East Coast Retreat

For those of us who live here, New York can sometimes seem like its own world, and gazing out cross the river to New Jersey is like staring into the open void of an unknown world...albeit a world with large buildings, factories and a rather odd smell.

Ahem. The point is that living in New York is wonderful, but it can often be very difficult to get off the island. You can sometimes feel like you're trapped here, caught in a narrow miniverse of your office and apartment. But there is hope on the horizon...literally. Venturing into Tony Soprano's New Jersey you can find all manner of captivating, lung-expanding activities that will make it seem like you've been transported out West, where you can camp among towering pines (or at least, well, trees) and spend a day hiking or paddling a smooth-flowing river.

One place we recommend is the Mohican Outdoor Center (MOC), located in the vast, wooded Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Appalachian trail passes through here so you can follow the blazes and catch site of black bears. Or take the 12-mile round-trip trek to Sunfish Pond that takes you along the jagged spine of Kittatinny Mountain where you can fill up your memory card with great views of the valley. If you can nab a spot in the MOC's lodge, you might find yourself singing campfire songs with fellow weekend escapees wielding acoustic guitars. All that within a few hours drive from the big city.

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Hiking, Blogs, North America, United States