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At my own expense, I offer all of this to you: a humble tribute to Mother Gaia. It is my hope that you will spread my art and message to others, uplifting and inspiring their souls.
May my works guide photographers in illuminating their path toward creating stunning and impactful images that show the raw beauty and essence of life in all its transcendent glory. —Pamela Goodyer
Stanhope,New Jersey—You might think you’re in another state when you get to northern New Jersey. The terrain is no longer flat, and the hills start rolling with beautiful foliage. Stanhope, New Jersey, is quaint and charming, with historic buildings, mom-and-pop shops, and roads that seem to transport visitors back in time. As you stroll through the town’s Main Street, you can’t help but be captivated by the cozy atmosphere and the friendly people.
Located between Stanhope and Netcong lies the beautiful Lake Muscanetcong. The contrast of vibrant fall foliage against the deep blue water makes for dynamic photographs, as seen in the image above. This area also has many smaller and more widely recognized lakes, like Lake Hopatcong. Some lakes are in private communities, and others have parks open to the public. The picture above was taken from the main road that runs through the town, Route 183, near the intersection of Main Street.
The photographs below are from Waterloo Village, also located in Stanhope. There is excellent hiking in the area, too. When you leave Waterloo Village, make a left and go down to the first left, Kinny Road. That will lead you to another beautiful lake with hiking trails. You can explore this area with your camera. If you like macro photography, bring your macro lens too.
Before deciding when to visit, monitor the internet for updates. If you plan on staying at the Whistling Swan Inn, we strongly recommend calling them in advance to check the current status of the autumn leaves. Be cautious about relying on pictures online. Sometimes, people post images from previous years’ fall foliage trips without indicating the timeframe. Don’t assume that the photographs reflect current conditions.
We visited this area twice for fall foliage photography for Waterloo Village, and when we arrived, it was past peak. However, the rest of the town was at full peak. There may be many dead trees in the park, or a specific type of tree may lose its leaves earlier. Keep this in mind for Waterloo Village, and consider going a little earlier in the leaf season.
This area can be explored and photographed in a day. You can visit Waterloo Village and the surrounding lakes.
Located just off Route 206, the quaint borough of Stanhope in New Jersey can be accessed via the main throughway Route 183. For those coming from the west, U.S. Route 206 also runs through Stanhope and features a limited access portion known as the “Netcong Bypass,” connecting to neighboring Mount Olive’s Interstate 80. Known for its unique road layout, Stanhope became home to an oddity when Old U.S. Route 206 was renamed Route 183 after the completion of Interstate 80 in 1974, now acting as a bypass for traffic through the town.
New Jersey Photography Locations
There are plenty of other Northern New Jersey Foliage destinations. As soon as we finish this article, we’ll write about our visit to Stoke State Forest for our fall foliage trip. Look for that next! When we are done, this line will be replaced with the link.
It’s a lovely little town, so there’s no need to worry about overcrowding during peak tourist season. However, it’s best to book your hotel in advance for fall foliage week, as that tends to be the busiest time of year for visitors.
We did not visit the Bell’s Mansion, 11 Main Street, Stanhope. They open at noon, and we were heading out, so maybe on our next trip, we can meet with them and tell you more.
We loved our stay here in the perfect location near all the fall foliage. Now and then, we are moved to write about our stay as the central part of the article, not just a tiny additional section about our trip.
We encountered a rare gem on our travels—a woman whose immense kindness and unwavering passion radiated from within her very being. Every aspect of her bed and breakfast was a testament to her craft, from the most minor details to every nook and cranny meticulously touched by her artistic energy. Her passion was the driving force behind this magical place, leaving a lasting impression.
This bed and breakfast has firmly secured a place in our hearts as one of our most cherished locations. The owner catalyzed our unforgettable and enchanting experience, which is forever etched in our minds. We eagerly anticipate our next visit. With the many losses we’ve experienced, the holidays can be difficult. We can already sense a longing to revisit the Whistling Swan Inn for peace and comfort during the holiday season.
Entrance Fees: None
WATERLOO VILLAGE
525 Waterloo Road
Stanhope, NJ 07874
Grounds Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Tour Hours: Saturdays & Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., June through September
Visitor Interpretive Center; Saturdays & Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., May through October
Add your campground here! Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your campground to stay during their ghost-hunting trip? Put your campground information here. We will put a picture of your establishment, the website link, the phone number and your information on your campground to make it easy for our photographers and ghost hunters to find you.
Would you like to be featured in an article as a place to stay while doing photography or ghost hunting? If so, please send us an email. You will be surprised at how affordable our prices can be.
WHISTLING SWAN INN
This 1905 home has been transformed into the Whistling Swan Inn in the Skylands of northern New Jersey. Enjoy our vintage charm and personalized services as you explore nearby attractions like Waterloo Village and Lake Hopatcong. Relax in thier Victorian garden or on the wraparound porch, and indulge in fine dining at one of the local gourmet restaurants. Take a leisurely walk to nearby restaurants or catch a train from the Netcong station to NYC.
End your day with sherry and cookies by the fire before retiring to your room with a Jacuzzi tub. The hotel also hosts events like weddings and offers romantic packages for anniversaries and honeymoons.
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the property
• Secure on-site parking
• Tesla charging station
Phone: (973) 347-6369
You can advertise here.
Add your Restaurant here! Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your restaurant after their ghost-hunting trip? Put your restaurant information here. We will put a picture of your establishment, the website link, the phone number and your information on your restaurant to make it easy for our photographers and ghost hunters to find you. They are really good at getting there in the dark.
Don’t forget that you can use a rain sleeve on your camera if it is raining. If it is bright and sunny, you want to use a low ISO such as 100.
If you are doing photography along with your ghost hunting on cloudy days, you can do running water or waterfall photography to avoid the glaring sun. You can also use an ND filter to get a long exposure for dramatic effects, even in the sunshine. If you ghost hunt indoors in abandoned places be careful!
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