# North West New Jersey in September, what else to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [July 17, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175 "2023-07-17T19:14:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/21 "2023-07-27T22:14:05Z")
If the OP has kids, they might like **Land of Make Believe** in Hope, NJ (or thereabouts). The amusement park is a bit “county fair”, but it has a decent water park. > [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@msmith537](#): > > > > Also “hardly anyone” is worse than “no one”. Like do I want to actually meet the sort of person I might encounter wandering through bear-infested woods in the early evening? > > **Reported** for personal insults > > The people up there are nice & friendly & [check up](https://www.flickr.com/photos/74663312@N08/53074723537/) on their neighbors. (Taken just up the road from the Walpack) > > Yes, that’s me being checked on “Personal” implies singling out a specific person by name and saying you would prefer to not encounter random people on a dark country road in the middle of the night is hardly an insult. Your creepy clown photos don’t exactly sway my opinion on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/22 "2023-07-27T22:49:54Z")
[Woosh](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aWcZShT4cI) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/23 "2023-07-28T01:15:49Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > If the OP has kids, they might like **Land of Make Believe** in Hope, NJ (or thereabouts). The amusement park is a bit “county fair”, but it has a decent water park. Kids are grown. Though that suggestion would be for little kids. * * * Also please drop the joking/arguing this is way to mellow a thread for this. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/24 "2023-07-28T01:25:13Z")
I’m very familiar with region, especially with routes 206 and 202. I want to ask you something though, based on your user name I assumed you live in the Garden State, so aren’t all these places easily accessible to you all the time? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/25 "2023-07-28T01:33:21Z")
I’m down in Central Jersey by the Shore. Space Farms is about 90 minutes away on a good day. I just wanted to do a long weekend hitting a lot in that specific area. I’ve been to Cape May often. I know Central Jersey & NE Jersey really well. NW and SW not so much. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/26 "2023-07-28T01:49:50Z")
Sure, central by the shore is a long way from the mountains. I traveled 202 from NY to Princeton frequently plus all the travel to and from Philly and Phillipsburg along all the other north Jersey routes. Hope you enjoy it. I don’t get down that way often anymore but if I had the time I’d be interested in some of those spots also. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/27 "2023-07-28T12:10:08Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > [Woosh](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aWcZShT4cI) Ah…I get it now. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/28 "2023-07-29T10:23:08Z")
If you want a good diner, I would check out **The Blairstown Diner** NJ-94, Blairstown, NJ. It’s notable for being featured in the original Friday the Thirteenth and has become a bit of a tourist attraction for it. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/29 "2023-07-30T16:52:10Z")
FWIW, I just booked an Airbnb for the September family wedding: I’ll be renting someone’s studio condo in the Appalachian at [Mountain Creek](https://mountaincreek.com/). It’s literally walking distance from the B&B I stayed at earlier this month, but it’s much cheaper and looks much nicer. It’ll be my first Airbnb, so 🤞! > [@msmith537](#): > > **Lakota Wolf Preserve** is really cool _Thank you_ for mentioning this! I had no idea it existed: I love wolves, and the preserve is just under an hour’s drive from where my cousins live. I can’t fit it in while I’m up there for the wedding, but it shouldn’t be difficult to plan a family visit sometime with enough notice to book a tour. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/30 "2023-08-01T19:20:47Z")
I keep meaning to go to the Wolf Preserve. It’s definitely on my list ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/31 "2023-09-17T22:20:57Z")
So we just got back home a short time ago. We did the **[Morris Museum](https://morrismuseum.org/)** for the first time in years. **The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts** in Madison, NJ was underwhelming. Not worth going out of your way for, thankfully we didn’t. **Franklin Mineral Museum** Inc in Franklin, NJ 07416 was fun. We spent maybe an hour there. We stayed at the **[Ampersand Inn](https://ampersandinn.com/)**. A beautiful B&B that is pretty affordable. Served a nice breakfast. * * * * * * **Lusscroft Farm** was empty and no indication of a parking area. It looked like a site for a slasher film. Somehow this is a state park. Very sad. Avoid. We then drove up to **High Point Monument** in Montague, NJ 07827. Really impressive view. Bonus can look over NJ, NY & Penn from one point. We went to **Milford** , PA on @Cheesesteak’s suggestion and it was a nice walking town. We ate **Historic Dimmick Inn** and it was pretty good. Some major event was going on in town and there was live music everywhere. Then we headed up to **[Grey Towers National Historic Site](https://greytowers.org/)** and took the tour. That was great. They were also able to help me get my Veteran’s Park card. I’ve been meaning to do that the last 2 years or so. Grey Towers was beautiful and really interesting. Lots on Gifford Pinchot who [founded the US Forest Service under Theodore Roosevelt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifford_Pinchot#Chief_of_the_United_States_Forest_Service). Then we ended up at **[The Black Forest Inn](https://sweetbeezee.com/),** in Stanhope, NJ. An excellent German Restaurant. Their Potato soup was perfect. The Sauerbraten very good and my wife enjoyed her Salmon dish. They had _Hacker_ -_Pschorr_ on tap. One of my favorite beers. A real treat when I can get it on tap. We have no passable German places left by us and this was good enough to consider making a 60 minute drive for dinner in the future. * * * * * * Today we finished up with **[Space Farms](https://spacefarms.com/)** in Wantage Township, NJ. We spent 3.5 hours there. It is an old farm that is now a Zoo and Museum of junk more of less. Maybe 50 ancient cars, 30 sleighs and wagons, old tools, old toys, etc. Today the weather was nearly perfect. The foxes (dozens) were active. The 5 wolf pups were frolicking. There were 4 raccoon kits, also really active. Lots of hungry for feed corn deer & goats. The Tigers were active. The Lion actually roamed for a bit. We had a late lunch at a diner and drove home with a stop to walk around some stores about 25 minutes from home. Excellent 3 day trip. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/32 "2023-09-18T00:42:17Z")
I’m willing to go a pretty far distance to go to a good German restaurant. Which we did when we went to The Black Forrest Inn. It was a big disappointment. I’m glad your experience was better. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/33 "2023-09-18T00:51:50Z")
We used to be really spoiled, we had Fritzi’s in Howell and the Hauf Brau House up in the Atlantic Highlands. Both gone over a decade now. I would love to find another place closer to me. The Black Forest Inn would be a long haul. We’ve gone to Pennsy before for German food. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/34 "2023-09-18T01:22:53Z")
Not helpful to your current situation but if you ever visit DC go to Cafe Berlin in the Capital Hill area. Excellent German food. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/35 "2023-09-18T09:43:52Z")
I’m glad Milford delivered a nice visit. I need to get back to Grey Towers it’s been a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/36 "2023-09-20T15:55:19Z")
Glad you had such a good trip! > [@What\_Exit](#): > > we finished up with **[Space Farms](https://spacefarms.com/)** in Wantage Township, NJ My cousins live in Wantage…I was just up there the weekend of the 9th & 10th for a family wedding…I had no idea that zoo/museum existed! Noted for my next trip. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/37 "2023-09-20T23:43:31Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’m willing to go a pretty far distance to go to a good German restaurant. If you want good German food at home, look to the [German cuckoo clock store](https://peddlersvillage.com/shop/directory_listing/fehrenbach-black-forest-clocks) in Peddler’s Village; the whole right side of the store is German food to make at home ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175/38 "2023-09-21T19:03:58Z")
I’ve been there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-west-new-jersey-in-september-what-else-to-do/987175.md?page=1)