It’s been a minute! Blog posts have fallen by the wayside a bit, owing to life responsibilities. However, with the approach of summer, new adventures beckon, and The Open Road Ahead is getting back into the swing of things. First up? A recap of some recent trips we’ve taken around New Jersey: three trips to the Jersey shore, a visit to a cool winery, and a lovely dinner to celebrate a special event! Afterward, we’ll wrap up with some automotive updates.
Let’s begin:
Foggy Cape May
In early April my wife and I spent a weekend in Cape May. The Jersey shore is lovely in the summertime, but my favorite time to visit is the off-season, when crowds are at a minimum.We arrived in time to try lunch at a new spot – Taco Caballito Tequileria, a Mexican restaurant located on Beach Drive. We had read good reviews for this spot so we figured we’d give it a chance.The margaritas, as well as the chips, salsa, and guacamole, were all excellent… and the view from our table made the meal even better!For main entrees, we each chose from the taco samplers. I devoured the Classic Taco Sampler: one carne asada taco, one al pastor taco, and one sea bass taco (the best of the three). Taco Caballito is excellent, if a little pricy (you are paying, in part, for that view!). We would definitely come back again. Fueled up, we were ready for some further adventures.Our next stop was to Sunset Beach in Cape May. Given the forecast, there would not be much of a sunset this day. We were there for other reasons, however.Periodically, I like to stop by Sunset Beach and check out the remains of the SS Atlantus, a transport ship that was made from concrete! Envisioned as a way to not over-extend the nation’s steel supply in the aftermath of World War I, the concrete ships were designed to be an affordable way to transport cargo across the oceans. The idea never quite caught on, and the derelict hulk came to rest along the shore after a storm in 1926 swept her from her moorings. Her remains are slowly deteriorating into the sea – there is maybe 30% visible from what I first saw as a child. You can read more about the concrete ship fleet on this excellent website.We next ventured twenty minutes back up the Garden State Parkway to visit Sea Isle City. We were coming to do some preparation for our planned vacation in June (more on that later!). Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas – as we approached Sea Isle, the thickest fog I have ever seen at the shore descended upon the island.The fog was like something from a horror movie. We crossed a few items off our vacation prep to-do list and then headed back to Cape May for dinner.Our restaurant of choice was a place my wife had never been: The Lobster House. Located beside Cape May Harbor, the Lobster House has been in business for four generations. A commercial fishing fleet works off the pier next to the restaurant, bringing in fresh catches daily.We started with a shrimp cocktail appetizer. It was… ok. The cocktail sauce was a little bland, and the shrimp were a touch overdone. Not awful, mind you, but not spectacular, especially given the price.Our entrees, however, more than made up for the appetizer. We both ordered the broiled scallops, and were in heaven with each bite. If you’re in Cape May and are looking for a family-style seafood restaurant, definitely give The Lobster House a try!After dinner, we took a walk along the pier – the fog created an ethereal scene.By the next morning, the fog had cleared and a beautiful day emerged. After breakfast at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House (of course) and a glamour shot of the Acura (of course!!), it was time to head home.
Asbury Park Breakfast
In mid-May, with my wife out of town for a family event, I decided to wake up early and head to Asbury Park, my favorite northern beach town in NJ, for breakfast.My destination of choice? Toast City Diner, my absolute favorite spot for breakfast at the shore.After first opening in the town of Montclair, Toast has expanded to five locations throughout northern New Jersey. The website describe’s Toast’s atmosphere as “peaceful and homey.” I absolutely agree.My go-to breakfast at Toast: Will’s Gluten Free Waffle. Paired with a side of turkey sausage and washed down with a glass of orange juice, it absolutely hit the spot!On the drive down I realized that my Acura had never been to Asbury Park. I fixed that with a mandatory glamour shot in front of The Stone Pony, the concert venue that has launched the careers of many noted rock artists.After breakfast, I took advantage of the lovely weather to enjoy a walk along the Asbury Park boardwalk.I stopped by the Asbury Park Convention Hall to check out the latest murals on display.I also made a pitstop at Offshore Coffee Co. in Convention Hall and grabbed a hot oat milk latte. Delicious!Asbury Park has a vibrant public art scene, and with each visit I discover something new. This personal cassette player and headphones brought a smile to my face. It was a lovely morning in Asbury!
Sea Isle Vacation
Most recently, it was time for a week-long vacation in the town of Sea Isle City. This year we would be joined by our friends and their two young sons. It was a blast!We rented a beachfront house for the week. Equipped with three bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and three different beachfront decks, it was a spacious, comfortable, and relatively affordable place to stay.The view from the top floor wasn’t too shabby…The deck also made a great spot for catching an early morning sunrise.It was also an ideal launching point for my drone.Waking up on a foggy morning, I put my drone aloft to get a birds-eye perspective of Sea Isle City.And what beach trip is complete without a sunset photo?Or without a glamour shot of your vehicle?
The Wildlife
A day trip to the Cape May Zoo was an ideal afternoon activity, especially when you have two little ones in tow. Kids and adults alike enjoyed checking out the toucan!I personally liked hanging out with this giant tortoise, even if he moved a bit slowly.The reptile house was a big hit. This mottled rock rattlesnake came out to say, “Hello, ssssstranger!”Perhaps the most popular stop for our friends’ sons was spending time with the zoo’s giraffes.Local wildlife also call the zoo home, such as the turtles which were bathing in a pond. One of our friends spotted the baby turtle riding on the back of its parent.Many of the animals and birds at the zoo are part of breeding programs for species of concern. The zoo will attempt to pair bond and breed animals whose survival as a species is in question.The cotton top tamarin is a critically endangered species. These little guys are fascinating to watch. With their shock of white hair and innate intelligence, I long ago came up with my own nickname for them: Albert Einstein Monkeys. You heard it here first.Another endangered species is the snow leopard, and a pair are kept at the zoo as part of a breeding program to ensure the species’ survival. Our afternoon at the zoo was awesome!Not all the wildlife we encountered was at the zoo. After a quiet first day, osprey became a regular form of viewing entertainment as they flew over our house to hunt in the ocean.This trip gave me some of the best osprey photos I’ve ever taken.Our friends’ sons took an interest in my photography and I quickly trained them how to be “spotters” for me – to watch as the osprey slowed down and began to circle over the water, to track them as they splashed down, and then to follow their flight back to their nests. Full credit to the kids – they spotted this bird as it emerged from the water with TWO fish in its talons.It was fun sharing my love of wildlife with the kids!!Of course, osprey weren’t the only cool things to photograph. Although not photographed, we were also treated to pods of dolphins swimming near the beach on several occasions.One of the wildest things I’ve seen in Sea Isle: two fox who call the dunes home made regular appearances at dusk.The two fox showed little, if any, fear of humans and came quite close to several people on the beach. My guess? People (stupid people) are feeding them, causing them to lose their innate fear of humans. Don’t feed the wildlife, people. It only takes a single bad encounter for one (if not both) of these animals to have to be destroyed.
The Food
And of course, no visit to the shore is complete without a report on food! On our arrival day we had a lovely lunch at the Deauville Inn in nearby Strathmere.Our friends would be arriving closer to dinnertime, so my wife and I enjoyed a casual lunch for two to kick off our week at the beach.Does a lunchtime view get any better?My wife had the more sensible meal – grilled salmon on a bed of quinoa and greens. I, however, had the tastiest: a crab cake sandwich, served with homemade potato chips. What a great way to start our trip!If you want great quality seafood on Sea Isle City, my first (and only) choice is Mike’s Seafood. Founded in 1911 by a husband and wife who had just emigrated from Italy, Mike’s is a Jersey shore institution.Whether you’re getting takeout, eating at Mike’s Dock Restaurant, or buying fresh seafood to cook at home, Mike’s has you covered.My wife and I split the Patio Paul: steamed lobster tails, crab legs, and shrimp. One of our friends’ sons tried a bit of my lobster tail (he didn’t like it, but I was proud he tried it), while the other was introduced to (and devoured) a grouper fillet. Mike’s never disappoints.I discovered a new, awesome coffee shop, bakery, and cafe on the island – Shorebreak Cafe. An iced oat milk latte made work go much easier as I sat at one of the patio tables outside the cafe.Of course, no visit to Sea Isle is complete without a stop at Bubba Dogs, a hot dog vendor that sets up shop near the 59th Street beach entrance. Bubba Dogs is a favorite of NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce when they vacation in town.Another Sea Isle institution is Giovanni’s Deli. Family owned and operated, it has been dishing out sandwiches, salads, and deli meats since 1975.Every single summer, we make at least one visit to Giovanni’s when we’re in town.If you call this a sub, you’d be incorrect. This is a hoagie. “But isn’t hoagie the same thing as a sub?” you might ask. A fair question. To me, the difference is the type of bread. Hoagie rolls are typically crustier and thicker than sub rolls. Regardless of what you call it, Giovanni’s spells “delicious.”The week flew by in a blur, and before we knew it, it was time to head home. After saying goodbye to our friends, we packed up the Jeep and began the drive north. Along the way, Grace, our 2014 Grand Cherokee, rolled yet another milestone. Onward!
A New Winery
New Jersey has some amazing wineries, and a new one that we will go back to again is Cream Ridge Winery in Allentown. Established in 1988, Cream Ridge is family owned and operated.We met up with a family member and had a great time. Cream Ridge allows you to bring your own food (although there was a food truck on premises the day we visited). We were also treated to live music.Of course, the star of the show was the wine, which was quite lovely. I enjoyed the Chardonnay (right) while my wife had the Audrey 2.0 (left), a white wine blend.I had a nice chat with the owner, Jackie, who came over when she saw me studying the custom benches that dotted the property. Several incorporated tailgates from old pickups as the bench back. This one was from Audrey’s father’s old and trusty Chevy S-10 pickup. Talk about art I can appreciate! Cream Ridge impressed us deeply – we will be back.
Father’s Day Dinner
To celebrate Father’s Day, my wife and I took my Dad and stepmom to Limoncello Ristorante, an Italian restaurant in Sewell, NJ.We started our meal by sharing an order of grilled octopus and calamari. My entree was a delicious Linguine Fra Diavolo, served with shrimp. It had great flavor!On the recommendation of our waiter, my wife had the blackened tuna, served over a bed of risotto. Her meal was excellent. My stepmom had the grilled salmon, while my Dad’s entree was the Pollo Limoncello – chicken with shrimp and crab meat in a sherry beurre blanc sauce. I will definitely order it the next time I go!I don’t usually get dessert when I go out, but Father’s Day only comes once a year. We split this decadent dessert four ways. It’s not on the menu, and I didn’t catch the name, but it’s basically a giant peanut butter cup. I savored every bite! Limoncello was an excellent restaurant – it gets two Open Road thumbs up!
Garage Updates
Both my Acura and my wife’s Jeep recently got some upgrades! I went to the DMV and swapped my old license plates for these specialty plates. “Shore to Please” features Barnegat Lighthouse, and proceeds go toward beach cleanup and lighthouse maintenance in New Jersey.My wife’s Jeep got new plates as well. Baymen’s Heritage honors the New Jersey residents who spent their lives building communities along the bayside coastline. Proceeds help support museums in the state that preserve this history.Last, but not least, a quick check-in with my Acura TLX. It recently went in for some minor servicing, including a four-wheel alignment. It is in great shape, and will be our ride of choice for a very special trip in July – stay tuned! In the meantime… onward!
Wrapping Up
While this blog may have been quiet over the past few months, we certainly have not been! From deep in the off-season to the beginning of summer, each of our trips around New Jersey has been a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of life. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we first celebrate a very important date, and then later embark the Acura on the longest road trip it has ever taken.
And thanks, as always, for coming along on another journey down the open road ahead.
The Open Road Ahead 