This city on the Delaware River, just across the water from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has long had a reputation for slums and decay, but it offers several reasons to visit, especially with children. Adventure Aquarium has the largest seal exhibit in the country, and its Ocean Base Atlantic—a 760,000-gallon/2,876,913 liter tank—is brimming with sea turtles, sharks, stingrays and more. The Camden Children's Garden offers train rides past miniature landscapes and a chance to dig for dinosaur bones in the Dinosaur Garden. You can also tour the Battleship New Jersey Memorial and Museum; it's the most-decorated ship in the U.S. The BB&T Pavilion, not far from the aquarium, is an indoor/outdoor concert facility that draws many big-name performers.
Another worthwhile stop is the Walt Whitman House the poet's last residence, where his books, photographs and letters are on display. Whitman is buried in Camden's Harleigh Cemetery. Also see Pomona Hall, considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the U.S. Tours of the house illustrate what life was like there in the 18th century.
If time allows, set sail across the Delaware on the RiverLink ferry to Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, where William Penn first stepped ashore in 1682: It's a great place to enjoy waterfront dining and nightlife. Camden is 70 mi/113 km southwest of Newark.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.