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28 PLACES TO GO Continued from page 27 ▲ Parks, Recreation Area, Trails, and Scenic For more Parks, please visit www.jerseyshorevacation.com. ALLAIRE STATE PARK THE HISTORIC VILLAGE AT ALLAIRE Route 524, Wall, (732) 938-2371 www.allairevillage.org This park boasts a restored early-nineteenth- century bog iron mining community. You'll find picnicking, playgrounds, campsites, riding trails, a nature center, and the Pine Creek Railroad steam trains. See also "The Historic Village At Allaire" under "Historic Sites & Mu seums." BAYSHORE WATERFRONT PARK 719 Port Monmouth Road Middletown, (732) 842-4000 www.monmouthcountyparks.com Views of Raritan Bay and the NYC skyline. Beach access and 227 acres including a fishing pier. BEAVER DAM CREEK COUNTY PARK 3430 Bridge Avenue, Point Pleasant 1-877-OC PARKS This expertly groomed 40 acre park has some- thing for everyone! Take a leisurely stroll along Beaver Dam Creek's boardwalk through tidal wetlands, seemingly miles from civilization. Enjoy a picnic under the pavilion while the kids cavort on one of two playgrounds. Or, engage in your favorite sport on six acres of playing fields. Two superb tennis courts and a basketball court are also available for use. BERKELEY ISLAND COUNTY PARK 399 Brennan Concourse Berkeley Township, (732) 506-9090 Situated on a scenic peninsula jutting out into the calm waters of Barnegat Bay, Berkeley Island County Park provides one of the best views of the bay in Ocean County. Its 25 acres feature a family-oriented sandy beach with protected bay bathing. The 100' crabbing/fishing pier is one of the County's most popular. Bring a picnic lunch and spend the day sunning, swimming, or crab- bing. Picnic area, grills, playground. CATTUS ISLAND COUNTY PARK AND COOPER ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER 1170 Cattus Island Boulevard (off Fischer Blvd.), Toms River (732) 270-6960 The unspoiled beauty of nature is the main attrac- tion at Cattus Island County Park. For nature lovers, this 497 acre park offers panoramic bay views, hiking trails, a boardwalk through the wetlands, a conservation area, bird watching, crabbing and fishing, picnic areas, a playground, and cross-country skiing in the winter. This environmentally sensitive park boasts miles of trails, many offering lovely vistas of the adjacent Silver Bay. Cattus Island is home to the Cooper Environmental Center, where visitors of all ages can enjoy the many displays and collections of snakes and reptiles, as well as numerous programs and presentations. CHEESEQUAKE STATE PARK 300 Gordon Road (GSP Exit 120, off of Morristown Road), Matawan (732) 566-2161 www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/ parks/cheesequake.html Cheesequake State Park's uniqueness lies in its geographical location. Not only is it situated in the middle of urban north and suburban south New Jersey, it lies in a transitional zone between two different ecosystems. Open fields, saltwater and freshwater marshes, a white cedar swamp, Pine Barrens, and a northeastern hardwood forest are the main characteristics of the park. The blacksmith at the Historic Village at Allaire State Park, Wall. Danielle Garske