In America, the following secret swimming holes are hidden and hard to reach but well worth your adventure.

Cummins Falls

Looking for the best place to escape the summer heat in the heartland of America? For more than 100 years, Cummins Falls, a scenic, 75-foot waterfall located in Jackson County, TN, has been a treasure for Tennessee natives. But now, the secret is out! Although it’s a bit tough to get to, once in the park, the mountains and river provide unmatched beauty on your way to taking a swim in Tennessee’s eighth-largest waterfall.

Sliding Rock

A popular place to cool off during those hot North Carolina summers, Sliding Rock waterfall is located in the Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County. A flattened rock about 60 feet lies in a nearly 7-foot-deep pool at the bottom, making this natural waterslide a great place to visit with people of all ages.

Mooney Falls

It is the tallest water feature in the Grand Canyon, rising 190 feet above the surface. Named after an explorer in the 1800s, Mooney Falls is accessible only by crawl through 2 underground passages and then climbing down a sheer cliff face with just a couple of chains to hold on to. Although it is tough to get to, the view and the cool alone make it worth the trip.

Lihue Estate

A private swimming hole at the old Lihue Sugar Farm on Kauai, HI, was changed into an inner-tube water ride by Kauai Backcountry Adventures in 2003 and opened to adults. The waters for this 2.5-mile journey, which come from near the top of Mount Waialeale—one of the wettest spots in the world—are channeled through ditches that were hand-dug by farm workers over a century ago.

The local government of Zibo, East China’s Shandong Province, has issued two open letters in a short time to all citizens, extending its gratitude for their warmth and hospitality toward visitors who have come to enjoy the city’s signature barbecue, which has recently become a hit across the country. Such an unexpected success has shown the city’s spirit of unity and tenacity (坚毅), further boosting its tourism and economic development.

For a long time, Zibo was an average city in almost all aspects on the Chinese scale. However, since early March, Zibo local barbecue has caused a sensation (轰动) online. The little double-layer stove, small pancakes, green onions and sauce became icons among netizen. “Taking the high-speed train to taste barbecue in Zibo” miraculously became a trending hashtag (话题标签) for this non-traditional tourist city.

But how did Zibo rise to fame? This has not been some random coincidence.

First, it comes down to the city government’s ambition, determination and creativity. From July 2022 to February 2023, Zibo organized many trips to the city for university students. Despite reaching peak visitation numbers, there was no sense of panic. Instead, several supportive policies were promptly introduced, such as establishing a “Golden Stove Award”, forming a barbecue association, creating a map of Zibo barbecue restaurants, and launching 21 dedicated tourist routes that go beyond just barbecue. It also organized volunteers to guide tourists and appointed personnel to ensure public safety.

Second, Zibo’s sudden boom in popularity also resulted from the post-pandemic tourism revival China has experienced. The city aims to recover its tourism industry and ensure sustainable growth. To achieve this goal, it has created a welcoming environment with convenient services for young people, particularly university students. For instance, non-local students can enjoy three free stays per year at youth inns, each lasting two nights. The city has also invited students from distinguished universities to visit Zibo for free, signaling its eagerness to attract talented young individuals.

We can confirm that there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a sweaty office when the weather is glorious outside. Thankfully, there are loads of parks and grand green spaces in London for us to escape to for a lunchtime picnic break, an after-work snack or a weekend-long feast in the fresh air.

Kew Gardens

Some of the coolest picnic spots in the city are within the flowery borders of famous Kew Gardens. You have to pay to have a look around but it’s totally worth it—especially to have a walk inside the newly reopened Temperate House, which is stuffed full of impressive and rare plants. Once you’ve spent on entry (£ 16.50), bringing a picnic will definitely save you some pennies.

Primrose Hill

It’s easy to see why Primrose Hill is so popular during long and sleepy summer afternoons, thanks to those incredible views across the city. But it’s not just the skyline that makes this a popular dining destination. The peak of Primrose Hill is also a short walk from Abbey Road and London Zoo.

Holland Park

Holland Park is often overshadowed by its royal neighbour Kensington Palace Gardens, but it’s an undeniably picturesque picnic spot. There’s a lot to see, from woodland and wildlife to sculpture and the Japanese-style Kyoto Garden, plus there are tennis courts, football pitches and spots to play golf, cricket and netball.

Green Park

Enjoying a picnic in Green Park is guaranteed to be a lively affair. Visitors and locals alike flock here thanks to the park’s rather famous neighbour. The Queen’s gaff aside, Green Park has its own rather attractive scenery, with statues, water fountains and, in spring, daffodils as far as the eye can see.