Hamilton Square, NJ Outdoor Activities

Since 1939, three generations of the Grim family have nurtured stalks of wheat, corn, and oats, and raised more than 3,000 chickens, on their picturesque farm. Now operating 10 greenhouses, each fall, they open up the premises to the public for activities including hayrides and a pick-your-own apple orchard, where guests can choose from varieties ranging from honey crisp to autumn galas.

During the farm’s Fall Festival, which runs from September 8th to November 4th, the grounds buzz with additional delights. Visitors can wend their way through a 6-acre corn maze during the daylight hours, or bring flashlights at night for an authentic taste of farming before the sun was invented. Alternatively, they can select their favorite gourd from the thousands that populate the pumpkin patch, or sample homemade apple cider donuts, apple cider slushies, or pumpkin ice cream.

Over the course of its 22-year existence, Ocean Experience Surf School has helped somewhere in the neighborhood of over 15,000 students to safely discover and refine their passion for watersports. Students 6 or older hop atop surfboards, paddleboards, and kayaks for on-the-water practice under the care of experienced instructors during private lessons and group classes.

The local press and community showers the school's companion retail outlet with praise, which won both the Best Surf Shop and Best Skate Shop in CityBeat's 2010 Readers' Poll. In an effort to give back to the community, the organization runs an afterschool sports program offering surfing and skateboarding lessons to kids up to 18 years old and adults with a note from a certified kindergarten teacher.

Founded by Spring Mill Country Club assistant golf professional Matthew Davis, OzGolf provides lessons to equip golfers of all skill levels with the tools and advice they need to play their best. Mr. Davis draws on his 12 years of experience teaching and playing competitively to help players shorten backswings, make solid contact with the ball, and learn how to hide an extra 9-iron up their sleeves. Each lesson includes an in-depth analysis of areas where players could use improvement, and customers walk away with a step-by-step guide to help them reach their goals. Any golfer who signs up for multiple individual lessons receives a 15-minute session with the V1 Pro video-analysis system, which breaks down biomechanic swing techniques.