The thought of riding in a carriage pulled by a horse reminds us of a Hallmark movie. There are a few spots in the area where you can enjoy a scenic horse and carriage ride and we’ve rounded them up below! Check the schedule to make reservations, and then check for weather updates before heading out.
New Jersey
Cape May Carriage Co.
Ocean and Washington Streets, Cape May
Throughout the year you can see the town’s beautiful Victorian homes from the carriage, or experience the magic of Christmas in Cape May as you see the lights and decorations as you ride past.
Horse & Carriage Rides
6th Street and Asbury Avenue, Ocean City
This beloved Jersey Shore town will look different in the winter, as you trade flip-flops for horseshoes as you ride around town in a carriage.
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Ln., Hopewell Twp.
Throughout the year, the farm from the 1700s hosts free Saturday activities during which you can climb aboard and relax as the horses pull you around the field. During a special Christmas on the Farm celebration in December, you can imagine what is was like to be pulled by the horses on a snowy day back in the 1800s.
Mercer Meadows Equestrian Center
431 Federal City Rd. B, Pennington
Although this isn’t a carriage ride, you can horseback ride during the winter through Mercer County’s Trail Riding Program. Kids 12 and up, and adults, can take a 45-minute guided trail around the Mercer Stables property.
Christmastime Activities
Dickens Village
Ricalton Square, Maplewood
Scenes from Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” come to life in town, including a nostalgic horse and wagon ride and a petting zoo.
German Christmas Market of NJ
Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta
For one weekend every December, the fairgrounds turn into a traditional German market featuring lots of vendor shopping, festive foods, and horse and buggy rides.
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
George Street, New Brunswick
Throughout December you can book a tour of the downtown area on a horse-drawn carriage. You can read up on each horse to make it an educational experience, too.
New York
NYC Horse Carriage Rides
Central Park, New York, NY
Giuseppe and Francesco are a father-and-son team who have been running their family-owned business for over 40 years, after Giuseppe moved to New York City from Sicily. The team will lead you on a historical and informative tour around the park.
Pennsylvania
Bethlehem Carriage Co.
Lehigh Valley, PA
Book a ride for a wedding, Sweet 16, birthday, prom, South Indian baraat – or even a funeral. There are character sleigh rides and winter wagon rides; plus Christmas and Valentine’s Day rides to make the holidays more special. All carriages are pulled by majestic Percheron draft horses.
Happy Trails Stables
613 Honesdale Rd., Waymart, PA
The stables are open year-round for carriage rides, trail rides, pony rides and hay rides, but the Pocono Mountains are especially beautiful in the off-season on a sleigh ride around the farm.
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Read More:
Where to Horseback Ride in New Jersey
60+ Things to Do Outdoors in New Jersey