text:
Richmond Hill (Ontario)

Richmond Hill is a city in Southern Ontario in the central portion of York Region. It's part of the Greater Toronto Area, about 20 km north of the downtown core of Toronto.

Understand
Richmond Hill is the third most populous municipality in York Region and the 28th most populous municipality in Canada. Richmond Hill's population has grown from 102,000 in 1996 to over 195,000 in 2016. Richmond Hill used to be a village and had an interurban running to it from Toronto. As the suburban boom in Toronto started after WWII, Richmond Hill eventually grew to become another suburb in the 1970s and 80s. Today, Richmond Hill hosts a significant Chinese population on its east end and a significant Persian population in the north.

The old part of Richmond Hill runs on Yonge Street from Major Mackenzie Drive to Crosby Avenue.

By bus
York Region Transit (YRT) operates bus service in York Region (including Viva express buses). From Toronto, take either the Viva Blue bus or YRT Route 98/99 from Finch Subway Station on TTC subway Line 1 Yonge-University. These bus routes will take you along Yonge Street through the centre of Richmond Hill with a major stop at. Viva Blue will make fewer stops than YRT 98/99 so it will generally be faster. The ride will take about half an hour. Or you can board TTC subway Line 1 towards Vaughan Metro Centre and connect to Viva Orange service at Vaughan Metro Centre or YRT at Pioneer Village station.

GO Transit operates several routes that connects nearby towns and cities to Richmond Hill. GO Bus Routes 40, 41 45B, 52, 54 and 56 all stop at Richmond Hill Centre. GO Bus Route 40 is an express service connecting Hamilton and Mississauga (Square One and Toronto Pearson International Airport) with Richmond Hill on hourly basis (every 30 min during rush hour on weekdays) seven days a week. Route 41 operates on Monday to Friday between Hamilton and Pickering via Richmond Hill Centre and Scarborough Town Centre at 30-min intervals. Route 45B operates on Monday to Friday between Markham and Streetsville (in western Mississauga) via Richmond Hill Centre on hourly basis. Route 52 is a weekend and holidays service between Highway 407 station and Oshawa every 2 hours. Route 54 operates on Monday to Friday between Highway 407 station and Markham via Richmond Hill Centre every hour. Route 56 operates at 30-minute intervals on Monday to Friday between Highway 407 station and Oakville via Richmond Hill Centre. All of the GO bus routes also stop at Highway 407 station on TTC subway Line 1 on its way to and from Richmond Hill Centre. Visitors coming from west or south of Richmond Hill can change bus at Square One Terminal in Mississauga or Highway 407 station in Vaughan to reach Richmond Hill.

By train
GO Transit provides train and bus service between Toronto and Richmond Hill with stops at the, , and  on weekdays. However, this service is more useful for commuters rather than visitors with trains running either inbound to Toronto in the morning rush hours or outbound in the afternoon rush. GO bus route 61 stops at these GO Train stations mentioned above but lacks late afternoon and evening service from Richmond Hill to Union Station. There is no GO train or bus service between Toronto and Richmond Hill on weekends and holidays.

By plane
Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga is the nearest major airport. GO Transit operates Route 40 – Airport Express hourly, seven days a week between Terminal 1 and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. The one-way fare is $8.05(as of June 2023) and the trip takes 20 minutes. Taxis from the airport to Richmond Hill will cost between $66-84.

By car
Richmond Hill is easily accessed by major highways. Highway 404 connects from Toronto northwards to Newmarket. This highway serves as the political boundary between Richmond Hill on the west and Markham on the east from Highway 7 north to 19th Avenue and Whitchurch-Stouffville on the east from 19th Avenue north to Bloomington Road. Richmond Hill is also just north of Highway 407 toll road.

Get around
With attractions spread out and free parking available at practically everywhere, car is the most common and easiest way to get around.

By bus
York Region Transit operates the municipal buses in Richmond Hill. Bus service is adequate, although you should check the timetables to make sure you don't waste your time waiting for half an hour. Service along Yonge street and Highway 7, where most of the interesting destinations are, are excellent, and even if you miss your bus, the next one generally comes soon. Stops offering VIVA bus service have electronic timeboards that will give you the arrival times of the next three buses. Since these times are estimated through a GPS connection to each bus, the times are generally accurate. Most bus routes do stop at Richmond Hill Centre for easy connection to other routes.

A ride within Richmond Hill counts as one zone and will cost $4.00. The tickets are time-stamped and valid for two hours. You can pay by cash, Presto card or use its mobile app for payment. You can also purchase multiple tickets at a discount. Remember to validate your ticket before a ride in the machines by the bus stops. There will be a slot for you to insert the ticket to be timestamped.

Drink
Almost all bars are located along Yonge St or Highway 7.

Connect
Richmond Hill Centre bus terminal and Richmond Hill Public Library locations provide free WiFi.

Stay healthy
is on Major Mackenzie Drive just west of Yonge Street.

title: Richmond Hill (Ontario)


text:
Richwood

There is more than one place called Richwood:

United States of America

 * Richwood (Kentucky) - A town in the state of Kentucky.
 * Richwood (Louisiana) - A town in the state of Louisiana.
 * Richwood (Ohio) - A town in the state of Ohio.
 * Richwood (Texas) - A town in the state of Texas.
 * Richwood (West Virginia) - A town in the state of West Virginia.
 * Richwood (Wisconsin) - A town in the state of Wisconsin.

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

title: Richwood


text:
Richwood (West Virginia)

Richwood is a city of 1,900 people (as of 2019) in West Virginia. It used to be a lumber town - hence the name - Richwood now bills itself as a mountain vacation getaway and a convenient entry point to the Monongahela National Forest and the Cranberry Wilderness. It's also known as the Ramp Capital of the World, and hosts a yearly festival - the first of its kind in the US - celebrating the ramp, a kind of wild mountain leek with a pungent flavor that's prized throughout the Appalachians.

Get in
Richwood is located on WV-39 in the eastern corner of Nicholas County, between Summersville and Marlinton.

Get around
Be careful during winter; roads in this part of the state aren't always cleared during winter, and can be impassable even for four-wheel-drive vehicles.

See

 * Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, route 150, +1 304-653-4826 or +1 304-636-1800 (ext 343), . Protects the largest area of bogs in West Virginia. There's a half-mile boardwalk for walking and observation, and guided tours are given during the summer at 2 pm Saturday and Sunday.

 * Cranberry Wilderness, 932 North Fork Cherry Road, +1 304-846-2695, . Once an old-growth forest that was completely logged out by 1930, now a second-growth forest covering 35,864 acres. Approximately 60 miles of unmarked trails, wildlife including black bears (the area is part of a black bear sanctuary) and grouse, catch and release fishing.

 * Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, junction of route 150 and route 39/55, +1 304-653-4826 or +1 304-636-1800 (ext 343). Open May-Oct: daily 9AM to 4:30PM; Apr-Nov: Th-Sa 9AM to 4:30PM; closed Dec-Mar. Offers information about the national forest, with an exhibit hall, audio-visual programs, live programs on birds of prey and indigenous snakes, as well as special programs and guided tours.

 * Falls of Hill Creek, 5 miles west of the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center on route 55, +1 304-653-4826 in summer or +1 304-846-2695 in winter, . A 114-acre gorge with three waterfalls (25 feet, 45 feet, and 63 feet) - the highest of which is West Virginia's second-tallest waterfall - viewable from a 3/4-mile trail. The area also has lots of wildflowers in spring.

Events

 * Mountain Color Festival, +1 304-846-6790. Held during a week in early October. Art show, apple cider, apple butter making, crafts and craftmaking demonstrations, gospel singing.
 * Mountain Color Festival, +1 304-846-6790. Held during a week in early October. Art show, apple cider, apple butter making, crafts and craftmaking demonstrations, gospel singing.
 * Mountain Color Festival, +1 304-846-6790. Held during a week in early October. Art show, apple cider, apple butter making, crafts and craftmaking demonstrations, gospel singing.

Buy

 * G & N Ramp Farm Specialties, +1 304-846-4235. Pickled ramps, dehydrated ramps and ramp salt.

Eat
Ramps are, of course, a local delicacy. If you don't come for the Feast of the Ramson, you can find them on the menu at C & S and Rails to Trails.

 * Bright Spot Restaurant, Edgewood Avenue, +1 304-846-4066.

Go next

 * Summersville is about 40 minutes west on WV-39.
 * Marlinton is about 50 minutes east on WV-39.

title: Richwood (West Virginia)


text:
Rideau Canal

The Rideau Canal is a historical scenic waterway that connects the towns of Kingston and Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
The canal was built by the British after the War of 1812 to provide a secure link between Montreal and Kingston, without passing along the Saint Lawrence River because that river borders American territory. Colonel By of the Royal Engineers was in charge; the city at the north end of the canal, now called Ottawa, was founded as "Bytown".

Construction started in 1827 and the canal was opened 5 years later in 1832, with 47 locks in 25 lock stations. While the total length of the route is 202 km, only about 19 km of canals were dug, as the rest of the route used lakes and rivers.

The Bytown Museum by the Ottawa Locks in Ottawa is a good place to learn about the history of the Rideau Canal. Parks Canada displays four floors of museum exhibits at the Rideau Canal Visitor Centre, a 19th century stone mill (34 Beckwith Street) in Smiths Falls.

Prepare
There are two main ways to see the Rideau Canal: either you can travel by boat in the canal, or you can drive alongside. You can drive or sail by yourself, or go for a guided tour. Some people also cycle this route.

By boat
The canal is generally open to boat traffic from Victoria Day weekend (around the 24th of May) to Thanksgiving (in Canada, the second Monday of October). It can be covered in as little as three days by boat, but this won't leave you much time to enjoy the sights. In winter, an 8-km section of the canal in Ottawa is transformed into the world's largest outdoor skating rink.

Maximum permitted dimensions are 27.4 m (90 ft) length, 7.9 m (26 ft) width, and 6.7 m (22 ft) height. Water depth is maintained at 1.5 m (5.0 feet) minimum, although draught of over 1.2 m is not recommended. A vertical lift bridge at Pretoria Avenue in Ottawa must be opened for vessels above 3 m (10 feet) tall and a lift bridge at the Lasalle Causeway in Kingston must be opened for vessels above 4.3 m (14 feet), interrupting road traffic on busy streets in both cases. Additional height restrictions apply for side trips at Kemptville and at the Tay Canal to Perth.

Get in
The entry points to the canal are Kingston to the south, from Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River (elevation 74 m), and Ottawa in the north from the Ottawa River (elevation 40 m).

Go
There were 49 locks in the original Rideau Canal, which Parks Canada numbers from Ottawa. Some sites operate as multiple adjacent locks in series, numbered individually here. Naming of locks as "upper" or "lower" is relative to the highest point on the canal system, which is near Westport; the locks descend toward Kingston or Ottawa from there.

 * (0 km) - Canada's capital
 * 1-8 Ottawa (downtown, near Parliament and Château Laurier)
 * 9-10 Hartwells (Centretown)
 * 11-12 Hogs Back (near Carleton University)
 * 13 Black Rapids (between Ottawa and Manotick)

 * (formerly a small quasi-rural village, now a south-end suburb of Ottawa)
 * 14-16 Long Island

 * (first point outside Ottawa-Carleton)
 * 17 Burritts Rapids (between Kemptville and Merrickville)

 * (74.2 km) - picturesque Victorian village
 * 18 Lower Nicholsons (east of Merrickville)
 * 19 Upper Nicholsons
 * 20 Clowes
 * 21-23 Merrickville (in the village)
 * 24 Kilmarnock (midway to Smiths Falls)

 * (96.8 km)
 * 25 Edmonds
 * 26-27 Old Slys
 * 28-31 Smiths Falls (one modern lock 29a bypasses three original locks 28-30)
 * 32 Poonamalie

 * Tay River bypass to (these two are not part of the Kingston-Ottawa mainline)
 * 33 Lower Beveridges
 * 34 Upper Beveridges

 * (133.9 - 140 km) - highest point on the canal
 * 35 Narrows
 * 36 Newboro

 * 37 Chaffeys
 * 38 Davis
 * 39-42 Jones Falls
 * 39-42 Jones Falls

 * 43-44 Upper Brewers
 * 45 Lower Brewers
 * 45 Lower Brewers

 * /Cataraqui River (202.1 km) - entry point to Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River
 * 46-49 Kingston Mills

The journey is normally done by cruising in small craft, ending either in the Thousand Islands or in Ottawa. A road journey to very approximately retrace the path of the canal would be:
 * Prince of Wales Drive (old Hwy 16, on west bank) or Colonel By Drive (former rail line, on east bank) canalside within Ottawa. Colonel By Drive ends at Locks 11-12 Hogs Back; take Hogs Back Drive east to CR 19 (Riverside Drive) to continue driving on the east side of the canal.
 * CR 73 (old Hwy 16, west bank) or CR 19 (River Road, east bank) from Ottawa to Manotick
 * CR 13 through Manotick and Kars village to Donnelly Drive (west bank, to Merrickville) or stay on River Road (east bank, to Kemptville)
 * Take old Hwy 43 (CR 43) west from Kemptville or Merrickville to Smiths Falls
 * From Smiths Falls, take Hwy 15 (east bank) south
 * (For the side trip to Perth, exit from Hwy 15 onto CR 1 - Rideau Ferry - near Lombardy)
 * To go to Kingston, stay on Hwy 15 (east bank) all the way to CFB Kingston and Old Fort Henry

This is neither the shortest, the fastest, the widest nor the quietest route from Ottawa to Kingston. Organized cycle tours like Ottawa Bicycle Club's annual 170-km Rideau Lake Cycle Tour use routes which minimise distance or avoid main provincial highways, even if this means not following the canal for its entire 202-km routing.

For cars, the fastest Ottawa-Kingston route is via Highways 416 and 401, both large modern divided highways. If you take this route, you will see the Rideau Canal for less than a minute as you cross the bridge over the Rideau River on Highway 416.

Stay safe
This should go without saying, but always wear a life jacket while boating on the canal. The canal varies from a channel a few dozen metres wide to lakes a few kilometres wide.

Stay clear of dams and weirs - they are clearly marked (buoyed off) on the water. Never venture near the base of a fixed overflow dam (dangerous undertows).

Swimming is a common pastime in most sections of the canal with the exception of the canal in Ottawa (from the locks at Hogs Back to the Ottawa Locks) where swimming is prohibited. Water quality is generally very good for swimming except at times near some public beaches (which will be posted) and in some sections of the shallower lakes (i.e. Colonel By Lake, River Styx) where blue-green algae blooms have been reported.

Go next

 * Trans-Canada Highway (itinerary) from Ottawa-Gatineau
 * Windsor-Quebec corridor (itinerary) from Kingston
 * Thousand Islands

title: Rideau Canal


text:
Ridgecrest

Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County in the Mojave Desert of California.

By car
US Highway 395 - Northbound travelers will turn right off the highway onto CA Highway 178 Business (also called South China Lake Boulevard), which proceeds north and then northeast about 2½ miles to Ridgecrest. Southbound travelers will take the CA Highway 178 East exit near the town of Inyokern, then proceed east (left) 8 miles to Ridgecrest.

CA Highway 14 - Northbound and southbound travelers will exit onto CA Higwhay 178 East, which drops down the last slope of the Sierra Nevada foothills into Inyokern, then on eight miles into Ridgecrest.

CA Highway 178 - Eastbound travellers take 178 to Highway 14. The roads merge and continue north three miles before 178 East splits off again (right-hand turn). (See CA Highway 14, above.) Westbound travelers coming from the Death Valley area find that 178 goes directly into downtown Ridgecrest, becoming Ridgecrest Boulevard. 178 passes through Ridgecrest, but it involves two 90-degree turns and three different street names. Traveling east from Inyokern, 178 is known as Inyokern Road. In Ridgecrest, 178 turns abruptly south at the intersection of Inyokern Road (which proceeds onto Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake) and follows North China Lake Boulevard. Two miles south at the intersection of China Lake Boulevard and Ridgecrest Boulevard, 178 turns eastward again and follows Ridgecrest Boulevard out of Ridgecrest and on to Trona and Death Valley.

Get around
Like most places in California, Ridgecrest is best navigated by car. Public transportation is extremely limited and may require arrangements in advance.

If you need to rent a car in Ridgecrest, here are your commercial options: Ridgecrest also has the usual accommodations for travel by bicycle and on foot.

See

Sleep
Ridgecrest offers a range of accommodations from three-plus-star hotels to very cheap, bareboards establishments.

Stay safe
Ridgecrest has a very low crime rate with virtually no violent crimes. However while driving use caution as the highways surrounding the area are frequented by impatient drivers who often speed and lose control of vehicles. Report any dangerous driving right away. The area is served by 6 different law enforcement agencies because it is at the intersection of 3 county lines and has a military base. Your main concern in the area is from desert animals: there are many venomous creatures including spiders, scorpions, and many snakes. Ridgecrest is served by Ridgecrest Regional Hospital (RRH).

Go next
One of the best things about Ridgecrest isn't what's in Ridgecrest at all - it's what's just outside of it! Many people who live here have come to recognize it as a kind of hub that is surrounded by an array of outdoor adventures, scenic places, and great getaways.

 * Mojave - 60 miles south of Ridgecrest via Highway 14, Mojave is a hotbed of aerospace activity, with the Mojave Spaceport the headquarters of Scaled Composites, the first private company to launch a human into space. Edwards Air Force base, a landing site for the space shuttle and a center for the development of experimental aircraft, is next to the town.
 * Death Valley National Park - Northeast of Ridgecrest, Death Valley is a good day trip in the winter, spring and autumn months - if you plan to visit one of the world's hottest places in the summer bring plenty of water.

title: Ridgecrest


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Ridgefield

There is more than one place called Ridgefield:

United States of America

 * Ridgefield (Connecticut) — A town in Connecticut.
 * Ridgefield (New Jersey) — A borough in New Jersey.
 * Ridgefield (Washington) — A town in Washington.

title: Ridgefield


text:
Ridgefield (Connecticut)

Ridgefield is a town of 25,000 people (2010) in Connecticut.

By plane
Danbury Municipal Airport is a small two-runway public general aviation airport about 10 miles away from the center of town in Danbury, Connecticut.

Westchester County Airport  in White Plains, New York, about 40 minutes away. It is a public airport served by eight airlines including Air Canada. The airport features one three-level terminal with six gate spaces. The small airport has become popular for its non-stop destination flights and for avoiding the crowds and long lines you would encounter in major airports.

By train
Metro-North Railroad - Branchville Station, 47 US Hwy 7 & 787 Branchville Road. Part of the New Haven line that goes through New Haven, Fairfield, Westchester, Bronx, New York and Hudson counties. Frequented by commuters and visitors going into New York City. The train station is 54 miles away from Grand Central Terminal with a travel time of 1 hour and 38 minutes.

Get around
Ridgefield has many speed traps, so stay below the speed limit to avoid tickets.

Car services

 * Connecticut Limo . Offers transportation one-way or round-trip to airports including JFK, LaGuardia, Bradley and Newark. Private cars, limos and party buses are also available to charter.

title: Ridgefield (Connecticut)


text:
Ridgefield (Washington)

Ridgefield is a city in Washington.

Get in
Interstate 5 has an interchange in Ridgefield.

title: Ridgefield (Washington)


text:
Ridgeland (Mississippi)

Ridgeland is a city in Mississippi.

Get around

 * The closest taxi service is in Jackson, Mississippi.

Do

 * Travel along the Natchez Trace Parkway.
 * Watch the Ridgeland High School sports teams.

Buy

 * Shop around the biggest mall in the state, the Northpark Mall.
 * Shop at the Renaissance, west of I-55.

title: Ridgeland (Mississippi)


text:
Ridgeland (South Carolina)

Ridgeland is a city and popular rest stop along Interstate 95 between Charleston and Savannah in Low Country in South Carolina.

Understand
Ridgeland is the county seat of Jasper County, which is at the southern tip of South Carolina.

By car
I-95 runs through Ridgeland.

Do
Visit Palm Key.

title: Ridgeland (South Carolina)


text:
Ridgewood

Ridgewood is a village of 25,000 people (2019) in New Jersey. It is a suburban bedroom community of New York City, about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Midtown Manhattan. This article also covers the adjacent community of Ho-Ho-Kus.

By plane
The nearest airport with regular scheduled service is Newark-Liberty International in Newark, New Jersey. LaGuardia Airport and  International Airport (the busiest in the US) are also nearby in Queens, New York.

By train
NJ Transit and Metro North - the Ridgewood train station is in the heart of Downtown Ridgewood. The railroad tracks divide Downtown and the village into two sections, East Ridgewood and West Ridgewood. Being a part of the Main/Bergen County Line and Port Jervis Line, it can facilitate a smoother commute to the town, from Hoboken in the south (and Secaucus Junction offering a connection to New York Penn Station), up north to either Waldwick, Suffern, or Port Jervis, the latter two in a quiet section of the border towns in New York. As of September 2017, the average price for a ticket to/from Hoboken amounts to $9, while travel time would be at average, 45 minutes.

Amtrak - Newark Penn Station in Newark, New Jersey offers Amtrak service to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, New York City, and all points beyond and in between. Amtrak's ACELA Express trains service Newark Penn and travel between Washington DC and Boston. Other area Amtrak stations are New York Penn Station in New York City and Metropark Station in Iselin, NJ. You'll have to take a transfer from Secaucus on a NJ Transit train, then take a Main/Bergen County Line or Port Jervis Line train if you'd wish to visit Ridgewood, as there's no direct Amtrak service to Ridgewood.

By bus
Ridgewood Bus Terminal -  right across from Van Neste Square in Downtown Ridgewood, is served by NJ Transit buses heading all over the area including direct buses to New York City.

Port Authority Bus Terminal (New York City)- Greyhound Bus service to and from anywhere. All major bus companies serve Port Authority. Also served by NJ Transit, New York city, and Long Island Transit buses. Also served by NYC Subways. Full amenities, much like an airport, range from restaurants, news stands, and stores selling all items.

By car
Ridgewood can be accessed from NJ-4 (through Fair Lawn and Glen Rock), NJ-17 (through Wyckoff, Paramus, or Ridgewood exits), and NJ-208 (through Glen Rock). There are no car rental offices in Downtown Ridgewood but there is an Enterprise Rent-A-Car about 1 mile north of Downtown near the border with Ho-Ho-Kus. There is also a multitude of car rental offices in nearby Paramus.

Orientation
Ridgewood is a fairly large town with many different neighborhoods so it is important to get somewhat aqauinted with all of them if you are planning on exploring Ridgewood outside of downtown:
 * Downtown - The central area of the town. Most of what you would want to see and do is in this neighborhood.  It is divided into two areas: East Downtown and West Downtown (separated by the NJ Transit railroad tracks).  East Downtown (which straddles E. Ridgewood Ave. and the surrounding streets) is by far the larger of the two sides and has a vibrant energy to it and is home to "action".  West Downtown (which incorporates the areas around W. Rigewood Ave. and Wilsey Sq.) has more of a quaint and small town attitude to it.  But don't be fooled by the quaint vibe of W. Downtown because most if not all of the stores are luxury stores selling luxury goods.  The main streets of the Downtown neighborhood are Ridgewood Ave. (east to N Maple Ave. and west to Godwin Ave.), Wilsey Sq., Van Neste Sq., Franklin Ave., Godwin Ave., N. Maple Ave., and Broad Street (north of Brogan Cadillac).
 * Broad Street - Straddles Broad Street south of Downtown (After Brogan Cadillac). The grungiest area of Ridgewood is home to mainly multi-family homes and apartment buildings.  Luckily, "the worst part of town" only runs along Broad Street and only a couple houses into the surrounding streets.
 * Old Ridgwood - The oldest part of Ridgewood. Located south of Downtown and east of Broad Street all the way up to the border with Glen Rock).  Mainly homes built on treelined streets, many of which with original stone-paved "gutters" on the sides of the roads.  Home to some of the largest houses in Ridgewood.  Be aware when driving in this area that many of the streets are very narrow and some have not been paved in a very long time leaving ruts and potholes around.  During the winter on icy roads due to the fact that most roads heading east of this area eventually scale a steep and poorly paved road down to other roads.  To avoid the steep icy roads, head west until you hit Broad Street and the head north of Broad Street until you reach downtown.  Head east on E. Ridgewood Ave. and at the intersection with Maple Ave., make a right onto S. Maple Ave.  From here you should be able to access wherever you need to go with going down a steep, poorly pave street.

By foot
Walking is the best way to get around Downtown Ridgewood because it is not very large, but a car will be needed if you plan to get out of Downtown, the best way is with a car because local bus service is limited. To cross to the smaller downtown sector of West Ridgewood, take the pedestrian-only underpass, or the a road with a narrow sidewalk under pass under the train tracks.

By car
The best way to get around Ridgewood outside of Downtown. Traffic in Downtown Ridgewood is somewhat congested and on weekends there is a shortage of parking. On-street parking and public lot parking within Downtown is metered, so be sure to have change with you.

By bus
Local bus service (NJ Transit) is limited and stops within Ridgewood, locally, are few and far between.

See

 * Van Neste Square - the center of East Ridgewood and the center of Ridgewood. Home to Van Neste Park and various monuments, statues, benches and green areas perfect for a picnic.
 * Van Neste Park - a large park in the center of town in East Ridgewood. The centerpoint of Van Neste Square.  Hangout spot for many people.  Monuments, status, benches, and green areas.
 * Wilsey Square - the center of West Ridgewood. Surrounded by shops and eateries.
 * Railroad Square - park area surrounding both sides of the Ridgewood Train Station. Onsite eateries and cafes on the eastern side.
 * Bergen County Public Park (Ridgewood) - the Ridgewood arm of the enormous Bergen County Public Park. The park is set along heavily wooded paths that connect oversized parks in various towns.  Gives a feeling of the forest in the middle of the suburbs.  One could wander around the whole park for days and never go to the same place.  The Ridgewood arm of the park is one of the largest sections and is home to a large pond, a dog park, walking trails, a large playground, as well as parking and restroom facilities.  Located East of downtown near Paramus and Ridgewood High School.

Do
Shop around

Buy

 * Bookends is a bookstore selling a big selection of all types of books including a collection of books on the history of the area.
 * Lucky Brand Jeans Co. has a store right in Downtown Ridgewood across the street from Van Neste Square. (Closed)
 * Arthur Groom & Co. is a high-end purveyor of jewelry and has a convenient Downtown Ridgewood location right at the eastern end of Downtown Ridgewood at the corner of East Ridgewood Ave. and N. Maple Ave.
 * The Shoe-In is a large shoe store on East Ridgewood Ave.
 * Papyrus is a store selling custom cards and stationary. (Closed)
 * Biltmore Tuxedos is the only store selling tuxedos for men in Downtown Ridgewood and has a big sign with the word TUXEDOS printed on it which is one of the icons of Downtown.
 * Gap Kids, Women's Gap, and Ann Taylor all have Downtown Ridgewood locations.

Eat
Ridgewood has a lot of restaurants, serving almost all types of food.

Budget

 * The Office is a large sports bar/restaurant with good food, good drinks, and good prices. Slow service on Friday and Saturday nights.
 * The Country Pancake House is a family-run house of pancakes serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Huge menu of all food and very good prices. Very crowded on weekend mornings as well as late morning, early afternoon on Sundays.
 * Lenny's Pizzeria is a pizzeria restaurant serving Italian favorites and pizza at excellent prices.
 * The Daily Treat is a diner serving typical diner food. Good prices and good food and never more than a few minutes wait for a table.
 * It's Greek To Me is a Greek restaurant serving very good ethnic Greek cuisine at very reasonable prices.
 * Renato's Pizzeria is a standard pizzeria but with very good food and very good prices.
 * Piccolo Pizza is an excellent pizzeria on the northern edge of downtown. Come here to enjoy some of the best pizza in the area.
 * "The Best of Everything" is an Italian restaurant that also provides catering, has by far the best personal pizzas and the best menu that you can either eat there or take away.

Mid-range

 * Taste of Thai Restaurant is an authentic Thai restaurant serving very good Thai food. Very popular with the local crowd.
 * Baumgart's is a classic restaurant and one of the most popular restaurants in Ridgewood. Has a full regular menu serving Asian and American favorites as well as a full sushi menu and a dessert menu which features Baumgart's famous homemade ice cream. Very crowded at most times and usually a long wait for a table but generally it's worth the wait.
 * Winberie's is a restaurant serving American cuisine.
 * Brooklyn Pizzeria is an Italian restaurant serving Brooklyn-style pizza and a menu of Italian entrées, etc.
 * Tabouli is a Lebanese restaurant serving traditional Lebanese and middle eastern dishes at good prices. Overall the food is very good and the service is fast and friendly.
 * "Amano's" is a fabulous restaurant that serves great pizza, with a special type of Italian dough. It tastes very light, much like the famous pizza from Naples. Has fantastic salads and great Italian gelato, reasonable prices

Splurge

 * Dim Sum Dynasty is a fine Chinese restaurant serving high-end cuisine with a full menu of excellent food. As the name suggests, on afternoons on most days of the week, the restaurant serves traditional style dim sum meals with carts carrying items that you pay for a la carte.
 * Kumo is an excellent Japanese restaurant serving a full menu of fine cuisine as well as a full sushi menu.
 * Mela is a restaurant serving Indian and Middle-Eastern cuisine. The food is overall excellent and it has a very nice ambiance as well as good service.
 * Latour is a French bistro serving fine French cuisine at high prices.

Connect

 * Ridgewood Village Council website

Go next
New York City is a short drive, train ride, or bus ride away just try to avoid rush hour or you will be in hours of traffic attempting to cross the Hudson River.

title: Ridgewood


text:
Riding Mountain National Park

Riding Mountain National Park is in the Prairie Mountain region of Manitoba. The park was established in 1929 to protect an area of 2,969 km² of prairie parkland, and designated as part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1986.

Understand
The park sits atop the Manitoba Escarpment. Consisting of a protected area 2,969 km² (1,146 sq mi), the forested parkland stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding prairie farmland. It was designated a national park because it protects three different ecosystems that converge in the area; grasslands, upland boreal and eastern deciduous forests.

History
The first trading post was established on Lake Dauphin north of the present-day park by Hudson's Bay Company in 1741. Pierre de la Verendrye and sons explored the region and traded with First Nations, who hunted and fished in the area for many years. In 1858 Henry Youle Hind, a professor of Biology and Chemistry at the University of Toronto, became one of the first Canadian explorers to reach the area now encompassed by the park during his surveying of what is now Manitoba and Saskatchewan. His explorations helped inform the Government of Canada of the ecological diversity and potential of the Riding Mountain region.

Much of the public infrastructure in Riding Mountain National Park was created during the 1930s by labourers participating in Canada's great depression relief programs. Ten relief camps we're established as a result of the 1930 Unemployment Relief Act and the 1934 Public Works Construction Act. In 1932 most relief workers were British and over half were from Winnipeg. At this time the 1½-storey interpretive centre and several other buildings were built of log, many featuring a rustic architectural style. A lot of this early construction survives to this day.

In the early days of Riding Mountain National Park, Parks Branch Commissioner James Harkin offered Archibald Belaney a job in the region. Belaney, who adopted the name Grey Owl when he took up a First Nations identity as an adult, was a writer and became one of Canada's first conservationists. On April 17, 1931, Grey Owl arrived with his two beavers at a secluded lake several kilometres north of Wasagaming which had been selected by the park staff. He spent six months living in a cabin in Riding Mountain National park studying and working with wildlife, including two beavers named Jelly Roll and Rawhide. His main goal in the park was to re-establish beaver colonies in areas where they had been exterminated. Riding Mountain National Park was found to be an unsuitable habitat for the beavers, as a summer drought resulted in the lake water level sinking, and becoming stagnant. Both the beavers and Belaney were unhappy with the situation, causing Belaney to search for better living conditions. He relocated to Prince Albert National Park, where there was a larger waterway and less risk of the lakes freezing to the bottom in the winter. He is regarded as a legend and major historical figure because of the influence he had on Riding Mountain National Park. The park now has an abundant beaver population partially because of his efforts. His living quarters, now known as "Grey Owl's Cabin", still stand and are a popular tourist attraction.

During World War II, the park was home to the Whitewater labour camp for German prisoners of war. Operating from 1943 to 1945, the camp was built on the northeast shore of Whitewater Lake, approximately 300 km (190 mi) north-west of Winnipeg. The camp consisted of 15 buildings and housed 440 to 450 prisoners of war. The decision to have a prisoner-of-war labour project in the park was the result of a fuelwood shortage in the winter of 1942 and 1943. To free up men for the war effort it was decided that prisoners of war would be employed. Following the end of the war and the achievement of a fuelwood surplus, the camp closed in late 1945. The camp has since been dismantled.

In 1986 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Riding Mountain National Park and the surrounding area Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, as part of its Man and the Biosphere Programme. The Biosphere Reserve is a non-profit volunteer organization managed by representatives from the surrounding area. A Biosphere Reserve Management Committee (BRMC) was created to oversee the area. Biosphere Reserve land outside of Riding Mountain National Park is both privately and publicly owned and managed.

Landscape
During the last ice age most of the vegetation in the Riding Mountain region was eliminated, and it remained this way after the retreat of the glaciers 12,500 years ago. The Riding Mountain upland and surrounding plains and Manitoba Escarpment were mostly carved in the Tertiary era, but the ice sheets of the Pleistocene period modified the drainage and appearance of the land. Only the movement of the last ice sheet in this period left a visible effect on the features of the region. About 11,500 years ago a spruce dominated forest began to emerge in its place, with some of the vegetation being ash, juniper, sedges, buffaloberry, and trembling aspen. After this time the climate was dry, and the percentage of spruce decreased. During the Holocene climatic optimum up until 6500 years ago the amount of herbs, shrubs and grasses in the park increased. At the end of this time beaked hazelnut appeared and the amount of bur oak increased, with the climate becoming cooler and moister. Up to 2,500 years ago the amount of grassland species in general decreased and boreal forests migrated into the Riding Mountain region. It was at this moment that ecosystems began to resemble those of today, with species such as tamarack, fir, alder, pine and spruce becoming more common. Several streams that run through the park have headwaters in Riding Mountain's lakes. Clear Lake's water comes from underground springs rather than from streams.

Flora and fauna
Riding Mountain is a vibrant wilderness oasis, set high above a sea of prairie agricultural lands. Located in the centre of North America, the Boreal Forest, Aspen Woodland, Prairie and Eastern Hardwood Biomes come together. These Biomes, occur on a hilly, 'Pot-and Kettle' glacial moraine with fertile soils and an abundance of wetlands, streams and lakes. This biogeophysical phenomenon creates a mosaic of flourishing ecosystems with an incredible diversity of plant and animal species.

Elk, porcupines, coyotes, moose, wolves, beavers, lynxes, white-tailed deer, snowshoe hares, and cougars are among the animals that roam around this park. Common loons and Canada geese are some of Clear Lake's bird inhabitants. 233 bird species observed in the park. The park also boasts one of the largest populations of black bears in North America. The black bear is one of 60 species of mammals inhabiting the park. There is also a wild bison enclosure located near Lake Audy. 20 bison were reintroduced from Alberta in 1931. As of 2016, Lake Audy supports a population of about 40 captive bison.

Riding Mountain National Park is also well known for its wildflowers and wide range of unique vegetation, most of which is not seen anywhere else in the prairie regions of Canada. There are 669 species of plants in the park. Vegetation common to the region includes aspen poplar, balsam poplar, white birch or paper birch, white spruce, balsam fir, jack pine, black spruce, tamarack, American elm, Manitoba maple, and bur oak.

Climate
The climate in the Riding Mountain region is similar to that of other regions of southwestern Manitoba: a continental climate. It includes grasslands, upland boreal and eastern deciduous forest ecosystems.

The park has hot summers and cold winters, with annual rainfall ranging from 40.6 to 50.8 cm. Around 80 per cent of rainfall occurs between the months of April and October, with June being the wettest month of the year. The increased precipitation during the summer months is due to the large number of lakes and wetlands within the region as well as turbulence caused by the surrounding Manitoba escarpment.

During the winter at an elevation of about the mean snowfall is 127 cm. At a lower altitude of about 335 m the snowfall drops to 25.4 cm. The town site Wasagaming has an average July temperature of  and an average January temperature of. In general there are fewer humid days within the park than in the surrounding prairie region. Wasagaming has lighter winds than the rest of the park due to the surrounding forest cover.

Visitor information
Contact the park office or email: rmnp.info@pc.gc.ca@undefined.
 * Park website
 * The only community in the national park is Wasagaming (often referred to as Clear Lake).
 * The visitor centre is open mid-May to June and Sept to early Oct: 9:30AM-5:30PM, and July and Aug: 9:30AM-8PM.

Get in
Provincial Highway 10 bisects the eastern half of the national park. Brandon is approximately 100 km to the south, Dauphin approximately 30 km to the north. During the winter months, it is not uncommon for Highway 10 to be closed during poor weather. Check local road conditions via Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation or listen to a local radio station.

The park is 3½ hours west of Winnipeg and 3 hours east of Yorkton. The nearest commercial airports are at Dauphin and Brandon. A motor vehicle permit is required and can be purchased at the park gateways.

The closest bus service from Winnipeg will only get you to Dauphin (Nov 2019). From there, you can take a 35-min taxi trip to the park.

Fees and permits
The 2018 daily/annual entrance fees for Riding Mountain National Park are: Daily (2024): Seasonal passes are available for less than the cost of 5 day passes.
 * Adult $9.00
 * Senior $7.75
 * Youth and children free
 * Family/group $17.50

Fishing permits (2024):
 * Daily	$13.50
 * Annual	$46.25

Do
Riding Mountain National Park has over 400 km (250 mi) of trails, with surfaces ranging from being grassy to gravelled. Backpacking trails include Ochre River Trail, South Escarpment Trail, and the Tilson Lake Trail. The Central, Baldy Lake and Strathclair trails are easy cycling trails while the Packhorse, Jet and Baldy Hill trails are more difficult. On most back-country trails horse use is allowed, equipment being provided by local outfitters. During the winter months trails are open to cross-country skiing, which are not patrolled daily.

Lodging
Per night (2024):
 * Yurt (at Wasagaming Campground) or oTENTik (tent on platforms with beds for up to six people) $133.25
 * Microcube at Wasagaming Campground $111

Camping

Unserviced frontcountry campgrounds area also available ($17.50 per night, 2024) at Moon Lake Campground, Lake Audy Campground, Whirlpool Campground, and Deep Lake Campground.

Backcountry
Backcountry campsites are also available; reservations can be made online. Wilderness roofed camping, per night, minimum three persons (2024) $96.75.

Stay safe
Riding Mountain National Park is a safe area to visit, however, common sense is required. Key safety concerns in the park include:
 * Poison ivy
 * Black bears: Riding Mountain is home to a population of black bears.
 * Swimmer's Itch

Be careful when doing outdoor activities during the winter time as temperature can reach as low as -40°C so check local television/radio when going out.

title: Riding Mountain National Park


text:
Riebeek-Kasteel

Riebeek-Kasteel is a town in the Swartland region of the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Get in
By car, via the N7 national road. The nearest airport is Cape Town International.

Do

 * wine farm

title: Riebeek-Kasteel


text:
Riederalp-Bettmeralp

Riederalp and Bettmeralp are two car-free villages in the German-speaking part of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. They are a few kilometres from each other at 1,900 metres.

Understand
Riederalp and Bettmeralp are on a south-facing terrace above the upper Rhone valley. They are both summer and winter resorts. In addition the smaller winter resort of Fiescheralp (not permanently inhabited) lies close but higher at 2,200 metres.

North of Riederalp and Bettmeralp lies the 23 km long Aletsch Glacier, part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO Heritage Site.

Get in
Riederalp can be reached only by cable car from Mörel. Bettmeralp is also reachable by cable car but from Betten Talstation. Mörel and Betten Talstation are located on the railway line between Brig (closest) and Andermatt. The cable cars usually operate from early in the morning until 23:00.

The same applies for Fiescheralp from Fiesch, but with a more restricted timetable.

Get around
A bus connection runs between the two villages during the summer season (from late June to late October). Moreover a 30 minutes walk is sufficient to reach the other. From Bettmeralp a cable car leads to the summit of the Bettmerhorn. The higher summit of Eggishorn can be reached by cable car from Fiescheralp (approx. 1 hours by foot from Bettmeralp).

The village of Belalp enjoys the same situation but lies on the other side of the Aletsch gorge. A footpath with an impressive bridge - the Hängebrücke - connects the two, requiring about 5 hours to cross either way.

You can hire bikes from the cable car station in Betmmeralp. Most travelling is done by foot, however there are many cable cars within a short walking distance from the centre of Bettmeralp to go up mountains like Bettmerhorn and see the magnificent Aletsch Glacier.

Free panoramic maps of the area are widely available at stations and information points. These show walking trails, cable car connections and points of interest.

See

 * The Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps, or even in Europe (23 km).
 * The Aletsch Forest, a wild forest above the glacier filled with rocks carved by the glacier in colder times.
 * The Villa Cassel, former residency of Winston Churchill, nowadays one of the Pro Natura centres. Hosts a permanent exhibition about the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 * The Bettmerhorn which is a mountain approximately 3000 metres high, from where you can see the Aletsch glacier, accessible by cable car from Bettmeralp village.

Do

 * Golf, Riederalp
 * Rent a boat, paddle-board, or go for a very refreshing swim at the Bettmersee, approximately 20-25 minute walk from the cable car station at the beginning of Bettmeralp.
 * Hikes, there are many hikes available; like the 2-2½ hour hike to Fiescheralp where you can take a cable car up a mountain which has views of the Aletsch Glacier.
 * Walk to Villa Cassel, the former home of Winston Churchill, about a 1-1.5hr walk from Bettmeralp or 25 minutes from Riederalp.
 * There is a big sports centre that has a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, water slide, tennis courts, Badminton and a restaurant.
 * There are many inflatables next to the sports centre free for kids to play on.
 * Rent a bike or scooter from the cable car station at the beginning of Bettmeralp and hire a bike/scooter and have a thrilling ride down the mountain or to another village further along the mountain, costs around Fr. 10.
 * The tourist information centres run kids programmes at certain times of the year.

Buy
There is a variety of stores in the village, there are 2 food shops: a very well stocked Coop supermarket and another small supermarket.

Eat
There are many restaurants dotted along the main street with quality food on offer.

Drink
There are many bars along the main street of Bettmeralp and Riederalp frequented by both the locals and tourists.

Sleep
The apartments and houses in the village are generally good value, though they are a lot more expensive in the winter than in the summer. They are usually very clean and up to the standard that one would expect.

title: Riederalp-Bettmeralp


text:
Riesa

Riesa is a city in Saxony.

Understand
Riesa is a mid-sized industrial town, about halfway between Dresden and Leipzig. It is known in the region for its pasta production and its sports tradition. The once dominant steelworks have massively lost in importance, depriving many locals of their jobs.

By plane
Riesa is about 50 km from Dresden airport (one hour by train) and 90 km from Leipzig/Halle airport (one to 1½ hours by train).

By train
Riesa has a station on the Frankfurt–Leipzig–Dresden ICE line (two-hourly) and the Cologne–Hanover–Dresden intercity line (two-hourly). Moreover hourly regional (express) trains connect from Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz, two-hourly from Elsterwerda. It is a 30–45 minutes ride from either Dresden or Leipzig, one hour from Chemnitz, 1:20 from Erfurt, two hours from Magdeburg, 2:15 from Berlin (via Leipzig), 3½ hours from Hanover, 3:40 from Frankfurt.

By bicycle
Riesa is located on the Elbe Radweg (Elbe River cycle route), 53 km from Dresden and 48 km from Torgau.

Buy

 * Pasta made by Teigwaren Riesa

Go next

 * Meißen, former residence of the eponymous Margraviate (precursor of the state of Saxony) with impressive medieval castle and cathedral, internationally known for its porcelain, 30 km southeast (on the Elbe cycle route, upriver). On the way between Riesa and Meißen are several pretty wine-growing villages.
 * Torgau, former residence with Renaissance castle and the first newly-built Protestant church in the world, 40 km northwest (on the Elbe cycle route, downriver)
 * Dresden, state capital with opulent Baroque old town, 50 km southeast (30–45 minutes by train; or cycle the Elbe Radweg upriver)
 * Grimma, well-preserved old town in the Mulde valley, 55 km west
 * Leipzig, major trade and cultural city, 70 km west (30–45 minutes by train)

title: Riesa


text:
Rieti

Rieti is a small city in the region of Lazio in central Italy. It has a population of close to 50,000 and is the capital of the province of Rieti. The beauty of the landscape and the city's quietness, still uninvolved by mass tourism, make it a livable place and a favorite destination for many weekend tourists, coming mainly from Rome.

Understand
Despite being north of Rome, Rieti has a lot more in common with Southern Italy than with Northern Italy, both by culture and by the historically poor economic standard. It is not a mountain town, but the closeness to the Apennines and the bad roads make it seem more distant and less reachable than it really is.

It has an ancient and lasting relationship with Rome, but has equally strong (or even stronger) ties with Umbria (mainly Terni) and Abruzzo (mainly L'Aquila). Until 1927, Rieti's territory wasn't even part of Lazio, being divided between Umbria and Abruzzo. Therefore, despite its current administrative placement in Lazio, it has more similarities with the quietness of Umbria and Abruzzo than with the chaotic metropolis of Rome.

The city centre rests on a small hilltop along the Velino River and overlooks the vast and fertile Rieti Plain or Holy Valley, almost entirely surrounded by mountains. The highest of them is Mount Terminillo, away, an important ski centre. It has a fast athletics circuit and hosts an annual IAAF Grand Prix event at which world records are often broken. For American basketball followers, it is famous as the childhood home of Kobe Bryant.

Long considered the center of Italy (Umbilicus Italiae) since Roman times, Rieti is renowned for its natural resources; nicknamed the "granary of Rome", still today its limpid springs provide about 80% of the capital's drinking water.

History
Rieti is a very ancient city, being founded even before Rome, and it is often called "mother of Rome". Legends state that Rhea Silvia, the mother of Rome's legendary founders Romulus and Remus, came from Rieti; she's depicted in the city emblem. Historically, Rieti belonged to the Sabines, a very powerful people, held as the direct ancestors of many Roman families, as per the Romans' famous myth of the abduction and rape of the Sabine women, which inspired several paintings and songs.

During the 13th century, it became a Papal seat. At that time, Rieti was the last city in the Papal States before the border with the Kingdom of Naples (which was at Cittaducale, a mere stone's throw away), and hence was an important military post. Afterwards, the city's importance declined. In the 20th century, as it became a provincial capital and the see of a small industrial district, it regained a role in the region, one of the province's few areas not to be depopulating. Still, its area remains marginal in Italy's politics and economics.

In addition to being difficult to label, Rieti does not possess a single famous monument or aspect, and its name is often overshadowed by the magnificence of nearby Rome. For all these reasons, it's a little-known city even among Italians: locals are often forced to explain to foreigners where Rieti is, and to correct the demonym: not "rietini", but "reatini". Try not to get it wrong, locals resent it.

Get in

Rieti is a bit away from Italy's main traffic routes: it is not crossed by any toll motorway (autostrada, green on the map), state roads ( blue on the map) are far to be uprated to a double carriageway standard, and the only train link is a lesser, almost forgotten railway.

However, despite the lacking infrastructures, Rieti is still fairly easy to access, since it is only away from Rome.

By car

 * Coming from Rome or from Southern Italy, take the Autostrada A1 toll motorway towards Florence, enter the "Diramazione Roma Nord" branch (Autostrada A1dir Italia.svg), then exit at Fiano Romano (before passing the "Roma Nord" toll booth). Follow directions to "Passo Corese" to enter a short dual carriageway shunt (Strada Statale 4dir Italia.svg). At the end of the dual carriageway trait, you'll find yourself on state road no. 4 "Via Salaria" (Strada Statale 4 Italia.svg), which leads straight to Rieti after about 45 minutes.
 * Coming from the north (Milan, Florence, etc) take the Autostrada A1 toll motorway (Autostrada A1 Italia.svg) and exit at Orte. Then follow the dual carriageway state road to Terni (Strada Statale 675 Italia.svg) for about 20 minutes. East of Terni, take the exit to Rieti to enter the state road no. 79 (Strada Statale 79 Italia.svg), which will lead you to Rieti in about half an hour.

By train
A bit complicated. Surprising as it may be, there is no railway to Rome: politicians have been promising such railway to the local population for over a century, but its funding is not foreseen anytime soon. Instead, Rieti has a less useful and important line, the outdated and underused railway which leads to Terni (Umbria) or L'Aquila (Abruzzo), which is operated with old and rather dirty diesel railcars, although it has a scenic and daring route through the Apennines. Rieti's is north of the mediaeval city centre, just outside the city walls,  from the main Vittorio Emanuele square.
 * Going from Rome to Rieti by train usually requires to take a train to Terni: they start from Rome’s Tiburtina or Termini station, and destination may appear on timetable as "Perugia" or "Ancona" (all of them stop in Terni). Then you have to get off in Terni and wait for the next diesel railcar to Rieti; destination may appear on timetable also as "L'Aquila" or "Antrodoco Centro" (all of them are ok, since all stop in Rieti). There are two direct Rome-Rieti scheduled trains each direction every day, operating from Monday to Friday. These trains spare you having to wait in Terni, but are still slower and less convenient than buses, taking a little less than two hours, and costing €8.40 for each passenger as of October 2018. Rieti's railway line is closed every year, just when many tourists could be willing to visit, from the end of July until the end of August; in that period, trains get replaced by buses, but they're not recommended, since they're even slower than the already slow train.

By bus
A direct line is run by regional company COTRAL, with a bus every half an hour during working days or every hour on Sunday or holidays; it uses much more modern vehicles and is quite comfortable, unless it gets trapped in Rome's terrible traffic. The COTRAL bus starts from Rome's Tiburtina railway station and leaves you in Rieti's, just outside the train station. The ride lasts around one hour and a half or a little more, depending on traffic; the ticket is around €5, and can be bought in most newsstands and tobacconists (tabaccheria), asking for a "fascia D" Cotral ticket.

By plane
There is no commercial airport in Rieti; nearest large airports are Rome's Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino and Ciampino. If you plan to land there, first see here how to get to Rome (it is advised using the FL1 rail line from Fiumicino to the Tiburtina train station), then use train or buses described before to reach Rieti. If you own a small private aircraft, you can land in Rieti's airfield.

By boat
Nearest ferry or cruising ship port is Civitavecchia. To get to Rieti from Civitavecchia by public transport, first go to Rome (see how), then reach Rieti.

By bus

 * To reach Rieti's suburbs or nearby landmarks, you can use the urban bus service run by municipal company ASM. The ticket for a single ride is €0.90 and can be bought in most newsstands, cafes or tobacconists (tabaccheria). The is south of the city centre, far from the COTRAL bus terminal, but a mere  from the Roman Bridge. Useful lines include the 333 line to Fonte Colombo, the 114 line to La Foresta, and the 513 line to Mount Terminillo.

On foot
Rieti's mediaeval city centre is quite small and easy to walk, if you're not too tired. It's better to leave the car outside the city walls, since there is little parking space inside the old town, and traffic is subject to limitations on certain areas (zona a traffico limitato or ZTL).

Main square
Immediately out of the train and COTRAL bus station, before crossing the street on the crosswalks, you will see the Nearest city gate is
 * After crossing the street, the

After a while, you will be in the main square, piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, the highest point of the city. Notable elements in the square include:

 * Palazzo Comunale also hosts the
 * Palazzo Comunale also hosts the

From the main square to west
Via Cintia goes downhill until the northwestern Porta Cintia city gate. Sights include:

From the main square to east

Going east from the main square, Via Garibaldi goes downhill until the eastern Porta d'Arci city gate. Sights include:

 * In the same square, you will also find
 * In the same square, you will also find

From the main square to south
Via Roma, a street filled of shops and boutiques, goes downhill until reaching the Velino riverside. Sights include:

 * Remains of the

Eat

 * Il Nido del Corvo is in the small village of Greccio on the left of the road from Rieti to Terni. Specialized in local dishes, it's on the edge of a hill, with great views of the surrounding countryside.

Dudas Epicurateca is a wine bar/enoteca in the old city, that has a lovely outdoor terrace with stunning views of the surrounding area. The food is mainly small dishes based on local produce, the wine list extensive. The owner will help with suggestions and will make combinations to order. An {almost) hidden gem. Via dei Crispolti 26.

Connect

 * Several areas in the city centre are covered by the municipal Wi-Fi network called "RietiFree", which lets you surf the internet for free; you are required to sign up at your first connection.
 * Several areas in the city centre are covered by the municipal Wi-Fi network called "RietiFree", which lets you surf the internet for free; you are required to sign up at your first connection.

Go next

 * Skiing is available at nearby Monte Terminillo.
 * There are several national parks in the area and many opportunities for walks.
 * Holy Valley of Saint Francis around Rieti.
 * Marmore Waterfall and Lake of Piediluco

title: Rieti


text:
Rieti (province)

Rieti is a province of Lazio Region of Italy.

Other destinations

 * - an active ski resort.
 * (Sabina)
 * (Sabina)

title: Rieti (province)


text:
Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Rietvlei Nature Reserve is a small reserve in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.

Understand
Rietvlei (Reed marsh) covers 38 km2 and has 40 km of roads that are open to the public (30 km tarred and 10 km dirt road) for self-drive game viewing. The Rietvlei and Marais dams are inside the reserve.

The reserve consist of three main areas:

The only boats allowed on the dams are those operated from the Yacht Club. Powerboats are forbidden as the noise disturbs the wildlife.

The reserve is generally not very busy. You will often have a bird hide all to yourself and there is seldom anyone else around to make noise and scare away the wildlife.

Summer is excellent for bird watching as many of the migrating species will also be found in the reserve, but the long lush grass may obscure some of the other wildlife. Rhino may be especially difficult to spot. Some antelope species will still be easily visible due to their size and the fact that they graze along the hill sides.

The Rietvlei dam supplied about 5% of Tshwane's water supply.

Volunteers
To be involved with a team of volunteers at Gauteng's Rietvlei Nature Reserve, visit the web site of the Friends of Rietvlei: www.friendsofrietvlei.org

History
The government bought Rietvlei on 2 Sept 1929 as Rietvallei (Extent 1), from DM Munro, in order to build the Rietvlei dam. As part of the Rietvlei water scheme, the Rietvlei dam was built in 1934 on the Six Mile Spruit. The dam wall is an earth structure and was built completely by hand. Donkey carts were used to cart soil onto site and remove any soil and other material that was no longer required. Many horse shoes lost by these working donkeys can still be found in the hill behind the Yacht Club.

In 1948 the city of Pretoria, which owns the land, proclaimed the area a nature reserve.

Landscape
Mostly open grassland covering low hills with indigenous tree in small groups. Rare for South Africa, it also contains a peat wetland area. An ancient lava stream runs north–south through the park.

The dams are fed by the Six Mile Spruit, four fountains on the reserve, and one fountain from an adjacent property.

Flora and fauna
The reserve has 272 bird and 530 plant species. 1 600 head of game, including someblesbuck, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, Burchell's zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck, springbuck, mountain reedbuck, steenbok and grey duiker can be viewed here. From your own vehicle it is easy to spot these animals on the open plains. Lions can be seen with a game drive from the Coffee Shop in as separately fenced off area.

Climate
The reserve has a typical Hightveld climate with hot days regularly followed by short and intense afternoon thunderstorms in summer. The thunderstorms are often accompanied by lightning and occasionally result in hail. Summer temperatures range between 16 °C at night to 30 °C during the day. Winters are mild and dry with temperatures averaging between a minimum of 5 °C and a maximum of 20 °C.

Get in
The reserve is just off the R21 between Pretoria and OR Tambo International Airport.

Take exit 12 (M31 Nellmapios Dr., Irene) from the R21, turn towards the east (there is a brown information sign boards indicating the reserve), at the first 4-way stop, turn right and about 2.5 km down the road you will find another brown information sign board indicating a left turn towards the reserve entrance.

Gates are open for day visitors from 6AM to 5PM in summer (September to March) and 6AM to 4PM in winter. Day visitors are required to leave the reserve by 7PM in summer and 5PM in winter.

Fees and permits
Entrance to the reserve costs R55 per adult, R30 for children (6–16 years) R10 children (2–5 years) and free for children under 2. The disabled or elderly (over 60 proof required) pay R32 entrance fee. Six month season tickets Adults R795 and children/pensioners R370

Access to the Angling area is also R40 and the reserve can be accessed from the angling area.

Get around
The easiest option for day visitors is to self-drive. 30 km of tarred and 10 km of dirt road is provided for this. Speed limit within the reserve is 30 km/h.

See

 * Wildlife
 * A stone rampart build by the British forces during the Boer wars.
 * An old homestead dating back to the 1900s

Buy
There is a shop in the reserve, the Rietvlei Coffee Shop. There is a Woolworths convenience shop just outside the reserve, at the Engen service station on the intersection of the M37 and M31. The Irene Village Mall is located at the offramp from the R21, about 4 km from the reserve.

Eat
There is the Rietvlei Coffee Shop in the reserve, and there is no restriction on what food you may take in for your own consumption.

Do not feed the animals.

Drink
Buy drinks in the reserve at the Coffee Shop. Municipal water on tap at most places where you may exit your vehicle is safe to drink.

Alcohol is allowed in the reserve, but anyone found intoxicated will be asked to leave.

Stay safe
There are dangerous animals in the park. Only exit your vehicle at designated areas, such at the picnic spot, bird hides, lapas and camping sites.

No swimming is allowed in any of the dams as they are home to hippos and crocodiles.

Go next
There are a number of other small areas within Gauteng that has not yet been overrun by human expansion and development

 * Some areas around Hartebeespoort is still undeveloped and offers country accommodation.
 * Some areas around Hartebeespoort is still undeveloped and offers country accommodation.
 * Some areas around Hartebeespoort is still undeveloped and offers country accommodation.
 * Some areas around Hartebeespoort is still undeveloped and offers country accommodation.

title: Rietvlei Nature Reserve


text:
Riffa

Riffa is the second largest city in Bahrain.

Do

East Riffa is home to Bahrain's National Stadium, where most football matches and important sports events in Bahrain take place.

Buy
The city has several shopping malls and two main shopping streets; Riffa Bazaar and Bukuwara Street Market.

Cope
L

title: Riffa


text:
Rifle

Rifle is a town in the northwestern part of the state of Colorado, in the United States of America.

title: Rifle


text:
Riga

Riga is the financial, creative, and cultural centre of Latvia. It is the capital and the largest city in Latvia, it is also the largest city in the Baltic States. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga, at the mouth of Daugava, Riga has a population of approximately 640,000 inhabitants, or 1/3 of the population of Latvia. The city was part of many empires throughout history, each of which has left its mark on the city. It is famous for Art Nouveau and wooden architecture. Riga's historical centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Districts
There are many administrative districts in Riga. However, almost all tourist attractions, historic buildings and hotels are contained within the borders of the relatively small and walkable Centra rajons district, which is made up of Vecrīga (the old town) and Centrs (the modern-day business district). However if you have already seen the more famous attractions in the city centre, the outer districts do have their own draws too.

On both sides of the mouth of Daugava river, the Gulf of Riga offers extensive sandy seaside beaches, which can be reached by city bus or train. A nude beach can be found a 15-minute walk out of Vecāķi.

Understand
Riga is famous for its world heritage-listed old town (Vecrīga) and city centre (Centrs), in which over 800 buildings — a third of all buildings — are of the Art Nouveau (aka Jugendstil) style of architecture and thus Riga is one of the best destinations to see this architectural style. Chiefly built in the first years of the 20th century, many of Riga's Art Nouveau buildings were created by ethnic Latvian architects unlike earlier buildings in the city. The Art Nouveau style involves intricate building facades, with carvings of flowers and mythological creatures, and ornate doorways and windows.

A considerable part of the old town was either destroyed by fire or destroyed by the Germans in World War II but many old buildings were also spared. The old town was a draw of the city during the Soviet times and it received protected status in 1967. The damaged parts, most notably the House of the Blackheads, were restored in the late 1990s, mainly to make Riga more attractive as a tourist destination. Another thing that attracts visitors, especially young adults, is the lively nightlife and discount airlines that offer cheap flights to/from much of Europe.

Riga is bisected by the river Daugava. Old (medieval) town is in the centre of the city on the east side of the river. It is surrounded by a ring of ~19th–early 20th-century architecture including the Art Nouveau buildings described above, followed by a mix of private 2-floor house districts (many also pre-World War II) and Soviet-era 5-18 floor apartment districts. Especially near railroad lines, they are interspersed with industrial plants from different eras, including some from the Imperial Russian era.

History
Riga was founded in 1201 by Albert of Bremen as a port city and a base to conquer and convert the native Livonians to Christianity, a goal that was achieved in 1206 after a battle in Turaida during the Northern Crusades. Riga developed as the major trade hub of the area during the peak of the Hanseatic League in the 13th to the 15th centuries and was ruled by the Archbishop of Riga. The Reformation reached Riga in 1522, which ended the Archbishops' power. In 1621, Riga became part of the Kingdom of Sweden, although it maintained a great deal of autonomy. In 1710, an invasion by Peter the Great of Russia ended Swedish rule and cemented Russian influence on the city.

Latvia declared its independence on November 18, 1918. It was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. Riga served as the capital of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Germans have inhabited the city since its establishment by Albert, and throughout most of its history, Germans were the elite while Latvians remained a lower class. The Germans' position as the elite continued through the Imperial period of Riga, visible in some of the architecture of the city. The Germans were forcibly evicted after the Nazi occupation of 1941-44.

Talk
The official language of Latvia is Latvian; however, in Riga, the majority of the population speaks both Latvian and Russian, and ethnic Russians form slightly more than a third of the city's population. English is widely spoken by younger people and by people in the tourism industry. German is also commonly spoken by tour guides.

Visitor information

 * Official website

By plane

Many flights to/from Riga are operated by Air Baltic, Ryanair, and Wizz Air.

There are designated areas in the airport where smoking is allowed.

Getting there and away:

 * Bus 22 run between the airport and the old town, with a stop near the central bus and railway stations as well as Old Town. These buses operate as any other public transport in Riga; see Riga for more information on riding the buses. The journey to the old town takes 30-40 minutes. The buses are available 24 hours, although in the night they might run less often. The bus stop is easy to reach - at the far end of the parking lot opposite the entrance of the terminal. There is a ticket machine at the bus stop or tickets can be bought at the Narvessen shop on the departure or arrivals level in the airport or in the app. Price of a single ticket is €1.50. Bus can get crowded if there are many incoming flights.
 * The ride to the centre by taxi takes 15 minutes. Official vouchers are available for purchase but for a very high price (€33). Some taxis will illegally try to charge even more.
 * The best way to hire a taxi is to use the Bolt Taxi mobile app, which allows you to see the rates being charged, time to pickup, enter the destination, and pay with the credit card that is linked to your account.
 * Baltic Taxi runs taxi service from the airport to the centre for a fixed price of €15 if booked online or via metered rates if paid to the driver. Service to the old town takes 15 minutes.
 * Red Cab Taxi offers metered taxi services from the airport. A journey to the city centre costs approximately €12 and the ride takes 15 minutes, depending on the traffic. Wheelchair accessible mini-vans are available but must be pre-ordered.

 * It is common in Riga to use carsharing apps, which are cheaper than a taxi. Some cars are usually available near airport for taking. Download and register on Bolt or Citybee apps before you arrive.

By bus
There are international bus connections to anywhere in Europe, including frequent service to Tallinn and Tartu in Estonia, and Vilnius and Kaunas in Lithuania. is just outside the old town. As of October 2023 there is substantial road and tramway construction underway around the bus station. Expect traffic snarls throughout most of the day. Pedestrian access is also presently limited and may require stairs or negotiating un-even terrain.

 * Ecolines - operates service between Riga and most major cities in Europe.
 * Eurolines Lux Express - Comfortable & free coffee. Buses to Tallinn or Vilnius take about 4 hours and cost €15-28, but with discounts to €7-9 if you book early. Buses to Saint Petersburg cost €35.
 * Flybus - Service between Riga and the airports of Kaunas and Vilnius.
 * Traveller Tours - Minibus sightseeing tours from Tallinn to Riga, stopping off at different sights along the way. €55

By train
AS Pasazieru vilciens (meaning "Passenger Trains Company") operates service to many cities in Latvia, including the suburbs of Riga. You can book tickets online via the Latvian Railways site up to 45 days in advance, but tickets must be collected from a station in Latvia.

From 27 Dec 2023 a daily train plies from Lithuania. It leaves Vilnius at 06:30, calling at Siauliai, Joniškis and Jelgava, to reach Riga by 10:45. The southbound train leaves Riga around 15:30 to reach Vilnius at 19:50. The adult single fare is €24 in second class. Since 2022 no trains run from Russia, Belarus or Ukraine.

Trains from Estonia are suspended pending completion of the Rail Baltica project. It's no longer possible to work-around using local trains via Valga.

By car
Riga has good road connections with Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus. Riga is on the Via Baltica and ~300 km from Tallinn and Vilnius. In the city centre, you have to pay a fee for public parking which varies depending from distance to the centre.

On foot
Vecrīga is comprised mainly of rounded cobblestone streets that may be hard to walk on if you are not wearing proper shoes. Outside of Vecrīga, most streets are paved with asphalt, although some smaller streets may be unpaved. Sidewalks are predominantly concrete everywhere. Vecrīga is best explored on foot. Due to the neglected drainage system, the streets may be flooded during heavy downpours.

By public transport

The city-owned Rigas Satiksme operates the trams (street-cars), buses, and trolleybuses. They all use the same e-ticket system called e-talons. A single fare covers any amount of rides on any route independent of the distance and is valid for 90 minutes. The Rigas Satiksme website provides a great interface for planning a trip within Riga. Also, for routes, timetables and live (bus and tram) traffic see this mobile friendly page and Trafi route planner.

Single fares are €1.5 for bus/tram/trolleybus/ trips if an e-talon card is purchased in advance from a ticket office, vending machine, press kiosk, Narvesen shop, app or other location listed on the Rigas Satiksme website. These electronic tickets are for one time charge only, without deposit. You pay the number of rides that you want on them (even if it is just one ride), and discard after using up all rides. Unlimited ride 24-hour cards cost €5.00, 3-calendar-day cards cost €8, and 5-calendar-day cards cost €10. The cards all are activated by using the yellow device in the vehicles. You must activate all cards every time that you enter a vehicle. On some Latvian public holidays (January 1st, May 4th, June 23rd and 24th, November 18th, December 31st) Riga public transport is free.

Tram lines are numbered 1–11; bus lines are numbered 1-55; trolley bus lines are numbered 1–27. Night buses are numbered N1-N10. While the numbers are similar, the routes are completely different - i.e. bus #2 is totally different from trolleybus #2. Tram numbers on stops are identified by "Tr", buses (not trolleybuses) by "A". Stops are marked by a blue rectangular sign with a stylized white image of the vehicle and lists the numbers that stop there. Timetables and stops of the route are also usually posted at stops and are fairly accurate. Bus routes are marked "A", but tram and trolley bus routes are marked "T" on timetables, except tram timetables should have red background for the "T" letter and trolley bus—yellow. The vehicles include an LCD screen with next stop information.

Trams are generally the fastest public transportation apart from trains. Although they are on street level and the rails are not physically separated from the rest of the traffic, in all but the busiest rush hours they have the right of way.

By bicycle
SIXT Latvia operates self-service bicycle rentals at bicycle stands across the city. The service is available to both residents and guests of Riga. You must have a mobile phone to register, but registration is free. The bikes have 3 speeds and lights, but no helmets. The advertised price on the website is €0.90 per 30 minutes, with a maximum of €9 per day. However, the effective amount charged seems to be €0.99 (Oct 2017) per half hour (the first minute of a subsequent half hour counts as a full 30 minutes).

Alternatively, ask your hotel if they provide bicycle rental.

Downtown Rīga has a lot of cobblestone streets, so be prepared for a bumpy ride. Bike lanes and paths exist but are not always marked clearly. On main roads, you may occasionally end up finding yourself on the wrong side of a guardrail.

By electric scooter
From April to September a good way to go short distances is by electric scooter, which are abundant on city streets. Download Bolt, Citybee or Tuul apps to use them. As with bicycles, be careful when driving cobblestone streets. If you are 17 years of age or under, you need protective gear. It is illegal for two or more people to ride electric scooter. Price starts from 0.70 EUR for an ultra short ride, up to 3 EUR or more for a half-hour or longer ride.

By taxi
The best way to hire a taxi is to use the Bolt, Yandex Go, Panda Taxi or Red Cab mobile app, which allow you to see the rates being charged, time to pickup, enter the destination, and pay with the credit card that is linked to your account.

If you hail a random taxi on the street, be aware that the taxi may not follow the most direct route and may use a meter rate that will significantly overcharge you.

By car
It is not advisable to get around Riga by car unless you need to move things around. The street infrastructure has the same capacity as when it was initially planned a hundred years ago or more, and traffic congestions are the norm during working hours, which is most of the day. Traffic can be extremely slow, especially on the bridges.

It can be difficult to find a parking spot in Riga during working hours. In the very centre and the old town of Riga and on the Ķīpsala island parking services require a fee in certain streets. In the old town this can be up to €8/hour.

There are several car rental offices at the Riga airport as well as in other parts of the town. You can even rent a cheap Soviet-style car.

Drunk driving
Driving drunk is considered a serious law violation. Besides high fines and a seized driving license you can easily end up serving 10-15 days in an administrative arrest. Maximum alcohol contents in the blood must not exceed 0.05 g/dL. There are plenty of police patrols and it is very common to be stopped for an alcohol test.

By carsharing
It is common in Riga to use carsharing apps. There are almost always some cars available near the center. The price is based on distance and time, but as a rule of thumb, it is usually about 30-40% cheaper than a taxi. Hourly / daily and even monthly packages are available. Download and register on Bolt, Citybee, Fiqsy apps before you arrive (driving license must be uploaded and approved). There is even a Tesla carsharing app available - check OX Drive app.

By boat
Boat service is available from May to September from/to Jūrmala. The boats stop in Riga stop near the Stone Bridge (Akmens Tilts), which is right next to the House of Blackheads/Riga Tourist Information Centre, in the old town. The trip costs €15-20 and takes 2½ hours -- it is much slower and more expensive than train service.

See
For tourists, the most interesting districts are Vecrīga (the UNESCO-listed Old Town) and the area around the nearby Freedom Monument, which do double duty as the setting of Riga's foremost historic sites and the centre of its burgeoning nightlife. In Vecrīga, the two main clusters of historic sites lie just a few blocks from each other: Town Hall Square, which contains the striking 13th-century House of Blackheads, the Town Hall (built in 2003 as a down-to-the-last-detail copy of the 17th-century original), and Riga Cathedral and the square surrounding it. There you'll also find important museums such as the National History Museum of Latvia (in Riga Castle) and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia (closed for refurbishment until late 2018, with the exhibition moved to temporary premises), as well as remnants of the Medieval-era city fortifications popping up here and there.

Further out from Vecrīga is Riga's modern-day downtown (Centrs). Aside from the aforementioned Freedom Monument, architecture buffs flock here to admire the beautifully preserved Art Nouveau row houses on Alberta iela and other nearby streets — one of the densest clusters of architecture of that style in the world — as well as still more museums, such as Latvia's National Museum of Art.

However, there are places worth visiting outside the city centre. Some other old and well-preserved urban districts that are relatively unvisited by tourists include Agenskalns and Tornakalns, just over the Stone bridge. Further out, the residential areas on the periphery of town are largely made up of gray apartment blocks built in the typically Soviet style. These areas are nearly identical to those all over Eastern Europe. However, they do give an idea of how the vast majority of the people in Riga live and of the history of the area.

The Riga Pass, which costs, has discounts for museums and some tourist attractions.

Organised tours
The tourist office, inside the House of Blackheads, offers guided tours and free pamphlets, complete with detailed descriptions of many buildings, for independent walks. These walks cover the old town, the nearby city centre sights, and the Art Nouveau district. It's easy to do each of these in around an hour, or linger and read every detail in the booklet. In the absence of any signs or plaques around the city, the booklet gives you an insight to what you are seeing.

Many private companies offer organized tours of Riga. Options include bike tours, Segway tours, pub crawls, hop-on-hop-off bus tours, walking tours, free tours, and tours focused on a certain aspect of Riga - away from the touristy old town.

Do
If you're interested in classical culture, head to the National Opera in the Old Town to enjoy opera or ballet or to the Koncertzāle Ave Sol a little further north. The city has several pleasant parks, notably around the city canal and further north into Centrs. Another interesting park is Mežaparks in the north of the city with beautiful old villas and Riga's zoo.

It's also possible to do a boat ride on the canal, making a tour around the old town on the Daugava river. Start point is near the Freedom Monument.

Also, check out the nearby sights of the Riga region, some of which allow for a good day trip from Riga due to the frequent and comprehensive travel options of the region.

 * Football: the men's national soccer team play home games at Daugava Stadium, 3 km east of city centre. The city has three clubs playing soccer in Virslīga, the top tier: Riga FC, RFS and Metta. FK Auda play at Kekava 15 km south. The playing season is April-Nov.

Adrenaline sports
Riga and its surroundings are popular destinations for adrenaline sports, which can be booked online, from most hostels and hotels, or from any local travel agent. The activities generally include transfers to/from your accommodation and all necessary supplies. Popular activities include bobsledding, AK-47 shooting (€40), bungee jumping from a cable car, scenic flights, canoeing, kayaking, go-karting, golfing, paintball, drift biking, husky dog sledding (€40), indoor skydiving (€60), laser tag in an old factory (€50) and driving a 4x4 off-road.

Jewish legacy
Riga had a significant Jewish population during the Russian Empire period and therefore has a significant Jewish legacy.
 * Great Choral Synagogue ruins
 * Jews in Latvia museum
 * Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust museum

Soviet legacy
Usually remembered as a period of pity and shame (depends on who you ask though), Latvia was part of USSR for almost 50 years and was twice occupied by Soviets (in 1940 and 1944). This period is characterized by mass building of cheap and brutalist residential "sleeper" districts (to accommodate large influx of immigrants from "brotherly" Soviet republics), as well as some remarkable Stalinist style architecture. Some places worth attention are:
 * Latvian Academy of Sciences - in the city centre, it is an example of Stalinist "Birthday cake" architecture ((sometimes referred to as Socialist Classicism). The spire was originally decorated with a wreath and a five pointed star, which was removed after Latvia regained independence in 1991. The building is a cousin to similar Stalin-era skyscrapers and resembles many others built in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc at the time, most notably the main building of Moscow State University and Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science. There is an observation dock on the top, price to visit is 6 EUR.
 * Spilve Airport - a half-abandoned terminal building, which originally was completed in 1954, still remains as a notable example of Stalin's neoclassical architecture. There is a hammer and sickle on top of the building in all its glory - one of the few places where this symbol of USSR was not torn down and remains openly seen (it is illegal to display it in Latvia except in historical context). A large technical school existed here until the 1990s for major Soviet aircraft types, including Ilyushin Il-18, Ilyushin Il-62 and Tupolev Tu-134. On the other side (through the gate) is a cafe/bar with a nice view on airfield and for watching young pilots training (open in summertime), and it is also possible to see the original airport inner façade, with signs both in Latvian and Russian language. There are also tours available inside the building from time to time, but you'll need to ask around or contact Spilve airport directly. The tour is definitely worth it - interior is lavish, well kept, with intricate details. Interestingly, the airport building was a scene of many rave parties in the 90s. Socialist realism wall paintings are the best - each one of them has a story!
 * Bolderaja district - a tour there is recommended for the adventurous types and ones who wish to really know what was living in Soviet Latvia possibly like. Most of the Soviet-built brutalist houses there, both from Stalin's and Khrushchev's era, still stand there with little or no renovation. Silikatu iela is a good place to start exploring. A former semi-military zone (due to its closeness to strategically important mouth of river Daugava), very different from modern Riga, eerily empty and atmospheric, it seems frozen in time. Some folks living there have not ventured outside it for tens of years. Check out the local bathhouses ("pirts" in Latvian) and authentic eatery / restaurant (Rozā pērle). There is also an interesting fortress nearby - Daugavgrivas cietoksnis - a closed military zone on weekdays, but available for visitors on weekend. The oldest, pre-Soviet part, still hosting a number of original fishermans' houses and local river "beach" frequented by locals, is located around Liela iela, Miglas iela and Kodola iela. You might also try to reach the nearby sea beach and have a swim while watching ships entering / departing Riga port. Bolderaja district area is not frequently visited by tourists, so try not to disturb locals and attract too much attention to yourself. Reachable by bus #3 from city center in about 30 minutes.
 * Cafe "Veronika - if you haven't had enough of Soviet "aesthetics", you might try to visit this eatery and have a Soviet - style meal. It is close to the center, but a bit difficult to find, this is another place which seems frozen in time. It is very cheap (a day offer can be had for 4 euros) and includes authentic service from the bygone times - a buffet-style choice, aluminum pots, self service for dishes, artificial marble columns and wall / ceiling paintings. As with Bolderaja district, keep in mind, this is not a tourist attraction but an actual eatery for working class, so keep your profile low and be polite with the staff / locals. Address: Ganibu dambis 18c, search Google Maps for location and photos.

Buy
Buy items like amber and wool mittens and socks in the central market or throughout Vecrīga in little stands. You might haggle and get good prices for souvenirs.

During the Christmas season there is a small Christmas market in the main square of old town which offers lots of festive fare and hot wine.

Like in other cities around the world, you can find shopping malls in the suburbs along most major thoroughfares. While not attractions in themselves, they may come in handy especially if you get around by car; you can buy things you need on your trip, some Latvian specialties to bring home or have a quick meal there.

Eat

Riga, as the most vibrant and cosmopolitan city of the Baltics, offers countless opportunities to sample both local cuisine and international favorites. Latvian food can be hearty, using a lot of potato, cabbage, beef, pork and fish. A diversity of foreign cuisines is also available — sushi restaurants in particular are in vogue.

The most central districts Vecriga and Centrs are the places to go for the widest selection of restaurants, though there are certainly also places to eat elsewhere in the city. There are a couple of local restaurant chains that have eateries in many different parts of Riga:

Cafes
Black coffee in Latvia is traditionally served unfiltered and quite strong in small cups. If you are used to filtered coffee, you may want to have a "white coffee" (with either milk, whipped milk or cream), or you want to have a glass of water on the side. Coffee "to go" has become increasingly popular, and many of the coffee chains offer coffee served in paper cups with lids.

In addition to the independent coffee shops listed in district articles, several international coffee chains such as Double Coffee, Coffee Inn, and Costa Coffee, have locations in Riga.

Bars
Riga is a major nightlife destination for tourists and bars here are often open later than those in other European cities. On average, bars in Vecrīga will charge €2-3 per beer and bars outside of Vecrīga will charge €1.50-2 per beer. A specialty liquor is Riga Balsam, which is an acquired taste.

Clubs
Riga is known for a sparkling nightlife. There is a difference in style between 'Russian' clubs and 'Latvian' clubs.

Sleep
Hotels and hostels in general offer free WiFi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards.

Unsurprisingly the largest concentration of hotels are in and around Vecrīga. For budget accommodation, head to the eastern half of the old town and the surroundings of the railway station. Upscale hotels are to be found in the core of Vecrīga and around the Esplanade Park in Centrs.

Stay safe
As with neighboring Vilnius and Tallinn, Riga is generally safe if you know how to take the basic precautions. Riga's old town is extremely safe at all times, as are the city's major thoroughfares. On the other hand, certain areas in the city's western parts have had their share of crime since the fall of the USSR.

Many Latvians will tell you that any Russian-speaking neighborhood is rife with crime and violence. While this may be blown out of proportion due to historical tensions, poorer parts of Riga with significant Russian populations do need to be avoided after dark.

Alcohol consumption in Riga is high and bar fights are relatively common. It is wise to be level-headed and not escalate a situation. See the info box in the Riga section regarding common bar scams in Riga.

Embassies
Many details can also be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/latvia

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * Georgia
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇮🇪 Ireland
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇳🇴 Norway
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
The Baltic states are compact and virtually all of the region is within 300 km of Riga, at least as the crow flies. All of Latvia and a large part of what Estonia and Lithuania has to offer is doable as a daytrip if you have a car. However, larger cities listed below do have several days' worth of attractions.

Latvia

 * Sigulda – A town in central Latvia with many interesting castles and historic points of interest. Probably, the most popular destination outside of Riga for foreign tourists, also due to its closeness.
 * Jūrmala – A popular holiday and sea resort town with wooden houses just west of Riga, which claims to have the longest beach in Northern Europe.
 * Salaspils – a former German concentration camp site 15 km southeast of Riga.
 * Ligatne – A village fairly well known for its nature trails, with a great natural park with wildlife animals and "fairy tale" forests with characters from famous Latvian fairy tales. Nearby, also an old Soviet bunker complex can be visited, which was built in case of a nuclear war.
 * Cēsis – One of the country's oldest towns. It has an impressive castle complex of Livonian Order origin, a charming city centre with some cobblestoned streets, and historic wooden buildings.
 * Liepāja – Named "the city of wind", and the southwestern most city of Latvia. Famous for its sandy beach, numerous music events, and the largest organ in the world. It features modern architecture and a long history along with the formerly secret Soviet military neighbourhood of Karosta (literally: War Port).
 * Valka – A unique town on the Estonian border, which runs through the town centre, creating Valga on the other side. It is close to regaining the status of an important cultural centre.

Estonia

 * Tartu – Museum-rich and hanseatic city on the banks of the Emajõgi River. Also, Estonia's second-largest and oldest city, intellectual hub famous for its universities, and a lively student city. Accessible from Riga by direct bus.
 * Tallinn – The capital, and financial and cosmopolitan centre of Estonia, with a medieval Old Town. Beautiful and expensive. A 5-hour bus trip from Riga.
 * Pärnu – Estonia's 4th largest city and the summer capital of Estonia, popular for its balneo-therapy complexes and spa centres, surrounded by numerous beaches, little more than halfway to Tallinn.

Lithuania

 * Vilnius – The capital of Lithuania; a 5-hour bus trip from Riga.
 * Kaunas – The second-largest city in Lithuania.
 * Klaipėda – A beach town near Nida and the Curonian Spit.
 * Šiauliai – Famous for the Hill of Crosses.

Sweden

 * Stockholm - accessible via direct ferry from Riga; 17-hour journey

title: Riga