My husband and I went on our first hike of 2022 at Maurice River Bluffs Preserve. Located in Millville, New Jersey, the park features about six miles of hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities.

There are several short trails in the park, so we decided to combine them for a longer hike. Some of the trails feature hilly terrain, unusual for southern New Jersey. The trails were well-marked, which made for an easy hike. We stopped along the river at a bird-watching spot, known as a bird blind, though we didn’t see any birds or other wildlife. Later in our hike, we heard chirps from dozens of birds overhead, which almost sounded like rushing water. According to the website, the spring, summer and fall offer better wildlife-viewing opportunities. There are other points of interest throughout the preserve, including the remnants of a 1700s stone farmhouse, an artesian well, bridges and a dock. After hitting each of the trails, we ended our hike at about five miles.

Hungry after our hike, we picked up lunch at Giovanni’s Italian Deli in nearby Vineland. We split a muffuletta and an eggplant parmigiana sandwich. We enjoyed both, but the eggplant was the real standout and one of the best we’ve ever had.

I would love to recreate our hike and lunch experience another time. It was a great way to spend a chilly winter Sunday.

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director