My first stop on the Jersey Shore is one of the country’s oldest vacation destinations: Cape May. This area is known for its concentration of Victorian architecture. One of the most notable properties? The Emlen Physick Estate. On my trip, I met with Ben Ridings, the estate’s curator. The Emlen Physick Estate, which was slated for demolition in the 1960s, is one of the best preserved versions. Built in 1879, the 18-room mansion is an architectural wonder built by famed American architect Frank Furness and is one of the best examples of Victorian Stick Style architecture in the country.

While Cape May is known as a vacation destination, it also plays an important role in the Civil War due largely to one of its most notable residents: Harriet Tubman. Tubman came to Cape May in the early 1850s to earn money that ultimately funded her voyages on the Underground Railroad.  I met with museum president Lynda Anderson Towns, who grew up here learning the African American history of the area through stories her grandparents told.

Did you know the Jersey Shore in an international bird migration route? Birds venturing as far away as Tiera Del Fuego and the arctic circle pass through this area annually. That migration is why the Wetlands Institute was established in 1969 by the then executive director of WWF, Herbert Mills. I met with science journalist and Wetlands Institute Communications Specialist Devin Griffiths to learn about this incredible place.

New Jersey is called the Garden State, and it’s easy to see why in West Cape May. It is a grower’s paradise. Here, you’ll find barns, produce, livestock, everything. I met up with Christina Albert, the Director of Agriculture at Beach Plum Farm. This piece of property has been a farm since the 1600s. Today, it’s one of many organic farms with a commitment to sustainability.

There’s a lot of talk about food being farm to table, but at Source Brewery, it’s all about farm to glass. I met with owner and brewer Phil Petracca to talk about his approach to brewing. Set in a restored historic farmhouse, visitors are welcomed in to experience what Phil calls the beer-drinking trifecta: great beer, great environment, and a great staff.

As one of the original colonies, New Jersey is a small state with a big history. You can learn a lot about that at Monmouth Battlefield State Park.  I met with Dr. David Martin, a historian who explained just how significant this site was during the Revolutionary War.

It’s one of the most legendary music venues in the states: Asbury Park’s Stone Pony. On my visit, I met up with Southside Johnny, aka The Godfather of the New Jersey Shore Sound, to learn more about this venue and the Jersey music scene. Long before the Stone Pony, Southside Johnny, and Springsteen, Asbury Park was known for its music scene—largely because it was a vacation destination, and people love entertainment on vacation.

The only job that may be as cool as being a rockstar is photographing rockstars. Enter Danny Clinch, a musician and photographer whose client list runs the gamut. He describes his Transparent Clinch Gallery as part artist gallery, part living room, showcasing some of music’s biggest names.

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