Address: Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail, Trenton, New Jersey Address: Parvin State Park, 701 Almond Rd, Pittsgrove, NJ 08318 Address: New Jersey Botanical Garden, 2 Morris Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456 Address: Saddle River County Park County Pitch, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 Address: Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area, Rockaway, NJ 07866 Address: 3rd Avenue, 3rd Ave, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247 Address: Laurelwood Arboretum, 725 Pines Lake Dr W, Wayne, NJ 07470 This nature reserve is filled with beautiful scenery and waterfalls to boot. Enjoy your day under the cool, lush canopy of some of New Jersey’s prettiest countryside. Within this nature reserve lies quite a few hiking trails. Among them is the Hemlock Falls Trail. There are many different trail systems that will bring you to Hemlock Falls Trail, and the easiest is the Lenape Trail, more commonly referred to as the “Yellow” Trail, so named because the markers along the trail are yellow. Most of the trail is well marked and easy to follow. If you do find yourself turned around, keep an eye out for the yellow markers, or ask another hiker that you pass. There’s only 784 feet of elevation total, so it won’t be a hard climb to see the waterfall. The tree canopy also provides a refreshing escape to the summer heat. Because of its easy accessibility, the trail can be busy during the day. If you’d like to hike it during a quieter time head out in the morning or late afternoon. Or even hike it on a drizzly day; you may just be the only ones out there! Otherwise, the falls can seem a little underwhelming. If you choose to hike down to the waterfall and explore, that adds a bit more distance on the entire trail, and it will be closer to a 7.5 mile hike. This is one hike you don’t want to miss in the summer.
Grab your loved ones and spend a day exploring this beautiful spot in New Jersey. You will love every minute of these stunning waterfall views! Address: Hemlock Falls, Route, 510 Rte 510, South Orange, NJ 07079, US Article by Megan McDonald of "Only in your state" by Jamie Thilman of Well + Good The pandemic has turned a great many of us into homebodies, and given that Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), warned that we shouldn’t expect to return to “some semblance of normality” until at least the end of 2021, the coming year will see us continuing to invest in our homes. That may mean taking the leap from couch desk to proper desk, perfecting your living room gym, buying more plants to add a little nature to your space, or trying out any other number of strategies to bolster the comfort, functionality, and boundaries of our living spaces. “The changes to our homes brought on by the pandemic fall into two categories: stopgap measures that involve short-term updates and adjustments, and lifestyle changes that will likely stick with us in some form,” says Eve Epstein, vice president content, media, of the home and design website Hunker. “Of course, most people don’t have a bunch of extra rooms lying around, just waiting to be converted into offices or classrooms or yoga studios. So another big storyline has been solutions for multi-functional spaces.” For many, simplifying our spaces will allow us to view our homes as retreats from, rather than sources of, stress. “People are taking the time to clear out all those extra items that they realize they don’t really need and focus on what makes them happy in their home,” says Bobby Berk, interior designer and co-host of Netflix’s Queer Eye. Not only will people seek to declutter, but they will be more mindful about the products they buy, investing in quality over quantity. “People are taking the time to clear out all those extra items that they realize they don’t really need and focus on what makes them happy in their home.” —Bobby Berk In fact, investing in quality items for the home has perhaps never been more important than now for those who find themselves newly working from home—and needing to cultivate a remote office environment from which to log on. “Working from home—for those of us fortunate enough to be able to do our jobs remotely—is here to stay,” says Epstein, who notes that Hunker has seen a huge demand from its audience for desks, so much so that retailers have been struggling to keep them in stock. To address demand, office furniture suppliers have pivoted from fulfilling bulk orders for companies to small orders from weary workers sick of typing from their couches, beds, or baths. “There’s a new wave of dual-purpose furniture, and I’m seeing more investment in the crossover between good, well-built staples, like a dining table to anchor a room that can also be used as a desk,” says Larry Cohn, principal architect at Shadow Architects in New York. “If your space is really tight, or you have the opportunity to create a separate room for work by installing a fold-away bed that can be a desk area during the day, then go for it.” Indeed, the wall bed market is expected to grow from nearly $1.45 billion to $2.34 billion by the end of 2026, indicating that we can expect rooms to continue prioritizing their multi-functional, transformative potential. By maximizing the square footage in our homes with functional furniture intended to serve our varying needs (like by working in the same room where we sleep and talking to our therapists at the kitchen table), the struggle to maintain boundaries between the workspace and personal space is real. That’s why next year, we’ll be using technology to create a mental barrier between work and rest when a physical one isn’t possible. “You can engage all five senses to create boundaries for a clear separation between work and life,” says interior designer Laura Britt, president and managing principal at Britt Design Group in Austin. One way she recommends doing this is by “scene setting” with light. “Lighting can be used to signal your brain that work is done for the day, or that it’s time to sleep,” she says. A slew of new smart lighting products slated for a 2021 release from Dyson, Phillips, Lutron, and Bios Lighting will make it easy to flip the switch to “relax mode” when the time is right.
Sound—or lack thereof—can also help set the right mood. Razer, Jabra, and Anker have all released noise-canceling headphones in the last quarter of the year, and Bose will introduce a new pair meant to work as well on your run as on your next conference call. Loftie and Hatch, meanwhile, launched alarm clocks that double as white noise machines in April and May, respectively, indicating that many of our devices are becoming as multi-purpose as our spaces. In addition to tech, many folks are investing in art as a way to set a calming mood in their homes, says Jeanne Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of online art gallery and artist network Saatchi Art, which saw an “enormous increase” in sales this year. “A well-designed, harmonious environment can absolutely contribute to overall mental health. Abstract art, in particular, is popular for that reason—gentle shapes, brushstrokes, and soft colors can be deeply soothing and help you relax in your room,” she says. To help clients find the art to best meet their emotional needs, Saatchi launched the Art for Your Mood collection this fall. “2021 will continue the trend that started in 2020 with people investing into renovating and decorating their spaces,” says Julie Matrat, senior vice president and general manager at global art marketplace Society6. The past year has led many to view the home in a different light (perhaps even literally with lighting upgrades). Into 2021, we’ll continue thinking creatively about how to transform the spaces where we spend so much of our time—pandemic or not—into the sanctuaries that truly support our multifaceted lives. This article originally appeared on Well & Good New Jersey is a lot more beautiful than people give it credit for. One of the best ways to enjoy our natural beauty is by taking scenic hikes across the state. There are many benefits to hiking and we’ve got incredible trails from north to south that can be explored all year long. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, here are a few local favorites – one for each month of the year. The short version of the Cushetunk Trail comes in at 3.4 miles each way, making for a 6.8-mile out and back trek. This trail is rated moderate with 1,220 feet of elevation gain along the way. In the winter, with no leaves on the trees, you'll enjoy terrific views of the Round Valley Reservoir. Leashed dogs are welcome. Thompson Park is home to this easy out and back trail with lake views. There's minimal elevation gain, making this a great choice for kids and families. This unique trail is one of the longest in New Jersey and it traverses 19 Essex County parks. If you want to hike it in its entirety, we recommend you do so in late March when the weather is cool. Much of the trail is paved, making for a manageable journey. Along the way, you'll pass historic and cultural sites like Kips Castle and Newark's Branch Brook Park. April showers bring rushing waterfalls at South Mountain Reservation. This 5.8-mile loop trail is a moderate hike that's best enjoyed when Hemlock Falls is at peak water levels. Leashed dogs are welcome. This short and scenic wildflower trail at Tourne County Park is best in mid to late May. It's a fun, family-friendly hike featuring 250 plant and flower species native to New Jersey, all labeled. Historic Smithville Park is one the most beautiful parks in the Burlington County Park System. It offers 4.5 miles of trails but the 1.8-mile loop that combines the Red and Green Trails is a family favorite. You'll visit a butterfly garden and cross a unique floating section of trail! Enjoy ocean, pond, lighthouse, and bunker views from this beautiful beachfront trail. It's easy, family-friendly, and perfect for summer. Visit historic Batsto Village and stroll past Batsto Lake on this easy loop trail in Wharton State Forest. This wheelchair-accessible boardwalk trail at Richard W. DeKorte Park is perfect for families, beginners, and birdwatchers. It's a great place to enjoy local nature and wildlife! Leashed dogs are allowed. Picnic areas are available. Enjoy breathtaking views of High Point State Monument and fall foliage across three states (New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) on this easy-moderate loop trail with 515 feet of elevation gain. This approximately 70-mile trail spans Hunterdon, Mercer, and Somerset Counties. The trail is divided into several key sections along the D&R Canal - both the Main Canal Trail (34 miles long) and the Feeder Canal Trail (31.5 miles long) are ADA accessible. Visit in early November and you'll still enjoy some colorful fall foliage. December – Great Falls Loop – .8 Miles – Paterson This short and easy trail is more beautiful in the winter than you’d ever believe unless you visit for yourself. However, this stunning video by Peter Alessandria Photography on YouTube comes pretty close to capturing its partially-frozen glory. Address: Round Valley Reservoir, Clinton Township, NJ 08833, USA Address: 805 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ 07738, USA Address: Lake St & Park Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104, USA Address: Cherry Ln, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA Address: 83 Old Denville Rd, Boonton, NJ 07005, USA Address: 803 Smithville Rd, Eastampton Township, NJ 08060, USA Address: 215 Light House Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, USA Address: 31 Batsto Rd, Hammonton, NJ 08037, USA Address: 1 DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071, USA Address: Montague, NJ 07827, USA Address: Frenchtown, NJ 08825, USA Address: 72 McBride Ave, Paterson, NJ 07501, USA The leaves have already started changing color in some parts of the state. We can’t wait for the striking shades of red and gold on the trees, especially around our very own Great Falls. Beautiful all year, fall is a great time for families and photographers alike to take a scenic day trip. According to local foliage prediction maps, peak foliage around the falls will be between October 5th and October 19th. However, any time between now and the end of the first week of November should be quite lovely. Enjoy vibrant colors and one of the largest waterfalls by volume on the East Coast. Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park also offers a welcome center, tours, and a nearby museum, though there are currently closures due to COVID. Even still, the park is worth a visit! You’ll get to enjoy the scenic views seen in the video below, shot at the end of October 2015 by RCHeliCamInc An urban oasis with wheelchair and stroller accessible paths, this is a popular spot for artists, photographers, and families. There are also picnic tables available! Address: Great Falls, Paterson, NJ, USA |
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