Have you ever wanted to step into a Renoir or Monet painting?  Sidle up to a Red Grroms sculpture?  You can do this and much more at the Grounds for Sculpture Park located in Hamilton NJ.  Sited on 45 acres of beautifully contoured and landscaped grounds (formerly the New Jersey State Fairgrounds) are more than 200 works of outdoor sculpture to walk around and in, touch, contemplate and enjoy as we spend the afternoon in this enchanting, sometimes magical place.  See if you can find one of your guides for this trip (in the photo adjacent) attending The Luncheon of the Boating Party.  Many more experiences like this await you along the more than 2 miles of trails winding through the Grounds for Sculpture.  We look forward to your company.  For more information and photos of the park, please visit their website: www.groundsforsculpture.org.

 This event is co-sponsored with Sundance Outdoor Adventure Society and as such, the trip will begin and end at Penn Station in NYC.  Those interested in joining us by train in Manhattan please meet at 9:45AM at the Main Departures Board area @ Penn Station nearest 8th Avenue (next to the NJ Transit ticket machines) with your ticket to Hamilton in hand.  Train tix are: $30 RT, $6.75 OW for seniors.  The NJ Transit train departs @ 10:14 and arrives at Hamilton @ 11:32.  We'll then transfer to the local NJ Transit bus @ 11:45 (bus fare is: $1.50 OW, 70¢ for seniors) which will get us to the Park by noontime.  Entry fee is: $12pp, $10 for seniors.  If you wish to join us anywhere along the train route feel free to do so as the train does make many stops in NJ along the way.  (To check the schedule, go to  www.njtransit.com and look for Train #7833 Sat 15 Sept.)   If you'd prefer to drive that's fine but we're not attempting to coordinate that at all.  Parking is included with your admission to the Grounds.  You should put 126 Sculptor's Way, Hamilton NJ 08619 into your GPS and/or mapping program to get directions.  All participants should plan to meet by noontime at the Visitors' Center just inside the entry gates.  You may stay as long as you please until closing time and leave whenever you feel like it.  A 1 hour free guided tour departs @ 1PM from the Visitors' Center.  There's a very nice restaurant (Rat's) on site as well as a cafe for those wanting lunch after the tour around 2PM.  Group leaders are currently planning to leave the park around 4:30PM and take the 5:09PM train back to NYC, arriving at Penn Station @ 6:36PM.