text:
Clydesdale

Clydesdale is a region in the southwest of Scotland. It encompasses the catchment and upper course of the River Clyde, and roughly corresponds to four of the local government districts of South Lanarkshire, which in 2019 had a combined population of about 62,000. The name is usually used, as here, to contrast the rural and upland reaches of the Clyde with "Clydeside" the industrial and urban lower river valley towards Glasgow.

Towns and villages

 * Most visitors arrive from the south, crossing Beattock Summit by train or A74(M) to descend into the Clyde valley.

 * is little more than a motorway service station, but is near the old mining villages of Leadhills and Wanlockhead.
 * is a small market town with a gasworks museum and a puppet theatre.
 * is the former county town of Lanarkshire.
 * New Lanark two miles south of Lanark is a, with an 18th century mill village.
 * is a village northeast of Lanark, best known for its state mental hospital.
 * has the scrappy remains of a priory. It's by the motorway and you might change buses here.
 * marks the start of the industrial corridor towards Glasgow.

Understand
It's straightforward to travel from Glasgow or Edinburgh into the upper Clyde valley, and from Carlisle north as far as Beattock village, but then the Southern Uplands form a barrier, a steep sandstone ridge. Even the Romans had a road across, but it was a weary place to traverse in bad weather, tugging your pack-horse. This cramped trade with Glasgow, which was fast-growing with transatlantic business: the mail coaches were at risk of being swallowed up by potholes. Then Thomas Telford built a new road over Beattock Summit, completed in 1825, which later became the route of A74 then the motorway. From 1848 the railway also crossed.

From about 1500 to 1620 alluvial gold was panned from the streams at Leadhills and Wanlockhead, then the vein was exhausted. Later ages however mined lead, zinc, copper and silver, until the end of the Napoleonic wars made imports cheaper. The mines became unprofitable and eventually closed, leaving the miners cottages and machinery abandoned up in the lonely hills. Meanwhile the fast-descending Clyde and its tributaries powered water mills for textiles: best-preserved is the 18th century mill village of New Lanark. Some enterprises became steam-powered but this far up the Clyde valley never had the heavy smokestack industries and urban growth seen downstream. It remains today a swirl of green fields and dark moors seen through a rain-streaked car or train window as travellers hurry on towards the big cities.

18th and 19th century lowland life needed big strong horses for agriculture and haulage: smaller beasts such as the Shetland pony worked well in Highland terrain but weren't as suitable for lowland use. In the 18th century local mares were crossed with Flemish stallions, then in the 19th century with Shire draught horses, to produce the Clydesdale breed. Thousands were exported world-wide, and many served in the First World War, looking like elephants in their gas masks. After 1918 agriculture and road transport mechanised so the breed declined in number and quality. They've found a new role as show horses, drawing carriages in parades, and to that end have been bred taller yet lighter and unashamedly more handsome than the original Clydesdales.

Get in

 * "Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb. The gradient's against her, but she's on time.
 * "Past cotton-grass and moorland boulder shovelling white steam over her shoulder...."
 * - Night Mail 1936

By plane then renting a car, Edinburgh Airport has the edge over Glasgow, as it has more flights, and is west of the city so you reach Clydesdale within the hour.

Trains run from Glasgow Central every 30 min via Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke to Lanark; from Edinburgh or England change at Motherwell. Trains run every couple of hours from Edinburgh to Carstairs then Motherwell and Glasgow Central. The Caledonian Lowland Sleeper from London Euston also calls at Carstairs, where it divides for Edinburgh or Glasgow.

By bus: Stuarts Coaches Bus 240X / 241X runs hourly M-Sa from Glasgow via Wishaw and Carluke to Lanark.

Stagecoach Bus X74 runs from Glasgow via Hamilton, Lesmahagow and Moffat to Dumfries, hourly M-Sa and every two hours Sunday.

Stuarts Coaches Bus 30 / 31 runs 3 or 4 times M-Sa from Lanark to Thankerton, Symington, Abington, Crawford, Leadhills and Wanlockhead.

Stuarts Coaches Bus 91 runs hourly M-Sa from Lanark via Symington to Biggar. Whitelaws Coach 258 runs every couple of hours M-Sa from Lanark via Kirkmuirhill to Lesmahagow.

Stagecoach West Scotland Bus 101 / 102 runs from Edinburgh to Biggar via Penicuik, hourly M-Sa, only four on Sunday. Four buses M-Sa and two on Sunday continue to Dumfries via Abington, Moffat and Beattock.

Get around
You need a car. The valley roads are busy and not much fun for cycling.

See

 * New Lanark is the standout attraction. This 18th- to 19th-century mill village became a grand social experiment.
 * Wanlockhead above Abington is Britain's highest village. It had lead mines, and you can see its zero-energy beam engine and miners' cottages.
 * Biggar has a gasworks from the days before North Sea gas, when domestic heating gas was produced from coal.
 * Castles at Crawford and Douglas near Abington are well-ruined but have lurid histories.
 * Nature reserves flank the Clyde near Lanark, where the terrain is too steep for farming and the ancient woodland has been preserved.

Do

 * Clyde Walkway and cycle track runs along the Clyde for 40 miles from Glasgow Partick via Cambuslang, Strathclyde Country Park, Cardies Bridge and Crossford to New Lanark.
 * Tinto is a prominent 711 m (2333 ft) hill near Biggar. From the north there's an easy, well-worn path from the A73 near Thankerton; from the south it's a steep scramble from Wiston.
 * Southern Upland Way is a coast-to-coast walking trail which crosses the south of this region, from Sanquhar to Wanlockhead and Beattock Summit.
 * Horse riding: there's a centre at Lanark, and others.

Eat

 * Many visitors content themselves with fast food at Abington M74 service station. But by driving an extra two miles, you can enjoy a much better pub lunch at Colebrooke Arms.
 * Biggar and Lanark have several eating places earning good reviews.

Drink

 * Wanlockhead Inn is Britain's highest pub and has a micro-brewery.
 * Lanark the former county town has the largest collection of pubs.
 * Broughton Ales and Biggar Gin are produced near Biggar. The Wee Farm at Forth near Carstairs makes vodka and gin.

Sleep

 * "In the farm she passes no one wakes, but a jug in a bedroom gently shakes."
 * - Night Mail canters down Clydesdale before dawn.

 * For a place with character, it's either New Lanark Mill, or Cornhill Castle near Biggar.

Go next

 * "Letters of thanks, letters from banks, letters of joy from girl and boy . . . "
 * - Night Mail supplies the morning postal delivery in Glasgow.

 * Glasgow northwest deserves a few days to explore, don't just rush through on the way to the Highlands.
 * Edinburgh northeast is a must-see.
 * Ayrshire lies west. Admirers of Burns should head for Ayr, while Ardrossan has ferries for the Isle of Arran.
 * Roads south cross Beattock towards Carlisle and the Lake District, or branch southwest to Dumfries.

title: Clydesdale


text:
Clydeside

Clydeside is a region around Glasgow in the Central Belt of Scotland, with a population in 2020 of 1,028,220. It more-or-less corresponds to Greater Glasgow, and half-a-dozen other names, but it's not a metropolis or other unit of local government. Informally "Clydeside" is used to distinguish the lower River Clyde catchment, heavily urbanised and industrial, from the more rural upstream river valley to the south, known as "Clydesdale".

Cities and towns

 * is the booming heart of this region, a great city in every sense, with lots to see, do, eat and drink. Don't just rush through on the way to the Highlands - you need several days here to take it all in.

The industrial south & east: a series of small to medium towns, commuter-land for Glasgow, and long past their 19th century heyday. This, bluntly, is the least attractive and least interesting part of Scotland, and you wouldn't come just to see it. If however you found yourself here, there's actually a surprising amount to occupy you. Orbiting Glasgow anti-clockwise:
 * is an unlovely post-war New Town, yet its main attraction is the Museum of Rural Life.
 * has a huge mausoleum and Chatelherault country park.
 * has Strathclyde Country Park, a landscaped former mining area, and Scotland's only Theme Park.
 * is a large commuter and industrial town.
 * has the Sumerlees Museum of Industrial Life.
 * is a drab New Town with little reason to visit.
 * is a good base for exploring the Antonine Wall.
 * is also near the wall, and with a surprising history of ship-building: the "Clyde Puffers" were made along the canal.
 * has Mugdock Country Park, and is the start of the West Highland Way to Fort William.
 * has a Roman bath house, the best-preserved Roman structure in Scotland.
 * has a fine abbey-cathedral.

Downriver is also industrial but the view improves:
 * : pity about the ugly modern town, but castle rock marks the start of the Highlands, and the Firth of Clyde opens up to the west.
 * with Alexandria is on the shores of Loch Lomond: loch ferries and cruises run from here.
 * has a gallery and Fire Service museum.
 * , the start of the "Costa Clyde", is the ferry port for Dunoon on Cowal.
 * has a large marina. A little way south is Wemyss Bay, ferry port for Rothesay on Bute.

Other destinations

 * starts at Balloch.

Understand
This region is lowland and has good transport routes, although the Clyde was only navigable by small craft until the 1880s. It has fertile farmland but developed industry from late medieval / early modern times, based on coal and iron from local mines. Glasgow was just one small town among several until 1707 then grew rapidly with transatlantic and other colonial trade, though its shipping and ship-building was based downriver at Greenock. Then a navigable channel was blasted up to the city, and "Clydeside" became synonymous with cranes swinging over the shipyards of Govan, and fights in pubs. City merchants took care to build their mansions and endow public buildings at a little distance from the grime.

The quality of housing was poor for most people, even before wartime bombing, and post-war rebuilding was often ugly - both within the city (such as the Gorbals) and in the "New Towns" that sprang up around its rim. Meanwhile foreign competition took away smokestack industries such as ship-building, steel and car manufacture. Health statistics told a stark tale - "The Dying Scotsman" was a cartoon figure - and the region needed to re-invent itself. Glasgow itself from the 1990s has successfully done so, morphing into a year-round destination city. The other towns are works in progress, sharing the ups and downs of the overall UK economy, but simply scrubbing the soot off the Victorian buildings has unearthed a seam of rich ruby sandstone architecture. And nowhere on Clydeside is more than 30 minutes drive from moorlands, glens and lochs.

By plane
, 8 miles west of the city, has direct flights from many European countries as well as North America and Dubai. It has domestic flights from London Heathrow, City, Gatwick, Luton and Southend; from Birmingham, Bristol, Southampton, East Midlands, Belfast, and from several Hebridean islands plus Orkney and Shetland. Public transport from the airport to the rest of Clydeside usually involves taking the bus to Glasgow city centre then changing, but there's a direct bus to Paisley.

You might also fly in via Edinburgh or Manchester, both with good onward transport. You're unlikely to fly in via Prestwick as this only has flights to Med holiday destinations.

By train
Railway routes converge on Glasgow's two mainline stations. The fastest trains from London Euston, Birmingham and Manchester run via Motherwell to Glasgow Central, as does the Caledonian Sleeper, and an occasional train from London Kings Cross via Newcastle and Edinburgh. Most trains from Edinburgh, and all of them from Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Oban, run to Glasgow Queen Street. Suburban and branch lines fan out from both Glasgow stations to all the main towns of Clydeside.

By bus
Long distance buses all run to Glasgow Buchanan bus station, 300 yards north of Queen Street railway station. They seldom stop elsewhere in this region, but some exceptions are:
 * - Citylink buses to the western Highlands stop at the edge of Dumbarton and of Balloch then continue north along Loch Lomond.
 * - Bus X74 to Moffat and Dumfries also stops at Hamilton.
 * - Bus X24 runs from Glasgow Airport to Buchanan station then continues east to Cumbernauld, and across Fife via Dunfermline to St Andrews.

Get around

 * Buses and trains run from Glasgow to all the main towns. Coatbridge and Airdrie have lost their direct bus, take the train.
 * Crossing the region usually means travelling into central Glasgow and out again, but one train makes a slow loop of the southern towns of Hamilton, Motherwell, Coatbridge and Cumbernauld.
 * Transport usually runs 06:00-23:30. There are night buses after midnight on Friday and Saturday (the early hours of Saturday and Sunday) from central Glasgow to East Kilbride, Hamilton, Motherwell and Paisley. Otherwise you'll need a taxi.

See

 * Glasgow top sights include the cathedral and necropolis, Kelvingrove gallery, "People's Palace", and Rennie Mackintosh creations such as the Willow Tea Rooms.
 * Churches and cemeteries: interesting examples beyond the city are Inverkip parish church, Greenock West Kirk, Hamilton Mausoleum, cemetery and old church, Motherwell cathedral and Paisley Abbey.
 * Castles: several are tumbledown, but Newark Castle near Greenock and Dumbarton Castle are substantial. You can stay in a plush one at Castle Levan near Gourock.
 * Museums beyond the city include the Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride, and Summerlee industrial museum in Coatbridge.
 * Roman Scotland: they didn't stay long or build much, but the coast-to-coast Antonine Wall can be seen around Bearsden, Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth.
 * Highland Games are held annually on a summer weekend in Gourock, Balloch, Bearsden jointly with Milngavie, and East Kilbride. Dumbarton hosts the Scottish piping championships, and the world pipe band competition is in Glasgow in August.

Do

 * Forth & Clyde Canal has a good firm towpath and is navigable throughout - check Scottish Canals for current status of locks and facilities. It starts near Dumbarton, has a spur into central Glasgow, then ascends through Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth. It then descends into West Lothian, where the ingenious Falkirk Wheel lifts boats into the Union Canal to Edinburgh.
 * Go "doon the water". The Clyde is industrial until Greenock, further west the view improves, and Gourock marks the northern end of the "Costa Clyde", the string of little resorts along the coast into Ayrshire. Ride one of the ferries even if you don't intend to set foot on the other side.
 * Football: the famous soccer teams are Celtic and Rangers in Glasgow. Other professional teams are Partick Thistle in Glasgow, Hamilton Academical, Motherwell, Airdrieonians and Albion Rovers in Coatbridge, Clyde in Cumbernauld, Dumbarton, and Morton in Greenock.
 * Rugby Union isn't a big thing here compared to Edinburgh and the Borders, but Glasgow Warriors are a pro team.
 * Golf: lots of courses, every town has one.
 * Walk the West Highland Way which starts at Milngavie. The first few miles north onto Loch Lomond are easy going, then it starts to get interesting.

Eat

 * Glasgow's got the lot, for cosmopolitan choice and for quality across a range of budgets.
 * Beyond the city, the only standout is Cameron House Hotel, on the shores of Loch Lomond near Balloch.
 * Every town has a strip of cheap and cheerful places, including pub food. There's always an Italian but those in Hamilton get better reviews than elsewhere.

Drink

 * Auchentoshan on the edge of Glasgow and Glengoyne between Milngavie and Balmaha are two Scotch whisky distilleries that you can visit in this region. They both make very smooth, unpeated whisky that slides down every so nicely. There are some 120 whisky distilleries in Scotland so if you're wondering which to sample first, these are a good bet. There are several in the industrial parks of Glasgow and Vale of Leven that you can't tour, but they have well-known products (often blends rather than single malt) found in supermarkets throughout the UK.
 * Most of the outlying towns have a JD Wetherspoon pub, open daily from breakfast till late. They score well for inexpensive beers, food, service and general environment. Other chains such as Greene King have only a minor presence here.
 * Tap water is of high quality on Clydeside, as it's soft, drawn from highland reservoirs such as Loch Katrine that need very little chlorination. So don't be paying restaurant prices for bottled "spa" water.

Stay safe

 * Same as elsewhere, watch for traffic and take care of valuables.
 * Natural hazards are few, be dressed and shod sensibly on the hills. Loch Lomond is big enough for the waters to get rough, though other boat traffic (such as jet skis) can be a risk.
 * "We arra pee-pul! - eh who are you lookin' at, Jimmy?" Aggressive drunks are no more common in Glasgow than in other cities.

Go next

 * Glasgow and most of this region are within an hour by train of must-see Edinburgh. So it can be day-tripped, but you'll want longer.
 * Ayrshire has Robert Burns' birthplace in Alloway just south of Ayr, and is the route to the charming Isle of Arran.
 * The of New Lanark is an 18th century model community around a mill on the Clyde.

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

title: Clydeside


text:
Coachella

Coachella is a city in Riverside County in the Desert region of California.

See
Despite the name, the Coachella Music Festival is actually in the neighboring city of Indio.

Buy
Oasis Date Gardens, 59-111 Grapefruit Blvd, Thermal, CA. Great place to pick up those little coconut sprinkled date confections or a date shake. M-Th 10AM-1PM.

Eat
Ham sandwiches at Lady's Diner are great

title: Coachella


text:
Coahuila

Coahuila is a state in Northern Mexico. Coahuila is not a very touristy state when compared to other parts of the country, but it has several attractions, especially related to outdoor activities in the semi-desert climate.

Cities

 * — the state capital is a beautiful small colonial city, known for its thick, lightly glazed, earthen ceramic floor tiles, and the brightly colored shawls known as sarapes
 * — small village with mountain vistas and aquatic recreation
 * — a small city on the U.S. border across from Del Rio, Texas
 * — a small city known for its American indian tribes, a designated Pueblo Magico
 * — an industrial powerhouse in the region, Monclova is the third largest city in the state
 * — location of wineries that were established by the old Spanish Dons
 * — a beautiful city with a high quality and standard of living, on the Texas border
 * — it is considered the "Cradle of the Mexican Revolution", a title claimed by several towns
 * — the second largest city in the state is a modern city with several natural, cultural, historical and religious attractions

Other destinations

 * — the largest wilderness area in Latin America north of Patagonia, lying just across the river from Big Bend National Park
 * — a unique ecosystem, the spring-fed pools that fill the valley of Cuatro Cienegas are host to a number of plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth. Much of the valley is a protected natural reserve, though some of the larger pools (called pozas) are open to the public for snorkeling and swimming

Understand
The Sierra Madre Oriental runs northwest to southeast through the State, and the higher elevations are home to the Sierra Madre Oriental pine-oak forests. The northernmost fingers of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Sierra del Burro and the Sierra del Carmen, reach to the border with the United States at the Rio Grande.

East of the range, the land slopes gently toward the Rio Grande, and is drained by several rivers, including the Salado and its tributary, the Sabinas River. The Tamaulipan mezquital, a dry shrubland ecoregion, occupies the eastern portion of the State, and extends across the Rio Grande into southern Texas.

The portion of the state west of the Sierra Madre Oriental lies on the Mexican Plateau, and is part of the Chihuahuan Desert.

History
The name Coahuila is derived from native terms for the region, and has been known by variations such as Cuagüila and Cuauila. Some historians believe that this means “flying serpent”, “place of many trees”, or “place where serpents creep”. The official name of the state is Coahuila de Zaragoza, in honor of General Ignacio Zaragoza.

The Spanish explored the north of Mexico some decades after their victory in Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecs. The first Spanish settlement in the region now called Coahuila was at Minas de la Trinidad in 1577. Saltillo was settled by the Spaniards in 1586, to form part of the province of Nueva Vizcaya of the Vice-royalty of New Spain. Later it became one of the first provinces of Nueva Extremadura to be explored by Europeans.

Talk
As in the rest of the states of Mexico,the official language is Spanish. In Coahuila, some people speak Kikapú and other indigenous languages.

Climate
The climate is generally dry and semi-warm to extremely hot in much of the state of Coahuila, with some variations throughout the regions of the state.

In the southeast, the climate is hot, in spring and summer generally in Saltillo, Arteaga and more, the rainy season is in July and August, in winter the weather is cold and foggy. In the Lagunera Region the weather is hot in spring and summer, hot and dry in the fall and with relatively mild winters, eventually cold. In the central region, the weather is hot in spring and the temperature in summer is very high. In summer there are rains that can be intense. Winters are cold. In the north, the climate is hot in spring and summer and cold in winter, with rains in the region in July and August. Snowfalls are frequent in the northern part of the state, in the Múzquiz mountain ranges, and in the Arteaga mountain range in the southeast of the state during the winter season.

In the northeast, conditions can be favorable for the development of severe weather in the spring, including the possibility of tornadoes.

By bus
Senda Coahuilenses Group provides coach services through the state.

Transportes del Nazas is a bus line in the Torreón Metropolitan Area, better known as los Rojas. Their routes go to the surrounding area of the Lagunera Region.

Transportes Moctezuma de La Laguna is a bus line of the Lagunera Region. They are known as los verdes.

By plane
Saltillo International Airport is the main airport in the state.

Mariano Escobedo de Monterrey Airport, which is 50 minutes from Saltillo, has flights from a wider variety of cities and has regional flights to some Coahuila destinations.

Francisco Sarabia International Airport (Torreon) and Piedras Negras International Airport  have limited flights.

See
In Cuatro Cienegas, the Cuatro Cienegas Biosphere Reserve displays 150 different endemic plants and animal species.

The capital, Saltillo, has various historical sites and buildings such as the Plaza de Armas, the Government Palace and the Cathedral of Santiago. The Museum of the Desert also stands out.

The city of Torreón has as main attractions the Cristo de las Noas, which can be reached using the first cable car in the state; and the Corona Stadium, home of the Santos Laguna soccer team.

Parras de la Fuente stands out mainly for its walnut trees, its old architecture and its vineyards.

Do
Catch a baseball game! Coahuila has 3 professional baseball teams playing in the Liga Mexicana (summer league). You can catch a game in:

 * Monclova - The Acereros got their start i 1974 as the Minereros, they play in the 11,000 seat Estadio de Béisbol Monclova
 * Saltillo - The Saraperos joined the Mexican League in 1970 and have 3 championships under their belt, they play at Estadio de Béisbol Francisco Madero in Saltillo
 * Torreón - The Algodoneros de Unión Laguna have been playing since 1940, their home field is Estadio Revolución in Torreon

Eat

 * Asado de chile colorado – pork with ancho and guajillo chilies and cumin
 * Charro beans – cowboy-style beans with bacon and chilies
 * Coahuila sausage – made of pork seasoned with ancho chiles
 * Enchiladas de olla – ancho chili, tortillas, poblano and grated cheese
 * Menudo norteño – tripe soup with ancho and guajillo chilies
 * Cajeta de membrillo – caramelized milk candy flavored with quince

Drink
Ice cold beer is the most popular drink everywhere in Northern Mexico, and Coahuila is no exception. In Coahuila, Modelo operates a large brewery in Piedras Negras, near the Texas border. The brewery exports most of its production to the United States.

Mezcal is fast becoming as well-known as tequila among the world's cocktail cognoscenit, and for good reason. Mezcal is made from a wider range of agave species than is tequila and is produced using different methods that create a rich palette of flavors that often display enormous depth and complexity from the variable roasting and preparation stages. In Northern Mexico, a sub-style of mezcal called sotol is produced in the arid mountains. In Coahuila, the Fabriquero Coahuila produces a young silver sotol. It is produced by roasting the pinas underground for 4 days before hand crushing them. Fermentation is done in concrete tanks and then distilled in copper alembic stills.

Coahuila may seem an unlikely climate to find a successful winery, yet the state is home to Casa Madero, which is the oldest winery in the Americas (established in 1597). Their historic vineyard welcomes visitors for tours and tastings. The vineyard is located in Parras de la Fuente.

Stay safe
Coahuila is one of the safer Northern Mexico states. Although it shares a long border with Texas, the high-profile violence of drug cartels is rare. The border crossings at Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras and Del Rio/Ciudad Acuna are generally safe, although common sense dictates crossing during daylight hours and getting as far south as quickly as possible. Tourist friendly cities in the southern part of the state, such as Saltillo and Torreon are generally safe for travelers, though roaming outside the cities at night is ill-advised.

For most travelers, staying cool and well hydrated is the more significant safety issue since much of the state is a desert.

Go next

 * Nuevo León
 * Chihuahua
 * San Luis Potosi

title: Coahuila


text:
Coalinga

Coalinga is a city in Fresno County in California's San Joaquin Valley. Most visitors to the area are travelers on Interstate 5 who make a stop at Harris Ranch, a business area that actually lies 13 miles northeast of the town.

By car
Interstate 5 bypasses Coalinga. State Routes 33 and 198 meet here and are merged for about 9 miles to the north. It is roughly halfway between Los Angeles and Sacramento/San Francisco, about 200 miles from all three cities.

By plane
is an airstrip for brave pilots - the strip is only 30 feet wide, with crosswinds. Another general aviation airport in the area is the.

Go next

 * King City - King city is located 58 miles west of Coalinga along Highway 198. While the town might just be a place to spend the night while driving along Highway 101 for most travelers, those who visit in early May can attend the Salinas Valley Fair, an event which offers a rodeo, livestock competitions, and a chance to experience the agricultural character of the area. The town is also home to the Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum, which offers a history of the area's agricultural development and the opportunity to tour a historic school house and rail depot.

title: Coalinga


text:
Coal Region

Pennsylvania's Coal Region has a rich heritage of coal mining and is, in fact, home to the largest deposits of anthracite coal in the Americas. Once a region full of mining towns, the area has since become a tourist destination. The Coal Region has strong blue-collar ties and keeps them to this day. Some of the hardest working people in Pennsylvania have come from here and live in this region.

Most, but not all, of the Coal Region is in the Poconos area of the state.

Cities

 * — Famous for an underground coal mine fire that, fifty years later, is still burning. The entire town has been abandoned except for a small few who refuse to leave their native town. The area is a dangerous, burning ghost town and the most famous such town in Pennsylvania.
 * Lovely town with a lot of history. It's known as the Switzerland of Pennsylvania.  Go to the Jim Thorpe (formerly Mauch Chunk) courthouse for some interesting Molly Maguire history.
 * — Home of the Red Tornadoes football team which holds the 4th highest win total in high school football history.
 * — The county seat of Schuylkill County. This is the home to the Yuengling Brewery.  Also, an interesting landmark is a large statue erected of the famous 19th century statesman, Henry Clay.
 * — The largest city by population in the region.
 * — Home of the annual "Coal Drop" on New Year's Eve.
 * — The county seat of Schuylkill County. This is the home to the Yuengling Brewery.  Also, an interesting landmark is a large statue erected of the famous 19th century statesman, Henry Clay.
 * — The largest city by population in the region.
 * — Home of the annual "Coal Drop" on New Year's Eve.

Understand
Pennsylvania's Coal Region is rich in Irish, Welsh, and Polish/Eastern European heritage, as well as the culture of the early mining industry. Additionally, there is visible German (Pennsylvania Dutch, as well as Moravian) and English influence, though the Germans and English were often farmers and industrialists respectively, rather than coal miners. With the exception of a few select towns, the industry has largely left the state, but the cultural roots are still there. Local dialect hearkens back to the days of the mines and local culture reflects that heritage. A visit to the coal region is an opportunity to look at one of Pennsylvania's oldest and first major industries; mine tours show 200-year-old mines and working conditions that today would never be accepted. The historical sites evoke a time when millions of immigrants were trying to get a foothold in American society. Pennsylvania's coal mines aided in that effort and today teach us of the determination and persistence that is essential in life as a Pennsylvanian and an American.

Talk
The unique regional dialect in the Coal Region is best described as a northern American accent tinged with various British Isles dialects, and additional strong influences from the Pennsylvania German dialect and Eastern European accents due to historic migration, immigration, and admixture. Local oddities include the use of a "trailing G." For example "coming up" is pronounced "comin gup". People call each other "butt", as in an abbreviated form of "buddy" or "bud". "Ho, butt!" is a common greeting and not to be meant as an insult.

Migration patterns and the construction of major highway corridors through the area, combined with its relatively central location, has allowed for the influence of New York City/Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, Southern Appalachia, and Central New York on the dialect, and phrases associated with those regions may also be common to hear in the Coal Region.

A good resource for the traditional Coal Region dialect is found online.

By plane
For destinations in Luzerne, Lackawanna, northernmost Carbon, and Columbia counties, the nearest airport is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International (AVP) near the Luzerne and Lackawanna County boundary in Avoca. This airport serves regional destinations in the Northeastern and Midwestern U.S. as well as cities in the Deep South.

For destinations in the majority of Schuylkill and Carbon Counties, the nearest airport is Lehigh Valley International (ABE) in Allentown in Lehigh County. Like AVP, this airport primarily serves regional destinations.

Those headed to Northumberland or westernmost Schuylkill County might consider Harrisburg International in Harrisburg.

The most convenient major international hubs to most of the Coal Region are Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), which are both very roughly a 1h30 to 2h30 drive from the core of the region. Other hub airports locals tend to travel through are John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in Queens, and Baltimore-Washington International in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

By bus
COLTS Bus serves the Lackawanna County area and parts of Luzerne County. The LCTA serves the Wyoming Valley area. HPT and STS service the Hazleton and Pottsville areas, respectively.

By car
Major Intersate highways include I-81, I-476 (tolled as part of the PA Turnpike system) and I-380, which all run N/S, plus I-80 and I-84, which run E/W. Tamaqua, Pottsville, and southern Schuylkill County are also served by various exits off of I-78/US 22 in the neighboring counties of Lehigh and Berks. Major local routes include PA 309, PA 115, PA 315, US 209, PA 54, PA 443, PA 61, PA 940, PA 903, PA 248, PA 487, PA 903, PA 902, US 11, PA 437, PA 183, and PA 93.

See

 * Centralia Mine Fire in Centralia is famous due to its long duration (nearly half a century) and persistence.
 * Pioneer Coal Mine Tunnel in Ashland is a very well-maintained museum which includes a tour of a coal mine shaft.
 * The Hometown Farmer's Market in Hometown is open from 8AM to 8PM on Wednesday only, offering food, fresh vegetables, and bootleg T-shirts.
 * White Haven Cemetery in White Haven is one of the oldest United States cemeteries.
 * Cinemark Movie Theater in Moosic is the Coal Region's largest movie theater.
 * Pioneer Coal Mine Tunnel in Ashland is a very well-maintained museum which includes a tour of a coal mine shaft.
 * The Hometown Farmer's Market in Hometown is open from 8AM to 8PM on Wednesday only, offering food, fresh vegetables, and bootleg T-shirts.
 * White Haven Cemetery in White Haven is one of the oldest United States cemeteries.
 * Cinemark Movie Theater in Moosic is the Coal Region's largest movie theater.

Do

 * PNC Field in Moosic is home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team (as of 2019).
 * The Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Moosic hosts major summer concerts.
 * The Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre is home to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, an AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and hosts concerts and entertainment year round.
 * Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Plains hosts one of the largest casinos in the state and also serves as a daily harness racing track.
 * The A-Hole in Girardville is popular for swimming.
 * Shenandoah is a popular place to drive your car around in circles, a common coal-region activity known as "cruising".
 * The Clover Irish Weekend Festival in Heckschersville. Schuylkill County, is an annual celebration of blended Irish and coal cracker culture held the last weekend in July, filled with music, dance, food, genealogy, games, crafts, and more.
 * The Girardville St. Patrick's Day Parade is sponsored annually by the Jack Kehoe Division #1 AOH is growing to be one of the largest in PA! Always held the Saturday after St. Patrick's Day, this parade abounds with pipe bands, AOH marching units, floats, and community groups marching along Girardville's historic streets. Visit the Jack Kehoe Division website or the Girardville website for details, photos, and more.

Stay safe
For the most part, crime is extremely low in the Coal Region.

Go next

 * Allentown and the Lehigh Valley have plenty of attractions.

title: Coal Region


text:
Coarsegold

Coarsegold is a city in Madera County in the Sierra Nevada region of California.

By car
By car, the best access to Coarsegold is taking California State Route 41 north from Fresno.

By bus

 * Madera County Connection's Eastern Madera County route provides limited service from Madera Monday–Friday.
 * Madera County Connection's Eastern Madera County route provides limited service from Madera Monday–Friday.

title: Coarsegold


text:
Coast (Paraná)

Coastal Paraná is the region of Paraná to the east of Curitiba.

Cities

 * — one of the oldest settlements in Paraná,developed during the years of gold hunting
 * — has nearly intact forest reserves and ecosystems, creating tourist attractions enjoyed by ecotourism enthusiasts.
 * — founded in 1765, it is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Paraná
 * — its natural attractions include its beaches, and it has several attractions of historical and cultural value, such as the church of San Pedro, which is the main church of the city
 * — famous for its restaurants, which sell a typical regional dish called barreado. It has also preserved many ancient palaces
 * — historic city founded in the first half of the 17th century, with an interesting and well-diversified historical centre
 * — has 50 km of beaches and starting point for visits to the renowned Ilha do Mel

Other destinations

 * — this island's attractions are its beaches, diving, the fortress and the lighthouse

Eat

 * Barreado - The signature food of the area is a kind of slow cooked-beef stew served with cassava flour and banana slices. Meat is sealed inside a special clay pot with a bundle of herbs and spices and cooked for 12-18 hours, after which the herbs and spices are removed. Traditionally the cooking was done in a hole in the ground. The origin of the dish is disputed between Antonina, Morretes, and Paranaguá, and each town has a slightly different recipe.

Drink

 * Cachaça - The area is a famous producer of Brazil's favorite liquor, with flavors distinctive to the area. In addition, the port at Paranaguá brings in many specialty cachaças from other areas of the country as well.

title: Coast (Paraná)


text:
Coastal Albania

Coastal Albania is a region of Albania along the western lowland and the southern coast bordering both the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea.

Cities
From north to south:
 * — the biggest town in Northern Albania along Skadar Lake. The Rozafa Castle is a major tourist attraction here.
 * — mountainous landscapes over Lake Skadar
 * — coastal village with a curative sand shore and excellent bathing waters. The beach is long and wide, and a lot of hotels offer nice rooms.
 * — seaside resort and port town northwest of Lezhe, known for its curative beach sands, and "Rana e Hedhun" beach dune. The area also includes Kune-Vain-Tale Lagoon area and its beaches.
 * — a small city home to Skanderbeg's Tomb, panoramic Lezhe Castle, historic Mirdita and Zadrima regions, and several renovated churches
 * — it is well known for its Bosnian restaurants where you can enjoy a mix of the Albanian cuisine with the Bosnian and Mediterranean ones.
 * — one of the oldest cities in Albania. It has the largest amphitheater in the Balkans. It is the largest port of Albania and has the longest shoreline. Newly explored beaches include Bishti i Pallës, Gjiri i Lalzit, Spille, and Plazhi i Gjeneralit
 * — coastal town in Tirana County about 20 km south of Durrës that is nevertheless a well-known ski area
 * — Kavaje was established as a fortress town by the Illyrian tribe of Taulantii in the first centuries BCE, and later would establish itself as a transit route for Via Egnatia. Ruins of Via Egnatia are still visible in the eastern part of Kavajë.
 * — about eight miles outside the modern city of Fier are the early Greek and Roman ruins of the ancient city of Apollonia. Much of this ancient city still remains buried under the hills.
 * — lively seaside city, nice beaches south of town. Passenger ferries to and from Italy dock here.
 * — a city in southern Albania passed the Albanian Riviera known for its unforgettable beaches, and colorful spring blooms.
 * - Milot is a town and a former municipality in the Lezhë County of northwestern Albania.
 * - Vau i Dejës has just about everything, calming lake panoramas, idyllic bucolic landscapes reminiscent of another time, fascinating culture, history, places of worship as well as contemporary and delicious food.

Other destinations
From north to south:
 * Skadar Lake — shared between Albania and Montenegro featuring small fishing villages such as Zogaj and Shiroke
 * Divjaka-Karavasta Lagoon National Park — (a detour toward west about halfway on Durres-Fier highway, right at Divjaka village) incorporating the Ramsar List protected Karavasta Lagoon and the Divjaka Pines.
 * Llogara National Park — amid rich fauna in the area of Llogara Pass, it can be used for hiking and as an alpine retreat.
 * Narta Lagoon — (NW 5 km from Vlore) along the picturesque A2 motorway linking Fier with Vlore, and nearby Pishe Poro region along the Vjosa River flow towards the Adriatic Sea
 * Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park — (W 10 km from Vlore) the only marine park in the country, the park encompasses the surrounding coastal area of Karaburun Peninsula and Sazan Island. From mountain drops to the sea, ruins of ancient ships, secluded beaches, caves to spectacular coral reefs, this park is worth a sail or dive.
 * Bylis — second largest archaeological site from Roman era in Albania
 * Bregu — also known as the along the Ionian Sea
 * Dhërmi — in the Albanian Riviera is one of the finest of many beaches along the coastal road between Vlore and Saranda, perfect for camping
 * Vuno — small village a few kilometres north to the town of Himarë and part of the Albanian Riviera
 * Lukove — part of the Albanian Riviera
 * Butrint — Largest archaeological site from Greek and Roman era in Albania. It lies on the coast in the southernmost tip of the country, near the Greek border. Minibuses are available from Saranda.

Understand
The coast between Velipoje and Shengjin in the north is characterized by curative sand beaches, and a few lagoons near Lezhe perfect for bird-watching. Between Durres and Vlore in Central Albania, the coast is characterized by long stretches of sandy beaches and several lagoons. Along the Albanian Riviera in the south, the coast is mostly rocky with either long or secluded shingle and sandy beaches, with the presence of several islands like Sazan, Zvernec, Ksamil, and Tongo. The total coastline of Albania is about 476 km long.

Get in
From Tirana, many furgons (private minibuses) a day depart to Shkodër, Durres, Fier and other coastal towns.

Get around
The roadways along the beach are mostly new and in good condition. Velipoja, Shengjin, Durres, Golem, Vlora, Divjaka, "Bregu" and Saranda, all are connected very well with the national roadway.

"Rruga e Bregut" or SH8 is the roadway from Fier to Saranda. Alternatively, you can avoid the old SH8 stretch between Fier and Vlore by taking the A2 motorway featuring olive groves and the protected Narta Lagoon. Towards Llogora Pass the view is amazing, and this is one of the most picturesque roads in the Balkans. To avoid the coastal road altogether, you can take the SH4 between Fier, Tepelene and Gjirokaster on to Saranda through the SH78 or Muzina Pass.

The SH4 road between Durres and Kavaja has been widened to dual carriageway and it's up to par with the rest of the motorway. It is a bit crowded in summer, so be careful.

See

 * Lezhe Castle
 * Zvernec Monastery in Zvernec Island near Vlore
 * Bashtova Castle near Kavaja
 * Franz Joseph Island near Velipoja
 * Scanderbeg Castle, Ishem Castle and Shen Ndout Church near Lalzi Bay north of Durres.
 * Zvernec Monastery in Zvernec Island near Vlore
 * Bashtova Castle near Kavaja
 * Franz Joseph Island near Velipoja
 * Scanderbeg Castle, Ishem Castle and Shen Ndout Church near Lalzi Bay north of Durres.

Do

 * Camping. All along the Albanian coast, there exist camping facilities at or nearby the coast.
 * If you prefer active holidays, there is a great way to discover the Albanian coastline; try to paddle along the beautiful Ionian sea. This tour will let you explore some secluded beaches and caves that you can access only through water Paddling along the Ionian sea.
 * You can also choose a day sea-kayaking trip in the Adriatic sea from Gjiri i Lalsit to Kepi Rodonit.
 * Of course, bird-watching along lagoons and tasting delicious seafood goes without saying

Eat

 * Local specialties such as fresh fish, wild birds, roasted lamb, burek, and delicious dairy products.

Go next

 * Bari, Italy
 * Ancona, Italy

title: Coastal Albania


text:
Coastal Cameroon

Coastal Cameroon is a region of Cameroon. The northern segment of coastal Cameroon is called Ambazonia.

Cities

 * (English speaking)
 * (French speaking)
 * (English speaking)
 * (English speaking)
 * (English speaking)

Get in
Douala International Airport

title: Coastal Cameroon


text:
Coastal Georgia

Coastal Georgia is in the southeast of Georgia along the Atlantic Ocean.

Other destinations

 * – Features beaches and dunes, marshes, and freshwater lakes, as well as historic sites and structures.
 * – Protects Okefenokee Swamp, a shallow, 438,000 acre peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida border. Considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia.

Get in

 * Savannah/Hilton Head Island International Airport
 * Golden Isles Airport

Go next

 * Plantation Midlands
 * Golden Corner
 * First Coast

title: Coastal Georgia


text:
Coastal Kenya

Coastal Kenya is the region of Kenya bordering the Indian Ocean. It includes some of Coast Province and the southern part of Northeastern Province.

Cities

Understand
Travel organizations usually offer beach holidays at South Coast or North Coast, which simply means south or north of Mombasa.

While the South Coast (Tiwi Beach, Diani Beach, Galu Beach, Gazi Beach, Msambweni Beach, Mwazaro Beach) has the nicer beaches and more primordial nature the North Coast near Mombasa (Njali Beach, Bambouri Beach, Shandzu Beach, Mtwapa Beaches, Kikambala Beach) offers much more activities. The beaches further north (Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi) are like South Coast, primordial and tranquil, not as long and broad as Diani Beach but even more photogenic.

Get in
Most tourists come to the coast by plane to Mombasa airport and only few via Nairobi airport and from there by bus or train.

To reach the South Coast from Mombasa airport, most visitors go either by taxi or take the offers of one of the travel agencies at Diani Beach (see: Diani Beach/Do/Safaris) that offer pick up services to bring guests to the hotels. The North Coast beaches near Mombasa can be reached by taxi or matatu (small minibus "taxis" called matatus in Swahili), while to the beaches further north usually by long-distance coaches from Mombasa.

Get around
There are long distance coaches that go along the coast with center in Mombasa. From the hotels to the various attractions you can go most comfortable by taxi. Every hotel can call you trustworthy drivers and give you a hint about the transport costs. Other transport options are motorbike taxis or tuktuks, a mechanized three-wheeled taxi. Motorbike taxi are cheapest but most dangerous and only advisable for short distances and not really on main roads. With tuktuks 2-3 people can be transported even with goods, shopping bags, etc. They are loud and bumpy but cheaper than a taxi. Advisable for short distances only. Matatus are privately owned 9 seater minibuses that ply set routes, run from termini, and are used for both inter- and intra-city travel. They are very cheap but are known for reckless driving and you sit like "like sardines in a tin". Advisable only if you are short in money or want to experience "real African transport". Uber works well in Mombasa and Nairobi and you can get fares online. This is useful, as taxi drivers tend to overcharge tourists. An alternative is hostel/hotel transfer: Hakuna Mutatu Bus operates on the Kenya Coast, and a ride from Mombasa to Diani or Kilifi costs roughly Ksh 1000. This is a door-to-door service, meaning you will be collected from your current accommodation in Mombasa, Diani, Kilifi or Watamu and dropped directly at your next accommodation.

North cost

Do
Most visitors come to enjoy the wonderful beaches and to go on a safari in one of the many safari parks like Maasai Mara, Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park and Shimba Hills National Reserve.

 * Diving: There are five marine parks – Diani-Chale, Kisite-Mpunguti, Kiunga, Malindi, Mombasa, and Watamu – protecting the fringing coral reef. Average sea temperatures range from 25°C in August to 30°C in March, and April and May are the wettest months. The sea is calmest from October to March, and whale sharks and manta rays visit between November and February, while humpback whales can be seen from July to October. Dive sites include:
 * - The deep wall at Nyuli where two currents meet
 * - The Canyon at Watamu Marine Park – also for wall dives
 * - Galu Reef – for macro photography
 * - Kinondo Reef – for large pelagics and shoals of smaller fish
 * - MV Dania – Cargo vessel sunk as a dive site in 2002
 * - MFV Funguo – 400 ton fishing trawler sunk as a dive site

Eat
At all tourist places you will find a wide range from high end restaurants with international food to cheap local diners with typical African coastal dishes.

Drink
In all bars, restaurants and hotels you will find the world wide known soft drinks, a good beer (Tusker) and most of the famous spirits. Good wines you will get only in upper class restaurants or in the big hotels. Bottled drinking water is available everywhere in the touristic areas.

Stay safe
Especially the south coast and the cost around Mombasa are safe for tourism. North of Malindi towards the Somalian border safety conditions vary and actual information should be looked up on embassy web sides

Go next

 * Nairobi
 * . Tsavo East is generally flat, with dry plains across which the Galana River flows with swampy marshland.
 * : Tsavo West is characterized by a hilly arid landscape. This park is dotted with volcanic cones; dramatic, black lava flows; and a number of rocky outcrops.

title: Coastal Kenya


text:
Coastal Lowlands (Ecuador)

Coastal Lowlands is a region in Ecuador. Here you can find nice beaches, tropical climate and a laid back atmosphere.

The beaches in Salinas are very popular for Ecuadorians on holiday. Another destination is Montañita, popular with Ecuadorians and gringos alike, and famous for its surfing. Nice beaches can however be found along most of the coast, although you won't find any south of Guayaquil until you reach Peru.

Cities
Arranged by province.

El Oro

 * - "Banana capital of the world"
 * - "Banana capital of the world"

Esmeraldas

 * - Nice beaches and Afro-Ecuadorian culture
 * – A sleepy beach town growing increasingly popular with tourists
 * – A sleepy beach town growing increasingly popular with tourists

Guayas

 * (also includes Durán) – largest city in Ecuador, hub of the region.

Manabí

 * - Small beach town
 * - Large city by the Pacific Ocean.
 * - Beautiful small ocean side town, access point for Machalilla National Park, and Isla de la Plata "Poor Man's Galapagos".
 * - Large city by the Pacific Ocean.
 * - Beautiful small ocean side town, access point for Machalilla National Park, and Isla de la Plata "Poor Man's Galapagos".
 * - Beautiful small ocean side town, access point for Machalilla National Park, and Isla de la Plata "Poor Man's Galapagos".
 * - Beautiful small ocean side town, access point for Machalilla National Park, and Isla de la Plata "Poor Man's Galapagos".
 * - Beautiful small ocean side town, access point for Machalilla National Park, and Isla de la Plata "Poor Man's Galapagos".

Other destinations

 * – famous for good surfing, where gringos hang out
 * – great climate, amazing long beaches and great places to surf.
 * – popular beach destination.

Understand
The coastal lowlands were once covered with rainforest, of which not much remains. Instead big farms and plantations now cover a majority of coast. Big sugar cane and banana farms are common sights.

Most cities can't be described as particularly beautiful, and you won't see too much beautiful colonial architecture. However, the coastal atmosphere can be very nice, the food is good, and beaches are world class. The coast is a very good place to have a good time and learn more about Ecuador.

Talk
Spanish. The coastal dialect is quite distinct from the dialect of the Andes, and shares many common features with Caribbean Spanish. English is not widely spoken, with the exception of more high-end places catering to tourists.

Get in
Buses run from Quito, Cuenca, and all other major cities in the mountains to a lot of places along the coast. You can also take an international bus from Peru or Colombia

Guayaquil is the major airport hub for international flights.

Get around
Buses run wherever you want to go. Guayaquil and Santo Domingo are major hubs.

Do
Swim at the beaches, explore the cities.

Eat
Try the seafood! Ceviche and encebollado are the two specialties, which you can find at many places.

Stay safe
Look at individual city guides for more information. The coast and Ecuador in general are quite safe, but take normal precautions and use common sense. Don't wander around at dark in places you don't know are safe. In 2023 there have been increased incidents of crime aimed at the growing number of tourists here, often involving two people using a motorcycle as their get away vehicle. Be aware of your surroundings.

Go next

 * Andean Highlands
 * Peru
 * Colombia

title: Coastal Lowlands (Ecuador)


text:
Coastal Mauritania

Coastal Mauritania is a region of Mauritania.

Cities

 * - the capital of Mauritania
 * - large fishing centre and industrial harbor.

Understand
Coastal Mauritania extends the length of the approximately 754-kilometer-long Atlantic coastline.

Climate
Prevailing oceanic trade winds from the Canary Islands modify the influence of the harmattan, producing a humid but temperate climate. Rainfall here is minimal; in Nouadhibou it averages less than three centimeters annually and occurs between July and September. Temperatures are moderate, varying from mean maximums of 28°C and 32°C for Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, respectively, to mean minimums of 16°C and 19°C.

title: Coastal Mauritania


text:
Coastal Odisha

Coastal Odisha is one of the most visited places in Eastern India with pristine beaches and pilgrimage sites.

Cities

 * (Baleshwar) —

 * (Berhampur) — the Silk City

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * — famous for Balabhadra temple

 * (Konarak) — ruins of a massive sun temple

 * — the port city

 * (Jagannath Puri) — famous for Jagannath temple and vibrant beach, and the most popular tourist destination in Odisha

 * — coastal village, generally visited as part of Digha

Other destinations

 * —
 * — the second-largest lake in India

Understand
Coastal Odisha consists of the districts of Baleswar, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khordha and Puri.

Get in
Biiju Patnaik International Airport

title: Coastal Odisha


text:
Coastal Plain

There is more than one place called Coastal Plain:

Ghana

 * Ghanaian Coastal Plain - A region in Ghana.

Israel

 * Israeli Coastal Plain - A region in Israel.

United States of America

 * North Carolina Coastal Plain - A region in North Carolina, United States of America.

title: Coastal Plain


text:
Coast and Karst

The Coast and Karst region of Slovenia lies along the Adriatic coast and extends inland into the cave-dotted karst territory.

Cities

 * — close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Škocjan Caves
 * — picturesque settlement
 * — port
 * — home of the Lipizzaner horses
 * — picturesque settlement
 * — industrial port city with a Venetian old city
 * — port
 * — Beaches, casinos and package tourism
 * — Site of the gigantic Postojna caves
 * — picturesque clustered settlement
 * — Site of the gigantic Postojna caves
 * — picturesque clustered settlement
 * — picturesque clustered settlement

Other destinations

 * (Notranjska) — an area characterised by lakes, caves and wide plains

Understand
Ruled by Venice for five centuries, an Italian influence is clearly visible in the coastal towns of this picturesque area.

Talk
Italian is a second language in many coastal towns and is therefore widely understood.

By plane
The closest local airport is, near Portorož, which is the smallest of the 3 international airports in Slovenia. It has limited capacity and few international flights, with mostly domestic charter flights during the summer season.

The airport of Trieste in Italy,  will be a more convenient aerial entry point for travellers coming from outside Slovenia. Trieste has good connections with other European transport hubs such as Heathrow, Frankfurt, Munich, and Charles de Gaulle. There are also international connections outside the European Union.

The largest international airport in Slovenia is  near the capital Ljubljana, from where the coast can be reached by train on a very scenic route to Koper. Coach services connect all the cities and towns along the coast with Koper.

By bus
KOPER - there are frequent buses between Trieste and Koper (and on to Piran). Journey time is around 1 hour and the distance is about 20 km. There are also frequent buses and trains from Ljubljana (journey time around 2 hours, 90 km). NOVA GORICA - there are frequent buses between Gorizia (Italy) and its Slovenian counterpart (1 euro 3 cents, 10 minutes). Buses and trains head north towards Bled and Jesenice (5 euro, 2 hours). Buses and some trains are also quite frequent between the city and Ljubljana (8 euro, 2.5 hours). SEZANA - on weekdays there are 7 buses a day to/from Trieste (Italy) taking 25 minutes and costing 1 euro. Regular train and bus services run between Sezana and Ljubljana (7 euro, 2 hours)

See
Slovenia is rich in caves due to the wide limestone bedrock in the South West, the Coast and Karst that has given name to this particular topography. The Postojna Caves in Postojna is one of the largest cave systems in the world, containing 20 km of underground galleries, chambers and corridors. The Škocjan Caves, near Divača, are on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its natural and cultural significance.

Stay safe
With the exception of Koper, Sezana and Nova Gorica all of the settlements are very small and crime is virtually non-existent. In all parts crime is low when compared to all neighbouring countries. Most young people will speak very good English and coastal areas are usually bilingual (Slovene and Italian).

title: Coast and Karst


text:
Coast To Coast Walk

The Coast To Coast Walk (properly "A Coast To Coast Walk") is a 190-mile long-distance walking trail in England which crosses the North of England from St Bees in Cumbria on the West coast to Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire on the East coast.

Understand
The walk (known as the 'C2C') was created in 1972 by Alfred Wainwright, when, in response to the creation of the Pennine Way, he set about devising the best walk he could imagine in England. It has never been adopted as an official National Trail, though a campaign has begun, but is hugely popular, and once came second (after the Milford Track) in a poll among travel writers conducted by Country Walking magazine to find the finest walk in the world.

Along its route the walk passes through three National Parks: The Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors. The creator suggested walking from West to East in order to enjoy the best possible views, and to have any prevailing weather at your back rather than in your face.

The original guidebook was written in Wainwright's characteristic style of hand-written text and hand-drawn maps, in the same manner as his seminal Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells.

Prepare
The walk typically takes people two weeks to complete, longer if you adopt Wainwright's 'stop and stare' approach. You'll want a copy of the guidebook, maps, and suitable outdoor gear. The walk crosses through the mountains of the Lake District but generally keeps to the passes, apart from the occasional option to cross summits.

Walkers may split the walk in various ways to suit the distance they want to walk in a day, though the availability of accommodation may limit this. The author suggested breaking the walk into twelve days, which makes about 16 miles a day. Some find this a little too much for comfort and choose to have the odd rest day or a couple of short days, or even to take other transport as substitution for a day or two.

Get in
To St Bees.

By train

St Bees has a station on the Cumbrian Coast rail line. From the West Coast Main Line, change at Carlisle or Lancaster off the west Coast main line, or at Barrow-in-Furness. There are, as of 2013, 21 stopping passenger trains a day. The station is on the Main Street in the centre of the village, where there are three pubs within 5 minutes' walking. It is a 20-minute walk to the official start of the Coast to Coast walk at the main beach.

By car

Leave the M6 at junction 40 (Penrith) and head west along the A66 to Cockermouth, then south along the A5086 to Egremont. St Bees is a couple of miles to the west and will be signposted.

Walk
The walk starts at the seawall at the main beach in St Bees; there is a monument to mark this with an interpretation board. The scenery throughout is beautiful, but also varied, since you pass through a number of different types of landscapes. The start is a coastal walk, with cliffs, seabirds, and a lighthouse. Soon after heading inland you pass through the Lake District, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, which has a fantastic variety of landscapes. The northern part of the Yorkshire Dales is limestone country, then the Vale of Mowbray is lower-level terrain. The North York Moors are peaty moorlands, and finally you reach the sea once more at Robin Hood's Bay among the highest cliffs in England.

Eat
For some of days of the walk, there will be no pubs or cafés during the majority of the length of the day's walk; avail yourself of a packed lunch if staying in accommodation if the option is available.

Drink
The Falling Foss tea garden has tea and a playground for children. There are many cafés and public houses along the route, others very close by, that provide non-alcoholic refreshments, hot drinks and the usual range of beers.

Sleep
Your main options are Bed & Breakfast (with occasional youth hostel options) or camping (including a Mongolian yurt at one point). Many accommodation guides for the walk have been produced over the years. Doreen Whitehead's guide to accommodation on the 'C2C' is legendary with walkers.

Cope
An option to lighten the load is a daily baggage transfer service, such as pack horse or Sherpa Van, who will take your luggage to the next day's finish point for around £10 per bag.

Stay safe
Your main risks are keeping on track and route finding in low cloud, especially in the Lake District. The walk passes close to Seathwaite which has the highest recorded annual rainfall in England so if (when) it rains, having the right waterproofs and walking gear is important.

Go next
There are several other long distance walks in the United Kingdom.
 * The Pennine Way is a 268-mile walk in northern England.
 * Southern Upland Way is a 212-mile coast to coast walk in southern Scotland.
 * The Great Glen Way is a 73-mile walking and cycling route from coast to coast in northern Scotland.

title: Coast To Coast Walk


text:
Coatepec

Coatepec is in the central region of the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is recognized for its coffee production and for having a good climate for the cultivation of orchids.

Understand
Often called the capital of Coffee in Mexico, the name Coatepec comes from the Nahuatl coatl, serpent and tepetl, hill (The Hill where the Snakes are). This municipality has four small rivers: the Pixquiac, "Pintores", "Sordo" and Hueyapan; all going to "Pescados" ("La Antigua") river.

Buy

 * Mercado Bioregional Coatl (in the Casa de Cultura) offers organic and ecological products from the region.

Go next
Xalapa

Xico

Naolinco

title: Coatepec


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Coba

Cobá (pronounced koh-BAH, with the stress on the second syllable) is a large ruined city of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is about 90 km east of the Maya site of Chichen Itza, about 40 km west of the Caribbean Sea, and 44 km northwest of the site of Tulum, with which it is connected by a modern road.

Cobá is estimated to have had some 50,000 inhabitants (and possibly significantly more) at its peak of civilization, and the built up area extends over some 80 km². The site was occupied by a sizable agricultural population by about 300 BC. The bulk of Cobá's major construction seems to have been made in the middle and late Classic period, about 500 to 900, with most of the dated hieroglypic inscriptions from the 7th century. However Cobá remained an important site in the Post-Classic era and new temples were built and old ones kept in repair until at least the 14th century, possibly as late as the arrival of the Spanish. It was a transportation hub, the center of a network of roads called sacbeob connecting it to other Maya cities.

Cobá, like all archaeological sites in Mexico open to the public via INAH, is free to Mexican citizens on Sundays and national holidays.

Understand
Cobá is a well-explored and documented but lightly developed archaeological site deep in the Yucatan jungle. Temperatures are usually hot and humidity is often very high. Snack bars, shops, and a restaurant are located near the site entrance. Limited tourist services are available once inside the site, so plan to bring water, mosquito repellant, a hat, and sturdy shoes because the trails are not paved and the site is big.

Get in
You can drive to Cobá from Tulum (approx. 45 minutes). The 2-lane road passes through several small Mexican villages where you can stop for a bite to eat or to buy some local handicrafts. From Cancún or Playa del Carmen, take highway 307 south to Tulum, and then turn inland where marked.

There are several ADO buses every morning to Cobá from Cancún (3 hr), Playa del Carmen (2 hr) and Tulum (1 hr), and two each afternoon out again at 13:30 and 15:30. One direct bus to Tulum leaves at 15:11. Buses stop directly outside the park,a little restaurant besides the park entrance which doubles as the bus ticket office. From there the entrance is across the car park. In lake Coba you may see crocodiles on the lake shore, well below the road. The bus from Tulum to Cobá with Oriente leaves daily at 08:36, 11:36, 15:36, 18:37 for M$61 from ADO bus station.

Entrance to the park is M$100. Only cash is accepted, but there are ATMs and exchange offices on the square in front of the entrance.

Get around
The distance from the entrance to the main pyramid is over 2 km. Bicycles are available for rent for M$65 (July 2022), and bicycle rickshaws and drivers are available to take you throughout the site; using one or the other is a good idea. Note that tall visitors may have difficulty finding a bicycle of suitable height. Bicycles are not allowed onto the ruins themselves, so walking a short distance at each group of buildings is inevitable.

Local guides are available for walking or biking, and are extremely knowledgeable.

See
The site consists of a large complex of ruins, only a small portion of which have been cleared from the jungle and restored by archaeologists. The Nohuch Mul pyramid is 42 m (138 feet) high, and is the tallest Mayan structure in the Yucatan. There are several other buildings of interest including several temples, an ancient gallery of carved stellae, an astronomical observatory, and at least two ball courts.

The Iglesia is one of the first structures you come to as you hike (or bike) into the site. It is partially restored and visitors were once able to climb up its 75 steep stone steps, though since 2020, climbing the pyramids has been prohibited. The Iglesia had a platform at the top for ceremonial offerings and once had stucco friezes along the walls and staircases, though only traces of the painted stucco surfaces remain.

Architecturally, the site resembles some of the structures of Peten sites such as Tikal, particularly the high towers of the Nohuch Mul temple. Some of the temples show rounded corners, arches and elements that are reminiscent of sites such as Uxmal.

One of the most archaeologically interesting features of Cobá is the network of elevated roads that emanate out from the city towards other Mayan cities. These roads, called sacbeob ('sacbe' sing.), are thought to have been equivalent to an interstate highway system, enabling easy transportation throughout the Mayan world.

Buildings at Cobá are clustered in groups, such as the Grupo Cobá, Grupo Nohuch Mul, and Grupo las Pinturas.

The entrance fee for the site is M$100 (November 2022) There is a special visit on offer in the evenings for M$225.

Do
It is no longer permitted to climb the structures in the area.

Cenotes
Three cenotes are located about 3 km from the archaelogical site. Stop and take a swim in the underground pools for a refreshing Mayan way to cool off. Each cenote charges a nominal entrance fee. Rest rooms and changing areas are provided. Showers are required before swimming in the cenotes. The three cenotes are:
 * Multum-Ha
 * Tankach-Ha
 * Choo-Ha

Buy
There is a small pueblo near the ruins, with some restaurants and small shops selling local crafts. The Yucatan Maya are best known for their woven handcrafts, including hats, baskets, birdcages, and furniture. Small towns between Coba and Tulum have large numbers of weaving workshops that welcome visitors to see how weaving is done and to see the best selection of merchandise.

The best spot for artesanias on the road between Coba and Tulum is the small Mayan village of Francisco Uh May. The town has dozens of artisan workshops, most specializing in woven furniture and baskets, but several with carved wood decorative arts and locally woven cloth. There are also some spas, restaurants, and guest houses if you wanted to stay off the beaten path.

Eat
At the entrance to the ruins and at the Nohoc Mul group, cold beverages and snacks can be purchased.

 * El Bocadillo Restaurant in Cobá pueblo that also functions as bus station. Simple menu with tasty local dishes. Prices remarkably low given the advantage offered by ADO patronage at a tourist location.

Sleep
Several small hotels are available in the local pueblo, some within walking distance of the archaeological site.

Go next

 * Tulum
 * Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
 * Valladolid

title: Coba


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Cobalt

Cobalt is a town of 1,100 people (2016) in Northern Ontario. One of the "Tri-Towns" of the area, Cobalt chose to remain a separate town when Haileybury and New Liskeard to the north merged to become Temiskaming Shores.

Understand
Cobalt, like so many other mining towns when mining the ores became uneconomical, is a shadow of its former self.

Cobalt ores were found here in 1884, although it wasn't until 1904 when the town was named after the mineral. The boom times started in 1903 when high-grade silver was discovered, leading to the town's nickname "Silver City". By 1908, Cobalt was the single largest producer of silver and cobalt in the world, and the population was over 10,000. However, all booms eventually bust, and mining tapered off in the 1930s as gold was discovered further north (in Kirkland Lake and Timmins). There was a smaller boom in the 1950s, but the last mine closed in the 1980s.

However, there's still some cobalt in the ground here, and the early-21st-century appetite for the element in lithium-ion batteries might touch off another boom.

By car
Approaching from the south, take Highway 11 (Trans-Canada Highway) north from North Bay, and exit onto to Highway 11B north of Coleman. Approaching from the north, take Ontario Highway 11B (King Street) south from Temiskaming Shores. Winter driving can be a concern.

By bus

 * A bus route operates between North Bay and Timmins including stops in Temagami, Cobalt, Temiskaming Shores (Haileybury, New Liskard, Dymond), Kirkland Lake, and Matheson. Travel time to Cobalt from North Bay is 1.75 hours. Timed connection is available at Matheson from Cochrane.

Get around
The Temiskaming Transit bus service connects Cobalt to Temiskaming Shores from 6AM to 11:15PM, hourly on weekdays and Saturdays, every 2 hours Sundays, and no service on holidays. $3.50 per adult, $3.25 for a student or senior (55+), free for children (Sep 2021).

See
Cobalt has some run-down buildings that used to be stores. You could take pictures of yourself in front of them, but the doors are locked and nobody is home.

Cobalt has some old mineshafts from when the town started up. Tours are available in July and August.

Because it is so far north, many attractions are operated seasonally.

Sleep
Hotel/motel accommodation is available in Temiskaming Shores.

Camping is available locally.

Go next
North to Temiskaming Shores.

title: Cobalt


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Cobar

Cobar is a town of 4,000 people (2016) in the Northwestern New South Wales whose economy is based mainly upon base metals and gold mining. The town retains much of its colonial 19th-century architecture. The Towsers Huts, 3 km south of town but not accessible to the public, are ruins of very simple colonial dwellings from around 1870. The ancient Aboriginal rock paintings at Mount Grenfell are some of the largest and most important in Australia.

History
The name Cobar is derived from the Aboriginal Ngiyampaa word for copper, Kuparr, Gubarr or Cuburra, meaning 'red earth' or 'burnt earth', the ochre used in making body paint for Corroborees. The name also represents an Aboriginal attempt to pronounce the word 'copper'. Some of the most significant Aboriginal rock art in NSW is found within the Cobar Shire. The indigenous Ngiyampaa/Wangaapuwan traditions of this diverse bio-region are best represented in the rock art of Mount Grenfell, 40 km west of Cobar. Over 1,300 depictions of humans and animals, as well as hand stencils are found at this site.

Pastoralist settlers began to farm the area in the mid-1850s. One of these pastoralists, rescued a party of Aboriginal trackers from near-certain death in the early 1870s; in gratitude, they guided him to Australia's largest copper deposit. This led to settlements being founded with Australia's European and Asian gold rush immigrant arrivals. The Great Cobar Copper Mining Company Limited was established in 1878.

At its peak, Cobar had a population of 10,000. However, copper mining operations slowed in 1920, and by the 1930s the town's population had dropped to little over 1,000. In the 1980s, gold, silver, lead and zinc were discovered in the area, which led to a population increase.

By car
If you're coming from the NSW seaboard, the most direct way of getting to Cobar is via Dubbo, Nyngan, and the Barrier Highway. The Kidman Way passes through the town north-to-south, and can be used if you're coming from Queensland (via Bourke) or Victoria (via Griffith).

By bus
The Broken Hill coach service meets the Dubbo XPT and stops at Cobar.

By plane

The next closest airport would be Dubbo, from where rental cars are available.

Get around
It's hard to get lost in a town as small as Cobar, and you can see most of it in a couple of hours - at most - of walking. There is a taxi service (+61 2 6836 2684).

See

 * Several fine heritage buildings from the late 1880s/early 1900s settlement are still in existence, including the Great Western Hotel (1898), claimed to have the longest verandah (at 91 metres) in New South Wales, the Cobar Post Office (1885), the Cobar Court House (1887) and Court House Hotel (1895) in Barton Street, as well as the Cobar Heritage and Visitor Information Centre, in the former Mines Office (1910).
 * The town has an interesting mining museum on the highway at the eastern end of town. It covers much of the history of the town and its people, and will give you an idea of how hard life was when the first settlers arrived in the 19th century.
 * The local tourist office supplies a free walking tour map.
 * The local tourist office supplies a free walking tour map.
 * Cobar is home to the "Big Beer Can", which sits above the entrance to the Grand Hotel.
 * Fort Bourke Hill Lookout - Open daily 9AM-5PM - View Cobar township & landscape, open mine pit & entrance to underground mine from a viewing platform. The historic Towsers Huts are here as well. They are a series of stone miners' cottages dating back as early as the 1890s, possibly even the 1870s. They were built by an Italian miner, Antonio Tozzi. Use the sealed access road off Kidman Way south of Cobar.
 * Visits to mine sites may be arranged through the Cobar Heritage and Visitor Information Centre overlooking the open cut mine.

Do

Buy
Groceries:

Eat

 * Bob and Elaine's Bakery, just off the main road, opposite the park. The cream buns are recommended.

Sleep

Go next

 * Head a little east and you hit Dubbo, head a little west and you hit Broken Hill.

title: Cobar


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Cobb Island

Cobb Island is a small island and neighborhood at the end of the Cobb Neck in Southern Maryland. It is small, less than 1 sq mi (2.4 sq km) and has a population of about 900 people (2020).

Get in
Cobb Island lies at the southern end of the Cobb Neck in Charles County, Maryland. It is at the end of a dead-end two-lane road, Route 254. To get to Cobb Island, take Route 301 to Route 257 South. Then take a right turn at Route 254 South. Follow Route 254 over the small bridge to its end. You have reached Cobb Island. Cobb Island is not served by bus, train, or ferry service.

Get around
Cobb Island is a small community. It is easily walkable. Most of the island is residential housing.

See
The town of Cobb Island lies both on the island, and on Cobb Neck. The town is bisected by Neale Sound. Cobb Island is very scenic. There are still a number of watermen working out of Cobb Island, and their boats, along with a number of pleasure craft, can be seen tied up on Neale Sound.

Do
Cobb Island is basically a lunch or dinner destination from other parts of Southern Maryland or the Northern Neck of Virginia. There are no notable historical sites or landmarks in Cobb Island. There are several good sea food restaurants in town.

Sleep
There are no hotels or motels in Cobb Island. There are some vacation rentals available by the week (check your favorite vacation rental web site). The nearest motels are on US 301, about 15 miles away. There are chain motels in La Plata, north on US 301 and in Dahlgren, south on US 301 across the Harry Nice Bridge.

Go next

 * Drive across the Harry Nice bridge (toll) and visit the Northern Neck of Virginia
 * Visit Christ Church-William and Mary Parish in Wayside, about 10 miles (16 km) north of Cobb Island. Established in 1692, this is one of the oldest Episcopal churches in the United States.
 * Take a walking tour of Cobb Island.

title: Cobb Island


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Cobán

Cobán is a city of 212,000 people (2018) in the Alta Verapaz department of the Central Highlands region of Guatemala.

Understand
Cobán is located at an altitude of 1,320 m on the Caavon River coast in the Sierra de Caasanmac. It was built in 1543 by Dominic religious priests near the Mayan site, and its name comes from the name of Indian Chief Kobau.

The city has developed as a central city of northern Guatemala and is the center of the production of verapas coffee and cardamom (tropical crop with ginger). Other major products include coffee, bananas, cacao, vanilla, spices, grains, livestock, and economic goods (硬材). It is connected by rail and highway to Guatemala City, about 210 km south.

Built in the early 17th century, there is the Ercalvario Cathedral, and nearby Mayan sites have pyramids and friezes. There is a 60-meter-long natural bridge that runs through the Langkin River, a huge underground cave network (網) with stalagmites and stalactites, and crosses the Caavon Gorge, penetrating the Langkin River, where blind white fish live nearby.

As more than 650 types of orchids, flowers, cloud forests, lakes, caves, and waterfalls are preserved intact, the Koban region is a popular destination for researchers and tourists around the world. Every August, a festival is held in Cobán.

Get in
The most common way to get to Coban from Guatemala City, near Plaza Barrios, is using the Monja Blanca bus service from the capital, approximately four hours. There are also competitors, and more expensive shuttles. A ticket to Coban on the Monja Blanca costs about Q75 per person (Feb 2023).

The real magic is all the villages the spread all over, during the way all the mountains are covered with unbelievable village of the Mayan.

From the Western Highlands, regular microbuses run from Quiche to Sacapulas to Uspantin to Coban (you will probably have to change buses in each town). The road between Uspantin and Coban is only paved about half way, and has some rough stretches. Travel time (in 2010), including time spent waiting for buses, is about 6 hours from Quiche to Coban and 2.5 hours from Uspantan to Coban.

Get around
Coban is a relatively walkable city in terms of size (sidewalk conditions are horrible, however, and you should always assume that cars will take the right of way). For local destinations around Coban, there are buses that leave in front of Plaza Magdalena.

You can take a taxi almost anywhere around town for Q20 for something like 5 kilometers. Always get in the taxis that are marked with a taxi number on the door, the unmarked ones are not licensed to work as a taxi.

Another option is to take a bus (collectivo) that start from Cobán and finish at the nearest villages like Tactic, and San Francisco.

See
By walking on the street from the Parque Center to the terminal market you will feel the spirit of the Mayan. Workers from the village that surround Coban come to the city in the morning to work and leave afternoon.

The Main Cathedral at the town center.

Semuc Champey about two hours from Coban. There are private tours you can hire to get there that contains also visiting the Caves in lanquin. On 1 Avenida there are several tours guide.

You don't have to book tours or walk around with your nose buried in your LP guidebook to figure all this out. If you want to go to Semuc Champey, hop on a colectivo across from Plaza Magdalena (a big yellow shopping mall - everyone knows it, just ask) and go to Lanquín; get off there, hit up the dudes at El Zapote immediately to your right when you get off for a free ride down to Las Marias hostel, and pay Q15 for a mattress and Q15 for a tour.

Buy
Every Sunday there is a small crafts market in the center of town. Be sure to offer a lower price or ask what the sellers best price is. Same goes for the market behind the cathedral. Take a tour around and buy some of the local clothing. A Huipil, or women's woven and sometimes embroidered shirt can go for as much as Q500 (US$50) or more depending on the quality and detail of the work, so don't be surprised if it seems like a high price for a non-tailored shirt. More simple styles can be found for about Q100.

Eat
"De La Abuela" Hotel and restaurant serves traditional dishes and fresh seafood, but their specialty is the meatiest barbecue ribs in Guatemala. They have outdoor eating areas upstairs and downstairs surrounded by nature, the atmosphere and service are very friendly.

"Al Carbon d'Fiora" serves really good burgers as a local alternative to MacDonalds. It costs about Q25-Q30 for a burger and about Q60 for Churrasco (grilled steak). The food is really good and the place is hygienic although the atmosphere is nothing fancy. Fiora is on Calle Minerva a few blocks inward (toward downtown) from Plaza Magdalena.

Drink
Cobán has many cantinas where locals go to drink and get drunk for cheap. They can be found all over town, are usually associated with trouble, and are not usually very nice or clean. Most restaurants serve wine and beer and a few locally known cocktails but for a slightly higher price than the cantinas. Visitors should still be wary of activities at the discos even if they look nicer than the cantinas. In 2010 some women were reportedly raped in one of the nightclubs and there are many reports of women leaving having been drugged. That said, there are some nicer places to go out for a drink in town.

Sleep
Tourists tend to spend only a night or two in Coban. The most popular place to stay is Casa d'Acuna, which is a relatively inexpensive and reliable hostel. There are a number of other small hotels around the main plaza, though, most of which are comparable in price.

 * The newest hotel and restaurant De La Abuela sits on a hill on the main road as you enter Coban. Their bedrooms and bungalows can accommodate families and large groups.
 * La Paz Hotel is very pretty, relatively quiet, has a friendly staff and as much security as one could desire; single with private bath is Q45, a room for three with private bath cost Q110 (2012). Next to La Paz are the B&B Rooms, a dorm-type affair run by a Mexican-American; low prices, cool ambience. Stay away from the Hotel Familiar, which is filthy (Q25), and especially the Tourist Information Office, which is actually a hotel and restaurant which sells information you don't really need. There are other hotels away from the center but they're hardly worth hunting down for the prices.

Go next
Most buses and microbuses use the Talpetate bus terminal, which is about 1.5 km from the city centre, rather than the Monja Blanca station. Travel agencies and Casa d'Acuna will book shuttles.

The best tip is to ask the locals and try the locals way. They work very well and fast, of course it will be cheaper that the regular way.

title: Cobán


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Cobden

Cobden is a village in Southern Illinois nestled between the ridges of the Shawnee hills.

See

 * Shawnee Hills Wine trail: Numerous wineries all connected by a trail with Cobden in the center.

Do
There are many lakes, rivers, hiking trails, and camping areas:
 * Giant City State Park, inspiration point (overlook),
 * Oakwood Bottoms,
 * Trail of Tears State Park and Grand Tower Beach on the Mississippi River

title: Cobden