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The Jersey Shore and More

The Jersey Shore is full of surprises. It’s well-known for its wide beaches and busy boardwalks, but it also has working farmlands and quiet marshes. It played a pivotal role in the founding of the United States, where battles were fought for our freedom – and later, as a place for brave souls seeking freedom in the north. Here, you’ll find great, unique drinks and live music that’s made a global impact. See why the Jersey Shore is a Place to Love.

PLACES AND STORIES TO LOVE

Cape May - Jersey Shore - Places to Love

Cape May’s Emlen Physick Estate

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.

Did you know?

The earliest advertisements for tourism in the area date back to 1750!

CONTACT

The Emlen Physick Estate
1048 Washington St
Cape May, NJ 08204

Cape May - Jersey Shore - Places to Love - Harriet Tubman Museum

Harriet Tubman Museum of Cape May

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.

If You Go

Spend some time with The Journey To Freedom, a bronze sculpture by the artist Wesley Wofford.

ADDRESS

The Harriet Tubman Museum
632 Lafayette Street
Cape May, NJ 08204

Places to Love - Bird Migration - Jersey Shore

The Wetlands Institute

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.

DID YOU KNOW?

People think of marshes as pretty background in their pictures, however, they play an integral role in protecting the area from hurricanes and super storms by absorbing waves and energy.

ADDRESS

Wetland Institute
1075 Stone Harbor Blvd
Stone Harbor, NJ, 08247
609.368.1211

jersey shore - places to love - organic farming

Beach Plum Farm

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.

Fun Fact

Though the farm is 62 acres, only seven of it is farmed! The other acreage is protected marsh, which helps in bringing in great pollinators and animals.

Address

Beach Plum Farm
140 Stevens Street
West Cape May, NJ 08204
(609) 459-0121

source taproom - places to love - jersey shore

Source Farmhouse Brewery

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.

If you go

Be prepared for a variety of styles—from classic German lagers to impactful sours and IPAs. The only rule Source follows is that ingredients should come from the region.

ADDRESS

Source Brewing
300 Route 34
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 
(732) 431-2337

jersey shore - places to love -battlefield

Monmouth Battlefield State Park

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.

IF YOU GO

Tours The Friends of Monmouth Battlefield offer guided hiking tours monthly and self-guided tours of the battlefield. While strolling the grounds, visitors can learn more about the battle through wayside exhibits located on Perrine Hill, Combs Hill and along the trails throughout the Battlefield.

Contact

Monmouth Battlefield State Park
20 State Route 33
Manalapan, NJ 07726

The Stone Pony - Asbury Park New Jersey

The Stone Pony

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.

IF YOU GO

The Stone Pony opened its doors on Feb. 8, 1974. See who’s playing here.

ADDRESS

The Stone Pony 
913 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
732-502-0600

asbury park - new jersey - places to love

Transparent Clinch Gallery

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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The Jersey Shore is full of surprises. It's well-known for its wide beaches and busy boardwalks, but it also has working farmlands and quiet marshes. It played a pivotal role in the founding of the United States, where battles were fought for our freedom - and later, as a place for brave souls seeking freedom in the north. Here, you’ll find great good, unique drinks and live music that’s made a global impact. See why the Jersey Shore is a Place to Love.

Fun fact

One of Clinch’s first photography subjects was Cindy Lauper, who he photographed early in her career after sneaking into the Stone Pony.

ADDRESS

Transparent Clinch Gallery
210 5th Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
(908) 574-3171

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