Cherry Hill, NJ

The first settlers to the area arrived in the late 1600s. Then, Cherry Hill was part of the Waterford Township of Gloucester County. This rural community was an agricultural center and a mill town. In 1844, the area became part of the new Camden County, so residents chose a new name -- Delaware Township. In the mid-1800s, Abraham Browning, the Attorney General of New Jersey, purchased a farm in Camden County which he named, "Cherry Hill Farm."

In the 1940s, a horse racing venue called Garden State Park opened in the area, which was soon followed by the Cherry Hill Inn, located on the site of the former farm. Later, in the 1960s, the Cherry Hill Mall -- the first enclosed mall on the East Coast -- was built. In 1961, the town wanted to open a post office. The only issue -- Delaware was the name of another town in New Jersey, and they already had a post office. After some debate and a contest, the town decided to change the name to "Cherry Hill."

Cherry Hill residents might be just a little bit spoiled with the amount of restaurants not only available in town, but within a short drive, train, or subway ride away. But you don't have to go far -- in fact, you can even just head to the mall. Capital Grille is located just outside the mall and gets rave reviews. In addition to a great steak, this restaurant features more than 350 wines from around the world.

Another mall gem, Seasons 52 provides elegant dining inside the mall itself. Enjoy a terrific meal after a day of shopping, or host your next big occasion in their large event space. Seasons 52 offers a wide selection of healthy dishes, seafood, and steaks. It also offers an extensive wine list.

Of course, living in New Jersey, you'll want to know where to find great pizza. Try Gambino's Italian Eatery and Pizzeria for some of the area's best pizza, antipasto, risotto, and pasta. Owner Giovanni Gambino is the real deal -- an experienced chef who moved here from Sicily in 1976. He has more than 35 years of experience, starting at the age of 17, when he worked with a famous chef in Sicily.

While it might take a little more than an hour to get there, the best nightlife in the world is just a train ride away. Manhattan, of course, is legendary as the "city that never sleeps." You'll discover why when you visit one of the hottest nightclubs, attend a Broadway performance, or catch a musical performance at Carnegie Hall.

With a comprehensive mass transit system, living in Cherry Hill provides the convenience of car-free commuting throughout the area. The Atlantic City Rail Line and the Northeast Regional Amtrak train both take you to Penn Station in Manhattan. The Atlantic City Rail Line also goes to the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, as well as to the Trenton Transit Center and Atlantic City.

In the spring, you'll want to walk -- and with wide sidewalks beneath those cherry trees, you'll enjoy strolling through this pedestrian-friendly town. But perhaps as a lingering result of its beginnings as a rural farming community, Cherry Hill is very spread-out. Unless you enjoy walking long distances, taking the bus or driving are probably better options for running errands.

If you prefer to drive, the New Jersey Turnpike (I-295) passes through Cherry Hill, and Highway 70 connects you with I-676 for commuting into Downtown Philadelphia.

With so many parks to choose from, you're likely to find one within walking distance of your Cherry Hill apartment. Along the northwest side of the neighborhood, Cooper River Park is along the shore of Cooper River Lake. This park includes a boat launch, mini-golf, bike paths, athletic fields, and picnic areas.

A truly unique park on the border of Cherry Hill, Pennypacker Park was once home to a rather large resident. This is the historic site where a nearly-complete dinosaur skeleton -- the world's first -- was discovered in 1858. The Hadrosaurus foulkii was discovered just before the outbreak of the Civil War by William Foulke, and it forever changed the world's view of natural history. The dinosaur was the first to ever be put on display, and it caused quite a stir when it stood in the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Today, a historic marker marks the location of the discovery, and visitors can climb down the 30-food chasm and see the actual marl pit where this fascinating creature was finally unearthed, millions of years after he died.

The Barclay Farmstead is a living history museum that includes the 1816 farmhouse built by a Quaker farmer named Joseph Thorn. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the farm offers tours of the farmhouse, interpretive nature trails, and garden plots.

Croft Farm is also a National Historic Landmark. This farmhouse was built in 1753 and was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. Today, it is an arts center and a terrific place for hiking. The Croft Farm National Recreation Trail contains 1.45 miles of interconnected trails through this historic property. The six trails lead through meadows and forest and is one of the state-wide Birding and Wildlife Viewing Trails.

As a popular and beautiful town, Cherry Hill commands a higher price tag than many parts of New Jersey. Apartments in Cherry Hill average about $1,000 a month, compared to the state average of $960. On average, a house in Cherry Hill will cost roughly $315,000, which is slightly less than the New Jersey average of $348,000.

Cherry Hill enjoys a strong economy with a variety of local employers. The tallest office building in Cherry Hill is One Cherry Hill. Built in 1977, this nearly 122-foot building has 10 floors of office space. Other businesses located in or near Cherry Hill include Pinnacle Foods, TD Bank, and Melitta USA.

As an edge city, many residents commute to a variety of nearby cities, including Philadelphia, Camden, Trenton, Princeton, Manhattan, and Atlantic City.

Cherry Hill Mall, the first indoor shopping mall in the eastern US, opened in 1961. In addition to being the first mall on the east coast, it is also one of the largest in New Jersey. It is still one of New Jersey's most popular shopping destinations, with over 90 stores and its anchor stores Nordstrom, Macy's, and JCPenney. Shopping plazas outside the mall include additional stores, including Kirkland's, the Container Store, and Crate and Barrel. Several restaurants and a movie theater are also located on the outskirts of the mall.

While the mall is the most popular shopping destination in Cherry Hill, it isn't the only one. Market Place at Garden State Park contains a Nordstrom Rack, DSW, Best Buy, and a Wegmans grocery store. The adjacent Garden State Pavilions Shopping Center features a Burlington Coat Factory, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Petco, and Ross. Ellisburg Shopping Center, located off Kings Highway, is home to a Buy Buy Baby, Hallmark, a Whole Foods Market, Dress Barn, and Stein Mart.

More shopping in the form of local specialty stores and boutiques can be found throughout Cherry Hill, and especially along John Davison Rockefeller Memorial Highway (Rt.70). Along this route, you'll find a variety of bakeries, delis, and donut shops alongside clothing boutiques, a magic shop, hardware stores, bridal boutiques, and more. Near the New Jersey Turnpike, Danzeisen and Quigley is a popular destination for sports enthusiasts. This store contains gear for skiing, bicycling, and swimming.

Residents who enjoy fresh-from-the-farm produce head to Springdale Farms, a working farm with a market and a bakery. Springdale Farms is the last working farm in Cherry Hill. Today, it caters to residents as well as local restaurants, including the Chop House, the Farm and Fisherman, and the Tortilla Press. The farm also features "pick your own" events, such as pumpkins in the fall and strawberries (the most popular pick-your-own event) in the summer. The farm includes a seasonal corn maze, a plant yard, and hayrides. They also offer an outdoor party space and a glass conservatory available for rent.