March 2011
Places Visited
I went to the Albany area a couple of times this month. Rachel, Derek, and I went to the Bangkok Bistro. I had vegetarian Drunken Noodles which I liked a lot. Another day, we all went to Ruby Tuesday in the Carousel Mall. There I had chicken sliders which were also delicious!
I spent a week at La Sammana Resort in Brigantine, New Jersey. It is only 10 minutes from Atlantic City and one block from the beach one direction and one block from the bay in the other direction. It was easy to drive to and the one-bedroom suite on the fourth floor was very comfortable. I was able to rest, work and sight-see all in one vacation!
I started my vacation by stopping at a relatives home near Philadelphia for lunch and a hike in Freedom Park in Medford, New Jersey. When I arrived in Braganite, after checking in, I went for a walk in the resorts neighborhood. It was safe and quite interesting. Because it was early in the season, many of the stores were closed and there were no crowds which was great with me. The weather was very warm, a great beach-walking day.
The first full day, I drove to the Atlantic City Aquarium at Historic Gardner's Basin. The aquarium is small but the staff was extremely helpful and friendly. I also only paid $5 to get in and the parking was free. The best part of the aquarium for me was the view from outside balconies. It was also close to one end of the Boardwalk. The wind was strong and cold so I didn't walk very far on it however. The Crafter's Village shops were mostly closed. Next, I drove to Absecon Lighthouse which also had free parking but I paid $6 to climb the 228 steps to the top and I have a card to prove that I made it to the top! The Absecon Lighthouse is New Jersey's tallest lighthouse and the third tallest lighthouse in the United States. The climb was not bad and each step was numbered and sponsored by someone. I bought a mug there also.
I left my car in the lighthouse parking lot and walked to the Showboat. I planned on getting a take-out lunch there and leaving. However, when I walked through the casino, I was on the Boardwalk and the wind was calm there. I walked along the Boardwalk as far as Nathan's. On the way back, I walked through Trump's Taj Mahal then a few blocks to Tony Boloney's where I had a spicy vegetable sub with cheese. Tony Boloney's won Guy Fieri's Food Network Cheesesteak Battle and I can see why! I ate the sandwich back at the resort and it was delicious.
The second day, I once again started my day at Hot Bagels & More. Then I drove to the Tropicana where I parked. I walked down the Boardwalk and then towards the Atlantic City Convention Center to see the antiques show. On the way, I walked through the Atlantic City Outlets: The Walk. It was several blocks wide. Also, I went past Caesar's Atlantic City Casino. On the way back, I stopped at the Pier Shops at Caesar's. On the way to the car, I got fish and chips at A Dam Good Sports Bar in the Tropicana.
The third day was a work day for me but I also had time to walk to the Sea Wall at one of Brigantine Island. I ate at the Crab Shack near the resort. The crab cake sandwich was delicious!
The fourth day I drove to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge which turns out to be right across the bay from my resort. In fact, I could see the water tower in front of my room from there. I walked on the trails all morning, then drove to the Noyes Museum of Art. Since it was next door, the drive was very short. The museum has four exhibit rooms and some outdoor sculpture. Although it was small, the building and that art work was interesting. Because the art museum was close and did not take too long to visit, I was able to go back to the wildlife refuge and take the drive on the dike. There was a self-guided tour that I followed from a brochure and I enjoyed all of the refuge very much. It is one place that I would like to visit again. When I got back to the resort, I walked to the Laguna Grill and Martini Bar that is only a couple of blocks from the resort toward the ocean. I ate at a table overlooking the beach and had buffalo chicken wrap, a cup of beef and cabbage soup, and a glass of iced tea. It was a perfect meal in a great location.
On the fifth day, I drove to the Tropicana where I parked and then walked a little on the Boardwalk. It was a cold, rainy day, however, so I didn't walk as long as I had planned to. I ate breakfast at the Country Kitchen and had a table overlooking the Boardwalk. The vegetable omelet, pancakes and tea were delicious. Next, I saw the Coral Reef Adventure in IMAX. It was made in 2003 but I enjoyed it anyway. After that, I walked around the Havana Towers of the Tropicana where the shops are, then drove back to the resort. On the way back to the resort, I stopped at the Brigantine Beach Historical Museum but it was closed.
On my last full day of vacation in Atlantic City, I drove to Cape May. I walked around a little to look at the old Victorian homes but since it was sleeting and windy, I didn't walk far. I met a lady who invited me to have breakfast at her house but I declined. She suggested I eat at Uncle Bill's Pancake House, which I did. I had Iowa corn pancakes and a humongous cup of tea for $10, including the tip. I then drove to Cape May Point State Park where Cape May Lighthouse is located. It was a very nice park with many walking trails. Unfortunately, it was still too cold to do much walking. The surprising thing to me was the World War II bunker on the beach. There was also a hawk viewing area. After visiting the park's museum, I drove to the Navel Air Station Wildwood. It is not actually in Wildwood but at the Cape May Airport in Rio Grande, New Jersey. It was in a hanger that is being restored and over 19 displays, mostly about World War II. The drive to Camp May and back was easy, about an hour, and it was interesting to see some of the countryside.
On my way home from Brigantine, I stopped at Aversa's Italian Bakery and got a breakfast sandwich was delicious!
Books Read
First Crossing: Stories About Teen Immigrants edited by Donald R. Gallo
I went to the Albany area a couple of times this month. Rachel, Derek, and I went to the Bangkok Bistro. I had vegetarian Drunken Noodles which I liked a lot. Another day, we all went to Ruby Tuesday in the Carousel Mall. There I had chicken sliders which were also delicious!
I spent a week at La Sammana Resort in Brigantine, New Jersey. It is only 10 minutes from Atlantic City and one block from the beach one direction and one block from the bay in the other direction. It was easy to drive to and the one-bedroom suite on the fourth floor was very comfortable. I was able to rest, work and sight-see all in one vacation!
I started my vacation by stopping at a relatives home near Philadelphia for lunch and a hike in Freedom Park in Medford, New Jersey. When I arrived in Braganite, after checking in, I went for a walk in the resorts neighborhood. It was safe and quite interesting. Because it was early in the season, many of the stores were closed and there were no crowds which was great with me. The weather was very warm, a great beach-walking day.
The first full day, I drove to the Atlantic City Aquarium at Historic Gardner's Basin. The aquarium is small but the staff was extremely helpful and friendly. I also only paid $5 to get in and the parking was free. The best part of the aquarium for me was the view from outside balconies. It was also close to one end of the Boardwalk. The wind was strong and cold so I didn't walk very far on it however. The Crafter's Village shops were mostly closed. Next, I drove to Absecon Lighthouse which also had free parking but I paid $6 to climb the 228 steps to the top and I have a card to prove that I made it to the top! The Absecon Lighthouse is New Jersey's tallest lighthouse and the third tallest lighthouse in the United States. The climb was not bad and each step was numbered and sponsored by someone. I bought a mug there also.
I left my car in the lighthouse parking lot and walked to the Showboat. I planned on getting a take-out lunch there and leaving. However, when I walked through the casino, I was on the Boardwalk and the wind was calm there. I walked along the Boardwalk as far as Nathan's. On the way back, I walked through Trump's Taj Mahal then a few blocks to Tony Boloney's where I had a spicy vegetable sub with cheese. Tony Boloney's won Guy Fieri's Food Network Cheesesteak Battle and I can see why! I ate the sandwich back at the resort and it was delicious.
The second day, I once again started my day at Hot Bagels & More. Then I drove to the Tropicana where I parked. I walked down the Boardwalk and then towards the Atlantic City Convention Center to see the antiques show. On the way, I walked through the Atlantic City Outlets: The Walk. It was several blocks wide. Also, I went past Caesar's Atlantic City Casino. On the way back, I stopped at the Pier Shops at Caesar's. On the way to the car, I got fish and chips at A Dam Good Sports Bar in the Tropicana.
The third day was a work day for me but I also had time to walk to the Sea Wall at one of Brigantine Island. I ate at the Crab Shack near the resort. The crab cake sandwich was delicious!
The fourth day I drove to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge which turns out to be right across the bay from my resort. In fact, I could see the water tower in front of my room from there. I walked on the trails all morning, then drove to the Noyes Museum of Art. Since it was next door, the drive was very short. The museum has four exhibit rooms and some outdoor sculpture. Although it was small, the building and that art work was interesting. Because the art museum was close and did not take too long to visit, I was able to go back to the wildlife refuge and take the drive on the dike. There was a self-guided tour that I followed from a brochure and I enjoyed all of the refuge very much. It is one place that I would like to visit again. When I got back to the resort, I walked to the Laguna Grill and Martini Bar that is only a couple of blocks from the resort toward the ocean. I ate at a table overlooking the beach and had buffalo chicken wrap, a cup of beef and cabbage soup, and a glass of iced tea. It was a perfect meal in a great location.
On the fifth day, I drove to the Tropicana where I parked and then walked a little on the Boardwalk. It was a cold, rainy day, however, so I didn't walk as long as I had planned to. I ate breakfast at the Country Kitchen and had a table overlooking the Boardwalk. The vegetable omelet, pancakes and tea were delicious. Next, I saw the Coral Reef Adventure in IMAX. It was made in 2003 but I enjoyed it anyway. After that, I walked around the Havana Towers of the Tropicana where the shops are, then drove back to the resort. On the way back to the resort, I stopped at the Brigantine Beach Historical Museum but it was closed.
On my last full day of vacation in Atlantic City, I drove to Cape May. I walked around a little to look at the old Victorian homes but since it was sleeting and windy, I didn't walk far. I met a lady who invited me to have breakfast at her house but I declined. She suggested I eat at Uncle Bill's Pancake House, which I did. I had Iowa corn pancakes and a humongous cup of tea for $10, including the tip. I then drove to Cape May Point State Park where Cape May Lighthouse is located. It was a very nice park with many walking trails. Unfortunately, it was still too cold to do much walking. The surprising thing to me was the World War II bunker on the beach. There was also a hawk viewing area. After visiting the park's museum, I drove to the Navel Air Station Wildwood. It is not actually in Wildwood but at the Cape May Airport in Rio Grande, New Jersey. It was in a hanger that is being restored and over 19 displays, mostly about World War II. The drive to Camp May and back was easy, about an hour, and it was interesting to see some of the countryside.
On my way home from Brigantine, I stopped at Aversa's Italian Bakery and got a breakfast sandwich was delicious!
Books Read
First Crossing: Stories About Teen Immigrants edited by Donald R. Gallo