4 . Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is all about restoration this year. This month the park's main corridor is being repaired. The park's gallery reopened to the public in April after remodeling to allow full accessibility for the disabled. Even John Muir, known as the father of the national parks, is being revived (使复活) by the actor Lee Stetson, who will answer audience questions about the park and its history at the Yosemite Theater.

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park is now mapping self-guided hikes to its more remote destinations, in part to remind visitors that the parks are theirs to wander. In August, a new field institute will begin offering classes led by geologists, photographers and other experts. And next year, look for electric vehicle charging stations to appear at the north and south entrances of the park.

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is to begin managing a new campground on Maine's Schoodic Peninsula this fall. The site will offer almost 100 R. V. and tent sites, as well as new hiking and biking trails connecting to Gouldsboro Village and existing park trails leading to the peninsula's tip.

Wetherill Mesa

Wetherill Mesa will have an extended season this year (through mid-October), giving cyclists much time to enjoy new access to the park's six-mile Long House Loop, a paved path formerly used for tram service, and the backcountry routes on the park's most popular hike. Naturally, plans are in the works to open an on-site bike rental operation within the year.

7 . Welcome to Tropical North Queensland—the only place in the world where the Great Barrier Reef meets World-Heritage-listed rainforest. Home to two World Heritage-listed natural wonders—the grand Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest. Tropical (热带的) North Queensland is famous for having some of most specific natural attractions on earth.

Stretching 2000km and holding more than 3000 reefs (礁石) and corals (珊瑚), the Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.

No matter your age or ability, you can easily explore the reef by taking a glass-bottom boat trip, scuba diving (水肺潜水), trying an ocean walk or flying overhead in a helicopter or plane.

There are also numerous ways to experience the beauty of the planet’s oldest tropical rainforest without having an impact on its clean environment, thanks to a huge range of eco-friendly options. While exploring these sites is on every visitor’s must-do list, there also are countless other exciting discoveries to be made in this wonderful sun-kissed corner of Australia.

Keep this important information on hand during your holiday.

Emergency

Police and fire services Ph: 000

Cairns Police Ph: +617 4030 7000

Cairns 24 Hour Medical Centre Ph: 617 4052 1119

Bank & shopping hours

Most banks are open from 9 am to 4 pm weekdays.

Major shopping centres are open 9 am-5 pm Monday to Saturday (with extended shopping until 9 pm on Thursday) and 10 am-4 pm Sunday.

Transportation

Sunbus, a local bus service, runs from the northern beaches to the southern suburbs through the Cairns CBD.

Visit www.sunbus.com.au or Ph: +617 4057 7411.

Cars, recreational vehicles, four-wheel drives, and bicycles are available for hire.

Visit www.transportation.com.au or Ph: +617 131 008.

8 . I was 17 years old. Along with a dozen other boys I had made a long trip to Iowa in order to see a college that I was thinking of _______. While the trip had been _______ for the most part, I was feeling depressed, alone, and isolated. I was _______ the Appalachian mountains and the forests of my home. I loved _______ the leaves turned a thousand _______ of green in the Spring and then became a _______ of red, gold and orange in the Fall.

Here in Iowa everything was _______. The grass looked burnt and brown. All that I could_______was a mixture of corn, mud and pigs. I walked outside the dormitory of the college and sat on a big rock. I closed my eyes and _______ being back home again. When I finally opened them, however, I saw something that touched my __________. It was a Prairie (大草原) Sunset. It seemed to __________ the sky from horizon to horizon. Gold, red, purple and pink clouds all __________ together in a picture painted by Heaven’s own hand. It was so huge that it took my __________ away. It made our mountain sunsets seem __________ by comparison. I realized that this place too had its own special beauty. This place too was a part of nature’s__________.

10 . I’ve spent over a year in India,and in those 365 plus days,I’ve learned a lot about getting around Indian cities.My biggest lessons have been learned through being cheated,particularly by taxi and rickshaw(人力车) drivers,but that doesn’t mean those are bad ways to travel,as long as you know what you’re doing.Below are the best ways to get around the city of Delhi,India,and tips for how to keep from being the victim of scams(欺诈).

Taking taxis is a great way to get around the city of Delhi and chances are,if you arrive in Delhi by plane,as soon as you make it through customs,you’ll be swarmed by Indian taxi drivers.At the Delhi airport,be sure to arrange for a taxi to your hotel at one of the two Delhi Traffic Police Taxi Booths.One is inside the airport,and the other is outside.The key is to make sure to go to a booth run by the police,rather than by independent taxi drivers.

Rickshaws are one of my favourite ways to get around Indian cities,in part because it’s how the locals often travel.Auto-rickshaws are more common,but bicycle rickshaws are still used in Old Delhi.If you do have a chance to take a bicycle rickshaw,you should do it at least once for a unique experience that should only set you back about 15 rupees.Auto-rickshaw rates around Delhi range between 30 and 80 rupees,depending on the distance.

If you really want to travel around Delhi like the locals,take a public bus.Indian buses become very crowded and most do not have air conditioning.They are,however,very cheap.A bus trip won’t set you back any more than 15 rupees,as long as you stay within the city limits.Since Indian buses get so crowded,try to board the bus at the start of the route so you can get a seat.

The train is a great way to get around within the city of Delhi.Fares are reasonable,between 6 and 22 rupees.All departure announcements are in both Hindi and English,and tokens can be purchased for between 6 and 22 rupees.