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Oyama

Oyama (小山) is the second most populous city in southern Tochigi prefecture, Japan. Oyama is above all a major train junction, and most visitors won't stop much longer than it takes to change trains.

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

Get in
One of the minor thrills of Oyama is to stand on the Shinkansen platform and watch the through-trains barrel past at full throttle and full volume on the middle tracks away from either platform.

By train
Oyama is on the Tōhoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Aomori, and is served by the Nasuno and Yamabiko all-stations services. There is one train per hour from Tokyo to Oyama, with more frequent trains for the peak-direction rush (42 minutes, ¥3440 for an unreserved seat).

Oyama also lies at the intersection of the JR Tohoku Line, which runs north-south between Utsunomiya and Ueno; the JR Mito Line, which runs east to the historic city of Mito; and the JR Ryōmō Line, which runs west to Takasaki, where the Jōetsu Shinkansen (toward Niigata) splits off from the Nagano Shinkansen.

Local trains from Ueno to Oyama on the Tohoku Line, the section of which is also referred to as the Utsunomiya Line, take 75 minutes at a cost of ¥1280. Some rapid services during rush hours cut this time down to as little as 60 minutes.

There is no cost to use JR train services with the Japan Rail Pass.

By car
Oyama also lies at the intersection of two major national highways: National Route 50, which runs east-west between Mito and Takasaki, and National Route 4, which runs north-south between Tokyo and Aomori.

Buy
Oyama station is a decent place to do some quick shopping while waiting for train connections to smaller cities or towns. There are two fairly big, midrange shopping malls, Val and Roble.

The local post office (36.309232, 139.814939) ATM allows you to withdraw cash by credit and debit cards issued outside of Japan, including Visa, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express and JCB cards and provide an English user menu.

Eat
If you want to grab a quick meal between trains, try the ground floor food court below the Val department store at the West Exit. The ramen shop doesn't stint on the pepper or garlic, and the soba shop provides fresh wasabi that you grate yourself (and little bags to take away the leftover stubs). For those with a little more time to kill, here are a few options outside the station.
 * Bistro de Princess, Shiroyama-cho 2-6-49 (a few blocks west of JR Oyama Station West Exit, on the right just before you reach a pedestrian overpass), tel. +81 285-24-1424. Open daily 12:00-14:00, 18:00-20:00. An omakase French-style bistro owned and operated by an eccentric chef who trained at the Akasaka Prince Hotel. Prix fixe lunch ¥980. For dinner, just tell the chef how many people are in your party and how much you are willing to pay per person and leave it up to him. (He may ask about the age, sex, or eating restrictions of people in the party.) Recommended budget per person, ¥1500-2500; more if you ask him to choose the wine.
 * Cafe Colorado (across the street from Roble department store out JR Oyama Station West Exit). Open Th-Tu (closed W) 09:00-20:00. Sandwich plates ¥720-840.

Drink
If you want to grab a quick coffee between trains, Beck's is inside JR Oyama station, Starbucks is just outside the West Exit wickets at the entrance to Val department store, a quieter Tully's is on the second floor at the outside edge of Roble department store adjacent to Val, and a more traditional Cafe Colorado is just across the street from Roble.

Go next

 * Utsunomiya
 * Mito, capital of Ibaraki and home of Kairaku-en Park.
 * Tochigi
 * Ashikaga
 * Shimotsuke
 * Ninomiya
 * Satte
 * Sugito
 * Kasama (Ibaraki)

title: Oyama


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Oyano

Ōyano (大矢野) is an island in Kumamoto prefecture, part of Kamiamakusa City.

Understand
Ōyano is the entrance area of Amakusa islands.

Get in
It takes about 1½ hours by car. If you take JR, you can get on a train at 5 platform in Kumamoto station.

Go next

 * Amakusa
 * Reihoku
 * Uki
 * Hikawa
 * Yatsushiro
 * Uto
 * Jonan
 * Kumamoto

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

title: Oyano


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Oyen

Oyen is a small town of 1,000 people (2016) in the Southern Alberta region of Alberta, Canada.

Understand
Oyen is likely to be encountered by travellers as a stopping point on a car journey between Calgary and Saskatoon. It is a supply centre for the extensive grain farms in the area and for oil and gas workers.

Oyen is the service centre for a large but sparsely populated dryland farming area. In the surrounding area wheat, barley, and canola are important crops, and beef cattle are raised.

Climate
Oyen experiences a semi-arid climate. Winters are long, cold and dry, while summers are short and warm. Precipitation is low, with an annual average of 322 mm, and is heavily concentrated in the warmer months. Oyen's precipitation is narrowly below being a humid continental climate, a type it closely resembles in terms of yearly temperatures.

Get in
Oyen is close to the Saskatchewan boundary, north of Medicine Hat. The town is on Highway 41, south of its junction with Highway 9. It is the first major centre within Alberta for travellers entering from Saskatchewan.

Oyen is 397 km southeast of Edmonton, 327 km east of Calgary and 298 km west of Saskatoon. Oyen is about 187 km north of Medicine Hat and approximately 315 km north of the US border.

There is a major highway rest stop north of the town at the junction of Highway 41 and Highway 9. It has a service station, A&W restaurant, a motel and a visitor information centre operated by Travel Alberta.

There is Oyen Municipal Airport 1 km south of the town. It has no scheduled flights.

Get around
Ask for directions to the nearest Light Rapid Transit station. That's sure to get a laugh.

See
In the area around, look for pronghorn antelope.

Do
Oyen has a golf course, an arena, curling rink, and outdoor pool.

title: Oyen


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Ozamiz

Ozamiz is a city of 142,000 people (2015) in Misamis Occidental in Northern Mindanao. Ozamiz is the center for commerce, health, transportation, and education in this part of Mindanao.

Understand
The city has good harbor location, its local port is the principal outlet of mineral deposits, agricultural and forest products of the provinces of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Maguindanao, parts of Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur.

History
The city of Ozamiz grew out of an old Spanish town called Misamis. Misamis developed because of the Spanish garrison stationed at the stone fort called Nuestra Senora dela Concepcion del Triunfo, which was built some time in the 18th century to control the pirate activities in the nearby Lanao area. In 1850, the town of Misamis became the capital of the District of Misamis.

In October 1942 Wendell Fertig established the command headquarters of the growing guerrilla resistance to the Japanese occupation of Mindanao in the Spanish fort in the city. His headquarters was abandoned June 1943, in the face of a large Japanese attack. Until the end of the war the Japanese occupied this fort.

After the Second World War, Misamis was renamed Misamis to "Ozamiz" after a World War II hero, José Ozámiz, who hailed from the province of Misamis Occidental and who at one time also served as its governor and congressional representative of the Lone District of Misamis Occidental, a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935 Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government. In 1941, José Ozámiz was elected to the Philippine Senate.

By ferry
There are ferries from Manila, Cebu City and Iligan.
 * 2GO Travel have a ferry from Manila via Iligan and Cebu.
 * Cokaliong Shipping Lines have a ferry 5 times a week which goes to and from Cebu and Iligan.
 * TransAsia shipping lines from Cebu.
 * The Mukas to Ozamiz Ferry cost + port fee.

By plane

The Labo airport has daily flights from Manila and Cebu.
 * Philippines airlines - Manila, Cebu.
 * Cebu Pacific - Manila, Cebu.

By bus

 * Rural Transit is the bus line to Ozamiz
 * The bus/ferry fare from Iligan is from.
 * The bus fare from Dipolog is from.
 * There are also buses to Ozamiz from Pagadian for.
 * To get to downtown Ozamiz you can use the Mukas to Ozamiz Ferry. First get on a bus from the bus stop in Mukas. The bus to Mukas from Iligan goes every 30 min and costs.

Get around
Tricycle, anywhere in the city, is a cheap way to get around.

Events and festivals

 * The feast of Our Lady of Triumph of the Cross at Cotta Shrine is celebrated every July 16 which is also the Charter City anniversary. Subayan Keg Subanon festival is also held on the same day. The Cotta entertainment area has free live band concerts and other musical variety shows each weekend. Fireworks displays are held at Cotta during Fiesta and holidays. It can be seen across Panguil bay as far as Lanao del Norte.
 * The feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is celebrated every December 8.
 * On the 4th Sunday of January is the Sr. Santo Nino Fluvial Parade held at Panguil Bay.
 * Balanghoy Festival is held annually at Cotta area.

Cope

 * Bureau Of Immigration Ozamiz Office. Ground floor Gaisano South Wing. Port Road.
 * Mayor Hilarion A Ramiro Sr Regional Hospital, . DOH Hospital.
 * Generika Durg Store. Washington Street.

Go next

 * 2-hour bus ride to Iligan.
 * 1-hour bus ride to Oroquieta.
 * 4-hour bus ride to Pagadian.
 * 4-hour bus ride to Dipolog.
 * overnight ferry to Cebu City.

title: Ozamiz


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Ozark (Arkansas)

Ozark is a city of 3,700 people (2019) in the River Valley region of Arkansas. Ozark is adjacent to much of Arkansas wine country, and has a bridge to cross the Arkansas River for travelers heading to points south. The city is on Arkansas Highway 23, nicknamed the Pig Trail Scenic Byway, known for its steep drops, sharp curves and scenic mountain views.

Understand
The community sits along the Arkansas River in the Arkansas River Valley on the southern edge of the Ozark Mountains.

Get in
Interstate 40 and US 64 East-West.

See
The old Missouri Pacific Depot now serves as a museum and houses many artifacts related to the city's history. Murals can be found throughout the city. The quintessential town square is filled with window store fronts full of antique and gift shops, crape myrtle shrubs in bloom summer through fall, and a park across from the courthouse.

The old Franklin County Jail features a distinctive stone facade, resembling a medieval castle. The city serves as the southern access point for the Pig Trail Scenic Byway. This 19-mile (31 km) scenic drive begins 11 miles (18 km) north of Ozark where Highway 23 enters the Ozark National Forest. The Pig Trail leads drivers through rolling mountain country and past waterfalls, rock formations and the Mulberry River, popular for kayaking and canoeing. Ozark is a popular place for food and rest while exploring the Pig Trail Scenic Byway.

Ozark is in the heart of Arkansas Wine Country along with the cities of Altus, Wiederkehr Village, and Paris.

Do
Ozark Lake on the Arkansas River provides plenty of fishing opportunities. Tree-shaded Aux Arc Park stretches along the river from the Ozark Lock and Dam and has a playground, campsites, boat launching ramps and other facilities. Within miles of Ozark are the Mulberry River and White Rock Mountain Recreation Area in the Ozark National Forest.

title: Ozark (Arkansas)


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Ozarks

The Ozarks is in the USA and includes areas in southern Missouri, northern Arkansas, southeast Kansas, and eastern Oklahoma.

Major tourist cities

 * , Missouri
 * , Arkansas
 * , Missouri
 * , Missouri

Popular tourist towns

 * , Missouri
 * , Arkansas
 * , Arkansas
 * , Arkansas
 * , Arkansas

Major cities

 * , Arkansas
 * , Arkansas
 * , Missouri
 * , Missouri

Other destinations

 * in northern Arkansas is an unpolluted and free-flowing river in the heart of the Ozarks. It has both swift water and calm stretches.
 * in southern Missouri consists of the spring-fed Current River and Jacks Fork River.
 * in southern Missouri consists of the spring-fed Current River and Jacks Fork River.

Understand
The Ozarks is a plateau that covers 50,000 sq. miles. There is also an Ozark culture which embodies the people that live in this region. The area has rolling hills, mountains that have eroded over time along with many man-made lakes. All of this makes the area attractive for outdoor activities including fishing, hunting and hiking.

The area became a popular tourist attraction overnight with Harold Bell Wright's 1907 novel, "The Shepherd of the Hills". His novel told a story about the mountain country and hill people nearby Branson, Missouri. Wilson Rawls' 1961 children's novel "Where the Red Fern Grows" also describes the region, based on Rawls' own childhood outside Talequah, Oklahoma.

Talk
The people of the Ozarks have their own way of talking and a set of terms that you might not hear outside the region. For example some of the common terms are; "Frog Strangler" or "Gully Warsher" both of which mean a heavy rain. You might hear some way say "You look mighty peakid, are you a-fixen to be sick?" Others are "Rosanears" is corn on the cob, "yourn" is yours "Is that yourn?", a "krick" is a creek, "pritnear" is almost like ""I'm pritnear done with this". The hill people of the Ozarks are affectionately called Hillbillies.

Get in

 * Interstate 44 runs across the Missouri Ozarks from St. Louis to Tulsa.
 * Interstate 40 runs East-West along the southern edge of the Ozarks
 * Interstate 70 runs East-West along the northern edge on the Ozarks.
 * Also historic Route 66 runs from St. Louis to Tulsa in the Ozarks.

Get around
The best way to get around is to drive. You will also get a good fill of the scenery driving the hills of the Ozarks.

See

 * Branson, Missouri with world class entertainment and access to Table Rock Lake for Bass fishing and Lake Taneycomo for lake trout fishing.
 * Silver Dollar City theme park near Branson, Missouri
 * Eureka Springs, Arkansas sometimes called the little Switzerland of the Ozarks and on other occasions the San Francisco of the Ozarks. Local craft shops and art galleries, good food and shopping. Close to Beaver Lake with fishing, water skiing, swimming and other water sports. Don't forget to see the Passion Play.
 * Eureka Springs, Arkansas sometimes called the little Switzerland of the Ozarks and on other occasions the San Francisco of the Ozarks. Local craft shops and art galleries, good food and shopping. Close to Beaver Lake with fishing, water skiing, swimming and other water sports. Don't forget to see the Passion Play.

Major lakes

 * Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri
 * Harry S. Truman Lake in central Missouri
 * Table Rock Lake in southwest Missouri
 * Stockton Lake in southwest Missouri
 * Pomme de Terre Lake in southwest Missouri
 * Lake Tanneycomo in southwest Missouri
 * Grand Lake O' the Cherokees in northeast Oklahoma
 * Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas
 * Bull Shoals in northern Arkansas & Southwestern Missouri
 * Lake Norfork in northern Arkansas

Mountain ranges

 * Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri
 * St. Francois Mountains in Southeastern Missouri
 * Boston Mountains in northern Arkansas
 * Cookson Hills in eastern Oklahoma

Do

 * Visit the Lake of the Ozarks area.
 * Follow the particularly scenic Ozark Highlands Trail, which runs from Lake Fort Smith State Park to the Buffalo National River.
 * Canoe one of the clear, clean rivers of the Ozarks, to include: the National Scenic Jack's Fork or the Current rivers, Elk River, Meramec, Big Piney, Gasconade, or the Huzzah. For the fishers, all contain good populations of smallmouth bass.
 * A number of natural attractions exist in Mark Twain National Forest in southeast Missouri. Among these, Taum Sauk Mountain offers nice hiking starting near the highest point in Missouri. In 1.2 miles the trail reaches the Mina Sauk falls, which is splendid to see in the wet season. A little to the west are Johnson's Shut-Ins, some rock bluffs lining a river where the water is channeled in-between the rocks and can develop a nice little current. There are a few spots that are nice for swimming. Elephant Rocks State Park to the north also has some interesting rock formations, and driving a little farther on Highway 21 one comes to Hughes Mountain which has interesting rock outcroppings at the top called the Devil's Honeycomb.
 * Many campsites, rivers, and trails are to be found in this area. There are also some caves open for tour groups. The Onondaga Cave is of particular interest.

Eat
Frog legs are a popular dish in this area of the country. Catfish, deer and green tomato relish are also some very popular examples of the "stick-to-your-ribs goodness" that warms these hillpeople during the bitter cold months and long, steamy summers.

Stay safe
Tornadoes are a very dangerous surprise to watch for as well as deer that frequently jump into the road.

title: Ozarks


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Ozarks (Arkansas)

The Ozarks in Arkansas are part of the Ozarks mountains, as well as being considered a region in north-central Arkansas and southern Missouri.

Cities
The major cities in the area are:
 * — home to the corporate headquarters of retail giant Walmart
 * — a quaint resort town with eclectic dining and shopping, art galleries and local crafts
 * — a college town and a regional hub for live music and performances
 * — a base for visiting the Withrow Springs State Park
 * — home to the Rogers Commercial Historic District, and many properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places
 * — has an historic downtown district
 * — a booming industrial city

Other smaller towns and communities in the area include:

 * — a regional manufacturing and distribution hub for the Ozark Mountain region
 * — a retirement community where recreational spaces are available for residents and their guests
 * — home of the Saunders' Museum of outlaws' guns
 * — a resort town
 * — a resort town
 * — has a few resorts
 * — like stepping back in time
 * — a good base for exploring the nearby Ozark Mountains and the Buffalo National River
 * — the Frauenthal House is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
 * — a scenic and quaint town with lots of outdoor opportunities
 * — Mammoth Spring State Park has one of the word's largest freshwater springs
 * — home 9f the annual Twin Lakes Thunder Rally
 * — the "Folk Music Capital of the World" offers many outdoor activities
 * — it has one of the best preserved battle fields in the country
 * — a historic Italian-American community with well-known Italian restaurants
 * — the War Eagle Mill is an historic, working grist mill
 * — home of the Woolsey Bridge
 * — home of the Winslow Museum
 * — known for its Turkey Trot Festival
 * — home of the Woolsey Bridge
 * — home of the Winslow Museum
 * — known for its Turkey Trot Festival

Other destinations

 * In northern Arkansas is an unpolluted and free-flowing river in the heart of the Ozarks. It has both swift water and calm streaches.
 * In northern Arkansas is 1.2 million acres of land in Northern Arkansas.

Understand
The Ozarks are largely rural, with hundreds of miles of pristine national forest and protected rivers. However, the area is also home to one of the fastest-growing areas in the mid-south. Under the influence of several large companies headquartered in the area, and good quality of life and cheap land, from 1993 to 2013 the Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers/Bentonville metropolitan area turned into one connected suburban and semi-urban area linked by a freeway, home to thousands of new residents and full of poorly planned strip malls and developments.

Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas, and as such is a regional center for cultural events as well as bars and restaurants; an hour or so away, the Victorian town of Eureka Springs has been a tourist destination for generations. Popular festivals drawing motorcycle riders to arts and crafts enthusiasts sweep the region every year.

But despite this development there are still plenty of small towns and wide spots in the road and isolated places to discover in the Ozarks, and there is still a strong mountain culture in rural areas. The Ozarks are noted for their natural beauty: the low but steep and tree-covered Ozark Mountains are green and alive with the sound of cicadas in summer, brilliantly colored in fall, and sometimes icy in winter.

Traditional Ozark culture is more closely akin to Appalachia than to the rest of the South, or even to the Delta-influenced areas of the rest of the state. There is a strong emphasis on traditional handicrafts, bluegrass music, and subsistence farming. The term "hillbilly" can refer to people from this part of Arkansas as well as parts of Appalachia; it is generally used as a derogative term referring to a poor, rural isolated lifestyle, but it may have positive cultural connotations as well in terms of traditional music and ways of life.

Talk
This area of Arkansas is predominantly English-speaking, though migration to the area has meant many more Spanish speakers. Spanish is by far the second most common language.

Get in
The Ozark region of Arkansas covers the northwestern corner of the state. Airport access is available through the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, or XNA. Further away, but possibly more convenient depending on your route and destination, are the airports at Tulsa, Oklahoma and Little Rock.

The area is crossed by the I-540 freeway, which connects to I-40 near Fort Smith and I-44 in Missouri. If coming from Tulsa, Highway 412 is your best bet.

The nearest Amtrak stop is in Little Rock.

Do

 * Hiking and backpacking: The Ozark Highlands Trail is rated as one of the best backpacking trails in the United States. It reaches from Lake Fort Smith Park to the Buffalo national river, stretching 218 miles.  It reaches some of the most remote areas of the Ozark Mountains, like the Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area.

title: Ozarks (Arkansas)


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Oze National Park

Oze National Park (尾瀬国立公園) is in Kanto of Japan. Oze is the largest highland marshland on Japan's main island of Honshu. Spanning Gunma, Fukushima, Niigata and Tochigi prefectures.

History
In 2007 Oze was detached from Nikko National Park and given the status of a new National park.

Flora and fauna
Mizubasyo (Japanese skunk cabbage) flowers are full bloom in Spring, Nikkokisuge (orange-yellow day lilies) flowers are full bloom in Summer.

Information Site
Ministry of Environment has an official bilingual webpage for the park.

Get in
There are five major entrances to the park. From here, you walk into the park.
 * Oshimizu (大清水).
 * Fujimishita (富士見下).
 * Hatomachi Toge Pass (鳩待峠).
 * Miike (御池).
 * Numayama Toge Pass  (沼山峠).

Lodging
There are approximately 20 lodges in Oze that can accommodate a limited number of guests by reservation.

title: Oze National Park


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Ozona

Ozona, "The Biggest Little Town in the World," is an unincorporated town in Texas, about an hour south-west of San Angelo. It is the county seat (in fact, sole town) of Crockett County.

Get in
A traveler may visit Ozona via Interstate 10 or Texas Highway 163. A municipal airport is also available.

Get around
Ozona has no public transportation. Private car (or pickup truck) is the usual method of travel.

Hunt
The area is known for its hunting. The Ozona Chamber of Commerce maintains a list of leases.
 * Whitetail Deer
 * Dove
 * Turkey

Go next
This is about the only way you'll find anything worth more than a few minutes.
 * Big Bend National Park
 * Seminole Canyon State Historical Site
 * Fort Lancaster State Historical Site
 * Kerrville - a few hours east, with history and personality

title: Ozona


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Ozona (Florida)

Ozona is a city in Pinellas County.

Get in
Pinellas Trail / Walking - Bicycle Path

title: Ozona (Florida)


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Ozurgeti

Ozurgeti (ოზურგეთი, from 1934 to 1989 Makharadze მახარაძე) is the town of 15,000 people (2020) in Georgia, capital of Guria region. It is a good jumping off point for nearby beaches, mountain resorts, old monasteries and rural tourism.

Understand
Ozurgeti was founded in the Middle Ages, 16th century. The city was the residence of the Prince of Guria and became a trading center in later centuries. Ozurgeti received its town charter in 1840, after becoming part of Russian Empire. The town was a strategic location in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78). In the 19th century Ozurgeti became the hometown of tea producing and citrus growing in Georgia. In 1905 Ozurgeti was center of Georgian Social-Democratic Movement and capital of so called "Gurian Republic" which existed during Russian Revolution. From 1934 to 1989, the city was named after the Georgian Communist Party leader of the 1920s and 1930s, Philip Makharadze. Today's layout and image of the town was established during Soviet times. The largest employers in the city are government and financial institutions, and nut cultivation is the main economic activity.

By plane
The nearest major international airport is in Tbilisi (340 km), while Batumi (60 km) and Kutaisi (70 km) International Airports are the nearest accessible airports. Trabzon airport (250 km) in Turkey might be an option, also.

The following airlines operate service to/from Kutaisi International Airport:
 * WizzAir (Athens, Barcelona, Berlin-Schoenefeld, Budapest, Dortmund, Katowice, Larnaca, London-Luton, Memmingen, Milan-Malpensa, Paris-Beauvais, Praha, Riga, Rome-Fiumicino, Thessaloniki, Vienna, Vilnius),
 * Service Air (Mestia).

By train
Ozurgeti has a railway station, which can be reached from Batumi and Tbilisi. Ozurgeti is end point of a branch line from Natanebi on the Black Sea coast.

There is a daily train pair each to Tbilisi (night and day trains) and Batumi (day train). The former holds the road, among others in Samtredia. The second one also in Kobuleti. Ticket prices from Tbilisi to Ozurgeti vary between 15-30 lari. Trains leave twice a day and take about 9 hours. Batumi-Ozurgeti train leaves once a day, only evenings and takes 2 hours. Tickets from both cities can be bought at stations and online.

a magnificent neoclassical building, approximately 500 m north of the center, at the end of the Ilia Chavchavadze Street. There is a ticket office and Mini Bus station over there. Taxis await incoming passengers. A taxi from the station to city costs 3-5 lari, to villages 4-20 lari.

By bus
There are daily arrivals and departures in several directions: Kutaisi (from Kutaisi main station, behind the Mcdonalds, at 10:30 11:30, 13:10, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30), Samtredia, Kobuleti and Batumi, also Tbilisi, as well as marshrutkas to nearest villages and sites of tourist interest in the area. is south of the city center next to the large roundabout.

By car
Ozurgeti lies on the well-developed regional road "შ 2" (Kobuleti - Chokhatauri - Sadzhavakho - Samtredia), "შ 46" Ureki-Natanebi-Ozurgeti and "შ 84" Lanchkhuti - Lesa - Ozurgeti; about 7km east from the regional road 'შ 47" Nasakirali - Schuchuti. Roads are paved with asphalt, except "შ 84" which is paved with concrete. Roads are beautiful, but winding, and are ideal for a scenic drive.

 * filling stations

Get around
A small town, Ozurgeti is easily covered on foot. The town has no public transport system. Buses and mini-buses (Marschrutkas) go only in the surrounding area. Cycling can be an option, also, but there are no bike rentals, though. Bikes are sold in "Univermagi" for 250-300 lari. Taxis are cheap and cost 3-5 lari within the town.

Ozurgeti has following districts: the center, where government, financial, shopping and service provider institutions are based, Seri south from the center, located on the small hill, historical part of the town Ekadia, former village, now part of the town, south of river Bzhuzhi; Anaseuli - Soviet-era settlement with former tea factory and scientific institutions and sleeping districts: Lashe-Gakiruli in the eastern part of the town, Zvani in the western part and Moidanakhe on the northern hill, where the town's major cemeteries are located.

See
The main sightseeing in the town is an archaeological site,, which were built and used by rulers of Principality of Guria - Gurieli. Baths are on the central square of the town. Ruins are left open-air, so its free to visit. These baths must have been oldest building in the town. The oldest survived building of the town is, built in 1863, used to be a residence of the noble family, which is now used as a residence of the local Bishop of Georgian Orthodox Church. 19th-century typical Gurian wooden houses, with balconies and tile roofs can be found scattered in the town.

The city center is dominated by a - the second largest theater building in Georgia, with statue of Alexander Tsutsunava, famous Georgian movie director, born in Ozurgeti. The city center extends along the Chavchavadze street north to the quite remarkable train station. All around are typical magnificent Soviet buildings of the 1930s to the 1960s, in the classical style, such as - built in 1930s and renovated 1980s, but nonfunctional yet and  - constructivist building from the 1970s. Slightly away from the town center is an industrial complex of a with glorious Soviet residential and administrative buildings and wall mosaics. Also worthy is a near the train station. Another Soviet industrial and administrative building can be found in, an outskirt in south-western part of the town.

There are also two Postmodern architecture buildings: Police Office (2009) and Public Service Hall (2012).

Museums and galleries

Here are archaeological artifacts exhibited, as well as an exhibition on the life of Ektwmie Takaischwili can be seen. Museum is located in old Gurian type wooden house, with fireplace and balcony.

Parks and gardens
Ozurgeti is known for its gardens, some of them date back to XIX century. Scottish gardener Jacob Mar developed town garden in early 1810s fot his client Principal of Guria Mamia III Gurieli. That garden now is divided into three parts: is in front of Theater building and has access to free Wi-Fi, platanus trees make a "მ" (M in Georgian Alphabet) shape; so called  (triangle garden) is on the right side of the Theater building and has an open-air mini-football ground, there is, also, Statue of Alexander Tsutsunava, famous Georgian director, who was born in Ozurgeti and Ozurgeti dramatic Theater is named after him; and former, which is located in front of Dimitri Gurieli's palace. Slightly south of the park, a car-free area with a Soviet-era can be found.

Other parks are:
 * , in the center of town, below of Museum and Public Service Hall
 * , in the south of town, in Ekadia district. Forest-park was developed in 1960s, but now its not used. Good views of the town can be seen from the park
 * , in the south of town, in Ekadia district. Forest-park was developed in 1960s, but now its not used. Good views of the town can be seen from the park

Around the town

 * (დვაბზუს ეკლესიები), one of them is dated in VI century and one in 1874. Churches have local cultural heritage site status.
 * (ჭალის ეკლესია), a 19th-century church ruins is 5 km west from Ozurgeti and is considered a local cultural heritage site.
 * (ჯიხეთის მონასტერი), a 19th-century monastery, is 40 km northeast from Ozurgeti
 * (ერკეთის მონასტერი) was built in the 9th century and is in village Erketi, 32 km east of Ozurgeti.
 * (უდაბნოს მონასტერი) consist from two churches, one of them is caved. Monastery is in village Shua Amaghleba, 35 km northeast of Ozurgeti
 * (ეგნატე ნინოშვილის მუზეუმი) is in village Archeuli, 30 km north from Ozurgeti. Egnate Ninoshvili was most famous Gurian writer, one of the leaders of the social democratic movement of the late 19th century in Russian Empire. Museum is organized in an old house, where Ninoshvili was born
 * and churches in Aketi. Village Aketi is 20 km northeast from Ozurgeti. Saint George church was built in developed middle ages and Our Saviors church was built in 1899.
 * in Goraberezhouli, 25 km northeast from Ozurgeti, is only remained secular sightseeing in Guria. The territory consists a garden, stone fence, and a palace. It is dated from the 17th century.
 * (ჯიხეთის მონასტერი), a 19th-century monastery, is 40 km northeast from Ozurgeti
 * (ერკეთის მონასტერი) was built in the 9th century and is in village Erketi, 32 km east of Ozurgeti.
 * (უდაბნოს მონასტერი) consist from two churches, one of them is caved. Monastery is in village Shua Amaghleba, 35 km northeast of Ozurgeti
 * (ეგნატე ნინოშვილის მუზეუმი) is in village Archeuli, 30 km north from Ozurgeti. Egnate Ninoshvili was most famous Gurian writer, one of the leaders of the social democratic movement of the late 19th century in Russian Empire. Museum is organized in an old house, where Ninoshvili was born
 * and churches in Aketi. Village Aketi is 20 km northeast from Ozurgeti. Saint George church was built in developed middle ages and Our Saviors church was built in 1899.
 * in Goraberezhouli, 25 km northeast from Ozurgeti, is only remained secular sightseeing in Guria. The territory consists a garden, stone fence, and a palace. It is dated from the 17th century.

Activities

 * Cycle around the town there are no bike rentals. Bikes are sold in "Univermagi" for 250-300 lari.
 * Swim in the rivers. If you are brave enough, swimming in the river Bzhuzhi in the southern part of the town during hot summer days makes you feel local.
 * Fish in the small rivers such as Bzhizhi, Ochkhamura, Achi and Natanebi.
 * Fish in the small rivers such as Bzhizhi, Ochkhamura, Achi and Natanebi.

Festivals and performances

 * Alegro a city festival dates back from the 19th century. Allegro takes place in the center of the town in early autumn, September or October
 * Giorgi Salukvadze Ethnographic Festival, in which the neighboring countries (Turkey, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan) participate, is held in the summertime
 * Giorgi Salukvadze Ethnographic Festival, in which the neighboring countries (Turkey, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan) participate, is held in the summertime

Sports
Despite Georgia's failure to score a major success since independence, football (soccer) remains the most popular sport in the country, and in Ozurgeti as well. The town has two major sports clubs - Mertskhali (the swallow), which has the home ground (friendship) and Rugby club Piralebi (robbers), which has the home ground. The sports season in Georgia lasts from September to May.

Chess, Checkers, backgammon, also domino and card games are very common for Ozurgtei. You can find people sitting in yards and playing games. Feel free to join them, just avoid gambling.

Buy
There are two supermarkets in Ozurgeti: in the large shopping center on Guria Street and  on Ekvtime Takaishvili Street. Locally made bread and pastry, named can be found on Gabriel Episkoposi Str., below the church. is near it.

Eat
Eating in Ozurgeti is very cheap. Prices per person may be vary from US$5-10. Do not buy wine in restaurants, its better to buy wine in a shop and take it in restaurant.

The best choices of food are Corn bread, cheese, cucumber and tomato salad, eggplant with nuts, barbecue, kebab, Khachapuri, Beef with potatoes (Ojakhuri), fried chicken in garlic (Shkmeruli).

The local khachapuri (cheese bread) speciality for this region is 'Guruli Khachapuri', a calzone-type pastry stuffed with typical Georgian sulguni cheese and boiled eggs. Positively delicious but potentially difficult to find, as it's traditionally a festive dish.

Drink
If you get invited in someones house, your host may also offer you Georgian "chacha," an outrageously potent vodka distilled from grapes.

Sleep
There is only one hotel in Ozurgeti and some guesthouses. Guesthouses are a good option for budget travelers. They are clean, safe and cheap, as well as giving the opportunity to meet local people. A wide range of accommodation are available in the beach resort towns Ureki and Kobuleti, where, however, many businesses are closed during winter.

Talk
Gurians speak much more quickly than average Georgians from other regions, so it is more complicated to understand them. The older generation speaks Russian fluently, and Armenian as well. The younger generation now studies English. Almost every school in Ozurgeti has a native English-speaking teacher. There are some US and European volunteers who speak English as well. When in need for help, look for younger people; they are more likely to know some English.

Learn
There are no universities in the town. Only one operates. Wide range of driving schools is in Ozurgeti. It seems easier to get driver's license in Ozurgeti then in other towns in Georgia.

Work
Working time in Ozurgeti starts at 09:00 or 10:00 and end at 16:00–18:00. Locals like to take an hour lunch break and enjoy their food while socializing with their co-workers. Approaches to punctuality used to be very relaxed. Summer (late July-August) and January are months when people take two weeks or a whole month off work to enjoy vacationing with family. A local wage in Ozurgeti will typically be around 300–400 lari a month, with only a small section of public servants making in the range of 800–1000 lari a month.

Foreigners working in Ozurgeti are employed as volunteers. There are volunteers from the US Peace Corps and EVS (European Volunteering Service) volunteers from Poland, Germany, and Lithuania. These volunteers mostly work for the NGOs Young Pedagogues Union, Guria Youth Resource Center and Student Youth Council.

Connect
Free wireless internet is available in the Platanus garden and Culture and Resort Park, free internet is available in Public Service Hall, also.

There are 3 GSM operators of mobile phone service: Magticom, Geocell and Beeline. Their offices are near each other on the Chavchavadze Str.

Stay safe
Ozurgeti is very safe for travelers. the crime rate is among the lowest in Europe. Most of the streets are illuminated at night. Police cars patrol the streets in the town and can help with any problem. Call 112 in any case of emergency (police, ambulance, fire).

Stay healthy
Tap water is good for drinking in Ozurgeti. Ozurgeti has one of the best tap water among Georgia's cities.

You will find many gyms in the town. One of them is on the second floor of shopping mall on Eristavi Street, called My Fitness. Monthly ticket costs 70 lari. Olympic House is on 26 Rustaveli Street. Monthly ticket costs 60 lari. There is a gym in Sports Palace is on the second floor. Ticket costs 50 lari and covers 12 visit to the gym. You can work out in Park of Culture and Resort, where open-air training equipment is available.

Modernized hospital is on the "Seri" hill and is seen from the town center.

There are four pharmacies open 24/7, in front of "Bazari", GPC, PSP, Impex and Aversi.

Cope
There is no tourist office or travel agency in Ozurgeti. Nearest tourist offices are available in Ureki and Kobuleti, but only during summer.

In Guria
There are plenty of buses and minibuses to neighboring villages (generally 0.5-2 lari). Buses and minibuses leave from central bus station in the south part of the town, or from the station on Aghmashenebeli Str, near big roundabout. The best destination may include

 * villages and rural tourism:
 * Shemokmedi
 * Likhauri
 * Aketi
 * Mtispiri

 * Mountain resorts
 * Bakhmaro (only in summer)
 * Gomismta (only in summer)
 * Nasakirali
 * Nabeghlavi

 * beach resorts (only in summer)
 * Ureki
 * Grigoleti
 * Shekvetili

Other regions
Outside of the Guria region, popular destinations may include Kobuleti and Batumi. There are plenty minibuses, they leave in every hour from 8AM to 5PM to Batumi. Travel to Batumi costs 5 lari, to Kobuleti - 3 lari.

title: Ozurgeti


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Paarl

Paarl is the third-oldest town in South Africa and is approximately 60 km to the north-west of Cape Town. It is famous for having one of the world's largest rock outcrops.

By car
The easiest way to get there from Cape Town is by car is to follow the N1 North. Travel time is from 45 minutes up to an hour depending on traffic.

By train
Metrorail runs trains from Cape Town, including the high-end Boland Business Express. Services are aimed mainly at commuters, with more trains in the morning and afternoon. Long distance Shosholoza Meyl trains between Cape Town and Johannesburg also calls here.

There are several railway stations in Paarl, but the main ones for tourists are:

By bus
Long distance coach operator Intercape has connections to Paarl from several major cities in South Africa as well as one international service from Harare, in Zimbabwe. While intercity buses are relatively cheap, journey times can be grueling.

Get around
As with most of South Africa, it is best to use a rented car.

Wine related
Visit one of many wine estates

Hiking
There are hiking trails in the area, ranging from short walk to multi-day trails.

Eat
There are restaurants along the Main Road, and most of the wine estates also have their own restaurants on site.

Drink
Wine and brandy. Visit any of the wine estates that offer wine tasting. Also see the Do section

Splurge

 * Member of Cape Country Routes and Fair Trade Tourism Certified
 * Member of Cape Country Routes and Fair Trade Tourism Certified

Go next
Paarl is in the centre of the Cape Winelands, within proximity of the major town of Stellenbosch. It is also near Cape Town. You can reach all main attractions within 30 to 45 minutes (except the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point).

title: Paarl


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Pacaya Volcano

Pacaya Volcano (Spanish: Volcán de Pacaya) is in Central Highlands region of Guatemala. Pacaya is an active volcano that showed spectacular eruptions for several years. There is still some volcanic activity but there is no hot lava to be seen anymore.

Understand
The volcano is the star attraction of Parque Nacional Pacaya, one of the most popular Guatemala national parks. The volcano has an elevation of 2,552 meters (8,373 feet).

To check whether the volcano is active, see the daily report of the Guatemalan government.

History
Pacaya first erupted approximately 23,000 years ago and has erupted at least 23 times since the Spanish conquest of Guatemala. After being dormant for a century, it erupted violently in 1965 and has been erupting continuously since then, sometimes showering the nearby city of Antigua Guatemala with ash.

Landscape
This is an active volcano where you can see plenty of lava that cooled to rocks. The ground is made up of loose volcanic rock and is quite unstable in parts.

Get in
The Pacaya National Park is about 90 minutes by car or bus from either Antigua or Guatemala City.

By far the easiest and sometimes cheapest option to visit the volcano is to go on a tour from Antigua or Guatemala City. Tours include transportation, the entrance fee, and the obligatory guide. Tours will pick you up from your hotel between 6am and 8am. Morning tours will have you back in Antigua or Guatemala City by 2pm. Some tour companies also offer a sunset tour, but bring a flashlight on those because you will be hiking down the volcano in the dark. Tours vary in price.

You could also do a vist on your own. There are local buses from Guatemala City. There are no direct local buses from Antigua. Once you reach the park, you will need to pay the park entrance fees and also hire a guide. Guides are mandatory and you can hire them at the park entrance for Q200. Most guides speak only Spanish.

Fees and permits
There is a park entrance fee of Q50 (for foreigners.) And you are required to book a guide which charges Q200 (Q400 for an extended tour.) There is a smaller entrance before you get to the main entrance where you might be able to decrease that amount somewhat. But it is probably much more economic to go on a tour from Antigua.

Get around
Walk and take a hiking stick. Hiking sticks are sold at the park entrance for Q100. The ground is rocky, and in sections it is unstable.

See
Molten rock, volcanic vents where you can roast marshmallows.

Do

 * Take photos.
 * Horseback ride: Horses are available for rent at the park entrance for Q200.
 * Hike: there are at least 2 trails to the top of the volcano, both about 3.5 km in length and of moderate difficulty. The terrain is rocky and has some steep sections with a total elevation gain of about 1500 feet. The main trail goes via San Francisco de Sales and passes through a forested area where a number of bird species can be spotted. Take the main trail up and return via the Cerro Chino trail for a more scenic route with alternate views via a circuit instead of just doing an out-and-back hike.

Buy
Hiking stick - it'll cost you less than US$1 and should be returned to the local children that sold it to you.

Eat
There are shops at the base of the trail.

Camping
You can camp here.

Go next

 * Guatemala City
 * Antigua
 * Chimaltenango

title: Pacaya Volcano


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Pacentro

Pacentro is in Italy.

Get in
Catch the bus from Sulmona for the 10 km trip. Buy a return ticket in Sulmona, as tickets can be hard to come by in the middle of the day in Pacentro. It is possible to take a 6.5 km walk through local farm lanes to or from Sulmona using Google Maps, passing olive groves, ruins and a quarry.

See
Cantelmo castle with 3 towers, started in the 9th Century. Pretty square - Piazza del Popolo with the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Eat
Ristorante Zio Carlo - no English spoken and only a verbal menu but great atmosphere and friendly service - Largo Mulino 2, 0864 41220

title: Pacentro


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Pacet

Pacet is a mountainous district in East Java, about 60 km south of the provincial capital Surabaya.

Understand
Pacet is on the northern side of the Arjuno-Welirang twin volcanoes. Administratively, it is a district in the regency of Mojokerto. The city of Mojokerto is about 30 km to the north. Pacet is a hilly resort which is popular among travellers from Surabaya, especially the younger ones, as the nearest "escape" from the bustling and densely populated city. It has a few hot springs.

Unfortunately, this resort has hit its nadir during a major holiday season in 2002 due to a landslide. Many visitors who were swimming in the hot spring pools were killed due to this disaster. After this incident, the hot spring was relocated.

Get in
The best way to get into Pacet is by car. From Surabaya, head to Waru (DO NOT enter the highway/ toll road but drive straight to Sepanjang and then to the town of Krian). From Krian follow the sign to Mojosari and drive up to Pacet. The road is not very steep but it will take you to an altitude of about 600 m above sea level. Having said that though, from the border of the Pacet district we have to go through a steep road (about 30 degrees?) to reach the hot springs.

Get around
Since there is little (if any) public transport in Pacet, visitors get around Pacet by car.

Do

 * Soak into the hot springs and swim in the swimming pools
 * Outbound and flying fox at Padusan and the Pacet Mini Park.
 * Rafting
 * Fishing (there are some fishing ponds, the notable one being Pak Gufron's fishing pond at Dlanggu, some 7-8 km from Pacet)

Buy

 * Fruit, agriculture product such as potato chips, and another kind chips and vegetables at the market

Eat

 * Pacet is equipped with many small food stalls (warung), selling Indonesian food.
 * Many eateries and fishing ponds serve grilled or fried fish.
 * sweet fermented black glutinous rice

Sleep
There are some budget hotels around the hot springs and some villas for rent. there are also some camping grounds.

Go next

 * Tretes and Trawas are less than half an hour away.
 * Drive up to Cangar, which belongs to the Malang regency. This resort is about 1500 m above sea level and also has hot springs. From Cangar you can go to Batu and Malang.

title: Pacet


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Pachmarhi

Pachmarhi (पचमढ़ी Pacmaṛhī) is a city in Madhya Pradesh. It is the only hill station in the central region of India, in the Satpura range, above sea level. Pachmarhi is called Satpura ki Rani meaning Queen of Satpura.

The area was discovered in the modern times by Captain James Forsyth of the British army along with Subhedar Major Nathooramji Powar (who was later made Kothwal of Pachmarhi) In 1857, Pachmarhi became a hill station and sanatorium for British troops in the Central Provinces of India. The population in 1901 was 3020, doubling during the hot summer months. Pachmarhi also served as the summer capital.

Pachmarhi is a tourist retreat; its elevation from the sea level and the forests of the Satpuras, with their streams and waterfalls, are picturesque and home to much wildlife. Pachmarhi lies within the Pachmarhi Biosphere Preserve, created in 1999 to link two forest reserves and Satpura National Park into a larger wildlife conservation area. It also has Dhupgarh -- the highest point in Central India.

Pachmarhi also has a lot of cave paintings in the forests, some of which have been dated to be as much as 10,000 years old.

By bus
Pachmarhi can also be reached directly by bus from Bhopal, which is 210 km away by road, Itarsi or Jabalpur. It can also be reached from Nagpur. The Mahrashtra State Road Transport Corporation has started 2x2 luxury buses, which take 8 hours to reach Pachmarhi.

Get around
While there are several sites within 5-6 km radius, the best way of getting around is to hire a four-wheeler, Maruti Gypsy being the norm in Pachmarhi. Gypsy can be hired through open market or hotel can arrange with Gypsy operators. It gets comfortable if one visits places of heart-attraction in Pachmarhi in their own vehicle.

One excellent and economic option is to share a Gypsy for sightseeing. They make shared tour keeping in mind the preferences of tourists (for example families or couples are not mixed with group of boys). You would really need to look around for providers of shared tours because everyone tries to promote full hire of vehicles.

Do

 * Don't forget to bring clothes while visiting the falls. Nobody remains undrenched after visiting them.
 * Do keep sufficient amount of water and food if you are going to Chauragarh.
 * Pachmarhi is famous for honey and Ayurvedic medicines.

Buy
Do not forget to buy the local honey!

Eat
Panchmarhi is a great place to have typical Gujarati/Maharashtrian/Jain food. Chunmun cottage located near B-Fall and lake is one of the best places. It is easy to cover some of the other nearby vista points after lunch.

Other kinds of food are also easily available at Panchmarhi and there is no need to worry about food during a trip there.

Drink
You can find many open model shops and bars in Pachmarhi.

Sleep
Pachmarhi is full of hotels.You will find a hotel after every 50-100 metres in the market area. If you are a student or pilgrimage traveller and want a cheap option then the Youth Hostel is a good option. Good and cheep rooms are available 2 km from the bus stand, in peaceful locations. M.P. Tourism Hotels and private cottages like chunmun cottages are good options for leisure travelers and standard student groups.

Go next
Pachmari is close to several tourist spot of Madhya Paradesh and Maharashtra

Madhya Pradesh

 * Bhopal (210 Km): Capital city of Madhya Pradesh. An interesting mix of old and new. Bhopal contains a wide assortment of Mosques and Temples. Bhimbetka, famous for its cave paintings, is located near Bhopal
 * Jabalpur (244 Km): Nearest city, The city of Jabalpur houses an assortment of forts, temples and museums. The prime attraction is the Dhundhar Waterfall and Marble Rocks
 * Sanchi (241 km): Famous for its huge Buddhist Stupa listed on UNESCO World Heritage List

Maharastra

 * Nagpur: Major city in Maharashtra, famous for oranges

title: Pachmarhi


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Pachna

Pachna (Greek: Πάχνα) is a village in Limassol district with 865 inhabitants in 2011. It is subdivided into Pano (upper) and Kato (Lower) Pachna, which fuels healthy local rivalry (the Pano lot consider themselves superior) but for all intents and purposes they are the same village. Perched at an altitude of 750 metres on the southern slopes of the Troodos Mountains it enjoys an ideal climate for vine cultivation. It has long been the heartland of the Cypriot ‘’κρασοχώρια’’ (wine villages) and you will not come across a local who does not own a vineyard or two. The two local wineries (see below) have developed a reputation for quality whilst using mostly local grape varieties. If you visit Pachna, there is not much else to do other than relax, eat and drink.

Get in
By car. Taxi would cost a fortune from Limassol.

Get around
On foot within and around the village, but you need a car for anywhere else. A 4x4 helps.

See
Endless vineyards, the unobstructed views. Cyprus donkeys.

Do

 * The Pachna Grape Festival (Η γιορτή του σταϕυλιού). An annual event, usually in August, organised by the village council in the central village square. Live music and dancing (mostly traditional), plus local food and drink.

Visit the two local wineries. Call them in advance. Never assume they will be open.

Try your luck, contact the wineries beforehand and you might be allowed to help in the grape picking (late summer to early autumn).

Buy
Halloumi cheese and local wines.

Eat
A couple of local tavernas in the centre of the village. They offer traditional Cypriot cuisine and local wines.

Drink

 * Local wines.
 * Zivania (potent local version of grappa). At your peril.

As with every Cypriot village, of whatever size, there are a couple of traditional coffee shops in the centre of the village (Kafenio - Καφενεία) where apart from traditional Cypriot coffee, you may find basic food and fossilised old men smoking whilst playing backgammon. The mayor, the gendarmes and the firemen might also be sitting there (playing backgammon) as these establishments tend to be the central meeting point.

Sleep
Rent a villa if you can find one online somewhere. The village remains mostly undiscovered by the tourist masses, and has yet to establish a hotel.

Go next

 * The ancient settlement of Ayios Stephanos is not far away. Take a long walk or a short drive to see the ancient Greek ruins. The ancient church of St Stephanos has been partly restored.
 * Visit the Cyprus  Donkey Sanctuary in Vouni village Fax +357-25942582. A well organised animal refuge centre that can provide a fun day suitable for all ages and only a few minutes drive from Pachna! Kids will love this.
 * The ancient settlement of Ayios Stephanos is not far away. Take a long walk or a short drive to see the ancient Greek ruins. The ancient church of St Stephanos has been partly restored.
 * Visit the Cyprus  Donkey Sanctuary in Vouni village Fax +357-25942582. A well organised animal refuge centre that can provide a fun day suitable for all ages and only a few minutes drive from Pachna! Kids will love this.

title: Pachna


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Pachuca

Pachuca (also known as Pachuca de Soto) is a city of almost 300,000 people (2020) in the state of Hidalgo, that draws visitors with its well-preserved historical center and mining heritage.

Understand
The capital of Hidalgo State, its history is intrinsically entwined with mining since the Aztec days. After the conquista, the Spanish hired Cornish labor and innovation to help with further mining. But due to political instability and wild fluctuations in the price of precious metal values, Pachuca eventually diversified into other areas, including tourism.

The city occupies a small valley and is almost completely surrounded by large hills, which are also covered in colorful houses. The city centre has maintained most of its colonial-era structures, with narrow winding streets. Away from the centre is the modern part of Pachuca, with warehouses, factories, supermarkets and a large football stadium called El Huracán (The Hurricane).

In addition to its role as a regional center, Pachuca may be known to some as the site where much of Club of Crows, a Netflix series, was shot. It is also fortunate to be close to a mountainous natural getaway known as Parque Nacional El Chico.

Many of the descendants of the Cornish miners who immigrated here in the 19th century remain in Pachuca and nearby Real del Monte. Two heritages define the city: football and a dish called "pastes".

By plane
Pachuca is accessed by flights to Mexico City, Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) has direct buses to Pachuca leaving every 30 minutes from Terminal 1; Santa Lucia Airport (NLU) is the closest major airport if you are driving. Depending on traffic conditions, it takes about 90 minutes to arrive at this town.

By carpooling
You can have a look on Blablacar for shared rides. From Mexico City it's around M$70 (Jan 2022) and from Puebla approx. M$130 (Jan 2022).

By bus
Pachuca is easy to reach by first class bus from several cities in the region, including from Mexico City's North station and Puebla's CAPU station (~2 hr, M$200). From the bus station, take a taxi or one of the combi minivans (M$7.5) to get to the old city center.

By car
Pachuca is about 90 km (56 miles) north of Mexico City. The road is flat with very few curves. Because it is a toll-highway, it's usually in good condition.

Get around
Pachuca is a good size city so you'll want to use the taxis or public transportation to get around. There is a local bus service operated by the city, but it doesn't go everywhere, so the most common way to get around is by combi (also called colectivo). Combis are small vans that drive along major roads, such as Blvrd. Felipe Angeles or Blvrd Marquez, and will pick up and drop off passengers anywhere along the route for a small fare (often M$10). Ask a local where the nearest combi route is and where it goes, or just look for a busy street and observe where the vans are stopping to pick up and drop off people. If you're not sure where the regular stops are, you can always just wave at an oncoming combi and the driver will stop (unless the van is already full, in which case he will pass you by). Combis have their destination (terminal point of their route) on a sign or painted on the front windshield.

Taxis are dependable and safe in Pachuca. Most hotels will call a radio taxi for you, if asked.

See

 * English Cemetery

Eat
"Pastes". Derived from the Cornish pasty (but pronounced with a short "a" and "e",) this foodstuff is close to a baked empanada and was popularized by Cornish miners who took them as ready to eat treats for their lunch inside Hidalgo's silver mines. The original ones were filled with a mixture of leek, potatoes and ground meat, however the variety has now grown into a somewhat larger assortment. While there are literally hundreds of establishments selling pastes in Pachuca, "Kiko's" and "El Duque" are strongly recommended. Inquire about chile heat before tasting.

Budget
All these are in the city center:

Go next
Mineral del Monte – 17 km

Parque Nacional (National Park) El Chico – 25 km. Not bad, monolithic escarpments rising up out of an alpine forest-type topography. Come prepared for some potentially cold weather while hiking though.

Mineral del Chico – 35 km. A pristine town that sort of functions as a service center or at least interesting respite before or after visiting Parque Nacional El Chico.

San Miguel Regla – 40 km

Santa Maria Regla – 40 km

Thermal baths, for example the Grutas Tolantongo – 120 km. Breathtaking hot springs. Featuring grottos, a water tunnel, river, bridge, waterfalls, pools and trekking. The admission is M$150 (Jan 2022), only payable in cash. The attractions in the park are open daily up to 20:00. You can also do camping there.

Xoxafi Caves – 50 km

Tolantongo Caves – 120 km

Prismas basalticos – 40 km

title: Pachuca


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Pacifica

Pacifica is on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Popular for its beaches, Pacifica has a mix of Bay Area hippies and blue-collar folks (especially in the fishing industry). It's the kind of place where you'll find a gun store next to a yoga studio.

By car
Pacifica is approximately 15 minutes south of San Francisco on coastal Route 1.

By transit
Take Samtrans 112 or 118 from Colma BART station, or Samtrans 110 from Daly City BART station. You will get off at Linda Mar Park and Ride, where you will walk down the street to approach the beach.

The price to travel to Pacifica via BART and bus varies depending on the station you board at but you will get a transfer discount once you tag off at BART and tag on, on the bus.

Get around
If you are a solo traveler, once you get off the bus, you can walk to the shopping center near the park and ride and then walk to the beach where the Taco Bell Cantina is. However, to get around in Pacifica, it's suggested to use a ride-share service or drive your own car around, due to the limited frequencies of the buses.

See
Pacifica is has numerous public beaches.

The most popular beach is Linda Mar State Beach at the southern end of Pacifica by Pedro Point. Linda Mar is a very popular surfing spot and has a well-known beach front Taco Bell.

Sharp Park Beach is by the fishing pier and fronts Sharp Park Golf Course. It is a black sand beach with a dangerously steep shoreline.

Rockaway Beach is between Linda Mar and Sharp Park and is a small cove and beach in a commercial area with hotels and restaurants. A nice hiking / biking trail connects Linda Mar, Rockaway and Sharp Park and goes over the intervening headlands.

Do
Pacifica is the only town in San Mateo County where consumer fireworks are legal (you might hear them going off in the middle of the night sometimes), and it has a big Fourth of July celebration.

 * There is a Fog Fest the last full weekend of September.

Stay safe
Be careful when swimming at the beach. The undertow is strong, and once in a while someone drowns.

Exercise caution when driving near the tunnel at "Devil's Slide" near the water to the south of Pacifica. The cliffs are steep and sometimes people drive off the road.

Stay healthy
Check for ticks after hiking in fields in the bay area. There is a high rate of lyme disease transmission in the Bay Area. If a bulls' eye rash develops at the tick bite site, immediately seek medical help and treatment with antibiotics.

title: Pacifica


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Pacifica (Colombia)

The Pacific Lowlands is a region in western Colombia.

title: Pacifica (Colombia)


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Pacifica (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Pacifica:

Colombia

 * Pacifica (Colombia) - A region of Colombia.

United States of America

 * Pacifica - A town in San Mateo County, California.

title: Pacifica (disambiguation)


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Pacific Beach

Pacific Beach is a town on the Olympic Peninsula.

Get in
Pacific Beach lies along highway 109, which starts in Hoquiam and ends at Taholah on the Quinault Indian reservation. The drive north from Copalis Beach on 109 is very beautiful with peaks of the ocean and the windswept forest all around you. The quicker way to Pacific Beach is to head north out of Hoquiam on highway 101. After four miles turn left onto Ocean Beach Road (well marked) and continue on this road for 20 miles, where it ends at Pacific Beach.

Get around
Pacific Beach is a small town. You can walk end to end in about one mile.

See
The attraction of Pacific Beach is the beach! The beach stretches for 50 miles from Ocean Shores in the south to Point Grenville on the Quinault Indian reservation to the north. Dogs, cars, fires, and fireworks are allowed on this beach - all of which are restricted further north on the beaches of the Olympic National Park. This area is the closest ocean beach accessible from Seattle (via Olympia/Aberdeen).

Do
Pacific Beach State Park - Campground and RV park directly on the ocean. The beach is wide and sandy. You will find seagulls, sandpiper birds, crabs, sand dollar and clam shells, seaweed, and driftwood. North and south of the campground a 100 foot high cliff rises up behind the beach. Beyond the town the clifftop is forested, adding interest to the beach. Waist-deep Joe Creek runs through the beach in this area.

Analyde Gap Road - Another route down to the beach, one mile north of the state park. Here you can drive your car right onto the beach. 100 years ago there were no roads in the area - the beach was the road.

Pacific Beach Resort - A motel, RV park, and vacation house rental resort for retired military personnel. The Windjammer restaurant, gift shop, and bowling alley are open to the public.

Sleep
BobsPacificBeachHouse.com - Great Ocean View, Short Walk to Beach, 3 King Beds

title: Pacific Beach


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Pacific City

Pacific City is a city on the Northern Oregon Coast.

Get in
Pacific City is located north of Lincoln City on the Oregon coast. The easiest way to get there is to take highway 101 which leads thru Pacific City. You can take a number of highways west to get to 101, depending on where you are located. Highways 22, 99 and 18 are the best choices for getting there from Salem or Portland.

title: Pacific City


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Pacific Coast (Mexico)

The Pacific Coast is the southwestern rim of Mexico.

Part of this coast, roughly from Puerto Vallarta in the north to Acapulco in the south, is highly developed. It has the country's largest concentration of beach resorts, is promoted as the Mexican Riviera, and gets millions of visitors a year. However, much of the beach traffic has moved on to the Yucatán Peninsula.

Cities

 * — the original Mexican resort town remains a major tourist destination, especially for U.S. college students
 * — the second-largest city in the country, it's Centro Histórico is filled with colonial-era buildings
 * — a planned resort town set amongst rolling mountains and sparkling beaches
 * — one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico, and a UNESCO World Heritage site for its colonial architecture
 * — many colonial-era structures, significant archeological sites, elements of the continuing native Zapotec and Mixtec cultures, and the most vibrant Mexican cuisine scene
 * — a small coastal town popular for surfing and snorkeling
 * — modern resort town with beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and sparkling waterfalls
 * — the center of Mexico's avocado growing region, its center has colonial architecture
 * — a beautiful silver-mining city built on a hill, with narrow winding streets and hundreds of silver shops

Other destinations

 * – Monte Alban (a UNESCO World Heritage site) is the most significant archaeological site in Mexico's Pacific Coast region. It was established in the 6th century B.C. and inhabited by Olmec, Zapotec, and Mixtec populations for over 1,500 years. The site is located just outside the city of Oaxaca.
 * - A group of small, uninhabited islands in the Bahia Banderas, lying 8km southwest of Punta Mita. Fragile ecosystem that was closed to public access in 2016 but is now reopen.
 * - Each year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate to the hills of Michoacan to breed. Trees in the area become bright orange with the color of the monarchs. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 * - Twin volcanoes, one very active, one dormant. The dormant one is great for hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering.

Get in
The Wikivoyage article on Mexico has general information on getting into the country. It is also possible to get to the Coast by car or bus from Mexico City. Bus service is also available between major cities throughout the region.

There are international airports in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca City, Morelia, Huatulco, and Acapulco.

See
The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve on the eastern border of Michoacan is home to approximately 100 million Monarch butterflies from the Canada and the United States from November until March.

Archeological sites
La Organera-Xochipala is the best known of Guerrero's archeological sites because of its monumental architecture. Teopantecuanitlan stands out as an early example of a planned city which extends from the intersection two main roads.

Monte Albán is a 2,500-year-old Zapotec city built atop a mountain outside Oaxaca City

The archeological site of Tzintzuntzán in Michoacan was the ceremonial center of the pre-Columbian Tarascan state capital. Five reconstructed yácata pyramids line up looking out over Lake Pátzcuaro.

Colonial cities
Guadalajara, Morelia, and Oaxaca have beautiful historic centers with colonial palaces and churches.

Pueblos Magicos
A number of small towns in the Pacific Coast region are designated by the Mexican Tourism Ministry (SECTUR) as Pueblos Magicos for their romantic charm and cultural attractions. These towns include Taxco, Tequila, Patzcuaro, and Mazunte, among many others. These are excellent destinations for travelers who prefer getting off the beaten path, away from popular resort areas.

Do
Sample the huge variety of tequilas available in — where else? — Tequila (Jalisco).

Sports
Guerrero offers extreme sports in the Acapulco area including high-speed water jets, kayaking, canoeing, river rafting, rock climbing, spelunking, paintball, mountain climbing, and parasailing. Activities in other parts of the state include rafting on the Papagayo River, kayaking and canoeing in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, rock-climbing in Chilpancingo and Taxco, mountain climbing in Ixcateopan, rappelling in Zihuatanejo and bungee jumping and parasailing in Iguala.

Colima is popular with sports fishermen.

Beaches
The beaches of Manzanillo are popular among those in western Mexico.

Acapulco in Guerreo is one of Mexico's oldest and most well-known beach resorts.

Puerto Vallarta is a busy resort city with beautiful beaches.

The beaches of San Blas and the Riviera Nayarit offer a quieter beach vacation.

In Oaxaca, surfers will head for the beaches near Puerto Escondido, while resort-goers will head to the bays of Huatulco.

Go next

 * Yucatán Peninsula – popular tourist destination in the southern part of Mexico
 * Baja California – northern Pacific coastal region of Mexico

title: Pacific Coast (Mexico)


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Pacific Coast Highway

The Pacific Coast Highway is one of America's most famous highways (probably second to Route 66). Stretching along the coast of California, the drive from San Diego to the Redwood National Park in Northern California makes for a great trip.

Understand
The Pacific Coast Highway, officially California State Route 1 (CA-1) is one of California's slower state routes, closely following the coastline, which in many places is dominated by cliffs and mountains. The alternatives, including US-101 and Interstate 5 (with CA-1 sometimes concurrent with US-101), are for those who want to travel more quickly, while CA-1 is the best route for sightseeing California's beautiful coast.

Prepare

 * Driving – The most common way to travel this route. It was common 40 years ago to hitchhike the route, but not any more.  Adventurous travelers could give it a shot and they would probably have more luck on the PCH than anywhere else in America.
 * Motorcycling – Many motorcyclists consider the Pacific Coast Highway one of the most desirable rides in the Western United States. Plenty of twists, turns, and hills – along with gorgeous scenery – keep riders intent on the ride.
 * Riding your bicycle – A great way to travel this route for experienced cyclists. Recommended direction is from north to south because of strong prevailing winds.

On the more rural segments of the road (particularly around Big Sur) there can be long stretches where gas stations are not plentiful, and prices are considerably higher than in other parts of the country, with regular unleaded going for $1–$1.50 more per gallon than the current prices elsewhere in the state.

San Diego County
While California Highway 1 doesn't start until Dana Point in Orange County, it's worth your time to start at the southern end of the California coast in San Diego. San Diego offers many interesting attractions to the visitor in the neighborhoods away from the beach, such as Balboa Park, Downtown, and Old Town, but if you're just interested in seeing coastline then a worthy place to start is Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of Point Loma. There, you can get a gorgeous view of San Diego, the Bay, and the ocean, and learn about some of the history of the area. Also in the monument is a lovely tidepool area at the base of the ocean cliffs.

Heading north, you can drive along the beaches through the communities of Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla (La Jolla is also noted for its scenic sea cove), or just drive up I-5 and skip the beaches. You can continue through north San Diego County on I-5, although a far more scenic route runs along the coastal beaches; from I-5 after you pass La Jolla, head west on Genesee Avenue (exit 29) and continue straight as it turns into Torrey Pines Road (from La Jolla, just take Torrey Pines Road north). This will take you pass Torrey Pines State Park, between La Jolla and Del Mar, which makes for a scenic stop with cliffs overlooking the coast and trails leading down to the beach. Continuing north along the coast will take you through the lovely resort towns of Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside, where you'll drive along the scenic coast and over 5 natural lagoons connected to the ocean. On any given day you will see surfers and ocean goers enjoying the waves and ocean, each town has a distinctive Old California downtown area with an Amtrak/Coaster train station and a variety of places to eat and shop. Stop to watch the sunset and look for the green flash.

In Oceanside, you'll have to get on to I-5 to continue driving north. Just proceed on the Coast Highway through Oceanside until you get to the I-5 exit.

Orange and Los Angeles Counties
In San Clemente, you can get off I-5 at El Camino Real (exit 74), turn left, and drive by the Capistrano Beach until you get to California Highway 1 and the official Pacific Coast Highway. Head north on Highway 1 through Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach; all four are scenic resort towns with great surfing beaches, and Huntington Beach is noted for its pier. Past Huntington is the smaller town of Seal Beach, which has a pier, popular beach and main street. Continuing north, you'll cross into Los Angeles County and enter Long Beach, where Highway 1 heads inland to cut through the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. However, you can make an easy detour to see the attractions of Long Beach, most notably the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Queen Mary ocean liner. The Pacific Coast Highway also skirts just north of Palos Verdes, with its ocean cliffs, tidepools, and scenic groves of eucalyptus trees. Hwy. 1 rejoins the coast near Redondo Beach and continues slightly inland through Hermosa Beach before becoming Sepulveda Boulevard and passing through Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, and directly under a runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

Be careful on the stretches of PCH that go through Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach -- there are many uncontrolled "zebra crossing" crosswalks that pedestrians can make use of -- at times, they have popped out onto the street with little warning. The area is also notorious for pedestrians jaywalking across the highway to get to buildings on the other side of the street. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled and practice defensive driving techniques while on the PCH in the Beach Cities.

Furthermore, be aware that during times of moderate to heavy rain, the eastbound I-105 onramp just south of the Sepulveda Tunnel at Los Angeles International Airport floods, forcing drivers intending to use the freeway to suddenly merge back onto the PCH. This often causes long delays on the southbound lanes of PCH/Sepulveda from the Lincoln Boulevard-PCH/Sepulveda Boulevard fork until the southern end of the tunnel. Allow yourself at least a half a hour more time to get through the tunnel on rainy days.

After passing the airport, exit onto Lincoln Boulevard and follow Hwy. 1 back toward the coast through Westchester, Marina del Rey, Venice, and Santa Monica. Marina del Rey is noted for its huge yacht harbor, Venice for its colorful boardwalk and famed street performers and body builders, and Santa Monica for its pier and old-fashioned amusement park. Continuing north, Hwy. 1 hugs the coast on through Pacific Palisades, home to the J. Paul Getty Villa, and Malibu, with its famed mansions and beaches at the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Central Coast
From Malibu, Hwy. 1 continues along the coast through Point Mugu State Park to Oxnard. Before reaching Oxnard, the road passes by Mugu Rock, formed by the cut the road made through the mountain. After Mugu Rock, the road travels inland through Oxnard north to US-101. Get onto US-101 and head west through Ventura, where it rejoins the coast. US-101 continues along the coast through Carpinteria, Montecito, Santa Barbara and Goleta. At the Gaviota State Park, US-101 breaks away from the coast and Hwy. 1 restarts, breaking away from US-101. Hwy. 1 heads north through Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Oceano before rejoining the coast at Grover Beach. At the northern end of Grover Beach, Hwy. 1 merges with US-101 again which proceeds through Pismo Beach before breaking away from the coast to head north to San Luis Obispo. There, Hwy. 1 splits off of US-101 again, traveling northwest to the coastal community of Morro Bay. Hwy. 1 continues along the coast through Cambria; San Simeon, home to the Hearst Castle; and along the very scenic cliffs of Big Sur. Several miles north of Big Sur, Hwy. 1 crosses over the beautiful Bixby Creek Bridge and the less famous but still beautiful Rocky Creek Bridge.

From there, Hwy. 1 continues through Carmel, then as a freeway past Monterey, Seaside, and Marina before becoming a two-lane road near Castroville, and then as a freeway again past Watsonville, Aptos, and Capitola to Santa Cruz. After Santa Cruz, the road becomes a rural road winding along the coast again to the San Francisco Peninsula.

San Francisco Bay Area
Hwy. 1 continues as a rural road through several communities including Half Moon Bay and Moss Beach. As the highway approaches Pacifica, Highway 1 becomes a freeway segment through Daly City before breaking off as a city street, Junipero Serra Blvd, in San Francisco. Shortly after exiting off the freeway, Hwy. 1 becomes 19th Avenue through the Sunset district into Golden Gate Park. In the park, Hwy. 1 becomes Park Presidio Blvd through the Richmond district and into the Presidio park, where it merges with US-101 again. Shortly after exiting onto US-101, you'll drive over the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge over the San Francisco Bay into Marin County. US-101 continues past Sausalito and the Marin Headlands before Hwy. 1 splits off of US-101 again, heading west to the coast at Stinson Beach before running north along the coast through Bolinas, Point Reyes Station, and past the Point Reyes National Seashore.

North Coast
Hwy. 1 continues along the coast, breaking off briefly to go through the town of Valley Ford before rejoining the coast at Bodega Bay. It heads north through Fort Ross, Sea Ranch, Gualala, Point Arena, Albion, Mendocino and Fort Bragg. After passing through the small town of Rockport, Hwy. 1 breaks away from the coast, finally ending at US-101 in the town of Leggett.

US-101 continues north through Garberville, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Scotia, and Fortuna before rejoining the coast just before Eureka. US-101 continues along the coast through Arcata, McKinleyville and several small towns (including Trinidad) before finally reaching Redwood National Park, home to the world's tallest trees. US 101 continues along the coast through Klamath to Crescent City, the northernmost coastal town in California.

Stay safe

 * Rock slides - The Malibu-Oxnard and Big Sur sections of the PCH are renowned for rock slides which can lead to delays when traveling

 * Storms - California weather is famously pleasant but when it rains it pours. Large storms that come in off the Pacific are few and far between but when they come in it can make driving conditions precarious; keep abreast of the weather and remember that the road is safest and at its most scenic in sunny weather. PCH can be closed abruptly and can last up to a week or more if certain sections are impassable. Reopening depends largely on the damage and Caltrans efficiency to remove debris or rebuild certain sections. Be sure to know an alternate if this happens.

 * Fog - The most likely hazardous condition, Route 1 can get fogged in, making driving conditions very hazardous, especially as drivers navigate around blind hairpin curves.

This road is quite isolated. Once south of Carmel there are no other highways connecting route 1 to the interior until you get to route 46, over 90 miles (145 km) away – other than the steep, narrow, winding, Nacimiento-Fergusson Road from the Salinas Valley. Be prepared to drive slowly for about two to three hours and have your wits about you. You will be driving along sharp hairpin curves atop very steep ledges and high cliffs. Certain sections of PCH do not have guard rails separating the road and the cliffs. You may notice other drivers, car or bus, making tight turns at 60 mph (100 km/h). They know the road, you don't.

Also, beware that there are very long stretches of the Central California coast with no cell phone or GPS reception whatsoever and few if any gas stations.

Go next

 * Baja California - continuing south.
 * Oregon - continuing north.
 * Route 66 - east from Los Angeles to Chicago.
 * Interstate 5/Route 99 and US 101 - alternative routes also running north-south along the Pacific Coast, continuing into Oregon and Washington states.

title: Pacific Coast Highway


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Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) travels along the western mountain crests of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. It passes through California, Oregon, and Washington State. The PCT is one of the original National Scenic Trails established by Congress in the 1968 National Trails System Act. It is administered by the US Forest Service. The Forest Service partners with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, California State Parks, and the Pacific Crest Trail Association to provide effective management and protection of the trail.

Understand
The 2,663 mi (4,286 km) long Pacific Crest Trail ranges in elevation from just above sea level at the Oregon-Washington border to 13,153 feet (4,009 m) at Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada. The route passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks. Its midpoint is in Chester, California (near Mt. Lassen), where the Sierra and Cascade mountain ranges meet.

History
The Pacific Crest Trail was proposed by Clinton C. Clarke as a trail running from Mexico to Canada along the crest of the mountains in California, Oregon, and Washington. The original proposal was to link the John Muir Trail, the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail (both in California), the Skyline Trail (in Oregon) and the Cascade Crest Trail (in Washington).

The Pacific Crest Trail System Conference was formed by Clarke to both plan the trail and to lobby the federal government to protect the trail. The conference was founded by Clarke, the Boy Scouts, the YMCA, and Ansel Adams (amongst others). From 1935 through 1938, YMCA groups explored the 2000 miles of potential trail and planned a route, which has been closely followed by the modern PCT route.

In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson defined the PCT and the Appalachian Trail with the National Trails System Act. The PCT was then constructed through cooperation between the federal government and volunteers organized by the Pacific Crest Trail Association. In 1993, the PCT was officially declared finished.

Thru hiking
Thru hiking is a term used in referring to hikers who complete long distance trails from end-to-end in a single trip. The Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Continental Divide Trail were the first three long-distance trails in the U.S. Through-hiking all of these three trails is known as the Triple Crown of Hiking. Thru-hiking is a long commitment, usually taking between four and six months, that requires thorough preparation and dedication. Although the actual number is difficult to calculate, it is estimated that around 180 out of approximately 300 people who attempt a thru-hike complete the entire trail each year.

Prepare
The most common cause of failure to complete the PCT is lack of preparedness. It is important to begin regular walks in the months and weeks leading up to the thru-hike, beginning with low-impact day-hikes in easy terrain while carrying a minimum of weight. When these day-hikes become nearly effortless, increase the distance and include several multi-day hikes that require a full backpack with food, water and gear. In addition, hilly terrain should be incorporated as soon as possible in order to build up strength in the muscles required for climbs and descents. Performing regular hikes that continually push the body's current limits will not only toughen the body but will also go a long way toward mentally preparing oneself for the constant strain on body and mind.

Preparing financially and logistically are also essential to a successful thru-hike. The cost of a hike will range from several hundred dollars a month on the low end to upwards of a thousand dollars a month for the high end. Each person has a different minimum level of comfort and nourishment; it is vital to discover what one's own level is as early as possible and to make supply arrangements accordingly. Study the route and identify towns that will serve as likely resupply centers and map out distances between post offices. An experienced thru-hiker resupplies his or her dry goods every 10-14 days, either through the post offices' general delivery drop-box system or through local purchases. The average thru-hiker plans for six to eight months before the actual hike. In a few cases, the PCT passes through or near towns and resorts where supplies can be purchased. In other cases the trail users may need to get off the trail and travel to a town. Contact the PCTA website for additional information on resupplying along the trail.

Much of this info is available in the Wilderness backpacking travel section, but generally equipment should be purchased well in advance of the PCT start date and should be used as many times as possible to both allow the hiker to become familiar with the gear (backpacks adjusted properly, boots broken in, etc.) and to identify any broken, impractical or unsatisfactory items. Prospective thru-hikers should get in contact with local hiking clubs and solicit advice on what pieces of equipment are completely unnecessary, which are luxury items and which are essential. Different hikers have different philosophies on how much gear should be taken, from those in the "lean and fast" school of thought which advocates a minimum of everything - no stove, no tent, hiking sandals instead of boots and little else - to the "slow and comfortable" school which sacrifices speed and low weight for comfort. One should get as many opinions as possible and attempt hikes with various levels of gear until an acceptable amount of weight and speed has been achieved.

Fire permits are needed in many areas, and fire closures may exist during extremely dry times of year. Above certain elevations or in some areas fires are not permitted. Please check ahead of your trip to determine if a fire permit is needed and where it can be obtained.

Many of the wilderness areas, National Parks and other special management areas require an overnight use permit. Please check with the local area to determine if a permit is needed and where it can be obtained. People undertaking a trip of 500 miles or longer should contact the Pacific Crest Trail Association for a permit.

Water is essential when traveling on the PCT. Depending on what location you are in, time of year and if there are water sources along your travel route will help determine how much water to carry. Filter and purify all water obtained from any natural source along the PCT.

Buy
Useful information about the trail is provided by the Pacific Crest Trail Association. To understand the trail it has been divided in many guidebooks into 3 sectors.

 * Southern California (Mexico-Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite)

 * Northern California (Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite-Oregon)

 * Pacific Northwest (Oregon-Canada)

The US Forest Service has broken the trail down into 10 different maps, which are available online through the National Forest Store.

Map #1 Southern California, Map #2 Transverse Ranges, Map #3 Southern Sierra, Map #4 Central Sierra, Map #5 Northern Sierra, Map #6 Not Yet Available, Map #7 Southern Oregon, Map #8 Northern Oregon, Map #9 Southern Washington, Map #10 Northern Washington

The Pacific Crest Trail Association cites Ray Jardine’s book, Beyond Backpacking, as a great resource for hikers during the planning process. Beyond Backpacking is a “how-to” book for ultralight hikers. In this book Jardine explains how to trim every extra ounce from one’s pack weight by doing everything from cutting extra straps off your pack to eating only food that does not have to be cooked

Get in
There are many sections of the trail that can be hiked individually, but the PCT departs from the Mexican border near the small town of Campo, and ends at Monument 78 on the Canadian border. The first thing prospective thru hikers have to do before attempting a thru hike is to plan out and sketch out their trip. In general the decision of which route to take needs to be considered. While most hikers travel from the Southern Terminus at the Mexico Border northward to Manning Park, British Columbia, some hikers prefer a southbound route. In a normal weather year, northbound hikes are most practical due to snow and temperature considerations. If snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is high in early June and low in the Northern Cascades, some hikers may choose to 'flip-flop.' Flip-flopping can take many forms but often describes a process whereby a hiker begins at one end (on the PCT, usually the southern end) of the trail and then, at some point, like reaching the Sierra, 'flips' to the end of the trail (Manning Park in B.C.) and hikes southbound to complete the trail. However, it is not possible to legally enter the United States from Canada by using the Pacific Crest Trail.

Hike
The following notable locations are found along or adjacent to the route of the Pacific Crest Trail. They are listed from south to north to correspond with the itinerary typically followed by thru-hikers to take advantage of the best seasonal weather conditions. The numbers in parentheses correspond to the numbers on the PCT overview map.

California

 * Campo, California, near the trail's southern terminus at the Mexico – United States border
 * Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (41)
 * Cleveland National Forest (40)
 * Big Bear Lake
 * Cajon Pass
 * Angeles National Forest (35)
 * Vasquez Rocks
 * Agua Dulce
 * Walker Pass
 * Owens Peak Wilderness (34)
 * South Sierra Wilderness (34)
 * Golden Trout Wilderness (34)
 * Kings Canyon National Park (33)
 * Forester Pass, highest point on the trail
 * John Muir Wilderness (31)
 * Ansel Adams Wilderness (30)
 * Devils Postpile National Monument
 * Yosemite National Park (29)
 * Tuolumne Meadows
 * Sonora Pass, Ebbetts Pass, Carson Pass
 * Desolation Wilderness
 * Lassen National Forest (22)
 * Lassen Volcanic National Park (23)
 * McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (21)
 * Shasta-Trinity National Forest (19)
 * Castle Crags Wilderness (20)
 * Klamath Mountains
 * Trinity Alps Wilderness
 * Russian Wilderness
 * Marble Mountain Wilderness

Oregon

 * Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument (17)
 * Rogue River National Forest (16) and Winema National Forest (14)
 * Sky Lakes Wilderness
 * Crater Lake National Park (15)
 * Umpqua National Forest (13)
 * Mount Thielsen
 * Willamette National Forest (11) and Deschutes National Forest (12)
 * Diamond Peak Wilderness
 * Waldo Lake
 * Three Sisters Wilderness
 * McKenzie River
 * Mount Washington Wilderness
 * Mount Jefferson Wilderness
 * Mount Hood National Forest (9)
 * Olallie Scenic Area
 * Warm Springs Indian Reservation (10)
 * Timberline Lodge
 * Mount Hood Wilderness
 * Lolo Pass
 * Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (8)
 * Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness (formerly the Columbia Wilderness)
 * Cascade Locks Oregon, lowest point on the trail
 * Bridge of the Gods (links Oregon and Washington, crossing the Columbia River)

Washington

 * Gifford Pinchot National Forest (7)
 * Indian Heaven Wilderness
 * Mount Adams
 * Goat Rocks Wilderness
 * White Pass
 * Mount Rainier National Park (6)
 * Chinook Pass
 * Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (5)
 * Norse Peak Wilderness
 * Alpine Lakes Wilderness
 * Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
 * Glacier Peak Wilderness
 * Snoqualmie Pass
 * Stevens Pass
 * Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
 * Stehekin Washington, last town along the trail, 10 mi from PCT by National Park Service bus
 * North Cascades National Park (2)
 * Okanogan National Forest (3)
 * Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail
 * Boundary Monument 78, at the Canada – United States border

British Columbia, Canada

 * Manning Provincial Park, the northern terminus of the trail (1)

Stay safe
The trail traverses through some of the most extreme wilderness in the continental USA. Trail users should be prepared for any emergency and accordingly plan ahead. It is best to be familiar with outdoor travel by reading about the area you may be traveling in and learn about potential hazards. Basic understanding of how to prevent hypothermia and heat exhaustion or how to avoid and treat poisonous plants and animals among other potentially life threatening situations can help to ensure that your time on the PCT will be rewarding. Always letting others know where you are going and when you plan to return is a basic premise when traveling in remote areas.

There's no reason to fear the mountains, as long as you approach them with proper respect and preparation. As with anywhere else, recklessness and a lack of forethought can get you into trouble, especially in areas with vast and remote back country. 1.     Navigation 2.     Hydration & Nutrition 3.     Pocket Knife 4.     Sun Protection 5.     Insulation 6.     Fire! 7.     Lighting 8.     First Aid 9.     Shelter 10.    Whistle
 * Altitude sickness - Can lead to dizziness, headaches, nausea, even blackouts and pulmonary edema. Give your body a few days to adjust to the high altitudes before going full throttle with your hiking.
 * Dehydration - When you engage in strenuous outdoor activities, be sure to replenish your fluids as you go. You may be losing moisture through your mouth and nose and through sweating, but be completely unaware due to the arid mountain air. May result in dizziness, intense thirst and elevated heart and breath rates.
 * Giardia - Drinking untreated water from regional streams is not a good idea owing to Giardia parasites, but tap water is not a problem.
 * Hypothermia - Prolonged exposure to the cold can result in confusion, a slowed heart rate, lethargy, even death. Dress warmly in non cotton clothing to allow any sweat to wick away from your body and evaporate. Otherwise, it may thoroughly chill you later in the day when temperatures drop.
 * Frostbite - During periods of severe cold, your circulatory system pulls all your warming blood into the core of your body to protect your vital organs. This makes your extremities such as your ears, fingers and nose especially vulnerable. Wear a face mask, insulated gloves and other heavy gear on the worst winter days.
 * Sunburn - Lather up with sunscreen, even if there's cloud cover. The high mountain elevations means you have less protection to the sun's powerful ultraviolet rays. The rays are reflected off the snow and hits the underside of your jaw. Don't forget to wear UV-rated goggles or sunglasses, as well.
 * Know your 10 essentials when going on a hike, because cell phones won't always work in many rural areas, and may not be depended on in an emergency situation.

There is significant illegal border crossing activity near Campo, California and throughout the first 30 or so miles on the PCT. You should avoid camping near the border, especially if you are traveling alone. In the southern segments especially there is a possibility of encounters with undocumented aliens and drug runners. While the US Border Patrol is familiar with the Trail route and water cache locations, Trail users should be prepared to provide identification.

 * Do not leave vehicles at the Mexican border.
 * Lock your vehicle, storing valuables and WATER out of sight.
 * For safety reasons especially, please sign in and out at trailhead registers.

title: Pacific Crest Trail