Vernon is a city in northern New Jersey.
Vernon is accessible from NYC via rt 287, to rt 23, to rt 515, which will place you right in the heart of town. NJTransit also services Vernon and the surrounding hamlets by bus. A round trip ticket on the 195 Skyline Express bus from Port Authority is about $14 (2007) and places you in the nearby small town of Warwick, NY.
Vernon is excellent for hikers and ski bums. If you plan on staying in town, you can access just about everything on foot. Mountain Creek provides enough within their borders to keep you busy, and you can venture out to the trails and nearby restaurants with ease.
Vernon isn't a big historical town. The past, in fact, is almost wiped away by the arrival of mega-corporate Mountain Creek resort. Although Intrawest has gone through great lengths to give the appearance of a French-Alps quaint ski village, the truth is, everything has been built within the last 5 years. The building designs are artificially varied in color and architecture to give the appearance of being built over time. Most of the sights are natural, and are only a mountain hike away through the local highlands. If you're into history, the nearby old town of Warwick, New York offers true heritage, with each building in town required to select from paint colors that won't upset the traditional style of the older buildings nearby. There you can find parks, points of interest, and even a few small, interesting museums and 'historical houses' dating to the 1700s. Warwick and Vernon are kissing cousins, with the town limits bleeding into each other across state lines. Often, the two separate towns are distinguishable only by road-signs. Warwick is about 10 up Rt. 94N.
The Bobolink Dairy on Rt. 94 is an old-world style craft baker and dairy farm. There are numerous varieties of original cheeses, milk, and other dairy products for sale, as well as stunningly good, fresh breads. Pick up a braided loaf and some spreadables and enjoy the local flavor.
Like any small North Jersey town, there are a variety of small, authentic dining establishments, as well as the usual spatting of chain restaurants. A drive up or down the main drag of Rt. 94, or the road towards Mountain Creek will yield quite a few choices in varying price ranges. Mountain Creek resort's 'village' also offers a few places to grab a bite, although expect resort pricing.
There are numerous watering holes in Vernon, including those within Mountain Creek. The local favorite, though, is the Vernon Inn (again, on trusty Rt. 94N towards Warwick), it's just on the edge of the village proper of Vernon, on the right hand side. What was once a seedy bar an grill has been renovated under new ownership to a reasonably nice tavern. Typical pub faire is to be had, as well as the standard selection of American brews, with an increasing number of craft beers the likes of Stella Artois or Hoegaarden. Order on a lucky day and you can often get your Stellas served in a real Stella glass, and if you ask nicely, you'll likely be invited to take it as a souvenir (Just be sure it's empty!).
There are a few small bed and breakfasts nearby, and the Mountain Creek staff can assist you in finding lodgings, if you haven't arranged it with them.
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