Hemlock Falls is on a 5.8 mile loop in South Mountain Reservation, but there’s a 1.2 mile toddler-friendly shortcut. It was easy enough for my 2.5 year old and 4.5 year old to do (with snack bribes and plenty of stops to throw rocks in the brook along the way). Big plus: It’s in aContinue reading “Hemlock Falls: West Orange, NJ”
Category Archives: Nature Preserves
Celery Farm: Allendale, NJ
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”
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”