HAMMONTON: if you look at a map of NJ, you will notice a large section in South Jersey bathed in…read moregreen. That is Wharton State Forest, a gorgeous section of the Pine Barrens full of history, rumored to be where the Jersey Devil roams, and is a great spot to spend time in nature hiking 50 miles of trails, boating from launches on various rivers, bird and wildlife viewing, camping spots, and learning about NJ's past at the Batsto Village historic site. The land was used by the Lenape in prehistoric times and the village dates back to 1766! Batsto Village was an iron and glassmaking community and many of the buildings still stand today including the mansion, grist mill, saw mill, post office, housing, and over 30 buildings in total. There are walking paths to each building and if the door is open, you are welcome to go inside and take a look. Check out the peaceful views of Batsto Lake and the visitor center that features a museum and gift shop. We really enjoyed the Maple Sugaring Day event hosted by Wharton State Forest and Stockton University where they showed us how to turn sugar maple tree sap into syrup. There are sugar maple trees throughout the Batsto and Stockton properties that are tapped to collect sap in buckets and then boiled to make the delicious sweet maple syrup. We saw the tubing system used in a patch of trees to collect the sap and even had a sample; it tastes deliciously like lightly sweetened water. The syrup's end product was so fresh and delicious too. You can buy a bottle of maple syrup in the gift shop. Leashed dogs are allowed and we saw quite a few enjoying a walk amongst the picturesque and sprawling property. There is a small fee to enter the village from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and free admission the rest of the year.

I went for my first time over the weekend & I really enjoyed it! It was just a short 30 min drive…read morefrom where I live near the shore, & I would do it again. If you love history & nature, this is the perfect place, because this village started in 1766!! It's located in Hammonton, NJ in the Wharton State Forest with hiking trails, camping spots, open fields, & picnic benches for a nice forest bath. Take a journey to the past by exploring the Visitor's Center that has a museum & gift shop before venturing out around the historic village. You can sign up for guided mansion & walking tours for a fee, but we just walked around on our own for free. The gift shop also sells water & snacks, but there's also a food truck in the parking lot with hot dogs & Italian sandwiches for sale. This time of year is perfect because it was mosquito free with a nice crisp to the air that made walking around so enjoyable! They're also doing an antique, glass & bottle show on 5/19 with wagon rides available for a great family activity!

Another hidden garden in a part of the city with a bunch of cute gardens. It's enclosed with a…read morewell-maintained patch of grass, some (uncomfortable) metal benches, and a fountain in one corner. It's quiet, cozy, serene, and I love coming here with the dog for a quick time-out when I work from home. The few downsides are that it only has one entrance, and it locks up at night. :(

A house hidden in a…read more house The Thomas Shinn House was originally built waaaay back in 1712. A very primitive English cabin built of roughly cut logs. Nothing fancy about this place. The cool part is that it was actually hidden and part of another house that was built much later. The Shinn House wasn't discovered until the new and much larger house was demolished in 1967. Of course the Shinn House was bought by the Mt Holly Historical Society and moved from it's original location on Water Street to it's present home on Park Drive, right behind the town hall. Unfortunately the old cabin isn't open to the public and you really can't see in the windows. That's too bad because it must be fascinating inside. However just walking around it and seeing the rough and tiny place is amazing enough. I wonder what it must have been like to raise a family in this tiny and crude home. And why was the newer house just built around the little cabin. I'll probably know but it is an incredible cool and historical house located in a town that is just full of surprises.

Wonderful site educating and celebrating NJ history. Handicap friendly. Tour guide was…read moreincredible 5/31 @ 1300. I don't recall his name but he was awesome. Friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating to those with special needs. I will definitely visit again to learn more.

Atsion Village and Mansion is one of the best kept secrets in South Jersey. The mansion itself is…read morevery well preserved, and you can take tours of it on the weekend in the summer. Many people do not know about the furnace/iron industry in South Jersey that thrived in the early 19th Century, and you can come here to learn all about it. Our tour guide was 80 years old and lived in the area her whole life. She knew EVERYTHING about the history of Atsion, and we both loved listening to her talk. The park service officer who greeted us in the historic general store also filled us in about the history of the village. The cemetery and church are really cool, too. You can combine your visit with lying on the beach on the lake, too.

I stopped in here without knowing exactly what it is. I just saw that it was open and I walked in…read more When you do walk in here be mindful of the door as it does not close by itself. You will have to pull it closed while turning the doorknob. If you don't do this, the employee in the gift shop will come out and slam that door faster than he blink. I did not really do much exploring in here. I looked around at everything that I could. When I was here they did have some of the areas closed off to guests. My sole purpose for coming in here, other than wondering in that is, was to visit the gift shop. I wanted to pick up some souvenirs before I continued my day. I walked about and viewed just about everything they have in stock. Viewing all, I ended going back a few times to items. Picked up some magnets, reading materials, and a flag. I also purchased a reusable bag which made for carrying items throughout the day a bit easier. All and all, this is a beautifully historically building to visit. Even if it is to pick up a few souvenirs.

My wife and I were in Philly for a long weekend over Labor day and we decided to stop in here…read morebefore our tour of Liberty Hall. It is pretty small and free to see. We did not spend much time in here, but they did have a good representation of the original Supreme Court. Worth a stop for a look at history.

Beautiful park in Philly. Good seating areas for eating food. Good for people watching as well.read more

A beautiful little park in the middle of central Philadelphia…read more The Saturday Farmers Market brought in tons of families, well dressed couples, and of course dogs! We had so much fun checking out all the stalls, soaking in the sunshine, and running around the inner sections with our kiddos. They had a little jazz trio playing in the middle of the square and they brought so much joy to our day. Even my two year old was dancing her socks off. I love little spots like this that bring the community out. Highly recommend for a stop if you're in Philly!

This is a sight to see, hidden in The Navy Yards. This massive abandoned building has its entire…read morebasement flooded. Who lives there now you ask? Beautiful goldfish! Check out the outdoor stairwell and you too can see the fish enjoying their day. No signs. No directions. No further hints. Seek it out and see nature thrive in an unlikely place! Life is good with LIFE!

Really great outdoor space. I was here during the afternoon around 1pm. The weather was perfect and…read morethey have swing seats which was nice touch. They have ones that you can actually stretch out and ones that you can just sit. There is shaded and non shaded seating areas if you're looking to be in the sun or just avoid it. Also I noticed there were power outlets as well.

OUTDOORS, scattered seating / ledges of different types. Surprising events (free!) in summertime…read more Wide range of vendors, PLUS right inside the classic Reading or Pennsylvania Railroad station are big chain food PRI fers like Au Bon Pain or Jimmy John's.