Memorial Day Weekend is coming up; it’s a time to reflect and give thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. For many, it’s also a time to hit the road and enjoy the unofficial start of summer down the shore. If you’re like me- someone who hates heavy holiday traffic and crowds, but also wants to get outside for some fun- you might be looking for something more local and peaceful. Get out in nature 15 minutes from Atco at Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge!
Set in the woods of Medford, the Refuge is a great place to introduce hiking to kids. Visit the Nature Center, open 7 days a week, for trail information, a small kids’ play area, educational displays, and a reptile room, which features several native reptiles that have been rescued from the area. There’s also a gift shop, which does have some reasonably priced trinkets.
There are a few different trails of varying length but all manageable for kids.
Most end at the rehab hospital which features a lot of animals that have been rescued but cannot be safely returned to the wild. We always take our time visiting these animals, learning their names and the circumstances that brought them to live here. There’s also a beautiful pond on site where you can spot lots of turtles from the bridge that takes you back to the Nature Center.
Check out their website for special events, birthday parties, adult and child classes, and summer camp. My son will be attending their weeklong camp for the third summer in a row and it’s fantastic. Woodford Cedar Run is definitely one to add to your summer visit list!
Address: 4 Sawmill Road | Medford, NJ 08055
Cost: $7-ages 13+, $5-ages 4-12, free 3 and under (Memberships are available. Admission is also free if you’re a member of Garden State Discovery Museum or Paws Discovery Farm)
Food: Picnic pavilion on site, some light pre-packaged snacks in the Nature Center
Bathrooms: outhouses and inside facilities in Nature Center