1. I’ve said this many times before, but I’m always amazed at how much women in South Jersey support each other. I’ve been on the receiving end of women I barely know helping me, offering me advice, agreeing to meet me for coffee. I try to do the same for others. The generous relationships women here form with each other are really special. I don’t know if that exists everywhere, but it’s pretty awesome that it does here.
2. Farm stands. The ones that just pop up when you’re on a long drive.
3. Farmers Markets. Definitely on Saturdays, but I’ve discovered there are some on weekday evenings and Sundays. (You can see a list here.)
4. The emphasis on buying local. It’s taken some time, but I think people truly understand that local shops are owned by our neighbors. And that’s who we should be supporting.
5. The quality when you buy local, especially in restaurants. (You can see a whole list of restaurants who are killing it on p. 44.) I had an experience recently where two nights in a row, Joe and I went to dinner. At the one restaurant in Medford, the waitress told us about what the chef was preparing. She talked about the care he was putting into the dishes, how important it was to him that each dish was prepared perfectly. She clearly shared the Chef’s passion and wanted to share it with us. The next night, we drove a little over an hour to have dinner with friends. No sharing. No passion. Just a menu.
6. The Camden Waterfront. There’s so much to do there.
7. Our Main Streets. Pick any Saturday afternoon and any Main St. and you’ve got a full – and fun – day.
8. Street fairs on our Main Streets. If you pay attention (maybe even save the dates in your calendar), you can hang with several hundred of your South Jersey friends at a street fair in one of our local towns. The set up is usually the same: booths line the street with live music and lots of food tucked into spots here and there. And neighbors walk back and forth, hugging, chatting, smiling.
9. The history. Just last month, I stood on Kings Hwy. and watched war reenactors fight in a skirmish that actually happened in that very spot during the Revolutionary War.
History is everywhere in South Jersey. Visit a museum or a battlefield or even a cemetery.
(I know that sounds weird, but Walt Whitman is buried in Harleigh Cemetery and his grave is very cool.)
10. The Eagles. Yes, I know they’re in Philly but that doesn’t matter.
11. Custard stands.
12. Down-to-earth people.
13. How a short drive can take you from the center of town to a vast farmland.
14. Wineries & breweries.
15. Free summer concerts. Just bring a chair.
16. Elected officials seem to care about the people who elected them. That seems so odd to write, but I believe it’s true.
17. The diversity.
18. All the (locally owned) coffee shops.
19. Our parks and playgrounds – in every town.
20. Four seasons. Although, do I like that? Yes, I guess I do.
21. So many people I love live here.
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