'Tis the season for snow, presents, hot cocoa, and anxiety-inducing finals. Winter break is around the corner, but before we can return home for a month of relaxing and hibernating, we must survive finals week. This dreaded week consists of late night study sessions, hourly Starbucks runs, ten-page study guides, and several panic attacks. College students are able to make it through this "hell week" because there is one white, shining light at the end of the tunnel: Winter Break. I personally cannot wait to get home to my country town nestled in the mountains of Northern New Jersey. My hometown is the best place to be for the holidays and while I am biased, those who live near me will agree nothing compares to the holidays in northern New Jersey and here's why.
1. The Mountains
My hometown of Vernon, New Jersey is famous for its beautiful scenery and award-winning ski resort, Mountain Creek. There are actually several ski resorts in northern New Jersey due to its mountainous terrain and sloping hillsides. This makes for the perfect place to go after a fresh snowfall to have fun with friends and take in the breathtaking views at the top of the mountain. It's also an incredible site to see the trails of the mountain lit up from miles away.
2. The Lakes
Northern New Jersey has an abundance of lakes that turn into the perfect ice skating rinks when the water freezes over. Rather than drive for miles to find an indoor skating rink, kids from northern New Jersey grew up putting on their skates and walking down to their neighborhood lake to glide around or play hockey with friends.
3. The Appalachian Trail
Whether
it is on a cold day or after a fresh snowfall, hiking on the
Appalachian trail is a great way to enjoy the nature in New Jersey. You
can either walk along the flat terrain that takes you through the forest
or hike to the top of the Stairway to Heaven trail in Vernon and see
the entire valley below you.
4. The Perfect Amount Of Snowfall
Northern
New Jersey will always get enough snow so that you'll be treading
through it up to your knees, but never enough so that you'll be trapped
in your house under a 10 foot snow pile. This makes for the perfect snow
days that allow you to enjoy the powder, without having it disrupt your
whole life for weeks.
5. The Hills For Sledding
There
are very few parts of Northern New Jersey that are flat. Because there
are so many sloping hills and acres of open land, there is always a spot
for some intense sledding. For those who grew up in Northern New
Jersey, you did not settle for some mediocre slope to go sledding on.
You found the steepest hill you could find and added several snow
mounded "jumps" to get you extra air on your way down the hill.
6. The Garden State Plaza
The largest mall in New Jersey is located in Paramus and includes a Ferris Wheel, two movie theaters, an ice skating rink, and every store imaginable. Going to the Garden State Plaza is an adventure on any day, but during Christmas time it is a whole other experience. The mall becomes a winter wonderland and is the perfect place to go to buy gifts for every type of person.
7. The Christmas Tree Farms
Northern
New Jersey has acres of Spruce trees that become Christmas Tree Farms
during the holiday season. Rather than go to a parking lot and pick out a
small tree wrapped in plastic, Northern New Jersey residents go to the
farms and cut down a tree of their choosing.
8. The Proximity To New York City
My town is only an hour from New York City, which means that I can go see the tree at Rockefeller center every year. While the city is packed with people during the holidays, it is truly magical to see the store fronts decorated and the hourly light show that is on the side of Macy's. New York during the holidays is an experience that every person should have in their lifetime and I am grateful that I am close enough to be there every year.
