How far does Rt. 519 go?

I've always wondered how far CR 519 (pretty much a main route here in Warren County, NJ) will take you. I've looked at it on maps, in disbelief... can you really drive this road all the way to Sussex County? The Rt. 519 that you see up by Space Farms, which seems so far away: is that really OUR 519??

The answer is yes. Yes, you can drive from Warren to Hunterdon, and from Warren to Sussex, via county road 519. It's a lovely ride. The trail becomes decidedly more rocky and mountainous once you get into Sussex County. And the fall colors, and the winding turns, and the cornfields, and stone buildings, and fields of cows and horses, and pumpkin farms, are pretty all the way.

The other day I was trying to get my kid to nap in the car, so I hopped on 519 in Warren County. I went through Hope, Johnsonburg, Frelinghuysen, and possibly some other name of a town that I've never heard of in my life. Wouldn't you know it, after many miles of winding road, I hit Rt. 94 in Newton. And at that point, I didn't know where I'd end up... so I turned around and drove back home.

This probably seems pretty silly to all you GPS people out there. Well, I'm old-school. I refuse to plug in and use our GPS. Me, I prefer a good old-fashioned map to guide my way. When I got home, I consulted with a trusty online map, and realized you can in fact take Rt. 519 all the way to New York. Imagine that! Then it turns into a NY route, maybe 33 or 35 (I'm forgetting the number, but you can Google-map it if you're curious).

How long would it take to take the 519 scenic route to Newton? Uh, maybe 45 minutes. I'm sorry to say that I lost track of time eventually. My son woke up, we stopped at a farm stand... you know how it goes.

For some reason, I am a map weirdo who enjoys finding out where roads go. Honk if you are, too!

"Nothing to Do" in Warren County, NJ?

I have heard from people who grew up here that there is "nothing to do" in Warren County, NJ and I beg to differ!

In fact, as someone who is repulsed by commercialism, I find this small-town, down-home brand of country fun to be just my cup of tea.

The activities available here hearken back to simpler, more peaceful times. For starters, you can immerse yourself in the great outdoors, with a bevvy of choices for nature lovers and homesteaders-at-heart. Hike the Delaware Water Gap; camp along the Appalachian Trail; visit our many local and self sustainable farms. Tour nearby wineries; buy fresh produce, grass-fed meat and free-range chicken eggs... oh, the list goes on!

You can also take in a bit of history at the Oxford Museum; ride the Phillipsburg Steam Train; tour the inside of old homes during Belvidere Victorian Days; partake in the balloon launch at Warren County Farmer's Fair in summertime... oh, yes, there are lots of things to do if you simply step outside of your house and get to know the colorful people and places of this precious, hidden corner of NJ.

You can get excited for Town Wide Yard Sales in the spring and fall. Join the community pool in June. Splash in Oxford Lake. Trek the trails at Merrill Creek. Hike up Jenny Jump Mountain. Go antiquing up and down Rt. 31 and Rt. 46!

Get a summer season pass to the Land of Make Believe in Hope, NJ. Shop quaint little mom and pop shops in Finesville, NJ and Riegelsville, PA.

You can get involved in your local town events. Sign your kids up for sports and after-school activities. Volunteer at St. Luke's and Hackettstown Hospital. Donate to the NORWESCAP food bank. Attend wonderful community day events in July. Watch fireworks on the free bridge between Phillipsburg and Easton, PA.

Speaking of Easton... catch a great band, eat at a nice restaurant, attend a festival in Easton, PA!

And speaking of fireworks... Warren County is a fireworks kind of place! You'll always find fireworks going off around here... pretty awesome!

As you can probably tell from this blog... there is lots to do and see and taste and experience here in beautiful Warren County, NJ.

They changed the music at Greenwich Shoprite

Okay, I know no one probably reads this blog, but it would be really cool if Mr. Collalillo or some high ranking honcho in charge of Greenwich Shoprite would take note of what I am about to say.

Shoprite, you changed your music to some kind of urban ghetto blasting modern club music, and I just want to say that it SUUUCKS.

I mean, come on, look at the majority of shoppers who buy their groceries at this store. Sorry to have to point out the obvious, but we're rural white people. And if I had to do some quick stats of the average age of those shopping at this store... well, I would say that it's somewhere in the mid 50s - baby boomers.

At this particular Shoprite, of which I have purchased groceries, household cleaners and various other sundry items at a minimum of 2 times per week, I have heard 50s doo-wop, 60s motown and 70s hippie tunes. All of this has been GREAT! Nothing like the Big Bopper, Beatles, Earth Wind and Fire, Rolling Stones, and even a little Donna Summer every now and again to get me revved up to wait my turn at the deli counter, paw through cans of dog food, so on and so forth.

But this music you're playing now... oh, God, it's worse than Kidz Bop which I have to listen to every time I show up at one of these modern play gym things, skating rink etc. This terrible, terrible ghetto blasting noise they call music is literally driving me out of the store!

Shoprite, if you don't go back to your former, and obviously grocery-shopping experience enhancing oldies music, I'm going to leave you for Stop 'n Shop.

I mean it. Don't think I won't do it. Music can literally make or break my day, and I'm sure that's the case for a lot of other people or you wouldn't bother experimenting with so many different musical selections.

Sincerely,
Your Number One Fan

Town-Wide Yard Sale Weekends in Warren and Hunterdon Counties

One of the many awesome things about living in the western part of NJ is the town-wide garage sales hosted here. I don't remember anything like this happening in my part of the state growing up, although it doesn't mean they haven't since established the tradition some 30 years later.

All I know is, I make sure to clear my schedule for a few weekends in the spring and a few more in the fall so I can hit the garage sale melee that turns towns like Belvidere, Harmony, Lopatcong, Pohatcong, Stewartsville, Clinton, Lebanon, Whitehouse Station, and probably other towns that I'm as yet unaware of, into an antiquer/bargain-hunter's dream come true.

Over the years, I've scored all kinds of sweet deals on everything from a wet/dry shop vac to antique silver serving platters to an entire set of wrought iron patio furniture to antique wooden dressers and bookshelves. Garage sale finds have clothed my kid, enhanced my home decor, dressed up our holiday table, adorned my party feet, and without a doubt saved us thousands and thousands of dollars.

And if you end up not liking/not using what you buy at the Warren and Hunterdon County garage sales? No worries... you can always put it out at your own yard sale next year, or heck you can even curb it because hey, you only spent a dollar or five anyway!

Just recently, Belvidere hosted their town-wide sale on October 4 and 5. They were somewhat thwarted with a morning of heavy rain on Saturday, but that didn't stop them from coming back stronger and ever, with wall to wall crap, err, precious commodities, lining the sidewalks and driveways of nearly every street in town.

In fact – the sale was so all-encompassing that it proved too much for me to handle in a day. Next time, I may devise some sort of strategic approach for hitting the best spots earliest and whatever else might yield the greatest garage-sale takes.

More garage sales are sure to pop up – keep an eye out in the Treasure Hunt, on local NJ websites, on Facebook, and wherever else you get your "local updates."

Happy Garage Sale Season!

McDonald's Playland at Mackey's Farm

Not sure how many people know this, but Mackey's Farm has an old-school McDonald's playground/pirate ship climber and other fun, outdoor toys in the back behind the barn where they sell seasonal produce.

At first I didn't realize it was from McDonald's; I just thought it was awesome. Then I noticed that, in addition to the triple-wide, old-fashioned metal slide that would scorch the backs of tender young knees on a hot summer day; the signature Mickey D's yellow see-saws that you wouldn't remember until you saw them and all your fondest childhood memories came rushing back; the glorious, wooden pirate ship with upper deck and galley down below featuring their famous, octagonal peep window... they also have genuine, McDonald's signage circa 1980s (?) complete with full regulations for use. If this isn't enough to blow your mind, there is even a McDonald's garbage can which, I guess was included as part of the deal.

Everything is sturdy, made of wood or metal, built to last, and also it entices kids to have a good time at their own risk, on the rickety pirate plank with just a couple of flimsy ropes to hold onto as you climb up, "cannonball" tunnel slide and other delightfully old and well-loved pieces of playground equipment. I asked where they obtained this nostalgic set, and was told they acquired it via auction from a McDonald's in PA that was going out of business.

Anyway, the point is that this is paradise for kids, and you should totally buy some fresh-picked apples, autumn gourdage, and other Halloween and fall-type goodies, before settling down on the parent-bench while the kids have a great old time in the back play area of Mackey's Farm.

We make it a point to go back there every time we stop in, and we always meet new friends.

The Traffic Lights Down By Shoprite and Walmart

Is it me, or have they now added a rather confusing traffic light at the intersection of 22 and St. James Ave? The lights face at an angle, so that you can see them no matter what side of the intersection you're on.

To me, this is absurd, and in fact may cause more accidents. I am not supposed to see the light as it changes for the other guys; I am only supposed to see the light on MY side. The first time I noticed it I did a double-take... "that light is green. Wait a minute, is that MY light, or is that theirs?"

Pretty goddamned stupid and dangerous, if you ask me. If they want to prevent accidents down at that intersection, then they should make more of a delay between the green, red and yellow at the 2 lights that change too quickly as people are driving through.

Mini Golf and Ice Cream on Rt. 57 in Lopatcong, NJ

There's a cute mini golf place in Lopatcong, NJ Warren County. It's located on Rt. 57 adjacent to the ice cream stand. Both are owned by Castlegate Farms.

For both the ice cream and the mini golf, prices can't be beat. 

Mini golf-wise, for a couple of dollars you get 18 holes with fun features like a waterfall, bridge over a little pond, sand dunes, and serene landscaped area. Although they do not have those typical, kid-friendly mini golf amusements like the hole where you get to fire your golf ball into a clown's mouth, shoot it under the bear's legs, and others... it's still decent mini golf with good clubs and balls, and a pleasant, clean and attractive setting.

At the Castlegate Ice Cream stand, they offer a wide variety of ice cream flavors, priced reasonably for a cone or cup, and a little more for a sundae. You can eat outside at tables, or cool down in their enclosed "restaurant" area where you can also order your choice of fun foods such as burgers, fries, nachos and such.

Behind the golf and ice cream they have a picnic area – open fields and tables where you can rent out for the day and host your kid's party or other event. I am not sure how much this costs but you can learn more at their website which is here: http://www.castlegatefarmsminigolf.com/site/

Brian McKenna Plumbing – Review

We have used Brian McKenna plumbing for the past four years now, and have been very happy with the service he and his son have provided. They are a family company based out of Harmony, NJ, serving Harmony, Belvidere, Lopatcong, Phillipsburg and surrounding areas with exceptional plumbing and heating service.

I recently called Brian McKenna with a quick question about our bathroom pipes, and he came by in less than five minutes to assess the situation and offer advice. He always has practical know-how and recommendations. His quotes are reasonable, and he offers solutions that will work for our budget.

If you are a resident of this part of Warren County and require plumbing and/or heating service as most homeowners do, I can confidently recommend Brian McKenna. They are located on River Road and you can find their website here: http://www.mckennaplumbing.com/

Phone: (908) 859-4406    

Fax:     (908) 213-9339

Email: brian@mckennaplumbing.com

The Land of Make Believe - Hope, NJ Warren County

I can't believe I've lived in Warren County, NJ for 11 years and this is the first summer I've managed to visit The Land of Make Believe in Hope, NJ. Wow, now I know what we've been missing! The Land of Make Believe is a first-rate amusement park and water park in one that has all the appeal of a large carnival, coupled with the thrill of a really well-designed water park area. The first cool thing about this place is the price. We paid about 75 dollars for 3 tickets to ride all the rides all day and get free access to the water slides and other water-play amusements. (the per-ticket price is a couple dollars lower for kids under 2 and for seniors). Food prices were very reasonable, about $2.50 for a hot dog and $3 for a cheeseburger, roughly. In fact, I've never been to another amusement park in NJ where food costs this little. It was awesome!

So, let me give you the rundown of activities at the Land of Make Believe. They have the choo-choo train ride, which we found to be a great start to the day as it takes you for a tour around the park so you can find out exactly what there is to do. Then there is this awesome old fighter plane that kids and adults can take a little tour of the inside where all these funny looking gizmos and wires are poking out. Next they have all your average carnival rides – the dizzy dragon, the ferris wheel, the cars that whirl around in a circle, the carousel or merry-go-round if you prefer... ummm... the buccaneer-type ride, the mini free-fall... a little roller coaster that's fun for adults yet small/tame enough that even a 3-year-old would enjoy it. I'm sure there are more that I can't think of. Anyway, next they have a fun castle that kids can sit and enjoy a live performance (we didn't, but you could hear the minstrel or jester or whatever he was keeping the energy up the entire time – I believe kids from the audience are also invited to participate in the show.

So, what else... they have live farm animals to look at in "Old McDonald's Farm." There is Santa's Barn which you might be tempted to skip by the time you get there, but don't because inside is a secret winter wonderland all aglow with lighted trees and of course the merry man himself doing the obligatory lap thing and taking requests for Christmas gifts! They have a little Haunted Halloween area, and an arcade where the skee ball, whac-a-mole type game and other arcade games are priced at like a quarter or 50 cents per play... pretty cool! And you end up getting at least some of your money back because it's not too hard to win some tickets and earn a prize.

Then there is the water park – not to be missed! The main feature of that, we felt, was an awesome, huge pool where adults and kids of all ages could grab a one-person or two-person inner tube and go floating down the "river" past all these waterfalls and sprays and spots that you could get a little soak on a hot day. They play upbeat music (lots of Beatles and Motown the day we went – nice!) and you can just relax and float around and around the pool for as long as you want. Next, don't forget to stop at the Pirates Cove which is an awesome, multi-level "pirate ship" that people of all ages can climb up water-drenched steps, shoot water at your friends, family (and even strangers) using various squirting devices, slide down mini slides, get drenched under a giant bucket that repeatedly pours and spills water from the top, and basically have a blast!

And of course, the piece de resistance... all the huge water slides... something for kids of all ages... a bit of a hike up the multi-level staircases, but well worth the trek as you come sailing down in your inner tube, getting splished and splashed and just enjoying the day. They have the "big-kid" water slides such as the cannonball and what they were calling the Sidewinder – this is a water slide that's designed like a skateboard ramp where you plunge down one side and then shoot up the other. I don't go on rides like this but I have no doubt that it was thoroughly enjoyed by some of the more adventurous park-goers.

Last but not least, the food – hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, ice cream, lemonade, soda, caramel corn, cotton candy... all the expected fare, but priced much lower than if, say you went to Great Adventure or some other overly commercial amusement park.

All in all, we really had a blast at the Land of Make Believe, and I'm pretty sure you will, too. Check them out at http://lomb.com, and pick a nice, sunny Saturday to take full advantage of all they have to offer for everyone in your family!

Strawberry Picking in Warren County, NJ

The best berry picking in Warren County that I know of is at Race Strawberry Farms in Oxford, NJ. It's located on that road, I can't remember the number but I will mapquest it at the end of this post, that leads to Apple Mountain Golf Course. If you travel that road routinely on your way to and from Oxford in early June, you will definitely hit some minor "berry picking traffic" where you have to maybe stop your car or at the very least slow down to let some pickers meander across.

Race's Strawberry Farm is a very laid back berry picking experience – and no, you can't buy the berries already picked – if you want to do that, you can go to Mackey's Farm whom, I suspect, may actually get their strawberries at Race's and then swirl them into delicious, homemade strawberry ice cream and top their delightful sundaes with them. Of course, this is just conjecture – for all I know, Mackey's has their own strawberry fields – but this was not the point of writing this entry. Actually, it was all about Race's and how awesome the pickings are there.

So, you basically drive up and park your car, then head over to the little building where the berry girls (they're typically girls) are located. There, you will let them know how many berries (pounds worth) you intend on picking. Upon which, the workers will equip you with the proper receptacle, then direct you to the field of their choice which contains the best, ripest berries. You just walk around the back of the barn (or to the nearest strawberry fields – we always seem to be assigned there) with your berry-picking basket on your arm. Walk down the rows of strawberry plants to the farthest spot away, and pick to your heart's content.

Strawberry picking season in NJ is late May and early June. If you missed it this time, you can always just head over to Shoprite for some juicy berries, and plan better for next year!

Contact info for this farm:

H.A. Race and Son Strawberry  Hill Farm

388 Hazen-Oxford Rd.
Belvidere, NJ

908-453-2374

Roller Rink in Washington, NJ – Warren County – Villa Skating Rink

A friend recently informed us that they had "toddler time" on Wednesdays at the Villa Roller Rink in what I think is technically Broadway, NJ. So we went. All I have to say is, what a blast! Great music, strobe lights, refreshment stand, and of course, lots of room to skate, roll and boogie around. 2 bucks for 2 full hours, you really can't beat it.

The "toddler" aspect of this is that the little ones get to bring ride-on toys and go around the inner circle on them. My son LOVED this – he tore around on his little 4-wheeler for the full hour that we were there.

On the day that I went, the skating rink made an exception to the rule, and allowed a group of about 40 homeschoolers (so, school-aged kids) to roller skate around the perimeter while the little ones toddled around on the inside. It was slightly perilous, since there were a few five and six-year-olds wobbling around by the tots as they struggled to learn how to skate... but as long as moms and dads keep a watchful eye and stay close to the little guys, I don't think it was really a big deal.

In addition to tot skate, I noticed that Villa Roller Rink also hosts open skate a couple of nights a week, as well as Christian Music Skate, and some other organized events. They welcome birthday parties as well – just call to book yours in advance and learn all about what's included.

The greatest thing to me about Villa Roller Rink, was that it was such a time warp – taking me back to the days before annoying cell phones ringing, overpacked mommy schedules, kids who would rather text or play video games than go outside and play ball, and all the stuff that passes for "normal" these days. Hey, man. I'm a child of the eighties... we were all about skating to cool music back then!

Check out Villa Skating Rink - 2121 Rt. 57 in Broadway, NJ. Go and skate, it's really great!

Train Ride on the Delaware in Phillipsburg, NJ

One thing Phillipsburg, NJ has going for it is the awesome steam train ride on the Delaware River. If you have little (or even bigger) kids, this is the perfect weekend afternoon activity that they will remember for the rest of their lives. After all - what kid doesn't thrill to the sound of the big steam engine, whistling and puffing its way down the river on a crisp fall day?

In October, they have something like a Fall Foliage train ride, where they make their run up the river, stopping at a cornfield where kids can purchase popcorn and hot cider, run through the corn maze, and jump in one of those inflatable moon bouncer things. After that the train makes a stop at a local pumpkin farm. We went last year, and my son was still a bit too young to totally enjoy this - but we will definitely take him back there this coming fall and maybe even make it a yearly tradition.

I've also seen signs on Rt. 22 for the "Polar Express" train ride, which I assume would run in a similar fashion but of course happen during the holiday season and maybe even feature Santa Claus or some other Christmas character. We have yet to experience this due to the typical hectic frenzy that is the holidays... but again, our son is still young so we will be sure to explore the winter train ride in future years.

Actually, now that I am online, I see that they have an awesome website detailing themed train rides throughout the year! The aforementioned Polor Express involves heading out to ride the train in your PJs for some Christmas fun with Santa, AND there is also an Easter Bunny Train and Thomas Train for fans of the well-known kids' television show.

And if that's not all... apparently there is a wine train! All aboard, chug chug. My husband and I will be looking into this further when we can procure babysitting. In the meantime - check out all the great entertainment offered at the P-Burg Delaware River Railroad Excursions.

The State Theater in Easton, PA – Local Culture Abounds

I had never been to Easton's State Theater until last week - for no reason than I just never thought of it, nor had anyone else made the suggestion! For Christmas, my in-laws bought a group of us tickets to see The Million Dollar Quartet, and I must say it was an excellent performance at a fine theater venue, for a great value.

The State Theater is one of those old-time theaters that was recently renovated, like The Beacon Theater or Roseland Ballroom in NYC, with the style of architecture being much the same. In those days, it seems, they constructed theaters so that no matter where one was seated, one could have a decent view of whomever was performing on stage.

When we got there, the place was swarming with Baby Boomers buying coffee and hot chocolate, clutching their Playbills, and just buzzing around excitedly making ready for the show to begin. A smiling lady escorted us up the carpeted wide staircase and into the loge area where our seats were located. There was plenty of leg room, the cushions were thick and comfy, and the seats in front of us were positioned low enough so that the people seated in them were not obstructing our view. My father-in-law had loaded up on refreshments – M&Ms, Twizzlers and Raisinets, to pass around before the show began.

Soon after finishing our snack, a lady-in-charge, presumably the owner or head of the theater association, emerged from behind the curtain and gave a hearty thank-you speech to everyone who had helped make this production possible. Everyone applauded, and the show began.

To brief you – Million Dollar Quartet is an exciting and dynamic performance highlighting "best of" moments from the impromptu 4-hour jam session between Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, that actually happened at Sun Recording Studios in Memphis, TN on December 4, 1956. The show is a mix of dialogue and musical numbers, performed in a fairly realistic "jam session" manner, paying homage to what actually took place that night in rock and roll history.

Songs performed include Blue Suede Shoes, Folsom Prison, Love Me Tender, Great Balls of Fire, and many more. There is also a sultry rendition of Peggy Lee's "Fever", performed by Elvis's then-girlfriend, who showed up halfway into the session and was referred to only as "Dyanne."

In the interest of keeping the jam session aspect of this accurate, there are frequent interruptions where the performers talk to each other, play part of a song, stop, talk some more, and then continue playing. While this may seem as though the audience is being cheated out of the total music experience, the rock and roll icon impersonators make up for it in the finale by donning glittering jackets and performing a medley of well loved rock and roll numbers at peak intensity.

Of note was the excellent portrayal of Johnny Cash performer, and the rollicking piano playing by the man who portrayed Jerry Lee Lewis. Each actor held his own in terms of believability. All in all, for $60 per ticket it was a great night out, and definitely worth exploring whatever else might be coming around to the State Theater in Easton, PA.

Not too shabby for small town America! For more info about the State Theater in Easton PA, visit http://statetheater.org.

The Warren County Farmers Fair

Each summer, we look forward to the week-long series of farm-themed events that is the Warren County Farmers Fair. You have probably driven past the fairgrounds at Rt. 519 and Strykers' Road, where it's held each year. If you appreciate the country life, then you will surely enjoy yourself at the fair. There's something for people of all ages!

Highlights:

The Demo Derby:

What can I say... it's a smashing good time! This is actually held separately from the rest of the fair, meaning you have to buy tickets if you want to get in – and it's only held I think 2 nights out of the week. Watch local racing enthusiasts crash their hand-decorated antique beater cars into each other until there's only one guy standing. Roaring engines, smoke, fire and destruction... what could be better? Current admission is around $12.

The Livestock and Craft Tents:

What would a county fair be without plenty of cows, chickens, horses, sheep, rabbits and pigs? The livestock tents at the Warren County Fair prove to be a fun spot for parents and kids to visit where they can view, learn about, and sometimes even pet, different types of farm animals. Last summer we admired baby pigs, goat kids, prize horses, lop-eared rabbits and designer chickens among others. The year before that, our neighbor won a prize for his cat that walks on a leash and does tricks.

The Kids' Rock Band (and other music):

I will have to research the name, but each year we've watched and listened to the fantastic rock band made up of school age kids, wowing the crowd with old-school favorites from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and more! Catch these mini rockers in the evenings... way cool stuff.

The Rides!

At night, the Warren County Fairgrounds becomes a veritable carnival where kids and teens can go for low-cost thrills on the ferris wheel, the whip, the cups, mini roller coaster, carousel, and all the favorite carnival rides we grew up with. With cotton candy, soft pretzels, lemonade and an array of carnival games and amusements, you really can't go wrong.

The Food:

From hot dogs to ice cream waffles to funnel cakes to polish sausage, there is always a large selection of tasty, err, fare at the Warren County Farmers Fair!

Craft, Garden and Vendor Tents:

Peruse handmade creations from local crafters; explore prize-winning garden veggies, and of course explore a variety of goods from vendors of all types.

Events All Week Long!

The Warren County Farmers Fair also features a tractor pull and ATV mud bogging which are both free for fairgoers; horse shows, a hay bale rolling contest, antique tractor displays, and the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival which is something to see (but unfortunately I have yet to experience it because we always seem to be away on the day that it's held).

For the full scoop on this local favorite, visit http://www.warrencountyfarmersfair.org/.

Hot Rod's Hot Dogs - Glen Gardner, NJ

Continuing on with our Hot Dogs of Warren County Review...

Hot Rod's Hot Dogs are actually not in Warren County. They are located in neighboring Hunterdon County, but right on the border on Rt. 31 in what I believe is Glen Gardner.  Probably many people who live in Washington, NJ and other Warren County towns traverse down that way and have stopped and ate there.

I have passed this place many times, but only went in there very recently. My husband excitedly placed his order for six hot dogs with sauerkraut and mustard. Well, the only word that comes to mind after sampling these hot dogs is... yikes. I've had better tasting hot dogs from a 7-11 on that pitiful hot dog roller thing where you just know that those tube steaks have been sitting there for days on end just growing sad and old.

Admittedly, I didn't go inside so I can't tell you what the ambiance is, or if they have anything better to offer than what was in our bag. But man, if you're going to use the words "Hot Dogs" in the name of your business, at least make sure you get some decent tasting ones to sell people. How hard can it be? Lips and you-know-what-else are, I'm guessing, pretty cheap to begin with, so why not invest a couple cents each for nicely flavored ones and then cook them up nice. You could probably get away with charging an extra dollar apiece in the event word got around that you serve a semi-tasty dog.

Well. I shall now continue with my former, "pass by but don't go in" policy on Hot Rod's Hot Dogs. If you feel differently about their food, all the power to you, my friend. Eat up.

The Perfect Christmas Tree Farm – Lopatcong, NJ

I have been living in Warren County, NJ for more than ten years and passed the sign on Rt. 22 while traveling Westbound, more times than I can count. I have even had a friend recommend The Perfect Christmas Tree Farm as a place that she and her family go each year to pick out their perfect Christmas tree.

However, it wasn't until I saw their awesome photos on Facebook, that I felt compelled to actually go there and check out the offerings. Well.. let me tell you, it was quite the rewarding experience!

We pulled up, parked our car in their packed lot, and then quickly surmised what all the fuss was about. Here and there and everywhere were Christmas-tree shoppers, trudging along the snow-covered, pine-dotted rows, armed with small saws and loading up little tree trolleys to each haul away their one-of-a-kind fir tree for decorating this holiday season.

Since we had already purchased ours at Lowes (shame on us!), we really had no need to do any extensive tree hunting. But I will say that the large selection of healthy conifer trees, tall and small, fat and trim, with a variety of needle types ranging from soft and fluffy to stout and firm, put us in quite the merry spirit, as did the sight of all those happy shoppers, pulling pine boughs and wreaths and of course tree and more trees, away on their little sleds.

So we walked past those guys through the snow to the proud-looking stone home bedecked with holly and wreaths and ribbons. Inside, we had been told, was Mrs. Claus, ready to share a laugh and hear a message meant for the Man in Red. So we walked up the path, and were greeted by a group of customers, happily sipping from warm cups of spiced cider and nibbling on home-baked cookies, which we were informed, came with the compliments of the house. What a lovely place!

Inside we found a Christmas wonderland frozen in time... lovely, antique toys, and a beautifully decorated gifts shop and sitting room which was open to the public and currently inhabited by none other than Mrs. C herself and a gaggle of happy children who swarmed about. My son, who had just turned 3, was clearly dazzled by the whole presentation, and in complete awe of Mrs. Claus and her friendly black lab dog, Santa Paws, who snuffed about clearly hoping for a bite of cookie but, overall, was quite manageable and friendly toward the children.

Mrs. Claus chatted with my starstruck little boy for I would say more than a half hour... reading Christmas stories, asking him all the key questions such as whether he'd been a good boy and what he wanted for Christmas, and sharing her plate of delicious, homemade Snickerdoodle cookies with him. She even produced a couple of old-fashioned toys for him to play with – one was a little wooden man on a wooden board, whose legs kicked and danced about when he was jostled. The other was a little Christmas box which, when opened, revealed a set of finger-puppet mice who wiggled and squeaked a merry greeting, which my son of course was quite smitten with.

Next, the owner of the farm came out to chat with us, and we learned that she and her husband had previously owned a bed and breakfast in Cape May, which explained the warm hospitality and beautiful antique trinkets and decor that made this place so authentic and old-fashioned. She let us know that there were numerous events held at the Perfect Christmas Tree Farm, such as Earth Day in April... and that in fact, live music was scheduled for the following weekend! Finally – she let us know about Laughter Yoga sessions which are held at the farm regularly... and which we have yet to try but are looking forward to. As our thanks for such a positive experience, we purchased several antique Christmas ornaments that were on display at the shop, and donated a few dollars to a charity that they had advertised about in the hall on our way in.

All in all, we had a fantastic experience at the Perfect Christmas Tree Farm. Our only regret is that we discovered this place just after purchasing our tree... but I can say with 100 percent certainty that we will be back there next December for sure, to pick out the Perfect Christmas Tree for our home, and enjoy the company of Mrs. Claus and her sweet doggie. Thanks so much for making this such a wonderful time for our family, and a terrific outing to enjoy during the holiday season! See you again soon for your other events.