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Gateway

The Gateway, in northeastern New Jersey, encompasses the six most urban counties in the state that are part of the sprawling metropolitan area of New York City. It is culturally, geographically and racially/ethnically diverse, home to the state's largest cities and some of its most affluent suburbs.

Cities

 * , which was the original though short-lived capital of the state, has a bustling midtown, an 18th-century historic district, a huge IKEA, and Jersey Gardens mega-mall located south of Newark Airport.
 * , named for Thomas Edison, with a growing suburban Chinatown and a large Indian community.
 * — a residential community across the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan that has a strong Korean-American presence.
 * — Tree-lined streets with well-preserved brownstones typify this former dockworkers' town on the Hudson. Millenials are taking over Hoboken's old Italian and Irish neighborhoods, but the city still has the highest number of bars per square mile in the country! Birthplace of Frank Sinatra and the location of the world's first recorded baseball game.
 * — New Jersey's second largest and most diverse city, directly across from Lower Manhattan. A city of distinct neighborhoods, it is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, across from Liberty State Park.
 * — New Jersey's largest city hosts the NJ Performing Arts Center, Prudential Center (a sports/concert venue opened in 2008), Newark Museum, the nation's second biggest Cherry Blossom Festival.
 * — Home of Rutgers University, it has historically been a college town but is also becoming a popular commuter town for Millennials.
 * — The third largest city in state was founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1791 beginning the industrial revolution in America, as seen around the many mills and factories around the Great Falls of the Passaic. Lambert Castle, on Garret Mountain, is a restored mansion museum in a state park. A downtown rebuilt after a big fire at the turn of the century is lively and Latin.
 * — The third largest city in state was founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1791 beginning the industrial revolution in America, as seen around the many mills and factories around the Great Falls of the Passaic. Lambert Castle, on Garret Mountain, is a restored mansion museum in a state park. A downtown rebuilt after a big fire at the turn of the century is lively and Latin.

See

 * The Great Falls in Paterson is the tallest waterfall in New Jersey
 * The Newark Museum has 80 galleries of art and science, a mini zoo, planetarium, a schoolhouse from the 1780s, and a restored 1885 mansion that is a National Historic Landmark
 * Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange near Maplewood
 * Fort Lee Historic Park has Revolutionary War re-enactments, breathtaking views of the GW Bridge, the Little Red Light House, and views of the Hudson River and majestic city skyline
 * Thomas Edison National Historic Park in West Orange near East Orange
 * Field Station Dinosaurs near Fort Lee in Leonia
 * The Hermitage Museum in Ho-Ho-Kus near Ridgewood
 * Lambert Castle in Paterson
 * Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park in Edison
 * Liberty Science Center in Jersey City's Liberty State Park hosts the largest planetarium in the Americas
 * South Mountain Reservation in West Orange, near Maplewood
 * The American Labor Museum in Haledon near Paterson.
 * Metlar Bodine House Museum in Piscataway, near Maplewood
 * Perth Amboy City Hall is America's oldest municipal building, and where New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.

Do

 * Richard Dekorte Park and Medieval Times in Lyndhurst near Rutherford
 * Liberty State Park in Jersey City is known for its views of New York, and a historic railroad terminal.
 * Branch Brook Park near East Orange has the largest collection of cherry blossoms in the United States.
 * The Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford is made up of the Meadowlands Racetrack, the MetLife Stadium, and the Izod Center which hosts games and concerts annually. Home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.

Eat
There are several ethnic enclaves in the Gateway where the cuisine of its residents can be had in an authentic (as well as touristic) way. They include India Square and Little Manila in Jersey City, the Ironbound, a Portuguese neighborhood in Newark, and Bergenline in Union City, where Cuban and other Latin American cultures are concentrated. A large Korean community in the towns near the George Washington Bridge create a sort of suburban Koreatown, while the growing Chinese population in Edison has brought many restaurants with it.

A North Jersey tradition is the diner, many of which are open 24 hours, and offer breakfast and blue-plate specials.

Go next
Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Jersey Shore and Long Island beaches, Skylands, Princeton/Trenton, and the Hudson Valley are all easy day-trips or over-nighters, mostly do-able with public transportation.

title: Gateway


text:
Gateway Cities (Los Angeles County)

The largely suburban and industrial Gateway Cities of Los Angeles County in Southern California make up the southeastern portion of the county, lying between the City of Los Angeles proper and the border of the county with Orange County.

Cities

 * - Noted for a large ethnic Indian population, one of the largest in the country, with many Indian grocers, shops, and restaurants.
 * Bell
 * - Home to an architecturally interesting library.
 * - A local commercial center home to a casino and a large outlet mall.
 * - A predominately Hispanic and African-American inner city suburb, equal parts famed as the heart of the West Coast rap scene and notorious for gangs and violent crime.
 * - Home to the world's oldest McDonalds and a couple of small museums.
 * - The second-largest city in the Los Angeles area, home to the Gateway Cities' only major tourist attractions: the Queen Mary, the Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums, and a large harbor with a cruise ship terminal and ferries to Catalina Island.
 * Montebello
 * Paramount
 * South Gate
 * - A pleasant suburb on the hills above the basin to the north, with a number of historic buildings and museums.
 * Montebello
 * Paramount
 * South Gate
 * - A pleasant suburb on the hills above the basin to the north, with a number of historic buildings and museums.
 * South Gate
 * - A pleasant suburb on the hills above the basin to the north, with a number of historic buildings and museums.
 * South Gate
 * - A pleasant suburb on the hills above the basin to the north, with a number of historic buildings and museums.

Get in
Several freeways cut through the area, the most prominent being I-5, which cuts in a northwest-southeast direction through the northern portion of the region between Orange County and Downtown L.A. To the south, I-105, CA-91, and I-405 all pass east-west through the Gateway Cities, with the 405 cutting across Long Beach. Major north-south freeways are I-710, which travels north from Downtown Long Beach up through several of the Gateway Cities to East L.A., and I-605, which links the region to the San Gabriel Valley.

The Gateway Cities are directly served by a single major airport, the Long Beach Airport, which is primarily served by JetBlue with limited service via American and Delta Air Lines. LAX to the west is served by more airlines and is a major international hub.

Rail service in the area is limited in scope, but does exist. The Metro Rail Blue Line serves Compton and Long Beach from Downtown L.A., with stops in Downtown Long Beach close to the city's major attractions. The Metro Rail Green Line runs east-west along I-105, stopping in Lynwood, Downey, and Norwalk, with a transfer to the Blue Line in South Central L.A. The region-wide Metrolink service has stops in Commerce and Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs, although that service is primarily geared towards local commuters.

Get around
Driving is the primary means of getting around the region, giving the sprawling nature of the Gateway Cities and the long distances between destinations. Several freeways cut through the region and there is a strong grid pattern of major surface streets. Bus service in the area is provided by several overlapping transit agencies, the primary ones being the county-wide Metro agency, Long Beach Transit in and around Long Beach, and Montebello Bus Lines in Montebello, Whittier, and surrounding communities.

Stay safe
Many of these cities are near South Central Los Angeles, and can be very dangerous, especially Compton. This area is prone to gang violence, and some of these cities are dangerous to walk alone in even during the daytime.

Go next

 * Orange County lies to the south and east, home to famous surfing beaches and the popular amusement parks of Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm.
 * The South Bay region is to the west and contains the Los Angeles Harbor, beaches, and the seaside cliffs of Palos Verdes.
 * Downtown Los Angeles is northwest off of I-5 and holds many attractions for visitors, including where the city was founded, historic buildings, and contemporary architecture.

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

title: Gateway Cities (Los Angeles County)


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Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway National Recreation Area is a national recreation area in Metro New York. This 26,607 acre (107.67 km²) park has four separate areas located in three boroughs of New York City and on Sandy Hook in central New Jersey.

Understand
The National Park Service administers Gateway in four units:
 * Jamaica Bay Unit includes much of the coastline below Shore Parkway (also known as Belt Parkway) between Plum Beach and JFK International Airport, including Floyd Bennett Field.
 * Breezy Point Unit on the western end of Rockaway Peninsula and including Fort Tilden and Jacob Riis Park.
 * Staten Island Unit, Ft. Wadsworth, Miller Field and Great Kills sections on Staten Island's south shore.
 * Sandy Hook Unit, the northern end of the barrier peninsula of the same name.

History
Gateway was established on October 27, 1972 as the country's first urban national park. Jamaica Bay had been developed as a wildlife refuge by the New York City Parks Department beginning in the early 1950s with the creation of two large ponds and the planting of trees, shrubs and grasses. This excellent and extensive refuge is combined in Gateway NRA with much military history.

Floyd Bennett Field is significant in the history of civil and military aviation. It was New York City's first municipal airport. Floyd Bennett Field as Naval Air Station New York defended the nation and its ships from 1941 to 1971. Fort Tilden is the last of a long line of fortifications that stood on the Rockaway peninsula, ready to defend the United States from attack from the sea and air. The site witnessed the use of the most technologically advanced weaponry of the period including smooth-bore cannons, 16-inch naval rifles, and anti-aircraft missiles.

Jacob Riis Park was the site of Rockaway Naval Air Station, significant for its relationship to the famous NC-4 crossing of the Atlantic. This historic crossing changed commercial aviation.

Fort Wadsworth, important military high ground since the 1600s, was the oldest continuously used military site in the country when closed in 1994. Still used by the Coast Guard today it displays remnants of old fortifications.

Miller Field gained recognition as an airfield during World War I. Today the Elm Tree Light and an airplane hangar are all that remain, but dozens of athletic fields provide recreational opportunities.

Fort Hancock's guns and missile defenses and Sandy Hook Light also had a part in defending New York Harbor.

Landscape
Estuary, salt marsh and coastal upland wildlife sanctuary, ocean beaches, barrier beach peninsulas, airstrip, historical military fortifications.

Flora and fauna
As the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge area (over 9,000 acres) has been managed as a sanctuary for decades, it is teeming with wildlife. Maps, guides, trail brochures and display rooms are available in the Visitor Center. Park Rangers give interpretive talks and lead nature walks year-round. Trails, benches, blinds and gardens provide "habitat" for human visitors. In 1980 a butterfly reserve was set aside and planted with attractant plants. Native species of frogs and peepers have been reintroduced. Egrets, heron, ibis and other waterfowl abound in the salt marshes. Tree swallows, kestrels, wrens, osprey, and a large population of barn owls also have been encouraged. In all, over 325 species of birds have been recorded here. All the usual shoreline and coastline suspects such as crabs, mollusks, and turtles are found here, too.

Reed grasses, beach grasses and native meadow plants such as bayberry and milkweed are found here as well. The "Upland Trail", in particular, explores some of the bushes and trees such as the Autumn Olive, Hackberry, Japanese Black Pine, Tree of Heaven, Eastern White Pine, Black Cherry, European Alder, Gray Birch, Sassafras, Holly and others.

Climate

 * Northern coastal temperate. Temperatures range from usual highs of 80 to 90°F (27 to 32°C) during the summer, to usual lows of 10 to 20°F (-7 to -12°C) in winter.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By plane

 * John F. Kennedy International Airport, Queens. Right nearby the Jamaica Bay area.
 * LaGuardia in Queens.
 * Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark.

By subway or train
Directions from National Park Service website :
 * Floyd Bennett Field, Jacob Rills Park/Fort Tilden: Take the (2) train, (the (5) is also an option on weekdays) to Brooklyn College-Flatbush Avenue, transfer to the Q35 bus to park. Ask driver to let you off at the main entrance.
 * Canarsie Pier: (L) train to Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway, then transfer (free) to the B42 bus to the entrance of the pier.
 * Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge: (A) train or the Rockaway Park Shuttle to Broad Channel Station. Proceed by walking on Noel Road to Cross Bay Boulevard, turn right and walk about three quarters of a mile to the Refuge Visitor Center.
 * Miller Field Train: Take the Staten Island Railway at Staten Island Ferry Terminal to new Dorp Station, then S76 bus to Miller Field.
 * Sandy Hook Train: New Jersey Transit's (Phone: +1-800-772-2222, ) North Jersey Coast Line to Red Bank, then NJT Bus 834 to Highlands. Buses drop off at or near entrance to Sandy Hook - no transportation onto the hook.

By bus
Directions from National Park Service website :
 * Floyd Bennett Field Connect with the Q35 on Flatbush Avenue at the corner of Nostrand, Kings Highway, Fillmore Ave. or Avenue U (Kings Plaza). Ask the drive to let you off at the main entrance.
 * Jacob Riis Park/Fort Tilden Connect with the Q35 on Flatbush Avenue at the corner of Nostrand, Kings Highway, Fillmore Ave. or Avenue U (Kings Plaza). After the bridge, ask driver to let you off at either Ft. Tilden or Riis Park. Alternate: Q21 or Q53 to Beach 116th Street, then Q22 or Q35 to the park.
 * Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Green Bus Line Q21 from Liberty Avenue (Queens) or 116th Street (Rockaway) to the Visitors Center; or the Q53 bus from 61st Street & Roosevelt Avenue (Queens) to the Visitors Center.
 * Miller Field S76 from Staten Island Ferry Terminal to New Dorp Lane and entrance to Miller Field.
 * Great Kills Park S78 from Staten Island Ferry Terminal, X1 from Manhattan, or the S79 from 95th Street at 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, to the park entrance.
 * Fort Wadsworth S51 or S81 Limited from Staten Island Ferry Terminal to the park entrance on Bay Street. Some trips also run through park grounds, and make stops within park property.
 * Sandy Hook New Jersey Transit Bus 834 stops near the park entrance. Phone +1-800-772-2222, . Academy Lines operates direct from New York City to Highlands. Phone +1 732-291-1300 or +1-800-242-1339 for schedule.

By boat

 * Seastreak, . Daily ferry service between Manhattan (Pier 11 & East 34th Street) and Highlands, NJ. Once at Sandy Hook, onsite school buses take passengers to beaches.

By car
Directions from the National Park Service Site:
 * Floyd Bennett Field Belt Parkway to Exit 11S; take Flatbush Avenue south to the main entrance.
 * Jacob Riis Park/Fort Tilden Belt Parkway to Exit 11S, then Flatbush Avenue south across the Marine Parkway Bridge to the park. Alternate: Woodhaven Boulevard to Cross Bay Boulevard then west on Beach Channel Drive to the park.
 * Canarsie Pier Belt Parkway to Exit 13, Rockaway Parkway.
 * Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Belt Parkway to Exit 17, Cross Bay Boulevard. Proceed south on Cross Bay Boulevard across the north Channel Bridge. The refuge visitor center is about 1 mile past the bridge at the traffic light.
 * Miller Field Verrrazano Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn or the Goethals Bridge from New Jersey to the Staten Island Expressway (Rt. 278); take the Hylan Boulevard exit. Proceed south on Hylan Boulevard and turn east on New Dorp Lane for Miller Field.
 * Great Kills Park Verrrazano Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn or the Goethals Bridge from New Jersey to the Staten Island Expressway (Rt. 278); take the Hylan Boulevard exit. Proceed south on Hylan Boulevard to the Great Kills Park entrance.
 * Fort Wadsworth Verrazano narrows Bridge from Brooklyn: after toll, take the Bay Street exit to the park entrance; or Staten Island Expressway (Rt. 278) east to the Bay Street exit. Turn left at the light and follow this road to Bay Street and the park entrance.
 * Sandy Hook Garden State Parkway to Exit 117 then follow Route 36 east for 12 miles to park entrance.

Fees and permits

 * Gateway has no entrance fees. However, beach parking fees are charged at Sandy Hook (+1 732-872-5970) and Jacob Riis Park (+1 718-318-4300) during the summer. Day and annual passes are available.
 * Fishing permit, $50 Annual fee. There are fees for parking in fishing lots at all Gateway sites. Permits are available at Gateway Visitor Centers/Ranger Stations.

Staten Island
This area is on the south shore of Staten Island.

Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook is extremely popular in summer with more than 5,000 visitors on beach days. Parking is $10 per car ($50 per season). Arrive early (or late) to be sure of a parking spot. Open dawn to dusk. No pets. Food concessions are available. Alcohol is allowed on this Federal park, unlike most New Jersey beaches. Clothing optional areas are marked.

Do

 * Beach activities: swimming, sailing, surfing and fishing.
 * Learning about ecosystems and their relationship to city life.
 * Bird watching, beach clean-ups and nature talks.
 * Hiking and cycling.
 * Touring historic military sites.
 * Gardening, photography and poetry readings.
 * Opera, symphony, and contemporary music and cultural festivals.
 * Organized athletics: soccer, football, baseball, tennis and cricket.

Eat

 * There are concessions at Sandy Neck. Some visitor centers have picnic areas and vending. Food may not be brought into the Wildlife Refuge trails.

Backcountry

 * There are no backcountry areas. A large section of Jamaica Bay is a wildlife refuge that is off-limits to hikers.

title: Gateway National Recreation Area


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Gatineau

Gatineau is a city in the Outaouais region of Quebec, on the north shore of the Ottawa River, across from Canada's capital, Ottawa. It is part of the official National Capital Region which constitutes the fourth largest urban area in the country, after Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. With 291,041 inhabitants in 2021, it is the largest city in the administrative region of Outaouais. Gatineau straddles the Gatineau River, a tributary of the Ottawa River.

Understand
Gatineau (municipality) is a city resulting from the amalgamation of the older cities of Gatineau, Hull, Aylmer, Masson-Angers and Buckingham. The old city names are still used as the sector names of the amalgamated Gatineau. The majority of Hullois and Gatinois are francophones, and most are bilingual.

Hull (population 65,000) is the original centre of the city, the most densely-populated (but not most populous) area in the Outaouais region and the closest to Ottawa. On the west bank of the Gatineau River and north of the Ottawa (Outaouais) River, Hull is directly opposite Parliament Hill, Lowertown Ottawa and the Byward Market.

Hull was founded 1800 by Philemon Wright as a lumber camp on the Ottawa River and therefore predates Ottawa, although the town's former principal industry of manufacturing matchsticks led to a major fire; little or nothing from the 1800s remains in Hull today. The downtown waterfront was once heavily industrialized by Scott and Eddy, the two main paper makers, and the Ottawa river was used to generate hydroelectric power. The city's largest employer is the federal government with 20,000 civil servants working in Hull and thousands more who commute to Ontario daily.

Aylmer is a small-town suburb directly west of Hull. Gatineau (secteur), the bedroom community for which the amalgamated municipality was named, is to the east of the Gatineau River. Further downriver is Buckingham, a small rural village. Head further afield and one quickly finds open farmland and the occasional maple sugar shack, a seasonal tradition where trees are tapped and sap distilled to produce Québec's famous maple syrup.

Head north from Hull and one quickly arrives in Gatineau Park; the Camp Fortune and Edelweiss ski areas are also north of the city, near Chelsea and Wakefield respectively.

Get in
Gatineau is just across the river from Ottawa, which is on the Trans-Canada Highway and offers rail connections to Toronto-Kingston and Montréal. An autoroute connects Gatineau directly to Montréal (A-50).

By bus

 * From Ottawa by city bus:

By plane

 * Air connections are also available in Ottawa locally and Montréal (200 km distant)  with direct connections to intercity passenger rail at Montréal-Dorval airport.
 * Air connections are also available in Ottawa locally and Montréal (200 km distant)  with direct connections to intercity passenger rail at Montréal-Dorval airport.

By bus
Gatineau's transit system is the. It operates service to Ottawa and a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, Rapibus. Single ride is $4.50.

By bike

 * There is an extensive network of bike paths throughout the area as well as in the National parks. Enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty while exercising. Long time advocacy group Bike Ottawa (since 1984) maintains an extensive website with a set of interactive bicycle route maps that rate all bicycle routes through Gatineau and Ottawa on a 1-4 scale, with 1 being child-friendly and 4 being very stressful. They also make available information on infrastructure progress. Contact them also with questions about routes, concerns and popular destinations. Although it is a volunteer-run organisation, they are usually fairly fast in responding. #ottbike is the commonly used hashtag on social media.

See

 * Grand Hall, Level 1. The world's largest collection of totem poles, quite an amazing sight when all assembled together.
 * Canada Hall, Level 3. A very well done and surprisingly interesting presentation of Canadian history, with countless life-sized walk-through exhibits and recreations of villages, towns and cities at different stages.
 * Canada Hall, Level 3. A very well done and surprisingly interesting presentation of Canadian history, with countless life-sized walk-through exhibits and recreations of villages, towns and cities at different stages.

Festivals
Gatineau shares several activities and festivals with the capital, Ottawa. These include the Ottawa Bluesfest and the Winterlude (Bal de Neige) winter festival. In 2001, les jeux de la Francophonie were hosted jointly by Ottawa and Hull.

Speciality and seasonal
The érablière, cabane à sucre or maple sugar shack is a seasonal tradition across a wide region extending from southeastern Ontario to Québec's Eastern Townships. With rare exception, these are found in the countryside near tiny rural villages. Local maple syrup is produced seasonally; the sap begins to flow early during the spring thaw and is collected for distillation. This places the start of the season at the mercy of the elements, although there is usually fresh syrup to be had in late March or early April - usually before the last of the snow is gone. Maple sugar shacks are typically large rural communal dining halls in which diners fill up on a dietician's nightmare of traditional high-calorie lumberjack food, cost starts around $20/person but varies as some venues offer entertainment, "tire sur neige" (maple toffee on snow) or sled rides. Once the season ends, many of these venues close or are used for other agritourism activity - an open field often becomes a summer campground.

Drink
Québec has traditionally had less restrictive liquor laws than nearby Ontario: minimum drinking age is 18, beer and wine are available in corner stores and the rules on opening hours for bars are less restrictive. The Promenade du Portage area in the Hull sector city centre is known to attract rowdy, drunken patrons from across the Ottawa River.

Go next

 * Gatineau Park is a 10-minute drive north from downtown Hull, near Chelsea.
 * Ottawa, Canada's Capital, is directly across the Ottawa River.
 * Wakefield is a small, picturesque, artist village about a 25-minute drive north on highway 5.

title: Gatineau


text:
Gatineau Park

Gatineau Park is the outdoor playground for Canada's National Capital Region (Ottawa and Gatineau). It offers amazing possibilities for outdoor recreation, within a 20-minute drive of either city. This includes: skiing (cross-country and downhill), hiking, canoeing, camping, rock-climbing, mountain biking, roller-blading, wildlife watching and leisurely strolls.

Understand
Gatineau Park is a wedge of land extending north and west from the city of Gatineau. Most of the town of Chelsea is in the park. The main entrance to the park is 4 km north of downtown Ottawa. It remains the only federal park that is not a national park. The National Capital Commission manages the park, not Parks Canada. The park's area has a long history of human inhabitation and usage predating the arrival of European settlers. Before it became a park, it was used for farming, logging, hunting, and industrial activity.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Gatineau Park starts within the city of Gatineau, in the Hull and Aylmer sectors.

To get to the Visitor Centre, take Quebec Autoroute 5. From Ottawa, it is 16 km: take the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge from Lower Town, which leads on Autoroute 5.

If you're not going to the visitor centre, you can get into the park on the Gatineau Parkway, which runs north from Alexandre-Taché Boulevard on the west side of downtown Hull.

The STO (Gatineau bus system/blue and white) has buses that run from downtown Ottawa to the southern edge of the park (34 & 59) and the eastern edge (31).

See

 * The fall colours when the leaves turn to bright yellow, red and orange and the hills seem to be on fire. The colours peak late October. Although they are spectacular throughout the park, one of the best views is from the base of the Eardley Escarpment at the
 * Mining remains can be found all around the Gatineau park. Off the path of the Pink lake, there is another path going east and many holes and closed caves can be found were mica was once extracted. Most of the holes have fences around them for safety reasons. Closer to the Chemin de la Mine close to the intersection of Hautes-Plaines Blv, there is another path that brings you to foundation remains of were old buildings used to stand many years ago. There is also a small wagon that can be found in that vicinity that was left there when mining was abandoned.
 * The village of Wakefield, Quebec isn't inside the Gatineau park, but it is nearby and worth the visit. It is on the shore of the Gatineau River and has neat little shops and cafés.
 * The
 * Wildlife: Gatineau Park provides a habitat for many species of birds, including the pileated woodpecker and common loon. Turkey vultures and migrating hawks may be observed soaring on the thermals above the Eardley Escarpment. The park is also home to a large population of beavers and white-tailed deer, as well as black bears and two wolf packs in the more remote sections.
 * The village of Wakefield, Quebec isn't inside the Gatineau park, but it is nearby and worth the visit. It is on the shore of the Gatineau River and has neat little shops and cafés.
 * The
 * Wildlife: Gatineau Park provides a habitat for many species of birds, including the pileated woodpecker and common loon. Turkey vultures and migrating hawks may be observed soaring on the thermals above the Eardley Escarpment. The park is also home to a large population of beavers and white-tailed deer, as well as black bears and two wolf packs in the more remote sections.

Do
The park offers a wide variety of outdoor activities. Two very good maps are available that show the network of trails for both summer activities (biking, hiking, beach access) and winter sports (cross-country skiing, snowshoeing). The maps can be bought at the Capital Infocentre at 90 Wellington Street in Ottawa or the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre, at 33 Scott Road, Chelsea. They are also available at the right time of year on the park website [link below]

Beaches
There are many lakes in the park with beaches where you can go for a swim and a picnic. They tend to be crowded on hot weekend days.

 * Although the practice is not permitted in the park, some of the more secluded corners are popular with nudists. In particular there is an unofficial nude beach northwest of parking lot P11 on trail 36; the beach is extensively used by members of Ottawa's gay community.

Canoeing
There's lots of great canoeing in Gatineau Park, on any of the lakes listed above, or some of the rivers surrounding the park (Ottawa River, Gatineau River). Canoes can be rented at Philippe Lake.

Hiking and mountain biking
The park is packed with excellent hiking trails. Everything from a 20-minute leisurely stroll in the woods, to all day hikes through valleys, across streams and around lakes. A trail map is a great help to help you navigate the wealth of trails available. The classic guide to the trails is Historical Walks - The Gatineau Park Story by Katherine Fletcher. This book also contains historical information about early settlers and how the park developed.

There are 165 km of hiking trails and 90 km of trails for mountain bikes and the Trans-Canada Trail passes through the park. The park is also popular with cyclists where many routes are quite steep and very demanding on legs, heart and lungs.]

Skiing and snowshoeing

 * Cross-country skiing is one of the park's main recreational activities. Nearly 200 km of cross-country trails criss-cross the park, which hosts the annual Gatineau Loppet ski race (formerly known as Keskinada Loppet).

Other
During the summer months, Camp Fortune offers an aerial experience including ziplines and treetop obstacles.

Eat
There are very few places inside the park that sell food. However, the villages of Wakefield and Chelsea close to the Philippe and Meech Lake areas of the park offer excellent dining options.

Budget
There are three places to camp in the park, including 260 campsites for tents, trailers and motorhomes at Philippe, Renaud and Taylor lakes, and 11 ready-to-camp units (yurts, four-season tents and cabins), equipped with beds, wood stove and cooking surface. Campground amenities include comfort stations, laundry facilities, dry toilets, water taps, convenience store, beaches, boat rental. Services vary by sector.

 * Philippe Lake has a broad range of sites going from walking (short walk) sites for tents only to full-service sites for RVs.
 * Taylor Lake a small and quiet campground for tents only. Most sites have access to the lake.
 * La Pêche Lake has 33 canoe camping sites.

Prices (taxes excluded, June 2019):
 * Unserviced campsite: $35.60 per night
 * Ready-to-camp unit: from $90.00 per night

The summer season runs from mid-May to mid-October. Reservations can be made on line.

Mid-range
The nearby villages of Chelsea and Wakefield have inns and bed and breakfasts which are reasonably priced.

Go next

 * As above, Wakefield, Quebec is nearby and worth a visit.

title: Gatineau Park


text:
Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg is a resort town located in eastern Tennessee. It is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Downtown Gatlinburg may come as somewhat of a shock for those on their way to a nature getaway in the national park — from the Space Needle to the amusement rides, the town hasn't necessarily chosen to embrace its "nature" side. That said, there is plenty of lodging, restaurants, and other amenities to make this town a useful base for exploring the park.

Understand
The town's development is closely tied to that of the national park, which was opened in 1934. While in 1912 the town had only six houses, by 1935 over 500,000 visitors were passing through the town each year, and today over 9 million people each year visit the park. The town, which has a permanent population of only 3,900 people (2019), grew quickly to accommodate the influx, but has had to deal with issues of urban sprawl and air quality as a result of the huge numbers of outsiders that pass through. Gatlinburg is a typical tourist town, with many attractions and quirky shops lining the Parkway.

By car
Gatlinburg is best reached by the north by taking I-40 to Tennessee Route 66 south. Follow Tennessee Route 66 to US 441 in Sevierville and follow US 441 through Pigeon Forge and into Gatlinburg.

From the west, Gatlinburg can be reached by either US 441 (from Knoxville) or US 411 and US 321 (from Maryville, TN).

From the south, US 441 passes through the heart of the Smokies, bringing in traffic from Cherokee, NC. It is about 35 miles from Cherokee to Gatlinburg, but the high volume of tourist traffic on the road can make the trip at least an hour long.

From the east, US 321 brings in traffic directly from I-40 coming in from North Carolina.

Gatlinburg is a very popular resort town, which can be a nightmare for drivers during the peak summer months, especially on weekends. If you are headed to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park it is best to use the Gatlinburg Bypass to avoid the traffic delays. Once you are in town, there are several short cuts to get you through town and off the main drag!

Get around
Gatlinburg offers a trolley that takes tourists around the town without fighting the traffic. There are several park-and-ride locations: the Gatlinburg Visitor Center has free parking and access to the purple route; the Gatlinburg Mass Transit Center (located behind the Ripley's Aquarium) offers pay parking and access to all trolley routes. The Gatlinburg Bypass allows traffic heading into the National Park from the north to bypass the Gatlinburg business district. There are scenic vistas along this road as well.

See
Most visitors to Gatlinburg are here due to the close proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the surrounding outdoor adventures, but for those who want to escape from nature there are a vast number of attractions in town, ranging from interesting to educational to tacky & bizarre.

Do
Visitors to town will likely spend their days in Great Smoky Mountains National Park enjoying activities such as hiking along the Appalachian Trail, but for those looking for adventure rides, arcades, water parks, or other diversions there is plenty to choose from in town.

Festivals and events

 * March-June Smoky Mountain Springfest
 * April 12 White Blaze Day benefiting The Appalachian Trail Conservancy ~ held in the parking lot of The Happy Hiker from 10am - 6pm. Free live Blue Grass, lots of food, - all proceeds benefits The Appalchian Trail Conservancey (the folks that maintain the AT).
 * Mid April Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Easter Show
 * Mid April Ribfest & Wings
 * Late April Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
 * Mid May  Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Games
 * Mid May  Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival
 * Early July  4th of July Midnight Parade
 * Early July  River Raft Regatta
 * September 1-December 31 Old Fashined Hayrides
 * Mid September-Late October  Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival
 * Late September  Taste of Autumn
 * Early October  Gatlinburg Heritage Days
 * Early-Mid October  Gatlinburg Craftmen's Fair
 * November-February  Smoky Mountain Winterfest
 * Early November  Winterfest Kickoff & Chili Cookoff
 * Early November-Late December  Gatlinburg Trolley Ride of Lights
 * November 11  Veterans Day Celebration
 * Late November  Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Holiday Show
 * November-December  Old Fashioned Hayrides
 * December 1  Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
 * Early December  Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Christmas Show
 * December 31  New Years Eve Ball Drop and Pyrotechnic Show

Sleep
Gatlinburg has an abundance of accommodations to choose from. Lodging is also available in the nearby towns of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.

Campgrounds

 * Leconte Vista RV Park & Campground 1739 Parkway.
 * Leconte Vista RV Park & Campground 1739 Parkway.

Go next
To the north, Pigeon Forge offers a wide array of shops and attractions including Dollywood. To the south, across the Great Smoky Mountains, the town of Cherokee is an interesting Indian village and casino gambling.

title: Gatlinburg


text:
Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is London's second-busiest airport by passenger numbers (after Heathrow), and serves the south-east of the United Kingdom. It is a hub for British Airways, easyJet and TUI Airways.

Understand
It has been licensed as an aerodrome since 1930. Gatwick used to be regarded as Heathrow's overflow, but has carved out its own identity, a process which accelerated when its parent (which also owned Heathrow) was forced to sell Gatwick to a new owner.

The airport is undergoing extensive renovation, and is the world's busiest single-runway airport. There are plans to add a second runway.

The airport has two terminals: North Terminal and South Terminal. The terminals are connected by a 1.21-km two-way automated people mover system.

One interesting feature of Gatwick is that part of the North Terminal is a passenger bridge to/from pier 6 that is high enough to allow aircraft to taxi beneath the bridge.

North Terminal
For departures, check-in is on the second floor, excluding easyJet and WestJet, which have a self-serve baggage drop area on the first floor. All passengers must go through security on the second floor. After walking through the duty-free store, passengers wait in the large departures lounge, with many shops, restaurants and seating. Access to Gates 42-55 (Pier 4) and 101-103 (Pier 6) is at the south end of the lounge and access to gates 557-563 (the new Pier 5) is at the north end. Airline lounges are on the way to Piers 4 and 6.

On arriving, passengers are separated into one of three groups: domestic, CTA and International. Domestic passengers exit at Gate 55 and walk past the gates to a separate arrivals hall. CTA passengers must take a shuttle bus to the same area. International passengers walk along to passport control and then descend to the baggage reclaim hall. Every hall exits on the ground floor.

There are four lounges in the North Terminal of Gatwick: No 1 Lounge, the Gateway Lounge, the Plaza Premium Lounge and the Emirates Lounge. Both the Gateway and Plaza Premium lounges have relatively limited numbers, while No 1 Lounge is perpetually oversubscribed. It is advisable to pay the £6 fee to prebook No 1 Lounge through your lounge access scheme to benefit from priority security at Gatwick as well. Gateway Lounge is relatively family-oriented, while the Plaza Premium offering is consistent with other generic contract lounges.

The South Terminal shuttle is on the first floor. It is adjacent to an Excess Baggage shop, where one can store their luggage at Gatwick for a less-than-modest fee.

South Terminal
The departures and arrivals halls are mixed here landside.

All passengers check-in towards the south of the building and then proceed upstairs for security check. After walking through the duty-free store, they find themselves in the departures lounge, with a circular layout split across two floors. Airline lounges are on the upper floor of the lounge. The No1 and Clubrooms lounges are quite small and are often overbooked. All gates are located on the lower floor. Gates 30-36 are a relatively long walk from the terminal.

On arrival, domestic and CTA (Common Travel Area: consisting of UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands) passengers may either take a bus or be able to walk directly to the domestic claim area. Other passengers walk to the passport control, located on the ground floor, before ascending to baggage reclaim.

Home bag pick-up can be booked through the airport website for both terminals. From £20 per bag, they collect your bags at an agreed time and location, but probably from your home the evening before flight. The bags are sealed and delivered to the aircraft, you travel as if just with hand luggage, and collect the checked bags in the usual way in Arrivals at your destination. As of Jan 2020 they don't offer an inbound service, and there are no reviews on reliability - have you ever waited in for a delivery that was supposed to arrive at an agreed time?

Flights

A lot of major and minor airlines operate domestic, European, and intercontinental flights to/from Gatwick, catering for business and leisure travelers alike. Many airlines that can not get landing rights at Heathrow fly to Gatwick. Point-to-point flights make up the majority of flights; flights into network carrier's respective hubs exist, but play only a minor role.

Different airlines operate from different terminals; some of the major airlines are:

There is a list of destinations that you can get to from Gatwick on Wikipedia, or you can visit the websites of specific airlines for details, and Gatwick has a webpage where you can see which terminal your flight leaves from.

By train
Gatwick Airport was the first UK airport to combine air and rail travel, and has its own railway station, which is attached to the airport's South Terminal.

is on the London to Brighton main line with frequent train services operated by several train operators, including Gatwick Express, Thameslink, Southern, and GWR. You can buy tickets from machines, the ticket office in the terminal, and online from virtually any country by printing a voucher at home and exchanging it for tickets at the ticket office or from machines in the entry lobby of the station. Advance purchases can result in some savings.

Due to heavy passenger traffic at certain times, the area/lobby for obtaining tickets and going through entry gates can become very crowded. If you are booked for a train at a certain time, you should consider giving yourself plenty of time to reach your correct boarding platform. Once through the gates, you can reach the platforms with light luggage using stairs and escalators. Allow more time for lifts to the platforms if you have significant luggage.

The station is adjacent to the South Terminal; for passengers arriving to and departing from the North Terminal, figure the additional time to reach it into your estimates.

There are direct trains to London (London Bridge, London Victoria and London St Pancras), Brighton, Southampton, Eastbourne, Hastings and other locations.

Gatwick Express is a non-stop rail service operating between London Victoria Station and Gatwick Airport. Trains operate every 15 minutes from 5AM to 11:45PM (from London Victoria Station), and 5:50AM to 12:35AM (from Gatwick) with journey times of 30 minutes (35 minutes on Sundays). You won't be able to miss the Gatwick Express trains as they have unique livery. A one-way standard ticket is £19.50 online (March 2023). You can use an Oyster card for this trip but it will cost £21.80.

Southern trains to London Victoria or London Bridge are only a few minutes slower than Gatwick Express and only slightly less frequent. They call at a few stations along the way (which the Gatwick Express doesn't), usually at East Croydon and Clapham Junction. Fares on these operators' tickets are lower in cost. Besides London, there are trains south to Brighton, Hastings via Eastbourne and Lewes. Like many airfares, the earlier you buy tickets (up to 90 days), the less expensive they tend to be. The fare to Victoria, if bought online is £19.40 if, however, you use the Oyster card, it's £9.50 (March 2023).

Thameslink services provide connections with: London St Pancras International, Blackfriars, City Thameslink, London Farringdon, Bedford, and also south to Brighton. Online fares are £19.50 if bought on the day of travel, and down to £13.50 if you book the exact train you will take up to 3 months ahead. But the best option is to use your contactless payment card or an Oyster card, costing £9.50 (same as Southern, March 2023).

GWR services provide services all the way to Reading, which in turn allows passengers to connect to/from the Westcountry (e.g. Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth) without passing through London.

Train times and fare information for all operators are available via National Rail Enquiries.

By bus
National Express has coaches to Gatwick from throughout the country, including Victoria Coach Station in London. there are many coaches to/from Heathrow, see below.

Metrobus has routes connecting the airport to Crawley and East Grinstead with the 400 route, costing £2-4 for an adult single. There's also the 200 route, connecting to Horsham; the 22 route to Dorking and the 460 route to Epsom.

Megabus (stops at the North and South terminals) runs from Gatwick to Bristol, Cardiff and Heathrow.

Oxford Bus Company has The Airline bus to Gatwick from Oxford stopping at the South Terminal and then the North Terminal. Costs £28 for an adult single, £37 for an adult return.

By bike
Route 21 of the National Cycle Network passes under the South Terminal, allowing virtually traffic-free cycling northwards to Horley and southwards to Three Bridges and Crawley. A goods-style lift runs between the terminal and ground level (labelled "Lift to Cycle Route"), near Zone L.

By taxi
Some taxi firms offer to take you to Gatwick from around the country. This will probably be quite uncomfortable if you have to travel long distances, but then again, it's your own "private" car.

Minicabs (private hire cars) must be ordered in advance by phone (or Internet in some cases) and cost less than a black cab. For example:

 MiniCabRide LTD ⇒ are available 24/7 at Gatwick Airport on Both Terminal South and North Terminal, taking 01 hour and 30 min to reach the London city. They also offer Environment-Friendly Electric Cars, Baby Seat car and Wheelchair accesible caes from Gatwick Airport ☎ +44 2070 050090.

By car
is Gatwick Airport's own spur from the M23 motorway. Once you leave the main M23 at junction 9, travel west to a roundabout and for the South Terminal, take the first exit from there or for the North Terminal, take the second exit. The South Terminal exit has a large arch with an advert on it over it, while the North Terminal doesn't. If you're going to the North Terminal, then take the second exit at the next roundabout (it has its own big arch here) or the third exit for the long stay car park. From there, you will be able to follow signs to the car park you are looking for, whichever terminal (see below), or the main entrance to the airport. Junction 9 is about south of the M25 London ring road and with traffic on the M25 often heavy (or worse) make sure to start your drive out to the airport early enough.

Short-stay parking
The closest car parks to the terminals are the short-stay car parks, which are located right next to the terminal buildings. To get to the, take the directions in the Get in section above, then continue along the road, following signs for the short stay car park, staying in the right-hand lane. For the, again, follow the directions above for the North Terminal, then continue along the road, following signs for the car park, staying in the left-hand lane.

Long-stay parking
Long-term parking is provided both on-airport and off-airport. The on-airport long-stay car parks are about a five-minute bus journey from the terminal buildings (buses are provided for the sole use of getting from the car park to the main terminal). Off-airport parking is suitable for both long- and short-stay. Most car parks are situated about 15 minutes from the airport. For the, after leaving the roundabout, (see above), stay in the left-hand lane and take the second left, then follow signs for which car park you want. For the, after leaving the roundabout, instead of taking the second exit, take the third exit, following signs for "Long stay". Go past the petrol station which is on the right, then take the third exit at the next roundabout. Follow this long road to the next roundabout before taking the second exit, you're now finally there! You can then follow signs to which car park you want. Once you have arrived you will find Gatwick's own scheme, Gatwick Parking.

Meet-and-greet parking
Gatwick's Surface Access Plan introduced its Approved Operator Scheme for meet-and-greet parking. Only approved meet-and-greet parking operators are permitted to conduct vehicle collection and returns from the airport terminal forecourts. Approved Operators must hold the Safer Parking, ParkMark award for all car parks used and be approved by Trading Standards Buy With Confidence Scheme.

By bus
National Express buses are your fastest option (with direct buses between the airports), but you should still allow plenty of time to make the transfer as you will have to re-check luggage at the other airport. Factor in that traffic on the M25 is often heavy or worse adding to travel time. Buses may charge large fees for overweight, out-sized or excess numbers of luggage, and National Express allow only one small piece to carry-on.

By train
The most convenient route to Heathrow by train is taking any northbound Thameslink train (destination "Bedford", "Peterborough", or "Cambridge") to Farringdon station, and changing for a westbound Elizabeth line train with destination Heathrow Terminal 4 or Heathrow Terminal 5 (either for terminals 2 or 3). There is also a Heathrow Express train which runs between London Paddington station and Heathrow Airport in 15 minutes (a journey that takes 45 minutes on the Elizabeth Line), but is more expensive. To travel on the express, take any northbound Thameslink train from Gatwick, and change at Farringdon onto any westbound Elizabeth Line train (those going to "Paddington," "Heathrow Terminal 4", "Heathrow Terminal 5" or "Reading"). Change to the Heathrow Express at London Paddington, but note the transfer time may cancel out the 15 minutes saved by using the express. Alternatively, for a slightly cheaper but slower route, stay on any northbound Thameslink train for one more stop to St Pancras International, then take a southbound Piccadilly Line train to Heathrow Terminal 4 or 5 (again, to either for terminals 2 or 3).

For the same journeys in reverse, take northbound/eastbound any Elizabeth line train to Farringdon, then change for a southbound Thameslink train to Brighton, and alight at Gatwick Airport station. For the cheaper route but slower route, take any eastbound Piccadilly line train to King's Cross St Pancras and change for a southbound Thameslink train to Brighton.

Oyster and contactless payments are valid for all rail journeys between Gatwick and Heathrow via London. An off-peak journey (taken before 6:30AM and after 9:30AM on weekdays, or any time on weekends) via the Elizabeth line using Oyster or contactless costs £19.90 (Oct 2023). Via the Piccadilly Line costs £12.20. The Heathrow Express costs £37.20 off-peak using Oyster or contactless, however, it is possible to save money on the journey between Paddington and Heathrow if you book tickets in advance. This can be done heathrowexpress.com online.

Interrail and Eurail tickets are accepted on Thameslink and Elizabeth Line trains, but they are not valid on the Piccadilly Line or the Heathrow Express.

By car
If you have a car and want to drive, leave Gatwick and take the M23 north towards the M25, then take the M25 clockwise until junction 14. There will be plenty of signs to follow for Heathrow from there (a little plane symbol followed by the word "Heathrow"). Going the other way around, leave Heathrow and take the M25 anti-clockwise until you get to junction 7, then take the M23 southbound to junction 9, follow signage from there.

To the gates
Some gates require long walks, so make sure you give yourself enough time to get there, especially if you have considerable carry-ons or mobility challenges. This includes time for security check and (in South Terminal) passage through/around the two levels of stores and restaurants air side. In the North Terminal, for example, it takes 15 minutes to walk to gates 101-113 from the departure lounge. As a (fun) addition, there are many travelators in the corridors to the gates in both terminals.

Check at your airline check-in counter beforehand for how long it takes to get to your gate if then known. Later, check any of the many, often-updated departure boards to see when your gate is announced; they don't announce gate assignments over speakers.

Terminal transfer
There is a free automated people mover (nicknamed incorrectly, but commonly, as a "monorail") which runs between the South Terminal/railway station and the North Terminal outside security. It is excitingly called an "inter-terminal shuttle service" by the airport website. To access it, follow signs for the other terminal. So if you're in the South Terminal, follow signs for the North Terminal and if you're in the North Terminal follow signs for the South Terminal. It runs constantly, with just a 2-minute or so wait, and a 2-minute ride.

Bus transfers
Hotels around the airport contract transfer to terminals to local private company. Cost around 3 pounds. Drivers are known to be dishonest to foreign travellers, such as giving change in old (recently out of circulation) notes and coins.

Eat and drink
Both terminals have many restaurants and food outlets in the public space and past security checks. There are also places like McDonald's and Starbucks available in the terminals. Mini-supermarkets, such as Marks & Spencer's, are available in both terminals before security, and Boots selling sandwiches and crisps is in both terminals after security (and before security in the South Terminal).

There are water fountains as you leave North Security. The upper level of South Terminal departures has a water fountain hidden in the corridor next World Duty-Free.

Buy
Shopping opportunities are plentiful in both terminals, with slightly more stores in the South Terminal. Per the article for duty-free shopping, such stores here are dominated by just one firm. Though well-stocked with a wide range of products, they reflect little competition, but do help you avoid UK taxes. You are also, as is common, forced to walk through a sparkly duty-free shop immediately after security and before the departure lounge. For those with scent allergies, see "Cope" below.

Moneycorp ATMs are plentiful across Gatwick, and carry the unusual feature of having no ATM fees imposed by the ATM operator for GBP withdrawals. However, they offer a horrific 23% markup if you unwittingly accept the first currency conversion screen that pops up. You should always decline this and continue without accepting the currency conversion screen, as there is no instance in which this currency exchange markup would be more favourable than the foreign exchange offered directly through your bank. If you decline the dynamic currency exchange, there should be no fees charged beyond your bank's out-of-network ATM access fee (if any) and the foreign exchange fee for your card (almost never over 3%). If you use a card with no out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees or imposed foreign exchange fee, withdrawing GBP at Gatwick Airport is very likely the most cost-efficient way to acquire cash in the United Kingdom for you.

Currency exchange desks at Gatwick (both groundside and airside) are run by Moneycorp and offer about the worst rates you'll find anywhere. There's a 40% spread between "buy" and "sell" rates for major currencies, so you lose a fifth of your money on every trade, eg in Sept 2017 they were buying €1 for £0.98 and selling for £1.36. A downtown exchange should have no more than 20% spread. Note also that UK banknotes are changing, see under "United Kingdom: money".

Connect
Free WiFi is available. Connect to the Gatwick Free wi-fi network and logon to myGatwick. You can create a myGatwick account in advance. There is also pay-for Boingo WiFi and Surfbox internet terminals with printers (10p per minute, 50p per page).

Cope
The North and South Terminals have prayer rooms, located landside, before security. There are occasional Christian or Buddhist services in these chapels.
 * The South Terminal prayer room is on the third floor, the same level as the entrance to security.
 * The North Terminal prayer room is on the ground floor near international arrivals.

People who have scent allergies may have trouble with departing from Gatwick. After security, passengers are funnelled through a winding path through the duty-free shops, many of which sell lots of perfumes. The airport is planning to open scent-free paths in 2018. Until then, you can contact the airport before arriving to arrange for someone to guide you through a back way.

Sleep
A number of hotels of various categories have set up near the airport; some of them are directly connected to one of the terminals by enclosed walkways sheltering guests from the elements.

Further afield

It may be easier to take a taxi to the airport terminals from these nearby hotels, see the taxi section above and also check if the hotels have the numbers of any local taxi firms in case these are cheaper.

Nearby
Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

 * Crawley is about south of the airport.
 * East Grinstead is about east of the airport.
 * Redhill is about north.
 * Dorking is about northwest.
 * Brighton is about south and has direct train services from the airport.
 * Central London is a short train journey away.

title: Gatwick Airport


text:
Gauteng

Gauteng is one of the provinces in the northeast of South Africa. The word "Gauteng" is a Sesotho phrase meaning "Place of gold", referencing to the thriving gold industry following the 1886 discovery of gold in Johannesburg. The province is the centre of South Africa's industrial and commerce sectors.

Regions
Gauteng is divided into five regional districts, though the central part of Gauteng (Johannesburg, the southwest quarter of Tshwane, western half of Ekurhuleni and northeast of the West Rand) forms one continuous urban area.

Cities

 * — economic heart of southern Africa and most likely any traveller's entry point to South Africa (and the provincial capital)
 * — the national administrative capital has elegant architecture, historical sites and museums, and beautiful gardens
 * — industrial centre, water sports centre on the Vaal river and site of the Sharpeville Massacre
 * — a good base for visiting the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, and home of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens

Other destinations
Gauteng is considered the gateway to Southern Africa. Many spectacular destinations are a short flight or drive away. It is a small province, flanked by four other provinces in South Africa.

 * The Cradle of Humankind,, on the West Rand is an UNESCO World Heritage Site where a large number of human ancestry fossil finds have been made.
 * The Tswaing Meteorite Crater,, in Tshwane is a very well preserved meteor crater.

Nature reserves

 * Rietvlei Nature Reserve, near Pretoria
 * Krugersdorp Game Reserve
 * The Lion Park north of Johannesburg

Climate

A summer rainfall area, Gauteng experiences hot summer days that often result in short but intense afternoon thunderstorms, commonly accompanied by thunder and lightning. Summers nights are also hot.

The real-time Irene radar map provided by the South African weather service is a great tool to help you plan any afternoon outdoor activity in summer. It gives ample warning of any approaching thunder storms.

Winter is dry and cold with temperatures dropping to a little above freezing at night, however, winter days are beautiful with comfortable temperatures.

Tshwane is generally 2°C to 3°C warmer than Johannesburg.

Talk
Xhosa, Pedi, Venda and Xtshitsonga are common. Don't be surprised to hear noises as people around Gauteng usually speak louder.

English is widely spoken in Gauteng and you will rarely meet someone who can't speak it. Afrikaans, Sotho and Zulu are also common.

By plane
Almost all international flights arrive at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport, so it's highly likely that Gauteng will be your first destination on a holiday to Southern Africa.

By car
Gauteng is bordered by four provinces:
 * North-West to the west, connected via the N4 (northern North-West), N14 (central North-West) and N12 (southern North-West)
 * Limpopo to the north, connected via the N1
 * Mpumalanga to the east, connected via the N12/N4 (northern Mpumalanga) and N17 (southern Mpumalanga)
 * Free State to the south, connected via the N1 (western Free State) and N3 (eastern Free State)

By car
Public transport is non-existent by international standards, so it is best to rent a car. All the national car rental agencies are well represented.

Road are generally in good condition, but peak hour traffic (7AM to 9AM and 4PM to 6PM) can be very busy and slow. Congestion is very common on the N1 between the west of Johannesburg and Pretoria, the N3 between Alberton and the Buccleuch interchange where it joins the N1 and the N12 and R24 between Johannesburg and O.R. Tambo Airport.

Make sure to have an GPS available, as the signage on the roads is not always adequate.

By bus
Scheduled bus services are provided in the larger urban areas such as Johannesburg and Pretoria, but the service is limited compared to what you might find in most European cities.

By train
A rapid rail link (Gautrain) is completed and operational between Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo International Airport. The rapid rail system offers travel between the major centres and has a substantial bus route supporting the stations and covering most of the suburban and business areas surrounding the stations. The service is affordable and safe and the train times convenient to business and tourist hours.

See
Being a major metropolitan area there are a large number of museums and galleries that one can visit.

Anyone interested in the recent history and transformation of South Africa will find the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg and the Mandela Family Museum in Soweto fascinating.

The Johannesburg Art Gallery is the largest on the African continent and offers a good collection of both local and international work.

Johannesburg is also home to the only officially recognized Lipizzaners school outside of Vienna

Do

 * Rock Climbing
 * Enjoy some of South Africa's best wines at the Soweto Wine Festival, the most successful trend-setting annual lifestyle event held in Soweto.

There are small nature reserves located throughout Gauteng. These are surprisingly underutilized by the local population and offers a good quite getaway from the busy city life. The exception to the rule would be the Lion Park in the north of Johannesburg as it has become a bit of a tourist trap and will be very busy over weekends.

Much of Gauteng's wealth originally came from the Main Reef of gold that runs east to west through the province. A visit to one of the preserved goldmines in Johannesburg and the West Rand is both interesting and educational.

Eat
In Gauteng the locals eat out a lot, so there are plenty of restaurants & take-away places around. Johannesburg, Pretoria & surrounding areas are filled with places offering a variety of cuisine. From traditional African to American, Asian & European foods.

Drink
You'll be hard-pressed to find a non-licensed restaurant in Gauteng. There are many coffee shops, most of which are unlicensed since they serve hot beverages.

Stay safe
Though Gauteng (particularly Johannesburg) has a reputation for crime, rest assured that it is only in certain areas.

It might be helpful to ask someone, perhaps several people, who would seem to know, what are or are not safe activities in a particular area. If you are staying in a hotel, for instance, you might ask the management where and when it is okay to walk or drive in the area. Even upscale parts of Johannesburg can be dangerous to drive through. As a general rule, keep valuables out of sight and leave yourself an opening when travelling in traffic. If you are threatened or even feel that you will be, run a red light if it is your means of escape.

Certain sections of the major cities (Pretoria and Johannesburg) are best visited in a group with an experienced guide, while others can be safely visited by the individual. Though many tourists are keen to visit a township, the only safe option is to go with a tour operator that offers the service, do not go into a township by yourself or without an experienced guide.

Petty theft is a problem everywhere in South Africa, so keep an eye on your belongings. Never, for example, leave your mobile phone lying unattended on a table at a restaurant. Make sure, if you are carrying a handbag, that it is secure and cannot be easily grabbed off your shoulder or out of your hands. Also make sure that your belongings are not visible when in your car, as smash-and-grab incidents do occur, particularly at traffic lights.

If you are travelling with a laptop or camera, use a bag that does not advertise its contents. Disguise your laptop by using a normal backpack bag instead of a laptop bag and do the same with your camera.

Stay healthy
HIV infection rate is high, do not have unprotected sex.

Municipal water is safe to drink.

Hospitals
It is best to avoid public hospitals when possible, but private hospitals are of world-class standard.

The following hospitals provide 24-hour accident and emergency treatment:

 * Sunninghill Hospital, Cnr Witkoppen & Nanyuki Rds, Sunninghill, Johannesburg, ph:+27 11 806-1500
 * Millpark Hospital, 9 Guild Road, Parktown West, Johannesburg, ph:+27 11 480-5600
 * Unitas Hospital, Clifton Avenue, Lyttelton, Centurion, ph:+27 12 421-6700

Go next

 * Mpumalanga Escarpment in a weekend
 * Go east to Mozambique and the world-famous Kruger National Park (around 4-5 hours drive).
 * Sun City and the Pilanesberg National Park in the North-West Province are not far away.
 * The Drakensberg mountain range is a three-hour drive away.

title: Gauteng


text:
Gautier

Gautier is a city of 18,000 people (2019) in Jackson County (Mississippi). Gautier is a bedroom resort community surrounded by bayous and wetlands on three sides. The natural environment of Gautier offers many opportunities for recreation and eco-tourism.

Understand
The Gulf Coast region, of which Gautier is a part, has been considered a relatively high growth area of the state; however, the loss of houses and jobs after Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005 led to outmigration in 2006.

The town takes its name from the Gautier family that originated in Lyon, France. Fernando Upton Gautier (1822–1891) was born on a cargo ship as his parents were emigrating to New Orleans. In 1867, Gautier established a spacious homestead at the mouth of the Pascagoula River, which still stands. He established a lucrative sawmill business in the area, and the town grew up from it. The home, known by locals as "The Old Place", is owned by the descendants of Fernando Upton Gautier and his wife, Theresa Fayard Gautier (1828–1911), and is used for private and public events.

Get in
U.S. Route 90 passes through the center of Gautier, leading east 4 miles (6 km) into Pascagoula and 13 miles (21 km) to Ocean Springs. Interstate 10 passes through the northern part of the city limits, with access from Exit 57 (Mississippi Highway 57) and Exit 61 (Gautier Vancleave Road). I-10 leads west 30 miles (48 km) to the Gulfport area and east 42 miles (68 km) to Mobile, Alabama.

Do

 * Take an eco-tour through the bayous to see egrets and white pelicans.
 * You can fish for brim from the City Park pier, and maybe see some alligators.
 * The 400-acre Shepard State Park has modern amenities and activities including hiking, birding, disc golf, a dog park, boat launch, and competition-level archery range.
 * The Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge offers guided crane tours and hiking tours of the wet pine savanna.

Eat
Gautier’s town center offers coffee shops, and restaurants preparing fresh local fish.

Drink
Check out the waterfront restaurants for live local music.

Sleep

 * Shepard State Park has spots for RVs, campers, and tents.
 * Shepard State Park has spots for RVs, campers, and tents.

title: Gautier


text:
Gaya

Gaya (गया Gayā) is a major pilgrimage city in Bihar for Hindus. It is visited for doing piṇḍ dān (funeral offerings for the benefit of the soul of the deceased) and for visiting Bodh Gaya and Vishnupad temple.

Understand
Gaya is a ritual place and it is famous for Pind daan. People from all over the country, as well as Hindus from abroad, come here to perform pind daan puja for their deceased ancestors. This rituals brings peace to the wandering souls. Many people come here during the monsoon months (September - October) for the pitripaksh tarpan (prayers offered for the dead). The pilgrims take a dip in the seasonal holy river 'Phalgu' during this season. There is huge gathering of people for 2 weeks for pitripaksha mela.

Nowadays it is an ordinary district headquarter of India and bears a polluted, not so clean and dusty look though it still draws thousands of Hindu pilgrims as a pilgrimage and place for a compulsory piṇḍ dān (funeral offerings to the deceased) for Hindus.

Get in
Gaya is well connected through air, rail and road.

By plane

 * The second option is Patna, which is 125 km away and well connected by rail and road service.
 * The second option is Patna, which is 125 km away and well connected by rail and road service.

By train
is the hub for many trains passing through Bihar. There are lots of trains directly from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Patna.

By bus
There are many private A/C, non-A/C and luxury buses operating daily. You can get a bus from Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Patna, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, and overnight buses from Siliguri.

By car
You can easily visit Gaya by car. There are many car rental companies available. Nalanda Travels provides cabs on rent for Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna, Vaishali, Varanasi.

Do
Worship in Vishnupad temple of lord Vishnu. Worship in Mangla Gauri (first wife of lord Shiva) Asthan.

Eat
The main sweets are Enursa, Tilkut and Lai all of which are exclusive to the city. One can easily get these in shops at Tekari Road and Ramna Road. Two of the famous sweet stores are Kaveri and Pramod misthan bhandar.

Go next

 * Barabar and Nagarjuni Hill Caves ( N of Gaya) — the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, mostly dating from the Mauryan period (322–185 BCE), and some with Ashokan inscriptions.
 * Bodh Gaya — the main attraction in the area is the Buddha Temple in Bodhgaya, here Buddha acquired the Power of Knowledge. Buses are common from Gaya to Bodh Gaya during peak season. Auto rickshaws cost about ₹200 and an air conditioned taxi costs ₹300-₹350.
 * Bramhjauni Hill
 * Kakolat Falls
 * Nalanda - The famous Nalanda University was situated here, and its remains are the city's main attraction.
 * Pawapuri
 * Rajgir

title: Gaya