Imagine walking into a 19th-century village frozen in time, taking a train ride on the vintage Pine Creek Railroad, or discovering a secret path through the trees—you’ll find this and much more at Allaire State Park in the Monmouth County town of Farmingdale. It’s one of our favorite places to go as a family because every time we visit, a different experience awaits. Sometimes, we’ll take our bikes on the trails, get a glimpse into the past at historic Allaire Village, or just go chill with nature. And each time we visit, we see it in a new light, especially during the changing seasons and the holidays. Want to know more about what makes Allaire State Park so unique? Scroll down to see why we love going here and why you will, too. Find more parks to visit on our list of NJ parks to explore, too. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
Allaire State Park: Choose Your Own Day-Trip Adventure
Allaire Village feels like you stepped back into Christmas past around the holidays. Photo Credit: @thehistoricvillageatallaire
Walk through historic holiday events
Allaire State Park shines at Christmas with beautiful trimmings and decor that nods to history, offering a window into what Christmas looked like long ago. On weekends, Christmas at Allaire is when the village transforms into an enchanting place of holiday cheer with traditional carolers. Kids can visit Santa, make ornaments, do a scavenger hunt, play Victorian-era games, and indulge in festive treats from the Bakery and General Store starting December 7 (tickets start at $10 and are available online and at the ticket office). Also, don’t miss the Holiday Evening Stroll, a self-guided tour through the village when candles and lights light up the village to give it a cozy glow. Want a festive date night idea? Spend the evening at The Allaire Christmas Lantern Tour, a guided candlelight tour featuring historical Christmas customs (tickets start at $45, and the tour is adults-only).
The Bakery was built in 1835 and supplied bread for the village since most homes did not have ovens to bake. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Explore a 19th-century iron-making village
Allaire’s historic 19th-century iron-making village (formerly known as Howell Works) produced crude and cast iron in the early to mid-1800s and was a thriving industrial community with a population of 400. Today, you can go into the recreated village, which includes a general store, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter’s shop, a foreman’s house, and a church. We visit here frequently because they often have historical demonstrations at the blacksmith shop or in the carpenter’s shop, giving you a glimpse of what they created back in the 19th century. My kids remark on how life might have been back then, and you feel like you have stepped back in time with this piece of living history. Make sure to stop by the Allaire Visitor Center and Museum (former row houses for the workers) for more information about the past and the living history events.
The Pine Creek Railroad takes you back to a special time in NJ history. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Take a ride on the rails
The Pine Creek Railroad was established in the 1950s, and it is an ideal example of how rail travel looked at the height of the steam era in the United States. Today, the NJ Museum of Transportation manages the diesel, narrow-gauge railway, one of the country’s oldest operating ones. My kids love taking the 15-minute ride to enjoy the scenery and see history in action. Trains typically run every half hour on weekends (check ahead to see if special events are happening), and tickets are available at the ticket booth. Also, keep on the lookout for special train events—there’s a Haunted Halloween event for older kids and The Christmas Express during the holidays. You can find the most up-to-date information on the New Jersey Museum of Transportation’s Facebook page.
Trails at Allaire State Park meander through the woods, are near farmland, and include a bridge over the Garden State Parkway. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Hit the trails
One of the great things about Allaire State Park is there are plenty of trails for walking, bike riding, and horseback. The park includes the Edgar Felix Memorial Bikeway, the first segment of the 55-mile Capital to Coast trail spanning from Trenton to the beach town of Manasquan. The trail transitions from the woods to farmland to the path that meanders over the Garden State Parkway—it’s definitely a unique experience to bike right over rush hour traffic and the part of the trail that my family always talks about after.
When this General Store was built in 1835, it cost $7,000 and was one of the largest general stores in NJ at the time. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Activities and festivals
Beyond the usual things to do at Allaire, they also host special events that appeal to kids and adults. Some of the ones they host during the year include the History Kids Club, where kids can brush up on their state and colonial history, an antique car show, craft shows, and much more. When the leaves turn (one of the prettiest times in the park), get ready for the Fall Harvest Festival, the Fall Craft & Vendor Show, and an 1830s All Hallow’s Eve Celebration, culminating with beautiful holiday events. In the summer, Allaire hosts arts and crafts festivals, antique shows, and flea markets. You can check what’s happening with Allaire’s Calendar of Events.
The original row houses were constructed in 1832, and it cost about $1-$2 a month to rent a row home then. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
What to know before you go
Allaire State Park offers camping, picnic areas, fishing, and hunting grounds. Many visitors enjoy bird and wildlife watching and freshwater fishing in the Manasquan River, which zigzags through the park. The village, Pine Creek Train Station, and trails are near the main entrance and parking area. If you plan to visit, remember to bring a picnic, snacks, and any other essentials for the day since there are no on-site food vendors except during special events.
Visit Allaire State Park and Village through the website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Allaire State Park
4265 Atlantic Avenue
Farmingdale, NJ 07727
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