parks

BUTlIN’S is about to get loud as has launched new karaoke pods across all three of its three resorts.

Whether guests are on a family holiday or a Big Weekender, everyone can sing their heart out inside the newest attraction.

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The new karaoke pods are a fun-filled private sing-along experience found inside state-of-the-art pods.

Groups of up to 12 can sing their hearts out and won’t have to worry about have a song stolen as there are over 45,000 tunes to choose from.

If you want to re-live the 55-minute stardom session, the high-tech pods capture everything with photos, videos and even GIFs.

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Each pod also has studio-grade soundproofing and immersive effects too.

You don’t have to leave the pod for any part of the sing-along either as drinks can be ordered and delivered straight to the pod.

Heidi Watson, Head of Innovation at Butlin’s, said: “We’re thrilled to have partnered with the Coca-Cola brand to bring this exciting, new karaoke experience to all three of our resorts.”

Heidi continued: “It’s the perfect activity for families or groups of friends, to create unforgettable memories together while singing their hearts out to their favourite tunes.  

“We’re confident the new Karaoke Pods will be popular with our guests, and an amazing addition to the activities already on offer across all of our different breaks.”

Found in Hotshots at all three resorts, pods can be booked in advance or on the day for £36. 

The karaoke pods are already up and running, so can be booked in time for May Half Term breaks which start from £184 between May 22 and June 1.

For families there’s plenty of entertainment when it comes to shows from MPW Maximum Pro Wrestling to The Masked Singer Live as well as Peppa Pig and the Theatre of Rock.

Guests can also enjoy swimming pools and slides at waterworld, fairground rides, and daytime activities like Playxperience and soft play.

The karaoke pods will no doubt be a hit for adults heading on Big Weekenders too whether that be for the 90s Reloaded to the Ultimate 80s.

Currently with Spring Savings you can get an extra 10 per cent off on selected weekender breaks from £79pp.

Headline artists this year include icons Fatboy Slim, Wet Wet Wet, Jason Donovan, Madness, Peter Andre and Scouting for Girls.

WE’VE searched high and low to find holiday parks across the UK where you can stay this summer for the price of a cinema ticket.

And we’ve found a range of deals that ALL work out to £10 per person, per night or less.

In 2026, £10 barely buys you lunch – but at these holiday parks, it gets you four nights of sea air and sunshine.

And given the uncertainty over the fuel crisis caused by the Iran War, plenty of Brits are looking to stay closer to home this summer.

By making the most of current sales and saving events at holiday park companies like Haven and Parkdean Resorts, you can still lock in a staycation this summer for ridiculously cheap.

From action-packed family mega resorts to quiet coastal retreats, here’s a range of UK seaside holidays you can book in for this summer for bargain prices.

Cleethorpes Beach, Lincolnshire – £2.88pp a night

This Haven holiday park is in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, often considered a quieter and prettier alternative to nearby Skegness, with clean beaches and traditional attractions.

The holiday park has all the typical top-quality Haven goodies, like a children’s Adventure Village, a glamorous bar and stage for live entertainment, a nine-hole golf course and a fishing lake.

Plus, this park even has its own Wetherspoons on site, so you can enjoy an affordable pint or share a cocktail pitcher among friends.

Out in the town, Cleethorpes has a large promenade lined with family-friendly activities like crazy golf, arcades, bowling and more.

One of the town’s highlights is the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, where you can enjoy a two-mile-long scenic journey with sea views in a diesel or steam train.

The train also makes a stop at the Signal Box Inn, the smallest pub on the planet! A return journey costs £5.75 per adult and £5.25 per child.

Sunnydale Holiday Park, Saltfleet – £8.06pp a night

This small and peaceful holiday park is one of Parkdean’s real hidden gems. On site you’ll find a heated indoor pool, a huge fishing lake, and plenty for kids, including soft play, a kids club and an adventure playground.

The resort sits on Lincolnshire‘s coast in the seaside town of Saltfleet, where you’ll find coastal walks beside quiet marshlands and calm seas.

Once you’ve had your fill of relaxing sea air, you’ll find lots of excitement in nearby Mablethorpe, just a 15 minutes’ drive. There you will find a huge, award-winning sandy beach, plus a sand train which drops you off by a seal sanctuary, and traditional donkey rides.

The train costs £2pp each way, with under 3’s going free.

Craig Tara, Scotland – £2.29pp a night

This massive, action-packed holiday park in Ayr is perfect if you want a full-on family holiday with plenty of activities.

For starters, Splashaway Bay may be the most exciting water park of them all.

The on-site park is one of the largest in Scotland, with a water complex that spans multiple floors. There’s a multi-lane water slide, lazy river, illuminated flume slide, a giant tipping bucket, toddler pool and lots more.

When it comes to other activities, there’s plenty you’re unlikely to find elsewhere. There’s a NERF Training Camp, Crazy Pool (pool’s answer to crazy golf) and a brand new Tiger Club Show for evening entertainment.

There’s also batting cages, a climbing wall, karting, segways and archery, whilst adrenaline junkies of the family will love ‘The Jump’ and ‘The Extreme Drop’.

For food and drink, enjoy everything from Chopstix noodles to Burger King meals or Papa John’s pizza. You can even end your meals with a sweet treat from Millie’s Cookies.

If you can tear yourself away from this action-packed park, there’s a friendly farm park Heads of Ayr just 5 minutes’ drive away.

Plus, the impressive National Trust Culzean Castle which looks out to sea atop a dramatic cliff is 20 minutes away.

Carmarthen Bay Holiday Park, Wales – £8.94pp a night

Set on the sunny coast of Kidwelly in South Wales, Carmarthen Bay is a holiday park that comes with some seriously stunning scenery. Here you’re just steps from the vast St Ishmael beach, plus the spectacular Kidwelly Castle is only eight minutes away.

And if you take a trip into the nearby Pembrey Country Park, you can take part in activities from toboggan racing through the trees (£3.50pp) to hopping on board a miniature railway (£1.50pp).

On site, there’s a large indoor pool with a flume slide, as well as soft play, crazy golf, amusements and a multi-sports court. When it comes to food and drink, you can enjoy everything from a Costa Coffee, to late-night takeaway options like pizza and burgers.

This affordable holiday park is even cheaper if you visit as a group of adults or with children not of school age, as we’ve found a bargain deal that’ll have you catching the last of the August heat as it turns to September.

Orchards Holiday Village, Essex – £2.88pp a night

This exciting holiday village in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex is perfect for sporty and outdoors-y groups – or those that just want to be close to one of the UK’s most exciting seaside piers.

This AA four-star award-winning site offers both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a golf course, archery coaching and Footgolf to name just a few of the activities.

Plus this summer is set to be even more sporty at Haven parks such as this one, with live screenings of England and Scotland football games. There’s also a Football Fun Factory event popping up across the parks, too.

Visitors can expect new Haven entertainment shows, such as the Seaside Squad adventures for older children and the Electric Nights 80’s show for grown-ups.

Drive just 17 minutes to Clacton Pier and you’ll have even more activities to dive into, with everything from classics like the Helter Skelter and Dodgems to a Jurassic Pier experience that dinosaur fans will love.

Lower Hyde Holiday Park, Shanklin, Isle of Wight – £8.06pp a night

A favourite of our holiday park expert, Lower Hyde in the Isle of Wight is an all-singing, all-dancing resort.

This lively site has top-quality entertainment, including classic kids discos and costume character meets, as well as dance shows and comedy acts.

Whizz down the water flume into the outdoor pool on hot days, or warm up in the indoor pool when it gets chilly out in the evenings.

One of the top perks about this park is that it is paired with a nearby sister park, Parkdean Landguard, meaning that guests can access the facilities of both sites during their stay.

Both parks are located in Shanklin, a quaint town in the Isle of Wight with traditional thatched roof houses and a fairytale feel.

Plus, you’re not far from the sea here, either. Shanklin beach is just 4 minutes away, decorated with colourful deck chairs and beach huts, plus there’s even a Pirate-themed adventure park.

Kessingland Beach, Lowestoft – £10pp a night

Head to East Anglia for a traditional bucket-and-spade summer holiday at Parkdean’s Kessingland Beach Holiday Park.

Directly on the beach, this resort is surrounded by unspoilt nature, calm waves and soft golden sands, perfect for letting little ones roam and get used to the water.

This site makes for a great base to explore top family attractions like Pleasurewood Hills theme park, Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens and the fascinating Merrivale Model Village.

Meanwhile, on site there are sports courts, an adventure playground, and a dazzling Showbar with entertainment like Starland Krazy for kids and all-ages bingo. Tuck into food like loaded fries and hot dogs at the takeaway stand, or enjoy juicy ribs and steak at the park’s new restaurant, Joe’s American Grill.

YOU’VE heard of PortAventura, Efteling and Europa-Park, but there’s another European theme park that has just completed a 10-year makeover.

The little-known Walibi Rhône-Alpes attraction is just outside of the city of Lyon in France and has just reopened for the season with new attractions.

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The paradise-looking Exotic Island based on the Pacific Islands like Fiji and Papua New Guinea has had a €4.5million (£3.8million) upgrade, installing a family ride, adventure trail and botanical maze.

Its new family attraction is called RépaR’ Ta Kar and is said to be the ‘first-of-its-kind in Europe‘.

The attraction will be themed around a 4×4’s and be between the high-speed Mahuka rollercoaster and the park’s Tiki Village.

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The ride is described as having “off-road vehicles that bounce, rotate, and spin in a chaotic mechanical frenzy.”

Also ready to be explored this year are new walkthrough experiences at Exotic Island.

L’Expédition Perdue (which translated is The Lost Expedition) is a multi-level adventure trail with bridges, slides and climbing challenges.

Le Passage Oublié (The Forgotten Passage) is a sensory maze with underground tunnels.

This upgrade has been part of an overhaul that has been taking place since 2016 at the cost of €50million (£43.2million) – which has been marked by the completion of Exotic Island.

The French theme park has 36 attractions, shows, rollercoasters like Mahuka, Mystic, and Timber – and is divided into three themed zones.

These include Explorer Adventure which is themed around North America with a swinging ship and lazy river ride.

The Festival City zone is New Orleans-themed where visitors enter the ‘party world’.

Here are the likes of a traditional carousel, train and a swing ride.

The park that first opened in 1979 has attractions for children from age three and up, with family-friendly rides and some for the thrill-seekers.

Some of the biggest include the Mystic rollercoaster which has a 31metre vertical climb and top speed of 52.8mph.

Another is Mahuka which is a rollercoaster themed around escaping an abandoned temple.

Then there’s Le Totem, a high-impact drop tower which can be found in Festival City.

It has 12 food and drinks spots as well as shops throughout the park.

The shows include Les Plongeurs de l’Extrême where divers perform daring stunts and jump off platforms as high as 27metres.

At another show, the park’s mascot, Walibi, makes an appearance with meet and greet opportunities for children.

Visitors often leave happy reviews on Tripadvisor, one wrote: “A great park that improves year after year!”

Another described it as “a great park for the whole family.”

Theme park tickets start from €29 (£25.06) – if booked up to five days before the visit.

With Wizz Air, Brits can fly from London Luton Airport to Lyon from £16 in June.

From there, the theme park is around a one-hour drive away.

Theme parks are an expensive day out. But there are inexpensive options outside of the major parks, and here are some that offer value for money days out for families ahead of half term

With a combination of better weather and half term on the way, many people will be heading to theme parks in the coming weeks. However, theme parks are a pricey choice for a day out. It’s not just the cost of the ticket itself, but the extras, such as parking, food, and drinks that add up.

But some theme parks do offer better value for money than others. Aqua, a credit card provider, has compared the cost of theme parks across the UK, looking at factors such as the average adult ticket price, the cost per rollercoaster based on ticket price, and even the average cost of a hotel nearby if you stay overnight.

Here are the top five theme parks based on value for money.

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5. Codona’s – Aberdeen

Opened in the 1970s, this beachfront amusement park in Aberdeen is a fun family day out. For £24.99, adults can enjoy unlimited rides, a round of pirate golf, and other activities. Rides include a 100ft Ferris wheel, bumper boats, a huge swing ship, and waltzers, and visitors can also enjoy a soft play area, indoor arcade, and go-karting, so there’s something for all weathers.

4. M&D’s Scotland Theme Park – Strathclyde

Scottish theme park M&Ds is currently celebrating its 30th year, and offers wristbands for unlimited rides all day for £19.95. However, if you’re not a rollercoaster fan, you can still enter for free, or pay for individual rides. Attractions include the Miami Rip Tide that twirls riders round in the air, the 21m high Freak Out, and the classic Runaway Mine Train.

3. Fantasy Island – Skegness and Gulliver’s Land – Buckinghamshire

Two theme parks shared first place. Fantasy Island in Skegness offers free entry to the park and on-site market, and you can then choose whether to buy a ride wristband. Costs vary depending on when you visit, with unlimited wristbands starting at £22.50. Rides include Wild River Rapids, the Volcano, which sees guests plunge 183 feet, and the Odyssey rollercoaster.

Gulliver’s has four theme parks across the UK, and Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes was highlighted as the best value. It offers free parking, which not all theme parks do, with the average ticket price at £26. While Fantasy Island got slightly higher reviews overall, Gulliver’s Land offers plenty of family fun with rides including Jungle Falls flume, the Buccaneer pirate swing, and Dragon Siege.

2. Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park – North Yorkshire

Offering 11 rollercoasters, Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park is a packed day out with the average adult ticket price coming in at £25. The park changed hands in January, with the new owners aiming to turn the attraction around. It has over 35 rides and attractions, including the brand new Spinning Racer Family Rollercoaster, which “sends you twisting, turning and spinning through sweeping bends and surprise drops.”

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1. Blackpool Pleasure Beach – Blackpool

Blackpool Pleasure Beach clinched the top spot, likely due to its large number of roller coasters for its ticket price. The average adult ticket is £32, and this includes unlimited access to 26 rides, including 10 rollercoasters, four of which are classic wooden coasters.

Blackpool’s thrill rides include the Big One, which includes a 235ft drop, Valhalla, an award-winning water ride, and Grand National, a classic wooden racing coaster. Not into adrenaline-thumping rides? The park is also home to Nickelodeon Land, which includes PAW Patrol and SpongeBob themed areas, and lots of family-friendly rides too.

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Walt Disney Co.’s theme parks and cruise line business is holding steady despite national concerns about discretionary consumer spending and higher gas prices.

The Burbank media and entertainment giant’s experiences division reported $9.5 billion in revenue in its fiscal second quarter, up 7% compared with the same period a year ago.

The increase was due to higher guest spending at Disney’s domestic parks and experiences, which reported a 6% bump in revenue to $6.9 billion, and more capacity on the company’s cruise line with the introduction of two new ships. The segment saw a 5% increase in operating income to $2.6 billion for the three-month period that ended March 28.

Disney’s theme parks segment was under close scrutiny given the national conversation about rising consumer costs and gas prices due to the U.S.-Iran war. Analysts had wondered whether consumers would tighten their belts and forgo vacations given the higher travel costs.

Disney did see a 1% decline in attendance at its U.S.-based parks compared with the prior year, which the company attributed to “continued softness” in international visitors, but said it was starting to move past those issues. Company executives have previously said Disney pivoted marketing and promotional efforts to attract local visitors.

Last quarter, executives indicated that results in the company’s second fiscal quarter could be affected, in part, by “international visitation headwinds,” a nod to the lower number of foreign visitors now traveling to the U.S.

Though the heightened economic uncertainty around the world could have a “potential impact” on the business, Disney Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro and Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston said in a shareholder letter Wednesday that the company was “encouraged by current demand.” The company expected that fiscal third-quarter domestic attendance numbers would improve, they wrote.

The company’s overall earnings were powered by its entertainment business, which posted revenue of $11.7 billion, up 10% compared with the prior year’s quarter.

That growth was driven by big gains for Disney’s streaming services — Disney+ and Hulu — which raked in nearly $5.5 billion in revenue, an increase of 13% compared with 2025, thanks to higher subscription fees from user growth and more advertising revenue. Operating income for the streaming business jumped 88% to $582 million.

Disney’s entertainment segment also had a stronger quarter at the theatrical box office, with standout performances from 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the animated sequel “Zootopia 2” and Pixar’s “Hoppers.”

Overall, the company reported $25.2 billion in revenue, a 7% bump from the prior year. Income before income taxes totaled $3.4 billion, an increase of 9% compared with the same period in 2025, while operating income rose 4% to $4.6 billion. Earnings per share, excluding certain items, was $1.57, compared with $1.45 a year earlier.

Disney’s sports segment, which includes ESPN, reported revenue of $4.6 billion, a 2% increase from the same period in 2025. It brought in operating income of $652 million, a 5% slide that the company attributed to higher sports rights costs and the absence of UFC pay-per-view revenue compared with last year.

Disney also alluded to the company’s view of artificial intelligence as a “meaningful long-term opportunity,” saying it could play a role in content creation and production, monetization, workforce productivity, consumer and guest experiences and enterprise operations.

“At the same time, we are committed to implementing AI in a way that keeps human creativity at the center of everything we do and respects creators and the value of our intellectual property,” D’Amaro and Johnston said in the shareholder letter.

After noting OpenAI’s closure of the text-to-video AI tool Sora, which Disney had planned to invest in, D’Amaro and Johnston said the company will “continue to explore” commercial opportunities with OpenAI and other companies.

As the spines of the invasive thistle bit into my legs, I worried I had failed.

I had spent hours at my computer staring at maps of northeast Los Angeles in hopes I could develop an urban hike that used existing trails to connect at least four of the area’s parks.

But there I was, standing in a narrow footpath on a hilltop, realizing I’d essentially hit a dead end, because to get into Ascot Hills Park, I would need to trespass (not allowed) or do something dangerous (also not allowed).

I headed down the steep hillside and told myself, “It’s OK. It’s your job to fail a little.” It was time to try again!

In today’s edition of The Wild, I will introduce you to a 13.5-mile urban hike that I developed and fact-checked myself from the ground. I have admittedly been a mountain hiking snob since arriving in L.A., running off to the San Gabriels or Santa Monicas any chance I get. This experience opened my eyes to the joy and potential of urban hiking. I’m so excited to share what I learned with you.

I was inspired to develop this route for a few reasons. For one, I love going to Ernest E. Debs Park and Elephant Hill Open Space, and because I could see one park from a hilltop in the other, I’d wondered: “Could these be connected?”

A view of downtown L.A. and the surrounding city, as seen from the City View Trail in Ernest E. Debs Park.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Secondly, I attended the California Trails & Greenways conference earlier this month where I learned in sessions about hikers connecting existing trails, including San Francisco’s Crosstown Trail and the American Discovery Trail, which I wrote about in last week’s Wild.

Each time I visit one of L.A.’s open spaces, I am in awe of how hard local residents fought to protect the space and how each space has a dedicated fleet of volunteers lovingly restoring it to its glory by ripping out invasive plants (like thistles) and bringing back oaks, sumac and gorgeous wildflowers.

Some quick logistics before I dive into the route:

• I developed the route using CalTopo, an online mapping software with a desktop site and mobile app. You can download the trail from CalTopo to use on your Garmin or other device. I also uploaded it to my AllTrails profile.
• I called the trail “River to the Hilltops” in CalTopo. I kept it simple. If you have a clever name, feel free to suggest it.
• I haven’t marked everywhere you can find a restroom or water, but will try to add those as time allows. Please plan accordingly, as some stretches run through neighborhoods or open spaces where there isn’t much nearby.
• There is no single place to start this route. You can start and stop this route in several spots.
• Trail access and conditions can change. Please follow all posted signage (and contact me if you encounter major issues).
• This route travels through several neighborhoods. Please refrain from using Bluetooth speakers and anything else that would be disruptive to residents.
• At several junctures along the suggested route, you will have an option to take a different path that will essentially get you the same place. Do what’s best for you, and most important: Have fun, be safe and don’t trespass!

Elephant Hill Open Space and the San Gabriel Mountains, as seen from near Ascot Hills Park.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Now let’s talk more about the route.

To begin my “River to the Hilltops” hiking adventure, my friend Patrick and I met last week at the entrance of Flat Top Park, parking on the shoulder of the north side of Montecito Drive. Our plan was to check the route I’d mapped out from Flat Top to Rose Hill Park, Ernest E. Debs Regional Park and the Arroyo Seco. I planned to walk the rest of the route a few days later.

Neither of us had been to Flat Top, an open space of more than 120 acres with several private owners. Local residents have advocated for years for Flat Top to be turned into a public park. North East Trees, a local environmental justice group, manages about 37 acres of the site that feature trails and native plant installations.

A snake skin hangs atop buckwheat in Flat Top Park.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

From the gate, we trekked southwest along its wide dirt path. Patrick soon spotted a buckwheat plant with a snake skin draped over it, a gift from a previous visitor for all to appreciate.

We headed onward and were greeted by the park’s panoramic views of L.A. County and the San Gabriel Mountains. It’s a quiet respite in the middle of the city.

As we left Flat Top, we spotted a large gopher snake that we both mistook for a rattler. Our day was already off to a cool start!

We traveled northeast on Montecito Drive, watching for cars while observing interesting stilt houses and one home that reminded us of Storybook architecture. Just over half a mile from Flat Top, we found the trail I’d noticed in my research. Its entrance has two barriers in the middle that I interpreted as an attempt to keep out motorized vehicles.

The narrow dirt footpath, called Rose Hill Link Trail on some maps, featured multiple Southern California black walnut trees and at least two healthy Canary Island palms. I paused Patrick mid-sentence because I really wanted to know who was providing us with such loud birdsong. It was a mix of house finch and red-whiskered bulbul.

Weeds crowd the Rose Hill Link Trail, but it remains passable.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Portions of the trail were overgrown with castor bean and other invasives, but some park workers or kind volunteers are doing their best to keep it clear enough to pass.

We took a quick detour to Rose Hill Park in search of a restroom. Both facilities with flush toilets were closed as of Saturday, but there are portable toilets with a hand-washing station.

We headed north from Rose Hill Park onto a steep, direct route to Peanut Lake, a small pond with benches, shade and turtles. We walked around the pond clockwise and took a route on the north end of the pond to continue northward.

After just a tenth of a mile from the pond, we turned left (or west) onto the aptly named City View Trail. The route started to descend steeply after just a third of a mile. I criss-crossed the path to create my own switchbacks, which helps with gaining traction and makes traveling downhill easier on your joints.

We did not take the first left turn off the City View Trail because a hiker carrying a toddler on their back told us it was kind of steep — and they seemed more hardcore than we were. Instead, you’ll find my route suggests you take the Scrub Jay Trail, the second left turn from the City View Trail.

Wild writer Jaclyn Cosgrove and friend Patrick crab-walk down the river embankment.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Patrick and I actually took a different path because I thought the map had suggested there was an entrance to the Arroyo Seco Bike Path from near South Avenue 52. I can’t recommend that option, as it involves an unofficial trail and crab-walking down the side of the concrete river bank.

Instead, you’ll essentially follow the Scrub Jay Trail to a road that leads hikers past the Audubon Center at Debs Park and onto Griffith Avenue. There’s a crosswalk you can take across to an actual entrance to the river bike path.

We ended our day here, taking a rideshare car back to our vehicles. Our driver was curious enough about our day to want to subscribe to The Wild to learn more. I felt that was a good sign!

A few days later, I walked about 9.2 miles to check the rest of the route. I walked up steep hills through South Pasadena before passing through a green space (with a significant history) and into El Sereno. Soon, after chatting with a resident feeding her beloved speckled hens some fresh fruit and complimenting a man’s classic restored truck, I arrived at Elephant Hill Open Space.

The view of downtown L.A. from a high point at the Elephant Hill Open Space in El Sereno.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Elephant Hill is a 110-acre open space with around 200 landowners, although an increasing number are selling their land to the public Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.

The agency has worked with community activists to develop the open space’s first official hiking trail, which I had the pleasure of hiking before the grand opening this Saturday. I trekked past the L.A. Conservation Corps workers and contractors busily working to complete the new path. Boulders and oak trees along gates to tamp down illegal off-roading have been added to the space.

After saying hello to a friend who lives nearby, I took Collis Avenue for two blocks and turned onto Yoakum Street, a dirt path, up to Harriman Avenue.

I followed the path labeled “Elephant Hill/Ascot Hills Connector” on my map, where I foraged for a Diet Coke and pretzels at a convenience store and grabbed a poetry book from a free book rack outside Son of a Vet thrift shop. There are many perks to urban hiking!

Soon, I faced my next surprise.

A metal stool sits along a trail in Debs Park where hikers can see great views of L.A.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

For reasons unclear to me, someone labeled a spot north of Ascot Hills as the “Ascot Hills Northern Trailhead.” Maybe they were manifesting what could someday be a great walk, because what I found was not a trail I’d repeat.

As I mentioned up top, I hoofed up through thistle and dried-out mustard, thinking I’d find a connection to the well-maintained trails I knew were in Ascot Hills Park. I got to about here, and although I could see the park’s actual trails, I could not safely or legally reach them. Cursing, whining, bemoaning, I made it back down the path that was about a 20% grade.

I stood in the neighborhood, looking like a sad weirdo with a backpack. I decided to try one last thing. It looked like, from the map, there was a northern entrance.

I headed west on Bedilion Street and then turned south onto Bowman Boulevard. After two-tenths of a mile, I turned west onto Lynnfield Street. On the fence, I noticed a wooden sign with green, white and red letters. “Victor’s Walk starts here,” it read.

A memorial for a neighbor near Ascot Hills.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

“Who was Victor?” I asked a resident cleaning the street.

He told me that Victor had died recently. He’d helped Victor, who walked daily, keep the street tidy by tending to the plants and picking up trash, and he was doing his best to make his late neighbor proud. We chatted more, and he confirmed that there was a nearby way to reach Ascot Hills. (He’d helped other hikers who’d taken the thistle-filled route.)

I soon found a locked gate with access for hikers, and farther down a paved road and a razor-wire-lined fence, an opening to the park.

Ascot Hills Park in Northeast L.A.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Reaching a vista point, I took in the views of downtown L.A. and the rest of the city, grateful for my first visit to the park and the people I met along the way to get there.

Before finishing the final 2.6 miles, I stopped at the Village Mart & Deli near Ascot Hills for a sandwich.

The rest of my day included more life-affirming surprises.

Lincoln Park in Los Angeles.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I reached Lincoln Park as a Union Pacific train rumbled past. A Muslim man performed his late afternoon prayer with his mat under a shade tree. Kids played baseball in an adjacent field. I followed the concrete path to the lake, where I navigated around ducks and geese and watched a fisherman catch a bass.

Continuing north, I stopped at the Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument and ran my fingers over the names etched into one of the panels honoring the dead. I felt chills as I took in the reverence for human life communicated in the memorial’s art and design. I hope you’ll stop by as a part of your walk too.

The entrance to the Wall Las Memorias AIDS Monument in Lincoln Park.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I had fooled myself into believing the end of my walk would be easy — like somehow I’d gently ride off into the sunset.

Instead, after taking Gates Street to North Broadway, I looked up to discover what I told a friend in a text message was my “final boss”: North Thomas Street. In just under a third of a mile, the street gains about 260 feet, similar in steepness to the start of a challenging mountain trek.

North Thomas Street, a steep road along the 13.5-mile path.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I rallied, reminding myself of the time I walked all 27.4 miles of Washington Boulevard in one day, and headed up. Just under half a mile in, I reached the top. I thrust my arms into the air and cheered like I’d won a race.

Ever since moving to L.A., I’ve been blown away by just how many people truly care about our public lands and open spaces. It has taken decades for the parks on this route to be as protected as they are, although much of the space remains threatened by development.

My route is a kind of thank-you to those of you who’ve been doing this work. I hope more people see it, appreciate it and want to show their gratitude too.

3 things to do

Stargazers observe the celestial bodies at the Star Party, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomy Society, last year.

(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)

1. Jump for Jupiter in Silver Lake
The Los Angeles Astronomical Society will host a free star party from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sunset Triangle Plaza in Silver Lake. Guests will listen to local musicians while hopping among telescopes. Learn more at the group’s Instagram page.

2. Notice the nighttime critters in Orange County
We Explore Earth will host a 3-mile nocturnal wildlife hike from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday through Black Star Canyon about 15 miles east of Santa Ana. Hikers will look for evidence like burrows, nests and tracks of tarantulas, toads, scorpions, glowworms and other nighttime creatures. The trek is along a wide dirt trail with minimum elevation gain. Register at eventbrite.com.

3. Hike in solidarity and support in Claremont
Hiking With Bill, a sober hiking group, will host a hike at 7 a.m. Saturday at Claremont Hills Wilderness Park. The group aims to provide a safe, sober and supportive community outdoors experience. To learn more about the group’s exact meeting location, either email hikingwithbill935@gmail.com or visit the group’s Instagram page.

The must-read

An opening date for later this year was announced at the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Agoura Hills on April 22.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Apparently, social media still has the power to create sudden outrage over seemingly the most random of targets: the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. Times staff writer Lila Seidman wrote that after a conservative think tank dubbed the bridge a $114-million “bridge to nowhere,” conservative media and politicians jumped on the opportunity to criticize the effort (and Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat considering a presidential run). Curiously, the bridge is a fourth of the cost of President Trump’s White House ballroom — as the bridge’s original price has increased in part due to worsening inflation and tariff-driven price increases. The bridge is set to open Dec. 2.

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

Although I find most trails around L.A. County are largely free of litter, I have seen metallic balloons deep within the San Gabriel Mountains, far beyond wherever they were released. I wasn’t surprised when I saw, via a post from Steampunk Farms Rescue Barn, a Ranchita-based farmed animal sanctuary, that the balloons can make it far into the Mojave too. The image of a desert tortoise considering a lunch of a “Congrats, Grad!” balloon still made my stomach lurch. The organization asked readers to consider: “Don’t release balloons. Any of them — mylar, latex, ‘biodegradable,’ sky lanterns. Weight them, pop them, recycle them indoors,” among other helpful ideas.

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

WASHINGTON — When families flocked to Yosemite National Park during their recent spring breaks, some met two-hour waits at the entrance gates. At a lakeside spot in the North Cascades in Washington state, there hasn’t been enough staff to open the visitors center. And in Death Valley, water was shut off at two campgrounds.

National parks staff and advocates fear that such issues could only worsen this summer, as the park system faces the busy season with a dramatically reduced staff. At Yosemite, concerns are compounded by the National Park Service’s recent elimination of the park’s timed-entry reservation system, which led to the long spring-break lines.

“We’re definitely really nervous and anxious about the upcoming season, especially with the staff shortage we already have,” said a National Federation of Federal Employees union member at Yosemite who requested anonymity to speak candidly.

The National Park Service has lost nearly a quarter of its staff to buyouts, early retirements and other departures since the Trump administration took office last year, according to an estimate by the National Parks Conservation Assn. This month, the administration proposed cutting nearly 3,000 more positions in its 2027 budget. It also offered a recent new round of buyouts.

The push to cut the park system even further — ahead not only of peak season but of America’s 250th birthday, which the Trump administration has promoted in relation to national parks — has underscored ongoing questions about how smoothly parks can operate as warm weather and summer vacations draw tourists.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the budget proposal on Capitol Hill last week, telling senators that the visitor experience to parks can be improved even while spending and staff reductions are made.

He said the agency plans to hire 5,500 seasonal workers and asked Congress to approve funding for those employees to work for nine-month stints rather than six months.

“All of that’s going to help us get this thing in shape, even with an overall reduction,” Burgum said Wednesday.

He was met with skepticism by Democrats, who confronted him over the spending proposal.

“That is just a recipe for disaster,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) told Burgum.

Congress will have the final say on the proposed cuts, but in the meantime, the reductions that have already occurred presented challenges last season and appear likely to do so again, said Cheryl Schreier, a retired superintendent of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.

Whether the parks will get enough qualified candidates to hire the number of seasonal workers needed is also “a really big concern,” she said. “It’s really important to have all of those individuals to be able to operate a park in a good fashion.”

Campers prepare food in Yosemite Valley last December. 9, 2025 in Yosemite, CA.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

The lower staffing has prompted worry about parks’ capacity for emergency response, protection of the natural landscape and custodial maintenance. Fewer rangers could mean, for instance, fewer people to reach dehydrated, stranded or lost hikers, said Chance Wilcox, California desert director for the National Parks Conservation Assn.

A park service spokesperson said Friday that staffing decisions are made based on local conditions at each park and that the agency is “focused on ensuring parks remain open, accessible, and safe for visitors.”

About 323 million people visit America’s national parks annually, according to the Interior Department. While the parks can expect heavy traffic, a drop in international tourism and the rise in gas prices has injected additional uncertainty into the tourism industry this year.

The number of Canadians visiting the United States has dropped since Trump took office, according to the Canadian government — with the number of Canadians making car trips to the United States this March declining by 35% compared with March 2024.

The Interior Department also instituted a new $100-per-person fee for non-Americans entering 11 of the most popular parks, a move to raise money for the parks but an extra squeeze for Canadians coming across the border and other international visitors.

At the Senate and House hearings on the Interior budget, Burgum presented a vision of the national parks system as one where most employees should be working at a park and interacting with visitors, and said he was more focused on filling those roles than jobs in regional offices.

“Our goal is to have more people actually working in the parks,” he told senators.

An Interior Department spokesperson said the agency was “advancing high-priority improvements” across the system.

“Secretary Burgum has been clear that resources should be prioritized toward visitor-facing services, public safety, maintenance, and projects that improve the experience for the American people,” an Interior Department spokesperson said in a statement Friday.

Critics say that strategy displays a misunderstanding of how the 109-year-old agency functions. Employees who work on contracts, human resources, IT, communications and other organizational and administrative jobs are essential to keeping the parks running, Wilcox said.

“If everything were visitor- or front-facing, the entire agency would collapse from behind,” said Wilcox, of the National Parks Conservation Assn.

The decision to discontinue the reservation system at Yosemite — as well as at Arches and Glacier national parks — is another part of Interior’s mission to bring more people into the parks. The concept was “designed to expand public access” this summer, the park service said in announcing the policy in February. It kept the timed-entry reservation system in Rocky Mountain National Park for the peak season.

Visitors take pictures while walking through Muir Woods National Monument on July 24, 2025 in Muir Woods National Monument, California.

(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

In addition to causing long lines, cramming too many people into the parks at once could lead to environmental damage, particularly if people park cars in natural areas, said Don Neubacher, a retired Yosemite superintendent and member of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.

“It’s going to be mass chaos,” he said.

On a Saturday at the end of March, Jon Christenson of Coarsegold, Calif., drove to the park with his 38-year-old son. They were surprised to encounter a two-hour wait to get into the park, plus at least a half-hour hunt for parking after they made it through the gates, he said.

“It was almost like Disneyland. It was really uncomfortable from the standpoint of just so many people,” said Christenson, 82. “It’s kind of troubling to see that they’ve opened up the floodgates and now it’s kind of ruining the experience for everybody.”

Rangers there are doing multiple jobs, and last summer they helped clean bathrooms in the absence of custodial staff, the Yosemite union member said. Now they, too, are concerned about the potential for gridlock.

The worker asked summer visitors to bring patience: “The folks at the National Park Service … they will be grateful for any compassion and empathy.”

THE WEATHER is warming up and what better way to enjoy it then heading to an upgraded lido?

The UK is home to over 150 outdoor swimming pools, so there are more than enough to choose from no matter where you are in the country.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

But there are a number of lidos that are reopening this year with major upgrades – or even new ones opening for the first time.

Here’s a rundown of the refreshed spots with new heated pools, cafes and splash parks.

Portishead Open Air Pool

Sitting not too far from the British Channel coast, Portishead Open Air Lido reopened this week following a major £1.3million makeover.

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The project included refurbishing the pool and the cafe, as well as upgrading the changing rooms.

The pool itself is 33metres long and there is a separate toddler pool as well.

Sea Lanes Canary Wharf

Last year, Canary Wharf in London announced plans for an Olympic-sized open-water lido with sauna pods and a clubhouse.

In total, the pool will have six lanes and stretch 50metres long, with a fixed depth of 1.3metres.

The new lido will float in the Eden Dock area of Canary Wharf.

The Sea Lanes lido is set to open this summer and will be open all year round.

Valentines Lido

Valentines Lido in Illford is set to open later this year.

The brand new £4million heated lido will have a huge pool, kids’ splash park and spa zone.

In addition to the 25metre-long, six-lane pool, there will be a gym too.

Other facilities planned for the site include a cafe, gym, dance and exercise studio, meeting room and a picnic area.

Unity Beach holiday park, Brean

Unity Beach holiday park in Brean will launch a £10.2million expansion this year with a new lido that will be surrounded by private cabanas and an outdoor dining area as well.

Open to non-guests as well, a new indoor splash pad will also replace the baby pool, for kids to play in.

The park is also planning to open a trampoline park, bandstand, boardwalk, landscaped gardens and a dog agility area.

Hilsea Lido

Hilsea Lido in Portsmouth is currently undergoing a £7.75million refurb, having been closed since 2022.

The lido is planning to reopen on May 2 and will feature an upgraded pool, new changing rooms, benches, tables and a fountain.

In total, the pool will be 67metres long and 2.6metres deep.

For those wanting a snack or drink while visiting, there will also be a food and drink pop up on site.

Saltdean Lido

Saltdean Lido in Brighton is planning to refresh its cafe and restaurant.

The upgraded restaurant and cafe will feature dishes made with local produce and will reopen as the Reading Room at Saltdean Lido on May 1.

If you are looking for a lido near you, two women who have been to every one in the country have shared their favourite pools for kid-free swims.

Plus, here are the six cleanest beaches in the UK where you can safely swim in the sea this summer.

IF YOU ever think you can’t get a hotel room, then you might want to head to the First World Hotel.

This is because it is the largest hotel in the world with a staggering 7,351 rooms across 28 floors able to accommodate up to 14,000 people.

The First World Hotel in Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia opened back in 2001 and achieved the Guinness World Record title as the world’s largest hotel (by room number) back in 2015.

And to date, nothing has overtaken it.

The huge hotel often dubbed the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’, is spread across two towers but originally used to be one and contained 6,118 rooms before Tower 2 Annex opened in 2015.

The hotel boasts eight different room types from a standard room right up to a ‘World Club Room 2’ spanning across approximately 40-square-metres with a living area.

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Inside the World Club Room 2 you can expect a flat-screen TV, mini fridge, tea and coffee-making facilities.

In comparison, the smallest room measures 16.7square-metres but doesn’t have a TV or mini-fridge.

For all rooms, if you want Wi-Fi you will need to purchase it.

Guests can head to two main places to eat – The Junction and Lobby Cafe.

At The Junction guests can grab meals-to-go and bakery items and is open from 8am to 6pm each day.

At the Lobby Cafe, there is a “simple but substantial menu” ideal for quick sit down meals and it is open each day from 7am to 10pm.

A night at the hotel costs as little as £21.

The hotel sits at the heart of Resorts World Genting – a hill resort in the Titiwangsa Mountains that is a major entertainment hub with casinos, theme parks, shops, restaurants and other hotels.

Theme parks in Resorts World Genting include Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park and Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park.

At Skytropolis, visitors can jump on 20 rides including bumper cars, carousels and a Ferris wheel.

An unlimited ride pass costs £13.14 per person.

Alternatively, at SkyWorlds – a five to 10 minute walk from the hotel – there are several different lands, each inspired by a popular film.

Visitors can pay for individual rides or buy a day pass costing from £31.55 per adult and £12.20 per child.

In Central Park, for example, one of the largest lands, visitors can head on a ‘flying theatre‘ ride, where passengers join a space defense mission.

In the land Andromeda Base, which has a futuristic theme, visitors can head on a classic drop tower ride or a 360-degree ‘air race‘ ride.

Fans of the Ice Age films should head to the Ice Age land, where they can go on a family-friendly roller-coaster that ventures through a 30metre mountain.

There is also a trackless dark ride that follows Sid and the gang through an arctic cave.

On SkyAvenue – less than five minutes from the hotel – you’ll find the resort’s lifestyle hub.

Here you’ll find popular brands including Five Guys for a bite to eat and an hourly free show that features thousands of LED balls moving in sync with music.

The SkyAvenue also includes a select number of attractions including Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, a quirky museum, the Jurassic Research Centre with dinosaur exhibits and Zombie Outbreak, a haunted house experience.

For those wanting to see the surrounding landscape, head on the Awana SkyWay cable car, about a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel.

The journey lasts 10 minutes and you’ll get amazing views of the Ulu Kali 130-million-year-old rainforest.

Tickets also include a free stop at Chin Swee Caves Temple, which is often thought to be one of the most scenic temples in Malaysia with a nine-storey Pagoda.

Of course the resort is also home to an abundance of shops, including over 150 designer brands such as Coach and Nike.

At night, head to SkyCasino, which is the largest casino in the resort.

There is also the club Zouk Genting if you fancy dancing the night away.

Everything at Resorts World Genting is indoors, so you won’t need to step foot outside, making it the ideal hotel and destination for rainy weather.

In other hotel news, the new London hotel with discounted rooms that’s near three of the best free museums.

Plus, there’s a new Cotswolds hotel that’s like a private members club – but without the price tag.