The Crab Trap, Somers Point, New Jersey

 

“A well-run restaurant is like a winning baseball team. It makes the most of every crew members talents and takes advantage of every second opportunity to speed up service.”

David Ogiluy

Heading down to “the shore” as they say in New Jersey, we wanted to go to a nice place for lunch and chose one of the best seafood restaurants in south New Jersey, The Crab Trap. This restaurant has become a wonderful tradition every time we are in New Jersey for a visit. This is a well known restaurant not just in the local area but also in all of south New Jersey as a great place to eat.

When we pulled into the parking lot just after 11 am, we noticed how full the lot was all ready. That is always a good sign. When we entered the restaurant, we were warmly greeted by the hostess and led right to our table, which was set up with a white linen table clothe and linen napkins. There are beautiful wooden accents throughout the restaurant giving it an elegant touch but yet it still has a casual feel. You can go there dressed up or as casual as just shorts and a tee shirt. How lucky we were to get a table right away since there is typically a wait in this busy restaurant.

Our waitress came up to our table, gave us our menus, and asked what we would like to drink. We ordered our drinks and took some time to look over the menu. It was a fabulous menu with a large selection of seafood and also many selections for a land lover. Joe ordered some steamers for an appetizer which were fresh and flavorful.

We ordered our food and enjoyed our time here relaxing in a comfortable booth with great conversations while sipping our drinks. When the food came out, it was delicious. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. We are never disappointed with their food or service.

This restaurant was established in 1967 when Jack Wallace purchased the property which was then known as the Maenner’s Cafe. They kept the menu simple by only serving tap beer and sandwiches. The restaurant was mainly known by the local residents of Somers Point. The cafe is remembered for the famous “horseshoe” bar and dirt floor. My have things changed.

The restaurant has grown a lot since that time and is now able to seat over 400 people and their menu has sure expanded. There is a lovely large wooden bar that has nautical pulleys on display and comfortable bar stools to sit. Jack Wallace and family still work closely with the staff. The nautical decorations throughout the restaurant, and picturesque views of the harbor in the outdoor bar deck make this a perfect place to eat.

This restaurant is open seven days a week from 11 am to 10 pm and is located at 2 Broadway, Somers Point, New Jersey. If you are in the area, stop by and sit a spell. You will not regret it and get to enjoy a fabulous meal.

Till next time. Bye for now.

Fisherman’s Crab Deck, Grasonville, Maryland

 

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

Virginia Wolf

The Fisherman’s Crab Deck is one of our favorite restaurants when traveling between Georgia and New Jersey on the alluring Kent Narrows, Maryland. This outstanding restaurant came highly recommended many years ago and has become a place we must stop anytime we are passing by this area because the food is so good.

You can’t miss this bright blue restaurant with two large crabs out front and murals greeting the patrons. We arrived at the restaurant about fifteen minutes before the restaurant opened, giving us time to look around the beautifully landscaped waterfront property. What a joy to be near the water on such a beautiful July day.

There is a large covered pavilion that is used for waiting and possibly overflow on busy days. There are many tables set up that overlooks a beautiful fountain on a shallow part of the harbor.

It is a large restaurant where all the tables get a view of marina and you have a choice to sit inside or outside. Since we were one of the first ones there, we got a corner table overlooking the marina with an open air great view. What a lovely spot to sit and watch the boats passing by. Our waitress came by introducing herself and took our drink order while we looked over the fabulous menu. I ordered a Pina Colada  (which was so good), and Joe and Josh both got a beer. After all, we were on vacation.

The menu features fresh fish, scallops, lobster, clams, and of course, fresh blue claw crabs. We ordered our food and enjoyed our time on this beautiful day sitting by the Chesapeake Bay watching the birds swooping down for fish, the turtles swimming by, and the incredible boats of all sizes cruising by. When our food was brought to our table it was heavenly. We bought some fresh crabs, fried shrimp, and crab cakes. Everything was amazing, especially the crabs.

This restaurant opened in 1991 and is operated by the Schultz family. Captain Alex Thomas and his wife, Mae opened the Fisherman’s Inn, right next door to where the Fisherman’s Crab Deck is now, in 1930. When they first opened the restaurant, the building also served as a grocery store. They lived upstairs with their two children and were known to rent out their room to anglers who needed a place to stay and wished to fish this area of the Chesapeake Bay. When they rented their room, they would just sleep out on the front porch swing. They later built a second floor in 1939 to add more guest rooms.

The restaurant is now owned by Betty and Oscar “Sonny” Schultz. They added to the Fisherman’s Inn restaurant in 1971 making it much larger and three years later added the Fisherman’s Seafood Market to the additional lot they bought next door. If you are looking for great fresh seafood to buy and carry home, this is the place.

This is a fantastic place to stop and have a great meal. Their wait staff is very professional and friendly. The food is heavenly and the views outstanding. What more could you want? If you are ever in this area, this is a must stop. Come check them out.

Till next time. Bon appetit. Bye for now.

Maryland Watermen’s Monument, Grasonville, Maryland

 

“They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in owe of your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.”

Psalm 65:8

Traveling down Route 50 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is a pleasant change from driving on busy highways. The scenery is fabulous and features picturesque country scenes that bring back many memories of how south New Jersey looked when I was a child. There are many large farms with unique barns and silos that dot the countryside. Blocks of hay stacked in open fields waiting to be picked up and moved into the barn for feed for the farm animals this winter. Many an old farm house seem to be standing proudly out in the middle of a huge field. We passed a few lovely small towns that each had a story to tell.

Today, we pulled into our favorite waterfront restaurant, the Fisherman’s Crab Deck on Kent Narrows, Maryland to get a nice fresh seafood meal. We arrived just before it opened, giving us a chance to walk around the waterfront. Right in front of this restaurant, on Kent Narrow Ways, (Route 18 near the Kent Narrows Drawbridge) in Grasonville stands this very unique statue.

We walked over to check it out and read the plaque stating this monument was dedicated to all the watermen in Maryland for their contribution to the seafood industry, culture and heritage. The base of the statue is made of granite and lists the names of all the Maryland natives who have died while working on the water.

This is a quirky statue with cartoonish characters but is well done. There are two watermen made of bronze stand nine feet tall inside of the boat. They appear to be working hard, possibly keeping their boat afloat. Inside the boat is a fishing net and the catch of the day, rock fish. The monument and memorial was designed and sculpted by a local artist, Tilghman Hensley III.

George O’Donnell was the founder of the project, His idea when planning this project was to honor all the Chesapeake Bay Watermen that had served bringing great fresh seafood to this region. This project was a long time coming, taking about seven years. This 7000 pound bronze statue was completed and dedicated in 2003. The project leader was Camille Baca O’Donnel and the memorial was commissioned by Queen Anne’s County Waterman’s Festival Board of Directors.

When looking at this statue, think about how difficult the job of being a watermen on the Chesapeake Bay which is known to be very rough waters and harsh conditions. Storms start brewing and can come up on the fishermen very quickly and with not much warning. Commercial fisherman have one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. We have spent time on the “Bay” and it can be very scary. Storms creep up and before you know it, you are fighting large swells with waves crashing over your boat. These men and women who work the bay for a living should be commended for the job they do every day and the risks they take.

This memorial is worth the stop. Stop and check it out and while looking at the statue send out a prayer to all those watermen who do this job everyday. Pray for their safety and pray for those we have lost. God bless.

Till next time. Bye for now.

Lake Frederick 2021, West Point, New York

 

"A lake is a landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature.  It is Earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature."

Henry David Thoreau

Have you ever been to a place that makes you happy for just being there? A place that is your slice of Heaven? A place that is comforting and feels like home while being away? That is what Lake Frederick is to me. I step out of the car, breathe in the mountain fresh air, look around at all the beauty and nature surrounding me, and feel all of life’s worries go out the window.

Old A frames 

No matter how many times we come back, I always get that same wonderful feeling. That feeling that I belong here even if it is only for a matter of days. We are blessed to come up here with a group of friends and family that have had a reunion of sorts every year for the last 35 years, excluding 2020 as per COVID. Many changes have occurred in this recreation area over the years and every year it gets better and better. When we first started coming here, the accommodations that we rented to sleep in were old metal A frames. They had electric to them but that was all; no air conditioning or heat. The only cooling devise was an occasional fan. There was a ladder leading to the upstairs for those who could take the heat. The A frames had bunks and beds with metal frames and mattresses scattered throughout. It was roughing it but it never bothered us as we were here, together at Lake Frederick.

Lake Frederick is located a short scenic seven miles ride from the main post of the United States Military Academy. West Point Military Reservation has over 16,000 acres and is the second largest military installation in New York State, just after Fort Drum. West Point has thirteen lakes and ponds totaling 510 acres all together off the main campus. The property that is now Lake Frederick was once owned by Frederick Freeman Proctor, aka, the “Dean of Vaudeville”. At one time Frederick owned 53 theaters on the east coast and was quite wealthy. In 1912, Frederick built “Proctoria” which means “Land of the Skies” on his 1142 acres. He built 5 large homes with various barns and a gatehouse. After Proctor passed away in 1929, the academy acquired the land and the buildings. 

There are currently eight beautiful log cabins that are heated and cooled. Four of the cabins are family style with a double bed in the middle room and four bunks in the other room. There is also a kitchenette with a microwave, refrigerator, and table and chairs. The front of each cabin has a porch with great views of the lake. The other four cabins are bunk house style with just bunk beds. Each cabin comes with a large picnic table and a grill/fire pit.

New Bathhouse and new sign

The old bathhouse has been renovated and is now very nice with new bathroom stalls and showers. You can use that bathroom or you can use the brand new bath house. Each cabin gets a key to their private bathroom with shower, sink, and toilet. What a great improvement. In the back of the new bathhouse is also a coin operated laundry room. That came in handy during our last trip, saving a trip into town to do laundry.

The Event/Mess Hall

The event/mess hall has had many improvements with the adding of lots of state of the art stainless steel kitchen equipment. We couldn’t have been happier this year to be able to use a 6 burner gas stove, two gas ovens, and a griddle. There was also plenty of refrigeration for all our cold items. In the dining hall, they have also added many new tables and chairs.  Many more improvements are coming in the years to come.   

The Enchanted Forest 

If cabins aren’t what you are looking for, Lake Frederick also offers 50 tent sites. The land offers plenty of great areas for camping and with lovely views. If you are worried that there is not enough to do, you can forget about that. There is plenty to do. They have a horseshoe pit, volleyball court, basketball court, and a lovely trail that circles the lake. The fishing is great on this catch and release lake and the swimming is heavenly.

West Lake Cottage

 You will need to sign in, at the historic West Lake Cottage. There is a store that offers firewood and souvenirs for sale as well as offering rental paddle boats, rowboats, canoes, and more.

Beach

One of many benches to relax and enjoy the view

The lake has a large sandy beach with views of the Ledgewood Ruins which was a two story colonial revival home with a cedar shingle roof. The swim area is roped off and there is a swim platform to lay on or jump off. The water is nice and clean and is wonderfully refreshing. After a nice swim, there are lounge chairs and picnic tables that can be used to relax and sit a spell. There are also benches scattered around the lake to sit and contemplate while looking at the beauty of this magnificent spot. While standing on the beach, looking at the beautiful and peaceful scenery, it is hard to believe that we are only 50 miles from New York City. 

Janet and Danny Eichner

Danny and Janet Eichner are the caretakers of the land and do a tremendous job making this place a heavenly retreat. They keep the property in great shape, keeping the landscaping perfectly groomed, and all systems running smoothly. They are constantly making improvements on this amazing recreation site. They are there for whatever you may need and are glad to help. They are a joy to be around and made our visit extra special. Thank you both for all your hard work. It shows.

Stone Gazebo

To use Lake Frederick’s Recreation Site, you must have an active duty or retired military ID,  or be a Reservist, Installation contractors, cadet parents and grandparents, or a DOD Civilian. The store is open seven days a week from 9 to 5. This is a fabulous place to see and stay. Maybe we will see you there sometime.

Till next year. We will be back and in the meantime, we will be dreaming of our little slice of Heaven. Till next time. Bye for now.