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Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
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May 28, 2013

A Walk Through History at Duke Farms, NJ

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Oh, New Jersey. You never cease to amaze me. We’ve enjoyed finding more and more ways to spend time outdoors, in nature. But most of all, we’ve been able to enjoy it all at minimal cost, if not free. We’ve such enjoyed these awesome finds that when we aren’t traveling or running around doing errands, we delight in the opportunity to discover something new.

This past weekend was no exception and our newest discovery led us to Duke Farms in Hillsborough, NJ. Duke Farms is 2,740 acres of diverse, protected, and beautifully preserved habitats, and is one of largest privately owned parcels of undeveloped land in the state, owned and managed by The Duke Farms Foundation.

Start your visit at the Orientation Center which is housed in the Farm Barn, what used to be the main house of this historic farm. There visitors can learn about the area’s wildlife and plants through interactive exhibits and literature. This is also where community events are held, such as educational programs and short film showings. And it is where the cafe is located as well.

Duke Farms_GirlGoneTravel

The area provides 18 miles of paved, wood-chipped, and grass and pathways for hiking, all easy to navigate, with beautiful finds and scenery along the way. Preferably however, and to better see it all, I would recommend biking the grounds – something which a lot of guests really enjoy doing. For those walking, there are shuttles that stop at designated pick up points and leave guests where they wish to get off along the way (though the wait can be long if there are not seats on the shuttle and you have to wait for the next one).

Duke Farms_GirlGoneTravel

There are different activities to take on as a group or family, such as scavenger hunts and geocatching, and tons to see, such as the Orchid Range and Hay Barn.

Duke Farms_GirlGoneTravel

Duke Farms_GirlGoneTravel

For me, the most interesting spot on the property is the Old Foundation, which consists of remnants of an old foundation, with its basement entries and windows, slowing being taken over by trees and other greenery as it lays abandoned. In 1913 J.B. Duke started construction for a lavish mansion there, but soon decided against it and the site was left non-completed. The reasons for why he left are unclear, but the view of the site is eery and interesting, an unfinished skeleton of what was without a doubt going to be something grand.

Duke Farms_GirlGoneTravel

I absolutely loved this latest find and the day to take it all in couldn’t have been more perfect. Next time however, we will bring our bikes, as there was a lot more left to be explored.

Admission to the site is free, as is parking. For more information, please visit www.dukefarms.org.

All photography is property of GirlGoneTravel.com and may not be used without consent of the publisher.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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8 Comments
  • Ally
    May 29, 2013

    Duke Farms allows you to rent a bike and helmet free of charge dukefarms.org/en/Visit/Plan-Your-Visit/Free-Ride-Bikeshare/

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Ally
      May 29, 2013

      Awesome! We totally missed that. Thanks Ally!

      Reply
  • Tara
    May 29, 2013

    Duke Farms is quite the treasure! So glad you were able to visit. I run there quite a bit and I always feel like I’m back in time. Beautiful place to unwind. Wonderful article!

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Tara
      May 29, 2013

      Thank you, Tara! I can't wait to return : )

      Reply
  • mithriluna
    May 29, 2013

    Very nice! We were just there last weekend.

    My recent post Poppies at Duke Farms

    Reply
    • caincarol
      mithriluna
      May 29, 2013

      Very cool! Going to read your post right now!

      Reply
  • Anna
    May 31, 2013

    Definitely adding this to the list of summer spots to go to – thanks for sharing this great find!

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Anna
      May 31, 2013

      My pleasure, Anna! Hope you get out there soon! Enjoy it!

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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