Sans The Shore

As a life-long Warren County resident, my trips down the Shore are few and far between. I’ve always preferred to spend a summer afternoon on the banks of Oxford Lake, 20 minutes from my hometown of Phillipsburg.

Oxford Lake is the perfect day trip destination for our little family of three. So much more stimulating than the local municipal pool, the lake offers canoeing and kayaking, in addition to swimming. It had been a while since I paid Oxford Lake a visit, and I was particularly anxious to see if the snack bar hot dogs were as good as I remembered. (Spoiler: they were.)

We arrived in the late afternoon. It was still warm and sunny, but many of the families were about to leave for the day. Cordoned off with rope and buoys, Oxford Lake’s recreational swimming area is a little larger than a typical public pool. Three diving platforms are spread out across the deeper part of the swimming area. Our first order of business was to commandeer one of those diving platforms. They make perfect tanning stations.

One thing that really struck me on this visit was the water’s temperature. Near the surface, the water reaches bath-tub highs. But if you dive deep enough, it’s icy and refreshing. But be forewarned: The lake is eutrophic, which means there’s a lot of flora floating around. Just try visiting Oxford Lake without getting a mouthful of seaweed (lakeweed?).

On our way back to High Bridge, my friends and I stopped for dinner at a new restaurant on route 31 near Washington. Specializing in Korean BBQ fusion food, Rokmex boasts a menu that includes kalbi, kimchi and a variety of fresh salsas. Guests create their own meal by making a series of selections (tacos or sliders? BBQ chicken or spicy pork?) from the restaurant’s diverse options. The food is reasonably priced, and they serve beer, too.

Do you have a favorite summer day trip destination in New Jersey? Please post it in the comments.

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