Throw Back Thursday: What I Did in October
It has been said that October in NJ is a jammed packed month, it can’t be decided who said it but man are they right! This month has been packed with events like street fairs, runs through vineyards, pumpkin farms, bike tours and good times with friends and family. NJ in October falls nothing short of magnificent the trees start to turn the weather gets cooler and the pumpkins come out!
October started with an annual trip to the Caldwell street fair. For the past twenty five years it has been West Essex’s largest street fair. Whether its food, entertainment or shopping you are looking for they have it all. Local NJ vendors come out and take over about a mile of Bloomfield Avenue in downtown Caldwell to promote their business. Do not leave the kids at home there are plenty of rides and games. The street fair is a great way to kick off fall, it is always the first Sunday in October!
If you attend the Caldwell Street Fair, be sure to stop by the Cloverleaf Tavern’s outdoor beer garden, which is equipped with the local Kootz band jamming out back.
Clearly my sense of Fall had just begun I felt it was my obligation as a NJ resident to enjoy the outdoor weather and views. I found that jumping on my bike or putting on my running shoes gave me this great opportunity to do just that. I recently discovered a thirty mile trail leading from Essex County through to Washington Township called Patriot’s Path.
Even though the trail started off a little rocky it eventually led to open gravel paths and many parks. Patriot’s Path follows along much of the Whippany and Black rivers and touches the south branch of the Raritan. Be sure to grab a map from the Morris County Park commission not all trails are open and there are many side trails to get lost on (just take my word for it!)
After finishing the longest part of the ride it was time to recharge. My group headed into Hackettstown NJ where we found more than plenty to do. We headed into Marley’s Gotham Grill where we encountered a menu with over 100 plus buffalo wing choices on the list. It took a while but I was able to narrow down my two favorites, of course I was only able to try ten! Guess I have a long way to go. We finished our Hackettstown trip with a flight of local craft beer at Manskirt Brewing.
As the month pressed on I found myself preparing for the fall season by single handedly buying every fall decorations from one of my favorite local merchants. I spent about two hours wondering the outdoor section of The Fairfield Garden Center (Fairfield NJ) looking for hay, mums, pumpkins and gourds only to discover the Tunnel of Terror.
While I was not quite ready for Halloween it was right there. The tunnel is what it says it had displays of skeletons, ghosts and witches and did give a small fright.
Now that the corn stalks and hay barrels were on display at home it was time to wander one of our family’s favorite pumpkin farms Donaldson Farm in Hackettston NJ.
I am not sure if it is the farm its self we like or the fact that they have some of the best apple cider doughnuts around. The farm has acres of land to pick the perfect pumpkin. You can take a hay ride or walk to the patch, either way stopping by to grab some apples is something to add to the list.
After a while I realized that I had my fill of pumpkin pancakes and doughnuts and it was time to join a few hundred people in a three mile run around one of New Jersey’s many fine vineyards. The Grape Gallop took place on October 22nd at the Alba Vineyard in Milford NJ this was an awesome way to get out of the house and burn off that energy before it gets to cold. Plus at the end what runner wouldn’t want a sample of some of New Jersey’s finest wine! Alba Vineyard is a great way to spend the day even if you are not running a race through it!
To get a grasp on what the state of New Jersey has to offer you just have to get out and do things. The amount of treasures you can find in this state is amazing. No matter what you are into NJ has it all, take the time to explore the state through food, culture or the outdoors NJ has a lot to offer enjoy as much as you can!
Author: Jessica Barberia
