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Blacksburg

Blacksburg is a moderate-sized town in Southwest Virginia and is home of Virginia Tech (full name: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University).

Get in
Blacksburg is accessible by road, or for the lucky few, by the Virginia Tech airport. It is about 30 miles west of Roanoke. Blacksburg is on US 460, about ten miles north of I-81 (exit 118B).

The closest commercial airport is Roanoke Regional. The closest Greyhound bus station and Amtrak railway station are also in Roanoke. The Smart Way Bus offers direct service from the airport and downtown Roanoke to Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech campus.

Virginia Breeze (selling tickets via Megabus) also has a route between Blacksburg and Washington D.C., with multiple stops in between (including Washington Dulles Airport ).

If you arrive with a private plane, Virginia Tech also has an airport but with no commercial flights.

Get around
Through city and university cooperation, Blacksburg has a nice bus system. It is free for everyone.

See
If you are coming to Blacksburg, it is hard to miss the campus of Virginia Tech. Most buildings on the campus are made from "Hokie Stone" (limestone) making Tech one of the prettiest college campuses on the East Coast. Highlights include Burruss Hall, Lane Stadium and Cassell Coliseum. The Pylons above the War Memorial Chapel on the edge of the Drillfield evoke the core values of Virginia Tech and are etched with the names of every Virginia Tech student and graduate who "died defending our nation's freedom," beginning with World War I.

Downtown is an easy walk from any part of campus.

No visit to Southwest Virginia is complete without an outing on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It's a great place to picnic for a day, go for a drive, or spend the weekend. Along the parkway are Bed and Breakfasts, hotels, lodges, campgrounds and restaurants. The views from any part of the parkway are stunning; there are lookouts on the side of the road for especially beautiful views. The locally operated winery and restaurant Chateau Morrisette is just outside of Floyd, off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Their dinner food is a bit pricey ($21-34/entree) but the dessert menu is more affordable ($8/dessert). They offer tastings and tours of their winery and their wine can be bought on-site.

Do
During the fall, a major part of the weekend is tailgating before the game and cheering on the Hokies in Lane Stadium. Even if you are not a football fan, it's a good idea to check the football schedule in the fall for traffic and lodging reasons.

As a bustling college town, there are often university activities at all times of day; inquire at the Squires Student Center. For area events, check Next Three Days.

The Appalachian Trail passes within a few miles of the town, and as a result there are ample hiking opportunities around. Closer to town is the Huckleberry Trail, a converted railroad track (paved) that is popular for walking, running and biking. Starting at the Blacksburg Library, it connects to the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg. The majority of the trail has a very gently grade and is marked with mile markers; one way to the mall is about 7 miles.

Tubing on the nearby New River is a popular activity in the summer. Tubes cost $10 to rent (for an adult) with the option to rent a tube for your cooler ($5) and provides unlimited rides down the New River all day, as well as a grilling service - all you have to do is bring the food! Parking is $2. (See http://www.newriverjunction.com/tubing/ for more information)

Blacksburg is also within an hour's drive from Floyd County with its increasingly renowned artist community and growing number of cultural events, such as the annual FloydFest. FloydFest (FF) is the last weekend in July, starting that Wednesday and continuing through Sunday. Typical performances at FF are more bluegrass-y in nature, but the festival has been known to attracts artists as diverse as Matisyaho, Brandi Carlile and The Lumineers. It is just off the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.

If you are in Blacksburg in early-mid April, a walk through the International Street Fair is a must. Booths are set up by different international and cultural heritage groups to celebrate and share their traditions. Some booths also sell traditional handicrafts as well as delicious food and treats. There are also live performances of traditional music and dance from around the world. If it's raining that weekend, never fear! The street festival is usually moved inside the Squires Student Building.

There are several wineries that offer tours and tastings within an hour drive of Blacksburg. These include Attimo Winery in rural Christiansburg, Maison Beliveau in Catawba Valley, Chateau Morrisette off the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Foggy Ridge Cider and Blacksnake Meadery in Carroll County. Breweries include Eastern Divide, Rising Silo, and Moon Hollow (just west of town in Prices Fork).

Every summer over the first weekend in August, an event called Steppin' Out takes place in downtown Blacksburg. The streets are closed off to traffic and vendors from the surrounding counties and states come to peddle goods of all kinds. This is a great time to be around for the live music and diverse foods, as well as to purchase a plethora of homegrown Appalachian goods ranging from hand crafted ceramics and wooden bowls to bonsai trees and handmade instruments. There is something for everyone of all ages, whether it be getting your face painted, or meeting up and hanging out with your friends. Steppin' Out is also home to the Draper Mile. Started in 1982, the Draper Mile is an annual one-mile road race for runners of all ages.

There are also lots of events within the college student body. To discover more about what's going on, be sure to check out the main internet site for this, Blacksburg Electronic Village.

Buy
Most everything one needs can be found within the town itself, even without many big box stores around there is still a lot to be found for a very decent price. Stores such as New River Art & Fiber, Matrix, and The Common Thread on the Downtown strip provide a very artistic feel to the area. Every Wednesday and Saturday there is a farmer's market one block off of main street where one can find local produce as well as goods hand made in and around the New River Valley. Apart from the shops in downtown Blacksburg and scattered throughout town, the main commercial shopping area is in Christiansburg, centered around the New River Valley Mall, about a 10-15 minute drive from Blacksburg. Here you can find a Barnes and Noble, Target, Dicks, Walmart as well as traditional mall stores like American Eagle, Belk and Gap.

Oasis World Market, on the south side of town, is an international and specialty food store, selling food and products from over 50 countries. In addition to the food, Oasis has a huge selection of imported beer, Sake and Ume (plum wine). They offer free tastings on Saturdays from 2-4PM (must have 21+ ID). Eats Natural Foods and Annie Kay's offer organic, natural and gourmet foods and body products.

The Hokie spirit is always high in Blacksburg, and it's easy to show your support for the team. There are numerous shops around Blacksburg that sell Virginia Tech gear - anything from T-shirts and sweatshirts to ties, figurines, wall hangings and more. Volume II Bookstore in the University Mall, the University Bookstore on-campus and the Tech Bookstore downtown are just a few places to find and buy any Virginia Tech souvenir (or textbook).

Downtown Blacksburg offers a wide range of clothing shops. 310 Rosemont is a contemporary boutique that specializes in premium denim, and also offers a unique shopping experience (they have a pool table). Alligator Alley offers Lacoste, Sperry, Vineyard Vines and other brands. Fringe Benefit was established in 1972 and offers a clothing, gifts and accessories. Mad Dog sells clothing for everyday wear or for that party around the corner. They also offer a great selection of shoes, accessories, and gifts. The Clothes Rack offers 'eco-friendly' clothing for all ages, as well as a large selection of unique jewelry and gifts.

Eat
The downtown area caters to a diverse crowd, and there are countless watering holes offering pub fare of varying quality, from the Cellar and the Underground, which provide a more traditional pub aire, to places like Cabo Fish Taco which regularly feature electronic and breakbeat music acts such as the Boogieburg Sound System. If one desires a finer dining experience they might want to check out 622 North, the Black Hen, Boudreaux's, The Cellar, Gillie's, and The Coop, which provide diverse cuisine of excellent quality for just a few extra dollars. Locals are fond of Mike's Grill, a small restaurant offering typical (but excellent) American food- burgers, fries, etc. for a reasonable price; while the college crowd can often be found hanging around places such as the River Mill, Sharkey's or Hokie House. Sheesha, the local Hookah bar, often features live jazz and afrobeat music. Greens offers inexpensive sushi on Mondays and Wednesdays as well as a variety of other food.

Gillie's is best known among the locals as the place to eat breakfast or brunch. Although they only serve vegetarian or vegan options, Gillie's is known to serve the best breakfast in town. Favorites are the "122 special" and "Chappie's Choice." Most options come with biscuits that are made-from-scratch at Bollo's just around the corner. The service isn't always the best and the wait is often long (especially later in the morning), but the food is always worth it. Gillie's also serves lunch and dinner. Beaudreaux's also serves a great brunch on the weekends, adding a Cajun twist to traditional brunch favorites like their "crab and bacon omelette," and "crabcake florentine." They also offer special pricing on their Bloody Mary's, Screwdrives, Greyhounds and Mimosa's.

Some of the best pizza in town can be found at The Cellar or PK's Bar and Grill. Each comes with its own unique atmosphere, but both serve delicious pizza. Recommended at PK's: the Polynesian Pizza or a Sicilian Pizza. Recommended at The Cellar: Kappas Gyro or the Cellar House Special. There is a Mellow Mushroom in Blacksburg.

Most bars downtown also serve traditional "bar food" such as wings and burgers. Buffalo Wild Wings is known for their wide variety of wing sauces, ranging from very mild (Salt and Vinegar Seasoning) to exceedingly hot (Blazin'). They also have a great selection of burgers and beers. Specials of note: Sharkey's offers a "buy-one-get-one-free" burger deal on Monday's. Hokie House offers a $5.99 deal for burger and fries on Tuesday and a 1/2-lb burger for $3.50 on Thursdays.

The majority of places (if you are looking for inexpensive dining) seem to concentrate on pizza and sandwiches/hamburgers - you will pay approximately double for things which are not.

The New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg is only a short drive (10-min) away, and the immediate surrounding area has many chain restaurants including Outback Steak House and Red Robin. A few, more upscale establishments can also be found either in Blacksburg or Christiansburg, such as Zeppoli's ,India Garden, Kabuki Japanese Steakhouse and The Farmhouse in Christiansburg, Virginia.

Several Saturdays from late Spring to early Autumn the Blacksburg Farmer's Market hosts catered breakfasts and produce competitions.

Drink
Go downtown and follow the crowd.

Popular with the local college kids are Sharkey's, Hokie House, Top of the Stairs and Rivermill. Hokie House, affectionately known as "Ho-Ho's," serves cheap burgers and has one of the best happy hours in town ($1 singles, $2 doubles and $3 triples; $2 fatties, $2 domestic mugs and $3 imported mugs). Upstairs has pool tables and a separate bar, but also allows smoking so beware. Sharkey's offers a weekly "buy one get one free" on all of their burgers on Monday nights, as well as outdoor seating. Locals and college students would suggest you try their Long Island Iced Teas or the Shark Juice. Top of the Stairs, or "TOTS" as it's called by everyone, is well known for their signature mixed drink "The Rail." Located up some stairs but sprawling outside and in the courtyard, TOTS is a popular spot for both current and former college students.

Those wishing to avoid the majority of college students should check out PK's, Bull & Bones, Poor Billy's and the Underground. Neither will be completely lacking in college students, but there will be less than the more popular destinations of Skarkey's, HoHo's and TOTS. If you're not looking for a late night, Beaudreaux's on Main Street has a wonderful selection of drinks (as well as a fantastic selection of Cajun cooking). Because it's not open past 11PM on the weekends, Beaudreaux's will also generally be less populated with undergraduates. Another lesser known spot among the college kids is Abby's Restaurant and Bar on North Main.

One of the best places to grab a margarita is El Rodeo (El Rods) just north of downtown on Main Street. The service is quick and is accompanied with chips and salsa (they also serve delicious Mexican food if you're looking to eat). A full bar is available, but who needs it with the fantastic margaritas they serve?

A sizable university confined to a small burg has spawned a coffee shop in every nook and cranny, with as much variety (though not as much square footage or musical patronage) as you'd find in any college town. Some favorites among locals and students include Bollo's (downtown), Space Rabbit (Newman Library, on campus), Mill Mountain (Giles Road), and Our Daily Bread (Gables Shopping Center). Blacksburg is also home to multiple Starbucks locations.

Bollo's is known for their made-from-scratch Cinnamon Buns, a favorite among the locals and college students alike, as well as their vegetarian and vegan baked goods. Mill Mountain roasts their coffee on site and offers lunch options, as well as typical coffee shop snacks. On campus, in addition to Greenberry's, is Deets, a coffee shop that also offers ice cream and allows students to use their meal plan (but will also accept cash and credit cards). Deets is just under D2 and is an easy place to meet up and study.

Other easy spots to meet up include the Drillfield on campus and the First and Main shopping plaza at the south end of town. During the warmer months, the Drillfield is home to pick-up games of Frisbee and soccer, as well as people outside enjoying the sun.

Sleep
The hotels in the Blacksburg area generally seem to go from $100 to $150 per night. Disregard the prices quoted on the internet, they are often not reflective of reality. Contact the hotel directly under the pretense of booking a room to find out the actual rates. Book your rooms well in advance as there are frequent events that cause them to fill up.

Stay safe
Possessions are very safe in Blacksburg. Purses, wallets and miscellaneous gear are often carelessly left behind and returned to their owners. The reputation of 'completely safe' has been marred by two separate shootings and one decapitation, but these are relatively rare occurrences.

Go next
Roanoke is about a 45-60 minute drive (depending on traffic) North on I-81. Downtown Roanoke offers plenty of restaurants and shops. Center in the Square, in downtown Roanoke, is home to the History Museum of Western Virginia, The Science Museum of Western Virginia, as well as the Hopkins Planetarium. The Virginia Museum of Transportation has exhibits showcasing buses, cars, planes and trains, including multiple locomotives that were built in Roanoke. The Roanoke Civic Center hosts concerts and performances throughout the year. The Mill Mountain Star and the Mill Mountain Zoo are at the top of Mill Mountain.

There is a bus which leaves from in front of Squires Student Center and goes past the Roanoke Airport and on to the city of Roanoke. $4 (as of 2011).

Abingdon is about an hour and a half South down I-81 from Blacksburg and is home to the Barter Theater, designated the State Theater of Virginia in 1946. The Barter Theater puts on shows year-round and is one of the longest running professional theaters in the nation. The Virginia Creeper Trail, a 35-mile multi-purpose rail trail, runs from Abingdon to Whitetop, and is accessible to bikers, hikers and horse-back riders. Abingdon is also home to the Virginia Highlands Festival, a celebration of Appalachian arts, crafts and traditions.

Also within driving distance of Blacksburg are the sites of many battles from the Civil War, including the Appomattox Court House, the site of the Battle of the Appomattox Court House and where the Confederate Army surrendered on April 9, 1865. See http://www.civilwartraveler.com/EAST/VA/va-valley/morevalley.html for more information on battles that occurred in Southwest Virginia.

title: Blacksburg


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Black Sea Turkey

Black Sea Turkey (Turkish: Karadeniz Bölgesi) in northern Turkey, is a humid and verdant region renowned for its natural beauty thanks to the high precipitation levels distributed evenly throughout the year. The region is very mountainous and is heavily forested, while the highest parts of the mountains are covered with alpine meadows, glacier lakes, and glaciers.

The region covers much of the country's northern coast, but the western stretch of the Black Sea coast is a part of the Marmara Region.

Cities

 * — a historic city with riverside Ottoman mansions and ancient rock-cut tombs watching them from above
 * — a beautiful seaside resort town with a nice beach, pleasant vistas, and great fish restaurants
 * — a city standing out with its relatively lively nightlife; trips to a nearby island can be arranged from here
 * — the heart of Turkey's tea growing region; not a real tourist attraction, but a good base for exploring the northeast
 * — a, this is a very well preserved Ottoman old town with a traditional streetscape and whitewashed houses
 * — the largest city on the Turkish Black Sea coast with big city attractions: such as opera and museums. Also many sports, including wakeboarding in summer.
 * — an ancient fortified port city jutting out on a peninsula that is Turkey's northernmost tip
 * — the main city of the northeast has a lot to offer a visitor, and is the place to stay when traveling to the stunning Sümela Monastery
 * — a bleak industrial city with coal mining heritage

Other destinations

 * — a resort around a mountain lake of the same name; fairly popular among the locals due to its easily accessible location near the Istanbul–Ankara motorway
 * — a village up in the lush Kaçkar Mountains/Pontic Alps
 * — the ruins of the Hittite capital
 * — a ski resort amidst beautiful fir forests
 * — a stunning monastery hanging on a cliff in the lush Altındere Valley

Climate
The climate is oceanic on the coasts; warm, showery summers (averaging around 25-27°C during the day, 10-15 days of rain a month), mild transitional seasons, and cool, wet winters (averaging around 6-10°C during the day, 15-20 days of precipitation a month). Snow is occasional in winter, and melts quickly. One important rule of thumb is that east-facing cities, such as Samsun and Sinop, are often better protected from storms than their west-facing counterparts, such as Zonguldak or Rize.

Mountainous regions have a colder and much snowier variant of the coastal climate; while lowlands far from the coasts are continental, with very warm, somewhat dry summers, and cold, snowy winters.

Get around
The 350 km road from Amasra to Sinop is beautiful and breathtaking as it winds its way along the rugged coast. If you are depending on public transport, however, it is likely to take two days. Expect to spend a night in one of the small towns along the coast, such as Inebolu, as bus service is town-to-town, and you are likely to arrive at some town after the last dolmus has left. While the towns along the way are unspoilt and unpretentious, they are a bit run down. If you have your own car or motorcycle, you can do the journey in one day (start early).

Go next
As the Black Sea Region spreads over most of northern Turkey elongatedly, getting out of the region involves heading for destinations hugely different in character:
 * To the west, the Marmara Region has some of the country's greatest cities, packed full of historical sights.
 * To the south, you have two inland options depending on where you pass through the coastal mountain range: the wide open steppes of Central Anatolia or the mountainous territory of Eastern Anatolia.
 * To the east, Georgia is as lush as Black Sea Turkey, and has a great culinary tradition.

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

title: Black Sea Turkey


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Blackstone

Blackstone is a town in Massachusetts. The region was first inhabited by the Nipmuc Amerindian people, and was settled by European immigrants in 1662. The town was incorporated in 1845. It is located on the southern border of Central Massachusetts in the heart of New England. Much of Blackstone remains undeveloped and it is known as a quiet and rustic town. Its population of less than 10,000 gives off the small-town feel, while residents embrace the town's only stop light as its claim to modern civilization.

By car
Blackstone is accessible from most of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. From the North, take 1-93 S and I-95 S. From the South, take I-295 N or I-95 N and RI-146 N. From the west, take I-84 E.

By plane
T.F. Green Airport in Warwick (Rhode Island) and Logan International Airport in Boston (Massachusetts).

Get around
The most common way of transportation in Blackstone is by car or taxi. Biking and walking are reasonable alternatives. There are no car rental services in town, however nearby cities and towns have many of the major rental corporations.

By taxi

 * Bob's Transportation Services, Bellingham, +1 508 883-8333
 * Hopkinton Taxi, Milford, +1 508 478-6008

Do
Blackstone attracts tourists from across the Blackstone Valley and various New England states and is known for its historical landmarks.

Although Blackstone is too rural to host an entertainment industry, the surrounding towns, like Milford provide plenty of fun activities.

Novelty
Blackstone features many privately owned and unique shopping options.

Plazas
Blackstone is too small to host a retail shopping plaza. The Lincoln Mall in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is SE of Blackstone, and the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Wrentham is  E of Blackstone.

Eat
Chain restaurants including Subway and Dunkin' Donuts are available in addition to some local options.

Sleep
There are no hotels in town, although the nearby towns of Woonsocket and Franklin have hotels available.

Go next
Visit Providence, Boston, Newport, or Worcester.

title: Blackstone


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Blackstone Valley

Blackstone Valley is a region of Central Massachusetts extending from Worcester southeast toward Providence, Rhode Island. Wikivoyage extends the area to include some other towns of Greater Worcester.

Other destinations

 * Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

By air
The nearby city of Providence has a large international airport and Worcester has a smaller national airport.

By car
Route 146 is the main highway running north and south between Worcester and Providence. It intersects with I-95 and I-295 in Rhode Island and with I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) in Massachusetts.

Get around
The main method of transportation in this region is by car. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) offers bus service to some parts of Blackstone Valley. Check the schedule for specific bus routes.

See
The Blackstone Valley is an excellent place to get a feel for the Industrial Revolution. The region is dotted with mill towns, many of which have preserved impressive examples of 19th century industrial architecture. There are also quite a few that are still used for manufacturing, although they are increasingly being converted to apartments. The Blackstone River is the central feature of the region. While you may expect this river, which made the Industrial Revolution possible, to be a powerful torrent of water, it's actually a fairly tranquil river lined with forests and wetlands. the hills above the river don't rise to any great height, but offer the occasional scenic overlook.

Do

 * The Blackstone Valley Bicycle Path which will run from Worcester to Providence.  The path starts in Lincoln, Rhode Island and follows the Towpath along the Blackstone Canal, through Woonsocket to the MA state border.  Hop on the path anywhere in between or schedule a bicycle tour.
 * A Blackstone Valley Tour Package costs $350, which is based on double occupancy, and includes 2 nights' accommodations and requires a reservation. Bike, helmets and water are available for participants.  Half day, one day and multi day packages available at varying prices.
 * Blackstone Valley Scenic Railway Tours: from Cumberland, Rhode Island to Putnam, Connecticut, take a fall foliage and shopping excursion to Putnam for antique shopping, dining, and Putnam Fall Festival.

Eat
There are many different restaurants and diners in this region that offer many different types of food. Famous for family-style, all you can eat chicken dinners. Other restaurants offer a variety of cuisines, including Cape Verdean, Chinese, Colombian, Dominican, French, Guatemalan, Indian, Italian, Lebanese, Mediterranean, Mexican, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese. There are bakeries that offer Italian and Italian/American, Italian/French, Portuguese and Spanish inspired goods. Also, a variety of Asian, Cape Verdean, Dominican, Indian, International, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish markets are present in this region.

Drink
The Blackstone Valley is not a major nightlife destination since it is primarily a suburban area for Worcester and Providence. Bars exist, but are fairly utilitarian and mostly cater to their local regulars. There are a handful of breweries in the region, which are quite small and sell most of their beer on-site. Coffee culture in the region, to the extent that it exists, consists mostly of Dunkin Donuts. There are also a couple of Starbucks.

Stay safe
This is a fairly safe area. Visitors have little to worry about other than inclement weather in the winter.

Go next
Visit hip, cosmopolitan Providence

Explore Boston's affluent suburbs in the MetroWest

Drink a Julius IPA in South County

title: Blackstone Valley


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Black Volta Region

The Black Volta Region of Burkina Faso is in the southwest of the country.

Cities

 * — home to the famous Banfora Cascades
 * — the nation's second largest city is a major center of culture and music
 * — hosts a biennial festival of masks
 * — an important market town that has a range of crafts, including pottery and basket work
 * — host one of the five sites of ancient iron metallurgy in Burkina Faso classified as World Heritage by UNESCO
 * — gateway to the ruins of Loropéni
 * — capital for the Siamou ethnic group
 * – famous for the Pics de Sindou sandstone formations
 * — close to the Sourou River (hippopotamuses), the Dounkou crocodile pond, and the granite cave and pyramid of Dio

Other destinations

 * — home to baobab trees, hippopotamuses, and crocodiles
 * — the only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Burkina Faso is home to about 100 hippos; it is about 60 km north of Bobo-Dioulasso,
 * — Medieval UNESCO World Heritage site with extensive ruins of a 1000-year-old fortress 40 km west of Gaoua

See
Dômes de Fabédougou near Banfora are great dome-shaped sandstone formations near the Karfiguéla Falls.

The Grande Mosquée in Bobo-Dioulasso is a fine example of Sahel-style mud architecture.

Dédougou hosts a festival of masks in even-numbered years. For several days, representatives from all regions of Burkina Faso parade wearing the traditional masks of the country.

The Lobi "villages" around Gaoua are mini-fortresses scattered around the countryside.

Ancient ferrous metallurgy sites
Five sites with ancient iron mines and furnaces around Burkina Faso have been listed as a world heritage site. Two of them are in the Black Volta Region (the other three are in North Burkina Faso):

title: Black Volta Region


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Blackwell

Blackwell is in the Red Carpet Country region of Oklahoma. A Cherokee Outlet land run town from 1893, and regrettably a rather sordid sundown town for a good while after. Its big money-maker, a zinc smelter, would later come back to haunt the town with long-lasting environmental damage.

title: Blackwell


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Blaenau Ffestiniog

Blaenau Ffestiniog is a small town in the Snowdonia Mountains in Wales. Blaenau Ffestiniog is a former slate-mining village and consists of one main road with all the others leading off it.

Understand
A narrow-gauge railway, the Ffestiniog Railway, was built from Blaenau Ffestiniog to take the slate down to the sea at Porthmadog. The railway ceased operation after some 110 years of operation due to the run down of the slate industry, road competition, and the Second World War. It was fully reopened to Blaenau Ffestiniog in 1982 and is one of the town's main tourist attractions.

By car
The best option to get to the town is by car - mostly because there aren't that many buses or trains to get around. The town is on the A470 from Llandudno to Dolgellau and the A487 from Porthmadog. There are no fuel stations in the town, so fill up your tank well before you get there. There is a Shell station near Betws y Coed on the A5 (11 miles from Blaenau). Other options are at Porthmadog.

By bus
There aren't that many buses to Blaenau. X1/84 run from Llandudno and Betws-y-Coed, every 1-2 hours on workdays. There are also buses to Porthmadog (1B - approximately every 70 minutes) and Dolgellau.

By train
The Conwy Valley Line runs from Llandudno to Blaenau, but only has a train every 3 hours or so. The main is also the terminus for the narrow-gauge heritage Ffestiniog Railway from Porthmadog. On some summer days it has more frequent departures than the "real" railway.

Get around
As the town is quite small you can easily get around on foot and the town has undergone a face lift to help attract visitors to what was the 'Slate Capital of the World' in its hey-day. The Llechwedd Slate Caverns, which celebrate the town's famous history, are a mile's walk from the station on the road to Dolwyddelan over the Crimea Pass - or go by car. As all the main roads in and out of town are very narrow main roads with quite fast traffic, so the bicycle isn't a good idea - and for mountain biking other towns in the area are better bases. Blaenau Ffestiniog is celebrated as the only town in North Wales where all roads lead into the Snowdonia National Park. At 850 ft above sea level, it makes the town an ideal base for exploring the park.

Go next

 * Porthmadog
 * Betws y Coed

title: Blaenau Ffestiniog


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Blaenavon

Blaenavon (Welsh: Blaenafon) is a town in Torfaen, South Wales. The Blaenavon Industrial Landscape has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Get in

 * Just south of the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road on the B4246 7 miles of Abergavenny.
 * bus 34 from Brynmawr or X24 from Newport.

Go next

 * Brynmawr
 * Abergavenny
 * Pontypool
 * Cwmbran

title: Blaenavon


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Blagoevgrad

Blagoevgrad (Bulgarian: Благоевград, pronounced blah-GO-ev-grahd) is the largest city in the mountainous south-western corner of Bulgaria (pop. 70 000), at the foot of the Rila mountain, close to the border with with North Macedonia, south of the capital Sofia. It's the administrative center of Blagoevgrad Province and one of the gateways to Rila.

Understand

Blagoevgrad lies in the valley of the Struma river that separates the rugged Rila and Pirin ranges from the mountains on the western border. Blagoevgrad Province (Oblast) extends from the city itself all the way down to the border with Greece, to the south. It covers the southern slopes of Rila and the whole of Pirin, including Bansko, Razlog and Gotse Delchev in the mountains and Sandanski, Petrich and Melnik down the Struma Valley. The oblast also mostly overlaps with Pirin Macedonia, the Bulgarian part of Macedonia - the historical-geographic region that was the cause of much bloodshed in the 20th century and political bickering in the 21st. The fifth-longest river in Bulgaria, Struma, runs a few kilometres west of the city, but one of its tributaries flows right through Blagoevgrad - the small Bistritsa.

Under Ottoman reign, Blagoevgrad was a small, rural town. After the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, it was left outside of the newly created Principality of Bulgaria, remaining a part of the Ottoman Empire until the First Balkan War (1913). Afterwards, its population swelled with Bulgarian refugees from the rest of Macedonia and the settlement started quickly developing economically. Until the mid-20th century, it was known as Gorna Dzhumaya - "Upper Dzhumaya" (from Turkish 'Cuma' meaning "Friday [market]" or "gathering"). In 1949, soon after gaining power, the Communist regime renamed the place to "Blagoevgrad" - "Blagoev's city", after Dimitar Blagoev (1856-1924), the founding leader of the Bulgarian Communist Party. It's one of the few Bulgarian cities that chose to retain their ideologically-related names (the other notable one is Dimitrovgrad, in Haskovo Province).

In the 1980s, Blagoevgrad's central square was overhauled and many institutions were moved in new buildings in the fashionable at the time modernist-futurist style. Thankfully, unlike elsewhere (e.g. Shumen) the work was completed before the fall of the regime. In 1991, one of the first private universities in the country was established in Blagoevgrad - the American University in Bulgaria, an American-style liberal arts university (though both the Bulgarian and the US governments played a major role in its founding). Ironically, its main building became the former Communist Party headquarters, the so-called "House of the Party" in the centre of the city. Blagoevgrad is also the home of the state-run South-Western University, which explains the slightly-above-than-average proportion of young people in a city of this size.

Get in
The closest airport is in Sofia.

By rail
Blagoevgrad is a major stop on the railway line that runs through the length of the Struma Valley, connecting Sofia with the Kulata/Promachonas crossing at the border with Greece. As a result, there are multiple daily trains from Sofia (2-2¾ hr), Pernik (1-1½ hr) and Dupnitsa (30-45 min) in the north. Rail travel from Kyustendil without getting into Sofia is also possible, but it requires an awkward change at Radomir (totally 3½ to 4 hr).

From the southern direction, most direct trains start from Petrich (less than 2 hr), passing through Sandanski (about 1 hr) and Simitli (about 20 min). From Kulata, there are a couple of direct trains (less than 2 hr), as well as several daily runs of a commuter train that allows getting on the Petrich train at the General Todorov stop.

Get around
The website of Blagoevgrad's public transport is surprisingly modern for a Bulgarian city of its size - it has an English version and a route planner; you can download it as a smartphone app. There are seven bus lines (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12). Of interest to travellers are mostly the last two, as both can be used to get downtown from the railway and bus stations. Bus 12 also reaches the outskirts of the forested Bachinovo Park on the northern edge of the city. Tickets are bought in the bus; as of 2024, a ticket costs 1.20 лв.

Public parking in the city centre is organized in the way common in Bulgaria - a "blue zone" (sinya zona) where you can (or have to...) pay by sending an SMS to a toll number.

Much of the city centre has been converted to pedestrian streets that form a ring of sorts - starting from the main square, a network of small streets follows to the east of it, then at the large pedestrian bridge the city's main commercial street (Todor Alexandrov Str) turns back, running parallel to the river until it ends at the south end of the small city park, which in turn stretches north to the main square.

See

 * Macedonia Square - another pedestrian square. Includes another 1980s building with an interesting façade that houses the local Opera and a chitalishte (cultural centre). To the east, another pedestrian bridge with benches leads to the History Museum and the Varosha Quarter.
 * Varosha quarter - a neighbourhood of preserved and restored 19th century houses.
 * Memorial of the Delchev Family - mosaics rather than statues. Commemorates Gotse Delchev's family, including his parents and siblings (who also took part in revolutionary activities)
 * Varosha quarter - a neighbourhood of preserved and restored 19th century houses.
 * Memorial of the Delchev Family - mosaics rather than statues. Commemorates Gotse Delchev's family, including his parents and siblings (who also took part in revolutionary activities)
 * Varosha quarter - a neighbourhood of preserved and restored 19th century houses.
 * Memorial of the Delchev Family - mosaics rather than statues. Commemorates Gotse Delchev's family, including his parents and siblings (who also took part in revolutionary activities)
 * Memorial of the Delchev Family - mosaics rather than statues. Commemorates Gotse Delchev's family, including his parents and siblings (who also took part in revolutionary activities)

Do

 * Football: Pirin play soccer in First League, the top tier. Their Stadion Hristo Botev (capacity 11,000) is 1 km north of town centre.
 * Hiking
 * Rafting: a popular site is on the river Struma in the picturesque Kresna Gorge, near the village of Kresna halfway between Blagoevgrad and Sandanski.

Sleep
Once the pride of Blagoevgrad, the Communist-era multi-storey grand hotel Alen Mak (Scarlet Poppy) has been defunct for years, but it still looms over the main square like a monument to 1980s architecture and the failures of privatization. The niche has been filled by a number of modern hotels, often built on the outskirts of the city, and smaller family-run enterprises in refurbished older buildings.

Nearby

 * The Stob Pyramids - natural formations caused by erosion
 * The Rila Monastery, a

Go next

 * Dupnitsa to the north, and then:
 * the capital Sofia further north, or
 * to the east, the northern slopes of Rila, including Samokov and the Borovets resort, or
 * to the west, Kyustendil, the mountainous region of Kraishte and the Osogovo Mountain
 * to the east, through Predela Pass: the mountain resorts in the Razlog Valley where Rila, Pirin and the Rhodopes meet, including Bansko
 * Delčevo in North Macedonia across the border to the west
 * to the south, Sandanski and Melnik under the slopes of Pirin, Petrich with its mystics and hot springs, and Serres across the border with Greece

title: Blagoevgrad


text:
Blagoveshchensk

Blagoveshchensk (Russian: Благове́щенск, blah-guh-VYEH-schyensk) is the capital city of Russia's Amur Oblast, located on the border with China. It is one of the oldest cities in the Russian Far East.

By train
By direct train from Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Tynda or Moscow, all of them pass through Belogorsk, the town on Trans Siberian Railway. Riding any other train will need connection in Belogorsk, from where you can also take a bus.

By ferry or bus
Opposite the city, on the other bank of the Amur River is the Chinese city of Heihe. A ferry boat operates in warm seasons. In the winter, the border is crossed by bus.

Do
Annual festival "Amur Autumn" hosts art films and spectacles from Russia. One of the festivals was honoured by visit of Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida.Official site.

Buy

 * Chinese vodka with snake
 * Chinese vodka with snake

Eat
Chinese and Russian food.

Go next

 * Heihe, a Chinese border city on the opposite side of Amur River

title: Blagoveshchensk


text:
Blaine

Blaine is a city in the Northwest Cascades region of Washington (state). It is the major land border crossing between this part of Washington and the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. It straddles Interstate 5 which terminates in Blaine, and is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Understand
Blaine (aka "the Peace Arch City") was settled by Europeans in the mid-1800s and named after James G. Blaine, secretary of state and presidential candidate. It was incorporated as a city in 1890.

Blaine is a border town and the northern terminus of Interstate 5 which becomes BC-99 as one crosses into Canada. Blaine is also the most Northwest town in the Lower 48 States.

The Department of Homeland Security has two border inspection stations: Peace Arch Crossing to the west for passenger vehicles & the "Truck Crossing" to the east for both commercial entry and passenger vehicles. A great deal of Blaine's economy is based on legal trade across the Canadian border and Blaine also has a long history of smuggling.

Its population was estimated to be 5,400 in 2018.

Blaine has two large marinas with hundreds of boats. Salmon, crab, and other seafood are widely available.

By car
Blaine is northern terminus of Interstate 5. It is also location of the two primary ports of entry between this part of Washington and the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada:

See the Get in – By car section of the Northwest Cascades article for details.

By plane
The nearest commercial airport is Bellingham International Airport. Vancouver International Airport, while across the border in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, offers a much wider range of destinations.

By bus

 * Route 75 operates from Monday to Saturday between Blaine and Bellingham via Ferndale.
 * Route 75 operates from Monday to Saturday between Blaine and Bellingham via Ferndale.

Do
There are many biking & walking trails, including along Boundary Bay. Blaine is a major birdwatching area. There is a casino in Blaine, a library, and various small businesses.

Go next
Go north to Canada's West Coast gem Vancouver, or head south to Seattle for a great time on the Sound.

title: Blaine


text:
Blair Atholl

Blair Atholl is a village in Perth and Kinross in the Scottish Highlands, notable for its castle, and with a population of about 500. Ringed by the Cairngorm mountains and within Cairngorms National Park, it's on the main route from Perth to Inverness. The village is at the confluence of the rivers Tilt and Garry, amidst the last large patch of farmland in the valley (Gaelic: blàr, a field or plain). Further north, the route rises through Calvine and over bleak Drumochter Pass, before descending into the Spey Valley. So if you led an invading army of Jacobites, or a vengeful loyalist army in pursuit, you'd have to march this way.

Atholl Glens is the Visitor Centre, just west of the Tilt river bridge and open daily 9AM-4:45PM.

By train
Blair Atholl has trains every hour or two from Edinburgh and Glasgow via Perth, Birnam and Pitlochry, which continue north to Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore and Inverness. Getting here from England means changing in Edinburgh or Perth; the direct daytime train from London Kings Cross to Inverness doesn't stop here.

Nightly except Saturday, the Caledonian Highland Sleeper leaves London Euston around 9PM to reach Blair Atholl by 6:30AM on its way to Inverness. The southbound sleeper picks up around 10:30PM, reaching Euston by 8AM. You might prefer to take the Lowland Sleeper from Euston towards midnight, and change in Edinburgh for a daytime train. Returning south, you need to leave Blair Atholl not much after 8PM to join the Lowland Sleeper from Edinburgh around 11:30PM.

is west end of the village. It has a ticket office but no machines. There's a waiting room but no toilets or cafe. Both platforms have step-free access.

By bus
Most inter-city buses rush past on A9. Citylink M91 runs once daily from Edinburgh via Halbeath (for Fife), Kinross, Broxden P&R, Perth, Birnam and Pitlochry, taking 2 hr 30 min to Blair Atholl, and continuing to Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore and Inverness. From Glasgow, Stirling or Dundee, change at Broxden P&R.

Elizabeth Yule Bus 87 runs from Pitlochry M-Sa every couple of hours, taking 30 min via Faskally and Killicrankie. It stops in Blair Atholl by the castle and at Atholl Arms (for railway station) and continues to House of Bruar and Calvine.

By road
Follow A9 north from Perth or south from Inverness and Aviemore to the loop road B8079, the former main road through town.

Get around
The village is small but you need wheels to reach Falls of Bruar. The nearest taxi firms are in Pitlochry.

See

 * is a ruin at the north end of the castle gardens, but also accessible by a public lane. Several Dukes of Atholl are buried here. It was the village church until abandoned in 1823.
 * Glen Tilt ascends north of the village. The lane up it is paved but narrow with no turning or passing places, use the car park by the turn-off for St Bride's.
 * are at Pitagowan behind House of Bruar shopping centre. It's a spectacular series of pools, waterfalls and natural arch, as the Bruar Water cuts a gorge through the rugged landscape. Best viewed in full spate after heavy rain, and in autumn with the colours of the leaves. In the 18th century the poet Robert Burns was one of many visitors who found the setting barren, so he wrote a poem to the Duke of Atholl, as if from the river, begging for some trees to adorn it. The Duke set about planting the area and laid out the present path; William Wordsworth complained it was too neat.
 * are at Pitagowan behind House of Bruar shopping centre. It's a spectacular series of pools, waterfalls and natural arch, as the Bruar Water cuts a gorge through the rugged landscape. Best viewed in full spate after heavy rain, and in autumn with the colours of the leaves. In the 18th century the poet Robert Burns was one of many visitors who found the setting barren, so he wrote a poem to the Duke of Atholl, as if from the river, begging for some trees to adorn it. The Duke set about planting the area and laid out the present path; William Wordsworth complained it was too neat.
 * are at Pitagowan behind House of Bruar shopping centre. It's a spectacular series of pools, waterfalls and natural arch, as the Bruar Water cuts a gorge through the rugged landscape. Best viewed in full spate after heavy rain, and in autumn with the colours of the leaves. In the 18th century the poet Robert Burns was one of many visitors who found the setting barren, so he wrote a poem to the Duke of Atholl, as if from the river, begging for some trees to adorn it. The Duke set about planting the area and laid out the present path; William Wordsworth complained it was too neat.

Do

 * Golf: Blair Atholl Golf is nine holes. It's at the foot of Invertilt Rd, east of the river.
 * Atholl Highland Gathering is held at the castle in late May, with the next on Sa 26 May 2024.
 * Jamborette is for Scouts, Explorers and Sea Scouts worldwide aged 14-17. It's similar to the world Scout Jamboree but smaller, with numbers capped at 1000. It's held in the castle grounds in the summer of even years, with the next on 15-26 July 2024.

Eat

 * Blair Atholl Watermill is a working mill and bakery with tea room and shop. It's behind Atholl Arms and open April-Oct daily 9:30AM-3:30PM.
 * Blair Atholl Watermill is a working mill and bakery with tea room and shop. It's behind Atholl Arms and open April-Oct daily 9:30AM-3:30PM.
 * Blair Atholl Watermill is a working mill and bakery with tea room and shop. It's behind Atholl Arms and open April-Oct daily 9:30AM-3:30PM.

Drink

 * Blair Atholl is too small for a stand-alone pub, try the Atholl Arms Hotel or The Loft restaurant.
 * Sorry, but Blair Athol (one "L") whisky distillery isn't here, it's in Pitlochry; it's still worth sampling. There's another in Dalwhinnie, then more than you can imagine on Speyside.

Sleep

 * Parc Royale on the river bank opposite the castle is long-stay self-catering lodges, they don't offer short-stay.
 * Parc Royale on the river bank opposite the castle is long-stay self-catering lodges, they don't offer short-stay.
 * Parc Royale on the river bank opposite the castle is long-stay self-catering lodges, they don't offer short-stay.
 * Parc Royale on the river bank opposite the castle is long-stay self-catering lodges, they don't offer short-stay.
 * Parc Royale on the river bank opposite the castle is long-stay self-catering lodges, they don't offer short-stay.

Connect
Blair Atholl and the A9 have 4G from all UK carriers. As of March 2024, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * The valley of Strath Tummel leads west up to lonely Rannoch Moor, where the road dead-ends.
 * North you climb over Drumochter Pass to Dalwhinnie: either stay on A9 to descend into Spey Valley and Aviemore, or go west on A86 across the hills to Fort William, Ben Nevis, and routes to Skye.
 * It's a twisty slow road to go east across the hills, but you can go via Pitlochry and A924 to Kirkmichael and Glenshee; thence over the pass to Braemar and the Dee valley.
 * Or head south on A9 to return to the lowlands and Perth.

title: Blair Atholl


text:
Blairsville

Blairsville is a city of 600 people (2019) in Georgia's Northeast High Country.

Do

 * The Spring Arts and Crafts Festival is held every year during the last weekend in May. Assorted artists from all over North Georgia participate, as do local artists, restaurants and businesses. Held on the historic town square, there are activities for children and musical acts.
 * The Green Bean Festival is held annually on the last weekend in July. It features beauty pageants, green bean pizza-eating contests, a canning contest, a green bean recipe contest, a tractor parade, fresh produce, crafts, and many activities for children.
 * The Appalachian Trail in Georgia has elevations that vary from about 2500 to 4,500 feet (1,400 m), with many steep climbs. It extends some 75 miles (121 km) through the Chattahoochee National Forest.
 * Butternut Creek Golf Course is an 18-hole mountainside public golf course located within the city limits.
 * Encompassing nearly two-thirds of the county, the Chattahoochee National Forest has a series of winding trails. Visitors may hike through scenic mountains, and by rushing rivers, and cascading waterfalls.
 * The Appalachian Trail in Georgia has elevations that vary from about 2500 to 4,500 feet (1,400 m), with many steep climbs. It extends some 75 miles (121 km) through the Chattahoochee National Forest.
 * Butternut Creek Golf Course is an 18-hole mountainside public golf course located within the city limits.
 * Encompassing nearly two-thirds of the county, the Chattahoochee National Forest has a series of winding trails. Visitors may hike through scenic mountains, and by rushing rivers, and cascading waterfalls.

Sleep

 * Rainbow Cabins of North Georgia, +1 706-258-3678, North Georgia Cabin Rentals . Riverfront cabins rentals in Blairsville, Blue Ridge, and Ellijay.
 * Crossing Creeks RV Resort, Spa, and Cabins, +1 706-835-1111. Luxury RV resort featuring a spa, onsite cabins, and recreation.
 * Crossing Creeks RV Resort, Spa, and Cabins, +1 706-835-1111. Luxury RV resort featuring a spa, onsite cabins, and recreation.

Go next

 * Union County

title: Blairsville


text:
Blanchard

Blanchard is a small agricultural township in the Red River Valley of North Dakota, between Fargo and Grand Forks.

Get in

 * By Car, from I-29, take exit 100 west on state Highway 200A for 8 miles.

Eat
No commercial accommodations; closest are in Hillsboro, Halstad or Hatton.

title: Blanchard


text:
Blanco

Blanco is a city in Texas.

Go next

 * Fredericksburg
 * Austin
 * San Antonio
 * New Braunfels — Located 39 miles southeast of Blanco, this town is best known for its German culture and heritage, not to mention the Schlitterbahn, persistent in being voted the world's best waterpark.
 * San Marcos — 36 miles east of Blanco, San Marcos is the home of Texas State University and its Aquarena Center, as well as two massive outlet malls that have more than 350 shops.

title: Blanco


text:
Blandford (Massachusetts)

Blandford is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts.

title: Blandford (Massachusetts)


text:
Blandford Forum

Blandford Forum is a town in Dorset. The town is noted for its Georgian architecture

Understand
Blandford Forum suffered a major fire in 1731 which destroyed most of the town leaving 480 families homeless. The town was rebuilt in the next ten years in a grand Georgian style to the designs of local architect brothers John and William Bastard.

The town has a population of 10,400 (2021). A major local employer is the army which has a camp (opened in 1724) two miles outside the town.

Get in
There is no train service to Blandford Forum. The nearest main line station is at Salisbury or Wimborne Minster. The town is 15 miles (24 km) from Poole railway station and 15 miles (24 km) miles from Bournemouth Airport. In order to reach the town by public transport, it is possible to take the X8 service from Poole (hourly, takes 40 minutes), the 20 service from Salisbury (four trips per day, takes 52 minutes), the X10 from Yeovil (every two hours, 105 minutes), or the X12 from Weymouth (every two hours, 70 minutes).

Get around
Blandford Forum is a small town, and so sees a very limited bus service (only one route runs around the town every half hour). However, the town is small enough for walking to be convenient. There are also local taxi firms.

Do

 * North Dorset Trailway is a 14-mile walking and cycling path along the trackbed of a former railway. It runs from Sturminster Newton southeast to Shillingstone, Blandford Forum and Spetisbury. Shillingford's old railway station has been restored.
 * Great Dorset Steam Fair is held at Tarrant Hinton, five miles along A354 towards Salisbury. It's held from the Thursday before the August Bank Holiday, with the next on 25-29 Aug 2022.

Eat
There is a variety of restaurants and fast food in Blandford Forum. Try:

Out of town

Connect
As of April 2022, Blandford Forum has 5G from EE, 4G from O2 and Vodafone, but only a basic mobile signal from Three.

Go next

 * Wimborne Minster is a charming town nearby.
 * Shaftesbury
 * Wareham

title: Blandford Forum


text:
Blanding

Blanding is a city in Utah's Canyon Country.

By bus

 * Salt Lake Express

title: Blanding


text:
Blankenburg

Blankenburg is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Understand
Blankenburg is a town and health resort in the district of Harz, Germany, at the north foot of the Harz Mountains, 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Halberstadt.

By motorcar
Blankenburg is located next to the B6n, a newly built dual carriageway, and is linked to it over two junctions: Blankenburg Ost and Blankenburg Zentrum. In addition the B 27 federal road runs southwest and the B 81 north to south through Blankenburg (Harz).

Get around
Blankenburg (Harz) station is a terminus and has a bypass for goods traffic. There are connexions to the to Elbingerode (Rübeland Railway) (only goods trains) and to Halberstadt. The Harz-Elbe Express has worked the line to Halberstadt since 2005. In the 20th century there was a line to Thale and Quedlinburg.

TIP: The HarzTourCard enables you to travel by bus, train and narrow gauge train (only Schierke–Brocken) as much as you like within three days. It cost from. Go to www.insa.de or the local tourist information.

See
The town of Blankenburg (Harz) has picturesque villas from the turn of the 20th century. Also worth seeing are the historic gardens (baroque garden, castle park, pheasant garden, animal park). On the edge of the town lies the former robber baron castle of Regenstein. Below the Regenstein is a Germanic cult site thingstead and, not far away, the so-called Regenstein Mill.

Go next

 * Wernigerode
 * Halberstadt
 * Quedlinburg
 * Thale

title: Blankenburg


text:
Blantyre

Blantyre is the economic capital of Malawi.

Understand
The name Blantyre originates from the birthplace of the missionary Dr David Livingston, who was born in Blantyre, Scotland. Blantyre is the main commercial city in Malawi.

By plane
Malawi airlines has flights between Johannesburg (South Africa) and Blantyre. Air Malawi also flies to Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Harare (Zimbabwe), Lusaka (Zambia), and Nairobi (Kenya). there are taxis to city centre. or you can walk to the highways and get a bus.(kwacha).

By train

Rail services to Blantyre are close to non-existent and not practical at all for the everyday tourist. However, for the intrepid traveler, Central Eastern African Railways offers some possibilities for arriving by train in Blantyre. The border with Mozambique at Nayuchi/Entre Lagos is a mere 22 hours away including a change at Balaka, and services are once a week. That there are no trains from the capital Lilongwe.

By car
Take the M1 south from Lilongwe.

By bus
From Lilongwe International Airport get a luxury bus to Blantyre Bus depot on Chileka Road. Intercape runs bus services from Johannesburg in South Africa, journey time is up to 35 hours.

Get around
For the budget traveller there are basically two ways of getting around Blantyre: by foot or by minibus.

By day it is quite safe to walk around Blantyre provided you don't look like a rich tourist, in which case you may be unpleasantly tailed by street vendors and beggars. It is possible to explore the entire city of Blantyre on foot within a couple of days, and unless you are travelling to Limbe or to the outer suburbs of Blantyre, then it is unlikely you'll require even the minibus.

In the event that you do, then minibuses are very cheap, travelling between Blantyre and Limbe costs MK 350 (as of January 2018). Or you may consider hiring a bicycle if you are that way inclined.

It is unsafe to walk around Blantyre during the night and you should obtain the phone numbers of a few reliable taxi drivers (talk to some of the locals). Taxis are relatively more expensive, and the price also depends on how far the driver has to come to pick you up, but this is much preferable to being mugged in a dark Blantyre street late at night. As a general rule all taxi drivers begin at the Mount Soche Hotel.

See

Learn

 * Society of Malawi (Situated above the Mandala House) is a great place to visit if you enjoy a quiet, historic place to research life both past and present in Malawi and Africa in general. The library and archives are open weekdays from 9AM to noon and the last Thursday of the month from 6-7:30PM. See their website for more updated details regarding special functions, a searchable index of scholarly papers available, etc.

Buy
Blantyre is the commercial center of Malawi and travelers come in from all over the region (including neighboring Mozambique) to stock up on supplies—food, construction materials, electronics, etc. The downtown area is full of Asian (Indian) run shops, as is nearby Limbe. A bustling market area popular with locals offers all kinds of fruits, veggies, used clothing, construction materials, etc. on the cheap. Newer Western-style shops are available for those who just want to get in and get out (i.e. Game hypermarket part of Walmart USA. and Shoprite South Africa, Chichiri Savers Choice is a well-stocked Asian run store heading toward Limbe that caters to the expat community with hard-to-find food items, a good bakery, an ice-cream bar and candy shop. Prices for the same thing can often vary from shop to shop and an abundance of counterfeited products flood the market, so it's best to shop around and stay on guard.

 * Ecobank Victoria Aveune has a no withdwaw fee Mastercard and visa card atm.

Budget

 * Vendors are all over the streets in Blantyre. They sell a range of food items from fried chips, chicken, to hard boiled eggs, bread (mostly milkscone variety and yellow buns), biscuits (locally made from Universal Industries), and so on. Plenty of ripe fruit and vegetables are also readily available for a good price. On the whole, however, street food is nowhere near as tasty as many other African countries tend to offer.

Mid-range

 * Chez Maky, a delightful out-of-the-way respite from the city, is a great place to get together with business associates or a few friends (space is available for conferences). Situated on a multi-level wooden deck protected from rain, the proprietor is a delightful host originally from Cameroon who makes everyone feel right at home. Grilled meat is particularly well-done here (some of the best in the country) and real coffee with desserts are a nice addition to any meal. Located on Kabula Hill Road past Seventh Day Adventist Hospital (just go past the hospital, which will be on your right, go on the road straight till you see a sign on your left, go straight on that road, third house on your left. Open every day from 8 to 10PM. +265 9203029, +265 1833764
 * China Da Restaurant and Lodge is a newly opened restaurant, the largest Chinese restaurant in town with an expansive menu. The roast duck is a must try. They are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, and meals can be had for less than 1000 MK. There are 5 private dining rooms for parties, complete with television and karaoke. A full liquor bar serves Western spirits as well as Chinese varieties. For a truly luxurious experience, go for a Chinese massage in the attached massage parlor before you enjoy dinner. The location is very convenient, centrally located between Blantyre and Limbe, directly across the street from Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. The address is Ginnery corner (Johnstone Road) behind People's Trading Center. Phone +265 888953333 or 1880882 Email carey808020@hotmail.com

Splurge

 * 21 Grill, at Ryalls Hotel. The attention the servers give you is alone worth a reason to go (far superior to most other places where 'service' is not really a thing people know about). +265 1 820 955.

Budget

 * Kabula Lodge, Hardman Rd. An old family run establishment 10 minutes walking distance from the centre of Blantyre. Rooms start from 15 USD/night. Standard rooms have two single beds and common bathroom facilities. If you would like to have one of the cheap rooms it is recommended to book at least 6–8 weeks in advance and confirm by email, though they have been known to overbook. All rooms have ordinary mosquito nets (no permethrin). There is a laundry and ironing service (MK 1000), but take tough clothes, as everything is done by hand! Safe-keeping facilities are available and US dollars can usually be exchanged for Kwacha if necessary. Skyband wi-fi access on patio, though you must purchase access cards (MK 500 for 30 minutes). Turn left at the top of Victoria Avenue (where the Mount Soche Hotel is) and walk approx. 100m up Glynn Jones Road. Turn right onto Kabula Hill Road (follow the signs) and then turn left onto Hardman Road. Walk up then down the hill and you will reach two unsealed dirt roads proceeding left. Both are signposted, the second leads to Kabula Hill Lodge which is the second-to-last residence at the end of this road. Do not walk this road after sunset, call a taxi. Phone: +265 991 39 15 01 Email: kabulalodge@africa-online.net, kabulalodge@yahoo.com
 * Kabula Lodge, Hardman Rd. An old family run establishment 10 minutes walking distance from the centre of Blantyre. Rooms start from 15 USD/night. Standard rooms have two single beds and common bathroom facilities. If you would like to have one of the cheap rooms it is recommended to book at least 6–8 weeks in advance and confirm by email, though they have been known to overbook. All rooms have ordinary mosquito nets (no permethrin). There is a laundry and ironing service (MK 1000), but take tough clothes, as everything is done by hand! Safe-keeping facilities are available and US dollars can usually be exchanged for Kwacha if necessary. Skyband wi-fi access on patio, though you must purchase access cards (MK 500 for 30 minutes). Turn left at the top of Victoria Avenue (where the Mount Soche Hotel is) and walk approx. 100m up Glynn Jones Road. Turn right onto Kabula Hill Road (follow the signs) and then turn left onto Hardman Road. Walk up then down the hill and you will reach two unsealed dirt roads proceeding left. Both are signposted, the second leads to Kabula Hill Lodge which is the second-to-last residence at the end of this road. Do not walk this road after sunset, call a taxi. Phone: +265 991 39 15 01 Email: kabulalodge@africa-online.net, kabulalodge@yahoo.com

Stay safe
Night time muggings or robberies do occur. Private taxis are cheap and readily available. Ask around and bargain.

Connect
There is an internet cafe (and library) near Phoenix International School. Come off Chileka Road either at St Michael and All Angels Church or at Phoenix School. From there ask around for directions to the 'Resource Centre and Library' - or failing that ask for directions to Phoenix School.

From the Phoenix International School entrance itself you would head down the gentle slope (away from the main road - which would be down a steeper slope) and there is a building directly in front of you. That is where the internet cafe, resource centre and library is located. The entrance to the school faces directly towards the Phoenix School gates.

Lewis (+265 999 220 572) is the manager and will quickly get you online for a modest fee.

Consulates

 * 🇬🇷 Greece

Go next

 * Cape Maclear
 * Majete Wildlife Reserve
 * Tete, Mozambique
 * Zomba

ブランタイヤ

title: Blantyre


text:
Blarney

Blarney (An Bhlarna, meaning "the little field") is a village in County Cork, nowadays incorporated into the nearby city of Cork. It's been on the tourist circuit for almost 300 years thanks to its castle and Blarney Stone. It's also a commuter town for Cork, with a population in 2016 of 2539.

Understand
Blarney Castle was built around 1210, destroyed in 1446 but re-built. Embedded in its battlements is a block of Carboniferous limestone known as the Blarney Stone (Cloch na Blarnan) or Stone of Eloquence. Various legends claim it was brought from afar, but that would have to be from somewhere with identical bedrock to Blarney, and it was obviously quarried nearby.

Those who kiss the stone are supposed to gain skill in charming, flattering deceit. This idea was first documented in Francis Grose's 1785 Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, a dictionary of slang with many bawdy entries. Because the stone is set high on the castle walls, and getting into position to kiss it is tricky and dangerous, then to have done so is a badge of perseverance, courage and agility. Whereof many are supposed to claim the honour, who never achieved the adventure; and to tip the Blarney is figuratively used for telling a marvellous story, or falsity. So originally you deceived people not by having kissed the stone, but by inventing a story about doing so.

The legend was boosted in the 19th century by tourism, by music-hall stereotypes of comic romantic Irishness, and by an Irish diaspora (fluent in English, as other diasporas were not) willing to play to the role. Francis Sylvester Malony (aka "Father Prout") wrote:
 * "Tis there's the stone that whoever kisses
 * He never misses to grow eloquent;
 * 'Tis he may clamber to a lady's chamber,
 * Or become a member of Parliament...."

Malony, himself a formidable exponent of the Blarney, is most remembered for his "Bells of Shandon", where he rhymes Moscow with kiosk-o.

The Blarney legend became the prototype example of Blarney and brought tourists flocking. But in the 19th century it remained hazardous to reach the stone: you had to dangle over the parapet, sure death if you slipped. Nobody did get killed but it inspired a murder mystery in The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. This was a U.S. radio series first broadcast in 1946: the "new" was the give-away that these tales were only loosely based on the original Sherlock stories, and the idea that Conan Doyle was involved is, yes that's right, a load of Blarney. The word is thus sometimes broadened and conflated with "baloney," which means nonsense but lacks the Blarney element of beguiling flattery.

The castle parapet has been fitted with guardrails so what you do nowadays is hold tight, lean backwards and apply face to stone. Then you go away and record your experience on websites like this in a way that is scrupulously accurate, fair and objective.

Get in
Blarney is 9 km northwest of Cork along N20. Bus Éireann 251 runs from St Patrick's Street in Cork taking 20 min to Blarney village and continuing west to Cloghroe. It's every 30 min M-Sa and hourly on Sunday. Get off when you see the Woollen Mills to your left and the church to the right.

Blarney lost its railway in 1934, a narrow gauge line to Cork. In 2016 there was talk of reinstating a link: the Dublin-Cork mainline runs barely 1 km away, so a platform halt, shuttle bus and Park & Ride could be built without laying any new track. Nothing's come of this.

Get around
Walk.

See

 * See Cork for the old Powder Mills and castle ruin at Ballincollig. It's only 5 km south in a straight line but you have to wind about through the lanes to cross the river.
 * See Cork for the old Powder Mills and castle ruin at Ballincollig. It's only 5 km south in a straight line but you have to wind about through the lanes to cross the river.
 * See Cork for the old Powder Mills and castle ruin at Ballincollig. It's only 5 km south in a straight line but you have to wind about through the lanes to cross the river.
 * See Cork for the old Powder Mills and castle ruin at Ballincollig. It's only 5 km south in a straight line but you have to wind about through the lanes to cross the river.

Do

 * Muskerry Golf Club is 3 km west at Tower Model Village, which sounds more interesting than it is. There's no trace of a tower, and the "model" means the 20th-century concept of a planned suburb, there are no tiny plastic figures on platforms waiting for a Hornby Dublo train to pull in.
 * Blarney Golf Club is another 2 km up the road by the Blarney Hotel, see Sleep.

Buy

 * Lots of tourist-trappy shops in the village, and a couple of Centra convenience stores.

Eat

 * Lemon Tree Restaurant is within Blarney Castle Hotel, see Sleep. It's open daily 7:30-9:30PM.
 * Quick eats: Lantern House does Chinese, Eat in It does pizza, and Fat Jack's does fish and chips.
 * Lemon Tree Restaurant is within Blarney Castle Hotel, see Sleep. It's open daily 7:30-9:30PM.
 * Quick eats: Lantern House does Chinese, Eat in It does pizza, and Fat Jack's does fish and chips.

Drink

 * Pubs are Muskerry Arms, see above, and Malone's on R617 the through-road.

Sleep

 * Blarney Woollen Mills has a hotel, B&B double €100.
 * Half a dozen B&Bs within a short walk of The Square, and more further out.
 * Blarney Woollen Mills has a hotel, B&B double €100.
 * Half a dozen B&Bs within a short walk of The Square, and more further out.

Connect
As of March 2023, Blarney and its approach roads have 4G from Three and Vodafone, and 5G from Eir.

Go next

 * Cork needs a few days to explore.
 * Near Cobh is Belvelly, a turret which you nowadays can't visit. During World War I, sailors on shore leave at Queenstown were brought to Belvelly by enterprising coachmen and told it was Blarney Castle. There was even a counterfeit stone to kiss. But it was a true example of "Blarney".
 * Kinsale is an old harbour town less than an hour away.
 * Durrow near Dungarvan in County Waterford also has a legendary stone, the huge "Answering Stone" which declares whether your statements are true or false. Or does it?

title: Blarney


text:
Bled

Bled is a town in Slovenia, on the east side of Lake Bled.

Understand
Bled is a popular destination in Slovenia due to its romantic scenery and access point for Triglav National Park, which offers numerous outdoor adventure opportunities. The town features a little white church on an island in the center of an emerald green mountain lake, with Bled Castle perched high above, amidst the Julian Alps.

The TIC is by the lake at the foot of the castle, on Cesta Svobode 15. It's open M-Sa 08:00-19:00, Su 10:00-17:00.

By plane
The closest airport is, which is easily accessed by bus for €7 or by taxi for €40 and up to €55; see the link for details.

Near Lake Bled is a small civil airport Lesce-Bled for fun and sports fliers.

By bus
The bus station in Bled is centrally located northeast of the lake at the intersection of Cesta Svobode and Grajska Cesta.

Buses leave from Ljubljana to Bled hourly on the hour and in the other direction hourly on the half-hour. The journey takes 75 minutes and costs €7. Schedules are available online.

A lot of buses from Ljubljana drop passengers off at Lesce-Bled station 4 km southeast of Bled where you can switch to a local bus to Bled (it costs €1.60)

By train
Trains from Ljubljana drop passengers off at Lesce-Bled station, 4 km southeast of Bled. The journey takes slightly under an hour by regional train. These run irregularly, but more or less once every hour. In addition, there are a few IC services a day, which are slightly faster.

Buses connect the station with Bled at least every 30 minutes for €1.30. A taxi to/from the station costs €10.

 * is on the other side of the lake, opposite the town, 1.5 km away. From here, trains leave to/from Jesenice and Nova Gorica every two hours or so.

Train schedules are also available online.

On foot
Bled is small enough to cover on foot. A walk around the lake will take just over an hour.

By pletna
The traditional way to reach the lake's island is by a pletna boat, which resembles a huge gondola. The round-trip fare is fixed at €12 per person, and the rowers will typically wait to get minimum ten people on the boat before departing. The entire trip takes 90 minutes, including 60 minutes of rowing and 30 minutes on the island. The pletnas depart from various locations around the lake. For reservations visit web site www.pletna.si

By rowboat
A popular method of travel to the island church is by renting a rowboat.

By bicycle
Bled and the vicinity are great for riding bicycles, which can be rented at many outdoor agencies. There are no designated bike lanes in Bled. Cycling off-road or off-track is not allowed in Slovenia. A list of suggested bike routes is available here.

By horse
Horses are available for rent, with or without guides/instructors, at most outdoor agencies. In addition, horse-drawn carriages are available for rides around the lake, to the castle, and further afield.

See

Do

Most of the outdoor adventure activities, as well as the must-see Vintgar Gorge, are in nearby Triglav National Park. However, Bled also offers numerous activities.

 * A Adventure Factory Ljubljanska cesta 4, +38640217330, info@aadventurefactory.com. A friendly ATV tour company, that offers also the possibility to rent a quad. If you seek information about the surrounding area or any other activities, feel free to ask them, they are allways ready to help.
 * Canyoning & rock climbing There are multiple canyons near Bled that allow outdoor enthusiasts to jump and rappel with the rope over waterfalls. In Triglav national park you can also find over 10 sport climbing areas.
 * Take amazing photos Best viewpoints are Mala Osojnica near Camp Zaka and Bled castle. You can enter the castle for free in the evening after the museum closes. Just say that you are going to a restaurant.
 * Canyoning & rock climbing There are multiple canyons near Bled that allow outdoor enthusiasts to jump and rappel with the rope over waterfalls. In Triglav national park you can also find over 10 sport climbing areas.
 * Take amazing photos Best viewpoints are Mala Osojnica near Camp Zaka and Bled castle. You can enter the castle for free in the evening after the museum closes. Just say that you are going to a restaurant.

Festivals
A complete listing of events in Bled is available on the Tourist Information website
 * Medieval days A weekend festival that takes place on first weekend in June at Bled Castle
 * Medieval days A weekend festival that takes place on first weekend in June at Bled Castle
 * Medieval days A weekend festival that takes place on first weekend in June at Bled Castle
 * Medieval days A weekend festival that takes place on first weekend in June at Bled Castle

Eat

Most of the hotels have restaurants and bars. In addition, the following are stand-alone restaurants worth a visit. Prices in Bled tend to be inflated due to the tourist nature of the town. Try the local speciality kremna rezina also called kremšnita (Cremeschnitte), a cake of vanilla custard and cream.

Sleep
Most prices listed do not include tourist tax of €1.01 per person.

Connect
Bled has 4G from all Slovenian carriers. As of Sept 2021, 5G has not reached the town.

Stay safe
Be sure to take necessary precautions when participating in outdoor activities.

Bled can become extremely crowded during the summer months especially at weekends. A visit during winter, while cold, presents you with the chance to see a frozen Lake Bled and have the place to yourself. Alternatively those seeking a bit of peace will find that the side of the lake opposite the town is often somewhat quieter.

Go next

 * Triglav National Park
 * Srednja Dobrava
 * Ljubljana

title: Bled


text:
Blekinge

Blekinge is a province in southern Götaland, with approximately 155 000 inhabitants. Its borders are identical to Blekinge County, Blekinge län. Blekinge is known as the garden of Sweden, the area where Olofström Municipality borders Scania is also referred to as being the southernmost wilderness in Sweden.

Cities

 * , county seat and home port of the Swedish Navy.
 * , home to Sweden Rock festival.
 * , home to Sweden Rock festival.
 * , home to Sweden Rock festival.

Other destinations

 * Blekinge archipelago

Understand
Just as the neighbouring Scania, Blekinge was part of Denmark, though ceded to Sweden in the Roskilde treaty of 1658. In 1680, the Swedish navy built a base at Karlskrona, soon making the city Sweden's third largest.

Blekinge can be divided into three geographical distinct areas: The archipelago, the lowland by the coast and the highland in the northern inland. Most of the inhabitants in Blekinge live in the five main cities and in the coastal lowland. The rest of Blekinge is sparsely inhabited. Outside the cities and villages most of the buildings are either farm houses or dwellings of considerable age. These older dwellings are popular amongst foreigners on vacation, and can be relatively expensive to buy, even though their standards are spartan (an outhouse and no tap water).

Talk
The dialects of Blekinge differs from standard Swedish, and are a bit similar to the Scanian dialects.

Get in

 * By plane
 * Ronneby airport, flights from Stockholm
 * Copenhagen airport, plus train
 * By train
 * Öresundståg - Trains from Copenhagen, stopping at Malmö, Lund, Kristianstad, Ronneby ending in Karlskrona.
 * SJ - Trains from Gothenburg. They stop in Alvesta, where there is connection from Stockholm. Train change in Emmaboda.

Resrobot is a search engine for all public transport inside Sweden.
 * By boat
 * DFDS Seaways runs a ferry line between Klaipėda in Lithuania and Karlshamn. The ferry line is mostly directed towards trucks and car drivers, but it is possible to book tickets for cyclists and pedestrians.
 * Stena Line runs a ferry line between Gdynia in Poland and Karlskrona. The ferry line is mostly directed towards trucks and car drivers, but it is possible to book tickets for cyclists and pedestrians.

Get around

 * By bus
 * Blekingetrafiken

Fishing

 * The Mörrum Kronolaxfiske is known for its salmon, sea trout and pike-perch fishing. It lies 950 meters from Mörrum railway station when following the Parkvägen street to the north (Mörrum river upstreams).
 * Harasjömåla put and take fishing to the west of Olofström. Salmon trout, rainbow trout, pike, bream, perch, eel and roach. Only accessible by own transport.

Hiking

 * Ekopark Raslången is Sweden's southernmost wilderness. The 1,300 hectare large ecopark was inaugurated 2011 by Sveaskog, the state forestry, around the oblong Lake Raslången. The lake has virtually no settlements along its shores, which is very unusual for the south of Sweden. The forest is mixed coniferous and deciduous with the latter being at its northernmost latitude. The ecopark is also excellent for paddling canoe and fishing.

title: Blekinge


text:
Blenheim

Blenheim may refer to a number of traveller destinations in a variety of countries. These include:

 * 1) Blenheim Palace is near Woodstock (Oxfordshire) in England
 * 2) Blenheim (Netherlands)
 * 3) Blenheim (New York) -- a town in upstate New York
 * 4) Blenheim (New Zealand)

title: Blenheim


text:
Blenheim (New Zealand)

Blenheim (Māori: Waiharakeke) is the most populous town in the Marlborough wine-growing region in the north-east of the South Island of New Zealand. It is one of the sunniest towns in the country, with summers that are typically warm and dry, and winters that are normally cool and frosty with clear sunny days. It has 30,000 residents.

By bus
InterCity buses travel Picton-Christchurch return or Picton-Nelson return, passing through Blenheim. The bus will drop you off in the railway station, which is also the information centre. The centre of town is south-west from the railway station. If you want to walk into town from the station, cross State Highway 1 at the southern end of the carpark. The river 40 m further marks the beginning of the central business district.

Nelson Lakes Shuttles specialise in providing transport for trampers, hikers, climbers, mountain bikers and skiers. They run on-demand and scheduled services to St Arnaud, Nelson Lakes National Park, Kahurangi National Park, the Richmond Ranges and other tramping destinations further afield.

By car
A short 20 minute drive south on State Highway 1 from Picton which is the home of the terminal for the inter-island ferry service from Wellington. From Nelson, Blenheim is 1½ hours east, travelling via Havelock (30 minutes) and Renwick (10 minutes) on State Highway 6. State Highway 63 runs from the south west from St Arnaud (1 hr 15 min), Murchison (2 hours) and Westport (3½ hours) From the south, State Highway 1 links Blenheim with Christchurch (4 hours), Kaikoura (1½ hours) and Seddon (15 minutes)

By plane
Blenheim has a small airport at Woodbourne, 10 minutes from Blenheim and 4 minutes from Renwick. Air New Zealand has regular services from Auckland and Wellington. Sounds Air commuter aircraft fly to Wellington, Kapiti Coast (at Paraparaumu, just north of Wellington) and Christchurch.

Get around
The Blenheim Bus Service is limited and of no real use to travellers. The centre of town and most accommodation is within easy walking distance. Vineyards and other attractions further afield will require transport.

Blenheim is the largest town in New Zealand without any traffic lights. The town however has dozens of intersections controlled by roundabouts, including one five-way roundabout on State Highway 1 with the Picton-Christchurch railway line running through the middle of it!

For those without the inclination to bike or without a car, taxis or a tour are the most practical options.

Do

 * Walk in the Wither Hills. Blenheim is framed to the south by a farm park which is open to the public. A great spot for a view over the Wairau valley. Popular with runners and walkers of all fitness levels. Accessible from the end of Scott St, Redwood St and Maxwell Rd.
 * Mountain bike the various river and road trails, including the
 * Catch the rugby at
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Wineries
Marlborough is one of the top wine-growing areas in New Zealand and famous for its sauvignon blanc. The region has over 35 cellar doors offering tastings for visitors to compare wines ranging from boutique family producers to well-recognised names.

Most of the tastings are free and the service is very friendly. A biking wine tour in Blenheim is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. You can bring home a bottle from each in your rented bike's haversack. Most Marlborough wineries focus on white wines, with many of the wineries providing only one red variety plus a blush variety.

Due to national liquor laws, all winery cellar doors are closed on Christmas Day (25 December), Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and before 1PM on Anzac Day (25 April) unless otherwise stated.

Go next

 * Blenheim is a gateway to the Marlborough Sounds, sunken valleys offering yachting, fishing and dolphin watching.
 * The Wairau Bar won't be to everybody's taste, but there is beauty if you look. Located at the mouth of the Wairau river (hence the name), the site allows sweeping views of the Wairau Lagoons, Cloudy Bay and over to the North Island.  Above the stony beach (not good for swimming) are collections of coastal plants, salty dunes and Māori pits.  The Wairau Bar was the site of shipwrecks when it was a major transport hub in the 1920s.  To enjoy the area you will have to ignore the vehicle access to seemingly everywhere.  Access from Blenheim is taking State Highway 1 north, and turning right (east) into the township of Spring Creek.  After passing the township and crossing the Wairau River, turn right onto Wairau Bar Rd.  The Wairau Bar is at the end of the road.
 * The best sea swimming in the region can be found at White's Bay. The horseshoe shaped bay protects the sandy beach from the worst weather.  The Surf Club and a Department of Conservation campground have basic facilities only.  Bush walks run up behind the beach and take from 10 minutes to all day.  The walk over the ridge from Rarangi takes approximately one hour.  The historic telegraph office which linked the North and South Island provides interest although it is not open to the public.  To drive to White's Bay drive north from Blenheim on State Highway 1 and turn right (east) at Tuamarina.  Travel through the seaside settlement of Rarangi and continue to follow the Port Underwood Rd.  Spectacular views over the lower Wairau from the ridgeline.  The turn into White's Bay is just before the end of the tar-seal.
 * The Port Underwood Rd can be followed through to Picton. This, for the most part, gravel road twists around the coast passing Robin Hood Bay, the site of an early missionary settlement featuring a stud-and-mud cottage built in 1854 by the whaler Captain Jackson and the pits of a kumara (sweet potato) garden are evident just off the foreshore.  The road takes 1 hr 15 min from Rarangi to Picton giving periodically spectacular views over Port Underwood and points south.
 * Nelson Lakes National Park and its gateway village St Arnaud, offering bush walking, fresh water fishing and beautiful mountain scenery, is about an hour away by car.
 * Ski Rainbow. 1 hr 15 min to the bottom of the access road, Rainbow Skifield is the northernmost skifield in the South Island, close to the village of St Arnaud.
 * Pelorus Bridge on the road towards Nelson is an excellent day picnic destination during summer. The area is very scenic and the river surreal. Plus the opportunity to have a swim during a hot summers day and stay overnight at the campground.

title: Blenheim (New Zealand)


text:
Blind River

Blind River (population 3,400 in 2021) is a small town in Northern Ontario, midway between Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury on the Trans-Canada Highway, which serves as a rest stop with sandy beaches, campgrounds and a championship golf course.

Understand
This used to be Ojibwa land. Explorer Samuel de Champlain arrived in the 1600s, Lake Huron and the North Channel of the Mississaugi River later became part of the Voyageur Route. A fur trading post established by the Northwest Company in 1789 was taken over by the Hudson Bay Company in 1820. A river known to the natives as 'Penewobecong' was not visible to voyageurs as they followed the canoe route, so it was called the "Blind River".

The first sawmill, built at the current site of the Old Mill Motel, provided timber and planks for a copper mine in nearby Bruce Mines. A second sawmill was built in 1906 at the site of the current Blind River Marine Park and Blind River was incorporated as a town. Pronto Mines operated briefly in nearby Algoma Mills after uranium was discovered in the area in 1955. Ore from the Blind River-Elliot Lake Uranium mining camp fed a uranium refinery, built just west of Blind River in 1983 and now owned by Cameco Corporation.

Visitor information

 * Destination Ontario: Blind River
 * Town of Blind River

By car

 * Highway 17 (the Trans-Canada Highway) passes through Blind River, about east of Sault Ste. Marie and 150 km west of Sudbury. Within the town, it is known as Causley Street.

By bus

 * Operates a route between Sault Sainte Marie and Sudbury including stops in Blind River, Elliot Lake, and Espanola.

By snowmobile
Blind River is connected to the network of groomed snowmobile trails maintained and operated by the OFSC. A trail permit is required.

Get around
The small size of the city makes it easy to get around by walking or by bicycle. Local streets have little or no traffic as most through traffic is on Causley Street/Highway 17.

Buy
Causley Street (Hwy 17) has numerous shops and services such as gas stations, convenience stores, grocery store, LCBO, Beer Store, department stores, etc.

Eat

 * Along Causley Street (Hwy 17) you will find both chain fast-food eateries as well as locally owned and operated "mom and pop" restaurants.

Go next

 * Elliot Lake — a former boomtown for uranium mining, about northeast.
 * Manitoulin Island — the world's largest freshwater island, with hikes, small resorts, and festivals. A ferry connects the island to Tobermory between May and October, providing a connection to Southwestern Ontario.
 * St. Joseph Island — Lake Huron's second largest island, home to Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site, and maple syrup producers in the spring.

title: Blind River


text:
Bliss State Park

D. L. Bliss State Park is near Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevada region of California.

Understand
Notable features include Rubicon Point Light, the highest-elevation lighthouse in the United States. A popular trail in the lakeside forest features a large balancing rock.

History
The park is named in honor of timber and railroad magnate Duane Leroy Bliss, whose heirs donated 744 acres (301 ha) of land to the state in 1929. It has since grown to 2,149 acres (870 ha).

Climate

 * Summer: during the day to the low 40s at night
 * Winter: high of  to lows in the teens and 20s, and may dip.

Get in
It is south of Tahoe City on Highway 89, a couple of miles north of Emerald Bay.

Do

 * swimming
 * scuba diving
 * go to the beach at Lester Beach or Calawee Cove
 * hike the Rubicon Trail, Lighthouse Trail, and Balancing Rock Trail
 * kayak, paddleboard, or canoe

Sleep
There is a historic campground. It has small roads, small campsites and small parking pads. This campground does not have hook-ups. There is a dump station available for registered campers. The campsite fee for one vehicle is $45 for Beach Camp and $35 for others (Sep 2021). The maximum trailer length is 15 ft. The maximum motorhome length is 18 ft.

Lake Tahoe is a popular destination and reservations are required. Reservations are available from late May to the first weekend of September online or at. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance.

title: Bliss State Park


text:
Blitar

Blitar is a regency in East Java. Its capital city has the same name.

Understand
The main claim to fame of this quiet and charming town is as the burial place of Indonesia's founding father, Sukarno. There is a misconception that he was born in Blitar; he was actually born in Surabaya. The other attractions for visitors are the largest ancient Hindu temple in East Java at Candi Penataran, the active volcano Mount Kelud, and a couple of nice beaches.

Blitar is the capital town of a regency with the same name.

By bus
Blitar is well served by buses from other major towns and cities in East Java. Visitors often arrive on an air-con bus from Malang which takes about 2 hours. Other options are from Surabaya and Jember (both about 4 hours).

By rail
Blitar is on one of the main East Java railway lines. There are daily services linking with other cities in the region and in Central Java, as well as longer distance rail access from Jakarta and Bandung. Check the PT Kereta Api (Persero) website for detailed schedules. One way of getting to Biltar is to catch the pleasant daily executive-class train which travels from Malang to Yogyakarta that passes through Blitar around 5.00pm; catching this train from Malang, one would normally need to plan to stay overnight in Blitar before visiting local sites the following day. The train is a convenient way to travel from Malang to Yogyakarta.

Get around
The main need to get around Blitar in any way other than on foot is to be able to visit Candi Penataran. Regular minibuses ply this route departing from Jalan Veteran in town and take about 30 minutes to reach the candi. If you ask the driver for "Makam Bung Karno" he will drop you near to the impressive Sukarno grave site en route (to or from) Candi Penataran.

There is a quite large, well-established parking area (cafe, rest rooms, information kiosk) a little south of the makam (grave) of Bung Karno. Pedicab (becak) drivers are ready to take visitors on a local tour to several sites (including Sukarno's house, and the nearby makam): cost, around Rp 150,000 per person (for foreigners) in May 2014.

See

Other places listed by the East Java provincial tourist office as perhaps worth visiting near Blitar include:

 * Embultuk cave (goa Embeltuk)
 * Grebag Pancasila
 * Embultuk cave (goa Embeltuk)
 * Grebag Pancasila
 * Embultuk cave (goa Embeltuk)
 * Grebag Pancasila
 * Grebag Pancasila
 * Grebag Pancasila
 * Grebag Pancasila
 * Grebag Pancasila

Do
Hire a becak driver (who pedals a cart with a seat in front) to drive around town from the main Sukarno car park to various nearby sites -- to the Istana Gebang (Gebang House) where the young Sukarno lived and to the Makam Bung Karno (Sukarno's grave site) where there is an impressive establishment, including a museum.

Eat
Blitar has a typical selection of local restaurants (including several good Chinese). The areas in the town centre on Jalan Veteren and Jalan Merdeka are as good a place as any to look. If you are in any doubt at all, the golden rule applies: follow the local crowds.

The restaurant at Hotel Tugu is truly top class but you do of course pay for that privilege.

Sleep
There are several losmen type places in the town centre and budget travellers are urged to just turn up here. You will not have a problem finding somewhere to stay.

Connect
Blitar area telephone code is 0342.

Go next

 * Malang, the cultural heart of East Java, is around 2 hours away by road
 * Head west to Central Java and the delights of Yogyakarta, Borobudur and Prambanan
 * Head east, past Malang, to the outstanding Bromo national park

title: Blitar