20111027

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge

Horseshoe CrabsImage by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region via FlickrSpiked LobeliaImage by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region via FlickrEastern Spadefoot ToadImage by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region via FlickrDo Not DisturbImage by Billtacular via FlickrEastern Box TurtleImage by Billtacular via FlickrEstablished as part of the the National Wildlife Refuge System in 1989. The refuge has 11,500 acres and continues to grow. Cape May has a key location on the Atlantic Flyway. Some of the birds which find the refuge important are the American black duck, American kestrels, bald eagles, barred owls, blue winged warblers, bobolinks, Cooper's hawks, great blue herons, least tern, little blue herons, northern harriers, ospreys, ovenbirds, peregrine falcons, piping plover, red-headed woodpeckers, red knot, red-shouldered hawks, red tailed hawks, ruddy turnstone, semipalmated sandpiper, sanderling, sharp-shinned hawks, short-eared owls, woodcocks and yellow-crowned night-herons. Reptiles and amphibians include the diamondback terrapin, Eastern tiger salamander and the Southern gray treefrog. Swamp pink, a member of the lily family, is on the Federal list of Endangered species, and this is one of the few places it can be found. There are four hiking trails in the refuge.

Battle of Princeton

Battle of PrincetonImage via WikipediaThe Princeton battlefield with its mapImage via WikipediaHugh Mercer, Jr. (Study for The Death of Gener...Image via WikipediaMercer Memorial and Thomas Clarke House, Princ...Image via WikipediaPhotograph of Princeton Battlefield State Park...Image via WikipediaBattle of Princeton According to the Princeton Battlefield State Park web page, "On January 3, 1777, the peaceful winter fields and woods of Princeton Battlefield were transformed into the site of what is considered to be the fiercest fight of its size during the American Revolution. During this desperate battle, American troops under General George Washington surprised and defeated a force of British Regulars. Coming at the end of "The Ten Crucial Days" which saw the well-known night crossing of the Delaware River and two battles in Trenton, the Battle of Princeton gave Washington his first victory against the British Regulars on the field. The battle extended over a mile away to the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).
The famous Mercer Oak, once stood in the middle of the battlefield, not far from the spot where General Hugh Mercer fell during the Battle of Princeton. The Clarke House, built by Thomas Clarke in 1772, witnessed the fierce fighting and served as sanctuary for General Mercer, who died there nine days later. The house contains period furniture and Revolutionary War exhibits."
Death Of General Mercer at the Battle of Princ...Image via Wikipedia

Robert Treat Hotel

New York skyline from room 1007Image by degudodger via Flickr1180 Raymond Blvd., Newark, NJImage by SheepGuardingLlama via FlickrNEWARK, NJ - MAY 12:  His Holiness the Dalai L...Image of Dalai Lama in Robert Treat Hotel, Newark. By Getty Images via @daylifeAccording to Best Western, which now owns the Robert Treat Hotel: “a Newark landmark, is celebrating its 85th anniversary. The Robert Treat Hotel remains an important Landmark of Newark's and New Jersey's history.
Perhaps the most impressive structure of the original hotel was the lobby, where huge columns combined with intricate lighting features over a white marble steps, tile floors, and lavish rugs. There were plentiful lounge space, large palms and potted plants, and writing desks and tables on a balcony for afternoon tea.
In 1980, the Robert Treat Hotel became the first hotel in Newark to receive the honor of being added to the both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
The Maize Restaurant, heralded by the New York Times and the Star Ledger as one of New Jersey's best dining experiences, has been added to the décor of the Robert Treat Hotel.” Newark.

Oxford Historic District

Oxford FurnaceImage via WikipediaAccording to the New Jersey Historic Trust: "From the mid-eighteenth century through the early-twentieth century the ironworks of Oxford fueled New Jersey's development as a major industrial center. The Oxford Furnace, established in 1741, produced an enormous variety of iron products, such as firebacks, nails, stoves, and iron pots, as well as pig iron made from the raw iron ore extracted from the nearby mines. Eventually this bustling enterprise gave rise to a complete company town. Today 385 buildings remain from the former factory town, which comprise the Oxford Industrial Historic District.
Oxford Furnace is the oldest standing hot blast furnace in New Jersey, and Shippen Manor, constructed in 1754, is a rare surviving example of a New Jersey ironmaster's residence constructed on a grand scale. Together they help tell the story of the industrial powerhouse that once was Oxford." Oxford.

Griggstown Quail Farm

Head of a Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) at E...File image of Muscovy Duck via WikipediaGriggstown Quail FarmImage via WikipediaAccording to the web site, "In 1973, Farmer George Rude began raising a handful of quail on two acres of a farm...In 1992, the Griggstown Quail Farm had grown to over 75 acres of land and had come to accommodate approximately 35,000 pheasants, 70,000 quail, 150,000 chickens and, when in season, Mallard and Muscovy ducks, turkeys, and partridge. All the birds were all natural (free of growth hormones and antibiotics)." Franklin.

Carranza Memorial

Emilio Carranza.Image via WikipediaCaptain Emilio Carranza Rodríguez was selected to undertake a goodwill flight from Mexico City to New York City the summer of 1928. While flying back home, the “Mexican Charles Lindbergh” encountered a thunderstorm over the Pinelands and crashed on July 12. Money was raised by the children of Mexico to build a memorial to Carranza on the spot where he died. Tabernacle.

Union Lake

A 898-acre reservoir located Cumberland County. Union Lake has a history that goes back to the 1790s, when the Maurice River was first dammed at a location upstream from the present dam. The lake is four miles long and one mile wide. It is the largest freshwater lake in South Jersey. Fishing, swimming, and boating are popular activities. The lake is stocked with Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass. Bass fishing tournaments are often held there.

Sourland Mountain Preserve

Boulders in the Sourland Mountain Preserve, Ne...Image via WikipediaStrewn with beautiful large boulders and heavily forested, this parkland contains wonderful views if you can make it to the peaks of this small mountain range. According to the Somerset County Park Commision, "The 3,196.7 acre Sourland Mountain Preserve...provides passive recreational opportunities in an undisturbed natural setting...including hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, bouldering, and horseback riding.
It is extremely rich in natural resources, and an area that boasts a variety of stream corridors, geologic outcrops, and an ecological preserve that provides a core habitat for a diversity of plant and animal species. The Sourlands is especially known for its nesting birds on the edges of their breeding areas including Summer Tanager, Winter Wren, and Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees." Hillsborough, Montgomery. American toad? (Bufo americanus) by Gare and Kitty 
Photo by Gare and Kitty via Flickr.

The Glades Wildlife Refuge

Natural Lands TrustImage via Wikipediahorseshoe crabs mating in the Delaware Bay of ...Image via WikipediaAccording to the Natural Lands Trust, "The Glades Wildlife Refuge is a 7,500-acre expanse of diverse landscapes: vast tidal marshes, wooded uplands, beaches along the Delaware Bay, and a remarkable old growth forest." Attractions include: Raybins Beach, which is one of the best places for spotting migrating birds and horseshoe crabs; kayaking and canoeing; tuliptrees over 100 feet tall; old-growth forest with trees over 450 years old; American Holly that grows over four times its normal height; and an observation tower.

Baltusrol Golf Course

A 36-hole private golf club that has hosted the U.S. Open 7 times; the U.S. Amateur Championship 4 times; the U.S. Women's Open 2 times; and the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship 2 times. Baltusrol also hosted its first PGA championship in 2008 and has been awarded the 2016 championship as well. Springfield.
The 87th PGA Championship by rottinam The 87th PGA Championship from rottinam

20111026

Wharton State Forest

Young Chamaecyparis thyoides on trails outside...Image via WikipediaFrom the New Jersey DEP web site: "Throughout Wharton are rivers and streams for canoeing, hiking trails (including a major section of the Batona Trail), miles of unpaved roads for mountain biking and horseback riding and numerous lakes, ponds and fields ideal for wildlife observation. Bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, marsh hawks, ospreys, great blue herons, swans, screech owls, great-horned owls, bluebirds, hummingbirds, purple martins, goldfinch, turkeys, beavers, river otters, fox and deer are only some of the wildlife the alert visitor can see." At 122,463 acres, this is the largest tract of preserved land in New Jersey.Pinus rigida on trails outside of Batsto in Wh...Image via Wikipedia
Access RoadImage by Owls Flight Photography via Flickr

Union County Four Centuries of History Weekend

A free "Journey Through Union County History" featuring twenty-two historic sites in mid-October. Includes Liberty Hall Museum, Evergreen Cemetery, Woodruff House Eaton Store Museum, Oswald J. Nitschke House, Caldwell Parsonage, Cannon Ball House, Twin Maples, Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Carter House, Summit Playhouse, Salt Box Museum, Deserted Village of Feltville-Glenside Park, Littell-Lord Farmstead, Deacon Andrew Hetfield House, Osborn Cannonball House, Drake House Museum, Miller-Cory House Museum, Dr. William Robinson Plantation Museum, Merchants and Drovers Tavern, Union County Performing Arts Center, Crane-Phillips House Museum, Abraham Clark House, Roselle Park Museum, First Presbyterian Church and the Boxwood Hall State Historic House.

Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve

Boundaries of the Jacques Cousteau National Es...Image via WikipediaAccording to their website, "The JC NERR encompasses approximately 115,000 acres in southeastern New Jersey, including a great variety of terrestrial, wetland and aquatic habitats within the Mullica River-Great Bay ecosystem. The Reserve is a concentrated patchwork of federal and state lands managed in partnership through a variety of agencies. With little more than 1% of the Reserve subjected to human development, this area is regarded as one of the least disturbed estuaries in the densely populated urban corridor of the Northeastern United States. Occurring within the unique New Jersey Pinelands forest ecosystem, on the coastal plain and the barrier islands of the coastal margin, the Mullica River-Great Bay estuary is of special ecological value. The high environmental quality of the habitats within the Cousteau Reserve are consistent with the objective of the Reserve system to preserve areas which retain a healthy ecosystem and provide the opportunity to serve the needs of long-term research and monitoring programs."
Mullica River northwest of Lake Atsion.Image via Wikipedia

Sterling Hill Mine and Museum

Willemite with fluorescence - Locality: Frankl...Image via WikipediaSterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New...Image via WikipediaSterling Hill Mining Museum, NJ, USAImage by Vilseskogen via FlickrA 1,300-ft underground walking tour through the Sterling Hill mine is a featured part of the tour.  Within the mine passages are numerous pieces of equipment used while the mine was in operation, plus exhibits on the mining process. The Zobel Exhibit Hall contains over 20,000 mining-related items. The Rock Discovery Center is where children learn about rocks that are quarried in our region.  Economically important rock types such as coal, slate, marble, and basalt are included in this exercise. The Fossil Discovery Center allows children to dig for fossils in a big sand box and then keep them. An instructor will be on hand to educate you about the fossils. Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence 1,800 square feet dedicated to fluorescent minerals, fossils, gemstones, carvings, and everyday objects.  A display of antique ultraviolet lights is also on view.
Inside Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, New JerseyImage via Wikipedia

Beach Haven West

An large development of about 4,500 residential and vacation homes on the mainland opposite Long Beach Island. The most striking feature is the 130 lagoons that cut their way through the development. The community was originally meant to be be much larger, but environmental laws prevented expansion. Now the area is mostly surrounded by saltwater marshes and pine barrens.

20111025

Stokes State Forest

Stokes State Forest, Sussex County.Image via WikipediaFrom the official web site of the State Forest: "The crest of Sunrise Mountain is one of the most frequently visited sites in Stokes State Forest. The mountaintop provides a breathtaking view at an elevation of 1,653 feet above sea level. The thin soil and harsh climate characteristic of Sunrise Mountain is a difficult environment in which few plants can survive. Mountain laurel, wild blueberry, pitch pine and scrub oak are among the natural vegetation found throughout the area. The pavilion at the summit was built in the late 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps." Also from the web site: "Tillman Ravine: This cool evergreen forest of eastern hemlock is ideally suited for the steep slopes carved by the rushing waters of Tillman Brook. Several trails wander through this spectacular ravine, providing views of waterfalls and ferns clinging to rock crevices. The area is home to the threatened barred owl and other endangered species." In total, a 12.5 mile section of the Appalachian Trail runs through Stokes State Forest.Tillman Brook, Stokes State Forest, Sussex County.Image via Wikipedia