One of our favorite weekend activities with the kids has become hiking. It started a bit before but picked up in earnest when the pandemic was in full swing. When the kids were maxed out and cabin fever was intense, we could manage to head out on the Watchung Reservation History Trail and feel relatively safe. We would head out with our masks in hand so we were ready just in case and know we could go early and know we would likely only encounter a few others with us on the trails.

There are several options at the Watchung Reservation History Trail you can take – and one which gives you a longer route around it (6 miles), if you’re up for the journey. Of course with the little ones, the focus and stamina to do it has yet to be there. We really like it because we can go many times without it feeling too repetitive for the kids or us. There’s a deserted village (better to pass while hiking than to go just to see it.) There’s a lake (love that it’s called Lake Surprise — since nothing about it is incredibly surprising.) Most of the trails originate at the Trailside Nature & Science Center. However you can park at a few other areas and hit them as well, including the Deserted Village of Feltville and Lake Surprise.