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December 4 - 11

Adventables

Find a beauty at Evergreen Valley Christmas Tree Farm!
You’ve got your lists, the Christmas music has been playing on the radio since Halloween… and Santa’s got a flight schedule! Time to get stuff done! Here's how you can rev up that good old holiday spirit.

Reindeer Paradise

Well regarded as the standard in New Jersey wildlife rescue, Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary, a 120-acre preserved farm located in Frelinghuysen, is a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitation center that provides vital care and treatment to sick, injured or orphaned animals. This Saturday's (Dec. 7) Holiday Bazaar is a day filled with wonderful crafts and specialty items, delicious holiday treats, pet friendly shopping hosted by Aunt Mary’s Dog House, and lots of other surprises. The famous Boxwood Centerpiece, handmade by wildlife volunteers for the holiday season, will also be available to brighten up your home. Or you can pre-order your boxwood to guarantee you get one. (Every year is a sellout.) Order on line or call 973-800-2420. Holiday Bazaar lunch and dinner will be available for takeout or eat in while shopping. The Bazaar will take place at the Frelinghuysen Forest Preserve, 139 Lincoln Laurel Road in Blairstown.

Country Roads

The tour through Knowlton Township will commence at the historic Ramsaysburg Homestead Tavern building. Visitors will find a charming holiday pop-up shop open from 1 - 2:30, featuring bacon smoked on site at the Ramsaysburg smokehouse, along with local farm-to-table products along with complimentary holiday refreshments and a wassail bowl.
Make plans to take the Knowlton Township Historic Commission's self-guided Christmas in the Country Historic House Tour of private homes and historic sites decorated for the holiday season this Sunday, December 8th, from 1-4pm. The tour will include rare interior visits to several private historic homes, farms, a country inn and a converted general store. Also included on the tour map are notable buildings, barns and historic structures of interest. Sunday’s tour will commence at the historic Ramsaysburg Homestead Tavern building on the Delaware River, located at 140 Route 46 east, Delaware, NJ (corner of Ramseyburg Road). Tour tickets are available in advance at $15 per person, or on the day of the event for $20 (cash only) for collection at Ramsaysburg. Proceeds will support the continuing preservation efforts of The Knowlton Township Historic Commission. Click or call 973/997-0920 for further information. 

Historic homes will be decorated for Christmas in the Victorian style while costumed guides prepare holiday meals over woodstoves and open hearths, and craftsmen ply their trades at Millbrook Village, Saturday (Dec. 7, 11am-4pm). 

Enjoy a Walpack Christmas at the Rosenkrans Museum and the Walpack Methodist Episcopal Church in the historic village of Walpack Center on December 7 from 1pm to 4 pm.

Merry Craftsmas

Interior of Log House at Craftsman Farms
Gustav Stickley, the premier exponent of the movement in design and decorative arts called Arts and Crafts, built in 1908-1910 what was first to be a school, and later became his home, on a twenty-six acre site in Parsippany, near Morris Plains, in Morris County. Along what is now Route 10 West, the site, known as Craftsman Farms is a National Historical Landmark, and the log house Stickley called home is a center for the study of the American Arts and Crafts movement. The principles of simplicity and harmony advocated by Stickley seem to fit comfortably with the spirit of the holidays, and the schedule of events in the next couple of weeks should entice your company at 2352 Rt. 10 W, Morris Plains. Click or call 973-540-0311.

Shoppers Unite!

Avoid messy mall parking and that faceless big-box MaulMart syndrome, and get yourself some real service! Pick from hundreds of handmade, original items from any number of gift shops and galleries on the Main Streets and country lanes of Northwest New Jersey.
  • Decoys and Wildlife Gallery. Gifts for a lifetime! This wildlife art gallery contains an extensive collection of original paintings by some of the nation's most renowned artists as well as the area’s largest selection of hand carved decoys, representing carvers across the US. 55 Bridge St., Frenchtown. 908/996-6501
  • Lamington Lifestyles. A Bedminster destination for 32 years (formerly Lamington General Store) located in a restored 1890's general store, Lamington Lifestyles offers two floors brimming with home decor, unique gifts, women's apparel, baby gifts, jewelry and artwork... some designed by over 80 American artisans. Specializing in custom farm tables. 285 Lamington Rd., Bedminster, 908/439-2034
  • Brook Hollow Winery. Build your own gift basket! 594 State Hwy. 94, Columbia, 07832; 908/496-8200
  • Made To Order. This distinctive jewelry and gift shop offers a wide selection of gold and platinum jewelry,  as well as jewelry and watch repair. Also wildlife photos by Dan Bacon, fine art glass and crystal, Bill Campbell pottery... 44 Main St., Clinton 908/735-4244
  • Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse. Perfect for the foodie, a gift basket includes their finest, most sought after cheese and bread selections packaged with a re-usable bread basket and colorful kitchen towel. Order online or pick them up at the farm with a three day lead time. 369 Stamets Rd, Milford (Hunterdon County) 08848, 908/86GRASS
  • Wilbur's Country Store. British foods and candy, Yankee candles, wind chimes, pet-themed gifts, preserves, much more. Charming location in barn complex between Newton and Blairstown. 735 Route 94, Newton 07860, 908/362-8833
  • Gallery 23. Hand-crafted fine art, sculpture, designer jewelry, art glass, pottery, photography and more, by talented local artists. Open House this Saturday (Dec. 7)! 23 Main Street, Blairstown, 908/362-6865

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Tap our calendar for the best events for you and your family, or check our current stories. Stay tuned to our Day Trip Map for good ideas for a scenic drive! For the more aerobically inclined, the Outdoor Map shows the way to go, or choose among dozens of natural attractions or outdoor activities suggested on our website. 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.
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