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Ashland (Nebraska)

Ashland is a city in Eastern Nebraska. The small city sits alongside the Platte River tributary of Salt Creek in Saunders County and had a population of 3,100 people in 2020.

Understand
The city of Ashland has its beginnings as a fording location of Salt Creek. The limestone bottom in the area allowed for caravans traveling on the Oregon Trail to cross the otherwise muddy stream. By 1870, Ashland was established as a town of 700 people. Today, the town is able to enjoy the benefits of living between the two main economic hubs of Nebraska, Lincoln and Omaha, while still being far enough away to retain a sense of identity.

Most of the people in town are employed through manufacturing, agriculture, and the state parks. Camp Ashland, a U.S. National Guard training camp, is located nearby and is off-limits to visitors. NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson grew up in Ashland, and graduated from the local high school; he spent 152 days on the International Space Station in 2007, and is so far the only Nebraskan to go to space.

Get in
There are no bus lines traveling to Ashland. The nearest airport would be in Lincoln or in Omaha. The easiest way to get to Ashland is by car.

By car
Ashland sits at the intersection of NE-66 and US-6 W. The town is almost 5 miles northwest of I-80, the main artery through the state, and midway between Lincoln and Omaha; each is about away.

Get around
Most of the points of interest inside the town are located in the downtown area, in the southeast corner. Exploring this area on foot won't be difficult. However, going anywhere outside the town is going to require a car. There is no public transportation and no taxi services.

The town is grid based and very easy to navigate. Numbered streets go north-south, increasing the further west they are, and named streets go east-west.

Buy
It seems to be a trend in small towns in Nebraska to have multiple antique shops and trinket shops within the town. Those interested in searching for vintage and antique items will have no trouble finding a location to shop. For the sake of brevity, they've been excluded from the list. Most are located in the downtown area.

Eat
Like most of Nebraska, beef is the central focus of the dining experience and large portions are how meals are served. If you cannot eat beef, don't worry about ordering something less popular. Remember you can always take leftovers home, so no need to gorge yourself.

Sleep
There are no hotels or motels in the city. Cabins are available for rent in the area.

Connect

 * Wireless internet access is available at the Ashland Public Library and select businesses.
 * The Ashland Gazette is the local newspaper, offering updates on events occurring in and around the town. The Omaha World Herald is used for more global news.

Go next
Lincoln and Omaha are short drives on I-80 or US-6.

title: Ashland (Nebraska)


text:
Ashland (New Hampshire)

Ashland is a town in the state of New Hampshire.

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

title: Ashland (New Hampshire)


text:
Ashland (Ohio)

Ashland is a city in Northeast Ohio. It is the county seat of Ashland County.

By car

 * Interstate 71, Ashland can be accessed by I-71 (U.S. Route 250 exit 186) which provides connection to Cleveland to the northeast and Columbus and Cincinnati to the southwest, running its course into Kentucky southwest to Louisville.
 * U.S. Route 42 goes in and around the southern and eastern outer edges of the city of Ashland. It provides connection to Mansfield to the southwest and Medina to the northeast.
 * U.S. Route 250 can be accessed by Interstate 71 exit 186 just east outside of the city limits of Ashland. The highway goes in and around the eastern and northern outer edges of the city of Ashland. It provides connection to Norwalk and Sandusky to the northwest and Wooster to the southeast.
 * Ohio State Route 58 goes north to the city of Lorain from U.S. Route 250 on the northern edge of the city of Ashland.
 * Ohio State Route 60 goes through Ashland and through the downtown business district. It provides connection to Hayesville to the south and New London to the north.
 * Ohio State Route 96 goes through Ashland and through the downtown business district. It provides connection to U.S. Route 42 and U.S. Route 250 to the east and the city of Shelby to the west.
 * Ohio State Route 511 goes through Ashland and through the downtown business district. It provides connection to Perrysville to the south and Oberlin to the north.

Buy

Drink
There are plenty of choices for alcohol. Most grocery stores carry it, as well as the gas stations, drive-throughs and convenience stores.

Sleep
Except the Mohican Lodge and Surrey Inn most of the listed hotels in the below are located SE of town at US Hwy 250 & I-71 (Exit #186):

Newspapers

 * Ashland Times Gazette, is the only daily newspaper published in the Ashland, Ohio area.

Go next

 * Charles Mill Lake
 * Loudonville Recreation area.
 * Mohican State Forest
 * Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
 * Pleasant Hill State Park and Lake
 * Mansfield is about 30 minutes southwest on U.S. Route 42.
 * Wooster is about 35 minutes southeast on U.S. Route 250.
 * Canton is about 1 hour and 10 minutes southeast on U.S. Route 250 and east on U.S. Route 30.
 * Cleveland is about 1 hour and 15 minutes northeast on I-71.
 * Columbus is about 1 hour and 25 minutes southwest on I-71.

title: Ashland (Ohio)


text:
Ashland (Oregon)

Ashland is a city in Southern Oregon located at the south end of the Rogue Valley, only about 15 miles from the California border.

Understand
Ashland is a small town, home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, one of the largest and oldest regional theaters in the country. Southern Oregon University balances the tourist population with students throughout the year. The weather is relatively mild, with a few days of snow in the winter, several days of 100F weather in the summer. Some believe that the town resembles northern Italy or Switzerland, with snow-covered peaks in the winter, a lake not too far away in the valley, and a nice, small-town, community feel that is oh-so-rare these days in the States.

There are two main business districts: one downtown, centered on the Plaza and running southwest along Main Street toward the library. This old-fashioned boutique shopping area is home to many amazing restaurants. In fact, you'll have a hard time finding a bad meal. Connected to this area is 93-acre Lithia Park which was designed in part by John McLaren (also the designer of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park) in 1914. The other business district is around two miles to the southwest along Siskiyou Boulevard where it meets Ashland Street/Highway 66, near the Southern Oregon University campus and the Ashland Shopping Center. Ashland has a limited number of drive-through permits, and thus fast food joints. Wendy's, Taco Bell, Subway and other chains are still open in Ashland.

Outside of the business districts, Ashland offers a host of outdoor attractions. The famous Pacific Crest Trail, Crater Lake, rafting, biking and Mount Ashland ski slope are all nearby.

Many public places, including most hotels and B&Bs, coffeehouses and even pubs offer free wireless Internet access.

By car
Exit 11 (Northbound only), 14 or 19 from Interstate 5 in Oregon.

By bus
Greyhound stops in nearby Medford. The local RVTD bus Route 10 stops at Mr. C's (where the Greyhound bus stations is) at :26 & 56 past the hour. The bus ride into downtown will take you about 10 minutes. Buses run between 5:26AM and 6:56PM, Monday-Friday. You pay when you get on the bus.

By taxi
Taxi service is available from Ashland Taxi Cab +1 541 890-8080 or Yellow Cab +1 541 482-3065.

By plane
The Medford International Airport is located 15 miles north of Ashland and is serviced by Allegiant Air, United Air Lines, and Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air. Cascade Airport Shuttle +1 541 488-1998, taxis and some hotels provides service from the airport to Ashland for a nominal fee.

If you are flying your own plane, you can use the Ashland airport (S03).

By train
The closest Amtrak station is located in Klamath Falls, approximately 80 miles away. A shuttle meets the Coast Starlight from California at 10:20AM each day arriving in Ashland at 1PM If you are traveling from the north you must take the connection bus from Portland to the Ashland shuttle. Both shuttles arrive at Safeway about a half mile from downtown. Check www.amtrak.com for more information. *Note:* The Southwest Point shuttle from Klamath Falls to the area is much cheaper than adding the bus leg on an Amtrak ticket

Get around
Parking is free, and easy to find in the wintertime, but summertime availability is a different story, with downtown parking getting quite scarce on evenings when the Shakespeare Festival has shows (i.e., every night but Monday). Many hotels and B&Bs are located close enough to the center of town to make it an easy walk. There are bike lanes downtown and extending outward from the downtown area, making this an easy town to bike around in.

Most days, the Rogue Valley Transportation District operates buses running from one end of town to the other; these buses are $2.00. Be aware, however, the buses run limited hours (5:30AM to 7PM) and do not run at all on weekends.

See
Take a walk along Ashland Creek running down from the hills along Lithia Park, along Calle Guanajuato, running behind the Plaza restaurants and storefonts, and through the center of town. There are plenty of picnic benches and sitting benches for contemplation and conversation in the woods, as well as duck ponds, playgrounds, two large greens and a skating rink in the winter.

Regional Activities

 * Rafting on the Rogue and Upper Klamath Rivers. Check out Indigo Creek Outfitters, Northwest Rafting Company, Kokopelli River Guides, Momentum River Expeditions, Noahs Rafting for 1/2, one day, and multi-day trips.
 * Fishing in the Rogue River.
 * Hiking on Mt. Ashland (Pacific Crest Trail proximity).
 * Fishing in the Rogue River.
 * Hiking on Mt. Ashland (Pacific Crest Trail proximity).
 * Fishing in the Rogue River.
 * Hiking on Mt. Ashland (Pacific Crest Trail proximity).
 * Hiking on Mt. Ashland (Pacific Crest Trail proximity).
 * Hiking on Mt. Ashland (Pacific Crest Trail proximity).

Holidays

 * Impressive Halloween crowd downtown.
 * The Fourth of July Parade is a big event for the town; it draws visitors from around the region.
 * Festival of Lights Parade at the end of November; when all the Christmas lights in the town are turned on.

Eat
Ashland's status as a theater and tourist destination means more good restaurants per capita than might be expected in a town of its size. There are also plenty of budget offerings for the town's college students. Many restaurants offer vegetarian choices. However, Ashland is one of the few places in Oregon that charges a 5% local sales tax on all prepared food. Here are some popular places by price and area:

Southwest end
There are also fast food chains like Subway, Taco Bell and Wendy's.

title: Ashland (Oregon)


text:
Ashland (Wisconsin)

Ashland is at the top of Wisconsin, stretched out along Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay. Located at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 2 and Wisconsin Hwy. 13 just over an hour east of the Twin Ports of Superior, Wisconsin and Duluth, Minnesota, Ashland is perched as the major commercial center for the surrounding area. Though relatively small (7,800 in 2019), Ashland and the surrounding area are home to a vibrant community of thinkers, artists, musicians, and alternative farmers, due in part to the presence of environmental science leader Northland College.

Get in
The major routes to the city include:

 * From the west, U.S. Highway 2 via Iron River (27 miles), Superior (65 miles) and Duluth (70 miles). Also connecting to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul via Interstate 35 (215 miles).
 * From the north, WI Highway 13 via Washburn (11 miles) and Bayfield (23 miles)
 * From the east, U.S. Highway 2 via Ironwood (38 miles) and Michigan's Upper Peninsula
 * From the south, WI Highway 13 via Mellen (24 miles) and Park Falls (60 miles)

Get around
Of course, if you're coming to Ashland from out of town, you'll have your own vehicle with you, but remember your walking shoes, a bicycle, or maybe a pair of roller blades. Ashland has a four-mile-long paved Lake Walk that is dog-friendly and a good vantage for sunsets. The rest of the town in easily accessible by foot or human-powered vehicle as well.

See
The many murals that Ashland's artists have painted on the side of landmark buildings.

Lake Superior. It's the biggest fresh water lake in the world (by surface area).

The local parks. There are several parks in town with beautiful views.

Do
Ashland is a gateway to year-round outdoor recreation. There's inland and Great Lakes fishing and boating, hunting, hiking, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding, and more seasonal festivals in the area than you can shake a stick at.

Buy
The city government has been working with local merchants for the last decade to revitalize Main Street businesses, and there are positive steps forward. Many interesting small boutiques crowd shoulder to shoulder along West Main. East Main street is still behind in the aesthetic department, but may take the cake for utility with a hardware store, electronics shop, several restaurants, and more bars than you can shake a stick at.

Drink
There are many bars along East Main Street.

Pizza Pub (+1 715 682-6641) is a pizza restaurant with bar at 1402 Lake Shore Drive East.

The Blue Room bar is located nearby Pizza Pub.

Campgrounds
The city of Ashland has 2 campgrounds. These campgrounds are on a first come first serve basis.

title: Ashland (Wisconsin)


text:
Ashley

Ashley is a town in the Coteaus and Plains area of North Dakota. It had a population of about 660 people in 2019. It lies at an elevation of.

Understand
Ashley Morrow worked for the construction company that built the railroad through this area.

Get in

 * By car: located at the intersection of state highways 11 and 3, approximately 60 miles south of I-94, exit 228.
 * By plane: Ashley Municipal Airport, general aviation.

title: Ashley


text:
Ashmont

There is more than one place called Ashmont:

Australia

 * Ashmont (New South Wales) - A town in New South Wales.

United States of America

 * Ashmont (Alberta) - A town in Alberta.
 * Ashmont (Massachusetts) - A town in Massachusetts.

title: Ashmont


text:
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Ashmore and Cartier Islands is an Australian external and federal territory off the northwest coast of Western Australia.

Understand
These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983 it became a national reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve. This is a difficult travel destination due to restrictions on access and being in the area of illegal boat movements.

Understanding its location is a useful reference point for understanding boats and their passage between Indonesia and Australia. Monitoring of, or patrolling of the location is, in all probability, a part of the Australian government's policies of controlling illegal immigration.

History
According to Australian literature, Cartier Island was discovered by Captain Nash in 1800, and named after his ship Cartier. Ashmore Island was discovered by Captain Samuel Ashmore in 1811 from his ship HMS Hibernia and named after him. Ashmore Island was annexed by the United Kingdom in 1878, as was Cartier Island in 1909.

A British order-in-council dated 23 July 1931 stated that Ashmore and Cartier Islands would be placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia when Australia passed legislation to accept them, and formal administration began two years later. The Commonwealth's resulting Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933 came into operation on 10 May 1934, when the islands formally became a territory. The act authorised the Governor of Western Australia to make ordinances for the territory. In July 1938 the territory was annexed to the Northern Territory, then also administered by the Commonwealth, whose laws, ordinances and regulations applied to the Northern Territory. When self-government was granted to the Northern Territory on 1 July 1978, administration of Ashmore and Cartier Islands was retained by the Commonwealth.

In 1983, the territory was declared a nature reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, now replaced by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Cartier Island, which was a bombing range, became a marine reserve in 2000.

After the islands became a first point of contact with the Australian migration zone, in September 2001, the Australian government excised the Ashmore and Cartier Islands from the Australian migration zone.

Landscape
The territory comprises Ashmore Reef, which includes West, Middle, and East Islands, and two lagoons, and Cartier Reef, which includes Cartier Island. Ashmore Reef covers approximately 583 km2 and Cartier Reef 167 km2, both measurements extending to the limits of the reefs.

West, Middle, and East Islands have a combined land area variously reported as 54 hectares (130 acres), 93 hectares (230 acres) and 112 hectares (280 acres). Cartier Island has a reported land area of 0.4 hectares (0.99 acres).

Flora and fauna
The diversity of corals is high, with some 255 species of reef-building corals on Ashmore. This is the highest of any reef area off the Western Australian coast. There is likewise a large number of marine invertebrates. The fish is typical of Asia-Pacific coral reefs, but unusually rich, thanks to the diversity of habitats.

There is a small dugong population on Ashmore, probably distinct from other Australian populations. The relation to the Indonesian populations is unknown.

There are significant populations of sea turtles, both breeding populations and feeding populations breeding elsewhere.

There are at least 13 species of sea snakes, which is more than anywhere else.

Also birdlife is rich, with 93 species recorded.

Climate
The climate of Ashmore and Cartier Island is very similar to the Maldives, being arid tropical. Typically, rainfall is restricted to the summer monsoonal period in December–May. In this time freshwater lenses form, but the water may be unhealthy

Talk
There are no inhabitants, although you may come across Australian officials speaking English, Indonesian fisherman speaking Rotinese or other eastern Indonesian languages, or scientists from around the world.

Get in
It is a protected area. Only the east beach and west corridor of the West Island Lagoon of Ashmore Island are open to the public. Cartier Island is off limits due to unexploded ordnance. For most of the year, the Australian Border Force ship Thaiyak is in the vicinity. For access to any other part of the Ashmore Islands or any part of Cartier Island, a permit from the Australian government is required.

For the accessible West Island Lagoon, there is no landing strip. Visitors must arrive by boat, and those visiting must use visitor-designated moorings (buoys in the lagoon). If none are available, you can only anchor in sand, taking care to keep clear of the corals. Anchoring in or near the coral is not permitted. There are separate moorings for the authorities, which may not be used.

Most visitors arrive by own yacht, but there have been one or two commercial tours a year. The moorings are designed for different vessels. The heavy duty ones are suitable for a typical 20-m yacht in winds up to 15 m/s, for a typical 12-m yacht in winds up to 25 m/s.

Fees and permits
There is a very limited area open to the public, mostly the West Island Lagoon, the access to it and a strip at the beach, 50 metres wide and at mean high tide 200 m up the shore.

Taking any object, animal or plant is forbidden, including collecting empty shells. Also don't feed the fish.

Using pesticides is not allowed.

Subsistence fishing is allowed according to special arrangements, at most for the need for one day of sailing. Check current regulations regarding needed permit, methods, allowed species etc.

Scuba diving and snorkelling in the areas accessible to the public is allowed without permits.

You'll need an appropriate permit for visits elsewhere, or for commercial activities, including commercial photography.

Make sure you don't pollute or disturb the environment. This is a very valuable reserve and it's one of the last of its kind here.

Get around
By a dinghy and swimming.

Buy
There are no shops. You must bring everything you need.

Eat
Subsistence fishing in the area accessible to the public, for immediate consumption and for one day of sailing, is allowed, but restricted to some species and specific methods, and might require a general permit. Any other food has to be brought. Campfires are not permitted.

Drink
There is a well at the beach, and after rain there may be water elsewhere. These may be infected with cholera, bring your own or check with the administration.

Sleep
Your boat is the only option, unless you have permits for other arrangements. No camping.

Stay safe
Cartier Island is off limits due to UXO's (unexploded ordnance).

The wells that may be available are contaminated by cholera.

Take care with navigation, no guarantees the navigational advice or markings are correct.

Note the low lying nature of the islands.

Go next
If due to an accident you find yourself in the area of these islands and their reefs - the Indonesian island of Roti is 144 km north, and Australia's north west coast is over 300 km to the south. Mind the Timor Current driving you to the southwest.

 * Indonesia
 * Australian mainland

title: Ashmore and Cartier Islands


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Ashtabula

Ashtabula is a commercial, historical, and recreational center in Ashtabula County in Northeast Ohio, roughly equidistant from Cleveland and Erie, Pa. As of 2018 census, the population is about 18,000. The name Ashtabula comes from the Lenape language, where it means "Always enough fish to be shared around".

By car

 * U.S. Route 20 - Runs through town from southwest to northeast.
 * Ohio State Route 11 - Runs north of town toward the south ending near Youngstown, OH.
 * State Route 45 - Runs from the south, west outside of town, ending north at Lake Erie.
 * State Route 84 - Runs from southwest through town ending north at Lake Erie.
 * State Route 531 - Runs west to east, north of town along Lake Erie.
 * Interstate 90 - Main Interstate running southwest to northeast 6 miles south of town. Best route to travel to Cleveland to the west and Erie, PA. and Buffalo, NY. to the east.

By car
Driving is the best way around town.
 * City Taxicab & Transfer Co. 1753 W Prospect Rd,.
 * Premier Transportation 6710 N Ridge Rd W,

By bike
At only 7 square miles, it is possible to walk or bicycle to locations within Ashtabula.

Budget

 * Salvato's Pizza, pizza, salads, and subs, 1810 E Prospect Rd,.
 * Salvato's Pizza, pizza, salads, and subs, 1810 E Prospect Rd,.
 * Salvato's Pizza, pizza, salads, and subs, 1810 E Prospect Rd,.
 * Salvato's Pizza, pizza, salads, and subs, 1810 E Prospect Rd,.
 * Salvato's Pizza, pizza, salads, and subs, 1810 E Prospect Rd,.
 * Salvato's Pizza, pizza, salads, and subs, 1810 E Prospect Rd,.

Go next
Youngstown, Erie, and Cleveland are around an hour away from Ashtabula.

title: Ashtabula


text:
Ashtabula County

Ashtabula County is in Northeast Ohio in the most northeastern part of Ohio bordering Pennsylvania on the east and Lake Erie on the north. At 705 square miles, Ashtabula is the largest county in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 101,497.

Cities

 * - Home of Pymatuning Lake which is a recreational hotspot in the southeastern portion of the county. The Pymatuning Lake and region extends over the border into Pennsylvania. One of the last remaining Drive-In movie theaters is located here. The theater also is home to a flea market. The town is the shopping district for residents and tourists to the Pymatuning region.
 * - Commercial, historical, and recreational center along Lake Erie. Home to many shopping venues and a mall. Along Lake Erie one can swim, fish, and boat.
 * - Lake Erie tourist area. Outdoor recreation includes camping, fishing, boating, and golfing. The historical Seneca Indian woodlands, and the wineries attract many visitors.
 * - Along Lake Erie. The town is a tourist summer getaway known for its shopping, outdoor recreation, and wineries. It is also home to the annual summer Great Lakes Medieval Faire.
 * - Resort town along Lake Erie. Home to many resort attractions which includes shopping, outdoor recreation, minigolf, go-carts, an amusement park, and waterslides.
 * - County seat. Historical town featuring railroad history in its active depot. From this depot visitors can ride the AC&J "High Grade" passenger train during the summer and fall. The world's only Victorian Perambulator Museum is found here. Also Astabula fairgrounds is located here where the county fair is held every August and the Covered Bridge Festival every October.
 * - Old fashioned town featuring many of the county's covered bridges. Of interest is a pizza parlor housed in one of the covered bridges. Recreation includes golfing and bowling. A commercial area is located along I-90 and Route 193.
 * - Part of the Grand Valley region.
 * - Part of the Grand Valley region.

Other destinations

 * - Scenic region in Ashtabula County made up of rural green areas and woodlands. It also includes the communities of Colebrook, Hartsgrove, Orwell, Roaming Shores, Rome and Windsor. In this region you can find the world's largest statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Servants of Mary Center for Peace in Windsor, and recreational activities such as hunting, fishing and camping year round.
 * - Indian term translated as "the crooked-mouthed man's dwelling place." Lake and state park in the southeast portion of Ashtabula county which extends into Pennsylvania. Outdoor recreation in the area includes camping, boating, hiking, and swimming. The Grand River is found north of the lake off St. Rt. 322 and St. Rt. 6.
 * - Scenic region in Ashtabula County made up of rural green areas and woodlands. It also includes the communities of Colebrook, Hartsgrove, Orwell, Roaming Shores, Rome and Windsor. In this region you can find the world's largest statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Servants of Mary Center for Peace in Windsor, and recreational activities such as hunting, fishing and camping year round.
 * - Indian term translated as "the crooked-mouthed man's dwelling place." Lake and state park in the southeast portion of Ashtabula county which extends into Pennsylvania. Outdoor recreation in the area includes camping, boating, hiking, and swimming. The Grand River is found north of the lake off St. Rt. 322 and St. Rt. 6.

Understand
Ashtabula county is a recreational area and its main tourist season is during the summer months of June, July, and August. It is also a nice getaway resort area away from the congested Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh metro areas about 50-150 miles west, east, and southeast of Ashtabula county. Ashtabula is located along Lake Erie and is prone to the local weather patterns from the lake. Lake Erie bring a pleasant cool breeze in the summer but cold snowy conditions in the winter. Ashtabula county falls within the snowbelt region and gets a good amount of lake effect snow activity during that season. Snow can be fairly deep and travel conditions during that season can be fairly hazardous. If traveling to this region during winter keep that in mind. The snowfall can be rather beautiful and opens up the recreational potential to cross country skiing, sled riding, and ice skating. Also Ashtabula county celebrates Christmas in style in many of the towns with Christmas themed shops and Christmas tree farms.

Talk
People in Northeast Ohio will usually relate distance by how long it will take to drive somewhere. Cleveland won't be 53 miles west, it will be about an hour west.

Temperature in the winter is measured by windchill usually blowing from Lake Erie. The air temperature may be 30 degrees F, but with windchill 18 degrees F.

Get in

 * State Route 11 - Coming from Youngstown, Pittsburgh, and areas in between, this highway brings you into the heart of Ashtabula county.
 * Interstate 90 - Coming from Cleveland from the west or Buffalo from the east and points in between, take Interstate 90 which runs parallel with Lake Erie and the lake resort towns.

Get around
Drive in or, if flying into a metro area, rent a vehicle. It's the only way to get around Ashtabula county and will free you up to visit all there is to see.

See

 * Covered Bridges - There are 53 covered bridges in Ashtabula county. A few of the bridges include pizza parlors within their structure.

Do

 * Wineries- Take a wine taxi to visit the different wineries in the area.
 * Beaches- Part of the Ohio Northcoast along Lake Erie.
 * Lakeside Theatre Program
 * Bicycle Riding, Western Reserve Greenway, Austinburg Trail Head, 2773 Ohio State Route 307, 440-576-0717, . A 43-mile, mostly shaded and rural paved bike trail that runs north-south from Ashtabula to Warren, Ohio. There are 6 trailheads and parking lots along the trail, which features bridges and signs describing historical events.
 * Shopping- Clothing, Farm products, Antiques and collectibles.
 * Bicycle Riding, Western Reserve Greenway, Austinburg Trail Head, 2773 Ohio State Route 307, 440-576-0717, . A 43-mile, mostly shaded and rural paved bike trail that runs north-south from Ashtabula to Warren, Ohio. There are 6 trailheads and parking lots along the trail, which features bridges and signs describing historical events.
 * Shopping- Clothing, Farm products, Antiques and collectibles.

Eat

 * Fish and Seafood - Fresh catches from Lake Erie and various rivers. Steelhead, perch, walleye.
 * Steak / Bison - Fresh meat from local farms.
 * Pizza - Pizza parlors (local and franchised) are all over the county; make sure to try the pizza parlors housed in some of the covered bridges.
 * Ice Cream - Get homemade ice cream from some of the local dairies.
 * Homemade Treats - Pies, pastries, jams, noodles, corn fridders.
 * Drive-In's - Get burgers, fries, ice cream, mikshakes, sodas, etc., at the curb without leaving your car. Seasonal.
 * Cafes - Nice social locales especially in the cold winter months.

Drink

 * Wine, Wine, and More Wine - Wineries all over the county. Get a fresh bottle or glass from the wineries or various restaurants.
 * Bars and Saloons - In various locations throughout the county, serving brews from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo.

Go next

 * Cedar Point
 * Cleveland
 * Youngstown

Mileage to Major Cities
All information is estimated.
 * Buffalo 144.2 miles 2 1/2 hours
 * Charleston 289 miles 5 1/2 hours
 * Chicago 398 miles 7 1/2 hours
 * Cincinnati 290 miles 5 1/2 hours
 * Cleveland 53 miles 1 hour
 * Columbus 189 miles 3 1/2 hours
 * Detroit 223 miles 4 1/4 hours
 * Erie 53 miles 1 hour
 * Harrisburg 335 miles 6 1/2 hours
 * Lake Erie Islands 132 miles 2 1/2 miles
 * New York 446 miles 8 hours
 * Niagara Falls 166.7miles 3 hours
 * Philadelphia 434 mile 7 1/2 hours
 * Pittsburgh 142 miles 2 1/2 hours
 * Aurora 64 miles 1 1/4 hours
 * Wheeling 146 miles 3 1/4 hours
 * Youngstown 62 miles 1 1/4 hours

Adjacent counties

 * Lake County (west)
 * Erie County (northeast)
 * Crawford County (east)
 * Trumbull County (south)
 * Geauga County (southwest)

title: Ashtabula County


text:
Ashtarak

Ashtarak is a small city in Central Armenia 20 km northwest of Yerevan. It features the best-preserved Armenian church of the 7th century, Karmravor.

Understand
Ashtarak is located at the intersection of roads leading to Gyumri and Yerevan. Due to such a convenient location the settlement appeared here long time ago. However, it didn't play any significant role until the second half of the twentieth century, when Ashtarak acquired the status of a city and started to host Institute of physics of Armenian Academy of Sciences. The name of the city means "a tower" in Armenian.

Ashtarak does not look like the regional center nowadays: it's a sleepy town, where it's easier to meet a chicken rather than a car. A trip here is a good opportunity to escape a rush of Yerevan for a few hours.

Get in
Public transport is the cheapest option and provides good connections.

By bus

From specific destinations:
 * Yerevan – There are minibuses #502, #503 departing from Yerevan's Kilikia Bus Station. The price is 250 dram (2019). Ask the driver to stop at Ashtaraki Hraparak (the main square), otherwise you'll be dropped out at the not so centrally located bus station.

By taxi
Taxi drivers will be happy to drive you from Yerevan to Ashtarak or anywhere else. Approximate price range from the center of Yerevan is 2,200-2,500 dram.

By car
The road from Yerevan to Ashtarak is M1 motorway (4-lane road in a good condition). There is another quite OK road from Echmiadzin (17 km), which is convenient if you want to visit Echmiadzin and Ashtarak on the same day from Yerevan.

Get around
Everything is within walking distance.

Sleep
There is only one very average hotel in Ashtarak, but Yerevan with plenty of sleeping options is half an hour's drive away.

Go next

 * Echmiadzin – There are bus services leaving from the bus station. The journey only takes ½ hr.
 * Oshakan Village – A little down the river. Here the creator of the Armenian alphabet, Mesrob Mashtots, is buried in the village church.
 * Mughni – Just north along the river (and highway), with an interesting church where alternating colors of stone form black and red bands around the cupola.
 * Hovhannavank Monastery – Further north in Ohanavan village. This restored monastery is perched atop the cliffs and has a great view of Mt. Ara.
 * Saghmosavank Monastery – Just east of Artashavan village shares the same great views of the gorge and Mt. Ara. You can hike from one to the other in the gorge. Great architecture, carvings, details.
 * Aparan – Much further north is this town, whose inhabitants are the butt of jokes which pin them as not the brightest folk. The very ancient, black Kasagh basilica church, just a few meters from the main highway is worth dropping into on your way to Lori Marz.

title: Ashtarak


text:
Ashton

There is more than one place called Ashton:

Australia

 * Ashton (South Australia) - A town in South Australia.

Canada

 * Ashton (Ontario) - A town in Ontario.

South Africa

 * Ashton (South Africa) - A town in South Africa.

United States of America

 * Ashton (Idaho) - A town in Idaho.
 * Ashton (Illinois) - A town in Illinois.

title: Ashton


text:
Ashton (Idaho)

Ashton is a city of 1,000 people (2019) in Eastern Idaho. Ashton is well known for its seed potato growing area.

Get in
Take the U.S. Highway 20 from Idaho Falls or from West Yellowstone, Montana.

Go next

 * Yellowstone National Park
 * Grand Teton National Park

title: Ashton (Idaho)


text:
Tameside

Tameside is a borough on the east side of Greater Manchester, with Ashton-under-Lyne its main town. There are over 300 listed buildings in Tameside and three Scheduled Ancient Monuments, including Buckton Castle. In 2019 the population was 226,000.

Understand
The River Tame, which in the 19th century powered the local cotton mills, was historically the boundary between Lancashire to the north and Cheshire to the south. The cotton industry slumped in the 20th century, and the area became a mix of commuterland, light industry and derelict brownfield. In 1974 Tameside was created from townships both sides of the river, notably Ashton-under-Lyne, Audenshaw, Droylesden, Denton, Hyde and Stalybridge.

The town is often abbreviated to "Ashton" but that is a very common place name, so when taking transport always refer in full to "Ashton-under-Lyne".

By train
Another line runs to the south of the town, with trains every 30 min from Manchester Piccadilly via Hyde (North and Central) to Marple (Rose Hill).

From Manchester Airport, take any train running to Victoria then change for Ashton-under-Lyne. You can also change at Piccadilly where almost all airport trains are heading, but that's a big station and a long walk between platforms.

By tram
Ashton-under-Lyne is the terminus of the Metrolink orange and light blue lines. Trams take 35 min from central Manchester via Piccadilly, Etihad Campus and Droylesden. Ashton is in Fare Zone 3 so a single journey is £3.80; trams run every 5-10 min 6AM-midnight. Westbound, these lines run through city centre to Salford Quays and Media City, with the light blue line continuing to Eccles. Change in city centre for trams to Victoria, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale, to East Didsbury, to Wythenshawe and the airport, to Imperial War Museum and Trafford Centre, and to Old Trafford, Stretford, Sale and Altrincham. You must buy your ticket from machines on the platform before you travel.

By bus
Bus 219 runs between central Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne every 10 min, taking 35 min. National Express and Megabus don't come this way, change at Manchester Chorlton St bus station.

Bus 409 runs from Rochdale via Oldham every 15 min and bus 330 runs from Ashton to Hyde and Stockport every 15 min.

By car
The M60 and M67 provide motorway access to the area. From central Manchester, follow the A635 for Ashton or the A57 east for Denton and Hyde.

Get around
Bus 330 runs from Ashton to Hyde every 15 min, taking 35 min. Bus 387 runs hourly from Ashton to Mottram, Hattersley and Hyde. Various buses run to Stalybridge (via Stamford Park) taking about 10-15 min.

See

 * (Anglican) dates back to the 13th century, but has been much altered. What you see now is a Victorian pocket-sized version of Manchester cathedral.
 * (aka "Portland Basin") is the junction of three canals: the Peak Forest Canal, the Ashton Canal and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. All three are worth exploring, see "Do". There's a small museum in a converted warehouse, open Tu-Su 10AM-4PM, and free.
 * is a former mill village along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. It has a turbulent history: in the 19th century there were riots by Luddites against mill mechanisation, and agitation against Catholics (codeword for Irish immigrants). Its main sight is the Astley Cheetham Art Gallery, upstairs in the library.
 * is a hill of 308 m (1010 feet) that rears up north of the golf course, with views on a clear day to Snowdonia. Near its summit is a stocky tower rebuilt in 1863. The entrance is bricked up: an inscription reads "Look well at me Before you go, And See You nothing at me throw". This advice is still relevant.
 * east of Mossley was a medieval enclosure castle. There's not much left of it and you come for the moorland views.
 * (Anglican) in Haughton, opened in 1881, is an outstanding example of Gothic Revival style.
 * Hyde is a suburb south of Ashton. In its is a memorial garden to the victims of Dr Shipman, the local GP or family doctor. He was much admired by his patients, but concern arose about the number of unexpected deaths of elderly women that he certified as "old age" before they were cremated to leave no evidence. In 1998 Mrs Grundy was so certified and had recently changed her will to cut out her family and benefit Shipman. Her body was exhumed and found to contain diamorphine (heroin). Shipman explained that she was an addict and showed investigators the computerised medical case-notes. It was quickly apparent that these had been re-written after her death - Shipman had simply no idea that his computer would retain edits. He was found guilty of 15 murders by lethal injection of diamorphine, and of the forgery of Grundy's will. A wider enquiry across places he'd worked in northern England concluded that he'd killed some 250, the most prolific serial killer in British history. There were widespread reforms to UK medical practice in the wake of this. Shipman hanged himself in Wakefield prison in 2004.
 * is a 279 m (915 ft) hill south of Hyde, bordering Stockport. "Werneth" is from verno an old Brythonic word for alder trees, while "Low" is equivalent to the Scottish law meaning a hill. It's an open area of country park, with views towards the Welsh mountains. On it stands Hyde Cenotaph.
 * is an old mill village perched on a bend of the River Etherow. One mill is still working, and there are 18th-century mill cottages and an impressive railway viaduct.

Do

 * Walk, cycle or boat along the three canals that meet at Dukinfield Junction. All are fully navigable, have multiple access points to the towpath, and pubs along the way.
 * Huddersfield Narrow Canal, re-opened in 2001, is 20 miles long and has 74 locks. It heads east up the river valley through Stalybridge (where it wriggles between the legs of a pylon) towards Mossley. See Oldham and Marsden for its upper reaches, where it plunges beneath the Pennines along the 5675 yard (5189 m) Standedge Tunnel. It then descends to Huddersfield, where it joins other waterways eventually leading to the North Sea and into the Trent network. The Narrow Canal is only 7 foot wide so capacity is limited, but when it opened in 1811 it revolutionised transpennine transport.
 * The broader Ashton Canal was re-opened in 1974. It descends west for 7 miles through 18 locks via Audenshaw, Droylesden, Clayton, Bradford and Ancoats to Ducie Junction in Manchester, where it meets the Rochdale Canal. Four other connecting canals have been lost.
 * The narrow Peak Forest Canal was also re-opened in 1974. From Dukinfield Junction it crosses the Tame Valley by an aqueduct and heads south for 7 miles through Hyde, Woodley, Bredbury, and Romiley to Marple. At Marple it ascends a ladder of 16 locks to a junction with the Macclesfield Canal, which goes south into Cheshire. The upper stretch of the Peak Forest Canal continues for 7 miles without further locks through New Mills and Whaley Bridge to dead-end at Bugsworth in Derbyshire.
 * The Ashton and lower Peak Forest canals form part of the Cheshire Ring, a navigable 97-mile circuit which takes a week to putter round in a narrowboat.
 * Walk the Pennines: the most scenic parts are just across the border into Derbyshire, but Ashton is a good base if you have a car. The Pennine Way traverses these moors from Edale to the scarp above Oldham and Rochdale then north across Yorkshire.
 * Golf: Ashton-under-Lyne Golf Club is a mile northeast of town.
 * Watch football: Manchester City's Etihad Stadium is four miles away on the tram line to Piccadilly.

Buy

 * Ashton Market is at Bow St off Wellington St. Regular outdoor and indoor markets are M-Sa, the Flea Market is Tu 8AM-4:30PM, and the Farmers Market is last Sunday of each month 9AM-1PM.
 * Ashton Arcades has the usual High Street stores over two floors. It's next to the bus station.

Eat

 * Puccini is an Italian restaurant at 141 Katherine St, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7AW. It's open Su M 1-8PM, Tu-Sa noon-10PM.
 * Lily's serves vegetarian Indian and Indo-Chinese food. It's at 85 Oldham Rd, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DY and open M noon-2PM, W Th noon-8PM, F Sa noon-9PM, Su noon-5PM.

Drink

 * The Ash Tree is a JD Wetherspoon at 9 Wellington Rd near the railway station. It's open Su-Th 8:30AM-11:30PM, F Sa 8:30AM-1AM.
 * The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn is the UK pub with the longest name, at 9 Market St Stalybridge SK15 2AL. Known locally as "The Rifleman", it's open M-Th 3-10PM, F Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-10PM. It's only 50 yards from the pub with the shortest name, Q. When The Rifleman opened in 2019 they bought the name from the owners of a place southside of the village that now calls itself "The Original Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn." That is both true and longer, but it's closed as a pub so it doesn't make the record books.
 * The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn is the UK pub with the longest name, at 9 Market St Stalybridge SK15 2AL. Known locally as "The Rifleman", it's open M-Th 3-10PM, F Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-10PM. It's only 50 yards from the pub with the shortest name, Q. When The Rifleman opened in 2019 they bought the name from the owners of a place southside of the village that now calls itself "The Original Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn." That is both true and longer, but it's closed as a pub so it doesn't make the record books.

Connect
As of June 2021, Tameside has 4G from O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and Three.

Go next

 * Manchester for big city attractions.
 * The Peak District just east has attractive karst scenery and moorlands.
 * Cheshire has several stately homes and grand mansions, the nearest being Lyme Park in Disley near Stockport.

title: Tameside


text:
Asia

Asia is the world's largest continent by land area and population, home to 4.4 billion people, more than half of the world's population.

The continent is too massive and diverse to conceptualize as a single digestible travel "destination". Travel options range widely, from the desert ruins and modern mega-malls of the Middle East to the magnificent ancient monuments and giant mountains in South Asia, from the beach bungalows and jungle treks of Southeast Asia to the mega-cities and technology capitals of East Asia. Asia gets a tremendous number of travellers, both for tourism and business. Many of the world's most-visited cities are in Asia, including Bangkok, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, Mumbai, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo.

Asia offers intriguing destinations for every type of traveller, be they a novice or an experienced road-warrior. Easier options include modern, prosperous countries like Japan and the East Asian Tigers of Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea, where people enjoy very high standards of living.

There are also poor Asian countries with significant levels of malnutrition, such as Cambodia, Afghanistan, Laos, and East Timor. Some countries are well-established on the budget tourist trail, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

There are countries that strictly restrict tourism to certain regions or types of tourism, such as Bhutan and the Maldives. North Korea and Turkmenistan, easily the world's most isolated and repressive states, take it even further, with constantly-watched group tours dedicated to their "great leaders".

Of course, there are also many countries lying somewhere in the middle, which is where one might place the emerging powerhouses of China and India; those huge, populous lands make wonderful travel destinations in themselves due to their long history, traditions and diversity.

Regions
The traditional Asia–Europe border through Russia is the Ural Mountains and the Ural River. For cultural and historical reasons, some parts of the Caucasus are considered European. The Bosphorus bisecting Istanbul is also regarded as the border between Asia and Europe. Sinai is geographically in Asia but politically a part of Egypt. And at the other end of Asia, the continental plate of Australia also includes parts of Indonesia, which is generally counted as part of Southeast Asia. Similarly, the island of Cyprus is geographically part of Asia, but usually considered part of Europe.

Cities

 * — Thailand's bustling, cosmopolitan capital with temples, nightlife and fervor

 * — the capital of China with Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and many cultural sights.

 * — the most modern and progressive Emirate in the UAE, developing at an unbelievable pace

 * — a truly world-class metropolis with a unique mixed Chinese and British heritage

 * — containing the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old City, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims

 * — the financial heart of India is an extraordinarily diverse, busy and cosmopolitan city, known for its nightlife and for being the capital of Bollywood.

 * — with beautiful palaces, great food and a hopping nightlife, Seoul is a frenetic way to experience the Asia of old and new

 * — a modern, affluent city-state with a medley of Chinese, Indian, Malay and British influences

 * — the world's largest city brings a huge, wealthy and fascinating metropolis with high-tech visions of the future side by side with glimpses of old Japan

Other destinations
These are some of the largest and most famous destinations apart from major cities.

 * — the magnificent remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire

 * — unique Hindu culture, beaches and mountains on the Island of the Gods

 * — stay afloat in this extremely salty lake

 * — several thousand kilometers long, its condition ranges from excellent to ruined

 * — the biggest and deepest freshwater lake in the world, containing over one fifth of the world's supply

 * — the world's tallest mountain straddling the border of Tibet and Nepal

 * — an ancient city carved out of sandstone and one of the new Seven Wonders

 * — the impressive historic heart of Samarkand, a major trade city on the Silk Road

 * — the incomparable marble tomb in Agra

See also UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand
Asia is the birthplace of eleven major religions: namely, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Taoism, Jainism and the Baha'i Faith, not to mention countless other tribal faiths. It is also home to the world's fastest growing cities, a wide range of exotic cuisines, the world's highest mountain ranges and some of the world's most ancient cultures.

Geography
Asia is by far the largest continent and as such is extremely varied geographically. Asia contains virtually every possible climate and terrain from the frozen plains of Siberia to the jungles of Indonesia to the deserts of Arabia. Asia's (and the world's) highest point is Mount Everest, in the Himalayas along the border of Tibet and Nepal, which rises to above sea level. Its lowest point is the Dead Sea, located at the meeting points of Israel, Palestine and Jordan, whose surface is below sea level. Asia's longest river is the Yangtze, which runs through China all the way from the high Tibetan Plateau to Shanghai. Its largest lake is the 386,400 km² (149,200 square mile) Caspian Sea, which is surrounded by several Central Asian nations. Asia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, by Australia to the southeast, and by the Indian Ocean to the south. It is bordered by the Red Sea to the southwest, by Europe and the Urals to the west, and by the Arctic Ocean to the north.

East Asia (China, Japan, Korea) is relatively temperate with distinct seasonal differences. South and South East Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, India, Burma etc.) has a monsoon climate. Generally hot all year round but with a wet and dry season. Most of Asia's rainforests and beaches are to be found here. West Asia (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon etc.) is hot and often dry. Winters can be mild but summer can be extremely hot. Central and north Asia have continental climate with the coldest winters outside Antarctica and hot summers; in some places the difference between all-time highs and lows can be over 100°C.

History
The history of Asia is long, complex and diverse enough that some universities have whole departments devoted to it and a full account would be a multi-volume work. Even a reasonable summary would be much more than a travel guide could sensibly attempt.

Most of our country articles, and some region or city articles, include summaries of the relevant history. Consult those for basic information, or see Wikipedia, other sites, or a library for more detail. Most Wikivoyage articles include a link to the corresponding Wikipedia article; it is found in the menu to the left of the text. Also, some articles here cover historically important things in Asia:
 * Asian empires: Ancient Mesopotamia, the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, the Caliphates, the Ottoman Empire, the Mughal Empire, Imperial China, the Mongol Empire, pre-modern Korea, pre-modern Japan, the Khmer Empire
 * Colonial empires: British Empire, Russian Empire, Japanese colonial empire, Dutch Empire, Portuguese Empire, Spanish Empire, French colonial empire
 * Routes: Silk Road, On the trail of Marco Polo, On the trail of Kipling's Kim, and Istanbul to New Delhi over land
 * 20th century: Soviet Union, Chinese Revolutions and Pacific War

All the UNESCO lists — World Heritage, Intangible Cultural Heritage, Biosphere reserves, Geology parks and Creative Cities — include sites in Asia. So do the Wikivoyage articles on Archaeological sites, Historical travel, Architecture, and Old towns.

Talk

 * See the general Talk article for a discussion on how to cope without speaking the local language.

English proficiency varies widely between countries and regions. English is the main working language in Singapore, and widely spoken as a second language by educated people in many former British and American colonies such as Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Hong Kong, most of South Asia, the small Arab states of the Gulf, Jordan and Israel. Elsewhere, English proficiency is rudimentary at best. Refer to the guide for individual countries for how well you are likely to fare.

It is not possible to list all the languages and dialects throughout Asia. We can however detail the major groups you are likely to encounter:
 * Sino-Tibetan — The Chinese languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, Minnan etc.), Burmese, Tibetan, Dzongkha and some languages in North-Eastern India.
 * Turkic — Turkish, Azerbaijani, Uyghur, Turkmen, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tatar and several local languages throughout Siberia
 * Semitic — Arabic is spoken in Arab countries throughout the Middle East, and Hebrew is spoken in Israel.
 * Indo-European — a huge group that includes most of the languages of Europe plus some in Asia
 * Iranian — Persian, Pashto, Tajik, and Kurdish are widely spoken in the Middle East and Central Asia. Also includes the Ossetian language in the Caucasus, and some minority languages in Xinjiang, China.
 * Indo-Aryan — the descendants of Sanskrit, including Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Sinhala, Sindhi and Nepali are found through much of the Indian sub-continent.
 * Armenian is the official language of Armenia, and also spoken by the ethnic Armenian minorities in neighbouring countries such as Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia.
 * Russian, spoken in Russia and serving as a lingua franca in much of the Caucasus and Central Asia. Also the most widely spoken foreign language in Mongolia
 * Portuguese is an official language in Macau and East Timor, where it is spoken by a significant minority. It is also spoken by a small, mainly upper class, community in Goa, while a Portuguese-based creole is spoken by the Portuguese Eurasian community in Malacca.
 * Dravidian — A distinct language group of South Indian languages including Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu. These are completely unrelated to the north Indian languages such as Hindi and Urdu, though they contain a number of loan words from Sanskrit.
 * Tai–Kadai — Thai and Lao are spoken in Thailand and Laos respectively. Other languages in this family are spoken by ethnic minorities in Myanmar, Vietnam and China.
 * Austroasiatic — Vietnamese and Khmer are spoken in Vietnam and Cambodia respectively. Other languages in this family are spoken by ethnic minorities in Myanmar, Thailand and China.
 * Austronesian — Malay and Indonesian are mostly mutually intelligible; most other local languages in Malaysia and Indonesia such as Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese, Iban and Kadazan are not mutually intelligible, but also belong to the same language family. Most languages of the Philippines — the most important are Tagalog and Cebuano — are also in this group. Tetum, the main language spoken in East Timor, also falls in this family. Other Austronesian languages are spoken in Madagascar, throughout the Pacific islands, and by the indigenous Taiwanese.
 * Mongolic — Mongolian, as the name suggests, and some minority languages in Russia such as Buryat and Kalmyk

Asia has a few significant isolated languages not proven to be related to others including Korean, Japanese (except the Ryukyuan languages spoken in the Ryukyu Islands) and Georgian.

Some linguists group Japanese, Korean, the Mongolic languages, the Tungusic languages (e.g. Manchu, Xibe, Evenki, Even, etc.) and the Turkic languages into a single language family called the Altaic or Transeurasian languages, but this is controversial. All these languages share similar grammatical structures, which make the others easier to pick up if you already know one of them.

By plane
Asia's busiest airports include Hong Kong, Dubai , Beijing , Singapore , Kuala Lumpur , Bangkok , Seoul , Tokyo and Jakarta. If you're heading to anywhere in Asia, chances are that you'll pass through at least one of these airports whether in transit or as a final stop. Fortunately for those with long transit times, they are some of the best equipped airports in the world, known for their efficient service and ample distractions. Additionally, Shanghai and Guangzhou  are major hubs for travel to China, and New Delhi, Mumbai  and Chennai  for the Indian sub-continent. For the Middle East, Doha and Abu Dhabi  also have reasonably good connections.

By train
If you are coming to Asia by train, you'll likely be coming in through Russia or Turkey, although other options may exist. For an interesting experience, try the Trans-Siberian Railway, or alternatively some of the lines from Moscow to Central Asia.

By boat
Asian ports are cruise destinations, and various companies such as Royal Caribbean and Princess run cruises from Australia, while Holland America travels across the Pacific from North America. Freighter travel is another option, including if you wish to travel to ports in the Asian part of Mediterranean. Coming from Africa sea piracy is a threat to take seriously. Piracy in the Strait of Malacca has declined, but may still be relevant.

As the Bosporus is considered to be the boundary between Europe and Asia, one of the various ferries in Istanbul can also get you into Asia.

There is ferry access from Asia to Africa and reverse via Jordan and Egypt. As of 2019 Ferries still connect African Egypt with Asia via ABMarine. However you will not be permitted to leave Sinai into the rest of Africa unless you take the Nuweiba, Egypt ferry from Aqaba, Jordan. Leaving Asia to Africa via Israel, will cause you to not be able to leave Sinai into the rest of Africa as you can not get permission to go further into Africa when using the Israeli borders or even the Taba, Egypt port as well. The Nuweiba ferry is the only way to go if you want to travel via ferry and land to Africa. If you enter Asia this route, several nationalities can enter visa-free as long as you exit Jordan via the same city within 30 days because of the AZEA Trade Agreement.

On foot
Some cities, including Yekaterinburg are built across what is commonly considered the dividing line between Europe and Asia and you can comfortably walk across that line if you are in the city already. Istanbul is also nominally in this category, but pedestrians aren't normally allowed in any of its intercontinental bridges and tunnels.

By plane
Air travel is a good mode of transport between this large region's many travel destinations. Fares are lower on average than in Europe or America, and low-cost airlines in Asia are rapidly expanding their networks particularly in Southeast Asia. In addition, Asia is also home to some of the world's best regarded full service airlines, such as Singapore Airlines, Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific, South Korea's Korean Air and Asiana Airlines,  Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL), Taiwan's EVA Air and the big three Middle Eastern airlines Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, which make good options for those willing to spend some extra money to fly in relative comfort with better service.

By boat
Ferry services connect China, South Korea and Japan in East Asia. There are also very many international and domestic ferry services for the island nations in South East Asia including the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

By train
There are highly developed train networks in India, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, as well as less developed services throughout South East Asia. Most of these countries, but especially China have also been investing a lot in high speed rail, and even for longer distances trains might be a worthwhile option not only in terms of views and comfort but also in terms of price and speed, especially if you figure in the time and money saved while you sleep on sleeper services. In Russia and India, big parts of the country are mostly served by slow rail and it is a superb way to get into contact with locals (bring a phrasebook) or just see the country pass by the window. China and Japan are expanding their high speed networks, with China even planning to build international links to South East Asia and possibly North or South Korea. South Korea's relatively young network of high speed lines is also planned to expand within the next decades, however due to the political situation, international links are unlikely in the immediate future.

By bus
Travel by bus is an option for the budget conscious traveler in most Asian countries, and often a good way to come into contact with locals. Quality of services ranges wildly from luxurious buses on par with or even more comfortable and faster than some trains to beat up old school buses where you might conceivable actually sit next to a live chicken. (Hence their nickname "chicken bus")

By car
As Asia has a high population density in many places and new road construction has not always kept up with growing traffic, congestion is a major problem, especially in urban centers. That being said a car is often a good and sometimes the only way to explore more remote areas. Keep in mind that bringing a car might necessitate a number of forms and permits; you will probably need an international driving permit and for some countries a Carnet de Passages for the vehicle.

Mainland China (excluding Macau and Hong Kong) does not accept international drivers licenses. If you want to go to or through China by car, you need to either obtain a local drivers license or hire a driver; see Driving in China for details.

Local transport
Many places have taxis, many of the major cities have good urban rail or bus systems, it is possible to walk or bike in some places, and some travellers will get around mainly on tour buses. While Japan has had world class (if expensive) urban rail for decades, China but also some more unlikely countries have followed suit and are still expanding and improving vast light and heavy rail networks. Where those exist they are usually the best option for tourists and locals alike.

However in many places other options are available as well, and often these are what the locals mainly use. If "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" is part of your travel philosophy, then you should definitely consider these. In much of Asia there are various sorts of truck or van modified to carry passengers: angkots in Indonesia, jeepneys and UV Express in the Philippines, marshrutka in the ex-Soviet states, songthaews in Thailand, or similar vehicles elsewhere. In many places there are also pedal-powered or motorcycle-based tricycles, see Thailand, Philippines or India.

Some areas also have motorcycle taxis, each with their local names (habal-habal in the Philippines, ojek in Indonesia, xe ôm in Vietnam). These are too risky and uncomfortable for many travellers, but some like them.

See

Natural places
While all continents have a huge number of things to see, what sets Asia apart is the incredible variety of things to see. From the desolate Siberian tundra and taiga in the far north to colorful Indian street scenes, from ruins along the Silk Road to glitzy, futuristic metropolises and from the camels in the Arabian Desert to the Komodo dragons roaming the jungles of Flores, it is safe to say that Asia has something for everyone.

Stretching from the Arctic all the way beyond the Equator, Asia is home to virtually every kind of climate and ecosystem that exists in the world and a corresponding number of different plants and animals. Almost all parts of Asia feature iconic animals, such as pandas, brown bears, tigers, monkeys, elephants, crocodiles, camels, and birds – though many of them are threatened in the wild. While north and central Asia is part of the palearctic region, south and southeast Asia makes up the Indomalayan region. There is also no lack of amazing landscapes either. Vast boreal forests cover the northern part of the continent interspersed by some of the longest rivers in the world. Further south, Asia is dominated by an enormous system of mountain chains reaching from the highlands of Turkey across Iran, Pakistan and Central Asia into China where it forks into a northern section including the Altai mountains and continuing all the way through the Russian Far East, and into a more southerly section including Himalayas, which feature the world's highest summits, and then the highlands of Southeast Asia. Many mountains in the easternmost parts of the continent are volcanic, and Indonesia and Kamchatka are indeed great destinations for volcanic tourism. Central Asia features steppe, which turns into desert when traveling south, and if you've always wanted to experience a desert environment, the Middle East is definitely a good choice. Another large desert is the Gobi at the borders of Mongolia and China. Finally, tropical Asia covering a part of East and most of South and Southeast Asia, where not cultivated or urbanized, is dominated by various kinds of tropical forests and thousands of beaches ranging from secluded paradise islands like the Maldives to some of the world's most popular beach resorts in Thailand.

Cultures and religions
Home to more than half of the world's population, the birthplace of all major world religions and using all the most widespread writing systems in the world, the different peoples and cultures you may encounter on this continent are likely even more varied than the landscapes. Almost all regions of Asia have ruins of some of the oldest civilizations in the world, often stretching back several millennia. The Holy Land of the Abrahamic religions can be found in the Middle East. Similarly, the Indian subcontinent is the wellspring of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sanamahism, Sikhism and Jainism, and East Asia of Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto. Asia also bears witness to the spread of the great religions in the form of amazing religious architecture, including the ancient tombs and houses of worship in Angkor Wat, Borobudur, Samarkand, the Taj Mahal and countless thousands of others. There are also other kinds of historical sites such as the Great Wall, Petra, Ayutthaya and the royal and imperial palaces of both present and past dynasties. Even in the latter case the royal traditions may be experienced as in the royal change of guards at the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. Colonial influences aren't as prominent as in Africa, the Americas or Oceania, but this doesn't mean that they aren't there. Virtually all of South and Southeast Asia were for centuries ruled by various European empires who introduced things like western architecture and foodstuffs (some of it from the Americas), as well as Christianity, European languages and the Latin alphabet. We should not forget Russian Asia as well as Central Asia which was part of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union for a century and a half. 20th- and 21st-century history, though for much of Asia featuring many wars and other sad things, are also present in memorials and museums. Finally if you want to plunge into modern cities with most the world's tallest buildings, glass, steel and huge LED-screens, extensive and modern transportation systems, and entertainment and amusement centers, Asia is the place to go too, especially the Gulf States and East Asia.

Itineraries

 * Burma Road
 * Istanbul to New Delhi over land
 * Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca
 * Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai overland
 * Karakoram Highway, China to Pakistan
 * Moscow to Urumqi
 * On the trail of Kipling's Kim
 * On the trail of Marco Polo
 * Silk Road
 * Trans-Siberian Railway
 * Russia to Japan via Sakhalin

Asian Games
The Asian Games are an international multi-sport event similar to the Olympics, albeit with participation restricted to Asian countries, as well as some dependent territories in Asia. The games were first held in 1951, and following that were held every four years starting from the 1954 games, two years apart from the Summer Olympics, and feature all Olympic sports, as well as several non-Olympic sports such as tenpin bowling, Asian martial arts and squash. Mind sports such as Chess, Go and Xiangqi, and even e-sports are also included.

The previous edition of the Asian Games was held in Hangzhou, China in 2023 (one year delayed due to COVID-19), while the next edition will be held in Nagoya, Japan in 2026.

Do

 * Cruise between the dramatic limestone Karsts, islets and islands, in the emerald blue sea of Ha Long Bay.
 * Sleep on board a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala in India.
 * Experience the architecture of the Taj Mahal Agra in India.
 * See Mount Everest, the highest point of land on earth (Nepal) or K2, second highest, in Gilgit-Baltistan.
 * Explore Borneo, an island divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei that contains one of the oldest rainforests in the world.
 * Take a Tour to Yogyakarta, Indonesia's Cultural hub, and gateway to see the magnificent Buddhist temple Borobudur and Hindu temple of Prambanan.
 * Explore Lake Toba, The largest volcanic lake in Indonesia and the world.
 * Climb Mount Fuji, an icon of Japan
 * Asia has a huge number of dive sites from snorkeling to scuba, with much interesting undersea life and quite a few wrecks. For details, see Scuba diving.
 * Visit Cox's Bazar, the longest sea beach in the world, and the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest of the world, in Bangladesh and India.
 * Watch a sumo wrestling match live in Japan.
 * Go shopping for Persian rugs in the Central Asian bazaars.
 * Gamble in some of the world's largest casinos in Macau.
 * Experience the old Silk Road caravanserais like Samarkand in Uzbekistan.
 * Relax on a beach in the Maldives.
 * Visit the Holy Land in Israel and Palestine.
 * Ride the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok and experience Siberia from the comfort of a train car.
 * Travel through the Asian cradles of civilisation, in the Indus River Valley, Yellow River Valley, and Ancient Mesopotamia.
 * Go dune bashing in the Empty Quarter.

Eat
Asian cuisine is incredibly diverse, from Turkish kebabs to Arabic pita bread to Indian curries and Chinese noodles, there is really no shortage of different food that you can try. Rice, in its many varieties, is a very common staple throughout Asia. Street food is also available almost anywhere in myriads of variations. Southeast Asia offers a great variety of tropical fruit and wonderful food at inexpensive prices.

Wikivoyage has in-depth guides to various cuisines of the continent: see Middle Eastern cuisine, South Asian cuisine, Thai cuisine, Chinese cuisine, Korean cuisine, Japanese cuisine, Filipino cuisine, Malaysian cuisine, and Indonesian cuisine. Many parts of Asia have also developed their own unique takes on Western food that cannot be found in their respective areas of origin; most of these are covered in the respective regional cuisine articles, but see Western food in Asia for an overview of these.

Drink
Tea is the most common beverage, especially in both South Asia and East Asia. In tropical areas, enjoy fresh fruit and coconut juices. Fresh sugar cane juice is readily available in many cities in India. It can be served plain or with ginger and lemon. In some areas, fresh water and clean drinking water may not easily be available. Yoghurt-based drinks are common in some areas, lassi in India and Pakistan and doogh in some western parts of Asia like Iran and Armenia.

Alcohol is widely available throughout North, Southeast and East Asia. Often the larger cities or tourist areas have a modern nightlife scene. Alcohol is illegal in some parts of India and in some countries in the Middle East. While beer is commonly available in the countries that serve alcohol it often uses rice as the basic grain which affects taste somewhat. Another common beverage - especially in Japan, Korea and China - is "rice wine" (closer to beer as it contains more starch than sugar) sold and produced under various names and with a range of variations on the basic recipe.

Sleep
Depending on where you are everything from a tent with only the most basic facilities (if any) to a full blown five star hotel is available. Prices tend to reflect that.

There are all kinds of traditional local lodging too: try a ryokan in Japan, a yurt in Mongolia, a caravanserai along the Silk Road, or a Bedouin tent in Israel. Any of these is not just a place to lay your head, but a unique cultural experience.

Armed conflicts
Due to the vast size, safety in Asia varies wildly. It is a safe place in general and most tourist attractions on the continent are far from conflict, There are, however, some regions in which conflict and/or general lawlessness exists. The most obvious examples are Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and big parts of Iraq. Afghanistan's government controls only parts of the country and also Iraq is in a state of continued armed conflict. There are full-scale civil wars in Syria and Yemen. These countries are considered no-go areas and should be completely avoided by travellers (if you absolutely must go, consult War zone safety and the authorities of your country beforehand).

Although much of the Middle East can be visited without any major risks, it is known for its political tensions and there are no-go areas, for the moment especially Syria. The Gaza Strip is at times a war zone between Palestinian factions and the Israeli army, and kidnappings of foreigners have occurred. Israel has coped with missile attacks as well as suicide bombings by radical militant groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, but mostly in areas close to the Gaza Strip and Lebanon (and attacks from Lebanon happen only occasionally), and by far the biggest threat in most of the country is from dangerous drivers. Lebanon and the West Bank (Palestinian National Authority) generally cope with an unstable political situation and internal conflict.

Some regions of the Caucasus are considered dangerous due to active insurgent groups, particularly the North Caucasus (Chechnya), Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Bahrain has experienced some political violence in the past, so check on current conditions before you go.

More dangerously, Pakistan is active in a full-scale war in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, both of which should not be visited. Kashmir, claimed by both Pakistan and India, is also a region with tens of thousands of casualties since 1989 due to political strife and insurgency. In 2009, the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency in India has resurfaced, particularly in some parts of Chhattisgarh and other parts of Eastern India. Northeastern India also copes with dozens of insurgent groups, some of which have armed factions. The safest areas of Indian for all travellers including women travelling solo are in the Western Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Southeast Asia is a major travel region and most of it is perfectly safe to visit. A notable exception is Myanmar, which has longstanding ethnic and political conflicts, and is in a state of civil war, particularly in the border regions. But even in some popular countries, there are some areas that should be avoided. Bangsamoro, a Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao in the south of the Philippines, is an area of conflict between the government and the Muslim separatist movements. The rest of the country is safe. Thailand, the most visited country in Southeast Asia, is generally safe with the notable exception of four deep southern provinces, where fighting between the Thai military and Islamic insurgent groups still continues, though tourists are rarely if ever the targets of violence. Indonesia is a very diverse country, with armed groups fighting for independence in Papua, while Maluku and Aceh are relatively safe now.

East Asia is generally the safest area in the continent for visitors, but political tensions also exist in this region. You should be aware that North Korea and South Korea are still officially at war and hostilities could in theory resume at any time, although the border between them is still a worthwhile tourist destination in its own right (check current conditions if you plan a visit). Some visitors have also been arbitrarily arrested in North Korea, and less often, China. China, a vast and diverse country, is a very safe destination with regard to violent crime, yet the restive provinces of Tibet and Xinjiang still often bar foreigners at any hint of trouble.

Crime
Refer to the specific country pages and the authorities of your country for more information. As a precaution, always know the address of embassies, and notify in case of any issues faced.

Natural disasters
Being the largest continent by far, practically every thinkable natural disaster is a risk at least somewhere in Asia. The area approximately along the Silk road is prone to earthquakes, and areas along the Pacific "Ring of Fire" — Kamchatka, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia — have both volcanoes and quakes. Especially in South and Southeast Asia monsoon rains often result in massive floods. Tropical storms (typhoons and cyclones) are a risk in much of tropical Asia during Northern Hemisphere summer and autumn. Smog and dust storms often occur especially in the northern part of China, making it very unpleasant for people with breathing difficulties.

Stay healthy
Many areas of Asia, especially Southeast Asia and South Asia, are humid tropical, and there are health risks attached to travel in those regions. See tropical diseases and the country articles for specific information.

Parts of Asia, such as Mongolia and Siberia, have extremely harsh winters. See cold weather and country or region articles for details.

In some areas, such as Tibet, travellers will need to take precautions against altitude sickness.

Connect
Some of the world's best and cheapest internet connectivity is to be found in parts of Asia, with extremely fast speeds in South Korea, Japan, Singapore and many other countries on both fixed line and mobile. Conversely many countries also lag behind, and connections may be hard to come by.

Censorship is a big issue for connectivity in a handful of countries including China, North Korea, and Turkmenistan, where many websites and social networks are actively blocked from use.

title: Asia


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Asir

Asir means "south" in Arabic and refers to a region of Saudi Arabia.

Understand
Wikivoyage uses "Asir" for the whole southern region of Saudi Arabia including three provinces:

 * Asir Province, the southwestern highlands of Saudi Arabia. Like Taif to the north, the area is known for its temperate climate and is a popular place to go to escape the summer heat.
 * Najran Province, another mountainous inland area.
 * Jizan Province, a coastal area that, like the Jeddah region further north, gets very hot indeed.

The region borders Yemen, most of it was once claimed by Yemen, and there are cultural resemblances. However, it has been under Saudi control since 1934 and the Saudi and Yemeni governments finally agreed on a border at a conference in 2000.

Cities

Other destinations
The Empty Quarter, the most thoroughly barren desert in Arabia, lies just to the east of this region. Visiting is possible, but requires a convoy of four-wheel drive vehicles and considerable caution.

Get in
King Abdullah Airport

See

 * There is a Tuesday traditional market (basket market) that works all weekdays; but, on Tuesdays, the vendors come from everywhere.
 * The Al Muftahah Art Village includes studios and artists from Assar region.
 * Al Sudah is the highest point in the Saudi Arabia (3015 meters above sea level). There are natural juniper forests.
 * The Rijal Alma Traditional Village

Stay safe
This area is much safer than neighboring Yemen, but perhaps not entirely peaceful. The area just across the border is one of the most turbulent in Yemen and there have been border clashes.

title: Asir


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Askøy

Askøy is an island in Hordaland county, Norway. Located directly north-west of Bergen, parts of the island functions as a suburb of the city. However, particularly the northern and western parts of the 30 km long island have beautiful rural landscapes, culminating in the small island community of Herdla, linked to Askøy by a short bridge.

Understand
Askøy and its immediately surrounding islands are included in Askøy municipality. The municipality had approximately 23,000 inhabitants in 2007, and is growing quickly. The main population centres are all located in the southern half of the island, with Kleppestø and surroundings being the most important. Since the opening of the Askøy bridge in 1992, the island has become very accessible from the Bergen; in fact, the distance between some areas on Askøy, such as Kleppestø and Strusshamn, and Bergen's city centre, is shorter than between the city centre and some parts of Bergen. Many Bergen citizens own cabins on Askøy, both historically and today.

Get in
Much of Askøy, especially the southern parts, serve as suburbs to Bergen and is served by reasonably extensive public transport. Indeed, Kleppestø is considered to be within the "Bergen" fare zone. The only road connection between Bergen and Askøy is via the Askøy bridge, which is now toll free.

Tide has regular bus service to Kleppestø from the Bergen bus terminal, with departures every 30 minutes most of the time, journey time is about 25-27 minutes. Further north, the lines spread out and service is less frequent. The bus schedules are available at Skyss. Another option for travel to Askøy is by boat, BNR runs a limited boat service Mondays to Fridays from the pier at Nøstet in Bergen journey time is 10 minutes.

Do

 * Hiking possibilities are plentiful on Askøy. Although you should look elsewhere than this relatively small and flat island for high-altitude/mountain hiking, or long hikes, the varied landscapes and nature on Askøy is perfect for one-day or shorter hikes. Some of the most popular hikes:
 * Bergheim-Kolbeinsvarden. Kolbeinsvarden is at 231 m above sea level the highest point on the island, and is occasionally - although rarely nowadays - considered one of the "Seven Mountains" surrounding Bergen's city centre. The most common path to the summit starts just above Kleppestø, near a football field.
 * Hiking is the best way to explore Herdla, the small island just north of Askøy. The nature reserve on Herdla has over 220 different bird species, and hikers have to follow the established paths. Herdla was the site of a German airbase during World War II, parts of which remain. Bathing possibilities.

Eat

 * The Kleppestø shopping mall, just east of the bridge, has various fast food restaurants.
 * The Kleppestø shopping mall, just east of the bridge, has various fast food restaurants.
 * The Kleppestø shopping mall, just east of the bridge, has various fast food restaurants.

Sleep
Although most visitors stay in Bergen, there are a number of places to stay on Askøy itself. Most are rental cabins that are booked some time in advance.

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Askim

Askim is a municipality in the county of Østfold, Norway. Askim centre had 13,822 inhabitants in 2014. It lies next to the longest river in Norway, Glomma, and has always been a strategic point in wars due to its bridges across the river. It is situated about 50 kilometres southeast of Oslo.

Traditionally, Askim is an industrial town. Together with the three hydroelectric power stations, Glava, producing glass wool for insulation and the Viking-Askim tyre factory (closed down in 1991) have been the cornerstone industries.

Get in
You can get there by motorway, by taking the European route E18 or train from Oslo.

Get around
The centre of Askim is very small and you can easily get around by your feet. If you want to get out of the centre, you may walk or take a local bus.

See
Askim has three hydropower stations at Solbergfoss, Kykkelsrud and Vamma.

title: Askim