One of the first things that made me want to move to Cranford was the Rahway River and it’s Canoe Club. We drove in to check out the town one summer weekend circa 2012.  And there is nothing more charming than driving down tree lined streets of old colonial homes along a sweet riverbank and coming across an adorable canoe club. Finding a town that was able to combo the green outdoorsy vibe with a walkable downtown within 40 minutes to the city was very appealing. Lore has it that at one point Cranford was even referred to as the “Venice of New Jersey.” The canoe club has been helping people explore the river since1907. You can rent canoes and kayaks, grab an ice cream, or participate in one of their rubber ducky derbys! Preview the journey here.