How To Keep Summer Going
It’s not too late to paddle on a lake, dine al fresco or enjoy a carnival. Here are ways to enjoy the season’s best.
Summer may have an unofficial end date, but here in Bergen County, there’s still plenty of warm-weather fun left to enjoy. So before you pack away the sandals and put the patio furniture to bed, make the most of these lingering sunny days with a kayak outing, a visit to a sunflower field, dinner under the stars or a stroll through a local farmers’ market.
Consider this your late-summer bucket list. We’ve rounded up some of the best ways to squeeze a little more fun out of the season—and where to do it. Fall will arrive soon enough, but for now, there’s still time to get outside, chase the sunshine and enjoy every last bit of summer.
Walk among flowers. Spring isn’t the only time to see gorgeous blooms; many of Bergen’s farms and garden centers this season are filled with colorful florals like sunflowers, mums, marigolds, dahlias and more. Stokes Farm in Old Tappan, for instance, holds Sunset Sip & Snips (the next event is Sept. 12), where visitors can pick their own blooms while enjoying a picnic. Flowers and plants are ready to be picked and enjoyed at Abma’s Farm in Wyckoff, Rohsler’s Allendale Nursery, Secor Farms in Mahwah and other farms as well.
Enjoy a fair. Carnival rides, fair food and entertainment aren’t just summer activities—the county’s annual Fall Harvest Festival is scheduled for Sept. 18–20 at the Ridgefield Park section of Overpeck Park. Bring the entire family for festival fun as well as a petting zoo, music, 4-H and Master Gardeners exhibits and more.
Go boating. See nature and Bergen’s autumn colors from a different. Hackensack Riverkeeper’s paddling centers at Overpeck County Park in Leonia and Van Buskirk Island County Park in Oradell are open weekends through Oct. 11 (weather permitting). Rent a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard for a peaceful tour of the county’s waterways.
Shop a farmers’ market. There’s still plenty of summer to savor—and some of the best of it can be found at a local farmers’ market. Fill your tote with just-picked produce (apples, peaches, tomatoes, corn and peppers, among others, are abundant and delicious right now), farm-fresh eggs baked goods and other seasonal treats while supporting the growers and makers who help make Bergen such a delicious place to live. Whether you’re stocking up for the week or simply browsing for inspiration, local markets like Ramsey Farmers’ Market, River Edge Farmers’ Market (through September), River Vale Farmers’ Market (through October) and Teaneck Farmers’ Market (through November) continue to showcase Jersey’s best during fall.
Dine al fresco. Cooler temperatures, fewer bugs and seasonal flavors might make outdoor dining this time of year better than summer. Which ones to choose? Some of this year’s Readers’ Choice winners are a great place to start, including Haven Riverfront Restaurant and Bar in Edgewater, Matisse 167 in Rutherford, Oceanos Oyster Bar in Fair Lawn, Park West Tavern in Ridgewood and Stern & Bow Restaurant in Closter. As long as the weather allows, the patios at these restaurants allow diners to connect with the great outdoors.
