Princeton, NJ Outdoor Activities

With intimate knowledge of Pennsylvania's waterways and custom 20-foot fishing boats, the local guides at Pocono Fishing Adventures teach groups and individuals the art of tracking down prized bass, sunfish, perch, bluegill, and other fish. Along with years of experience on the state's oversize puddles, the guides utilize GPS tracking systems and depth finders to hone in on hungry line tuggers and avoid dangerous icebergs. Guests may use the team's supply of equipment while scanning the depths of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's lakes, or they may also bring their own rods and tackle to borrow only the guides' keen sense of fish tracking. In addition to friendly charters, Pocono Fishing Adventures hosts corporate outings, allowing colleagues to test the alluring qualities of new marketing strategies with underwater PowerPoint presentations.

Teams clad in protective goggles scatter into a mountain field thick with laurel, rhododendron, and brier as they seek cover, their markers locked and loaded. Hearing paintballs whiz through the brush, a player dives into prone position. Adjusting her goggles after colliding with the ground, the combatant freezes, notices the silhouette of a whitetail deer crouched in the brush just yards away, and lets down her guard long enough to appreciate the moment before taking new aim.

At Pocono Mountain Paintball, players step onto 12 fields—including three scenario fields—ranging from untouched natural terrain to 1,700 feet of trenches and sandbag bunkers. To maximize players' game time, Pocono's staff maintains a reservation system that limits the fields to 100 players per day. Further touches include camouflage overall rentals, an online FAQ with participant advice, and changing rooms with hot showers so players can spruce up before meeting Mom for a post-game debriefing. Pocono's crew also coordinates rafting, biking, and kayaking packages through partner company Whitewater Rafting Adventures.

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.

Calling on more than 20 years of experience, CHA Master Instructor Heather McCarty molds aspiring young riders into the shape of equestrians at Horseng Farm. Here, the curriculum and mission emphasize discipline and a strong foundation in horse care, safety, and riding technique. Heather and company welcome students of all skill levels, connecting novice, recreational, and advanced riders with the appropriate steed for their talents and goals. In addition to holding private and group lessons, they lead riders on field trips to Bucks County Horse Park where they can ride rough over 123 acres of show jumps, dressage rings, and polocrosse fields. Members build relationships with their fellow riders, and learn the mysterious ways of Thelma and Louise, the cats who make periodic appearances mounted atop saddled schnauzers.

The Jersey Shore famously bustles with Ferris wheels, roller coasters, boardwalk shops, and restaurants, but the action doesn't stop at the waterline. Propelled by twin diesel engines, the 75-foot Queen Mary trolls the waters in search of both entertainment and mammoth striped sea bass, Atlantic bonito, bluefish, and long-buried swim trunks. The crew specializes in teaching newbies-including kids-how to handle a fishing pole, and enclosed lounges and separate women's and men's restrooms keep less sea-weathered sailors comfortable.