Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me;  that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin , West Virginia , Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota and now we’re moving on to….South Carolina!

I couldn’t find their state tourism organization on Twitter, but the state capital city of Columbia is @columbiasc and state parks are @SC_State_Parks.  I didn’t find state tourism on Facebook, either, but western South Carolina regional tourism has a Thoroughbred Country Facebook page and so does South Carolina State Parks.

When I asked for ideas there wasn’t much of a response (summer doldrums?) but here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for South Carolina

***  From Dominique King via @midwestguest on Twitter  –  My best kid-friendly idea for S. Carolina: The trip to Fort Sumter near Charleston. Learn history, cool fort, neat boat ride out to it.

***  From Francisco Collazo & Julie Schwietert Collazo via @collazoprojects on Twitter  — Penn Center (overlooked & beautiful part of African-American & American history) + gumbo not far away! Here’s a link: http://www.penncenter.com. I’m from SC & went for first time a few years ago. On the (only) road out to Penn Corner, there’s a row of little boutiques in some old houses. Gumbo in parking lot. Good stuff.

***  From Antonia Malchik via @amalchik on Twitter  –  A link to her Perceptive Travel Blog post reactions to a major South Carolina beach resort area, The Straight Story: Hilton Head Island.

Thanks, everyone! I didn’t have any input on Facebook.

On the BootsnAll Travel Network, here are the articles tagged South Carolina.

Thanks so much for the contributions - the next state in the series is Rhode Island.

Send your “Little Rhody” highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

My purpose for this series is not only to highlight worthy kid-friendly vacation destinations in all 50 states, but by using Twitter and Facebook I want to also encourage tourism organizations to learn more about connecting with their visitors using social media and online networks.

Please add your own South Carolina suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

***  The friendly folks at SeaWorld hosted me (with my son) for their 20th Anniversary celebration back in 2008, so it was fun for me to read this post on their What’s Under the Sea? blog - Top Ways to Get Wet at SeaWorld. Heaven knows we need all the cooling we can get in this weather.

***  Lovely post on the US State Department’s blog DipNote, about an American diplomat practicing his Arabic with a child.  I was also intrigued by a post about a music education collaboration between the State Dept, Fulbright fellowships and MTV and another about opening Afghanistan’s first national park, Band-e-Amir.

***  From KidsCanTravel we have some Ireland tips, Walking in Ireland, and Grand Canyon Hiking at the North Rim (er, maybe Arizona stuff should wait until fall or winter, but I’d be all over Ireland this time of year.)

***  It’s not travel-related, but I have to tell you about Steve in Nebraska and his blog The View from the Tractor; I read about him in a CNN.com article (Twittering from the tractor: smartphones sprout on the farm) and think he sounds like an interesting guy. If your kids are into farming and want to see the “real deal” about how it’s done, say hi to Steve.

***  Isn’t this neat? Amongst the many downloadable London and UK walking tours from Walk Talk Tours, you’ll find one from Chester that features their beautifully-dressed town crier, David Mitchell. There’s more in Chester Town Crier serves up a treat.

***  My Perceptive Travel blog editor Tim Leffel is down in Mexico right now with his family (follow him on Twitter) and he has encouraging words about travel to the region in Mexico City - nicer than you think.

***  In Australia, a helpful BootsnAll article about the Northern Territory: 10 Things Not To Miss.

***  The UK-based Travel-Rants.com blog has ten family travel tips for this summer.  Travel-Rants editor Darren Cronian also has a new project, a whole site devoted to travel in his northern England hometown area of Leeds, My Life in Leeds. There’s a family fun and attractions in Leeds section, too.

***  Travel and Leisure has a detailed slide show of 10 Places To See Before You’re 10 - my son and I had better get busy!

In fact, not much at all has been posted in the last week!

It’s not for lack of effort, but I’m busy moving one of my blogs from one place to another and the dang things are heavy….

We’ll get South Carolina up tomorrow instead (July 14) and then hopefully return to regularly scheduled programming.

Every summer at Ivy Green, the birthplace of the amazing author, speaker and writer Helen Keller, there is a professional outdoor production of The Miracle Worker, William Gibson’s drama about Keller’s early life and relationship with her teacher, Annie Sullivan.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Ms. Sullivan (almost blind herself) had a “tough row to hoe” in the Keller household as she tried to teach a spoiled, deaf, blind, mute but brilliant Helen that language could be expressed by hand gestures, or sign language.

To see the two-hour play on the grounds of Helen’s own house is a special experience.

Like a knucklehead, I forgot to put up a post in time to also tell you about Tuscumbia’s annual Helen Keller Festival held in late June, but get it on your calendar for next year.

The state’s tourism Web site has more ideas for northern Alabama travel with kids.

***  You’re busy, right? Need to cut to the travel-planning chase? The Budget Travel blog “This Just In” shows how to find the “best of” almost anywhere.

***  Don’t do it! Even after you read my Survivor’s Guide to Walt Disney World and get your family all worked up to visit Orlando,  UpTake has 5 reasons NOT to go to Disney World on your summer vacation. Can you say, “Sticky heat and mosquitoes the size of Volkswagens?”  If you must go, see the new audio-animatronic President Obama, just added to the Hall of Presidents.

***  More for Laura Ingalls Wilder fans - finding Laura’s homes on a trip with your kids - hot on the trail of pioneering author’s childhood footsteps.

***  Go wild; Kids Can Travel talks about African safaris with kids and National Geographic Traveler’s blog has info on staying healthy on a Kenyan family safari.

***  Out in the Pacific Northwest, Fodor’s has 5 essential family stops on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.   Can you say Forks, you Twilight fans?

***  The UK’s Independent points out that this is a good time for long-haul flying with the family, especially if you’re British.  Then again, keeping kids entertained on long flights is a challenge, although one of the World Hum writers now has some clarity and understanding herself on that issue.

***  Upgrade to first class for more room? Whoa, think hard about that, says Chris Elliott in his CNN.com article; should kids be banned from first class? Some would say so. (I would not, because if I could afford it, I’d do it. My money’s as green as some business person’s expense account, and my kids and I have just as much of a right to fly if we have the ability to pay.)

Your thoughts?

The infamous bank robber Sam Bass was fatally shot by lawmen in Round Rock, and his name is plastered on things all over town including my son’s former baseball fields.

Actors used to stage the shootout reenactment downtown until the event became too popular, so it’s now held three times a day in pretty Old Settler’s Park during Frontier Days.

There’s a false-front recreation of town, dance hall girls, a voiceover narrative to explain the action, fake blood and loud firing of blanks - my son loved it.

I shot video at last year’s celebration; maybe it’s time to get it edited and online before we see it again this year!

Welcome to this edition of the Carnival of Cities, where we take you around the world with one blog post.

The next edition is scheduled for July 15 and will be hosted on the Perceptive Travel blog.

If you’d like to host this bi-weekly (fortnightly) blog carnival, let me know via email to sheila “at” sheilascarborough “dot” com.

Off we go….

Cities in the Americas

Seabrook (near Houston) Texas, USA Julie Pippert presents Discovering Seabrook, a charming coastal town just outside Houston posted at Being Savvy Houston, saying, “Get to know Seabrook, Texas, a charming coastal town southeast of Houston with tons of great outdoor activities on land or water, and delicious dining.”

Washington, DC, USA minnemom presents Washington, DC, Travel with Kids: The U.S. Arboretum posted at Travels with Children.

San Francisco, California, USA Antonia Malchik presents Being a gourmand in San Francisco on a budget: head to the Ferry Building Marketplace posted at Perceptive Travel Blog.

Atlanta, Georgia, USA Amy @ The Q Family presents 5 Family Fun for July 4th Celebration Around Atlanta posted at Atlanta With Kid Travel Blog.

Columbus, Ohio, USA Condo Blues presents Pet Promise Rescue Run 2009 posted at Condo Blues.

Seattle, Washington, USA wandermom presents Summer Family Fun In Seattle posted at WanderMom, saying, “Plan your (family) trip to Seattle using this guide from a local travel writer.”

Washington, DC, USA Jon presents Top 10 US Summer Vacation Hot Spots & Top 10 Reasons to Visit Washington, DC posted at The DC Traveler, saying, “Here are ten great reasons why Washington, DC made the American Society of Travel Agents’ Top Ten list as a Top Summer Destination.”

Wall (just outside the Badlands) South Dakota, USA Kilroy_60 presents The Last Road Trip - Part 6 posted at Fear And Loathing - The Gonzo Papers.

San Francisco, California, USA CatSynth presents Hypnagogia, Climate Theater posted at CatSynth, saying, “Another review of visual and performing art events here in San Francisco.”

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Jacqulyn Richey presents Las Vegas Housing Market: Foreclosures Down, Sales Up posted at Las Vegas Real Estate News, saying, “Despite the media’s portrait of doom and gloom, the Las Vegas real estate market and economy are showing signs of recovery.”

New York, New York, USA Madeleine Begun Kane presents June Down The Drain (Limerick & Haiku) posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog, saying, “New York Weather Humor.”

Orlando, Florida, USA Caterina Christakos presents Orlando Italian Restaurant Reviews posted at Orlando Restaurant Reviews.

Cities in Europe

London, United Kingdom William Wallace presents Sanctuary In The Heart Of London For The Weary Traveller posted at London Is Cool.

The Hague (Den Haag) the Netherlands Happy Hotelier presents 2009 The Hague Sculpture – Read My Lips posted at Happy Hotelier, saying, “A no-cost, must-visit [located] in The Hague, The Netherlands.”

Milan (Milano) Italy elena raptopoulos presents Icebound: Gelateria/bar posted at La Bella Città, saying, “From city pictures to aperitivo reviews, this is a blog about Milano from the inside. Not a tourist site… just a site for the people living or visiting the city.”

Cities in Asia

Bangkok, Thailand Amy @ The Q Family presents Thailand in A Day at The Ancient City posted at The Q Family Adventures Travel Blog, saying, “Hidden gem in Bangkok, Thailand.”

Krabi, Thailand Vicky presents Krabi Thailand posted at Kota Medan City.

Clement Town, Uttarakhand, India chicu presents Urban Art: Clement Town posted at Uttarakhand and I.

That concludes this edition, and thanks very much for visiting.

Please submit your (one, non-spammy) blog post about any aspect of ONE, single city to the next edition of the Carnival of Cities using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me;  that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin , West Virginia , Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Utah, Texas, Tennessee and now we’re moving on to….South Dakota!

Their state tourism organization is on Twitter at @travelsd, and you can Fan them at the South Dakota tourism page on Facebook.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for South Dakota

*** From South Dakota tourism on Twitter - As a kid, I loved the classics-Dinosaur Park in Rapid City, Storybook Land in Aberdeen, Corn Palace, Wall Drug, Badlands, Rushmore.

*** From Robert Reid (the Lonely Planet US travel editor) via @reidontravel on Twitter - While in SD, take bizarre two-lane PINK roads (made of quartzite.) Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD = totally hoke.

*** From Nancy Nally via @NancyNally on Twitter - http://www.ingallshomestead.com - I visited in high school…she’s a hero of mine! [the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead, or claim, in De Smet - I love the Little House books too!]

***  From Emily Westaby via @westaby on Twitter - Best family SD memory: The Wild Horse Sanctuary in the Black Hills made a horse lover out of me. http://www.wildmustangs.com

***  From Lynn D via @LynnToTheRescue on Twitter - Corn Palace in Mitchell, Lake Kampeska in Watertown, Wall Drug in Wall, Falls Park in Sioux Falls.

***  From Antonia Malchik via @amalchik on Twitter - regret I’ve never been, but Badlands Nat’l Park a lifelong dream. I’m a desert and empty-wilderness lover:  http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com

***  From Dominique King via @MidwestGuest on Twitter (a bonanza!) - Everyone visits Mount Rushmore, but for best views and photos, make sure you take the 1/2 mile Presidential Trail there. Best part of visit to Crazy Horse Memorial was the Indian Museum of North America - artifacts & crafts. Take the backroad into the Badlands and stop by Roberts’ Prairie Dog Town in the park to visit the cute critters.

Needles Highway drive for great rock formations (picture on my blog of one that looks like Egyptian royalty to me!) Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD was a cool stop–wished we were earlier so we had more time for photos, but scenes in corn amazing! Custer State Park is great for wildlife watching-especially buffalo and the “begging burros.” Wall Drug is cheesy, but fun to browse and have your photo taken on the “jackalope.” I’ve blogged a few times about SD http://www.midwestguest.com/south-dakota/

Thanks, everyone! I didn’t have any input on Facebook, though.

On the BootsnAll Travel Network, here’s the Boots South Dakota Travel Guide, and I talked a little bit about the state in this post: 3 surprising US travel destinations (and an honorable mention.)

Thanks so much for the contributions - the next state in the series is South Carolina.

Send your South Carolina highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

My purpose for this series is not only to highlight worthy kid-friendly vacation destinations in all 50 states, but by using Twitter and Facebook I want to also encourage tourism organizations to learn more about connecting with their visitors using social media and online networks.

Please add your own South Dakota suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

***  A huge thank you to the blogs who hosted the bi-weekly/fortnightly Carnival of Cities recently:  Nerd’s Eye View,  UpTake Attractions, Ajay’s Writings on the Wall,  Fear and Loathing - The Gonzo Papers and Eyeflare.  The next edition of this blog carnival (featuring posts about any aspect of a SINGLE city) is scheduled to be hosted here on Family Travel. Submit your posts here by noon CST 30 June.

***  From TravelSavvyMom:  English Castles: 5 Family Favorites and Honolulu: Five Free Family Favorites (don’t forget that THIS is why you take children to Hawaii.)

***  Of course it isn’t February, and it doesn’t matter, either - Black History Year: 7 spots to keep learning year-round.

***  Right here on BootsnAll: 6 ways that traveling with kids can actually improve your travel experience.

***  Welcome consumer travel expert Chris Elliott’s personal family blog, Souvenirist.  Check it out!

***  Yeah, give ‘em hell! Rules for Parents at Children’s Museums from Travels with Children. Hint: you can’t drop ‘em into a room and disappear, as understandably tempting an option as that may be….

***  I love me some World Hum….if you don’t read them already, enjoy Eight Great Family Travel Stories.

***  The UK reports in - a British Mum blog at Have A Lovely Time.

***  They’re so highly respected and they are SO not into glitz - National Geographic Traveler brings you their Family Vacation Planner.

***   Are you in the US Pacific Northwest? Summer Family Fun in Seattle from WanderMom.

***  This looks wonderful for families - the outdoor Starlight Theatre, on the Kansas City tourism Web site.

Finally, I wanted to let you know that I’ll be launching a business soon; an online learning community with entrepreneurship expert Becky McCray,  including my new personal blog that is focused on how travel and tourism organizations can use social media.

More details to follow….

That’s because I want to leave a tidy house (Beds made! Vacuumed! Light timers prepped!) the fridge cleaned out, cat & fish sitters covered, everything packed properly and not just jammed into suitcases, car cleaned before we pack it, decent snacks in a cooler so we don’t buy overpriced crap on the road….see?

Total perfectionist maniac.

Which is fine, except I never allow enough TIME to do all my maniacal stuff.

I insist on cramming it into the last 4 hours before departure so that everyone, including myself, wants to shoot me as we pull out of the driveway.

Answer? Detailed checklist. Starting a couple days before departure. Execute it. Stop screaming at everyone. Leave happy.

I’m trying.

How about you?

(Note: most of this comment was left as a response to Dad traveler Chris Brogan’s audio post Vacation: A Dad’s Eye View 1.  Chris also runs the excellent site Dad-o-matic.)