While the beach is the big draw at the Jersey Shore, don’t overlook the wonderful hikes, history, boating, golf, camping and other recreational activities available at the hidden jewels of the Shore, i.e. the county and state parks of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. We’ll just hit some of the highlights here but be sure to check out the official sites like the Monmouth County Park System home page and the New Jersey State Parks site for lots more information, reservations and operating hours. Within a short drive of the beach you can find:
The Historic Village of Allaire and Allaire State Park
The non-profit Historic Village of Allaire,Farmingdale, NJ, maintains a well restored 18th century industrial village of more than 40 buildings including row houses, a chapel, a store, a blacksmith and the remains of an iron bog blast furnace. Allaire provides in-depth insight into the Howell Iron Works, built in the 1820s and operated until it was abandoned in the 1850s. The neighboring state park offers camp sites and the grounds are also home to the New Jersey Museum of Transportation and the Historic Pine Creek Railroad which offers rides on vintage narrow gauge steam engines. This is a particularly good side trip for tweens that are studying America’ s early industrial history as the re-enactors are always helpful and engaging. Our kids enjoyed the whole site, but they loved taking a break to rent a bamboo fishing pole from the store and take their chance trying to land a big one in the pond.
Fishing at Historic Allaire Village, NJ
Manasquan Reservoir – Kayak and Fish
Operated by the Monmouth County Park System, the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell, NJ is a special year round park that features a 770-acre reservoir, ringed by a 5 mile jogging path. It is open for fishing and is stocked with large and small-mouth bass, hybrid striped bass, tiger muskie, bullhead catfish and panfish species. A State fishing licenses is required those age 16 and over. The fish and water attract a wide range of birds. A boat ramp is open from March 1 to November 30th and the park offers boat and kayak rentals as well as pontoon boat cruises for those who want to get out on the water. The Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center is also located in the park and offers a number of interpretive exhibits and activities.
Manasquan Reservoir at sunrise by flickr member joiseyshowaa
Holmdel Park – Go For a Hike
The 565 acre Holmdel Park, also in Monmouth County, includes Longstreet Farm – a re-created 1890s farm complete with live farm animals and well trained interpreters in period dress. It is also home to the 22 acre David C. Shaw Arboretum which focuses on the culture and study of indigenous woody plants, including a number of ornamental varieties. For our teen and tween, however, the main attraction is the network of more than 10 miles of hiking trails that traverse pine, fern and beech forests. Bring a lunch and spend a couple of hours in the woods.
Holmdel Park by Flickr member David Pfeffer
We could go on and on about the wide range of recreational and historic sites available at the wonderful county and state parks at the Jersey Shore. When you want to get off the beach, you don’t have to go far to be a world away. If you have a favorite Jersey Shore park please add a comment, and a link if you have a blog posting about it.
This is one in a series on Top 10 activities for family vacations with teens and tweens on the Jersey Shore. Click the link to see the full list or visit our Travel with Teens and Tweens Jersey Shore archives see the posts in chronological order.
