daily flights from Perth (two hours non-stop) to the mining towns of Port Hedland, Karratha and Newman, and to Onslow 2 or 3 times a week. Qantas and Virgin Australia are the operators, and Rex Airlines don't fly here. Fares are demand-priced but in 2022 you might pay $600 return, similar to the bus fare.

Aviair are the regional airline, linking Port Hedland, Karratha and Newman with Broome and Derby in Kimberley. They don't fly to Onslow.

There are two highways from Perth and both have bus services by Integrity Coaches. The buses take 24-36 hours with shifts of drivers; self-driving tourists would do well to allow three days plus sight-seeing along the way. The North West Coastal Highway is via Dongara, Geraldton, Carnarvon and Exmouth to Onslow turn-off, Karratha and Port Hedland, 1770 km, and continuing to Broome. The Great Northern Highway is via Mount Magnet and Newman to Port Hedland, 1650 km. Both roads are well-maintained but pounding with road-trains day and night. Note that Onslow turn-off is 80 km out of town, so bus passengers must pre-book their onward transport.

Get around
See above for regional flights by Aviair, and routes along the NW Coastal and Great Northern Highways. You need your own vehicle, as the towns sprawl, and many sights are several km away under a merciless sun, no pleasure to cycle. The main towns have car hire: 2WD is fine for almost anywhere you're likely to go, but see town and park pages for dirt tracks requiring 4WD.

Pilbara has a remarkable railway network, but it's all company freight trains, 3 km long, trundling ore to the ports.

See

 * Karijini canyon scenery is a must-see.
 * Petroglyphs - Aboriginal rock art - are best viewed in Murujuga National Park near Karratha.
 * Marine life: turtles (especially the flatback) nest on the beaches, eg at Port Hedland. Dugongs and dolphins inhabit the shallow coastal waters.
 * Staircase to the moon is a natural effect seen on the Pilbara coast March-Oct on the full moon spring tides. Water caught between the sand ripples at low tide creates a staircase effect towards the rising moon.

Do

 * Industrial tours are far from scenic, but these industries are crucial to the story of Pilbara, and touring their facilities gives a fascinating insight into how Australia works. Sites include the docks at Port Hedland and Dampier, and the oil and gas plants near Karratha and Onslow, see individual towns. Tours are only on select dates, to be arranged through the local visitor centre or company website, you can't just pitch up at the gate. And you'll need sturdy footwear plus ID.
 * Diving and fishing: Onslow and Dampier are the main places for boat trips.

Eat and drink
Be grateful for whatever you can find, you don't come here for fine cuisine. Water should always be your first choice of drink, as the sun ruthlessly extracts body moisture. The legal driving limit for alcohol is near zero, so trying to re-hydrate with beer might leave you still over the limit next morning.

Karratha and Port Hedland are large enough to have free-standing restaurants and bars. Elsewhere, the best option will be your accommodation.

Pilbara produces cattle, sheep and fish, but anything on your plate has been shipped to Perth for processing before trucking back, and the price reflects that.

Sleep
Pilbara has lots of accommodation but much is contracted to FIFO workers. They may have availability for others but it's fairly basic, with noise in the early hours as shifts change over. Visitor accommodation is often in caravan sites and motels, is expensive for what you get, and is often in short supply.

Offsite camping and parking may be tolerated but never stay overnight in a dried-up watercourse, even in dry season. A cloudburst hundreds of miles away may transform it into a torrent.

Stay safe

 * It's hot, damned hot Nov to March, so always carry plenty of fluids. Think carefully about venturing onto poor tracks. If your vehicle gets bogged down, the heat could finish you off long before help comes.
 * Cyclones occur Dec to April. Keep an eye on the forecast and distance to the nearest shelter. Don't be caught in the back country if a cyclone is looming - the rainfall makes even sealed roads impassable, even if your vehicle hasn't been rolled on its side by the winds. In the aftermath, bridges may be out and sinkholes appear in the road.
 * Road trains are not as long as railway trains, but have similar speed and manoevrability. You need a long clear stretch of road to overtake them. More likely they'll overtake you: draw to the side and decelerate to help them pass.

Go next

 * The NW Coastal Highway takes you east to Broome in Kimberley region, or west to Exmouth and Coral Bay in Gascoyne region.
 * The Great Northern Highway takes you south inland via Newman to Mount Magnet (with a turn-off to Geraldton) and Perth.
 * There is no inland route, not even dirt track, east through the Pilbara desert into Northern Territory. You'd need a full-on expedition with camel train, and ponder who will eat who once supplies run low.

title: Pilbara


text:
Pilgrim's Rest

Pilgrim's Rest, is a small historical town in Mpumalanga. Many of the original buildings from the 1873 gold rush have been restored and the town today serves as a living museum for that period.

By car
From the N2, follow the R36 to Sabie, then follow the R532 for about 23 km until the R533 joins from the left. Follow the R533 for about 10 km until you reach Pilgrim's Rest. All the roads are paved and in good condition.

On foot
It's a small place and one can easily walk around

Sleep
Pilgrim's Rest Tourism Association,

Go next
Pilgrim's Rest is near Lydenburg, Sabie, Graskop and the Blyde River Canyon. There are a number of waterfalls and spectacular views in the area.

title: Pilgrim's Rest


text:
Pilibhit

Pilibhit is a city in Uttar Pradesh in India. It is 48 km from Bareilly and is the greenest area.

Get in
From Lucknow it is 250 km and takes 6 hours. Train route is meter gauge from Lucknow. The city is well connected from Lucknow and Bareilly by road and rail.

title: Pilibhit


text:
Pilot Mountain

In a distant corner of North Carolina's Piedmont is an unusual mountaintop that has been used as a navigation aid since time immemorial. Named Pilot Mountain, the peak is now the main feature of a state park, and gives its name to a nearby town.

Get in
PART Route 6 offers bus service to the town of Pilot Mountain, but does not stop at the state park.

Do

 * Hiking
 * Rock climbing
 * Bouldering

title: Pilot Mountain


text:
Pilsen

Pilsen (Czech: Plzeň) is in Bohemia, in the Czech Republic in Central Europe. It is the home and birthplace of the Pilsener (or pilsner) beer variety which is derived from the city's name. It is the 4th largest city in the country and the largest city in West Bohemia, and is a convenient base for exploring this region of the Czech Republic.

Understand

 * Visit Pilsen website

Get in
The city is well connected with both buses and trains leaving hourly from Prague. Travel times for both buses and trains are just over one hour. From Germany, there are direct trains every two hours from Munich taking about 4½ hours. Another possibility is 3 hour travel from Nuremberg via Marktredwitz and Cheb which takes about 3 hours. From south it's also possible to reach the city using railway from direction of Železná Ruda (via Klatovy) where one can enjoy spectacular views of Sumava mountain range along the more than century old railway track. Last option via railway is from direction of Austrian city of Gmund via České Budějovice. The railway connections remain consistent even during the weekend.

Numerous bus companies connect the city with other European cities and stop at the central bus station, however the connections are usually a subject to reservation, meanwhile trains maintain their intervals during whole week including the weekends and don't require a reservation.

Both rail and bus stations are within walking distance from the city centre.

Get around
To get around the compact city center, it is best to walk. To get around the whole city, the services of the public transport operator PMDP are recommended. The PMDP operate trams, buses and trolley-buses in Pilsen. For information on lines, schedules and rates, visit the PMDP's official website.

Do

 * Walk through the city parks that circle the historical city center on its two sides.
 * Enjoy the view of the city and its surrounding areas from the church tower of the St. Bartholomew's Cathedral.
 * Enjoy a drink of Pilsner Urquell in the city that gave its name to all the pilseners in the world.

Sports

 * Football:

Events
There are several events during the year.
 * The Liberation Festival - around May 6th, when the city of Pilsen was liberated from Nazi Germany by the George Patton's 3rd Army in 1945. The city is full of music and other culture.
 * The Puppet Rock Festival - This summer festival is hold in the park behind the Plzen Plaza the last weekend of July.
 * The In The Streets Festival - generally in the first half of August. Small stages around the city center, a big stage on the Square of Republic. Music, theater and street performances.
 * Pilsner Fest - the biggest and most famous beer festival in the Czech Republic takes place every year around September when Pilsner Urquell Brewery celebrates its birthday.

Eat

 * Potrefená Husa (Martinská 1) - a big restaurant, good selection of meals and drinks
 * U Salzmannů (Pražská 8) - the oldest beer restaurant in Pilsen serving Czech traditional cuisine
 * Slunečnice (Jungmannova 4) - healthy bio cuisine including vegetarian and vegan cuisine
 * Anděl Vegetarian Restaurant (Bezručova 5) - a creative and stylish vegetarian restaurant
 * La Tartelette (Rokycanská 174/7) - French fast food (soups, salads, quiche ...)
 * Na Parkáně (Veleslavinova 4) - the pub to get an excellent unfiltered Urquell
 * Na Parkáně (Veleslavinova 4) - the pub to get an excellent unfiltered Urquell

Drink
Pilsen is the city where the pilsner beer was invented. Pilsner Urquell is the famous beer brand of Pilsen. In a few pubs (Senk Na Parkanu) and at the brewery, you can get the unfiltered, unpasteurized version of Pilsner Urquell, which tastes even better that the common filtered version. Another brand made in the same brewery is Gambrinus. Gambrinus Light (desitka) is probably the most common beer in the Czech Republic, and it's cheaper and weaker than Pilsner Urquell.

Cafés

 * Měšťanská beseda (Kopeckého sady 13) - a luxurious Art Nouveau-style café
 * CrossCafe (Jungmannova 5) - good coffee and light meals (sandwiches, salads, yoghurts)
 * Kajetánka (Sedláčkova 2) - a winehouse
 * Anděl Café (Bezručova 7) - coffee and chocolate house with music
 * Kačaba (Prokopova 17) - café and teahouse employing people with disabilities as part of therapy

Clubs

 * Zach’s Pub (Palackého nám. 2) - Irish pub with music club, regular music production
 * House of Blues (Černická 10) - regular live concerts, nice milieu
 * Buena Vista Club (Kollárova 20) - regular live music, movie projections, theater performances
 * Jazz Rock Café (Sedláčkova 18) - a place to chill, live music, groovy-jazzy-funky
 * Anděl Music Bar (Bezručova 7) - good music, projections

Tourist information
There are two official tourist information offices in Pilsen. Start your visit of Pilsen by visiting them (choose the main one on the náměstí Republiky, if possible), finding out about the current events and collecting a free map of the city. Both offices are open daily from 09:00 to 18:00 (until 19:00 between April and September).

Connect
Pilsen has coverage by 5G from all Czech carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Cheb
 * Františkovy Lázně
 * Karlovy Vary
 * Lázně Kynžvart
 * Loket
 * Mariánské Lázně

title: Pilsen


text:
Pinar del Rio

Pinar del Rio is a city in the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio.

Understand
In contrast to its neighboring tourist attraction Viñales, Pinar del Rio is not a touristy city. As such amenities, while available, are more modest than those in cities such as Havana or Cienfuegos. Despite this, Pinar del Rio is a clean, laid-back city in stark contrast to Cuba's other cities.

By bus
Viazul has twice daily buses between Havana and Viñales that stop in Pinar del Rio’s bus terminal. The bus from Havana takes about 3 hr. There’s one morning bus from Viñales to Trinidad. Be sure to download the schedule from their website in advance.

By colectivo
Shared colectivos are typically waiting in Havana at the Viazul bus stop and are typically CUC15 per person to either Pinar del Rio, Viñales or Las Terrazas. For the return trip look for taxi touts near the bus terminal.

By train
There is a slow overnight train from Havana on alternate days that arrives very early in the morning; the return train to Havana runs during the day.

By taxi
A taxi from Havana starts from CUC60.

Get around
The city center is easily walkable on foot.

See
Pinal del Rio is famous for the pillars. Walking through the city, you’ll notice that with only few exceptions, every house has front pillars.

Buy
There’s a number of supermarkets, including:

There’s also at least two different banks with ATMs on the main street (Marti):

Eat
The city center (e.g. around the bus station) provides plenty of street food.

Go next

 * Don’t miss the national park near Viñales
 * Make a brief stop in Las Terazzas before going back to Havana
 * Go further east to the Guanahacabibes Peninsula and its national park

title: Pinar del Rio


text:
Pinawa

Pinawa is a hamlet of about 1,300 residents (2016 census) in southeastern Manitoba, 110 kilometres north-east of Winnipeg.

It is one of the west-side entry points to Whiteshell Provincial Park.

Understand
The community of Pinawa was established in 1901 to support the operation of an early hydroelectric generating station but was abandoned in 1951 when the site was shut down.

Pinawa was re-established about 10 km from the original settlement in 1963 when Atomic Energy of Canada Limited built the Whiteshell Laboratories nuclear research facility in the area. Pinawa was developed as a planned community which preserved many of the natural features of the site and designated all riverfront property as public reserve.

Get in
Pinawa is about 1½ hour's drive east on Winnipeg on Highway 59 and 44, then on Provincial Road 211.

See

 * The Eastern Manitoba Concert Association (EMCA) concerts are held in the community center's gymnasium in the secondary school building once a month between October and April.

Do

 * Pinawa is beside the Winnipeg River, which offers access to boating, kayaking, canoeing, and other water recreational activities.
 * It has an 18-hole golf course, beach, outdoor pool, tennis courts, a curling rink, a hockey arena and many kilometres of cross-country ski trails.
 * The Trans Canada Trail runs through the town of Pinawa along the Riverside.
 * Pinawa is home to an abundance of wildlife, including deer, bears, owls, and other species.
 * Pinawa Beach is at the northern end of Whiteshell Provincial Park along the Winnipeg River and is equipped with a play structure, picnic shelter, volleyball court, and diving dock. A lifeguard is on duty July 1-Aug 31, from 1-5PM.

Eat

 * Wilderness Edge buffet restaurant
 * Daily Restaurant, inside of the Solo Market
 * Daily Restaurant, inside of the Solo Market
 * Daily Restaurant, inside of the Solo Market
 * Daily Restaurant, inside of the Solo Market

title: Pinawa


text:
Pindamonhangaba

Pindamonhangaba is a city of in the Vale do Paraíba, located in the State of São Paulo

Get in
The main access way is by the Rodovia Presidente Dutra (Highway), in the Paulista stretch, km. 99 - downtown is about 6 km from the highway. It also can be accessed by the old Rio-São Paulo highway, current SP-62.

Get around
Pindamonhangaba is a wide-street city, practically divided by the railroad, old Central do Brasil, having its downtown located between the railroad and the river Paraíba do Sul. In this region is the main commerce area, the main bank agencies, the Mother Church (Igreja matriz), the historical São José's Church (which keeps the remains of the most part of the Imperial Guard at service in the independence day), a small woody area called Bosque da Princesa, etc.

There's also a district, Moreira Cesar, which can be accessed by Rodovia Presidente Dutra (there's a toll station between the entrances) or by the old Rio-SP.

Do

 * Train ride to Campos do Jordão. Schedules and taxes on Railroad's website  or by phone +55 (12) 3644-7408 and  +55 (12) 3644-7409.

Buy
In downtown area you can find bakeries, clothing stores, bank agencies, restaurants, dollar stores, retail shops, ice cream parlors and also department stores.

Drink

 * Cervejaria Óbvio (Óbvio Brewhouse) - Good drinks, snacks and rock and roll bands playing all night long.

Go next
Pindamonhangaba

title: Pindamonhangaba


text:
Pine Barrens

The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, are a heavily forested region in southern New Jersey, covering one-third of the state's total area. Sandwiched between the Philadelphia and New York City metro areas, the Pine Barrens remain surprisingly rural and undeveloped with more than one million acres of open space. The region contains a diverse spectrum of plant life and offers opportunities for camping, hiking, boating, fishing, and hunting that can't be found in the more populated areas.

History
The name Pine Barrens partially refers to the region's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil, to which the crops imported by European settlers did not take well. Due to the poor agricultural conditions and the lack of natural resources, the Pine Barrens had remained largely unsettled despite the rapid growth of nearby Philadelphia and New York City. The Pine Barrens have been home to charcoal, glass, and lumber industries, but the forest has reclaimed almost all traces of the Pine Barrens' industrial past. The region has become home to many cranberry bogs and blueberry farms, which thrive in acidic conditions.

In the mid-20th century, concerns about the suburbanization of the area led to the creation of the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve in 1978, the nation's first National Reserve. About 1.1 million acres of the Pine Barrens are now part of the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, which includes the Wharton, Brendan T. Byrne (formerly Lebanon), and Bass River state forests.

Landscape
Although New Jersey is the most densely populated U.S. state, the Pine Barrens contain acres of flat, remote wilderness composed almost entirely of the Pitch Pine. The Pitch Pine can survive in nutrient-poor conditions and is resistant to the region's frequent forest fires, which makes it the dominant tree type.

By car
The easiest way to get in is by car. The closest freeways are the Atlantic City Expressway, Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, and Interstate 195. Several small local roads provide direct access to the Pine Barrens.

See

 * Wharton State Forest
 * Lebanon State Forest

Do

 * Camp and make s'mores
 * Hike
 * Canoe and kayak
 * Ride horses

title: Pine Barrens


text:
Pine Bluff

Pine Bluff is a historic city in the Timberlands region of Southern Arkansas.

History
The city is known as the location of the last major Confederate offensive of the American Civil War in the state of Arkansas. The U.S. garrison held this critical riverport town against an attack led by Confederate Brigadier-General John S. Marmaduke. The Union army did this against overwhelming odds.

By car
The best way is by car. I-530 will get you to Pine Bluff from Little Rock, however you can also use Highway 365, which basically follows the same route but has more interesting scenery and goes through various small towns.

By plane
Grider Field is an airport to the south of the city, however there aren't any commercial flights there. It is used mainly for general aviation. Little Rock National Airport is the principal air gateway to Pine Bluff.

Get around
Pine Bluff has an excellent road network. Getting around by car or Pine Bluff Transit buses should not be a problem.

See
There are plenty of murals on buildings in the downtown area. Also, a visit to the Delta Rivers Nature Center is highly recommended.

title: Pine Bluff


text:
Pine City

Pine City is a city in east central Minnesota with the tagline "North. Nice and close." The Pine City zip code (55063), which is a more accurate reflection of the size of the town, has a population of approximately 10,000 people and even more native pine trees. It's an easy day trip from the Twin Cities to Pine City, the largest city in, and county seat of Pine County.

Understand
Pine City is your quintessential, American small-town but it surprisingly offers a lot for its size. The rural feel of the community has diminished some giving way to exurbia pushing outward from the Twin Cities. That said, Pine City has held true to its sense of place and community and doesn't at all feel swallowed up by its large metropolitan neighbors to the south. Pine City rests easily in the shadow of Minneapolis-St. Paul, close enough for a quick side trip, distant enough to enjoy a more tranquil existence.

Pine City is like an image that lingers in the American consciousness: An oak-lined courthouse square. Gazebos and band shells. One-chair barber shops. The town café, gossip for breakfast and meatloaf for lunch. It's small-town life as it was and as it remains.

The city's politics are split between liberal and conservative with a slight historical advantage to the liberals. Carhartt is a popular brand worn by local, middle-aged men and it's not uncommon to see fishing hooks attached to many of their hat bills. Another article of clothing commonly seen on men and women is green plaid flannels, a modern style nod to the lumberjack heritage of the town. The typical Pine Citian says "You bet" in place of "yes". Yet, this is a place that mixes the true 'Up North' with a surprising level of sophistication; after all, it's an arts community.

While it's the biggest city around it for miles — from North Branch to Cloquet, and from Mora to Rice Lake, Wisconsin (a very large geographic area) — it's not a pious place and the people aren't pretentious. They show a fine display of "Minnesota Nice" and are eager to assist the tourist. To get a deeper understanding of the city, one has to visit it.

Climate
The weather is definitely not one of the attractions in Pine City. There's a boat load of fun to be had in any season, but it is a place where the climate has to be taken into consideration.

Obscured by Minnesota’s ferocious winters (see Cold weather) are the heat waves of summer. Many days in July and August are hot and humid. Summer nights are more comfortable, though, and you'll get a few degrees' respite along one of the many lakefronts — in the local parlance, that's "cooler by the lake". But then there are those winters. The months from November to March will see very cold temperatures, with even more bitter wind-chill factors. Blizzards and ice storms are a regular occurrence. It's a city that's well-accustomed to these winters, though, so city services and public transportation are highly unlikely to shut down.

Pine City does have a few nice months of weather. May and September are pleasant and mild; April and June are mostly fine, although thunderstorms with heavy winds can also occur suddenly. Even though there may be a chill in the air in October, it rarely calls for more than a light coat.

Read

 * Cordes, Jim (1989). Pine County-- and its memories. s.n. ASIN B00071SNAQ.
 * Johnson, Nathan (2010). Images of America: Pine City. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738577405.
 * Johnson, Nathan (2014). Legendary Locals of Pine City. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781467101196.

Visitor information center

 * GayCities Travel Guide for Pine City. Unassuming Pine City sometimes flies under the gay radar but it is blossoming as an LGBTQ destination, an easy day-trip from nearby metro areas and only an hour from the gay mecca of Minneapolis.  Nestled among pine forests, its vibe is “live and let live” as it boasts the highest proportion of same-sex couple households anywhere in Greater Minnesota.  Some end up here to escape city life.  Others, like openly-gay icon Bob Mould (yes, that Bob of ca. 1980s Hüsker Dü), retreat here to fine tune their artistry.  It is, after all, an arts community and creative communities tend to be more open and accepting, thus attracting queer people.  Much like Hüsker Dü, Pine City is genre-defying—punching above its weight for a rural, small town.  This is, after all, also the hometown of the nation’s first-ever rural gay pride.  The local queer scene continues to emerge from the woods with a gigantic banner hanging over Main Street each June wishing everyone “Happy Pride!”; town bars hosting drag shows; and ample gender-neutral bathrooms downtown to serve a trans and nonbinary world.  Named by Movoto as one of the “7 Best Towns in Minnesota for LGBT Families”, Pine City is worth a look, whether by yourself, with your family of origin, or with your chosen family.
 * GayCities Travel Guide for Pine City. Unassuming Pine City sometimes flies under the gay radar but it is blossoming as an LGBTQ destination, an easy day-trip from nearby metro areas and only an hour from the gay mecca of Minneapolis.  Nestled among pine forests, its vibe is “live and let live” as it boasts the highest proportion of same-sex couple households anywhere in Greater Minnesota.  Some end up here to escape city life.  Others, like openly-gay icon Bob Mould (yes, that Bob of ca. 1980s Hüsker Dü), retreat here to fine tune their artistry.  It is, after all, an arts community and creative communities tend to be more open and accepting, thus attracting queer people.  Much like Hüsker Dü, Pine City is genre-defying—punching above its weight for a rural, small town.  This is, after all, also the hometown of the nation’s first-ever rural gay pride.  The local queer scene continues to emerge from the woods with a gigantic banner hanging over Main Street each June wishing everyone “Happy Pride!”; town bars hosting drag shows; and ample gender-neutral bathrooms downtown to serve a trans and nonbinary world.  Named by Movoto as one of the “7 Best Towns in Minnesota for LGBT Families”, Pine City is worth a look, whether by yourself, with your family of origin, or with your chosen family.

By bus
Pine City is served by Jefferson Lines with a stop at Speedway near Exit 171. Also, other cities served by Arrowhead Transit can take that bus service into the community. Route 285 out of the Twin Cities only goes as far north as Forest Lake and a transfer to the Heartland Express and then Arrowhead Transit is a logistical tribulation. Best bet is Jefferson Lines, but it's kind of spendy.

By car
Interstate 35 links Pine City with Duluth to the north and the Twin Cities to the south. Pine City is about an hour drive north of downtown Minneapolis and of downtown St. Paul. A driver approaching Pine City on I-35 from the Twin Cities will be rewarded by a spectacular view of native pines and thick groves of trees. After a period of relatively flat and urbane scenery, the view is a treat, especially during peak fall colors. Exit 169 is the recommended exit for most downtown attractions. Coming from Duluth, Pine City looks like the first major city with the newly expanding freeway interchange at Exit 171, with the Pine County courthouse visible to passersby. Either way you come, take the I-35 Business Loop through Pine City.

Or, you can get to Pine City on the St. Croix Scenic Byway, which is also Old US Highway 61.

There are EV-charging stations at Family Pathways, 800 Main Street S., two fast-charging ports and a Level 2 charger, as well as at Robinson Park in the town square.

By plane

 * Rush City Regional Airport (KROS), 7.5 miles south of Pine City.
 * Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport . Most travelers will arrive this way via Terminal 1-Lindbergh. Terminal 2-Humphrey has been rebuilt and serves primarily charter and low-cost carriers. The Lindbergh terminal (Charles Lindbergh was a Minnesotan, and one of his transatlantic planes is suspended above the ticketing area) receives the bulk of renovation fees, however, and it is an attractive, modern, convenient, and well-designed terminal. The Humphrey terminal is also quite attractive; the terminals share the same runways, have long- and short-term parking set between them, and are equally convenient for transportation. Savvy travelers might check the terminal of their arrival or departure to communicate their location to friends, relatives, or other transport.

By thumb
It's not uncommon to see hitchhiking along the Interstate 35 corridor.

By car
Driving is probably the best option for getting around Pine City. The city generally does not have any traffic problems, although it can get congested before and after school hours. Pine County Highway 61 runs north-south and the Snake River runs east-west dividing the city into quadrants as such. The majority of the city is laid out in a grid based on the Snake River shoreline, dividing the city into north and south. Main Street/County 61 is considered to be the dividing line between east and west.

See
Pine City is an arts community and it is evident from its award-winning music program in its schools to its quality Heritage Players theater productions. Other things to see in the community include:
 * This is the America's largest redwood chainsaw carving. Makes a great photo spot.
 * This is the America's largest redwood chainsaw carving. Makes a great photo spot.

Do
Pine City is filled with plenty of activities for people of all ages.

Attractions

 * Pizza Pub - panoramio.jpg
 * Pizza Pub - panoramio.jpg
 * Pizza Pub - panoramio.jpg
 * Pizza Pub - panoramio.jpg
 * Pizza Pub - panoramio.jpg
 * Pizza Pub - panoramio.jpg
 * Pizza Pub - panoramio.jpg

Spring, summer, and fall

 * Citywide Garage Sale - mid-May
 * Memorial Day Parade - late May
 * Memorial Day Parade - late May

Some of Pine City's events draw people from far and wide, including:

 * Freedom Fest – Last Weekend in June. The largest and most popular Independence Day celebration in the Midwest that doesn't fall on Independence Day (it's always the weekend before). There's more to do here than in Brainerd, the Fourth of July Capitol of Minnesota. Classic car and tractor shows, impressive fireworks display able to be viewed from land or by boat, softball tournament, pancake breakfast and a heck of a lot more.
 * National Night Out. Robinson Park - early Aug.
 * Snake River Fur Post's "Rendezvous" or "Festival of the Voyageur" – late Sep
 * National Night Out. Robinson Park - early Aug.
 * Snake River Fur Post's "Rendezvous" or "Festival of the Voyageur" – late Sep
 * Snake River Fur Post's "Rendezvous" or "Festival of the Voyageur" – late Sep
 * Snake River Fur Post's "Rendezvous" or "Festival of the Voyageur" – late Sep

Winter

 * Winter Frolic, mid-Jan
 * Ice Fishing Derby. Cross Lake (hosted by the Pine City Lions) - early Feb
 * Queen Charlotte's Birthday Ball. Snake River Fur Post - early Feb
 * PTCC Shooter's Association Gun Show – late Feb
 * Holiday Madness and lighted parade – early Dec
 * PTCC Shooter's Association Gun Show – late Feb
 * Holiday Madness and lighted parade – early Dec

Fishing
Fishing is Minnesota's favorite sport, and Pine City is a fine place for it. While there are smaller lakes to explore, the real draws in Pine City are Cross Lake, Pokegama Lake and the lower Snake River. The lakes are full of northern pike, muskellunge, bass, perch, and Minnesota's favorite fish, the Walleye.

Work
Temporary assignments are sometimes available through the following agency:

Buy
Pine City is home to the only Walmart between Forest Lake and Cloquet on I-35. There are other shopping opportunities in Evergreen Square and Northridge Center, two shopping centers on the south and north freeway interchanges, respectively. Popular chain stores in town include Verizon Wireless, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Radio Shack. Other places to be sure to shop while in Pine City include:

Eat
Like to eat out? There is a diverse culinary scene here as well with several ethnic options and restaurants that are BIPOC- and women-owned. With over 30 places to eat throughout Pine City, this place has some of the most restaurants per capita of anywhere in Minnesota. The freeway interchanges are home to many popular chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway and Pizza Hut/WingStreet. In addition to those, the city contains restaurants and cafes you wouldn't likely find in other similar sized cities:

Bars and nightclubs

 * If in town on a Saturday, the gringo tacos are amaze-balls!

Wineries

 * (Temporarily Closed - 2024)

Sleep
This town, with all it offers, is in desperate need of a hotel.

Stay safe
Pine City is perhaps one of the safest and most benign communities that you will ever visit -with non-existent levels of violent crime and a warm and welcoming atmosphere that is exciting and refreshing. The most significant threat to public safety comes from the high level of deer that are native to the surrounding forests. It is not uncommon to have a nighttime drive interrupted by a shocking jolt of adrenaline due to these impish mammals suddenly appearing on the side of darkened road. Constant vigilance is strongly suggested during the night in order to avoid a costly accident.

Internet/Wi-Fi
There are no Internet cafes in Pine City. Most coffeehouses offer free WiFi to paying customers, but the only internet terminals available are at the public library and Pine Technical and Community College.

Telephones
Pine City and the central part of Minnesota are in the 320 area code. From Pine City prefixes (213, 322, 323, 386, 438, 629, 591 and 964), local calls can be made to Rush City (215, 358, 388, 566 and 923) and Hinckley (207, 279, 280, 336, 384, 385 and 390) prefixes.

Cope

 * Pine City Pioneer, Pine City's weekly newspaper aka. the "Pine Poker". See the "Happenings" section. $1.

Rush City

 * Rush City Aquatic Center - A pool for all ages.
 * Historic Grant House- Said to be haunted, and previously investigated.
 * Chucker's Bowl & Lounge - Get your bowl on. Strike!

Hinckley

 * Grand Casino Hinckley Open 24 hours a day. Come join droves of other vagabonds and lose your mortgage payment while drinking all the free pop or coffee your bladder can handle. Enjoy Grand Casinos' best-kept secret: Play high stakes and get fed too.
 * Grand Cinema To watch the cinema on the cheap, it’s recommended going “dutch", as paying for two could drain your checking account. Now hiring exchange students, emo lifestyle required.
 * Bike the Willard Munger Trail (over 100 km, 70 miles between Hinckley and Duluth)

North Branch

 * Shop the Shops at Gateway North.

Twin Cities metro
It's an easy one-hour drive, give or take, on I-35 to most destinations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, including:
 * Mall of America is in Bloomington. Remember, Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing.
 * Valleyfair is a 125-acre amusement park that's in the southwest suburb of Shakopee.
 * Minnesota Zoo is in the southern suburb of Apple Valley.

Up north

 * Drive up the North Shore of Lake Superior along 'Scenic 61'
 * Set off for a camping/canoe trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area

title: Pine City


text:
Pinecrest

Pinecrest is a town in Tuolumne County in the Sierra Nevada region of California.

Understand
Pinecrest is a resort town located in the Stanislaus National Forest. It has a mountain lake, Pinecrest Lake, that is popular for swimming, fishing, boating, and sunbathing (it has a small beach). Cabins and campgrounds are available. The lakes, streams, and rivers in the area were originally part of an elaborate wooden flume and ditch system built during the Gold Rush to provide water for washing gold in placer mining. Pinecrest Lake was originally known as Strawberry Lake. The dam that forms the lake is known as Strawberry Dam. Pinecrest and nearby Cold Springs and Strawberry are a small cluster of resort towns at roughly the 5000 foot elevation level along Highway 108.

Get in
Pinecrest is reached by traveling on Highway 108 from the Central Valley of California (e.g., Modesto) into Tuolumne County and past the foothills city of Sonora into the forest. Pinecrest is about 30 miles northeast of Sonora and 10 miles northeast of Mi-Wuk Village. Except in winter, when Highway 108 over Sonora Pass is closed, Pinecrest can be reached from the eastern high desert by driving west from Highway 395 on Highway 108 over Sonora Pass. From Highway 108, turn (right if heading east on 108) onto Pinecrest Lake Road and go about two miles to the lake and resort itself.

Get around
The Pinecrest area, once you get to the lake and resort area, is pedestrian oriented. Walk or ride a bicycle. It generally requires a car to go to nearby areas such as Cold Springs, Strawberry, or Dodge Ridge, although some use a bicycle.

See
See Pinecrest Lake, the trees, the mountains behind the lake. See many squirrels, the occasional raccoon, and the very occasional black bear. (The bears are around, but shy.)

Do
In summer: Fish for trout in the lake, either from the bank or a boat. Rent a kayak, a party boat, a paddle boat, or a motorboat. Hike around the lake and see Strawberry Dam. In winter: Go skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing in nearby Dodge Ride Ski Area, or the Leland Meadows Snowplay Area.

Buy
Shops mostly sell winter clothing, snow gear such as sleds and toboggans, and fishing tackle, and rent skis, snowboards, boots and the like.

Eat
In Pinecrest: At the Steam Donkey Cafe, expresso at a nearby stand, at the snack bar near the beach and marina. At Dodge Ridge: During winter, at the food court. In Strawberry: At the Strawberry Inn, at the junction of Highway 108 and the Stanislaus River. In Cold Springs: At the Mexican restaurant or at the new Mia's brick oven pizza and specialties.

Sleep
Cabins at Strawberry in Strawberry. At rental cabins or the Strawberry Inn.

Go next
In summer, continue on Highway 108 to Dardenelle, Kennedy Meadow, and Sonora Pass.

title: Pinecrest


text:
Pinehurst

Pinehurst is a village in North Carolina, best known for its golf.

Get in
Pinehurst is convenient to Raleigh, Greensboro and Fayetteville airports, roughly an hour by car to each. The Charlotte airport is also an alternative but is less convenient. Pinehurst Resort offers shuttle service to and from RDU for its guests.

Pinehurst is also served by the Moore County Airport which has no commercial service but does accommodate private aircraft.

Get around
Guests of the resort are offered shuttle service throughout the Pinehurst area, both on or off of the Resort. There is no public transportation and cab service must be prearranged.

See
One of the golf courses that is a definite need to see is the famous Golf Course Number 2. Number 2 has held the US Open twice and will hold it again in 2014. Stretching 7,335 yards at Par 72, this championship golf course is very green and relatively flat, with tall pines on every hole. It is one of eight wonderful courses making up the world famous Pinehurst Resort. Also located in the Pinehurst area is the Pine Needles Golf course which has held the Women's US Open three times. Both courses are rated by Golf Digest as two of the top 50 public courses in America. Next to golf, horses are a popular activity in Pinehurst with harness track and many horse farms. There is also Tufts Archives, which is a specialty museum, and Sandhills Horticultural Gardens. The famous Seagrove potteries are nearby with hundreds of potters offering their wares.

Do
Play golf, and tennis at some of the finest facilities in the country. Visit museums and gardens, or even stop by to watch a steeple chase or a horse race. The Pinehurst area offers many specialty shopping opportunities for custom jewelry, clothing, golf art, and area crafts.

Eat

 * Carolina Dining Room
 * Dougans Pub
 * 1895 Room
 * Theo's Taverna
 * Basil's
 * Chef Warren's
 * Ironwood Cafe
 * Elliot's on Linden
 * El Vaquero for their daily All-you-can-eat buffet
 * El Chapala for their daily All-you-can-eat buffet
 * Vito's for their excellent NY style pizza
 * Smithfield BBQ for their great eastern NC BBQ
 * Chuck Wagon in Carthage for their low-key excellent $1 BBQ sandwiches

Drink

 * Jefferson Inn with live music

Sleep

 * Comfort Inn
 * Homewood Suites by Hilton Olmsted Village (near Pinehurst)
 * SpringHill Suites Pinehurst
 * The Pine Crest Inn
 * Foxfire Golf and Country Club
 * The Pine Crest Inn
 * Foxfire Golf and Country Club

title: Pinehurst


text:
Pinellas County

Pinellas County is in the Tampa Bay Area on the Florida West Coast.

Go next

 * Pasco County - north
 * Hillsborough County - east and south

title: Pinellas County


text:
Pine Ridge

Pine Ridge is a town in South Dakota and the tribal headquarters of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Drink
Alcohol is illegal on the Pine Ridge Reservation, despite several efforts to permit it.

title: Pine Ridge


text:
Pineville (North Carolina)

Pineville is a suburban town located in south-central North Carolina. Though it maintains its traditional town center, it is one of the most rapidly-growing suburbs of Charlotte. Pineville is, by residential population, the smallest town in Mecklenburg County.

Get in
Pineville can be accessed directly through the Charlotte Lynx, a public light rail train directed towards commuters from Uptown Charlotte and UNC Charlotte to Pineville. Below is train station information. Bus routes to and from the Charlotte Int'l Airport and other locations in Mecklenburg County are also available from this location.

Get around
Pineville is a suburban commuter town and is best accessed by car or taxi. However, there are also numerous bus routes that offer direct access to the Pineville mall area as well as routes to numerous districts of Charlotte.

Go next

 * Matthews
 * Indian Land
 * Tega Cay

title: Pineville (North Carolina)


text:
Piney Woods

The Piney Woods is the name of the region encompassing east and northeast Texas. This region of Texas often defies traditional views of the state having a mountainous desert landscape or brush-covered hills. Large pines and other evergreen trees cover this area of the state, with forestry and oil/gas mining being large industries for area residents.

Cities

 * , historic city important to Texas' early development, the oldest city in the state.
 * — a suburban bedroom community of Houston that hosts the Houston Symphony during the summer
 * , historic city important to Texas' early development, the oldest city in the state.
 * — a suburban bedroom community of Houston that hosts the Houston Symphony during the summer
 * , historic city important to Texas' early development, the oldest city in the state.
 * — a suburban bedroom community of Houston that hosts the Houston Symphony during the summer
 * — a suburban bedroom community of Houston that hosts the Houston Symphony during the summer
 * — a suburban bedroom community of Houston that hosts the Houston Symphony during the summer
 * — a suburban bedroom community of Houston that hosts the Houston Symphony during the summer

Do
Great fishing and good golf facilities are in this area.

title: Piney Woods


text:
Pingdingshan

Pingdingshan (平顶山; Píngdǐngshān) is a coal-mining city in Henan. It's highly irregular that people come here seeking touristy sights, however, there are a few things that might interest the wayward traveler.

Understand
Pingdingshan means "flat-top mountain" and is named after the visible mountain just northwest of the city center. Seventy percent of the population of 4.9 million (in 2011) is either directly or indirectly affected by the mining industry.

Get in
There are buses from Zhengzhou (郑州) all day long until about 20:00. Other cities nearby are probably similar.

By train, Pingdingshan is simply a midnight stop on the Xi'an - Nanchang (K790) or the Guangzhou - Taiyuan (K238) railway line.

Get around
The most important roads in town are Guangming road (光明路), Jianshe road (建设路), Zhongxing road (中兴路) and Kuanggong road (矿工路). Together they form somewhat of a trapezoid around the northwestern part of the city and most city life can be found within the area. If you catch a bus, just imagine the bus running straight down the road which you are on. The train station is at the southern end of Zhongxing road (中兴路). There is a bus station just north of the train station on Zhongxing road and another bus station on East Kuang-gong road just east of Xinhua road (新花路).

See
Pingdingshan people seem to carry a regional pride with them, as their city is home to an ancient "Eagle" tribe which was probably one of the earliest in the country. Keep in mind as you wander the area that you are walking amongst some of the oldest landscapes within Chinese civilization. The area is mostly flood plain, except for the flat-topped hills to the northeast which lend the city its name. Take Xinhua road to its northern terminus and you'll be halfway up Pingdingshan mountain itself, a flat-topped butte of sorts, but usually green and comfortable on top. There is a stone stairway to the top, and a haunted carnival-type scene on the summit area.

Do
Walk around the city, it's walkable in a day. Most locals like to visit Pingdingshan mountain or walk along the Zhanhe river (canal) which cuts through the city from west to east. There is a park lining the canal which at most times of night and day has something interesting to see. On Saturday and Sunday there is an open-air market between Zhongxinglu and Kaiyuanlu, with mainly pets at the Kaiyuanlu end. There is a pool table area and, for young children, amusement rides. Buy beer or drinks for ¥1-2 per bottle. There is also a KTV on the south side of the river not far from Zhongxinglu or Guangminglu.

Eagle City Square (鹰成广场-Yincheng Guangchang) is a fairly new city square and will be one of the largest in the province. It features a large, musical fountain with a giant megatron presiding overhead. Also, some classical Chinese waterway structures, a Greek-style outdoor theater and a few hills and ponds. In the evenings you can listen to the locals perform folk songs or maybe some Henan opera. There's also a drum troupe that comes once a week or so that one would be fortunate to come across. West Jianshe Road, just past Guanming road.

Along the Zhanhe, due west, there is a new Pingdingshan city being built, which is rumored to someday have Starbucks and Pizza Hut and all that business, but as for now, it's rather a vacant skeleton of apartment buildings and the newest government plaza. This "new city" is built right alongside the BaiGuishan reservoir. Meanwhile, there's a Pizza Hut on Kaiyuanlu at the end of Shuguangjie and a Papa John's on Tiyulu north of Jianshelu.

For historical culture, the Xiangshan Buddhist Temple (香山寺) might be the best around. Interestingly enough, it's the site of the first thousand-hand Buddha sculpture, or Sakyamuni, to be created in China. The site itself is over a thousand years old, despite the structures being rebuilt periodically. There is a pagoda tower, a monastery and some nice flowers about. The site is eternally under development, as it truly is a national treasure -in religious terms - but getting there is quite easy and the crowd is almost non-existent. From Kuanggong road (矿工路) hop on the #8 bus going west toward number 11 Coal mine, and just tell the ticket girl "Xiang-shan-si", and she will charge you about three kuai and alert you when your stop arrives. Take a small motorcar to the summit of the site (¥6). The guy will know where you're going. From the bus station on Zhongxinglu, take the #16 bus and it will stop near the temple. Also, you can see the pagoda from where you get off the bus. Admission is ¥5.

Buy
Whatever you fancy. There are markets and street vendors all over the central area. Clothing can be picked up for pretty cheap prices. On the street or at hole-in-the-wall type shops, bargaining is always possible.

Jiutouya (九头崖) grocery stores are located all around town and can be easily recognized by their red and yellow signs.

There is also a couple of Dennis supermarkets: one on Kaiyuanlu at the end of Shuguangjie and one on Kuanggonglu at the end of Zhonxinglu.

The Cyber Market area is on Jianshe road, beginning just west of Zhongxing road. The building on that corner is a smaller version of the main market which is a block and a half east down Jianshe Road. Buy computers, cell phones, electronics and any other tech hardware you may be looking for.

Hair salons are almost unanimously called Little Shanghai (小上海), clothing boutiques called Little Hong Kong (小香港) and Sichuan restaurants called little Decatur - I mean, little sichuan (小四川).

Eat
Cuisine is not a reason to visit Pingdingshan. The most popular dish here is a bowl of Hui-Mian noodles, which are quite bland and quite a mouthful at the same time. However, the locals survive on it, so you won't do harm in giving it a shot. Otherwise, find a dumpling shop, or a little Sichuan restaurant (小四川) which there seem to be plenty of. There are restaurants and lots of food carts with malatang (you select a range of ingredients: meats, tofu, vegetables, mushrooms, etc. and, in the restaurants at least, are charged by weight). Lamian (handmade noodles) is also popular here. Probably the most entertaining dining experience is just another Mutton-kebab street restaurant during the warmer months. These places sell all parts of a goat barbequed on a stick with a variety of extra cold dishes like Sijidou (green beans) and xiaofanqie (baby tomatoes). Sitting outside at one of these places will guarantee friendly company within an hour. Don't expect any hot-pot, Sichuan or even Hunan restaurants to be very close to home, as the dishes are usually doused in vinegar and cut way too large.

The hot-pot restaurant chains Little Fat Sheep (of Inner Mongolia) and Qingma (of Chongqing) are both located on north Guangming road. Both are good standard hot pot places just more expensive than an authentic one.

To live cheap, there are RouJiaMo - stuffed breadrolls which are very soul-foodish, comforting and delicious. The stuffing ranges from pork and sprouts to tofu, onion and green pepper. Any one can be picked up for about ¥2 and your chances of getting a good mix are very high. You can find vendors in small stalls along streets or just selling off the street itself. These little 'sandwiches' are a good local alternative to the McDonald's and KFC locations you can find all around the city center.

Find a high school or middle school around breakfast, lunch or dinner time and you will find a cavalry of cart vendors selling some kind of Chinese burrito. They mostly have a wheat-based wrap with anything from pork sausage to egg to vegetable fillings. You can ask them to make it spicy (jia la jiao duo) as they have chili pepper on hand.

Drink
Nothing special in this category either. Many restaurants will serve you complimentary tea or just hot water.

Local people often buy a bottle of baijiu (白酒) and bring it to a restaurant for the meal, which is perfectly fine if you so desire. Such folks often end up stumbling drunkenly outside afterwards and emptying themselves liberally on the sidewalk, which also seems to be fine if you so desire.

The city shuts down relatively early by Chinese standards, as KTVs might close at around 00:30-01:00 and bars at 02:00.

The local beers are SiLing Superdry 四铃超干 (chaogan pijiu) and JiutouYa's own Oboist beer. You can also find Tsingtao all over town, however, be aware that Pingdingshan is some kind of special-alcoholic zone where beer is produced exclusively with a lower alcohol content. Your bottle of Tsingtao will clock in at a shy 3.1% alcohol (compared to the normal 4.9%) and most other beers are in the same neighborhood. This practice is even marketed with the claim that "Less alcohol = fresher flavor". Your best bet on getting tanked is to just drink BaiJiu or maybe search out the Siling Blue Bottle of beer which is a solid 4.0%.

Establishments:

The following bars are mostly the same setup. An open space with a short bar, then two levels of booths wrapped around the open space. They play Chinese pop and most people play dice-game over their beer, fruit, popcorn and cigarettes. The bartenders and servers are all nice and helpful. They sell beer and mixed drinks. Very few people speak English but you won't have a problem finding instant "best friends" at these places:

2046 Beer Club (er-ling-si-liu jiu-ba) - Laodong Road (a block south of jianshe road, second floor) - A good place to unwind after work, as it's probably the earliest opening bar (17:00-18:00) along with Pinwei bar. Probably the original expat bar in town. There was once as many as three foreigners in the place at one time! Has a stage where you can sing your favorite Chinese pop songs and quite a regular following of customers. The boss is a wild and crazy Hui minority who looks more like a hipster Mexican with his beard and baseball cap. Big, cheap (¥10) bottles of Qingdao, Snow beer and occasionally a homebrew on tap.

Pinwei jiu-ba Flavor Bar - Chaoyang rd. alongside the little canal beside the Pingdingshan Hotel on Jianshe road. An amazingly relaxing place open by a coal-mine boss which caters to a rather hidden collection of higher-ups and visiting Korean/Japanese businessmen. The prices here are just a bit more than usual (¥20 big qingdao) but the quiet and the small crowd makes it worth it. Good Mr. Huang and Lovely Ms. Jin basically run the bar every night. KTV rooms available in the basement.

Night Cat Bar (夜猫酒吧)- YouYue Road, from the small corner-Mcdonalds on Zhongxing road head east and the bar is upstairs on your right with a big sign. Cool bartender who maybe stays open latest of all the bars (02:30). Large bottle of Tsingtao (reduced alcohol) ¥15.

Brother Bar (兄弟酒吧)- Kaiyuan Road (running one block east of Zhongxing rd.) Upstairs across the street from the larger McDonalds. Nice bartenders and the boss loves a joke or two. Tsingtao ¥15.

Sister Bar (姐妹酒吧) - Despite the name and the fact that it is right next door to the Brother Bar it is of different ownership. However, you can expect the same prices, offerings and crowd. Tsingtao ¥15.

BaoBao Bar (包包酒吧) - Probably the best fun for a good value. It's bigger, cheaper and more laid back. The crowd here seems more well-off and well dressed. Try Chengdu's XueHua beer for only ¥10 per large bottle.

The next few bars are more like nightclubs with dancefloors, loud high-energy music and your occasional gogo girls in skimpy outfits:

[V] Party Disco On Zhongxing road. Biggest disco in town! Dancefloor, gogo girls, cheap mystery beer and a big, weird flat-footed crowd. You might catch a weird variety show on their stage but usually it is all DJs and dance music. Nevertheless, the staff is really friendly.

SoHo Club - The Chinese nightclub franchise found in every city with the same open gear-work decor, dancers, singers, chandeliers and high prices. Good looking men and women fill the place up around 22:00 and it empties at about 01:00. The girls behind the bar are sweet and talkative if you can manage the noise levels. One small bottle of Budweiser or Heineken ¥30. You may see a bottle of tsingtao here or there but don't ask for it because they won't sell it to you. Also, a variety of mixed drinks and novelty cocktails for prices you might as well not ask about. On north Xiuyu road (休育路) near the intersection with Kuanggong road.

Redu Bar - Upstairs from the SoHo Club. Consider it a cheaper, seedier, wackier version of SoHo. May or may not be the go-to hangout for LGBT bargoers. Have your wits and cell phone ready for mass phone number exchange or learn the phrase "wo meiyou shouji" (i don't have a cell phone). Also, be nimble on your feet as drunk goofballs seeking to spill their beer run rampant.

Sleep
Hotels everywhere

Connect
coming soon

Go next
Yaoshan (formerly Shirenshan) - A classic Chinese mountain park. Some impressive rock formations and low-altitude peaks with stone trails up and down them. There is also an Austrian gondola to the mountain's summit for some stomach-wrenching heights.

title: Pingdingshan


text:
Pingliang

Pingliang (平凉; Píngliáng) is a city in Gansu Province.

By train
Pingliang Huoche Zhan - end of Jiefang Bei Lu

 * Chengdu - takes about 18 hours
 * Lanzhou - takes about 11 hours
 * Urumqi - takes about 26 hours
 * Xian - takes about 7 hours
 * Yinchuan - takes about 8 hours

By bus
West Bus Station is at National Hwy 312, 2.5km west of the center of town.
 * Guyuan - takes about 2 hours
 * Lanzhou - takes about 5 hours
 * Xian - takes about 5 hours

See

 * Kongtongshan National Park - important site in the Taoist religion

title: Pingliang


text:
Pingtung

Pingtung City is the county seat and largest city in Pingtung County with a population of about 194,000 (2024). Weather is subtropical.

Understand
Not a main tourist destination, but its subtropical climate makes Pingtung a city one could spend a night and see the essence of Taiwan on the way through Taiwan.

By train
Pingtung is easily accessible by train from Kaohsiung or Tainan. You can connect to the TRA train from the High Speed Rail (HSR) station at Zuoying. You can also connect to the Kaohsiung KRT, which serves Kaohsiung International Airport.

By bus
Most long-distance bus companies have Pingtung on their schedule. You can get there from Taipei or the international Airport in Taoyuan within a few hours. It is cheaper than the HSR but still comfortable hence you usually need to change the bus only once.

Get around
Taxi service is available at the Pingtung train station. Although bus service is available, most people commute by car, scooter or bicycle.

See
Pingtung City is not typically on tourist itineraries. However, people are friendly and foreign nationals will appreciate unique aspects of southern Taiwanese life, such as robust night markets, bright neon lights and numerous Buddhist temples. Streets are lined with palm trees. In the center of town is Zhongshan park, which has a soccer field, pond, fountains and playground.

Do
The top tourist attraction in Pingtung County is Kenting National Park. The government is investing in developing tourism in Dapeng Bay, which is much closer to Pingtung City. Since the city does not cater to tourists, life typically revolves around the extended family and friends. Kaohsiung is close enough to serve as an anchor for most tourist activities. The Pacific SOGO department in central Pingtung has a Starbucks, food court, small market, cafe and a bookstore that sells a few English language books.

Buy
Pingtung has a 70-year-old night market near the train station. During the day, vendors offer a wide variety of products. The Pacific SOGO department store (one of 9 in Taiwan) is the most upscale shopping option. There is a large Carrefour supermarket.

Eat
Pingtung has numerous dining options that tend to be inexpensive by North American or European standards. There are restaurants, noodle stands, tea and juice shops and night markets. There are a few Western chains such as McDonald's, KFC and Domino's pizza. Stores that specialize in inexpensive Bento boxes for takeout are ample.

Drink
Bars include the Steelskin Bar, the G.D. Pub, Duckie's, Jimmie's, and Hunters. You can enjoy Asian and Western music at these venues.

Sleep
Pingtung City does not have any international level hotels. However, there are some hostels and independently operated motels. There are certainly well regarded hotels in Kaohsuing that are within 25 km of Pingtung City.

title: Pingtung


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Pingtung County

Pingtung County (屏東縣) is southernmost region of Taiwan reaching down to its extreme southern tip.

Regions
There are 33 townships, towns, and urban areas in Pingtung County, each with its own local characteristics and features:

Cities

 * (屏東) – The subtropical county seat and largest city in Pingtung County.

 * (潮州) – Named for the city from which the early settlers originally came.
 * (東港) – It has one of Taiwan's largest fishing harbours.
 * (恆春) – The entryway to Kenting National Park with pristine beaches and a vibrant tourist industry, the Hengchun area often attracts more travelers than local residents.

Other destinations

 * – A scenic region and national park with some of the best beaches in Taiwan, famous for surfing, snorkling, etc.

Understand
Pingtung County is known for having high proportion of people of Hakka descent, but unlike the Hakkas in Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli, who still maintain a distinct cultural identify, the Hakkas in Pingtung have been completely assimilated into the Minnan-speaking majority and no longer speak the Hakka dialect.

By train
Pingtung County is connected to other parts of Taiwan by the TRA network. This is also a useful way to get between townships. Stations located within the County are:

By bus
Numerous bus lines, regional and national, cover the region.

By boat
Ferry service operates between Donggang Township and Baisha Port and Dafu Port on the offshore Lamay Island

Get around
Getting around by bus and bicycle is recommended.

Eat
The popular night markets can be found in most towns and cities.

 * Green bean garlic(綠豆蒜).This is called green bean garlic because the shape of the peeled mung bean resembles minced garlic. It's not really garlic. It is often used to make green bean garlic ice. The source is Hengchun County, Pingtung(屏東恆春鎮).
 * Egg crisp cake(蛋酥餅). Originated from the ancient city of Hengchun. There are four flavors to choose, thai basil, corn, onion and shallot. It can be found in Hengchun Old Street(恆春老街).
 * Dragon fruit burrito(火龍果捲餅). It is a crust and salad dressing made with fresh red meat dragon fruit. The filling is made with fresh vegetables and meat, and the type of meat can be chosen.Egg crisp cake.jpg

title: Pingtung County


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Pingxiang

There are several places called Pingxiang.

 * Pingxiang (Guangxi), a small town on the China-Vietnam border
 * Pingxiang (Jiangxi), a large city in Jiangxi province, China

title: Pingxiang