The Great Big Carnival of Cities

Welcome to another edition of the Carnival of Cities! I do enjoy hosting this carnival – I get to (virtually) see all kinds of places I’d never come across otherwise. Thanks for the submissions!

Wow, there are loads of links this week, let’s see if I can make sense out of them. To set the tone, let’s have a little accordion music. It’s all below the break…

US and Canada

From Living the Scientific Life, here’s West 66th/Lincoln Center Subway Art 31.

Traveling Mamas takes us to Sea World on Sun, Shamu, and Sesame Street at the San Diego Sea World. How old is Shamu now, anyway, or is that Shamu II?

Anthony says that the Beech Creek Butterfly House Is Great Entertainment on Stark County Ohio News and Views… Bonus? It’s free.

Our pals at Go Green Travel Green headed up to Lake Agnes Hiking Trail and Tea House in Lake Louise, Canada. Elizabeth, at Nerd’s Eye View we loves us some tea house hikes. We went to the Six Glaciers Tea House some time back and just loved it.

What A Trip headed out to swanky Mendocino’s Eco-friendly Alegria Inn. It sounds like they did some fabulous feasting.

On City Sifting, there are cupcakes! Emily heads over to Baked & Wired in Washington DC. Emily, we get our cupcakes at Verite, when the inspiration hits and personally, I applaud the cupcake revival!

Also near DC, Jon takes us Rafting (on) the Shenandoah. This looks to be a swell way to spend a summer afternoon.

Pardon me, boy, is that the… yup, it sure is. The Q Family gives us 13 Things to do in Chattanooga. Of course there’s a choo choo on the list.

Down in Branson, Mo, we’re going country. (Nerd’s Eye View unexpected fact: I like country music, though I’m very much an alt+country gal.) Check out the Branson Country USA Late Night Entertainment options.

For less twangy culture, Byteful goes Exploring at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Museum. Inexplicable art? My idea of a good time.

For more Twin Cities madness, there’s Hey Minnesotans, have we really thought this whole August thing through? Because Emily Says So seems to think Minnesota might be biting off more than she can chew.

Asia

I am unable to stop envying the Next Great Travel Writer on Intelligent Travel. Suzanne Roberts meets Genghis Khan at the Disco in Ulaanabaatar. For real. She’s at a disco in Ulaannbaatar. I’m going to hang up my travel cred now. [Sigh.]

Also on the envy list, Londonelicious. Kristin when to Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Fish Wednesday, anyone?

For pictures of an excellent place to get lost, join Amerikajin at Shinjuku for shopping, eating, and um, petting dogs in sweaters?

Mexico

Are you curious about dental tourism? I just had my choppers checked and cleaned for the whopping fee of 230USD. Turns out it costs a lot less south of the border. Here’s Teeth Extraction In Mexico, Dental Tourism.

Middle East

Caitlin from Roaming Tales sends in this inviting Photo Friday: Resting in the Great Umayyed Mosque. Damascus. Ah, how that name conjures the romantic and exotic.

Europe

There are more mosque photos of Islamic architecture on Itinerant Londoner – he’s in Istanbul, another place name that activates the imagination.

Europe a la Carte says that The Best Things in Life (and Helsinki) are Free. Or, almost. I remember Helsinki being a pricey destination, so it’s useful to have ideas for stretching those Euros.

Speaking of stretching your money, Eye Flare says it’s possible to score Cheap Theater Tickets in London.

Jessica at Italylogue knows what’s important. Gelato. Tag along to her Favorite Florence Gelato Shop: Festival del Gelato.Jessica, I’m partial to hazelnut. Thank you.

Do you want your link in the Carnival of Cities? Submit your non-spammy post about a destination here. The next carnival will be hosted by our pals at Perceptive Travel, so if you didn’t make it in this time, do try again!