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

Guess what time it is, Internet! That’s right, it’s time to travel around you! Stand still.

Travel Around the Internet is a weekly UpTake feature where we showcase the numerous emails we receive from you, the reader. Also, tweets, deals and stuff we stumble upon (and Digg, and reddit). Basically, it’s internet travel news all in one nice place.

Seriously, we’re a lot of fun to be around.

There’s no crying in flying — at least not on Southwest. (AOL Travel)

Snorkel for luminescence at CasaSandra on Holbox Island, Mexico. (CasaSandra)

Looking for Scottsdale luxury at an affordable price? (Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale)

Win a Disney family trip to Hollywood! (Family.com)

Looking for good surf in Los Angeles? (CBS: Best of L.A.)

Tour the rainforest by zip line and moonlight in St. Lucia! (AdrenaLUNA)

DreamWorks and Gaylord Opryland have an experience that you might like! (Gaylord Opryland)

The world’s most endangered travel destinations — see them while you can! (lonely planet)

Live your own Shark Week! (Gadling)

Jackasses on airplanes. (CNN)

Universal Orlando Resort has some Harry Potter travel deals that are just like magic! (Universal Orlando)

More travel drama re: Cuba. (MSNBC)

In need of a mancation? Here are the best places! (AskMen)

If you would like to see your link on UpTake please use the email link in sidebar. Happy travels!

Now that I live in California (again) I have big plans to make a dream a reality. I want to learn how to surf. I’m not sure why I haven’t done it in the past. A lot of my friends consider it to be the only thing that keeps them (relatively) sane.

There are surfing schools and day lessons available all along the coast, and I plan on visiting one of them — as soon as Living Social emails the right deal. A family coupon would be nice.

I’d love to get my boys up on some boards. We had thought that skiing might be our family activity, but it turns out that everyone hates the cold, so now we’re thinking surfing might be the answer. We shall see.

Destination surf vacations sound really awesome.

Do you surf? Do you have kids that surf?

This post is part of our Friday Family Series.

Photo: Luis Alves via Flickr

If you are going to be traveling anywhere near Los Angeles this weekend, and by near I mean San Francisco, Las Vegas and Phoenix, then you may want to take some precautions. Things are going down in the city of angels and you do not want anything to do with it.

Seriously.

They are calling it Carmageddon, and it is the closing of the 405 freeway for a 10 mile stretch as of this evening (Friday, July 15), and opening again at 6:00 a.m. on Monday. Basically, the traffic in L.A. is going straight from the frying pan and into the fire. It happens.

Travelers trying to get to Disneyland or the beach for their family summer vacations should allow for long delays (we’re talking HOURS) and avoid the 405, I-10 and 101 (the 405 is closed between the two latter freeways). My advice? If you make it to the Disneyland Resort, just stay there. If you make it to the beach of your choice, find a hotel and ride out the weekend on surf and waves. If you need to access LAX, you are in for a very frustrating weekend. Keep smiling!

This is part of our Friday Family Vacation Series. It’s probably not our best. Hate the message not the messenger.

Photo: Atwater Village Newbie via Flickr