No worries. With all that's happening in September
in the quest to find adventure.
Stay tuned to our
for good ideas for a scenic drive! For the more aerobically inclined, the
Looking to plant some fall perennials but not sure what plants to select? Curious about family herbal first aid? Want to know more about citrus, mushrooms or herb-infused oils? How about an interactive garden tour full of plants that move, every scented plant imaginable and funky flavors to taste? Make your way over to
where you'll find tours of spectacular gardens, live music, and a wide selection of curated craft vendors and food at
by Well-Sweep's expert staff will be sure to answer all your questions and entice your imagination.
, or
call 908/852-5390. Well-Sweep is located between Hackettstown and Washington at
, a nature, tracking and wilderness survival school, originally based in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County,
on August 16. In 2002, as part of a publicity effort for his involvement in the movie,
examining scat and peering through "runs" in the bush, listening to the warning calls of birds, or locating the area where deer slept the night before. "You need no destination or deadline, just wander,"
"Seek the not-so-obvious. Look closely and you'll feel like you have lived an entire day in a single hour. To wander freely is to experience true awareness, not as society measures it, but as a Tracker measures it."
and his virtual invention of the
US Forest Service is one worth knowing. His then revolutionary concepts for natural conservation are enshrined, not only in the vast stands of our national forests, but at his family's retreat, now a National Historic Site. Visitors to
will come to understand the
importance of the Pinchot family influence on America's conservation
ethics and natural resource management policies. Ticketed guided tours of the mansion are available Thursday - Monday, and visitors have access to documentary films, as well as displays and self-guided tours throughout the extensive grounds.
a 65-acre tract of old growth forest in Franklin Township, Somerset County, is a conundrum in time and purpose. It lays in limbo between a no-management policy mandated to preserve the forest's character, and influences brought by suburbia that force change. The forest is one of only three patches of virgin woods remaining in New Jersey, and one of the last uncut, unburned White Oak--American Beech forests in the country. It is listed in the National Park Service Registry of Natural landmarks.
Nobody's gonna tell you they're cute and cuddly, or anything less than dangerous, but
are state endangered and protected by law. They are vulnerable animals. As part of a forest's ecology, they keep the rodent population down and in turn are eaten by hawks, owls, other snakes, and coyotes. They disappear in the hands of collectors, the jaws of predators, and the shovels of bulldozers. They die crossing roads. They die because their den becomes the home of homo sapiens.
Summer is starting to fade and Labor Day is on the horizon.
In Northwest New Jersey, the fun just begins to crank up to speed in September.
that have somehow avoided destruction is a quarter-mile watered stretch that leads to
has restored the canal lock to a condition that is operable, as well as the former lock-tender's house. The
features music by live bands, kayak and narrated boat rides on the canal, a fine crafts show, demonstrations by local attractions and historic groups, food and more. Admission is free, although there may be an off street parking charge. 10am - 5pm at Hugh Force Park,
in Wharton.
Early Dutch settlers wandered through the Raritan Valley in the mid 1700s and put down roots in what is now Readington Township in Hunterdon County. One of those old farmsteads later became a summer retreat for a famous actress and her acclaimed playwright husband. Today the
and surrounding sixty-acre park, which is always accessible for walks or peaceful respite, is worth noting for a late summer destination.
breeds and raises puppies to become Seeing Eye dogs, trains Seeing Eye dogs to guide blind people, instructs blind people in the proper use, handling, and care of the dogs and conducts and supports research on canine health and development. Those dogs are smart! See how they got so smart, and
are a fascinating group of animals. They've been flapping through the skies for
and are still the only mammals on Earth that can truly fly. But they are largely misunderstood, and have had very hard times of late. Even grade school kids now know that bats are important
from corn earworm moths, potato beetles, cucumber beetles, even stink bugs, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Those are rather good reasons to want bats around.
The timeless elegance of classical music weaves a symphony of sophistication and passion, where every note tells a story at the
August 24 Summer Concerts Series performance in the bucolic Riverside Amphitheater along the Delaware River, part of the twelve-acre historical park in Knowlton NJ.
August 15 - 22
Roamin' Empire
There's an endless trail of nooks and crannies along the carefree highway through the Skylands. Take advantage of a
schedule full of juicy things for you and your family to enjoy. Or choose among dozens of
natural attractions or
outdoor activities suggested on our website.
So rev it up and do some outreach!
Nowhere Fast
Have you ever followed a highway sign and gotten nowhere? Follow some directional markers off Northwest New Jersey country roads and that's just what you'll get. Unless of course you slow down long enough to
take a closer look.
A few older homes clustered together, a crumbling foundation, cemetery stones worn with time: these places tell stories worth knowing.
Huntsville, in Sussex County, is such a place. There is no post office, general store, fire station, or church. Yet upon closer inspection, those old buildings hold clues to the town which once thrived. Step back in time, a mere fifty years, and the town of
Huntsville exists again.
Meant For Meandering
The sheer volume of towns and municipalities in New Jersey is often cited as our state's major burden. But each of our 566 "domains" has a history that never fails to fascinate. Driving down the Mountain Lakes Boulevard through one of America's most expensive zip codes, 07046, is certainly dazzling. But for those who choose to explore, there is a story waiting -- one of plain old human fragility.
More...
Lake Art
Winona Parkway entrance to White Deer Plaza looks much the same way as on this old postcard.
To walk along the Boardwalk at
Lake Mohawk in Sussex County is to step back into another time, a time when the pace of life was a tad slower and less complicated. While the Lake, Boardwalk, and adjacent White Deer Plaza are old, they are not ancient. The Lake is, in fact, man-made, dating from the mid-1920s.
More...
Liquid Wisdom
The
Lamington River draws families, nature lovers, pet owners, and picnickers to its banks. Children splash through the rocky riverbeds. Birders amble along the shores. Fishermen enjoy hours of solitude on a precious stretch of public river frontage.
Summer Stops
Bobolinks and other birds thrive in the farm's woods and grasslands.
Bobolink Dairy and Bakehouse works with Mother Nature to heal the earth and nourish all of its creatures.
You'll find 100% grass-fed raw cow's milk cheese; pastured meats and charcuterie; wood-fired rustic breads. Visit the farm at
369 Stamets Road, Milford NJ, or
on-line to learn more about the farm store, farmer’s markets, classes, events, and shipping.
Peters Valley School of Craft shares the experience of the American Craft Movement with interactive learning through a series of workshops. A shop and gallery showcases the contemporary craft of residents and other talented artists at the Crafts Center... ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood and more in a beautiful natural setting. Opening this weekend, the
GlassRoots/Peters Valley Fellowship Exhibition celebrates remarkable creative exploration and accomplishments.
August 8 - 15
Oh, the water!
And the rain let up, and the sun came up, and we were gettin' dry. Almost let a pick-up truck nearly pass us by.
So we jumped right in, and the driver grinned, and he dropped us up the road.
And we looked at the swim, and we jumped right in, not to mention fishing poles.
(Van Morrison, "And It Stoned Me")
A summer destination for generations past,
Lake Hopatcong is central to the New Jersey Skylands, not only geographically, but also to the many levels and facets of the region's character. Its name derived from the language of the people who first inhabited these fertile grounds along the Minisink Trail, Hopatcong's waters reflect Northwest New Jersey's prolific history of transportation, industry and recreation. If you take a drive around the lake, or if you're fortunate enough to enjoy a boat or kayak ride on the water, we hope that, from this brief account of the lake's evolution, you'll
understand a bit more about where you are.
A public access launch for Swartswood Lake on Route 521 is quiet and remote, but leads to boatloads of fun.
The best known feature of the
Stillwater
area is probably
Swartswood Lake,
but there are myriad treasures throughout the rolling hills and three villages in that corner of Sussex County. The lake was a major resort in the early 1900s, and today's
State Park maintains the lake as a
popular destination.
Fishermen enjoy a greater variety of native fish to catch in the Musconetcong, including migratory shad. The valley remains much as it was almost three hundred years ago, its small settlements clustered along the sparkling stream.
Forming the southern Warren County border with Morris and Hunterdon counties,
the Musconetcong runs forty-two-and-a-half miles through a wide valley flanked on the northwest by the Allamuchy and Pohatcong mountains, and Schooley’s and Musconetcong mountains to the southeast in Morris and Hunterdon counties, twisting and turning over the ruins of our past.
Follow the river!
White Lake
reveals all the layers that make a place
really interesting.
The swans that grace the water's sparkling surface, the
feisty fish beneath, and the surrounding fields and forest are immediately captivating to the casual observer.
It is also the site of a historic homestead that dates to 1764.
I saw a flash of white as the maw of a very big trout opened and then closed around the helpless fly. I could feel the power of that fish when I pulled back on the bamboo rod. And then there was nothing. When I reeled in my line,
I found that my fly was gone.
Summer Spots
Well-Sweep Herb Farm, a family endeavor, is home to one of the largest assembly of herbs and perennials in the country, with a collection which now tops 1,898 varieties. Whether you’re a collector, designer, dabbler or windowsill gardener … we hope to arouse the curiosity of all!
Visit lovely air conditioned
Gallery 23 at 23 Main St. in Blairstown this summer. Featured artists for August are
Judy Musicant and
James Miller, both of whom will offer 10% off any one item for the month. A reception will be held this Saturday, August 10, from 12-4 at the gallery. Enjoy some light refreshments while enjoying a chance to meet these talented artists!
July 31 - August 6
Dig In!
The Warren County Farmers' Fair continues through Saturday, August 3. Don't miss this family tradition!
Peaches are juicy, the cornstalks are approaching eye-level, and, while you wait for local Jersey
tomatoes to ripen, the next few weeks celebrate the
Skylands agricultural tradition in a big way.
New Jersey farmers shine at the
Warren County Farmers' Fair, which
runs through Saturday, August 3. The Fair also features a
hot-air balloon festival, so you get two great events for the very low price of one! For a quick review of what's coming up,
download the fair brochure here.
Or
book a balloon ride online and knock that off your bucket list! (You can also call/text 908-283-0721 or Email
fly@njballoonrides.com to schedule a ride.)
Then, the
New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm and Horse Show,
runs from
August 2-10, eight days of agricultural events, animals, exhibits, vendors, crafts, fair food, free entertainment, a big carnival, and much more!
You can learn all about New Jersey farmers at local
4-H fairs. Plan on attending for some free family fun. You might even figure out what all those H's stand for!
(hot, humid, hungry, happy!) Somerset County 4-H Fair
runs
August 7-9 in Bridgewater at North Branch Park: family fun in 15 acres of exhibits, entertainment, food concessions.
Hunterdon County Agricultural Fair
takes place from
August 21 - 25 with agricultural and 4-H Shows & Exhibits, food concessions, amusement rides. South County Park,
1207 NJ-179, Lambertville
Your Neighbor's Cow
A gallon of milk from the supermarket is a combined effort of thousands of cows, raised on any number of farms who knows where. But
single herd milk is just that: milk exclusively from the cows that reside on one dairy farm.
Northwest New Jersey is now home to a few dairy farmers who sell their milk directly to the consumer. It may not seem like much, but it is an important step forward in developing a more direct relationship between food and farm.
Cream at the top! Read more and go get some!
Bringing it all back home
Debra Natyzak uses her dad’s old DeLaval bucket milker, the one he employed here at Valley Fall Farm in Frelinghuysen, where he and his wife arrived in 1930. Retired from a career as a chemist at M&M Mars, Inc., in Hackettstown, Debra and her late husband, Roman Oscada, kept Valley Fall productive.
Women make up twenty-two percent of New Jersey's 15,936-plus farmers, and their rate is steadily increasing (USDA Census). They come with ideals and energy to make the world a better place. They earn a living being outdoors doing what they love, and they come to educate.
They all come with grit, knowledge and spirit.
Beguiling Bridges
The Rieglesville Bridge is elaborately suspended from four towers.
Going places? Cross the next bridge when you come to it, but not without considering its story and its style. A bridge’s context and charm can
make your passage delightful.
Summertime is Kymer Time!
Kymer's Camping Resort offers park model, cabin and luxury tent rentals as well as trailer or tent campsites with water, electric and cable TV hookups on two-hundred scenic acres located in Sussex County near the Kittatinny Mountains, at
69 Kymer Road in Branchville. And if you think camping is only for those who own camping equipment, think again. Kymer's offers exciting rental options for those families that want to enjoy the camping experience without having to purchase their own camping equipment.
Trailer or cabin rentals are also available. And each weekend, there's
something special going on. Create some memories in the great outdoors!
Schedule your trip along the Appalachian Trail, a tasty visit to a brewery or winery, dinner and a show, or a high ride on a hot-air balloon! Sign up for the
Warren County Wanderings newsletter, your guidepost of discovery and a nexus of community in a culturally rich and environmentally singular area.
July 25 - August 1
Spread your wings and reach for the Skylands this and
every week this summer.
Don't wait; the days are flying away!
Moonlight Miracles
With a wingspan of 4.5 to 7 inches, the luna belongs to group known as giant silk moths. It is one of the larger moths in North America.
Who doesn’t enjoy looking at a beautiful butterfly as it flutters by and lands on a pretty flower? Maybe you have a butterfly garden that allows you the pleasure of sneaking in for a closer look at these fragile creatures all day long. But what if you could double your viewing pleasure?
That’s right, day and night!
Skylands By Saddle
On the Paulins Kill Valley Trail
In a land crisscrossed by interstates, punctuated with traffic lights, and clogged with cars, it’s easy to overlook how much northwestern New Jersey territory you can still cover on a horse. Through warm summer months and into fall, you can explore rivers, streams, fields, and hills and enjoy remote views and vistas—all from the saddle. Across the Skylands region, a horse can take you where no car can—faster and sometimes farther afield than your own two feet. Exercise? Certainly. But also the pleasure of working with a 1,000-pound companion who can handle the footwork.
Saddle up!
Watershed Moments
Mud Pond seen from High Rocks in the Johnsonburg Swamp Preserve.
Geologic record helps understand the human history and impacts of settlement and lifestyles in
each of our watersheds, which take on regional characteristics of their own, connecting communities by a shared vital resource. The intrinsic appeal of their landscapes is enhanced by a heaping portion of openly accessible recreation facilities, either publicly owned or privately managed with the visitor in mind.
The Pequest River begins just south of Newton and flows thirty-two miles to Belvidere where it empties into the Delaware River. In Warren County, it passes near Allamuchy State Park, Jenny Jump State Forest, Pequest Wildlife Management Area, and the Beaver Brook Wildlife Management Area. The watershed includes a wealth of remnants from Warren County’s agricultural and industrial heritage.
Follow the river!
Summer Eduvacation
The serene atmosphere at Peters Valley School of Craft invigorates a diverse community of artists.
Are you looking to explore your
creative potential this summer? How about a class or workshop at
Peters Valley School of Craft? One of only six craft schools of its type in the country, and unique to Northwest New Jersey, Peters Valley has grown from a small artists' collective in the early 1970s to a nationally recognized center for craft education. Learn ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood and more in a beautiful natural setting in the
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. You won't believe the variety and quality of offerings! Workshops are open for enrollment throughout the rest of the summer and year-round.
Ripe and Ready
Well-Sweep Herb Farm, a family endeavor, is home to one of the largest assembly of herbs and perennials in the country, with a collection which now tops 1,898 varieties. Whether you’re a collector, designer, dabbler or windowsill gardener … we hope to arouse the curiosity of all!
July 18 - 25
Scenes You Should Make
Some 2,000 acres of forests and fields at Merrill Creek Reservoir provide the opportunity for nature study and hiking, while the lake, with more than five miles of shoreline, lends itself to fishing and boating.
Long lazy days of summer seem like they'll last forever. Don't be fooled,
make a splash while you can! Find a way by checking our
Day Trip Map for good ideas for a scenic drive! For the more aerobically inclined, the
Outdoor Map
shows the way to go, or
choose among dozens of
natural attractions or
outdoor activities suggested on our website.
Choose your own adventure!
Paradise Lost, And Found
A mile-and-a-half north of Millbrook Village in the
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, you can turn off
Old Mine Road and head straight uphill towards the top of the Kittatinny Ridge. Just below the ridge are a series of small lakes that define a haven for those looking for a place to get lost wandering through mountainside forest full of wildlife and open meadows surrounding crystal clear waters. But, the pristine aura at
Blue Mountain Lakes yields scant evidence of the ambitious development for which it was created.
More...
Rock A Bye Baby
The Rockaway Valley Railroad was about 25 miles long and lasted for
about 25 years. It was constructed primarily to ship
peaches, and
although it also saw other freight and passenger traffic, Hunterdon
County orchard owners were responsible for the railroad's commencement
in 1888.
Record peach crops kept the railroad afloat in the 1890s, even as
the financial picture for the company clouded. Unfortunately, before
the little railroad had an opportunity to turn a profit, the peaches
were infected with blight, and the Hunterdon orchards passed their
prime.
The Little Railroad That Couldn't lives on, if only for hikers, cyclists
and patrons of local lore.
Take a walk and imagine the slow moving
locomotive rocking back and forth on its way through the countryside.
The Hills of Ramapo
The area now called
Hewitt was once the
Long Pond Ironworks, where men took iron ore from the Ramapo hills, burned and extracted it into pig iron and forged it into wrought. Farms and schools and whole support systems sprung up around the ironworks village to maintain this rugged venture. Thanks to the
Friends of Long Pond Ironworks, it remains a beautiful place to visit – a serene one-hundred-year-old forest now replenished, breathing the enterprise of our past. The
Museum and Visitor Center are open Friday - Sunday, and
group tours can be arranged.
Must be the Moonglow
Craters of the moon, photographed from 238,855 miles away at the UACNJ site in Jenny Jump State Forest by Wolfgang Damm, NWJAA.
What better occupation on a serene summer evening than to gaze at the moon and stars?
The United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey (UACNJ)
facilities in Jenny Jump State Forest, near Hope in Warren County, are 1,100 feet above sea level, one of the few
dark sky locations left in the state. On Saturday evenings the facility offers series of
program presentations. Audience size is limited and
reservations are advisable.
And at Voorhees State Park in Glen Gardner, the
New Jersey Astronomical Association has installed a 26-inch Newtonian reflector telescope, one of the largest privately owned telescopes in New Jersey. There's Saturday night stargazing from 8:30-10:30pm and Sunday afternoon solar viewing, 2-5pm.
July 11 - 18
Temperature's rising, but don't let it slow you down! Take
advantage of a
calendar sizzling
with intriguing things for you and your family to enjoy. Art, music, crafts, high country, and cool, clear evenings. What more could you ask for on a mid-summer weekend?
Don't
wait; the summer days are melting away!
Tiger swallowtail (Papillio glaucus) nectaring on hollow Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium fistulosum). Joe Pye weeds are great plants for attracting butterflies to your gardens. Photo: Randi Eckel.
Flying jewels they are sometimes called.
Butterflies come in many sizes and colors, from delicately small and hard to spot, to Monarch orange and yellow bouncing about the garden for all to see. Once the weather starts to warm up and nectar plants begin to bloom, butterflies become more and more evident from woodlands to back-yard flower gardens.
Beat the heat with a paddle!
The beach on Woodcock Bar looking up river to Labar Island is perfect for a picnic.
The main stem of the Delaware, 331 miles from Hancock, New York, to its mouth at Cape May Point, New Jersey, is the longest free-flowing river in Eastern United States. Along the way, the
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.
Elemental Experience
Rock scrambling at the Sourland Preserve
A rugged, forested landscape,
Sourland Mountain can confuse novitiates. Ancient rocks, over a hundred million years old, rise up from the forest floor: rocks the size of fists, of basketballs, of small cars. After a few hours in the boulder fields, they start to look identical. For some, however, these boulders are a special challenge...
Or just take a seat at this Saturday's (July 13) annual
Sourland Mountain Festival,
hosted by the
Sourland Conservancy at the
Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes.
On The Banks Of The Wild Six
When the Jersey sky hangs white in summer haze, head to the woods at
Six Mile Run in
Franklin Township, Somerset County. The 3,037-acre property takes off from the Millstone River and winds its way through forest, meadow and suburb, with its own renegade offshoot creating the pond in Hidden Lake Park, before ending unceremoniously in a North Brunswick industrial park. But in the park that bears its name, a myriad of trails and habitats alongside this quiet stream are made for easy—long or short—relaxing walks.
Summer Reflections
The temperature has reached into the nineties, and it’s not yet noon. My fly rods remain in their tubes, my flies in their sleeves. It is much too hot to play tag with the fish of Bonnie Brook,
too hot to do much of anything.
Easy Living
Kymer's Camping Resort offers park model, cabin and luxury tent rentals as well as trailer or tent campsites with water, electric and cable TV hookups and an Olympic-size swimming pool on two-hundred scenic acres located in Sussex County near the Kittatinny Mountains, at
69 Kymer Road in Branchville.
Sign up for the
Warren County Wanderings newsletter, your guidepost of discovery and a nexus of community in a culturally rich and environmentally singular area.
July 3 - 10
What Exit?
John Adams suggested how Americans might spend future Independence Days when he wrote to his wife on July 3, 1776.
Were it a mere matter of referendum, our exit from the British Empire would have been a dull affair, perhaps casually remembered today as "AMEX". But we chose
revolution, and have since celebrated our independence for 248 years with fervor. The
Fourth of July, as
John Adams put it, "ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." Heed our forefather! There's
plenty of action
to choose from.
Stars and Spangles
The 13-Star Betsy Ross flag at Middlebrook
In New Jersey we are fortunate to be able to celebrate our independence on hallowed ground, the
Crossroads of the Revolution, where
so many crucial moments in the war took place.
Among the many
Fourth of July festivities scheduled, the traditional patriotic exercises at the
Middlebrook Encampment in Bridgewater will commence on Thursday, July 4.
For 130 consecutive years, the Declaration of Independence has been read on Independence Day at the twenty-acre park operated by the
Washington Campground Association at
1761 Middlebrook Rd. in Bridgewater. The park commemorates the two major Continental Army encampments at Middlebrook, in spring of 1777, and winter of 1778-79. It is here that the first American flag was unfurled, and where a 13-Star Betsy Ross flag flies continuously by special act of Congress. The solemn Independence Day Ceremony there, well-attended by dignitaries, consists of a changing of the flag and the reading of the Declaration, followed by a keynote speaker and an historical address. Ceremonies begin at 10am.
Morristown National Historical Park celebrates with July Fourth activities beginning at noon on the park's Washington’s Headquarters grounds,
30 Washington Place. The event will feature interactive demonstrations by reenactors from the 2nd New Jersey regiment. Visitors can join in singing soldier songs from the era, explore period-correct tents displaying what soldiers would have carried with them, and learn about the daily lives of soldiers during the Revolutionary War. These activities will be followed by the reading of the Declaration.
At 1:00 pm, the "Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence" will commence.
Razzle Dazzle
Did you ever notice those large insects zipping over streams and ponds all summer long, skimming the water, then shooting about in zigzag patterns that make your head spin watching them?
Dragonflies and damselflies, collectively belonging to the taxonomic order Odonata, are named for their prominent biting mouth parts and predatory nature. Not to worry they don't bite or hunt people! Amazing is the fact that there are more species of dragonflies in Sussex County (145, out of a possible 182 in NJ) than any other county in the United States. Rack up another superlative for NJ's Great Northwest!
Big Ponds, Big Fish
Walleye pike
Pound for pound, the hybrid striped bass rates right up there with the best of the fresh water fish when it comes to putting up a good fight once hooked. Pound for pound, the walleye is hard to beat for table fare, with some fishermen calling it the best tasting fish of them all. Fortunately for those anglers in this part of the state who like some muscle on the end of their line and tasty fillets on the table, there are plenty of both fish around due to vigorous and well-planned stocking programs.
These fish are there ... but you're going to have to work for them.
Power Plants
For those in the know (and it's important that you know
before you pick) the forests and fields of Northwest Jersey offer a visitor much more than a walk in the park. They are a veritable garden; Nature's garden of
edible and medicinal plants.
From the lowliest ground creeper to towering trees, each plant has some nutritional, chemical, edible properties, for better or worse.
Much more...
Summer Sparklers
Peters Valley School of Craft shares the experience of the American Craft Movement with interactive learning through a series of workshops. A shop and gallery showcases the contemporary craft of residents and other talented artists at the Crafts Center... ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood and more in a beautiful natural setting.
