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North Goa

North Goa covers the northern half of the state of Goa in India. Goa has two districts, North Goa and South Goa.

Regions

North Goa is divided into a number of "talukas" (sub-districts, in Konkani). These are:

 * Bardez
 * Bicholim
 * Pernem
 * Ponda
 * Sattari
 * Tiswadi

The talukas of Bicholim, Pernem, Ponda and Sattari were part of the Novas Conquistas (New Conquests) i.e. they became part of Portuguese controlled Goa late in the 18th century. Thus, compared to talukas of Bardez and South Goa, there are less large Portuguese edifices. Coming into Goa from Maharashtra, it is quite difficult to differentiate the character of the villages and the people around. What gives away the fact that you are in Goa is the ubiquitous feni (typical Goan spiritious liquor) which is sold in every grocery store.

Cities

 * — a town that is a main commercial center in North Goa after Panaji

 * — rich in history, this is the former colonial capital of Goa

 * (Panjim) — capital city of the tiny state of Goa

 * — Pernem is famous for Dussehra (a religious festival)

 * (Valpoy) — a small and beautiful town. It has Masjid, Churches and temple situated in town

Other destinations

 * — a town in Goa with Anjuna Beach and location of famous St. Michael's Church

 * — a village and beach that attracts many international tourists

 * — a town on the northern coast of Goa with a popular beach

 * — a village in North Goa with Candolim Beach attraction

 * — a city in India, where two of Goa's famous rivers meet the Arabian sea. Located nearby is Dona Paula Beach

 * — a village with a beach and nearby small Portuguese fort

 * — is a village situated in North Goa with nearby Morjim Beach. The area is home to a variety of birds and to the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle.

 * — Sinquerim is one of the oldest preserved beaches in Goa. The famous Fort Aguada is located here.

 * — a village with rocky and sandy Siridao Beach. Jesus of Nazareth chapel can be found here

 * — a small town the famous Anjuna beach adjoins the Vagator Beach with its high red cliffs

By plane
Manohar Parrikar International Airport is set to begin flights by early 2023.

Another option is Dabolim Airport at Vasco da Gama.

By train
The Konkan Railway runs through North Goa. There are two main stations - Pernem and Tivim. Pernem is the first station as the train enters the state from Maharashtra. It is just 40-50 minutes from the previous station Sawantwadi.

By bus
Mumbai - Goa buses use the NH17 and enter the state at the Banda border check post. The first dropping point is Pernem. The next dropping point is Mapusa.

Get around
Big Banyan Tree Goa : 2Km from Arombal Beach

Sweet Water Lake: 1Km from Arombal Beach

Beaches
From north to south
 * Querim Beach - the northernmost beach of Goa with tall pine trees lined up all along the beach
 * Arambol Beach - a quiet beach in North Goa near Pernem. Not too many facilities in terms of hotels or eating joints. The water is shallow and good for swimming. Sweet water lake, Big Banyan tree are the must see places near this beach.
 * Mandrem Beach - another beach in extreme north Goa's Pernem taluka
 * Asvem Beach - quieter beach in extreme north Goa's Pernem taluka
 * Morjim Beach - beautiful beach, inhabited by Russian tourists. Prices are high, many restaurants with Russian cuisine. Nightlife is vibrant here. This place is popular among kitesurfers due shallow depth of the sea and very wide beach.
 * Chapora Home of the Chapora fort. Bordering Vagator Beach.
 * Vagator Beach - a beach in Bardez, neighbouring Anjuna
 * Anjuna Beach
 * Baga Beach - a popular and crowded family-beach and charter tourist destination just outside Calangute.
 * Calangute Beach - a popular and crowded beach
 * Candolim Beach Beach in North Goa's Bardez taluka. Once humble fishing villages. Now the crowded concretised coast of North Goa. Goa's Benidorm. Or quickly getting to be as crowded.
 * Sinquerim Beach
 * Dona Paula Beach
 * Siridao Beach

Forts
There are a number of sea forts built by the Portuguese. They are, from south to north,
 * Sinquerim, on the mouth of the Mandovi river (fort Aguada)
 * Chapora, on the mouth of the Chapora river
 * Terekhol, on the mouth of the Terekhol river, which also is a natural border between Goa and Maharashtra

Interestingly, like other forts in the Konkan, these forts are located on the mouths of rivers. Going up to the fort, one gets a magnificent view of both inland waterbodies (rivers) and the Arabian Sea. For those interested in things pertaining to military, navies, etc., a visit to these forts is a useful way to understand the maritime history of the Indian west coast.

Eat

 * Wide-range of Goan food, both Catholic and Hindu variants.
 * Fish-curry rice, the daily standard meal for the local working class. Based on fish, and can be quite tasty too.
 * Wide variety of global food, from diverse corners of the globe, available specially along the coastal belt of North Goa.
 * Range of fruit, that is available specially in the summer (March-May months).

O Cuquero, right on the Porvorim junction on the NH17. Traditional Goan delicacies - vindaloo, sorpotel, goan sausage, prawn balchao, etc - and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). This restaurant has a seated statue of the infamous fugitive Charles Sobhraj in handcuffs. In 1986, Sobhraj had escaped from Tihar jail and was moving around in Goa. He was having lunch at the restaurant when a Mumbai policeman Madhukar Zende spotted him and arrested him.

title: North Goa


text:
North Guangxi

North Guangxi is in Guangxi Province.

Cities

 * (桂林) - a base for seeing the surrounding area's uniquely scenic combination of karst mountains, rivers and lakes
 * (三江) - scenic area, good for getting out to see the countryside. Such as to the Dong minority villages of Chengyang
 * (宜州) - less crowded alternative to Yangshou with equally beautiful karst formations
 * (三江) - scenic area, good for getting out to see the countryside. Such as to the Dong minority villages of Chengyang
 * (宜州) - less crowded alternative to Yangshou with equally beautiful karst formations
 * (三江) - scenic area, good for getting out to see the countryside. Such as to the Dong minority villages of Chengyang
 * (宜州) - less crowded alternative to Yangshou with equally beautiful karst formations
 * (宜州) - less crowded alternative to Yangshou with equally beautiful karst formations
 * (宜州) - less crowded alternative to Yangshou with equally beautiful karst formations
 * (宜州) - less crowded alternative to Yangshou with equally beautiful karst formations

Get in
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport, Baise Bama Airport.

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

title: North Guangxi


text:
North Gujarat

North Gujarat is part of the state of Gujarat in western India. Much travel into the region comes via the state's largest city, Ahmedabad, which is just to the south.

Cities

 * — administrative capital of Gujarat, city of Akshardham Temple and the second planned Green City

 * — a town noted for its history and mythology. Famous for its marble and granite mines

 * — a city noted for its ceramic industry. Himatnagar has many beautiful temples, the Maharaja Himmat Singh Fort and holds a wide range of festivals during the year

 * — located on the Idar hills, Idar is known for its temples and beautiful architectural monuments

 * —

 * — a city in Sabarkantha district.

 * — a city in the Mahesana District

 * — a once heavily fortified town with several temples dedicated to Hinduism and Jainism. The royal city of Nawabs.

 * — ancient fortified town.

 * — an ancient historical town.

Sabarkantha district

title: North Gujarat


text:
North Gyeongsang

North Gyeongsang (경상 북도 Gyeongsangbuk-do, 慶尙北道) is a province of South Korea where Buddhist traditions of the Silla kingdom and the center of Confucian philosophies meet.

Cities

 * — home to the Hahoe Folk Village and Confucian teachings, as well as being famous for growing among the most delicious apples in all of Korea.
 * — the largest city in the province.
 * — industrial city considered the hub of the Korean electronic industry.
 * — the city with a number of beautiful parks and the famous temple, Jikjisa.
 * — the former capital of the Silla kingdom.
 * — a former coal-mining town.
 * — center of steel production, and the largest port city on the east coast where ferries leave for Ulleungdo.
 * — historic city full of temples.

Other destinations

 * — a key transportation hub for highways, railways, and national roads
 * — known among Koreans for its apples and for the Cheongyang Pepper.
 * island — east of Ulleungdo, a small disputed island rich in natural resources beneath the sea.
 * — smallest of the national parks, known for its striking shaped limestone peaks and clear waterfalls.
 * — remote with few crowds even in peak season, also one time residence of several notable scholars, kings and holy men.
 * — sprawling forests, near Daegu, it's home to numerous cultural assets.
 * — a remote scenic island in the middle of the east sea.
 * — known for its Snow Crab Festival
 * Uljin County
 * — a remote scenic island in the middle of the east sea.
 * — known for its Snow Crab Festival
 * Uljin County
 * Uljin County

Understand
Dotted with historic temples and grandiose park reserves, this region is the cultural centre of the country. Gyeongju, listed as one of the world's 10 most important ancient cultural cities by UNESCO, is where you'll find the venerated remnants of the longest-running state in Korean history, the Silla kingdom. Andong is the gateway to Confucian teachings and Korean traditions. Still guided largely by Confucian rules, this area is considered one of the more conservative regions in South Korea.

Geographically, North Gyeongsang is bordered by Sobaek-san, a mountain range that includes Songni-san, in the north and in the west. And in the east before meeting the sea are the Taebaek Mountains that reach down from North Korea.

Talk
The Gyeongsang province including the south as well as the north have a distinctive accent that many Koreans consider harsher than, say, the Seoul accent. The accent has more tones to it and sounds more rhythmic. It may be compared to how Japanese sounds.

Get in
There's an international airport in Daegu with limited connections to China and Japan. Other international flights come to Busan and Seoul, and the KTX high-speed train passes through North Gyeongsang on its way between those cities. There's also several normal-speed train lines in the province, and buses run just about everywhere.

Ferries run from Pohang to Ulleungdo island.

Get around
Buses and taxis.

See

Most of the attractions are naturally around the historically rich Gyeongju area.
 * Bulguksa has a representative relic from the Silla Dynasty.
 * Goryeong Daegaya Historic Site features historical remains of the Gaya confederacy that flourished for 520 years during the Three Kingdoms period.
 * Hahoe Village is a well preserved, living, functioning traditional village from the Jeoson era based on Confucian traditions.
 * Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park
 * Seokuram Grotto has one of the world's finest shrines of Buddha. Both Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa have been inducted into the list of World Cultural Heritage sites from UNESCO.
 * Buseoksa is the home of the second oldest wooden structure and head temple of the Hwaeom sect of Mahayana Buddhism
 * Jijiksa in the town of Gimcheon is one of the oldest temples in South Korea.
 * One of the sites of the world heritage site Gaya Tumuli (grave mounds from the Gaya Confederacy ruling the area around the 1st-6st centuries CE) is in North Gyeongsang, near Goryeong.

Eat
Not normally distinguished for its food, the region's best known regional speciality is the Andong jjimdak — chunks of chicken with potatoes and transparent noodles in a sweet and spicy dark sauce. Andong, the city rich in Confucian traditions, is where you will find restaurants that serve the dish.

Drink
Also from Andong, the best known beverages are soju and sikhye. Soju is well-known nationwide, but Andong's version of sikhye has a little twist. Normally a cloudy white colour elsewhere in Korea, the drink is made here with red pepper powder, which makes the liquid pink and the taste a little spicy. Best drunk with peanuts or pine nuts.

title: North Gyeongsang


text:
North Haven

North Haven is a city in Connecticut.

Get in

 * I-91

title: North Haven


text:
North Henan

North Henan is the northern part of Henan Province, China. This part is located north of the Yellow River and relatively industrialized than the average level of Henan.

Cities

 * — economic and cultural center during the Shang dynasty
 * — small city home to Wulongkou Scenic Area
 * — famous for its oil industry
 * — former capital of Pingyuan Province
 * — famous for its coal industry
 * — famous for its coal industry

Other destinations

 * (林虑山风景名胜区)
 * (青天河风景名胜区)
 * (神农山风景名胜区)
 * (王屋山─云台山国家公园)

Get in
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport

title: North Henan


text:
North Hesse

North Hesse, German: Nordhessen, is a region in the Hesse state of Germany. The destination is located in the uplands of Central Germany.

Cities

 * - Bad Hersfeld festival (also known as the Salzburg of the North)
 * - deeply Catholic bishop's see rich in history and Baroque architecture
 * - university city (nearly half of the population are students) and administrative centre
 * - whose Baroque landscape park and water features are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * - the old town with its medieval stone bridge, town fortifications and half-timbered houses is worth seeing; used to be seat of the Imperial Chamber Court
 * - with cherry gardens spreading across the rolling hills, from where you can enjoy brilliant views of its old town
 * - university city (nearly half of the population are students) and administrative centre
 * - whose Baroque landscape park and water features are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * - the old town with its medieval stone bridge, town fortifications and half-timbered houses is worth seeing; used to be seat of the Imperial Chamber Court
 * - with cherry gardens spreading across the rolling hills, from where you can enjoy brilliant views of its old town
 * - the old town with its medieval stone bridge, town fortifications and half-timbered houses is worth seeing; used to be seat of the Imperial Chamber Court
 * - with cherry gardens spreading across the rolling hills, from where you can enjoy brilliant views of its old town
 * - with cherry gardens spreading across the rolling hills, from where you can enjoy brilliant views of its old town

Other destinations

 * Reinhardswald - known for its myths and legends, with a castle that is said to be Sleeping Beauty's

Understand
North Hesse is notably hillier and less densely populated than the Southern parts of the state. Apart from major population centers and transportation hubs like Kassel this area is mostly rural, at least by German standards. Its small towns and even its cities used to have a lot of half timbered houses. As they are prone to burning down, many of them were destroyed in wars but especially in the smaller towns many still remain. There are several small and medium-sized cities that have mostly preserved their romantic, pre-modern look, more than in most other regions of the country. Here you may find Germany as you know it from picture-books or fairy tales, and indeed the Brothers Grimm spent their youth and student days in this region where many of the tales collected by them have their origins.

By train
Kassel is well connected to the major North-South Axis of Germany's high speed rail system, the Hannover-Würzbrug mainline with hourly ICEs between Munich and Hamburg along this line. Keep in mind that there are two stations in Kassel and that ICEs for the most part don't stop at Kassel Hauptbahnhof but instead at Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe.

By car
Kassel is well connected to the German Autobahn network. Keep in mind that much of the holiday North-South traffic passes through these Autobahns in summer and be prepared for congested roads. As both (Northern) Italy and the German North Sea Coast are popular tourism destinations for Germans during the summertime, expect congestion in both directions, especially along bottlenecks and Autobahnkreuze (~Autobahn-junctions).

By plane
While there is a small airport in Kassel, you are more likely to fly into Frankfurt Airport or in some cases Hannover  in neighboring Niedersachsen.

Get around
The northern part of the region is covered by Norhessischer Verkehrsverbund, whose common ticket scheme covers local and regional bus lines, regional trains and the extensive tram network of Kassel. Their website unfortunately has no English version.

See

 * Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe (mountain park) in Kassel - since June 2013 world heritage
 * Reinhardswald low mountain range 20 kilometre in north of Kassel, with Sleeping Beauty's Castle Sababurg
 * Edersee - Lake Edersee, which is located in a nice landscape, is one of the biggest reservoirs of Germany (length 27 km). Here you find at castle Waldeck an attractive panorama view onto the basin. A frequent place is the Edersee dam.

Itineraries

 * German Fairy Tale Route (Deutsche Märchenstraße): Hanau – Schlüchtern – Alsfeld – Marburg – Frankenberg – Bad Wildungen – Wolfhagen or Schwalmstadt – Bad Hersfeld – Homberg (Efze) – Fritzlar – Baunatal – Kassel – Hofgeismar – Reinhardswald or Hessisch Lichtenau – Witzenhausen – Hamelin

Do
The hilly, forested terrain makes the region ideal for hiking, and the lakes are popular for water sports, especially sailing in smaller boats.

Eat

 * Ahle Wurst - a hard pork sausage

Go next

 * Rhine-Main region centered around Frankfurt can provide a stark contrast with to its metropolitan and cosmopolitan feel.
 * The federal state of Thuringia remains one of the least visited by foreign visitors, but holds a wealth of unspoiled forests and historically important cities such as Weimar, where Goethe and Schiller lived or Eisenach with the Wartburg
 * South Westphalia (Sauerland and Siegerland) to the east is one of the least populated regions in Germany and home to the European bison

title: North Hesse


text:
North Highlands

North Highlands is in Sacramento County in California.

Get in
 by car
 * Sacramento: Take Business Loop 80 East
 * Airport: Take 5 South to 80 East

Go next
Sacramento- From 10 minutes during the quiet hours, up to 45 minutes during peak hours!

Sacramento is home to the California State Capitol, Arden Mall, and lots of restaurants and stores.

title: North Highlands


text:
North Holland

North Holland (Dutch: Noord-Holland) is the most visited province in the Netherlands and includes Amsterdam, the capital of the country, as well as traditional and historic Dutch villages.

Regions
North Holland encompasses the northern half of the former county of Holland. It can be divided into six regions:

Cities

 * — capital of North Holland with plenty of tourists visiting its ancient city center, shops and numerous museums
 * — historic town, well known for its cheese market
 * — the place-to-be for tourists for its architecture, canals, museums, weed, red light district and nightlife
 * — calm beach resort, artist village, impressive dunes and natural scenery
 * — mostly visited for its seaside resorts, beaches and the ferry to Texel
 * — historic town with a rich history and the Zuiderzee Museum
 * — starting point for cycling tours around architectural marvels, forests and the heath
 * — historic town from the Dutch Golden Age
 * — probably one of the oldest industrial areas in the world, which makes for an unusual day-trip

Other destinations

 * — a former island, more authentic than Volendam and well known for its characteristic wooden houses
 * — the international airport of Amsterdam, one of Europe's busiest airport cities
 * — the largest of the West Frisian Islands, suited for cycling, walking, swimming and horse riding
 * — display of Dutch windmills and open-air museum
 * — forests, beaches and dunes to hike or cycle around in

Understand
Everyone knows Amsterdam. Millions of foreign visitors come to check whether its rough image as the city of cannabis and Red Light District is really justified. Obviously both exist and are tolerated, but Amsterdam is also an excellent family destination and has a lot of artistic, cultural and historical significance. But North Holland consists of much more than just Amsterdam. The Zaanstreek-Waterland around it consists of flat green polders with thousands of canals, windmills and farm houses, a landscape considered typical for the country. Especially Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Marken and Edam make a popular typical Dutch day-trip, with their clogs, traditional costumes and windmills. Also typically Dutch are its dykes, of which the Afsluitdijk and the Markerwaarddijk connect the province with respectively Friesland and Flevoland.

In the summer, many Dutch visitors head out to the sandy beaches of Kennemerland on the west coast. They are quite calm and relaxed, though Zandvoort can be crowded on very warm days. Another way to take some time off is in one of its natural parks. The historic towns of Haarlem and Alkmaar are also popular day-trips among tourists, the latter for its typical Dutch cheese market. The North Holland Peninsula is a distinctive area, part of which is known as West-Friesland with its own dialect (West Fries). Many historic trade towns from the Dutch Golden Age can be found here, such as Enkhuizen, Hoorn and Medemblik. Texel is the largest among the West Frisian Islands and a great tourist resort.

The Gooi en Vechtstreek is an affluent area excellent for cycling through. There are plenty of forests and heath lands to explore, as well as interesting villages. Hilversum is the central town of the region and is home to some interesting modern architecture. Naarden has one of the best preserved fortified towns in the world, while Muiden has a large 13th-century castle and other medieval remains.

By plane
Many visitors to North Holland (and the Netherlands) will arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the fifth busiest airport in Europe. Although it officially belongs to Amsterdam, it is actually located in the reclaimed municipality of Haarlemmermeer below sea level. More information about the airport can be found in the Amsterdam article.

Getting to Amsterdam or anywhere else in North Holland from the airport is as easy as taking the train. Buy a ticket in the main hall, take the escalator below ground floor and wait for your train to arrive. A one-way to Amsterdam costs about €4, to Haarlem €5, to Hilversum €7 and to Alkmaar €8 euro. There are also taxis available, but expect to pay at least €50 for a trip to Amsterdam, €60 for Haarlem, €90 for Hilversum and €120 to Alkmaar.

By train
Amsterdam (and Schiphol Airport) can be reached from many international destinations using the NS HiSpeed international train service. Daily, seven ICE International trains leave from Frankfurt in Germany that pass through Cologne, Düsseldorf and Duisburg to reach Amsterdam in about four hours. Plenty of intercity trains from Deutsche Bahn connect Berlin with Amsterdam in about six hours. From Belgium, there is a direct intercity train from Brussels and Antwerp to Amsterdam that takes less than two hours to reach. There's a direct connection from Paris to Amsterdam with Thalys that takes a bit more than three hours. From April 2018, Eurostar started operating twice daily (once daily at the weekends) trains from London St Pancras to Amsterdam; for the time being the return leg has to be made using a Thalys train to Brussels and changing there. Traveling by international train is generally not cheap, but booking earlier does make it cheaper.

If you're coming from other provinces in the Netherlands, the easiest way to visit is to use the Netherlands Railway service to come over. Generally, it is a reliable, fast and cheap way to get into the province. A one-way trip from Rotterdam costs about €14 and takes about one hour, while a trip from The Hague costs about €10 and takes about 50 minutes.

By car
North Holland is an important region and is approachable from all surrounding provinces. Generally just follow the signs for Amsterdam and you'll easily find your way. The most commonly used routes are:

 * From Amersfoort and the Eastern Netherlands, take road A1 which enters North Holland in the Gooi en Vechtstreek.
 * From Utrecht and the Southern Netherlands, take road A2 which will bring you straight to Amsterdam.
 * From South Holland, take road A4 which passes through The Hague, Leiden and on to Amsterdam.
 * From Flevoland, road A6 goes right in the direction to Amsterdam. It passes through the Noordoostpolder, Lelystad and Almere on to Amsterdam.
 * From Friesland and the Northern Netherlands, take the A7 which passes the Afsluitdijk over the IJsselmeer to reach the north of the province. It's possible to continue all the whole way south to Amsterdam.

If you're in Flevoland and your destination is the Kop van Noord-Holland, consider driving over N302 which goes from Lelystad to Enkhuizen. This is a quick route over the Markerwaarddijk right through the Markermeer.

Get around
There is an excellent public transport network throughout the Netherlands and particularly in the highly populated province of North-Holland. Buses and railways criss-cross the region with services reaching all but the most remote villages. Amsterdam also has trams and light railways (metros). Planning routes across the region (and throughout the country) is exceptionally easy because of the co-operation between the service providers. OV9292 provides a comprehensive point-to-point public transport route planner covering all major transport types.

Historic towns

North Holland has dozens of historic town centres that are worth visiting. The most well-known is obviously the historic centre of Amsterdam, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. Its characteristic architecture and lovely canals (known as grachten) demand some pictures to be taken. But there are a lot more of them in the province — every region of North Holland at least has one town with a historic town centre.

Many visitors to Amsterdam incorporate a day-trip to Alkmaar or Haarlem, the largest towns of their respective regions with a historic core. Its a great walk (or cycle) through the romantic narrow streets in Alkmaar, and once a week a traditional cheese market is held. In Haarlem you can visit the Grote Markt (Grote Markt), a beautiful square in the centre of the city. Hoorn and Enkhuizen are also beautiful historic towns well worth a visit.

The nearest fortified town from Amsterdam is Weesp, which is just a 14-minute train ride. It has a quiet historic centre on the river Vecht with windmills. From there, it's an easy bicycle ride to Muiden, which is home to the Muiderslot, an amazing 13th-century castle, as well as other mediaeval remains. Close-by is Naarden, which is also worth a trip as its 17th-century fortifications are among the best preserved in Europe.

The Muiderslot is just one of the dozens of pieces that together form the Defence Line of Amsterdam (Stelling van Amsterdam), a 135 km long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam. In total, it consists of 42 forts about 10 to 15 kilometres from the city centre. It's surrounded by low polder lands, which could easily be flooded in time of war. It was constructed between 1880 and 1920, but the invention of the aeroplane made the forts obsolete almost as soon as they were finished. It received recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Traditional Dutch villages

The Zaanstreek-Waterland is home to many traditional Dutch villages with polders, clogs, windmills and traditional Dutch costumes. The most visited attraction in the area is the Zaanse Schans, an open air conservation area and museum on the bank of the river Zaan, about 25 km north of Amsterdam. It displays the traditional architecture of the area (green wooden houses) and has several functioning windmills and craftmen's workplaces, which are open to visitors.

Volendam is also very popular, which literally swarmed with visitors during the summer. It still is a traditional fishing village, although tourism took over as the engine behind its economy. Its traditional waterfront line looks picturesque, as are the local fishermen and farmers in their traditional costumes (which many visitors wear for the picture).

Less touristed and thus more authentic Dutch villages surround Volendam. Edam, which is on walk-distance from Volendam, is home to a cheese market and already feels more authentic. Marken, which used to be an island but is now connected by a dyke, is well known for its characteristic wooden houses. Other villages worth visiting include Monnickendam, Broek in Waterland and Ransdorp, the latter of which is very, very off the beaten path.

If you're interested in Holland's typical polder landscape, you might want to visit the Beemster reclaimed polder. Its land pattern bears a resemblance to the street pattern in Manhattan, New York City (except for Broadway). It's been said that the Beemster functioned as a model for the pattern in New York. In 1999 the Beemster polder was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Museums
North Holland has been a centre of history, art and crafts, and many museums are still dedicated to this cultural heritage. The South of Amsterdam has a neighborhood known as the Museum Quarter, which is home to some of the world's best museums — the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum. Other neighborhoods also have museums that are definitely worth the visit. Beat the crowds by visiting the Anne Frank Museum early, or visit the Rembrandt House.

Haarlem is also home to numerous museums. Teylers Museum is the oldest museum of the Netherlands home to a very diverse collection of cultural objects, such as fossils, minerals, scientific instruments, medals, coins and paintings (including several works by Michelangelo and Rembrandt). The Frans Hals Museum is home to more than a dozen paintings of the famous painter Frans Hals. There are three other interesting museums in the city, including the Ten Boom Museum, which is about a hiding place for Jews and other underground refugees during World War II.

Hoorn and Enkhuizen both lie north of Amsterdam and in the 17th century were port towns used by the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Both of these towns lie in West-Friesland, an area with a distinct dialect and culture. The Westfries Museum, that lies on Hoorn's beautiful central square Roode Steen, shows the importance of Hoorn in 17th-century VOC history. Much larger is the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen. Many old Dutch houses from the 19th- and early 20th-century have been moved to this open air museum in order to preserve them for future generations. In the summer old Dutch professions are shown by museum employees.

Do

Cycling is a fun activity that many of the locals do daily. Many visitors rent a bicycle and cycle their way through the centre of Amsterdam. It is a great way to see the city, just make sure to lock it properly — bicycle theft with more than 1 million cases a year just in Amsterdam is almost a national sport. You can also take a bicycle taxi that brings visitors to any place they request, such as one of the museums.

The locals like to spend their weekends cycling through the nature of the surrounding areas. If you want to see the typical Dutch polder landscape and picturesque villages, consider a cycling route through Waterland. Hilversum is a good starting point for cycling through affluent villages, forests and heath of the Gooi en Vechtstreek. Another interesting cycle is through the forests and dunes of the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park.

The beaches are a fun activity during warm summers. Kennemerland generally has a lot of calm beaches that are very family-friendly. Zandvoort is the busiest one, while Bloemendaal, Bergen and Egmond are calmer options. Many locals go to Texel for a few days to breeze out on its windy beaches.

Water sports can be done at the lakes that North Holland has to offer. The artificial lakes of Wijdemeren, which literally means "Wide Lakes", are a popular destination for this. Aalsmeer is home to the Westeinderplassen, which can also be used for water sports. The lakes are very calm, so activities are limited to renting a motorized or rowing boat (don't expect to go rafting or parasailing).

Eat

Holland is known for its cheese and North Holland is no exception. Edam cheese and Beemster cheese are among the most widely known brands of cheese and a must-try. These are not only known in Holland, but are sold all over the world, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia. North Holland Cheese is a special kind of cheese protected by the European Union. Cheese can only bear this label if it is produced in North Holland with traditional methods and ingredients from the region. You can buy it in any supermarket in the region.

Alkmaar and Edam are world famous for their traditional cheese markets, which give an excellent opportunity to try some Dutch cheese. These are not modern commercial markets, but traditional ones as operated in the Middle Ages. They are re-enacted during the summer months for visitors. Hoorn has a historic cheese market as well.

Restaurants in North Holland are very diverse, but generally there is plenty of choice. As Amsterdam is the city with the most nationalities in the world, this city is filled with ethnic restaurants. There are plenty of Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Italian, Surinamese, Mexican and Argentinian restaurants in the city, among others. It is also the best place for Dutch restaurants, as they cannot easily be found elsewhere. Try to avoid tourist traps as they are expensive, not authentic and they have a pretty bad service.

The Gooi en Vechtstreek is a popular night out for affluent locals, as it is home to plenty of quality restaurants. Bussum has the best restaurants of that area, while Hilversum has more diverse options. Another affluent town in North Holland is Bloemendaal in Kennemerland. The village of Overveen nearby Bloemendaal is home to two of the best French restaurants of the province. If you're on the island of Texel, Den Burg has plenty of quality restaurants as well.

Drink
If you're looking to dance and party all night long, look no further than Amsterdam. Its rough image is partly justified as there are plenty of bars and clubs, hundreds of so-called "coffeeshops" (for cannabis) and it is home to the infamous Red Light District. Its nightlife pretty much serves as a hub for the whole province. The nightlife in surrounding regions is less engaging, but generally the largest towns of these regions have some clubs available. Haarlem is the party hub for Kennemerland, Alkmaar for the north and Hilversum for the Gooi en Vechtstreek. Due to the media and celebrities living in the Gooi area, Hilversum has a few posh bars and clubs that might be worth visiting.

If you're wondering what to drink: North Holland is beer country. Heineken is one of the largest beer corporations in the world and its brewery has been in the South of Amsterdam for centuries. You can still visit the Heineken Experience museum if you're interested in the history of beer and the province. Another alcoholic drink that has its origins in Amsterdam is Beerenburg, a spirit that throughout history has been more and more associated with the culture of Friesland.

Go next
North Holland has borders with Flevoland, Friesland, South Holland and Utrecht. Typical day-trips outside of the province include:

 * Delft — historic unspoiled town with the world-famous blue and white ceramics
 * Keukenhof — millions of tourists visit these enormous flower fields each Spring
 * Kinderdijk — these windmills show the typical Dutch landscape in all its glory
 * Leiden — historic student city with the country's oldest university and three national museums
 * Rotterdam — modern architecture, good nightlife and the largest port of Europe
 * Schokland — old island evacuated in 1859, a well-preserved ghost village remains
 * The Hague (Den Haag) — seat of government, royal family, judicial capital of the world and Madurodam
 * Urk — a Protestant community that mainly lives off fishery; This was once an island with its own culture, dialect and anthem and belonged to North Holland till 1950
 * Utrecht — historic center, nice antique stores and the Rietveld-Schröder House

title: North Holland


text:
North Hollywood

North Hollywood is a district in the San Fernando Valley in the city of Los Angeles. Despite the similar name, North Hollywood does not share a border with Hollywood, which is several miles to the southeast.

Get in
CA-170 passes north-south through North Hollywood, becoming US-101 as you follow it south to Hollywood. CA-134 is a major east-west freeway that crosses along the southern edge of North Hollywood.

North Hollywood is served by the county-wide Metro public transit system. The intersection of Chandler Blvd and Lankershim Blvd is the terminus for both the Metro Rail Red Line (which heads south via Universal City to Hollywood and Downtown L.A.) and the Metro Orange Line busway (which heads west to other Valley neighborhoods.

Get around
The NoHo Arts District is walkable

Do
North Hollywood is known for its numerous small independent theatres. The most famous is the El Portal on Lankershim and Weddington.

Buy
Small boutiques and thrift shops are found along Lankershim between Chandler and Camarillo, and along Magnolia between Tujunga and Vineland. Some of the shops are being replaced by newer trendy shops as North Hollywood gentrifies.

Eat
North of the gentrified "Arts District" is a working-class neighborhood largely populated by Latinos. Delicious authentic street food can be found along such streets as Vineland (north of Burbank) including numerous taco trucks and bacon-wrapped hot dogs. These are affordable options that are usually open late.

Along Lankershim in the NoHo Arts District can be found several gems:

Drink

Go next

 * Studio City - This neighboring city is home to CBS Studios and a host of restaurants, including those on LA's "sushi alley" on Ventura Boulevard.
 * Universal City - Another neighboring city, Universal City is home to Universal Studios.

title: North Hollywood


text:
North Iceland

North Iceland is the region of Iceland along the Greenland Sea, flirting with the Arctic Circle.

Other destinations

 * – A lake near Akureyri in the North of Iceland, Mývatn has an unearthly appearance owing to special types of volcanic craters throughout the lake. There are plenty of activities in this area: Smajfall (desert where sulphuric steam comes out of the ground) and Dimmuborgir (aka The Black City aka The Gates of Hell).
 * - Although Vatnajökull itself is far from North Iceland, the national park also contains the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river system, which flows from the glacier over the highlands and into Öxarfjörður on the north coast.
 * – contains an impressive horseshoe waterfall.

Understand
There is no exaggeration in describing North Iceland as Iceland in miniature. It is an area of extremes: The lush farmland of Skagafjörður and Eyjafjörður, the rugged mountains of Tröllaskagi many capped by small glaciers, the almost desert-like landscapes of the far north-east, and Grímsey sitting on the arctic circle. The region as a whole is characterised by wide bays and fjords, surrounded by mountains on two sides and long river-shaped valleys on the third. It is probably the region in Iceland best suited for outdoor activities, but the north is also interesting for its cultural heritage. As Iceland's second largest urban area, Akureyri is an important centre for art and commerce. Many of the smaller villages offer an experience that rustic, rural Iceland with its deep traditions in farming and fishing.

Talk
The people of North Iceland have one of the few distinct accents left in Icelandic. Until the mid to late 20th century, most regions of Iceland had their own accents, but only the North has retained theirs into the 21st century. Unless you speak Icelandic, this is unlikely to affect your stay much - and even if you do speak Icelandic, there are no difficulties of understanding involved. However this can make for an interesting topic of conversation with locals. The people of North Iceland, as the rest of the Icelandic population, mostly speak good English.

By car
The Ring Road passes through much of north Iceland and the region is easily reached by car from any other regions. The distance from Reykjavík to Blönduós (the first town reached when driving into North Iceland from the west) is 244km with another 144km to Akureyri. From Egilsstaðir in East Iceland to Akureyri the distance is 260km.

By bus
Buses operated by Sterna link North Iceland with the West and Southwest regions. SBA has buses between Akureyri and Egilsstaðir.

By plane
Multiple flights a day, operated by Icelandair, link Akureyri with Reykjavík. Norlandair operates flights from Akureyri to Grímsey, Nerlerit Inaat, Vopnafjörður, and Þórshöfn. Seasonally, Akureyri has international flights from London (Gatwick), Zurich, and Amsterdam.

From Reykjavík, there are also flights to Sauðárkrókur, operated by Air Arctic. And to Húsavík, operated by Eagle Air.

By car
The ring road passes through North Iceland. The stretch of road between Mývatn and Egilsstaðir (in East Iceland) one of the most remote parts of the road with very few settlements. Because of the shape of the area, many settlements in North Iceland aren't served by the ring road, but road connections are mostly good. Siglufjörður used to be quite cut off, but a tunnel now links it with Ólafsfjörður making connections with Akureyri much better.

When travelling from Akureyri eastwards towards Mývatn or the other way around using the Ring Road, a toll must be paid for using the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel within 24 hours prior or after passing, or within 3 hours with a foreign license plate. The toll can be paid online at Veggjald. Alternative routes may be available depending on their condition. These can be checked at the map of the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration.

Car rentals include Hertz and Budget at Akureyri airport, Bílaleiga Akureyrar at Akureyri airport, Tryggvabraut in Akureyri and in Sauðárkrókur and Avis at Akureyri airport and in Sauðárkrókur.

By bus
Sterna operates scheduled buses along the western stretch of the Ring Road in North Iceland as well as between Varmahlíð (in Skagafjörður) and Siglufjörður, and Akureyri and Ólafsfjörður. SBA serves the stretch of the Ring Road from Akureyri to Egilsstaðir in the east, as well as the route between Akureyri and Húsavík and Akureyri, Þórshöfn and Raufarhöfn on the other.

By thumb
Iceland is typically a great country for hitchhiking, but be extremely careful of the weather in this region, as it is highly unpredictable. As late as March or April, terrible Arctic blizzards can blow in off the sea, and hit you in an instant. If you're even a couple kilometres out of town, and one of these storms hit, you will be stranded for an indefinite amount of time. In such a situation it’s possible to freeze to death, or at least come down with hypothermia or frostbite.

By plane
North Iceland is the only region in Iceland with flights between towns. From Akureyri airport you can get flights to Þórshöfn in the northeast and Grímsey, a small island sitting on the arctic circle.

By boat
A ferry called Sæfari sails between Dalvík on one hand and Grímsey and Hrísey, operated by Landflutningar. Grímsey is only served on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Hrísey on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Do
North Iceland is probably the best destination in Iceland for outdoor adventure or activity tours. Practically anything that's available somewhere in Iceland, is available in the North.

 * Horse riding - Many people come to Iceland in part to try out the Icelandic horses. Skagafjörður, in North Iceland, is the often regarded as the home of the Icelandic horse, and is a great place to either just give it a try or to set off on a longer riding tour. If you're not going by Skagafjörður, there are various other horse rental options dotted around the region.
 * Swimming - There are swimming pools in almost every village. Those heated by geothermal power are usually outdoors. The swimming pool in Hofsós provides one of the finest views over the nearby fjord.
 * Soaking - In addition to swimming pools, there are several other hot pools to visit in North Iceland. Grettislaug is a pool fed by a natural hot spring just a few meters from the sea in Skagafjörður, about 20km north of Sauðárkrókur. The Nature Baths by Mývatn are another option, forming a sort of less crowded alternative to the Blue Lagoon in the Southwest.
 * River rafting - The glacial rivers of Skagafjörður are, hands down, the best rivers for rafting in Iceland. Several companies offer rafting tours, they are mostly based around Varmahlíð.
 * Skiing - Unlike most of the rest of the country, North Iceland offers some good skiing. Akureyri is a popular skiing destination among Icelanders, and Dalvík and Ólafsfjörður both offer very good and reliable skiing runs. Tröllaskagi (Troll Peninsula) is a world class ski touring and ski mountaineering destination with the season lasting from around mid March and lasts until mid June.
 * Whale watching - Both Húsavík and Dalvík are excellent whale watching locations due to their close proximity to the Greenland Sea.

Eat and drink
There is little in the way of regional food traditions in North Iceland, but one of the best-loved brands of the Icelandic yogurt-like dairy product skyr (KEA Skyr) is produced in Akureyri.

The tiny village of Árskógssandur is home to a small brewery, Bruggsmiðjan, which makes beers under the name Kaldi.

With regards to nightlife, Akureyri is the only place in Iceland that offers any sort of competition to Reykjavík, and has several clubs and pubs.

In the Village of Siglufjördur there is a little, nice chocolatery called "Frida". Here you can find self made art, interesting and funny interior. Even in the lavatories you find humour on the walls with a special "Selfie point". The chocolate, the coffee and cake are superb.

Stay safe
Safety concerns are not much different in the north than elsewhere in Iceland. However, the climate is understandably harsher, and during winters it can get much colder than in Reykjavík or more southern regions.

Go next
North Iceland has fjords on either side: the West Fjords and the East Fjords (in East Iceland). Both area easily accessible by car or by bus. With well-equipped 4x4s or on specially arranged tours, it's possible to go onto the highlands and cross Iceland by crossing either Kjölur or Sprengisandur. These are the only routes across the island.

There are seasonal flights from Akureyri to London, Zurich and Amsterdam.

title: North Iceland


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North Island

The North Island of New Zealand is warm, with scenery ranging from sandy beaches, through rolling farmland to active volcanic peaks. Although it is smaller than the South Island, it is much more populous, with half of New Zealand's population living north of Lake Taupo in the middle of the North Island.

The Māori population of the North Island is much larger than that of the South Island and, in the 2006 census, 24% said that they could carry out an everyday conversation in the Māori language. For more than two hundred years this island was known as Aotearoa, often translated as land of the long white cloud, by Māori. Use of the alternative name Te Ika a Māui, "the fish of Maui", has grown. In 2009, the New Zealand Geographic Board discovered that the North and South Islands had never been officially named. In October 2013, the island was officially named North Island / Te Ika-a-Māui.

Regions
The regions, listed from north to south (as best as possible), are:

Cities

 * – the "City of Sails" and, with more than 1.5 million people, by far the largest city in New Zealand and Polynesia
 * – sunny surf city on the east coast
 * – a major city, with the great Waikato River flowing through it
 * – Art Deco and wine in sunny Hawke's Bay
 * – seaside city beneath the perfectly-shaped volcanic mountain of Taranaki
 * – famous for Māori culture, geysers and beautiful hot pools
 * – trout fishing and adventure activities at the big lake
 * – great weather, sun and beaches in the Bay of Plenty
 * – the capital and third largest city in the nation, home of Parliament and the Beehive

Other destinations

 * – a 16.3-km walking track to an old lighthouse in the Bay of Islands
 * – at the northern tip of New Zealand
 * – the largest of the Hauraki Gulf islands
 * – used as a road to Cape Reinga, it's actually only 58 miles long, but that's still very long
 * – a nature reserve for native birds (some of them rare) and other native species, in the Auckland region
 * – snow sports and hiking in and around the three scenic volcanic mountains of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro
 * – popular for day trips from Auckland, being just a 40-minute ferry ride
 * – limestone caves, stalactites, stalagmites and glowworms
 * – an active island volcano that you can fly over

Get in
For how to get in from other countries, see New Zealand.

For how to cross from the South Island by sea ferry, see New Zealand and Cook Strait ferries.

For how to fly from the South Island, see the "By plane" section of New Zealand.

Get around
See New Zealand.

See
The North Island has an impressive selection of outdoor attractions, and as it has the greater share of the country's population, it also has a good selection of urban sights.

Volcanoes and geothermal activity

 * The bubbling pools all around Rotorua make it an ideal place to see geothermal activity, with a chance to see how it combines with Māori culture.
 * Taupo has some geothermal and volcanic sights and a big lake.
 * The Tongariro National Park contains the three active volcanoes of Mount Ruapehu (the island's highest peak), Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe.
 * Rangitoto Island was formed in volcanic eruptions that last happened about 600 years ago. The island can be explored as a day-trip by ferry from Auckland.

Museums

 * Exploring Te Papa, the national museum, in Wellington can easily fill a day. It is an excellent exhibition of New Zealand history, natural history and art in an impressive modern building. Other museums and galleries in the city could occupy another day.
 * Auckland War Memorial Museum is also a great general museum of New Zealand history and natural history. The Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum in Auckland is particularly worth visiting if you are interested in sailing.

Parks and gardens

 * Wellington has a pleasant Botanic Garden on a nice hillside site which gives good views over the city.
 * Hamilton has the impressive Hamilton Gardens which has over a dozen themed gardens each of which would justify a visit.
 * New Plymouth has the substantial Pukekura Park, which is transformed for the Festival of Lights in December and January.

Historic sites

 * The Bay of Islands has some of the earliest Pakeha history, and several historic (nineteenth century) sites.

Do

 * Beach activities. With a temperate climate and a long coastline, North Islanders love to go to the beach and other coastal areas to swim, surf, sunbathe (try to avoid burning), fish, go boating, walk, or just to play in the sand or relax under a pohutukawa tree. It's all-year activity, most popular in the warm summer months.
 * Hiking (or tramping as Kiwis call it). From scenic coastal walkways to native forest covered hills, to volcanic peaks, there are plenty of tracks (trails) for one-day or multi-day walks.
 * Snowsports. The heights of the Central North Island are busy with skiers and snowboarders in winter (July and August).

Eat
See New Zealand.

Drink
See New Zealand.

Go next

 * South Island – the other big island
 * Chatham Islands – small, remote islands to the east

title: North Island


text:
North Jeolla

North Jeolla, renamed Jeonbok in 2024, is a province in the southwest of South Korea.

Cities

 * - Capital of North Jeolla, home of traditional houses (Hanok) and culinary hotspot
 * - the location of Geumsansa, one of South Korea's most famous Buddhist temples
 * - home of UNESCO heritage dolmen sites.
 * - harbor city with many modern architecture.
 * - railroad junction and the location of famous Mireuksaji Temple Pagoda
 * - home of Deogyusan national park and Taekwondowon.
 * - the hometown of important Korean classical literature, such as Chunhyangjeon and Heungbujeon. Chunhyangjeon was written for Pansori at first but people also met the story as a novel. It is a representative love story of Korea written in the Joseon (1392 1910) period. Namwon is also a background of the story of Heungbujeon, one of the top Korean classical literature.
 * - the hometown of important Korean classical literature, such as Chunhyangjeon and Heungbujeon. Chunhyangjeon was written for Pansori at first but people also met the story as a novel. It is a representative love story of Korea written in the Joseon (1392 1910) period. Namwon is also a background of the story of Heungbujeon, one of the top Korean classical literature.

Other destinations

 * - Holiday island near Gunsan
 * - national park that incorporates both mountains and beaches.
 * - national park that incorporates both mountains and beaches.

Get in
From Seoul, Honam and Jeolla KTX from Yongsan Station connects the North Jeolla cities of Iksan, Jeonju, Jeongup, and Namwon. Gunsan can be reached by Saemaul train from Yongsan or transfer at Iksan.

Gunsan Airport has flights from Jeju.

See

 * See the Gochang dolmen sites which together with the ones in Hwasun and Ganghwa are highly praised for their archaeological worth, and added to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list in 2000.
 * Visit Namwon to see the Gwanghallu garden, which is the representative traditional garden built in the middle years of Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). Chunhyang first met her love, Lee Mong ryong, here. You can enjoy the beautiful view of nature.
 * Visit Naejangsan Temple in Jeongeup.
 * In the northern part of this region you can find two of the sites of the Baekje world heritage; the Archeological site in Wanggung-ri and the Mireuksa Temple site.
 * Two of the four components of the natural world heritage site Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats are in North Jeolla; the Seocheon Getbol and the Gochang Getbol.
 * One of the sites of the world heritage site Gaya Tumuli (grave mounds from the Gaya Confederacy ruling the area around the 1st-6st centuries CE) is in North Jeolla, near Namwon.

Do

 * Ski in Muju
 * Maple Leaf Festival in Jeongup

Eat

 * Chueotang (추어탕), a spicy, hearty stew made from minced loach (mudfish), potatoes, mushrooms, rice cakes and anything else lying around. A speciality of Namwon, where July 5 is "Chueotang Day".

title: North Jeolla


text:
North Jutland

North Jutland comprises the northern part of Jutland in Denmark. In Danish it is known as Nordjylland and it is congruent with the administrative North Denmark Region.

Regions
In terms of municipalities, North Jutland consists of Brønderslev, Frederikshavn, Hjørring, Jammerbugt, Læsø, Mariagerfjord, Morsø, Rebild, Thisted, Vesthimmerland and Aalborg.

The northern part of the region is actually an island, completely separated from the Jutlandic peninsula by the Limfjord. It goes by the name of North Jutlandic Island (Nørrejyske Ø in Danish), but is usually considered part of Jutland anyway. The same holds true for the smaller Limfjord islands, including Morsø. The North Jutlandic Island is divided between the traditional provinces of Thy, Han Herred, and Vendsyssel.

Cities
North Jutland is largely a rural region. There is only one city in North Jutland, all other settlements have less than 30,000 inhabitants.
 * — old, urban center for North Jutland, founded in the Viking Age. The city has grown around an inland harbour on the Limfjord and has a proud history as one of Denmark's industrial centers. Today, it is still a hub for various industries, as well as education, culture, and trade.

Towns

 * — inland town in Vendsyssel area
 * — coastal town on Kattegat Sea. Ferry to Sweden, Norway and Læsø Island.
 * — town at the western end of Limfjorden
 * — small town at the bottom of a deep Jutland fjord

Small towns
Interesting smaller settlements with less than 10,000 inhabitants, includes:
 * — coastal town on Kattegat Sea
 * — Beautiful and historic town on the top of Jutland. Originally a fishing village, but with a long history for artist collectives attracted by the natural landscape and unique light conditions. The small town swells with holidaymakers in the summer.
 * — important ferry harbour with services to Norway.
 * — small town and crossing point at Mariagerfjord
 * — small town and crossing point at Mariagerfjord

 * — one of Denmark's most popular beaches
 * — town in Vendsyssel
 * — small village in the central of Han Herred, the land between the North Sea and Limfjorden, building a bridge between Thy and Vendsyssel
 * — famous for the annual Hjallerup Market days. Originally a horse market for farmers since 1744, the market now includes a big hawkers market, music, events, and general entertainment.
 * — small coastal settlement on the North Sea coast. Very popular with holidaymakers and beach-goers in the summer.
 * — namesake small town at Mariagerfjord
 * — namesake small town at Mariagerfjord

Other destinations

 * — A big windswept coastal wilderness of sand dunes, dune heaths, and woodland. One of Denmark's five national parks, designated in 2008.
 * — a Dark Sky Park on the west coast.

Islands

 * — a group of 10 islets, mostly a nature reserve.
 * — off the beaten path island half way to Sweden, with its own unique atmosphere and history.
 * (or more formally Morsø) — a relatively large island in the Limfjord.

Understand
The geography of North Jutland can be confusing. The Limfjord is, by geographic terms, not a fjord, but a strait. The North Jutlandic Island is a natural island, separated from the mainland by the Limfjord, but it is traditionally described as part of Jutland. The island is seldom referred to in daily parlance, however; most people stick to the three constituent provinces of Thy, Han Herred, and Vendsyssel instead.

By ferry
There are ferries from Sweden and Norway to Hirtshals and Frederikshavn in North Jutland.

By plane
There are planes from Copenhagen, Oslo, London, Málaga, Tórshavn and Reykjavik to Aalborg Airport.

By train
There are trains from Copenhagen, Aarhus, Randers, Odense, Esbjerg and other cities to Northern Jutland.

By bus
From Copenhagen or Aarhus: Take the 888 bus to Aalborg, and from there take another bus to your destination

Natural scenery

 * Rubjerg Knude in Løkken is a high migrating coastal dune, equipped with a lighthouse. The lighthouse was abandoned long ago, and now serves as a great vantage point of the natural landscape. The dune is surrounded by dense thickets of sea buckthorn and wild woodlands (Rubjerg Klitplantage), perfect for a good hike.

 * Råbjerg Mile in Skagen is one of the biggest migrating dunes in Europe. It is moving about 15 metres eastward each year, leaving new land to be populated by plants and animals on its western side.

 * Grenen is another natural attraction in Skagen. Also know as The Skaw Spit, in English, it comprise a long sand spit, forming the northernmost point of Denmark where the Baltic Sea and North Sea meet.

 * North Sea Oceanarium in the coastal town of Hirtshals, offers you a chance to experience the nature of the North Sea without getting wet. Top attraction in the region.

Culture and history
Aalborg is a treasure trove of culture and history. Lindholm Hoeje is an ancient Viking graveyard landscape, including a related museum. Musikkens Hus concert halls and music school in an amazing futuristic architectural building. Nordkraft is an inspiring culture center, including theatre, music, dance and arts. Utzon Centre is a specialized culture center exhibiting art, architecture and design focused on renowned architect Jørgen Utzon's own work in particular. KUNSTEN is a museum of modern art from both Denmark and elsewhere. Examples of Aalborg's many interesting medieval buildings include the popular and iconic merchant house of Jens Bang's Stenhus from 1624, The Monastery of the Holy Ghost dating back to 1431, and Budolfi Church built in the 1300s and serving as Aalborg's cathedral.

| Voergaard Castle is a beautiful 16th century renaissance castle in the countryside, now a public museum.

Hanstholm Bunkermuseum is a large WWII museum in an abandoned bunker in the west coast fishing town of Hanstholm. It is a top attraction in the region.

Hiking
The North Jutland region presents some beautiful nature hikes, some of which are among the very best in Denmark. Noteworthy hikes includes:

 * Hærvejen - Cross-regional long-distance route traversing the entire Jutland peninsula, starting off in Hirtshals (or Frederikshavn).
 * Vestkyststien - A shorter and more manageable trail along the North Sea coast.
 * Rebild Bakker Ruten - Short one-day trail through heather covered hills at the village of Rebild.
 * Mariagerfjord Panoramaruten - Another one-day trail, presenting some amazing scenery of a Danish fjord. Starts off, and ends, in the town of Hobro.

Eat
Apart from restaurants and regular eateries, North Jutland presents a number of local specialities:

 * Skawbo rødspætte — rye-breaded, fried plaice (on the bone), served with butter sauce, potatoes, and a berry porridge of cranberries, lingonberry or gooseberry. Traditional dish of the Skagen area.
 * Rulleål — filleted eel, rolled with onion and parsley, and cooked in salty water. When cold, the eel-rolls are sliced and served with a special salad (lettuce with a dressing of cream, vinegar and a dash of sugar), and sometimes Danish dark ryebread. In a variation of the dish, known as Ål i gelé, the eel-rolls are jellied. Local delicacy from the Limfjord region.
 * Krøstekål (or Krystekål) — a special side dish of stewed white cabbage, traditionally served around Christmas. The cabbage is shredded, cooked, and then squeezed and wrung, before it is stewed with cream and butter. When served, it have the consistency of mashed potatoes. At the table it is traditionally eaten with a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar, pickled beetroots, pork, and strong mustard. Local speciality from the region of Thy.

Drink

 * Jomfru Ane Gade — a popular bar street in Aalborg.

 * Thisted Bryghus — historic brewery in the town of Thisted. The beers can be had all over Denmark in well-assorted bars, including the iconic 'Limfjords Porter'. Guided tours available.

Sleep
You don't need to stick to town hotels, when you visit North Jutland. Apart from plenty private Bed & Breakfast offers, and countryside holiday homes for rent, North Jutland have the highest concentration of beach hotels in Denmark. Nearly all of them are on the west coast, and quite a few are high-end with exquisite restaurants and luxurious service. Here is a good selection:

 * Ruths Hotel the Skagen area is packed full of lovely beach hotels, some of which are historic high-end luxury stays. Ruths Hotel is among the most famous.
 * Svinkløv Badehotel high-end seaside hotel with a history dating back to 1925. Renowned for its relaxed, toned down atmosphere, location and good restaurant.
 * Løkken Badehotel celebrated as the best beach hotel in Denmark in 2018, this historic hotel is located in the small coastal settlement of Løkken, a very popular destination for holidaymakers in the summer.
 * Strandhotellet Blokhus this luxurious wellness-centered beach hotel was recently built in 2017, but in a style that mirrors the original traditional Danish beach hotels, including the iconic white-painted wooden panels. The small settlement of Blokhus on the North Sea coast is very popular with beach-goers in the summer.
 * Villa Vest Badehotel another historic, traditional beach hotel in Lønstrup on the North Sea coast. Simple, elegant style with good service. Close to the Rubjerg Knude dune.
 * Strandgaarden Badehotel a lovely beach hotel on the island of Læsø in an old timber-framed building. Læsø has some good child-friendly beaches, as it is situated in the more quiet Kattegat Sea.
 * Aalbæk Badehotel small three-star beach hotel in the little village of Aalbæk, north of Frederikshavn. The beach here is excellent, and child-friendly. Overall, the Kattegat Sea coasts are much calmer and safer than those on the North Sea in the west, but from Aalbæk, you can easily do both; the North Sea coast is just a ten minute drive away, across the Skaw Spit.

Camping is also an option in North Jutland, and you can choose to do it cheap by bringing your own tent, or spend more for a campsite cottage, or maybe a holiday van. Some places are focused on families with children and offers extra entertainment for kids.

 * Jambo Feriepark is a relatively new and appraised family friendly campsite with plenty of on-site entertainment options for kids especially. Cheap stay if you bring your own tent, or pay more and stay in a campsite cottage or a van. The North Sea coast and Fårup Sommerland is just around the corner.

Go next
Noord-Jutland (regio)

title: North Jutland


text:
North Karelia

North Karelia is in the Finnish Lakeland.

Cities

 * – the capital of North Karelia, at the outfall of the river Pielisjoki
 * , formerly the parish village of Pyhäselkä, now a district of Joensuu

Municipalities

 * — small town
 * — small town
 * — small town
 * — small town
 * — small town
 * — small town
 * — small town
 * — small town
 * — small town

Other destinations

 * — When Finland was building its national identity in the late 19th and early 20th century, Koli inspired many painters and composers, e.g. Eero Järnefelt and Jean Sibelius. Koli became the probably best known national scenery of Finland. It lies on the western shore of Lake Pielinen in the municipalities of Eno, Lieksa and Kontiolahti, and covers 3,000 hectares.

Understand
The landscape of North Karelia is characterized by forests and numerous lakes, including the national landscapes of Koli National Park. In addition to its beautiful scenery, the region has a rich cultural heritage.

The economy of North Karelia is largely based on forestry and wood processing. There is also a growing technology sector.

While Finnish Karelia is originally part of the same cultural sphere as its namesake across the border, the Finnish part has long been part of first the Swedish realm, then Finland, and thus also has a Western, Lutheran heritage. The Karelian heritage can still be seen in many aspects of the local culture.

Get in
North Karelia is surprisingly far away from southern Finland, and for instance a drive from Helsinki to Joensuu will take about six hours – almost as long as up to Oulu.

The main roads, anticlockwise from the north, lead in from Kuhmo (road 75), Kajaani (6), Iisalmi (87), Kuopio (9, 75), Varkaus (23), Savonlinna (71) and Imatra (6). From Helsinki, use road 4 (to Jyväskylä, then road 9 to Kuopio), 5, 6 or 7.

The Blue Highway leads through the region by road 9, continuing across the Niirala/Värtsilä border crossing to Sortavala and Petrozavodsk. For other border crossings you have to come via Kuhmo (across from Kostomuksha) or Imatra (from Vyborg). From Saint Petersburg, choose between Nuijamaa (Lappeenranta), Imatra and Niirala.

By plane
You can fly directly to Joensuu from Helsinki;  is located 11 kilometers northwest of the city centre. Also you can fly to Helsinki and continue by bus or train. Lappeenranta has some international flights, most of them operated by Ryanair.

By train
There are two long distance railroads terminating in Joensuu; one from Helsinki to Lappeenranta and along the border up to Joensuu and another going west–east through the country, via Jyväskylä and Pieksämäki. If you are going to Lieksa or Nurmes you can continue by local train from Joensuu. See VR.

By bus
There are coach connections from cities and towns in other parts of Eastern Finland, most notably from Kuopio and Lappeenranta, as well as coaches connecting Helsinki with Joensuu, see Matkahuolto.

Get around
The trains are useful on some routes, see above. From Joensuu there are connections towards Nurmes, Kitee and Heinävesi.

Coaches have a reasonably dense network of services. See Matkahuolto. The governmental ELY-keskus has schedules for some regional traffic (here: Waltti).

By taxi

 * Taksi Itä-Suomi offers taxi service in all of the region.
 * Smartphone apps (as of 2020): Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Menevä

See

 * Visit the WW2 bunker museum near Joensuu.
 * See the largest wooden Orthodox church of Finland in Ilomantsi.
 * Explore traditional Karelian culture in Joensuu, Lieksa and Nurmes.
 * Visit the mine museum in Outokumpu.

Do

 * Cross Lake Pielinen onboard a ship.
 * Sample traditional food such as karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pie) and karjalanpaisti (Karelian stew)

Stay safe
North Karelia region is a safe place.

title: North Karelia


text:
North Kingstown

North Kingstown is in Washington County, Rhode Island in the United States of America. It has of coastline on Narragansett Bay and covers almost. As of 2019, the population was approximately 26,000. The town is 60 miles south of Boston, Massachusetts, 20 miles south of Providence, Rhode Island, and 12 miles northwest of Newport, Rhode Island. The 143rd Wing of the RI Air National Guard is based at the Quonset airport.

North Kingstown encompasses the villages of Allenton, Hamilton, Davisville, Quidnessett, Lafayette, Slocum, Belleville and Saunderstown.

While Wickford, a quaint touristic village renowned for its history and its festivals, is part of North Kingstown, it is covered in its own separate article.

Understand
The history of the town dates back to 1637, when theologian Roger Williams established a trading post between two major Native American thoroughfares. In 1674, “Kings Towne” was founded by the colonial government and included several present-day towns. Kings Towne was the center of the King Philip's War fought from 1675 to 1676. At the start of the 18th century, settlement increased so quickly that in 1722 the colonial government divided Kings Towne into North and South, with North Kingstown being the area of earliest settlement. The seaport and colonial fishing village of Wickford was also established in the early 18th century.

The town's population grew during the Second World War, when Quonset Naval Base was in full operation. During this time, Quonset consisted largely of airplane hangars, barracks and other functional buildings. After the base ceased to be full-functioning, many of these buildings were converted to house businesses and factories. The business park has become more developed and has brought industry to North Kingstown from all over the world. Through use of its port, Quonset receives automobiles from around the world, including Germany and Japan. The Quonset Gateway project has promoted the growth of the area by providing space for local retailers and high-tech industrial and commercial businesses. To accommodate for these businesses and to improve the area, many of the World War II era-buildings have been destroyed or are being deconstructed. However, adventurous visitors can still see some of the World War II-era buildings by driving or biking around the area. Several Quonset Huts (named for the Native-American structure design they were inspired by) can be found near Alan's Harbor.

Get in

 * Car, from the highway, you can get to North Kingstown from Route 4 South, exits 5A and 5B, and Route 4 North, exit 5. There are 2 "Park & Rides", one off of Ten Rod Rd. and the other off of Frenchtown Rd.
 * Quonset State Airport, +1 401-294-4504, in North Kingstown.
 * Kingston Station- Serving Amtrak trains and is right near the University of Rhode Island, about 20 to 30 minutes away. +1-800-872-7245.
 * R.I.P.T.A. Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority, +1-800-221-3797
 * T.F. Green Airport, +1 401-294-4504, is a hub for major carriers. In Warwick, approximately 30 minutes from North Kingstown.
 * Boat: it is possible to access Wickford by boat, as it is in Narragasett Bay.

See
There is much history in North Kingstown, let alone all of Rhode Island. From colonial battles, and early-American life to Quonset Point's modern military use and the wildlife refuge found here, there is much to see and do in North Kingstown.

Do
As is everywhere else in New England what there is to do in North Kingstown varies by the season, but you will always find something.

Buy
If you just need to buy something simple, like a forgotten toiletry item or a bag of chips, there are a couple “big” stores in North Kingstown, outside of Wickford, that will help to fulfill your basic needs.

Eat
North Kingstown isn't a foodie haven, but you will be able to find something to satisfy your hunger.

Sleep
Not many chain hotels are to be found in North Kingstown.

Go next
Given the uniquely small size of Rhode Island, any in-state destination is always just a short drive away (usually an hour or less). As such, almost any Rhode Islander will lament over a drive greater than 15 minutes or so. Also keep in mind that, if asking for directions on your way out, Rhode Islanders have a nasty habit of imparting directions based on landmarks that used to be there but no longer are. In Massachusetts:
 * Providence – the closest major city and the metropolitan core of the state (to the north; about a 40-minute drive).
 * Narragansett – home to some of the most visited beaches in the state (to the south; about a 20 minute drive).
 * Jamestown – a popular destination for the seafaring-type due to its large sailing community (to the southeast, over the Jamestown Bridge; about a 20-minute drive).
 * Newport – a beautiful seaside town famed for its mansions and festivals (to the southeast, over both the Jamestown and Newport Bridge; about a 25-minute drive).
 * Block Island – a very popular summer and weekend destination, Block Island offers top-notch beaches and plenty of tourist-friendly activities and facilities (to the far south, via ferry at the ocean coast; about 30 minutes driving, plus ferry ride).
 * Martha's Vineyard
 * Nantucket
 * Cape Cod
 * Boston

title: North Kingstown