Tap tap tap. “What’s that sound, Mama?” Tap tap tap. We scanned the trees, searching for the noisy drummer. “Look up! I found a woodpecker. Right over there. Look up! Look up! Do you see it?” My 4.5 year old and 2 year old were delighted to discover a real woodpecker, clothed in a brightContinue reading “Celery Farm: Allendale, NJ”
Category Archives: Nature Preserves
Fall at Mill Creek Marsh: Secaucus, NJ
Mill Creek Marsh is our favorite lazy day escape. We reserve it for days when I’m too tired to drive very far, but still want to get outside and run/walk. There are two short and flat 3/4 mile trails (North Tidal Pool Trail and South Tidal Pool Trail) with educational signage posted throughout describing theContinue reading “Fall at Mill Creek Marsh: Secaucus, NJ”
Watchung Reservation Sensory Friendly Trail: Mountainside, NJ
We visited Watchung Reservation’s Sensory Friendly Trail today with our 2 year old and 4 year old after hearing such wonderful things about it from other local families. Wow, what a cool place! It’s wheelchair accessible, stroller friendly, offers educational signage with audio and Braille, and is a short little 0.3 mile loop just perfectContinue reading “Watchung Reservation Sensory Friendly Trail: Mountainside, NJ”
Tenafly Nature Center: Tenafly, NJ
A Park Mama reader recommended Tenafly Nature Center as a place that she was very grateful for, especially during the pandemic, so we excitedly made the trek over to check it out. What a cool find! The park greeter recommended 3 short trails for our little family to explore – yellow (0.4 mile), red (0.3Continue reading “Tenafly Nature Center: Tenafly, NJ”
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve: Franklin Lakes, NJ
Kayak rentals. Chipmunks scurrying. Picnic tables expertly positioned in bucolic settings. Paved and gravel trails with lake viewing platforms. What a gem. We discovered Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve in late July and loved it. The stroller-friendly/wheelchair accessible trail is short, about 0.25 mile, but we just lapped it back and forth, picnicked, and watched chipmunksContinue reading “Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve: Franklin Lakes, NJ”
Flat Rock Brook Nature Center: Englewood, NJ
Today, I hiked 2.5 miles solo with my almost 2 year old and 4 year old without a stroller. We played “I Spy” with binoculars in hand and spotted turtles, frogs, owls, hawks, fish, cardinals, sparrows, squirrels, butterflies, and so many chipmunks that we dubbed the blue trail “Chipmunk Way”. I let my 4 yearContinue reading “Flat Rock Brook Nature Center: Englewood, NJ”
Mill Creek Marsh: Secaucus, NJ
My local mommy group recommended Mill Creek Marsh as an uncrowded stroller-friendly walking path within a short drive and, as always, they did not disappoint. We visited on a dreary day, had the place all to ourselves, and enjoyed running and bird watching here. A flat and easy 1.5 mile loop was the perfect outingContinue reading “Mill Creek Marsh: Secaucus, NJ”
Duke Farms: Hillsborough, NJ
I love to drive. Fresh out of college, I took a job as a road warrior recruiting high school seniors across a 7 state territory for my alma mater. Armed with MapQuest directions (remember when that was a thing?) and keys to a state owned minivan, New Jersey was my first and longest assignment. LittleContinue reading “Duke Farms: Hillsborough, NJ”
The Park Mama 