Category: Hiking Trails

Our Visit To The Waterloo Village

Our visit to The Waterloo Village was one of those in-the-middle-of-the-pandemic-most-things-are-still-closed field trips. The world was still recovering from the shock that Covid-19 brought to our lives. Most things were open for outdoor only, no gatherings, 6 feet apart activities. We headed over to The Waterloo Village because it was a place we have never explored before, it looked quiet, and pretty. We really just wanted to spend a day exploring something new, and not sitting at home.

The Waterloo Village was just what we needed. It was quiet, beautiful, with historical buildings scattered over winding paths. There was a lake, a dam, bridges, flowers. birds and trees to look out for. Once again, we were there with two teens, and they enjoyed themselves. We (boys included) made flower crowns, hiked, found remnants of a tow bridge, skipped rocks, found different species of birds and plants. We never found the recreation of the Native American village, however, so next time we’ll just have to look harder.

Currently, the village is an open air historical museum and is part of the Allamuchy Mountain State Park. It does have a history, and as with any such spots, it is always good to read about the history before going.

After we had our fill walking around the Waterloo Village, we drove off to visit High Point. On the way, we picked up a cup of coffee and lunch from the Holland American Bakery, which is always delicious.

As always, here are some photos:

Beach Fun Free Places To Visit Hiking Trails National Parks Nature and Science Centers Quaint Towns Zoos and Animals

Our Visit To Chincoteague Island

Our Visit To Washington DC and Chincoteague Island

Morning after we finished our crazy single day adventure at Washington D.C. we headed out, sore feet and all, down to Chincoteague Island. It was a three hour ride, which was not bad. Remember, this was mid May, so the weather was rainy, foggy and chilly. Not beach weather at all. I am very happy that we had this magical fog with us on the island. It was cool, and beautiful.

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Hiking Trails Historic Landmarks

Hiking The Columbia Trail

A friend suggested this hike, and off we went with a group of parents and kids. This was such an interesting hike to take. You walk past gnome and fairy houses, an iron forge, and abandoned house, a museum aptly titled “THE SOLITUDE MUSEUM”, and you end up at an awesomely huge dam.

Free Places To Visit Hiking Trails Historic Landmarks Nature and Science Centers Quaint Towns State Parks

Our Visit To Batsto Village

This spring we found ourselves in Hammonton NJ. From us this is quite a distance. We were there for an appointment to buy some blueberry bushes, but wound up getting there 2 hours early. What can I say, we needed something to do in the meantime. As we drove, I spotted the Batsto Village sign, I remember someone leaving an awesome comment on our Free NJ Destinations page about how awesome Batsto Village is, so we made a turn. I am so glad we did.

Hiking Trails Nature and Science Centers

Our Visit To Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Our Visit To Great Swam National Wildlife Refuge

We have been to the Environmental Education Center, and we frequent the Raptor Trust, so it was quite surprising that it took us so long to get to the Great Swamp.

As you can see from the photos, we were there on a bright and sunny day in early spring, or whatever you can call spring in NJ, around late March-early April.

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.

Hiking Trails Historic Landmarks Water Parks

Our Visit To Highlands Natural Pool

Another beautiful place from my bucket list checked off this summer! On our visit to Highlands Natural Pool, we enjoyed swimming in a pool made from stream fed waters that run off the mountains of the Norvin Green State Forest. My friend will swear to you that the water in the pool have magical healing qualities. That when you come to this place you will forget what is troubling you, and just enjoy where you are right now. When you dive into the water it envelops you in it’s wonderful velvety coolness.

When you get to the pool, you park a little distance away and take a stroll over a small stream filled with dragonflies. As you walk up to the pool, you will see hiking trails going off into the State Forest. I hear the hiking there is quite impressive.

As you walk up to a pool, there is a row of restrooms on the left, a little concession stand on your right, and a few lovely people collecting the entrance fees. The fees that you can expect to pay are not significant, especially during the week.

There are umbrellas, and chairs available inside. However, if you are coming in the afternoon, and especially if there is a class trip, expect to sit on your towel. Considering that we were there under both of those circumstances, and were lucky to get a table. Running along the pool fence there is a beautiful butterfly garden.

This Olympic sized pool is subdivided into two sections. The first section has a zero entry incline, and is designed for the younger group of kids. The parents and the kids all splash and cool off there. If my kids were young, I’d sit in that water all day with them. There are salamanders everywhere to be seen.

The second area is deeper, and is meant for those who passed the swimming test, or those who are over 18. My 10 year old came very close to passing the test, but at the end got too tired. Maybe next time. There will be a next time. Plenty of kids were there, swimming, diving off a diving board and having a great time!

While this swimming season is nearing it’s end, I do hope you will save this spot for your next summer.

The pool has a fantastic history to it. I hope you take the time and read about it. You can also find more information on their website: Highlands Natural Pool.

While you are visiting the Highlands Natural Pool, keep in mind that you are only 10 minutes from the NJ Botanical Garden, and I highly recommend you visit them as well.

Hiking Trails Nature and Science Centers Zoos and Animals

Our Visit to Lakota Wolf Preserve

We went for a second time! It was just as much fun as the first. We enjoyed the wolves, and being among them in such a magical way. The hosts were as knowledgeable as ever and the kids enjoyed themselves. We went with a group, and it was considerably more people then when we just went with a tour of strangers. Still, the place was large enough to accommodate everyone.

Here are a few photos of our most recent visit:

From our May 2017 visit

I have been meaning to visit this place for years. Over the years, friends said many wonderful things about it, and have longed to visit it. However, it is far from where I live, and even though I visit that area relatively often, it is usually on Mondays, just the one day a week that Lakota Wolf Preserve is closed to visitors.

When the chance came up to stop by there in the morning I jumped right on it. I was determined to make it there and am so happy that we did. We got to see how wonderfully magical it is.

The tours are from Tuesday to Sunday, one is at 10:30 am and the second one is at 4 pm. You have to come 30 minutes prior to register, and the weekday tours require a prior reservation (which was easy to do). The tour cost is affordable (as of 2017 it was $15.00 for adults, and $7.00 for kids under 11).

When you go to the Lakota Wolf Preserve Website, you see that it is recommended you see the wolves from fall to spring, and that in the summertime they shed a lot of fur. We visited in mid-May. The weather was just perfect, not too hot, as a matter of fact the spring this year was rather cool. The wolves looked fantastic, and it was cool enough to enjoy the outdoors.

When we first got there, there is a little office, gift shop and bathroom building, with a lovely front lawn. After I had signed up, the kids explored the shop, and then just hung out in the front waiting for a shuttle. There was plenty around to entertain them for a bit.

I am not a zoo person, and this most definitely is not a zoo. The wolves have plenty of natural ground to live and play in, and are much loved. They look healthy and very happy!

Once the shuttle came, and drove us about a mile up hill, we were at the preserve.

At first we got to listen and learn about the wolves. There is so much to know, and it is amazing! I can’t imagine getting this sort of experience anywhere else. We also got to learn about the two bobcats and foxes that reside on the premises. The foxes were so much fun to watch. They are just like you would imagine a fox to be from stories or cartoons. Running around with their egg and hiding it in different spots.

After the tour was over, we chose to hike back down a beautiful hiking trail, and head out.

The kids and I were so impressed with the deep knowledge and understanding that the owners of the preserve have, and that they are willing to share and educate us about these amazing animals. We walked away knowing more than we had ever imagined there was to know about wolves, foxes and bobcats.

The preserve also offers photography tours, and even though they are expensive, one day I would like to do one. First, you will not be able to see wolves like this in their natural habitat anywhere else, and second, I want to support these folks and what they do.

I highly recommend a visit there, with kids or without. We enjoyed our visit to Lakota Wolf Preserve tremendously. The kids were very impressed, and it turned out to be their favorite part of our little weekend getaway.

Hiking Trails

Our Visit To Herrontown Woods Arboretum

Life takes me to the Princeton area quite frequently, and I absolutely love the days where I have the chance to explore some place new. Several times I was able to go for a lovely hike in the Herrontown Woods Arboretum.

I have heard of it before, but it was not what I expected. When I heard the word Arboretum, I thought of something more along the idea of a ‘garden’, kind of like Willowwood Arboretum. I should have focused more on the ‘woods’ part.

Though a lot more wild then anticipated it was beautiful nonetheless. I started in Barbara Smoyer Park located across the street. It has a little lake, and that day it was filled with geese.

I hung out by the lake for a little while, then turned back to the Arboretum.

It starts all the way down a residential street, and after a brief walk I made it to the entrance:

As you can see from the sign the hours are 8 am to 5 pm, except May to October, when it is 8 am to 8 pm.

As you can probably gather from the photos, I was there smack in the middle of winter. Even so, it was a lovely warm day, and there were plenty of beautiful spots to explore.

Actually, the stream was quite a hub of bustling activity, shortly after the rain, and there was at least one spot where I had to hop across the water.

There were a few miles of trails, and it was easy to enjoy the walk for several hours.

There were quite a few robins that winter there. They are always fun to watch.

While I probably wouldn’t trek all the way there just to visit Herrontown Woods, it provided me with a lovely and pleasant place to hike and explore.

Most recently I visited it in late spring. Just as beautiful as in the winter, it was a very pleasant and lovely walk. Just as before, it is not a place I would drive for over an hour to, but it is lovely to explore if I am already in the neighborhood.

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Free Places To Visit Hiking Trails

Our Visit To Sourland Mountain Preserve

We went for a hike at the Sourland Mountain Preserve with a group of friends, and it was fantastic! We have, since, gone there multiple times, every time we enjoyed it!