It’s Mardi Gras, people. Time to party. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

There are celebrations being held all over the world, but the two best are Carnival in Rio and the craziness of America’s own New Orleans. By best I mean the most drinking, parades, and public nudity. You may have your own ranking system.

If you can’t get to Brazil or New Orleans there are plenty of other places to enjoy the celebration before Lent sets in (although, my personal experience has shown a lot more people seem to partake in Fat Tuesday than Ash Wednesday — go figure).

St. Louis throws a nice party as does Mississippi’s West Coast (both of which offer lots of family fun). Most cities feature some sort of celebration, although they tend to focus on Fat Tuesday (February 21) rather than weeks of debauchery. San Diego claims to have the best party out west, but I recall one Fat Tuesday in Seattle that brought out police in riot gear, which is always a sign that things are pretty wild (also a sign that it is time to duck down an alley and get the heck out of there).

If you want something that the kids will enjoy (not that they won’t get a kick out of the above, but the parents will probably have a nervous breakdown), then check out the rolling good times at Disneyland. Yes, Disneyland. Parades start tomorrow (February 10) and the fun runs from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in New Orleans Square (check link below for dates, subject to change).

Disney’s New Orleans Bayou Bash has all of your favorite Disney characters, street performers, food, and music, and runs well into March.

Unfortunately there isn’t any drinking at Disney’s party, but a quick walk through Downtown Disney, one of the Disney hotels or Disney’s California Adventure can wet your whistle quick enough. Please note, they do tend to frown on public nudity.

Party on!

Photo: Mark Gstohl via Flickr

When one thinks of Lincoln, Nebraska, assuming one thinks of it at all, it’s probably fair to say that “art” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. No worries, Lincoln. It happens.

And then this mural went up in downtown Lincoln. Now we all owe Nebraska an apology. Especially you. You know who you are, naysayer.

This post is part of the UpTake Public Art Series. If you see an interesting piece of public art, snap a picture and send it in. We’ll feature it on UpTake!

Photo: karindalziel via Flickr

I recently spent a few days in Philadelphia, my second visit to the City of Brother Love, and I think I have finally figured out why people live there. Although my first visit solidified the stereotypes I’d heard about the less than pleasant people, my return trip revealed the vibrancy of one of America’s oldest and most diverse cities. If you’re looking for a great city that’s a heck of a lot less expensive than the average metropolis in the area, head to Philly – and check out some of these free and cheap hot spots.

South Street

It’s a hike from the more popular Historic or Downtown districts, but South Street is worth the walk (or cab fare). It’s an eclectic mix of colorful architecture, restaurants, thrift stores, and “adult” shops. I’m not sure what makes South Street the perfect destination for lingerie and adult toys, but there were more places to buy love potions in this neighborhood than in all of Vegas. That being said, it’s still a very kid-friendly walking district during the day, and a great place to score a slice of pizza the size of your head. (Lorenzo’s - $2 for a slice of cheese.)

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The Boston Harbor Island Ferry Center

If you are vacationing in downtown Boston, you’ll find that it’s not very easy to access the shore.  Of course, Massachusetts is home to dozens of fabulous beaches, but many of them are quite a distance away and can be hard to access if you don’t have a car.  For a quieter Boston waterfront adventure without renting a car, consider taking a trip to the Boston Harbor Islands.

There are 30 Boston Harbor Islands – 12 that can be visited.  Georges and Spectacle Islands are each serviced by their own ferries, while Lovells, Grape, Peddocks, or Bumpkin require a transfer at Georges (or you can catch a ferry on the South Shore).  Thompson Island sometimes has its own ferry, or you can catch a connection at Spectacle.  There are also four peninsulas that are part of the Boston Harbor Islands – Deer Island, Nut Island, World’s End, and Webb Memorial.  To access Little Brewster Island, you’ll need to sign up for the Lighthouse Tour.

The Boston Harbor Islands all offer different activities – including free jazz concerts, yoga, kids’ tide pool exploration, kayaking, island caching, hiking, and more.  On a recent trip to Spectacle Island, we visited the beach (one of the few on the Boston Harbor Islands), collected sea glass, and participated in a tide pool exploration.  Check out everything online before heading out so you can decide which island you want to visit, because they are all different.

If you do want to spend time on the Boston Harbor Islands, you may want to stay at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf, which is just a few steps away from the ferry center.

Disclosure: I received complimentary ferry tickets to the Boston Harbor Islands.

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig