Chol Hamoed Guide
By Peri Wechsler
|
September 27, 2023
Chol Hamoed Sukkos Trip Guide
Please note:
- It’s important to call any location in advance to confirm hours, availability, pricing, and covid-19 protocols.
- Some discounts on admission can be found at beentheredonethattrips.com, groupon.com, and theoceancountylibrary.org/museum-pass-program.
Stay safe and have fun!
The Voice does not take responsibility for any errors listed below or the kashrus of any establishment.
Special for Chol Hamo’ed Sukkos 5784
Carnival sponsored by Kollel Ner Avrohom (Dr. Roberts)
Details: Nosh and prize giveaways, circus show, Chicago Boys, the Rope Warriors, and R’ Meir Erps, storyteller
Date: Tuesday, October 3
Hours: 11:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
Address: Blue Claws Stadium
Parks and Farms
Deerwood Park
Details: Large and varied playground structures, spacious fields, walking/bike paths, and lots of parking
Address: 2740 Lakewood-Allendale Rd., Howell, NJ 07731
Windward Beach/Park
Details: Swings,indoor restrooms, picnic tables, grassy area, and beautiful views of the water
Address: 265 Princeton Ave., Brick, NJ
Phone: 732-262-1044
Cattus Island County Park
Details: Walking trails, a bridge through a marsh, a playground area, a butterfly garden, and an indoor nature center. Some parts may be open/closed seasonally; call for details.
Address: 1170 Cattus Island Blvd., Toms River, NJ 08753
Phone: 732-270-6960
Lake Shenandoah
Details: A beautiful park featuring bike trails, boat rentals, a conservation area, fishing, handicap accessibility, a picnic area, restrooms, a small boat launch (electric motors only), basketball, soccer, and softball
Address: 660 Ocean Ave. and 300 New Hampshire Ave., Lakewood, NJ
Turkey Swamp Park
Details: A large park with boat rentals, plenty of walking trails, and a playground
Admission: Free admission. Boat rentals begin at $14.54 per hour per boat (includes one set of paddles and a life vest).
Address: 200 Georgia Rd., Freehold, NJ
Phone: 732-462-7286
Mantoloking Bridge County Park
Details: Picnic tables, grassy area, boardwalk, fishing pier, beautiful views of the water, clean indoor restrooms
Address: 70 Herbert St., Brick, NJ
Jakes Branch County Park
Details: Four hundred acres featuring a nature center with live and taxidermy animals, eight-plus miles of walking/biking trails, a discovery play trail, open play fields and courts, and playgrounds. Views of the Pine Barrens forest can be seen from the observation deck perched five stories atop the nature center.
Address: 1100 Double Trouble Rd., Beachwood, NJ
Phone: 732-281-2750
Website: oceancountyparks.org
Dorbrook Recreation Center
Details: A large variety of play facilities, picnic tables, sand play area, grassy area
Address: 353 County Rd. 537, Colts Neck, NJ
Phone: 732-542-1643
Website: monmouthcountyparks.com
Allaire Community Farm
Details: A 25-acre farm and petting zoo with rescued animals. Barrel-train ride available on weekdays for $2, pony rides available on weekends for $5.
Admission: Children over age 1, $3; adults $5; animal feed $2 per bag
Address: 1923 Bailey’s Corner Rd., Wall, NJ
Phone: 732-796-3298
Website: allairecommunityfarm.org
Howell Living History Farm
Details: Visitors have the opportunity to experience over 250 years of New Jersey farm life. Pitch in with feeding and watering animals, mixing animal feed, and collecting eggs, and enjoy a corn maze. Children can try bottle-feeding lambs, gathering honey, collecting sap, and harvesting ice.
Admission: Free admission; small fee to attend the classes
Address: 70 Woodens Ln., Lambertville, NJ 08530
Phone: 609-737-3299
Website: howellfarm.org
Manasquan Reservoir
Details: Enjoy a serene and beautiful walk around the 1,204 acres of land and water of the Manasquan Reservoir.
Admission: Free
Address: 311 Windeler Rd., Howell, NJ 07731
Phone: 732-919-0996
Website: monmouthcountyparks.com
Double Trouble State Park
Details: Eight miles of trails that are perfect for hiking, biking, and access to boating at Cedar Creek; daily prescheduled guided village tours for viewing a restored sawmill, a cranberry-packing house, and a cranberry bog. Tours run from Wednesday to Sunday and are open seasonally and based on staff availability. Call before visiting to book a tour.
Admission: No entrance fee for the park; there is a small fee for guided tours.
Address: 581 Pinewald Keswick Rd., Bayville, NJ 08721
Phone: 732-341-4098
Holmdel Park and Longstreet Farm
Details: A beautiful state park with trails, playgrounds, and a historic farm with animals, old machinery, and staff dressed in period costumes
Admission: Free
Address: 44 Longstreet Rd., Holmdel, NJ
Phone: 732-946-3758
Website: monmouthcountyparks.com
Whitesbog Historic Village and Old Bog Nature Trail
Details: A five-mile automobile loop around a system of bogs, blueberry and cranberry fields, canals, reservoirs, and pine forests
Admission: Free
Address: 120 W. Whites Bog Rd., Browns Mills, NJ 08105
Phone: 609-893-4646
Website: whitesbog.org
Monmouth Battlefield State Park
Details: An expansive historic park with trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, and seasonal pick-your-own orchards
Admission: Free
Address: 16 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726
Phone: 732-462-9616
Duke Farms
Details: A 2,740-acre property with historical farm buildings, orchid displays, a waterfall, and a 1.25-mile self-guided nature trail through a series of different habitats. Teens and adults can also rent bikes.
Admission: Free admission; bike rentals (for 2 hours): adults $8, children (under 18) $5
Address: 1112 Dukes Parkway W., Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844
Phone: 908-722-3700
Washington Crossing State Park
Details: A museum, trails, playgrounds, a nature center, and a historic ferry house at the site of George Washington’s Delaware River crossing
Admission: Free
Address: 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd., Titusville, NJ 08560
Phone: 609-737-0616
Barclay Farmstead Museum
Details: A restored farmstead and 32-acre property built in 1816. In addition to tours of the farmhouse, spend some time wandering interpretive nature trails and admiring garden plots.
Admission: Children under 12 free, adults $5, seniors and students $3
Address: 209 Barclay Ln., Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Phone: 856-795-6225
Tenafly Nature Center
Details: A nature preserve where one can observe wildlife, take beautiful nature pictures, and more
Admission: Free for members, $2 per person for non-members, $10 per family
Address: 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ 07670
Phone: 201-568-6093
Website: tenaflynaturecenter.org
Palisades Interstate Park and Historic Fort Lee Park
Details: Gorgeous overlooks, scenery, trails, and historic Kearny House and exhibits at a Revolutionary War site
Admission: Metered parking at Fort Lee Park
Address: Palisades Interstate Pkwy., Alpine, NJ 07620
Phone: 201-461-1776
Website: njpalisades.org
Van Saun County Park
Details: 130 acres featuring ball fields and tennis courts, picnic areas, state-of-the-art playgrounds and splash pad (splash pad currently closed for construction), and Bergen County Zoo. Pony rides, a millennium carousel, and a miniature train ride open seasonally; call to confirm.
Admission: Zoo: adults $8, children (3–14) $5, seniors $2
Address: 216 Forest Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652
Phone: 201-336-7275, zoo: 201-634-3100
Website: co.bergen.nj.us/parks-recreation-areas/van-saun-county-park
Wharton State Forest
Details: The largest NJ state park, it’s also the site of Batsto Village, a restored former bog, iron, and glassmaking industrial center from 1766–1867; the restored Atsion 1826 mansion; as well as rivers, streams; trails; playgrounds; and picnic areas.
Admission: Free admission to the park; $5 per car to Batsto Village on weekends
Address: 31 Batsto Rd., Hammonton, NJ 08037
Phone: 609-561-0024. For mansion tour availability call 609-268-0444.
Holland Ridge Farms
Details: A breathtaking 300-acre farm with 8 million fresh flowers to enjoy, take gorgeous photos of, and pick. Also features hayrides around the farm and a petting zoo.
Admission: Must reserve online for timed slots.Stems are $1 each. Check website for schedule and pricing.
Address: 86 Rues Rd., Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
Website: hollandridgefarms.com
Norz Hill Farm and Market
Details: Farmer’s market with hayrides and corn mazes. Pony rides on weekends.
Admission: Weekdays $12, children (under 36 inches) free; weekends/holidays $15, senior discount
Address: 120 South Branch Rd., Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Phone: 908-371-2697
Website: norzhillfarm.com
Other Outdoor Activities
Quail Ridge Golf World
Details: An outdoor golf- and mini golf-practice facility featuring a 50-stall covered driving range with seven hitting targets
Admission: Call for details.
Address: 4130 Hurley Pond Rd. and Route 34, Wall Township, NJ
Phone: 732-681-0918
Website: quailridgegolfworld.com
Tuckerton Seaport
Details: A village that brings maritime traditions of the past to life through exhibits and hands-on activities. The seaport and on-site Baymen’s Museum feature live aquatic displays, animals, and recreated and historical buildings and demonstrations.
Admission: Varies depending on activity
Address: 120 West Main St., Tuckerton, NJ 08087
Phone: 609-296-8868
Website: Tuckertonseaport.org
Absecon Lighthouse
Details: Climb the 228 steps upNew Jersey’s tallest lighthouse, the third tallest in the US, and enjoy the view.
Admission: Children under 4 free; ages 4–12, $6; adults $10; cheaper for groups of 10 plus
Address: 31 South Rhode Island Ave., Atlantic City, NJ
Phone: 609-449-1360
Website: abseconlighthouse.org
Deep Cut Gardens
Details: 54 acres of gardens and greenhouses featuring 52 varieties of roses
Admission: Free
Address: 152 Red Hill Rd., Middletown, NJ
Phone: 732-671-6050
Website: monmouthcountyparks.com
Cape May Ferry
Details: An 85-minute ferry ride (one way; 3 hours round trip) the whole family can enjoy. The ferry can hold approximately 100 vehicles.
Admission: Adults $10 one way, children (6 and up) $4 one way. Adults $18 round trip, children (6 and up) $7 round trip. Fares starting at $37 per car; return trips and additional passengers subject to additional charge.
Address: 1200 Lincoln Blvd., Cape May, NJ 08204
Phone: 800-643-3779
Website: cmlf.com
Rutgers Gardens
Details: A beautiful 180-acre botanic garden with designed gardens, farms, plant collections, natural habitats, and a farmer’s market. Rutgers Gardens is a botanic laboratory for Rutgers University.
Admission: Free
Address: 130 Log Cabin Rd., New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 848-932-7000
Website: rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu
Cape May Lighthouse
Details: A lighthouse and museum with spectacular panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean
Admission: Adults $12; children (3–12) $8
Address: 215 Lighthouse Ave.,Cape May Point, NJ 08212
Phone: 800-275-4278, 609-884-5404, 609-224-6066
The World War II Lookout Tower Museum and Memorial
Details: A restored lookout tower used to defend the area during World War II
Admission: Adults $8, children (3–12) $5
Address: 1200 Sunset Blvd., North Cape May, NJ 08204
Phone: 609-884-5404
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
Details: Visit a 77-foot giant waterfall in America’s first planned city. Tours of the mills and the city’s history available.
Admission: Free
Address: 72 McBride Ave. Extension, Paterson, NJ 07501
Website: nps.gov
Aquariums/Zoos
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk and Aquarium
Details: Arcade rooms, rides, and an aquarium with many interesting fish and aquatic creatures
Admission: Rides/arcades: pay per activity. Aquarium: children (3–11) $10, adults $16, seniors (65 plus) $11
Address: 300 Ocean Ave., Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ
Phone: 732-892-0600
Website: jenkinsons.com
Adventure Aquarium
Details: Voted the best aquarium in the Northeast with over 15,000 aquatic animals, including a walk-through shark tank
Admission: Varies depending on day/time; starts at $27.99 for adults, $18.99 for children, $25.99 for seniors
Address: 1 Riverside Dr., Camden, NJ
Phone: 844-474-3474 (FISH)
Website: adventureaquarium.com
Space Farms Zoo and Museum
Details: A 100-acre zoo-and-museum complex with over 500 live wild animals; nine large museum buildings with over 50 antique cars, motorcycles, old horse-drawn carriages and sleighs, antique dolls, one of the largest private antique firearms collections, old farm machinery, and Indian artifacts; a large picnic area; and a playground
Admission: Ages 3–12, $19; ages 13–64, $23; age 65 plus $22
Address: 218 Country Rd. 519, Sussex, NJ 07641
Phone: 973-875-5800
Website: spacefarms.com
Popcorn Park Zoo
Details: This family-oriented zoo was established to provide a refuge for wildlife that were sick, elderly, abandoned, abused, or injured and could no longer survive in their natural habitats. It also includes exotic and domestic animals. Popcorn may be purchased to feed free-roaming birds and some of the farm animals.
Admission: Adults $8; seniors and children under 11, $3; children under 3 free
Address: 1 Humane Way (off Lacey Rd.), Forked River, NJ
Phone: 609-693-1900
Website: ahscares.org
Turtle Back Zoo
Details: A large, beautiful zoo that features many animals from various regions plus extra activities
Admission: Under age 2 free; ages 2–12 and over 62, $16; ages 13–61, $19. Playground and train ride are included in admission; mini golf, pony rides, and other rides cost extra. Free parking. Strollers are available for rent.
Address: 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ
Phone: 973-731-5800
Website: turtlebackzoo.com
Cape May Zoo
Details: This 120-acre zoo and park features 200 species of animals, birds, and reptiles; a playground; a carousel; nature and bike trails; a pond for fishing; and picnic facilities.
Admission: Freeadmission; donations welcome
Address:707 Route 9 N., Cape May Court House, NJ, 08210
Phone: 609-465-5271
Website: capemaycountynj.gov
Jersey Shore Alpacas
Details: Meet and mingle with alpacas. Learn about, pet, and feed these interesting critters.
Admission: Free; must reserve online.
Address: 521 Route 47 South, Cape May, NJ 08204
Phone: 609-889-4957
Website: jerseyshorealpacas.com
Cohanzick Zoo
Details: New Jersey’s first zoo, located in a 1,100-acre park, featuring over 200 animals
Admission: Free (donations suggested)
Address: 45 Mayor Aitken Dr., Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Phone: 856-453-1658
Website: cohanzick-zoo.org