Tough Love Travel: SQUEEZIN’ THE LAST DROPS OF SUMMER FUN!

Camp is done, and school’s still a month away. How will you squeeze the last fun out of this summer? Here’s how:

Ballooning! July 26- August 1. http://www.balloonfestnj.com/

Music and Arts! August 14-16. http://www.skylands.org/

Visit Grounds For Sculpture! This 35-acre outdoor sculpture garden in Hamilton, NJ, inspired by Seward Johnson, is a great place to experience sculpture, meet resident artists, let the kids romp, and enjoy a cocktail and dinner at one of the on-site restaurants (The Gazebo is moderately priced and right on the lily pond… a gorgeous setting in the early evening. http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/dining.htm

Grab a blanket under the stars! Try Sunday Night Movies on the Beach in Belmar: http://belmar.com/index.php?s=movies+on+the+beach Or outdoor Shakespeare in Madison: http://www.shakespearenj.org/

Pick something! Berries abound in central jersey! Here is a directory of local spots to pick-you-own: http://www.pickyourown.org/NJcentral.htm#listings and if you’re feeling really ambitious, here’s a jam-making guide: http://www.pickyourown.org/jam.htm

Have fun on the river! Tube from Point Pleasant (PA side) http://www.rivercountry.net/, stroll river towns, have a campfire at Bull’s Island (north of Stockton) and even pitch a tent for the night if you’re inspired http://www.dandrcanal.com/camping.html, join a guided whitewater canoe trip on the Northern Delaware http://www.kittatinny.com/, or hang out on the wing dam by Lambertville at sunset (with a disposable hibachi and some marinated chicken and a cooler of cold drinks, you’re all set) http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3876556

Go on a Lighthouse Lark! Follow these special structures and their history along the Jersey shore, Here’s a map to help plan your route: http://www.lighthousefriends.com/nj.html and end your day at Barnegat Light, with a sunset sail out onto Barnegat Bay. (if you go on Wednesdays, you can be on the Fireworks Sail!) http://seacaptain.hypermart.net

Cheer at the Races! Check out thoroughbreds at Monmouth: http://www.monmouthpark.com/ (click on Racing tab for calendar). Or harness-racing at Freehold, starting August 12th: http://www.freeholdraceway.com/

Visit the Liberty Science Center! In Jersey City, the IMAX is featuring “Wild Oceans”, “Sea Monsters”, and Jane Goodall’s “Wild Chimpanzees”. http://www.lsc.org/lsc/visit/directions

Cooking! http://www.westfieldtoday.com/classicthyme (they do 3-hour team-building cooking events! Perfect for a family!)

Catch something! Go crabbing: Here’re lots of easy spots, right from the dock; http://www.scottsbt.com/misc/crabbing/crabbingspots.htm Go fishing: Try http://www.goldeneaglefishing.com/, or on Long Beach Island, the Miss Beach Haven “party” boat: http://www.missbeachhaven.com/

Make a day of it at the Shore! Check out Seaside Heights: http://www.discoverourtown.com/NJ/SeasideHeights/Shopping/121037.html You can visit the nature center at Island Beach State Park, picnic, stroll the boardwalk, and then play at the amusement park on the way home. Arrange a banana boat ride as a special surprise! (Island Beach Park fills up on hot days, so get there early!)

Hike! The shady, streamside paths of the Delaware Water Gap are a welcome shelter from summer’s heat, and Sunfish Pond makes a great lunch stop! http://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/hiking-nj.htm

Go to Liberty State Park, ferry across to Manhattan, and Bike Tour! At Bike the Big Apple, they’ll set up custom tours for you, give you guides and bikes, and even help you to their starting point! http://bikethebigapple.com/calendar.html

Canoe! Explore the cranberry bogs and deep into the pine barrens, http://pineypower.com/canoetrip/canoe_trip.htm or even cruise along one of the local canals closer to home in Griggstown and Princeton, http://www.canoenj.com/. Here’s state-wide directory, http://www.aboutnewjersey.com/outdoors/Canoeing/index.php (remember the sunscreen and hat, a cooler of iced drinks, and dry shorts for the ride home!)

Ferry between Camden and Philly! The Camden Aquarium http://www.adventureaquarium.com/index.cfm, has special exhibits on sharks, touch tanks, creatures of the Caribbean, penguins and seals, and even exotic bird feeding… then ferry over to Philly for a cheesesteak on South Street! For ferry info: http://www.riverlinkferry.org/

Be a Farmhand! At Howell Living History Farm, kids and parents can harvest honey, plant and water crops, weigh pigs, and learn about farm life as it was on this historic property: http://www.howellfarm.org/information/information.htm