text:
Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a Neolithic and Bronze Age stone monument in a on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. The WHS is quite large and contains many other structures from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.

Understand
Stonehenge is in a World Heritage Site of over 2000 hectares that is considered one of the most archaeologically rich in Europe. It is home to some of the most important Neolithic and Bronze Age finds and structures in the UK, and contains some 200 scheduled monuments. It is also the site of one of the biggest Chalk grassland reversion projects in the world.

Stonehenge is owned by the nation and is administered by English Heritage. Much of the World Heritage Site land is owned by local farms, but a third is owned and managed by the National Trust who are spearheading the grass regeneration scheme.

A new visitor facilities is now open, part of a new joint approach by English Heritage with the Salisbury Museum and the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes.

History
Evidence indicates that the area around Stonehenge has been occupied since around 8000 BC, but it was during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods that the vast majority of the monuments around it came to be built. Early work at Stonehenge itself began in 3000 BC when an outer ditch and embankment was constructed, and standing timbers erected. From about 2500 BC, Neolithic and Bronze Age man started to bring bluestones and Sarsen stones from Wales and the Marlborough Downs. It was not until 1600 BC that Stonehenge was completed. Most of the other monuments in the area such as Durrington Walls and Woodhenge date from the same period. A nearby hill fort was built during the Iron Age, and there is evidence to suggest that the area was extensively settled by the Romans. The nearby town of Amesbury was later settled during the Saxon reign in 979 AD.

Stonehenge and the land immediately around it was bought for the nation in 1918. Being on the edge of the military training area Salisbury Plain, a large number of military facilities have also been constructed in the area, including military barracks, a light railway and an aerodrome built within a stone's throw of Stonehenge (most of which has now been removed). Since then the National Trust has acquired some 850 hectares around Stonehenge, and the area was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 1986.

Landscape
The Stonehenge landscape is one of the best preserved areas of readily accessible chalk downland in the UK. On the edge of Salisbury plain it features several rolling hills and dry river valleys that allow for pleasant walks without too much trouble. Surrounding farmland is ideal for crops and animal grazing.

Flora and fauna
Chalk grassland is a very rich environment allowing for a diverse range of animals and plants. Thin free draining soil restricts competitive species, but allows lime loving plants and trees to flourish. Knapweeds, Birdsfoot Trefoil and Yellow rattle are among several downland floral plants well established in the area. The thin soil also traps heat quickly and is ideal for a wide range of insects, such as the rare Chalkhill and Adonis Blue butterflies. The skylark (a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) red list species) is also common in the area, and lent its name to the nearby military garrison Larkhill. The RSPB own a reserve on Normanton Down, just south of the stones, that has provided an ideal habitat for the Stone Curlew.

Get in
Visitors should first go to the visitors' centre then take the bus or walk from there to Stonehenge.

If you are carrying heavy luggage, you may have to carry it around the entire landscape. So plan wisely.

By car
From London take the M3 and A303 to Amesbury. At the A303 Countess roundabout go south to visit Amesbury for food and accommodation, north to visit Woodhenge and Durrington Walls, or continue west to reach Stonehenge at the centre of the UNESCO site. A mile past the roundabout you can see Stonehenge from Kings Barrow Ridge, at the A360 roundabout go north to the visitor centre car park. From Salisbury and the South, take the A360, and from the north just follow the A360 south from Devizes. Stonehenge and Woodhenge are well signposted from Amesbury on the A345.

By train
The nearest practical stations are Andover and Salisbury which can be reached from London Waterloo on a direct service. From here you can catch a bus (below), or if there are several in a group (or you are travelling with luggage), the easiest thing to do is hire a taxi at the train station. The going rate for a round-trip with an hour stop at Stonehenge is £35. An hour is enough time to see the main Stonehenge circle (but not the other nearby sites).

There are no luggage drop facilities at the Salisbury station. It may be a good idea to talk to a hotel beforehand to help you drop off heavy luggage, if you are carrying any.

By bus
Local bus service is provided by Salisbury Reds. Routes begin or end in Salisbury. However, no "regular" bus routes serve the main entrance to Stonehenge.
 * The main "bus" option is "The Stonehenge Tour" (see next section). It's essentially an expensive bus that only serves Stonehenge.
 * The town of Amesbury is served by three routes - "x5" from Swindon, "activ8" from Andover, and "x4". From Amesbury, it's a walk across the countryside to Stonehenge. Along the route are some other prehistoric structures.
 * Route 2 stops at Shrewton, from which Stonehenge is a 2-mile walk along a road (A360) without a pedestrian pavement. The 2 bus ends in Devizes.

Also check the Wiltshire bus information.

From London
Several tours take in Stonehenge when travelling from one destination to the other. Most start from London and visit Stonehenge on their way to Salisbury or Bath. These tours usually allow only 30 minutes at Stonehenge, which gives you time to see only the stones and not time to appreciate the surrounding area. For tours starting from London, the price starts from around £85 for adult, including entry fee and pick-up service in your London hotel.

Stonehenge Tours from London offer small group and private guided tours departing London to Stonehenge, Avebury, West Kennet, the Roman Baths or Salisbury, in an air-conditioned bus.

Archaeologist Guided Tours are a tour company offering tours to Stonehenge and beyond with a qualified archaeologist guide.

From Salisbury
The Stonehenge Tour is a tourist-oriented bus service from Salisbury to Stonehenge (on the return trip, it stops at Old Sarum near Salisbury). Tickets cost £16 (adults)/£11 (children) for tour only, or £33 (adults)/£22 (children) for the tour and entry to Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral. The double-decker tour bus picks up at Salisbury train station (outside the station and to the left) and Salisbury centre. The ticket is valid all day long. It runs between every 30 minutes and every hour, depending on time of day and year. Tickets can be purchased online, or from the driver. While you ride, a high-quality audio commentary about your surroundings is played (available in ten languages, headphones are provided).

If there are three of you, negotiate a trip with a taxi driver, and you will pay only marginally more and they will store your luggage while at Stonehenge. If there are 4 or 5 of you, a taxi is much cheaper. However, you won't get the audio commentary.

By foot
If on a budget, you can view the stones for free from the access land a short distance away on the north side. The access land also contains various tumuli (burial mounds) nearby. Doing this will inevitably involve a bit of a walk; it is just over 2 miles from either the car park at Woodhenge or the bus station at Amesbury.

If you want to walk from Amesbury, make your way to Countess Roundabout (served by the Salisbury Reds X5 route, just north of the High Street area), then walk north until you see a wooden sign for Stonehenge on your left. The sign points you to a network of country trails that will take you through old burial mounds, the Stonehenge Cursus, the Avenue, and (with a bit of a detour) Woodhenge on your way to the stones. This isn't the most direct route to the stones – about 3.5 miles/6 km, or more if you take the detour to Woodhenge – but it's worth it if you're interested in seeing the other earthworks amid the quiet green and yellow fields. Bring a map, or an app with good walking coverage like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz.

Get around
The stones themselves can be reached by bus (cost covered by entrance fee) from the visitors centre along the old course of the A344, but for those wishing to explore, the local landscape is best enjoyed on foot or by bicycle. Several bridleways and footpaths criss-cross the area, and the National Trust allows access to a large amount of its land that is being reverted to chalk grassland.

The path around the stones is wheelchair-accessible.

Walking
The National Trust has opened some 260 hectares of its land to walkers so that they can access some of the monuments around the area. Several recommended walking tours are available on their website, and dogs are welcome on some of the paths as long as they are kept under control. Visitors have the option of parking at Stonehenge, Woodhenge, or Amesbury, and touring some of the ancient monuments from there. Care should be taken around the A303.

OpenStreetMap, and apps that use it such as OsmAnd or Mapy.cz, have reasonably good coverage of the walking paths in the Stonehenge Landscape. Google Maps does not.

Bicycle
Several quiet back roads and bridleways make access to the monuments quite easy, and for the hardy cyclist, Stonehenge can be combined with a larger tour around Amesbury and the Woodford Valley on the way to Salisbury. It is not advisable to cycle on the A303, but it can be avoided for most of its route anyway.

See
Aside from the plentiful wildlife and nature available, the UNESCO site is considered one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Britain. The landscape boasts several outstanding Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments that can be reached on foot a short distance from the famous Stonehenge. See interactive map.

Stonehenge
Unlike the other monuments in the area, there is an entrance charge (when entering from the ). An entry fee of £15.50 for adults and £9.30 for children (Apr 2016) includes an audio guide. Tickets are best purchased on-line before visiting. You need to specify a time for your visit, but except peak time there is some flexibility once you arrive. There is no access to the stone circle itself - visitors are guided around the monument by roped pathways and on-site attendants. The audio guide is available in several languages, and if you listened to all available material it would take an estimated 30–60 minutes.

It is not usually possible to walk among themselves, but English Heritage and some tour operators from Salisbury can arrange early morning or evening visits allowing you to do this.

If you'd rather avoid the entry fee, the stones can be seen from public access land very close by – you won't get quite as close as the paying visitors, but you can still see the stone circle clearly.

Other sites
The Stonehenge Landscape is dotted with other ancient monuments, which are almost deserted with very few visitors compared to Stonehenge itself. Some are from hundreds of years before or after the time Stonehenge was built; evidently this area was important to ancient Britons for many generations.

Do

 * Take the opportunity to explore the countryside and monuments surrounding Stonehenge instead of just viewing the stones and leaving. The National Trust offer excellent guided tours of the landscape (see site). Additionally, a great deal of information can be gained from the information boards around the area that isn't available from the Stonehenge centre.
 * Visit Stonehenge on the Summer Solstice (21 June), Winter Solstice (21, 22 or 23 December), or the Spring and Autumnal Equinox, in order to gain free entry to the stones (and sometimes walk among them), and to venerate nature with the neo-pagans and druids who gather here at these dates.
 * Take the opportunity to find out more about Stonehenge at the two nearby museums that have nationally important collections - Wiltshire Museum and Salisbury Museum. See finds from Stonehenge, Woodhenge and Durrington Walls, as well as gold from the time of Stonehenge.

Buy
Souvenirs are available to paying visitors at the English Heritage shop at Stonehenge, although a wider range of merchandise can be obtained from Salisbury. For those wanting something a little different, Stonehenge Lamb is available to buy from local farmers.

Eat
There is a well stocked cafeteria at the English Heritage centre, but those wishing for a more satisfying meal would be best advised to visit the nearby towns of Amesbury or Durrington which have several pubs, cafes and restaurants.

A good bet is Kingfish Fish & Chips Restaurant & Takeaway located on Bulford Road, Durrington (Adjacent to Tesco express, enter via the Tesco car park) where you can eat in or grab a portion of your favourite traditional fish & chips to take out.

Also in Amesbury is Amesbury Chippy, Flower Lane, in the centre of town near to Bath Travel, who provide traditional fish and chips freshly served.

Drink
Hop Back Brewery based in Salisbury and Stonehenge Ales produce several fine ales that are served in most of the local pubs.

Sleep
Visits to Stonehenge can easily be combined with a visit to Salisbury where many hotels, bed and breakfasts, and hostels are available. There are several options locally however:

Lodging
There is a Holiday Inn business hotel next to the A303 in Solstice Park, but be warned that rooms start at around £150. For rooms under £50/night, consider the George Hotel, Antrobus Arms or Fairlawn Hotel in Amesbury, or one of the many charming B&Bs in the area.

There is also a rather drab Travelodge on the A303 roundabout outside Amesbury.

Camping
Camping is prohibited on the open land around Stonehenge, but campsites are available outside Old Sarum in Salisbury (8 miles), Upavon to the north (10 miles), or Stonehenge Touring Park near Shrewton (4 miles).

Stay safe
Although the Stonehenge landscape is relatively small and civilisation is never too far away, care should still be taken when out touring the area. Sensible shoes are recommended as some of the ground is uneven. Mobile phone reception is usually good, and generally the area is easily accessible by emergency services. Animals often graze on the National Trust open grassland, including cattle. There are some busy roads between the monuments, and care should especially be taken if crossing the A303.

Go next
A trip around the Stonehenge landscape and Stonehenge itself is best combined with a trip to Avebury to the north (which has an even bigger stone circle, with fewer restrictions, and far fewer tourists), or Salisbury to the south. It would be a push to visit all three and be able to fully appreciate them all in one day. Two days would be a better time-frame to consider.

title: Stonehenge


text:
Stone Mountain

Stone Mountain is in Metro Atlanta. The town is named for Stone Mountain, the largest exposed granite dome in North America, featuring the largest bas-relief sculpture in the world, of Confederate Civil War heroes Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

Understand

The town was incorporated in 1839 and has a population of approximately 7,000 people. The Stone Mountain Industrial Park is a large employer in the area. Stone Mountain retains its small town feel despite being so close to one of the biggest cities in the Southern United States. There is a concerted effort to revitalize and grow the downtown area, tapping into the legions of tourists at the nearby Stone Mountain Park.

Get in
Stone Mountain, the city, is due East of Atlanta on Stone Mountain Parkway, which is just north of Interstate 20.

MARTA buses and trains run to the Stone Mountain area; it's also possible to ride your bike from downtown Atlanta to Stone Mountain Village on the bike trail.

Get around
Public transport is very little or nothing due to its small size.

See

 * Stone Mountain is the largest exposed piece of granite in the world. It was created when shifts in the earth's crust created extreme heat and friction and melted a large amount of rock below the surface. This heated magma bubbled up towards earth's surface but did not make it all the way. Over time, the magma hardened into granite. Eventually, the land on top of the granite dome washed away through erosion and left what is now Stone Mountain.
 * The top of the mountain is a surreal landscape some 800 feet above the surrounding land, and provides excellent views of the surrounding area and the skyline of downtown Atlanta. The summit can be reached by the attractive but steep walk-up trail through woodland (which leaves from near the Confederate Hall and park entrance) or by the Sky Lift (see below). Please exercise some care when on the summit; the horizontal bare rock of the top curves imperceptibly until it becomes the vertical bare rock of the sides and it is important not to wander too far around that curve.

Other Parks

 * Leila Mason Park - Located in the Historic Shermantown neighborhood next to Stone Mountain Park. It has a baseball field, basketball court, playground equipment and a covered pavilion with picnic tables.
 * McCurdy Park - Home of the Stone Mountain Youth Athletic Association baseball program. Three little league fields and four covered picnic areas area available along with a large playground dubbed "Jim's Place." Located off West Mountain Street, across from the Post Office.
 * Medlock Park - Home field for the Ray of Hope Jaguars Little League Football Teams. There is a regular football field, complete with concession stand as well as four tennis courts, a picnic pavilion and an outdoor basketball court. The entrance to the park is off of Ridge Avenue.
 * VFW Fields - Three little league baseball fields are just off of Gordon Street behind the Post Office.

Do
Stone Mountain Park surrounds the mountain, and encompasses a series of attractions. The park promotes its One-Day Adventure pass which permits access to/use of all the attractions for $25 (Adult; ages 12 and up), $22 (Senior/Military), or $20 (Child; ages 3-11), and tries to minimize the usage of individual attraction tickets; however these do exist and may be a cheaper option depending on what you want to see/do. The attractions include:
 * Skyride, a Swiss built cable-car to the summit, passing over a carving of Confederate heroes on the sheer wall of the mountain, created by Gutzon Borglum, who also sculpted the Lincoln Memorial in Washington and the four Presidents on Mt. Rushmore.  Operates from 10am-5pm (later in summer).
 * Historic Walk-Up Trail, a 1.3 mile walking trail to the top of Stone Mountain. Starting behind The War in Georgia building, the path is easy at first, but becomes steep at the top. Most people should be able to complete the walk. Along the way you will pass inscriptions in the rock made by locals before the park was established. At the top you will be rewarded with some of the finest views in the Atlanta area! Unfortunately, pets are not permitted on the trail.
 * Scenic Railroad, a railroad which circles the entire circumference of the mountain in a one way loop, giving views of the mountain en-route. There are two stations, the main depot and a stop near the Confederate Hall/Walk up trail/Park entrance. Passengers boarding at the main depot must have a ticket or pass; however, passengers are allowed to use the train for free from the Confederate Hall stop back to the depot where all passengers must disembark. Operates from 10:50AM-5PM (later in summer).
 * Riverboat, a scenic cruise aboard a reproduction Mississippi riverboat on 363-acre Stone Mountain Lake. Operates from noon-5pm (later in summer).
 * Antebellum Plantation & Farmyard is comprised of original buildings, built between 1790 and 1845, which represent an authentic, pre-Civil War Georgia plantation. Open from 10AM-5PM (later in summer).
 * Carillon. The 732-bell Carillon originates from the 1964 World's Fair in New York City, and provides a daily concert.
 * Confederate Hall, a museum that educates park guests and local students on the fascinating geology and ecology of Stone Mountain, together with the history of the war in Georgia. This museum is operated directly by the non-profit foundation which owns the mountain, rather than the franchisee responsible for everything else. Open M-F 9AM-6PM; Sat 10AM-6PM; Sun noon-6PM. Free.

Stone Mountain Park is best accessed by car, there is an $10 per car one-day parking permit charge (or $35 annual parking permit) in addition to the attraction charges. There is no admission charge for those entering the park on foot; catch the MARTA rail system to Avondale and transfer there to MARTA bus route 120; disembark at the intersection of Ponce De Leon Avenue E and J.B.Rivers Memorial Drive and the park entrance is some 15 minutes walk east down J.B.Rivers Memorial Drive past the fire station.

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

title: Stone Mountain


text:
Stone Town

Stone Town is the main city on Zanzibar. It is a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, with a unique mixture of Moorish, Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. For this reason, the town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

By plane
Zanzibar International Airport is the only airport on the island and accessible by many domestic and international destinations.

By boat
Boats to Stone Town can be boarded from Dar es Salaam or Pemba. For more information see the Zanzibar article.

By Dalladalla
Most dalladalla leave from the Creek Road at the Darajani Market. All have destinations signboards and numbers, what makes it quite easy to handle.

Nungwi=116; Kiwenga=117; Matemwe=118; Chwaka=206; Uroa=214; Unguja Ukuu=308; Jambiani=309; Makunduchi=310; Bewejuu=324; Kizmkazi=326; Amani=501; Bububu=502; Airport(U/Ndege)=505

See

 * There are a number of historically important (and frankly, just plain beautiful) buildings in Stone Town, like The House of Wonders and The Arab Fort. It is easy to arrange a simple walking tour with a local guide who can teach you some history.
 * The market in Stone Town is one of the largest, most vibrant open-air markets anywhere. Here, you can find several varieties of bananas, "elephant garlic" unique to the island, the largest avocados you'll probably ever see, and more. Prices are extremely reasonable. Even if you have no intentions of purchasing food, the spectacle alone is worth a visit.
 * Visit Slave Market, the site of the old Slave Market is quite an experience. Go into the holding chambers to see how this wretched piece of history played itself out in small dark dungeon-type cells. Priced at US$5 (May 2018), it's well worth it.
 * There are a number of historically important (and frankly, just plain beautiful) buildings in Stone Town, like The House of Wonders and The Arab Fort. It is easy to arrange a simple walking tour with a local guide who can teach you some history.
 * The market in Stone Town is one of the largest, most vibrant open-air markets anywhere. Here, you can find several varieties of bananas, "elephant garlic" unique to the island, the largest avocados you'll probably ever see, and more. Prices are extremely reasonable. Even if you have no intentions of purchasing food, the spectacle alone is worth a visit.
 * Visit Slave Market, the site of the old Slave Market is quite an experience. Go into the holding chambers to see how this wretched piece of history played itself out in small dark dungeon-type cells. Priced at US$5 (May 2018), it's well worth it.
 * There are a number of historically important (and frankly, just plain beautiful) buildings in Stone Town, like The House of Wonders and The Arab Fort. It is easy to arrange a simple walking tour with a local guide who can teach you some history.
 * The market in Stone Town is one of the largest, most vibrant open-air markets anywhere. Here, you can find several varieties of bananas, "elephant garlic" unique to the island, the largest avocados you'll probably ever see, and more. Prices are extremely reasonable. Even if you have no intentions of purchasing food, the spectacle alone is worth a visit.
 * Visit Slave Market, the site of the old Slave Market is quite an experience. Go into the holding chambers to see how this wretched piece of history played itself out in small dark dungeon-type cells. Priced at US$5 (May 2018), it's well worth it.
 * There are a number of historically important (and frankly, just plain beautiful) buildings in Stone Town, like The House of Wonders and The Arab Fort. It is easy to arrange a simple walking tour with a local guide who can teach you some history.
 * The market in Stone Town is one of the largest, most vibrant open-air markets anywhere. Here, you can find several varieties of bananas, "elephant garlic" unique to the island, the largest avocados you'll probably ever see, and more. Prices are extremely reasonable. Even if you have no intentions of purchasing food, the spectacle alone is worth a visit.
 * Visit Slave Market, the site of the old Slave Market is quite an experience. Go into the holding chambers to see how this wretched piece of history played itself out in small dark dungeon-type cells. Priced at US$5 (May 2018), it's well worth it.
 * Visit Slave Market, the site of the old Slave Market is quite an experience. Go into the holding chambers to see how this wretched piece of history played itself out in small dark dungeon-type cells. Priced at US$5 (May 2018), it's well worth it.

Do

 * Roam around Stone Town appreciating the Historical buildings
 * Be certain to have dinner on the wharf near Blue's Restaurant in Stone Town. Every evening, for just a few dollars, you can sample local fish, food, drinks, and hear local music.
 * Visit Forodhani Gardens If you are not scared of local food, then this place is definitely worth a visit. It is possibly the cheapest food you will find on the island, and value for money too. Ranging from crab claws, calamari steaks to plain old chips done in big woks. You are well advised to try the local sugar cane juice. The curio market can be found next to the food market. Do not buy the first thing you see. First take a walk through the market, and you will see prices get progressively less. You must always haggle and bargain with the vendors or try to set the prices off against each other. This is their way of doing business and it also ensures that you get the best price.

Drink

 * Tatu — see listing under Eat.
 * Africa House Ice cold beer and a huge balcony that overlooks the ocean - great at sunset.
 * Taarab Square At the Botanic Country Resort, Tunguu Central Region offers reasonably priced spirits and drinks compared to most of the bars on the island. Live sports bars and the only outdoor cinema showing Indian, African and English movies, discotheque over weekends and live music on public holidays.
 * Africa House Ice cold beer and a huge balcony that overlooks the ocean - great at sunset.
 * Taarab Square At the Botanic Country Resort, Tunguu Central Region offers reasonably priced spirits and drinks compared to most of the bars on the island. Live sports bars and the only outdoor cinema showing Indian, African and English movies, discotheque over weekends and live music on public holidays.
 * Taarab Square At the Botanic Country Resort, Tunguu Central Region offers reasonably priced spirits and drinks compared to most of the bars on the island. Live sports bars and the only outdoor cinema showing Indian, African and English movies, discotheque over weekends and live music on public holidays.

Sleep
The cheapest budget hotels start from US$14 for a dorm bed. normal budget hotel prices range TSh 45,000 to 90,000 and that's during the low season, where several hotels actually stay closed due to lack of customers. The quoted prices are after bargaining: low-season is a good time to do so and not having your bags with you when doing so, will also give you a boost.

During high-season, hotels in Stonetown will often offer their rooms on multiple online platforms (Airbnb, booking.com, etc.) and double book rooms. Be aware that your room may be given away to someone else with no apology or care by the hotel owner. One way to avoid this is to ensure you pay in advance, or to book directly with the hotel and contact them confirming your arrival.

Mid-range

 * Tausi Palace Hotel, Baghani St, is in the middle of Stone Town, 15 min by foot from the Harbour (or TSh 1,000 by taxi). Rooms are nice but without luxury. Double beds, 2 single or 3 single beds are available, all with air conditioning and mosquito drapes. Breakfast is small (it's better to eat around the corner) but the cheap hotel is on the roof of the hotel and offers nice views of Stone Town. Rate for a room with double bed US$90 incl. breakfast and taxes (10% charge when you pay by credit card). +255 779 958 684
 * Tausi Palace Hotel, Baghani St, is in the middle of Stone Town, 15 min by foot from the Harbour (or TSh 1,000 by taxi). Rooms are nice but without luxury. Double beds, 2 single or 3 single beds are available, all with air conditioning and mosquito drapes. Breakfast is small (it's better to eat around the corner) but the cheap hotel is on the roof of the hotel and offers nice views of Stone Town. Rate for a room with double bed US$90 incl. breakfast and taxes (10% charge when you pay by credit card). +255 779 958 684

Uncategorized

 * Bottoms Up!, an eclectic, unusual hostel in the heart of Stone Town.
 * Bottoms Up!, an eclectic, unusual hostel in the heart of Stone Town.
 * Bottoms Up!, an eclectic, unusual hostel in the heart of Stone Town.
 * Bottoms Up!, an eclectic, unusual hostel in the heart of Stone Town.
 * Bottoms Up!, an eclectic, unusual hostel in the heart of Stone Town.

Outside Stonetown

 * The House Of Changes in Tunguu, central region (behind the new Tanzanian House of Parliament) is a great option for budget travellers who have had enough of the beach. A night for two people goes for US$40/night which includes a tasty breakfast. Nights are cool and it is a mosquito-free environment in the countryside of Zanzibar. +255 777 844 417.
 * The House Of Changes in Tunguu, central region (behind the new Tanzanian House of Parliament) is a great option for budget travellers who have had enough of the beach. A night for two people goes for US$40/night which includes a tasty breakfast. Nights are cool and it is a mosquito-free environment in the countryside of Zanzibar. +255 777 844 417.

title: Stone Town


text:
Stonewall (Texas)

Stonewall is a city in the Central Hill Country region of Texas, west of Austin and east of Fredericksburg

Get in
Stonewall is located about 15 miles East of Fredericksburg and about 64 miles West of Austin on US Highway 290.

See
Stonewall is best known for its Lyndon B. Johnson State and National Historical Parks, the birthplace of Lyndon B. Johnson, the nation's 36th president.

Buy
Stonewall is well known in the area for its peaches. Along US 290, you will encounter many peach stands - from "mom and pop" operations up to larger business-type stores.

Go next

 * Pedernales Falls State Natural Area
 * Fredericksburg
 * Austin
 * San Antonio
 * New Braunfels - Located 60 miles southeast of Stonewall, this town is best known for its German culture and heritage, not to mention the Schlitterbahn, persistent in being voted the world's best waterpark.
 * San Marcos - 56 miles southeast of Stonewall, San Marcos is the home of Texas State University and its Aquarena Center, two massive outlet malls that have more than 350 shops, as well as stretches of river in a more natural state.
 * Hill Country a more general overview of the area, most destinations are an easy day trip.

title: Stonewall (Texas)


text:
Stonington

There's more than one place called Stonington:

United States of America

 * Stonington (Connecticut)
 * Stonington (Illinois)
 * Stonington (Maine)
 * Stonington (Michigan)

title: Stonington


text:
Stonington (Connecticut)

Stonington is a city in Connecticut.

Eat

 * Excellent seafood options by the water, although the prices can run steep.
 * Excellent seafood options by the water, although the prices can run steep.

Sleep

 * Sea Breeze Motel, Route 1, (860) 535-2843.
 * Seaport Motor Inn, Route 27, (860) 536-2621.
 * Sea Breeze Motel, Route 1, (860) 535-2843.
 * Seaport Motor Inn, Route 27, (860) 536-2621.
 * Seaport Motor Inn, Route 27, (860) 536-2621.

title: Stonington (Connecticut)


text:
Stony Brook

Stony Brook is a hamlet bordering the Long Island Sound, located in northern Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York. This historic town is home to Stony Brook University, The Stony Brook School, Three Village School District, and the “Stony Brook Village.”

Understand
Stony Brook was a pretty unknown place until Stony Brook University was constructed, but that's the way the wealthy residents of the hamlet wanted it. As a result, there has been very little development within walking distance of the university, other than a minimal strip of shops directly across the street from the train station. Instead, the center of the hamlet has remained where it was, two and one-half miles or so north of the train station, and retains a charming, old-fashioned feel.

By train
The MTA Long Island Rail Road has a station in Stony Brook. Service from New York on the Port Jefferson Line takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes and requires a change of trains from an electric-powered to a diesel-powered train, usually in Huntington but sometimes in Jamaica or Hicksville. There are virtually always clear announcements telling riders where to change, and conductors are also helpful with information.

is right next to the university.

By car
Route 25A is called North Country Road in Stony Brook. It is a through street that traverses most of the island, but it has traffic lights. If you are coming from farther west than Smithtown or Kings Park, you should instead take the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and get off on the exit for Nicolls Road (Route 97) north, or take the Northern State Parkway, which turns into Route 454 in Hauppauge, and then the Nesconset Highway (Route 347), and go north (left) on Nicolls Road.

Get around
It's a pretty long walk from the train station to Stony Brook Village. Most people either drive, take a taxi from the train station, or use a bicycle in decent weather. If you do walk on the streets, keep in mind that they often lack sidewalks, and you may also be yelled at by idle joyriding teens with nothing better to do. That said, otherwise, the walk is not unpleasant.

Do

Go next
Port Jefferson and St. James are the next stops to the east and west, respectively, on the Long Island Railroad. For shopping, there's the Smithaven Mall in Smithtown, accessible by car or by Suffolk County bus. Further afield, the pleasant town of Huntington is about halfway to New York City on the train and an easy drive. There are some pretty areas near the Long Island Sound to the east of Stony Brook in small communities like Poquott and Miller Place.

title: Stony Brook


text:
Stony Plain

Stony Plain is a town of 17,000 people (2016) in the Edmonton Capital Region. Stony Plain is known as "The Town with the Painted Past" because of the many painted murals in town. The town was founded as Dog Rump Creek. The region is dominated by agricultural and other resource-based industry.

Understand
It is west of Edmonton adjacent to the City of Spruce Grove.

The name of the town is believed to have come from one of two possible origins. The first is that the Stoney people camped in the area historically. The second possibility is that Dr. James Hector, a geologist on the Palliser Expedition, noticed boulders scattered across the area. The official name for the settlement was adopted in 1892. Alex McNabb and McPherson were the first homesteaders in the area.

By car
Stony Plain lies west of Edmonton city limits. The various local highways (Yellowhead Highway 16, Highway 16A; and Highway 628) are the only practical way to get in. Taxis from Edmonton cost $80-100.

Go next
Manly Corner is a locality that's 15 km west of Stony Plain where Highway 43 intersects with Highway 16. Highway 43 connects to the Alaska and Mackenzie Highways, while Highway 16 continues west to Jasper.

title: Stony Plain


text:
Stony Point

 * See Mornington Peninsula for the Victorian city.

Stony Point is one of the many towns that make up Rockland County.

Understand
Established in 1865, Stony Point offers beautiful sightseeing and scenic drives, right off the coast of the Hudson River. Stony Point has an old historical background and is a great place to visit if you enjoy hiking, water activities, off-roading, mountain climbing, or beautiful scenery.

By plane
The nearest major airports are Newark Liberty International Airport, 38 miles from Stony Point, LaGuardia Airport, which is 32 miles south of Stony Point but requires two bridge crossings and a trip through New York City and John F. Kennedy International Airport, which also requires two bridge crossings and a longer trip through New York City and is 42 miles from Stony Point.

By train
Metro North or New Jersey Transit

 * Spring Valley, 1 North Main Street. One of three Rockland County accessible train stations. Taxis available to and from station.
 * Nanuet, 1 Prospect Street. This train station is more accessible to people living closer to the Tappan Zee Bridge. Call in advance for taxi service.
 * Pearl River, 35 South Main Street. No available wheelchair access. Call in advance for taxi service.

By car
Stony Point is accessible from Palisades Parkway, Exits 14 or 15. If you are coming from the New York State Thruway, take Exit 13 South for the Palisades Parkway.

By bus

 * Hudson Link. Local bus system that travels throughout Rockland County as well as across the Hudson River to Tarrytown and White Plains. For bus schedule and prices visit website.

Drink

title: Stony Point


text:
Storm Lake

Storm Lake is a small city of about 10,600 inhabitants in northern Western Iowa.

Understand
Storm Lake has acquired an interesting reputation among Western Iowans for several notable traits. The population, percentage-wise, is among the most diverse of any town in Iowa due to meat packing plants. Most of the recent residents come from Mexico, Sudan, and Laos, among other countries. In addition, it is one of the few towns in Western Iowa situated on a lake.

Taking both into account, Storm Lake can provide a unique experience for those who choose to explore for a little while.

Get in
Most people drive, but if you happen to have a private plane, then there's another option.

Get around
As is the case with most of rural Iowa, driving a car is the most efficient mode of transportation.

See
Storm Lake Wind Turbine Park - In the countryside to the northwest and southwest, one of Iowa's first wind turbine parks covers the rolling hills. You may be able to schedule a tour at the main office located on M-3, north of the small town of Alta.

Do
Storm Lake - The namesake of the town, Storm Lake has public parks, like AWAYSIS Park, all around the perimeter.

 * Though no Schlitterbahn, King's Pointe Resort provides a good afternoon's worth of fun for the family.

Sleep

 * Lighthouse Inn, 1601 E Lakeshore Dr. A hotel with a nautical theme, even if not right on the water. +1 641-792-3333

title: Storm Lake


text:
Storms River

Storms River (Stormsriver) is a small village in the Eastern Cape on the Garden Route surrounded by pine plantations along the N2. It is the gateway to the Tsitsikamma National Park.

Understand
Only a short drive east of Knysna, Storms River comprises more than just a village – it is a synonym for anything adventurous and daring, mild or wild. Storms River mouth is spanned by a suspension bridge, offering breathtaking views over rocks and coves and crashing waves of the Indian Ocean. The bridge leads to a lookout point from which sweeping views over a verdant forest and the Storms River camp reward any hike to this area. A first-class eco-destination, ecologically sensitive activities such as bungee jumping from the Bloukrans River Bridge, and canopy tours, are two of the most popular things to do at Storms River and surrounds!

By car
Located on the N2 the village is easily accessible by car from Port Elizabeth and Cape Town as well as other towns along the Garden Route.

By bus
The main companies stop in Storms River at the petrol station on their Cape Town—Port Elizabeth run. The petrol station is 5 km from town, all establishments in Storms River will charge something like R50 for pick up and drop off. The cheaper option: the public bus, drives from Knysna towards Port Elizabeth in the morning, returning to Knysna in the afternoon. The bus stops north of Storms River West (township) on the N2 (which is walking distance), around 07:30 and 15:30, bus fare to PE costs R60, way less than what the main companies charge.

By rail & plane
There is no rail station nor airport in Storms River. Though the nearest train station is at Assegaai, in Kareedouw (40 km), as a stop of the Apple Express. The nearest airports are located either in George or in Port Elizabeth, both 180 km away.

Get around
The village is small enough to get around on foot or by bike, or you can take your vehicle.

See
Tsitsikamma National Park is one of the main attractions near Storms River and is 5 km west of the village along the N2.

Hiking
Starting at the Forest Station down-town Storms River, all have free self-issue permits at unmanned gates.

Mountain biking
A 22-km cycle route, starting from Storms River Village, through the old Storms River Pass, passing the low water bridge over the Storms River, all the way to the viewpoint of the Tsitsikamma National Park over Storms River Mouth. From there on you can cycle the same road back, or you could walk down (with your bike) towards the suspension bridge and exit through the rest camp, returning to Storms River Village over the N2. By entering the National Park from the rear, you're not paying entrance fees! Mountain bikes can be hired in town from the Mild2Wild Adventure Center and at all 3 backpackers.

River tubing
River tubing in the Storms River starts around 08:00 with a briefing, then you get fitted with wetsuits and other gear, a short 4x4 ride gets you near the river, you'll have to walk the last bit, a very steep descent. When the river is high, you can paddle all the way, when the river is low, tubing becomes more of a 'kloofing' experience. Takes till 12:00, where get picked up with a 4x4, driven back to town for dry clothes and a well deserved lunch. There are 2 operators in town.

Go next

 * Tsitsikamma - The surrounding area offers a wide variety of hiking opportunities and other activities.
 * The rest of the Garden Route. Including Nature's Valley to the west, and Port Elizabeth to the east.

title: Storms River


text:
Stornoway

Stornoway (Gaelic Steòrnabhagh) is the main town on Lewis and the admin centre for all of Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Indeed it's the only town in these islands; it has the best amenities and transport links, and it's the obvious base for exploring both Lewis and Harris. It is industrial, and not particularly picturesque, but has lots to see. The population was 4800 in 2021, a sharp decline on previous figures.

By boat
Calmac ferries sail to Stornoway from Ullapool on the mainland, taking 2 hr 30 min. There are two sailings year-round M-Sa, and on Sunday two Apr-Oct and just one Nov-Mar. Until end of March 2025, return fares are £121.30 per car, £22.30 per adult including driver, and £11.20 per child aged 5-15. These ferries often sell out in summer, so even foot passengers should book in advance. Be at the pier at least 45 min before sailing.

There is also a ferry from Uig on Skye to Tarbert on Harris, from where you can drive up to Lewis.

You can also sail to Lochmaddy on North Uist, or to South Uist or Barra, then work your way north by road and ferry, as part of a tour of the Outer Hebrides.

By bus
See Lewis for buses around the island, which all converge on Stornoway. They're sparse M-Sa with nothing on Sunday. The bus station is next to the ferry terminal.

A bus-ferry service runs up the Western Isles through Barra, the Uists and Harris to Stornoway, so M-Sa it may be possible to go the whole way in one day. There are half-a-dozen services part-route, but for the full route you need to set off from Castlebay on Barra at 6:20AM, Lochboisedale on South Uist at 9AM, Benbecula at 11:10AM, Lochmaddy on North Uist at 11:30AM and Tarbert on Harris at 4:20PM, to reach Stornoway by 5:30PM. Going south, you leave Stornoway 9:30AM to reach Tarbert at 10:45AM, Lochmaddy at 1:45PM, Benbecula at 2:25PM, Lochboisdale at 3:25PM and reach Castlebay at 5:35PM.

Get around
By bus: see Lewis for routes around the island, which all converge on Stornoway. The town is small and the only bus you're likely to use within it is W5, which runs east along A866 to the airport and away out to The Point. Northbound it runs along B895 up the east coast past the hospital towards Tolsta. About a dozen run M-F and five on Saturday.

Bus W1 (for the north tip of the island) and Bus W2 (west coast loop) run through town along A857 to Manors roundabout and the hospital before wandering off into the countryside.

Car hire: rental firms are Stornoway Car Hire (+44 1851 702658), Stornoway Vehicle Hire (+44 7502 156439) and Car Hire Hebrides (+44 1851 706500). They can all pick up or drop off at the ferry terminal or airport.

Taxi: the Stornoway airport website lists almost two dozen local operators.

See

 * Highland Cow is a monster statue opposite the Coop on Bayhead the main road north. Useful to knowː you can actually buy model cows like these on Amazon.
 * is just a pair of 19th-century Royal Naval Reserve 6-inch guns at the entrance to the power station. The battery was in use 1876-1919: it was just a training facility. It was built over by the power station but these guns were recovered from the site. You can continue out along the causeway to the marina, though the area is industrial.
 * : in the early hours of New Year's Day 1919, HMY Iolaire was bringing home sailors demobilised at the end of the Great War, but she struck a rock at the entrance to Stornoway harbour and sank. The official death toll was 205, mostly local men, but the boat was overcrowded and it may have been higher. The memorial is at Holm east of town, follow the lane south just before the airport entrance.
 * is just a pair of 19th-century Royal Naval Reserve 6-inch guns at the entrance to the power station. The battery was in use 1876-1919: it was just a training facility. It was built over by the power station but these guns were recovered from the site. You can continue out along the causeway to the marina, though the area is industrial.
 * : in the early hours of New Year's Day 1919, HMY Iolaire was bringing home sailors demobilised at the end of the Great War, but she struck a rock at the entrance to Stornoway harbour and sank. The official death toll was 205, mostly local men, but the boat was overcrowded and it may have been higher. The memorial is at Holm east of town, follow the lane south just before the airport entrance.

Do

 * What's on? Read Stornoway Gazette or listen to Isles FM on 103.0 Mhz.
 * Lews Castle Grounds are woodlands always open to stroll, and there are 20 miles of off-road bike trails.
 * Golf: Stornoway GC is on Lady Lever Park just west of town. White tees 5010 yards, par 68, visitor round £40.
 * Boat trips: Stornoway Seafari go wildlife-spotting May to mid-Oct.
 * Stornoway Historical Society occasionally holds exhibitions and events.
 * Hebridean Way is a way-marked hiking and cycling trail the length of the Outer Hebrides. Northbound the 12th and final stage for hikers is from Balallan to the Woodlands Centre. Cyclists get to within 7 miles of town at Langabhat, but turn west to follow the coast road all the way to the Butt of Lewis.
 * Football is played only at amateur level. The soccer team play in the Harris & Lewis League Mar-Oct. The rugby union club are made of sterner stuff and play through the winter.
 * Hebcelt music festival is at multiple venues but mostly in the grounds of Lews Castle and at An Lanntair in town. Flights, ferries and accommodation are booked solid while it's on. There's no camping within the venues, and no dogs allowed. The next is 17-20 July 2024.

Buy
Never on a Sunday: Lewis Sabbatarians are fighting a bitter rearguard action. They've been unable to resist the ungodliness of flights and ferries on a Sunday, but all shops remain closed except Engebret's filling station, and the majority of eating and drinking places. On Saturday night, pubs and entertainments halt by midnight.

Several shops sell Harris Tweed, either by the metre or made into clothes and bags.

 * Cash: ATMs are at Tesco, RBS by Crown Hotel, Bank of Scotland on Cromwell St and Co-op Food on MacAulay Rd.
 * Tesco is 100 yards east of the pier on Ferry Rd, open M-F 6AM-midnight, Sa 6AM-10PM
 * Co-op Food main store is north side of town on MacAulay Rd, off Bayhead main road, open M-Sa 7AM-22ː00. The smaller Co-op on Cromwell St in town centre has the same hours.
 * Harris & Lewis Smokehouse is next to the Caladh Inn and has a cafe.
 * Pharmacies: Boots (corner of Cromwell Rd and Point St) is open M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, and KJ MacDonald at 20 Cromwell St has the same hours. These are just about the only pharmacies on Harris & Lewis. There is also a non-dispensing Superdrug near Boots.
 * Pharmacies: Boots (corner of Cromwell Rd and Point St) is open M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, and KJ MacDonald at 20 Cromwell St has the same hours. These are just about the only pharmacies on Harris & Lewis. There is also a non-dispensing Superdrug near Boots.
 * Pharmacies: Boots (corner of Cromwell Rd and Point St) is open M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, and KJ MacDonald at 20 Cromwell St has the same hours. These are just about the only pharmacies on Harris & Lewis. There is also a non-dispensing Superdrug near Boots.
 * Pharmacies: Boots (corner of Cromwell Rd and Point St) is open M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, and KJ MacDonald at 20 Cromwell St has the same hours. These are just about the only pharmacies on Harris & Lewis. There is also a non-dispensing Superdrug near Boots.
 * Pharmacies: Boots (corner of Cromwell Rd and Point St) is open M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, and KJ MacDonald at 20 Cromwell St has the same hours. These are just about the only pharmacies on Harris & Lewis. There is also a non-dispensing Superdrug near Boots.

Eat

 * Cameron's Chip Shop is at 33 Point St opposite Crown Hotel, open M-W noon-8PM, Th-Sa noon-9PM.
 * Istanbul Restaurant on South Beach next to An Lanntair is actually Indian.
 * The Fank is a cafe bar at 3 Cromwell St open W-Sa noon-4:30PM, 5:30-8:30PM.
 * Harbour Kitchen is a seafood restaurant at 5 Cromwell St open Th-Sa 5-9PM.
 * Golden Ocean is a Chinese restaurant next to the Library at 12 Cromwell St, open M-Sa 11:30AM-10PM, Su 4-10PM.
 * Good Food Boutiqueis a deli at 59 Cromwell St open 8:30AM-5:30PM.
 * The Boatshed is the restaurant within Royal Hotel on Cromwell St (see Sleep), open daily noon-9PM. HS-1 is the Cafe Bar.
 * Bangla Spice at 33 Church St also gets mixed reviews. It's open Tu-Sa 5-9PM.
 * Eleven is the restaurant within Caladh Inn (see Sleep) at 11 James St. Breakfast is served M-F 7-9:30AM, Sa Su 8-10AM, and the carvery is open daily noon-9PM. Booking essential as residents have first dibs. They also do takeaway.
 * Bangla Spice at 33 Church St also gets mixed reviews. It's open Tu-Sa 5-9PM.
 * Eleven is the restaurant within Caladh Inn (see Sleep) at 11 James St. Breakfast is served M-F 7-9:30AM, Sa Su 8-10AM, and the carvery is open daily noon-9PM. Booking essential as residents have first dibs. They also do takeaway.

Drink

 * Stornoway's concentration of pubs reflects the absence of them around the rest of Lewis.

 * Crown Inn on Castle St (see Sleep) is the bar where the 14-year-old Prince Charles (now King Charles III) came on a sailing outing from his school Gordonstoun. Locals recognised the boat and crowded round. The prince fled in here and ordered the only drink he knew the name of: a cherry brandy. His forebear Bonnie Prince Charlie could have drained the bottle in a trice, but the young prince was under age. His bodyguard (his only friend and confidant) was sacked, and Charles was thereafter closely confined to his school regime of cold showers, dawn runs, and bullying, bullying, bullying
 * Star Inn by the harbour gets dismal reviews.
 * Distillery: Abhainn Dearg makes malt whisky. It's at the northwest end of the island, see Lewis for tours. Tarbert on Harris also has a distillery.
 * Star Inn by the harbour gets dismal reviews.
 * Distillery: Abhainn Dearg makes malt whisky. It's at the northwest end of the island, see Lewis for tours. Tarbert on Harris also has a distillery.
 * Distillery: Abhainn Dearg makes malt whisky. It's at the northwest end of the island, see Lewis for tours. Tarbert on Harris also has a distillery.

Sleep
Advance booking is essential June-August, and advisable any time of year.

Budget

 * Wild camping is mostly permitted, but overnight parking is not.

Connect
As of Sep 2023, Stornoway has 4G from EE, which extends along the island roads. You might get a signal in town from O2, Three or Vodafone. 5G has not yet reached Lewis and Harris.

Go next

 * The rest of Lewis is easiest to explore by day-trips from Stornoway, for example the Callanish Stones. You need your own vehicle.
 * Great Bernera is an island linked by road to Lewis. It has accommodation.
 * Harris is more rugged and scenic than Lewis. It is within range of a day-trip from Stornoway, or you might move base to either Tarbert or Leverburgh.
 * Berneray, reached by ferry from Leverburgh, is the next island on the chain leading south, with a good paved road all the way down through the Uists.

title: Stornoway


text:
Storrs

Storrs is in Connecticut, within the town of Mansfield.

Understand
Storrs is home to the University of Connecticut (UConn).

By car
Best way to get to Storrs from the highway is through CT-195

 * From Hartford: I-84 East, I-384 East, then Route 44 East, then CT-195 South
 * From Boston: i-90 West (tolled), I-84 West, then CT-195 South
 * From Providence: Route 6 West, then CT-195 North

By bus
Daily service from downtown Hartford, bus 913 Manchester-Buckland-Storrs Express operated by CT Transit

Get around
Storrs is a small town, so the best way to get around is by walking.

Drink

 * Dog Lane Cafe

Go next

 * Hartford, Connecticut
 * Boston, Massachusetts
 * Mystic, Connecticut

title: Storrs


text:
Stoughton

There is more than one place called Stoughton:

United States of America

 * Stoughton (Massachusetts) — A town in Bristol-Norfolk.
 * Stoughton (Wisconsin) — A town in Southwest Wisconsin

title: Stoughton


text:
Stoughton (Massachusetts)

Stoughton is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 29,000 (2020) that is about 20 minutes south of Boston. It was founded in 1726 and named after William Stoughton, who was chief justice in the Salem Witch Trials. Its surrounding towns are Canton, Sharon, Brockton, Randolph, and Easton.

By car
If you have a car, then just hop on 95 south until you hit exit 8, which is Sharon. After getting off the exit, you then stay straight for about 10 miles until you see a sign that will say “entering Stoughton”.

By plane

 * T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI and Logan International Airport in Boston.

Logan Airport in Boston is 25 minutes north of Stoughton. Cabs are available but can become pricey.

By train
Stoughton has a MBTA commuter rail line that runs to South Station in Boston. The Providence/Stoughton line is the correct line to choose if looking up train times. All you have to do is visit the MBTA website to find the best schedule for you!

Get around
The easiest way to get around Stoughton is by car or bike. If you are only going a short distance then a bike is a reasonable form of transportation. However, if you plan to travel from one side of the town to the other it is approximately a 25-mile radius and would require a car or cab service.

Cab services:

Go next
Boston, 20 minutes north of Stoughton. Newbury Street is a beautiful, classy area to shop or walk around. There is so much to do in Boston with things such as museums, walking around areas like Boston Common, Fanuiel Hall, Quincy Market, duck tours in Copley Square, and many parks and sight seeing.

Providence, about a half-hour drive from Stoughton, is a busy city in Rhode Island that has a lot to offer. The Providence Place Mall is one of the big attractions with a variety of clothing stores and food options available. Thayer Street, on the east side of Providence, is also a great place for shopping and a nice area to walk around. Stores such as Urban Outfitters and City Sports are among the popular shopping places.

title: Stoughton (Massachusetts)


text:
Stoughton (Wisconsin)

Stoughton is in Southwest Wisconsin. Stoughton is a lovely town of 13,000 located just 15 miles south of Madison. Founded in 1847 and known for its Norwegian heritage, including the famous Syttende Mai celebration of Norwegian Independence Day on May 17th. Stroll the tree-lined streets of Stoughton's historic neighborhoods and see hundreds of beautiful Victorian-era homes. Explore the community's vibrant Main Street featuring shops and galleries full of art, jewelry, antiques, and collectibles.

Get in
The nearest airport is Dane County Regional Airport in Madison. From the airport, take I-90 to Highway N, and turn right on Highway 51.

Go next

 * Madison is 20 minutes to the north on Highway 51, offering the great usual restaurants and cultural activities of a capitol city.

title: Stoughton (Wisconsin)


text:
Stowe

Stowe is a four-season resort town of 4,400 people (2014) in north-central Vermont at the base of Mount Mansfield—Vermont's highest peak. It is home to Stowe Mountain Ski Resort. It is 10 miles north of Waterbury along Highway 100.

By car
Stowe is found at the Junction of Vermont Routes 108 and 100. Access is 10 miles North on Rte 100 from Exit 10 on Interstate 89. The closest major airport is Burlington (BTV) about 40 minutes away. Stowe is about 2 hours from Montreal, 3 hours from Boston and 6 hours from New York City.

By train

 * Route stopping at Waterbury:
 * Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton,  Philadelphia, Wilmington,  Baltimore, and New Carrollton.
 * Vermonter operates daily between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. including stops in Essex Junction, Waterbury, Montpelier, White River Junction, Claremont, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, Meriden, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New York City, Newark, Trenton,  Philadelphia, Wilmington,  Baltimore, and New Carrollton.

Get around
Most of the activity in Stowe is centered in the historic Village and along the Mountain Road (Route 108) that extends from the Village about 5 miles to the ski area. It is easy to get around, and in the winter there is a free shuttle that runs frequently between the Village and the Mountain.

See

 * Nearby, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory, Cabot Cheese Outlet and the Cold Hollow Cider Mill are on many people's lists of favorite stops. Stowe has many photo opportunities: covered bridges, hiking trails, a river winding through town, mountains and of course brilliant fall foliage.

Do
Summer activities include hiking, golf, tennis, fishing, biking (both mountain and road biking), 5 Mile Recreation Path, canoe river tours, antiquing, horseback riding, shopping, back road touring, gondola ride and toll road up Mt. Mansfield, factory Tours at Ben & Jerry's.

Winter activities include downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and several nice spas.

Ski
Stowe is considered by many to be the Ski Capital of the East.

Buy
There are lots of unique shops in Stowe; there are no chains or outlets in Stowe which is part of its charm. The retail shops are mixed in with restaurants, coffee houses, inns, offices and homes. Many of the buildings are old and interesting just to walk through.

There are no big parking lots, so you won't be trying to remember which row and section your car is in. Retail shopping is on both sides of Main Street which is also known as Route 100. More shops are spread out along the Mountain Road, or Route 108. Mountain Road forms a "T" with Main Street.

Eat
Stowe is famous for its many fine restaurants.

Go next

 * Short drive to Burlington and Lake Champlain.
 * Short drive to Barre Granite Quarries.

title: Stowe


text:
Stowmarket

Stowmarket is a small industrial market town in Suffolk.

Understand
The town's name comes from the Old English word stōw ("principal place"). A market town (charter granted in 1347), the town still holds bi-weekly markets.

The town lies on the River Gripping which was made navigable between the town and Ipswich in the 18th century - called the Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation. However the construction of the railway to the town in 1846 started the demise of the canal and the canal navigation was closed in 1832 (by Act of Parliament).

The town's population has grown from 3,000 in 1841 to 6,000 in 1981 to 19,000 in 2011, something that is planned to continue with further development of the town and surrounding villages. Much of the development has been taking place to the northers side of the town.

By road
Located on the A14 approx 18 miles NW of Ipswich and 15 miles E of Bury St Edmunds and at the southerly end of the A140 main road to Norwich (40 miles).

By rail

 * {| class="wikitable"
 * {| class="wikitable"

! Destination !! Time
 * + Journey Times
 * London || 85 min
 * Ipswich || 10-15 min
 * Colchester || 30 min
 * Bury St Edmunds || 15-20 min
 * Norwich || 30 min
 * Cambridge || 60 min
 * Peterborough || 80 min
 * }
 * Norwich || 30 min
 * Cambridge || 60 min
 * Peterborough || 80 min
 * }
 * Peterborough || 80 min
 * }
 * }

By bus
There are regular bus services from Ipswich operated by First Eastern Counties. These run every 20–30 minutes and most run via Claydon and Needham Market, taking approx 50 minutes to reach Stowmarket, although some peak hour services travel via the A14 and take as little as 30 minutes. There are also hourly services to Bury St Edmunds (this takes well over an hour so it is much quicker and possibly cheaper to take the train), infrequent services to Diss and a two-hourly service to Bildeston for connections to Hadleigh and Sudbury.

By bicycle
The town is on National Cycle Route 51 (Harwich to Oxford, to Ipswich to the SE and to Bury St Edmunds to the W.

Get around
Everything in Stowmarket can be reached easily on foot, however various areas in Stowmarket can also be reached using the #87/88 buses including Combs Ford, Chilton Hall, Cedars Park and Stowupland.

Do
Walk through the countryside from Combs Ford to Great Finborough and John Peel's grave.

Buy
The town centre is divided into two sections. The area south of the Marketplace along Ipswich Street features various high-street chains including Boots, Superdrug and Argos. The northern side along Bury Street is more traditional with numerous speciality shops. The Ipswich-based East of England Co-op have quite a strong influence in the town with a Co-op travel agency and a small department store in the town centre, as well as a Co-op Neighbourhood Shopping Centre in Combs Ford housing a pharmacy, a supermarket, a Godfrey's hardware store and a QS clothing store. There is also a large Asda superstore in the town-centre and a possibly larger Tesco close to the A14 at Cedars Park, which has had an effect on local trade. The historic street market still exists and takes place every Thursday and Saturday along Ipswich Street, the Marketplace and the Meadow Centre.

Eat
Stowmarket's food scene is fairly limited, although the only fast-food chain is a Wimpy and the only chain coffee shop is Costa Coffee in the Tesco store on the edge of town. There is nowhere to grab a good coffee in the town centre.

There are Indian and Chinese restaurants in Stowmarket but they're at best average and rather overpriced.

There are several (chain) pubs in the town that do good and reasonably priced pub lunches.

Drink
There are a lot of pubs scattered around Stowmarket, most of which open daily and serve good food and beer, including local ales. Stowmarket has a strong drinking culture and most locals will know each other. The most lively pubs are the Oak and the Dukes Head in the town centre. The Magpie in Combs Ford also hosts a lot of live bands.

There is only one nightclub in Stowmarket - Jokers in Ipswich Street. Many younger Stowmartians will head out to Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds or Norwich for a good night out, and a Jokers crowd usually consists of a mixture of young people from the surrounding villages, and an older (i.e. above 21) crowd of Stowmartians, which when combined with poor out-dated music on a tinny PA on a sticky dancefloor causes a lot of noise and often, violence. This place is best avoided, especially on a Saturday night.

Connect
As of Sep 2022, Stowmarket and its approach roads have 5G from EE, and 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Needham Market: A small town about 3 miles from Stowmarket. Although there is no longer a market in Needham Market, it is still a very attractive town of narrow streets, small independent shops including a hardware store, a butcher, a bakery and an antique centre, a couple of decent pubs and a fish & chip shop. Take a walk along the river Gipping past two historic mills and a large lake made from a former quarry. Needham can be reached by road from Stowmarket (parking at Needham Lake car park is not free, however parking at the railway station is) or on the half-hourly #87/88 bus (journey time 15 minutes) which drops off outside Needham Market church on the way to Ipswich. There are hourly train services from Stowmarket on the Ipswich-Cambridge line which take 4 minutes to cover the 3 miles from Stowmarket and are cheaper than the bus. Needham Station is unstaffed but tickets are sold by the conductor on the train.

 * Bury St Edmunds
 * Ipswich
 * Diss
 * Thetford & Thetford Forest

title: Stowmarket


text:
Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold is a town in the North Cotswolds in England. The town centre, whilst small, is extremely beautiful, focused around the large market square and the pretty little streets leading off it.

Understand
The town is on a hill (highest point in the Cotswolds at 244 m) and back to Iron Ages times, the site was used as a fort. The first settlers were attracted to the nearby village of Maugersbury. However, once a market place was built at Stow nearer the crossroads roads, its commercial successes gradually established as the major town. Stow is at the meeting place of 6 roads helping the development of the market and thus the town; one of those roads being the famous Roman road – the Fosse Way.

During the English Civil War, in 1646 the Royalist Army was marching through the Cotswolds trying to reach Oxford to join the King's forces. However, they were met by the Parliamentary forces just outside Stow and The Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold took place 1 mile N of the town. The retreating Royalist forces moved back to the town and fought on through the streets of Stow before surrendering in the Market Place. The church was then turned into an emergency prison to hold the 1000 Royalist troops.

Weekly markets were granted in 1107 and the right to hold an annual (7 day) fair granted in 1330 (though that was changed to two 5 day fairs in 1476). The wool trade and sheep livestock used to play a major role in the fairs, but as the wool trade declined, so horse trading became more important and today the fairs have been moved from the Market Place to a field outside the village near Maugersbury. The fairs are very popular attracting large numbers of visitors, blocking roads in the area. The large number of visitors has not always been welcomed by locals and many shops and pubs in the area close during the fairs to avoid the risk of theft and vandalism.

Visitor information

 * Stow-on-the-Wold visitor information website

By road
Driving from Cirencester, follow the A429 (the Fosseway) North, pass through Bourton-on-the-Water and you'll reach it (after another 3 mi (5 km)). There will be obvious signs saying you've entered the town. From the North, follow the A429 South towards Cirencester.

By train
The town's railway station was closed in 1948. The two nearest stations are:

By bus

 * Pulham Coaches Service 801 runs Moreton-in-Marsh – Stow-on-the-Wold – Bourton-on-the-Water – Northleach – Andoversford – Cheltenham Royal Well
 * Pulham Coaches Service 802 runs Bourton-on-the-Water – Great Rissington/Little Rissington – Upper Rissington – Stow-on-the-Wold – Kingham Railway Station
 * The Villages Community Bus runs occasional services through the town.

By bicycle

Walkers would do well to avoid the busy A429 road.

Get around
On foot is fine.

See

Go next

 * Bourton-on-the-Water 4 miles south-west
 * Moreton-in-Marsh 4½ miles north
 * Chipping Norton 9 miles east
 * Cheltenham 18 miles west
 * Cheltenham 19 miles south-west
 * Burford to miles south
 * Witney 18½ miles south-east
 * Oxford 30 miles south-east

title: Stow-on-the-Wold


text:
St. Pölten

St. Pölten is a city with about 55,000 inhabitants (2018) in Lower Austria between the Bohemian Massif and the Türnitz Alps.

Many people consider St. Pölten to be a city of low touristic interest. Anyway its high living standard and the convenient location make it a place worthwhile to hang out some time and relax, e. g. at the lakes or to undertake some day trips.

By train
St. Pölten is the terminus for the VOR (Verkehrsverbund Ost-Region) suburban train service from Vienna's Westbahnhof to St. Pölten. It leaves Westbahnhof hourly and takes 30 minutes to reach St. Pölten. Tickets cost €12, or Vienna's VOR travelcards can also be used.

By car
St. Pölten is connected to the A1 "Autobahn" and the S33 "Schnellstraße". The distance between St. Pölten and Vienna is approximately 60 km, between Linz and St. Pölten ca. 120 km.

Go next
Go to Mariazell using the Mariazeller Bahn. The trip of 85km takes about 2.5 hr. This route was one of the first in Austria to become fully electrified (in 1911), and some of the train engines from that time are still in operation (this is a world record). Beside of the impressive scenery, the tracks' arrangement is pretty ingenious because of the vast differences in altitude that have to be overcome.

When buying a ticket check if the train engines are of type "1099", which are the world record ones, so that you know the true promise of the Mariazeller Bahn.

title: St. Pölten


text:
St. Pete Beach

St. Pete Beach is a city near Saint Petersburg in Tampa Bay in the state of Florida.

St. Pete Beach occupies an island which is located on the southern end of a chain of barrier islands on the Gulf of Mexico stretching from Clearwater to Pass-A-Grille Beach.

By plane

 * Saint Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
 * Tampa International Airport

By public transit

 * Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

By car
Three causeways lead to St. Pete Beach. FL-699 connects to St. Pete Beach from Treasure Island to the north crossing the Blind Pass. FL-693 crosses the main waterway from Pasadena on the peninsula. FL-682, or the Pinellas Bayway, enters from the southern end of the peninsula (St. Petersburg proper).

See
Many Dolphin watch tours are available.

Do
Pass A Grille has some wonderful homes to view, public access to beautiful beaches, fishing from a jetty on the Gulf of Mexico side, as well as several public, free fishing piers on the side of Boca Ciega Bay. You can hire day trips to nearby islands from the public pier. There is a shopping area on 8th Ave which contains several Restaurants, gift stores, a Post office and drinking establishments.

Buy
See the 8th Ave Shops, Pass A Grille. A collection of wonderful shops and restaurants. Main business district for Pass A Grille.

Go next

 * Busch Gardens — approx. 40 minutes by car, in Tampa.
 * Sunken Gardens in Saint Petersburg.
 * Ellenton Outlet Mall, 25 minutes by car - huge outlet mall.

title: St. Pete Beach


text:
Strabane

Strabane is a town in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It's an economically depressed market town with a population in 2021 of 13,500. It stands on the east bank of the River Foyle, which forms the border with the Republic of Ireland. Over on the west bank, a 15-min walk across the bridge, is Lifford, a small village yet it's the county town of County Donegal. Its few amenities are also described here.

Understand
Strabane has been defined by its three rivers. The River Finn flows out of Donegal to the west, while the Mourne River flows down from Omagh to the south. At Strabane they combine into the River Foyle, which flows 14 miles north to reach the sea at Derry. Fed by the ample Ulster rain, they're fast-flowing and were harnessed for mills, to process flax into linen. But that made them difficult to ford, so at Strabane there was a ferry to Lifford on the west bank, and since 1730 a bridge. There's no other crossing of the Foyle until you reach Derry.

The area has good farmland and its Irish name is An Srath Bán, "the white strath, the grassy water-meadow". It attracted a series of settlers: Celts, Vikings, the O'Neill dynasty of Tyrone, the Plantation Scots. This meant that prehistoric and early Christian sites hereabouts have been lost to the plough, while surviving in wilder country elsewhere. Ulster was organised into counties after the Nine Years' War broke Gaelic resistance to the English, and the Finn and Foyle became the natural boundary between County Donegal on the west bank and County Tyrone on the east. County Londonderry began a few miles north at the tidal and navigation limit of the Foyle. Scottish settlers were already moving in before the war, but 1607 saw the flight of the defeated Earl of Tyrone into exile, and seizure of his estates. In 1608 rebels burned Derry, and London authority was determined to prevent further uprisings, so they began the systematic Plantation of Ulster with loyal Protestants. These became the majority population especially in the industrial east, but Strabane remained mostly Catholic.

In 1921 the prolonged Anglo-Irish conflict led to the partition of Ireland. County Donegal, though geographically in Ulster, was Catholic and joined Southern Ireland, which became an independent Republic. Tyrone and Londonderry were mostly Protestant and joined Northern Ireland, which remained within the United Kingdom. A boundary commission recommended transferring Strabane to the south (along with similar Catholic areas such as south Armagh) but it was politically sabotaged and its report was suppressed until 1969. An international border now separated Strabane and Lifford, blighting transport, trade and industry on both sides.

Strabane was therefore already a depressed place before the "Troubles" of the late 20th century, and economic grievances stoked sectarian tensions. The army and police arrived in force, and then themselves became frequent targets for bombs and shooting. The position of the border wasn't a major political issue, it was the legitimacy of that border and continued British rule in Northern Ireland, but it did not improve local opinion when the boundary commission report was leaked to learn that they might have been in the Republic all along. The town was extensively damaged, and employment and industry fled. And then the river flooded the town in 1987. The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 led to de-escalation of violence and military presence, and the border on the Foyle river bridge became as insignificant as a parish boundary. Economic regeneration however was slow. The nearby city of Derry successfully re-launched itself as a place worthy of tourism and investment. Strabane grew as a commuter town for Derry but otherwise has struggled to benefit. In 2011 the counties of Northern Ireland were abolished as units of local government, and since 2015 the town has been part of the "super-district" of Derry and Strabane. Since 2020 the big uncertainty has been the effect of Brexit on the Irish border.

Visitor information
Tourist information is available at the Alley Theatre on Railway Street, see below.

Get in
Ulsterbus 273 runs from Belfast Europa bus station, hourly M-Sa and every two hours Sunday, via Lurgan, Dungannon and Omagh to Strabane (2 hr 30 min), continuing to Derry.

Goldline Bus X3 runs once or twice a day from Dublin Busáras and Airport via Monaghan and Omagh to Strabane (3 hr) and Derry. Or you could take the X4 from Dublin to Derry and change.

Derry is the nearest railway station, with hourly trains from Belfast. In addition to the inter-city buses, Ulsterbus 98 takes 30 min between Derry and Strabane M-Sa hourly in the morning and late afternoon but with long gaps midday.

is south bank of the Mourne River on A5, a short walk from town centre. There's a Lidl, a fast food outlet and a B&B adjacent.

By road from Belfast follow M2 / A6 towards Derry and branch off onto B49 at Claudy.

Get around
Lifford is walking distance, and since 1998 there have been no border checks. It's up to you to ensure that you're eligible to cross between UK and Ireland, that you carry any relevant documents with you, and that your car insurance / rental agreement is valid for both countries.

Buses towards Omagh will take you to Sion Mills. You need your own wheels for other out-of-town sites.

National Cycleway 95 runs mostly on-road from Armagh to Dungannon, Cookstown and Strabane. Route 92 runs from Enniskillen to Omagh, Strabane and Derry.

See

 * The Tinneys is the local name for the street sculpture "Let the dance begin." They're five 20-foot steel figures by the A5 roundabout northwest edge of town, at the junction with A38 to Lifford. They were commissioned to celebrate the relaxation of the border, the "dance" being the re-united communities.
 * Church of the Immaculate Conception on Barrack St is RC, completed in 1895.
 * Political murals are painted here and there in the town. They change with events - in 2014 one notable series expressed solidarity with Palestine - so ask around for any worth seeking out.
 * is the little village half a mile west of Strabane that is the county town of County Donegal. The Old Courthouse, built in 1746, has a museum and does tours; it also operates as an escape room.
 * is a planned village 3 miles south of Strabane, built in the late 19th century around Herdman's flax mill. "Sion" is from an Irish placename Seein, probably referring to a mound, it doesn't derive from "Zion". The mill is imposing and there's a cluster of fine half-timbered buildings. It's as significant to Northern Ireland as Saltaire is to England and New Lanark is to Scotland, but it's become derelict and suffered arson, and is in danger of collapse. You can wander round at a distance and see the swinging bridge and other mechanisms by the river.
 * See Omagh for Newtonstewart, a village 10 miles south of Strabane with two ruined castles that won't detain you long.
 * See Letterkenny for Beltany Stone Circle, 7 miles west near Raphoe in County Donegal.
 * See Omagh for Newtonstewart, a village 10 miles south of Strabane with two ruined castles that won't detain you long.
 * See Letterkenny for Beltany Stone Circle, 7 miles west near Raphoe in County Donegal.

Do

 * Strabane Drama Festival is in mid-March at Alley Theatre. See also listings for Derry, which co-hosts some events with Strabane.
 * Eclipse Cinema is north bank of the river in Lifford.
 * Strabane Canal, built in 1796, fell derelict in 1962 and is mostly just a line of shrubs. Its north end at the confluence of River Foyle and Burn Dennett was expensively but incompetently rebuilt in 2006 and is again derelict, but you can walk the towpath.
 * Strabane Canal, built in 1796, fell derelict in 1962 and is mostly just a line of shrubs. Its north end at the confluence of River Foyle and Burn Dennett was expensively but incompetently rebuilt in 2006 and is again derelict, but you can walk the towpath.

Buy

 * Asda north side of town is open M-F 8AM-11PM, Sa noon-10PM, Su 1-6PM; the filling station is open 24 hours.

Eat

 * Lots of cheap and cheerful eateries in town centre, including Murphys on the Green, Golden Palace, Masala, and Jaspers.

Drink

 * Dicey Riley's on Market St is open daily noon-midnight.
 * Devlins and Charlie's Bar are nearby, Farmers Home and The Railway are west along Railway St.

Connect
Strabane and Lifford have 4G from all UK and Irish carriers. The Irish signal is stronger, so take care which network your mobile latches onto, in case of extra charges. As of Aug 2021, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Derry is a must-see, a historic city retaining its defensive walls.
 * Omagh has the Ulster American Folk Park.
 * Cookstown is near several prehistoric sites.

title: Strabane


text:
Strahan

Strahan (pronounced "straw-n") is on Tasmania's west coast at Long Bay at the northern end of Macquarie Harbour.

Understand
Strahan is about 300 km west of the state capital of Hobart, in one of the most isolated (and beautiful) parts of Australia. It is also an excellent base where the West Coast Wilderness Railway can be accessed, Gordon River cruises can be taken, and other adventurous ways of negotiating the western edges of the South West World Heritage area.

It began as a staging place for explorers into the South West, and mining areas in the Western areas of the state. It later became a mining port and was the main timber industry and general shipping centre for the area.

For most of the 20th century Strahan was smaller than Queenstown and Zeehan – and served as a port for both locations. Now Queenstown and Zeehan are ghosts of their former glory, and Strahan is now promoted as the main tourist centre for Tasmania's west coast region.

It is considered to be the 'gateway' for boats, planes and helicopters taking visitors to the world heritage southwest wilderness area.

There is also an oceangoing small fishing industry that still operates out of Strahan. In the harbour to the south of Strahan there are a number salmon farming ventures, which can be seen from the boats that travel to Sarah Island or the Gordon River.

By car
From the south east, take the A10 highway from Hobart, the Lyell Highway via Queenstown. This is about a 300-km drive and usually takes about 5 hours. From the north coast, take the A10 which passes through Tullah, there are two ways to Strahan from just south of Tullah:
 * Rosebery, Zeehan and via B27 down to Strahan
 * Take B28 that runs just west of the spectacular West Coast Range, down to Queenstown, and then the B24 which runs to Strahan

By train
The West Coast Wilderness railway has re-commenced operations following a time of changing ownership and maintenance on the line.

The West Coast Wilderness Railway operates a railway line between Queenstown and Strahan, a distance of 34 km.

There are services that use Strahan as a base for a trip to Dubbil Barril and to Queenstown.

The ordinary railway connection between Strahan, Zeehan, and the rest of Tasmania closed in 1960. The old railway line became a road that provides access to views of Ocean Beach and the West Coast Range.

Other old railway lines on the west coast have become walking and driving trails.

By plane
Strahan Airport - Although helicopter and fixed-wing flights operate from here for charter flights into the south-west wilderness area, or over locations in western Tasmania, there are no regular passenger flights to Strahan from other airports in Tasmania or the mainland. Regional Express (Rex) fly to Burnie daily and Jetstar and Qantas fly to Launceston Airport.

By boat
Not implausible - commercial yachts or launches are not known as regular visitors - Hells Gates (the head of Macquarie Harbour) is the main restriction due to shallow draught and difficult maneuvering. Private larger sized sea-going boats have been seen at the wharf in Strahan and Regatta Point over time, although regular shipping services relative to the mining industry in Zeehan or Queenstown had mainly ceased in the mid-1970s. The possibility of arranging a passage from mainland Australia, the north coast of Tasmania or Hobart by private boat in the summer time is very low, but possible, and would require patience to track down whether anyone was venturing into the west coast waters. It would be very ill-advised to hitch a ride with anyone who did not have local knowledge (or access to it) of the negotiation of Hells Gates and West Coast conditions - Captain Fathom is a very good indicator of the height of the swells that would be encountered. A visit to Ocean Beach for a view during a storm is also a salient and sobering experience for anyone considering access from the ocean.

By bus
TassieLink runs a service from Hobart to Strahan a couple of days a week. It's a big trip (5 hr plus a wait at Lake St Clair), but will get you in.

Get around
Strahan is connected to other parts of the west coast by a bus service. There is no local service within the Strahan/Regatta Point area, and a significant number of features of the two locations can be walked.

By bike
Strahan and Regatta Point are bike friendly, despite the immediate hill up to the level at which part of Regatta Point and Strahan are on.

By car
Most of the roads on the west coast are sealed and easily usable by cars of any capacity. The roads further off the mainroads can be both unsealed, and not suitable for domestic vehicles. The more out of the way locations on the map which appear to be accessible

Watch out for logging trucks on the Strahan to Zeehan road.

By foot
A number of the local attractions like Peoples Park require walking into.

By tours
Strahan is the base for some of the tours in the area, others start in Queenstown.

By boat
Boating in Macquarie Harbour is safe, but all weather warnings and boating regulations are well worth taking note of. Travelling out to sea through Hells Gates is not recommended. (See above in 'Get In' section about boating out to sea, or arriving by boat.)

See

Do

 * There are a range of adventure tours available in Strahan, including Wilderness Air, Wild Rivers Jet Rides, Hell's Gates Wilderness Tours, Seair Adventure Charters, in addition to the various trips around the Gordon River, operated by World Heritage Cruises and Gordon River Cruises. Details and bookings are available at the Strahan Visitors Centre.
 * There are a range of adventure tours available in Strahan, including Wilderness Air, Wild Rivers Jet Rides, Hell's Gates Wilderness Tours, Seair Adventure Charters, in addition to the various trips around the Gordon River, operated by World Heritage Cruises and Gordon River Cruises. Details and bookings are available at the Strahan Visitors Centre.
 * There are a range of adventure tours available in Strahan, including Wilderness Air, Wild Rivers Jet Rides, Hell's Gates Wilderness Tours, Seair Adventure Charters, in addition to the various trips around the Gordon River, operated by World Heritage Cruises and Gordon River Cruises. Details and bookings are available at the Strahan Visitors Centre.

Eat
Several of the small shops in town offer fresh crayfish by request, see the signs posted outside for availability.

Sleep
Strahan has a lot more accommodation than most towns of its size, mainly because it's the tourist centre of Western Tasmania.

South

 * It is possible to charter aeroplanes or helicopters (in season) to travel over parts of the Southwest Wilderness.

North

 * Zeehan
 * Further North - Burnie or Devonport

East

 * Queenstown - About 50 km from Strahan, back towards Hobart.
 * Further east towards Lake St Clair

title: Strahan


text:
Stralsund

Stralsund is a city in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The Gothic historic centre of Stralsund is (along with Wismar's) a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
Stralsund was founded in 1234, and was a member of the Hanseatic League and thankfully retains a lot of the architecture of its glory days. Stralsund was part of the Swedish Empire from 1648 to 1814, and was involved in the Great Northern War. Swedish king Charles XII had to escape from exile in the Ottoman Empire, and rode from Pitești to Stralsund on fourteen days. The city lies in the federal electoral district of the 2005-2021 German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

Get in
Stralsund is about a 1h train ride or 80 minutes drive east of Rostock either using the B 105 or the A 20 (watch the speed cameras on the E 251).

Rostock is the closest airport with flights from other parts of Germany. Berlin is the closest major international airport.

There are good rail connections from major German cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt. During summer season additional long distance trains usually appear from many other cities. is located at Tribseer Damm 75.

Get around
A local bus network is run by VVR, with some routes extending into the outlying parts of Stralsund, and even to the island of Rügen. Buses run on weekdays, between early morning and late evening. Only limited bus services run on weekends and holidays, and no buses run overnight.

See

Budget
All these are in the city centre:

Drink
The local brewery is Störtebeker, readily available in most bars.

Go next

 * Greifswald
 * Rostock
 * Rügen and Hiddensee
 * Usedom Island
 * Wismar

title: Stralsund


text:
Strand

Strand is a far western suburb of Cape Town on the north coast of False Bay, just south of Somerset West and just west of Gordon's Bay.

Understand
Strand is mainly a residential area, but has a small industrial and commercial area along Main Road from Somerset West. Strand, Somerset West and Gordon's Bay are part of the Helderberg suburban region of greater Cape Town. Strand and Gordon's Bay are the recreational seaside area for this part of Cape Town. The beaches are generally large, clean and safe for swimming, but are exposed to the south-easterly wind which is fairly common in summer, and can blow more strongly along the shore than further inland. The coast on this area is also fairly exposed to the south-westerly swell which is the prevailing direction for most of the year, and there is usually some surf, but the seabed shelves very gradually, so the surf is usually not very strong and rip currents are not common.

By car
From Cape Town follow the N2 highway eastwards and exit on the R44. (about 45km)

From Muizenberg follow Baden Powell Drive (the R310) along the False Bay coast, turn right (east) onto the N2 highway then exit on the R44.

From Stellenbosch follow the R44 south.

By train
MetroRail operates reasonably frequent trains from Cape Town to Somerset West and Strand. You may have to change trains in Bellville. The journey takes about 90 minutes. is between Main and Altena roads, a short walk from Strand Pavilion.

Commercial flights to Cape Town International airport (CPT IATA), about 30 minutes from somerset west by car. There is no scheduled public surface transport on this route, but there are taxi shuttle services at about R300.

By light aircraft to Stellenbosch airfield, about 20 minutes from Somerset West, on the outskirts of Stellenbosch.

See
There is not much to see in Strand besides the beach.

Do
Strand is the Afrikaans word for beach and as the name says, Strand is all about a day out at a long beach. At weekends and during holidays in good weather you can be packed with people, but it is accessible at any time. It is best to avoid in strong south-easterly winds as the sand can be carried by the wind, and will sting exposed skin.

There are waterslides and play park on the beach for family fun as an alternative to the beach with a surf school for lessons or board rentals.

Scuba diving in False Bay — there are a few dive shops and dive boat operators in Strand and Gordon's Bay. Equipment is available for hire from some operators. Most will supply a full cylinder, regulator, buoyancy compensator and weight belt, and some will also supply wet-suit, mask and fins.

There is a golf club in Strand, and two in Somerset West, a short drive to the north. Further afield there are golf clubs at Stellenbosch and several in the suburbs of Cape Town, all within an hour's drive.

Buy
Somerset Mall on the N2 between Strand and Somerset West is the main shopping centre for the region, and like most malls, has relatively high prices and large parking lots. The original mall has several large chain stores and a large number of boutique style stores and restaurants, and a cinema. If you like malls, this is not a bad one. On rainy weekends, it can be quite full of people with nothing better to do. The associated commercial area extends to the south and west of the mall, with the more specialist vendors generally to the west. The is strand square where you can buy fast food on wimpy, you can shop clothes at Mr price store and picknpay, it also have pna for stationary, and

Eat
There are a number of restaurants, including KFC, Spurs, Mc Donald, Roman's pizza, and a very good fish restaurant at the pier including ocean busket.

Drink
At strand there are many pubs

title: Strand