Summer is Officially Here

In 2019, the summer solstice will occur on Friday, June 21, at 11:54 A.M. EDT. This marks the official beginning of summer as the Northern Hemisphere points itself toward the sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the calendar year. By longest “day,” it means the longest period of sunlight. This marks the start of summer in the northern hemisphere.  The Summer Solstice is the day with the longest period of sunlight.

On June 20th, we will get approximately 15 hours of sunlight.

June through September marks the busiest time for tourism in New Jersey. Here are 7 of the most popular summer tourist destinations:

1. The lighthouses.

A reminder of New Jersey’s rich maritime heritage, historic lighthouses along the coastline are not only picturesque — they’re pieces of American history. Take a tour of Sandy Hook Lighthouse (Highlands), the oldest working lighthouse in the country, built in 1764, or take your pick from one of the many other lighthouses in New Jersey.

2. The beaches and boardwalks.

With more than 130 miles of coastline, New Jersey has every type of beach you could want — from quiet and serene, to family-friendly and the social scene. Bordering the beaches are the world-famous boardwalks: pedestrian walkways lined with restaurants, shops, open-air bars, kid-approved attractions and beachfront hotels.

3. Wine tasting.

Escape to the Garden State’s countryside to discover rolling hillsides covered in grape vines at one of the many wineries and vineyards. You can enjoy wine tasting in one of the charming tasting rooms throughout the state, and then take in the beautiful views with a vineyard tour.

4. Hot air ballooning.

Want the best views around? Cruise above the pastoral landscapes of New Jersey on a hot air balloon ride, offered throughout the state. (If heights aren’t your thing, you can still marvel at the beauty of these behemoth balloons at the annual QuikChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Readington every July.) Watch Video!

5. New Jersey’s state parks.

Go on an outdoors adventure this summer with the many things to do at state parks in New Jersey, from swimming and boating to hiking and mountain biking. Many state parks, such as Monmouth Battlefield State Park (Manalapan) and Long Pond Ironworks State Park (Hewitt), also have important American history sites.

6. Bike riding.

Whether you have a mountain bike or a beach cruiser, there’s no shortage of places to take in the warm weather on two wheels. Enjoy a morning ride on the Ocean City boardwalk or an all-day excursion on the Henry Hudson Trail. Find even more great places to ride bikes.

7. Camping.

There’s nothing that says summer like the crackling of a campfire beneath a starry sky. Get away from the city with a weekend at one of New Jersey’s campgrounds and RV parks. Here are just a few of our favorite campsites with gorgeous scenery.

8. Visit New Jersey’s historic villages.

It’s one thing to visit a historic site, but it’s completely different to experience it as it was in its heyday. This summer, take the kids to a living history village such as Fosterfields Living Historical Farm (Morristown), where they can experience what farm life was like from 1918-1927. At Howell Living History Farm in Lambertville, visitors can take part in early 1900s field, barn and craft programs or just explore the grounds on a self-guided tour.