February 15, 2009
Photo of the Day - Great Falls
Great Falls, Paterson, NJ, 2009.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:56 PM | Comments (0)
January 28, 2009
Photo of the Day - Great Falls
Great Falls, Paterson, NJ, January, 2009.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:26 PM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2009
Photo of the Day - Great Falls
Great Falls, Paterson, New Jersey, January, 2009. I made my first visit to Great Falls in Paterson this weekend and it definitely won't be my last! It would have been an incredible sight in any season to see the water spilling over the falls of the second highest waterfall on the East Coast but it was an even more beautiful and awesome sight with the falls half frozen. I could have spent all day there taking photos!
Posted by silverdsl at 09:15 PM | Comments (0)
August 27, 2008
Photo of the Day - Island Beach State Park
Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park, NJ, 2008.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2008
Photo of the Day - Cape May
The Abbey, Cape May, NJ, July, 2007.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:02 PM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2008
Going to Have to Make a Trip to the Paulinskill Viaduct Soon
I love going to the Paulinskill Viaduct not only to take photos but to marvel at its immenseness - photos don't do justice to just how big the viaduct is looming over the wood, the river the road and everything around. Trains haven't run over the viaduct since the rails were taken up around 1985 but I've known for a while that New Jersey Transit would like to make the line active again for commuters between the Poconos and Manhattan. The last time I went to the viaduct there were more signs and fences up, and I'd guess that NJ Transit will step up trying to deter people from exploring the viaduct since the plan took a step forward this week. So I'm going to have to pay a visit or two to the viaduct soon before they really restrict access even more.
Posted by silverdsl at 11:31 AM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2008
Photo of the Day - Island Beach State Park
Island Beach State Park, NJ, April, 2008. I could have sat there all day and watched the waves!
Posted by silverdsl at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2008
Photo of the Day - Island Beach State Park
Island Beach State Park, New Jersey, April, 2008. It was a beautiful day out today so we took a ride down to the Jersey Shore. First we stopped off at Mt. Mitchell Scenic Overlook in Atlantic Highlands to see the view of Sandy Hook and in the distance, Manhattan. Then we had lunch at Klein's Fish Market in Belmar where we enjoyed a very yummy lunch outside. After that we continued down the shore to Island Beach State Park, the biggest stretch of undeveloped barrier beach in New Jersey. It's truly gorgeous there and even more so with the wind kicking up the waves like was the case today. I wish I lived closer so that I could visit there more often. It was a great day for sure!
Posted by silverdsl at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)
March 04, 2008
Photo of the Day - Cape May
Cape May, NJ, 2007. I really wish I was in a rocking chair on a porch on a warm summer's day...
Posted by silverdsl at 08:23 PM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2008
Photo of the Day - Peter Sheilds Inn
Peter Shields Inn, Cape May, NJ, Sept. 2005.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:41 PM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2008
Photo of the Day - Grounds for Sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ, May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2007
Photo of the Day - Paulinskill Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Knowlton, New Jersey. 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:58 PM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2007
Photo of the Day - Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2007
Photo of the Day - Grounds for Sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ, May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)
July 15, 2007
Photo of the Day - Wave
Cape May, New Jersey, July, 2007. Not a spectacular photo by any means, but I like the way the wave is frozen in place as it crashes to shore. I wish I had gotten to spend more time watching the waves come to shore in Cape May, but a little time walking along the beach is better than no time!
Posted by silverdsl at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2007
Photo of the Day - Grounds for Sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey, May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:21 PM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2007
Gateway National Recreation Area Gets Poor Mark From Advocacy Group
Not only did Jim and I got to Island Beach State Park on Saturday, but we also went to Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, NJ. What a difference between the two parks! One would think that a park managed by the National Parks Service would be nicer than a state park, but that wasn't the case. Although we didn't spend much time exploring Gateway since we had been there before, neither of us thought it was as beautiful or peaceful as Island Beach. Gateway seemed much like any other ocean beach, whereas Island Beach was an almost pristine wonder.
The National Parks Conservation Association agrees that Gateway needs improvements. In fact they said that it's in the worst condition of any national park due to chemical and noise pollution, as well as staffing and financial issues. In addition, many of the former military buildings in the park are on the verge of collapse. The report said,
“There are no resource management plans for cultural resources, existing plans do not adequately address natural resource concerns, and interpretive plans are outdated. Most importantly, the park needs an updated general management plan and resource stewardship plan to guide natural and cultural resource management.”
It seems as if the NPS is content to have Gateway, at least the part located in Sandy Hook, be nothing more than a summer destination for beach-goers as opposed to taking care of the natural and cultural resources. That's unfortunate, particularly considering the oldest continuously operating lighthouse is located in Gateway, as well as Fort Wadsworth which dates back to prior to the revolutionary war, so there's other things that could draw visitors besides the beach. What also could end up happening is that if the NPS doesn't take better care of Gateway, the beaches, which are the prime reason most to go the Sandy Hook part of Gateway, will deteriorate too.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:39 AM | Comments (0)
May 13, 2007
Photo of the Day - Island Beach State Park
Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park, NJ, May, 2007. Wow! I've always loved the Jersey shore, but I had no idea there was such a gem of a park on the NJ shore until yesterday when Jim and I took a trip to Island Beach State Park. It's absolutely beautiful there! The park is a 10-mile barrier beach just south of Seaside Heights, that's one of the few remaining areas on the shore that's undeveloped. I love the ocean to begin with, but I really feel in love with the beach there - the water was so blue-green and the beach so clean. It's amazing that this park is so close to the craziness of the over-developed boardwalk of Seaside Heights with it's games and rides. Overall, we had a great day yesterday driving down the shore in Jim's father's convertible!
Posted by silverdsl at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)
February 28, 2007
Photo of the Day - Paulinskill Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, New Jersey. Spring, 2006. I really want to make another trip out to the viaduct once it gets warmer out.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2007
Photo of the Day - Waterloo Village
Waterloo Village, Stanhope, New Jersey, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)
January 31, 2007
Photo of the Day - The Abbey
The Abbey, Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2007
Will Trains Run Across the Viaduct Again?
There's renewed talk about NJ Transit reviving the abandoned rail line between New York and the Poconos on which the Paulinskill Viaduct sits. That bit of news makes me very cranky because that would likely mean an end to visits to the Viaduct. Sure, I might still be able to walk around underneath, but there would definitely be no access up top, and I'm sure NJ transit would put in a lot more fences and security to prevent access to much of the viaduct. Which makes me sad because I think the Viaduct is one of New Jersey's gems and it's one of my favorite places to visit and explore. I love taking photos there. I think this means as soon as the weather warms up I should make another visit in case access is cut off.
Posted by silverdsl at 04:28 PM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2007
Photo of the Day - Grounds for Sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey. May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:31 PM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2007
Photo of the Day - Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005. It appears that I'll be going to Cape May at least once this year. Yay!
Posted by silverdsl at 10:01 PM | Comments (0)
December 14, 2006
Photo of the Day - Cape May
The Mainstay Inn, Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005. I've always wanted to stay in this Inn.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)
November 13, 2006
Photo of the Day - Trees
Morristown Arboretum, Morristown, New Jersey, 2002.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
October 31, 2006
Photo of the Day - Face
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey. May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:51 PM | Comments (0)
October 27, 2006
Photo of the Day - Splash!
Somewhere on the South Jersey Shore, August, 2006. Jim and I drove up the Jersey shore on our way home from Cape May over the summer. We ran into a huge storm with wind and torrential downpours. The result was some flooding and pretty huge waves crashing to shore in some areas.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:44 PM | Comments (0)
September 07, 2006
Photo of the Day - Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Here?
Morning Star Villa, Cape May, New Jersey, 2005. I used to think this was a newer construction but I believe I read recently that this is actually a building that dates back 100's of years. It's right across the street from the ocean, and right next door to where Jim and I got married, in a quieter part of town. It's all condos, which naturally go for big money since they're right on the beach. I'd love to live at the Morning Star Villa - I've never seen what it looks like on the inside, but the outside is lovely and it would be awesome to wake up every day with a view of the waves crashing to shore.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:03 PM | Comments (0)
August 30, 2006
Photo of the Day - Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey, August, 2006. I really need to start taking notes about which houses and B&Bs I'm taking photos of and on what street, because I find when I look back at the photos it's hard to remember which some are. What I love about this one, besides the purple color, is that there's that nice big porch, but also that enclosed area on the right. Plus the pretty flowers in front. I wish I had a house like that!
Posted by silverdsl at 08:56 AM | Comments (0)
August 27, 2006
Photo of the Day - Pink in Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey, August, 2006. Yeah, that's a pink house! Had a great time in Cape May this weekend. The weather wasn't the greatest - it was cloudy for most of the weekend. But there wasn't much rain and we had fun relaxing at the Bed & Breakfast that we stayed at, exploring the area, shopping and eating at some yummy restaurants.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)
August 25, 2006
Photo of the Day - Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005. I'll be here for the next couple of days.
Posted by silverdsl at 12:05 AM | Comments (0)
August 22, 2006
Photo of the Day - Sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey, May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:40 PM | Comments (0)
August 10, 2006
Photo of the Day - Wagon Wheel
Waterloo Villiage, Stanhope, New Jersey, May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:59 PM | Comments (0)
July 19, 2006
Cape May's Washington Street Mall Creates Controversy
No visit to Cape May is complete without a visit to the downtown area's shopping district, the Washington Street Mall. But the three-block, outside pedestrian mall, is in need of some repairs to cracked concrete, improved drainage and some overall sprucing up. In a town that is so dependant on tourist dollars, it would seem a no-brainer that the repairs and upgrades be done, particularly since there have been numerous lawsuits against the town from people who tripped and fell on the sidewalks. In fact the city council approved bond ordanances of $7.5 million to fund the repairs, as well as other projects around the city, including a new fire truck. Sounds great right? Only problem is that local residents balked at the potential cost to them and an ensuing petition forced it to be placed on a ballot for a binding referendum, which means that if it doesn't pass, no improvements to the Washington Street Mall and no new fire truck. Which would be unfortunate, but that's often the way it goes - anything that might involve higher taxes is a hard sell.
Posted by silverdsl at 08:18 PM | Comments (0)
July 18, 2006
Photo of the Day - Sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ. May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)
June 29, 2006
Post Office to Commemorate Chalfonte Hotel
This is pretty cool to someone like me who is a big fan of Cape May, New Jersey and especially it's old, historic buildings. Apparently the U.S. Postal Service is going to be honoring the 130th anniversary of the Chalfonte Hotel in Cape May with a special postmark that is a drawing of the sideview of the Hotel. Unfortunately, one can only get the postmark by going to the Chalfonte during certain hours tomorrow but I think it's pretty neat, even though I won't be able to get one.
I find it interesting that the Chalfonte has lasted so long. Not all of the 70 rooms of the hotel have their own bathrooms and none of them have air conditioning, TVs or telephones, which is very different than the norm, even in Cape May. But I guess the hotel has maintained a strong following of guests who don't mind being cooled by nothing other than an ocean breeze and are looking to get away from technology and modern conviences.
Posted by silverdsl at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)
June 20, 2006
Photo of the Day - Waterloo Village
Waterloo Village, Stanhope, New Jersey, May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:29 PM | Comments (0)
June 11, 2006
Photo of the Day - Grounds for Sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey, May, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)
June 08, 2006
Photo of the Day - Ocean Grove
Ocean Grove, New Jersey, 2002.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:18 PM | Comments (0)
May 29, 2006
Photo of the Day - Grounds for Sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey, May, 2006. Jim and I went back to Grounds for Sculpture yesterday to explore and we had a great time! Grounds for Sculpture is a 35-acre sculpture park and there are many very cool sculptures there. Some where you least expect them! What's really neat is that a lot of thought was put into the landscaping and the placement of the sculptures so that everything "fits," for want of a better word. Really a very fun place to go!
Posted by silverdsl at 09:43 PM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2006
Photo of the Day - Pretty House in Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:19 PM | Comments (0)
May 10, 2006
Photo of the Day - BW Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, April, 2006.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:14 PM | Comments (0)
May 03, 2006
Photo of the Day - Stairs to Nowhere
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:27 PM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2006
Photo of the Day - Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, April, 2006. Not the greatest photo in the world but it gives a good sense of how huge the Viaduct is.
Posted by silverdsl at 11:02 PM | Comments (0)
April 30, 2006
Photo of the Day - Paulinskill Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, April, 2006. Jim and I took a ride out to the Paulinskill Viaduct today. I wanted to get out there before all the leaves were on the trees, which would make it hard to take photos of the viaduct as it's out in the middle of the woods and also before there were too many bugs. In addition, NJ Transit may one day in the next couple of years starting running trains over the viaduct again which would make it a lot less accessible than it is now. Today was the perfect day to go as it was really nice out - not too hot and not too cool, but also there wasn't a cloud in the sky. So we had a great time exploring, though we didn't end up going all the way to the top, and taking photos, some of which will end up in this blog this week.
It's really hard to capture just how huge the viaduct is - it's really quite a sight seeing it rise over the treetops!
Posted by silverdsl at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2006
Rat's - Hamilton, New Jersey
Last night we went out to celebrate my Mother's 60th birthday which was a couple of weeks ago. Since it was a milestone birthday we wanted to go to someplace extra-special so we decided to head down to Rat's, a Franch influenced restaurant on the grounds of the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey. The original plan was to spend some time before dinner looking at all the wonderful sculptures but it was raining so instead we opted to relax in the lounge in Rat's having drinks and enjoying the fine decor.
Once we sat down to dinner we were immediately impressed by the service and as it turned out we were in store for one of the better meals that we've every had. Everything from start to finish was absolutely delicious! The menu which changes periodically was unusual and had everything from game to vegetarian selections. I opted to start with Smoked salmon and goat cheese parcels with truffled beet salad which was like heaven for me because if there's two foods that I adore it's smoked salmon and goat cheese. I never would have thought that those two would go together but in this case they most certainly did! I would have been perfectly happy having a second serving of that and making it a full meal!
What was nice was that there was no rush between when the appetizers were brought out and when the main dishes were served. I'm sure that some would take issue with that and feel that the pace was too slow but it gave us a chance to digest the appetizers, have some of the yummy bread baked in their bakery and enjoy some wine. For the main course I got seared scallops with Anson Mills polenta, endive braised in balsamic and arugula salad with raisin caper sauce. Probably the best scallops I've ever had! The raisin caper sauce was so delicious as was the polenta. I wasn't able to finish it all but it was outstanding!
There was barely room for dessert but we had to have something since everything else had been so good. So we had a plate of artisanal cheeses. We were abe to choose five different cheeses from a long list. I wasn't able to eat too much of it but I absolutely loved the Saint Andre triple cream brie - very yummy!
Afterwards it wasn't raining too much and the sculptures are lit up at night so we took a short walk around. Even at night the sculptures are impressive. We all agreed that we would have to make a return trip to Rat's sooner rather than later and hopefully on a day when it's not raining.
Posted by silverdsl at 03:10 PM | Comments (0)
March 21, 2006
Photo of the Day - Under the Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey. 2004
Posted by silverdsl at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)
March 20, 2006
Photo of the Day - Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005. I'm very much looking forward to my next visit to Cape May now that it's warmer out.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:58 PM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2006
Photo of the Day - Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2006
Photo of the Day - Paulinskill Viaduct
Posted by silverdsl at 10:23 PM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2006
Photo of the Day - Broken Shell
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005
"Gather a shell from the strewn beach and listen at its lips:
they sigh the same desire and mystery,
the echo of the whole sea's speech."
-Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Posted by silverdsl at 08:30 PM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2005
Photo of the Day - Cape May Wave
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005.
Posted by silverdsl at 11:29 PM | Comments (0)
November 30, 2005
Photo of the Day - Path to the Beach
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005. I wish I was somewhere warm where I could go hang out on the beach for a while...
Posted by silverdsl at 10:49 PM | Comments (0)
November 28, 2005
Photo of the Day - Cape May Wave
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005. I don't know how this photo turned out so wacky. The horizon is completely crooked yet the wave is straight. The colors seem off too. Heck, everything about this photo seems off but that's not stopping me from posting it!
Posted by silverdsl at 10:45 PM | Comments (0)
November 27, 2005
Photo of the Day - Cape May
Cape May, New Jersey, September, 2005.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:53 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2005
Cape May's Pelican Club Restaurant Likely to Close
Will Probably Be Replaced With Condos
I can't say I'm surprised because everything in Cape May is seemingly being converted into condos, but the Pelican Club on the sixth floor of the Marquis de Lafayette Hotel will likely close at the end of the year and the space be used for condos. The Pelican Club features a spectacular view of the ocean across the street as well as much of Cape May and any condos up there will certainly be high-end ones. It's just unfortunate because the restaurant is outstanding. Jim and I had considered it as a venue for our wedding and we went to eat there for the first time with my parents just before the wedding. Now that I hear it might close I think Jim and I will have to make another trip down there.
The current trend in Cape May towards condos isn't a good one because many of the properties that are being turned into condos (or large private homes) are bed & breakfasts. That's what makes Cape May unique and brings so many tourists into the city is all the Victorian bed & breakfasts, as well as all the terrific restaurants. Cape May probably draws most of their revenue from tourism so if there aren't as many places for people to stay and less high-end restaurants such as the Pelican Club and Water's Edge, which closed last year, then there are less people who will come to visit. I love Cape May, hence why I got married there. I hope to be able to visit there for many years to come but if it's not going to be as visitor friendly then it might not be as easy.
Posted by silverdsl at 02:54 PM | Comments (0)
September 08, 2005
Photo of the Day - Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, 2004. I haven't gotten to go to the Viaduct at all this year so far and I miss it. Maybe in the fall when the leaves are turning color it would be neat to go there. I just want to make sure that I get at least one more visit to the viaduct before NJ Transit makes it impossible to go up top.
Posted by silverdsl at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)
June 15, 2005
Photo of the Day - Purple House
Cape May, NJ, 2002. There's a neat Victorian house in Cape May that I always like to take a walk by whenever I'm in town because it's all purple. I love the way the house is painted! It's hard to take a picture of it that does it justice but here's a piece of it. I don't think I'd ever paint my own house that color - probably needs a lot of repainting. But it's cool to look at.
Posted by silverdsl at 12:08 AM | Comments (0)
June 13, 2005
Cape May Lighthouse
Lighthouse Casts Spell Over Cape May Point
Whenever I go to Cape May I like to try and visit the Cape May Lighthouse and a lot of other people do too. The view from the top is absolutely gorgeous! It's possible to see 360 degrees in every direction and on clear days that's very far! I haven't been able to go to the top as often as I might like because it is a steep and difficult climb up all the stairs which is particularly hard to do in the summer heat, which is when I'm most often in the Cape May area. But it's worth the effort and maybe at some point in the near future I'll be able to go up there again. But the lighthouse itself is really awesome to see, even from the ground.
I really love lighthouses. Even though all of the ones in the United States are unmanned and the their usefulness is increasingly going away due to technological advances like GPS, they are still fascinating to me. Aside from often being very picturesque so I always love taking photos around lighthouses, I also really enjoy reading books about lighthouse keepers and their families. Since some lighthouses are in the middle of the ocean or otherwise in difficult to reach areas, the lighthouse keepers were often stranded there for long periods of time. They also faced many hardships and it's incredible what conditions they sometimes had to put up with, particularly during storms. But lighthouse keepers and their families saved many lives back in the day when lighthouses were still manned.
Posted by silverdsl at 04:06 PM | Comments (0)
May 27, 2005
New Jersey Shore Towns Try to Entice More Visitors
Last summer was a bit of an off-season for many of the Jersey shore towns so in the hopes of warding off the same problem this season, Cape May County and much of the rest of New Jersey is kicking off a campaign to try and convince people to choose New Jersey for vacation instead of places like the Outer Banks or Virginia Beach. Personally I love the Jersey shore, particularly places like Cape May that are on the quieter side. But a lot of times people think of New Jersey as nothing more than the oil tanks and big factories they see from the Jersey turnpike. I'd say it's unfortunate that not more people have discovered and come to appreciate the areas of natural beauty in New Jersey like I have but it's not really a bad thing because it means that a lot of the places that Jim and I like to go to aren't spoiled by a ton of visitors trampling everything.
Posted by silverdsl at 01:49 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2005
Boy Lost Off of Cape May Whale Watch Boat
Told To Stop Horse-Play, Didn't Listen
This story caught my attention because I think I've been on this boat a few years ago when I went on a Whale/Dolphin watch in Cape May. Apparently this boat went out in rough seas on the first trip of the season with a group of boy scouts. The kids were playing a game in which they were jumping up and down with the waves to get airborne, and the boy accidently fell overboard, in spite of 44-inch high railings. A life preserver was thrown to him and an off-duty employee of the boat jumped in after him but he slipped under the water and was gone almost instantly.
What gets me is that both the daughter of the boat's captain and the chaperones of the boy scout group told the kids to stop playing the wave jumping game but as soon as the adult's backs were turned they would go right back to their jumping game. Just about every situation you can say "if only..." and this is no different. If only those kids had settled down when they were told. Accidents can always happen but I just hate to hear these stories in which a bad decision led to disaster.
Posted by silverdsl at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2005
Photo of the Day - Ocean Grove
Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Waves crashing onto the shore in Ocean Grove. I haven't been back since I went to Ocean Grove with Jim and his family a few years ago but it was really nice in Ocean Grove. We had a good time just relaxing and hanging out at the inn but I also really enjoyed taking pictures on the beach there. Maybe someday we'll go back.
Posted by silverdsl at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)
March 14, 2005
New Jersey To Pass Smoking Ban?
New Jersey is trying to pass a ban on smoking at indoor public places including restaurtants, office and casinos. I'd love to see this happen as a non-smoker because I'm tired of coughing up a lung and coming back from going out smelling like smoke. But with the inclusion of casinos in this measure it will probably never pass because the casinos in Atlantic City are sure to spend mega-bucks on lobbying to ensure an outcome favorable to them out of fear that a ban on smoking will hurt revenue. Meanwhile bar and restaurant owners in New York City have said that though they initially feared that they would lose a lot of revenue from a similar ban there, it doesn't seem to have hurt their profits all that much. Which makes sense because wsmokers really don't have much choice but to deal with the ban unless they want to travel much further than a lot of people probably want to find a bar or restaurant they can smoke in.
Posted by silverdsl at 11:23 PM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2005
Photo of the Day - Ocean Grove at Sunrise
Ocean Grove, New Jersey, 2002. Nothing like waves crashing to shore on the beach at sunrise.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:31 PM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2005
Photo of the Day - Cape May Lighthouse
Cape May, New Jersey, 2001. Just to break up all the Las Vegas photos, here's one of the Cape May Lighthouse. I remember climbing up there and since it was a hot day it was quite some walk up all those stairs. But it was a very nice view from the top and I'd like to go up there again. It would just have to be on a cooler day for sure!
The Cape May Lighthouse is one that had to be moved from it's original location due to erosion problems. And it's a good thing that was done as that spot is now under water.
Posted by silverdsl at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2005
More Than a Dozen Bed & Breakfasts in Cape May for Sale
Owners Cite Taxes, Cultural Shifts as Reasons for Selling
This is a troubling trend. At least 14 bed & breakfasts are for sale in Cape May and any number of those are expected to be converted into condos rather than continue as b&bs. Some of the owners cited factors such as the added taxes on hotels in New Jersey that guests don't want to pay, that Cape May isn't as tourist friendly as it used to be, and that increasingly many guests, particularly younger ones, don't like staying at B&Bs because they don't have as many amentities and don't appreciate the history of the old Victorian B&Bs.
Well, Jim and I love going to Cape May and staying in Bed and Breakfasts. I had noticed that there were any number of B&Bs on the market over the past year or so and I just figured it was just coincidence that so many were being sold. But apparently that isn't the case. I would hate to see the day when there aren't many B&Bs left in Cape May because that is exactly one reason why that town is so wonderful and charming.
That some guests don't want to pay the added expenses isn't something unique to staying at a B&B. Any hotel stay in New Jersey requires paying those added taxes. It's cited as an extra $35-40. Well, if $35-40 is a deal-breaker when it comes to going on vacation perhaps those folks shouldn't be going on vacation in the first place. Not that I want to spend extra money when I go away but I understand that there are taxes to be paid and expenses here and there that I can't get away from. I'm not going to skip going to Las Vegas because Jim and I will have to pay taxes on our hotel stay or plane ticket so why would people not come to Cape May because they have to pay taxes on their room?
As for the issue of Cape May not being as tourist friendly as it once was, I've never seen any hint of that and I've been going to Cape May since I was pretty young. There is the issue of the beach tags in that it used to be that all the motels and B&Bs could get buy a supply of beach tags to give to their guests which they (the B&Bs) could use all summer. Now Cape May requires guests to get their own individual beach tags which is an additional fee. I completely support this change. There is increased revenue to be made from guests having to purchase beach tags and that money is used to make improvements to the beaches and do work on other projects. Some also feel that there isn't enough touristy activities in Cape May but that is exactly why we like going to Cape May. There is no boardwalk and it's not the typical Jersey shore town. I would hate to see the beauty of Cape May spoiled by it becoming just like any other town on the shore.
Staying at a B&B isn't for everyone but we love it. From the beauty of the Victorian furnishings and the uniqueness of the rooms to the delicious breakfasts in the mornings. It's always such a wonderful experience. Not every B&B has TVs or full amentities like a Hilton but there are many that do have some of these things. It is those B&Bs that put in TVs or other amenities that will continue to survive and be successful. B&B owners need to be able to be flexible and adjust to the changing needs of their guests. What worked ten years ago might not work today. If most guests want cable TV or to not share a bathroom, then the B&B owners need to find a way to make those things happen, while still keeping with the philosophy of a B&B. Of course there will be some things that just won't be possible to do but sometimes it is necessary to make changes.
The one thing that B&B owners can't do much about are guests that don't appreciate the history of the places they are staying in and Cape May itself. I love the history of Cape May and I read everything I can on that subject. But a lot of people just don't care about things like that. Unfortunately that's something that's unlikely to change either. A lot of folks aren't interested in what came before, only what is happening in the here and now and only what effects them. Sad to say but that might be the ultimate downfall of Cape May, not any of these other issues. Because if you don't have people who appreciate the history of the town they will see no reason not to tear down some of the old Victorian houses and build huge hotels in their place. Which means that Cape May will lose what makes it so unique.
Posted by silverdsl at 02:40 PM | Comments (0)
January 12, 2005
Photo of the Day - Ice, Ice, Baby
High Point State Park, Sussex, New Jersey, January, 2005. Here's a close up of the thick layer of ice that was on everything. I really like the way this photo came out!
Posted by silverdsl at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2005
Photo of the Day - Ice
High Point State Park, Sussex, NJ, January, 2005. It was so cool to see all the patterns the icy tree branches made as they froze in place. What was also cool was how super-quiet it was there since we were in the middle of the woods and there were very few people and cars around.
Posted by silverdsl at 07:38 PM | Comments (0)
"The Simple Life" Won't Film at NJ School
The Producers of The Simple Life wanted to film at a middle school in Buena Vista Township, New Jersey and have Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie work as substitute teachers and cafeteria monitors. For some odd reason the school thought this was a great idea but of course many parents were not so thrilled considering much of both women's fame comes from partying and in the case of Paris, an x-rated video. What astonishes me is that the school district didn't shelve this idea on their own, it was only after the producers approached them concerned about the controversy that the filming was cancelled.
There is no doubt that kids are exposed to all sorts of racy and potentially inappropriate material. But a school should be teaching kids about positive topics and exposing them to positive role models, not bringing in two women who are famous for... what exactly? Neither of these two women have done much of consequence other than have a famous last name. A much better use of the school's resources is to bring in men and women from the surrounding community who are successful in business and other industries through hard work, who would be much better examples for these middle school students.
Posted by silverdsl at 12:04 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2005
Photo of the Day - Ice
High Point State Park, Sussex, New Jersey, January, 2005. Yesterday Jim and I took a drive through Western New Jersey over to a nice little town in Pennsylvania, Milford, which has lots of cool craft and antique stores. On our way back we decided to stop off in High Point State Park, which as one can tell from the name is the highest point in the area, at 1,803 feet above sea level. It's possible to see Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey from the mounument up top.
Last week there was a storm which dumped mostly rain on Long Island and Eastern New Jersey. But up by High Point it was apparently a major ice storm. So every tree, bush, shrub and piece of grass was coated in a thick covering of ice. Which made for some really neat photos. I had been thinking that it would have been better if it was a sunny day but then I realized that if it was then the ice would probably have been melting and also the reflections of the sun off all the ice might have made it hard to take pics.
I've seen the result of ice storms before but I don't think I've ever seen ice this thick on everything before. I guess because of how high the elevation is there, it made for perfect conditions for the ice storm to cover everything entirely and then not melt off as easily as it might at a lower elevation. I could probably have spent all day taking photos there but unfortunately time was extremely limited. But I did get some and I think this week will be "ice" week in my blog.
Posted by silverdsl at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2005
Photo of the Day - Another From the Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, November, 2002. Here's another shot of the viaduct taken as we were walking down from the top. It's actually a bit of a climb to get up there and tricky to get down as it's a steep incline but luckily there's a path on one side that makes it a bit easier. It's unfortunate that photos really can't do the viaduct justice as even with a wide angle lens it would be hard to fully capture how long and high the viaduct is and how it looms over everything nearby.
Posted by silverdsl at 11:29 PM | Comments (1)
January 06, 2005
Photo of the Day 2 - View From The Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, April, 2004. This is the view from the top of the viaduct. In the distance is the Delaware Water Gap. Notthe greatest photo but it gives a sense of how high the viaduct is and how far one can see from the top of it.
Posted by silverdsl at 11:56 PM | Comments (0)
Photo of the Day - On Top of the Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, April, 2004. This is what it looks like on top of the Viaduct. After the viaduct was abandoned the railroad ties were taken out so all that's left is dirt and gravel. As you can see many of the railings are gone and the remaining ones are all rusted so they don't offer much protection. The viaduct has been abandoned so long that there are even trees growing up there.
In this photo you can see a dirt biker making his way across the viaduct. Riding along the old rail trails is very popular for both dirt bikers and ATV'ers and they go super-fast so caution is needed when one approaches.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:41 PM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2005
Photo of the Day - Viaduct Arch
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, 2002. Here's a close-up of one of the arches of the viaduct. You can just make out if you look closely enough that there's graffitti inside the arches way up high. If one knows the way in, it's possible to climb through the arches, high above the ground. There's an access point at one end and there's also a hole on top where the tracks used to be that one can climb into. I've never been into the viaduct as I've heard it can be a tricky walk-through and I'm pretty clumsy and I have no desire to fall 150 feet down. I get nervous enough when I'm up top near the edge since the railing is missing in many places up there!
Posted by silverdsl at 10:52 PM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2005
Photo of the Day - Viaduct Graffitti
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, November, 2002. That the viaduct is hidden in the woods is one of the things that makes it so cool but one drawback is that it makes it an easy and attractive target for vandals. So there are countless places where graffitti artists have practiced their craft. In some places there has been an effort to paint over it but for the most part it's a losing battle because the viaduct isn't under constant watch.
Of course the relatively remote location, without any houses nearby means that it's a place for kids to congregate and get into mischief. Every time that we visit the viaduct there are signs of parties and it's not unusual to see stuff shattered on the ground that has been thrown off the top. There are even a few shattered and rusted remains of cars that met their end via a trip off the viaduct.
There are plenty of rumors that satanists use the viaduct as a meeting place but I've never seen any signs of that other than some satanic graffitti that is most likely the work of teenagers. There are also rumors that there are bodies of workers who lost their lives building the viaduct buried in the concrete of the structure giving rise to ghost stories. But in all the places that I've looked and everything that I've read on the viaduct there is nothing to substantiate that.
We did see one strange thing, on our last visit. By the edge of the river, under the viaduct, there was a shrine to deceased fisherman. We actually couldn't take a close look at it since the bugs were too intense by the water but later I found a photo of the shrine at someone's website. I suspect that this person didn't lose their life at the viaduct but perhaps that was a favorite fishing spot. Each time we go to the viaduct there's always something new to see but that was one of the most unexpected.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)
January 02, 2005
Photo of the Day - Paulinskill Viaduct
Paulinskill Viaduct, Hainsburg, New Jersey, April, 2004. The Paulinskill Viaduct is a place that I love to go. There is something about this immense and mostly abandoned structure, hidden away in the woods, that I love. Built in 1909, the Viaduct featured seven arches, that march through the woods and above the Paulinskill River. The Viaduct was part of the Erie-Lackawanna line and was in active use through the 60's. It is possible that at some point in the future trains will run over the viaduct once more as NJ Transit is contemplating a plan for a rail line that would go into Pennsylvania over the viaduct.
At the time of when it was built I think this viaduct was one of the largest concrete viaducts in the world. So I post the above photo to show just how large this viaduct is. That's me looking so tiny underneath the viaduct and that's Jim's car parked at the side. It's very hard to take photos that do the viaduct justice because of how big it is and it was even harder the day that photo was taken since I was having some camera problems. But I like how tiny me and the car look underneath the viaduct. It's really incredible that something so large is not seen at all from Route 80 where hundreds of cars pass by each day.
I first discovered the Paulinskill Viaduct via Weird New Jersey which featured it as a weird abandoned place in New Jersey. Of course that magazine being what it is, they focused on many of the rumors, myths and ghost stories that surround the place. So Jim and I thought it would be a cool place to check out and we've been back three or four times since. I think we're definitely due to make a return trip!
I think this week will be viaduct week on my blog and I will post some photos and talk about some of the various things to be seen on and around the viaduct.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:43 PM | Comments (0)
November 02, 2004
Photo of the Day
The Mainstay Inn. Cape May, New Jersey. May, 2004. As some people reading this might know, I love Cape May on the Jersey shore. It's a beautiful Victorian town full of lots of bed and breakfasts and yummy restaurants.
Every time I go to Cape May I walk around town checking out some of my favorite spots. There are a few streets I love to walk down because every house whether it's a private residence or bed & breakfast is absolutely gorgeous. Though I've never stayed there The Mainstay Inn looks like one of the nicest to me. There is so much attention to detail outside and from what I've seen of the photos inside as well. I'm hoping that one day I can stay there though it is on the pricey side.
The main building of the Mainstay dates back to 1872 and was built as a private gambling club. In the 1890's gambling was outlawed and the Mainstay was a private house from then until 1949 when it was opened as a summer guest house. In 1976 it was purchased by new owners who renovated it and opened it as a bed & breakfast. In April of this year ownership changed hands once again but the Mainstay continues on as a b&b.
Even though I've been to Cape May a bunch of times and seen a lot of the same places over and over I never get tired of taking photos in Cape May. I'm always trying to get shots that capture the Victorian character of the town. I don't know if it's that so many of the structures are so old or that they are so pretty but I'm just so fascinated by the town.
As I mentioned above, another great thing about Cape May are all the delicious restaurants. The Washington Inn, considered by many to be one of the best restaurants in New Jersey is a good one with an expansive wine list. Tisha's and Freda's, both featuring creative menus, are also excellent. Aleathea's in the Inn of Cape May is one I like to go to for lunch. At lunchtime it's pretty casual and I enjoy eating out on the porch, right across the street from the beach.
Just a really fun place to go.
Posted by silverdsl at 09:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2004
Photo of the Day
Ocean Grove, NJ. 2002. Jim and I went to Ocean Grove on the Jersey Shore with Jim's sister, her husband, Jim's Mom and his grandmother. Jim's Mom used to live in Bradley Beach a few towns over before she moved to upstate New York and has always liked Ocean Grove. OG is like a scaled down version of Cape May with some Victorian houses and bed & breakfasts. It was founded as a Methodist retreat and there is still a very heavy Methodist presence in town.
We stayed two blocks from the beach so I got up each morning at sunrise to take pictures. There was a pier nearby as well and I was fascinated by the waves crashing to shore under the pier. I could have stood there all day watching. I was also suprised by how big the waves were there, though really I shouldn't have been since there is some surfing done on the Jersey shore, particularly in South Jersey.
I would love to go back to Ocean Grove. It's a cute little town and we had a good time there. But the reason I want to go back is to take more pictures under that pier. It's amazing sometimes I just fall in love with places I've taken pictues of and I can't get them out of my head like this pier from two years ago. Or the rock on Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine which is deserving of it's own entry in the future.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)
October 23, 2004
A Beautiful Fall Day
So today Jim and I headed out to the apple orchard to get some cider apple donuts and some hot apple cider. Yummy! It was such a nice day out and we really enjoyed checking out all the trees that are turning color. We also stopped off in Chester, NJ which is full of great craft stores and walked around there a bit. Then we took a nice long drive through the area which we usually do every time we go to that part of New Jersey since Jim grew up not that far away. I am so glad that we did this today instead of watching the truck race which I discussed below!
When we went to Chester we went to one of my favorite craft stores, The Quest Gallery. I absolutely love contemporary crafts - pottery, glasswork, jewelry, everything. The woman who runs this store does a great job of picking the artists whose works she is going to sell. Every time we go into that store there are all kinds of beautiful pieces. Most of them are usually too expensive for me to get but I almost always end up getting my mother a present and once or twice I've been able to get myself a little something. We're going to my Mother's retirement party on Saturday so Jim and I got her two nice presents that I think she will like.
Chester is just a gorgeous area. Beautiful, big houses with lots of property. It's a somewhat rural area with lots of woods and parks but at the same time it's close to a lot of shopping and highways. Any of the towns in that area would be a great place to live someday. I just don't know if Jim and I will be able to afford it, especially when we are first starting out after we get married. Maybe someday...
Posted by silverdsl at 04:41 PM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2004
Photo of the Day
Brookdale Park, New Jersey. 2002.
I used to really love taking photos of flowers, especially roses and tulips. The colors and the patterns that could be found within the flowers always intrigued me. But in the past couple of years I don't get as much enjoyment as I once did from taking photos of flowers. I try to challenge myself to always look for photos that are somehow different than the standard flower photos and it seems harder and harder to come up with something unusual or eye-catching. So I don't think I get the same satisfaction I once did from this type of photo.
But I'm sure if I got back to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania or went to the Bronx Botanical Gardens when everything was in bloom I'd find plenty to inspire me. The one time I was at Longwood Gardens it seemed like everywhere I turned there were beautiful flowers to take pictures of. I'd also like to check out some gardens in another part of the county where there are some plantings that can't be found up here. It's too bad the day that I was visiting Melissa and Co. in Orlando the rain prevented us from going to the gardens there which I've heard are really nice.
Posted by silverdsl at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)