My husband and I love exploring new places in New Jersey. There are many great, unique spots a short drive from our home. Recently, we visited two destinations new to us: Baldpate Mountain and Bivalve.

Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain is located in Titusville, New Jersey. The park offers picnic areas and trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. We went for a hike recently. There are several trails in the park, totaling about 7 miles when combined. On our visit we walked a few of the trails for just shy of 5 miles total. It was a hot day, but the park offers plenty of shade. There is about a 1,100-foot elevation gain in the park, with beautiful views of the surrounding land from the summit of Baldpate Mountain. We look forward to visiting again on a cooler day.

Another weekend we wanted to take a drive and searched for interesting places not too far from our house. We decided to visit Bivalve, a small community further south in Port Norris, New Jersey. Visitors can stop at Bayshore Center at Bivalve, home to the Delaware Bay Museum and oyster shipping sheds. The road is partially lined with shells and looks like no place else we had ever visited. Unfortunately, the museum wasn’t open during our visit, but we enjoyed a brief walk near the water before heading home.

We’re already considering destinations for our next New Jersey exploration day.

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director