Jersey Week Is Back!

Yeah, it's "Be Nice to New Jersey" week!  

With most of the COVID-19 restrictions lifted, it's a perfect time to re-connect with family and friends.

Yes, this isn't my "normal" teaching post, but I can't help it ... I love sharing news about fabulous family friendly places to visit in my home state, and I've listed a few dozen or so that should be on anyone's bucket list. 

If you've never been to beautiful New Jersey, summer would be the best time of year to taste the treasures that make it the true "garden" place among the states.  Especially the tomatoes, berries and fresh corn, not to mention all the flowers.

With so much to see across the entire state and the reopening of most places, including some business incentives, it's worth the trip.  Truly with countless reasons to come to New Jersey at any time of the year, a great reason to visit during NJ week is for the firework displays.  There are tons of places to view them literally by land and by sea.  Check here for where and when in some locations.

If you're not able to make it during Be Nice to NJ Week, consider adding some of these fun activities into your future schedule and budget.  For instance, take time to visit the many unique and historical sites throughout the state.

Museums:

The Red Mill Museum, Vietnam Vets Memorial, the Korean War Memorial), or the Battleship New Jersey  There are actually tickets for fireworks viewing with live music onboard for July 4th.

Zoos and Animal Kingdoms: 

The wolf preserve (call ahead for tour dates), aquariums, journey the marshes on a pontoon boat with Meadowlands Eco Cruises, Insectropolis Museum, Liberty Science Center where T-Rex roars, planets come alive at night, Hot Wheels race and the climb chamber takes real skill to escape.

More unusual places to consider:

Experience the geological mystery of the Rainbow Tunnel and Silver Mine, Fisherman's Walkway Trail on Island Beach State Park, 

Feltville - the Deserted Village, 

Batsto Village and Mansion (this one is free!),

rent a surrey, the gigantic Colgate Clock, a Telephone Pole Farm (yes, that's right!).

For extreme fun the entire family will enjoy northern New Jersey's largest indoor amusement park iPlay America.  With 1/2 price Wednesday, double ticket Thursday and unlimited Friday activities, this place has it all from games, rides, concerts, great eats, shops ... you name it. 

What about those beautiful garden areas?  The 180 acre Rutger's Gardens is a "natural" place to start.  Grounds for Sculpture is a 42 acre wonderland that was once home to the NJ State Fairgrounds.  Now, it's a site to behold with the most fascinating, whimsical giant designs you've ever seen in a garden and forest!  I promise, this one you'll never forget!

Something else you might find interesting is to work your way through a human maze of flowers or take part in the Sunflower festival.

There are plenty of living historic farms or roadside farmland produce markets in the southern areas.  

Just a short ride from where I grew up is the famous "Cowtown Rodeo" and Farmers Market on the legendary Route 40 (also know as Main Street of America) in Pilesgrove.

The Historic Cowtown Rodeo 

South Jersey Shore Points of Interest:

For those special occasions, eat at one of the various Jersey shore points fine dining restaurants to feast on fresh fish delicacies.  During those "munchie" times, don't forget to try the famous Atlantic City boardwalk fries and waffle cones!

After a day of "fun in the sun" swimming and making sun castles for the Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpture Festival, walk the moonlit sandy beaches or stroll the boardwalk piers for special gifts, seashells, collector mugs and souvenirs you can only get in Jersey.  Lastly, don't forget those scenic post cards.

Get a kick out of watching candy makers while they make homemade  fudge or mouthwatering salt water taffy.  With about 60 flavors in the summer, Shriver's is the oldest and best shop in Ocean City and Steel's is in Atlantic City!  In my opinion, both are excellent.  Be sure to bring extra home to your friends and family.

As the sun sets, watch it all come to life at night with the amusement parks, circus acts, live entertainment and rides for all ages.  

While at the shore, be sure to allow time for climbing a lighthouse along the Atlantic coastline.  Although there are 18, only 11 are currently open to the public.

Book a whale and dolphin watching cruise in Cape May, or stand in awe over the performance of the UFAF Thunderbirds Atlantic City Air Show this August. 

If you're looking for dinner shows or concerts (with the "favor"-ite "oldies music"), Atlantic City is where you want to be this summer (through September) if you want to see Rod Stewart, Air Supply, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, the Platters, the farewell tour of Kiss, the Beach Boys, Three Dog Night, Michael Buble, just to name a few being featured.  Now that's some line-up!  Of course, there are many other kinds of acts booked for the shore area that may be of interest to you besides musical.

Do you like outdoor or sports type activities? 

NJ is a fantastic place to bring the family for a more athletic sort of vacation with all that water!  Rushing rivers, bays, streams, gorgeous waterfalls and the Atlantic Ocean are certainly noteworthy.

Try boating, water skiing, free splashgrounds (splash pads) parks,  fishing, canoeing, kayaking, camping, horseback riding or trailing.   This year a Night in Venice Boat Parade and fireworks in Ocean City is scheduled for July 24th, and friends ... it's free!

Let me add two more that may surprise you!  In some areas kids bowl for free and several cities provide FREE movie night in parks or on a beach throughout the summer for the entire family!  Before traveling find out if the towns you plan on visiting offer this activity and where they are located. 

In your planning be sure to ask for group rates, discounts, manager specials and specific calendar date preferred rates.  Oh, and don't forget to inquire if prices are reduced or even free for kids including meals.  

For those who desire that great tan, not all beaches are free and you will have to purchase a tag, so figure that pricing per person in your overall figures as well.  

Everyone is welcome so why not plan a trip?  Once you've visited this beautiful state, being nice to Jersey will come easy!

I really appreciate you taking the time to visit with me on Daily Favor.  Since you're already here, why not browse through the hundreds of articles and read more about how you too can live in the Favor of God.  (Click here: Tell Me)

Follow Fay on social media or her other blogs, and share these articles of faith with someone today!

Until next time, Favored Blessings

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Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also.  Click on the above tab “Tell Me About Jesus” for more information on becoming a child of the Savior.

Content copyright from Favored1 aka Fay Ann Daniels. Do not copy.  

Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.

Unless noted, scripture reference is taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway.. Image Creative Common License if not specified. 

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31 Funcation Activities for the Family

Welcome to a special edition of Daily Favor where 

"faith and favor meet." 

What a wonderful time of year to participate in activities with our family and friends, since August just happens to be Family Fun Month.

It won't be long before school begins and like most people, we want to cram in as much fun as possible before summer ends or the kids start classes. 

This year instead of the "regular" and "unusual" things you do each summer (or any time really), try including some new activities that just may turn into the best family traditions ever! 

Sharing Family Funcations 

When it comes to fun I think it should be shared and not spared.  That especially goes for including neighbors, co-workers, singles, widows, the community and "wall flowers" (okay, everyone) to join in on how we make our own clean family fun.

Of course there are many different views on what people think is fun, and I get that.  Here are a few things we have done on "funcations" in our family and community.

Yearly we looked forward to a celebration our neighbors had during the labor day weekend holiday.  Besides loads of food, the event included entertaining the neighborhood with a local talent karaoke night.  It may have been loud, but a barrel of laughs for all that participated and those of us who listened!

Another fun event was to hold an ice cream gutter party.  You never heard of it?  Everyone builds their own sundaes and eats them out of a 6 foot long NEW gutter piece that is placed on a long table outdoors.  We learned outside is better - this gets quite messy! 

The upside to this is that there's only one "dish" to wash.  Plus it can be recycled into a rather "fun"ctional herb planter or painted as decorative yard art, which can be another funcation project.  

If you had to I guess you could actually go boring traditional and use it as a gutter on the house, but who wants to spoil everything by doing that?

Funcation Time! Ready?

Need a few more fun ideas?  I have a month of daily activities that I think you just might favor!

31 Fun-cation Family Activities

1.  Build a family fort inside your house.

2.  Try camping in your own yard!

3.  Take bike rides in a state park.

4.  Plan a scavenger hunt on your street.

5.  Go on a waterfront picnic.

6.  Have an indoor picnic with all the fixings.

7.  Bury a family time capsule.

8.  Family story reading hour.

9.  Have food themed dinner nights.
10. Have international dinners on weekends.

11. Be a tourist in your own town.

12. Take pottery classes for making gifts.

13. Bring neighbor kids on a fishing trip.

14. Hold a night of family entertainment.

15. Make pizza and watch a film outdoors.
16. Film a documentary of the town's history.
17. Film a family recipe cooking program.
18. Design family Christmas cards.
19. Invent a family game.
20. Write and perform a play.
21. Have each member write a short story.
22. Make and fly a kite. (I did!)
23. Create a family summer holiday.
24. Hold a street hymn sing in your yard. 
25. Visit local farms in operation.
26. Learn a new language together.
27.  Hold a family Olympics contest.
28. Design a family coat of arms.
29. Have a community ice cream gathering.
30. Have a tailgate party in your driveway.
31. Design a bible tract to distribute locally.


Family, Fellowship and Favor

You know, God is all about family, fellowship and favor.  The Lord is pleased when we celebrate the good things He brings into our lives by spending time with one another. 

It also delights God to distribute blessings and favor on those who obey His Word by the way they live in bringing Him glory.  There is no better way to share the gospel message than to daily live in the favor of God that others can witness through you (and your family). 

"Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my Righteous cause; and let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant(s)." (Psalm 35:27 NKJV)

Share and Not Spare

This summer start the habit of letting your family testimony lead people to Jesus.  Remember to share and not spare what God has so freely given you.

Invite those on your street, community or social clubs to family funcation activities.  Instead of following the ideals of what family "should look like according to the world's view, demonstrate what real family life looks like when God's favor is on it.

"For whoever (that means anyone) finds Me (accepts Christ as Savior) finds life (eternal life), and obtains (receives in full) favor from the Lord." 

(Proverbs 8:35 NKJV emphasis mine)

Become a "doer" of the Word and let others see the love of Christ being lived out in your own family.  Show them that it isn't a sin for a Christian to have fun, but highly endorsed by God.

 "And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households (family and friends), 

in all that you undertake, in which the 

Lord your God has blessed you." 

(Deuteronomy 12:7 ESV)  

"Let them praise His name with dancing, making melody (singing) to Him with tambourine and lyre." (Psalm 149:3 ESV)

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting." (Job 8:21 ESV)

"And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets." (Zechariah 8:5 ESV)

Be imaginative as you spend time with new friends and those you love.  Sing, shout, play instruments, dance for joy, eat, create, build,  fish or whatever you decide to do ... glorify God and have the best family funcation ever!  

After the event(s), don't forget to share them here!  I'd love to see what ideas you have come up with for your family funcations.

This Week's Challenge? 
You want more than 31?

Have a great month friends enjoying the best family funcations you ever had.

Until next time, family favor is God's plan!  

I favor My original plan ... 

Family Fun Forever! 

Jesus Christ

What was that?  Have I done all of these?  Pretty much ... still on my fun bucket list is the time capsule, filming a cooking show and driveway tailgate party.  I made my first film for art class in high school (9th grade).  Can you imagine that!  

What's New This Week: Click on the link.

77 Ways Your Family Can Make A Difference:

 Ideas and Activities for Serving Others

 by Penny A. Zeller

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Follow Fay on social media and her other blogs. 

Favored1 on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Pinterest and Articles.  

Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also.  Click on the above tab “Tell Me About Jesus” for more information on becoming a child of the Savior.

Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.  

Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.

Unless noted, scripture reference in series was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway.  Image  Karaoke Boys  Gutter Ice Cream Sundae  31 Days of Fun  Moses Fishing  Creative Common License if not specified. 

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