About.com's First Travel Blog Carnival - Eye-Popping Travel Photos

Welcome to About.com's first Travel Blog Carnival, "Eye-Popping Travel Photos."

Have you ever wanted to plan a trip, but just couldn’t figure out where to go, or wanted to have an "armchair adventure," but couldn’t find a good selection of pictures to look at? Wonder no more. About.com’s Travel Guides are happy to share some truly spectacular travel photos with you in this blog carnival dedicated to vacation photography.

Grab a glass of iced tea or a cappuccino and enjoy these marvelous images from all over the world. Next time you want to plan a vacation, you’ll know just where to start.

• Mark used Priceline to find a hotel in Page, Arizona. One unexpected payoff from his trip was his spectacular photo of Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River.



• Angela takes us to northwest Washington, where the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival celebrates the vibrant colors of the flower fields.



• The U.S. and Canada each have extensive national park systems. Darren shares a moment at Medano Creek, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado, home to North America’s tallest sand dunes.



• According to Kirsten, Tobacco Caye, Belize, is the perfect place for puppies – and people – to enjoy crystal-clear water and beautiful beaches.

• Suzanne shares a relaxing moment at Chahue Bay, one of Huatulco’s nine bays. Huatulco has something for everyone, from nature preserves to family resorts with sheltered beaches.



• Larry’s image of the Bungle Bungles – you have to love that name – introduces us to “Weird, Wonderful, Amazing Australia.”



• Terri’s got the scoop - if you’ve ever dreamed of relaxing in a natural spa, surrounded by nature’s beauty instead of man-made walls, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is your place.



• I have to agree with Martha - you’ve never seen sculptures quite like the statues at the Bomarzo Monster Park in Italy’s Lazio region.



• Lois introduces us to the wonders of Peru’s Machu Picchu with her photo of the Sacred Rock.



• Jane writes that Canada’s Rogers Chinese Lantern Festival, held annually in Toronto, is "the largest of its kind outside Asia." The lanterns are enormous, and there are 40 of them in this year’s festival.



• If summer’s heat is sapping your energy, Charlyn’s photo of the Chateaux at Silver Lake will refresh your spirit.



• Kerry takes us on a photo tour of St. Petersburg, Russia. My daughter said, "I want to go there!" every time we clicked through to the next image. You’ll feel the same way.



• Ferne shares a photo of an artifact “from the Tutankhamun and the Treasures of the Pharoah's Exhibition in London, a beautiful unguent spoon in the shape of a naked, swimming woman. The exhibition continues at London's O2 Bubble until August 31.” It then revisits the United States before returning home to Cairo.



• Linda says, “The gray whales of Magdalena Bay, Mexico are as curious about people as we are about them!”



• Susan tells us, “Of all the cities in Italy, none is more romantic than Venice. Its scenic beauty, with vistas over water that have inspired some of the world's greatest artists, bring out the romantic in everyone. These pictures may have the same effect on you.”



• Sometimes you have to work a bit to see something spectacular, but it’s worth it. David takes us to Big Pine Creek Campground, part of Inyo National Forest in California's Eastern Sierra region.



• Theme Parks expert Arthur says, “With its lovely landscaping and stately gardens, Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida is certainly among the most picturesque theme parks.” Sounds like my kind of adventure.



• Even a relaxing island getaway can have some surprises in store. Bob’s photo of downtown Philipsburg, St. Maarten, will convince you, I’m sure.



• Liz was awestruck by this colorful Chihuly glass ceiling at the Las Vegas Bellagio Hotel. She's also excited about the Chihuly exhibit coming to the Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix) in November.



• Sharon suggests places to take your children or grandchildren in New Orleans, and shares a delightful photo of her own grandson.



• Frank Gehry’s signature architectural style, featuring titanium-covered, free-flowing forms, makes Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall a tourist attraction as well as an arts venue. Kayte takes us on a photo tour of this spectacular structure.



• Explore the city of Chania, on the island of Crete, with deTraci. Chania offers wonderful streets and archways that entice you into exploring this ancient city’s hidden spaces.



• Damian’s photo of the cemetery in Segovia, Spain, reminds us that when we travel, we find moments of beauty at the most unexpected times.



• John’s images, both poetic and photographic, of sunrise at 10,023 feet, capture a moment of fleeting beauty at Haleakala on the island of Maui, Hawaii.



• Bernd was lucky enough to be in Dublin for this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade, and he takes us on a photo tour of this vivid and lively event.



• The photo above is of a horse statue outside the Ratskeller restaurant in Aachen, Germany. Aachen hosts a riding competition each year, and you can see horse sculptures all over Charlemagne's cathedral city.

The next About.com Travel Blog Carnival will be hosted by Elizabeth Mitchell, About.com's Guide to Southwest U.S. Travel. Stay tuned for details.

Photo © Nancy Parode