"For if one link in the nature's chain might be lost, another might be lost, until the whole of Thomas Jefferson
The Cape May is the southern tip of Cape may County and the eastern edge of Cape May County. It runs as far north as Ocean City. That makes it about 36 miles from one end of the region to the other.
The Absecon Region is in Atlantic County. It runs from Somers Point in the south to the southern most point of Burlington County. That makes it about 20 miles from one end of the region to the other.
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Regional Welcome Center | 
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Maritime History theme destination |
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Level I sites |  |
Coastal Habitats theme destination |
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Level II sites |  |
Wildlife Migration theme destination |
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Points of Interest |  |
New Jersey Watchable Wildlife Site |
Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area (MacNamara)
The scenic Tuckahoe River winds its way to the
Great Egg Harbor River and Bay through an
expanse of salt marsh and tidal creeks, that is
excellent for bird watching. Six brackish water
impoundments on the upland edges of the tract
also provide good bird-watching opportunities.
Located on the edge of the Pine Barrens, the
woodlands bordering the salt marsh are a mixture
of pine and oak trees. A hardwood swamp and
small freshwater lake provide additional habitat
for beaver, turtles, frogs, and fish.
An 8-mile loop drive provides opportunities for exploring these dynamic habitats.
Directions: From the junction of US route 9 and
state road 50 in Seaville, take SR50 north for 4.8
miles to CR631. Turn right, and travel 0.3 miles
to the entrance on the left. Turn left onto the sand
and gravel road, and travel 0.5 mile to the office
on the right. Stop at the office for information and
maps.
Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife (609)
628-2103.
Corson's Inlet State Park
Established in the late 1960s, Corson's Inlet State
Park is one of the few undisturbed stretches of
Atlantic coastline left between Atlantic City and
Cape May. Enjoy the beach and coastal dune
trails. Look for remnants of marine life washed up
on the beach, and watch for beach nesting birds in
the spring and summer: piping plovers, black
skimmers, and least terns. Migrations of dolphins,
ducks, geese, and monarch butterflies also pass
through this area every year.
Sport fishing, boating, sun bathing, photography, and hiking are seasonal activities available here. Guided beach walks occur twice each week from the late spring to early fall.
Directions: From exit 25 of the Garden State
Parkway, turn east onto county road 623
(Roosevelt Blvd), and follow it into Ocean City.
Then turn south onto West Avenue and follow it to
55th St. Turn south (right) onto CR619 (Ocean
Highway). The main parking area for Corson's
Inlet is on the left at the north end of Rush Chattin
Bridge.
Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: (609) 861-2404 (Belleplain State
Forest).
Cape May Region Welcome Center
Ocean View Service Area, Garden State Parkway
This is a full service welcome center operated by
the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism. It is
fully accessible and includes the Cape May
County Chamber of Commerce with information
about regional lodging and points of interest.
New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route exhibits include an audiovisual orientation program and exhibits that focus on the Trail's Relaxation & Inspiration interpretive theme. Brochures about the Trail are also available.
Directions: The welcome center is located at the
Ocean View Service Area of the Garden State
Parkway at milepost 18.3.
Hours: The information center operates daily
from 9:00am to 5:00pm, except Wednesday (9:00-
4:30). It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas,
and New Year's Day.
Telephone: (609) 624-0918.
The Wetlands Institute
Located near Stone Harbor, The Wetlands Institute is situated on 6,000 acres of coastal wetlands.
The marsh, nearby upland, and barrier islands
form a living laboratory where visitors can learn about
this delicately balanced ecosystem between land and
sea.
The Wetlands Institute features saltwater aquariums, exhibits, an observation tower, nature trails, beautiful butterfly and bird gardens, and guided tours.
Directions: From exit 1 OB of the Garden State
Parkway, take county road 657 east (Stone Harbor
Boulevard) toward Stone Harbor. The Institute will
be on your right in about 2.75 miles.
Hours: From May 15th until October 15th, the trails,
interpretive center, and store are open from 9:30am
to 4:30pm, Monday through Saturday, and from
10:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday. From October 16th
to May 14th, they are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Fees: An admission fee supports the
organization's efforts.
Telephone: (609) 368-1211.
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
This "Great Victorian" fourth order lighthouse has
guided local mariners along the Jersey Shore
since its construction in 1874. It was restored in 1984 by members of the
community. This active light-house is the only one of its kind on the east coast
and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The lighthouse is surrounded by cottage style
gardens with over 170 plant varieties. these are wildlife-friendly gardens with
berry-producing trees and shrubs for hungry birds and flowers attractive to
butterflies and hummingbirds. the lighthouse serves as an information center and
museum. tours are conducted daily throughout the summer. Next door is the old Hereford Inlet Coast Guard
Station now occupied by the NJ State Police,
Marine Law Enforcement Bureau.
Directions: The lighthouse is located in North
Wildwood on Central Avenue, between First and
Chestnut Avenues. Southbound Garden State
Parkway traffic can take state road 147 from exit
6 to North Wildwood,
Hours: The lighthouse is open daily from mid
March through late December. The hours are from
9:00am to 6:00pm during the summer season and
from 10:00pm to 4:00pm throughout the spring
and fall. Call ahead during the remainder of the
year for days and hours. There is an admission
fee.
Telephone: (609) 522-4520.
Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
Cape May is one of the prime birding areas on the
East Coast. Due to its location and mile long
beach front. The Nature Conservancy's William
D. & Jane C. Blair Jr. Cape May Migratory Bird
Refuge is one of Cape May's "hot spots" for
birding. During the fall migration, tens of thou-
sands of raptors representing more than 15 species can be seen flying over the refuge. Over a
million seabirds pass the refuge every autumn. In
the spring, thousands of migrating shorebirds,
songbirds, and waterfowl pass through this
area. It also protects nesting habitat
for the endangered least terns and
piping plovers.
Directions: Take the Garden State
Parkway south to the end where it joins
county road 633 (Lafayette Street) in
the City of Cape May. Turn right
onto CR606 (West Perry Street.)
This will turn into Sunset Blvd. Continue west on
CR606 for one mile. The refuge and parking area are
on the left just past Bayshore Rd.
Hours: This site is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Telephone: (609) 861-0600.
Cape May Point State Park
The park is a combination of an ever changing
shoreline, sand dunes, coastal freshwater marsh
and ponds, wooded islands, and varied uplands. It
is perhaps best known as a tranquil area where the
visitor may find rest and enjoy the beauty of
nature.
Cape May Point is a popular bird-watching site. It is not only a home for many species but also a feeding and resting area for birds migrating south along the Atlantic flyway. Although both spring and fall migrations occur, the fall is the best time to observe songbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds, sea birds, and birds of prey. Join other bird-watchers on the hawk watch platform.
Cape May Lighthouse is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. It has been an important navigational aid to seagoing mariners since its construction in 1859.
Picnicking, beach walking, birding, a museum, and museum shop help round out a visit to this site. Free educational programs and guided nature walks are also available from April to November. WWII coastal defense gun emplacements, now battling the elements of erosion and the encroaching sea, can still be seen here.
Directions: Take county road 606 (Sunset Boulevard) west from Cape May, towards Cape May
Point. Follow the signs, and turn south via CR629
(Lighthouse Avenue).
Hours: The park is open daily from dawn to
dusk. Days and hours for the lighthouse vary, but
it is generally open between President's Day
weekend and Thanksgiving weekend. A voice
message concerning the hours operation is available by calling (609) 884-5404.
Fees: Admission charge for the lighthouse, which
is operated by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the
Arts.
Telephone: (609) 884-2159 for the park; (609)
884-5404 for the lighthouse.
Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area
This one and one-half mile stretch of beach
contains the last remnant of coastal dune forest on
the bayshore. The inland dunes are more than 20
feet high in some places. A forest of holly, red
cedar, and beach plum stabilizes them. Several
hundred acres of wooded upland with a dense
understory, a freshwater marsh, two freshwater
ponds, a hardwood swamp, old farm fields, and a
coastal dune forest all provide cover for migratory
songbirds, raptors, and butterflies. Higbee Beach
is managed specifically to provide habitat for
migratory wildlife. Hike the marked dune trail,
and view the surrounding landscape and wildlife
from three observation platforms.
Directions: Take the state road 109 west from the
exit at the south end of the Garden State Parkway
to the junction with US9. Turn left onto US9 (all
turns from the right lane), and proceed to the first
traffic light. Turn south (left) onto county road
162 (Seashore Rd.). Turn west (right) onto CR641
(New^ England Rd.). Follow CR641 for 2 miles to
the end and the beach access parking area. Parking is restricted to the parking lots and may be
limited during the summer. Call the number listed
for parking information.
Hours: Open daily from 5:00am to 9:00pm.
Telephone: NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife (609)
628-2103.
Senator Frank S. Farley State Marina
The marina was originally constructed in the late
1950s as a joint effort between the State of New
Jersey and the city of Atlantic City to revitalize
the pleasure boat industry in the city. In the early
1980s, New Jersey's Division of Parks and Forestry initiated proposals to rehabilitate Parley as it
was quickly slipping from its status as the "show
place" marina of the East Coast. Budgetary
constraints contributed to its further decline and
eventually led to an agreement between the State
and Trump Castle Associates. Three and one-half
years and 30 million dollars later. Trump had
demolished the old facility and constructed a new,
expanded premier marina. Its 640 slips are capable of berthing boats from under 20 feet to over
300 feet.
An interpretive exhibit provides information about New Jersey's maritime history and the changing role of marinas. Historic Gardiner's Basin can be seen in the view south of the marina.
Directions: As you enter
Atlantic City, follow the
highway directional signs
to Trump Marina Hotel and
Casino (located at the intersection of US 30 and
Brigantine Boulevard) and Huron Avenue to reach
the marina. It is located next to the U.S. Coast
Guard Station, Atlantic City.
Hours: The marina office is open May 15 to June
30 from 7:00am to 10:00pm and July 1 to Labor
Day from 7:00am to 2:00am. Hours vary the
remainder of the year.
Telephone: 1 (800) 876-4386.
U. S. Coast Guard Station, Atlantic City
When constructed in 1941, it was the largest
Coast Guard station in existence. With a crew of
44 men and women and five boats, the station
handles approximately 450 calls for assistance
annually from two locations, Atlantic City and
Ocean City. Aid is rendered to distressed boaters
as far as thirty miles offshore. Missions include
search and rescue, law enforcement, and marine
environmental protection.
The station grounds include a short self-guided interpretive walk with a handout providing information about the station's history and the plant and animal struggle for survival on coastal barrier islands.
Directions: The station is located at the end of
Huron Avenue. As you enter Atlantic City, follow
the signs for the Trump Marina Hotel & Casino
located adjacent to the intersection of US30 and
state road 87 (Brigantine Boulevard.)
Hours: Open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm
unless the crew is involved in responding to an
emergency call. Please note, there is no smoking
while at this facility.
Telephone: (609) 344-6594
Other points of Interest: Absecon
Lighthouse
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
At this wildlife refuge, more than 40,000 acres of
coastal habitat are managed for migratory birds.
Almost 90 percent of it is tidal salt meadow and
marsh, interspersed with shallow coves and bays.
The quiet tidal waters serve as nurseries, spawning, and feeding grounds for fish and shellfish
that are important to the diets of many wildlife
species.
Located in one of the Atlantic Flyway's most active flight paths, it is an important link in the network of national wildlife refuges. Here the habitat needs of the American black duck and Atlantic brant are a special concern. Both species depend heavily on New Jersey's remaining coastal habitat for their survival. An eight-mile Wildlife Drive and two short foot trails provide excellent wildlife viewing and photo opportunities. The entrance fee helps to buy additional wetlands for wildlife refuges.
Directions: From the north, take exit 48 of the
Garden State Parkway and follow US9 south. At
the third traffic light, turn left onto Great Creek
Rd.. and follow it into the refuge. From the south,
take the Atlantic City Service Area exit. Follow
county road 561 (Jimmie Leeds Rd.) east to the
first left fork (Great Creek Rd.), and follow it into
the refuge.
Hours: This site is open daily from dawn to dusk.
The headquarters building is open weekdays from
8:00am to 4:00pm.
Telephone: (609) 652-1665.
Copyright © 2001-
, Terry Muse
