1 . When looking for some vacation ideas to spread out and get some time and space to yourself, check out these great resorts (度假胜地) options.

Located in Punta Cana, this family-friendly vacation at an all-inclusive resort offers something for everyone in your party. Parents can enjoy relaxing by one of the resort’s swim-up bars in an infinity pool or head out for some deep-sea fishing. Kids, meanwhile, can head over to the kids’ club for a number of activities. Plus, all of the drinks and food across the 14 restaurants and bars is included.

This resort has become the Caribbean’s popular go-to when it comes to all-inclusive family vacations that provide great value since there’s so much to do for guests of all ages. There’s a 45,000-square-foot water park, 24 restaurants, unlimited PADI-certified scuba diving and water sports, a 12-mile beach, a spa, 10 pools—whew!

If you live in the city and want to get back to nature, this luxury farm over nearly 11,000 acres in California’s Santa Ynez Valley is a perfect fit for a family. All that wide-open space means activities like horseback riding, scenic cycling, hiking, fishing, kayaking and, for the body-and-spirit-minded traveler in your group, yoga.

The 20,000-acre community includes a nature preserve with walking trails, but the real stars of the show here are the over 300 species of birds. The resort’s resident naturalist takes families on walks to Bird Island, sharing a history of the area. Plus, kids will love the kayak tours that get up close to the dolphins that live there year-round.

2 . At The Rachael Ray Foundation^TM (RRF), we’re pretty big animal lovers. As a part of our work, we support a wide variety of organizations that do good for animals, from rescue to care and more. Get to know a few of them and the work we do together.

RRF helped enable Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team (PAART) to purchase a new and bigger plane for its rescue missions which bring animals from danger to safety. Whether it be flying dogs in overcrowded shelters to new homes, saving animals caught in the path of natural disasters, or bringing supplies to shelters in need, the brave PAART pilots are always ready to help.

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) works to find and train shelter dogs who have the talent and drive to become search and rescue animals. RRF supports SDF’s efforts to identify and transform rescued dogs into rescuers, to provide lifetime care for these dogs and to find homes for all dogs who enter the SDF training program.

This is a program administered by Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) to support Best Friends’ network partners in their lifesaving efforts. The money has been awarded to organizations across the country to fund initiatives such as adoption drives and shelter intake prevention efforts.

This program, administered by North Shore Animal League America (NSALA), provides money for animal welfare organizations impacted by disasters. RRF is proud to help NSALA in its efforts to identify needs in disaster situations and provide targeted, effective relief.

3 . A Taste of China

I once travelled across China. As a chef, I really felt at home with this place and realized that its variety of food is as vast as its land.

In Beijing, I took to eating Beijing Roast Duck. The barbecue gives it that famous smoky flavour. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, the tender and juicy duck goes well with the pancakes and the sweet sauce. People say that when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Table manners are no exception. I had to hold chopsticks instead of a knife and fork while eating.

In Shandong, I came across Four-Joy Meatball in a wedding feast. The large round meatball is steamed through to keep its original flavor. Slightly rough and brown outside but incredibly soft inside, it melts in the mouth. I didn’t think anything could beat my tender bacon until I met it!

When it comes to something spicy, what else but Chongqing hot pot! There is nothing that a hot pot can’t fix, so no tour of China is complete without trying a hot pot. In the restaurant I chose, there were so many customers eating that there’s not enough room to swing a cat. I have to say my mouth was on fire but I just couldn’t stop!

As well as a burning mouth, I was left with a full stomach, some lovely memories, and a wider understanding of the tastes of China.

5 . If you dream about working and meanwhile travelling in different countries, we’ve made a list of jobs that allow you to tour around the globe while earning some money!

If you’re in the medical field, becoming a travel nurse is a good option. A travel nurse in worldwide demand is well paid, so medical professionals can wear uniforms on any continent. The nursing assignments vary in the length of working time. You can enjoy accommodation payment and insurance benefits, but you have to work in the high-stress environment.

A waiter abroad is a popular choice for young travelers because some restaurants don’t require much precious experience or qualifications, but they do not have access to high health insurance. Many people do service work for a while to earn enough money to travel abroad for the rest of the year. It’s OK for those without family to deal with customers at night, but they can’t get high wages.

English is one of the world’s most spoken languages, so there is always a demand for people who can teach it. Being an English teacher abroad often requires a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. There are some popular destinations for prospective teachers. However, as teachers abroad, especially part-time teachers, their salaries are not high.

Oil industry is one of the highest paying fields for both skilled and unskilled workers, with plenty of opportunities to travel whether they fulfill a position in exploration or production. You can be a researcher or an engineer on deep sea drilling rigs (钻塔). The job is well paid, and you can help companies do less harm to the sea.

6 . The input Dad has on my career is incomparable. My earliest memories are of Dad sitting in the kitchen playing the guitar, listening to his favourite song by his favourite singer, and encouraging his little girl to poke (戳) keys randomly on the piano. Even watching Top of the Pops, he would get so passionate about music in it. We weren’t a religious family, but there was something spiritual about Dad’s connection with music.

Music also became a source of comfort for me. I failed to do well academically at school and had no friends. Being at school consumed so much of my emotional energy. Instead of going to school to learn stuff, I felt as though I was simply trying to get people to like me. Things were better, but the only time I truly felt happy was when I was at home listening to music with Mum and Dad or writing songs on the piano —and the older I got, the more powerful music felt.

Dad was always my biggest supporter. When I started giving live performances at the local bar, he was the one who drove me there and back. Freeing up that time wasn’t easy for an actor. His job might mean three weeks in the Czech Republic or working with George Lucas on The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones in Hollywood.

Dad has been involved with some amazing stuff, but Daddy Pig is the one that’s had the biggest impact all over the world. When I was flying to Australia for my first tour, I was trying to find something to watch on the little screen and I noticed they had Peppa Pig. If I’m missing home and family, I always put it on. Daddy Pig is a fairly real version of my dad —he loves chocolate cake, he’s funny and usually breaks things when he’s trying to mend them. Mum and Dad were friends with one of the producers of the show and I often wonder if he looked at my dad and thought, “That’s him …that’s Daddy Pig.”