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Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the United States of America. Massachusetts is known as "The Bay State" because of its three large bays which dominate and shape the coastline. Massachusetts Bay in the Greater Boston and Cape Ann area and Cape Cod Bay, which shapes Cape Cod against the Atlantic Ocean, are on the eastern shore. Buzzards Bay, on the south coast, is the other large bay.

Cities

 * — Capital since 1630, in a variety of ways Boston finds itself in the center of it all. Explore the Freedom Trail and Quincy Market, or catch a game at baseballs "shrine"; Fenway Park.
 * — Much has changed since the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, but the beauty of the beaches, ocean and sealife have remained constant. A wildly popular LGBTQ+ destination, "P-town" has been an artist colony since the 1940s.
 * — This gentrifying mill town skillfully combines museums and galleries with an infusion of Cambodian culture. Its abundant industrial relics have been safely preserved within Lowell National Historical Park.
 * — Once a powerful whaling center, the "city that lit the world" is steeped in Portuguese culture and cuisine. Today it features a well preserved waterfront filled with narrow cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and upscale restaurants.
 * — Bohemian college town and LGBTQ+ haven, "NoHo" features a vibrant downtown bursting with art galleries, music venues, farm-to-table restaurants, and quirky shops.
 * — Hub of the Berkshires, Pittsfield has revived and revitalized its many civic institutions. It's most famous for Hancock Shaker Village, a National Historic Landmark District.
 * — Location of the infamous 1692 Salem witch trials, many finely preserved 17th and 18th century buildings remain. Boasting great transit options, the world class Peabody Essex Museum, and a variety of attractions; Salem packs in the tourists all year long. It gets pretty spooky here the last weekend in October.
 * — First Springfield in the new world, this "City of Firsts" is home to the Basketball Hall of Fame, the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, and numerous cultural and entertainment options.
 * — Principal city and regional hub of Central Massachusetts, "The Innovative City" is home to eight colleges and universities. Don't leave without eating at a classic lunch car diner.

Other destinations

 * — "Escape to the Cape" and explore nearly 40 miles of protected beachfront real estate. Top attractions include: ponds, beaches, lighthouses, and the soothing sounds of ocean waves.
 * — Founded by Puritans in 1634, this Ivy League granddaddy is perhaps the most prestigious in the world. An endowment north of $50 billion keeps numerous museums, libraries, and artifacts available for visitors to enjoy.
 * — At over 250,000 square feet, this is one of the largest centers for the arts in the United States. Well known for featuring a variety of artists producing immersive and evocative pieces.
 * — Walk the 5-mile Battle Road Trail and follow in the footsteps of local silversmith Paul Revere. Don't miss Old North Bridge, where "the shot heard round the world" was fired in the opening salvo of the Revolutionary War.
 * — Once the capital of a global whaling empire, today Nantucket is a charming seaport town. The entire island is a designated National Historic Landmark District; due to its wealth of historical artifacts and architecture.
 * — Stroll around this National Historic Landmark, where a dozen or so historic house-museums are laid out along a street plan unchanged since the 1690s.
 * — Set in a picturesque seaside town, this living history museum recreates the lives of early Mayflower colonists and native peoples.
 * — Created in the 1930s by damming the Swift River and flooding four towns, today the epically rural Quabbin provides hundreds of miles of trails and is home to a variety of wildlife including bald eagles.
 * — This nutrient rich ocean area makes for one of the best whale watching opportunities in the world. A wide diversity of species come here to feed during the summer months.

Understand
Massachusetts is an excellent travel destination, noted for many of its historical sites and diverse regional flavors. The eastern Massachusetts Bay area of the state from Gloucester to Plymouth is very metropolitan, with Boston at its hub. Here you can find great cooking, fresh seafood, and an intense concentration of colleges and universities.

To the south of Boston is Cape Cod, a tremendously popular vacation spot and home to the Kennedy family, one of America's more influential political families. West of Boston you'll find the Blackstone Valley National Corridor, a vast expanse of rolling hills and small towns, as well as some of the most unique vineyards in the East Coast.

The Knowledge Corridor features New England's second most populous urban area, the stretch between Springfield and Hartford, Connecticut. In western Massachusetts, this area is also known as the Pioneer Valley. It features an abundance of colleges, universities, and nature. Its cultural and economic hub is Springfield.

To the far west, you'll find more rural areas, the Berkshires, the Appalachian Trail, and excellent skiing. Massachusetts has a lot to offer the prospective traveler!

Essentially the linchpin of the six-state New England region, Massachusetts has nearly twice the population of the region's second-most-populated state, Connecticut, and borders every other New England state except Maine (and even Maine is just a 15-minute drive from the state line via New Hampshire). Boston serves as not only the state capital but also the de facto capital of the entire region. Because of its central location and a character that incorporates elements of the other five states, Massachusetts makes a great jumping-off point for a larger New England trip.

History
Massachusetts is one of the oldest states in America, dating back to the foundation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1620. The name Massachusetts comes from Algonquian Indian words that mean the great mountain, an apparent reference to the tallest of the Blue Hills, a recreation area south of the town of Milton. See Early United States history for Massachusetts' role in American history.

Massachusetts is a state of firsts: the first public school (Boston Latin School), the first public library (Boston Public Library), the first public park (Worcester), the first American university (Harvard), the first National Armory (Springfield), the first gasoline-powered automobile (Springfield), the first birth control pill (Worcester), the first public beach (Revere Beach), the first motorcycle (Springfield), the first modern fire engine (Springfield), the first liquid fuel rocket (Worcester), the birthplace of basketball (Springfield), and the birthplace of Volleyball (Holyoke). It also features the site of the Boston Massacre, the first event that galvanized anti-British sentiment in years prior to the American Revolutionary War, as well as the site of the first shots of the war, with the "shot heard 'round the world" fired off in Concord at the Old North Bridge.

Massachusetts also has its dark side, the Salem Witch Trials being one of the most significant black spots on the state's history. Though far less frequent than in the past, murders related to organized crime and rampant corruption of public officials were once a fact of life for Bostonians.

Today
Massachusetts today is a blend of old and new. In Eastern Massachusetts you can walk the 3.5-mile Freedom Trail in Boston to see more than 20 historical sites, then hop over to Cambridge and see some of the world's most advanced biotechnology, not to mention the legendary Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the gold standard for technical education in the United States. The state as a whole is a blend of rural and urban, from Boston and suburbs in the east, to the gently rolling hills and lovely small villages in the center, to the culturally, historically, and educationally rich Pioneer Valley and the rolling Berkshire Mountains in the west.

Demographics
The Boston metropolitan area is culturally diverse, being home to two of the world's most prestigious universities, as well as numerous other educational institutions, which attract students and faculty from all corners of the globe. Due to the large number of educational institutions, the population is significantly smaller in the summer months, when most of the students are away on their summer breaks. Rural Massachusetts, on the other hand, tends to have an overwhelming white Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) majority, with smaller minorities of other ethnicities. Massachusetts is generally considered to be a bastion of progressive and liberal politics, and is largely regarded as a safely Democratic state in presidential elections. While rural areas tend to be more conservative than Boston, they are for the most part still relatively liberal by national standards.

Tourist information

 * Visit Massachusetts website

By plane
The easiest way to get into Eastern Massachusetts is through Logan International Airport in Boston. The easiest way to get into Western Massachusetts is through Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, which is 12 miles south of Springfield (and equidistant to Hartford, Connecticut.)

Other regional airports include Worcester, Manchester, Providence, Chicopee (Springfield), and Albany.

By train
Boston's South Station is the northern terminus of the Northeast Corridor, the most heavily trafficked rail route in the country, and one of the few routes serviced by Amtrak with a high frequency of service. Trains from New York City reach Boston in about 3½ hours; trains from Washington take about twice as long. The faster Acela trains shave about an hour off those journeys, and although they cost more, they generally present a more enjoyable trip.

Boston's North Station is served by the Downeaster which goes to New Hampshire and Maine.

Springfield Union Station is a regional intermodal hub that is served by Amtrak with trains entering from the north, south, east, and west. It is accessible by Amtrak's Northeast Regional Service, the Vermonter from the north and south, and the Lake Shore Limited from the east and west.

Other Western and Central Massachusetts cities are also served by Amtrak, although much less frequently than Boston. Pittsfield, Worcester, and Framingham are served by Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited from the east and west.

Though easily accessible by train, if traveling from Pennsylvania or further away, it is frequently cheaper and almost always faster to fly to Massachusetts than take the train (however, traveling on the Lake Shore Limited from Chicago and all points in between is often less than $100).

By car
Massachusetts has several large interstates that serve it, including:
 * I-90.svg, the northernmost east-west interstate highway in the U.S., called the Massachusetts Turnpike (or the Mass Pike, or just "The Pike") from Boston west via Worcester and Springfield to the New York-Massachusetts state line.
 * I-93.svg, which begins just south of Boston, goes under much of downtown (the famed "Big Dig"), then heads north to New Hampshire, crossing the Merrimack River at Andover.
 * I-91.svg follows Connecticut River south through Greenfield, Northampton and Springfield in Massachusetts, continuing south to New Haven, Connecticut. To the north it passes along the border between Vermont and New Hampshire, then through eastern Vermont to Canada.
 * I-84.svg has a very short length in Massachusetts. It begins off the Mass Pike at Sturbridge, and is the quickest route from much of the state to Hartford and New York City.
 * I-95.svg, the major north-south highway of the East Coast, enters the state at Attleboro and heads toward Boston. It goes around the city itself, linking the western suburbs of Needham, Newton, Waltham and Lexington.  It then turns north, through Woburn and Wakefield, before once again turning north and heading towards New Hampshire and Maine.  The section of I-95 that forms a sort of belt around Boston is locally known as "Route 128," and its Interstate designation is rarely used by natives or traffic reporters.
 * I-290.svg runs from I-495 in Marlborough through downtown Worcester and ends at the Mass Pike in Auburn.
 * I-395.svg is essentially the same road as I-290. South of the Mass Pike, I-395 goes from Auburn south to Webster and is the road to Eastern Connecticut, including Mystic, New London and the Connecticut casino resorts.
 * I-190.svg is a short road that connects Worcester to the northern cities of Fitchburg and Leominster.
 * I-495.svg forms a sort of "outer belt" around Boston, beginning near the base of Cape Cod and swinging west, through Foxboro, Franklin, Marlborough, and back to the northeast through the Merrimack Valley before joining I-95 near the New Hampshire border.
 * I-195.svg connects Providence, Rhode Island with the South Coast, linking Fall River, New Bedford and continuing to the base of Cape Cod.

Other important non-interstate highways in Massachusetts include: U.S. Routes 1, 6, and 20; U.S. Route/State Route 3; and State Routes 2, 9, and 24.

Use SmarTraveler to determine traffic conditions in the Metro Boston area.

Dial 511 on your cell phone to listen to up-to-date traffic conditions for all major highways.

By bus
A number of bus companies run a Boston-New York route, from the nationally-known Greyhound to Springfield-based Peter Pan, to a variety of small, low-cost "Chinatown bus" carriers.
 * Peter Pan Bus.
 * LimoLiner . Luxury bus transportation offering professionals business services between New York City and Boston.
 * Megabus serves Boston, Amherst, Holyoke, and Hyannis from various cities in New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
 * BoltBus serves Boston from New York City, Newark, and Philadelphia.
 * Go Buses runs from Alewife Station in Cambridge and Riverside Station in Newton to New York City.
 * Lucky Star Bus runs between New York City's Chinatown and Boston's South Station.

By train
Amtrak goes to many major cities.

Within and around Boston, public transportation is run by the Mass Bay Transit Authority or MBTA and is called the "T", and there are commuter rails (purple on the maps) that go to surrounding suburbs and cities including Framingham and Worcester. The suburbs in the south are served by Boston's South Station, while the suburbs in the north are served by Boston's North Station.

Within and around Springfield, the public transportation system is called the PVTA. It serves the college towns of Northampton and Amherst and goes as far north as Sunderland in Franklin County.

By car
I-90 (also called the Massachusetts Turnpike, or simply the Mass Pike) is the major East-West route across the state. Rt 2 is a more northern equivalent, though there are sections through town centers with traffic lights.

You should familiarize yourself with your route in advance, and using a GPS navigator is strongly recommended. Massachusetts is one of the hardest states in the nation to find your way around. The roads curve a lot and you can easily lose your sense of direction.

On foot
A portion of the Appalachian Trail runs through the state.

By bicycle
There are a number of "rail trails" - converted railroad lines - throughout the state that have been paved for pedestrian and bicycle travel. There are also designated "bikeways" along secondary roads.

By thumb
Although it is illegal to hitchhike on the highway, I-90 has a very good system of commercial rest stops every few miles. Hitching a ride from these rest stops isn't too hard. Make a sign, stand in the parking lot and put out your thumb for cars on the way out. As these rest stops are private businesses, it may be advisable to buy something small, like a pack of gum, so that you are a paying customer.

By bus
Peter Pan and Greyhound run buses to many towns in Massachusetts.

The MBTA and 15 regional transit agencies (RTAs) provide transit service across Massachusetts. Many of the regional transit agencies operate bus routes in a hub and spoke model, in some cities, this is at the train station. Oftentimes service is quite infrequent. Outside of Boston, Worcester, and the Springfield metro areas; smaller regional transit agencies often do not provide bus service Sundays, and some stop running evenings and Saturdays.

Information on Massachusetts Transit can be found here.

See

 * More than 170 art, history and sporting museums, including excellent colonial "living history" museums:
 * Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth,
 * Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, and
 * Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield.
 * From Plymouth to Hampton Roads is a tour through colonial history, starting in Plymouth
 * New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and exhibits in Gloucester, Provincetown and Nantucket harken to the days when fishing and whaling were a vital industry.
 * Industrial tourism; Massachusetts was the cradle of the industrialization of the United States. See American industry tour.
 * Springfield (Massachusetts) Armory National Historic Park, the site of which was selected by George Washington. From 1777 until Robert McNamara's controversial decision to shut down the Springfield Armory during the Vietnam War, the National Arsenal led to innumerable military and industrial innovations, including interchangeable parts.
 * Over 50 theatres and performing arts centers. Northampton, Cape Cod, Rockport and Gloucester have thriving artist colonies and numerous galleries. In addition, Northampton is a LGBT mecca.
 * Numerous historical sites and monuments as Massachusetts played a central role in the American Revolution. Minuteman National Historical Park in Concord gives a taste of what times were like when America was born.
 * For history buffs, Taunton is a small city filled with well-documented archives, preserved historical sites, and an extensive chronology of notable history dating back nearly 400 years. This includes (within the city): many significant historic firsts, innovations, national and/or regional leading center of industries, former prominent residents, numerous high-profile political visits/public speeches (e.g., pioneers, U.S. presidents, civil rights activists), war-related events, unique range of architectural structures, special industrial production (Civil War artillery, Olympic medallions, the White House's silverware, etc.), and filming locations for several popular 'Hollywood' movies. Make sure to visit the city's Old Colony Historical Society and Museum.
 * For decades, artists have migrated to Provincetown on Cape Cod and Northampton in the Pioneer Valley. Now both are full-blown artist colonies, home to numerous galleries and performance venues. They are the two LGBT capitals of Massachusetts. Both places are renowned for their liberal attitudes, great shopping, restaurants, and unique atmospheres. "P-Town" features beautiful beaches while "NoHo" features mountains, rivers, and streams.

Do
Mass Wildlife maintains an excellent site showing access points and maps of wildlife areas as well as regulations, permits and fees. Saltwater fishing does not require a license (shellfishing usually does), but there are regulations under the authority of the State Division of Marine Fisheries. Local regulations may also apply in regards to shellfishing or taking of herring.
 * If you're looking for something that's fun for the whole family, head to Agawam, Massachusetts. Agawam, Massachusetts is home to Six Flags New England. There are plenty of places to stay nearby. Six Flags New England is a place that everyone of any age can enjoy.
 * The Massachusetts coast offers some of the best whale watching opportunities in the world. The diversity of whale species that can been seen here is only equaled by far off corners of the Earth such as Antarctica, Patagonia, and Alaska. This abundance of whales, combined with the close proximity of both Stellwagen Bank and Jeffrey's Ledge, is no doubt responsible for Gloucester's popularity as a whale watching port. One of the truly great things about whale-watching from Gloucester is that the city's location (on the southern end of Cape Ann) is directly between these popular whale feeding areas. Whale-watching tours are also available from other ports, including Provincetown, Newburyport, Boston, and Plymouth.
 * Bicycling. There are many routes and bikepaths throughout Massachusetts. The Claire Saltonstall bikeway traverses a marked route from Boston to Cape Cod on some less-travelled roads. Minuteman Bikeway from Cambridge to Bedford is one of the more outstanding bike paths.
 * Fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing

Social dancing

Massachusetts has a highly active social dance scene, particularly in the Boston area. The state is an epicenter of contra dance, an energetic social folk dance whose revival began in the region and whose ease of learning makes it a welcoming option for travelers. The most active series are in Cambridge (BIDA), Concord (Scout House Thursdays), and Greenfield (Guiding Star Grange).

Skiing

 * Blandford, Blandford
 * Blue Hills, Canton
 * Bousquet, Pittsfield
 * Bradford, Haverhill
 * Jiminy Peak, Hancock
 * Nashoba Valley, Westford
 * Ski Ward, Shrewsbury
 * Wachusett Mountain, Princeton

Eat

Coastal Massachusetts is blessed with great shellfish including lobster, clams and oysters. A New England clambake is, in many ways, the equivalent of Hawaii's luau. A hole is dug, (sometimes in beach sand, but more often inland), lined with stones and a fire started in it. Later the coals are covered with wet seaweed to create a steam pit into which packages of lobster, fish, clams, mussels, potatoes, and ears of corn are put. This is then covered with more seaweed and covered with tarps to cook.

The New England boiled dinner is a contribution of the state's many Irish immigrants. It is a simmered pot meal of corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and sometimes turnips. Horseradish, mustard, and sometimes vinegar are used as condiments.

Massachusetts folks are serious about their clam chowder. Many seacoast towns schedule chowder festivals at which locals compete for bragging rights. Fried clams are an alternative way to serve these delectable shellfish, usually accompanied by French fried potatoes. Haddock and cod are the local fish mainstays and one often sees "scrod" on menus. It is purported to be young cod or haddock, but is assumed by locals to mean generic white fish. Bluefish is worth trying, though some may find it a strong-flavored. The other local gamefish, striped bass, is considerably milder in taste.

Fast food in Massachusetts is also often based on fish and various types of seafood. A number of chains specialize in seafood.

Worcester's ethnically diverse population offers home-style food from all over the world in funky little restaurants hidden in odd corners all over the city. Stylish Shrewsbury Street (near UMass Medical School) offers many trendy new restaurants, as well as a few classic diners.

Massachusetts' best farmland is in the Pioneer Valley, along the Connecticut River. Residents from Springfield to Greenfield benefit from local farmers markets throughout the year. This complements the diverse and cosmopolitan dining scene in the 15 miles from Northampton-Amherst to Springfield.

Southeastern Massachusetts was once the world's largest producer of cranberries. Large flat sandy bogs of colorful berries are harvested in early October.

Inland areas offer traditional New England country cuisine, especially at rural church suppers and breakfasts. Notable dishes include spaghetti-and-meatballs, roasted chicken, baked beans, baking powder biscuits, fruit pies, and cobblers.

Far eastern and far western Massachusetts's rocky soils produce two outstanding crops: tomatoes and apples. Orchards are still mostly family-owned and many growers offer pick-your-own sales. Cider mills churn out fresh cider to sell alongside bags of apples in roadside farm stands. On a crisp fall day the stands often offer warmed fresh cider mulled with cinnamon, clove and other spices. A list is maintained here.

Drink
The alcohol purchase age in the Commonwealth is 21. No one is permitted to serve alcohol to a person under 21 years of age. No one is allowed to possess, drink, transport or purchase alcohol if they are under 21. No open containers of alcohol are allowed in most public areas (e.g. sidewalks and parks), even for people of legal drinking age. Massachusetts, more than any other state in the union, vigorously enforces both "Blue Laws" and the drinking age. Most bars, pubs, and nightclubs in Boston have a city mandated 21+ policy, which is vigorously enforced. Additionally, many establishments in Boston and Cape Cod will not serve to out of state visitors under 25. Under state law, only Massachusetts-issued IDs, passports, and US military IDs are valid proof of age for alcohol sales. Get a Liquor ID, a state ID card available to non-residents from the Registry of Motor Vehicles if you'll be in the area for awhile, costs $25 for five years of validity.

A controversial "third party liability" precedent has been set in Massachusetts. For example, a landlord rents an apartment to young adults who have a party and a person drinks and drives and causes an accident. Under this "third party liability," the landlord, those who hosted the party, and the one who drinks and drives can be held responsible. Rule of thumb for anyone drinking is to not drink and drive; second, if you are under 21 and want to drink in Massachusetts, you're out of luck unless you're at a private party.

Traditional New England culture back to Pilgrims and Puritans was far from abstemious. Surprising amounts of beer, wine, hard cider and distilled spirits were consumed. Although "Blue Laws" once prohibited alcohol purchases on Sundays, alcohol remains central to socializing in both urban and rural settings.

Microbreweries and brewpubs are becoming more common in urban areas and college towns. They usually offer sandwiches and other casual fare as well as a selection of brews that can be far superior to the megabreweries'.

Driving
Massachusetts drivers have a well-deserved reputation for aggressive and careless driving, including running red lights and unpredictable changes of lane or direction. Speeds up to 20 mph (30 km/h) over posted limits are common on highways and interstates. Pedestrians should not count on getting the right of way just because it is legally theirs. Contrary to popular belief, Massachusetts drivers aren't all that bad, despite their aggression. The Commonwealth has the lowest rate of traffic fatalities in the country. People in Massachusetts are used to tailgaters, speeders, and other sorts of aggressive drivers and aren't particularly flustered by them. If you aren't used to this kind of driving, it's probably best to avoid it. If you must drive, simply pay more attention to the road and you should be fine. Drinking is a widespread social activity and intoxicated drivers may be encountered evenings after work in working-class neighborhoods, or in college towns on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Many roads in Massachusetts are built to extremely old standards, and are therefore narrow, winding, and congested, including some freeways. Massachusetts is notorious for poor road signage, although this has improved since new regulations in the 2000s. Be forewarned that certain state routes are marked with cardinal directions that are completely detached from reality. For example, Route 28 on Cape Cod is consistently marked as heading north from its end in Eastham, but first heads geographically south, east, south again, and then west from that point before finally turning north in Falmouth some 50 miles from the beginning of the route.

Winter driving involves snow and ice, December through April. Roads are generally plowed and treated throughout the winter, but black ice can appear without any warning, and snow plows will not be able to keep up during a nor'easter. Similarly, during the fall months, fallen leaves that are wet with rain can be just as slippery as the winter ice.

Deer are abundant and car-deer collisions are frequent, especially during fall migrations and breeding seasons which may peak on moonlit nights in November. Collisions can occur in suburbs as well as alongside forests and fields. These animals frequently bound high enough to crash through windshields and endanger occupants with flailing hooves.

Although in 1846 author Thoreau had to leave Walden Pond and travel to Maine to observe moose, these larger relatives of deer are recolonizing Massachusetts as old farms revert to forest. Moose are tall enough to topple through windshields in collisions and adults will weigh about 1/2 ton, potentially a deadly combination for vehicle occupants. Immediately slow down and be prepared to stop if you should see one ahead of you. Count yourself doubly lucky to see such a large animal in a densely populated state, and to have avoided a collision.

Outdoors
Ticks can transmit Lyme Disease unless promptly removed. After walking in woods, brush or tall grass remove clothing and look for flattened dark insects 1/8" to 1/4" in diameter. If they have already attached themselves, remove them with a pair of tweezers or go to a nearby clinic/doctor’s office.

Getting lost in thick woods is surprisingly easy, especially in the short days of fall and winter. In unfamiliar areas, plan your route before you set out. Carry a map, a compass, and a whistle or some other way of making noise. Also, carry extra clothing and high-calorie snacks in case you are benighted.

Crime
Statistically, Massachusetts is one of the least violent states. Nevertheless, there are cities such as Springfield and Lawrence with declining or vanished industries where economic desperation makes crime a career option. Other cities have tough neighborhoods, usually with tell-tale signs like trash in the streets, rundown housing, graffiti and barred windows; towns with particularly acute issues of neighborhood violence include Haverhill, Lynn, and Boston. Try to avoid walking or using public transit in these areas. Also, use paid parking lots and while driving keep windows rolled up and locked. Licensed taxicabs will usually be a safe way of getting around these areas. Tough neighborhoods have disproportionate numbers of people with bad attitudes. Try not to "cross" them. Bicycle theft and car break-ins are the most common types of crime. Avoid leaving electronics or other valuables visible in your car. In cities, having a strong bike lock (U-locks are best) is highly recommended as bike thieves do carry bolt cutters. Leaving your bike parked in a high-visibility area (especially if there are few other tempting bikes around at the time) significantly increases the risk of theft compared to finding indoor parking.

Respect
Massachusetts, home of Northampton and Provincetown, and the first US state to legalize same-sex marriage, is arguably the most LGBT-accepting state in all of the USA. Gay villages exist in abundance in Boston, and in smaller cities such as Springfield.

Massachusettsans, Bostoners in particular, are generally known for being reserved and for their straightforward communication style. This often causes people from other parts of the United States to incorrectly stereotype Massachusettsans as rude and unfriendly.

Massachusetts has an intense sports rivalry with New York, notably between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees (baseball), but also in American football (between the New England Patriots and New York Jets, and, to a lesser extent, the New York Giants). The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers (basketball) also have a fierce rivalry, although there are fewer visible LA fans due to distance. Finally, the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens (hockey) have been rivals for a long time. While wearing merchandise of rival teams will generally only elicit mild comments or playful joking throughout New England, it can sometimes lead to harassment or confrontation, particularly before, during, or after important sports games. This is especially true of Yankees gear. It should also be noted that wearing rivals' merchandise in bars or other more casual settings may result in poor service or harassment from other tables.

Go next

 * Rhode Island - Most of the population of the nation's smallest state lives near the Massachusetts state line. The capital city of Providence boasts historic neighborhoods and great food, and Newport offers stunning seascapes and eye-popping mansions.
 * Connecticut - Massachusetts' southern neighbor is home to Hartford and the southern half of the Knowledge Corridor, Mystic Seaport, the restaurant and nightlife scene in downtown New Haven, the Maritime Aquarium, and two major Native American casinos.
 * New York - Located west of Massachusetts, upstate New York is home to the Finger Lakes region, a popular outdoor and wine-growing area.
 * Vermont - The fall foliage in Massachusetts' northwestern neighbor is lovely, and the state offers a rural charm unique in America.
 * New Hampshire - Massachusetts' northern neighbor is a fiercely independent state that offers the rugged White Mountains, idyllic lakes, and a handful of ocean resorts.

title: Massachusetts


text:
Massa Lubrense

Massa Lubrense is in Campania.

Get in

 * By train: The Circumvesuviana goes from Naples along the coast ending in Sorrento, then you have to take the bus to get there.
 * From Naples Airport (Capodichino): You can reach first Sorrento by bus, then from there you can easily reach Massa Lubrense using local bus service.
 * By bus: The Sita allow you to explore all the area from Sorrento to Amalfi.
 * By car: From Naples, take the A3 highways (Naples - Salerno - Reggio Calabria) drive south towards Peninsula Sorrentina, you need to exit from the highway at Castellammare di Stabia gate, once you left the highway you must take the SS145 that will bring you in Peninsula Sorrentina, once reached Sorrento you are few minutes away from Massa Lubrense, just follow the signs. You need about 20 min to reach Castellammare di Stabia and from there about 50 minutes to reach Massa Lubrense.
 * By boat: From Naples, Ischia and Capri. You can reach Sorrento and from there you 'll take a bus to reach Massa Lubrense.
 * Read about the unified public transport ticket Campania Unico.
 * By taxi: Taxi Sorrento based in S. Agata dei due Golfi (Massalubrense), for airport transfers and any destinations.

Get around

 * Local buses - the local bus service is good enough to visit all interesting places available in the area.

See

 * The most beautiful places to visit are in the Penisola Sorrentina, the typical coastline offer many breathtaking views.

Do
Exploring the area visiting Jeranto bay, S.Agata area, Cantone beach.

Mid-range

 * Fattoria Terranova, Via Pontone 10, 80064, Sant'Agata sui due golfi, Tel. +39 081 5330234, Fax +39 081 5330889,, Farmhouse accommodation with a restaurant with homegrown products.
 * Le Capannelle, Corso Sant'Agata 63 - 80061 Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi, in Massa Lubrense, with views over the bay of Sorrento.

Go next

 * Capri and Ischia by ferry leaving from Sorrento.
 * Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples by the Circumvesuviana Railway.
 * The Amalfi Coast: Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, etc., by Sita buses.
 * The Greek temples available in Paestum by bus or by car.

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

title: Massa Lubrense


text:
Massanjore

Massanjore is a city in Jharkhand.

Massanjore dam, across the Mayurakshi River, is in Dumka district of Jharkhand State. Built with Canadian aid, it is also called Canada Dam or Pearson Dam. It was commissioned in 1956.

The dam is 155 feet high from its base and is 2170 feet long. The reservoir has an area of 16,650 acres when full and has a storage capacity of 500,000 acre feet. Apart from the Massanjore Dam there is a barrage at Tilpara, near Siuri. The barrage is 1,013 feet long.

Get in
It is on the Suri-Dumka road, about 24 km from Dumka in Jharkhand, and about 45 km from Suri in West Bengal. Buses ply on this road. A nice place for family and friends to stay and enjoy the nature.

Get around
Walk or have your own transport.

See
The view of the Dam is very beautiful as many people enjoy looking at the scenic view of the dam.

Do
The place is just amazing for adventurous persons. Hill climbing or swimming is pretty much enjoyable. The broad river, mountains, Jharkhand gives its identity everywhere. At night, the total ambiance changes.

Eat
There are few food stalls which are situated near the dam.to get food at night,u have to arrange within afternoon.rate is pretty cheap.

Drink
Cold drinks are available near the shops beside the dam. If you can handle the regional "mahua" wine from the tribal villages, it will be an awesome experience.

You can also get fresh Khajor juice once you cross the dam by foot. They charge ₹3/- per glass. You should carry a bottle to carry the juice.

Sleep
There are two guesthouses available near the dam. One belongs to the Bengal Govt and the other falls in the territory of West Bengal Govt. as this dam is on the border between the two states.

 * Youth Hostel, two km from the dam. Double rooms cost ₹100 per night. There is a 22-bed dormitory. Beds cost ₹40 per night. For bookings contact: Yuva Kalyan Office, 32/1, BBD Bag (South), Kolkata 700001, Phone +91 33 22480626
 * Mayurakshi Bhavan of the Irrigation Department, Govt. of West Bengal. A double-bed room costs ₹300 per night. For bookings contact: Deputy Secretary, Irrigation Department, Water Resource, Development Building, Salt Lake City, Kolkata, Phone +91 33 23212259.
 * Jharkhand Tourist Lodge.

Go next
This dam is well connected to roads on Dumka district of Jharkhand State.

 * Deoghar - 98 km
 * Santiniketan - 75 km
 *  Malooti - 54 km

title: Massanjore


text:
Massarosa

Massarosa is a village in Versilia near Lucca and Viareggio. It is a small and peaceful place.

Get in
Massarosa can be reached by the CLAP bus from Viareggio or Lucca. The city train station is in Bozzano but it is in fact not close to the town.

title: Massarosa


text:
Massawa

Massawa is a port city in coastal Eritrea.

By car
Massawa is accessible from Asmara and the rest of inland Eritrea via the Asmara-Massawa highway.

Massawa road itself is an exotic experience where you ‘pass through three different climates’. You start from Asmara with three layers of jackets and remove two of them in Nefasit and Ginda and finally walk around in your T-shirt when you finally reach the port city of Massawa on the red sea. The climate of Massawa rises up to 45 degrees whereas in Nakfa it tends to go below zero degrees at least in the month of January.

By bus
Buses run many times daily (before dusk) between Asmara and Massawa. Minibuses also run as soon as they are full (which takes very little time) between the Asmara bus station and Massawa. Regional buses run from the Massawa bus station and around the area a couple of times a week. But other than the long coastal two-day voyage to the other port city of Assab and to the inland via Asmara, there is not much to see beyond Massawa within the region.

By train
Massawa also connects to Asmara by narrow gauge rail, but it is not open to any regular service as it is more or less a museum railway with trains running on a steam engine and only open to chartered tours.

Get around
Massawa is divided by the mainland neighbourhoods of Gurgusum Beach, Hitumlo, Amaterre and Salinas, the island neighbourhoods of Tualud and oldtown Massawa as well as the Abdelkadir peninsula. The only interesting areas of the city for tourists are the two islands (Tualud and Oldtown) connected to each other and the mainland by causeways, and Gurgusum Beach which lies about 14 km north of the city towards the airport. The two islands are walkable, but to Gurgusum beach one needs to take a taxi/car.

See
Massawa's oldtown sits on an island (Batsi) that it shares with the country's busiest deep-sea port (not very busy), a free trade area and as the name indicates; an oldtown consisting of medieval Ottoman style coral buildings separated by narrow alleys as well as an ancient mosque. The island is connected to the mainland via another island called Tualud, both separated by a causeway. On Tualud you will find most "downtown" hotels like the Dahlak, Red Sea, Central, Corallo etc. Tualud also hosts St. Mary's catholic church and the famous tank monument.

 * The Dahlak hotel offers boat services to the Green Island, a natural park in Massawa Bay within sight of the city and less than a 20 minute ride away. The Green island has a pristine beach, mangroves and ruins of an ancient mosque and an abandoned pearlfishing settlement. Bring plenty of water, refreshments and sunscreen as there is literally nothing on the island. It is a natural park. Collect all your waste and bring it back with you when leaving the Green Island.

From Tualud Island where all the main hotels are, there is another causeway to the mainland, where there isn't much at all besides the central bus station, Segalet open air cinema and some public administration and residential buildings of varying standard.

 * Beaches To get to the closest (mainland) beach however, you'd have to head north of downtown Massawa along the mainland coast to Gurgusum Beach and Hotel of the same name, with the adjacent Hamassien hotel to its north. The GB Hotel has all amenities like beach chair with parasol, showers, cafe, restaurant and even air-conditioned bedrooms if you'd like to spend the night. The beach isn't much to write home about though. To get to the nicest beaches you have to head out to the farther Dahlak islands, on a chartered boat (expensive) or take the bus alt. drive a rental car south of Massawa for a couple of hours to the Gel'Alo resort in the volcanic Danakil region on the way to Assab.

Do
Massawa's surrounding islands (the Dahlak and nearby Green Island) offer excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities and have pristine beaches with turquoise waters. But going there requires chartering a boat or joining one of the pricy diving tour groups which tend to be rather costly and to date there are no cheap alternatives. There is a decompression chamber in Massawa if you were to have any problems and you should obviously not get on a flight or travel up to Asmara at 2600 meters above sea level too soon after diving. Give it a day or two (of staying on land). There aren't many extraordinary beaches in or around mainland Massawa or the bridge-connected islands (apart from the Green Island). Gurgusum beach which lies only 14 km north of town on the mainland is an average beach with adequate facilities.

The town itself comes to life "after dark" when temperatures cool down slightly. The oldtown becomes a bazaar of sorts with shops, bars, restaurants and brothels opening up to customers.

Buy
There aren't many souvenirs to buy in Massawa that are legal to bring out or even ethical to trade in (corals, mother of pearl etc). But if you're staying in Eritrea for a longer while, presumably up in Asmara, your hosts will greatly appreciate a great basket of sea-salt from Massawa.

Eat
You obviously have to eat Red Sea fish while in Massawa. The best place to do that is either at the Dahlak Hotel (somewhat pricy but well worth it) or at the rustic streetside restaurant in oldtown Massawa (there is only one) where the day's catch is grilled Yemeni style in a fired up clay-oven and served along with little limes and a side order of thin flat-bread and dates soaked in butter and honey.

Drink

 * Asmara Beer
 * Mineral water (pick your brand).

Sleep
Downtown Massawa has a few air-conditioned and moderately priced hotels on Tualud Island (none with beaches):

 * Corallo
 * Central Hotel
 * Gurgusum Beach, on the mainland of course has the GB Hotel as well as the adjacent Hamassien Hotel, both air-conditioned and on the beach, but the former offering more facilities.
 * Gurgusum Beach, on the mainland of course has the GB Hotel as well as the adjacent Hamassien Hotel, both air-conditioned and on the beach, but the former offering more facilities.
 * Gurgusum Beach, on the mainland of course has the GB Hotel as well as the adjacent Hamassien Hotel, both air-conditioned and on the beach, but the former offering more facilities.

Stay safe
Bring tankloads of sunscreen and a good pair of sunglasses because the Red Sea sun is merciless. You will not find good sunscreen in Eritrea, and if you find any at all, it will be very expensive and/or expired. Also bring plenty of insect repellent and mosquito net to place above your bed, especially in the winter months (November to February). Mosquito net can be bought cheaply in Eritrea and it's called "Lamse" (LAM-SUH) locally. Although you may be taking anti-malaria treatment, there are other insect-borne diseases for which there is no prevention or treatment other than avoiding insect bites, such as dengue fever. This is especially prevalent in the tropical climate zone along the Eritrean coast.

Go next

 * Asmara

title: Massawa


text:
Massillon

Massillon is a city in Stark County, Ohio.

Understand
In Massillon football is so huge it was the subject of the 2001 movie Go Tigers!. Paul Brown, who coached at Massillon High School, founded the NFL franchises of Cleveland Browns and later the Cincinnati Bengals. The home of William Thomas, famed Arctic explorer.

By car
Massillon is connected by US30 and SR21.

By bike
The Sippo Valley Trail connects Massillon with Dalton.

Get around
Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA): regional bus transportation.

Go next

 * Canton
 * Akron
 * Cleveland
 * Wooster

title: Massillon


text:
Masterton

Masterton is the main town in the Wairarapa region of the North Island of New Zealand.

Understand
Masterton and nearby Greytown were established in 1854 by the Wairarapa Small Farms Association. The association was led by Joseph Masters, after whom the town is named. Masterton gained borough status in 1877, and the railway from Wellington arrived in November 1880. In 2021, the town was home to 21,800 people, with another 6,400 living in the surrounding rural areas.

By car
State Highway 2 passes through the middle of Masterton en route between Wellington and the Hawke's Bay. There is a signposted heavy traffic bypass for those passing through and wanting to avoid central Masterton. State Highway 2 from Wellington passes over Remutaka Pass via the Rimutaka Hill Road, a busy and winding 15 km road with a poor accident record, so take extra care.

Distance and times (non-stop):
 * Wellington - 100 km (1 hr 30 min)
 * Palmerston North - 110 km (1 hr 25 min)
 * Hastings - 210 km (2 hr 30 min)
 * Auckland - 610 km (7 hr 15 min)

By train
Metlink train services run between Wellington and Masterton five times daily on weekdays and twice daily on weekends each way, taking around 95 minutes. There are no reserved seats but there is a luggage compartment and bicycles can be carried. Tickets can be purchased at a station ticket office (cash or EFTPOS) or onboard the train (cash only). The standard adult single fare from Wellington is $18.

There are three stations serving Masterton:, , and. Masterton is the main station and the closest to the town centre, and is staffed for 30 minutes prior to each Wellington-bound departure. Solway and Renall Street are non-staffed; Solway is mainly a park 'n' ride station located in a semi-rural area serving southern Masterton, while Renall Street serves the nearby residential areas.

By bus
A regular public bus service operating six days a week (no service Sunday or public holidays) connects Masterton with Carterton, Greytown, Featherston and Martinborough to the south. Tranzit Coachlines operates a bus service between Palmerston North and Masterton three times per week.

By plane
There have been no air services to Masterton since February 2014. The nearest airports with scheduled air services are in Wellington and Palmerston North.

Get around
Central Masterton has three main streets parallel to each other; Chapel Street (SH 2) to the west, Queen Street in the middle and Dixon Street to the east. Most of the major commercial and retail facilities in Masterton are on one of these three streets.

Masterton is reasonably flat, so walking and cycling around the town are viable options.

A shopper bus service operates within the town between 9AM and 3:15PM on weekdays rotating between four routes: South (202), West (201), Lansdowne (203) and East (206).

Eat
All three major supermarket chains have a presence in Masterton: Pak'n Save (cnr Queen & Crayne Sts, Kuripuni), Countdown (cnr Queen St & Worksop Rd), and New World (cnr Dixon & Bruce Sts). Most of the national fast food chains have presence in Masterton: Burger King, Domino's, McDonald's, Pita Pit and Subway are within a short distance of each other on Chapel Street between Lincoln Road and King Street, while Hell Pizza (276 Queen Street), KFC (cnr Chapel & Crayne Sts, Kuripuni), and Pizza Hut (89 Chapel Street) are also present.

Stay safe
Accident & emergency is located at on Te Ore Ore Road, Lansdowne. In an emergency, dial 111 for an ambulance.

Go next

 * South to Carterton and Martinborough
 * North to Woodville, then turn left for Palmerston North or right for Dannevirke
 * Southwest to the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington

title: Masterton


text:
Masuda

Masuda (益田市) is a small city of a little more than 50,000 people in Shimane Prefecture. It is the birthplace of Kakinomoto Hitomaro.

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

By train
Masuda is on the San'in Main Line, which runs along western Honshu's Japan Sea coast, starting in Kyoto and going to Shimonoseki. No shinkansen trains come to Masuda. The Yamaguchi Line connects Masuda with the Shinkansen at Shin-Yamaguchi Station (formally Ogori Station).

By bus
The main bus station is a short walk in front of Masuda Station. There is a line that goes from Masuda to Hiroshima and back at least 3 times a day, passing through Nichihara, Kakinoki, and Muikaichi. Another bus takes a different route between Masuda and Hiroshima that goes through Hikimi.

Get around
The easiest way is to drive. If you don't have a car there are many taxis in front of Masuda Station and buses that go around town.

See

Do

 * Beach - Masuda has a decent beach. Go down route 191 towards Yamaguchi-ken and you can’t miss it.

Drink
The main drinking area is the area in front of Masuda Station, across route 35.

Sleep
There is a hotel next to Masuda Station. There are no official youth hostels in Masuda.

Go next

 * Hamada
 * Gotsu
 * Oda
 * Tsuwano
 * Yoshika
 * Hagi
 * Yamaguchi
 * Akiotsu
 * Kitahiroshima

title: Masuda


text:
Masvingo

Masvingo is a city of about 173,000 (2013) in Southeastern Zimbabwe and the capital of Masvingo province. It is right by major Zimbabwe tourist attractions, such as Great Zimbabwe and Lake Mutirikwe.

Get in
Buses to Masvingo leave when full from Harare's Mbare bus station, cost about US$7 and take about five hours. You can also potentially get one of the "luxury" buses between Johannesburg and Harare's Roadport to drop you off, but this will be much more expensive and is unlikely to work in the other direction. Minibuses to/from Bulawayo cost about US$8 and take 4.5 to 5 hours. In Masvingo, transport to/from both Harare and Bulawayo arrives/departs from Bradburn Street, on the western edge of the city centre (marked on Google Maps). There are also buses/minibuses towards Mutare.

A Kombi van from the Pick N pay supermarket in downtown Masvingo to the Grent Zimbabwe cost US$1.50 and takes 30 min.

There has been sporadic passenger trains from Gweru, where connections to the main railway network can be made.

See
The Great Zimbabwe ruins are about 25 km south of town.

Budget

 * Great Zimbabwe Ruins Just outside the ruins there is the National Monuments run campsite which has camping for US$5 per person. dorm beds for US$7 per person. and Rondavels (Chalets) for US$15 per person.
 * Great Zimbabwe Hotel Between the ruins and the main road have a fantastic campsite with large tents set up, $25
 * Great Zimbabwe Hotel Between the ruins and the main road have a fantastic campsite with large tents set up, $25

Go next
The stone ruins of Great Zimbabwe entry $15 per person are about 25 km south of the city. You can get a combi from behind the Pick N Pay supermarket just south of the town centre, costing around US$1.50 and taking around 30 minutes. This will drop you about 2 km from the gate to the ruins. Taking a taxi is also possible but much more expensive.

title: Masvingo


text:
Matabari

Matabari is located approximately 50 km from Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, a northeastern state in India. It houses the most auspicious temple of Tripura, The Tripureswari Mandir, extremely revered by all the inhabitants of Tripura, Bengalis and Tribals alike. It is considered one of the 51 "Shaktipithas" as described in the Puranas.

Get in
Easy access from Agartala, you can hire a vehicle, board a bus or LMV travelling every few minutes from Nagerjala bus stand of Agartala. Fares are cheap. Reaching Udaipur you have to hire a rickshaw to reach the Matabari.

See
Maharaja Dhanya Manikya Bahadur of Tripura constructed this temple in the year 1501 A.D.(1423 Saka). Sorashi Kali Mata (Third Mahavidya) is made of reddish black stone (Kastik Pathar). One replica of Shri Shri Mata is also there in the Temple commonly called Chhoto Maa which used to be carried by the Maharaja of Tripura in the battle field and during hunting (Mrigaya).

Main Festival Dewali Puja is the main annual festival when thousands of pilgrims assemble here from all over the state and outside as well.

Before dawn (4AM) the temple locks are opened and MANGAL ARATI is offered to the Divine Mother and thereafter, dry sweet (perah) is offered through Puja.

At 8AM the Divine Mother is decorated with new cloth and various ornaments after her bath. These precious ornaments remain in custody of the Tehsilder of Matarbari Temple.

From 10.30AM to noon, daily puja is offered and after 12.30PM various sacrifices (he-goat, buffalo, pigeon etc.) are made. After anna bhog (rice and different curries), the Divine Mother retires for half an hour (2 PM to 2.30 PM). At 2.30PM, the bhog (un-eaten portion of deity's lunch) is taken out and distributed as prasad among the pilgrims who assemble. Temple doors are again opened at 3.30 PM for the pilgrims and visitors. Around 7PM sandhyarati is offered to the divine mother along with beat of drum and music for about an hour. At 9.30PM, the divine mother is offered baikalik (supper) and she retires for the night at 10PM after having sayanarati. The priest-in-charge gives back all the ornaments from the deity to the manager for safe custody. The Pilgrims can offer their puja any time between mangal arati and sayanarati (10PM) except during the 2-3.30 pm period. The pilgrims generally offer puja with locally made perah a sweet made of pure milk. They may also offer food (rice, curries etc.) prepared by the temple management to the deity. They can get prasad against coupon @ ₹15/- being issued by the manager on payment.

title: Matabari


text:
Matabeleland

Matabeleland is a region in the southwest and west of Zimbabwe. It is inhabited by the Ndebele people, who settled here in the mid-1800s.

Other destinations

 * — an UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * — at 14,651 km² the largest national park and game reserve in Zimbabwe.

Understand
Southern Matabeleland is for the greater portion of the year hot and dusty.

Baobab trees are common, as are mopani. The grasslands glow in the deep afternoon sun.

Get in
The main border crossing with South Africa is at. National road A4/R1 leads to Harare while A6 is the main road into Matabeleland, linking Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

See

 * See the rock formation at Balla Balla.
 * Visit Chipingali Wildlife Orphanage.

Itineraries
The largest town in Matabeleland is Bulawayo, renowned for its wide streets built to allow a wagon with a 10-oxen team to do a U-turn. Bulawayo has an airport, which makes it an ideal starting point. From Bulawayo one can travel south to Matobo for a day's slow drive through the exotic landscapes, or westward to Khami Ruins, to see miniature versions of the stone ruins found at Great Zimbabwe.

Eat
A local delicacy is the mopani worm: these caterpillars are dried in the sun, and sold as a snack food. The staple food is mealie meal, made into a stiff porridge known as "sadza".

title: Matabeleland


text:
Matagalpa

Matagalpa is the biggest city and commercial center of the Northern Highlands of Nicaragua.

With its temperate climate, it is a good base for mountain hiking, tours of coffee farms, visits to indigenous villages, or bird watching in the area.

Understand
Matagalpa is a city of 150,000 inhabitants which was founded in pre-Columbian times. It is the capital of the province of Matagalpa which is located in the highlands that constitute the watershed division of the Caribbean and the Pacific.

The Spanish Conquistadores came to the area in 1528. They called the city Frontier of the Jungle because it divided the historical Mosquito Kingdom and the Colonial Spanish towns. Many European families that came to the Americas during the California Gold Rush settled here when gold was discovered in the area in 1840; their cultural influence can still be felt throughout the city. Around that time, German immigrants planted the first coffee trees and laid the foundation for the coffee production in the area. Still one of the most important industries, the area is also famous for its cattle, flowers, vegetables, milk products, and as a center of ecotourism. The province of Matagalpa has 12 protected forest areas, a great variety of orchids, and many kinds of wildlife including mountain lions, deer, howler monkeys, quetzal and toucan birds, sloths, ocelots, and wild pigs.

Life in Matagalpa is more like in the old days than in more built-up cities like Managua, with ox carts, cowboys, and loaded mules on the streets.

Talk
Many residents of Matagalpa speak English, but of course some knowledge of Spanish is very useful.

By plane
The city of Matagalpa is 2 hours from Managua International Airport; you can get there in 2½ hours by public bus or car.

By car
Once outside the airport, take Carretera Norte going north. You will be crossing little villages like: Tipitapa, San Benito (this is the intersection of roads either going to Matagalpa or going to Bluefields), Ciudad Darío (km 86, birthplace of the founder of modernismo Rubén Darío), Sébaco ("Serpent Woman" in Nahuatl, km 102) until you finally get to Matagalpa (km 127). Once in Matagalpa you can look for local hotels, or mountain lodging. Within 11 km (7 miles) on the road to Jinotega, there is a mountain resort.

By bus
From León: buses leave in the morning (the last one at 7:30AM) and one in the afternoon (3:00PM) from the terminal in León for C$76.

See
Matagalpa offers a variety of historic buildings and sights.

Historical churches

 * The Cathedral - the major building of the city, it was built by the Jesuit fathers starting in 1874, and finished in 1895.
 * San José - started in 1750, formerly called San Felipe.
 * Molaguina - 1800s, formerly Dolores Church.
 * Santa Ana - the colonial church disappeared in 1850s, but you can see its old foundations just across the "Escuela de Parvulos".
 * the old brick and adobe walls of the Jesuit Fathers Convent (now Cancha del Bridadista)

Other sights

 * Museo del Café (Coffee Museum)
 * Carlos Fonseca (founder of the Sandinista Front) Birthplace Museum
 * The old house of former President Bartolome Martinez (1870–1936, president 1923-24)
 * The house of the Comunidad Indigena.
 * In the Bishop's Palace (Calle de los Bancos), there is a small Chapel called "El Ateneo", there is a big 5x10 feet famous oil painting named Sagrada Familia. It is believed to have been painted by Bartolomeo Murillo, a classical Spanish painter of the 1640s. It shows the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint Ignatius Loyola and Saint Louis Gonzaga. If it is indeed Murillo's, it must be an invaluable painting. According to a legend, in 1881, the Jesuit fathers, before they were expelled by the government, gave it "in deposit" (to take care) to the local family Baldizon. "El Lienzo" (the canvas) is still is in Matagalpa because members of that family have not allowed it to be sold or transferred to other place.
 * William Richardson, grandfather of Bill Richardson, a past Governor of New Mexico. William, Sr. game to Matagalpa during the 19th century. He is buried in the well-known "Matagalpa Foreign Cemetery" a few blocks south.

Do
Matagalpa has two public libraries, the Municipal and Vicente Vita. The last one in located in the main street (Calle de los Bancos), is very comfortable, has many computers & free Internet access.

Trekking
There are trails to viewpoints on top of "El Calvario" and "Apante".

 * El Roble trail: This steep trail (1.6 km one way, 1.0 mi) takes you from a ranger station to an outlook with views of Matagalpa. The clearly marked trail takes you through the forest where you are likely to see some colourful birds. It crosses a river a few times and passes by a waterfall. Arriving at the outlook you can turn right and follow the road to the top of Cerro Apante. From there you can go back the same way you came or follow the road further to get back to Matagalpa. To get to the trailhead, follow Calle Central (the street starting at Parque Central) south until you leave the city and a few hundred meters further. The ranger station is closed on Mondays but a guide is not necessary on this trail.
 * El Calvario trail: There is no specific trail to it. The most common one is going through the neighborhoods on the hill side which isn't much recommendable due to crime. The safest option is to take a taxi in Morazan Park. On the top there is a tower, gazebos, swings and slides.

Buy
Walk around the town and take nice photographs of oxen carts, cowboys, loaded mules, women wearing their shawls (rebozo), men with hats, guitar and violin (Polkas and Mazurcas). Pay them a tip to play you music.
 * Matagalpa is known for its indigenous community, mostly based in El Chile, 18 km from the city, on the way to the town of San Ramón. They make their own cotton fabric and leather articles for sale. In Matagalpa you can also find these articles, and black ceramic unique in this region. Locally you can buy black ceramic, cowboy boots, guitars and violins locally made.
 * Close to the Cathedral there is an oil painting workshop where you can buy oil paintings with local motives like:nice coffee farms, ranches, oxen carts, carrying mules, campesinos, and mountain scenery, for reasonable prices.
 * You can buy local fruits like bananas, pijibay, jocotes, oranges grapefruit, nisperos, mamey, etc.

Eat
Try the guirila. It's a thick tortilla made from young corn (which gives it a sweeter taste than normal tortillas) that resembles a Colombian corn arepa. Excellent with a fresh, salty cheese called cuajada.

While in Matagalpa you can eat traditional indigenous cuisine, like:
 * "Nacatamal", it is a banana leaf wrap filled with boiled corn dough, a piece of meat (pork o chicken), flavoured with olives, raisin, tomatoes, onions and chili.
 * "Guirila", indigenous word for tortillas made of very fresh little corn smashed, they are very tasty and aromatic.
 * Carne Asada or BarBQued beef or pork meat with roasted corn tortillas
 * "Platanitos con frijoles molidos", this is fried banana slices with smashed fried red beans. You should add chili to it for they are very tasty.
 * "Chrurrasco con chimichurri". They serve a big piece of tender barbecued beef fillet, plus spice vegetable cream, white rice and salads. Accompanied with bread loaves or corn tortillas.
 * "Pescado a la Tipitapa". Favorite of the Gods. Fresh and fried Guapote (Snapper type fish), bathed on whole tomato slices and onions, served with rice and corn tortillas.

Drink
You can have a fresh roasted Matagalpa coffee cup cooked in a French brewer, in places like Selva Negra Mountain Resort, and Cecocafen.

Matagalpa is also called the "Capital of Coffee". Coffee growing was brought to Matagalpa by a woman from the Black Forest in Germany named was Katharina Braun Elster. She was traveling in 1852 with her husband Ludwig Elster and two-year-old child (Wilhelm) from New York to San Francisco, but they changed plans and came to this mountainous Matagalpa country and bought a little farm (La Lima). She planted the first coffee seeds in this region which once harvested came to be the best quality in the country. They exported it in ox carts to Granada and from there in boats to the Caribbean port of Greytown, and from there to Germany. Very soon many people followed in their footsteps, and after 150 years "Matagalpa Washed Coffee" has become known worldwide, thanks to a brave and intelligent woman.

If you go to Pariso or Tequila, you must take a taxi number or car from downtown.

Pariso C$40 entrance fee

Sleep
Matagalpa offers a great variety of lodging. From dorms starting at US$8 to more comfortable private rooms starting at US$15.

In the outskirts of the city you will find Campestre Barcelona (behind Prolacsa), La Sombra (Carretera a La Dalia), and Selva Negra Mountain Resort (km 140 on the Matagalpa-Jinotega road), and other smaller ones. Breakfast generally is not included at these places.

Go next

 * San Ramon (15 minutes by car): see the old adobe church, on weekends you can see the campesinos playing polkas and mazurcas local music. Visit the tomb in the local cemetery where Katharina Braun Elster is buried (she was the first person who planted coffee in Central and Northern Nicaragua). A few miles in the same direction is the indigenous Community of El Chile which makes its own fabric in an old "rueca" (spinning wheel).
 * If you take the highway to Jinotega, you will see the "most panoramic road" of Nicaragua, altitude of more than 1500 m (5000 feet), you can see the horizon as far as the Momotombo Volcano, temperatures ranges here from 13-21°C (55-70°F), you will find mountain hotels where you can practice horseback riding, mountain hiking, bird watching, coffee and farm tours. Keep going, buy local fruits (strawberries, oranges, grapefruits, bananas). In 35 minutes you will get to the city of Jinotega, where you can eat, and buy local "pupusas" (local pastry).
 * On the road back to Managua, you will see dozens of coffee processing facilities, where the coffee green beans are dried, dehusked and packaged ready for export. From here they take coffee to the ocean ports and then to overseas markets.

title: Matagalpa


text:
Mataking

Mataking is an Island in Sabah, Malaysia. It is located at latitude 119 degrees and longitude 4 degrees and 35 minutes, on the Celebus Sea. The size of the island is about 40 acres and lies on the edge of the continental shelf surrounded by fringing reef of hard and soft coral.

Get in
Fly to Tawau by Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, or by low cost Air Asia. You can arrange your tour agent to pick you up from airport. Otherwise, take a cab directly from Airport to Semporna, it will cost you about RM110. But if you arrive at night, it is better to stay a night at Tawau Town because the road to Semporna is very dark at night. You can take a cab from Tawau Town to Semporna or alternatively you can take mini bus. Take a speed boat from Semporna to Mataking, takes about an hour. You can also take a boat ride to this Island via Sipadan Island or Mabul Island.

Get around
The best way to go across this island is by your own legs.

See
Beautiful Islands, consist of two Island, Mataking Besar [Big Mataking] and Mataking Kecil [Small Mataking]. Sometimes you can even walk from the big Island to the small Island. Beautiful Underwater world.

Do
Wonderful place for diving, snorkeling and relaxing.

Buy
T-SHIRTS are a good thing to but here and a nice souvenir for you to keep.

Eat
With all the many water and hiking activities available at Mataking, it's easy to build up an enormous appetite. Being hungry does numb your tastebuds to the overcooked, oversalted, and overall bland breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. There's only one restaurant on this island.

Sleep
The Island is operated by The Reef Dive Resort. You need to make an advance booking with them if you want to stay on the Island. Alternatively, you can stay at Semporna or other Island and make a day-trip.

title: Mataking


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Matale

Matale is a city in the Central Province of Sri Lanka about 150km away from Colombo, the capital and 25 km north of Kandy

Climate
Matale has a tropical climate, like the rest of Sri Lanka.

Culture
The town has a mixed culture. The city centre has a majority of Sinhalese with a minority of Muslims and Tamils, very much like Sri Lanka as a whole.

By train
The town has only one railway station and that's the last one on that line. Trains arrive at Matale from Kandy and Colombo only.

The one train per day from Colombo takes 4-5 hours and costs Rs 270 / 150 (2nd / 3rd class)

There are as many as 8 trains a day between Kandy and Matale, taking 1¼ - 1½ hours, Rs. 70 / 35.

By bus
Matale is situated on the A9 highway which connects Kandy and Jaffna.

By car
Matale is 25 km and 1 hour north from Kandy.

Do

 * Aluvihaya Temple from Aluviharay
 * Rangiri Dambulla Temple
 * NaLanda Temple ("GEDIGE")

Go next

 * Kandy, 26 km to the south
 * Hunnas Waterfall is located 20 km direction south east close to Elkaduwa village in Matale district

title: Matale


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Matamoros

Matamoros is a city of 520,000 people (2016) in Tamaulipas in Mexico. Matamoros is a major historical site, the site of several battles and events of the Mexican War of Independence, the Mexican Revolution, the Texas Revolution, the Mexican–American War, the American Civil War, and the French Intervention as a result of which the city earned its title of "Undefeated, Loyal, and Heroic".

Understand
Matamoros faces the United States-Mexico border across the Rio Grande River from the city of Brownsville, near where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of several major land crossings between the United States and Mexico.

Since the 1970s, and especially during the 1990s, after the initiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, foreign investment has multiplied in Matamoros, resulting in an enormous population growth, prominently from other Mexican states, like San Luis Potosí and Veracruz. The city's economy has shifted from agriculture to maquiladora manufacturing. This industry produces technological goods like cables, electrical appliances, electrical components, vehicle parts and accessories, textiles, chemical products, machinery, and computer products.

Climate
Matamoros has a semiarid climate, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico accompanies cooler winds during the summers and winters, compared to its sister cities of Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo, which are farther inland. Summer temperatures range from 30 to 40 °C (86 to 104 °F).

Heavy rainfall is usually seen during the months of July and August, although it is not uncommon to go about without any rain whatsoever during the "wet" season. The average temperatures during the winters usually range around 0–10 °C (32 to 50 °F); this season is usually attended with rain, drizzle, and fog.

By foot
If crossing from the U.S. by foot, all three bridges between Brownsville and Matamoros charge a US$1 toll (and a US$0.25 toll to return). The turnstile is on the right side of the vehicle lanes in either direction.

You must bring a passport if you plan to return to the U.S., though you can enter the border zone of Mexico without it and will almost certainly not be asked to present documents. Mexican customs or the military or both may ask to search your bags, if you are carrying something. Note that in Brownsville U.S. customs officials do sometimes stop pedestrians heading for the bridge crossing and question them.

The wait to enter Mexico is negligible, but if you are planning to walk back across the bridge to the U.S. you might want to time it so that you do not have to stand for 30 minutes in extreme heat and humidity.

The bridge furthest east, the Veterans International Bridge at the end of Highway 77 on the Texas side, is not recommended for pedestrian crossing; it was designed for long-haul trucks and is a much longer bridge (and thus longer walk) than the other two. The bridge at International Blvd. is the shortest walk and more accessible to downtown Matamoros upon crossing.

By plane
The nearest airport for onward flights into the US is in Brownsville.

By car
If you follow International Blvd. south out of Brownsville, you'll cross over a short toll bridge (~US$2) and immediately be on Av. Alvaro Obregón. Border customs and security in the U.S.-to-Mexico direction is light, at worst a cursory glance-over, after which you'll immediately find yourself plunged into the streets and traffic of Matamoros.

If you're only planning to visit the "border zone," an area extending roughly 25 km (15 miles) south from the border, you won't need a vehicle importation permit or a tourist card. If you intend to venture farther into Mexico, however, it's easiest to obtain your vehicle importation permit first thing at the border. Right after crossing the international bridge (literally at the foot of the bridge), you'll see a white building on your right housing all offices you may need to deal with: the Mexican Tourist office, Banjercito branch, and several Mexican automotive insurance (Seguros de Autos) vendors.

See

 * The central plaza is home to the Presidential Offices, the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora Villa del Refugio, and of the Casino Matamorense, along with other historical buildings.
 * The Teatro Reforma, the most important theater in the city, is found a few blocks away.
 * The central plaza is home to the Presidential Offices, the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora Villa del Refugio, and of the Casino Matamorense, along with other historical buildings.
 * The Teatro Reforma, the most important theater in the city, is found a few blocks away.
 * The Cathedral of Nuestra Señora Villa del Refugio, constructed in 1831, was one of the first mayor constructions and is one of the present symbols of the city. Its neoclassical architecture, along with its rich, historical background, attracts visitors yearlong.
 * The Casino Matamorense, constructed in 1950, is traditionally considered the center of social gatherings for the principal families of Matamoros.
 * Also with its unique architecture, Centro Cultural Olimpico, is a historical creation built in the city. Nothing like it had been done before.
 * The Teatro Reforma, once considered the 'House of the Opera of the 19th Century', was constructed in 1861. For decades, the theater was home to important balls held by the richest families of Matamoros and the high-ranking military officers of the state. In addition, 'Teatro Reforma' is well known for being the first place in history where the Mexican National Anthem was played.

Do

 * Matamoros and Brownsville are home to the Charro Days and Sombrero Festival, two-nation fiestas that commemorate the heritage of the U.S. and Mexico which are celebrated every February.
 * Bagdad Beach (Playa Bagdad), also known as Lauro Villar Beach, is 27 km (17 mi) east of Matamoros, hosts important fishing tournaments each year. During Holy Week, the beach experiences an abundant presence of visitors, primarily from Nuevo León, when Playa Bagdad becomes the host of several concerts, sport tournaments, and festivals. Playa Bagdad has several seafood restaurants. Jet ski, surfing, motocross and off-road 4x4 racing are allowed with few area restrictions.

Stay safe
As of Oct 2020, the United States Department of State travel advisory recommends that U.S. citizens not travel to the state of Tamaulipas because of crime and kidnapping. Criminal activity is more common along the northern border, including Matamoros.

The U.S. Department of State Overseas Security Advisory Council issued a Crime and Safety Report for Matamoros in February 2017 that rated it a "Critical Threat for Crime".

In spite of U.S. State Department warnings, many people walk across Gateway Bridge from Brownsville to Matamoros and walk the short distance to Garcia's Restaurant, bar, and attached shops, liquor store and pharmacy. It is strongly recommended to proceed no further.

Consulates

 * 🇺🇸 United States

title: Matamoros


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Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Matanuska-Susitna Borough is in Southcentral Alaska. This borough is named after the Matanuska-Susitna Valley (aka Mat-Su Valley) where farmers settled in the 1930s, through a government project.

Cities

 * - The original farming community of the area and borough seat

Get in
By Car - the Glenn Highway can be taken north from Anchorage or south from it's connection with the Tok Cutoff-Richardson Highway.

title: Matanuska-Susitna Borough


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Matanzas

Matanzas is in Western Cuba. It is the closest town to Varadero resort. It is a nice small town and there are amazingly few tourists considering that it is basically next to Varadero. If you get bored between Varadero hotels then visit this little town to see the real Cuba. Matanzas is known as the 'City of Bridges' (Ciudad de los Puentes) for its many bridges on the city's three rivers.

Understand
Matanzas developed around sugar plantations. This led to the area having a large slave presence to work the plantations, which is why there is a large large Afro-Cuban presence in Matanzas to this day. The area's African heritage can be experienced in the city's Afro-Cuban music scene and the practice of Santeria (the Afro-Cuban flavor of Yoruba religion from what is now Nigeria and Benin).

As a result of a sugar boom in the 19th century, the city was nicknamed the Athens of Cuba, a monicker that can still be seen around the city today.

The sugar plantations also left their mark in the still-running Hershey Electric railway from 1917, which was built by the chocolate company to move sugar up to the ports of Havana.

Matanzas is the birthplace of Dámaso Pérez Prado, the bandleader who popularized the dance music of mambo.

Girón is the local periodical.

By bus
Viazul runs buses from Havana and Varadero three times a day. The cost from Havana is ~US$7.

By train
There are several trains to Havana, Santa Clara and Camagüey, as well as overnight service on alternate days to Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Santiago de Cuba. The Hershey electric trains between Matanzas and Havana stopped running in the middle of 2017.

By road
For drivers/cyclists, the Via Blanca comes into Matanzas from Havana and Varadero.

Do

 * Cycling – For those who take cycling seriously, a cycling tour is possible from Havana to Varadero, or vica versa (you will be biking against the wind from Havana though). The optimal is to take the Via Blanca highway but not up to Matanzas City. Instead take a small road to the right about 5 km after the bridge over the Bacunayagua River and descend till the Yumurí Valley.

 *  Birding  – The Yumurí Valley offers some good areas for bird watching, with best population density by the trees next to the heights that border the Valley.

 *  Fluvial Tours  – Although not located by the city center, the River Canímar, the most copious of all 4 rivers that opens at the Matanzas Bay, is located at a few kilometers away from the city. It is a navigable river for smaller draught boats. Navigation begins by the bridge that crosses the Canímar River, by the road that links Matanzas and Varadero, towards rustic restaurant by the river and covers some 13 km. During this trajectory, views are quite beautiful with its best sites being those by the road that communicates Matanzas and Varadero where the river meanders can be observed. At the end of the course there is a line of Real Palm trees leading to the restaurant. In this site besides having lunch, you can take horseback tours. The fluvial trips can be taken in boat either ways or half the trip by bus and return by navigating the river. Boats are roofless so it is recommended to take a raincoat and umbrella to protect you from the sun or casual rain.

Sleep
The city has plenty of casa particulars, which can be found by walking around the city center (from the theater up to and around the parque de libertad).

Go next
Take a Viazul to the neighbouring cities of Varadero, or Havana. Alternatively, you can find a shared taxi particular (private) that's going to Havana with 5 passengers (in a big 50s car). This will be faster, with more flexible departure times, and will also cost ~US$7-10 (depending on your bargaining). The taxis and the Viazul can be found in the Terminale de Omnibus (10 minute walk from city center, east of the San Juan river, ask around and you'll be pointed the right way).

A lot of the resort workers live in Matanzas, so you can get to Varadero on the cheap with one of the local buses.

title: Matanzas


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Matara

Matara is a city in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. The Southern Province consists of three districts and the city of Matara lies between Galle and Hambantota which are the other districts of Southern Province. It is from the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

Understand
Matara is a coastal town on a lovely beach, its main attraction. The city has a population of about 76,493 and the mean annual temperature is 30°C.

The River Nilwala runs through the town and into the sea. The river has fertilized the whole area as evidenced by the paddy fields, tea estates, and spice plantations.

Just west of Matara is the popular seaside town of Polhena, famous for turtle spotting just off Polhena Beach and other nearby spots such as opposite The Doctors House restaurant.

By car
It's a 2 1/2-hour journey from Colombo via Southern Express Way or a 4-hour journey by the Galle Road. It is possible, but expensive, to hire a vehicle.

By train
From Colombo it's approximately 5 hours by train. There are 8 trains a day on weekdays, 6 on Saturdays and 5 on Sundays. There are express trains which go directly to Matara, but other trains will make many stops. The price is below LKR 280 in 2nd class or LKR 155 in 3rd class. Timetable

By bus
Buses are the most common method to get to Matara. is located right in the center outside the Dutch rampart. As the main transport hub in the south it offers connections to all major towns in the area (e.g. Ratnapura, Kandy, Badulla, Ella, Pottuvil, Kataragama, Yala N.P.). Highway buses go to several locations in the Colombo area including C-Fort, C-Kaduruwela, C-Maharagama, as well as Negombo (40km north or Colombo) and Panadura (40km south of Colombo). You can also take a regular non-AC service to Colombo taking the coastal road, but it almost costs the same and takes two or three times as long. However, it can be handy if you want to reach Hikkaduwa or Bentota areas on the west coast.

Sleep
Cheap, safe tourist hotels abound.

Go next

 * Kalutara Temple
 * Hikkaduwa coral gardens
 * Ambalangoda antique shops
 * Galle fortress
 * Unawatuna, Mirissa, Tangalle, Hiriketiya & Weligama beaches

title: Matara


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Mataram

Mataram is the largest city on Lombok with 440,000 inhabitants (2023). It is the capital of West Nusa Tenggara province (Nusa Tenggara Barat, NTB), Indonesia.

Understand
Mataram is an agglomeration of a number of villages that have grown together. The main ones are Ampenan, the harbour on the west coast and the site of the old airport; Mataram, in the center; and Cakranegara, the commercial hub to the east.

By plane
Lombok International Airport opened on 1 October 2011 near the city of Praya on in South Lombok. It is approximately 40 km southeast of Mataram. The airport is covered in the main Lombok article. It will cost you Rp 130,000 - 150,000 to get to Mataram.

Airport shuttle bus
A public bus service is available from the airport to service passengers wishing to travel to and from either Mataram or Senggigi. The DAMRI buses late model air-conditioned buses and are white in colour.

DAMRI services depart from the Mandalika bus terminal in eastern Mataram every hour and proceed to the airport, commencing at 04:00 with the last bus leaving that terminal at 19:00.

The fare from/to the Mandalika terminal is Rp15,000.

DAMRI services are also provided to connect Senggigi to the airport departing Senggigi from 03:00 and then every 1½ hr until the last departure from Senggigi at 20:00. Some airport buses may provide services between Mandelika and Senggigi. Services may not follow the published schedules; ensure you leave plenty of buffer time if catching a departing flight. The fare from the airport to Senggigi is Rp25,000 per person.

Taxis are normally available at the terminal for travel onward to other areas.

By boat
The port of Lembar is 22 km south of Mataram. There are ferries every 90 minutes or so, 24 hours a day, from Padang Bai on Bali, with the trip taking 4-5 hours. Any volunteer "porters" who carry your bags will expect at least Rp10,000. See the main Lombok article for details.

If you haven't booked an end-to-end travel package, getting from Lembar to Mataram can sometimes be problematic. You can take a shuttle bus service to Mataram with. Perama shuttle bus offers Bali to Mataram connections and Lembar to Mataram connections. A hotel pick-up should always be arranged well in advanced and preferably confirmed by email. An alternative is to negotiate a trip with a private car operator upon arrival. You can take a bemo from Lembar Harbour to Mataram during daylight hours. The fare should be Rp5,000-8,000 to the Ampenan-Mataram-Cakranegara-Sweta area, but you may pay more if you have a lot of luggage. This is one good reason to book through to Mataram or Senggigi with Perama or another tourist shuttle company. Alternatively, metered taxis are often available at the terminal or just outside the gates. A taxi may be available but do not depend on one being there. There are a few basic warung and losmen in Lembar if you get stuck.

By car
It is also possible to access Mataram from Denpasar, which is a 4- to 5-hour drive plus ferries.

By taxi
Blue bird *. Both the Bluebird and white coloured Express Taksi have a radio dispatch system and both companies cars are equipped with meters which should be used by their drivers at all times. Flag fall is approximately Rp4,250 and the meter ticks up a few hundred rupiah for every hundred meters past 2 km. Taxis can be booked in advance either by calling them yourself or by booking through your hotel. Taxis may be hailed down on the street anywhere around Mataram with the exception of the dark blue Airport Taksi the use of which is limited to arriving airport passengers only.

By bemo
Bemos run many set routes in and around Mataram, Ampenan and Cakranegara. They may be flagged down anywhere on the streets of Mataram. Bemo can sometimes be crowded and may stop and start frequently to pick up and set down passengers or to tout for business. Sometimes trips can get a bit drawn out. Beware of pickpockets as they often prey on passengers especially around the Cakranegara routes. These pickpockets can be persistent even if their activities are detected. It may be more straight forward and possibly less expensive to take an air-conditioned taxi especially if there are 2 or more people in your group.

By ojek
Prices are negotiable but a rule of thumb is Rp5,000-10,000 for a short trip with a local motorbike rider if the destination is nearby, longer distances will require some informed negotiation.

By horsecart
Horse carts known as cidomo remain a common means of transport in Mataram and they are often found operating throughout the congested streets near a pasar or produce market. Public bemos and metered taxis are more commonly used for transport in and around Mataram.

By car
Renting a car is a possible alternative in Mataram. It will cost Rp250,000-300,000 for a Toyota Avanza/Daihatsu Xenia (2x4) 6-8 seats, Rp300,000- 450,000 for a Toyota Kijang (2x4) with 7-8 seats. Age and condition of car will effect price as will high rental demand in the peak tourism period around the June–August and local holidays. Rental periods should be for 24 hours.

By motorbike
Motorbikes are also available for rent around Mataram. Expect to pay approximately Rp50,000 per day for a motor bike in as new condition. There are several rental operators to be found in the Cakranegara area or enquire at your hotel for assistance.
 * Please see the main Lombok article article for more detailed information on driving in Lombok and ensure you obtain and use a helmet when riding a motor bike.

Buy

 * Guided shopping tours. This is a good idea if you want to find your way around the markets and backstreets of Mataram, Ampenan and Cakranegara more easily and possible arrive at some places you might otherwise not discover. Choose your guide carefully and it could be a most interesting outing or just find your own way around. There is everything from second hand motor bike parts, cooking equipment, bric-a-brac antiques and reproductions to gold, pearls and costume jewellery. Much of it is presented in an apparent maze of reasonably civilised chaos whilst other parts are very quiet and laid back. Bargaining and price enquiry is essential in the smaller shops and the market areas. Larger shops in the Mall and the supermarkets have fixed and marked prices on their goods.
 * Guided shopping tours. This is a good idea if you want to find your way around the markets and backstreets of Mataram, Ampenan and Cakranegara more easily and possible arrive at some places you might otherwise not discover. Choose your guide carefully and it could be a most interesting outing or just find your own way around. There is everything from second hand motor bike parts, cooking equipment, bric-a-brac antiques and reproductions to gold, pearls and costume jewellery. Much of it is presented in an apparent maze of reasonably civilised chaos whilst other parts are very quiet and laid back. Bargaining and price enquiry is essential in the smaller shops and the market areas. Larger shops in the Mall and the supermarkets have fixed and marked prices on their goods.
 * Guided shopping tours. This is a good idea if you want to find your way around the markets and backstreets of Mataram, Ampenan and Cakranegara more easily and possible arrive at some places you might otherwise not discover. Choose your guide carefully and it could be a most interesting outing or just find your own way around. There is everything from second hand motor bike parts, cooking equipment, bric-a-brac antiques and reproductions to gold, pearls and costume jewellery. Much of it is presented in an apparent maze of reasonably civilised chaos whilst other parts are very quiet and laid back. Bargaining and price enquiry is essential in the smaller shops and the market areas. Larger shops in the Mall and the supermarkets have fixed and marked prices on their goods.
 * Guided shopping tours. This is a good idea if you want to find your way around the markets and backstreets of Mataram, Ampenan and Cakranegara more easily and possible arrive at some places you might otherwise not discover. Choose your guide carefully and it could be a most interesting outing or just find your own way around. There is everything from second hand motor bike parts, cooking equipment, bric-a-brac antiques and reproductions to gold, pearls and costume jewellery. Much of it is presented in an apparent maze of reasonably civilised chaos whilst other parts are very quiet and laid back. Bargaining and price enquiry is essential in the smaller shops and the market areas. Larger shops in the Mall and the supermarkets have fixed and marked prices on their goods.
 * Guided shopping tours. This is a good idea if you want to find your way around the markets and backstreets of Mataram, Ampenan and Cakranegara more easily and possible arrive at some places you might otherwise not discover. Choose your guide carefully and it could be a most interesting outing or just find your own way around. There is everything from second hand motor bike parts, cooking equipment, bric-a-brac antiques and reproductions to gold, pearls and costume jewellery. Much of it is presented in an apparent maze of reasonably civilised chaos whilst other parts are very quiet and laid back. Bargaining and price enquiry is essential in the smaller shops and the market areas. Larger shops in the Mall and the supermarkets have fixed and marked prices on their goods.
 * Guided shopping tours. This is a good idea if you want to find your way around the markets and backstreets of Mataram, Ampenan and Cakranegara more easily and possible arrive at some places you might otherwise not discover. Choose your guide carefully and it could be a most interesting outing or just find your own way around. There is everything from second hand motor bike parts, cooking equipment, bric-a-brac antiques and reproductions to gold, pearls and costume jewellery. Much of it is presented in an apparent maze of reasonably civilised chaos whilst other parts are very quiet and laid back. Bargaining and price enquiry is essential in the smaller shops and the market areas. Larger shops in the Mall and the supermarkets have fixed and marked prices on their goods.

Eat
Mataram has a large number of restaurants, eating houses and warungs. Look for the ones that seem popular and explore the menus. Most serve traditional Indonesian and Lombok food but there are variations including many restaurants run by the local ethnic Chinese community and a few Middle Eastern influenced venues. Remain aware of food hygiene issues especially with some street vendors as they may have limited access to water for cleaning utensils and other items. Be adventurous though as Mataram has some good places to eat.

Drink
Some restaurants in Mataram will serve cold beer as do the hotels but do not expect a wine list to be available in other than a large and substantial hotel. Public drinking of alcohol or drunkenness is not condoned in any part of Lombok including Mataram. Many restaurants and eating houses have an excellent range of local fruit juices, tea including ginger tea and local coffee (kopi biasa or kopi lombok) at very moderate prices.

Hospitals

 * Please see the Lombok main article for a more comprehensive list of medical facilities available in Mataram.

Emergency service

Most often a taxi, police vehicle or a private car is used to get someone requiring urgent medical attention to a hospital. The ambulances in Lombok are more often used in the role of assisted patient transport rather than for first responder/paramedic supported emergency assistance and transport.

Go next

 * Senggigi town and beaches, 30 min north by car.
 * Kuta in South Lombok
 * Gili Islands
 * Tanjung
 * Mount Rinjani
 * Sekotong in the south west of Lombok
 * Bali

title: Mataram