The Xi’an City Wall is the most complete city wall that has survived China’s long history. It     1     (build) originally to protect the city     2     the Tang dynasty and has now been completely restored (修复). It is possible       3     (walk) or bike the entire 14 kilometers.

We accessed the wall through the South Gate. The wall is 12 meters high and from here you can see streams of people moving inside and outside the City Wall.

After     4     (spend) some time looking at all the defensive equipment at the wall, we decided it was time for some action and what     5     (good) than to ride on a piece of history!

We     6     (hire) our bikes from the rental place at the South Gate. My bike was old and shaky     7     did the job. It took us about 3 hours to go all     8     way around the Xi’an City Wall. Supposedly you can do it in two hours, but we stopped at the different gates and     9     (watchtower) to take pictures or just to watch the local people going about their     10     (day) routines.

3 . Biking is an amazing family activity, but finding a route that can accommodate a wide-range of ages can be a challenge.

Lee McNeil and his family are crazy about biking. They have seven children, from 4 to 24 years old. When looking for a route, they look for enough protection from traffic, good surface condition, easy access and interesting views.

With that in mind, here are some great routes for biking with your whole family, as are suggested by McNeil.

Iron Horse Trail

This is the McNeil family’s favourite ride. The route is 26 miles and goes through the 2.1mile Snoqualmie Tunnel.

“Beautiful views, the thrill the tunnel, and places to stop and watch the rock climbers make it special,” McNeil said. “All our kids have taken their turn at braving the black tunnel bravely for the first time, which we celebrate it at the end of the ride.”

How to get there: If you prefer, check http://bit.ly/Mlt9y4 for more information.

Centennial Trail

The Centennial Trail runs for 23 miles from Snohomish to Bryant. The trail is wide and smooth, and is safe for kids as it is off the roads. A nice stop is Lake Cassidy east of Marysville. A dock on the lake is fun to explore. It also has picnic tables and washrooms for a convenient lunch time stop.

How to get there: The trail can be accessed from a number of trailheads. For a map, go to http://bit.ly/L5qCeY.

Cascade Trail

The Cascade Trail follows an abandoned Burlington Northern railroad grade for 23 miles between Sedro-Woolley and Concrete. Because it’s on a railroad grade, the slope is gentle and it makes for an easy family ride.

McNeil said it is a “beautiful ride up the Skagit Valley, with lots of places to watch wildlife along the river.”

How to get there: Go to http://bit.ly/PR4wOW to see a map showing the trail, parking areas and bus stops .

Other good choices

Snoqualmie Valley Trail: http://l.usa.gov/nWGWO

Guemes Island: http://bit.ly/LJ3RxL

Burke-Gilman Trail: http://l.usa.gov/s33li

5 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter

While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.

The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.

With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.

A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.

Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.

6 . Travelling with some of your favourite people is an exciting experience. If done well, group travelling can be the most thrilling experience ever, filled with games, laughter, and unforgettable memories.     1     Read on for some of the things you need to note and do for an enjoyable experience.

    2    

Ideas are usually exciting when they are fresh. The longer you delay, the more you’ll find excuses not to go. Let all interested parties meet as soon as possible to decide on dates, locations and budget. It’s best to plan the trip three or four months in advance.

Assign roles

For the trip to be successful, it has to be well organized. You’re going on a trip far from home, not the shopping mall. This is why the group should assign a leader who would be responsible for planning and organizing the trip.     3     Break them down further. For example, choose someone to handle booking a hotel and another person to take care of the meal.

Budget pool

    4     You can do a weekly or monthly payment plan before your trip. Once you decide how much would fund the trip, members can start contributing the money weekly or monthly. The leader would then use the money to pay for accommodations, meals, transportation and more while you’re on vacation. If there’s money left in the end, split it up or go wild one last night.

Create a flexible itinerary（行程）

An easy way to create and share an itinerary is through Google Docs. Add the group members to the document and give them permission to edit it. Suggest one or two optional activities per day which do not require advance bookings, such as a local hike or museum.     5    

7 . Florida Theme Parks and Amusement Parks

Fun Spot America (Two locations: Orlando and Kissimmee)

The two small amusement parks offer two great wooden roller coasters: White Lightning and Mine Blower. They also feature lots of spinning (快速旋转) rides, one of the world’s tallest Skycoasters, go-karts, and other attractions. For 2021, the Orlando Fun Spot America is debuting Sky Hawk, a 90-foot-tall swing ride.

Discovery Cove (Orlando)

SeaWorld Orlando’s sister attraction lets guests get up close and personal with dolphins and other animals for a unique theme park experience. Its somewhat expensive admission price includes all attractions, the swim-with-dolphins experience, meals, and a 14-day pass to either SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, or Aquatica water park.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Lake Buena Vista)

The smallest of the four Walt Disney World parks, with the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to Disney World’s most thrill-packed rides. Two of its more recent additions, Toy Story Land and, especially, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, have made Disney’s Hollywood Studios much more popular.

Legoland Florida (Winter Haven)

The delightful Lego-themed park is designed for the 12-and-under set. Among the best things to do at Legoland Florida are Lego Ninjago the Ride, Miniland USA, the funny Lego Movie 4D, and the lovely Cypress Gardens, which is an ode to the park that once stood on the site. For 2021, the park introduced a new 4D movie, Journey to Mythica.

9 . Europe is the perfect place for a holiday. Every corner of the continent is bursting with history, culture and sights. The countries are so very close to one another, and yet so completely different.

Sweden

Sweden is a brilliant destination for a campervan (露营车) holiday, with hundreds of well-appointed camping sites suitable for vehicles. Head north to Lapland in the Arctic Circle and you’ll find true wildernesses where you can truly get close to nature. Head here between June and mid-July and you’ll be able to take in the midnight sunshine. If you’re looking for great nightlife, head to Gothenburg, Stockholm or Malmo.

Germany

There are massive industrial cities, rolling plains, towering mountains, deep forests and long, sparkling rivers. It’s not just what’s to see that makes Germany so great, but the ease of seeing everything. All these wonderful locations are all linked by one of the world’s best road systems.

Scotland

Scotland has something for everyone: cities with rich nightlife, incredible scenery, wonderful lochs and medieval (中世纪的) castles. If you want to get away from it all, then the Highlands are one of the least populated areas in the whole of Europe. Hikers will love the Cairngorms – the largest national park in the UK.

Spain

Spain’s famous for its beach holidays, but it offers so much more than that. With a lovely climate, rich history, excellent architecture, delicious cuisine and friendly locals, Spain has long been a favoured destination for holiday.