Hidden Gems: Underrated National Parks Worth Exploring
Many travelers flock to popular national parks like Yellowstone for their family vacations or adventurous getaways. However, there are some lesser-known gems that often go unnoticed despite their remarkable beauty and attractions.
Isle Royale National Park
Nestled in the heart of Lake Superior, Isle Royale requires a bit of effort to reach, but the journey is rewarded with breathtaking scenery. Accessible only by daily ferries, this park sees far fewer visitors compared to larger destinations like Yellowstone. Hikers are treated to sightings of wildlife such as wolves along the park’s picturesque trails.
Dry Tortugas National Park
Situated 68 miles southwest of the Florida Keys, the Dry Tortugas is a secluded (偏僻的) island park accessible only by boat or plane. Despite its small size, it boasts rich history, abundant marine life, and stunning coral reefs. At its center stands Fort Jefferson, the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Covering over 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St Elias National Park is the largest in the entire U.S. park system. Remote and largely undeveloped, this park challenges visitors with limited access—only two roads lead into it. However, those who venture here are rewarded with a profound connection to nature unparalleled elsewhere.
Big Bend National Park
For travelers seeking a truly rugged (崎岖的) experience, Big Bend National Park is a must-visit destination. Renowned for its whitewater rafting, camping, and hiking opportunities, this park can be excessively hot during the summer months, deterring many tourists.
These hidden gems offer unique experiences and breathtaking landscapes, making them worthy contenders for any adventurer's bucket list.
1. Why does Isle Royale National Park receive fewer visitors?A.It is located in a remote area and is difficult to reach. |
B.It lacks wildlife and natural landscapes. |
C.It has no historical or cultural significance. |
D.Its climate is extremely hot. |
A.Its white sand beaches. | B.Its ancient ruins. |
C.Its abundant marine life and coral reefs. | D.Its mountainous landscapes. |
A.Isle Royale National Park | B.Dry Tortugas National Park |
C.Big Bend National Park | D.Wrangell-St. Elias National Park |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Temples have existed for thousands of years. They are the proof of cultures and civilization that existed many years ago.
Gobekli Tepe, Turkey
Located on a hilltop in southwestern Turkey where it snows a lot in winter, the Gobekli Tepe is considered the world’s oldest temple. It is nearly 11,000 years old. There are carvings on the rock statues, mainly of lions, foxes, snakes, cranes and wild ducks, as well as scenes of people hunting. Because heavy snow makes it hard to get to the top of the hill, visitors are not recommended to go there in winters.
White Temple, Thailand
Immediately upon entering White Temple, you will realize this contemporary, unconventional temple stands out, even in a country dotted with temples. The White Temple is incredibly different and unique in its architecture, art and design. In fact, it is designed in a very modern way. This temple is all white. It is very hot in summer in Thailand, so going to White Temple in other three seasons is a wise choice.
Sagrada Familia, Spain
This symbolic Barcelona building is famously unfinished. It is said to be finished by 2026, but no body believes it. However, visitors believe its incompleteness is part of its charm, which sets it apart from other temples in the world. You will have to wait in a long line if you visit Sagrada Familia in summer holiday. Visitors are not that many in spring and winter.
Kinkaku-ji, Japan
This temple is absolutely the most popular one in Japan. Whether you visit during the fall when there are red leaves against the golden wall, in winter when the gold is topped with pure white snow, in spring with cherry blossoms, or in summer allowing you to smell the earthy smell after rain — there is never a bad time to visit this beautiful temple.
1. Which temple will you choose to go if you are a fan of modern architecture?A.White Temple. | B.Gobekli Tepe. |
C.Sagrada Familia. | D.Kinkaku-ji. |
A.It is the oldest temple. | B.It is all white. |
C.It is unfinished. | D.It is untraditional. |
A.Gobekli Tepe. | B.Kinkaku-ji. |
C.Sagrada Familia. | D.White Temple. |
【推荐2】At Beaver Meadows Ranch on Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, there is a long list of outdoor winter activities for the entire family. Take a winter vacation there.
Ice FishingFor $10 a day, visitors can try their hand at ice fishing. Ice fishing is available(可提供的) from 9:30 a. m. to 4 p. m. seven days a week. You will need to bring your own ice fishing equipment because it cannot be rented. You will need to have your fishing license, too. For more about it, call 800-462-5870.
Hot Chocolate & Cookies Sleigh RidePassengers take a 15-to-20-minute sleigh ride through beautiful Colorado country. During the sleigh ride, you’ll have the experience of stopping at an old-time cabin, warming yourself by a fire and eating cookies while drinking hot chocolate. You will need to contact them at 970-231-1955 to set up a time for your sleigh ride.
Winter Horseback RidingExperience winter horseback riding while viewing the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding 840 acres where Beaver Meadows Ranch makes its home. You’ll be guided on a tour by one of the expert wranglers(牧马人) when the weather permits. One-hour rides cost $35 per person and two-hour rides cost $50. For more information, contact them at 866-881-7679 to set up your horseback riding winter activity.
Other Winter Activities InformationFor more information about Beaver Meadows Ranch, or if you’d like to book a room for an adventurous holiday, call 970-881-2450. It’s not very often you can find a one-stop adventure spot full of winter activities. Take advantage of your free time this winter season and enjoy the outdoor scenery in Colorado.
1. If you want to try ice fishing at Beaver Meadows Ranch, you can ______.A.rent ice fishing equipment there |
B.spend at most 6.5 hours fishing a day |
C.be guided by experts during bad weather |
D.take part in the activity without any permit |
A.800-462-5870 | B.970-231-1955 |
C.970-881-2450 | D.866-881-7679 |
A.Fifty dollars. | B.Seventy dollars. |
C.A hundred dollars. | D.One hundred and forty dollars. |
A.Beaver Meadows Ranch covers 840 acres. |
B.Expert wranglers there offer riding lessons. |
C.You don’t need to book a room in advance. |
D.Colorado is famous for its convenient transportation. |
A.In the latest news. | B.In a children’s book. |
C.In a travel guide. | D.In a sportsman’s diary. |
【推荐3】While people are traveling more than ever, there are still unimagined adventures. Tom Hall, editorial director of Lonely Planet, shares some.
Sleep in a suspended pod
Calea, Peru
Hanging out in Peru takes on a whole new meaning when you book a room hanging from the side of a mountain. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this before,” says Hall. “You’re overlooking the Sacred Valley, one of the most popular places to stay in the country.”
Trampoline(蹦床) underground
Gwynedd, Wales
Northern Wales has found a clever use for one of its old mines, turning a former industrial site into an underground trampoline park. Visitors find rope ladders and slides, and a line of trampolines spreading nearly a mile. “When my kids saw them, they went crazy absolutely,” Hall says.
Surf down the side of a volcano
Cerro Negro, Nicaragua
Thrill-seekers don’t need surf or snow on this active volcano. Tour companies bring visitors to the peak, which is covered with fine black ash. “You climb up it, jump on a board, and you go very fast for a long way. It’s an exciting ride,” Hall says.
See art inside a bunker
Berlin
Take in art and history at the Boros Collection--a private art gallery housed inside a World War II bunker. The building, which once protected Nazi leaders, served as a nightclub after the fall of the Berlin Wall. “It was pretty hard to get rid of because it’s so well-constructed,” Hall says. “Now it has some very interesting and unusual art.”
1. What about the room in Calea impresses Tom Hall most?A.Its size. | B.Its shape. |
C.Its location. | D.Its color. |
A.It has many rope ladders. |
B.It’s close to an industrial site. |
C.It has games designed for kids. |
D.It has many trampolines lined up. |
A.Calea | B.Gwynedd |
C.Cerro Negro | D.Berlin |
【推荐1】Visiting your local library is the best way to celebrate the National Reading Month. Some libraries use unique architecture to encourage visitors to settle down with a new book. Here are four unusual libraries around the world.
●Stuttgart City Library, Stuttgart, Germany
Opened in 2011, this nine-story public library is characterized by its amazing color design, its cubic shape and its cave-like inside. This cultural center for the city, designed to feel open and full of light, can be entered from any of its four sides, and people can borrow artworks as well as books.
●Biblioteca Sandro Penna, Perugia, Italy
In a country known for classical architecture and historical buildings, Biblioteca Sandro Penna stands out because of its modern beauty. Housing books and multimedia, this library was built in 2004, and was named after a local poet. It is easily recognized for its round pink glass top.
●Seikei University Library, Tokyo, Japan
Libraries are usually known for their quiet atmosphere, but this one encourages conversation. Shigeru Ban, who won Pritzker Prize, designed the library with a good sound-insulating(隔音的) effect to respect those who need uninterrupted study. It serves as a good spot for study groups and lively discussions.
●Beach Library, Albena, Bulgaria
In Bulgaria, one library encourages tourists to read a book on a beach. The white shelves lined up not far from the surf have 6,000 books in 15 languages. So every visitor can find the perfect beach and read while enjoying the beautiful sunshine.
1. What do we know about Biblioteca Sandro Penna?A.It presents famous artworks. | B.It is the largest public library. |
C.It was designed by a prize winner. | D.It was given the same name as a poet. |
A.Meet Shigeru Ban. | B.Learn to respect others. |
C.Have a heated discussion. | D.Figure out its color design. |
A.Biblioteca Sandro Penna. | B.Seikei University Library. |
C.Stuttgart City Library. | D.Beach Library. |
【推荐2】Unlike other major destinations, Rome doesn’t have a huge number of hostels (旅社). In fact, there are less than 40 listed on Hostel World. So we’ve analyzed each hostel to bring you detailed information about hostels in Rome. Click to read more.
TYPICAL ROME HOSTEL PRICESHostels in Rome are generally reasonably priced. Most hostels, regardless of quality, will start around Eur 25-32 / night in summer. You might be able to find some around Eur 20 / night but those are tough to obtain in advance. The cheapest hostels will cost around Eur 18 / night — but don’t expect very good quality.
Check Hostel World to get exact prices for your dates as prices are always varying.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT ROME HOSTELSCheap Beds & Good Hostels Go Early: Hostel prices are fairly standardized but the quality does vary. The best options get booked up quickly (especially in summer).
Tourism Tax: Rome requires all hotels, hostels and apartment rentals to collect a tourist tax from all guests. It’s usually Eur 3.50 / night / person so don’t be surprised by this extra fee.
Areas Neighborhoods: Most of Rome’s hostels are located near Rome’s Termini train station. It’s not the best part of town but not that bad (just be a little extra careful at night).
Check the Hostel Type: Every hostel has its own personality so we suggest picking a hostel that matches up to your travel style. For example, some hostels are party hostels which are great for having a fun time but not great for sleeping.
Check-In Times: A lot of hostels have late check-in times around 2 pm — 4 pm) , but nearly all will let you store your luggage if you arrive before check-in.
1. What might be the minimum cost if you stay in a Rome hostel for two nights?A.Eur 18. | B.Eur 36. | C.Eur 43. | D.Eur 47. |
A.Quality service. | B.Tourism tax relief. |
C.A quiet sleeping environment. | D.Luggage storage before check-in. |
A.On a website. | B.In a report. | C.In a poster. | D.In a brochure. |
【推荐3】The Energy Charter Secretarial, located in Brussels, is the administrative body responsible for facilitating the implementation (实施)of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and further developing the Energy Charter Process under the governance of the Energy Charter Conference. Now, it is looking for an assistant secretary general to help with its daily work.
Responsibilities
Generally, the successful candidate will be responsible for:
※Direction and coordination (协调) of the work of the experts and administrative assistants of the Secretariat
※Daily office administration and carrying out other related tasks of the internal management of the office as assigned by the Secretary General
※Monitoring and assisting the implementation of the ECT
※Preparation of the budget, various financial documents and reports, coordination of relations with external auditors (审计员)
Requirements
※At least five years of professional experience in a senior capacity within a national government, an intergovernmental organization, academia, non-government organizations or industries with direct experience in senior or project management and financial administration
※Excellent oral and written communication skills
※The ability to successfully lead a multi-cultural team and complete fluency in English
How to apply
Applications should be addressed to the Secretary General, at secgen@encharter.org to arrive no later than February 20, 2020.
1. Which is looking for an assistant secretary general?A.The Energy Charter Process. |
B.The Energy Charter Treaty. |
C.The Energy Charter Conference. |
D.The Energy Charter Secretarial. |
A.Ensure the good process of the ECT. |
B.Monitor the Secretary General's work. |
C.Hand in financial papers to the auditors. |
D.Take charge of the experts’ daily routine. |
A.Being skilled in cross-cultural communication. |
B.Speaking English as his or her native language. |
C.Having managed major projects alone for three years. |
D.Being able to build a strong administrative department. |