Planning Your Next Staycation
Summer and early fall are the perfect times of year to go on a nice holiday. But sometimes life gets in the way, and we just don’t have the resources for that big trip to Disney that we’ve been planning for the family. So, what’s the solution? A staycation!
What’s a staycation you might ask? It’s still a vacation, but usually consists of small day-trips and excursions that take place in the areas surrounding your home. It’s less expensive than that big trip, but just as enjoyable. You’ll still make treasured memories spending quality time with the ones you love (or just pampering yourself).
There are tons of local gems that you can escape to in the tri-state area. One of the best known is the famous Jersey Shore. I was lucky enough to grow up a beach kid just a few minutes from a number of great area beaches, like Point Pleasant and Seaside. It’s a wonderful place to spend time. There are attractions like the boardwalks and aquarium if you’re entertaining kids. If you’re looking for some adult relaxation, there are excellent restaurants and beautiful sandy beaches where you can enjoy the sun and surf. Just look at this beautiful sunrise on the beach in Spring Lake. The sunrises and sunsets over the water are definitely worth seeing.
If you’re looking for an active escape, there are excellent hiking and biking trails, as well as white-water rafting excursions on the Delaware River. You can pack up that tent and sleeping bag, and get back to nature while you explore all that areas like the Pocono Mountains have to offer. Big Pocono (or Camelback) Mountain and the surrounding lakes are a beautiful destination, and can be great for a daytime ski trip in the winter. It’s a perfect “little” ski mountain, especially if you’re a beginner.
Not bringing kids? Enjoy a tour of the local wineries. There are some delicious local wines that you might not know even exist. What better way to get more acquainted with them than a wine tour? Nearby options are Working Dog Winery in Hightstown, Laurita Winery in New Egypt, and Cream Ridge Winery in Cream Ridge. While you’re there, you can sample their different offerings, have a bite to eat, and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere. The wineries are also great destinations in the fall, when the weather is just starting to get cooler, and the grapes are being harvested.
Whatever your destination, don’t discount all that our beautiful region has to offer. You’ll find plenty to enjoy on your next staycation!
The Ultimate Guide to the Jersey Shore: What to Eat, What to Do, and So Much More by Peter Genovese
"The Jersey Shore, our most treasured asset, the envy of forty-nine other states, comes alive in this new book by the reporter and writer who knows New Jersey and the Jersey Shore best. Every conceivable topic (where to eat, where to stay, landmarks and attractions, what to do with the kids) is covered, with the kind of inside information you just won’t find on tourism Web sites or Facebook. All one hundred-plus shore towns are included, from Sandy Hook to Cape May. There are hundreds of restaurant listings and recommendations.”
Rail-Trails: New Jersey & New York: The Definitive Guide to the Region's Top Multiuse Trails by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy presents the best rail-trails - plus other multiuse pathways - in New Jersey and New York, including the four Hall of Fame Rail-Trails: the High Line (New York City’s famed aerial greenway), the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, Walkway Over the Hudson, and the William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail.
“An indispensable guide to the 50 top treks in the Garden State, all doable in a day or less. Whether you're an avid hiker or seek adventure in your own backyard, this must-have resource covers all of New Jersey.”
50 Hikes in New Jersey by Daniel D. Chazin
"A treasury of trails that takes you to the best wild places in the Garden State. Known more for its urban areas than its green spaces, the Garden State is actually a crossroads for major interstate trails including the Maine-to-Georgia Appalachian Trail, the 150-mile Highlands Trail, and the 60-mile Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail. Hike along the Appalachian ridge or over the ragged Wyanokies, pass into the Pine Barrens or through marshes and dunes on the coast, and you'll see that New Jersey has so much more to offer than just cities."
- by Megan S., Twin Rivers Branch
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