Thrill seekers will enjoy the aerial obstacle courses at Great Gorge’s TreEscape Aerial Adventure Park in Vernon. Image courtesy of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce.
No matter what experience you crave, Sussex County’s Skylands Region has it all.
Whether you’re in search of dynamic outdoor activities, serene spa scenes, relaxing retail opportunities or diverse culinary experiences, Sussex County’s Skylands Region has you covered — and there’s never been a better time to explore all that the scenic area has to offer this spring and summer.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
If you love nature, the Skylands offers a rich playground of opportunity.
“With spring underway, our region comes alive with blooming flowers and trees, warming lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, and all sorts of wildlife throughout our area’s many enjoyable trails, paths, parks and nature preserves,” said Tammie Horsfield, president of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce and Sussex Skylands Destination Marketing Organization in Newton. “Among them, enjoy colorful dragonflies and butterflies at Kittatinny Valley State Park in Newton and the park’s Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden.” Springtime birdwatchers will relish the sight of full nests and active parents gathering food for their young at Stokes State Forest in Sandyston/Montague/Frankford and High Point State Park in Wantage/Montague, while the tall cascade of Buttermilk Falls in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area will enable a connection to nature like no other.
Enjoy a cruise along Lake Hopatcong on the Miss Lotta from May-October. Image courtesy of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce.
Lovers of the great outdoors will enjoy the thrill of aerial obstacle courses at Great Gorge’s TreEscape Aerial Adventure Park in Vernon as well as both Mountain Creek’s Zip Tours and its Experience Downhill Package, an all-inclusive downhill mountain biking experience that comes complete with proper equipment, top-notch instruction and access to Mountain Creek’s beginner-friendly terrain.
If fresh, Jersey-grown produce is your interest, head out to any of Sussex County’s many farmers markets, including those located in Sparta, Hopatcong, The Shoppes at Lafayette and at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta beginning this spring. “Garden enthusiasts will enjoy the rainbow of flowers, plants and herbs offered at Sparta Nursery, Ideal Farms in Lafayette and Farmside Gardens in Sussex, the latter of which also offers green workshops on ‘Growing Houseplants,’ ‘Starting a Vegetable Garden,’ ‘Creating Your Own Flower or Herb Porch Pot,’ or even ‘Building a Cut Flower Garden,’” Horsfield said.
If you want to hit the water, head to Lake Hopatcong and book a cruise on the famed “Miss Lotta,” the largest boat on New Jersey’s largest lake. Miss Lotta’s variety of cruises — including brunch, lunch or dinner cruises or any of their themed cruises, including their popular “Studio 54” or “Cigar and Whiskey” cruises — begin in early May and run through the end of October.
Enjoy fine dining in Crystal Springs Resort’s acclaimed Restaurant Latour this season. Image courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort.
Food and Festivals
“Those who enjoy food and beverage-themed outings will love the scene in the Skylands this spring and early summer, as May and June kick off our festival season,” Horsfield said. Among great activities, “don’t miss the Skyland’s Stadium Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival in Augusta on May 6, Crystal Springs Resort’s New Jersey Beer & Food Festival (featuring over 200 brewers!) on June 17, and a celebration of Southern rock and BBQ at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta on June 23-25 through the annual Rock, Ribs, and Ridges Festival.”
“For a more formal culinary experience, enjoy a delicious dinner at the Walpack-based Walpack Inn, which also offers live music, drink specials and a ‘bar bites’ menu during their Sunday Happy Hour from 3-6 p.m.,” Horsfield said. “In the warmer months, The Windlass features lakeside dining right on Lake Hopatcong and The Carriage House is right on Culvers Lake in Frankford,” said Horsfield, who added that Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub’s rooftop bar and the outdoor terrace of St. Moritz Bar & Grill on Lake Mohawk in Sparta are also fantastic dining options.
Crystal Springs Resort’s award-winning Ballyowen golf course welcomes both beginners and experienced players. Image courtesy of Crystal Springs Resort.
Golf and More
If golf is your passion, the 27-hole Farmstead Golf & Country Club in Lafayette and the 18-hole SkyView Golf Club in Sparta both offer attractive natural terrains and engaging and challenging holes.
For a great golfing getaway, enjoy one of six championship-caliber golf courses and accommodations at Crystal Springs Resort, a 4,000-acre destination that features two hotels (Grand Cascades Lodge and Minerals Hotel), 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 (such as goat yoga, scenic hikes, fishing, archery, ax throwing, laser clay shooting and more).
“Designed by Robert von Hagge, Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio, Roger Rulewich and others, our six courses offer just the right blend of challenge and variety,” said Michelle Abate, director of Marketing at Crystal Springs Resort. “Our modern Cascades, Zagat-rated Black Bear and award-winning, Celtic-style Ballyowen (rated the No. 1 public golf course in New Jersey!) welcome both beginners and experienced players alike.”
After a long day on the links, visitors can enjoy a range of relaxing massages, rejuvenating facials, herbal therapies and other wellness services at either of the resort’s two award-winning spas (Elements Spa at Minerals Hotel and Reflections Spa at Grand Cascades Lodge). “And don’t miss our Restaurant Latour, a renowned destination which features the best of the Garden State’s bountiful farms and artisan producers as well as an award-winning wine collection,” Abate said.
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) or to book a reservation, visit CSResort.com or call 866-717-9310.
