NJ State Parks Worth the Drive This Spring

Image via Flickr by cjdavis Flemington may be small, but it's home to a large variety of shops and malls where you can buy anything from homemade pottery to furniture to antiques. Here are three places that are well worth a visit. The Shoppes At Flemington The Shoppes At Flemington is a new retail shopping center in town that houses upscale apparel stores, cosmetic and body-care shops, home decor and furniture stores, children's clothing shops, and restaurants. One of the latest additions to this open-air lifestyle center is a Club Pilates studio, so you can now conveniently do your shopping and attend a Pilates class all in one spot. Popular shops that you'll find at this center include the 22,000-square-foot Homegoods store, where you can find anything from furniture to cooking utensils to home accessories; the European Wax Center, which specializes in hair removal; Lenox, which sells gifts and dinnerware; Massage Envy, where you can go for a relaxing massage or buy skin care products; and Talbots, a popular shoes and clothing store. If you get peckish from all the shopping, you can pop in at Al Fresco's, Freshii, or Pancheros for a bite. Kissimmee River Pottery If you're looking for a unique gift, or want to buy something special for your home, pop around at Kissimmee River Pottery. Owner, John, has been behind the pottery wheel for more than 50 years and is passionate about his craft. At this pottery studio and shop, you can buy unique, hand-crafted pottery ware, including plates, jugs, flower pots, decorative pieces, Kombucha jars, fermenting jars, and much more. You can also order a memento to remember a beloved animal by. John uses the hair of pets supplied to him by clients and then creates an animal spirit pot with it. The hair creates dark lines on the surface of the pot and also creates smoke which causes gray shadows to settle in-between the lines. Every animal spirit pot is thus different and unique, just like the personality of the animal it represents. John also offers pottery classes at his studio. Lessons take place once a week for three hours, over a period of eight weeks. He will teach you all the basics, such as throwing the wheel, finishing and glazing techniques, and how to attach handles. Ye Old Antique & Curiosity Shop The owners of Ye Old Antique & Curiosity Shop have been passionate collectors of high-quality and valuable antiques for over 30 years. At this shop, you can find a large range of antique goods that include artwork, clothing, books, toys, tools, and much more. They stock antiques that date back to the Victorian, Early American, Art Deco, Depression, and Pre- and Post-War periods. If you are in possession of antiques that need some love and care, they also offer restoration services at this shop. Whether you're looking for fashionable clothing, skin care products, home accessories, antiques, or a special, handmade gift, you'll find the shop that's just right for you in Flemington.

Image via Flickr by Gamma Man Although Flemington is a small town, it offers plenty of sites and activities where you can spend some quality time together as a family over a weekend. Here are a few suggestions. Northlandz Building model railroads in his basement was a passionate hobby of Bruce Williams Zaccagnino's. His railroads grew larger and larger, forcing him to keep extending his basement until he eventually decided to build Northlandz to house his ever-growing creation. Today, Northlandz is noted in the Guinness Book of World Records as the museum that houses the largest model railroad in the world. This 52,000 square-foot building contains over eight miles of tracks, 400 bridges, thousands of miniature buildings, 135 locomotives, and hundreds of tunnels and canyons. The museum offers something of interest for the whole family. For those who are not that into trains, Northlandz also houses a random collection of over 200 dolls, as well as a 300-seat concert hall featuring a large pipe organ where Bruce, who is a concert organist, gives a daily performance. Strange? Yes. But also wonderful. Fleming Castle Museum Although many children may not be impressed by spending a family day out at a museum, those who are interested in history may very well enjoy a visit to the Fleming Castle Museum. The house was built in 1756 by an affluent local businessman. In order to accommodate his large family of 10 children, he altered the architectural plan of the common house built at the time, known as the German Bank house, by adding a Gambrel roof for extra living space, as well as adding a floor that was partly below the ground level. The result was a big three-story house, which according to the standards of the time, was a mansion — hence the name Fleming Castle. Today, the house is a museum, and great pains have been taken to preserve the original structure and content of the house, as well as the gardens. The idea is to depict everyday life in the early years of Flemington's history. Inside the house, one can view the colonial kitchen, a tavern room, and a ladies parlor, giving one a glimpse of how people lived over 250 years ago. Black River and Western Railroad If you have small children, a ride on a real steam train is bound to excite them. The Black River and Western Railroad, which was built in 1854, is one of the few railroads in the U.S. where you can still see a steam-powered freight train in action. The steam trains, however, are primarily used today for passenger excursions. Various trips and themed events are offered throughout the year, affording passengers the opportunity to experience traveling the old-fashioned way. Upcoming events include the Easter Bunny Express, which features a live Easter Bunny that dishes out treats for the kids, and the annual RailFest, featuring food stalls, a blacksmith demonstration, model trains, and much more. Whether your kids are into model railroads or real ones, or have a penchant for history, Flemington offers many exciting sites and events that the whole family can enjoy. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5213426826/sizes/l

Everybody needs a pick-me-up every now and then. Fortunately, if you live in Flemington, there are several excellent spots you can visit to get your caffeine fix. Here are a few of the coffee shops in the Flemington area that you should visit the next time you need a caffeine boost. Factory Fuel Coffee The next time you need a little caffeine to help boost your energy, the best spot to visit in Flemington is Factory Fuel Coffee. At this popular coffee shop, you'll find a wide array of hot and cold drinks, meaning you'll easily be able to find something to satisfy your tastes. If you want the biggest caffeine boost possible, you can order one of their tasty hot espressos, including the macchiato, Americano, or cortado. You can also order an iced espresso if you need some caffeine but aren't in the mood for a hot drink. Factory Fuel Coffee also provides a great selection of teas, including organic iced black, green, or berry tea. You should also make sure to try out their tasty local kombucha. more Hardy's Coffee Bar Hardy's Coffee Bar is another excellent spot in Flemington to fuel up for the day with a caffeinated drink. Located in the downtown area, this family coffee shop specializes in serving up artisan coffee in a relaxed atmosphere and is destined to become your go-to spot for a cup of coffee. All of the beans used at this coffee shop are sourced from single-origin farms, guaranteeing bold rich flavor, and they only brew with filtered water to make sure there aren't any minerals that could interfere with the coffee's taste. If you're a frequent coffee drinker, you may want to become a Hardy's member so that you can receive discounts for certain types of coffee and retail items. Flemington Coffee Shop If you want to enjoy a cup of coffee while filling up on delicious food, you should plan a trip to Flemington Coffee Shop. One of the longest-running coffee spots in the city, Flemington Coffee Shop is a fantastic place to get a hot, black cup of coffee. It's also one of the top breakfast locations. The menu is filled with breakfast classics, including omelets, pancakes, and French toast. If you're in the mood for something on the go, you can order one of their tasty breakfast sandwiches or egg wraps. Visit once, and Flemington Coffee Shop will become one of your favorite spots. Italian Bakery & Café Nothing goes with a cup of coffee quite like fresh baked goods, and at Italian Bakery & Café, you can find both of these treats. Whether you're in the mood for a sweet pastry or you need a caffeine-laden cup of joe to help you get through the workday, you'll find what you need at this top-notch cafe. The next time you need a caffeine fix, visit one of these amazing coffee shops and cafes in Flemington. Whichever spot you decide to visit, you'll be able to get an energy boost with a great cup of coffee. Image via Rafael Saldaña | Licensed by CC BY 2.0