text:
Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania. It has a beautiful baroque Old Town, listed as a, and excellent tourist facilities in all price ranges. It stands on the River Neris in the southeast pocket of the country, the Dzūkija region, and in 2023 had a population of 629,000.

Understand
Vilnius has been central to the country's life for as long as there has been Lithuania, but that has often been a tragic tale. Its Neolithic people traded in Baltic amber. In the early Middle Ages five petty kingdoms combined into two then one, when Mindaugas in 1253 became Lithuania's first king and noble Christian convert. The country splintered after his assassination but was re-united under Gediminas, who established Vilnius castle — in legend on the site where a wolf in a dream told him to build. But the real wolves were his neighbouring countries, and finding a powerful ally meant adopting their religion. Poland was the best bet and a dynastic marriage in 1486 united the crowns, later the nations, and Lithuania became Roman Catholic. Vilnius Old Town was largely built in the following 150 years.

This united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth grew almost to the Black Sea, but all the power and money shifted to Poland. Like Hungary in the Austro-Hungarian Empire or Ireland within Britain, Lithuania was the poor country cousin. And then Poland fell, with its territory carved up between Prussia, Austria and Russia, and others snatching what they could. Lithuania became a territory of the Russian Empire. Poland and Lithuania only regained independence after the First World War, and almost at once were at war with each other and with Russia. Vilnius was captured and from 1920 was a Polish exclave, and the Lithuanian capital moved to Kaunas. In the run-up to the Second World War Russia (as the Soviet Union) again seized the territory. This history meant that when Nazi Germany invaded in 1941, they found many local supporters, and the Jewish population of Vilnius was slaughtered.

Postwar the Soviet iron fist clutched Lithuania, until 1991 when civil unrest and the collapse of the USSR enabled the country to seize independence. It looked west for allies, adopting capitalism, joining NATO and the European Union, and — crucially for travellers — welcoming the budget airlines. All this has made Vilnius a friendly, tourist-oriented city, with a wealth of sights reflecting its layers of history.

Tourist information: Go Vilnius have a kiosk at the airport and another in Cathedral Square, both open daily 10:00-19:00. They speak good English and are helpful with maps, brochures, tours and suggestions, but they don't book accommodation

Climate
Far from moderating Atlantic, Vilnius winter is extremely cold and temperatures often stay below freezing day after day. Temperatures often reach -25ºC (-13 °F) in the months of January and February, freezing all the rivers and lakes around the city. Summers are warm to hot, with heat waves that send temperatures to rise above 30°C (86°F). Rainfall is relatively equal throughout the year; there is never a completely dry month, although summer is the wettest time in Vilnius. Early summer and autumn are good times to visit, but Vilnius is a year-round destination, and even overcast and gray days have their compensations, when everyone feels in league united against the weather.

By plane

To and from the airport:
 * By bus — They leave from outside Arrivals, run every 15-30 min and take 15 min to go downtown. Simplest is to buy a €1 single ticket from the driver, and you might pay extra for bulky luggage. "Get around" below describes other ticket deals, such as the smart card Vilniečio kortelė — buy it from the Narvesen kiosk next to Arrivals.
 * Bus 1 runs from the airport (Oro uostas) to the central bus and railway stations (Stotis).
 * Bus 2 runs via LFF football stadium to the stations.
 * Bus 88 runs via the football stadium, Gate of Dawn (200 m from stations) and MO Museum to Konstitucijos Prospekt and Europa Square in the business district north of the river.
 * Night Bus 88N runs every 30 min 23:30–05:30 by the same route. This is the only night service at the airport.
 * Bus 3G runs via Lukiškės Square (west of Old Town) and Konstitucijos Prospekt in the business district to the northern suburb of Fabijoniškės. The G indicates express, Greitasis.
 * Other cities: Ollex is a not-very-direct bus from the airport to Kaunas, where the pick-up and drop off is at the filling station on Savanoriu prospekt, northeast edge of the city. The bus continues to Klaipėda. Ecolines bus to Minsk and Toks bus to Kaunas, Klaipėda and Palanga also run via the airport.
 * By train — From the airport to the main railway station every two hours, taking 8 minutes. Buy on board from the conductor for €0.80, and you might have to pay a few cents extra if you have bulky luggage.
 * By taxi — In the rank outside Arrivals, they have capped rates. To the stations in 2023 is €13 daytime, €15 night; to Old Town is €18 daytime, €21 night.
 * On foot — With light luggage, decent weather and an hour to spare, it's 4 km to walk to the railway and bus stations and another 1 km into Old Town. From the terminal, follow the broad Felikso Vaitkaus gatve for 200 m. Turn right, heading north on Dariaus ir Gireno gatve — it's busy but has a sidewalk. This comes into downtown across a railway bridge, turn right (east) for stations and Old Town or continue straight ahead for places west of Old Town.

 Kaunas Airport is 100 km west of Vilnius and 14 km northeast of downtown Kaunas. It has budget flights by Ryanair and Wizz, but fewer than Vilnius. Ollex is a direct bus from Kaunas airport to Vilnius (90 min, three per day, €15), where the pick-up / drop off is at Panorama Hotel opposite the railway and bus stations. Otherwise take Kaunas local bus 29 downtown for frequent buses and trains to Vilnius.

By train
From Poland a daily train runs from Kraków at 04:00 via Warsaw Centralna at 07:30 to reach the border towards 15:00. Here you change to the Lithuanian train for Kaunas at 16:30 and Vilnius at 17:30. If you fly into Warsaw, you can take any train to Białystok then join the cross-border train at a more congenial 10:30 next morning. The westbound train sets off from Vilnius at noon.

From Riga a daily train departs at 15:28, arriving into Vilnius at 19:51.

From Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad all trains are suspended since 2019, but buses still run from Minsk.

From 27 Dec 2023 a daily train plies to Latvia. It leaves Vilnius at 06:30 and calls at Kaišiadorys, Siauliai, Joniškis and Jelgava, reaching Riga by 10:45. The southbound train leaves Riga around 15:30 to arrive in Vilnius at 19:50. The single adult fare is €24 in 2nd class.

From Kaunas trains run hourly, daily 05:00-22:30, taking 90 min. Adult fares in 2023 are about €7. The trains are usually Czech double-deckers.

From Klaipeda normally five trains run daily, taking 4 hr 30 min, for a fare of €22. However in 2023 there is disruption on this route for electrification.

By bus
Buses from Warsaw take 8-9 hours via Białystok and Kaunas, for a fare in 2023 of €30. They continue to Riga, another 4-5 hours. From Tallinn you may need to change in Riga, or the bus may take a rest stop there then continue.

Buses from Minsk are still running in 2023, taking 4 hr 30 min. Those from Kaliningrad have been suspended since 2022.

Buses from Kaunas run every 15 min, taking 90 min for a fare of €9; see above for the bus from Kaunas airport. From Klaipėda they run every hour or so, taking 4-5 hours, for €25. See individual town pages for other starting points across Lithuania.

Bus operators include Eurolines, Ecolines, Lux Express and Flixbus.

Vilnius bus station is next to the railway station.

By road
From Poland follow E87 to Marijampolė then turn east on A7 / A16. From Riga follow E87 south to Panevėžys then A2. From Klaipėda and Kaunas follow A1 east.

These are fast four-lane highways, usual speed limit 130 km/h summer, 110 km/h winter, and kept open in bad weather.

On foot
Walking is your only choice in Old Town. The old streets are pedestrianised, and even taxis avoid it.

By bus
JUDU is the portal for city buses and trolleybuses, with timetables, route maps and travel planners in English. There are no trams or metro / suburban railways, but see above for the airport train.

A single ticket for bus or trolleybus costs €1 in 2023, purchased from the driver, cash only and no discounts. You stamp it immediately in the little red box by the driver's cab. It's not valid for transfers.

All other tickets involve the use of a smart card, Vilniečio kortelė, for an upfront payment of €1.50. This works out cheaper if you travel over several days, and it allows discounts and transfers. The transport website lists 16 possibilities, times three for the 50% and 80% discounts. For instance a full-fare 24-hour ticket costs €5 and a 72-hour is €8. Validate it by swiping the smart card over the yellow electronic reader on the bus, which starts the clock running. Seniors over 70 years get 50% discount, and European Union students get 80% discount. Show your ISIC or ID card or passport when prepaying the smart card and in case of ticket control during the trip. It's also possible to do all this by mobile phone, but only in Lithuanian, so good luck with that.

Buy or top-up the Vilniečio kortelė smart card from Lietuvos spauda or Narvesen kiosks (for instance at the airport), Maxima grocery stores, PayPost offices, or at the Customer Service Centre at Gedimino pr 9A.

There are two mobile apps available for the purchase of public transportation tickets: m.ticket and Trafi. €0.65 for a 30-min single ticket, compared to €1 single ticket purchased with cash from the driver. Trafi is available in English and you can register a foreign debit/credit card. Minimum purchase in Trafi is €5. You can load up on several single tickets in Trafi (e.g., 8 x 30-min single tickets for a total of €5.2) and you can also activate several tickets at the same time. So if you're several people travelling together, only one person needs the Trafi app and can manage everyone's tickets.

Vilnius Pass is a tourist card which may include public transport on its 72-hour pass, but not on the 24 or 48-hour passes. You will struggle to break even on any of these, however many museums you rush around. The 72-hour pass is €66 with transport and €56 without.

There are some 90 standard bus routes (marked in blue), six express buses (in green, and badged G for Greitasis) and 20 trolleybuses (in red). They have their own numbers, so bus 3, express bus 3G and trolleybus 3 run entirely different routes. They run 05:30-23:00; the only night bus is 88N cross-town from the airport to Europa Square.

By taxi
See above for taxi rates from the airport. There are half a dozen taxi and ride-sharing services, which include Taksi 1820, Uber, Jazzexpress and A2B. Cars are new and have debit / credit card readers.

Smartphone and internet booking systems include Uber, eTAKSI, Bolt and Yandex. Street taxis may charge twice as much as those hired by phone or app: try dialling the number on the vehicle you see, tell the dispatcher the address you're at, and you will likely get the same car for a lower price.

All taxis must have a yellow licence plate starting with the letter T with an additional five numbers and a "Taksi" sign on the roof. A detailed price list alongside the driver's taxi-operator license must be placed on the panel right in front of the passenger seat next to the driver.

A €0.50-1 tip for the driver is customary.

By car
Not in Old Town! The spine of it is traffic-restricted, and parking is scarce and time-limited - not long enough to enjoy any sights. Further out is snarled during rush hour (07:00-09:00 and 16:00-18:30). If you plan to tour the country, see the city by walking or public transport then pick up a rental car later. There's a dozen rental companies including Hertz, Enterprise, Europcar and Sixt.

JUDU details the parking places in the city, and there are Park & Rides around its fringes.

City-Bee is a car-share where you can rent a car by the minute - use your phone to unlock it. There is no contract or monthly fee, you pay for the service only when you use the car (say €8 per hour), and there are no parking fees when you are not using it. There are 13 pick-up points across the city, mostly in the centre.

By bicycle
You might cycle to outlying sites, but this will be on-road, and local motorists don't pay much regard to bike lanes. The only continuous cycle path is north along the River Neris to Verkiai nature park. Other routes are fragmentary.

Cyclocity is a self-service bike-rental scheme. However in Feb 2023 short-term subscriptions are suspended, and they only offer longer deals suitable for regular commuters.

Velotakas have bike rental and lead city tours. They're at Stulginskio 5, tel +370 618 45727, open daily 10:00-18:00.

See

Vilnius Pass is a tourist discount card which in 2023 costs €37 for 24 hours, €47 for 48 hours and €56 for 72 hours. This excludes public transport and is frankly poor value, you'll struggle to break even.

Old town north

 * This starts from the castle and cathedral, and stretches south along Pilies gatve. Halfway down the main street becomes Didžioji, and this area is described below as Old Town south. In 1994 the entire Old Town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

 * * Museum of Applied Arts and Design is in another wing of Old Arsenal. The permanent collection is mostly about fashion and clothing, and doesn't have much furniture, ceramics, metalwork or other wares.
 * * Museum of Applied Arts and Design is in another wing of Old Arsenal. The permanent collection is mostly about fashion and clothing, and doesn't have much furniture, ceramics, metalwork or other wares.
 * * Museum of Applied Arts and Design is in another wing of Old Arsenal. The permanent collection is mostly about fashion and clothing, and doesn't have much furniture, ceramics, metalwork or other wares.

 * ("Literature Street") at its junction with Rusų gatve has small artworks and dedications mounted on the walls, to those whose literature is linked to Lithuania (however obliquely, so a dedication to Wikivoyage seems overdue). The street west is a ratty alley and east is nothing special.
 * ("Literature Street") at its junction with Rusų gatve has small artworks and dedications mounted on the walls, to those whose literature is linked to Lithuania (however obliquely, so a dedication to Wikivoyage seems overdue). The street west is a ratty alley and east is nothing special.
 * ("Literature Street") at its junction with Rusų gatve has small artworks and dedications mounted on the walls, to those whose literature is linked to Lithuania (however obliquely, so a dedication to Wikivoyage seems overdue). The street west is a ratty alley and east is nothing special.
 * ("Literature Street") at its junction with Rusų gatve has small artworks and dedications mounted on the walls, to those whose literature is linked to Lithuania (however obliquely, so a dedication to Wikivoyage seems overdue). The street west is a ratty alley and east is nothing special.
 * ("Literature Street") at its junction with Rusų gatve has small artworks and dedications mounted on the walls, to those whose literature is linked to Lithuania (however obliquely, so a dedication to Wikivoyage seems overdue). The street west is a ratty alley and east is nothing special.
 * ("Literature Street") at its junction with Rusų gatve has small artworks and dedications mounted on the walls, to those whose literature is linked to Lithuania (however obliquely, so a dedication to Wikivoyage seems overdue). The street west is a ratty alley and east is nothing special.

 * Pilies gatve is the attractive main thoroughfare leading south from Cathedral Square past the university, to become Didžioji continuing past Town Hall to the Gate of Dawn. Saint Parasceve is a shocking pink Orthodox church at the changeover point. Most buildings along here are worth admiring, though the concrete modern block opposite the church could do with a visit by the Teutonic Knights' wrecking crew. The Šlapelių House Museum has exhibitions and events.

Old Town south

 * From Saint Parasceve past Town Hall square down to Gate of Dawn

Užupis

 * "Užupis" means beyond the river - it's in a loop of the small River Vilnia, which flows north to join the bigger Neris. It developed from the 16th century as a Jewish ghetto, most of whose inhabitants were murdered in the Holocaust. Post-war it was a squalid neighbourhood, then from independence it gentrified as property values climbed. In 1997 the residents declared it to be an independent republic, with its own president, anthem, flag, and constitution. They picked April Fool's Day to celebrate independence, and the first article of their constitution sets the tone: "Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnia, and the River Vilnia has the right to flow by everyone." Its envoys, which have yet to be accredited by any other nation, include an "ambassador for whistling in the streets".
 * Kalnų Park stretches north to the River Neris, and northeast is the district of Antakalnis. Attractions there and further east are also described in this section.

Elsewhere

 * The city's walls were destroyed around 1800 and it expanded in all directions, absorbing or replacing the hamlets around. This section describes a roughly-clockwise arc from Gate of Dawn through west then north of Old Town.

Naujamiestis
The "new town", right west of the old town

Right bank of Neris

South of the railway

 * : only if you're passing, or hell-bent on taking the shortest possible route between Hammerfest and Odesa. In the 19th century Struve organised an extensive series of cartographic observations along a geodesic - a "Great Circle" arc - to measure the precise size and shape of the earth. The triangulation points weren't in a straight line, but roughly followed longitude 26°43′ East over 2820 km. Some 34 of the original 265 points are now a . This one is a simple marker in a field, with a road nearby.

North of Vilnius

 * is a village 11 km north of Vilnius and now incorporated into the city: take bus #35 or #36. The extensive Regional Park stretches north along the riverbank. The imposing neoclassical palace was a bishop's residence and is now part of the university, no tours. Verkiai is best known for its Calvary, a reconstruction of the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem. This was established in the 1660s, demolished by the Soviets, and rebuilt in 2002. The Way comprises 22 chapels, 7 wooden and brick gates, and two baroque churches. It's supposed to be a faithful replica, though Jerusalem in 33 AD had few baroque buildings, and you'll struggle to see much resemblance between the bosky River Neris and the brook Kidron.
 * is a village 11 km north of Vilnius and now incorporated into the city: take bus #35 or #36. The extensive Regional Park stretches north along the riverbank. The imposing neoclassical palace was a bishop's residence and is now part of the university, no tours. Verkiai is best known for its Calvary, a reconstruction of the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem. This was established in the 1660s, demolished by the Soviets, and rebuilt in 2002. The Way comprises 22 chapels, 7 wooden and brick gates, and two baroque churches. It's supposed to be a faithful replica, though Jerusalem in 33 AD had few baroque buildings, and you'll struggle to see much resemblance between the bosky River Neris and the brook Kidron.

Do

 * Football: (capacity 5000) is 500 m east of the railway and bus stations, and hosts the men's national soccer team. It also hosts FK Žalgiris, who play in A Lyga, the country's top tier; the playing season is March-Nov. "Žalgiris" means green field and commemorates the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, when Poland-Lithuania smashed the Teutonic Knights. Also playing here in A Lyga is FK Riteriai, who relocated from Trakai in 2019. The stadium is too small for European fixtures and is being rebuilt to hold 8000.
 * was Siemens Arena until rebranded in 2020. It's multi-purpose, and capacity varies with event. For basketball (capacity 10,000) it hosts Rytas Vilnius, the country's leading team. Other regular events are ice hockey games and rock concerts.
 * Go Karts: is on Dariaus ir Girėno 500 m west of the railway station. It's a battery-powered kiddy affair.  is a full-scale outdoor track 5 km northeast of city centre.
 * Hot air balloons take to the sky above Vilnius and elsewhere in Lithuania. Operators include Oreiviai and Smile. In 2023 you might pay €140 per person.
 * was Siemens Arena until rebranded in 2020. It's multi-purpose, and capacity varies with event. For basketball (capacity 10,000) it hosts Rytas Vilnius, the country's leading team. Other regular events are ice hockey games and rock concerts.
 * Go Karts: is on Dariaus ir Girėno 500 m west of the railway station. It's a battery-powered kiddy affair.  is a full-scale outdoor track 5 km northeast of city centre.
 * Hot air balloons take to the sky above Vilnius and elsewhere in Lithuania. Operators include Oreiviai and Smile. In 2023 you might pay €140 per person.
 * Hot air balloons take to the sky above Vilnius and elsewhere in Lithuania. Operators include Oreiviai and Smile. In 2023 you might pay €140 per person.

Learn

Buy

 * Money: ATMs are very common in Vilnius and most shops accept credit cards.
 * Amber was created some 50 million years ago when Baltic conifer forests were flooded, and the tree resin became fossilised into a hard semi-precious stone. Every souvenir shop sells it.
 * Supermarket chains are Maxima, Rimi, Barbora, Iki, Aibė and Norfa.

Budget

 * Chain coffee shops include Caffeine, AJ Šokoladas and Šviežia Kava. You're seldom far from one.
 * Hesburger is a Finnish burger chain with a dozen outlets around the city. The closest to Old Town is at Vokiečių 12 near the Museum of Illusions, open Su-Th 10:00-22:00, F Sa 10:00-04:00.
 * Chain pizza: Čili Pica have half a dozen outlets, most central is Didžioji 5 at Town Hall square. You'll find better Italian elsewhere.
 * Jammi is a kebab chain with a dozen outlets, the most central is at Tauro 3 near Mykolaičio-Putino Museum.
 * Vegafè have two vegan cafes, at Totorių 3 by Chaika, and Augustijonų 2-3 near Old Town square, both open daily.
 * Vegafè have two vegan cafes, at Totorių 3 by Chaika, and Augustijonų 2-3 near Old Town square, both open daily.

Mid-range

 * Etno Dvaras are a chain serving trad food such as cepelinai and potato pancakes. The two most central are at Aušros Vartų 2 (Gate of Dawn) and Pilies 16 by the university. Rustic interiors, slightly touristy but a good introduction to the local cuisine, and both open from 11:00 to 22:00 or later.
 * Etno Dvaras are a chain serving trad food such as cepelinai and potato pancakes. The two most central are at Aušros Vartų 2 (Gate of Dawn) and Pilies 16 by the university. Rustic interiors, slightly touristy but a good introduction to the local cuisine, and both open from 11:00 to 22:00 or later.
 * Etno Dvaras are a chain serving trad food such as cepelinai and potato pancakes. The two most central are at Aušros Vartų 2 (Gate of Dawn) and Pilies 16 by the university. Rustic interiors, slightly touristy but a good introduction to the local cuisine, and both open from 11:00 to 22:00 or later.
 * Etno Dvaras are a chain serving trad food such as cepelinai and potato pancakes. The two most central are at Aušros Vartų 2 (Gate of Dawn) and Pilies 16 by the university. Rustic interiors, slightly touristy but a good introduction to the local cuisine, and both open from 11:00 to 22:00 or later.
 * Etno Dvaras are a chain serving trad food such as cepelinai and potato pancakes. The two most central are at Aušros Vartų 2 (Gate of Dawn) and Pilies 16 by the university. Rustic interiors, slightly touristy but a good introduction to the local cuisine, and both open from 11:00 to 22:00 or later.
 * Etno Dvaras are a chain serving trad food such as cepelinai and potato pancakes. The two most central are at Aušros Vartų 2 (Gate of Dawn) and Pilies 16 by the university. Rustic interiors, slightly touristy but a good introduction to the local cuisine, and both open from 11:00 to 22:00 or later.
 * Etno Dvaras are a chain serving trad food such as cepelinai and potato pancakes. The two most central are at Aušros Vartų 2 (Gate of Dawn) and Pilies 16 by the university. Rustic interiors, slightly touristy but a good introduction to the local cuisine, and both open from 11:00 to 22:00 or later.

Drink

 * Beer: the most popular local brand is Švyturys, meaning lighthouse; "Ekstra" is their lager. Other major brands include Kalnapilis, Tauras and Utenos.
 * Vodka in Lithuanian is degtinė. Popular brands include Auksinė and Gera. The town distillery doesn't offer tours.
 * Liqueurs include Midus (honey) and Trejos Devynerios (Three Nines, written as 999).

Connect
As of Aug 2023, Vilnius and its approach highways have 4G from Bite, and 5G from Tele2 and Telia.

Wi-fi is widely available in public places in the city.

Stay safe
Vilnius is a relatively safe city, but use standard common sense: safeguard valuables and don't get drunk. The railway and bus station area is safe enough in daylight but it is not recommended to remain in this area at night.

Rough areas where you have no reason to wander include the southern districts of Naujininkai and Kirtimai, and Šnipiškės beyond the business district.

Medical
Always check with your accommodation: they'll know which pharmacies are open late, and which number to call for medical care. This is likely to be the Centro Poliklinika (+370 5 244 2244 / 265 8564), which is open 24/7.

Embassies
For a full list see Embassy Pages.

 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * Georgia
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Transport routes radiate from Vilnius. Within an hour's travel:

 * Trakai 30 km west has two castles amid scenic lakes.
 * Purnuškės 25 km north is one of the claimants to be the geographical centre of Europe.
 * Kernavė 35 km northwest was medieval capital of Lithuania, and is a for its ancient mounds.
 * Kaunas 100 km west is the second largest city, and mostly modern but with a small Old Town.

title: Vilnius


text:
Vilsandi National Park

Vilsandi National Park is on and outside Saaremaa, Estonia's largest island. The park includes the island of Vilsandi, 160 other islands and islets, parts of Western Saaremaa and the Harilaid peninsula.

Understand
Vilsandi National Park was developed from the Vaika Bird Reserve, which was formed in 1910. It covers 238 km², including 163 km² of sea and 75 km² of land.

Loona Manor houses the visitor center of the National Park, fossil museum, hotel, restaurant.

Landscape
The most characteristic to the landscape are the small islands and islets of the nature park of which Vilsandi is the only one with permanent human inhabitants.

The west and north shore is dominated by dolomite rock bank shore.

Flora and fauna
Vilsandi is an international bird sanctuary with over 250 recorded bird species (112 nesting). The most famous is the common eider, several thousands pairs nest on the islets. Even in winter you can see flocks of Steller's eiders in the park.

Get in
Vilsandi National Park is free to visit. The national park is 35 km west of Kuressaare and 3 km from Kihelkonna village.

By plane
There are flights to Kuressaare – from Tallinn, Stockholm, Helsinki.

By bus
Regular buses from Kuressaare. The bus stop is 300 m from the Visitor Centre.

Bus schedules are easily available online – read more under Estonia.

By car
Drive 35 km west from Kuressaare, facing signs for Kihelkonna. Finally sign shows left 1 km to Kihelkonna, 4.5 km to Loona Manor, Visitor center.

By bike
Loona manor is included on a Eurovelo route.

Get around
Hikes, bike rent, boat trips to Vilsandi island and in the archipelago. Info is available at the visitor center in Loona manor.

Guided trips to Vilsandi island could be at from the visitor centre. Daily nature tours, heritage tours start from there. Maps, souvenirs, advice. Season starts from May, 01. Before that just send an e-mail or give a call. Heritage and nature tours for individuals minimum of 2 persons €23 per person.

See

 * Sea flora and fauna
 * Silurian Cliffs corals, fossils
 * Wild orchids
 * Birds
 * Gray seals
 * Butterflies
 * Coastal traditional culture (tar making, forest park, fishing, folklore)
 * Old harbours and light houses.

Do

 * There are numerous hiking paths, biking trains and bird watching towers throughout the park.
 * Bikes and walking poles can be rented.

Buy

 * Souvenirs can be purchased at the Loona visitor center

Eat

 * Restaurant Loona serves food.
 * There is a grocery store in Kihelkonna.
 * Fish can be caught at Pidula fish ponds.

Go next

 * Hiiumaa – The second largest Estonian island. Popular for its lighthouses, ancient churches, historical values and the sense of humour of its inhabitants, but scarcely populated. In winter, it can sometimes be reached by car via an ice bridge on the Baltic Sea.
 * Muhu – The third largest Estonian island, and a rural municipality connected to the nearby Saaremaa by an artificial embankment, where ferries to the harbour of Virtsu arrive. Has an open air museum, and its locals are known for still sewing woollen clothes. Sleepy fishing villages, working windmills, thatched cottages, plenty of deer, moose and birds.
 * Pärnu – Estonia's 4th largest city and the summer capital of Estonia, popular for its balneo-therapy complexes and spa centres, surrounded by numerous beaches.

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

title: Vilsandi National Park


text:
Vilvoorde

Vilvoorde is a city of 44,000 inhabitants in the province of Flemish Brabant in Belgium. Lying just north of Brussels, the town functions more as a suburb of the national capital, having some regional importance due to its high schools and hospitals.

Get in
Served by a good rail network, is only 10 mins from Brussel-Centraal/Bruxelles-Central, the main station of Brussels and just over an hour from Charleroi. Brussels Airport, in nearby Zaventem, is about 7 kilometers outside Vilvoorde and easily reachable by bus.

Get around
Good bus service, cycle paths and easy to walk around.

Do
Some nice shops, but not really a 'shoppers' paradise. Lovely town to walk round with lots of green space.

Increasingly popular for foreign visitors seeking private Medical treatment at the large AZ Jan Portaels Hospital.

Buy
Chocolate

Eat
Good Chinese restaurants. Famous horse-steak restaurants.

Drink
Huge variety of beers/lagers

title: Vilvoorde


text:
Vimmerby

Vimmerby is a city in Småland, Sweden.

Understand
Vimmerby is where Astrid Lindgren, a renowned Swedish writer of children's books, lived and got inspiration for her books. There is an Astrid Lindgren theme park based on her stories. On different stages, portions of her books are read in Swedish.

By bus
Västervikexpress operates from Gothenburg.

title: Vimmerby


text:
Viña del Mar

Viña del Mar is a beach resort town close to Santiago in Central Chile. It's the most important beach in the country. It plays host to a famous music festival every year in late-February.

By bus
Beyond frequent coach bus service between Santiago and Viña. Numerous operators, abundant seating, about a 90-minute ride (but considerably longer if there's traffic) for approximately 5000 pesos one way (June 2020). The buses depart from Santiago at Pajaritos Station (Line 1 of Metro Station) or Universidad de Santiago Station, is recommendable to do it from Pajaritos Station if you want to avoid the stop over from Universidad de Santiago and the ride within the city. The 2 main lines that travel to Viña del Mar are Turbus and Pullman Bus. The bus will drop you at Rodoviario Viña del Mar (Viña del Mar Bus Station), which is 3 blocks east of Downtown (Valparaiso Street 1055). Taxis are available at this point, but if you want to save some money, walk east to Plaza de Viña, and ask for transportation to your destination.

Airlines also often provide free transportation by bus to Vina del Mar.

By train
Merval has frequent service from Valparaiso (534-595 pesos) and from other destinations in the country side of Viña del Mar such as: Quilpue (762-846 pesos), Villa Alemana (762-846 pesos) and Limache (1004-1118 pesos) (June 2020). For using metro and train services you must purchase a Metro/Train Card (2000 pesos with 500 pesos ready to use), available at the kiosk in the stations. Once you get the card you have to slide it when you get in and when you get out to station (destination), there is not flat rate, each route has a different price and also varies according when you've started your journey (peak periods: 06:30–09:30, 17:00–20:00; shoulder periods: 06:00–6:30, 09:30–10:30, 13:00–14:00, 16:00–17:00, 20:00–21:00; low periods: 10:30–13:00, 14:00–16:00, 21:00–23:59). In Vina del Mar you will find 5 stations. From Valparaiso to the countryside are: Recreo (main residential area), Ecuador (Southern Downtown), Downtown close to Quinta Vergara, Hospital Station and El Salto (industrial area).

Colectivo
Small cars that run routes throughout the city charge around 650 pesos (June 2020) for a ride. They are quicker and more comfortable than the buses.

Bus
Buses (called La Micro) go to all parts of town from 380 pesos (June 2020). There's not really a guide with all the routes and their destination so the best way to find the one you need is to ask around.

See

 * La Quinta Vergara - a beautiful garden with trees and plants from all over the world. Inside the park you can find the arena La Quinta Vergara, home to the yearly Festival de Viña takes places every year in the last week of February. The festival always marks the end of the summer in Chile and popular in the entire country.
 * Plaza del Reloj/Parque Reloj de Flores - the landmark of Viña del Mar which is a watch made of flowers and working. A lot of tourist takes pictures there and close to the beach so definitely a must for all visitors.
 * Castilo Wulff - headquarters of Unidad de Patrimonio of Viña del Mar (City Hall Patrimony Unit). Built by the German immigrant Gustavo Wulff in 1917 after buying the land from another German living in Chile at that time. Considered as a landmark as well in Viña del Mar and close to the famous street "Paseo Arabe". But if you ask the locals why it's famous, very few know why. But the place around Castillo Wulff offers great view of the beach and the sea for those who likes to take photos.
 * Near the north end of the beach there is an open air museum of naval artillery. Avoid taking pictures without asking permission from staff.

Do
Spend time on the numerous beaches found along the coast. They are quite pretty but not very friendly for swimming.

Viña del Mar has a casino, so if you like gambling, this is the right city for you. The Casino and Hotel Enjoy of Viña del Mar is at Avenida San Martín 199, near the mouth of the Marga-Marga River.

If you are in Viña del Mar during February, there is a music festival taking place in Quinta Vergara. If you get tickets, you will be able to see both Chilean, Latin American and other Internationally known artists that have been invited. Besides music it also contains stand-up acts so it can be good to have knowledge in Chilean Spanish to understand when music is not played. Because it's marking the end of the summer, the atmosphere in the city and the area of the festival is very good.

If you like football then Everton de Viña del Mar has something to offer. Founded by English immigrants from Liverpool, it's unknown why they named it Everton. Some believe that it was named after a toffee brand and others think after the English Premiership team Everton FC. They play their home matches in Estadio Sausalito and has a fierce rivalry with Santiago Wanderers from Valparaíso. If you buy tickets, always buy in neutral section rather than where the ultras known as "barras" have their sections.

Eat
A very popular treat in Viña del Mar is the alfajor, a typical Argentinean/Uruguayan type of cookie that has also popularized in the village. They can be purchased in several small pastry shops around the downtown area. Usually, alfajores are filled with manjar, fruit, or other sweets and then covered in chocolate. They are a delight for the visitor. Boxes with large quantities make memorable souvenirs, if they make it home.

Sleep
Good and cheap accommodation is available throughout the city in residenciales (the local B & B). Early reservations are highly recommended during the summer months when the city gets flooded with holiday makers from Argentina and Santiago.

Stay safe

 * Avoid walking alone in the parks when it's dark. Use your common sense and choose more populated streets with more lights rather than taking a shortcut through a dark park.
 * Viña del Mar has a big problem with street dogs and many can carry diseases with them. Avoid touching them and as best, give them some food if you want.
 * Stay alert and be careful with fraud which is a common criminal offense against tourist. Also avoid all unofficial currency exchange and choose only official ones even if the queue is long.
 * Don't hesitate to ask for help from the Carabineros, the Chilean police. But don't expect them to talk any other languages than Spanish. As mentioned before when it comes to Chile, avoid trying to bribe them or giving them hints that you want to bribe them. It will cause you trouble since the Carabineros will see it as an insult. They can be trusted and will help you as much as they can (as long as you speak Spanish).

Beaches

 * There are some guards at the beaches but from March to November the beach season is officially over.
 * Stay near the beach when swimming, most of the people who drown are those who can actually swim. Many of them go out too far and the power of the waves have surprised many of them unfortunately.
 * While bathing during off-season from March to November is not forbidden, you're doing it at your own risk. Authorities won't take responsibility if something happens to you or any related.

Cope
If you want to use a toilet there are some public ones on the streets and near the beaches but also in restaurants. They charge a fee but most of them are dirty. If you can, ask the staff in the casino if you can use the toilet. Being a foreign tourist will make it easier.

Go next

 * Inland
 * Santiago
 * South
 * Valparaiso - just next to Vina Del Mar - the old port and city

title: Viña del Mar


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Vinalhaven

Vinalhaven a town in the Fox Islands of Maine's Mid Coast.

Get in
Vinalhaven, being an island, requires a little bit of foreknowledge as a destination. The best route in from outside New England is to fly to Boston's Logan Airport. Get in before 11:25AM and you can catch a Concord Trailways bus to Rockland (for about $35--catch the bus first, and buy the ticket at the first stop--Boston's South Station). You'll get into Rockland around 4:30PM. The bus will drop you off at the Maine State Ferry terminal parking lot, which is fortunate, because you'll have only a few minutes to catch the boat. Ferry tickets for pedestrians are $17.50. The Ferry ride is a little more than 75 minutes. But unlike the plane or bus, you're not restricted to your seat. Riders effectively have free rein on deck and on the lookout landing below the bridge. And be sure you take advantage of it. The ride is fantastic (albeit impossibly windy and frequently cold). You'll pass two lighthouses, uncountable sailboats, and catch your only unfettered view of the Fox Islands on one side and the Camden hills on the other. If you're really lucky, you might even glimpse an elusive seal (although they give the ferries a wide berth).

If for whatever reason you miss the 4:30 Vinalhaven Ferry, there is a contingency plan. You can catch a 5:15 ferry to North Haven Island. The ride is an about as long and even more interesting. When you arrive in North Haven, walk down the road to Brown's Boat Yard, and ask around for a skiff ride to the other side. People are generally friendly, and you shouldn't have a problem finding a lift. They'll run you across the sound to the North Coast of Vinalhaven. The going rate for a ride is circa $5USD. When you arrive, you'll find your cell-phone is probably useless, so there's a payphone where you can call into town and ask for a ride. If you don't know anyone in town, good luck to you--it's about a two-hour walk with luggage.

Get around
With careful logistical planning, it is possible to get a car onto the island, but be sure you have at least three days to waste each way. There are 4 automobile reservations for three of the six boats and you must get them one month in advance in person at the ferry terminal when they open or by calling the ferry terminal from which you are departing no earlier than 9:30AM. In the summer months, the reservations are gone before the earliest time you can call for them. Best advice: don't bother with it. If you MUST have a car on the island, ask a terminal employee where you should put your car to get in line. You can usually get on within 2-3 ferries of when you put your car in line. If there aren't 2-3 ferries left in the day, just sleep in you car, but KEEP YOUR CAR IN THE LINE. If you leave, you lose your place in queue. You'll get onto the first boat 90% of the time because many VH residents put their cars in line, ride the last boat home, ride the first boat back the following morning, and catch the second in their car. This means that the first of the day is the least competitive.

If all this seems like too much trouble, you can just forget about your car. The island itself is only 5 miles long by 7 miles wide (in a crescent shape), with 49 miles of paved road. This means that for any given journey, you'll never need to go more than 5 miles (or thereabouts). Despite the way the locals seem to drive, walking on the roads is a safe means of transportation. You can also rent some pretty disreputable bikes from the Tidewater (free if you're staying there, $10/day otherwise). But by and large, you'll have no trouble hoofing it wherever you need. Additionally, most of the tourist-catering business folk are perfectly happy to pick you up wherever you are and bring you to their services (and the nice ones will take you back or drop you off wherever you need).

Buy
Lobstah!. See "Eat" for more details.

Eat
Vinalhaven has a volatile economy for restaurants. If you've visited the island in previous years, don't come back expecting the same restaurants to be in the same place. This makes for some interesting exploring every time you return. But there are some reliable choices:

Drink
The local Grocery store on Main street carries many common beverages. You can also find your favorite regular beers and whatnot at the Fisherman's Friend (left out of the motel, halfway down Main Street toward the ferry terminal). By and large, the Vinalhaven drinking culture is a more salt-of-the-sea, beer-drinking community. Fortunately for the more refined taste...

Sleep
Vinalhaven has little selection in its accommodations. The presumption is that in getting there, you probably have a friend or some family to stay with. There is however, a single motel

If you prefer a more personal touch to your accommodations, there are also a couple of very nice Bed-and-Breakfasts just off Main Street.

Note: Camping is explicitly prohibited anywhere on the island. There are no campgrounds, so don't think you can just rough it if you're short of cash or shy of the island accents.

Go next
If you don't have a car, you can just buy a ferry ticket and walk on to any of the day's boats. If you did bring your car, getting off the island can be a little complicated.

The best way to get the car out is to get a reservation exactly one month in advance by either going to the Ferry terminal on Vinalhaven when they open or calling either the Rockland or Vinalhaven ferry terminals at 9:30AM (Eastern Time) to get a reservation. However, during the summer, all reservations could be gone by 9:30AM. If you don't have a reservation, you will need to get a line number the day before you leave. Line numbers are issued starting at 5:30AM. However, if you want to make sure you get a boat (especially the 7AM boat), you must be at the Ferry Terminal approximately 3 hours before the numbers are issued to get in line (you can sleep in your car though). Otherwise, you can hire someone to do this for about $30 - 40 if you value sleep more than saving a few bucks. Once you get your line number, you must be at the ferry terminal no less than 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the ferry. If you are late, people with standby numbers will be able to go in your place.

If you've seen everything you want to see on Vinalhaven, you might head up to the northern shore of the island and hail a skiff to take you to North Haven.

If you find Vinalhaven too lively for your tastes, you might think about venturing to Matinicus or Isle Au Haut.

title: Vinalhaven


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Vincennes

Vincennes is a city in Southwestern Indiana. Vincennes is the oldest town in Indiana. It was founded in 1732 as a French fur trading post. The city's history is unique compared to any other Midwestern town, and the historical relevance is plentiful. The nice thing about Vincennes is that things are close together, within blocks at times, and cheap. You can eat, drink and learn on a very small budget.

Understand

After its founding bybtge French, the British moved in, calling it Fort Sackville. A revolt took place in 1778, the Brits took it back under control, then, in 1779 George Rogers Clark captured the city (hence the National Park of his name). The city has a university of its namesake, also the oldest in Indiana, and was home to President Harrison in the early 1800s. It was the capital of Indiana from 1800 until 1813.

By car
Just north of Evansville and south of Terre Haute, Vincennes is in the middle of two major interstates, yet connected by a few interstates. US 150 breaks off from I-70 heading south from Terre Haute to Vincennes. Heading from Evansville? Take I-64 and head north on US 41 right to Vincennes.

By plane

 * Evansville Regional Airport 7801 Bussing Dr. +1 812 421-4401.

Get around
A car is your best bet, however, walking is good for downtown activities.

Outdoors and landmarks

 * George Rogers Clark National Historical Park The site of the American Revolution take over of Vincennes. National Park and a must see.
 * George Rogers Clark National Historical Park The site of the American Revolution take over of Vincennes. National Park and a must see.
 * George Rogers Clark National Historical Park The site of the American Revolution take over of Vincennes. National Park and a must see.
 * George Rogers Clark National Historical Park The site of the American Revolution take over of Vincennes. National Park and a must see.

Festivals and events
Held in conjunction with the Red Skelton Celebration yearly event, downtown Vincennes.
 * Late-May Spirit of Vincennes Rendezvous located at George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. American Revolution re-enactors gather to perform. Food, drink and crafts from the time are sold and shown.
 * June Vincennes Wine and Arts Festival
 * June Vincennes Wine and Arts Festival

Sports

 * Golf Anyone...?
 * High Pointe Country Club 5723 N Golf Course Rd, Bicknell. +1 812 735-4518.
 * Country Club of Old Vincennes 2715 Washington Ave. +1 812 882-9800.

Other fun

 * Visit the farmers market. 2nd & Busseron. Fresh food, flowers and organic goods as well. Saturday and Wednesday mornings during warm weather.
 * Cruise the farm stands Hwy 41, throughout Knox County. Hope on the highway and pack some cash, and be prepared, in season, to take your pick from the tons of farm stands that lie along the road. Knox county produces 70% of melons grown in Indy and Illinois combined. Take your choice of fresh fruits and veggies.
 * Cruise the farm stands Hwy 41, throughout Knox County. Hope on the highway and pack some cash, and be prepared, in season, to take your pick from the tons of farm stands that lie along the road. Knox county produces 70% of melons grown in Indy and Illinois combined. Take your choice of fresh fruits and veggies.

Sleep
There are plenty of chains to stay in the area, below is a list of unique and local places to sleep.

By phone
Most telephone numbers in Vincennes consist of +1 812 plus a seven-digit number, but the entire 812 area is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with 930 being the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).

Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 812 before these if no area code is indicated.

Media

 * Vincennes Sun-Commercial Local newspaper.

title: Vincennes


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Vinegar Hill

Vinegar Hill is a camping area located on the Rangitikei River near Hunterville in Manawatu, North Island, New Zealand. The hill itself is located on the west bank of the river in the Rangitikei District, whereas the camping ground is on the east bank in Manawatu District. It is notable for hosting a large gay and lesbian summer camp, with a large New Year's Eve celebration.

The campground is maintained by the Manawatu District Council and has two toilet/shower blocks, which operate cold water only. There are no electric outlets.

Get in
State Highway 1 (SH1), the principal highway of the North Island, runs close by, with State Highway 54 (SH54) intersecting near the top of the hill. The camping ground lies 1 km south of the intersection on SH54. Intercity coaches stop at, which lies 6 km south and is the main service town for the area.

Do
The camping ground is nestled between the Rangitikei River and bush areas. The river is safe for swimming but has a strong current in places, it is also ideal for rafting.

The annual "kamp camp" runs from about Christmas until the first few days in january, and swells to over 1,000 people on New Year's Eve. The New Year's Eve party features a live DJ, lights, a stage show - featuring live performances and drag shows, as well as a camping ground awards ceremony. The preceding nights usually also feature entertainment. A "queen" is elected who runs the next year's camp - including the entertainment and liaising with local businesses. The camp fees operate on an honesty box system of $5 per person per night, which contributes to the entertainment and up keep of the camp.

Eat
The nearest food outlets (both grocery, and restaurants) are located 6 km away in Hunterville. The Argyle Hotel runs a mobile unit up to the camping ground during the gay and lesbian camp, and also hires out its showers for $5.

Drink
There are taps with water that is safe to drink. Hunterville contains two pubs, the Argyle Hotel and the Station Hotel.

title: Vinegar Hill


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Vineland

There is more than one place called Vineland:

Canada

 * Vineland (Ontario) — a town on Ontario's Niagara peninsula
 * Vinland — historically, a Viking settlement in what is now Newfoundland. See l'Anse-aux-Meadows and the Great Northern Peninsula.

United States of America

 * Vineland (Minnesota) — a town in Minnesota
 * Vineland (New Jersey) — a town in New Jersey

title: Vineland


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Vineland (New Jersey)

Vineland is a city of 61,000 people (2020) in New Jersey.

Understand
The main street in Vineland is Landis Avenue. The traditional downtown area lies several blocks east and west of the intersection of Landis Avenue and the Boulevard. The Boulevard is a pair of roads that flank the main north–south railroad, which connected Vineland with Cape May to the south and Camden/Philadelphia to the north. After many years of decline, there has been much activity to restore the vitality of "The Avenue" and the center city area. New construction includes a new transportation center, courthouse, post office, elementary school, community center and sidewalk upgrades.

Public transportation
NJ Transit provides bus transportation on the 313 route between Cape May and Philadelphia, on the 408 route between Millville and Philadelphia and on the 553 route between Upper Deerfield Township and Atlantic City.

By plane
There are two general aviation airports nearby. Vineland-Downstown Airport is 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of the central business district, and Kroelinger Airport is 3 miles (4.8 km) north.

See

 * The Delsea Drive-In, on Route 47 (Delsea Drive) north of County Route 552, was for years the only remaining drive-in theater in the state of New Jersey, the state in which they were created in 1932 in Camden.
 * The Palace of Depression was built by the mustachioed eccentric George Daynor, a former Alaska gold miner who lost his fortune in the Wall Street Crash of 1929; the house was known as "The Strangest House in the World" or the "Home of Junk", and was built as a testament of willpower against the effects of the Great Depression. As of March 2018, a full restoration, undertaken by The Palace of Depression Restoration Association, is ongoing.
 * The Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society, a museum and research library that has been in operation since 1910 and holds a large collection exhibiting the city's history.
 * The Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society, a museum and research library that has been in operation since 1910 and holds a large collection exhibiting the city's history.

title: Vineland (New Jersey)


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Vinh

Vinh is a major city in Central Coast Vietnam.

Understand
Vinh's role as an industrial port city led to heavy destruction by aerial bombing during the Vietnam War. As a result it has remained a drab, rather uninteresting place. However, there are some sights around such as some old citadel gates and a square which can be seen. It also makes for a good pitstop for the train journey between Hue and Hanoi as there is a recreation centre near the train station which provides some leisure activities.

By bus
As the largest city between Hanoi and Hue, it's on the bus route along the coast.

By train

The train line between Vinh and Dong Hoi to the south takes an inland route different from Hwy 1. There is some excellent scenery along the way. If you're travelling along the coast by bus, consider taking a break here and going by train. There are trains daily from Hanoi to Vinh.

Get around

Otherwise, walking, taxi and Grab/Uber are available as always.

See

 * There are three old citadel gates:, and . There are some informational plaques at the gates which are only in Vietnamese. The gates are marked with signs in Chinese (前门, 左门, 右门).

Buy

There are small shops and convenience stores dotted around.

 * Train Station Market

What

 * Chao Luon (the local specialty of eel porridge) may be found at various roadside stalls or small eateries.
 * Banh Muot (rice rolls with fried onion and Vietnamese pate) may be found at roadside stalls.

Where

 * Vinh Recreation Centre has a Breadtalk, King BBQ (Korean BBQ) and Highlands Coffee.

Drink

 * Highlands Coffee at Vinh Recreation Centre

Otherwise, there are numerous coffee and beer shops dotting the city, as with most other cities in Vietnam.

Sleep

There are several Khách Sạn (hotels) near the train station.

Go next

 * Hanoi – The tourist-loaded capital
 * Dong Hoi – A sleepy beach and seaside town on the way to Hue with all the necessary infrastructure; laid back, authentic and genuinely friendly, with at least half a dozen hostels, convenient for accessing Phong Nha Ke Bang national park.

Laos:
 * Phonsavan, Laos – The bus leaves every second day at 06:00 and costs 850,000 dong for foreigners. As of December 2022, visa on arrival is not available and e-visa is not accepted.

title: Vinh


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Vinhedo

Vinhedo is a city in the Campinas Region of São Paulo state. The city emerged from grape farms and wineries founded by Italian immigrants. However, most visitors of the city come for the theme parks and the nearby outlet shopping mall.

See
As a city that was founded in the first half of the 20th century, Vinhedo does not have much to offer in terms of historical sightseeing, but it has a couple of remarkable constructions.

title: Vinhedo


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Vinh Long

Vĩnh Long is the capital of Vinh Long Province in southern Vietnam. It is located on one of the many branches of the Mekong River.

By road
Vinh Long is 70 km from Mytho, 34 km from Can Tho and 136 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The inter-province bus station is 5 km from the centre of Vinh Long. There are buses between Vinh Long and Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Mytho, Long Xuyen, Sa Dec, Rach Gia, and other Mekong Delta destinations. National Hwy 1A and 53 also run through the province.

By bus
Vinh Long has two bus stations: the main one 4 km outside town, and one in the centre. Most Can Tho buses arrive in town centre.

From Can Tho, buses costs 50,000 dong (Sep 2011) and take 1½ hr. Some drivers will try to let you off at the outer bus station (see Vinh Long 4 km sign) which will force you to pay more for a ride into town.

By boat
There are no scheduled boats anymore. However, it is possible to book a tourist boat to Chau Doc including a night on the Mekong (US$20) and a bus transfer to Phnom Penh (additional US$6).

Get around

 * The ferry to An Binh costs 500 dong if you are on foot and up to 2,500 dong if with a motorbike. Departs every 15-20 min.

See

 * Small Chinese temple, Cua Thienh Hau, on the east bank, not far from the southeastern bridges.

Eat
You can easily buy food from street stalls or in the market in town centre.

There is a converted boat restaurant moored opposite the plaza in front of the central supermarket. It goes on a small jaunt on the Mekong, prices from US$3-20 per head depending on what you choose a la carte.

Sleep
The accommodations are a bit scattered throughout the town. Some hotels can be found along the main traffic arteries leading to the town centre. There are a couple of options in the city centre. Mosquitoes can be a nuisance in this area, however, hotels rarely provide mosquito nets, so bring your own.

Several places on the island offer what they call homestays. These may not be in actual local people's homes, but still in traditional-style houses right in the countryside. One of them is Green Island Tour (+84 70 385 9908), offering an overnight stay including a large dinner consisting of many different dishes, breakfast and a bicycle for US$10. It's excellent value considering the dinner alone would cost almost the same in any restaurant. A moto from the bus station can take you here for 50,000 dong including the ferry ride.

title: Vinh Long


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Vinisce

Vinisce is a small city in Dalmatia, Croatia. Situated in a beautiful cove between Primosten and Trogir. Most of the inhabitants are occupied with agriculture, fishing and tourism. The place is famous for its numerous small bays apt for bathing, for its pebble and stone beaches, promenade along the shore, clean air, virginal nature. The coastline near the place is famous for its underwater world which can be interesting for spear-fishing lovers and divers.

By plane
Take a flight to the Split airport  and then take a bus service or rent a car to get to Vinisce.

By bus
You can use services from frequent buses that come in and go from Split, Makarska, Sibenik, Dubrovnik, Rijeka.

Get around
You can get around the city by car or a bicycle.

Do

 * Swim and dive on beautiful and clean beaches
 * Go and visit the city of Split, Solin and Trogir and enjoy the beauty of old architecture
 * Discover nearby beaches

Buy

 * Post cards
 * Souvenirs from Vinisce and Croatia.

Eat

 * Dalmatinski Prsut-Dalmatian smoked ham (ham smoked and dried in a specific way)
 * Jela ispod peke (traditional Croatian meals)
 * Local see-food specialties

Drink

 * Rakija: hard alcohol made either from grapes or plums
 * Prosek: sweet liquor
 * Dalmatian home made wines

Sleep

 * Apartment Cicak, In first line from the coast, open view to the sea. +385 981870985,   [meilto:ivona.ducic@gmail.com]    Looking forward to Your visit!
 * Apartment Cicak, In first line from the coast, open view to the sea. +385 981870985,   [meilto:ivona.ducic@gmail.com]    Looking forward to Your visit!
 * Apartment Cicak, In first line from the coast, open view to the sea. +385 981870985,   [meilto:ivona.ducic@gmail.com]    Looking forward to Your visit!

Go next

 * Pizzeria, Restaurants and Coffee place
 * Drive to Trogir or Split for nightlife activities, discos and theaters.
 * Visit the most famous discotheque Aurora (in primosten)

title: Vinisce


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Vinita

Vinita is in the Green Country region of Oklahoma.

title: Vinita


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Vinton

Vinton is a city in Virginia.

Understand
Vinton has many parks.

Get in
The closest airport is in Roanoke.

Go next

 * Roanoke

title: Vinton


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Virachey National Park

Virachey National Park spans the northern sections of Ratanakiri and Stung Treng Provinces of Eastern Cambodia.

Understand
This is an enormous park covering 3,325 km2 established in 1993. Most treks barely put a dent in it. The park is under constant threat from illegal logging and poaching, but the worst threat of all is the talk of a Chinese-funded road being bulldozed across the southwest corner. No road plans have been announced to date, and a trek to the "holy grail" of Phnom Veal Thom rewards the hardy traveller with jaw-dropping views of the wild and unexplored mountainous borders with Laos and Vietnam. Views to the south open out onto the vast hilly jungle spilling down to the Sesan River and the Brao and Kreung villages that dot the river's edge.

History
Until 1903 the entire mountain massif (which is the lower extremity of the SE Asian massif which plunges down from Tibet, belonged to Laos. But the French decided to make Stung Treng Province a part of Cambodia and to designate the high mountains as the border between Laos and Cambodia all the way east to Vietnam.

From 2004-2008 the World Bank sponsored a protection program here, but pulled out in 2008. According to the park rangers, not a single patrol went out in all of 2009 and the same can likely be said of 2010.

Landscape
Evergreen forest, bamboo forest, high grasslands, and river valleys.

Flora and fauna
Gibbons, pig-tailed macaques, douc langurs, sun bears, great hornbills, clouded leopards, and Asian elephants occur in the park. Whether or not tigers and leopards still exist is unknown. Speculation that the Javan rhino persists deep in the unexplored region along the Laos border is probably unfounded.

Climate
Very rainy (and leechy) during the summer, cool and dry during the winter (Dec-Mar, which is the best time to visit)

Get in
All treks begin in Ban Lung with registration at the national park office on the east side of town. (Refer to the map on the Banlung page.) Tel: +855 75 974013, +855 77 965196, +855 97 6999579.

Fees and permits
A national park fee must be paid to enter the park. Soukhon Thon is the head park ranger and warden for ecotourism: http://viracheyecotourism.blogspot.com/ Email: soukhon07@yahoo.com, khonvnp.kh@gmail.com

Get around
A motorcycle will take you to the town of Tavang where a boat will see you along the Sesan River to your starting point at one of several minority villages.

See

 * Veal Thom Grasslands
 * Brao Minority Villages

Do
The 7-day trek (a kind of mini-Annapurna) to Veal Thom Grasslands

Buy
Handicrafts might be on offer at some of the minority villages you visit. These attractive scarves and whatnot are very inexpensive and purchasing one or two might help to boost the confidence of the villagers in the concept of eco-tourism.

Eat
Your jungle-cooked food will be surprisingly delicious. As for meals before or after the trek, Gecko House, near the intersection by Parrot Tours, makes some good pizzas and salads.

Drink
If you want booze in the jungle make sure you request or bring it.

Sleep
There is no accommodation within the park. Trekkers will be spending the nights in hammocks. Most travellers will spend two nights in Banlung before beginning their trek in Virachey, as Ratanakiri is a fairly far-flung destination and most don't arrive until the afternoon. The second day is often spent swimming in Yeak Leom Lake and picking up some camping supplies.

Camping
Any overnight trek will involve camping, and as part of your park entry fee you will be provided with an imitation US Army hammock, which your guides will kindly string up for you each night. You will be expected to carry your own hammock, which is light but spacious (even when folded), so leave some room in your backpack. Also leave some room (if you plan to trek to Veal Thom) for extra food, as supplies will be split between trekkers, the national park ranger, and the indigenous guide.

Backcountry
Unlike Western Cambodia, Virachey is free of land mines, and a combination of covering up with a good dose of mosquito repellent should keep disease-carrying mosquitoes away. Venomous snakes do live in the park, but most are nocturnal and trekkers are highly unlikely to encounter one. Likewise, the 4 or 5 tigers that are thought to roam the park would be extremely wary of humans and as such are not considered a threat.

title: Virachey National Park


text:
Virgin Gorda

Virgin Gorda is part of the British Virgin Islands.

History
Since being "discovered" as a tourist destination in the early 1960s, Virgin Gorda is still not over-commercialized. It is reminiscent of Saint John (Virgin Islands) before the designer shoe and handbag stores arrived. With only a few resorts and a sprinkling of villas, it has a pleasing intimacy. The passengers you meet on the nine-seat plane are likely to show up at the next table at dinner. The local people are well educated, friendly and caring, family oriented and remarkably aware of their place in the world. As elsewhere in the BVI, English is spoken, with a more or less strong accent. It is courteous to begin a conversation—even a brief question—with "Good Morning," or other salutation appropriate to the time of day.

Virgin Gorda is a small island, about, only a few miles from Tortola and its airport on Beef Island. In 2001, the population was 3100. The southwestern part of the island is known as the Valley. In this area of low gentle hills will be found most of the population, businesses and services, mostly in and around Spanish Town, the capital. Below Spanish Town, the landscape and seascapes are strewn with granite boulders the size of houses; these provide dramatic settings for accommodations, restaurants and beaches. In the center of the island, a low mountain rises from the sea to about 410 m (1350 ft). This area is sparsely inhabited, except for small neighborhoods in the North Sound area on its northeastern edge. Extending northeast from there is a chain of wooded hills accessible only by boat. A convenient excursion to one of the nicest outer island areas in Virgin Gorda would require hopping on the local Resort Ferry (Bitter End etc.) in Gun Creek. This Ferry will take you on a short, but neat cruise into the heart of the North Sound area. Small islands in this area contribute to the very sheltered harbors in the sound.

Climate
High season in Virgin Gorda runs from mid December through April. Rates will be at their highest and the beaches will be the most crowded. The week immediately preceding Easter is popular due to the Easter Festival; hotels are known to increase their rates accordingly. Vacationing in the off-season will save money, but be prepared for hurricane season, very hot days with high humidity, and above-average precipitation. Many businesses, such as restaurants, shops, and some hotels/resorts close in the low season from mid-August to mid or end of October. For those concerned about hurricanes, an insurance agent can help identify trip insurance that covers plans interrupted by a hurricane.

By plane
There is one airport on the island:

By ferry
Several airlines serve Saint Thomas and Tortola. Ferry service from Tortola's Beef Island airport is convenient with several departures per day. From St. Thomas, the ferry terminal is a taxi ride away, and there are only few direct boats per week.

By sail
Virgin Gorda is a popular yachting destination, with marina services at Spanish Town and boat-oriented resorts on the North Sound.

Get around
For those staying at resorts, taxis are readily available for the occasional excursion. Taxi services include:

 * Open-sided 22-passenger safari buses (shared taxis) run along the main road. Fares are $3–5.
 * Open-sided 22-passenger safari buses (shared taxis) run along the main road. Fares are $3–5.
 * Open-sided 22-passenger safari buses (shared taxis) run along the main road. Fares are $3–5.
 * Open-sided 22-passenger safari buses (shared taxis) run along the main road. Fares are $3–5.

Most people staying in cottages or villas will want to rent a car for at least part of the stay. A temporary drivers license, available at the rental agency for $10 provided you have a valid drivers license from your home country, is required to operate a vehicle on the island. Driving is on the left. All major roads are paved. Some roads are narrow with steep drop-offs, dips and speed bumps. The roads to Leverick Bay and Gun Creek are alarmingly steep. Motorists must be alert for pedestrians (there are no sidewalks), livestock, cars parked on the roadway and vehicles passing on curves. That being said, traffic is light and drivers are courteous. Speeds are low but distances are short. Gasoline (premium only) is available at stations at each end of Spanish Town.

Some of the resorts in the North Sound area are accessible only by ferry service from Gun Creek.

Beaches
Along the southwestern shore below Spanish Town, there is a string of beaches, with light surf, beautiful sand and blue water. Each beach is separated from the next by the huge granite boulders that make the scenery so memorable. All are public, but respect the privacy of the villas that face some of the beaches (OK, go ahead and peek through the fences—some are stunning).

Beginning at the southern end:

Other attractions
Tired of the beaches?

 * Observation decks along North Sound Road offer wonderful views.
 * Observation decks along North Sound Road offer wonderful views.
 * Observation decks along North Sound Road offer wonderful views.
 * Observation decks along North Sound Road offer wonderful views.

Do

All the usual tropic island activities are available—sailing, fishing, snorkeling and scuba.

Restaurants
Prices are high at Virgin Gorda restaurants. Food must be imported from the U.S. and farther afield, and reshipped from deepwater harbors on small boats. Service charge, usually 15%, is almost always included in the bill. It may not be obvious; if in doubt, ask. Don't be alarmed if you're the only customer: Virgin Gorda gets relatively few visitors, so even the best restaurants may only serve a few meals per day.

In addition to the listed restaurants, many of the resorts welcome day visitors. Lunch and a stroll offers a great way to check out possibilities for your next trip (or look around places you can't afford to stay at). At Little Dix Bay, the excellent lunch buffet is about $35. Bitter End Yacht Club's buffet is about $25, including grilled-to-order entree. The free ferry runs from Gun Creek on the half hour. Lunch is served a couple of hundred feet to the left as you leave the dock. At Leverick Bay Resort, the Cove Bar and Grill has lunch items in the $10 to $20 range.

Supermarkets
There are a few supermarkets on the island to provision a yacht or small villa kitchen:

Drink
The British Virgin Islands is famous for the Painkiller a drink made from rum, pineapple juice, coconut and orange juice. Check out the Limin Times to find out what's happenin' every night.

Sleep
While there are a number of well-known luxury resorts, condo complexes and cottages on the island, private villa rentals are also a popular option.

Nail Bay Area

A road leads to two secluded resort complexes as it winds around the west side of Virgin Gorda Mountain.

Connect
Many resorts provide internet access for a fee. Mad Dog Cafe provides free Wi-Fi for its guests. Internet access is also available at:

Stay safe
The biggest danger by far is the ocean. Several tourists have died snorkeling or swimming. Know your limits and heed warning signs.

Drugs are prevalent throughout all of the Caribbean islands but not quite a problem on Virgin Gorda. What crime rate exists is usually among tourists. Even so, it is quite safe to walk around at any hour of the night.

Tap water is said to be safe to drink at all tourist-oriented restaurants and accommodations.

There are medical clinics and pharmacies on the island. Pedestrians must take care because of the lack of sidewalks.

In case of emergency, call 999 or 911.

Go next

 * Road Town in Tortola is a ferry ride away.
 * If you weary of the peace and quiet of Virgin Gorda, the many stores of Saint Thomas can be visited as a rather long day trip, by ferry or plane.
 * Or if you need even more peace and quiet, take the Double 'D' cruise or a private trip with Smith's Ferry to the sparsely populated island of Anegada.

title: Virgin Gorda


text:
Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is a state in the South of the United States of America with nearly 9 million inhabitants.

Bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and the west by the Appalachian mountains, with expanses of farmland in between, Virginia has much to offer history buffs and lovers of scenic landscapes. Virginia's three largest cities are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake.

Cities

 * – state capital
 * – known for its military cemetery
 * – university town home to Thomas Jefferson's plantation
 * – university town home to Thomas Jefferson's plantation

Understand
"Virginia Is For Lovers" is the enigmatic motto of the Virginia tourism council. What makes Virginia particularly suited for amour remains something of a mystery, but the state does have many great features: beaches, forests, some of the oldest towns in North America, and proximity to the Mid-Atlantic and the deeper South. Here the love includes LGBT travel, with laws that affirm the right to marry and recognize diverse family structures. See Virginia LGBT info.

Virginia was one of the thirteen original colonies, and one of the first states to ratify the Declaration of Independence. It is known as the "Mother of States" as its original territory included West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee. It is also known as the "Mother of Presidents," as eight U.S. presidents were born in the state: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.

Jamestown, Virginia (near Williamsburg) is the site of the first lasting British settlement in the New World, dating to 1607. Native American tribes from Virginia, such as the Powhatan, had some of the richest native cultures in the Colonies.

In colonial times, Virginia was settled mainly along the rivers that empty into the Chesapeake bay. The settlers relied on slave labor to grow cash crops, such as tobacco, and relied on trade from England for basic needs. While settlers primarily from England settled along the Potomac, Rappahannock, and James Rivers, many German and Scots-Irish settlers migrated into Virginia from Pennsylvania along the Shenandoah Valley.

Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861 and has a strong American Civil War heritage, as well as a strong sense of Southern pride and feeling of independence that exists in rural parts of the state even today.

Following the Reconstruction after the Civil War, Virginia's economy shifted toward growing food crops in the north of the state, while the southern interior of the state continued to grow tobacco on smaller farms. The major shipyards at Norfolk continued to grow in importance as a major coal port and a naval base.

Following the growth of the US Federal Government during and after World War II, Northern Virginia grew at an astronomical pace as government workers and contractors settled across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Today, Virginia's economy is dominated by military bases dotted all over the state, government contracting agencies, and residents who commute into Washington, DC. Virginia Beach serves as a popular summer vacation spot and the Appalachian Mountains offer outdoor recreation. Virginia is also a popular destination for history buffs as Virginia was a major player in much of America's history.

Although traditionally a conservative state, an influx of liberal suburbanites into the suburbs of Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia in the 21st century transformed the culture of the region and turned the state into a safe Democratic state for roughly ten years until the 2021 elections saw it return to swing state status. This change has led to a significant cultural gap between the North and the rest of the state, which is increasingly a source of tension among rural Virginians in the southwest.

Tourist information

 * Virginia Tourism website

Talk
English is spoken by most residents. The regional dialects in Virginia include the Tidewater dialect in Eastern Virginia, Virginia Piedmont in Central Virginia, and the Central Appalachian dialect in the Western parts of the state. The Virginia Piedmont dialect is also native to Northern Virginia and much of Maryland but is less common in this region today, though it remains the predominant way of speaking in and around the towns of Warrenton and Culpeper, and City of Fredericksburg, which form Northern Virginia’s southernmost boundaries.

Much like the rest of the DC area, the General American accent dominates Northern Virginia (and brash East Coast attitudes along with it), something of a shock to older Virginians who remember the area's rural past. In general, local dialects generally do not stop fluent English speakers from understanding the person, but non-native English speakers may experience problems. Most people can deliberately speak in a more standard accent upon request but rural residents may find it difficult to do so for an extended length of time. As with all places, locals may have nonstandard words to refer to places, actions and people. Locals are understanding of tourists who do not know these words and will clarify upon request.

By plane
Virginia has nine airports with commercial service. Northern Virginia (the Washington DC suburbs) is serviced by Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. DCA, often referred to simply as "National" or "Reagan National," is the better airport for access to Washington DC due to its proximity and access to more Washington Metrorail lines; however, it is mostly restricted to short- and medium-haul domestic flights. Almost all international service and long-haul flights serve Dulles, a Star Alliance gateway and United hub, and also the more convenient airport to DC's western suburbs.

For Central and Southern Virginia destinations, Richmond International Airport offers nonstops to major East Coast cities as well as most of the major domestic hub airports east of the Rockies, plus seasonal service on ultra low-cost carriers to Florida. Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport offers regional service to the major East Coast hub airports.

For Eastern Virginia, especially the Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Hampton Roads/Portsmouth area, Norfolk International Airport offers flights to and from the major domestic hubs east of the Rockies, plus nonstops to major East Coast cities and ultra low-cost service to Florida. Regional service is also available from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.

Southwestern Virginia is served by Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport, with service to the main East Coast hub airports.

Smaller airports include Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport and Lynchburg Regional Airport, with limited regional service to hubs.

By train
Amtrak offers intercity passenger rail service to many Virginia cities along two main north-south lines, one from Washington DC to Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Petersburg, and the other from Washington to Culpeper, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Danville. The Cardinal service to Chicago switches west at Charlottesville. Branch lines connect Williamsburg, Newport News, Norfolk, and Roanoke,

In Northern Virginia, Virginia Railway Express operates two commuter lines, one from Manassas and the other from Fredericksburg, which converge at Alexandria and terminate at Washington DC.

WMATA's Metrorail service provides rapid transit access to suburban Northern Virginia from Washington DC and Maryland.

By car
Virginia is connected by secondary roads and Interstate highways to the surrounding states.
 * Interstate 81 is the main route from Tennessee and continues through Virginia into Maryland and Pennsylvania, running parallel to the mountain ranges along Virginia's western boundary.
 * Interstate 66 connects I-81 in northwestern Virginia with Washington, DC, and is one of the primary commuter routes through Northern Virginia.
 * Interstate 95 runs north-south through Virginia connecting Washington, DC to Fredericksburg and Richmond, on to North Carolina.
 * Interstate 495 encircles Washington, DC with part of its route going through Northern Virginia. Where I-95 intersects with I-495 at the southernmost end of I-495, Interstate 395 continues northward into DC while I-95 traces the same route as the eastern half of I-495.  Thus, if you are to take I-95 from Richmond to Baltimore, MD, you would merge onto I-495 going East and North until I-95 splits off from I-495 on its north side to reach Baltimore.
 * Interstate 64 runs east-west through Virginia, connecting the Hampton Roads area in Eastern Virginia with Richmond and Charlottesville. West of Charlottesville, it joins I-81 at Staunton. The two highways split at Lexington, with I-64 going through the western mountains until entering West Virginia.
 * Interstate 77 briefly passes through Virginia, running north-south through the far western end of the state (joining I-81 for a few miles around Wytheville), connecting the Carolinas with West Virginia and eventually Cleveland.
 * US 29 enters Virginia from Washington DC and forms a scenic alternate route to I-95 to I-85, running to Charlottesville and Lynchburg and eventually terminating in Alabama. A four-lane divided highway through the Shenandoah Valley out the state, it offers a short route to the Southeast avoiding heavy freeway traffic.
 * US 11 runs parallel to Interstate 81 and the mountains, and is a beautiful alternative to freeway travel going through many picturesque towns between Winchester in the north and Bristol in southwestern Virginia.
 * US 15, another north-south route, runs through Leesburg but otherwise bypasses all major cities, for those who enjoy rustic scenery.
 * US 301 enters the state from North Carolina with I-95 and is a popular short route north of Richmond to Chesapeake Bay and Northeast destinations, bypassing the Baltimore-Washington traffic.
 * US 13, originating near Philadelphia, runs north-south down the length of the Delmarva Peninsula, crossing to Norfolk via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel. For those headed to Eastern Virginia or the Outer Banks of North Carolina from the Northeast, this route avoids Baltimore and Washington traffic as well as being much shorter and more scenic than I-95.

Get around
Travel around Virginia is primarily by car but public transportation is also relatively abundant in the Northern Virginia suburbs near Washington, DC.

Amtrak trains run from Norfolk/Newport News to Richmond and out to the western panhandle. Trains also run north and south between Richmond and the Northern Virginia/DC area. A third major line runs from the western panhandle, north through Charlottesville, and up to Northern Virginia.

Virginia Railway Express (VRE), a commuter rail line, serves Washington, DC from points as far away as Fredericksburg and Manassas.

The Washington Metro has several rail stations in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Loudoun County.

Information on transit can be found here.

Hitchhiking is slow-going in Virginia. Rides are hard to come by and the Virginia State Police are notorious for hassling travelers (hitchers and motorists alike). Your best bet is either to stick to the state roads in the mountains, or to stick to rest stops on the major highways.

The speed limit is generally 55 mph on highways in urban areas, 65 mph in suburban areas, and 70 mph in most rural areas, though there are exceptions. Additionally, speed limits will often briefly change to 60 mph in between a 65 mph zone and a 55 mph zone. On surface streets, speed limits range from 25 mph in residential neighborhoods and school zones to 45 mph on major roads outside residential neighborhoods.

Under no circumstances should you exceed the speed limit by 20 mph or drive greater than 85 mph! This is considered reckless driving and is punished very harshly in Virginia, as a Class 1 misdemeanor. This means that it could go on your criminal record and you could face a suspended license, heavy fines, or even jail time. This includes driving 86 mph when the speed limit is 70 mph. Other Class 1 misdemeanors include domestic assault and animal cruelty, so it is clear how harshly Virginia views these offenses. Several other traffic offenses punished by fines in other states are also considered reckless driving in Virginia, including failure to properly use a turn signal and failure to yield when required to do so. You are less likely to receive a reckless driving citation for those, and are more likely to succeed if you fight it in court, but you will incur heavy legal expenses to do so. In short, obey all traffic laws and follow, or at least stay close to, the posted speed limit.

See
As one of the original thirteen colonies Virginia offers numerous opportunities for those interested in history:
 * Crabtree Falls in Nelson County
 * Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County
 * Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington
 * Peaks of Otter in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Popular spot for hiking and fishing. Home of the famous Peaks of Otter Lodge.
 * D-Day Memorial in Bedford
 * Virginia is absolutely full of educational Civil War battlegrounds. One famous one is the battlefield at Bull Run.
 * The National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly is an absolutely amazing and very educational place. They have so many old airplanes hanging from the ceilings. They've got some from so many wars, including both World Wars, they have crazy things that people built in an attempt to fly, they have a spaceship, they have so much NASA equipment, they have a Cessna plane you can sit in, and the coolest plane, an old World War 2 Curtiss-Wright P-40E Warhawk, otherwise known as the shark-faced plane.
 * Mt. Vernon (George Washington's residence)
 * Monticello, Poplar Forest, and the University of Virginia (all dealing with Thomas Jefferson)
 * Appomattox Court House (Site of Civil War Surrender)
 * Maggie Walker Historical Site (Home to Maggie Walker)
 * The Historical Triangle (Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown)
 * From Plymouth to Hampton Roads; a trail through colonial and antebellum America
 * The Historical Triangle (Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown)
 * From Plymouth to Hampton Roads; a trail through colonial and antebellum America
 * From Plymouth to Hampton Roads; a trail through colonial and antebellum America

Do
Visitors might choose to go to Theatre IV for some great plays. In Richmond the Byrd Theatre is always the place to see old and modern movies at rates not topping $4. Or take a stroll down to Carytown, the "Georgetown of Virginia".

Virginia is also home to two popular amusement parks that regularly draw in many tourists, such as Kings Dominion north of Richmond. Near the coast, European-themed Busch Gardens offers a bewildering assortment of attractions representative of different European countries such as Italy, Germany, and England. It is also conveniently close to both the Colonial Williamsburg historical district as well as Water Country USA, a water park, making it an ideal destination for the entire family.

Hiking
Virginia is a beautiful place for hiking. The Appalachian Trail goes through the state and includes three great hikes collectively known as the "Triple Crown of Virginia": Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs. Virginia is also home to Shenandoah National Park.

Golf
From the Atlantic Ocean to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia golf promises great beauty and geographic diversity. A mild climate, year-round golf and a variety of package plans adds to the allure of golfing in Virginia.

Throw in some of the best resort courses in the nation and new daily fee courses designed by some of the most noted golf course designers, and you've got the winning combination for an enjoyable golf getaway. Six resorts rank among America’s top 100. Dozens of its courses, crafted by world-famous designers, are part of every list of the country’s finest places to play.

Eat
The Virginia Department of Agriculture lists producers on its Virginia Grown website, and there are dozens of seasonal food and drink festivals across the state. Quality processed foods made in Virginia are promoted through the Virginia's Finest program.

Most of the signature dishes of the state are common to Southern/American cuisine. Country ham is a cured specialty frequently served at holiday meals and breakfast with the largest producers based around Surry county, with perhaps the best known being based in Smithfield. In the Southeast is the county of Brunswick, one of several locations that claims itself to be the birthplace of Brunswick Stew. The Highland County Maple Festival celebrates local maple syrup producers high up in the Blue Ridge mountains, the lines for the Ruritan's pancake breakfasts are super long, though with a friendly atmosphere, and can be avoided by dining in an area restaurant/inn. Do try the maple doughnuts made with nutmeg and fresh maple syrup.

The Chesapeake Bay region produces some of the nation's best seafood, especially crab and oysters.

Drink
Tap water is safe to drink.

Virginia law requires you to be 21 to buy alcohol or consume alcohol. Photo ID will be required to prove age.

Beer, cider, and other alcoholic drinks are available from most restaurants and bars, with purchase prohibited between 2 and 6AM. Variety of what is available differs from restaurant to restaurant and when in doubt people should check menu or with a waiter to see what is available.

Beer, wine, cider, and malternatives/alcopops are sold at most grocery and convenience stores, but cannot be purchased between midnight and 6AM. Certain counties in Virginia prohibit Sunday sale of alcohol, mainly the south west counties. When in doubt, check with local county police department or simply ask store owner.

Hard Liquor is only allowed to be sold by Virginia ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) stores. More information about these stores and other alcohol related information can be found at their website.

Cheerwine, a regional cherry flavored soda, can be purchased in convenience stores in the more southern parts of the state.

Wineries of Virginia
Virginia is home to over 130 wineries, spanning from the Eastern Shore to the Heart of Appalachia. Wherever you are in Virginia, there's a winery nearby. Virginia’s many wine trails across the state make visiting wineries easy and fun! Wine events statewide offer wine tasting, food, music, art, shopping and activities, such as grape stomping and hot air balloon rides.

Cideries
Virginia is well known for apples, and cideries have followed to enjoy the bounty that the state offers. Spread across the state, many cideries are located in the mountainous areas (Bold Rock Hard Cider, Potter's Craft Cider, Albemarle Ciderworks), and are expanding to major urban markets (Buskey Cider in Richmond, Lost Boy Cider in Alexandria, Sly Clyde Cider in Hampton). Events continuously run around the state at the cideries, with Virginia Cider Week happening the second week of November as the culminating week of celebration of local cider.

Stay safe
Certain cities in Virginia have crime problems, in particular, the cities of Richmond and Norfolk. However, most places in Virginia, like the rest of US, are safe. Check with locals to determine what areas you should avoid. Standard safety rules apply: Stay in groups as much as possible, trust your instincts and do not flash around cash or large value items. If you need urgent medical, fire, or police assistance, all areas participate in the 911 program.

Connect
The northwestern part of Virginia, mainly the Shenandoah Valley, is inside the National Radio Quiet Zone, a huge area of land where radio transmissions are strongly restricted to protect the Green Bank Observatory. The result is that cell phone service is mostly nonexistent. Radio stations are limited, too, with just the Allegheny Mountain Radio network operating a handful of low-power FM rebroadcasting stations.

Go next

 * Maryland - Located along Virginia's northeast border, Maryland offers "America in Miniature" with everything from history to nature to modern cities.
 * Washington, D.C. - The nation's capital is a must-see for most visitors, with a wealth of sites including the Capitol, the White House, the Smithsonian Museum, and a vast array of other monuments and attractions.
 * North Carolina - The state's southern neighbor is home to the Appalachian culture and incredible scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as the stunning beaches of the Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras.
 * Tennessee - Virginia's southwestern neighbor is home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the music city of Nashville and Elvis' home in Memphis.
 * Kentucky - Virginia's western neighbor is the Bluegrass State, home to the Kentucky Derby, Mammoth Cave National Park and the Corvette Museum.
 * West Virginia - Virginia's northwestern neighbor is the only state in the USA to lie completely within a mountain range (in this case, the Appalachians).

title: Virginia


text:
Virginia (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Virginia:

Australia

 * Virginia - a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
 * Virginia - a small town on the outskirts of Adelaide, South Australia

Ireland

 * Virginia (Ireland) - a small town in County Cavan

South Africa

 * Virginia (Free State) - a town in the Lejweleputswa district of the Free State province

United States of America

 * Virginia (Commonwealth of Virginia) - a US state in the South USA
 * Virginia (Minnesota) - a city in St Louis County in Northeastern Minnesota
 * Virginia Beach - a city in south-east Virginia state
 * Virginia City (Montana) - a very small town in Madison County in south-east Montana
 * Virginia City (Nevada) - a small city in Storey County, Western Nevada

title: Virginia (disambiguation)