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Going solo is the way to go!

How do you usually travel? Do you go with a close friend or a group of friends? Do you join a tour group? Do you travel with your family?

Have you ever imagined “going solo”? In the mid 1990s, it was estimated that 9 million Americans were planning a summer vacation alone. Since then, the number of solo travelers has increased. You may think that traveling alone would be scary or boring. Well, according to people who do it, that’s not exactly true. Solo travelers often have positive experiences: they make new friends, get to know themselves better, and can make their own schedule.

There are many different things you can do on a vacation alone. Some solo travelers use the time to learn or practice a sport such as golf, mountain climbing, or scuba diving. Others go and stay on a ranch and learn how to ride a horse. You can pretend to be a cowboy or a cowgirl for a day! You may not believe this, but some travelers like to study on their vacation. They even go to “vacation college” at a university or join a research team as a volunteer worker. It’s hard but satisfying work. You can “play scientist” for a week or two while you help someone with their project.

For solo travelers of different ages and genders, there are many travel options. There are tours for women only and for people over the age of 60. And, of course, there are trips for singles who are looking for romance. One company offers trips that focus on fine dining — there is time for sightseeing during the day and for sharing a delicious meal with new friends at night. The next time you take a trip somewhere, why don’t you consider going solo? Bon voyage!

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Creating spaces

Jin Hee Park is a student at Stanford University in California. She studies hard. “Of course, I came here for the academics,” she says. “But it doesn’t hurt that the campus is so beautiful. I walk around sometimes just to relax.” Alejandro Vega, a banker in New York City, jogs almost every evening after work in Central Park. “I never get bored. The park is so big. I can always find a different path with a new view.”

Niagara Falls was on Ross Howard’s list of places to visit in upstate New York. “The footpaths allow you to get a wonderful view. You can even feel the spray from the falls on your face.” What do these three places — Stanford University, Central Park, and Niagara Falls State Park — all have in common? They were all landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted (1822–1903) has been called the “father of landscape architecture.”

In the 1800s, more and more people were moving to the cities. Some community leaders became worried about the quality of life. They began a beautification campaign. In 1857, a design contest was held for a new park in New York City. Olmsted and his partner, Calvert Vaux, won the contest. Central Park was the finished product — the first landscaped public park in the United States. Today, no trip to New York is complete without a visit to this beautiful park.

Later in his life, Olmsted designed landscapes for college campuses, including Stanford University. In the late 1860s, he joined the “Free Niagara” movement. Members of the movement wanted to preserve the beauty of Niagara Falls. Despite opposition and pressures from businesses to industrialize the area, Olmsted and others resisted. Olmsted designed footpaths to give visitors better views of the falls. In all his work, Olmsted preferred to preserve the natural beauty of an area.

Today, there are pressures again to develop Niagara. On Goat Island, an island in Niagara Falls State Park, there are now souvenir shops. There may be signs that say “No Littering,” but there is still a lot of trash on the island. Most of the animals have disappeared. What would Frederick Law Olmsted say to all this?

Coping with life’s stressors

Let’s face it: Life is stressful. Stressful events in our lives are called “stressors.” Some of them are minor, such as uncomfortable air conditioning or a loudly ringing telephone. Others are more serious, such as the death of a spouse. That event tops the list as life’s most stressful event. You might be surprised to learn about the top 20 life stressors. Getting a divorce, for example, is number 2 on the list. And not all stressors are unhappy events. Pregnancy is a happy time for most families. It may also cause stress. Pregnancy is right below retirement on the list of life’s major stressors. We can’t avoid stress, but we can do something about it. Listen to three people talking about their responses to stress in their lives. Tina Vega, 16

Last year was horrible! My family moved to another town. I had to change schools and say good-bye to all my friends. It was really tough. I felt so lonely in my new school. But then one day I decided to enjoy my life: I smiled at everyone and I joined the soccer club at school. Now I have new friends. I like my new school. Frederick Cho, 42

Life is unpredictable. Three weeks ago I lost my job. I was upset for the first week. I couldn’t do anything. Now I’m looking for a new job. It’s not good to sit around the house. I exercise every day and I’m healthier than I’ve been in years. Hazel Greene, 80

My husband and I got married in 1950. He died five years ago. For the first two years I was depressed. I missed him so much because we did everything together. But now I’m feeling better. I think it’s important to stay active and positive. I read a lot and do volunteer work.

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