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Valles Caldera National Preserve

The Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) is an unusual unit of the United States national park system in the Jemez Mountains of North Central New Mexico. It preserves a huge volcanic structure of great scenic and scientific value. Facilities for the visitor are being developed and are undergoing rapid change.

History
The Valles Caldera has had an unusual history that has given it a unique position among United States national parks. After a long pre-history of occupation by ancestral Puebloans and later Spanish settlers, the caldera and the surrounding Jemez Mountains passed into United States control after the Mexican-American War. At this time it wasn't viewed as particularly significant: a remote, if scenic, area of what seemed to be grazing land within a newly acquired territory, of little commercial interest to anyone but the old Spanish families that had already settled and pastured livestock there, sometimes in the face of considerable hostility from nearby Indian populations. Consequently, when a bill was passed in the United States Congress in 1860 to compensate the Baca family, a pioneering family in New Mexico with significant land holdings, for the federalization of some of their land, a large tract of land in the Jemez, including most of the caldera, was handed over to the Bacas, along with some other tracts elsewhere in the Southwest. This tract became known as "Baca Location No. 1" and would retain this name long after the Baca family sold it to other investors.

The Baca Location changed hands a few times in the 19th and 20th centuries before winding up in the hands of James P. (Pat) Dunigan, a wealthy Texan who had a good sense for the history and aesthetics of the property. Dunigan was horrified by the environmental damage inflicted on his property by prior holders of the timber rights. He therefore bought out the holders of those rights, and placed most of the Baca Location off limits to development while he negotiated with the United States government to sell the land back to the government under terms that guaranteed its preservation in perpetuity. The negotiations literally took decades, but in 1999, Congress authorized the acquisition of the Baca Location from Dunigan's heirs, as he had died by this time.

The terms of the acquisition called for the resulting "Valles Caldera National Preserve" (VCNP) to differ from practically any other national park land in the United States, in two related senses. First, in recognition of not only the history of the Baca Location but also the fact that the grazing there is economically significant to the region (which cannot exactly be called wealthy), Congress decreed that the Preserve would continue to function as a working ranch. Second, and as a result, management of the VCNP would be done via a "trust" that included representatives of not only the agencies that contributed land to the Preserve but also members of nearby communities. These factors together explain why visitor facilities have been slow in developing.

The beautiful terrain has led to the area being used as background for a number of movies (some quite recent), and old, decaying movie sets are scattered around the valleys. Some are accessible via trail rides or hikes, but please don't touch; they're scenic, but generally in such rickety shape as to be hazardous. The national preserve has also been designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association.

Landscape
The terrain is volcanic with the caldera rim topping out at elevations around 10,500 feet. (Chicoma Mountain (11,590 ft) and a few other points along the northeastern rim reach over 11,000 ft, but lie outside the Preserve, on the territory of Santa Clara Pueblo.) The caldera itself has a base level at 8700 ft and is broken into a collection of valleys by resurgent domes and post-caldera eruptive centers. The largest valley is the Valle Grande, on the southeast side of the caldera; the highest summit within the caldera, and the highest in the Preserve, is Redondo Peak, with a summit elevation above 11,200 feet. Redondo Peak is considered a sacred mountain by a number of the American Indian tribes of the region, and its summit is off-limits to hikers. El Cajete is a relatively recent (~60,000 years old?) eruptive center southwest of Valle Grande that is reachable by an attractive Nordic ski trail.

Most of the mountains in VCNP are fairly gentle, although there are a few basalt outcroppings that produce cliffs. These cliffs are not yet open to the public for rock climbing, but similar formations in the surrounding Santa Fe National Forest and in nearby Los Alamos are popular attractions for the technical sport climber. The territory outside the caldera features a vast region of eroded tuff known as the Pajarito Plateau, with spectacular canyon-mesa scenery. Los Alamos is built on the Pajarito Plateau, and many of the formation's canyons are preserved in Bandelier National Monument which abuts VCNP on the southeast The drive to VCNP from the east (Los Alamos) side shows this terrain to breathtakingly good advantage.

Flora and fauna
The valleys are grasslands, while the mountains are covered with coniferous forest and aspens. New Mexico's largest herd of elk spends its summers in the Preserve, migrating to lower elevations for winter. Deer and black bear are also encountered, and there are a few mountain lions, although they are almost never seen by visitors. Smaller animals include the ubiquitous coyote, porcupine, skunk, raccoon, and all manner of rodents.

Birdwatching in VCNP is good, although not as diverse as along the nearby Rio Grande. Many species of raptors are present and can often be seen perched on dead timber or gliding above the valleys looking for prey, as can black vultures. Two of the most characteristic birds of VCNP, at opposite ends of the size scale, are the huge black ravens that compete for offal with the vultures, and several species of hummingbirds that may zing past you as you hike or ride. The raptors, vultures and ravens are residents year-round, but the hummers are migratory and head south around the beginning of September.

There are few snakes in VCNP, as the elevation is too great for most of them. However, timber rattlesnakes have been seen on occasion even near the top of the ski runs on Pajarito Mountain (elevation 10,409') on the eastern rim above Los Alamos. The endangered Jemez Mountain salamander is present and could lead to occasional closures of parts of VCNP to preserve its habitat. Trout swim in the streams that have their headwaters in the region, some of which are suitable for fishing.

Climate
Valles Caldera has a continental climate with four distinct seasons. Winter weather is highly variable, with some years producing a great deal of snow (over four feet of snow has fallen in a single storm) and other years producing almost none at all. Winter highs in the valleys are typically around 35-40 degrees (Fahrenheit) and lows in the single digits, although there are isolated cold pockets from cold air coming off the mountains. December is often the coldest month and can see sub-zero temperatures at night. Snow in the valleys usually melts completely around April, and spring is characterized by high winds. This combination can create nasty forest-fire hazard in May and June, particularly following a dry winter. Winds die down somewhat by June, which is warm (highs in the 70s-80s °F) and dry. Monsoon conditions develop in July and persist until around the beginning of September, leading to cooler temperatures (highs in the 70s, lows around 50 °F) and spectacular afternoon thunderstorms that urge the hiker to be off the trails by early afternoon. This is a great time to visit, but make sure you bring raingear and start your day early. The thunderstorms usually die out by Labor Day or so, leading to autumn conditions that are temperate, dry (apart from the occasional frontal storm system) and generally very pleasant. The first snowfall is commonly in October, but snow doesn't start to stick until Thanksgiving or so. Conditions on the mountains are similar but 10 degrees cooler, with more rain and snow.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Access is via New Mexico state highway 4 between Los Alamos and San Ysidro at the 39-mile marker. This paved road is usually open year-round, although it may close briefly during particularly severe snowstorms. The nearest major airport is in Albuquerque, about 70 miles away by road. There is no bus or rail service nearby.

Fees and permits
The VCNP was set up as an autonomous, wholly owned corporation (trust) within the National Forest system. The trust structure, with a board of directors that managed the preserve, was an experiment in land management. The experiment was reviewed by Congress and in December 2015 Congress placed the preserve under the National Park System.

The fee structure at VCNP is typical among United States national parks. Access to the preserve via SR 4 is on a per vehicle basis, and there are hikes, Nordic ski outings, etc., from trail heads along SR 4 (with a permit). Most activities in the interior of the preserve are free once the entry fee has been satisfied, either by payment for a daily visit ($20) which allows reentry within a seven-day period at no additional cost, or by annual pass for the preserve ($40). All Federal Land Use passes are also accepted, including America the Beautiful annual passes, Senior passes, active military passes, or Access Passes for those with disabilities. There are reduced fees for entry by foot, horse or bicycle, and non-commercial bus ($10 ] per person). There are also several free entry days. The VCNP website contains more details.

Get around
The road to the visitor center is driveable (if rough) in ordinary cars.

If you're doing something that involves travel on foot, hiking boots are a good idea. If Nordic skiing, be braced for highly variable conditions. The Jemez Mountains are notorious for snow conditions that place perfect powder, hard ice, and milk-shake-like slush all within 100 feet of each other. Choose your equipment accordingly; this is a good place for waxless skis, as they're relatively tolerant of changing conditions.

See
VCNP is more of a "Do" place than a "See" place, but expansive views of the preserve can be found all along NM SR 4, which runs along the southern edge of the Valle Grande. Bring good binoculars and a telephoto lens; the valley is much bigger than you think it is. If passing by during the summer, you'll probably have a chance to see elk grazing in the Valle, right alongside (and sometimes intermingled with) the cattle that spend the summer there as part of the preserve's money-making mandate.

Wildlife viewing
The preserve operates elk tours during the summer on most Fridays and Saturdays that afford opportunities for wildlife viewing, including (possibly up-close-and-personal) encounters with the huge resident elk herd or bears. Departure from the visitor center is at 5:30PM and ends at 7:30PM. Since many of the larger animals of the preserve are crepuscular (i.e., active at dawn and dusk), you wouldn't be likely to see much of interest in the middle of the day even if a tour was operating, so accept the later departure time in the interest of seeing more wildlife. For more information visit the VCNP web site.

Hike
Most hiking trails in the Preserve are open daily and there is no additional cost. An attractive trail based on defunct logging roads is accessible from SR 4, Coyote Call Trail, leading through meadows to a low pass. The trailhead is at mile marker 41; nice views of the Valle Grande are on the hike, which is about a 3-mile round trip. Another pleasant trail leaves SR 4 at mile marker 43 and descends to the edge of the Valle Grande (2.5-mile round trip). Hikers on this trail sometimes have stirring encounters with the VCNP elk herd. Visit the VCNP Visitor's Center for a pass to hike these trails. The only comprehensive trail guide, "Hiking Trails in Valles Caldera National Preserve" by Coco Rae, is available at VCNP's bookstore and locally.

Ski
Nordic skiing and snow shoeing is possible, snow permitting, from December to April (in theory, although the snow rarely lasts this long) on a daily basis. All costs are included in the entry fee.

An interesting Nordic trip is to El Cajete, one of the more recent eruptive features in the caldera. This is a round trip of just a few miles on old logging roads, with relatively little elevation change, and should be feasible for the inexperienced Nordic skier. Longer trips lead into the interior of the caldera. It's easy to underestimate distances here owing to the immensity of the Valle Grande and the lack of features for scale; make sure you're up to the trip you choose.

Since 2006, New Mexico Orienteers have held a ski and snow-shoe orienteering meet in Valle Grande each February. Spectacular views of Valle Grande can be seen from the top of the Pajarito Ski Area and from the Canada Bonito trail in the Santa Fe National Forest.

Fish
Fishing within VCNP is available throughout most of the preserve. The Rio San Antonio, the East Fork of the Jemez River, Jaramillo Creek, and Rito de los Indios offer challenging trout fishing. Access is by private vehicle, and a back country pass is required. There are 35 passes issued each day on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The fisherman who doesn't wish to pay access fees can go to any number of public-access areas (free, but NM fishing license required) downstream of the Preserve in Santa Fe National Forest. Access is convenient from SR 4 on the west side of VCNP.

Hunt
Another unusual feature of VCNP is that it is one of very few major national park/preserve sites at which hunting, on a restricted basis, is allowed—specifically, elk hunting and turkey hunting, as the resident elk herd is in constant need of culling. The elk and turkey hunting lotteries/drawings for the Valles Caldera National Preserve are part of the draw managed by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF). Information on how to apply for the state drawings can be found on the NMDGF website or by calling +1-888-248-6866. The Valles Caldera National Preserve is Unit 6B. Fishing is also available on most of the creeks in the Preserve but this does require a back country pass. There are 35 backcountry passes issued daily on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ride
Horseback riding is permitted during the spring, summer, and fall months, in most areas of the VCNP. The trails are easy, well kept ranch roads. Horse riders are permitted on about 20 miles of trails. Horses are not available for rent in the preserve. Los Alamos has an extraordinary network of hundreds of miles of horse-friendly trails linking the town to the surrounding Santa Fe National Forest, Pajarito Ski Area, and Bandelier National Monument. Some of these trails overlook Valle Grande. Santa Fe National Forest also has many forest roads and trails, including Trail 119, Turkey Spring Trail (from a SFNF portion of the Valles Caldera to Bandelier National Monument) and Trail 126, Peralta Ridge Trail.

Buy
Los Amigos de Valles Caldera, the Preserve's Friends group, operates the bookstore. All proceeds go to the Preserve.

Eat
You'll have to bring your own food. There are no restaurants in the preserve. Los Alamos, about 20 miles east, and smaller Jemez Springs, a similar distance west, are the nearest communities with reliable restaurant and grocery-store service, although the village of La Cueva, en route to Jemez Springs, sometimes has a restaurant and/or convenience store.

Drink
What you will need you must bring with you (the visitor center will have water available to refill your container). There are no night-life-oriented facilities within 20 road miles of the Preserve.

Lodging
Nearby Los Alamos has a reasonable number of hotel, motel, and B&B rooms. Limited lodging may also be available in or near Jemez Springs.

Camping
No camping is allowed on VCNP. This may change as facilities develop, so check back on occasion. Surrounding Santa Fe National Forest has a number of developed campgrounds in the Jemez Ranger District. The ones along NM SR 4 are convenient to VCNP. In order of proximity to the VCNP main entrance, they are Jemez Falls Campground, Redondo Campground, and San Antonio Campground. Also convenient are Camp May (see Los Alamos) and Fenton Lake State Park.

Backcountry
Overnight backpacking in VCNP is not allowed, but this may change as the preserve develops.

Stay safe

 * Most of VCNP's hazards are weather-related:
 * Lightning is a common hazard during the monsoon season (July–September) when you are on ridges or in open land, and can occur during other seasons as well. Be sure you know what to do when lightning threatens.
 * Winter storms can roll in quite suddenly and can produce not only several feet of snow in short order, but also precipitously dropping temperatures that can easily reach below zero (Fahrenheit). If engaging in winter sports, make sure you're well equipped.
 * VCNP and the surrounding mountains have been the site of a number of disastrous forest fires, particularly in the spring (when precipitation is minimal and winds are high) following a dry winter (of which there have been many lately). The preserve administration is understandably cautious about closing facilities when fire hazard is significant; please honor the closures, as the Valles grasses burn like tinder and a wind-driven fire can travel a lot faster than you can run.
 * Of course, make sure to use sun screen.
 * Dangerous encounters with wildlife are rare, but an elk in rut can do a lot of damage to you (closures during mating season will probably keep you away from this hazard, but bear it in mind), and one on the road can do a lot of damage to your car. Drive cautiously, particularly in twilight.  Rattlesnakes are scarce owing to the high elevation, but can be found occasionally in the summer, even on the ridges.
 * Violent crime is a non-problem, and there are few if any reports of theft from parked automobiles in the preserve. However, some of the neighboring forest land has seen some pilferage.  If you're camping in Santa Fe National Forest campgrounds, make sure to secure valuables before heading into VCNP.
 * Visitors from sea level may have problems with altitude sickness, as even the Valle Grande is at an elevation near 8000 feet and the mountains range up to 11,000 ft and above. If you're prone to altitude problems, spend a day or two acclimatizing in Albuquerque or one of the other New Mexico cities before you do anything active here, and plan a slower hiking/skiing pace than you would at home.

Connect

 * https://www.nps.gov/vall/index.htm This is the official website of the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
 * Los Amigos de Valles Caldera or "Friends of the Valles Caldera." The purpose of Los Amigos is to support the Valles Caldera National Preserve for present and future generations through outreach, education, restoration, collaboration, volunteer and fundraising activities. The group is working on a wetlands restoration and water improvement project as well as raising funds to restore the Historic Bond Cabin. The group sponsors activities at the VCNP including Geology Tours, Wildlife Tours, an Old Timer's BBQ and a spring Headquarters Cleanup Day. Los Amigos is recruiting volunteers to assist in these projects.
 * Caldera Action! The organization fosters active citizen participation in the restoration, protection, and appreciation of the Valles Caldera National Preserve, for the long-term benefit of the place itself, the American public, and visitors from around the world. The group keeps its membership appraised of any proposed activities and action of the Valles Caldera Trust Board and provides opportunities for input into the public decision-making processes of the Trust, including those based on National Environmental Policy Act(or NEPA) process activities.

Go next

 * Adjacent Bandelier National Monument has more scenery, hiking trails, etc., and is more fully developed to support the casual visitor. Although the parks share a boundary, the Bandelier main entrance and visitor center are about 25 miles away from Valle Grande along NM SR 4.
 * Los Alamos is nearby, with some in-town activities (it's a small town but has more than its share of amenities) and more hiking, including many trails (affected by the 2000 forest fire, alas, but since then substantially repaired). These trails include some that reach the rim of the Valles Caldera and have nice views of Valle Grande and Redondo Peak.  Other interesting areas in the Jemez Mountains include Jemez Springs, with an interesting archaeological site and accessible hot springs, and a number of developed campgrounds in Santa Fe National Forest, some with access to trails and fishing holes.  About 45 minutes away is Fenton Lake State Park.
 * Santa Fe is one of the world's great travel destinations and is about 60 miles away by road.

title: Valles Caldera National Preserve


text:
Valletta

Valletta or Il-Belt is the capital of Malta. A harbour city, Valletta preserves much of its 16th-century architectural heritage built under the Hospitallers. Valletta was one of the earliest sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand
Referred to colloquially as Il-Belt ("The City"), it takes its name from its founder, Grandmaster Jean Parisot de Valette.

With an official population of only 5,827 as of early 2019, it is the least populated national capital in the European Union. The population of the urban area is 355,000, so Valletta doesn't feel like a small town. It is also the southernmost capital in the union, and one of only two without rail-based public transit (the other being Nicosia).

Valletta was a "European Capital of Culture" for 2018, an honour it shared with Leeuwarden.

Climate
Being the southernmost European capital except for Nicosia and sitting next to the Mediterranean, Valletta is amongst the places in Europe that have mild and warm weather in most seasons. Nighttime lows are around 9/10°C in the winter, however at that time of the year it's comparatively rainy. During the summer, expect sunny, hot weather.

By car
Most bus routes and many arterial roads converge on Valletta. However, inside the city there are many one-way streets and some pedestrian zones. Parking can be difficult. There is a large multi-storey car park in Floriana, about half a kilometre from the City Gate entrance to Valletta.

By bus
In front of the main gate of Valletta is the for the entire island, rather than bus lines covering the island in a grid, most of them spread out from here and return to here.

By boat
For those opting not to fly to Malta, Virtu Ferries runs ferries from Pozzallo on the island of Sicily, Italy.

A much shorter journey can be done by Valletta Ferry Services across beautiful Marsamxett harbour from Sliema and past Manoel Island, for just €1.50. Considerably cheaper then paying for a harbour cruise.

Another little-known way is to visit Vittoriosa by bus and then have the Maltese version of the gondola, the so called Dghajsa bring you back in style across the spectacular Grand Harbour to Valletta, and drop you off just by Victoria gate for €3.50.

By plane
The island's sole airport is
 * The X4 bus runs from the airport to Valletta, with generally two buses per hour taking about 20 minutes, costing €2.00 in summer.

Get around
The Valletta peninsula is only a couple of kilometres in length and so the ideal way is to do everything on foot, which enables you to take many shortcuts via stairs. However, the city is built on a ridge, and is steep in parts (requiring walking up and down stairs in some places), which can be tiring. The alternative would be doing it by car which is not ideal for visitors due to lack of parking space, direction signs and the fact that the streets are very narrow, often one way and confusing if unfamiliar. Most of the main tourist attractions are along the main street (Triq ir-Republika) which does not involve steep hills.

Another possibility is to rent one of the horsecarts (Karozzin), but be sure to haggle over the price.

By taxi

 * A fleet of electric min-cabs operate during the daytime in Valletta, with a maximum fare of €5.00.

By bus
Bus route 133 operates a circular path around Valletta, departing from the bus terminus going round the peninsula including the Valletta Waterfront, Fort St. Elmo and many other locations. However, since most of Valletta is better accessible on foot, use this bus only to visit a particular location rather than for general sightseeing.

See
In debatable order of importance:

Football
There are three local teams playing soccer in the Maltese Premier League. International games are played at the National Stadium, Ta' Qali, near Mdina.

Learn
Several of the Maltese English language institutes are in Valletta.

Buy
The main street of Valletta is Republic Street (Triq Ir-Repubblika), a busy pedestrianised zone leading down the middle of the Peninsula from the main gate down to Republic square, this is where many of the better shops are located, although it cannot quite compete with Sliema for clothing.

The best souvenir shop (the least worthless trinkets etc.) can be found at the Malta experience, but there are many other reasonable souvenir shops in Valletta. At the beginning of Republic Street, there are several reasonable souvenir shops but prices are far cheaper if you walk 20 meters down South street (turn left if you have the bus station behind you) which crosses Republic Street very soon after you have entered through the city gates.

There is a daily market selling cheap clothing in the parallel street to Republic Street called Merchants Street (Triq il-Merkanti).

Eat
Valletta has a good selection of decent restaurants, especially along the waterfront. Since most tourists stay in Sliema or on the north coast of the island there are fewer of the trashy variety, although it does have the usual fast-food chains. Look out for traditional bakeries, with steaming fresh bread for mere cents.

Budget
At almost every corner you can find pastizzerie selling pies stuffed with cheese or peas, for just 30-50 cents each and are a popular late-night snack.

Splurge
Often upscale Asian restaurants don't live up to the expectations, at least when it comes to the food. Many such disappointing restaurants are in big upscale hotels.

Budget
In Valletta proper, accommodation is rather expensive with nights at midrange hotels often costing €150-200 even in the low season. If you don't want to spend too much of your travel budget on the place to sleep, consider staying in one of the surrounding towns where rates are much lower.

Stay safe
Most of the usual petty crime that travelers are confronted with happens in Sliema and St Julians, but it's something to keep in mind.

Connect
Many businesses (restaurants, hotels etc.) offer free Wi-Fi, in addition to the "Free Wi-Fi" zones that exist around Malta. The country has several mobile carriers and your phone will work just like elsewhere in Europe.

Embassies

 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
Almost all of Malta's bus routes start from the large roundabout just outside the main gate, making everywhere in the country accessible.

There is also the ferry which goes to Sliema, across the bay to the northwest. Sliema and St. Julian's further northwest are more modern towns and unlike Valletta more geared towards nightlife and partying.

 * Mdina
 * Cottonera (Three Cities) — the name used when referring to the three historic and ancient cities of Birgu (aka Vittoriosa), Isla (aka Senglea) and Bormla (aka Cospicua), three towns conglomerated by 16th century fortifications called the Cottonera lines.
 * Gozo
 * Northern Harbor of Malta
 * Southern Harbor of Malta

Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site but two more can be found in the suburb of Tarxien, in the form of the Megalithic Temples and the Hypogeum

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

title: Valletta


text:
Valley City (North Dakota)

Valley City is a town in the Coteaus and Plains area of North Dakota. It has a population of about 6,826 people. Its elevation is 1,222 feet.

Understand
Valley City sits on the banks of the winding Sheyenne River. During its history, it was known under several names, including Second Crossing, Fifth Siding, Wahpeton, and Worthington. It is the home of Valley City State University.

Get in

 * By car: exit 292 off I-94, about 46 miles west of Fargo, and 44 miles east of Jamestown

Eat

Go next

 * Lake Ashtabula: take county road 21 north from Valley City to this scenic river valley and dam. Activities on Lake Ashtabla include boating, camping, fishing, hunting, picnicking, swimming and snowmobiling.

title: Valley City (North Dakota)


text:
Valley of 1000 Hills

The Valley of 1000 Hills is a valley in KwaZulu-Natal province that runs between Pietermaritzburg, and Durban. There the Umgeni River meets the Msunduzi River (Duzi River) in the valley, and the Dusi Canoe Marathon is run through the area every year. The valley includes settlements such as Cato Ridge, Inchanga, Hammarsdale, Drummond, Peacevale, Botha's Hill, Assagay, Hillcrest, Winston Park, Waterfall, Ngcolosi, Crestholme, Gillitts, Everton and Kloof.

Understand
This area is called the Bible Belt of South Africa, home to all kinds of churches and denominations with congregations ranging from 30 to 5,000, making traffic something of a challenge on a Sunday morning.

Sugar cane used to be the main source of income in the area but that has been given to developers and around 5,000 families have moved into the Hillcrest area over the past 5 years. As Hillcrest is having a population explosion, the Valley of a 1000 Hills, property prices are rising.

Get in
Valley of a 1000 Hills is 20 minutes' drive from Durban beach front and Petermaritzburg and close to the Midlands Meander.

See

 * Isithumba cultural village
 * Phe Zulu African craft village
 * Midlands meander
 * Midlands meander

Eat
Hillcrest is the main village, boasting many restaurants and bars that serve everything from fish and chips to steak and vegetables, lobster and prawns - all fresh South African produce grown, raised, or caught locally.

Drink
Go to the Rob Roy Hotel for tea. Weddings can be seen here most Saturdays making it a top venue to tie the knot. With a view to stun.

Stay safe
This area is poor and has the highest HIV/AIDS death rate in the country.

title: Valley of 1000 Hills


text:
Valleyview

Valleyview is a town of about 1900 people (2016) northwest of Edmonton in the Peace River Country of Alberta. Located between the Little Smoky River and Sturgeon Lake, Valleyview is an important junction as travelers from points south can connect to either the Alaska or Mackenzie Highway.

History
In the late 1800s, the first Europeans to visit the area arrived, seeking natives to exchange goods for furs. The trading was good and a Hudson’s Bay Company post was established on Sturgeon Lake. ‘Peace River Jim’ Cornwall established the Bredin and Cornwall Trading Post nearby.

In 1916, the first pioneers settled in the area nearby as its soil was rich for farming.

By car
Valleyview is about northwest of Edmonton on Highway 43 at the junction of two major highways. Highway 43 turns west and continues to Grande Prairie, Dawson Creek, and the Alaska Highway; while Highway 49 heads north and connects to Highway 2 near Falher, where it connects to Peace River and the Mackenzie Highway.

By bus

 * Operates a route between Grande Prairie and Edmonton including stops in Valleyview, Whitecourt, and Mayerthorpe.
 * Operates a route several days per week between Grande Prairie and Edmonton including stops in Valleyview and Whitecourt.

Do

 * Greenview Regional Multiplex, a recreational centre opened in 2018, with aquatics, a fieldhouse, a play area, a commercial kitchen, and a fitness centre located on the second floor.
 * The Polar Palace ice rink is where the Valleyview's hockey team (the Valleyview Jets) plays regular games in the Peace Region league. Also located in the ice rink is a curling rink which has regular bonspiels.
 * Next door to the Polar Palace is the local pool, which is on the same grounds as the lovely Legion picnic area and water park.

The nearby Sturgeon Lake provides setting for outdoor activities. Two provincial parks are found on its shores:

title: Valleyview


text:
Valley View

Valley View is a village in Cuyahoga County in Northeast Ohio.

By Car
Valley View is a few miles away from I77 and I480

title: Valley View


text:
Vallon-Pont-d'Arc

Vallon-Pont-d'Arc is a town and commune in the Ardèche département, in south of France.

Nearby cave of Pont d’Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, decorated by well preserved prehistoric drawings of human figures and animals was inscribed to the World Heritage list in 2014. The original cave is closed to the public, but there is a nearby replica a few kilometres south-east.

By public transport
There's a TER bus that runs around 4 times a day from Montelimar and Valence TGV, both of which have a TGV train service.

By public transport
There's a free minibus that travels between Vallon (the town) and Pont d'Arc (the geological feature), a trip of about 20 minutes. It is roughly hourly, but with a long gap in service around lunch time (as at summer 2007). You can flag it down to pick you up (or ask to be dropped off) more or less anywhere along the route: it passes many of the town's camp sites.

If you want to hire a canoe, and are without a car, then choose to hire it from somewhere that is as near as possible to where you want to be at the end of the trip. You can hire a canoe directly from most of the camp sites; at the end of your canoe trip you will be brought back to where you hired it from. For example, at Camping de L'Ile, you can hire a canoe from Claude Mialon.

By canoe
Canoe is the best way to truly enjoy the beauty of the river. There are a lot of spots along the river where you can stop to enjoy the view or to swim. However, as this is a nature reservation area, there are only 2 sites designated for camping: "Gaud" or "Gournier", both can be reached by canoe.

By car
Beware the traffic jams along the river road, especially around 5pm in the busy summer period.

Do

 * Canoeing along the Ardèche river, beginning at Vallon-Pont-d'Arc and finishing at Saint Martin d'Ardèche. There are several distance range to be chosen (6, 24, 30 km, or even more), and there are dozens of places from which you can hire a canoe. The longer range can be done in 1 or 2 days with a stop for camping in the middle.
 * 1-day canoeing: Start between 8 and 10PM and finish at around 5PM (24 or 30 km)
 * 2-day canoeing: Start between 9AM and 2PM. Camping is only allowed within the 2 designated sites, Gaud or Gournier.
 * If you come by car, you can park at the canoe operator at Saint Martin d'Ardèche, and from there you will be brought by bus to the starting point. Plastic barrels are provided to keep your things dry during the trip. Bring enough water and food to last at least 7 hours. Protect yourself as well as possible from the sun burn (i.e. use sun protection cream and re-apply often, wear sunglasses and hat).

Camping
There are loads of camp sites around the town, many of which have direct river access to the Ardeche river. If you're looking for something simple, try:

If you want to camp in the Gorge as part of a two day canoe (or hiking) trip, you need to book in advance into one of two 'bivouwacs'. Numbers are strictly limited (250 per site during the week and 500 at weekends, as at summer 2007):

Stay safe

 * Avoid sun damage to your body. It is highly recommended to protect yourself as much as possible from sunburn by applying high SPF suncream as well as wearing sunglasses and hat.
 * Drink plenty of water on a hot day.

For water activity

 * Check the weather and water level before beginning any water activity.
 * Wear suitable clothes that you won't easily lose when falling into water (i.e. sandals with strap, protective strap for sunglasses).
 * Wear the life jacket all the time.
 * In case of emergency, contact the campsite: +33 4-75880041.

Respect
Some areas are categorized as nature reservation, so
 * Don't drop litter -- you should always take it with you.
 * Don't disturb the animals, plants, mineral and archeological relics.

Go next

 * Orgnac l'Aven
 * Montélimar

title: Vallon-Pont-d'Arc


text:
Val Lumnezia

The Val Lumnezia or Val Lugnez is a side valley and political commune in the Surselva in Switzerland. At the end of the valley sits the town of Vrin.

By public transport
Buses run from Ilanz along the valley. They run roughly hourly and take 35 minutes to Vella and 45 minutes to Vrin. During summer a special bus operates on call from Vrin up to Puzzatsch.

Vella
Vella is the town with the highest population in the valley. The tourist information as well as the cable car are located here.

Vrin
Vrin is the last village of the valley. The town underwent a special conservation effort, trying to use its old charm to an advantage and to prevent the common problem of depopulation. The old town centre has been carefully maintained and complemented with modern buildings by a local architect. Thanks to these efforts the town has a lot of old wooden buildings which are well preserved.

Itineraries

 * Greina Walking Tour

Go next

 * Travel on to Vals in the neighbouring valley, famous for its thermal baths.
 * Take the bus up the opposite side of the Surselva to ski at one of the resorts of Flims, Laax or Falera.

title: Val Lumnezia


text:
Valparaíso

Valparaíso is a city of almost 300,000 people (2017) on the Pacific coast of Central Chile. Frequently referred to as simply Valpo, it is about 120 km west of the capital, Santiago. The city is widely known for its bohemian culture, brightly colored houses, and beautiful seaside views.

Understand
Valparaiso is an important port town, and has been for hundreds of years, resulting in its being made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.

Its location on the shipping routes before the completion of the Panama Canal, has left a legacy that still can be seen in various features of the old port town. Its location in the earthquake zone, and the disastrous earthquake of 1906, is another legacy. There have been more recent earthquakes as well.

The old town is surrounded with features that reflect the rich maritime heritage, and an important location of Chilean national pride - where its naval mastery was challenged and maintained.

When roaming the chaotic, hilly streets, and taking in the views and ambience, you are not just experiencing the port and the colorful houses, or the funicular railways, but a complex history of Chilean national identity and politics.

The old town can be compared to the more modern Vina del Mar just to the north, and the hinterland that leads over to Santiago.

There is also an active nightlife and a constantly changing variety of artistic events.

By plane
Valparaiso does not have its own airport. The closest airport with commercial service is Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago, some 1½ hr away, which offers extensive domestic and international service.

To get to Valparaíso from Santiago's airport, requires catching a bus heading to Pajaritos from outside of the airport terminal.

This will drop you off at the north side of "Pajaritos" a bus/subway station on the outskirts of Santiago, cross to the south side of the subway station to get to the bus platform.

From here, buses leave frequently for Valparaiso and other destinations; you may also take the subway into downtown Santiago. It is generally not necessary to have a bus ticket before arriving at Pajaritos. A ticket between Pajaritos and the airport with Centropuerto bus company is 1700 pesos.

By train
The Metro Valparaíso or Merval runs between Valparaiso and Limache, as well as surrounding communities including Viña del Mar. It runs from 06:00 to 23:30, and is new, clean and fast. Adult fares range from 204 pesos to 1080 pesos depending on the time of day and the distance travelled, but value cards of a minimum of 1200 pesos must be used; single tickets are not sold.

By car
While Valparaiso can be a bit of a difficult city in which to drive, the area's highway system is generally of good quality. There are often tolls on highways.

By bus
Buses from a wide variety of destinations within Chile have scheduled service to Valparaiso, in addition to service to the Argentine city of Mendoza. The bus terminal is near the National Congress building.

Approximate bus travel times to Valparaiso:
 * 1.5 hr: Santiago (many times every hour, the trip may take much longer if there's congestion)
 * 7 hr: La Serena (every other hour)
 * 12 hr: Mendoza, Argentina (the road may be closed in winter due to bad weather)

Local buses also ply between Viña del Mar and Valparaiso, taking about 15 minutes each way. Fares range from 350 to 380 pesos.

By boat
Some cruise ships dock in Valparaiso, mostly as part of a long South American itinerary. Also possible is a Freighter Cruise from Mexico, taking two weeks and making several stops along the way.

By bus
The city micros are run by Transporte Metropolitano Valparaíso. Exact routes and fares can be found under "Empresas" on the website, and single journeys cost about 250 pesos for local routes and 300 pesos for routes running between El Plan and the hills.

By taxi
Colectivos are taxis painted in black with yellow roofs that run fixed routes, and are a very common mode of transport between (and within) Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, and other surrounding areas. The cost of the trip, while more expensive than the bus or metro, depends upon the distance being traveled following a system of zones. There are also regular taxis that do custom rides, but they are less common and more expensive. This type of taxis often congregate in the area around the Plaza Anibal Pinto.

By train
The light-rail system, Metro Valparaíso or Merval, runs along the coast. It starts at Valparaiso's port and heads into Viña del Mar, reaching Limache through Quilpué and Villa Alemana. The metro provides quick access to major places of interest, and is only slightly more expensive than taking public buses. Adult fares range from 204 to 1,080 pesos depending on the time of day and the distance travelled, but value cards of a minimum of 1,350 pesos must be used; single tickets are not sold.

By funicular
Ascensores, funiculars, ply between El Plan, or the coastal strip, with the cerros, or hillside communities. They are for the most part old and creaky, but generally reliable. There were historically a bigger number operating in the past. Check - as some close for repairs or simply don't operate any more. The fare may sometimes differ between going up and going down, but cost about 300 pesos each way. The ascensors are a unique mode of transportation in Valparaiso, and offer gorgeous views of the cityscape, port, and the Pacific Ocean. A particularly interesting one is the Polanco. This is located just off Avenida Argentina at Simpson. Rather than a funicular, it is the only vertical elevator whose entrance is at street level. You walk through a 150-m-long tunnel where it can take you to two distinct levels, the highest of which is a tower, an excellent place to get a great view of the city, being 60 m above the entrance.

See

 * Cerros Alegre and Concepción
 * Plaza Echaurren – Serrano Street
 * Cerro Cordillera
 * Banking area - Prat Street
 * Paseo 21 de Mayo (Cerro Artilleria)
 * La Matriz Church and surroundings
 * Ascensores (inclines)
 * La Sebastiana, one of three homes of poet Pablo Neruda
 * Ex Cárcel, a former jail turned cultural center and concert venue

Do

Learn
The universities of Valparaiso are:

 * Technical University Federico Santa María
 * University of Valparaíso
 * University of Playa Ancha
 * Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso

Many international students study at the Catholic University and the University of Valparaiso.

Buy
Valparaiso has larger chain department stores like Ripley, located in front of Victoria Square, and Falabella on Independencia street, and large supermarket chains like Líder on Pedro Montt and Brasil streets; Santa Isabel on Pedro Montt, Brasil and Uruguay streets, as other small and non-chain supermarkets. There are other small or non-chain and specialized stores on Esmeralda, Condell, Pedro Montt, Independencia and Chacabuco streets, most other shopping is done in small stores on the hills, or with street vendors. There is a large shopping centre on the eastern end of Avenida Brasil.

Eat
The most traditional food for tourists in Valparaiso is the Chorrillana, a heaping mound of french fries topped with steak, onion, and eggs. You can eat this in the traditional restaurant J Cruz. Fresh seafood is readily available in many restaurants around the city, especially around the muelle (wharf) areas, and is considered a must for any seafood lover.

Bakeries are located on nearly every block, and produce quite delicious breads that can be had warm and right out of the oven at almost any time throughout the day. They are best enjoyed smothered with Palta, which are grown en masse in Chile (palta is the Chilean and Argentinian word for what is known the anglo world like "avocado", known in most other Spanish-speaking countries as aguacate). In addition to the many types of bread, another widely available snack to keep you settled as you walk the streets are empanadas, a flaky pastry filled with meat or cheese.

Budget
On the second floor of the Mercado Cardonal (cnr Ave Brasil and Uruguay) there are a few excellent, cheap and midrange restaurants serving lunch.

Drink
On weekends, the time to go out for a drink (Chilean people call it "salir de carrete") starts no earlier than midnight, though somewhat earlier during the week. The pubs and clubs close at 05:00 on weekends, and 04:00 on weekdays.

Drinking alcohol in the streets is not allowed and 18 years is the minimum age for drinking alcohol, though enforcement of these rules is somewhat lax. If you are under 18, you may not be allowed entry into some pubs.

Chile is a major wine-producing country, and bottles of fairly tasty wines can be had for slightly more than US$1.

Nightlife

 * La Torre - offers inexpensive drinks, and is frequented by university students
 * Balmaceda
 * Barcelona
 * La Piedra Feliz - a more expensive and touristy club that often features salsa dancing, mosty for the older crowds
 * Club El Cielo
 * Club Stockolmo
 * Club El Huevo - one of the largest dance clubs in Valparaiso (five floors), diverse music, and a rooftop bar
 * Bar La Playa
 * Mascara - caters to an artsy and gay/lesbian crowd

Many clubs and bars are also found in Viña del Mar. Public transportation and taxis continue to run throughout the night, making it entirely feasible to have accommodations in one city while going out for the night in the other.

Stay safe
In the context of Chile being a relatively safe country, Valparaiso is among its more dangerous locales, like many harbour cities around the world. Mainly, watch out for pickpockets, for instance avoid hanging your purse or bag in the back of your chair when seated, because it may get stolen. Violent crime is very uncommon, but normal precautionary measures should be taken; while in the street, do not display expensive jewelry. The port area (called "Puerto") is generally considered to be dangerous even during the day.

Cope

 * There is a laundry in the mall of Hotel Prat. 5 kg 3700 pesos.

Consulates

 * 🇬🇷 Greece

Go next

 * Viña del Mar - The beach town Viña del Mar is only ten minutes by train from Valparaíso, and slightly longer by bus. If you take bus 612 from Plaza Echaurren you will get a full tour of the Valpo hills, and you can jump off at La Sebastiana.
 * The idyllic village Quintay is 45 minutes to the south by car. Take a colectivo from Calle 12 de Feberero, behind the bus terminal, they leave as soon as they fill up. 1400 pesos.
 * Concón is a small town near Valparaiso (25 to 30 minutes in car). Here you find a big gastronomic activity. The city is called "capital gastronomica de Chile" which means "gastronomical capital of Chile"; even Anthony Bourdain was here and he ate at "Las Deliciosas", where he said, he ate the best "empanadas" (a typical Chilean dish). Other places to eat are "El Secreto", "La Gatita" (a very good place to eat seafood) and "Picada Horizonte".

title: Valparaíso


text:
Valparaíso (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Valparaíso:

Brazil

 * Valparaíso (Brazil) — a town in Brazil

Chile

 * Valparaíso — a city in Chile

Mexico

 * Valparaíso (Mexico) — town in Zacatecas

United States of America

 * Valparaiso (Indiana) — a town in Indiana

title: Valparaíso (disambiguation)


text:
Valparai

Valparai is a hill station in the Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu. It is 104 km from Coimbatore and 64 km from Pollachi, 110 km from Ernakulam (Cochin) via Athirapalli, Vazhachal, Malakkarapa. There is a Kerala-Tamilnadu Border checkpost near Uppar Sholayar Dam.

Understand
A relatively pollution-free place Valparai is located 3,500 feet above sea level on the Anamalai mountain range. Valparai is not just a small town. It stands majestically with Green Spread Mountains and forest all around. Valparai shares its boundaries with Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Eravikulam National Park and Vazhachal forest division. People are approachable and very friendly. This is a one of the places that you shouldn't miss in your life.

The unique grass forests, Grass Hills, is also located near Valparai. The hill sports tall grass and houses elephants, wild pig, leopards and other wild animals. In addition one can drive around the mountain tea estates enjoying the pleasant climate and forget the once dense forest that have paved the way for tea bushes.

The 64-km drive from Pollachi to Valparai is itself an exotic experience. En route is the Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary where lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri and the common langur, Malabar giant squirrel, elephant, gaur, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer and wild boar reside. From Valparai you can visit the Sholaiyar and Nirar dams. Tunnels bored into the mountains and canals to harness the water from Parambikulam, Aliyar, Nirar, Sholaiyar Dam, and several tourist spots.

By plane
Cochin International Airport is the nearest international airport to Valparai - this airport is nearly 117 km away from the town. It will take 3 - 4 hours by car to get Valparai from Cochin international Airport. Athirappilli and Vazhachal waterfalls are the other two famous locations to see in the route. International flights from the Middle East (Dubai, Sharjah, Muscat, Kuwait), Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Maldives, Europe and Sri Lanka are available from various airlines. This airport is connected to other domestic cities in India with a lot of flights.

Coimbatore airport is another international airport near to Valparai - approximately 124 km (the journey up winding roads towards the end means that you should budget 3-4 hours to get there by car from Coimbatore airport). International flights to Singapore and Sharjah are provided by Scoot and Air Arabia respectively. Domestic airlines fly to Coimbatore as well.

By bus
The following are the bus routes to Valparai with timings:
 * Pollachi to Valparai: Public buses are available every 30 minutes from Pollachi Bus Terminal. However, they will be overcrowded and may take more than 4 hours to cover the distance of about 64 km. Visitors arriving via Coimbatore must visit Pollachi and then catch a bus to Valparai bus from there. The route is: Pollachi - Aliyar Dam - Attakatty - Waterfalls - Rottikadai - Valparai.
 * Coimbatore to Valparai: buses leave at midnight, 1AM, 7:30AM, 11:30AM, 4PM. The route is: Coimbatore - Pollachi - Aliyar Dam - Attakatty - Waterfalls - Rottikadai - Valparai. 100 km.
 * Chalakudi to Valparai: buses leave at 7:30 AM and 1:30PM, and take 6 hr. The route is: Chalakudi - Athirapally Falls - Malikiparai - Sholayar Dam - Valparai. 108 km. It is a beautiful route, going through thick forest.
 * Palani to Valparai: buses leave at 12:30AM, 7:30AM, noon, 4PM. The route is: Palani - Udumelpet - Angalakurichi - Aliyar Dam - Attakatty - Waterfalls - Valparai. 117 km.

By train
Pollachi Junction is the nearest railway station - approximately 65 km. Another railway station near to Valparai is Chalakudy Railwaystation. Which is 109 kms away.

By bus
Every 30 minutes, there is a bus from Pollachi to Valparai. However, these buses will be fully packed and may take 4 hours to cover a distance of 64 km.

By car
Taxis are the viable option, especially if you are planning to get off now and then, take pictures and enjoy the scenery.

By bike
Bike trips will be quite adventurous. It is the best way to go through small estate roads.

Do

 * Trekking and cycling
 * Visit to Tea estates
 * Wildlife & nature photography

Wildlife
Valparai is a good place for watching various flora and fauna. Sometimes we see several fauna on the roads itself (both dead and alive). Please be careful while you are driving and not to hit the wild animals. Make sure you do not feed any of the wildlife you come across especially monkeys. Try to have food in Valparai town or at designated places not by the side of the road. Make sure you do not litter/throw plastic garbage by the side of the road.

Eat
The weather of the hill station is conducive to having a hot tea and it’s definitely worth drinking tea in any small/medium tea stall for the taste is very good. There are a lot of tea estates in Valparai, and people sell tea packs for wholesale. For something more substantial, Mary Matha Mess, Sri Lakshmi Chettinadu Mess, Green Hills Restaurant serve good vegetarian and non vegetarian foods during the breakfast, lunch and dinner times. If you plan for long trip to Valparai and you have the means to hire your own personal cook, that will work out well for you, as you can get anything from the market there. And for the strict vegetarians it’s not so easy to manage as you can hardly find vegetarian restaurants. There is a small mess for vegetarians named “Sabari Mess” which is located on the market road which offers delicious vegetarian food at reasonable rates. Apart from them there are lots of good bakeries (such as Bharath Bakers, Top Touch Bakery) with fresh eatables, biscuits, breads and other bakery products.

Drink
Stick to water or other non-alcoholic drinks, as alcohol is strictly prohibited by forest officials.

Sleep
As most of the land in Valparai belongs to tea estates, there are only limited options for staying in Valparai. There are a few decent hotels, estate bungalows and cottages.

 * Sree Vengateshwaraa Inn, 04253 222534, ₹700 - 2500

Connect

 * Police: 100
 * Ambulance/Fire: 108

Mobile phones
Vi, Airtel and Bsnl are the mobile networks which cover this region; the rest simply doesn't work. Of these, BSNL is far and away the most reliable (the others, especially Vi, can be patchy in the region, although Vi starts working fine almost the moment you cross the border into Kerala). In town area, Airtel will work; on other places, it won't.

Go next

 * Vazhachal
 * Athirapalli
 * Coimbatore
 * Kodaikanal
 * Munnar
 * Palani
 * Pollachi
 * Topslip
 * Udumalpet

title: Valparai


text:
Valparaiso (Indiana)

Valparaiso is a city of 43,000 people (2019) in Porter County, in Northwestern Indiana. It is home to namesake Valparaiso University. The university is a cultural center of the city, hosting venues such as the Brauer Museum of Art, home to more than 2,700 pieces of 19th- and 20th century American art

Get in

 * V-line - runs a shuttle bus service Friday-Sunday to and from the South Shore Line's Dune Park train station in Chesterton once every two hours (the trip takes half an hour each way, give or take five minutes)
 * ChicaGo DASH - weekday commuter bus that goes from Valparaiso to Chicago in the early morning and from Chicago to Valparaiso in the late afternoon

Get around

 * V-line - city bus service includes four routes that connect to various destinations throughout the city. Red and Brown Line run all week, while Yellow and Green line run Monday-Saturday. The Brown Line doesn't run when Valparaiso University is not in session.

Events

 * The Porter County Fair offers carnival attractions and hosts a variety of shows such as a demolition derby, motocross races, and live musical performances.
 * The Porter County Fair offers carnival attractions and hosts a variety of shows such as a demolition derby, motocross races, and live musical performances.

title: Valparaiso (Indiana)


text:
Valpolicella

Valpolicella is a valley near Verona. It is well known all over the world for its wines: Recioto, ripasso and Amarone. It also offers a number of historical and art related things to see. relevant and interesting villages are: San Pietro Incariano, Fumane, Negrar. All of them are filled with wineries and places to eat, although the wineries are not as accessible to the public as some other world famous wine regions. For example, Negrar, "City of Wine," only has a few places to taste the local wines. Visiting Valpolicella will pay dividends for the wine tourist, but these will not be as easy to realize as in other famous wine cities in Italy like Montalcino or Montepulciano, where tasting rooms are thick on the ground.

Valpolicella is rather close to lake Garda, the biggest lake in Italy.

Get in
To get to Valpolicella from Verona, take the ringroad and follow directions to Valpolicella-Trento. From highway A4 Milano Venezia, exit at Verona Sud and follow the quickway in direction Valpolicella-Trento. From Highway A22 Brennero Modena, exit at the Verona Nord gate, and you're almost there, just follow the quickway until it ends.

See
Don't miss the Palladian Villas in Negrar, Pedemonte and San Pietro in cariano. In Molina, just a few kilometers up Fumane, there is the beautiful Cascate di Molina park, with natural falls and hikes in the nature.

Do
A tour of Valpolicella wineries. Visit the vineyards, cellars, grape drying centers (for the making of the Amarone) and taste Valpolicella wines. Information on: http://www.veronissima.com/sito_inglese/html/wine_ing.htm

Buy
There is an outdoor market in Negrar on Mondays. It is a typical Italian weekly market.

Eat
Beside wine, Valpolicella offers a wide variety of local food: Monte Veronese: is the typical cheese produced in Verona mountains. It can be fresh or aged Soppressa: the typical salami of Veneto region. Risotto all'Amarone: Risotto made with Valpolicella top wine: the Amarone

Drink
If you visit Valpolicella, chances are you are interested in the local wines. wine tourism in Valpolicella is not as developed as that in other world famous wine regions like Tuscany, Piedmont, or Burgundy, however. It can be challenging to taste the local wines in Valpolicella. You will need to do some homework in order to find the producers, and it is best to call ahead to arrange tastings. Some famous local wine producers, like Quintarelli, are not open to the public.

Notable local producers of amarone, ripasso, and recioto include:
 * Tomasso Bussola, Via Molino Turri 30, Negrar, Telephone: +39 045 750 1740,
 * Zenato
 * Allegrini
 * Rubinelli Vajol
 * Fratelli Vogadori (Via Vigolo, 16 Negrar Telephone +39 328 94 17 228 — A little producer where you can always visit the winery and taste the wines. The winery is always available to support tourists to choose a good osteria, or a place where to sleep or to indicate what there is to see in Valpolicella. If you would like to sleep here, near the winery they have an apartment to rent.

Sleep
To sleep in Valpolicella, you'll have to choose among nice small hotels to family bed & breakfast or winery where they produce the Amarone.

 * Acinaticum Valpolicella you can sleep in the rooms in the side of Fratelli Vogadori winery so you can have a wonderful winetasting in the winery and after you can relax enjoying the panorama. It's in Negrar on the Vigolo hill and there is a nice view of the Valpolicella. Amarone, Amarone Forlago, Recioto, Ripasso and Valpolicella are the wines you can taste and buy.
 * Agriturismo del Bugiardo Agriturismo del Bugiardo is a Wine Resort close to Verona, in Valpolicella. A 4 star hotel with 20 rooms in typical style and with all the comforts of a great 4 star resort. Pearl of the Agriturismo del Bugiardo are the Wine Cave and the Locanda for high level dinner. A perfect escape just a walk from Verona.
 * Hotel Valpolicella International The Hotel Valpolicella is a modern and well equipped 3-star hotel, in the heart of Valpolicella and close the Highway A22. The hotel has 42 comfortable bedrooms, all equipped with TV, air conditioning, telephone, minibar and hairdryer. The Hotel Valpolicella also provides a meeting room, the restaurant and pizzeria.
 * Corteforte B&B The farm holidays Corteforte is a bed and breakfast accommodation within a 600-year old fortified farmhouse. The B&B lies on a prestigious wine estate between Verona and Lake Garda. There are 4 magnificent and luxurious double rooms inside an ancient mast, each with a private bathroom and hairdryer, and every room is furnished differently with antiques, TV, and a minibar. There is no air conditioning, but you won't need it, the metre-thick walls keep the rooms cool and fresh. With comfortable vacation accommodation, an excellent restaurant, and the chance to sample and buy fine Valpolicella, Amarone and Recioto wines, this promises a holiday of indulgence and luxury.
 * Locanda cà dei maghi The new Locanda Ca' dei Maghi is located in the most attractive area of Valpolicella: Fumane between Verona and Lake Garda. The property overlooks the valley and its yineyards and it is plunged in an atmosphere of tranquillity. All the bedrooms have a private bathroom, minibar, air conditioning and are sound proof. The property is provided of a restaurant that offers you the typical and traditional dishes of the Veneto region.

Go next

 * Verona - city in Veneto, northern Italy
 * Torri del Benaco - commune in Province of Verona
 * Lake Garda - lake in Italy

title: Valpolicella


text:
Vals

Vals is a village and valley in Graubunden, in the Surselva district.

Get in
The closest train station is in Ilanz, with trains from Chur. From there a postal bus runs hourly to Vals (36 minutes).

Get around
Vals is manageable on foot. During the winter season, there is a free shuttle bus running through the village.

See
Zervreilasee is a damned lake up the valley its glacial blue surface reflects the surrounding mountain scape, taking in the impressive Zervreillahorn.

Do

 * Hiking

title: Vals


text:
Val Thorens

Val Thorens is a ski resort in Savoie, France. Val Thorens is the highest Alpine Skiing resort in Europe, with the town itself at 2300m above sea level. This also makes it one of the most snow assured in Europe, with the ski season extending to early May. Val Thorens is part of Les Trois Vallées interlinked ski area.

By plane
Val Thorens is located remotely in the Mountains and does not have a local airport. In ski season there are some airports with seasonal flights: Aéroport de Chambéry-Savoie  (about 122 km) and Grenoble Isère Airport   (about 195 km). There is a small airport with mostly private flights in Courchevel which is also part of the skiing area of Les Trois Vallées.

By train
There is no train station in Val Thorens. The nearest train station is about 35 km away in Moutiers, where during the ski season direct high-speed trains (Eurostar, TGV and Thalys) connect directly to Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the rest of France. From the Moutiers station there are bus connections to Val Thorens.

By bus
Many visitors arrive by chartered busses.

By car
The only way to get to Val Thorens is by road. The journey from Moutiers takes an hour (or more if in a bus or stuck behind one). Parking in Val Thorens is only possible in (paid) parking and police is checking for parking violations.

Other
It is possible to ski in from Les Menuires, Meribel and Orelle. The pistes from these places are mostly graded as blue or red. The high level lifts required often close in poor weather.

Get around
Cars are officially banned in the resort. Dropping off luggage is allowed, but vehicles must then be parked in one of the Valthoparc car parks. Police will fine or even tow away illegally parked vehicles.

See
The viewpoint at the top of the Cime Caron cable car is at 3200m above sea level. It is possible to see Mont Blanc from there. It is accessible to pedestrians as well as skiers, using the Cairn, Caron and Cime Caron cable cars. There is a restaurant at the top.

Do
Apart from (obviously) Alpine Skiing, mountain biking, walking, hiking, microlight, paragliding, fishing and quad biking are on offer in the summer months.

title: Val Thorens


text:
Valtimo

Valtimo is a town in North Karelia, Finland, nowadays part of Nurmes.

Get in
By bus from Nurmes, Joensuu, Kajaani or Oulu. See Matkahuolto. From Nurmes you can also use the twice-weekly (W F) dial-a-ride service Katuri.

Get around
The Katuri dial-a-ride service of Nurmes serves also Valtimo. The Wednesday service from Nurmes connects to the local routes, which likewise drive Wednesdays and Fridays. See the routes, times, prices and phone numbers from the web page, check details when calling the driver, at latest 2–3 hr before the ride.

By taxi
See North Karelia
 * Smartphone app (as of 2020): 02 Taksi

See

 * Valtimo is also a great place to experience wilderness, and an existence of emptiness.
 * Valtimo is also a great place to experience wilderness, and an existence of emptiness.

Do

 * Listen to silence.

Buy
There is a supermarket in the centre.

Eat
There are two restaurants in the centre.

Drink
Beer. Nearest liquor store is in Nurmes.

Go next

 * – national park offering old-growth forest, the above mentioned silence and the Hiidenportti gorge; the adjacent recreational area offers easy hikes and lakes with child-friendly beaches. 20 km to the north-east along Ylä-Valtimontie, road 5284.

title: Valtimo


text:
Vama Veche

Vama Veche is a small village on the Romanian border with Bulgaria on the shore of the Black Sea. The coastline of Vama Veche is quite peaceful as it is not a hot spot for tourists.

By car
E87 South from Constanta (Romania) or North from Varna (Bulgaria). Particular reference points at the South-Bound entrance to Vama Veche are the Golden Sea Motel (yellow and green color) on the left (East) of E-87, an indicator to Marina Park (a leading restaurant, bar and camp-ground) and the Punk Rock Hotel on the right (West) side of E-87.

By plane
Fly to Henry Coanda International Airport in Bucharest, serviced by over a dozen airlines among which, KLM, TAROM, WizzAir or to Kogalniceanu Airport  near Constanta, and take a train or bus to Mangalia, and then take a Minibus south to Vama Veche. Minibuses are reliable, with assigned seating; assume at least one bus per hour down the Constanta-Vama Veche road (E-87), although changing buses once in Mangalia might be necessary. Assume total trip time from Constanta to Vama Veche of 1½ hours, including transfers. Cost should not exceed €5.

An alternative is to fly into Varna, Bulgaria, and head North on E-87. If already in Bulgaria, a weekend trip to Vama Veche is a must-do party adventure!

By train
The closest train station is in Mangalia, which is fairly well served by trains that are packed (truly packed!) in the high season. Going to Constanta will not make your train ride up to Bucharest any more comfortable, but slightly quicker.

By bus
From Constanta, go to the South Autogare next to the Train station and take a minibus going to Mangalia (10 lei). Tell the driver that you want to go to Vama Veche and he will stop you in front of the Nordiana hotel (facing LIDL supermarket). Every hour there is a bus from that hotel going to Vama Veche (4.5 lei), you can also take that bus from other parts of the main road in Mangalia.

Get around
Walking is the means of transport. Preferably in shabby flip-flops, or barefoot.

Eat
There are a variety of restaurants ranging from Romanian food, to a creperie, to pizza joints. The best pizza during weekends is at Marina Park.

Down at the beach area, there are stalls offering "Hamsii" (little fried fish as a whole, offered with lemon or a ridiculous amount of garlic sauce). It's not a wine and dine place, though.

Drink
Beer selection is also ample, as are cocktails, cognacs and whisky. There are dozens of beach-front locations open 24/7.

Sleep
Homestay is one option for tourists. The small buses usually drop you off along the main road in Vama Veche. After getting off the bus, you may be approached by local residents with whom you can negotiate to rent a spare bedroom in their home or a cheap place for a tent in their garden. The preferred option, however, is camping on the beach. Roughly two-thirds of the younger people do this, leaving only limited space for lingering about the beach. There are toilets and showers available, although grungy. Theft did not seem a problem.

Go next

 * Constanţa - Romania's largest seaport
 * Mangalia - a port city and resort that hosts one of Romania's largest summer festivals
 * Varna, Bulgaria - a seaside resort city and one of the oldest cities in Europe
 * Head North on E-87, parallel to the Black Sea coast. Be sure to stop by the exiting road sign from Vama Veche, right next to the Golden Sea Motel and take the usual "photo op" stop with the road sign. A usual custom of many visitors. You can also take advantage of this stop and stock-up on roadtrip goodies from the Double M Mini Food Mart, just south of the Golden Sea Motel on the same (east) side of the road. If you want to freshen up prior to your drive, Golden Sea Motel often will allow you access to their clean restrooms.

title: Vama Veche


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Van

Van (pronounced vahn in Turkish, wahn in Kurdish) is a city in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. For Turks from the other regions of Turkey, it has a surprising beach resort feel in an area where their country is farthest from the sea. For Armenians from all over the world, it's sort of a homecoming, where they reconnect with their long-lost heritage. For Iranians from just next door, it's a quick breath of fresh air, where they freely and happily flout the Islamic fiat enforced in their homeland. For all of them, and for everybody else, Van is the highlight of travelling in eastern Turkey, with great historic sites and equally great lake and mountain vistas.

Understand
Van is near the eastern shore of Lake Van (Van Gölü), a soda-salt lake also known locally as Van Denizi ("the sea of Van") for its size – it's the largest lake in Turkey. The lake surface is 1640 metres above sea level and ringed by high mountains, so the area has a harsh continental climate. An active tectonic boundary runs beneath, so earthquakes are not uncommon, and the nearby volcano Mount Nemrut is only dormant, not extinct.

The region is historically important as the centre of the kingdom of Urartu – established in the area between the 9th and 6th centuries BC by an Iron Age people who named their country Biainili, a word which eventually morphed into "Van" – and later of the Armenians. Afterwards, Van was ruled by the Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans. At its dramatic lakeside setting just beneath the striking rock of the castle, the multicultural Van of old was known as one of the most beautiful cities of "the East", and was especially famous for its fine silverwork and the jewellers' bazaar on the Silk Road. During World War I, it changed hands several times between the Ottoman Empire, mostly supported by local Kurds and other Muslims, and the Russian Empire, mostly supported by local Armenians and other Christians. By the end of the war the old city had been devastated, and many of its people massacred. The remaining inhabitants relocated to the city's present location, 5 km further east inland. What was left of the old walled city was later reduced to rubble by strong earthquakes, including a 7.1-magnitude quake in 2011. Only a couple of mosques have been rebuilt.

Talk
Local people mainly speak Turkish and Kurdish. The national language is Turkish, while the native language, Kurdish, is also very common. People, especially the young generation, understand some basic English.

In case you need to brush up your rusty Urartian, an extinct language written in the cuneiform imported from Mesopotamia to the south and not closely related to any other (perhaps except also extinct Hurrian once spoken in the surrounding area), one great opportunity to do so is to meet Mehmet Kuşman (b. 1940), the retired security guard of the Urartu-era Sarduruhinilli Castle in his village, Çavuştepe. While discussing with the scholars visiting the site, he was fascinated by Urartian and self-taught himself in the language without any academic degree in history or linguistics, thus becoming one of a handful of people in the world proficient in it.

By bus
Buses run several times a day from Ankara (19 hours), Istanbul (25 hours) and all major cities in Turkey, some involving a change to a connecting bus.

Frequent dolmuşes run to town from Tatvan (100 km, 2 hrs) via the south lake shore, Highway D300. There are no direct services around the north shore. Dolmuses also run from Doğubayazıt (185 km, 2½ hrs) to the minibus terminal next to the otogar. Buses leave at 07:30, 09:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00. 150TL (Oct 2023).

The border crossing to Iran, 100 km away at Kapikoy/Razi, is open for light vehicles, but (as of 2016) no buses or dolmuşes cross by this route: instead go to Dogubeyazit to travel into Iran via Bazargan.

is at the highway junction 3 km northwest of town. Your inter-city ticket should be valid for the shuttle buses to town, check when booking.

By train
Van is the western terminus of the railway from Iran, but the weekly train from Tehran and Tabriz has been suspended since 2019. Van railway station is locked up.

By plane
is just 5 km from the centre, in the southwestern suburbs. It has daily flights from Istanbul (IST and SAW), Ankara, Adana and Izmir.

Outside the airport there are taxis to the city, but you can also walk to the main road where dolmuses take you to the city much more cheaply. A bus run by the municipality serves the security entrance to the airport (past the taxis and towards the main road).

To get to the airport from the city centre, dolmuşes marked Hava Alanı leave from near Hotel Akdamar (Kazım Karabekir Cd), and take about 15 minutes.

By boat
Ferries across the lake from Tatvan sail infrequently and irregularly and take 4 hours.

Get around
Dolmuşes and taxis take you anywhere beyond walking distance, such as the castle.

See

 * Tuşpa, the ancient Urartian capital, was at the same site with Old Van. Save for some cobbled roads and the occasional ruin of stone buildings, it is now a massive expanse of empty land extending from below the fortress to the lake. Don't confuse it with the metropolitan municipality of Tuşba, which governs the northern half of the modern city.

West

At the other abandoned monasteries listed below, don't expect any tourist facilities – or good roads or even signposts towards many of them.

 * Mount Nemrut and the Ahlat tombs on the western shore of the lake: Tatvan is the better base for these, see that page.
 * Mount Nemrut and the Ahlat tombs on the western shore of the lake: Tatvan is the better base for these, see that page.
 * Mount Nemrut and the Ahlat tombs on the western shore of the lake: Tatvan is the better base for these, see that page.
 * Mount Nemrut and the Ahlat tombs on the western shore of the lake: Tatvan is the better base for these, see that page.

Southeast

The countryside further southeast is dotted by a series of historic and natural attractions, on and off the highway to Hakkari, D975.

Çavuştepe and Hoşap are both on the highway, so they are easy to visit by taking buses to Başkale or Hakkari. For St Bartholomew and the fairy chimneys, you have to self-drive or arrange a taxi.

Do

 * Beaches are found south of Edremit (sandy) and around Mollakasım north of Cape Çarpanak (pebble).
 * Birdwatching — Lake Erçek (Erçek Gölü) 30 km east along D300 towards Kapıköy on the Iranian border is an important site for migrating waterbirds, about 180 species of them, several endangered.

Buy
Van Shopping Center is in the city centre: it offers shops, restaurants, cafes, and cinemas.

Eat
The city is famous for its breakfast halls (kahvaltı salonu) where you are served a huge amount of food including local cheese and honey, and an unlimited supply of tea. Look around.

Sleep
There are plenty of hotels around the northern end of the bazaar.

Stay safe
Do not take an unofficial route into and up to the castle as it can be much more difficult and dangerous to get down again.

Connect
Van has 4G from all Turkish carriers, but only Turkcell has a signal on the highways around. 5G has not yet reached this area.

Go next

 * Doğubayazıt 185 km north is the main border gate to Iran. (Be sure to have your visa in advance, there are no visa facilities in this area.) Even if you don't intend to cross the border, Doğubeyazıt itself is worth a visit for the nearby attractions of the stunning İshak Pasha Palace, and the legendary Mount Ararat, the highest mountain of Turkey. Doğubeyazıt has good bus connections to other destinations in Eastern Anatolia.

title: Van


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Vanadzor

Vanadzor (Armenian: Վանաձոր) is the capital of Lori Marz, in the North Central part of Armenia.

Understand
Vanadzor is Armenia's third largest city, with a population of about 105,000 people. There are a few old churches, however big part of the city has been built during the time of the Soviet Union with a grand central square, a humongous old Soviet chemical factory which has been idle for decades, and a river running through the somewhat narrow valley, surrounded by hills.

Most of the attractions in Lori are along the Debed River canyon to the north, or around Stepanavan, and although Vanadzor can be used as a base to explore these due to its perfect transport connection, finding a place closer to them might be preferable.

By train
The city lies on the railway connecting Tbilisi and Yerevan.

By bus

Specific connections:
 * Tbilisi – 4,000 dram (updated August 2018) (14 Georgian lari), daily at 08:30, arrives in Tbilisi at 12:30-13:00.
 * Yerevan – Marshrutkas are inexpensive (1,200 dram), and will take you to Vanadzor in a couple of hours. They depart from Kino Rosia, above the Zoravar Andranik metro station, across from the national cathedral in Yerevan.
 * Ijevan – 1,000 dram
 * Gyumri – 500 dram
 * Stepanavan – 400 dram
 * Alaverdi – 500 dram
 * Dilijan – 500 dram. From Dilijan at 09:30, and 11:30.
 * also from/to Byrd, Akhtala, Odzun, Spitak, Tashir, Noyemberian

By taxi
Shared taxis in Yerevan leave from the same spot as marshrutkas, and are a bit more comfortable, fast and a little more expensive. Virtually any taxi in Yerevan will take you there for 100 dram/km, which adds up to about 12,500 dram, unless you're a good negotiator.

On foot
The center of the city where lies almost all main attractions is quite miniature and walkable. You'll need to get a transportation if heading to some outer monasteries or perhaps to Botanical Garden (which is about 1.5 km from the center).

By marshrutka
Always available.

By taxi
Available and practical for visiting sites in the nearby area. The majority of the taxis are equipped with a meter, but you might want to agree on the price beforehand to avoid being scammed, but it's close to impossible here. Taxis running on gas are less expensive than those on petrol. Expect to pay about 100 dram per km plus a starting fee of 500 dram (2015).

Laundry
There is only one laundry in Vanadzor.

While the cheapest option could be if you stay in "Gugark" Hotel, where you can ask for laundry service. Cost depends on negotiation, but could be as little as around 500 dram for one washing machine.

Go next

 * Alaverdi
 * Dilijan
 * Gyumri

title: Vanadzor


text:
Van Buren

There is more than one place called Van Buren

United States of America

 * Van Buren (Arkansas) - a town in the state of Arkansas.
 * Van Buren (Indiana) - a town in the state of Indiana.
 * Van Buren (Maine) - a town on US Route 1 in the state of Maine, on the New Brunswick, Canada border.
 * Van Buren (Missouri) - a town in the state of Missouri.
 * Van Buren (New York) - a town in the state of New York (state).
 * Van Buren (Ohio) - a town in the state of Ohio.

title: Van Buren


text:
Van Buren (Arkansas)

Van Buren is a city in the River Valley region of Arkansas.

Get in
The town should be easily accessible from Fort Smith, which it is across the Arkansas River from. Driving along US Route 71 northeast out of Fort Smith should quickly take you to Van Buren.

See

 * Historic Downtown Arts, Antiques and Shops in downtown Van Buren. Scenes from The Blue And The Grey were filmed around here.
 * King Opera House, 427 Main St. 19th century Victorian building.
 * The Old Frisco Depot, 813 Main St. Historic train depot where part of Biloxi Blues was filmed and which now serves as the Van Buren Visitor Center and point of embarkation for train tours (see next section).

title: Van Buren (Arkansas)


text:
Van Buren (Ohio)

Van Buren is a village in Hancock County in Northwest Ohio. Located next to I-75, it is primarily visited as either a brief stop for travelers on the interstate, or as a destination for those visiting the large state park located there.

Understand
Van Buren was founded in 1833 and was named after the then vice president Martin Van Buren, who would later go on to become the 8th President.

By car
I-75 runs along Van Buren North of Findlay and south of North Baltimore

Get around
As a small village, Van Buren is easy to get around with a car, bike, or on foot.

Buy
As a small village, Van Buren does not have many regularly open shopping opportunities.

Connect
The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library bookmobile stops in town every Monday from 4:45PM-6:00PM.

title: Van Buren (Ohio)