Venice, one of Europe’s most historical, romantic, and unique cities, is in danger of drowning — not in one of its famed canals but under the weight of people. Since 1980, there have been more tourists than residents in Venice and right at present the number     1     (climb) rapidly. As tourists arrive, so do businesses to support them. Small, local stores are being replaced by souvenir shops and fast-food joints; Lately, accommodations     2     (transform) to Airbnbs, driving the cost of living here forever upwards. As locals leave the city, the vacuum (真空) is filled with yet     3     (much) tourist investment and before you know it, the charm and culture of old Venice that attracted us here in the first place has been transformed and lost. It’s no wonder that     4     World Heritage Committee has made a plan to add “Venice and its Lagoon” to its World Heritage in Danger list.

Venice is not alone. Croatian favourite Dubrovnik, with history and cultural excellence, is suffering the same fate. There were 5,000 residents in 1991, but in 2017 only 1,157 people were living in the Old Town     5     it became overcrowded with tourists and businesses flooding to them. Dubrovnik is a convenient stop for cruise ships moving around the waters of the Adriatic and its popularity has grown further following the success of Game of Thrones,     6     was filmed there.

Many popular locations have started to apply strategies     7     (fight) the rising tide of tourism using a combination of legislation and financial instruments. Barcelona is limiting the number of licenses for tourist accommodation     8     reducing the number of cruise ships allowed to dock (停泊). A smaller number of tourists are allowed to visit the Old Town and     9     will need to pay a city entry fee. The tourist tax is being increased to a price higher than     10     (expect). Venice has recently introduced a tourist fee to discourage day-trippers.

4 . Best Family Vacations in the Caribbean

Choosing a Caribbean vacation that meets the needs of young children, preteens and adults might seem like a challenging task. The following introduction may provide you with some choices.

With three islands to choose from, U. S. Virgin Islands appeal to families who like to combine beach time with a bit of exploration. Virgin Islands National Park on St. John offers this combination — and more — with 20-plus trails and access to popular Trunk Bay beach. Kids will also enjoy Coral World Ocean Park on St. Thomas, where they can swim with dolphins and sea lions.

Beautiful beaches, magnificent reefs and opportunities for horseback riding and surfing lessons make the Bahamas a family favorite. Plus, this string of 700 islands boasts plenty of budget- and family-friendly resorts. One of the most famous resorts — Atlantis Paradise Island — even has its own 141-acre water park and the world’s largest open-air marine habitat for the young to enjoy. At the marine habitat, travelers can enjoy watching various aquatic animals swim by.

Grand Cayman, the largest and most popular of this three-island chain, offers families tons of ways to enjoy their time together. Adults and kids can sunbathe, build sandcastles and float in the Caribbean Sea at Seven Mile Beach, or swim with stingrays (刺魟) in the shallow water of Stingray City. To get up close and personal with more sea life, head to the Cayman Turtle Centre to interact with turtles of all shapes and sizes.

Calm waters and pollution-free beaches attract travelers of all ages to the British Virgin Islands. While the destination can be pricey, families can save money by splashing around Smuggler’s Cove, a free beach known for its sea turtles and relaxing atmosphere. Visitors will also enjoy themselves in the Baths National Park.

7 . In 1983, Ski Rixen USA became the first water ski cable park in the United States. Located in Deerfield Beach, Florida, the park offers riders a chance to experience all kinds ofwater sports.

In the past 40 years, Six Rixen USA has welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors. The park was the brainchild of engineer Bruno Rixen. Born in 1931 in Germany, Rixen grewfrustrated with the sport of water skiing, which required pulling by a motor boat.

“He used to wait for four hours in line to do three laps around the lake, ” explained Allan Wlodarczyk, the manager of Ski Rixen USA. He added that riding five minutes and waiting another four hours sparked Rixen’s idea of cable parks. Rather than relying on a boat, Rixen considered his own cable way. He also designed skis and set up a power source.

“The first cable was actually an old farm tractor, ” Wlodarczyk said. “Rixen took the wheels off, attached some ropes to the wheel disks, and started pulling people back and forth around the lake.” Over the years, Rixen improved his design and earned several patents. He opened the world’s first commercial cable water park in 1966 in Benidorm, Spain.

The sport grew from entertainment to international contests. Rixen died in 2020, but his idea has taken hold around the world. Today, there are more than 500 cable water parks on different continents. Typically, the cable tows riders at a speed of about 20 miles per hour.

But for beginners, who can take lessons, the speed is about 15 miles per hour.

Ski Rixen USA also offers riding opportunities and events to people with special needs to ski effortlessly. “We have a specially designed ski, called a sit ski,” Wlodarczyk said. “It’s a larger board with a lot of surface area. The riders are completely seated in the water and don’t actually have to hold onto the rope.”

9 . Leave-No-Trace Camping

For those of us who love spending time in the great outdoors, wild spaces are very special. These are places we visit to recharge, or to fill our hearts with natural beauty.    1    If you feel this way, then you’re the perfect person to promote and practice Leave-No-Trace camping.

Its principles are to treat the wilderness the way a decent visitor would and leave everything just as you found it, with no evidence that you passed through.    2    That’s because your visit makes a minimal impact on the environment.

You can carry out these ideals in a number of ways. Begin by packing out all your litter. Whenever you go camping, take an empty trash bag with you and put all garbage into the bag. In addition, try not to damage vegetation.    3    Wherever you go, think about what your heavy shoes or boots are doing to the plants underneath and try to keep damage to a minimum.

It’s also important that you should not take things away from the wilderness. Rocks, plants, flowers and seashells are all part of the natural landscape.    4    Plus, many animals find homes and food in abandoned shells and flower-heads, and these are things they would miss if you collected them.

Leave-No-Trace camping is about being respectful and thoughtful. It’s about honoring the natural world and the creatures that live in it. If you love seeing an untouched mountain stream or a lovely field of wildflowers, then you’ve already taken the first step.    5    

10 . It’s getting close to midnight, and close to my destination—mile marker 133 on Alaska’s Glenn Highway, where I’m on the road to realize a lifelong dream. I’m going to see the northern lights.

I am Scott’s only customer tonight, but whether it’s one person or a bridal party from Japan, the professional photographer and videographer loves to come put here to witness one of nature’s most spectacular shows — and to share it with others. “I can’t tell you how much joy I get from seeing the smile on people’s faces. That’s worth it right there. That’s the reason why I do tours,” he says.

I emerge from the van into minus 6 degrees. A bazillion stars sparkle, and the Milky Way pours overhead. What looks like a gray stream of cloud arches low over the horizon. “That’s it!” says Scott. Really? That’s it? I spent 13 hours in planes and airports, and then drove 2.5 hours to see a gray belt? “Patience,” he says. “It will get better. Wait till 2 am. That’s usually the best time.”

Aurora (极光) tourism is combined with winter activities like ice fishing, snow machine rides, and hot springs. As aurora guides and scientists will tell you, there’s no guarantee of a sighting. But Fairbanks is a statistically good bet because of its northern location and freedom from coastal clouds, which can be a challenge for Anchorage. Travelers are recommended to put aside at least three nights to improve your chances of viewing, with the idea that you’ll be up much of the night each time.

Each time he wakes me and I step outside, it appears more glorious. At first, a fuzz the size of a honeydew floats along the horizon. Another time, a broad green line stretches across the sky, followed by a short tail. “Do you see the red?” Scott asks. He has me look through his camera. It can see more color than the naked eye. Finally, as if playing a visual symphonic tune, a giant line of phosphorous (发磷光的) green seems to swoop down to the treetops and dollop them with a curlicue swirl. I’m smiling inside and out. We can go now.