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This is where we find the best travel-related news and deals on the internet and stuff them all into one awesome post. You’re welcome.

If you would like to see your link here please contact me via the editor email in the sidebar. Thanks for playing!

On to the links:

Beyond Mickey: top 10 Orlando tips for mums and dads (The Guardian)

12 remarkable places you’ve never heard of (Destination Travel)

5 gems of Bangkok (iTravelnet)

Billions of Balloons Hit The Skies Next Week In New Mexico (Jaunted)

Know the best spots in Paris to marvel at Notre-Dame (Fodor’s)

Pilots from Continental and United airlines demonstrate on Wall Street (Photo Blog)

Top 10 Doctor Who filming locations (Visit Britain Super Blog)

Worldwide weird: Make way for marching ducks in Memphis (BBC)

Lumière | The Louvre Less Traveled (NY Times)

Europe through the eyes of babes (The Miami Herald)

Taste of Travel: Not the Usual Cheesy Places (NatGeo)

How do other countries stack up to the U.S. in airport security? (Budget Travel)

World’s Most Beautiful Museums (Travel + Leisure)

That’s it for this week. Safe travels!

Top Row: The grounds of the White Elephant, the Whaling Museum, Bottom Row: The Atlantic Ocean, The White Elephant Hotel Residences

As is typical in many families during the end of the school year, we have all been exceptionally busy, and haven’t spent much time together later.  Our weekend getaway to Nantucket was exactly what we all needed to regroup and spend some time together.

While we initially considered taking our car over, it was highly recommended to us that we don’t.  It’s incredibly expensive, and there’s really very limited parking on the island.  So, we left our car in Hyannis, and boarded the high-speed Hy-Line ferry.  Once there, we were really glad that we didn’t have our car, because we definitely wouldn’t have used it.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the White Elephant shuttle and driven directly to our hotel.  Since we’d arrived late, we decided to go to sleep and get ready for the morning.  But first, we explored our amazing hotel – with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen with toaster oven and microwave.

First thing in the morning, we went to breakfast at the Fog Island Cafe, which offers delicious (albeit a bit expensive) pancakes, scrambles, and omelets.  Then, we headed out to the Whaling Museum, which my children loved.  The museum includes a discovery room for children, as well as a family guide, where the kids can follow cartoon Puritan children Obidiah and Rachel around the museum.  My kids especially loved the giant sperm whale skeleton, and couldn’t believe that it’s real.  We all enjoyed visiting the roof of the museum which offers a beautiful view of the island.

In part two, I’ll discuss our visit to Children’s Beach, the Nantucket Atheneum, and the Brotherhood of Thieves.

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: The White Elephant Hotel Residences provided us with a complimentary two-night stay, as well as dinner at the Brant Point Grill (excluding alcohol). We were also given complimentary tickets to the Whaling Museum.

While Phoenix is known for hot weather, beautiful resorts, and Cactus League spring training, it’s also home to some wonderful, educational museums, showcasing their culture and surroundings.  Although the weather was fabulous while I was there, I also had the chance to step inside to a few local museums.  I’d recommend these three locations for anyone looking to learn while on vacation:

An Exhibit at the MIM

The Musical Instrument Museum

Admittedly, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this museum.  However, I left having been incredibly impressed at the way the MIM uses musical instruments and music to showcase culture throughout the world.  This large museum has multiple rooms, with country-specific exhibits, such as the one shown in the photo, as well as an artists exhibit (with celebrity instruments), and a hands-on, experience gallery.

Guests to the MIM receive a headset to wear throughout the museum.  As you stand in front of the televisions, the audio plays, really drawing you into the exhibit.

The MIM also has children’s programs, a theater, and a cafe.

The Exterior of the Heard Museum

The Heard Museum

The Heard Museum, founded in 1929 by Phoenix settlers Dwight and Maie Bartlett Heard (originally showcasing their personal collection), is a must-visit attraction for anyone looking to learn more about the Native Americans of Arizona.  The museum offers hundreds of original Native American artifacts which truly showcase the culture of each tribe.

Our group was especially moved by the “Remembering Our Indian School Days” exhibit, which showcased the boarding school days.  The exhibit uses pictures, original letters, and audio to educate visitors.

The Entrance of the Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden isn’t technically a museum, but I still thought it was useful to mention here, as I’d highly recommend visiting it if you want to learn about the plant life of Arizona.  It features various species of cacti and plant life, throughout a beautiful, walkable, garden area.  There’s also a seasonal butterfly garden, and a new herb garden (opening soon).  Mornings are generally more quiet.

While many of these Phoenix museums are downtown, museum visitors don’t have to stay downtown.  I’d recommend staying at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess if you don’t have children with you, or the Westin Kierland Resort if you are traveling with kids.

Photo credits: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: As a guest on the Greater Phoenix media trip, I received complimentary lodging, meals, activities, and travel expenses.  All opinions are my own.

Case de Benin art gallery

The wild and colorful images of Brazil’s Carnival celebrations stir up fond memories of my travels to the heart of Brazil’s rich culture, Salvador, Bahia.  Salvador’s carnival is arguably the most authentic of the non-stop street parties but the city also offers a real glimpse of  Brazil’s history and culture that you won’t get anywhere else in the country. Salvador was Brazil’s original capitol and it boasts so many historical places, monuments and people that you can literally visit one every 5 minutes. There’s also truckloads of tourists traps so here’s my list of  slightly less touristy activities:

1. Eating Moqueca at Iemanja Restaurant

I slurped this rich, coconut, fish stew down almost daily when I was in Salvador.  The sea goddess Iemanja is Salvador’s most popular deity and the restaurant plays proper homage with an interior covered in turquoise blue walls and sea shells.  The waitress wear long white gowns with blue accents and serene smiles. Bahian cuisine is the soul of Brazil and this is one of the best places to experience it.

2.Viewing The Eight Orixa Sculptures On  Lake Torroro

This dramatic spectacle is not to missed.  Rising out of a small lake, eight life-sized, fiber glass statues demonstrate Salvador’s spiritual heritage. The Candomble religion plays an important part in everyday Brazilian life and this stunning park sculpture shows just one of the ways.  The main deities are displayed with their symbolic effects, such as Xango with his ax and Oxum with her mirror.  They loom in brilliant color, almost blending in with the splashing waves, trees and fishing boats.

3.Strolling Through Salvador Museums

I’m an art freak. No trip is complete to me without a visit to at least one gallery or museum.  Salvador actually has scads of them clustered in Pelourinho and beyond.  I loved the City Museum, which displays contemporary Brazilian art  and Case de Benin,  which showcases artifacts from Benin, West Africa. The culture of Benin influences a large portion of Bahian culture through art and spiritual customs.

4. Visiting the Zumbi Palmares Statue

Zumbi  was a famous freedom fighter who represents African pride to many Brazilians. An imposing bronze monument was erected to honor his historical significance in Pelourinho Square in 2008.  He led rebellions at the end of the 17th century and 300 years after his death, Brazilians pay tribute with a national day of remembrance  on November 20.