The Sparta center is about 1 mile south of Old Lafayette Village and 3 miles southwest of Sterling Hill Mining Museum.
Given its location in New England, Sparta experiences its most pleasant weather from late spring to mid-summer. Unfortunately, because of that, summer tends to be the busiest season for tourism — which in turn means higher hotel prices. Spring, on the other hand, is a fairly slow season. Temperatures might be a bit chilly in early spring, but you'll find better deals and smaller crowds.
If you're interested in seeing the fall foliage of New Jersey, visit during late September or early October. Keep in mind, though, that because of the changing leaves, more tourists are drawn to Sparta during fall than during spring. Temperatures are comfortable during these months. When winter rolls around, the weather gets much colder, with highs in the upper 30s to upper 40s. Hotel rates will be lowest during this season, though, so if you don't plan on spending much time outdoors — or if you're specifically interested in cold-weather activities like skiing — this can be a good time to visit Sparta.
Hotel discounts aren't hard to come by in Sussex County. For instance, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Newton offers special deals to those who book online, sometimes up to 15 percent off its usual rates. Just be sure to check the terms, as some of these deals are nonrefundable. If you're a government employee or military member, you're in luck! This Holiday Inn Express & Suites saves its best rates for those with a government or military ID. Have yours handy when you check in to claim your discount. Senior citizens and AAA members can also snag lower-than-normal rates.
In neighboring Morris County, the Quality Inn Ledgewood offers similar discounts. Here, the best rates go to AAA members, senior citizens, military members, and government employees with a valid ID. Most of these rates include free cancellation up to the day before your scheduled check-in. Even if you don't belong to any of these groups, you can find limited-time sales and online booking specials to help you save money.
Depending on how much you are willing to spend, you can find several great value options near Sparta. Among the best are the Residence Inn by Marriott Mt. Olive at Intl Trade Center and the Holiday Inn Budd Lake Rockaway Area.
The Residence Inn by Marriott is a three-star extended stay hotel located in Stanhope. Every room in this all-suite hotel includes a kitchen with a stovetop and refrigerator — which means you can save money by cooking all, most, or some of your meals in your room. You can also make use of the barbecue grills in the hotel's picnic area.
On top of that, the hotel offers great amenities such as an indoor pool, a tennis court, a business center, and 24-hour fitness facilities. Guests can also take advantage of free Wi-Fi, a free grocery shopping service, and a free guest reception on select days.
The Holiday Inn is a three-star suburban hotel located in Budd Lake. This hotel's long list of amenities includes an on-site restaurant, a 24-hour business center, fitness facilities, free Wi-Fi, a coffee shop, an indoor pool and poolside bar, laundry facilities, and a town car service. Breakfast is available for a surcharge, and pets are allowed for a per-pet, per-stay fee.
At the top of Sparta's list of local attractions is the Lake Mohawk Boardwalk. Perfect for either a romantic stroll or a family outing, the boardwalk is located in Sparta's downtown area and is home to the Lake Mohawk Country Club, the Lake Mohawk German Christmas Market, and a few local restaurants. In particular, locals recommend iL Porte, an Italian and Mediterranean restaurant that allows diners to bring their own wine. Kogh's Restaurant & Brew Pub, another local favorite, is located near the end of the boardwalk on E Shore Trail.
On Sparta Avenue, you'll find the 80-acre Station Park. The highlight of this park is the Kids' Kastle playground, which features a picnic area as well as swings, slides, and climbing equipment. If you visit during the summer, you can catch a free concert every Friday night at Dykstra Concert Park on Mohawk Avenue. For some indoor entertainment, head to Sparta Lanes Bowling Alley or the three-screen Digiplex Sparta Theater. You can also find some boutique stores and small shops sprinkled throughout the town.
Just a short drive away from Sparta lies the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, the specialty shops at Olde Lafayette Village, and Kittatinny Valley State Park. Sparta and the surrounding area are also home to the SkyView Golf Club, Tomahawk Lake Water Park, and the Friar Mountain Model Railroad Museum.
Sparta is a great place to kick back and relax or let your inner explorer loose in the great outdoors. When you're ready for a little more excitement, a stay in Sparta puts you within 55 miles of Manhattan.