The most common argument in defense of New Jersey is that it has it all: beaches, mountains, lakes, forests, and cities, all packed within just 7,354 square miles. This is what makes NJ such a great place to live, but it also makes summer planning feel impossible. That's where we come in. Over the past few months, our team of locals has worked hard to create the ultimate Montclair + Essex County summer bucket list. We don't use that superlative lightly: our list includes 50 local activities that we believe every resident should experience at least once — and can, with ease.

Our free and downloadable bucket list of activities includes food spots to enjoy, activities to do, outdoor adventures, history adventures — all the things that make our area special. All of the picks are vetted by our team of local residents, based on our own experiences in the community. We won't spoil all the fun, but here's a sampling of what to expect:

• walking the South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail
• the Montclair Pride Festival + the Montclair Jazz Festival
• paddle-boarding at Verona Park
• visiting on of Montclair's many gardens

And of course, this is just 50 ideas to get you started; the opportunities and options are ENDLESS. We write about them every day on our site, TheMontclairGirl.com. We’re a team of locals who love to explore and learn about all the things happening in Montclair, Essex County, and beyond. There’s also an ongoing calendar of events you can peruse each weekend here, and of course — add your own! It’s a free community resource.

To download our PDF guide to a local Montclair and Essex County summer, click here. 

Enjoy your summer, and tag us @themontclairgirl on social media in your adventures!