Nanowires continue to fascinate researchers, who are often motivated by the combination of high crystalline quality and nanoscale dimensions not easily accessible by 'top-down' lithographic means. The 'size-effect' frequently sited in nanowire literature is that of quantum confinement, i.e., where the density of states assumes a 1-dimensional character. These dimensions, typically <20 nm in diameter, are, in fact, seldom fabricated in practice. In my talk, I will discuss how finite dimensions, far from the quantum confinement limit, affect bulk and contact mediated transport in nanowires. Specifically, I will show that the onset of space charge limited conduction in nanowires occurs at a lower critical voltage, and has a different geometric scaling as compared to low aspect ratio specimens (i.e. thin films). I will also discuss measurement where we have probed the transport characteristics of the metal catalyst/nanowire contact in the Au /Ge-nanowire system, demonstrating the presence of a Schottky barrier at the interface. Surprisingly, we find that the small bias conductance increases with decreasing diameter. Our model suggests that this effect arises because electron-hole recombination in the depletion region is the dominant charge transport mechanism, with a diameter dependence of both the depletion width and the electron-hole recombination time. Time permitting, I will also discuss our recent characterization of transport in InAs nanowires, including real-time observation of thermal breakdown, and its implications for both electronic and thermal transport in this system.