Are you looking for fun things to do around New Jersey this Spring? Check out my recommendations for things to do + spots to check out around the Bayshore, Monmouth County + beyond.
Gardens
Deep Cut Gardens is plant heaven. It is one of my favorite parks in Monmouth County to visit throughout the year. It has a phenomenal greenhouse + bonsai trees. There is a garden straight out of Alice + Wonderland. A picturesque waterfall with a magical tree + a koi pond. It is a must Springtime spot especially in April when the tulips + flowers are blooming around the garden.
If you want to venture North closer to New York City check out the Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit for a dazzling field of daffodils.
Flower Picking
U-Pick Flower Farms need to be a part of your Spring plans. It is now a yearly tradition of mine to go to Holland Ridge Farms for their you-pick tulip festival with my mom + daughter. Spending a beautiful Spring day in a field with millions of tulips is truly a stunning site to see. You can spend hours at the farm which has a petting zoo, pony rides, food trucks, tractor + more. Another U-Pick Tulip Farm option is Dalton Farms. It is the perfect weekend activity in New Jersey.
Sandy Hook
Seals, kite surfing, biking, shell hunting, walking, surfing, beach bumming...the adventures are endless at Sandy Hook. Did you know there are seals in New Jersey? Our favorite seal tourists may still be hanging out in early Spring + if luck is on your side you may spot them. Don’t forget about the lighthouse + the scenic officers row. Spend the day in a National Park in New Jersey where you can frolicking outside, enjoy the beach, the bay or stay on the paths.
Henry Hudson Trail
Speaking of paths. Whether you are walking, running, or cycling the Henry Hudson Trail is a Spring must do for all outdoor activities in Monmouth County. There are entry points all along the Bayshore + plenty of places to take a break along the way. You can even pop off the trail + wander into one of the many Bayshore towns to enjoy a meal + drink outside. A few of my favorites are Half Moon in Keansburg, The Seafarer in Highlands + Broad Street Diner in Keyport.
Hiking
Spring is the time to head outside + into nature. A perfect place to hike in Monmouth County is Hartshorne Woods. You can walk the paved trails or head into the woods. The views of the Ocean + the Navesink along the way will never get old. The hikes can be as short or as long as you want them to be. It is a kid friendly hike. After your hike you can head down to Highlands or even Sea Bright to eat the calories you burned off. Other local places to hike in New Jersey are Cheesequake Park + Allaire State Park. It is not much of a hike but is something fun + different - fossil hunting in Poricy Park.
Farm Fun
There is no shortage of farms in Monmouth County. One of my favorite farms to spend an afternoon is Oak Hill Farms in Holmdel. Not only do you get to hang out with chickens, donkeys, alpacas + goats but you can shop the Barn all while enjoying a fresh coffee. Their wildflower honey is my absolute favorite. If you head just a few miles down the road you can explore Longstreet Farm in Holmdel Park - another favorite of mine.
A new spot we love is Atlantic Farm Market in Manasquan. It is open daily. $6 admission + $3 for a bucket of carrots to feed all the farm animals including baby cow, goats, alpacas, pigs + more. It is a perfect spot to spend an hour to two then you can head into Manasquan Main Street to walk around + grab lunch.
Rainy Day Plans
April showers bring May flowers. A great place to spend a rainy day in New Jersey is Bell Works in Holmdel. There is food, shopping + drinks. Wednesdays + certain Saturdays of the month there is Bell Fresh Market where you can shop local vendors. You can enjoy a pizza at Corbo + Sons, get Jersey Freeze for dessert + end the day with a drink at Bar Bella.
This is just a few of the things to do in Monmouth County, around New Jersey + more in the Spring.
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