Gloucester County: Nature, Lakes and History

Gloucester County combines extensive nature experiences with American history, regional culture and special destinations. Anyone looking for a vacation rental as a base for their trip can tailor their stay to their own interests: the focus is on lakes and wetlands, historic houses and museums, trails for outdoor activities, and places with distinctive architecture.

Nature, Water and Wildlife Observation

Scotland Run Park covers more than 1,300 acres and is the largest county park in Gloucester County. Wilson Lake offers opportunities for passive recreation, including fishing, boating and wildlife observation. Walking trails are located behind the Nature Center and along the lakeshore. The Nature Center displays live animals such as snakes and frogs as well as aquatic ecosystems, and offers programs for children and adults throughout the year. In summer, canoes and kayaks are rented there.

Greenwich Lake also has its own distinctive character: the spring-fed lake covers 40 acres, while the surrounding wetlands are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. Visitors who want to compare different landscapes can also explore the Glassboro Wildlife Management Area. The area encompasses 2,337 acres of lowland deciduous swamp forest with streams, ponds and some cleared areas. Walking trails lead through forests, along streams and across fields. A network of sandy, unpaved paths provides opportunities for observation in different habitats.

History to Discover

At Red Bank, Ann and James Whitall established a 400-acre plantation in 1748. The James and Ann Whitall House served as a field hospital on October 22, 1777. Tours of the house are offered from April through October, Thursday to Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone planning a visit to this historic site should take these times into account when organizing their trip.

The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is housed in the Hunter-Lawrence-Jessup House, built in 1765. Because of its significance to military history, education and politics, the building was added to the New Jersey Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The museum contains more than 30,000 artifacts. The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum offers another way to explore the past, with life-size dinosaur reconstructions and interactive discovery areas.

In Pitman Grove, the Camp Meeting Auditorium, built in 1882, stands at the center of a Methodist camp-meeting community established in the late 19th century. Twelve walkways radiate from it and are lined with small frame houses dating from 1870 to 1900. Trinity Episcopal “Old Swedes” Church is the third-oldest Swedish church in the country.

Active Days and Regional Highlights

For outdoor activities, James G. Atkinson Memorial Park has 1.5 miles of cycling and jogging trails. Pitman Golf Course in Mantua Township is a public 18-hole golf course with a driving range; golf lessons are available by appointment. This makes it possible to complement nature and cultural visits with sporting activities without limiting the stay to a single type of trip.

Culinary and urban impressions are also part of the region’s character. Along the South Jersey wine trail, visitors can sample local wine at wineries. Gloucester County also promotes walks featuring Victorian architecture through its historic downtown districts. Depending on the desired pace of travel, a vacation rental can therefore serve as a base for excursions, museum visits or days in nature. Before booking, it is important to decide whether lakes, wildlife observation, history, outdoor activities or regional culture should be the main focus.

More Places for Your Planning

For further orientation, you can also visit the pages on Swedesboro, Woodbury, Mantua Township, Deptford, Monroe Township, West Deptford, Gibbstown, Glassboro and Newfield.

For the higher-level travel overview: New Jersey.