What are the names of some nice hotels on the Jersey shore?|170223

Something on or near the beach would be great. And if it has a spa too, all the better. I am looking for something a little upscale. Maybe a 4 star resort. Thanks.

To be honest with you there are only a few 4 star hotels on the Jersey Shore. I know one of them is a Marriott, it is called the Seaview Resort _ Spa in Galloway, NJ. The other hotels that I know of are in Atlantic City. The Borgata, Harrah_s Resort and Casino and Caesars are all very nice. Good luck.

Go to The Breakers in Spring Lake.


http://www.breakershotel.com/

Things to do in Houston during winter break?|103747

I am planning to go to Houston for a week in Winter Break from December 22nd - January 1st or 2nd. Anyone know anything fun and exciting to do for that week? I am already aware of CityPass, so anymore suggestions would be much appreciated.

Here_s a running list I keep adding to of things to do in all parts of Houston:

The Kemah Boardwalk

Reliant Center, Minute Maid Park, George R. Brown Convention Center

Houston Aeros, Texans, Comets, Astros, Dynamos, and the Rockets

38 outdoor public swimming pools in the Houston area

Galveston Island - The Strand, the Bolivar Peninsular Ferry and Crystal Beach, Schlitterbahn Water Park, Bishop_s Palace, Sea Wolf Park, Stewart Beach, Moody Gardens and IMAX, Mosquito Cafe, Pier 21 Museum on the Galveston Hurricane, The Lone Star Flight Museum, Texas Seaport Museum, Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum, and the Sea Turtle Exhibit

Hermann Park and the Mecom Fountain. Be sure to visit the Japanese Gardens in Hermann Park. One of the most romantic places in the city.

Clear Lake, Lake Conroe, and Lake Houston

Brazos Bend State Park

The George Ranch

Penzey_s (516 W. 19th St) in the Heights is a spice-lover_s dream. Anyone who_s been one of their catalog shoppers simply must stop in to stock up on cinnamons, curries, and other spices.

Miller Outdoor Theater (check online for performance schedule) IT_S FREE

Discovery Green and the many other parks around town. There_s horse and buggy rides.

The Katy Mills Mall, the Galleria, Memorial City Mall - also, Willowbrook Mall, River Oaks Shopping Center, The Woodlands Mall, First Colony Mall, Uptown Park, First Colony Mall, West Oaks Mall, and many others around town

The downtown underground tunnel system

Lakewood Church - an experience - the largest church in the nation

The Art Car Museum 140 Heights Blvd. 77007 (713) 861 - 5526 - It_s FREE

Holocaust Museum 5401 Caroline St.77004 (713) 942-8000 Gen. Admission is FREE

Williams Tower _ Water Wall _ 3 acre park great for pics _ picnics. Also has horse _ buggy rides.

San Jacinto Monument and Battleground State Historical Park

The Houston Ballet Company, The Houston Opera, and the Houston Symphony

The Heights Gazebo and the Monthly Neighborhood Bazaar on Yale Street.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

Rothko Chapel

Port of Houston

The Houston Zoo - FREE on all city holidays

The Houston Zoo/Hermann Park Train _ Paddle Boats

The 350 parks citywide (all types - hike _ bike, skate, dog, tennis, _ golf)

The Houston Rodeo - in February each year - the world_s largest

The Houston Ship Channel

Splashtown Waterpark

The Houston Skyline in the morning, at night, and on the 4th of July

The Light Rail System

Imperial Holly Corporation - The mountain of sugar!

Visit Town Square shops and restaurants in Sugar Land.

Houston Public Library System

NASA Space Center

Old Town Spring

The Woodlands Water Taxi

The Children_s Museum - Fantastic!
Over 23 museums in the Museum District alone. Over 40 musuems city wide.

All the festivals held monthly in the city. Consult the Houston Chronicle newspaper_s Entertainment Section each Thursaday for information on the upcoming weekend.

Pick up a Lesiure Learning periodical, free, or visit the website for many wonderful options.

Also, pick up the Houston Press paper, also free, or visit online for many great reviews and their great _Best of Lists._

The Labyrinth on the University of Thomas Campus (3800 Montrose) It_s a beautiful flagstone replica of the Labyrinth of Chartres and is flanked by rose bushes perpetually in bloom.

Diverse Works Artspace (1117 East Freeway)-super cool place for those who love art, dance _ theater. It_s got a New York vibe written all over it.

The Forbidden Gardens in Katy, Texas.
Forbidden Gardens has 6,000 1/3 scale terra-cotta soldiers in formation as they were buried in the 3rd century.

Paintball, Lazer Tag, Go Carts, Skate Board Parks, Ice Skating Rinks, Roller
Skating Rinks, Shooting Ranges

The Mercer Arboretum in Humble

Snorkeling, Canoeing, Boating, Water Skiing, Kayaking, Sky Diving, Hot Balloon Rides, Dinner Cruises on the Bay in Kemah, Helicopter Rides or Plane Rides over Houston, Horseback Riding and Scuba Diving

Sam Houston Race Track

The Mad Potter and many places like it around town for selecting pre-cast ceramics, glazing them, and having them fired.

At The Potter_s Place you can take a hands on lesson, one on one with the teacher, at a potter_s wheel. After you create your work of art, you can go back and paint it and they will fire it for you.

Dining at one of the more than 10,000 restaurants in town offering a variety of almost 290 types of cuisine.

For all the latest information on cultural events, go to artshound.com

Enjoy!

Here ia a list of 101 things to do in Houston and surrounding areas. Many I bet you have not heard of.

http://101.hcnonline.com/browse_things_t��

Cooking Pancakes and Texas Happy Horn have it covered.

Where is the best place to stop and eat between Miami and Orlando?|104121

Driving from Miami to Orlando, wondering if theres anything I should check out to break up the trip?

Between Orlando and Miami you will most likely be on the Turnpike. Though in the past, the turnpike has been packed with just little fast food restaurants. But, recently I have seen more and more better quality food restaurants pop up. Now along the turnpike there are stops for Cheeburger-Cheeburger, Earl of Sandwich, and more!! These are all decent sit down restaurants that have been made into quick service options. I would try stops with either of those two! Delicious :)

You will probably be traveling on the Florida Turnpike so your options will be limited to the food court style restaurants they offer at the rest areas.

Mr. Chow in Miami
Cheesecake factory in Orlando.

How crowded is Oak Island NC during week of 4th July?|114340

We are planning a trip for week of July 4th , 2008. I went to North Myrtle Beach several years ago during the week of 4th and swore I would stay home if week of 4th was the only week I could go to beach. Things have changed and my hubby has job that closes only for that week during summer.
Should we stay home or are the North Carolina beaches not as crazy crowded as South Carolina beaches?

North Carolina beaches are no where near as crazy as Myrtle Beach. But, there is a reason for that. North Carolina beaches don_t offer what Myrtle Beach does. We (North Carolinians) have very few minuture golf corses, malls, arcades, ect........ compared to Myrtle Beach. So, if you are just looking for a beach, than I recommend the Crystal Coast (Morehead City) or Wilmington beach area. The outer banks do become somewhat crowded during holidays. Good luck with what ever you choose. Hope this helped.


Personaly, I_d go with Oak Island. It is very beautiful. Shouldn_t be that crowded, and is quiet.

Hi! I hope you had a great vaction. Where did you end up going? We vacationed at Oak Island in 2007 and we loved it and will be going back this year.

Whats better a trip to Florida to see a Space Shuttle Launch and a visit to Disneyworld?|195714

Or a trip to Maine to go sea kayaking ,fishing and a hiking trip to the mountains to hike and birdwatching.

The shuttle has only a few more launches before the program ends, so I would see the Space Shuttle launch. Now depending upon the length of your vacation ... close to Cape Canaveral is the Merritt Island Bird Sanctuary where you can see all kinds of birds. We have surfing, wind surfing . kayaking, fishing and you can hike anywhere you want. You can also visit Disney World if you can tear yourself away from the nature/outdoors stuff. The only thing we do not have is mountains.

Disney World is passive where the experience is supplied but the other vacation requires effort to obtain an experience.The vacation in Maine requires skill like fishing.

Disney planners are just selecting the order of experience that is limited to what is offered.It is like the Monty Python skit where the menu is mostly spam.

At Disney I rarely see people play tennis because that requires skill and effort.Miniature golf is popular because skill and effort is kept to a bare minimum.

Disney is really rationing not excess.Walt wanted people back to work after their day off.The rides circle back to where they begin to let you know the fun is over.

That totally depends on what your interests are. What would you rather do? For me, I would choose Disney because I love it and because I_m not adept at hiking and don_t really enjoy fishing, but many people feel differently than I do.

Seeing a shuttle launch is an awesome thing, but just remember that sometimes launches are scrubbed at the last minute, so if you choose Florida just for the shuttle be prepared to have your plans changed while you are here.

You are comparing apples to oranges here. One is all about being in nature...the other is not. Also, DisneyLAND is in California...DisneyWORLD is in Orlando. (smile) Space shuttles are nice, but, they are over in a matter of minutes AND there is no guarantee it will launch on time. One shuttle was just put off due to weather. It rains almost every day in Florida during the summer. Usually between 3 _ 5pm. So, pack your rain gear in your vehicle. Either vacation sounds like fun. You are fortunate you are in a position to have a vacation this year.

A kayaking trip is the best and here_s why I think so, and I_ve done both:

Disneyworld while fun is extremely commercialized, its a little sickening in that respect. Also, it doesn_t feel like a good vacation because too many people and its hurry hurry and you do come home exhausted from it, like visual overload. Also, its not exactly all its cracked up to be, I mean its cool, but....

Kayaking is relaxing reconnects you with nature and there_s nothing like a relaxing vacation. Maybe I_m being partial here but I Love kayaking its unlike anything else. Also, I really dislike schedules and vacations that are to planned out don_t feel right to me. In Disney your vacation is pretty scheduled even though we didn_t plan what order we_d hit the parks or anything, and that felt a little restrictive to me. So while I had fun in Orlando, its not something I will repeat anytime soon, believe me.

That being said I_d like to ask people not to hate me for not being a devoted Disney fan, I_m just stating my perspective on things and the fact that Disney while enjoyable for all isn_t the ultimate vacation for all.

If you have the opportunity to see a space shuttle launch I would probably take it and go to Disney World as well. Maine will always have the sea and fish and trails and mountains, but shuttle launches don_t happen every day...

really you can_t determine which one is more fun?!
um WATCHING A SHUTTLE LAUNCH AND GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!

I would go for the more adventerous trip..but only if there_s really nice hotel around there
disneyworld and space shuttle launch sounds boring....it sounds like something you would go during school trip

Best places to visit and eat in NY with a limit budget?|193624

I am going to NY city this weekend. I am planning to do some sightseeings. So I want to know if someone can point me to the right place to eat and visit. I am looking for delicious food with cheap price. Pizza restaurants for example? Thank you so much. I will be there for 10 days, so the more suggestion the better.

Go to _Don Giovanni_ restaurant on 44 street between 9 _10 ave, (close to Port Authority). Amazing Italian food you would not even find in expensive resataurants for cheap price.
And do not forget to visit Century 21 department store for best shopping prices.

There are Europa and Pax eateries all over the city. Good food, lots of choices and affordable. It_s comparable to Panera, more cafeteria style.
These are some of my favorite less expensive restaurants in NYC:

Eatery798 9th Ave53rd StAmerican
Hog Pit22 9th Ave13th StBBQ
Hogs _ Heifers859 Washingtonat 14th Stcheap, rowdy but fun
John_s of Bleecker Street278 Bleecker St6th _ 7th Avepizza
Mary Ann_s107 W broadwayReade _ Chambersgreat mexican
Patsys Pizzeria2287 First Ave117th _ 118th Stpizza
Virgils Real Barbecue154 W 44th StBroadway _ 6th AveBBQ

If you like hot dogs, check out Gray_s Papaya. (DO not be fooled by imposters like Papaya Dog or Mike_s Papaya). You can get a smoothie and 2 dogs for under $3 at Grays. And they_re the best hot dogs in the world!

Have a great trip!

If there is only one thing you can do then take the RIDE THE BEAST tour with Mad dog. W 42nd St. _ 12th ave.

Was there 2 days ago and it_s the most fun I had in the Big Apple.

Lots of places to eat real good foods, but NEVER eat in Time Square. It_s over priced and too commercial. We found lots of good restos in the 44th st _ 9th ave area. Try Chimpotle for example.

The Ferry ride from New york to Staten Island is free and you get to see the statue of liberty.

Take the subway, no taxi because you will just pay to sit in traffic.

Visit Central Park

Have fun!

Go to a hot dog cart in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village and sit and enjoy the budding entertainment.

My friend, there are millions of place in New York City to eat. However, depending on you budget, may I suggest the link below.


http://www.urbanspoon.com/c/3/New-York-r��


Just click on the desired price range and you get a list of restaurants in the area.

In regard to place to see and do, may recommend the following.

Landmarks

-Empire State Building
-Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
-Rockefeller Center and the Top of the Rock Observation Deck
-Times Square (no trip is complete without a visit to the_Crossroads of the World_)
-Broadway Show
-Lower Manhattan/Wall Street Area
-United Nations
-Central Park
-Brooklyn Bridge (you can walk across it too)
-Grand Central Terminal (largest railroad terminal in the country)
-A Ride on the Staten Island Ferry (its free and you can see the Statue of Liberty as the ferry crosses the harbor)
-Sightseeing tour on a Double Decker Bus
-Conference House (scene of the only Peace Conference during the Revolution, Lord Howe versus John Adams and Ben Franklin)
-Bronx Zoo/New York Botonical Garden
-Yankee Stadium (big year for the Yankess Baseball team. This will be the last year their playing at the Original Yankee Stadium)
-Governor_s Island

Museums

-Museum Mile (Fifth Avenue from East 86 to East 103 Streets)
-Museum of Natural History and the Rose Center for Earth and Space (formerly the Hayden Platerium)
-MoMa
-New Museum of Contemporary Art
-Madame Tussaud Wax Museum
-Brooklyn Museum
-Milk Gallery
-American Craft Museum
-Museum of American Folk Art
-Museum of the Moving Image
-The Paley Center For Media (formerly the Museum of Television and Radio)
-The Municipal Art Society

Shopping

-Macy_s (West 34th Street and Broadway in the heart of Hearld Square)
-Bloomingdale_s (Lexington Avenue at East 59 and East 60 Streets)
-The shops along Fifth Avenue (just don_t max out you credit cards)
-FAO Schwarz
-Toys _R_ Us in Times Square
-Lord and Taylor (5th Avenue at East 38th Street)
-Chinatown/Canal Street Area (if you want to go on the cheap for the stuff you can_t get on Fifth Avenue)
-NBA Store (for the basketball fan - 5th Avenue at East 52nd Street)
-The Apple Computer Store (East 59th Street and Fifth Avenue)
-The Time Warner Center (West 59th Street - Columbus Circle)
-Hershey Store (for those with a sweet tooth)
-M_M World (49th Street and 7th Avenue)
-Grand Central Terminal (for the shopping)
-H_M
-Century 21 Department Store (Church and Cortlandt Street)
-forever 21
-Barneys New York (660 Madison Ave)
-Abercrombie _ Fitch (5th Avenue @ 57th Street and Water Street between Fulton and John Streets)
-American Eagle Outfiters (4 locations in Manhattan)
-Urban Outfitter (8 locations in Manhattan)

Now, two thing to mention, if you_re in town between now and October 15, there is a nice exibit along the East River call _Waterfall,_ which are a series of scaffolding structure place at several location along the East River and their emitating a waterfall.

Also, since you_re in town for 10 days, and you going to be using public transit offend, may suggest purchase a 7-day unlimited ride MetroCard for $25. With this card you can get unlimted ride on the subway and bus as many times as you can for 7-day. For the remain 3 days, you can buy a 1-day pass for $7.50 each and works the same ways as the 7-day pass, but its only good for one day.

I hope this information is very helpful. If you have any questions or need travel directions while in town, just drop me a line by clicking on the avatar and e-mail icon in the profile.


Good luck and enjoy you trip.
Native New Yorker