Page 15 - 2023 Southern NJ Vacationer

The Wetlands Institute
to view the progress of nesting Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron and Mallard duck. 3rd Avenue and 74th Street. www.avalonboro.org
Avalon Sea Watch at the northern tip of the borough, extends a mile out into the ocean at 8th and 9th Streets making it the best place to count migrating seabirds, a spectacle along the coast of New Jersey with an average of almost 800,000 seabirds counted annually – some years the count approaches one million birds. 70 percent of all the migrant seabirds pass in five weeks from early October to mid-November. www.njaudubon.org/watches/avalon-seawatch
ALL SPORTS MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY: The All Sports Museum Of Southern New Jersey houses a vast collection of sports memorabilia from the Southern New Jersey area with exhibits in multiple rooms. Artifacts include items from Willie Mays and many other professional sports figures as well as local sports standouts from Ocean County to Cape May County. Admission is free. Located at 8 Richie Kates Sr. Way, Bridgeton, NJ 08302. 856-451-7300. Follow us on Facebook and the web at www.allsportsmuseumofsnj.org
NATURE AT ITS BEST: Lake Lenape offers 2,000 acres for boating, canoeing, rafting, camping, hiking, biking or just enjoying a spring, summer or fall outing. Cedar-lined shores are bordered by lush mixed- oak and pine trees, and blueberry and laurel bushes. Named for the Native Americans who inhabited the area centuries ago, Lake Lenape in Mays Landing has provided fishermen – and women – with some excellent largemouth bass action, catfish and pickerel catches. www.aclink.org/parks
THE WETLANDS INSTITUTE:
Situated on 15,000 acres of salt marsh, the Wetlands Institute invites visitors to explore the wonders of the coastal landscape one adventure at a time. A trip down
the Quarter Mile Salt Marsh Trail reveals birds hunting in the marsh, pairs of Osprey hard at work on their nests, diamondback terrapins seeking safe nesting sites, or thousands of fiddler crabs scurrying across the rich mud. On the guided exploration of the Salt Marsh Trail, you’ll learn how the plants and animals interact to keep the marsh healthy. Visitors can help drag seine or dip nets through Scotch Bonnet Creek to discover the amazing creatures that live in the back bays. Explore the elevated walkway that puts you right in the marsh. Open year-round, with programs and special events that change with the seasons. 609-368-1211; www.wetlandsinstitute.org
RECREATION ON THE RIVER: Winding 50 miles through the Pinelands of Atlantic County, the Great Egg Harbor River is part of the National Wild and Scenic River system. It provides an abundant habitat for waterfowl in the region and offers boaters and bank fishermen plenty of recreational opportunities with the waters that are home to fresh and saltwater species, including striped bass and alewife herring. www.aclink.org
The Wild & Scenic Maurice River is a pristine Atlantic Coastal river with national and internationally important resources. Its clean waters and related habitats are vitally important to the migration of shorebirds, songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, rails, and fish. www.cumberlandcountynj.gov/mauriceriver
ATLANTIC CITY’S BOARDWALK: Boardwalks have been part of the Jersey Shore for more than a century. The Atlantic City Boardwalk holds the distinction as the first, the oldest and the longest “walk dating to 1870. That was when Jacob Boardman and Jacob Keim decided that a wooden walkway would help keep sand out of ritzy hotels and railroad cars. That first walkway cost around $5000 and was about a mile long. Over the years the Boardwalk has been rebuilt, expanded, widened and improved. www.atlanticcitynj.com
THE RIVERFRONTS OF BRIDGETON & MILLVILLE: The beautiful Cohansey River runs through the Bridgeton City Park and is the site of many of the city’s special events throughout the year. In Millville, the Maurice River is a perfect accent to the Glasstown Arts District with a 700-foot river walk for pedestrians to enjoy the water and Captain Buck Riverfront Park, which is a great spot for picnics. www.cityofbridgeton.com
or www.millville-nj.com
MEET ME IN DOWNTOWN WILDWOOD:
That’s at the Byrne Plaza on Pacific Avenue in Downtown Wildwood. Plenty of music, exercise classes, free movies, and a long list of special events all season. The Wildwood Farmers Market, with more than 60 vendors, opens the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend to keep everyone supplied with farm fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, meals to go and much more. Check it out every Saturday through Labor Day on both sides of Pacific Avenue at Byrne Plaza. After the beach, head downtown for free movie and music nights. While you are downtown, be sure and visit the great restaurants, bars and shops. 609-523-1602; www.dooww.com
WOODBINE MUSEUM A LIVING MEMORIAL:
The Sam Azeez Museum is a living memorial to the multi-cultural history of Woodbine. Housed in the Brotherhood Synagogue constructed by early Jewish settlers in the 1800s, the museum has a wealth of history, personal accounts, documents and artifacts. It’s named for Sidney “Sam” Azeez, who grew up during the Depression in Woodbine and was one of the pioneers of the Internet and cell phone technologies. Now partnered with Stockton University, the museum is a designated teaching center for Holocaust education and is recommended by the Jewish Travel Guide of the United States and Canada; 609-626- 3831; www.thesam.org G
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY VACATIONER 13