It’s a well-known fact that the vast majority of students that attend SJU are from the tri-state area: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. You get the occasional New Yorker or Marylander, but we’re not a very diverse group. This means most of us share common interests and activities. So when summer rolls around, where are you most likely to find us? At the shore.
Most of us populate the Jersey shore but there are great beaches in Delaware and Maryland that we also frequent. Being a New Jersey native I spent my summers growing up at the shore and have continued that theme by being a frequent beach bum on hot July weekends. I’ve noticed that so many of the students here do the same.
What if I told you that there were other options for your sunny summer Saturdays other than posting up on the beach? We all love the shore. That’s a fact. But you’re cheating yourself if you don’t try other summer adventures and explore the area that you’re from. There are so many places that are ideal for a weekend in the summer when you’re bored and want a different experience. I’ve got a list of places to try when you want to venture out of the norm:
1.Philly’s Magic Gardens
Built as an art exhibit, the Magic Gardens in Philadelphia are a beautiful landscape to explore with friends when you’re having a lazy day. Plus, the pictures you take there will be gorgeous and majorly Instagram-worthy.
2. The Quarry
Located in Hopewell, NJ, the Quarry Swim Club is a stunning alternative to the beach and a pool. It’s a natural swimming hole that a couple purchased and turned into a swim club so others could share in the natural beauty. Surrounded by rocky cliffs and walls of greenery, this is a peaceful day trip to take with friends or family.
3. Six Flags Great Adventure
If you haven’t been to Six Flags, you are missing out. Located in central Jersey, this isn’t a far trek from SJU’s campus. It’s a fun day and you can usually find some kind of deal on tickets.
4. Delaware Water Gap
This truly is one of the most scenic hiking places you’ll come across around here. Located near the top of New Jersey where it meets PA, it’s a massively popular outdoor recreation area. It’s huge and because of that there are areas designated for camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, and any other activity you can imagine. The Appalachian Trail runs through the Delaware Water Gap for many miles, which is the most famous hiking trail in America, running from Georgia all the way up to Maine.
5. Wissahickon Gorge
This is a park located right in the city boundaries of Philadelphia about 15 minutes away from SJU. There are over 50 miles of hiking and biking trails and you can even hop on a horse for an hour and travel that way. Forbidden Drive runs right through the center of the park which is great for jogging and dog-walking because no cars are allowed to drive on it (hence the name).
6. Dutch Springs Lake
Located in the Lehigh Valley, Dutch Springs is a great alternative and something different. It’s an enormous lake that is available for swimmers, scuba divers, and snorkelers, and there is even a section of the lake with blow-up slides, trampolines, and other obstacles. You can come for the day or camp overnight on their camping grounds.
I will never get tired of the beach. That said, I am always down to go to new places and have adventures in areas that I’ve never been before. This list is full of great locations for day trips this summer and are sure not to disappoint. If you’re not from the tri-state area then try and get to some of these places when you move back into SJU before it starts to get cold!
Adventure more.
HCXO,
Alli