This Week in the New Jersey Skylands

June 16 - 23

Daddy's home, time for dinner! Photo by Bob Koppenhaver.

Well, here it is. Only a few days til the livin' gets easy. Summertime! The fish will be jumping: bass, trout, musky, hybrid stripers, walleye, carp and the occasional wandering shad. The cotton won't be getting too high around here, but the corn will. Your daddy definitely does not have to be rich to enjoy all that Northwest New Jersey has to offer. And since Father's Day is this weekend, take him by the hand and show him!

Minisink Island, viewed here from the north, lies between Milford and Dingman's Ferry. Water birds and eagles live along the narrow water, spiced with lots of little ripples. .

Go Daddy, Go!

Islands of the Delaware are markers for the miles traversed on a float down the river, and for centuries of human history along its banks. By canoe, kayak, raft or tube, river trips are about perfect this time of year. The water is high, the flow is brisk, and the summer crowds have not yet arrived. If you really want to see the river, the annual Delaware Sojourn runs from June 22-26. Or click for money saving offers from the following!

Indian Head Canoes on the Upper Delaware.
Chamberlain Canoes near the Delaware Water Gap.
Adventure Sports: River trips through the Delaware Water Gap.
Delaware River Tubing: Featuring the Famous River Hot Dog Man!
Bucks County River Country: The Tubing Capital of the World!
And Dads paddle free when accompanied by family on canoe or raft on Father's Day at Kittatinny Canoes.

Healthy Attitudes

You daddy doesn't have to be rich to enjoy a game at Skylands Park in Augusta. The Sussex Skyhawks, managed by major league veteran Ed Ott, have begun their quest for a second Can-Am league championship after missing the mark last year. Good baseball, played by veteran players who want to win; what Dad wouldn't want to see a game? (Next home game is Monday, June 21)

Kings for a day

Clinton's Red Mill will host King Arthur and his court with music, theatrical performances and tournaments at the Renaissance Kingdom this weekend (6/19-20) and next. Children's games, crafts, and activities will be offered throughout the day and dozens of merchants will be set up to sell medieval wares. Throughout the day you can follow the continuing saga of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table, witness the intrigues of Lady Morgana and Prince Mordred, or bask in the beauty of Lady Guinevere. This is an event of epic proportions. $20/$10 children. Click or call the Red Mill Museum Village, 56 Main St., 908/735-4101.

Keepin' On

In spite of all the turbulence in our lives, or perhaps because of it, traditional fairs and festivals remain especially popular. Other ventures that compete for your "leisure" time have struggled in recent years, but somehow the old standbys stand as strong as ever. They adapt, but remain essentially the same summer after summer, offering things your parents didn't want you to miss, and things you won't let your kids miss. In these cases, it is fortunate that the more things change, the more things stay the same. Read more and plan ahead!

Get The Skinny

On Labor Day of 1929, Kurt Barthel led a small group of individuals to a picnic in the buff in the Hudson Mountains near Peekskill, New York. Two years later the first "naturist" organization had over 200 members. In July of 1932, Mr. Barthel founded America's first official nudist club, Sky Farm right here in Basking Ridge. Sky Farm operates as a private cooperative on about 35 acres nestled in the Somerset Hills. The close-knit community of mostly couples and families enjoy unlimited access to miniten and volleyball courts, recreational hall, spa, year-round sauna, a nature trail and petanque courts, and a large, heated pool, which is open from mid May until October. If you're curious, click to find out more.

Subscribe!

This summer, think Skylands! Take advantage of a calendar filled with intriguing things for you and your family to enjoy. Enjoy a year round supply of great things to see and do in Northwest New Jersey by signing up for a magazine for each season here.

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