2 New Jersey Orchards Named Among The Best In The U.S.

Do you go Red Delicious first, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp? In preparation for all the apple-picking days ahead in autumn, the Daily Meal published a list of the best orchards in America, and two New Jersey locations made the list.

Going to an apple orchard and grabbing the bag or bucket is a popular tradition during the fall season. Kids see how many apples they can squeeze in without spilling over, while parents wonder what the number will pop up on the scale.

The 20 orchards highlighted here range from coast to coast. The apples grown at each destination may vary slightly, but the joyful experience does not. Furthermore, they offer the opportunity to make a full fall day of fun.

"Among the corn mazes, hayrides, and wine tastings, you'll find a lingering smell of freshly baked donuts and pies and plenty more activities to fill up your day at the farm," Daily Meal says.

The New Jersey farms that were named among the best orchards in the country are great examples of this.

Located at 133 Church Road, Johnson's Corner Farm started as a wagon located at the corner of the street. Their fall harvest takes place through October each year. In addition to apple picking, this includes a festival onsite every weekend in September and October.

They also have sunflowers, a corn maze, and a barnyard animal farm at Johnson's Corner. In the fall, apple and pumpkin picking field trips are popular events.

If you head about an hour north, you will come across the second New Jersey farm named among the best orchards in America. Terhune Orchards is a 250-acre property located at 330 Cold Soil Road. The farm store, which is located right at the center of the farm, is a popular destination for shoppers looking for fresh fruit and produce. Their winery features products made from grapes grown onsite as well.

Terhune Orchard's apple picking season is underway, offering Picking Early Fuji, Gala, Jonathan, McIntosh, and Honey Crisp. The store and apple picking area is open seven days per week. However, the winery hours at Terhune Orchards are Friday through Sunday, starting at 12 p.m.

There are some major benefits to taking a trip by yourself. The solitude gives you time to clear your mind and gather your thoughts. And it also enables you to create your own schedule, taking in the sights you set out for. Good Housekeeping published a report that details America’s best places for solo travel, and New Jersey was all over this list.

In addition, Fifty Grande recently conducted a solo travel survey. They found that “52% of respondents said they planned to take a solo trip before the end of the year, and 64% of them planned to take that trip in America.” Furthermore, they found that 40% of those that participated in their survey answered “10” on a scale of 1-10 on how comfortable they were to travel alone. 83% said answered a 7 or above.

Other interesting items to note were 89% of the people had already taken a solo trip. The main reason was to “explore a new place and/or immerse in a local culture.” 22.9% said they traveled alone because it was “more fun when I’m 100% in control.”

Moreover, 52% of people plan on traveling solo before the end of the year. Much of that will be within the United States, Fifty Grande shows.

New Jersey is filled with areas that are prime for solo travel exploring. Of course, Atlantic City has a major nightlife scene. There are pristine golf courses all throughout the state, some of which are in close proximity to New York City (if you want to head in for dinner or a show). Finally, there are miles of beachside attractions along the Atlantic and historic sites deep in the heart of the Garden State. So, let's take a look at the two New Jersey destinations that were named best for solo travel. They happen to over a hundred and thirty miles away from each other, and vastly different in terms of what you can explore there.

Home to the Ivy League Tigers, Good Housekeeping calls out the historic sites this central New Jersey town house to offer. "Princeton Battle Monument honors the battle fought and won by George Washington in 1777." The University Art Museum and the Morven Museum and Garden often attract tourists from all over the world. Lastly, Carnegie Lake is one of the most serene spots in the state.

"Spend your day wandering the cute shops, sunbathing at the beach or climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Pointe State Park," Good Housekeeping suggest. Cape May draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. It's very common that you will find families, couples, and solo travelers among them. In addition to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the east coast, you can visit winery's, theaters, safaris, or just rest along the shore of the beautiful beaches.