Philadelphia South KOA, Clarksboro NJ

We are at our new home for a week, the Philadelphia South KOA

Our trip to our new campground started out through a 2 lane road  with a bridge that was open for one lane of traffic at a time ( a little stressfull) and then major highways to the interstate.

Outside of the 2 lane road, which was very scenic, it was pretty easy, except rain again.

The campground is not your typical KOA (we have been disappointed with KOA before but not this time). It is so clean, and very well maintained.   NJ law dictates no permanent residents and as a camper, that is a nice change.

I would rate this campground in the top 5% of places we have stayed in the last 5 years, and we have been at as some great ones. The only draw back is not internet at the sites.  They only have it at the office but they do offer it through an outside company.  So no problem, I don't mind paying for it. Something we haven't seen yet, 2 sewer connections per site to accommodate trailers and 5th wheels.  I'm sure that makes dumping a lot easier for them.

The campground became a KOA a few years ago and has just added the area we are in with large sites that back up to the woods, so no satellite again but lots of channels available without it. However the TV Saga continues for Big Bob.  The new antenna has been taken down and returned to camping World and the old antennae reattached  (seems we get more channels with the original).

The are some nice amenities here:

Playground  

Jumping pillows (looks like a hoot)

A pool and hot tub 

Cabins, that are laid out nicely and not on top of each other as we have seen when cabins are added.

 They even have two Clam Tents

The temperatures have been wonderful here - mid 70's to lower 80's.  We have had rain, but it has just been a nuisance - after all we are Floridians so rain is a way of life in the summer.

We took a trip over to Delaware but pretty much turned around and came back (we did stop for milk,  eggs  and bread).  I brought a freezer full of food and half my pantry, so we have not had to buy anything but those plus water.

Delaware was a zoo.  Eight lane interstate, and it seemed very exit lead to more interstates.  The highlight of trip was crossing the Delaware River, a $4.00 toll, but only entering Delaware, no tolls when leaving.  This is the only picture, because right after this, it got crazy!  Traffic everywhere, jocking for what lane they wanted, before the lanes went down to two right after the toll booth (construction).

We leave Sunday for the next adventure.  We have enjoyed our adventures here very much. I am hope you will enjoy reading about New Jersey and Philadelphia.

 Couple of things we saw while in the area

 Dog wearing socks

 Solar panels on the utility polls in both NY and PA - what a great idea.  Love to see this in FL

 
 Next Destination:  The Pocono Mountains

Our Adventures:   Historic Philadelphia 

New Jersey

We spent our first day here in Atlantic City, rather than heading to Philadelphia since the weatherman was calling for 80% chance of rain and it is a walking town.

We took the scenic route, but very few pictures. I have been forbidden to take any more pictures while I am driving, but I did snap a few.

One of the many scenic roads on the way to Atlantic City.

 Beautiful old Church

 
 As we crossed into Atlantic City we were greeted by the Wind Farm (left side of the picture).

We weren't sure where to go there, but I think we made the right decision in choosing the boardwalk.  It was not what I expected.

Shop after shop

 An Amusement Park 

 Something I have never seen in one of these machines.


 
One of our favorite places

The Beach

 

And of course, the Casinos (one of many)  - we stayed away from them

We spent a few hours walking around and headed back to the campground, and surprise, on our way, the Atlantic County Harley Dealer.  So much for curbing the shirt habit!

Salem Oak Winery
There are lots of vineyards here so we decided on another rainy day to visit a winery. Big Bob did a google search and Salem Oak Winery came up with the best reviews.
 

             

                                                                                 

 Mandi, the owner, is the perfect one to do the tasting, as she is so full of knowledge and enthusiasm for the vines and her product. 

It is a small vineyard (seven acres which they planed in 2003), and it's just her, her two children and the winemaker. 

She told us the Federal Government recently did a study and found the soil in SE New Jersey to be   very similar to Bordeaux France, but they must contend with rain and humidity here  that France does not.  So they plant the grapes to grow higher, with more trunk.

 

We told her we were beer drinkers, and she chose wines for us that we would probably like and we did.  We liked it so much, (I have a sweet palette) we made an expensive,  unbudgeted purchase there. LOL  In addition, she went out to the garden and picked  us some tomatoes, basil and cukes,  which we used in a salad and some BLT's.  There is nothing better than a home grown tomato!

It was a very good choice for our winery visit!


Red Bank Battlefield
One of the ladies at the KOA recommended this park to us and I am so glad we went.  It is the site of Revolutionary War battle to secure the Delaware River from Great Brittan
 ..

The grounds are so serene, all though I'm sure it wasn't back in 1777. Two thousand Hessian troops (German militia hired by Great Britain) attempted to gain control of the Delaware River in order to get to Philadelphia.  The four hundred American navy men there got wind of the upcoming attack, were prepared, and able to defeat Great Britain and block their entry into Philadelphia, but only temporarily.

 

The view across the Delaware River of the Ben Franklin Bridge,

The  skyline view across the river to Philadelphia

Later, we visited  the most friendly American Legion yet - Post 133  .  They even gave us our first beers and a license tag to tack back to our Legion.

I definitely underestimated New Jersey.  This area is surrounded by small towns and friendly people. I wish we had more time to spend here, so it is going on the list to do again.

Historic Philadelphia

We spent three days in Philadelphia, with a day off after each visit to recoup.

We took the train each time, a new experience for us.  We had "deer in  the headlight eyes", which the nice folks noticed and helped us several times.  But we got it down now, as long as we don't have to change origination (Woodcrest) or destination (8th & Market) points. 

 
The station at the  Philadelphia  station, opened into a mall with hotel. 

The places we ate

We had a late lunch at  City Tavern our first day.   The original tavern opened in 1773 and became the  meeting place of the delegates before and after sessions of the first Continental Congress, including  George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. In 1834, the roof got fire and was heavily damaged and eventually torn down.  But in 1948 Congress authorized it's preservation and it was rebuilt, historically accurate. The servers wear period dress and their menu includes original recipes of the time. No bud light but ales, made again, from recipes from the 700's. 

 

 Food was Yummy!

The next time we ate at Sonny's for a "Real Philly Cheese steak".  It was recommended by a local so we knew it was the place for us.

It was everything we had ever heard it would be!

 So we tried another cheese steak restaurant the next time, Oh Brother,  and it was good but not quite 'Sonny's!

The Things We Saw

 Independence Visitors Center
The first day we went there to get the lay of the land, book our tour and buy are tickets.

We started with  a 90 minute tour on the Big Bus, which was very educational, just too much to remember.

National Constitution Center

A copy of the original Constitution replicated right after is was written.

State flags in the order that they were admitted to the United States.  Plagues under each flag gives the dates.

We toured the Hamilton exhibit, Raising Freedom presentation and enjoyed the many displays.  No pictures were allowed.

Christ Church Burial Ground
 

 

 




Ben Franklin is buried here ( his headstone below), plus four other signers of the Declaration of Independence



Declaration House

The original structure was torn down in 1883. Photographs of the site enabled the National Park Service to build a  recreation of the original building.  It is where Thomas Jefferson stayed while he wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.

 Liberty Bell
The display is located behind the remains of the first White House (the brick structure).

Museum of the American Revolution
We spent several hours here.  The tine line began before the war, illustrated the major battles and the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

Betsy Ross's House

Rocky 's Steps
Once Upon a Moment 
They have 12 of these stands located through out the Historic area that have five minute presentation of  tidbits of history.  We heard two - one on Ona, an escaped slave of George Washington, who made it to Portland Ne Hampshire and refused to return and never saw her family again becuase of the decision to stay, and the other on a woman, who started a cause to raise money for the troops by seeking donations, and was joined by other women in the colonies who raised $300,000 that went to purchase fabric so they could  make shirts for the soldiers.
 

 Old buildings and Modern Sky Scrapers

 

We weren't able to see everything we wanted.  I over-estimated how long Big Bob's arthritic

hips would hold up - it is definitely a walking city.  But who knows, we might make a return visit in the future.

New Jersey