text:
Sonoma

Sonoma is a city in the Sonoma Valley within Sonoma County, in the north part of the Bay Area of California. With its central location in wine country, the city of Sonoma, with little over 10,000 residents, attracts thousands of visitors from around the world for wine tastings.

Understand
The city is based around the Sonoma Plaza (locals call it "The Square" or "The Plaza") which is a historic landmark. Restaurants, bars, boutiques and local businesses cluster around the Plaza, with historic houses and residential neighborhoods surrounding it on the southwest and southeast sides, and hills and parkland on its northern end.

Besides being the center of the modern wine-making industry in Sonoma County, the city of Sonoma has a rich history dating back to the early 19th century. Spanish colonial settlers established one of their northernmost missions in 1823 when the Mission San Francisco Solano was founded by a Spanish priest, Father Joseph Altimira. The Mission was the first, last, and only California mission established under newly-independent Mexican rule. For a brief period in 1846, from June 14 to July 9, Sonoma was the capital of the short-lived California Republic. There is a monument to the Bear Flag Movement is on the Plaza.

The personality of Sonoma is different than its better-known and more ritzy neighbor Napa. "Sonoma Casual" is the fashion for fundraiser invitations, and wealthy retirees mix with wine industry celebrities and a thriving Latino population. Sonoma is also home to a large Nepalese immigrant community. It's an eccentric town that had a mayor who wore Birkenstock sandals and had long hippie hair; anti-war protesters can occasionally be seen in protests at the Plaza; and you never know when you might see a man riding a bike with a parrot on his shoulder. Sonoma, a small town where everyone knows everyone, is friendly, welcoming, and more affordable than Napa. And yes, particularly in the summer, there are lots of tourists.

Get in
There are no major freeways that go through or even close to Sonoma. The best way to get in is from California State Route 12 which goes directly through the city. Route 12 intersects with Highway 101 in Santa Rosa and I-80 east of Napa near Fairfield. Additionally, State Route 116 connects the city to neighboring Petaluma, to the west, and also connects to Highway 101.

Those traveling from downtown San Francisco or SFO should take Highway 37 to Sears Point in southern Sonoma, then take State Route 121 north, into the valley.

Sonoma County is served by direct flights to Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport from Seattle/Tacoma; Portland, Oregon; Denver; San Francisco;  Los Angeles; Orange County; Las Vegas (seasonal); Phoenix; and Minneapolis (seasonal). From that airport, it's about a 45-minute drive to Sonoma, except during commute hours.

You can also fly into Sacramento or Oakland  Airport as well as San Francisco International Airport. From any of those airports, it's much faster to take a car than public transportation, which is limited to buses.

Get around
Unless you plan on staying at Sonoma Plaza and making it the focus of your visit, Sonoma is a car-dependent city, also offering bike tours and locally owned taxi service. If you're staying at a hotel or resort the concierge can organize transportation for you, or you can arrange your own with some of the many options available in town.

By car
Many visitors rent cars, and take advantage of tour services for bringing them to and from wineries without risking drunk driving. Sonoma wine tour services include:

 * Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, . A refurbished, gasoline-powered trolley that travels throughout Sonoma starting at $99/person.

By bicycle
Sonoma's mild climate and beautiful scenery make it great for walking or riding a bike. If you want to rent a bike or take a bike tour, there are three places in town:
 * Sonoma Valley Bike Tours 520 Broadway,.
 * Sonoma Valley Bike Tours 520 Broadway,.

By bus
Sonoma County Transit connects Sonoma to the surrounding towns in the county. Their website has information about how to purchase passes and taking your bicycle on to buses.

By taxi
If you find yourself stranded at a winery after too many tastes of Pinot Noir, it may be handy to have the number of someone who will pick you up.

 * Sonoma Taxi, . A Sherpa-owned and -operated taxi service.
 * Sonoma Taxi, . A Sherpa-owned and -operated taxi service.

See
Sonoma is home to the Bear Flag revolt, and the home of General Vallejo; his mansion is a historic landmark that may be seen on any day of the week. If you pay $2 you can get a pass to see his mansion, the Barracks (home of the military back in the 1800s), and the Sonoma Mission (the first church in Sonoma). These three sites are on or near downtown Sonoma plaza, one of the only Spanish-style plazas to be found in California. The Sonoma plaza is a large park which is great for families and it houses the impressive City Hall. Surrounding the plaza are various shops and five-star restaurants as well, if you feel like stimulating the economy.

Do

 * Have a picnic in the park - with a cocktail in the Plaza. Sonoma is one of the few parks in Northern California that allows visitors to drink alcoholic beverages every day of the week, dawn to dusk. Bring a bottle of wine or beer, plus a sandwich or bread and cheese, and enjoy people watching and the beautiful plaza.
 * Have a picnic in the park - with a cocktail in the Plaza. Sonoma is one of the few parks in Northern California that allows visitors to drink alcoholic beverages every day of the week, dawn to dusk. Bring a bottle of wine or beer, plus a sandwich or bread and cheese, and enjoy people watching and the beautiful plaza.

Special events and festivals

 * March

 * July

 * September

Wineries

The following wineries and wine tasting rooms are within the borders of the city of Sonoma. There are many more wineries throughout Sonoma Valley, some only a short car or bike ride from the Plaza.

Most wineries charge for tastings, but will waive fees if you buy wine. You can pick up tasting passes for free or discounted tastings at hotels and the tourism office in the Plaza. If you're a Visa Signature credit card holder you can also get free and discounted tastings throughout the area at some wineries.

Kids
Yes, Sonoma can be family-friendly too. Wineries can be somewhat boring for children - but many do offer sparkling or still cider to make the little ones feel a part of the grown-up fun.
 * Feeding (or chasing) the ducks on the Plaza is another family tradition in Sonoma. The Plaza has a group of odd-ball inbred ducks that have been living there for years. Some have poof balls on their heads that make them particularly appealing. Bring some stale bread from the nearby Basque Boulangerie Cafe and feed the ducks.
 * Feeding (or chasing) the ducks on the Plaza is another family tradition in Sonoma. The Plaza has a group of odd-ball inbred ducks that have been living there for years. Some have poof balls on their heads that make them particularly appealing. Bring some stale bread from the nearby Basque Boulangerie Cafe and feed the ducks.

Buy
West Napa Street is where most of the shopping is centered in the town of Sonoma. Most shops are locally owned, offering gifts, high end clothing and accessories. Wine shops and tasting rooms are plentiful, and bringing home a bottle of wine from a favourite winery, a corkscrew, wine glasses, or a Sonoma focused magnet is a must for any visitor.

Eat
The city of Sonoma is home to some amazing restaurants. You can get high end French-country food, fresh seafood from the coast, and affordable Mexican that is as good as what you'd get down south. Some of these restaurants reside in Sonoma Valley, versus the City of Sonoma, so grab a car or bike and get out for a great bite to eat.

Groceries, gourmet and take-out
Wine country is plentiful with fresh grown food, artisan cheeses, and other tasty morsels year around. This section is for those who want to "cook on the road," whether camping, renting a house, or perhaps just in the mood for a picnic.

Drink
People come to Sonoma usually for one thing: to drink. There are few very bars in Sonoma the town, as most establishments are tasting rooms or restaurants with bars. The few local bars in town bring out primarily local color, but live music and special events can frequently be found by checking local free papers and websites.

Sleep
Sonoma is home to many fine hotels and bed and breakfasts. There are virtually no "budget" hotels in Sonoma proper, but, you can find affordable options via private home rentals or couchsurfing websites. Another option is to stay in Santa Rosa, which is about a 30-40 minute drive north of Sonoma.

Cope

 * Yoga

Go next

 * Glen Ellen - The historic home and state park where Jack London lived and a tiny "downtown" with exclusive restaurants. Just north of Sonoma.
 * Napa - Head east to the town of Napa to start your wine country and Michelin rated restaurant journey in the most famous wine region in the world.
 * Petaluma - West of Sonoma with a historic downtown on a river and a laid back, artsy vibe.
 * Santa Rosa - North of Sonoma, the county seat and the home to Snoopy and Luther Burbank

title: Sonoma


text:
Sonoma County

Sonoma County, located in the North Bay of California's San Francisco Bay Area, is about 45 minutes north of San Francisco. As such, it suffers from what could be dubbed the "Middle Child Syndrome": its main cities of Petaluma and Santa Rosa are smaller and provincial when compared to San Francisco; yet the area is not the untamed wilderness of California's North Coast. Sonoma County. Nor is it as well-known or touristy as the neighboring Napa Valley, which takes most of the credit for driving California's wine industry.

It would be a mistake, however, to pass up an opportunity to visit Sonoma County. The area has the same post-1960s flavor of Marin County, and the same sophisticated oenophilia as Napa to its east. Its coastal region is beautiful and rugged, and the agricultural pastureland is some of the most quintessentially beautiful to be found in California. With crowds of tourists clogging the roads of Napa Valley, Sonoma' County is an appealing alternative.

Cities, towns, and unincorporated areas
Sonoma County can be considered to consist of three parts:

 * The central corridor, along route 101, with the large majority of the county's population. From north to south, there are seven incorporated cities and towns, plus Geyserville and Fulton:
 * (including Penngrove)
 * (including Penngrove)
 * (including Penngrove)
 * (including Penngrove)
 * (including Penngrove)
 * (including Penngrove)
 * (including Penngrove)
 * (including Penngrove)
 * (including Penngrove)

 * West County, west of route 101. Sebastopol is the only incorporated city in this area:
 * (including Duncan Mills and Cazadero)
 * Sonoma Valley, east of route 101:
 * (including Boyes Hot Springs and Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente)
 * (city)
 * (including Duncan Mills and Cazadero)
 * Sonoma Valley, east of route 101:
 * (including Boyes Hot Springs and Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente)
 * (city)
 * Sonoma Valley, east of route 101:
 * (including Boyes Hot Springs and Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente)
 * (city)
 * (city)
 * (city)

Other destinations

 * – historic fort from the 19th-century Russian colonization of California
 * – historic fort from the 19th-century Russian colonization of California

Understand
Sonoma County is part of California Wine Country, and has a wide variety of prominent vineyards.

By plane
The closest airport in the area is   north of Santa Rosa with nonstop service from Dallas-Fort Worth, Burbank, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County (CA), Palm Springs, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle with Avelo, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Next nearest airport is San Francisco International Airport, south of Santa Rosa, along US 101 with non-stop service from Southern California, from around the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, Europe, East & Southeast Asia, Middle East and Oceania. Alternatively there is also Oakland International Airport, across the bay, from SFO as the nearest airport for those traveling to the area from all parts of the U.S. with Allegiant, Southwest or Spirit Airlines and international connections from El Salvador, the Azores in Portugal and Mexico.

By car
Russian River is about one hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge on Highway 101. For most resorts, exit 101 at River Road, the first exit after Santa Rosa and head west (left). Forestville is 9 miles out, Guerneville is 13, Monte Rio is 17, and Jenner-by-the-Sea (where the river empties into the Pacific) is about 22 miles. For less crowded stretches of river, continue north to Healdsburg and beyond.

By bus
Golden Gate Transit routes #101 and 172 via Rohnert Park, Novato, Petaluma, San Rafael; and Greyhound (via San Rafael & Oakland) bring passengers from San Francisco. Get off at Santa Rosa's transit mall downtown. From there, Sonoma County Transit routes 20 and 22 offer service to western Sonoma County, including Guerneville and several other points along the Russian River.

From the north Mendicino Transit routes #65 & 95 connect passengers from Fort Brag and Point Arena in Mendocino County to Santa Rosa while Greyhound comes from Arcata in Humboldt County to Santa Rosa through, Eureka, Rio Del, Garberville, Willits, Ukia on US Hwy 101.

By train
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit, or SMART, connects Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, and Petaluma with Novato, San Rafael, and Larkspur in Marin County. The Larkspur station allows connections to the Golden Gate Ferry to San Francisco.

Get around
Sonoma County Transit offers limited shuttle runs between Guerneville, Monte Rio and other points. Hitchhiking is still socially acceptable in this area, but exercise caution and good judgment.

SMART light rail connects Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, and Petaluma, with continuing service to Marin County.

Do

The Russian River region is a summer resort and wine area in Sonoma that is popular for canoeing, trout and salmon fishing, tubing, beach activities, and wine. The main resort towns on the river are Healdsburg and Guerneville, which since the 1970s have been a popular family, wine enthusiast, outdoorsman, and gay-friendly resort area. The Russian River boasts has a number of fine vineyards, with a specialty in Pinot Noirs. Wineries in the area tend to be smaller and more laid-back than in other parts of Sonoma and neighbouring Napa.

The Vineman and Barb's race starts in Guerneville during July and August. These are qualifier races for the Ironman Triathlon that occurs in Hawaii.

Many visitors rent canoes at locations a few minutes upstream of Guerneville (for example, Mirabel Beach in Forestville) and spend a day paddling downstream, through calm water as well as mild rapids, stopping at beaches and enjoying the occasional rope swing, ending the day in Guerneville, where a bus takes them back. You can also rent canoes and/or kayaks at the Monte Rio beach and in Duncans Mills.

Duncans Mills hosts a rodeo and Civil War re-enactments throughout the summer. It is also known as an antique and eclectic art shopper's paradise; the quaint shopping village has everything from antiques to river gnomes. Villa Grande is a quiet hamlet along the river. At the Fourth of July, the neighbors host a local Bring Your Own Picnic and historical cannons are fired at the end of a Minute Man parade.

Eat
Sonoma County has some of the best restaurants in Northern California, catering to all budgets. You can easily find restaurants ranging from budget to upscale, with cuisines running the gamut from Vietnamese to Italian to Turkish to Oaxacan. It is a food-lover's paradise.

Farmer's markets abound in the summer and are not to be missed.

Likewise, small, artisan food producers are featured along Sonoma Counties "Farm Trails." Be sure to try the local olive oil, honey, bread, and outstanding cheeses.

For a very local experience that is light on the pocketbook, try any local Taqueria. The Mexican seafood in area is particularly delicious.

For upscale cuisine, head to downtown Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, or Sonoma. There are dozens of picks, many of which are award-winning.

Drink
Sonoma's more than 250 wineries are one main attraction. Main wine varieties produced include zinfandel, pinot noir, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc (also called "fume blanc"), cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah.

3 world class Brewpubs, Third Street AleWorks & Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa, Bear Republic in Healdsburg and Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol.

Go next

 * - Lying halfway between San Francisco and the Oregon border, Sonoma County's northern neighbor boasts redwood forests, wineries, breweries, and remote, untouched coastline. In addition to its natural features, the county is home to the largest Buddhist Temple in the Western Hemisphere, the 400+ acre City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah.  The  Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, located near Fort Bragg, is a 47 acre public garden with oceanside views.  While hikers and backpackers will find no shortage of options, those looking for less strenuous ways to enjoy the scenery can ride the Skunk Train, a railroad that has been in operation since 1885 and takes riders 40 miles through old growth forests and across historic trestles between Fort Bragg and Willits.
 * - Rural Lake County lies northeast of Sonoma County and is named after Clear Lake, a body of water that is believed to be 2.5 million years old and thus the oldest lake in North America. The lake is sometimes called the "Bass Capital of the West", and its 100 miles of shoreline offer ample opportunity for fishing, boating, swimming and birdwatching. The county is also home to the Clear Lake Volcanic Field, a region that includes lava domes, cinder cones, the 4,305 foot tall volcano Mount Konocti, and the world's largest geothermal field with more than twenty geothermal power plants.
 * - Neighboring Sonoma County to the east, America's preeminent wine-producing region attracts more than five million annual visitors to over 200 wineries, often overcrowding the roadways on summer weekends. Travelers will find world-famous restaurants to complement the wines, and lodging that includes luxury spas, B&Bs, and upscale hotels. Those uninterested in viticulture may choose to enjoy the hot springs of Calistoga or hike/bike the many parks and trails in the area's beautiful rolling hills.
 * - Located across the Bay to the southeast of Sonoma County, Solano County is far more rural than the other Bay Area counties, and includes significant portions of the California Delta, as well as parts of San Pablo Bay. Two of the county's cities served as early state capitals: Vallejo was the capital in 1852 and again in 1853, while Benicia served as the capital from February 1853 until February 1854; today Benicia Capitol State Historic Park provides the opportunity for visitors to explore the Capitol building from that era.
 * - Sonoma County's southeastern neighbor is a primarily residential county that offers a vast array of food, shopping, and lodging options for Bay Area visitors. The landscape is dominated by Mount Diablo, a peak that provides excellent hiking opportunities and, on clear days, summit views that stretch for well over 100 miles in all directions. Other attractions include the John Muir Historic Site in Martinez, the estate of Nobel winning playwright Eugene O'Neill in Danville, and a WWII shipyard, now a national historic site, in Richmond.
 * - The heart of the Bay Area, famous for its scenic beauty and unique culture.
 * - Visitors to Sonoma County's neighbor to the south can see migrating gray whales while strolling the wind-swept beaches of Point Reyes National Seashore, take in the views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands, or soak in the majesty of the redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument. The county's tiny towns are full of character, and include the artistic enclave of Sausalito, as well as Bolinas, whose reclusive residents are notorious for removing any road sign that points the way into their town.

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

title: Sonoma County


text:
Sonora (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Sonora:

Mexico

 * Sonora - A state in Mexico.

United States of America

 * Sonora (California) - A town in California.
 * Sonora (Texas) - A town in Texas.

title: Sonora (disambiguation)


text:
Sonora (California)

Sonora is a city of 4,900 people (2019) in Tuolumne County in California's Gold Country. As the closest city to Yosemite National Park, Sonora provides services to some of Yosemite's visitors. The city also benefits from its proximity to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park.

Understand
Sonora was founded as a gold mining camp by settlers from back east. Gold had been discovered in Woods Creek, in the summer of 1848 near what is now Jamestown. The name Sonora was derived from the Mexican miners who named the town after their native homeland.

The City of Sonora was incorporated in 1851 primarily as a means of creating a badly-needed hospital. Many miners were sick, and dying from scurvy, because they never learnt the importance of eating fresh vegetables and fruits in their diets. Sonora became the business center (and county seat of Tuolumne County) for the mines around the county and, indeed, for the entire Southern Mines region south of Placerville. When the placer mines began to give out in the 1860s, Sonora survived in part because it had become a business center. It also had what were known as "pocket" mines--underground deposits of highly concentrated gold. Such pocket mines are distinguished from ordinary quartz mines, in which the gold is much less concentrated and requires much work and technology to mine, and which were not profitable until the 1880s when better mining technology had been developed.

Get in
Sonora is just off Highway 108, which leads from Modesto northeast and goes over Sonora Pass to the desert east of the mountains. Part of the way from Oakdale Highway 108 shares the same road as Highway 120, the route to Yosemite. To get to downtown Sonora, take the Route 49 exit (Stockton Street) from Highway 108 about two miles to the downtown area. Visitor information is available from the Visitors Bureau building, also on Stockton Street, about a mile south of downtown.

Get around
The downtown area can be walked around. Park either on the main downtown street, Washington Street, or on the street or in nearby parking lots that are on Stewart Street, one block east of Washington Street. There is a business area in East Sonora, a couple of miles east of downtown, that has additional shopping and restaurants (including the only chain stores and restaurants and fast food places in Tuolumne County).

Do

 * Ski at Dodge Ridge (down hill or cross country) 40 minutes east on Highway 108.
 * Swim in any of the many local lakes and rivers, including Pine Crest Lake and the Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers.
 * Go wine-tasting at Mt. Brow vineyard, between Jamestown and Sonora.
 * The small town is home to two resident theatre companies. The community theatre Stage 3 produces comedic and dramatic plays in its small space, often providing pre-show musical entertainment from local singers and groups. The professional theatre company Sierra Repertory Theatre produces a variety of musicals and plays each year at two different theatre buildings, the East Sonora Theatre and the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia.
 * The small town is home to two resident theatre companies. The community theatre Stage 3 produces comedic and dramatic plays in its small space, often providing pre-show musical entertainment from local singers and groups. The professional theatre company Sierra Repertory Theatre produces a variety of musicals and plays each year at two different theatre buildings, the East Sonora Theatre and the Fallon House Theatre in Columbia.

Buy
Shop at a number of stores, particularly antique stores, along Washington Street.

Eat
Eat at a number of restaurants in the downtown area. Mexican restaurants, not surprisingly given the town's history, are particularly common.

Drink
Several bars and taverns are in the downtown area.

Go next
Visitors can continue on Highway 108 to the mountain areas, including such towns as Twain Harte, Mi-Wuk Village, Pinecrest. In summer, they can continue on Highway 108 to Kennedy Meadow and across Sonora Pass to the high desert beyond. In winter, Highway 108 is closed at a point 7.5 miles beyond Strawberry, which is just past Pinecrest on Highway 108. Visitors can go north or south on the Gold Country route 49, north to Angels Camp, Murphys (a little east of 49 on Highway 49), Jackson, and Placerville, or south to Coulterville and Mariposa.

 * — Angels Camp is a Gold Rush town where Mark Twain overheard a tale that inspired his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"; today the town hosts a "Jumping Frog Jubilee" every May that draws thousands of visitors. Visitors will also enjoy the historic downtown and find amenities including several hotels and restaurants.  Attractions located just outside of town include the Natural Bridges trail, a 2 mi hike through two short but spectacular limestone caverns that have been carved out by Coyote Creek, as well as the Carson Hill ghost town, a former mine where a 195-pound troy gold nugget was unearthed in 1854.
 * — The small town of Murphys is a Gold Rush era town that today features over a dozen wine tasting rooms and a surprising number of excellent restaurants on its historic Main Street. The town also hosts an annual Irish festival in March that draws thousands of visitors.  There are several wineries nearby, and visitors may also want to make the one-mile journey north of Murphys to take a paid tour through Mercer Caverns, a short cave filled with a large number of speleothems, stalactites, and stalagmites.
 * — Angels Camp is a Gold Rush town where Mark Twain overheard a tale that inspired his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"; today the town hosts a "Jumping Frog Jubilee" every May that draws thousands of visitors. Visitors will also enjoy the historic downtown and find amenities including several hotels and restaurants.  Attractions located just outside of town include the Natural Bridges trail, a 2 mi hike through two short but spectacular limestone caverns that have been carved out by Coyote Creek, as well as the Carson Hill ghost town, a former mine where a 195-pound troy gold nugget was unearthed in 1854.
 * — The small town of Murphys is a Gold Rush era town that today features over a dozen wine tasting rooms and a surprising number of excellent restaurants on its historic Main Street. The town also hosts an annual Irish festival in March that draws thousands of visitors.  There are several wineries nearby, and visitors may also want to make the one-mile journey north of Murphys to take a paid tour through Mercer Caverns, a short cave filled with a large number of speleothems, stalactites, and stalagmites.
 * — The small town of Murphys is a Gold Rush era town that today features over a dozen wine tasting rooms and a surprising number of excellent restaurants on its historic Main Street. The town also hosts an annual Irish festival in March that draws thousands of visitors.  There are several wineries nearby, and visitors may also want to make the one-mile journey north of Murphys to take a paid tour through Mercer Caverns, a short cave filled with a large number of speleothems, stalactites, and stalagmites.

title: Sonora (California)


text:
Sonora

 * This page describes one of the united states of Mexico. For the individual US towns named Sonora, see Sonora (California) and Sonora (Texas).

Sonora is a desert state in Northern Mexico. While it is not near the top of most people's travel plans, it is not without charm. Its main attractions are its beaches and its magnificent desert, which can be explored in El Pinacate biosphere reserve.

Cities

 * — state capital and a bustling city of nearly a million people
 * — border town with Douglas, Arizona
 * — a fine colonial town
 * — a small but nice beach community near Hermosillo with really nice beaches in a really calm environment
 * — a small pueblo on the Rio Sonora founded in 1639
 * — a pleasant city surrounded by scenic mountain views and the warm Sea of Cortez, it is a very popular year-round tourist destination
 * — one of the two largest settlements of the Seri tribe
 * — a fishing and resort city
 * – a border town split between Sonora and Arizona, 50 minutes south of Tucson
 * — called "Rocky Point" by Americans, it is the nearest beach resort to Arizona
 * — on the United States border, opposite San Luis, Arizona
 * — historic small town with haciendas and a tale of a heroic battle against imperialist forces in the 19th century

Other destinations

 * — the desert spanning Sonora and Baja California
 * — one of the premier wildlife refuges and sanctuaries in Mexico

Itineraries

 * Ruta de Rio Sonora - 250 km driving tour of small colonial towns in the Sonora River valley

Understand
Sonora's major tourist attraction is its beaches, especially San Carlos, Puerto Peñasco, Bahía Kino and the Gulf of Santa Clara in San Luis Río Colorado.

San Carlos has a large variety of sea life off its shores, making it popular for sports fishing and scuba diving. One of its main attractions is the Playa de los Algodones, called such because its sand dunes look like cotton balls. On one of hills behind it, there is a lookout point which allows for views of the area. A number of Yaquis, Seris and Guaimas on and around the Tetakawi Hill, making a living from fishing.

Puerto Peñasco has experienced large-scale development along its 110 km (68 mi) of beaches, which have calm seas. It is in the extreme northwest of the state. Some of the available activities include jet skiing, boating, sailing, sports fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling. It is near El Pinacate biosphere reserve. There is also an aquarium called the Acuario de Cer-Mar, which is a research center open to the public. The aquarium has a number of species such as marine turtles, octopuses, seahorses and many varieties of fish.

Bahía Kino is named after the Jesuit missionary, who visited the area in the 17th century. In the 1930s, a group of fishermen established a village in what is now known as Kino Viejo. This bay's beaches have white sand, with warm calm waters off of them. For this reason, Kino Viejo calls itself la perla del Mar de Cortés (the pearl of the Gulf of California). Available activities include horseback riding, scuba diving and sports fishing.

The Isla Tiburón is 28 km (17 mi) from Bahia Kino in the Gulf of California. It is the largest island of Mexico. It has been declared an ecological reserve to protect its flora and fauna, such as the wild rams and deer that live here.

To enhance tourism in areas away from the primary beaches, the state of Sonora has set up several tourist routes for promotion as well as gained "Pueblo Mágico" status for one of its smaller cities.
 * The Ruta de las Missiones ("Missions Route") covers the principle stops of Jesuit missionary Eusebio Kino, as the worked to establish the many religious institutions which are part of the state's identity. These include the churches and missions in Caborca, Pitiquito, Oquitoa, Átil, Tubutama, Imuris, Cucurpe and Magdalena. In Magdalena, Father Kino remains are at the Padre Kino mausoleum.
 * The Ruta del Río (River Route) follows a seriers of villages and towns along the Sonora River. The state recommends this route in the fall when the chili pepper and peanut harvest occurs. The route includes the settlements of Ures, Baviácora, Aconchi, San Felipe de Jesús, Huépac, Banámichi, Arizpe, Bacoachi and Cananea.
 * The Ruta de la Sierra Alta ("High Mountain Route") winds its way through the highlands of the Sierra Madre Occidental to see the significant peaks and towns of the area. Destinations include the towns Moctezuma, Villa Hidalgo, Huásabas, Granados, Huachinera, Bavispe, Nácori Chico, Fronteras, Nacozari and Cumpas, which have other attractions such as old haciendas, streams, forests and other forms of nature.
 * The Ruta Sierra Mar ("Mountain Sea Route") is located in the south of the state among the towns around Álamos, Navojoa and Huatabampo, which contain many colonial-era constructions. Attractions include the above-mentioned cities along with the Adolfo Ruiz Cortínez, Tetajiosa and El Venadito dams and the town of Etchojoa, which are surrounded by areas of desert and areas with tropical vegetation, around the Mayo River. The route begins in the mountains of Álamos and ends at the beaches of Huatabampo. Travelers can engage in a number of activities such as hunting, birdwatching, boating, kayaking and photography.
 * The Ruta Yécora (Yécora Route) leaves from Hermosillo and makes its way to the town of Yécora, which is one of the highest communities in the mountains of the state. The Yécora area is known for its hunting and the area contains species that can only be found in this part of the state. From Hermosillo to Yécora, there are 280 km (170 mi) of highway, which pass through a number of towns and natural vistas. These include La Colorado mine, San José de Pima on the Mátape River, Tecoripa, San Javier which is surrounded by various hills, Tónichi, Ónavas, Tepoca, San Nicolás and the Mesa de Campanero forest.

By plane
Hermosillo's International Airport (General Ignacio Pesqueira Garcia ) receives flights from several domestic destinations and from Phoenix in the U.S.

By car
From the south from the state of Sinaloa you can access the Federal Highway 15, which is a toll road.

From the north, the state can be accessed through the border with Arizona, through the following points:
 * through the city of Nogales towards Federal Highway 15.
 * through the city of San Luis Río Colorado towards Federal Highway 2 or also along the coastal highway (it reaches Puerto Peñasco).
 * through the city of Sonoyta through the Lukeville AZ border crossing and onto Federal Highway 2 and highway to Puerto Peñasco and the Pinacate Reserve.
 * through the town of Naco towards Cananea or Agua Prieta.
 * by Agua Prieta through the Douglas AZ border crossing towards Cananea and Naco or south towards the Sierra and the Bavispe River.

From Chihuahua you can access from:
 * the highway that comes from Janos and Cd. Juárez goes directly to Agua Prieta.
 * the highway that comes from the City of Chihuahua reaches the town of Yécora in Sonora and continues to Hermosillo and Bahía de Kino.

Through Baja California you reach San Luis Río Colorado from Mexicali, and continue along Federal Highway 2 and also to the coastal highway direct to Puerto Peñasco.

Get around
Sonora is a big state with long distances between towns. A car is the best way to get around the state. Long distance buses serve larger population centers. The hub of bus transportation in the state is in Hermosillo.

See

The Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California — a UNESCO World Heritage site, shared with three other Mexican states.

Sonora has one Pueblo Mágico, which is Álamos, which was called Ostimuri by the native population. This town was founded in 1683, when a mineral deposit by the name of La Europea was discovered. The silver found here made it one of the richest towns in the region. The mines gave out in the 19th century and the town declined. Today, many of the old mansions and other buildings have been restored.

Do
The Sonora Desert is a wonderfully calm place. There are also a number of natural reserve areas that are open to visitors and promoted for tourism. These include El Pinacate in the Altar Desert and the Colorado Delta and Upper Gulf of California biosphere reserve. Both of these are near the major resort area of Puerto Peñasco and are some of the driest areas of Mexico.

The Pinacate Nature Reserve, just south of the U.S. border, a stunning example of desert landscape.

Eat

 * If you are a meat eater, you must look out for carne asada tacos. The residents of the region are justifiably proud of their beef industry.
 * In Hermosillo you can have lots of different "night food", ranging from tacos de carne asada, sonoran style hotdogs, burro percheron (a burrito on steroids, by this meaning huge), traditional "fondas" and even sushi wagons in some places.
 * In Ciudad Obregón everybody should try "tacos cebositos", one of the city's specialties or having a coconut by "la laguna del Nainari" as well as Horchata de coco.

Drink

 * The local brandy is cheap and good.
 * Just like Jalisco has Tequila, Sonora has Bacanora, another drink made out of the distillation of agave. It's a quite famous drink among the northwest of Mexico. It is produced mainly on the Bacanora region on the Sierra region of Sonora

Go next

 * Mexicali, Baja California
 * Chihuahua (state)
 * Arizona and New Mexico in the United States of America

title: Sonora


text:
Sonora (Texas)

Sonora is a city in the West Hill Country of Texas.

Get in
Sonora is located on I-10 halfway between Ozona and Junction.

See

 * Miers House Museum, 307 E. Oak Street. Restored Victorian era style home. Tel: +1 325-387-5084. Tu, Th, Sa 9AM-11AM.
 * Old Sonora Ice House Ranch Museum, 206 S Water Ave. Museum about William Carver, a member of Butch Clanton's gang who was killed by the sheriff here during an attempted arrest. Tel: +1 325-387-3754.
 * Miers House Museum, 307 E. Oak Street. Restored Victorian era style home. Tel: +1 325-387-5084. Tu, Th, Sa 9AM-11AM.
 * Old Sonora Ice House Ranch Museum, 206 S Water Ave. Museum about William Carver, a member of Butch Clanton's gang who was killed by the sheriff here during an attempted arrest. Tel: +1 325-387-3754.

Go next

 * X Bar Ranch, about 23 miles north of town near the town of Eldorado. 7100-acre guest ranch with camping and cabin lodging. Other features include 16 miles of nature trails and a swimming pool.

title: Sonora (Texas)


text:
Sonsonate

Sonsonate is a city of 73,000 people (2013) in southwestern El Salvador, near Acajutla.

Understand
The economy of Sonsonate is mainly based on coffee, dairy products, and the largest sugar plant in the country.

Get in
Chicken buses are the easiest and cheapest way to get around in El Salvador. From the Terminal Occidente in San Salvador, take the Ruta 205 bus toward Sonsonate (usually painted a shade of dark aqua green). The trip will take over 2 hours and costs about US$2.

Go next

 * Ruta de las Flores
 * San Salvador

title: Sonsonate


text:
Sonthofen

Sonthofen is a city in the Bavarian part of Swabia in Allgäu.

Sonthofen is a small city with 21,000 citizens which was elected Alpine City 2005. Sonthofen is an excellent base for the further exploration of the Oberallgäu. Prices are lower than in Oberstdorf or Bad Hindelang which are closer to the Alps, but can be reached within 30 minutes by train or car.

By car
From north you take the Autobahn until Kempten and then take the B19 until you reach Sonthofen. During peak season there are often traffic jams on the B19.

From west you take the B308 to Sonthofen. This road passes the Paradies (Lookout Point) and you might need snow chains after heavy snowfall during winter (announced in traffic radio).

Go next

 * Museum of carriages at Hinterstein
 * Kempten
 * Oberstdorf
 * Klein Walsertal (A)

title: Sonthofen


text:
Sooke

Sooke is a town of 13,000 people (2016) at the southernmost end of Vancouver Island. Sooke is best done as a day trip from Victoria but can also be a stopover on the way to Port Renfrew.

Get in
From Victoria, take Highway 1 northbound to Langford. Exit on to Highway 14 (exit for Millstream Road) and follow the highway to Sooke

Get around
The best way to explore Sooke is on foot, but once you want to go see some of the sights beyond the four block town centre, you will need a car.

It is also possible to bike (or walk!) to Sooke along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, which is connected to Victoria and Langford and passes just east of Sooke.

By public transit

 * Bus route 61 operates during morning and afternoon rush hours from Monday to Friday travels between downtown Victoria and Sooke. The trip takes roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes and costs $3.00. Outside of those hours, the route travels between Langford and Sooke (during this time, it connects with route 50 in Langford, which travels to and from Victoria).
 * There is bus service to East Sooke via Sooke and the bus stop at the 17 Mile Pub. This allows access by bus to the Anderson Cove entrance to East Sooke Park.
 * There is bus service to East Sooke via Sooke and the bus stop at the 17 Mile Pub. This allows access by bus to the Anderson Cove entrance to East Sooke Park.

See
The town of Sooke is basically a starting point for trips farther west up the island and is quickly becoming a larger community as the city quickly expands.

Do
Check out a few of the interesting shops in the town's heart. Once you tire of this, jump in your car and head out to see some of the town's more natural sights:

 * Potholes-SPPP.jpg
 * Potholes-SPPP.jpg
 * Potholes-SPPP.jpg

Sleep
There are numerous B&Bs and campgrounds around Sooke, but here is a selection of some of the pricier and more interesting accomnodations:

Cope

 * The nearest hospital is in Victoria.

Go next
Your only real options are to drive west along Highway 14 to explore the Juan de Fuca beaches and Port Renfrew, or head back to Victoria.

However, the Galloping Goose Trail, a hiking and biking trail between Victoria and Sooke, passes near the town. Two convenient access points are the and the.

If you have a couple of days and want a coastal hike, consider the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail which runs between Port Renfrew and Jordan River. Unlike the longer West Coast Trail, the Juan de Fuca Trail has fewer logistical challenges and has several access trails along the route so it is possible to complete the whole distance or do shorter day trips as time or weather dictates.

title: Sooke


text:
Soomaa National Park

Soomaa National Park is in Viljandimaa and Pärnumaa of Estonia. With 390 km², it's the second largest national park in Estonia.

Understand
Soomaa national park, situated in South West Estonia, has been created to protect large raised bogs, flood plain grasslands, paludified forests and meandering rivers.

History
Established: 8 December 1993. Soomaa national park has been listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance since 1997.

In 2009 Soomaa National Park became a certified PAN Park, joining a network dedicated for conserving European Wilderness.

This national park also received an EDEN (European Destinations of Excellence) award from the European Commission in 2009 for promoting sustainable tourism in and around a protected area.

Soomaa National Park was awarded the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (ECST) in 2021.

Landscape
The territory of the national park is mostly covered with large mires, separated from each other by the rivers of the Pärnu River basin — the Navesti, Halliste, Raudna and Lemmjõgi rivers.

On the eastern margin of the national park lie the highest dunes on the Estonian mainland, 50 km off the contemporary coastline.

Flora and fauna

Soomaa is home to, and a breeding zone for, rare European mammals including roe deer, elk, wild boars, beavers, lynx, wolves and brown bears. Soomaa bog is also a breeding ground for several rare bird species, including golden eagles, black storks, black grouse and capercaillies. It is a habitat for some rare plants as Iris Sibirica, Gladiolus imbricatus, and some orchids as well.

Climate
What makes Soomaa unique is the so called "fifth season" - the spring flood, which can raise the water level five metres above the low-water level! Everywhere floods - meadows, fields, forests, roads and sometimes even houses.

Get in
There is a public bus from Pärnu to Riisa village (inside the national park) twice a day: 06:05 and 14:30.

Private operators have a pickup service from hotels of Pärnu at 09:00.

The visiting centre of the Soomaa National Park is located in Tõramaa, which is 4 km from Riisa bus stop.

Fees and permits
There is no fee to enter a national park and no fees for using walking trails and visiting the national park's visitor center. There are fees for guided services, canoeing on the rivers and walking on bogs and forests.

Get around
Soomaa has few roads, getting around by bicycle is an option. One can also follow the many hiking trails on foot. There are wooden board-walks in peat bogs. Canoeing is one of the best ways to explore the watery wilderness of Soomaa and several canoe tour companies operate in the area.

See
The State Forest Centre provides a visitor centre at Tõramaa that provides information, including leaflets and brochures, about Soomaa’s habitats, wildlife and history, as well as about the various services and hiking trails that are available for visitors.

Do
Canoeing is one popular activity and a good way to get to know Soomaa national park. Guided canoe trips are available, and rental of canoes as well.

Buy
Some local souvenirs are on sale in visitor center, and in local guesthouses.

Eat
No restaurant is inside the park. Around the national park you can find local pubs in Jõesuu village and Suure-Jaani village. Guesthouses provide meals for their guests.

Drink
There are no restaurants in the park. Around the national park you can find local pubs in Jõesuu village and Suure-Jaani village.

Sleep
The official Estonian tourism website provides an extensive list of options for accommodation.

Lodging
There are guesthouses around Soomaa National Park.

Camping
In national park are two types of camping sites: those provided by the State Forest Centre are free of charge to use, and those on private land can be hired at a fee.

title: Soomaa National Park


text:
Sopot

Sopot is a seaside spa resort city in Poland. Sopot and two nearby cities, Gdańsk and Gdynia, are often referred as Tricity (Polish: Trójmiasto). It is a smallest of the three and the most affluent on average, attracting the rich and famous from the local area (who tend to settle there), and from Poland, Europe and elsewhere, who come over for vacations or maintain a pied-a-terre there.

Sopot has an impressive history, but remains small and committed to its original mission of leisure. Being locked between the larger Gdynia and Gdańsk and being able to take advantage of their big-city infrastructure, it retains its small-town charm and remains a very popular seaside destination in Poland.

History
The first written record of Sopot date back to the 13th century, and has been popular as a summer residence of the local elite for centuries. It has been a property of the Order of Cistercians of Oliwa since 1283 until 1772, when it was annexed by Prussia.

It was not until 19th century, however, that Sopot took its present form. In 1808, a French physician named Jean Georg Haffner came to Sopot with Napoleon's retreating army and decided to settle there, and marry a local woman. He immediately recognized the resort potential in the local area, and started to organize appropriate facilities first in Gdańsk and later in the centre of modern-day Sopot, constructing the first pier and the Resort House, and creating the park that surrounds today's pierhead. Haffner is recognized as the father of modern-day Sopot and celebrated throughout the city.

Sopot quickly became a fashionable spa on a European scale, accessible by the seaport of Gdańsk and the railway line to Warsaw and Koszalin, built in 1870. It was granted city rights in 1901 by the German Emperor, and was at the forefront of adopting modern leisure facilities: spas,ind, a horseracing track, tennis courts and a casino. When the Grand Hotel was completed in 1927, along with the final pier extension, Sopot gained its complete form it was to retain until the new millennium, in the meantime becoming a part of Poland again. In the 2000s, much effort was put into restoring Sopot's heritage, including the reconstruction of the Resort House, conservation of the pier and a major restoration effort at the Grand Hotel.

By plane
The TriCity's passenger airport is the Lech Walesa Airport in Gdańsk, offering a wide range of direct flights and connections, including intercontinental hubs.

By rail
Almost all the long-distance trains calling at Gdańsk and Gdynia. There are numerous trains per day from Warsaw and most other major cities in Poland. There are a few international connections are available too, including trains from Berlin and Vienna. Local SKM trains run between Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot at high frequency, stopping at both the central station and some smaller ones within Sopot.

By boat
Sopot has no port, but you can use the ferry connections from Gdańsk and Gdynia to other Baltic sea ports. There is also a marina next to the pier for those coming in their own, smaller vessel.

By road
Follow the directions to Gdańsk or Gdynia and either enter the TriCity ringroad and take the exit marked Sopot. You can also drive through Gdańsk or Gdynia to Sopot as their street systems are well interconnected. The main thoroughfare is called Aleja Niepodległości in Sopot, Aleja Zwycięstwa in Gdynia and Aleja Grunwaldzka in Gdańsk, all three being parts of a continuous road no. 468.

Get around
Sopot has no public transportation of its own, but it is served by some bus lines extending from Gdańsk and trolleybuses from Gdynia. There are three SKM stations in Sopot: Sopot Główny, Sopot Kamienny Potok near the northern border with Gdynia, and Sopot Wyścigi in the South of the city, close to Gdańsk and next to the Sopot Hippodrome.

Sopot is very compact and walkable. Being not much over 4 kilometres across, it can be traversed within an hour, and most points of interest are closer apart than that. The distance from the railway station to the pier and beach should be a leisurely 20 minutes walk.

See

Do

 * bike in the nearby Tricity Landscape Park
 * swim and relax in Aquapark
 * have a meal in many fashionable restaurants and caffees in the Monte Cassino Street
 * play minigolf next to the beach
 * party in many clubs, bars and discos
 * leisure and sports
 * windsurfing club
 * catamaran school
 * ski slope
 * bicycle paths
 * hippodrome
 * hippodrome

Buy

 * Handmade jewellery - You can buy in small street shops and street markets handmade bracelets, necklaces, rings and earings made of amber and other minerals.
 * Sopot Street Market - open on Tuesday and Friday every week, close to Sopot Wyścigi Railway Station. You can buy there fresh fruit and vegetables, antiques, old jewellery, and fashionable clothes and gadgets.

Eat

 * Bar Przystań - a fish bar situated by the sea, 1km east from the pier. The best fried fish in town.
 * Bar Przystań - a fish bar situated by the sea, 1km east from the pier. The best fried fish in town.

Drink
Monte Cassino Street (Monciak) provides the best selection of bars and cafes in the town. "The Pinochio" restaurant offer tables also in a little courtyard which is a particularly pleasant spot for a lunch or a drink

Bar Kinski (ul. Tadeusza Kościuszki 10) is only a short stroll away. You should not be put off by the unimpressive entrance up a pitch-black flight of stairs to the first-floor. Housed in the building where the explosive actor Klaus Kinski was born, it is dark and atmospheric with cubby-holes to enjoy a drink in with friends. There are also various souvenirs and photos from Kinski's acting career. The bar also has small sun terraces where you can watch the action on the street below.

Sleep
Sopot retains much of its historic "Kurort" character, which is reflected in the accommodation choices, with heavy emphasis on upscale hotels and a wide choice of apartment rentals. For more mid-market accommodation options, you may want to consider lodging yourself in Gdańsk or Gdynia, as there are good, fast transit links.

Mid-range

 * Hotel Opera Spa
 * Hotel Miramar'
 * Best Western Vila Aquila Hotel

Go next

 * Gdańsk Bay is berth to the Pomeranian metropolis of Gdańsk, with a beautiful old town and the biggest Gothic brick church worldwide. Nearby are the sea resort and port of Gdynia with the biggest Baltic port, and a smaller sea resort called Puck.
 * Vistula Bay is home to the sea resort and medieval town of Frombork with the grave of Nicolaus Copernicus, the medieval town of Elbląg, and the sea resort Kadyny with one of the best European studs.
 * Kashubian Coast with the biggest dunes in Europe in the Słowiński National Park and the sea resorts of Rowy, Łeba, Jastrzębia Góra, Rozewie and Władysławowo.
 * Hel Peninsula has several sea resorts: Chałupy, Jastarnia, Jurata and Hel.
 * Krynica Morska - a sea resort on the Vistula Peninsula.

title: Sopot


text:
Sopron

Sopron (pronounced "shop-ron"; German: Ödenburg, Croatian: Šopron, Latin: Scarbantia) is a city in Hungary, close to the Austrian border, with a population of about 62,000 (2017). The town is officially bilingual, and its historical German language name is Ödenburg.

History
When this area was the Pannonia Superior province of the Roman Empire, the city's name was Scarbantia. Its main square was then the forum. During the period of mass migration the once prosperous Scarbantia declined to become a lifeless city of ruins; a new settlement was created here only after the Hungarians took over the territory. Hungarians strengthened the old Roman city walls and built a castle. The town was named in Hungarian after a castle steward named Suprun. In 1273 King Otakar II of Bohemia occupied the castle. Even though he took the children of Sopron's nobility with him as hostages, the city opened its gates when the armies of King Ladislaus IV of Hungary arrived. The king rewarded Sopron by elevating it to the rank of free royal town. In 1529 the Turks devastated the city, but it did not fall under Turkish domination. Many Hungarians fled from the occupied areas to Sopron, and the city's importance grew.

While the Ottomans occupied most of central Europe, the region north of lake Balaton remained in the Kingdom of Hungary (1538–1867). In 1676 Sopron was destroyed by a fire. The modern-day city was born in the next few decades, when Baroque buildings were built to replace the destroyed medieval ones. Sopron became the seat of the comitatus Sopron. Until 1918, the town (bilingual names Oedenburg - Sopron) was part of the Austrian monarchy, province of Hungary; in Transleithania after the compromise of 1867 in the Kingdom of Hungary. Following the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, after local unrest, Sopron's status as part of Hungary (along with that of the surrounding eight villages) was decided by a controversial, local plebiscite held on December 14, 1921, with 65% voting for Hungary. Since then Sopron has been called Civitas Fidelissima ("The Most Loyal Town"), and the anniversary of the plebiscite is a city holiday. Sopron suffered greatly during World War II and it was bombed several times. The Soviet Red Army captured the city on April 1, 1945. On August 19, 1989 the "Pan-European Picnic" took place near Sopron, when the "Iron Curtain" between Austria and Hungary was lifted for a few hours, allowing some hundred East German citizens to cross the border.

Orientation

 * After being suppressed during the Cold War, Sopron's German-speaking culture and heritage are now recognized again. As a consequence, many of the city's street-and traffic-signs are written in both Hungarian and German making it an officially bilingual city due to its proximity to the Austrian frontier.

By plane

 * Nearest international airports are Vienna (65 km) and Bratislava (100 km).

By car

 * From Vienna, Austria on A2 until the Traiskirchen intersection, then on A3 until the Eisenstadt intersection, and on B16 to Sopron.

By bus

 * , to Budapest no direct bus (first you must to go Székesfehérvár or Veszprém or with a longer detour to Hévíz or Szombathely 5-7 hours, train is much better).

By train
Sopron is located within the Vienna regional tariff union, so if you have a ticket or travelcard covering the entire network, you can use it to travel to Sopron (but not other Hungarian towns served by suburban trains).

Get around

 * The city isn't large, so you can walk or buy a ticket to ride the public bus lines. Prices (2014). Tickets: Ft 320 in advance, from driver Ft 390. Passes: Ft 6900 per month, Ft 4,300 semimonthly, Ft 2250 per seven-day, Ft 780 per a daily ticket. Local season ticket and single tickets can buy at Volan Tourist Travel Agency (address: Lackner Kristóf utca) or without queuing, 24/7, from a ticket vending machine, (located in the city ten points.)
 * Sopron parking based on three zones. Parking map here. Paying with cash, chipcard or mobile. City center closed for cars (except with special permisson).
 * Sopron taxis list here.
 * Getting around the city centre by bike.
 * Getting around the city centre by bike.
 * Getting around the city centre by bike.

Do

 * Buy some bottles of the famous Hungarian wine "Kékfrankos"
 * Take a walk in the forest around the city.
 * Drink a coffee in the café at Széchényi Tér with a view on the beautiful Liszt Ferenc Központ (Theatre and Casino).

Events

 * Festival Weeks - Concerts in the Cave Theatre in Fertőrákos.
 * Early Music Festival
 * Choral Festivals
 * Spring Days
 * Pan-European Picnic

Buy
Shopping is cheaper than in neighbouring Austria.

In the city you can buy trendy clothes in the shop "Jeans Club" or you can buy clothes and other stuff in the Plaza outside of the city. There's a new shopping centre near to the border of the town, where you can find shops of various famous brands, like Benetton or New Yorker.

Restaurants
Lots of restaurants, predominantly Hungarian but also Viennese cuisine, frequented by Austrian daytime tourists.

Drink
If you're in Sopron, you have to drink a glass of the famous wine of the area around sopron, it's called "Kékfrankos".

Connect

 * The country code of Hungary is 36. If you are calling abroad from a land line, dial 00 before your country code and phone number. Area code of Sopron is 99. Phone numbers are normally six digits.
 * Cellular phone coverage is very good throughout the city. Three different networks are available, Telenor, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

Internet

 * Most hotels do also have wireless free Internet access. Even a smaller accommodation have any (slower) free Wi-Fi.

Go next

 * Fertő Lake (Neusiedl Lake) is divided between Austria and Hungary. It is the second largest lake of Hungary after Balaton. Fertő Lake has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural landscape for its unique representation of human landscape shaping over a long period of time. The traditional agricultural practices around the lake, many of which persist today, had a profound impact on the region's ecology. The area is rural and attracts visitors enjoying the natural landscape as well as the historic towns surrounding it. - There is no any town or bigger settlement on Hungarian side. - Tours organizing from Sopron. For more info ask in Sopron Turist Office.
 * Transdanubia, particularly Győr, Keszthely, Kőszeg, Szombathely - all good connected by public transport and good for a base to explore the surrounding area
 * Burgenland, Austria.

title: Sopron


text:
Sorata

Sorata is a town in the La Paz Department of Bolivia, about a 150 km northwest of La Paz.

Understand
Sorata attracts mainly people that plan on hiking or climbing the mountains around. In this sense, Sorata is the better than Quime, it has more accommodation options, more manifold vegetation, it is more alive, and has more impressive day hikes, e.g. to the Laguna Chillata.

High season in Sorata is apparently in August and September.

Get in
To get there take/leave La Paz from Cemetario or El Alto from Río Seco, Bs. 20, 3-3.5 hr. There are buses leaving every hour until 15:00.

You can also bypass La Paz if going to/from Copacabana. Get on a La Paz bound bus/minibus/micro from either town, tell the driver you wish to go to Sorata/Copacabana and you will be dropped off at the small lakeside town of Huarina (2 hours from La Paz). Cross the road and wait for a Sorata/Copacabana bound bus with space to pass. They should honk their horn if they have space and see people waiting, but it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye out and flag one down if you see it first. Best to get started early as you may have a bit of a wait at Huarina—it should still be quicker than going all the way to La Paz then 2 hours back in the same direction though.

Buses arrive Sorata from the main square., but departure is right when you enter the town

On foot and navigation
Once in the town, nearly all points of interest, restaurants, services, are within walking distance. Even the San Pedro cave can be hiked to.

Outside of town, there are many interesting hiking trails. For reliable trails and GPS navigation in this region, consult OpenStreetMap, which is used by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download the GPX or KML files through the same link.)

By taxi
Taxis are available, although the town is tiny so you will only want one for an excursion (hiking). Many are waiting near the plaza, but you might be lucky hailing one along the main roads.

See
While there aren't many specific tourist attractions, the town itself is a typically attractive small Bolivian pueblo with little market streets dotted about, ideal for pottering around if the weather isn't up to proper hiking (often the case during the wet season).

The central plaza is unremarkable save for the statue of General Enrique Peñaranda del Castillo, who bears a striking resemblance to Adolf Hitler (and is dressed for the part).

Mountain hiking
If wanting to organize short or long treks around Sorata, use the guides in Sorata rather than booking ahead from La Paz. It ensures that the money you pay goes directly to the guides themselves, most of whom are from poor local families that rely on guiding as a key source of income.

There are several guide offices. The official one (Sorata Guide Association) is close to northeastern corner of main plaza, the other one ("Tourist Information") is on the street that leaves to La Paz from southwestern corner of main plaza. If you arrive in the middle of the week, you may be the only hiker there. From summer months, September is busier than July. Example prices are: guide is Bs. 300/day, transport (4WD) from the town to the start (from the end) of the hike is Bs. 200 one-way, tent and sleeping gear is Bs. 65/day, food and equipment hire is about Bs. 150, taxi (can let you somehow shorten the "boring" part of walk, but not that much as 4WD) is Bs. 40. All these prices are negotiable. If you're single, things may get expensive, but you may get an acceptable custom solution.

Example custom solutions:
 * Bs. 600 for a 2 person, 2 day trip to both Laguna Chillata and Glacier—includes guide, mule and taxi back to town.
 * A day hike to Laguna Chillata should be around Bs. 350 per group, but the hike is easy and can be done without guide if you have a decent map.
 * A day walk to Laguna Chillata with initial taxi, no guide (map may help), 4WD (from a higher point) back home for Bs. 240.

For the following two: If you arrive late, you can still make it to the first camp ground. The advantage being that in the morning the mountains might be without clouds or excellent views.
 * {{do
 * name=Laguna Glaciar | alt= | url= | email=
 * address= | lat=-15.8301 | long=-68.5625 | directions=It is important to use a proper (offline) map and even GPS, see . The trail upwards is generally well visible and follows the Laguna Chillata trail first. However, it is important that on the way down you know where you head, often small trails split off and can lead you into the middle of nowhere. Hence, maybe set some markers along the way, that you need to pass by on the way down. People have been lost on the way and needed to be rescued.
 * phone= | tollfree=
 * hours= | price=
 * wikipedia= | wikidata=
 * lastedit=2018-05-13
 * content=The
 * content=The

title: Sorata


text:
Sorø

Sorø is a city in Zealand.

Train
Sorø is on the main Copenhagen-Jutland line with two trains an hour in each direction.

See

title: Sorø


text:
Sorell

Sorell is a town in the southeast of Tasmania. It is one of Tasmania's oldest towns, settled in 1808, and officially gazetted in 1821. Sorell has many historic buildings, as well as amenities and accommodation. Sorell is the business and shopping hub of the Sorell municipality, and serves as the gateway and main town for what is sometimes called the Southern Beaches region, famed for its many beaches and shack communities. Sorell also sits at the start of the Arthur Highway towards Port Arthur.

Understand
Sorell is named after William Sorell, Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania. It is just 25 kilometres from Hobart, accessed via the Causeway and McRobies Bridge. It has a long history as one of Tasmania's first towns, primarily acting as a nexus for the agricultural regions around it, and as the first stop on the way to the Tasman Peninsula. In addition, it remains the closest major town for the southern beach communities of Lewisham, Dodges Ferry, Carlton River, Connellys Marsh, and Primrose Sands - historically holiday towns. Today, many people in Sorell and surrounds commute to Hobart for work.

Sorell has both major supermarkets, three pharmacies, a doctor's clinic and most other major amenities. It also features many historic buildings, from its art deco town hall to its three historic churches. Sorell is the regional seat of the Sorell Council, covering 583 square kilometres, which operates from offices behind town hall.

Get in
It is a 30-minute drive from Tasmania's capital, Hobart via the A3 Tasman Highway, and a 13-minute drive from Hobart International Airport.

Get around
Sorell is small enough to be traversed on foot; finding parking is generally not an issue. Crossing its main street, Gordon St (Tasman Hwy / A3), can be a bit of a challenge at times, especially during peak hours.

One thing that can be confusing in Sorell is its route numbers. Before the winter of 2022, things used to be fairly straightforward, but ever since the Sorell Southern Bypass opened, has rerouted the route numbers more conveniently for those bypassing the town. However, if you're following route numbers and are in Sorell, whether a road is part of the A3 or A9 can get confusing. To put it in a nutshell: Navigation applications tend to be inaccurate. If anything, follow the local signs and ignore your GPS – the signs will clearly indicate the focal points and the distance, and these are more accurate than map applications.
 * Sorell Southern Bypass: A9 in both directions
 * Main Road and Gordon Street (Tasman Highway): A3 in both directions
 * Cole Street (Arthur Hwy): A9 eastbound, A3 westbound, with the signs in between showing either.

Do

Sleep

title: Sorell


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Soria

Soria is a city of 39,000 people (2018) in the Castile and Leon region of Spain.

Understand
Particularly important in its economy is the agri-food industry, while an increasing number of tourists are attracted by its cultural heritage. Soria was mentioned by UNESCO as a good example when including the Mediterranean diet in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

History
Although there are remains of settlements from the Iron Age and Celtiberian times, Soria enters history with its repopulation between 1109 and 1114 by the Aragonese king Alfonso I the Battler. A strategic enclave due to the struggles for territory between the kingdoms of Castile, Navarre and Aragon, Soria became part of Castile definitively in 1134, during the reign of Alfonso VII. In Soria was born Alfonso VIII, and Alfonso X had his court established when he received the offer of the throne of the Holy Roman Empire.

Booming during the Late Middle Ages thanks to its border location and its control over the bovine industry, Soria went into a slow decline over the next few centuries. It was seriously damaged during the Peninsular War. The city preserves an important architectural heritage (extensive medieval walls, Renaissance palaces and architecturally distinctive Romanesque churches) and is home to the Numantine Museum (with pieces from the nearby Celtiberian city of Numantia).

Get in
Soria is easily accessible by train, bus or car from Madrid, the sea ports and airports of Northern Spain. With high speed rail being widely available in Europe it is easy to travel to Spain & Soria from the United Kingdom without flying. One suggestion is to take to Eurostar from London to Paris, change onto the hotel train overnight to Madrid where you can catch a region train or bus service to Soria.

Northern Spain has many airports now served by the budget airlines, such as Vitoria-Gasteiz, Valladolid, Zaragoza and Bilbao, giving the visitor more options regarding the port of arrival, all of which are in easy travelling distance to Soria.

The city is served by the Soria Railway Station, with daily services from Madrid via Guadalajara. There are also many bus lines to neighbouring cities.

Get around
Getting around the province is best done with either a local tour company or by hire car. Public transport is limited to the town of Soria. There are daily buses out to most of the rural villages but they tend to run once a day each way so are not that practical for tourists and visitors.

See
The small, remote, 11th-century hermitage of San Baudelio with its painted frescos is worth a visit. There is said to be around 100 years difference between the construction of the hermitage and the paintings. The frescos are of Arab and Christian influence and are some of the most important 'mozarabe' art.

A short distance from the picturesque village of Vinuesa, high up in the ‘Sierra Urbion’, in an area of lush, dense pine forests, renowned for its abundance of wildlife is the magnificent ‘Laguna Negra’ or Black Lake. This glacial lake was formed during the last ice age; its impressive 80 m (260 ft) high granite walls cast a black shade over the waters below. Make sure you allow enough time to soak up the magic of this area, a favourite and inspirational place for the Spanish poet Antonio Machado. This peaceful place can also be accessed from the GR86, one of the walking tracks that crisscross the province. If you have a passion for mountains, with suitable equipment a hike from here of about 2 hours will bring you to the birthplace of the mighty Douro River which ends its course on the Portuguese coast.

 * A few kilometres north of the town are the ruins of Numantia, a Celtiberian town whose inhabitants destroyed it rather than let it fall to Scipio. In Soria is the Museo Numantino, devoted to the archaeological remains of this and other sites in the province.
 * A few kilometres north of the town are the ruins of Numantia, a Celtiberian town whose inhabitants destroyed it rather than let it fall to Scipio. In Soria is the Museo Numantino, devoted to the archaeological remains of this and other sites in the province.
 * A few kilometres north of the town are the ruins of Numantia, a Celtiberian town whose inhabitants destroyed it rather than let it fall to Scipio. In Soria is the Museo Numantino, devoted to the archaeological remains of this and other sites in the province.

Go next

 * Madrid
 * Zaragoza

title: Soria


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Sorocaba

Sorocaba is a city in the interior of São Paulo state. Although almost ignored as a tourist destination, Sorocaba is a large city with strong (and growing) economy, a charming and well-preserved Downtown, practically no slums, and known as one of the most cycling-friendly cities of the country (if not the most).

Understand
Sorocaba, founded in 1654, is located in the southeast region of the state, about 90km from the capital.

By car

 * SP 75 (Santos Dumont highway), from Itu, Salto, Piracicaba and Campinas
 * SP 79 (Waldomiro Correa de Camargo highway), from Itu
 * SP 97 (Emerenciano Prestes de Barros highway), from Porto Feliz
 * SP 264 (João Leme dos Santos highway), from Salto de Pirapora, Votorantim, and Piedade
 * SP 270 (Raposo Tavares highway), from Itapetininga, Presidente Prudente, São Roque and Vargem Grande Paulista
 * SP 280 (Castelo Branco highway), from São Paulo, Ourinhos
 * SCB 354 - from Iperó

By bus
Sorocaba is well served by city buses from two terminals..
 * Terminal São Paulo, serves the south and east zones.
 * Terminal Santo Antônio, serves the west zone.

By bicycle
With a network of 106 km of cycleways, 50 public bicycle parking lots, and 19 bicycle borrow points, Sorocaba is possibly the best large city in Brazil for cycling. Accidents involving bicycles are also rare. A map of the cycleways of the city can be found here.

Buy

 * Mercado Municipal, Largo do Mercado – Centro.

Splurge

 * Bacã, de Av. Marginal Dom Aguirre.
 * MW, Campolim.
 * Floresta Negra, Jardim América, close to Campolim. German cuisine.
 * Santa Victória, Alto da Boa Vista

Budget

 * Cardum Hotel
 * Chamonix Hotel
 * Hotel Ipanema
 * Sorocaba Hotel

Mid-range

 * Ibis
 * Shelton Inn
 * Sorocaba Park Hotel
 * Sorocaba Park Hotel

Splurge

 * Flat The First

Stay safe
Sorocaba is the safest of the 10 largest cities of the São Paulo state, and probably one of safest large cities of the country. This is likely due to the lack of extreme social contrasts commonly seen in other large Brazilian cities - Sorocaba contains practically no slums (favelas).

As in many cities of the country, drug addicts roam the city center, but until so far, their number has been kept under control by means of governmental assistance programs.

title: Sorocaba


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Sorocabana

Sorocabana is a region in the state of São Paulo. It is a region containing vast and tranquil rural areas, quickly developing cities like Sorocaba and Itu, and the Itararé valley, an unspoiled geological park that offers beautiful views, canyons and waterfalls.

Cities

 * - A prosperous and well-organized large city, with a formidable network of cycleways
 * - A popular destination for enotourism, also containing the state's only ski track
 * - Pleasant medium-sized city with some eco-adventure options
 * - Modest city that gives access to the Pirituba Canyon, in the Itararé Valley
 * - City of oversized decorations and handcrafts, and well-preserved historical heritage
 * - One of the state's best known tourist parks around a segmented waterfall
 * - Good rural tourism and artificial beaches in the Jurumirim reservoir
 * - Riverfront resort town famous for its dam-crossing boat rides
 * - Where caipira traditions are alive as ever

Other destinations

 * - The state's premier parachuting destination

Understand
In 1875, the railway company Sorocabana opened a new railway from São Paulo towards the west. That would begin the economical development of a whole new region of the state.

Nowadays, the most economically relevant part of the region is the northeast part, where the region's largest city, Sorocaba, and nearby cities have been prospering with the expansion of industry and services sectors. The northwest of the region is mostly rural, with agriculture playing a major role. This part of the region has several getaway resorts, mostly in charming small cities like Avaré, Barra Bonita and Águas de Santa Bárbara.

Finally the south of the region, close to the border with Paraná, is less densely populated and economically developed. The characteristic landscape of the region is the Itararé Valley, a geological formation containing canyons, forest and waterfalls. It is an area with formidable potential for ecotourism, although proper tourist infrastructure is still under development.

See

 * Through not next the sea, the region has some popular freshwater beaches, like in Avaré and Igaraçu do Tietê
 * The Pirituba Canyon in Itapeva, with sandstone walls up to 120 meters high
 * The Tietê waterfall and the surrounding cultural complex (Complexo Turístico Cachoeira) in Salto
 * The churches and museums of Itu, that will give you several insights on Brazilian history

Do

 * Cycle through the whole city of Sorocaba
 * Do the dam-crossing boat ride in Barra Bonita; afterwards have a beer or shop for handcrafts in the riverside street
 * Enjoy the Festa do Divino Espírito Santo or the Festa de São Benedito, two traditional caipira festivals, in Tietê

Stay safe
The Sorocabana region has relatively low crimes rates for Brazilian standards, even in the largest city, Sorocaba. The south of the region (the Itararé valley) is a poor area, which is not particularly dangerous to visitors, but it is wise to at least avoid displaying wealth and possessions there.

title: Sorocabana


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Sorrento

Sorrento is in Campania. The town features beautiful architecture, many cafes and restaurants, and shops catering to tourists.

Understand
Sorrento is on the Circumvesuviana rail system, so it is easily reached from Naples and an ideal base for visiting the archaeological sites at Pompeii and Ercolano.

Ferries regularly commute between Sorrento and Capri, Positano and Amalfi, making Sorrento an ideal base for exploring the other beautiful places in the region.

Get in

 * Read about the unified public transport ticket Campania Unico.

By plane

 * From Naples Airport ('Capodichino'): You can reach Sorrento by bus, from Capodichino to Sorrento buses depart six times daily.

By train

 * The Circumvesuviana goes from Naples (starting at Porta Nolana via Garibaldi) along the coast ending at the (€4.90, 1 hr 20 min, as of July 2021). The trains tend to get very crowded until the stop at Pompei during the summer (board at Porta Nolana for a seat) and many of them are outdated and your only air conditioning will be an open window. They run approx. every 30 minutes. Tickets can be bought both at staffed counters as well as over the Unico Campania app. There are very few ticket machines, which are hard to find (one is in the main hall of Porta Nolana to the right of the counters, one at the elevator on the first floor of Sorrento station) and often out of order.
 * From mid-March to the end of October, the Campania Express runs along the same route as the Circumvesuviana between Naples and Sorrento, but stops at just a few stations and takes about 50 min (30 min less than the commuter trains). These trains have guaranteed seating, air conditioning, and space to store baggage. €15 oneway now in 2024

By bus
The SITA buses from Positano and Amalfi end in Sorrento in the plaza in front of the train station.

By car
From Naples' Tangenziale drive south towards Costiera Sorrentina, and be prepared to spend 1½ hours in the traffic.

By boat
From
 * Naples: Only one company operates between "Napoli Beverello" and Sorrento. The service is approximately every 2 hours (Sep 2017). Price paid in port for a single trip, adult: €15.20 (Jan 2024). It takes about 40 minutes, which is faster than by car or train.
 * Ischia
 * Capri.
 * Positano

Get around
After you arrive by bus or train, you will exit to the modern park. From there, you can:
 * Walk
 * Local buses - the local bus service is good enough to visit all interesting places available in the area.
 * Taxi

Scooter hire companies charge about €20 per day. Helmets are legally required, but regularly not worn by those with nothing to protect.

It is possible to drive around town. Parking is very limited for cars (scooters park practically anywhere). The roads are allegedly one lane either way, but expect traffic in both directions to take that as a suggestion rather than a rule. Scooters and motorcycles are absolutely everywhere, so if you don't like being buzzed whilst trying to navigate narrow, winding roads, maybe skip trying to drive here.

See

 * Lemon terraces

Do

 * Swim - Go to Marina Grande or (the better option) Marina Piccola. Some reserved areas with sand will ask for a €5-10 entrance fee (which will also get you a seat and an umbrella). A much better and more spectacular option might even me Bagni Regina Giovanna, a nice little cove from the ocean in a secluded spot. Though a bit far, it's worth the trip (ask the locals for direction).
 * Rent a scooter or motorbike from the many shops offering them: typical rates (as of Oct 2019) are €25-35 for 5 hours, €28-40 for 12 hours, €35-45 for 1 day, €85-130 for 3 days.
 * Rent a scooter or motorbike from the many shops offering them: typical rates (as of Oct 2019) are €25-35 for 5 hours, €28-40 for 12 hours, €35-45 for 1 day, €85-130 for 3 days.

Buy

 * Corso Italia is the main shopping street in the center of Sorrento.
 * One of the top souvenirs from the area is limoncello, the signature lemon liqueur. You can find it at, Via San Cesareo, 49. This is a good place to see it being made, after which you'll know why it packs such a punch: it's basically pure alcohol with flavouring.

Eat
Restaurants and other eating places are often open until 23:30. Dining very late is feature in common with many other tourist destinations in the south of Italy. People often go out late (around 18:00) to walk around in the square or town center, and end the evening dining in a restaurant.

Piazza Tasso has many cafés with outdoor tables for coffee, a drink and people-watching.
 * Gnocchi alla Sorrentina - potato gnocchi with tomato sauce and mozzarella baked to perfection.
 * The Pastiera a typical cake that is produced in the area.
 * The excellent olive oil produced in Penisola Sorrentina, this product to be prized in many events.
 * The artichoke or aubergines parmigiana is a typical dish that is made with tomatoes and cheese.

Marina Grande
Several waterfront restaurants here offer local cuisine, fresh fish and seafood:

Drink

 * Limoncello di Sorrento, a strong liquor made from lemon rind. Also try other similar liquors such as Crema al Limone (like Limoncello but cream-based and less strong), and local wines like Falanghina, Lachryma Christi.
 * Amaro di Capo di Sorrento - a liqueur made from bitter herbs. There is more to Sorrento than limoncello.

Go next

 * Capri and Ischia by ferry.
 * Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples by the Circumvesuviana Railway.
 * The Amalfi Coast: Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, etc., by SITA or City Sightseeing buses, or by ferry.
 * The Greek temples in Paestum.
 * Ravello - mountain village, home of Gore Vidal

title: Sorrento


text:
Sorrento (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Sorrento:

Australia

 * Sorrento - A town on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.

Italy

 * Sorrento - A coastal town in Campania.

title: Sorrento (disambiguation)


text:
Sorsogon

Sorsogon is a province of the Philippines in the Region of Bicol.

Cities

 * — the main city of the province can be a base for exploring beautiful Sorsogon province

Municipalities

 * — a scuba diving destination
 * — a scuba diving destination

Understand
Sorsogon is at the tip of the Bicol Peninsula and faces the island of Samar to the southeast across the San Bernardino Strait and Ticao Island to the southwest.

The Bicolano language is predominantly used in Sorsogon as the language used by its people.

Get around
The Pan-Philippine Highway (N1/AH26), is the highway backbone network, and the secondary and tertiary roads interconnect most cities and municipalities in Pilar, Castilla, Sorsogon City, Casiguran, Juban, Irosin before ending at Matnog at the ferry terminal.

The Matnog Ferry Terminal provides access to the island of Northern Samar in Allen.

Do

 * Swim and interact with 'whale sharks' the largest fish in the world in Don Sol, Sorsogon.
 * Ride the waves at Lola Sayong Surfing Camp in Gubat, Sorsogon.
 * Kasanggayahan Festival — celebrated in the whole province in the last week of October, commemorates the founding of Sorsogon as a province. Festivities include a series of cultural, historical, religious, agro-industrial and economic activities, showcasing the province's abundant agricultural products, particularly food and decorative items. One of the main activities and highlight of the festival is the Pantomina sa Tinampo, it is a kind of cultural-ethnic street dance native to the province. Hundreds of men and women participated, clad in colorful traditional Filipino couture while dancing barefoot as they parade around the city.
 * Pili Festival — in Sorsogon City, honors the Pili nut and tree which is indigenous to province. The festival coincides with the town fiesta of Sorsogon City. Celebrations include street dancing by locals donning pili nut costumes, cooking competitions, fireworks displays, color run, and even a nutcracking session along the road by the locals.[25]
 * Parau Festival – Pilar, Sorsogon celebrates Parau Festival every October. The Festival coincides with the town fiesta of Pilar. Events include Inter-High School Sportsfest, DLC Competition, Parau Street Dancing Competition, Color Run, Palarong Bayan.
 * Ginubat Festival – from Gubat, Sorsogon, a festival based on the roots of the town of which its name was derived. It features the following activities: cultural street parade, exhibit, sail boat race, beauty pageant, fiesta celebration and the Balik Gubat which is the highlight of the festival.

title: Sorsogon


text:
Sorsogon City

Sorsogon City is a port town in Sorsogon Province. There is little of interest here for travellers but this town may serve as a stop or a base for exploring beautiful Sorsogon province.

Understand
The little tourism infratrcture that Sorsogon has, caters to domestic tourists. Despite issues of social inequality and ongoing decline in the fishing industry, the city is growing and still seems vibrant, with friendly locals. There is much less crime here than Manila. Further south and travellers have a hard time finding reliable transport, uncontaminated water and food.

Get in

 * Generally UV Express minivans or a bus are the main ways to get in from Legazpi City.
 * There are jeepneys and buses going to and from Matnog Port (ferry port for Samar island).

Get around
Trikes are the main mode of transport within the city. ₱20 during the day and up to ₱40 later at night. Hiring a jeepney for a day is nice for beach trips. Santa Magdalena is ₱3500 for the day, Irosin hot springs ₱2500, Bacon beach ₱1500.

Buy

 * Local honey. It's amazing.
 * Seafood is great, but rather risky.

Eat
Casa Dominga may be the best restaurant in town. A bit on the outskirts but excellent. Magno Grill is the most trendy, but perhaps it tries too hard, and the WiFi never works. Una Pizzeria across from Fernando's Hotel is good. You can try the sushi place next door, which has a good reputation.

Go next

 * Legazpi City has better amenities than Sorsogon and is the same distance from Donsol
 * Masbate.
 * Calbayog.
 * Tacloban

title: Sorsogon City


text:
Sosnovy Bor

Sosnovy Bor (Сосновый Бор) is a small city on the Gulf of Finland west of Saint Petersburg in Leningrad Oblast, home to the Leningrad nuclear power plant and, with it, the world's largest nuclear waste disposal facility.

The town is in somewhat restricted area, and that means that to enter one have to have valid permission to do so. If your trip is job-related then most probably your partner company will arrange the papers. Another way is to have some town citizen prepare approved formal invitation for you. Anyway it is important to have these papers ready when entering/leaving town.

By train
From the Baltiisky (Балтийский) train station in St. Petersburg, destination station name is Kalische (Калище). Trains are infrequent and sometimes you have to hop to another on Oranienbaum (Ораниенбаум) station. Bus route 5 connects train station with town center.

By bus
Route 401 connects Sosnovy Bor and St. Petersburg. Bus shuttle is quite frequent, reliable and usually faster than train. It takes 1½-2 hr. to get to St.Petersburg, near Avtovo (Автово) metro station. Typically shuttle would go end-to-end, but on-demand stops are OK. That could be handy as bus goes through towns Petergof (Петергоф) and Lomonosov (Ломоносов) with their parks and other tourist attractions.

Get around
Town is rather small, almost everything is within walking distance. Local bus service is infrequent and most bus routes are actually the same inside a town. Taxi: there are lots of them, the fare is flat inside a town (as of 2010 it is ₽80)

There is a bike rental in Perekrestok mall, but local roads are not very suitable for biking.

See
Andersengrad (Town of Andersen) is a children playground shaped as small medieval castle. Inside there is a small cafe, an open summer theatre and a small park. Very nice place to visit.

There is an orthodox church in the town center, built in 2005.

It is also usually possible to arrange a tour inside Leningrad Power plant.

Do
Town has two beaches, rather large and uncrowded, bordered with pine forest. Unfortunately, local weather makes swimming and sun bathing possible only few weeks a year. Forests around are nice for hiking any time of the year.

There is a very good track on the sandy dunes next to the beach, inside pine forest. Originally made for biathlons, but often used for cycling during summer time and skiing during winter.

Near the town (about 20 min by car) there is medieval Koporye Fortress, definitely worth a visit.

Night life is centered around Jupiter club, but this place is not considered very safe.

Buy
Next to the church there is a mall Perekrestok (Перекресток, road cross in Russian) with many local shops and several chain stores. Near Sosnovy Bor hotel there is large Karoussel supermarket where you can buy food, etc.

Budget

 * There is fast food chain

Sleep
The only hotel in town is Sosnovy Bor.

title: Sosnovy Bor