The FLOW area is excellently situated between several cultural, natural, and historical places of interest. Planning days off doesn’t have to break the bank. Check out these day trips that will create great summer memories at a low cost.
Princeton
Accessible by NJ Transit bus and train, Princeton has many parks, museums, and shopping areas to attract visitors. The Morven Museum, Morven Garden, Princeton University Chapel, and Princeton University Art Museum are reprieves from the sun in the hot summer months and frequently host rotating exhibitions. The Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail goes on for 70 miles, featuring picnic spots, an arboretum, playgrounds, bike paths, and restrooms. Downtown Princeton boasts many locally owned shops, boba and coffee cafes, foreign cuisine restaurants, and music stores.
Edgewater & Fort Lee
Edgewater and Fort Lee are epicenters of cultural diversity. Soup dumplings, Korean barbeque, soft tofu soups, poke bowls, Cuban sandwiches, and Cochinita Pibil are a few restaurants’ dish highlights. Check out Edgewater’s Mitsuwa Marketplace for Japanese imported merchandise and fresh produce. Fort Lee Historic Park offers a great photo opportunity and hike, with New York City and the George Washington Bridge just a stone’s throw away. Parking is ample, making strolling through the neighborhoods easy.
Asbury Park
One of Jersey’s most iconic beach towns, Asbury Park, is less than a 90-minute drive from the FLOW area. Asbury Park is also serviced by NJ Transit, with a train station a few blocks from the beach. Asbury Park is famed for its boardwalk, music scene, and arcades. The Stone Pony concert venue is best known for catapulting Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi into fame, carrying the rock legacy with its Stone Pony Summer Stage Concert Series. Quirky restaurants and souvenir shops are dotted throughout the boardwalk. MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos are a must-have for a pre-concert snack.
Keansburg
Just an hour’s drive away, Keansburg offers direct views of New York City’s Lower East Side skyline along its beach and boardwalk. The Keansburg Amusement Park has been in operation since 1904, now including Go Karts, Batting Cages, and a full waterpark in addition to the classic boardwalk rides and games. The fishing pier, overlooking the Raritan Bay, is a popular spot due to it being over 2000 feet long, providing ample opportunities for deeper-lurking catches without a boat. The beach itself is always clean, usually quiet, and free. Sandskimmers and police patrol the beach, however, there are no lifeguards. Parking is plentiful, but be sure to arrive early to get a spot right on the water.
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley is home to dozens of quaint historic towns. Storm King Art Center, Dia Beacon, and Hudson River Museum have many exhibits available year-round. The Storm King Art Center, in particular, is worth visiting for its gigantic outdoor sculptures with picnic tables hosting views of the valley. Beacon, Cold Spring, and Hyde Park are notable towns for tourists, each bringing their own personality and charm. Cold Spring has several dock push-off points for kayaking and canoeing. U-Pick farms are another great activity located in the area; Jenkins-Lueken Orchards (New Paltz), Fishkill Farms (Dutchess), and Greig Farm (Red Hook) offer berries, apples, and vegetables to visitors.
Sterling Hill Mining Museum
Located in Ogdensburg, a 45-minute drive away, 1300 feet of mine tunnels await visitors. Rock Collecting, Sand Sifting, and museum tours are also available for those not up for trekking through the caverns. Sterling Hill Mine opened in the 19th century, with a focus on mining zinc ore, but is now better known for its 88 fluorescent minerals, glowing bright pink, green, blue, yellow, and orange. The “Rainbow Tunnel” is a must-see and makes the ticket price—$12 per person—well worth it. While in the area, be sure to take a hike around the lush forests.
