Top Camping Tips - New Jersey Camping Gems - New Jersey Tips Weather In the summertime, expect average highs around 85 degrees Fahrenheit.  Winter lows average in the 20s.  The most extreme recorded low was 34-below (in 1904), and the highest high was 110 degrees (in 1936). Atlantic City If you are scheduling your trip in July or August, be sure to make advance reservations at your top destinations, as this is normally the busiest time of the year. If doing a little charter fishing is part of your agenda, then call the Atlantic County Charter Boat Association, 609-823-8891, for a list of their members so you can schedule your adventure in advance.

Top Camping Hidden Gems in New Jersey Camping Gems - New Jersey Mount Tammany    Set on the eastern side of the Delaware Gap, 1,527-foot Mount Tammany is the southernmost peak of the Kittatinny Mountains.  You'll find amazing views, sheer cliffs, and deep gorges when you hike the trails of this New Jersey mountain. Lucy The Elephant, Margate Standing 65 foot tall, Lucy was "born" in 1881 and now has the distinction of being a National Historic Landmark. Not only will you be able to marvel at the outside of Lucy, but you can walk through her and see exhibits about her history. (Decatur Ave and the beach, 609-823-6473) Leamings Run Gardens and Colonial Farm, Swainton Take a relaxing stroll through manicured gardens, admiring the butterflies, birds, and flower blossoms. Open from May through the end of October, this is considered one of the loveliest of the East Coast botanical gardens. (1845 Route 9 North, 609-465-5871) East Point Lighthouse Set on Delaware Bay near the mouth of the Maurice River, this Colonial-style brick lighthouse is still in operation today -- and it was first lit back in 1849!  Pay a visit to this historic structure for the tour, a stroll on the grounds, and a nice picnic spot. (609-825-3386) Millville Glasstown Arts District Here you'll find one of the biggest glass museums in the United States with 7,000 objects exhibited, a re-created 1880s demonstration glass factory, craftspeople demonstrating in Crafter's Row, and village stores stocked with goodies you might have found in the 1800s. (1501 Glasstown Rd, 800-998-4552, 856-825-6800) Atlantic City Seafood Festival Great food and drink, a festive atmosphere, and fun times for the whole family -- that's what the Atlantic City Seafood Festival is all about. The kids will enjoy the games, face painting, clowns, magicians and other activities at the Kiddie Korner. Absecon Lighthouse, Atlantic City Built in 1856, this elegant, historic lighthouse is now the heart of a small town park.  At once time, this lighthouse sat at the very edge of the Brigantine Shoals, but modern jetties have changed the flow of water, creating the land that now stretches between the lighthouse and the coast. (609)348-7044)   Top 10 Camping Places to Go in New Jersey Camping Gems - Places to Go in New Jersey Wharton State Forest    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. Look for bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, ospreys, great blue herons, swans, and screech owls. Bass River State Forest Lake Absegami, a 67-acre lake created in the 1930s, is the center of the forest's recreational activities and provides an area for swimming and a serene setting for boating and canoeing. A trail through the Absegami Natural Area wanders through a pine/oak woods and a small Atlantic white cedar bog.  Don't miss the terrific fishing, swimming, and boating. Cape May Charming Cape May offers ocean sailing, gorgeous beaches, and streets lined with Victorian homes.  Be sure not to miss the Cape May County Historical Society Museum, the Cape May County Park Zoo, the Cape May Point Light House, the Emlen Physick Estate, and Historic Cold Spring Village. Ringwood State Park   This park has more than just trails, woods, and areas for fishing and hunting.  As well as having some of the best mountain biking in the state, you can also visit the historic Ringwood Manor, the Skylands Manor, and the Thunder Mountain Skeet Range.  In the winter, visit the park for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and sledding.  Appalachian Trail The Appalachian Trail is a more than 2,175-mile long footpath stretching through 14 eastern states from Maine to Georgia. Conceived in 1921 and first completed in 1937, it traverses the wild, scenic, wooded, pastoral, and culturally significant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. In New Jersey, pay a visit to Sunfish Pond, a beautiful glacial lake with rocky shores. Point Pleasant Beach This family destination has something for everyone -- amusement parks, Lakewood Blue Claws baseball, and an excellent boardwalk and aquarium.  Sport fishing is popular here, as are crabbing and clamming. Palisades Interstate Park You'll find wildflowers, hiking trails, ocean views, and wildlife at the Palisades Interstate Park.  Take the Long Path trail across the George Washington Bridge, then high above the Hudson River. Bradley Beach If you're looking for a quiet family beach that's away from the hubbub, head to Bradley Beach.  With a charming boardwalk, bingo hall, and all the old Atlantic coast standards, this beach is a perfect family getaway spot. Edwin B Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, Oceanville This refuge features 40,000+ virgin acres of coastal salt meadows, upland fields, woodlands, and open channels and bays. As you are driving along, you'll want to keep your camera handy in case you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one of the more than 200 species of birds that call this retreat home. (Great Creek Rd., Route 9, 609-652-1665) New Jersey Festival of Ballooning Held in Readington, New Jersey, this incredible festival takes place every year in late July.  For three days, all of New Jersey turns its eyes to the sky, to see colorful hot air balloons filling the sky.   Top 10 Camping Places to Eat in New Jersey Camping Gems - Places to Eat in New Jersey Montclair Taro Cape May Bella Vida Garden Cafe Black Duck on Sunset Ocean City Tigerlilly Cafe Piccini Wood Fired Brick Oven Atlantic City Ri Ra Irish Pub Ombra Palm Restaurant Hamilton Rats Restaurant Rutherford Cafe Mattise   Top 10 Camping Activities in New Jersey Camping Gems - Things to Do in New Jersey Ride a roller coaster and stroll the boardwalk at Atlantic City. Explore the historic town of Cape May. Go mountain biking through the 5,000 acres of Ringwood State Park. Hike to Sunfish Pond on the New Jersey stretch of the Appalachian Trail. See Lucy The Elephant, the National Historic Landmark built in 1881. Go birdwatching in the salt marshes of the Edwin B Forsythe Wildlife Refuge. Explore the grounds and plants of Leamings Run Gardens and Colonial Farm. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the East Point Lighthouse. Taste the lobster, crab, and shrimp at the New Jersey Seafood Festival. See the biggest glass museum in the world in Millville's Glasstown Arts District.