The most perfect ski day at @mountaincreek in Vern The most perfect ski day at @mountaincreek in Vernon, NJ!!🎿
We also did the Hawks Nest Experience which was great! Tickets are $99.99 per person ages 13+ and give you access to the private Hawks Nest Lounge, breakfast, lunch, snacks, s’mores, hot chocolate, cozy seating, outdoor deck with fire pit, restrooms, and lockers. Available on weekends only! The lounge is located in the Red Tail Lodge.
📌At 7 PM, the lounge opens to the public (ages 21+) for free, offering music and bar access.
If you’re in New Jersey and are looking for a winter staycation vibe, def check out Mountain Creek!
Don’t forget to follow @lifestylejessica for more fun things to do in & around NJ & the Northeast!❄️
#newjersey #mountaincreeknj #imagineithere #skitrip #northjersey
New Jersey will always be home🌊🍕🚜🌻 #newjersey #nj New Jersey will always be home🌊🍕🚜🌻
#newjersey #nj #northjersey #southjersey #centraljersey
Cool places in New Jersey I’ve been to!🍃 Have you Cool places in New Jersey I’ve been to!🍃
Have you ever been to any of these spots?
#newjersey #nj #northjersey #centraljersey #southjersey
POV: life in Monmouth County, NJ in the 2016 era!! POV: life in Monmouth County, NJ in the 2016 era!!✌🏼☀️
Playa bowls runs, heavy eye makeup, lace-up tops, chokers, beach days in Belmar, shopping for new fits at the Monmouth Mall, getting burgers at The Commited Pig in ‘Squan, weekends trips to Cape May, day trips to the city… (moments missing: going to Windmill and Inkwell in Long Branch)
Some of these photos are from 2017, but it was basically the same as 2016😁
Is 2026 the new 2016?
#newjersey #2016 #nostalgia #jerseyshore #centraljersey
One of my fav cities on the East Coast!🏙️ I love One of my fav cities on the East Coast!🏙️
I love Boston! Its historical charm and walkability makes it the perfect weekend trip from New Jersey. The drive is roughly 4-6 hours depending on where you’re starting.
My favorite time of year to visit is October, but it was still lovely this past weekend!
These pictures are from the Seaport District & Harvard University’s beautiful campus.
Check out my latest reel for the full itinerary.
Happy travels, and don’t forget to follow @lifestylejessica for more fun things to do in & around NJ & the Northeast!🫶🏼
#newengland #boston #bostontravel #visitma #visitboston
(FULL ITINERARY) Perfect winter weekend in Boston! (FULL ITINERARY) Perfect winter weekend in Boston!📚🏙️🍝
Day 1: Arrival & Dinner
📌The Godfrey Hotel: checked in & loved how walkable everything was from here
📌Mamma Maria (North End): amazing Italian restaurant for dinner
📌Mike’s Pastry (North End): huge cannolis filled to order (the best in Boston)
Day 2: Full Day Exploring Boston
📌Boston Common
📌Boston Public Garden
📌Beacon Hill: historic, charming streets
📌Tatte Bakery (Beacon Hill): delicious, casual brunch
📌Acorn Street (Beacon Hill): the most photographed cobblestone street in Boston
📌Beacon Hill Chocolates: grabbed sweet treats to-go
📌Charles River Esplanade: scenic waterfront walk
📌Commonwealth Ave: stunning brownstones
📌Newbury Street: lots of shopping
📌Bostonia Public House: cozy American restaurant for dinner
📌Modern Pastry (North End): great desserts
Day 3: Harvard & Seaport
📌Took the T (subway) to Harvard Square
📌Playa Bowls for a simple breakfast
📌Harvard University: explored campus + photo ops
📌Ténoch Mexican: quick lunch near campus
📌Seaport District: modern skyline views + Boston Tea Party
📌Little Sage (North End): great Italian restaurant
📌Final cannoli stop at Mike’s Pastry
Day 4: Brunch & Head Home
📌Mike’s City Diner (South End): featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (the Turkey Hash Benedict is really good)
📌Drive back to New Jersey
Happy travels. Don’t forget to follow me for more fun things to do in & around New Jersey & the Northeast!🫶🏼
#newengland #boston #travelvlog #bostonweekend #newenglandtravel
Weekend in Boston🍝🍂🧱 Moments from a little Boston Weekend in Boston🍝🍂🧱
Moments from a little Boston weekend road trip so far! One of my favorite cities in the Northeast to visit, and not too far from NJ.
I’m vlogging the trip, so stay tuned for reels and a YouTube video🫶🏼
#boston #eastcoast #roadtrip #newengland #newenglandroadtrip
🌸In less than 3 months, New Jersey will start to l 🌸In less than 3 months, New Jersey will start to like this!
Some of my fav spots to visit in NJ in the spring shown in this video:
📌Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown
📌Princeton Battlefield State Park (& downtown Princeton)
📌Battleview Orchards Strawberry Picking, Freehold
📌Beaches (Pier Village shown)
📌Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills
📌Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton
📌Sayen House and Gardens, Mercer County
📌Cheesequake State Park, Matawan
📌Happy Day Farm & Arrowhead Farmstead, Manalapan
📌Holland Ridge Farms, Cream Ridge
📌Holmdel Park
📌Cross Estate Gardens, Bernardsville
I’m going to be sharing winter content for the next two months, but I’ll also be sprinkling in spring content to prepare for the flower season☺️
#newjersey #nj #spring #njthingstodo #visitnj
The same hike 6 months apart🍃 📍Ramapo Valley Coun The same hike 6 months apart🍃
📍Ramapo Valley County Reservation, Mahwah, NJ
June ➡️ December
What’s your favorite time of year to hike? #hiking #newjersey #nj #northjersey #njhiking
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New Jersey, New Jersey Places · April 19, 2024

Discover 17 FREE Beautiful Gardens in New Jersey

Looking for free spots in New Jersey to see and smell the flowers? Here’s my guide to 17 stunning gardens and arboretums across New Jersey where you can wander and enjoy the outdoors. Please note that, while each place offers free admission, some greatly appreciate and accept donations. Be sure to also check out my Ultimate Guide to Flower Fields in New Jersey 2024 for more floral spots!

1. Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit

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Address: 165 Hobart Ave, Summit, NJ 07901

Arboretum Grounds Hours: Open daily year-round. Open November 1st to March 31st from 9 AM – 4 PM and April 1st to October 31st from 7 AM – 7 PM.

Best Time to Visit: Spring for the daffodil bowl and cherry blossoms, summer for blooming flowers, or fall for vibrant foliage. Plan your trip by visiting their website here.

2. Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown

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Address: 152 Red Hill Rd, Middletown, NJ 07748

Park Hours: Opens at 8 AM and closes at dusk daily, year-round.

Best Time to Visit: Late spring to early summer for the peak of floral displays. April is a good time to see the cherry blossoms and tulips, while early summer in June is good to see the rose garden. More info here.

3. Linwood Arboretum, Linwood

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Address: 1410 Wabash Ave, Linwood, NJ 08221

Park Hours: Open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Best Time to Visit: Anytime for a peaceful stroll, but spring brings out great blooms. Learn more by visiting the website here.

4. Duke Farms, Hillsborough

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Address: 1112 Dukes Pkwy W, Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Hours: Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (closed Sundays & Mondays). The Farm Barn Orientation Center is only open Thursdays through Saturdays.

Best Time to Visit: late spring to early fall for pleasant weather and diverse flora. Duke Farms is home to 2,700 acres of land and offers a plethora of outdoor activities such as walking and bike trails. The conservatory is also home to over 500 plant species! Visitors can easily spend a few hours exploring the grounds here! A parking pass is required on Saturdays from March to October but are free to reserve.

5. Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, Montclair

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Address: 474 Upper Mountain Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043

Garden Hours: Open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM (closing time may change depending on the time of year)

Best Time to Visit: May for the breathtaking iris blooms. The iris bloom season is projected this year between Saturday, May 11th, and June 2nd, 2024. Presby does not have on-site parking. Street parking can be found along Upper Mountain Avenue on the garden side but is limited.  Learn more here.

6. Rutgers Gardens, New Brunswick

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Address: 112 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Garden Hours: open Tuesdays through Sundays from 8 AM to 7 PM. Closed Mondays.

Best Time to Visit: Spring for cherry blossoms, or summer for colorful gardens. Learn more here.

7. Sayen House and Gardens, Hamilton

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Address: 155 Hughes Dr, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690

Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk.

Best Time to Visit: Late March to April for cherry blossoms and other spring flowers, and summer for even more vibrant blooms. Enjoy walking trails and wandering the gardens here. On-site parking is available and there are facilities on the property.

8. Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown

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Address: 353 E Hanover Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960

Arboretum Hours: open daily 8 AM to sunset.

Best Time to Visit: Spring for cherry blossoms, or summer for lush greenery. Explore the park’s picturesque 124 acres of property. Learn more here.

9. Beach Plum Farm, West Cape May

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Address: 140 Stevens St, West Cape May, NJ 08204

Farm Hours: open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 3 PM. The kitchen closes at 2 PM.

Best Time to Visit: Late spring and all summer for blooming flowers or farm-to-table events. Beach Plum Farm offers cottages that guests can stay at and is also a wedding venue. I recommend doing breakfast or lunch here as they have a nice farm stand in the gardens that dishes up fresh bites.

10. Van Vleck House & Gardens, Montclair

Photo by David Daehnke

Address: 21 Van Vleck St, Montclair, NJ 07042

Garden Hours: open daily year-round from dawn to dusk.

Best Time to Visit: typically early to mid-May for the wisteria blooms. Visiting during the spring or summer is overall great for stunning garden views. More info can be found here.

11. Cross Estate Gardens, Bernardsville

Photos by Laura Moss via NJ Monthly

Address: 61 Jockey Hollow Rd, Bernardsville, NJ 07924

Garden Hours: open daily year-round from 8 AM to Dusk.

Best Time to Visit: May for the wisteria and rhododendron blooms, and summer for lush greenery and flowers. Check out their website here.

12. Willowwood Arboretum, Chester

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Address: 300 Longview Rd, Chester, NJ 07930

Arboretum Hours: Open daily year-round from dawn to dusk.

Best Time to Visit: Late spring to mid-summer for blooming flowers. Learn more here.

13. Laurelwood Arboretum, Wayne

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Address: 725 Pines Lake Dr W, Wayne, NJ 07470

Arboretum Hours: Open daily year-round from 8 AM to dusk.

Best Time to Visit: spring and summer for vibrant blooms, or fall for foliage. Check out their website here.

14. Thielke Arboretum, Glen Rock

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Address: 460 Doremus Ave, Glen Rock, NJ 07452

Arboretum Hours: open daily from 7 AM to dusk.

Best Time to Visit: Spring and summer for blooming flowers. There are also walking trails here along with educational programs. Learn more here.

15. Colonial Park Gardens, Somerset

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Address: 156 Mettlers Rd, Somerset, NJ 08873

Park Hours: open daily year-round from dawn to dusk. Check Google for specific hours.

Best Time to Visit: April for cherry blossoms, tulips, and daffodils, and summer for colorful displays including their award-winning rose garden.

16. Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills

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Address: 11 Layton Rd, Far Hills, NJ 07931

Hours: Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM, Saturdays from 10 AM to 5 PM, & Sundays from 12 PM to 5 PM.

Best Time to Visit: Spring and summer for the peak of floral displays.

17. New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood

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Address: 2 Morris Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456

Garden Hours: open from 8 AM to 8 PM during Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and 8 AM to 6 PM during Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Best Time to Visit: Spring for cherry blossoms, and summer for lush gardens. The NJBG is a part of Ringwood State Park. Visitors can easily spend a few hours here and the property is quite large. This is also a popular wedding venue spot in North Jersey.

Parking: On summer Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, there is a State parking fee (cash only) of $5 for NJ-registered vehicles and $7 for non-NJ-registered vehicles. This is the only spot mentioned in this article that can potentially have a fee.

Please check the website or online for each spot you plan to visit ahead of time to familiarize yourself with any rules. All of these gardens are free to enter and free to park except the New Jersey Botanical Garden in Ringwood, which charges a small parking fee at certain times of the year. Happy exploring, and comment below sharing your favorite NJ gardens to visit!

In: New Jersey, New Jersey Places

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Hi! So excited to have you here! My name's Jess and I'm a 20-something content creator based in New Jersey. Follow my socials to stay connected! IG & YouTube for a little bit of everything from NJ living to everyday life/travels!

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The most perfect ski day at @mountaincreek in Vern The most perfect ski day at @mountaincreek in Vernon, NJ!!🎿
We also did the Hawks Nest Experience which was great! Tickets are $99.99 per person ages 13+ and give you access to the private Hawks Nest Lounge, breakfast, lunch, snacks, s’mores, hot chocolate, cozy seating, outdoor deck with fire pit, restrooms, and lockers. Available on weekends only! The lounge is located in the Red Tail Lodge.
📌At 7 PM, the lounge opens to the public (ages 21+) for free, offering music and bar access.
If you’re in New Jersey and are looking for a winter staycation vibe, def check out Mountain Creek!
Don’t forget to follow @lifestylejessica for more fun things to do in & around NJ & the Northeast!❄️
#newjersey #mountaincreeknj #imagineithere #skitrip #northjersey
New Jersey will always be home🌊🍕🚜🌻 #newjersey #nj New Jersey will always be home🌊🍕🚜🌻
#newjersey #nj #northjersey #southjersey #centraljersey
Cool places in New Jersey I’ve been to!🍃 Have you Cool places in New Jersey I’ve been to!🍃
Have you ever been to any of these spots?
#newjersey #nj #northjersey #centraljersey #southjersey
POV: life in Monmouth County, NJ in the 2016 era!! POV: life in Monmouth County, NJ in the 2016 era!!✌🏼☀️
Playa bowls runs, heavy eye makeup, lace-up tops, chokers, beach days in Belmar, shopping for new fits at the Monmouth Mall, getting burgers at The Commited Pig in ‘Squan, weekends trips to Cape May, day trips to the city… (moments missing: going to Windmill and Inkwell in Long Branch)
Some of these photos are from 2017, but it was basically the same as 2016😁
Is 2026 the new 2016?
#newjersey #2016 #nostalgia #jerseyshore #centraljersey
One of my fav cities on the East Coast!🏙️ I love One of my fav cities on the East Coast!🏙️
I love Boston! Its historical charm and walkability makes it the perfect weekend trip from New Jersey. The drive is roughly 4-6 hours depending on where you’re starting.
My favorite time of year to visit is October, but it was still lovely this past weekend!
These pictures are from the Seaport District & Harvard University’s beautiful campus.
Check out my latest reel for the full itinerary.
Happy travels, and don’t forget to follow @lifestylejessica for more fun things to do in & around NJ & the Northeast!🫶🏼
#newengland #boston #bostontravel #visitma #visitboston
(FULL ITINERARY) Perfect winter weekend in Boston! (FULL ITINERARY) Perfect winter weekend in Boston!📚🏙️🍝
Day 1: Arrival & Dinner
📌The Godfrey Hotel: checked in & loved how walkable everything was from here
📌Mamma Maria (North End): amazing Italian restaurant for dinner
📌Mike’s Pastry (North End): huge cannolis filled to order (the best in Boston)
Day 2: Full Day Exploring Boston
📌Boston Common
📌Boston Public Garden
📌Beacon Hill: historic, charming streets
📌Tatte Bakery (Beacon Hill): delicious, casual brunch
📌Acorn Street (Beacon Hill): the most photographed cobblestone street in Boston
📌Beacon Hill Chocolates: grabbed sweet treats to-go
📌Charles River Esplanade: scenic waterfront walk
📌Commonwealth Ave: stunning brownstones
📌Newbury Street: lots of shopping
📌Bostonia Public House: cozy American restaurant for dinner
📌Modern Pastry (North End): great desserts
Day 3: Harvard & Seaport
📌Took the T (subway) to Harvard Square
📌Playa Bowls for a simple breakfast
📌Harvard University: explored campus + photo ops
📌Ténoch Mexican: quick lunch near campus
📌Seaport District: modern skyline views + Boston Tea Party
📌Little Sage (North End): great Italian restaurant
📌Final cannoli stop at Mike’s Pastry
Day 4: Brunch & Head Home
📌Mike’s City Diner (South End): featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (the Turkey Hash Benedict is really good)
📌Drive back to New Jersey
Happy travels. Don’t forget to follow me for more fun things to do in & around New Jersey & the Northeast!🫶🏼
#newengland #boston #travelvlog #bostonweekend #newenglandtravel

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