Our crazy viral post.

Last month something amazing happened.  I wrote a post on my website about the Free and Almost Free Places to Visit in New Jersey and the Surrounding States.  The post went viral.  It exploded!  There were so many wonderful comments and suggestions for places.  It definitely kept me busy for a good few weeks.  I am grateful for all the wonderful responses, and apologize if I couldn't get to answer all of them!  Here is the link to the post: http://www.happyfamilyart.com/Free-Places-For-Family-Fun-NJ.html  I hope you like it!

More about NJ Beaches

This year was the first year that we joined some friends on the Sandy Hook Beach every Wednesday night.  Every night there is a concert there at 5 pm and until sundown.  I do consider us to be very lucky to be able to do that every week.  It is beautiful.  We stay off to the side, a bit away from the concert crowd.  The kids get to play with their friends and enjoy some fresh ocean air.  We watch the sunset, and a few times even the moon rise, and make more friends along the way.  (Good friends make everything more fun!!!) It is like a small vacation.  Now that the weather is getting colder I cannot wait to start going to the beach often again.

Here are some pictures for me to drool over while winter goes by.

Green Meadows Farm

This spring we went to Green Meadows Farm with my kids.  They love animals, so a place where you could touch, feed and play with all kinds of animals was right up their alley.  With Green Meadows you have to know the time they are open, as it is only a short while in the spring/ beginning of summer and another short while in the fall.  Also, if you decide to go, beleive it or not, weekends are better then weekdays.  On the weekdays it gets pretty crazy with school trips.  We went on a Sunday, and it was not too bad.  Here is their website for all the info: http://www.greenmeadowsfarmnj.com/

My boys got to pet little duckies, bunnies, puppies, kittens, piggies, goats and so much more.  My older one braved up and milked a cow, my hubby and younger one chickened out.  We met an amazingly big horse, some cranky alpacas, donkeys, an angry turkey.  They got to feed some adorable goats, one of which kept escaping and running away and made all the kids laugh. 

Overall it was a wonderful day for them, at the end of which they were tired and happy.  What else can you ask for?

Here are a few pictures, as always:

 

Summer Bucket List

Summer is over, lets tally this up:

This summer there are so many places I would like to go to with my kids, I decided to make a list.  For someone who is not a list person, this is my second list in a week, weird stuff... 

I think that there are too many places, that, in fact, we won't make it to all of them.  We will, however, make it to some, and that's ok with me. 

Here is my summer bucket list:

1.  Reeves Reed Arboretum in Summit, NJ      http://reeves-reedarboretum.org/
Never made it there.  Hoping to do it in the spring this year.  It is a shame, as it is really close to home. 

2.  Land Of Make Believe in Hope, NJ http://www.lomb.com/
YES.  Made it, Loved it!

3.  Rafting on Delaware River, probably with Indian Head Canoes.
YES.  Great time!!!

4.  Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC.
NOPE.  We did make it to the Empire State Building and the Statue Of Liberty though, so that counts.

5.  Bushkill Falls in PA, http://www.visitbushkillfalls.com/
NO.  But we went to the Ringing Rocks State Park with friends.  More to come later.

6.  NJ Grounds For Sculpture  http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/
NO.  Actually, I went for the tickets at the library and someone checked them out five seconds before me. Next time.  It is going to happen soon!!

The rest of them are a no at the moment, but we did have some other wonderful trips that I didn't anticipate, so there.  We are still planning to do all these places really soon, so stay tuned!

7.  Space Farm Zoo, Sussex, NJ

8.  The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, http://www.stickleymuseum.org/

9.  Museum of Early Trades and Crafts: http://www.metc.org/

10. Montclair Art Museum www.montclairartmuseum.org

11.  Bowman Hill Tower and Flower Preserve in Bucks County, PA.  http://www.bhwp.org/

12.  Thomas Edison Memorial Park, in West Orange, NJ. http://www.nps.gov/edis/index.htm

Some of the places that we have been to, I would like to come back to this year for another visit.  Places like Six Flags, Longwood Gardens,  Turtleback Zoo, and Bergen County Zoo, New Hope, Howell's Living History Farm and Liberty Science Center are among the few. We would also like to go to the NJ Beaches at least once a week.  This year we like Sandy Hook.  Lakes are a good place to go also.

Longwood Gardens, PA

Longwood Gardens in PA has got to be one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Every year one of my kids asks to make it a Birthday Destination.  You see, on their birthdays, instead of doing kiddie parties we pick a place and have a family trip instead.  Longwood Gardens is usually on the list.  My younger one especially enjoys it.

From where we are, the drive is about 2 hours, and it is definately worth it!

With thousands of different flowers, trees, shrubs and bushes, the colors are magnificent. The walkways twist and turn through flower beds and arches covered in roses. There are flowers there that I have never seen in my life, brought in from all over the world. It is so big, that it's never crowded. If you go on a weekday you could walk through the whole garden and not meet more then 10 people along the way.

Every year we go I am pleasntly surprised as to how much my boys and I enjoy this trip.  They excitedly skip through the gardens, run around bushes cut in fun shapes, take turns sticking their head into a giant dog cut out of a shrub. They are enlessly amused by the three giant tree houses that you can climb up to, and the organ room where you could try different sounds, and of course playing with water fountains. The children's garden inside is magical, with lights and fountains. It's the kind of place where you can imagine fairies playing after closing time.

 

This is their website, with address, directions and other info:
http://www.longwoodgardens.org/

Of course, a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are a few pictures that I took through the years that we have been going there:

Giggleberry Fair, PA

Last week the kids and I were headed to Bucks County, PA, to run some errands.  To make this routine trip more fun for them I like to pick a cool place to visit in that neighborhood.  Some place that we haven't been to before.  This time I chose Giggleberry Fair on friend's recommendation. 

Giggleberry Fair is located in Peddler's Village, PA.  On it's own Peddler's Village has many shops, outlets, restaurants and much more to explore.  There are some truly outstanding stores there.  To see their full list of shops, visit: http://www.peddlersvillage.com/shop/ . Be sure to check out the Village Toy & Doll Shoppe if you are there with your kids!

This time we were there just to visit Giggleberry Fair.  It was a weekday, so not crowded at all.  Giggleberry Fair has a wonderful restored Carousel.  It has quite a long history, and you can read about it right here: http://www.peddlersvillage.com/kids/grand_carousel.aspx The carousel is beautiful, and even my all too grown up almost twelve year old enjoyed riding on it.  Because it wasn't crowded, we were able to go on quite a few times. 

For children aged 6 and under there is the Giggles Discovers! area and it looks to be a lot of fun. http://www.peddlersvillage.com/kids/giggles_discovers.aspx We took a peek, but my 6 year old wanted to do what his older brother was doing, which was the arcade and the Giggleberry Mountain. Giggleberry Mountain is a large obsticle course and maze.  It has six floors, and a ton of foam berries (balls) that you can shoot, put into a 'berry fountain', vacuum, throw at each other. I enjoyed the Giggleberry Mountain as much as my boys. Though the website states that it is designed for children aged 6 -12, I stayed on the ground, filling the fountain with the balls and shooting it at my kids. Also, obsessively vacuuming the 'berries' of the floor, that was just my 'cleaning mommy' self taking over.

Here is the website for Giggleberry Mountain: http://www.peddlersvillage.com/kids/giggleberry-mountain.aspx 

The arcade there is clean, and the folks working at the place very accomodating.  The machines swallowed our coins a few times, and once we spoke up it was taken care of right away.  There is someone there ready to assist, and you don't have to be running around, looking for a person to help you. The games at the arcade were good for the younger kid, and for the older one.  There was also a giant touch screen Fruit Ninja game for the ultimate Fruit Ninja in our household, mommy. 

If you get hungry, they have a menu of food available.  Mostly it's the usual pizza, french fries and chicken fingers.  We didn't eat there, but it's available. 

Overall the kids enjoyed it very much.  The little one keeps asking to come back there soon.  We easily spend two hours there.  They also have specials, different activities, and you can celebrate your kid's birthday there. 

When we got there, we paid $12.99 per kid for the Child Activity Package.  It gets access to Giggleberry Mountain, giggles Discovers! and unlimited Carousel rides. I felt that it was a good price for all the activities there.  To see all the pricing and information please go to their site here: http://www.peddlersvillage.com/kids/prices_information_contact.aspx

The Carousel was so pretty, I took some more photos. Here they are!

 



My youngest picked Giggleberry Fair as his birthday destination.  Thursday is a double day.  They double the amount of tickets you win in the arcade.  He had a blast, and since daddy won the jackpot with tickets both him and his brother wound up winning a nice toy there. :)

Liberty Hall Museum in Kean University

"Built in 1772 and home to generations of Livingstons and Keans, Liberty Hall traces the history of America through its 50 rooms and exhibits."-- retrieved on 2/21/2013, from http://www.kean.edu/libertyhall/photogallery/

Even though fall is a busy time for us with learning, and regular activities like art and soccer, we did squeeze in a trip to the Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University. We were very pleasantly surprised at how much fun the trip turned out to be. My boys are usually boisterous and like to run around a lot, so a structured lecture about American History, no matter how interesting the setting, is usually not something up their alley. This was a complete break from the norm for us.

Let's begin with the fact that it was free with a library pass for us and our friends. The tour started with a short video about Livingstons and Keans. After the video we went ahead to the rest of the property. We had a private tour because we were the only ones there. Our guide was an elderly history buff who was wonderful and serious, and kid friendly at the same time. They have a great collection of old and completely restored fire engines, including one that kids could climb on, we especially enjoyed that one. The gardens were beautiful, complete with small paths for kids to run on and release some of that energy, and wonderful flowers. They also had apple orchard there and a small operational farm. Very unexpected so close to NYC. We were offered to go apple picking after the tour, but couldn't this time. Next time we will give it a try.

The house was most definitely haunted, which the kids enjoyed a lot. It difficult to wrap your mind around how much this house has seen. It is soaked with history and energy that makes it seem alive. It is very carefully preserved and there are no photos allowed on the inside. All the furnishings, the dishes, the clothing, the toys, it all speaks of how people lived during their time. The kids especially noticed that humans, in general, were much smaller back then, based on sizes of beds. The kitchen is completely preserved as it was and wonderful to see. There are so many portraits of previous owners that look at you as much as you look at them. There is also a famous ghost story associated with the house that you'll just have to hear from the guide!

It was an educational, American History close up kind of experience. I highly recommend it. We all took the time to soak it all in, and enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

After the tour was done, we spend quite a bit in the gift shop on the replicas of the Constitution, Bill Of Rights, and Declaration Of Independence.

Here is the website of the museum with information: http://www.kean.edu/libertyhall/
On this site you will find a photogallery of the inside of the house: http://www.kean.edu/libertyhall/photogallery/

Of course a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are just a few below that I took that day.

Duke Farms in NJ

We finally made it there after the renovations!  It used to be guided tours in the green houses. That was a beautiful place to go, especially in the middle of February, when you walk inside and smell summer in the middle of winter. Now they remade the place, and you can go hiking through the grounds. It is also beautiful.  I think I like it better now, mostly because it is outdoors and unguided!  They kept an orchid green house open for visitors. It is a great place to visit.

We went on a four hour hike through the grounds on a nice September day.  It was not too hot, but not cold yet, just perfect weather.  What a lovely place.  So many wonders to see.  I took over a 100 photographs that day.  After the hike we were pretty hungry,  the visitor center has a good menu of light foods, sandwiches and salads type.  We wound up having lunch right there.

They also have a bike rental, where you can borrow a bike for free!!! You have to be over 60 inches tall though.  We have our bikes that we love to ride, and this place inspired us to get a bike rack and come on our bikes. A lot of ground to cover. We did it on foot, and it took a good 4 hours, hoping that on bikes it will be faster and fun.  Another plus is no cars, and I will feel a lot better about my wild 11 year old on the bike there.

Oh, and one of the days when my boys are all grown up I am coming back with a canvas and paint, and spending the day with my hubby painting there.

The place also offers a whole bunch of classes and workshops.  Here is their site: http://dukefarms.org/

Doris Duke also has an interesting biography, which the big kid and I spend the night reading. Certainly shows that money doesn't buy happiness.

 

 

 

New Hope, PA & Lambertville, NJ

New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ.

We haven't gone away on vacation for more then a few years. Between little kids, finances, dog, house, grandparents it is just difficult. We do, however, have a favorite local spot to which we go every few months to get away. It's the Lambertville NJ - New Hope PA area. Everything we would want to find while vacationing we have found there in abundance. There are quaint, and sometimes plain weird little shops there, many sell unusual things that are kid friendly.

 

There are good places to eat, we're especially fond of The Landing, especially when it's warm and you can sit outside right on top of the beautiful Delaware river. The food is continental, but good. It's priced from moderately and up. Like everything else they have a website: http://www.landingrestaurant.com/home.php

Recently we also tried "Mother's Restaurant". It is actually right next door to The Landing.  The food was good and the prices also moderate to up.  In the cold months it's a good place to go, nice and cozy, and you can sit by their big windows and look out on the street. 

For dessert, Nina's Waffles has the best waffles you have ever tried, and really delicious ice cream: http://www.buckshappening.com/ninas-waffles-ice-cream .  I recently found out that they close the store after New Years and until March or April. It is best to call ahead and make sure they are open during those months.

 

There is hiking, canoeing, rafting, duck feeding, historical sites, farms, good coffee, great scenery and so many other fun things. So every so often we ditch responsibilities and go away to a mini-vacation to relax, even if it is just for a day.

For shopping there is Laser Illusions, especially if you have kids: it's one of a kind! http://www.cityfos.com/Lazer-Illusions-859097.print.htm
Three Cranes is good in New Hope is Good. 
There is Sojourner if you're crafty: it's on the Lambertville side: http://www.sojourner.biz/, and a whole stretch of other stores that are interesting.

Right outside of New Hope there is Washington Crossing State Park, Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve: http://www.bhwp.org/.

Birchwood Farms http://www.birchwoodfarmdairy.com/ (which has really great diary products, and the best Vanilla Ice Cream in the world) is a short drive away. It is also an amazingly clean farm, that treats their animals like family.

French Town is nearby.  They have bike rentals available and you can go riding a bike on the trail along Delaware all the way to New Hope.  It is a lot of fun.  You can also visit the Golden Nugget flea market on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays if you're into that kind of thing: http://www.gnmarket.com/.

A short twenty minute drive you will find Peddlers Village with all the shops and activities that it has to offer. I find that Peddlers Village is a separate trip on it's own.  If you are there make sure to stop by the Giggleberry Fair with your kiddies. You can find more information on Peddler's Village on their website: http://www.peddlersvillage.com/   There is Howell's Living History Farm nearby on the Jersey side: http://www.howellfarm.org/ . 

In New Hope there is also the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad that takes you through the Buck's county beautiful countryside and has different trips available. https://www.newhoperailroad.com/

There are many more things to do in that area, and I will put them all on this blog very soon!

If you're in need of a vacation, even if it is just for one day, come down to New Hope!

Panderosa Park in Scotch Plains

Hooray, finally a water spray ground in Central Jersey, that is not too far from us! The best part: it is free!
Panderosa Park is brand new, just opened in 2012, right off Cooper Road in Scotch Plains.  It is a beautiful playground with water spraying out of many fountains.  So much fun for the kids to play with.
Most parents take chairs and sit on the grass under the shade of trees, watching thier kiddies have fun.  Many bring a picnic lunch to enjoy.  It is a beautiful place to spend the day.

Have to give a heads up! If your kid wants to play in the water please bring or wear shoes that can get wet and be comfy.  The ground heats up like crazy, even on the mild days.  It is all that rubber.  My kids burned their feet the first time they went, and now we know better.  It is still a great place, just need to be aware of this one small detail!

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!