1 . Fascinating Facts about London’s Parks

Did you know that 47 percent of London consists of green space? Takeaway the private gardens and that leaves 37% of the capital’s green land given over to Royal Parks, gardens, and public green spaces. It’s the third greenest capital city in the world. Now let’s take a look at the most fascinating facts about London’s parks.

Nobody is totally sure how Green Park got its name. There are a few different theories. One tale says that the name originates from the time of Charles Ⅱ. The King was walking through the park with his wife and courtiers when he picked a flower. Instead of handing it to Queen Catherine, he handed it to another woman that was said to be his mistress. Extremely angry, the Queen ordered that all the flowers in the park be dug out, leaving only grass.

When counted together, the Royal Parks contain over 170,000 trees, with the oldest being the 400-year-old chestnut trees in Greenwich Park. These are young trees, though, compared to London’s oldest tree—a great elm in High Barnet that is said to be over 2000 years old. London has more than 8 million trees: nearly as many as people there.

Greenwich Park shows more fascinating features. Deep under the surface are buried a series of secret tunnels that are tall enough for a person to walk. It’s been claimed that the tunnels were built as secret escape routes for King Henry Ⅷ. Their real purpose is a little less exciting, and the tunnels were actually built as waterways to allow groundwater from the hillsides to escape.

Walking is the best way to explore London’s beautiful green spaces. We hope you enjoyed these fun facts.

6 . Gear for Sleeping Outdoors

Whether you’re camping or backpacking, how can you increase the odds (n.机会) that you’ll sleep soundly in the outdoors? A good start is to have the right gear:

·Car camping bags are typically cut wider, offering homelike and more roll-around room but less efficiency for retaining body heat (not so good on extra-chilly nights).Some rectangular (adj.长方形的) styles can be unzipped (adj.未拉上拉链的) to use as a quilt on milder nights.

·Backpacking bags are mummy shaped for a closer, warmer fit, and are usually lighter in weight. Many are filled with goose or duck down, which compresses (v.压缩) more readily than synthetic( adj.合成的) fill.

Sleeping pad: There are three types of sleeping pads—self-inflating (adj.充气的), air and closed-cell foam (n.泡沫塑料). When car camping, weight is not an issue, so you can enjoy a thicker, wider pad or mattress for comfort. When backpacking, weight is crucial, so a super-lightweight air pad or closed-cell pad may be your first choice.

Pillows: Bring one from home or use a small foam or inflatable camp pillow. Some sleeping bags have a pocket to hold a pillow or folded up clothing, such as a down jacket or fleece sweater.

Eye mask and earplugs: Eye masks are especially helpful when camping in northern latitudes (n.纬度) in summer or in campgrounds with surrounding light. Earplugs block out noises ranging from your tent mate’s snoring to rustling sounds in the bushes.

7 . The Great Smoky Mountain area is one of the most gorgeous vacation destinations in the USA. It would be no surprise if guests here book one of the amazing hotels.

Black Fox Hotel

Rooms at this lovely hotel come equipped with great amenities (便利设施) and feature s to make your stay as stress free as possible. Take a relaxing dip in the indoor swimming pool before heading back to your room. Guests will also enjoy taking advantage of the on-site restaurant and the fitness center.

Smoky Getaways Hotels

Smoky Getaways Hotels offer free parking, microwaves and fridges in all guest rooms! Each room comes equipped with a full kitchen and a grill — plus, they are pet friendly! Smoky Getaways Hotels are located close to Dollywood Amusement Park, so it is perfect for a family getaway.

The Resort at Governor’s Crossing

Here guests can enjoy a wide variety of exciting water park rides in both indoor and outdoor parks. From water basketball and water slides to a hot tub and a lazy river, utmost recreation and fun await at the indoor and outdoor pools, making it perfect for a family vacation.

Quality Inn Creekside

This hotel is sure to add comfort and convenience to your amazing trip. Guests will be able to enjoy a fun outdoor pool as well as amenities such as a mini-bar, a fitness center, and bicycles to rent. It is close to some amazing shopping centers and restaurants as well.

Browse through all of the hotels and the perfect one is just a click away!