By Barbara A. Preston | Posted January 31, 2024
Families nationwide who are planning a vacation in 2024 will get a taste of Montgomery Township when they explore the state visitor’s bureaus or tourism websites. Gracing the cover of the 113- page official New Jersey travel guide is The Hidden Spring Lavender & Alpaca Farm. The guide, available at VisitNJ.org, puts Montgomery right up there with Atlantic City, Cape May, Asbury Park, Lambertville, Wildwood, and other tourist destinations in the state. It also puts central New Jersey in the market for people looking for a vacation.
Hidden Spring Lavender & Alpaca Farm in Skillman.
For those who have not visited, the farm is situated on 25 acres in Skillman, at a bend in the road on Route 601, just north of Montgomery High School. Owned by long-time Montgomery residents Marie and Steve Voorhees, the farm attracts photographers and artists for its natural beauty. Marie says her gift shop is filled with products made on the farm, including many lavender products: soaps, aromatherapy essential oils, room refreshers, sachets, and candles, to name a few. She also sells plants at certain times of the year, and lavender bouquets.
Marie and Steve Voorhees, owners of Hidden Spring Lavender.
Marie says she originally boarded horses at her farm, but switched to alpacas about four years ago. “Boarding horses was exasperating. I had to transition to something easier,” she said. “We currently have 23 alpacas.” “We breed for quality of fiber,” she adds. Alpacas are generally shorn in the spring, which allows them to have shorter hair during the be spun, dyed, woven, or felted. The naturally water-repellent and fire resistant fiber is then sent to a co-op mill to be made into yarn. “Alpaca fiber is naturally hypoallergenic, Marie says. “It has no oils, it’s lightweight, and it’s warmer that sheep wool.” The farm shop sells the wool, and also hand-made socks, mittens, hats, and scarfs. It turns out, the alpacas attract visitors as well. “They are all halter trained,” Marie says. “We have our babies now, that we will show in April.” Visitors may sign up to walk an alpaca in 20-minute increments.
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The 2024 NJ tourism guide markets central New Jersey as an area of historic prestige, charming towns, horse country, and rich agritourism. In addition to highlighting Hidden Spring Lavender & Alpaca Farm in Skillman, the guide recommends that tourists visit the following Central Jersey sites: Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park — the site of Edison’s laboratory. The Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park — for great biking and hiking. And, Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton — a 42-acre sculpture park and museum with more than 270 sculptures by renowned artists.
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