1 . On many travelers’ lists of things to do before they die, you’ll find “See the northern lights” written down. Rightfully so these lights are one of nature’s most jaw-dropping views.

In Sweden, the northern lights usually appear from late March or early April. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of them is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear, dark with little to no moonlight, and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights and go to the countryside. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations.

Abisko National Park

Abisko Natinal Park is a main location. The scientifically confirmed “blue hole”, a piece of sky over the Tornetrask lake that usually remains clear despite cloudy weather nearby, gives Abisko its own microclimate (局部地区气候), which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjarvi

The village of Jukkasjarvi only has about 550 people. But don’t let the small population size fool you: Jukkasjarvi owns the world’s first ice hotel and is one of the best places to view the northern lights. The ice hotel organizes guided tours for guests to the Esrange Space Center. There you can eat at a camp outside and see the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis (北极光). Or why not try to get closer to the northern lights and watch them through an aeroplane window? The ice hotel arranges flights for the amazing northern lights experience.

Gallivare

You can drive a snowmobile to the mountain top in Gallivare for a private light show, or head a few kilometers to nearby villages to watch those lights shining across the dark winter sky. But remember if you do get the chance to see the northern lights in person, never whistle to them. According to ancient Sumi fairy, it brings you bad luck.

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3 . In Birmingham, one school is offering its students an education that will change their lives. The unique program is called Build UP, which enables students to earn a high school certificate while working as paid apprentices (学徒) in construction work. As part of their training, they remodel (改造) old and abandoned houses in their neighborhood!

At any school, the burden on students can be heavy, and for those in poor areas, it is much heavier. “The kids that I’ve worked with during my entire career are all from disadvantaged groups with all the challenges that come with poverty,” said educator Mark Martin. So he founded Build UP in 2018 to offer students a different kind of education: real-world training.

As far as real-world issues are concerned, for low-income communities, one of the biggest needs is housing. That’s why Build UP made construction their main focus, offering a combination of regular and specialized classes. That way, instead of hearing the age-old question “When am I ever going to use this?” in a geometry class, their teachers are able to redirect students to a shop class (工艺课). There, students can connect the math theory to the building of a house.

The program hopes to draw in students who are likely to quit school by offering wages for their apprenticeships. Students receive $125 every two weeks when they start out as apprentices and can eventually work up to getting $200 every two weeks. Upon graduation, they have the opportunity to get an interest-free loan to purchase the remodeled homes.

So far, they have been doing a pretty amazing job. And now with the help of a loan company, the program has the opportunity to bring their model to communities everywhere! They plan to first add similar programs in nearby neighborhoods. After that, they hope to train others to start similar schools and expand their network of partners — particularly construction companies that can offer jobs to their students.

4 . The garden city was largely the invention of Ebenezer Howard (1850-1928). After an unsuccessful attempt to make a living as a farmer, he moved to Chicago, where he saw the reconstruction of the city after the disastrous fire of 1871. In those days, it was nicknamed “the Garden City”, almost certainly the source of Howard’s name for his later building plan of towns. Howard developed his design in the 1880s and 1890s, drawing on ideas popular at the time, but creating a unique combination of designs.

The nineteenth-century poor city was a terrible place, dirty and crowded; but it offered economic and social opportunities. At the same time, the British countryside was in fact equally unattractive: Though it promised fresh air and nature, it suffered from agricultural depression (萧条) and it offered neither enough work and wages, nor much social life. Howard’s idea was that a group of people should set up a company, borrowing money to establish a garden city in the depressed countryside; far enough from existing cities to make sure that the land was bought at the bottom price.

Garden cities would provide a central public open space, radial avenues and connecting industries. They would be surrounded by a much larger area of green belt, containing not merely farms but also some industrial institutions. As more and more people moved in, the garden city would reach its planned limit; then, another would be started a short distance away. Thus, over time, there would develop a vast planned house collection, extending almost without limit; within it, each garden city would offer a wide range of jobs and services, but each would also be connected to the others by a rapid transportation system, thus giving all the economic and social opportunities of a big city.

6 . Trip 1 One Week in The Mountains

Bring your strong shoes and warm clothes for this walk in a beautiful area of the Green Mountains. You may go hiking or have a try of rock climbing. This is also a protection area for wild animals. You can find many kinds of animals living in this area.

Time: May 8-May 14; Tel:64639818; Adult: $ 110.00; Child: $ 55.00

Trip 2 Three Days in The Country

There are many beautiful gardens. Take your camera and enjoy the wonderful sight in Hunter Valley. It is a good place for fishing and horse riding. You can also find different kinds of flowers here. This is also a great walk for bird-lovers.

Time: May 20-May 22; Tel: 63986432; Adult: $ 50.00; Child: $ 25.00

Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure

Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. It is a trip full of adventure. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the plants you will see on this trip can only be seen at night.

Time: May 16-May 18; Tel: 63875629; Adult: $ 30.00; Not for children

Trip 4 Five Day By The Sea

Wear you sun hat and enjoy wonderful sunshine all the time from morning to evening. Our hotel is next to the sea. We have our own boats too. You can swim in the sea or in the swimming pool. Every day our boat will take you to different places for swimming.

Time: May 23-May 27; Tel: 67538293; Adult: $ 80.00; Child : $ 40.00

8 . Museum of Brands

Do you remember Watney’s Party Seven? Do you hope to enjoy the taste of Spangles? Could you still sing the Fairy Liquid song? Surround yourself with objects of your childhood and find your memories in our Time Tunnel at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, Notting Hill, near Portobello Road Market.

£7.50; Tue-Sat: 10:00-18:00        Sun: 11:00-17:00 Closed Mon.

Garden Museum

The Garden Museum is the only museum in the UK to celebrate the art, design and history of gardens. It holds three temporary exhibitions each year, and an exciting programme of over 30 events. Visitors can also see an exhibition of paintings and tools all year round and experience the British love for gardens.

£10.00; Sun-Mon: 10:30-17:00       Sat: 10:30-16:00

Foundling Museum

The Founding Museum shows the history of the Foundling Hospital, Britain’s first children's charity and first public art gallery. And through an exciting programme of. exhibitions and events, it celebrates the ways in which lots of artists have helped improve children s lives for over 270 years.

£8.25; Tue-Sat: 10:00-17:00        Sun: 11:00-17:00 Closed Mon.

Cartoon Museum

See great British cartoon art from Steve Bell and Matt, Ronald Searle and Manga to favourite characters like Dennis the Menace and Andy Capp. Something for everyone — including a great shop full of funny books and Cards.

£7.00; Mon-Sat: 10:30-17:30       Sun: 12:00-17:30

10 . Lonely Planet’s Top Places to Go in 2024

Are you looking for inspiration for your next travel destination? Lonely Planet has published its yearly list of top places to go. Whether you’re looking for adventure, culture, or value, there’s something for every type of traveler. Let’s explore the. top picks for travel destinations in 2024.

Top City: Nairobi

Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, was chosen for its unique music and dance culture, and impressive local restaurants. Nairobi National Park, just a short drive out of the city’s central business district, is a must-see, where visitors can see over-400 species wandering the open grass plains while skyscrapers twinkle on the horizon.

Top Country: Mongolia

Mongolia is loved for its wide-open spaces, adventure activities, and unique food. The Mongolian government has announced 2023 through. 2025: as: the “Years to Visit Mongolia“, easing entry conditions for international travelers and improving public facilities, including a new $ 650 million airport.

Top Sustainable Travel Destination: Spain

The publisher also recommended Spain for the country’s efforts to expand renewable energy, to develop off-season travel, and to bring tourism to new destinations, such as the port city of Valencia, easing pressures on hot spots such as Barcelona.   

Top Best-Value Location: The American Midwest

The American Midwest, including the cities of Chicago and Detroit, is also on the list, as it offers a high-quality travel experience at a reasonable cost. Visitors can enjoy excellent services and facilities. such as old warehouses transformed into art studios, new eco-design hotels, and Michelin-starred restaurants, without having to spend too much money.

Top Beach Destination: Donegal

Donegal Ireland’s most northwestern county, has the country’s longest coastline and over 100 beaches, where visitors can enjoy the highest sea cliffs in Europe and miles of beautiful coastal hiking trails.