August 17 - 23

Smarter than the average dog, this German shepherd wears RuffWear Grip Trex boots that protect his feet while strolling along hot Morristown sidewalks, training for a career with The Seeing Eye.

Dog Day Afternoons

The sultry days of mid to late summer are long and lazy. Busy, demanding days are not far ahead; so spend some quality time finding out the best ways to do nothing but relax. You don't have to rob a bank to have fun!

Stroll the canal or try a mule-drawn boat ride provided by the Canal Society of NJ at Canal Day Festival in Wharton.

Do That Stroll

The Morris Canal always was a good place for a stroll. The canal's 102-mile meander across northern New Jersey, from Phillipsburg to Jersey City, was walked by every mule driver for every team that pulled a canal boat from 1831 to 1924. A number of organizations have turned portions of the canal into recreational paths so that you can learn about the canal while spending time along its route. There's a little bit of everything at Wharton's Canal Day Festival this Saturday (Aug. 18), an old time country fair that celebrates the Morris Canal and its contributions to the development of the communities along its banks. Music by ten live bands, kayak and boat rides on the canal, arts and crafts, food and more. Admission is free. 10am - 5pm at Hugh Force Park (formerly known as Morris Canal Lock Two East), 170 West Central Ave. in Wharton. Click or call 973/989-0237.

Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams at WNTI Stage.

Robben Ford takes charge on Morristown's Green on Saturday.

Native-New-Jerseyan-turned-country-star, Beth Ann Clayton, headlines at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater.

Strollworthy

If you stroll to rock your soul, this weekend's for you. A three-day music fest on two stages begins Friday night and extends through Sunday (Aug. 17-19) as Centenary College's WNTI Radio presents an eclectic line-up of well-known performers along with the best in local talent. WNTI Stage is held under cover at the Knowlton Lions Club Pavilion on Rt. 46 West in Delaware. $10 per day or $25 for three days (Friday is a half day anyway...) Click or call 908-979-4355.

On Saturday (Aug. 18) the Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival , a day of free music conceived by Morristown’s mayor and sponsored by Morristown businesses includes Jazz Chicks, Rusty Paul (son of Les) Band, Rob Paparozzi and the Hudson River Rats, Jerry Vezza Quartet with Grover Kemble, and Robben Ford. 12 noon - 10pm, on the Green. Click for more information.

And on Sunday, (Aug. 19) Nashville comes to Bridgewater at Country Fest with Beth Anne Clayton and Radio Nashville. Free, courtesy Somerset County Parks. 5:30 - 8:30pm at Duke Island Park on Old York Road. Click or call 908/722-1200

Rich and varied, music in Northwest New Jersey is just the ticket for shows that end on high notes. Your musical destination is never very far away and often the price can't be beat, especially on summer evenings. Keep your eyes out for more summer music here.

Trestle bridge over Ken Lockwood Gorge along the Columbia Trail

Walk the Line

Rail trails are a legacy of some of the many railroads that once thrived in northwestern New Jersey in an era when trains had names, each with its own character and personality. You don't need a whole lot of hiking know-how or aerobic virility to enjoy a rail trail. You can walk along a rail trail for miles without the struggle of an uphill climb or the danger of twisting an ankle on a protruding rock. The soft cinder dirt that makes up the surface of most rail trails is soft and eliminates the need for a sturdy hiking boot. The trails provide an excellent place for the observation of beaver, deer, mink, muskrat, otter, and other wildlife. And, because the railroad often acted as a super pollinator, spreading seed from unknown, far-away places, many unusual and non-native plant species are evident along the way. Besides being easy for walkers, the "too-straight-to-be-real" trails are perfect for horseback or mountain bikes.

The Rockabye’s train heads for Whitehouse. Photo by permission Tom Taber III, “The Rock -A-Bye Baby, A History of the Rockaway Valley Railroad”

If searching out the past while getting a little exercise appeals to you, there are several ways to start your own explorations. Railbeds for the former Sussex Railroad (Sussex Branch), the NY Susquehanna and Western (Paulinskill Valley), or the maze of old railbeds in the Chester area, provide cinder-based paths of modest grade for the pleasure of all ages, including the very young and the very old. You can explore the Rock A Bye Rail Trail, an obscure short line stretching from Whitehouse in Hunterdon County to the outskirts of Morristown. Or the Karamac Trail just north of the Delaware Water Gap provides another short but satisfying taste of days past in a beautiful setting. Designated as the "Karamac Trail" by the NY-NJ Trail Conference map, most of this trail is the former railbed of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad Company. And, while Hunterdon's system of rails was not as intricate as farther north, where mining was more prevalent, the county was home to many spur lines used to transport passengers and products to charming villages and hamlets. Today the county hosts miles of easily accessible trails along these former rail routes, perfect for mid-summer walks.

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This summer, spread your wings and reach for the Skylands! Northwest New Jersey and destinations just beyond those borders, in Pennsylvania and New York, offer brilliant ways to get out and enjoy the pleasures of the season.

Tap our calendar for the best events for you and your family, or check our latest stories. Stay tuned to our Day Trip Map for good ideas for a scenic drive! Or use the Outdoor Map for links to all sorts of colorful hikes and outdoor fun!

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