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 is situated in the central part of Armenia，in the Gegharkunik province．It is the largest lake in Armenia，located 6,200ft above 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，located at 6,801ft above 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 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 is the must visit of all lakes in this list．The largest lake in Turkey，Lake Van is located on the eastern shore of Turkey and is also the most accessible lake here．It’s situated at 5，380ft above sea level，and unique to lakes around the world，the water is high in salt content．

Special Museums In Christchurch, New Zealand

1. Yaldhurst Museum

Yaldhurst Museum is a place for car lovers in Christchurch city, which displays classic cars over a span of a century. The small museum has a collection of the widest range of car models from horse model to buggy cars. Established by a car enthusiast and collector, Alfred Thornhill Cooper, Yaldhurst Museum is now open for 50 years.

Open Time: Wednesday—Sunday 10 a. m. -5 p. m. with the last entry of 4 p. m.

Entrance fee: $10 for students, $20 for adults.

2. Rutherford's Den

Rutherford's Den is a historic space for the country's most famous scientist—Ernest Rutherford, also known as the father of Nuclear Science. Opened in Christchurch Arts Center in 2016, it is a small interactive museum with collections of Rutherford's works. The TV, the radio and even telephones are just some of the inventions of Rutherford, and his peers—all are displayed here.

Open time: 10 a. m. -5 p. m., every day except for Christmas Day.

Entrance Fee: $10 for adults，$5 for students and children.

3. The Toy Collector

The Toy Collector is a new player in the museums in Christchurch. Born recently in 2016, the Toy Collector is for all toy lovers displaying a huge collection of toys from all ages. You can witness all the toys you had ever wanted as a child from lego superhero miniatures to a movie-themed toy. You can trip down your memory in just an hour.

Open Time: Every day from 10 a. m. -4 p. m.

Entrance Fee: $10 for an adult, $5 for children.

4. The Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Come and explore the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, where you can see more than three thousand years of human history through an amazing collection of artifacts from Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Near Eastern cultures. Born in 2017, this small one-roomed museum is a new home for old objects. The collection is well laid out with the necessary descriptions of the objects.

Open Time: Wed - Sun from 11 a. m. -3 p. m.

Entrance Fee: Free lo enter.

Pacific Coast Holiday

4 Days Coach Tour of Los Angeles - Malibu - Santa Barbara - Central Coast - Monterey - San Francisco

Day 1 Arrival in Los Angeles

Thanks for choosing us and welcome to join our USA group tours. After arriving in Los Angeles, the “City of Angels”, please go to our pre-booked hotel and check in by yourself. In the evening, meet our tour director and fellow travelers at the hotel. The tour director will give a brief introduction about the following schedule.

Accommodation: Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX    

Day 2 Have a leisure day in Los Angeles

You are free to travel around throughout the day. Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens, and Hollywood Bowl are all popular attractions. Besides, Grand Central Market is a great place to enjoy the food and get cheap pupusas, carnitas tacos and aguas frescas. You can also choose to take an optional full-day tour to the world’s largest film studio and theme park: Universal Studios. There, you may take a look at Wisteria Alley in the hot-selling TV series “Desperate Housewives”, visit the actual behind-the-scenes production and special photography skills of the movie, and take the tour bus on the spot to experience the exciting scenes in the movie and other interesting activities.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 3 Transfer to visit Malibu, Santa Barbara and Central Coast

On the third day, enjoy a motor coach tour. We’ll head north along the beautiful Pacific coast, pass by the famous Santa Monica and Malibu beaches, and have a stop at the historic end of the Route 66 - Santa Monica Beach. Route 66 established on November 11, 1926, popularly known as the Mother Road, holds a special place in American consciousness. The highway ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Remember to take a photo in front of the California Lifeguard Tower, which is famous for “Beach Ambulance”. Then, we’ll arrive in Santa Barbara, where a walkway lined with palm trees meets the white sandy beach in distance. After, enjoy the self-paid lunch and admire the Spanish architecture of the city, and then continue going to a quaint central coast town and stay for one night there.

Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Santa Maria    

Day 4 Continue the journey to Carmel and Monterey, Get to San Francisco and say goodbye

This is the last day of the tour. We will head north to Carmel to visit the shops and galleries where famous artists gather. Then, continue northward to visit the old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. Stroll along the wharf to Cannery Row, famous for the novel by John Steinbeck. In the afternoon, we will drive through the fertile Casterville and Santa Clara Valleys to the “city of the bay” — San Francisco.

The trip will be over after we arrive in San Francisco. If you need, we can book a hotel in San Francisco or arrange other visits for you. Hope you have had a wonderful time with us and look forward to serving you again in the near future.

Meals: Breakfast.