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

A Seaport Village Sunset

Looking for a getaway to warmer climes this winter, for you and your significant other? Consider San Diego, California! You can have a FANTASTIC time for around $300! That includes lodging, meals, and entertainment – if you drive, you’ll have to figure in the price of gas. If you fly, you’ll have to figure in the price of airfare and vehicle rental. This is for a two-night stay, including two breakfasts/lunches/dinners, and two days of activities.

Here’s where you stay:

I used Expedia to find hotel rates at around $80 per night – trust me, there are a TON of them. The Best Western Mission Bay and the Wyndham Garden San Diego are each a couple of blocks from Mission Bay, and fifteen minutes from the Gaslamp District or the ocean. The Pacific Shores Inn is a mere 100 yards from the Pacific ocean and San Diego’s famed boardwalk.

Total Cost: about $175

Here’s where you eat:

Breakfast:
Each of the hotels above offer complimentary breakfast – for this budget to work, you need to count on eating a free morning meal at your hotel of choice.

Lunch:
Day One: The Boardwalk Bistro (on Mission Beach) – grab two lunch combos (salad, soup and 1/2 sandwich) and a drink for $10.00 each.
Day Two: Greek Island Cafe (Seaport Village) – share a Combo Platter which includes Gyros, Souvlaki, Salad, Pita, Dolma, and Spanikopita. Add a couple of drinks and get out of there for under $20.

Dinner:
Day One: Split a pizza and a house salad at the Sidebar in the Gaslamp District. Throw in a couple of glasses of wine and spend about $35.
Day Two: Time to spoil yourselves a little bit! Indulge in dinner at the Coronado Boathouse – seafood entrees are about $25 per person, so if you add drinks you’ll probably spend about $65.

Breakfast = $0
Lunch = $40
Dinner = $100

Total Cost: about $140

Here’s what you do:

Day One: Hit Mission Beach and the Oceanfront Boardwalk. People watch, wander shoeless in the sand, soak up the sun, and be lulled by the sound of the waves. In the evening enjoy the culture and vivacity of the historic Downtown Gaslamp Quarter.

Day Two: Check out Seaport Village during the day – watch the boats meander about, window shop, and enjoy the fresh sea air. In the evening cross the bridge over to Coronado Island and experience the energetic yet serene island atmosphere.

Total Cost: The $35 you have left in spending money! The perfect amount for some San Diego themed souvenirs!

Photo credit:

- Seaport Village by Jay Martinez on Flickr Creative Commons.

This piece of public art is called “Liberation” and was created by Brandon Roth as part of the Urban Trees 7 Collection. And now for some (more) clues:

This city (and the surrounding area) is home to tons of wildlife. Literally. They have all kinds of animals.

The surfing is great and there are kayaks for everyone.

Where else will you find a restaurant owned by Jim Croce’s widow?

If you said “San Diego” then congratulations on being the smartest person alive. And I mean that.

San Diego may very well be the best city in America. No, I don’t live there. The weather in San Diego is perfect and the people are friendly. There is a lot to do and the local sports teams are just good enough that your favorite team will come play them.

Did I mention the weather?

This post is part of UpTake’s Public Art Series.

Photo: Port of San Diego via Flickr

This weekend (or Thursday as the case may be) kicks off another fall American tradition, football season. That’s right, we’re ready for some football!

Whether you are a fan of the college gridiron or that of the National Football League (NFL) there will be plenty of weekend getaways available to you and your friends over the course of the season. We’re talking tailgating, folks.

They say that football fans travel well, with some teams traveling better than others, but one thing is the same for any pigskin pilgrim — you’ll need a place to stay and places to eat. Also, drinking.

Lodging

If you’re lucky, you know someone in the city that you’re visiting and can save some money by crashing in their guest room or on the couch. If you go that route keep in mind that your friend is doing you a favor, not planning your itinerary. Don’t assume they’re taking time out of their lives to show you the sites. It’s bad enough you’re rooting for the visiting team, don’t be a jerk about it.

Lots of hotels offer game-related deals and discounts, often as part of a package deal with airfare, game tickets and/or rental cars. The best place to locate such information is on the official site of your respective team or a travel site specializing in the town your team plays in.

Dining

Just because your football trip is taking you to a stadium and not a museum doesn’t mean you won’t be able to soak up some local culture. Eat what they eat! If you are in Philly find the best cheesesteak. If you’re in San Diego grab a fish taco. If you’re in New Orleans, get some gumbo. See how that works? That’s culture you can eat!

Drinking

Keep in mind that bars are prone to loud, excessive and sometimes uncool behavior. Also keep in mind that the local fans already don’t like you because of the colors you’re flying. You are on enemy turf, so be nice, have some fun and buy a drink or two — the latter could be the difference between a very unpleasant outing and a memorable one.

Kids

Kids are fans, too. Nothing is going to shine an uglier light on you and your hometown team than being rude and vulgar in the stands. It happens. Usually about four beers in. If you are taking your kids with you prepare them for what could be an ugly situation. If you aren’t taking your kids, be aware of those around you. Grace under fire, people.

The bottom line is, football is a game, and while you may bleed team colors, remember, you’re just an adult cheering for guys playing said game, not some militant last hope of football kind. Have fun. Be cool. Cheer accordingly.