The historic Sterling Hill Mine in Ogdensburg. Image courtesy of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce
Spring activities abound in New Jersey’s scenic Sussex Skylands Region
With its scenic landscape and plethora of indoor and outdoor activities, New Jersey’s beautiful Sussex Skylands Region is the ultimate destination for fun recreation year-round. And as the seasons transition and winter turns to spring, the Sussex Skylands offer a broad range of attractions that won’t disappoint.
“For those who didn’t feel that they got enough winter activities in this year, Skylands Ice World in Stockholm offers public ice skating time every day as well as its popular ‘Ice Jam’ with music every Friday night from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.,” said Tammie Horsfield, president of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce and Sussex Skylands Destination Marketing Organization in Newton.
Given the relatively mild winter New Jersey experienced in 2022-23, “plenty of people continue to enjoy our many trails for hiking and biking, especially since they’re snow- and mud-free at the moment,” Horsfield said. For a fun dual opportunity, “Angry Erik Brewing is located right off the Paulinskill Valley Trail (a 27-mile trail that runs along the Paulins Kill River) outside of Newton and is a favorite stop for hikers.
Il Porto on the Lake Mohawk Boardwalk in Sparta. Image courtesy of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce
“Retail wandering paired with a delicious lunch can be a perfect way to spend an afternoon at this time of the year,” Horsfield noted. “In that regard, Sparta is a wonderful destination — especially the White Deer Plaza area near the quaint Lake Mohawk Boardwalk.” Among the many popular places to dine there, “Il Porto restaurant is centrally situated with a lake view right outside the window, and other great eateries include the St. Moritz Grill & Bar and Krogh’s Restaurant and Brew Pub,” she said. “Enjoy some retail therapy in such unique shops as Garlic & Oil, which specializes in gourmet food and gifts; Nutty Over Sweets candy store; and Get Personal, a custom engraving and embroidery shop which has a ton of great products at very reasonable prices. There’s also Onore, a boutique men’s clothing store, custom clothier and full-service tailor shop that offers beautiful apparel,” she said. “Sparta additionally has a movie theater, a bowling alley, an ice cream shop, and a delightful coffee shop and organic café called Cloveberry.”
For history buffs, “the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg is full of mining history and includes a mine tour,” Horsfield said of the historic facility, which welcomes 40,000 visitors annually and works to preserve artifacts from the town’s genesis as a center of zinc and iron mining activities in the 19th century. “It’s definitely a one-of-a-kind place.”
Gal pals enjoy ‘PJs and Prosecco’ at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg. Image courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort
Explore Crystal Springs Resort
“During the late winter/early spring period, Crystal Springs Resort offers so much for those in need of a getaway,” said Michelle Abate, director of Marketing at Crystal Springs Resort, a 4,000-acre destination in Sussex County that features two hotels (Grand Cascades Lodge and Minerals Hotel), great golfing at six courses, 10 restaurants (including its Crystal Tavern, 4-star Restaurant Latour and seasonal farm-to-table Chef’s Garden), two spas and a variety of seasonal activities.
Among other notable attractions at the resort, “March is officially ‘Girlfriends Getaway Month’ and we invite ladies to gather with their gal pals at the Northeast’s premier destination,” Abate said of the promotion. “Relax at the tropical Biosphere pool at our Grand Cascades Lodge, enjoy deliciously crafted cocktails, enter a true oasis at either of our award-winner spas, and just kick back!” According to Abate, guests can choose from three fun packages: “PJs and Prosecco,” which includes matching PJs for everyone in the party plus one bottle of Prosecco in the room; “Robes and Rosé,” which includes matching floral robes for everyone in the party plus one bottle of rosé in the room; and “Masks and Mimosas,” which includes matching eucalyptus masks for everyone in the party plus one bottle of Prosecco and orange juice for mimosas.
A couple enjoys rock climbing at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg. Image courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort
In addition, ”Our amazing ‘Spring Break Getaway’ runs from March 31 to April 16 and is chock-full of exciting activities from dawn until dusk for all ages,” Abate said. “Among them, guests can enjoy everything from ‘Visits from the Farm’ and ‘Bee Keeper’ talks to goat yoga, scenic hikes, fishing, archery, ax throwing and laser clay shooting. There are packages for overnight stays, but we offer plenty of activities for day visitors, including our popular and fun rock-climbing wall, wine-tasting opportunities from Wednesday through Sunday, our Crystal Cabaret live entertainment series every Saturday, Glice skating, golf, FootGolf and more.
“Whether for an overnight stay or day visit,” Abate concluded, “there are plenty of fun activities to enjoy at our four-season resort.”
For More Information
The Sussex County Chamber of Commerce and Sussex Skylands Destination Marketing Organization are located at 120 Hampton House Road in Newton and can be reached by calling 973-579-1811 or visiting sussexskylands.com for travel information. For more information on Crystal Springs Resort, located at 1 Wild Turkey Way in Hamburg, visit TheCrystalSpringsResort.com or call 844-205-1857.
