Sparkling Pointe, (back to) Croteaux Vineyards, takeout oysters at Braun Seafood, staying at Jedediah Hawkins Inn:
One Woman Wines & Vineyards, McCall Wines and Macari Vineyards. We also went to Shinn and Bedell.
All the wines were really good — not like we remembered them in 2005 or even 2009. And some of the places we went to were new since then. Fun.
At some point in your life you visit many, many zoos. Here are some recent visits to zoos and aquariums along the East Coast.
The Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest in the U.S. They have a wonderful primate facility where you can get real close and gawk:
Across the river in Camden is the Adventure Aquarium, which used to be owned by the state but which was unloaded to a private entity about ten years ago. There’s a fun shark tunnel there:
In Sarasota, the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has a great manatee exhibit and a rarely-in-captivity dolphin (which is only there because it was injured and can’t be in the wild):
Closer to home, there is the grand Bronx Zoo:
The Queens Zoo is a great little zoo — and I don’t think “little” is a pejorative: there’s something to the idea that a visit to the zoo doesn’t have to be this exhausting day-long slog. The Queens Zoo focuses on animals of the Americas, as well, which is a cool curatorial take. The Buckminster Fuller dome/aviary is a hoot, too:
Finally, the Staten Island Zoo makes for a fun trip to the island. The nursery there is fun to see:
Also, Staten Island Chuck, who takes down mayors:
The Silverball Museum and Pinball Hall of Fame along the Asbury Park boardwalk is a hoot:
They also have vintage video games:
Elsewhere in Monmouth County during this period: Battleview Orchards for pick-your-own peaches and nectarines, Vic’s in Bradley Beach for dinner and another evening on the boardwalk in Asbury Park.
Here’s the Butterfly House in Freehold:
After Sandy boardwalk in Ocean Grove was eventually rebuilt. Here it is in August 2013:
Then August 2014:
