2 . Laguna Beach Festival of Arts

Plenty of people attend Laguna Beach Festival of Arts just to admire the works of art. However, for serious art buyers, attending early in the season means a lot, since excellent pieces often sell early. Weekdays are less busy but there are fewer artists present. They often meet crowds in the evening that show up for the Pageant (盛会)of the Masters. Some artists may negotiate prices at the end of the season. If you just want souvenirs of your visit, a variety of products are available in the Festival Store.

Part of the fun of the festival comes from the activities that go on during the event. Tours and art workshops are available every day. Weekends are full of live music and special events. To get best value for the money you spend during the week, Thursday is the day to go for art talks by participating artists and evening jazz.

Food and drinks are sold at the snack bar. Tivoli Terrace cafe and restaurants are on site for more formal dining. Picnics are welcome during art talks or music shows, and there are tables set up in the courtyard for you to enjoy your homemade or take-away food. But alcohol is forbidden here. On Thursdays, central tables are reserved for ticket holders.

Entrance admission: $60 per person (the Pageant of the Masters and live music shows included)

Joint pass: $120 per person (free of charge for all the performances)

Notes: Since there are many visitors on the weekends, the ticket office may be crowded. For faster service, call toll-free number 24 hours a day.

For more information visit www. Lagunabeachfestivalofarts.com

3 . 72 Hours in Beijing

Traveling to China is no longer a luxury for many foreign passport holders. The Chinese government has permitted a 72-hour visa-free policy that offers access to visitors from 53 countries including the US, France and Austria. Let’s start with the capital of China, Beijing. Here’s a pick of the best in Beijing!

Mutianyu Great Wall

Your trip to Beijing isn’t really complete without seeing one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”, the Great Wall of China. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is by far the most well-preserved of all. Taking a one-hour bus ride Mutianyu would be your ideal location for a half day of hiking away from the large crowds in the city. Also the authorities have allowed tourists to paint graffiti on a specific section of the Great Wall since 2014. The Great Wall was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

798 Art Zone

This would be on the top of my list! Named after the 798 factory that was built in the 1950s. The art zone is home to various galleries, design studios, art exhibition spaces, fashionable shops and bars. You could easily spend half your day wandering around the complex, feeling the contrast of the present and the past.

Summer Palace

Located in northwestern Beijing, the Summer Palace is by far the city’s most well-preserved royal park. With its huge lake and hilltop views, the palace offers you a pastoral escape into the landscape of traditional Chinese paintings. The Summer Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

Sichuan Provincial Restaurant

While in Beijing, apart from trying the city’s best-known Peking duck the Sichuan provincial restaurant is one of the places where you can enjoy regional delicious food. It offers one of China’s eight great cuisines, Sichuan, which ranges from Mapo tofu to spicy chicken.

4 . Popular Las Vegas Day Trips by Car

Going to Las Vegas? Here are some nearby places you can drive to while you are there.

Bonnie Springs Ranch

It is one of the best places to rent a horse and see the red canyon(峡谷).It has a large stable area where guided horseback rides are offered. And it also has a restaurant and western theme shows.

The Nevada State Railroad Museum

If you are looking for a fun day trip, the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City should be at the top of your list. If you want to see Boulder City, be sure to visit during weekends when the museum runs touring trains along the Boulder City branch line. Various presentations, lectures and child-friendly exhibits are offered from Monday to Friday.

Mount Charleston

Fresh air and silence are what you will find at the top of the state’s 8th highest mountain located 40 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Mount Charleston feels a million miles away from the city. Things to do include hiking, mountain biking, camping and sightseeing. During the winter the mountains are the perfect place to play in the snow.

China ranch

It is a hidden treasure that is way off the beaten path. Along with a gift shop and bakery, China Ranch is a great place to go hiking. It is located in the Amargosa River Valley. This area is protected as a national wild and scenic river and one of the few places where the river flows above ground.

5 . Gift buying for 11 to 14-year-olds can produce memories of that classic complainer. “This gift is too old.” “This gift is too young.” “This gift was popular, like, five minutes ago.” Don’t stress. Our fun gifts are sure to make you smile.

—Judy Sutton Taylor

The kids on your list will be happy to drop their electronic devices and head outside during the next big snowstorm thanks to this gift that launches snowballs up to 70 feet. A practice target is included to ensure they’re ready for a hard battle. $16.97 at amazon.com

Gamers went crazy for this mixed gaming system when it was released last spring, and it was in consistently short supply until now. The device allows users to play solo or with a friend, connect it to a TV to play on a big screen, unfold the stand for tabletop competitions, or use it for hand-held play. $299.99; links to licensed retailers at nintendo.com or amazon.com

Tunes will no doubt sound sweeter to lovers of any music genre when they5re coming from these cute-as-can-be headphones designed by celebrity stylists Emily Current and Merritt Elliott. The gold finish adds some fun flare (闪光装置) that is sure to inspire copycats. $59 at pbteen.com

If there s a more entertaining way to settle sibling differences than having warring brothers and sisters bump into each other putting on mega-sized bubble armor (盔甲), we’d like to know about it. Chances are, even what may seem like the most catastrophic conflicts will end in belly laughs after a few rounds wearing these. $69.98 for a set of two at hearthsong.com or amazon.com.