Perfect picnic in new jersey

April 18, 2012 9:32 AM

Please help me plan the perfect anniversary picnic! Looking for lovely secluded locations in central jersey/bucks county/nj shore area to have a romantic afternoon.

We love to be outside and I love being near water. I would especially love a pretty little waterfall or babbling brook. A shaded grassy area or secluded beachy place would be lovely too. I don't mind a drive to a super location, but would like to keep the travel to under two hours. And light hiking wouldn't be a problem either to reach beautiful destination.

Also any innovative suggestions as to what should be packed into said picnic lunch (I would like to make it more special than a baguette and cheese) would be equally appreciated.

Thanks so much!!!

posted by khyaiin to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (9 answers total)

One thing you can do that would be just fun and silly and special is to bring a centerpiece for the "table". Like a small, simple vase with a flower, or a candle (one of those little fake LED ones would be safest). The little unexpected touch of charm takes it from regular picnic to fancy special picnic with very little effort.
posted by phunniemee at 9:48 AM on April 18, 2012

How about Washington Crossing State Park? The wildflowers should be starting to be beautiful this time of year. There is some hiking, and a babbling brook. And, of course, the Delaware.
posted by tully_monster at 2:04 PM on April 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

My first thought was Washington Crossing as well.

(My second thought was remembering really wonderful picnics at the Battlefield in Princeton growing up, but Washington Crossing is more secluded and more scenic.)

I'm not sure if you can picnic at either Churchville Nature Center or the Stony Brook Watershed, but both are quite nice. Maybe not scenic enough?

It's not lush green grass, but the Bordentown beach is certainly an interesting spot.

A little further away, there are also some official picnic spots within the Delaware Water Gap—though you might not be looking for a place with set aside tables and so on.

For the shore: Barnegat Lighthouse, Island Beach State Park or the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge are all stunning, though I think you need to be very careful about avoiding all litter in the last.

My top two choices would probably be either Washington Crossing or Island Beach.
posted by jann at 3:08 PM on April 18, 2012

Oh and as to what goes in the hamper?

If it makes sense geographically, you might call ahead and see if Olive's in Princeton will make you a special basket of goodies.
posted by jann at 3:14 PM on April 18, 2012

And in places I haven't been, High Falls (scroll down) at Ringing Rocks might be wonderful. (Plus who wouldn't be excited by ringing rocks?)
posted by jann at 3:41 PM on April 18, 2012

If it were me I'd definitely bring a bottle of good wine. But maybe you can't drink legally or just don't want to, in which case a bottle of sparkling fruit juice, cider, or chilled mineral water might be a nice, elegant touch.
posted by tully_monster at 8:12 PM on April 20, 2012

Ringing Rocks! I'd completely forgotten about that place. There's also Peace Valley Park, which surrounds the New Galena Reservoir and about which I have fond memories (having been born and raised in Central Bucks County) but that's maybe a bit of a drive. And OP, have you been to New Hope? It's just across the Delaware from Lambertville.
posted by tully_monster at 8:18 PM on April 20, 2012

I ended up getting so excited about this that I went off to Ringing Rocks today (despite the rain). And while it is completely fun and gorgeous and totally worthwhile, there wasn't actually any obvious spot to pitch a blanket and sit for awhile, at least not with a full basket of stuff. So maybe not for this outing per se . . .
posted by jann at 2:47 PM on April 22, 2012

But! On the stuff in the basket department, I can definitely vouch for City Market in Lambertville. We stopped there on our way back and had a very very delicious late afternoon snack. Again, if you called ahead, I bet they'd prepare a nice spread for you.
posted by jann at 2:50 PM on April 22, 2012