New Jersey is home to gorgeous beaches, but the Garden State also has a ton of beautiful, well-maintained parks that are free to take advantage of. Pack a picnic basket with local goods, and enjoy a day with nature. For more park information, visit nj.gov.
☑ ALLAMUCHY & ALMOJÁBANAS
Whether you’re a beginner hiker or expert, Allamuchy Mountain State Park has something for everyone, with miles of marked and unmarked trails. The park is home to Waterloo Village and the Stephens day use area, both of which offer picnic spots for visitors. If you’re coming from the east, the newly opened Altoque Café in Kenvil is the perfect stop for getting your picnic goodies. This Colombian café offers pastries like almojábanas (Colombian cheese bread), and pastel Gloria—a pastry filled with guava and dulce de leche—plus Colombian coffee and other treats.
Allamuchy Mountain State Park | Waterloo Rd.,
Stanhope
Altoque Café | 760 US-46, Suite 6, Kenvil
862.242.1772 | instagram.com/altoque.cafe
☑ CHEESE & TRAILS
Home to more than 70 miles of continuous pathways, Delaware-Raritan Canal State Park spans five counties and offers plenty of recreational options for hikers, cyclists, and those looking to picnic. Various picnic areas include Blackwell Mills in Franklin and Bulls Island Recreation Area in Stockton. Stop at Cherry Grove Farm in Lawrenceville enroute, where you can grab a variety of cheeses—from the mild Lawrenceville Jack to the spicy Abruzze Jawn—to add to your picnic basket.
Delaware-Raritan Canal State Park
Various access points (including Frenchtown, Stockton, Franklin, and more)
Cherry Grove Farm | 3200 Lawrenceville Rd.,
Lawrenceville
609.219.0053 | cherrygrovefarm.com
☑ COOKIES & A CASTLE
For a scenic walk, Ramapo Mountain State Forest offers paved trails perfect for a leisurely stroll with friends or your pet. Bring a picnic blanket, and take in the views of the Van Slyke Castle ruins or the 120-acre Ramapo Lake. For a sweet pick-me-up mid-hike, pack some cookies from Kara Kakes in Franklin Lakes, a woman-owned business where the specialty cookies vary daily, with offerings like Reese’s cheesecake cookies and Nutella-stuffed cookies.
Ramapo Mountain State Forest
67 Skyline Dr., Oakland
Kara Kakes | 799 Franklin Ave.,
Franklin Lakes
201.485.8889 | kara-kakes.com
☑ A DAY ON THE WATER
Less of a hiking park and more of a picnic and lake area, Round Valley Recreation Area is the perfect place to spend a summer day with family or friends, and lifeguards are on duty in the designated swimming area. There are three picnic areas, and grills are available. The park opens at 8am, so arrive early to get the whole day in, but don’t miss first making a stop at Whitehouse General Store up the road. A local staple offering breakfast and lunch, it’s one of the few places left where you can get a breakfast sandwich for $5—and they’re a fan-favorite among customers.
Round Valley Recreation Area | 1220 Stanton-Lebanon Rd., Lebanon
Whitehouse General Store | 98 Old Hwy 28,
Whitehouse Station | 908.823.4246
facebook.com/whitehousegeneralstore
☑ STUNNING SUNSET VIEWS
There aren’t too many free oceanfront state parks in New Jersey, so if you’re lucky enough to venture to Cape May County this summer, pack a beach day lunch—or dinner—for Corson’s Inlet State Park at the southernmost point in Ocean City. It’s still considered a hidden gem, and the pink skies at sunset are worth the trip all by themselves. If you’re making sandwiches to-go, stop at Vaughan’s Farm & Garden in Marmora, a roadside farm stand offering fresh produce and the ripest Jersey tomatoes you’ll find, plus locally grown fruits like peaches and nectarines.
Corson’s Inlet State Park | County Hwy 619,
Ocean City
Vaughan’s Farm & Garden | 312 Roosevelt Blvd.,
Marmora | 609.390.1864 | vaughansmarket.com
