NJ Staycation with Kids: Day 1
Last week was spring break for my kids here in Northern Jersey. It was also spring break for my sisters’ kids up in MA. This coinciding of the breaks never happens. After running the Boston Marathon on Monday, my sister had to go back to work for the week. Sadskis. But, stroke of genius…she could send her kids here rather than putting them in camp and my kids would have their entertainment for the week. And hence, cousins camp was born! With the number of children in my house doubling from 3 to 6 for four days, I needed some plans because, first, I love planning, and second, idle children leads to whining, fighting, and injuries. And those things don’t work for me. Especially the first two.
Here’s Day 1:
Verona Park
The age break down for the week was 10, 10, 10, 8, 7, and 4. and 39. With three ten year olds, I was unsure if we would be able to work a playground into our week. Most days my 10 year old is still content to play with Legos or take down the neighborhood bad guys with his make believe weapons, but my sisters’ twins have outgrown much of that play, so I was unsure how swings and slides would go over. Well, the playground in Verona Park laughs mightily at the swings and slides of my imagination. This place was so awesome! You know how at this points most playgrounds are kind of the same thing? Like some universal safety patrol swept through all of America’s playgrounds and said these are the 5 structures you are allowed to have? Verona Park is such breath of fresh air; someone was actually allowed to be creative here: huge disc shaped swings, a merry-go-round (which has been made safer than the child launchers of our youth), large geometrically shaped rock climbing structures, a giant climbing column with several cool slides and monkey bars of various heights and challenges.
However, the crown jewel is the turf hill with slides, rubber balls and ropes to climb up and down. All six kids enjoyed running/climbing up and rolling/sliding down this hill, over and over and over. And isn’t that what playgrounds are all about? Kids doing the same repetitive action until nausea sets in while I sit in the sun with my iced coffee?
We ate our lunch right in the playground - there are nice picnic tables in a shaded area - but you could also find a spot in the grass or by the pond, as the rest of beautiful Verona Park is right there. Afterwards, you could work off that lunch in one of the swan paddle boats. That is, if you are looking for something that looks amazing but is actually the worst. High intensity work, little gratification, immeasurable amounts of frustration when all of the children decide they are done paddling and you are left to get everyone back to the dock by yourself. Luckily for me, they were closed the day we were there, but I’ve done them before. Never again. All in all it was a great morning. The only down side to the park that I’ve heard is that the equipment gets really hot in the summer, as the shade is limited.
Hike to Hemlock Falls
If you live nearby and have never been to the South Mountain Reservation, you should go. I would maybe even recommend it as a day trip from Manhattan. Maybe. There is the fairy trail and so many other great hiking trails, but our family favorite is the short hike to Hemlock Falls from the little parking lot on South Orange Ave. Basically head in from the parking lot, take your first left and follow the trail to the falls. It can’t be more than a quarter of a mile but once you are there (there’s a smaller waterfall that sometimes dries up all together and a larger one a hundred feet further along the path) there’s a ton of exploring and climbing to be done. There’s a big stone staircase that takes you to the top of the falls or if you enjoy seeing your children wild with happiness while suffering several small heart attacks like I do, let them climb up the rocks on the side of the falls to the top.
I stay close behind the 4 year old but the others really are ok for the most part, and I think taking risks and trusting their own instincts are such important skills for kids. At the top, there are lots of places to explore, criss crossing the river on rocks and fallen trees. Just be mindful of broken glass. (I am aghast at the debauchery that must happen in this beautiful place at odd hours of the night, and then I remember spending many a Friday night circa 1996 around a bon fire in the woods, Zima in hand. I’m sure I didn’t dispose of it properly either. Ugh). There was also a natural rope swing overhanging the river that we had never noticed before. I made sure it wasn’t poison ivy, then let the kids swing away. Pretty magical!
After the morning playground and afternoon hike, I was ready to take off my entertainment guide hat and put on my I’m doing laundry, you do you hat. However, as we pulled in our driveway, my neighbor, a dead ringer for Rosie Revere the engineer, aside from being a 50 year old Israeli man, was testing out his bubble machine. This thing is ridiculous, and I can’t even tell you how to replicate it because I am not Rosie Revere (I’m more of an Ada Twist). But, I do know his solution consists only of Dawn soap and water. If you really want to know how he made it, contact me and I’ll ask him.
As all six children squealed with excitement as they were swallowed whole by a mountain of bubbles, I reflected on this first day and pat myself on the back. And I pat my neighbor’s back, too.
Check out Day 2 of Cousins Camp when we head to the Bronx Zoo!
