While beach vacations may be a great way to take your mind off work，lakes surrounded by mountains make for an even grander experience．If you are looking for some peace on your vacation，we have some recommendations for you in the Caucasus(高加索)．

Lake Sevan

   Lake Sevan is situated in the central part of Armenia，in the Gegharkunik province．It is the largest lake in Armenia，located6,200ftabove sea level．Along the lake shore，there are various accommodations such as resorts and hotels with plenty of activities to partake in such as windsurfing，swimming and sunbathing．While there，do not forget to visit one of the famous cultural monuments，the Sevanavank Monastery，and it offers a great view of the lake as well．

Lake Paravani

   Lake Paravani，located at6,801ftabove sea level，is in the south of Georgia，near the Javakheti plateau．At this level，altitude sickness can occur and it is a good idea to be prepared to adapt to it properly，or bring medication for altitude sickness．Being a volcanic lake makes for a more interesting experience．The lake is best known for fishing．Do not come home during the winter months when the lake freezes．

Lake Cildir

   Lake Cildir is located in the Ardahan province，East Turkey，near the borders of Georgia and Armenia．It is the second largest freshwater lake of Eastern Turkey，and many tourists are not aware of this beautiful attraction．Lake Cildir is surrounded by mountains of the Caucasus．The lake freezes during late November．If the winter is not extremely cold，you can try some lake activities like ice skating and ice fishing．

Lake Van

For kids and a fair share of adults，a San Diego vacation means theme parks and other attractions．Before heading to a park，check online；many parks have seasonal or holiday hours．

ZiyuSan Diego Wild Animal Park

   In late summer，a lion exhibit will open and allow guests to walk through the animals’habitat．Only glass will be between man and beasts．The Wild Animal Park’s new Dino Mountain，featuring 20 lifelike dinosaurs，will run through Sept．6．

Details：General admission tickets are $26.50 for adults and children aged 12 and older $19．50 for children aged 3-1l，free for children 2 and younger．A discounted ticket for $23．85 is available to seniors 60 and older，www．1egoland．com.   

San Diego Zoo

   The zoo has a new baby panda，Mei Sheng．There’s not much in the way of new attractions，but Nightime Zoo，a program popular with families，starts June 26．

   Details：General admission is $21 for adults，$14 for children aged 3-11，free for children 2 and younger，WWW．sandiegozoo．com．

Sea World San Diego

A 6-minute ride called Journey to Atlantis，which is to open in late May，tells the legend of the mythical island nation．People who step onto the ride’s eight-passenger Greek fishing boats will experience simulated earthquakes，etc．After that，riders can visit a new exhibit of dolphins，which have not been on display at the park since 2008．

   Details：General admission is $46.95 for adults，$37.95 for children aged 3-9，free for children 2 and younger，www．seaworld.com．   

    Old Town Trolley Tours

   Visiting relatives or friends in San Diego? You can get a hometown pass and ride for free with your paid admission．One gift per paid adult guest．

Details：The main ticket booth is in Old Town．Hours are 9 a．m．to 5 P．m．，daily $25，www.Historictours．com．

Plan on travelling around the USA? There are a number of outstanding websites that can make your American dream come true.

http://www.101 usaholidays.co.uk.

This is the latest offering that features 101 holiday ideas to the USA. It has diverse selections, ranging from touring in the footsteps of Martin Luther King to a golfing break in Arizona and a cycling and wine-tasting trip in California’s Napa Valley. Narrow down what you’re looking for by price, region, theme or by persons who will be travelling. It’s a really clever design.

http://byways.org

The National Scenic Byways Program covers 150 memorable roads. Some are natural scenic routes, such as Route 1 along the California coast. Others focus on history (such as Route 66) or man-made attractions (the Las Vegas Strip). For each, you’re provided with a map telling the route’s length and how long is allowed.

http://www.oyster.com

This is the best website for reviews of hotels in US cities and tourist sites. There are photos of each hotel. Importantly, these are not promotional photos provided by the hotels, but more honest and revealing ones taken by inspectors. From the 243 hotels reviewed in New York, you can narrow down what you are looking for by locations, facilities and styles, or just pick out a selection of the best.

http://seaworldparks.com

SeaWorld in San Diego can make dreams come true, but the price is not affordable for the majority of people. So turn to long-established http://seaworldparks.com, giving big discounts on tickets, hotels and dining at SeaWorld.

There are many theme parks in Florida. These amusement parks are designed for kids big and small and have plenty to offer adults, too.

Magic Kingdom

Orlando is the center of theme parks in Florida. Of all the parks, no trip to Orlando would be complete without a visit to Magic Kingdom. The center of Disney world, with Main Street USA and Cinderella’s Castle, is here at Magic Kingdom. There are rides for kids of all ages as well as shopping and dining.

Epcot

After Magic Kingdom, the best-known theme park in Disney World is Epcot. This is a good place for curious kids who want to learn about the planets, the stars, and the workings of the human body. The good and wine festival is another big draw to Epcot.

Animal kingdom

When it comes to the top 4 Florida theme parks, Animal kingdom must be on the list. You may have had the chance to go to a zoo before, but Animal kingdom brings the concept（概念） of a zoo to new heights. Sure you can go on the safari（狩猎旅行）, but there are also rides on different animals, even dinosaurs.

Universal’s Island of Adventure

If your kids have the need for speed, you will surely want to check out Universal’s Island of Adventure. Here roller coasters and thrill rides will combine the magic of the movies with plenty of twists（旋转） and turns. You’ll also find Wizarding World of Harry Potter here — something the whole family is sure to enjoy.

How to save money to visit Shanghai Disneyland?

   The “happiest place on earth” is a top destination on many families’ bucket lists. But taking a vacation to Disney World can be difficult to do on a budget. There are some considerations that you can make to reduce the cost of your Disney World vacation.

1Buy Souvenirs in Advance

   Disney has influenced practically every industry, which makes it easy to find Disney items anywhere, from Walmart, Target, and your local grocery store to department stores and Amazon. You can save a lot of money by purchasing items before your trip at these less-expensive places than at Disneyland.

2Make an Autograph Book

   An autograph book is seen as a must-have by many Disneyland enthusiasts and is a memory you can take home with you. These books can cost anywhere from $7.95 to $19.95 at the Disney Store and up to $30 for the latest-and-greatest autograph book at Disneyland, such as the park’s 60th anniversary edition. Other choices can get the job done for under $5. For example, you can buy a small photo album, cute pads or notebooks.

3 Eat Breakfast Before You Arrive

Breakfast is almost as pricey as lunch or dinner if you eat inside the Disneyland parks. If you have a hotel with a free breakfast, take advantage of it. If you want to eat out, eat at a local restaurant that is inexpensive or has a kids’ menu, such as McDonald’s which is close to the park.

4Take Advantage of Discounts Offered to Special Groups

   Disney offers a wide variety of discounts, including for military service members, college students, teachers, and youth groups. If you think you might qualify for a special discount or group rate, call the Disneyland Resort to book tickets.

   Travel is important to people. It exposes you to different views, experiences, history, culture, religions and finally, a better self. Besides, it will teach you a lot of things.

To really feel alive

   We're always told that to seek happiness, we need to try and live in the moment. And it feels almost impossible to do this in the process of our nine-to-five job. But when we travel, our mind is there; we experience so much for the first time that without any effort, we're present in the moment. It's no wonder that so many people become addicted to travelling. It's a perfect way to refresh ourselves, and can be a great way to shake up our lives.

To become less ignorant

   I've never come away from a trip without a prejudice (偏见) completely broken into pieces. No matter how hard we try, we only know how to believe, think and act within the limit of what we've been taught. So although we may try to enter a new culture with what we think is an open-mind, we finally walk away realizing just how closed it actually was. You don't know until you're educated. And the best way to educate yourself about another culture, religion, another country's politics or ways of life is by putting yourself right there in it.

To find a better self

   You're constantly challenged when you're travelling. You're forced to challenge preconceived (预想的) ideas, to learn how to communicate when no one in the conversation speaks the same language, to speak up when you need to meet new people. You're challenged by stepping out of your comfort zone and walking your way around a new town. When you've run out of money but need to keep going, and when you find yourself somewhere so unfamiliar in every regard, you feel a sense of fear, and you know the only way to overcome it is by opening up your mind. If you face all of these challenges, it's certain that your will become a better person.

Hi, everyone! I am Paul Hawking, the trip leader for this weekend’s activity.

 It’s that time of the year again when the days are long and it is nice to sit outside and enjoy some oysters(牡蛎) .

 We plan to head out to the Mission Bay this Sunday for a beach picnic. You can buy fresh oysters at the Mission Bay Oyster Company and you just need to pay $ 6 to $ 10 for each dozen, depending on the size. It’s on Sunday, July 2^nd.

 We will meet at the Student Center at 9:00, and all go together. The driving time is one and a half to two hours, and the time of return is still uncertain. Come and join us in what must now be the 4^th or 5^th such trip for the Outing Club.

 The oyster farm has a small picnic area with chairs and barbecue grills. Bring some briquettes(煤球) if you would like to grill. Except for oysters, oysters and oysters, little is available there, so please bring your own food and drinks. And of course, if you have any special oyster recipes（食谱）, bring them, make them and share them.

 The weather forecast says it’s going to be sunny and around 26℃this weekend. My telephone number is 408-896-3228. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. Remember to finish your homework before we leave for the picnic.

Have you ever been to the following places? If not, try to find a chance to visit them.

Fez, Morocco

Fez, about 240 miles northeast from Marrakesh，a wonderful scene is taking root slowly. It started with immigrants building castles, and continues as hotels and restaurants. The biggest news is that the Hotel Sahrai is completed with a bar and 50 rooms, many overlooking a pool.

Catskills, New York

The region that welcomed Jewish families in the 50s，hippies in the 60s, and soon, casino gamblers (赌博者). Many stylish B&Bs have opened. Among them are the Hotel Dylan in Woodstock, the Arnold House in Livingston Manor，with its bar and diminutive spa (水疗中心). So now is the time to enjoy fly-fishing, hiking and other peaceful experiences.

Rotterdam, Netherlands

The constantly unfolding city center in Rotterdam has become one amazing explosion of style, which surprised the tourists greatly. The latest attraction, and reason enough to visit, is the MVRDV-designed Markthal, an igloo (圆顶冰屋)-like horseshoe that houses 20 shops, nine restaurants, and 228 apartments. It also happens to be Hollandˈ s largest artwork.

Chengdu, China

Famous for its 1,600 pandas, most of which still live in the wild, Chengdu has introduced a 72-hour no-visa policy that makes it easier for Americans to drop in on one of the cityˈ s three major panda research facilities. But itˈ s worth sticking around longer to experience whatˈ s doing in Chengdu, a city on the rise. One of the shiniest attractions is New Century Global Centre, the worldˈ s largest building, complete with an artificial beach.

 Much of European train is about efficiency and comfort --- leaving and arriving on time and having a comfortable seat. But the following European trains don’t necessarily offer the fastest journeys --- just the most memorable.

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is a hot-spot travel destination, and it’s easy to see why with its beautiful beaches and busy city life.

Why it’s a great choice: Australia as a whole is considered a safe destination for international travel, and because of that, many solo travelers go there. As an English-speaking country, you won’t be faced with any language barriers. Melbourne is easy to get around because you can walk or bike practically anywhere!

Thailand

Thailand is great for solo travelers—perhaps because it is one of the Buddhist mindsets, which promote equality among the sexes.

Why it’s a great choice: Thailand is known for its friendly atmosphere, and as a travel hot spot, there are plenty of chances to meet other like-minded travelers. Well known for being very cheap, especially in the north. A good choice if you want to get away on a budget. Thailand has a lot to offer, from the party-central Bangkok to beautiful beaches and tropical (热带) jungle.

Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is a great place to relax for solo travelers as it is full of “Zen moments,” such as beautiful gardens and Tai Chi classes.

Why it’s a great choice: Hong Kong is regarded as one of the safest cities in the world. If you’re not well-traveled, or perhaps a bit tired of things like language barriers, Hong Kong is a great place to start, as it mixes both Eastern and Western at the same time.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is a spiritual place with yoga, spas, healthy food and beaches. The combination of friendly people and splendidly visual culture has made Bali Indonesia number one tourist attraction.

Why it’s so great: You won’t be the only solo traveler in Bali. Everyone is known for being extremely friendly and you’re sure to meet some amazing characters along the way. As a Hindu island, Bali is the perfect place for a relaxing and spiritual retreat (静修). The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud is fantastic—if you like monkeys, anyway.