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South Padre Island

South Padre Island is a small resort town on the southern tip of Padre Island off the coast of Texas, close to the border with Mexico. It is a popular spring break destination for college students.

Understand
Incorporated in 1973, it lies just across Laguna Madre from Port Isabel, the bay separating island from mainland. The east side of the island is referred to as the "gulf side" by locals, and the west side, the "bay side".

By plane
South Padre Island is served by three airports, with daily service primarily to Dallas and Houston.
 * Valley International Airport, in nearby Harlingen, is served by Southwest Airlines, United Express, and Sun Country Airlines.
 * McAllen Miller International Airport is served by American, United, and Allegiant Air.
 * McAllen Miller International Airport is served by American, United, and Allegiant Air.

By car

 * Texas State Route 100 connects South Padre Island to the city of Port Isabel on the mainland, and continues on to meet US Route 77/83 between Harlingen and Brownsville. It is best to take this route if you will be landing at McAllen Miller International Airport.
 * Texas State Route 48 links Port Isabel with Brownsville.

By bus
Catch the $2 Rio Transit bus from downtown Brownsville to its last stop in Port Isabel, and catch the free Wave from there. The Wave runs every half hour and takes you all over South Padre as far as the Visitors Center on the north end.

By boat
There are no ferry boat services, but if you have your own boat, just point yourself to the place on the Gulf of Mexico where Texas meets Mexico and you're at South Padre Island! There are several marinas on South Padre and at Port Isabel.
 * Sea Ranch Marina - offers transient slips on a space available basis.
 * Anchor Marina Park  - deep water slips on the Port Isabel side of the causeway.

By bus
The Wave is South Padre Island's free public bus line. Buses run along the Padre Blvd. strip and across the bridge to Port Isabel. Wheelchair accessible and free (the Wave runs from 7AM to 7PM.)

By car
South Padre Island has only one main road: Padre Boulevard, which is part of Texas State Route 100. There are two parallel side streets, Gulf and Laguna. There are several taxi-cab companies, with fares starting at around $5.

See

 * The best sight to see here is the beach, which stretches for miles.
 * The lighthouse in Port Isabel was completed in 1852 and offers a spectacular view of the sea.
 * Native Plant Center, 6809 Padre Blvd. Home to sea grasses and other barrier island flora. Tel: +1 703-434-1444.

Do
The South Padre Island Visitors Center provides detailed information about accommodations, activities and events related to boating, sailing, fishing, and seashore recreation. M-F 8AM-5PM; Sa Su 9AM-PM a half-mile north of the causeway at 600 Padre Blvd. Telephone +1 956-761-6433, or +1-800-SOPADRE (767-2373) U.S. and Canada.

South Padre is known for its water sports, including jet skiing; bay, surf, and deep-sea fishing; parasailing, sailing, dolphin cruise, and windsurfing. Other island activities include bicycling, tennis, shelling, and horseback riding on the beach. The popular Laguna Madre Nature Trail for nature enthusiasts and bird-watchers is north of the city next to the convention center.

Sleep
Visitors find wide range of accommodations from campgrounds and family motels to high-rise luxury hotels and condo rentals, marinas and seaside cottages.

Go next

 * Cross the bridge to get back to the nearby port town, Port Isabel. It has many restaurants and souvenir shops.
 * Padre Island National Seashore

title: South Padre Island


text:
South Pasadena

South Pasadena is a small city in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California.

Get in
South Pasadena is located between downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena on I-110.

The Los Angeles Metro Gold Line passes through South Pasadena, with a stop at Mission.

Buy

 * The original Trader Joe's is located on Arroyo Seco Parkway.

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

title: South Pasadena


text:
South Pittsburgh Region

The South Pittsburgh Region is an area of the Pittsburgh Region of Pennsylvania, made up of Washington and Greene Counties.

Cities

 * — known for its Aquatorium, a 3,000-seat amphitheater on the Monongahela River
 * — the center for the 'Whiskey Rebellion' of 1791, one of the first open rebellions against the new U.S. government and constitution
 * — home of Waynesburg University

title: South Pittsburgh Region


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South Plaza

South Plaza Island, and the adjoining North Plaza are two of the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.

Understand
These two small islands are just off the main Santa Cruz island, so are popular for day trips from Puerto Ayora. If you can avoid peak times though, there is plenty to see in a small space. You can only land on South Plaza, but boats anchor between the two islands.

See the Galapagos wildlife page for information on the flora and fauna of the islands.

South Plaza
There is a dry landing on a concrete pontoon along a rocky shore with sea lions, marine iguanas, sally lightfoot crabs and lava herons. A short path leads past prickly pear cacti and land iguanas up to some impressive cliffs on the other side of the island. Here you can admire numerous swallow tailed gulls all around - landing, taking off and swooping overhead.

Go next

 * Baltra - the main airport for the islands
 * Santa Cruz - the main island, with quite a few interesting visitor's sites as well
 * Santa Fe - home to the endemic Santa Fe Land Iguana

title: South Plaza


text:
South Pole

The Geographic South Pole is the point where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects the surface of the southern hemisphere, in the remote, bleak interior of Antarctica. The underlying land is close to sea-level but is covered by ice over 2.5 km thick, so the surface is at 2835 m / 9301 ft on a flat, featureless plateau. The Pole was first reached by Amundsen in 1911, and the permanent US Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station has stood here since 1956.

Unless otherwise specified, references on these pages to "the Pole" mean this place. It shifts a few metres each year as the ice cap slowly moves, and there's also a "polar motion" as the earth's spin is slightly lopsided so the axis of rotation oscillates. See East Antarctica for the South Geomagnetic Pole and "Pole of Inaccessibility", both some 800-900 km away across the plateau, and for the South Magnetic Pole, which is way out to sea beyond Wilkes Land.

Understand
19th century explorers probed Antarctica's coasts but realized that the Pole lay over 1000 km inland in an intensely cold, uncharted region. The best route was from the Ross Sea, which ships could approach in summer. There you'd need to establish a base and lay supply caches along your return route, and camp over winter, to be ready to strike out for the Pole next spring and get back before the following winter overtook you. And how would you even know (and prove to the world) that you'd got there?

Several expeditions were forced back, the closest being Shackleton's Nimrod group of 1908 / 09 which got to within 180 km. This established that the interior beyond the Transantarctic Mountains was a featureless high-altitude plateau. Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) initially aimed for the North Pole, but this target was mired by contested claims of Peary and others to have reached it, and funding dried up. (Not until 1926 did Amundsen himself bring the first verified party to the North Pole, by airship.) He secretly switched focus to the South Pole and didn't even tell his crew until they'd left their last port-of-call in Madeira. They reached Antarctica in Jan 1911, camping on the edge of the Ross Sea ice shelf. They laid caches then in October set out with dog-hauled sleds along a straight line south, crossing the mountains by the Axel Heiberg Glacier, and reached the Pole on 14 Dec. They returned safely to the coast in Jan 1912. Just as they were doing so, Scott's Terra Nova expedition belatedly reached the Pole, to find Amundsen's tents and the Norwegian flag fluttering there. That group of five did not survive their return north.

No-one stepped foot on the Pole again until 1956, when a US Navy plane landed. Over the summer of 1956/57, the "International Geophysical Year", the US built a station that's been permanently staffed since. The next people to come overland, with limited air support, were Edmund Hillary and Vivian Fuchs, arriving separately in Jan 1958. The age of tourism began in 1987 with the opening of privately-run Patriot Hills airfield and camp, which in 2010/11 relocated to Union Glacier Camp, and this remains in use.

The climate at the South Pole is intensely cold, though it's not the coldest place on earth - that's in the vicinity of Vostok station at higher altitude. In December, mid-summer, the Pole averages -28 C, and in July this drops to -80 C. (There are no "day-time highs" or "night-time lows", since in summer it's always day and in winter it's always night.) The Pole is also very dry, and indeed is classed as desert. It seldom catches the furious "katabatic" winds that scourge the coast. However, it doesn't take much breeze to kick up the drifting snow into a blizzard white-out that will disorient then bury anyone caught out in it.

By plane
Jack F. Paulus Skiway 1 km from the Pole is the airstrip, open in summer Oct-Feb. Only ski-planes can land here, though this includes chunky ski-equipped Lockheed Hercules. Tourists make the first leg of their journey (say from Punta Arenas) by conventional wheeled aircraft to one of the few Antarctic airfields that can receive them, then transfer to ski-plane. There may be a stopover of a couple of days at the transfer point to await a weather window to fly onward. But on reaching the Pole the aircraft doesn't wait around: it keeps its engines turning to avoid freezing while it unloads then gets gone, so don't be forgetting your mittens under your seat.

There are no scheduled commercial flights to the Pole. Staff come and go on government-sponsored flights. Tourists arrive on fly-stay packages, for prices that start from US$65,000 pp.
 * Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions (ALE) are the market leader, flying via their Union Glacier camp in West Antarctica. Their packages include:
 * - a day trip to the South Pole or overnight stay;
 * - "Ski the Last Degree" where you're dropped off at 89°S and spend two weeks ski-trekking the rest of the way;
 * - from coast to Pole, 1170 km with over two months skiing for eight hours a day, hauling a sled weighing 50-60 kg.

 * Icetrek is ostensibly a different company yet offers packages, departure dates and prices identical to ALE.
 * Northwest Passage offer similar packages, including a combi of "Last Degree" and climbing Mount Vinson.
 * PolarQuest are mostly a cruise operation but they offer six to seven day trips by plane from Punta Arenas via Union Glacier to the Pole.
 * White Desert flies you here business-class, for double the price of the other very expensive operators. Guests fly from Capetown in business jets to Whichaway Camp in Queen Maud Land (think deep-freeze glamping) then on to the Pole or along the coast to admire the Emperor penguins.

By road
The South Pole Traverse or Highway is a 1600 km trail from McMurdo Station on the Ross Sea to the Pole. It's compacted snow with crevasses filled in and marked by flags. It can only be travelled by specialized tractors, hauling sleds with fuel and supplies. These aren't very nimble so the trail has to take a long swerve around the Transantarctic Mountains to come onto the plateau.

Ski treks from coast to Pole are partly along this route, but take short-cuts through the mountains to bring the distance below 1200 km.

Get around
The area of interest is all within one km of the Pole along marked trails, so you get around on foot. Never leave these trails. There's simply nowhere else to go - the next point of interest is Kunlun station over 1000 km away, and frankly not worth the walk. This is a featureless plateau where conditions can turn from sparkling daylight to howling blizzard in an instant. The wind whips up the snow into a white-out where you have no sense of where you're going, and your trail gets covered so you can't retrace your route.

See and do

See Antarctica for general suggestions. The most important thing to do here is come home safe.

 * The ceremonial South Pole is a metal sphere on a red and white pole, set within the flags of the signatories of the Antarctic Treaty. It makes a good photo but is about 300 m from the true Pole. (Yes, to be specific it's 300 metres north.)
 * The Geographic South Pole is marked by a simpler rod. The ice here shifts 10 m annually and the marker is moved each New Year's Day in a small ceremony. There are also the US and Norwegian flags and a sign bearing quotes from the journals of Amundsen and Scott. Circumnavigate the world by taking a couple of dozen steps around the Pole.
 * There have been three generations of station structures:
 * The Old Pole, the original wooden station, was built in 1956 and abandoned in 1975. It's now buried by drifting snow, and off-limits as unsafe.
 * The Geodesic Dome of the 1970s was dismantled in 2009 / 10 and its site soon became covered by snow.
 * The Elevated Station, built from 1999, is a modular structure on stilts to prevent snow from accumulating around it. Semicylindrical metal "arches" next to the dome serve as storage, power plant, and vehicle shop. They linked to the main station via a six-story unheated metal tower known as the "beer can".
 * The Visitor Center is a grand name for a small tent.
 * Station tours: you can but ask the staff, but the answer is usually "sorry".
 * Play Disc Golf: this is the version where you flip a disc towards a target basket, playing your disc from wherever it lands. But it's odd that no golf course developer has sought to establish a traditional course and resort hotel here. Where's Donald Trump when you want him?
 * Send a letter home from the world's southernmost post office in the station.

Buy
There is a small gift shop in the station, cash only.

Eat
Visitors are fed at the camp site, and can't access the station canteen.

Drink

 * There's no shortage of fresh ice, but unlocking the water requires fuel and a means of heating. That's not a problem at the polar station and camp, but on treks such as "Ski the Last Degree" these add weight, and lugging them raises a thirst.
 * As in any very cold climate, never drink alcohol until you are safely in shelter. It's notorious for generating a false glow of warmth and well-being while your core body temperature ebbs away.

Sleep
Tourist visitors are accommodated at the campsite 1 km from the station and Pole, using "Arctic Oven" tents.

Stay healthy
All the health and safety advice for Antarctica apply in force to the Pole. The main local factor is that intense dry cold is combined with altitude, so you need to acclimatize. That's usually done by spending a night at a staging post such as Union Glacier. The UV is also stronger at this altitude.

Connect
Connectivity at the Pole is extremely limited. For around four hours each day, NASA satellites are in view which provide reasonably high-bandwidth connections; these are used for uploading scientific data and for staff to browse the Internet or have audio and video calls with family and friends. Another eight to nine hours of connection are available on two military satellites, at significantly lower speeds. The rest of the time, the only access is through the Iridium satellite network, which covers the entire globe and has excellent coverage at the poles, but only offers low-quality (and expensive) voice calls and dialup-speed Internet.

Go next
You're tied to your package itinerary, so you must return north with them. They may have the option of side-trips from their Antarctic staging post, e.g. from Union Glacier to Mount Vinson, or from McMurdo to climb the active volcano Erebus.

title: South Pole


text:
Southport

Southport is a large tourist town of 91,703 (2011) on the coast, just north of Liverpool. It is in the borough of Sefton in Merseyside. It is in the historic county of Lancashire.

By train
There are regular trains from Liverpool in the south via the Merseyrail Northern Line, and Manchester to the east.

See
Try to hunt out the old village to the north with a couple of great pubs and places to eat.

Popular tourist attractions include:

Southport Pier underwent a multi-million pound renovation from 2017 to 2019. The mile-long stretch reaches out into the Irish Sea, and at its end has a small cafe and coffee shop with panoramic views.

Take a train into Liverpool to see the sights. Spend time walking under the covered Victorian canopy which stretches almost the entire length of Lord St. This means you can shop in the dry whatever the weather. Visit the many parks, such as the botanic gardens all landscaped in the high Victorian style, and still keeping their charm.
 * stretch for miles between the north end of Southport and Hesketh Bank, with dozens of muddy tidal creeks feeding the main estuary. Some parts are a nature reserve, elsewhere you can blast away at the geese and spare them a tedious journey to the Baltic.
 * Rufford Old Hall: see Ormskirk for this fine Tudor-Jacobean mansion five miles east.
 * stretch for miles between the north end of Southport and Hesketh Bank, with dozens of muddy tidal creeks feeding the main estuary. Some parts are a nature reserve, elsewhere you can blast away at the geese and spare them a tedious journey to the Baltic.
 * Rufford Old Hall: see Ormskirk for this fine Tudor-Jacobean mansion five miles east.
 * stretch for miles between the north end of Southport and Hesketh Bank, with dozens of muddy tidal creeks feeding the main estuary. Some parts are a nature reserve, elsewhere you can blast away at the geese and spare them a tedious journey to the Baltic.
 * Rufford Old Hall: see Ormskirk for this fine Tudor-Jacobean mansion five miles east.

Do
Southport is famed for its endless golf courses, the Flower Show, coastal views and outdoor events. The area is home to one of the biggest international jazz festivals and puts on air shows each year. With over 14 golf courses in its proximity, the town is a perfect place to go for a golfing weekend. Essentially you never run out of things to do in Southport. There is always something on in the town and the relaxing atmosphere make it one of the most friendly and welcoming places around.

Buy
Lord Street is a must for all shoppers and boasts all the big High Street names. The area around the railway station is also good for shopping. The Old Barnyard Interiors are based on the first floor of The Royal Arcade on Lord Street, offering design-led gifts, vintage interiors and hand painted furniture. They are also stockists of Frenchic furniture paint. fb.me/theoldbarnyard

Eat
The Curzon on Lord Street is good and well established.

Generally the choice of places to eat is good and is not confined only to Lord Street.

Drink
For visitors it has to be Lord Street again!

Sleep
Due to the considerable growth in tourism in the Southport area the demand for affordable and luxury accommodation in the past decade has increased significantly. This has led to a sudden influx in new developments and old buildings being converted to new ones. New developments include the Southport Marine Park which will house a brand new hotel.

Accommodation in the area mainly consists of bed and breakfasts and are situated close to the waterfront. This makes them attractive prospects for tourists as they can get great views and affordable prices. Southport is also home to several luxury 5 star hotels which cater mainly for business travellers.

Stay safe
In Southport, youths causing anti-social behavior is a common problem, often outside abandoned or boarded-up shops, and drunken behavior is common. Ignore these youths. Merseyside Police is tackling the problem.

Theft of items from vehicles is another major problem - especially in a tourist resort such as this, so use a car park like the Tulketh Street one over on-street parking if you can.

Connect
As of Aug 2022, Southport and its approach roads have 5G with EE, and 4G from the other carriers.

Go next

 * Around Ormskirk just east of Southport see Martin Mere Nature Reserve and Rufford Old Hall.
 * Nearby Liverpool needs a couple of days to explore.
 * Preston won't take you long, but travel this way for raucous Blackpool, the Lake District, and the Pennines above Clitheroe.

title: Southport


text:
Southport (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Southport:

Australia

 * Southport is the CBD of the Gold Coast in Queensland.
 * Southport (Tasmania) – Australia's southernmost town, found in the Huon and Far South region of Southern Tasmania

England

 * Southport (England) - A city in Merseyside County.

United States of America

 * Southport (North Carolina) - A town in North Carolina.

title: Southport (disambiguation)


text:
Southport (North Carolina)

Southport is a city on the North Carolina Coastal Plain. Back in the 18th century, British settlements along this stretch of coast were afflicted by buccaneers and Spanish frigates to the point that a fortification named Fort Johnston had to be built, around which a town then called Smithville after Revolutionary War figure Benjamin Smith took shape, which eventually became known as Southport (in the hopes that it would initiate maritime traffic). But if anything Southport is a leisure and retirement haven, although granted it does have some military and nuclear power facilities nearby. It's also a filming location, such as for the movies Safe Haven and Nights in Rodanthe that you might have seen.

See

Sleep
For vacation and long-term rentals:

Stay healthy
924 N Howe St
 * J Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital

Go next
The town of Oak Island is just a short drive away.

title: Southport (North Carolina)


text:
South Portland

South Portland is a city in Maine.

By bus
Buses arrive from Portland.

Get around
There are several bus routes that go around South Portland.

Go next

 * Portland
 * Westbrook

title: South Portland


text:
South Queensferry

South Queensferry is a town on the south bank of the Firth of Forth in West Lothian, 10 miles west of Edinburgh. Historically it was the ferry port for crossing to Fife, then in modern times it acquired three bridges. It's nowadays a commuter town for Edinburgh and in 2020 had a population of 10,400.

Understand

 * "Right in the midst of the narrows lies an islet with some ruins; on the south shore they have built a pier for the service of the Ferry; and at the end of the pier, on the other side of the road, and backed against a pretty garden of holly-trees and hawthorns, I could see the building which they called the Hawes Inn."
 * - Kidnapped, Robert Louis Stevenson 1886

The Firth is pinched at this point and has long been a crossing point. The first documented regular service was the Queen's Ferry, established almost 1000 years ago by St Margaret, wife of King Malcolm III, to ensure regular transport from Edinburgh to Dunfermline (then the capital) and to the pilgrimage town of St Andrews. The iconic railway bridge opened in 1890, to grace the lids of a myriad tins of Scottish shortbread. The car ferry remained in service until 1964 when the Forth road bridge opened. By the 21st century this was showing its age, and the replacement road bridge Queensferry Crossing opened in 2017. So nowadays most traffic bypasses high above the town, which has become a commuter suburb. The main reasons to visit are to stroll through the old town and admire the bridges, and to visit the ruined abbey on Inchcolm Island.

By train
has four Scotrail trains an hour from Edinburgh Waverley via Haymarket, taking 15 min. These continue over the Forth Bridge to North Queensferry, Inverkeithing, Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath and Glenrothes. Change at Inverkeithing for trains along the Fife coast from Kirkcaldy, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. From Glasgow, Newcastle and elsewhere in England, change at Edinburgh or Haymarket.

Dalmeny station is up the hill half a mile (800 m) southeast of town centre. It has a staffed ticket office in rush hour, otherwise buy from the machines. There are toilets and a waiting room, and ramp access to both platforms.

By bus
From Edinburgh take Lothian Bus 43 from St Andrews Square (stop YD) via West End, Blackhall and Barnton junction. These run every 20 min, taking 45 min. Lothian Bus 63 wanders from South Queensferry along a leisurely tour of the city's western edges and you'd only use it to reach Heriot Watt University at Riccarton.

Buses from Edinburgh and the airport into Fife stop at the south end of the Forth Road Bridge above South Queensferry. This stop is convenient for the top end of town near the retail park, and for connections from the north without backtracking via Edinburgh, but it's a 20-minute walk from the historic centre. Services include:
 * Stagecoach Bus 747 from Edinburgh Airport, continuing north to Ferrytoll Park & Ride, Inverkeithing, and Halbeath for buses across Fife.
 * Stagecoach buses 53 to Dalgety Bay and 55 to Dunfermline.

Bus 7 runs hourly from Livingston, taking an hour via Uphall, Broxburn, Winchburgh and Kirkliston.

By car
From Edinburgh, follow A90 west then branch off onto B924, the old road to the ferry.

Avoiding Edinburgh, from M9 join M90 and exit at the A90 interchange, immediately turning off onto A904. The M90 junctions were re-numbered when the new bridge opened and the motorway was extended: these may not show on older maps. From Stirling and the west, shortcut by leaving M9 at Jcn 2 and follow A904 east into town.

By plane
South Queensferry is 3 miles from Edinburgh Airport. Bus 747 from the airport (Stand G) to Fife stops on the Forth Road Bridge, every 20 min daily. Otherwise travel via Edinburgh Haymarket.

By bike
From Edinburgh, National Cycle Route 1 follows disused railway tracks out of the city across golf courses onto A90 Queensferry Road. Branch off onto B924 the old ferry road. Nearing town, the route forks left towards Dalmeny station to join the Forth Road Bridge, but keep right down the hill to come into town centre. It's about 10 miles (16 km) in all. A longer but leafier route from east or west is to follow the Union Canal towpath, leaving it at Winchburgh to come into town along the B roads.

Get around
Reaching the stately homes listed below will need a car, bike or taxi. Everything else is a short walk.

See

 * The bridges are most visitors' first sight of South Queensferry - you'll see them as you come in to land at Edinburgh Airport.

 * Old town of South Queensferry stretches along the waterfront. Its east end lies beneath the railway bridge, with a slipway and the historic Hawes Inn (see "Sleep"). Here in Stevenson's novel Kidnapped young David Balfour is tricked aboard a ship, knocked out and carried away, to cheat him out of his inheritance. The slipway used to be the ferry jetty: it's still used for boat-trips to Inchcolm Island (see "Do"), and for landing tenders from cruise liners. The street is wide at this point, and is the main car and coach parking lot. The best views out to sea are from this eastern part, with tankers, Royal Navy warships and big cruise liners in the offing. The small fortified island forming the base for one of the rail bridge cantilevers is Inchgarvie: you can't visit. Going west the road narrows into the cobbled High Street, where some houses date from the 15th century.
 * Vennel Cemetery behind Ferry Tap has elaborate old gravestones. It belonged to the adjacent old parish church, built 1633, which is now a private house.
 * Old town of South Queensferry stretches along the waterfront. Its east end lies beneath the railway bridge, with a slipway and the historic Hawes Inn (see "Sleep"). Here in Stevenson's novel Kidnapped young David Balfour is tricked aboard a ship, knocked out and carried away, to cheat him out of his inheritance. The slipway used to be the ferry jetty: it's still used for boat-trips to Inchcolm Island (see "Do"), and for landing tenders from cruise liners. The street is wide at this point, and is the main car and coach parking lot. The best views out to sea are from this eastern part, with tankers, Royal Navy warships and big cruise liners in the offing. The small fortified island forming the base for one of the rail bridge cantilevers is Inchgarvie: you can't visit. Going west the road narrows into the cobbled High Street, where some houses date from the 15th century.
 * Vennel Cemetery behind Ferry Tap has elaborate old gravestones. It belonged to the adjacent old parish church, built 1633, which is now a private house.
 * Vennel Cemetery behind Ferry Tap has elaborate old gravestones. It belonged to the adjacent old parish church, built 1633, which is now a private house.
 * Vennel Cemetery behind Ferry Tap has elaborate old gravestones. It belonged to the adjacent old parish church, built 1633, which is now a private house.

Further out

 * House of the Binns: see Linlithgow. The house is closed but you can enjoy the grounds.
 * lies northeast in the Forth estuary. The main draw is the Augustinian abbey, a well-preserved miniature Iona. There are also wartime fortifications, and wildlife - watch for seals. Regular boat trips sail in summer from the slipway, operators include Maid of the Forth and Forthtours.
 * House of the Binns: see Linlithgow. The house is closed but you can enjoy the grounds.
 * lies northeast in the Forth estuary. The main draw is the Augustinian abbey, a well-preserved miniature Iona. There are also wartime fortifications, and wildlife - watch for seals. Regular boat trips sail in summer from the slipway, operators include Maid of the Forth and Forthtours.
 * lies northeast in the Forth estuary. The main draw is the Augustinian abbey, a well-preserved miniature Iona. There are also wartime fortifications, and wildlife - watch for seals. Regular boat trips sail in summer from the slipway, operators include Maid of the Forth and Forthtours.

Do

 * Walk the John Muir Trail along the shore. East of town, the path starts near Hawes Inn, follow Longcraig Rd. Good views out across the Firth, the bridges are soon lost to view as you turn the headland towards Dalmeny. The path leads over the lawns of Dalmeny House, admire but please respect private property. Near Cramond, find Eagle Rock on the shore, a Roman carving of circa 200 AD. Beyond this you fetch up against the muddy tidal creek of the River Almond: there's no bridge, and the ferry (a little rowboat) ceased in 2001. Its replacement is continually debated, but for now, you either have to re-trace your steps, or divert a mile or two inland to the A90 bridge.
 * Golf: Dundas Parks GC at Dundas Castle is 9 holes. Niddrie Castle GC is south of M9 towards Broxburn.
 * The Loony Dook is a traditional New Year's Day swim in the bracing waters of the Firth of Forth, from the jetty below the Boat House. It's sometimes an "official" part of Edinburgh Hogmanay, with charity fundraising. That hasn't happened since covid, but people plunged in anyhow.
 * Ferry Fair is a community festival held in August. Its strangest aspect is the "Burry Man", a local man covered from head to toe in burrs (the sticky hooked fruit of the burdock) who leads a procession through town. As his odd garb restricts his movements the procession dawdles over several hours, so two assistants periodically ply him with sips of whisky through a straw.
 * Ferry Fair is a community festival held in August. Its strangest aspect is the "Burry Man", a local man covered from head to toe in burrs (the sticky hooked fruit of the burdock) who leads a procession through town. As his odd garb restricts his movements the procession dawdles over several hours, so two assistants periodically ply him with sips of whisky through a straw.

Buy

 * Tesco is the main supermarket, in the retail park by the A904 / bridge junction. It's open M-Sa 6AM-11PM, Su 8AM-8PM has a filling station.

Eat

 * Queens Spice at 1 High St is an Indian open M 4-11:30PM, Th-Sa 5-10PM, Su 1-5PM.
 * Thirty Knots next to the Railbridge is open Th-M noon-midnight.
 * Thirty Knots next to the Railbridge is open Th-M noon-midnight.
 * Thirty Knots next to the Railbridge is open Th-M noon-midnight.

Drink

 * Inchcolm Inn is west end of town at 24 Hopetoun Rd, open W-Su.

Connect
As of Aug 2022, South Queensferry and its approach roads have 4G from O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and Three.

Go next

 * Most visitors to South Queensferry come from Edinburgh on a day-trip; it's easy to do the reverse.
 * Cross the bridge to Fife. Just after crossing is North Queensferry, where the main attraction is Deep Sea World. The Fife coast to the east is mostly industrial and commuterland until you get beyond Kirkcaldy to the picturesque East Neuk fishing villages.
 * Branching off M90 north of the bridge, see historic Dunfermline, or turn west along the coast to charming 17th-century Culross.
 * A short drive or bike-ride west on A904 brings you to House of the Binns, a 17th-century mansion. Turn off to the coast for Blackness Castle, a 15th-century fort looking like a stone ship about to sail; continue on the main road to Linlithgow with its palace; in Bo'ness the main attraction is the heritage steam railway.
 * South Queensferry beaches are muddy. Decent beaches that you can build sandcastles on are much further east, around Gullane, North Berwick and Dunbar.
 * Glasgow, Stirling, Perth and Dundee are all within an hour or so by train or car.

title: South Queensferry


text:
South San Francisco

South San Francisco is a hidden oasis of the Bay Area in California, located just south of Daly City and north of San Bruno on the Peninsula. When you say "South San Francisco" to out-of-towners, they think that you live in the southern part of San Francisco proper. But South San Francisco is very much its own distinct city, which is not even contiguous with San Francisco.

Population has tripled since World War II with the opening of subdivisions on the slopes west of El Camino Real. It has grown from 4,411 in 1920 to 61,824 in 2006.

Understand
Truth be told, the 'rough' reputation that South San Francisco has is nowadays mostly undeserved. The first thing you'll notice is a gigantic sign on the hill between South SF (or as the locals say, "South City") and Brisbane which reads in block capitals: "SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO THE INDUSTRIAL CITY". Yes, it is industrial, but not so much anymore. Mostly what that means is there are a bunch of warehouses and train tracks in the southeast corner of South City, and whoops now you're at the airport.

The people of South City seem to be broken down ethnically into thirds, with a third being Pan-Asian (Chinese, Japanese, and a sizable Filipino population - see Daly City for more), a third being Mexican/South American, and a third being white folk with a concentration of Italians.

Weather-wise, South City is on the cusp between fog and sun. Sometimes the fog is carved off by the mountain between South City and Pacifica, but other times it continues on through and keeps things cool. It can get windy in the hills any time of year.

Get in

 * By plane. South San Francisco is just north of and adjacent to the San Francisco International Airport.
 * By train. The Bay Area Rapid Transit  train system connects SFO and South San Francisco, with just one stop at San Bruno in between.  BART also connects South San Francisco with San Francisco and the East Bay.   connects South San Francisco with San Francisco and the South Bay.
 * By bus. The bus system SamTrans (San Mateo County Transit Authority) connects South San Francisco with the rest of the Peninsula. Buses having a final destination in South San Francisco bear a headsign reading "South City" rather than "South San Francisco."
 * By car. Two major freeways, US 101 or Interstate 280, connects South San Francisco to San Francisco and to San Jose.

See
Culturally, South City is pretty barren. It is after all a suburb, but you are 20 minutes away by BART or car from the heart of San Francisco, 20 minutes away from the glorious beaches of Pacifica, and 20 minutes away from Burlingame. SSF is a mouse among giants. After you've seen, you've seen the highlight. Strip malls and lots of single family homes and apartments dominate the city. You can park your car when you go shopping (no mean feat if you lived in San Francisco itself) and can get around pretty much anywhere. Few suburbs enjoy as much diverse cultural attractions within a 20-minute radius as South City.

Buy

 * A commercial strip runs south from Serramonte along Gellert Blvd. for a few blocks.
 * At Gellert and Westborough is the
 * El Camino Real and Westborough Road centers on a commercial cluster for everything you might wish to find.

Eat
Food-wise, South City offers up some of the best Mexican and Italian food you could ever hope for. Indian and Thai food is not much spoken for.

Drink
There are plenty of bars to get soused with the locals.

Go next
North to the heart San Francisco, east to catch a flight out of SFO, south to the Peninsula, and west to the beaches—all within 20 minutes.

title: South San Francisco


text:
South Savonia

South Savonia (Etelä-Savo) is a province in the Finnish Lakeland.

Cities

 * — the largest city in the region, after mergers it includes:
 * — major rail junction
 * — the northernmost remaining medieval stone castle, a famous opera festival and scenic views of Lake Saimaa
 * — A village with what is believed to the largest wooden church in the world, built in the mid-19th century to hold 3000 seats.
 * — The famous national landscape Punkaharju Esker and the most popular nature recreation area in Southern Savonia.
 * — Village at the border of Savonia and Karelia in the midst of stunning lakes. Genuine rural life of Savonia at its best.
 * — The famous national landscape Punkaharju Esker and the most popular nature recreation area in Southern Savonia.
 * — Village at the border of Savonia and Karelia in the midst of stunning lakes. Genuine rural life of Savonia at its best.

National parks

 * : labyrinth of lake channels, with ancient rock paintings and the Saimaa seal, paradise for canoeists.
 * : lake cruises among forested islands and rocky islets, home of ospreys and Saimaa seals; slash-and-burn farm; hiking trails in summer, skating trail in winter.
 * : rugged backwoods with lakes, log floating history; popular hiking destination.

Understand

South Savonia is known for its beautiful natural landscapes, including the Saimaa lake district, which is the largest lake system in Finland and one of the largest in Europe. The province also has three national parks, of which Linnansaari National Park and Kolovesi National Park are in Saimaa.

The economy of South Savonia is largely based on agriculture and forestry, with the region producing a variety of crops including oats, barley, and potatoes. The province is also home to several manufacturing industries, including wood processing, metalworking, and food processing.

In terms of culture, South Savonia is known for its traditional music and dance, particularly the polska dance. The region also has a strong literary tradition, with several notable Finnish authors hailing from the area.

By plane
From abroad, the main option is Helsinki Airport. From there you can fly to Savonlinna or continue by bus or train to South Savonia. Lappeenranta airport is closer to the area and has a few flights from abroad operated by Ryanair. Savonlinna Airport also has charter/seasonal routes from Frankfurt and Rotterdam.

By train
South Savonia's major cities are all well-served by rail, although you may need to change trains in Kouvola. Savonlinna is via Parikkala by IC trains destined to Joensuu. A journey from Helsinki to Savonlinna or Mikkeli takes 3 hr, one to Pieksämäki about 4 hr. There's also a service from Turku via Tampere and Jyväskylä to Pieksämäki.

 * Mikkeli has connections from Helsinki and Kuopio.
 * Savonlinna has connections from Parikkala, Joensuu, Imatra, Lappeenranta and Helsinki.
 * Pieksämäki has connections from Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Mikkeli and Helsinki.

By bus
South Savonia has good bus connections from neighbouring provinces and even from farther away. See Matkahuolto.

There are connections from the directions of Helsinki (to Mikkeli, sometimes onward), Jyväskylä (to Mikkeli, Pieksämäki and Heinävesi), Kuopio (to Savonlinna), Varkaus and Joensuu (to Savonlinna, Heinävesi and Pieksämäki), Imatra (to Puumala and Mikkeli).

Soisalon Liikenne operates a few routes such as:
 * S5: Helsinki–Lahti–Mikkeli–Varkaus
 * Kuopio–Varkaus–Savonlinna
 * Varkaus–Savonlinna
 * Joensuu–Heinävesi–Varkaus–Pieksämäki–Laukaa–Jyväskylä

Linja-autoliike S Kosonen operates a few routes such as:
 * K13: Jyväskylä–Kangasniemi–Mikkeli
 * K14: Helsinki–Lahti–Mikkeli–Savonlinna

Savonlinja operates a few routes such as:
 * Joensuu–Kitee–Savonlinna

Saimaan Turistiliikenne operates a few routes, such as
 * Imatra–Puumala–Mikkeli

The following OnniBus.com routes serve the province. They don't take bikes or pets and there are restrictions on children. See Finland § By bus
 * M5: Helsinki—Mikkeli—Kuopio
 * M14: Helsinki—Lahti—Mikkeli—Savonlinna

Get around
Trains of VR are usable. There is a dense bus network covering most of the region, see Matkahuolto and schedules of Waltti traffic.

Google Maps includes timetables of trains, long distance buses and local transport of many cities and towns. Other useful route planners are Matka.fi for trains and local buses and Matkahuolto Reittiopas for regional buses.

By taxi

 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Menevä
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Menevä
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Menevä

See

 * : World's northernmost mediaeval castle standing on a rugged rock in the midst of the lake. The castle in the venue of the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival.
 * : One of the most remarkable rock painting sites in Northern Europe, consisting of c. 80 images preserved from the prehistoric time on the rock surface. Part of the European Council Cultural Route "Prehistoric Rock Art Trails".
 * : Esker formation between lakes that constitutes one of the iconic national landscapes of Finland portrayed in paintings and stamps and described in poems.
 * : Immense cathedral-style church made entirely of wood. Said to be world's largest wooden church.

Festivals

Stay safe
South Savonia region is a safe place.

title: South Savonia


text:
South Shetland Islands

The South Shetland Islands are an archipelago 120 km (75 miles) north of the Antarctic Peninsula. They have a marine polar climate: very cold, but not as extremely cold as the mainland. They were discovered in the early 19th century and supported temporary bases for whaling and sealing, and later research and exploration bases; they've never had permanent residents.

Islands

 *  King George Island, discovered in 1819, is the largest at 95 km by 25 km. It's also known as Isla 25 de Mayo by Argentina, Isla Rey Jorge by Chile, and Vaterloo by Russia. Although 90% of it is covered by ice, Fildes Peninsula at its western tip is ice-free, and has several bases and an airport clustered around the tiny settlement of, linked by dirt tracks. Other bases and a camp further east are reached by boat.
 * Ardley Island just off King George has Ripamonti I & II bases (Chile) and Ballvé (Argentina, summer).
 * Penguin Island is a volcanic island just off the south coast of King George. It last erupted in 1905 and has no bases.
 * Nelson Island, separated from King George by a 400 m channel, is 22 km by 17 km. Eco-Nelson base is here, founded in 1988 by a Czech explorer.

 * Islands west of King George are:

 * Robert Island is 18 km by 13 km. Notable structures are the Fort William Point and Edwards Point lighthouses and the Luis Risopatrón research base (Chile, summer).
 * is 24 km by 5 km. Its bases are Captain Arturo Prat (Chile) and Pedro Vicente Maldonaldo (Ecuador), which is summer-only.
 * Aitcho Islands are a scattering of islets and rocks just north of Greenwich, often visited by cruises for their birdlife. The name is a convoluted acronym for the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office which mapped them in 1935.
 * Half Moon Island, one km east of Livingston, is an islet often visited by Antarctic cruises. Cámara Base (Argentina) is here.
 * Livingston Island is the second largest of the group, 73 km by a maximum 22 km. Its western is free of ice, so it's an unusual habitat, given extra protection and requiring a special permit to enter: bases here are Camp Byers (Spain) and Camp Livingston (Argentina). Ice does however cover the north branch Ioannes Paulus II Peninsula, which has Shirreff (US) and Doctor Guillermo Mann (Chile). Hurd peninsula on the main body of the island has Juan Carlos I (Spain), and further east are the Bulgarian bases of Camp Academia and . These are all outside the specially protected zone and visitors sometimes slog along the snowy trails between them.
 * Rugged Island 5 km by 1 km, is just off the western tip of Livingston. No bases.
 * Snow Island, 16 km by 8 km, is completely ice-clad and has no bases. It's home to the most northerly breeding colony of Emperor penguins.
 * Smith Island, 32 km by 8 km, is mountainous, rising to Mount Foster at 2105 m. No bases.
 * Low Island is 14 km by 8 km. No bases.
 * south of Livingston is an active volcano, with a magnificent natural harbour within its caldera, often visited by cruises. Decepción (Argentina) and Gabriel de Castilla (Spain) are its two summer bases.

 * Islands east of King George are:

 * Bridgeman Island is an extinct volcano 800 m across, 37 km east of King George. No bases.
 * is the main island of a secondary archipelago 200 km east of King George, and is where Ernest Shackleton's crew took refuge after their ship was crushed by ice. Brazil has a summer camp here, Goeldi. Rowett and Sugarloaf are two nearby small isles.
 * Gibbs Island, 25 km southwest of Elephant Island, is 13 km by 2 km with no bases. It has large colonies of macaroni penguins, chinstraps, and southern fulmars.
 * Seal Islands are a group of islets 7 km north of Elephant. There's a large colony of Antarctic Fur Seals.
 * Clarence Island, the easternmost, is 21 km long, mountainous and ice-clad, with Mount Irving (1950 m) at its peak. No bases.

 * Others:

 * Coronation Island is the next land eastwards, 500 km away, in the separate South Orkney group.
 * Islands south of King George, 120 km away over the horizon, are for much of the year fused to the mainland by ice, and in high summer separated only by narrow channels. They're described as part of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Get in
By boat: Cruises to this part of Antarctica usually start from Ushuaia, take one to two weeks and cost at least US$5000 per person.

By plane: See Villa Las Estrellas for details of air tours to King George Island, flying out of Punta Arenas. A day- or overnight trip costs just as much as a cruise.

Get around
Some bases use light aircraft or helicopters, but visitors get around the archipelago by boat.

See and do

 * Bellingshausen base next to Villa las Estrellas has a charming wooden Russian Orthodox church.
 * Wildlife: common species are elephant, Weddell, and leopard seals, and Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins. Birds such as skuas and southern giant petrel nest in summer.
 * Half Moon Island, one km east of Livingston, is often visited by Antarctic cruises. It's effectively two clusters of rocks fused together by a volcanic tombola, and may represent the lip of a former caldera. Boats come into the shelter of Menguante Cove, from where there's a 2 km walking trail to view the chinstrap penguin colony and other bird life, the Cámara Base (Argentina), and up to the top of Xenia Hill (96 m) for views over Greenwich and Livingston Islands. You can see much of it without stirring from your seat as in 2010 this became the first part of Antarctica to be portrayed on Google street view. Initially Google's map pegman was replaced by a penguin icon, but it's now reverted to the usual; it was probably contravening something in the Treaty.
 * Deception Island south of Livingston is an active volcano which last erupted in 1970. The deception is that it looks like a normal mountainous island, but its flanks are just the rim of a great flooded caldera, entered via the narrow channel "Neptune's Bellows". This creates a well-sheltered natural harbour, so it's a common calling point for cruise ships. Decepción (Argentina) and Gabriel de Castilla (Spain) are the two bases here. The island's attractions are its great natural amphitheatre, a large colony of chinstrap penguins at Baily Head, geothermal hot springs at Pendulum Cove (so you can actually swim in Antarctica), and the remains of an old whaling station and British bases wrecked by eruptions.
 * Elephant Island 200 km east of King George lacks anchorage and is often foggy and windy, so cruise parties seldom land, but it sometimes gets a sail-by for its dramatic history. In 1915 Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance became trapped by ice for six months, and was eventually crushed. The crew camped with their lifeboats on the ice for two months, hoping that the ice-drift would bring them within range of Paulet Island which had cached supplies. But the ice broke up and they were forced to take to the boats, spending five days at sea before getting ashore at Elephant Island, 557 km from where they'd abandoned ship. The island was far from shipping routes and there was little to hunt for food, so Shackleton left most of the crew camped there while he and five others sailed on in a reinforced boat. In a breathtaking display of seamanship, they sailed 1300 km in 16 days to stagger ashore in South Georgia. Only, they were on the wrong side of it: they still had to clamber over a hitherto unclimbed mountain range to reach Stromness whaling station and raise the alarm. Every single member of the crew was saved.

Eat and Drink
See Antarctica.

Stay safe
See Antarctica.

Go next
Cruises to these islands tour along the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. They may also take in other islands such as South Georgia.

title: South Shetland Islands


text:
South Shore

There is more than one place called South Shore:

Canada

 * South Shore (Nova Scotia) - An area of Nova Scotia.
 * The South Shore part of the Montérégie region of Quebec.

United States of America

 * South Shore (Long Island) - The southern edge of Long Island in New York (state).
 * South Shore (Chicago) - A neighbourhood in the city of Chicago.
 * South Shore (Massachusetts) - A region of Massachusetts.
 * South Shore (Staten Island) - A series of neighborhoods in Staten Island, New York (state).

title: South Shore


text:
South Shore (Massachusetts)

The South Shore of Massachusetts is a geographic region stretching south and east from Boston along the coast of Cape Cod Bay toward Cape Cod.

Cities
Well, maybe not "cities" in the way you're thinking of them, but each of these areas has a population of over 50k.
 * — The "City of Champions" largely because of its boxing native sons.
 * — Famous for its Pilgrim history and Plimoth Plantation.
 * — On the Route 3 thoroughfare in the southeastern corner of Greater Boston

Irish Riviera
A collection of small seaside communities with robust ties to the Emerald Isle. This colloquial "region" has no boundaries per se, but could be roughly defined as any coastal town east of Route 3A. Visitors here are never far from a Catholic church, an Irish pub, and sandy beaches.

 * — A wealthy bedroom community.
 * — Located on narrow Nantasket Peninsula, home to Nantasket Beach and some of the Boston Harbor Islands
 * — Home of South Shore Music Circus.
 * — A coastal town. Extremely Irish.
 * — A coastal residential and beach town. Also extremely Irish.
 * — A year round seaside community.
 * — Nearby to Plymouth with its own harbor.

Towns

 * — Gateway to the South Shore, home to South Shore Plaza
 * — Home of Bridgewater State University.
 * — A fast-growing residential town in cranberry country.
 * — The second largest town in Massachusetts with some colonial history.
 * — Chain hotels available in this town.
 * — Chain hotels available in this town.

Understand
The South Shore region is largely a collection Boston suburban bedroom towns that share in Massachusetts colonial history. Most of the cities and towns were settled in the early 17th century and have historic buildings of that period.

By car
The Pilgrim Highway or MA-3, is a major highway serving the South Shore. Route MA-24 borders the west side of the region and is another major artery. Both 3 and 24 are accessible from Interstate 95 and I-93, which border the region to the north. The coastal MA-3A will be quite helpful to those exploring the many Irish flavored seaside communities in the area.

Get around
Bus service and commuter rail service can be infrequent. The highways can be pretty congested, especially if one is closer to Boston, or if it's the warmer months of the year.

See

 * Plimoth Plantation, the Mayflower II and Plymouth Harbor in Plymouth.
 * Pilgrim Hall Museum, gallery museum of Plymouth history and the Pilgrims in Plymouth.
 * World's End, part of Boston Harbor Islands in Hingham.
 * A show at South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset.
 * See a play or show at Company Theatre in Norwell.
 * Cranberry harvesting in Carver in September and October.

Do

 * Go to the beach in Hull, Marshfield, Duxbury or Plymouth.
 * Go fishing or on a whale watch in Plymouth.
 * Race a Formula One replica at F1 in Braintree.

Eat
Seafood is a focus in these coastal towns and proximity to Boston permits a range of fresh ingredients to be used. Mostly likely you will always be no further than 15 miles from a well-trained top notch chef's restaurant.

Also a local specialty is “bar pizza” a 10-inch thin-crust pizza mainly served at bars and pubs including Lynwood’s in Randolph, O’Tools in Whitman, Town Spa in Stoughton and Cape Cod Cafe in Brockton. Consumers have very vociferous opinions about which establishment has the best.

Go next

 * MetroWest — As the name implies, this is a collection of commuter suburbs and superb historic attractions just west of Boston.
 * Bristol-Norfolk — A collection of forests, rural communities and bedroom suburbs on the way to Providence, Rhode Island.
 * SouthCoast — Discover a deep history of whaling and fishing, Portuguese roots, agriculture, and a once powerful textile industry.
 * Cape Cod and the Islands — Featuring miles of beaches, natural attractions, historic sites, art galleries, antiquing opportunities, and many options for fine dining.

title: South Shore (Massachusetts)


text:
South Shore (Nova Scotia)

South Shore is an important fishing and tourism region of Nova Scotia. The tourism industry is concentrated in the towns of Lunenburg, Chester, Mahone Bay, Liverpool, the five beaches surrounding Riverport, and the fishing community of Peggy's Cove. Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the host to several major music festivals and arts events, and the Bluenose II, is generally considered to be the cultural capital of the South Shore.

Cities

 * — the commercial centre and largest town, but not a tourist destination
 * — a village close to Kejimkujik National Park, a true wilderness experience, 80% of which is only accessible by canoe or hiking trails
 * — a holiday and resort destination, with many seasonal and year-round estates and mansions
 * — an historic town and the "Port of the Privateers"
 * — home of the Bluenose II, a famous tall ship, its Old Town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List
 * — a long-standing picturesque tourist destination set around a harbour
 * — an historic town that is home of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre & Historical Site

Other destinations

 * — One of the main attractions of the area. 381 km² of protected forest. Keji provides the ultimate wilderness experience for the naturalist. 80% of the park is only accessible by canoe or hiking trails.  Deer, porcupines, beavers, coyotes, martens and black bears are among the many species of wildlife you will find.

Understand
The South Shore was one of the first areas of North America to be colonized by Europeans following the French settlement at Port-Royal in 1605. The region, without good agricultural land, was only sparsely inhabited by the Acadians, although several settlements were established in present-day Shelburne County and the LaHave River valley. When the British took control of the region in 1713, they initiated a program of importing colonists from continental Europe, known as the Foreign Protestants, mostly from Germany and Switzerland. To this day the South Shore retains many German place names and surnames, and a distinct accent compared to the New England settlers' influence in the Annapolis Valley or the Highland Scots' influence in northeastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island.

During the 20th century, the South Shore became the centre of Nova Scotia's fishing industry, as fishermen in small boats operated from numerous tiny villages dotted along the coast. The larger communities also had fish plants and port facilities for larger off-shore trawlers, which began to see increased use following the Second World War. During the 1960s and 1970s the impact of offshore processing and increasingly larger trawlers was being felt in communities, and the way of life on the South Shore was altered. As in many parts of Nova Scotia, many South Shore fishing communities all but disappeared as residents moved to larger urban centres in search of new opportunities. The decline in the fishery coincided with growth in the service industry, and specifically tourism.

The culture and economy along the South Shore gradually changed as the scenic area became a more common tourist destination. Coastal land prices rose, small businesses catering to the industry sprouted up, and a vibrant art community took root.

Get in
Most travellers flying into Nova Scotia enter through the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, 35 km (22 miles) from downtown Halifax. The airport is served by the major Canadian and American airlines, as well as many smaller regional airlines.

Queens County is on the southwestern coast of Nova Scotia, approximately 1½ hours drive from Halifax or Yarmouth along Highway 103.

Get around
The most effective means of touring the county is by car, as there is little in the way of public transit. The provincial scenic travel way, the "Lighthouse Route" runs on Trunk 3 through most centres along the shore.

See
The Shelburne Historic Waterfont is a collection of authentic, restored original buildings that have been the locations for numerous films, including The Book of Negroes (2015, known as Someone Knows My Name in the U.S.).

The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre & Historical Site in Birchtown northwest of Shelburne tells the story of the first massive wave of Black immigration into Canada in 1783, when about 3,000 Black Loyalists fled New York City after aiding the British on the losing side of the American Revolutionary War and sailed to Nova Scotia.

The Bluenose II in Lunenburg is a replica of the original Bluenose featured on the back of Canadian dimes.

Do
Enjoy the many pristine white sand beaches of Queens County's near Liverpool.

Explore the beautiful Kejimkujik National Park on foot or in a canoe.

Go next

 * Halifax

title: South Shore (Nova Scotia)


text:
South Sichuan

South Sichuan is in China. It consists of Liangshan (Yi) Autonomous Prefecture and Panzhihua Prefecture.

Cities

 * — popular as a destination for domestic Chinese tourism because of its mountains, caves, lakes and canyons
 * — its Ancient City may interest some visitors

Get in
Panzhihua Bao'anying Airport receives flights from many domestic locations.

title: South Sichuan


text:
South Side

There is more than one place named South Side:

Brazil

 * São Paulo/South Side in São Paulo.

United States of America

 * Chicago/South Side in Chicago, Illinois.
 * Pittsburgh/South Side in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

title: South Side


text:
South Sikkim

South Sikkim is a district in Sikkim. It is the most industrialized district of the state.

Cities

 * — the district capital
 * — a small town used as a night halt by travellers heading to Pelling, Darjeeling and Siliguri
 * —

 * — one of the few places in Sikkim to offer undisturbed views of the Greater Himalayas (Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Pandim, Mt. Sinialchu, Mt. Kabru).

 * —

Other destinations

 * —

Get around

 * Jorethang is situated about 30 km from Darjeeling. The small place is an important traffic junction in South Sikkim. There are daily busses to Siliguri at 8AM, Gangtok at 7:30AM, Namchi at 8:30AM and Pelling at 3PM. There are shared jeeps to Darjeeling (25 km, ₹100), Namchi (1 hr, ₹25) and Leghsip (1 hr) where you have to change cars for Ravangla, Yoksum and Tashiding, as well as to Gangtok (4 to 5 hr, ₹100) and Silguri (4 to 5 hr, ₹100). Most shared jeeps leave Jorethang earlier than 1PM.

Itineraries

 * 4 days Dooars tour: Day 1: Drive from Siliguri or NJP to Mongpong on the banks of river Tista,  with a view of Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary. Drive through tea gardens and forests to Lataguri, a small Dooars town 55 km from Mongpong. Overnight at Lataguri. Day 2: Visit Gorumara National Park and walk to Khagrijan on nature trail. Overnight at Lataguri. Day 3: Drive to Jaldapara  through the forest of Chapramari. Overnight at Jaldapara. Day 4: Drive through Chapramari Forest. Elephant ride in the grassland, opportunity to view the one horned Rhino. Onward drive to Siliguri or NJP.

title: South Sikkim


text:
South Sound

South Sound is in Puget Sound within Washington.

Regions
South Sound consists of Pierce County and Thurston County as well as Olympia, the state capitol

Cities

 * — County seat of Pierce County
 * — capital of Washington state and county seat of Thurston County
 * — County seat of Pierce County
 * — capital of Washington state and county seat of Thurston County
 * — County seat of Pierce County
 * — capital of Washington state and county seat of Thurston County
 * — County seat of Pierce County
 * — capital of Washington state and county seat of Thurston County
 * — County seat of Pierce County
 * — capital of Washington state and county seat of Thurston County
 * — capital of Washington state and county seat of Thurston County

Other destinations

 * - premier natural site in Washington State
 * — ski resort

title: South Sound


text:
South Sudan

South Sudan (Arabic: جنوب السودان, Janūb as-Sūdān) is a country in Central Africa. The world’s youngest country, it was a part of Sudan until it became an independent country on 9 July 2011.

Cities

 * – the capital

Other destinations

 * – a national park along the White Nile
 * – a national park along the White Nile
 * – a national park along the White Nile
 * – a national park along the White Nile

History
South Sudan was part of Sudan until it gained its independence in 2011, following a long war in which over 1 million people were killed, and a historic referendum. Although South Sudan was granted independence by Sudan after an overwhelming vote for independence in the referendum, relations between the two Sudans remain tense. Sudan depends on hard currency obtained from transshipping oil from South Sudan through Port Sudan on the Red Sea, while the landlocked South Sudan depends on access to that port, and the two countries have argued about terms for transshipment. There has also been some armed conflict over the oil-rich Abyei District which is ruled by Sudan but borders on South Sudan, and the Sudan People's Liberation Army - North, which fought alongside the Sudan People's Liberation Army that now rules South Sudan, continues to fight in the Sudanese provinces of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, with the sympathy and, allegedly, military aid of the South Sudanese government.

People
South Sudan has more than 60 indigenous ethnicities. The Dinka comprise 40% of the population.

Climate
South Sudan's climate is similar to an equatorial or tropical climate, and has a rainy season of high humidity and large amounts of rainfall followed by a drier season.

Holidays

 * 9 January: Peace Agreement Day
 * 16 May: SPLA Day
 * 9 July: Independence Day
 * 30 July: Martyrs' Day
 * 25 December: Christmas Day

Books

 * They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan, by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, and Benjamin Ajak. Not exactly something to advertise South Sudan as an appealing destination, but it's a vivid and moving account of the war that preceded the country's independence.
 * Warchild by Emmanuel Jal
 * What is the What by Valentino Achak Deng and Dave Eggers

Visa requirements
Visas are issued for US$100 at all border crossings and Juba International Airport. The length of the visas issued seems to vary randomly between 1 and 6 months. An invitation letter may be required depending on which official is at the desk on your day of arrival. The process can take 3 hours. If you do not have a local contact with official connections, it would be safer to get a visa before arriving in the country. Visas are now available from the embassy in London for UK₤50 cash and typically take 5 working days to process. The embassy in Nairobi is also a popular place to get a visa.

Once in South Sudan, foreign visitors must register their presence in the country within 72 hours of arrival. Visitors must do this in person.

As of April 2024, you can apply for e-visa on this website: https://evisa.gov.ss/. Single entry visa is 100 USD, three months multiple entry visa is 300 USD and six months multiple entry visa 350 USD. Make sure you have your Yellow Fever Vaccine card with you.

By plane
Until June 2022, there are no direct commercial flights from outside Africa, with the exception of service from Dubai on flydubai. Turkish Airlines expect to operate 3 flights per week from June 2022. Changing planes is necessary; most airlines flying into Juba depart from Cairo (Egypt), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Entebbe (Uganda), Nairobi (Kenya) and Khartoum (Sudan) from where you should be able to manage flights to and from Europe, Asia or the Americas.

Be careful on taking photos in the airport as this is actually not allowed but an increasing number of people are observed to take photos at the airport these days.

By car
Overland crossing from Sudan to South Sudan was closed from the latter's secession in 2011; Sudanese leaders have announced plans to re-open the border in 2016.

As of April 2024, crossing from Uganda to South Sudan is possible. The Renk crossing for Sudan to South Sudan is also flooded with refugees and returnees fleeing from Sudan.

By bus
A bus can be taken from Kampala to Juba.

By train
There is one railway line in South Sudan that enters from Sudan in the north and terminates at Wau. Before independence there were services between Wau and Babanosa, which had rail connections to Khartoum. As of 2014, however, there are no scheduled passenger services; indeed, the entire Sudanese rail network has come to a halt. Sporadic and non-scheduled trains may, however, still run, so you can try contacting the Sudan Railways Corporation for more information.

By car
Roads are unpaved, and during the rainy season from July to October and November, they often become impassable. Infrastructure is non-existent,

Talk
English and Arabic (Juba Arabic) are the official languages of South Sudan, although Dinka is the most widely spoken language. Jur Modo, Nuer, Chollo/Shilluk, and Zande languages are also spoken there.

See

 * East African wildlife in Nimule National Park.
 * Rumbec Freedom Square in Rumbek.
 * White Nile. See the White Nile and the locals taking a drip from any of the restaurants located on its bank like Da Vinci and Afex.
 * Afex. This restaurant has the best view of the iconic sinking ship that every humanitarian has on their Facebook page.
 * Jebel Kujur. Hike up this 684m-high rock and get a good view of the city. However, it is crowded during the weekends. Check the security situation of the area before hiking up.

Do
Safaris to Boma National Park and Nimule National Park. See the parks by 4x4 vehicle or aircraft. See the greatest migration of mammals on the earth.

If you're feeling charitable, visit the Angels of East Africa orphanage (as featured in the film Machine Gun Preacher), also located in Nimule.

Money
The currency of the country is the South Sudanese pound (ISO currency code: SSP). It is divided into 100 piasters. The official rate or "bank exchange rate" (above) is what you would see on sites like Oanda and mataf.net. In December 2023, the black market exchange rate was reported to be SSP1085 for one US dollar. As of April 2024, 1 USD to SSP in the "black market" is 2400 SSP. You can exchange your money by paying in USD at supermarkets like Juba Mall, Lily's, and Phoenicia. They will ask you if you want your change to be in USD or SSP. There are also money changers that line some streets with stacks of SSPs but be wary of them.

Coins in South Sudan come in denominations of 10-, 20 and 50 piasters, 1 and 2 South Sudanese pounds. Banknotes in South Sudan come in denominations of 5-, 10 and 25 piasters, 1-, 5-, 10-, 20-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 500 and 1,000 South Sudanese pounds.

You can withdraw money with a Visa card or Mastercard in any of the Ecobank or Equity bank ATMs in South Sudan.

Souvenirs:

 * Maasai Market. The Maasai Market is a souvenir place but the items sold here are souvenirs from Kenya and Uganda, not from Juba.
 * Shea butter. You can buy unprocessed shea butter from the market or from Lulu Life Shea Butter (https://www.lululife-sheabutter.com/) in their physical store in Juba or at Phoenicia.

Eat
South Sudanese cuisine is mostly based on grains such as maize, sorghum.

The national dish of South Sudan is Kisra, sorghum pancake.

It is heavily influenced by Arab cuisine.

The following are the most common dishes served:

 * Kisra. This is the main source of carbohydrate. It looks similar to Ethiopia's injeera but is more fermented, has a stronger sour smell, and has a rougher texture. It's color depends on what grain is used but most are made from sorghum, which gives its deeper brown color.
 * Mandazi. Deep fried square donuts.
 * Wala-wala, millet porridge.
 * Aseeda, sorghum porridge
 * Shaiyyah. Pan fried meat.
 * Mahshi. Similar to the Middle Eastern dolma. Zucchini, tomatoes and bell peppers are stuffed with minced meat, rice, onions etc. in a bed of tomato sauce.
 * Gurassa, yeasted pancake.
 * Kajaik, fish stew.
 * Ful sudani, peanut sweet.
 * Molokhia. Made of Molokhia or Jews mallow leaves cooked in a meat based soup.
 * Tamia, falafel.

Checkout these websites:

Taste of South Sudan. https://tasteofsouthsudan.com/

Drink
In the towns of South Sudan such as Rumbek and Juba, Kenyan and Ugandan beers are starting to appear in bars at inflated cross-border prices. In Renk, you can even buy Red Horse, a Filipino beer!

Fresh fruit juices are available throughout South Sudan. One of the local juices is "aradeab"(tamarind) and juice made from the baobab fruit.

The cloves-flavoured tea (chai) is very good. Outside the capital, you'll pay usually 10 SSP for one cup. Also the ginger-flavoured coffee is to be tried. In Renk, one cup of this is 100SSP (2019). Both are very sweet, so if you don't want sugar or you want it separately, say "Sukar bara" (serve sugar separate) when you order.

Sleep

 * Radisson Blu Hotel
 * Pyramid Continental Hotel and
 * Juba Grand Hotel
 * Palm Africa Hotel
 * Acacia Hotel

Stay safe
Although the level of violence has subsided since the establishment of the country and the end of the civil war, South Sudan remains dangerous for travel as ceasefire violations and boundary disputes have continued. Guns are freely and readily available to the populace, and it is not uncommon to hear gunshots being fired in broad daylight. Travel near the Sudan or Central African Republic borders is extremely dangerous. Western governments continue to advise against all travel to South Sudan and the adjacent regions in Sudan. Violent crime remains problematic; unexploded ordnance from years of civil war also poses hazards to civilians.

Photography
South Sudan has very strict photography laws. For any kind of photography, you are required to obtain a photography permit from the Ministry of Interior.

Be very mindful of what you take pictures of, and do not take photos randomly; foreign tourists have been arrested and physically assaulted by South Sudanese law enforcement for simply taking photographs.

To err on the side of safety, keep the following in mind:

 * Never take a photograph of a South Sudanese person without their explicit permission.

 * Never take photographs of government buildings, vehicles, military personnel, or law enforcement personnel.

 * Never take photographs of airports, bridges, or gas stations.

Authorities
South Sudan is one of the most unstable, lawless, and corrupt countries in the world. Many scholars regard South Sudan as a kleptocracy.

Do not expect the South Sudanese police to help you or solve your problems in the event you run into any kind of difficulties during your stay; the South Sudanese police are extremely corrupt and are written off as hapless, abusive, and ineffective.

Low salaries are the main reason why there's a high level of corruption among the police force. As a foreigner, you may attract unwanted attention from corrupt officials.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times, and keep your emotions under control; getting into a fight with corrupt, abusive officials or the wrong person in a country far away from home is not something you (or anyone) would want to do.

Journalists and bloggers
As tempting as it may be to write about South Sudan, it is illegal to report on the country without permission from the South Sudanese Media Authority.

Stay healthy
It's a malarial area, so before arriving, visit a tropical vaccination center to get prophylactic treatment and the necessary vaccines, including yellow fever, polio and hepatitis A and B. Be sure to sleep under a mosquito net and use mosquito repellent. Most of the South Sudanese drink water from the rivers, which exposes them to diarrhoea and cholera. If bottled water is not available, boil/chlorinate the river water before drinking it.

Connect
Telephone country code for South Sudan is +211, previous to 2011 it used the Sudan country code +249 so some numbers printed may need to be corrected. Local numbers are a 7 digit number preceded by a 2 digit provider code, those starting with a 1 are fixed line those with 9 mobile.

Roaming with foreign phones/SIM cards does not usually work in South Sudan. For mobile communications, you will need to purchase a SIM card from one of the local networks (Zain or MTN). Bring an unlocked phone.

title: South Sudan


text:
South Sumatra

South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan, Sumsel) is a province on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.

Other destinations

 * — this national park contains extensive peat swamp forests. In addition, the park has large mangrove forests. The world's largest breeding colony of milky storks can be found here.

Understand
On 12 September 1950, South Sumatra province was established with a larger territory than it is today called Southern Sumatra, as it encompassed the southern third of Sumatra island covering areas that were eventually formed into separate provinces: Lampung was carved from the southern part of the province in 1964, Bengkulu from the coastal western part of the province in 1967, and Bangka Belitung on 4 December 2000.

By plane
There are three airports in the province. The largest airport by far is Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport near Palembang, serving frequent flights from Jakarta as well as domestic flights from other major Indonesian cities, and international flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Silampari Airport serves Lubuk Linggau in the far west of the province, with a few flights from Jakarta (and from Palembang). Atung Bungsu Airport serves Pagar Alam and there are flights between Palembang and Pagar Alam.

By train
There are combination of bus and train cooperation of PT Damri and PT KAI from Gambir Station, Jakarta. At Gambir Station use Damri Bus to Tanjung Karang Station and then use train to Kertapati Station, Palembang.

Eat
The city of Palembang is the culinary centre of South Sumatra and is renowned for its pempek, a deep fried fish and sago dumpling that is also known as empek-empek. Pempek is also used in such dishes as tekwan soup of pempek dumpling, mushroom, vegetables, and shrimp and lenggang, pempek slices in omelette. Mie celor, a noodle dish with egg in coconut milk and dried shrimp, is also Palembang specialties. South Sumatra is also home to pindang, a spicy fish soup with soy and tamarind. Ikan brengkes is fish in a spicy durian-based sauce. Tempoyak is a sauce of shrimp paste, lime juice, chilli and fermented durian, and sambal buah is a chilli sauce made from fruit.

By land

 * To west, Bengkulu province.
 * To north, Jambi province.
 * To south, Lampung province.

By sea

 * To east, Bangka-Belitung province.

title: South Sumatra


text:
South Texas Plains

Texas's southern region is, for the most part, a forbidding desert area. A borderland with nearby Mexico, it acts as a gateway for those coming north and those going south. It's also very warm, even in the winter, so many people come from the north to warm up here.

See

 * The Rio Grande River Valley, including Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park near Mission, is scenic and provides an excellent place for birdwatching, with over 500 species.
 * Spanish missions - This region has some of the country's best-preserved examples of Spanish mission architecture. The missions in San Antonio and Goliad are particularly impressive.
 * The Rio Grande River Valley, including Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park near Mission, is scenic and provides an excellent place for birdwatching, with over 500 species.
 * Spanish missions - This region has some of the country's best-preserved examples of Spanish mission architecture. The missions in San Antonio and Goliad are particularly impressive.

Stay safe
Wear sun screen, and a hat. There's really nothing else unless you're worried about getting eaten by a gecko.

Go next

 * Hill Country
 * Gulf Coast (Texas)
 * Tamaulipas
 * Northern Mexico

title: South Texas Plains


text:
Southtowns

The Southtowns of Erie County are in the Niagara Frontier region of New York.

Communities

 * — Toy Town U.S.A., home of Fisher-Price
 * —
 * —
 * —
 * —
 * — where the Buffalo Bills roam
 * —
 * —

Go next
Northtowns

title: Southtowns