Top 10 (Inexpensive) Things To Do Near Sparta, NJ

When I’m away at school I often have no problem finding things to do with my friends - there are so many options, and everything is within a ten to fifteen-minute drive. Coming home to Sussex County in the summer, however, is an entirely different story. More often than not, my friends and I find ourselves struggling to find something fun and relatively inexpensive to fit into our college budgets. After a lot of time on Google and trying out different things, we’ve finally developed a list of our favorite things to do in Sussex County, particularly around Sparta, New Jersey.

1. Head to a Local Café

There’s no shortage of small, cozy coffee shops here in Sparta. If you’re in the mood for a local, organic meal and fresh hot (or iced) coffee, then head on over Cloveberry. They offer a variety of different sandwiches, bowls, and salads that always include fresh ingredients. Personally, I recommend the Harvest Cobb Bowl, with chicken, avocado, sweet potato, apples, and more, it offers a delicious, yet filling, meal that will never get boring.

More in the mood for something sweet? Café Pierrot is another favorite, in addition to breakfast and lunch, they serve dinner and plenty of baked goods to satisfy your sweet tooth. From cupcakes, cookies, macaroons, cakes, and more, they have it all! If I could, I’d go there and order one of everything.

2. Stop by the Sparta Farmer's Market

After grabbing coffee at one of the cafés, head on over to the Sparta Farmer’s Market. The market is open every Saturday from 9:00am-1:00pm in the parking lot behind 89 Sparta Avenue. There’s no shortage of options here, from wood fired pizzas, to goats milk soap, and fresh picked fruit, there’s a little something for everyone! It’s open rain or shine, so if you’re looking for something to do this Saturday, head on over!

3. Drive Over to Windy Brow Farms

Okay, you’ve probably heard of this one... they’ve only been mentioned on international and national news a few times for their Taylor Ham and French Toast ice cream (pictured below). While not technically in Sparta, they’re only a short drive away and their ice cream is to die for, Windy Brow Farms has tons of other tasty options as well. Stop in to find some fresh-baked bread, pies, pastries, and even coffee. Make sure to come back in September to take part in pick-your-own apples and peaches!

4. Head North to a Winery!

Since you’re probably getting hungry right about now, I’ll stop talking about food. Instead, let's talk drinks! While it's a bit of a drive, I recommend you head north to Warwick, New York to check out one (or a few) of the many wineries and cideries in the area. A personal favorite of mine is Pennings Farm Cidery. I haven't found a cider I didn't like there and I'm a HUGE fan of their fresh baked pizzas.

A tip I heard from one of the workers at the cidery? Stay until sunset to watch the sun set over the mountains, it's supposedly beautiful. Now that's a summer bucket list item you'll definitely want to check off.

5. Find a Hidden Gem at the Stirling Hill Mine

If you grew up in Sussex County, then you’ve likely been to, or at least heard of, the Stirling Hill Mine. I remember coming here as a kid for Girl Scouts and thinking about how cool the whole place is. In fact, I think I even have some of the rocks that I got from the Rock Discover Center while there. There’s a never-ending list of activities to do here, whether you choose to take a tour, visit the museum, go sluice mining, and more, you’ll never be bored!

6. Head to a Waterpark

After mining for rocks all day, you’re probably pretty tired. Unwind and cool-off at one of the waterparks near Sparta. Mountain Creek Resort in Vernon, NJ offers fun for people of all ages. Whether you choose to lounge in the lazy river, go mountain biking, zipline through the woods, or, in the winter months, go skiing, you’ll find something that’s perfect for everybody!

If you don’t feel like traveling too far up north, I’d recommend Tomahawk Lake Waterpark, located right in Sparta! This park not only features your typical waterpark attractions, but it also has mini golf, volley ball, paddle wheeler rides, and more! Go check it out!

7. Hit a Home Run at Skylands Stadium

If you head just outside of Sparta, you’ll find Skylands Stadium, home to the Sussex County Miners. In case you missed it, the Miners won the Can-Am League Championship last season and are looking to claim that title again this year. Check out this link to see a list of their daily specials and events. Personally, I know I’m going to try and catch a Wednesday night game so I can bring my dog to the park with me.

In addition to baseball, Skylands Stadium also hosts different events throughout the year. I know in the past they have had wine tastings, food truck festivals, and Medieval Times has even come to town! Even more exciting, this year Billy Ray Cyrus, who my friends and I know as Miley Cyrus’ dad, is going to be performing! My friends and I are already planning to try and check that out.

doublegsportsimages Flickr via Compfight cc

8. Check Out Lake Mohawk or Lake Hopatcong

If it’s a nice, sunny day then you need to make sure to head on over to one of the nearby lakes. Both Lake Mohawk and Lake Hopatcong are the perfect places to go for a nice boat ride or have a meal right by the water. Whether you choose to stroll along the lake, grab a meal, or eat some ice cream, both locations will allow you to have a nice, relaxing day along the lake. If you’re there in the evening, be sure to catch a glimpse at the sunset on the lake and take in all of the beautiful sights!

9. Go For a Hike!

What’s my favorite thing to do on a nice day near Sparta? Go for a hike! Every summer I try to go on as many challenging yet rewarding hikes as possible! How can a hike be rewarding, you might ask, go do the Stairway to Heaven trail (pictured below), check out the views at the top, then get back to me. Just be sure to park at the bottom of the mountain on Route 94 if you want to skip the Appalachian Trail Boardwalk and ONLY do Stairway to Heaven… I’ve made that mistake before (oops).

Another personal favorite? Kittatinny Valley State Park . I like this area because you have so many options; if you don’t feel like going for a long, rigorous, hike you can choose a shorter trail, or, if you’re up for the challenge, you can choose one of the difficult, uphill hikes.

10. Go Bowling at Sparta Lanes

Rainy day? Too hot outside? Head indoors for some bowling at Sparta Lanes. One of the things my friends and I like to do when we want to hang out and do something fun, but maybe don’t want to exert too much energy, is go bowling! With different theme nights and activities, Sparta Lanes is the perfect place for some friendly competition with your friends.

While this list does not include, everything you can do in Sparta, it’s a pretty good start to get you thinking. So, go out, explore, have some fun, and let me know what some of your favorite things to do around Sparta are!