Summer bucket list: 10 ways to make the most of summer in North Jersey

Tie your sneakers and head for a trail. Strap on your dancing shoes and hit a concert. Slip into your fancy shoes for an alfresco lunch with cool cocktails. In other words — don't waste all this sunshine by hiding away in your house.

Here are 10 things to put your summer bucket list that will get you out and exploring all that North Jersey has to offer.

1. Take a hike

North Jersey isn't all highways and retail. There are still a few natural places in the most crowded state in the country. The Ramapo Valley Reservation features five loop trails that take you near streams, a pond, a reservoir and a waterfall. If you climb high enough, you can even see the Manhattan skyline. Plus, it's dog-friendly, so your four-legged pal can get a workout too. 608 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah; 201-327-3500, nynjtc.org.

2. Wine and dine on a roof

Another summertime joy is nursing an ice-cold cocktail alfresco. At RoofTop at Exchange Place in Jersey City, you can sip your drink while gazing at the Manhattan skyline from on high. Add some tapas to the mix and you've got a pretty perfect summer evening. 1 Exchange Place, Jersey City; 551-256-7850, rooftopxp.com.

More: Booze with a view at these North Jersey rooftop bars

NJ's best outdoor dining: 25 restaurants with alfresco seating

3. Go to the VMAs

The MTV Video Music Awards will again be held in Newark at the Prudential Center. Get yourself a ticket to stargaze at the celebs who will rock out at the awards show on Sept. 12. The VMAs begin at 9 p.m. 25 Lafayette St., Newark; prucenter.com.

Ariana Grande, Cardi B, BTS and more: Where might celebs dine in Newark before VMAs?

4. Tour Kip's Castle Park

It's not every day you see a replica of a medieval Norman castle. This summer make time to stop at Kip's Castle Park. The impressive, 9,000-square-foot, stone mansion sits on 11 acres of land with views of the New York City skyline. In the 1980s it was bought by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the leader of the cult profiled in the Netflix series "Wild, Wild Country." But these days, Kip's Castle is owned by the state.

Admission is free and the first floor is open to the public for self guided tours. 22 Crestmont Road, Montclair; 973-433-7469, essexcountyparks.org.

5. Drink at a brewery

Hackensack Brewing Company in Hackensack and Ghost Hawk Brewery in Clifton are good spots to have a beer. Both have big, industrial doors that can be rolled open during the warmer months. Grab a cold beer and enjoy the weather. Hackensack Brewing is located at 78 Johnson Ave., Hackensack; 201-880-1768, hackensackbrewing.com. Ghost Hawk is located at 321 River Road No. 6, Clifton; ghosthawkbrewing.com.

6. Talk to the animals

Check out the roaring, squawking, croaking creatures at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. Besides a variety of exotic animals, the zoo also has a safari-themed mini golf course, swan paddle boats, an endangered species carousel, a tree-top adventure course and more. 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange; 973-731-5800, turtlebackzoo.com.

7. Bowl a round or three

Sometimes the heat gets to be too much during the summer, in which case a cool, dark bowling alley is a welcome oasis. This summer, the Bowlero in Fair Lawn is offering Summer Game Passes, which allow bowlers to play three games for the price of two and get a $5 arcade card. 22 Maple Ave., Fair Lawn; 201-797-5400, bowlero.com.

8. Make a day trip to the beach

You'll have to head south for the New Jersey beaches worth their salt. But an hour-plus drive is no excuse not to sink your toes into the surf and sand on New Jersey's famous beaches. Ocean City? Sea Isle? Seaside Heights? Cape May? Take your pick.

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Summer bucket list: 10 ways to make the most of summer in North Jersey