2 . National Parks in Utah

Zion National Park

It’s perfect for scenic drives and outdoor adventures. One of the park highlights is the Zion Canyons, which offers different hiking (远足) opportunities. Late spring or early fall is the best time to visit Zion National Park, since most facilities are open during this time. However, if you don’t mind cold weather, visit during the late fall and winter.

Bryce Canyon National Park

It’s home to the greatest number of hoodoos (石林) on earth, which are one of the natural wonders of the world. You can see most of Bryce Canyon’s highlights in one day by taking the scenic drive and making stops at various views. Most people visit the park between May and September since the weather is warmer.

Canyonlands National Park

Although it’s the 23rd largest National Park in the US, Canyonlands is the largest out of the four national parks in Utah. The best time of the year to visit is when the weather is pleasant in the spring and fall. The park has four main parts: The Maze, Island in the Sky, The Needles, and Horseshoe Canyon. If you plan to visit every part, you can go on a boat tour to explore it.

Arches National Park

Known as a red-rock wonderland, Arches National Park is popular for its stone arches (石拱).The park has over 2,000 stone arches, with Landscape Arch the largest. The park is busiest from March through October. However, the spring and fall temperatures are the most comfortable. So, the best time to visit is April, May, September and October.

3 . The Best US National Parks You’ve Never Heard of

Dry Tortugas National Park

Located 70 miles west of Key West, this group of seven islands is a great destination to enjoy some of Florida’s nature. The islands are composed of coral reefs (珊瑚礁) and sand, and they are famous for the birds and sea life. Tourists can also enjoy Fort Jefferson, which dates back to the 19th century.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is divided into two units, a northern unit and a southern unit. Between the two sections, this park gives tourists the opportunity to experience some of North Dakota’s unique scenery, including the Badlands, canyons (峡谷) and more. The hiking trails (小径) allow tourists to see some of this country’s natural wonders and amazing wildlife.

Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale is one of the special parks in the US. The island is only accessible by boat. Once there, you can enjoy the unique wilderness that has been protected in a special way. The island has a beautiful coast that can be explored by boat. You can also explore the island by hiking its many trails. Another unique feature of the island is the ships that have been destroyed at sea.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park extends from the low desert to the high mountains. Tourists to this park can enjoy over 80 miles of trails throughout the park, which travel through canyons, woodlands, springs, mountainous wilderness and more. It is also home to the Salt Basin Dunes, which are an amazing windswept landscape.

4 . China now has 53sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Let's have a look at four of them, which may give you some advice on your next travel plan.

Huangshan Mountain

Huangshan, known as “the loveliest mountain of China”, lies in the south of Anhui Province in eastern China. The scenic area covers 154 square kilometers, and is famous for its peaks, rocks, pines, clouds and springs. It also has a rich cultural heritage.

Longmen Grottoes

The Longmen Grottoes(石窟) lies in the south of Luoyang city, Henan Province. It includes the largest collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang dynasties, and show the achievements of Chinese stone carving(雕刻).

Gulangyu Island

Located on the entry of the Jiulong River, the island was occupied by at least a dozen countries, including Great Britain, France and Japan. With such a harmonious mixture of Western music and Eastern culture, Gulangyu is naturally referred to as the “island of music”. It is famous for its outstanding musicians and musical instruments.

Ancient villages in southern Anhui

Lying in southern Anhui, Xidi and Hongcun have a high historical and artistic value in architecture. The villages show the architectural features of the Huizhou-styled living houses in the period of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Xidi and Hongcun were added onto the list on   November 30,2000.

6 . Tenerife might seem like a small island in the Atlantic Ocean, but you will be surprised by how diverse and beautiful it is. There are lots of unique places in Tenerife, so be ready to explore!

Mount Teide

Mount Teide, a famous volcano, is the tallest peak (峰) in Spain and a UNESCO world heritage site. Several routes can lead one to the peak of Mount Teide. While permits are required to hike the mountain, you can have an easier choice—an eight-minute cable car (缆车) that takes you far enough up the top for appreciating views. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and a jacket as it can get cold.

Siam Park

The famous Siam Park was named as the best water park in the world for the second year in a row. You can visit the park at any time of the year, as the pools are heated to a comfortable 24 Celsius. Be sure to choose a sunny day for your visit if you’re heading over in winter.

Casa de Los Balcones

A visit to the Casa de Los Balcones might be a great idea if you’re looking for a first class cultural adventure. It’s a 17th century house with fine carved wooden balconies. The inside has a typical patio (露台) that shows the islands’ handmade traditions.

Playa de Benijo

Playa de Benijo is one of the fascinating beaches in Tenerife. The surface is a large area of black sand with rocky areas mixed in between. The volcanic sand covering the beach, as well as the rocks and the cliffs (悬崖), makes Playa de Benijo a destination for landscape photographers. If you have the chance—go there!

7 . Cheapest Islands in the World to Visit

Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas

As the northernmost of the 700 islands of the Bahamas, Grand Bahama dishes up plenty of cheap activities alongside its white-sand beaches. Visiting Lucayan National Park, which is home to both beloved Gold Rock Beach and one of the largest underwater cave (洞穴) systems in the world, is an affordable trip. There are hotel rooms at $80 a night.

Madeira, Portugal

Though closer to mainland Africa, Madeira is a part of Portugal known for its breathtaking natural beauty. Visitors can find hotels starting at $85 a night, and enjoy plenty of low-cost activities, like rowing a boat around the volcanic Porto Moniz natural swimming pools, and admiring the never-ending views around the island. No wonder it’s been called the “Hawaii of Europe”.

Dominican Republic

Looking for one of the least expensive Caribbean islands? The Dominican Republic is full of affordable surprises. In Santo Domingo, walk around Zona Colonial, the historic heart of the country’s capital, you’ll find castles, cathedrals (教堂), cobblestone streets, and cafés around every corner. During the low season (summer), you can find hotel deals starting at $33 a night.

Sri Lanka

Do you want to spend just $25～50 a day? Then go to Sri Lanka. Since the South Asian island country is one of the largest tea producers in the world, start with a tea factory tour on a peaceful hike. Taking a train ride through the hills from Kandy to Badulla or from Colombo to Galle is an enjoyable and affordable way to see the countryside.

8 . Discover the Best of Beijing

Beijing’s rich culture and powerful atmosphere offer travellers a sensory feast.

Archaeological Site

A must — see for history buffs, the Ming Tombs scenic area contains the mausoleums (陵墓) of 13 of the 16 emperors who ruled China during the Ming Dynasty from 1368 to 1644. Three of the 13 mausoleums are open for visitors and offer an intriguing glimpse into Chinese history, grand Chinese architecture, and the cultural importance of ancestor worship. The Ming Tombs are located close to some entry points to the Great Wall, which makes it easy to combine the two sites during the same day trip.

UNESCO Site

The Forbidden City, today also known as the Palace Museum, was the home of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for 500 years until 1911. Located in the very heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City is a remarkable portrayal of Chinese history, culture, civilization, and architecture. The Palace Museum is the world’s largest palace complex and is said to have almost 1,000 buildings and 9,999 rooms.

Cultural Experience

To get a glimpse of Beijing before its magnificent glass buildings and skyscrapers, head to Gulou Street to explore one of the city’s remaining traditional neighborhoods, the hutongs. Hutongs are areas with narrow lanes and single story courtyard houses, but the city’s rapid modernization has left only a few of these historic neighborhoods standing. Go back in time and explore the hutongs around the Drum and Bell Towers, two landmark buildings that were used for telling time since the 13th century.

Best Day Trip

Even though the Summer Palace is located just 15 kilometers outside of central Beijing, a visit there is like entering another world. Consisting of palaces, lakes, and gardens, the Summer Palace was an imperial garden built by the Qing Dynasty for royal families to rest and entertain. It is the largest and best preserved imperial garden still in existence in China.

Most Iconic Place

The Great Wall of China is certainly not to be missed during your visit to Beijing. More than 27,000 people visit on an average day, which is an excellent reason for considering the less famous entry points, such as Jinshanling and Simatai. Some sections offer unique hiking opportunities with breathtaking landscapes of the surrounding mountains with the deserted wall snaking mysteriously into the horizon. For an experience you’ll never forget, consider camping out for a night at one of the watchtowers.

9 . There are some palaces in Europe that you may be interested to know about.

It takes the title of the largest European palace by floor area and it is one of the largest palaces in the world. The Royal Palace of Madrid was built in the 18th century by order of Philip V on the site of the old Alcázar fortress, a former Moorish castle. With over 135,000 square metres and 3,418 rooms, it has seeded centuries of Spanish history. It is one of the few official seats of a head of state that is open to the public.

It is a historic and the most wonderful building in Brussels, Belgium, next to Brussels Park. The Royal Palace of Brussels is the King’s main workplace, where he works daily with his staff. A tradition has been established since 1965 to open the Royal Palace of Brussels to the public normally from the 21 July until the beginning of September.

It is the most popular attraction in Sintra, Portugal, and the main reason why so many people visit the small mountain town less than one hour’s drive from the country’s capital city, Lisbon. The colorful palace perched upon a hill looks like something out of a fairy tale. Its yellow and bright red appearance makes Pena Palace one of the most picturesque places in Europe. The UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site has a rich history that dates all the way back to the Middle Ages.

It is a former royal living places and gardens located in Venaria Reale, near Turin in the Metropolitan City of Turin of the Piedmont region in northern Italy. It is one of the largest palaces in the world. It is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

10 . During the summer holidays, you might be eager to get out and about. What would you like to do? There are plenty of helpful websites and apps with good ideas.

The Wildlife Trusts charity has a map of walks all over the UK. You can zoom in to find the ones nearest where you live, read about them and plan a visit. Another good website for finding places to walk is AllTrails, where you can search for the name of a nearby city or park to explore with your family or friends.

One fun way to explore your neighborhood is through wildlife. The Week Junior Science+Nature’s summer scavenger hunt (寻宝游戏) asks you to track down 10 natural objects, including clouds and creepy-crawlies. There’s also a photo competition for young nature lovers.

Summer is the best time for butterfly-spotting, and iRecord Butterflies is a free app that helps you to identify the ones you see. It also uses the data to protect these beautiful creatures.

Another cool app worth checking is Seek by iNaturalist, which includes information about all sorts of wildlife, including bugs, fish and plants. And you can take part in monthly challenges. It’s been designed for families to use.

Finally, there’s Parkrun, where adults and young people get together to run in thousands of local parks. The Junior Parkrun website has a map showing you when and where these events take place, to help find your nearest one.