Special Notice

I have kind of semi-retired on my traveling and going to science fiction and space events.
Therefore, I have limited most of my travels to within Camden County and Burlington County, NJ and Bucks County, PA.
As for SF cons and space events, I am mainly going to Philcon.
If you read my past publications and blogs, you can see that I have traveled through much of the USA and Canada as well as going overseas--especially to England.  I have also gone to many different kinds of science fiction conventions and space exploration events.
Nevertheless, if something special happens outside of these counties, I will attend  that event.
I will not fully retire!

Audubon Crossings

     Thursday, July 18, 2023: I was born in Audubon, Camden County, New Jersey in a small hospital. (In later years, those in power tore down the building and built a new building that became an insurance company. Then, early in the 21st century, it became a medical building again.) Anyway, I grew up in Clementon, NJ. Therefore, the only memories I have of Audubon as a child were when my parents drove through Audubon on Route 30, the White Horse Pike, and they would point out the hospital as they drove by—or in later years, where it once was; and the other memory was more clear to me: taking me to the Black Horse Pike Shopping Center. This outdoor mall opened in 1960, and I remembered the anchor stores being Korvettes, Penny’s, and Woolworth’s. In addition, there were plenty of smaller stores and a good deli. Through the years, different stores replaced many of the original stores, and in 2005, the new owners demolished this shopping center. Then a little later, another shopping center replaced it: Audubon Crossings, 130 Black Horse Pike, Route 168, Audubon (610-277-8899). On the date above, I visited here, and at first glance, it seemed like a shadow of its former self in looks. Instead of an outdoor shopping mall, it currently has been a U-shaped strip mall with Walmart located in the bottom of the U. The large parking lot (car park) filled in the center of the U-shape. As I took a closer look, I saw the following big discount stores on one side: Goodwill, Five Below, Marshall’s, and Ross—among a few other businesses. (At least in my mind they are honest discount stores—not outlet stores pretending to sell designer clothes!) On the other side, I looked at Lane Bryant, Rainbow, and a few others, along with some restaurants: two Asian restaurants, one pizza place, and a few fast food places. I did find a few bargains and had a good lunch in one of the Asian restaurants. Thus, I’d suggest giving this place a chance.  

Clementon Park

      Monday, July 17, 2023: I grew up in Clementon, Camden County, New Jersey, and I lived there from 1956 to ’74. (My parents moved from Philadelphia, PA to Clementon, NJ in 1950.) Last year, I visited Clementon Park, 144 Berlin Road, Clementon (856-783-0263), and I wrote about it in my blog article, “Early Childhood Places,” June 29, 2022. In that article, I compared the town of Clementon and Clementon Park in the 1960s and early ‘70s to last year. Currently, I planned to mention what I learned about the park on this trip. Similar to last year, the admission included both the amusement park and the water park, and both parks were small enough to visit in one day if you stayed most of the day. (The park provides lockers.) For the few hours I was there, I visited the amusement park, but because it was hot & humid that day, most people went to the water park. Therefore, it seemed like I almost had this part of the park to myself. First, I had to surrender my umbrella—and pick it up again on the way out. (I use an umbrella to protect me from the sun. If you need protection, put on some sunblock.) Once inside, I noticed that park employees were still testing the amusement rides, and it was getting close to an early lunchtime, so I had lunch. The prices here were a bit high and you could not bring in outside food. People on a budget, however, could get their hands stamped for re-entry to the park, get their food in their cars, and either eat near or in the car or go to the nearby exterior picnic area where the park provided tables under pavilions. (Thank goodness! Parking is free.) As for the details about the parks themselves, I covered that in “Early Childhood Places.” Anyway, on the date above, I did pretty much what I did the year before: road a few rides and looked around.    

Carnival Of Collectables

      Wednesday, July 12, 2023: A few years ago, I visited Carnival of Collectables, 368 Berlin-Cross Keys Road, Suite B, Sicklerville, Camden County, New Jersey (856-545-3187). Back then, this store in a warehouse had shelves of collectable items. Since then, this place has won awards as the best of Southern NJ by the readers of the Courier Post for six years as the best antique shop and best consignment/resale shop. Therefore, I had to see this place again. In these 12,000 square feet that contained over 130 vendors, I saw quite a change from the last time. Here I noticed antiques and collectables in a much better presentation. Each vendor had decorated his or her space to look more like individual rooms. I’ve said this about other antique malls before, but it has been especially true about this place: “It reminded me of a decorative arts museum, except that this art was for sale!” The merchandise dated from the 1800s into the 1980s and included some of the following items: fine arts, decorative arts, and furniture, as well as clothing, toys, household goods, books, jewelry, vinyl records, CDs, video tapes, DVDs, games, holiday decorations, lunch kits, etc. During certain times of the year, they played host to special events. Believe me, I am sure you will find something to buy here, and you will also spend much time browsing in these many isles as well. (Being a science fiction [SF] fan, I found some SF items, especially about Star Trek and Star Wars.) 

Collingswood Farmers' Market

      Saturday, July 8, 2023: Collingswood, Camden County, New Jersey has been very familiar to me because my parents used to take me shopping here once in a while when I was a child, and for a few years in the 1980s, I lived in Collingswood. Nowadays, every so often, I liked walking around this downtown along Haddon Avenue. This part of Haddon Avenue included a lively shopping district, and Collingswood also has had its share of culture, nightlife, and special events year round. One of those special events happened rain or shine on Saturdays from May through November: Collingswood Farmers’ Market, along Atlantic Avenue from Collings Avenue to Irwin Avenue (856-701-0358). When I was there, I saw close to 50 vendors selling many kinds of foods, especially produce. Most of it grew on local farms, but for some of the foods, the local farmers imported it from other areas. (You try growing tropical fruit in NJ’s climate!) In addition, other vendors sold baked goods, dairy, and meats, as well as pastas, herbs & spices, and some non-edible merchandise. I even found some produce that I couldn’t find in my local supermarkets. Meanwhile, I heard a local band playing at one end on the market. Overall, it all looked colorful and fresh, and if you planned to be in this area, check it out for yourself.    

Cape May Point State Park

     Thursday, July 6, 2023: Earlier on this date, I had visited two other Cape May County, New Jersey towns: Cape May and West Cape May. The first town was a fancy Victorian-styled shore-resort town, and the second was a farming community. Cape May Point, however, was lower keyed, but my favorite place here was Cape May Point State Park, Lighthouse Avenue (609-884-2159). This time I experienced nature, but first, I noticed the nearby lighthouse, the Cape May Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse has been opened to the public, but I chose not to climb the 199 stairs to the top—even if the views were great. Instead, I entered the park’s visitor center and nature center/museum. Inside, I learned a bit about the human history of the area via pictures, texts, and some exhibits—especially about the local Native Americans, the Lenni-Lenapes. Anyway, I became more informed about the natural history of the area as I saw more texts, pictures, and exhibits of the local flora and fauna. Another area had an exhibit about the “Cape May Diamonds.” These clear quartz stones could be found on the beaches around here, and some jewelers cut them into diamond settings for rings, earrings, and pins, as well as necklaces, bracelets, etc. Overall, this place was a good introduction to going outside and seeing the nearby nature yourself as you could walk the walkways & trails and the beaches. This place also offered chances to go surf fishing and picnicking at the southern-most place in NJ!    

Beach Plum Farm

     Thursday, July 6, 2023: After seeing Cape May, New Jersey in all if its Victorian glory with its beach and other seaside delights, I traveled to another Cape May County town: West Cape May. Unlike Cape May, West Cape May was a mostly farming community that included different farm markets, but the one I visited looked the most interesting: the Beach Plum Farm, 140 Stevens Street (609-459-0121). While this place rented cottages for a steep price for those who wanted a “farming vacation,” they also catered to day trippers. I chose the latter option. Here the owners wanted to help the public to learn more about the foods they were eating, especially the produce and eggs from this farm. They have a restaurant with a limited menu, or one could browse and buy at their farm market. I decided to browse and shop. On two floors, I noticed their selection of housewares & gifts, and for edible merchandise, their produce, eggs, and meats. This place also sold plenty of packaged foods in the form of boxed, bagged, and jarred foods grown and made at other farms as well as at this farm. After I bought a few items, I did a self-tour of the grounds with its gardens of flowers, produce, and herbs & spices. I also saw some chickens running freely. Some people signed up for the guided tours for a price. Nevertheless, it made for a nice contrast to Cape May! Overall, there is room for both kinds of daytrips near the NJ Shore.

Cape May

      Thursday, July 6, 2023: I have visited the town of Cape May in Cape May County, New Jersey for much of my life! As a child in the 1960s, my parents would take my brothers and me to the beach, and in the ‘70s, my parents and I would visit my aunt who owned a bed & breakfast house there. During those years, I would walk along the Promenade (the former boardwalk) and browse at the shops on Beach Avenue that ran parallel to the Promenade-- and sometimes buy a few things, as well as play at the arcades and sometimes get a snack. As America’s oldest seaside resort, Cape May didn’t have amusement rides or games of chance like Wildwood, but into the 1980s and ‘90s, when I visited as an adult, I did get to see more of what made Cape May unique: the Victorian-Gothic buildings in all their bright pastel colors. One of the best ways to get a better look has been to take the trolley tours. For more information, contact the following: Cape May MAC (Museums, Arts, and Culture), 1048 Washington Street (609-884-5404). In addition to its Victorian buildings, promenade, and beach, Cape May also has had a few museums, a nature center, and chances to go fishing & crabbing, as well as a convention center, some nightlife, and a few theaters. On the date above, I visited the Sunset Pavilion located at either the beginning or end of the Promenade on Beach Avenue in the southern-most part of Cape May for some great views of the beach and ocean. Throughout the year, the town has played host to different events for the whole family. Before Atlantic City replaced it as the number one attraction in NJ, as far back as the early 1800s, Cape May was the place to visit in NJ.