Unique places to take visitors this summer

Happy Wednesday, New Jersey!

☀️Weather: Sunny, high 86.

Did you know? The Senior Community Service Employment Program/ Workforce 55+ program provides part-time employment to help older workers (ages 55 years and older) obtain employment. Participants work an average of 18 hours a week in a variety of community service activities at non-profit and public facilities including schools, libraries, hospitals, day-care centers, and senior centers and are paid minimum wage. This training serves as a bridge to employment for participants. For more information, visit the NJ Department of Labor’s SCSEP/Workforce 55+ page.

👀What’s on tap today:

• Unique places to take out-of-towners this summer

• Smart starts for a healthy heart

• Weekend events

Up first…

Unique places to take visitors this summer

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦When family and friends visit, you want to give them an exceptional experience and highlight the unique appeal of our state. This mini-guide to some distinctive summer spots in New Jersey will help you do just that, courtesy of www.visitnj.org.

Fun with family

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Map your way to a treasured experience and swashbuckling good time when you climb aboard a Dark Star Pirate Cruise in Wildwood Crest – just be sure to watch out for the antics of this 50-foot vessel’s mutinous crew. If the kiddos are more interested in operating real-live (specially engineered) backhoes, diggers and other heavy equipment, then be sure to clock in at the country’s only construction theme and water park at Diggerland USA in West Berlin.

New Jersey is also home to some curious animal attractions. For creepy crawlies, a visit to Insectroplis in Toms River is a must. Known as The Bugseum of New Jersey, it’s home to thousands of insects and even a “mud tube” guests can crawl through to see what it’s like to be a termite. For four-legged and furry creatures, book a tour at Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia and find yourself surrounded by four different packs as the resident wolves play with each other – and maybe even treat you to a howl.

Easy, breezy cruising

🛥️For a relaxing experience, you can choose a cruise. The River Lady in Toms River, the only genuine paddle-wheel boat in the state, is renowned for elegant lunch and dinner cruises. If your tastes run more Mai Tai than Champagne, book a Pau Hana Tiki Boat Tour out of Somers Point.

Seeking a change in altitude? Get your ticket for The Cannibal Queen, one of America’s most historic aircraft, for a biplane ride that soars high above New Jersey beaches.

Beyond the brewery (or winery!)

🍺🍷The Garden State is known for its thriving winery, brewery and distillery scene for couples and friends. For a twist on the fun, we invite you and your visitors to sip on mighty meads and crisp ciders at a trio of craft beverage makers – Beach Bee Meadery in Long Branch, Ironbound Farm & Ciderhouse in Asbury and Burnt Mills Cider in Bedminster.

Gardens, grub, glass & games 

🌸🌼🪻🌹Flowers and food are universal crowd-pleasers, so we rounded up the delights to dazzle your guests. Bring garden lovers to Duke Farms in Hillsborough, a 1,000-acre wonder of natural beauty featuring native plants, or Deep Cut Gardens in Middletown – where every season is abloom and a rose parterre showcases 52 varieties on more than 180 bushes. Hungry? The New Jersey Food Tour Trail invites you to eat your way around the entire state through a collaboration of food tour operators cover every region.

Looking for something artsy? WheatonArts in Millville is a full-blown artistic community that houses the highly respected Museum of American Glass along with artist studios, where you can watch demonstrations in glassmaking and other crafts. Care to get hands-on? GlassRoots in Newark hosts classes that cover just about every step of the glassmaking process. 

🕹️For a one-of-a-kind throwback (and must-do!) experience, you can take your crew to the Silverball Museum Arcade in Asbury Park, where an entry pass allows you to play all of the classic pinball and arcade games.

All-in for history and heritage

👩‍🌾For family and friends that would like to witness the past in the here and now, take a trip to Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morris Township to get immersed in the everyday workings of a 1920s farm – or journey back in time at Batsto Village in Hammonton to explore over two-and-a-half centuries of historic wows.

Your guests will stand in awe of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, an impressive Hindu house of worship in Robbinsville. Showcasing 13,499 individual carved stone pieces and surrounded by a beautiful, manicured setting, it is a cultural treasure to behold. Top tip: Review key visitor information – including dress code – before your arrival.

And a sense of wonder is sure to STEM from our final two unique places to take out-of-towners. The InfoAge Science History Learning Museum in Wall is a consortium of science and history museums and exhibits (think: a mini Smithsonian) that focus on New Jersey’s innovations in telecommunications, while the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum takes off with interactive exhibits and activities centered around aviation and military history – all housed in a real WWII hangar in Cape May.

Smart starts for a healthy heart

🥰If you already enjoy the routine of breakfast to start the day, consider swapping sugary drinks for beverages without added sugars like unsweetened green or black tea. When incorporated as part of an overall healthy diet, unsweetened tea can help support heart health. If you need help getting started, Lipton, a national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s “Life is Why” campaign, created these easy-to-make, better-for-you tea recipes. A small handful of ingredients makes a big splash in Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies, ideal for an on-the-go breakfast. For a little refreshment any time of day, simple Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers offer a solution with 0 grams of added sugars while non-alcoholic Green Tea Mojito Mocktails provide natural sweetness with 100% fruit juice. Get the recipes: Better With Age New Jersey

Navigating Aging

Feel Judged by Your Doctor? You Might Not Be Imagining It: It’s tough to open up to a doctor, even though it’s vital if patients want the best care for what ails them. HealthDay News, Aug. 7.

Get These 9 Screenings to Keep Your Medicare Costs Down: Health care costs are high and only rising, and for older adults on Medicare, keeping costs down is important. These nine screenings and other tips can help you control costs and stay healthier longer. U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 7.

When Is It Safe to Give Up a Paycheck? Do the Math: Are your savings and Social Security benefits enough to let you live where you want to live and do what you want to do? Next Avenue, Aug. 9.

Moving in Retirement? 5 Things to Ponder Before You Pack: From available doctors to income tax rates, here’s what to think about before deciding to live elsewhere. NerdWallet, Aug. 5.

Upcoming Events

August 17 – Small Town Summer Art Walk 2024 (Allentown, Monmouth County)
August 17 – Urban Arts Festival (Morristown, Morris County)
August 17 & 18 – Fiesta In America (East Rutherford, Bergen County)
August 17 & 18 – Bridgeton Peach Festival (Bridgeton, Salem County)
August 17 & 18 – Collingswood Crafts and Fine Art Festival (Collingswood, Camden County)
August 17 & 18 – Ort Farms Flower Festival (Long Valley, Morris County)
August 17 & 18 – Seafarering Skullduggery Weekend (Cape May, Cape May County)
August 18 – Metuchen Street Fair & Craft Show (Metuchen, Middlesex County)
August 18 – 24 – Burlington County Restaurant Week (Burlington County)
August 19 – 21 – Indie Street Film Festival (Red Bank, Monmouth County)
August 20 – AWA Barking Lot Sips & Brews (Voorhees, Camden County)
August 21 – 25 – Hunterdon County Fair (Lambertville, Hunterdon County)
August 22 – John Oates – An Acoustic Evening of Songs & Storytelling (Newton, Sussex County)
August 23 – International Winefest (Atlantic City, Atlantic County)
August 23 – Green Market (Smithville, Atlantic County)
August 23 – 25 – Sports Card, Toys, Comics & Collectibles Show (Wildwood, Cape May County)

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😊See you tomorrow!