Catch the best scenery the Garden State has to offer during Bike New York’s Twin Lights Ride on September 30. With five diverse routes ranging from 15-100 miles, there’s something for all levels and abilities. You’ll pedal past some of New Jersey’s most picturesque terrain, from family farms surrounded by gently rolling hills to shoreline settings where you’ll feel the salty breeze as you whirl by the waves.
Whatever route you choose, you’ll wind up at the Finish Festival, where local eateries serve hungry riders their most delectable bites. Each morsel will taste even more delicious with a backdrop of colorful fall leaves. This ride is rain or shine. Helmets are a must on all Bike New York sponsored events and New Jersey State law requires all bikes be equipped with bike bells, so get ready to ring yours. Along the route, cyclists will find fully stocked rest areas with snacks, clean bathrooms, free breakfast, mechanical support and awesome volunteers.
How to get there: Bike New York will be chartering Seastreak ferries for riders departing from Pier 11/ Wall Street Terminal on South Street at 6:30 and 8:30am. You’ll arrive in Highlands 45 stress-free minutes later. Return to Manhattan on chartered ferries at 4:30 and 6:30pm, or hop on one of the regularly scheduled Seastreak ferries that run throughout the afternoon.
Photo credit: Bike New York
Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow Allison at @gourmetrav.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram