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Gulf Islands National Seashore

Gulf Islands National Seashore is a national seashore along the Gulf of Mexico in the United States of America.

Understand
This 12-unit National Park protects barrier islands along the Gulf Coast of the states of Mississippi and Florida; islands in Alabama are not included, and are part of state parks instead. The two state units are about a two hour drive apart. Gulf Islands National Seashore offers historical exploration, camping, recreational options and some of the finest white sand beaches. Many areas are closed with storm damage - the list changes frequently, so check right before you plan to visit.
 * Park Headquarters +1 850-934-2600

History
The Gulf Islands National Seashore includes many areas of historical interest. In Florida, Don Tristan de Luna founded the first attempt at a Spanish settlement in the mainland U.S. on Santa Rosa Island; this later became the city of Pensacola. Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas, and the ruins of Fort McRee are all part of the National Seashore, and all were important during the Civil War. The Naval Live Oaks Reservation on the mainland is a relic of the era of wooden ships. This forest of curvy live oaks was purchased in 1828 by the U.S. government during the Adams administration, in order to ensure a continuous supply of the wood for the navy who preferred the hard, curved wood for ship hulls. In the 1970s, the U.S. government reasserted its right to the forest in court after Florida attempted to sell the land to private citizens. This led to the authorization of the Gulf Islands National Seashore on January 8, 1971, in order to protect the forest and all the government-owned islands nearby for future generations. The Mississippi islands were added to the park later, in 1978, in order to protect the pristine natural habitats there from development.

Landscape
With the exception of the Naval Live Oaks Preservation in Florida and Davis Bayou in Mississippi, which are on the mainland, the Gulf Islands National Seashore is located on barrier islands. These islands are famous for their natural, bright white sand, which is composed of quartz and washes down from the Appalachian Mountains. Sand dunes form naturally near the coast, and further inland, scraggly pine tree forests make a living among the sandy soil.

Flora and fauna
Of the seven species of sea turtles, four nest at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Human development on the islands scared away many of the sea turtles, but conservation efforts have increased the number of nests in the park almost tenfold. There are twenty endangered species that live in the park. The most well-known is the Perdido Key beach mouse, a tiny mouse that lives in the sand dunes, and which was the cause of arguments and lawsuits between developers, residents, environmentalists, and the park service. Today, the lack of condominiums on Perdido Key can be attributed to the beach mouse.

The islands host a unique dune habitat; wind and waves blow sand into large piles, which are held in place by the root systems of beach grass and sea oats. Before this relationship between grass and dunes was understood, the plants were treated as a weed and were removed, leaving the dunes vulnerable to hurricanes. Hurricanes Erin and Opal in 1995 destroyed most of the dune habitat on the islands in Florida, but replanting efforts of sea oats and grass have slowly started to bring the dunes back. It's now illegal to remove plant life from the sand dunes.

Climate
The Seashore is sunny and warm most of the year. June through September are the most humid months and afternoon thunderstorms are common. The Seashore has been hit by numerous hurricanes throughout the years. Hurricane season is June through November.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Gulf Islands National Seashore is in Florida and Mississippi and both districts are south of Interstate 10. In Mississippi use Exit 57 or 50 to US Highway 90 to Ocean Springs. In Florida use Exit 12 to I-110 or Exit 22 to the Garcon Point Bridge to US Highway 98.

Florida District

 * The Perdido Key Area is off Florida Route 292, southwest from Pensacola on Perdido Key; turn east on Johnson Beach Road.
 * Naval Live Oaks is on US 98 east of Gulf Breeze, Florida.
 * The Okaloosa Day Use Area is on US 98 east of Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
 * To reach Fort Barrancas and the Advanced Redoubt on board Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida, use the Blue Angel Parkway (Florida Route 173).
 * The Fort Pickens Area is west of Pensacola Beach on Santa Rosa Island. The Fort Pickens Road extends all the way to the west end of the island for accessibility to the Fort, and to the re-built fishing pier. The speed limit varies from 15 mph in places (to protect endangered birds nesting by the roadside) to 35 mph.
 * The Santa Rosa Area is east of Pensacola Beach. The J. Earle Bowden Way (State Road 399) provides access. Opal Beach is in this area, and contains a lifeguarded beach, restrooms, a ranger station, and clusters of picnic pavilions on the Gulf side and the Sound side. Two pavilion clusters are available for rental.

Mississippi District

 * The Davis Bayou Area is on U.S. 90, east of downtown Ocean Springs, MS. Use Exit 50 or 57 south from I-10.
 * Islands. The islands are not accessible by automobile. Visitors to the Seashore's barrier islands can enjoy island camping on all the islands but West Ship Island. Other activities include beachcombing, birdwatching, swimming, and fishing. NPS list of boat operators.
 * Horn Island, Petit Bois Island, and East Ship Island are open year-round to private boaters.
 * West Ship Island is open to private boaters from sunrise to sunset.
 * The two miles of the western tip of Cat Island are within the Seashore boundary and are open to private boaters.
 * A Pan Isles passenger ferry, Gulfport Yacht Harbor, Phone: +1-866-466-7386, . Takes visitors out to West Ship Island March through October.

Fees and permits
Entrance fees: Per Pedestrian/cyclist (7 days) $3; Per Vehicle (7 days) $8; GUIS Annual Pass $25. Fees also apply for camping. See Sleep section below.

Hiking

 * Naval Live Oaks has nine hiking trails including the Andrew Jackson Trail which, like numerous other trails in Northwest Florida, claims to be a trail that Andrew Jackson used during his military campaign here.

Bicycling

 * Naval Live Oaks - A paved 2.5-mile section of the 40-mile bike loop that runs alongside US Highway 98.
 * Fort Pickens - The Fort Pickens Road, extends from the entrance gate to the west end of the island - a 14-mile round-trip. There is a well-marked bike trail on both sides of the road, extending about 4 miles in from the entrance of the park.
 * Perdido Key - A 5-mile route runs from the entrance gate to the end of the Perdido Key Road.
 * Davis Bayou Area - Mississippi's 15.5-mile round-trip Live Oaks Bicycle Route connects to the town of Ocean Springs at the Old Louisville and Nashville Train Depot. Green and white bike-route signs on the right side of the city streets mark the route. Maps are available at the Gulf Islands Visitor Contact Station and the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Eat
There is no food or drinks available inside park boundaries, so you'll need to find other options. In Florida, all parts of Gulf Islands National Seashore are near coastal beach communities, which will have restaurants, if you don't feel like bringing your own food. This option isn't available at the Alabama islands, which aren't accessible by car, so be sure to bring your own food, and lots of water! At all Gulf Islands parks, picnickers are welcome, but alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.

Lodging
There are no hotels inside the national park, but you can easily find rooms or condo rentals in nearby communities, at Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Gulf Breeze, and Perdido Key in Florida, and at Biloxi and Ocean Springs in Mississippi.

Camping
Primitive camping is allowed at the east end of the Perdido Key park. Primitive campers must sign up at the visitors station at the front of the park, and must travel at least a half mile past the end of the park's paved road.

Stay safe

 * Sharks are present in the Gulf of Mexico. Do not swim at dawn, dusk or night when sharks are active or feeding. Do not swim in murky waters. Beware of jellyfish and stingrays. If stung by a jellyfish apply vinegar and meat tenderizer. Do not touch irritated skin or wash with fresh water. Shuffle feet lightly while wading to scare stingrays away.
 * It is not safe to climb on fortifications.
 * Beware of fire ants and be sure to bring insect repellent, especially during the warmer months (May-Sept).

title: Gulf Islands National Seashore


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Gulfport

Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi.

By car
Starting at New Orleans you will go east on I-10 for approximately 70 miles, you will cross into Mississippi. Get off I-10 at Exit 34A and merge onto US-49. This trip will take you about an hour and a half.

If starting at Mississippi's capital Jackson - Get on US-49 S at exit 47 A heading towards Richland/Hattisburg. Then merge onto I-59 S towards New Orleans/Gulf Coast. You will then merge again onto US-98 E at Exit 59, then take the US-49 exit heading towards Gulfport. Merge again onto US-49 S in the direction of Gulfport. This trip will take you about 3 hours.

Get around
To get around Gulfport you could rent a car. There are several car rental businesses at the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. Including Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and Thrifty. There are also taxi and limousine services, along with shuttles that will take you to and from your hotel.

See
You can go and see the white sanded coastal beaches that look over the Gulf of Mexico. These beaches are viewable from Beach Boulevard (U.S. Highway 90) there are plenty of places along the highway where you can pull over for picture opportunities.

Do

 * Ship Island Ferry - Leaves from the Gulfport Small Craft Harbor and takes you to Ship Island. Ship Island was named one of the top ten beaches in the United States by USA Today. This area is the perfect spot for picnics on the beach and for surfing.

Buy

 * Crossroads Center, Crossroads Parkway, Intersection I-10 & Highway 49. Crossroads Center is home to Cinemark, Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, 1.50 Golf, and other retailers.

Eat
Gulfport is famous for its seafood, fresh seafood is bought from the ports every morning including shrimp, snapper, tuna, flounder and grouper. Gulfport also has many Cajun, Southern and International restaurants that will suit every taste and help make your trip to Gulfport exciting.

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

title: Gulfport


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Gulfport (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Gulfport:

United States of America

 * Gulfport - The second largest city in Mississippi.
 * Gulfport (Florida) - A town in Florida.

title: Gulfport (disambiguation)


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Gulf Region (Iran)

The Gulf Region of Iran lies along the country's Persian Gulf coast, and consists of the Bushehr and Hormozgan provinces. It is the main center of oil and gas production in Iran.

Other destinations

 * — colorful island, a duty-free zone
 * — visa-free and duty-free touristy island
 * — mountainous island, a duty-free zone

Get in
Kish International Airport

title: Gulf Region (Iran)


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Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores is a city in Alabama on the Gulf Coast. It has beautiful white sand beaches, but is quieter and cheaper than the Florida beaches nearby.

By plane
You can fly into nearby airports such as Mobile, Alabama or Pensacola, Florida. Private and corporate planes are served by the Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores.

Other options include Montgomery, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana - both of which would require a three-hour drive.

By car
The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas are easily reached from Interstates 65 and 10 as well as US Hwy 98. All three intersect with Alabama Hwy 59 (also known as Gulf Shores Parkway) which leads directly to Gulf Shores.

Distance from major cities: Atlanta, GA, 370 miles; Birmingham, AL, 274 miles; Jackson, MS, 245 miles; Memphis, TN, 480 miles; Nashville, TN, 450 miles; New Orleans, LA, 214 miles; St. Louis, MO, 632 miles.

By boat
Boaters can reach Gulf Shores and Orange Beach via the Intracoastal Waterway. The Tennessee-Tombigbee provides a link between the Intracoastal and numerous ports in the midwest. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, boaters will find numerous marinas available.

By ferry
A ferry service is available between nearby Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island. The ferry landing is approximately 25 miles west of Hwy 59 on West Fort Morgan Road.

By foot
Plenty of accommodations are located directly on the beach. Guests can walk right out and enjoy the sand and water. Some are located within easy walking distance of restaurants and shops.

By car
The cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are connected by two main east-west highways. The most southern one is Highway 182 (known locally as Beach Blvd). It runs along the beach and offers great views of the water. Highway 180 (known locally as Canal Road) runs along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Coastal Xpress Shuttle offers $5 one-way rides to/from many Gulf Shores/Orange Beach night spots and hotels, etc. Call 251-923-8336 to arrange a ride

Highway 59 terminates at the public beach in Gulf Shores where it connects with Beach Blvd.

Do
The best thing to do in Gulf Shores is enjoy the beaches. There are plenty of places to park at most public beaches. Some offer facilities and picnic tables. There are many beach access area that provide pedestrian access only. These are best if you are staying nearby and don't need a car to get to the beach. It is best to be aware of the Beach Warning Flags that tell you whether it is safe to go into the ocean.

There is an unlimited amount of water sports activities available in Gulf Shores. Take your pick between waverunners, catamarans, parasailing, sailboats, boogie boards etc. at any of the numerous rental places along the beach.
 * Gulf Shores Public Beach is full of activity, and near bars and restaurants. Lifeguards on duty and picnic areas are available. Arrive early for a good spot.
 * Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival. This outdoor event is held annually in October and features over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, an international marketplace and plenty of shrimp. Three stages also carry music continuously throughout the festival. Over 200,000 people attend the festival annually and it has been ranked as one of the top twenty events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and one of the top five in the state.
 * Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival. This outdoor event is held annually in October and features over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, an international marketplace and plenty of shrimp. Three stages also carry music continuously throughout the festival. Over 200,000 people attend the festival annually and it has been ranked as one of the top twenty events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and one of the top five in the state.
 * Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival. This outdoor event is held annually in October and features over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, an international marketplace and plenty of shrimp. Three stages also carry music continuously throughout the festival. Over 200,000 people attend the festival annually and it has been ranked as one of the top twenty events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and one of the top five in the state.
 * Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival. This outdoor event is held annually in October and features over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, an international marketplace and plenty of shrimp. Three stages also carry music continuously throughout the festival. Over 200,000 people attend the festival annually and it has been ranked as one of the top twenty events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and one of the top five in the state.
 * Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival. This outdoor event is held annually in October and features over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, an international marketplace and plenty of shrimp. Three stages also carry music continuously throughout the festival. Over 200,000 people attend the festival annually and it has been ranked as one of the top twenty events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and one of the top five in the state.
 * Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival. This outdoor event is held annually in October and features over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, an international marketplace and plenty of shrimp. Three stages also carry music continuously throughout the festival. Over 200,000 people attend the festival annually and it has been ranked as one of the top twenty events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and one of the top five in the state.
 * Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival. This outdoor event is held annually in October and features over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, an international marketplace and plenty of shrimp. Three stages also carry music continuously throughout the festival. Over 200,000 people attend the festival annually and it has been ranked as one of the top twenty events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and one of the top five in the state.
 * Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival. This outdoor event is held annually in October and features over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, an international marketplace and plenty of shrimp. Three stages also carry music continuously throughout the festival. Over 200,000 people attend the festival annually and it has been ranked as one of the top twenty events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and one of the top five in the state.
 * Gulf Shores is home to the National Shrimp Festival. This outdoor event is held annually in October and features over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, an international marketplace and plenty of shrimp. Three stages also carry music continuously throughout the festival. Over 200,000 people attend the festival annually and it has been ranked as one of the top twenty events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, and one of the top five in the state.

Buy
Gulf Shores is filled with souvenir shops that offer classy to trashy gifts to take home. Some idea include seashells, airbrushed shirts, beach towels and various small gifts.

 * Tanger Outlet Center Hwy 59 S. Foley, AL. Just a short drive north of Gulf Shores this outlet mall has over 120 stores.
 * The Purple Octopus  Adjacent to Souvenir City; incredible collection of seashell stuff, wind chimes of all types, souveniers, homemade candy, tees, etc.
 * Island Outfitters, 428 W Beach Blvd. Large selection of island wear, swimwear, tees, beach gear, souveniers & decor.
 * Surf Style  Several Gulf Shores locations, including two adjacent to each other at "The T".  Beach shop stuff and more
 * The Wharf  Not far away, in Orange Beach off the Intracoastal; offers large selection of shopping & dining.
 * The Purple Octopus  Adjacent to Souvenir City; incredible collection of seashell stuff, wind chimes of all types, souveniers, homemade candy, tees, etc.
 * Island Outfitters, 428 W Beach Blvd. Large selection of island wear, swimwear, tees, beach gear, souveniers & decor.
 * Surf Style  Several Gulf Shores locations, including two adjacent to each other at "The T".  Beach shop stuff and more
 * The Wharf  Not far away, in Orange Beach off the Intracoastal; offers large selection of shopping & dining.

Eat

 * Gulf Island Grill- Right on East Beach Blvd; great seafood, drinks and Caribbean atmosphere.
 * Bahama Bob's Beachside Cafe- Right on the beach, about a mile from "the T", and has drinks and seafood. Be prepared for long waits during peak season dinner times but is worth it.
 * Gulf Island Grill- Right on East Beach Blvd; great seafood, drinks and Caribbean atmosphere.
 * Bahama Bob's Beachside Cafe- Right on the beach, about a mile from "the T", and has drinks and seafood. Be prepared for long waits during peak season dinner times but is worth it.
 * Gulf Island Grill- Right on East Beach Blvd; great seafood, drinks and Caribbean atmosphere.
 * Bahama Bob's Beachside Cafe- Right on the beach, about a mile from "the T", and has drinks and seafood. Be prepared for long waits during peak season dinner times but is worth it.

 * Gulf Shores Steamer- One of the few places offering great seafood that is not fried at all. Has been around a long time, for good reason.
 * Tacky Jacks  Great location by the Intracoastal; craft beers, cocktails, tropical drinks and a good variety of Gulf and American cuisine.  Locations in Orange Beach & fort Morgan, as well.  Open for Breakfast.
 * Tacky Jacks  Great location by the Intracoastal; craft beers, cocktails, tropical drinks and a good variety of Gulf and American cuisine.  Locations in Orange Beach & fort Morgan, as well.  Open for Breakfast.

Drink
Alcohol sales are now allowed on Sunday in all areas of Gulf Shores.

 * A local legend since 1956.
 * Flora-Bama Lounge On Hwy 292 on the Alabama-Florida State Line. There are usually cars lining the highway, so watch out for people crossing road. A local favorite! Legendary among locals and nationwide as a great "Roadhouse".  Is kid-friendly during the day but turns into a party at night.  Cavernous interior with many areas inside and out to eat, drink and be merry.  A bucket-list for passers by.

Sleep
Gulf Shores is full of rental properties that run from budget to luxury. Most are condominium type places that site overlooking the beaches. Beach houses are also available.

Several RV parks are located in the area. The Gulf State Park offers cabin rentals, lakeside cottages and camping.

Alabama State Park, Gulf Shores, offers another alternative for RV, cabin or tent camping. Although ravished by Katrina the campground has come a long way in its journey towards its former splendor. New trees have been planted and you'll see campers water them from the well equipped camp sites that have water, electricity and sewer hook up for your RV. Plenty of shower and rest room facilities in air conditioned buildings all clean and well cared for. The camp ground has plenty of capacity and is seldom full according to staff. Conveniently located close to the beach, depending on where in this large camp ground you pitch your RV.

Go next

 * Pensacola, Florida – see the National Naval Aviation Museum at the Naval Air Station. Well worth the drive.
 * Perdido Key
 * Orange Beach

title: Gulf Shores


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Gulgong

Gulgong is a township in the Central West region of the Australian state of New South Wales. Together with its neighbour Mudgee, Gulgong offers a fantastic historical heritage and a host of great small wineries.

Understand
A former gold-mining town, Gulgong was the birthplace of one of Australia's great 19th-century poets, Henry Lawson.

By car
Gulgong is on the Castlereagh Highway, about  north of Mudgee.

From Sydney, Gulgong is an easy 4 hour drive (291 km). Take the Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains or alternatively the Bells Line of Road through Windsor. Turn off for Gulgong just past Lithgow.

See

 * Gulgong Pioneers' Museum, 73 Herbert Street

title: Gulgong


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Gullane

Gullane is a seaside village in East Lothian, in central Scotland. It's surrounded by golf courses, notably Muirfield, a regular venue for the Open Championship. It's also a commuter town for Edinburgh and in 2020 had a population of 2810.

Get in
Gullane is 20 miles east of Edinburgh on A198, which hugs the coast of the Firth of Forth north of A1. Exit A1 at Haddington and follow A6137 north to Aberlady then join A198 east into town. Bicycles aren't allowed on the new A1, use the scenic route along A198 winding through the coastal villages.

East Coast Buses X5 and 124 run from Edinburgh Fountainbridge along Princes St (close to but not into the bus station) then via Musselburgh along the coast road to Gullane, continuing to North Berwick. They run daily every 30-60 min, taking around 80 min. Night bus N124 runs the same route shortly after midnight Friday and Saturday then at 3AM.

The nearest railway station is at North Berwick 3 miles east. This has hourly trains from Edinburgh which also stop at Drem 2 miles south of Gullane.

Get around
The buses to North Berwick run through Dirleton, which is on an old loop of road 200 yards (190 m) north of the bypass.

See

 * are the sands and dunes of Gullane Beach. By car take Sandy Lane, 2nd left after entering the village from the west, which leads to a large car park. There's a broad curve of golden sands, with rocks at the eastern end and low cliffs to the west. The dunes, which in the 20th century were just blowing sand, are becoming grown over as the council has stabilised them. This may have been overdone, as there's nowadays quite a thicket of blackthorn.
 * was originally built in the 12th century but smashed up on several occasions. The present version is mostly 19th century and is a private family home, no tours.

Do

 * John Muir Way is a long-distance coastal trail. The route is obvious both ways: eastbound follow the shore by Yellowcraigs into North Berwick, and onward to Tantallon Castle, Dunbar, and the cliffs of Berwickshire. Westbound leads you to Luffness and Aberlady, a bird reserve; you can't short-cut across this bay as it's muddy. The trail continues east via Craigielaw and Seton Sands to Musselburgh.
 * Other courses nearby are Luffness, Craigielaw and Kilspindie towards Aberlady, and Archerfield near Dirleton.
 * Other courses nearby are Luffness, Craigielaw and Kilspindie towards Aberlady, and Archerfield near Dirleton.
 * Other courses nearby are Luffness, Craigielaw and Kilspindie towards Aberlady, and Archerfield near Dirleton.

Buy

 * Coop Food is on Main St, open daily 7AM-10PM. Tesco and Aldi are three miles east on the edge of North Berwick.

Eat

 * Greywalls and Bonnie Badger both have outstanding restaurants, see "Sleep". Other village centre choices include The Main Choice, Super Fry and The Old Clubhouse.

Drink

 * The Old Clubhouse on East Links Rd does bar meals and is open daily 11AM-11PM.

Sleep

 * Accommodation prices take a big hike around major golf events.

 * Dirleton a mile or two east has Archerfield, Castle Inn and The Open Arms. Bridget Bardot and other cast stayed in Dirleton while filming the 1967 film Two Weeks in September / À cœur joie.
 * Dirleton a mile or two east has Archerfield, Castle Inn and The Open Arms. Bridget Bardot and other cast stayed in Dirleton while filming the 1967 film Two Weeks in September / À cœur joie.
 * Dirleton a mile or two east has Archerfield, Castle Inn and The Open Arms. Bridget Bardot and other cast stayed in Dirleton while filming the 1967 film Two Weeks in September / À cœur joie.
 * Dirleton a mile or two east has Archerfield, Castle Inn and The Open Arms. Bridget Bardot and other cast stayed in Dirleton while filming the 1967 film Two Weeks in September / À cœur joie.

Connect
As of July 2023, Gullane and its approach roads have 4G from EE and Vodafone, but a poor signal from O2 and Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * A little way east is North Berwick, with the "Law" rearing up behind town, and the Bass Rock and other islands out to sea.
 * Further east is the fishing village of Dunbar, then the cliffs of Berwickshire stretch to the English border.
 * Inland is the small market town of Haddington, the Glenkinchie whisky distillery, and the rolling Lammermuir Hills.
 * Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh is barely 20 miles away.

title: Gullane


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Gulmarg

Gulmarg is a city of about 2,000 people (2011) in the Kashmir Valley. It is noted for lush green meadows and wildflowers in summer and endless snow fields during winter. It is a hub for winter sports activities. It also houses a high-altitude cable car, popularly known as gondola.

Get in
You can reach Gulmarg by car or bus from Srinagar (summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir) in 1.5 hours. In summer the SRTC daily sightseeing coaches are available in the morning at Tourist Reception Center (₹351). Local buses are available only up to the Tangmarg market from where the mini coaches can be hired up to Gulmarg. Taxis can be hired from any taxi stand at fixed one way or return journey charges. During winter, a Jeep-type vehicle (Scorpio, Qualis or Sumo) is recommended as the regular snowfall and below zero temperatures make the Tangmarg-Gulmarg road portion highly slippery with narrow passage. A travel agent's assistance can be useful.

A number of informal checkpoints exist along the road to Gulmarg, which appear to be staffed by armed volunteers. Tipping may be necessary to pass any given checkpoint.

By bus
A not so well-known(albeit quite economical and reliable) option is to get to Gulmarg by bus. You can get a bus to Gulmarg at least every 30 mins, from 7 am to 5 pm, from Tangmarg. These buses are available from the Tangmarg Bus station which is very close to the Taxi stand. Just ask for the bus station to any local (apart from the taxi drivers, who will pretend that buses never ply to Gulmarg) and they will show the directions (barely 500 metres from the taxi stand). The bus fare is pretty cheap (INR 40 to get from Tangmarg to Gulmarg) and the buses are similarly old. Don't expect push-back and other comforts, however the buses will be good enough for the short trip. It takes about 40-60 mins to travel by bus from Tangmarg to Gulmarg. The route is incredibly scenic (in both summers and winters). You will get space to sit in the bus and an overhead rack to keep your baggage.

Get around
Getting around Gulmarg is done mostly by foot. No need for a car as there is one road that does a loop around the whole area. Walking around it would take about an hour. You can even sightsee around Gulmarg in sledges driven by locals which cost around ₹200 in off season.

See
The main attraction is the gondola. Finished in 2004, it runs up to 3,995 meters. A sight-seeing trip to the top of the gondola will cost you ₹740 for Stage One (Gulmarg to Kungdoor) and ₹950 for Stage Two (Kungdoor to Apparwath) for a return trip; singles (for skiers, for example) are half the price, with a day pass available for ₹1,200. You can decide whether you wish to go to Stage Two when you have reached Stage One. Stage Two is at a much higher elevation, right on the hill top, and is clearly visible from the Gulmarg taxi stand. The hills visible from the top are said to be LOC and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (specifically Nanga Parbat and (supposedly) the very tip of K2).

Major tourist attractions are:

Take care if you are considering hiring a guide - they tend to work on a commission basis. Their initial price might be attractive, but your guide may be reluctant to take you to places which don't pay commission and you'll be paying inflated prices for the duration of your trip.

Do
Gulmarg has some of the world's amazing treks.

You can do mountain biking from June to September and enjoy some of the best downhill mountain biking in the world.

Skiing
The main activity for tourists is skiing (December till early April). One can enjoy skiing in the long and high slopes of the snowy mountain ranges and experience a difference. Snow conditions are really good and you can get deep powder in Gulmarg ski resort every winter. The skiing infrastructure is generally lacking. There are no proshops and most of the rentals are of incredibly shoddy quality. There is no map available.

There are two areas for skiing: the high mountain/off piste areas served by the gondola; and a beginner's area near the hotels on the hills of the Gulmarg golf course. The high mountain ski lift is open from approximately 8:30AM to 3:30PM daily. However, ski rentals are not available before about 10AM, and the equipment is very low quality, so if you are an excellent/off piste skier who wants to ski all day, bring your own equipment. The beginners area is open from 10AM-1PM, then closes for lunch until 2:30PM. Lifts reopen 2:30-4PM

Skis and snowboards are available for rent from a government-owned shop for ₹300 per day. The equipment is shoddy and there is a lack of ski poles.

Ski lift ticket prices for Gulmarg are as follows:
 * ₹600 (Jan 2016) per first stage gondola ticket,
 * ₹250 (Jan 2012) per second stage gondola ticket,
 * ₹1250 (Jan 2012) for an unlimited gondola day pass.

With its gondola accessible ski area on Mount Apharwat, 4,124 m it offers many possibilities for descents of up to 1,800 m.

Heli-skiing is available, which opens up far more off-piste opportunities than the one-lift resort that Gulmarg otherwise offers. The heliski operators are Australian and qualified. They offer rental of good quality deep powder skis but you must have your own boots.

Sound skiing skills and good health are prerequisites for skiing in Gulmarg. Note that only the main bowl to the skier's left of the gondola is avalanche-blasted and patrolled - all other areas are considered out-of-bounds.

Golfing, sledging, and horse riding are other activities (best enjoyed in the summer).

Buy
There are various stores in town that sell carpets, clothing, etc. Expect prices to be higher than in Srinagar.

Eat

 * Global Hotel/Restaurant - excellent eating if you're after some western food, 200 metres in the direction of the Gondola from the Bus Station.
 * There - a relatively new pop-up bar situated in the basement of Alpine Ridge hotel. Serves delicious western-style comfort food in a cool, après-ski atmosphere with good indie music and great Australian hosts.
 * Pine View Resort and Restaurant - Pine view restaurant in Gulmarg as well as in Tangmarg have a nice option for Indian food.

Drink
Alcohol is available legally from the 'Highland Park Hotel' (carry on down the road past the gondola and you will eventually reach it on your right) and not-so-legally from 'other vendors' (ask the locals for hints, if you want to risk it).

No trip to Kashmir is complete without sampling the two kinds of Kashmiri tea. One has bicarbonate of soda and salt and is said to aid digestion. The other is green tea infused with cardamom, saffron and cinnamon, with not a large helping of sugar.

Sleep

 * Fluorescence Hotel and Restaurant
 * Global Hotel - ₹1200 night, hot water, gas heaters and a western restaurant, 200m from the bus stop in the direction of the gondola.
 * Green Heights - ₹750 night, no hot water, each room has its own bukhari (fireplace).
 * Hill Top - Central heating, in house restaurant, closest to Gondola.
 * Hotel Highlands Park - is also a good option to stay for a night.
 * Hotel Pine Palace - Ski In Ski Out Hotel on the Gondola's Ski slope. Multiple restaurants. ₹3500 per night at Pine Palace Heritage, and ₹5500 at Pine Palace Platinum.
 * The Nedous Hotel - a family-run establishment that was built in 1888 by an Austrian family and now run by their great grandson. Has dining room. All rooms have telephones, cable TV. ₹500+ Tel: +91 1-954 254428 Email:nedousreservations@gmail.com
 * New Zam Zam - ₹600 night for double room.
 * Raja's Hotel - ₹500 a night for dorm bed in basically unheated room, but raja is the coolest ex mujahadeen on the mountain.
 * The Ski Lounge - Lounge has majestic views, live music on weekends, and DJ.
 * Pine View Resort - Pineview resort have breathtaking location in Gulmarg, with a small balcony to every room, with heating facility. It's a fine budget resort to stay. Tel:
 * Pine View Resort - Pineview resort have breathtaking location in Gulmarg, with a small balcony to every room, with heating facility. It's a fine budget resort to stay. Tel:

You can also stay at private cottages in Gulmarg. It is a great and homely experience.

Stay safe
The weather is cold and it is necessary for the tourist to wear woollen clothes. Temperatures in Gulmarg remain well below zero for most of the year. Keep well covered with gloves, boots, and overcoats to prevent frostbite. On the way to Gulmarg, there are small shops where you can buy heavy woolens and boots for rent. These are strongly recommend as, at that altitude, you'll need them. If possible, hire a guide (preferably someone who knows English). A place like Gulmarg, visiting which is like once-a-lifetime, needs proper resources to make your excursion more enjoyable and meaningful. Skiers and snowboarders who plan to ride in the backcountry should expect significant avalanche danger and plan accordingly. A non-profit avalanche information centre provides daily advisories from avalanche experts. The advisory is posted at the common access points of the gondola.

Gondola ticket bookings are available in advance from TRC in Srinagar ahead of Lal Chowk and next to JK Bank Headquarters office. It is next to TRC (Tourist Reception Centre) and then one can book morning to evening bus service to and from Gulmarg from TRC Srinagar. Check with TRC for reservations and timings.

There are incredibly persistent touts that will follow you offering guides, sled rides, ski rentals and clothes rentals. Be careful with the guides since they may mislead you, telling you the gondola is somewhere else.

Go next
The town of Uri on the Jhelum River is close by.

title: Gulmarg


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Gulmit

Gulmit is the administrative capital of Upper Hunza (Gojal). The Mir of Hunza had his capital in Gulmit. Climate is pleasant during summer and cool during spring and autumn.

By plane

 * Gilgit Airport

By road
Via the Karakoram Highway

See

 * Views of mighty Karakorum peaks including Topek Dan, Falful Peak, the Shatabar glacier and the Hunza River.
 * Tomb of Salim khan III (1790-1824) is found in the old part of the village.
 * Gulmit museum, full of traditional ethnic artifacts is part of the Marco Polo Inn.

Do

 * Walks: Gulmit offers beautiful and spectacular short walks to Kamris, Andhra and Gulkin as well as long walks over the Gulkin glacier to Borith Lake.
 * Fishing at Hunza River.
 * Boating at Borat Lake.
 * Legal hunting (Duck/Ibex) at Khunjarab National Park.
 * Horse Riding and Polo.
 * Local festivals are celebrated seasonally within the village with traditional musicians and dancers

Buy
Gulmit has a simple bazaar with basic amenities.

Eat
Most hotels and guest houses serve food.

title: Gulmit


text:
Gulpen

The friendly village of Gulpen is considered to be the heart of the Heuvelland, the most beautiful and hilly part of the South Limburg region. Its cosy, small centre is a popular destination for Dutch tourists and is a lively place in summer, when a range of events and small festivals are organised.

Gulpen's main asset, as for many other towns in this region, are the natural surroundings and charming hamlets around it. It's well-known and popular as a holiday destination for the Dutch, who use is as a starting point for day trips to the many sights in the region. Nevertheless, Gulpen is a pleasant place with some worthwhile sights and a number of nice bars and restaurants.

Understand
In 2021, the village was home to 4,700 people.

Administratively, a number of surrounding villages are part of Gulpen, most with some draws of themselves. The most notable ones are Wittem, Epen, Wijlre, Mechelen and Eys.

The town's name is derived from the small river Gulp, which still runs through the heart of the village. The so-called "Gulp and Geul-valley", the Geul being the second nearby running river, are considered the most beautiful natural area in the Netherlands.

Get in
Biking and hiking routes are plentiful, and come in from all directions. The main road connection to Gulpen is however the N278, which runs right through the village halfway on its route from Maastricht to Aachen. Both are about a half hour's drive. This road is the modern day version of an important ancient Roman road, and easily connects the town not only to those two large cities but also to a number of villages in between. The N595 connects Gulpen to nearby Valkenburg aan de Geul, which is a popular tourist destination. The nearest highway is the A76, which in turn connects to the A2. The highway exit is near Simpelveld, about a 10-minute drive from Gulpen.

There's no train station in town, but the ample bus connections operated by Veolia are a good way to get in. If you're coming in from the Netherlands by public transport, head to either Maastricht or Heerlen and take a bus from there. Line 350 to Aachen will take you to Gulpen from Maastricht (30 minutes, €3.57 single trip). Line 40 is your main connection to and from Heerlen (also 30 minutes, €3.57 single trip). If you're coming in only for the day, or you have another destination on your list, a day ticket purchased in the bus (€5.50) is cheaper than 2 single tickets. The main busstation is easy to find as it is located along the main road (Rijksweg/N278).

If you're coming in from Germany, you may want to take a train to Aachen instead. From there, bus line 350 towards Maastricht will get you to Gulpen in half an hour too.

Other bus lines to and from here include:
 * Line 51 to Brunssum
 * Line 49 to Valkenburg

Get around
The small center is best explored on food but to see the surroundings, a bike or car is handy. For car rentals you'll need to head to Maastricht or Valkenburg, but normal bicycles, mountainbikes, electrobikes and scooters are available in Gulpen itself. Bicycling is highly popular in this area and a lot of bicycle racing events pass through or near by the town. In summer, you'll find many large and small groups of cyclist exploring the surroundings and stopping for breaks in Gulpen and nearby towns. However, keep in mind that you're surrounded by small but still fairly challenging hills. If you're not particularly fit or trained, consider renting an electric bike for some support in reaching the hill tops. Alternatively, many visitors opt for a scooter. Rentals typically require a deposit of around 50 euro, and for scooters you'll need a drivers' licence.

Buy
Gulpen's compact weekly market takes place on Thursday mornings and was awarded the title "Best small market in the Netherlands". For a town of its size, Gulpen has a good collection of shops and both tourist and locals from the surrounding towns come here for daily groceries and a few speciality stores. Most of the shops are located on and around the main road (N278) and Looiersplein. In between the two is the so-called Passage, which allows covered entrance to another 3 or 4 shops.

Drink
Most of the restaurants in the centre double as cafés at night, and stay open late, especially in summer. During the summer holidays, events are organised virtually every weekend, with outdoor terraces and tents, as well as regular live music. Beer lovers should visit during the Gulpener Bierfeesten, the local version of a German beer fest that attracts some 25,000 visitors each year. Of course, Gulpener beer is the main drink for sale, including several special beers from their collection. Access to the area with music stages and long tables where people gather and drink is free.

Connect
Mobile internet coverage (3G, no 4G yet) is available for most providers. Hotels will typically offer some form of Wi-Fi, but quality varies. The public library has both free Wi-Fi and free computers with internet set up for use, and particularly welcomes visitors. The opening hours are limited, however. There's a post office with all regular services, but sets of stamps can also be bought at the supermarket. The area code for Gulpen is 043.

Go next
Gulpen lies in the heart of the South Limburg hills area, with nice views and good destinations all around. The town is right on the ancient and still main road from Maastricht to Aachen (Germany) - both beautiful historic cities with a vibrant student life and plenty of shopping opportunities. There are several other towns and sights of interest along that very road, including Vaals, Vijlen, Wittem and the US War Cemetery of Margraten. From the top of the Gulpenerberg you can see other villages in the area, all at biking of even hiking distance, if you'd like. Head to Simpelveld to catch the heritage steam train which also stops in touristic Valkenburg aan de Geul. Other interesting daytrips in the area include the castle of Hoensbroek or the indoor ski slopes in Landgraaf.

title: Gulpen


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Gumi

Gumi  (구미시) is a city in North Gyeongsang.

Understand
Though not a popular tourist destination, Gumi is a major industrial epicenter in South Korea. It is home of Samsung mobile and LG Display; two huge industrial complexes that dominate the city's interior. Despite being the location of four large industrial complexes, Gumi provides excellent hiking and cultural opportunities for visitors.

Gumi is also the birthplace of Park Chung-hee, the military dictator who've lead South Korea's economic boom in the expense of civil liberties. To a lesser extent, the city is also the birthplace of his assassin, KCIA director Kim Jae-gyu, who killed him in 1979.

By train
High speed KTX services are offered from  (김천 구미 역).

Gumi is also on the main Gyeongbu Line and dozens of medium speed Saemaul and Mugungwhwa trains pass through Gumi Station every day. The Saemaul trip from Seoul is about 3 hours, and nearly 2.5 hours to Busan. Gimcheon-Gumi is the nearest KTX station, about 15 minutes away.

By bus
Gumi is also easily accessible by bus, with several buses per day from Seoul.

Get around
Most of Gumi can be accessed by city buses. There is no rapid rail in the city and the bus system is below average for Korean standards. There are many taxis that are quite fair and honest and will take you anywhere you want to go.

See

To get to Geumosan Park from the train station, turn right out of the front of the station and walk through downtown Gumi toward the Lotte Castle apartments. Turn right at a major intersection that has a discount outdoor equipment store on the left side, and a gaming store on the right. The store will be marked with a giant Playstation 2 logo. There is also a big brown sign hanging above the intersection. Turn right at this intersection and walk approximately 1.5 kilometers to the park. Turn left at the burned down restaurant that looks like a ship. It is actually a very pleasant walk along a small creek. You will walk around the lake at Geumosan and be at the park within 30 minutes of leaving the train station.

From the bus terminal, take the #12 bus straight to Guemosan. It leaves every 90 minutes and is the only bus that goes to the park. The #12 bus also leaves from Gumi Station every 90 minutes.

 * 동락공원.jpgDongrak Park. Along the Nakdonggang, it was created as a waterfront urban park in an area of 267,751㎡ from Imsu-dong under Gumi Bridge to Jung-ri, Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok-gun. It is a place that is loved by citizens with a promenade of more than 9.3km, a wide lawn of 163,020㎡, various sports facilities and convenience facilities. Admission is free of charge. In spring, many people gather because cherry blossoms bloom beautifully.
 * 동락공원.jpgDongrak Park. Along the Nakdonggang, it was created as a waterfront urban park in an area of 267,751㎡ from Imsu-dong under Gumi Bridge to Jung-ri, Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok-gun. It is a place that is loved by citizens with a promenade of more than 9.3km, a wide lawn of 163,020㎡, various sports facilities and convenience facilities. Admission is free of charge. In spring, many people gather because cherry blossoms bloom beautifully.

Other attractions:
 * Gumi Science Center
 * Gumi Zero Carbon Education Center
 * Gumi Ecology Land
 * Silla Buddhist Chojeonji
 * Yaeun History Experience Center
 * Okseong Recreation Forest
 * Wangsan Huwui Memorial Hall
 * Cheonsaengsanseong Fortress

Do
Go to a Gumi LIG Greaters volleyball game. The games receive a lot of support from the locals and are genuinely fun to go to. They have enthusiastic chants and cheers and the fans are very excited about volleyball. It is the only professional sport in the city.

Nakdonggang Sports Park. This is a sports facility. It is a stadium equipped with natural grass fields and mondo tracks, and was completed on 7 May 2012. There are many stadiums such as a general stadium, a soccer field, a baseball field, a futsal field, a foot volleyball court, and a badminton court. Depending on the season, various flowers such as pink muley and cosmos bloom beautifully.

Buy
Buy Ginseng. Like all Korean cities, Gumi is no exception to ginseng. The most famous ginseng store in Gumi is located about eight blocks east of the train station and about four blocks South of the bus terminal.

Eat
Eat Makchang (막창) and Gopchang (곱창). One can find very decent restaurants that serve these dishes on nearly every block of the city. Makchang is historically from nearby Daegu but Gumi has some delicious restaurants that serve the dish. If you do not know about Makchang, it is grilled pork intestine that is then chopped up and served with Doeinjang (bean paste sauce)

Gopchang is the only dish that Gumi can really try to claim as its own, though it originates from nearby Seonsan (선산). Gopchang is a boiled version of Makchang, but it cooked in a sweet and spicy (more spicy) sauce and is very delicious.

Sleep
Love motels are cheap and plentiful in Gumi. One can usually get a room for around $20 on weeknights or $30 on weekends. Motel Geumosan, located at the base of the mountain, is by far the most luxurious hotel in the city and runs around $200 a night.

Go next

 * Andong, home of the annual International Mask Festival and UNESCO World Heritage rated Hahoe Folk Village.
 * Daegu, the nearest major city, and South Korea's third largest.
 * Gimcheon, nearby city located along a major highway and rail link, halfway between Daegu and Daejeon.

title: Gumi


text:
Gummersbach

Gummersbach is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

It is located 50 km east of Cologne. In the past it was nicknamed "the Lime Tree Town", because lime trees lined the main street. Till the 1920s citizen of Gummersbach also used to call their town "small Paris".

It is also informally named the world capital of indoor handball, their club VfL Gummersbach is one of the most successful German handball clubs ever.

By plane

 * Cologne Bonn Airport, handles international and domestic flights and is a hub for the low cost airlines Eurowings and TUIfly. The airport is approximately 15 minutes by S-Bahn (local train) to the center of Cologne.
 * Düsseldorf Airport, The Düsseldorf airport offers many intercontinental connections. Train ride from the airport train station to Cologne central station takes about 40 minutes.
 * Frankfurt Rhein Main International Airport, is the largest airport in Germany, served by all major international airlines. ICE (InterCityExpress) high speed trains connect Frankfurt Airport and Cologne central station in less than one hour. Standard one way fare is €64. If you book your Deutsche Bahn train ticket online three days before your departure to Cologne, there are a limited number of seats at a reduced price of 30-50%. If you pay full price you do not have to take a specific train, but discounted tickets are restricted to the train on your reservation. Note: Trains via Koblenz, which use the slower, yet extremely scenic route along the Rhine Valley are also 30% cheaper. The ICE train takes about one hour, the slower more scenic route takes about two hours.

By train
Central Railway Station Gummersbach can be reached from Cologne Central Railway Station within about one hour. Ticket: Preisstufe 4 (RegioTicket).

Cologne is linked with Paris by Thalys, Amsterdam and Brussels by ICE High Speed trains. Additionally, the Frankfurt airport has direct service to Cologne and is within one hour by ICE trains.

Get around
Gummersbach has a bus system, which is more or less frequent, depending on where you want to go. The easiest way to get around is definitely by car, since Gummersbach is widely spread into rural areas.

See
City Centre

Lieberhausen

- Colored church, a Protestant church with Middle Ages to lichen cover paintings.

- In a restaurant close to the church one can eat Lieberhausen pancake (a delicious and very filling specialty)

 * Hülsenbusch- The "Protestant church" was rebuilt in the 18th century after a local fire and was equipped baroque.

Do
Explore the beautiful nature of Oberbergisches Land. There are lots of great hikes all around wherever you stop your car.

Buy
Gummersbach has a little mall at the beginning of its pedestrian zone. It's a nice street to stroll around and 'bummel', as the Germans say, lined by restaurants, cafes and ice-cafes where you can rest your tired feet.

Eat

Also while walking around town, try one of the Döner Kebap places you see. Turkish fast food is very common in Germany and always a pretty healthy and affordable option if you get hungry.

Drink
Gummersbach has its own brewery, das Brauhaus, listed in the restaurant section above. You will also find quite a few pubs, some of them offering food. Make sure you try Kölsch beer, which is originated in Cologne but also gets brewed in Gummersbach. The rule is, you can only brew Kölsch, if you can see the Cologne Cathedral from your brewery.

Go next
Gummersbach is only half an hour by car and one hour by train from Cologne, which is a major tourist destination in Germany and has lots of interesting things and architecture to see.

title: Gummersbach


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Gümüşlük

Gümüşlük is a small harbour village in the Southern Aegean region of Turkey. It's sandwiched between the larger resort strips of Turgutreis (south) and Yalıkavak (north) but there's a prohibition on developing the one-km tract separating them, and Gümüşlük doesn't itself have large resort hotels and has retained more of its character as an old fishing port. It's no longer a census district, but its population is probably similar to the 2013 count of 4046.

Gümüş means "silver" but surprisingly little is known of the silver-mining days. The village stands on the site of ancient Myndus, which minted its own silver coins, and until the 19th century ruined workings and metal slag were visible. It's possible they mined low-grade galena rather than high-grade silver ore.

Get in
For long-distance travel see Bodrum, which has flights from Europe, and inter-city buses from Istanbul, Izmir and beyond.

Yeni Otogar the new bus terminal is 5 km northeast of Bodrum city, at the D330 junction for Torba. All local buses run from Yeni Otogar to downtown Bodrum then fan out across the peninsula. Bus 2-45 runs to Gürece, Gümüşlük and Gümüşkaya, hourly daily 07:00-22:00, taking 20 min from the city. The 2-37 winds along the coast from Turgutreis to Gümüşlük, Gümüşkaya, Yalıkavak, Gündoğan and Göltürkbükü, daily 07:30-19:00 every 90 min.

or "Harbour" doesn't have a ferry service but is the focus of town. Buses and dolmuşes stop just inland on 1135th Sk, the street connecting İskele to the main approach road Atatürk Cd.

Get around
Most places are within a short walk.

The village taxi is on +90 252 394 3228.

See

 * Gümüşlük village is a 3 km strip of ribbon development lining the road from Bodrum. It's 20th century whitewashed low-rise, not unpleasant but with no nucleus or feel of a traditional Ottoman settlement. You see enough of it on the way to the harbour and no point making an excursion.
 * Yalı Mosque is 100 m north of the pier, with a stubby minaret.
 * Myndus was a port of ancient Caria, now mostly buried beneath Gümüşlük. In its prime it may have been quite grand: Myndus Gate on the road out of the walled city of Halicarnassus (nowadays Bodrum) was substantial but the corresponding gate entering Myndus was even bigger. (The cynic philosopher Diogenes urged them to shut it before the whole town got out.) So while the main site appears lost, there are fragments here and there on the fringes of town, on Rabbit Island, and submerged in the bay. The latter are in shallow depths within snorkel-range; how and when they were inundated is not known.
 * (Tavşan Adasi) is one of innumerable Turkish islets so-named, where excavations of Myndus continue - its amphitheatre may have been even bigger than that of Halicarnassus. You can wade out to it by a slippery causeway submerged a metre deep, however the island itself has been fenced off for years. This doesn't trouble the rabbits but as of 2023, there's no indication of when this significant site might become publicly accessible.
 * is the headland sheltering the bay, with a Turkish flag fluttering atop. There are fragments of Myndus here but no active archaeology site so you're free to stroll, ideally catching the sunset. The tracks along its shores can be driven by high-clearance 4WD but you're better hiking, and wear stout shoes.
 * is a military lookout glowering west into Greek waters, so stay clear.
 * as they're known in Greece, or Kardak in Turkish, are two uninhabited islets that in 1995 became the subject of a border dispute. The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne awarded islands within three miles of the mainland to Turkey. Imia five miles out was considered awarded to Italy, subsequently ceded to Greece, but it's not named in the treaties and there is ambiguity in the wording and in cartography. "Kardak" means walnuts, though their strategic value more resembles peanuts. Nobody gave a cuss for Imia until an argument about salvage of a vessel escalated into a war of words, with military posturings and flag-raisings and tearings-down. The dispute has rumbled on for over 25 years: for the time being the situation is calm but unresolved.

Do

 * Beaches are safe for bathing and snorkelling.
 * Myndos Sailing Club is based here. But for boat trips and water sports head to one of the larger nearby resorts.
 * Gümüşlük International Music Festival looks unlikley to resume in 2023.

Buy

 * There's a couple of convenience stores by the harbour.
 * The market is held daily 09:00-20:30, south edge of the village at Turgutreis Cd 31.

Eat

 * Along the waterfront are Mimoza, Karafaki Erhan Usta, Okyanus, Yakamoz, Aquarium, Fonda, Fenerci, Club Gümüşlük, HİÇ and Mukellef.
 * Heading up the street inland are Non Stop, Gümüşlük Balık Evi, Tasev and Poca's House.

Drink

 * The cafes and restaurants serve alcohol. The stand-alone bars have folded.

Sleep

 * Otel Gümüşlük a block back from the harbour has variable cleanliness.
 * Pansiyons are a little further south, or inland along Atatürk Cd.
 * Kadıkale 3 km south has typical Med high-rise hotels and resorts. This is the tentacle tip of Turgutreis sliding north to engulf Gümüşlük, so its accommodation is described on that page.
 * Kadıkale 3 km south has typical Med high-rise hotels and resorts. This is the tentacle tip of Turgutreis sliding north to engulf Gümüşlük, so its accommodation is described on that page.

Connect
Gümüşlük and its approach roads have 4G from all Turkish carriers. As of March 2023, 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Yalikavak is the next resort strip north along the coast.
 * Turgutreis, named for the legendary Ottoman admiral, is the next resort strip going south.
 * Bodrum is the nearby city and transport hub, with a well-restored castle.

title: Gümüşlük


text:
Gunbarrel Highway

The Gunbarrel Highway (pronounced Gun-barrel) is without a doubt one of the most famous tracks in Australia. Linking Western Australia to the so-called Red Centre, it passes through some of the remotest areas in the country. The notion that it is "as straight as a gunbarrel" is false: although there are stretches that are pretty straight, other sections are not. The name comes from Len Beadell's Gunbarrel Road Construction Party which opened up a big chunk of Australia's interior during the 1950s and 1960s.

Understand
The original Gunbarrel was built in the direction from Victory Downs just north of the Northern Territory/South Australia border to Carnegie Station in Western Australia. This route is almost never used since some parts of it are abandoned or prohibited for tourist vehicles. The Gunbarrel, as it is loosely defined nowadays, runs from Wiluna to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and includes part of the Great Central Road, the Heather Highway and the connecting road from Wiluna, west of Carnegie Station. This is how it will be described in this article. The trip can be made in both directions, but we will travel from west to east.

Prepare
By any standard, this is a long and tough haul through very remote territory. Be sure to read the outback section of Driving in Australia. The track varies from stony to sandy with corrugations, ruts, washaways and sometimes mud. Be totally self-sufficient with water, food and fuel (the longest distance between fuel outlets is 489 km., between Carnegie Station and Warburton.)

Sections of the trip pass through Aboriginal Land. You need two separate permits if you follow the route described in this article. They can be obtained locally, through the internet or by mail (allow at least two weeks):

 * Central Australia (Warburton) Aboriginal Land (WA) - obtain permit from Aboriginal Lands Trust.

 * Petermann Aboriginal Land (NT) - obtain permit from Central Land Council.

Fuel and Supplies

 * Carnegie Station, 08 99812 991. Open 7 days including holidays, 8am-6pm. Cash Sales Only - No EFTPOS or credit card facilities available.

Automobile Associations

 * AANT Yulara, 08 8956 2188.
 * RACWA Leonora, 08 9037 6711.

National Parks

 * Cultural Centre, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, 08 8956 3138.

Police
Contact the Wiluna or Yulara police stations to check on conditions and to register your intended route and estimated trip length (don't forget to phone them after you've arrived at the other end). Yulara police station does not accept any registering anymore, as too many people forget to unregister after the trip:

 * Laverton, 08 9031 1000.
 * Wiluna police station, 132 Thompson Street, Wiluna WA 6646, 08 9981 7024.
 * Yulara police station, Lasseter Highway, Yulara NT 0872, 08 8956 2166.

Road Conditions

 * WA, 1800 013 314
 * NT, 1800 246 199

Services

 * Carnegie Homestead, 08 9981 2991.
 * Cosmo Newbery Roadhouse, 08 9037 5969.
 * Docker River Store, 08 8956 7373.
 * Tjukayirla Roadhouse, 08 9037 1108.
 * Warakurna Roadhouse, 08 8956 7344.
 * Warburton Roadhouse, 08 8956 7656.

Tourist Information

 * Central Australian Tourism, 08 8952 580.

Wiluna to Carnegie Station

Although this stretch of 350 kilometres was not part of the old Gunbarrel, it is now generally considered to form an integral part of a Gunbarrel Highway trip. Wiluna is a small settlement with a hotel, a caravan park and a small supermarket. It lies 183 km. east of Meekatharra and the Great Northern Highway. A sign with various distances points you in the right direction.

The Gunbarrel starts as an asphalt road but becomes a maintained gravel road after a few kilometres. It services stations in the area and deteriorates gradually the further you leave Wiluna behind you. However, there should be no problem reaching Carnegie Station after a day's drive. If you don't make it, you can camp at Harry Johnston Water, 283 kilometres from Wiluna.

The homestead at Carnegie Station can offer homestead accommodation in cabins or you can put up your tent. Visitors can use the kitchen and take a hot shower. You can buy limited supplies and fuel. (The next fuel outlet is at Warburton, 489 kilometres away.) If need be, minor mechanical repairs can be done.

Carnegie Station to Everard Junction
East of Carnegie the road gets rougher: it is not maintained and corrugations, stones and eroded sections are quite common on this stretch of 237 kilometres. On particularly bad stretches, you often see tracks on one or both sides of the road which are marginally better. This is also the remotest part of the Gunbarrel Highway as described here.

After 151 kilometres you arrive at the Eagle Highway crossroads, and shortly after that you have to cross the Mungilli Claypan. Normally, there shouldn't be any problem, but after heavy rain you should make a detour around the claypan (beware not to get stuck in the soft ground). Artesian water is available at the Geraldton Historical Society Bore, 205 kilometres from Carnegie. One kilometre further you enter the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve. Another 31 kilometres brings you to Everard Junction where the Gunbarrel and Gary Highways meet. A plaque with distances to various points marks the spot.

There are no established campsites along this stretch but you can camp anywhere along the track.

Everard Junction to Warburton Roadhouse

This stretch of 252 kilometres may contain some very eroded sections, but near the end the worst of the Gunbarrel is behind you. Continue east on the Gunbarrel and after 8 kilometres you see a track on the right that leads to Mount Everard. In reality this is not much more than a rocky outcrop, but if you care to walk a bit uphill you're rewarded with a panoramic view of the Gibson Desert. If you continue on this side track it will take you back to the Gunbarrel. About 33 kilometres further you leave the Gibson Desert Nature Reserve and after another 15 kilometres there is a second track on the right, this one leading to Mount Beadell. At the top there is a memorial for Len Beadell, the so-called last great explorer of Australia, who died in 1995.

91 kilometres from Everard Junction you arrive at Notabilis Bore. This is a well-known camping spot and if you're in need of water you can bring it to the surface by means of a hand pump. Len Beadells Tree, 25 kilometres from this bore is one of the many construction landmarks along this part of the Gunbarrel. The spot is marked by a plaque. Eleven kilometres further the old Gunbarrel continues straight ahead, but from here on it is abandoned. We'll follow the Heather Highway on the right.

For 38 kilometres the Heather Highway runs more or less in a southerly direction, after which you have to turn left. At this point the road surface improves dramatically and follows a straight line southeast. Another 46 kilometres brings you to the Laverton-Warburton Road, which is part of the Great Central Road. Turn left again and after another 41 kilometres you reach Warburton Roadhouse.

At the roadhouse you can pitch a tent or spend the night in simple cabins. Limited supplies are available, as are fuel and simple mechanical repairs, but whatever you pay for will be very expensive. Warburton Community, which is not far from the roadhouse is off-limits to travelers.

Warburton Roadhouse to Warakurna Roadhouse
From Warburton the road becomes more straightforward. On the 230-kilometre stretch to Warakurna you simply have to follow the maintained gravel road that lies before you. Be aware that on leaving Warburton, you'll enter the Central Australia (Warburton) Aboriginal Land, for which you need to have a permit. (See the 'Prepare' section above.)

The road lies more or less on the border of the Gibson Desert to the north and the Great Victoria Desert to the south. 213 kilometres from Warburton a track joins the road from the left. This is where the abandoned section of the Gunbarrel which started at the Heather Highway turnoff ends. For a short distance you'll be driving on the real thing again.

Sixteen kilometres further, you arrive at a T-junction. On the left lies the Giles Meteorological Station, which might be open for visitors and Warakurna Community, which is off-limits. Turn right and after a few hundred meters you arrive at the roadhouse, which again has some basic facilities and supplies, except for mechanical repairs.

Warakurna Roadhouse to Yulara
This last stretch is 332 kilometres long. Continue past Warakurna Roadhouse for 29 kilometres, where you'll have to turn left and leave the real Gunbarrel behind you. After another 36 kilometres you pass the southern end of the Schwerin Mural Crescent. Thirty kilometres further, you arrive at the Western Australia-Northern Territory border. From this point the Great Central Road is known as the Docker River Road. Here you enter the Petermann Aboriginal Land for which you also need a permit. (See the 'Prepare' section above.)

Ten kilometres from the border you pass near Kaltukatjara (Docker River) Community, which is off-limits. A possible camping spot is Lasseters Cave, 38 kilometres further, situated on the eastern bank of the Hull River. In the beginning of the 20th century, Harold Lasseter claimed to have discovered a gold reef in this area, but he couldn't remember its exact location afterwards. In 1931, on one of his searches he sheltered in this cave and died shortly after. Lasseter's gold reef was never found, and now it is one of the many legends circulating in outback Australia.

135 kilometres past Lasseter's Cave you enter Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. If you want to visit Kata Tjuta (formerly known as The Olgas) at this moment, turn left 6 kilometres past the park border. To continue to Yulara, head right. After about 1350 kilometres of gravel, sand and stones, you're back to driving on asphalt. Fifteen kilometres past the intersection you pass the Kata Tjuta viewing area, and another 25 kilometres brings you to another intersection. To visit Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) you have to turn right, while Yulara is 8 kilometres to the left. You can now rightly say that you've 'done the Gunbarrel.'

The tourist center of Yulara has everything you need with respect to accommodation, shopping, information, etc. Don't forget to call the Wiluna police station to let them know you've safely arrived.

title: Gunbarrel Highway


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Gundagai

Gundagai is a small town (population 1,900 in 2016) in the Riverina region of the Australian state of New South Wales. Gundagai is situated on the Murrumbidgee River, some 390 km south-west of Sydney. Gundagai is an ideal stopping point on a driving trip on the Hume between Sydney and Melbourne, having a range of accommodation, good services, and a few points of interest to see before moving on. The township is close to the freeway, and doesn't require that much of a diversion.

Understand
Gold mining made Gundagai both prosperous and a centre for bushranging, giving the town a romantic bush appeal that resulted in it becoming a byword for outback towns in Australia. Many outback stories, songs and poems reference Gundagai, including Jack O'Hagan's songs Where the Dog Sits on the Tuckerbox, Along the Road to Gundagai and When a Boy from Alabama Meets a Girl from Gundagai, as well as Banjo Patterson's The Road to Gundagai and the traditional ballad Flash Jack from Gundagai. The town is also mentioned in Henry Lawson's tale Scots of the Riverina and C.J. Dennis' The Traveller.

History
In 1838, against the advice of the local Aboriginal people, the town was built on flood-prone flats on the northern banks of the Murrumbidgee River. In 1852, severe flooding virtually destroyed the European settlement and 83 of the 250 townsfolk lost their lives. The toll would have been higher but for two Aboriginals who came to the rescue in bark canoes, saving 48 people. The town relocated further up the slopes of Mt Parnassus, and the highest street in the original town, Sheridan Street, is now the main street.

By car
Gundagai is on the Hume Highway, the major route between Sydney and Melbourne, around 4½ hours drive south of Sydney.

By train
A bus service connects with the train services to Cootamundra, twice a day.

By bus
Most Sydney to Melbourne or Melbourne to Canberra coaches will drop you in Gundagai.

Get around
There is no public transport. The main town shopping strip has ample parking, as does just about everywhere else you might want to go.

South Gundagai is a few kilometres distance across the flood plain of the Murrumbidgee from the more major North Gundagai. You can drive via the freeway, but if you are staying at one of the southern motels (like the Tuckerbox or the Bushman's Retreat, count on it being nearly an hours walk back to the main shopping strip in the north.

 * Gundagai Taxi Service - 24 hr -

See

 * The Murrumbidgee River passes through Gundagai. There are old railway and road bridges crossing the river, which are worth a visit if you are in to that sort of thing. The bridges were some of the longest in Australia at the time they were built. The flood plain of the river divide the town into two, separated by green space with a walkway/cycleway between areas. The Hume Highway crosses the river and flood plain on a 1.1 km bridge.
 * Historic Buildings. Gundagai has an historic courthouse, and post office. It has a restored abandoned railway station. Wander down Sheridan Street for a look at some of the town's oldest buildings. Don't miss the old flour mill in Sheridan Lane, or the Prince Alfred Bridge, Australia's longest timber bridge, built in 1866.
 * Dr Charles Gabriel's glass-plate photographs, which depict Gundagai life in the early 1900s, in the Gabriel Gallery.
 * Dr Charles Gabriel's glass-plate photographs, which depict Gundagai life in the early 1900s, in the Gabriel Gallery.

Events

 * The Snake Gully Cup, in November, is a two-day horse-racing carnival that includes the Dog on the Tuckerbox Festival.
 * The Turning Wave Festival, 3rd weekend in September, is a celebration of Irish/Australian culture with song, dance, poetry readings and markets.

Buy
Souvenirs can be bought at the service centre where the dog on the tucker box statue is located. Naturally, various souvenirs featuring the famous "dog on the tucker box" can be found here.

Sleep
Thanks to its popularity as a halfway stopping point between Sydney and Melbourne, Gundagai has an outsized range of accommodation. Most of it is identikit 3-star-ish motels but there are a few outliers.

Mid-range

Go next
North on the Hume Highway to Yass and Sydney. South to Albury and Melbourne. Go on Gocup Rd and the B72 Snowy Mountains Highway east to Tumut, Cooma, Jindabyne and Bega.

Day trips are possible to Tumut, Cootamundra, Wagga Wagga, Canberra among other places.

title: Gundagai


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Gundaroo

Gundaroo is a town of 1,100 people (2016) to the north of Canberra, just over the border from the ACT in New South Wales, Australia.

Just 30 minutes north of Canberra, Gundaroo is home to some of the region’s best examples of mid- and late 19th-century buildings and offers visitors a range of experiences—from fine food and wine to contemporary art, local produce and crafts.

Get in
Gundaroo can really only be reached by car. From Canberra, use the M23 Federal Highway, then exit at Sutton Rd, and turn left, heading north. Continue past Sutton, and halt at Gundaroo.

Eat
Check opening hours before setting off to Gundaroo for lunch or dinner, otherwise you could end up hungry.

Go next
Visit the rural town of Yass, and explore the Yass Valley region.

title: Gundaroo


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Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve

Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve is in Tuv province.

Understand
Gun-Galuut, 130 km east-southeast of Ulaanbaatar, offers an ecosystem diversity although it encompasses a comparatively small area. The harmonized complex of high mountains, steppes, rivers, lakes and wetlands are well-kept in its original condition. Whoever visits can enjoy seeing Gun-Galuut's vast steppe seemingly meeting the sky, the imposing mountains Baits and Berkh — a home land of rare creatures, Ikh-Gun and Ayaga lakes — a paradise of birds, Kherlen - the longest river of Mongolia and Tsengiin Burd wetland, where water and wetland birds lay their eggs.

History
Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve is a local protected area for the conservation of global threatened species. The Nature Reserve (NR) was founded by the Citizens' Representative Hural (Local Parliament) of Bayandelger county, Tuv Province in 2003.

Landscape
Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve comprises of 3 zones: tourism, limited, and core zones, which are the ecosystem of steppe, rocky mountains, small lakes, river, streams and wetland, and it is about 20 000 ha.

Flora and fauna
The fauna and flora of the NR haven't been researched properly but 63 mammal species, 81 bird species, 3 amphibian species and 38 fish species are recorded. Most common species are Grey Wolf, Marmot, Souslik, Pika, Vole, Fox, Corsac, Jerboa and Frog.

There are many nationally and globally threatened species in the NR. For instance, Argali Wild Mountain Sheep, Siberian White Crane, White-naped Crane, Hooded Crane, Red Falcon, Black Vulture and Swan Goose are globally threatened and listed in the IUCN Red List. Also there are nationally threatened species such as Whooper Swan, Black Stork, Great White Egret, Bar-Headed Goose, Bearded Vulture and Eurasian Penduline.

Climate
Travel season is typically from May to early October, Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve is open all year. Early July has the best weather for the northern and central part of the country and is also the time to celebrate Mongolia’s big holiday Naadam Festival. The rainy season, form late July through August, cools things down and turns the countryside to green. June and September are the both pleasant times to visit.

Get in
It is a 2-hour drive on a good road to get to the Nature Reserve or the Tourist camp. You will drive 113 km on good paved road to Baganuur's road and you will see Gun-Galuut NR's sign at the junction of old and new roads. Then turn right and drive to the south for 17 km on good earth tracks following the camp signs on rock as below picture.

Fees and permits
The Nature Reserve's Entrance fee is 3000 ₮ per person, and should be paid directly to the Park Ranger!

Get around

 * Baits Berkh Mountains: The beautiful Baits & Berkh mountains tower the western shores of the River Kherlen and are elevated 1700 m above sea level. These mountains are the main habitat of globally endangered Argali wild mountain sheep. Not only Argali's inhabit Baits & Berkh mountains, but animals like Gray wolf, Fox, Corsac, Lynx, Marmot, Rabbit etc and birds like Black Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Eagles etc are seen here. Bearded Vulture and Black Vulture are enlisted in the red book. If you are lucky, wolves are seen.
 * River Kherlen: The Kherlen River is one of the biggest rivers in the Eastern Mongolia within the Pacific basin. The river takes its origin at the upper part of the Khentii mountain range and flows to the south first, and then gradually to the east and ultimately joins Dalai Lake in China. The River Kherlen area is full of migratory birds in summer and it is very beautiful to watch them in the early morning and evening. Steppe Nomads camp is located on the west shores of the Kherlen river. It’s 150 m from the gers in the east wing. Our beer garden is right on the river shore.
 * Gun-Galuutai Vast Steppe: Gun-galuut Nature Reserve is in the westernmost part of the Mongolian Great Steppes. While staying at Steppe Nomads camp you can travel to the Great Mongol Steppes by camel/horse, etc. Steppe wildlife gazelles can be seen in the area.
 * Swan Gathering Lakes: Every autumn in early October, hundreds of Whooper Swans gather at Lakes Ayaga and Ikh-Gun of Gun-galuut Nature Reserve. They spend a few days singing and training their babies to fly. We say “The lucky sees the swan gathering”, it’s awesome to see those beautiful birds.
 * Tsengiin Burd Wetland: The Tsengiin Burd (it means White-naped crane nesting wetland) is a wonderful complex of everything that a bird may need to live and breed. Many endangered and rare water birds also occur in Gun-Galuut, namely, Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) is facing problems of extinction worldwide. It spends summers at Tsengiin Burd wetland of the NR peacefully.

See
Lots of rare wildlife such as Argali wild mountain sheep (Ovis Ammon Darwini), White Naped Crane, Siberian Crane, Whooper Swan, Hooded Crane, Swan Goose and other birds and mammals.

Real Mongol nomads live in this area.

Do
Outdoor activities: horse riding, camel riding, yak cart travel, nomadic homestay, kayaking, rafting, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, fishing, visiting nomads and experiencing the culture.

Buy
Local handcrafts

Lodging
There is only one lodge - Steppe Nomads Ger Camp, you can make a reservation through its website. Also you can stay in a ger of a nomadic family.

Stay safe
Really safe place to travel

title: Gun-Galuut Nature Reserve


text:
Gunma

Gunma Prefecture (群馬県 Gunma-ken), occasionally spelled and always pronounced Gumma, is a prefecture in the Kanto region of Japan.

Understand
Gunma is a rural part of Japan with hot springs, a safari park, and plenty of hiking. For anime fans, Gunma is also the backdrop for the popular street racing/drifting anime Initial D.

Gunma is said to be shaped like a crane in flight. Shops across the prefecture sell locally-themed Jōmō karuta (上毛かるた, cards to learn the hiragana alphabet. Jomo is Gunma's old name), in which the つ (tsu) card reads Tsuru mau katachi no Gunma-ken (つる舞う形の群馬県, "Gunma prefecture which looks like a crane (tsuru) in flight").

In general, Gunma women are strong-hearted and they are called kakaa-tenka (mom's control). It means a man married a woman from Gunma is henpecked.

Climate
Gunma is famous for the strong karakkaze, or dry wind, which blows down from the Japanese Alps through much of the winter but carries little snow.

Tourist Information Site
Visit Gunma is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities
Chũmō (中毛) - Central Gunma
 * (前橋) — the capital
 * (渋川) — the belly button of Japan

Saimō (西毛) - Western Gunma Tōmō (東毛) - Eastern Gunma
 * (高崎) — train line hub and home of the Daruma doll
 * (富岡) A small city known among Japanese for its silk factory, a UNESCO site. Location of the Gunma Safari Park.
 * (藤岡) Home of Mt. Sakura, famous for winter blooming cherry blossoms.
 * (桐生) — pachinko factories, prewar architecture, and gateway to the gorges and valleys of the upper Watarase River valley
 * (伊勢崎) Fastest growing city in Gunma. Quite multiracial for Japan with Brazilian, Peruvian and Indian/Pakistani immigrants.
 * (みどり) A small newly-formed city located next to Kiryu. Home of the Tomihiro Art Museum, a museum dedicated to a quadriplegic artist, Tomihiro Hoshino.
 * (太田) — home of the Subaru headquarters and Japan's "Little Brazil". Also home to Gunma Kokusai Academy (a school that teaches in the medium of English).
 * (館林) a small city famous for azaleas and Bunbuku-chagama (racoon dog teakettle).

Hokumō (北毛) - Northern Gunma
 * (草津) — hot spring resort. A fabulous place if you are a tourist. Home of Yubatake (hot water stirring), a show is put on where water is splashed using large wooden paddles. It is popular with tourists but the shows are frequent. It is a good photo opportunity. Go by bus, it takes too long by car and there is no train station there.
 * (水上)
 * (沼田)

Other destinations

 * - the largest highland marshland on Japan's main island of Honshu.
 * - the second largest national park in Japan.

By train
Though very easy to get into by train, train service within the prefecture is very limited, particularly in the northern and western parts.

The Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo goes through Gunma on its way to Niigata. The Hokuriku (Nagano) Shinkansen takes the same route until Takasaki before branching off. For slower but much cheaper access, the Shonan-Shinjuku Line connects with the Takasaki Line to Takasaki.

Travel to the eastern part of the prefecture is slightly more difficult for those unfamiliar with the Japanese rail system. From Maebashi or Shin-Maebashi Stations a traveller can transfer to the Ryōmō Line to travel across the prefecture to Kiryu. Direct from Tokyo, the Tobu Rail Service provides the bulk of access to east Gunma from their hub at Asakusa Station. The red-striped Ryōmō Line limited express trains cost between ¥2340 and ¥2480 for service to Ota, Shin-Kiryu, or Akagi stations on the Akagi line; and costs ¥2280 to take a traveller to Isesaki or Shin-Isesaki on the Isesaki Line. Note that these trains share the lines until Ota station and use the same cars. Local trains are also available for ¥1000–1200; these add an hour of travel time in general.

By car
Gunma has the highest proportion of car owners among all prefectures in Japan, and the vehicle is the preferred method of transport. Rental stations are readily available throughout the prefecture for those familiar with it, but for a tourist the most accessible lots are on the east side of Takasaki Station.

Entering the prefecture, the Kan-Etsu Expressway runs north–south through the prefecture, parallel to the free (but heavily trafficked) National Route 17, for entry from Saitama Prefecture or Niigata Prefecture. From the East, the Kita-Kanto Expressway runs to Tochigi Prefecture, parallel to National Route 50.

Virtually all signage in Gunma is bilingual, even in the most distant areas.

See

You can visit the Yubatake. This is Kusatsu-onsen's landmark waterfall and an unforgettable spot. 4437 litres every minute.

The Maebashi Prefectural Office is a towering coral-colored granite edifice topped and highlighted with purple glass, a symbol of great pride to Gunma residents. Draw your own conclusions about the symbolism while enjoying the view of the otherwise unremarkable capital city from its free observation deck.

You can visit Mt. Shirane, except in winter. On the top of Mt. Shirane, there are a lake called Yugama. Yugama is emerald green, but it seems to be change throughout the four seasons. The pH of the lake is about 1.0, so it is known as a lake where the acidity is the highest in the world. It is a famous sightseeing spot.

Do

 * Kusatsu is a very relaxing onsen (hot spring) area. Buy souvenirs such as Yunohana bath essence.
 * Go skiing in an active volcanic area at Mt. Shirane.
 * Drive and experience the hairpin turns in Initial D anime on Mt. Haruna.

Buy
Takasaki is the home of the daruma doll, a Japanese good luck charm modeled after the famous Buddhist sage Bodhidharma. According to popular lore, he sat meditating for so long that his legs atrophied and fell off — hence the doll's roly-poly egg shape. (In Japanese, snowmen are known as yuki daruma, lit. snow Darumas.) When buying one, it is customary to make a wish and paint one eye, then paint the other if the wish is granted.

There are lavender fields in Numata and Tatebayashi. Good place to refresh yourself.

Eat
Gunma is famous for its winter wheat products. Udon noodles from Mizusawa are considered among Japan's best. Tsumagoi is a famous center of green cabbage production. Gunma is a large producer of negi (long green onions). Shimonita negi are known throughout the country for their sweet flavor and soft and slippery texture when cooked (great for nabe, hot pot). Shimonita is also famous for konnyaku, a jellied substance made from konnyaku (devil's tongue) root. Konnyaku has little flavor of its own but absorbs the flavor of sauces or soups. It has very few calories so is a popular weight-control food.

Go next

 * Niigata Prefecture
 * Fukushima Prefecture
 * Tochigi Prefecture
 * Ibaraki Prefecture
 * Saitama Prefecture
 * Nagano Prefecture

title: Gunma


text:
Gunnison

There's more than one place called Gunnison.

United States of America

 * Gunnison (Colorado) - A town in Colorado.
 * Gunnison (Mississippi) - A town in Mississippi.
 * Gunnison (Utah) - A town in Utah.

title: Gunnison


text:
Gunnison (Colorado)

Gunnison is a mountain town in the state of Colorado.

Located in Southwestern Colorado, Gunnison is far from Denver and off the beaten path... unlike many of Colorado’s ski areas located along interstates or major population areas. Gunnison is a bedroom community located about a half hour drive from the Crested Butte Ski Resort.

The valley contains the Victorian towns of Gunnison and Crested Butte.

Do
Mountain biking, skiing and rafting are great ideas when you are in the area -- one for each season except Fall, try fly-fishing

Drink
Crested Butte and Gunnison are both good pub-crawl candidates.

Connect

 * The Bean Coffeehouse & Eatery. 120 N Main St. . M-F 6:30AM - 8PM, Sa Su 7AM - 8PM, closing 7PM in the heart of winter. Wireless connection is $10/hr in 15-minute increments. They also rent time on a couple workstations, same rates.

Go next

 * Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

title: Gunnison (Colorado)


text:
Gunnison (Utah)

Gunnison is in Central Utah. Settled in spring 1859 by a group led by Bishop Jacob Hutchinson. It was directed and named by Brigham Young for Capt. John W. Gunnison, second in command of the Stansbury transcontinental railroad survey, who was killed by Paiutes near Sevier Lake, Oct. 26, 1853. It was also called Chalk Hill Point for the original site.

A second group's site near the San Pitch/Sevier River confluence farther west was colorfully called Hog's Wallow as well as Kearn's Camp for the bishop of this Springville group. During a fall visit in 1862 Young advised moving to the present site to escape the swampy conditions. Located on the lower San Pitch, there is less sense of slope and more plain than in other Sanpete towns.

Agriculture and irrigation have produced sugar beets, peas, cabbage and celery, and turkeys in the past. Today small grains and alfalfa, beef cattle and dairy products are still the heart of the valley's life.

Get in
The town of Gunnison is approximately 2 hours south of Salt Lake City. To get to Gunnison, Take I-15 Exit 222 at Nephi. Go south on Highway 28 until you reach Gunnison.

To get to Gunnison from the South take I-70 Exit 56 at Salina and follow Highway 89 north until you reach Gunnison.

Do

 * Palisade State Park – Golf, Fish, Swim, Canoe, Camp.
 * Yuba Lake State Park – Waterski, Fish, and Camp.
 * Yuba Lake State Park – Waterski, Fish, and Camp.

title: Gunnison (Utah)


text:
Guntersville

Guntersville is a town in the mountains of Alabama.

Understand
Guntersville is a small town at the southern most part of the Tennessee River. In many ways it resembles an island since it is surrounded on three sides by Guntersville Lake. The region is known as the "Mountain Lakes" area, and for good reasons; it has gently rolling green hills and lakes and rivers aplenty.

Get in
Guntersville is not near any interstates (fortunately); however it can be reached on US-431 or at the intersection of Alabama 69 and 79.

See

 * Guntersville Museum, 1215 Rayburn Ave. Local history museum in old rock armory, with Native American exhibits, diorama about Civil War fight for Guntersville, watercolors, birds/trophy bass, and travelling exhibits. Tel: +1 256-571-7597. Tu-F 10AM-4PM, Sa-Su 1PM-4PM. Free.

Do
The river and lake is the center of all activities. Go for a hike at Guntersville State Park or take a boat out on the river and explore or go fishing.

In the nearby city of Grant, you can see the spectacular Cathedral Caverns.

Eat

 * Top O' The River, 7004 Val Monte Dr. Specializes in seafood even though it's a ways from the ocean. Tel: +1 256-582-4567.
 * Rock House Eatery, 1201 Gunter Ave. Specializing in Southern cooking, in a stone cottage. Tel: +1 256-505-4699.

Sleep

 * Wyndham Garden Lake Guntersville, 2140 Gunter Ave. Riverfront lodging with a pool. Tel: +1 256-677-9083.

title: Guntersville


text:
Guntur

Guntur is a major city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, close to the state capital Amaravati, West of Bay of Bengal. In ancient times, the city was referred as "Garthapuri". Its estimated population is around 700,000.

Climate
It's a humid climate, with hot summers and mild winters.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Vijayawada, which takes about two hours to reach by bus.

By train
There are two railway stations serving the city, namely and. The former is reserved for long-distance trains while the latter is reserved for passenger and local trains.

Guntur has long-distance service from many cities, including Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Howrah, Puri, Visakhapatnam, Lucknow, Delhi, Jammu and Tirupati. See the Indian Railway site for detailed schedule and pricing information. It's also possible to travel to nearby Vijayawada, which is connected to even more destinations, and change to a local train for the last leg. Local trains are plentiful and connect Guntur, Vijayawada, Tenali and numerous smaller towns in between.

By bus
Local city buses are run by state owned APSRTC and also private City buses are also there. They cover not only the entire city region, but also the suburban and near by rural areas with a bit low frequency.
 * Deluxe buses travel to longer distances with in the state as well outside the state, for example to Hyderabad and Bangalore.
 * Private buses -- many private buses travel across the region covering both center city, suburban and rural areas. But the draw back of the private buses is that they don't maintain good schedules.
 * Parking in the city is improving. It may be easy to park two wheelers, but finding parking for Cars bit harder. Generally parking is provided by the city government as well as the business owners.

By two-wheeler
Motorbiking or cycling in downtown and busy areas can often be quicker than taking the auto-rickshaw or a taxi.

City centre
Guntur is known for its modest city centre, buisness district and residential areas. To name a few, Center of Brodipet and Arundelpet,, , , Outer Ring Road, and. is one of the famous residential areas. is like the Central Park for Guntur City. Located on the eastern part of the city, it is one of the man-made parks located in Guntur. Managed by the GMC and UDA together.
 * (also known as Prakasam Barrage) is in the northeastern part of Guntur, located around 29 km (18 mi) from the Guntur City on the Krishna River connecting Guntur and Krishna Districts. On the other side of the River Krishna is Vijayawada (aka Bezawada) which is like a twin city to Guntur. Together the two/twin cities provide major medical, educational facilities in the state. This region is also a major transportation hub in the country. There is a future plan to make 'Greater Guntur' and twin cities comprising this area.

Spiritual

 * Viswa Nagar. southwest of the City near Chowdavaram (10 miles/16 km), easily accessible using the GNT-Chennai Express way (NH5). This is the place of Sri Viswayogi Viswamji and the Universal Integration Pillar. It is an envisioned symbol of oneness of humanity. Also located here is the VIMS/Viswayogi Institute of Medical Sciences (Mother and Child Care Hospital).

Famous temples and other shrines

 * Temple of Chaturmukha Brahma Lingeswaralayam 8 miles (13 km) to the center city of Guntur. It is one of rare temples of India built for Lord Brahma.
 * Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple at Ponnuru (which has large idols) and Kothapet.
 * Sri Bhavanarayanaswamy Temples at Bapatla (built at the time of Shri Krishna Deva Raya) and Ponnuru.
 * Temple at Ramalingeswara Agraharam. It has old inscriptions dating to 1000 years ago.
 * Kakani Malleswara Swamy Temple at Pedda Kakani built during the era of Krishnadevaraya.
 * Hinkar Tirtha (Jain Temple, Mangalagiri), Vaikuntapuram (Tenali).
 * Sri Kali Gardens at Namburu.
 * Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple (Anantavaram) 32 km from Guntur and 10 km from Amaravathi.

Churches

 * St. Matthew's West Parish, Near Grand Trunk Road
 * St. Matthew's East Parish, Near Old Bus Stand
 * St. Matthew's North Parish, Brodipet
 * Telugu Baptist Church, Nagarampalem
 * St. Joseph's Church, Opposite A.C.College
 * Church of South India, Opposite A.C.College
 * Laymen's Evangelical Fellowship, Opposite ILTD, Grand Trunk Road. Peter Paul Mobile: 9394111519

Mosques

 * Masjid - e - Markaz, Near Pottur-pet, Old city
 * Masjid - e - Barah Imam, Near Brahma Nanda Reddy Stadium, Old City
 * Masjid - e - Firdouse, Alinagar, Old city
 * Masjid - e - Azad Nagar, Old City
 * Masjid - e - Madeena, Small Market, Old City
 * Masjid - e - Al Aksa, New City
 * Masjid - e - Big Mosque, Constructed by Aurangazeb, Old City
 * Masjid - e - EK Minar, Big Market, Guntur, Masjid-e-Mohammad, 5/7 brodipet and Masjid_e_Athiqur Rahaman at Jute Mill are good mosques with nice architecture.

Do

 * Visit Guntur mirch (red chilly) yard, which is the biggest in Asia.

Eat

2. Syed Babu Hotel ( Anjuman E Islamia Complex. Opp: Lalapet Police Station) is the oldest hotel for over 50 years serving authentic Guntur Biryani. Other dishes served are Kichidi, Paya and Kebab. Its worth a visit.

Guntur has three star hotels like Vajram Residency, Sindhuri, and Vijaya Krishna International. For biryani you can visit Hyderabadi house.

For grocery shopping, one can go to the super markets like Triveni supermarket, Reliance Fresh. Moreover, Spencers and Subhiksha are famous for grocery shopping. Apart from these supermarkets, the Guntur vegetable market is one of the biggest in Andhra Pradesh.

Sleep
There are many three-star hotels in Guntur like Grand Nagarjuna, Sindhuri,Nakshatra.

Cope

 * Hospitals - As Guntur is a district headquarters, it has a number of good hospitals including Amaravathi Nedical Research Center, Sankar Eye Hospital and Bommidala Cancer Center.

Go next

 * Bhuvanagiri Fort
 * Hyderabad
 * Tirupati
 * Vijayawada
 * Tenali
 * Visakhapatnam
 * Warangal

title: Guntur