DESTINATIONS // Sharks, Ships, and Willie
Taking that Trip Across the River
Camden is teeming with history (and sharks)
EXCERPT //
Camden is Philadelphia’s sister city, visible across the Delaware River, and is accessible by car, train, bus, bike, and ferry. (It’s an hour walk but we’re not sure we recommend it.) Here are our picks for upcoming day-trips that will help you transition from summer to fall.
Shark Therapy at Adventure Aquarium
Perhaps our fear of sharks is innate. Perhaps the (still amazing) movie Jaws put the fear of a great white in you. If you’re ready to do some exposure therapy to allay your fears, Adventure Aquarium’s harrowing-but-entirely-safe shark tunnel is the place for you. More terrifying? How loud all those toddlers sound screaming in an enclosed glass space. But you can recover (or pre-game?) with a locally brewed craft beer in the cafeteria. There are over 15,000 aquatic creatures to explore and learn from—including hippopotamus, one of the most dangerous and aggressive creatures alive. We hate to tell you this, but, unlike sharks, if you encounter a hostile hippo in the wild, there’s an 85% chance the encounter will be fatal. The aquarium hosts daily shows in which kids can watch divers interacting with the wildlife, and it also has several different “touch” exhibits for those kids (and adults) who just can’t keep their hands to themselves. Be sure you make a reservation before you go!
(Free) Willie Nelson at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (can we please stop naming perfectly good concert venues after the most boring stuff on Earth?) has a vast open field to lounge or dance in, and, of course, a view of our beautiful Philadelphia skyline. The Outlaw Music Festival on September 12 will feature old heads Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, as well as Sheryl Crow and Waxahatchee, among others. It’s the 10th anniversary of the tour, and the closest spot that Philadelphians will have on the East Coast to experience one of America’s songwriting treasures. (Dear Willie: You are always on our mind.) The venue boasts 25,000 seats, both indoor and outdoor, and lawn chairs are available to rent. Strictly speaking, you can’t smoke marijuana in public in New Jersey, and we’re sure that it’s kid-friendly. But bear in mind Willie’s (and his fans’) devotion to that wild weed and to flouting the rules in general. // RQ
Arctic and African-American History at Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum
Born in 1866 in Maryland, African-American arctic explorer Matthew Henson was a critical team member of expedition leader Robert Peary for 18 years: The pair were among a small crew to first set foot on the North Pole. Henson had a formidable set of survival skills including making igloos and mushing dog sleds, and he also learned to speak Inuktitut. Developing a strong relationship with the Inuit people was critical to the crew’s success, as the native population at times guided and aided the expedition. If you want to learn more, head to the Matthew Henson Arctic Explorer Room at the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum, or read his memoir: A Negro Explorer at the North Pole. While his contributions were overlooked at the time, he was eventually reburied in Arlington National Cemetery. The museum’s Maritime Hall serves to educate visitors more broadly on the rich history of Camden’s shipbuilding and gives insight into the city’s substantial maritime history. The museum is located in the former Church of Our Savior and was founded in 2008 in the Waterfront South neighborhood; it may require a quick Uber or bus ride since it’s a 45-minute walk from the drop-off point in Camden).
Pick a Side and See the Battleship New Jersey
Want to see a tangible, floating example of the lasting rivalry between New Jersey and Pennsylvania? The USS New Jersey has deep roots in the two states’ fight for preeminence. Despite the battleship being built on the other side of the river in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, the Garden State argued for the ship to be docked and on display on their side, as the ship was named after Camden. Philly lost, and the ship is now proudly floating just across the Delaware River. From 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily, you and your family can take a tour of the battleship, which was on active duty in the ’80s and serves today as a look into our military’s history. Self-guided visits are $30 and come with a tour of five levels up and two decks below. Guides will be present for any questions that pop up during the visit.
Get Your Ferry On
Who doesn’t love a great ferry ride? The meeting point for the RiverLink Ferry is at Columbus Boulevard and Walnut Street on Penn’s Landing by the Independence Seaport Museum. You’ll have fifteen minutes on the Delaware River before you get to Wiggins Waterfront Park on the other side. Open from May 1 to October 31 annually.//
For full text and images, consider reading RQ in print, on a Sunday afternoon, sun streaming through your window, coffee in hand, and nary a phone alert within sight or in earshot… just fine words, fine design, and the opportunity to make a stitch in time. // Subscribe or buy a single issue today. // Print is dead. Long live print. //