Explore London’s parks and gardens

Springtime is one of the perfect times of year to explore London’s parks and gardens, when the city’s Royal Parks will be blooming with flowers. Go and admire the rainbow of azaleas(杜鹃花)at Richmond Park or hire a deckchair in St James’s Park with a view of Buckingham Palace.

Enjoy entertainments(娱乐活动) at a spring festival

There are a good many festivals and events held in London throughout spring. Make the most of the cultural exhibitions at the British Library Spring Festival, the Sundance Film Festival or the London Literature Festival; head to Shakespeare’s Globe, which hosts open-air Shakespeare performances from late April to early October.

Get active

Warmer weather means there’s no excuse for staying indoors, so go for a walking or cycling tour of London. Alternatively(或者), walk the Thames Path, which follows the river all the way from central London to the countryside; make the most of London’s Boris Bikes, which are available for hire all around the city and are free of charge for the first half hour. If you’re really looking for a challenge, sign up for the famous London Marathon, held annually in April.

Take to the waters

Whether cruising（乘船游览）along the River Thames, hiring a rowing boat in Hyde Park or riding a canal boat around Little Venice, there are lots of fun ways to get out on the water in London. Held every year since 1829, the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race allows teams from England’s most famous universities to compete against each other, and draws huge crowds of people to watch.

I had the honour of being elected chief of my tribe(部落)．With the title came great responsibility. It was my job to make peace with the Maori Tamaki tribe, whose village we visited. Their soldiers jumped from a canoe and faced us down with fierce crying, sticking eyes and much noise of sticks. They laid a palm leaf on the ground and, as head, I was forced to accept this peace offering by picking it up, then touching noses with their chief. “Kia ora，”  he said,  welcoming us into the woodland home of his people.

My “tribe” was my New Zealand coach tour group, who had forced me into being their leader. We’d been warned that the ceremony was a serious occasion and that to laugh or even smile would be considered rude to the Tamaki. After that it was non-stop fun as they demonstrated their ancient customs and I received instruction in performing the haka, the war dance immortalized(使不朽) by the All Blacks rugby team.

Then they pulled our dinner of lamb, beef and vegetables out of the ground. It had been slow-cooked in the heat just below the surface in the geothermal(地热的) area of North Island, a Maori tradition known as a hangi that goes back an extremely long period of time.

Obviously, this form of it is put on for tourists but it was hugely enjoyable. The journey back to the hotel was alone worth the effort, our elder Maori driver being deserving of his own television show. “The wheels on the bus go round and round，” he got us singing, while he circuited a round about three times.

A couple of days from the end of our trip, there was still something missing, a New Zealand icon I wanted to see to make my grand tour complete. Riding over a ridge, there it was—Aotearoa. The Maori name for New Zealand translates as “the land of the long white cloud”. Can I say “Kia ora, Aotearoa？” You bet I can.

A man thirsts for adventure. Often the journey is the destination itself, and you can learn a lot from a brief adventure into the wild. Here are four types of outdoor adventures that every man should attempt to take. 　　

1    The Ascent(登高) 　　

Mountain climbing and backpacking is one way to truly test your limits. It’s a test of mental and physical strength. Besides, it often requires months of preparation. There are plentiful famous mountains notable for being extremely challenging for even the most dedicated climbers. The one thing they all have in common is that they attract a certain type of a person: one with a desire to defeat nature. 　　

2    The Solo(单独的) Trip　　

3The Open Ocean　　

Whether you find yourself in a kayak(皮船), sailboat, or any other kind of water boat, getting out on the water arouses some very special feelings. Nothing quite compares to having a gentle wind in your face, as you stare out at the vast and glassy expanse of the open water. 　　

4 Endurance(耐力) Challenge 　　

This is when you’re serious about putting your life on hold, and getting away from it all. Endurance, in this case, can mean a number of things. Trips like this can last months, and include thousands of miles. But they will test every fiber of your being — psychologically, you’ll be in constant battle. Physically, you’ll be tired and hungry almost all the time. And all of those things make these types of adventures the extreme test of will. You can climb mountains, deserts, rivers and lakes. 　　

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.z.x.xk

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.

Coolest Hotels in the World

For information about other cool hotels in the world, visit the website：/://www．bahamabeachclub．com

If youˈre traveling with kids in London, many London hotels have special services and features to help the family holiday, offering services to kids as well as games, bike hire and free ice cream!

Athenaeum

The five-star Athenaeum is a fantastic family hotel，particularly with the addition of its kidsˈ services. Even before you arrive, theyˈll be in touch to make sure your kids have their favorite DVDs, treats and anything else to keep them happy. And they can arrange your perfect family activities, from bike hire to theater tickets.

Novotel

Novotelˈs family rooms are designed to accommodate two adults and two children. Accommodation and breakfast are free for under-16s(up to two staying in their parentsˈ room)．You can also enjoy a late check-out at 5 p. m. on a Sunday, and while you lie in, the kids can entertain themselves with the Cartoon Network.

Chessington Safari Hotel

At Chessington Safari Hotel, kids will love staying in an African adventure-themed room, having breakfast, overlooking the animals of the Wanyama Reserve, watching family-friendly movies and getting into the theme park before it opens.

The Ritz

Kids at The Ritz are treated just as well as their parents, if not better! Children can enjoy computer games and DVDs, free ice cream and their own bathrobes and slippers. Under-16s can stay for free in their parentsˈ bedroom, depending on the room type.

Marlin Apartments

Marlin Apartments operate more than 700 serviced apartments in London. Apartments are all within five minutesˈ walk of the Tube(Good for tired little legs！) with flat screen TVs, fully equipped kitchens and free Wi-Fi. One or two bedroom family apartments have extra room for folding beds in the living area.

    I can’tthinkof a better way of appreciating a new culture than by taking part in one of its festivals. You’ll find that some festivals are celebrated by an entire country, while others may be known only to a single city or region, but either way festivals play an important role in a certain culture. Just enjoy them!

★Tomatina — Bunol, Spain

Every last Wednesday in August, the town of Bunol is filled with tons of tomatoes in the world’s biggest food flight. Many people wear goggles (护目镜) during this hour of great fun, as the town becomes a red river.

★ Boryeong Mud Festival—Boryeong, South Korea

    For two weeks in July, millions gather in Boryeong to experience the grey pools and slides. What began as a way to help sell the region’s mineral-rich mud has turned into a festive party with music and fireworks. The mud is usually only available in cosmetic products (化妆品), but here you can cake yourself in grey as you want.

★ Holi—India

    Holi, the Festival of Colors, is a Hindu celebration full of joy and one of India’s most important holidays. During the day of the last full moon of the lunar month, usually late February or early March, the air is full of brightly colored powder (粉末). The festival is celebrated differently throughout the country, with bonfires and music, but the cheerful spirit is common among Hindu people around the world.

★ International Pillow Fight Day—Worldwide

    Tens of thousands of people took part in the 4th annual International Pillow Fight Day on April 2, 2013. From London to Vancouver to many other cities, the festival is held in more than 100 countries. So just bring a soft pillow in early April, and watch feathers fly. 

Active New Zealand

Adventure tours in New Zealand and South America

Website: www.activenewzealand.com

Phone:1-800-661-9073

Destinations: South Pacific, New Zealand, South America, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica

Activities: Bicycling, Mountain, Road, Cross-Country/Touring, Sea-kayaking, Hiking & Trekking, Backpacking, Exploring, Day hiking, Family, Scuba & Snorkeling, Rainforest, Wildlife, Walking

Adventure Life

Exceptional travel in Latin America and Antarctica

Website: www.adventure-life.com

Phone:1-800-344-6118

Destinations: Antarctica, South America, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Central America, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama

Activities: Kayaking, Rafting, Sea-kayaking, Hiking & Trekking, Backpacking, Exploring, Day hiking, Multisport, Cultural, Archaeological, Historical, Scuba & Snorkeling, Nature, Rainforest, Wildlife, Eco-focused, Culture-focused, Expedition Cruising

Adventure Spirit / Travel Network

Adventure tour operator + Travel agency

Website:www.worldadventures.travel

Phone: 800-492-0257

Destinations: Asia, Europe, South Pacific, Antarctica, Africa, South America, North America

Activities: Bicycling, Paddlesport, Snowsport, Hiking & Trekking, Caving, Family, Multisport, Cultural, Beach & Watersport, Scuba & Snorkeling, Nature, Photography, Safari, Geotourism, Fishing & Fishing Lodges, Sailing & Cruise, Expedition Cruising, Space, Educational, Walking, Horseback/Dude Ranch, Self-Drive, Around the World Tours

The world’s first “Sky Pool” has been uncoated（曝光）-and it’ll give anyone a touch of dizziness（眩晕）, unless he or she is not bothered by heights．

   Situated in the capital’s new riverside district beside Battersea Power Station，the glass pool，hanging 10 storeys，or 110 feet up as a bridge between two apartment buildings，is 25m long，5m wide and 3m deep with a water depth of 1.2m．Swimmers will be able to look down 35 meters to the street below as they take a dip，with only 20cm of glass between them and the outside world．It’s even got a bar，folding chairs and an orange garden．

   The pool will be part of Embassy Gardens at Nine Elms，a huge￡15 billion building project beside the new American Embassy in south-west London．The project is creating thousands of apartments，the smallest of which are expected to cost nearly $1 million，and the pool will only be open to the apartments’ owners．

   Embassy Gardens takes design inspiration from the Meatpacking District of New York with floor to ceiling windows and brick frontages．The designer，Sean Mulryan，desired to push the boundaries in the capability of construction and engineering and do something that had never been done before．The Sky Pool’s transparent structure is the result of significant advancements in technologies over the last decade．

   The experience of the pool will be truly unique and it will feel like floating through the air in central London．

   Those people lucky enough to swim there will have a perfect view of the Palace of Westminster and the London Eye．It will be a selling point for developers when the second stage of the development is released to market．

Four Great Railway Journeys

    Travelling by rail holds a romantic and old-fashioned appeal that can’t be matched by flying or driving. By taking the slow route, you get to experience and interact with an area in a completely different way.

The Rocky Mountaineer

    Where: Canada, from Vancouver to Banff, Jasper and Calgary.

    When: In June, which is springtime in the Rockies, complete with blooming flowers and abundant wildlife.

    Duration: Between two and eight days, travelling only in daylight, staying in luxury hotels.

    Highlights: Splendid views of the Rocky Mountains, incredible luxury at every stage of the trip, traditional native storytelling, wine classes and natural history workshops.

The Chepe

    Where: Mexico. It begins its journey in the mountains of Chihuahua and finishes on the Sinaloa coast.

    When: In the rainy season, from June to October, you’ll get lush vegetation（丰富的植被）and blooming cacti（仙人掌）, although mid-summer (July) temperatures can reach 44℃.

    Duration: Doing the route straight through takes 14 hours, but you’ll want to stop off overnight and explore traditional towns along the way.

    Highlights: The train winds its way down through 656 km of the spectacular Copper Canyon (which is deeper than the Grand Canyon), over 37 bridges and through 86 tunnels. Local people sell crafts and foods along the route.

The Ghan

    Where: Australia, from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs.

    When: Going during the wet season (December, January and February) will allow you to see more wildlife and tropical splendour in the north, though peak season is usually the winter.

    Duration: Going straight through takes 52 hours. There are disembarkation points（下车点）from which you can take tours.

    Highlights: Going through Australia’s Red Gentre with blue skies, red earth and not much else—a beautiful and serene（宁静的）experience.

The Royal Scotsman

    Where: Travels around the Scottish Highlands or all the way around Great Britain.

    When: Warmer weather and up to 20 hours of daylight in June makes it the perfect time to watch ospreys soaring（鱼鹰飞翔）over mirror-like lochs（湖）, or go in October for autumn colors.

    Duration: Trips can be as short as two days or as long as seven.

    Highlights: Possibly the most expensive train journey in the world. You’ll be treated like a member of the monarchy（王室）. Indulgent（放纵的）cuisine, fine wines and carriages that look like rooms at Balmoral Castle await those willing to part with a minimum of £ 2350 per person for a two-night trip.