text:
Ascension

Ascension Island is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the equator, 700 miles (1150 km) northwest of Saint Helena, the United Kingdom territory by which it is administered.

Understand
This barren and not yet inhabited island was discovered and named by the Portuguese in 1501. The British garrisoned the island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena and it served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena. During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct Wideawake airfield on Ascension in support of trans-Atlantic flights to Africa and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In 1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces during the Falklands War, and for a short period prior was one of the busiest airfields in the world, with over 400 take-offs and landings each day. It remains a critical refuelling point in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.

The climate on Ascension Island is subtropical. It is arid and lacking in vegetation until the elevation increases where lush forest and fertile soil exists.

The main settlement is Georgetown where the tourist information office is in the Obsidian Hotel (see Sleep).

Get in

Visitors can apply for an E-visa, which must be applied for no less than 14 days before arrival. Applying later than this may result in the visa being refused, even if you meet the requirements. Tourist visas cost £20 for adults, and £5 for under 12s.

By boat

 * The Royal Mail Ship Saint Helena retired from passenger service and its site states that flights are available.

Get around
There is no public transport (not even taxis) on Ascension. Obsidian offers car rentals for £15/day.

Do
Sport fishing is the main attraction for visitors to Ascension Island. There are also some beaches and ocean swimming in certain coves, such as Comfortless Cove and English Bay. Long Beach, as inviting as it looks, has a very hazardous undertow and is not suitable for sea bathing. However, it is a sheer delight for wildlife fans as this is where sea turtles go to nest. There are a few paths (such as Rupert's Path) suitable for hiking into the more lush highlands, as well as mountainside lava tubes to explore. The pastime of letterboxing, hiking to a destination that contains a "letterbox" containing a log book and a rubber stamp pad, is possible here.

Ascension Island features what was at one time reputed to be the world's worst golf course. Located between the settlements of Two Boats village and Georgetown, the course has 18 holes and the greens are better described as 'browns' due to the sand and oil mix used to make them. The rest of the course is made up of volcanic ash and rock, which makes for some interesting rounds.

There is some terrific scuba diving in the waters surrounding Ascension Island. There are only local enthusiasts, however, and no recognized diving operation. Some of locals are often willing to take experienced visitors with them

There are fumaroles and lava tunnels to explore (at Command Hill, near the Catholic Grotto).

Money
Ascension Island uses the Saint Helena pound (₤) as its currency, which is fixed to the British pound at a value of 1:1. Saint Helena pound can't be obtained outside Saint Helena or Ascension so bring British pounds in cash.

Shopping
The grocery store and almost every other business on the island have odd hours of operation (for example, the petrol station on Tuesdays is open 14:00-15:00), so make sure you note the times on the first day.

The Obsidian Hotel has a nice gift shop with some good books and their T-shirts are renowned.

Eat
Because everything is imported, prices for food are very high on the island. If you get the chance to go out fishing with the locals, you may walk away with a bag of tuna. Sometimes the community hosts a fish fry that is open to everyone.

There are very few places to eat, with odd opening hours

Sleep
The only hotel, Obsidian, with restaurant and car hire, closed September 2017.

Stay healthy
Tap water is drinkable.

Connect
The country code for Ascension is 247 and the population is too small to need area or trunk STD codes.

The International Prefix is 00.

Subscriber numbers are typically 4 digits long and start with a 2 for the US Base, 3 for Travellers Hill or Airhead, 4 for Two Boats and a 6 or 7 for Georgetown.

Numbers starting with 0 or 5 have been reserved for future Mobile service.

There is a Wi-Fi hotspot in Obsidian Hotel's lobby and patio for £10/day. The Post Office in Georgetown offers a vast array of philatelic items for sale from the three islands of St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. Airmail is possible, thanks to the airfield.

Go next
Saint Helena is the only reasonable destination you can visit from Ascension Island. See Get in/By sea

title: Ascension


text:
Ascoli Piceno

Ascoli Piceno is a city in the southern end of Marche about 25 km from the Adriatic coast. Population: 90,000.

Understand
Around the 8th-7th centuries BC, the legend says that a tribe of Etruscan people named Sabines (Sabini), following a sacred bird named picchio, found this natural fortification at the confluence of the rivers Tronto and Castellano and built a village named Piceni.

Later, the Sabines were conquered by the Romans. In 91 BC they started a rebellion against Rome, which ended two years later with the partial destruction of the town.

By train
There is a line from San Benedetto del Tronto on the mainline along the Adriatic coast of Italy. The station is few hundred meters outside the centre.

By bus from Rome
A bus from Rome begins its route from Castro Pretorio street, near Termini (the main train station of Rome) and arrives in front of the train station in Ascoli Piceno.

By car
From the north, take highway A14, and exit at Ascoli Piceno - San Benedetto del Tronto, then take the free highway Ascoli-Mare for 28 km following the signs.

From Rome, take the SS4 Salaria (Statal Street n°4) to Rieti. After 197 km exit in Rosara and continue east (on the left) for 2 km.

Get around
Everything inside the fortified town can be reached on foot.

See

 * Piazza del Popolo: the main square of the city is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. : PalazzoCapitaniAP.jpg
 * La chiesa di San Francesco: the church of Saint Francisco overlooking the main square.
 * The medieval town and streets in travertin's local stone materials.
 * The Roman age fortress called "Fortezza Pia" in the upper part of the town, the walls and the bridges around the town.
 * The inside tunnel on the Porta Solestà's bridge: an escape route in case of siege to the city.
 * Vesta's temple: archeologists discovered, after years of studies, that it was devoted to the cult of Iside.
 * Il Duomo e Piazza Arringo: Duomo's church and its Arringo square with Town Hall palace and archeological museum.
 * The Ventidio Basso Theater: a most beautiful renaissance theater.
 * The auditorium built in a Roman pagan temple, with his special acoustics.
 * The Roman Theater, which is being escavated, near Porta Romana also known as Porta Gemina for its gates in the west of the fortified town with its huge walls.

Do

 * Walking rounds of the town explained by the tourist office in the ground floor of Palazzo dei Capitani in the main square Piazza del Popolo.

Buy

 * Antique market (Mercatino dell'antiquariato) in the old streets of the center; takes place every third weekends of the month
 * Cheaper hand-made shoes in the nearby factories
 * The traditional Anisetta Meletti, a sweet anise distillate digestivo that is 130 years old. Maybe the most memorable place to get it is the original Caffè Meletti in the Piazza del Popolo: it's one of the 150 oldest caffès in Italy.

Eat

 * The typical "olive all'ascolana" made from olives stuffed with meat and spices, breaded and fried in olive oil.

Drink

 * Typical cocktails and local wines in the main square, and the nearby bars, starts just before the dinner, at 19:00.

Go next

 * There is some nice Roman and medieval castles around the town: ask to see Castel Trosino, Montadamo, Civitella del Tronto, and Arquata del Tronto.
 * In the summer and autumn every week any little town nearby organize a "Sagra" where it is possible to taste typical foods and beverages of the town and the lands around it.

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

title: Ascoli Piceno


text:
Ascoli Piceno (province)

Ascoli Piceno Province is in Marche Region in Italy.

Cities

 * — its historic centre was built almost entirely in travertine, and is admired for its artistic and architectural wealth
 * — a town built around a medieval village

Other destinations

 * On the border with Umbria, the Sibillini mountains are limestone reliefs scattered with caves and very green landscapes. The ascent to Mount Vettore, the highest in the chain (2,476 meters) and to Lake Pilato of glacial origin, takes place from Arquata del Tronto (about 40 km from Ascoli Piceno along the state road nº 4). The nearby village of Montemonaco (600 inhabitants) is the basis for excursions to Mount Sibilla and its cave.

Get in
The nearest airports are:

Eat
An appetizer present in many national and international restaurants: olives all'ascolana. The recipe sounds simple, but it takes a long time and various preparation steps. Other key ingredients are large green olives, and various types of minced cooked meat.

title: Ascoli Piceno (province)


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Ascot

Ascot is a village in the English county of Berkshire, most famous as the location of Ascot Racecourse, home of the prestigious Royal Ascot race meeting.

Understand
Ascot is split into three sections: Ascot, North Ascot, and South Ascot. The Racecourse is on Ascot High Street and is 2 minutes uphill from the train station. It is governed by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. It is part of the civil parish of Sunninghill and Ascot, which a population of 12,800 in 2011.
 * Local information website

By train
is on the line from London Waterloo to Reading, which operates two trains per hour via Clapham Junction , Richmond , Ascot, Bracknell and Wokingham. Ascot is also the terminus of a branch line to Aldershot, which runs two trains per hour via Camberley. Both lines are operated by South Western Railway.

By bus
This link shows the 7 bus routes that run through Ascot on a regular basis.

Get around
The Ascot area can be navigated by walking but some buses have stops throughout the area. Also it is easy to rent a car through Half Pennys Garage on Kings Road.

Do

 * Golf: There are many golf clubs in and around Ascot.
 * Golf: There are many golf clubs in and around Ascot.

Buy
If you want to buy clothes in Ascot then there are some shops but they are not cheap. Also if you just a bit peckish then there is a newsagent along the High Street, also there is a small superstore further down which is next to the petrol station.

Eat
There are some good places to eat around Ascot. If you want a good curry then the best place to go would be Mango which is in North ascot on Fernbank road. If you're coming up from London road, it is on your left. It can get very full even during midweek so it would be good to book in advance to get a table. If you don't want to eat at there then you can always takeaway the food.

Drink
There are many pubs in and around Ascot.

Pubs in nearby Sunningdale 3 miles south-east of Ascot:

Sleep
You will be hard done by trying to find cheap accommodation in Ascot.

Go next

 * North to Maidenhead and nearby
 * Bray – charming village with two Michelin-star restaurants.
 * North-east to Windsor, 7 miles through Windsor Great Park on the A322.
 * West to Bracknell, 4 miles along the A329, and then to
 * Reading

title: Ascot


text:
A seaside stroll in Helsinki

A seaside stroll in Helsinki is an easy half-day walk along Helsinki's west coast.

Understand
This stroll past some of Helsinki's sights is about 7 km from end to end and can be completed easily in a morning or afternoon. Aside from the Sibelius Monument and Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, there are few tourists about on most of the trail, and it offers a slice of Finnish nature and city life a very short hop away from the city. A sunny summer day is optimal, but a warm late spring or early autumn day has its attractions, and parts of it may even be accessible by ski in winter.

Prepare
No preparation necessary, everything you'd need can be picked up from kiosks and cafes along the way. You don't really even need a map, as the trail follows the coast all the way.

Get in
Here are three points along the walk easily accessible by public transport.

 * For Ruoholahti, take the metro (or tram 8) to western terminus Ruoholahti metro station.

 * For Hietaniemi Beach, take bus 55A from Central Railway Station towards Hietaniemi, the final stop is right at the beach car park.

 * For Seurasaari, take bus 24 from Erottaja, at the intersection of Etelä-Esplanadi and Mannerheimintie. The bus terminates directly in front of Seurasaari Bridge.

Walk
The walk starts at, smack dab in one of Helsinki's newer districts, full of modern apartments and anonymous office buildings. Unless you want to pack a picnic at the S-Market or have a fast-food lunch before setting off, there's no need to spend any time here — take the underpass under the highway and wind your way past the blue office buildings to the start of the footpath.

 * The large white buildings to your left, mostly hidden by the forest, make up, Finland's first mental hospital. Designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, the man behind most of classical Helsinki, it opened in 1841 and, in an age when "treatment" for mental patients often consisted of chaining them to their beds, was quite advanced for its time, with large gardens around it to calm and heal patients.  The hospital ceased operations in 2008, but the place is commemorated in the name of the cult Finnish pop band Lapinlahden Linnut, or "Birds of Lapinlahti" -- shades of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

 * Past the hospital you'll see the sweep of to your left, the coast that we'll be following from now on.  To your right is peaceful  (Hietaniemen hautausmaa), where the great, the good and the ancient of Finland are buried.  Highlights for grave-spotters include the graves of marshal Mannerheim, architects Alvar Aalto and Engel, Moomin creator Tove Jansson, and the often ornate Orthodox crypts.  Some gravestones date back several hundred years and have been eroded into illegibility, and photographers and goths will find it atmospheric, but the rest of us can simply stick to the coast path, cross the car park and continue straight to...

 * , or just Hietsu to the locals, is Helsinki's hottest beach, where hunks strut and bikini babes oil up in summer whenever the mercury climbs above 25°C or so. There are toilets, changing rooms, cafes and other basic amenities.  The water here never gets too warm (by non-Finnish standards, anyway), but after a few sunny days, the relatively shallow bay does make it a little more tolerable than the always frigid Baltic Sea.

 * Keep tracking the coastline past Hietsu. This end of the beach, which is occupied by unruly bushes and a minigolf course, is to be turned into a luxurious spa hotel, although the plan has run into local opposition and financial trouble, and is unlikely to go forward anytime soon.

 * After the minigolf course, you'll reach (Hesperianpuisto), which heads down to Mannerheimintie and the city center.  That's not where we're going just yet, though, so just follow the coastside sidewalk for a few hundred meters past the yacht harbor.

 * Before our next stop, keep an eye out for a Finnish summertime institution, namely a seaside (mattolaituri).  This is where the good folk of Helsinki come to wash their carpets: running water and drying racks are provided, but you need to bring your own soap, and on a warm summer day the pier will be packed with housewives (and husbands) giving their ryijy rag carpets a good scrubbing.

 * Right after the pier is, the "Master Stable", a fairly expensive year-round restaurant with a very popular seaside summer terrace called Meritalli ("Sea Stable"). If you haven't had any refreshments yet, drop in for a pint of cider (around ) and watch the yachts flit about in the bay.

 * Keep on walking along the coast. The building to your left is the, built for the 1952 Olympics.  Across the street, the glass-fronted apartment building to your right at Kesäkatu is pretty much the only new one built in this part of town since the 1930s and is priced to match, with most apartments selling for upwards of a million euros.

 * Soon, you'll probably spot rows of sightseeing buses and camera-toting tourists swarming around a bizarre pipe-organ-like mass in the park across the street: this is the, designed by Eila Hiltunen to commemorate Finland's foremost classical composer. When completed in 1967, traditionalists complained that Sibelius was nowhere to be seen, so Hiltunen had to add another, smaller sculpture of his whiskered mug right next to it.

 * Return to the path. Between the ice-cream stands (open summer only), a road leads towards the marina to your left and beyond it to, half of which is devoted to dogs: here they can be taken off the leash and run around the park freely.

 * If you have no canines with you, head onwards towards the red pagoda ahead of you. Surrounded by a sturdy wrought iron fence, this little whimsy is a part of  ("Summer Coast"), the prime minister's official residence.  In egalitarian Finland, even the prime minister has to pay to use his own residence (/day, to be exact), so it's usually only used for official events and such.  No access to the public, but you can get a fairly good glimpse just by walking past.

 * After Kesäranta, the path goes uphill for a bit before merging to the road running left towards Seurasaari. Take a little detour before the road and scramble up onto the rocks to your left, where you'll see a  marked off with a heavy iron chain.  Nobody is quite sure what this originally was, but the best guess is an ancient funeral pyre, as charred human bones dating back about 6000 years were found in it.

 * Cross the road and follow the footpath past a beautiful wooden mansion. The path dips into the forest for a bit, crosses the road again, and then suddenly deposits you at  ("Pine Cape"), the official residence of the President of Finland.  The low-lying building faces the sea and you can only see bits of it, but the understated but immaculate gardens around it are a pleasant sight and open to the public.

 * The footpath reaches the coast again and continues for a while longer, past bushes of wild raspberry and red currant, until you reach, leading to an island that is an open-air museum, all bearing the same name. If you've had enough for the day, take a break at the cafe across the road and head back; if you've still got some juice left in your batteries, by all means go poke around the rustic buildings of Seurasaari (island entry is free, although some buildings charge admission) and have your coffee or even a full meal at its pleasant but pricy central cafe-restaurant instead.

Stay safe
The main danger is mercenary squirrels in Seurasaari. Don't carry open containers of food, even in your backpack, since these little thieves won't hesitate to jump in to get to it!

In summer, you can spot quite a few berries along the path. E.g. raspberries and red currants are easily identifiable and safe to eat, although Finns tend to shun those right next to the path — odds are they've been "watered" by dogs. Steer clear of anything you're not sure of though.

title: A seaside stroll in Helsinki


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Asenovgrad

The town of Asenovgrad has a population of 54,778 inhabitants. It is the city with the most churches per capita in the country, close to Plovdiv at one of the entrances of Rhodope Mountains, famous for its Mavrud and Pamid red wine.

Understand
It is located 170 km east of Sofia, 20 km south of Plovdiv.

By bus
Buses go between depart from Plovdiv's "Rhadopi" bus station in the south of the city at least twice an hour normally, mostly on route to Smolyan or Kardzhali. See Bulgaria for approximate timetables.

See
The Castle of Asen, also known as Asenovgrad Krepost, is a medieval fortress in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains, 2–3 km south of the town of Asenovgrad proper, on a high rocky ridge on the left bank of the Asenitsa River. Very worth seeing although a bit hard to access. There is no evidence of public transit and it requires a 30-40 minute walk from the city proper. Admission is free.

Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest monastery in Bulgaria after Rila Monastery. Significantly more developed that Rila, it has less of a serine atmosphere, however it is very beautiful and is much worth a visit. Getting there is extremely easy, as buses on the route Plovdiv-Smolyan stop in both Asenovgrad and Bachkovo. Tell the driver you are going to the monastery (simply saying "Bachkovo Manastir" should do the trick) and he may drop you off right in front. As of September 2012 the journey cost 2 лв.

title: Asenovgrad


text:
Ashanti-Kwahu

Ashanti-Kwahu is a region of Ghana.

Cities

 * — kente weaving towns in the Ashanti region. Eco tourist sites
 * — noted for its wood carvings, arts and crafts
 * — one of the calmest and coolest cities in the country of Ghana
 * — the home of the Ashanti royal family
 * — prosperous mining town
 * - home of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development and also known for beadmaking
 * — the homeland of a branch of the Chumburu people
 * — prosperous mining town
 * - home of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development and also known for beadmaking
 * — the homeland of a branch of the Chumburu people
 * — the homeland of a branch of the Chumburu people
 * — the homeland of a branch of the Chumburu people
 * — the homeland of a branch of the Chumburu people
 * — the homeland of a branch of the Chumburu people

Understand
This region covers much of southwest Ghana bordering Cote d'Ivoire and includes the ancient kingdom of Ashanti and the Kwahu Plateau.

title: Ashanti-Kwahu


text:
Ashaway

Ashaway is a town in southern Rhode Island.

Get in
This town is easily accessible by Interstate 95 from both north and southbound lanes. Just take exit 1 or 2 in Rhode Island to enter the town. It is only a half hour from T.F Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island. If you are arriving at T.F Green, take Interstate 95, South to exit 2.

Get around
If you are visiting this area you will need to rent a car as most places to go are far from walking distance from each other. Although it is a beautiful area to ride a bike, if this is your plan then bring your bike from home because the closest place to get a bike is in Westerly, at Ray Willis Toys and Bikes: http://raywillisbikesandtoys.com/ +1 401-596-1045.

See
If you are looking for shows, there isn't much to see, but if you are looking to see fall foliage or beautiful rivers and ponds this is a good place to go. Go to Crandall Park, on route 3, and sit down and enjoy the scenery. Take a ride down the road to Misquamicut Beach and enjoy some fun in the sun.

Do
They are many rivers and ponds that you can experience great fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Fish the Chapman Pond, for pike and bass, or kayak down the Pawtucket River or Ashaway River. To find a guide for where to find more of these rivers go to the chamber of commerce.

Sleep
They are not many, if any places to stay in town, but if you visit its neighboring town of Westerly, there are many beachfront hotels to stay that are less than 15 minutes from Ashaway. Included in these hotels is the Andrea,a beachfront hotel with a great atmosphere and great bar.

title: Ashaway


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Ashbourne

 * This page describes the town in Derbyshire. For the town near Dublin see Ashbourne (Ireland)

Ashbourne is a small market town in Derbyshire.

Understand
Ashbourne has a population of about 9,000. The town was given a charter to hold markets in 1257. Bottled Ashbourne water was sold in the late twentieth century, but discontinued in 2006.

Visitor information

 * Discover Ashbourne.

By train

 * There is no train service to Ashbourne: the town's rail link was removed in the 1960s and now forms part of a national cycle network.

By bus

 * There are regular bus services to the town from Derby and Manchester and numerous outlying villages and nearby towns.

By car

 * Ashbourne is at the crossroads of several main roads (all old stage coach routes) the two most notable being the A52 and the A515

Get around
As with every small town, all you need is your feet.

Do

 * Tissington Trail cycle and foot path
 * Limestone Way, bridleway

Events

 * The annual Royal Shrovetide football game, played every Shrove Tuesday & Ash Wednesday.
 * The Ashbourne Highland Gathering, every July.
 * The Ashbourne Arts Festival, every mid-June to mid-July.

Buy
Numerous antique shops along Church Street. Some very pricy, others more reasonable, wide range of antiques right across the board.

Market on Thursday and Saturday.

Eat
Most of the pubs in town provide food, but the following are the specialist food establishments.

Drink
Ashbourne has many pubs and bars, quite a high number for such a small town:

Connect
As of March 2024, Ashbourne and its approach roads have 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from O2.

Go next

 * Alton Towers
 * Wirksworth
 * Derby

title: Ashbourne


text:
Ashburn (Virginia)

Ashburn is a suburb of Washington, DC, in Loudoun County, Virginia. It 2010, it was home to about 44,000 people. The homes in Ashburn are nearly all new, large, uniform in character, and have little or any recognizable architectural style.

Understand
In many ways Ashburn is the poster child for the so called "McMansionization of America". Brambleton, a planned urban development in Ashburn, is one of the fastest selling developments in the country.

Ashburn is home to many high-tech businesses. World Trade Center Dulles Airport is the second World Trade Center in the state. Verizon Business has a major office in Ashburn at the location. Ashburn is also home to government contractor Telos, and Amazon Web Services’s us-east-1 region of cloud computing resources.

The George Washington University's Virginia Science and Technology Campus and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus are located in Ashburn. Redskins Park, the training camp for the Washington Commanders (formerly "Redskins") football team of the National Football League, is also located in Ashburn. The Wikimedia Foundation (parent of Wikivoyage) has its primary data center in Ashburn.

History
Ashburn was founded as Farmwell (variant names include Old Farmwell and Farmwell Station) after a nearby mansion of that name owned by George Lee III. The name "Farmwell" first appeared in George Lee's October 1802 will and was used to describe the 1,236-acre (500 ha) plantation he inherited from his father, Thomas Ludwell Lee II. A section of Farmwell plantation west of Ashburn Road, a 580-acre (230 ha) tract, was purchased in 1841 as a summer home by John Janney, a Quaker lawyer who nearly became Vice President of the United States. Janney called the property Ashburn Farm; the name's first known appearance in writing is 1870 when he sold the property. It is likely he named the farm after family friends whose name was "Ashburn".

By plane
Ashburn is served by 2 major airports in the Washington DC metro area. Washington Dulles is about 5 miles from Ashburn and Reagan National  is about 25 miles. Most people who are visiting Ashburn from far away distances are better off flying into Washington Dulles International Airport. The easiest and most convenient way to get to Ashburn from the airport is via taxi. Washington Flyer Taxi has exclusive rights to service IAD and a taxi ride from the airport will cost you anywhere between $15-20.

By car
Coming by car, Ashburn is intersected by a few major roads in the Northern Virginia area. Accessible via the Dulles Greenway (toll road), Route 7, or Route 28, travelers have a few options when driving to this city.

By bus

 * Innovation Center Metro Shuttle operates service between the George Washington University Virginia Science & Technology Campus in Ashburn and the Innovation Center metro station. The bus costs $1 for the general public.
 * Commuter buses operate service to/from Washington DC.

By metro
Ashburn is the western terminus of Washington Metro's Silver Line, with frequent service from Washington, D.C. and Maryland via Washington Dulles International Airport.

Get around
Although there are taxis available, those visiting Ashburn will need a car. The neighborhoods and shopping are too spread out to go any other way.

See
The Belmont Manor House and Janelia are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Buy
Contrary to popular opinion, Ashburn has its fair share of local artisans who showcase their craft in the form of art, jewelry, and clothes.

title: Ashburn (Virginia)


text:
Ashdod

Ashdod is a city on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, halfway between Tel Aviv and Gaza. One of Israel's two industrial ports is here. It is Israel's busiest port, with 60% of all imports and exports passing through it.

Understand
Ashdod has a long history, and was inhabited in the times of the Bible by the Philistines. When the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites, they brought it here before being forced to return it. However, few traces remains nowadays of the ancient city.

Modern Ashdod is known for its diverse population, with each wave of Jewish immigration represented. Jews from former Soviet Union make up roughly a third of the city's 235,000 residents. Ashdod is also home to large numbers of Moroccan, Georgian and Ethiopian Jews, along with recent arrivals from France and Argentina. It also has the third largest charedi (ultra-Orthodox) population in Israel, after Jerusalem and Bnei Brak.

Ashdod is on the meeting point of the yellow sand dunes from the south, the green lowland from the east (including the small Lachish river), and the blue Mediterranean Sea from the west. Therefore you can find a surprising diversity of natural sights in one city.

The city is a young one, re-founded 50 years ago and grown dramatically during the last two decades. It is well planned and maintained, and its beaches and south regions are very beautiful. It regularly finds itself in highest places in rankings of the most beautiful and well-designed cities in Israel.

By bus
Buses run to Ashdod from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beer Sheva, and other places. Most routes begin/end at the, which is centrally located and has a shopping mall.

By boat
Ashdod port's main business is freight, with a large container-handling facility, but it's also a frequent port of call for cruise ships, giving closer access for trips to Jerusalem than does Haifa. There are no ferries to Ashdod. Private small craft from abroad should make for Ashkelon marina ten miles south, calling ahead before entering Israeli waters to arrange immigration and customs clearance.

Get around
By bus, taxi ("moneet" in Hebrew), or minibus ("moneet sherut").

Buses
There is a bus system of 22 urban bus lines that serve all quarters of the city. Most of the lines have frequency of between 15 and 30 minutes. The urban lines in Ashdod are operated by "Electra Afikim".

 * 1: A circular express line from Ashdod Ad Halom Railway Station via Begin blvd. and the Central Bus Station. This line has frequency of 30 minutes.
 * 2/2א: From Ashdod Port to Quarter Tet Vav via Quarter Alef, Quarter Bet, Quarter Daled, Central Bus Station and Quater Yod Alef. This line has frequency of between 15 and 30 minutes.
 * 3: From Ashdod Port to Yud Gimel Quarters via quarters Alef, Bet, Gimel, Vav, Het and Yud. This line operates in rush hour only.
 * 4/4א: From Ashdod Central Bus Station to Ashdid Ad Halom Railway Station via HaKirya Quarter, Chords Beach and Quarters Daled, Alef, Beth, Gimel, Zyin, Vav and Het. This line has a very cumbersome route and has frequency of 15 minutes.
 * 5:
 * 7/7א:
 * 9/9א:
 * 10: An express line from the Light Industrial Area to Quarter Tet Vav via Herzl blvd. and the Central Bus Station. This line has frequency of 15 minutes.
 * 11:
 * 12:
 * 16:
 * 17/17א: A suburban line from Ashdod Central Bus Station to Gan Yavne via Jerusalem blvd. and Ashdod Ad Halom Railway Station. This line has frequency of every 60 minutes.
 * 20:
 * 21:
 * 22:
 * 23:
 * 26:
 * 27: A suburban line from Ashdod Central Bus Station to nearby towns of Gan Yavne and Bnei Ayish via Quarters Daled, Alef and Bet, Jerusalem blvd. and Ashdod Ad Halom Railway Station. This line has frequency of every 60 minutes.
 * 29:
 * 33/33א:
 * 34:
 * 35/35א: This line serves the Haredi areas of the city. From Ashdod Ad Halom Railway Station to the Light Industrial Area via Quarters Het, Zyin, Vav and Gimel. This line has frequency of 15 minutes.

Bikes
Ashdod has a very developed system of bike routes and flat terrain, so renting a bike would be an ideal option for bike lovers. Keep in mind that it can be very hot in summer.

Yango ridesharing service is available.

See

Do

There is horse riding, 4X4 rental, and the city marina provides yacht/cruise services.

The MonArt centre is a performing arts center which has different art schools, studios and events.

Buy

Ashdod has about five big shopping malls and two markets.

On Wednesday there is a clothes and farmers market near Lido beach, however it primarily caters toward the local population and is less suitable for tourists.

There is a large souvenir store downtown on Rogozin street. It sells local stamps and postcards, water from Jordan river, soil from Jerusalem, and various other things.

Eat
A lot of restaurants, especially along the beach. Cheap snack meal starts from about ₪15. A full meal in a mid-level restaurant will be around ₪40-100.

Drink
Although you'll find plenty places to drink, and a decent variety of pubs and clubs, Ashdod nightlife serves mostly the locals.

Sleep
There are two hotels near the northern beach area. Prices around ₪250-300 per day for one person, meals not included. There is a big hotel near the south beach.

title: Ashdod


text:
Ashdown Forest

Ashdown Forest is in East Sussex. Ashdown Forest covers of lowland heathland which has never been under the plough and so provides a unique habitat for many species of flora and fauna. The whole area is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (OANB).

Flora and fauna
There are several hundred deer, mainly Roe and Fallow and including small numbers of Muntjac and Sika, living happily in the woodland areas. Nightjar and Stonechat, Skylark and Meadow Pipit, Dartford Warbler and Woodcock are among the birds which enjoy the gorse and heather habitat. Many rare species of butterfly, moth and dragonfly are also to be seen, as are adders and a small number of grass snakes.

Climate
Summer is the warmest time and best for walking, cycling, etc.; winter months can be cold and a little damp. It is advisable to take a light coat if the weather looks a bit iffy, just to keep you dry if anything; when the wind blows it can get quite cold on the ridges, however most of the valleys and copses provide enough shelter

History
Man has lived and worked in Ashdown Forest for 5,000 years, with iron-working during the Roman Period and Saxon Farming, however the forest took on its role as an area of enjoyment in the 11th century, when it was set up as a hunting ground for the Crown (remnants of this can still be seen) and used for rabbit farming (many localities are known as 'Warrens' - indicating their past usage). Ashdown Forest has, throughout history had an important part in the nation's economy, in 1496 French ironmasters were employed to operate the first water powered blast furnace in Britain, at Newbridge near Coleman’s Hatch and in 1505 a water powered steel forge was established at Pippingford. However by the 18th century most iron-working had stopped.

By car
The A22 to Eastbourne passes right through Ashdown Forest, linking East Grinstead, Uckfield and Nutley to London.

By train
1/2 hourly service from London Victoria to East Grinstead and hourly service from London Bridge to Crowborough and Uckfield (the line diverges at Oxted); £24 return to East Grinstead and £18.50. return to Uckfield (Sept 2017).

By bus
National Express runs services to East Grinstead, Uckfield and onto Eastbourne

By car
The A26 from Maidstone to Newhaven passes through Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough and Uckfield, there are other routes

By train
Services to Tunbridge Wells

By bus
Numerous routes from Tunbridge Wells

By air
The nearest airport is at, which is a 25 minute drive away.

Get a map
Roads allow full access to all attractions in Ashdown Forest, although it is worth getting a map (AA or RAC for driving) if you are planning to go walking, horse riding or cycling.

It is worth getting an OS (Ordnance Survey) map; Royal Tunbridge Wells, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Crowborough. Scale 1:25,000 (4 cm:1 km, 2½ in:1 mi) would be fine, costing usually under £8.00

Cycling
Cycling is very limited on Ashdown Forest land to the few public bridleways, although several groups are petitioning for more open access for off-road cycling however it is fully allowed on roads.

Public transport
As for public transport, it is fairly limited, buses go from East Grinstead to Uckfield, East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells and beyond. From Uckfield, there are regular buses to Tunbridge Wells, via Crowborough. Uckfield, Crowborough, Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead all have routes to London (as do smaller stations, ask at the desk) journeys vary from 1hr 20–50 min.

See

The area in and around Ashdown Forest is rich in the diversity of places to visit, from East Grinstead in the north to Uckfield in the south, Crowborough in the east and Haywards Heath in the west, and the whole of Ashdown Forest itself in between. The four towns themselves, although very different in character, each offers a wide range of shopping, cafes, restaurants and pubs, and each has a leisure centre with a swimming pool.

Just off the A22 are two of the foremost attractions of the area - the Ashdown Forest Centre, where you can learn everything about the Forest, and the Ashdown Forest Llama Park. The A275, which forks off the A22 just south of Wych Cross, will take you to three more treats – Heaven Farm, with its farm museum, craft shop and tearoom, Sheffield Park Garden (National Trust) and the Bluebell Railway.

To the north, in East Grinstead, with fast links to London and just outside the town:

On the east side of the area, just off the A26, is Barnsgate Manor Vineyard with its tearoom and restaurant, its giftshop selling Barnsgate wines and its magnificent views. A little farther south, off the A272, is Wilderness Wood, a working woodland with fascinating walks, picnic and barbecue areas and a teashop. Along with wood ‘workshops’ in the looking after of the forest. It is open most days.

Just beyond the Forest boundary, in the northeast of the forest, is Groombridge Place Gardens and the Enchanted Forest. A few miles away, on the outskirts of the village of Hartfield, is Bolebroke Castle.

Ashdown Forest is part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this area extending from Horsham (in the West) to Rye in the East caries with it outstanding countryside, beautiful buildings and an interesting past. There are 31 United Kingdom Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Pooh Bear One of the Forest's more famous inhabitants, Christopher Milne wrote that "Pooh's Forest and Ashdown Forest are identical". many of the sites described in the stories can be recognised on the Forest although their names have been altered. For example, the Five Hundred Acre Wood became the 100 Aker Wood and Gills Lap became Galleons Leap. The North Pole and the Gloomy Place are in Wrens Warren Valley while the name, Enchanted Place, is applied to a memorial to Milne and Shepard. Hartfield is 'Pooh Central' with walks and other activities centred around Pooh Bear.

Unusual places

 * Two lengths of Roman Road can be seen crossing Ashdown Forest. One can be seen at Roman Road car park; the other is between Coleman’s Hatch and Wych Cross.
 * Two lengths of Roman Road can be seen crossing Ashdown Forest. One can be seen at Roman Road car park; the other is between Coleman’s Hatch and Wych Cross.
 * Two lengths of Roman Road can be seen crossing Ashdown Forest. One can be seen at Roman Road car park; the other is between Coleman’s Hatch and Wych Cross.
 * Two lengths of Roman Road can be seen crossing Ashdown Forest. One can be seen at Roman Road car park; the other is between Coleman’s Hatch and Wych Cross.
 * Two lengths of Roman Road can be seen crossing Ashdown Forest. One can be seen at Roman Road car park; the other is between Coleman’s Hatch and Wych Cross.
 * Two lengths of Roman Road can be seen crossing Ashdown Forest. One can be seen at Roman Road car park; the other is between Coleman’s Hatch and Wych Cross.

Do

 * Play 'pooh sticks' at Poohsticks Bridge, just like Christopher Robin in A.A. Milne's famous Winnie the Pooh stories. Park at Pooh car park and its a good downhill stroll along a signposted path.
 * Play 'pooh sticks' at Poohsticks Bridge, just like Christopher Robin in A.A. Milne's famous Winnie the Pooh stories. Park at Pooh car park and its a good downhill stroll along a signposted path.
 * Play 'pooh sticks' at Poohsticks Bridge, just like Christopher Robin in A.A. Milne's famous Winnie the Pooh stories. Park at Pooh car park and its a good downhill stroll along a signposted path.

Buy
Anything required can be purchased in one of the larger towns and petrol stations are sprinkled around.

 * All the towns have at least a supermarket and many of the villages have a small shop/Post office. If one requires something specific the towns of Tunbrdige Wells and East Grinstead will suffice.
 * All the towns have at least a supermarket and many of the villages have a small shop/Post office. If one requires something specific the towns of Tunbrdige Wells and East Grinstead will suffice.

Eat
You need not travel far within the Ashdown Forest area to find excellent provision for the hungry, the thirsty and the merely peckish. Everything from the humble pint in a friendly local pub to fine cuisine in a world class restaurant can be found in Ashdown forest. Restaurants are often attached to pubs, with separate areas; food varies in quality and price, but is rarely of poor quality.

Splurge

Towns such as Crowborough, Uckfield, East Grinstead and Forest Row have supermarkets and more specialist establishments.

Drink

Budget

Mid-range

Stay safe
Some paths may be muddy in the winter; in the summer there are some snakes (adders are the only poisonous ones, however rarely attack humans, dogs can be killed by Adder Venom)

Often there are deep pools, which can be nice to swim in (from this area's idilic industrial past), but children should always be accompanied, monsters from the deep are rare.

Car parks are generally free of crime, however it is always important as with any car park to ensure that valuables are hidden out of site or taken with you. If you do not want to take your dog with you (paths can be muddy), give an area of shade for your animal, leave drinking water for the dog, and keep the windows well open. Dogs die in hot cars.

Some paths may lead abruptly onto (often fast) roads; for your children's and pets' safety keep listening out for cars and if in any doubt keep more adventurous animals on a lead.

In the summer months the whole forest is at risk from wildfires, please do not smoke (for your own health and the forest's) and Do not light fires.

Go next

 * Royal Tunbridge Wells (on the A26) - Victorian spa town with bars, pubs and drinking fountains for the local water.
 * Eastbourne
 * Petersfield
 * South Downs Way, a popular walking path.
 * London, a train ride away.
 * Kent
 * Medway
 * Crowborough

title: Ashdown Forest


text:
Asheboro

Asheboro is a town in North Carolina, and is the seat of Randolph County, a rural area south of Greensboro. It is known primarily as the home of the North Carolina Zoo, and also contains a few other attractions.

By car

 * Charlotte - Either Interstate 85 North to US 64 east, or NC 49 (a smaller road traversing the country) (1.5 hr)
 * Greensboro - Take Interstate 73 South (30 min)
 * High Point and Winston Salem - Take Interstate 74 east (30 min and 45 min respectively)
 * Raleigh - US 64 West (1.5 hr)

By bus
PART Route 10 offers service from Greensboro with connections to other cities.

Get around
Car, although biking and walking is possible in some areas such as the "downtown area" around Sunset Ave, Fayetteville St, and Salisbury St. The chains catering to tourist and passerby are mostly on Dixie Drive (US 64).

See

 * Downtown Asheboro A nice collection of antique stores, thrift shops, bakeries, specialty shops, and cafes, as well as a nice park. Of note are the Art Deco town hall on Church Street and the Neoclassical courthouse on Worth Street. Suitable for an hour or two of strolling and enjoying small-town life.
 * Downtown Asheboro A nice collection of antique stores, thrift shops, bakeries, specialty shops, and cafes, as well as a nice park. Of note are the Art Deco town hall on Church Street and the Neoclassical courthouse on Worth Street. Suitable for an hour or two of strolling and enjoying small-town life.
 * Downtown Asheboro A nice collection of antique stores, thrift shops, bakeries, specialty shops, and cafes, as well as a nice park. Of note are the Art Deco town hall on Church Street and the Neoclassical courthouse on Worth Street. Suitable for an hour or two of strolling and enjoying small-town life.

Buy

 * Seagrove Pottery Seagrove is a small community south of Asheboro, famous for its pottery. A huge number of potters operate out of homes and small workshops in and around the town.

Sleep
Almost all hotels are on Dixie Drive (Hwy 64). More lodging can be found in the nearby cities of Greensboro and High Point.

Go next

 * Piedmont Triad
 * Research Triangle - visit the state capital, Raleigh, the revitalizing city of Durham, or the college town of Chapel Hill
 * Charlotte, the largest city in the state

If you are so inclined, the surrounding area has lots of small farms, country churches, and occasional oddities (look for the former-schoolbus-turned-house in the tiny community of Erect) which may provide for a pleasant afternoon in the country.

title: Asheboro


text:
Asheville

The city of Asheville is a liberal, artsy community nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. A popular tourist destination, this "Paris of the South," has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States. In 2011 Asheville was picked as one of the “10 Most Beautiful Places in America” by Good Morning America.

Understand
Asheville is the county seat of Buncombe County, and is the largest city in Western North Carolina with a population of approximately 93,000 (2019) and a metro population of 425,000 (2018). Asheville was named after the ninth governor of North Carolina, Samuel Ashe.

It is the principal city in the four-county Asheville metropolitan area, with a population of about 425,000 in 2010.

It has been described variously as the "San Francisco of the East," "New Age Mecca," and "Land of the Sky." It's a city that Rolling Stone magazine dubbed "America’s New Freak Capital." Self magazine proclaimed Asheville as America’s "Happiest City."

History
Before the arrival of the Europeans, the area belonged to the Cherokee Nation. In 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came to the area known as Guaxule, bringing the first European visitors along with European diseases, which seriously depleted the native population. The area was used as an open hunting ground until the middle of the 19th century.

In 1784, Colonel Samuel Davidson and his family settled in the Swannanoa Valley. Soon after, Davidson was lured into the woods by a band of Cherokee hunters and killed. Davidson's twin brother Major William Davidson formed an expedition to retrieve Samuel Davidson's body and avenge his murder. Months later, Major Davidson and other members of his extended family returned to the area and settled at the mouth of Bee Tree Creek.

The American Civil War "Battle of Asheville" was fought in early April 1865 at the present-day site of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, with Union forces withdrawing to Tennessee after encountering resistance from a small group of Confederate soldiers in prepared trench lines across the Buncombe Turnpike. In late April 1865, North Carolina Union troops captured Asheville. After a negotiated departure, the troops nevertheless returned and plundered and burned a number of Confederate supporters' homes in Asheville.

In 1880, the Western North Carolina Railroad completed its line from Salisbury to Asheville, the first rail line to reach the city. Asheville experienced a slow but steady growth as industrial plants increased in number and size, and new residents built homes. Textile mills were established and plants were set up for the manufacture of wood and mica products, foodstuffs, and other commodities.

In 1900, Asheville was the third largest city in the state, behind Wilmington and Charlotte. Asheville prospered in the decades of the 1910s and 1920s. During these years, Rutherford P. Hayes, son of President Rutherford B. Hayes, bought land to create the African-American Burton Street Community.

The Great Depression, the period of Asheville's history made famous by the novel Look Homeward, Angel, hit Asheville quite hard: eight local banks failed. Because of the explosive growth of the previous decades, the per capita debt owed by the city (through municipal bonds) was the highest in the nation. From the start of the Depression through the 1980s, economic growth in Asheville was slow. During this time of financial stagnation, most of the buildings in the downtown district remained unaltered. Therefore, Asheville has one of the most impressive, comprehensive collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, urban renewal displaced much of Asheville's African-American population. Asheville's neighborhoods of Montford and Kenilworth, now mostly white, used to consist of majority-black home owners.

Climate
Asheville has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Year-round, the average relative humidity in the morning is 90% and in the afternoon is 58%. Summers are mild and afternoon thunderstorms are common. In the fall (peaking in October), the area is very popular with "leaf lookers", people who visit Asheville and the surrounding mountains to see the area's splendid foliage. Winters are generally mild and major snow storms are rare. However, snow is common with the area averaging an inch or two of snow at a time, normally melting off in a day or two.

By plane
Flights into Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greenville, South Carolina, Charlotte Douglas International Airport  in Charlotte, North Carolina, or McGhee Tyson Airport  in Knoxville, Tennessee, are sometimes cheaper than flying directly to Asheville. Greenville is about a 1½-hour drive, Charlotte and Knoxville are both about 2-hour drives.

By train
The closest Amtrak train station to Asheville is in Greenville, South Carolina or Spartanburg, South Carolina.

By car
Asheville is located at the junction of Interstate 26 and Interstate 40, with an I-240 connector that passes through downtown. Mountainous, curvy, and scenic sections of highway are found along the interstates in all four directions while traveling into Asheville. The Asheville area is also served by 10 US and state highways. The Blue Ridge Parkway has four primary accesses in Asheville at US 25, US 70, US 74A & NC 191. Maps are recommended as highways may have listed directions but may travel in different directions - for example, a road signed "east" may travel north/south for a significant amount of time.

By car
A car is definitely your best bet. Street parking is metered Monday through Saturday, 8AM–6PM at $1 per hour. Street parking is free on Sundays, evenings after 6pm and official city holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). In addition to street and garage parking, there are several surface lots throughout downtown.

There are three parking decks: Civic Center Garage, Rankin Avenue Garage, and Wall Street Garage. All are accessible 24 hours a day and are free for the first hour then $0.75 per hour thereafter. Attendants are on duty M-F 10AM–7PM.

By taxi
Within the City of Asheville, fares are as follows: For the initiation (drop) of the meter - $2.50; For each one-tenth mile after initiation - $0.25; For each passenger in excess of two - $2; For each two minutes of waiting time or fraction thereof after the first two minutes - $0.40. Uber and Lyft are also available.

By bike
Self-guided tour routes, maps and guidebooks are available for bicycle rides on the area forest lands, on the Blue Ridge Parkway and around downtown Asheville. Tour Asheville by pedal assist electric bike with guided bike tours by Electro Bike Tours.

All buses in the Asheville Transit System are equipped with bike racks.

Architecture
Asheville is nationally renowned for its unique architecture, especially downtown and around the Biltmore Estate. The city suffered greatly during the Great Depression, and consequently little development happened during the time. This actually had a positive effect, as the city's famous Art Deco Architecture of the Roaring 20s was saved from destruction. Therefore, today, Asheville boasts the nation's most complete collection of Art Deco structures. Other architectural styles, of course, are present in abundance throughout the city; from the Neo-Gothic Jackson Building "Skyscraper" to the modern BB&T Tower.

Churches: Please note that most churches listed below are working churches. When entering, please be respectful of any activities occurring.

Outdoors
Hiking:

Climbing: Fishing: Rafting:

Riding:

Skateboarding:

Buy
Asheville does not necessarily have a specific commercial district but rather it resembles a long line, curving through the mountains. Beginning directly north of downtown, Merrimon Avenue has many low density restaurants and small shopping strip malls. It is the typical American shopping street and many locals consider it “The Strip.” As you move south towards the city-center, Merrimon Avenue changes names to Broadway, then Biltmore Avenue after it intersects with Patton Avenue at Pack Square, home to the Vance Monument, located directly in front of City-County Plaza.

Surrounding this area, Downtown, you will find many boutiques, cafes, museums, and interesting historical buildings. At the eastern end of downtown, The Beaucatcher Tunnel is carved directly into Sunset Mountain. The street leading out of downtown and into the mountain goes into the edifice as College Street and comes out as Asheville’s most celebrated shopping street, Tunnel Road.

Tunnel Road is very commercial and hosts mostly large corporate chains. Construction has boomed along this stretch, and reaching towards the skies above the restaurants and stores you will see some brand new hotels. Finally, Tunnel Road transitions into South Tunnel Road, which is home to the city’s main mall and smaller chain shopping centers. This area of town is not at all touristy, and prices are average and intended for locals.

At the end of South Tunnel Road there is a vast shopping center that extends across the Swannanoa River and up over the mountain, eventually overlooking the Industrial district, containing a relatively new and quite controversial shopping complex along the river, having the city’s Super Walmart as its flagstore. It was built upon the rubble of the abandoned Sayles-Biltmore Bleachery, which used to bleach paper for the US Treasury's currency manufacture.

From Pack Square going south (away from I 240), Biltmore Ave continues down past Biltmore Village and into South Asheville and Arden, with many chain stores and strip malls, from which one can access via NC 146 Long Shoals Rd, Biltmore Park an exurb with high end shopping around a reproduced downtown square.

Downtown Asheville is full of neat and quirky shops and prides itself on the lack of corporate chain stores. Spend some time exploring downtown (it's very walkable) and see what you can find. Here are some highlights:
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.
 * Lexington Avenue is one of Asheville's hippest streets. For your music needs visit Static Age Records, specializing in vinyl, punk rock and heavy metal. Instant Karma and the Octopus Garden specialize in smoking accessories along with a wide variety of other products. Hip Replacements has some great vintage clothing, while up the block Spiritex offers a wide variety of sustainably produced clothing. Buy a used book or read the newspaper or a magazine at Downtown Books and News. Get a tattoo at Liquid Dragon, and stop by one of the many restaurants on Lexington for a quick bite. On the next block up is the Chevron Trading Post for all of your beading needs, and Tops for Shoes, the biggest shoe store in Asheville. While many wonderful stores and hot spots along this street are facing increasing pressure from landlords who want to "gentrify" the area, Lexington is still the best place to get a taste of Asheville's counterculture.

Biltmore Village Just South of Asheville's downtown, and right outside the gates of the Biltmore Estate is the quaint village built around the 1890s called Biltmore Village. It is easily accessed from I-40 (Exit 50). A number of small independently owned retail stores which have carved out specialty niches can be found intermingled with restaurants beneath the shade of the tree-lined streets. You'll find national specialty stores and a boutique notel have begun construction there. Of particular note are:

River Arts District Wrapped along the river, and visible from the bridge over the French Broad River (i.e. from I-240 or Patton Ave.) is an enclave of Art Studios, Galleries, and restaurants that is still not quite user-friendly but accessible to the adventurous. Some worthy points of interest are:

Head away from downtown and visit the WNC Farmer's Market for a huge selection of locally grown and produced crops 'n' crafts. You could spend hours and still not see everything.

Eat
Asheville is well known for its delicious vegetarian restaurants. Vegetarian and vegan residents from other parts of North Carolina and even neighboring states sometimes drive over to enjoy them.

Downtown
Asian

Modern American

Mexican/Latin American/Caribbean

European

Southern

Steakhouses

Vegetarian/Vegan

Drink
Liquor is available by the drink in Asheville, but if you want to buy liquor by the bottle you must do it at state-run ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) stores rather than at a traditional liquor store. These stores have limited exterior decorations so they can be difficult to find. If you plan to explore nearby counties keep in mind Madison County (to the north) and Yancey County (to the northwest) are "dry counties" and prohibit all alcoholic beverage sales. Open containers of alcohol are never permitted on the street; if you order a beverage you must finish it before leaving the restaurant or bar. Beer and wine are available for purchase at most markets, grocery stores and gas stations. The alcohol laws of the state prohibit the sale of alcohol after 2AM Monday through Saturday, and from 2AM until noon on Sundays. Pick up a copy or check the website of the local alternative newsweekly Mountain Xpress for an up-to-date, detailed guide for what is going on at each bar and club for the night.

Downtown:

North:

East:

West:

Bed and breakfasts
Asheville is rightfully well known for its many Bed and Breakfasts

Montford Historic District:

Chestnut Hill Historic District:

Other areas:

Budget

Connect
The area code for Asheville is 828. For calls within the US or Canada, dial 1+area code+number. There are some public pay phones scattered around the city, but they are becoming increasingly rare with the predominance of cell phones. It is not safe to assume you will be able to find a pay phone at any given time. All ZIP codes in the city of Asheville begin with 288. The ZIP code of the downtown area is 28801.

Free wireless hotspots:

US Post Offices:
 * Downtown: 33 Coxe Ave. M-F 7:30AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-1PM.
 * North: 725 Merrimon Ave. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 9M-1PM.
 * South: 780 Hendersonville Rd (Suite 7). 8AM-5:30PM, Sa 9M-1PM.
 * East: 1141 Tunnel Rd (Suite C). M-F 8AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-1PM.
 * West: 1302 Patton Ave. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 9M-1PM.

Go next

A thirty-mile drive south to Flat Rock will bring you to the Flatrock Playhouse where dramas, comedies, and musicals are shown April through December. Also in Flat Rock is the Carl Sandburg Home. This historic site consists of a 22 room house, barns, sheds, rolling pastures, walking trails, two small lakes, ponds, flower and vegetable gardens, and an orchard.

A thirty-mile drive west to Waynesville during the last weeks of July will bring you to Folkmoot, a festival of song and dance staged by performance groups from around the world.

The town of Brevard, an hour drive southwest, hosts the Brevard Music Festival each summer. Lasting almost two months, a variety of musical events ranging from grand operas and symphony orchestras to Broadway musicals and pop concerts as well as renowned guest artists are featured.

A 45 minute drive north brings you to the Hot Springs Resort and Spa. Reserve the jacuzzi-style tub of your choice, all individually enclosed and private. Bring a bottle of champagne and spend an hour or two. Hot Springs also has a few campgrounds and is passed through by the Appalachian Trail.

The Cradle of Forestry is located about 20 miles southwest of Asheville off U.S. Highway 276 in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County. Visitors will find a number of hiking trails in the area. Open 9AM-5PM, mid April through the end of October. $5 for adults, 16 and under free.

A popular tourist attraction is Chimney Rock Park, located 25 miles (about a 30 minute drive) southeast of Asheville in scenic Hickory Nut Gorge. It's a privately owned park (not part of the US system) with a fairly high admission fee ($17 for adults), but the views are incredible and there are six different hiking trails, ranging in difficulty from easy-to-moderate to moderate-to-strenuous. Open all year.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee and is the country's most visited national park. A variety of trails for hikers of any age or skill level are available.

Gorges State Park is approximately 45 miles southwest of Asheville, located in Transylvania County and joins the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. Gorges State Park has over 80 inches of rain a year making it a temperate rain forest. The plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls, and concentration of rare and unique species makes this a wonderful park to visit.

title: Asheville


text:
Ashford

There is more than one place called Ashford:

Australia

 * Ashford (New South Wales) - a hamlet in the New England region of the state of New South Wales.

Canada

 * Ashford (Quebec) - A town in the province of Quebec.

United Kingdom

 * Ashford (England) - A town in Kent.
 * Ashford-in-the-Water - A village in Derbyshire, England.

United States of America

 * Ashford (Connecticut) - A town in the state of Connecticut.
 * Ashford (New York) - A town in the state of New York.
 * Ashford (Washington) - A town in the state of Washington, on the outskirts of Mount Rainier National Park.
 * Ashford (Wisconsin) - A town in the state of Wisconsin.

title: Ashford


text:
Ashford (England)

Ashford is a town in Kent on the River Great Stour at the southern or scarp edge of the North Downs in the South East of England. In 2021, it was home to 83,000 people.

Understand
It is thought that Ashford originates from a settlement that was established around 893AD, which became large enough to have a mention in the doomsday book, listed with a church and two mills under the name "Essetesford" in 1086. Ashford was designated a market town in 1243, and by 1600 had risen to become an important market town, primarily for livestock.

Ashford is in the centre of Kent, and was one of the first towns in Kent that drastically changed into a highly developed town with modern standards. Ashford International railway station was opened on 28 February 1996 and received trains from France terminating at London Waterloo. Now trains terminate at London St Pancras International. The town also has an airport with regular flights to France. The town's name is derived from "ash tree" and "ford" (meaning "river crossing").

To the north east of Ashford is the smallest town in Britain, Wye.

By car
The main roads into Ashford are the M20, which runs from the M25 via Maidstone and on to Folkestone, and the A2070, which connects Ashford with Hastings in the south and the A28 to Canterbury in the north.

International
Eurostar high-speed trains running from Paris (Gare du Nord), Lille (Europe), Calais (Fréthun) and Brussels (Zuid-Midi) stop at Ashford International. Passengers travelling by Eurostar to the UK from Paris (Gare du Nord), Lille (Europe), Calais (Fréthun) and Brussels (Zuid-Midi) stations undergo UK passport/identity card checks in France/Belgium before boarding, rather than on arrival in the UK. The UK passport checks take place after the French/Belgian passport/identity card exit checks at the stations. However, UK customs checks take place on arrival in the UK.

Passengers travelling to France/Belgium from Ashford International go through French passport/identity card checks at the station before boarding the train, whilst selective customs checks take place on arrival in France/Belgium following disembarkation.

Ashford International is also served by domestic trains from several major London stations (see below).

Local
Domestic trains to Ashford station are operated by Southeastern and Southern Railway from London St Pancras (typical journey time 35 – 37 minutes), London Cannon St, London Charing Cross, London Victoria, Ebbsfleet, Dover Priory, Canterbury West, Ramsgate, and Margate. The high-speed trains from London St Pancras cost significantly more than the slower trains from other London stations. The slower trains will take 80 minutes and stop at several intermediate stations.

Ashford International has onsite car parking for over 1,000 vehicles.

By air
Ashford's closest airport is (London Ashford Airport). A small airport with its own airline LyddAir which offers charter flights.

The closest major airport is London Gatwick, approximately a 45–50 minute drive away (depending on traffic congestion) using the M20, M26, M25 and M23 motorways. Alternatively, there are trains to Gatwick Airport from London Bridge and London St. Pancras stations, also the Gatwick Express train departs from London Victoria.

London Heathrow is 90 minutes away.

By bus
Most services are run by Stagecoach.

A hire car is a good investment to explore the surrounding country. For example Canterbury is a few pleasant miles away and the "Park and Ride "bus service to the center of Canterbury is tremendous and saves many hassles parking.

Buy
Ashford is a hotspot in the southeast for shopping.

Eat
Ashford is well served by many different restaurants. A short walk around the town centre will find most varieties of cuisine.

Further out of town, pubs offer good food at reasonable prices. Wye also has some good restaurants.

Drink
Locally produced Biddenden wine and cider are high quality. The cider at 8% ABV is only sold by the half-pint in some pubs. There is no shortage of good pubs and bars although the best tend to be in the villages around the town.

There are many good pubs around the town.

Go next

 * Local villages - Wye, Bethersden and Tenterden
 * Hythe (Kent)

title: Ashford (England)


text:
Ashford (Washington)

Ashford is a town in Southwest Washington that serves as a gateway to Mount Rainier National Park.

Go next

 * Mount Rainier National Park

title: Ashford (Washington)


text:
Ash Fork

Ash Fork is a town in Northern Arizona.

Get in
Via I-40 or SR 89

Drink
The Oasis Lounge and Rt. 66 Grill on Park Ave is the only bar. Alcoholic drinks are available at most gas stations and the Zettler's Market Kiosk in The Ranch House Cafe.

title: Ash Fork


text:
Ashgabat

Ashgabat (Turkmen: Aşgabat, also Ashkabat, Ashkhabad, Ashgabad, etc.) is the capital of Turkmenistan, surrounded by Ahal Province. It was designed as to be an impressive capital city, filled with monumental projects sheathed in costly white marble.

Understand
Ashgabat's historical appellation is "The City of Love" but nowadays its modern nickname, "The City of White Marble" will seem vastly more appropriate. Saparmurat Niyazov, the president of Turkmenistan from 1985 to 2006, transformed the city from a relatively drab Soviet capital to a city of pure white marble buildings, many containing some rather overbearing symbolism (the Ministry of World Affairs building is a perfect illustration). Short of Pyongyang, Ashgabat is probably the best example of what happens when a city gets redesigned according to the vision of exactly one man, and most visitors will find themselves at first awestruck and then severely confused given the sheer similarity of most of the buildings.

By rail
Turkmendemiryollari (Turkmenistan Zeleznice) runs trains to Ashgabat from Turkmenbashi and Turkmenabad via Mary.

Trains leave Turkmenbashi every second day at 19:30 and arrive in Ashgabat at 05:20 next morning or daily at 16:05, arriving in Ashgabat at 05:50 next morning. Prices from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi or Mary vary from 18 to 25 manat in a sleeper train.

Trains leave Turkmenabad at 18:00 and Mary at 00:25 daily and arrive in Ashgabat at 08:20 next morning, Another train leaves Turkmenabad at 21:55 and Mary at 02:50 every second day, arriving in Ashgabat at 09:35 next morning. There is a day train leaving Turkmenabad at 04:20 and Mary at 10:23, arriving in Ashgabat at 18:35.

By car
Distances to Ashgabat: Almaty in Kazakhstan 2120 km, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan 1870 km, Tashkent in Uzbekistan 1290 km, Samarkand in Uzbekistan 1000 km, Shakrisyabz in Uzbekistan 1100 km, Turkmenabad 590 km, Mary 350 km, Mashhad in Iran 270 km, Dashoguz 650 km.

Get around
"Taxi", by which everyone means hitchhiking is probably the best way to get around Ashgabat. Simply hold out your arm at a downward angle with two fingers extended, and a car (usually a Lada) will stop. Say where you are going. If they nod, get in, otherwise they will go on and you have to wait for the next car. Expect payment to be about US$2 per person. Hitchhiking is an entirely safe mode of transport in Turkmenistan—everyone uses it.

There are also official taxis which can be easily found in front of the arrivals hall of the airport and close to the railway station. They are safer but more expensive.

Ashgabat has a very extensive and convenient bus system. The main public transport hub is Teke Bazaar. From that place any location within the city or in its environs can be easily reached. In the modern part of the city there are air-conditioned bus stops with detailed maps of routes of every bus line departing from a stop. The cost of a single ride is 0.50 manat. The price should be paid by every passenger to the basket located close to driver's seat while getting off the bus. Alternatively a multi-ride should be presented to the driver.

Buy

 * Tolkuchka Bazaar: 8 km north of Ashgabad, past the airport, Sa Su 08:00 to 14:00, also Th morning at a smaller scale. Buy a telpek (sheepskin) for US$10-15, a khalat (red and yellow striped robe for men) for US$15 or a typical red carpet for US$150-250. Be aware that you also need an export certificate, which you can get at the 'expert commission' behind the Carpet Museum, Görogly köcesi 5.
 * Tolkuchka Bazaar: 8 km north of Ashgabad, past the airport, Sa Su 08:00 to 14:00, also Th morning at a smaller scale. Buy a telpek (sheepskin) for US$10-15, a khalat (red and yellow striped robe for men) for US$15 or a typical red carpet for US$150-250. Be aware that you also need an export certificate, which you can get at the 'expert commission' behind the Carpet Museum, Görogly köcesi 5.

Internet
Internet cafes are available at some locations around town. Price is 6 TMT per hour.
 * Yimpas Shopping Center
 * Great Turkman Hotel
 * Russian Market
 * Sofitel, aka Oguz Kent, Features free WiFi in lobby and bar. (Ssd: Wireless; username: white; password: city)

Emergencies
Dial 01 for the fire brigade, 02 for police, 03 for ambulance. Be aware that the operators will speak Turkmen and Russian only.

Embassies and consulates

 * 🇦🇫 Afghanistan
 * 🇦🇲 Armenia
 * 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
 * 🇧🇾 Belarus
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * Georgia
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇮🇷 Iran
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
 * 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan
 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
 * 🇹🇯 Tajikistan
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

Medical services

 * Central Hospital, Emre köcesi 1, or . Foreigners have to pay for their medical treatment.
 * International Medical Center, Berzegi, or.
 * Lechebnii Hospital, Shevchenko sayoli,.
 * Dr.Arslan Nepesow, Turkembashi köcesi 124,.

Registration

 * OVIR (State Service for the Registration of Foreign Citizens), 2011 köcesi 57,, 09:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00. All persons entering Turkmenistan on a tourist or business visa have to register within three working days. You need three passport photos and your entry card. In most cases the tour operator that invited you will organise this for you. Persons holding transit visa are not required to register.

Nearby

 * Nissa, 15 km west of Ashgabat, settlement dating back to the 2nd cent BC
 * Geok Depe, 50 km west of Ashgabat, site of the final battle between troops of Turkmen and tsarist troops in 1881/84, Saparmurat Hags Mosque, erected by President Turkmenbashi
 * Bakharden, 100 km West of Ashgabat, near the Kopet Dag mountains, cave with the Köw Ata Lake with hot thermal water, however, smelling of sulphur, a favorite place for excursion for people of Ashgabat at weekends.
 * Nokhur, 150 km from Ashgabar in South Western Turkmenistan in the valleys of the Kopet Dag mountains. The people of Nokhur claim to be direct descendants of Macedonian warriors of Alexander the Great's times,
 * Anau, 15 km south east of Ashgabat
 * Altyn Depe is a settlement of the Eneolithic and Bronze Ages. It has been extensively excavated during the Soviet period. The settlement has specialised potter's quarters, evidence of a differentiation of the living quarters according to the wealth of their inhabitants and a monumental cult complex. During excavations a small golden head of a wolf and a bull were found. According to the Russian archaeologist V.M. Masson, the cult complex was dedicated to the Moon Good as in Mesopotamia. The site was abandoned in the middle of the second millennium BC.

By plane
Turkmenistan Airlines offered domestic flights to Dashogus (6 flights per day), Mary (3 flights per day), Turkmenabat (5 flights per day) and Turkmenbashi (3 flights per day), as of 2009.

By rail
Turkmendemiryollari (Turkmenistan Zeleznice) runs trains from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi and Turkmenabat via Mary.

Train 24 to Turkmenbashi leaves Ashgabat every second day at 20:40 and arrives at Turkmenbashi at 06:55 next morning. Train 606 leaves Ashgabat daily at 20:10, arriving in Turkmenbashi at 09:15 next morning.

Trains to Turkmenabat and Mary leave Ashabat at 07:40 daily, arriving at Mary at 17:00 and at Turkmenabat at 23:00. Train 195 leaves Ashabat daily at 17:20 and arrives at Turkmenabat at 07:35 next morning. Train 21 leaves Ashabat every second day at 22:10, and arrives at Mary at 05:25 and at Turkmenabat at 09:40 next morning.

By 4WD
Ashgabat is probably the best place to hire someone to take you to Darvaza. The trip requires going off-road and is probably best not left to you average Lada.

title: Ashgabat


text:
Ashikaga

Ashikaga (足利) is a city in Tochigi prefecture, Japan, near the prefecture's border with Gunma.

Ashikaga makes an ideal day trip from Tokyo. It's a small city with a lot of history packed into an attractive and easily walkable radius, from the mound tombs (kofun) and mountain-top shrines of pre-Buddhist Japan to dozens of temples built by members of the long-powerful Ashikaga clan, notable patrons of classical Japanese theatre (Noh), art (flower arranging and tea ceremony), and architecture (the Golden and Silver Pavilions in Kyoto).

Understand
The Ashikaga clan was an offshoot of the Minamoto clan who conquered Honshu and dominated the Kamakura Shogunate (1185-1333). Ashikaga Takauji overthrew the Kamakura shoguns and installed himself in the Muromachi district of Kyoto. The Ashikaga shoguns did not just help beautify Kamakura and Kyoto, they also built temples, gardens, and retirement villas in their hometown, which has been called a Little Kyoto and calls Kamakura one of its sister cities. The clan also sponsored the Ashikaga Gakkō, the most famous Confucian academy of eastern Japan, and Ashikaga has a friendship city relationship with Jining (Shandong), China, which includes Qufu, the hometown of Confucius.

As the Ashikaga shoguns got weaker, the country fractured into civil war, until it was reunited and pacified under the Tokugawa Shogunate, with its headquarters in Edo (modern Tokyo). Ashikaga and other towns on the edge of the Kanto plain prospered as Edo grew into a bustling metropolis, two of Ashikaga's specialties being soba and silk. Classic, Edo-period merchant stronghouses are still frequent sights along Ashikaga streets. Long prominent in the silk industry, Ashikaga, Kiryu, and nearby towns became important centers of Japan's industrial revolution, with textile manufacturing leading the way. Although the factories have moved overseas, textile handicrafters are still active, and fine woven goods can be found in many local souvenir shops.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Get in
Travelers coming from Narita airport should note that bus may be cheaper, faster and more convenient than taking train.

By train
The nearest Shinkansen (bullet train) stations are Oyama on the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Takasaki on the Jōetsu Shinkansen, both of which are connected to Ashikaga by the JR Ryōmō Line (両毛線), which has about 30 trains daily running in each direction between about 5AM and 11PM. JR Ashikaga station is on the north bank of the Watarase River, in the older, more walkable section of town. JR Ashikaga Flower Park Station, also on the JR Ryōmō Line, is seven minutes away on foot from Ashikaga Flower Park.

The private Tōbu Asakusa-Isesaki Line (東武伊勢崎線) runs about 60 trains in each direction through Ashikaga-shi station every day between about 05:00 and 00:00. Express trains leaving Asakusa in Tokyo reach Ashikaga-shi in about 75 minutes (60 minutes from Kita-Senju in Tokyo). The local (or "Section Semi-Express", "Section-Express") takes twice as long. Kita-Senju is more convenient than Asakusa as a transfer point in the Tokyo area. Tōbu Ashikaga-shi station is on the south bank of the Watarase River, in the rapidly expanding south side of town, with strip malls, big-box retailers, and ample parking.

By car
Take the Sano-Fujioka exit from the Tōhoku Expressway and follow National Route 50 west toward Ashikaga. The four-lane divided highway is usually busy, and highway buses schedule a half-hour between the Sano Premium Outlets and the Ashikaga train stations. National Route 50 runs along the south edge of Ashikaga.

Take the Ashikaga exit from the Kita-Kanto Expressway and follow National Route 293 south toward Central Ashikaga.

It takes 15 minutes from the Ota-Kiryu exit in the Kita-Kanto Expressway to central Ashikaga. Take the Ota-Kiryu exit and follow National Route 122 & 50 east toward Ashikaga.

Get around
The Ashikaga City Bus runs 4 times a day each way through Ashikaga on a long route that runs far up the mountain valleys that flank the city. It costs ¥200 each way.

The old downtown of Ashikaga north of the Watarase River is very walkable, while the riverbank is very bikeable (and walkable). A bicycle trail runs along the levees for the full length of Ashikaga city, sometimes along the north levee, sometimes along the south. The levees were raised and flood control measures were improved after severe flooding in the wake of Typhoon Kathleen in 1947.

See

Buy
The principal local specialties of Ashikaga are: textiles, soba noodles, and now Coco Farm wines and a locally made citrus wine.

The most convenient place to shop for textiles is along the flagstone-paved (ishi-datami) streets that lead into Bannaji and Ashikaga Gakko. Natural indigo dyes are a local specialty, but look for some very nice natural brown dyes from walnut and chestnut as well. The less expensive varieties of each fabric are most likely made in China (and sometimes India).

A range of Coco Farm wines can be found in most supermarkets, but you might need to look in larger specialty liquor stores for the best (and more expensive) varieties, or at Coco Farms itself. Their labels range from the basic Coco Farm (¥1100-1200) and Oak Barrel (¥1200-1500) to the less widely available Coco Ima (¥1500-1800), Aubade (¥5000), and Novo sparkling wine (¥9000) lines.

The most convenient shopping for soba noodles and other edible souvenirs can be found in many shops along main street (Tōri 1-chome to 7-chome), running parallel and north of the JR railway tracks, and Grand Avenue (Gurando Tōri), which runs north directly out of the JR Ashikaga station. The gift shop at the Flower Park also offers a large variety of comestible souvenirs.

Go next

 * Sano
 * Tochigi
 * Iwafune
 * Utsunomiya
 * Oyama
 * Ota
 * Isesaki
 * Kiryu
 * Tatebayashi

title: Ashikaga


text:
Ashkelon

Ashkelon or Ashqelon Hebrew אַשְׁקְלוֹן Arabic عسقلان ˁAsqalān ; is a city on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, 50 km (40 minutes by bus) to the south of Tel Aviv.

Understand
Ashkelon is one of the oldest cities in Israel and has history that goes back more than 5,000 years. Ashkelon is especially famous for its history as one of ancient Philistines' major cities and in the biblical story of Samson.

The ruins of many civilizations such as the Canaanites and Byzantines are located underneath the city. Many artifacts that have been recovered in archaeological digs are on display around the city. Good samples can be seen in the national park and in Afridar center.

The city has been part of Israel since the 1948 independence war. Since then, the city has become a center for several waves of Jewish immigrants ("olim"). Newcomers from Iraq, Morocco, the ex-USSR and Ethiopia are the majority population. Since most of them came with little or no money, the city's socio-economy status has generally been low. Its seaside location now attracts wealthier populations. But the occasional rockets that have been launched towards Ashkelon from Gaza Strip have put a new damper on its growth. On the south-facing windows of newly constructed apartment buildings, you can see sliding metal covers designed to minimize the damage caused by bombardments.

The beach line in Ashkelon is by far cleaner than the ones in the central region of Israel, and there are a few lovely hotels along it.

By bus
Buses run from the central bus stations of Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Beer Sheva, to a located in the center of town.

By boat
There are no ferries or cruises to Ashkelon, but you can bring your own boat into the marina. From abroad, call ahead before entering Israeli waters to arrange immigration and customs clearance. Large vessels should head for Ashdod ten miles north, which is a large commercial port with 24 hour entry facilities.

Get around
There are 16 local bus lines running every day until midnight and covering most parts of the city. The local bus lines are operated by Dan BaDarom.

The most frequent bus lines are lines 4/4א and 5. The beach and the marina are served by bus lines 3, 6, 18 and in July and August line 9 is operated. Line 8 has a single trip each day each direction as this line is a cemetery service but it stops also at southern parts of the city.

The fare is about ₪4 per ride.

Taxis by agreed fares (negotiable, usually between ₪20-23 anywhere inside Ashkelon) or meter.

You can walk across the entire city in less than 2 hours.

Yango ridesharing service is available.

See

 * Ashkelon Khan and Museum contains archaeological finds, among them a replica of Ashkelon’s Canaanite silver calf.
 * The Outdoor Museum near the municipal cultural center displays two Roman burial coffins made of marble depicting battle and hunting scenes, and famous mythological scenes.
 * The dunes - in the south, near the southern industrial zone, one can still spot untouched dunes with wild animals.
 * Ashkelon Khan and Museum contains archaeological finds, among them a replica of Ashkelon’s Canaanite silver calf.
 * The Outdoor Museum near the municipal cultural center displays two Roman burial coffins made of marble depicting battle and hunting scenes, and famous mythological scenes.
 * The dunes - in the south, near the southern industrial zone, one can still spot untouched dunes with wild animals.
 * The Outdoor Museum near the municipal cultural center displays two Roman burial coffins made of marble depicting battle and hunting scenes, and famous mythological scenes.
 * The dunes - in the south, near the southern industrial zone, one can still spot untouched dunes with wild animals.

Do

 * The coastline has few nice beaches, among them popular Delila and sightseeing Bar Kochva.
 * Afridar Center - restaurants, cafes and bars next to a large green park.

Buy

 * Cosmos area just outside the city on the road to/from Tel Aviv - Something like a scattered shopping mall. It is very close to the train station.
 * Migdal - see above.
 * Cosmos area just outside the city on the road to/from Tel Aviv - Something like a scattered shopping mall. It is very close to the train station.
 * Migdal - see above.
 * Migdal - see above.

Eat

 * Hanitzahon restaurant at Migdal's walking street - considered to be one of the best in Israel, not cheap.
 * There are many shawarma and falafel vendors, much like anywhere else in Israel. The locals tend to favor Flafel Boaron at Migdal.
 * There are many shawarma and falafel vendors, much like anywhere else in Israel. The locals tend to favor Flafel Boaron at Migdal.

Drink
Beer Hole at the Khan in Migdal.

Hanasi 1 - busy bar that attracts many young locals. Located on Ha'nasi st. 1, Afridar center.

Many bars and clubs are located at the Marina area. Tend to be packed during weekends (Thursday to Saturday).

Two bars are working on the beach between the marina and the national park: Hofman and Ananas, they are more active during the summer.

A few clubs are working at Delila beach. There's also a nice but smoky pool house there.

title: Ashkelon


text:
Ashland

There's more than one place called Ashland or Ashland County:

Canada

 * Ashland (New Brunswick) - a town in New Brunswick

United States of America

 * Ashland (Alabama) - a town in Alabama
 * Ashland (California) - a town in California
 * Ashland (Georgia) - a town in Georgia (state)
 * Ashland (Illinois) - a town in Illinois
 * Ashland (Indiana) - a town in Indiana
 * Ashland (Kansas) - a town in Kansas
 * Ashland (Kentucky) - a town in Kentucky
 * Ashland (Louisiana) - a town in Louisiana
 * Ashland (Maine) - a town in Maine
 * Ashland (Massachusetts) - a town in Central Massachusetts near Framingham
 * Ashland (Mississippi) - a town in Mississippi
 * Ashland (Missouri) - a town in Missouri
 * Ashland (Montana) - a town in Montana
 * Ashland (Nebraska) - a town in Nebraska
 * Ashland (New Hampshire) - a town in New Hampshire
 * Ashland (New Jersey) - a town in New Jersey
 * Ashland (Chemung County New York)
 * Ashland (Greene County New York)
 * Ashland (Ohio) - a town in Ohio
 * Ashland (Oklahoma) - a town in Oklahoma
 * Ashland (Oregon) - a town in Oregon
 * Ashland (Pennsylvania) - a town in Pennsylvania
 * Ashland (Virginia) - a town in Virginia
 * Ashland (Washington) - a town in Washington (state)
 * Ashland (West Virginia) - a town in West Virginia
 * Ashland (Wisconsin) - a town in Wisconsin

 * Ashland City - a town in Tennessee

 * Ashland County (Ohio)
 * Ashland County (Wisconsin)

title: Ashland


text:
Ashland (Kentucky)

Ashland is a city in Boyd County in the Kentucky Appalachians near the confluence of the Big Sandy and Ohio Rivers. It was founded as Poage's Landing in 1786, incorporated as Ashland in 1854, and has witnessed the likenesses of such personalities as Billy Ray Cyrus and the Judds (country singers Naomi and her older daughter Wynonna, who performed as The Judds before Wynonna launched a solo career, and younger daughter Ashley, who became a prominent actress).

By plane
Tristate Airport is across the Big Sandy river in West Virginia. It offers several connections to Ashland and the surrounding Tri-State Area.

By car

 * From Interstate 64 there are two exits.

By train

 * Route stopping in Ashland:
 * Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark. Westbound trains arrive around 10PM while eastbound ones arrive early morning about 6:30AM, delays are however quite common.
 * Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark. Westbound trains arrive around 10PM while eastbound ones arrive early morning about 6:30AM, delays are however quite common.

Do

 * Summer Motion is a two-week festival culminating on July 4th. Events include concerts, air show, and a carnival.
 * Greenbo State Park
 * Carter Caves State Park
 * Summer Motion is a two-week festival culminating on July 4th. Events include concerts, air show, and a carnival.
 * Greenbo State Park
 * Carter Caves State Park

Eat

 * Crisp's Dairy Treat, US 60 W, Summit, +1 606 928-8193
 * The Mill AKY, 1537 Winchester Ave, +1 606 547-5385
 * Crisp's Dairy Treat, US 60 W, Summit, +1 606 928-8193
 * The Mill AKY, 1537 Winchester Ave, +1 606 547-5385
 * The Mill AKY, 1537 Winchester Ave, +1 606 547-5385
 * The Mill AKY, 1537 Winchester Ave, +1 606 547-5385
 * The Mill AKY, 1537 Winchester Ave, +1 606 547-5385

Drink
The city of Ashland is "wet", meaning that full retail alcohol sales are allowed. Boyd County is dry, but allows alcohol sales by the drink in larger restaurants (seating at least 100). The same applies in the nearby city of Russell, which is in Boyd County's otherwise dry neighbor of Greenup County. Nearby areas in Ohio and West Virginia are wet.

title: Ashland (Kentucky)


text:
Ashland (Massachusetts)

Ashland is a city of 19,000 in Massachusetts approximately 25 miles west of Boston. Ashland was the original starting point of the Boston Marathon.

Holliston is a town with a population of 15,000 (2020).

Hopkinton is a town with a population of 19,000 (2020). It is notable as the starting place of the Boston Marathon.

Sherborn is a town with a population of 4,000 (2020).

Get in
From Route 495: Take exit 21A (West). Follow through Hopkinton center where the road merges with Route 135. Ashland center is about 3.5 miles from the exit. From Route 9: Go south on Route 126 to Framingham center (about 2 miles). Turn west on Route 135. Ashland center is about 4 miles from Framingham center. The towns are also reachable by Route 16 for points east and west, and Route 126 for points north and south.

Eat

 * John Stone's Public House, 179 Main St., +1 508-881-1778, . was built in 1834 by John Stone to take advantage of the new railroad. The pub is reputed to be haunted.
 * John Stone's Public House, 179 Main St., +1 508-881-1778, . was built in 1834 by John Stone to take advantage of the new railroad. The pub is reputed to be haunted.
 * John Stone's Public House, 179 Main St., +1 508-881-1778, . was built in 1834 by John Stone to take advantage of the new railroad. The pub is reputed to be haunted.
 * John Stone's Public House, 179 Main St., +1 508-881-1778, . was built in 1834 by John Stone to take advantage of the new railroad. The pub is reputed to be haunted.

Go next

 * Boston - 90 East. About 40-80 minutes away.
 * Portsmouth NH - 495 North to 95 North. About 1 hour 15 minutes away.
 * Cape Cod - 495 South. About 1-2 hours away.

title: Ashland (Massachusetts)