Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno Brings Tourism Tuesdays to South Jersey

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno visited the Camden Aquarium in Camden County and Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery in Salem County as part of her Tourism Tuesday tour on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

“South Jersey tourism saw significant growth last year as visitors and residents discovered the diverse attractions available in the region, like Adventure Aquarium and Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery,” Guadagno said. “Individuals and families of all ages can enjoy the fun and unique experiences the southern counties have to offer.”

Adventure Aquarium, previously known as the New Jersey State Aquarium at Camden, reopened in 2005 as one of the original centerpieces in Camden’s revitalization plans. Since then, more than seven million people have visited the aquarium, according to the Governor’s Office.

The two-million-gallon facility is home to more than 8,500 sea creatures, including sharks, stingrays, penguins, and sea turtles. Travel Channel named it among the best aquariums in the country in 2013.

“On behalf of Adventure Aquarium, we are honored to host Lt. Governor Guadagno for Tourism Tuesday on the Camden Waterfront during our tenth year of bringing families together for unique and memorable experiences,” John Fitzgibbons, Vice President of Operations at Herschend Family Entertainment, said. “It is truly exciting to showcase what our guests marvel at each day, including the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast, the only Great Hammerhead Shark on exhibit in the United States and the only hippos in the world on exhibit in an aquarium – and we’re right here in New Jersey.”

Her second stop was Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery in Pilesgrove Township.

The company’s partners, who previously worked together at a securities brokerage firm, first started making wine in 2000 from a kit and grapes grown in co-owner Dave Davis’ backyard.

Auburn Road has 19 acres of grapes under cultivation, produces 4,200 cases of wine per year, and welcomes visitors to its Enoteca, an Italian-style wine bar.

The Vineyard’s wines have won various prizes at events like the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and the annual New Jersey Wine Competition.

Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery is located in the designated Outer Coastal Plain American Viticultural Area, which includes Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic, and Ocean Counties. New Jersey is home to more than 48 licensed wineries and is the tenth-largest wine producing state in the nation with 1.56 million gallons of wine and between $30 and $40 million in revenue generated annually.

In 2014, Salem County saw an 11.3 percent increase in tourism-related demand, the second-highest increase in the State, and Camden County saw an 8.8 percent increase. Overall tourism-related demand generated a record-breaking $42.1 billion in 2014, a 3.8 percent increase over 2013. Visitation in New Jersey also rose to 93.2 million in 2014, a 4.4 percent increase over 2013.

The attached image of Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno is a Patch file photo