Places to Love: Jersey Shore and More
By: Samantha Brown, host of “Places to Love”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
