Summertime beach getaways are an American pastime. Each year, millions flock to the coasts in order to bask in the sun, feel the warm sand in between their toes, and take a dip in the cool greenish-blue waters of the Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf. Unfortunately, those who usually enjoy hotspots like Destin and Pensacola have been forced to alter their plans because of the Gulf oil spill. But luckily for them, there are numerous other seashores to visit that offer the same scenic beauty – the only difference is that the non-Gulf waters may be a bit cooler. Below are ten beaches not on the Gulf Coast that meet the standards of every expert beach bum.

• Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
  The death place of legendary pirate Blackbeard contains more than three centuries of history and culture left behind by traders and sailors from all over the world. The village of Ocracoke – home to the 1823 Ocracoke Lighthouses and the century-old David Williams house – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The breathtaking beach is protected by 20-foot high sand dunes, which cover miles of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.



• Bahia Honda State Park, Florida
  Widely considered home to Florida’s most beautiful beaches, Bahia Honda State Park possesses soft sand and crystal clear water. It’s a snorkeler’s paradise because of the deep waters near shore, and kayaking and fishing opportunities are aplenty. The island boasts the highest quantity of colorful subtropical flowers in the Keys, including bay cedar, tiger lily and sea lavender. Silver and thatch palms ensure the beaches are authentically tropical.



• Hamoa Beach, Hawaii
  Towering sea cliffs surround this less populated section of Maui, where the currents are strong and the surf is dangerous. Swimmers are encouraged to test the waters in the summer and early fall when conditions are safest. Those who prefer to stay dry can enjoy a picnic on the shore while observing the lush greenery.



• Kailua Beach, Hawaii
  Located in the small town of Kilua – 30 minutes from Honolulu and 20 minutes from Waikiki – Kailua Beach lacks the hoards of people who occupy the rest of the island. Beachgoers enjoy the best conditions for swimming and wind surfing on the island. In fact, windsurfing champion Robby Naish honed is craft on Kailua’s waves.



• Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Hawaii
  Hanauma Bay Nature preserve is a protected marine life conservation area that offers snorkelers the opportunity to observe an abundance of marine life and large reefs. The circular-shaped beach, which sits on a volcanic crater, features Technicolor-quality blue waters. Visitors can find the most picturesque views of the bay by following one of the hiking trails along the coastline.



• Kiawah Beachwalker Park, South Carolina
  The refreshing water of the Atlantic Ocean and the clean tan sand make Beachwalker Park one of the best summer hotspots on the East Coast. It’s family friendly; it has lifeguards, restrooms and a snack bar, so long days on the beach are easier to enjoy. A boardwalk gives beachgoers a chance to observe vegetation and wildlife when they aren’t taking a dip.



• East Hampton Main Beach, New York
  Long Islanders flock with umbrellas in tow to East Hampton Main Beach during the summertime, where they enjoy hotdogs and lobster rolls while taking in the pleasant sounds of the crashing Atlantic waves. Of course, the area is kept in tip-top shape; a who’s who of celebrities and important people live nearby.



• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Florida
  Known for the 185-year-old lighthouse that overlooks the Atlantic, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park has long been a favorite place for Floridians to spend their summer days. The clear blue water is home to a wide variety of fish, making the area a fisherman’s paradise. After a day out in the water – or catching fish – beachgoers can enjoy a meal in one of the picnic pavilions.



• Cumberland Island, Georgia
  When people think of beautiful beach scenery, Georgia doesn’t often come to mind. But Cumberland Island – Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island – offers 17 miles of pristine undeveloped beaches that sit alongside thick seaside forests, making it uniquely Georgian. The island boasts one of the largest coastal wilderness areas on the East Coast.



• Coronado Beach, California
  California is known for its beaches. Coronado Beach is the gem of Southern California; perfect for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life. When visitors aren’t enjoying the Pacific waters, they can visit the nearby parks, stores, restaurants and historic Hotel del Coronado.

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Even people who don’t believe in ghosts like a good ghost story. They’re creepy but fun, and the places ghosts are rumored to haunt wind up becoming tourist attractions. The rule applies to hotels, too, and there are plenty of them across the country with their own eerie tales of lost loves, bad killings, and spirits doomed to haunt the living.

1. Hotel Provincial (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Located in the city’s French Quarter, the Hotel Provincial dates back to before the Civil War. One of its buildings originally housed a medical hospital, and to this day people claim to see Confederate soldiers and doctors walking around or asking for help. One story talks of a ghost of a soldier from the 1930s who loved country music, and who will tune the room’s radio to the country station if it’s changed.

2. Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, Colorado)
Opened in 1909, this classic American hotel is best known for inspiring Stephen King’s The Shining after he and his wife stayed there. There have been numerous reports of hauntings, including staff claiming to hear a party in the ballroom only to find it empty. Some also claim to have seen a man standing over their bed, and believe this ghost to be responsible for stealing some guests’ personal effects.

3. Hotel del Coronado (San Diego, California)
One of the city’s most popular hotels, the Hotel del Coronado is the site of many strange happenings, some related to the death of Kate Morgan at the turn of the century. Morgan checked in under an alias in November 1892, looking sick but claiming her brother, a doctor, was arriving later. No doctor ever came, and a few days later, she went into town and bought a gun. She was found dead outside the hotel the next morning.

4. Menger Hotel (San Antonio, Texas)
San Antonio’s Menger Hotel is one of the oldest in the state with tons of history, so it’s no surprise that it’s become a hot spot for reports of otherworldy sightings. Some claim to have seen President Teddy Roosevelt drinking at the bar; Roosevelt used the hotel as a recruiting place for Rough Riders. But it’s the ghost of Sallie White that’s proven to be the most popular. White was a maid there in the late 1800s, and she was attacked in the building by her husband and wound up dying days later. People say she can still be seen walking the halls, carrying linens for guests.

5. Sheraton Gunter Hotel (San Antonio, Texas)
Another south Texas landmark, the Gunter Hotel was built in 1909. In 1965, a young man using an alias checked in alone to room 636 but began spending time with an unidentified blonde woman. A few days later, a maid entered the room to find the man standing next to the bed covered in blood. He grabbed a bundle of sheets and ran out. Police came and found the woman’s blood everywhere and parts of her flesh in the toilet. The man was located at a nearby hospital, but he shot himself as police approached. The woman’s body was never found. People have since reported strange happenings in room 636, including sightings of the spirit and the woman’s sudden appearance in photographs in the room.

6. Bullock Hotel (Deadwood, South Dakota)
Sheriff and hotelier Seth Bullock is best known to modern audiences as one of the main characters on HBO’s “Deadwood,” but the man was real. Present-day visitors to the Bullock Hotel in South Dakota have reportedly seen Bullock himself walking through the building or heard a male voice call their names when no one else is present.

7. Crescent Hotel (Eureka Springs, Arkansas)
Opened in 1886, the Crescent Hotel looks a little creepy from the outside, with its old-style architecture. Originally built to capitalize on the popularity of Eureka Springs’ reputed “healing waters,” the hotel has had ups and downs over its long life, as well as quite a few brushes with the supernatural. One spirit, whom the staff have named Michael, is reportedly the ghost of one of the stone masons who built the hotel and who died in a fall on the second floor. As a result, room 218 is said to be the most haunted of all of them, and Michael reportedly loves to turn appliances off and on and pound on the walls.

8. Imperial Hotel (Cripple Creek, Colorado)
The Imperial Hotel opened at the turn of last century in part to house the miners and visitors who needed a place to stay after the 1896 fire wrecked most of the town. It’s rumored that George Long, the hotel’s former owner, haunts the building to this day and can be seen playing the slot machines and flirting with women. Night guards have reported hearing sounds from the casino floor at but found no one there.

9. Ghost City Inn (Jerome, Arizona)
Jerome is a tiny tourist town in the Arizona desert, and the Ghost City Inn is rumored to be the home of multiple spirits who haunt the building and its inhabitants. A female and male spirit have been spotted lurking in different rooms, and some guests have reported having their doors slam shut on their own.

10. Lumber Baron Inn (Denver, Colorado)
This elegant bead & breakfast was once the mansion home of lumber baron John Mouat. The inn was restored and reopened in the early 1990s, at which point people began to hear strange sounds like phantom footsteps. Some paranormal investigators claim to have made contact with the spirits of two women who were killed at the hotel in 1970: One girl was 17 who was raped and killed, and the other was her 18-year-old friend who came across the scene and was killed by the murderer. The case is still unsolved.

11. Skirvin Hotel (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Constructed with oil money earned by W.B. Skirvin, this Oklahoma landmark was a popular speakeasy during Prohibition. Rumor has it that Skirvin had an affair with a maid who became pregnant and was subsequently confined to a room on the top floor to prevent the scandal from leaking out. After the baby was born, the woman became so depressed at her imprisonment that she took the child and jumped out the window. For decades, random guests reported an inability to sleep over the cries of a child coming from somewhere nearby. The hotel was closed in 1988 but recently reopened, and the maid’s spirit is alleged to still haunt its halls.

12. Tutwiler Hotel (Birmingham, Alabama)
The ghost of the titular Colonel Tutwiler is rumored to haunt this Southern hotel. After a string of occurences in which the bartender came to work to find the kitchen appliances running despite having been turned off the night before, the staff began to half-jokingly admonish the ghost of Tutwiler for messing up the kitchen and ask him to not do it again. Weirdly enough, that fixed things, though some people still say you can see the ghost of Tutwiler around the hotel.

13. Plains Hotel (Cheyenne, Wyoming)
Cheyenne’s Plains Hotel opened in 1911 with much fanfare and soon became known for catering to wealthy visitors in the oil and cattle industries. But a sinister event led to what many believe to be the hotel’s haunting. A bride and groom checked into the Plains Hotel on their honeymoon, and one evening the husband met a prostitute in the hotel bar and went back to her room, his wife watching the whole time. The wife took her husband’s gun and followed the couple to their room where she killed them both and then shot herself in the honeymoon suite. All three spirits are said to still linger in the hotel, and staff claim to have heard weeping and crying coming from the couple’s former room even when it’s empty.

14. The Inn at Merridun (Union, South Carolina)
The innkeepers at Merridun cheekily play along with their hotel’s ghostly past. Rumor goes that ten different ghosts or “energy forces” linger at the inn, leading to unusual happenings, freaky sightings, and minor issues like missing or moved possessions.

15. Ballastone Inn (Savannah, Georgia)
Before it was an inn, the Ballastone was the home of General Robert Anderson and his wife, Sarah. Robert fought in the Civil War, and the family lived there into the 1880s. People say you can still see Sarah’s ghost walking along the second floor, or using the elevator.

16. Sheridan Inn (Sheridan, Wyoming)
At one time operated by Buffalo Bill Cody, this inn near the northern border of Wyoming is now the home of Miss Kate, the ghost of a woman who worked at the hotel for 64 years in a variety of positions, including desk clerk and hostess. When Miss Kate died in 1968, her ashes were interred in the wall of her third-floor room, which is prone now to chills and erratic light behavior.

17. Buxton Inn (Granville, Ohio)
One of the most ghost-filled places in the state, Ohio’s Buxton Inn is known for its many hauntings. Reports of spirit sightings date back to the 1920s, when people saw what looked like Orrin Granger, the man who built the inn early in the 1800s. There’s also Bonnie, a former innkeeper who died in room 9 and reportedly haunts it to this day. Guests in the room claim to have seen a woman dressed in blue, which was Bonnie’s favorite color.

18. Laguna Vista (Eagle Nest, New Mexico)
This one’s another honeymoon of heartbreak. There are many spirits said to be stuck haunting the Laguna Vista, including a young bride whose husband went out on a hunting trip and never returned, forcing her to work as a saloon girl to suppoert herself. Some people say they’ve seen her spirit hanging around the building, looking for husband. Other ghostly occurences include a piano that plays when no one is around.

19. Glick Mansion Bed & Breakfast (Atchison, Kansas)
Billed as the most haunted town in Kansas, Atchison has its share of attractions rumored to be populated by spirits from beyond the grave. The Glick Mansion, home of one-time Kansas governor George Washington Glick (in office from 1883-1885), is a tourist destination that’s also on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also the supposed home to a benevolent ghost that’s prone to open and close doors at random.

20. Lemp Mansion (St. Louis, Missouri)
The Lemp Mansion has seen several incarnations before its current status as a hotel. The Lemp family was a major name in breweries in St. Louis before Prohibition, but their family empire fell to ruin, divorce, and death by suicide. The building is considered one of the most haunted in the country, and the various members of the Lemp clan have been seen roaming the halls. People have also said they’ve seen candles light themselves, doors open on their own, and glasses flying off shelves to crash on the floor.

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There are plenty of amusement parks out there, but sometimes you want more than just a wooden roller coaster and some cotton candy. You want a full-on resort, with on-site lodging and access to amenities not available everywhere. For that, look no further than these ten fantastic examples of entertainment and hospitality. Whether you’re looking for thrill rides or the countryside, you can’t do much better than these amusement park resorts:

1. Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, Florida)
Was there any doubt this would make the list? Disney’s sprawling resort near Orlando, Florida, is the biggest in the world, complete with multiple theme parks and hotels designed to please families and couples of all ages. There are 32 (!) resorts and hotels on the property, which covers 40 square miles, with 24 of those directly operated by Disney. They’re broken down by price and luxury, from deluxe all the way down to campgrounds, which means there are plenty of options for vacationers looking to save a few bucks or splurge a bit. A great example of this is the Animal Kingdom Lodge, adjacent to the Animal Kingdom theme park, which offers panoramic views of the 43-acre wildlife preserve.

2. Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)
Spread over more than 360 acres, Ohio’s Cedar Point packs a ton of rides and attractions onto a peninsula that extends into Lake Erie. The location also boasts indoor and outdoor water parks and a theme park with go-karts and miniature golf. The on-site hotels feature special dining as well as early access to the park, before the rest of the public can get in for the day, and discounted prices on admission tickets.

3. Universal Orlando Resort (Orlando, Florida)
This overarching resort covers two theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Although the Hollywood location of Universal Studios is a functioning film studio that happens to have rides, the Florida location is solely designed for tourists. The site’s hotels each have a different feel, from the Italian-inspired Loews Portofino Bay Hotel to the more tropical-themed Loews Royal Pacific Resort. They’re all in walking distance of the parks, too, and not having to commute between hotels and parks makes for a more relaxing and less structured vacation.

4. Hershey Resorts (Hershey, Pennsylvania)
Billing itself as “the sweetest place on Earth,” Hershey is all about its chocolate, even in the amusement center of Hersheypark. The theme park also offers admission to the adjacent zoo, Zoomerica. The official resorts of the company and park include the Hotel Hershey, a high-class hotel; Hershey Lodge, a more rustic-themed place to stay; and Hershey Highmeadow Campground, for people who want to experience the parks and then get away from it all.

5. Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels, Texas)
Although the company now has several parks throughout the state (and one in Kansas), the original Schlitterbahn location remains the brand’s flagship and one of the biggest water parks in the world. Schlitterbahn gets the water for its rides from the adjacent Comal River, then cleans it (without chemicals) before letting it out into the river again. Resort guests get a 20 percent discount on park admission, and in a rare twist, visitors can stay at the resort year-round, even when the water park is closed for the winter.

6. Darien Lake (Darien, New York)
Visitors to Darien Lake can split their time between a theme park filled with traditional roller coasters and other rides (there’s one called the Mind Eraser, if you’re up for it) and a water park called SplashTown. The resort’s hotel is the Lodge on the Lake, with rooms big enough to sleep six people between the beds and sleep sofa. It’s a great option for families looking to experience the park.

7. Six Flags Great Escape Lodge (Lake George, New York)
Six Flags’ Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom covers almost 150 acres in upstate New York, and has almost 60 rides, not counting the water park attractions. Teh nearby Great Escape Lodge is a high-quality hotel designed to allow visitors easy access to the theme park as well as private amenities like an indoor water park for guests only. The Lodge is home to 200 suites among four levels, as well as a spa, fitness room, and arcade.

8. Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Busch Gardens’ Virginia outpost is inspired by Europe, with different sections of the theme park taking design and entertainment cues from countries including England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and Germany. Located right next door is Kingsmill Resort & Spa, the state’s biggest golf resort, spanning 2,900 acres along the James River. It’s the ideal place to stay to enjoy the park and take in the gorgeous views of the countryside.

9. Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin)
Opened in 2004, the Mt. Olympus park has a wonderful assortment of attractions, including a wooden roller coaster with the world’s longest underground tunnel and a host of water activities including raft rides and slides. Mt. Olympus has two on-site hotels as a part of its resort facilities: Hotel Rome and Mykonos Village. Hotel Rome has an indoor water park and multiple go-kart tracks for younger visitors, amenities shared by Mykonos Village. As a bonus, guests of both hotels receive free admission to the Mt. Olympus parks.

10. Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, California)
Don’t say it’s cheating to have two Disney properties on the list. There’s a reason the company is the global leader in vacations and resorts, and their original Southern California location is a strong reminder of their commitment to quality. There’s the Disneyland Hotel, the first to bear the Disney name; the Paradise Pier Hotel, a casual but classy hotel that overlooks the California Adventure theme park; and the Grand Californian Hotel, centrally located among the two theme parks and the Downtown Disney nightlife area. The sheer number of rooms and amenities available make it easier to spend more time at the park to take it all in at a relaxed pace. You probably won’t want to go home.

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For every hotel or motel that exists just to put a roof over your head when you’re traveling, there are more that serve as destinations in their own right, whether for their history, architecture, or status as a world-class resort. Here are just 15 of the most legendary hotels from around the world. If you get a chance, make your way to one and see what all the fuss is about (all prices in U.S. dollars):

1. Hotel Chelsea (New York City, New York, USA)
Located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, Hotel Chelsea is a landmark renowned for its place in pop culture as the long-term residence of numerous artists, including Bob Dylan, Sid Vicious, and Dylan Thomas, to name just a few. The building no longer accepts long-term stays, capping residences at 24 days, but the iconic location lives on in film, music, and books.
Cost: A one night-stay with a king-size bed will run you $249.

2. The Hotel Ritz (Paris, France)
The oldest Ritz Hotel in the world (it was established in 1898), this Parisian getaway is one of the most luxurious hotels on the continent. It was actually built in the early 1700s as a private residence, and housed a business before Cesar Ritz converted it to a hotel. The hotel came to define luxury and opulence to such a degree that the name Ritz became synonymous with high-class surroundings, and the adjective “ritzy” was coined to imply the same concept of quality.
Cost: Expect a night in a basic suite to set you back $715.

3. Kempinski Palace Hotel (Portoroz, Slovenia)
Originally called Hotel Palace, this hotel dates back to 1910 and has hosted famous guests including Orson Welles and Yul Brynner. In 1983, the hotel and adjoining park were declared to be items of historical heritage, and though the hotel closed in 1990, it reopened in 2008.
Cost: A one-night stay with a king-size bed is about $180.

4. The Savoy Hotel (London, England)
The Savoy opened its doors in August 1889, and it was the first in the line of Savoy hotels and restaurants overseen by the Richard D’Oyly Carte family. (It’s now part of the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts system.) The hotel has been a key part of London culture for more than 100 years. Claude Monet and James Whistler both stayed there, using the views from their rooms to create paintings of the River Thames, and Bob Dylan stayed there in 1965 and shot the classic video for “Subterranean Homesick Blues” in the nearby alley. Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier met there, and eventually married. Its kitchen is the birthplace of Melba toast.
Cost: The hotel closed for repairs in 2007 but is set to reopen in 2010.

5. The Peninsula Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)
Hong Kong’s oldest surviving hotel is also one of its most legendary. First opening in 1928, the hotel suffered massive damage during World War II but was restored and repaired afterward, when the colony returned to British control. The hotel also is home to one of the oldest fashion arcades in Hong Kong, hosting top-level brands including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Gucci. The Peninsula uses a fleet of 14 Rolls Royce autos painted a specific shade of green, as well.
Cost: Rooms start at $540 a night and go up to $8,757 for the Peninsula Suite.

6. Hotel Metropol (Moscow, Russia)
Constructed between 1899 and 1907, Hotel Metropol is notable for being the only surviving hotel in Moscow that was built before the Russian Revolution in 1917. Its mix of architects give it a distinct feeling: Each of the 365 rooms has a different shape or decorative pattern, meaning it’s possible to spend a year there and sleep someplace different every night.
Cost: Rooms start at a little over $400 a night.

7. Taj Mahal Palace & Tower (Mumbai, India)
What’s there to say about the Taj Mahal? It’s one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world, and the hotels guests have included royalty from many nations as well as some of the biggest players in politics and culture. (The Beatles, the Clintons, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis are only the tip of the iceberg.) The hotel resort opened in December 1903, and has been a world-class destination ever since.
Cost: Rooms range from $275 a night to $1,455 for the top-level suite.

8. The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (New York City, New York, USA)
Originally located on the block that’s now home to the Empire State Building, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel currently resides at 301 Park Ave. in Manhattan. At times in the 1950s and 1960s, Herbert Hoover and Douglas MacArthur lived in suites there, and the hotel’s also been home to stars like Marilyn Monroe and gangsters like Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano. The Waldorf-Astoria is also the origin site of the Waldorf salad, consisting of apple, walnuts, celery, and mayo. The lobby currently houses Cole Porter’s Steinway grand piano.
Cost: A king-size bed for one night starts around $450.

9. Chateau Marmont Hotel (West Hollywood, California, USA)
The Chateau Marmont began life in 1929 as an apartment building but switched to a hotel in 1931 thanks to the crunch of the Depression. Because of its Los Angeles location, it was built to withstand earthquakes, and the roof has weathered tremors pretty well over the years. The hotel also owns nine cottages built next to it. Located on Sunset Boulevard, Chateau Marmont is a classic piece of Hollywood history that’s been home to dozens of film and music stars for decades. It also hosts a popular restaurant.
Cost: Standard bedrooms start at $370, suites start at $605, and the bungalows start at $1,800. (That’s all just for one night, too.)

10. Rose Tower (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
At 1,093 feet, the Rose Tower is the tallest hotel in the world, stealing that title from another Dubai building that’s farther down this list. Construction finished in 2007 and the hotel opened to guests in December 2009, and is notable for being alcohol-free, though it does boast a 24-hour coffee shop. All told, there are more than 480 rooms, suites, and penthouses.
Cost: Rooms can range from $95 to $230 a night.

11. Raffles Hotel (Singapore, China)
Named for Singapore founder Sir Stamford Raffles, this colonial-design hotel opened in December 1887 and has been one of the region’s leading luxury hotels ever since. The hotel managed to withstand World War II and was named a national monument in 1987. The hotel bar also has a claim to fame: It’s where the Singapore Sling was invented.
Cost: Standard rooms start around $500 a night.

12. Grand Hotel Europe (Saint Petersburg, Russia)
One of the major five-star hotels in Saint Petersburg, Grand Hotel Europe dates to 1875, when it began drawing elite visitors like Turgenev, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and more. The lush interiors and quality of living make it one of Russia’s premier tourist destinations even after more than a century.
Cost: A one-night stay for one person starts around $625, and the honeymoon package runs about $962 a night.

13. Burj Al Arab (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
The second-tallest hotel in the world, the Burj Al Arab sports a unique sail shape that makes it one of the most recognizable sites in Dubai. The hotel is located on an artificial island a thousand feet offshore, supported by concrete pillars in the sand. The opulent features make it one of the area’s premier hotels.
Cost: Rooms for one person start around $1,000.

14. The Beverly Hilton Hotel (Beverly Hills, California, USA)
This Southern California hotel is best known for hosting the Golden Globe Awards, which it’s done since 1961. The hotel was owned by Merv Griffin from 1987 to 2003, during which time its glory faded a bit, but recent renovations have returned it to the top of the rankings.
Cost: Booking in advance and paying in full can lower your nightly rate to $184, but the suites can run much higher.

15. The Hotel Windsor (Melbourne, Australia)
This five-star grand hotel in the capital of Australia is the country’s only surviving grand hotel from the 19th century. The nation’s constitution was drafted there in 1898, as well. The luxurious building hosted kings and stars, but it almost disappeared after losing its luster in the 1960s and 1970s. However, a renovation in the latter part of the century restored the hotel and helped it reclaim its title as one of Australia’s best hotels.
Cost: Traditional rooms start around $160, but suites can fetch $470 a night.

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After the stress of planning a wedding and dealing with crowds of friends and family, newlyweds count on a honeymoon for some much-needed rest and relaxation. Here are 15 of the top honeymoon destinations, from seaside getaways to mountain retreats:

The United States
1. Hawaii
The all-time classic go-to for young couples, and it’s easy to see why: Hawaii feels more like a permanent park than our 50th state, with multiple islands, gorgeous weather, and plenty of sight-seeing opportunities and swanky hotels for tourists.

2. Alaska
If you’re not in the mood for tropical but still want to stay domestic, Alasks is a fantastic choice. Anchorage, located near the southern edge of the state, is a popular destination for visitors that offers honeymooners plenty to do, including hiking and boat travel. Another great way for newlyweds to experience the region is by cruise.

3. Colorado
Colorado offers a wonderful mix of metropolitan amenities and natural isolation, which makes it a great option for couples who want to get away from it all but also want to get back just as quickly. Resort towns like Crested Butte make for beautiful wooded retreats, whether you’re into skiiing in winter or exploring in summer.

4. Louisiana
Almost every state in the union has great travel options, so it’s hard to narrow the list, but Louisiana’s vibrant culture and food scenes make it the perfect coastal destination for newlyweds looking to have some fun and experience something unique together.

5. New York
New York City’s size and prominence means it’s got plenty of accomodation options for honeymooners. Splurge with a suite along Central Park and take in the sights from Broadway to the Statue of Liberty.

Latin America
6. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Located on the southern edge of Baja California, Cabo San Lucas (and the neighboring San Jose del Cabo) is one of the most popular Mexican destinations for honeymooners, thanks to its stretches of white beaches and variety of ocean activities. The wealth of sights, sounds, and things to do means you can choose to pack your days with activities or just stay in a resort and absorb atmosphere.

7. Acapulco, Mexico
Situated on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Acapulco is a globally renowned resort area that’s been attracting couples for years. A great destination for couples looking to party and dance the night away.

8. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is known for its blend of rustic living and modern charm, which makes it an ideal honeymoon spot for people looking to experience some Latin American history on their honeymoon.

9. San Jose, Costa Rica
The capital city of Costa Rica, San Jose is a favorite Caribbean hot spot for all types of travelers. Honeymooners flock there for the tropical weather, gorgeous wildlife and nature, and the chance to spend time with each other in a tropical paradise. The island is also known for a variety of carnivals and festivals year-round.

10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is the biggest tourist destination in the southern hemisphere, so it’s no wonder that it draws its fair share of newlyweds looking to party. The annual Carnival is just one of the many examples of how this city goes all-out in its nightlife. Add in the plentiful beaches and Brazilian jungles, and it’s easy to see why people go to Rio and don’t want to come home.

Europe
11. Rome, Italy
So many great places to go in Europe, but so little time. The continent is filled with centuries of history, architecture, art, and more, making it a dream choice for honeymooners looking to steep themselves in old-world customs. Case in point: Rome. The Italian capital city is a wonderful romantic spot for young lovers, with tons of hotel and restaurant choices in addition to museums, tours, and picturesque countrysides nearby.

12. Paris, France
One of the most popular honeymoon destinations of all time, Paris isn’t just about the Eiffel Tower. Honeymooners will find plenty to explore and love in this old city, as well as some flat-out amazing food.

13. Athens, Greece
For real history fans, this ancient Greek capital is a perfect spot that offers a glimpse at the old world while also allowing visitors to enjoy the modern charms and breathtaking scenery. You’ll find yourself constantly torn as to whether to stay in and enjoy the hotels or get out and explore the country.

14. Oxford, England
The English countryside has an appeal like none other, and Oxford is the perfect place to start exploring the rolling hills and engaging history of the former world-ruling empire. It’s located northwest of London, so you can travel to the capital city with ease.

15. Madrid, Spain
Spain’s capital and largest city, Madrid is located right in the nation’s heart, which makes it a great place to experience all that Spain can offer. With dozens of musems and year-round festivals, not to mention access to the less populated areas outside the city, Madrid is a smart choice for newlyweds who want a hub of activity that can launch them into the wider world.

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There are many beautiful water fountains around the world, from the Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas to the old fountains of Rome. Some fountains are very old, yet some are new and using the latest in high technology. Here are 40 fountains, old and new, that millions of people travel each year to go see. These fountains are located at some of the most popular tourist destinations from in front of some beautiful hotels, to the middle of downtowns. If you are planning a vacation, these are some beautiful spots to add to your list of sites to see.

71 Fountain, Ohio, United States
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Archibald Fountain, Sydney, Australia
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Banpo Bridge Fountain, Seoul, South Korea
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Bellagio Fountains, Nevada, United States
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Buckingham Fountain, Chicago, United States
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Ceasar Chavez Fountain Park, San Jose, United States
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Chatsworth House & fountains, Derbyshire, England
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City Hall Fountains, Edmonton, Canada
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Crown Fountain, Chicago, United States
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Disney’s Fountain of Nations, Florida, United States
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El Alamein Fountain, Sydney, Australia
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Floating Fountains, Osaka, Japan
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Fonte do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Fountain of Rings, Georgia, United States
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Fountain of Wealth, Suntec City, Singapore
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Four Rivers Fountain, Rome, Italy
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Frisco Square fountain, Frisco Square, Texas
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Gardens of Versailles, Versailles, France
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Grand Haven Musical Fountain, Michigan, United States
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Grove Baths of Apollo, Chateau de Versailles, France
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Horace Dodge Fountain, Michigan, United States
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Jet d’eau Fountain, Geneva, Switzerland
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Kansas City Plaza Fountain, Missouri, United States
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King Fahd’s Fountain, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Magic Fountain, Montjuic, Barcelona
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Merlion Front, Singapore
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Multimedia fountain, Wroclaw, Poland
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Ovato fountain, Villa d’Este Park, Italy
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Peoples Friendship Fountain, Moscow, Russia
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Peterhof Fountains, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Pineapple Fountain, South Carolina, United States
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Scott Fountain, Michigan, United States
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Space Printer Fountain, Hakata, Japan
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Swarovski Fountain, Innsbruck, Austria
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Tap fountain, Santa Galdana, Menorca
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Tivoli Fountain fountain, Tivoli, Italy
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Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
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Vaillancourt Fountain, California, United States
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Villa d’Este Water Fountain, Tivoli, Italy
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Volcano Fountain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Traditionally a fountain is an arrangement where water comes from a source, fills a basin of some sort, and is then drained away. In a fountain sheets of water might flow over various surfaces of stone, concrete or maybe metal. Basins might overflow from one into another, or perhaps the overflow may mimic a natural cascade. Countless fountains can be found in small, artificial, ornamental ponds, basins and formal garden pools, and often they include a sculpture.

You will get to see them in every city you travel to and the larger, more colorful it is, the larger the hype.

There are numerous features which helps in the creation of a typical fountain but probably the most common features of a fountain, when there is enough pressure, is one or more jets, through which water is forced into the air under pressure to some height. A famous example of such a modern day fountain rises from the surface of Lake Geneva named Jet d’Eau. Attractive fountains, is a must-have thing for each and every self-respecting city that desires to attract more and more tourists. It’s no secret that people are able to see them in every city they travel to, however have you ever wondered where are the most beautiful fountains in the world?

All of the fountains above are designed by well known architects and I must say it’s not an easy job to design and complete these pieces of art. On the difference between the ideals of “architecture” and mere “construction”, the renowned 20th C. architect Le Corbusier wrote: “You employ stone, wood, and concrete, and with these materials you build houses and palaces: that is construction. Ingenuity is at work. But suddenly you touch my heart, you do me good. I am happy and I say: This is beautiful. That is Architecture”.

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Are you thinking about taking a cruise?  Have you already been on one and want to share you experiences?  Check out the following blogs to find out what trips are available and to hear about others experiences with various cruise lines.  The best way to find a great cruise is to read reviews of others who have already been there and done that.

1. Blog.atlastravelweb.com Read about affordable family vacations as well as many other types of cruise vacations.  This blog has done the leg work for you for all kinds of trips.
2. Directlinecruises.com/blog.htm Fantastic pictures of various locales throughout the world.  Many different cruise lines are reviewed and money saving deals are highlighted.
3. Entertainmentcruises.com/blog This blog is all about Entertainment Cruises.  There are videos and descriptions of several different vacations.
4. Blog.virginholidayscruises.co.uk You can actually book your vacation through this blog.  Pick when and where you want to go with their guidance.
5. Expeditions.com/blog Breathtaking pictures of exciting and unusual vacation cruises.  Meet penguins in Antarctica and climb the mountains in New Zealand.
6. Frommers.com/community/blogs Check out the great deals on this blog.  Take a 10-night trip to Lisbon to Monte Carlo.
7. Premierchristiancruises.com/blog A Christian option to cruising.  Read the testimonials about the cruises offered.
8. Orbitz.com/blog Just like Orbitz for airline tickets or hotel rentals this is Orbitz for cruises.  Read about the great deals on family vacation.
9. Velvetescape.com/blog Go explore, experience and be inspired is the tag line on this blog.  Check out the 10 most desirable cruising cities.
10. Whales.com Whale watching has long been an activity enjoyed by cruisers young and old alike.  Look at the great photos and discover the great cruise options.
11. Sobercelebrations.com/blog Are you a foodie?  Enjoy the fine dining reviews of this cruise restaurant.
12. Usatoday.com/travel Now this blog describes a very interesting cruise option.  YOLO is hyping the first ever “Swingers” cruise in the industry.
13. Blog.cruises.com.au/ Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall and find out what others are doing on their vacations?  This blog allows you to do just that.  Read posts from people currently on a cruise posting about what they are doing.
14. Morocco.com/blog Ever wanted to experience Morocco?  If so, this blog is for you.  Read all about cruises to this exotic location.
15. Blog.dearmyrtle.com/2008/08/genealogy You have got to check out this fascinating option in cruises.  Genealogy classes are offered on the cruise allowing you to learn while you cruise.
16. Blog.gaytravel.com This blog is exactly was it claims to be.  Opportunities to travel with other gay people are described on this blog.
17. Blogcatalog.com/blogs/cruise-review Celebrity, Royal Carribean, and Norwegian cruises are reviewed and rated.  Check out this blog before you book your next cruise.
18. Cruise-addicts.com/cruise-news Have you been on multiple cruises and you just can’t get enough?  You are not alone, read all of the posts from current vacationers.
19. Travelwild.com/blog Go to this blog just to look at the picture of the gazillion penguins!  Explore why penguins do what they do and go where they go to do it.
20. Whalesong.com.au/blog Another blog singing the praises of the whale song.  Amazing photographs on this blog and great information to be found if you think you’d like to take a cruise to go whale watching.

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Have you ever wondered what the celebrities look like without makeup? I know we have all see the tabloids at the stores that show some pictures now and then of these celebrities. Well here are 40 photos of some great celebrities without their makeup on, showing that at times they are just like the rest of us.

1.  Alicia Silverstone
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2.  America Farrera
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3.  Ashley Tisdale
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4.  Avril Lavigne
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5.  Britney Spears
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6.  Brooke Shields
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7.  Calista Flockhart
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8.  Charlize Theron
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9.  Christina Applegate
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10.  Courtney Cox
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11.  Drew Barrymore
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12.  Gisele Bundchen
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13.  Hilary Duff
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14.  Jennifer Lopez
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15.  Jessica Simpson
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16.  Julia Roberts
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17.  Kate Hudson
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18.  Katherine Heigl
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19.  Katherine Mcphee
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20.  Kathy Griffin
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21.  Kelly Clarkson
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22.  Kelly Ripa
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23.  Kim Kardashian
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24.  Kirsten Dunst
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25.  Kristie Alley
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26.  Lady Gaga
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27.  Madonna
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28.  Melanie Griffith
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29.  Miley Cyrus
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30.  Nicole Richie
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31.  Nicolette Sheridan
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32.  Pam Anderson
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33.  Renee Zellweger
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34.  Rihanna
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35.  Sharon Osbourne
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36.  Sharon Stone
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37.  Sienna Miller
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38.  Tori Spelling
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39.  Uma Thurman
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40.  Victoria Beckham
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Everyone loves to pick up the tabloids which include pictures of celebrities without makeup. People have some sort of fascination with seeing celebrities at their worst. Possibly because they like to realize that without gobs of makeup, these celebs don’t look that much different than everyone else.

Countless web sites as well as magazines feature “stars without makeup” sections. They present these pictures as sort of a “gotcha”. Often these shots are taken while celebrities are walking to the grocery store, leaving the gym or relaxing on the beach. They are usually taken when they’re puffy or sweaty. The more flaws the camera can reveal, the better the picture.

These photos tend to hone in on older actors and actresses. When these stars are photographed in photo shoots for magazine covers, they look fantastic. They look much younger than they are in real life. Much of this is simply because makeup artists can work wonders on them. Also, professional photographers are extremely well versed in hiding flaws and taking advantage of lighting to make a person look as attractive as possible.

They really are Just Like Us

Well…not totally, but celebrities do need makeup much like we do to cover up flaws. They require concealer to hide facial blemishes such as red spots and zits. It really is amazing to look at celebrities without cover-up. Some stars, such as Alicia Silverstone, have moles or warts which are never visible on-screen. However, they stick out like a sore thumb whenever they aren’t covered up.

Eye makeup is a terrific way to highlight someone’s eyes. Average women also use eye makeup to make their eyes standout. When you take a look at a star that you’re not used to seeing without eye makeup, it’s amazing to see how small her eyes really are. Often celebrities, who we consider to have big, beautiful eyes, look like they have beady little eyes.

For most people, it’s nice to understand that stars without makeup are just as rough looking as average people without makeup. The next time you see a beautiful celebrity all glammed up, think about them without makeup and you won’t feel so bad about your own appearance.

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More and more people are becoming aware of what they eat, and for a lot of good reasons. For example, obesity is rampant in many parts of the World, and if you don’t control what you eat, there are many related health risks. This is one of the the reasons why healthy foods like sushi are becoming more and more popular in the United States, even though the U.S. is quite far from the food’s origins in Japan. However, before you eat sushi for the first time, there are a few things that you need to know. It’s very common for people that are trying different sushi dishes for the first time to end up never trying sushi again mainly because they didn’t know what to expect. So to make you more inclined to learn to love sushi, we put together 10 tips for the sushi beginner.  We hope to help you have an amazing dining experience the first and each additional time you walk up to a sushi bar.

1. Start with cooked sushi. Although people usually relate sushi with raw fish, there are actually a wide variety of sushi dishes. There are shrimp, octopus, clam, and crab meat, which can all be cooked. Aside from that, there is what you call California rolls, where the main ingredients are sticky rice with cucumber or avocado among others.
2. Eat what you are familiar with. You might want to try out the scallops or squid first, before eating something new like sashimi and raw tuna. Actually, the taste of these foods when eaten as sushi is the same when cooked, only the texture will be different.
3. Avoid eating sushi with intense flavors. Mackerel is a tough choice if you are trying sushi for the first time. It has a pungent odor and taste which can be overwhelming to first time sushi eaters. Some people refuse to eat sushi after trying out something they didn’t like. So for you to good opinion of sushi, you might want to try milder fishes first.
4. Don’t put too much wasabi on your sushi. Beginners may think they can handle a lot of wasabi on their sushi, but honestly, they really can’t. Wasabi is the green condiment made from horseradish, and it’s very, very hot. Especially if you have low tolerance for spicy foods, a small amount of wasabi will go a long way.
5. Don’t force yourself to use chopsticks. Some people think that eating sushi means using chopsticks as a utensil. If you don’t know how to hold much less eat with them, the sushi might slip, wasting money and causing needless frustration. If you really want to use chopsticks, practice at home or just make sure that there’s a plate to catch the food when it slips.
6. If you aren’t used to eating raw fish, be careful. People not used to eating raw fish can get nauseous afterwards. A lot of people might also need to relieve themselves shortly after eating raw fish. That’s fine as long as it doesn’t last until the next day. You might want to drink some medicine (Pepto Bismol) if you can’t handle it.
7. Drink beer or tea with your sushi. This is very true, because sushi has lots of oil in it and the best way to down it is by drinking beer or tea. Of course, if you’re a young child, don’t drink beer. Tea is just as good, or better, depending on your preferences. Sake, a Japanese beer, is probably the best drink when eating sushi because of its complementary taste. Sake, hot or cold, will keep the sushi tasting nice and not overly fishy in your mouth.
8. Only eat fresh sushi. By fresh, I mean, it should be less than a day old. This is important with fish or any other seafood dish, especially when they are eaten raw. There are many disadvantages to eating old sushi, like having a higher risk of food poisoning and eating a poorer quality of food.
9. Eat the gari or pickled ginger in between a sushi piece. Doing so will help you taste the full extent of the sushi flavors. You should do this when eating different types of sushi. Example, if at first, you ate sashimi, the tuna roll won’t taste quite as good without ginger inbetween because of the clashing flavors. To balance it out, eat the pickled ginger, which is usually included whenever you buy sushi dishes.
10. Be open-minded to other types of sushi. Even if you didn’t like one sushi dish, it doesn’t mean that all kinds have the same taste. This is the problem facing some people, who, after trying one dish and not liking it, immediately assume that all sushi tastes awful. There are so many different flavors with sushi that you have to try a wide variety of dishes before coming to any conclusion about which sushi is right for you.

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With the economy being so bad right now many people are making budget cut backs.  Even though we may have less money it doesn’t mean that our kids stop having birthdays or that we stop having anniversaries.  It just means that we have to be more creative.  Have you ever looked at a cake that you’ve spent good money on from the bakery and wondered if you could do it at home cheaper?  Now, I’m not saying that everyone can be a 5 star pastry chef over night, but there are some basic design tips that can help you create a one of a kind birthday cake that your child will love and remember forever because you made it yourself!

1. Decide on a theme, whether it is an anniversary cake or a birthday cake you need to decide on a theme.  Does the couple like to ski?  Maybe you can incorporate that into the cake.  Does your child love dogs?  That could be the theme of an easy and wonderful cake.
2. Determine how many people you need to serve.  If you are having 100 people over for an 80^th birthday party you don’t want to make a single two layer 8-inch cake.
3. Once you decide how many people your cake needs to serve go online and check out cake serving charts to see what size cake you need to make.
4. Don’t want to invest in a bunch of cake pans that you may or may not use again?  Rent them.  Go online or to your phone book and look up cake supply stores and see if they rent pans.  Many will rent character pans for a child’s cake or big round pans for any other type of cake and usually it will only cost a few dollars a day.
5. The same serving chart should list how many cups of batter a specific pan requires.  A box cake mix yields 5 ½-7 cups of batter depending on brand.  If you want to make the cake from scratch look at online cake resources to find cake recipes that work well for stacked cakes.
6. Now that you have your cakes baked and cooled to room temperature you need to level them.  To level a cake you need to take a long knife and cut off the rounded hump that a cake gets on top.  If you are unsure about doing this free hand you can use toothpicks all around to guide the knife.
7. The next step is frosting.  There are many types of frosting.  Butter cream is a common and delicious choice.  There are many recipes for butter cream available, just make sure that it crusts (has a hard finish when it dries).
8. Crumb coat the cakes individually.  A crumb coat is a very thin layer of frosting spread over the cake to seal in any loose crumbs.  Using an offset spatula will make this job a lot easier.  If possible refrigerate the cakes for 10-15 minutes to allow the crumb coat to set.
9. Once the crumb coat is set add the final layer of frosting.  Be generous at first, it’s easier to take frosting off than to put it on.  Make the top and sides of the cake as smooth as possible.  Sometimes an offset spatula dipped in hot water and then dried off will help in the smoothing process.
10. Butter cream flowers can be purchased at many bakery supply stores.  Flowers or any items put on the cake will look better in odd numbers.
11. Using a star tip in a piping bag filled with a coordinating color of icing create a border around the top and bottom edge of the cake, if that is appropriate for the style of cake you are making.  You should practice making individual stars on waxed paper before you apply them to the cake.  A size 16 or 18 star tip is most commonly used in this application.
12. If you’re making a tiered cake you will need to make sure that the bottom tier is at least 4 inches larger than the next tier so that there will be an even 2 inches all the way around the layer.
13. Make sure that you create enough support for the tier by inserting dowels in the bottom tier under where the next tier will be resting.  Traditionally bakers will use one dowel for every inch of the layer being stacked.  For example, if I were going to place an 8-inch cake tier onto a 12-inch cake I would want 8 dowels in the bottom layer under where the tier will rest.  However, with smaller layers you can get buy using fewer.  Each stacked layer needs to be resting on a cardboard round the same size as the layer.
14. Keep it simple.  You are better off with a simple design over one that is too busy.
15. Most importantly, have fun.  Remember that we are often our own worst critics.

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