Reserve seats on any 2017 Rick Steves tour today, and you’ll save $ 100 per person! To receive your early booking discount, you must reserve a 2017 tour by midnight on November 30, 2016. Discounts are for new bookings only and must be secured with a $400 per person deposit(订金).

See our Conditions:

   Tour price guarantee: our tour prices do not include air tickets, and may be adjusted without notice due to possible changes in currency rates and trip costs. However, your price for the tour you’ve selected will be guaranteed the moment we receive your deposit.

   Included in the price of each tour: Sightseeing tours by a Rick Steves’ Europe(RSE) guide, and local guides when appropriate, including all admission to sights seen as a group; all breakfasts and half of your dinners; accommodation each night; all transportation from the first hotel to the last hotel of the tour; all RSE guide, local guide and driver tips.

   The plans of the trip may be changed: Europe is full of surprise, and we need to be flexible enough to take advantage of whatever comes along so that we may provide you with the best possible tour.

   Tour payments: Your final tour payment must be paid at least 60 days before the departure. Missing the final payment deadline may result in your being removed from the tour! If you sign up for a tour less than 60 days before its departure, the entire tour price must be paid.

   Transferring(改签) to another tour: Up to 60 days before your departure, you can transfer to any other tour in the same calendar year with seats available, applying your existing deposit and with no transfer fee. If you transfer to a different tour, the price of that tour will be applied, effective on the date we confirm your transfer. Transfers less than 60 days before your tour’s departure may not be possible.

Ecotourism：A Different Way to Travel

Are you attracted to obscure places? Do you prefer to vacation away from other tourists? Are you careful to take only memories and to leave only footprints？If you answered yes to more than one of these questions，you just might be an ecotourist.

Ecotourists are people who want to experience the unspoiled natural world—and leave it that way when they return home. This trend started in the 1990s，and ecotourism is now growing three times faster than the tourism industry at large. The Kapawi Ecolodge in Ecuador’s remote Amazon Basin is contributing to that expansion，and it gives a snapshot of what ecotourism looks like.

At the Ecolodge，a small group of cabins sits in the middle of the Achuar people’s reserve and is only accessible by air. From here，visitors can explore parts of the Amazon rainforest seen by few outsiders. As they do，local Achuar guides explain how the forest is like their supermarket，where they find food，clothing，medicine and tools. As a result，tourists learn to appreciate the local culture as well as the natural environment.

The owners of Kapawi pay monthly rent to the Achuar people，but they also train the community to run and manage the lodge. They have agreed on a plan to turn the operation over to the Achuar completely by 2011.The owners are working to make ecotourism benefit and empower the local people.

You probably won’t start your own ecolodge，but you can be an ecotourist if you follow these guidelines：Protect the environment；Support local businesses；Respect the local customs and traditions.

The world is full of fascinating places to visit. As an ecotourist，you can enjoy them yourself and make sure that they remain beautiful for future generations as well.

More perhaps than any other European nation, the Swiss have got used to looking after foreign travelers. As early as the 18th century, wealthy French, Germans and Italians were treating the country as an amusement center while, in the 19th century, it became the major holiday playground for the British nobles. Today, it attracts visitors from all over the world.

The Swiss are clear about the importance of tourism to their economy, which contributes about eight percent of Gross National Product, and helps the industry greatly. Managers of hotels from all over the world go to Switzerland to learn how to do the job, and a generally high standard can be expected from the great majority of the country’s hotels, most of which are small and pride themselves on a personalized service. Public transport is the best in Europe. Both the Swiss Federal railways and the private railways are fully electrified, and the total network is made up of about 5000 kilometers of track.

Under the Fly Baggage system passengers can check luggage in at 116 railway stations and have it automatically carried to their flight. The national highway system is equally well planned, and the mountain roads offer views of some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery. Also serving the mountains is an effective system of railways and cable ways, while more than 160 passenger cars cross the lakes and rivers to and fro. Hiking in the mountains is equally popular with Swiss nationals and foreign visitors. For those who want to view the country from a height without having to climb the mountain themselves, it is always possible to take in the view from a balloon.

The city of Florence eats, sleeps and breathes art. Examples of man's artistic genius (天赋) stand on nearly every street. Dozens of museums and art shops wait to be explored.

During the Renaissance, Florence was a paradise (天堂) for artists themselves. Before this time, art focused completely on religious subjects. Renaissance art began to include more variety. Artists painted pictures of ordinary people. They painted scenes from history and characters from Greek and Roman myths (神话).

Michelangelo was the greatest of Florence's artists. Visitors line up for hours at the Academia museum for a look at his impressive David. This 14-foot-high statue has become the ideal human figure of the Renaissance. David is an example of Michelangelo's talent for sculpting people simply, yet powerfully.

More of Michelangelo's works can be seen in the great Palazzo Vecchio. Paintings and carvings of famous Italian artists fill the palace rooms.

A short walk through the narrow streets of Florence brings visitors to the famous Uffizi Gallery. It has an outstanding art collection. Visitors should be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as exploring the gallery takes many hours. Some of the most famous works in the collection include Botticelli's Primaveraand The Birth of Venus.

Even visitors tired of art won't want to miss the Pitti Palace. Once home to Florence's powerful Medici family, the large palace now houses three museums. Filled with priceless art, the countless rooms glitter (闪光) with gold decorations. For a breath of fresh air, wander among the statues and fountains of the palace gardens.

To get a feel of modern Florence, join the evening walk. This traditional feature of Italian life begins around 6 p.m. People walk down the streets of central Florence to do last-minute shopping or just chat with friends. Be sure to walk past Perch Noi, home of the oldest and best ice cream in the city.

Florence has given the world many great art treasures. Some stand in gardens and squares. Others line the walls of beautiful palaces. Still others are the palaces themselves. For art lovers, Florence is indeed paradise.

Welcome to Holker Hall & Gardens

Visitor Information

How to Get to Holker

By Car： Follow brown signs an A590 from JB6, M6.Approximale travel times: Windermere-20 minutes, Kendal-25 minutes, Lancaster-45 minutes, Manchester-I hour 30 minutes.

By Rail: The nearest station is Cark-in-Cartmel with trains to Carnforth, Lancaster Preston for connections to major cities & airports.

Opening Times

Sunday-Friday (closed on Saturday)11:00 am-4:00pm,30 March-2nd November.

Admission Charges

Hall & Gardens                Gardens

Adults:              £12.00                                £8.00

Groups              £9                                       £5.5

Producers:  Market 13th April

Join us to taste a variety of fresh local food and drinks. Meet the producers and get some excellent recipe ideas.

Holker Garden Festival 30th May

    The event celebrate its 22^nd anniversary with a great show of the very best of gardening,  making it one of the most popular events in gardening.

National Garden Day 28th August

Holker once again opens is gardens in aid of the disadvantaged. For just a small donation you can take a tour with our garden guide.

Winter Market 8th November

This is an event for all the family. Wander among a variety of shops selling gifs while enjoying a live music show and nice street entertainment.

Big cities and small historic towns top the list of most popular places to visit in the United States, according to the votes of the travel site, TripAdvisor. Here’s a look at TripAdvisor’s Top 5 most popular travel destinations in America!

1,New York City

More than 50 million people visit New York City every year. The five boroughs – or districts  of New York have some of the most easily recognized attractions in the world. Visitors on a budget can take a free boat from Manhattan to Staten Island for a great view of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.

2, Chicago, Illinois

America’s third-largest city offers world-class museums, sporting events and iconic architecture – including Willis Tower, America’s tallest building. The Midwest city is also known for comedy. The Second City theater is where many famous comedians get their start.

3,Charleston, South Carolina

The coastal city has a very rich history. The Civil War began at its waterfront, at Fort Sumter, which visitors can explore. But present-day Charleston has a lot to offer, too. Conde Nast Traveler voted it the number one U.S. city, for its beautiful architecture, food, and friendly people.

4, Las Vegas, Nevada

The desert city of Las Vegas is known around the world for its casinos and bright lights. Visitors stay at world-class hotels, eat at top chefs’ restaurants, and usually see a wonderful show or concert.

5, Seattle, Washington

Visitors to the West Coast city of Seattle will find the iconic Space Needle, the world’s first Starbucks, and Pike Place Market, one of the oldest and most famous farmers markets in the country. The Space Needle was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair. Riding up to the top provides views of the nearby mountains.

Traveling by bicycle is a very popular means of transportation throughout China. China has a huge population, and it is said that there is at least one bicycle for every two people within the company. Of course, many people in China ride bicycles purely for sport or exercise, but it’s also a much more commonly accepted means of everyday transportation, as compared to countries such as the United States.

If you are living for a long period of time in China, chances are you will want to purchase your own bicycle so that you can use it whenever you want for transportation or just for the enjoyment of riding. Even if you don’t use a bicycle for everyday transportation, owning one can be a great way of enjoying some of the trails in the rural areas, just for fun. However, if you are just visiting China, renting a bicycle can be a more convenient choice.

It is important to choose the correct bicycle for your use. You’ll find that in China, the one-speed style of bicycle is extremely popular. These bicycles are great if you want to ride around in the city to see the sights. They are quite comfortable and easy to ride. You can often rent a bicycle for an entire day for around $15.  

However, if you wish to ride on some of the rural paths, a mountain bike style would be a better choice. They are great for different kinds of road surfaces, providing for a safer ride. If you are planning to have a desire to tour and still be able to carry packages with you, then a touring bike would be the best choice. These are generally the most expensive to rent, but are extremely handy for carrying packages and even some of your luggage along with you.

Going on a road trip? The St. Louis Arch, Statue(雕像) of Liberty and Golden Gate Bridge are common great tourist sites. But if you prefer offbeat places, check out the following roadside attractions.

World’s Largest Ball of Paint

Alexandria, Ind.

In 1997, Michael Carmichael set out to create the biggest ball of paint anywhere. Starting with a baseball as center, he painted layer after layer of paint day after day, year after year. The ball weighs more than 1,300 pounds, with more than 20,000 coats of paint, which is recognized by Guinness Records. Visitors can paint the ball themselves and become part of history.

The Museum of Dirt

Boston, Mass.

The museum is the idea of Glenn Johnson. Labeled(贴有标签的) glass bottles contain such treasures(财宝) as dirt from the Great Wall of China, as well as sand from a desert in Saudi Arabia and Omaha Beach in France. Best of all, the cost of seeing this museum is dirt cheap: It’s free.

Mount Horeb Mustard Museum

Mount Horeb, Wis.

It’s heaven for hotdog lovers! This museum says that it has to have the world’s largest collection of prepared mustard(芥末). Its more than 4,100 bottles of spices (香料) come from 60 nations, including Turkey and China. Visitors learn the history of mustard, from how it’s made to how it’s advertised and sold. The museum’s creator, Barry Levenson, loves mustard so much that he even puts it on ice cream!

Paper House

Rockport, Mass.

Swedish immigrant(移民) Ellis Stenman was much ahead of his time in 1922, when he started to build a two-room house almost entirely out of newspaper. At the time, people didn’t give much— if any—thought to recycling paper. In fact, “recycling” wasn’t even a word yet. The house is framed with wood, but the walls are made of 215 layers of newspaper. In all, he used about 100,000 newspapers.

Shanghai Disneyland: Attractions and Tips

Welcome to a never-before-seen world of wonder where you can arouse the magical dream within your heart. This is Shanghai Disneyland, a fun experience filled with creativity, adventure and thrills for guests of all ages! Set your sights on Enchanted Storybook Castle -- the largest Disney castle on the planet -- and then get ready to explore as you discover 6 unique and unforgettable lands: Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove and Tomorrow land.

Opening Hours

Ticket Booking

Visitors can book tickets on the official website or mobile app of the park or by calling 400-180-0000 / 86-21-31580000. They can also follow the official Wechat account ShanghaiDisneyResort to book a ticket. Of course, tickets can be bought at the entrance, but there may be a long queue. Visitors need to show passports or ID cards to book tickets and enter.

Five Things You Shouldn’t Miss

 TRON Lightcycle Power Run

Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure

 “Mickey’s Storybook Express” Parade

Enchanted Storybook Castle

Broadway-style show The Lion King

Special Recommendation

The cartoon characters Judy and Nick in Zootopia, the animated movie whose box office hit $1 billion globally in 2016, will be added to Disney’s signature “Mickey’s Storybook Express” Parade, said Robert Iger, the president and CEO of Walt Disney.

Things to Remember

Only well-packaged food and water are allowed.

Selfie sticks, large tripods, folding chairs, and large luggage are banned.

Visitors above 16 should not be dressed in cartoon, movie and comic costumes.

Disney Fastpass tickets for free can save you from waiting in a long queue.

Comfortable sneakers are strongly recommended for a long walk during the day.

Animals are not allowed to enter as well, excluding guide dogs.

It can be inferred from the passage that ______.

What day is supposed to be the busiest day according to the passage?

It can be concluded from the last part of the passage that ______.