Recreation
Subscribe to this tagFun In The Sun
Here’s what’s happening this summer. A list of events that will fill your calendar in the summer of 2012.
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Cape May: Beyond the Beach
Cape May pulses year-round with things to do. Many of the cultural and historic events are under the auspices of MAC, the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (capemaymac.org). Here are some of Cape May’s most popular attractions:
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Destination: Cape May
The Victorians still reign, but upscale newcomers have brought 21st-century appeal to Jersey’s southernmost resort.
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Cape May's Birdman
If it’s Monday morning, Pete Dunne is sharing his love for avian life with a lucky group of bird watchers.
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Out On A Limb
A third-generation arborist from Howell looks to earn his 20th-straight victory in a regional tree-climbing competition sponsored by the New Jersey chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
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Delightful Duke
Smack in the middle of Somerset County, one of the state’s largest privately owned parcels of undeveloped land beckons guests to explore and learn.
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T. Rex Redux
Millions of years ago, dinosaurs roamed the Meadowlands. Now Bloomfield impresario Guy Gsell is bringing them back in animatronic form to educate kids of all ages.
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125 Years of Tally-Ho! and Fore!
The Essex County Country Club, the oldest in the state, has enjoyed a storied 125-year history.
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Ice Road Trekker
For this Basking Ridge resident, a 342-mile trek on skis across Greenland's enormous ice cap is just a walk in the park.
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52 Things You Must Do This Year
Feast or frolic, explore or extol, we’ve got you covered for a self-directed festival of discovery and delight. Every week, meet a bit of the Garden State you need to know by heart.
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Deep Freeze
Finding serenity—and one unlucky fish—on the ice of Lake Hopatcong.
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Smooth Sailing
A frozen river and a stiff wind—that’s all these intrepid boaters need to raise the sails for their favorite winter
pastime.
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Pond Skating
When temperatures drop, these ponds beckon hockey enthusiasts from all over.
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Indoor Fun
For some bathing-suit fun without a trip to Florida, visit one of Jersey’s indoor water parks
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Downhill Thrills
The runs may be short, but so is the ride to New Jersey's own ski mountains.
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Head For The Hills
Here's where you'll find some of our favorite Jersey sledding hills. Grab your sled and hit the hills.
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Inflation You Can Love
Two New Jersey tubing parks offer an exciting alternative to skiing and snowboarding.
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Making Tracks
Cross-country skiing flouts lift lines and covers snowy terrain with simple strides.
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Winter Fun
The days may be shorter, but with so much to pack into them, they have a bracing urgency that summer can't match. So bundle up and enjoy.
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Girls On Wheels
Sisters On the Fly brings together women for outdoorsy fun. The only prerequisites: An adventurous spirit and a cozy vintage camper.
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Tougher Than Mud
Tough Mudder, an endurance challenge that features daunting military-style obstacles, comes to Raceway Park in Englishtown.
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Flower Power
Orchids, among the world’s most exotic blooms, are mostly tropical, but some hardy species grow wild in New Jersey—including the object of the author’s obsession, the bizarre pink lady’s slipper.
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Watching the Detectors
Searching for coins in the sand may not sound chic, but skill and patience make this hobby golden.
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Playoff Payoff
The Barclays professional golf tournament returns to New Jersey's 95-year-old Plainfield Country Club.
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Paddlers' Playground
The Delaware River beckons all ages with clear water, easy rapids and unspoiled beauty.
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Glossy Reminders of Wildwood Past
A pair of vacationing Pennsylvanians document the changing landscape of Wildwood in a new book of photography.
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Before You Go
Things you should know before hitting the sand on Long Beach Island.
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Pirates Anyone?
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center offers summer educational programs for children.
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Tour de Shore
Bicycling the beaches, byways (and some harrowing bridges) from Monmouth County to Cape May.
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All The Shore's A Stage
The Jersey coast offers more than just sun and sand. Use our guide and you’ll be ready to take in top-notch theater—
from Broadway productions to children’s shows and outdoor classics.
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Just Wild About Wildwood
We've got the scoop on some new attractions set to appear on Wildwood's boardwalk this summer—be sure to check them out.
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He Sells (and Displays) Seashells
The Discovery Seashell Museum in Ocean City brings the bottom of the ocean to you.
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Swan Boats Are Back (With Pelicans and Dragons!)
Swan boats—once a fixture of summer life in Asbury Park—will return after a prolonged absence.
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Belmar Kicks Sand on Castle Ban
Belmar finally repeals an anti-sandcastle building law that had been on the books for 20 years.
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What's Happening
Your calendar for a summer of fun.
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Island Attractions
Things to do and see in Long Beach Island.
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LBI: A World Apart
Summer crowds and chic amenities have encroached on Long Beach Island, but for most, it’s still a magic place.
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A Different Kind of Beach
Higbee Beach, on the Delaware Bay, welcomes a different type of crowd in West Cape May.
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Best Beaches
Where's the best place on our fabulous Jersey Shore to plant your umbrella this summer? Depends what you're looking for. Our intrepid beachcombers weigh in with their favorites.
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Great Dates
Love is in the air. Here’s where to get romantic in the Garden State.
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Crystal Clear
Mining the latest deals at Sussex County’s gem of a resort.
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Jersey's Nukes
Where Nike missiles once reigned, tourists now roam.
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Good Shepherd
At old-time creamery, it’s all about the cheese.
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Heaven Sent
Pumpkin picking is only the beginning.
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Wharton State Forest
With the Batsto Village, a once-vital ironworks camp, Wharton State Forest offers history as well as nature.
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Washington Crossing State Park
Stop by the Nature Center at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville for environmental exhibits and events, or relive history at the very site where Washington launched his famous surprise attack.
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Wawayanda State Park
For a chance to see autumn at its best, scale the boulders at Wawayanda State Park.
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Ringwood State Park
With the 96-acre New Jersey State Botanical Garden, and the tree-covered Ramapo Mountains serving as a backdrop, Ringwood State Park is the perfect place to wile away autumn hours.
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Rancocas State Park
Rancocas State Park in Burlington County can be enjoyed in many ways, but the two most favored methods are—by canoe or kayak, or guided tour.
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Parvin State Park
The diverse woodlands of Parvin State Park, situated on the edge of the Pine Barrens in Pittsgrove, feature more than 200 varieties of flowering plants.
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Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park in Jersey City offers a refuge for urbanites seeking a respite from the bustle of city life.
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Island Beach State Park
With summertime crowds departing, Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park is a great place for a little recreational saltwater fishing.
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Jenny Jump State Forest
Seven trails allow visitors to explore 11.7 miles of pristine forest land at Jenny Jump State Forest in Hope.
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High Point State Park
High Point State Park in Sussex County provides one of the most spectacular panoramas in New Jersey for autumn foliage.
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Hacklebarney State Park
Hacklebarney State Park in Long Valley may be small and secluded, but it's the perfect place to escape to nature.
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Cheesequake State Park
Cheesequake State Park has little to do with tasty desserts, but plenty to do with open fields, marshes, a white cedar swamp,and Pine Barrens habitats.
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Cape May Point State Park
Cape May Point State Park, located in fresh and saltwater wetlands in the southernmost tip of the state, hosts some of the most diverse bird varieties on the East Coast.
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Allamuchy Mountain State Park
Allamuchy Mountain State Park, which spans part of Warren and Sussex counties, offers hiking, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, bicycling, and horseback riding.
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Allaire State Park and Historic Village
There is plenty for everyone at Allaire State Park in Farmingdale.
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Birds of a Feather
A father and son create realistic decoys for hunters In a sawdust-filled workshop housed in an old barn in Burlington County.
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Get Fit Finale
Our first reality fitness program comes to a close. Find out how well our participants did during the 24-week program.
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A Cyber Star Is Born
A Branchburg native is one of the twelve finalists chosen to be on Ultimate Gamer 2, a reality show about competitive video game playing.
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The Wheel Deal
Montclair resident Tom Nussbaum created the whimsical gate for the town's all-access playground.
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Different Strokes
Disc golf shares much with that other 18-hole sport—except, of course, the dress code, the expense, and the exclusive clubs. In fact, there are no clubs at all.
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More Than Hot Air
The largest summertime balloon festival in North America just happens to take place right here in the Garden State.
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A Swampy Phosphorescence
Mystery shrouds Wildwood's new scare attraction.
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Mini-Golf With A Glow
Mini-golf is a veritable Jersey Shore institution. The latest incarnation—black-light mini-golf—hopes to become a new wave twist on an old favorite.
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Spring Getaways: Day Trips
The warm weather is upon us. It’s time to get out and enjoy all that New Jersey has to offer, from craft fairs, to music festivals, to sheep shearing, and yes, even a rodeo.
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Take A Bike!
Surely you've heard of borrowing books, but how about borrowing bicycles?
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Best of Jersey
At New Jersey Monthly, our job every month is to bring you the best the state has to offer.
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How To Stay Warm Outdoors
In Meadowland Park in South Orange, a lone spot of green keeps the hardy happy.
moreDay Trip: Mullica Hill
Mullica Hill is a well-restored historic town in the heart of South Jersey farmland. Here’s where you can get the best of then and now, with a few surprises along the way.
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Day Trip: Princeton
Princeton University’s orange and black pride is splashed along the Ivy League sidewalks and historic architecture of Nassau Street. This central Jersey treasure is filled with upscale boutique shopping, secret sweet spots, engaging theatrical performances, and school spirit.
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