Page 14 - 2023 Southern NJ Vacationer

birds each spring, the second-largest assembled shorebird population in the Western Hemisphere. The World Series of Birding challenges birders to count as many species as possible in a 24-hour period.
Nearby, in Cumberland County, bald eagles, great blue herons, osprey and more can be found in Turkey Point, the Maurice River, and Stow Creek. Cape May Bird Observatory; www.birdcapemay.org In Atlantic County, bald eagles soar even in the winter months at Lake Lenape in Mays Landing.
Other birding locations – Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, Wharton State Forest, Weymouth Furnace, Gaskill Park, Makepeace Lake Wildlife Management Area and Estell Manor Park – are listed in a guide to bird watching in Atlantic County. www.aclink.org
FISH, SWIM, CANOE OR SAIL: New Jersey’s largest freshwater body of water, Union Lake in Millville, is the best spot for freshwater fishing, swimming, canoeing, hiking, sailing, and picnicking. Part of the Union Lake Wildlife Management area and located on the Maurice River Drainage, the lake is about 4 miles long and 1.2 miles across at its widest point.
GONE FISHIN’ Southern New Jersey has some of the best fishing locations along the East Coast. Three rivers... the Mullica, Great Egg and Maurice, branch off into ponds and lakes filled with abundant freshwater species. Then there’s big, beautiful ocean out there – and the Delaware Bay – offering striped bass, drum fish, weakfish, bluefish and more. Don’t have a boat? Not a problem. Check out a variety of fishing charters from Cape May to Atlantic City as well as along the bayside in Cumberland County. More of a landlubber than a fisherman? Avalon has nine public docks, all free. The 8th Street Pier is a fun place with plenty of fish of all sizes. The Ventnor City fishing pier
charges $10 a day to fish or crab, www.ventnorcity.org. Grassy Sound Marina in North Wildwood charges a nominal fee and has boat rentals, bait, etc. www.grassysoundmarina.com. Ocean City and Margate also have fee-based piers. Fortescue on the Delaware Bay has numerous fishing charter boats including: Bonanza II, www.bonanza2.com, Miss Fortescue, www.miss-fortescue.business.site. TJR Charter, www.delawarebayadventures.com. Duchess charter Boat, www.charterboatdutchess.com
A TASTE OF HISTORY: The Cumberland County Historical Society operates six museums on Ye Greate Street in Greenwich. The Warren and Reba Lummis Library is a genealogical and historical library containing resource and genealogical materials. The John DuBois Maritime Museum houses a large collection of Southern New Jersey maritime artifacts and the Gibbon House, built in 1730, is furnished with items from the 18th and 19th centuries. Also on the grounds are the Barn Museum, featuring 19th century agricultural artifacts and the 1650 Swedish Granary. The Alan Carman Museum of Prehistory from Cumberland County houses Native American artifacts from the local area. All museums are free; for information call 856-455-8580; www.cchistsoc.org
THE SPOOKIEST TIME OF YEAR IS FUN AT THE JERSEY CAPE: Years back, the imposing but dilapidated mansion on Washington Street in Cape May looked like the Addams family might live there – Morticia sitting on the rickety porch with Uncle Fester peeking through a broken window. No one doubted that the Emlen Physick House was haunted – how could it not be after decades of neglect from its early days as the most beautiful house in town. The house survived, as did the spirits and ghosts
of the Physick family. Restored to its 19th century splendor, the Physick Estate retains vestiges of its haunted past and capitalizes on that reputation with a plethora of spooky, fun Halloween events that the Addams family would enjoy, as do residents and visitors to Cape May this time of year. Check out the trolley tours - Ghosts of Cape May Tours, Ghosts of the Lighthouse, and others – or wander around Scarecrow Alley on the grounds of the estate lined with funny, creative, spooky but not too scary scarecrows. www.capemaymac.org
Head to the 300 year old town of Greenwich in October and experience their memorable, historic, haunted walk. The event is rain or shine and registration is required. Meet at the Warren and Reba Lummis Genealogical and Historical Library, at 981 Ye Greate Street, Greenwich . www.historicgreenwichnj.org
COASTAL BIRDS IN THEIR NATURAL SETTING IN STONE HARBOR AND A V A L O N : Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary, near 112th St. and 2nd Ave., is dedicated to the protection of coastal birds and their ecosystem. Their website features a photo gallery of the species that reside year-round in the Sanctuary or visit seasonally. Informational reports give visitors background information on the unique behaviors, feeding habits and future outlook for the Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Glossy Ibis and the Eastern Box Turtle. 609-368-5102; www.stoneharborbirdsanctuary.com
Armacost Park is a suburban oasis providing a reliable nesting habitat for herons and egrets on the Stone Harbor-Avalon corridor. Enjoy the park by walking around its perimeter on the sidewalk, or spend some time at the elevated viewing platform just off the parking area especially in the spring, summer and fall,
Union Lake
12 SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY VACATIONER