4 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter

While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.

The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.

With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.

A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.

Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.

5 . How to save money when booking a summer holiday

Recent headlines have not been kind to those of us who like a bargain getaway. With the price of hotels, self-catering and package holidays all rising, there’s been a barrage of bad news.     1     But these straitened times also give you an opportunity to sharpen your holiday booking skills.

Where should you begin?

If you want to spend less this summer, it’s all about being flexible, having an open mind and double checking all your costs.     2     The three points are: transport, accommodation and daily costs. Nail all three, and you’re on track to stay within your budget.

What dates should you avoid?

Beginning your holiday on a weekend can cost you more, with Saturday being the most expensive day for starting a trip. Instead, choose to depart midweek to save a few pounds.     3     However, going away in the last week of August can offer much better value, thanks in part to schoolchildren in many countries having already returned to school.

    4    

If you have your heart set on a specific hotel in a specific resort and you’re happy with the price you’re being offered and have the means to book it, get it booked. Last-minute package deals can still pop up if agents are looking to fill spots, but you’ll have a lot less choice and there is always the chance that you won’t find anything that works out and you’ll end up stuck at home.

How can you protect yourself from problems down the line?

Take out cover on the day you book to ensure that you’re protected if your trip is canceled, or if you’re unable to travel.     5     So you can be confident it’s the right choice for your individual needs.

6 . Planning a family trip? Let the professionals handle it.

In the ever-evolving world of travel, using a travel professional to decode your family vacation options can really pay off. Here are several things to bear in mind:

Before the pandemic, planning a vacation took time, knowledge, patience and perseverance. While the pace of change has slowed, keeping track of the global landscape can still be incredible.     1     He or she uses his or her experience and skills to make even the most complicated travel schedule a reality.

    2     Some get paid by travel suppliers such as a hotel or restaurant. Others charge consulting fees sometimes determined by the number of people traveling and the complexity of the trip. Still, others rely on a combination of both. Families also benefit from top agents’ access to upgrades and value-added options. Should your trip take an unwelcome turn, a good agent will have your back to help with canceled flights, health challenges or the need for a last-minute shift in the travel schedule.

If you are eager to visit a Disney resort; understand the evolving nature of the cruise world; visit a ski resort or explore a specific city, region or country, using an agent with that specialty can give you a bonus.     4     They’ll know how to book the best cabins, sort through meal and activity options and provide insight into how each member of the family might make the most of the sailing.

Whether you’re traveling with the kids or with the extended family for a milestone birthday or anniversary celebration, you no doubt hope to return with treasured memories rather than tales of a trip gone wrong.     5    

With more families learning and working from home, a good agent can help zero in on destinations and lodging options that can maximize your current lifestyle.

7 . My husband and I booked a fall foliage (叶子) tour up the Hudson River. We were really excited to see all the changing colors of the leaves in their full glory.

It was a beautiful day. We were a little ________ since none of the leaves in our backyard seemed to be changing color. But we ________ that as we motored farther north, it would be a ________ story.

However, through the whole trip, there was only the occasional sight of yellow and orange. It was not the fall foliage tour we had ________.

Our whole family ________ where we were and we had to prepare to face their ________ about the trip when we returned. How were the leaves? Were you disappointed?

If I tell myself that the ________ was all about the color of the leaves, and complain about money wasted and hopes ________, I will have had a truly ________ day. But if I tell myself that I had a beautiful day out on the Hudson River, had some ________ time(even on a boat filled with passengers), and came back refreshed, then it was money and time ________.

________ I couldn’t change the surroundings and I couldn’t make the leaves suddenly change color, all that was left was to change my ________.

So the honest answer is that while there was some initial (原来的，最初的) ________, we ________having a great day. I love being out on the water.

8 . It’s hard to put into words how much of a sense of freedom I get from being outdoors and in the wilderness. If I’m_________ by buildings for too long, I get a bit anxious. I need to see a field, a river or a mountain_________ in front of me.

Spending time outdoors is a wonderful _________, I like nothing more than getting to the end of a day spent outdoors and _________ the ache in my legs from a long walk. It helps me sleep and is far more _________than training in a gym.

There are so many _________walks to choose from all over the UK. We live on a tiny island, relatively speaking, but the scenery we have here easily _________ some of the most beautiful in the world. We are extremely_________: on our doorstep we have beaches, rivers, hills and mountains.

Thanks to the light and the weather, the same walk can feel very different _________the time of year you do it. But for breathtaking views whatever the __________is, I’d recommend Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilk-ley Moor in West Yorkshire. It’s quite a challenge climbing them, which is why doing so feels more daring than a normal walk and offers __________ that you don’t get from following a gentle path. It’s perfect if you want a workout as well as fresh air and gives you the chance to get up high and__________a view that changes all year round.

Otley Chevin in West Yorkshire is another __________ climb that offers beautiful views. And like Cow and Calf Rocks, it is within easy__________of the nearby town. But being Cambrian, my heart will always belong to the Lake District. I grew up walking those fells in all weathers and seasons, and I think there is nothing more __________than a big hill walk that gets your lungs burning and brings you to a       view you’ve never seen before.