New Jersey Day Trips for Couples

Allaire State Park is one of Monmouth County's loveliest outdoor recreational destinations, located near the charming borough of Farmingdale within the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. See the preserved Allaire Village in Allaire State Park, a 19th-century ironworks site that was named in honor of James P. Allaire, the founder of the Howell Works iron company. Park visitors can peruse the preserved and restored historic buildings of the village, including community sites like the campus' foreman's home, general store, and blacksmith headquarters. Scenic excursion railroad rides are offered throughout the year aboard the park's lovely Pine Creek Railroad route. Visitors can also fish on the picturesque Manasquan River, bike along the beautiful Edgar Felix Bikeway, or embark on guided nature programming at the park's Nature Interpretive Center.

Find it at this Address: 4265 Atlantic Ave, Wall Township, NJ 07727, Phone: 732-938-2371

Atlantic City is one of the top tourist destinations in New Jersey, originally developing its reputation as a major resort town in the late 19th century, when it became known as a major health resort on the East Coast. Today, it has transformed into a glitzy high-rise district, home to luxurious hotels, vibrant nightlife options, and 24-hour casino complexes. Visitors can stroll along the city's beautiful Atlantic Ocean boardwalk, the nation's first public boardwalk when it opened in 1882, which serves as the inspiration for the popular board game Monopoly.

Enjoy Four miles of tourist attractions that line the Atlantic Cityboardwalk, including iconic destinations like the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the Golden Nugget Atlantic City, and the Tropicana Atlantic City. The Steel Pier amusement park is home to high and mild thrill rides, including a giant observation wheel. Each year, the city hosts the annual Miss America pageant.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is a charming 32-acre public park on the northern end of Long Beach Island, anchored around the historic lighthouse facility of the same name, which formerly served as one of the most important navigational aids for vessels entering nearby New York Harbor. The charming lighthouse operated between 1859 and 1927 before being decommissioned. Since 2009, it has been relit and operated as an historic attraction by the Friends of Barnegat Lighthouse nonprofit organization. Throughout the summer months, visitors can ascend the lighthouse's 217 steps and enjoy amazing views of nearby Barnegat Bay and Long Island Beach.

Check out the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park interpretive center also showcases live images of panoramas atop the lighthouse for visitors who cannot climb its stairs. Outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the park, including chances for fishing and birdwatching.

Find it at this Address: 208 Broadway, Barnegat Light, New Jersey 08006, Phone: 609-494-2016

Cape May has been named as one of the top beaches in the United States by the Travel Channel, known as one of New Jersey's most vibrant year-round seaside resort towns. The lovely city has been named as a National Historic Landmark in its entirety, home to gorgeous Victorian-style houses within its quaint Cape May Historic District. Visitors can explore living history museums like the Emlen Physick Estate for glimpses into the region's 19th-century daily life. The World War II-era Lookout Tower and the Cape May Lighthouse are operated as living history sites by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities, open to the public for guided tours throughout the year.

A plethora of shopping and dining destinations line the Cape May's Washington Street Mall area and public boardwalk, which also offers amazing opportunities for dolphin and whale watching throughout the year.

Cheesequake State Park is a delightful state park spanning more than 1,600 acres throughout the New Jersey city of Old Bridge. The park, which was originally established in 1937, is known for its unique ecosystems and habitats, which range from northeastern hardwood forests and white cedar swamps to tidal estuaries and freshwater and saltwater marsh areas. Excellent opportunities for year-round recreation aboard, including chances for fishing for catfish, trout, and largemouth bass on the scenic Hooks Creek Lake. During the summer months, visitors can enjoy chances for swimming, boating, and canoeing on the lake's lifeguard-staffed beaches.

In the winter, snowshoeing, sledding, and cross-country skiing are popular activities in Cheesequake State Park. Five hiking and biking trails traverse the park's marshland and forest areas, providing beautiful scenic ride opportunities.

Find it at this Address: 300 Gordon Rd, Matawan, NJ 07747, Phone: 732-566-2161

Clinton is lovely Hunterdon County village located along the southern edge of the beautiful Raritan River. Despite its picturesque scenery, the town is actually best known for its reported haunted historic attractions, including the 10-acre 1810 Red Mill Museum Village, which was featured on the television series Ghost Hunters.

Living history exhibits are showcased throughout the museum complex, including a replica quarry building, a one-room schoolhouse, and an historic log cabin. Each year, the museum complex hosts the annual Red Mill Haunted Village Halloween celebration, paying tribute to its haunted reputation. Across the river, the Hunterdon Historical Museum is home to a massive collection of cultural artifacts related to the city's history, while the Hunterdon Art Museum showcases contemporary craft exhibits. Downtown, visitors can enjoy a plethora of shopping and dining opportunities.

Columbia is one of Knowlton Township's most picturesque cities, located along the eastern banks of the Delaware River. The community has gone to great lengths to protect its surrounding environmental habitats, home to areas such as the Columbia Wildlife Management Area, which protects significant area forest and stream habitats.

Columbia visitors can enjoy excellent opportunities for year-round recreation, including fishing, hiking, kayaking, and canoeing on the Delaware and Columbia Lakes.

Family-friendly Wolf Watch tours are offered at the Lakota Wolf Preserve, which protects populations of endangered Arctic, tundra, and timber wolves. Other area attractions include the beautiful Portland-Columbia Toll-Supported Pedestrian Bridge, which connects the city to nearby Pennsylvania, and the charming Brook Hollow Winery, which offers tastings and tours throughout the week.

Edgewater is one of New Jersey's most historic towns, known throughout the East Coast for its role in the American Revolutionary War and America's colonial history.

The city, which is located on the banks of the Hudson River in Bergen County, is home to a plethora of National Register of Historic Places-listed sites, including the 1904 Borough Hall, restored to its historic condition in 2009 by nonprofit groups. Visitors can climb aboard the historic Binghamton Ferry, the only double-ended steam ferry boat still docked today on the Hudson River, which was originally constructed in 1904 and is permanently anchored at the Binghamton Shopping Plaza. New Jersey's only remaining Carnegie library, the Edgewater Free Library, offers public programming throughout the year. The city's lovely River Walk also stretches for 11 miles along the city's waterfront, offering unparalleled views of nearby Manhattan.

Grounds for Sculpture is one of the most unique outdoor park sites in New Jersey, transforming the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds complex into a gorgeous 42-acre public sculpture park in Hamilton.

The park, which was developed in 1992 by John Seward Johnson II, is home to a continuously-changing collection of contemporary art sculptures, along with a permanent collection of more than 270 works by artists from around the world. Though sculptures rotate regularly, the park is noted as the former home of internationally-renowned works like Johnson's Forever Marilyn and Unconditional Surrender sculptures, evoking iconic 20th-century media images. Six indoor galleries offer additional contemporary art and sculpture exhibits throughout the year. Visitors can also dine at the delicious Rat's Restaurant, named in honor of a character from famed children's novel The Wind in the Willows.

Find it at this Address: 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619, Phone: 609-586-0616

Haddonfield is one of the best shopping and dining destinations, known for its delightful culinary scene and upscale and unique stores.

The city, which is located in Camden County just 10 minutes outside Philadelphia's boundaries, is accessible from downtown Philadelphia via the Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin Bridges. Over 200 unique stores and art galleries line the city's streets, earning it acclaim as one of Philadelphia's top shopping districts. Visitors can peruse eclectic retailers like hip pet accessory shop Velvet Paws, kitschy children's toy store Happy Hippo, or upscale shoe shop Benjamin Lovell for unique finds. After a full day of shopping, visitors can dine at some of the Philadelphia area's top restaurants or explore area attractions like the Historical Society of Haddonfield museum.