Camping NJ

Home: Skylands: Campers Favorite places Where to camp in the Skylands Region

Regions: Delaware River Gateway Southern Shore Atlantic City Shore Seasonal


Ballooning      Gentle mountains. Skiing. Rock climbing. Horseback riding. Would you believe you're in New Jersey?

It's true - all of this and more can be found less than an hour's drive from New York City. The endless recreational opportunities of the Skylands Region have always been one of New Jersey's best-kept secrets.

By land, sea and air, there's plenty for visitors to do here all year long. Campers can pitch their tents in several state parks and at one of the many private campgrounds in the area; swimmers, boaters and fishermen will find a haven at Lake Hopatcong, the state's largest lake; and hot-air-balloon enthusiasts can enjoy the region from another perspective: floating through the skies high above a quilt of emerald fields. The Skylands Region is home to the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning.

If it's amusement park fun you seek, check out Mountain Creek in Vernon.
Somewhat more genteel diversions can be found during the region's numerous winery festivals or at the Sussex Farm and Horse Show in August.

In late summer hikers can find fall sneaking into the Skylands Region early, painting the foliage of the Kittatiny and Watchung mountains in bright oranges and yellows. Autumn is a perfect time to tour a local winery or visit the Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia.

Winter's arrival could find you schussing down the slopes, or gliding cross-country at one of the regions popular ski areas.
But you don't have to be the outdoors-type to enjoy all the Skylands Region has to offer. Cultural experiences also abound here.
Take a seat at one of the region's several playhouses - there is the Commons Theater at Drew University in Madison or the Morris Museum in Morristown. At the Sterling Hill Mine & Museum in Ogdensburg, or the Franklin Mineral Museum take in the Skylands from a novel view - underground, on a mine tour. Visit Lambertville, the antiques and flea market capital of the region.

History runs deep in the Skylands Region. George Washington truly did sleep here he and his Continental Army spent the winter of 1779-80 in Morristown. Today, you can stop at the Rockingham Historic Site in Rocky Hill, where General Washington penned his "Farewell to the Armies" address in 1783. Another popular site is the carefully restored Waterloo Village, a 19th century village with shops and acclaimed annual music festivals.

For cultural experiences or just plain fun, the sky's the limit in the Skylands Region - indoors, outdoors, anv time of vear.

Back to Top of Page

Campers Favorite places to visit in the Skylands Region
Old Lafayette Village
PO Box 440, between Rts. 15 and 94, Lafayette 07848 (973) 383-8323. Recreated Colonial village with a combination of factory outlets, speciality shops and eateries.
High Point State Park
High Point, S. R. 23, Sussex. 12,685 acres, including the highest point in New Jersey. (973) 875-4800.
Morristown National Historic Park
Washington Pl., Morristown. Washington's Headquarters, Fort Nonsense and Jockey Hollow all represent the finest in American Revolutionary Museum sites.
(973) 539-2085.
Speedwell Village
Speedwell Ave., Morristown. Historic Homestead Farm where the first telegraph developed. Explore 19th Century lifestyles through exhibits and restored homes. (973) 540-0211.
Pequest Trout Hatchery & Natural Resource Education Center
Oxford, off US 46. A state of the art facility producing over 600,000 trout annually for NJ's public waters. Visitor center includes exhibit hall, self-guided tour, picnic area and trails. Open 10 am to 4 pm. Free admission.
(908) 637-4125.
Morris Museum of Arts & Science
Columbia Turnpike & Normandy Hts. Road, Morristown. Changing exhibits in the fine arts, science and humanities. Theatre events, concerts, observatory, live animal gallery.
(973) 538-0454.
Franklin Mineral Museum
Franklin, Evens Street off Routes 23 & 517. Mineral displays, rock hunt and show. Wednesday to Sunday.
(973) 827-3481.
Space Farm Zoo & Museum
218 Rte. 519, Beemervlle, 07461, Over 200 species of North American wildlife. Museum of antique cars, horse drawn vehicles, firearms and more.
(973) 875-5880.
Fairy Tale Forest
145 Oak Ridge Road, Oak Ridge. Family storyland of hand-crafted life sized displays.
(973) 697-5656.
Golf Museum
Route 512, Far Hills. U.S.G.A. museum and library of golf displays, memorabilia and paintings. (908) 234-2300.
Shippen Manor
8 Belvidere Avenue, Oxford 07863. Tours the 1st and 2nd Sundays of each month from 1-4 pm excluding holidays; Wed. for groups by appointment. Donation. (908) 453-4381
Northlandz
495 Hwy 202, Flemington. Home of the largest miniature railway in the world. 2,000 pipe organ, 94 room dollhouse, museum and art gallery.
(908) 782-4022
Skylands Park
94 Champion Place, Augusta. Home of the New Jersey Cardinals minor league baseball team and various concerts & shows. (973) 579-7500 DAR Elias Van Bunschooten Museum - 1097 Rte. 23, Wantage 07461 (973) 875-3887. Open May 15-Oct. 15, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1-4 pm. Adlts. - $2, Chld. $1.
Appalachian Trail
National Scenic Trail from Maine to Georgia. New Jersey section guide & maps available from NY-NJ Trail Conference, 232 Madison Ave., NY,NY 10016 web site: http://members.aol.com/visitnj/index.html
Wine Vineyards:
Alba Vineyard - Route 627, Finesville. Wine tasting and tours. Closed Monday.
(908) 995-7800.
Tamuzza Vineyards and Winery
Cemetery Road, Hope. Free wine tasting and tours. Special events. Open year round, Tuesday-Sunday: 11 am to 6 pm.
(908) 459-5878.
Four Sisters Winery & Matarazzo Farms
10 Doe Hollow Lane, Route 519, Belvidere 07823 (908) 475-3671.Open 7 days. Custom labeling, grape-crushing parties, picnic facilities,many festivals, farm market. King's Road Vineyard - RD 2 Box 352 B, Milford 08848 (908) 479-6611. Open all year, except major holidays: Sat. and Sun. 12 to 5. Guided tours, free tasting.
Matarazzo Farms
10 Doe Hollow La., Rt.519, Belvidere. Year round events include Beaver Creek Powwow, wine festivals and Family Harvest Festival.
(908) 475-3671
Lakota Wolf Preserve
85 Mount Pleasant Rd., Columbia. Experience watching and listening to packs of Tundra, Timber, and Arctic wolves. Bobcats and foxes also part of the preserve. Located on the grounds of Camp Taylor Campground
(908) 496-9244 or 1-877-SEEWOLF.
Mountain Creek Park
Vernon, 200 SR 94. Water rides, Alpine Slide, Mini Golf, Winter skiing.
(973) 827-2000.
Waterloo Village
Exit 25 off Route I-80, Bryam/Stanhope. 19th Century village filled with colonial crafts. Summer concerts and festivals.
(973) 347-0900.
Moravian Village of Hope
Hope. Guided walking tours c. 1769, during June through October $5.00 per person. sponsored by Help Our Preservation Effort, a non-profit historical organization.
(908) 362-6210.
Top North Crafts, Inc.
Box 689, Blairstown. Call for listing of arts and crafts shows in your area at County Fairs, malls, hotels, schools, villages and more.
(908) 362-5006.
Sterling Hill Mine & Museum
30 Plant Street, Ogdensburg. Go underground & tour what was a working zinc mine. Visit the 5,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall at this unique mineralogical site
(973) 209-7212.
Wild West City
Netcong. Watch gun fights; ride ponies or a stage coach; visit the Golden Nugget Saloon. (973) 347-8900.
Kittatinny Canoes
Dingman's Ferry, PA. Delaware River canoe, kayak & rafting trips.
1-800-FLOAT-KC.
Land Of Make Believe
Great Meadows Road, Route 611, Hope. Children's theme park. (908) 459-5100.
MacCulloch Hall Historical Museum
45 MacCulloch Ave., Morristown. Classic drawings of Thomas Nast; Display of 18th & 19th Century furniture and decorative arts.
(973) 538-2404.
Liberty Village Factory Outlets
Church Street, Flemington. Over 65 famous brand outlets. For free brochure: (908) 782-8550.
Sussex County Fair Grounds
Home of the Sussex County Horse & Farm Show and NJ State Fair, the largest of its kind in the State, Aug. 3-13, Springfest Œ01, March 23-25, International Food & Music Festival '01, May 19.
Picatinny Arsenal
Jefferson, off Rt 15. Site of forge during Revolutionary War producing cannon balls for Gen. Washington.

Where to camp in the Skylands Region

Back to Top of Page
Return to Camping New Jersey Main Page
Back to Beachcomber.com's Main Page

Updated May 14, 2013

© copy right 1996 - 2013, New Jersey Campground Owners Association, beachcomber.com, all rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced either in whole, or in part Electronically or in print without the expressed written permission of The New Jersey Campground Owners Association.