From the thrill of professional and collegiate competitive clashes to high-speed auto racing and active sports, Southern New Jersey and the surrounding region are ideal for every imaginable activity. Camping, biking, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, sports leagues, tennis, and cross-country skiing are just a few of the common pastimes. Sparking lakes, rolling rivers, and rushing streams combine with tranquil bays and the Atlantic Ocean to create a natural paradise for water sports and fishing, while lush parks and forests encourage nature study and outdoor adventures.
Atlantic City Casino Resorts
World-class entertainment, posh hotels, non-stop excitement, and dazzling special events have made Atlantic City the "Las Vegas" of the East Coast. Stroll down the famous Boardwalk, enjoy the finest of cuisine in a five-star restaurant, enjoy ocean water sports, or play a game of golf on one of New Jersey's top-rated courses. It's all waiting in Atlantic City.
Southern Jersey Golf Courses
The state of New Jersey offers more than 200 public and private golf courses that are designed to challenge players from novice to professional. Some of the most highly rated of these facilities are located in the Greater Atlantic City region, recognized by Golf Digest as some of New Jersey's finest fairways. New Jersey Golfer magazine recently rated Twisted Dune, reminiscent of Royal Lytham or St. Anne's Old Links and other famous seaside courses in the British Isles, as the number one public golf course in the state. Shore Gate is another popular choice just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, integrating lush parkland with Scottish-style links for a dramatic sculptured feeling. Enjoy a true taste of Scotland at The Links at Brigantine Beach, the closest course to Atlantic City's legendary boardwalk. To learn more about the small sample of acclaimed golf courses listed here or to explore the many golfing opportunities in New Jersey, consult the Internet directories.
Internet Directories
www.njgolfer.com
www.jerseygolf.com
www.americangolf.com
www.new-jersey.com/col/golf
www.golfable.com
http://newjersey-area-golf.com
www.zoomgolf.com
PARKS AND NATURE
Throughout Southern New Jersey and the surrounding environs are lush parks and premier recreational facilities developed and managed by boroughs, cities, counties, and the federal government. Lush parks, wooded retreats, sparkling lakes, rolling rivers, rushing streams, white-sand beaches, and patchwork fields encourage biking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, swimming, wildlife viewing, bird watching, camping, water sports, and winter sports. From celebrated battlefields and historic sites to nature preserves and municipal parks, the region draws residents from their homes to enjoy nature's gracious bounty.
Philadelphia's Fairmount Park
The largest landscaped city park in the world begins at Benjamin Franklin Parkway and encompasses 9,200 acres of winding creeks, rustic trails and lush green meadows. A full 100 miles of jogging, bicycling and bridle paths are available. Visitors can rent sailboats, canoes and bicycles, play tennis and golf, swim or enjoy free symphony concerts during the summer months.
Wildlife is abundant in this urban paradise, home to more than 50 species of birds that use the park as a breeding area and 100 more than migrate through or over-winter. At least 20 species of mammals, nine reptiles, six amphibians, and 50 fish have found a comfortable habitat in the park. Whether you enjoy lunch beside a majestic statue, participate in the summer rowing camp, skate down West River Drive, mountain bike on the Wissahickon Trails, or take the kids to a playground, one of the 62 neighborhood parks is available less than a mile from every city residence. In fact, the term "Fairmount Park" refers to a vast citywide park system with virtually endless varieties of natural and crafted beauty.
More than 200 pieces of sculpture dot the scenic landscape, including internationally known works like Alexander Stirling Calder’s Swann Memorial Fountain, Rudolf Siemering’s Washington Monument, Emmanuel Fremiet’s Joan of Arc, Frederick Remington’s Cowboy, Jacques Lipschitz’s Spirit of Enterprise, Carl Milles’ Playing Angels, and John J. Boyle’s Stone Age in America. For complete information about this national treasure and Philadelphia's crown jewel of recreational resources, contact:
Fairmount Park
215-685-0000
www.phila.gov/fairpark
Park/Event Information
4231 N. Concourse Drive
215-685-0060
www.phila.gov/fairpark