Spanning 4 towns (Peapack, Gladstone, Far Hills, and Bedminster), Natirar Park is HUGE and traverses hundreds of acres of fields, meadows, and woodlands, offering river access, paved and gravel walking trails, and plenty of space for running, biking, scooting, ball playing, and picnics while socially distancing with ease. Fun facts: Natirar is the reverse spellingContinue reading “Natirar Park: Far Hills, NJ”
Tag Archives: Picnics
Summer at Cheesequake State Park: Matawan, NJ
We were on the hunt for a beach-like experience without the crowds and stumbled upon Hooks Creek Lake at Cheesequake State Park. Open for swimming from 10:30am-6:00pm daily with 2 lifeguards on duty, Hooks Creek Lake is shallow enough for babies to enjoy, doesn’t have waves, and is a great place to teach young kiddosContinue reading “Summer at Cheesequake State Park: Matawan, NJ”
Holmdel Park: Holmdel Township, NJ
Home to Historic Longstreet Farm, an arboretum, pond, and 10 miles of trails, Holmdel Park is akin to Duke Farms in its design. A picnicker’s paradise, there are large swaths of shaded grassy areas, more than enough space to socially distance, play ball, walk the dog, ride a bike, scooter, go fishing, and learn aboutContinue reading “Holmdel Park: Holmdel Township, NJ”
Deep Cut Gardens: Middletown, NJ
Walking into Deep Cut Gardens is like walking into your grandma’s garden – you know, the one with the green thumb. You’ll find vegetables like kale, potatoes, and peppers interspersed with a rainbow of fragrant blooming flowers serving as inspiration for home gardeners. Milkweed ensures there’s an abundance of butterflies throughout the gardens – everyContinue reading “Deep Cut Gardens: Middletown, 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”
Brookdale Park and Rose Garden: Montclair, NJ
We discovered Brookdale Park and Rose Garden in June, and it’s one of our favorite places to go. Quick drive, easy street parking, shaded, paved paths, wide open fields, scenic, and clean bathrooms – this place checks off all the boxes. Designed by the Olmsted Firm (the same folks who designed Central Park), this spaceContinue reading “Brookdale Park and Rose Garden: Montclair, NJ”
Loantaka Brook Reservation: Morris Township, NJ
We discovered this gem a few weeks ago and it has quickly become a favorite respite from our densely populated urban life. Magical. Heavenly. Peaceful. Green. That’s how I would describe this place. Babbling brooks, cute little bridges, stroller-friendly trails, wildflowers, grassy fields, and tons of animals. We spotted chipmunks galore, butterflies, dragonflies, fish, dogs,Continue reading “Loantaka Brook Reservation: Morris Township, NJ”
Grover Cleveland Park: Essex Fells, NJ
We begin the day by singing a song: “Let’s go on an adventure! Time to go and explore. So much to see on our adventure. I can’t wait to see more!” Singing helps energize our boys and excites us to explore something new. I tell them about the place we’re going to that day overContinue reading “Grover Cleveland Park: Essex Fells, NJ”
The Park Mama 