Karmel Knocking Around family and friends enjoy a Hike and Slice™ at Cheesequake State Park and Strawberry’s Pub and Pizza

As a part of our Hike and Slice™ series, we set out to stay healthy by doing a 5k (at least) by hiking through nature and then indulging on some pizza from some of the more famous, or infamous, pizza joints. Sometimes we’re not sure which is more challenging…the trails or the pizza!

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Our friends and relatives have commented how they would love to do a Hike and Slice so we decided to invite some of those friends and relatives to join us. We needed a place that was somewhat close and not very difficult for the hike. And, of course, the pizza would have to be nearby. Cheesequake State Park was the perfect setting for the hike and Strawberry’s Pub and Pizza would have a great pie for the slice after the hike.

We have been to Cheesequake State Park many times. It is close enough to home and affords a number of trails that are perfect for family outings. Like all trails “over the hills and through the woods” there are many different characteristics, other than the colors designated to the specific trails.

We needed to have an option that encompassed 3.1 miles and it seemed…SEEMED…like the blue trail would be that option. Now the main trailhead where the red, green, yellow, and blue all really begin is near the entrance to the Park. But the parking lot is small, and there are no bathroom facilities. So the huge lot down near the lake, with pavilion that includes rest rooms and a snack bar (during the summer) was the best choice.

There is a trailhead sign at the corner of that parking lot with a path that leads to the actual beginnings of the various trails. So making that sign the starting and end point, would allow for us to complete that 3.1 miles perfectly. Hopefully.

The maps from the Park do not match some of the maps found online, and certainly not on the commonly used All Trails app. This is something we have found at a lot of the trails we have hiked – the mileage is not exactly accurate.

And we had done a short version of the hike with some family members months back, and one wrong turn upped the distance by ¾ of a mile and I had to listen to the taunts for much longer than it took us to hike that extra ¾ of a mile. I didn’t want to subject myself to that again.

So Melissa and I did a trial run…trial hike…on the blue trail on Thursday evening and, of course, we made two wrong turns. And we were short. And it didn’t make sense. But it was in the evening and was already dark when we realized it. So I went back out myself on Friday afternoon and, very quickly, confirmed the correct path.

Starting exactly at the sign at the edge of the parking lot, and following the blue trail exactly, and then heading back to that same starting point, I was able to ensure a hike of 3.1 miles. And, actually, it came out to exactly 3.2 when starting and ending at the trailhead sign from the lake parking lot down below.

The blue trail has a number of different components to it including flat ground on dirt, soft beach-like sand, narrow pathways through low level foliage and wooded areas, some asphalt roadway, ascending and descending wooden stairs, and even some semi-treacherous route systems. It is somewhat easy in most parts, but would be considered “moderate” in a number of sections.

We made the decision to have a one-mile option where some of us would get to the ½ mile mark and turn back, for a one mile out and back. It offered the easier part of the trail for those unable to navigate the more difficult sections.

Melissa would remain with the one-milers while I would trudge on with those willing to go the distance.

On the trail at Cheesequake State Park

We had a nice size group of 20 people on an absolutely beautiful day for the hike. It was great seeing everyone, some of which we hadn’t seen in years. I talked about the preliminaries…the rules…no talking, no making friends, no petting dogs, no stories that have been told hundreds of times. Those rules were just for me.

The crabbing bridge at Cheesequake State Park

Everyone began at the same time, walking across the crabbing bridge and on to wide path of dirt and downed leaves. We reconvened at the ½ mile mark, took a short break, and then the one-milers turned back.

At the 1/2 mile point at Cheesequake State Park

The rest of us meandered through the next 2.5 miles of trail throughout Cheesequake State Park. We walked through wooded areas, navigating over and around some protruding tree roots, and went up and down a lot of steep wooden stairs, and we were able to enjoy beautiful fall colors.

Beautiful fall scenery at Cheesequake State Park

There was a lot of huffing and puffing, but also a lot of friendly banter, and laughter. And we actually finished at a faster pace than expected. And after the strenuous hike…it was time for pizza.

We did it!

Strawberry’s Pub and Pizza at 110 Amboy Avenue (Route 35) in Woodbridge has been one of our favorite places to get pizza. Somehow the place is never included when talking about the iconic pizza places in New Jersey. But they should be. They have a GREAT bar-style pie and are extremely accommodating about personalizing a pie to your individual preferences.

Enjoying our slices at Strawberry’s Pub and Pizza!

The sauce is sweet but not over the top, and we always like to have a little bit extra on a crust that is thin, but has just doughy enough so that it is not feeling like a hard tortilla chip in your hand. It’s the perfect blend for a bar pie.

Strawberry’s Pub and Pizza’s great bar pie!

Strawberry’s is a very family-oriented establishment with super customer service and treatment even on the busiest of days and trying of times. It is definitely one of the very best in the land of great pizza.

After a beautiful morning hike at Cheesequake State Park, we all enjoyed a delicious slice (ok more than A slice) at Strawberry’s.

Great weather, wonderful company, invigorating activity, and fantastic pizza!

We want to thank everyone for joining us – Dad, Beckie and Austin, Eddie and Heather, Reyna and Ramon, Cheryl and Ed, Carolyn and Mike, Maureen, Audrey, Marlene, Felicia, Jeanne, Allison, and, of course Iris! It was a blast!

If any pizza establishment would like to be featured in our Hike and Slice™ series, don’t be afraid to reach out. We’re always looking for new places to hike and great pizza to eat!

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