PLEASE HELP! Things to do in Northern NJ...

My fiance and I just moved to Paramus, NJ and we are finding it quiet boring here. Please help us identify some cool places here that are interesting to visit. We are interested in scenic drives, boating/kayaking, games, zoos, etc. Basically anything that is interesting. Thanks in advance for your help!

there are a few things to do (besides shopping that are very close)
1.) the van saun park ZOO (its right off of Route 4 in Paramus)

2.) The Saddle River Park (which runs through Saddle River, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn and Ridgewood. Its great for biking and long walks.

3.) Every friday the Bergen Record runs a weekend section that listed a Trail, usually within 2 hrs, and gives the description of length, difficulties, and views.

4.) Others -- Delaware water gap (45 mins away), the water reservior (so native american land out there - about 25 mins away)

If you are looking for other things besides outdoor activities just pm me.

Boring? Where did you live before and what did you do there? You are close to NYC, where there are plenty of things to do, if you enjoy the type of things a city has to offer. You have the beaches and boardwalks down the shore. You have the hills of Northwest NJ, NY Catskills, and NE PA which offer many types of outdoor activities as well as water and amusement parks in Vernon, NJ ( Mountain Creek) and Dorney Park in Allentown, PA. Although northern NJ is overly congested with people and traffic, there are probably more things to do in a hour or two drive that anywhere else in the US.

dstankus2 said: considerate said: Side note: remember to say that you're going "down the shore," never that you're going "to the beach."

Welcome to NJ!

And once you are "down the shore" since you don't live there, you are a BENNY!

If you love nature/waterfalls, go to Bushkill Falls, High Point, Stokes Forest area. It's beautiful. You have everything at your disposal in NYC. Philadelphia isn't too far away. There is Atlantic City if you want to take a long day or an overnight trip. If you make your way to the Cape May area, there is the Cape May Zoo which is very nice and doesn't cost a dime.

New Jersey has a little bit of everything. There is so much so close to you. You just need to be willing to driving a little in each direction.

Welcome to NJ!!!!!

MISTERCHEAP said: considerate said: My fiance and I just moved to Paramus, NJ and we are finding it quiet boring here. Please help us identify some cool places here that are interesting to visit. We are interested in scenic drives, boating/kayaking, games, zoos, etc. Basically anything that is interesting. Thanks in advance for your help!

Check out Amish Country in PA. About a two hour drive (you could make a long day trip out of it or stay a weekend). Really unique, beautiful area. Hershey, PA is about 1/2 hour from Lancaster area. That is also a very fun place to see.

There are some minor league baseball teams in the area in Somerset, Trenton and Camden that all have fun promos.

I second Delaware Water Gap, the Poconos is about an hour further down the road on I-80. There are waterparks, casinos and many shops/antique places to see. Of course in winter, skiing, snowtubing/boarding are a must.

Also, some good theatre in NJ. The NJ State Theatre in New Brunswick has many good offerings and I'm sure there some community/smaller theatre/arts type stuff in your area. Useful when the weather gets colder!

Specifically, the Bergen Performing Arts Center (whose server seems to be down) is located in Englewood (about a 15 min drive) and there are some community theatres in Hackensack and Ridgewood.

Newark at night is pretty nice.

Go check out Campmor on Rt. 17, it's a huge outdoor store (hiking, biking, kayaking, etc). The employees would be able to tell you about places around there and they might even have outings.

There are a log of state parks up that way, Ringwood, Wawayanda, and Harriman. Catskills are fairly close by.

Van Saun Park Zoo is pretty small. Used to also do a picnic under the Weeping Willows to round out an afternoon. Turtle Back Zoo is a little bigger. Both are very kid oriented.

Route 17 North will quickly take you to the great outdoors. I once found a Renaissance Festival just driving around.

Palasades Mall off the Thru way.

Up the Palasades in NY State you will find Bear Mtn Park.

Down Rt 17 South you will find the Meadow lands. Sports, Concerts, and Horse Racing.
If you have some dough to spend for a nice dinner and like sea food, The Chart House is just south of the Lincoln Tunnel in Weehawken.

Harriman (NY) has a lot of lakes (Tiorati, Sebago, Welch) and campgrounds.

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/

(sorry-right button on the mouse is broken, so it won't let me link it)

If you wait another month or so, take a ride up north on the Palisades Parkway into Orange County. With the changing of the leaves, it's a really pretty ride.

Hoboken (NJ) is always fun to walk around. Lot's of great bars & restaurants. They often have street fairs in the summer. Nyack (NY) has them a few times a year too. It's down by the Hudson River and there are a lot of antique stores & cafes

jerzmom said: dstankus2 said: considerate said: Side note: remember to say that you're going "down the shore," never that you're going "to the beach."

Welcome to NJ!

And once you are "down the shore" since you don't live there, you are a BENNY!

LOL! I've lived in NJ for almost 30 years and heard the term "benny" and knew what it meant but not the origin. This from Urban Dictionary:

"Acronym used to describe people who visit the jersey shore only in the summer time. Stands for Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, and New York"

Hey, you learn something new every day!