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Many of those vacationing in Sea Isle City have only one week in our great town, which is not nearly enough to see it all. The fantastic beaches we offer are only one of many options for fun, sun, and entertainment at the South Jersey Shore. Those of you who have been coming for many years have your favorite things to experience, and most will repeat the majority of things over and over again because of the lasting memories they create.

Since I have been a local in Sea Isle City for over ten years, I have had the pleasure to experience many local attractions, eating establishments, and other unique “hidden treasures” that many are not aware of. In the following article, I am going to share some of the other attractions in our area with mention of my favorites.

As I stated above, everyone comes to Sea Isle City for the beach. Whether you enjoy riding the waves, lounging in a chair with a good book, or sitting on a deck watching and listening to the calmness of the sea, the ocean is our main attraction. But there are many other activities that are available in our charming town.

For those of you who are early risers, there is nothing better than watching the sunrise over the horizon. On clear days you will see a spectacular two-minute show as the sun makes its appearance and fills the sky with bright colors of oranges, reds, and yellows.

Another early morning event is a walk, bike ride, or a skate on our promenade. Constructed around 1963, our version of a boardwalk runs from 29th Street to 57th Street and is approximately 1.5 miles from one end to the other. Did you realize that a person weighing 170 lbs can burn over 300 calories while walking the promenade?

At 10:00 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays a very interesting, educational opportunity arises. The Sea Isle City Environmental Commission offers “Beachcombing” at the 29th Street beach. For a small donation of $1.00 for adults, and $.50 for children, you will learn facts about the shells, birds, sealift, plants, ocean, and dunes.

While enjoying the beach during the day, Sea Isle offers some “Fun in the Sun” activities that will make memories of a lifetime. For those who enjoy fishing and catching your meal, Sea Isle has many boating excursions from a few hours on the water fishing, to a full day tour out into the ocean. You can rent your own boat, or take a guided tour to the best fishing places in South Jersey. Or if you want to take a kayak into the Back Bay and observe nature at it’s best, you can rent one and two man kayaks and paddle your way through the marshes. During this quiet, peaceful voyage you will see birds, fish, and wildlife in its natural habitat.

For those of you who want the excitement of a fast, thrilling ride, waverunning is an exhilarating experience you won’t forget. Safe and guided, these sea craft can be a highlight of one’s vacation.

As the late afternoon comes upon you, for those over “21″, you can’t beat a nice cold tropical drink or beer at the Springfield Inn, the only outside bar where you can listen to a band play, while sipping on your favorite beverage and watching the waves come in.

After a fun day playing and sunning in the Sea Isle Sand, the evenings can be enjoyed as much as the day. Eating in Sea Isle is an experience in itself and you should make sure to enjoy the cuisine of the Island.

For the over “21″ crowd, Sea Isle has many nightspots with a variety of music to suit anyone’s taste.

Joe Prato is a real estate agent working in Sea Isle City and Cape May County, NJ. He has written a series of guides to help you plan your Jersey Shore vacation. His website, provides tools and guides to help you make the most of your vacation.

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We stayed at the award winning Jackson House Bed and Breakfast, outside York in Railroad, PA. Located on the Heritage Trail, the house dates back to 1859, and the owners, Jean and George Becker treat you like family. With a well stocked fridge filled with
cold beverages, including soda, wine and beer, you feel right at home. The delectable breakfast featured a myriad of items including homemade French toast (the best I ever had), scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage roll, potatoes, fresh fruit and more. Let’s just say, you won’t go hungry.

The four bedrooms are each decorated in their own special way and the beds rock you to sleep, so comfortable. Jackson House is perfect for a couples get-away, relax in the beautiful gardens in the backyard then take a dip in the hot tub. (Jacksonhousebandb.com)

After breakfast, head out for a day of factory tours. Martin’s Potato Chip Factory (martinschips.com), located in Thomasville, is the perfect place to start. You will watch as potatoes are cleaned, peeled, cut and cooked, right before your eyes, two types, Kettle and Country Style. The best part? Taste them hot off the line! Martin’s makes about 35,000 pounds a day and tours are available Mondays and Tuesdays, please call in advance to arrange your tour.

Next, head to Wolfgang Candy Company, voted one of the top 5 tastiest tours by the Food Network. As soon as you enter the factory, the smell of chocolate permeates the air. Bob Wolfgang lead our tour and told us his grandparents started the company in 1921. We saw butter creams being coated in delectable milk chocolate. Some of the newest products include chocolate covered blueberries and raspberries. Some independent markets carry Wolfgang Candies, but most are sold through fundraising programs (WolfgangCandy.com).

Stop for lunch in downtown York at The Harp and Fiddle. A cozy Irish pub offers a wide selection of beers, wines and of course, Irish food. I enjoyed the Corned Beef and Cabbage and the Shepherd’s Pie at the next table looked amazing! (theharpandfiddle.com)

After lunch, save room for dessert and head to Hope Acres Robotic Dairy Farm, in Brogue, and sample their homemade ice cream. Raspberry was our favorite. Take the factory tour and watch pampered cows that actually sleep on waterbeds and have back scratchers! (hopeacres.com)

A visit to the Family Heirloom Weavers in Red Lion will give you a real appreciation for the art of weaving. Personalized Jacquard Covers, runners, carpets and reproductions of 19th century goods are created here. They have also created costumes for many Hollywood movies including, Cold Mountain and Gods and Generals. (familyheirloomweavers.com)

Time to return to the Jackson House, enjoy a late afternoon glass of wine and get ready to head out for dinner at The Commonwealth Room, a 4-Diamond restaurant at the Yorktowne Hotel. Executive Chef Mark Pawlowski, offers up a first rate menu, including items such as Fresh Floridian Strawberry Grouper with a Tropical Fruit Salsa, Oven Roasted Quail and Pan Seared Lamb Loin. Begin your meal with the Tomato Bisque or the Yorktown House Salad served with a Cabernet Sauvignon Vinaigrette. There is a fabulous wine menu with several selected wines by the glass. (Yorktowne.com)

If you have an extra day, you don’t want to miss the Wilton Armetale Tour in Mount Joy. We were lucky enough to have a personal tour by John Wilton, his family began Wilton in 1892. We watched the process of sand molds filled with molten Armetale metal, then cooled and hand-finished. I own many Wilton pieces and found this tour extremely informative. There is an on-premise discounted store and tours should be scheduled in advance. (armetale.com)

Enjoy lunch before heading home at Bube’s Brewery, the only in-tact Pre-Prohibition brewery left in the United States, be sure to check out the underground catacombs. (bubesbrewery.com)
If it is a nice day, you may choose to eat outdoors by the Susquehanna River at John Wright Restaurant in Wrightsville. Inexpensive dining with a lovely view. (jwright.com)
Visit http://www.YorkPA.org/ for further information on places to stay, tours and restaurants.

Downtown Diane owns http://www.downtowndiane.net You can hear Downtown Diane every Friday on WHFS 105.7 FM Baltimore

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Out of the many Caribbean and Bahamian islands my wife and I have visited, Eleuthera is by far the longest and skinniest island we have seen — it is also one of the nicest. At approximately 100 miles long and a several miles wide, Eleuthera offers a rare combination of beauty, charm, ruggedness and tranquility. Within an hour’s time, you can view the deep blue color of the Atlantic from towering coral cliffs, wade in the rich turquoise waters looking for seashells, or go spelunking in a cave filled with multicolored stalactites and stalagmites.

Even better, Eleuthera has miles and miles of pink sand beaches that will simply knock your eyes out. Does this sound like an exaggeration? Trust me, it’s not. These are the same type of pink sand beaches you would find at the fabled, and expensive, Harbour Island which is located just off the northeast tip of Eleuthera. These beaches were also good enough for Club Med at one time — that was until hurricane Floyd in 1999 destroyed the facilities. Club Med chose not to rebuild and packed their bags. The nice thing is the beach is still there and is as gorgeous as ever. Even nicer is the fact there are so few people there making it by far one of the most pristine and tranquil beaches we have seen.

And then there is the charm of Eleuthera. Unlike some of the Bahamian islands we have seen, Eleuthera is not over developed — if anything it is underdeveloped. You get the feeling of time and endurance as you tour the island. One of the more historical places to visit is Preacher’s Cave on the north end of Eleuthera. This cave is where Captain William Sayles and a group of Puritans sought shelter after finding the island. The cave and surrounding area is currently being turned into a historical park. At the entrance of the old cave is a large rock with a plaque that says “William Sayle ship wrecked at Devil’s Backbone found refuge here. Sermons held 100 years.” When standing in the cave, the presence of the adventurers’ spirits is palatable.

With any number of the towns on Eleuthera, such as Governor’s Harbour, you can see the effect the ocean has had on so many of the historical homes and buildings. It kind of reminds you of what it is like to walk down the street of an old Western town; only the motif is stone and sand surrounded by water. Of course, there are some more modern facilities, but not near enough to take away from the overall atmosphere. You definitely won’t find Whoppers being served here.

From the quaint Bahamian towns to the hard packed pink sand beaches, we then visit “The Cliffs” of Eleuthera and we learn a new term: “rogue waves”. Imagine standing on a virtually sheer cliff a hundred plus feet above the ocean and watching the water pound on the rock face below. You feel perfectly safe and removed from the ocean’s display of brute force… that is until a rogue wave hits the cliff wall and jumps up over your head dumping hundreds of gallons of sea water on you and your poor camera. This is immediately followed with a scream “What was that?” Since there are no reefs to break the water coming into the cliffs, the right wave breaking at the right angle produces a water show that even the Bellagio can not match.

When staying on an island like Eleuthera, we prefer renting vacation homes or villas. There is a wide variety of vacation rentals; some considered “luxury” while others are “basic and affordable”. Many of these house and villa rentals can be rented directly from their property owners — a number of which have their own websites on the internet. You may also seek the assistance of a local real estate agent. When looking for that perfect rental home, it is a good idea to ask to see photos, get a detailed description of the rental property, and find out exactly where it is located so you know what is in its proximity. Be sure to ask about their deposit and refund policies.

Eleuthera Island is ideal for any number of typical island activities including fishing for bonefish, surfing, shelling, kayaking, boating, diving, snorkeling and swimming. Did I forget to mention lying in a lounge chair sitting under a beach umbrella and sipping a cold Kalik? Make mine Eleuthera, please.

Copyright © 2005 Perry Joseph

Perry Joseph is a freelance writer, photographer, website developer and frequent visitor to the Bahamas. For more information on Eleuthera, visit his website: Eleuthera

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