New Jersey & Delaware Delight

It was sometime during 2020, when the COVID pandemic was first ravaging the world, that I realized camping and exploring our national parks would be the best way to travel for awhile. A year later, I camped for the first time in the Smoky Mountains, visiting Kentucky and North Carolina in the process, and wondered how many states I had yet to visit. I had 17 more to go before I hit 50. I set my goal then to visit all 50 by the time I’m 50 (sometime in my 50th year). I was 45. So, this is why I booked a trip to New Jersey & Delaware over the 2025 Labor Day Weekend!

How I go about researching my trips:

1. Look first for National Parks, then State Parks, then any kind of unique outdoor area to explore!
2. Seek out several travel blog writers, because I like mixing and matching people’s itineraries and skipping traditional travel websites.
3. Book anything that needs to be booked in advance - kayaking trip, other boat rides, tours, etc. Then, book my vacation rentals or camp sites, usually in areas not far from National or State Parks, sometimes near the beach, and other times in city centers. 
4. Finally, choose my hikes, restaurants, towns, and scenic drives. Add more to my itinerary than I can possibly do, so I have options, variety, and backup plans. 

I’m sure AI could do all this for me, but what fun would that be? I learn so much about the states I don’t know yet through my research. 

DAY 1 - Newark for Breakfast, Kayaking the Mullica, and Dinner in Cape May

After a few attempts at navigating a very busy and congested Newark, I finally found my way to the Ironbound District, a few streets full of businesses with owners from Peru, Ecuador, or Brazil. This section of town just felt “warm” and “bustling”. I found a lovely breakfast spot and did some people-watching. I wanted to make sure I made it down to Pineland Adventures deep in the heart of The New Jersey Pine Barrens, and I wanted to leave the Newark traffic behind!

I arrived at the Pine Barrens  early; unusual for me. I chose a guided tour for two reasons: I wanted to learn as much as I could about the area, and The Pine Barrens are very expansive and untamed. I didn’t trust myself not to get lost. The Mullica River was low since we were near the end of summer. But, our group of 8 stuck together, heard stories of the region, and saw many beautiful flowers.

My Airbnb was in Wildwood, NJ. It was a small beach-themed spot on the side of a couple’s home. We compared hosting notes. It was simple and close to the ocean. I decided to eat in downtown Cape May instead. Il Riccio was delicious. I enjoyed oysters and homemade pasta. I found out the hard way, though, that NJ restaurants are mostly BYOB. Luckly, my waitress found a bottle of red and proceeded to gift me two glasses of a beautiful red. I tipped her well. One thing about dining alone is you always make friends with the servers!

DAY 2 - Cape May, Cape May to Lewes Ferry, Lewes & Rehoboth Beach, DE

I got up early the next morning and walked the beach at Wildwood as the sun rose. Called, “The Rambler” it was bustling with runners, walkers, dogs, and kids even at 7am. After a shower, I headed to Beach Plum Farm & Cottages. This place was everything I had hoped it would be. Miles and miles of farmland, set up with active gardens, a lunch spot, outdoor seating, animal petting area, and the best food I ate on this trip! Fresh, zesty, and flavorable. If you’ve got a budget larger than mine, stay at one of the premium Beach Plum Cottages. Wow.

After lunch, my next step was hopping on the Ocean Street Trolly. I heard about the history of the city, the archiecture, and many important people. Ocean Street itself if stunningly beautiful - all brick-lined streets, stores, and treats. 

After a house tour of the famous Emlen Physick Estate, I drove over to the famed Cape May Lighthouse and climbed the nearly 300 stairs to the top. 

It was a stunning 360-degree view standing atop of this beauty. I listened to the nervous people around me and the young kids begging to turn around and go back down, but I took my time and surveyed the water, land, and clouds.

It was just 10 minutes from the Cape May Lighthouse to the Hawk Haven Vineyard for a wine tasting just before they shut down for their weekly concert. Who knew wine from New Jersey would be so tasty?!

This was the perfect stop for me before heading onto the Cape May to Lewes Ferry! I was a bit nervous to drive onto a boat, so the wine settled my nerves! (Spoiler Aert: Taking the Ferry ended up being one of my favorite things to do on this trip!)

We had to arrive 45 minutes early to get in line if we were driving our car onto the boat. I knew the boat could handle 100 cars, but I was still quite nervous.  

Once my car was on and I saw how small it looked compared to the boat, I was fine. I realized very quickly that this ferry was not just a way to get to Delaware, but a destination in and of itself. A band, drinks, food, and a dance-ready crowd, the vibe was so lively. Taking the trip across is just a social night out for some! What a trip!

After getting settled in Lewes, Delaware, I drove into Rehoboth Beach to enjoy dinner in what is described as a vibrant, historical, cultural, LGBT-friendly, and great foodie coastal town. It did not disappoint. I ate at Somewhere outside at a booth with sand under my feet drinking a margherita and eating some of the tastiest tacos I’ve ever had! I walked the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk to eplore as I digested and took in this vibrant scene!

DAY 3 - Lewes Treasures: Farmers Market, Downtown, Crooked Hammock Brewery + Dover & Wilmington

My first stop in Lewes, Delaware the next morning was the Historic Lewes Farmer’s Market. What a treat! I drank a fresh-squeezed juice with spirulina in it and bought fennel and thyme-flavored salt that was harvested directly from the bay off of Cape Henlopen State Park! My favorite thing, though, was this cooking demonstration by Chef Hari Cameron. I felt like I had hit the jackpot. He was making three recipes and sharing a bit with each audience member. He gave great cooking AND gardening tips and was so entertaining!

After the Farmer’s Market, I stopped at the Zwaanendael Museum featuring details on local historic shipwrecks, then walked the streets of the adorable, charming, Lewes before stopping at the beautiful Nassau Valley Vineyards, where local Delaware wine tasters gave me their “best of Delaware” tips and were suprised when many of their recommendations were already on my list! Wine tastings are fun. After the first taste or two, everyone tasting becomes a casual friend.

Because I was hungry, I stopped at the highly-recommended Crooked Hammock Brewery on my way out of town. I loved the hamburger, ambience, and awesome-Delaware-inspired presentation for their beer, but I was not actually a fan of the beer! Probably a good thing since I was driving. I tried each and that was it!

I didn’t take any more GOOD pictures in Delaware on my third day, so here is a fun photo of a turtle about to duck into the water on my kayaking trip in the Pine Barrens. :-)

I stayed so long in the coastal towns, that I didn’t make it to the Dover area in enough time for a guided tour of the First State Heritage Park that was highly recommended and showcases many streets with bricks and stones, all brick old-world buildings and homes, and culture treasures. So, I headed up to Wilmington, found their Riverwalk, and checked out a few of the nicer neighborhoods and an extensive walking park system in the city! I wish I’d had more time here.

Day 4: The Delaware River, the Shaky Bridge, Prinecton, a Hindu Campus & Delaware’s Scenic Byway

I was walking along the Delware River when I was reading how to find the Delaware Scenice Byway. I looked to my right and saw I was walking on the street that started this Scenic Byway. I had finally found one! I finished my walk, which ended at the Shaky Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge, built a LONG time ago as a model for how the Brooklyn Bridge would be built. It’s shaky and adorable. After this, I stopped in Trenton for a casual walk and breakfast before heading over to Princeton, whose campus I’d heard was very beautiful. It was!

Check out the gallery of photos at the bottom of this post snapped on a brief walk at Princeton and then on a lengthier visit to the BAPS Akshardham Campus, (the second largest Hindu Spiritual Campus in the world). It was incredible. My guess is that there were 4,000 people there on this Sunday, touring, praying, worshipping, and sightseeing, so It operated like a well-oiled machine. I was so happy I went!

Remember I said I found the entrance to the Delaware Scenic Byway? Well, I drove the 20 minutes back to Trenton just to start at the beginning on my drive up to the Delaware Water Gap. So glad I did!

Scenic Byways are often hard to find. They aren’t very well marked. New Jersey has 8. I only found one, but it was a beauty. Once I was on it, it was so clear. I saw spectacular view after spectacular view. Adorable details of old farms, stand-alone farm stands with veggies, meadows, rivers and lakes, rolling hills, and one cute town after another. I wanted to stop in them all. I hate to say it, but it was 39 miles of scenes that oil paintings and Hallmark cards aim for, but can never quite capture!

The town I decided to stop in was Lambertville. I had this thought: “Life is short. You’re on vacation. Stop, get out, and walk…simply because you want to.” 

I was greeted by this amazing street sign. Come on! So many things I love! Lambertville is known for its vibrant arts scene, restaurants, antique stores (and clearly, from the sign, it’s wellness offerings too)! 

I stopped at a local ice cream shop, ordered a chocolate fugde waffle cone and walked the streets. 

I walked toward the river (yes, the same Delaware River that had been my companion all day long), I looked in the restaurants and debated eating in town, but mostly, I just abosrbed the energy of the place. Of everywhere I went on this trip, it was the place I most wanted to visit again in the future. 

DAY 5: Hiking the Delaware Water Gap

This was the day I was most anticipating. I had the whole day to hike, explore, get lost and see beauty all around me. 

I was on my way by 6:30 a.m. I wanted to get a parking spot to hike Mt. Tammany’s Red Dot Blue Dot Trail. To the right is the view from the top. The Delaware Water Gap is where the Delaware River cuts through a large ridge of the Appalachian Mountains.

I was feeling pretty accomplished by 10:30 a.m., so I drove up on Old Mine Road for awhile, found an interesting hike, aborted mission when I had a stomach cramp, and decided it was time to fuel up! 

I don’t normally drink alcohol while hiking, but I was drinking a ton of water…and well…#vacation. I loaded up on carbs at Sango Kura and ordered their sake flight. I only liked two of the sake flavors. Better anyway for my next hike. Back to water and onto the Appalachian Trail!

I set out to hike to Sunfish Pond (the photo on the right). it’s a glacial lake with a high enough acidity reading that only some perch can survive in it. This lake is one of New Jersey’s Seven Natural Wonders. It made me wonder what the other 6 are. (AI helpd me out: Delaware Water Gap, Great Falls in Paterson, the Palisades, Island Beach State Park, Cape May Point, Sunfish Pond, and the Pine Barrens)!! I made it to 4 of them! The lake was beautiful and still. This is located in Worthington State Forest.

My final photo is simply the path back from Sunfish Pond walking on the Appalachian Trail. I would end up hiking 15.5 miles on this final day, but by the time I took this photo, with about 4 miles to go, my glutes were ready to fail me. One foot in front of the other, just like life, and I made it back to my car. It was Labor Day, so my options for dinner were limited, but I had researched the Shawnee Craft Brewing Company. They were open! I had a flight of beer - a wheat, kolsch, and sour beer. My favs! Along with a pizza using pepperoni from a deli in New York. It was an awesome way to end my day, and my trip. 

Final Notes

1. I wasn’t expecting major things from these two states. New Jersey piqued my interest some in my research, but less so, Delaware. 
2. They both over-performed and exceeded my expectations. 
3. Jersey gets a bad rap for its cities - Newark, Trenton, Atlantic City. But the Garden State, with 1/4 taken up by the Pine Barrens, 8 scenic byways, and 7 natural wonders is a richly beautiful state to be discovered.
4. Delaware was our nation’s first state. It really showcases that history. It’s tiny and I didn’t expect it to be interesting. But, I LOVED the gentle coastal town of Lewes, and the vibrant artistic haven of Rehoboth Beach. It wasn’t just me, but Delaware residents, who love these two spots and delight in them. Wilmington was a surprisingly nice city, and I was left wanting another couple days to experience this tiny state. 
5. Anytime I’m near the Appalachian Trail, I plan to hike at least some of it. I was happy I didn’t get lost on it this time!
6. I wouldn’t want to live in NJ because I like pumping my own gas. 
7. I would consider living in Delaware because it is such a tax-friendly state. I knew that, but until I was there, I didn’t know how significant this was. Enough that many people are moving here and clogging the single lane highways!
8. What states are next? So glad you asked. Montana, Minnesota, and North Dakota in a nearly two-week trip next summer, and Kansas, when I next visit my brother and his husband in Colorado. #TravelGoals2026