My objective was to photograph 16 of the lighthouses in Long Island Sound and to that end Steve…read moreenabled me accomplish my objective. He was waiting for me when I arrived, took me to all 16, staying at each one long enough for me to get some amazing shots while engaging in lively and knowledgeable conversation. My daughter and I were comfortable and felt safe even when the weather changed. It was a truly enjoyable trip. Steve even provided sandwiches. I would definitely recommend Monty's Arc Adventures to anyone venturing out onto Long Island Sound.

I booked a fishing charter for my sons 30th birthday…read more Captain Steve was amazing. Provided excellent communication and customer service. The trip was fantastic. Very nice boat. Great Captain. Great experience. Highly recommend.

I have been studying and photographing wildlife at Great Piece Meadows for nearly 10 years now…read more This semi-wild area is admittedly, a bit rugged and not for the faintest of heart. My typical approach is to walk stretches of "Ditch Road" which is accessed off of Clinton Street in Fairfield. Some sections of land off of Ditch Road are privately managed by the Fairfield Sportsmen Club and not open to the public, however you are free to walk all the way to nice natural views of the Passaic River. Bring your binoculars, hiking boots, phone w/ GPS, abundant drinking water and a sense of adventure. Enjoy. More info on the area here - http://wildlifepreserves.org/preserves/great-piece-meadows

Great Piece Meadows is a 1000+ acres of more or less untouched wetlands, primarily in Fairfield,…read moreNJ. So. . .its a swamp. If you don't go early in the spring or late in the fall, you will be eaten alive by insects. Also it will be completely overgrown and inaccessible. If you do go in the early spring or late fall, it will still be inaccessible, because its a freaking swamp. Expect to sink into the mud frequently and deeply. It's technically open to the public for hiking and fishing, but I get the very strong feeling the state doesn't actually want you there. There are no parking areas that I can find, no easy access (the only way I have found to access the area is parking on a dead-end street and a long walk on a road parallel to the highway past a private hunting preserve), and there are no trails aside from one footpath surrounding the lake. (Presumably made by those fishermen I have never seen) The first time I went there myself, I attracted the attention of a state trooper, who assumed I must have broken down or been kidnapped or something, as he had never seen anyone in those woods. Also, though I said it's untouched, I meant that there are no trails or official alterations to the land. This doesn't seem to stop anyone from using it as a communal landfill, however. There are sofas, old tires, various tetanus-inducing metal things, etc. I have never seen anyone else there, but it abuts against a private hunting preserve. . .and although the state land is technically off limits to hunters, I heard turkey calls that were definitely NOT coming from the private land. I would be very afraid to return, and possibly become a target for poachers. On the plus side, if you can avoid being shot, it is very isolated, and very serene.

I must say fishing with Ernest Fernandez fishing buddies of America was one of the best experiences…read moreI could have ever had. We caught fish after fish after fish. He made certain that we were fed always providing a box of Popeye chicken with biscuits giving us a bottle of water and soda and walking around the boat asking is everyone okay. Fishing buddies of America has seen a lot of members come and a lot of members go. I was very happy to be a part of a fishing trip that took place in North Carolina on a 24-hour fishing vessel where we caught lots of Vermilion snappers the size limit and the limit for two days as well as Grunt and triggerfish. It was my first experience and a great one. It's sad to say though in 2018 Mr Ernest Fernandez passed away. He does have friends of fishing buddies of America who are running their own charters as a matter of fact there is a trip on June 9th the boat is almost full will be a dedication to miss the earnest Fernandez will we will dedicate to the sea memories of mr. Fernandez. I think that is a great way to pay homage to him. We will also fish on this day in memory of mr. Fernandez for one of his favorite fish porgies. I can see the smile on this man face now catching two parties at one time. Nonetheless great man and a great time I had with him fishing with fishing buddies of America tightlines forever mr. Fernandez

This is a lovely escape from the hustle and bustle for those locals who enjoy some fishing. Located…read morein a very unexpected industrial area of secaucus, most are surprised this place exists. I have been fishing here for 30+ years. The pond is well-stocked, hosts an annual fishing derby, and a day fishing here normally yields results. Everything including bluegill, bass, perch, catfish, carp, etc. can be angled here. To top it off, it's a great place to teach children to fish. The park is regularly being improved, which is also a nice touch. I can go fish anywhere, but find myself continuing to regularly fish here. This isn't only because of the nostalgic value, but because of the convenience and how often we bring in catches. Recommended!

Great place to sit unwind relax and watch the ducks and other animals roam. I'd frequent this area…read moreto take a nice walk or running my loop through town

Great for a day trip with friends and family. Go in the morning and fish all day if you'd like (I…read morerecommend bringing some snacks and beverages if spending the day). Also they don't take credit, so make sure to bring cash. Multiple ponds on the property to choose from and they sell all sorts of bait, as well as rent out rods, if you don't have your own. I've had good luck catching large mouth on medium shiners. They've got bathrooms on the property and the staff is friendly and helpful. Also, there are benches and tables throughout the property, which makes it convenient if bringing food or if you have children. Everytime I've gone, I've had a lot of fun and caught some nice ones. If you're looking for a new fishing spot or new to fishing in general, give this place a shot!

Had a great day with the kids and granddaughter. 7 ponds…read moreand very helpful gentlemen at the bait shop and restrooms are close to lakes,not the best but available.

PROS: This place was very clean and had nice landscape. Lake is big and you can kayak on it. The…read morepaths are very clear and easy to hike through CONS: There's no parking available as they closed the car bridge that leads to the parking lot for no reason. There's also no out house OVERALL: It's an easy hike and the lake is a nice area to kayak on, just plan where you're going to hike cause the lot is closed

Absolutely love this spot! Such a great place to come for a small hike when you wanna enjoy a nice…read moreday. I got here nice and early on a Thursday morning and it was pretty empty. Parking is plenty. I can imagine weekends it gets crowded but there's overflow parking on your way in. Gorgeous selection of two trails, I usually do both to get some extra steps in. Altogether doing both trails is about 2.5 miles. Tons of beautiful views all around. Very very dog friendly as well. I always see a few dogs on the trail. They also do kayak rentals during the summer which seems super fun. Great spot!

My 1st time here after a snow storm, worth the drive from eastchester, 30-36min. Free parking…read moreduring the winter seasons, there's a fee for parking during the warm weathers . I can see it's a place to be for hiking/trailing / biking/ exploring nature. I came here for tubing/sledding, a lot of snow/fresh snow. Not crowed , this place is a gem, hidden secretly. The fam had fun, good work out, alot of hills. Portable potty everything . A lot of history in this park.

This is our favorite place to do (very) early morning birdwatching. We come here in all 4 seasons.read more

This is a hidden gem! We live in Wayne, a couple of miles away, and recently discovered Woodland…read moreLake as a great place to take walks with our dog. She loves walking around the lake and exploring the trails. We're avid sailors, and discovered what a great place this would be to hold SEAS Bergen's basic sailing instruction, since it has such great facilities for boating.

One of America's most glamorous spots. The Kardashian sisters are frequent visitors, spotted…read moreNatalia Vodianova in a canoe here this evening, Brigitte Bardot used to hang out, the port-a-potty has an 18 karat gold seat. to experience all this exquisite voluptiousness vicariously you can hike the 1 mile loop trail around this lake for free but to fish or boat you have to be a resident of Pequannock Township and pay a membership fee. picnic area with a campfire pit - campfire by permit only... next to a busy road and some light industrial areas not a particularly attractive vicinity..

All the fish are dead. Don't come here, pigeons come out of nowhere, vibes are just bad. Algae…read moreblooms all the time. Ticks everywhere; coyote almost ate me alive, Lincoln Park Lake is not it.

I've enjoyed many a beautiful day there with my family. The trampoline and water slide are great…read moreadditions along with kayak and paddle boat rentals. The beach is beautiful white sand and the water is tested daily for bacteria. There has been success with deterring Canadian geese from taking over. It was one of the best surprises about moving into this town.

Did you know that Lake Hopatcong is NJ's largest freshwater lake?…read more And did you also know that there's a great little place on the lake that lets you rent all sorts of strange inventions like a 'pedalboard' and a 'hydrobike' (along with the classics like kayaks and paddleboards) - so you can cruise along the lake, get a bit of exercise, fill those lungs with fresh air and more importantly... work up an appetite (so you can hit The Windlass right after)? I tell you it's true. All true. There were six of us (celebrating a birthday) - 5 on hydrobikes, 1 on a pedalboard. The lake is drop dead gorgeous and we went when it was still early and a bit overcast so it wasn't too crowded with boats and jet-skis and the like. (Waves/wakes from other boats can really dampen your own fun... so that stuff matters a bit.) But I gotta be honest: it was a lot of work. Unlike a kayak where you might get a nice 'bite' with your oar and can coast a bit... the bike is akin to being pneumatic (you stop pedaling and you almost immediately come to a halt as well). And those seats? They are not comfortable at all. Sore dupas all around (the following day as well, actually). But we all had a great time. The crew (Patty and Joe, I believe) were really cool, total professionals, and we always felt like we were safe as well having a great time exploring some of the lake and adjoining islands and whatnot. (We would definitely return in the future but would lean towards a kayak and not do the bikes again.) Wear sunblock, bring water, not sure if it was just me but my right foot was pretty soaked by the end whereas my left was dry (so you'd be better off wearing an old ratty pair of sneakers, regardless). Post-pedal was The Windlass (excellent) as well as some mini-golf (also excellent). Lots to do in this lovely part of Jersey. (But it'll cost ya!)

A cousin of mine tried the hydrobikes and lived it, so I thought I would give it a try. I asked a…read morefriend to come with me and he said it looked like a pain in the ass. I made a reservation online. Patty was so friendly and made it a great time! She let me use some sun block and fill up my reusable cup at their water fountain. She told me that I would probably like the standup paddle board better because it had better maneuverability. I took her advice. It was a lot of excise and fun as we rode around and she told me about the history and pointed out different areas around the lake. We even picked up some trash from inside the lake and it made me happy to know that there are good people out there who are also passionate about the environment. It was hot and I "accidentally" fell in and got to enjoy the water a little bit. Patty also gave me restaurant and hiking recommendations around the area and even took a picture of me. You may be able to call and make a same day appointment, but online will only allow the following day. I don't think it's with bringing or risking losing your camera or phone out on the lake, there isn't anything really photo worthy.