Hilversum is a medium- sized city between the major cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht in the Gooi area of North Holland, the Netherlands. Unlike most of the Netherlands, Hilversum is actually in a hilly area with the soil mostly consisting of sand. Once called the Garden of Amsterdam, it still attracts travelers to come over to cycle and walk through the surrounding forests. They visit it for a relaxing day off from the urban madness. For Dutch people, Hilversum is all about textile (纺织) and media industries, and modern architecture.
In history, Hilversum was largely an agricultural area. Daily life was marked by farming, sheep raising and wool production. A railway link to Amsterdam in 1874 attracted rich traders from Amsterdam to Hilversum. They build themselves large villas (别墅) in the wooded surroundings of the town. One of the families moving in was the Brenninkmeijers, currently the wealthiest family of the Netherlands. They moved in after big success in the textile industry and aided a substantial textile industry in Hilversum. But the textile boom lasted only several decades. The last factory closed in the 1960s.
The change to a media economy started in 1920, when the Nederlandse Seintoestedllen Fabriek (NSF) established a radio factory in Hiversum. Most radio stations called in the large villas in the leafy areas of the town. Television gave another push to the local economy. Hilversum became the media capital of the Netherlands, and Dutch televison stars moved into the leafy neighborhoods surrounding the town.
In the early 1900s, modern architcts W.M. Dudok and J. Duiker placed hundreds of remarkable buildings in Hilversum. These modern architectural masterpieces (杰作) are so many that Hilversum almost feels like an open air museum. Dudok alone shaped most 20th century Hilversum and approximately 75 buildings in 1928-1931. It has wide international fame and is included in many architecture textbooks. The building has a remarkable shape and looks like a combination of “blocks”. Actually, one may start his journey of modern architecture by walking or biking the W.M. Dudok Architectural Route in Hilversum.
How to save money to visit Shanghai Disneyland?
The “happiest place on earth” is a top destination on many families' bucket lists. But taking a vacation to Disney World can be difficult to do on a budget. There are some considerations that you can make to reduce the cost of your Disney World vacation.
1). Buy Souvenirs in Advance
Disney has influenced practically every industry, which makes it easy to find Disney items anywhere, from Walmart, Target, and your local grocery store to department stores and Amazon. You can save a lot of money by purchasing items before your trip at these less-expensive places than at Disneyland.
2). Make an Autograph Book
An autograph (亲笔签名)book is seen as a must-have by many Disneyland enthusiasts and is a memory you can take home with you. These books can cost anywhere from $7.95 to $19.95 at the Disney Store and up to $30 for the latest-and-greatest autograph book at Disneyland, such as the park's 60th anniversary edition. Other choices can get the job done for under $5. For example, you can buy a small photo album; cute pads or notebooks.
3). Eat Breakfast Before You Arrive
Breakfast is almost as pricey as lunch or dinner if you eat inside the Disneyland parks. If you have a hotel with a free breakfast, take advantage of it. If you want to eat out, eat at a local restaurant that is inexpensive or has a kids' menu, such as McDonald's which is close to the park.
4). Take Advantage of Discounts Offered to Special Groups
Disney offers a wide variety of discounts, including for military service members, college students, teachers, and youth groups. If you think you might qualify for a special discount or group rate, call the Disneyland Resort to book tickets.
根据短文内容,选择最佳答案,并将选定答案的字母标号填在题前括号内。
Our historic1740 Shenandoah Valley Bed and Breakfast is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty and history of the Valley. Once a haven (避难所) against Indian attacks on the Virginia frontier and later Stonewall Jackson's headquarters during the Valley Campaign (战役) of 1862, our Shenandoah Valley inn(small hotel) now welcomes travelers looking for comfortable bed and board and friendly welcome.
On Route11,the Old Valley Turnpike, only two miles from Interstate 81 at Woodstock, the inn has a country atmosphere on five private acres along the Shenandoah River. The inn offers 12 guest rooms, a well-equipped meeting room for small managing meetings, many common areas, and lovely grounds to host sendoffs and family gatherings.
A hearty Inn at Narrow Passage breakfast will get your day off to a great start! If you have special food needs, tell us ahead of time, and we will try to have just what you need.
“We had a wonderful four-day stay. Quiet and peaceful with the warmth of fireplaces in the room and bar to comfort and relax you. Ed and Ellen make you feel like family. Breakfast was outstanding.” A visitor said.
After a busy day of hiking or sightseeing, return for a cool drink on the porch in summer or hot, spiced tea by the fire in winter. In the evening, walk down to the river to feed the ducks, or maybe spend a little time fishing.
We hope you'll be able to visit us soon. We'll do all we can to make your stay a happy one.
Seven years ago,back in 2010,some reports covered a story that the world's longest railway tunnel was under construction in Switzerland.At that point it had already been under construction for over a decade.It had been voted to be built nearly a quarter of a century ago!The idea to build it could date back to nearly 70 years ago—about as old as some of your grandparents!
Yesterday,it was finally ready!
It's 35 miles long and runs 7,500 feet beneath the Swiss Alps,a famous mountain range in Switzerland.It even runs under an old tunnel that was there before.It took a total of 17 years to build at a cost of $12 billion.128 million tons of rock were dug.Two million truckloads of earth were removed!
The tunnel connects northern and southern Europe.The opening of this runnel was such a big deal that the Germany's leader,Chancellor Angela Merkel,France's president,Francois Hollande,and Italy's prime minister,Matteo Renzi,were an there to celebrate,as was Austria's chancellor Christian Kern.
It's called the Gotthard Base Tunnel.Eventually,325 freight and passenger trains will go through the tunnel,relieving a lot of traffic on the roadways there and making it a more environmentally friendly option.The Gotthard Base Tunnel is a wonder of engineering!Make us want to visit it!
While beach vacations may be a great way to take your mind off work,lakes surrounded by mountains make for an even grander experience.If you are looking for some peace on your vacation,we have some recommendations for you in the Caucasus(高加索).
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan is situated in the central part of Armenia,in the Gegharkunik province.It is the largest lake in Armenia,located 6,200ft above sea level.Along the lake shore,there are various accommodations such as resorts and hotels with plenty of activities to partake in such as windsurfing,swimming and sunbathing.While there,do not forget to visit one of the famous cultural monuments,the Sevanavank Monastery,and it offers a great view of the lake as well.
Lake Paravani
Lake Paravani,located at 6,801ft above sea level,is in the south of Georgia,near the Javakheti plateau.At this level,altitude sickness can occur and it is a good idea to be prepared to adapt to it properly,or bring medication for altitude sickness.Being a volcanic lake makes for a more interesting experience.The lake is best known for fishing.Do not come home during the winter months when the lake freezes.
Lake Cildir
Lake Cildir is located in the Ardahan province,East Turkey,near the borders of Georgia and Armenia.It is the second largest freshwater lake of Eastern Turkey,and many tourists are not aware of this beautiful attraction.Lake Cildir is surrounded by mountains of the Caucasus.The lake freezes during late November.If the winter is not extremely cold,you can try some lake activities like ice skating and ice fishing.
Lake Van
Lake Van is the must visit of all lakes in this list.The largest lake in Turkey,Lake Van is located on the eastern shore of Turkey and is also the most accessible lake here.It's situated at 5,380ft above sea level,and unique to lakes around the world,the water is high in salt content.
People who like travelling have their reasons. They believe that travelling can help them expand their field of view, especially in the geographical and historical sense. They also think that touring will give them more chances to enjoy different kinds of food and experience new things that would never be brought by other activities. But those who dislike travelling also have some reasons.
Travelling, in my opinion, does more good than harm. Most importantly, it broadens our mind. We can get in touch with other civilizations (文明), cultures, customs and ideas.
Through history, most people travelled because of necessity (必要性)-not for pleasure. People travelled just in order to remain alive. They searched for food to eat or places to live in. They sometimes ran away from enemies. This is not to say that no one ever travelled just for the fun of it. In ancient times, for example, rich Romans travelled all the way to Greece to take part in the Olympic Games, and festivals. Of course, some people decided to travel just out of curiosity. They wanted to find out what it looked like beyond the horizon (地平线). Also business travel has been going on for centuries. Traders could not only make money but also learn to speak several languages and be introduced to different cultures.
So, travelling does enrich our mind and draw new ideas to us. There is no doubt that we can get much from it.
Yellowstone Weather
Yellowstone National Park is at lofty height. Height. Most of the park is above2,275meters.
Yellowstone's weather is unpredictable. In summer, it may be warm and sunny with temperatures in the high 70s. At night in any given month, the temperature may drop close to freezing. So it is best to come prepared for cold evenings and mornings,especially if you are camping or hiking. When you leave your campsite,please leave it prepared for possible thundershower and wind.
A sunny warm day may become fiercely stormy with wind, rain, sleet and sometimes snow. Without enough clothing, an easy day hike or boat trip can turn into a battle for survival.
Seasonal Weather Information | |
Spring Cold and snow continue into May, although temperatures gradually climb. Early in spring, daytime temperatures average in the 40s and 50s; by late May and June, they may reach the 60s and 70s, Nighttime lows fall below freezing. | Summer Daytime temperatures are usually in the 70s ,occasionally reaching the 80s in the lower elevations(高度). Nights are cool,temperatures may drop in the 40s and 30s―sometimes even the 20s. July and August tend to be somewhat drier, although afternoon thundershowers are common. |
Fall Weather can be pleasant, although temperatures average 10-2 degrees lower than summer readings, Nighttime lows can fall into teens and lower. Snowstorms increase in frequency as the weeks go by or towards the end of the fall season. | Winter Temperatures often stay near zero throughout the day, occasionally reaching high in the 20s. Subzero nighttime lows are common. Annual snowfall averages nearly 150 inches in most of the park. At higher places, 200-400 inches of snow have been recorded. |
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。

The Gold Coast family holidays are always great fun whether you are from Australia or from abroad. There are beautiful beaches, adventure (冒险) parks, nature parks and so much more.
There are so many sights to see here. It is a pity to drive in a car and you'll miss a great part of it. Australia is home to many animals and birds that can only be seen when moving slowly and going into the areas where they live.
When you are on a bicycle, you have the advantage of being able to stop whenever you want to see an interesting animal or bird that you have never seen before. It is a quieter way of transportation as well, so you might even be able to take a picture. When you are on the beach, you can breathe that clean air and view the beauty of the water and sand. It is a totally different experience from passing it in a car.
There are many choices of hiring (租用) a bicycle to experience the Gold Coast. There are stores that will fit a bike perfectly to your size. These bikes for both adults and children are in many kinds and colors to please any taste. If you have ever wanted to try a tandem bike (双人单车), now is your chance, because they have those too.
A bicycle hire on Gold Coast is something that everyone should try at least once. This is a wonderful chance for anyone who likes to cycle and it is also a cheap way to travel with your family.
TRAVEL TIPS & INFORMATION
Drukair flight timing
Due to the geographical location, Paro airport in Bhutan is severely dependent on weather condmons, so the schedule timings are likely to change without advance notice Travelers are therefore, requested to check with Drukair offices for the latest information. Drukair rights without assigning any reason to cancel, reschedule, or change the route of the journey. The reporting time for your flight is two hours before flight departure (离开). All counters will close 40 minutes before scheduled departure of the flight.
Documents Required for travel by Air (in case the passenger is a patient)
⒈Fit to travel by air certificate signed by a physician.
⒉Child Health Card or Birth Certificate if the patient is minor and travelling to India and passport if travelling to other countries.
⒊Reservation of 5 seats in case stretcher (担架) is required and your reservation should be one day ahead of departure.
⒋Passengers with walking difficulties should request for wheelchair assistance at the check-in counters.
For all travel requirements, please contact the nearest Drukair booking office or a travel agent.
Security
According to security regulations, passengers are advised:
Not to accept any baggage/ packet from unknown persons.
Not to leave baggage unobserved at anytime especially within airport area.
Unattended baggage may be removed by Airport/ Security staff as object of suspicion.
To declare before check-in, if carrying any arms or explosive substance.
To remove battery cells/ dry cells from radios, transistor sets, two-in-ones and other such electrical/ electronic items and hand them over to the airline staff before security check or carry them in registered baggage.
Amsterdam is most famous for its artistic heritage. This tradition is proudly on display in the Rijksmuseum (translates as State Museum). Once you've taken in all that has to offer, artists, history fens, and families shouldn't pass up the chance to visit the Van Gogh Museum —containing around 700 paintings and drawings by Vincent and other artists, including Gauguin, Monet, and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Amsterdam is also home to the Anne Frank Museum, where Anne hid with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. On a lighter note, taking a canal cruise through its extensive waterways is a rewarding way to see the Dutch capital.
Art lovers get their tickets at:
The Van Gogh Museum Rijksmuseum Museum het Rembrandthuis
Food and drink
Cheese lovers love Amsterdam. You can find an excuse to eat cheese at any time of the day here. Gouda is Holland's favorite, developing a more intense flavor the longer it's aged. Find a selection at the markets, try a cheeseboard at dinner time, or just order cubes with mustard for dipping to accompany a drink. When you're hungry for non-cheese food groups, you'll find Michel in-starred restaurants, vegetarian, and organic restaurants that accompany an array of global cuisine. For old-fashioned and modern Dutch food, try these Amsterdam restaurants: Moeders, Haesje Claes, Loctje, Greetje, and De Silveren Spiegel.
Don't leave without tasting:
Patat (hot chips with toppings), Stroopwafel (waffle cookie), Chocomel (chocolate milk)
Amsterdam Fast Facts
Approximate flight times:
NYC/ New York 7 hours 20 minutes, Philadelphia 8 hours, Boston 7 hours
Miami 9 hours 45 minutes, Los Angeles 10 hours 15 minutes
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| Checklist for Traveling Abroad International travel is both fun and exciting but it can easily become stressful if you forget or lose important documents. This checklist will help ensure that you have everything you need for a smooth journey. ⒈$100 worth of local currency. At least $100 worth of local currency-calculate the cab fare from the airport to your destination and carry more than that amount with you. Remember to bring some home country money as well, just in case you need it on the trip home. ⒉Passports. Don t forget passports. Be sure to check expiration dates well in advance. It pays to check the destination country regulations as some countries require the passport to be in effect for one month or more after the trip dates. ⒊One copy of each passport. Bring at least one copy of every passport packed separately from other travel documents. Consider including copies in a checked bag and then storing them in the hotel safe at your destination. | | |
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| Admission fees to theme parks and local tourist attractions can really add up and max out your vacation budget, but you can save up to 55%on theme parks with Go City Cards. I've used these for several vacations and saved hundreds of dollars. Just one of my many best travel deals tips you'll find on this website. --Marianne Schwab | ||
The horse I'm riding is named Candy, which is appropriate, taking account of her love for eating. As we go our way down the mountain of Big Bend National Park, Texas, I'm sweating—half due to the hot weather, half due to an effort to stay on the horse. Candy, however, is relaxed and stops to eat cactuses (仙人掌) as she passes. She is used to the dusty trails through hills and canyons(大峡谷) and ignores my attempts to guide her away from her delicious food. Our ride becomes a battle of will, which Candy wins easily. I comfort myself by admiring the views across Big Bend's wide open spaces.
Texas only national park, Big Bend, extends across 800,000 acres of the Chihuahuan Desert, in the deep southwest of the state right along the border with Mexico. It is named after the U-turn that the Rio Grande River makes here. It has seen a lot of fights. The Spanish, Anglo-American settles, Mexicans, and Apache and Comanche American Indians all fought to rule this place.
Our group member, Mike, knows every corner of the park and describes it as “sort of a secret place”. Even some Texans don't know about Big Bend, he says. Other local people describe it as a forgotten national park. Compared with the almost five million travellers that descend on the Grand Canyon every year, only 30000 make it here.
There are six of us in the riding group, all fairly inexperienced, led by tour guides, Linda and Janelle, who keep both us and the horses in line. We trek along the top of an 800-foot mountain, with wide-winged eagles flying beside us. The air is noiseless.
The park is fantastic for hikes and has a variety of marked walking paths. The walk is a five-mile round trip. While the final stretch is rather steep, the views over giant canyons and plains are worth the effort.
Lizzie's diary from Antarctica (南极洲)
Day 3: Tuesday December 2
We planned to go to Rothera that morning. We'd be staying there for the next two weeks. Because Antarctica is the windiest place on earth, sometimes you can't fly at all.
We had a nervous wait over breakfast to find out if we'd be leaving that day. People have to stay in Stanley for weeks while the pilots wait for good weather.
It turned clear at 9:30 and we took off at 10:30 on a little red plane called a Dash-7. But even when we were in the air, there was still a chance we wouldn't be able to fly the whole day.
Day 4: Wednesday December 3
After waking up in the Antarctic for the first time today I can understand why everybody who comes here falls in love with the place. It is really beautiful.
We're staying at Rothera Survey base with mountains of ice all around. It is about minus 20C today, which for me is very cold, but the regulars(常客) here are often seen walking around in T-shirts !
Day 5: Thursday December 4
I woke up to another beautiful sunny day here in the Antarctic. I'm told it's a bit colder today, about minus 50C, but it's not very windy so it feels warmer. Those of us who are new to the base have to do a special training course before we're allowed to go off base to other stations or to go snowboarding over the nearby hill.
Day 7: Saturday December 6
Not a cloud in the sky and it's warm enough to sit outside (in a jacket).
The most amazing thing about this place is how the scenery (风景) changes every day.
At first I thought I was going mad. I'd step outside in the morning and think, "I'm sure that big mountain of ice wasn't there yesterday." It's because the sea ice is always moving—slowly thankfully !
People who like travelling have their reasons. They believe that travelling can help them expand their field of view, especially in the geographical and historical sense. They also think that touring will give them more chances to enjoy different kinds of food and experience new things that would never be brought by other activities. But those who dislike travelling also have some reasons.
Travelling, in my opinion, does more good than harm. Most importantly, it broadens our mind. We can get in touch with other civilizations, cultures, customs and ideas.
Through history, most people travelled because of necessity (必要性)—not for pleasure. People travelled just in order to remain alive. They searched for food to eat or places to live in. They sometimes ran away from enemies. This is not to say that no one ever travelled just for the fun of it. In ancient times, for example, rich Romans travelled all the way to Greece to take part in the Olympic Games, and festivals. Of course, some people decided to travel just out of curiosity (好奇心). They wanted to find out what it looked like beyond the horizon (地平线). Also business travel has been going on for centuries. Traders could not only make money but also learn to speak several languages and be introduced to different cultures.
So, travelling does enrich our mind and draw new ideas to us. There is no doubt that we can get much from it.
Visiting London can be an expensive trip, so establishing a budget and finding bargains when you arrive will help you get around London on the cheap. The following steps can help you find cheaper alternatives for transport for your London trip.
Familiarize yourself with the city's boroughs(区) and determine specifically the area where you will be staying. You can use a street map, or an online map search engine, to establish where in the city you will be staying and the distance you are from the major tourist attractions you want to visit.
Find a local provider of Transport for London tickets or travel cards, since your first bargain purchase will be an Oyster card. Travelling around London with an Oyster card will give you access to the cheapest option of transportation methods and the Oyster card is accepted citywide on buses, boats and the London underground, known by the locals as "the tube".
Seek out your nearest tube station. The tube is the cheapest and most reliable form of transportation and runs from around 6 am until around 1 am, depending on the line or the station.
There are 287 tube stations in London that accept the Oyster card, with a high concentration in Central London. If you are staying anywhere in Central London, there will be a tube station less than 10 minutes away.
The Transport for London website offers a tube station search facility to find the nearest subway station to any location in the city. When you find a tube station, you can easily locate the closest bus stop by using the comparison bus-tube maps at the station's entrance.
Follow the Transport for London Tube Guide to your destinations and always plan ahead. Making a plan for transport will save you unnecessary expenses, wasted trips on the tube and doubling back on your journey.
The curious European destinations that Chinese tourists love visiting
Bicester Village
According to a 2019 VisitBritain report, more than 260,000 Chinese tourists visit the UK each year. And where do they go? It claimed that "they are mostly interested in symbolic elements: the Royal Family, Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter and Downton Abbey".
Then there's the shopping. Bicester Village, a vast retail estate (零售产业) on the outskirts of the Oxford shire town, is the second most visited UK attraction for Chinese tourists after Buckingham Palace, and three in four Chinese visitors head there.
King's College, Cambridge
A famous tree, for Chinese people at least, can be found in King's College, Cambridge. The willow (柳树), considered to be a holy thing to lost youth, is mentioned in a much-loved poem by Xu Zhimo, who spent a year studying at King's College — Taking leave of Cambridge Again:
The golden willows by the riverside;
Are young brides in the setting sun;
Their glittering reflections on the shimmering river;
Keep undulating in my heart.
Bonn
The former West German capital is another popular port of call. Chinese love classical music, particularly Beethoven, making his birthplace an obvious highlight of any trip to Europe. The city's tourist board offers maps in three foreign languages: English, Chinese and Japanese.
Verona
Both British and Chinese travelers flood to Venice, Rome and Florence, but Verona typically appears higher on the wish lists of China's tourists. That's because of the whole country's adoration of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The play is popular on UK shores, of course, but the love is doubled in China as it was among the first of the Shakespeare's works to be translated into Chinese, because its plot bears a striking resemblance to a famous Chinese folk tale, The Butterfly Lovers. Expect to see queues at the popular House of Juliet on Via Cappello (a statue of the character stands beneath her balcony).
You've always wanted to go to Alishan. The Alishan Scenic Area has so many marvelous places to explore. Now you're finally going to take that trip! But don't get so excited about your trip that you forget to plan carefully. If you choose to work with a travel agency, choose a legal one. Check online reviews of it. Ask or talk to people who have traveled with them. Once you choose one and have a trip schedule, read it carefully. Note what is included in the trip and what is not. If you are not sure, ask questions. Make sure everything is clear before you agree to the trip and pay your money. When you purchase your trip, also buy travel insurance. You want to be protected if something unexpected happens and you can't travel.
If you are arranging your own lodging, book a safe and legal hotel. For your own safety, choose one that meets the standards of department for tourism administration.
After you arrive in the Alishan area and check into your hotel, look around. Locate the emergency exits. You may never need them, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Check your hotel room, too. Make sure the doors and windows are closed and locked. Even if your room seems safe, don't leave our valuables there. Take them with you or leave them in the hotel safe.
There are many delicious restaurants around Alishan. Enjoy your food, but protect yourself from food poisoning. Always wash your hands with soap before eating. Eat well-cooked, hot food.
As you visit the famous sites of Alishan, keep an eye on your things. You don't want to set them down someplace and forget them.
On your trip, you'll likely see things you want to buy. Shop wisely. Compare prices and bargain if you can. Do not buy any counterfeit goods or illegal wildlife products.
If you follow these smart travel tips, you will enjoy the beauty of Alishan and return home safely with many wonderful memories.
Sledding in the Forest Preserves
One of the benefits of winter in Cook County is zooming down the gently sloping hills in the forest. Another benefit? Four locations have lights on the hill, so you can keep the sledding fun going despite the early sunsets. The four forest hills arc open until 7:30 or 8:30 p. m. and, of course, if there's enough snow. Please note you cannot bring your own sled. Sledding rentals are $15 for a half day, $25 for the full day. There is no additional charge for use of the sloping hills. Check site for contact numbers and snow conditions. fpdcc. com/things-to-do/sledding
Bobby Hull Community Ice Rink
The area near West Community has one of the biggest wintertime draws for families who want to hit the ice. Cicero's outdoor rink offers a range of frozen fun, including skating lessons, open skates and the chance to practice skills. Visit the rink's Facebook page for schedule details. Bobby Hull Community Ice Rink, 3400S. 53rd Ave, Cicero. $12 for open skates, S3 skate rental; cash only. //facebook. com/bobbyhullcommunityicerink
Mount Hoy Snow Tubing
The trip down Mount Hoy is a lively one: 800 feet from top to bottom. And as long as it's covered in three or more inches of snow, you' re welcome to rent a tube and zoom down. The hill is open 10 a. m. till 4 p. m. weekends and holidays through Feb. 23; tube rentals end at 3:30 p. m. At Blackwell Forest Preserve, Butterfield Road between Winfield Road and Route 59, Warrenville. Admission is free, but personal tubes are not allowed. $ 10 rental per tube. //tinvurl. com/y9nox4et
Winter Wonderland and Ice Rink
Haven't gotten your fill of the brisk cold hitting your face as you practice your double salchows and triple lutzes on the ice? Don't worry! The Village of Orland Park's rink is open seven days a week, starting at 4 p. m. on weekdays and noon on weekends. The rink offers free helmet rentals, plus a warming house for those who prefer to cheer from the sidelines. Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, 15600 West Avenue and Fun Drive, Orland Park. Admission: $20 Adult, $15 Student 5-17; S3 for skate rental. //orlandpark. org/services/parks/ice-rink
The world has been extremely impressed by China's high-speed trains that cross the country by the hundreds in all directions every day, but in one corner of this vast land is a gentle reminder that life was not always this fast.
Those fortunate enough to travel to Jiayang in Sichuan province will find railway carriages dragged by steam locomotives(火车头), among the last steam trains operating in China and still running every day. First used to transport coal from Jiayang Coal Mine 62 years ago, today they transport local farmers and their produce to market and serve as a tourist attraction.
"In the early days of the railway, farmers headed for the farm produce market sitting beside coal," said Liu Chengxi, the Jiayang official in charge of the trains. "As coal production has stopped, the trains are now exclusively(专门地)for farmers and tourists."
The narrow railway, only 76.2 cm instead of the standard 144 cm, stretches for 19. 84 km, with the trains reaching a top speed of 20 km/h.
A one-way ticket costs 5 yuan for seated passengers and 3 yuan for standing passengers on the ordinary trains regardless of whether they are travelling empty-handed or with animals or vegetables. But Li Cuirong, who has worked as a train dispatcher(调度员)for more than 20 years, recommends tourists pay 80 yuan for a sightseeing train, as the carriages, which have 37 seats, are more comfortable and air-conditioned. A one-way trip takes about one and a half hours.
The scenery is dramatic as the train winds through the mountain, passengers can view chickens and geese wandering among the orange trees and butterflies dancing over the fields and ponds.
Rob Dickinson, a steam train lover from the United Kingdom, has ridden the trains twice. He hopes the narrow line can last long enough for him to find the time to get back again.
Missouri is a midwestern state lost in a never-ending sea of corn. However, somewhere hidden in these fields of corn lies one of the most impressive man-made lakes in the US, the Lake of the Ozarks. Built in the heart of Missouri, the lake was another destination on my 14-state road trip as I camped my way across America.
Surrounded by the beautiful Ozark Mountains from which it gets its name, the lake has become a mainstay in family weekend vacations since it was built in 1931. Known for natural beauty, the Ozarks remain a large tourist destination, bringing in over 5 million people each year. With choices ranging from basic camping to luxury resorts(高档度假胜地),the Ozarks have something to offer people from all backgrounds and budgets.
With more shoreline than the entire coast of California, the Lake of the Ozarks has become a favorite of boat and beach lovers alike. The huge 241-square-km lake is home to almost every watersport, ranging from something as simple as swimming to even the most extreme like parasailing or jet skiing. Although originally attracted to the campsites at the Ozarks, it was hard to resist(抵制) the call of the water and I soon found myself joining in on the fun.
Getting a respectable 4. 7 stars on Google by over a thousand reviewers, the lake has clearly held up its popular reputation. Although I did enjoy my one-person trip, I can strongly say that the Lake of the Ozarks is the most enjoyable when surrounded by friends or family. With so much to see and do, it can be overwhelming(应接不暇的)for a solo(个人的)traveler. Even with my packed three - day schedule, 1 still missed a majority of what this great location has to offer. As I plan for my next trip there, one thing is certain —I'll make sure to share this fantastic experience with some friends!