Page 14 - 2024 Southern NJ Vacationer

For yet another truly unique animal encounter, look no further than the enchanting world of the Meadow’s Edge Alpaca Farm. Nestled near the Delaware Bay in South Jersey, this hidden gem offers an unforgettable experience with these gentle and curious creatures. Get up close and personal with alpacas as you learn about their care, behavior, and significance in agriculture. The farm also hosts special events and crafts and activities. www.facebook.com/p/Meadows-Edge- Alpaca-Ranch-100067010780137/
TEST YOUR DRIVING SKILL AND FIND YOUR INNER RACE CAR DRIVER: New Jersey Motorsports Park is a road course “Motorsports Entertainment Complex” in Millville. The park is spread across 500 acres and is conveniently located about one hour away from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City. It offers diverse and dynamic attractions both on and off-track. The park includes two world-class road courses, Thunderbolt and Lightning. Thunderbolt Raceway features 2.25 miles of asphalt, 12 challenging turns, a one half mile straightway and approximately 40 acres of full service paddock space. The 1.9-mile northern circuit is known as Lightning Raceway. This 10-corner circuit is fast and challenging, featuring some of the most interesting and dramatic corners and elevation changes in the park. The 20-acre paddock area has a four-acre skid pad and autocross area. Tempest Raceway, one of the top outdoor karting complexes in the U.S., is a 1.1-mile world-class karting facility that features eight dramatic configurations, many of which can be run simultaneously. Call 856- 327-8000 or visit www.njmp.com
VISIT A PLACE WHERE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES GATHER: A “museum” in the recently added category is the Cape May Point Science Center. The facility, which has served as a hotel, hospital, and retreat for Catholic nuns, has been
preserved as a science center dedicated to protection and conservation of the unique surroundings. At New Jersey’s southernmost point, the center sits in the middle of the Atlantic flyway, a renowned ecological intersection of marine, insect, and avian species. Within a few square miles, you can experience the beauty and wonder of the world’s biggest butterfly migration, the largest concentration of one of the world’s oldest creatures, horseshoe crabs, and critical habitat of migratory and predatory birds, including raptors, hawks, owls, and eagles.
At the center, learn about raptor tracking, how the Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin is studied, and how the prehistoric horseshoe crabs are tracked. Visitors can tour one of the most historic buildings in the state, a majestic, 38,000-square-foot Victorian building which has served many purposes, including its critical refuge for enslaved people seeking freedom after crossing the water from Delaware. In 1909, it became St. Mary by the Sea, the summer retreat for the Sisters of St. Joseph. In the 1940s, 600 U.S soldiers serving in World War II sheltered there, protecting ships and South Jersey from German submarines. The center offers tours daily in July and August, and hosts an expanding series of events, including stargazing nights, concerts, Tai Chi, yoga, nature journaling, and art workshops. Visit www.capemaypointsciencecenter.org
READY, SET, EXPERIENCE YOUR HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOMENTS: The holidays always start the third week in November in Cape May, and it’s no surprise to anyone who loves this seaside town that Travel + Leisure named Cape May one of 25 Best Christmas Towns in the USA. The Washington Street Mall hosts Hospitality Nights, Congress Hall transforms into a winter wonderland and street after street boasts beautiful Victorian buildings decked out in lights, greenery, bows and more. Sip wassail,
hop aboard the Holly Trolley, take tea with Mrs. Claus, or stop by the Physick Estate, lavishly decorated in true Victorian style. Learn more about the holiday traditions of the Victorian era of the 1890s, experience a Dickens Christmas extravaganza, and enjoy a Lamplighter Christmas tour or the annual Christmas Candlelight House Tour. In between there are concerts, performances at Cape May Stage and the East Lynne Theater Company, food and wine events, craft fairs and so much more for the merriest of holiday seasons. For information about tours: 609-884-5404. 800-275-4278. www.capemaymac.org or accommodations and special event information: 609- 884-5508. www.capemaychamber.com
CELEBRATE THE WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS IN ONE PLACE: The sports enthusiasts will enjoy the All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey in Bridgeton. Originally a place to honor local athletes, the museum now honors sports persons in good standing who have a documented connection to Southern New Jersey by birth, education, residency, profession, or affiliation. The Museum houses displays of Willie Mays’ 1960 Gold Glove Award, Harry Gamble’s Bert Bell Award Trophy, Leon “Goose” Goslin’s personal collection, a Mike Trout memorabilia display, Brad Lidge’s All Star Game Jersey and 2008 game-used glove, Johnny “Johnny Hockey” Gaudreau memorabilia. Cincinnati Reds’ scouts Joe and Rex Bowen’s 1970’s era “Big Red Machine” commemorative bat collection. In addition the museum’s collection includes Lydell Mitchell’s game-used uniform and equipment and many hundreds of prominent donated items, which comprise an incredible amount of diverse sports history and highlighting the careers of exceptional athletes, coaches, teams, media professionals and contributors. Find the museum at 8 Richie Kates Sr. Way, Bridgeton, or visit www.allsportsmuseumofsnj.org
New Jersey Motorsports Park
12 SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY VACATIONER