Allaire State Park

Address:4265 Atlantic Ave
Farmingdale, New Jersey

Allaire State Park's most unique attraction is definitely the Allaire village, once home to 400 families who produced bog iron, a renewable source of iron oxide, by using decaying swamp vegetation. Today, the town still gives a sneak peek at old industrial life; the tour includes stops at the bakery, a carpenter's shop, and the general store. The park's Pine Creek Railroad is reminiscent of an old Western, and is still in operation for all you vintage locomotive lovers. To top it off, the park holds annual antique shows, arts and crafts shows, and flea markets. Allaire is also a great stop for fisherman and canoeists, and nature walks and hiking trails are also available for horseback riders, mountain bikers or simply those seeking a relaxing stroll through some fantastic 19th-century history.

Allaire State Park is probably best known for its historic 19th-century ironmaking town, Allaire Village, and its antique steam trains on the Pine Creek Railroad. The Manasquan River, which winds through the park, attracts canoeists and fishermen. The river's floodplain provides habitat for over 200 species of wildflowers, trees and plants as well as habitat for birds and other wildlife. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders enjoy the many trails in the park.