1 . William Lindesay, a famous Great Wall expert and conservationist, and his wife Wu Qi have traveled the globe, providing their sons with a unique growing environment. Sun hats, backpacks and sneakers (运动鞋) — these are the day-to-day must-haves for the family.

Most of their trips seem far from relaxing—cultural study in the hot and dry desert, a 53-kilometer hiking tour of New Zealand, a one-day climb to three English mountaintops and a six-day train ride from Beijing to Moscow.

Many assume the family must be wealthy and can afford their global travel, but they are not. Lindesay says they just choose to spend money on travel and eschew pricey hotels and restaurants when possible. Lindesay mentions the trip to Moscow as an example. Instead of taking a taxi from the railway station to the hotel, they took the subway. “We crossed the city for saving money, communicated with local people, and saw they were people just like us. We arrived at our destination feeling comfortable.”

However, their journeys, which can last weeks or months, have sometimes been inconsistent with their children's schooling. Wu remembers once Lindesay let their elder son ask for leave so that they could go to New York for a 45-day lecture tour. Therefore the son missed his final exam. Things like that bother the family all the time.

Lindesay attaches great importance to learning out of the classroom, saying that children might score well on school tests, but traveling outside, in distant lands with different languages, cultures and political structures, is the real test. “You can only get streetwise on the street. You can only get worldly-wise when seeing the world,” he says.

4 . While most parts of the country are blanketed in snow, here in San Diego you can take advantage of the warm sunshine and dive into the high life at a resort (度假胜地) pool. Many resorts offer pool day passes for families. You can enjoy the delicious lunch at the poolside.

Here you can relax at the poolside and take a dip. You’ll find heated pools and daily family-friendly poolside entertainment and activities. Enjoy a handmade cocktail (鸡尾酒) from your chair or in a cabin. Also on tap: free Wi-Fi and self-parking for up to 3 hours.

Enjoy yourself in a pool at the paradise-like Monarch Beach Resort. Ocean views and sunny skies make an unbeatable background for a swim in two oceanfront heated pools. The day pass also includes access to the Athletic Club.

The iconic swimming pool at the Lafayette Hotel has been attracting attention since it was designed in 1946. Go for a swim in this heated pool and enjoyed excellent services, which even appeal to Hollywood stars. They often relax at the poolside in this place.

Get away from your troubles and feel a world away in the pools while appreciating the Spanish-style architecture of the inn. There are two pools: one for individual adult and one for families, as well as a hot bub, poolside food , drink services, and a fitness center.

6 . In Paris, the River Seine plays many roles in the city: It divides the Right Bank from the Left Bank, acting as a dividing line; it provides transportation by riverboat and plenty of chance for pleasant walks; lots of Paris’ famous sights are located on both sides of the banks, including the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The Basics(基本原则)

One of the best ways to see the Seine is to walk along it, particularly from Les Invalides to Ile Saint-Louis, where you can go across the river on bridges such as Pont Alexandre III, Pont Royal, and Pont des Arts to see some of the most beautiful and best-known buildings in France. Besides, a River Seine trip allows you to rest your legs and enjoy the sights; book a brunch, lunch, or dinner trip to combine your sightseeing with a French meal, or choose the Eiffel Tower to enjoy two of Paris’ most popular activities on one tour.   

Things to Know Before You Go

While you are running through Paris’ main tourist areas, the River Seine is hard to miss; you won’t have to go far to find it. There are more than 30 bridges over the Seine in Paris. You should wear comfortable shoes for walking along the banks and bridges and be prepared for crowds on popular bridges like Pont des Arts.

When to Get There

For a peaceful walk, head to the river in the early morning hours before most of the crowds and travelers arrive. Or go for an after-dinner walk to take in the scenery of the City of Light on the water.

Visiting Canal Saint-Martin

In northeast Paris, the Canal Saint-Martin area is a place where you can see footbridges and modern locals instead of the Seine’s traffic and tourists. Enjoy a more relaxing moment.

7 . Into the Night

The lights from the cottage windows disappear, as we follow a dark footpath through a field into the open countryside. Thick clouds prevent the moonlight from lighting up the way ahead. Yet, as my eyes begin to get used to the darkness, the landscape around me reveals itself in a new light.

Mount Caburn, an iron-age hill fort (堡垒), looks like shadows against the sky. On the horizon is a tree bent by the wind. The rocky outcrop (露出的部分) at the top of the field turns out to be a flock of sleeping sheep. A fox cries, a pheasant crows, and the air is full of a strong earthy scent.

“For most of human history, man lived in close contact with the land,” says Nigel Berman, my guide. “Only in the past few hundred years have we shut ourselves off from our natural surroundings. Walking at night is a powerful way of reconnecting. When your vision is reduced, your other senses are sharpened.”

Nigel and I walk from the village of Glynde across the South Downs towards the town of Lewes. It is a walk I know well by day, but at night everything is different, and a familiar wander becomes a mini adventure. When Nigel told me not to bring a torch, I was alarmed. I can’t remember the last time I used my night vision and I’m not even sure how it works.

Normally, at this time of night, I would be having a glass of wine in front of the television, but being out in the countryside is a purer form of relaxation. I forget about work and family tensions, and begin to blend into the surroundings. There is no one other than Nigel to see or hear me and, with little visual distraction, my mind calms. I am aware of the breeze on my face, the rustle (沙沙声) of leaves, and as I watch the clouds slowly changing color against the sky like a natural sound and light show, it feels fascinating.

Having got used to the dark, we continue walking and the path that leads up the escarpment (峭壁) of Saxon Down now appears to almost shine in front of us. We climb carefully, feeling our way on the uneven ground. Walking at night is not without risk, but with knowledge and preparation it opens up a new side to walking.

As we reach the top, Lewes appears below as a twinkly mass of lights, a sight I would generally consider as inviting. In just a few hours, however, I find myself unwilling to walk back down. Walking at night is like discovering a new world on your doorstep. As Henry David Thoreau wrote in Night and Moonlight: “Night is certainly more novel and less profane (世俗的) than day.”