Mid-Atlantic - Trenton and Camden for a day-trip?

Greetings,

Before I make it to Philly for the night (I've been there many times), I'd like to take a detour to Trenton and Camden. Two of my main goals? Find a regional food in both cities (taylor ham is not an option) and snap a shot of both the Lower Trenton Bridge and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge...any recommendations?

Thanks, and yes, I'm serious~
-TBS

In Trenton, head to Chambersburg, the old Italian neighborhod, and try Amici Milano.

http://hiddentrenton.com/wordpress/?p=43

Camden--for a great view of the BF bridge, plus a fun afternoon, you can take in a River Sharks game. If you sit on the first base side, you will get very nice views of the bridge right from your seat.

I cannot imagine what a regional food specialty from Camden might be, and to be honest, I don't think I'd want to eat it if there were one. (Please note that this comment comes from a NJ native!) I doubt you'll find anything different in Camden vs. across the river in Philly.

Trenton--Tomato pie is the food of choice. This is basically pizza but better. My favorite is actually just across the Delaware River in Morrisville, PA: La Villa. Another plus for bridge photo opportunities is that from the Morrisville side, it is easy access to walk across the adjacent bridge to "Trenton Makes, the World Takes" and get a great photo of it. (I don't know if that's the bridge you were referring to, but I assume so.)

If you are into baseball, the Yankees farm team plays in Trenton - you could see if they have a game scheduled. Sometimes a regular Yankee player shows up if they have been injured and are doing a rehab.

If you go to Trenton, see the Trenton Thunder. If you go to Camden, see the River Sharks.

If you go to Trenton, see the Trenton Thunder. If you go to Camden, see the River Sharks.

+1
That is a concise and complete description of all that there is to offer in both of these cities.

Thanks for the replies, folks.

If I considered baseball a sport, then sure.

But, I did take NJTransit down to Trenton from Penn Station, saw the "Trenton Makes The World Takes" bridge, wandered around the downtown and had decent pupusas at Taqueria El Mariachi. At least when crossing over said bridge (the Lower Trenton Bridge) into Morrisville, PA, there's a pleasant if short walk towards the Calhoun Street Bridge (which crosses back into Trenton city center).

Then, I took the River Line down to Cooper St.-Rutgers University station where I traversed the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. A nice walk that deposits you not too far from Philly's Chinatown.

If anyone has a question about this alternative method of getting between Manhattan and Philadelphia, please let me know.

That is a concise and complete description of all that there is to offer in both of these cities.

I would not agree with that. In Camden you also have the NJ state aquarium, although I haven't been there myself and can't comment on how good it is. In Trenton (well, a mile or so across the line into Hamilton) you have Grounds for Sculpture, which is absolutely worth a trip--a really wonderful place.

In Camden you also have the NJ state aquarium, although I haven't been there myself and can't comment on how good it is.

The aquarium in Camden was renovated a couple of years ago and is well worth a visit, though admission is quite expensive.

When I saw this thread, my first thought was that the OP was a fan of Thornton Wilder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Happy_Journey_to_Trenton_and_Camden) :eek:

If anyone has a question about this alternative method of getting between Manhattan and Philadelphia, please let me know.Outside of flying, you can take NJ Transit to Trenton and then cross the platform to board a SEPTA train into Philly. You could also take Amtrak. Last, you can take a Bolt or Megabus.

Amtrak can be as low as $36 so that's about ~$10 more than NJ Transit + SEPTA and much quicker too.

Outside of flying, you can take NJ Transit to Trenton and then cross the platform to board a SEPTA train into Philly. You could also take Amtrak. Last, you can take a Bolt or Megabus.

Amtrak can be as low as $36 so that's about ~$10 more than NJ Transit + SEPTA and much quicker too.

Well, for a one-way journey, NJ Transit was $15.50 from Penn Station to Trenton, the River Line was a buck.50 to Camden, and then the bridge walk. PATCO seemed to cost 7-8 bucks, but of course, if I was going for speed/low-cost combo (and a non-stop Philly trek), then I reckon I'd just have taken Bolt around 12pm to 30th St. Station.

The aquarium in Camden was renovated a couple of years ago and is well worth a visit, though admission is quite expensive.

When I saw this thread, my first thought was that the OP was a fan of Thornton Wilder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Happy_Journey_to_Trenton_and_Camden) :eek:

Oh, thanks for pointing that feller out, Phudnik. Although I've never heard of Thornton Wilder, it sounds like a good play.

Also, wow, the aquarium was renovated? I haven't been there since 1999, and it was a bit humbling back then. Also, isn't Camden undergoing a bit of waterfront renaissance now, or is that utter hyperbole? Baltimore, do you have a role in this?

PATCO seemed to cost 7-8 bucks,

Actually, PATCO is $1.40 from downtown Camden to Philly. Cheap ride with great views from the BF bridge.

http://www.ridepatco.org/schedules/fares.html

I cannot imagine what a regional food specialty from Camden might be, and to be honest, I don't think I'd want to eat it if there were one. (Please note that this comment comes from a NJ native!) I doubt you'll find anything different in Camden vs. across the river in Philly.


That's basically correct. I used to occasionally stop by Donkey's Steaks on Haddon Ave, which has a fantastic chicken cheese steak, and the PR places along Marlton Ave. Neither are places a non-local should be walking around in, though.

I am not sure there is anything in Trenton worth stopping for except for C'burg. When I lived there, it was mostly a commuter city like DC. The ranks would swell during day hours in the week and the restaurants would open accordingly. But in the evenings and weekends, it was a ghost town.

NJ is an awesome state. There are tons of things to see and do, but you need a car for a lot if it. Or a lot of patience.

Also, wow, the aquarium was renovated? I haven't been there since 1999, and it was a bit humbling back then. Also, isn't Camden undergoing a bit of waterfront renaissance now, or is that utter hyperbole? Baltimore, do you have a role in this?The Aquarium rates as very good but not quite world class. The collection is a bit too eclectic for that.

A short walk from it is the Battleship New Jersey, which gets great reviews as a visitor attraction, and is on our to-do list.

Beyond those two things, I personally make a point to stay out of Camden.

Also, while the base price for the Aquarium is high, you can find discounts via AAA, their website or various other tourist info sites. We get their emails which offer a variety of discounts.

Oh hey, there's a new reason to acknowledge Trenton's existence: http://www.njbiz.com/article/20120808/NJBIZ01/120809860/-1/opinion/Addition-of-Frontier-to-Trenton-airport-aimed-at-encouraging-tourism

What about the NJ State House (Capitol) and State Museum? They are in Trenton. Worth a visit?

I'd like to take a detour to Trenton and Camden. Two of my main goals? Find a regional food in both citiesNative food to Camden? That's easy! Campbell's soup! :p

Native food to Camden? That's easy! Campbell's soup! :p

For whatever reason, I didn't get into Camden that time; instead, the River Line left me at the Rutgers campus, and from there it was a close walk to the Ben Franklin Bridge, so I took it. Who knows, maybe the aquarium is stocking some good local eats...next time.

I'd like to follow up by saying I did the Philly to NY Penn. trip in reverse last week, taking a SEPTA express train from 30th St. station to Trenton (~50 minutes), and then an NJ Transit express from there to Penn station, which took less than one hour and ten minutes. Depending on when you book one of those "cheap" buses that ply the NY-Philadelphia route, the trains may just be a few bucks more. Regardless of cost differences, also depending on when (which) train you get on, a quiet car is available, which is a bonus for me. AND, you get to pass the Trenton Makes The World Takes bridge too.