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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Marlboro & Monmouth County, New Jersey
Pleasant Valley Lavender's u-pick runs mid-June to mid-July in Morganville, near an 1890s living-history farm, rose gardens and Sandy Hook.
4 places · updated October 17, 2026
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Monmouth County mixes horse farms and suburbs inland with the Jersey Shore a half hour east. Pleasant Valley Lavender sits on Pleasant Valley Road in Morganville, part of Marlboro Township, and runs a pick-your-own season from mid-June to mid-July, with a gift shop, picnics in the fields and leashed dogs welcome. Late-summer weekend and Wednesday hours follow into August.
The county park system does much of the work for a day trip. Holmdel Park and its 1890s living-history farm are a few minutes away, the Deep Cut Gardens rose parterre and Thompson Park's restored racing stable are 15 minutes east, and the hilly trails of Hartshorne Woods and the beaches and lighthouse at Sandy Hook are about half an hour toward the ocean. Colts Neck's orchard market and inn are on the way.
The lavender farms
- Pleasant Valley LavenderLavender farm · Morganville
Mid-June to mid-July (U-pick June 15 to July 19 in 2026)
Walk-in, no tickets: U-pick June 15–July 19 (2026), then Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays 10–5 through August 30. Professional photo sessions by booking.
Best time to visit
Come between June 15 and July 19, Pleasant Valley Lavender's posted u-pick season; it also opens Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 5 between July 24 and August 30. Summer is beach season at Sandy Hook, where parking costs $20 a day from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Thompson Park's Racing Stable gives free tours Friday to Sunday from May 2 to October 18, Battery Lewis at Hartshorne Woods has free guided tours from late May to mid-October, and Historic Walnford runs gristmill demonstrations on weekends from April through November. In fall, Historic Allaire Village holds its 1830's All Hallows' Eve on October 25, 2026, and dogs are allowed on Sandy Hook's ocean beaches from September 15 to March 15.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Holmdel Park🏞️ Park · Holmdel · about 3 mi, 8 min drive
A 719-acre county park with an arboretum, a fishing pond and about 10 miles of trails, including a half-mile paved loop.
Opens 7 a.m. daily; closes 7:30 p.m. through October 31 and 5:30 p.m. from November 1
- Historic Longstreet Farm🏛️ Historic site · Holmdel · about 3 mi, 8 min drive
A 9-acre working farm inside Holmdel Park that re-creates 1890s rural life, with mules, horses, dairy cows, pigs and sheep and interpreters in period dress. The farmhouse began as a Dutch cottage before 1775.
Daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (9 to 5 Memorial Day to Labor Day); farmhouse noon to 3:30 p.m. weekends and holidays, March to December
free
- Deep Cut Gardens🌷 Garden · Middletown · about 6 mi, 12 min drive
Fifty-four acres of display gardens and greenhouses, including a rose parterre with 52 varieties and more than 180 bushes and a koi pond. Pets are not permitted.
Daily, 8 a.m. to dusk
- Thompson Park🏞️ Park · Lincroft · about 8 mi, 15 min drive
A 667-acre park on the old Brookdale thoroughbred farm, with Marlu Lake, about 14 miles of trails and an off-leash dog area. The restored Racing Stable is open for free tours.
Opens 7 a.m. daily; Racing Stable Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 2 to October 18
- Hartshorne Woods Park🏞️ Park · Highlands · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
An 831-acre wooded ridge over the Navesink River with about 16 miles of the county's toughest trails. At Rocky Point, restored Battery Lewis shows a 68-foot, 120-ton gun barrel.
Opens 7 a.m. daily; free Battery Lewis tours late May to mid-October; closed for deer hunts on set days from late November
- Sandy Hook (Gateway National Recreation Area)🏖️ Beach · Highlands · about 19 mi, 30 min drive
Ocean and bay beaches on a barrier spit, with the 250-year-old Sandy Hook Lighthouse; free lighthouse tours run Friday to Monday afternoons.
Daily 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; visitor center Friday to Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Beach parking $20 a day, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day (cashless); free at Fort Hancock
- Manasquan Reservoir🏞️ Park · Howell · about 18 mi, 30 min drive
A 770-acre reservoir ringed by a 5.1-mile gravel loop trail, with rowboat and kayak rentals and boat tours from the visitor center.
Rowboats April 1 to October 31, kayaks May 1 to October 31
Single kayak about $16 an hour; boat tours $6 adults, $4 ages 12 and under
- Historic Village at Allaire🏛️ Historic site · Farmingdale · about 20 mi, 30 min drive
The former Howell Iron Works company town inside Allaire State Park, set in 1836, with a blacksmith shop, bakery, general store and workers' homes.
1830's All Hallows' Eve, October 25, 2026, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All Hallows' Eve $12 adults, $6 ages 4 to 10
- Historic Walnford🏛️ Historic site · Upper Freehold · about 28 mi, 40 min drive
A 36-acre mill village with the 1773 Waln House and a working gristmill that runs 15-minute milling demonstrations.
Historic buildings daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Waln House March 1 to December 24; milling Saturdays and Sundays, April to November
Free admission and parking
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Delicious OrchardsApple orchard · Colts Neck
A Colts Neck market and bakery known for apple cider donuts, pies and fresh-pressed cider, ten minutes from the lavender.
- Colts Neck Inn HotelRestaurant · Colts Neck
A pet-friendly boutique hotel with 48 rooms and a restaurant and bar, close enough to make the lavender farm a morning stop.
- Small World CoffeeCafé or coffee shop · Princeton
Princeton coffeehouse serving downtown since 1993 from cafes on Witherspoon and Nassau streets, about 40 minutes west.
- Hopewell Valley VineyardsWinery or vineyard (21+) · Pennington
A Pennington winery with pizza and light fare and live music every weekend, open until 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
- Unionville VineyardsWinery or vineyard (21+) · Ringoes
A Hunterdon County winery known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rhône blends, open daily noon to 5; nearly an hour west.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMPleasant Valley Lavender
During u-pick season, cut a bundle, visit the gift shop and stay for a picnic; about an hour.
- 11:15 AMHistoric Longstreet Farm · about 8 min drive
Meet the farm animals and, on weekends, tour the farmhouse from noon; about 45 minutes.
- 12:15 PMDelicious Orchards · about 15 min drive
Lunch from the bakery and Cider Café, and take home cider donuts; about 45 minutes.
- 1:20 PMThompson Park · about 12 min drive
Tour the Racing Stable (Friday to Sunday) or walk by Marlu Lake, about an hour.
- 2:35 PMDeep Cut Gardens · about 12 min drive
Walk the rose parterre and greenhouse for 45 minutes.
- 3:40 PMHartshorne Woods Park, Rocky Point · about 20 min drive
See Battery Lewis and the Navesink River views, about an hour.
- 5:00 PMSandy Hook · about 15 min drive
End on a bayside beach; the park stays open until 9 p.m.
Tips
- Distances and drive times on this page are measured from Pleasant Valley Lavender in Morganville.
- Pleasant Valley Lavender takes all cards and cash, and needs no appointment; photographers using professional cameras must book field time under the farm's photography policy.
- Pets are not allowed at Deep Cut Gardens or Historic Longstreet Farm, so plan dog-friendly stops at the lavender farm and Thompson Park's off-leash area.
- Sandy Hook's toll booths are cashless; cars arriving before 8 a.m. can park free in a designated lot until fees start.
- Hartshorne Woods closes to all outdoor activities on set deer-hunt days in late 2026, including November 24 and December 8, 10, 16 and 18.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When can I pick lavender in Monmouth County?
Pleasant Valley Lavender in Morganville posts a u-pick season of June 15 to July 19, with no appointment needed.
Are dogs allowed at Pleasant Valley Lavender?
Yes. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome; owners must clean up after them.
Is Historic Longstreet Farm free?
Yes, entry is free; groups of eight or more need a reservation and pay a fee.
How much is parking at Sandy Hook?
$20 per day from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, collected 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; parking at Fort Hancock is always free.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
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