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Fort Ross

Fort Ross is a State Historical Park in the North Coast of California. Although fairly remote, it is well worth a visit as you will become one of the few people who know about the Russian contribution to the colonization of California.

Understand
The fort is in a remote area with little food or services. There is no cell phone service in this region.

History

Fort Ross was a Russian fur trade outpost in what is now Sonoma County, California. It was established by the Russian-American Company in 1812 and sold to John Sutter in 1841, owing to the depletion of the local population of fur-bearing marine mammals, and to the decreased strategic importance of a supply base for Russia's Alaskan colonies following the Convention of February 28, 1825 with the British. It was the southernmost outpost of a Russian presence in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The fort and the surrounding settlement was home to Russians, Aleut hunters in their employment, and native Kashia Pomo. This unique site has been the subject of intensive archaeological investigation. It is designated a National Historic Landmark.

Landscape
The fort is on a small peninsula that juts out into the Pacific Ocean. The edge of the peninsula forms a large bluff (20 m) that can make it somewhat difficult to gain access to the beaches. Large coastal mountains covered in a thick forest tower over the park.

Flora and fauna
There is a wealth of wildlife activity in the region, particularly on the isolated beaches that run below the bluff. Sea otters, sea lions and many impressive sea birds are abundant in the area. Whales are also known to migrate along the coast.

Much of the beaches are covered in large piles of kelp (seaweed) with the occasional tide pool near by. It makes for a great place to explore for wildlife but not great for beach swimming.

Climate
Warm in summer, rainy and foggy (and occasionally sunny) in winter. Fort Ross is often foggy earlier in the day, so you may prefer to be there a little later in the day. Dress in layers, and if you are planning on swimming, expect the Pacific Ocean to be cold.

Get in
The most scenic way to get to Fort Ross from San Francisco is by driving up the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1). You can also bike along the highway, though there are no separate lanes for bikes.

Bus service from the Sonoma County Airport (Mendocino Transit Authority route 95) stops at the Fort Ross Store, about two miles north of the Fort Ross State Park.

Fees and permits
A day-use vehicle permit costs $8.

Get around
Expect a bit of a walk. From the visitor center and parking lot down to the fort proper it is a quarter mile walk. To get down to the beaches expect about a 20- to 30-minute hike.

See

 * Russian Burial Grounds
 * Russian Orthodox Church
 * Visitor center and museum – Cultural and historical information about the Russian, Alaskan, and Kashaya people who lived and traded in northern California.
 * Whales
 * Sea Otters
 * Sea Lions
 * Sea Lions

Do

 * Hike at the park or along the beach. In the park, you can walk around the old fort and along miles of trails to the old cemetery and orchard. Some trails are challenging for people with mobility limitations, and all of them can be wet and windy.
 * Cultural Heritage Day – last Saturday in July every year, 10AM-5PM. The fort comes alive with costumed re-enactors. This is a fun way to see the fort as it was in its heyday.
 * Fishing and shellfishing (check warnings about seasonal marine biotoxins first).
 * Scuba diving. The S.S. Pomona wrecked nearby.
 * Stillwater Cove Regional Park is five miles north of Fort Ross. On hot summer days, Canyon Trail (a 1.6-mile loop, from the parking lot) is an excellent choice for a shady walk.

Buy
There is a souvenir shop at the visitor center where you can get some great Russian memorabilia, such as post cards with a historical California/Russia post card.

Eat
The fort does not sell food, so be sure to pack a lunch or expect to drive out of the park to a restaurant or local store to get some food. The nearest food is at the 150-year-old Fort Ross Store, which is located two miles north of the park and which sells everything you need for a picnic. There are picnic tables and wheelchair-accessible restrooms in the park.

Sleep
There are motels about a half mile drive further up Highway 1. You can also just camp in your car, although it is not recommended that you do this in the Fort Ross parking lot.

Camping
The Reef campgrounds closed in 2018, but there are multiple camping facilities within a short drive or bike ride, including at the nearby Salt Point State Park (8 miles north) and Sonoma Coast State Park (15 miles south).

Back country
The coastal mountains that tower over the fort have some great hiking trails. Just ask at the visitors center. there are also hiking trails along the bluffs to the north and south of the fort.

title: Fort Ross


text:
Fort Smith

Fort Smith is in northwest Arkansas and borders Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Sebastian County. The city has a population of 80,286 which makes it the second largest city in Arkansas behind Little Rock. It is located in the River Valley of Arkansas between the Ouachita mountains in the south and the Boston and Ozark mountains of the north and a gateway city to the Ozarks.

Understand
In 1817 Fort Smith was established as a military fort next to Indian territory in Oklahoma to keep the peace between the native Osage tribes and the recently relocated Cherokee groups. It is at the junction of the Arkansas river and the Poteau river at a place that early French explorers called Belle Point. The military fort was named after General Thomas A. Smith, the military's district commander. The military later relocated to nearby Fort Chaffee but the civilian settlers remained keeping the name of the fort and establishing a western frontier town that was often the last genteel layover for people from all walks of life before excursions into Indian Oklahoma including soldiers en route to the Mexican War in the Southwest.

Later Fort Smith became a popular stop for westward expansionists, gold rush diggers, and those seeking better opportunities due to the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 20th century.

Today as the second largest city in the state, the municipality and surrounding area is a major economic hub for the state of Arkansas with many major corporations with roots in the city still in operation and employing thousands. The downtown area and commercial zones are usually busy with voluminous traffic most days but beyond that you will find quiet residential zones and woods. Due to economic trends in the U.S. economy, some major factories and plants have closed and/or moved resulting in a swelling of the unemployed population and an uptick in local taxes.

By plane

 * Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport near Bentonville, is about an hour and a half from Fort Smith.
 * Tulsa International Airport (in Oklahoma) and Little Rock International Airport   are both about a two-hour drive away.
 * Tulsa International Airport (in Oklahoma) and Little Rock International Airport   are both about a two-hour drive away.

By train
Fort Smith does not have passenger rail service. The nearest cities with Amtrak stations are Oklahoma City, which is the northern terminus of the Heartland Flyer to Fort Worth; and Little Rock, which is served by the Texas Eagle San Antonio - Chicago route.

By car
Fort Smith is at the intersection of Interstate 40, Interstate 540, and US Route 71. Approximate driving times are: 2 hours and 30 minutes west of Little Rock, 1 hour south of Fayetteville, and 3 hours east of Oklahoma City.

By bus
The Jefferson Lines provides bus service to the east, west and north.

Get around
The best way to get around and see Fort Smith is by car. Also, public transport is provided by Fort Smith Transit. Although Fort Smith is Arkansas' second largest city, it is relatively compact and getting around shouldn't be much of a problem.

See

 * Miss Laura's Social Club and Visitor Center, 2 N "B" St., +1 479 783-8888, A house of ill-repute from Fort Smith's past, now a visitor center. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a good starting point for any visit to Fort Smith.
 * Fort Smith National Historic Site, South of Garrison Ave., near the Arkansas river. Parking and Park entrance near 3rd St. and Garland Ave. This site includes the original Fort sites and the reconstructed gallows of Hanging Judge Issac Parker.
 * Belle Grove Historic District, 22 square block area north of downtown, On the National Register of Historic Places and has 25 restored historical homes.
 * Fort Chaffee and Chaffee Crossing, Hwy 22 (east of Fort Smith) Former military fort with a rich history. Was built in 1941 and includes 22,000 acres. Elvis Presley was inducted into the military and started basic training there. The movies Biloxi Blues, and A Soldier's Story were filmed there.
 * Fort Chaffee and Chaffee Crossing, Hwy 22 (east of Fort Smith) Former military fort with a rich history. Was built in 1941 and includes 22,000 acres. Elvis Presley was inducted into the military and started basic training there. The movies Biloxi Blues, and A Soldier's Story were filmed there.

Do

 * - located in Fort Smith

Learn

 * University of Arkansas—Fort Smith, 5210 Grand Ave., +1 479 788-7000 Fort Smith's local university branch.

Work
There are several major employers in Fort Smith, including Baldor Electric, Whirlpool Corporation, Rheem, Golden Ventures and Arkansas Best Corporation (ABF).

Eat
You will find the standard chain restaurants spread out for 2 miles on Rogers Ave. to the east of Interstate 540. They include Friday's, Applebees, Chili's, Outback Steak House, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Arby's, Chick-fil-A, KFC, Wendy's, Schlotzsky's Deli, IHOP and Village Inn.

 * Art's BBQ, 8203 Rogers Ave. +1 479-452-2550. Even better BBQ.
 * Art's BBQ, 8203 Rogers Ave. +1 479-452-2550. Even better BBQ.
 * Art's BBQ, 8203 Rogers Ave. +1 479-452-2550. Even better BBQ.
 * Art's BBQ, 8203 Rogers Ave. +1 479-452-2550. Even better BBQ.
 * Art's BBQ, 8203 Rogers Ave. +1 479-452-2550. Even better BBQ.

Respect

 * Being so close to a number of military installations and bases the area boasts a large number of military families.
 * The city is in a very GOP concentrated district as opposed to the rest of the state, though changing political trends for both parties have caught up to the area.
 * Church attendance is very high and religious expression often encouraged but residents are often respectful if one politely declines their invitations to services. There are also small nonreligious secular social groups nearby, notably in Fayetteville, if that's one's preference.
 * Being near many rural communities and woodlands one may come across, though rare, wildlife especially the nearer one is on the outskirts of the city. It is best advised to leave the wildlife be.
 * Local county liquor laws prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sundays.
 * Due to nation-wide economic changes several large scale employers have had to close or move. These events have hit the local residents very hard and as a result several have had to swallow their pride and accept public assistance.

Connect
The area code for Fort Smith is 479.

 * Panera Bread, 2917 S 74th St. Free Internet.
 * Fort Smith Library, The Main Library at 3201 Rogers Avenue and three branches have computer terminals with internet access; free Wi-Fi is also available at all library locations.
 * University of Arkansas—Fort Smith, 5402 Kinkead Ave. Free WiFi available for guests and students on campus.

Stay safe
Check the Tornado safety page if you are visiting Fort Smith. A tornado ripped through downtown Fort Smith on April 21, 1996 killing two people.

Fort Smith is the 6th-most hit city by tornados in the US

Go next

 * Talimena Drive from Talihina, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas 54-mile scenic drive in Oklahoma and Arkansas along the ridge of the Ouachita Mountains and the Ouachita National Forest. The drive has frequent turnouts so you can enjoy the scenery.
 * Hot Springs Visit the national park and Oaklawn Park horse racing. Enjoy a thermal bath in the bath house of your choice.
 * Eureka Springs 2-1/2 hours of Ozarks driving from Fort Smith. Take the guided tram tour of the historic area. Visit Christ of the Ozarks monument and Passion Play grounds. Enjoy the Little Switzerland of the Ozarks.
 * Branson is a 3-hour drive and in the heart of the Ozarks. Visit some of the craft shops, see a show, shop the outlet malls and take a ride on the Branson Scenic Railway. Be sure and visit the Veteran Memorial Museum.
 * Altus, a wine-producing town, is a short drive east from Fort Smith on Interstate 40 or US Route 64. It is known best as the setting of The Simple Life. Don't forget to visit the wineries, though, and while you're at it, wine tasting is also a great idea. While in Altus, it worth stopping to see the interior of St. Mary's Catholic Church. The church is decorated with elaborate frescos that were painted by a German artist who was stranded in the United States following the outbreak of World War I.
 * Buffalo National River, about three hours from Fort Smith, is a popular place for boating and fishing.

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

title: Fort Smith


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Fort St. John

Fort St. John is in the Peace Country and Northern Rockies and is the second-largest settlement along the Alaska Highway. The city of 20,000 people (2016) is in northeastern British Columbia, approximately south of Fort Nelson and  north of Dawson Creek. Fort St. John is the oldest European-established settlement in present-day British Columbia.

Understand
Fort St. John is a retail, service and industrial centre. The province's oil and gas industry is centred in the city. Forestry has become more important to the city since the opening of an oriented strand board plant in 2005. Much wood of the is exported to the United States. Agriculture has been the mainstay of the economy servicing and providing a market for the upland prairies.

History
Over the years the community has been moved a number of times for varying economic reasons. The present location is thought to be its sixth. The original trading post built in the area was named Rocky Mountain House (not to be confused with the modern Alberta town by that name). It was established one year after Sir Alexander Mackenzie explored the area in 1793. One of a series of forts along the Peace River constructed to service the fur trade, it was southwest of the present site of Fort St. John. The Dunneza and Sikanni First Nations used it as a trading post. It was also used as a supply depot for further expeditions into the territory. The fort closed in 1805. Fort d'Epinette was built in 1806 by the North West Company. It was renamed Fort St. John in 1821 following the purchase of the North West Company by the Hudson's Bay Company. This fort was about 500 m downstream from the mouth of the Beatton River, which at that time was known as the Pine River (d'epinette in French). It was shut down in 1823. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1958.

After a lapse of nearly 40 years, Fort St. John was reopened in 1860 on the south side of the Peace River, directly south of the present community. It was moved in 1872 by Francis Work Beatton directly across the river. This community lasted until 1925 when the river ceased to be the main avenue of transportation and the fort was moved closer to where settlers were establishing homesteads. The new town was constructed at Fish Creek, northwest of the present community, on the new trail to Fort Nelson. It did not shut down until 1975. In 1928, C.M. Finch moved his general store to two quarters of land where he also built a government building to house the land, telegraph and post offices. The present site for the town was firmly established after he donated 5 acres (20,000 m²) for a Roman Catholic Church and additional land for a hospital.

Climate
Fort St. John, on the upland prairies north of the Peace River, experiences a cold humid continental climate (close to subarctic), with cold winters and warm summers. Although winters can be frigid, the area has milder winters than much of the rest of Canada (especially considering its relatively northerly latitude) due to the influence of the nearby Rocky Mountains. They tend to block Arctic air masses coming in from the north/northwest, although they can certainly still penetrate the area. Fort St. John uses Mountain Standard Time all year (same as Pacific Daylight Time in summer), and because of its northerly latitude experiences short daylight hours in winter and long daylight hours in summer.

Fort St. John is one of the sunniest places in the province, especially in winter and spring.

By bus

 * Between Prince George and Fort St. John twice per week with stops in Mackenzie, Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, and Taylor. Travel time to Fort St. John from Dawson Creek is 1 hour and from Prince George is 8 hours. Fare is $48.
 * Between Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson once per week with stops in Taylor and Fort St. John. Travel time to Fort St. John from Dawson Creek is 1 hour and from Fort Nelson is 5.25 hours. Fare is $49.
 * Between Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson once per week with stops in Taylor and Fort St. John. Travel time to Fort St. John from Dawson Creek is 1 hour and from Fort Nelson is 5.25 hours. Fare is $49.

By car
Highways serving Fort St John:

 * Highway 29 - Terminates just north of Fort St. John after traveling northeast from Chetwynd via Hudson Hope
 * Highway 97 (Alaska Highway) - Fort St. John can be reached by driving north from Dawson Creek or south from Fort Nelson

Airport

 * Flights to Fort St. John from Vancouver take 1.75 hours.
 * Flights to Fort St. John from Vancouver take 1.75 hours.

Airlines
Canadian airlines traveling to Fort St. John:

Get around
Within the city the streets are laid out in a grid pattern. The main streets are the north-south 100 Street and the east-west 100 Avenue.

Go next

 * Visit Sikanni Chief Falls Protected Area for a view of this 30 m high falls on the way to Fort Nelson. See listing under Fort Nelson.
 * Visit W.A.C. Bennett Dam Visitor Centre, one of the world's largest earth-fill structures on the way to Chetwynd. See listing under Chetwynd.

title: Fort St. John


text:
Fort Stockton

Fort Stockton is a city in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas.

By car

 * I-10.svg east of Van Horn and  west of Ozona. Ft Stockton is accessed from Exits 256 to 264.
 * Business_Loop_10.svg Dickson Blvd serves as a business route of I-10 going through Fort Stockton. Road goes from Exit 256 to Exit 261. It runs concurrent with US Hwy 285 on Dickson Blvd between the US Hwy 285 turn-off at Everts and Alamo Streets.

 * US 67.svg from US 90.svg east of Alpine to Exit 248 of I-10, west of town.
 * US 285.svg Dickenson Blvd southeast of Pecos and  northwest of Sanderson at US 90.svg.
 * US 385.svg W Railroad Ave north of Marathon and  south of Odessa.
 * Texas_18.svg N Front Ave south of I-20.svg in Thortonville. Goes through town as Front Ave.

Buy
-the only Wal-Mart for miles and miles. While small, it carries pretty much everything.

title: Fort Stockton


text:
Fort Sumner

Fort Sumner is a village in Southeast New Mexico. It is located in De Baca County on US 60 and US 84.

title: Fort Sumner


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Fortuna

There is more than one place called Fortuna:

Costa Rica

 * Fortuna - a town in Costa Rica close to the magnificent Arenal Volcano and Lake.

United States of America

 * Fortuna - a town in the state of California.
 * Fortuna - a town in the state of North Dakota.

title: Fortuna


text:
Fortuna (California)

Fortuna is a city in Humboldt County in the North Coast region of the state of California.

Get in
You can get in to Fortuna from the north or south by 101 or from the west by 36.

title: Fortuna (California)


text:
La Fortuna

La Fortuna de San Carlos is a small town in the north of Costa Rica. It is known mainly for the nearby Arenal Volcano (1,633 m), a destination for scientists and tourists. See volcanoes for general information.

Understand
La Fortuna was called "El Borio" before an eruption in 1968 that destroyed 3 villages--Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo and San Luís. El Borio (La Fortuna) is located on the west side of the volcano and was untouched. After the eruption of the volcano, El Borio was renamed "La Fortuna", which means "the fortunate", referring to the town's luck during the eruption.

By bus
There are direct buses from San José (5.5hrs) (US$7) or with transfer in Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos) (2hrs). Also, buses from San Ramon (Costa Rica). There is one local bus per day from Tilaran. From Peñas Blancas (Nicaraguan border) take San Carlos bus (US$8) and get off at Tanque, take bus or taxi to La Fortuna ( away).

When leaving La Fortuna, bus schedules seem to be highly arbitrary and unreliable. The more often you ask, the more departure times they will tell you. Some touts will try to exploit this situation. It is best to approximately have a bus departure time, arrive a little earlier and plan for 1 hr waiting or so.

By shared shuttle
There are several companies, such as Daytrip, offering direct shared shuttle buses to La Fortuna from San Jose a few times a day. They depart from Selina San Jose, San Jose International Airport, or custom pickup locations either in the morning (7:45AM Selina San Jose, 9:00AM SJO) or afternoon (1:00PM Selina San Jose, 2:15PM SJO). Prices start at $30, and tickets can be booked in advance to guarantee a seat.

By private shuttle
The cost of a private transportation with a Costa Rican driver is not much if you compare it with the benefit of a direct safe drive to the destination. Available from San Jose to Arenal and other destinations.

By car
It is a 3½-hr drive from San José, but the junctions are not very well marked, so bring a good map.

By plane
Domestic flights are available with Aerobell Airlines, Sansa Airlines or Skyway Airlines. Costs around US$90 for flights to/from San José (SJO) or Quepos (Manuel Antonio National Park). Airport charges US$7/person departure tax.

By road
There are one or two buses that go around the volcano. Generally, tourists rely on taxis or their own cars (everywhere you will have to pay for parking). Taxis can be hailed next to Parquella Fortuna, however using ride sharing apps can save you half the taxi rides' price. You can also rent a scooter (US$40/day, down to US$20/day for 5 or more days) or motorcycle ($75/day), however during the rainy season this can be uncomfortable.

By thumb
Hitch-hiking is actually a reasonable option and quite easy if you are travelling on a tight budget. This way you can reach the park entrance, trails or hot springs time independently and fast.

See

Do

 * Canyoneering (Waterfall-Rappelling) – In the Lost Canyon.
 * Horseback ride to Monteverde– Travel the old fashioned way by horse US$75. This is a gorgeous 2½-hour horseback ride along the beautiful Lake Arenal on wonderful, and hopefully healthy horses.
 * Fishing, kayak, etc. at the lake – For entertainment a boat navigates around the Arenal lake, so that you can appreciate the unparalleled views. Also, kayaks and other water activities can be done at the lake. Of course the main attraction is the fishing. The lake has many species of fish but the "Guapote" Bass is most prevalent; this fish is a close relative of the peacock bass and is just as strong. Other fish like the Mojara are also prevalent, think 'kin to the piranha but fruit eaters'.
 * River cruises – On the Peña Blancas river, costs around US$45.
 * White water rafting – On the Mighty Río Toro (Class 3-4), with over 45 exciting and continuous rapids that move through of deep-canyon gorges passing waterfalls in a tropical canyon. Another option is the Beautiful Río Balsa (Class 2-3).
 * River cruises – On the Peña Blancas river, costs around US$45.
 * White water rafting – On the Mighty Río Toro (Class 3-4), with over 45 exciting and continuous rapids that move through of deep-canyon gorges passing waterfalls in a tropical canyon. Another option is the Beautiful Río Balsa (Class 2-3).

Hiking
In spite of expectations, all hiking opportunities are just at the foot of the volcano with often not very great views of the volcano. Of course, the journey is the reward, but if you really want to see a volcano, head to Poas. Otherwise, great views (and pictures) of the volcano are from the southwestern side near the lake.

Buy
Standard souvenirs, photos of the erupting volcano, machetes at the hardware store, Costa Rican coffee.

Eat

 * La Choza de Laurel is 3 blocks away from the park. Fantastic menu selection. Tasty food, cheerful service, open to the breeze.
 * Los Nenes, not a very attractive setting one block from the main street and two blocks from the park (when entering from east), but reasonably priced food (but not as good or big portions as Lava Rocks). The nachos with everything is really good.
 * Lava Lounge is on main street just getting into town before the park. Good food, a break from typical Tico food.
 * Los Nenes, not a very attractive setting one block from the main street and two blocks from the park (when entering from east), but reasonably priced food (but not as good or big portions as Lava Rocks). The nachos with everything is really good.
 * Lava Lounge is on main street just getting into town before the park. Good food, a break from typical Tico food.
 * Lava Lounge is on main street just getting into town before the park. Good food, a break from typical Tico food.

Travelers looking for more local and inexpensive food can go to any of the numerous 'Soda' restaurants. A large plate of rice, beans, salad, meat, and a drink costs ₡3,000-4,000.

Mid-range

 * Arenal Springs Resort Modern hotel with volcano views from $87.
 * La Mansion Arenal La Mansion Arenal overlooks the vast Lake Arenal and is located just minutes from the volcano and hot springs. The hotel includes an infinity pool, wireless internet and free canoes for your enjoyment. Rates start at US$180 a night.
 * Arenal Springs Resort Modern hotel with volcano views from $87.
 * La Mansion Arenal La Mansion Arenal overlooks the vast Lake Arenal and is located just minutes from the volcano and hot springs. The hotel includes an infinity pool, wireless internet and free canoes for your enjoyment. Rates start at US$180 a night.
 * La Mansion Arenal La Mansion Arenal overlooks the vast Lake Arenal and is located just minutes from the volcano and hot springs. The hotel includes an infinity pool, wireless internet and free canoes for your enjoyment. Rates start at US$180 a night.
 * La Mansion Arenal La Mansion Arenal overlooks the vast Lake Arenal and is located just minutes from the volcano and hot springs. The hotel includes an infinity pool, wireless internet and free canoes for your enjoyment. Rates start at US$180 a night.
 * La Mansion Arenal La Mansion Arenal overlooks the vast Lake Arenal and is located just minutes from the volcano and hot springs. The hotel includes an infinity pool, wireless internet and free canoes for your enjoyment. Rates start at US$180 a night.
 * La Mansion Arenal La Mansion Arenal overlooks the vast Lake Arenal and is located just minutes from the volcano and hot springs. The hotel includes an infinity pool, wireless internet and free canoes for your enjoyment. Rates start at US$180 a night.
 * La Mansion Arenal La Mansion Arenal overlooks the vast Lake Arenal and is located just minutes from the volcano and hot springs. The hotel includes an infinity pool, wireless internet and free canoes for your enjoyment. Rates start at US$180 a night.

Stay safe
As of Feb 2019, those of you who catch the 8AM bus to Tilarán, be aware that every morning at the bus station there is a man talking nicely to the tourists and getting on the same bus. before the National Park's bus stop, this man shouts "Parque Ecológico" and some tourists, who are confused, get off with him. He works for a private park that has nothing to do with the real National Park! This "fake" park also demand US$15—for a walk of just one hour! This is a scam that happens every morning. Do not fall for it, just wait another more, when the bus driver announces "Parque Nacional". Spread the word and if you are on the bus while this happens, don't be afraid to inform the others tourists loudly that Parque Ecológico is not the National Park. Or if you are keen, also inform the authorities/police.

In general, La Fortuna is very touristy, and everyone is trying to make money off it. There are some touts, especially near the bus station. Just be cautious and do not believe everything.

Cope
All of the so called "tourist informations" or "tourist centers" are actually tour agents. Remind yourself, they will always try to sell you something, even though you could just organise it yourself for way less money. But you can sometimes get information for free from them.

Fortuna is often called the tout capital of Costa Rica. There is not really much to see here except a beautiful lake, volcano and rivers. Still somehow dozens of different tours are on sale, giving the impression this place is more special than the rest of Costa Rice. Most of the tours are rather dull and just include service you can organise by yourself. At the waterfall and river (hot spring) pools tour, where they serve beer and snacks, it is not really worth spending a full day and even less paying US$50 or more. You can organise such trips by yourself, for around $5-10 if you rely on hitch-hiking and buses.

If you are travelling on a shoestring it might not be worth it coming here, just to swim in a river, hike a 3-4 hr trail and do some average white-water rafting. Yes, definitely there are good views of the vulcano, but this town is just making money of nothing—not a very authentic Costa Rica.

Connect
There are two internet cafes in the main street, by the park. At Destinytours (+506 479-9850) 50 m north of Banco National you can download pictures from your digital camera and burn to CD.

Go next
From Fortuna you can go to Monteverde with a combination of jeep and boat or horse. Or you could take the bus to Tilarán, and from there to Santa Elena, Monteverde, or down to the Interamericana that takes you north to Guanacaste or south in the direction of Puntarenas. You can get to Los Chiles and San Jose via Ciudad Quesada. And of course there's the direct bus back to San José, at an approximate cost of US$6.50.
 * Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge near Los Chiles

title: La Fortuna


text:
Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach is a small city in the Emerald Coast region of Florida, 40 miles east of Pensacola.

By car
US 98 connects Fort Walton Beach with Pensacola and Panama City. It also connects with nearby Destin. Florida 85 connects the area with I-10.

Get around
Fort Walton Beach has two main arterials. The Miracle Strip Parkway (US 98) travels along the seacoast and through Eglin Air Force Base, and the Eglin Parkway (Florida SR 85) links the city with Okaloosa Regional Airport.

Do

 * Visit the beach.

Buy

 * Antique stores and shops along Highway 98/Miracle Strip Parkway across from the Indian Temple Mound.

Eat
Ft. Walton Beach has many restaurants, including:

Drink

 * Fish Lipz, listed at "Eat" above

Go next

 * Destin is just to the east on the other side of Okaloosa Island.
 * Pensacola is about half an hour to the west.

title: Fort Walton Beach


text:
Fort Washington

Fort Washington is a community in Upper Dublin Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and is considered a suburb of Philadelphia.

This article also covers the neighboring communities of Ambler, Spring House, and Flourtown.

Understand
It is home to 5,400 people (2010).

Get in
Fort Washington is close to the Philadelphia International Airport. There are rental cars, SEPTA, and even the Lansdale/Doylestown Regional Rail line via a connection with the Airport Line that is available to take to from the airport. Fort Washington has a Regional Rail and SEPTA stop, which is a half mile from a Holiday Inn. The Lansdale/Doylestown Regional Rail line also runs through Center City with connecting trains from New York and New Jersey.

Connect
Upper Dublin Township, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue,

Go next
One of the best things about Fort Washington is that it is in the middle of many places. Although Fort Washington is a very lovely place, it is what surrounds this quaint little town that makes it more enjoyable.

 * Center City — A train ride is only 30 minutes, and from here you can see the Liberty Bell, the famous Art Museum, and City Hall.
 * Ambler is a 5-minute drive from Fort Washington. It has many stores and restaurants, but most of all the Ambler Theater which is over a 100 years old. However, Ambler is known for its restaurants, such as Casey's Alley, Bridget's, and Shanachie, an Irish pub.
 * Chestnut Hill — Appeals to the artistic
 * King of Prussia Mall — One of the largest malls in the nation, is an easy thirty-minute drive. The SEPTA also makes a stop there.
 * Manayunk — a "bar-town"

title: Fort Washington


text:
Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne is a city in the northeastern part of Indiana, a state of the United States of America. It is 30 minutes from the western Ohio border and 70 minutes from the southern border of Michigan. With a population of around 260,000 in the city and 615,000 in the metropolitan area, it's Indiana's second largest city.

Fort Wayne is a metropolitan city with a small community feel. It provides the rush of urban activity while never losing an intimate personal connection with those who live or visit here. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in the state of Indiana, located in Allen County, the largest county in the state by geography. It is the regional commerce and industry center for Northeast Indiana and also impacts the economies of Southwestern Michigan and Western Ohio. Fort Wayne has been and is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs and high tech industries.

The city has many historical buildings that usually offer regular tours. The city itself has a long history going back to the 1700s, but has lately succumbed to the urban sprawl so widespread in the Midwest. It is nicknamed the "Summit City" because, even though the surrounding area seems completely flat, it is on the high point of the old Wabash-Erie canal.

By plane

There is a cookie factory right across the street from the airport, and you can tell what they're baking that day by smell. Volunteers meet you when you arrive and give away free cookies as you come through security.

For flights to Chicago, expect to pack your hand luggage into a small cargo hull. It is recommended that you avoid packing anything fragile in your carry-ons. The smaller lines operate tiny planes in between FW and Chicago and there is little room for even ladies' purses.

There is a shuttle bus service between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne run by Hoosier Shuttle.

By car

 * Interstates 69 makes Fort Wayne easily accessible by car from the north and south. It connects to Indianapolis, in the south and Lansing, to the north.
 * I-469 is a southern and eastern interstate by-pass of Fort Wayne that connects with I-69 at both ends.
 * U.S. 24 is an important expressway and connects to Toledo, Ohio in the northeast and Lafayette, Indiana, to the southwest.
 * U.S. 27 is an important highway, providing access primarily from places to the south and is the main north-south highway through downtown.
 * U.S. 30 is an important expressway, providing access primarily from places to the west and east. It connects to Lima, Ohio in the east and Valparaiso, to the west.
 * U.S. 33 is an important highway, providing access primarily from places to the northwest and south. It connects to Columbus, Ohio in the south and Goshen and Elkhart, to the northwest.

By bus
Greyhound has multiple long-haul services to Fort Wayne from most nearby cities. The is located downtown at 121 W Baker St.

By train
Fort Wayne is not directly served by passenger rail, but Amtrak has several daily services to nearby Waterloo, half an hour north of Fort Wayne. Be prepared to phone for a cab or have someone meet you because transportation from the station to the city is limited. The station is served by Capitol Limited between Washington D.C. and Chicago as well at the Lare Shore Limited between New York, Boston and Chicago.

By bus
There is a municipal bus system that can get you around called Citilink. The system has limited routes and hours of operation.

By car
To get into downtown US 27 would be the main route from north or south and Jefferson Boulevard from the west. From the east the route to downtown Fort Wayne Washington Boulevard and would pass through New Haven. All major Rental Car Companies have franchises are at the airport, but don't rent here. The airport branches are much more expensive. Call the Enterprise Car Rental location on the SW or NE side and have them pick you up. They have a weekend rate for $9.95 a day, from Friday morning through Monday morning. Reserve other rates online for the best rates.

If you get into the airport on a late flight, don't assume there will be taxis waiting. Call ahead and arrange one on A-1 taxi at 260-478-9910 or 800-871-0518.

Sports

Buy
Fort Wayne has great shopping. Visit Jefferson Pointe on the southwest end of town for the up-scale department store Von Maur, a DeBrand chocolate shop, Barnes & Noble bookstore, Rave movie theater, restaurants (including the excellent Eddie Merlot's and popular Biaggi's) and mall stores (Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works). What makes it fun, especially in warm weather, are its wide concourses for strolling and window shopping, with beautiful garden areas, potted plants, and fountains. Live music on Friday nights during the summer is especially fun. Look online for a listing of summer music acts.

Glenbrook Square Mall, located on the north end of the city at 4201 Coldwater Rd, is a legacy-type enclosed mall. It is always busy, has many stores, three big department anchors, and a really nice food court.

Eat

Drink

 * After Dark 112 E Masterson Ave - LGBT nightclub open every night 6-3am. Sunday, Monday, and Wednesdays are kinda quiet, with karaoke going on.  Tuesday nights are often busy, featuring male strippers that are usually pretty good.  Thursday through Saturday offer drag shows that feature great local talent (with some not-so-great ones as well) and the best visiting queens from around the midwest. Dancing is always going on in-between and after the shows.  Crowd is fairly eclectic; lesbian, gay and straight - young and old - trendy and traditional.

Stay safe
Like many cities, Fort Wayne has some trouble spots. To be safe, lock your vehicle when you plan to leave it unattended anywhere in the city, but especially in a parking garage or low lit area after dark. Places to be careful during the day and not walk through after dark include areas on the southeast side of downtown. Take care as you would in any major city after dark.

One natural threat to be aware of are tornadoes: if you hear a siren or there is a tornado warning issued, take it seriously.

Television

 * WANE 15 CBS
 * WPTA 21 ABC
 * WPTA 21.2 CW
 * WISE 33 NBC
 * WISE 33.2 My Network
 * WFWA 39 PBS
 * WFFT 55 FOX

Cope

 * YMCA Downtown - If you are a member of a YMCA anywhere you can work out here. Also, if you stay at the downtown Holiday Inn or Hilton, you can work out here (both are a short walk). They have 4 fullcourt basketball courts, and indoor track (1/8 mile), 5 racquetball courts, an aerobic room, a machine area (new Cybex machines) and a serious free weight room in the basement. They also have "Health Clubs for members of Y's that have that option that includes sauna, steam, whirlpool and a TV lounge.
 * Kachman Mind Body Studio - Honor your mind body and spirit at Fort Wayne's premier yoga studio. Offering Yoga, Pilates, Personal Training, Nutrition, Thai Yoga Massage and Corporate Wellness Programs. Located in Downtown Fort Wayne on the corner of Lafayette and Douglas. +1 260-420-9642. Drop-ins welcome!

Go next

 * Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum - About 30 minutes' drive north of Fort Wayne, in Auburn, is the famous Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. It harks back to Fort Wayne's earlier glory days as part of the automobile industry. (The gas pump was invented here.) Apart from the exhibits, they have an elaborate souvenir shop, conference center, and other facilities. In the same area and within a few minutes' drive are several other substantial museums, including one with a very large collection of WWII land vehicles.
 * Black Pine Animal Sanctuary - A non-profit exotic animal sanctuary located about 45 minutes north of Fort Wayne in Albion. Albion's a quaint small town with a beautiful courthouse. Black Pine is 1.5 west of town on Main Street (1426 W. 300 N.), and is home to lions, bears, chimps, tigers and other exotic animals. All their keep are rescued pets or retired performers, and their volunteer staff offer guided tours to show you around, are very friendly, and very knowledgeable. If you love animals, this is the place to see them really up close. Not great for little kids, but great for older kids and adults. Visitors must be on their best behavior for the comfort of the animals at all times.

title: Fort Wayne


text:
Fort William

Fort William is a town at the foot of the Great Glen, on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. It's the main transport, commercial and visitor hub for the area: its attractions include Ben Nevis, Nevis Range ski resort, the Caledonian Canal, and "The Jacobite" steam train.

The town in 2021 had a population of 5630. A couple of miles north is a secondary built-up area, with the villages of Inverlochy, Caol, Bannavie and Corpach totalling another 5000 population; their facilities are also described on this page.

Understand
The Great Glen is a long fault line slicing diagonally across the Highlands. Inland along its valley are a string of freshwater lakes: Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness. The southwest end of the valley is flooded by the sea to create a fjord, Loch Linnhe. The glen has always been a natural transport route, which nervous London rulers sought to control by a series of fortresses: Fort George and Inverness Castle at the northeast end, Fort Augustus in the middle, and Fort William at the southwest end. In 1745-46 the Jacobites smashed their way down this line of dominos and besieged Fort William, but it not only stood firm, but launched counter-attacks, a tough Hanoverian thistle in the rebels' backsides.

In the aftermath the kilt was banned and the Highlanders repressed, then the kilt and Highland customs were re-invented for genteel tastes in the late Georgian era as Scottish tourism was born. The town's original settlement and medieval castle were a couple of miles north at Inverlochy, but gravitated south to the new fort and harbour. In 1822 the Caledonian Canal was built through the Great Glen: interminable wars with France made the Channel too dangerous, but rounding Cape Wrath in the far north was also dangerous, hence the need for a navigable short cut. The post-Napoleonic peace made the canal redundant from the outset but it's now used by pleasure craft. The railway arrived in 1894 and tourist traffic boomed.

Tourist information is at Fort William iCentre, 15 High St, open daily 9:30AM-5PM.

By plane

 * Inverness Airport is the closest, but since you need to hire a car anyway it's better to use Glasgow Airport.
 * Glasgow Airport has a better choice of flights and fares. Turn west onto M8 and cross the Erskine Bridge to join A82 northwards past Loch Lomond; maybe 2 hr 30 min to drive.
 * Oban Airport has flights to the Hebrides (effectively a flying school bus) but no connection to the mainland air network.

By train
Trains from Glasgow Queen Street take four hours via Dumbarton, Helensburgh, Arrochar & Tarbet (for Loch Lomond), Crianlarich (where a portion divides for Oban) and Spean Bridge. There are five daytime trains M-Sa and two on Sunday. They continue west on the scenic West Highland Line to Glenfinnan, Arisaig and Mallaig, for ferries to Skye.

The Caledonian Highland Sleeper runs Su-F from London Euston, departing around 9:30PM to arrive at 10AM. (It divides at Edinburgh for Aberdeen and Inverness.) The southbound train leaves around 8PM (Sunday 7PM) to reach Euston towards 08:00. No trains on Saturday night. Compartments have two berths and are sold like hotel rooms: you pay extra for single occupancy, and you won't be sharing with a stranger. Tickets can be booked at any UK mainline railway station or online: the one-way fare in 2023 is £270 for two adults. You can also just use the sitting saloon, single £75. Pricing is dynamic with weekends costing more, if there are berths available. Booking is open 12 months ahead: you need to print out your e-ticket to present on boarding. You can also use the sleeper as a day-train between Dumbarton and Fort William, but it doesn't pick up in Glasgow.

Alternatively, take the Lowland Sleeper from Euston near midnight to arrive Glasgow Queen Street at 7:20AM, then the 8:20AM for Fort William (arriving midday) and Mallaig. Returning south by that route you need to be on the 5:30PM from Fort William to Queen Street, arriving 9:30PM and waiting two hours (there are plenty of pubs nearby) for the southbound sleeper, reaching Euston by 7AM.

There's no railway along the Great Glen between Fort William and Inverness, or directly south to Oban, so take the bus.

is north side of town centre. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, a waiting room, cafe and toilets. There is step-free access to the terminus platform: through-trains reverse out. The original station of 1894 was south, which meant railway tracks split the town centre. In 1975 the track was curtailed and the station relocated here, and the main road was re-aligned to become the new impediment and eyesore.

Banavie and Corpach are platform halts on the West Highland Railway towards Mallaig that might be more convenient for the head of Loch Linnhe and start of the Caledonian Canal.

By bus
Citylink buses 914, 915 and 916 run four times daily from Glasgow Buchanan Street to Fort William, taking 3 hours. Two of them continue via Spean Bridge and Laggan to Portree on Skye.

Citylink Bus 918 runs twice M-Sa to Oban, 90 min. Bus 919 takes two hours to Inverness via the Great Glen and Loch Ness, with six M-Sa and two on Sunday.

Between Fort William and Mallaig, Shiel Bus 500 runs four times a day M-F, once on Saturday and Sunday, 90 min. Sit on the right for views of Glenfinnan Viaduct. Shiel Buses also connect the small villages of Kilchoan, Acharacle, Lochaline and Strontian on the Arnamurchan peninsula. These are timed for the school and shopping run, with just one bus (M-Sa) in the morning coming into Fort William, and one bus going back in the afternoon; see Ardnamurchan for details. Shiel Bus N44 runs six times a day (M-F) to Corran ferry pier, Ballachulish, Glencoe and Kinlochleven.

Get around
The centre of Fort William is small enough to get around on foot.

Shiel Bus N41 runs between Fort William and Roy Bridge, via Torlundy, Nevis Range Ski Centre and Spean Bridge. It runs 7 times a day M-Sa. Twice a day (at around 9AM and 17:00) year round, it extends from Fort William to Glen Nevis Youth Hostel. May to Oct it's supplemented by Bus N42, which run 6 times daily to the Youth Hostel, with three buses extending to the Lower Falls.

Bike is ideal for exploring along the glens and Caledonian Canal. Off Beat Bikes on High St (Tu-Su 10AM-5:30PM) do hires and repairs and can suggest trails.

Taxi firms are Turbo (+44 7803 728080), Looking 4 Taxi (+44 7488 247730), Nevis (+44 1397 703000), Lochaber (+44 1397 706070), Viaduct (+44 7398 644463), Egor's (+44 7473 921992), Scot Taxi (+44 7928 086205), Bob Tait (+44 1397 704331), Greyhound (+44 1397 705050), Jacobite (+44 1397 719639) and DM Taxis (+44 7869 811223). Many of them offer tours or long distance transfers, for instance to and from the airport.

See

 * remains only as a sea wall near the breakwater, with views over Loch Linnhe. Town centre behind it is Victorian, a miniature Inverness, but suffers from poor planning, with the busy A82 cutting it off from the prom.
 * The Caledonian Canal is a coast-to-coast channel built by Thomas Telford in the early 19th century. It uses the string of lochs and rivers along the Great Glen, so it's 60 miles long but only 22 miles are man-made. Commercially and strategically it was obsolete as soon as it was completed in 1822, as shipping had outgrown it, and round-the-coast navigation was much safer since the end of the Napoleonic wars. It fell into disrepair but was rehabilitated for pleasure craft. At the south end, it starts from Loch Linnhe by a short ladder of locks at Corpach.
 * is a ladder of eight locks a mile inland at Banavie, great for photos, but a long afternoon's work to navigate.
 * Lock Lochy is the first natural water encountered on the canal, a nine mile reach to Laggan where the ascent continues. (So yes, these could be called the Loch Lochy locks, which, when locke....) Another straight run connects Loch Oich, the highest part of the system. (Higher still, Loch Garry feeds water to the canal via the River Garry, but that river isn't navigable.) From Loch Oich the canal continues northeast, descending by another ladder of locks into Loch Ness, the magnificent natural channel at the heart of the canal system. At its north end, canal and River Ness flow down from Dochgarroch Weir towards the sea at Inverness.
 * Lochaber Geopark in High St (M-Sa 10AM-4PM) promotes awareness and organises trips and study around the region's weird geology. This played a key role in shaping 19th- and 20th-century understanding of how the world's landscapes were constructed: it was realised that the Caledonian Mountains once stretched through Svalbard and Greenland into the Appalachians, until sundered by the new Atlantic Ocean. The geopark stretches from Rannoch Moor in the south to Glen Garry in the north, and from Loch Laggan in the east to the Small Isles out west. For instance 20 miles away are the "Roads of Glen Roy": this glen above the Spean valley has three long parallel ledges on the hillside that look man-made. They were in fact cut by ice grinding along the shore of a vanished lake, which lay at different levels during a cold period after the last Ice Age when arctic conditions returned.
 * Lock Lochy is the first natural water encountered on the canal, a nine mile reach to Laggan where the ascent continues. (So yes, these could be called the Loch Lochy locks, which, when locke....) Another straight run connects Loch Oich, the highest part of the system. (Higher still, Loch Garry feeds water to the canal via the River Garry, but that river isn't navigable.) From Loch Oich the canal continues northeast, descending by another ladder of locks into Loch Ness, the magnificent natural channel at the heart of the canal system. At its north end, canal and River Ness flow down from Dochgarroch Weir towards the sea at Inverness.
 * Lochaber Geopark in High St (M-Sa 10AM-4PM) promotes awareness and organises trips and study around the region's weird geology. This played a key role in shaping 19th- and 20th-century understanding of how the world's landscapes were constructed: it was realised that the Caledonian Mountains once stretched through Svalbard and Greenland into the Appalachians, until sundered by the new Atlantic Ocean. The geopark stretches from Rannoch Moor in the south to Glen Garry in the north, and from Loch Laggan in the east to the Small Isles out west. For instance 20 miles away are the "Roads of Glen Roy": this glen above the Spean valley has three long parallel ledges on the hillside that look man-made. They were in fact cut by ice grinding along the shore of a vanished lake, which lay at different levels during a cold period after the last Ice Age when arctic conditions returned.
 * Lochaber Geopark in High St (M-Sa 10AM-4PM) promotes awareness and organises trips and study around the region's weird geology. This played a key role in shaping 19th- and 20th-century understanding of how the world's landscapes were constructed: it was realised that the Caledonian Mountains once stretched through Svalbard and Greenland into the Appalachians, until sundered by the new Atlantic Ocean. The geopark stretches from Rannoch Moor in the south to Glen Garry in the north, and from Loch Laggan in the east to the Small Isles out west. For instance 20 miles away are the "Roads of Glen Roy": this glen above the Spean valley has three long parallel ledges on the hillside that look man-made. They were in fact cut by ice grinding along the shore of a vanished lake, which lay at different levels during a cold period after the last Ice Age when arctic conditions returned.

Do

 * Golf: Fort William GC is on A83 north of Lochy Bridge. White tees 6217 yards, par 72.
 * Shinty: Fort William play in Mowi National Division, the second tier. Their home ground is the sports complex behind the Premier Inn. Kilmallie also play in National Division, at Caol Canal Parks. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Long-distance hikes: the West Highland Way stretches from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William, and the Great Glen Way continues north to Inverness. They're usually done in stages in that direction, south to north, so the sun and the weather are on your back. But invest in good maps and plan your own itinerary.
 * Climb Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain at 1345 m (4413 feet). This is no small task as you start from almost sea level. The usual route is the "Mountain Track", starting from the visitor centre in Glen Nevis: this is an arduous slog and scramble in good weather, and in winter it demands technical mountaineering skills. Other routes such as the CMD Arete are even more testing.
 * The Mamores are the ridge above Glen Nevis, west and south of the river. They're opposite Ben Nevis so there's better views of it than on the Track, but far fewer climbers. The Mamores are crossed by the most northerly section of the West Highland Way, a 15-mile hike from Kinlochleven.
 * Ski or snowboard at
 * The Mamores are the ridge above Glen Nevis, west and south of the river. They're opposite Ben Nevis so there's better views of it than on the Track, but far fewer climbers. The Mamores are crossed by the most northerly section of the West Highland Way, a 15-mile hike from Kinlochleven.
 * Ski or snowboard at
 * Nevis Range gondola runs year round (day ticket £13) and is the access to other activities. It has six-seater enclosed cabins, dogs welcome but must be leashed on the mountain. Three easy hill walks loop from the Snowgoose station. Climbers ascending Ben Nevis by the North Face route often start by riding up the gondola. There are cross country and downhill mountain bike courses, and the UCI mountain bike World Cup is often held here in early June.
 *  Glen Nevis is worth exploring, and not just as an access point for Ben Nevis, or as a fallback if you called off a climb. Drive up the south-bank road past the visitor centre and youth hostel to the Lower Falls (bus N42 comes this far in summer) and onward to the final car park "Nevis Gorge" (free). A trail leads up the gorge to the cable bridge, if you dare teeter across.
 * are 200 yards above the cable bridge. An Steall Bàn means "The White Spout" in Gaelic; it's Scotland's second-highest waterfall, with a 120-m (390-ft) drop in three tiers. The walk from the car park and back is 4 miles, say 2 hours. An alternative route up Ben Nevis branches north from here, and trails south into the Mamores.

Buy

 * The main supermarket is Morrisons next to the railway station, open M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 8AM-8PM. Lidl is just east and there's Tesco Metro on High Street and Spar on Grange Rd south end of town.
 * Lots of touristy-trappy shops along High Street, regaling the coach parties with Scottish dresses, knitware, souvenirs and whisky. They can offer nick-nacks in just about any clan tartan you've heard of, and probably a few that that you haven't.

Eat

 * High Street has a string of cheap and cheerful places, mostly open daily.
 * The Bistro is within Alexandra Hotel facing the railway station, open daily 12:00-21:00.
 * The Great Glen is a JD Wetherspoon within Travelodge on High St, open Su-Th 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8AM-1AM.
 * Lime Tree on Achintore Rd has good dining. It's also a hotel, but guests have suffered short-notice cancellations.
 * Lime Tree on Achintore Rd has good dining. It's also a hotel, but guests have suffered short-notice cancellations.

Drink

 * Drinking is not allowed on the street.

 * Ben Nevis Distillery produces single malt whisky at Lochy Bridge (junction of A82 and A830 near the castle). It's open M-F 9:30AM-5PM, plus Jun-Aug Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM, tours available.
 * Brewery: Glen Spean Brewery is above Spean Bridge and offers tours.
 * Ben Nevis Distillery produces single malt whisky at Lochy Bridge (junction of A82 and A830 near the castle). It's open M-F 9:30AM-5PM, plus Jun-Aug Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM, tours available.
 * Brewery: Glen Spean Brewery is above Spean Bridge and offers tours.

Out of town

In Fort William

 * B&Bs are strung along A82 the main road south, petering out after 3 miles.

Out of town

 * Spean Bridge is a village 11 miles north of Fort William, at the junction of A82 and A86, and with trains between Fort William and Glasgow. There's several accommodation choices here, the pick of them being Smiddy House.
 * Spean Bridge is a village 11 miles north of Fort William, at the junction of A82 and A86, and with trains between Fort William and Glasgow. There's several accommodation choices here, the pick of them being Smiddy House.
 * Spean Bridge is a village 11 miles north of Fort William, at the junction of A82 and A86, and with trains between Fort William and Glasgow. There's several accommodation choices here, the pick of them being Smiddy House.
 * Spean Bridge is a village 11 miles north of Fort William, at the junction of A82 and A86, and with trains between Fort William and Glasgow. There's several accommodation choices here, the pick of them being Smiddy House.
 * Spean Bridge is a village 11 miles north of Fort William, at the junction of A82 and A86, and with trains between Fort William and Glasgow. There's several accommodation choices here, the pick of them being Smiddy House.
 * Spean Bridge is a village 11 miles north of Fort William, at the junction of A82 and A86, and with trains between Fort William and Glasgow. There's several accommodation choices here, the pick of them being Smiddy House.

Connect
As of July 2023, Fort William and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. 5G has not reached this area.

There is free internet access in the library on High Street.

Go next

 * Fort William is the northern end of the 96-mile West Highland Way footpath from Milngavie north of Glasgow. Clearly, having just arrived, you'll be impatient to do two things: (i) ascend Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis; and (ii) set off on another long-distance hike, the 78-mile Great Glen Way to Inverness. Fortunately both these needs have been thoughtfully catered for.
 * The scenic Road to the Isles (A830) runs west from Fort William via Glenfinnan and Arisaig to Mallaig, where ferries ply to Armadale on Skye and to the Small Isles. You can also use this route to reach the Ardnamurchan peninsula via Moidart.
 * However the usual route to Ardnamurchan is by the short car ferry crossing at Corran. Routes on the peninsula converge on Strontian. There's also a ferry for foot passengers and bicycles from Fort William town centre to Camusnagaul, connecting with buses on the other side.
 * Follow A82 north along Loch Ness, via Fort Augustus and Urquhart Castle near Drumnadrochit, to reach Inverness.
 * The road south to Glasgow runs through Glencoe with stunning views, louring mountains, and a ski centre.

title: Fort William


text:
Fort Worth

Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 957,000, it is Texas's 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.

Understand
Fort Worth grew from a military camp established at the close of the Mexican War by Gen. Winfield Scott, and named for Gen. William Jenkins Worth who fought in the war. Forty-two men of Company F, 2nd Dragoons, established the camp on June 6, 1849. The Fort Worth to Yuma, Arizona stage line was established in 1850. The city became the seat of Tarrant County 1860, and after the Civil War, it became a major shipping and supply depot for cattlemen.

Climate
Fort Worth is located in the American South, and has a subtropical climate with mild winters, hot summers, and a wet spring and fall in between. In winter and summer it can also be a very dry place, as it receives warmer, drier weather from the Mojave Desert in the west and the Great Plains in the north.

Winters are generally mild, with average highs in the mid to upper 50s (10-15 °C) and average lows around the freezing mark (0-5 °C). It is not uncommon for Winter days with highs in the upper 60s (~20°C) with the following days high temperature 20-30 degrees cooler. It may snow in Fort Worth a couple times a year, and occasionally winter temperatures will not get above freezing (32°F, 0 °C), but for the most part winter is just relatively dry and cool. There is, however, the danger of freezing rain and ice storms.

Spring and fall bring very pleasant temperatures, but spring is also known for its storms. Fort Worth is at the Southern tip of Tornado Alley, and springtime weather can be quite volatile and severe storms often occur. Summers are hot and dry - but often humid - with temperatures frequently surpassing 100 °F (38 °C).

Average precipitation in Fort Worth is 33 inches (830 mm) per year.

By plane
All the major American carriers and many international ones provide scheduled passenger service into the, located  from downtown Fort Worth. This airport is one of three major hubs for American Airlines. American Airlines is also headquartered in Fort Worth.

By train
The at 1001 Jones St is the central hub for Amtrak trains and Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter trains to Dallas, along with Greyhound inter-city bus service and local bus service provided by the T. TRE trains can provide a stress-free way to travel between the two cities during rush hour and also serve the more historic  at 1600 Throckmorton St on the south side of downtown.

Amtrak's Texas Eagle provides daily service between Chicago, Illinois and San Antonio, Texas with stops in Fort Worth and Dallas. Also, Amtrak's Heartland Flyer provides daily service between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, and points in between. Woefully underfunded, passenger train service in the United States is a slow but scenic way to travel, if you aren't too concerned about arriving on time.

Alternatively, arrive from DFW Airport on TEXRail through North Richland Hills, another commuter train that provides direct rail service from the airport to downtown Fort Worth.

By car
Fort Worth may be easily reached via I-20 or I-30 from the east or west, or by I-35W from the north or south. I-35 splits into two branches north of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, the west branch going to Fort Worth and the east branch (I-35E) to Dallas. The branches rejoin to the south.

Car rental companies include:
 * Alamo Rent A Car, Toll free: +1-800-462-5266.
 * Avis Rent A Car, Toll free: +1-800-331-1212.
 * Budget Rent A Car, Toll free: +1-800-527-0700.
 * Dollar Rent A Car, Toll free: +1-800-800-3665.
 * E-Z Rent-A-Car, Toll free: +1-800-277-5171.
 * Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toll free: +1-800-261-7331.
 * Hertz Car Rental, Toll free: +1-800-654-3131.
 * Thrifty, Toll free: +1-800-847-4389.
 * DFW Elite Auto Rental, +1 817-838-7368.

By bus

 * Greyhound. Bus stop is at the Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center. Also, subsidiaries of Greyhound, such as TNM&O serve as the regional carrier.
 * Megabus. Service from Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Memphis, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, and Norman. Bus stop is located at 710 Davis St in Grand Prairie. Fares $1 and up.
 * Autobus Americanos. Mexican trans-border bus line with services to various points in Mexico. Bus stop is located at 5215 McCart in Fort Worth.
 * Turimex Internacional. Mexican trans-border bus line with services to various points in Mexico. Bus stop is located at 3620 Hemphill St.

Mass transit
Buses and trains via Trinity Metro link many areas of town over mid-range distances. Trinity Rail Express has commuter train service between downtown Fort Worth, DFW Airport and downtown Dallas. Service is Monday through Saturday. No scheduled services on Sundays and most major holidays.

Molly the Trolley bus service provides local public transportation in areas like downtown Fort Worth, the Historic Stockyards, and to Sundance Square during lunchtime. Hours of operation vary by route.

Attractions

Sports

Events

 * Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, at Alliance Airport north of downtown. Features air stunts and formations like the Blue Angels. Typically around 3rd weekend of October.
 * Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, at Alliance Airport north of downtown. Features air stunts and formations like the Blue Angels. Typically around 3rd weekend of October.
 * Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, at Alliance Airport north of downtown. Features air stunts and formations like the Blue Angels. Typically around 3rd weekend of October.

Buy

 * Sundance Square
 * Sundance Square

Eat
Fort Worth is similar to many Texas cities in that there are two main food groups, BBQ and Tex-Mex. While tastes are changing and multiple options are available, these will still be your best two bets in the city. A growing food truck scene is starting to make a presence in the city, and some of the local breweries are making drinks worth recommending to friends.

Lockheed Martin Plant
Options ideal for travel to the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics plant: 200 N Grants Ln, adjacent to the Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (JRB, formerly Carswell Air Force Base):

Connect
Good cellular phone coverage by all major providers throughout the city and all major roadways. Internet hot-spots available at most Starbucks Coffee locations, DFW Airport, and FedEx Kinko's offices.

Daily newspaper:
 * Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Stay safe
As with any other large city, be vigilant in Fort Worth. The city's central arts and entertainment district is well policed, however, as so long as you make sure you lock your car and hide any valuables inside, all that you need is a little extra awareness of your surroundings. The city's freeways can be quite dangerous if you are not accustomed to driving in such high volumes of rapidly moving traffic; keep this in mind when you are planning a trip.

Areas to avoid after dark are the East Side, Southeast Side (especially in the Stop Six section), the Como neighborhood, and the Trails/Calmont neighborhood, as these places have high rates of gun crimes from armed robberies to shootings.

The Stockyards bar and club district can get rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights, but the nightlife at Sundance Square in Downtown is more laid back.

Gym workout

 * 24 Hour Fitness and LA Fitness (which now includes Ballys) have many locations throughout the area. If you have a regular membership with either of them from back home your membership is good here. Note that some memberships are only good for one location and will cost extra to access a different gym/club than the one you normally go to at home. Ask before leaving. Otherwise day passes range from $10-20. Bring a lock and towel.

Go next

 * Mineral Wells, home to Lake Mineral Wells State Park
 * Bridgeport, 30 miles to the northwest has a nice lake for boating and fishing.
 * Weatherford, 20 miles west of downtown Fort Worth.
 * Grapevine has a nice historic main street area and numerous wineries.
 * Glen Rose 50 miles southwest has Dinosaur Valley State Park and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.

title: Fort Worth


text:
Fort Wright

Fort Wright is a city in Kentucky's Northern Ohio River Region.

title: Fort Wright


text:
Foshan

Foshan (佛山 Fahtsāan in Cantonese, Fóshān in Mandarin) is an industrial city in Guangdong. Though it has about seven million people, it is relatively little known and feels almost like an extension of Guangzhou; hence the saying "Guangzhou and Foshan are the same city" (广佛同城). It is regarded to be the birthplace of Cantonese opera. Perhaps its biggest claim to fame is as the birthplace of famous martial artists Wong Fei-hung (黄飞鸿) and Ip Man (叶问), the latter of whom was the martial arts teacher of Chinese-American film star Bruce Lee. It is also the ancestral home of Bruce Lee.

Towns
Shunde is a district of Foshan, one of the wealthiest areas in mainland China, and a popular destination for foodies.

Talk
Cantonese is the main local language spoken in Foshan, though most locals are able to speak Mandarin as well, albeit often heavily accented. Like other prosperous southern Chinese cities, Foshan is home to many migrants from other parts of China who speak Mandarin but not the local language. As with elsewhere in China, English is not widely spoken, though some younger people may speak basic English.

By plane
The closest large airport is Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. From the airport, there is an intercity bus  to Foshan, taking about 50 minutes.

There's also Foshan Shadi Airport in Foshan, with flights to a handful of domestic destinations.

By train
There is a train station in Foshan. The station is served mostly by local trains heading west towards Guangxi and Hainan. There are only a handful of trains a day to Guangzhou (1 hour), so if you are coming in from Guangzhou it's much more convenient to use buses or the metro.

By bus
There are coaches that arrive in Foshan from Guangzhou every fifteen minutes. It takes approximately one hour to get there from Guangzhou. It will cost approximately ¥10-20. Coaches depart from the Guangfo Bus Terminal in Fangcun (Fancun Dadao Xi - metro Line 5 Jiaokou) and serve both the Nanhai bus station and the downtown bus station in Chancheng district. There are also buses from most other cities in Guangdong as well as a handful of longer-distance services from Nanning and Guilin. However, for most long-distance destinations it's more convenient to travel to Guangzhou and then use the metro.

If you are going to Nanhai District from Guangzhou, another option is to take public bus 232 from Fangcun Long Distance Bus Station (Metro Line 1 Kengkou station) which costs ¥2 (Yangchengtong cards are accepted) and reaches Nanhai Square via Pingzhou Town in approximately 40 minutes. Every 10 minutes.

By Metro
The Guangfo Line, China's first intercity rapid transit line, connects Foshan to the Guangzhou subway system. From downtown Guangzhou to downtown Foshan costs approximately ¥5 and takes around 1 hour. The Guangfo line starts from Xilang (at the eastern end of Line 1) and runs to Kuiqiang Lu in Foshan's Chancheng district, running via Nanhai district. Trains run every few minutes from 6am to 11pm and can be packed at the weekend when many Foshan residents head to Guangzhou to go shopping.

Get around
Since Foshan is a very dense and industrial city with very few foreign tourists, getting around can be a challenge. Fortunately, the main part of the city has many shopping centers, stores, attractions and restaurants within a 20 minute walk. However, if you are not familiar with the area the best way to get around the city would be by taxi. Driving a car or riding a motorcycle is not recommended unless you are used to the hectic traffic typical in dense Chinese cities. See Driving in China for details.

Foshan's roads are prone to flooding after heavy rain. If you're planning to travel to, from, or within the city after a rainstorm, prepare for traffic disruptions and give yourself lots of extra time.

By metro
The metro is an efficient, convenient, understandable way of getting around. However, there is only one metro line, so many sites cannot be reached by metro. The line is known as the Guangfo line and is integrated with the metro system of Guangzhou. Fares depend on the distance traveled, with ¥2 as the minimum fare.

Additional lines are under construction, with several scheduled to open between 2019 and 2022.

By taxi
This is the most convenient way to get around, since they can be found all over. However, during rush hour or when it is raining, meaning you will have to wait to find an available taxi. Fares are very inexpensive by Western standards - ¥7 for the first 2.6 km and increasing by ¥1 increments as you go farther. Drivers are supposed to add a ¥1 fuel surcharge to the fare displayed on the meter, but some may forget to do this. Most drivers speak Cantonese, though some only speak Mandarin (but they can usually understand Cantonese). It is very rare to find a taxi driver who can speak or even understand English, so it is best to have your destination written or printed out in Chinese characters if you cannot speak Chinese.

By bus
The public bus system is the most inexpensive way to get around the city, the fare is only ¥2 (make sure you have exact change). Most of the busses are modern and air conditioned. However, the bus system is only recommended if you are familiar with the routes and the city or if you know which bus to take and which stop to get off. Most people will not know any English so you will have trouble finding directions if you get lost and cannot speak Chinese.

Eat
The Shunde area is known as the "food capital of Guangdong", with a wide variety of different restaurants to choose from.

Drink
The bar areas are scattered in different locations in Foshan. The most famous chill out area is near Jihua Garden called Bar Street (Jiubajie).

A couple of decent clubs include

Sleep
Foreign visitors were once restricted to staying specific hotels, but as of 2024, all licensed hotels by law must accept foreigners; show front desk staff the official notice in Chinese if they reject you. Hotels that are not used to serving foreigners might not be familiar with the registration process, so you might face some delays, and in rare cases staff might escort you to the nearest police station to fulfil the registration requirement.

There are a large number of three and four star mid-range hotels throughout the city and in all districts. The listed rates for these kind of hotels are often in the range of ¥500-1,000 but you can often get a discount of around 50%.

Some 'expensive' hotels are in the city centre, especially in chancheng District, and on the eastern 3rd Ring Road in Chaoyang District, however by Western standards these hotels are still relatively cheap. For the most expensive hotels, the listed rates start at around ¥4,000, but are often discounted to a level around ¥1,500.

Budget
There a lot of hotels that charge between ¥100 and ¥300, such as HTHT, Like Business Hotel, family inns, and Home Inn.

Mid-range
3 star hotels are a good choice.

Go next

 * Guangzhou, the provincial capital with centuries of history as an international trading port
 * Shunde, perhaps the most famous culinary destination in Guangdong

title: Foshan


text:
Fossil

Fossil is a town in Eastern Oregon.

Understand
Fossil has a population of 473 as of 2010 and is the seat of Wheeler County.

The site of only public fossil field in the U.S., the town was named by its first mayor, due to the fossil remains he found on his ranch.

title: Fossil


text:
Foster

Foster is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island.

Understand
It was founded in 1730 as part of the town of Scituate. In 1781, it became a separate town.

Surrounding Foster, there is Glocester to the north, Scituate to the east and Coventry to the south. To the west you will find access to Connecticut.

Foster is a small town and tight knit community that the outlying areas and towns are unified in a community type of manner. It takes about 5 minutes to reach North Scituate, about 7 minutes to reach Glocester and about 15 to reach Coventry.

Get in
By car Route 6 will take you through the heart of Foster. From I-95 N, take 295 N to Route 6 W. From I-95 S, take Route 10 S to Route 6 W. The easiest way to get to Foster is by Route 6 north off of 295. Take exit 6C toward US-6 W/Foster. This will take you to Route 6 and will allow access to all of Foster. The best way to get to Scituate from the north is Rt. 6 off of 395 as well as Route 101 which will allow access to also Route 102.

Get around
Fosters main through way is by Route 6, a main highway and popular road used to get from Connecticut to Providence, there are no sidewalks just highway. Roads leading off of Route 6 are primarily dirt with few paved and relatively narrow, not allowing for additional types of vehicles, such as bicycles.

See
Foster is not built up at all but has a lot of history behind its essential growth thus far. There is only one stoplight located at the intersection of Route 6 and Route 94 and was only put in the year 2010.

Highest point in Rhode Island. The point allows a great lookout for the surrounding area and is a must see. Please be respectful to the land and do not litter. It is open from 8AM-4PM everyday and the location is supreme.

Do

 * The Town House was built in 1795 and purchased for $15. This was the main location for civic, religious and community gatherings. The townhouse is located in Foster Center off of Route 94.

 * The Old Jail: There is no recording as to when the jail house was built, but photos conclude that it was sometime around 1904. The Old Jail is on South Killingly Rd.

 * Town Scales: The town scale originated from the 1800s and aided in weight and measures throughout the town. It is at the town house and is on display.

 * Town Pound: The town pound was built in 1845 with its purpose of holding all animals found lost. This was one of the first pounds built on a stream with intentions of always having water for the current animals occupying the pound.

 * The Boston Post Cane: In 1909 J.F. Fradley and company in New York designed canes out of African Ebony from the Congo. The oldest residents in the first New England towns were rewarded with the canes and honored for their existence.

 * Historical cemeteries: There are over 150 historical cemeteries located in Foster. There are websites available to search throughout Rhode Island to find the locations for what you are looking for.

 * Covered bridge: There are very few covered bridges in Rhode Island, one of which is the Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge on Central Pike off of Route 94. This bridge was finished in 1994 and built with lumber cut down from the local forest.

Buy
There are a few antique locations off of Route 6 and a Foster Bear Arms and Trading Post.

Drink
Local bar and located off of Route 6.

Sleep
There is no lodging in Foster. Although lodging can be found in Scituate, Rhode Island as well as over the line in Connecticut.

Go next
Foster is a beautiful part of Rhode Island and is one of the last that has yet to be built up. All that you will find here is a wonderful community, little locations to eat and beautiful woods. Take a walk, hike the reservoir or visit some historical sights, something all should see.

title: Foster


text:
Foster City

Foster City is a quiet suburban city on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Primarily residential and lacking in a downtown, it also has a couple of large office parks and several large employers including Gilead, Visa, and Sony.

Get in
The only direct public transit to Foster City is via bus, either AC Transit (from the East Bay, there is express service from the Union City and Hayward BART stations) or SAMTrans (several routes.) There are also shuttles from the Hillsdale Caltrain station in San Mateo, although service has been cut back.

It is also very readily accessible from Highway 92 (Foster City Boulevard and Edgewater/Mariner's Island) exits, and indirectly from Highway 101 (Hillsdale.)

Do
Foster City has one of the nicest 4th of July fireworks on the Peninsula, and with budget cutbacks in 2010 eliminating fireworks from many other communities, it drew a very large crowd.

Buy
There are two shopping centers with supermarkets/large pharmacies, and a couple of smaller ones with local restaurants. The most convenient for travelers is along the north side of Hillsdale, directly across from Ryan Park.

Sleep
Foster City has several hotels, mostly focused on mid-range corporate accommodation.

Go next

 * Hayward- 92 East. About 20 minutes away.
 * San Jose- 92 West to 101 South. About 30 to 50 minutes away.
 * Half Moon Bay- 92 West. About 25 to 55 minutes away.
 * San Francisco- 92 West to 101 North. About 20 to 35 minutes away.

title: Foster City


text:
Foula

Foula (Old Norse Fugley, "bird island") is one of the Shetland Islands, some 20 miles out into the Atlantic west of Shetland Mainland. In 2011 it had a population of 30.

Understand
Foula is roughly pear-shaped, 3.5 miles long by 2.5 miles wide. A lane runs along the east side, which has farmland and the main settlement and ferry landing at Ham. The west is heath and peat bog, rising to five hills: Da Noup in the south and four grouped in the north. These end in great sea-cliffs swirling with bird life, while waves dash against stacks and arches. The hills draw the mist and cloud, unlike the low-lying Mainland, and when snow falls Foula from the ferry looks like a huge iceberg.

Foula along with all of Orkney and Shetland was Norse until the 15th century when they were all ceded to Scotland. But this remote place was bypassed, and its residents continued to speak Norn until the last native speaker died in 1926. They still celebrate Christmas and New Year by the Julian calendar, now 13 days adrift from the Gregorian calendar adopted on the mainland in 1752. It's a traditional, self-sufficient way of life based on crofting. Foula vies with Fair Isle for the title of Britain's most remote inhabited island; it depends on your definition, and it's enough to know that by the Foula definition, Foula is the most isolated. If it looks familiar, that's because it was the location for the 1937 Michael Powell film The Edge of the World, based on the undeniably more remote St Kilda.

There isn't a TIC, but Foula Heritage have two part-time rangers who can assist visitors.

By boat
The New Advance ferry sails from Foula to Walls on Shetland Mainland at 9:30AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, returning to Foula at 1:30PM, a two-hour crossing. This means the islanders can just about day-trip to Mainland, but a day-trip out to Foula is not possible. The ferry only has room for 12 passengers and cars are not carried so park at Walls. Until April 2024, the adult return fare is £5.60, conc and child £0.80, booking is essential on.

In summer cruise ships occasionally call, transferring visitors to dinghies to get ashore.

is the landing point and main settlement. There's not much shelter in Ham Voe, so the ferry boat is hauled out of the water between trips.

By plane
Airtask fly from Lerwick-Tingwall to Foula 2 or 3 times M-F and once Sa May-Sep, taking 15 min. Oct-Apr it's once on three days a week and twice on two, so a day-trip is often possible, with 6 hours on the island. Until Oct 2022, the adult return fare in £88 and there's a 15-kg total baggage limit. For bookings call +44 1595 840246, you can't book online as they prioritise residents and essential visitors such as the GP.

is a mile south of the main village. It has a waiting room with toilets, and that's about all. Flights are weather-dependent so you could be sat here for some time. The Airtask schedule shows it as FOU, which is actually the IATA code for Fougamou in Gabon, so let's hope they've briefed the stand-in pilot.

Get around
Walk, and wear stout boots. It's not worth bringing a bike, the sights of interest are away from the lane over rough boggy ground.

See

 * Sea birds swirl in abundance. Common resident species are shag, eider, herring gull, greater black-backed gull, kittiwake, Arctic tern, skua, razorbill, guillemot, puffin, Manx shearwater, fulmar and rock dove.
 * was only built in 1986, when the oil industry brought large tankers into the area. It's an 8-m tower, automatic from the outset, initially gas-lit but converted in 1999 to solar and wind-power. Its range is 18 nautical miles, 21 standard miles or 33 km. The little settlement here is called Da Hametoon.
 * is the hill of 248 m on the southwest coast, dropping in great cliffs. Da Daal - "the dale" - separates it from the four northern hills.
 * is a dramatic 30 m chasm on the west coast. Only venture in here with a guide.
 * is Foula's highest point at 418 m.
 * in mid-island is a secondary peak of Da Sneug.
 * is 376 m, but right on the coast with sheer cliffs.
 * is lowest of the five hills but the most accessible as it's near the end of the lane north.
 * is a sea-arch off the north tip of Foula, looking like a Titan's travel iron. A lane leads here to the settlement of Da Nort Toons, so it's an approachable stretch of coastline. It's not to be confused with Gaada stacks the low pierced islets off Vaila.
 * or Hoevdi Grund: ah, but in calm weather you don't see this dangerous reef less than 2 m deep, two miles east of Ham Voe. And that was the end of the RMS Oceanic in 1914, a White Star liner converted for wartime use. The crew were safely taken off but the ship remained perched aground for two weeks before a storm hurled her off. The wreck is divable, well-broken in a max 20 m depth. The main feature is the massive boilers.

Do

 * Guided walks are led by the ranger. This is the only way you can approach Da Sneck ida Smaalie and expect to get out again.
 * Rowing Foula doon means rowing so far out into the Atlantic that the cliffs of Foula drop below the horizon - that's where the men of Papa Stour found the best fishing. So say the top peaks are 400 m above sea level, in metric the formula is x 13, then take the square root for the distance to the horizon in km: just over 70 km or 40 miles. But Foula is 20-some miles offshore so you'll be 60 miles out, in a frail open "sixareen". Say a day to row out, a day fishing, a day to get back hopefully with the westerly breeze filling the sail; then start out again next morning and you got Sunday off.
 * Race up the cliffs and perish: The 1937 Michael Powell film Edge of the World is a melodramatic version of the evacuation of St Kilda in 1930, told in flashback when a passing yachtsman finds a gravestone on an abandoned island. Powell filmed it on Foula as he wasn't allowed to use St Kilda. He jazzed up the story but what was real was the drifting away of the young folk, and deaths from infection that were entirely avoidable by the 20th century. Foula like many small island communities continues to face the problem of depopulation, but is altogether more viable than lonely St Kilda.

Buy
Sorry. The post office has closed down.

Eat and drink
Bring all your supplies, there are no shops or food outlets on the island.

Stay safe
Watch out for skuas, they will dive-bomb you if you get too close to their nests

There is no pharmacy on Foula. There's a resident nurse in the village, ask around or call 111.

Connect
There is a mobile mast in Foula, as of June 2024, the only carrier on the mast is EE. There is intermittent coverage from Vodafone from Shetland Mainland masts.

Go next
Back to Shetland Mainland it must be.

title: Foula


text:
Foulness Island

Foulness Island is Essex's largest island. There is nothing much for tourists to see, due to the restrictions put in place by the UK Ministry of Defence (M.O.D.) regarding access to the island. The island is mostly farmland and is bordered by a sea wall and extensive marshland. The island is roughly 15 miles (25 km) from the coastal town of Southend-on-Sea.

Understand
There are two villages on Foulness. The largest is Churchend and it is just like any other quiet village in Britain. It has a post office and general store. Its pub has closed. The church has also closed because of the high cost of renovating the roof.

The other village is Courtsend. It is tiny, with just a farm and a few cottages. Its pub closed in 1989.

By car
The only access to Foulness Island by road is at Landwick police lodge (about a mile from Great Wakering). Residents are issued with permits, which they must show to security guards when entering the restricted M.O.D. zone. Visitors need to contact the police lodge when visiting the island to obtain a temporary pass, or a visitor can contact a friend or relative who lives on the island, so they can in turn contact the lodge, avoiding the need for long security checks at Landwick. The distance between Great Wakering church and Churchend is around 6 miles (10 km).

By bus
Buses are very infrequent and are run by Stephensons of Essex on route 14 from Southend via Barling and Great Wakering. On Mondays to Fridays there are two return service buses per day (one in the morning and one in the evening). On Saturdays there are four return service buses per day (one in the morning, one in mid-morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening). Because of the restrictions posed by the M.O.D., passengers between Landwick Police Lodge and Courtsend must be M.O.D. permit holders.

Buy
There is a small shop in the village of Churchend. The shop is also a Post Office and is used by the residents of Foulness to order their groceries without having to drive to the nearest supermarket (ASDA Shoeburyness, approx. 10 miles away).

Eat and drink
The island used to have two pubs, the George and Dragon in Churchend and a second pub in Courtsend, but they have closed.

Sleep
Other than staying with a friend or relative who lives on Foulness, there is no accommodation for visitors on the island.

Stay safe
Because the island is under the jurisdiction of the M.O.D., Foulness is extremely safe and there is little or no crime at all on the island. The locals on the island are rumoured to leave their cars and house doors unlocked. There are even regular explosives testing on the island by the M.O.D. so please don't be alarmed when you hear a loud noise and a rumble. M.O.D. staff will often warn you if a practice is going to take place. Please stay away from areas with warning signs as there could be objects that could explode and injure you. On the Shoebury Ranges walk, follow the public right of way (marked with red and white poles in the M.O.D. area).

Go next
Foulness Island is suitable for walking but, because of the M.O.D. restrictions, walkers cannot gain routine access to the island. On weekday evenings and all day at weekends, walkers are allowed to enter the M.O.D. site (also known as Shoebury Ranges), but have to follow the public rights of way.

title: Foulness Island


text:
Foundiougne

Foundiougne is a city of about 6,700 people (2015) in Central Senegal.

Understand
Foundiougne's main activities are based on agriculture to the south in the surrounding villages and fishing to the north of the town, in particular shrimp fishing.

The population is made up of Sérères (50%), Wolofs (30%), Peuls (15%), Bambaras and others (5%). It is 92% Muslim.

History
The city was founded in 1917. It is one of the oldest municipalities in Senegal. Thanks to its strategic position on the Saloum, its commercial port played a leading role in the colonial era.

In 1940, during the Battle of Dakar, General de Gaulle used Foundiougne as a discreet landing point for his clandestine emissaries. The administrator Marcel Campistron rallied to Free France, and facilitated their penetration and their preparatory actions for this operation in the territory.

Get in
Travel to Foundiougne can be organized through the area's lodging establishments, private car or via public transit options.

Private transport
From Dakar take Route N1 to Fatick then turn right in Fatick and continue along the only road going south from Fatick which will dead end at the ferry crossing to Foundiougne.

To cross on the ferry it is 100 CFA/person and for a small car it is 1000 CFA. The ferry makes its last trip across at 18:30 so should you miss it you can take a private boat across for 3000 CFA.

The longer route there from Dakar is taking the N1 to Kaolack, turn on the road going to Sokone until Passi. Turn right on the road to Djilor which will continue on to Foundiougne (this road is in disrepair.

Public transport
From Dakar take a sept place from Garage Pompier to Fatick (1900 CFA). In the southwest section of the garage there are large white cars that go to the Foundiougne ferry crossing (500 CFA) and you can also hire a taxi (5000 CFA). The ferry crossing is 100 CFA/person. thumb|Foundiougne ferry Ferry schedule:
 * To Foundiougne			08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 15:30, 18:30
 * From Foundiougne:  07:30, 09:30, 11:30, 15:00, 17:00

There are two buses that leave Dakar at 13:00 each day to go to Foundiougne. One bus leaves from Patt D’Oie at the bridge near the stadium (2000 CFA). The other bus leaves from garage Coloban (2000 CFA) in the downtown area.

See
The city of Foundiougne offers a lot of things to visit such as the weekly market (Luma) which is held every Tuesday next to the garage.

Guide service is provided by eco guides who have received training and have experience gained over a number of years of practice.

Walks: a walking tour allows you to discover the historical aspect of the city. By canoe, you can take the eco-routes to discover the mangroves, the birds and the islands of Saloum in turn. It is also possible to make transfers from Foundiougne to Djiffer, Mar Lodjie, Ndangane, Toubacouta, Missirah

By car, you can visit the Serer villages of Thiaré, Soum, Ndorong Log, Bambou and the eco roads of Mbam and Mbassis. Tours to Niombato, the small coast, parks and animal reserves and tours to the craft village of Kaolack, Lac Rose or the island of Gorée can be considered.

The annual Foundiougne festival since 2000 takes place in May. It aims, among other things, to promote sport, culture and leisure.

Weddings and baptisms which always remain colorful through clothing, music and dance, songs and dance still showcased by local troupes:

Other types of entertainment are also offered in Foudiougne:
 * Le Pangol Night International disco
 * The international disco Le Chaudron Night Club

Do
The Saloum, like many estuaries, is full of fish, which explains the presence of many fishing camps along the banks of the city. Otherwise, it is possible to rent a canoe and walk on the arm of the river.

From July to October, shrimp fishing is in full swing and at night, at low tide, fishermen pull their nets, speckling the darkness with their small lamps.

Leaving Foundiougne via public transport
At 07:30 both buses return to Dakar via the first ferry crossing of the day. It’s best to speak the driver the night before to reserve a seat or get the bus an hour before it crosses especially during peak travel times (any holiday or weekends). Otherwise other large white cars may be crossing in the morning heading directly for Dakar. If not, cross the ferry at any time of day and a car will be on the other side going to the Fatick garage (500 CFA in the large white car). From Fatick take a sept place to Dakar (1900 CFA).

title: Foundiougne


text:
Fountain Green

Fountain Green is in Central Utah. It was a popular campground for Salt Creek and San Pitch travelers during the 1850s before the Johnson's and other families from Santaquin in Utah Valley settle it. Lying just below the Divide and Mt. Nebo, it had a green fountain second to no other spring in Sanpete. Any tour of Fountain Green ought to include a stop at the Unitah Springs (Big Springs) which gush out of the mountains two miles north west of town to form Silver Creek—-the source of the town's greenness.

Get in
Ft. Green is approximately 1.5 hours from Salt Lake City. To get to Ft. Green, Take I-15 Exit 225 at Nephi and go East on Highway 132 up the canyon.

Do

 * Maple Canyon –Conglomerate rock climbing, camping, & hiking.

title: Fountain Green


text:
Fountain Hills

Fountain Hills is a town in Greater Phoenix.

See
It has the world's fourth tallest fountain. The fountain is located in the center of a small lake, surrounded by a lovely park. There is a 1.25-mile walkway around the lake. There is an area for kids to play, as well as a free splash pad suitable for younger children.

Eat
- Sapori d'Italia is delicious and pretty moderate in price

title: Fountain Hills


text:
Fountain Valley

Fountain Valley is a city in Orange County in Southern California.

Get around
Most people in Fountain Valley get around by their own vehicles, but a visitor could just as well see the city by taking an inexpensive bus line, provided by the Orange County Transportation Authority. Bus fees are quite cheap, going for $1.25 per ride, or $3 for a one-day pass.

Buy
Fountain Valley is home to Costco Warehouse, TJ Maxx, Big Lots and Sam's Club. If you want to fill up on gas, Fountain Valley's gas stations have notably low prices on gas.

title: Fountain Valley