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Apo Kayan

The Apo Kayan is a remote highland region in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. It is situated close to the Malaysian border in the northwest of the province of East Kalimantan. The headwaters of the Kayan River flow through this area, giving it its name. The thickly forested plateau, which is between 400 and 1,700 meters high is inhabited by Kenyah Dayaks.

Talk
Indonesian is generally understood by the village chiefs and the younger people. Knowing a few words in the Kenyah language helps a lot.

Get around
The best way to get around is on foot along jungle trails. Good maps are practically non-existent and a lot of the trails just peter out or end at little fields in the middle of the jungle. Be sure to ask if you're still walking in the right direction whenever you meet people along the way. The villages around Long Ampung are reachable within a couple of hours or a day.

See
Remote Dayak villages, such as:

Do

 * Jungle trekking

Eat
Either bring your own or eat what the Dayak eat -- It is a good idea to bring some canned food with you and give this to the people of the place you stay at. They will probably serve it in the evenings with some sweet potatoes or rice, which are both the main staples. If you don't do this, pay them a fair price for what they serve you (some families have a fixed price). You will eat a lot of sweet potatoes and rice.

Drink
Pretty much the same as eating. You can bring in some bottles, but they won't last long. You have to drink a lot in this humid environment. The river water should be drinkable as is (never drink stagnant water), but it is probably safer to carry some water purifying pills or a mechanical water purifier.

Sleep
When you arrive in a village, it is best to ask the kepala desa (village chief) where you can sleep. In most cases, you will sleep in an ordinary wooden house, or sometimes in a longhouse (long communal houses). Bring along a mat and a blanket or a sleeping bag because you'll be sleeping on the floor.

The village of Long Nawang has a small basic losmen (guesthouse) with a few beds.

Stay safe
The Dayak's headhunting days are over, although there have been reports of a brief resurgence in 2001 (including cannibalism) during the clashes with the Madurese. However, it is unlikely that you will be served for dinner.

It is probably best to walk either with a guide or in a small party. You definitely should ask a Dayak to accompany you if you are planning to leave the main trails between the villages. Getting lost and spending the night alone in an unknown jungle would definitely be a memorable experience, but probably not a pleasant one.

Suspension bridges (made of wood and ropes) have the habit of swaying while you cross them. Some are old and in a state of disrepair. The Dayak know this and don't use them anymore. There are no signs to indicate their state, so if there's no-one around, you'll have to use your own judgment. If you doubt the bridge will be able to carry your weight (chances are high that you weigh more than the wiry Dayak), look for a place where the river is not too deep and wade to the other side.

Log bridges can be very slippery. Don't lose your balance if you don't want to get wet.

title: Apo Kayan


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Apollo Bay

Apollo Bay is a town on the Great Ocean Road region of Victoria, Australia.

Get in
It's much faster to drive via Colac to get to Apollo Bay than via the Great Ocean Road - although the Great Ocean Road provides fantastic scenery!

Do
There are some Great places to go Mountain Biking in the back of Apollo Bay around Forest and the Otway national parks.

Over three days at the end of February/beginning of March, the town of Apollo Bay on the Surf Coast presents a dynamic line-up of local, national and international artists across 11 stages at the award winning Apollo Bay Music Festival. There's jazz, blues, roots, classical, comedy, funk, blues, rock, world and country, as well as street performance, theatre and more!

Nearby attractions include The Great Ocean Walk, The Otway Fly Treetop Adventures and Cape Otway Light Station.

 * The Great Ocean Walk winds its way through Apollo Bay on the way to 12 Apostles. . The walk goes on for 104km walking along beaches, through rainforests and into a number of seaside towns. You can do the walk cheaply by camping at the designated camp sites. These must be booked beforehand as numbers are limited. Alternatively you can go on a guided tour or a number of nearby accommodation owners will provide pickups and drop offs each day.

Go next

 * Aireys Inlet
 * Anglesea
 * Lorne
 * Peterborough
 * Port Campbell
 * Port Fairy
 * Portland
 * Torquay - the state's surf capital
 * Warrnambool

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

title: Apollo Bay


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Apopka

Apopka is a city in Orange County, Florida. The population of Apopka was around 41,000 at the 2010 census. As at 2019, the city's population was estimated to have jumped to over 53,000. Apopka is a Native American word for "Potato-eating place".

By bus
Lynx operates a regular bus service from Orlando.

By car
A couple of Orlando's Florida toll expressways pass through the area. FL-451, also a toll road, connects the expressway network to Apopka.

Go next

 * Altamonte Springs
 * Orlando

title: Apopka


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Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore in the state of Wisconsin. The park is a collection of 31 islands and of coastline along Lake Superior.

Climate
Lake Superior is renowned for its cold temperatures, rough seas, fog, and sudden squalls. Boaters and paddlers should monitor marine weather forecasts and be constantly alert to changing conditions. Average daytime high temperatures range from 60 degrees Fahrenheit in May, to the upper 80s in mid-summer, to the mid-60s in September. Average lows vary from 40 degrees in May, to the upper 50s in mid-summer, to 50 degrees in September. Average water temperatures in May and June are only in the 40s.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Fees and permits
There are no entrance fees for visiting the park, but fees are charged for parking at Meyers Beach.

Get around
The lakeshore has more than 20 miles of shoreline on the mainland between Redcliff and Cornucopia. The shore has been carved by the wind and waves of the biggest lake in the world with many interesting rock outcroppings and caves. Truly a sea kayakers' freshwater paradise.

See

title: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore


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Appalachia

Appalachia is a broad term with many meanings. The Appalachian Mountains extend from Labrador in Canada to Alabama in the southern United States.

In the United States, the Appalachian Region (capitalized) refers to a region of thirteen states from New York to Mississippi designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). ARC's definition includes parts of Mississippi lowland and excludes parts of the Virginian highlands, for various political and economic reasons. Appalachian culture is most often associated with Southern Appalachia, from Georgia to West Virginia. West Virginia is the only state entirely within the Appalachian Region.

Regions
There are 13 states in the Appalachian region:

 * Alabama (AL)
 * Georgia (GA)
 * Kentucky (KY)
 * Maryland (MD)
 * Mississippi (MS)
 * New York (NY)
 * North Carolina (NC)
 * Ohio (OH)
 * Pennsylvania (PA)
 * South Carolina (SC)
 * Tennessee (TN)
 * Virginia (VA)
 * West Virginia (WV)

Cities
Major metropolises entirely within the Appalachian Region include Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Birmingham (Alabama), Knoxville (Tennessee), Youngstown (Ohio), Scranton (Pennsylvania), and Chattanooga (Tennessee). Major metropolises partly within the Appalachian Region include Atlanta (Georgia), Cincinnati (Ohio), and Greenville (South Carolina).

Metropolitan areas with at least 10% of population in the Appalachian Region (sorted by population size):

 * 1) Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania)
 * 2) Atlanta (Georgia)
 * 3) Birmingham (Alabama)
 * 4) Knoxville (Tennessee)
 * 5) Youngstown (Ohio)
 * 6) Scranton (Pennsylvania )
 * 7) Greenville (South Carolina)
 * 8) Chattanooga (Tennessee)
 * 9) Winston-Salem (North Carolina)
 * 10) Huntsville (Alabama)
 * 11) Asheville (North Carolina)
 * 12) Charleston (West Virginia)
 * 13) Kingsport (Tennessee)
 * 14) Huntington (West Virginia)
 * 15) Erie (Pennsylvania )
 * 16) Spartanburg (South Carolina)
 * 17) Binghamton (New York)
 * 18) Hagerstown (Maryland)
 * 19) Cincinnati (Ohio)
 * 20) New Castle (Pennsylvania)
 * 21) Hickory (North Carolina)
 * 22) Tuscaloosa (Alabama)
 * 23) Johnson City (Tennessee)

Other destinations

 * Cumberland Gap National Historical Park - in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia
 * Great Smoky Mountains National Park - in Tennessee and North Carolina

Understand
Appalachians have historically been associated with a wide variety of negative stereotypes, to the point that some cities actually have laws prohibiting discrimination against Appalachians. Appalachia however has a very rich and diverse array of cultures albeit with a long and often troublesome history, including slavery and cruelties against Native Americans. Today many Appalachians are proud of their Appalachian identity, and a variety of institutions work to preserve Appalachian culture and history while maintaining its diversity.

Talk
Appalachia is English-speaking for a large majority. The Appalachian English dialect is found through the Southern mountains, known for its many colorful phrases. Other European and Asian languages can be found in small minority communities. Native American languages are also spoken in Appalachian Native American communities. The word "Appalachia" comes from the Apalachee nation.

"Appalachia" is often pronounced "ah-pah-lah-chah" (with a silent "i") by Appalachians (from Apalachee, "ah-pah-lah-chee"), but the pronunciation of "ah-pah-lay-shuh" is also correct.

Get around
In the mountains, it is most convenient to have a car.

Do
Hike the Appalachian Trail.

Stay safe
Hillbillies, rampant racism and homophobia are amongst the many stereotypes of Appalachia. Most Appalachians exhibit "Southern hospitality" and are decent folk, not racist, though homophobia and transphobia are more common. If you are concerned about discrimination, keep to yourself, be polite, and most people will do the same for you. Every community has its bad apples, though. Not all Appalachian states have laws preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity either. You should be prepared to see your share of Confederate flags south of the Mason-Dixon Line, though the extent to which this is motivated by racism is a controversial topic best not broached during your visit. Historically, most Appalachians were strongly antislavery and many were loyal to and fought for the Union during the Civil War, as witness West Virginia's split from Virginia. Appalachian Tennessee produced more antislavery newspapers than any other place in the country, many doing so at extreme risk. Appalachian Kentucky had racially integrated colleges nearly 100 years before desegregation. Appalachians have always valued freedom, which is actually the West Virginia state motto (montani semper liberi, translated "mountaineers are always free").

If you are staying in a small town or away from an urban area, make sure you know what to do if a black bear makes its way into town or your camp. Bears occasionally come into small towns to forage for food. Other hazards include mountain weather, which can change rapidly and includes tornadoes and blizzards, and landslides on mountain roads. Always make sure you obey the speed limit on winding roads (often down to 15 mph on tight curves), or you may find yourself flying off a cliff.

title: Appalachia


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Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains are a system of mountain ranges running along the eastern coast of North America from Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada in the north to Alabama in the United States in the south. Although shorter and less well known than the vast Rocky Mountains in the western part of the continent, the Appalachians are geologically the oldest North American mountain range. The highest peak in the range is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina.

The Appalachian Mountains are a varied destination. Many visit the mountains as day visitors. Some hike all or part of the Appalachian Trail, a 2,174-mile (3,499-km) hike along the main ridges of the mountain range.

Regions
The range runs through the following U.S. states and Canadian provinces (north to south):

United States

 * Maine, specifically the Highlands, Aroostook, Kennebec and Moose River Valleys, and Lakes and Mountains regions
 * New Hampshire
 * Vermont
 * Massachusetts
 * Connecticut
 * New York
 * New Jersey
 * Pennsylvania
 * Maryland
 * West Virginia
 * Virginia
 * Kentucky
 * North Carolina
 * Tennessee
 * South Carolina
 * Georgia
 * Alabama

Virginia
Front Royal Virginia

Other destinations

 * — vast national park offering scenic ridgeline views of the breathtaking Appalachian Mountains.
 * — one of the most popular tourist destinations in the eastern part of USA known for its over 100-mile drive which offers panoramic mountain views.
 * - near the eastern point of the Gaspé Peninsula, home to the famous "pierced rock" (hence the name)
 * - large provincial park on the Gaspé Peninsula.

Understand
The Appalachians originally uplifted when the supercontinent Pangaea was forming. The crashing together of the European and African tectonic plates with the North American plate caused enormous mountains to rise. At their peak they were likely higher than the Alps or Rockies today, possibly rivaling the modern Himalayas. Erosion during the Age of Dinosaurs wore the Appalachians down to nearly a flat plain, but subsequent uplift allowed rivers to cut valleys into the ancient rock, forming the modern peaks and valleys that characterize the region.

The mountains served as a barrier to western migration when Europeans began settling the continent. Except along river valleys and the Great Lakes, there was very little white settlement west of the Appalachians until the beginning of the 18th century. The Erie Canal was dug, in part, to allow goods and travelers to flow more freely across the divide, and soon railroads would be laid through tunnels and across bridges to further open up the west.

Then there are those who settled in the mountains. In the South, the mountain dwellers developed a subculture known as Appalachia, or (derisively) "hillbilly". Farther north, in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, anthracite coal deposits led to a strong tradition of coal mining in the hills. In Quebec, every region is, to some extent, an extension of the Appalachians, but the "mountainous" character is interrupted by the wide St Lawrence River Valley cutting through it. South of the River, in the Gaspé region, and to the north in the Laurentians, the mountainous character is revealed once again. Likewise all of Atlantic Canada is to some extend a northward extension of the Appalachians, notably the Cape Breton Highlands and the mountainous interior of Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula.

Read
Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods, published in 1999, offers an entertaining look at the author's attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail.

Itineraries

 * Appalachian Trail — over two million people a year hike a portion of this extensive trail running from Georgia to Maine.

title: Appalachian Mountains


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Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a United States national scenic trail that runs through 14 states in the eastern United States, following the Appalachian Mountain Range.

Understand
The Appalachian Trail ("the AT" for short) began as a vision of forester Benton MacKaye and was developed by volunteers and opened as a continuous trail in 1937. It was designated as the first national scenic trail by the National Trails System Act of 1968. The trail is protected along more than 99% of its course by federal or state ownership of the land or by rights-of-way. Annually, more than 4,000 volunteers contribute more than 185,000 hours of effort on the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy's mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail.

The trail stretches for 2,184 miles (3,500 km) through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. Every year, thousands of people try to hike the whole trail in a single journey (known as "thru-hiking"), typically starting from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain in Georgia. About 3 in 20 of those who try make it all the way to Mount Katahdin in Maine, the northern terminus. The vast majority of hikers choose to make shorter day or multi-day treks along portions of the trail are known as "section-hikers". Some short sections are fully accessible to those with disabilities; the AT has been traveled by hikers with a variety of disabilities, including those hearing-impaired and blind.

The trail's popularity is due in part to its fame and scenic vistas, and in part to its easy accessibility to major population centers. Most people in the dense northeastern section of the country live within a 3-hour drive of the trail. This density has sometimes made the trail a bit too "civilized" in some areas, especially in a few locations where development has forced the trail onto roads. However, the federal government has established a protected corridor along much of the trail, preserving the "natural" experience for many trail hikers. And in some segments, such as in northern Maine, you can hike for 100 miles (160 km) without ever crossing a paved road -- prepare accordingly!

Visitor information

 * National Parks Service page on the Appalachian Trail
 * Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Climate
In general, the trail is open continuously year-round. The northern terminus at Katahdin is within Baxter State Park, which may be closed in winter months, depending on weather conditions.

Throughhiking the trail at any time other than late spring to early fall is not something to be considered lightly. The trail is almost always colder and exposed to more extreme weather than surrounding areas, leading as it does along the mountain ridge of the Appalachians. In particular, expect plenty of rainy nights any time of year—this is a wet temperate forest, as the East Coast gets a lot of rainstorms, which halt upon the mountains regardless of whether they come from the east or west.

Read
Bill Bryson published his account of walking the Trail. It was called A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. Published in 1997, it was account of Bryson walking the trail during the spring and summer of 1996. Bryson only walked about 40% of the Trail.

Watch
In 2015, Bryson's book was made into a movie: A Walk in the Woods. It featured Robert Redford and Nick Nolte.

Prepare
No matter which way you slice it, you'll be walking on the trail. The trail is open only to walkers, hikers, and backpackers—no motorized vehicles or even bicycles are allowed. Dogs can accompany you on most of the trail, except in most national parks (although they must be on a leash at all times). At least 50% of the AT within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open to horses as well.

For anything longer than a day hike, be sure to prepare for rough conditions on your feet. Given the constant ups and downs of the trail, plus the ever present East Coast humidity, your feet will bear the brunt of your experience. Don't wear sneakers. Wear proper hiking shoes or boots, and consider two layers of socks (sock liners are best for the inner layer) to reduce friction. And bring moleskin and a pocket knife to deal with blisters.

If you're just starting out on the trail, and are in average shape, don't expect to do much more than 8–10 miles in a day. Thru-hikers, whether they start in good shape, or wind up in great shape within a week or two, will cover far more ground, in the ballpark of 18–25 miles/day. Prepare yourself mentally for the rigors of the trail. If you are insincere and don't treat the trail with the respect it deserves, it's unlikely you will get far.

And thru-hikers beware, it takes on average five million footsteps to complete the trail. Despite its great popularity, only 10,000 people have reported hiking the length of the trail.

It may sound strange, but you have to prepare yourself for detaching yourself from the internet. People are used to checking their phones all the time and if this is going to bother you while you hike, you should factor it in. One of the fantastic things of the Trail is that it provides the ability to get offline and be one with yourself.

Thru-hiking
Thru-hiking is a term used in referring to hikers who complete long distance trails from end-to-end in a single trip. The Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Continental Divide Trail were the first three long-distance trails in the U.S. Successfully thru-hiking all of these three trails is known as the Triple Crown of Hiking.

The most common cause of failure to complete the trail is lack of preparedness - both physical and mental. It is important to begin regular walks in the months and weeks leading up to the thru-hike, beginning with low-impact day-hikes in easy terrain while carrying a minimum of weight. When these day-hikes become nearly effortless, increase the distance and include several multi-day hikes that require a full backpack with food, water and gear. In addition, hilly terrain should be incorporated as soon as possible in order to build up strength in the muscles required for climbs and descents. Performing regular hikes that continually push the body's current limits will not only toughen the body but will also go a long way toward mentally preparing oneself for the constant strain on body and mind.

Mentally you need to be prepared for what the trail and elements will throw at you. If you let every inconvenience get to you, you won't last long. Physical pain is part of the process and if you focus on this, you won't enjoy the magnificent hike and life experience that this is.

Preparing financially and logistically are also essential to a successful thru-hike. The cost of a hike will range from several hundred dollars a month on the low end to upwards of a thousand dollars a month for the high end. Each person has a different minimum level of comfort and nourishment; it is vital to discover what one's own level is as early as possible and to make supply arrangements accordingly. Study the route and identify towns that will serve as likely resupply centers and map out distances between post offices. An experienced thru-hiker resupplies his or her dry goods every 10-14 days, either through the post offices' general delivery drop-box system or through local purchases.

Equipment should be purchased well in advance of the AT start date and should be used as many times as possible to both allow the hiker to become familiar with the gear (backpacks adjusted properly, boots broken in, etc.) and to identify any broken, impractical or unsatisfactory items. Prospective thru-hikers should get in contact with local hiking clubs and solicit advice on what pieces of equipment are completely unnecessary, which are luxury items and which are essential. Different hikers have different philosophies on how much gear should be taken, from those in the "lean and fast" school of thought which advocates a minimum of everything - no stove, no tent, hiking sandals instead of boots and little else - to the "slow and comfortable" school which sacrifices speed and low weight for comfort. One should get as many opinions as possible and attempt hikes with various levels of gear until an acceptable amount of weight and speed has been achieved.

The days will blur into each other and you will forget most of it so keeping a journal is a great way to keep track of things. By recording your experiences and charting your daily progress you can find what works for you as you progress.

Sleeping
Appalachian Trail shelters are located along the trail. These are maintained by AT volunteers. Latitude/longitude data for trail shelters can be found here. Many towns along the trail offer lodging in the form of hotels, motels, rooms and such. Most of the towns are receptive to those on the trail and welcome visitors.

Getting a good's night sleep is critical for recharging yourself physically and mentally. As you progress through the trail, you will develop a nighttime routine for yourself.

With the exception of occasional lean-tos (which are usually less comfortable than camping), you will rely on tents only throughout your hike, unless you take a break and walk off the trail into a town. Two matters are essential to address with your tent. First, make sure it's weather proof. Many a hiker thought it would be nice in Georgia in the spring, and to their horror had to quit when freezing in the snow. And it will rain on you, so make sure that you have a tent that will not leak, and that you can set up your tent without it flooding in the process. Second, you'll want a light tent that you can carry without loading down your back. Look for lightweight and ultra-lightweight backpacking tents, which you can find online at a number of dealers.

The rules are quite open for camping along the trail, even in most of the national parks. You can camp at the occasional built campground—these are usually crowded and often full, but are great places to meet other hikers and share stories and advice. But most nights you'll find yourself on your own. Pick any spot out of sight of the trail that is flat enough and that you can possibly clear of debris to pitch your tent. If you care at all about this wonderful trail, and don't want to ruin it for future visitors, always practice leave-no-trace camping, and restore some natural debris over the ground where you pitched your tent.

By car
By far the most common mode of transport for getting to the trail is by car. There is ample parking along the trail (at trailheads leading to the trail proper)—in the more populated areas there is usually an entrance parking lot every or so. Be sure not to leave anything valuable/visible in your car while gone (especially nice hiking equipment!). The Appalachian Trail is not set up for many circular routes, so you may want to arrange transportation to and from the trail at your start and end points. You can try to get off the trail near a town and try and pay someone to take you back to your car, but it's a much better plan to have a good friend or relative responsible for your transport!

By train
There are two train stations on the trail. In West Virginia, the Harper's Ferry Amtrak station is easily accessible from the trail and the town of Harper's Ferry. Amtrak and MARC trains provide daily service to Washington, D.C. in under two hours. In New York, the Appalachian Trail station (an uncovered platform) on the Metro-North railroad can connect you with New York City and beyond (service on weekends and holidays only).

Fees and permits
Neither fees nor permits are required to hike and camp along the vast majority of the Appalachian Trail. The only exceptions are at some of the most crowded National Parks along the way, most notably Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park. Even there, the fees are low, and the permits flexible (since they know that thru-hikers cannot commit to rigid plans). Baxter State Park in Maine also requires both registration and fees for all camping within the park. The only other areas with camping fees are at a couple of well-maintained campsites in the Green Mountain National Forest and White Mountain National Forest. But you can just camp in the wild if you're feeling cheap!

Walk
After a brief explanation of the trail in each state, a small list of landmarks and towns that are reachable along the trail is given.

Georgia
The Appalachian Trail runs for through Georgia, starting with the 8.8-mile approach trail from the bottom of Amicalola Falls to the southern terminus of the hike on the summit of Springer Mountain. It's then about a 7-day hike to the North Carolina state line. There are 12 shelters along the way where hikers may spend the night, on average from each other.

 * Amicalola Falls State Park
 * Len Foote Hike Inn
 * Springer Mountain Summit
 * Suches, Georgia
 * Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center
 * Neel's Gap
 * Helen, Georgia
 * Hiawassee, Georgia

North Carolina/Tennessee
It's and 30 days of winding through North Carolina and Tennessee to get to Virginia. Along the way you'll walk through Great Smoky Mountains National Park for. There are 53 shelters in this section, on average from the one before.

 * Franklin, North Carolina
 * Nantahala Outdoor Center
 * Fontana Dam, North Carolina
 * Gatlinburg
 * Hot Springs, North Carolina
 * Erwin, Tennessee
 * Unicoi, Tennessee
 * Elk Park, North Carolina
 * Hampton (Tennessee), Tennessee
 * Shady Valley, Tennessee

Virginia
The longest state on the trail runs for. However, it's also the flattest state on your hike and as you continue to get in shape should take you about the same amount of time to complete as North Carolina and Tennessee. Immediately after crossing the state line you'll enter Damascus, the spiritual quarter-way point of a thru-hiker. You'll also pass through Grayson Highlands State Park and Shenandoah National Park. There are 65 shelters in Virginia spaced about from one another.

 * Damascus
 * Summit Cut, Virginia
 * Whitetop, Virginia
 * Grayson Highlands State Park
 * Troutdale
 * Sugar Grove
 * Atkins
 * Ceres
 * Bland
 * Bastian
 * Pearisburg
 * Catawba
 * Cloverdale
 * Daleville
 * Troutville
 * Buchanan
 * Big Island
 * Glasgow
 * Buena Vista
 * Waynesboro
 * Shenandoah National Park
 * Skyland
 * Front Royal
 * Linden, Virginia
 * Bluemont

West Virginia
West Virginia has around of trail. The trail passes through Harpers Ferry. Harpers Ferry is considered the "psychological midpoint" of the trail.
 * Harpers Ferry

Maryland
Almost of the AT, as it is affectionately known, cross Maryland, most of which follow the ridgeline of South Mountain.
 * Knoxville
 * Burkittsville
 * Middletown
 * Smithsburg

Pennsylvania
The Appalachian Trail travels nearly in Pennsylvania from Pen Mar, a small town that straddles the state border with Maryland in the south, to the Delaware Water Gap and New Jersey in the north. After some surprisingly easy hiking as the trail crosses the Great Valley of the Appalachians and the Susquehanna River, the trail follows the ridgeline of mountains in a long stretch of trail notorious for its foot bruising, boot destroying rocks. You will find out first hand how this state got its AT nickname of Rocksylvania.
 * Franklin County
 * Pen Mar
 * Cumberland County
 * Pine Grove Furnace State Park
 * Mount Holly Springs
 * Boiling Springs
 * Perry County
 * Duncannon
 * Dauphin County
 * Lebanon County
 * Swatara State Park
 * Berks County & Schuylkill County
 * Port Clinton
 * Hamburg
 * Lehigh County & Carbon County
 * Slatington
 * Northampton County & Monroe County
 * Wind Gap
 * Delaware Water Gap

New Jersey
The Appalachian Trail travels about in New Jersey. Delaware Water Gap National Park is where the AT originates in the state, a beautiful union between the Kittatinny Mountains and the Delaware River.

New York
The trail passes through Bear Mountain State Park.

Massachusetts
90 AT miles.
 * Great Barrington
 * Dalton
 * Cheshire
 * North Adams
 * Williamstown

Vermont
150 AT miles.
 * Green Mountains
 * Norwich

New Hampshire
161 AT miles.
 * Hanover
 * White Mountain National Forest
 * Woodstock

Maine
of the most difficult hiking along the trail.
 * Grafton Notch
 * Monson
 * Baxter State Park

Stay safe
Hunting is allowed along most of the trail. Hunting groups are supporters of protection of public lands. Even in areas where hunting is prohibited, hunters may unknowingly wander on or near the trail. During hunting seasons, wear blaze orange – a blaze orange hat and vest and pack cover if backpacking, or hooded outerwear. Pennsylvania law requires you to wear 250 square inches (16 dm²) of fluorescent orange on head, chest and back, when on state game lands, during different seasons. Make sure your dog is wearing blaze orange that's visible 360 degrees, also. Be cautious within a 1/2-mile (800-meter) of road crossings, and in valley areas. Make sure you are heard before you are seen, whistle, sing, or making unambiguous noise. Avoid deer firearm season. If you want to hike in the fall, and want to avoid hunters, hike in the five national parks crossed by the AT. Keep in mind, those who you encounter on the trail will most likely have a firearm on them. Make noise, do not surprise anyone or any animals.

title: Appalachian Trail


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Appenzell

Appenzell is a town in Eastern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden.

By train
Narrow gauge trains operated by the Appenzellerbahn connect from Gossau and Herisau (S23, 35 minutes) and Saint Gallen (S22, 45 minutes).

By car
Appenzell is a bit out of the way. The closest motorway connections are the A1 at Saint Gallen and the A13 near the border to Austria and Liechtenstein.

title: Appenzell


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Appleton

Appleton is a growing city in central-eastern Wisconsin, with a population of approximately 72,000 residents and a metro area of ~350,000. It is known as being safe, quiet, and visually pleasant. It is perhaps most famous as the boyhood town of Harry Houdini, the famed magician.

By plane

Ground transportation from the airport to downtown is limited to taxis and rideshare companies. For a single person expect to pay around $15 dollars for the 15-minute ride although prices vary with each cab service. Hotels like the Radisson Hotel, Candlewood Suites, and the Hampton Inn offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.

By car
The primary roads into the metro Appleton area are Interstate 41 and US 10. Interstate 41 runs north-south on the west side of the city, and turns east-west across the north side of the city. Interstate 41 connects to Green Bay to the northeast and Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and Milwaukee to the south. WIS 441 loops from Interstate 41 across the south and east sides of the metro Appleton area. US 10 is an east-west highway that connects to Manitowoc to the east, and Stevens Point and Wausau to the west.

By bus
Both Amtrak and Lamers Bus Connect offers daily service to Appleton via their Milwaukee-Green Bay route.

Get around
Getting around town is accomplished efficiently and cheaply by using the public transportation system or by taxis. Public buses are reliable and the standard fare is $0.50. Same-day transfers are free. If you are staying downtown in the Raddison or Copperleaf you can easily walk to nearby restaurants bars and shops.

Bird Rides offers 100 electric scooters which users can use to get around most of the city. A ride costs $1 plus 39 cents for each minute of use.

Note that parking on any city street is illegal from 2 AM to 5 AM every day of the week. You can usually call the Appleton Police Department and ask to get approval to be parked overnight, but during the fall and winter months it is not uncommon to be denied due to leaf collection or snow removal, so don't depend on this option. If you will have your own vehicle in town when you visit, make sure you have private parking available to you.

Festivals

 * Octoberfest- Annually on a Saturday in late September, downtown College Avenue is filled with booths offering local artwork, food and drink, antique car displays, and live music for Northern Wisconsin's largest outdoor festival.
 * Mile of Music- First weekend of August. Started in 2013, this four-day music festival focuses on emerging acts, both local and national, especially in the folk, alternative, and Americana genres. Features more than 200 performers and over 900 performances in a variety of venues in downtown Appleton. All shows are free.

Learn
In general, Appleton is well-respected for the quality of the education in its public schools, both at the primary and secondary levels.

 * Lawrence University - a small, private liberal arts college. Ranked #1 university in Wisconsin by Forbes magazine.
 * University of Wisconsin Oshkosh-Fox Valley - a two-year collegiate campus of the University of Wisconsin System.
 * Fox Valley Technical College - a technical (community) college of the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Buy
The Appleton Area is widely considered to be the shopping capital of Wisconsin by locals and visitors. It has a good mix of big chain stores and small businesses.

Heading east from the Fox River Mall on Hwy 96 (Wisconsin Ave) to the other side of Interstate 41, you'll find more stores including Home Depot, Sam's Club, Woodman's grocery store, and the largest Fleet Farm in Wisconsin. There's an old saying "if you can't find it at Fleet Farm, you probably don't need it."

Or, head east from the mall on College Ave to find Wheel & Sprocket, and more hotels and restaurants. Continue on College Ave to downtown Appleton which has an eclectic mix of shopping, coffeehouses, restaurants & bars.

Many of the westside "big box" stores also have store locations along Appleton's eastside Hwy 441 corridor, known locally at Darboy. Eastside stores include Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Home Depot, Lowe's, Menard's, Office Max, Best Buy, Target, Festival Foods, Pick 'n Save, Tractor Supply Co, Goodwill, plus the usual mix of Starbucks, Walgreen's, restaurants, movie theatres and hotels.

Eat
Downtown Appleton has numerous restaurants, many within a short walking distance from the PAC. Vince Lombardi's Steakhouse at the Paper Valley Hotel has great steaks at a reasonable price, and if you're lucky you might get an autograph from NFL visiting teams staying at Paper Valley the night before Packer home games.

Waterfront dining is available near downtown along the Fox River waterfront at Fratello's Riverfront and Pullman's, and at Waverly Beach along the north shore of Lake Winnebago.

The Appleton area has plenty of coffee shops and cafés as well, such as Tempest Coffee Collective, Seth's Coffee, Copper Rock, Brewed Awakenings, and Acoca.

Many of the big restaurant chains are near the Fox River Mall -- T.G.I. Friday’s, Chili’s, Qdoba, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Machine Shed, Bennigan's, Outback Steakhouse and so on. Inside the mall, Fox River Brewing Company is accessible from the food court. Outdoor seating is available.

Other places are Wooden Nickel, Spat's, Dick & Joans and Old Bavarian.

Drink
Downtown Appleton is packed with bars, each with different atmospheres. If you are in town and looking to go out for a few drinks, the entire stretch of College Avenue from Richmond on the west to Drew Street on the east is lined with bars and clubs. There are a few bars to be found within a block north and south of College Avenue too. Plan your night ahead though, as parking on the streets anywhere within the city is illegal from 2 AM to 5 AM.

The Stone Cellar Brewpub brews several standard beers and seasonal beers. They also have a wide variety menu selections and a great atmosphere in the cellar of Appleton's first brewery (built in 1858), or if the weather cooperates you can sit outside in the beer garden.

On St. Patrick's Day, or any day if you're Irish, be sure to visit McGuiness Irish Pub or The Durty Leprechaun.

If you're staying downtown at the Paper Valley Hotel and you don't feel like venturing far, The Clubhouse just off the lobby has plenty of beer, sandwiches, pizza, and 20 big screen TVs.

Sleep
Like most cities, Appleton features a wide range of hotels from very affordable budget options to 3-star hotels that charge a small fortune. This is a really small list of the hotels in Appleton.

Stay safe
Burglaries and thefts of unlocked cars and properties occur occasionally throughout the city, so be sure to hide your valuables.

Go next
Appleton is conveniently located alongside major interstate and intrastate highways, and also has a Greyhound office for people seeking long-distance travel.

Out of state visitors can use the public airport Appleton International Airport.

title: Appleton


text:
Apple Valley

There is more than one place called Apple Valley:

United States of America

 * Apple Valley (California) - A town in Southern California.
 * Apple Valley Airport
 * Apple Valley Airport in Washington County (Oregon)
 * Apple Valley (Minnesota) - An outer suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota which is home to the state's zoo.
 * Bad jokes and other deleted nonsense/Apple Valley (Minnesota) - Our joke article on the Minneapolis suburb.
 * Apple Valley (Utah) - A town, formerly a part of Hurricane, in Utah.
 * Apple Valley (Ohio) - in Knox County (Ohio)

title: Apple Valley


text:
Apple Valley (California)

Apple Valley is a city in California's San Bernardino County. The apple orchards of the early 20th century have been replaced by housing developments: streets of ranch and traditional housed along with the mid-20th century modern and usonian architectural designs between Hwy 18 and Bear Valley Road. Urban development began in the mid-2000s bringing big-box retail, chain restaurants and movie theaters.

Understand
Despite the name, there are no apple orchards in the city. Prior to World War II, the city was known for growing award winning apples. The local apple crops were decimated by three devastating years of fungal infection and extreme weather in the mid 1940s. The Postal Service approved the name "Apple Valley" for the local post office in 1949, after destruction of most of the local orchards and the end of the commercial apple industry in the area.

Apple Valley was a rustic resort destination for Hollywood celebrities and moguls from the 1940s to the 1960s. The most famous of these celebrities were Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who starred in many western films and television shows from the 1930s to the 1950s and chose the town as their retirement home and final resting place.

The town was incorporated in the late 1980s along with most of the High Desert region. While it is a city by San Bernardino County's requirements, Apple Valley rejects the designation, marketing itself as the "Town of Apple Valley".

Climate
Apple Valley is at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert and thus has hot summer days in the upper 90s (°F), cold winter nights in the mid 30s, and little rain.

By car
Apple Valley is along State Route 18, about east of Interstate 15, midway between San Bernardino and Barstow. The sole I-15 exit within Apple Valley's town limits is Dale Evans Pkwy., just north of Victorville. (Except for La Mesa/Nisqualli Rd., any Victorville I-15 exit will reach Apple Valley by heading east.)

By plane
The nearest commercial airport is Ontario International Airport, southwest of Apple Valley in Ontario.

By train
Amtrak's Southwest Chief service stops in Victorville, about from Apple Valley. (See Victorville article for details.)

Do
Watch movies at the Jess Ranch movie theater, between Apple Valley Rd and Central Rd.

title: Apple Valley (California)


text:
Wikivoyage:Bad jokes and other deleted nonsense/Apple Valley (Minnesota)

Apple Valley, a city in Minnesota, is the home of picturesque rolling hills and pristine lake fronts. Located in northwest Dakota County, this community outside the Twin Cities personifies the idea of suburbia, yet the metropolitan luxuries of theater, shopping, and fine dining have barely put a dent in real Midwestern friendliness. It's a city with a swagger, but without the surliness or even the fake smiles found in other cities of its size.

As the hub of the south metro, Apple Valley is easy to find—its scenic landscape leads to a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and priceless public art. Apple Valley has grown rapidly, and some central parts are creaking under the strain of coping with the number of visitors.

With a wealth of iconic sights and neighborhoods to explore, there's enough to fill a visit of minutes, hours, or even a whole day without ever seeing the end. Achieving euphoria is easy in this virtual Xanadu. Be sure to dress warm in the winter, and prepare to cover a lot of ground: the meaning of Apple Valley is only found in movement, from sight to sight, in the pride of tired feet and eyes raised to the sky.

Districts
Many visitors never make it past the Minnesota Zoo or other attractions downtown, but you haven't truly seen Apple Valley until you’ve ventured out into the neighborhoods. Apple Valleyians understand their city by splitting it into large districts or neighborhoods named after geological and cultural features within them. Apple Valleyians also tend to identify strongly with their neighborhood, reflecting real differences in culture and place throughout the city. Rivalries between the West and East Sides run particularly deep, while people from the southern neighborhoods are free agents in critical issues like athletic loyalty and Idol voting.

Understand

Apple Valley is one of the regional centers of finance, politics, communications, film, music, fashion, and culture, and is among the state’s most important and influential cities. It is home to many museums, art galleries, and theaters. This city's influence on the Midwest—and all its inhabitants—is hard to exaggerate, as decisions made within its boundaries often have impacts and ramifications literally across the state.

Immigrants (and their descendants) from well over six countries live here, making it one of the most sophisticated cities in the region. Travelers are attracted to Apple Valley for its culture, energy and cosmopolitanism. Local residents enjoy mowing their lawn, edging their lawn, fertilizing their lawn and looking at their lawn.

Orientation
At the center of Apple Valley sits the intersection of Cedar Avenue (County Road 77) and County Road 42, a bustling, vibrant junction nestled in friendliness. Local eateries surround the area, including newly developed White Castle and Raising Cane’s. To the west is a major shopping district including Wal-Mart and Darque Tan. To the east sits every handy man’s dream: a Home Depot and Menards within walking distance of each other.

The term “the city” may refer either to Apple Valley as a whole, or to the downtown district alone, depending on the context. Lebanon Hills, Crystal Lake and Valleywood (not to be confused with Hollywood, CA) are sometimes referred to as “the outer boroughs.”

Climate
The draconian weather is definitely not one of the attractions in Apple Valley. There's a boat load of fun to be had in any season, but it is a place where the climate has to be taken into consideration.

Obscured by Minnesota’s ferocious winters are the heat waves of summer. Many days in July and August are disgustingly hot and humid. Summer nights are more comfortable, though, and you'll get a few degrees' respite along one of the many lakefronts — in the local parlance, that's "cooler by the lake,".

But then there are those winters. The months from November to March will see very cold temperatures, with even more bitter wind chill factors. Blizzards and ice storms are a regular occurrence. It's a city that's well-accustomed to these winters, though, so city services and public transportation are highly unlikely to shut down.

Apple Valley does have a few nice months of weather. May and September are pleasant and mild; April and June are mostly fine, although thunderstorms with heavy winds can also occur suddenly. Even though there may be a chill in the air in October, it rarely calls for more than a light coat.

People
The varied population runs the gamut, from some of the wealthiest socialites and, to hobos, love children, skips, scags and scallywags. Apple Valley’s population has been diverse since the city's founding by the Dutch. Successive waves of immigration from a couple nations around the world make Apple Valley a social experiment in cross-cultural harmony. The population is relatively highly edumacated and fairly young with a median age of 35.

History
Apple Valley is called the City of Fruits and Labor but was formerly known as the Cider Capital of the World, and before that, as the original home of Johnny Appleseed, and before that, as a regional grain milling outpost. It’s difficult to put a finger on exactly what made the city grow, but residents and travelers alike are happy with the results.

Apple Valley’s history (or herstory, as many local feminist groups have come to call it) is shrouded in ambiguity. Some claim the first developers came from the small fishing community of Apple Valley, CA and named their new plot of land thusly. This is a misconception, as it is considered common knowledge that no one would move to Minnesota from California. The more widely held belief is that the infant community was named for local housing developments in which an apple tree was planted on every lot. Some of these apple trees can still be seen in the Old Town neighborhood.

Apple Valley has 48 parks with 60 miles of trails. The community is carefully planned to enhance the quality of life of residents and travelers alike. Minnesota, known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" and whose motto encourages all to "Explore Minnesota," is the official state of Apple Valley. The city created a concentrated area of office space within its "Ring Route", which surrounds downtown. Mixed office, retail and residential assets can be found in Harmony Commons in downtown. The business parks; Valley Business Park, Knob Ridge Business Park and the Apple Valley Business Park feature many corporations. This is part of Apple Valley's comprehensive plan for growth and development and its aspirations to be an Alpha World City ++. Jim Bunyan, Paul’s brother, is a favorite city folk hero. He is an accountant.

Smoking
Smoking is prohibited by state law at all restaurants, bars, nightclubs, workplaces, and public buildings. It's also banned within fifteen feet of any entrance, window, or exit to a public place, and at MVTA bus stations. The fine for violating the ban can range from $100 to public shaming.

There are several hookah bars and basements where smoking (tobacco) is legal and acceptable. These are great places to stage a picture of you and your friends blowing smoke rings. It is advisable for travelers to avoid "throwing up a sign" in these poses. Doing so may harm your self-respect.

By plane

 * Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport,, . Apple Valley is just minutes south of MSP. The airport is divided into two terminals: Terminal 1 - Lindbergh and Terminal 2 - Humphrey, with most flights arriving at the former. Savvy travelers should check to make sure they know which terminal they are arriving at/departing from. MSP is the former home of the now defunct Northwest Airlines. Since the recent merge of Delta and Northwest, it has become a major hub for connections in Atlanta, Tokyo and Fargo. Sun Country Airlines also uses MSP as its hub for North America - getting here by plane, from essentially anywhere, is a cinch. Think twice about making purchases at the duty-free shop (see By taxi section).

By bus
Apple Valley is serviced by the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority. The newly constructed Apple Valley Transit Station serves as a launching point for not only adventures, but also dreams. Routes 420, 440, 441, 442, 465, 477 and 477 will all get you out of Dodge. Bus stops and stations are conveniently located in major parts of the city for easy access and have several coin-operated luggage lockers for personal storage. There is also a nearby Megabus station in Minneapolis.

By train
This is the twenty-first century, there are no trains in Apple Valley.

By car
There are two main highways through the city. Interstate 35E runs parallel to city lines. Beware of heavy southbound traffic coming out of the Twin Cities during afternoon hours. Highway 77 terminates in the city. Feel free to drive your gas guzzling SUV through the pristine hills of Apple Valley.

It is illegal to drive and text in Minnesota. If you need to contact a friend or acquaintance from the previous night, while on the road, use a hands-free cellular phone and try to stay in your own lane, though this is rarely practiced. By all means, if there is an accident or someone is pulled over on the shoulder, slow down immediately: this is something that only happens every other day. Contact your closest family members to alert them of what you have just witnessed.

By taxi
In the past few years travelers carrying alcohol on their persons or in their luggage have been inconvenienced by local taxi drivers. It is recommended by out-of-state travelers that have been troubled to avoid bringing any alcoholic or illegal substances if you will be using taxis to get around the city.

Get around
Getting around in Apple Valley is very easy and affordable for all sorts of travelers. Local taxis are frequent and public buses are available, though frowned upon in local culture. The most popular mode of transit is automobile, although walking and biking are also popular due to the city's many trails and public parks. The city has also announced plans to become “Segway friendly” by 2013. Reference the Get in - By bus section for city route numbers.

Architecture
From the sternly classical to the space-age, from the Levittown-inspired vernacular tract housing to the coolly modern, Apple Valley is a place with an embarrassment of architectural riches, where the past meets the future and where the future meets imagination. Modern architecture might not have been born here, but it certainly thrives. Frank Lloyd Wright fans will swoon to see some of his later buildings, arguably designed at the height of his creative career. Many are located just minutes from the city center as the crow flies.

Private architectural tours cover the landmarks on foot and by popular Segway tours, or by just standing awestruck on a downtown skyway over Cedar Avenue. For a tour on the cheap, the short trip around lamp-lit downtown district may be worth every second of the eight-minute walk.

Beaches
Apple Valley is not well known as a beach destination, but Crystal Lake is the seventh-largest freshwater lake located entirely within Dakota County, and beautiful people flock to it. Anyone can show up and swim — virtually none of Apple Valley’s lakefront is spoiled by "private" beaches. And despite the latitude, the water is quite warm in the late summer and early fall. With algae and lake weeds nary a problem, the lakes of Apple Valley provide fun and relaxation for any type of traveler. Lifeguards posted at popular swimming locales attentively scan the shores for danger, including beachwear fashion faux pas – so check the mirror before you get some sun.

The sun isn’t the only draw, though. Summertime travelers can enjoy a plethora of water activities, ranging from the most mundane (and pleasureful) pontoon boat afternoons to a heart-stopping ride aboard rental jet skis. Younger beachgoers can choose tubing on the choppy waves or building their own Neuschwanstein on shore. A little tired of having fun in the sun? Take a time-out and cast a line in one of seemingly endless watering holes. Popular species of fish include bass, sunny, marlin, dogfish and trout.

If you’re lucky enough to visit during the winter months of November through March, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to experience the rush of adrenaline known as ice fishing. Developed in Scandinavia to pass time in the long winter, ice fishing is a uniquely northern take on its more well-known cousin, standard liquid water fishing. So grab your auger and rental icehouse and head out on to the lake! Although ice depths are important to monitor and could mean the difference between life and death, normally any sense of safety is ignored for the sake of “catching the big one.” Hardcore anglers recommend pulling your icehouse onto the ice with the heaviest truck available at the rental lot. This will convey to others the size of your fishing appetite. Ice shacks are also referred to as shanties, lakebobs, huts or nuthouses. Make sure to pack playing cards, board games, a portable television set, snacks and cyanide.

Parks and aqua centers
Where there are trees and grass, there are usually parks, and where there are parks, there are people enjoying them. During the summer months, the city parks are a destination for organized and impromptu athletic contests, chess matches, and plenty more. There are also tennis courts in most public spaces and ice rinks for use in the winter. The city sponsors many music festivals throughout the year, and Kelley Park is a fun destination for all ages, especially in the summer, and particularly for those under two years. Outdoor skating and skateboarding are popular with tweens and middle-aged men can warm up for the Pro-Am at countless nearby golf courses.

Buy
Throughout nearly all markets in Apple Valley haggling is essential, especially when browsing through large, "touristy" shopping areas for common items. Do not put it beneath your dignity to start bargaining at 15% off the vendor's initial asking price. In fact, in even the most popular retail areas final prices can often be as low as 15%-20% of the initial asking price, and "removing a zero" isn't a bad entry point in the bargaining process. Vendors also tend to target visible minorities more, such as Australians or people of Swedish descent.

There a number of interesting markets around Apple Valley where you can find all kind of cheap (and often fake) stuff. Some of the most popular places are Lloyd’s in Old Town and Jumbo Joe’s in Cedar Knolls. As an alternative to the flea markets you can go to some of the shopping areas lined with shops. This includes many areas in the downtown district. Visiting hotel shops and department stores is not the most exciting shopping in Apple Valley, but worth a look. While generally significantly more expensive, they are less likely to sell truly low quality goods.

Apple Valley is also a fashionista's paradise, with strips dedicated to designers, from Mervyn’s California to Christopher and Banks, and high profile trendsetters like Lane Bryant and Ann Taylor. Don your most comfortable shoes and indulge! Those without a budget can head to Kohl’s or Savers, where locals shop at these economical yet stylish outlets.

Eat
Apple Valley is one of the great restaurant towns in America. If you're looking for a specific kind of cuisine, this is your place. Shopping malls dotted across the city are great for soul food, barbeque, Asian - and these are just the tip of the iceberg. Other areas are more eclectic, like the Industrial District, where independent lunch carts make their way around the busy office parks.

If you're interested in celebrity chefs and unique culinary creations, there are many sports bars that would be happy to turn the television sets to the Food Network at your request. Downtown has several good upscale restaurants, but don't waste your time on tourist traps like Applebee's, Taco Bell or Pizza Hut Wing Street. In fact, you should never submit to standing in line; there are always equally good restaurants nearby. No matter what you enjoy, you'll have a chance to eat well in Apple Valley, and you won't need to spend a lot of money doing it; unless you want to, of course.

But while Apple Valley has a world class dining scene downtown, it is the low-end where it truly distinguishes itself. No other city on earth takes fast food so seriously; for those who don't concern themselves with calorie counting, Apple Valley is cheap, greasy heaven. One "culinary specialty" in particular deserves further description: the Apple Valley Sloppy Joe.

The Apple Valley Sloppy Joe is Apple Valley's most prominent contribution to world cuisine. It was modeled after an anonymous high school student who, bored with the standard sloppy joe being served at lunch, asked that even more slop be added to his joe. This unthinkable trend quickly caught on in the cafeteria after several lunch ladies noticed that the kids "liked 'em sloppy." Today, sloppy joes are served at almost all neighborhood establishments. If asked how you would like your joe done, the usual response is to say, "Sloppy, please." A double sloppy joe is often called a “sloppy seconds" by locals.

Mid-range

Drink
Nightlife in Apple Valley is unrivaled in the region. It mainly consists of upscale hotel clubs, independent bars frequented by locals (including sports bars) and nightclubs. Most hotel bars and independent bars turn the other cheek at your physical appearance, but you have to dress to impress (which, for women, generally means to dress like a stripper) to get into a nightclub. For men, strict face control at the more popular nightclubs has been implemented in the past few years.

Sleep
Apple Valley is a traveler’s town and has many hotels, located mostly around the downtown area. High season (fewer rooms, higher prices) is during the weeks surrounding Labor and Memorial Days, with most of the remaining 360 days being the low season. There are hostels and home stay opportunities throughout the city.

Do your homework when booking a hotel in Apple Valley. Nearly all of the hotels have a continental breakfast, at least a small one, out in front of the lobby. That appears to be what gets these hotel a venerable two-star rating. However in many cases, the hotel by itself is far from two-stars, maybe one-star, or worse yet, unrated. Read reviews from other travelers before booking or you might be very disappointed.

Stay safe
As in almost the entire United States, dial 911 to get emergency help.

Despite a big decline in the crime rate from the 1990s and early 2000s, Apple Valley is still a mediocre-sized city with mediocre-sized city problems. There are run-down areas within a few blocks of some well-traveled places such as near the bowling alley and city high school. The majority of violent crimes occur within a relatively small number of neighborhoods well off the beaten path, but given the chance nature of crime, you should exercise the usual precautions wherever you go. Even in a neighborhood with a bad reputation, though, you might still have a perfectly good time, as long as it falls within your comfort level, assuming your comfort level is above lead pipes to the back.

Take caution in the downtown area at night; after working hours, the MVTA buses get quiet and dark in hurry, but you'll be fine near seedy convenience stores and run-down eateries. When disembarking a crowded MVTA bus, especially in the downtown area, be wary of purse snatchers.

County Road 46 on the southernmost part of town serves as the border between Apple Valley and neighboring town Lakeville. CR-46 is highly controversial: law enforcement from both cities rarely patrol the area, afraid of overstepping their bounds. Thus, the road becomes a hotspot after dark and hundreds of street racers flood the roadways conducting battles of velocity, showmanship and pride. Travelers should avoid navigating this area on foot as heavily modified Dodge Neons, Ford Focuses, Geo Metros, Chevy Aveos and Honda Civics whiz past at speeds approaching the posted speed limit.

Beggars are somewhat common, though they are very unlikely to pose any kind of problem. Some sell a local newspaper called Coffee Times to make a living. Do not encourage them. If you feel obligated to give them money, it is a good idea to accompany them to the liquor store to ensure it is spent on booze and not drugs.

Emergency numbers

 * Fire Department (Non-emergency): +1 952 953-2600
 * Police Department (Non-emergency): +1 952 953-2700
 * Poison Center: +1-800-222-1222

Telephones
612 was the area code for all of Apple Valley for a long time and it remains the traditional area code to use when telling funny stories about how you drunk-texted a hot girl from the club last night. No one is quite sure when 952 came into effect, and honestly, no one really cares. Few people know anyone outside the area to warrant handing out area codes along with their basic seven digit phone number.

Internet
Many citizens of Apple Valley characterize themselves as internet savvy on hopeful resumes that will likely be turned down by potential employers. If you have a computer with you, free wireless internet access is now standard-issue at coffee shops and tanning salons throughout the city; only the big chains like Starbucks charge for it. Most hotels offer free wi-fi, too, though if it’s unavailable, there is usually a hotel television guide that offers certain movies for purchase.

The good news is that the Dakota County Galaxie Library system offers free internet access via public terminals and password-free, public wireless. If you do not have a Dakota County library card, but you have a photo ID that shows you do not live in the area, you can get a temporary permit from the library information desk. (If you are from Apple Valley and don't have a library card, though, all you'll receive is a purple-nurple and a brief lecture on how Apple Valleyians need to support the library system.) Galaxie Library is the largest branch in the Dakota County system and has the books to prove it.

Publications

 * The Current is an Apple Valley specific, free, weekly newspaper. It appears to report form some parallel universe where topics like sandwiches and being tired at work are the top stories of the day.
 * Like the Current, This Week is an Apple Valley specific, free, weekly newspaper. It is sick and tired of being the Tina to the Current’s Ike, being constantly beaten and belittled, and has recently reformatted in an attempt to gain ground in the ever so competitive Apple Valley periodical market.

Go next
If you are foolish enough to leave the glory that is Apple Valley, there are several nearby attractions that will get you out of the hustle and bustle of the big city. Go north to  Minneapolis  and St. Paul. There's a lot going on up in there. To the east lies Hastings (Minnesota) and Prescott (Wisconsin), situated on the beautiful confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers.

 * Feeling felonious? Northfield (Minnesota), just miles south, is home to the famed “Defeat of Jesse James.” The weekend of September 7 hosts Jesse James Days.  Watch a live re-enactment of several gruesome murders and purchase kitschy trinkets by the sackful.
 * Feeling felonious? Northfield (Minnesota), just miles south, is home to the famed “Defeat of Jesse James.” The weekend of September 7 hosts Jesse James Days.  Watch a live re-enactment of several gruesome murders and purchase kitschy trinkets by the sackful.
 * Feeling felonious? Northfield (Minnesota), just miles south, is home to the famed “Defeat of Jesse James.” The weekend of September 7 hosts Jesse James Days.  Watch a live re-enactment of several gruesome murders and purchase kitschy trinkets by the sackful.
 * Feeling felonious? Northfield (Minnesota), just miles south, is home to the famed “Defeat of Jesse James.” The weekend of September 7 hosts Jesse James Days.  Watch a live re-enactment of several gruesome murders and purchase kitschy trinkets by the sackful.
 * Feeling felonious? Northfield (Minnesota), just miles south, is home to the famed “Defeat of Jesse James.” The weekend of September 7 hosts Jesse James Days.  Watch a live re-enactment of several gruesome murders and purchase kitschy trinkets by the sackful.
 * Feeling felonious? Northfield (Minnesota), just miles south, is home to the famed “Defeat of Jesse James.” The weekend of September 7 hosts Jesse James Days.  Watch a live re-enactment of several gruesome murders and purchase kitschy trinkets by the sackful.
 * Feeling felonious? Northfield (Minnesota), just miles south, is home to the famed “Defeat of Jesse James.” The weekend of September 7 hosts Jesse James Days.  Watch a live re-enactment of several gruesome murders and purchase kitschy trinkets by the sackful.
 * Feeling felonious? Northfield (Minnesota), just miles south, is home to the famed “Defeat of Jesse James.” The weekend of September 7 hosts Jesse James Days.  Watch a live re-enactment of several gruesome murders and purchase kitschy trinkets by the sackful.


text:
Apricale

Apricale is a city in Liguria, Italy.

Get in
Train station to Ventimiglia via Nice or Genoa

Get around
Bus, Bike, or Rental Car

See
Apricale as well as Dolceacqua are beautiful towns tucked into the hinterland behind the resort town of San Remo within the Italian Riviera

Do
Bring a road bike.

Eat
Various amazing cuisine is spread throughout this village as well as neighboring ones. Be sure they are open and don't be scared to simply purchase amazing fare from the local stores to cook at home. La Rampa in Dolceacqua is also an amazing alternative nearby.

Drink
Rossese di Dolceacqua is the local DOC wine of the region

Sleep
A few B&Bs in the area

title: Apricale


text:
Aptos

Aptos is a city in Santa Cruz County in California, in the Monterey Bay Area.

Get in
Seven miles south of Santa Cruz and seven miles north of Watsonville on Highway 1 (US-1). Exit State Park Drive, Rio del Mar Blvd. or Freedom Blvd.

Santa Cruz Metro buses offer service from Santa Cruz.

Buy
Watercolor postcards of the Palo Alto at the Seacliff visitors' center.

title: Aptos


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Apulia

Apulia (Italian: Puglia) is a region of Southern Italy. It has 4 million inhabitants and is the easternmost region of the country, reaching a distance of only 72 km (45 miles) from Cape Otranto in the coasts of Albania.

Provinces
The region is divided into six provinces:

Cities

 * — (capital) the largest city on the Adriatic Sea with an enchanting old town, Romanesque churches and many elegant buildings
 * — in the Alta Murgia National Park, famous for its Romanesque cathedral, prehistoric sites and its typical bread
 * — elegant seafront on the Adriatic Sea, Roman age remains and two castles situated in front of the sea
 * — main centre of the plain of Tavoliere delle Puglie (Table of the Apulias), ancient Swabian imperial town
 * — called the "Florence of the South" for its magnificent baroque churches and buildings, it also has Roman theater and amphitheater
 * — main centre of Itria Valley with an old town characterised by typical white houses
 * — beautiful medieval port town on the Adriatic coast
 * — magic locality known as the "white town" for the color of its historical centre's houses
 * — ancient Greek city with a relevant National Archaeological Museum (MArTA) and many sights of different ages

Other destinations

 * — (literally "beautiful tree"), magic village known in the world for its famous "trulli" (UNESCO World Heritage)
 * — with the medieval fortress of Castel del Monte, built by Emperor Frederick II (UNESCO World Heritage)
 * — (meaning "beautiful city"), a fascinating old town situated on an island and sandy beach resorts
 * — characteristic village situated on the Gargano promontory, with the Longobard Sanctuary of San Michele (UNESCO World Heritage)
 * — the easternmost town of Italy and one of its most beautiful villages
 * — one of Italy's most beautiful villages, in the heart of Salento
 * — stunning archipelago in the Adriatic Sea

Understand
Apulia is sometimes referred to as "the heel of Italy", in reference to the country's boot-like shape.

Talk

Italian is the only language you will find useful to know for easily discovering Apulia, especially since the knowledge of English is frequently a bit inadequate.

In the central-northern area of Apulia people speak also local varieties of the Neapolitan language. In Salento, the Salentino (Salentìnu) dialect of the Sicilian language is spoken. Neither of these are officially recognised languages, so visitors will not find any bilingual sign, though some restaurants and diners have names in these languages. Trying to understand the speech of local people, especially the elderly ones, may be fun and will give you the possibility to fully appreciate the identity of this region.

The Italian Constitution recognises three linguistic minorities in the region: Griko (a variant of Greek language) spoken by 10,000 people in nine towns south of Lecce; Arbëresh (Albanian) in three scattered towns; and Franco-Provençal, which is spoken by less than 1,000 people in two small mountain villages (Faeto and Celle San Vito) between Foggia and Irpinia. Each of these languages is the result of medieval settlements and they are now used by municipalities mainly for local events or tourist brochures.

By plane
Bari Palese international airport has flights to international destinations including the UK, Belgium and Germany and flights to Italian destinations including Milan and Rome.

From Brindisi Airport, there are flights to Switzerland and the UK as well as Italian destinations.

From the UK, Ryanair flies to Bari and Brindisi from Stansted in London and Manchester.

British Airways also flies to Bari with a summer schedule.

By train
Train from Rome can take about 6 hours and is usually very packed. Don't forget to validate your ticket!

Trains from Milan are both high speed to Bari and Intercity to Lecce and Taranto (usually around 7-8 hours of travel). A good value for your money can be a “Intercity notte”, a sleeper train that departs from Milan in the evening (around 9-10 PM), stopping also in Bologna, Ancona and other more minor centres in the north, before reaching Foggia at 6 AM, then the rest of the coastal cities, to terminate at Lecce at 8:30 AM. These trains can cost anywhere from (seat, booked two months in advance) to  (sleeper single cabin, usually with breakfast service included) and are usually on time, excluding serious external events.

By car
The region is served by two "autostrade" (toll motorways): For more info you can check the site of Autostrade per l'Italia.
 * Autostrada A14 Italia.svg — Adriatic Motorway, links Bologna to Taranto passing through the major towns of northern and central Apulia
 * Autostrada A16 Italia.svg — Motorway of the Two Seas, links Naples to Canosa passing through the Apennines

By bus
Autolinee Marino is a bus company who offers efficient and affordable links from the mayor cities of Apulia to different destinations in Italy and Europe, such as Frankfurt, Grenoble, Lyon, Munich, Stuttgart, Zurich and others.

Marozzi is a daily bus service speedily linking Apulia with Irpinia, Campania and Rome.

Miccolis lines provide connections from many towns of the region to nearby Basilicata. This company also performs useful urban and intercity services.

By boat
There are many ferry companies providing service several times daily from Greece (Cephalonia, Corfu, Igoumenitsa, Patras, Zante) to Bari and Brindisi.

By rail
Ferrovie del sud est offers train and bus service in the region.

By car
Strade statali (trunk roads) can be used for reaching internal destinations or the surrounding regions:
 * Strada Statale 7 Italia.svg — Via Appia, links Taranto to Brindisi
 * Strada Statale 7ter Italia.svg — Salentina, links Taranto to Lecce
 * Strada Statale 16 Italia.svg — Adriatica, links the Gargano area to Otranto
 * Strada Statale 90 Italia.svg — Strada delle Puglie ("The road of Apulia's"), links Foggia to Irpinia and Naples
 * SS Bari-Lecce — a useful divided highway to reach the Salento area from the regional capital
 * Strada Statale 101 Italia.svg — Salentina di Gallipoli, links Lecce to Gallipoli
 * Strada Statale 106 Italia.svg — Jonica, links Reggio di Calabria to Taranto along the Ionic coast
 * Strada Statale 172 Italia.svg — dei Trulli, links Casamassima to Taranto through the Itria Valley and the towns of Alberobello and Locorotondo
 * Strada Statale 274 Italia.svg — Salentina Meridionale, links Gallipoli to the southernmost tip of Apulia

See

There are many things worth seeing in Puglia, especially the Trulli in Alberobello and other places, the cathedral of Trani, the old town in Bari, and the beaches of Monopoli.

Forests and mountains cover Gargano ("the spir of Italy") and Daunian Apennines, on the border with Irpinia. Other popular tourist sights are the Castellana Grotte, the Castel del Monte, the castle of Frederick II, Polignano a Mare, Ascoli Satriano, Conversano, Martina Franca, and Ostuni, the "white city".

Santa Maria al Bagno is a small fishing village, district of Nardò, on the coastline of the Gulf of Taranto, on the west coast of the Ionian Sea. It has beautiful unspoilt beaches all along the coast. Santa Maria al Bagno is approximately 45 min travelling time by car from Brindisi and 1h 30 min from Bari.

Do
Take a bike tour along the coast. Apulia has an extensive network of small country lanes making it ideal for biking.

Festivals
Some annual events are really not to be missed, the most relevant ones are: A large number of minor local festivals (sagre) take place in every area of the region, especially during the summer season, representing a truly immersive way to discover local food and music.

Eat
Traditional Apulian produce are orecchiette (a type of pasta), caciocavallo (a sheep cheese) and prosciutto di Faeto ("Faeto's ham").

There are a number of lovely places to eat in Casalini near Cisternino, which are reasonably priced compared to the tourist city of Ostuni.

Stay safe
The region is definitely a safe place to visit. Pickpocketing can be a minor risk in cities such Bari, Foggia and Taranto.

Go next
Ariano Irpino (named as Ariano in Apulia until 1930) is a characteristic town located astride Apennines along the statal road SS90 connecting Apulia to Naples, the ancient Kingdom's capital. Ariano Irpino was a relevant city in the Middle Age within the Duchy of Apulia: there King Roger II convened the Assizes of Ariano in 1140 and minted ducats. Today Ariano Irpino preserves the Norman Castle where King Roger II lived in; the castle, surrounded by a wide public park, still overlooks the mountain pass between Apulia and Campania with very panoramic views. Within the castle is housed a Norman Museum with other museums and churches (particularly the Romanic Cathedral) being scattered in the town, where both local art and cuisine mingle Apulian and Campanian elements.

title: Apulia


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Apure

Apure state is in the Los Llanos region of Venezuela.

Cities

 * — a small town in the center of the state
 * — a town close to the border with Colombia
 * — a town close to the border with Colombia

Other destinations

 * — This extensive National Park crosses into Colombia, although there are few facilities for tourists.

Understand
Apure is the biggest plains state in Los Llanos and the state capital, San Fernando, is widely considered the capital of the region. Flat grazing lands stretch as far as the eye can see.

Get in
By highway from Caracas, head south via Cúa, passing through San Juan de Los Morros until you reach San Fernando.

San Fernando de Apure can be reached by road, a 6-hour drive from Caracas or up to 8 hours by bus. The city has a small airport about 30 min outside the center with daily flights M-F to Caracas and Puerto Ayacucho. Call Venezolana airline for more details.

See
The impressive savanna wildlife.

There's little reason to stay in San Fernando de Apure unless as a base for exploring the Llanos. But if you are passing through:
 * Plaza Bolívar - the city's leafy central square.
 * Barbarito Palace - in Plaza Camejo, this early 20th-century building was a wealthy trade center that was attacked by bandits trying to steal its merchandise on more than one occasion. After years of neglect, the building has now been restored and houses a museum with original mosaics and frescoes.
 * San Fernando Cathedral — this 1960s construction was designed by German architect Robert Klein and is notable for its bell-shaped roof.

Do
Stay at one of the hatos below and go on safari.

title: Apure


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Apuseni Mountains

The Apuseni Mountains are a branch of the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, Romania. They are fast becoming an agrotourism and ecotourism hotspot, as they offer wonderful scenery, secluded areas, great Romanian social and rural experiences, as well as a spirit and mood that is unbeatable. Despite still being fairly hard to access, especially by public transport, the Apuseni Mountains make for a great off-the-beaten track destination. Their gateway town, Huedin, is luckily very easy to access by train.

Go next

 * Huedin
 * Calata
 * Mân&
 * Râ&
 * Nearsova
 * Horlacea

title: Apuseni Mountains