Strawberry Picking and Hacklebarney State Park

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, http://www.donaldsonfarms.net/.

Luckily for us, the place was amazingly beautiful, with rows and rows of strawberries. The store inside was nice also. There were a few goats in the shed and a 'pump it yourself' underground well. My kids ran ahead when they saw the animals, and by the time my hubby and I walked slowly over to them, the little one was having a deep and meaningful conversation with one of the goats. :) The strawberries were delicious as well.

After the farm we went to find a good place to sit down and have a picnic. We drove around for a bit, enjoyed some of the sights in the area. Wound up landing in Hacklebarney State Park, http://www.stateparks.com/hacklebarney.html. After the picnic we decided to take a little hike. In Hacklebarney there are a few decent sized rivers creating multiple waterfalls on their way down. My kids really loved skipping across the waterfalls on the giant boulders. Luckily we came home with all our faces intact.

The delicious strawberries we picked:

Hacklebarney State Park:

Spruce Run and Round Valley, NJ

We love camping! My husband and I used to go with friends before we were married. Then, after we were married, it was with our nephews when they were young, then with our nephews and their friends. After that it was our nephews, their friends and our kids.  Now for quite a few years it is just us and our two kids, even though friends and nephews make a brief entrance once in a while, it is mostly just us.  However, no matter who we go with, it's always relaxing and fun.

 Usually, when I say "camping", people think "no showers, pooping in the brush, and eating wild caught, possibly raw fish".  It is not what I mean by camping.  Over the years we have tried several places in NJ. Found out that we love Spruce Run. It is clean, family friendly, has a playground, beach with a beautiful lake, rangers that help you in time of need (like when you're being chased by a rabid gopher), decent bathrooms, and a good crowd of familes with kids. Our kids usually make a few friends and hang out with them either on the playground, or running back and forth.  One year we brought bikes with us, and they really enjoyed riding around the park.  Especially the older one, who was able to go off on his own. On the same lake you can rent a boat (they have several different kinds) and enjoy a nice boat ride, or go fishing.  It is a wonderful place to take the kids for a few days and get away from all the electronic devices, and just enjoy the nature. 

We have looked in to other places. Most of them are farther away, and more expensive. Most of the time we decide not to bother, and stick to the place we know and love. Can't be blamed for it, because this is what it looks like:

 

 

 



It is not an expensive place to go camping, but you do need to make reservations ahead of time.  If you are just starting out camping, this is a great place to start.  You do need to read their rules and follow them. 

Here is the website for their information: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/spruce.html

This past year we decided on not going overnight, but that doesn't stop us from coming to the beach and enjoying a swim.  Keep in mind that there is a small fee per car to go into the park.  Look at their website for more information!

Near Spruce Run there is another great state park: Round Valley.  Similar to Spruce Run it has a lake, playgrounds, food stand, bathrooms and showers.  There is also hiking trails, and camping.  As I understand, camping in Round Valley is for a more adventurous spirit.  They also have an information page right here: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/round.html
We never made it camping there, but it is a fun place to come and splash in the lake, build a few sandcasltes, enjoy a churro and a hike.

The place has been labeled the Bermuda Triangle of NJ, read more here: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/njs_bermuda_triangle_mystery_s.html .

 

Both places are very easy to get to from Rt. 22 or Rt. 78!

 

Howell Living History Farm

Howell Living History Farm is always a wonderful place to visit.

Here is their website with information: http://www.howellfarm.org/

We try to make it there annually and every time we come to a new surprise, with new experiences waiting for us. 

Last time we came on a weekday and the farm was pretty empty of visitors. I was there with a good friend, and we had six kids all together. With some very friendly volunteers our kids got to pick carrots from the ground, feed them to the cow, pet a really friendly cat, run with fun chickens, pump some water for the horse, and much more. We also met a whole bunch of interesting insects. On the way out we got a surprise: they found a turtle!! While driving home we also saw a dead deer being eaten by vultures. While it sounds icky, it was actually a really cool thing to see.

A great thing about Howell Living History Farm is that general visit is free, though we do make up for it in their gift shop.  Also they have a lot of different programs to sign up for on the weekends.  It is a great family destination.