Sheila's Guide To The Good Stuff

Carnival ride at night (courtesy AcrylicArtist at Flickr CC)

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.

We normally publish every other week, although my business travel caused a lot of delays in the last month. The next edition will be hosted on the Perceptive Travel blog.

If you would like to host a future Carnival edition on your blog, please contact me as the Carnival organizer:  Sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com. You do need to register on the carnival administration website (it’s easy and free) to submit to this or any blog carnival.

Here’s more info and background about the Carnival of Cities blog carnival, and now….

Off we go!

Cities in the Americas

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA   Linda Mundy presents Las Vegas is a Great City! posted at Linda’s Las Vegas, saying, “My first post on a blog intended to highlight the hidden facets of Las Vegas and surrounding areas.”

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada   Zhu presents Skyline of Ottawa – By the River posted at Correr Es Mi Destino, saying, “Just like that, overnight, some­one switched the heat on and we went from freez­ing to sweat­ing. Or more exactly, from single-digit tem­per­a­tures to a balmy 27°C. Wel­come to Ottawa, where spring is a two-day tran­si­tion between win­ter and summer!”

Los Angeles, California, USA   Leslee Haralson presents The Wild, Wild West posted at Ready for Adventures, saying, “The city of Los Angeles has many museums, but the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage brings Hollywood and history together.”

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA   Byteful Travel presents First Impressions of Hawai’i posted at Byteful Travel, saying, “Kona, Hawaii — Today is only my 4th day on the island, but I feel like I’ve been here much longer. In short, it has been magnificent. This island really does have a strange kind of magic to it, and I can easily say that in all my travels I have never been to such an incredible place. As I’ve learned, Hawaii is the only US State where myth has been woven into the very fabric of the culture itself, often with fascinating results.”

Manassas, Virginia, USA   I was personally awed. What Jennie Dean built in Manassas, Virginia will live forever is posted at Perceptive Travel Blog; the inspiring memorial to a woman who was born a slave, and built an entire educational campus through determination and persuasion.

Cities in Europe

Copenhagen, Denmark   lozula presents What the Segway? A tour through Copenhagen, posted at Finding the universe, saying, “Taking a Segway tour through Copenhagen”

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We’re back!

After weeks of problems with the main website that handles carnival administration and submissions, it looks like most issues are fixed, so it’s time to welcome you back 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.

Since we were out of commission for awhile, this is a bigger Carnival edition than usual, but that’s OK – it’s very diverse!

The previous edition was hosted on the Perceptive Travel Blog, and we will return there for the next one on May 2, 2012.

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

Here’s more info and background about the Carnival of Cities blog carnival, and thanks so much for your patience and support!

Off we go….

Cities in the Middle East

Cairo, Egypt   MummyT presents Seven Things That Make Cairo Worth the Hassle posted at Travels with a Nine Year Old.

Cities in the Americas

Ottawa, Canada   Anwar presents A tour of Winterlude 2012 posted at Beyond My Front Door, saying, “A tour of Winterlude, one of the largest winter celebrations in the city of Ottawa, Canada”

Tunica, Mississippi, USA   Lisa Konupka presents Tunica Rivergate Festival Celebrates 20th Year posted at Down the Road in Tunica MS Blog.

San Francisco, California, USA   Byteful Travel presents Cable Car Museum Review: A Free San Francisco Mechanical Marvel posted at Byteful Travel, saying, “San Francisco, CA: Even before I stepped inside, I heard the rumbling, churning sound of the massive sheave wheels, the source of motion for all of the cable cars in San Francisco. And although I didn’t know it at the time, I too would soon be harnessing that power as I rode a cable car westward toward Golden Gate Park. I also didn’t know about the hilarious bright-red guy… but we’ll get to that. And as you’ll soon realize, the Cable Car Museum is a must see.”

Savannah, Georgia, USA   Kerry Dexter presents Bach, bluegrass, and blues: Savannah Music Festival posted at Perceptive Travel Blog.

Dunbar Township, Oklahoma, USA   Becky McCray presents The mysterious Dunbar Townsite sign posted at Out Standing in My Field, saying, “Sometimes, following a mysterious sign leads to an slice of history.”

Santiago, Chile   Michael Turtle presents It’s a dog’s life posted at Time Travel Turtle.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA   Eileen Ludwig presents Best Sunset Cruise Water Taxi Fort Lauderdale posted at Freelance Tourist: Travel Tips.

New York, New York, USA   Gina Martin presents Family Fun in New York City’s East Village : The Big Gay Ice Cream Shop posted at Albany Kid, saying, “The genius of the Big Gay Ice Cream team is in the choice of toppings – from sea salt to sriracha to pumpkin butter, this is not your usual frosty freeze joint.”

Toyahvale, Texas, USA   I wrote about Millions of gallons of water in the desert: Balmorhea State Park posted at Perceptive Travel Blog - stay cool and stay wet in the Chihuahuan Desert of western Texas.

Columbus, Ohio, USA   Joe Vargo presents Till Dynamic Fare Features Biodynamic Cuisine posted at The Columbus Experience.

Phoenix, Arizona, USA   Nina Simmons presents Top Ten Mexican Food Restaurants in Phoenix posted at The Hot Sheet, saying, “Here in Phoenix we take our Mexican food seriously. Our Southwestern and Mexican restaurants are supremely authentic and numerous. To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we’ve put together a list of our top ten favorite Mexican food restaurants in Phoenix, although we can assure you this list could have been much, much longer.”

Branson, Missouri, USA   Jeff Sullivan presents George Jones Branson Concert, October 12, November 9 Shows posted at Branson Missouri Tourist Guide.

South Lyon, Michigan, USA   Dominique King presents War Dog tribute stands tall in South Lyon, Michigan posted at Midwest Guest, saying, “This tribute to man’s best friend in metro Detroit was literally hidden history until a group of local veterans and community activists spruced it up in loving memory of some of America’s most loyal and unsung war veterans.”

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA   Jennifer Miner presents Volunteering in New Orleans posted at The Vacation Gals, saying, “Guest post from Jessica Spiegel, who discusses the importance of volunteering during a New Orleans vacation; the city still needs it.”

Canton, Ohio, USA   Kathy Gray presents Culinary Class at Gervasi Dares to Make a Personal Chef Out of Me! posted at What’s Happening in Canton/Stark County, Ohio.

Quebec City, Canada   Mary Jo Manzanares presents Getaway Canada: Quebec City posted at The Traveler’s Way, saying, “Perfect for a long getaway weekend, Quebec City is almost like being in Paris.”

Cities in Australia and New Zealand

Christchurch, New Zealand   Heather presents Post-quake update from Christchurch, New Zealand posted at The Kiwi Travel Writer, saying, “thought you need one from down under in my quake damaged city”

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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 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.

(more…)

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Hello, Jordan!

I’m thrilled to be able to tell you that I’ll be traveling soon to the Hashemite Kingdom, thanks to an invitation from the Jordanian Tourism Board.

There will be general travel and family travel posts over on the Perceptive Travel blog, a guest post on prices for the World’s Cheapest Destinations blog, and I’ll explore and discuss Jordanian tourism’s social media marketing efforts here and in the Tourism Currents Facebook Page, on Twitter and at least one of our newsletters.

Most of you know that I’m not a huge fan of press trips and fam tours for my own travel, because I do have angst-y issues with whether one can maintain objectivity when all the goodies are provided.

With this invitation, I thought long and hard about it, and I’m going anyway.

Here’s why:

1) Chances are slim that I’d get there on my own anytime soon,  and HELLO, are you kidding?  The magnificent ruins at Petra, of course, but also urban buzz in Amman (I had no idea that there is a 6000 seat Roman amphitheater smack in the middle of town,) desert beauty in places like Wadi Rum contrasted with a lush pine forest and nature reserve, a resort atmosphere (heavy on the mud) at the Dead Sea, mosaics in Madaba….what an amazing opportunity.

2) The Middle East is a favorite region (I lived in Bahrain as a preteen, and even had my 12th birthday in Shiraz, Iran) but it is misunderstood by many. I’d like to help clear that up, and….

3)  As with the Hawaii blogger press trip, I know that the Jordanian and Middle Eastern tourism industries are suffering from safety perceptions given the current situation in Egypt. They’re losing visitors. I’d love to dispel those concerns by visiting myself and telling you what I find.

More info when I have it.  Passport is ready!

Disclosure: The Jordanian Tourism Board is providing my airfare, accommodation and entry fees. They have not told me what to write about, and the itinerary is still in flux. I am not traveling as part of a group.

Sharing Makes You Smart

• 

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 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.”

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