The greatest thing about every single South Jersey town

New Jersey is composed of 565 municipalities and scores more sections and hamlets. I, Pete Genovese, have spent a lifetime wandering around and writing about this incredible state. Now, I have compiled the ultimate list: The greatest thing about every single town. Yes, all 565.

Landmarks, attractions, parks, historical tidbits, museums, restaurants — unique features that give each borough, city or township (every type of municipality is a "town," for this project) its special character or personality.

My mission: to show the richness, charm and wonder of New Jersey; no state is more mocked, maligned and misunderstood.

In this, the fourth part of our series, we'll look at Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. On Monday and Tuesday, we visited North Jersey (read those stories here and here). Wednesday was all about Central Jersey (read that story here). Friday we'll finish at the Jersey Shore.

BURLINGTON COUNTY

Bass River: Allen's Clam Bar

No one does fried fish better than Allen's Clam Bar, in Bass River's New Gretna section. It started as a bait-and-tackle shop before Win Allen opened the restaurant side in the mid-1960s. When he won the state oyster-shucking contest in 1981, business really took off. Can't make up your mind? Order the Fried Combo, with flounder, shrimp, clam strips and deviled clam. Not in a fishy mood? The fried chicken is surprisingly good. Minutes away is my favorite Piney bar, the Lower Bank Tavern.

Riverfront Park, Beverly Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Beverly: Riverfront Park

Riverfront Park doesn't come up in a Google search, or show up on Google Maps, but trust me, it's there, along the Delaware River between Broad and Cooper Streets. It's a great place to eat lunch or sit a spell, one of many quiet little parks along the river.

Bordentown City: Randy Now's Man Cave

A dizzying, delightful hodgepodge of collectible records, DVDs, t-shirts, posters, toys — not to mention 140 kinds of soda — Randy Now's, run by Randy Ellis, is a trip. In a recent Facebook post, he put 300-400 records on the sidewalk and begged someone to take them — for free. "Don't make a mess," he wrote. "Hoping one person takes them all. No sorting/looking." Ellis booked musical acts at the legendary City Gardens nightclub in Trenton, where Sinead O'Connor and A Flock of Seagulls made their American debuts and the Ramones played 25 times.

Mastoris Diner, Bordentown  Alex Remnick I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Bordentown Township: Mastoris Diner

One of the state's best-known and biggest diners, Mastoris began when Nick and Mary Mastoris bought the liquor license of the Bordentown Grill, a popular roadside attraction at the junction of Routes 25 and 39 (now 130 and 206). The Grill was torn down for a road construction project, rebuilt, then burned down in 1969. Mastoris opened on the spot a year and a half later. The menu is expansive, the parking lot bigger than most small towns, and everyone loves the cinnamon bread.

Burlington City: Library Company of Burlington

"Chartered by His Majesty King George III in 1758," reads the regal description of the Library Company of Burlington. It is the oldest library in continuous operation in New Jersey, and the seventh-oldest in the country. The institution's first circulated book: "The Invisible Spy." The library moved several times, renting rooms in local houses, before acquiring its own building. There's now a children's room, Internet workstations, and historical volumes dating all the way back to 1521.

Blue Claw Seafood & Crab Eatery, Burlington Township Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Burlington Township: The Blue Claw Seafood & Crab Eatery

There's no better place to get crabby in Jersey than the Blue Claw. The legendary crab house looks strip mall bland from the outside, but the roll of paper towels at each table is a clue you're about to get good and messy cracking open those crabs. They're flown in fresh every day from Florida and Mexico. Crabs can be served cleaned or "dirty," cold or steamed, plain or seasoned with J&O crab seasoning, Norm's seasoning, or the famous house garlic sauce.

Chesterfield: Crosswicks

You've got to love a town that holds an annual Witches Ball. The Whimsical Witches of Crosswicks Annual Witches Ball is just one of dozens of events held in the Crosswicks Community House, on Main Street. Crosswicks claims to be the birthplace of Taylor ham; John Taylor, a descendant of Crosswicks settlers, made his soon-to-be-famous ham for a local market. Harvest festivals, chili cook-offs, Halloween and Christmas parades, the annual Croquet Classic (one rule: "No Cussing"), outdoor movie nights, storytelling events in the Friends Meeting House — Crosswicks, settled in 1677, is a small town that knows how to have fun.

Trinity AME Church, Cinnaminson  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Cinnaminson: Trinity AME Church

The church and the adjacent small cemetery are the most prominent remains of the Black community known as Wrightsville, established just after the Civil War. The church, originally known as the Free Gospel Church, was founded in 1873 and became known as Trinity AME in 1905. Some of the graves in the cemetery date to the 1860s.

Delanco: The Statue of Liberty

New Jersey and New York have argued for years over the location of the Statue of Liberty (it's in Jersey waters, but whatever). The other Statue of Liberty, about 20 feet tall, stands on the seawall at the estate here named Shangri-La. Unfortunately, it's impossible to see "except from a boat on the river or a muddy slog on the beach at low tide," according to the informative Delanco Historic Waterfront Tour.

Delran: L&M Bakery

It's Carli Lloyd's favorite bakery, what more do you need to know? The Olympic soccer star grew up on L&M's doughnuts and pastries; she even made a bet that she'd eat a doughnut for every goal she scored in the Women's World Cup in 2015 (she scored six goals and was named outstanding player). L&M opened in 1964 in a space once occupied by a gas station and Ford dealership. Their buttercream is legendary. Lloyd announced her retirement from soccer this week.

Visitor Center, Smithville Park  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Eastampton: Smithville Park

What a gorgeous park. Smithville Park is the centerpiece of the Burlington County park system. Smithville (not to be confused with the Smithville in Atlantic County) was a major industrial center from the 1860s to 1920s; the Smithville-Mount Holly Bicycle Railway transported Smith Company employees via a monorail-type track. The park's features include a floating walkway, butterfly garden, picnic areas, The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County, Smithville Mansion and the Workers House Museum.

The casket containing the body of Army Staff Sgt. Terry Hemingway, who was killed in Baghdad, is carried to its gravesite at Beverly National Cemetery.  Michael Mancuso I Times of Trenton

Edgewater Park: Beverly National Cemetery

Beverly National Cemetery is the final resting place for 50,000 veterans. The original cemetery, founded in 1863, was just one acre, and devoted to Union soldiers who died at nearby hospitals. Today, the cemetery encompasses nearly 65 acres. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Evesham: Joe's Peking Duck House

What should you order at Joe's Peking Duck House? How about the Fish Maw Soup? Okay, just kidding. The Peking Duck — you can order it al carte by the half or whole, or as a combo meal for two or four — is tender, juicy, with eminently tasty skin — it hits all the roast duck notes. Also recommended: the wonton noodle soup. Add wontons and noodles, in separate containers, to the broth and you have a sumptuous soupy delight. Evesham — Marlton, where Joe's is located, is one of its sections — is Burlington County's most populous municipality.

White Hill Manson, Fieldsboro Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Fieldsboro: White Hill Mansion

Blink twice, and you're in and out of Fieldsboro, population 752. Its most noteworthy sight is the White Hill Mansion, situated on a bluff overlooking the Delaware River. The site was at first a Lenape winter settlement, later a hotbed of Revolutionary War activity. There are daytime history tours and nighttime haunted house events. "You are not locked in and can leave anytime," the website helpfully says.

Florence: The Roebling Museum

What do the Brooklyn Bridge, the George Washington Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge have in common? John A. Roebling's Sons Co. The company designed the Brooklyn Bridge and supplied the steel cable for all three legendary spans. In its heyday, Roebling was the world's largest producer of wire rope and employed 8,000 workers. The museum opened on Saturdays as of June 5.

Hainesport: Rancocas State Park

One of the state's least-known state parks, Rancocas State Park encompasses 1,200 acres in Hainesport and Westampton. There are 14 trails wandering through upland and lowland hardwood forest, and the Rancocas Nature Center hosts wildlife and outdoor programs.

Air Victory Museum, Lumberton  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Lumberton: Air Victory Museum

Best place to find a nuclear bomb in New Jersey? The Air Victory Museum, which counts a B-61 Nuclear Bomb (don't worry, it's been disarmed) among its many fascinating artifacts. Jet fighters, experimental aircraft, engines, rockets, torpedoes are on display. There's even a replica of the Wright Brothers 1903 Flyer built by students from a local school. It's one of my favorite museums in New Jersey, and admission is free.

Mansfield: 'About Mansfield'

I combed through scores of town websites for background info on the 565 entries; some were informative, others gave new meaning to the word "worthless." None were as heartwarmingly rosy as Mansfield's. This is from its "About" section: "The level of the land is flat with just enough rolling terrain to make the countryside beautiful. The climate is mild. Winter brings snow to delight. Summer has a comfortable warmth." In the flat, deadening world of municipal website language, this qualifies as poetry.

Maple Shade Custard Stand, Maple Shade  Alex Remnick I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Maple Shade: Maple Shade Custard Stand

The red-and-white-trimmed Maple Shade Custard Stand, which dates to the '50s, is a scoop of vanishing Americana, with its walk-up counter and DRIVE IN sign atop the roof. Custard or soft-serve is more a South Jersey than North Jersey thing, and this stand is one of the absolute best in the state. It made my list of the state's best soft-serve spots.

Medford: Main Street

Medford's Main Street is one of the state's most charming, with antiques shops, restaurants, cafes and the Medford Arts Center. Landmarks include Braddock's Tavern, which dates to 1844. You'll love the retro atmosphere and milk shakes at The Pop Shop, and some of the state's best craft beer at Lower Forge Brewery,

Log cabins, Medford Lakes  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Medford Lakes: Largest concentration of log cabins in the world

That's what officials in this tiny (1.2 square miles) town say, anyway. Of the 1,500 homes in Medford Lakes, 150 are log cabins. "Ask any visitor to the Lakes and you'll hear comments like 'You must think you're at camp all the time,' " the website cheerfully announces. "We don't have streets or roads, we have trails." That's true, pretty much all the roads in town are named "trails," although they are paved. There are no less than 22 lakes in Medford Lakes, which may be the state's quirkiest community.

The Cruiser in the Cornfield, Moorestown  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Moorestown: Cruiser in the cornfield

If you're driving down I-295 and suddenly spot what looks like a battleship in the middle of a cornfield, don't panic. It's merely the U.S. Navy's AEGIS Combat System Engineering Development Site, which develops and tests shipborne radar and missiles. When the "ship" was built in 1959 to house an Air Force Ballistic early-warning system model, it resembled a stadium-sized golf ball. AEGIS is not an acronym, it's the Greek word for the shield worn by Zeus. I got a rare tour of the facility years ago. "I don't want to say too much about what we do here," the commanding officer said back then.

Burlington County Prison Museum, Mount Holly

Mount Holly: Burlington County Prison Museum

The county prison opened in 1811 and when it finally shut down in 1965, it had been the nation's oldest prison. The interior vaulted ceilings and brick and stone construction made the building near-fireproof. Today, you can wander through the empty corridors and peek into the cells. Online, you can watch a video on prison graffiti. One of the most memorable on the prison's walls shows a giant eye with the words. "We're watching you; you can't get out." The prison museum is open Thursday through Sunday.

Hotels, Mount Laurel  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Mount Laurel: Hotel Heaven

If you can't find a hotel room in Mount Laurel, you're not looking very hard. Courtyard by Marriott, The Westin, Red Roof Inn, The Hotel ML, Aloft, Wyndham, Econolodge, Super 8, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Towne Place Suites, Knights Inn, Staybridge Suites, LaQuinta, Rodeway Inn and Clarion Hotel & Suites — I may have missed a few — are located within walking distance of each other. They're all located near the terminus of the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 73.

New Hanover: Fort Dix

Fort Dix is the Army section of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, which spreads over several towns, 32,000 acres and includes the 305th Air Mobility Wing, the 87th Civil Engineer Group, the Atlantic Strike Team, and other commands. The military installation opened in 1917 and was named Fort Dix in 1939. It is a major training center for reserve soldiers and includes the Army Reserve and National Guard.

One of several mobile home communities in North Hanover Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

North Hanover: The town with a mobile home administrator

There are more trailer parks — sorry, mobile home communities — in New Jersey than you might think. About 100,000 New Jerseyans live in the state's 170 more or so mobile home communities. North Hanover is home to Spartan Village, California Village and South's Mobile Home Court, among others. And yes, North Hanover, adjacent to Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base, has a mobile home administrator.

Palmyra Cove Nature Park, Palmyra Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Palmyra: Palmyra Cove Nature Park

There are many scenic spots along the Delaware River, but Palmyra Nature Cove just may top the list. It's a 250-acre oasis with a little bit of everything — wetlands, woodlands, meadows, wild creek, river shoreline and a tidal cove from which the park derives its name. The visitor center is open Monday through Friday. The park is a bit tricky to find — follow Temple Road almost to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge tolls, bearing right where a sign says "last turn before tolls." Follow that road to the park.

Pemberton Borough: Grist Mill Antiques Center

The Grist Mill features the state's most entertaining store Facebook page, jammed with photos of merchandise and quirky historical tidbits. Did you know that the first 15 U.S. presidents were beardless until 1861, when a little girl told Abe Lincoln to grow a beard and for the next 52 years, every President had a beard? The antiques center started in 1994 on one floor, and now the Grist Mill spreads over two floors and includes 60 booths and 10,000 feet of antiques and vintage merchandise.

Pemberton Township: Deborah Heart and Lung Center

A hospital that has never issued a bill to a patient in its nearly 100-year history? That's Deborah, which accepts insurance, but there is no co-pay, deductible, balance bill or out-of-pocket expenses for care at "New Jersey's premier provider of high-quality heart, lung and vascular care." It was founded in 1922 as a tuberculosis sanatorium. The Deborah Hospital Foundation is the hospital's fundraising arm.

Sign for Boost! in Shamong Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Riverside: Headquarters of Boost!

Boost! (yes, the exclamation mark is part of the name) is New Jersey's greatest and most peculiar cult drink. It's a lemony cola that some liken to a flat cola, others to "liquid crack." If you don't live in Burlington, Camden or Gloucester counties, chances are you've never heard of it, much less tried it. Boost! is not to be confused with Boost, the nutritional drink from Nestle. You buy the syrup and make your own, or buy it in slushie or soda form. For the stores that stock Boost!, visit takaboost.com.

Riverton: Riverton Yacht Club

Founded in 1865, Riverton Yacht Club is the oldest yacht club on the Delaware River and one of the oldest in the country. We're not talking luxe, lavish ocean-going yachts, but sailboats. There are Learn to Sail lessons for kids, plus frequent races, including the prestigious Governor's Cup Regatta every June. The yacht club is located a mile north of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge.

Shamong: Pic-A-Lilli Inn

Shamong — one of my favorite Jersey town names — is home to "The Pic." The Pine Barrens restaurant and bar's history dates to 1927, when Thomas Snyder opened Snyder's Luncheonette on State Highway 39, a dirt road that would later become Route 206. His daughter, Lillian, and her husband, Pickett Russell, came up from Arkansas to join him in the business. The bar, named after the two, opened in 1933. When Russell passed away in 1953, his funeral was held, per his wishes, inside the bar. Besides the Piney hospitality, you go to the Pic-a-Lilli for one thing: the unforgettable wings.

Vincentown Grange, Vincentown  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Southampton: Vincentown Grange

The National Grange was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1867 to advance the economic and political interests of the nation's farmers. The Vincentown Grange was one of the few left in New Jersey — until it was put up for sale. The Grange Hall is on Main Street in Vincentown.

Springfield: Columbus Farmers Market

Flea markets are often scorned, but never by the people who find great bargains amidst the junk and jetsam. The Columbus Farmers Market started as a cattle and horse auction in 1919 in the town of Columbus, moving to its present location in 1929. You'll find everything from jewelry, clothes, computers and furniture to military attire, produce, toys and pets. And great pizza. Kate and Al's Pizza and Pete's Pizza, both serving eminently saucy pies, are highly recommended. And Richard's Chicken Coop makes first-rate fried chicken.

Carranza memorial, Tabernacle  Tony Kurdzuk I The Star-Ledger

Tabernacle: The Carranza Memorial

Mexican aviator Emilio Carranza was known as "The Lindbergh of Mexico." He had been a hero since he was 18, when he helped put down a rebellion. On a 1928 goodwill flight that was a response to one made by Lindbergh the previous December, Carranza's Ryan monoplane crashed in the Pine Barrens during a thunderstorm. A 10-foot limestone block decorated with an Aztec eagle marks the spot. To visit, look for the sign on Route 206 in Red Lion; that'll put you on Carranza Road, which you'll follow for about ten miles to the monument.

Sawmill, Batsto Village  Samir Id-Deen I The Star-Ledger

Washington: Batsto Village

Batsto Village, like the Great Falls in Paterson, is one of those New Jersey treasures that everyone seems to know about, but all too few visit. The site consists of 33 historic buildings and structures, including the Batsto Mansion, gristmill, sawmill, general store, workers' homes, cottages and post office. You can take a free guided tour by smart phone, and there are guided tours of Batsto Mansion from Wednesdays through Sundays. The annual Country Living Fair, held in October, is a good day to visit. Batsto is located on Route 542, one of the state's most scenic roads.

Historical marker for Timbuctoo, Westampton  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Westampton: Timbuctoo

Timbuctoo was founded in 1826 when four African-American men, likely escaped slaves from Maryland, bought land from a Quaker businessman. At its peak, according to westamptonnj.gov., Timbuctoo had 125 residents, a school, and Zion Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal African Church. Timbuctoo was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Willingboro: Willingboro Town Center

This is one-stop shopping and then some. Willingboro Town Center includes an Acme, CVS, Dollar Tree, several restaurants, and such tenants as Strayer University, Rowan College at Burlington County, and Penn Medicine. The town library is also located here.

Pakim Pond, Woodland  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Woodland: Pakim Pond

Picking the most peaceful spot in the Pine Barrens is an impossible task. I could give you a place deep in the woods accessible only by a snake-infested trail, but I'll go with one easy to reach by car: Pakim Pond. Pull up a picnic table in the secluded, shaded grove here; you might have the place to yourself. Pakim Pond is minutes from a major highway (Route 72), but in a world of its own. Head down Buzzard Hill Road off 72 and enjoy.

Military and law enforcement badges on the wall at Afghan Kabob, Wrightstown Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Wrightstown: Afghan Kabob

Some of Jersey's best dining can be found in strip malls. Afghan Kabob is the end unit in a strip mall that includes a Chinese/Japanese restaurant and tattoo parlor. There's no website or Facebook page, so don't go looking for one. This might be N.J.'s most compact restaurant menu, with just five items (chicken kabob, lamb kabob, chicken & lamb kabob, gyro, chicken kabob salad). The chicken kabob boasts 13 pieces (I counted every one) of tender, seriously seasoned meat. They're not advertised on the menu, but the spicy fries are a must. It's a popular spot for soldiers from nearby Joint Base MDL (McGuire/Dix/Lakehurst). I was the only civilian on a recent visit.

CAMDEN COUNTY

Field of flags, Audubon Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Audubon: 'Most patriotic small town in America'

That's what the town website says, and there's proof everywhere. The 4th of July parade is a big deal; they even hand-deliver the parade program to nearly 4,000 homes. The Audubon Celebration Committee oversees the parade and Audubon Day. Look for the awesome display of American flags on the Audubon/Haddon border.

Audubon Park: Audubon Mutual Housing Corp.

There are no schools, stores or churches in town, and all the houses are painted white. What's going on here? Audubon Park is one of about 30 mutual housing communities in the country. All the property is collectively-owned and prospective residents buy a share in the corporation that owns and manages the 500 units. Tenants pay a monthly fee that covers property taxes, utilities and other costs. The town was built in 1941 to house defense workers preparing for World War II.

Barrington: Barrington Harvest Festival

The festival, held in October, is a celebration of small town Americana, with craft and food vendors, entertainment, classic car show, pony rides, petting zoo and more. The 2020 festival was canceled and a decision has not be made on the 2021 event.

Carmen's Deli, Bellmawr  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Bellmawr: Carmen's Deli

Carmen's Deli is the kind of place where specials were written on construction paper, and the smudged and tattered sandwich menu, taped to a wall, looks like it went through the sub wars. I say "were'' because the deli is undergoing a major renovation. One thing hasn't changed — the Rose's Special sub, with capicola, prosciutto, regular and sharp provolone, soppressata and roasted red peppers, named after a former owner. I call it South Jersey's best sub. Or hoagie.

Historical marker, Berlin  Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Berlin Borough: Camp Long-A-Coming

A kids summer camp with a cool name, Camp Long-A-Coming is a four or six-week program that runs from early July to mid-August (the camp was not held in 2021). Races, bowling, Wild West Wednesdays (dress like a cowboy), Marvel Mondays (dress like your favorite superhero), field trips and more fill the busy calendar. Berlin's first settlers arrived in 1774 and called the village Long-A-Coming as it was along the Lonaconing Indian trail.

Berlin Township: Sahara Sam's Oasis

A year-round waterpark? Sahara Sam's, open even in the dead of winter, is 60,000 feet of watery fun under a retractable roof. T...