Page 13 - 2024 Southern NJ Vacationer

mostly indoor facility has a retractable roof ensuring it’s always a tropical paradise. 609-964-7663. www.islandwaterparkac.com
TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME: 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 or follow them on Facebook.
TAKE A RIDE ON A “WHEELY” BIG ATTRACTION: Atlantic City’s famous Steel Pier is the centerpiece of family entertainment on the city’s great wooden way. Diving horses and human cannonballs were all the rage when Steel Pier opened in 1898. Steel Pier quickly became known for showcasing the world’s top entertainers, delighting thousands of visitors each day with top names and novelty acts. Today, kids of all ages enjoy the amusements and thrill rides, and most recently the addition of an amazing Observation Wheel – 220 feet high with 40 temperature-controlled gondolas offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic City skyline. Each gondola can comfortably hold six passengers with a total capacity of 240 passengers. Fun fact: The wheel has 14,500 lights that help to brighten the skies of Atlantic City. 866-386-6659. www.steelpier.com
BOOK A GHOST TOUR DURING THE SPOOKIEST TIME OF YEAR IN CAPE MAY: 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 spooky, fun Halloween events that the Addams family would enjoy, as well as visitors 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
CELEBRATE WITH FIREWORKS EVERY FRIDAY IN THE SUMMER: Celebrate Independence Day on the Wildwoods Boardwalk with a fireworks spectacular, synchronized to patriotic music at 10 PM. Launched from Pine Avenue and beach, the fireworks are visible from anywhere on the Boardwalk. Kick off the weekend every Friday with fireworks on the Boardwalk at 10 p.m. (rain date Sunday evening). Call 609-523-1602 or visit www.dooww.com
THE HARRIET TUBMAN MUSEUM
OF NEW JERSEY
When you go the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May, you can learn about the role Cape May played in the Underground Railroad and about Harriet Tubman’s presence here in Cape May. Tubman lived and worked in Cape May in the 1850s to raise funds to free slaves,
and was a famed Underground Railroad conductor. The museum is located in the former Macedonia Baptist Church on Lafayette Street and both sites are on the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail. The museum building is located on a block that anti-slavery activists called home in Cape May. Lafayette Street and Franklin Street became a center of abolitionist activity in Cape May around 1846. The museum offers guided and self-guided tours Wednesdays through Sundays. www.harriettubmanmuseum.org
SHOP, DINE & BROWSE ON THIRD FRIDAYS: The Glasstown Arts District on High Street in Millville is home to art galleries, several upscale restaurants and unique shops. The 19th – and early 20th-century buildings and homes provide a rich architectural backdrop to promote the arts. Find more information at www.glasstownartsdistrict.com The Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts displays creative work from Southern New Jersey artists and nearby metropolitan centers. Don’t miss Third Friday Fun each month with informal receptions for the public to meet featured artists. Third Fridays in downtown Millville are exciting with visitors enjoying the Glasstown Arts District, dinner, and an evening in one of the area’s nightspots. www.rrcarts.com
BEYOND THE ZOO: Visit the Freedom Farm Animal Rescue, a sanctuary that is dedicated to the preservation and protection of animals in need. Witness the transformative power of compassion as rescued animals find refuge and rehabilitation in a safe haven. From rescued farm animals to other wildlife, every creature at Freedom Farm has a tale of resilience and hope to share. Every Saturday, this sanctuary opens its gates to welcome visitors into a world of healing and hope for farm animals in need. www.freedomfarmanimalrescue.org
Steel Pier Observation Wheel
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY VACATIONER 11