Crystal Springs Resort is excited to kick off the warm weather season with an array of outdoor adventures, perfect for families who want to experience nature at its finest.  The resort offers two exceptional hotels - the AAA four-diamond Grand Cascades Lodge and the recreation rich Minerals Hotel. If there was ever a time to plan an immersive nature experience for your family, this is it.

Think a great vacation requires hours of travel time just to “get away”? Think again. Perched in the Skylands region of northern New Jersey, this family-friendly resort is the perfect spot for a quick, easy, and exciting warm weather vacation. Whether you are seeking a sense of outdoor adventure, moments of serenity, or everything in between, Crystal Springs Resort delivers it all from its bucolic setting along the Appalachian Mountain range. Best of all, you can experience this stay without ever leaving the Garden State.

This perfect drivable destination is the ideal spot where families will love every minute of their stay. A plethora of activities and offerings in nature have been created with children specifically in mind. Below represents our nature-oriented activities planned for this spring and summer: 

- Farm Animal Visits: Meet local farmer Keith and his friendly furry and feathered friends when he comes to visit the resort.  Learn fun facts about baby goats, ducks, chickens, bunnies, sheep, miniature horses, alpaca and other Appalachian farm favorites. 

- Meet the Beekeeper: Meet the local bee keeper and learn all about beekeeping, the health benefits of honey and the importance of bees to local agriculture.

- Meet the Chickens: Join our very own Farmer Keith to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about raising chickens. Meet some of his feathered friends plus learn fun facts and daily tasks to care for these birds.

- Axe Throwing: Come try this modern sport, which involves throwing an axe at a wooden target, and attempting to hit as close to the bullseye as possible. Get your competitor hat on in this safe and fun environment. Session includes a trained guide who will show guests the responsible way to participate.

- Archery: Join us at the archery range to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow or to show off your skills and perhaps partake in some friendly competition at hitting the bullseye. Instruction and equipment are included.

- Fishing: Enjoy catch-and-release fishing for guests, primarily at the Fishing Hole at the Quarry near Grand Cascades Lodge, featuring stocked fish in a dramatic 80-foot limestone cliff setting.

- Koi Feeding: Guests will enjoy an afternoon visit to our scenic Koi Pond where they can feed these ornamental species of fish. 

- Chef’s Garden Tours: Join one of our Resort Gardeners for a tour of our incredible Chef's Garden featuring a variety of plants, flowers, herbs and vegetables. 

- Forest Bathing: Enjoy a guided walk with our resort naturalist while practicing sensory awareness such as scent, sight, sound, breath, to quiet the mind and deepen connection. 

- Local Sustainable Farm Tour: Guests can enjoy an educational tour at nearby Vernon Valley Farm, where the managing farm team utilize nature's synergies to create a fully sustainable farm.

- Nature Inspired Crafts like flower pounding: Enjoy this natural, creative craft technique that involves using a mallet to pound fresh flowers and leaves onto fabric or paper.  The force transfers the plant's natural pigments and shapes onto the surface, creating unique, eco-friendly botanical prints which can be used for decor, textiles, and art.

- Trailside sketching sessions: Guests will find their artistic side - drawing nature and landscapes while outdoors, with a focus on capturing the essence of the surroundings. 

- Nature Trail: A 3 mile on-property wooded path with educational signs that feature fun facts about local plants and animals. 

-Under the Stars: An outdoor sound meditative, star gazing, stress reducing serenity filled, moonlit, mind-body, wellness relaxation experience at our outdoor amphitheater...
exclusively for our resort guests and retreat programming this summer. 

To learn more or book a reservation, call 866.717.9310 or visit CSResort.com.