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Palmarin

Palmarin is a rural community in Central Senegal. It is part of the Fatick administrative region.

Understand
Palmarin is rural community running along a 17km peninsula on the most southern stretches of Senegal's Petite Côte. To the west are the sandy beaches skirting the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Located to the east is the protected National Reserve de Palmarin, a patchwork delta consisting of mangrove channels, salt flats, grass lands and forest. This unique combination of habitat supports a wide assortment of plant and animal life.

The majority of the area’s residents live in one of five villages, from north to south Ngallo, Ngueth, Gounamane, Diakhanor and Djiffer. The dominant industries in the area are traditional fishing and tourism. Other smaller industries include salt, oyster and clam harvesting. The dominant ethnic group in the area is Sereer, speaking a distinct Soloum area dialect. French and Wolof are secondary languages also commonly spoken.

Climate
The travel seasons in Palmarin and most of Senegal is between the drier months of November through May. This time of year is characterized relatively little rainfall, lower humidity and milder temperatures. Temperatures range in the mid to high seventies (around 25°C) during this time. The months of June through October see increased rainfall rising temperatures peaking around August through October.

Traveling Responsible
Palmarin offer a unique opportunity for visitors to the area to contribute directly to the area environmental well being. Through the Bureau of Eco tourism's Palmarin Carbon Offset Program, visitors can purchase carbon offsets in the form of trees. The program offers to plant species important in combating environmental concerns facing the area such as beach erosion, fishery protection or habit rejuvenation. Palmarin Carbon Offset Program

Get in
Travel to Palmarin can be organized through the area's lodging establishments, private car or via public transit options. From Dakar take through Mbour and Joal via route N1. After Joal the road changes from asphalt to laterite. The quality of the road after Joal is poor and can become impassable during the rainy season without a 4x4. Follow the signs in Samba Dia directing you south to Palmarin.

Via public transit from the Dakar garage, take a sept place or bus rapid to Mbour costing approximately 1500cfa. In Mbour, sept places are available to Djiffer, the most southern village in Palmarin for 2000cfa. Passengers can request to be dropped off at there lodging accommodations or one of the Palmarin villages prior to reaching Djiffer.

An alternative public transit route is from Dakar to Joal (2000cfa) and from Joal to Palmarin (1000cfa). From the northern garage in Joal it is necessary to take a clando taxi 150cfa to the southern garage.

Get around
One way of getting around Palmarin is via a horse driven cart or charrette. Charrettes make accessing Le Reserve de Palmarin, the local villages and even the beaches an easy task. At the same time they let visitors experience travel on a local level and a pace that allows them to take in all their surroundings. Tours are organized on request and accompanied by an experienced guide knowledgeable in the local environment and culture.

Parc National du Delta du Saloum
Since the designation of the Réserve Naturelle Communautaire de Palmarin in 2001, protection of the 10,430 hectares which make up the region has been a top priority for local as well as international organizations. The region is home to a plethora of fauna and flora including hyenas, jackals, as well as a wide range of resident & migrant birds, as well as ancient baobabs and critical mangrove systems. Cultural treasures also rest in the reserve. Ancient mounds of clams shells, collected by early inhabitants of the region, dot the landscape, some up to thirty meters high. Due to the historical and archeological significance of these sites, the reserve has received a special designation from UNESCO in hopes of protecting the area. Today, the reserve serves as both a place for animal as well as human activities. Under the surveillance of the Direction des Parcs Nationaux, some traditional uses of the land such as salt collection, farming and cattle grazing are still allowed. However, there has been a general move to utilize the pristine nature of the area primarily as an attraction for the developing local tourism industry. Such a move provides sources of alternative income for the local people and reduces the pressure to source wood for fuel or land for agriculture from within the reserve. For tours of the reserve, contact the Office of Ecotourism or the local assembly of Eco-Guards.

Wrestling
No visit to Senegal is complete without experiencing the sights and sounds of a traditional Sereer wrestling match, known in Sereer as Njoom. Moreover, there is no better place to witness such a spectacle than with its creators. Although today traditional wrestling in Senegal is a national phenomenon, it is rooted in Seereer tradition. This rich tradition continues to the present as nearly every Seereer village regularly holds organized tournaments and supports their own local champions.

Unlike the style of wrestling that has taken hold in the rest of Senegal with its strong emphasis on striking, combat in Sereer communities has held true to the traditional conventions. The emphasis is solely on strength and technical skill with the striking of an opponent considered illegal. The objective of each warrior is to topple his adversary, forcing him into contact with the ground with his back or both hands and knees at the same time. Winning a match lets the competitor advance to the next round and possibly the final round, where money or even livestock is rewarded to the tournament champions.

In addition to the unmistakable raw power and technical prowess of the Njoom competitors, spectators can’t help but notice the widespread use of mysticism throughout the arena. Grisgris, or good luck charms, are adorned and magic concoctions are consumed. Each warrior hopes their brand of magic, often sourced from a respected Marabou, is more powerful than that of their competitor.

Other attractions

 * Salt Evaporation Pools - You may have seen the mysterious circles that dot the landscape just east of Ngallou, each with its hue reflecting in the sun. These are the salt collection pools of Palmarin. The local population uses season floods and tidal flows to fill the pools with ocean water, then harvests the ring of salt left as the pools evaporate in the dry season. Look for a sack of locally sourced salts at your lodge or on a visit to the village.
 *  Hyenas Palmarin has a significant population of wild hyenas living with in the reserve. Expeditions can be arranged through accommodation providers or the Reserve de Palmarin Eco Guides. (221) 76 566 34 34
 *  Ancient Mounds Palmarin's ancient inhabitants build dozens of mounds, some up to forty meters high, from harvested clam shells. Some the mounds were excavated to be used as building material for roads prior to the region being designated a world heritage site by the United Nations. Many of the artifacts discovered are now located in Palmarin's Eco Museum.

Fishing
Offshore Fishing in artisanal boats is available through many of the accommodation providers, local guides or the Palmarin Office of Ecotourism. Situated between the ocean and inter-coastal, the people of Palmarin have spent their lives tightly interwoven with the local waterways. Now you, too, can learn from the expertise of local fisherman in the art of artisanal fishing.

For a good appreciation of the local way of life, it’s essential to understand the local economy. The largest industry in Palmarin today is fishing, providing the local people with both food and a source of revenue. Artisanal fish transformation is still practiced in the area and is worth checking out. Look for the site on the beach North-West of Ngallou.

Other activities

 * Kayaking - Kayak the Winding Mangroves Channels of the Palmarin Reserve. This pristine area hosts an abundant volume of wildlife. Sightings of various bird species are common including pelican, flamingo, hereon, king fishers, and weavers. More elusive species include mongoose, monkeys, and monitor lizards. Sangomar Kayak offers half day excursions with optional lunch or overnight camping. (221) 77 535 5011
 * Hair Braiding - Have your hair braided by the women of Diakhanor while enjoying three cups of tea and lively discussion. (221) 77 175 42 50
 * Capoeira Lessons - Enjoy the Afro-Brazilian art form of Capoeira on the beautiful beaches of Palmarin. Learn to play the Berimbau and join the Roda. (221) 77 184 01 88
 * Traditional Dancing Traditional Sereer dancing is a mix of stomping and body gyrations usually performed amongst a circle. Dancers take turns, two or three at a time, dancing in the center of the circle for approxamitley thirty second bursts. The dancers respond to the rhythm being performed by drummers using generally jambays or tam tams.
 * Bird Watching - The region of Senegambia is a bird watcher’s dream, hosting over 600 species of migratory and resident avifauna. Due to the unique convergence of coastal, estuary and forest habitat, Palmarin provides an ideal opportunity to view many of these species in a single locale.
 * Artisanal Fishing - Learn to fish by site with traditional cast fishing nets. (221) 77 379 46 26

Buy

 * Artisanal Markets - There are three artisanal markets in Palmarin. Mache de la Plage is located just south of the Royal lodge. Marche du Mangrove is located along the beach behind the Lodge de Palmarin and Chez Mendy is off the main road in the village of Ngallou. Each market sells various local and imported goods such as statues, jewelry and clothing.

Eat
Outside the accommodations providers, there are two additional dining establishments.

Connect
Palmarin has a Bureau de L’Ecotourisme. Be sure to stop by the office and find out about all the exciting happenings in and around the communauté rurale of Palmarin. There, you can find additional information and make reservations with one of the area’s many tourism operators. Beyond pointing you in the direction of interesting sites and great cultural events, the office offers regular, scheduled events such as artisanal markets, cultural music and dance demonstrations, informative classes on a variety of topics.

Go next

 * Head inland from Palmarin to visit the villages Mar Lodj and Foundiougne

title: Palmarin


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Palmas

Palmas is the capital of the Brazilian State of Tocantins. Like the country's capital, Brasilia, and several other state capitals, it was built out of nowhere (in 1990) to house the government of its new-born state.

Get in
This is pretty much the middle of nowhere. Both bus and plane connect better southwards, via Brasilia.

973km from Brasilia, 1,271 km from Belem.

See
The city is interesting as a study of urbanism. It was dimensioned for several times its current population.

Do
There is a fresh water beach a couple of km from the center. Take any bus that goes to the university.

Go next

 * Jalapão
 * Taquarussu
 * Natividade

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

title: Palmas


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Palmas (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Palmas:

Brazil

 * Palmas - capital of the state of Tocantins

 * Palmas - a small city in the south of the state of Parana

France

 * Palmas (France) - a commune of the Aveyron département in Occitanie

Indonesia

 * Palmas - a small island also known as Miangas

Italy

 * Palmas (Italy) - a village on the island of Sardinia

Spain

 * Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - a city on Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

title: Palmas (disambiguation)


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Palm Bay

Palm Bay is the largest city in Brevard County, with a population of over 115,000 in 2019. It is the core of the Palm Bay Metropolitan Area.

Understand
Palm Bay has plenty of points of interest north of Malabar Road. However, areas south of Malabar Road contain very little to do.

By plane
You can get into Palm Bay through Melbourne International Airport, which is the closest commercial airport to Palm Bay located in the nearby city of Melbourne.

By car
From Melbourne follow I-95 south to the Malabar Road exit for Palm Bay. US-1 follows the coastal route, a few miles to the east. Both I-95 and US-1 are north-south routes, I-95 being the easternmost interstate in the country and US-1 being the easternmost U.S. route.

Go next

 * Melbourne - a nearby neighboring and more developed city, just north of Palm Bay.
 * Malabar southeast of Palm Bay is a small community on the shore of the Intracoastal Waterway.

title: Palm Bay


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Palm Beach (Florida)

Palm Beach is a well-to-do town on the east coast of Florida, adjacent to the larger city of West Palm Beach. Culturally known in many ways as the playground of the rich and famous; it is indeed a place full of oceanfront luxury resorts, upscale shopping centers, beautiful landscaping and architecture, nightlife opportunities, and dozens of stately mansions housing its wealthiest residents.

By train
Nearby West Palm Beach is well-connected by rail. Long-distance trains are provided daily by Amtrak while Brightline and Tri Rail has multiple daily intercity services from Miami via Fort Lauderdale.

By bus
The local bus operator Palm Tran runs a limited service from West Palm Beach, mainly focused on commuters.

Get around
TriRail has stops at the West Palm Beach Airport towards Magnolia Park and Miami Airport.

Do
Go to the Beach. There are many in the area that are clean and open for swimming.

title: Palm Beach (Florida)


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Palm Beach (Aruba)

Palm Beach (Aruba) is a city in Aruba. Palm Beach is renowned for its two-mile long strip of beach on the Northwest end of Aruba, and is home to many water sports, piers, beach bars, restaurants, shops, and hotels. The white beaches and calm water makes the beach and region ideal for swimmers and vacationers.

Get in
Located 7 miles from Queen Beatrix airport, cabs are available at the airport and at hotels, and cost about $30 including tip from the airport to Eagle Beach. You can also rent a car or jeep at airport or through the hotel concierge.

title: Palm Beach (Aruba)


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Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County is the largest county by land area in Florida. Situated in the southeastern corner of the state, many of South Florida's most notable cities are located in Palm Beach County, including its namesake, Palm Beach.

Regions
Geographically the largest county in Florida, Palm Beach County is by far the most developed in the eastern third or so of its landmass, where the vast majority of its residents live. The eastern portion of the county buffers the Atlantic Ocean, and is home to developed metropolises and urban population centers both up and down the coastline (and slightly further inland). Western Palm Beach County (past the Florida Turnpike or so) is more rural, but rapidly growing, with vast expanses of conservation areas and farmland dotted with an increasing number of small suburban cities and farther-flung subdivisions. The county's Glades region, which borders Lake Okeechobee in its northwestern corner, has a lot more in common culturally with the communities of the Florida Heartland than it does the cities of the rest of the county.

Cities
The largest cities in Palm Beach County are stacked north-to-south along I-95. Most have one or two access points to the beach, but much of the barrier islands that directly abut the Atlantic are incorporated as tiny seaside villages (including Highland Beach, Ocean Ridge, South Palm Beach, and Singer Island), populated by seasonal retired residents derogatorily referred to as "snowbirds" by native Floridians, with few tourist facilities. To the west are suburban cities like Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Greenacres, and Loxahatchee, alongside vast swaths of unincorporated gated communities that are steadily encroaching on the area's wilderness and farmlands.

Talk
English is the most widely-spoken language in the county, though farther south, Spanish, English, and Haitian Creole can be heard.

By plane
Palm Beach International Airport, located on Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach, is the county's largest airport. It offers non-stop service from a number of cities, mostly American destinations on the East Coast via budget airlines like Allegiant and Spirit Air. It also has a few international non-stop flights from destinations in the Bahamas and elsewhere in the Caribbean. The small terminal offers only a handful of shops and restaurants but has the advantage of central location, from downtown West Palm Beach, and a few highway exits from  most other destinations in the county.

Many travelers, particularly those headed for southern Palm Beach County, find Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport cheaper and more convenient. It's about south of West Palm Beach. FLL serves a much longer list of both domestic and international locations than PBIA, including most major cities in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, and even a handful of destinations in Canada. In addition to car rentals and airport shuttles, the airport is linked to Palm Beach County by the Tri-Rail commuter train (see "By train", below).

Miami International Airport, south of West Palm Beach, serves cities as far away as London, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Moscow, and Tel Aviv. Due to Miami's status as a major business and international tourism destination, flights here tend to be a bit more expensive than West Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale.

The county has a handful of smaller municipal airports as well, serving mostly private and chartered air traffic.

By train
Passenger rail travel in South Florida is as disappointing as anywhere in the country, but there are a handful of options. Three Amtrak lines, the Silver Star, Silver Meteor, and Palmetto, serve stations in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach, connecting to destinations elsewhere in Florida and up the Eastern Seaboard. On the same tracks, the Tri-Rail commuter service connects many more destinations throughout the county to Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

East of the Amtrak and Tri-Rail, shiny, bright yellow new train cars zoom through downtown areas. Launched in 2017, the Brightline bills itself as Florida's answer to high-speed rail, and while it can't yet match the speed and reach found in Europe and Asia, it does provide a much faster connection between West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami at a premium price targeting business travelers. When the line's Orlando station opens in 2022, it will be a faster and more convenient car-free way to travel between South and Central Florida than current methods.

By boat
The Port of Palm Beach, located in the small city of Riviera Beach just northeast of West Palm, is served primarily by cargo ships, but does see the occasional two-night cruise to the Bahamas.

To the south, both PortMiami and Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades rank among the busiest passenger cruise terminals in the United States. In addition to near-daily sailings to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, these cities offer ferry service to the Bahamas.

Smaller craft will find dozens of public and private marinas throughout the Palm Beaches, mostly in the inland Intracoastal Waterway. Short inlets and channels connect the Intracoastal to the Atlantic Ocean. Boaters should research ahead of their trip to find an available place to drop anchor, as most of the berths are occupied by local and seasonal residents with long-term leases.

By car
Most vehicles enter the county from the north or south via I-95, the county's main thoroughfare, which is centrally located in most of the bigger cities. In neighboring Broward County, I-95 connects to I-75, which crosses the Florida Peninsula and reaches the state's Gulf Coast before heading north to the Midwest. A few miles west of 95, the Florida Turnpike toll road provides a less-trafficked alternative; north of Palm Beach County, it veers farther west, connecting the region to Orlando, Ocala, and Gainesville. Frequent visitors to the area may consider investing in a SunPass transponder, which allows one to prepay tolls, bypassing the congested toll booth lines and perhaps saving a couple of dollars.

Beaches
Palm Beach County's main draw is its coastline, much of which is found on the barrier islands that line nearly all of Florida's coast. Compared to other top-tier resort areas in Florida, Palm Beach County's beaches tend to be a bit minimalist; typically, each city and town will have one or more city-owned access parks offering few amenities beyond a parking lot, restrooms, picnic area, and perhaps a playground or a covered observation deck. Exceptions include Lake Worth Beach's old casino complex, which has been redeveloped into a multi-use shopping, dining, and event space, and Delray Beach, where Atlantic Avenue provides easy access to downtown bars and restaurants. Most city- or county-owned beaches will have lifeguards during official hours, while private beaches and those that function as nature preserves will not. In some communities, much of the beachfront access is taken up by massive condo towers in ritzy vacation homes; anyone can wander onto any beach below the high-tide line, but you may get dirty looks from residents. Expect to pay $2 an hour or more for parking at just about any public beach in the county. Palm Beach County's longer coastline and lower profile among spring-break partiers means people have a bit more room to spread out than in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Crowds are at their densest in Boca Raton and Delray Beach at the county's southernmost end, while in the central part of the coastline, the majority of beaches are too far from public access points to see real crowds. For example, the town of Palm Beach has just one public-access park; the rest is privately owned. Some hotels may turn a blind eye to non-guests sneaking onto their beach, especially if you buy a couple drinks. North of West Palm Beach, the throngs of tourists give way to unspoiled, pristine expanses of white sand and even some unique rocky coastline, with much of the beaches under the protection of nearby conservation lands. Expect to do a bit more work to find these hidden gems, some of which lack basic facilities like bathrooms and access boardwalks.

Some of the more notable beaches in the county include:

Outdoor activities

 * Even many longtime residents overlook this informal grouping of over of natural areas, city and county parks, and wildlife preserves stretching from West Palm Beach over the county line to Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Those who do venture here are rewarded with the area's finest multi-use trails, and a taste of the diverse biome and wildlife found in the much larger and more remote Everglades National Park. Some of the larger of these areas include:
 * : Filling most of the vast expanse of land west of US 441 south of Lake Okeechobee, this of northern Everglades and cypress swamp offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities, including interpretive nature programs, mountain biking, boating, and fishing, but its crown jewel is its pristine Florida habitat and vast collection of wildlife, which includes more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals.
 * : Filling most of the vast expanse of land west of US 441 south of Lake Okeechobee, this of northern Everglades and cypress swamp offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities, including interpretive nature programs, mountain biking, boating, and fishing, but its crown jewel is its pristine Florida habitat and vast collection of wildlife, which includes more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals.
 * : Filling most of the vast expanse of land west of US 441 south of Lake Okeechobee, this of northern Everglades and cypress swamp offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities, including interpretive nature programs, mountain biking, boating, and fishing, but its crown jewel is its pristine Florida habitat and vast collection of wildlife, which includes more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals.
 * : Filling most of the vast expanse of land west of US 441 south of Lake Okeechobee, this of northern Everglades and cypress swamp offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities, including interpretive nature programs, mountain biking, boating, and fishing, but its crown jewel is its pristine Florida habitat and vast collection of wildlife, which includes more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals.
 * : Filling most of the vast expanse of land west of US 441 south of Lake Okeechobee, this of northern Everglades and cypress swamp offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities, including interpretive nature programs, mountain biking, boating, and fishing, but its crown jewel is its pristine Florida habitat and vast collection of wildlife, which includes more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals.
 * : Filling most of the vast expanse of land west of US 441 south of Lake Okeechobee, this of northern Everglades and cypress swamp offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities, including interpretive nature programs, mountain biking, boating, and fishing, but its crown jewel is its pristine Florida habitat and vast collection of wildlife, which includes more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals.
 * : Filling most of the vast expanse of land west of US 441 south of Lake Okeechobee, this of northern Everglades and cypress swamp offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities, including interpretive nature programs, mountain biking, boating, and fishing, but its crown jewel is its pristine Florida habitat and vast collection of wildlife, which includes more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals.
 * : Filling most of the vast expanse of land west of US 441 south of Lake Okeechobee, this of northern Everglades and cypress swamp offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities, including interpretive nature programs, mountain biking, boating, and fishing, but its crown jewel is its pristine Florida habitat and vast collection of wildlife, which includes more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals.

Go next

 * Martin County - north
 * Broward County - south
 * Hendry County - west
 * Okeechobee County - northwest
 * Glades County - northwest

title: Palm Beach County


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Palm Coast

Palm Coast is a suburban city in the First Coast. Palm Coast is a growing city that has attracted everyone from young families who want to start a family there to retirees who just want to visit for a few months out of the year. This is an excellent city for outdoor recreation, with an expansive Intracoastal Waterway system that attracts boaters, to a number of parks and winding ocean front jogging trails where outdoor lovers can start their day off right with a walk or jog.

Understand
The city is home to approximately 90,000 residents (2019), and lies on the Northeastern coast of Florida in between Jacksonville and Orlando. Palm Coast is close enough to St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, and Mt. Dora for a few afternoon trips but far enough away from any major tourist developments. The beauty of Palm Coast lies in the ability to sustain a downtown lifestyle with charming shops scattered throughout the downtown streets. As well, Palm Coast manages to maintain an essence of peace and tranquility while still inviting tourists to enjoy the laid-back lifestyle. There are an abundance of golf courses, marinas, and tennis courts to keep visitors busy for an entire summer.

By plane
Palm Coast and Flagler County are serviced by:

By car
Palm Coast is on Florida's east coast on Interstate 95, US Route 1 and scenic Route A1A and is intersected by State Route 100 from the west. There is easy access to Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Orlando and Ocala.

By boat
Palm Coast has access to the Intracoastal Waterway leading from the Atlantic Ocean in St. Augustine or Daytona with Marina fueling services available.

See
With the peaceful, laid-back lifestyle of Palm Coast, this is a perfect location to bring along a pet during your vacation. Although the Florida beaches and parks have rules regarding pets, Palm Coast is extremely welcoming to pets with the abundance of outdoor recreation.

Radio Stations

 * WBHQ, 92.7 FM, Palm Coast, Contemporary pop and rock
 * WJLH, 90.3 FM, Flagler Beach, Religious
 * WYFB, 90.5 FM, Palm Coast, Religious

Consulate

 * 🇵🇹 Portugal

Go next

 * Daytona Beach, to the south, is well-known for NASCAR racing.
 * Hammock Beach, to the northeast, is across the Intracoastal Waterway from Palm Coast.
 * Saint Augustine, to the north, is a historic, formerly Spanish city.

title: Palm Coast


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Palm Cove

Palm Cove is a tourist oriented, beach town - just north of Cairns.

Understand
Palm Cove is newly developed cluster of hotels, modern apartments and restaurants, on the beach about 30 minutes drive north of Cairns, set on a sandy beach. It could almost be seen as the northern limit of suburban Cairns. It avoids the crowds and some higher-density development that is Port Douglas, its northern neighbour.

It is immediately adjacent to the residential suburb of Clifton Beach, but you could easily stay there for a month and never be aware of this.

Once of the most common questions asked by visitors to the area, is whether to stay in Palm Cove or Port Douglas. Some of the factors to consider are:

 * Reef tours leave from Cairns or Port Douglas. Although you can get a pickup or drive from Palm Cove, you'll spend an extra hour or so each side to get back to your accommodation
 * Palm Cove only has a small supermarket, and a small range of restaurants and food. Port Douglas has a quaint shopping village with a variety of fashion, food and curiosities
 * Palm Cove has public transportation to Cairns. Transfers from Port Douglas to Cairns are expensive
 * Palm Cove is more compact, and you can get to the beach and shops from almost any accommodation there by foot. Port Douglas accommodation is very spread out, and you may find it a hassle without a car
 * Port Douglas has the marina and beach side, which add a bit of diversity over Palm Cove that only fronts onto the beach
 * Both have patrolled beaches with stinger nets up in season.

Get in
From Cairns it is a half hour taxi ride to Palm Cove. The Cairns local bus service runs to the town surprisingly frequently, every half an hour or so. Cairns has scheduled flights from most Australian capital cities, and some overseas destinations.

Get around
Palm Cove is easy to walk around. There is a walking/cycling track to Clifton Beach that will take around half an hour. Ignore the nice "rainforest walk" map distributed around town, which is a 20 metre walk designed to take you to the newer apartment developments. Head the opposite direction, south, along the beach for much better bush, beach, and walking opportunities.

Do

 * Jet Ski Hire
 * Swim - there are stinger nets in season. Beach is patrolled. Many of the hotels have pools.

Buy
Supermarkets in Palm Cove are small and expensive. Souvenir shops abound. Neighbouring Clifton Beach offers non-tourist oriented shops and prices.

Eat
Palm Cove lines the beach, with wide choice of dining. Go for a wander and take your pick, even in high season you are unlikely to miss out on a table. If you are on a budget, there are a few take-away and cheaper choices as well.

Drink
There is a pub in the centre of town, and numerous hotels and bars to choose from.

Sleep
There is a choice of high-end accommodation in Palm Cove, but there are some value family apartments available as well. There is competition here, expect good value. Expect some great deals out of season.

Connect
The town is modern, and tourist oriented. Internet terminals are not hard to come by. Mobile coverage is available from all networks.

Go next
Cairns and Port Douglas are obvious and easily attainable day trip destinations, together with their associated destinations of the reef, Daintree, Mossman Gorge and Kuranda.

title: Palm Cove


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Palmdale

Palmdale is a city in the far north of Los Angeles County in the Antelope Valley region of the Mojave Desert in Southern California.

History
In 1933, the U.S. government established Muroc Air Base (from a founder's name, Effie Corum, spelled backwards), now known as Edwards Air Force Base. They also bought Palmdale Airport in 1952 and established an aerospace development and testing facility called United States Air Force Plant 42. One year later, in 1953, Lockheed established a facility at the airport. After this time, the aerospace industry took over as the primary local source of employment, where it has remained ever since. Today, it's known as the "Aerospace Capital of America", where many of the aircraft used in the United States military are built and tested.

By car
Palmdale is about north of Downtown Los Angeles off of California State Highway 14, the Antelope Valley Freeway. The A.V. Freeway is the area's principal north - south route. The other end of CA-14 to the North connects Reno, Nevada to the Palmdale area via US Highway 395.

California State Highway 138 is the principal east - west route and connects the Inland Empire (Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario) and the "Grapevine" area of Interstate 5 to the Palmdale area.

California State Highway 18 connects the Victor Valley area to the Palmdale area via CA-138.

By plane
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operates the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) at its site near Plant 42 at Avenue P and 25th Street East. However, the

The next closest airport is Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, approximately one hour's drive to the south, and is served by most major carriers.

Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport , and Bakersfield Meadows Field are all approximately the same distance away timewise, assuming no traffic.

LAX has the most travel options and is generally the least expensive, but is significantly crowded and has many a long line in addition to the excessive traffic one must usually contend with to get to/from the airport.

Ontario will be much less crowded and easier to use. Traffic can be bad at times, but not nearly as bad as LAX.

Bakersfield is also an easy to use, uncrowded airport like Ontario, but has less flight options and is also generally more expensive, however, there is little to no traffic problems reaching BFL.

If you are willing to drive really far, Long Beach Municipal Airport and John Wayne International  may also be used as alternates.

Shuttle buses operate to/from LAX, costing approximately $70 one way:
 * Antelope Valley Airport Express,.

By train

Other than coming to or leaving town, rail service is not particularly used in this area as there are only 2 stations serving Palmdale and 1 more in nearby Lancaster.

By bus
Greyhound Bus Lines serves the Palmdale Transportation Center daily.

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) has daily commuter bus lines that connect to the Palmdale Transportation Center from various areas in Los Angeles. The AVTA is also the operator of the city's public bus system.

Santa Clarita Transit has a daily commuter bus line that runs to the Palmdale Transportation Center from the nearby city of Santa Clarita.

By bus
Palmdale has a local city bus system, operated by the Antelope Valley Transit Authority. These buses operate on most major thoroughfares throughout the metropolitan area and arrive on average of every 15 to 20 minutes. There are 2 major transfer centers in the city for switching bus lines, one at the Antelope Valley Mall and the primary one at the Palmdale Transportation Center. Santa Clarita Transit is the nearby city of Santa Clarita's public bus system and it offers connecting bus service from the PTC as well. Greyhound Bus also serves the Palmdale Transportation Center.

By taxi
Palmdale has taxi services by several companies. However, these taxis must always be called ahead of time, they are rarely in a position to be flagged down like in New York City or Los Angeles. If you plan on using a taxi service when arriving at Palmdale Regional Airport, there is a pay phone in the terminal that can be used to call them.

By car
Palmdale has most of the major rental car companies present. If arriving at Palmdale Regional Airport, there is a phone available to contact the rental car companies. The rental car companies do not have lots on the airport site, but they will come and pick you up from the airport and take you to the rental car facility. They will also likewise return you to the airport in the same manner.
 * Avis/ Budget, 1342 E Palmdale Blvd
 * Dollar, 412 Auto Vista Dr
 * Enterprise, 811 W Ave K, Lancaster
 * Hertz, 43440 10th St W STE 101, Lancaster

Buy
Palmdale has many of the stores found in the typical middle-class cities across the United States. Most of these stores are found at the intersection of Rancho Vista Blvd. and 10th Street West in and around the Antelope Valley Mall. There is also another heavy retail shopping cooridor growing on 47th Street East at Avenue S. The third main shopping area is located along Palmdale Blvd. between 17th Street East and 30th Street East.

As far as shopping unique to Palmdale, there really isn't any. You may find local area postcards in some of the stores like Wal-Mart or Target, but that's about as far as it goes.

Eat
Palmdale has eateries to satisfy any palate. Most of the food establishments are located at the intersection of Rancho Vista Blvd. and 10th Street West near the Antelope Valley Mall, or along Palmdale Blvd. between 20th and 30th Streets East.

Where multiple restaurants of the same name are mentioned, they are listed in order of distance from downtown where all hotels are located.

Thai

Sleep

Go next

 * Lancaster - Palmdale's twin city to the north on Highway 14, Lancaster is the largest city in the Antelope Valley. Lancaster provides extensive services for travelers, as well as the whimsical "Musical Road", a recreation of a road built in Lancaster for a Honda commercial that has grooves cut into it that generate an approximation of the William Tell Overture when a car passes over them.
 * Santa Clarita - Located 37 miles southwest of Palmdale on Highway 14, Santa Clarita is the home of Six Flags Magic Mountain, an amusement park that is legendary among roller coaster fanatics, with many of the rides having held world records for height or speed.

title: Palmdale


text:
Palm Desert

Palm Desert is a city of 53,000 people (2018) in the desert of California between Palm Springs and Indio. It lies in the Coachella Valley at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. The city is home to many golf courses, attractions, luxury hotels and shops, and spas that make the region a famous getaway for much of Southern California.

By plane

 * Palm Springs International Airport is in the heart of nearby Palm Springs. Scheduled daily flight connections from San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix, Chicago (O'Hare), Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Denver, Portland (Oregon), Las Vegas, Calgary and Vancouver. Airlines serving Palm Springs (PSP) include Alaska, America West, American, American Eagle, Delta, and United.
 * LA/Ontario International Airport is about 80 miles (130 km) to the west of Palm Desert and has many more flight connections. The airport lies off Interstate 10 in the Inland Empire.

By car
is the main artery serving the Coachella Valley. From Los Angeles, take Interstate 10 east towards San Bernardino, Indio, and Phoenix. Palm Desert is about a two-hour drive if traffic is not heavy. Weekend getaway traffic can be very heavy. Exiting Monterey Avenue or Cook Street and heading south puts you in the heart of the city.

descends the San Jacinto Mountains into the city from the south. Travelers from the San Diego should head north on I-15, south-east on State Hwy 79 (Temecula Pkwy at exit 58 in Temecula) and then east on State Hwy 371 until it meets with Route 74. Chains may be required on this route in the winter. CA-74 ends at its intersection with CA-11 in the heart of the city. The road itself continues north into town as Monterey Ave.

begins at Exit 111 of I-10, west of Palm Springs, serves a main throroughfare through Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells and Palm Desert with shops, strips malls, restaurants and hotels lined up along the road. East of Indio Highway 111 eventually goes southeast towards Brawley along the eastern shores of the Salton Sea.

By train
Nearby Palm Springs is served by Amtrak via its Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle routes, which run thrice-weekly.

Get around
Like many California cities, Palm Desert is a very car-oriented city. If you want to have a good time at all, you should rent a car at the airport. Otherwise you'd have to take the bus or walk.

By car
The main highway serving the city is State Highway 111, which links many of the Coachella Valley cities, from Palm Springs to Indio and beyond to the Mexican Border at Calexico. However, this artery has many traffic lights and lots of traffic, so if you are going far, you should consider driving out and hopping on the 10 freeway.

The Rodeo Drive of the area is El Paseo. There are lots of art galleries, shops, and restaurants along the street, which links up with Highway 111 at its ends.

By shuttle
The City of Palm Desert operates the El Paseo Courtesy Carts. The shuttle runs along El Paseo and is free of charge. Although not a viable option for seeing the entire city, it allows visitors to park their cars and see the entire El Paseo stretch.

Do

 * Stroll along El Paseo between Monterey and Portola avenues. This stretch has many fine boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and shops. The free Courtesy Carts make visiting this stretch very easy.

Buy
There are a lot of good places to shop in Palm Desert. You could probably find just about anything.

Go next

 * Joshua Tree National Park. This desert park is definitely worth visiting if you have at least half a day to spare. You can get there in less than an hour by going north on State Route 62.  Take a minimum of four hours to do the loop from the north through the south of the park.  Camping is allowed as well as rock climbing.
 * Idyllwild. Alpine scenery a short drive from Palm Desert via State Route 74 & 243, the Pines to Palms Highway.
 * Cabazon Outlets, A large outdoor shopping plaza with many stores. If you're looking for something to buy, chances are that there is a store in Cabazon that will have it.

title: Palm Desert


text:
Palmer

There is more than one place called Palmer:

United States of America

 * Palmer (Alaska) - A town in Alaska.
 * Palmer (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.

title: Palmer


text:
Palmer (Alaska)

Palmer is a city of 7,500 people (2019) 42 miles (68 km) northeast of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway in Southcentral Alaska.

Understand
Palmer sits in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley (Mat-Su Valley) on the north shore of the Matanuska River, not far above tidewater, in a wide valley between the Talkeetna Mountains to the north and the Chugach Mountains to the south and east.

The Mat-Su Valley, and Palmer in particular, are known as the farming center of Alaska. Vegetables adapted to cool temperatures thrive, the glacial soils provide organic matter to keep nutrients in the root zone, many insect pests, diseases, and weeds that are common in the lower 48 are not common in Alaska, and there is plenty of sunlight in the summer to help plants grow. In June, Palmer gets 19 hours of daylight every day, so crops can keep growing until midnight. The sunlight also makes crops sweeter. Species in the Brassica family grow very well in Palmer; this includes plants like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, collards, various mustards, radishes, rutabagas, and turnips. Potatoes, beets, carrots, spinach, and lettuce also grow very well here.

By plane

 * Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is the airport an hour away in Anchorage. It has flights to and from various places in the continental US, Hawaii, East Asia and Japan, and several small villages in Alaska.
 * Palmer Municipal Airport is a small, private-use airport.

By car

 * Route 1 runs through Palmer. To the south an hour away is Anchorage, the largest city in the state. Further south, many hours away, is Canada, and eventually the US. From Palmer to Seattle is a 43 hour drive.

Get around
Palmer is served by valley mover and Matsu Transit bus service, though in general you need a car to get around.

Do
Palmer's proximity to the Mat-Su mountains allows for various outdoor activities within the mountains, such as hiking and snowshoeing.

Go next

 * Anchorage
 * Denali National Park

title: Palmer (Alaska)


text:
Palmer Lake

Palmer Lake is a town of 3,000 people (2019) in Colorado, USA about 20 miles north of Colorado Springs and about 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Monument.

By car
From I25 in exit County Line Road at the northern border of El Paso County. Proceed west less than two miles, then turn left on Hwy 105 (just past the RR tracks) into downtown Palmer Lake.

By bus
The Airport shuttle between Colorado Springs and Denver stops at the park and ride lot in Monument. From there you'll have to get picked up by a friend. Otherwise you'll have to walk over a mile along the El Paso Trail or try to talk a cabbie into driving up from Monument just to carry you less than two miles.

Do

 * Hike or mountain bike to the reservoirs above Palmer Lake
 * Pinz Bowling Center - 855 Hwy 105, +1 719 487-7469.
 * Pinz Bowling Center - 855 Hwy 105, +1 719 487-7469.
 * Pinz Bowling Center - 855 Hwy 105, +1 719 487-7469.
 * Pinz Bowling Center - 855 Hwy 105, +1 719 487-7469.
 * Pinz Bowling Center - 855 Hwy 105, +1 719 487-7469.
 * Pinz Bowling Center - 855 Hwy 105, +1 719 487-7469.

Go next

 * The Santa Fe Regional trail - Trailhead and parking area is located off of County Line Road, just east of the lake.
 * Lower and Upper Reservoir Trails - From highway 105, turn west onto S. Valley Rd., then left onto Crescent streets, which hooks right then terminates at the trailhead parking lot (0.5 mile west of 105).

title: Palmer Lake


text:
Palmerston Island

Palmerston Island is a coral atoll which includes five small island groups. It is one of the Southern Cook Islands. It has no airstrip; access is by sea only. It is famed for its hospitality to yachts, and is sometimes compared to Pitcairn Island as they are both remote islands supporting small English-speaking populations.

Get in

Most visitors arrive by private yacht, and the island sees about a dozen visiting boats a year. There are supply boats that arrive two or three times a year. You could probably arrange to travel on one of these but bear in mind you would be stuck until the next one arrives.

It is generally best to arrive during the daytime. The islanders can then see you approach and will invariably scramble to be the first one to meet you offshore in one of their boats. You will need the assistance of the islanders if you intend to anchor inside the lagoon as the passage is narrow and quite treacherous.

There is a telephone service to Palmerston and it would probably be a good idea to call before arriving. Often the islanders will want specific goods or people brought over and they will be very grateful to you if you can oblige, particularly if you are able to pick up their mail from the Rarotonga post office.

Talk
English is universally spoken, with a distinctive West Country accent. This is the legacy of William Marsters, the original settler of Palmerston, who populated the island with the assistance of his three Polynesian wives. The current generation of Islanders are his descendants.

See and do
There is plentiful fishing in the lagoon and amongst the islands. There are also many islands in the various groups that are beautiful and well worth exploring.

No visit is complete without a game of volleyball with the islanders.

Sleep
By custom, the family that first greets you will offer you a homestay at their house. If you are looking for a resort hotel, you are decidedly in the wrong place!

Stay safe
Sailing conditions are rough at the best of times. Monsoon and hurricane seasons can be extremely wild. Do not attempt to navigate to Palmerston unless you are an accomplished sailor.

Respect
The Palmerston Islanders are honest, hardworking and dedicated people. They have great respect for their religion and traditions; however, they are not morbidly religious and enjoy a good party as much as the next man.

The islands are remote, and the telephone service provides its only link with the outside world. If you visit you should try to bring some gifts. Petrol is appreciated, and reading material and fruit are always eagerly received.

As with any small community, there is tension between the three main family groups. As a visitor you should take care to avoid any gratuitous comments relating to the internal politics of the islanders.

title: Palmerston Island


text:
Palmerston North

Palmerston North (Māori: Te Papaioea) is a city in the Manawatu district of the lower North Island of New Zealand. It's the home of the largest campuses of Massey University and the Universal College of Learning (UCOL) and also the Institute of the Pacific United (IPU), making Palmerston North a student-oriented city.

Understand

Palmerston North has a population of 80,000, of which about 18,000 are students. It is the seventh largest city in New Zealand and is the largest provincial city in the region. It is also the home of the Linton Military Camp and has the Air Force Base, Ohakea, close by. The Adidas Institute of Rugby, based at Massey University, focuses on improving the skills of the All Blacks, the national rugby union team, though sightings of them there are rare.

Originally named Palmerston, the city was renamed Palmerston North in 1871 by the Post Office to distinguish it from the town of Palmerston in the South Island. Another common name used by the native Māori inhabited is Papaioea.

Visitor information

By car
Palmerston North is 7 hr by car from Auckland and 2 hr from the capital, Wellington. The city is located on State Highway 3 (SH 3), with State Highways 56 and 57 passing close by.

 * From Auckland, follow State Highway 1 south to Sanson, then follow State Highway 3. You'll approach the city from the north.
 * From Napier and Hastings, follow State Highway 2 south to Woodville, then follow State Highway 3. You'll approach the city from the east.
 * From Wellington, follow State Highway 1 north, turning off onto State Highway 57 just south of Levin. North of Shannon, you have two options: continue following State Highway 57 to approach the city from the south, or turn off onto State Highway 56 to approach it from the west.

By bus

 * Intercity offers the cheapest land transport option into Palmerston North with fares starting at $1 if you book early enough.

By train
Palmerston North is on the main railway line between Auckland and Wellington.

 * Northern Explorer, several days a week. See the article on rail travel in New Zealand for more detail.

Get around
Palmerston North is built around The Square. Railway lines used to run through the Square to the station, goods and shunting yards on Main Street west. This proved to be extremely impractical so the station was moved in 1964-66 and the site was turned into a park, known as the Railway Land. The roads radiating outwards from the Square are so wide because they used to accommodate the railway tracks.

Most places are easily accessible by foot.

By bus
Horizons Regional Council has local bus timetables.

By bicycle
One of the advantages of Palmerston North is that it is compact, flat and easy to cycle around. The main educational institutions have cycle-lanes from the city centre. The main route to Massey University along Fitzherbert Avenue is packed with cyclists every morning.

Buy

 * Check out the specialist boutiques along George Street.

Eat
Palmerston North has more eating out places per head of population than anywhere else in NZ.

 * Downtown Centre Foodcourt. Wide selection.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
 * Downtown Centre Foodcourt. Wide selection.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.
 * Stage Door Cafe now also has a Mini cafe in the UCOL Atrium.

Go next
From centrally located Palmerston North it's an easy 2-3 hr drive to the wineries of Martinborough and Hawke's Bay, the skifields of the Central Plateau and the Art Deco buildings of Napier.
 * Dannevirke and Hawke's Bay with its wineries
 * Feilding – nearby to the north
 * Shannon – nearby to the south-west
 * Masterton and on to the Martinborough wineries in the Wairarapa
 * Whanganui
 * Central North Island - Whakapapa and Turoa skifields, and on to Taupo

title: Palmerston North


text:
Palmetto

There is more than one place called Palmetto:

United States of America

 * Palmetto (Florida) - A town in Florida.
 * Palmetto (Georgia) - A town in Georgia.
 * Palmetto (Louisiana) - A town in Louisiana.

title: Palmetto


text:
Palm Harbor

Palm Harbor is a city in Pinellas County.

Understand
The town was developed as "Sutherland," which was intended to reference to the "Southern Land and Development Company." It was renamed Palm Harbor in the 1920s but is unincorporated. Palm Harbor was a headquarters for the KKK during the latter half of the 20th century, but locals and the city government condemned the organization's behavior after a violent dispute between an organizer and the local government and activity has waned.

The town's population was above 60,000 in 2016.

On foot
Pinellas Trail / Walking Bicycle

By car
CR-752, Tampa Rd, goes west from Oldsmar to Ozona, which is south of Palm Harbor. US-19 runs through Palm Harbor from north to south.

Go next

 * Tarpon Springs
 * Crystal Beach
 * Ozona (Florida)
 * Dunedin (Florida)

title: Palm Harbor


text:
Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a resort city in the California desert. It became a destination during the 1950s and 1960s when Hollywood movie stars flocked there in droves. Nowadays, the area offers entertainment for all ages, although the most common demographics consists of retirees. Palm Springs offers a wealth of indoor and outdoor activities. Known for its hiking, mid-century modern architecture, stunning natural beauty and sparkling pools, Palm Springs has the perfect blend of outdoor activities and casual relaxation.

Palm Springs is a favorite for gay travelers, naturist communities, and many other people.

By train
Amtrak has a station at 300 North Indian Canyon Drive (0.6 mi / 1 km south of Interstate 10),. Amtrak's Sunset Limited route connects Palm Springs with Los Angeles and with Arizona and points eastward with three westbound and three eastbound trains per week (arriving Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday). Amtrak also provides Palm Springs with connections to and from the San Joaquins trains, which run up California's Central Valley to the Bay Area and Sacramento, via multiple daily Amtrak Thruway motorcoach runs to and from Bakersfield. Rental car agencies do not provide shuttles to the Amtrak station in Palm Springs and there is no public transportation available there. The "station" is an open platform without any building. Taxis from the Palm Springs Amtrak to the Palm Springs airport (where the rental cars are available) is $40-50 (2019). The is at 200 E Taquitz Canyon Road, and is the preferred method to get to Palm Springs via Amtrak. The LA/Orange County line runs through Fullerton and has only one stop between there and Palm Springs, at downtown Riverside. Another option is to take the Surfliner train to Fullerton. Then, take an Amtrak motorcoach to Palm Springs Airport or downtown Palm Springs. The is at 190 North Indian Canyon Drive.

By car

 * From Los Angeles take Interstate 10 or CA 60 East towards Phoenix –, about 2 hours.
 * From San Diego take Interstate 15 north, Interstate 215 north to CA 60 East –, about 2 hours.
 * From Phoenix take Interstate 10 West –, about 4 hours.
 * From Las Vegas take Interstate 15 South to Interstate 10 East (via San Bernardino) –, about 4½ hours.

By bus
Additional bus stations and stops with Greyhound, El Paso-Los Angeles Limousine Express and Tufesa are only in Indio. Flixbus is the only intercity company that offers direct connections into downtown Palm Springs as well as Indio:

Get around
Palm Springs has a pedestrian-friendly downtown. Visitors can enjoy the palm tree-lined streets along Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive. Boutique shops, outdoor restaurant and art galleries line the streets.

By car
Rent a car at the airport, or if you want to splurge, numerous limousine services are available, including West Coast Transportation, Cardiff Limousine and A-1 Sahara Limo.

The main thoroughfares through downtown are one-way only between Alejo and Ramon. Palm Canyon Drive is the southern route, and the home to most restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues. Indian Canyon Drive runs north, and also has many, though fewer, attractions. California State Route 111 runs south from I-10, then east-west along the hill side and connects all the cities in the Palm Springs area. This road has stop lights and lots of traffic, so if you are going far, you should drive out and hop onto I-10 S.

Palm Canyon Drive is usually busy and can be hard to find a parking place on the weekends and at night. There is ample free parking in the many city owned parking lots and garages, except for Thursday through Saturday nights.

Most of the major car rental companies are represented at the airport.

By bike
Palm Springs and the surrounding environs are mostly flat and dry and can make for good cycling during the cooler months. Numerous rental facilities can be found around town.

Do

Events
Year-round —

and a Saturday Flea Market in nearby Palm Desert
 * Thursdays – Thursday Street Fair, downtown with craft and food booths, and during the spring season live music
 * Saturdays - Farmers Market, 8AM–12:30PM adjacent to the Camelot Theatres at 2300 E. Baristo Road ( from downtown)

January–March —

 * Palm Springs International Film Festival
 * Modernism Week
 * Desert Concours d’Elegance
 * Festival of Native Film & Culture
 * Tour de Palm Springs

April–June —

 * Arthur Lyons’ Film Noir Festival
 * Restaurant Week
 * ANA Inspiration – One of the five major championships of women's golf, held at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage and ending on the first Sunday of April.
 * Girls Weekend (formerly Dinah Shore Weekend) – An annual gathering of lesbians (and those who sympathize with LGBT causes) that coincides with the ANA Inspiration. (The former name of "Dinah Shore Weekend" honors the late entertainer, who founded the golf tournament that once bore her name.)
 * White Party

July–September —

 * Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films
 * 4 July Celebration
 * Cinema Diverse Gay and Lesbian Films

October–December —

 * American Heat Bike Show
 * Exotic Car Show and Auction
 * Greater Palm Springs Pride
 * Festival of Lights Parade
 * Veterans Day Parade
 * Walk of the Inns
 * Tree Lighting Ceremony at Aerial Tramway

Eat
The annual Palm Springs Desert Resorts Restaurant Week offers an opportunity to try a number of restaurants at a discounted rate.

Go next

 * Joshua Tree National Park – This desert park is a great day trip to take while at Palm Springs. There are two routes to the park, both about an hour drive: north on CA 62 to the north entrance in Joshua Tree Village, or east on I-10 to the south entrance direct off I-10. To loop through the entire park from north to south (or vis-a-versa), plan on a minimum of 4 hours. Camping is allowed as well as rock climbing.
 * Idyllwild – A mountain resort approximately 45 minutes drive away on the beautiful Palms to Pines highway. It can also be reached by a scenic  hike from the top of the Palm Springs Tramway.
 * Salton Sea – Southeast of Palm Springs, California's largest lake formed when an irrigation canal burst in 1905 and flooded the Salton Basin for more than a year. This unusual area is home to geothermal features, a wildlife refuge, the partially built resort community of Salton City, and the "profoundly strange" artwork of Salvation Mountain in the squatter town of Slab City.

Other nearby desert resort cities include Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Indio.

title: Palm Springs


text:
Palmyra

Palmyra was the only oasis in Syria and perhaps the only truly tourist town.

Palmyra (the Roman name) was known as Tadmor to the Syrians. Both meant the same thing - date palm. The name came from the lush oasis adjacent to the city which was home to some million date palms.

Palmyra is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site; all six Syrian UNESCO-listed heritage sites are 'endangered' as of 2013.

Understand

Palmyra sat on the standard tourist trek around Syria. Intense competition for business amongst local outfits made the experience somewhat overwhelming to the traveller who had come from the North and had enjoyed a relatively 'quiet' trip thus far. The major tourist attraction of the area was the stunning ruins - the most famous and well-preserved of which were the Temple of Bel, the colonnade, the funerary towers, the hypogeum of 3 brothers, and the Arab castle. All were within a few kilometres of each other.

Much of this irreplaceable heritage was deliberately destroyed by ISIS during armed conflict in 2015. Although Syria's directorate of antiquities and museums makes hopeful statements about rebuilding at least part of the lost heritage using the original pieces, Palmyra is landmine-infested and no longer a tourist destination.

The Lion of Al-lāt was restored in 2017 and can now be found at the National Museum of Damascus.

Get in

 * Palmyra was easily accessible from Damascus by bus departing the Harasta bus terminal. Buses ran nearly hourly in both directions during the hours of daylight.  Buses also ran from Homs (150 km) and Deir-az-Zur.
 * For bike tourists, Palmyra was about a three-day trip from either Damascus or Deir-az-Zur. One needed to bring plenty of food as shops were few and far between; water was available at semi-regular intervals from police stations, military installations and at private houses on request.
 * As of April 2019, visitors need special permission to access Palmyra.

Get around

 * The best method was to walk. The town was not large and the historic site was built in a time when walking was the main form of transportation, so it was not too spread out. Bear in mind that the heat can be truly scorching; plan to visit at dusk and early morning to see magnificent sunrise and sunsets.
 * Camel rides were offered.
 * Tour buses abounded; locals did offer rides if you were willing to haggle.

See
Many of the historic sites have been destroyed or severely damaged. Mines were removed by Russian forces in 2016-17, but there is no guarantee that all mines have been cleared.

Buy
There were no ATMs (that accepted international cards - there was one for Syrian cards) in Palmyra or even a full-service bank. Hotel Bel (on the main street) offered advances on Visa and MasterCard for a 20% commission. There was a local exchange office by the museum which changed foreign currency but did not change traveller's cheques. You would have needed to bring sufficient cash, Syrian pounds, US dollars, or euros for your time in Palmyra.

As usual, the Syrian Commercial Bank offered terrible rates and added commission. You'd have gotten a better deal by checking the rates online then changing with the shop owners in the Souq.

Souvenir shops abounded on the main street with all kinds of jewellery, handicrafts and other wares typical to the Bedouin places. Shopkeepers (in a town with few sources of income other than tourism) were masters in the art of making you part with as much money as possible, so it would have been wise to only carry as much money with you as you were willing to spend on souvenirs (and food - see below) to avoid being talked into spending all or most of the money you had for the rest of your trip in Syria. Typically souvenir shopping would happen around dinner, as many of the restaurants and shops were in the same main street and you would have happened to walk past them on your way to or from the hotels and restaurants.

Eat

 * Traditional Palymra Restaurant -- very bad reputation, with several differently priced but identical menus, tendency to recycle uneaten food, etc.
 * New Palmyra Restaurant / Pancake House on the main street for most tourists, al-Quwatli. This was a traditional Palmyra restaurant - catering for the tourist hordes. The owner was well connected with an army of scouts corralling tourists into the restaurant. For the adventurous traveller, fake ISIC student cards were available for purchase for €7.50, although they are of poor quality and little use in the Middle East.

On the same street, several stands sold roast chicken.

On any of the main roads running north you would have found find falafel stands and small restaurants selling the typical range of Syrian fast food, bakeries selling sweet treats and plenty of convenience stores with drinks and snacks.

Drink
The only bars in Palmyra were inside the hotels, such as the Cave Bar in the basement of the Ishtar Hotel. The bar carried a good selection of local beers and wines and you could drink on the terrace of the hotel.

Sleep
Due to the conflict it is unknown which, if any, of these hotels are in business.

Connect
In the main tourist area, the Hani Internet Café inside the Traditional Palmyra Restaurant charged a pricey S£50 for a half hour. This may have been negotiable in low season. An Internet café slightly north of the centre charged S£20 an hour but had irregular hours.

Go next
Buses departed frequently for Damascus, Homs, and Deir-az-Zur.The bus station was a little under a kilometre away from the main street. Other destinations may have needed a private car.

If hiring a private car, you might have wanted to consider side trips to Qasr al-Heir ash-Sharki - a partially excavated Ummayad palace quite literally in the middle of nowhere - and Rasafa, originally a Roman city with heavy Byzantine influence, also used by the Ummayads before being destroyed in the Abbasid era. Rasafa was also of interest as the stone it's built out of, more a quartz-like crystal instead of the usual granite or sandstone, made for a unique appearance. This route led quite close to the Euphrates, where you could have been dropped off in Raqqa, Aleppo, or Hama. Car hire was often pricey and the driver still had to get back to Palmyra. Private tours were the real money maker in the Syrian tourism industry, so expect to pay as much as US$100 if you were heading for Aleppo or Hama or a bit less to Raqqa.

title: Palmyra


text:
Palmyra (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Palmyra:

Australia

 * Palmyra - a suburb of Perth in Western Australia

Oceania

 * Palmyra Atoll - an uninhabited atoll in the Northern Line Islands

Syria

 * Palmyra - a city in Syria

United States of America

 * Palmyra (Ohio) - a township in Portage County, Northeast Ohio
 * Palmyra (New York) - a township in Wayne County, central New York
 * Palmyra (New Jersey)

title: Palmyra (disambiguation)


text:
Palmyra (New York)

Palmyra is a village and surrounding town in the Finger Lakes region of New York. In the nineteenth century, it was a center for religious revivalism, but today it's one of the most-visited villages along the Erie Canal. Palmyra is the birthplace of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also known as Mormonism) and claims to be the only community in the U.S. that has a four-corner intersection with a church at each one.

Understand
In the late 1780s, a group of settlers from Connecticut tried to stake the state's claim to land in Northeastern Pennsylvania, due to overlapping provincial charters. Among those Connecticuters was one John Swift, a Revolutionary War veteran. In 1789, with the venture in Pennsylvania bearing little fruit, Swift decamped for Western New York, where the Phelps and Gorham Purchase had large tracts of land for sale.

He purchased a tract (as did his fellow John Jenkins, though Swift soon bought him out) and in 1790 became the first permanent resident of what is now the Town of Palmyra. Swift's land was centered on Ganargua Creek, and the community that sprouted up was known as Swift's Landing.

After a brief period as Tolland, Swift's brother-in-law proposed the name Palmyra, and that is how the town was incorporated in 1796. The town center grew slowly until 1825, when the Erie Canal opened. The canal's route took it right through Palmyra, necessitating an aqueduct over Ganargua Creek. Energized by the new waterway, the village was quickly incorporated, in 1827.

During the period in which the Canal was built, at the height of the Second Great Awakening, the area between Rochester and Syracuse became a hotbed for religious fervor, known as the Burned-Over District. Palmyra was a particularly prolific source of the newly devout. In the mid 1820s, a local young adult named Joseph Smith (whose family lived just over the county line in nearby Manchester) claimed to have been visited by an angel, and directed to a set of buried artifacts on Hill Cumorah. Among those artifacts, it is claimed, was a set of golden plates, which Smith alone could translate. His translation became the Book of Mormon, which was published for the first time in Palmyra in 1830.

Despite that milestone, the area never embraced Smith's nascent religion (he had moved away in 1827 and never returned), and it wasn't until the year 2000 that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built a temple here. But the founding was commemorated every year from 1937 to 2020 with the Hill Cumorah Pageant.

Get in

Although RTS—Rochester's municipal bus system—does run a bus out to Palmyra twice daily on weekdays, it's timed for commuters, not tourists. You'll most likely be taking a car.

As it does throughout Western New York, New York State Route 31 parallels the Erie Canal through Palmyra, making it your best option for arriving from the east or west. It enters from Lyons from the east and from Macedon from the west. From the north and south, New York State Route 21 will get you to Palmyra, connecting to Williamson and Marion northward and to Manchester and Canandaigua southward. If you're coming from farther afield, you'll want to take the east-west New York State Thruway (Interstate 90). Take Exit 43 and follow Route 21 north for about six miles.

Once you're in town, free public parking is available in a number of lots along Route 31 (Main Street) and at the public parks.

If you have a boat, you can take a scenic cruise into Palmyra along the historic Erie Canal, which runs right through town. Dock at the Port of Palmyra Marina, just east of the Division Street bridge.

Get around
Palmyra's downtown area is quite walkable, and that's where you'll find most of the shops, eateries, and lodging. If you're exploring the canal, the Erie Canal Heritage Trail is great for walking or biking, though it's over a mile from the downtown/marina area to the far end of Aqueduct Park.

If you want to head south to the Latter-day Saints sites, take your car or bike; they're two to four miles away, along country roads with no sidewalks.

See
The word "charming" is perhaps overused in tourism brochures to describe exactly the sort of village that Palmyra is. If you're easily charmed by such sites, then Palmyra won't disappoint. In truth, though, there's not a lot here that you can't find in other similar canalside villages throughout the region.

Still, Palmyra's claim to be the Queen of Erie Canal Towns is not entirely unfounded. You can easily spend a day here browsing the shops, strolling the canal, visiting historic sites, and taking in the sights and sounds. Traffic is relatively light, and there are few cookie-cutter retail chains spoiling the atmosphere.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sites
There are not many places in the world that can claim to be the verified birthplace of a religion with millions of adherents worldwide. Palmyra is one of them, making this otherwise unassuming canal town a major destination—almost literally, a Mecca—for members of the Church of Jesus Christ.
 * The church also maintains the Peter Whitmer Farm, 27 miles (43 km) east-southeast of Palmyra in Waterloo, and the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site in Oakland, Pennsylvania.
 * The church also maintains the Peter Whitmer Farm, 27 miles (43 km) east-southeast of Palmyra in Waterloo, and the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site in Oakland, Pennsylvania.
 * The church also maintains the Peter Whitmer Farm, 27 miles (43 km) east-southeast of Palmyra in Waterloo, and the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site in Oakland, Pennsylvania.
 * The church also maintains the Peter Whitmer Farm, 27 miles (43 km) east-southeast of Palmyra in Waterloo, and the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site in Oakland, Pennsylvania.
 * The church also maintains the Peter Whitmer Farm, 27 miles (43 km) east-southeast of Palmyra in Waterloo, and the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site in Oakland, Pennsylvania.
 * The church also maintains the Peter Whitmer Farm, 27 miles (43 km) east-southeast of Palmyra in Waterloo, and the Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Site in Oakland, Pennsylvania.

Do

The highlight of the year in Palmyra used to be the annual Hill Cumorah Pageant, a spectacular recounting of the Book of Mormon, at the very location where it was first recorded. However it was discontinued by LDS directives. There are a few other annual events for locals and visitors to enjoy, but activities in Palmyra largely center on the Erie Canal: boating, fishing, hiking, and bicycling.

Buy
Palmyra has a small but active business district on Route 31 (East Main Street) between Church Street and Clinton Street. Locally owned retail shops line both sides of the strip, with angled parking on both sides between William and Market Streets. The local specialty appears to be antique and vintage items of all types.

Eat
Palmyra is not a major destination for foodies, but you've still got to eat, right? The choices are dominated by takeout and diners. Unfortunately, popular local hangout Brad & Dad's has closed, but there are still some good options when hunger strikes.

A couple of local taverns also have good-sized dinner menus; see the Drink section.

Drink
While not a major nightlife spot, Palmyra has a couple of bars where locals hang out, drink, and watch the game.

Sleep
Lodging in Palmyra is limited; most people visit as a day trip from Rochester. But there are several B&Bs in the area, and a nice two-star hotel near the LDS temple.

There are also some hotels in nearby Manchester and Newark.

Go next
North along Route 21 you'll travel through Williamson before reaching Pultneyville on Lake Ontario. South takes you through Manchester to Canandaigua. West along the canal and Route 31 you'll find Macedon and Fairport; east will get you to Newark and Lyons.

title: Palmyra (New York)


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Palmyra Atoll

Palmyra Atoll is an uninhabited atoll in the Line Islands in Micronesia, (or 960 nautical miles) south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa. Its nearest neighbor is uninhabited Kingman Reef to the northwest; the nearest inhabited islands are those of Kiribati.

Understand
Palmyra Atoll is administered from Washington, D.C., by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior. The atoll is partly privately owned and partly federally owned. Travellers are permitted to visit the refuge by private boat in certain circumstances. Visits must have prior approval.

The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now primarily privately owned by the Nature Conservancy with the rest owned by the US government and managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These organizations are managing the atoll as a wildlife refuge. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nm US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and designated as a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001. A new international climatology research station began development in 2005.

The high rainfall and resulting lush vegetation make the environment of this atoll unique among the US Pacific Island territories. It supports one of the largest remaining undisturbed stands of Pisonia beach forest in the Pacific.

The atoll is best known for an incident which took place in 1974, when a yachting couple who arrived at the atoll with supplies for a year's vacation, discovered another poorly-provisioned couple (one fleeing a prison sentence), who took their ship and apparently murdered them both. The crime was the subject of a book published in 1991.

Climate
Palmyra is equatorial and hot. It's located within the low pressure area of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the northeast and southeast trade winds meet, which has also contributed to its shores being littered with debris carried by Pacific currents. It is extremely wet with between 160-200 in of rainfall each year.

Landscape
Palmyra consists of several low and nearly level sandy coral islands with narrow fringing reef that has developed at the top of a submerged volcanic mountain, rising steeply from the ocean floor. The islands are mostly connected (depending on the tide).

Get in
To visit Palmyra Atoll, you are required to get a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Their website advises: "Public access to Palmyra Atoll is self-limiting due to the very high expense of traveling to such a remote destination. The Nature Conservancy owns and operates the only airplane runway on Palmyra, and by boat it's a 5–7 day sailing trip from Honolulu. There are four ways the public may gain access to the refuge: (1) Working for, contracting with, or volunteering for The Nature Conservancy or Fish and Wildlife Service; (2) Conducting scientific research via Fish and Wildlife Service Special Use Permits; (3) Invitation through The Nature Conservancy sponsored donor trip; (4) Visitation by private recreational sailboat or motorboat."

For the truly adventurous and determined, jobs to work on the islands are periodically available for six-month stretches.

By plane
There is a 2187 yd unpaved airstrip on Cooper Island (the largest island, in the north), owned by the Nature Conservancy.

By boat
There are two moorings in the lagoon just off Cooper Island. The atoll is a 5-7 day sailing trip from Honolulu.

See
There are a couple of natural sights on this small island; two lagoons, the extensive coral reef and several small sand islets.

Do

 * Snorkeling
 * Birdwatching
 * Wildlife photography
 * Fishing is possible but heavily restricted and requires a special permit.
 * Treasure hunting

Buy, eat and drink
There are no facilities on Palmyra Atoll.

Sleep
There are no public accommodations on Palmyra Atoll; the limited facilities are for researchers' use only.

Stay safe
Unexploded Ordnance may be present due to the Island's military past. Quail and Barren Islands are closed due to a high presence of UXO.

Shake out your bedding before you hop in, as brown spiders are known to crawl inside; they are not venomous.

Stay healthy
Make sure to drink plenty of water.

Go next

 * Jarvis Island
 * Tabuaeran (Fanning Island) – the nearest permanently inhabited island; in Kiribati

title: Palmyra Atoll


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Palo Alto

Palo Alto is a bustling suburb in Santa Clara County south of the city of San Francisco. It is adjacent to Stanford University and home to hundreds of Silicon Valley technology companies, ranging from VMware and Hewlett-Packard to tiny startups operating in garages.

Understand
Palo Alto means tall tree in Spanish, and in this case refers to an aging redwood tree at the north end of the city appropriately named "El Palo Alto". The 1080-year-old Coast Redwood, which stands 110 feet (34 m) high and has a base diameter of 90 inches (229 cm), marks a campsite for the Portola Expedition Party of 1769.

While Palo Alto is considered one of the more affluent areas of Northern California, East Palo Alto has a less posh reputation. East Palo Alto is known locally as one of the more dangerous cities in the Bay Area; it is not a town for random sightseeing.

Get in
Accessible by train, bus or automobile from nearby San Francisco (about 25 miles/40 km) and San Jose (about 20 miles/32 km) airports. US 101 is the primary highway access, although I-280 also passes through the western edge of Palo Alto. Palo Alto Municipal Airport, which is a few miles from the center of the city, serves private aircraft.

SFO
The cheapest way to get to Palo Alto from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is to take SamTrans bus KX or 292 to Hillsdale Station and transfer to route ECR for $2.25 + $2.25 = $5.50. A potentially quicker alternative is to take BART from SFO to Millbrae, and then take Caltrain from Millbrae to Palo Alto, which will cost $4.40 + $6 = $10.40. This is more of a hassle than it may seem, as Caltrain doesn't run as frequently as you might like. Check the schedules in advance see Bay Area public transit for more information.

UberPOOL pricing is highly variable, but can drop as low as $13-15 if multiple riders are heading in your direction.

SJC
From the San Jose International Airport (SJC), take the free shuttle bus #10 to get to the Santa Clara Caltrain station. From there take Caltrain to Palo Alto for $6, or VTA bus 522 or 22 to get to Palo Alto for $2.25.

By train
on the Bay Area train route known as Caltrain has convenient access to downtown Palo Alto as well as bus connections, including free Marguerite shuttles to the Stanford University campus.

Caltrain also stops at 2 miles (3 km) away, which is convenient for certain residential areas including some student housing. Service is less frequent than at Palo Alto Station.

By bus
Bus service runs through some major areas within the city. Routes are concentrated around El Camino Real and University Avenue. The Palo Alto Shuttle is free, and serves the otherwise unserved Embarcadero Road corridor, as well as the VA Hospital.

By bus
Stanford University runs free buses, called the Marguerite Shuttle, that transport passengers around the university and stop at the Palo Alto Caltrain station. It is free and open to the public.

By bike
Bike lanes are nearly everywhere and make riding convenient and safe. One of the most prominent lanes runs down Bryant Street and takes you from South Palo Alto to the downtown district, in North Palo Alto.

By car
Palo Alto traffic is not usually very congested, and parking is plentiful everywhere except the downtown area. Municipal parking is free and fairly well dispersed, but usually limited to 2 hours during the business day.

Buy
Palo Alto's main shopping district is on University Avenue, between El Camino Real and Middlefield Road. It is a great long street of shopping, coffee spots, eateries and outdoor dining. Influenced by a college and upscale tech demographic, there is a variety of stores available from the local shop, to a unique designer store. A second, smaller shopping area is on California Avenue between El Camino Real and Alma.

Stay safe
Palo Alto enjoys a very low crime rate, although visitors should take basic precautions against petty crime as with any college town or tourist hotspot. Palo Alto's downtown is home to a small number of homeless people and beggars, but they are much less visible than their counterparts in Berkeley.

The city of East Palo Alto and the unincorporated area of North Fair Oaks suffer from high crime rates and should be avoided or traversed quickly. In East Palo Alto, there are many perfectly decent shops and restaurants, but it is best to know where you are going and not to wander aimlessly.

Connect
Downtown Palo Alto, along University Avenue, has free Wi-Fi.

 * Apple Store, 451 University Avenue. All the computers are on Wi-Fi and free to use.
 * Palo Alto Cafe, 2675 Middlefield Road. Has a free Wi-Fi hotspot.
 * Palo Alto's Downtown Wi-Fi Internet Hotzone
 * The Stanford Marguerite Shuttle is free to use and has free Wi-Fi on board.

Go next
Palo Alto is a good base of operations for visiting both the Silicon Valley and San Francisco, as it is halfway between that city and San Jose.

Trips to San Francisco on Caltrain leave frequently and stop just south of downtown. The ride lasts about an hour, and Caltrain's rush-hour Baby Bullets travel the distance even faster. Check out Caltrain schedules, and make sure to buy a ticket before boarding.

To the west, the beautiful Coastal Range provides excellent biking, hiking, and other outdoor sports. Taking Page Mill Road due west will get you, eventually, to Highway 1 on the beautiful peninsula coast (although Highways 84 and 92 are preferable, especially the latter). And Santa Cruz is accessible from Highway 17, Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35 to Highway 9), or beautiful Highway 1.

If you're touring universities, the University of California, Berkeley is just across the bay. Take US-101 north through San Francisco and across the Bay Bridge to I-580 north, exiting University Avenue. Or by public transport, take the Stanford Marguerite shuttle to Caltrain and ride to Millbrae. At Millbrae, switch to BART and ride to Downtown Berkeley. (See 511.org for more).

title: Palo Alto


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Palo Cedro

Palo Cedro is a city in the Shasta Cascades region of California.

Get in
By car is the main means of transportation to Palo Cedro.

Get around
You can go through town in any or all of four ways: driving a car, walking, bicycling, or, as this is a very equestrian-friendly town, horseback riding. Driving a car is fast, but you miss most of the scenery. Walking is slow as molasses, but you get a whole lot of scenery. Horseback riding, assuming you have a horse, is a great compromise. If you don't have one, there is bicycling, also a good compromise.

See
If you came to see farm animals and Old West history, you've come to the right place. However, if you're not interested in that, move right along.

Do
Horseback riding, again, is very big here. A lot of the time, rodeos take place here. If you came to learn about the history, Palo Cedro is good for that. Other than that, there's nothing much.

Buy
There are no major shopping areas in Palo Cedro.

Sleep
Palo Cedro does not have any listed accommodations. The closest ones are in the Redding area.

title: Palo Cedro


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Palo Duro Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon cuts through the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, in the southern United States. It is a protected area, part of the Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Understand
Palo Duro Canyon is long, up to  wide, and up to  deep, making it the United States' second largest canyon.

History
Archaeological findings indicate that humans inhabited the canyon as many as 12,000 years ago. It was long home to various native American tribes as well, including Apache and Comanche. The JA Cattle Ranch was established there in 1876, after the expulsion of the natives.

Landscape
The canyon was formed by erosion from the Little Prairie Dog Town branch of the Red River.

The park is home to many unique geological formations, including many hoodoos-- thin, irregular columns of sedimentary rock sticking up from the canyon floor, capped with a harder rock which prevents further erosion.

The Lighthouse is the most famous of these in park, and is one of the quintessential postcard shots in the state.

Prominent features:
 * the Lighthouse, reachable via a 5.75 mile-long round trip on the Lighthouse Trail.
 * Capital Peak
 * the Spanish Skirts
 * the Devil's Slide

Flora and fauna

 * Aoudad sheep are agile climbers, a rare but special sight.
 * Whitetail deer and Mule deer
 * Coyotes and red foxes
 * Bobcats and mountain lions
 * Diamondback rattlesnakes and Bullsnakes
 * Longhorn cattle, but only two of them. They are named "Biscuits" and "Gravy".
 * Wild boar and wild turkeys
 * Prickly Pear Cactus and Yucca
 * Cottonwood and Mesquite trees

Climate
Summer temperatures are often at or near, winter temperatures can drop below freezing.

By car

 * Amarillo, at the intersection of Interstates 40 and 27, is the gateway to Palo Duro Canyon.
 * From I-27 take the exit for Texas 217 eastbound at Canyon, just 20 minutes south of Amarillo.
 * If staying in Canyon, know that 4th Avenue is part of Texas 217. Palo Duro Canyon is about 33 minutes east of the town.

By air
Amarillo's Rick Husband International Airport is served by American, Continental, and Southwest.

Fees and permits
Entry is $5 for adults, free for children under 12. Ranger station - +1 806-488-2227

Get around
A road winds down into the floor of the canyon where you will find the visitor center and the amphitheater. The road continues on to some campsites, but many areas of the park can be reached only on foot or horseback.

It is possible to rent horses for exploring the park, and some of the campsites allow horses. Inquire at the visitor's center.

See

Do
The park has over 30 miles of marked trails for hiking, mountain biking, or horse riding.

Buy
There is a small novelty shop near the entrance to the Canyon.

Eat
Chuckwagon meals of smoked ribs and chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, beans, and cowboy coffee. Available at Elkin's Ranch or Old West Stables-- see the listings under the Do section above.

Lodging
There are a few cabins available for rent with nice views of the canyon. Reservations can be made with the Visitor Center.

Camping
There are many campsites throughout the park, all of which charge $12 per four persons. Amenities range from sites with electricity and public bathrooms and showers to those with only a picnic table and fire pit. The following campsites are accessible by car:

Backcountry
Simple: go to the end of the road, park, and walk for a half-hour or so until you find a spot suitable for your tent (or bivy). Some trails are intended for horses and intersect streams. Ask for specific directions from a ranger if you don't want to get wet.

Stay safe

 * Beware of rattlesnakes while hiking.
 * Following severe rains, six river crossings in the park may be impassible due to flash-flooding. Although many trails remain open, check ahead for weather information.
 * Bring plenty of water when hiking. It gets hot and dry and there is seldom a water source nearby.
 * If leaving trails, be sure to check for sure footing on slopes, many rocks and soil are prone to breaking loose.

Go next

 * Caprock Canyons State Park - 80 miles to the southeast, off the beaten track, the same river cut another set of canyons where the Caprock Escarpment gives way to the North Central Plains, with some spectacularly long trails to follow.

title: Palo Duro Canyon