【推荐2】No other national park seems to be as spectacular as Exmoor National Park. The 267 square miles that make up the park were first set up in 1954. Since that time park rangers(管理者) and volunteers have managed the park as a whole to make sure that every visitor has the experience of a lifetime each and every time they visit.

The first thing that you are going to notice about Exmoor National Park is its most famous feature. It contains the highest cliffs(悬崖) in England and is located right on the coast. These cliffs are beautiful to view. Many of the trails(小路) that run throughout the park wind their way along these high cliff faces. If you have children or possibly are not so stable on your own feet, you may not want to try hiking along the cliffs. There are no barriers(屏障) to hold to and therefore the risk of a fall is quite high. Great care should always be taken along these trails and never play around with your safety at all while in Exmoor National Park.

Exmoor National Park is a wonderful place to visit, but like with all national parks, there are always some things to keep in mind before you arrive. There will not be a lot of planning involved if you are only planning on a day visit, but if you plan on staying overnight, you will need to make reservation in advance. No matter what type of trip you plan to this national park, you will be able to find appropriate accommodations.

At Exmoor National Park you can camp at the campgrounds, as well as sleep in a comfortable B&B. There are different hotels and areas to rest for the night throughout the park. With a little research and planning, you can have the perfect place to stay in. As with all national parks, be sure to follow the rules in regards to parking and keeping the park clean. The rangers make a significant effort, but we can all do our part to keep Exmoor National Park in pristine condition.

【推荐3】In Oceanside, a coastal suburb about 40 miles north of San Diego, the palm trees wave and the temperature is almost perfect. Teenagers watch surfers ride glassy waves. Every day it feels like the most perfect summer day. There is just one problem: The sand is disappearing.

While many visitors, and even lifelong Californians in the industrial state, might see wide areas of sand as part of the state’s natural beauty, the reality is that over decades, the coast has become a highly engineered wonder. Millions of cubic yards of sand dug from other parts has been added in the last century to build the postcard-worthy beach like the one in Santa Monica.

But a range of forces have shrunk beaches all along California’s coastline. California could lose as much as 75% of its beaches by 2100, given the sea level rise related to climate change. Over time, beach sand gets s wept up into the water. Some of it moves towards other beaches. Besides, dams and concrete canals have reduced the amount of river sediment (沉淀物) flowing downstream that could help fill beaches as a supplement (补充). If the shoreline were allowed to evolve without human intervention, the beaches could continue to exist as we know them. But in California, the development in many places along the coast has created a hard barrier, disturbing that natural evolution.

Over the years, local governments worked together on a few major sand supplement projects. But those, still, have proved to be fleeting solutions. “Everything we do is a short-term fix,” said Gary Griggers, a professor specializing in coastal science. In recent years, as the sand’s disappearance grew more extreme, longtime Oceanside residents formed an organization called Save Oceanside Sand. A beach town cannot exist without a beach. Leaders here launched some international design competitions, aiming at finding new ways of getting and keeping sand on the city’s beaches.

“It’s really a race. I think there’s absolutely nothing we can do to hold back the Pacific Ocean,” said Gairy Griggers.

【推荐1】The Other Mrs.

by Mary Kubica (Park Row, $27)

“Full of Secrets in the latest terror-meets-family drama from the best selling author of The Good Girl,” said Cogdill. A troubled couple and their children move from Chicago to an island in Maine to attempt a fresh start, but trust among them is not enough even before a niece joins the household and a murder puts the father’s honesty in doubt. The Other Mrs. “moves at a quick pace, with believable and surprising twists and an unexpected ending.”

Sharks in the Time of saviors

by Kawai Strong Washburn (MCD, $27)

“Despite its unclear feeling of of sadness, this novel about Hawaii feels like a drop of tropical sun,” said Jenny. It follows a native islander who is regarded as a potential savior by his family and community after he falls from a boat at age 7 and is rescued by uncommonly gentle sharks. As Nainoa and his family members take turns telling the story. “The author’s hoping for the land and traditions of Hawaii is so strong you might catch his homesickness.”

The Jetsetters

by Amanda Eyre Ward (Ballantine, $28)

“Sure, this novel’s plot sails through the Hallmark into Love Boatish,” said Judy Blundell. But after a woman brings her family together for a journey, which she’s won by writing about a long-ago story with Pablo Picasso, humor and an attention to detail carry the story. Through the author’s involvement in many tricks, she “uncovers how family journeys are saved, over and over again, by short period of moments of connection with celebrities.”

The Mountains Sing

by Nguyen Phan Que Mai(Workman, $27)

“The story of Vietnam is so much bigger than most Americans know,” said Diana Nelson Jones. This “wonderful and vivid” novel by a Vietnamese poet follows a single family across several decades of 20th-century occupation and civil war, but “the story is inspired by the family’s extraordinary adjustment” and by the author’s writing skill. “The book is so destroying in places as to be unbearable, but then the flow of the writing and the story brings you onto a wave of hope.”

【推荐2】Four Stylish Cottages to Book

Church Cottage

This three-bedroom cottage is just two minutes from the South West Coast Path. Enjoy magnificent views and cool air then return home to the comforts of handmade bedding and underfloor heating. The artwork is a highlight — there’s a selection of carefully chosen pieces by young British artists hanging on the cottage’s walls.

Details: Three nights £400 (churchcottage.cornwall.com)

Little Nut Cottage

A wood-burning stove and a hot tub for warming up after a hike around the hills-all the essentials are here at this cottage. There are many non-essentials, too, from an electric car-charging point to smart TVs. With high-tech facilities for entertaining, it’s probably one for a grown-up rather than a trip with kids.

Details: Three nights £ 600 (littlenutcottage.co.uk)

Henllys Farmhouse

This historic farmhouse is perfect for larger groups, sleeping 14 and with enough room to allow everyone their own space. It’s within walking distance of beautiful beaches, hills or autumnal woodland. Newport is nearby for shops, where you can have a delicious dinner.

Details: Three nights £ 700 (airbnb.co.uk)

The Craftsman Barn

It stands in a little comer of Praktyka, a farm near Bideford. Co-owner Ania offers jewellery-making workshops, but guests are encouraged to explore whatever creative pursuits they fancy.

Details: Two nights £ 200 (praktyka.co.uk)