Champagne Sunday Brunch Restaurants in California

Considered the most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, California offers residents and tourists many world-class attractions. Some of California's most popular to-go places include SeaWorld San Diego, Disneyland, Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Hollywood sign, The Queen Mary and off course its beaches. With a multicultural populous and a constant flow of visitors, California offers many culinary options. If you are in California and want to enjoy a champagne Sunday brunch, your options are many.

The Queen Mary

• Used in the 1940's as an ocean liner for war, today The Queen Mary is a retired ship serving as a historic attraction and tourist destination. Aside of offering tours, a hotel and several banquet rooms and restaurants, The Queen Mary hosts a Champagne Sunday brunch with live entertainment in its first class dining room, The Grand Salon. Served buffet-style, the Brunch menu offers 50 different all inclusive world-class entrees such as carving stations for cooked meats, Asian stir-fry, assorted pastas and sauces, Mexican food, breakfast favorites, salad bar, seafood and of course many deserts. Brunch is served from 9:30 a.m. through 2 p.m. and the dress code is firmly set as smart-casual attire. The Queen Mary offers a special buffet island for children, but strollers are not permitted within the dining area.

  The Queen Mary
  1126 Queen's Highway
  Long Beach, CA 90802
  562-499-1657
  queenmary.com

Riptide Sushi

• Riptide Sushi offers a wide array of choices for its Champagne/Hawaiian Brunch. Dishes include traditional favorites like eggs Benedict, NY steak, breakfast burritos, omelettes, Belgian waffles, pancakes, stuffed French toast and a variety of toppings such as fruit, chocolate and peanut butter. Vegetarian options like the "health nut" (egg whites, cottage cheese, fresh fruit) are also available. Being a sushi restaurant, Riptide offers a generous array of sushi as well as bottomless champagne and mimosas plus a live Hula show. Special prices for children 10 and under are conveniently offered to families. Champagne Brunch at Riptide Sushi is available Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  Riptide Sushi
  27741 Crown Valley Parkway #325
  Mission Viejo, CA
  949-282-0182
  riptidesushi.com

The Beach House

• Located in Dana Point, The Beach House restaurant offers Sunday Champagne Brunch with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Starters on the Champagne Brunch menu include apple walnut mixed greens, lobster bisque, filet satays and jumbo prawns. All entrees available are served with champagne, fresh fruit and pastries. Traditional items like egg dishes, breakfast potatoes, eggs Benedict as well as assorted salads, hamburgers and seafood are also included. If you have a sweet tooth, some of the desserts to look forward to include the apple crumb tart, cheesecake and crème brulee. Champagne Sunday Brunch at The Beach House is served from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reservations are accepted.

  The Beach House
  25001 Dana Drive
  Dana Point, CA. 92629
  949-496-7310
  thebeachhouse.com

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River Tours in the United States

The greatest rivers in the U.S. are often best experienced on the water itself, instead of seeing them through a car windshield. Traveling by boat with one of the many river tour operators in the country gives tourists a greater opportunity to see the ecology of the river up close. They'll also experience many of the sensations that the first explorers saw as they navigated their way through uncharted waters.

Experience the Hudson River

• Accidentally discovered by explorer Henry Hudson in 1609, the Hudson River was once considered an inhospitable and dangerous journey by early explorers. Hundreds of years later, tourists can safely travel in river boats along the 300-plus miles of the river, to historic towns such as Troy, West Point and Peekskill. Cruising the Hudson River is an opportunity to learn about the historic Hudson River Valley, or simply sit back and relax in a tranquil environment. Tour operators on the Hudson River offer a variety of trip themes, including; New Orleans-style party and dance tours operating out of the town of Newburgh, military history tours leaving from the West Point Army Academy, or murder mystery and comedy tours originating from the state capital of Albany. Some tour operators offer multi-day trips spanning the length of the river, complete with lodging accommodations and dry land coach tours of different historic towns in the Hudson River Valley.

  Hudson River Cruises
  hudsonriver.com/hudson-river-cruises

Cruise the Columbia River

• As one of the most important waterways in the Western U.S., the 1,200 mile long Columbia River travels through seven states and the Canadian province of British Columbia. The Columbia River Basin has 400 dams -- more than any single waterway in the world, all of which can generate more than 21 million kilowatts. There are many river cruise operators offering a variety of themes showcasing the Columbia's many uses. Popular cruise themes include wine and cuisine tours that highlight the fertile wine and farm regions of the Columbia River Gorge, as well as sport fishing tours seeking the region's world famous salmon, walleye, and sturgeon, among others.

  Columbia River Cruise West Adventure Cruises
  cruisewest.net/pages/discovery.html

  Columbia River Fishing Guide
  columbiariverfishingguide.com

Tour the Mississippi River

• The historic Mississippi River traverses through 10 different states, beginning in Minnesota's Lake Itasca at a depth of just three feet and ending 3,000 miles later in New Orleans, at a depth of approximately 200 feet. The types of cruises offered by tour operators are endless and include wildlife expeditions, gambling cruises, fishing tours and dinner jazz parties. One of the most popular cruises is offered on the Steamboat Natchez, the only authentic steamboat operating from New Orleans. This cruise offers jazz parties with regional cuisine specializing in seafood.

  Steamboat Natchez
  steamboatnatchez.com

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Haunted Attractions in Cookeville, Tennessee

You don't have to wait until Halloween to get a case of the goosebumps from a spooky place. Halfway between Knoxville and Nashville, Cookeville was the scene of Civil War skirmishes and other events that some say left the place haunted. While you'll have to travel 30 miles or more to find a haunted mansion, there are a couple of landmarks in Cookeville creepy enough to scare your socks off.

Crazy George and the Witch

• Two of Cookeville's most famous haunts lie side by side. The Stamps Cemetery on the east side of town is commonly called Witch's Cemetery. Besides the jagged headstones you'll find at any 1800s cemetery, Stamps has two extra-creepy features. Slabs of stone rise tent-like over the area where the bodies lie, while early headstones bear only a pentagram. Near the cemetery, the ghost of an 1800s railroad worker supposedly haunts a bridge over the railroad tracks. According to local legend, he fell onto the tracks and was decapitated by an oncoming train. The site is now called Crazy George's Bridge, and local rumor says that he'll appear if you call his name three times.

March into Battle

• Civil War battle scenes are thought by some to be prime areas for paranormal activity. At a crossroads, Cookeville often found itself the site of skirmishes between the Union and Confederate armies. On the southwestern edge of town, visit the site of the Battle of Dug Hill where more than 40 men lost their lives when Confederates ambushed a Union detachment. The trail through the battlefield begins at the Cookeville Depot Museum.

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Mexican Restaurants in Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan in New York City is known as a focal point of entertainment, fashion, finance and commerce. The area is home to such world-renowned destinations as Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building. As a multicultural region, Midtown Manhattan has a variety of restaurants to accommodate locals and tourists alike. If it's Mexican food your palate is craving, the area has several options.

Toloache Mexican Bistro

• Serving patrons since 2007, Toloache is an elegant, festive and artsy restaurant that offers contemporary Mexican cuisine. Popular in the area for its guacamole and ceviche bar, plus its tequila menu with over 100 choices, Toloache offers dishes like the hamachi, camaron and el Acapulco ceviches, and entrees such as the chilaquiles, quesadilla de costilla, tumbada and pollo Toloache. Open daily for dinner, Monday through Friday for lunch, and for brunch on weekends, Toloache also offers a full bar as well as take-out and delivery service.

  Toloache Mexican Bistro
  ?251 W 50th Street
  New York, NY 10019
  212-581-1818?
  toloachenyc.com

Rosa Mexicano Restaurant

• The Rosa Mexicano Restaurant is a festive restaurant serving authentic and traditional cuisine native to Mexico. The restaurant decor is rustic and charming with vibrant colors and impressive architecture. The Rosa Mexicano Restaurant is known for its pomegranate margarita and also for serving fresh guacamole that is prepared tableside and served with warm tortillas and chips. The menu offers a variety of flavors from queso fundido, grilled filet mignon, platanos fritos, enchiladas de jaiba and inspired dishes like the shrimp crepes. The Rosa Mexicano restaurant is open for dinner only on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

  Rosa Mexicano Restaurant
  ?1063 1st Avenue
  New York, NY 10022
  212-753-7407?
  rosamexicano.com

Hell's Kitchen

• Hell's Kitchen restaurant is a casual dining destination serving upscale Mexican cuisine with hearty portions. The restaurant features a full bar, a wine bottle chandelier and colorful, artfully prepared dishes served in a comfortable settling. Some menu creations available are the hoja santa crusted tuna tostadas with guacamole and grilled pineapple, grilled rack of lamb with poblano rice, blueberry mole and cactus salad, plus desserts such as the caramelized banana empanadas with bittersweet chocolate sauce or flan de coco. Hell’s Kitchen serves lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner Monday through Sunday.

  Hell's Kitchen
  ?679 9th Avenue
  New York, NY 10036
  212-977-1588?
  hellskitchen-nyc.com

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All-Inclusive Alaskan Cruises

Alaska is a wonderland filled with wildlife and natural beauty which has made the state very popular for tourism. Since Alaska has various barrier islands and various port cities cruise companies have made Alaskan cruises part of their regular offerings to customers. These cruises make for a unique cruising experience. Most travelers equate cruises to warm tropical destinations not a winter wonderland where over 15 glaciers roll over the land.

Carnival Alaskan Cruises

• The ship Carnival Spirit makes several trips up and down Alaska's coastline during the year. Carnival's Alaskan cruises leave from Seattle, Washington on various different routes. All cruises are all inclusive. There are three tours to choose from called Glacier Bay, Northbound Alaska and Southbound Alaska. The Northbound and Southbound Alaska tours stop in Glacier Bay along with the port cities of Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Anchorage and Sitka while the Glacier Bay tour spends more time in Glacier Bay and only stops in Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. The cruise is all inclusive and there are separate excursions to customize the cruise experience. These excursions are various helicopter rides, 4x4 mountain excursions, fishing trip up the Bearing Sea on a boat featured on the reality show "The Deadliest Catch" or historical tours of Alaskan towns.

  Carnival Cruise Lines
  3655 NW 87th Ave.
  Miami, FL 33178
  1-800-929-6400
  carnival.com

Holland America Alaskan Cruises

• The ships that sale the Alaskan and Yukon areas of the Pacific Ocean are all five-star luxury liners. The Holland America Cruise Lines runs 10 different itineraries with options to go to Alaska or Alaska and the Yukon Territory. The ships leave from Seattle, Washington and travel to every major Alaskan and Canadian port of call in the area. There are cruises that include seven travel days all the way up to 14 day cruises. All options are all inclusive. Glacier Bay and several of Alaska's natural wonders are prominent parts of the cruises along with whale watching excisions in the Pacific Ocean.

  Holland America Cruise Lines
  300 Elliott Avenue West
  Seattle, WA 98119-4199
  877-932-4259
  hollandamerica.com

Celebrity Cruises

• Celebrity Cruises has several options and itineraries available to make an Alaskan cruise feel unique. There are four ships to choose from that travel the western coast of California up through Alaska. These ships leave from Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, Vancouver BC and Seward, AK. The ships stop in several ports of call such as Anchorage, AK, Fairbanks, AK, Juneau, AK and Vancouver, BC. The ships include amenities such as fresh-cut flowers, a luxurious pillow menu, upgraded bathroom amenities, and personalized stationery in the staterooms. The cruises are all inclusive and offer great excursions such as kayaking along the many water ways, helicopter rides to glaciers and nature tours to see Alaskan wildlife up close.

  Celebrity Cruises
  1080 Caribbean Way
  Miami, FL 33132
  800-647-2251
  celebritycruises.com

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Mother-Daughter Spa Vacations

Whether it's for a special occasion such as Mother's Day or just a quick weekend getaway, a spa vacation can be a relaxing, rejuvenating experience for mothers and daughters. A mother/daughter spa vacation can be on the the coast, surrounded by vineyards or on an island. Make your spa vacation a weekend getaway or a week-long trip where you can experience all the amenities a spa has to offer, from facials, massages and seaweed wraps to mud baths, manicures and pedicures.

The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

• The Sanctuary Hotel on Kiawah Island in South Carolina is an oceanfront resort that offers one-bedroom guest rooms with private balconies and Italian linens. The Sanctuary spa offers guests a Certified Holistic Lifestyle coach, who will teach you about the importance of sleep, nutrition and exercise. The spa features dual treatment rooms where mothers and daughters can indulge in spa treatments together. The spa offers a Southern Hospitality Facial and a Detoxifying Seaweed Body Retreat. Relax your muscles with a Signature Massage, followed by a manicure and pedicure. By the time your treatments are over for the day, you'll be relaxed and hungry, and the Sanctuary has 11 restaurants from which to choose. The Sanctuary is located 30 minutes from Charleston, home to museums, art galleries, river cruises and historic homes.

  The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
  One Sanctuary Beach Drive
  Kiawah Island, SC 29455
  800-576-1570
  Kiawahresort.com

The Lodge at Pebble Beach

• The Lodge at Pebble Beach offers guest rooms with a fireplace and a private balcony overlooking Carmel Bay. With 14 restaurants to choose from, the Lodge features a variety of cuisines, from seafood to steaks, as well as extensive wine lists and fruity cocktails. The Spa at Pebble Beach is a 22,000-square-foot sanctuary of rejuvenation and relaxation. Have your mother/daughter treatments performed together in the Flotation-Wrap Suite. The Spa at Pebble Beach offers massages, facials and body wraps, as well as its signature water experience. Immerse yourself in a deep tub of water before emerging in the inhalation room, where you will spend a few moments to yourself before being immersed in several jets of streaming water in the Pebble Beach Signature Shower. The Spa also offers a cosmetic dermatology center with treatments to repair sun damage and smooth wrinkles. Visit the nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea, a picturesque village where you can shop, dine, and visit art galleries.

  The Lodge at Pebble Beach
  1700 17-Mile Drive
  Pebble Beach, CA 93953
  831-624-3811
  Pebblebeach.com

Auberge Du Soleil

• The Auberge Du Soleil features rooms with private terraces overlooking California's Napa Valley. Each Mediterranean-inspired guest room features luxurious amenities such as Italian linens and custom bath soaps. The Auberge Du Soleil Restaurant and the Auberge Du Soleil Bistro and Bar offer menus filled with decadent entrees and extensive wine selections. For a mother/daughter spa experience, the Auberge Spa offers the Melisse Suite, where you and your daughter can enjoy your spa treatments together. Arrive before your treatments begin and soak in one of three springs that overlook the vineyards of Napa Valley. The Auberge Spa offers a signature massage and facial. In the summer, enjoy a peaches-and-cream body masque. For fall, indulge your skin in a Harvest Body Glaze. There are several local wineries within five minutes of the Auberge. Rent a bicycle from the hotel and pedal around Rutherford, where you can stop at a wine bar or a bakery or do some light shopping. San Francisco is less than an hour from Rutherford.

  Auberge Du Soleil
  180 Rutherford Hill Road
  Rutherford, CA 94573
  707-963-1211
  Aubergedusoleil.com

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Restaurants for Birthdays in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, Illinois, is a tourism center that offers a variety of venues, including world-class landmarks, historic architecture, and attractions like the Garfield Park Conservatory, the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lincoln Park Conservatory Gardens. Thanks to Chicago’s active and progressive atmosphere, dense population, and high influx of tourism, the city boasts a variety of restaurants perfect for birthday celebrations whether you're looking for great cuisine, great atmosphere or great cocktails.

Charlie Trotter's?

• Serving the Chicago area for over 22 years, Charlie Trotter's Restaurant is a renowned dining destination with an elegant atmosphere and artistic cuisine. Popular among locals for its AAA Five Diamond status, Charlie Trotter's is a forward-looking restaurant that establishes new standards for fine dining worldwide. With its efficient service and exquisite dishes, this restaurant is an ideal destination for a special birthday treat whether it is for a few people or a private dining event for a larger group. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, menu items include the sashimi of yellowfin tuna, grilled blue prawn and the honey glazed duck. A wine menu and full service bar is also available.

  Charlie Trotters?
  816 West Armitage Avenue
  Chicago, IL 60614-4308
  773-248-6228?
  charlietrotters.com

The Gage Restaurant

• The Gage restaurant offers a relaxed environment, vintage decor and serves top quality comfort foods as well as boutique beers, fine wines and whiskeys. The restaurant interior offers leather booth seating, table seating, fireplace, full bar, warm color palate and soft lighting to create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. Menu items vary from chips (fries) with curry gravy and roasted bone marrow to warm goat cheese tart to the 16 oz. natural aged American rib-eye steak. Open Monday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, The Gage Restaurant offers private dining for events and birthday parties with personalized service and customizable menu items upon request.

  The Gage Restaurant
  24 South Michigan Avenue
  Chicago, IL 60603-3301
  312-372-4243?
  thegagechicago.com

Alhambra Palace

• The Alhambra Palace Restaurant serves authentic Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant is multi-leveled and fully decorated floor to ceiling with artifacts from Egypt, Morocco and Lebanon, hand-carved sculptures, festive lighting and eye-catching architecture to create an elegant, romantic and royal feeling decor. The menu offers such traditional items as tabouli, baba ghanoush, kefta, chicken kabob, Moroccan lamb tagine and cumin crusted salmon. The Alhambra Palace offers several private dining rooms suitable for special events such as birthday celebrations. The private dining rooms can accommodate 30 to 500 seated guests. The Alhambra Palace is open daily serving lunch and dinner.

  Alhambra Palace
  ?1240 West Randolph Street
  Chicago, IL 60607
  312-666-9555?
  alhambrapalacerestaurant.com

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Restaurants Near Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University is a private Jesuit institution founded in 1818, located on Lindell Boulevard in the active, progressive, independent city of St. Louis, Missouri. The university is known for being the first to award an M.D. degree in 1836. There are many attractions near SLU, such as the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Gateway Arch, the Saint Louis Zoo and numerous parks. If you're looking for a restaurant, there are several options nearby.

Pappy's Smokehouse?

• Voted \"Best BBQ in St. Louis\" by the Riverfront Times in 2008 and 2009, Pappy's Smokehouse restaurant is just five minutes from Saint Louis University. Known for its house sauces and fresh Memphis-style barbecue made daily, this restaurant offers patrons hearty portions in a casual and cozy atmosphere. The menu includes an assortment of salads and sandwiches, as well as entrees like the rib combo, the big ten, heifer and hog, beef and link and the \"Adam\" bomb--which was created in honor to Adam Richman of the TV show \"Man v. Food.\" Pappy’s Smokehouse is open daily for lunch until it sells out of food.

  Pappy's Smokehouse?
  3106 Olive St.
  St. Louis, MO 63103
  314-535-4340?
  pappyssmokehouse.com

Crown Candy Kitchen

• Located five minutes from Saint Louis University, the Crown Candy Kitchen has been open since 1913. It offers treats including World's Fair sundaes such as fruit salad, Swiss chocolate or banana split, as well as homemade ice cream with flavors like chocolate chocolate chip raspberry, pineapple-orange and Oreo coffee. The restaurant also serves savory dishes such as tamales, chili and a variety of sandwiches like albacore white tuna salad, turkey and roast beef. Crown Candy Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday and lunch only on Sundays.

  Crown Candy Kitchen
  ?1401 Saint Louis Ave.
  St. Louis, MO 63106-3920
  314-621-9650?
  crowncandykitchen.net

Blueberry Hill

• The Blueberry Hill restaurant is just 15 minutes from Saint Louis University. The restaurant menu is broad and offers many popular favorites such as mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, French onion soup, barbecue beef sandwich, and fish and chips, as well as breakfast items like pancakes with Log Cabin syrup, and biscuits and gravy. Blueberry Hill has outdoor seating, a full bar, cozy booth seating, a jukebox, live music, and walls adorned with various pictures and photographs. The welcoming atmosphere is like that of a favorite neighborhood restaurant. Blueberry Hill is open for lunch and dinner daily.

  Blueberry Hill
  6504 Delmar Blvd.
  St. Louis, MO 63130-4501
  314-727-4444?
  blueberryhill.com

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Kids Restaurants in New Jersey

Nicknamed the “Garden State,” New Jersey is a densely populated state with an active and progressive populous. As a region that offers historic sites, eclectic architecture and a rich historic background, New Jersey has family friendly attractions such as theme parks, performing arts venues, museums and recreational areas ideal for camping and hiking. As a multicultural and forward-looking place, New Jersey also offers various dining destinations serving different cuisines. If it’s a restaurant for kids that you are looking for, New Jersey has several options catering to families ready to dine and have fun.

Rainforest Cafe?

• The Rainforest Cafe is a casual family friendly restaurant with a jungle-style atmosphere. Popular among families for its focus to cater to children of all ages, this restaurant features jungle characters that entertain kids while exploring the restaurant's rainforest. With a captivating ambiance and eye-catching decor sure to entertain the family while dining, the kid’s menu at Rainforest Cafe offers options like the Jurassic chicken tidbits, gorilla grilled cheese delight, python pasta and rainforest rascals, plus desserts such as the lava mud and safari sundae. The Rainforest Cafe opens daily for lunch and dinner.

  Rainforest Cafe?
  2201 Boardwalk
  Atlantic City, NJ 08401-6604
  609-345-5757?
  rainforestcafe.com

CB Huntington Family Restaurant?

• CB Huntington’s Family Restaurant is a kid friendly restaurant offering a separate children’s menu for 10 years and under filled with favorites such as chicken fingers, spaghetti with meatballs, pizza, chocolate milk, root beer floats and \"make your own sundae.\" The restaurant features fun for all ages by offering face painting, magic shows, a ferris wheel, roller coaster, safari ride, archery, miniature golf, jousting, go-carts, bumper boats, batting cages, video game arcades, a climbing wall and paint ball for kids 10 years and older. CB Huntington's Family Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

  CB Huntington Family Restaurant?
  140 Atlantic City Boulevard
  Bayville, NJ 08721-1229
  732-505-1294?
  blackbeardscave.com

Duffer's Restaurant

• Duffer's Restaurant has a comfortable, Victorian-style atmosphere that offers a lively and family friendly dining experience. The restaurant features the Duffer's Express train that runs through the restaurant, Herbie the bear who rides a unicycle on a tight rope as well as a miniature golf course, arcade games and a gift shop. The restaurant offers menu items such as breakfast crepes, stuffed French toast, deli sandwiches, steaks, chicken, a children’s menu as well as homemade ice cream, sundaes or banana splits for dessert. Duffer’s Restaurant is open daily and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

  Duffer's Restaurant
  5200 Pacific Avenue
  Wildwood, NJ 08260-4437
  609-729-1817?
  dufferswildwood.com

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Sober Singles Vacations

Sober vacations for singles allow travelers to meet other sober individuals and explore new places, including the Caribbean, the Amazon and Africa. These vacations range from weekend retreats to cruises to visits to foreign countries. Activities include safaris, fine dining, hiking, shopping, cultural events and museums. Singles will generally be paired in rooms with other singles who have been involved in 12-step programs.

Sober Travel Adventures

• Sober Travel Adventures offers all-inclusive adventure trips for singles. The price includes the flight, hotels and guides on trips to exotic locations including Africa, Tahiti, the Amazon and Bangkok. Most hotels on the trip are rated first class, and experienced guides lead the groups. Anonymous group meetings are held during the tours, and sober singles will be blended with people not in the program via the Adventures for Singles trips. Alcohol may be present on these vacations.

  Sober Travel Adventures
  1907 Daniel Green Ct.
  Smyrna, GA 30080
  877-813-9421
  sobertraveladventures.com

Sober in the Berkshires

• Sober in the Berkshires is an annual weekend event in January at the Eastover Retreat in Massachusetts. The vacation is geared toward singles and couples, and the price covers meals, lodging and entertainment. Activities include skiing at Bousquet, swimming, a scavenger hunt and karaoke. There are dances each night with DJs or live bands providing the music. For an additional fee, visitors can get massages, go horseback riding or rent skiing equipment. Hotel amenities include private baths, TVs in common areas, a heated pool and a library. Food choices include buffet-style meals, pizza, salad bars, ice cream, barbecues and snacks.

  Eastover Resort and Conference Center
  430 East St.
  P.O. Box 2160
  Lenox, MA 01240
  800-822-2386
  eastover.com

Sober Cruises

• Sober Cruises are geared toward singles and couples, and the cruise line travels to the Caribbean, the Mexican Riviera, Canada and Alaska. On the seven-day Western Caribbean cruise, port stops include Grand Cayman, Isla Roatan, Belize City and Cozumel. The eight-day Eastern Caribbean cruise port stops include Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk. The five-day Mexican Riviera cruise stops include Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. The six-day Canadian cruise stops at Boston, Portland, Maine, St. John and Halifax. The six-day Alaska cruise goes to Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia. Cruise amenities include buffet-style meals, coffee/tea, room service and on-board entertainment, including gambling and dancing.

  Sober Cruises
  623-889-5440
  Lisa@sobercruises.com
  sobercruises.com

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Restaurants in New Jersey That Have Private Rooms

Also called the “Garden State,” New Jersey is an active and densely populated state with a progressive populous. As a region that provides a rich historic background, eclectic architecture and various historic sites, New Jersey has an array of attractions such as recreational areas for hiking and camping, museums, performing arts venues and theme parks. Thanks to its multicultural demographic, New Jersey also offers dining destinations serving many cuisines. If it’s a restaurant that features private rooms you are looking for, New Jersey has several options ideal for any type of event.

Biagio's Ristorante?

• Serving home-style Italian classic cuisine since 1987, Biagio's Ristorante is a family owned and operated restaurant that offers artistic dishes in an elegant atmosphere and family-friendly environment. Also favored among locals for its banquet facilities, this restaurant has private rooms that can accommodate 20 to 170 people. With a classic setting ideal for private parties such as birthdays, showers, meetings, weddings or anniversaries, this restaurant features three rooms specifically reserved for private catered events, and provides an extensive catering menu sure to have something for any palate. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Biaggio’s Ristorante also has an extensive wine list and full service bar.

  Biagio's Ristorante?
  299 Paramus Road
  Paramus, NJ 07652-1318
  201-652-0201?
  biagios.com

Scarborough Fair Restaurant

• The Scarborough Fair restaurant is set in a renovated farmhouse building from the 1800s. The building offers elegant charm featuring red brick, high ceilings and large windows to reveal a lush, green surrounding area to gaze upon while you dine. If you are dining for a special occasion or event, Scarborough Fair offers several private dining rooms to choose from such as the Lounge, Octagon and Butterfly room. The Scarborough Fair restaurant requests “smart casual” attire and is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

  Scarborough Fair Restaurant
  ?1414 Meeting House Road
  Sea Girt, NJ 08750-2203
  732-223-6658?
  scarboroughfairrestaurant.com

Moonstruck Restaurant

• Located within a Victorian-styled building, Moonstruck Restaurant features many windows to allow natural lighting, outdoor seating on wrap around porches and a romantic yet lively ambiance. The restaurant has three floor levels; the first floor is a bar area that features a cocktail lounge with soft piano or jazz music, the second floor offers another bar area and the main dining room, and the third floor is an additional dining room that can also be reserved for private parties and events. The Moonstruck Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

  Moonstruck Restaurant
  517 Lake Avenue
  Asbury Park, NJ 07712-7107
  732-988-0123?
  moonstrucknj.com

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Best State Parks in Texas for Fishing

Thanks to its expansive size, dozens of freshwater lakes and shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico, Texas has more than 70 state parks that provide fishing opportunities. The state's family-friendly fishing policy waives the normal license or stamp requirements for adults and children fishing within a park's boundaries, although bag and length limits apply. Many parks loan out free rods, reels and tackle for up to seven days.

East Texas

• The main draw at Purtis Creek State Park in Eustace is the plentiful largemouth bass in the park's 355-acre lake, earning it the name of “Best Little Bass Fishing Lake in Texas." Fishing for catfish, crappie and sunfish typically is rated as good. Anglers don't have to worry about boat wakes or overfishing because the lake has a no-wake restriction and is limited to 50 boats at a time. The park has rental canoes, kayaks and paddleboats, and fishing is available from two lighted piers. Lake Livingston State Park, an hour northeast of Houston, features an abundance of large catfish and white bass on the 90,000-acre reservoir. Other available species include crappie, sunfish, striped/hybrid bass and largemouth bass. The park has three boat ramps and a fishing pier, with several marinas nearby.

North Texas

• Set on Lake Texoma, an 89,000-acre reservoir formed from the Red River near the Oklahoma border, Eisenhower State Park is relatively small at only 423 acres. But the park offers some big fishing action for several species of bass as well as catfish. The state-record blue catfish, a 121.5-pounder, was caught at the lake in 2004. The park has a lit fishing pier and a privately owned marina where anglers may rent pontoon boats. Lake Ray Roberts State Park has several units along the 25,600-acre reservoir formed from the Trinity River. The lake has excellent year-round fishing for largemouth bass, white bass and crappie as well as strong populations of catfish and sunfish. Two hot spots are the Isle du Bois unit's fishing pier and along the shoreline of the Johnson Branch unit.

West-Central Texas

• Lake Arrowhead State Park near Wichita Falls is known for its white crappie fishing, which heats up during the spring and fall off the state park's two fishing piers and floating docks. The lake also provides good-to-excellent hauls of white and largemouth bass, and large blue and flathead catfish of 40 or more pounds are not uncommon. At Lake Brownwood State Park, an hour southeast of Abilene, a wide variety of species are available in the 6,490-acre lake, which has many small coves, bays and creeks. Fishing for white bass, largemouth bass and catfish typically is good to excellent. Summer and early fall usually are the best times for white bass, and largemouth bass are most productive from September to May. Crappie, freshwater drum and sunfish also are available.

Gulf Coast

• Although the Corpus Christi area is known more for its nearby beaches, Lake Corpus Christi in the Neuces River watershed provides excellent year-round fishing for channel, blue and flathead catfish. Largemouth bass are most prevalent in spring, fall and winter, and white bass are abundant in the river channel in winter and in the main reservoir during summer. The park's lighted fishing pier is a hot spot for crappie. Mustang Island State Park in Port Aransas, with 5 miles of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico and Corpus Christi Bay, provides numerous saltwater angling opportunities. Take a canoe or kayak along the park's paddling trail, which winds through some of the state's top shallow-water fishing spots. Cast a line from the Fish Pass jetties or directly in the surf for species such as redfish, drum, flounder, mackerel, jack, pompano and speckled trout.

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Cruises From the Mainland to Hawaii

Enjoy a trip to the tropical state of Hawaii without having to fly by planning your travels on a cruise ship. Cruise ships offer comfortable accommodations, gourmet dining, entertainment, shopping, gambling and the opportunity to tour new ports of call, all combined into one "floating city." A variety of major cruise lines sail to Hawaii, leaving out of ports around the country. Book a trip for two weeks or more than a month and explore cities in Hawaii, then relax by the pool, enjoy a cocktail and leave the driving to the ship's captain.

Celebrity Cruises

• Set sail from San Diego on a 15-night trip to Hawaii aboard Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Century ship. After four days at sea, spend days in port at Hilo, Kailau Kona, Honolulu and Lahaina, then four days sailing again. Before heading back to San Diego, California, the ship stops for the day at Ensenada, Mexico.

  While in port, you can enjoy Hawaiian attractions such as the circle of fire, helicopter sightseeing, volcano adventures, tropical botanical gardens, lava hikes, bike adventures, shopping and sightseeing tours.

  Four cabin styles are available, including an inside (no window), ocean view, balcony and suite. While on board, enjoy the piano bar, the martini bar, Internet cafe, spa, two-story dining room and a gourmet restaurant where your meal is cooked, carved and flambeed right at your table.

  Celebrity Cruises
  877-202-4345
  celebritycruises.com

Princess Cruises

• Embark from Los Angeles and sail into Hawaii with a 14-day trip aboard Princess Cruises' Golden Princess. After four days of sailing, the ship docks in Hilo, Kauai, Honolulu and Maui, then sails for four more days and a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, before returning to California. Explore Hawaii through port excursions such as a Pearl Harbor tour, dinner cruise, ghost tour, golfing, dolphin encounter and city tour.

  Select from five cabin styles, including an interior room, ocean view, ocean view obstructed (you'll have a window but it may be partially blocked by a lifeboat or other ship materials), balcony or suite.

  During your days at sea, enjoy Golden Princess activities such as a nine-hole golf course, art gallery and auctions, arcade, caviar bar, hot tubs, golf simulator, jogging track and round-the-clock gourmet dining, buffets and room service.

  Princess Cruises
  800-774-6237
  princess.com

Holland America Line

• Spend a little more than a month on board Holland America Line's MS Rotterdam, departing out of Seattle on a 35-day sail to Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas. After leaving Seattle, the ship sails into Vancouver, British Columbia, and San Diego, California, before visiting four cities in Hawaii--Hilo, Lahaina, Kauai and Honolulu. It then crosses the international dateline and the equator and heads into the Cook Islands and French Polynesia before finally docking back in San Diego.

  Five room styles are available: interior, ocean view, balcony, balcony suite and a deluxe balcony suite. Activities on board include a casino, Broadway-caliber entertainment, art gallery, fitness center, poolside eatery, martini bar and dining including three daily buffets, room service, gourmet nightly meals, pizza and ice cream bars, plus a library.

  Holland America Line
  877-932-4259
  hollandamerica.com

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