1 . Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is all about restoration this year. This month the park's main corridor is being repaired. The park's gallery reopened to the public in April after remodeling to allow full accessibility for the disabled. Even John Muir, known as the father of the national parks, is being revived (使复活) by the actor Lee Stetson, who will answer audience questions about the park and its history at the Yosemite Theater.

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park is now mapping self-guided hikes to its more remote destinations, in part to remind visitors that the parks are theirs to wander. In August, a new field institute will begin offering classes led by geologists, photographers and other experts. And next year, look for electric vehicle charging stations to appear at the north and south entrances of the park.

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is to begin managing a new campground on Maine's Schoodic Peninsula this fall. The site will offer almost 100 R. V. and tent sites, as well as new hiking and biking trails connecting to Gouldsboro Village and existing park trails leading to the peninsula's tip.

Wetherill Mesa

Wetherill Mesa will have an extended season this year (through mid-October), giving cyclists much time to enjoy new access to the park's six-mile Long House Loop, a paved path formerly used for tram service, and the backcountry routes on the park's most popular hike. Naturally, plans are in the works to open an on-site bike rental operation within the year.

Yours,

Li Hua

6 . Six years ago. something unforgettable happened. My wife, Liz, and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary that year. It was a lovely event hosted by our sons for us. Many wonderful friends from the past surprised us with presents and congratulations. Our gift to each other was a driving trip out west. We drove from Ontario into Alberta, then southward into Glacier National Park in Montana, and continued to Yellowstone National Park.

It was a cold spring day, and the Beartooth Highway had opened for the season just days before. Alongside the road, there was still a great amount of snow remaining. The seenery was so impressive that we made numerous stops to record memories with my camera. At roughly the highest point of the highway, I stopped at a lookout to catch the amazing views, with my wife in the center of my camera lens.

There were not many vehicles on the road. Occasionally, cars with energetic young tourists passed by. And then we heard a motorcycle in the distance. The driver of the motorcycle, in rags, parked behind our car. As he approached us, his only words were, “Give me your camera and get over there with your wife." I must admit I felt nervous that we might be robbed where we just created some beautiful memories. Surprisingly, he just took a picture of us, handed back my camera and rode off before we could express our gratitude. The photo he took is one of the most cherished and prized of our trip.

I learned my lesson somewhere I least expected it. God judges us just by our heart, so we should never judge a man by his appearance. If the motorcycle driver reads this story and remembers the situation, we would like to say "thank you" to him.

7 . Villa d’Este, Tivoli (Italy) --- Official Site Useful Information

Call Center 199766166

Number to dial from all of Italy for pre-sales and reservations for: tickets, guided tours, school groups, instructional visits.

Bookings from abroad:

email: villadestetivoli@teleart.org fax: 0039 0412770747

Visiting Hours:

Opening 8.30 – closed one hour before sunset.

The ticket office closes one hour before the closing of the monument.

The hydraulic organ of the Organ Fountain is active daily, from 10.30 am, every two hours.

The Fontana della Civetta functions daily, from 10.00 am, every two hours.

Ticket Prices:

(from May 17 to October 20, 2015)

Full ticket (exhibition + villa and gardens, not divisible): €11.

Reduced ticket: €7.

These prices will be valid during the daytime openings of the Villa until the closure of the exhibition, due on the 20^th of October, 2015 (From the 22^nd of October, 2015)

Full ticket: €8 Reduced ticket €4

These fares may vary in conjunction with exhibitions set inside the Villa. The right to purchase reduced price tickets belongs to all citizens of the European Union between the ages of 18 and 24 as well as permanent teachers of state schools (upon presentation of identity documents).

School Visits:

Reservations are required. The management of Villa d’Este, in the aim of preserving the monument and better distributing the flow of students, has limited the number of students allowed into the Villa to 100 students per hour. Should any school group arrive at the Villa without having made a reservation, it will be admitted to the Villa according to space availability at a particular time and asked to wait until such space becomes available. Right of reservation cost: €1,00.

Notices:

Certain areas of the villa may be closed for restoration: for information inquire at the ticket office. Please pay particular attention to the areas marked with signs indicating danger (in Italian: pericolo).