Allaire State Park

Was very fun area to explore. Not enough bodies of water (streams, lakes,) within walking distance. But they are within a short car ride. Clean area the village was interesting break from camping. Wood burning stove kept us warm. Bring lots of wood if it rains.

The park is a disaster right now. Footbridge to picnic area has been dislodged and placed adjacent to the Historic Canal for over a year. Old, fallen yellow tape is tied to signs and trees. Just like last September.
The bathrooms that have always been 30 yards from the picnic area were closed last year. No explanation, just out of order signs, locked doors. This year the signs are on the ground covered in leaves but the doors are still locked.
New this year is the dangerous area that used to be the playground. The playground is completely gone, turned-​up railroad ties and dirt (mud) with more fallen caution tape laying on the ground, wrapped around tree trunks. The grass 40 feet from the covered tables is waist high and I was bitten by mosquitoes 5 or 6 times during the 10 minutes we were in the picnic area.
We have gathered at Allaire Park for my family reunion for 40 years. We appreciate that the park has been there for us every year and last year when we discovered the removed footbridge (meaning 80 year old walker-​users stroll 300 yards instead of 100 feet) and the bathroom closures (meaning we are now 300 yards to closest functioning bathroom — not easy for the elderly) we gave the park a pass.
It has been a year. The state has some nerve collecting a single dollar of fees with the picnic area in the condition it is in presently.
We have no choice but to deal with the poor conditions again this year. No time to change locations.
How much does it cost to replace a footbridge and repair 2 outdoor restrooms?
I think about as much as a week of Christie’s security detail in Iowa.
Shame on the fiscal managers of Allaire State Park.

First off, the place is quite nice. We camped for two nights and the campsites are generous in size and nicely shaded. The historic village is awesome and really gives you a sense of what life was like back in 1830 – although I suspect they gloss over some of the labor issues in the company-​owned town.
There are three drawbacks to the park, but all to expected in NJ. First, there was a lot of poison ivy, but I don’t think anyone in our group has had a reaction. Second, there are a lot of tiny deer ticks. About half of us have had a least one tick. Third, there is an Interstate highway cutting through the park and you always hear it. This last drawback has a mitigating factor: no one complained about the noise we made late night or our kids in the early morning (except for those of us trying to sleep late.)
All in all, a nice quick get away from NYC, but you’re still in the metro area.

Cool place. Camping area separate from park but close. Also a bit too close to main road so you can hear cars. But very clean and organized and staff is very friendly
Lots of fishing place around. Esp for kids
Horse riding at circle A was great

I enjoy this park so often with my family. It is beautiful and the historic village so charming. They have a bakery in the village that makes the best scones. Waling around is like stepping back in time.

Decided to take a drive down from NYC. Well worth it. Entry to the park (parking fee) is $ 5 for residents and $ 8 for non residents. After parking, there are a few options here. There are a lot of hiking trails that take you through the park. To the left is functioning steam train (Pine Creek Railway) and some railyards. For $ 5, the train take you around a course in the park which lasts about 12 minutes or so. Not too much to see during the train ride, but for $ 5 you cannot complain much, especially if you have toddlers or kids that get super excited at the bells, whistles and horns of the train. There is the Allaire Historic Village within the park to the right. There is a bunch of little museum-​like houses that contain setups similar to the civil war era. Carpenter station and some other stuff. There is a small museum type house as well that is interesting. The bakery and gift shop both offer cool stuff. The day that we went, there was a civil war reenactment thing. There were all types of stands and huts that show how life was back then. You could purchase things like wooden guns and flags. There is also a guy who does tintype photography which I simply found amazing. All in all a great experience. I wish I would have gotten there a little bit earlier to experience everything that the park had to offer.

one of the most interesting state parks I have seen in NJ in part because there is a lot to see here: the historic Allaire village, the adjacent railroad (which is just a short elliptical loop excursion ride which i think would mostly be of interest to children because it is so short but has a little transportation museum and an old steam locomotive to check out). a few hiking trails, camp and picnic sites, various places to fish, and a nature center. the green trail leads one from the parking area by allaire village/​the railroad/​nature center along a canal and under the garden state parkway (definitely not the nicest part of the trail) and across a local highway past a camping area to a quite serene area on the other side of all those scars of civilization, i would say the trek past all these not so appealing features to the end is definitely worth it if you like nature, beautiful isolated little ponds, bogs, birds and other wildlifd etc. there is another trail (red) which leads one across a tea colored water (from the tannin) bog lined with skunk cabbage, which is quite interesting. the iron ore for the adjacent smelter at allaire village was obtained from these bogs and others in the area.
since the area is boggy, sections of the trail can be rather muddy depending on recent weather, but the serenity one will find in these pine woods and bogs is quite surprising given the proximity to the garden state parkway and to the nyc metro.

«2013 Jazz It Up, Wine Festival» brings my travels to New Jersey!
Summer’s last call for outdoor merriment with my party of four plus one child for wine and jazz. For $ 25.00 admission fee per adult, our party of four imbibe on wines grown, produced, and bottled all over the Garden State of New Jersey. It was like hopping from winery/​vineyard to winery/​vineyard all day without the need of a car. Kid activities are available. Limited food vendors are on site of the usual: funnel cake, Italian Ice, pizza, including Empanada. I believe at least twenty (20) NJ wineries/​vineyards participated in this event. How can I refuse to imbibe wine and fair food?
«Parking donations» of $ 5.00 goes to the ongoing maintenance of this NJ state park. A bakery and old fashioned carpenter are located on the premises. Upon entering the grounds the sound of an actual working antique steam engine railroad roar the outskirts of Allaire State Park.
Note: Only portable outhouses exist as there are no actual indoor facilities on the premises. Visitors must bring insect repellent, sunscreen SPF 60+, and bottled water.

Nestled so close to the Garden State Parkway and Routes I-​195 and 34 is a hidden gem of a park that allows you to relax, exercise, and learn– all in one place! A personal favorite is a working narrow gauge railroad that sure to be a hit with children and any train enthusiast. There one can learn and see and touch a part of the old steam locomotive history or buy tickets and go the loop. But that is only one of the attractions here– trails go thru the park for a nice scenic walk. Wildlife abounds and there is just so much to see. Also, there is the old town and working ironworks and a bakery for things to nosh on and a gift shop. People dress up and play the life of the 1830’s town and there always seems to be something going on– from music to lectures to events like the ever growing wine festival that happens usually twice a year where most, if not all the wineries in New Jersey have a tasting event and wine for purchase. Another event is the various flea markets that are also held on the great lawns in the park. Do yourself a favor and visit this beautiful park– just make sure you visit their website to see what events are planned. So well worth the trip!

Went to the «Jazz It Up, Wine Festival» at Allaire Sate Park.
The park itself was beautiful with lush ponds, trails, and old school colonial houses with gift shops. Add that to the wine tasting, vendors and the jazz and their was plenty to do.
My review loses a star becase they had about 20 signs asking for «parking donations» for maintenance to the houses and land. As I had never been their before i made a donation and parked my car.
As I quickly found out they didn’t need the money because money was pouring in from the fesival and gift shops so I felt a bit ripped off.
Other then that it was a positive expereince.