10 Best Romantic Restaurants in New York City

If you want to impress someone special, choosing the right restaurant can make all the difference. These restaurants offer romantic atmosphere, as well quality food and service that are sure to impress — whether it’s Valentine’s Day, an anniversary or another special occasion.

Daniel

Original post by gonyc.

1. Savoy

This warmly lit restaurant feels more like a country inn — complete with a roaring fire in the colder months. Dine on fine American cuisine and if you’d really like to impress, reserve for the chef’s special menu.

Savoy Basics:
70 Prince St.
Between Crosby and Lafayette Sts.
212-219-8570

2. The Place

This West Village restaurant offers all of the romance of New York’s finest restaurants, but with a more affordable price tag. The menu features both American and pan-European cuisine.

The Place Basics:
310 W. 4th St.
Between Bank and W. 12th Sts.
212-924-2711

3. Gramercy Tavern

Danny Meyer’s restaurants are reknowned for impeccable service, and Gramercy Tavern is no different. Serving creative American fare, Gramercy Tavern is the perfect place for a perfect meal, from start to finish. Reservations suggested, though the tavern area has reduced prices and a no-reservation policy.

Gramercy Tavern Basics:
42 E. 20th St.
Between Broadway and Park Ave. So.
212-477-0777

4. Union Square Cafe

Another Danny Meyer destination, Union Square Cafe offers great service and delicious fare in a comfortable setting. Union Square Cafe is friendly to vegetarians. Reservations suggested, though the bar area offers you an in without a reservation.

Union Square Cafe Basics:
21 E. 16th St.
Between Fifth Ave. and Union Sq. West
212-243-4020

5. One If By Land, Two If By Sea

Often considered the most romantic restaurant in New York City, One if By Land, TIBS is housed in a former carriage house that features nightly live piano music and working fireplaces. Exposed brick and dim lighting make this a great destination for a romantic evening.One If By Land, Two If By Sea:
17 Barrow St.
Between 7th Ave. S. & W. 4th St.
212-228-0822

6. Blue Hill

With an annual Valentine’s Day tradition of serving a “hands-free” meal, Blue Hill offers an off-beat take on your typical romantic evening. Serving American cuisine, Blue Hill builds a menu focused on seasonally available produce from the Hudson Valley.Blue Hill Basics:
75 Washington Pl.
Between Sixth Ave. and MacDougal St.
212-539-1776.

7. The River Cafe

If it’s the perfect view that makes you feel romantic, you can do no better than The River Cafe on Brooklyn’s waterfront. Featuring delicious food combined with professional, attentive service, The River Cafe is well worth leaving Manhattan for the food alone, but the view of downtown Manhattan makes this an irresistable choice.The River Cafe Basics:
1 Water Street, Brooklyn
718-522-5200.

8. Daniel

If you really want to dazzle your date, Daniel is among New York City’s most impressive restaurants, with prices to match. Decor reflects Daniel Boulud’s appreciation for Italian Renaissance design, but the menu features creative French cuisine. 3 Course Prix-Fixe $96.

Daniel Basics:
60 E. 65th St.
Between Park and Madison Aves.
212-288-0033

9. The Sea Grill

Overlooking the ice rink at Rockefeller Center, The Sea Grill is a great choice for a romantic evening, assuming your date likes seafood. From oysters and clams to herb crusted skate, the menu offerings reflect a range of seafood options all well prepared and very fresh.The Sea Grill Basics:
19 W. 49th St.
Between Fifth and Sixth Aves.
212-332-7610

10. Balthazar

I must admit, I’m a bit prejudiced, since Balthazar is where I went for dinner after I got engaged, but if being transported to a bustling Parisian bistro is your idea of romance, this is the perfect destination. Steak frites are fabulous, as is the onion goat cheese tart.

Balthazar Basics:
80 Spring St.
Between Crosby & Broadway.
212-965-1785

 

America’s Most Scenic Drives

Automobile ads love to show shiny vehicles cruising open highways under blue skies with mountains and beaches nearby. When was the last time you took a drive like that? For most of us, our cars are merely workhorses to haul us around town.

Still, it’s possible to break out of the rut. Magnificent roads are never far: These routes slice through forests, dance along the coastlines and thread through mountain passes. They’re scenic drives, yes, but they’re also classically American. Once you find the right path, it’s easy to rediscover the exuberant freedom of the open road.

The first cars were, by and large, playthings for the rich and powerful — just picture Jay Gatsby winding his yellow Rolls-Royce down the parkways of Long Island — and special scenic routes were constructed in some of the country’s most beautiful spots. When more Americans started driving, it created a road-trip frenzy that lives on today.

Some of these roads are justifiably famous, including what’s arguably America’s most scenic drive: California’s Route 1, which wraps around Big Sur. Rocky cliffs plunge down to open ocean, creating a severe distraction while drivers.

Other roads may not be household names, but are nevertheless an integral part of the American fabric. Highway 31, west of New Orleans, takes you through classic Louisiana countryside, past lazy bayous and swampy lagoons filled with alligators and herons.

And some of these great American drives are still relatively new. Between Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park and its Dr. Seuss-like Bryce Canyon, Highway 12 runs past sandstone cliffs and a forest of deep green junipers. Yet this road was simply a challenging four-wheel-drive track until the last stretch was opened in 1985. And the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, a project started in 1935, wasn’t fully completed until 1983. That’s when the Linn Cove Viaduct, which snakes around North Carolina’s Grandfather Mountain, was finished.

So next time you find yourself stuck in rush-hour traffic, take the next exit and find the iconic American road closest to you. Put yourself in that automobile ad.

Bayou Cruise, Louisiana

Route 66, Illinois to California

Kancamagus National Scenic Byway, New Hampshire

Columbia River Scenic Highway, Oregon

Hill Country Highways, Texas

Going-to-the-Sun Road, Montana

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina

Via huffingtonpost.com

Top Ten Tourist Destinations In World

FRANCE:
France is the most visited country by tourists as the countryis rich in culture and has some of the finest places to see. Villas in France, the French wine and weather make a fantastic reason to see the country.

SPAIN:
Spain is the second most visited country in the world with more than 50 million tourists visiting it annually. A tour of Spain would include a visit to its famous cities Barcelona and Madrid. Apart from sampling some ethnic Spanish food and wine one can see some of the most beautiful architectural designs on the buildings of Spain.

ITALY:
Italy an important tourist destination in Europe is a favorite with honeymooners and all romantic souls.

Vacations to Italy are an invitation to spend ones time indulging in the senses be it eating delicious Italian pasta or drinking some of the best Italian wine, seeing Italian art or simply breathing in the scented air of the country.

USA:
USA is a top destination for tourists. Holidays in USA are an experience in diversity as the country is diverse in its weather conditions, the composition of the population and the topography. This diversity has led to people defining USA in their own terms and one can see the states of USA having a distinct identity of their own.

MEXICO:
Mexico is a top world destination for people to visit. Be its ancient pyramids lost in the rainforests, or its flaming hot dishes, or simply the colorful people of the country, to travel to Mexico is to be a part of a larger adventure.

CHINA:
China has grown as a top tourist spot as the people of the country and their unique culture attract people from far and wide. The impressive Great Wall of China and the tasty food of the country make every China holiday well worth the time.

Source.

Wigwam Motel

The history of the Wigwam Motel is very interesting for many people.  Our father, Chester E. Lewis, had other motels along Old Route 66 in the 1930′s in other Arizona cities.  He saw his first Wigwam Village in Cave City, Kentucky in 1938.  A man by the name of Frank Redford already had a couple of Wigwam Villages built in Kentucky by that time.

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Our father decided that he would like to build a Wigwam Village of his own.  In that time period, the term franchises or chain motels were not known of, much less used.  Mr. Redford was more interested in sharing his novel idea than making money. Mr. Lewis and Mr. Redford came to an agreement that radios would be placed in each Wigwam that would play for one half hour for a silver dime.  Mr. Redford would then receive the dimes from the radios for a period of some years in payment for the use of his plans.

There were seven of these Wigwam Villages built from the 1930′s to the 1950′s from Florida to California. The one, here in Holbrook, receives a lot of media attention due to it being located on Route 66 and located near several Native American Reservations,Navajo, Hopi, White Mountain Apache Reservations.  There are several vintage automobiles that are around the perimeter of the property.

The Wigwam Motel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 2002.

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There are fifteen Wigwams with a diameter of 14 feet at the base and a height of 32 feet.