text:
Messina

Messina ([mesˈsiːna], Sicilian: Missina, Greek: Μεσσήνη/Μεσσήνα) is a port in the northeast corner of Sicily. Most visitors are passing through, on the 5-km ferry-crossing to mainland Italy. Although it dates to ancient times, Messina is modern and nondescript. Older buildings were mostly destroyed by the great earthquake and tsunami of 28 Dec 1908, then Allied bombing in World War II finished what was left. Nevertheless, it has enough sights to justify spending a day. One modern claim to fame is that in June 1955, Messina hosted the conference that set up the European Community and common market, later the European Union.

The Tourist Information Centre is just outside the railway station. Open M-F 09:00-13:00 and 15:00-17:00 (M W to 18:30).

Climate
Messina has a Mediterranean Climate with mild, moderately rainy winters and hot, dry summers. It features the wettest conditions amongst the major cities of Sicily, and is significantly rainier than nearby Reggio di Calabria as well. Sunshine is virtually guaranteed in summer and stays abundant in winter.

By boat
Most travellers arrive from mainland Italy on the 20-minute shuttle from Villa San Giovanni. These ferries sail frequently round the clock, and as they're considered an extension of the road network to Sicily, fares are subsidised. There are also 30-min sailings from Reggio di Calabria.

Some of these ferries arrive in Messina's main port, a short walk from the railway and bus stations. But others land at the northern terminal 4 km north: if you're on foot you'll need to take the tram or local bus to reach the centre, see "Get around".

Occasional cruise ships call on splurgy cruises of the Med, with customers landing at Messina in order to be bussed to Taormina, Agrigento and Etna. They're not available to book as point-to-point ferries.

By plane
The closest airports to Messina are:

 * Reggio di Calabria across the straits on the mainland
 * Catania Fontanarossa  south
 * Palermo  west

Catania and Palermo have flights to the major European cities.

By train
Messina is Sicily's link to the main Italian train network. Long-distance trains from Rome and Naples cross the Straits of Messina by ferry and continue on to Palermo and Catania. Regular regional trains also run to Milazzo, Cefalu, Taormina and Syracuse.

By bus
Long-distance buses stop in Messina, linking Rome and Naples to Catania and Palermo (Sais Autolinee). Regional buses also run to Taormina (by Interbus), and Milazzo (by Giuntabus) for the Aeolian Islands.

Get around
The few sights of interest in Messina are close to the main port and are easily reached on foot. You're only likely to use the bus or tram to get between central Messina and the northern ferry terminal 4 km up the coast - these run every 10-15 min. Bus 79 runs this way (every 30 min) and continues north to Ganzirri and Istituto Marino on the north-eastern tip of the island. Many buses and the railway run south, as described in "Get in".

The bus & tram company is

See

There is not too much of historical architecture remains in the city due to earthquakes (esp. in 1908) and World War II bombing. Still there are enough things to see there to make a good walk. Places around the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Montalto and Cristo Re offer beautiful panoramic views over the harbour and the Strait of Messina (see the banner).

Do

 * Lakes of Ganzirri and Faro, at the Capo Peloro Lighthouse area north of the city, in the north-eastern tip of Sicily. You can reach the two lakes by taking bus number 79 from ATM bus terminal (Parcheggio Cavallotti) close to the train station. At the lakes, the extraordinary marine landscapes are an awe-inspiring sight. It is also the site for the northern tower of the planned, twice-approved and twice-cancelled, Strait of Messina bridge (which locals hope will never be built) and the decommissioned Pylon of Torre Faro (see below). Moreover, the lakes are the right place to have very good fish, seafood, and many other Sicilian specialties.
 * Lakes of Ganzirri and Faro, at the Capo Peloro Lighthouse area north of the city, in the north-eastern tip of Sicily. You can reach the two lakes by taking bus number 79 from ATM bus terminal (Parcheggio Cavallotti) close to the train station. At the lakes, the extraordinary marine landscapes are an awe-inspiring sight. It is also the site for the northern tower of the planned, twice-approved and twice-cancelled, Strait of Messina bridge (which locals hope will never be built) and the decommissioned Pylon of Torre Faro (see below). Moreover, the lakes are the right place to have very good fish, seafood, and many other Sicilian specialties.
 * Lakes of Ganzirri and Faro, at the Capo Peloro Lighthouse area north of the city, in the north-eastern tip of Sicily. You can reach the two lakes by taking bus number 79 from ATM bus terminal (Parcheggio Cavallotti) close to the train station. At the lakes, the extraordinary marine landscapes are an awe-inspiring sight. It is also the site for the northern tower of the planned, twice-approved and twice-cancelled, Strait of Messina bridge (which locals hope will never be built) and the decommissioned Pylon of Torre Faro (see below). Moreover, the lakes are the right place to have very good fish, seafood, and many other Sicilian specialties.
 * Lakes of Ganzirri and Faro, at the Capo Peloro Lighthouse area north of the city, in the north-eastern tip of Sicily. You can reach the two lakes by taking bus number 79 from ATM bus terminal (Parcheggio Cavallotti) close to the train station. At the lakes, the extraordinary marine landscapes are an awe-inspiring sight. It is also the site for the northern tower of the planned, twice-approved and twice-cancelled, Strait of Messina bridge (which locals hope will never be built) and the decommissioned Pylon of Torre Faro (see below). Moreover, the lakes are the right place to have very good fish, seafood, and many other Sicilian specialties.

Budget
Try along Via Cannizzaro near the port and railway station.

Go next

 * Novara di Sicilia - Located in the province of Messina on the northern side of Mt. Etna, this picturesque medieval town is nestled in the mountains overlooking Milazzo. It is the archetype of a typical medieval town, with its friendly and accommodating people who speak a distinctive dialect.
 * The main public transport routes are west to Milazzo and Palermo, south to Taormina, Catania and Syracuse, or east across the straits to mainland Italy.

title: Messina


text:
Messina (province)

The Metropolitan City of Messina (Italian: Città metropolitana di Messina) is an administrative division in Sicily, Italy and is the closest to the Italian mainland (as close as at some points). It replaced the former Province of Messina on 1 January 2015.

Cities

 * — busy city and link to the mainland
 * — Naxos was the first Greek colony in Sicily, now it is Giardini Naxos under the hill of Taormina
 * — gateway to the Aeolian Islands
 * — A beautiful medieval town near Mt. Etna is listed among "I Borghi pui Belli D'Italia" (The Most Beautiful Towns in Italy) and provides a convenient central point for day trips to visit the Aeolian Islands, Tindari, Taormina, Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna
 * — the main resort & tourist spot. Great Teatro Greco and views of Etna and the coast
 * — A beautiful medieval town near Mt. Etna is listed among "I Borghi pui Belli D'Italia" (The Most Beautiful Towns in Italy) and provides a convenient central point for day trips to visit the Aeolian Islands, Tindari, Taormina, Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna
 * — the main resort & tourist spot. Great Teatro Greco and views of Etna and the coast

Other destinations

 * (Isole Eolie) — beautiful group of volcanic islands

Eat
Come to visit and to taste the real Sicily to "Le Giare"- we are in Itala (Messina). Cosy environment, great food, amazing people - a place worth to see and to stay :) http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Le-Giare-hotel-and-restaurant-in-Sicily/441867235861547

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

title: Messina (province)


text:
Mesta

Mesta is a village on the Greek island of Chios.

Understand
Built as a fort to ward off raiding pirates, the village has been remarkably preserved. The narrow maze-like streets are surrounded by thick walls, and towers on surrounding hills could be used to signal the appearance of raiders. The current church of the Archangels towers over the village, and has a remarkable history and beautiful iconography. The old church of the archangels (Taxiarchis) has a carved-wood icon stand that is well-preserved and can be visited (ask for someone to bring the key from the town square).

Get in
The village is served numerous times daily by municipal bus (KTEL/ΚΤΕΛ) from the main city (Hora) of the island.

Do
Apart from the village itself, the surrounding area has many great beaches.
 * Agia Dinami (about 6 km from Mesta, near the medieval village of Olimpi) – white sand.
 * – pebble beaches within a rocky setting.
 * Apothika – a black pebble beach with clear waters.
 * – twin beaches with white pebbles
 * – black sand

Mesta beaches are ideal for relaxation, swimming, fishing and scuba diving.

Go next

 * (Black Pebbles beach)- One of the most popular beaches on Chios Island.

title: Mesta


text:
Mestia

Mestia is a city in Upper Svaneti of Northwestern Georgia.

Understand
Mestia is the regional capital of Svaneti. It is also the main centre of tourism for the region. It is a relatively small town of around 2,600 inhabitants, but it is the main tourist centre for the Svaneti region and as such has many of the characteristics of larger cities. It is tourist-friendly, in part due to several major construction activities including a new road (a twisty but well-maintained mountain road), a renovated town centre with a number of new buildings, and a new airport. There has also been a lot of investment in other infrastructure, such as a new district court, giving Mestia the feeling of a city rather than the rural towns it is. This has made travelling to Mestia much easier, but the main street has lost part of its former character. Exploring the streets just behind the main street immediately brings you to very rural areas with cows, pigs and chickens everywhere.

The town is very easy to navigate. It consists of three villages following the Mulkhra River, with a single main street lying through the entire town. Most guest houses, hotels and restaurants are along this street.

Prices are generally higher than other middle-sized towns around Georgia and haggling is not as normal as elsewhere.

By plane

Complete schedule:
 * Tbilisi to Mestia: M, W, F 09:30, Su 13:00
 * Mestia to Tbilisi: M, F 15:30, W 11:30, Su 15:00
 * Kutaisi to Mestia: Tu, F 13:30
 * Mestia to Kutaisi: Tu, F 11:00

The registration time is 1 hr before the flight. Flight duration is one hour. Depending on weather conditions compliant to Visual Flight Rules VFR, flight can be postponed or cancelled (full refund). Limit of the hold luggage and for carry-on baggage in total is 15 kg/per person. It's impossible to pay for extra luggage but if there is free place on board, you can take your baggage along free of charge.

Reservations are available at:

There is always a high demand for tickets, so reserve tickets long in advance. For example, by the end of July 2015 the only tickets from Mestia to Tbilisi left were for the end of August. If no tickets are available, ask to be on the waiting list. Flights are dependent on weather conditions in the mountains between Mestia and Tbilisi. As the weather changes quickly, it is difficult to plan a flight to or from Mestia with certainty and it might be a good idea to have an alternative in case the flights are cancelled.

By helicopter
There is also an option to fly to Mestia from Tbilisi by helicopter. The duration of the flight is 1½ hr. There are a few companies organizing these flights.

By train

 * From Tbilisi, take the train reaching Zugdidi, costs 16 lari (Tbilisi 21:50 — Zugdidi 06:05, Tbilisi 07:20 — Zugdidi 12:55), then follow the section below.
 * From Kutaisi you would have to take a marshrutka or taxi to Rioni station and catch one of the aforementioned trains. The price is 12 lari from Rioni. Tickets can be purchased on the train or at the Rioni station.

Trains can be full (especially private cabins), so book several days in advance.

By marshrutka

From specific destinations:
 * Tbilisi – Departures time: early morning, 05:00 and 07:00. From Didube bus station, and also from Station Square railway station. Price: 30 lari. Duration 8–10 hours, depending on the weather.
 * Kutaisi – Departing in the morning from the main bus station (next to the train station, behind McDonald's). They have Mestia signs in the front window in Latin letters. The first one seems to leave whenever it is full (maybe around 09:00), while the next one seems to leave at 10:00 even if there are still seats open. Price: 40 lari.
 * Zugdidi – Duration: 3½-4 hr including a coffee break. As of May 2019, it seems that previously competing drivers have reorganized into a cartel—they now charge twice: up to 20 lari in 2019 and then 25 lari in 2020. In 2023, people have been charged 40 lari. For alternatives, read the side box.
 * Drivers have to pay a big percent to the ticket office, even if the ticket was bought via driver. Almost no drivers agree to lower the price, because if someone in the cartel would find out, the driver would be severely punished. Some report that a "local's" price can be had by speaking Georgian to ask for 15 lari, but the guesthouses in Mestia say the price really only applies to Svan locals. Other marshrutka drivers seem happy to help locate a Mestia-bound marshrutka for visitors, below are several departure points:
 * Regular marshrutkas (1–3 per day) to Mestia wait on Gulua street or Nikoladze street in Zugdidi. Go from the train station to the main road (Rustaveli street), turn left and follow it towards the city, just before the bridge turns left and go in the Gulua street about 200 m. There should be a sign saying "MESTIA" on the right hand side. These marshrutkas run from 09:00, but will only go if there are enough passengers—expect some hours of waiting in the worst case.
 * Train-connecting marshrutkas wait in front of the train station, and the first one is scheduled to coincide with the 06:05 or 12:55 arrival of the Tbilisi train (check here). If not arriving by train, one should be at the marshrutka by 05:45 in case the train arrives early. If arriving by train at 06:00, one should rush to the marshrutka to get whatever is left of the limited luggage space and a better seat.
 * If the Zugdidi-based marshrutkas have already left or cancelled, one might try to catch marshrutkas originating in Kutaisi (~11:00) or Tbilisi (~12:00). Just wait by the side of an intersection nearby for the passing or ask other marshrutka drivers (please, provide the exact location).

By car
A new highway from Zugdidi to Mestia has been opened and the trip has become relatively safe and comfortable by public or private transport. The view on the way is amazing. The usual driving time is about 2 hr, although it can be longer in winter following snow falls, or when the road is covered with ice. Whatever the season, it is not advised to drive yourself unless you are used to such mountain roads.

Driving between Mestia and Tbilisi takes about 6½ hr.

On foot
The city is small enough to be covered by foot.

By thumb
Avoid the local taxi mafia and try to hitchhike instead if needed.

See

 * Stone defensive towers. A typical fortified dwelling consisted of a tower, an adjacent house and some other household structures encircled by a defensive wall.
 * Churches of 10th–14th centuries, including Mazhari, Trongsa and some others.
 * Stone defensive towers. A typical fortified dwelling consisted of a tower, an adjacent house and some other household structures encircled by a defensive wall.
 * Churches of 10th–14th centuries, including Mazhari, Trongsa and some others.
 * Churches of 10th–14th centuries, including Mazhari, Trongsa and some others.

Do
The two most popular tracks with tourist and easy to medium are the one to the cross and the one to the glacier. Going back from the outer church, coming from the cross, there is a spring hidden in a wooden box along the way. The water has some specific taste and changes depending on the weather.

Hiking
You can get high-quality hiking maps for free at Mestia Tourist Information center at the main square. Another good place is the souvenir shop at the Seti Square (behind the Koshki café), it sells hiking maps from several publishers (Geoland, Terraquest etc.).

 * Ushguli – 4-day Mestia to Ushguli Trek

Skiing
There are two ski resorts close to Mestia.

Buy
With the development of Mestia there are now sufficient ATMs in the city - including some without additional fee. One currency exchange office (with just marginally worse rates than elsewhere in Georgia).

 * Beautiful works of folk art can be bought at the Mountain Tourist Centre.
 * There is a small market for fruit, vegetables, drinks and necessity products, as well as a number of shops.
 * Along the main road (in the direction to Zugdidi) you will find a few little shops with secondhand clothes. These are worth a look if you need something but hiking clothes and shoes are seldom on offer.

Eat
Mestia has several restaurants and cafés in town. If you are on a budget keep an eye for the little shops such as bakeries and unnamed restaurants along the main road. These are cheaper than regular restaurants.

Drink
As anywhere in Georgia, marvelous Georgian wine, beer and chacha.

Sleep

Several people rent rooms in their houses as well:

Connect
Not much Wi-Fi access, but several cafés, restaurants and guesthouses offer free and decent Wi-Fi.

Geocell and Beeline both have quite decent signal in the area.

Go next
From Mestia, there are 3 daily marshrutkas at 08:00; one to Zugdidi (20 lari), one to Kutaisi (25 lari), and one to Tbilisi (30 lari). Seats can be reserved by your guesthouse or at the. There may be more during the high season (to Zugdidi for example at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00). Later, you need to use a taxi.

Otherwise, checkout these interesting destinations:
 * Mazeri – A Svaneti mountain village, surrounded by a stunningly beautiful landscapes and huge waterfalls. The starting point for several exciting Svaneti trekking routes, including the Mount Ushba glacier trek.
 * Jvari – A small town with a couple of great attractions nearby, namely Enguri Dam and Silver Lake. The latter is one of the most impressive alpine treks that you can do in Georgia. Take the marshrutka to Zugdidi, and ask the driver to drop you off in Jvari (3 hr, 15 lari).
 * Ushguli – Mestia is also the embarkation point for a trip to this highest altitude inhabited point in Europe. There is another small Ethnographic Museum there, containing 12th century religious artwork.
 * To get a more authentic experience, also consider visiting nearby villages such as Lenjeri (many Svan towers), Latali (old and beautiful churches), and Becho (mountain hiking).

title: Mestia


text:
Mestre

Mestre corresponds to the mainland area of Venice, in Italy. Although administratively it is part of Venice, from a traveller's perspective it can be considered to be a distinct area. Officially the name "Mestre" corresponds to only one of the boroughs that forms Venice's mainland, but travellers typically consider Mestre as the entire Venice mainland.

Understand
Visitors to Venice are often perplexed to see so many tourists and very few locals, and wonder where do the Venetians do live. In fact, most Venetians, including many who work in Venice lagoon's cafes, restaurants, shops and even gondeliers, live in Venice's mainland, Mestre. For most part, Mestre is a normal, modern Italian city with all the conveniences and problems, but not enough to make it a destination on its own. Due to the cheaper accommodation (especially for hotels with 3 stars and above), cheaper parking facilities, and better access to Marco Polo airport, Mestre is often used as a base to explore Venice.

Whether it is a good idea to stay in Mestre when the intention is to visit central Venice is a matter of taste and convenience. Note that while it's possible to save some money by staying in Mestre instead of Venice, at least some money saved will be rather spent on transportation, public toilets and "sit-in" charges for cafes and snackbars in Venice (a traveller that stays in Venice instead may save money by taking away food and drinks back to his or her hotel instead of sitting in). Besides, due to frequent overcrowding, the San Marco and Rialto areas of Venice are often better explored during early morning or late evening, which will not be possible for those staying in Mestre. Finally, while the buses and trains from Mestre to Venice typically only take from 10 to 20 minutes, one that arrives in Venice still needs to go from either Piazzale Roma or Venezia Santa Lucia station to their final sightseeing spot, which might be either a long walk or an expensive vaporetto ride.

The opposite question is whether it makes sense for someone staying in central Venice to visit Mestre. For someone staying for 3 days or less, probably the answer is no. Those staying longer, however, may enjoy going to Mestre to have a break from tourist crowds, shop and eat at non-inflated prices, go to bars and nightclubs open until late, ride a car or a bicycle, or simple have a feeling of being in a "normal" city with normal people, rather than in a theme park or a "city of vacation homes" which Venice is increasingly turning to.

By plane
To travel to Mestre you can fly to two different airports. Marco Polo in Venice is the closest, about 20 minutes from the train station in Mestre and you can take the ATVO flybus or line 5 every 10 minutes or so. Treviso airport is also nearby, approximately 50 minutes by bus.

By train
There are two train stations within Mestre. All long-distance and regional trains call at the main station while only regional trains call at Porto Marghera.

Get around
Mestre's town center is pedestrianised and is therefore difficult to navigate in a car. There are bus links to all the local attractions and everything is within walking distance.

There are many well maintained bike lanes throughout Mestre.

Mestre also has two tram lines T1 and T2.

See
Mestre is a very charming city, with its canal snaking across the center. There are plenty of gorgeous little streets to explore along the way. Mestre has several sights in the main piazza, Piazza Ferretto. There is a watchtower at the top of the piazza, and be sure to check out Teatro Toniolo, which is a beautiful theater.

Do
Stretch your legs at the two main parks, Parco San Giulliano and Parco Bissuola. Each has good sport facilities, such as outdoor pools, basketball courts, skate rinks and running tracks. For those with children, there are play parks dotted around the city. There is also a mini train for children near the Le Barche shopping center.

Buy
Mestre has various different markets throughout the week, including ones specialising in fresh fruit and vegetables, clothes and even art.

Max out your credit card at one of the many designer stores in Mestre.

Eat
There are lots of different restaurants and cafes throughout Mestre which have guaranteed good meals out.

Mestre is full of small family owned pasticcerie. In Piazza Ferretto, you can buy little miniature desserts, called mignon, which are delicious. Tramezzini — similar to sandwiches — are also very popular. There are places where you can chose from more than 30 different types. Brioche, with your morning espresso, is another staple found in Mestre. The pizza is typically Italian, thin and delicious. Being on the coast, fish is another important part of Mestre cuisine and there are always plenty to choose from in any restaurant (beware they sell fish by the weight, so in the menu if it says €5 for bass then that may mean for 100 grams, and end up costing near €30!).

Drink
Aperol is the liquor of choice. Orange-flavored, it is very popular in the form of a spritz, with prosecco and sparkling water added. Also coffee is typically Italian, strong and delicious.

In Mestre there are some night clubs:

Budget

 * Venice Lagoon House Via Tenda 11, Venezia (village Tessera). Just 1 km from Venice Airport - Info: [mailto:info@venicelagoonhouse.com] Four-bed dorms from €25 per person.
 * Venice Lagoon House Via Tenda 11, Venezia (village Tessera). Just 1 km from Venice Airport - Info: [mailto:info@venicelagoonhouse.com] Four-bed dorms from €25 per person.
 * Venice Lagoon House Via Tenda 11, Venezia (village Tessera). Just 1 km from Venice Airport - Info: [mailto:info@venicelagoonhouse.com] Four-bed dorms from €25 per person.
 * Venice Lagoon House Via Tenda 11, Venezia (village Tessera). Just 1 km from Venice Airport - Info: [mailto:info@venicelagoonhouse.com] Four-bed dorms from €25 per person.

Mid-range

 * Hotel Altieri, Via Altinia 51, 30030 Favaro Veneto, ph +39 041 5010651 fax +39 041 631504 . In Mestre, 3 miles from the airport. Double room rates range from €110.
 * Hotel Altieri, Via Altinia 51, 30030 Favaro Veneto, ph +39 041 5010651 fax +39 041 631504 . In Mestre, 3 miles from the airport. Double room rates range from €110.
 * Hotel Altieri, Via Altinia 51, 30030 Favaro Veneto, ph +39 041 5010651 fax +39 041 631504 . In Mestre, 3 miles from the airport. Double room rates range from €110.

Go next
Around the Venetian lagoon are other smaller islands, which have since been deserted but are worth a visit. There is also the Lido, which is a long narrow island with more modern buildings, hosting a youth hostel and a hotel.

 * Venice— The main island (regional train to Venice Santa Lucia costs €1.20).
 * The Lido— Famous Venice beaches.
 * Murano— Nearby Island with typical glass.
 * Burano— Nearby Island with typical textiles and painted houses.
 * San Lazzaro— Nearby Island with Armenian monastery and impressive art collection, some world class pieces.
 * Jesolo— Jesolo is one of the most important beaches in Italy, just 45' from Venice by car or by boat (ferry from Treporti to Venice).

title: Mestre


text:
Metairie

Metairie is the largest suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana, in Jefferson Parish.

Get in

 * Louis Armstrong International Airport, the main airport of the Greater New Orleans area, is in suburban Kenner, which borders Metaire just to the west.
 * I-10 Interstate Highway 10 is the main auto route in the area.

Get around
By car; while there are some bus routes public transit is poor in Metairie.

Wide Veterans Highway is the main commercial avenue, running east to west. Narrow winding Metaire Road runs through the older part of town, flanked by more upscale small businesses. Causeway Boulevard runs south to north, connecting with the causeway across Lake Pontchartrain leading to the North Shore.

Understand
At the start of the 20th century, most of what is now Metaire was a mixture of farmland and swamp. In the 1910s and 1920s, suburban development from neighboring New Orleans spread along Metaire Ridge, natural high ground along winding Metaire Road. Most development, however, occurred in the boom following World War II. While lacking the history and architecture of New Orleans, Metairie is an economic center in Greater New Orleans.

See
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, carrying Causeway Blvd over lake Pontchartrain, is the longest bridge over water in the world.

Budget

 * Eggroll House, 3507 Veterans. Good fast reasonably priced Chinese.
 * Lee's Hamburgers 3 locations, 904 Veterans Blvd; 3516 Veterans; 1507 Metairie Road. Small local chain of burger joints.
 * Eggroll House, 3507 Veterans. Good fast reasonably priced Chinese.
 * Lee's Hamburgers 3 locations, 904 Veterans Blvd; 3516 Veterans; 1507 Metairie Road. Small local chain of burger joints.
 * Lee's Hamburgers 3 locations, 904 Veterans Blvd; 3516 Veterans; 1507 Metairie Road. Small local chain of burger joints.
 * Lee's Hamburgers 3 locations, 904 Veterans Blvd; 3516 Veterans; 1507 Metairie Road. Small local chain of burger joints.
 * Lee's Hamburgers 3 locations, 904 Veterans Blvd; 3516 Veterans; 1507 Metairie Road. Small local chain of burger joints.

Mid-range

 * Vincent's 4411 Chastant (just back from West Esplanade Avenue; 1 block up from Transcontinental Dr.) . Creole-Italian; also has branch in the Carrollton section of New Orleans.

Go next

 * The attractions of central New Orleans are about a half hour drive east (though it can take longer during rush hour).
 * Baton Rouge is about a 75-minute drive west on Interstate 10.
 * Covington and the Lake Pontchartrain North Shore are within an hour's drive north over the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

Connect
Telephone area code is 504, same as New Orleans.

title: Metairie


text:
Metaponto

Metaponto is in Basilicata, Italy

Get in
There is a bus to Matera (1 hr, €4), train to Sibari (1 hr 15 min, €3.50) From the station it is 2 km to the beach (Lido). Take bus line 1, last bus at 20:25. €0.7, 5-15 min.

Understand
There are old ruins in Metaponto. But the main attraction is the 1-km stretch of perfect beach with white powdery sand.

Do
The beach can be crowded with Italians, but once you get into the water there is plenty of room. The water gets deep only after you get 30-50 m out and most Italians stay on the beach. You can rent parasols and beds, but there are many free strips.

Eat

 * Le Sirene next to hotel Sacco at the center of the promenade. Great seafood and pizza.
 * Pic-nic A long stretch at the northern road to the promenade. There are barbeques and small huts that sell pizza, panini, snacks etc.

Drink
The sheds on the beach sell beer and limocelli for El€2.

Sleep

 * Hotel Kennedy, on the bus route 100 m before the beach.
 * Hotel Kennedy, on the bus route 100 m before the beach.

title: Metaponto


text:
Meteora

Meteora (Greek: Μετέωρα, Metéora) is one of the gems of Greece. Near the town of Kalambaka (Καλαμπάκα, Kalabáka) (Population: 21,991 (2011)) in northwestern Thessaly, it consists of a number of rock pinnacles topped with a total of 24 monasteries, 6 of which are still in use and open to visitors, while the others are abandoned.

History
Emerging about 25 million years ago as the elevated seabed material that was the outcome of strong tectonic movements, the Meteora rocks became a shelter of humankind. The first hermits arrived in this area to seek spiritual isolation and inhabited the caves of the rocks, with the sole aid of ropes and ladders.

Common existential needs and strong religious faith compelled them to live united in the first monastic communities, their common drive of faith guiding them towards the unrepeated construction of monasteries of highest architectural and artistic value.

The 24 monasteries emerged on the countless summits of the rocks from the 14th until the 16th century, 6 of them remaining to be explored and admired by all. These monasteries became the centers of the Orthodox creed in the Byzantine era, having produced some of the best pieces of religious art and craft and still possessing a collection of precious manuscripts, which today are on display in their museums.

Modern day Meteora
The Meteora monasteries have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Meteora-Antichassia region has been officially declared a Natura 2000 Ecological Zone by the Greek Ministry of Environment, for the protection of rare species of birds and flowers.

Climate
The mountain range to the east and north of the site experiences a wide climatic variation from baking heat in summer to severe cold in winter with heavy snowfalls. Summer is the driest time, storms occurring all year round especially at higher altitudes.

By train
From Athens you can take either a train or a bus up to Meteora train station (Kalambaka). The trains servicing the northern part of Greece leave from the "Larissa station" in Athens, while the buses serving that part of the country leave from Terminal B, at Liossion Street. Train schedules can be obtained from TrainOSE and buses usually leave once every two hours. Both rides are long (about 3.5 to 4.5 hours by train and 5 hours by bus) so make sure to bring a good book. There are also train connections from Thessaloniki (about 3 hours), Volos (about 2 to 3.5 hours) and from Larissa (about 1 to 3 hours). Usually you change trains at Paleofarsalos station. If the train to Paleofarsalos is delayed, they often make the train to Meteora wait.

By bus
There are daily bus connections (Travel agency) to/from Kalampaka from/to Trikala and Larissa. From Athens, Thessaloniki and Volos you can take the bus to either Trikala or Larissa and then take a bus to Kalampaka.

There are also buses from Athens that allow you to visit Meteora as a day trip. They depart at 7:00 and arrive at noon and return at 17:15 arriving around 22:30.

Timetables from Athens and Thessaloniki.

By car
The monasteries are well served by good roads and are safe and well sign posted. There are various lay-bys and free parking spaces around the area and near monasteries.

By plane
You can fly from Central Europe to Volos, Central Greece airport which is in Nea Anchialos and then travel by car for approximately two hours to Meteora. You can also take the train or bus from Volos to Kalampaka, but it will take much longer.

Get around
In 2005, you could hire a taxi right at the train station to take you to all the monasteries for about €30-40. However, reaching the spires by foot gives visitors a much more tangible feeling of the Meteora's majesty. It is a difficult hike, but experiencing the sanctuaries like the monks did a few hundred years ago only increases its wonder. In the summer, be prepared for the Greek heat, and as the hike takes a whole day, bring a few litres of water.

For those not willing to make the climb on foot there are local buses that depart Kalampaka bus station at 9:00, 10:45, 12:15 and 14:45 and go to Great Meteoron, you can board this bus in Kastraki near the church. It's a relatively easy walk to most of the other monasteries from there. You can also buy an all day ticket which with some planning would allow you to ride the bus between monasteries.

Bus info - (+30)2432022432

From St Stephen's they depart at 11:20, 13:20 and 16:00 via Meteora and then return from there to Kalambaka via Kastraki.

See
The following monasteries can be visited and are located nearby the road circuiting Meteora. The largest museums with the most comprehensive exhibits can be found at Great Meteoron and Varlaam monasteries. The largest, most frequently visited monasteries are Great Meteoron, Varlaam, and St. Stephen. Rousanou, St. Nicholas, and Holy Trinity are smaller monasteries in more rugged locations and do not have museum exhibits. No restaurants or food vendors are available at the monasteries, except for food trucks that serve food outside Great Meteoron and Varlaam during opening hours. Unfit people and those with mobility issues will not be able to make it up the hundreds of steep steps.

Each of the monasteries has a gift shop with books, souvenirs, and religious items. The entrance fee is €3 at each of the six monasteries. Long pants are required for men, while women are requested to wear skirts or sarongs not pants; sarongs can be borrowed at the entrance fee collection stations. Photography and video are not allowed instead the inner church sanctuaries but are allowed elsewhere. Clockwise you'll find:

Inexpensive, mass produced icons may be purchased in the monasteries for as little as.

In the high season, the monasteries can become incredibly crowded with large groups virtually filling the chapels and other areas within the monasteries. If possible, visit early in the day! The monasteries were not built for tourism. Tourism, though essential to the monasteries' survival, has also destroyed their character. They are no longer contemplative.

There are two main travel agencies organising guided tours around the monasteries. Visit Meteora and Meteora Thrones. The tours are generally well reviewed, offer hotel pick-up and most cost between and, excluding  entry prices for the monasteries. (Updated September 2021). Tours can be booked online, both companies also have an office in the center of Kalampaka. Very few tours have guides licensed to enter the monasteries so you may want to check that. If you can work out the public bus then the tours are not really worthwhile.

Hiking
Meteora offers more than 20km of hiking trails, ranging from easier to more challenging ones. Most of them can be completed in less than 4 hours and almost all of them lead to the monasteries. Most of the trails are not marked, so some experience or GPS tools might be necessary. On 2021, a project to map the entire trail network of Meteora began, which now consists of 14 interconnected trails covering the entire area. Many of the trails are marked with red "MTR" (Meteora Trail Running) signs.
 * Watch the sunset from one of the many vantage points.
 * Climb the rocks. There are more than 170 peaks and 600 bolted climbing routes in the area. You can buy the 2 guidebooks containing almost every route from the local bookstores. It is to be noted that there is no option for renting equipment so one should either bring his own or get a climbing guide.
 * Drive the road connecting monasteries.

Eat
Kastraki has a number of restaurants, but if you are looking for a light meal, the ouzeri on the main road slightly downhill (towards Kalambaka) was excellent and cheap. Live music when the owner's friends come along at night.
 * Meteora Panorama is a good choice with open wifi and view to the mountains and the valley.

Sleep
The nearby towns of Kalampaka and Kastraki both offer different kinds of accommodation. Choose Kastraki if you want to stay close to the rocks, and also for the village atmosphere.

Respect
While visiting the monasteries, women are required to wear skirts covering the knees and have their shoulders covered, too. Most of the monasteries do provide wraps for women who come unprepared, but if you bring your own, especially one with bright colors, you'll get a smile from the monk or nun at the entrance.

Along the same line, men are required to wear trousers covering the knees. This too can be borrowed from the stock at the entrance but that clothing isn't washed after every user so you may not feel comfortable wearing these skirts. One size fits all for men!

Go next

 * Thessaloniki, 238 km, about 3 hours by car

 * Vergina, 174 km, site of UNESCO listed Ancient Aigai site of ancient tombs of Philip II of Macedon

title: Meteora


text:
Metepec

Metepec is a city in Mexico State. It is known mainly for its quaint streets and commerce.

Understand
The city center lies at the foot of the hill that gives the city and municipality its name. There has been a community here since the Otomis and Matlatzincas settled in this part of the Valley of Toluca: the Matlatzincas reached their cultural peak between AD 1120 and 1450 as part of the Teotihuacan culture.

Get in
Buses leave regularly from the main bus terminal, Terminal Juarez. Buses also pass frequently along Pino Suarez. Alternatively, take a cab. From downtown Toluca, the price may be around M$40 (pesos). Although the bus terminal is closer, the drivers parked in front of the bus station will try to increase the price.

See
Downtown Metepec has the feeling of a small, historic Mexican town. The charming centre is rife with small cafes, restaurants, bars, and stores selling local arts and crafts.

Get a good view of the city and surrounding area by climbing the Cerro de Maguey, the hill at the centre of the city.

The Ex-convento de San Juan is the main religious structure in the town and dates from the 16th century; however, other churches worth visiting include Las Capillas de El Calvario, La Santa Cruz, del Espíritu Santo, San Bartolomé, de San Salvador, de Santa María Magdalena and la Parroquia de San Mateo.

Do
Walk around town and check out the shops and restaurants. For its small size, there is a considerable number of trendy bars.

The 24th of June is the feast day of Metepec's patron saint, John the Baptist. The city has an international arts and culture festival called Quimera, which occurs in October.

Buy
Metepec is known for its artesanias, especially pottery items which are still of economic importance. The artisans of this area have organized into the Asociación de Artesanos de Metepec y la Unión de Alfareros de Metepec, A.C. (Association of Artisans of Metepec and the Union of Potters of Metepec). Principal crafts include objects made from clay, glass and includes saddlemaking. The city has about 300 craftsmen and 275 family workshops. The craft Metepec is best known for is the Arbol de la vida ("Tree of Life") which is a traditional pottery representation of the tree from which Adam and Eve ate in the Biblical story. The album cover of the Beatles' 1967 record Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band features a Metepec Tree of Life. Arboles de la vida are featured in a number of museums in Mexico and abroad: an arbol de la vida from Metepec is displayed in the British Museum in London.

Market days at the Tianguis Casablance are Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. You can get fruits and vegetables as well as great regional street food.

Saturday is market day at the Tianguis Sabatino on Calle 16 de Septiembre. It's a smaller market, but close to the city center.

Galerías Metepec is a modern shopping center with typical department stores. It is open every day.

Eat
While most of the food in Metepec is typical of the region (with dishes such as barbacoa, tamales, and huaraches) it does have a unique drink called "Garañona". It is made from 15 herbs and is a strong, sweet drink. The only place that sells and distributes this drink is a bar called the 2 de Abril in the city center.

For delicious homemade food for little money, try one of the many 'cocina familiares'. La Pasadita, beside Chedraui on Guadelupe Victora is a bit of a hike from the center, but offers a complete meal for approximately M$35.

Surrounding the main plaza are several small restaurants offering local food.

Several chain, high class, and fast food restaurants can be found in Galerias Metepec.

Go next

 * Historic center of the City of Toluca.
 * Ixtapan de la Sal
 * Malinalco
 * Tenancingo

title: Metepec


text:
Methana

Methana is located in Greece, with highly interesting of archaeological monuments, Byzantine churches, lovely villages and imposing a "dormant" volcano.

Understand
The peninsula is littered with over 30 volcanic domes and numerous sulphurous thermal springs of volcanic origin. Neither the city nor the peninsula gained significant importance in antiquity, although settlement has been documented since the Mycenaean period.

In the 19th century, Methana was a popular spa town that mainly attracted the wealthy middle class from Athens. There were a few hotels, a casino, open-air cinemas, and a small theater. Daily ship connections with Piraeus made Methana one of the pre-war "Mykonos". The spas were restored after the Second World War. The mainly older clientele who came to health cures created a negative image that Methana was only suitable for old people. The spas were also no longer modernized. To date (as of: 2021) there is no concept for the development of geotourism or sustainable forms of tourism, although there are more than 60 km of hiking trails and numerous historical, geological and natural sights on Methana.

Even if methane gas comes from the earth on the peninsula, the name of the island cannot be traced back to it. While Methana was called that in ancient times, the name of the gas is modern.

Get in
The most common way to get here is from Athens; you can get here by car, or by bus from Athens Kifisos Bus Station, or Galatas; or by boat, from Piraeus.

Get around
A very common way to get around Methana is by car, but there are other ways, like taxi and bus.

Go next

 * Poros
 * Galatas
 * Aegina
 * Ermioni
 * Dokos
 * Kranidi

title: Methana


text:
Methven

Methven is a small town with a population of 1,900 people, and the home of Mt. Hutt ski area in Canterbury, New Zealand. Approximately 93 km from Christchurch International Airport, the area is renowned as being a year-round base for action sports enthusiasts, being home to a wide range of activities.

By plane
Christchurch International Airport is about 93 km from Methven, with many flights daily from a range of major cities.

By airport shuttle
Methven Travel runs transport services to and from Christchurch Airport, with summer and winter timetables. In winter, the shuttle travels each way three times a day.

Get around
There are a number of shuttle services between Methven and Mt. Hutt.

See

 * Mount Hutt skifield

Do

 * Hot air ballooning
 * Skiing
 * Mountain Thunder Motorcycle
 * Cinema Paradiso
 * Aoraki Balloon Services
 * Methven Heliskiing
 * Golf: Fable Terrace Downs Resort is at Windwhistle, ten miles north of town.
 * Golf: Fable Terrace Downs Resort is at Windwhistle, ten miles north of town.

Restaurants, Bars, and Cafés
Methven is home to a number of restaurants, bars and cafes. Venues can be very busy, so to be sure to book your spot to avoid disappointment.
 * Arabica Licensed Cafe
 * Arabica Licensed Cafe
 * Arabica Licensed Cafe
 * Arabica Licensed Cafe
 * Arabica Licensed Cafe
 * Arabica Licensed Cafe

Convenience and Grocery Stores
Apart from the cafés, restaurants, and bars, there are also a few convenience and grocery stores where you can buy food and snacks.

Sleep
Methven has a wide range of accommodation properties including hotel resorts, ski lodges, luxury B&Bs, motels, backpackers and camping grounds offering more than 2,000 beds all year round. Mt Hutt Ski Area and the majority of ski fields in the Canterbury region do not offer on-mountain accommodation; Methven/ Mt Hutt Village is the accommodation base for ski holidays.

title: Methven


text:
Metlaoui

Metlaoui is a city in Tunisia.

Get in

 * Take a louage (shared taxi) from the desert oasis-town of Tozeur to the dusty phosphate-town of Mataloui some 45 minutes away. Ask to be dropped at la gare de train.

Sleep
It might be better to stay in one of the many guest houses or hotels in Tozeur, and drive to Metlaoui by car or in an arranged tour.

title: Metlaoui


text:
Metric and Imperial equivalents

Almost all countries in the world use the metric system, officially known as the International System of Units (SI). Before the introduction of the metric system, there was no worldwide standard in units of measurement — every geographic region or country used their own system. Some of these historic systems of units are still in use, for example variations of the old English system (or its descendants U.S. customary and the imperial system) of weights and measures survive in various forms in the United States, United Kingdom, Bahamas, Ireland, Canada, Liberia and Hong Kong, while Myanmar still plows its own furrow. In all these countries except for the U.S., the metric system is widely understood. In the U.S., you'll find the metric system only used in scientific, military, and most medical contexts, while in the UK and Canada, usage is more mixed. In scientific usage, the metric system is used exclusively worldwide.

Understand
In most of the world the metric system is widely understood, the most prominent exception being the U.S.A., where metric units are virtually unknown to the average person in the street, and would likely only be understood if you are lucky enough to meet a doctor or a scientist. In the United Kingdom, Bahamas, Liberia and Hong Kong usage is mixed. Ireland and Canada have officially fully switched to metric usage, but imperial units continue to be widely used in daily conversation in Anglophone Canada, and to some extent in Ireland. Singapore is mostly fully metricated, though an exception is property sizes, which are still advertised in square feet. In the rest of the Anglosphere (Australia, Guyana, New Zealand or South Africa), imperial units won't get you anywhere.

Some countries that are officially metric use non-standard units colloquially. While most of them are "metricated" – e.g. a German Pfund ("pound") being exactly 500 grams or a Dutch ons ("ounce") being exactly 100 grams, some are not, and the vague definitions of what exactly is meant by a "pound" give you a sense of the confusion that led to the introduction of the metric system in the first place.

Since use of the metric system is taught in schools in science classes, younger generations in most of the world learn the metric units, and historic units gradually die out where they aren't in common use. When traveling in the Netherlands for example, the elderly may still use ons (ounce) in spoken language meaning 100 grams, but teenagers won't have any idea what they are talking about.

Some special uses still apply (standardised) non-metric units almost globally, such as inches for bicycles and television sets. Jewellers typically measure the weight of diamonds in carat, so entering a shop and asking for a diamond ring of 2.4 g will definitely raise some eyebrows. Seafarers and aviators use nautical miles and knots, and feet in some contexts. The energy contained in food is traditionally measured in calories and food items will often list the value in kcal (kilocalories) and metric kJ (kilojoules) side by side.

There are so many historic units that listing them all would be impossible, and of limited use to the traveller. The goal here is to list some non-metric units that are still commonly used, and their conversions to metric equivalents, to give the traveller a rough idea of quantity. Not all the conversions below are exact, even though the "=" is used.

Metric units
Unlike the imperial or customary systems of units, most metric units have two parts: the unit name and a prefix. The unit name is unique for any particular quantity, for example "metre" for length, "gram" for mass (weight), "litre" for volume and so on. If the resultant quantity requires a very large or a very small number to make it meaningful, then a prefix is added to indicate a multiple or fraction of the unit concerned. For example, the prefix "kilo-" means "one thousand", thus one kilometre is one thousand metres, one kilogram is one thousand grams and so on. Likewise the prefix "centi-" means one hundredth part of", thus one centimetre is one hundredth part of a metre.

The most common units of measure (without prefixes) that the traveller will come across are: The most common prefixes that will be encountered by a traveller are:

Some metric units do not follow this scheme. Thus, you won't hear about megagrams (1,000 kg); instead the equivalent tonnes are used. Also, land area is often measured in hectares (1 ha = 100 m × 100 m = 0.01 km2).

Length and distance
The SI for length is the metre (m) (spelled as "meter" in the U.S. and its former colonies).

 * 1 inch (1" (U.S.), 1" or 1 in (UK and Ireland)) = 2.54 cm (exact). 1" ≈ ¼ dm (approx.).
 * 1 foot (1' (U.S.), 1' or 1 ft (UK and Ireland)) = 12 inches = 30 cm
 * 1 yard (1 yd) = 3 feet = 90 cm
 * Yards are not used as frequently as miles, feet, and inches in the U.S., though they are regularly seen on road signs in the UK (note that for road sign purposes, 1 yard = 1 metre). Americans mostly know that a meter is "about a yard", and that yards are used in some sports.
 * 1 mile (1 mi) = 1,760 yards = 1.6 km, or 1 km = 0.6 miles
 * For mental arithmetic, this gives several useful conversions that are fairly accurate:
 * 3 miles = 5 km (off by 5%)
 * 5 miles = 8 km
 * 6 miles = 10 km (off by 5%)
 * 10 miles = 16 km
 * 1 nautical mile = 1.852 km (not used in normal conversation, but standard in air and sea navigation; the "knot", used for speeds in those contexts, is 1 nautical mile per hour). Rounding the nautical mile to 2 km is surprisingly accurate (off by 7.4%).
 * 1 furlong = 1/8 miles = 220 yards = 201.168 m (rarely used in daily life outside of Myanmar, but often used in horse racing)
 * 1 chain = 1/80 miles. Used only in context of railways in the UK.
 * There are also other miles, such as the Scandinavian "mil", which is 10 km. German explorers deliberately misleading local leaders on Prussian miles versus English miles (with the former being much larger and unknown to the locals) also played some role in the early colonial history of Namibia

Comparisons

 * A credit card is about 0.75 mm thick
 * 1 cm (centimetre) is the width of an average fingernail.
 * 1 foot is, unsurprisingly, the length of an average man's foot in shoes. 1 foot is slightly more than the long side of a sheet of paper (U.S. letter or A4).
 * Most adults are between 1.5 and 2 meters tall.
 * The average person walks 5 km/h or 3 miles/hour (without heavy luggage). At that speed, 1 km takes 12 minutes, and 1 mile takes 20 minutes.
 * Ten yards are a little less than a yard shy of ten meters. An American football field is exactly 100 yards from end zone to end zone, with each end zone being 10 yards deep. In Canadian football, the field is exactly 110 yards between end zones, and the end zones are 20 yards deep.
 * Denver (Colorado), Johannesburg (South Africa) and Volcán Concepción on Ometepe are roughly at one mile (5280 ft or 1600 m) altitude. Chamonix town and Katoomba are both about a kilometre (3300 ft or 1000 m) above sea level. Everest is about 8,848 m (29,031 ft) above sea level while most long-haul passenger airliners fly at an altitude of 9,000 m (30,000 ft) to 10,500 m (35,000 ft) above sea level.
 * Human heights in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Ireland are commonly given in feet and inches, stylized as 6'3" (pronounced as "six three", or "six foot three" when the context is unclear), which would be 190.5 centimetres. The same height could also be stylized "6 ft 3 in".
 * A marathon is run over 42.195 kilometres, or 26 miles and 385 yards.
 * The maximum speed limit for legacy rail lines in Germany that the signalling technology allows is 160 km/h or roughly 100 mph
 * 100 km/h is around 62 mph — in many parts of the world this is the speed limit on highways
 * Despite what you may have heard, the average length of a step is not a meter or a yard, an error that likely originates from counting both feet. Step lengths of adults usually fall in the range of 60 to 80 centimetres — on the parade ground, a soldier's pace is 75 cm (30 in). When running, the step grows to be above a meter.

Mass (weight)
The SI unit for mass (weight) is the kilogram (kg).

 * 1 kilogram (1 kg) ≈ 2.2 pounds
 * 1 ounce (1 oz) ≈ 28.35 grams
 * 1 pound (1 lb) = 16 ounces ≈ 454 grams
 * 1 stone (1 st) = 14 pounds ≈ 6.35 kg (used in the UK and Ireland)

Some food in some countries is sold per 100 g (hectogram), i.e. about ¼ lb or 4 oz.

A Troy ounce, customarily used only for precious metals and gemstones, is approximately 31.1 grams.

The jīn (斤) or catty, a Chinese unit of weight, was traditionally about 605 g, though in mainland China it is now exactly 500 g. The jīn was traditionally divided into 16 liǎng (兩) or taels, though in mainland China it is now 10 liǎng. The traditional jīn and liǎng continue to be used in Hong Kong and Macau, particularly in wet markets, and public weighing scales in Hong Kong wet markets are required to display the traditional Chinese, British Imperial and metric units side by side. Taiwan's system of units is based on the Japanese system of units but gives the units Chinese names, meaning that the Taiwanese jīn is 600 g, equivalent to the Japanese kin, and the Taiwanese liǎng is $1/16$ jīn, 37.5 g.

In Germany, France and the Netherlands the pound (Pfund, livre or pond) refers to a weight of exactly 500 g, a practice dating from the nineteenth century.

Both the U.S. and the UK have their own version of the hundredweight (cwt) and the ton (ton). The imperial hundredweight is 8 stone (112 pounds), while the U.S. hundredweight is 100 pounds, and a ton is 20 hundredweights in both systems. This means that the U.S. ton is 2000 pounds (about 907 kg), while the imperial ton is 160 stone (2240 pounds, about 1016 kg). The metric ton (UK: "tonne") is 1000 kg and is therefore about 0.98 imperial tons

The tonne (symbol "t") is widely used outside the United States on motor vehicle weight prohibition signs.

Surface area
The SI unit for area is the square metre (m2). The floor area of apartments, houses and the size of building plots are often quoted in square metres while larger areas such as parks are quoted in hectares (ha) or square kilometres (km2).
 * 1 square inch (in2) ≈ 6.5 square centimetres (cm2).
 * 1 square meter (m2) ≈ 11 square feet
 * 1 hectare (ha) = 10,000 m2 ≈ 2.5 acres
 * 1 square kilometre (km2) = 100 ha ≈ 0.4 square miles.

In Greece, 1000m² is called stremma.

Taiwan continues to use both the traditional Japanese and Dutch systems of measurements when measuring area, albeit with the units now having been given Chinese names. Smaller property sizes, such as those of apartments and offices are usually measured in 坪 (píng in Mandarin, pêⁿ in Taiwanese), approximately 3.306 m2 and equivalent to the Japanese tsubo (坪). Larger sizes, such as those of farmland, are measured in 甲 (jiǎ in Mandarin, kah in Taiwanese), equivalent to the Dutch morgen, and approximately equivalent to the hectare. Across the Taiwan Strait, large areas like farmland in China are usually measured in mu (亩), which was metricated and equal to 666.67m².

Comparisons

 * The area inside the track on an athletic field is about one hectare.
 * In the U.S., two of that country's states are often used for nation-sized objects, depending on the area being compared:
 * Rhode Island, the smallest state by area, has a surface area of 1,214 square miles or 3,140 square kilometres.
 * Texas, the largest by area of the contiguous states, has a surface area of 270,000 square miles or 700,000 square kilometres.
 * Wales, commonly used for such comparisons in the UK, has an area of 8,000 square miles or 20,000 km2.

Volume

The everyday units for volume among metric users are the litre (spelled so except in the U.S.A.) and its derivatives, despite the SI unit for volume being the cubic metre (m3), 1,000 litres.

For many things, the derivatives are used: mL (millilitres) or equivalently in cc (cubic centimetres), cL (centilitres) and dL (decilitres). Roughly, a teaspoon is 5mL and a fluid ounce (depending on the system) is a little under 30mL.

In both the U.S. and imperial systems, 4 quarts = 1 gallon and 2 pints = 1 quart but the U.S. pint is divided into 16 fluid ounces while the imperial pint is divided into 20 fluid ounces. An imperial gallon is 4.55 litres and a U.S. gallon is 3.79 litres while an imperial fluid ounce is 28.125 mL and a U.S. fluid ounce is 29.5 mL.

For car and motorcycle engines, displacement is usually given in cc or in litres. American cars used to have their displacement measured in cubic inches, but car manufacturers switched to litres in the early 1980s. 1,000 cc, one litre, is 61 cubic inches.

Large amounts of liquids are sometimes measured in hectolitres equivalent to hundred litres or in cubic meters equivalent to a thousand litres. A small brewery might e.g. state their beer production to be below 100 hectolitres while a municipal water service will likely bill you in cubic meters. For very large volumes, the U.S. also uses acre-feet (approx 1233 m3).

Comparisons

 * 1 L of water weighs 1 kg at 4°C. Since many liquids (milk, orange juice) are sold in litre containers, it is easy to judge 1 L or 1 kg.
 * 1 L is equivalent to a cube 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm.
 * One U.S. pint of water weighs one pound
 * One Imperial gallon of water weighs ten pounds
 * One fluid ounce of water weighs one ounce
 * 1 cubic meter (1 m3) = 1000 litres. 1 m3 of water weighs 1,000 kg = 1 tonne.
 * In Europe and many parts of Canada, wine is usually sold in 750 mL (0.75 L) bottles (occasionally 700 mL or 1 L). A glass of wine is usually 12 or 16 cL (120 or 160 mL), so 4–5 glasses to a bottle.
 * 12 fl. oz. (common size for beer bottles in the Americas) is roughly equivalent to 355 millilitres, more or less the same as a "small" European beer at 333 mL (a third of a litre)
 * One imperial pint (a common serving size for draught beer in the UK, Ireland and Canada) is 568.26125 millilitres (exactly) or roughly 10% more than a big (or regular depending on whom you ask) "continental" European beer at 500 mL.
 * The fuel tank on a small family car (e.g. Volkswagen Golf or Toyota Corolla) typically has a capacity of 50 L or 13 US gallons.
 * One acre-foot (in the U.S. commonly cited as a rough estimate for a family's yearly water needs) is equivalent to roughly 1233 m³

Driving
Outside the United States, the United Kingdom, Belize and many small territories that are within the Anglo-American sphere of influence, most measurements related to driving are in metric units.

Driving speed

The speed limits in most countries are quoted in kilometres per hour (km/h). The principal exceptions are the United States, Liberia, the United Kingdom and many Caribbean countries, which all use miles per hour (mph). Americans who take their cars to Canada or Mexico and Britons who take their cars to Ireland or the European continent often need to convert between mph and km/h while driving. Many (but not all) modern cars in these countries have both mph and km/h scales on their speedometers. Some cars that use an LED display for a speedometer can change between mph and km/h by changing a setting. If not, an easy conversion is to remember the sequence.

This sequence means that
 * 20 mph ≈ 30 km/h
 * 30 mph ≈ 50 km/h
 * 50 mph ≈ 80 km/h
 * 80 mph ≈ 130 km/h

The symbol for "kilometres per hour" is "km/h", used in most countries regardless of how it is written in full in the local language – for example the Italians use "km/h" even though the Italian for "kilometres per hour" is "chilometri all'ora". The few exceptions are in places such as Malaysia which use "km/j" (with the j that stands for jam, the Malay word for hour) although it is unlikely to cause much confusion.

Tyre pressure
Historically, in the English-speaking world, tyre pressure was measured in psi (pounds per square inch), while elsewhere it was measured in kilograms [weight] per square centimetre or in atmospheres (bars). With the designation of the Pascal (Pa) as the SI unit for pressure in 1960, the kilopascal (kPa) has increasingly been used for tyre pressure.

The relationship between these various units is
 * 1 bar = 100 kPa ≈ 98 kgf/cm2 ≈ 14.7 psi

This table gives common tyre pressures for motor cars.

Fuel consumption
Note: All conversions in this section are approximate

Traditionally fuel consumption in the United Kingdom and the United States was quoted in miles per gallon, but since the two countries had different gallons, the figures are not comparable. The conversion between the two is
 * mpgUK ≈ 1.2 mpgUS.

Some countries that use the metric system quote fuel consumption in km/L, a direct conversion from mpg. The conversion factors are
 * 1 km/L ≈ 2.35 mpgUS ≈ 2.82 mpgUK

Most countries that use the metric system quote fuel consumption in L/100 km. Since this the inverse of mpg, a high figure quoted in L/100 km is equivalent to a low figure in mpg and vice-versa. The conversion relationship is:

 * 1 L/100 km ≈ 235/mpgUS ≈ 282/mpgUK

Since there is an inverse relationship, there exists a value where the fuel consumption in L/100 km is numerically identical to the value in mpg. The values (different for US and UK gallons) are:
 * 15.33 L/100 km ≈ 15.33 mpgUS
 * 16.79 L/100 km ≈ 16.79 mpgUK

Power and energy
The SI unit for power is the watt (W), where 1 W = 1 V · 1 A. The SI unit for energy is joule (J), where 1 J = 1 W · 1 s. The alternative units are horsepower (hp) and calories (cal), both still used in some contexts even in countries where metric units dominate.

Often thousands of watts, joules and calories are used; particularly in a dietary context, "calories" is often used for what scientists would call "kilocalories". Electrical energy usage is sometimes measured in kilowatt-hours, where 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ.

Horsepower is an approximation of what power a horse can deliver on average in long-time work, such as pumping water out of a mine, as measured by James Watt. The horsepower has several definitions (depending on what units they are based on), the main ones being the mechanical or imperial horsepower (about 0.746 kW) and the metric horsepower (about 0.735 kW). For engines the figures vary also depending on what power is measured: to what extent friction in the motor and transmission as well as other factors are included.

One calorie is defined as the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. A human needs about 2,000 or 2,600 kcal i.e. 8,400 or 10,900 kJ a day (woman/man), with everyday activities and walking 2–5 km (1.5–3 mi). The figures vary significantly with age, weight and activity.

 * 1 hp = 0.735 kW ≈ 3/4 kW (2% off)
 * or 0.746 kW ≈ 3/4 kW (0.5% off)
 * 1 kW = 1.360 hp (metric)
 * or 1.341 hp (imperial)
 * 1 kcal ≈ 4.2 kJ ≈ 4 kJ (<5% off)
 * 1 kJ ≈ 0.24 kcal ≈ 1/4 kcal

Temperature
Temperature is among the most relevant of quantities for travellers. Thirty degrees in one scale (i.e. Fahrenheit, °F) is really cold whereas in another scale (i.e Celsius or Centigrade, °C), it can be very hot. Therefore, it is pretty useful to know the equivalents between the two scales (the SI unit Kelvin (K) is used only in scientific contexts), especially if you're from the US or one of the few other countries to use Fahrenheit. For everyday applications (e.g. weather), you can approximate with very simple math. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, double the number and add 30. To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 30 and divide in half.

The exact formulas are similar, but are harder to calculate in your head:
 * $$Fahrenheit = {(} Celsius \times {1.8} {)} + {32}$$

or
 * $$Fahrenheit = {(} Celsius \times {9 \over 5} {)} + {32}$$

And to go the other direction:
 * $$Celsius = { {(} Fahrenheit - {32} {)} \over {1.8} }$$

or
 * $$Celsius = { {(} Fahrenheit - {32} {)} } \times { 5 \over {9} }$$

Precipitation
Rainfall is often measured in inches in the United States, but in most other countries in the world it is measured in millimetres or in litres per square metre. One inch of rain is equal to 25.4 mm rain, while millimetres of rain and litres of rain per square meter are numerically identical.

Snow depth is usually measured in feet and inches in the United States but in centimetres (or metres if it is deep) elsewhere in the world.

The table above shows an approximate conversion between inches and millimetres/centimetres. This conversion uses the approximation of one inch equals 25 mm which is usually sufficient for travellers.

Wind speed
Wind speed is usually given in m/s, knots, km/h or mph, depending on country and context. 1 m/s = 2 knots (exactly in this context). 1 knot is 1 nautical mile per hour, which is about 1.15 mph. For km/h: divide by two to get knots (actually 1.852) or mph (actually 1.609), by four (3.6) to get m/s.

The Beaufort scale was in wide use before, and winds are still often classified according to it. Here is a rough conversion table.

Hurricanes have their own scales. The scale below only applies to hurricanes originating in the Atlantic Ocean and north-eastern Pacific Ocean.

Miscellaneous
If you prefer not to do any maths at all, there are websites and apps that may be of use. For instance, major weather websites and apps have an option to allow you to display the relevant measures (e.g. temperature, wind speeds) in metric or imperial units. Smartphones have internal apps that help you convert between metric and imperial measurements.

title: Metric and Imperial equivalents


text:
Metro Atlanta

With a population of over 5.5 million, Metro Atlanta is Georgia's principal urban area, and the eighth largest metro area in the United States. It encompasses Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Gwinnett, Henry, Fayette, & Fulton Counties.

Other destinations
Great places to go in Metro Atlanta include Buckhead, Virginia-Highland, Gwinnett County, and Cobb County. Gwinnett and Cobb Counties boast a great environment for people who want to leave the city and explore nature. For example, a really good place to go is Stone Mountain Park, which is in Northern Dekalb County. It is a great tourist attraction for families and people who love the environment. It has a beautiful lake and a plantation on it, which is open for tours for a history buff.

Also in Cobb County, is the Cobb Galleria. This holds amazing Broadway plays and shows and shopping. Also, for the family Six Flags is a great place to go (but not at night) to have family fun.

In Hall County, which is a short ride up Interstate 75, is Lake Lanier. It is a huge lake with boating and many other tourist attractions. Lake Lanier Islands is a water park and resort for a family.

In Gwinnett, you might also want to visit Historic Lawrenceville, Historic Lilburn, or Historic Duluth. These places have fountains and old buildings that are immaculately preserved. Make sure to visit these places in Gwinnett County.

Understand
Located in Northern Georgia, Metropolitan Atlanta is a diverse set of people who are different from county to county. Centered by Atlanta (Fulton County), and out skirted by Gwinnett, Cobb, Hall, Forsyth, Walton, Dekalb, Clayton, and Gilmer and others. The Metro Atlanta area has 28 large Counties spreading from the Georgia-Alabama Border, east to Athens, south to about Macon, and north to Jasper. It is over about 8,376 square miles and holds over 5,475,213 people, making it the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States.

With no natural features to constrain its growth, Atlanta tends to grow out rather than up, leading to massive urban sprawl. Atlanta is also at the junction of three major U.S. Interstate Highways, which contributes to its reputation as a driving city.

Climate
Many people assume Atlanta is hot during the summer. They're right, but it's not as bad as it sounds; overzealous air conditioning and sweet iced tea make it bearable. If you do spend time outside, shorts and sandals are the norm from May to September. Autumn is mild, but temperatures can stay high through October before really dropping. Winters are unpredictable; most years see some freezing temperatures, but a couple days of sunshine can unexpectedly bring the temperature to the 60s or higher. Anything more than a dusting of snow is uncommon; when it happens, drivers will forget how to drive, stores will sell out of eggs and milk, and schools and businesses will shut down. The more usual problem is ice, which happens when daytime temperatures rise just enough to melt the snow, which then refreezes on the streets overnight. Spring is mostly marked by an unpredictable rainy season, interrupted by a torrent of pollen that turns every car in the city a dusty yellow for two weeks.

Talk
Most of the people you'll encounter will speak standard American English, more or less, but you will hear people with a thick southern drawl (especially in the far southern counties). Asking them to "talk normally" will not get you anywhere; you'll just have to figure those vowels out on your own.

There's plenty of southern hospitality here; take the time to start conversations with "Hi, how ya' doing?" before getting to whatever it was you wanted to talk about.

Although Atlanta is often known by nicknames like "The ATL", "Hotlanta", and "The Big Peach," no one uses these names in conversation. If you say these to locals they'll know you're a visitor.

By plane
Metro Atlanta is serviced by, often referred to by locals as "Hartsfield-Jackson," "Atlanta," "ATL," or simply "the airport." It is located about ten miles south of downtown Atlanta, so you will need to take public transit, a cab, or a rental car in to the city.

Atlanta has been the world's busiest airport since 1999, and is a major hub for Delta Air Lines; it's also a focus city for Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines. Although most passengers fly through Atlanta as a connection rather than a destination, few complain about the airport, which has excellent service and a largely headache-free layout (unlike other large airports like Chicago-O'Hare).

Several other airports serve general aviation traffic around Atlanta, including DeKalb-Peachtree Airport and Fulton County Airport.

By train
Atlanta is served by Amtrak on the Crescent Line, with direct service to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Birmingham, and New Orleans.

Get around
Atlanta has a rail/bus system, and surrounding counties have some buses as well, but the fastest and most reliable way to see Metro Atlanta is by car.

By public transit
See Atlanta. Outside Atlanta, the bus systems are primarily for commuters, and will be of so little use to you that you might as well ignore them.

By car
Because of its massive urban sprawl and highways running in every direction, Atlanta has always been a car city. With the exception of a few specific areas, most places are best accessed by car, even if they appear to be only a short trip away.

Driving in Atlanta can be intimidating. Speeding is endemic; expect most highway drivers to go 75mph in suburban 55mph zones and 60mph+ in the downtown 45mph zones, while speed demons blow past at 80mph or more. Highways are up to 7 lanes wide in each direction, and drivers weave back and forth with little regard for lane etiquette or turn signals. As an unwritten rule, the police do not generally stop highway drivers for going 60-75 if they are keeping up with traffic; unfortunately this means if you do get stopped, you will probably have a massive ticket for going 20mph or more over the speed limit.

Unfortunately, the interstate highways really are the best to get around metro Atlanta. U.S. Highways are generally urban arteries with low speed limits, lots of lights and lots of traffic. Only about a half-dozen of the Georgia State Routes in metro Atlanta are limited-access.

The best thing you can do is keep pace with traffic and be alert for drivers around you who will pull hazardous maneuvers.

Highways and nicknames
In conversation, highways in Atlanta are referred to by number: 75, 85, 285, and 400 (but usually I-20, oddly enough).

I-285 forms a complete loop around the city with about a 10-mile radius. This is known as "the Perimeter". Rather than using cardinal directions, people (especially traffic reporters) refer to the "inner loop" and "outer loop"—clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. The northern intersection of I-285 and I-85 is "Spaghetti Junction," and I-285 and I-75 on the north end is sometimes called "the Cobb Cloverleaf."

Downtown, I-75 and I-85 merge into a single highway for 7.5 miles; this is called "the (Downtown) Connector" or just "75/85." This is one of the busiest stretches of highway in the U.S.; it has high traffic not only during rush hour, but also on weekends when special events are taking place downtown (which is at least every few weeks).

During peak traffic times, traffic meters on many on-ramps use stop lights to space out cars in order to avoid jams. Flashing lights and signs saying "Prepare to stop" will warn you when the meters are in effect. Treat the meters like ordinary stop lights when lit, and ignore them when off.

HOV and HOT lanes
Several of the interstates in and around Atlanta have a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on the far left, separated by a double white line and marked with diamonds. These lanes are for vehicles with 2 or more people (including the driver), motorcycles, and clean fuel vehicles (which must be licensed with an alternative fuel license plate). They are in effect 24/7, and there is a hefty fine if you're caught using the HOV lanes when you're not eligible.

The HOV lanes can only be entered or exited where the double white line is dashed, not solid, although this is rarely enforced.

There are a few highway entrances and exits on the left which are only usable if you are eligible for the HOV lanes. (Your satnav may not realize this, but that excuse won't get you out of a ticket.)

Atlanta is also experimenting with High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, which visitors will find less helpful. They are similar to the HOV lanes, but vehicles with 1 or 2 occupants can use the lanes by paying a variable-price toll. The toll is only payable by ordering and installing an RFID Peach Pass, making it generally impractical for anyone staying less than a month. Vehicles with 3+ occupants can use the lane for free, but must still have a Peach Pass and must set their Peach Pass account to free mode at least 15 minutes before using the HOT lane.

On foot
Atlanta is not a walking city. Sidewalks are often narrow—when they are present at all—and reckless drivers who speed and run red lights make it unpleasant, if not dangerous, to walk. Moreover, things are so spread out that it's impractical to do much of anything if you walk there.

A few tightly-knit parts of town are walkable. Downtown is fairly pedestrian-friendly, as is Midtown to a lesser degree. Virginia-Highlands and Decatur are both great for walking, especially if you're bar-hopping. Likewise, some of the historic towns like Roswell, Norcross, and Marietta have centers that are walkable.

Generally, though: Unless walking is mentioned, assume you're better off driving.

By bicycle
Because of Atlanta's layout, its hilly location on top of the Eastern Continental Divide, and reckless drivers, biking can be unpleasant for getting around the city. As with walking, some parts of town are better suited to it than others. Midtown and Decatur are particularly amenable to bicycles, and quite a few residents in these parts get around with one. Only consider biking if you're practiced at sharing the road in an aggressive urban environment.

The good news is that MARTA allows bicycles on all buses and trains. On buses, you must use the bike racks, which hold 2 bikes and are first-come, first-served.

There's a long multi-use path from Midtown through Decatur out to Stone Mountain.

Do

 * Chattahoochee River Rafting
 * Georgia Aquarium
 * Stone Mountain Park
 * Stone Mountain Park

Buy
The most notable shopping malls/districts in Metro Atlanta are:
 * Lenox Mall in Buckhead
 * Atlantic Station in Atlanta/Midtown, a newly-developed pedestrian-friendly shopping district intermixed with moderately upscale restaurants.
 * Discover Mills in Lawrenceville. The second-largest mall in Georgia
 * Mall of Georgia in Buford. The largest mall in Georgia.
 * The Avenew at Web Ginn, Snellville

Go next

 * Charlotte Metro
 * Historic High Country
 * Classic Heartland

title: Metro Atlanta


text:
Metro Detroit

Metro Detroit is the principal urban area in Southeast Michigan with a population of over 5 million.

Understand
Metro Detroit is among the major metropolitan areas of the United States with a recreational waterfront. Its freshwater coastline along the Great Lakes connects to the St. Lawrence Seaway, making it a highly desirable location for commerce and tourism. The metropolitan area shares an international border with Ontario, Canada. Boating and watersports of all types are among the popular activities. A major port and cruise ship docking site, the area is known as the world's automotive capital and contains many major corporations.

Metro Detroit is the site of national convention activity and business meetings, major sports, and large concerts and events. Consequently, the area has a full complement of world class hotels, restaurants, entertainment, museums, and theaters. Detroit features major casino resorts including MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City Casino, and Greektown Casino with Caesar's Windsor just across the border in Canada. A passport is required to cross the border, but U.S. currency is readily accepted in Canada, although you will get the best exchange rate by trading your U.S. dollars for Canadian ones at a bank.

Metro Detroit contains a number of major shopping destinations including the upscale Somerset Collection Mall in Troy, the Great Lakes Crossing outlet mall in Rochester Hills, and the Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi which are popular enclosed malls, each containing around 180 stores. The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township offers an upscale outdoor shopping experience in a lifestyle center with about 90 stores. Laurel Park Place Mall in Livonia is a popular 70 store shopping destination and features an attached Marriott Hotel. Briarwood Mall is a large suburban mall which serves the Ann Arbor college community. Other large malls in the metro area include Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights and Fairlane Towne Center in Dearborn. Fairlane Town Center Mall in Dearborn is about 15 minutes from downtown Detroit.

Talk
English is the major language spoken in Metro Detroit. However, there are business travelers and residents in the metro area from all over the world so residents and businesses are accustomed to communicating with those who have difficulty speaking English.

Get in
The metro area is served by the Detroit Metropolitan Airport and has an advanced network of freeways. There are no toll roads in Michigan. Greyhound bus lines and Amtrak provide national service to Metro Detroit.

Get around
The metro area has public bus transportation provided by the Suburban Mobility Transport (SMART) and the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT). The Detroit People Mover, an elevated train system, serves downtown Detroit's central business district and will link to Midtown Detroit by the Woodward Light Rail. Regional planners have implemented a limited rail service from Ann Arbor to Dearborn and Detroit - check for times.

See
One major destination is The Henry Ford in Dearborn, whose main attractions are the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, a National Historic Landmark. The Henry Ford is America's largest indoor-outdoor museum complex with an IMAX. Great for families, the museum entertainment complex has the world's largest car collection and features Model T rides, an old-fashioned railway, and many of America's historic treasures including Edison's original laboratory, the Wright Brother's Bicycle Shop, JFK's limousine, Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre, and many other things. Tour some of "America's castles," the historic mansions of the 'auto barons' and even a 'media mogul', including those Henry Ford's Fairlane, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House on the lakefront in Grosse Pointe, Meadow Brook Hall (Dodge-Wilson) in Rochester Hills, the Lawrence Fisher mansion (General Motors) in Detroit, and the Cranbrook House in Bloomfield Hills.

The Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak is world renowned, beautifully landscaped, and highly recommended. Among the many outstanding exhibits, the zoo features an underwater glass tunnel showcasing the arctic ring of wildlife with the world's largest polar bear exhibit. The zoo contains the full complement of wildlife exhibits and is encircled by an old fashioned train ride.

The Detroit area is known for its arts and culture as well as its architecture and regal estates. The Detroit Institute of Arts in Midtown Detroit contains over 100 galleries of fine arts from the world famous artists and is one of the largest collections of prominent art in the United States and is highly recommended. Another important art collection resides at the Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills the site of Cranbrook House and many large estates. Cranbrook is a National Landmark. A cruise along Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe will also reveal many regal mansions. Downtown Detroit contains many skyscrapers and theatres including the National Landmark Fox Theatre which features Broadway performances. Seeing a theatre performance in Detroit is highly recommended.

There are great full service hotels and resorts throughout the city and metropolitan area. Its best to stay on a hotel that is near the locality or places planned for the itinerary. The Westin Southfield is an example of a central, full service hotel for someone needing to cover the entire metropolitan area.

Itineraries

 * Tour the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House and grounds in Grosse Pointe for about two hours. Take some scenic lakefront photos. Afterward, cruise Lakeshore Drive heading toward downtown Detroit along Jefferson Avenue. You'll pass the restored monument known as the Hurlbut Memorial Gate at Jefferson Avenue and Cadillac Blvd along the way. There should be time to stop and park at the Renaissance Center just before you dine to satisfy curiosity and see the riverfront. From the Renaissance Center along Jefferson Ave., take a right on Woodward Ave. and head toward Grand Circus Park. Splurge and pay to park next to the stadium for an easy exit so after the grand finale fireworks after an evening ball game. Before the Tiger's evening baseball game, dine at the Hockey Towne safe across from Comerica Park. This is a full day.
 * Optional: Following a daytime activity or game, plan to dine downtown. For first time visitors, dine atop the Renaissance Center at Coach Insignia, or at Andiamos inside, and ride the People Mover around for some scenic views and stop in Greektown for the evening nightlife. Best to make reservations when dining at the Coach Insignia atop the Renaissance Center on a game day. The Omni Riverplace is great choice for dining as is the Westin Book Cadillac.
 * Visit the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village for a whole day of fun inside and out. Check the internet for special events at the Henry Ford. Dine in Greenfield Village for lunch and at the Dearborn Inn for dinner afterward and/or visit the rooftop lounge at atop the Hyatt Regency Dearborn.
 * Visit the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak during the day. In the evening, head to Somset Collection Mall in Troy for dining and shopping. Visit Royal Oak restaurants and bars in the evening.
 * Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts during the day. Take a break. Dine at the Whitney House Mansion in Midtown or the museum cafe, head to one of the Casino resorts and night club in the evening.
 * Visit one of the metro area beaches, Kensington, Detroit Metropolitan Beach, or Stony Creek Beach and play golf.
 * Tour Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester Hills, also known as the Dodge-Wilson mansion, head to the nearby enclosed Great Lakes Crossing outlet mall in Auburn Hills for shopping. Dine at the Rainbow Forest Cafe inside the mall. The Royal Park Hotel in Rochester is great place to stay.

Do
''Detroit offers a array of events with some of the highlights listed. This is only a small list of some of the some key activities and events to enjoy and even though they are listed here, their info is brief. Make sure to check out the city articles for more.''

 * Beaches, Canoeing, Kayaking, and more Metro Detroit's popular destinations include Metropolitan Beach in St. Clair Shores, Stony Creek Beach, and Kensington Beach. Detroit's Huron Clinton Metro Park system is a great source of fun. Enjoy canoe trips on the Huron River.
 * Car Racing at Flat Rock Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Milan Dragway, and Waterford Hills Race Track.
 * Casinos The four major casinos include, MGM Grand Detroit, Motor City and Greektown, and Casino Windsor. Check for performances.
 * Concerts, and more Detroit is the birthplace of American electro/techno music, with Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick Mays all hailing from the area. Although other cities around the world have picked up Detroit's torch and carried it further in some ways, Detroit is still a great place to dance and see the masters at work.
 * Cruise Ships, the Great Lakes Cruising Coalition The Dock of Detroit receives major cruise lines on the Great Lakes. Adjacent to the Renaissance Center on Hart Plaza. Local tours include Diamond Jack's River Tours. Chartered tours are also available.
 * Detroit's Night Life includes a multitude of clubs throughout the metropolitan area.
 * Detroit's Vibrant, Underground Arts Scene Detroit is home to over 80 galleries, with artists hailing from around the world. Artists are attracted to Detroit due to its abundance of raw, under-utilized industrial space and its inspiring environment of pre-depression era buildings. Detroit's public information campaign, "The World is Coming, Get in the Game" features an online tour  of this arts scene.
 * Detroit's Music Scene The Detroit sound is the sound of the world. It is shaped by Detroit's unique past, its cultural diversity, its energy and its future. Detroit's public information campaign, "The World is Coming, Get in the Game" features an online tour of this music scene. Unlike many cities, Detroit has no central entertainment district (Greektown only partially counts) and many up and coming groups play at venues scattered throughout the area. Website Motor City Blog lists music events happening in the Detroit area.
 * Golf Metro Detroit has many award-winning golf courses. Try Detroit's Metro parks, St John's Resort in Plymouth, and more.
 * Horse Racing Hazel Park Raceway, Northville Downs, and Windsor Raceway.
 * Old Car Festival Antique and classic car collector's show in Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford in Dearborn the weekend after Labor Day.
 * Waterparks, including Belle Isle Waterslide, Waterford Oaks, Red Oaks, Four Bears Water Park & Entertainment Complex.
 * Old Car Festival Antique and classic car collector's show in Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford in Dearborn the weekend after Labor Day.
 * Waterparks, including Belle Isle Waterslide, Waterford Oaks, Red Oaks, Four Bears Water Park & Entertainment Complex.
 * Waterparks, including Belle Isle Waterslide, Waterford Oaks, Red Oaks, Four Bears Water Park & Entertainment Complex.
 * Waterparks, including Belle Isle Waterslide, Waterford Oaks, Red Oaks, Four Bears Water Park & Entertainment Complex.
 * Waterparks, including Belle Isle Waterslide, Waterford Oaks, Red Oaks, Four Bears Water Park & Entertainment Complex.
 * Waterparks, including Belle Isle Waterslide, Waterford Oaks, Red Oaks, Four Bears Water Park & Entertainment Complex.
 * Waterparks, including Belle Isle Waterslide, Waterford Oaks, Red Oaks, Four Bears Water Park & Entertainment Complex.
 * Waterparks, including Belle Isle Waterslide, Waterford Oaks, Red Oaks, Four Bears Water Park & Entertainment Complex.

Eat
Metro Detroit has a multitude of great restaurants to explore. See individual city articles for more. The area is famous for such delites as Vernor's ginger ale, Sanders Candy and Dessert Shops (Birmingham, Grosse Pointe, Livonia, and Novi) known for chocolate butter cream bumpy cakes, and Vince and Joe's Gourmet (Clinton Township and Shelby Township) with all sorts of wonderful desserts.

title: Metro Detroit