Sheila's Guide To The Good Stuff » carnival of cities

Carnival of Cities for 25 January 2012

Sheila — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:45:32 +0000

Welcome to the Carnival of Cities blog carnival, where we tour the world in a single post, via submissions from a variety of different blogs, all about any aspect of one, single city or fair-sized town.

The previous Carnival edition was hosted on the Perceptive Travel Blog, and you’ll find the next one (February 8, 2012) on Edutech Musings.

If you would like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog, please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks!

Off we go….

Cities in the Americas

Seattle, Washington, USA Mary Jo Manzanares presents Tourist at Home: Visiting the Seattle Aquarium posted at Traveling with MJ, saying, “Fun for adults and kids. . . and the otters are just so darned cute!”

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Angela Gaitaniella presents Pittsburgh is “In” posted at The Burgh, Exposed.

San Francisco, California, USA Byteful Travel presents What’s Hidden Underneath the Golden Gate Bridge? (Exploring historical Fort Point) posted at Byteful Travel, saying, “Even though you’ve probably never heard of it, something very old is hidden underneath the Golden Gate bridge; and one a sunny day in September, I had the opportunity to photograph it.”

Orlando, Florida, USA Eileen Ludwig presents Artsfest FREE Ticketed Non-Ticketed Florida posted at Freelance Tourist: Travel Tips.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA hello haha narf presents Still So Much posted at Midnight Cliff.

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Tui Snider presents New Orleans? Cafe du Monde: A Taste of History posted at Mental Mosaic: Even Home is a Travel Destination, saying, “Coffee played a big role in New Orleans’ history, and at one point in the 1800′s there were nearly 500 coffeehouses in the French Quarter. Cafe du Monde is the sole survivor from that era, with a menu that is virtually unchanged since it first opened in 1862.”

Niagara Falls, Canada Andy Hayes presents Top 10 Quirky Things To Do in Niagara Falls posted at eTourism Insight, saying, “Quirky things in what is perhaps the quirkiest place in Canada. ”

New York, New York, USA Priya Mony presents My Reasons to Love New York: The Winter Edition posted at Let’s Take The Scenic Route, saying, “Great things to do and places to visit in New York even in the coldest months of the year.”

Cities in Europe

Panicale, Umbria, Italy Ciao Bambino! presents Art Camp for Kids in Umbria, Italy posted at Ciao Bambino, saying, “Arte al Sol art camp is a great way for children to experience Italian Culture. It’s not just painting here. Activities may include glass blowing, cooking or even sheep herding – experiences that your kids won’t soon forget.”

Barcelona, Spain Amanda Kendle presents Gaudi makes Barcelona beautiful posted at Not A Ballerina: A Travel Blogger’s Life.

London, England Brooke Allen presents London Pub Crawl posted at Rambling Brooke.

Liverpool, England Mr. Brightside presents [Come Dine With Us] Gusto! posted at The Wild Swans, saying, “One of the best Italian restaurants in Liverpool!”

Cities in Asia

Delhi, India Mariellen Ward presents Delights of Delhi posted at BreatheDreamGo.

That concludes this Carnival edition, and thank you for visiting.

Please submit your (ONE, non-spammy) blog post to the next edition of the Carnival of Cities using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Carnival of Cities for 16 November 2011

Sheila — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:24:03 +0000

The previous Carnival edition was hosted on the Perceptive Travel Blog, and will return there on November 30.

If you would like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog, please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks!

Off we go….

Cities in the Americas

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA Amy @ The Q Family presents Myrtle Beach With Kids: Guided Kayak Tour with Black River Outdoors Center posted at The Q Family Adventures Travel Blog.

Santa Cruz, California, USA Eileen Ludwig presents Exploring Coastal Highway Santa Cruz California posted at Freelance Tourist: Travel Tips.

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Jennifer Miner presents Hawaii History and Culture: Princess Ka’iulani posted at The Vacation Gals, saying, “A vacation in Waikiki is enriched by attending a ceremony honoring the last crown princess of Hawaii.”

Ottawa, Canada Zhu presents Rideau Hall posted at Correr Es Mi Destino, saying, “In a typical relaxed Canadian fashion, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada is open to the public and it’s not rare to see hordes of photographers, cricket players (!) and families picnicking there.”

San Francisco, California, USA Kristin presents Breakfast at the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market posted at SFTravel – San Francisco Underground Travel, saying, “A popular destination on Saturday morning in San Francisco becomes even better with savory and sweet offerings at gourmet breakfast stands.”

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Michael Turtle presents The Big Easy is harder than you think posted at Time Travel Turtle.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Jason Noronha presents 10 Reasons to Pack Your Bags for Rio de Janeiro posted at theOrangeMango, saying, “Having spent 2 weeks in Rio de Janeiro recently, I fell in love with the city and decided that I’d have to move to this beautiful place at some stage in my life. Here’s why you need to pack your bags for Rio..”

Mountain View, California, USA Byteful Travel presents Computer History Museum Review: 7 Striking Exhibits from the Digital Age posted at Byteful Travel, saying, “With over 90,000 objects, photographs, and films the Computer History Museum of Mountain View, CA has no equal in its field. In fact, the CHM contains the largest collection of computing artifacts on the planet! So, needless to say, we were in for a real treat, and in this article I reveal the 7 most memorable artifacts I stumbled across that day, including the “Godfather” of the iPhone and a 150 lb. computer that you just HAVE to get your loved one this holiday season. But we’ll get to that!”

Columbus, Ohio, USA Joe Vargo presents Top Three Things to Do With Your Extra Hour of Darkness posted at The Columbus Experience.

Cabo Polonio, Uruguay Michael Hodson presents Cabo Polonio, Uruguay in Photos posted at Go, See, Write – overland RTW adventure travel.

Laramie, Wyoming, USA Angi Harper presents Wyoming Roundup: A Sunny Day in Laramie Town posted at Wyoming Roundup.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA JoAnna presents Images: Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory | Oklahoma City posted at Kaleidoscopic Wandering, saying, “I never expected to find botanical gardens in Oklahoma City, and that’s what I love about cities like this: They continue to surprise me.”

Seattle, Washington, USA Mary T presents Photo Friday: Teen’s View of the Port of Seattle posted at Travel With Teens and Tweens, saying, “A short cruise of Seattle’s harborfront uncovered all kinds of interesting views. Our traveling teen captured some great photos along the way.”

San Francisco, California, USA Kirsten Larsson presents San Francisco’s Chinatown posted at Aviators and a Camera.

Cities in Asia/Australia/New Zealand

Kyoto, Japan Erin McNeaney presents The Weird and Wonderful World of Vegetarian Cuisine in Kyoto: Part 1 posted at Never Ending Voyage, saying, “Our exploration of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine in Kyoto, Japan.”

Beijing, China Stephen Whale presents Tips for visitors to The Forbidden City in Beijing posted at You’re Not From Around Here, Are You?.

Wellington, New Zealand Amanda presents Wellington in Photos posted at A Dangerous Business.

Cities in Europe

Soelden, Austria Michael Schuermann presents The sad story of Tyrol and its Schwabenkinder (Swabian children). posted at easy hiker.

Granada, Spain Anil Polat presents The Last Paradise Of A Crumbling Empire: A Photo Essay From Granada, Spain’s Alhambra posted at foXnoMad.

Istanbul, Turkey Kristin presents Exploring Istanbul – Five Must Sees Beyond Hagia Sofia posted at Take Your Big Trip, saying, “Here are five must see highlights to tackle after the big sites when visiting Istanbul.”

Reykjavik, Iceland Andrew Heaton presents Reykjavik & The Blue Lagoon posted at MightyHeaton.com, saying, “A humorous travel piece about Reyjkavik, the absurdly trusting nature of Icelanders and the teetering cost of the island.”

Mijas, Spain Susan Forshner Frechette presents the land of mijas posted at transient travels.

Naples, Italy Kristina Johnson presents Wandering Naples posted at wired2theworld.

Madrid, Spain Cat Gaa presents …eres mi rincón favorito de Madrid. posted at Sunshine and Siestas.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK Andy Hayes presents Taking a Spa Day in Edinburgh posted at The Edinburgh Travel Guide.

Cities in the Middle East

Marrakesh, Morocco Jodi Ettenberg presents Sensory Overload at Marrakesh’s Djemaa el-Fna posted at Legal Nomads.

That concludes this Carnival edition, and thank you for visiting.

Please submit your (ONE, non-spammy) blog post to the next edition of the Carnival of Cities using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

(If you like this post, please consider subscribing to the blog via RSS feed or by email – the email signup box is on the right sidebar near the Search box. Thanks!)

Carnival of Cities for 24 August 2011

Sheila — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 03:40:09 +0000

The previous edition was hosted on Edutech Musings (my husband Chris’ teacher blog – thanks, Sweetie!) and the September 7 edition will be over on La Vie Francaise.

If you would like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog, please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks!

Off we go….

Cities in Europe

Loudun, France Jason tells the odd story of 1634: Urbain Grandier, for the Loudon possessions posted at Executed Today.

Cities in the Americas

Columbus, Ohio, USA Joe Vargo saves your morning with the Top Three Coffee Shops in Columbus at The Columbus Experience, saying, “Columbus Breakfast Blogger Nick Dekker saves visitors from hotel-lobby coffee with his top three picks for a cup of joe in the city.”

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Sleep tight! Julie Ovenell-Carter presents Vancouver Hotels: Rosewood Hotel Georgia posted at WhyGo Canada, saying, “Classy is cool again and in the world of Canadian hospitality, no one does it better that the recently revamped Rosewood Hotel Georgia–home of Vancouver’s newest “it” restaurant, Hawksworth.”

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA jeri has cool photos of A wooden street in Philadelphia on touristmodern.

Atlanta, Georgia, USA Trey presents art plus biology in Alex Grey Redefines Human Anatomy in Atlanta posted at Always ATL.

Portland, Oregon, USA Kara Williams speeds up your travel with Willamette Jetboat Tours in Portland, Oregon posted at The Vacation Gals, saying, “We love this guest post from Jessica Spiegel about exciting jet boat rides in Portland, Oregon!”

Destin, Florida, USA Heather Thomas wrote a guest post - Destin Florida One of top 25 destinations according to tripadvisor for Freelance Tourist: Travel Tips.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Be careful out there. Katie Sorene wrote Rio Travelers BEWARE these 6 Common Dangers for the Tripbase blog, saying, “Safety tips for travelers to Rio de Janeiro. Heed this important advice to avoid being robbed, arrested or scammed in Rio.”

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Estella Gold makes you drool about Commander’s Palace; tuck in a napkin for …. In Which I Ride A Streetcar Named Delicious posted at One For The Road.

Lake Placid, New York, USA Zhu finds Olympic glory in Lake Placid, NY State posted at Correr Es Mi Destino, saying, “We crossed the border at Prescott/Ogdensburg, stopped to have a look at the car show and kept driving West, on small scenic roads. Most sported yellow Amish buggy signs, warning motorists they could get stuck behind these vehicles for a while. I wouldn’t have minded, the road was very nice, bordered by corn fields and farms.”

Stevensville, Montana, USA Tractor parades and other delights! Donna Hull writes about Traveling Slow in Small Town America on her Boomer travel blog My Itchy Travel Feet, saying, “The 99th Annual Creamery Picnic Parade in Stevensville, Montana introduces visitors to small town America. Tractors, horse groups, fire brigades, muscle cars – you can’t beat it.”

New York, New York, USA Why a live, experienced guide like Stan O’Connor can save a tour despite insane traffic – Off-season and Off-route, or, “Tours Shouldn’t Be Given by CD-ROMs.” posted at The Green Guide’s Tour, saying, “The post highlights a long detour through Manhattan and the impromptu point-to-point touring that was necessitated by the detour.”

Paris, Texas, USA A getaway without the jet lag! Tui Cameron takes a Weekend Road Trip to Paris, Texas posted at Mental Mosaic, saying, “Paris is one of those rare American towns which resists looking like “Anytown, USA” by actively cultivating its charms. Plus, you’ve gotta love the Eiffel Tower replica, the Jesus in Cowboy Boots, and the beautiful marble fountain in the town square.”

Canton, Ohio, USA The 25th US President gets his due, as Dominique King presents Discover something for everyone at the William McKinley Museum in Canton, Ohio posted at Midwest Guest, saying, “Dinosaurs? Star gazing? A vintage village? The William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton, Ohio, has so much more beyond presidential papers.”

That concludes this Carnival edition, and thank you for visiting.

Please submit your (ONE, non-spammy) blog post to the next edition of the Carnival of Cities using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

(If you like this post, please consider subscribing to the blog via RSS feed or by email – the email signup box is on the right sidebar near the Search box. Thanks!)

Carnival of Cities for 29 June 2011

Sheila — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:05:45 +0000

The previous edition was hosted on June 15 by Stark County, Ohio News and Views and the July 13 edition will be over at the Perceptive Travel Blog.

If you would like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks!

Off we go….

Cities in Europe

Paris, France Mary Jo Manzanares presents A Different View of Paris: Going Underground posted at The Traveler’s Way, saying, “Get over the “ick” factor and take a look at Paris from down below.”

Kiev, Ukraine Anne-Sophie Redisch presents What to do in Kiev posted at Sophie’s World, saying, “What first springs to mind when you hear the name Kiev? Capital of the Ukraine? You’re right, of course. Some might think of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, one of the worst nuclear accidents in history. If pop culture is your thing, Kiev might mean the venue of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest. Into politics? Then, perhaps the Orange Revolution of 2004?”

York, England Mike Sowden presents York – Foundations posted at Fevered Mutterings, saying, “There’s one rule you should always follow when dining out in York, England, and it’s this: *look up*.”

Barcelona, Spain Marc Fav presents Barcelona – - – A Dream posted at Marc Fav.

Cities in the Americas

Seattle, Washington, USA Rachel Center presents The happiest place on earth posted at Balance and Blueberries, saying, “This blogger fell in love with Seattle in the short 24 hours she was there. Read the recap of the sights!”

Portland, Maine, USA Jason presents 1790: Thomas Bird, the first federal execution under the U.S. constitution posted at Executed Today, saying, “Notable local history in Portland, Maine.”

San Francisco, California, USA Matthew Hyde presents Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay (some memories of San Francisco) posted at Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth.

Staunton, Virginia, USA I wrote a short Travel Post Friday entry on this blog, about a snazzy Presidential Pierce-Arrow: Woodrow Wilson’s car is the cat’s pajamas.

Los Angeles, California, USA Zhu presents The Rich L.A. posted at Correr Es Mi Destino, saying, “I was curious to see the other side of L.A, the glamorous one. So far, I wasn’t too impressed: houses looked nice but nothing out of the ordinary. I certainly couldn’t picture all these movie stars and socialites living here, in Korea Town or in Little Armenia.”

Houston, Texas, USA Sarah V. presents Making the Most of 24 Hours in Houston posted at Wandering Off, saying, “A quick trip to Houston where we enjoyed everything from butterflies to Byzantine frescoes.”

Pensacola, Florida, USA Jennifer presents Three Days in Pensacola with Your Family posted at Two Kids and a Map.

Seattle, Washington, USA Amy @ The Q Family presents Seattle With Kids: Hand-On Fun For Family @ Pacific Science Center posted at The Q Family Adventures Travel Blog.

New York, New York, USA Mary T presents Explore New York City’s High Line Linear Park posted at Travel With Teens and Tweens, saying, “As part of a multi-day high school field trip to New York City our teenage son took a walk on the City’s High Line linear park on a picture perfect spring day.”

Santa Monica, California, USA Simpsonsparadox presents SCVNGR posted at Simpson’s Paradox.

Cities in the Middle East

Manama, Bahrain Travelrat presents The Camel Farm posted at Travelrat’s Travels, saying, “Shortly after this visit, it all kicked off in Bahrain. I hope things are back to normal soon, and the camel farm survives!”

That concludes this Carnival edition, and thank you for visiting.

Please submit your (ONE, non-spammy) blog post to the next edition of the Carnival of Cities using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Carnival of Cities for 23 March 2011

Sheila — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 01:16:11 +0000

Thanks to Best Family Travel Advice for hosting the previous edition, and we look forward to the next one on April 6, hosted by Travel with Teens and Tweens.

If you would like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog (May 18 and June 1 are still open) please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks!

Off we go….

Cities in the Americas

Savannah, Georgia, USA Kerry Dexter presents World comes to Savannah: Savannah Music Festival posted at Perceptive Travel Blog, saying, “17 days of concerts at the Savannah music festival reflect the city’s heritage as a musical crossroads.”

Cleveland, Ohio, USA Joe Vargo presents Ethnic Eats in Cleveland posted at DiscoveringOhio. [a tourism blog; yay!]

Purcellville, Virginia, USA Jeremy Harvey presents A Wall at Sunset Hills Vineyard posted at VisitLoudounBlog.com, saying, “Thanks for considering using my post. Keep up the great work Sheila. I love reading your blog! Cheers.” [a tourism blog; yay! And thanks, Jeremy.]

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Lindsay Dianne presents West Coast Awakening and Granville Island Market posted at The Urban Momtographer, saying, “Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver, BC, Canada.”

Brasilia, Brazil Carolyne Hall presents Brasilia, Brasil: Uma cidade moderna posted at Lady on a Roof, saying, “My trip to Brasilia, Brazil. ”

Seattle, Washington, USA Abi King presents Street Art In Seattle | The Best Cultural Travel & Adventure posted at Inside the Travel Lab, saying, “A funky look at Seattle’s less well-known street art.”

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Kayla presents Whitehern Historic House Highlights posted at Adventures in Heritage, saying, “Review of going to a local historical museum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.”

Atlanta, Georgia, USA Nichole presents Four fun places in Atlanta to visit with your kids posted at Butterscotch Sundae.

Tampa, Florida, USA Nicole presents The Bricks of Ybor in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida posted at Arrows Sent Forth, saying, “The Bricks of Ybor is a great choice for dining with kids while visiting Tampa.”

Portland, Oregon, USA Byteful Travel presents Adventures of a Failed Hitchhike, Craigslist Success, & Portland’s Welcoming Rainbow posted at Byteful Travel, saying, “Portland! What a city! So creative, so historic, and so wonderfully weird. I was very excited to continue my truly epic West Coast Journey by returning to Portland before I headed further south. Now, I could either give you the “director’s cut” of the story, or I could share some of the gory details with you, like the bit about how my first attempt to get out of Seattle didn’t work… at all. I’m going to do the latter here; because I want to emphasize the importance of having a Plan B and being flexible. Thankfully though, this story ends in a stunning rainbow!”

Idyllwild, California, USA Gina Stark presents Festive Festivals of Idyllwild! posted at Gitana Blog, saying, “Idyllwild is small town with BIG culture. Home of the Idyllwild Arts Academy, there is no shortage of venues to exhibit and celebrate the plethora of talent here.”

Marshall, California Mikaela Cowles presents Saturday Steals: Seattle to San Francisco ? The Marshall Store posted at Baguette Taste – Wonder Bread Budget, saying, “Saturday Steals is a portion of my blog, Baguette Taste – Wonder Bread Budget. I explore fabulous deals up and down the coast from Seattle to San Francisco and share how I stretch cents into dollars to live the life I want on the budget I have.”

Cities in Europe

Oslo, Norway Anne-Sophie Redisch presents Open-minded Oslo posted at Sophie’s World, saying, “Come to Oslo to experience nature, culture and Vikings. Bring the kids!”

London, United Kingdom Shelly Rivoli presents Tips for visiting London’s Natural History Museum with young children posted at Travels with Baby Tips by Shelly Rivoli, saying, “Dinosaurs, cockroaches, rocks – oh, my! Tips for anyone visiting London’s Natural History Museum with a stroller, toddler, or diaper-clad companion.”

Venice, Italy Andy Hayes presents 4 Reasons Why I Love Venice Even Though It Stinks posted at Sharing Travel Experiences.

London, United Kingdom Tamara presents Last night in London: John Makepeace at Somerset House posted at Travel Blog – Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique & Luxury Hotels, saying, “In London this week – A private view of a show celebrating the 50-year career of a craftsman dubbed the Father of Modern Furniture: John Makepeace (OBE if you don’t mind!”)

Cities in Asia

Bangkok, Thailand Andrea Wren presents How to navigate and survive Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market posted at Travelling Wren, saying, “An article about one of my favourite places in my favourite cities!”

That concludes this Carnival edition, and thank you for visiting.

Please submit your (ONE, non-spammy) blog post to the next edition of the Carnival of Cities using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

(If you like this post, please consider subscribing to the blog via RSS feed or by email – the email signup box is on the right sidebar near the Search box. Thanks!)

Carnival of Cities for 9 February 2011

Sheila — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:22:51 +0000

The previous edition was here on Sheila’s Guide and the next edition will be hosted on the Perceptive Travel blog on Wednesday, February 23.

Any posts from blogs by tourism organizations (CVB, DMO, Tourist Board,) hospitality or economic development organizations are particularly welcome, as long as they’re about something in one city or town!

If yo would like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog (March 9 and March 23 are still open, and I could certainly use the help because March is crazy for me) please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks!

Off we go….

Cities in the Americas

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Nicole presents Experiencing Egypt at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis posted at Arrows Sent Forth, saying, “The ‘Take Me There: Egypt’ exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis allows kids to experience life in an Egyptian village through hands-on play.”

Nashville, Tennessee, USA Alethea Hutchison presents Viva Nashvegas! posted at I’m Domestic…not Dead!, saying, “The way Nashville views celebrity.”

New York, New York, USA Madeleine Begun Kane presents Snow Job (A Limerick Duet) posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.

(A CVB blog – Yay!)—> Spokane, Washington, USA Teresa Ide presents My New Neighborhood Bar posted at Spokane Insiders’ Blog.

Seattle, Washington, USA Byteful Travel presents The Radical Act of Kindness that Floored Me when I visited a Seattle Farmer’s Market posted at Byteful Travel, saying, “What would you do if someone you’d never met walked up to you and gave you a gift, completely unexpectedly? I had to face this amazing reality one sunny day after I’d just stumbled into the Queen Anne farmer’s market (where I discovered an amazing new fruit, a ‘pluot’). And the entire experience reinforced in me how magical travel can truly be.”

Orlando, Florida, USA Jennifer Miner presents Spring Break Vacation in Orlando – 5 Tips to Save Time posted at The Vacation Gals, saying, “Spring break in Orlando’s big theme parks can be frustrating, what with all the crowds and long lines. Here are 5 tips to help save time at Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando.”

Ojai, California, USA Andy Hayes presents California’s Secret Sunshine Valley: Ojai posted at Sharing Travel Experiences, saying, “Want to know the secrets of the Ojai Valley?”

Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA Apryl Chapman Thomas presents Spotting Winter Wildlife (and Possibly Whales) in Virginia Beach, Virginia posted at Southern Hospitality Magazine Traveler.

Kualoa, Oahu, Hawaii, USA Jennifer presents Kualoa Ranch – Oahu, Hawaii posted at Two Kids and a Map.

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Sarah V. presents Beignets! posted at Wandering Off.

Austin, Texas, USA Pete & Kara present Austinversary! posted at Dispatches from a Winnebago.

Duluth, Minnesota, USA Dominique King presents Iconic lift bridge in Duluth is a major Minnesota landmark posted at Midwest Guest, saying, “This 100-plus-year-old lift bridge is so closely identified with Duluth, Minnesota, that the city prominently features its image in its official logo.”

Cities in the Middle East

Amman, Jordan Sherry Ott presents Late Night Cravings posted at Ottsworld, saying, “Late night eating in Amman Jordan”

Cities in Asia

Gwangneung, South Korea Chris Backe presents Destination: Gwangneung (Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do) posted at Chris in South Korea, saying, “From a day trip near Seoul ”

Cities in Europe

Paris, France Shelly Rivoli presents The best baby-friendly cafe in… Paris? posted at Travels with Baby Tips, saying, “Safe haven for travelers with tots who want to sip cafe creme in the City of Lights… sitting down. A great tip from a Paris mom for travelers or locals alike.”

Rome, Italy Alistair Wearmouth presents From Pizza to Pasta: Get Cooking in Rome posted at Away.com Travel Blog, saying, “A guide to two of the best cooking schools in Rome by food blogger Kendra Bailey Morris”

Cuenca, Spain Eurobookings presents Off the Beaten Path: Cuenca, Spain posted at The European Hotel Specialist.

The Hague, the Netherlands MoTravels presents 10 Awesome Places to See and Things to Do in the Hague Netherlands posted at Monique Rubin, saying, “A local’s perspective on The Hague, The Netherlands”

That concludes this Carnival edition, and thank you for visiting.

Please submit your (ONE, non-spammy) blog post to the next edition of the Carnival of Cities using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

(If you like this post, please consider subscribing to the blog via RSS feed or by email – the email signup box is on the right sidebar near the Search box. Thanks!)

Carnival of Cities for 26 January 2011

Sheila — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 23:46:37 +0000

The previous host was the Perceptive Travel blog and the next edition will again be hosted here on Sheila’s Guide on Wednesday, February 9.

If you’d like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog (February 23 and March 9 are open) please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks!

Off we go….

Cities in Europe

Orta San Giulio, Italy Donna Hull presents Baby Boomer Tips for Visiting Orta San Giulio, Italy posted at My Itchy Travel Feet, saying, “Outdoor cafes facing a lake that hosts a medieval island, walks through a park-like setting where chapels depict the life of St. Francis of Assisi through painted frescoes – you’ll find an un-touristy Italian paradise in Orta San Giulio.”

Istanbul, Turkey Nicole Elena Robertson presents Istanbul posted at Nicole Elena Robertson, saying, “Istanbul is a beautiful city, rich in history, and often overlooked by Western travelers. While researching my upcoming trip, I’ve gathered some stunning photos of Istanbul.”

Oslo, Norway Anne-Sophie Redisch presents Oslo – 10 Great Free Cultural Attractions posted at Sophie’s World, saying, “Oslo’s premier attraction is nature, and there are many, many ways to enjoy the great outdoors, free of charge. But it’s cold out these days. And not absolutely everyone loves skiing in sub-zero temperatures. So here are 10 favourite cultural attractions, less strenuous and completely free of charge.”

Leeds, Yorkshire, England Keith Kellett presents Winter at Roundhay Park posted at Travelrat’s Travels.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands r0dman presents Backpacking in Amsterdam posted at on the way to somewhere, saying, “We would just walk for a bit, then sit down and watch the thousands of people ride past on bicycles, families playing on the grass, dogs playing until they fight each other and then playing again, and all of the other things that happen when you take the time to sit and watch. It was relaxing, but it was interesting too.”

Rome, Italy Tim Freeman presents Weekend in Rome posted at Madrileño Americano, saying, “This blog post outlines my trip to Rome, Italy.”

Paris, France Robin Locker presents Go Organic in Paris posted at My Melange.

Cities in the Americas

Miami, Florida, USA Anna presents Meet my favourite city in the world posted at Anna’s Life and Mistakes, saying, “Miami…the unregrettable addiction”

Nashville, Tennessee, USA Nicole presents Finding my bliss at Blissdom in Nashville posted at Arrows Sent Forth, saying, “My memories of the atrium at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville and why I’m excited to visit again during the Blissdom conference.”

Seattle, Washington, USA Byteful Travel presents Why Pike’s Market is a MUST SEE place in Seattle posted at Byteful Travel, saying, “When I first arrived in Seattle, I knew I would enjoy exploring it. Seattle had a feeling of vast possibility and diversity. And I was very lucky since I had an awesome Couchsurfing host to introduce me to the city. He introduced me to Pike’s Place Market in downtown Seattle. (In fact, it was his idea.) Pike’s Market is one of the most famous places in Seattle, if not *the* most famous; and it’s right on the waterfront. The market is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers’ markets in the United States. Basically, they had EVERYTHING.”

Huntington Beach, California, USA Sharlene Earnshaw presents Surf City Here We Come- 8 Fun Things for Families to do in Huntington Beach posted at the talking trekaroo.

Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont, USA Miss Magpie presents Funtown, Vermont – Smugglers’ Notch posted at FindandGoSeek’s BLOG, saying, “Miss Magpie and her flock visits Smugglers’ Notch in January, 2011, to put their wintertime activities to the test.”

Awendaw, South Carolina, USA Jennifer Heisler presents Bull Island Ferry, Awendaw, SC posted at VisitSouth.com.

Destin, Florida, USA Mike @ jammer(six) presents Things To Do in Destin, Florida posted at jammer(six).

Detroit, Michigan, USA Dominique King presents Visiting Detroit’s William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse on Belle Isle posted at Midwest Guest, saying, “Detroit’s Art Deco-style William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse is the only light tower in the United States made entirely of marble, as well as likely the only lighthouse designed by famed architect Albert Kahn.”

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA My guest post about Two Mai Tais, 25 Years Apart on Pam Mandel’s Holoholo Wale blog, which is about wandering the Hawaiian Islands.

Cities in the Middle East

Doha, Qatar Merry presents ..A Dash through Doha, Qatar! posted at MERRY MAKES, saying, “This post outlines the major features of the capital city of Qatar, as experienced over 48hrs. My visit and subsequent blog post happened to coincide with the city’s win for the bid to host the 2022 Olympics FIFA World Cup. There it was in the headlines and I wanted to share my impressions of Doha City.”

That concludes this Carnival edition, and thank you for visiting.

Please submit your (ONE, non-spammy) blog post to the next edition of the Carnival of Cities using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

(If you like this post, please consider subscribing to the blog via RSS feed or by email – the email signup box is on the right sidebar near the Search box. Thanks!)

Carnival of Cities for 15 December 2010

Sheila — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 02:26:34 +0000

Welcome to the December 15, 2010 edition of the Carnival of Cities, where we tour the world in a single blog post via submissions from a variety of different blogs, all about any aspect of one city (or fair-sized town.)

I hosted the previous edition on BootsnAll Family Travel, and the next host is the Trekaroo Blog on Wednesday, December 29.

If you’d like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog (January 12 and 26 plus February 9 are open) please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks!

Off we go….

Cities in Europe

Copenhagen, Denmark Katie Sorene presents 6 Reasons Why I Love Copenhagen posted at Travel Blog – Tripbase, saying, “After a trip to TBEX Europe I fell in love with Copenhagen! Find out about the city’s penchant for cakes, fairy tales and things that work!”

Munich, Germany Elmer Boutin presents Bavarian Dream Vacation – Day 1, Munich posted at Musings of Řehoř.

Vienna, Austria Happy Hotelier presents 5 Tips for Visiting Vienna in Luxury posted at Happy Hotelier, saying, “For me Vienna is the Number 0ne destination in Europe: Old World Chic in a relaxed romantic environment”

Cities in the Americas

Detroit, Michigan, USA Dominique King presents Fill your shopping basket with regional goodies at Detroit’s Eastern Market posted at Midwest Guest, saying, “Detroit’s Eastern Market lays claim to being the largest historic public market district in the United States, and this huge open-air farmers market has a history dating back more than 160 years.”

Austin, Texas, USA My reasons why Austin Rocks: Shop the world at Tesoros Trading Company posted at Perceptive Travel Blog, saying, “I’ve shopped here for decades; great stuff at reasonable prices, and they’re online, too.”

Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA Sharlene Earnshaw presents Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga with kids posted at Suite Trip.

Linden, New Jersey, USA Khaleef @ KNS Financial presents NJ City Collects Over $1Million in 3 Months From Red Light Cameras posted at Faithful With A Few, saying, “By installing 3 red light (traffic) cameras, a New Jersey city has collected over $1 Million in only 3 months! How did they pull it off? Was it about money or safety? Read the full story and chime in!”

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA I wrote 8 tips on taking the kids to Las Vegas posted at Family Travel Guide, saying, “Yes, take the kids, but there are a few caveats….”

Portland, Oregon, USA Byteful Travel presents Portland’s Lan Su Classical Chinese Garden transports you across Time and Space posted at Byteful Travel, saying, “Have you ever overcome the boundaries time and space? Today I’m going to share with you an otherworldly place that allows you to easily overcome the boundaries of both space and time. I had only been in Portland for a few days when I first entered the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, the prime Chinese cultural heritage site within hundreds of miles; and its presence created a beautiful contrast to the western architecture around it. And even from the outside, the sense of sacred ground gave the air a texture of charged mystery.”

New York, New York, USA Jennifer Miner presents Fun Things to Do in NYC for Christmas posted at The Vacation Gals, saying, “The Christmas season is a great time to visit New York City. Here are some of the best, fun, family-friendly things to do in NYC for Christmas.”

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Sharlene Earnshaw presents How to Take on Las Vegas with Kids posted at the talking trekaroo.

Cities in Asia

Hong Kong, China Keith Kellett presents Hong Kong Video posted at Travelrat’s Travels.

Special All-Cities Post

Here’s a project for counting up the feral parrots in cities; longtime Carnival contributor GrrlScientist presents The World Parrot Count | Science | guardian.co.uk posted at Punctuated Equilibrium, saying, “Do you love parrots? Here’s a fun and educational international citizen-science project that you, your friends and family can participate in: a census of feral parrots that live in all the cities of the world!”

That concludes this edition, and thank you for visiting.

(If you like this post, please consider subscribing to the blog via RSS feed or by email – the email signup box is on the right sidebar near the Search box. Thanks!)

Carnival of Cities for 20 October 2010

Sheila — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:23:20 +0000

Welcome to the October 20, 2010 edition of the Carnival of Cities blog carnival, where we tour the world in a single blog post. This is a fun way to find new voices and it can also help with link building and SEO.

Thanks very much to the host of the previous edition, Absolutely the Hague!, and I’ll be the next host on the Perceptive Travel blog on November 3rd.

Submissions are due by noon CST on Tuesday, November 2. Submit to the Carnival using this form – a recent post about any aspect of ONE, single city (or a fair-sized town.)

If you’d like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog (December 1, 15 and 29 are open) please contact me at Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. Thanks!

Off we go….

Cities in Europe

Berlin, Germany Karen Bryan presents Berlin’s Haus am Checkpoint Charlie Museum posted at Europe A La Carte Blog, saying, “Written by Amanda Kendle of the Europe a la Carte blogging team”

Novi Sad, Serbia Emm presents Novi Sad: Liberty Square and Town Centre posted at Emm in London, saying, “Once you have visited Novi Sad, Serbia, you will see why it is so easy to fall in love with this beautiful city.”

Paris, France Mary Jo Manzanares presents Paris Pantheon: Finding Where the Bodies Are Buried posted at Traveling with MJ, saying, “History, art, and dead bodies. . . all can be found at the Paris Pantheon.”

Den Haag, the Netherlands Monique Rubin presents Duivenvoorde Castle posted at Absolutely The Hague!.

Lausanne, Switzerland JoAnna presents The Olympic Museum | Lausanne, Switzerland posted at Kaleidoscopic Wandering, saying, “I’m a huge fan of the Olympics, so I was smitten to discover the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was sort of like the Hard Rock Cafe of athletics, only way classier. The collection of equipment and memorabilia is worth a visit in and of itself.”

Leeds, West Yorkshire, England Darren Cronian presents Family friendly parks in and around Leeds posted at My Life in Leeds.

Camogli, Italy Keith Jenkins presents The colours of Camogli posted at velvet escape’s blog.

Rotterdam, the Netherlands Arwa Lokhandwala presents Museums in Rotterdam posted at NileGuide Rotterdam, saying, “A 2 day travel guide focusing on a selection of the most interesting museums in Rotterdam depicting the city’s cultural and naval heritage.”

Paris, France Jeanne presents Free Wifi Travel Office Paris – Soul Travelers 3 posted at soultravelers3, saying, “Finding great free wifi travel office in Paris”

Ohrid, Macedonia Karen Bryan presents Partying in Ohrid, Macedonia posted at Top Travel Content Europe, saying, “Based on original post by member 501Places.”

Colmar, France Lana presents Colorful Colmar posted at Monaco and Beyond.

Helsinki, Finland BLOGitse presents photos of the weekend #41 posted at BLOGitse/photos, saying, “Welcome to Helsinki!”

London, England Keith Kellett presents St. Pancras posted at Travelrat’s Travels.

Cities in the Americas

New York, New York USA Jennifer Miner presents Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Route in New York City posted at The Vacation Gals, saying, “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC is iconic to the holiday. Families with young children may be anxious about the crowds, though; here are some tips regarding the Thanksgiving Day Parade route from a former New Yorker.”

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada sheila gallant-halloran presents Fall Rhapsody in the NCC posted at Sheila Gallant-Halloran, saying, “Ottawa is Canada’s capital city – and we have the NCC (National Capital Commission) keep 90 kms of trails and parks in excellent condition in the nearby Gatineau Park – fall rhapsody”

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Angela Gaitaniella presents Double YOI! posted at The Burgh, Exposed, saying, “Myron Cope is Pittsburgh Legend. In this post, I talk bout the alleged “Curse of the Terrible Towel,” and the meaning behind the unassuming gold washcloth.”

Boulder City, Nevada, USA This is my own Carnival submission - Quick shot: Hoover Dam posted at the BootsnAll Family Travel Guide. It’s the biggest thing in Boulder City, that’s for sure.

San Diego, California, USA Scott Carner presents Torrey Pines State Park posted at GTD Retail, saying, “A first-hand review of Torrey Pines State Reserve in San Diego!”

Sagamore Hills Township, Ohio, USA Anthony McCune presents A Road Trip To… Brandywine Falls posted at Stark County, Ohio News And Views….

New York, New York, USA Madeleine Begun Kane presents The Flying Karamazov Brothers — Limerick Review posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.

San Francisco, California, USA Sam presents 30 Sights to See on Vacation in San Francisco posted at Travel Welcome, saying, “Singer Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco, and you will, too.”

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA JoAnna presents Romantic Things to Do in Las Vegas posted at WhyGo Las Vegas, saying, “When a lot of people think of Las Vegas, they think about the gaming, clubbing and nightlife, but it can be a very romantic place as well. I put together this round-up of romantic things to do for those who would like to check out the city with their special someone.”

Dearborn, Michigan, USA Dominique King presents See the bus Rosa Parks rode into history at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan posted at Midwest Guest, saying, “Civil Rights leader Rosa Parks spent many years living in Detroit, Michigan, so it only seems fitting that the bus she rode into history after refusing to relinquish her seat to a white man in 1955 followed her to Michigan.”

That concludes this edition. and thanks very much for visiting!

Please submit your (one, non-spammy) blog post about any aspect of ONE, single city to the next edition of the Carnival of Cities using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

What is old is new again: Blog Carnivals for link building and SEO

Sheila — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:51:36 +0000

A long time ago (early 2006) I was a brand-new blogger just getting started growing the BootsnAll Family Travel blog.

There was a lot to learn about how to get traffic to a blog – or from a B2B perspective, how to build a blog that draws a crowd. One suggestion on a favorite blog of mine (Free Money Finance, still going today) was to build inbound links and traffic by submitting posts to relevant blog carnivals.

A blog carnival is centered on a theme or topic; it’s hosted on one blog but usually rotates hosting duties, and it gathers posts on that topic into one blog post called a Carnival “edition.” There’s a blog carnival site that helps to organize and standardize the submission process.

In February 2007, I was hired to run a weekly blog carnival for the now-defunct Home Turf Media – it was called the Carnival of Cities and featured blog posts submitted by lots of different blogs, all about any aspect of one, single city (or fair-sized town – we were pretty loose about that and still are.)

Through all the general Web upheaval, I kept up my involvement with the Carnival, and ended up as the owner/host of it. Sometimes, continuing to take inputs and craft editions seemed kind of silly and outdated; so “old school,” right?

Enter the rise of Twitter and Facebook information sharing with their no follow links, and the increased challenges in building solid inbound links to one’s site for SEO (Search Engine Optimization.) Suddenly, the chance to get legitimate, decent quality links from another blog, simply by participating in a blog carnival, doesn’t seem so old-fashioned any more. One downside is that spammers have figured this out, too, so a lot of garbage submissions come in, but hosts are usually pretty ruthless about weeding it out or their Carnival dies.

Here is the latest Carnival of Cities edition, hosted on Absolutely The Hague! based in the Netherlands. Entries are sorted by continent and there’s a nice variety – that’s why we say that we “tour the world in one blog post.”

It so happens that this blog hosts the next Carnival of Cities; this week on Wednesday, October 20. Given the focus on tourism and travel here, I would love to see more CVB, DMO and tourist board blogs participating.

The submission deadline is noon CST Tuesday, October 19, so get hopping and go here to submit your (one, non-spammy) recent blog post about any aspect of one, single city.

If it’s past the deadline, no worries….I’m also hosting the Carnival on November 3 on the Perceptive Travel blog. The November 17 edition will be hosted on Byteful Travel.

No one will read your blog unless they know about it, so think about submitting to mine or any other Carnival, and also take a look at this Darren Rowse (ProBlogger) video titled, How I Use Social Media to Promote My Blogs.