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NashTrash Tours

Type: Tours and Excursions

Last updated on June 29, 2015

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900 Rosa Parks Blvd Nashville, TN 37208

615-226-7300

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Nashtrash Tours Ticket Price, Hours, Address and Reviews

• North America
• United States
• Things To Do In Nashville

Nashtrash Tours

• Address: 900 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA, United States Map
• Timings: 09:00 am - 08:00 pm Details
• Phone: +1-6152267300

Nashtrash Tours is a bus tour service hosted and managed by Brenda Kay and Sheri Lynn. It provides three different excursions for leisure where the tourists are all boarded in the large pink bus. The journey goes through downtown Nashville and continues for about 2 hours. There is also an e-commerce site of the service where you can get the updated information regarding the upcoming trips and book your journey. Nashtrash Tours also offers gift vouchers on special occasions. Nashtrash Tours bus is fully covered and runs in all weather conditions.

How to Reach Nashtrash Tours

• Buses 22, 42 to stop - 8th Ave N & 9th Ave N NB
• Buses 22, 42 to stop - 8th Ave N & Locklayer St SB
• Nashtrash Tours Address: 900 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA, United States
• Nashtrash Tours Contact Number: +1-6152267300
• Nashtrash Tours Timing: 09:00 am - 08:00 pm
• Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary!

Nashtrash Tours Reviews & Ratings

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What is the cost of your 2 hour tour. How do I purchase tickets Are the tickets refundable

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Sakhalin: Your Essential Guide to Russia’s Enigmatic Eastern Island

• January 14, 2024

A Journey Through Giant Burdocks, Wild Bears, and the Echoes of Ancient Japanese Temples

From the most dreaded place of exile in the Russian Empire to a Japanese industrial base and one of the most attractive and inaccessible places for domestic tourism in Russia.

Table of Contents

An island that was Russian, then Japanese, and then Russian again

From the 17th to the mid-19th century, it was believed that Sakhalin was a peninsula. This misconception firmly established itself on the maps of the time, as navigators failed to circumnavigate the island. The proximity of Sakhalin’s southern tip to the mainland created a false impression of being impassable for ships. An additional complexity arose from the fact that the route taken by ships from the Russian Empire involved passing through a narrow strait, which Nevelskoy managed to navigate only in 1849.

For a long time, people did not believe Nevelskoy, but he insisted that he had discovered a route through the strait, for which he became something of a hero in Primorye. Monuments and plaques dedicated to him can be found in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Vladivostok, and Khabarovsk. The H4H creative association created a graphic novel based on this story, which won a cultural initiatives contest and became part of the interior of the Khabarovsk Airport. By the way, the Sakhalin region is the only Russian entity entirely located on islands.

The remote and isolated location of the island during the Russian Empire was used as a natural barrier, and it became the site of penal colonies for hard labor prisoners. Its geographical position led to Sakhalin’s hard labor being regarded as particularly cruel.

During the period of the island’s development, Russian ships followed the Amur River and reached the island from the north, where the oldest port, Alexandrovsk, was founded. The Japanese attempted to develop the island from the south, entering through the Kuril Islands (part of the Sakhalin region) and Aniva Bay. For a long time, the Kurils were inhabited by the Ainu, representatives of a small indigenous people. The very word “Kurils” comes from the Ainu: “kuru” means “man.”

In the 17th century, Japan conducted its first expeditions towards the islands and began their development. Russia reached them later. The first mentions of the islands in Russian language date back to the late 17th century. For a long time, Russian, Dutch, Japanese, and Anglo-French navigators studied the islands, landed on them, and disputed their territorial ownership. However, only Russia and Japan managed to establish a foothold. To end the territorial disputes, the governments of the two countries signed an agreement under which the Kuril Islands went to Japan, and Sakhalin to Russia, which continued to develop the island mainly from the north. After the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, which ended in Russia’s defeat, the southern part of Sakhalin became part of Japan as the Karafuto Prefecture.

Until the second half of the 20th century, the island was owned by Japan and was quite successful in developing its resources. A huge number of mines were opened, several cities and lighthouses were built. In particular, the current regional center, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, was the former Japanese city of Toyohara. The famous Aniva lighthouse, now considered a symbol of Sakhalin, was built by Japanese engineers. After Japan’s defeat in World War II, the island passed to the Soviet Union. Contrary to history, the main life of the island moved from the north to the south. Alexandrovsk, which was convenient to reach by water, lost to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk with its infrastructure built by the Japanese, connections to neighboring cities, and airport. Interestingly, before leaving, the Japanese buried and hid the mining sites, and locals say that not all the old mines have been found yet, and they are sometimes stumbled upon during walks.

Because the island belonged to three different countries in just over a hundred years, it did not have time to develop any significant urban infrastructure. The cities lack outstanding architectural monuments and unique museums. However, some unusual Japanese architecture has remained. Meanwhile, Sakhalin compactly houses incredible natural attractions. Here, one can climb through forests and bamboo thickets to breathtakingly beautiful mountains as if outlined in graphite, and through a mountain pass reach the sea, into which clear mountain rivers flow with fish splashing in them.

The Ainu and Nivkh: Inhabitants of Sakhalin

For a long time, the island was mainly inhabited by the Ainu and Nivkh peoples. These ethnic groups are very different, making their coexistence as unusual as the neighboring of birch and bamboo on the slopes of Sakhalin’s mountains. Both are isolate peoples . However, the Ainu belong to the Australoid race, while the Nivkh are Mongoloids (the main population of Asian territories). It’s fascinating how representatives of different races have coexisted for ages on a small piece of land at the edge of the world.

There is no single version regarding the origin of the Ainu, leading to a multitude of theories — both scientific and conspiratorial. One theory suggests that the Ainu are the ancestors of the indigenous population of Australia, remaining in the north after continental migration. Some researchers write that the Ainu are the forebears of the Japanese. This theory is supported by the fact that before Japanese expansion, the Ainu mainly inhabited the Japanese island of Hokkaido. However, the Ainu suffered greatly from Japanese imperialism, and their culture and language were almost completely destroyed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Now, there are just over two thousand Ainu living on Sakhalin.

The Nivkh are among the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the north. They suffered less from Japanese rule. However, during the Soviet era, they experienced a difficult phase of literacy development, destruction of tribal communities, and relocation to cities. About 2,200 Nivkh live in the Sakhalin region and another approximately two thousand in Khabarovsk.

During the Karafuto period, Japan brought captured Koreans to Sakhalin for hard labor. By the mid-20th century, the Korean population of the island was about 45,000 people. For comparison, the current population of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is 180,000. This large number of people, deprived of their homeland, was forced to adapt to life first under Japanese and then Soviet rule. In the USSR, Koreans were issued passports, and there were national kindergartens and schools. However, Sakhalin Koreans did not feel part of the larger community of Soviet Koreans (Koryo-saram) and struggled to integrate. Moreover, they were considered members of an ‘unreliable nation’ because they had lived in the Japanese Empire.

In the late 1990s, three countries – Russia, South Korea, and Japan – began a repatriation campaign for the first generation of Sakhalin Koreans (born before August 15, 1945) to their historical homeland. Now, about 3,500 repatriates from Russia live in South Korea. Under the program, the Korean government provides medical insurance and a monthly allowance to the repatriates. The Japanese government, in turn, buys housing (apartments up to 40 m²) and covers transportation costs. Additionally, every two years, Sakhalin Koreans who have moved to their homeland have the right to visit Sakhalin for free, funded by the Japanese government. Most Sakhalin Koreans settled in the city of Ansan , where 500 apartments were specially built for them.

Korean influence is weakly traced on Sakhalin: many Sakhalin Koreans no longer know the language and do not associate themselves with Korea. However, there are several authentic restaurants (for example, “Koba” ) on the island where you can try traditional dishes.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — the capital and base for exploring the island

The city is predominantly characterized by typical Soviet architecture, with almost no remaining Japanese buildings. This is because during the Soviet period, the city was radically rebuilt after being liberated from ‘imperialist Japanese rule.’ Many buildings were demolished, and from the few that remained, some were turned into museums. Perhaps the main thing that has been preserved from the Japanese period is the layout. The city was founded from scratch near the Russian village of Vladimirovka, and Chicago was chosen as the model for its layout. Toyohara was divided into four parts by two main streets, O-dori (now Lenin) and Maoka-dori (Sakhalinskaya).

Japan established itself thoroughly on the island. In Toyohara, trade routes converged, new bays were developed, and roads were built. The city’s population grew steadily. Initially due to the military garrison, and later due to a paper mill, a sugar and distillery plant. Now, the buildings of the former Japanese factories are abandoned. Many of them can only be accessed with rare tours, while others are completely closed. However, their presence is still recalled by street names, such as Paper Street.

Another building in the Neo-Japanese style is the Karafuto Governorate Museum built in the 1930s (29 Communist Avenue). It now houses the Sakhalin Regional Museum . And in the former bank of colonial development, there is the Art Museum (137 Lenin Street).

Several other iconic buildings constructed by the Japanese have been preserved: the central hospital of Toyohara (41 Chekhov Street), the conference hall of the Karafuto Governorate (30 Dzerzhinsky Street), and the Toyohara City Hall (41 Communist Avenue). The Sakhalin Railway Museum in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is distinct from many similar museums in Russia due to its exhibits. This is because the island long maintained the Japanese standard of railway gauge, which differs from the Russian standard. Accordingly, the rolling stock was entirely different.

If in Vladivostok everything is named after the Far Eastern explorer and writer Vladimir Arsenyev, then in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, mentions of Chekhov are everywhere. At the end of the 19th century, Sakhalin was both the most dreaded place for exile to hard labor and one of the most tempting corners of Russia, which was not so easy to access. Chekhov received an editorial assignment and embarked on a ship along with prisoners, military personnel, and sailors to the most remote point of the empire. In his notes, which Chekhov compiled under the title ‘The Island of Sakhalin,’ the writer talked about many things: the geography and climate of the island, the life of the convicts, and ordinary residents. This book caused a great resonance at the time, and even now it was very interesting to read it while traveling to Sakhalin: some things have changed drastically, while others have remained the same. Now in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, there is even a museum dedicated to this one book, which turned out to be so significant for the island.

GoSakhalin is the website of the Sakhalin Tourist and Information Center. And in their official Telegram channel , you can find announcements of affordable excursions shortly before they start.

In any case, for travelers, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk remains primarily a hub and a place of rest. Here they return for the night and dinner, and it seems that real adventures begin outside the doorstep.

Surrounding Area

10–20 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

The main reason people visit Sakhalin is for its unique nature. Mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, and the sea, all on a small piece of land. In one day, you can travel from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Sea of Japan, cross several climate zones, see bamboo groves, birches, and spruces in one place, spot a running fox and a swimming orca. The island’s landscapes can boldly compete in Instagram appeal with Iceland or Norway.

Within Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk alone, there are about 30 kilometers of marked ecotrails, with brief descriptions and routes available on the official tourism portal. I also found an ecotrail in Nevelsk, which is not mentioned on the official website.

The ecotrails in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk start from the ‘Mountain Air’ ski center on the sopka (a term for mountains in the Far East) Bolshevik. There are five in total: ‘Children’s’ (2.7 kilometers), ‘Eight’ (8 kilometers), ‘Northern Ring’ (9 kilometers), ‘Russian’ (3.2 kilometers), and ‘Yelanka’ (5 kilometers). You can take a cable car to the start of the trails and then slowly descend through the forest and park to the city. However, the lift does not operate in rainy and windy weather.

Hiking the ‘Eight’ trail took me no more than three hours, including stops to catch my breath and take photos. Every kilometer and a half along the route, there are benches. From the top of the mountain, there is a view of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and it seems you can see a piece of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Chekhov Peak

The route to Chekhov Peak is a high-mountain trekking path that requires a certain level of physical fitness. Chekhov Peak has an elevation of 1045 meters, with an absolute altitude gain of 752 meters. The trail is narrow and slippery in places, hardly suitable for children or people with limited mobility.

Chekhov Peak is part of the Susunai Range, which supports Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk from the southeast. You can exit from Gagarin city park to the foothills in about half an hour. The ascent to the peak itself cannot be missed: a marked trail and informational signs lead to it. On particularly steep ascents, ropes are hung for safety, but it is possible to walk up the slope without them.

In late spring, the forest trail has many streams, as well as May primroses and butterflies. The foothills are scattered with rare, incredibly large, and wonderfully fragrant marsh callas. Halfway to the peak, bamboo thickets are encountered, through which birches break through. This is also a kind of magic because, as a biologist friend explained to me, birch and bamboo are not supposed to coexist in the natural environment, but somehow they manage to do so. Occasionally, spruces are encountered — not tall, but very fluffy. Closer to the top, the vegetation becomes sparser, and the impressive views of the sea, mountains, and lakes open up from the height.

• The entire hike takes five to six hours.
• Even in summer, there is snow on the summit. In the afternoon, it starts to melt, making it more difficult to walk.
• Don’t forget to bring food and water.
• Wear boots with covered ankles, a jacket, and a head covering.
• Inform your family and friends, and someone living in Sakhalin, before setting out on the route. If you’re traveling alone, you could notify, for example, the hotel receptionist or roommates in a hostel.
• Snakes and bears are found around the trail. Watch your feet and try to make as much noise as possible. For example, play music on your phone and sing along occasionally.
• The ascent to Chekhov Peak can be the start of a journey to the village of Lesnoye on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk. The distance to the village is 27 kilometers. With good preparation and an early start from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, this distance can be covered in one day.

Mud Volcano in Klyuchi

A mud volcano is an eruption on the earth’s surface of clay masses, mineralized waters, and gases. The mechanism of formation of these volcanoes is not fully understood. According to the existing theory, such volcanoes are formed near oil fields.

The mud volcano in Klyuchi consists of a mud field about 200 meters in diameter. There, you can see about 20 points of activity, resembling miniature volcano craters. This mud volcano became active in 1959, 1979, 2001, and 2011 (the last time due to a strong earthquake in Japan). During these eruptions, mud columns reached several tens of meters in height. Bus 189 goes to Klyuchi from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The distance from the village to the top of the volcano is nine kilometers and takes about two and a half hours to walk.

Ecopark in the Vestochka area: Frog Rock, Aikhor Waterfall, ‘Sunny Glade’ Recreation Park

Not far from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, there is a fairly large ecopark, known primarily for the Frog Rock outcrop. An outcrop is a remnant of harder rock around which softer rock has eroded over time. Outcrops are often known for their unusual shapes and are natural monuments. Frog Rock is part of a series of rocks standing one behind the other. This was once the seabed of an ancient sea, and fossilized shells can be found in its vicinity. From the top of the rock, amazing views of the Aniva Bay, Tunaycha and Changeable Lakes open up. This place was sacred to the Ainu, the indigenous inhabitants of the island.

The trail to the ‘Sunny Glade’ ecopark begins behind the ‘Electron’ culture house. Despite its name, it is not a city park, but a full-fledged forest with laid-out paths. There are houses, glades with tables for rest where you can cook barbecues, and wooden walkways leading to various attractions. These are all paid services.

The path to Frog Rock outcrop goes along the Komissarovka River. In areas of spring flooding, callas bloom and bamboo grows. The outcrop is located on a hill, with a total elevation gain of about 300 meters. The road is quite challenging, usually taking from an hour to an hour and a half. The higher you climb, the more you can see: the sea, the mountain gorge, the road to Vestochka. In the same park is the Aikhor Waterfall, which is also a short climb away, but along a less well-maintained trail. You can plan a whole day to visit Vestochka and even spend the night, without returning to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Vestochka is three high-rise buildings on one side of the road and a cottage settlement on the other. It is part of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, though located 15 kilometers from the main part of the city. A taxi there costs about 1000 rubles and takes 40 minutes. About a kilometer after turning off the main road, the asphalt ends and a terribly dusty dirt road begins. If you’re lucky, you can catch a bus that runs three times a day.

What else to see on the island

40 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

The oldest city in the south of Sakhalin, founded by Nevelskoy’s expedition. Here you can find a huge number of monuments dedicated to sailors, naval battles, and ships. The most significant monument in the city in recent decades has become the stele dedicated to ‘Koreans interned by the Japanese in Sakhalin, who never returned to their homeland,’ located on Mount Sorrow, created through the efforts of three countries’ governments (Russia, Japan, and Korea).

In Korsakov, some Japanese heritage has been preserved: the former building of the Hokkaido Takushoku Bank, a colonial development bank (Sovetskaya Street, 3), trade warehouses in the port, a document storage facility ‘Bunsyoko’ (Krasnoflotskaya Street, 1), a couple of rusty fire hydrants, and remnants of Shinto temples in the form of pillars with hieroglyphs. One of the local nighttime entertainments is watching the lights of the gas processing plant.

How to get there. Three electric trains a day, the journey takes just over an hour, and the ticket costs 75 rubles (0.73 euros).

Bird and Giant Capes

90 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Two capes, recognized as natural monuments in 1990, along whose coasts are many wind and wave-carved grottoes, caves, arches, and columns of various sizes and whimsical shapes, among which colonies of sea birds reside.

The place is not very close, but it’s very picturesque at any time of the year. In the area of one of the rocks, there is a pool where, during the salmon spawning period, you can observe a fascinating spectacle — a huge gathering of pink salmon.

Many tourists stay on the coast overnight to witness the sunset and sunrise. Near Cape Giant, there is a toilet, parking, and a rest area with benches.

How to get there. The journey from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk goes through the village of Okhotskoe, where you can buy fresh crabs, and takes about three hours one way. The road is fully passable only by high vehicles like Mitsubishi Pajero, Suzuki Jimny, as the last ten kilometers of the route have deep puddles, potholes, small cliffs, and rivers.

Nevelsk and Steller Sea Lions

Nevelsk is nestled between mountains and sea. The rocky mountains and the coast, which consists of small stone needles and shells, in every way explain why Chekhov so often mentioned in ‘The Island of Sakhalin’ how harsh the land of Sakhalin is.

Steller sea lions are the largest of the eared seals. One of their habitats is the breakwater in Nevelsk. As soon as you arrive in the town, the smell from the Steller sea lions’ haul-out site hits you. ‘They eat there, live, give birth to their young – that’s why it smells,’ the locals explain. Another feature is the noise. Steller sea lions are very loud!

You can view the sea lions from the central square, where binoculars are installed. However, tourists usually hire a boat and approach the haul-out site to get a closer look at the seals. You can see how the Steller sea lions bark, lie in the sun, jump into the sea and, most interestingly, try to jump back. The views from the square through binoculars are not as detailed and impressive. A place on the boat will cost 1000–1500 rubles (9.76 – (14.65 euros). You can also buy a tour from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk for 3500 rubles (34.18 euros). The most animals are present in spring and early summer. In autumn, there may be a couple of dozen individuals left.

From the embankment, you can observe the huge kelp laminaria floating in the sea. Some travelers catch them themselves and eat them. Although dishes made from seaweed are found in cafes and also sold in stores. Signs are installed on the shore indicating where to run in case of a tsunami. The last major earthquake with waves was recorded in 2007. Many houses were destroyed and two people died. The most famous Sakhalin tsunami was the 1952 tragedy , when the aftermath of the earthquake almost completely destroyed Severo-Kurilsk.

How to get there. From the bus station (Karl Marx Street, 51b) in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, buses go to Nevelsk, the ticket costs 300 rubles (2.93 euros), and the journey takes about an hour. Tickets can be purchased at the bus station ticket office or from the driver (cash or transfer). It’s not possible to board the bus somewhere in the city, as the bus does not make stops. It’s better to buy a return ticket immediately upon arrival in Nevelsk at the Nevelsk bus station ticket office (Lenina Street, 1). The bus is popular with locals, and there may simply be no seats left.

Remnants of structures from the Karafuto period include the Maoka-Jinja temple with a Japanese-style garden and an abandoned railway built by the Japanese. It used to connect Kholmsk with Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Tourists usually come to see two photogenic bridges – Devil’s and Witch’s – and a tunnel in the mountain that makes a full circle inside it. The trail passes along the old rails, and there are many vipers, so one needs to watch their step.

How to get there. The bus to Kholmsk takes two hours, the ticket costs 450 rubles (4.39 euros), with 14 trips a day.

Slepikovsky Cape and Lighthouse

120 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

At Slepikovsky Cape, there is the only relic grove of Korean cedar on Sakhalin. Also located here is the functioning Slepikovsky Lighthouse, which is a 27-meter tall round tower, connected by corridors to utility and residential buildings.

The cape and lighthouse are named after the commander of the Russian partisan detachment Bronislav Grotto-Slepikovsky, who operated in Southern Sakhalin during the 1904–1905 war. The route to the lighthouse goes through the villages of Yablochnoe and Sadovniki, where some of the best beaches on Sakhalin are located — with the cleanest water and white sand.

How to get there. The cape is located 29 kilometers north of Kholmsk. From Kholmsk to the turn towards the lighthouse, there is asphalt with dirt sections. From the turn to the lighthouse, there is first a dirt road, then beach sand, which is recommended to be driven on with deflated tires. Visiting time is from spring to autumn, as the road to the cape is not cleared in winter.

110 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

In 1891, when the island had a penal colony, this was the Russian village of Siraroko, named after a nearby Ainu settlement. In 1905, the south of Sakhalin was given to the Japanese, and the village was renamed Higashi Shiraura. Here there were a railway station, a brick factory, and a coal mine. 40 years later, the settlement was renamed Vzmorye.

During the Japanese times, there was the Shinto shrine Higashi Shiraura Inari-Jinja. Only the torii gates remain — P-shaped gates without doors that are placed on the path to a Shinto shrine. These are the only torii on Sakhalin. On the torii, there is an inscription ‘In honor of the 2600th anniversary of the foundation of Great Japan’ — this mythological date was widely celebrated in 1940.

On the way to the torii, you can see the famous giant burdocks and bear’s garlic. Vzmorye is also known as a place where poached crabs are sold along the highway.

How to get there. Two electric trains and one train that start from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk stop in Vzmorye. Unfortunately, all three are in the evening. You can also get there on passing buses that go to the north of the island.

Tikhaya Bay

140 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

On one side, the bay is framed by Mount Smely, and on the other side, the majestic Zhdanko Ridge begins. To the left in the bay itself is an island-kekur, which can be reached during low tide, as well as the epic cliffs of Tikhaya Cape. By the way, behind this cape, there are waterfalls that become icefalls in winter. At the base of the bay is the mouth of the Tikhaya River, where during the season you can see the spawning of pink salmon and chum salmon. Bears are aware of this, so they are often encountered here.

How to get there. Buses going to Poronaysk stop in the village of Tikhoye, near which the bay is located. There are four trips a day.

Aniva Lighthouse

The lighthouse has a complex history: there were attempts to maintain it under Soviet rule, but Aniva was so remote from inhabited areas that it was not profitable. Eventually, the lighthouse was switched to autonomous mode, bringing in a radioactive isotope to sustain its operation, and then it was completely closed. To this day, you can find signs on the walls reading ‘Caution, radioactive’. But now this warning is outdated, as the radioactive isotope was removed when the lighthouse was decommissioned. The lighthouse is very beautiful, offering views of the island and sea, and inside you can explore the remnants of rooms and working areas.

On the return trip, tourists are also taken to Mramornaya Bay, where you can also climb a mountain and view the jagged coast of Sakhalin from above. Orcas and whales are often encountered in these areas, most frequently in summer. I would also recommend taking a combined tour in summer to Aniva Lighthouse, the Blue Lakes, and Busse Lagoon, where you can see the amazingly blue waters and try sea urchins.

A kilometer from Novikov is Cape Tri Kamnya (46.320342 143.373006), which can even be reached by car. Four kilometers from the cape is the small Strelka waterfall , which requires a walk. If you stay in the village overnight, you can take a hike to the Blue (turquoise) Lakes (46.359603, 143.471909). On the way, there’s an abandoned Japanese power station. You can extend your route by another 15 kilometers and reach the opposite shore of the peninsula – to Cape Evstafiya. The road from Novikov to Cape Evstafyeva through the Blue Lakes can be driven in a jeep, if there hasn’t been prolonged rain before. But it’s better to ask in advance those who have recently been there, and get the phone number of a local tractor driver in Novikov, so that if something happens, he can pull you out.

How to get there. Getting there independently is almost impossible. The lighthouse is located on a rocky outcrop in the sea, and the nearest land is a high cliff. However, some people do reach Novikovo (the nearest village) by bus or car, and then walk 44 kilometers on foot to Aniva (the name of both the lighthouse and the bay). It takes about one and a half hours to drive from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Novikovo. And then another two hours of rough dirt road to the boat dock. A tour from the company ‘Friends-Hikers’ costs 6000 rubles (58.59 euros) in May (in summer – 7000 rubles (68.35 euros)).

Klokovsky Waterfall

190 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Klokovsky Waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls on Sakhalin Island. Its height is variously reported to be 48–49 meters, with a width of up to nine meters. The waterfall is accessible year-round, but is most full in late spring and early summer.

Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky

The ‘Tri Brata’ (Three Brothers) rocks are definitely a symbol of Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, and perhaps of the entire island. They are located in the Alexandrovsk Gulf almost opposite Cape Zhonkiyor. From the cape, there is a stunning view of the vast Tatar Strait and the Three Brothers. At low tide, it’s possible to calmly explore all the attractions of the gulf, collect seaweed and shells, see hermit crabs scuttling along the seabed with their shells on their backs, or watch the leaves of laminaria sway. At the strongest low tide, you can even walk to the Three Brothers through the water.

In the 19th century, convicts carved a 90-meter tunnel through Cape Zhonkiyor to service the lighthouse. To reach the tunnel by land, you need to come at low tide. Otherwise, you’ll have to climb the rocks. The tunnel is lined with logs, but there is almost always water at the bottom and a strong wind howls through it. If you pass through the tunnel, you will see the ‘Tri Sestry’ (Three Sisters) rocks and an old lighthouse from the end of the 19th century. All these places are described by Chekhov in ‘The Island of Sakhalin’: ‘Most often we went to the lighthouse, which stands high above the valley, on Cape Zhonkiyor. During the day, the lighthouse, if looked at from below, is a modest white house with a mast and lantern, but at night it shines brightly in the darkness, and then it seems that the penal colony looks at the world with its red eye. The road to the house climbs steeply, winding around the mountain, past old larches and firs. The higher you climb, the freer you breathe; the sea spreads before your eyes, thoughts gradually come, having nothing to do with the prison, the penal colony, or the exile settlement, and only then do you realize how dull and difficult life is down below.’

How to get there. From Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, there is one bus trip per day – at 12:10. The ticket costs 2200 rubles (21.48 euros), and the journey takes nine hours.

600 kilometers from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

The main transit point on the way to the oil refineries. The village might be of interest to those curious to see a harsh northern town living off production: low-rise buildings made of siding and unexpectedly bright murals on the walls of five-story buildings. There is a local history museum in the village (Sovetskaya Street, 3) – it is praised for its excellent exhibition of the Nivkh culture and a monument to Nevelskoy. Also, one of the longest rivers of Sakhalin, the Tym (which translates from Nivkh as ‘spawning river’), flows through the town.

How to get there. A night train goes to Nogliki every day, taking almost 12 hours. The cheapest ticket in a seated carriage costs 1100 rubles (10.74 euros), a compartment – 4100 (40.03 euros). There is even a luxury (SV) carriage for 12600 rubles (123.03 euros).

Where to Stay

Hostels in the Far East are divided into work and tourist types. The former will also accommodate tourists, but the atmosphere there is like a dormitory where their own rules are already established, and you may feel like an uninvited guest. To avoid such a hostel, it’s important to carefully read the reviews, not book the cheapest hostels, not stay on the outskirts or near airports and train stations.

In the Islander hostel , mainly travelers stay, it’s very cozy, with convenient kitchen and showers with toilets. A double room costs 3000 rubles per day, and dorms – from 900 rubles (8.79 euros) per night. If you book directly through the website and for a long term, you can get a good discount.

The ‘Moneron’ hotel is located near the railway and bus stations. It’s a classic budget hotel with small clean rooms. The ‘comfort’ class rooms have a bath, and the hotel provides a complete set with slippers, towels, and a hairdryer. Prices start from 2800 rubles (27.34 euros) per night for a single economy room, while ‘comfort’ costs 4900 rubles (47.85 euros). Breakfast is included in the price.

The ‘Belka’ hotel building is made using Finnish technology in a wooden style from milled timber. The cost of large rooms with wooden walls and huge beds starts from 5800 rubles (56.63 euros). Breakfast is also included in the price. The hotel complex includes a sauna, spa, tavern, and gym.

Near Bussé Bay is the island’s only dome-shaped glamping site. A night for two costs 8000-10,000 rubles (78.12 – 97.65 euros). An extra bed is 2000 (19.53 euros). Each dome has a shower, toilet, and electricity. On cooler days, you can light the stove and sit by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa.

In other towns, apart from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the choice of hotels is quite modest and usually limited to one or two hotels, which cannot always be booked online. They have to be found on the map and booked by phone.

Transport on the Island

Car. If you’re only traveling between cities, there won’t be any problems – the roads between them are mostly paved, and the dirt roads are of more or less good quality. It gets more complicated with natural attractions. Almost all of them are accessed by dirt roads, which not every car can navigate.

In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, ‘Yandex.Taxi’ and ‘Maxim’ operate (also in Korsakov and Kholmsk). A trip within the city limits will cost a maximum of 300 rubles (2.93 euros).

Railway. From Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, about 30 electric trains depart daily. Most of them go to nearby areas like Dalnyaya, Khristoforovka, and Novoaleksandrovka stations – 8–23 minutes travel time.

To other cities, there’s only one electric train per day. It takes an hour to Korsakov and the ticket costs 80 rubles (0.78 euro). To Tomari, it’s four hours and 300 rubles (2.93 euros). To Poronaysk, it’s five hours of travel and 500 rubles (4.88 euros) for a ticket. Long-distance electric trains depart in the evening, as these routes are used by residents of the province who return from work in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to their homes.

There is also one train on the island – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Nogliki, 12 hours of travel and 1100 rubles (10.74 euros) for a ticket in a sitting carriage.

Buses. It seems you can reach even the most remote settlements by bus. Often there’s only one trip per day, but at least it exists. To Kholmsk, Nevelsk, and Korsakov, the journey takes about an hour and a half, with tickets costing around 300 rubles (2.93 euros); to Poronaysk and Uglegorsk, it’s four to five hours and 1200 rubles (11.72 euros) for a ticket. You can check the current schedule on avtovokzaly.ru . But it’s always better to double-check by phone: +7 (4242) 72-25-53. The address of the bus station is Karl Marx Street, 51b.

Airplane. Sakhalin has a quite extensive network of airports, and you can fly from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Okha, Zonalnoye, Shakhtyorsk, Poronaysk, Smirnykh, Yuzhno-Kurilsk, and Iturup. Flights are operated by the Far Eastern airlines ‘Aurora’ and ‘Taiga’ . These routes are served by small propeller planes Bombardier and Mi-8 helicopters. Such a flight is an interesting experience in itself. Moreover, some flights are quite inexpensive. For example, to Zonalnoye, Shakhtyorsk, and Poronaysk, tickets cost 2000–3000 rubles (19.53 – 29.29 euros) one way. To Okha and the Kurils – from 6000 rubles (58.59 euros).

Ferry. From Korsakov, ferries run to different settlements in the Kurils every three to four days. The ferry to Kurilsk takes about 22 hours, to Yuzhno-Kurilsk – 22–30 hours, and to Malokurilskoye – about 40 hours. Interestingly, a ticket to any of these settlements costs from 2800 rubles (27.34 euros), available on the website of the ferry company.

How to get there

By plain. To travel to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk from Europe, passengers typically fly through major transit hubs. Common routes involve flying from a European city to one of the major Russian airports offering direct flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, such as Moscow’s Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo airports. In 2023 it is only possible to fly to Moscow from major transit hubs such as Istanbul or Erevan. From there, travelers can catch one of the direct flights to the island. Some routes might also include stops or transfers in other large cities in Russia or Asia, depending on the airline and the flight itinerary, for instance, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Blagoveshchensk, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Sovetskaya Gavan, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. There is even one international flight from Harbin, China.

In good weather, on approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, you can see the Tatar Strait, the Western Ridge, and the city itself. The airport is located within the city limits, and from there, you can easily reach any point by public transport (buses 63 and 3) or taxi.

Ferry. Vanino (Khabarovsk Krai) to Kholmsk (Sakhalin) . Passenger tickets for the ferry are sold at the Vanino railway station or at the ticket office in Kholmsk (Lenin Square, 5). They can also be reserved by phone: +7 (42137) 74088 (Vanino), +7 (42433) 50880 (Kholmsk). The ferries run daily, with a journey time of 18–20 hours. A seat costs 650 rubles (6.35 euros), while the cheapest cabin spot is 1400 rubles (13.67 euros). There is a dining room on board.

I was on the island in early May, and this has its pros and cons. On one hand, it’s already not very cold in Sakhalin at this time, and you can walk around in a light jacket or sweatshirt, and sometimes even just in a T-shirt. At the end of spring, you can catch the largest number of Steller sea lions in Nevelsk (closer to summer they migrate towards Avacha Bay). Also at this time, you can see the forest awakening: streams penetrate it from all sides, in their floodplains swamp callas bloom, meadows fill with primroses, and the hills are covered with bright green bamboo shoots. On the other hand, there is still snow in the mountains, in which you can get stuck while climbing, and the sea, which is not very warm in these areas, is completely unsuitable for swimming.

In summer, Sakhalin is not very hot, the coast blooms with wild roses, the sea warms up a bit, and there is less chance of bad weather when visiting remote attractions. Also, it’s precisely at this time you can see orcas (June – July) and whales (July – August), as well as the salmon spawning.

In winter, snowboarders and skiers come to Sakhalin. The mountains on the island are not high, so they are suitable even for beginners.

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NashTrash Tours

Review Highlights

“ I'm sure the Jugg Sisters are amazing, but the tour guide we ended up with was Ben, and he did not disappoint! ” in 56 reviews

“ and then back on the big pink bus for more stories and laughter, watching them perform some funny tunes. ” in 12 reviews

“ We had such a blast with Brenda Kay and Sheri Lynn , I didn't want to get off the bus when it was over. ” in 10 reviews

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900 Rosa L Parks Blvd

Nashville, TN 37219

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Absolutely hysterical!! This tour was our first stop during out Nashville weekend and it definitely started our trip the right way!! We laughed and were entertained the entire time. Raunchy humor at its best!! If you are easily offended, steer clear; but if you have a sense of humor, you will love it! On a side note, the tour leaves out of the parking lot of the Farmer's Market. This is a hidden gem for food. We stumbled upon it and believe me, you do not want to miss it! Grab some lunch and then jump on the big pink bus!! You will be thoroughly entertained and see many different Nashville locations that you should try!

Girls trip and we did The Juggs tour! It was an absolute blast !!!!!! Do it ! You will laugh so much and won't be disappointed!!! Thanks for a great time !!!!!

Don't miss this excellent hilarious tour. It's so unique, it is hard to describe. We advise you to not wear your thin skin and be ready to laugh for 120 minutes straight!!! Great stuff.

I didn't want to leave the bus! Pip is hilarious, knowledgeable, and overall awesome! The Music Row Confidential tour is a great way to learn about the city with anecdotal context. This bus tour pauses to talk about points of interest, but you don't go outside. Loved the thoughtful touches of providing pillows for back support and baskets in the overhead storage area so your things don't slide around.

Had a tour with The Juggs and it was awesome! They are funny and very sweet ladies. They also give some historical information about the city. I would definitely do the tour again. It was a great time!

This was fantastic! The Jugg sisters are so much fun. Appreciate the rules they set out and the way they included everyone on the bus. This was fun for everyone in our group and would definitely recommend this to anyone in Nashville.

First off let me start by saying these ladies are hilarious and so sweet! I originally saw the tour on an episode of the travel channel about 3 years ago. I had dreamed of taking the tour ever since! Let me tell you they did not disappoint!! We went to Nashville for my other half's birthday and she got us on a waiting list when we booked the trip. We were so bummed at first to not get tickets, when about 1 week before we were set to leave spots opened up, we were thrilled! Seeing this tour now we know why the tickets were sold out and there is a list. They're definitely worth it. True gems! Everyone we have talked to about our trip we have recommended the tour. We plan to go back and do it again next year!!

Had a blast! The jug sisters were highly entertaining would definitely recommend! Not for people who can't take a joke

Today was my second Jugg Sisters Tour. The first was pre-Covid. They are still bringing the jokes and fun. The city had a bunch of random things going on today that detoured part of the normal route and left us sitting in traffic for a bit BUT they carried on and kept us entertained despite the delays while we were on the bus. We got the whole tour still and we were in stitches. In fact, at the bathroom break I literally booked them again for the 27th to bring my parents. Always a good time. Be warned these jokesters aren't for the faint of heart. You need to bring your sense of humor and leave your kids at home.

Note --- Review is for Pip's Music Row Confidential Tour If I could give this tour 0 stars I would have, I don't think myself and friends knew what we were in for. When we first got on the bus we sat in the back and noticed pillows on seats and now know why.... so you can take a nap! This two hour tour is a snooze-fest, very boring and nothing I would ever recommend to anyone I know. I was about ready to jump out of the window about 20 minutes into the trip to escape the torture of this tour. While I can appreciate the fact that Pip is knowledge about country music, no one wants to sit in front of a building and stare at bricks when he is constantly talking about himself the whole time. Lots of name dropping and while sitting still in front of buildings on Music Row I found myself counting bricks to kill the time. The lady in the seat in front of us was ASLEEP about 25 minutes in and I was about ready to be! I don't think anyone honestly was engaged and I would suggest that he start reading body language to determine if the crowd is interested. The five of us who were together were miserable and we ended up jumping ship when we got to the restaurant for a break. We couldn't get off the bus fast enough! Don't do the tour unless you want to pay for a $33 nap! It was supposed to be funny as well.... definitely was not, joke was on us!

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Pitbull brought the “Party After Dark” tour to central Pa. this weekend at Hersheypark Stadium, with hundreds in attendance to watch him perform.

He came out on stage around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday night which also featured special guest T-Pain.

Pitbull’s latest album, “Trackhouse,” was released in October 2023. He performed many of his famous hits such as “Don’t Stop The Party” and “Hotel Room Service.”

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Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city, Russia

The capital city of Sakhalin oblast .

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - Overview

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is a city located in the southern part of Sakhalin Island in the Far East of Russia, the administrative center of Sakhalin Oblast.

The population of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is about 201,700 (2022), the area - 164 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 4242, the postal codes - 693000-693904.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city flag

Yuzhno-sakhalinsk city coat of arms.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city map, Russia

Yuzhno-sakhalinsk city latest news and posts from our blog:.

29 October, 2019 / Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - the view from above .

History of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Foundation of yuzhno-sakhalinsk.

The Russians first visited Sakhalin Island in 1742. In 1805, the Russian-American Company sent Adam Johann von Krusenstern, a Russian admiral and explorer, to Sakhalin to hoist the Russian flag on the island. Officially, neither Russia nor Japan claimed Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. In 1855, a treatise on friendship and the border was signed in Shimoda, which marked the beginning of diplomatic relations between Russia and Japan. According to it, Sakhalin remained jointly owned by the two countries.

The settlement of Sakhalin by Russians was mainly due to exiled convicts. In 1869, Sakhalin was officially declared a place of exile and hard labor. In 1875, the St. Petersburg Treaty was signed between the Russian Empire and Japan, according to which Sakhalin completely went to Russia and the Kuril Islands - to Japan.

In 1881, according to the order of the military governor of the Primorsky region, Major Vladimir Yantsevich was appointed head of exiles in South Sakhalin. He received the following instructions: “For the settlement of those who are finishing their terms of hard labor, a place that is quite convenient for arable farming should be chosen. The selected site, if possible along the main road from south to north, should be planned, divided into sections and, as a new settlement, named by some permanent name.”

In 1883, Yantsevich applied for the approval of the names of four new villages founded in the south of Sakhalin: Solovyovskoe, Mitsulskoe, Vladimirovka (future Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), and Vlasovskoe. In 1885, 57 people lived in Vladimirovka, in 1895 - 130 people. In 1897, there were 150 residential and commercial buildings here: a church, a school, a post office, a hospital, a mill, trade shops, a number of government buildings, and a lot of residential log houses.

More historical facts…

Japanese period in the history of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

In 1905, after the defeat of the Russian Empire in the Russo-Japanese War, according to the Treaty of Portsmouth, part of Sakhalin south of the 50th parallel was ceded to the Japanese Empire and became the Karafuto Prefecture. The northern part of Sakhalin remained under the control of the Russian Empire.

In 1908, Vladimirovka was renamed Toyohara (“bountiful plain”). In 1915, the settlement received the status of a town. The Japanese made their own plan for the development of the town with a clear rectangular planning system with the direction of streets along the railway and perpendicular to it.

The building density was high, as a result, a significant number of residential buildings were without outbuildings, sheds and other ancillary buildings, as well as yards. On the outskirts of the town there was a well-maintained park with an artificial reservoir. In 1920, the population of Toyohara was 14,176 people, in 1935 - 28,459.

On February 11, 1945, Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill signed an agreement in Yalta on the conditions for the USSR’s entry into the war against Japan. Among the conditions were the return of South Sakhalin to the USSR and the annexation of the Kuril Islands. In August 1945, Soviet troops entered Toyohara.

This is what Toyohara looked like from the words of Dmitry Kryukov, head of the civil administration of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, who arrived in the town in September 1945: “The town mainly consists of wooden buildings. The houses are adjacent to each other, timber-frame, plastered. Many of them look good, but they are cold.” The majority of the population were Japanese and Koreans.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - the capital of Sakhalin Oblast

On February 2, 1946, Yuzhno-Sakhalin Oblast was formed on the territory of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. On June 4, 1946, Toyohara became its administrative center. It was renamed Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (“South Sakhalin City”).

On January 2, 1947, Yuzhno-Sakhalin Oblast was liquidated and its territory was included in Sakhalin Oblast, a separate region of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. On April 18, 1947, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk became its administrative center.

In the spring of 1947, the mass repatriation of the Japanese began. By August 1, 1947, 124,308 people left Sakhalin, almost half of the local Japanese. During 1947-1949, about 400 thousand people were brought to Sakhalin from the central regions of Russia, Primorye and the Far East. By 1949, only 2,682 Japanese remained on Sakhalin - those who managed to obtain a Soviet passport. The Koreans from Sakhalin were not forcibly evicted, so most of them stayed. In 1959, the population of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was 85,510 people.

In subsequent years, the appearance of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk changed again - the frame houses built by the Japanese were demolished. Today, except for the railway and some buildings of that time turned into museums, almost nothing reminds of the Japanese period in the history of this city.

General views of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk from above

Author: Vladislav Yarowind

General view of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk cityscape

Author: Shinya Ichinohe

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - Features

Sakhalin Oblast is the only region in Russia located entirely on the islands. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk stands at some distance from the sea coast, about 25 km from the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. Chekhov Peak (1,045 m), one of the highest peaks of Sakhalin, rises to the north-east of the city. Locals call the city simply Yuzhnyy.

Sakhalin Island is part of the temperate monsoon zone. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is located on a plain surrounded by hills, due to which its climate has certain peculiarities. In summer, it can be very hot in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and in winter, due to the lack of wind, severe frosts. The coldest month is January with an average daily temperature of minus 12.2 degrees Celsius, the warmest month is August with an average daily temperature of plus 17.3 degrees Celsius. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is equated to the regions of the Far North.

The city is located in an earthquake-prone area. The probability of strong earthquakes is relatively high. The distance from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to Moscow is 9,140 km by road and 6,640 km in a straight line.

The majority of the population is Russian, but the proportion of Koreans is also high (about 20%). Out of 43 thousand Sakhalin Koreans, most of them live in the capital of the region. In the city you can also find representatives of the indigenous peoples: Nivkhs, Ainu and Oroks, but their number is very small.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is the largest transport hub on Sakhalin. Anton Chekhov Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport offers regular flights to such cities as Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, Moscow, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Seoul (South Korea), Sapporo (Japan), Tokyo (Japan).

In Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, there is a high level of air pollution due to the high motorization of the population and the location of the city in the valley, which slows down the dispersion of harmful substances.

Today, it is one of the dynamically developing cities of the Far East, the production and intellectual center of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. Oil and natural gas production, as well as their processing, are the most important components of the local economy.

This is one of the most visited cities in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is often visited by cruise ship passengers (mostly Japanese citizens). Restaurants of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk offer dishes of Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Uzbek, Georgian, Italian cuisines.

The architecture of the period of the Karafuto Prefecture gives a special flavor to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Today, in the city there are about 40 objects of cultural heritage of this period. In the future, tourism should become the basis for the economic development of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Special thanks to Vladislav Yarowind for the photos of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Main Attractions of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore - the central museum of Sakhalin Oblast founded in 1896. It is housed in a very picturesque Japanese building constructed in the Imperial Crown Style in 1937. This is the only such building on the territory of Sakhalin and all of Russia, the most significant architectural monument of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Its diverse expositions are devoted to nature, history of the indigenous peoples of the islands, culture and development of Sakhalin. Kommunisticheskiy Avenue, 29.

Sports and Tourist Complex “Gornyy Vozdukh” (“Mountain Air”) - a ski resort and sports complex, existing, according to one version, since the days of the Japanese Karafuto Prefecture (1905-1945). Today, it is one of the most dynamically developing ski resorts in the Far East of Russia.

The unique location of the complex - in the center of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - allows guests to find themselves in the world of winter sports in just a few minutes. The ski resort offers 10 slopes of various difficulty levels for both beginners and professionals. Their total length is over 23 km. The ski season lasts from December to the end of April.

It is one of the main organizers of excursion tours in Sakhalin Oblast: sports, excursion, business tourism, as well as ecological tourism. The complex has a network of hiking and cycling routes. There are also restaurants and cafes here.

Museum and Memorial Complex “Pobeda” (“Victory”) - a square with a cultural and educational center, where you can find historical expositions dedicated to the Russian-Japanese and World War II. A T-34-85 tank is installed on a pedestal in front of the building. Pobedy Avenue, 1.

Museum of the History of the Sakhalin Railway . This museum is dedicated to the history of railway construction on Sakhalin. The exposition has a lot of interesting and rare exhibits. In the open area of the museum, Sakhalin railway equipment is exhibited: steam locomotives, carriages of various types, etc. Vokzalnaya Street, 55.

Sakhalin Regional State Art Museum - the only art museum in Sakhalin Oblast with over 11 thousand works of art. On the ground floor, temporary art exhibitions are held, the art of artists from Russia, Korea and China is presented. The second floor houses permanent exhibitions: “Contemporary Korean Art”, “Christian Art”, “Russian Art of the 19th - early 20th centuries.” Lenina Street, 137.

Museum of the Book of Anton Chekhov “Sakhalin Island” . This museum is dedicated to Anton Chekhov’s trip to Sakhalin in 1890, as a result of which he wrote the book “Sakhalin Island”. Here you can find the following collections: “Painting”, “Graphics”, “Written Sources”, “Photo Materials”, “Numismatics/Phaleristics”, “Household Items, Arts and Crafts”, “Sculpture”. The personal belongings of Chekhov’s family members and various items belonging to exiles are exhibited here. Mira Avenue, 104.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Park of Culture and Rest named after Yuri Gagarin - the most beautiful recreational area of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk founded in the Japanese period of the city’s history in 1906. In 1968, when the famous cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin died in a jet crash, the park was renamed in his honor. Today, this place attracts visitors with its amazing landscapes and an abundance of entertainment. Sakura blooms here in spring. Detskaya Street, 1.

Resurrection Cathedral - the first church in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk built in the 1990s. This one-domed cathedral in the pseudo-Russian style looks surprisingly graceful and is located in the immediate vicinity of Gagarin Park. Svyatitelya Innokentiya Boulevard, 3k1.

Cathedral of the Nativity . The height of this church, consecrated in 2016, is 77 m, which is why it effectively dominates the surrounding landscape. Accommodating up to 1,000 people, it is built in the Novgorod style with a gilded dome surrounded by four bright blue ones. Inside, you can admire the five-tiered iconostasis in the Russian style, decorated with 98 icons. The outer walls are decorated with mosaics created in Jerusalem. Ilarion Troitsky Street, 1.

Chekhov Peak . Several picturesque mountain peaks are located in the vicinity of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The highest one (1,045 m) is named after the famous Russian writer Anton Chekhov. The trip to the top takes several hours. From the height of Chekhov Peak you can admire the city itself, the waters of Aniva Bay and the Sea of Okhotsk. On a cloudless day, you can even see the northern tip of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. There is a small Japanese temple at the top of the peak.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city of Russia photos

Architecture of yuzhno-sakhalinsk.

Winter in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk architecture

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Churches of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Wooden Church of St. Nicholas in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

The Roman Catholic Church Parish of Saint James in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Resurrection Cathedral in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Author: Snejanna Baggerovski

Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore

The main building of the Sakhalin Regional Museum of Local Lore

Old Russian 11-inch gun (1867) in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

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Did Harris-Walz Campaign 'Stage' Pennsylvania Restaurant Photo Op with 'Paid Actors'?

The harris-walz campaign's bus tour through western pennsylvania on aug. 18, 2024, ended with a rumor about a stop at a primanti bros. sandwich shop., jordan liles, published aug. 22, 2024.

A rumor circulating online during the U.S. presidential election in mid-August 2024 claimed the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign "kicked out" diners eating at the popular sandwich shop Primanti Bros. in Moon Township, just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to have a "staged" photo op involving "paid actors," who the campaign allegedly transported to the establishment in white vans visible in videos shared on social media. We received reader mail asking about this matter.

In our research and correspondence with sources described throughout this article, we learned the Harris-Walz campaign or someone else reserved the restaurant for the evening of Aug. 18, 2024. Reporting published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette before the campaign motorcade's arrival described the upcoming stop as a "private party." The reporting quoted a "SWAT member" on-site who said that, following the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump in nearby Butler, Secret Service personnel locked down the site, moved all cars away and "vetted" people entering the building.

We also learned more about the aforementioned white vans and have yet to find any credible evidence of involvement from "paid actors." Even so, we noted some reporting in online articles simply referring to the people seated at tables as "diners" as well as some of Harris' own social media posts not providing context about a photo taken inside the restaurant, as if the photo op occurred organically.

To start our investigation, we contacted the headquarters for Primanti Bros. by phone, email, Messenger and X but did not receive any responses. The company also did not post on its Facebook, Instagram or X accounts in the days following the campaign stop. We also reached out to the U.S. Secret Service, numerous officials associated with the Harris-Walz campaign and reporters who were part of the press pool at the restaurant.

Secret Service spokesperson Alexi Worley told Snopes by phone that the white vans were part of the Secret Service's motorcade, "transporting members of the campaign staff and press." As for the people seated inside the restaurant, campaign spokesperson Daniel Wessel told us via email, "I can confirm it was a volunteer appreciation event." Further, a local reporter who was on the scene also provided similar details, which we will go into later in this story.

Popular Posts Promoting the Rumor

Users began spreading this rumor on X at the end of a day filled with stops in the battleground state, in which U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz traveled together on a campaign bus to several locations, including meeting with volunteers at a campaign office, greeting firefighters at a firehouse and visiting with members of a high school football team.

For example, one user's popular post on X ( archived ) claimed that "every single customer was kicked out and replaced with actors," while another person's similarly popular post ( archived ) read, "Trump supporters and paying customers were kicked out of a restaurant to make room for Kamala 'supporters.'"

These and several other prominent posts featured a video of Trump supporters shouting at the Harris-Walz motorcade as it arrived at the restaurant. One person in the video ( archived ) shouted, "They kicked us out of Primanti Bros. because they said it was a private event!" This mention of a "private event" aligned with other information we located in our research. Another person said, "They kicked us out of Primanti Bros. so that they could get the paid actors inside."

A different user's post ( archived ) featured a second video recorded from the same location showing another campaign bus and numerous dark SUVs, and also a photo of an empty parking lot at the restaurant.

Eyewitness Insight and White Vans

Ryan Deto, a reporter for the western Pennsylvania publication TribLIVE.com , who was at the restaurant that day, told us in an email, "The people inside the restaurant were campaign volunteers who were there to meet with Harris, Walz and their spouses." He added he believed this campaign-volunteer aspect was "evident" to him upon his and the rest of the press pool's arrival at the restaurant, which occurred in the white vans mentioned in posts promoting the rumor.

Again, Worley, the Secret Service spokesperson, also told us by phone that the white vans were part of the Secret Service's motorcade, "transporting members of the campaign staff and press."

At least four journalists posted photos taken from the white vans showing the same group of Trump supporters visible in the popular videos on X. Deto was one of those journalists:

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Reports in Advance About 'Private Party'

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported at 5:12 p.m. EDT, 90 minutes before the campaign motorcade's arrival at the restaurant, "Allegheny County's SWAT team stood guard outside of a Moon Township Primanti Bros. ahead of a 'private party' scheduled for 4 p.m. that was rumored to include Ms. Harris and Mr. Walz."

The reporting from 5:12 p.m. also added, "According to another SWAT member, the Secret Service, under scrutiny since the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, is locking down the site well in advance of Ms. Harris' arrival, moving all cars out of the lot and only allowing people who've been vetted inside the building."

Syndicated AP Story Simply Called Supporters 'Diners'

Even with all of this information, we noted some online articles reporting on the campaign stop still referred to the people seated at restaurant tables, either within their stories or photo captions, simply as "diners," as if the event were organic. The people attending the private function were dining but the context of their visit constitutes more than such a word.

For example, The Associated Press called the people seated at tables "diners," with a later part in the story also mentioning the importance of "[scoring] face time with voters in small venues like diners and mom-and-pop shops." An AP photo caption also referred to them as "customers."

ABC News , NBC New York and numerous other local TV news websites and newspapers syndicated the AP's story.

Similarly, Harris' Facebook and Instagram pages each featured a post including photo of her shaking a person's hand inside the restaurant, with no mention of the gathering involving campaign volunteers or a private party. A separate post on her Facebook page did mention volunteers but did not show a picture of the Primanti Bros. visit.

Samuel DeMarco III, a Republican serving as at-large council representative for Allegheny County who appeared to often share his support of Trump, posted ( archived ) later in the day, "Hey, let's all cut [Primanti Bros.] a break regarding their asking customers to leave to prepare for the Kamala Harris photo-op. Oftentimes campaigns rent out a place of business for a private party or particular event. Perhaps that's what happened here? Anyway, I like a good Primanti's Bros 'hot & cheese' sandwich so let's cut them a break."

DeMarco had posted ( archived ) earlier in the day about the campaign stop, sharing the video reposted by many other users.

Video and Photos Captured Inside the Restaurant

In Fox News ' reporting of the Harris-Walz bus tour's stop at Primanti Bros., a reporter interviewed a patron who said the restaurant's bartender announced "last call" at 3:30 p.m. due to a "private event" starting "at the top of the hour." The article also mentioned restaurant staff or someone else turned televisions off, seeing as they were closing soon.

The Dallas TV station WFAA posted raw footage on YouTube credited to ABC News, showing Harris, Walz and second gentleman Doug Emhoff walking from table to table. At the 4:07 mark in the video, the videographer follows instructions for members of the press to move left and around the empty and closed bar area to find a better vantage and to allow the candidates space to greet people seated at the tables.

In the video, just as the Fox News story mentioned, all visible televisions appear off in the empty bar area and the rest of the restaurant, as one might see at other private events held inside bars and restaurants. In other words, people seated at tables occupied a specific section of the closed restaurant, all in view of the press pool, which featured local and national reporters and photojournalists.

Kunal Atit, whose X bio mentioned he's the Pennsylvania deputy campaign manager for Harris, posted ( archived ) a photo showing Harris greeting people at tables. Again, all visible televisions were turned off. On the far left side of Atit's picture, a person in the background can be seen wearing a "Kamala" hat.

As the ABC News footage and Atit photo both showed, some of the people seated at the tables appeared to dress for the occasion of meeting Harris and Walz, in blazers, dress shirts and at least one woman wearing a blue dress. Other people wore more casual attire.

We will update this story if we receive further details or correspondence regarding this rumor.

Atit, Kunal. "Last Stop for @KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz Is Pittsburgh Staple @primantibros." X , 18 Aug. 2024, https://x.com/KunalAtit/status/1825317570506903955.

Creitz, Charles. "Pittsburgh Diners Fume over 'Staged' Harris Campaign Stop as Popular Restaurant Cleared: 'Mind-Boggling.'" Fox News , 19 Aug. 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pittsburgh-diners-fume-after-restaurant-cleared-staged-harris-campaign-stop-mindboggling.

DeMarco, Samuel. "Hey, Let's All Cut @primantibros a Break Regarding ..." X , 18 Aug. 2024, https://x.com/sdemarcoii/status/1825356900533453182.

Deto, Ryan. "Harris-Walz Last Stop Is Primanti Bros in Moon, Where They Are Being Greeted by a Group of Trump Supporters." X , 18 Aug. 2024, https://x.com/RyanDeto/status/1825296879506124974.

---. "Kamala Harris, Tim Walz Rally Supporters at a Series of Visits in Allegheny, Beaver Counties." TribLIVE.com , 18 Aug. 2024, https://triblive.com/local/regional/kamala-harris-tim-walz-to-kick-off-western-pa-campaign-bus-tour-at-pittsburgh-airport/.

"Kamala Harris, Tim Walz Spend Hours Touring Pittsburgh Region in Last Campaign Stops before DNC." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , 18 Aug. 2024, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/election-2024/2024/08/18/kamala-harris-tim-walz-pennsylvania-bus-tour/stories/202408180143.

Lyons, Kim. "Some Protesters Outside Primanti's." X , 18 Aug. 2024, https://x.com/SocialKimLy/status/1825297137166356879.

Spirito, Taylor, and Rich Pierce. "Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Tim Walz Make Campaign Stops during Pittsburgh-Area Bus Tour." WPXI , 19 Aug. 2024, https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/vice-president-kamala-harris-gov-tim-walz-make-campaign-stops-during-pittsburgh-area-bus-tour/V76UCZAQUFAUFD2I5MW23VSZNQ/.

Superville, Darlene, and Michelle L. Price. "Harris and Walz Make Small-Town Stops and Campaign Phone Calls on Pennsylvania Bus Tour before DNC." The Associated Press , 18 Aug. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/harris-walz-bus-tour-campaign-pennsylvania-2fa74e23e4cd21218f61f6c6595a577c.

"VP Kamala Harris Stops into Primanti Bros. Restaurant in Moon Twp, PA (Aug. 18, 2024)." YouTube , WFAA, 18 Aug. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NntqOaFcdFY.

By Jordan Liles

Jordan Liles is a Senior Reporter who has been with Snopes since 2016.

Article Tags

Taylor Swift Ends European Leg of Eras Tour With Surprise-Packed Show

FILE PHOTO: People walk on the 'Swiftie Steps' ahead of a Taylor Swift concert, following the cancellation of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna because of a planned attack, at Wembley Stadium in London, Britain, August 15, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

By Paul Sandle

LONDON (Reuters) -Taylor Swift was joined by surprise guest Florence Welch for her first live performance of "Florida!!!" during the final European date of her Eras tour on Tuesday.

The pop megastar also debuted "So Long, London", a ballad that fans widely believe is about the end of her relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn, in the acoustic section of the show at Wembley Stadium.

Both tracks feature on Swift's eleventh studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department", which was released this year. Welch, of British indie rock band Florence + the Machine, co-wrote "Florida!!!" and sang on the recorded track.

Fans from near and far had travelled to London's Wembley Stadium for the show, Swift's fifth in the British capital in August and eighth this summer, as they snapped up the last opportunity to see her critically acclaimed show in Europe.

The London nights followed the cancellation of her shows in Vienna, when a planned attack was foiled by authorities.

Some of the 195,000 disappointed fans in Vienna rushed to buy tickets for the London dates on resale sites, where they were changing hands for up to 10 times face value.

Swift told the crowd that she had become the first solo artist to ever play Wembley eight times in a single tour. "We will never, ever be able to thank you enough for it," she said.

Eras, the first tour to surpass $1 billion in revenue, showcases all 11 of Swift's studio albums in dedicated sections. Her performances and the show's staging have been praised by critics.

Fans arriving in Wembley, dressed in sequins, cowboy hats, and forearms covered in friendship bracelets ready to swap with other Swifties, faced tight security checks.

While British police have said there was nothing to indicate the events in Vienna would impact any of the shows at Wembley, there was highly visible security at the stadium.

Tay-gating, the practice of gathering outside a Swift show without a ticket, as thousands did in Munich last month, has been banned, as authorities try to reduce harder-to-control risks outside the venue.

Marie Wright, aged 48, from Limerick, Ireland, bought tickets on a resale site on Monday evening and flew to London on Tuesday with her daughter’s best friend Aoife McCarthy, aged 15. Her own daughter had already seen the show in Dublin.

"She’s going to leave Europe, so we had to come for the last night," McCarthy said.

"Her songs have real meaning and there’s a poetry to them,” Wright added.

The tour returns to the United States in October and ends in Vancouver, Canada, in December.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Lincoln Feast and Ana Nicolaci da Costa)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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England’s Charley Hull Comes Out Hot at Home of Golf

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ST ANDREWS, Scotland — There are few tournaments Charley Hull wants to win more than the AIG Women’s Open. And through one round at the Old Course at St Andrews, she has put herself in quite the spot to do just that at the Home of Golf.

Hull put on a show early in Scotland, carding a near-perfect, 5-under 67 in chilly, windy conditions on day one of the fifth and final major of the 2024 LPGA Tour season.

The 28-year-old got off to a quiet start, parring her first four holes of the round before picking up her first birdie of the day on the par-5 5th hole. Hull erased that effort with a bogey on eight, but she then birdied the par-4 9th hole to turn in 35 at 1-under.

She made another birdie on 10 and chalked up another on the par-4 12th hole, now at 3-under with six holes to play at the Old Course. Hull added another birdie to her tally on 15 and then nearly holed out her second shot on the iconic par-4 18th hole, cleaning up the short putt for birdie, much to the delight of the Scottish crowds and posting her lowest first-round score since she carded a 67 on day one of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G last season.

“It was loads of fun out there today,” Hull said. “Actually, before my round, I was in there watching it on the TV when I saw the scores, and I thought, how is she 4-under par? That was an unbelievable score. I'd take that now because it was gusting a lot on the range, and I said to my coach, it feels like they could call it at any minute because I don't know how the balls are staying on the greens. To go out there, shoot 5-under, play pretty solid, it was a lot of fun.”

Hull was grouped with Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu in the first round and will play with the Nos. 1 and 2 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings again on Friday. The threesome was a combined 12-under on day one, and Hull felt like the three fed off of each other throughout the day at the Old Course, a sentiment with which her groupmates agreed after finishing play on Thursday evening.

“I love playing with them two girls,” said Hull. “Nelly is an unbelievable ball striker. Lilia is a great putter. You just know, even when they're making some bogeys, you think the whole field is finding this tricky, so you just keep in the moment. They're two quick players, as well, so I enjoy that.”

The Englishwoman finished runner-up to Vu at last year’s AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath Golf Club, a six-shot loss that stung a bit for the local favorite but that has clearly motivated her even more to win what could be considered the closest event she has to a national open on the LPGA Tour. The solo second is her best finish in her 12 previous starts in this major championship, but Hull also has five other top-25 results on her AIG Women’s Open resume.

Despite her English heritage and her strong past performances at both this major championship and the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, Hull has admitted that links golf doesn’t really suit her as well as the tight, tree-lined fairways typically found on parkland layouts.

But she appears to have figured out how to dance with the devil in recent weeks, finishing solo fifth last week at Dundonald Links and starting strong in some of the worst conditions many of the 144-player field said they have ever played in at an AIG Women’s Open or otherwise.

Hull says the key has been patience, something she will continue to put a premium on as she prepares to tackle three more rounds of difficult golf at one of the most storied venues in the game.

“You've just got to be patient. You know what it's going to be like before the beginning of the round, so you just mentally prepare for that before,” said Hull. “I'm happy with (a 67), and I'm just looking forward to going out tomorrow and being patient again. I've always been patient out there, and I hit some great, great shots.”

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PHOTOS: BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club

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Ludvig Åberg tees off on the 17th hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

A young fan tries to get a better look at the action at the tee box for the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Wyndham Clark, right, and Rory McIlroy, third from right, leave the 18th hole due to a weather warning during the opening round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Hideki Matsuyama hits out of the sand on the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Chad Redmon, of Dallas, Texas uses binoculars to watch golf with his girlfriend Chelsea Pierce during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Keegan Bradley reacts after he birdied on the green of the 18th hole during the third round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. Bradley ended the day in first place. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Alex Noren watches his drive from the first tee during the 2nd round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Rory McIlroy chip onto the green surrounded by the crowd on the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Scottie Scheffler reacts after missing to make eagle putt on the eighth green during the second round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Fans move between holes as they watch the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Wyndham Clark warms up near an advertisement of a silhouetted golfer at the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Wyndham Clark high fives young fans as he makes his way up the fairway on the 16th hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Charlie Liesmaki, 4, takes a nap in the lap of his mother Erica while she and her other son Miles, 6, watch golf action at the 16th hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Russell Henley, left, tees off to start the second round of the BMW Championship with Sam Burns at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Ludvig Åberg lines up a shot that fell into the crowd on the 17th hole during the third round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Wyndham Clark watch his iron shot from the second tee during the second round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Young fans shout out to players as they finish up the third round of golf during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Sam Burns lines up a shot out of the rough on the 17th hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Lindsay Heyser wears her favorite golf hat during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Ludvig Åberg smiles as he gets ready to tee off from the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Adam Scott gets high fives from fans as he makes his way to the ninth hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Keegan Bradley sizes up the course before teeing off on the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

PGA fans cross the eighth hole fairway during the second round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Rory McIlroy watches his approach shot go into the crowd on the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Hideki Matsuyama taps his ball in on the first hole green during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

The crowd watches Scottie Scheffler on the green of the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Scottie Scheffler has a golf glove tucked in his back pocket as he gets ready to tee off from the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Wyndham Clark hits out of the sand on the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Xander Schauffele tees off from the second hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

A crowd gathers to watch Sahith Theegala tee off from the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Scottie Scheffler hits his ball out of the bunker on the 17th hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Xander Shauffele holes out after the opening round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Rory McIlroy tees off of the first hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Corey Conners reacts to missing a putt on the 18th hole during the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock on Aug. 24, 2024. Conners made par on 18. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Professional golfers and spectators come to Castle Pines Golf Club for the BMW Championship from Thursday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Castle Rock, Colorado. The BMW Championship, featuring the top 50 players on the PGA Tour, is the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour schedule.

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Everyone Who Joined Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in Rhode Island: Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Bradley Cooper and More

The hangout marks the first time Swift and Kelce have been seen together since a mid-July Eras Tour show in Germany

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Fresh out of ending the European leg of her Eras Tour, Taylor Swift is spending quality time with boyfriend Travis Kelce and their friends.

The “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart” singer and the NFL star, both 34, reunited in Rhode Island to hang out together along with several of their famous friends and those pals’ children over the weekend.

Swift and Travis were first spotted in the area on Saturday, Aug. 24, in photos shared by TMZ . The hangout marked the first time the couple had been seen together since mid-July, when the Kansas City Chiefs star attended his  13th  and 14th Eras Tour shows in Germany.

Among the people at the star-studded gathering were Blake Lively , 37, and Ryan Reynolds , 47, who were photographed sharing a kiss .

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Lively and Swift have a friendship that dates back to 2015 . Since then, Lively and Reynolds have attended several of Swift's tours .

Meanwhile, Swift has featured their kids in her music, with their daughter James having a voice cameo on Reputation track "Gorgeous” as well as James, Inez and Betty being mentioned on her folklore album.

Travis' brother, Jason Kelce and wife Kylie Kelce also joined the fun in Rhode Island, as seen in photos shared by TMZ and Daily Mail .

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Bradley Cooper , 49, and his daughter Lea, 7, were also at the Saturday hangout, per photos shared by The Daily Mail . The actor grew close to Swift through his relationship with Gigi Hadid , 29.

In May, Cooper and Hadid were spotted on a date night during the singer’s Eras Tour concert in Paris, where they hung out with Travis. 

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Chief’s quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wife Brittany Mahomes , both 28, and their daughter Sterling, 3, also made an appearance at the summer gathering, according to photos obtained by the outlet.

Swift and Brittany have cultivated a friendship since Swift started dating Travis in 2023, as the two regularly spent time together at NFL games.

Brittany and Patrick caught Swift on tour this year during stops in Amsterdam and London, with all four of them going on a double date .

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A source close to Swift and Travis told PEOPLE in July that “they really are very, very happy together."

The source added, "It’s funny to their friends because at first everyone wondered what they had in common, but you realize how similar they are. They both wear their hearts on their sleeves and are all-in with everything they do, whether it’s with career, family or friends."

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Harris-Walz to kick off 'Road to Chicago' bus tour from Pittsburgh Sunday

Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Gov. Tim Walz will kick off a bus tour from Pittsburgh Sunday, stopping in multiple Western Pennsylvania spots.

The tour, dubbed "on the Road to Chicago," comes the day before the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago, the Harris-Walz campaign told USA TODAY Wednesday.

The candidates' spouses Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Gwen Walz will join them on the tour, the first time all four are campaigning together. The group will focus on meeting voters in their communities, stopping at volunteer canvass events and local retailers.

This will be Harris' eighth visit to Pennsylvania this year. The tour is scheduled after Harris is expected to make her first policy-centered speech in Raleigh, North Carolina Friday.

More: Coach Walz's primetime debut: Four takeaways from the first Harris-Walz rally

Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team.

Pennsylvania is a key battleground state

Pennsylvania provides 19 electoral votes (one less than it did in 2020). It was one of a handful of states that switched its vote from Donald Trump in 2016 to the Democratic Party in 2020.

In 2016, Trump won the state by less than 50,000 votes, beating Hillary Clinton with 48.6% of the vote compared to 47.9% of the vote for Clinton.

In 2020, President Joe Biden won 50% of the votes, beating Trump who won 48.8% of the vote.

Harris has already made several campaign stops in Pennsylvania, including her first appearance with running mate Walz. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was another top contender for vice president.

When is the Democratic National Convention?

Harris' western Pennsylvania tour comes as many others in the party are headed to Chicago for the DNC.

The DNC is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 19 through Thursday Aug. 22.