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Washington, D.C./Upper Northwest

The neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.'s Upper Northwest rank among America's most wealthy and privileged. There are big attractions, including the outstanding National Zoo, the massive National Cathedral, American University, upscale shopping in Friendship Heights, and several nice wining and dining strips, which serve as good alternatives to the hip, trendy scene in Adams Morgan and crowded, pricey and traffic-congested Georgetown.

Understand
Upper Northwest has many different neighborhoods, each of which have a slightly different feel and identity.

Glover Park is the neighborhood of the Upper Northwest closest to downtown—just north of Georgetown, and has the bulk of the area's nightlife, which serves as a slightly older and less raucous complement to its collegiate neighbor to the south.

Woodley Park is well to do area with many restaurants and bars, popular with a middle aged crowd. It is also home to the National Zoo and the National Cathedral.

Cleveland Park most notably, but also Van Ness (Forest Hills) and Tenleytown to the north along Wisconsin and Connecticut Ave., have popular commercial strips with restaurants, bars, and small stores. Van Ness in particular hosts a popular farmer's market, along with a number of well regarded local restaurants and delis. Also in the west of Tenleytown (and the appropriately named, American University Park), you'll find American University.

Further north is Friendship Heights, part of which is in Washington, D.C., and part of which is in Maryland. It is known for its wealthy and powerful residents. It is also known for having very expensive retailers on Wisconsin Ave.

Chevy Chase is DC's northernmost neighborhood, which spills across the border into Maryland. It rivals Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) as one of the city's most exclusive (and expensive) neighborhoods but is much quieter and more wooded than its more famous rival. Needless to say an emerging dining scene is beginning to draw visitors from other parts of town.

To the southwest, the neighborhood of Palisades is almost entirely residential, and it is where you will find some of the city's largest and most expensive homes. Palisades also has the C&O Canal trail along the Potomac River, and a handful of fantastic, upscale restaurants.

By Metrorail
The Metrorail Red Line runs through this part of the city, and it is pretty self explanatory, given that the stations are all named after the neighborhoods and their major attractions. Woodley Park-Zoo for Woodley Park and the National Zoo, Tenleytown-American University for Tenleytown and AU, etc. The National Cathedral, Glover Park, and the Palisades, like Georgetown, are not served by Metro, and will require either a car, taxi, rideshare or bus ride.

By car
Driving is another option, though competition for parking spots can be fierce. You can usually find parking on side streets off of Connecticut and Wisconsin Ave, although you might have to walk a good ways from your car, and parking is usually limited to two hours in neighborhoods closer to downtown. The Palisades, along the extreme west of the city, are best visited by car, and it's quite easy to park there.

If driving in this part of the city, be aware that during weekday rush hours Canal Rd in the west becomes one-way and reverses directions during weekday rush hours (M-F 6:15AM-10AM inbound, 2:45PM-7:15PM outbound). Similarly, Connecticut's left lanes are reversible, so pay attention—you don't want to find yourself charging into oncoming traffic!

Taxis are generally not hard to catch along the main avenues (Wisconsin and Connecticut), but will be impossible to find elsewhere.

By bus
Metrobus operates service on the major thoroughfares in these neighborhoods, but frequent stops and slow traffic make rideshare a better option.

Routes #31, #32, and #36 all run between Georgetown and the Friendship Heights Metro station along Wisconsin Ave. On the weekends after midnight, the buses run once every hour until 2AM.

Routes #L1, L2, and L4 run the length of Connecticut Ave 5:30AM-midnight daily. The L2 continues into Adams Morgan, while L1 and L4 head further south along Connecticut to Dupont Circle and then on to the West End.

Routes #N2-N6 all run along Massachusetts Ave from Dupont Circle to American University.

Route #D6 is the only reasonable way to reach the Kreeger Museum via public transport, which runs through Georgetown along Reservoir Rd, coming from Capitol Hill and Dupont Circle.

By foot
The Woodley Park/Zoo Metro stop is the closest stop to Adams Morgan. It's a half-mile (800-m) walk over the Calvert St Bridge from the station to Adams Morgan.

By bicycle
The upper northwest is a hilly region, which can pose challenges for cyclists, especially those traveling northwest (which is generally uphill). Capital Bikeshare stations and dockless bicycles and scooters are few and far between in the more suburban residential neighborhoods, although they can more often be found along Connecticut Ave. and some parts of Massachusetts Ave. Neither of those avenues have bicycle lanes, though, so either take to the sidewalk and risk terrorizing pedestrians or brave the high-speed car traffic and try not to get run over.

The Rock Creek Trail through Rock Creek Park makes for an excellent ride.

See

The Zoo and the National Cathedral dwarf any other attractions here in both size and number of visitors, but if you have a little extra time, the Hillwood Estate and Kreeger Museum are two of the city's greatest hidden gems.

Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is the largest park in DC.

Buy
The area around the Friendship Heights Metrorail station has many clothing stores - both discount stores and high end stores.

Drink
Upper Northwest is a much more friendly and comfortable option compared to the nightlife-centered districts. Gin lovers must check out the bar at New Heights (above).

Connect
Almost all cafes and many restaurants and supermarkets offer a free Wi-Fi connection. Computer terminals are accessible for free at the following public libraries:

Go next
For better nightlife and restaurants and more of a city feel, visit the neighbors to the south: Georgetown and Adams Morgan, or continue north to: Bethesda.

title: Washington, D.C./Upper Northwest


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Washington, D.C./Waterfront

The Waterfront is just south of the National Mall. In addition to beautiful views of the Washington Channel, which separates the parkland on Hains Point with the land contiguous with the National Mall, this neighborhood includes great seafood, restaurants, bars, sports stadiums, entertainment options and boat excursions. Be sure to visit the 200-year-old Municipal Fish Market and the rest of the Wharf, which underwent redevelopment from 2017 to 2022.

Understand

The Southwest Waterfront was long considered an embarrassment by the U.S. government; the city's notorious slum of run-down hovels, shacks, tents, and refuse, all close to the Capitol. The neighborhood is one of the city's oldest, dating back to the 18th century. However, in 1815, the city built L'Enfant's envisioned Washington City Canal, which cut the Waterfront off from the rest of the city. Intended to boost downtown commerce, the canal instead proved most adept at catching and then pooling raw sewage from the city, which at the time lacked a sewer system. The stench brought down the price of real estate, and the neighborhood was attractive only for poorer Washingtonians looking for cheap housing. In the 1870s, the city finally got rid of this eyesore, forcing it underground.

For the first 150 or so years of the city's history, European immigrants moved into the portion of the neighborhood west of 4th St and African Americans, mostly freed black slaves, lived in the eastern portion. Both communities, while poor, were dynamic, and the area had a bustling commerce, and was home to some of the nation's most wealthy African Americans. But in the 20th century, the Waterfront became overpopulated, and its economy plummeted during the Depression. By the 1950s, city planners devised a plan for urban renewal, which entailed the wholesale demolition of the neighborhood and the eviction of its residents. Despite obvious protests from locals, the city went through with the plan. The Waterfront district was razed, sparing only a few landmarks, including the Municipal Fish Market and the churches around which the old communities were based. After Interstate 395 was constructed, the neighborhood was once again cut off from the rest of the city.

In the 21st century, the Waterfront moved into a new era as the construction of the Washington Nationals baseball stadium in 2008 set off a spectacular real estate boom and a wave of new construction, culminating in the Wharf. Condos and apartment buildings sprang up around the ballpark and the Washington Channel, and restaurants and bars followed. Along the channel is the 200-year-old open air seafood market, the Municipal Fish Market, several large marinas, endless rows of boats, and nice restaurants with great views. To the south and east are major military facilities at Fort McNair, home to the prestigious National Defense University, and the Navy Yard, the ceremonial headquarters of the U.S. Navy.

By Metrorail
The main Metrorail stops in the area are the L'Enfant Plaza station on the Blue, Orange, Silver, Green, and Yellow lines and the Waterfront and Navy Yard stations on the Green Line. The Navy Yard station is closest to Nationals Park. The Smithsonian station (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) is also close to the neighborhood.

By bus
Southwest Shuttle is a free shuttle bus that operates between the Waterfront and the L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail Station and 7th & Independence Ave on the National Mall.

The D.C. Circulator Union Station-Navy Yard "Navy" line runs down from Union Station (Metrorail Red Line), past the Capitol, through Capitol Hill, and then down to New Jersey Ave and M St SE, near Nationals Stadium. Oct-March M-F 6AM-7PM, Apr-Sep M-F 6AM-9PM, Sa 7AM-9PM, with extended service on Nationals game days.

Metrobus routes W9, 74, P6, and V1 all operate to the Waterfront.

By car
Coming from Virginia, take I-395 across the Potomac, and then take Exit 4 for Maine Ave. From the north, the main roads are 9th and 7th St SW, while the main east-west street is M St SW/SE. The main bridge heading over the Anacostia River is the S Capitol St bridge, which connects to the Anacostia Fwy (DC-295/I-295), which heads northeast to the Beltway near the junction with I-95N to Baltimore, or southwest to the Beltway close to Old Town Alexandria.

There is a large underground parking garage at the fish market. Prices are $11 for the first hour, $26 for 4 or more hours.

By water taxi
Water taxis operate between the Waterfront and Georgetown and Alexandria. Fares are $10 one-way and $18 round trip for adults; discounts for children 11 and younger.

See

Architecture

Little architecture survived the urban renewal, but those buildings that did are some of the better examples of early Washingtonian architecture in the city.

Spectator sports

Connect
Most cafes have free Wi-Fi. Otherwise, head to the library for free public terminals and Wi-Fi:

Go next

 * The National Mall is just footsteps away from the Waterfront, and has one of the world's greatest collections of museums. If you're staying here, you'll be spending time there.
 * Historic Uniontown, where the Navy Yard workers once lived, is just across the river in much feared Anacostia. It's a very interesting contrast with its neighbor to the north, and has several attractions worth seeking out.

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

title: Washington, D.C./Waterfront


text:
Washington, D.C./West End

The West End of Downtown D.C. is the area immediately west of downtown. This guide focuses on the areas of K Street, the West End and Foggy Bottom neighborhoods. The White House and its grounds function as a barrier between the East End and the West End, with the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Ave closed to motorists. In the daytime, Lafayette Square and the block of Pennsylvania Ave are closed to motorists in front of the White House are popular with tourists and street hockey enthusiasts.

Understand

K Street is famous or infamous depending on who you ask as the physical location where money and power in the U.S. collude. The "fourth branch of government": Lobbyists, special interest groups, contractors, and out of work Congressmen all engage in the extremely lucrative business of political influence. This impression isn't totally fair—first of all, some of the lobbying firms are pushing for noble causes, and secondly, many if not most of the professionals are doing business unrelated to politics. But, K St's infamy outside the city is matched by its local infamy as the most boring section of town. Office buildings dominate and everybody leaves after punching out, leaving the neighborhood empty and quiet, however the addition of a few new hotels and restaurants have added some color to this otherwise staid neighborhood. There is some truth to this, but the caricature overlooks the fact that there are some incredible restaurants and sights to see, including nearby McPherson Square, increasingly home to its own nightlife scene.

And then, of course, there is the White House. Famous around the world as the home and office of the world's most powerful person, it is the capital icon most associated with the American government. Surrounded by parks, Lafayette Square and the Ellipse, it's also surprisingly accessible to visitors, and makes a nice backdrop for a casual picnic surrounded by history. And, just west of the White House and grounds are some great art galleries, especially at the Corcoran Museum.

To the southwest is Foggy Bottom, an old Washingtonian neighborhood home to George Washington University and its many students and the once ritzy stretch of waterfront home to the Watergate and the Kennedy Center. Foggy Bottom also houses several big international organizations, like the Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the American Red Cross, and several embassies.

To the immediate north of Foggy Bottom lies the West End, an affluent neighborhood developed in the post-war era between Georgetown and Dupont Circle. Confusingly, the area that was traditionally referred to as the West End now lies entirely within Foggy Bottom and is now part of the Old West End/ GW Historic District, featuring historic Victorian homes reminiscent of Dupont Circle, but now associated with George Washington University. The area was home to many African American residents and institutions in the early 20th century, who were displaced by post war freeway and urban renewal schemes. What is now called the West End dates back to the 1970 DC city plan, The New Town for the West End, which sought to build up the area north of L Street into a commercial and residential zone to relieve congestion from Downtown D.C. Less housing than anticipated ended up being built (virtually no affordable housing at all) and now the area is best known for its many upscale hotels and condos, home to some the city's priciest rents.

By metro

Metro's Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines run through the West End along I St. Foggy Bottom in the west is the most convenient to the Kennedy Center and to George Washington University; it is also the closest station to the eastern part of Georgetown. The walk from Foggy Bottom to the Mall is a little far, but it is the closest metro station in D.C. to West Potomac Park. Farragut West and McPherson Square are mainly for the business district, but they are also close to Lafayette Park. The latter is also just a couple blocks from the White House Visitor Center.

The Red Line cuts across the northeast part of the area, with one stop at Dupont Circle South, which is a short walk to the West End, Farragut North right on K St. Metro Center is the next stop to the east, in the East End, and is the closest Red Line stop to the White House Visitor Center.

By car
Downtown is not driver friendly. There are no above-ground garages, and underground garages are expensive. Street parking is metered, near impossible to find on weekdays, and has a two hour limit. Weeknights and weekends see some easier to find parking west of the White House and south of Pennsylvania Ave. Meter restrictions end Saturday at 6:30PM and all day Sunday. It's harder to find parking near Dupont Circle on weekends, although you might luck out around K St after 8PM weeknights.

K St is the main road, while M St is the (one way) route to Georgetown. Connecticut Ave (17th St below K St) is the main route heading north. I-66 comes in from Virginia, but leaving is easier via the Arlington Memorial Bridge south of 23rd St.

It is possible to hail a taxi from the street around the clock, but M St going to Georgetown has awful traffic during rush hour and weekend nights — it's often quicker to walk.

By bus
Metrobus routes downtown can be confusing, so it's best to make sure you don't ride past your intended stop, or you could find yourself lost in a strange part of town quickly. The following run daily roughly until midnight:

80 runs until midnight from Farragut Square east on K St to Chinatown, and west down 18th St past the Corcoran, through Foggy Bottom, and right by the Kennedy Center.

38B runs west on K St from Farragut Square, then up Pennsylvania to M St through Georgetown, and then over the Key Bridge into Arlington, right along Arlington's main commercial strips.

32 and 36 follow the same route as 38B, but turn north on Wisconsin Ave instead of going to Virginia. They also will take you straight east to the Mall, and then on to Eastern Market

The D.C. Circulator's "Yellow" line heads east along K St to Chinatown and west, after Washington Circle, up Pennsylvania to M St into Georgetown.

White House
Built starting in 1792, by a combination of enslaved laborers, free Blacks and immigrants, and first residence for the nation's second president, John Adams, the White House has been the residence and office for each president since. The building's chief architect, James Hoban, an Irishman, left a nationalistic mark on the U.S., modeling the President's home after Ireland's National Parliament building in Dublin. While Hoban's vision has survived more than 225 years, including the 1814 fire set by invading British forces, the interior has hardly been static. As it is, after all, the president's house, each president has taken the liberty of various redecoratings, expansions, and additions—the entire East Wing, for example, was added only during the Coolidge Administration. The last major renovation occurred under President Truman, but much of the antiques, artwork, and decorating styles you'll see today come courtesy of a certain First Lady of renowned taste, Jackie Kennedy.

President Jefferson opened the White House to the public, and it has remained so during peacetime (with varying restrictions) ever since. Following the attacks of September 11th in 2001, tours have been available only for groups of ten or more, and these must be requested up to six months and at least one month in advance through your congressman if you're a U.S. citizen. Foreigners can in theory request tours of White House through their embassies, but in practice this is close to impossible for average tourists as embassy-arranged tour groups are required to be accompanied by a senior diplomat. The standard tours focus on the social/residential part of the White House—the East Wing, rather than the working West Wing. Abide by the stated dress code, or you will be refused admission!

You can see the front door from Lafayette Square on the north side, and the back (the more famous curved facade) from the Ellipse on the south side. Political demonstrations typically take place at the front, though larger ones have been known to encircle the fence.

The Ellipse
The Ellipse is the park to the south of the White House. During the Civil War, the space was used as a cattle and horse corral, the smell of which festered in the summer humidity, making life at the White House unpleasant enough where there was a proposal to abandon it and relocate—possibly to Meridian Hill, in Adams Morgan. President Grant nixed the idea, and had the grounds improved, installing a fountain in 1876, and two gatehouses relocated from the Capitol to the southwest and southeast corners of the Ellipse.

Memorials on the Ellipse include the Butt-Millet Fountain, added in 1913 in honor of two prominent Titanic victims—Army Major Archibald Butt and painter Francis Millet. The Zero Milestone stands at the north end of the park, and is the marker by which all road distances would be measured (this idea was a flop, and only D.C.'s roads use it as a measure). Larger memorials on the Ellipse include a memorial to 5,599 soldiers of the First Division of the American Expeditionary Force killed in World War I, and another memorial in honor of the Second Division in World War I on Constitution Ave. In nice weather, the park serves mostly for the public to enjoy the good views and play frisbee.

Lafayette Park
Named for French General Lafayette of American Revolutionary fame (better known to his friends as Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette), this park is a national historic landmark seemingly dedicated to the purpose of taking pictures of the White House. The large equestrian statue at its center is of President Andrew Jackson, while the statues on the four corners of the park are dedicated to Revolutionary heroes, all of them foreign: Lafayette, French Major General Rochambeau, Polish General Kosciuszko, and Prussian Major General Friedrich von Steuben.

And if you like bushy-tailed rodents, you're in luck—Lafayette Park is home to the densest squirrel population known to science, lured here no doubt by their lust for power. Look especially for those black squirrels, descendants of a group of 18 Canadians that escaped the National Zoo during Teddy Roosevelt's presidency.

Lafayette Square

The blocks immediately surrounding Lafayette Park are part of the National Historic Landmark, and there is much to see here:

Other sites

Kennedy Center

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is on the bank of the Potomac River, adjacent to the Watergate Complex, in Foggy Bottom. It was built as a private-public partnership, in effort to create a National Cultural Center for the nation's capital. President Kennedy helped move the project forward, and when he was assassinated, the center was named after him as a living memorial. Architect Edward Durrell Stone designed the building, which opened in 1971. A new addition, named the REACH, opened in 2019.

There are three main theaters in the Kennedy Center: the Concert Hall, Opera House, and Eisenhower Theater. The National Symphony Orchestra performs at the Concert Hall, while the Opera House is home to the Washington National Opera and the annual Kennedy Center Honors. The Eisenhower Theater is a smaller venue that hosts theater, musicals, operas, ballet, and dance performances. The Kennedy Center has a number of smaller venues, with various events geared towards children and other audiences. The Millennium Stage, at the end of the Grand Foyer, hosts daily, free performances. If you are looking for a really special, classic Washingtonian event, the two big ones are right around Christmas—the National Ballet's yearly performance of The Nutcracker, and the Handel's Messiah Singalong. For the latter, the entire audience, mostly of amateur and professional choirs, join the Master Chorus and Orchestra in singing the full oratorio—it's an amazing experience for singers and non-singers alike.

Docent-led tours are available for walk-ins M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-1PM every ten minutes. Just head over to the tour desk to get on one. At any time you can head up to the rooftop terrace for a spectacular view (it's probably best to skip the overpriced restaurant). The building more or less closes 30 minutes after the end of the night's last performance.

White House
The White House hosts a number of special annual events, including the popular White House Easter Egg Roll on the south lawn. The annual tradition was started in 1878 by President Rutherford B. Hayes, who invited local children to the White House lawn for the event. The event includes various other activities for children, including face painting, music, magicians, egg coloring, and story telling, along with food. The event is open to children ages 7 or younger. Free tickets are distributed a few days before Easter, though people usually begin lining up many hours in advance, in the wee hours of the morning, as demand far exceeds supply.

Each year in December, the White House Christmas Tree is displayed on the Ellipse, along with a huge Menorah for Hanukkah. Tickets are required for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which features the President and/or First Lady lighting the tree. People line up to get free tickets for the event when they are handed out—usually a month in advance. Once the tree is lit, it is open to the public who can see it lit up each evening, along with smaller trees for each state.

Twice each year, tours take place of the Rose Garden and other gardens on the White House grounds. Over the years, the Presidents and First Ladies changed up the gardens to suit their tastes, including a colonial garden planted by Edith Roosevelt in 1902. President Woodrow Wilson's wife, Ellen, replaced the colonial garden with a Rose Garden, which has remained. The East Garden was redesigned by Jacqueline Kennedy, and Lady Bird Johnson created a Children's Garden at the White House. The White House holds the Fall Garden Tours in October, while the Spring Garden Tours are held in April. Tickets are distributed on the morning of the tour—first-come, first served.

Other venues

Buy
Downtown shopping in the West End is rather dispersed, but there are shops at International Square, near the Farragut West station on the Orange and Blue Lines, and along Connecticut Ave north of K St, and here and there on streets near Connecticut Ave.

Eat

Downtown dining has long been equated with power dining, however a revolution in the local dining scene means plenty of interesting places about especially away from the White House and K Street. Closer to downtown you'll find plenty lobbyists, lawyers, contractors, tourists and politicos. There are several stand-out restaurants here, but the most famous are undoubtedly the Old Ebbitt Grill and the Lafayette Room.

The Western Market Food Hall in Foggy Bottom represents the new D.C. and is a great place for casual dining. Additionally, the West End neighborhood has an emerging dining scene away from its many hotel restaurants.

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Drink

Downtown, Foggy Bottom and the West End are generally not known for nightlife. Offices (and hotels) empty out after work, and happy hour at the hotel bars and restaurants can be a tad pricey, if not unimaginative. After that, the whole area generally slows down. The notable exception is the area around New Hampshire and M Street, which has become the area's hippest corner by far, led by the Yours Truly hotel and its restaurant/bars/cafes, Mercy Me and Call Your Mother. Expect a younger, hipper crowd here along with popular café, Tatté, directly opposite the hotel. Next door is the reliable Indian staple, Rasika, which attracts an affluent, middle aged crowd.

There are a couple of nice, standard bars by George Washington University and Foggy Bottom station, but the area is surprisingly quiet for a student ghetto. For more options, walk to Dupont Circle or Georgetown.

Bars

Mid-range

Respect
Unlike K Street, Foggy Bottom and the West End are also residential neighborhoods. Visitors are of course welcome, but please do not walk slowly, block the sidewalk, entrances to residences, or intersections where people may want to cross the street on green or red lights, and do not make a lot of noise outside at 3 in the morning. Remember that local residents have places to get to quickly day and night, and though D.C. is a global city (a name that's particularly apt west of downtown), most residents above a certain age do need some shut-eye before 3AM.

Connect
Most bars and cafes offer free Wi-Fi.

Go next

 * The obvious next stops are Georgetown to the west or the East End to the east for dining, shopping, and nightlife (a 10- to 15-minute walk or a $1 Circulator bus ride from Foggy Bottom), and south to Potomac Park, the Tidal Basin, and the Mall.
 * Also nearby is Dupont Circle, the once bohemian but increasingly upscale counterpart to Georgetown. It melts seamlessly with the smaller West End, especially around New Hampshire Avenue. Today, Dupont is a neighborhood of upscale boutiques, plush rowhouses and posh, bottle service clubs; and further afield is Adams Morgan, far more diverse, bustling and home to the young and hip, with plenty of cutting edge restaurants and bars, classic buildings and interesting side streets. All of these neighborhoods are a scenic detour from the West End but a bit far from Foggy Bottom and K Street.
 * Arlington, home to the famous cemetery, National Airport, and more downtown dining and business, is just across the bridge, and is easy to reach via the Blue/Orange/Silver lines or by bus (or taxi).

title: Washington, D.C./West End


text:
Washington County

There is more than one place called Washington County:

United States of America

 * Washington County (Alabama) - in the Gulf Coast (Alabama) region of Alabama
 * Washington County (Arkansas)
 * Washington County (Colorado)
 * Washington County (Florida)
 * Washington County (Georgia)
 * Washington County (Idaho)
 * Washington County (Illinois)
 * Washington County (Indiana)
 * Washington County (Iowa)
 * Washington County (Kansas)
 * Washington County (Kentucky)
 * Washington County (Maine)
 * Washington County (Maryland)
 * Washington County (Minnesota)
 * Washington County (Mississippi)
 * Washington County (Missouri)
 * Washington County (Nebraska)
 * Washington County (New York)
 * Washington County (North Carolina)
 * Washington County (Ohio)
 * Washington County (Oklahoma)
 * Washington County (Oregon)
 * Washington County (Pennsylvania)
 * Washington County (Rhode Island) (better known as South County (Rhode Island))
 * Washington County (Tennessee)
 * Washington County (Texas)
 * Washington County (Utah)
 * Washington County (Vermont)
 * Washington County (Virginia)
 * Washington County (Wisconsin)

title: Washington County


text:
Washington County (Maryland)

Washington County is in the Western Maryland region of Maryland.

Cities

 * — a small town home to the first, and original, Washington Monument.
 * — Western Maryland's largest city.
 * — small town located in Maryland's very narrow 2 mile-wide neck.
 * — home to Antietam National Battlefield, the site of the bloodiest battle in American history.

Understand
Washington County is a county in the north-central to northwestern part of the American state of Maryland. The county is bordered to the east by South Mountain (part of the Blue Ridge Mountains) and to the west by Sideling Hill Creek. In the middle lies Hagerstown Valley, part of Cumberland Valley which is part of a larger Great Appalachian Valley. Washington County is noted for small towns dotting its idyllic rural landscape and abundant agricultural fields. It boasts only one city, its county seat Hagerstown. However, the county is part of the Hagerstown metropolitan area, and it is proximate to and becoming increasingly influenced by Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

Washington County is also well-known for being located in a historically significant area. Antietam, South Mountain, Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, and Monocacy are Civil War battlefields all located within 30 minutes drive of the county. The county is also home to the restored American Revolutionary War and French and Indian War structure of Fort Frederick.

Even with such historical significance, retail is the major draw for tourism in Washington County. Premium Outlets Hagerstown boasts over 100 stores and draws people from neighboring counties as well as Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The county also has several shopping centers including Valley Mall that draw people from neighboring communities in Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

By car
Interstates 81, 70, and 68 cross through the county as well as U.S. Routes 11, 40, Alternate 40, Scenic 40, 340, and 522.

By bus
Atlantic Coast Charter Buses stops in Hagerstown.

By plane
Hagerstown Regional Airport has flights to and from Orlando-Sanford International Airport, St. Petersburg International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport and Washington-Dulles International Airport. Alternatively, one can use Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Harrisburg International Airport , Washington National Airport , or Washington Dulles International Airport all of which are within 60 miles (97 km) to 75 miles (121 km) driving distance of Hagerstown.

Get around

 * Renting cars or driving to Washington County is advised as most areas are not easily walkable.
 * For a taxi you could call Miller Cabs, Turner Vans, or hail Downtown Taxi! cabs on the streets in downtown Hagerstown.
 * County Commuter buses are effective and go to all points in Hagerstown and occasionally to other towns in the county.

National parks

 * Antietam National Battlefield
 * Appalachian National Scenic Trail
 * Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
 * Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

State parks

 * Fort Frederick State Park
 * Fort Tonoloway State Park
 * Gathland State Park
 * Greenbrier State Park
 * South Mountain State Park
 * Washington Monument State Park

Other recreation

 * Crystal Grottoes, the only show caves in Maryland.
 * Sideling Hill man-made mountain pass on Interstate 68/U.S. Route 40 roughly 5 miles west of Hancock shows off 100 million years+ of rock formation with Information Center and walkways on the premises.
 * Stoney Creek Farm
 * Washington County Rural Heritage Museum

Most non-historic attractions are located in Hagerstown or its immediate suburbs.

Do
Refer to article on Hagerstown for details.

Eat
Refer to article on Hagerstown for details.

Drink
Refer to article on Hagerstown for details.

Sleep
Refer to article on Hagerstown for details.

Go next

 * If you head north, Gettysburg offers a famous battlefield and site of former President Abraham Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address. Harrisburg is one to one and one half hours drive north on Interstate 81 from Washington County. New York City is also accessible in about 4 hours drive by continuing past Harrisburg.
 * If you head south, Blue Ridge Parkway, which is an especially scenic drive during autumn, and Luray Caverns, under two hours drive, are both easily accessible from Interstate 81 South.
 * Pittsburgh can be accessed in under three hours drive off of Interstate 70 West.
 * Many long distance travelers stay in Washington County overnight at a cheaper rate and drive about one hour east to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore for their sightseeing. Philadelphia and Richmond are also both only roughly 100 miles drive past Baltimore and Washington, respectively.

title: Washington County (Maryland)


text:
Washington Crossing Historical Park

Washington Crossing is in Pennsylvania. Washington Crossing Historic Park is not only a great way to experience nature and wander in the wilderness for awhile, but it also has many places of great historic importance and beauty.

Understand
Washington Crossing Historic Park is a 500-acre park divided into two sections: the Thompson's Mill section and the Washington Crossing section.

Washington Crossing was named for its close proximity of General Washington's crossing of the Delaware river on the night of December 25–26, 1776. Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze immortalized this moment with his famous picture, Washington Crossing the Delaware.

With the area being this rich in history, there are tons of ways to enjoy it. Every year, a reenactment of the crossing of the Delaware is done. Come out and see General Washington and his troops cross the Delaware in full uniforms. If you can't make it on Christmas day, the second Sunday in December is the dress rehearsal. Additional activities, events, and demonstrations also take place on the day of the dress rehearsal.

Washington Crossing is a great spot to get away. Just a short drive from New York City and Philadelphia, it could be your one night retreat on route between the cities, or a week long escape from the hustle of city life. History and nature are just a few of the things you can indulge in.

Get in
Open Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Closed certain holidays, except Christmas Day, Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day.

Fees
Adult $5, group and senior $4, youth $2

See
The Bowman's Hill tower, a tower built in commemoration of General Washington and his army. The tower stands over thirty stories tall and is a sight to behold from the ground! From the top of the tower, on a clear day, you can see fourteen miles into the distance. The landscape is simply stunning - especially during fall during the change of seasons.

Washington Crossing

 * Washington Crossing The site from which George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River on December 25, 1776. (A bridge connects this section with New Jersey's Washington Crossing State Park; see Trenton.) Each year, the crossing is reenacted on Christmas Day; call for details.
 * McConkey Ferry Inn, where Washington is believed to have prior to the crossing;
 * Taylor House, home of influential businessman Mahlon Taylor
 * Memorial Building, which has a copy of Emanuel_Leutze's painting Washington Crossing the Delaware.

Thompson's Mill

 * Bowman's Hill Tower, a 110-foot tower with a 14-mile view of the Delaware Valley
 * Thompson-Neely House the site of many conferences before the Battle of Trenton.
 * Memorial Flagstaff, which marks the graves of Continental Army troops who were the first of our the United States' unknown soldiers.

Do
Delaware Canal, Take a walk along the beautiful Pennsylvania side of the Delaware canal along the tow path. It is perfect for day trips up and down to adjacent towns along the river such as New Hope and Yardley. Great for walking, biking with friends, as well as walking the dog and other pets.

Eat

 * Lionsheart Inn - Great burgers. Try their special, the lionheart burger, a lamb burger with blue cheese sauce.
 * Lionsheart Inn - Great burgers. Try their special, the lionheart burger, a lamb burger with blue cheese sauce.

title: Washington Crossing Historical Park


text:
Washington Township (Michigan)

Washington Township is on the outskirts of metro Detroit in Macomb County, Michigan, with about 25,000 residents.

Understand
This is the rural-urban fringe of the Detroit metropolitan area; many residents work for Detroit's car makers or commute to the city.

Do

 * Stony Creek Metropark - occupies 2,000 acres within the township, anchoring a variety of recreational amenities, including swimming pools, play areas, tennis courts, and athletic fields. The 600-acre lake is ideal for swimmers, anglers, and boaters as well as winter sports enthusiasts. The 18-hole golf course at Stony Creek is just one of five lush golf courses. The locals savor every aspect of small-town living, from the quaint gazebo and concerts in the park to wonderful fairs and colorful festivals.

Romeo
A village with a population of 3,600 on the northern boundary of Washington Township, extending into Bruce Township on M-53. Tillson Street is known for its elaborate Halloween decorations. Matching seasonal picture postmarks are issued by Romeo (Michigan) and Juliette (Georgia) for Valentine's Day.

title: Washington Township (Michigan)


text:
Washtenaw County

Washtenaw County is in southeast Michigan, with a population of 368,000 people (as of 2019). It's considered to be a part of metro Detroit, which is just to the east in Wayne County.

Cities

 * — The county seat, and home to the University of Michigan. It's a thriving town with lots of shops, restaurants, cultural activities and festivals.
 * — Ann Arbor's smaller, poorer, uglier, and cooler sibling. Surrounded by pretentious neighbors, Ypsi residents tend to see their city as more relaxed and less yuppified. Ypsilanti was the birthplace of Iggy Pop and home of Preston Tucker, Elijah (The Real McCoy) McCoy, and the Ypsilanti Water Tower, which was voted the most phallic building in the world by the nationally circulated Cabinet art and design magazine. The Depot Town area is the most walkable.
 * — A quaint, touristy little town, home to Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theater and celebrated local restaurant The Common Grill. Has a small, lively downtown with several art galleries, eateries and shops.
 * — Small town between Ann Arbor and Chelsea with a walkable downtown. In the fall, visit the Dexter Cider Mill for fresh apple cider and doughnuts, and during nice times of the year stop in at the drive-in A&W outside of town.
 * — Another pleasant small town with a walkable downtown full of shops and restaurants. Lots of people come for the Saline Celtic Festival that's held every July, with entertainment, food and vendors.
 * The other two villages in the county are Manchester and Milan (which doesn't rhyme with the Italian town, but more so with "island"). Neither is very big, but both are worth a visit, especially if you enjoy drives through the country. Manchester has a little riverside downtown and an enormous annual chicken broil, while Milan has a carnival and lovely fireworks show over the water around the Fourth of July.

Other destinations

 * Northwestern Washtenaw County is home to the Waterloo State Recreation Area and the Pinckney State Recreation Area, both large parks with several popular recreational lakes, like Silver Lake and Bruin Lake.
 * The Huron River flows through Dexter, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti on its way to Lake Erie.

Talk
Ann Arbor (along with its neighbor Ypsilanti) is a university town with a large number of international students. This means a lot of international restaurants, ethnic grocery stores, and lots of non-native speakers of English. There are several language schools in the heart of downtown, so as you're walking down the street, you're highly likely to encounter groups of people speaking Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, or one of dozens of other languages. Of course, there are also native speakers from all over the country, and the rest of the English-speaking world, so you're liable to hear a wide variety of accents as well. For a small town, there's a surprising amount of cultural diversity.

Also recognize that you're not far from Dearborn, home to the largest Middle Eastern population in the United States. While the Arabic population of Ann Arbor isn't nearly as visible as its Asian (particularly Korean) population, you may have the opportunity to meet visitors from Arab countries or locals of Arab descent.

As for the native English speakers in the area, Michigan is situated in the middle of the Northern Cities vowel shift, which in some ways has made the local accents more similar to a Canadian accent. In particular, you're likely to notice a difference in the low front vowel a (as in "hat" and "ramp"), which is raised and highly nasalized, and the close-mid back vowel o (as in row and soap), which is fronted such that it resembles a Minnesota accent.

By car
The only interstate in Washtenaw County is I-94, which goes west from Detroit, south of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, then past Dexter and Chelsea toward Jackson. US-23 goes north from Toledo, Ohio past Milan, between Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, then toward Flint. Saline is on US-12 southwest of Ypsilanti, while Manchester is on M-52 south of Chelsea and north of Adrian.

By plane

 * The nearest major airport is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, in Detroit.

By bus
Several intercity bus lines run from Ann Arbor.

Get around
Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti are linked by the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA), which provides routes all over Ann Arbor, between the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti town centers, and limited routes within Ypsi. To reach any of the other towns and villages, you'll probably need a car.

Airport taxis and shuttle services between Ann Arbor and the Detroit airport are also available; details are on the Ann Arbor page.

The Border-to-Border (B2B) Trail is a partially constructed non-motorized trail, which is planned to cover approximately 35 miles from Livingston County to Wayne County along the Huron River. A marked trail runs from the Wayne County border through Ypsilanti Township, Ypsilanti, Superior Township, and Ann Arbor, ending in northwestern Ann Arbor, with an additional short segment north of Dexter.

See

 * The "most phallic" building in the world, apparently, according to readers of Cabinet magazine in 2003: the water tower in Ypsilanti, at the corner of Cross and Washtenaw, also locally called the "brick dick" or the "aquacock".
 * The Chelsea Milling Company, manufacturers of nationally-beloved "Jiffy" Mix baking mixes since 1930, is in Chelsea. You can call ahead to schedule a tour of their facilities.
 * Attend a movie, play, concert or comedy show at one of the many venues in Ann Arbor. Alternatively, actor Jeff Daniels has established a popular not-for-profit professional theatre, the Purple Rose, in his hometown of Chelsea.
 * Literally every town and village in the area has a quaint downtown area with pleasant dining and shopping. Ann Arbor's is by far the largest, but if you don't have time to meander through the entire county to see all the others, you should at least be sure to check out the historic Depot Town in Ypsilanti.
 * If you like to drive, there are some scenic paths along back roads in the county, particularly Huron River Drive between Ann Arbor and Dexter, which (unsurprisingly) follows the banks of the Huron River.

Do

 * Go canoeing or kayaking on the Huron River in Ann Arbor.
 * The Saline Celtic Festival is held in mid-July, with Highland athletics, bagpipes, music, dancing and food.
 * If you're an art lover, don't miss the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, also in mid-July, or if your tastes run more toward experimental and avant-garde, check out the Shadow Art Fair held in Ypsilanti around the same time.

Eat

 * Ann Arbor has a number of locally celebrated restaurants, and a wide variety of ethnic cuisines, but if you want to visit one of the most famous restaurants in the county, you'll want to check out the Common Grill in downtown Chelsea.
 * Saline, sister city to Brecon in mid-Wales and host of the annual Celtic Festival, is a good place to stop if you want a British pub experience or some local Michigan pasties.

Drink

 * Fresh apple cider is popular in the autumn, and locals go to the cider mill in Dexter during the apple season between August and November.
 * Being college towns, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti have plenty of brewpubs and bars if you want to slake your thirst with something a bit punchier.

Stay safe
Crime rates in Washtenaw County remain relatively low, although violent crime is more common in Ypsilanti. In Ann Arbor and the smaller towns, at least, it's generally quite safe to walk through town even late at night. As always, though, be circumspect, and don't take unnecessary risks.

Washtenaw County tends to have a few cases of West Nile virus each year. If you're going to be out after dark, particularly in wooded areas, be sure to take mosquito-repellent precautions, like dousing yourself in bug spray and wearing clothes that cover your bare skin.

Go next
To the east, Detroit is about 45 minutes away on I-94. Windsor, just across the Canada border, is about an hour. Be sure to bring your passport and photo ID to get into the country.

To the west, Jackson is about 40 minutes away on I-94, and state capitol Lansing is a little over an hour away on I-96.

To the north, Flint is about an hour away on US-23.

To the south, Toledo, Ohio is about an hour away on US-23.

title: Washtenaw County


text:
Wasilla

Wasilla is a city of 9,000 people (2020) in Alaska. Wasilla is the last city of significant size on the Parks Highway northward; therefore, it is a frequent stopping point if traveling by car to Denali National Park, Fairbanks or other points north. It is most famous as the home town of Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who served as mayor of the city for six years.

By plane

 * Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is about an hour away from Wasilla, in Anchorage. It has flights to and from the continental United States, Canada, various airports in Alaska, and seasonally to Frankfurt.

By car
Route 3, the Parks Highway, passes through the heart of the city and ends at the Glenn Highway east of it. You can take the Parks Highway south from Fairbanks, or the Glenn north from Anchorage or west from Canada.
 * From Seattle, it's a 43-hour drive.
 * From San Francisco, it's a 56-hour drive.
 * From Anchorage, it's an hour's drive.

By public transportation
Wasilla is connected to Anchorage by Valley Mover service, and the rest of the valley by Mat Su Transit.

Get around
In general, you need a car to get around town.

See
Popular sightseeing trips include the Knik Glacier, Matanuska Glacier, Pioneer Peak.

Do
In the summer there is mountain hiking in Hatcher Pass, at The Butte, Lazy Mountain, Crevasse Moraine and Matanuska Glacier. There are quite a few convenient whitewater streams in the area. For the canoeist there's the Wasilla Lakes canoe trail, Nancy Lakes canoe trail and Meadow Creek.

In the winter there's Nordic skiing in Hatcher Pass, Moose Meadows and at Government Peak. Outdoor ice skating is available on an astonishing variety of lakes, rivers and marshes. Wasilla and Palmer are to ice skating what Yosemite is to rock climbing.

Buy
Wasilla has several branches of chain stores for buying food, clothes and outdoor supplies, dominated by a huge Fred Meyer superstore. If you are going north and forgot to bring something important with you or buy it in Anchorage, you should be able to find it in Wasilla.

Eat
Wasilla contains a collection of standard fast-food and quick-casual eating options.

Coffee
Wasilla has a profusion of espresso stands that serve food as well.

 * Mocha Moose, 240 N Boundary St. Drive thru coffee stand run by a longstanding barista in the area. +1 907-376-1225

Go next
From Wasilla, it is about a 2-hour drive to Denali State Park or a 4-hour drive to Denali National Park. Fairbanks is about 7 hours north.

title: Wasilla


text:
Watarrka National Park

Watarrka National Park is in the Red Centre of the Northern Territory, home to the King's Canyon.

Understand
King's Canyon is one of the major tourist attractions in the Red Centre in Australia. The scenic landscape in and around the Canyon is the result of millions of years of erosion. Enigmatic domes formations, sharp cliffs, and good views of the surrounding desert reward the visitor taking the Rim Walk around the Canyon. Watarrka has been home to Luritja people for several thousands of years, and places in the canyon are still sacred sites.

The park houses a wide variety of desert plants and birds. A waterhole, aptly named the Garden of Eden, has given birth to a lush garden of green, a paradise for the local fauna. Resist the urge to swim here though, as there are often high levels of E. coli and the like in the waterhole. If you truly must swim, don't drink the water.

Be wary of the semi-arid climate and the risk of dehydration. In the summer months, the temperature can very easily climb over 40°C during the day and sometimes up to 50°C. Even in other seasons always respect the warning signs and do not risk your life attempting the walk in full heat.

This is a lovely canyon walk; it's also available as a scenic helicopter flight. It's part of the same road system as Uluru, and is included on many of the tours. It's not a town, as you might interpret it - it's a hotel at a canyon with a little swimming pool and a gas station.

Get in
The closest town with an airport is Alice Springs, some 300 km Northeast.

 * By car, there is only one sealed access from the Stuart Highway (linking Alice Springs and Adelaide). On the Lasseter Highway leading to Uluru, take the Luritja road (there is no way you can miss the various turns, there are no other roads and everything is perfectly signposted). It takes 4 to 5 hours from Alice Springs, and 3 to 4 hours from Uluru. If you have a 4WD, you can take the Ernest Giles Road that will save you a few hundred kilometres, or you can approach from the North via Glen Helen and the Mereenie loop road. Coming from this road requires a day permit but will allow you to stop at the Tnolara (Goose Bluff) meteor crater. Make sure you fuel up in Yulara until Alice Springs when going that way, as fuel prices on the way are unbearable!
 * By bus, various operators in Alice Springs offer short trips to King's Canyon (sometimes even day trips), or combined three-day trips with Uluru.

Fees and permits
There are no fees charged or permits required for entering the park.

Get around
The only Getting around there is besides the walk is the drive between the Resort and the car park at the start of the trails. It takes a good 10 minutes.

Do
There are 4 marked trails in the park, 3 from the base of the Canyon and another a little further along the Luritja Road towards the Lasseters Highway.

 * The star trail here is the Rim Walk, a 7-km loop around the canyon. It begins with a long step-like climb, but anyone in average physical condition should be able to complete the whole walk without a problem in 5 hours maximum. The walk brings you very close to the canyon cliffs and the domes, with magnificent views of the surrounding area. At the extreme end of the loop is a short side trip to the lush green waterhole of the Garden of Eden. There is only one direction for the walk. Whatever the time of the year, try to start the walk early in the morning. There are emergency phones at the top of the climb and at the far end of the loop. Beware of the heat in the day (even in winter), and take at least 1.5 litres of water with you for every hour walking.  Although there are rescue helicopters that can get you if it all goes wrong - they cost a pretty penny, so if you're not up to it, don't do it.
 * The King Creek walk is a short walk at the bottom of the canyon, wheelchair accessible for 500 m, with various panels explaining about local birds and Aboriginal history. Its a nice easy walk if it's hot or if you just aren't up for the Rim Walk.
 * The Giles Track is a 22-km track leading to Kathleen Springs. Be prepared on this one, and remember to register in the Walkers Registration Scheme - info available from the rangers on entering the park.
 * Finally the walk at Kathleen Springs just at the end of the park is a short flat trail, accessible to everyone. A lot of people miss this - don't!

You can book Helicopter tours over the Canyon, Camel rides and Quad tours at King's Canyon Resort.

Buy
There is a small general store at the gas station at King's Canyon Resort.

Eat
You will find all available dining options at King's Canyon Resort, targeted at various budgets (from almost cheap Outback BBQ Grill to more expensive Carmichael’s Restaurant). Just like in Yulara, you can book a fancy expansive dinner under the stars in the desert, and here the experience is called Sounds of Firelight.

Book your dinner according to your budget at the reception in King's Canyon Resort.

Drink
During the day, water. Plenty of it.

In the evening, you can buy yourself a beer at the bar in the resort, but that is pretty much all the options there are in the area.

Sleep
There is no accommodation within the Park and overnight camping is forbidden, however just seven kilometres away from the National Park is the King's Canyon Resort. The place is a built-out-of-nowhere tourist resort, blending (actually quite well) in the surroundings, offering accommodation from non-powered camping sites, to deluxe twin/double rooms. The range of accommodation is not as large as Yulara, but it should satisfy everybody.

36 km outside of the park, there are cabin style accommodations available at Kings Creek Station.

Another choice is the Kings Creek Wilderness Lodge.

Stay safe
In the summer, it can get infernally hot—in that case never attempt the rim walk during midday. There is very little shade on the walk. At any time of the year, bring plenty of water, a wide-brimmed hat, and plenty of sunscreen. There is a warning sign at the beginning of the walk: do not take its advice lightly.

On the walk, cliffs are not fenced, and only small signs remind you of the danger. Vertical drops can reach 300 m so be careful with children and yourself.

title: Watarrka National Park


text:
Watch Hill

Watch Hill is a district in Westerly, which is a town in Rhode Island. Watch Hill is a wealthy, summer tourist district comprised of two main streets. Most of the homes are summer mansions. In the winter, almost all of Watch Hill shuts down, apart from two stores.

Understand
If you're not planning on staying in Watch Hill, the district makes a perfect day trip with shopping, restaurants, beaches, and the historic carousel. Many people from Florida to North Carolina take their yacht to Watch Hill and sleep on their yacht, rather than staying in a hotel in town.

History
Watch Hill sits at the southwestern point of Washington County on a peninsula that stretches out into Block Island sound. Watch Hill and Napatree Point form ‘little Narragansett Bay’. This small bay offers excellent protection from strong currents, and provides a harbor where many sailboats and yachts moor and dock. On clear days, both Fishers Island and Long Island NY, can be seen to the South of Napatree Point.

Watch Hill was occupied in the 17th century by the Nianticks, a part of the Narragansett Native American tribe. Watch Hill was used as a watch point in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War by Europeans, which is how Watch Hill got its name. Napatree Point was once used as a military installation by the U.S. military, and an abandoned cement fort can be found at the end of Napatree.

In 1882 the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations purchased Watch Hill from the remaining Nianticks for $5,000.

Primarily a summer vacation area, due to the pristine beaches, Watch Hill is known for its mansions. Aside from the breathtaking scenery, Watch Hill was once a hideout for Albert Einstein and Isadora Duncan.

By plane

 * Westerly Airport, 56 Airport Road, +1 401 596-2357, Even though it does have its own airport code, don't expect flights to leave from this airport to leave for big cities like Las Vegas any time soon. It's more of a private airport, with scheduled trips to Block Island as well as avionic related sales and maintenance. It also has its own association which is dedicated to the preservation and development of the airport as a resource to the community as well as the region.

By train

 * Amtrak, 14 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, +1 401 596-2335, Unfortunately for travelers, the train station is not located near any bus stops. Due to this, upon arrival one must either wait to get picked up, take a taxi to get around, or just walk to their desired location.

By boat

 * Watch Hill Boat Yard Inc., 13 Pasadena Avenue, +1 401 348-8148
 * Watch Hill Municipal Docks, +1 401 596-7807

Get around
Summer parking is a hassle in Watch Hill. There is a limited amount of two-hour parking along Bay Street, but other than that non-Rhode Island residents cannot park on any other streets; they must park in selected parking lots for a varied fee, but usually a $20 fee on the weekend and a $10 fee during the week.

See
The lighthouse in Watch Hill was built not to guide ships at sea, but to warn residents of a naval attack. The original lighthouse was operational through the French and Indian war, and it is believed that the main tower was destroyed in a storm in 1781. The 35-foot-tall light tower was rebuilt as an order of congress and its operation began again in 1808. By the 1850s much of the wooden structure of the lighthouse and innkeeper's residence were rotting away. It was decided that repairs of the old lighthouse would be too expensive, so the current lighthouse was constructed in 1856. The new structure is built of granite and brick. The light keeper’s house now contains 3 bedrooms, a sitting room, a dining room, a kitchen, a maintenance room and a cellar. The lighthouse has survived many storms including the Great New England Hurricane of September 21, 1938 where waves were breaking over the top of the tower. The lighthouse was automated in 1986 and now serves as a museum. It can be found on the National Register of Historic Places. Additional Lighthouse information: The station is open to the public year round, and offers great views of the ocean and Fishers Sound. A museum located in the fog signal building contains the fourth-order Fresnel lens used in the tower, but it is only open during the summer months.

Amusement

 * Watch Hill Merry-Go-Round, 151 Bay Street, +1 401 348-6007. Back in the village is one of the nation’s oldest merry-go-rounds called the Flying Horse Merry-Go-Round. Around 1876, the Charles W. Dare Company, a traveling carnival, came and built the merry-go-round and left around 1879, leaving the merry-go-round as a gift to the village of Watch Hill. Over 100 years later the merry-go-round is considered a United States Historic landmark and is on the United States National historic register of historic places. The merry-go-round is on the bend of Bay Street, under a wooden gazebo that has big, stone columns. Inside of the gazebo is the merry-go-round. It is called "the flying horse" because horses are suspended by chains and not fastened to poles, so when the merry-go-round spins, it appears that the children are flying on horses through the air. There are two rows of horses; a set of smaller horses in the inside and a set of larger horses on the outside. All of the horses were carved by hand out of a single piece of wood. The horses are simple, complete with a cracked leather saddle, reins, mane and tail. Each winter the horses are stored and restored after the exposure to the summer weather. The horses’ manes were real horsehair. Legend has it that back in 1879 when the it was permanently placed in Watch Hill, the horse of the caravan when he died, his mane was placed into one of the horses. The eyes of the horses are the original agate eyes from 1879. In 1993, a local woodcarver named Gary Anderson from Pawcatuck, Connecticut, cleaned the horses of fifty years worth of paint. Upon stripping the horses from the paint, he uncovered horses are actually hollow, like rocking horses. 	The thing that attracts many children to the horses is the brass ring game. Riding on the outside horses, youngsters can reach out and grab rings and collect them on the horse’s ears. However, there is one special ring, the brass ring, and to the person who grabs it, they get a free ride on the merry-go-round. The Flying Horse Merry-Go-Round is the inspiration behind two children’s books: The Brass Ring by Nancy Tafuri and The Flying Horses by Lynn Anderson.
 * Watch Hill Beach You have to pay to use this beach.  Watch Hill Beach is exclusive.  Payment gets you an umbrella, parking, restaurant, and cabana use. Also, placed in the water is a black "dock" where people can swim to and play on. It is a big hit for the children.
 * East Beach This is a public beach with no fee near the top of Watch Hill, This beach is pretty hidden: you have to walk on a sandy path from the road to get to it.  This beach has great waves and attracts many surfers.  If you are interested in a long walk, Misquamicut Beach, located in Westerly, is about a 30-minute walk to the right.
 * Napatree Point This is also a public beach, next to Watch Hill Beach.  Napatree Point is an official Conservation Area, protecting endangered species that inhabit the dunes, such as the Roaseate Tern, Piping Plover, Osprey, and American Beach grass.  Be aware that no dogs are allowed on this beach May 2 through Labor Day, from 8AM - 6PM  This rule is strictly enforced by beach patrol.  After Labor Day, however, leashed dogs are allowed on the beach.  Napatree is great for a casual jog--the length of the strip is about 1 mile. Napatree Point is the long stretch of beach and dune grass that help form ‘little Narragansett Bay’.  The long stretch of beach is approximately 1.5 miles long. The term Napatree can be broken down into ‘nap’ (neck) of trees. The point was heavily wooded until 1815, when a large hurricane came and wiped out the trees. At the end of the point is Fort Mansfield, an abandoned military fort. It was built as part of several other forts on the Atlantic coast to protect New York City. Fort Mansfield was operational 1901 to 1909, then in 1926 the land was sold, and the military deserted the fort. In 1926, residential homes were built on the beach. When the Hurricane of 1938 came, the hurricane decimated the properties on the point, including the road that ran along the point. Only 15 out of the 42 people who were in their homes when the hurricane struck died.  There are no longer any homes or roads on the point. Napatree Point is a nature preserves that is an excellent place to bird watch, collect seashells, swim, walk, or enjoy nature. Parts of the beach are closed in the spring, so the Piping Plover Birds’ nests are not disturbed; after all piping plovers are federally endangered. Napatree point is also home to ospreys. The Watch Hill Conservancy works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the plovers and the rest of the wildlife.
 * Sport fishing on the Bonita II, Captain Tim Terranova, +1 401 596-6433, For those hardcore fishers out there, take a trip on the Bonita II! Catch bass, blue fish, marlin, tuna, swordfish offshore.  This activity is sponsored by Watch Hill Outfitters.  The dock is to the right of Watch Hill Yacht Club.

Arts

 * Ocean House (1 Bluff Ave.).
 * Ocean House (1 Bluff Ave.).

Buy
Most of the stores in Watch Hill are in a shopping plaza called Larkin Square, comprised of Bay Street and a tiny street called Fort Road. Along with the stores listed below, there is Comina, Island Outfitters, the Sunglasses Shop, Elle Summers Shoes, Hall Marine Supply, Coppola's, Kisses, Yvonne's, J.C.'s of Watch Hill, Aqua Shop, and Seaport Next Door. There is 2-hour parking along both Bay Street and Fort Road. Larkin Square is a great place to grab a cool drink, buy a Watch Hill sweatshirt, or enjoy an upscale dining experience.

Jewelry

Apparel

 * Seaport Surf, Bathing suits are sold here and the primarily brands are Hurley and Billabong. The suits are not mix and match.  This store also sells Reefs, which are a staple in a summer wardrobe due to the comfort of the sandal and its versatility in matching with many different outfits, its makes a very casual vibe for strolling around the village.  Seaport Surf is targeted towards a younger audience.

Eat

Sleep
Some inns have restaurants.

Cope
There is only one public restroom in Watch Hill, behind the carousel. While restaurants would also have restrooms, those are generally reserved for their customers.

title: Watch Hill


text:
Waterberg

Waterberg is one of the 5 districts of Limpopo province of South Africa, covering the rural western part of the province. The seat of Waterberg is Modimolle.

Cities

 * — it was called Warmbaths, until 2002, because of the geothermic hot springs around which the town was built. It is also the location of a famous cable-ski.
 * — home to the South African music festival Oppikoppi, which attracts hundreds of artists and thousands of fans every year in August.
 * (Ellisras) — west of the Mogol River in the distinctive bushveld landscape of the foothills of the Waterberg Range lies the busy town of Lephalale.
 * (Nylstroom) — the commercial centre of the Waterberg plateau, Modimolle is a popular local tourist destination given its attractive surrounding and excellent facilities.
 * — surrounded by game farms and nature reserves, it is an excellent eco-destination.

Other destinations

 * — a park is dominated by the Waterberg mountains with lush bushveld in the lower regions of the park

Understand
The district is divided into six local municipalities: Bela Bela, Lephalale, Modimolle, Mookgophong, Mogalakwena, and Thabazimbi. The majority of its 750,000 people speak Sepedi, also known as Northern Sotho.

The municipality contains much of the Waterberg Biosphere, a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve. The Waterberg Biosphere is a massif of approximately 6,540 km². Waterberg is the first region in the northern part of South Africa to be named as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

The extensive rock formation was shaped by hundreds of millions of years of riverine erosion to yield diverse bluff and butte landform. The ecosystem can be characterised as a dry deciduous forest or Bushveld. Within the Waterberg there are archaeological finds dating to the Stone Age, and nearby are early evolutionary finds related to the origin of humans.

Tourist information

 * Waterberg District Municipality Tourism Office:
 * Bela Bela:
 * Lephalale:
 * Mookgophong:
 * Mogalakwena:
 * Modimolle:
 * Thabazimbi:

Get in
The main entry roads to Waterberg are N1 and R101 from Gauteng, N11 from Sekhukhune, and R159 and R133 from North West Province.

title: Waterberg


text:
Waterberg Plateau Park

Waterberg Plateau Park is located on the Waterberg Plateau in Otjozondjupa, Namibia. The nearest major city is Otjiwarongo, about 68 km to the west of the park by conventional roads. The park is 40,549 hectares in area.

History
The park was set aside as a sanctuary for rare and endangered species. A variety of antelopes were relocated from other regions of Northern Namibia. In 1989, black rhinoceros was reintroduced to the area from Damaraland.

Waterberg was also the site of one of the major turning points Namibian history. At the foothills of Waterberg, the Herero people lost their last battle against the German colonial forces at the beginning of the century. The Herero were driven across the Kalahari desert into Botswana, then a British protectorate.

Landscape
The term "Waterberg" refers to the fact that sandstone of the plateau absorbs moisture which runs off on the southeast side of the plateau as springs. Hence, the name "Waterberg" or water mountain.

Flora and fauna
The vegetation of the plateau is green subtropical dry woodland. This contrasts the acacia that grows at the base of the plateau. Typically, the north slope of the rocky formations have colorful lichen growing on them in contrast to the reddish color normally found.

There are approximately 200 species of birds in the park. It is home to the only breeding colony of Cape Vultures in Namibia. It is also the breeding ground of several rare game species including rhinoceros, buffalo, and sable and roan antelope.

Climate
Like all of Namibia, it is very hot in the summer with temperatures of up to 40 °C.

Get in
The main entrance to the park is at the Bernabe de la Bat Restcamp. Many trails extend outward from this rest camp.

Fees and permits
Vehicles to view game leave in the early morning and mid afternoon. These are booked at the camp office and cost N$50 for adults and N$20 for children.

The four day hike on the Waterberg Wilderness Trail starts every second, third and fourth Thursday April through November. Only six to eight people are permitted per week. The cost is N$200 per person.

Get around
There are ten trails around the Bernabe Le Bat Restcamp. Maps are available through the reception office.

Eat
There is a restaurant on site in the Bernabe Le Bat Campground.

Lodging
Bungalows can be booked through the Central Reservation Office (NWR)in Windhoek. 8 km beyond the Bernabe Le Bat campsite is the Waterberg Wilderness Lodge just outside the park. There are facilities for camping as well.

Stay safe
Be aware that in the Namibian summer, temperatures can reach 38 °C. Take appropriate precautions. Also, the temperature can drop considerably at night.

Beware of the many troops of baboons. Be careful about leaving food out.

title: Waterberg Plateau Park


text:
Waterboro

There's more than one place called Waterboro:

United States of America

 * Waterboro (Maine) - a town in York County, Maine
 * Waterboro - a place in New York (state)

title: Waterboro


text:
Waterboro (Maine)

Waterboro is a town of about 6000 people in York County, Maine.

Get in
Car only, taxis are available from nearest cities. Nearest highway exit is exit 19 in Wells, ME (approx. 35 minutes; 21 miles) and exit 32 in Biddeford, ME (approx. 30 minutes; 15 miles). Nearest Greyhound bus terminal is in Portland, ME (approx. 45 minutes; 35 miles). Nearest Amtrak station is in Wells, ME (approx. 35 minutes; 21 miles), Saco, ME (approx. 30 minutes; 18 miles), Old Orchard Beach, ME (approx. 40 minutes; 23 miles), and Portland, ME (approx. 45 minutes; 35 miles). Closest airport is Portland, ME; PWM,(approx. 45 minutes, 32 miles). Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts is about 2 hours away, at approx. 100 miles.

Get around
Getting around Waterboro is fairly simple, the areas of shops and businesses are all pretty close. But, though you can walk, it is easier to take a car around, or a bike (neither of which you can rent in the town. Waterboro is made up of North Waterboro, East Waterboro and Waterboro. The bordering towns are Limerick, Newfield, Shapleigh, Alfred, Lyman and Hollis.

Sleep
Closest hotels or inns are in Sanford, ME (less than 20 minutes).

title: Waterboro (Maine)


text:
Waterbury

Waterbury is a city in Connecticut.

Understand
Waterbury is the fifth most populous city in Connecticut (estimated at 110,000) and is historically known for the manufacturing of brass. This is reflected in the city's motto "Quid Aere Perennius?" ("What Is More Lasting Than Brass?") which is inscribed onto a marble frieze inside City Hall.

Get in
Waterbury is at the junction of two major highways: Interstate 84 (east-west) and Connecticut Route 8 (north-south). It is in Central Western Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River. Major Connecticut cities within a 35 minute drive include: Hartford and New Britain to the east, Danbury to the west (all three of which are located on I-84), New Haven to the south (via Connecticut routes 63 or 69), Bridgeport to the south (via Route 8), Torrington to the north (via Route 8), and Meriden to the east (via I-84 to I-691).

is on the Metro-North rail line which connects Waterbury to the train stations of several Naugatuck Valley towns to the south. Through connections at Bridgeport, MTA trains lead to coastal "Shoreline East" stations (to the east) and to Fairfield County stations (to the west) that terminate at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

Get around
Waterbury is served by inter-city bus lines, and also has a fairly extensive local bus system, which provides service into the late evening. You can catch a bus at the Waterbury Green or from many other places in town. There are also cab services.

Eat
Waterbury is fortunate to have many great choices in restaurants. A sampling follows below:

Connect
The Republican-American is the city's local newspaper.

Cope
Fulton Park, 371 Pine Street, Waterbury, CT

Consular services

 * 🇵🇹 Portugal

title: Waterbury


text:
Waterfalls

Waterfalls are some of the most spectacular sights that nature has to offer, and are the frequent goal of many travellers.

Notable waterfalls
Some of the most noteworthy waterfalls are:

 * Victoria Falls, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, forms the largest single face of falling water in the world, with a width of and height of.
 * Tugela Falls in South Africa, the worlds highest waterfall with a total drop of in 5 leaps. The highest single drop is 411m.
 * Angel Falls in Venezuela was for a long time considered the world's highest waterfall, with one uninterrupted drop of 807 m (2,647 ft), from a total height of 978 m (3,212 ft)
 * Iguaçu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina, are one of the largest and most impressive in the world.
 * Boyoma Falls (formerly, Stanley Falls) on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the falls that have the greatest volume of flow - 17 million litres per second over a drop of 60 m
 * Niagara Falls, the most-visited waterfall in the world, on the border between Canada and the United States of America

Congo

 * Boyoma Falls (formerly, Stanley Falls) on the Congo River are the falls with the greatest volume of flow - 17 million litres per second over a drop of 60 m

South Africa

 * Tugela Falls in the Drakensberg is the worlds second highest waterfall with a total drop of 947m in 5 leaps. The highest single drop is 411m.

Uganda

 * Murchison Falls where the Nile River passes through a narrow cleft in the rocks and crashes over a 30 m precipice

Zambia and Zimbabwe

 * Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, 1.7 km wide falls, plummeting more than 100 m into the gorge below

China
China's largest waterfall, the Huangguoshu Waterfall is one of few waterfalls that can be viewed from above, below, front, back, left and right in the world. It is near Anshun in Guizhou.

There is also the Ban Gioc–Detian Falls on the border with Vietnam.

India

 * located in the Sri Venkateswara National Park.
 * located in the Sri Venkateswara National Park.
 * located in the Sri Venkateswara National Park.
 * located in the Sri Venkateswara National Park.
 * located in the Sri Venkateswara National Park.
 * located in the Sri Venkateswara National Park.
 * located in the Sri Venkateswara National Park.
 * located in the Sri Venkateswara National Park.
 * located in the Sri Venkateswara National Park.

Iran

 * Shevi Waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iran with a height of about 85 m.

Japan

 * Kegon Falls in Chuzenji - Long famed for its beauty, it became notorious more than a century ago when a poet killed himself here.

 * Nachi Falls in Katsuura - Arguably the nation's most famous waterfall, it is over 100 feet and serves as a gorgeous backdrop to Kumano Nachi Shrine. The shrine was built here because of the falls, which is believed to house a water spirit.

Europe

 * Krimml waterfalls in Krimml, Austria (Salzburg region), Europe`s highest waterfalls
 * Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Europe's largest falls by volume of water
 * Savica Waterfall in Slovenia has two strands and is 78 meters high. France Prešeren's epic poem “Baptism by the Savica” is one of the great works of Slovene literature.
 * Stora Sjöfallet in Laponia, Sweden, used to be one of Europe's most impressive waterfalls, but most water is now led away for hydroelectric power

Finland

 * Pihtsusköngäs, the largest waterfall of Finland
 * Fiellu, a waterfall in the Utsjoki municipality

Iceland

 * Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful falls
 * Gullfoss, a two-level cascade
 * Godafoss in northern Iceland

Norway
Norway has many high waterfalls.
 * Kjosfossen by the Flåm railway, with a total fall of around 225 metres.
 * Mardalsfossen in Nesset in Møre og Romsdal, with a total fall of 705 metres.
 * Rjukan by the namesake village, was an important tourist attraction until built out for hydro power, now a sight at some occasions.
 * Vettisfossen in Årdal by Jotunheimen is the highest free falling unregulated waterfall in northern Europe, with a free fall of 273 m.

North America

 * Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge

 * Niagara Falls, the most-visited waterfall in the world, on the border between Canada and the United States

 * The Upper and Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

 * Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park, the highest in North America

 * Tahquamenon Falls in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, second largest falls in North America east of the Mississippi River (after Niagara) and far less touristy.

 * Hamilton, Ontario, not far from Toronto on the eastern end of Lake Ontario in Canada, is sometimes called the "City of Waterfalls". The city is bisected by the Niagara Escarpment, the same landform responsible for Niagara Falls, and more than 100 waterfalls exist along the escarpment in Hamilton and the immediate area. Many dry up periodically, but the vast majority are on or near the Bruce Trail, making them readily accessible to hikers.

 * Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia is know for its large number of breathtaking waterfalls.

 * Banff National Park has a number of famous waterfalls.

Oceania

 * Waterfall Way is a tourist drive on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, passing through several waterfalls in several places. Many of them are located in national (or state) parks, such as Dorrigo National Park or Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and also passes through Dorrigo, colloquially called the waterfall capital of Australia.
 * Lamington National Park in southeast Queensland has a couple hundred waterfalls in its rainforests from the Gondwana period.
 * in Kakadu National Park is a fairly spectacular sight, and gets pretty wild during the wet season.
 * Waterfall Gully in Cleland National Park, South Australia

South America

 * Angel Falls in Venezuela, the highest single-drop falls in the world (nearly a kilometer)
 * Iguaçu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina, are one of the largest and most impressive in the world.
 * Kaieteur Falls in Guyana is said to be one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world with 663 cubic meters per second, it also carries the claim to be the highest single drop water fall in the world.

Stay safe
The cliffs around a waterfall are often moist and slippery. There may not be fences in all dangerous places.

A liter of water weighs a kilogram; a gallon weighs ten pounds. When large amounts of water fall long distances, the forces involved are enormous, easily enough to kill a person or sink a boat.

title: Waterfalls


text:
Waterfall Way

Waterfall Way is a road also known as B78 that runs east-west from the Pacific Motorway to the New England Highway at Armidale in the New England region of Australia. The route passes through some of New South Wales' most scenic countryside and has been voted the number one tourist drive in New South Wales. Seven national parks, three of which are listed as World Heritage Areas by UNESCO and form part of the Gondwana Rainforest of Australia are on or close to the route. Dorrigo National Park encompasses the waterfalls that give the route its name, although there are numerous waterfalls en route.

Understand
The road is sealed but relatively narrow and has a steep, 14-km winding section west of Thora. Storms and associated flash flooding have washed away sections of the roadway. There are periodic road closures between Dorrigo and Bellingen, during road repairs. Check with the Bellingen Shire Council or the Roads & Traffic Authority for current information.

Prepare
See: Tips for road trips and Driving in Australia and above.

There’s no need to take special precautions; however, it is necessary to make sure that you have adequate food, water and warm clothing if planning visits to any of the many national parks.

Get in
Armidale is at the start of the Waterfall Way to Raleigh, near Coffs Harbour on the coast. Regular scheduled air services and rail transport services are available from Sydney to Armidale. Car hire is available on arrival at the Armidale airport.

Drive
This scenic route passes through the gorge country as the tablelands drop to the coastal region. Located along the way are three national parks, which are listed as World Heritage Areas by UNESCO and form part of the Gondwana Rainforest of Australia. Dorrigo National Park encompasses the waterfalls that give the route its name. Driving time to the coast is 2½ hours.

Stay safe
Overtaking opportunities may be limited along the route, especially on the Dorrigo Range - be patient and enjoy the beauty of the area!

Pay attention to the wildlife warning signs - kangaroos are common in much of northern NSW and venture on to the roadway particularly around dusk.

Sleep
Accommodation may be obtained at Bellingen, Dorrigo, Ebor, Yaraandoo Eco-Lodge Function Centre (by prior arrangement) and in cabins in New England National Park. Camping is also permitted at Cathedral Rock National Park, New England National Park and Wollomombi Falls.

Eat
Eateries are available at Bellingen, Dorrigo, Ebor and Wollomombi village.

Go next

 * New England Highway
 * Tourist Drive 33

title: Waterfall Way