New Jersey Is Somerset County's Colonial Park

New Jersey is home to my favorite nearby place to ramble, Somerset County's Colonial Park. It's a wonderful park with paths for bikes, runners, and walkers; a dog run; tennis courts; mini golf course; paddle boats; playgrounds and a water spray park; grills and picnic tables for cookouts; a variety of gardens including a gorgeous rose garden, fragrance and sensory garden, and perennial garden; arboretum; loads of green spaces and woods; and an entrance to the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail. 

Especially in these days of physical distancing, Colonial Park is a well-loved park, evidenced by the number of people visiting regularly each week. It also is a very well-maintained park. The Somerset County Parks Department workers toil hard to keep it running smoothly and looking beautiful.  

Whenever I visit, my camera accompanies me. I never know what I'll see, from new flowers blooming in the gardens to wildlife. Or, in the case of the photo following immediately below, deer and other animal tracks. Sometimes the road less traveled is a muddy one. 

Jersey's been my home since I was a kid in the late 1970s. During short periods, I also lived elsewhere, including Connecticut and Utah. I have been fortunate to see a great deal of the United States, especially our National Parks, thanks to cross-country road trips. It's much bigger than you think it is until you drive it. 

Jersey hosts much more colorful and outdoorsy pursuits than I ever gave it full credit for previously. Sure, Jersey's hills are no Rocky Mountains, I'll give you that. But in the past year, I've focused on exploring the state, and found beauty and wonder among Jersey's green and open spaces. In fact, Jersey has so many parks and places to visit that even though I've lived here most of my life, I still find interesting locations that are new to me.

Because the state gets a bum rap insofar as perception goes, I write this blog to to share with you my beautiful Jersey. I hope you'll enjoy this journey along with me and visit these spots yourself some time.