New Jersey

[ronin]

So i find myself in Morristown, NJ for a few days. Anyone have a suggestion for sightseeing on a daytrip?

[brewer12345]

What are you looking for? Urban? Outdoors? Beach? Sh*pping? Quaint small town? Historical?

Got access to a car I presume?

[ronin]

yes, we have a car. Historical, rural, quaint sounds good. The shore may be more time consuming. Looking for a 3-4 hour deal. Might go to the morristown national historical park today.

[brewer12345]

I've got just the thing, assuming decent weather. Take a trip to Lambertville, NJ/New Hope, PA. They are twins on the NJ/PA border straddling the Delaware Rivier. Very pretty area and you can part in NJ, walk around and then walk over the river on the bridge to New Hope. New Hope was originally founded as an artists colony, with Lambertville as its plebian cousin. Now they are both nice littel walking towns in a beautiful area. You can also take a hike along the old D&O Canal tow path, which has been turned ito a park. Should be about a 45 min. drive, maybe a touch more.

[ronin]

thanks brewer, I'm going to check it out.

[ronin]

So lambertville/new hope was a nice trip. Thanks for the recommendation. Tomorrow we might head towards the coast (if we can get up a little earlier and get a jump start). Thinking about going to Philly on Sat and into Manhattan on Sun.

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronin So lambertville/new hope was a nice trip.* Thanks for the recommendation.* Tomorrow we might head towards the coast (if we can get up a little earlier and get a jump start).* Thinking about going to Philly on Sat and into Manhattan on Sun.

Sounds like a nice itinerary. If you want to see what the shore looked like before all the development, hit Island Beach State Park - very pretty. Otherwise, hit exit 63 and cut across the causeway to Long Beach Island, which is nice, but very built up.

Philly is a lot of fun, too. If you like sculpture, the Rodin Museum is not to be missed. It has the largest collection of Rodin scultures outside France, and IIRC it is free. The Phila Museum of Art is neat, too. Lots of other fun stuff to do as well (Reading Terminal Market, Italian Market, parks along the Schuylkill, etc.).

If you want to avoid driving into Manhattan, you can either catch a NJ Transit train to Penn Station or drive to the Liberty Science Center and park there (take the PATH train in).

[ronin]

I've loaded up the directions to Island Beach St Pk from mapquest... just need to see what my wife says. It sounds very good to me. Thanks for all your input. I'd like to squeeze some Aikido in (there's a great teacher I know in Philly), but it may have to wait til we get to Boston next week. Seems like I'll be pretty busy.

[Gumby]

I second the Island Beach State Park suggestion. It is one of the nicest beaches I have ever seen. You might consider stopping at the grocery on the way and taking a picnic lunch, there aren't that many good places to eat nearby.

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronin I've loaded up the directions to Island Beach St Pk from mapquest... just need to see what my wife says.* It sounds very good to me.* Thanks for all your input.* I'd like to squeeze some Aikido in (there's a great teacher I know in Philly), but it may have to wait til we get to Boston next week.* Seems like I'll be pretty busy.

Let me know what you think of Island Beach. We always went to LBI as kids because Mom like the shops, but I always thought Island Beach was nicer. Better than Sandy Hook by a mile as well.

[ronin]

will do... we are just about out the door. Looks like a nice day too!

[nfs]

ronin, you missed the best thing around New Hope. Consider going back on Sunday for brunch at the Black Bass.

[mathjak107]

the bakery in peddlers village is the best part..along with auntie em's ice cream

[ronin]

Yeah we missed the black bass.* The menu looks awesome, that pecan pie, mmmmm.* Something to look forward to next time.* The state beach was really nice.* I liked the dunes and the long expanse of sand.* We went down to the end of the road and then walked the trail to the beach.* It was windy but clear skies and not crowded at all.* I was suprised to see they allow vehicles on the beach (surf fishermen have pretty cool rigs set up for the trip w/their coolers and rod holders on the front bumper).* Had the whirlwind tour of the center of Philadelphia yesterday.* Some incredible architecture around Penn Sq.* Got to train at Aikido of Center City with the sensei I know.* Had a tremendous time, went out after with group of them and hung out at the Las Vegas Lounge for several hours shooting the breeze.* They said we were the best visitors they had ever had (could have been the happy hour cosmos talking).* I just enjoy meeting people and find this is a great way since we have something in common.* Today we're going into Manhattan (our first time).* It's my wife's B-day so I'm sure it will be special whatever we end up doing, although necessarily too brief.* Boston manana and another dojo tomorrow evening.

[ronin]

I found this picture here (click on instructors):
http://aikidotjboston.org/

This is the sensei I visited in Boston throwing me. Actually the picture was taken at a seminar last year in my dojo here in el lay. Nice shot though. We have a professional photojournalist in the dojo.

[Moemg]

If you are in Morristown you are very close to Chester ,a quaint town for walking around .Also besides Long Beach Island ,a real nice shore town is Spring Lake .

[mickeyd]

I found myself in NJ (Southern part) for about 12 years about 20 years ago.

Other than being taxed to death and being within about 90 minutes from the casinos @ Atlantic City , what I recall is that NJ was the only state that did not have a commercial TV station since you are either a suburb of NYC or Philadelphia. Of course there is always an opportunity to go "downashore" ~~~meaning to visit the beaches of NJ.

[dex]

New Hope, Pa - a nice place.