Originally established in 1939 to protect winter habitat for waterfowl, especially American Black Ducks and Brant, later designated a Wetland of International Importance for its value as a salt marsh in supporting wide variety of birds, including ducks, geese, shorebirds, ospreys, hawks, songbirds, and eagles, as well as such wildlife as deer and foxes> A leading national magnet for birders and major stop for migratory birds, wildlife observers, photographers, provides boardwalk through the marsh and miles of trails for Hikers and cyclists. With Atlantic City just beyond the horizon. Osprey Outlook on refuge boardwalk with telescopes and interpretive panel for outside viewing of an osprey nest, along with “osprey cam” views of the nest activity on a monitor in the visitor information center.
Town of Clinton
Clinton’s Historic Red Mill on South Branch of the Raritan River is the most photographed scene in New Jersey. Built around 1810 as an industrial mill, the Mill has evolved to serve several roles, including as a wool processing plant, a peach basket factory, and a textile mill. It is now a museum included on the National Register of Historic Places, and a short walk from the Hunterdon Art Museum which presents changing exhibitions of contemporary art. Main Street features a gourmet cheese shop, coffee shops, and a one of a kind cast iron bridge.
The Great Falls on the Passaic River in Paterson
On the summer day of July 10, 1778, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Marquis de Lafayette stopped for lunch overlooking the Great Falls. Years later, perhaps due the first glance of the power of the water surging over the rocks, as US Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton founded the City of Paterson as the nation's first planned industrial center, with factories later emerging to harness the water power to make locomotives and mills for weaving silk and other textiles. Still under development. the national park will feature restored factories and the Paterson Museum with inventions and technological innovations.
Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton
Displays more than 270 contemporary sculptures in 42-acre Grounds for Sculpture arboretum, located in Hamilton just outside Trenton. Founded by the late sculptor and Johnson & Johnson heir Seward Johnson, the Grounds originally were an atelier where Johnson and other sculptors could fabricate their work, but has now evolved into a park showcasing a variety of sculptural styles. An on-site restaurant, "Rats," named after Johnson's favorite fairy tale character.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Warren County
70,000 acre area shared by Pennsylvania and New Jersey comprised of forests, highland trails (including 27 miles of the Appalachian Trail) along the Delaware River as it cuts through Kittatinny Ridge. Scenic hiking trails and kayaking through the Gap. Valley site of several historic places, including Millbrook Village, a collection of historic and other buildings from the late 1800s. If you move to Warren County, hire professionals to do this for you while you spend your time admiring the vistas of the Gap.
Pinelands National Reserve
Batsto River. Image Wikipedia/Mwanner
Atsion Lake Image: NewJerseyAlmanac.com
Area of about 1.1 million acres of pine forests--one-fifth of state-- interspersed with rivers and creeks crossing parts of sevencountiesand 56 municipalities including 29 villages. Comprises largest area of forests along East Coast between northern Maine andFlorida Everglades. Protected since 1978 by state and federal legislation restricting development through management by local, state, and federal governments. Also hosts nearly 300 299 species of birds, Agriculture focused on cranberry, blueberry farms. Reserve containsWharton State Forest,Brendan T. Byrne State Forest,Bass River State Forest,Penn State Forest, andDouble Trouble State Park.
Cranberry bog just before harvest. Image: Christoper Huston for Pinelands Alliance
Blueberry bushes. Image: NewJerseyAlmanac.com
Princeton University campus, Princeton, Mercer County
Cited by Architectural Digest and others as one of the most beautiful college campuses in America, Princeton buildings in the Gothic style familiar to British universities Oxford and Cambridge now are interspersed with structures designed by such prominent contemporary architects as Robert Venturi, I.M. Pei and Michael Graves. Other sites in Princeton include Morven, the former governor's mansion built before the Revolution; the Princeton Battlefield in which George Washington's troops defeated the British; and the Institute for Advanced Study, the think tank where some of the world's leading scholars including Albert Einstein conducted their research.
Lewis Thomas Biological Laboratories designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown Image: LarrySpeck.com
Firestone Library (left) and University Chapel. Image: NewJerseyAlmanac.com
Maclean House, original residence of University presidents completed in 1756 and official residence until 1879. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Blair Hall Image: NewJerseyAlmanac.com
Historic Speedwell and Speedwell Park and Waterfall in Morristown
National Historic Landmark at site of 18th century iron works with preserved and relocated buildings and houses. First public demonstration of telegraph on January 11, 1838, by Samuel F.B. Morse and iron works owner Alfred Vail. Also developed engine for S.S. Savannah, first steamship to cross Atlantic Ocean, Factory Building Wheelhouse with restored 24-foot overshot water wheel. Across street from Historic Speedwell is Morris County park on Whippany River with dam and Speedwell Waterfall.
Speedwell Waterfall
Image: TripAdvisor.com
Cape May, Cape May County
"The Nation's Oldest Seashore Resort" and cited as "New Jersey's Most Beautiful Small Town" by Insider.com and HouseBeautiful.com and as one of "America's top 10 beaches" by the Travel Channel, Cape May has evolved from its founding during New Jersey's first settlement as a whaling village to become one of the nation's most picturesque communities famed for it Victorian homes and inns. Designated in 1976 as a National Historic Landmark, Cape May also features its lighthouse built in 1859 which continues in operation. At New Jersey's southernmost tip, easy access to its beach, fishing, shops and restaurants, and south of the village is a state park popular for bird watching and other forms of eco-tourism. Tours of several nearby wineries are available. and boats offer whale and dolphin watching. The village center features a pedestrian mall lined with shops, restaurants and casual shops offering ice cream and candy.
Image: Wikipedia
Images: NewJerseyAlmanac.com
Ocean Grove, Monmouth County
Just south of Asbury Park, Ocean Grove's Victorian architecture in its homes, inns and hotels--along with that of Cape May--is considered among the finest examples of the late 19th and early 20th century seaside styles, and in 1976 the town was named to the National Register of Historic Places. Founded in 1869 as a Methodist summer tent camp on the beach for the faithful to hear prominent preachers, tents remain aligned next to its Great Auditorium built in 1894 which are rented in summer with years-long waiting lists.. .
Tent City Image: NewJerseyAlmanac.com
The Great Auditorium Image: NewJerseyAlmanac.com
Victorian homes leading to the beach. Image: NewJerseyAlmanac.com
