To SeeCradled between the Delaware River and Delaware Bay, rural southern New Jersey—known as South Jersey—is noted for its vast stretches of farm fields and pristine tidal marshes, roadside produce markets and massive farming operations. The state’s soil-rich southwestern bulge is considered some of the finest agricultural land on the East Coast. Unlike small-scale crop farms or dairies in northern parts of the state, here fields stretch to the horizon. Cumberland County is called New Jersey’s Garden Spot, with 100,000 acres of farmland—orchards; wholesale nurseries; “truck farms” growing sod, corn, tomatoes, and eggplant—punctuated with silos, barns, and long straight ribbons of road that beckon to be explored.
South Jersey is also the least-visited and least-inhabited part of the state (not including, of course, the wildly popular southern shoreline, which merits its own chapter), a quiet, little-developed region of otherwise densely populated New Jersey. Salem County, on the Delaware River, is the state’s least densely populated county, visited more by migrating birds than by tourists. Off-the-beaten-path travelers love the area because it affords a sense of discovery that’s nearly impossible to find in places that cater to the masses. It may lack luxurious inns and fine restaurants, but it hangs on to an endearing old-fashioned charm that’s lost in the polished, upscale suburbs.
The region is equally defined by the river and the bay. Cumberland County has more than 40 miles of intricate coastline cut with inlets and coves, and bordering vast expanses of grassy marshland and meandering tidal streams that stretch far inland. If the waterfront were a sandy beach, it would be crammed with motels, amusement parks, and resorts. Instead, people fish and hunt rather than parasail, living in villages born out of the maritime heritage of the oyster and shipbuilding industries. By the early 1900s, oystering, boat building, crabbing, and shad fishing were thriving in communities like Bivalve and Shellpile, until the rich oyster population was wiped out by a deadly parasite in the 1950s. Today in Bivalve, the Bayshore Discovery Project takes passengers sailing on the bay aboard New Jersey’s official tall ship, the A. J. Meerwald. The nostalgic 1928 schooner is reminiscent of the days when a fleet of similar ships plied the bay in search of oysters. The water is still busy with commercial fishing boats and barges plying their way to and from Philadelphia, hauling freight through what is still a major shipping route.
Centuries-old towns scattered throughout the flat lowlands—Greenwich, Salem, Bridgeton, and Mauricetown among them—are rich in history, offering unique small museums and little-known yet significant historic sites. Students of American history often equate log cabins with the American frontier, but 17th-century Swedish settlers built the country’s first log house in Gibbstown. Gloucester County, originally a Dutch settlement, is one of the oldest counties in America. During the Revolutionary War, as American and British warships skirmished for control of the Delaware River, local patriots took a small but defiant stand against growing British oppression in the colonies. Angered by a British tea tax—and perhaps inspired by news of a tea “party” in Boston—they gathered in Greenwich in Dec. 1774, dressed as Indians, and burned a cargo of Philadelphia-bound British tea that had recently arrived by ship. Greenwich—Cumberland County’s oldest community—is one of only five tea-burning towns in America. A monument on “Ye Greate Street,” the historic avenue laid out in 1684, commemorates their patriotic efforts.
After the Civil War, Fort Mott was built on the bay to protect Philadelphia and other river ports from enemy invasion. Remnants of the military base, today a state park, include officers’ quarters and a massive concrete battery that hid guns positioned to fire upon enemy ships. A ferry shuttles history buffs to two other military forts—Fort Delaware and Fort DuPont—to see Civil War reenactments as well as the place where nearly 2,500 Confederate soldiers died while in captivity. They are laid to rest at Finns Point National Cemetery, the eerily peaceful burial ground at Fort Mott.
In the 17th century, Finnish settlers and Irish Quakers established plantations in Mullica Hill, named for the family who first settled here. In the next couple centuries a blacksmith shop, a pair of taverns, an iron foundry, and a woolen mill sprang up, along with dozens of homes, from Colonials to Queen Anne–style mansions. Today the entire village is on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for the plethora of antiques dealers occupying Main Street’s well-preserved buildings.
Salem is the oldest English settlement in New Jersey, laid out in 1675 on the Salem River, a tributary of the Delaware. The brick downtown around Market Street and Broadway is a well-preserved national historic district, with small museums, historic churches, and an old county courthouse. The roads leading into town are lined with Colonial- and Victorian-era houses, some beautifully restored, others in various stages of repair. Visitors can tour the Hancock House, the site of a Revolutionary War–era massacre, and the Alexander Grant House, home to the Salem County Historical Society, an active organization since 1884.
The old glass-manufacturing town of Bridgeton boasts the state’s largest historic district, with more than 2,200 registered Colonial-, Federal-, and Victorian-era historic landmarks. Its industrial heritage dates to 1686, when the first sawmill was built on the Cohansey River. By the 19th century, a fleet of schooners was based here, and the city boomed with glass factories, a woolen mill, a nail and iron industry, and half a dozen blacksmith shops. Those who profited from this success built elaborate mansions and grand commercial buildings. Despite this rich history, visitors shouldn’t expect a polished, South Jersey version of colonial Williamsburg. Bridgeton is a workaday city, an architectural treasure trove with flaws typical of places that have seen better days. Declining industry in the 20th century, and the subsequent loss of jobs, led to poverty and decay, leaving neighborhoods that are weathered at best, in shambles at worst. Still, Bridgeton has a lot to offer visitors. The wooded 1,100-acre city park has a Native American village and museum, a restored 17th-century Swedish farmstead, and New Jersey’s first public zoo. Summertime brings a farmer’s market and a riverfront concert series.
Southern New Jersey has been a major glass-manufacturing center ever since German immigrant Caspar Wistar opened a factory in 1739. Wistarburgh Glass Works was colonial America’s first successful glass factory, and not the last. A century later, Dr. Theodore Corson Wheaton built a facility in nearby Millville on the Maurice River. Today, Wheaton Village is a re-created 1888 glassmaking community about a mile from Wheaton’s original factory. Visitors can watch sculptors and artisans in front of white-hot furnaces, shaping molten glass into works of art by using centuries-old glassmaking techniques. The Museum of American Glass, the largest collection of American glass in the country, draws collectors, artists, and dealers from around the world.
Millville’s newest attraction is a small but thriving arts district, a creative effort to revitalize its deteriorating downtown by encouraging artists to relocate here and practice their craft. Today the Glasstown Arts District boasts more than two-dozen galleries and studios, and an arts education center with changing exhibits of work by regional artists. On the third Friday of the month the galleries, shops, and restaurants stay open late, and the town hosts live music and receptions for artists. Millville also offers a riverfront park along the Maurice River, an aviation museum at a World War II–era airfield, and fishing and swimming on New Jersey’s largest artificial lake.
In the 19th century, sea captains navigated the Maurice (pronounced “Morris”) River, docked their ships in Mauricetown, and built grand Victorian mansions, many of which still stand, their history noted on simple plaques. Among the historic buildings in this quiet town is the 1880 Mauricetown Methodist Church, whose soaring white steeple is reminiscent of a New England village. A handful of antiques shops and a peaceful riverfront park are worth a stop here, as are the festivals and historic-house tours hosted throughout the year.
South Jersey attracts birders, anglers, and other outdoors enthusiasts to the vast undisturbed natural surroundings that defy New Jersey’s industrial image. Since 1955 the New Jersey chapter of The Nature Conservancy has preserved more than 13,000 acres in the Delaware Bay region. Cumberland County alone has some 50,000 acres of open space, from pine forest and marsh to mudflats, salt-hay meadows, and hardwood swamps protected in state wildlife management areas. The federally designated Wild and Scenic Maurice River and its tributaries wind through South Jersey on their way to the bay, the perfect place to meander in a kayak or a canoe. The Delaware Bay region is home to diverse songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl attracted to its tidal salt marshes, which are among the richest natural ecosystems in the world. In spring and fall, some 1.5 million migrating birds stop here to rest on their journey along the Atlantic Flyway. Birders know that the Maurice River is one of the East Coast’s most important raptor wintering areas, where huge flocks of snow geese feed at the river’s mouth. Gulls, egrets, herons, mute swans, and bald eagles wait out the cold months in ponds, tidal creeks, and marshes dotted with bayberry bushes and cedar trees. The annual migration of monarch butterflies happens in autumn, and hungry shorebirds pass through in May, when horseshoe crabs go ashore to lay thousands of eggs. When exploring in summer, it’s wise to carry insect repellent to fend off the biting greenhead flies and deerflies that thrive in these wet, humid conditions.
Like all places worth exploring, South Jersey has its share of quirky surprises. Fortescue bills itself as the Weakfish Capital of the World, with a marina full of charter boats that bring anglers onto the bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The remote fishing village hosts one of the East Coast’s most popular fishing tournaments for its famous weakfish, a species of sea trout. Woodstown has been called the Cow Capital of the First Frontier, but to most folks it’s simply home to the Cowtown Rodeo, where a Saturday-night rodeo has been held since 1929. Professional cowboys and cowgirls from around the country come here to rope steer, barrel race, and ride bulls at the longest-running weekly rodeo in America.
Entries in this section are arranged in roughly geographic order.
AREA CODES 856, 609.
GUIDANCE A New Jersey state welcome center in Deepwater (856-351-0194) is on I-295 northbound between Exits 2 and 4 at milepost 2.5, a mile from the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
An information center at Fort Mott State Park (856-935-3218), Fort Mott Rd. (Rt. 630), in Pennsville, is well stocked with regional tourism literature and has a helpful staff.
Cumberland County maintains a helpful Web site (www.co.cumberland.nj.us) for the entire region, with information on historic sites, recreation, shopping, lodging, and dining.
Mullica Hill (856-881-6800) has a top-notch Web site (www.mullicahill.com) for visitors and will send printed materials on request.
The Bridgeton–Cumberland Tourist Information Center (856-451-4802), at the junction of Rts. 77 and 49 (W. Broad St.), downtown Bridgeton, is a self-serve information center that’s well stocked with tourism literature and maps.
GETTING THERE By air: Newark Liberty International Airport (973-961-6000; parking information: 888-397-4636; www.panynj.com) in Newark serves the entire state. Philadelphia International Airport (215-937-6800; www.philadelphia-phl.com) in Pennsylvania is close to the Delaware Bay area. Atlantic City International Airport (609-645-7895; 888-235-9229; www.acairport.com), Exit 9 on the Atlantic City Expressway, serves southern New Jersey through Spirit Airlines (800-772-7117).
By bus: New Jersey Transit (800-582-5946; www.njtransit.com) links Camden and Philadelphia to Millville, Gloucester, Swedesboro, Glassboro, Salem, Woodstown, and other communities in the Delaware Bay region. Greyhound (800-229-9424; www.greyhound.com) stops in Camden and Atlantic City.
By car: The New Jersey Turnpike is the only major highway through this rural area. In addition, Rt. 55 runs along the northern edge of this region from Camden to Port Elizabeth; Rt. 130 connects Camden to the New Jersey Turnpike just before the Delaware Memorial Bridge; Rt. 40 travels from the New Jersey Turnpike east to the Atlantic City Expressway; and Rt. 49 links the New Jersey Turnpike to Tuckahoe via Salem, Bridgeton, and Millville.
GETTING AROUND Taxis: Yellow Cab (856-825-2100) and Landis Cab Co.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY SJH Health Center—Bridgeton (856-575-4000; www.sjhealthcare.net), 333 Irving Ave., Bridgeton. Emergency and outpatient services.
SJH Regional Medical Center—Vineland (856-641-8000; www.sjhealthcare.net), 1505 West Sherman Ave., Vineland.
The Memorial Hospital of Salem County (856-935-1000; www.mhschealth.com), 310 Woodstown Rd., Salem. The emergency number is 856-339-6048.
SJH Elmer Hospital (856-363-1000; www.sjhealthcare.net), West Front St., Elmer.
To SeeCHURCHES Old Swedes Trinity Episcopal Church (856-467-1227; www.trinityswedesboro.org), 1129 Kings Hwy. at Church St., Swedesboro. The Swedish were some of New Jersey’s first settlers, establishing agricultural and industrial communities as early as 1642 at the settlement of Raccoon, eventually re-named Swedesboro. To attend church, the Swedes had to cross the Delaware River to Philadelphia or Wilmington, a dangerous proposition in foul weather. At the turn of the 18th century they built a log cabin–style building to worship in, New Jersey’s first Swedish church. Damaged during the Revolutionary War, the building was replaced with the current Georgian-style structure, completed in 1784. The church cemetery contains many Revolutionary War–era graves.
Old Broad Street Church (856-445-0809; www.fpcbridgeton.org), 119 W. Commerce St., Bridgeton. This stately brick 1792 meetinghouse is considered one of New Jersey’s best-preserved 18th-century buildings. Bridgeton’s first house of worship was patterned after the Georgian-style churches springing up in Philadelphia at the time. The church still boasts many original features, including the collection bags, brick flooring, pews, whale-oil lamps, and the Franklin stoves made at an iron furnace in the Pinelands. The dramatic Palladian window behind the pulpit is similar to one in George Washington’s Virginia home, and in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. Revolutionary War veterans and slaves are buried in the church graveyard.
HISTORIC HOMES C. A. Nothnagle Log House (856-423-0916), 406 Swedesboro Rd., Gibbstown. Open by appointment only. Free admission. A circa-1638 log cabin built by Finnish-Swedish settlers shortly after they arrived from Europe has made the National Register of Historic Places for two reasons: it’s the oldest such structure in America, and the oldest surviving log house in the Western Hemisphere. The original house would have had an earthen floor (pine floorboards weren’t in use until the 18th century) and a chimney made of bricks imported from Sweden. Instead of nails, an ingenious system of pins and dovetails held the walls and roof rafters in place. Today the log house is attached to a private residence; the owners show visitors around.
Alexander Grant House (856-935-5004; www.salemcountyhistoricalsociety.com), 79–83 Market St., Salem. Call for hours; closed major holidays. A magnificent shuttered brick 1721 house at the heart of Salem’s historic downtown is the headquarters of the Salem County Historical Society. The 20-room house, along with a rustic stone barn, contains the society’s extensive collections of furniture, glass, textiles, china, and paintings from the colonial era to the mid-19th century. A research library contains genealogical and historic books, manuscripts, photographs, and other documents that visitors can view. From the library, there’s a lovely view of the colonial garden behind the house.
Hancock House (856-935-4373), Three Front St., Hancocks Bridge. Wed.–Sat. 10–noon, 1–4; Sun. 1–4. Closed Mon.–Tues. Call ahead; sometimes meetings change the open hours. Free admission. The 1734 home of William Hancock, a Quaker judge, was the setting of perhaps the bloodiest chapter in Salem County’s early history. Hancock built the brick mansion in a style popular in Essex, England, where the area’s settlers came from. The exterior’s unique herringbone pattern of red and blue bricks contains the initials of the judge, his wife, Sarah, and the construction year. During the Revolutionary War, Hancock allowed colonial militiamen to use the house as a barracks. In March 1778, some 300 British troops made up of Tories, Hessians, and Queen’s Rangers staged a nighttime raid on Hancocks Bridge, killing everyone in the house, including Hancock. Today the well-preserved house, which has random-width floorboards, walls paneled in native pine, and a fireplace in every room, is a state historic site.
HISTORIC SITES Finns Point National Cemetery (609-877-5460; www.cem.va.gov), 454 Fort Mott Rd., at Fort Mott State Park, Pennsville. Open daily 8–sunset. Drive down a long, narrow lane past Fort Mott to reach the hushed burial ground of nearly 3,000 Civil War soldiers. Roughly 2,436 of the dead were Confederate prisoners held at Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island; the rest were Union soldiers who served as prison camp guards. Many of the POWs were captured in 1863 during the battle of Gettysburg and brought to Fort Delaware, which had a dark reputation for dire conditions. Most of the prisoners died in 1863 and 1864 from disease, neglect, and malnutrition. Also in the cemetery is the Confederate Monument, a 50-foot granite obelisk etched with the names of the soldiers who died in captivity. Union soldiers are memorialized at the domed Union Monument. Others interred here include German World War II POWs who died at Fort Dix, American soldiers who died while serving at Fort Mott, and others who served in World War I and the Spanish-American War.
THE 1734 HANCOCK HOUSE IN HANCOCKS BRIDGE WAS THE SITE OF A BRUTAL MASSACRE OF LOCAL MILITIA MEMBERS BY BRITISH TROOPS IN A SURPRISE 1778 RAID, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN JERSEY’S REVOLUTIONARY WAR HISTORY.
Photo by Thomas E. Briglia / PhotoGraphics Photographpy
(856-935-3218), 454 Fort Mott Rd., Pennsville. Grounds are open daily 8 AM–dusk. Welcome center open daily 8–4, Mon.–Fri. in winter; call for interpretive programs schedule. Free admission. A sense of isolation pervades this former military post on the Delaware River, due perhaps to the miles of virtually unspoiled countryside you drive through to get here. It was built after the Civil War as part of a coastal defense system, along with Fort DuPont, and joining Fort Delaware, which had stood on Pea Patch Island since the 1820s. Along with fortifications on the riverbank at Finns Point, the trio of forts would protect the river from a future enemy attack, specifically, the threat of the Spanish-American War. A long concrete and earthen battery shielded the guns, and the fort itself, from the river. Fort Mott—named for decorated Mexican American and Civil War veteran General Gershom Mott—was an active military base until World War I; today, it’s a serene state park (see Green Space—State Parks) where visitors can hike, picnic, stroll along the shoreline, take a self-guided tour of the batteries, or ride a ferry to the historic forts (see Three Forts Ferry under To Do—Boat Excursion). A staffed welcome center, part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail, is well stocked with tourism literature; check out the exhibits on South Jersey’s maritime history and culture.
Seabrook Educational and Cultural Center (856-451-8393; www.seabrookeducation.org), in the Upper Deerfield Township Municipal Building, 1325 State St. (Rt. 77), Seabrook. Open Mon.–Thurs. 9–2; closed Fri.–Sun. Free admission. In 1944, Charles Franklin Seabrook founded Seabrook Brothers & Sons, then the world’s largest frozen-food factory. He needed a considerable workforce to can and freeze millions of pounds of vegetables. Simultaneously, more than 110,000 Japanese Americans were living around the country in World War II–era internment camps. Seabrook arranged for more than 2,000 to come to South Jersey, where they worked in food production and food processing or on the farms. When the camps were closed in 1945, Seabrook set up Seabrook Village, a multicultural community that thrived in the 1940s and 1950s with a mix of Japanese Americans and workers from around the world. The museum contains a large-scale model of the 1950s-era village and factory, exhibits on community life and farmwork, oral histories, photographs, cultural artifacts, and archives of published accounts.
Gibbon House Museum (856-455-4055; www.cchistsoc.org), 960 Ye Greate St., Greenwich. House open Apr.–Dec., Mon., Wed., and Sat. 12:30–4; closed Sun. Closed Jan.–Mar. Call for admission prices. A complex of historic buildings along Greenwich’s oldest street is the headquarters of the Cumberland County Historical Society. Nicholas Gibbon designed his circa-1730 home after an elegant London town house; the brick exterior has an intricate Flemish-style herringbone pattern typical of many 18th-century English homes. Today the formal dining room, paneled drawing room, and upstairs rooms are furnished in period antiques; the kitchen has a massive walk-in fireplace where demonstrations in colonial open-hearth cooking take place. The Pirate House Library’s collection of old documents, deeds, and books is available to the public for research. The Red Barn is full of 19th-century farm implements, domestic artifacts, and tools for gardening, carpentry, and blacksmithing.
Potter’s Tavern (856-451-4802), 49–51 W. Broad St., Bridgeton. Tours on summer weekends and by appointment. The restored 1776 building, now a national historic landmark and museum, was a popular gathering spot for local patriots. More notably, it was home to the Plain Dealer, believed to be New Jersey’s first regularly published newspaper. It was certainly the first publication in the colony devoted exclusively to American liberty and independence; its articles urged Cumberland County residents to resist British domination. Publisher Ebenezer Elmer started out as a local tea burner and later distinguished himself as the last surviving officer from New Jersey in George Washington’s Continental army. The original manuscript of the newspaper—printed in December 1775—is in the rare books collection at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
LIGHTHOUSES Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse (856-423-2545; www.tinicumrearrangelighthouse.org), Second and Mantua Sts., P.O. Box 176, Paulsboro. Open Apr.–Oct. on the third weekend of the month, Sat. 10–3, Sun. noon–4. Free admission. Since New Year’s Eve 1880, this inland beacon has worked in sync with the Tinicum Front Range Light to guide ships up the Delaware River toward Philadelphia with a fixed red light that can be seen for 8.5 nautical miles. This historic lighthouse is in an unlikely place—surrounded by a sports complex, with no coastline in sight. It’s equally unusual in appearance, an 85-foot tower of slate-gray steel, with 112 steps from the base to the lantern room. The lighthouse is still active, and maintained by the Lighthouse Society of Paulsboro.
Finns Point Rear Range Light (856-935-1487), 197 Lighthouse Rd. (Rt. 632), near Fort Mott State Park, Pennsville. Open Apr.–Oct. on the third Sun. of the month, noon–4. Free admission. The wrought-iron open frame is an unusual lighthouse design, built in Buffalo for $1,200 then shipped via train and mule wagon to New Jersey, where the lighthouse was first lit in 1877. Twice a day, the lighthouse keeper climbed 130 steps up a spiral staircase and wooden ladder to the lantern room to light and extinguish the flame. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1950 when the Army Corps of Engineers dredged the channel. The Finns Point Front Range Light, a wooden tower that once stood on the riverbank, was moved in the 1930s.
East Point Lighthouse (856-327-3714), East Point Rd. (off Rt. 47), Heislerville. Open the third Sun. of the month, Apr.–Oct. and at special events; phone ahead. A beautiful red-roofed Cape Cod–style brick lighthouse built at the mouth of the Maurice River in 1849. Delaware Bay oyster schooners relied on the beacon to navigate their way to ports along the river, from Port Norris to Millville. It’s one of the oldest lighthouses left standing in the state—its beacon is still an active navigational marker—and the last one remaining on the Jersey side of the bay. When the Mauricetown Historical Society opens the lighthouse to visitors, you can climb to the lantern room for panoramas of the surrounding marshland.
(856-825-6800; 800-998-4552; www.wheatonvillage.org), 1501 Glasstown Rd. (off Rt. 552), Millville. Museum and glass factory: $10 adults; $9 seniors; $7 students; children 5 and under, free; admission is $1 less in winter. Admission to the village and shops is free. Hours vary by season. A reconstructed 19th-century glassmaking community in rural South Jersey—where America’s glass industry began—is a mecca for glass artists and collectors. At the replica T. C. Wheaton Glass Factory, visitors can watch skilled glass sculptors use centuries-old tools and techniques in front of huge glass-melting and glass-reheating furnaces that burn at more than 2,000 degrees. Using a long, hollow steel tube, artisans blow and mold soft molten glass, which is later shaped with vintage grinding and polishing equipment into vases, bowls, and other works of art and function.
Other attractions here include the Museum of American Glass (see Museums), the largest museum in the country devoted to American glass-making. A re-created village of elegant Victorian buildings includes shops, a general store, a one-room schoolhouse, and a restored train station. A research library contains 2,000 volumes on glassmaking history and technique. The Down Jersey Folk Life Center hosts programs on South Jersey’s traditional arts and culture, including storytelling, music, and dance. Special events include workshops, lectures, and a major biennial international exhibition and symposium that attracts artists, collectors, and dealers from around the world.
ARTISANS DEMONSTRATE OLD-TIME GLASSMAKING METHODS IN THE GLASS STUDIO AT MILVILLE’S WHEATON VILLAGE, HOME TO THE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN GLASS AND THE DOWN JERSEY FOLK LIFE CENTER.
Photo courtesy of Wheaton Village, Millville NJ
MUSEUMS 
Bridgeton Hall of Fame All Sports Museum (856-451-7300), Bridgeton Recreation Center, Burt Ave. and Babe Ruth Rd., Bridgeton. Open Mon.–Sat. 10 AM–2 PM. Free admission. A unique collection of memorabilia that honors professional and amateur athletes from southern New Jersey. Permanent exhibits include a Cincinnati Reds bat collection, Hall of Famer Willie Mays’s Golden Glove, and Philadelphia Phillies memorabilia from the 1980 World Championship. One large room is devoted solely to trophies, cups, and medals; another displays uniforms, equipment, and scrapbooks.
Nail House Museum (856-455-4100), Bridgeton City Park, One Mayor Aitken Dr., Bridgeton. Open Thurs.–Sun. 10–2. Free admission. Bridgeton was the hub of New Jersey’s nail-manufacturing industry in the 19th century; today the office of the once-booming Cumberland Nail and Iron Works exhibits Industrial Revolution–era artifacts, including early iron tools, early Bridgeton glass, Nail Works artifacts, and the oldest public clock in South Jersey.
New Sweden Farmstead Museum (856-451-4802; 800-319-3379), Bridgeton City Park, Mayor Aitken Dr., Bridgeton. Currently closed except for pre-arranged tours by appointment. Most Swedish settlers came to America in the 19th century, except for a band of Swedes and Finns who arrived in South Jersey in 1638 and established the first permanent settlement in the Delaware Valley. Here, visitors see an exact replica of a 17th-century farmstead built by Scandinavian colonists. The authentic log buildings include a threshing barn, blacksmith shop, stable, sauna, smokehouse, and cabin. The complex was built in Bridgeton’s 1,100-acre City Park to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the New Sweden Colony, the first Swedish settlement in America.
Woodruff Museum of Indian Artifacts (856-451-2620; 800-319-3379; www.bridgetonlibrary.org), Bridgeton Public Library, 150 E. Commerce St., Bridgeton. Open Mon.–Fri. 1–4, Sat. 11–2, or by appointment. Free admission. An excellent collection of artifacts from the Lenni-Lenape tribes that inhabited New Jersey’s bay shore region for centuries. Tools, pottery, clay bowls, arrowheads, and other relics—in all, more than 30,000 objects—make this one of the largest collections of Native American artifacts in the state.
Museum of American Glass (609-825-6800, 800-998-4552; www.wheatonvillage.org), Wheaton Village, 1501 Glasstown Rd., off Rt. 552, Millville. Open Jan.–Mar., Fri.–Sun. 10–5; Apr.–Dec., Tues.–Sun. 10–5. Adults $10; seniors $9; students $7; children 5 and under, free. The nation’s largest museum devoted to American glass is part of a South Jersey cultural center whose centerpiece is a replica of an 1888 glass factory (see sidebar, page 281). The museum chronicles the history of American glassmaking through more than 8,000 pieces dating from colonial times to the 20th century, with special focus on locally manufactured glass. Objects are positioned to take advantage of natural light, which highlights the fine details and brilliant color of each piece of glass.
Millville Army Airfield Museum (856-327-2347; www.p47millville.org), Millville Airport, One Leddon St., Millville. Open Tues.–Sun. 10–4. Guided tours by reservation only; please phone ahead. An excellent museum of World War II aviation history, focusing on Millville’s role in the war and the history of the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane. The airfield was dedicated in 1941 as America’s First Defense Airport, the first U.S. Army base built to defend our country. It served as a gunnery school for more than 1,500 fighter pilots, who received advanced training in P-40 Warhawks and P-47 Thunderbolt fighter planes. Some 10,000 men and women served at the base, whose headquarters now features exhibits of World War II–era aviation memorabilia and artifacts.
(856-769-3200; www.cowtownrodeo.com), 780 Rt. 40, Pilesgrove. Open Memorial Day–Labor Day. Call for admission prices. This popular Saturday-night professional rodeo is the longest-running weekly rodeo in the United States. The Harris family has operated this venerable South Jersey venue continuously since 1929, except for a hiatus during World War II. Hundreds of champion rodeo cowboys and cowgirls competing on the professional rodeo circuit come from around the country to perform in the 4,000-seat stadium, one of only two weekly rodeos in America sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (the other is in Mesquite, Texas). Professional cowgirls, members of the Girls Rodeo Association, compete in barrel racing, a rodeo tradition since the 1960s. Other rodeo events are reminiscent of the Old West, from bull riding, saddle bronc riding (most of the bucking broncs are raised here), and team roping to steer wrestling, bareback riding, and calf roping. The Cowtown Flea Market on Tues. and Sat. is a well-known South Jersey tradition (see Selective Shopping—Flea Market).
THE COWTOWN RODEO IN PILESGROVE, A FAMILY-RUN RODEO IN SOUTH JERSEY SINCE 1929, IS THE LONGEST RUNNING SATURDAY NIGHT RODEO IN THE U.S
Photo by Joe Labolito
WINERY Heritage Vineyards of Richwood (856-589-4474; www.heritagestationwine.com), 480 Mullica Hill Rd. (Rt. 322), Richwood. Winery open daily 8:30–6 for tastings; wine and cheese tastings by reservation. Bill and Penni Heritage are fifth-generation farmers who started growing grapes on their 150-acre farm in 1998. Today they nurture six acres of vineyard grapes. Some of the farm’s produce is used to make fresh fruit wines—sour cherry, blueberry, peach, apple—in addition to the Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other traditional table wines. Their wines are sold at the farm’s produce market (see Selective Shopping—Farm Markets).
ZOO 
Cohanzick Zoo (856-453-1658), Bridgeton City Park, Bridgeton. Open daily 9–5; in winter, daily 8–4. Free admission. This is New Jersey’s first public zoo—built in 1934—and one of the country’s last remaining free zoos. The small facility in Bridgeton’s wooded city park is home to more than 200 animals and birds, including white tigers, bears, monkeys, falcons, and leopards. Birds from around the world live in the walk-through aviary. The zoo’s adopt-an-animal program helps to fund an animal’s needs for a year; donors can choose the species they support. Gift shop and snack bar.
To DoBIRDING South Jersey is a birding hot spot, with thousands of acres of pristine marshland, meadows, and tidal wetlands that attract hundreds of species of native and migrating songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. For more information, contact the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (609-292-3541; www.njfishandwildlife.com) or the New Jersey Audubon Society (908-204-8998; www.njaudubon.org).
Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (609-463-0994), 197 Lighthouse Rd., Pennsville, contains 2,800 acres of protected tidal marsh and grassland along the Delaware and the Salem rivers. It’s considered a wetlands of international importance, where more than 250 species of local and migratory birds have been spotted. Large numbers of waterfowl feed and rest here during the spring and fall migrations. Sandpipers and other shorebirds frequent the area in summer. Bald eagles, ospreys, and others nest at the refuge, while hawks, kestrels, and owls hunt in the meadowland. Observation areas for wildlife viewing and photography.
Mannington Meadows Wildlife Refuge (609-292-2965), on Rt. 45 between Salem and Woodstown, is a rich habitat for local and migratory birds, including terns, swallows, ducks, and herons. In early spring, this is a good place to spot bald eagles.
In Parvin State Park (856-358-8616), on Rt. 540 in Pittsgrove, a boardwalk trail passes through a cedar swamp that’s good for spotting owls, thrushes, and springtime migrating warblers.
SUPAWNA MEADOWS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN PENNSVILLE, PRESERVES 2,800 ACRES OF TIDAL MARSHES ALONG THE DELAWARE RIVER ESTUARY, AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WETLANDS THAT IS A VITAL RESTING AND FEEDING STOP FOR THOUSANDS OF MIGRATING WATERFOWL AND SHOREBIRDS.
Photo courtesy of the Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
Harold N. Peek Preserve (856-825-9952), 2100 S. 2nd St., Rt. 47, Millville. Some 256 acres along the Maurice River, maintained by the Natural Lands Trust, include a variety of habitats, from scrubby pine forest to hardwood swamps and vast tracts of wild-rice marsh. The preserve is rich in wildlife, particularly ospreys, wild turkeys, bald eagles, great horned owls, and wintering waterfowl and raptors. A half-mile trail follows the river.
BOAT EXCURSION Three Forts Ferry (856-935-3218; 302-834-7941; www.threeforts.com), at Fort Mott State Park, 454 Fort Mott Rd., Pennsville. One-hour round-trip excursions; weekends and holidays, from late Apr. to late Sept.; Wed.–Fri., as well, mid-June–late Aug. Call or see Web site for a schedule. Adults $11; children $6. The Delafort takes history buffs on a tour of Delaware Bay’s 19th-century three-fort coastal defense system. Fort DuPont in Delaware and Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island, along with Fort Mott in New Jersey, were built to protect Delaware River ports after the Civil War. At the forts, visitors can watch authentic reenactments of Civil War scenes.
BOATING There are numerous public boat ramps in the Delaware Bay region, from the Delaware River and its tributaries to the many lakes and ponds that dot this vast rural area. Some charge a fee or require a New Jersey fishing license or boat ramp permit; it’s best to phone ahead. They include The Manumuskin River in Port Elizabeth off Rt. 47; Bridgeport Boat Yard (856-467-0943), 118 Ferry Rd., Bridgeport, on Raccoon Creek; and Pennsville Municipal Boat Ramp (856-678-3089), Riviera Dr., Pennsville, on the Delaware River. Penns Grove Wildlife Area (856-629-0090) in Oldmans Township has a 120-acre lake with five boat launches; Fortescue State Marina (856-447-5115) on Rt. 637 in Fortescue has a boat ramp on Delaware Bay.
Union Lake, off Rt. 49 in Millville, the state’s largest artificial, and southern New Jersey’s largest freshwater lake, is a popular destination for sailing and fishing, with two public boat launches.
FISHING Fortescue State Marina (856-447-5115; www.fortescue.com), on Rt. 637 in Fortescue, has a boat ramp on the bay. Most of the vessels docked here are charter boats or open (party) boats that take passengers fishing for blues, stripers, weakfish, and other species. Visit the Web site for comprehensive information on available boats, bait and tackle shops, marine services, fishing reports, launch ramps, and boat rentals.
Union Lake, off Rt. 49 in Millville. The Union Lake Wildlife Management Area surrounds this 898-acre lake, southern New Jersey’s largest freshwater lake and the largest artificial lake in the state. Most anglers come here for the smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as stripers and pickerel. Two public boat launches.
Menantico Sand Ponds Wildlife Management Area (609-292-2965), off Rt. 49 on the outskirts of Millville. Excellent fishing for largemouth bass and other species on a series of secluded small freshwater ponds and lakes at the head of the Menantico River. The state record for largemouth bass was recorded here 25 years ago. Public boat ramp.
Other prime fishing spots in South Jersey include Fort Mott State Park and Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, both in Pennsville; Fortescue Wildlife Management Area in Fortescue; Mad Horse Creek, a 5,826-acre tidal marsh on the Delaware River outside Hancocks Bridge; the Cohansey River in Bridgeton (there’s a boat ramp on East Broad St.); and Parvin Lake, Thundergust Lake, and Muddy Run, all in Parvin State Park in Pittsgrove.
BAYSHORE DISCOVERY PROJECT
(856-785-2060; 800-485-3072; www.ajmeerwald.org), 2800 High St., Bivalve. Daytime and evening public sails: Adults $30; seniors $25; children 12 and under, $15; special sails: adults $25; seniors $20; children 12 and under, $15. The authentically restored 1928 oyster schooner A. J. Meerwald, New Jersey’s official tall ship, is used by the Bayshore Discovery Project as a floating classroom to educate passengers on the maritime history and ecology of the Delaware Bay region. The majestic 115-foot ship harkens to the days when tall ships plied the waters of the bay in search of oysters. Day and evening sailing trips are staffed by a professional crew; passengers can help the crew set (raise) and furl (fold) the sails. Special programs include deck tours, lecture series, open-house events, birding sails, lighthouse cruises, and special cruises on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
GOLF Public 18-hole golf courses in South Jersey include Cohanzik Country Club (856-455-2122), 149 Fairton–Bridgeton Rd., Fairton; Holly Hills Golf Club (856-935-2412; www.hollyhillsgolf.com), 374 Friesberg Rd., Alloway; Centerton Golf Club (856-358-3325; www.centertoncc.com), 1016 Almond Rd., Pitts-grove; Wild Oaks Golf Club (856-935-0705; www.wildoaksgolfcourse.com), 75 Wild Oaks Dr., Salem; Maple Ridge Golf Club (856-468-3542), 1705 Glassboro Rd., Sewell; Beckett Country Club (856-467-4700; www.beckettgc.com), 2387 Old Kings Hwy., Woolwich Township.; Town and Country Golf Links (856-769-8333; www.tcgolflinks.com), 197 East Ave., Woodstown. All of these courses have a pro shop and a clubhouse with a restaurant or snack bar.
HIKING Parvin State Park (856-358-8616), 701 Almond Rd., Pittsgrove. Pick up a trail map at the park office before heading out on a hike (trails can be poorly marked), or ask about a schedule of guided hikes. More than 15 miles of trails wind through pine forest and swamp hardwood forest, including a 3.1-mile loop trail around Parvin Lake, short nature trails, and a mile-long trail circling Thundergust Lake. Other trails lace through a 465-acre natural area of cedar swamps, laurel thickets, and upland pine and oak forest, on the edge of the Pine Barrens.
SWIMMING Greenwich Lake Park (609-853-5120), Tomlin Station Rd., Gibbstown. A 20-acre lake with a swimming beach; lifeguards are on duty from mid-June–Labor Day.
Parvin State Park (856-358-8616), 701 Almond Rd., Pittsgrove. On Parvin Lake—the only lake in the park that allows swimming—there’s a beach at Parvin Grove that is staffed by lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There’s also a bathhouse, a first-aid station, and a concession stand that sells food and beach supplies. Picnic groves with tables and grills are near the beach.
Green SpaceWILDLIFE REFUGES One of the Delaware Bay region’s most prominent characteristics is its seemingly endless expanse of pristine tidal marshland, thousands of acres protected as wildlife management areas or nature preserves. Most are ideal for bird-watching, canoeing, and fishing, and some have hiking trails and observation areas (see also To Do—Birding). Keep in mind that during the summer, these marshy areas can be swarming with biting greenhead flies and deerflies; carry insect repellent and wear protective clothing. Some of the more notable areas include the following:
Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (609-463-0994), 197 Lighthouse Rd. (Rt. 632), Pennsville. A vast expanse of tidal wetlands along the Delaware and the Salem rivers that’s home to more than 250 species of birds, from waterfowl to migrating songbirds. Observation areas for photographers and birders; this area is also popular with hunters and anglers.
Egg Island Wildlife Management Area (856-629-0090), Maple St., Dividing Creek. Open daily dawn to dusk. A sizable expanse of windswept salt marsh laced with tidal creeks makes for excellent fishing, crabbing, and birding. Herons, marsh wrens, egrets, gulls, and wintering waterfowl love this wet habitat of tidal creeks and marsh surrounding a large pond. From the parking area, a footbridge leads to walking trails through the marsh.
Manumuskin River Preserve (609-861-0600), Schooner Landing Rd. (off Rt. 55), south of Millville. Open daily dawn to dusk. More than 3,500 acres of upland forest, tidal wetlands, mudflats, grassy meadows, and wild-rice stands, in the largest Nature Conservancy preserve in New Jersey. This pristine expanse is home to ospreys and bald eagles, and protects the largest concentration of rare joint vetch in the world, plus 30 other rare plant species. The remains of the 1790s settlement of Fries Mill are found in the preserve. Pick up the nature trail near the entrance at Schooner Landing Rd.
STATE PARKS Fort Mott State Park (856-935-3218), 454 Fort Mott Rd., Pennsville. Open daily 8 AM–dusk. A quiet 104-acre state park sits on the banks of the Delaware River where a post–Civil War military fort was built in anticipation of the Spanish-American War. Visitors can take a self-guided walking tour of the historic gun emplacements along the river, or ride the seasonal ferry to historic forts on the Delaware River (see Three Forts Ferry under To Do—Boat Excursion). The Finns Point Interpretive Trail is good for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; visitors head to the riverbank for fishing, crabbing, and picnicking. Finns Point National Cemetery (see To See—Historic Sites) contains the Civil War–era graves of 3,000 Confederate and Union soldiers (see page 278).
Parvin State Park (856-358-8616), 701 Almond Rd., Pittsgrove. A secluded state park on the edge of the Pine Barrens. Its 1,309 acres of pine forest surrounds picturesque Parvin Lake, with swimming, fishing, boating, and camping along the lakeshore (see Lodging—Campgrounds). The park was the site of several Native American encampments before Lemuel Parvin bought the land in 1796. He ran a sawmill on the banks of Parvin Lake, which he created by damming Muddy Run, the stream that flows through the park. During the Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps built cabins and campsites; many of these original structures remain. Hikers love the trails in the 400 acres of hardwood swamp and oak and pine forest, and the groves of holly trees that reach upward of 40 feet in height. Close to 200 species of birds pass through during the fall and spring migrations.
PARKS 
Riverview Beach Park (856-678-6777), Rt. 49, Pennsville. Open daily. An expansive tree-lined town park on the river, in view of the Delaware Bridge. Plenty of tables for picnicking, pathways for strolling, and benches along the river for resting.
Bridgeton City Park (856-455-3230), Mayor Aitken Dr., Bridgeton. A lovely 1,100 acre wooded city park, with canoeing, boating, and fishing on the Cohansey River. The Riverfront Promenade is lined with benches, lanterns, and brick walkways. Highlights include a museum of local industry, New Jersey’s first public zoo, and an authentically re-created 17th-century Swedish village that honors the region’s earliest settlers. A full schedule of free summertime concerts, theater, festivals, and family entertainment.
The Captain Buck Riverfront Park, Buck St., Millville. A pretty waterfront park named for Millville’s 18th-century founder, Revolutionary War veteran and Cumberland County sheriff Joseph Buck. The park’s 700-foot brick river walk invites strolling, the grounds are ideal for picnicking, and the downtown arts district is close by.
LodgingHOTEL 
Country Inn by Carlson (856-825-3100; 888-201-1746), 1125 Village Dr., Millville 08332. A no-frills hotel with standard amenities adjacent to Wheaton Village and the Museum of American Glass, and a short drive from Millville’s Glasstown Arts District. Guest rooms are clean and comfortable, with high-speed Internet access, TVs, and coffeemakers. A convenient place to stay when visiting Wheaton Village (see sidebar, page 281) or exploring the Delaware Bay region. The restaurant and lounge serve three meals. Continental breakfast. $75–100.
BED & BREAKFASTS Penny Royal Manor Bed and Breakfast (856-478-0236), 68 N. Main St., Mullica Hill 08062. A rose-colored Queen Anne–style Victorian at the heart of Mullica Hill’s historic downtown. Comfortable and cozy, with five antiques-filled guest rooms, some with private bath. An ideal base for exploring the plethora of antiques shops tucked along Main St. Full breakfast. $75 shared bath; $90 with private bath.
Victorian Rose Farm Bed and Breakfast (856-769-4600; www.victorianrosefarm.com), 947 Rt. 40, Woodstown 08098. A beautifully restored 1887 Victorian farmhouse on a 6-acre horse farm. The three guest rooms are decorated with period antiques, fresh flowers, and other thoughtful touches; they also have private bath, air-conditioning, and TV. A quaint shop in the property’s historic oak barn sells gifts and antiques. Full breakfast. $95–105.
CAMPGROUNDS Timberlane Campground (856-423-6677; www.timberlanecampground.com), 117 Timberlane Rd., Clarksboro 08020. Open year-round. Nearly 100 open and wooded sites for tents and RVs on 20 acres. Kids love the playground, batting cage, and game room; there’s also fishing, an outdoor pool, ball fields, and game courts. $34 and up.
Lake Kandle Campground (856-589-2158; www.lakekandle.com), 250 Chapel Heights Rd., Sewell 08080. Open mid-Apr.–early Oct. A private family campground and swim club with 150 sites on 25 acres. A pleasant sandy beach on a 10-acre spring-fed lake, which offers swimming, boating, fishing, and a rope swing. Swimming pools, boat rentals, game room, and organized sports are among the many activities. Sites $45.
Old Cedar Campground (856-358-4881; 800-582-3327; www.oldcedarcampground.com), 274 Rich-wood Rd., Monroeville 08343. Open mid-Mar.–Oct. A 180-acre working farm with domestic and wild animals. This is a family-friendly campground with lots of activities, from hayrides and tennis to horseshoes, swimming, and fishing. The 165 sites have full hookups. A camp store, laundry facilities, bathhouses, and other standard amenities. $25–55.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort at Tall Pines (856-451-7479; 800-252-2890; www.jellystonenj.com), 49 Beal Rd., Elmer 08318. Open Apr.–Nov. A large family-friendly campground with 262 sites on 113 acres. A full range of options, from swimming and fishing to volleyball and other planned activities. The rental cabins, cottages, lodges, and chalets are ideal for families—amenities vary, and might include kitchens, TVs, screened-in porches, and wood-burning fireplaces. Sites $25–56; other lodging $75–159.
Parvin State Park (856-358-8616), 701 Almond Rd., Pittsgrove. Open year-round. Jaggers Point Campground has 56 tent and trailer sites on the south shore of Parvin Lake, with shower and laundry facilities and a boat launch for campers’ use only. Four lakefront group tent sites, holding up to 25 campers each, are open Mar.–Nov. Cabins along the north shore of Thundergust Lake are available from Apr. to Oct., with a kitchen, a bathroom, a patio, and a living room with fireplace or wood-burning stove. Sites $20; cabins $45–65.
Where to EatDINING OUT blueplate (856-478-2112; www.blueplatenj.com), 47 S. Main St., Mullica Hill. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A friendly eatery at the heart of Mullica Hill’s antiques and shopping district, serving homey, satisfying American cuisine. It attracts locals, families with children, and out-of-town antiques hunters. Lunch is all about sandwiches. The dinner menu, which features offerings like mahimahi and handmade potato gnocchi, changes seasonally. Save room for the “chocolate sex on a plate” dessert specialty. $12–21.
Winfield’s (856-327-0909; www.winfieldsrestaurant.com), 106 N. High St., Millville. Open for dinner Tues.–Sun.; closed Mon. Reservations are recommended. In a region with few upscale dining options, this sophisticated eatery in Millville’s arts district stands out. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, and the tasteful contemporary décor in a century-old building lends an air of sophistication. Housed in a former Woolworth’s store, the restaurant is named for founder Frank Winfield Woolworth, whose stores were synonymous with 20th-century small-town America. The American-Continental menu is well prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients. Featured are chicken, beef, seafood, and creative pasta dishes. $17–31.
Port of Call (856-327-5547), 3280 Rt. 47, Millville. Open for lunch Mon.–Fri.; dinner daily; Sat. breakfast; Sun. brunch. Reservations suggested. A casual family restaurant with simple, well-prepared dishes, including freshly made soups and desserts. The changing themed dinner menus make this eatery stand out. One night might spotlight oysters and barbecue; other nights feature clam pie, chicken potpie, or prime rib. BYOB. $11–20.
Franklinville Inn (856-694-1577; www.franklinvilleinn.com), 2526 Delsea Dr., Franklinville. Open for dinner Tues.–Thurs., 4–9; Fri.–Sat., 4-10. The building originated in the 1700s as a stage coach stop hotel for Philadelphia-to-Cape May travelers. Today it’s a gem that’s a locals’ favorite for fine dining with a casual air of sophistication. The menu leans to steaks and seafood, but the quality is high and the service impeccable. $20–35.
Harrison House Diner and Restaurant (856-478-6077; www.harrisonhousediner.com), 98 N. Main Rd., at the corner of Rts. 45 and 322. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A bustling diner at an equally busy South Jersey crossroad is a local landmark. The original diner was traditional stainless steel; a brick façade was added to blend in with the nearby historic district. In true diner fashion, the extensive menu offers a little of everything: bacon, eggs, and hotcakes for breakfast; a Philly-style cheesesteak at lunch; for dinner, crabcakes or roast turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce. Breakfast and lunch $4–10; dinner $8–20.
Naples Pizzeria (856-478-6744), at The Old Mill Antique Mall, One S. Main St. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Nothing fancy, just well-prepared pizza-house fare: Sicilian- and Neapolitan-style pies, plus sandwiches, cheesesteaks, pasta dinners, calzones, and stromboli. A popular local spot that’s ideal for grabbing a quick meal. $5–15.
The Old Oarhouse Brewery (856-293-1200; www.oldoarhousebrewery.com), 123 N. High St. Open daily for lunch and dinner. A friendly, neighborhood Irish pub–style eatery in a circa-1883 building. The menu of traditional tavern fare is accompanied by an extensive selection of microbrews. The soups are homemade. Try the fish-and-chips or the crabcake sandwich. Generous and hearty portions. Very busy on weekends, with live entertainment on Thurs.–Sat. nights. $10–21.
The Looking Glass Coffeehouse and Café (856-327-1666), 16 N. High St. Open Mon.–Sat.; closed Sun. A friendly and funky coffeehouse a block from City Hall in Millville’s arts district. Original artwork on the walls, live music, and cozy couches invite relaxation and lingering over the paper. A light menu of creative salads, sandwiches, burgers, and wraps at lunchtime. $5–10.
Ike’s Famous Crab Cakes (856-825-2722; 888-302-2722), 5064 Rt. 49. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended. This is the flagship restaurant and main production facility for Ike’s homemade crabcakes, lobster cakes, Cajun tuna bites, and garlic swordfish bites that are shipped around the country. This no-frills nautically themed seafood restaurant also offers steak, pasta, and chicken; a good place to bring the kids. Satellite locations along the Jersey shoreline. $12–20.
Swede’s Inn (856-467-2052; www.swedesinn.com), 1301 Kings Hwy., Swedesboro. Open for dinner Mon.–Thurs., 4–midnight; Sat., 4 PM–2 AM; Sun., 3–10; lunch and dinner Fri., 11:30–2 AM. Built in 1771 as a tavern, you can still find evidence of this Colonial style building’s original hand-pegged construction and historic features. The inn offers two dining options—a small, formal dining room and a café for casual, family dining with décor highlighted by large plate glass windows from a 1950’s car showroom. Dining room offerings include steaks, scallops, and salmon. Café dining runs to appetizers, salads and quesadillas. A lively bar scene is augmented by live music on Thurs.–Sat. $20–35 dining room; $5–11 café.
SNACKS Mirenda’s Bakery (856-478-6800), 19B South Main St., Mullica Hill. Open Tues.–Fri. 8–5; Sat. 8–4; closed Sun. Homemade baked goods—from breads and rolls to cakes, pies, cookies, and brownies—in a charming barn-style building tucked off Church St.
Edible Art and Sweet Shoppe (856-825-2882), 226 North High St., Millville. Open Thurs.–Tues. 8–8; closed Wed. A little shop across from the historic Levoy Theater, with a tempting selection of pastries and other delicious treats.
EntertainmentARTS CENTER Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts (856-327-4500; www.riverfrontcenter.org), 22 N. High St., Millville. The gallery is open Mon.–Thurs. 11–5; Fri. 11–8; Sat. 11–7; Sun. 11–5. This light and airy gallery is the centerpiece of the Glasstown Arts District. Solo and group shows feature emerging and established regional artists working in contemporary and traditional fine art and sculpture. Art classes for adults in many disciplines, and painting for kids. Every third Friday, the gallery stays open late, and visitors can meet the current exhibit’s artist.
MUSIC AND THEATER Bay-Atlantic Symphony (856-451-1169; www.bayatlanticsymphony.org) is a Bridgeton-based regional professional orchestra that performs at several South Jersey venues, including Stockton Performing Arts Center (609-652-9000; www.intraweb.stockton.edu/pac) at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in Pomona, and Guaracini Performing Arts Center (856-692-8499; www.cccnj.net/fpac) at Cumberland County College in Vineland.
Off Broad Street Players (856-451-5437; www.obsponline.org), P.O. Box 283, Bridgeton 08302. An amateur community theater group that performs a full schedule of Broadway shows, musicals, dramas, comedies, dinner-theater productions, and holiday performances.
Selective ShoppingOld Mill Antique Mall (856-478-9810), One S. Main St. (Rts. 45 and 322). Open daily 11–5. A 50-dealer coop selling antiques and collectibles on three floors. A diverse selection of furniture, china, jewelry, vintage clothing, glass, toys, and textiles.
King’s Row Antique Center (856-478-4361), 46 N. Main St. (Rt. 77). Open daily 11–5. Seven dealers selling furniture, china, glass, decorative items, and linens.
The Yellow Garage Antiquities Marketplace (856-478-0300; www.yellowgarageantiques.com), 66 S. Main St. Open Wed.–Sun. 11–5. Set in a converted circa-1922 bus station, this is a collection of 35 dealers selling everything from Bakelite and toys to furniture and glass.
APPEL FARM ARTS AND MUSIC CENTER
(856-358-2472; 800-394-1211; www.appelfarm.org), 457 Shirley Rd., Elmer. In 1960, musicians Clare and Albert Appel converted their 176-acre farm into a summer arts camp for children. In nearly five decades, it has evolved into a multidisciplinary regional arts center, with year-round art classes and workshops. The grounds reflect the center’s artistic spirit, with large-scale outdoor sculptures and whimsical murals covering the buildings. Saturday matinees for families; magic, comedy, and drama; and folk music, blues, and country music in the 250-seat Clare Rostan Appel Theatre. An arts and music festival is held every June (see Special Events).
The Front Porch Antiques (856-478-6556; www.thefrontporchantiques.com), 21 S. Main St. Open Fri.–Sun. 11–5 or by appointment. Antique furniture and accessories on display in a 19th-century farmhouse.
The antique center of Repaupo, a tiny community just east of the Delaware River, is a well-kept secret. Three auction companies here draw dealers and collectors from Canada to Florida to the huge Sun.–Tues. auctions held twice a month in sprawling warehouses. Thousands of antiques and collectibles trade hands during marathon all-day (and sometimes all-night) sessions. The auctions are haunted by dealers, but the public is welcome to participate in the frenetic business of peddling history. Many of the pieces found in antiques shops on the eastern seaboard passed through here. S&S Auction (856-467-3778; www.ssauction.com) and South Jersey Auction (856-467-4834; www.southjerseyauction.com) are on Repaupo Station Rd. in Repaupo. Dutch Auction Sales (609-423-6800; www.dutchauctionsales.com) is at 356 Swedesboro Ave. in Mickleton.
Treasures on High (856-825-3336), 204 N. High St. Open Wed.–Sat. Antiques, collectibles, and consignments.
ART GALLERIES Treen Studio Pottery Shoppe (856-223-2626; www.treenstudio.com), at The Mews, 43 S. Main St., Mullica Hill. Fine pottery, functional stoneware, and decorative glass. Open Wed.–Sun. 10–4.
Glasstown Arts District (856-0556; 800-887-4957; www.glasstownartsdistrict.com), Millville. Millville’s historic arts district near the riverfront is home to nearly 20 galleries, some with regular hours, others only open to the public during the regular third-Friday events or by appointment. CCIA Gallery (856-825-3700), at the corner of Main and High Sts., is open Mon.–Fri. 9–5; Clay College (856-765-0988), 108 N. High St., is a ceramics studio gallery open Mon.–Sat. Fath Gallery (856-825-0678), 120 N. High St., features the work of regional artists. Open Mon.–Fri. 9–4:30.
BOOKSTORES Murphy’s Loft (856-478-4928), 53 N. Main St., Mullica Hill. Open Wed.–Sat. 11–5; Sun. 1–5. Used, out-of-print, and collectible books; magazines, maps, and prints.
Wind Chimes Book Exchange (856-327-3714), 210 N. High St., Millville. Open Mon.–Sat. 10–5; closed Sun. New and used books.
Debra’s Dolls (856-478-9778; www.debrasdolls.com), 20 N. Main St. Open Thurs.–Sat. noon–4; other times by appointment. A charming shop in Mullica Hill’s oldest house, the circa-1704 Mullica House, featuring vintage, antique, and collectible dolls, plus several lines of new dolls and accessories.
Dutch Neck Village (856-451-2188; www.dutchneckvillage.com) 97 Trench Rd. Open Mon.–Sat. 10–5. Some shops open on Sunday; call for hours. A Colonial-style village of quaint shops and a café linked by brick walkways through landscaped grounds. Two small museums depict the area’s rural early 20th-century farm life, with farming tools, World War II–era memorabilia, and local Native American artifacts. The village hosts special events and festivals throughout the year.
By Our Hand (856-455-7693), 781 Shiloh Pike (Rt. 49). Open Tues.–Sat. 11–5; closed Sun. and Mon. A unique shop of handmade folk art, much of it created by owner-artist Alesia Farside.
Rusty Heart (856-825-3002), 118 N. High St. Open Tues.–Sun. 10–6; closed Mon. Antiques, unique gifts, vintage jewelry, and dolls.
Secret Garden (856-825-3002), 116 N. High St. Open Tues.–Fri. 10–6; Sat. 10–5. Unique art and decorative accessories for the garden.
FARM MARKETS Cumberland County’s Web site (www.co.cumberland.nj.us) includes a comprehensive list of the farms and produce markets that line roadsides all over South Jersey. They offer fresh Jersey produce in-season, which is May to Oct. in this region. Some have a unique specialty, such as fresh cider or eggs, local honey, organic produce, or pick-your-own strawberries—others seem to sell a little of everything.
Heritage Station (856-589-4474; www.heritagestationwine.com), 480 Mullica Hill Rd. (Rt. 322). Open daily 8–6. A popular South Jersey farm market in an attractive barnlike building. Since 1850, five generations of the Heritage family have run Heritage Farm. Fresh produce includes peaches, pears, apples. A wide variety of home-baked goods, gourmet spreads, crafts, plants, and wines (see To See—Winery). Seasonal events like 5-acre corn maze, and pick-your-own.
Bridgeton Farmer’s Market (856-455-3230), at the downtown Bridgeton waterfront, all summer on Fri. from 10 to 2. Local fruits and vegetables, honey, cut flowers, herbs, jams, and fresh crabs for sale.
Marlboro Farm Market and Garden Center (856-451-3138), 601 Rt. 49. Open daily year-round. In the market, fresh produce and flowers, jams, jellies, honey, and apple cider. In the nursery, bedding plants, shrubs, trees, and hanging baskets.
Adamucci Farms (856-451-4069), 152 Trench Rd. Self-service produce market open daily July–Nov. A fruit farm specializing in apples, peaches, and nectarines.
Andy’s Countryside Farm Market (856-447-5251), 939 Ramah Rd., Millville. Open May–Oct., daily 9–7. Sweet corn, tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelon, and Jersey honey. Call ahead for a tour of the farm.
Fralinger’s Cider Mill (856-455-0447), 24 Sheppards Mill Rd., Hopewell Township. Open Sept.–Dec., daily dawn to dusk. Freshly pressed apple cider made daily.
PICK-YOUR-OWN FARMS You can pick your own strawberries at the following farms in-season, usually mid-May through June: In Rosenhayn, at Bisconte Farm (856-455-3405) and Sparacio’s Strawberry Farm (856-451-4142); in Newport, at Woodbridge Farm (856-447-4724), 100 Back Rd. You can pick blueberries at Lebanon Creek Farm (856-459-9428) in Rosenhayn in July and Aug. In the fall you can take a hayride and pick pumpkins at Marlboro Farm Market (856-451-3138) in Bridgeton. It’s recommended that you phone ahead to check field conditions and availability.
FLEA MARKET Cowtown Flea Market (856-769-3200), 780 Rt. 40, Wood-stown. Open Tues. and Sat. 8–4. “You name it, we sell it,” goes the saying at this popular South Jersey flea market and farmer’s market, with more than 550 vendors. Weekend regulars like to shop at the market during the day, then catch the Saturday-night rodeo, a tradition since 1929 (see To See—Rodeo).
Special EventsFebruary: Cumberland County Winter Eagle Festival (856-453-2177) Mauricetown Firehall, Noble St., Mauricetown.
April: Farm Day (856-455-4055; www.cchistsoc.org), Mauricetown Historical Society, Mauricetown.
May: Antiques Street Fair (856-881-6800), Mullica Hill.
June: Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival (800-394-1211; www.appelfarm.org), Appel Farm Arts and Music Center, Elmer. A day-long outdoor concert on two stages, as well as a crafts fair and children’s village. Delaware Bay Day Festival (856-785-2060), Port Norris, Bivalve, and Shellpile. A festival held in historic fishing villages along the Delaware Bay and the Maurice River. Highlights include a boat parade, an oyster-shucking contest, crab races, and family activities. Strawberry Festival (856-451-2188), Dutch Neck Village, Bridgeton. A celebration centering on strawberry-laden treats. Cumberland County Weakfish Tournament (856-447-5115), various locations. For nearly 20 years, thousands of anglers have participated in this popular competition. Bridgeton Folk Festival (856-451-9208; 800-319-3379), Sunset Lake, Bridgeton. Nationally known musicians, arts and crafts, and food.
July: Cumberland County Fair (856-825-3820; www.cumberlandcofair.com), Cumberland County Fairgrounds, Millville. Farm machinery, pony rides, tractor pull, petting zoo, 4-H exhibits, live music, and fireworks. Gloucester County Fair (856-478-2708), Rt. 77, Mullica Hill, with the New Jersey Peach Festival, 4-H exhibits, children’s rides, crafts show, horse shows, and other animal shows.
August: Midsummer Antiques and Collectibles Show (856-825-6800), Wheaton Village, Millville. More than 80 dealers in glass, furniture, china, linens, and other collectibles. Peaches N’ Cream Festival (856-451-2188), Dutch Neck Village, Bridgeton. A harvest celebration for more than 20 years. Market Street Day (856-935-7510; www.marketstreetday.com), Salem. Rides, children’s entertainment, antique car show, live music, crafts, and food vendors. Salem County Fair (856-769-0414; www.salemcountyfair.com), Salem County Fairgrounds, Woodstown. Live music, pig races, and the popular ladies’ skillet throw are among the activities at this traditional fair. Downtown Car Show (856-825-2600), Millville. Hundreds of antique and classic cars in the downtown arts district.
Labor Day Weekend: Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival (302-475-3454; www.delawarevalleybluegrass.org), Salem County Fairgrounds, US 40, Woodstown. One of the top blue-grass festivals on the East Coast. Country, bluegrass, fiddling, and banjo playing.
September: Cumberland County Sportsman’s Jamboree (856-692-3041), Union Rd. and Rt. 49, Maurice River Township. A 2-day festival with archery, skeet shooting, dog retrieving, turkey calling, activities for children, seminars on hunting, and an auction.
October: Festival of Fine Craft (856-825-6800), Wheaton Village, Millville. Fall Festival (856-451-2188), Dutch Neck Village, Bridgeton. South Jersey Pumpkin Show (856-765-0118; www.sjpumpkinshow.com), Cumberland County Fairgrounds, Millville. Contests for the largest pumpkin and best Halloween costumes, petting zoo, and pumpkin bake-off among the many fun events. Fall Open House and Civil War Reenactment (856-881-6800), Mullica Hill. Civil War–era military encampment, fashion show of historic clothing, family activities, tours, and a vintage-car show.
December: Christmas Candlelight Tour (856-785-0457), Mauricetown Historical Society, Mauricetown. Christmas House Tour (856-881-6800), Main St., Mullica Hill. A tour of historic homes decorated for the holidays. Walk of Lights (856-451-2188), Dutch Neck Village, Bridgeton. Soul of the Season Celebration (856-293-0556), Glasstown Arts District, Millville. Holiday music, Dickens actors, horse-and-carriage rides, entertainment, and fireworks.