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4 Ways to Celebrate Fall in New Jersey

It’s time to celebrate fall. Why not make it a farm day? For one thing, it’s apple-picking season – grab a hoodie and some tall friends and take a hayride to the orchards. You might want to try Terhune Orchards in Princeton, Stony Hill Farms in Chester or Johnson’s Corner Farm in Medford. While you’re at the farm, dare to test yourself in the corn maze. Maze makers include Heaven Hill Farm in Vernon, Alstede Farms in Chester and Happy Day Farm in Manalapan.

Farms choose different designs to have cut into their cornfields every year, all equally difficult, so leave yourself some extra getting-lost time. Those that make it to the end of each labyrinthine field deserve some fresh-squeezed cider, a cider donut and maybe even a cider hot dog (like those found at the Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill in Chester). But before you go, be sure to check out these 4 Ways to Celebrate Fall in New Jersey:


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1. Peep Some Leaves

Fall Leaves-1400

Why drive all the way out to New England when you can stop by Sussex or Warren County instead? The Skylands region offers a mix of oak, hickory and ash trees that lose their chlorophyll for your viewing pleasure. Try Old Mine Road toward the Delaware Water Gap, or head up Schooley’s Mountain. Generally, the best time for peeping is around the first week of October. You can visit this link for details on Skylands foliage.


2. Go Garage Saling.

True bargain hunters know that early fall, when it’s cool but not cold outside, is the golden time to check out garage sales. Check the listings, program your GPS (or GPS app) and hit the road. Some towns even schedule town-wide sales – so don’t forget to pick up a map of participating addresses and scour the town for good deals. A piece of proper etiquette advice: Don’t show up before the sale starts!


3. Feeling Festive?

cluster of farm fresh red delicious apple fruit

Towns around the state have festivals scheduled, from the the Peter’s Valley Fine Craft Fair up in Sussex County to the Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival in Red Bank. There’s also the Califon Street Fair in Hunterdon County and the Harvest Fest and Craft Fair at the New Jersey Botanical Garden in Ringwood. Whatever your preference – food, live music, craft sales, or all of the above – there’s an outdoor party for you in New Jersey this fall.


4. Eat pumpkin everything.

You know you want to. Don’t pretend to be too hip to try a pumpkin ice cream pie at Cliff’s in Ledgewood, or pumpkin bread at the Little Daisy Bake Shop in Montclair. You can also try the pumpkin cupcakes at the Bread and Cheese Cupboard in Stone Harbor, or pumpkin ale from the Iron Hill Brewery in Maple Shade. You can tell yourself that pumpkin has plenty of antioxidants (just ignore all those pesky little calories).


Hero (Top) Feature Image: © kevron2001 / Adobe Stock

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