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Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park

Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park is in the Red Centre of Australia, west of Alice Springs, 1234 km south of Darwin. It extends along the MacDonnell Ranges west of Alice Springs.

When to visit
The park is accessible all year round. The cooler months, from April to October, are the most pleasant. All roads can be impassable for short periods after heavy rain.

Get in
Vehicle access to West MacDonnell National Park from Alice Springs is via Larapinta Drive and Namatjira Drive. From the direction of Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park, the unsealed Red Centre Way (4WD recommended) connects Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) with West MacDonnell National Park. Simpsons Gap is also accessible via a 17-km sealed bicycle track beginning opposite Flynn's Grave, 7 km from Alice Springs along Larapinta Drive.

See

Heading west on Larapinta Drive from Alice Springs, you'll see signs for the following (in order):

 * Simpson's Gap
 * Stanley Chasm

At this point there's a turnoff for Bullen Road which loops back towards Alice Springs and passes through Honeymoon gap. If you decide not to take that turnoff, a little further on the road splits: Larapinta continues southeast and Namatjira continues northeast. They are both sealed roads, which form a fork which is connected on the ends by a dirt road.

On Namatjira you see:

 * Ellery Creek Big Hole - is a big natural waterhole. Great for swimming, although beware - it is cold - even in the middle of summer - so watch out for signs of Hypothermia and don't swim alone.
 * Serpentine Gorge
 * The Ochre Pits
 * Ormiston Gorge
 * Glen Helen Gorge - end of the road, literally. All after this are 4WD.

Past Glenn Helen is a 4WD track which leads west, then south to meet up with the end of Larapinta. A permit is required; on the 4wd track you'll find:

 * Redbank Gorge
 * Roma Gorge - Aboriginal rock art.
 * Haast's Bluff
 * Tyler's Pass
 * Gosse Bluff and Gosse Crater, also known as Tnorala - a massive meteor crater. Registered sacred ground, a permit is required to travel the road (available at Kings Canyon, Hermansburg and Glen Helen) and overnight camping is not permitted. It's not on the direct road from Alice to Uluru, but on the Merrereni loop road. There are 4WD tracks, picnic tables, and walking tracks. The dreamtime story told is worth a read; it's really an amazing place.

The next stop down is Hermansburg, which is the far end of the sealed Larapinta Drive. The following are the points of interest leading back into town from the end of Larapinta Drive:

 * Hermannsburg (Western Arrenda name - Ntaria - pronounced "Ndarra")- an Aboriginal community, famous for their ladies Choir, pottery, painting, and for being the home of the late Albert Namatjira. It's the site of an old Lutheran mission, with the best Apple Strudel in Central Australia. Whats even better is that its now an Aboriginal enterprise, providing training and employment for some of the local people. Sealed roads all the way.
 * Palm Valley - a high clearance 4WD side-track off Larapinta - recommended for expert 4WD's only due to soft sand and rock driving.
 *  Wallace Rockhole - short 4WD side-track off Larapinta - Experience tours and a taste of life in an Aboriginal Community.
 * Owen Springs - 4WD track which connects Larapinta to the south Stuart Highway; some ruins and scenic areas.
 * The Finke River Track is a really lovely 4WD track which leads south from Hermannsburg - but should definitely only be used by experienced four-wheel drivers, as there's every hazard you can imagine for a four wheel drive vehicle. Heads south towards King's Canyon. Track is not marked! Boggy Hole is the main destination camping site for the Finke River Track.

Do

The Larapinta Trail (+61 8 8951 8250, ) runs for 223 km along the backbone of the West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs to Mt Sonder. The grandeur and timeless beauty of the Ranges are the backdrop and setting for the Trail, which is divided into twelve sections, providing you with an opportunity to experience an ancient landscape at your own pace.

Eat
No restaurants outside the Glen Helen Resort. Bring your own food.

Sleep

 * Ormiston Gorge has a camping area with facilities, while Serpentine Chalet and 2-Mile (both 4WD only destinations) provide camping sites with no facilities.

Go next
Alice Springs, Finke Gorge National Park, Watarrka National Park, Lake Lewis, Lake Bennett


text:
West Memphis

West Memphis is a city in the Delta region of Arkansas, lying across the Mississippi River from Memphis, Tennessee.

Get in
Cross the bridge westbound from Memphis. If bicycling or on foot, take the Harahan Bridge.

Get around
West Memphis has plenty of ways to get around, including buses. West Memphis.

See
West Memphis has many attractions such as the Southland Race track. Which you can witness Greyhound Racing. In West Memphis is the Tom Sawyer Mississippi R.V. Park, where you can camp beside the Mississippi River. The city has a race track for dirt cars which has been operating for more than sixty one years.

Buy
West Memphis has many mini malls and has local big-box stores like Kroger and Wal Mart.

There are numerous large truck stops along the two major interstates which converge at West Memphis. Many of the truck stops have gift shops.

Eat
West Memphis has local buffets where you eat at a fair price. Margarita's Mexican restaurant has food at a fair price, and has entertainment on Fridays. For more Mexican food, also try Poncho's.

Drink
Plenty of Liquor Store on Broadway, some are drive-thru.

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

title: West Memphis


text:
West Michigan

West Michigan is roughly the westernmost third of the "palm" of the Lower Pensinsula of Michigan. It includes most of the Lake Michigan shoreline, as well as the nearby cities and towns, farmland, and woodland.

Cities

 * — a gateway to the 50,000-acre forest Allegan State Game Area
 * — a college town with plenty of activities
 * — in the middle of the 'fruit belt' with peaches, grapes and apples
 * — second largest city in Michigan, home to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
 * — offers an interesting and walkable Downtown, with one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants

Understand
Western Michigan is more commonly called "West Michigan" by the locals, which helps avoid confusion between the region and Western Michigan University. It's Michigan's "Bible Belt", a region with a strong Dutch Calvinist heritage and conservative politics. It is gradually becoming more cosmopolitan as the population diversifies, especially in the larger cities. It is also home to the extensive sandy beaches of Lake Michigan, which – if not for the cooler salt-free water and smaller waves – could perhaps be mistaken for the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. The region's economy has traditionally been based on manufacturing and tourism, while the latter has grown in prominence. Grand Rapids is the unofficial capital of West Michigan; the regions away from G.R. often refer to themselves as "Southwest" or "Northwest" Michigan.

Talk
Everybody thinks they speak "without an accent", but this notion is especially strong in Western Michigan, and not without some justification. A local legend says that the residents of one city or another in the area have the "standard" pronunciation of American English. While this is probably apocryphal, local pronunciation is virtually indistinguishable from that heard in most Hollywood movies and national TV newscasts. If you're used to those, you should have little difficulty understanding people here. But visitors with "exotic" accents from places such as Brisbane, Bangalore, or Boston might have to speak slowly to be understood by the unpracticed ear of the natives, and the natives may have to speak slowly to make themselves understood to these visitors.

By plane

 * Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids. The biggest and busiest airport in the region, with regular flights from major cities and airline hubs across the country. Served by almost all major airlines. Fares in and out of GRR are often more expensive than the larger hubs in Detroit and Chicago, but the price difference has been gradually decreasing with the introduction of low-cost carriers in Grand Rapids.

Get around
Despite its large geographical size, it is easy to get around in West Michigan. Major highways and a lack of heavy traffic means you are rarely more than an hour from the Lake and its sandy beaches, fresh water and quaint shoreline towns.

Highway 131 bisects the region on the north-south axis, connecting Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids to the Mackinac Bridge to the north. I-94, the highway that connects Chicago with Detroit, cuts through the southern portion of the region. Highway 196 runs along the lakeshore from the southwestern corner of the state to Grand Rapids. I-96 connects the lakeshore at Muskegon through Grand Rapids to Lansing, the state capital.

See
The shoreline along Lake Michigan resembles an ocean shore more than it does the shores of most lakes. The prevailing winds from the west have transformed Michigan's west coast into hundreds of miles of sandy beaches and dunes. The Lake (the definite article and uppercase letter always refer to Lake Michigan) stretches to the horizon and beyond, so you can watch the sun set into it much as you would on the Gulf Coast of Florida or the Pacific coast of the U.S.

Air Zoo is an aerospace museum with a large collection of rare historical planes in Portage.

Do
There are many parks in the area in which to go geocaching. See geocaching.com to find the caches, then load them into your GPS unit. Geocaches requires a GPS unit to find. The caches can be almost any size. Larger caches are easier to find, smaller can be much harder as they can be the size of a bolt head or film canister and can be hidden in a very devious manner. Great fun for people who like puzzles or being detectives. Some caches have several stages and are puzzle-based. Some caches just give you the coordinates. Fun for all ages.

John Ball Zoo have a stingray and shark petting and feeding pool in summer. Feeding times about 1PM, but they might vary. Just outside the zoo, sometimes there are music or other events here, and the occasional reptile show.

Meijer Gardens are indoor and outdoor gardens to walk through, with lots of art and statuary. Live butterfly exhibit in March and April each year for a small extra cost, fun for kids too (mostly in outside gardens). In December each year there is a Trees from Around the World exhibit. Gift shop. Many different biomes inside from desert, the Edwardian, to carnivorous plants.

Metal detecting rules vary by park and county, but in general, you can metal detect in county parks if you don't dig anything up, i.e. the item must be on the surface of the soil. Metal detecting can only be done in some state parks and can be done only in certain areas. Get the map of the state park for metal detecting. Here is a link to Michigan state parks and metal detecting rules, and MD maps.

Drink
There are wineries in the southwestern and northwestern areas of the state, and some of them have been winning national awards as of late.

You can also find microbreweries in most major cities in West Michigan, including Bells Beer, New Holland Brew, Arcadia Brewing, and Founders Brewing.

Stay safe
Other than stupidity and visiting a few neighborhoods in the larger cities at night, there is not much that will hurt you. West Michigan is notoriously safe. It is not uncommon to see young women walking alone at midnight, perfectly safe. With a low crime rate and a very law-and-order population, staying safe is easy as long as you exercise common sense.

title: West Michigan


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West Midlands

There is more than one place called West Midlands:

England

 * West Midlands (region) - one of England's 9 regions.
 * West Midlands (county) - a metropolitan area within the West Midlands region.

title: West Midlands


text:
West Midlands (county)

The West Midlands metropolitan area is a county in the West Midlands region. The West Midlands County is one of the most heavily urbanised counties in the UK. Birmingham, Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Solihull together form the third most populous conurbation in the United Kingdom with a combined population of around 2.44 million.

Cities and towns
West Midlands administrative county comprises seven metropolitan boroughs.

 * includes
 * includes
 * includes
 * includes
 * includes

Understand
The West Midlands county, covering, is primarily urban. Nonetheless, there is countryside, the 'Meriden Gap', between Coventry and the rest, and Sutton Park, the largest urban park in Europe. The West Midlands county should not be confused with the wider West Midlands region, at whose heart it sits.

The county borders and is surrounded by the three counties from which it was created in 1974 (clockwise from the West): Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Since that creation, its boundary changes have been minor.

The whole of the West Midlands have a lengthy industrial history. Birmingham was known as the "city of 1000 trades" and considered to be the first industrialised town in the world, and the conurbation of today is made up of many smaller towns and villages which contributed to the Industrial Revolution. Birmingham was pivotal in the production of arms in tte world wars. Much of the area to the north and west of Birmingham city centre is known as the Black Country due to its association with coal and industry. Many of these were known for particular trades and the association continues to this day: for example, in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham, or with the glass industry in Stourbridge. The area is also notable for its vast network of canals: today over 100 miles of canal is navigable within the West Midlands, and at its peak in the early 19th century this was around 160 miles. It is popular in the area to state that the area has more miles of canal than Venice. As such, it is a popular destination for narrowboat holidays.

Talk
The local accent is the butt of many jokes in the UK. To most visitors, the "Brummie" accent can be heard all over the region - the local will be able to distinguish between a Birmingham accent and a Black Country one, and there are variations in the latter between various parts of the region.

By air
Birmingham Airport is the region's only major airport, though Manchester, Liverpool and East Midlands airports are all less than 2 hours from West Midlands. Liverpool airport has a direct train to Birmingham New Street station; from the other two travelling by rail requires changes on the way, but there are direct coach connections.

When arriving at one of the London airports, one needs to travel via London and change there to get to the West Midlands. One exception is the London Luton Airport, which has hourly direct trains to Leicester and Nottingham that do not pass through London, from both of which you can then take a train to West Midlands. It takes about 2.5 hours to get from Luton Airport to West Midlands this way.

By car
Many of the UK's major roads converge on Birmingham. From the West Midlands: the M5 runs south west to Bristol and beyond; the M6 runs north via Manchester to Scotland; the southern part of the M6 heads into the East Midlands and connects with the M1 to provide access to London, which is also connected directly to Birmingham by the M40.

By train
Birmingham New Street sends out trains to all parts of the country and many major intercity lines pass through the region. London, Bristol, Liverpool, Nottingham and Manchester are each approximately 90 minurts by train from New Street. Shrewsbury provides access to far-flung parts of South and Mid Wales via the "Heart of Wales Line" which runs south west to Llanelli near Swansea and the scenic "Cambrian Line" which runs west to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. Holyhead's ferry port ensures that the north of Wales is well connected with the whole West Midlands.

Get around
The county has an extensive public transport system run by Network West Midlands, and it is possible to buy daily or weekly travel passes to cover travel in the county via bus, train and tram (the Metro runs from Birmingham Snow Hill station to Wolverhampton).

Stay safe
As with the rest of the UK, in any emergency call 999 or 112 (from a land-line if you can) and ask for Ambulance, Fire or Police when connected.

title: West Midlands (county)


text:
West Midlands (region)

The West Midlands is the western part of central England in the United Kingdom. This central area borders North West England, the East Midlands, South East England, the West Country and all three parts of Wales (south, central and north). It is the only region of Britain and Ireland to lack access to the sea. While being heavily populated and industrialised, it retains much natural beauty in the rural areas surrounding the cities. Its main city, Birmingham, is the second largest in the UK.

Counties
The West Midlands region includes several traditional English counties as well as a central urban county called, confusingly enough, the West Midlands:

Cities and towns

 * (West Midlands)
 * (West Midlands)
 * (Herefordshire)
 * (Staffordshire)
 * (Shropshire)
 * (Staffordshire)
 * (Warwickshire)
 * (West Midlands)
 * (Worcestershire)

Other destinations

 * (Staffordshire)
 * The – rolling countryside and chocolate box villages make one of England's most iconic areas of outstanding natural beauty. The Midlands portion covers parts of Warwickshire and Worcestershire, and the region also extends into the South East and West Country.

Understand
From around the 1870s until the 1970s, the region was "the workshop of the world", especially known for engineering, metal industries, beer production (due to the waters), and pottery from Stoke-on-Trent. There was also extensive coal mining. The centre of the industrial region, Birmingham, was known as "the city of a thousand trades" due to a vibrant free market in skills and an independent-minded population of workers. For complex reasons, this industrial base began to collapse from the 1960s onwards. Although much industry remains, hundreds of thousands of industrial factory-based jobs were lost in the collapse.

The English counties that surround the urban core are still some of the most beautiful in England, especially Warwickshire, Worcestershire, most of north Staffordshire, and many parts of Shropshire.

By air
Birmingham Airport is the region's only major airport though Manchester, Liverpool and East Midlands airports are all less than 2 hrs from Birmingham. Of the London airports, Luton is the most convenient. It has hourly direct trains to Leicester and Nottingham that do not pass through London. To Birmingham takes about 2.5 hr.

By car
Many of the UK's major roads converge on Birmingham. From the West Midlands: the M5 runs south west to Bristol and beyond; the M6 runs north via Manchester to Scotland; the southern part of the M6 heads into the East Midlands and connects with the M1 to provide access to London, which is also connected directly to Birmingham by the M40.

By train
Birmingham New Street sends out trains to all parts of the country and many major intercity lines pass through the region. London, Bristol, Liverpool, Nottingham and Manchester are each approximately 90 mins by train from New Street. Shrewsbury provides access to far-flung parts of South and Mid Wales via the "Heart of Wales Line" which runs south west to Llanelli near Swansea and the scenic "Cambrian Line" which runs west to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. Holyhead's ferry port ensures that the north of Wales is well connected with the whole West Midlands.

Get around
The road network is extensive, if convoluted. There are also good bus and rail networks, as well as national cycle-routes and a large canal network for narrowboats.

See

 * Shakespeare's birthplace Stratford upon Avon
 * Some of England's finest castles in Warwick, Ludlow and Kenilworth
 * Unique architecture of Birmingham's Bull Ring shopping mecca
 * Industrial history including the world's first iron bridge in Ironbridge

Eat
Birmingham is the home of the Balti cuisine, a much loved Anglo-Indian fusion created by 20th century immigrants from the Subcontinent to cater for local tastes. Despite its West Midlands origin, examples of this cuisine can now be eaten in curry-houses in almost every corner of Britain. Elsewhere, the town of Ludlow is renowned as quite a foodie destination. It has found a niche in high-end restaurants, and there is also a regular farmers' market and many delicatessens and other shops selling regional produce, allowing Ludlow to offer far more than expected for its small size.

Go next

 * The North West's lively cities, Liverpool and Manchester, are only 90 min away from Birmingham
 * The literature oriented town of Hay-on-Wye in Wales is most easily accessed from Hereford
 * Cheltenham and Gloucester in the West Country and Oxford in the South East make for attractive short trips to the south
 * London is very well connected to the region and is only 90 min away from Birmingham
 * The Peak District, Britain's first national park, lies mainly in the East Midlands, though parts are close to Stoke-on-Trent

title: West Midlands (region)


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West Mifflin

West Miffin is a city of 20,000 people (2020) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Its main draws are its amusement park and water park.

Get in
It is about 7 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

Buy

 * The Waterfront — a large outdoor mall with residential living areas, located in Homestead (just north of West Miffin) on property that was the site of the infamous "Homestead Works", a Carnegie/USS steel mill where union and management (in the form of "Pinkertons") literally fought it out in the late 19th century. Home to entertainment such as Dave & Buster's and The Improv comedy theater, restaurants such as P.F. Chang's and Bravo!, and shopping such as Macy's.

title: West Mifflin


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Westminster (California)

Westminster is a city in Orange County, Southern California.

Understand
Westminster, founded in 1870 by Rev. Lemuel Webber, is known for its high density of Vietnamese Americans who reside in United States as they sought refuge from the Communists in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. In fact, it has 36,058 Vietnamese Americans in the area and is also considered by many to be the 'capital' of overseas Vietnamese.

In 1996, Westminster won the All-America City award.

By car
Accessible by Interstate 405 and the 22 Freeway. Major streets such as Beach Blvd. and Bolsa Chica Ave. run through the city.

By plane
Accessible by either John Wayne Airport or Long Beach Airport. Los Angeles International, Burbank International, Ontario International, Palm Springs International, or San Diego International are within a 1.5-hour, 100-mile radius.

By bus
Accessible by OCTA or Greyhound bus services.

By train
Amtrak California Surfliner/Metrolink serves several locations throughout Orange County.

Get around
Using a car, walking or taking a bus is advisable. Hitchhiking is not recommended.

Buy

 * Phuoc Loc Tho Tet 2008.jpg
 * Phuoc Loc Tho Tet 2008.jpg

Exotic silks, objets d'art, food stuffs, and other items are readily available in Westminster, whether at the Westminster Mall, ultra-luxurious South Coast Plaza down the road, or Little Saigon.

Drink

Several bars, liquor stores and supermarkets in the area sell hard liquor. Most restaurants serve a collection of world beers, wines, and spirits.

Go next

 * Disneyland - Spend a day at the "Happiest Place on Earth". Located off the 5 Freeway in nearby Anaheim.

title: Westminster (California)


text:
Westminster (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Westminster:

United Kingdom

 * London/Westminster - A district in London.
 * "Westminster" can also refer to the City of Westminster, a London borough that includes not only the Westminster district but also the Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Mayfair, and Paddington districts.

United States of America

 * Westminster (California) - A city in California.
 * Westminster (Colorado) - A city in Colorado.
 * Westminster (Maryland) - A city in Maryland.
 * Westminster (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.

title: Westminster (disambiguation)


text:
Westminster (Maryland)

Westminster is the county seat of Carroll County in Central Maryland.

Get in
By air: BWI International Airport is about 30 minutes away from town, and is served via several major carriers to cities within the United States and Europe. Also, Hagerstown regional airport is roughly 45 minutes away and offers commercial flights as well. Carroll County Regional Airport, right in Westminster, does not offer commercial service.

By Car: Westminster is easily accessible by Rt. 140.

Get around
To get around Westminster, a small bus service "CATS" (Carroll Area Transit System) occasionally runs through town, but it can be a little hard to find. So the best way to go is to rent a car. Enterprise rent-a-cars are available.

Eat

Westminster also features chain restaurants. Westminster has an Olive Garden, Bob Evans, and fast food restaurants.

Go next

 * Gettysburg National Battlefield Park is 40 minutes up the Littlestown Pike.
 * Baltimore is an hour to the west.
 * Washington DC is 90 minutes south.

title: Westminster (Maryland)


text:
Westminster (Massachusetts)

Westminster is a town in Massachusetts.

Get in
Route 2 West From Alewife station in Cambridge will take you right to

If you're coming from the south, I-190 North to Route 2 West will bring you to

From the West Route 2 East goes from the New York border in Williamstown to

The Wachusett Commuter Rail Station is on the border of Fitchburg & Westminster on Route 2.

See

Eat

title: Westminster (Massachusetts)


text:
Westmore

Westmore is a town in the Northeast Kingdom region of Vermont.

title: Westmore


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Westmoreland County (Virginia)

Westmoreland County is a county in the state of Virginia that is best known as the birthplace of America's first president, George Washington.

See

Drink
The entire county is included int the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace American Viticultural Area, and produces some excellent wines.

title: Westmoreland County (Virginia)


text:
West Moscow Oblast

West Moscow Oblast is a region in Moscow Oblast.

Cities

 * — a town famous for its New Jerusalem Monastery
 * — a small city on the Moscow River best known for its Moscow Country Club Resort and its fine classical estates
 * — home to a large museum of tanks, and the lavish Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces
 * — an industrial city of 130,000; not a tourist destination
 * — inside this small historic village's kremlin is a 16th century Cathedral of the Nativity, erected in honor of the Russian conquest of Kazan
 * — a historic town, home to the important Saint Joseph of Volokolamsk Monastery
 * — a small town with its own kremlin, which contains the wonderfully preserved Saviour Cathedral (1399) and its interior frescoes by Russia's greatest painter Andrei Rublev, as well as the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery and some extravagant 19th century dachas.

Other destinations

 * — one of the three major Russian Battlefields that made history.

title: West Moscow Oblast


text:
Western Norway

Western Norway, Vestlandet, is a region of Norway with 1.3 million citizens, famous for its fjords and mountainous sceneries. Bergen and Stavanger are dominant cities. There are fjords all along Norway's endless coast, but in West Norway fjords are particularly long, steep and deep. "Vestlandet, Norway, is 'Oh My God' Country"

- New York Times

Regions
Counties of West Norway.

Cities

 * — regional centre and ancient Hanseatic trading point
 * — Norway's petroleum capital.

Towns and villages

 * — charming village by the Sognefjord
 * — small, charming coastal town
 * — business centre in the traditional district of Sunnfjord
 * — known as the "Home of the Viking Kings" because of the burial site of Harald Fairhair
 * — traditional fishing port on islands in the Atlantic, known for clipfish
 * — impressive panorama and great fjord, annual jazz festival
 * — small, coastal town on the island of Vågsøy
 * — winter sport capital of western Norway
 * — rebuilt in characteristic art nouveau after the 1904 devastating fire

Other destinations

 * — The Atlantic Road: National tourist route and voted to one of the world's best road trips by The Guardian
 * — a mountainous area consisting of two large national parks (comprises also parts of East Norway and Trøndelag)
 * — iconic fjord visited by several hundred cruise ships each summer
 * — the largest glacier on the European mainland
 * - Scandinavia's highest mountains
 * — Norway's longest fjord and deepest fjord with Flåm and Luster
 * — green valley among alpine mountains, connects Geiranger and Trollstigen/Åndalsnes
 * with Romsdal valley - the most alpine valley between the great fjords and the wide interior
 * — summer ski capital, fine glaciers in next door Olden and Loen

Understand
Geographically, this is the archetypal Norway. Although fjords can be found in other parts of the world, the word is Norwegian, and this is the region of Norway where the most of the iconic fjords can be found. A fjord (the "j" is pronounced like an "y" in English) is a long, narrow, deep bay, usually surrounded by equally steep mountainous terrain. In West Norway, the largest can extend 200 km (124 mi) inland, 1300 m (4265 ft) deep. The great fjords of western Norway cuts deep into the mainland and are particularly dramatic at the intersection with the high central mountains from Hardangervidda via Jotunheimen to the "alps" around Åndalsnes. Most fjords continue onshore as deep u-shaped (often gorge-like) valleys such as Lærdal, Romsdal, Sunndal and Gudvangen, several of these valleys are home to pretty, usually very deep, lakes such as Olden and Eidfjord lakes. Note that in some areas major freshwater lakes, although not connected to the ocean, are frequently called fjords. The fjords of western Norway has been rated as the world's top tourist destination by National Geographic Magazine. In a rating of UNESCO world heritage sites, Geiranger, in Møre og Romsdal and Nærøyfjord, in Sogn og Fjordane, also obtained top score in a survey conducted by National Geographic.

Several great waterfalls can be found in Western Norway. Many of them fall directly into the famous fjords as well as along the deep valleys extending into the mountains beyond the fjords. Unique in West Norway is that these waterfalls are found in large number all across the region. One third of the world's 30 tallest waterfalls (as listed on Wikipedia) are in West Norway and most of the tall waterfalls in Europe are in this region.

The only really even lowland area is Jæren, the region south of Stavanger. Jæren also has long stretches of sandy beaches and is not protected by lines of islands and skerries like the rest of this extremely fragmented coast. The beaches at Jæren are popular among kiters and surfers. Other flat lowlands include a small number of islands such as Smøla and Giske. Elsewhere the terrain is in general extremely fragmented along the ocean as well as in the interior where grand fjords, green gentle valleys and steep mountains dominate.

While famous for its natural landscapes, West Norway is also very rich in natural resources and an economically strong region. The rich fisheries of the North Sea and Atlantic lies just off the shores of West Norway, so does the oil and gas fields on the Norwegian continental shelf. Redundancy of water and steep mountains make West Norway ideal for hydro electric power production, supplying ample amount of electricity to industry and western cities as well as large parts of East Norway.

The name "Norway" ("way to the North") originally referred to the sea lane along the coast of West Norway from somewhere around present day Stavanger and northward. In the Middle Ages West Norwegians were referred to as "nordmenn" ("men of the North" or "Norwegians"), while people of East Norway were called "austmenn" ("Men of the East"). The name "Norway" was subsequently and gradually extended to the entire territory of the present Kingdom of Norway.

The southern part of West Norway (around Stavanger) is often referred to as the south-west, while the northern part (around Ålesund-Molde) is called the north-west.

The theory about ice ages over Scandinavia and other parts of world was formularer in 1823 when professor Jens Esmark compared moraines across Western Norway. At Haukalivatnet lake (near Lysefjorden) there is a distinct end moraine presumably created by a prehistoric glacier. Esmark noted the similarity to moraines in front of retreating glaciers in Stryn mountains and Jostedalsbreen. Esmark's observation is one of the great discoveries in the Earth sciences.

Talk
The language in West Norway is Norwegian, with dialects that are distinctly different from eastern dialects. Unlike most of Norway but similar to France and northern Germany, dialects in Hordaland (including Bergen) and Rogaland have a distinct guttural R-sound. Dialects further north in West Norway have a distinct "rolling R" (voiced alveolar trill) similar to Castilian (Spanish). Foreign visitors will note a difference in melody only. Written Norwegian may differ somewhat as a different standard for writing, called nynorsk, is frequently used in West Norway.

As in the rest of Norway, virtually everybody under 60 years of age speak or understand English. Many information signs in public places are printed in English. In tourist hot spots like Geiranger and Bergen, French and German are also common among service personnel. Don't be surprised to meet service workers that manage other languages such as Russian, Dutch, Italian or Spanish.

By plane
Bergen and Stavanger have fairly large airports and are well connected with several European cities and major Norwegian cities.

There are also international flights to Haugesund, Molde and Ålesund. Small airports, with connections from Oslo and for most of them from Bergen, are located at Florø, Førde, Kristiansund, Ørsta/Volda, Sandane, Sogndal and Stord.

The largest airlines are SAS and Norwegian, and for the small airports Widerøe.

By rail
International trains (and buses) go from Gothenburg and Stockholm in Sweden to Oslo. From Oslo, there are several lines to end stations on the West coast. Raumabanen (an arm of Dovrebanen, the Oslo-Trondheim line) runs from Dombås to Åndalsnes. Bergensbanen connects Oslo and Bergen across the mountain. The famous Flåmsbana (Flåm railway) branches off Bergensbanen at Myrdal. Sørlandsbanen connects Oslo and Stavanger via Kristiansand in South Norway.

By car
Western Norway occupies the entire west coast south of Trondheim until the mountain passes. There are accordingly numerous domestic entrances, basically along the east-west European highways E18, E134, E16, E136 as well as E39, the coastal main road. Travellers should also consider alternative routes (often a more scenic option) on national route 7, 15, 50, 55 and 70.

By boat
West Norway can be reached by Fjordline ferry from Hirtshals in Denmark, to Stavanger and Bergen. Hirtshals is reached by DSB train.

By plane
There are frequent flights between Bergen and Stavanger. There are also daily flights between Bergen and most of the airports listed in the "Get in" section.

By boat
Bergen is connected to many coastal towns to the north by Hurtigruten (the coastal steamer), which is a combined cargo and cruise ship (also accepts cars). North-south along the coast there are a few express passenger boats between Bergen and small towns to the north (operated by Norled). Villages and small towns along Sognefjorden is also connected to Bergen by these high speed catamarans. The fjord and island areas are typically best enjoyed from a boat.

By rail
Due to complex topography West Norway does not have an integrated rail network. The railway does however offer opportunity for scenic rides. Train is most suitable for transport between Bergen, Voss, Flåm and the mountains; transport between Stavanger, Sandnes and small towns south of Sandnes. Bergen-Voss-Flåm is included in the famous "Norway in a nutshell" tour. The scenic Raumabanen railway from Dombås to Åndalsnes is an alternative to bus or car in the Romsdalen valley. Tickets and timetables on nsb.no.

By bus
West Norway has an integrated network of long-distance coaches covering most of the region. Most services operate a few times every day and tickets can generally be bought on board.

Most coach services are listed on the Nor-Way Bussexpress website, who also operate the majority of long-distance routes. A number of long and medium distances services in the region are also provided by Fjord 1, and other operators run further services - not all of which are listed with Nor-way, so do your research.

In Møre og Romsdal county there is also the Timeekspressen connecting main towns (Volda-Ålesund-Molde-Kristiansund) by hourly departures.

There is a new long-distance coach connecting Stavanger with Bergen (Haugesund and Leirvik/Stord) in only 5 hours. It can only be booked online at Nettbuss with tickets starting at 249 kr. The bus service provide Wifi, power outlet, wc, air condition and luxurious chairs. The bus schedule can be found here

There are other more local bus connections.

Local city buses exist in major towns and cities.

Many bus journeys in the region are spectacular experiences in themselves, such as the Sognefjellet route between Sogndal and Lom.

Bus connections can be searched on rutebok.no.

By car

Most of West Norway is sparsely populated with limited public transport, and a car provides superior freedom and flexibility for the traveler. Because some roads are narrow and steep (not shown on most road maps), travellers are advised to calculate plenty of time for driving and not to rush as this increases risk of accident. Ferries are an integral part of the road network and trips across West Norway often involve ferries. European route E39 is the main road through western Norway, the E39 is perhaps Norway's most complex road with some 100 tunnels and seven ferry crossings. Norway has well over 1,000 road tunnels, a majority of them are in Western Norway and the area has five of the world's 25 longest road tunnels (Lærdal, Gudvanga, Jondal, Folgefonna and Ryfylke tunnels). Driving in tunnels is generally very safe and Norwegians don't slow down for tunnels.

Car ferries on the main roads are rather frequent (typically every half hour), extremely reliable and operate with reserve capacity. Except for the popular Geiranger-Hellesylt and Gudvangen-Kaupanger ferries, tourists generally need not worry about time tables and reservations. Travelers are however recommended to calculate plenty of time for trips involving car ferries. Buses, ambulances and livestock transport have priority. On most crossings, ferries have cafeteria selling coffee, beverages, sandwiches and some hot food. Some older diesel powered vessels have been replaced by ferries running on natural gas. Across Sognefjorden there is even one running on batteries, the MF «Ampere», the world's first such ferry.

Nature is the main sight in West Norway, and travelers are advised not to rush from town to town, but should instead calculate plenty of time for the road, and to stop at suitable scenic places.

Fjords
In Western Norway there are fjords everywhere, the visitor can't miss them. While fjords vary somewhat, their appearance is largely the same all over the area: The wildest part of the fjords are the middle section and eastern (far) end, the mouth at the ocean is generally more mellow (lower mountains and wider gaps). The entire area is however very rugged and fragmented (except the Jæren flatlands south of Stavanger).

Some of the main fjords of Western Norway:
 * Boknafjorden with Ryfylke and Lysefjorden with iconic Pulpit rock and Kjerag
 * Hardangerfjord - the romantic fruit garden
 * Sognefjord - Norway's longest, deepest and most complex fjord system
 * Nordfjord including Stryn and Olden
 * Storfjord with Hjørundfjord and Geirangerfjord
 * Romsdalsfjord with Molde and Åndalsnes
 * Sunndalsfjord/Tingvollfjord east of Kristiansund
 * The UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord (by Geiranger) and Nærøyfjord (by Gudvangen and Flåm).

Nature

 * Glaciers, several places (Folgefonna, Jostedalsbreen, Hardangerjøkulen)
 * Waterfalls in large numbers, for instance Låtefossen waterfall in Ullensvang, as well as many of the world's tallest waterfalls.
 * Preikestolen (The pulpit rock) by Stavanger.
 * Trollveggen and Trollstigen at Åndalsnes

Man made sights

 * Bryggen, the old Hanseatic docks in Bergen
 * Flåm railway in Flåm
 * The Sognefjellet mountain pass.

Do

 * Fishing. Endless possibilities along the coast, in the fjords and in lakes.
 * Glacier walks on Jostedalsbreen and Folgefonna (with guide only)
 * Hiking. Several possibilities, among them Hardangervidda and Jotunheimen.
 * Skiing in Voss.
 * Skiing, in summertime, in Stryn or Folgefonna
 * Sleep in a mountain cabin. The Norwegian Trekking Association operates 110 cabins scattered across the region.

Eat
There are various high class dining facilities in West Norway. See articles for each town. Specialities are plentiful.
 * Try Norwegian seafood!

Drink
When in this area, the local brand of bottled water is called Olden. Hansa brewery is the major beverages provider. The company also produces the arguably best Norwegian-owned beer.

It's safe to drink tap water in Norway as the water is among the cleanest in the world. You should therefore avoid drinking bottle water as it is not good for the environment.

Inner fjord areas such as Hardanger, Sognefjord and Valldal have long apple growing traditions. There are many cider producers in the area some of these ciders are of high quality and match fine white wine from central Europe and the best cider internationally. Norwegian cider is typically fresh, aromatic and dry. Ciders rich in tannins and with a more bitter taste are less common. Ciders can be light sparkling or still. Most cider producers accept visitors and sell by the bottle.

Stay safe
West Norway is as safe as the rest of Norway (see general information on Norway). In western Norway there are several roads with very narrow stretches where even small cars can not pass easily. Be extremely careful around blind corners on these roads. Stick to your side of the road! While roads may look dangerous, there are few accidents on these roads.

Show respect for the sea. Every year tourists die in small rented boats; usually having gone out in bad weather. Waves coming in from the Atlantic can be extremely powerful, but even in what seems like sheltered waters the wind can capsize a small boat.

Go next

 * Trøndelag
 * East Norway
 * Denmark
 * United Kingdom

title: Western Norway


text:
West of Bangkok

West of Bangkok is an extensive rural area in Central Thailand. It is popular for its floating markets, rural way of life, natural scenery and the infamous Burma Death Railway.

Cities

 * — the famous Bridge over the River Kwai, World War II museums, national parks and waterfalls
 * — off the tourist trail, boasts some museums and natural scenery
 * — also known as Mae Klong and boasts the Mae Klong Market
 * — last town before Three Pagodas Pass

Other destinations

 * — very popular floating market among the locals
 * — floating market on steroids, picture perfect but feels increasingly set-up for tourists
 * — the beautiful seven-tiered Erawan Falls
 * — the famous pass between Thailand and Myanmar
 * — A market on railway line

See
Every morning the tourist coaches from Bangkok make a beeline for the floating markets. Damnoen Saduak is widely visited by foreigners, while Amphawa is a weekend attraction flooded by Thais. Kanchanaburi is another highlight, particularly for the Bridge over the River Kwai and the associated World War II museums. Nakhon Pathom is known for the Phra Pathom Chedi, the world's tallest stupa. Some of the bookable tours from Bangkok manage to include all these attractions in a single day itinerary.

This is a sparsely populated region with endless fields of rice paddies, shrimp farms and fruit orchards. A scenic way to see the countryside is by taking the Mae Khlong Railway, a slow and rustic train from Bangkok to Samut Songkhram that rides at a snail's pace. A boat transfer at the fishing village of Samut Sakhon is included. Going further west, the terrain becomes mountainous. Kanchanaburi functions as a hub for the natural scenery here, and from there you could visit Erawan National Park or the Sai Yok Noi Falls.

title: West of Bangkok


text:
Weston

There is more than one place called Weston:

Australia

 * Weston (Australian Capital Territory)
 * Weston Park (Canberra)
 * Weston (New South Wales)

Canada

 * Weston (Nova Scotia)
 * Weston (Ontario), now part of Toronto

Borneo (Sabah)

 * Weston (Sabah)

England

 * Weston (Berkshire)
 * Weston (Cheshire)
 * Weston (Cornwall)
 * Weston-on-Trent (Derbyshire)
 * Weston (Devon)
 * Weston (Dorset)
 * Weston (Halton)
 * Weston (Hampshire)
 * Weston (Herefordshire)
 * Weston (Hertfordshire)
 * Weston (Highland)
 * Weston (Lincolnshire)
 * Weston (Moray)
 * Weston (North Yorkshire)
 * Weston (Northamptonshire)
 * Weston (Nottinghamshire)
 * Weston (Pembrokeshire), also called Sir Benfro
 * Weston (Shropshire)
 * Weston (Somerset) (in Bath)
 * Weston-super-Mare (in Somerset)
 * Weston (South Lanarkshire)
 * Weston (Staffordshire) (nr. Stafford)
 * Weston-under-Lizard, (Staffordshire)
 * Weston (Suffolk)

United States of America

 * Weston (Connecticut) - A town in Connecticut.
 * Weston (Florida) - A town in Florida.
 * Weston (Georgia) - A town in Georgia (state).
 * Weston (Idaho) - A town in Idaho.
 * Weston (Maine) - A town in Maine.
 * Weston (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.
 * Weston (Missouri) - A town in Missouri.
 * Weston (Nebraska) - A town in Nebraska.
 * Weston (Ohio) - A town in Ohio.
 * Weston (Oregon) - A town in Oregon.
 * Weston (Texas) - A town in Texas.
 * Weston (Vermont) - A town in Vermont.
 * Weston (West Virginia) - A town in West Virginia.
 * Weston (Wisconsin) - A town in Wisconsin.

title: Weston


text:
Weston (Florida)

Weston is a the most western city in Broward County, Florida. Located in tropical South Florida, Weston is a picturesque city with many parks, shops, hotels and resorts, golf courses, and restaurants. It has a thriving shopping and dining hub, which is called the Weston Town Center.

Understand
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A master-planned community, Weston incorporated as a city in 1996.

Get in
Weston is accessible by car, by bicycle, and by bus. Interstate 75 passes through the city and Interstate 595 ends at the Weston's border with Davie and Sunrise (the interchange of I-75, I-595, and the Sawgrass Expressway). State Road 84 also passes through and serves the city.

Weston features many bicycle paths.

Broward County Transit operates bus routes which travel through and serve the city.

By car
Weston has a well-developed street network which enables vehicular travel around the city.

By bicycle
Weston features many bicycle paths, which enable safe cycling throughout the city and thus make riding a bicycle an appealing option for getting around Weston.

By bus
Broward County Transit operates bus routes which travel through and serve the city. These bus routes connect to various places in the parts of the city where the bus routes travel through.

Landscaping
Weston's streets are picturesque and park-like, and are lined with trees, hedges, and flowers. It is a landscape architect's dream community.

Parks
Weston features many parks of all sizes, and with varying amenities.

Do
Weston is home to the Bonaventure Golf Club and the Weston Hills Country Club. Both feature massive golf courses and make for excellent golf outings.

Sleep

 * Vacation Village at Weston, Weston, Florida February 20, 2022.jpg

Stay safe
Weston is a very safe place to visit at all hours of the day and night.

Should emergency assistance of any type be needed, the number for emergency services, as in the rest of the United States, is 911.

Stay healthy
As is typical across tropical South Florida, the summers in Weston are extremely hot and humid. Be sure to remain hydrated at all times to avoid heat-related injuries.

The Cleveland Clinic Hospital is located within Weston.

Go next

 * Davie
 * Southwest Ranches
 * Sunrise

title: Weston (Florida)


text:
Weston (Massachusetts)

Weston is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 12,000 (2020). Weston is the most affluent place in Massachusetts and one of the most affluent in the United States. It is home to Regis College.

Sleep
There are no hotels in Weston.

title: Weston (Massachusetts)


text:
Weston (Missouri)

Weston is a city of 1800 people (2020) in Missouri. Weston is the home of McCormick Distilling Company, the oldest whiskey distillery west of the Mississippi River and the oldest continuously operated distillery in the United States.

title: Weston (Missouri)


text:
Weston (West Virginia)

Weston is a town of 3,900 people (as of 2019) in West Virginia. It's a great base for getting to nearby Stonewall Jackson State Park, and it's also a good destination for glass collectors and history buffs.

Get in
Weston is at the junction of US-33, between Athens, Ohio in the west to Buckhannon in the east, and US-19, between Clarksburg in the north to Summersville in the south. The nearest major highway is I-79, which begins in Charleston and goes up through Morgantown to Pennsylvania; Weston is just west of exit 99.

See

 * Downtown Weston has a variety of historic buildings dating from the late 19th century, and restoration efforts are constantly underway.

Sleep

 * Quality Inn, 2906 US Highway 33 East, +1 304-904-4272. 70 rooms. Exercise gym, outdoor heated pool. Complimentary continental breakfast. $63 - 95.
 * Jackson Lodge, Jackson's Mill, +1 304-269-5100. Motel rooms, private cottage rooms or cottage dormitory-style housing.
 * Jackson Lodge, Jackson's Mill, +1 304-269-5100. Motel rooms, private cottage rooms or cottage dormitory-style housing.

Go next

 * Buckhannon is about 20 minutes east on US-33/US-48.
 * Clarksburg is about 30 minutes north on I-79.
 * Glenville is about 40 minutes west on US-119
 * Sutton is about 40 minutes south on I-79
 * Elkins is about 45 minutes east on US-33/US-48.
 * Morgantown is about 1 hour north on I-79.
 * Summersville is a little over 1 hour south on US-19.

title: Weston (West Virginia)


text:
Weston-super-Mare

Weston-super-Mare is a typical English seaside resort on the shore of the Bristol Channel, in the county of Somerset, approximately south-west of Bristol, 35 miles west of Bath and 20 miles north of Bridgwater. The main attraction, Weston Bay, has miles of clean sandy beach and traditional seaside attractions. It is also known for being where the famous Welsh children's author Roald Dahl went to school.

Understand

 * Visit Weston-super-Mare website
 * Visit Weston-super-Mare website

By rail
Weston is accessible by train. lies on the mainline from Bristol to the South West. An off-peak return ticket from Bristol to Weston-super-Mare costs GB£7.50.

Direct trains are available from Bristol Temple Meads, London Paddington, Birmingham New Street, Gloucester, Cardiff Central, Taunton and Exeter St David's, with connections from all parts of England, Wales and Scotland.

By coach or bus
National Express coaches connect to most parts of Britain. Buses connect directly with Bristol, Bath, Bridgwater, Taunton and Glastonbury.

By bike
Weston-super-Mare is on the National Cycle Network and connected by Route which connects it to Burnham-on-Sea, where route  continues to Bridgwater and Taunton to the south. Route from Cheddar to Clevedon passes by Weston-super-Mare about 5 km to the west, which presents a possible connection opportunity to Clevedon, Portishead, and Bristol. Nailsea and Long Ashton can also be reached, the area is reasonably flat and easily for cycling.

By air
The nearest airport is. It is possible to get an airport bus to Temple Meads or Parson street railway stations in Bristol and take a train to Weston from there. Bus 121 runs direct, but slowly and infrequently. The quicker but more expensive option would be to take a taxi (£25).

Get around
Most of the major attractions lie within easy walking distance of the railway and bus stations. There are local bus services within the town provided by First Bus Taxi services are located centrally, and a trip from the town centre to the outskirts can be expected to cost around £5.

There are also two smaller rail stations that alight in more residential areas, and, which are serviced approximately every half hour.

Beaches

Nature

 * Flat Holm seen to the north of Steep Holm is also a nature reserve. It's part of Glamorgan in Wales and reached by boat trips from the Cardiff area.
 * Flat Holm seen to the north of Steep Holm is also a nature reserve. It's part of Glamorgan in Wales and reached by boat trips from the Cardiff area.
 * Flat Holm seen to the north of Steep Holm is also a nature reserve. It's part of Glamorgan in Wales and reached by boat trips from the Cardiff area.
 * Flat Holm seen to the north of Steep Holm is also a nature reserve. It's part of Glamorgan in Wales and reached by boat trips from the Cardiff area.

Events

 * Weston Air Festival was held on the sea front, with air displays and static exhibitions, on the same June weekend as Armed Forces Day. The 2023 festival was cancelled as the council were unable to pay a £135,000 subsidy, and the future is uncertain.

Eat
There are many fish and chip shops, cafes and other fast food outlets in and around the High Street and sea front. Also a small number of Indian and Chinese restaurants and take-aways.

Drink
A range of traditional style pubs and national chain outlets, many serving food, concentrated around the High street area and sea front.

Sleep
Large numbers of guest houses, also self-catering accommodation and a few independent hotels.

Connect
As of July 2022, Weston-super-Mare has 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE.

Go next
Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

Other local attractions near Weston-super-Mare are:
 * Glastonbury
 * Wells and the nearby Wookey Hole Caves (full of adventure for little kids)
 * Bath
 * Mendips
 * Long Ashton
 * Portishead
 * Cheddar
 * Bristol
 * Bridgwater

title: Weston-super-Mare


text:
West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach is a mid-sized city of 117,000 residents (2020) in the Greater Miami (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach) Metropolitan area.

Understand
West of the smaller, more famous town Palm Beach, West Palm Beach is mostly commercial but has some attractions and landmarks worth visiting.

By car
West Palm Beach is easily accessible by Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike.

By bus
The West Palm Beach bus stations are at the and the  at 205-209 S Tamarind in downtown West Palm Beach. See the below as to where the bus companies stop in:

By car
The easiest way to get around West Palm Beach and South Florida is by car. The city is set up on grid system, and is fairly easy to navigate. Downtown is roughly 2 miles north east of Palm Beach International Airport. Palm Beach County is served by Interstate I-95 and U.S. Highway 1 and US 441. It is also served by Florida's Turnpike.

In-Airport car rental companies include:

Outside-of-airport car rental companies with Shuttle include:

By taxi
Taxis are generally expensive, but available at almost any time and place.

See

 * Graffiti Street Art you will find one of the most beautiful and biggest graffiti street art of Florida if you walk around wpb downtown
 * Graffiti Street Art you will find one of the most beautiful and biggest graffiti street art of Florida if you walk around wpb downtown
 * Graffiti Street Art you will find one of the most beautiful and biggest graffiti street art of Florida if you walk around wpb downtown

Do
There are over 40 miles of beautiful beaches in Palm Beach County. The proximity of the Gulf Stream keeps the waters warm year-round although many miles are private a nearby public beach in the city of Palm Beach has lifeguards during the day, and is easily accessible. Flags by the lifeguard announce hazardous conditions (red for dangerous surf conditions, and purple for dangerous sea life).

For snorkeling, two places might satisfy. One is John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, on the north end of Singer Island. The beach contains a shallow reef full of fish. Be careful, shark and barracuda are seen occasionally. This park also has kayaking, music on Sundays, and some short hiking trails. Kayaking is popular in a calm inlet in the park, which is surrounded by mangrove swamps.

Another snorkeling spot is the 'Breaker's reef on Palm Beach. The reef is nestled right behind the Breakers hotel. This reef is one long stretch that juts out into the ocean. You can park on the side roads near the Breakers, although it is illegal and police often tow out of town cars from this wealthy neighborhood.

A beach activity unique to Florida is watching space shuttles launch out over the ocean. Shuttles lifting off from Cape Kennedy are visible during daylight and night hours, although night and early morning launches are significantly more impressive. From most beaches, looking directly north up the coast will orient you correctly. Launches are visible from anywhere in Florida, but the ocean guarantees a clear view and night launches often reflect in the water.

There are bicycle paths throughout the area. One of the nicest is on the West (Intracoastal) side of Palm Beach. It runs from the middle bridge to the inlet that separates Palm Beach from Singer Island. This path is also suitable for roller blading.

Buy
Shopping is a popular activity in West Palm, not least because the weather is so mild year-round. There are a number of places to shop, including:

 * CityPlace, two renovated blocks in downtown West Palm that now features dozens of high-end shops, including Brookstone; Pottery Barn; White House, Black Market; and more.
 * Clematis Street runs perpendicular to CityPlace, and is the older, trendy shopping district, featuring Ann Taylor and several unique, eclectic shops and some pubs, nightclubs and restaurants.
 * South Dixie Highway provides several blocks of second-hand shops, from thrift stores to high-end antiques.
 * Worth Avenue on Palm Beach Island is home to many luxury boutiques.
 * Downtown at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens has many restaurants, along with other stores selling clothing, like urban outfitters, and other shops. Includes Cobb movie theaters.

Drink

 * Clematis by Night, sponsored by the City of West Palm, is a lively event each Thursday on Clematis Street until 9PM. There's live music, and the audience can purchase beer and wine -- poured by a (rotating) area non-profit, who gets to keep the profits.

Stay safe

 * Driving -- Florida has "no fault" auto accident laws, which means you are responsible for up to $10,000 in damage to your car, even if you are not responsible for the accident. Make sure your rental car comes with collision insurance, or obtain separate insurance.  Florida also has a very high rate of auto fatalities, so take extra care on the roads.
 * Crime -- Despite a dropping crime rate, the crime is very high for a city the size of West Palm Beach, it has been rated as the 14th most-dangerous city in the United States, but the areas of high crime are not anywhere near the areas that would be traveled by the everyday tourist.

Go next
The Tiki Bar is a casual bar on the Intracoastal about 2 miles north of West Palm, in Riviera Beach just off US 1. They feature live music 7 days a week. If you go, try the Grouper Tacos, an unforgettable taste treat. One plate serves 2 people.

Heading north about 5 more miles takes you to Blue Heron Blvd. Turn right, and cross the bridge. You'll find yourself on Singer Island, a small beach community that wants to be the next Cocoa Beach. Featuring clean, wide, white sandy beaches, several open-aired beachside restaurants, and a few large surf shops, this is a very relaxing place to get away from the trendy shopping and nightlife of West Palm.

There are a lot of other interesting cities surrounding West Palm, including Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens to the north, Royal Palm Beach to West, Atlantic Ocean to East and Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Boynton Beach to the south.

title: West Palm Beach


text:
West Plains

West Plains is a city in Missouri.

Buy
Downtown Antiques Mall, 1 Court Square, is located on the historic Courtsquare in the old Aid Hardware building that dates to the 19th Century. Tel: +1 417-256-6487.

title: West Plains


text:
West Point Island

West Point Island is in the northwestern portion of the Falkland Islands.

Get in
West Point Island is frequented by cruise ships that drop passengers off for day trips. There is also an airstrip that can be used by the FIGAS planes, although it is not as well-maintained as the airstrips on other islands and is therefore not frequently used.

West Point Island can sometimes be visited as day trip by ferry from Carcass Island.

See

The terrain of the island is hilly with seacliffs offering excellent habitat for black-browed albatrosses and rockhopper penguins. The large colony on the western side of the island is a quick Landrover trip from the settlement, or a leisurely thirty-minute walk.

Go next

 * Carcass Island
 * Goose Green
 * New Island
 * Pebble Island
 * Port Howard
 * Saunders Island
 * Sea Lion Island
 * Stanley

title: West Point Island


text:
Zachodniopomorskie

Zachodniopomorskie is a coastal province (voivodeship), in the north-western corner of Poland.

Cities

 * (German: Stettin) — medieval capital city with an enormous harbor, monuments and old parks, as well as numerous museums
 * — spa in the Lake District
 * — medieval town near Szczecin
 * — spa in the Lake District
 * — medieval town near Szczecin
 * — medieval town near Szczecin

Baltic Coast towns

 * - popular seaside resort in the middle of the coast
 * - party town, also known as "Polish Ibiza". Lots of clubs, concerts, parties, and drunk people.
 * - spa resort close to German border with park and fancy hotels
 * - popular seaside resort in the middle of the coast
 * - party town, also known as "Polish Ibiza". Lots of clubs, concerts, parties, and drunk people.
 * - spa resort close to German border with park and fancy hotels
 * - spa resort close to German border with park and fancy hotels

Other destinations

 * – forest close to city of Gryfino with characteristic crooked trees, probably formed by humans to grow this way
 * — national park protecting the wildlife of the river Drawa and a canoeing site
 * — island in the Baltic Sea shared with Germany
 * — national park on forested cliff coast of Wolin island with European bison preserve

Climate
Climate in Zachodniopomorskie is mix of oceanic and continental climate, which means that temperature amplitude is low and rainfall is common, though not as much as in Western Europe. Prepare for bad weather as periods of prolonged rainfall lasting for two weeks straight are not uncommon. Opposite can also happen with beautiful sunny weather lasting equally long. Coast is usually much milder being several degree warmer/cooler than the interior depending on season.

Get in
Some major airlines, Poland's national carriers LOT Polish Airlines and some low cost airlines fly to Szczecin's Szczecin-Goleniów Airport. Domestic flights operated by LOT (under Eurolot brand) connect Szczecin with Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport.

See

 * The famous (Polish: Krzywy Las) close to the town Gryfino, near the German border.

Stay safe
Zachodniopomorskie is quite safe when it comes to crime, however some coastal towns attract lots of partying youth often abusing drugs and alcohol, especially in town of Mielno. If you plan to stay closer to southeastern part of the province you need to mind your location as it is quite desolate and you may get lost in one of many large forests here.

Beaches which are unfit for swimming will have red flag waving. Follow official information and prefer beaches with lifeguards if possible. While swimming in Baltic Sea can definitely be a nice experience you need to be wary of hypothermia even in summer as water tends to be cool 22 degrees Celsius at most. Higher water temperatures usually result in algal blooms making swimming in the sea unsafe.

Go next
Zachodniopomorskie borders three other Polish voivodeships:
 * Lubuskie,
 * Wielkopolskie,
 * Pomorskie,

as well as the Baltic Sea and Germany.

Sweden is accessible by ferry from Świnoujście.

title: Zachodniopomorskie


text:
Westport

There's more than one place called Westport:

Canada

 * Westport (Ontario) - a town near the Rideau Canal in Eastern Ontario

New Zealand

 * Westport (New Zealand) - a town in the West Coast (New Zealand) region of the South Island

Ireland

 * Westport (Ireland) - a place in County Mayo, West Ireland

United States of America

 * Westport (Connecticut) - a city in Fairfield County, in Connecticut, New England
 * Westport (Massachusetts) - a town in Bristol County, in Massachusetts
 * Westport (New York) - a town in New York (state)
 * Westport (Washington) - a city in the state of Washington

title: Westport


text:
Westport (Connecticut)

Westport is in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

title: Westport (Connecticut)


text:
Westport (Ireland)

 * For other places with the same name, see Westport

Westport is an attractive town in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland, with a population of 6,900 in 2022. It was originally Cathair na Mart, "town of the beef cattle", a cattle-mart and trading port in an era when it was much easier to get around by sea than overland. That settlement was swept aside in 1780 to make way for Westport House and its grounds. A new planned town was laid out along the banks of the Carrowbeg River, and has been well-preserved since that time.

The town has grown into a tourist resort. The tourist information centre is on Bridge St. Westport is the main base for exploring southwest Mayo and the islands of Clew Bay (141 of them at the latest count). Their attractions are therefore described on this page. The area is mobbed on "Reek Sunday" at the end of July, when thousands of pilgrims ascend the mountain of Croagh Patrick.

Get in
Knock is the nearest airport but has few flights, see below for the occasional Bus 440. Consider flying into Dublin or Shannon then hiring a car, which you're going to need to tour the county.

Trains from Dublin Heuston take about 3 hr 30 min to Westport. On the morning service you usually take the train for Galway and change at Athlone, later in the day three direct trains run via Portarlington, Tullamore, Clara, Athlone, Roscommon, Castlerea, Ballyhaunis, Claremorris, Manulla Junction and Castlebar. A walk-up single from Dublin is €23, see Irish Rail for timetables, fares and online tickets.

There are also three connections per day between Westport and Ballina, changing at Manulla Junction for a journey of around an hour.

The is 500 m southwest of town on R330 Altamount St. Ticket office hours are erratic but there are ticket machines and toilets.

There is no direct bus from Dublin. Bus 456 runs five times a day from Galway, inland via Headford, Shrule and Ballinrobe, taking 1 hr 40 min to Westport and continuing to Castlebar. There isn't a bus station in Westport, the main bus stop is on Mill St.

Bus 423 runs three times a day from Clifden in County Galway, taking 90 min via Letterfrack and Leenane to Westport.

Bus 440 runs from Athlone via Roscommon, Knock village and airport, Charlestown and Castlebar to Westport. There are 4 M-Sa and two on Sunday.

Get around

 * Walk in town: from the centre to the Point of the Quay is 2 km. But you need wheels for most outlying sights.
 * Bus 450 follows the coast, from Dooagh near the west tip of Achill island, via Doogort and Achill Sound to the mainland, then Mulrany, Newport and Westport, then onward to Murrisk and Louisburgh; it doesn't continue to Roonagh pier. It runs M-Sa every 2-3 hours, with only three on Sunday.
 * Westport Bike Hire on James St is open daily 9AM-6PM.
 * Ferries to Clare Island sail from Roonagh 7 km west of Louisburgh. They sail daily year-round, and frequently in summer. The crossing takes 25 min, foot passengers only, adult return €17 return. The operators are O'Malley Ferries, and Clare Island (aka O'Grady's) Ferry who have a bus connection from Westport for their first and last sailing. You must book this the day before on +353 98 23737 or +353 87 900 4115.
 * To Inishturk take the O'Malley ferry from Roonagh, a 40-min crossing, €34 adult return. They sail daily year-round.

See

 * Clew Bay Heritage Centre is a tiny museum on Roman Island, open Mar-Oct, in a building once used for holding live pigs before transport. The island, now a promontory of the Quay, was a busy industrial port during the boom years, but now has forlorn industrial remnants. The Point of the promontory is a good spot for seeing birdlife and otters.
 * Clew Bay is a beautiful bay dotted with small islands: there are 141 named islands and outcrops, which you see more of further north towards Newport. They're drumlins, mounds of gravel deposited by glaciers. (There's a swathe of them right across Ireland where the last glaciation halted: on land, e.g., in County Cavan, they create a "basket-of-eggs" landscape.) Most are uninhabited, several have private dwellings; boat trips go out from Westport harbour. To view from the mainland either take the south shore road towards Louisburgh and Roonagh, or the north shore road towards Achill Island.
 * is a village 8 km west of Westport. It's at the foot of the trail up Croagh Patrick, with a large car park for walkers. A spectral sculpture evokes the "famine ships" of the 1840s. The Augustinian abbey, founded 1457, is a scrappy ruin on the shore.
 * is a peak of 764m / 2507 ft, rising abruptly from a U-shaped glaciated valley. Croagh means "stack" and it's a place of pilgrimage, as in legend St Patrick fasted for forty days on the summit in 441 AD, and from there sent greetings to the newly appointed Pope Leo I. Certainly there's been a chapel dubbed "Teampall Phádraig" at the summit since that century; there may have been pagan rites before then. The present summit chapel was built in 1905. The path from Murrisk is a well-worn 7-km trail up steep scree, reckon 2 hr 30 min up and 90 min back. On the last Sunday in July, Reek Sunday, some 15-30,000 pilgrims climb the peak, at a genteel pace as they're led by the Archbishop of Tuam, he always knew that long crook stick would come in handy. Some pilgrims begin as far away as Balintubber Abbey, following a 30 km trail, and may come barefoot. At least they don't risk snakebite as it's from this mountain that St Patrick is supposed to have banished snakes from Ireland when they slithered across his devotions. (He picked a good country to banish them from, as post-glacial Ireland never did have snakes.) Gold was discovered in the mountain in the 1980s, in commercially workable veins, but mining was not permitted.
 * is a peak of 764m / 2507 ft, rising abruptly from a U-shaped glaciated valley. Croagh means "stack" and it's a place of pilgrimage, as in legend St Patrick fasted for forty days on the summit in 441 AD, and from there sent greetings to the newly appointed Pope Leo I. Certainly there's been a chapel dubbed "Teampall Phádraig" at the summit since that century; there may have been pagan rites before then. The present summit chapel was built in 1905. The path from Murrisk is a well-worn 7-km trail up steep scree, reckon 2 hr 30 min up and 90 min back. On the last Sunday in July, Reek Sunday, some 15-30,000 pilgrims climb the peak, at a genteel pace as they're led by the Archbishop of Tuam, he always knew that long crook stick would come in handy. Some pilgrims begin as far away as Balintubber Abbey, following a 30 km trail, and may come barefoot. At least they don't risk snakebite as it's from this mountain that St Patrick is supposed to have banished snakes from Ireland when they slithered across his devotions. (He picked a good country to banish them from, as post-glacial Ireland never did have snakes.) Gold was discovered in the mountain in the 1980s, in commercially workable veins, but mining was not permitted.
 * , 20 km west of Westport, has long sandy beaches and B&Bs. It's a planned town, built in 1795 by the Marquess of Sligo to house Catholics fleeing sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland, and named for the Battle of Louisburg on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. The Grace O'Malley Museum is occasionally open. Just south of the village, turn off R378 to Roonagh pier, for ferries to Clare Island and Inishturk. Or follow R335 into the hills, a scenic route to Delphi and Leenane.
 * And see Leenane for the south end of the county, such as Delphi Valley. Mweelrea however is easier to reach by the coast lane south of Louisburgh.
 * at the entrance to Clew Bay is some 5 km long by 3 km wide. It's inhabited and reached by ferry from Roonagh, see Get Around. The medieval tower house, now just a teetering shell, was the abode of Grace or Gráinne O'Malley (1530-1603), mythologised as a "Pirate Queen". (That just meant she was an independent landowner beyond London authority, and got around by sea — imagine the roads in Mayo in the 16th century? When she visited Queen Elizabeth I, she was richly gowned, and they conversed in Latin.) She's probably among the many O'Malleys buried at the island's abbey, St Brigid's, built in the 12th and 13th century. It's Cistercian and has ceiling and wall paintings. The lighthouse on the north tip of the island is now a guesthouse, and there's also a hostel, and self-catering by the landing pier.
 * : beware, there are three hereabouts. This one is inhabited and is reached by ferry from Roonagh, or less often from Cleggan. There's an Napoleon-era signal tower, accommodation, and a lane which soon circles you back to your starting point. Inis Toirc means "wild boar island": Inishturk Beg is a privately-owned islet in Clew Bay, while Inishturk South is uninhabited and is just off the Galway coast near Clifden.
 * near Inishturk is uninhabited and doesn't have a ferry service. Boat trips sometimes visit for the ancient monastery, and there's a pilgrimage on 15 Aug, the Feast of the Assumption.
 * seen to the southwest is in County Galway and is reached by ferry from Cleggan northwest of Clifden. It was historically in County Mayo, but re-assigned to Galway in the famine years the better to organise relief. A place too poor to be in Mayo, imagine.

Do

 * W Cinema is in town centre off James St.
 * Golf: Westport Golf Club is 2 km northwest of town along Golf Course Rd past Westport House. White tees 6773 yards, par 73, visitor round €35.
 * Westport Leisure Park is off James St in town centre. There's a pool, gym and fitness classes, and you can pay-as-you-go without membership.
 * Boat trips: Westport Cruises sail around the islets of Clew Bay.
 * Fishing: several boat operators on the Quay run sea-angling trips.
 * Great Western Greenway is a cycling and walking route, 42 km from Westport to Newport, Mulranny and Achill Island. A preliminary leg, "Westport Town Greenway", starts at The Quay and loops south edge of town to N5 Castlebar Rd. A short on-road leg traverses a housing estate then you pick up the definitive trail, an easy 11 km to Newport along the trackbed of the old Great Western Railway. There's a separate section around Castlebar to the east, but this is mostly on public roads.
 * Horse-riding: Carrowholly Stables, northwest of town beyond the golf course, offers treks and lessons.
 * Summer SUP do stand-up paddle boarding, with lessons and kit hire. They're on the coast at Oldhead near Louisburg and open daily.
 * The Wild Atlantic Way is a long-distance motoring and cycling route along the western seaboard. The local section is self-evident: southbound from Achill Island round the shores of Clew Bay to Newport and Westport, then to Louisburgh, Roonagh for the islands if time allows, south to Cloonamanagh, then back-track to re-join the Delphi Valley road to Killary Fjord and Leenane.
 * Féile Chois Cuain is a trad music festival held on the early May public holiday in Louisburgh.
 * Westport Horse & Pony Show is held at Drumindoo Stud, 1 km east of town along N5. It's usually the first weekend in June.
 * Sea Angling Festival is in late June, fishing from boats or shore.
 * Seafood Festival is nowadays in September.
 * Westival is an arts, music and literature festival in October.
 * Bike hire: Paddy & Nelly Bike Hire offers regular and electric bike hire around Westport and for the wider Western Greenway.

Buy

 * Westpoint Shopping Centre is on Altamount St opposite the railway station, with a Tesco open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-9PM.
 * Farmers Market is off James St, Westport Th 8:30AM-1PM and Market Square in Louisburgh F 9AM-3PM.

Eat

 * Curry's Cottage is a bakery and tea-shop on James St, open Tu-Sa 9AM-6PM.
 * See Sleep for Castlecourt Hotel.
 * See Sleep for Castlecourt Hotel.
 * See Sleep for Castlecourt Hotel.
 * See Sleep for Castlecourt Hotel.
 * See Sleep for Castlecourt Hotel.
 * See Sleep for Castlecourt Hotel.
 * See Sleep for Castlecourt Hotel.

Drink

 * JJ O'Malleys at the top of Bridge St is a trad pub with restaurant.
 * Others in town centre are Jester Bar, Henehan's, The Old Grain Store, Walsh's, Blouser's and An File.
 * Brewery: Mescan Brewery was set up by discontented veterinary surgeons, what's the collective noun for that? "A spaying of..."? They offer tours, if you can find them up the back lane west side of Croagh Patrick, at Kilsallagh F28 FW70.
 * Distillery: Lough Mask Distillery produces gin, vodka and whiskey; tours are available. It's south of Tourmakeady along R300 the west lakeshore road.
 * Distillery: Lough Mask Distillery produces gin, vodka and whiskey; tours are available. It's south of Tourmakeady along R300 the west lakeshore road.

Sleep

 * Westport House Camping & Caravan Park is within the grounds of Westport House. Open Apr-Aug, assistance dogs only July-Aug. Tent / tourer pitch €30.
 * Ardmore Country House Hotel is in Rosbeg near Glenderan B&B.
 * McCarthy's Lodge is above the bar at the foot of Quay St. Some pub noise but it's clean and comfy.
 * McCarthy's Lodge is above the bar at the foot of Quay St. Some pub noise but it's clean and comfy.
 * McCarthy's Lodge is above the bar at the foot of Quay St. Some pub noise but it's clean and comfy.
 * McCarthy's Lodge is above the bar at the foot of Quay St. Some pub noise but it's clean and comfy.
 * McCarthy's Lodge is above the bar at the foot of Quay St. Some pub noise but it's clean and comfy.
 * McCarthy's Lodge is above the bar at the foot of Quay St. Some pub noise but it's clean and comfy.
 * McCarthy's Lodge is above the bar at the foot of Quay St. Some pub noise but it's clean and comfy.
 * McCarthy's Lodge is above the bar at the foot of Quay St. Some pub noise but it's clean and comfy.

Connect
As of Feb 2021, Westport has 5G from Eir and Three. Vodafone has a 4G signal in town centre but poor coverage further out.

Go next

 * Newport 11 km north has a fine Georgian mansion. Head that way to reach Achill Island and the coast further north.
 * Castlebar the county town has a couple of abbeys.
 * Leenane is where the scenery changes as you pass the fjord into Connemara.

title: Westport (Ireland)


text:
Westport (Massachusetts)

Westport is a town in the SouthCoast region of Massachusetts along the border with Rhode Island. Largely a residential and farming community, Horseneck Beach and Westport River provide beauty and recreation. Westport includes the village of North Westport.

Get in

 * Logan International Airport in Boston and T.F. Green Airport in Warwick (Rhode Island) are the major airports.
 * Westport is reached via Interstate 195 to Route 88 at Exit 10. Routes 6 and 177 also serve the town.
 * Harbormaster, VHF Channel 16.

Go next

 * Little Compton is the bordering Rhode Island town

title: Westport (Massachusetts)


text:
Westport (New York)

Westport is a small town of 1,350 people in Essex County in New York's Adirondacks region.

Understand
Tiny Westport is cottage country and the birthplace of the Adirondack chair, originally a "Westport plank chair" designed by Thomas Lee in 1903 and patented by carpenter Harry Bunnell in 1905.

The original chair is simple in design. One plank of hemlock, pine or cedar is cut into eleven pieces and assembled as a distinctive wooden outdoor chair which tilts slightly back. Popular among cottagers, the patents for the chairs have long expired and woodworkers in many faraway places (including a few Amish communities) have readily adopted the basic designs.

While there have been endless knockoffs, ranging from Ontario's "Muskoka furniture" of similar construction to the mass-market composite, resin or recycled plastic imitations of the wooden original which turn up at hardware and lumber dealers nationwide, some of the original wooden chairs are still made in the Adirondacks region and shipped far and wide.

Get in
Westport is accessible by car or boat, as it is located on Lake Champlain.

By train

 * Train operator:
 * Route stopping at Westport:
 * Adirondack operating daily between Montreal and New York City including stops along the way in Saint-Lambert, Rouses Point, Plattsburgh, Westport, Ticonderoga, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers.

By bus

 * A connecting Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach bus stops in Westport runs to/from Lake Placid.

Do

title: Westport (New York)


text:
Westport (New Zealand)

Westport is the main town of the Buller District, in the northern part of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Westport has spectacular beaches at its back door, and the mighty Buller River, the largest river by volume in NZ, runs right beside the town. Breathtaking views of the Paparoa Mountains and the Brunner Range are the backdrop for this scenic town. Outdoor adventures abound, coupled with fabulous eateries and hospitable locals.

Understand
Westport is the main town of the Buller District with a population of around 4,660 which increases somewhat through Whitebait season, September to November. Coal and gold mining are the primary employers in the district, with a growing fishing fleet as well. Westport encompasses the Carters Beach, Cape Foulwind, and Tauranga Bay communities to the west, and other communities to the north.

By car
Westport is at the mouth of the Buller River, about 5 km up State Highway 67 from the junction with State Highway 6.
 * When travelling from Nelson or Christchurch, take State Highway 6 from Inangahua Junction via the Buller Gorge to the junction with State Highway 67. Allow at least an hour for travelling the gorge. The road through the Buller Gorge is single lane in several places and frequently traveled by buses and trucks. Take care, be patient, and enjoy the scenery.
 * When travelling north from Greymouth, take State Highway 6 along the coast via Punakaiki to the junction with State Highway 67. Allow 1.5 hours driving, plus set aside an hour to see the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.

By bus
Intercity have a daily coach from Nelson via Murchison, arriving in the morning and going onwards to Fox Glacier. There is also a daily service from Fox Glacier, via Franz Josef, Hokitika, Greymouth (connecting with the train from Christchurch) and Punakaiki.

East West Coaches run shuttle buses from Christchurch via the Lewis Pass, or via Arthur's Pass and Greymouth. The bus stops at the Caltex Gas station, 197 Palmerston Street.

Get around
Westport is an easy town to explore and navigate by walking or bicycle. Taxis are also available. Carters Beach is a few kilometres out of town, Cape Foulwind 12 km, and Tauranga Bay a further 5 km. Each of the beach communities stretch a kilometre or two along the shore.

Beaches
With the relatively small population of the West Coast region and the quantity and size of the beaches, you'll find you have them almost to yourself. Follow conservation practices - do not approach or feed wildlife, nor collect souvenirs from the beach. Dogs should be leashed to protect wildlife, especially the vulnerable little blue penguin population found throughout the wild West Coast.

Cape Foulwind and Tauranga Bay

Buy
In Westport they prefer to slow down and enjoy life, and hope you will as well. You'll find most shops are closed on Saturday afternoon, and all day on Sundays. Cafes and restaurants are open, as are all the beautiful outdoor activities.

Coffee
New Zealand has a particular affection for coffee, and the West Coast is no exception. Westport boasts two local coffee roasters. You may find their products in local supermarkets and cafes.

Eat and drink
Some cafes and restaurants are closed Monday and Tuesdays. Call ahead to verify.

Sleep
Westport welcomes self-contained freedom camping, except in the communities of Carters Beach, Cape Foulwind, and Tauranga Bay.

Westport
Camping and cabins

Hostels and homestays

Motels and motor lodges in New Zealand are usually self-contained with a kitchenette in the room. Confirm before booking.

Hotels usually have amenities such as an on-site restaurant or bar.

Bed and breakfast

Carters Beach
Freedom camping is not permitted at Carters Beach.

Cape Foulwind
Freedom camping is not permitted at Cape Foulwind.

Tauranga Bay
Freedom camping is not permitted at Tauranga Bay.

Connect
Wi-Fi is available in cafes (on request) and internet access is offered at the Public Library during library hours. Wi-Fi is not strongly available on the street.

Post Office - NZ Post is located inside the Fresh Choice Supermarket, 18 Fonblanque Street.

Public toilets
Public toilets are available on Palmerston Street a half-block block north of Lyndhurst. They are also available at Victoria Park: on Brougham Street between Russell and Queen, and on Russell Street between Brougham and Lyndhurst.

Laundry self-service

 * West Coast Laundry, 58 Palmerston Street. 7AM-8:30PM, 7 days.

Go next
It is best you check your fuel tank before leaving Westport, as it may be 70-90 km to the next filling station whether you're headed north, south or east.

North

 * Granity - to the north on State Highway 67, a historic mining town with some notable features (25 minutes (30 km))
 * Karamea - About 1.5 hours (90 km) drive to the north on State Highway 67, and the start (or finish) of the Heaphy Track. (There is no exit road from Karamea other than State Highway 67, so make it a day trip, at least.)

South

 * Charleston
 * Punakaiki - stunning coast road south on State Highway 6 (48 minutes – 56 km)
 * The Truman Track is south along the coast from Westport and is a 15 minute hike to the coast with excellent breakers and a pebble beach.
 * Pancake Rocks & Blowholes at Punakaiki, Paparoa National Park. Exceptionally interesting rock formations viewed from a paved trail, much of it wheelchair accessible.
 * Barrytown - a hamlet with a gorgeous beach and a great vibe
 * Greymouth - the next sizeable town to the south, 1 hour 30 minutes (98 km)

East

 * Reefton – inland to the south-east
 * Murchison - inland to the east

title: Westport (New Zealand)


text:
West Rand

The West Rand is the western part of the Gauteng province of South Africa.

Cities

 * — a good base for visiting the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, and home of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens
 * — a good base for visiting the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, and home of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens

Other destinations

 * - undoubtedly one of the must-see destinations of Gauteng. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site where a lot of human ancestry fossil finds have been made.

title: West Rand


text:
Westray

Westray is one of the Orkney Islands of Scotland, with a population in 2011 of 588. The main settlement is Pierowall in the north of the island, but the ferry from Kirkwall lands at Rapness near its south end. A lane stretches the six miles between them. Westray is about 12 miles north of Mainland Orkney and has a similar terrain of red sandstone bounded by great sea cliffs and fertile green fields with cattle. Farming and fishing are the main occupations, with only a small tourist presence.

Understand
The world's shortest scheduled flight is the two-minute hop between Westray and Papa Westray; but what does that record mean? First, it means commercial aviation: private aircraft larking about their aero club, or Australian farmers checking their far-flung stock, don't count. Second, it means a point-to-point service that you can buy a ticket for. For instance in Kenya in the Masai Mara wildlife reserve, the planes make short hops between any safari camps that have travellers that day, before heading back to Nairobi. But you can't buy a ticket between those camps, as effectively they're just separate terminals of a single destination. Third, it means a regular scheduled service: it might be fun to charter a big plane to recreate Orville Wright's first powered flight of 12 seconds, with everyone gussied up in 1903 period costume, but you couldn't claim this particular record.

The Westray-Papa Westray hop is part of a triangular flight coming out from Kirkwall then immediately returning, so normally all passengers are going to and from the Orkney Mainland. Nevertheless you can buy a ticket just for the hop. Like the other intra-island flights, it's operated by Loganair, heavily subsidised and bookable online.

This flight has operated since 1967 and used to be in just one direction, Westray to Papa Westray, but nowadays it's both. The flight is scheduled for two minutes but is often less, and the record stands at 53 seconds. If you're collecting these things, the world's second-shortest air route is probably between Stronsay and Sanday, at five minutes. Several other inter-Orkney routes are scheduled for ten minutes, but don't expect dinner and a movie.

Get in
is the landing point for Orkney Ferries from Kirkwall. May-Sep these sail three times M-Sa, twice on Sunday, taking 90 minutes. Until April 2025, return fares are £11.90 adult, £8.90 conc, £4.90 child, £28.10 car. Tuesday and Friday one sailing continues to Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay. Oct-April have only one or two sailings per day and none continuing to North Ronaldsay.

(Useful to know: the little bay next to Rapness pier is called "The Sands of Woo" — how was this movie never made?)

in Pierowall has 3 to 6 ferries a day May-Sep to Papa Westray, taking 25 min, for foot passengers and bicycles only. A return trip is £5.90 adult. To travel between these islands Oct-April or with a vehicle, you need the car ferry from Rapness.

Pierowall Bay has the best shelter for private boats, and was the traditional arrival point on Westray until the ro-ro pier at Rapness was built.

has Loganair flights twice a day from Kirkwall. It's at the north tip of the island two miles from Pierowall. These flights also stop at Papa Westray just across the channel, making it the world's shortest scheduled flight at just under two minutes.

Get around
B9066 the road across the island is sealed and in good repair but has no sidewalk.

Amazing, but this small island has a bus service. M&J Harcus minibus plies four times a day between Rapness, Pierowall and Gill Pier (for Papa Westray). It's timed to meet the ferries and is hail and ride anywhere on the way. It's available for other times and routes, eg from the airport, by phoning +44 1857 677450.

No car hire or bicycle hire on Westray, but shops in Kirkwall are relaxed about you taking their bike to other Orkney islands as long as it comes back.

See

 * Faray is the low mile-long island seen east of the ferry on the approach to Rapness. A lane runs past its abandoned farmsteads; it's been uninhabited since 1947 and is now a grey seal breeding colony. Holm of Faray is the divided islet just north, which was just grazing: faerey is from the Norse for "sheep island".
 * is a squat tidal sea-stack, well-defended by its garrison of puffins. Scrappy ruins upon it are probably an early Christian hermitage. By road, look for the puffin signpost a mile north of Rapness Pier, then follow the grassy track. You can continue along the cliffs to Tufts Bay.
 * or Westside church is the ruin of a Viking church from mid-12th century. Sagas say it was built by Haflidi Thorkelsson, who farmed the land nearby.
 * Lady Kirk in Pierowall is the substantial ruin of a church built in 1674 over its 13th century predecessor, with interesting gravestones around. Pierowall was the site of a pagan Norse cemetery, excavated in the 19th century, but nothing is nowadays visible here - some grave goods are on display in the National Museum in Edinburgh. The Vikings converted to Christianity around the 10th / 11th centuries, probably in mass conversions at the behest of chieftains negotiating the support of other Christian rulers. As of 2024, only the graveyard is accessible to the public.
 * Westray Heritage Trust in Pierowall is a local history museum plus archive, craft shop and cafe. It's open May-Sep M-Sa 9AM-noon & 2-5PM, Su 1:30-5PM; Oct-Apr W 2-4PM. Adults £4, conc £3, child 50p.
 * Links of Noltland is an active archaeology site near the beach half a mile north of the castle. May-September you can watch them sift through the remnants of a Bronze Age settlement. This is rescue archaeology as the sand dunes are eroding.
 * Wheeling Steen is an art gallery at Aikerness half a mile from the airport. It's open M, W-Sa 1-5PM.
 * 3 miles north-west of Pierowall has impressive cliffs, a lighthouse and headland, home to thousands of birds including guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills and puffins.
 * Wildlife: common seals are, well, common, while grey seals prefer remoter spots such as Farray. Otters are seen throughout the island, try watching from Rapness Pier. Westray has been rat-free since 1970; an accident introduction in 1992 was swiftly dealt with. The island swarms with rabbits.
 * is the small inhabited island to the northeast. In summer you can easily day-trip by ferry and see the prehistoric dwelling Knap of Howar.
 * Holm of Aikerness is an islet half a mile east of Westray Airport, a large skerry at low tide but just a wave-dashed crag at the top of the tide. Air service? - you could waft a paper dart across on a following wind.
 * Holm of Aikerness is an islet half a mile east of Westray Airport, a large skerry at low tide but just a wave-dashed crag at the top of the tide. Air service? - you could waft a paper dart across on a following wind.

Do

 * Golf: Westray GC along the lane to Noltland Castle is nine holes, visitor day ticket £20. The third is claimed as Britain's longest hole, 738 yards, par 6.
 * Fishing: Burness and Saintear lochs have fly-fishing for trout. The main commercial sea-catch is crabs.

Buy

 * JC Tulloch in Pierowall is a licenced supermarket and Post Office, open M-Sa 9AM-7:30PM, Su noon-3PM.
 * Westray Bakehouse near Gill Pier make crackers, biscuits and shortbread but not regular bread. They're open M-F 9AM-5PM.
 * JC Tulloch in Pierowall is a licenced supermarket and Post Office, open M-Sa 9AM-7:30PM, Su noon-3PM.
 * Westray Bakehouse near Gill Pier make crackers, biscuits and shortbread but not regular bread. They're open M-F 9AM-5PM.
 * Westray Bakehouse near Gill Pier make crackers, biscuits and shortbread but not regular bread. They're open M-F 9AM-5PM.

Eat & drink

 * Pierowall Hotel (below) has good bar food, open daily noon-2PM & 5-8PM. The bar is open continuously noon to midnight.
 * Richan's Retreat is a cafe attached to a gift shop at Rapness ferry pier, open daily 8:30AM-6:30PM.
 * Richan's Retreat is a cafe attached to a gift shop at Rapness ferry pier, open daily 8:30AM-6:30PM.
 * Richan's Retreat is a cafe attached to a gift shop at Rapness ferry pier, open daily 8:30AM-6:30PM.

Sleep

 * No 1 Broughton is a B&B 200 yards east of Chalmersquoy.
 * Self-catering cottages cluster around Pierowall.
 * No 1 Broughton is a B&B 200 yards east of Chalmersquoy.
 * Self-catering cottages cluster around Pierowall.

Stay safe
Bad weather is the chief hazard, and take care near the cliffs.

Connect
As of July 2024, the island has patchy coverage with O2, but no signal from EE, Three or Vodafone.

Go next

 * Papa Westray - get away from it even more on a trip to the neighbouring island.
 * North Ronaldsay can only be reached direct from Westray in summer.
 * You have to return to Kirkwall for all other island connections.

title: Westray