A Tail of two Smithvilles

While staying at the NACO campground in Port Republic NJ I noticed signs for Historic Smithville. http://www.smithvillenj.com/events/index.cfm in Smithville NJ. Familiar with Smithville I was wondering how it could be so close to the Jersey shore. The Smithville I knew was near Mount Holly, NJ, some sixty plus miles west. Naturally we had to go see.

It's a tourist trap and that doesn't mean it's not a nice place to visit. It seems to be centered around the Smithville Inn, a rest stop for travelers of yore. The Inn and it's diner are still in operation. Added to that are a plethora of shops to separate one from their shillings. Trinkets and whatnot's of all types. A few rides for the kiddies and paddle boats for the bigger folk. Ice cream shops and a winery outlet. Trinket shops abound with signs that tickle the funny bone.

Over all the area is colorful and great for photos, well laid out and very pleasant to walk through. Worth a visit? Sure. One of the things that surprised me was the size of the town. There is a shopping center about half a mile down the road. Going by the center and into the unknown I ran across the real burg of Smithville. A large residential community that isn't really seen or known by the casual traveler. That's one of the rewards of motor homing into the unknown So if you ever go there make sure to drive into the shopping center and beyond.

Then there is the other Smithville in Easthampton NJ. http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/departments/resource_conservation/parks/sites/smithville/info/index.htm This one is still in the stag of rehabilitation. An old prison and industrial site that has been converted to a nature and recreation center. They use to have jousting contest between different old time reenact groups, trade fairs and demos of early American culture from Native American through pre and post revolutionary day. I don't know if they still do. Their website does not say much about that at this time.

Still if one is in that area it is worth a stop. After all when you are motor homing you just can't always barrel down the road without stopping to smell the roses sometimes.