9 Activities To Add To Your Summer Bucket List
There’s plenty of sunshine for you to chase every summer pleasure.
The days are longer, the sun is brighter and adventure is calling! The season of excitement is well underway, and there’s plenty of time to soak up the sun and check off all the boxes on the summer-of-fun bucket list.
Grab the kids and all your family and friends and make sure you hit up these spots and make the most of every sunny moment. Ready to dive in?
Go behind the scenes at Turtle Back Zoo. You can look through the glass and cages to see the animals at the West Orange zoo, or you can get up close and personal with them. Behind-the-scenes tours of the Penguin House and Amazing Asia are offered on select July and August evenings, offering a 30-minute tour of the facility and a meet-and-greet with an animal keeper. Check out the penguins on July 17, 31, Aug. 14, 28. BTS Amazing Asia is available July 24, Aug. 7, 21. Tickets and registration are required.
See summer Shakespeare. Is it even summer if you don’t watch Shakespeare? Good news: You can see the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again] now through July 27 at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison. The slapstick rollercoaster ride features all 37 plays in 99 minutes. Purchase tickets online.
Pick your own berries. While most folks flock to area orchards to pick peaches (we love them too!), don’t forget to snag a basket or two of berries. Alstede Farms in Chester, for instance, welcomes visitors to pick their own blueberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries and more. Price varies by weight.
Try a viral sensation. Dubai chocolate is all the rage on social media, and the hottest snack has reached our counties. Haven’t tried the chocolate bar filled with pistachio and kadayif? Stop by Nuts Factory in Montclair or Cleopatra Bakery in Denville to try the latest trend.
Paddle Lake Hopatcong. New Jersey’s largest lake isn’t just for boaters—there are plenty of opportunities to get on the water without a motor-powered craft. Paddleboard, kayak and canoe rentals are available at Lake Hopatcong Adventure Company, Lakeview Marina and more, all located along the shore.
Stop and smell the roses. Many larger gardens and landscapes in New Jersey may earn spotlight, but there are must-see pockets of beauty that are easily overlooked. The Rose Garden in Montclair’s Brookdale Park has more than 500 individual rose bushes and nearly 150 varieties. The peak bloom time is in June, but there is still plenty to see now through October.
Dine alfresco. Of course, you can enjoy a meal with family and friends in your backyard, but why not make it a fun outing? After all, the weather’s perfect for a patio or a picnic. You’ll find great outdoor dining locations in downtowns like Denville, Montclair, Morristown and West Orange, for instance. If you’d rather spread out with your spread, head to any of the many parks in our area: Verona Park in Verona, Lewis Morris Park in Morristown or Hedden Park in Randolph, to name a few.
Relive the glory days. Nothing brings you back in time like great music, and the Wellmont Theater in Montclair has a couple of treats this month. Seventies and ’80s pop star Daryl Hall will rock the theater on July 21, and ’90s rock band Gin Blossoms will hit the stage on July 22. For the ultimate feel-good playlist, check out the Mayo Performing Arts Center on July 17 to see The Hit Men: The Ultimate Rock Concert—featuring five musicians playing songs by Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Wings, Billy Joel, Elton John and more.
Dance with the fairies. Breathe in the fresh air during a hike through South Mountain Preservation in Millburn, but watch your step—you might come across a one of the miniature fairy houses along the trail. There’s a half-mile trail in the woods filled with dozens of fairy homes, each made with biodegradable materials. The trail is maintained by Julie Gould of Morris Plains and Beth Kelly of Montclair and is full of magic and memories.
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