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Are you deciding whether or not to have a party for the birthday girl or boy? I know that these events can be a little hectic at times, but think about what your child would think if you threw them a party where all their friends and family could attend. Your child will love the fact that you did that for them.

Brevard County, florida has so much to offer for that special day. I had picked some ideas for you to consider your stress free party.

Brunswick Harbor Lanes
1099 N. Wickham Road
Melbourne, Fl 32935
321-242-2695

Kids love to bowl! Keep it simple with this idea. They have party packages that help with the planning of the party.
Packages include:
Bowling, shoes, kids meal (pizza or hot dogs, soft drinks), paper products, host or hostess (set up and clean up). The birthday cake is not included, this is the only food you can bring into the establishment. This package is for a one lane rental(6 people) for 2 hours total party time. Cost is $69.99. The times and days to chose from are Sat. or Sun. 11am to 1pm or 12:30pm to 2:30pm. Brunswick also has cosmic bowling for an extra $10 from the hours 3pm to 5pm. This option is really fun for kids to see. If you have extra guests, then you can supersize your package to accommodate your guests, and the birthday child will get to have an autographed bowling pin and 12 free games to give their guests. I would definitely recommend this one because of the fun atmosphere and cost. Call well in advance sometimes they have other events going on.

McDonald's

I know some people had no idea that their kid's favorite place had such a thing. There are stores that are owned independently, so you must call whatever one you may be interested having a party at. I would personally choose one with an indoor playground. Kids must keep shoes off while playing on the playground so remember to tell parents. Some of the general information I've gathered is from my local McDonald's but may be different at yours. Packages include for about ten kids: Happy meal(cheeseburger or chicken nuggets), orange juice or soda, ice cream, chocolate or white birthday cake, party favors, balloons, host or hostess(set up and clean up). Parties are for kids 1 to 12yrs. of age. One of the things about this is there's no time limit. The only time limit is in the party room that is reserved before and after playtime. You may have to pay a nonrefundable $25 deposit with 3 weeks advance notice. Each McDonald's is different but the host will usually have something extra fun for the kids to do. The playground is still open for other customers but at times they will close it off for parties. The prices are different for each one, but the average is $80. Not bad for a hassle free day!

Pump It Up
4195 West New Haven Ave.
West Melbourne, Fl 32904
321-956-7867

All children love to jump around and have non stop fun. This is the place to be for that. These party packages do not include food, drinks, cake, balloons etc. but they do have it available for an extra charge. There is bounce houses, bouncy slides, air hockey and more. Children need to bring socks and have a waiver signed as well for liability purposes. Parties are for ages 2yrs. to adult. (Yes adults can play to). This is a very clean establishment and climate controlled as well. There are several packages to choose from but the basic ones are for 25 guests. They have one for fewer, but you can only have it during the week before 2pm. The classic package is to include: invitations, paper products, set up and clean up, 1 hr.15 mins. in the arena area, and 30 mins. in the party room. You can have this party for $250 on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. I've also noticed they have pajama parties that include the same things. These parties start at 8pm Monday through Sunday. I think you definitely get your moneys worth for that many kids.

Andretti Thrill Park
3960 S. Babcock street
Melbourne, Fl 32901

This park is loaded with fun for all ages. The only thing that puts this at the bottom of my list, is that the price is a little high for the amount of guests your able to bring. The go carts are a blast, and is sure to entertain the children for a while. There is mini golf, bumper boats, a small train that goes around the park, laser tag, playground, batting cages, and a kiddie area that has small rides and playground. If you have a party here, all of this is included. The packages start at $200 for 1 hr., $260 for 2 hrs., and $300 for 3 hrs. You can invite 10 guests and get 1 hr. of the party room, 2 slices of pizza each, soft drinks, a themed cake for coldstone creamery, themed tableware, invitations, host or hostess, and a logo shirt for the birthday girl or boy. You can add tokens to the package if you so choose, but I think there is plenty to do without having to play video games. Goodie bags are an extra $2.50 each person, but worth it. Currently they have no specials for birthday parties, but if you would like to try it out before you book there, they have a buy 3 get the fourth free deal. the park does have some height restrictions for the carts so you may want to check before you go. There is a nonrefundable deposit required and a liability release form.

Suntree Rotary Park
US1 & Suntree Blvd.
Rockledge, Fl 32955
321-255-4400

This park is located off the Indian River Lagoon. I have had several parties here and this place is beautiful. Although you don't have the luxury of some one hosting the party for you, there are lots of alternatives. They have BBQ pits, pavilions, playground, restrooms and fishing. The small pavilions seat 10, and the large seats 150 people with a small refundable deposit. You could have food catered or have carry out for your guests. The BBQ pits are small, so if your wanting to have a lot of food at the party, carryout is the way to go. The pavilions are available all day, so you could plan lots of things to do there. Make sure the kids bring bathing suites and towels. Some ideas you could do for fun would be swimming, fishing, horseshoes, jet ski rental, inflatable trampoline, playground, or whatever comes to mind. McDonald's also does a carryout for parties if you call well in advance. Make sure you call to make reservations weeks in advance to ensure you'll have your spot.

Whatever you decide to do for your child's party I'm sure will be a blast. Just keep these places in mind when looking for that perfect place.

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Whether you love them, hate them or are one of them, backpackers are an essential part of the tourism industry. Australia has been a staple favourite of backpackers for decades. The solid infrastructure, the political stability, the friendly people- we are Backpacking 101 for wide eyed and keen globe trotters. So what are the destinations that they will remember with a smile- where is it that they swilled the most beer, made the most mates, stole the most street signs? The following five spots are remembered fondly in most travel diaries, and should be on the 'to do' list of any rucksack toting young adventurer:

Byron Bay

Everybodys favourite hippy hangout, this northern New South Wales coastal town has a habit of drawing backpackers in like moths to a flame, then zapping them with a burst of lethargy that renders them incapable of continuing with their travels. Instead they lounge around Byron and nearby bastions of alternative living (think Nimbin) in a rather sweet smelling haze, eking a living out of mundane cleaning tasks or igniting dormant creativities and contributing to the arts and crafts industries to keep themselves fed and dry. And who can blame them really? With the surroundings of that part of New South Wales as a playground, Id find it hard to move on too. Pristine coastline with a generous swell and turquoise waters are complemented by the mountainous rainforests of the interior, providing a myriad of worlds for touring and exploration. Leave? But we've only just got here…

Airlie Beach

Airlie is the opposite to Byron Bay in many ways. No one comes here for too long- a week or two at the most and then theyre gone. The reason is simple: no bodies liver (not even that of a booze swilling backpacker) could survive any longer. Airlie's reputation as a party town is a large one, a reputation that transcends cultures, borders and continents, and leaves the one street town with a lot of expectations to fulfil. Yet Airlie never disappoints- and as a result its bars and nightclubs are spoken about in revered tones by swillheads and party animals the world over. But thats not the reason people come to Airlie Beach. The real reason is the Whitsunday Islands- 74 islands lying just off the coast, to which Airlie is an almost exclusive gateway. With attractions like Whitehaven Beach and a host of resort islands including Hamilton and Daydream, The Whitsundays are the perfect cure to any hangover.

Sydney

As our primary international gateway, Sydney is the first port of call for most backpackers. You can picture the views when landing- the large natural harbour with its famous residents the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House rising up to meet you; the city stretching away as far as you can see; the white specks of beach dotting the shoreline. Its hard to move on from a place as beautiful as this, and luckily for most backpackers there is enough work available in this big city to ensure they can stick around for a while. The bars and night clubs of Kings Cross provide a sufficiently seedy outlet for their hedonistic ways, and accommodation is easy enough to find either in hostel form or in semi permanent sub-lets. There is a cornucopia of attractions nearby that also help to keep the need to move on in check, including the Blue Mountains and the Hunter valley.

Perth

Across the continent to Western Australia, where backpackers make the pilgrimage to check out the desert, the surf and Perth, in no specific order. Perth is somewhat out on a limb in Australia, and has the distinction of being the most isolated city in the world- although the criteria by which this is gauged are up open to consideration. Perth is a funky city, where the creative freedom of south-of-the-river regions such as Fremantle complements the organisation of the city centre and the northern suburbs, meaning there is something for everyone here. Its also a city that is fully entrenched in the surf culture- kilometres of beach front on its western side ensure that, with the consistent swell leaving lots of smiling surfers. To the south are lush wine growing regions where fruit picking and farm work are available, and the ubiquitous beautiful beaches of WA are there in force too.

Melbourne

Melbourne sits at the heart of cultural Australia- a city of galleries, museums, parks and gardens. Doesnt really sound like something a backpacker would enjoy does it? Well not really, but its the buzz of Melbourne that attracts and excites them. This city never sleeps, and the weekends seem to run from Thursday to Tuesday. Culture isnt just about museums, where theres culture theres live music, theatre, all night dance parties and lots and lots of fun. And theres lots of that in Melbourne, especially during the hot summer months when the day seems to last forever, the beaches are abuzz with activity and that almost tangible holiday vibe is thick in the air. With a city this large there is always work going somewhere, so backpackers can earn some income to supplement their full weekends! Nearby hotspots such as Phillip Island and the Great Ocean Road are perfect road trip routes that require minimum effort and organisation- which as we all know, is exactly what a backpacker needs!

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I absoutely loved and still love Sex and the City. I and millions of others mourn that show almost daily . Even though the show is off the air, you can still live the life that Carrie and the girls did for 6 seasons. I have established a list of places where the girls went on the show. Next time you're in the big apple, follow this list and feel like a true Sex and the City fashionista!

Shopping
Carrie and the girls were infamous for the fashion-forward clothing they wore every episode. Many episodes featured them shopping from buying make-up to shoes. Remember when Carrie realized she spent over $40,000 on shoes? Head over to Otto Tootsie Plohound (5th ave.) This shoe store is any shoe addicts dream. How about when Carrie was caught in her underwear while trying on a dress in front of Natasha. Her and Miranda where shopping at Catherine Malandrino (Greene St.). She designs very flirty and feminine pieces. Other famous stores the girls made their way through: Bergdorff Goodman (5th Ave.), La Perla (Madison Ave., very sex lingerie), Barney's (Madison Ave.), Patricia Field (Bowery).

Eating
The girls always frequented very cool restaurants. Here are some them! The famous diner you saw that girls eating on every episode is Silver Spurs (University Place). Remember Carrie's Moraccon Birthday? Go to Layla (Tribeca). How about when Samantha calles Brady an A#$hole? They are eating lunch at Mangia (throughout Manhattan), which has some of the best food and desserts in Manhattan! Other yummy places the girls loved: Pastis (Meatpacking district), Da Silvano (6th Ave. and Houston, where Carrie met the “Jack Rabbit” during Charlotte's 2nd wedding preparations), Magnolia Bakery (Bleeker St., where Carrie and Miranda ate pink cupcakes), Tao (52nd St. and Madison, where Carrie, the Jazz Musician, Samantha, Her Female Lover and Big all had dinner).

Fun
The girls had some fun at many lounges, clubs and bars on the show. Most of these hot spots are closed. As we know, NYC hotspots only last for so long. Chaos, which was where Carrie saw Big on the very first episode, has had its doors closed for quite some time now. Other hotspots from the show that are R.I.P. are Club Bed and Lot 61. Don't fret, here are some that are still open! Madame X (Houston and Thompson, where Carrie and Samantha hang out with their 20 something flings), The Supper Club (47th St., where Big takes Carrie and they slow dance the night away), Bungalow 8 (27th St., where Carrie goes with her new gay pal and Stanfford gets jealous). Atlantic City is always open! Remember when the girls took a trip for Charlotte's B-day? That was filmed at the Taj Mahal!

Next time you take a trip to NY, you can put a little bit of Sex into it. Go ahead and pretend to be Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte or Miranda. I promise I won't tell anyone!

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A surprise birthday party is a lot of fun, especially for the guest of honor, but a surprise birthday celebration is not always easy to pull off. While planning the celebration sometimes one of the invited guests inadvertently gives it away, and other times the guest of honor figures out the plan before the big day. The following ideas for planning a surprise birthday party for an adult will help you keep the celebration a surprise. Even if you are not usually very convincing when telling a lie, you will be able to keep this secret and host one of the best surprise parties ever.

Planning the Event

When planning a surprise birthday party for an adult, do not plan the party on the actual birthday. Otherwise the guest of honor will figure it out. Instead, plan the surprise birthday celebration a day or two before the actual date. This will remove any suspicion while planning the big event.

Planning a Meal at a Restaurant

When planning to host a surprise celebration at a restaurant, tell the guest of honor you are taking them to a restaurant as a gift. Have the guests arrive twenty or thirty minutes prior to showing up at the restaurant with the guest of honor. Once everyone has arrived, plan to have one of the party guests call to give the okay. Otherwise you might meet up with guests in the parking lot and the birthday surprise will be ruined. When planning the birthday celebration, make it clear that everyone should be prompt and seated when you arrive with the guest of honor.

Create a Fake Invitation to Another Event

If the surprise celebration will be at a local hall, make up a fake invitation to another event, and send it by mail two weeks in advance. Also, when planning the big event, let the guests in on how you plan to pull it off in case the guest of honor begins talking about the phony event. This way no one will be caught off-guard. For example, create a fake anniversary party invitation for an acquaintance or coworker when planning the surprise. It would be unlikely that the guest of honor would know the anniversary date of an acquaintance or coworker, and you will be able to pull off the surprise without a hitch.

Planning a Shopping Trip

When hosting a birthday party in the home, take the guest of honor on a shopping trip. Staying away from home for a few hours will provide others with plenty of time to set up the surprise birthday party. Have the guests park in a nearby parking lot or a street or two over from the home. The guest of honor will be truly surprised when he or she goes home after the shopping excursion.

Planning a Game of Bowling with the Guest of Honor

Does the birthday party guest of honor enjoy bowling? If you have not decided on a location for the birthday party, consider planning it at a local bowling alley. Have the birthday party guests arrive about thirty minutes in advance of the guest of honor. They will be truly surprised to see their friends and family members upon arrival.

These are just some of the ways you can begin planning a surprise birthday party for an adult. Consider the activities the guest of honor enjoys, and begin planning the birthday party around it. Make it clear when filling out invitations that the party is a surprise. Plan ahead and come up with excuses you know will work. More than likely the birthday party will be a great success.

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The Momo Lounge is one of the premier ultra lounges in Sacramento,CA. Although you can't tell until you actually step inside the club. Firs of all it is in Downtown Sacramento so parking is very limited and you will have to park in the street, or of course take a cab.Then when you get there the club is no where in sight. It is literally in the back alley way of Harlows another upscale club, and even when you go to the alley you can't locate it because there are no signs, I literally walked past it 3 times before I finally saw a crowd of people lining up.

Now after all the confusion and I finally make it in the club, it was very eloquent. Men beware they have a very strict dress code. They have a downstairs outside patio with a bar for everyone who wants to just relax,drink and enjoy the fresh air, and if you came to party then you have to make your way upstairs to the dance floor. Now my only problem with that was I wonder how many people fell down the steps drunk when the club scene was over. The owners should have thought that out when designing the club.Now once inside there are different rooms in which you can sit and one dance floor, which is rather small compared to most clubs, but the club itself is very small and instead of the box warehouse feel it is very intimate. The lighting is very dim creating a real nice ambiance, and once again plenty of big white comfy couches all over the place to sit on all night long because everyone is on the dance floor. The dj's are all very good they play a mix of top 40 mashups all night along with hip-hop, which of course explains why the dance floor is always very crowded. They do have VIP but this is one of those clubs where you really don't need VIP because there is always enough room to sit down and if your friends get there early enough you can own the room.The crowd is also very mixed and really laid back.

This is one of the very few clubs I have been to where I can say no fights broke out and everyone respected each others space. The bartenders also do a very well job with the drinks. They are very strong so you know they are not trying to rip you off with the first sip. Overall this club is 4 of 5 and the only reason I don't give them the 5 out of 5 is because its hard to locate and the inconvenience of the stairs.

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Make it a night to remember whilst assuring you'll forget. And if you're lucky, your friends will forget too, as the better nights have brew tales that may haunt you for many retellings.

The wonder of the drinking game is that it requires no board, no particular atmosphere and no specified number of people. It can be played alone, with a hundred others, at a wierd strangers home with that odd “get me out of here thought,” or imagine with close friends where you'll be reminded about the event later. Any drinking game can be made with any set of rules, and the more drunk you are, the less clever it has to be. Suppose Marvin Gaye's “What's Going On” comes on the radio. That's a classic, but the pop icon does tend to repeat “right on” quite a few times during the song. Drink every time you hear it! Sometimes he says it twice in rapid succession, so have a few shots at the ready. The variations on this are endless.

Try the Star Trek marathon perhaps. Drink everytime the ship shakes and the sparks fly. I don't however recommend the HBO hit “Sex and the City” as a drinking game. A shot or drink could be chugged each time one of the cast is partially naked or in a bed with a random soul, but I'd think you'd have more chance of staying out of hospital by hanging with Amy Winehouse frankly. In short it could just be too dangerous.

If you've never played drunk checkers, you're missing out. Fill shot glasses with two different colors of liqueur, one for you and one for your opponent, and place them on the checkerboard as you would ordinary checkers, except that each time you jump your opponent's pieces, you drink their shots. That's one way to ruin a perfectly good liver and have fun.

How about trying a booze filled variation on strip poker. All hand losers (or the winner) take a shot. Physical sports are an even funnier variation for obvious reasons, although I don't recommend anything like darts or knife throwing. Pub crawl golf is for the brave. Simply set a score for each drink (the harder the drink, the lower the score) but include some nonalcoholic options perhaps. Then crawl to 18 hotels and see how each person scored. Let's hope the person keeping score isn't participating if you even care about the end resulting score.

So the point here is this. You don't need me to help you think up drinking games, you need your good friends Jim Beam or Jack Daniels and the wild imagination that they imbue when you enjoy their company. The most fun drinking games are the spontaneous ones, the ones that nobody can exactly remember the next day but everyone is clear there was a vague outing.

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My son is a huge NASCAR fan and Jimmie Johnson in the #48 car is his favorite driver, so naturally he wanted to have a Jimmie Johnson cake at his birthday party. Of course, I could take the easy way out and pick up a pre-made cake at the supermarket; however, I enjoy making cakes and decided to step up to the challenge of making a Jimmie Johnson cake. If you have a Jimmie Johnson fan in your house, then you need to check out how to make this very cute and easy birthday cake. The following instructions will make a cake which is close to a half sheet cake, which serves 30-40 people.

What you need to make a Jimmie Johnson Birthday cake

3 boxes of your favorite cake mix (keep an eye out for sales and coupons. I bought three boxes for under $3)
4 Tubs of white frosting, I recommend a cream cheese style, as this frosting really holds a shape
Pastry bags

Decorations

You can purchase a Jimmie Johnson Cake topper, like this one. However, you definitely don't need to buy the cake topper to make this cake. You can just use a Jimmie Johnson car if you have one or you can buy one at Toys R Us or Target and have the Jimmie Johnson car be part of the birthday gift. You can also easily make your own Jimmie Johnson victory flag with paper, glue, markers, and a Popsicle stick. In addition, you will need a few other small cars to put on the cake. You can buy these cars for around a dollar each. You will also need the following dye colors, dark blue, green, yellow, and black. I recommend Wilton dyes which can be found at Michaels. These are great dyes because they are very concentrated and you only need a small amount to color your frosting. You will also need the following Wilton tips to decorate this cake: 233 for grass , tip 16 for stars , tip 21 for shells, and tip 3 for writing. I have hyper-linked to simple directions on how to make the grass, stars, and shells.

Putting decorations and cake together to make your fabulous Jimmie Johnson Cake

After you have baked, cooled and flipped your cake out of the pan, it's time to decorate. I recommend getting a cake board for your cake; it will be much easier to frost your cake if you have a flat surface to work on. A little tip about frosting, the frosting holds its shape better when it's cool. So make sure you always work with cool frosting. This means that you will have to stop what you're frosting occasionally and stick your frosting in the refrigerator.

First, frost the entire cake in blue.

Now, it's time to work on the grass. Measure on your cake where you want to put your grass and with your green frosting, make a rectangle shape. Fill the inside of this rectangle with grass.

Next, it's time to work on “victory lane”. Measure again with a ruler where you want to put your checked flag. Use your black frosting and make a rectangle. Next, make vertical lines all the way across the rectangle, then go back and make horizontal lines. Take your black frosting and in every other box pipe in black stars. After you have completed the black stars, it's time to pipe in the white ones.

The next step is to do the outline of the cake. Put a shell border on the outside of the top of the cake and on the outside of the bottom of the cake. The shells really give your cake that professional and finished look.

Now, you're ready for the writing. Chose whatever color you would like for the writing. And, of course, you can be as creative as you want with the message you put on the cake.

The final touches on your Jimmie Johnson birthday cake are to put Jimmie Johnson car, and the #48 flag on the victory lane, and then the three other cars sitting on the grass. I would recommend putting these decorations on right before you are going to cut the cake, that way your cake will not be ruined.

To see the finished Jimmy Johnson #48 cake, make sure you check out the photos.

Sources:
Personal Experience
Wilton.com
learn-cake-decorating.com

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Looking for a fun and exciting venue for your child's next birthday party? Whether your child is a budding scientist or aspiring gymnast, there is something out there for everyone. Here we will take a closer look at some of the top party locations and the great birthday packages they offer.

1. Pump it Up
Pump it Up offers a large gymnasium style activity room filled with giant inflatable moon bounces, slides, and obstacle courses. Kids are given free reign to run, jump, and climb to their hearts content. While parents must remain at the party, attendants monitor the activity and keep the play area safe.

After playtime, party goers are ushered into a separate room where they can eat cake and open gifts. Pump it Up gives parents the option of purchasing add-ons such as pizza, soda, ice cream, and treat bags for a truly hassle free party.

Pricing for Pump it Up party packages ranges from $159 to $259, which includes party invitations, supervised playtime, paper party supplies, party set up, and clean up. Reduced pricing is available for week day party packages.

Tip: Book this party venue early to ensure that you get the date you want. And remember that socks are required to enter the play area!

2. Laser Quest
A cool combination of tag and technology, a Laser Quest birthday party is exciting for both older and younger children. Laser Quest is an interactive game that is played in a multi-level arena where the use of fog, music, and special lighting effects combine for a thrilling game. Party goers can divide into teams or play as individuals, with the object being to score points by tagging your opponent's sensors with your laser.

Laser Quest party packages include two laser quest games, Two for One passes for guests, private party room, and cleanup. Pizza for the party can also be purchased through Laser Quest. No two Laser Quest facilities are the same, ensuring a unique experience. Birthday party pricing starts at $15.00 per person for a minimum of 8 guests.

3. Mad Science
What could be more fun for kids than a party where things bubble over, explode, and ooze everywhere? Geared toward kids ages 4-12, Mad Science parties teach science through interactive, hands on experimentation with a theatrical flair. Parents can choose to host a party at home or in the Mad Science laboratory. At home parties start at $189, and laboratory party pricing starts at $249 for parties having up to 15 guests. Additional activities can be added on to the package and treat bags are available.

4. Build-a-Bear Workshops
Build-a-Bear Workshops offer a creative and interactive birthday party experience where kids can make their own customized stuffed animal friend. Parties take place in the Build-a-Bear Workshop during store hours and will include a party leader that assists the kids in creating their furry friend. Also included in the party package is a photo of the birthday boy or girl, a party favor for each guest, and access to an online virtual play area called Buildabearville.

Build-a-Bear party pricing is set by the parent with the minimum being $10.00 per child. Parties must include at least six members in order to qualify for the birthday package. There are two Build-a-Bear Workshops located in the Richmond area.

5. Divas-n-Dudes
If relaxation, pampering, and royal treatment sound like a winning combination for a perfect birthday, then schedule a party at Divas-n-Dudes. The salon, created especially for boys and girls, offers services that rival those found at any adult salon. A variety of packages are available, ranging in price from $250 to $350, for a group of ten. Birthday spa packages include services such as manicures, pedicures, hair styling, and “princess” makeup. Included with the party package are self print invitations, paper products, and juice. Party add-ons such as Diva treat bags, photos, and make-your-own lip gloss are available at an additional charge.

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You've been planning this birthday party for months. It's her fifth birthday. All her friends are coming. You've got a great outdoor theme. All the games and decorations are set to go. And suddenly, those big old clouds in the sky let down with a torrential rainstorm. Nothing about rain in the forecast. You've got no back up plan. And twelve little girls are coming over in a half an hour. What do you do? Here's my no-fail last minute Murphys' luck club party planner to bail you out.

First, don't panic. That little girl is already tense and nervous about her party. She's probably crying right now watching those balloons and streamers getting soaked. Dry her tears and tell you that this is just fine because now you can have your 'super-dooper surprise party' that you had saved to surprise her. Call the neighbor or grandma and tell them to take the birthday princess out for an ice cream cone. Meanwhile, you gather all hands on deck for an emergency party planning marathon. Here are 12 party games and activities the little party goers will love.

Send dad to the store for refrigerated cookie dough and some cookie decorations and sprinkles. Get out all your
cookie cutters. Set up a cookie decorating station in the house. Provide aprons or paper bags to cover party dresses.

Bust out all your nail polish. Get out some washable markers or face paints. Got some temporary tattoos? A $3 package of temporary tattoos provides an unreasonably large amount of fun. Assign one person to the 'body art' station. An older sibling makes a great face painter. Have the artist make a sign for party goers to choose from. This idea was a smash hit at one of our birthday parties. If you have play finger nail polish, guests can paint their own fingernails.

Fill a plastic bowl or box with rice, dried beans or peas. Hide some coins and let guests take turns looking for coins.

Make a diy fish or duck pond. Fill a large tub or your bathtub with water. Cut fish, boats, ducks or divers from butter tubs or milk jugs in your recycle bin. Put numbers on the plastic characters. Each number represents a prize. You can make it a skill game by giving the guest a long handled spoon to 'fish' with.

Make a Twister game on the floor with masking tape and stickers. Tape off a 3 x 3 grid. In each square, put a colored sticker or letter to represent the color. Play as you would with Twister, having guests place hands, feet, elbows or knees on different colors.

Play musical chairs. If you don't have enough chairs, simply put masking tape x's on the floor that guests must stand on.

Play hide -n-seek using a kitchen timer. One blindfolded child must listen for the sound of the ticking timer to locate it.

Make a bucket bonanza. Set out three-five buckets in a vertical row. Each bucket has prizes in it or next to it. Guest must toss a ping pong ball or wadded up piece of paper. Each time they get the ball in a bucket they get to choose one of the prizes inside.

Tape a large piece of paper to the wall. Ask each guest to draw a picture to make a card for the birthday girl.

Get out the dress up clothes. Let guests create costumes and model them on a 'runway'. Pretend that its a fashion show. Talk like a fashion announcer.

Get the Karaoke machine out. have a talent show.

These ideas should keep your little birthday girl's friends more than happy. I'll bet she forget all about the other party plans.

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Little Rock, Arkansas, is quickly becoming Arkansas' best-kept secret. The friendly, small-town ambience draws visitors who are tired of overpopulated cities, smog and traffic jams. Little Rock is teeming with activity both day and night. 

To Market, To Market
The River Market District is downtown Little Rock’s hotspot. Located just a short walk from the Convention Center and many upscale hotels, this picturesque street is filled with quaint shops, excellent eateries, and the River Market Hall. 

Nestled on the bank of the Arkansas River, the River Market serves as the hallmark of downtown Little Rock. A combination of an open-air pavilion and a lofty, arched shopping area, the Market houses some 17 merchants, from florists with a flair for design, to butchers selling locally raised meat cured in Arkansas’ famous smokehouses. 

The first thing one notices when entering the Market is the mixed aroma of coffee, pastries and international dishes. There is no limit to dining possibilities. Andina Café is the perfect spot for that first cup of the day. The Café offers a wide selection of gourmet coffees and cappuccinos, pastries, and for lunch, delicious sandwiches. A sampling of worldwide cuisine is available in the Market. From box lunches at Big on Tokyo to authentic Mexican food at Casa Mañana to couscous at Middle Eastern Cuisine, one could spend weeks here and never eat the same meal twice!

The Market is the ideal place to buy gifts and memorabilia. Visitors will be delighted with the Arkansas products for sale, such as jams and jellies, honey, and salsa in Arkansas Junction. Eyiuche’s Accessories offers a beautiful collection of bright apparel and eclectic jewelry for women. 

Eat Your Veggies
During the spring and summer, a Farmer’s Market is held in the open-air pavilion. Local farmers come from all over the state to display their rosy tomatoes, plump strawberries, and crisp beans. Locals know that this is where they can find the freshest fruits and vegetables at the best prices. Other vendors often accompany the Farmer’s Market, selling handmade jewelry, paintings, and hand sewn clothing. Every day is bustling with excitement at the River Market. 

Shop 'Til You Drop
The River Market is not the only place one can find quality shops. Just outside the Market, on President Clinton Avenue, is an assortment of boutiques. Visitors are always attracted to the African hand-carved wooden figurines in the window of AfrJaMex. This appealing boutique is an ethnically diverse shop with beautiful statues, pottery, clothing, house wares, trinkets, and jewelry from Africa, Jamaica and Mexico. This shop is as much a cultural museum as a store. 

Take A Hike sells everything a lover of the outdoors needs—from boots to compasses, and canoes to backpacks. The employees are avid outdoors people, and are extremely helpful at answering questions. Stone County Iron Works crafts beautiful furniture, lamps, fixtures, rugs, and planters from iron. This is an excellent gift shop! 

Party Time
Shopping is only a small part of the fun to be had in the River Market District. Exciting events are held just a few feet away in the Riverfront Park, such as the annual Riverfest, held each May on the river’s bank. Entertainment, food, music, artists, and a spectacular fireworks performance delight thousands each year. Well-known musicians perform concerts in the open amphitheatre in the park throughout the year. 

Get Your Culture On
Around the corner from the Market is the Museum of Discovery, a hands-on science museum aimed at children, yet enticing all ages. If the kids are along for the trip, this is a must-see for them. This is an educational, but fun way to learn about the human body, electricity, technology and more! Every month brings a new, intriguing exhibit to explore. 

For Adults Only
The rest of the District is loaded with restaurants and pubs. The Flying Saucer, one of two British-style pubs on the street (the other is The Underground), boasts over 200 kinds of beers from around the world. Those who prefer Miller should not visit this dark, comfy bar; since they specialize in export drafts and bottles of all sorts of beers and ciders. They also have a menu of munchies that goes nicely with Australian beer or Indian cider! Pool tables and rock music entertain the thirtysomething crowds every night of the week. 

Other nightlife manifests itself at places such as Sticky Fingerz and Pour House, which offer live entertainment throughout the week. These locales are an excellent way to spot terrific singers and bands before they hit it big. Many performers are regulars at these restaurant/bars, and draw in crowds of fans nightly. 

For those who prefer a less rowdy evening and a good meal, not all restaurants in the area are entertainment hotspots. The Flying Fish is an experience not to miss. Its bustling activity keeps this fried catfish and shrimp joint hopping from the lunch hour ‘til closing. Spicy crawfish are available in season, for you fellow Cajuns. 

Trio’s is an upscale restaurant offering outstanding service and high-quality cuisine. Meals here are a bit pricey, so be prepared to sit back, enjoy a gourmet meal, and hand over the credit card when it’s over! Trio’s ambience is candlelit, quiet, and classical. The menu includes poetic names for dishes such as Sea Bass Haiku and Ribeye Reta. 

Business or Pleasure?
The River Market District is the ideal place for those on business trips, simply because everything is within walking distance! There are several hotels, all recommended by the Convention Center, just minutes away from the food and shopping.
The Arkansas Excelsior is located a stone’s throw from the Convention Center. Its excellent service has given it the reputation of being one of the best hotels in downtown Little Rock. With amenities like the Executive Business Center, three restaurants and fitness center, guests feel right at home. 

The Capitol Hotel is also located near the River Market District. This posh hotel prides itself on its Old World charm and modern-day hospitality. And it has a right to take claim to the term “Old World,” since it first opened in 1876, making it one of the area’s oldest hotels still in business. The rooms are complete luxury, decorated in marble and oak. For those who are reluctant to wander far from the comfort of the Capitol Hotel, Ashley’s Restaurant, located inside the hotel, offers creative and costly cuisine to guests. 

The Convention Center itself is host to hundreds of conventions, meetings and luncheons each year. Not just Arkansas businesses take advantage of the spacious meeting rooms and technology available for presentations, but companies from all over the country. The staff is well trained and ensures that programs go off without a hitch. 

Getting into and out of Little Rock is a breeze with the efficient Little Rock airport. Shuttles go from the Convention Center to airport daily, to accommodate business travelers, and the drive is only ten minutes. 

Seattle, Los Angeles and Dallas now have competition. Little Rock is the undiscovered city of plenty, and downtown Little Rock has it all. Eliminating the hassle of renting a car and driving from one end of a city to another is well worth the pleasant visit to this place full of Southern charm and big-city know-how. Whether it is a balmy summer or a mild winter, any time is ideal to visit Little Rock.

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