If you're making a weekend of it, you're in luck — Chester is one of New Jersey's best-loved spots for apple and pumpkin picking, and fall is the perfect time for it. Alstede Farms is a local favorite, with pick-your-own apples and pumpkins plus hayrides, a farm store, and homemade treats.
A short drive from the festivities, Natirar is a large estate in the hills of Somerset County with walking trails along the North Branch of the Raritan River. It's also home to Ninety Acres, a farm-to-table restaurant that grows much of its menu on the property.
Hacklebarney is a small park built around a rocky, hemlock-lined ravine where the Black River runs past a series of small waterfalls. The Red Trail follows the river and has plenty of benches and picnic spots along the way. The Hacklebarney Cider Mill is nearby if you want to pick up delicious cider donuts on the way in or out!