Too often people say there is not much to do in Jersey. At a point in time, I might have agreed but these past 2 summers have proven the contrary. From themed restaurants, nightlife, road trips to seeking adventures we have it all. We are also driving distance from many other states.
Let us reminisce on my escapades during summer 2016.
Adventures
Hudson River Jet Ski: I was planning a trip to Mexico, thought I should select Jet Skiing as an activity. I asked myself “why should I wait for the trip let me search for somewhere close by” and voila. New York Harbor in Hoboken just minutes away offered various options. We selected the 2 hours tours of NY from New Jersey border. It was not much of a tour. Due to the traffic of ferries, boats, wave runners and other jets, everyone went their way yet close enough to the guide. It was much easier at the beach to handle the jet. At the river, the waves were brutal and some of us lost control and fell in. Nonetheless, it was worth it. They offer the option to ride with a partner but I would suggest riding alone, sitting in the back was not enjoyable.
Tomahawk Lake Waterpark: Oh, wow! What can I say about this waterpark? If you want to swim in a lake with snakes, go ahead. We saw several big and long water snakes. It was not a pretty scene. Every time we went back in the water, I imagined the snake just crawling on my feet. Nonetheless, many families hosted barbecues and the children were near them playing with the water games available. They have a food court on site, a bar and live music. They have about 7 rides for adults (3 for non-Swimmers and 4 for swimmers). My favorite ride was competing with my cousins and sister on the Crazy Horse Runner.
Waterfall Rappelling: Northeast Mountain Guiding offers various “wilderness adventures” as they state. If you want to know how it feels to rappel go right ahead but it is not the place to learn the basic of the sport. It was a must activity this summer so I purchased the ticket directly from the company but Groupon and Living Social offer 2 tickets for the price of one. They do runout quickly like this summer book early. Everyone get to rappel at least once and the second time is voluntary. The cliff was not high and the water pressure was not as strong as I expected. The whole adventure was mainly getting to the top of the cliff, which was slippery and dangerous; a real adventure to say the least. Bring your own camera and save the $10 for the pictures. The guy used an iPhone to take them and he obviously does not know how to properly adjust the lighting of his phone.
Fly Jet Waterboarding: this sport with Fly High Watersports was definitely worth it and I would do it again. The owners of the company are very polite and kind as well. At first I will admit I was afraid and at a point I wanted to give up but I saw $150 going down the drain; I had to get the job done. To start I had to swim away from the boat. Imagined swimming with your feet stuck in a 60 feet tube and a foam platform. I don’t know why but every time I tried a watersport this summer the waves were wild. I had water throwing me around while the whole point of the game was to find balance. I think any strong swimmer should try it but remain calm and centered at all time, above all enjoy it…
Gun Range: If there is one thing this summer I did not enjoy was going to the range. Apart from the long wait at the complex, everything on their part was great. The wait was 2 to 3 hours long. After signing up we had time to eat at Joe’s Crab Shack about 15 minutes away come back for an additional 15 minutes wait. I would never imagine how far-fetched the images on TV about shooting were. When shooting the shells are ejected right or left and in my case they were either hitting me on the head, chest or arms. One of my shells flew backwards into my dress. I can see the burnt wounds on chest a month later. Not to mention the loud noise throughout the arena and the strength required to handle the weapons. It was not a pleasant experience.
Sky Diving, Sussex NJ: Sussex Skydiving is the places to do your first tandem skydive. The staff is friendly, entertaining and put you at ease. I felt like I needed to fear my first time but for some reason deep down or was too excited for my first attempt. The free fall is the most exciting part. I get motion sickness so I did not enjoy the parachute ride down. Nonetheless, I cannot wait to attempt a second time. For all those who fear heights I lose control of my legs once I am 10 feet above ground and skydiving is nothing like standing on a platform and looing down. I personally love countryside’s, small towns, farms, etc.… so be aware Sussex is in the middle of nowhere.
Night Life & Lounges
Bliss Lounge, Clifton NJ: Bliss Lounge is not an upscale venue as it could use a bit of polish but it is spacious and restroom are kept clean by attendants. There are 2 bars one in the middle of the establishment and another on the VIP sections. Parking in front of the lounge is limited but they do allow people to leave their cars at the plaza across the street. Bliss is the new hype venue due to the frequency of establish entertainers visit and many cool party themed. Entertainers such as T.I., 50 Cent, Tommy from Power, Zion, Lennox, Sean Kingstone, Muscle Team all walked the walls of the setting. Pajamas party, bikini contest, and foam parties are all past themed the venue hosted. Nonetheless unless you hope to meet a celebrity it is not the elegant crowed for a young professional. Hoboken is still the only neighborhood I like to party in NJ.
Hoboken Nights: if you want a fun, free and crazy night head over to Hoboken no need to go to NY. The nights in NY could not compare with Hoboken. The people are so diverse, friendly, and courteous from 21 and most under 40’s. The women have a much better time. If you are well dress and look pretty get ready for the promoters to offer free admission ad drinks to come party with them. I encounter many foreigners at the lounges. They do make the experience more relaxing and exciting. The term: what happen in Vegas says in Vegas” applies to my nights in Hoboken. What I will say is whether you like to party try it and while you there, leave your preservation outside and enjoy the night. Some of my favorite spots are Reign, Chandelier Room, Room 84 and Teak on the Hudson (in no special order).
New York
Governor’s Island, NY: If you are a reader or writer or simply looking for a peaceful place, the island is the perfect place lots of lawn space and the added bonus of great food trucks and a scenic view of Hudson River and Statue of Liberty. You can only go to Governors Island in the summer from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. It is truly the perfect vacation from the hustle of the city with biking, art, history & recreation. The ferry to the island is about $2 from Battery Park. Instead of paying the rental fees for bikes or buying food, you can always bring your own and make it a picnic. Checkout the event calendar they always have fun and interesting activities.
Dumbo, Brooklyn Bridge Park: The “Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass…” Amazing characters wander the streets on a daily basis, interesting restaurants incredible buildings, architecture, and breathtaking skyline of NYC. It is ideal to stop at Atrium for a meal but have your wallet ready it is costly and their appetizer is subpar. You even pay for bread; a great idea to prevent people from eating too much. The River Cafe is also another great spot for a dinner date. Luke’s Lobster is ideal for casual occasion you can take your meals to go or enjoy the Al Fresco seating. If you watch SVU like me, it is the place where Stabler & Benson found bodies on one of their episodes. The park caters to couples, dates, families, kids, Fido, photo shoots, a jog, you name it. On a Sunday, do not be surprised about a dozen weddings, engagements shoots, sweet sixteen and Quinceañera stroll around the park. Some people even bade in the so-called beach there. DUMBO also brings the work of local, national, and international artists to the Brooklyn waterfront. Outdoor murals can be viewed along York Street between Washington Street and Pearl Street. This past summer one of the most popular hashtags in Dumbo was the OY/YO sculpture statement for two ethnic communities as “I am” in Spanish and “oy vey” expressing concern in the Yiddish.
Riviera Sundays at Lavo, NY: Yes, I know, Lavo is not in NJ but just a short drive or a train ride one can get there in about 30 minutes. The experience there this summer is worth mentioning. The décor is not spectacular; in fact, it is like an old wine cellar but who cares nobody goes to Lavo on a Sunday night after 8pm for the décor. My date suggested to try the “Charred Octopus” unfortunately it was uneatable so I enjoyed my wine and our guest on the table offered me their desert as they were on their way out. You must be asking yourself how a random person could offer their meal. Get ready because LAVO is not the typical eatery after 9pm. It gets really packed and the music is loud, bring the right attitude and be ready to talk to the people on the tables with you and you will have a great time. Every Sunday they offer different party theme, Lavo truly excels at the Riviera Sunday night experience. They put on a real show with dancers, stilt walkers, jugglers, belly dancers and DJ. Everyone is given party treats such as glasses, flashing glow sticks, etc. and the party goes off, some people join the host dancing while others stay at their table to enjoy their meal.
Rockefeller Center: How many of us wanted to visit a place but the experience was not worth the cost? That was the Rockefeller to me. Why pay just to watch NY Skyline when I can see it for free on any other rooftop. Than my sister’s birthday was right around the corner. I wanted to take her to eat somewhere original and exciting. I kept it local since she lives in NY. The Rainbow Room came up while searching for rooftop restaurant. A light bold turned on right away; being at the Rockefeller rooftop and eating for the price of one. The views, the environment, the decor make this place ideal after work or for a special occasion. You have the option to pay an extra $50 to eat on the balcony or reserve a table inside before your arrival preferable a week in advance. The attire is business casual and for the same price to access the observation deck you get it just a floor below for the same view; so bring your camera and snap tones of pictures.
Little Italy & China Town: Due to migration people brought their culture, their ways of doing things right here in the USA. Little Italy and China Town, as well as other communities are great examples of immigrants venturing into new territories forming ethnic neighborhoods. Both areas are at proximity and worth a visit at least for the many edible wonders. Little Italy’s eateries are clustered around Mulberry Street. Di Palo’s is the only Italian market worth a visit. You’ll find China Town across the streets in the area south of Broome Street and east of Lafayette with stands selling exotic souvenirs to cuisine of virtually every province of mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese.
Road Trips
I LOVE road trips and living in NJ allows me to visit many other states (Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Connecticut, Rhodes Island, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland etc.) They are just 5 hours away or less; the longest distance I am willing to drive. I find nothing longer a pleasant drive. As usual, I prefer staying in state for the summer months and visit at least 2 new states; usually during Memorial and Labor Weekend. This summer the girls and I visited Jackson, NJ (although I live in NJ); Cape Cod/ Martha’s Vineyard (Massachusetts) and Stowe (Vermont).
Jackson, New Jersey: Surrounded by the best company; my childhood friend who is now married and her 2 beautiful children invited me to her siblings’ house. A beautiful townhome and I don’t know if anybody feels like me. Outdoor in the midst of nature, plants, flowers, trees, running water, mountains, rocks and the sounds of wild animals bring nothing but joy and tranquility. My friends and I are foodies so the first thing we did at arrival was finding something to eat and catch up for old time sake. In the morning we went to IPlay America an amusement park mainly for the children at least we planned to cater to them until we got involve by taking turns competing on a punching bag. Jackson offers many other activities such as Six Flags Great Adventure (amusement park, zoo and waterpark), Turkey Swamp Park (campground, lake water sports, and swimming), beach, farm and winery. In the evening, we had Hibachi dinner at Koto. I have never been a fan of Hibachi dinner except Fire and Ice in Boston. However, I am a big fan of trying new things and my company preferred the Hibachi to my selection. The meals at the restaurants are never worth remembering and our experience was not an exception.
Cape Cod/ Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts: By far the most amazingly beautiful town I have been to in the US. My girls and I drove to Cape Cod and stayed at Hyannis on Memorial Weekend; an antique, small beachfront town. In the morning, we drove around town. There was not much to do apart from the waterpark and the beach. Admission cost about $15 to $20 per person for the beach. So I would suggest if anybody goes there, take a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard instead of the beach in Hyannis. We first intended to catch the ferry in town but due to mechanical issues; stop their service. It was better for us because a short 30 minutes’ drive got us to the nearby town Falmouth and their ferry was $20 for a round-trip ticket unlike the one at Hyannis for over $55. From the ferry, we got to Oak Bluffs, rented bikes for 4 hours though they offer a full day option. We rode our bikes to the Flying Horses, America’s oldest carousel; free, clean and easy access to the beach all throughout the island; the Camp Meeting Association with history and charm of the “gingerbread” houses. On our bikes, we manage to get to Edgartown a seaside village of boutique shopping and pristine harbor views not to forget the lighthouse. Due to the heat, we returned our bikes and got on the bus for the rest of the journey to Aquinnah or “Gay Head Light” to retreat at the beach and admire a breathtaking view over the cliff. Words cannot describe the picturesque landscape and images do not do it justice you must experience it for yourself.
Montpelier & Stowe, Vermont: On Labor Day Weekend this year my sister and I went to Vermont. It is the first state to officially abolished slavery in 1777, and the first to allow civil unions for homosexuals. We stayed at Montpelier city near the State House. People’s behaviors are not what I have expected from a predominately-Caucasian small town where everyone knows each other and who is in town for visit. The liquor storeowner exact words when I went in the shop: “look who is in town this weekend. Wasn’t your mom in town last weekend dressed in traditional attire”. Although he was wrong but the fact he knew a black woman was in town last weekend says it all. I never meant people as respectful, caring and welcoming. I started feeling bad about who I became living in the city. Every person I encountered stop to greet us with a smile. They were either giving us their seats, opening doors or preventing us from falling while climbing, giving us directions or teaching us how to pump gas. We spent Saturday touring the city and eating of course. Montpelier offers a number of cultural pursuits, from numerous galleries and museums to the gold-domed State House. Morse Farm Sugar is a working farm also in the city and worth visiting. If you have time watch the video on sugar making. We toured the sugarhouse and hiked into the woods to see the maple trees and the collection tanks. At the shop we were able to taste varieties of maple syrup and the vanilla maple ice cream is “a must try”. On Sunday, we drove 35 minutes to Stowe, a very different atmosphere. The town is more touristic than Montpelier. It offers a wealth of outdoor activities. We went to Mount Mansfield; out of the many routes available, we selected the Long Trail to the summit a 2,800ft tall of 5.7 miles’ hike. After our trek, we drove 20 minutes to Moss Glenn Falls. A short walk through green pasture leads to a dirt road that leads to the top of a cliff across a small waterfall. After the climb, we decided to go back down and walk through the river directly to the falls. Bring your bathing suit and water shoes in case you wish to bathe in the water.
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Summer Days Are Here And I Am On The Road Again… So stay tune for “2017 SUMMER BLUES!”
Collect Memories One Escapade at a Time 