So, it’s your birthday and you want to do something special? Good thing our beloved home has plenty of things to do that will make your special day even MORE special.

From restaurants to amusement to some low-key spots, I’ve got a few things to suggest that will make your birthday memorable.

• Grounds For Sculpture - Hamilton

  It’s worth the ride to head to Hamilton to spend a half day at Grounds for Sculpture.

  Grounds for Sculpture is a museum & sculpture garden where if you’ve got a birthday at a time of the year when you can be outdoors, this is a great way to spend some of your birthdays.

  Outdoors, nearly 300 contemporary sculptures are sited across 42 landscaped acres. Indoors, temporary exhibitions from established and emerging artists are featured in six galleries.

  More than 700 artists have had their work on view here. The collection contains sculptures by 150 artists, including Clement Meadmore, Anthony Caro, Beverly Pepper, Kiki Smith, George Segal, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Isaac Witkin, Joyce J. Scott, Willie Cole, and founder Seward Johnson. Many sculptors attribute their roots here, and each year, more artists are offered the unique opportunity to create new site-specific work for the galleries or outdoors.

  If you can get a reservation for Rat’s Restaurant (on-site), GET IT! It’s a 5-star spot that will make your birthday lunch or dinner amazing.

  Home Page - Grounds For Sculpture

  Autin Wright, Carmelita , 2008, fiberglass, LED light, 120 x 60 x 144 inches, Grounds For Sculpture, Gift of The Seward Johnson Atelier, photo: David Michael Howarth Photography Roberto Lugo, Put Yourself in the Picture, 2022, mixed media, 240 x 132 x 324 inches, Grounds For Sculpture, Partial Gift of

• Latino Flavor Grille - Manahawkin

  Latino Flavor Grille in Manahawkin is one of (if not THE best) Latin American food at the shore. This BYOB is a small intimate place where the food is prepared fresh and never disappoints.

  My go-to is the Cubano Sandwich. The pulled pork, grilled ham, spicy mustard, and pickles topped with Swiss cheese are a staple. But if you want something a little more…”dinner-y”…try the Ropa Vieja or Chimichurri steak. They’ve always got daily/weekly specials so check out their website or Facebook.

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• Bury The Hatchet - Toms River

  Grab some friends and toss an ax! (Ok, that sounds kind of like the theme of a murder movie.)

  Grab some friends and a case of booze and throw axes! (That sounds even worse haha.)

  I’ve thrown axes before and let me say, it’s NOT as easy as you’d think! There’s a whole method to getting that perfect spin and hitting the target, but damn if it’s not a fun evening where you can rent out a private section for a few hours and have some laughs at this BYOB.

  It’s something different and it’s more fun than you might think when you get into the competition side of ax throwing. Visit their website by clicking here for more.

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• Chef Volas - Atlantic City

  Ok, THIS one requires some serious advanced planning because getting into Chef Volas is NOT EASY! We’re talking weeks (sometimes MONTHS) to get a table at this incredible hideaway just off the Atlantic City boardwalk. This will make someone’s birthday incredible because if they knew just how lucky you got to be seated, you should get all the praise!

  What do I recommend? Literally ANYTHING. You cannot go wrong with any entree that’s served family style and it’s so unassuming since it’s located in the basement of a private home in a residential neighborhood. Want a table? Click here and may the odds ever be in your favor.

  Chef Vola's - Atlantic City, NJ on OpenTable

  Chef Vola's is a Contemporary Italian restaurant in Atlantic City, NJ. Read reviews, view the menu and photos, and make reservations online for Chef Vola's.

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