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Real Estate
in Spring Lake NJ
Real Estate in Spring Lake New Jersey is a very valuable
commodity. It’s one of the
most exclusive New Jersey Communities and probably the most exclusive
community by the New Jersey
Shore. The proximity to the beach make this
small shore community a beautiful place to live or vacation.
Homes
For Sale in Spring Lake NJ
On this website you
will find resources on real estate in Spring Lake
NJ and a tremendous
amount of information. We are
interested in assisting anyone wishing to buy sell or rent property in Spring Lake NJ.
Spring Lake
NJ News
From Zwire
Shore enough, it's time to head back to the beach
By RUTH ROVNER,
Special to the Times
05/25/2006
But the Shore also
offers varied off-the-beach attractions. They cover the gamut and include a
restored colonial village, a historic winery, a zoo, and sites that
highlight the natural environment of the Jersey Shore.
We visited several of these on recent excursions, and each reminded us of
the many ways to enjoy Jersey
Shore beyond the
beach.
Time traveling at Smithville
Historic Smithville is a world apart- a restored 19th century village which
transports visitors back in time. It's located on the mainland only 12
miles from Atlantic City.
On our visit, we took a stroll on the village green, watched the ducks on Lily Lake, and browsed in the specialty
shops. Over 50 shops are on the site, all housed in restored colonial style
structures.
Later we enjoyed lunch in the Lantern Light Tavern, a cheerful eatery with
Tiffany lamps and wood-beamed ceilings. For fine dining, there's also the
elegant and authentically restored Smithville Inn.
After lunch, we crossed over the wooden footbridge to the other side of Lily Lake, where we watched kids enjoying
the colorful carousel, the mini train and the paddle boats on the lake.
Families were also enjoying refreshments at the outdoor tables overlooking
the lake. The varied eateries here include an ice cream shop, pizzeria and
casual restaurant.
A tasty trip to Renault
Four giant wine casks are lined up at the entrance to Renault Winery making
it easy for us to find. It's located in Egg
Harbor City
on the mainland, 20 minutes from Atlantic
City. The setting- with garden, duck pond, and
expansive grounds -- is so idyllic that it's a popular site for weddings.
The winery offers tours, wine tastings, an informal café and a full-service
restaurant open on weekends.
In recent years, the site has expanded and it's now called the Renault
Resort.
Adjoining the winery is a new golf course voted one of the ten top new golf
courses in the U.S.
And across Bremen Avenue
is Tuscany Hotel with its own restaurant.
But we were to visit the winery, and a guided tour was the ideal way to do
this. (Tours are free and offered daily). First, in the Hospitality Room,
our guide sketched in the history of the winery, founded in l864 by master
vintner Louis Nicholas Renault of Rheims,
France. He
searched extensively in the U.S.
for the ideal site for wine-making- and found it right in South
Jersey.
Next, we visited the press room and saw the machines which remove the grape
skins and press out the juice. In the bottling area, we stood near huge
casks, each holding over 2000 gallons.
Then, in the tasting room, we sampled five wines -- small portions only --
which included white, red, and the award-winning blueberry champagne that
is made only by Renault. Later we stopped into the gift shop to purchase
this champagne as a reminder of our visit to Renault.
Get to know the salt marsh
Located a few miles from Stone
Harbor, the Wetlands
Institute is a site that highlights the natural environment. Situated on
6000 acres of coastal wetlands, it draws 40,000 visitors each year. Here
they can learn all about the salt marsh- the thin ribbon between land and
sea- that is part of this valuable coastal environment.
A small but attractive indoor exhibit area has displays are both fun and
educational. They include an exhibit titled "Secrets of the Salt
Marsh," microscopes for close-up observations, an aquarium and
observation tank, and a colorful wall display titled "Crabby
Crustaceans."
And for the youngest visitors, Wetlandia is a "please touch" area
that includes three new touchable displays- a bird-siting observation
platform, a pretend fishing platform, and a moveable display about marsh
life.
But the major "exhibit" is the salt marsh itself, which visitors
can explore on their own or by taking Salt Marsh Safaris led by trained
guides. The two-hour free tours are offered daily.
With limited time, we toured on our own, following the sign leading to the
Salt Marsh trail. Here we saw birds skimming low, crabs scuttling on the
water's edge, and bird-watchers standing motionless with their binoculars.
Then, returning to the main building, we climbed up to the observation deck
for an expansive view of the salt marsh, with thick marsh grasses and
graceful birds flying overhead.
A visit to the Cape May Zoo
Located on Route 9 near Cape May Court House, the Cape May Zoo is a hidden
treasure: a full-scale facility that houses animals from around the world
in a delightful park setting that includes recreational facilities, picnic
tables, and walking paths.
The animals are housed in attractive enclosures, surrounded by trees and
greenery, and with well detailed explanatory panels for visitors.
Walking along the tree-lined pathways, we saw an ocelet sleeping on a tree
branch inside its enclosure. We also saw llamas lying peacefully in the
sun, lemurs from Madagascar,
and slender pink flamingoes relaxing in a grassy area with a pond.
Then we wandered through a large indoor aviary, with lush foliage, and a
tropical ambience. Outdoors, there were more birds, including a Hyacinth
Macau, the largest of all parrots, and a barred owl, named for the bars
across its chest.
The novelty of seeing all these animals in a seashore environment makes
this zoo even more appealing.
Shedding light on Cape May Point
The looming Cape May Lighthouse at Cape May Point is a dramatic sight and a
familiar landmark. It's the second oldest continuously working lighthouse
in the U.S.,
and it's open to the public.
Adjacent to the lighthouse is the Education
Center in Cape May Point
State Park. Here we
had an interesting introduction to the lighthouse given by one of the
current keepers, who explained the history of the 1859 structure and told
of the work of keepers of the past.
Then we were ready for the challenge of climbing the 199 stairs to the top.
Along the way are exhibits on all six landings. Finally, at the top, we
stood on an outdoor pavilion to admire the panoramic view, which included
the sight of dolphins at play in the surf at nearby Cape May Point.
From the colonial village of Smithville to the historic lighthouse in Cape
May, the Jersey
Shore has attractions
for all ages. All are reminders of the pleasures available to those who
explore beyond the beach.
IF YOU GO
* Historic Smithville is on Route 9 and New York Road, Smithville, 12 miles
from Atlantic City, phone 609-652-7777. Open daily.
* Renault Winery at 72 North
Bremen Ave, Egg Harbor
City, phone 609-965-2111,
website www.renaultwinery.com is open daily, with winery tours and free
wine tasting. The restaurant is open for dinner Fridays through Sundays,
and Wine Garden Café is open daily for lunch.
* Wetlands Institute in Stone
Harbor is at 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd,
3 miles east of Exit #10 on Garden
State Parkway, phone 609-368-1211, website
www.wetlandsinstitute.org. Open daily. Guided salt marsh safaris are free
with admission, given daily.
* The Cape May Zoo is on Route 9, two miles north of Cape May Court House,
Exit 11, Garden State Parkway.
Phone 609-465-5271. Open daily 10AM to 5PM.
* The Cape May Lighthouse at Cape May Point, phone 609-884-8656 is open
daily, website www. capemaymac.org
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Tip #19
Home Buying Tip, Online Searching:
Searching online is a very effective way to look for real estate in New Jersey, or
anywhere for that matter. Good
websites allow you to search through multiple MLS’s so you can
cover a wide range. For example
here you can Search for
NJ Real Estate.
After you find the house you are
interested in you can inquiry with the real estate agency to find out
more information or to arrange an appointment to view the house.
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Tip #18
Home Selling Tip, Targeting Out Of State:
When you sell your home you sometimes have to put yourself in the
potential buyers’ shoes. In New Jersey many home buyers are from the
surrounding area, like New York or Pennsylvania.
Knowing this can allow your agent to
market your house more effectively.
If he/she will advertise in a New York publication they can describe
the proximity to NY. This allows
your potential Buyer Base to expand.
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