Swing Swing

Swinging Bridge
Princeton, Nj

Located a decent walk behind the Clarke House Museum, deep within the woods; is an awesome suspended bridge. I'm not going to lie, we had tried to locate this bridge a few times before but the websites I had checked out were confusing. Partially because we aren't that familiar with the area. Also, the woods are poorly marked within the woods and on the map as well. There were small concrete markers placed here and there with a short description of where each direction led. But it was mostly going in blind and hoping you were going the right way. To combat this confusion and a tangled web of trails, I used my phone's GPS to help us get to the bridge. It made it so much simpler!

We parked in the parking lot that is used for the Princeton Battlefield (located on the opposite side of the road) and the Clarke House Museum. From there, we went straight back to the woods and made a left at the first concrete marker. We walked parallel to the Institute for Advanced Study until we came to a bench with a fork in the road.

After a quick snack on the bench, we followed the path going straight. It was probably an almost 10-minute walk from there to the bridge. The suspended bridge reminded me of one of those sketchy bridges you see in remote jungles. It was nothing like that! Going across it was more than I could imagine. Max loved running back and forth (giving me quite a heart attack!). He enjoyed throwing sticks into the water and watching them float away.

One big thing we had learned on this hike was to wear proper foot gear. Certain areas are insanely muddy which is why we turned back the first time. So definitely keep that in mind. Also, if my directions aren't clear, don't hesitate to use your GPS! Just change from car to walk and the path pops right up! We wandered close to an hour our second attempt because we tried following the map and online directions. This bridge was so worth it!

Our Stats

Pros: A swinging bridge, moderate hiking trails 

Cons: No public restrooms, lack of trail markers

Max's Recommendation: "The bridge!"

My Recommendation: "Use your phone's GPS! It helped us finally reach the bridge."

Overall Rating:7/10

The Rocks Are Alive With Music

Ringing Rocks

Upper Black Eddy, PA

I have heard of Ringing Rocks over the years but had never made the trek out there. Last summer we finally made it and were not disappointed! 

Ringing Rocks had a lot to offer that made it worth the hour drive. The park is 123 acres that include a 7-acre boulder field, a fifteen-foot tall waterfall, and beautiful scenery. The really cool thing about the boulder field is that if hit with a hammer, the rocks make a ringing sound. It isn't known why the rocks make a bell-like sound or even why there are there.  It is just one of those things that nature created. The kids had a blast banging the rocks but that also could have been because they got to hold a hammer!

I would highly recommend that you wear a pair of sturdy shoes because climbing on, over and around those rocks was not easy! But it was so worth it once we made it across. We came across a stream that had a small waterfall. Max found a frog that sat almost like a guardian over the stream. The kids enjoyed dipping their feet in the cool water and watching the waterfall from rocks. 

We followed the trail until we came to a fork in the road. After a quick vote, we took the right path. Down this path, we discovered High Falls, a gorgeous waterfall. High Falls is Bucks County's largest waterfall. The kids were in awe of the rushing water, of the amazing rainbow that sparkled over the water and the snake we happened to stumble across. After the waterfall, we somehow ended up off the trail. Probably because the kids were leading the way. It was still cool to wander around trees taller than ourselves and to point out various bugs. 

This was one of those parks that is an all-day affair. We arrived around 10 am and didn't leave till almost 2 pm. But at no point were the kids bored or uncomfortable. Once at the car, I changed Max out of his wet clothes to dry clothes. He can't resist water so we just roll with it now. All in all, this was a great hike!

Our Stats

Pros: Waterfall, Rocks that 'sing'

Cons: Crossing the rock field may be difficult with smaller children

Sam's Recommendation: "What's not to like? The river and waterfall were super cool and I liked how the rocks made different noises when you hit them."

Max's Recommendation: "Watching the frog and insets."

My Recommendation: "Bring a hammer and be prepared for a long hike!"

Overall Rating 8/10