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Farms and Pick Your Own

Our Visit To Happy Day Farm

This August, I piled some teens into my car and took a drive down to Happy Day Farm. I really just wanted to see some flowers. We parked in a nice, open field and went to the admissions window. It is a nice walk to the admissions. Oh! An important thing to remember! They are cash only.

A while back we visited the Sussex sunflower maze, and this year wanted something different.

The reason I wanted to go there is for my weekly nature fix. Normally, I enjoy a hike or an evening on the beach, but I figured let’s do something different. What I enjoyed about the farm is the diverse fields they have there: corn, lavender, zinnias, sunflowers, blueberries, raspberries and fruit trees were all around us.

The admission price was $10 to pick the zinnias, and $15 to pick the sunflowers. I completely understand why the farm needs to charge an admission. People just show up to take photos and don’t pick any flowers constantly. In fact, there were a lot people there whose intention was to take beautiful photographs. We wound up just paying to pick the zinnias. Which were absolutely gorgeous and lasted a very long time. When I say a long time, I mean about 2 weeks. That is unheard of when you buy them in a store!

We lounged for a bit by the lavender field, and watched the dragonflies. We were too late for the lavender season, you can check their website to see what’s in season.

Because the sunflower fields are quite a distance away, most people ride on the hay wagon to get to them.

On the way to the zinnia field we saw a well maintained blueberry field stretching in both directions. Of course, the zinnia fields were beautiful, and we enjoyed spending about 20 minutes picking the flowers. There are cute little props throughout the fields: doors, this little beetle, swings. Makes for fun photos.

Since we didn’t pay admission to the sunflower field, we couldn’t go in. We walked past them on the way to the car, and they are indeed very beautiful. Also, sprawling across quite an area. Happy Day Farm is a beautiful spot, and if my teens were into the idea of meandering through the sunflower field, I would absolutely pay the admission fee for us to go in. They, however, enjoyed seeing the fields while driving past them.

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Farms and Pick Your Own Free Places To Visit Hiking Trails

Hiking Stairway To Heaven

I have read one of the articles describing the best places to hike in NJ, and Stairway To Heaven jumped out at me right away. Located in Vernon, it is quite far from where I live.  Thankfully, I have a friend who grew up in this area and was willing to take us, newbies, hiking Stairway To Heaven trail.

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Farms and Pick Your Own Quaint Towns

Our Visit To Terhune Orchards in Princeton

As we spend at least one day a week in Princeton, we try to explore different places and things to do there.  Last week we went to Terhune Orchards.  Located five minutes from the bustling downtown, it offers a peaceful retreat and delicious food for kids and adults.

We visited Terhune Orchards on a weekday, and I am sure the weekend brings many more people there.  It was a quiet and warm spring day, and aside from asparagus, there wasn’t much in terms of pick-your-own.  When you first get there you see beautiful flowers and herbs ready to be purchased.

Our Visit To Terhune Orchards In Princeton Mercer County Destinations

First thing we did when we got there was go into their store and get some lunch.  There is apple cider, doughnuts, soups, cookies, fruits and veggies, pies, and more.  We got some delicious doughnuts, cider and soup, and went outside to enjoy our lunch.  There is a playground for kids, and free roaming Guinea Hens and ducks.  The Guinea Hens are hilarious and run really fast, chasing one another.  They entertained us for quite some time.

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Farms and Pick Your Own Historic Landmarks Zoos and Animals

Our Visit To Howell Living History Farm

Lambertville, NJ

June 2012

Howell Living History Farm is always a wonderful place to visit.  Located in Lambertville NJ, it is fairly easy to get to (just make sure you use their address from their website: 70 Wooden’s Lane, Lambertville, New Jersey instead of the mailing address that sometimes comes up when you search for them online!).

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Farms and Pick Your Own Hiking Trails State Parks

Our Visit To Hacklebarney State Park

June 2012,

Hackettstown NJ

When we went to pick strawberries for the very first time in our lives I randomly picked a farm from NJ list of farms. Just pointed a finger to a place on a page. It turned out to be Donaldson Farms in Hackettstown, NJ.

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Farms and Pick Your Own Zoos and Animals

Our Visit To Alstede Farms

Chester, NJ

July 2012

Alstede Farms is a great place with many things to do and see. It is organic and sustainable. We were able to feed the funniest and friendliest donkey, chickens, rabbits, and a very gentle horse.

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Beautiful Gardens Farms and Pick Your Own

Our Visit To Sunflower Maze

Augusta, NJ

August-September 2015

We had an A-Maze-Ing time at the Sussex County Sunflower Maze in Augusta NJ. They are open only for a short little while in the late summer and fall. I can not tell you how happy I was that we made it! It is so beautiful that there aren’t enough words to describe it.

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Farms and Pick Your Own

Our Visit To Stony Hill Farm

Chester, NJ

October 2012

We went to Stony Hill Farm and Market to their 10 acre corn maze in Chester, NJ. It was great. We got lost in the one part of the maze and kept walking in circles. I had a bit of claustrophobia. Corn was everywhere. We came out eventually, giggling wildly and happy to be out.

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Farms and Pick Your Own

Our Visit To Hillview Farms

September 2017

Gillette, NJ

Every year we make it to Hillview Farms in Gillette for some peach picking. They are not far from us and it makes for a nice fall day there. Expect to do lots of walking, especially uphill! The peaches this year were delicious (the year before they were badly damaged by hail).