Camden/Pennsauken - Pennsauken, NJ Area Guide

The New Jersey Legislature incorporated Pennsauken Township in 1892 from a region that was once known as the Stockton Township. At the time, the area had only around 3,000 residents, but since then the population has grown to around 35,800, as of 2013. In 1933, America's first drive-in movie theater made its home in the Pennsauken Township. The Camden drive-in only stayed in Pennsauken for two years before it moved to Union.

Children in the area enjoy visiting the Camden children's garden – a 4.5 acre horticulture playground. The garden has a yearly breakfast with Santa, or you can sign up for one of the Saturday family festivals and try your hands at an arts and crafts event. A modest fee is required to cover any materials needed. There are also a variety of museums and cultural events in nearby Philadelphia.

The Pennsauken Township hosts a variety of International restaurants and American cuisine all centrally located near North Crescent Boulevard. Mi Tierra Columbia features Columbian food with a flair for traditional Latin American and Caribbean flavors, which are made to perfection. With popular dishes such as empanadas and arepas, the locals flock to this restaurant for large portions at affordable prices. Each tempting dish features fresh ingredients, and you can choose from a selection of wines from Chile, Spain and Argentina. Other popular dishes include the seafood paella and the ceviche de camarones. Those in the Pennsauken area who are looking for an excellent Italian meal enjoy the Montegrillo Cucina Italiana, a family-owned restaurant with hot and delicious meals made-to-order. Try one of the scrumptious specialties of manicotti with freshly toasted garlic bread, or build your own pizza exactly the way you want it. Don't leave without sampling the famous garlic stick pie and grabbing a slice of the Dark Side of the Moon chocolate cake. Serving the Pennsauken area since 1964, Penn Queen Diner has an extensive menu to choose from. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can find an array of tempting dishes from hot cakes and Belgian waffles to ribeye steaks and veal. The Penn Queen Steak sandwich features fried onions, mushrooms, green peppers and mozzarella cheese all put together on freshly-sliced bread. The restaurant has the ability to host banquets, and for those with a sweet tooth, the bakery department has sheet cakes to order, cannoli, cookies, cupcakes, and even homemade cheesecake. For Pennsauken residents seeking late-night excitement and want to stay local, the Pub on Kaighns Ave and Bobby Ray's on Westfield provide great places to grab a drink with some friends. For those looking for a big night on the town, Philadelphia is located just across the Delaware River. If you are looking for dancing and live music, The Roxxy has one of the largest dance floors in the area. The Cavanaugh's River Deck provides an amazing outdoor space directly on the river and features themed party nights and a full-service bar. If sports are more your style, 700, a multi-level sports bar, offers big screen HDTVs, DJs, dancing and excellent food. This spot has become a major hangout for local soccer enthusiasts in the area.

Most Pennsauken residents travel by car or by bus. The New Jersey transit bus system services the areas between Pennsauken and Philadelphia, and the rail system also has two stops from Philadelphia to the Township. If you prefer to go by taxi, you can call one of the local cab companies, and Uber also services the area..

Major roadways include Route 130 – the largest highway through the Township -, Route 73 and Route 90, and the area also features easy access to two major Interstates that go straight through the south end of the neighborhood. Some areas, which offer nice, quiet rural roads, are easily traveled by bike, or foot.

Dog lovers enjoy the quiet solitude and walking trails of the Cooper River Park. Dogs are welcome off-leash, and there is no fee for visiting. Visitors can walk along the riverbank and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy. . For those who like to stay active, Meadowbrook Park offers one tennis court, a hockey rink and playground equipment for families with children. Bow Wow Park lies within Meadowbrook and provides a leash-free zone for pets to run and play under their owner's supervision . The Park and Rec department of Pennsauken holds a variety of activities and events throughout the year, including an annual Easter egg hunt, the Pennsauken Car and Bike show and a host of summer learning programs all available for a low fee or free.

It costs around 25 percent less to live in Pennsauken than it does in the rest of the country, with a one-bedroom apartment costing around $600 per month. A rail ticket costs about $4 to get from Pennsauken to downtown Philadelphia, and bus fare is around $5 for adults and $3 for children. A 16-ounce beer costs an average of $5, for those who want to head out with friends on a Friday night, and a gallon of gas costs in Pennsauken costs about 1 percent less than the national average and there are attendants to pump it for you.

The center of the Pennshauken Township features a variety of specialty shops, discount stores, and major chains to suit even the pickiest of shoppers. For bargain hunters, the Village Thrift Store has something for all family members, and for those looking for name brands, the Deptford Mall is close by with major anchor stores including Macy's and Sears. For those needing major retail therapy, visiting Philadelphia requires only a short drive.

Meek N' Chic Fashion Boutique sells a selection of trendy clothes shoes and accessories at reasonable prices, and if you like to step out in your own custom-designed fashions, stop by J & O Fabrics for a diverse selection of textiles at discounted prices. Visit the showroom at Howard Hill Furniture to pick out an entertainment center worthy of your big-screen TV and video game collection. The store carries furnishings for every indoor and outdoor space in your home, and you can expect attentive, accommodating service when you request a custom table finish to match your kitchen cabinets.

Costa's Food Market is the place to go for groceries in the area, and if you are looking for fresh fruits and local vegetables, the Meadowbrook Farmer's Market can be found on Union Avenue. If you are looking for larger chain grocery stores, you have to cross the river and head into the Philadelphia area.