Merlion Park in Singapore is a popular tourist attraction. Located at the mouth of the Singapore River, this park is presided over by a Merlion—a mythical beast that has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. Here is a fun photograph shared by Flydime on our TravelMuse Flickr group that was taken at Merlion Park.

A monk enjoys Merlion Park. Photo: flydime

Plan your trip to Singapore on TravelMuse.

Read articles about Singapore on TravelMuse.

Want to share your recent trip photos and have them featured on TravelMusings? Add your photos to our TravelMuse Flickr group or TravelMuse Facebook page, and we’ll publish our favorites.

We all love Memorial Day (this year on May 31, 2010)—three-day weekends, BBQs, trips to the beach, time with the family. What’s not to love? But how often do we actually take the time to absorb the actual meaning behind the day that allots us these luxuries? This Memorial Day why not pay homage to the courageous men and women who’ve given their lives fighting for the safety and freedom of the United States. Plan a historical vacation or outing that recognizes the events and people who made this country what it is today. There are plenty of places to visit and events to attend across the nation, but here are some ideas to get you started:

Photo: Beverly & Pack

1. The 2010 National Memorial Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol
Hosted by Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna, the Memorial Day Concert will be held on Sunday May 30, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (EST) at the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. This year’s event will focus on three main themes: celebrating the lives of more than 125,000 WWI and WWII service members who were laid to rest in 24 military cemeteries in the foreign countries where they fought; commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Korea War; and honoring the new generation of young military widows whose spouses died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For up-to-date information on the event, please visit www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert.

Plan your trip to Washington D.C. on TravelMuse.

2. The 37th Annual Sacramento Jazz Festival and Jubilee
Enjoying jazz and saluting the troops. Can you get a more groovy Memorial Day weekend than that? With more than 450 sets of live music, the Sacramento Jazz Festival and Jubilee promises to be four days of great tunes, dancing and remembrance. Be sure to attend the Salute to Veterans at 10 a.m. at the Hyatt Ballroom in Sacramento. You will get to experience the music of the 101st Army Dixieland Band, the Jubilee’s only military band.

For up-to-date information on the events, please visit www.sacjazz.com.

Plan your trip to Sacramento on TravelMuse.

3. Fleet Week New York 2010
From May 26 to June 1, New York City will play host to thousands of military personnel from Navy and Coast Guard ships. The “thank you” to the men and women who serve in the armed forces is punctuated with plenty of fun and exciting events that the whole family can enjoy. The Memorial Day ceremony will take place on Monday May 31 on the Intrepid’s Flight Deck and includes a ceremonial wreath laying, a Three Volley Salute, the unfolding of a 100-foot American flag and a fly-over of military aircraft in the missing man formation.

Plan your trip to New York City on TravelMuse.

Not near any of these locations? No problem. Check your nearest city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau for details on what kind of Memorial Day celebrations they have in store. From street fairs to concerts to speakers and commemorative events, most locales will have some sort of event at which you can pay tribute to the fallen members of the United States’ armed forces.

Few things are more representative of New York City than Central Park. Created in 1857 by Fredrick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, Central Park is located in the heart of Manhattan. From carriage rides to picnics and jogging  to open air concerts, the park is enjoyed in a variety of ways. What is your favorite way to enjoy Central Park? Personally, I like finding the perfect hot dog and eating it while I people watch.

Central Park. Photo: Brian Struble

Plan your trip to New York City on TravelMuse.

Want to share your recent Trip photos and have them featured on TravelMusings? Add your photos to our TravelMuse Flickr group or TravelMuse Facebook page, and we’ll publish our favorites.

In the midst of the “go green” revolution, people are really starting to appreciate the environment on levels once unprecedented. While there is still much to be done in terms of reducing our carbon footprint, let this Earth Day (April 22) commemorate the steps we have started to make (and hopefully will continue to make) toward preserving the world for years to come.

Coinciding with Earth Day is Nation Park Week, which began on April 17 and will continue until April 25. For these days, all 392 national parks have waived their entrance fees.

Don’t live near a national park or can’t make it out to any this week? Don’t worry; there are two more fee-free days this year: Public Lands Day on Sept. 25 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Start planning your national park vacation now. Here are some sample trips created by local experts to some of the nation’s most popular national parks. Check them out, use them or create your own.

The Grand Canyon. Photo: Paraflyer

Yosemite National Park
Itinerary for Yosemite

Plan a trip to Yosemite on TravelMuse.

Grand Canyon National Park
A Grand Canyon Adventure Itinerary

Plan a trip to the Grand Canyon on TravelMuse.

Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone and Grand Teton Adventure Itinerary

Plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park on TravelMuse.

Zion National Park
Utah National Parks Itinerary

Plan a trip to Zion National Park on TravelMuse.

Santorini is a small cluster of islands of volcanic islands in Greece that are located in the southern Aegean Sea. Located 63 miles north of Crete, this archipelago has a typical Mediterranean climate. Santorini can be reached by plane or ferry.

A view of the islands of Santorini. Photo: echiner1

Plan your trip to Greece on TravelMuse.

Want to share your recent Trip photos and have them featured on TravelMusings? Add your photos to our TravelMuse Flickr group or TravelMuse Facebook page, and we’ll publish our favorites.