Here’s our best bet: hoof it to the Meadowlands track on Saturday for the $1.5 million Hambletonian. Plenty of activities for the whole family: live music, pony rides, carnival games. See you on the rail beginning at 11:30 a.m. www.thebigm.com.

You’ll also find horses, and more, at the New Jersey State Fair, running for ten days starting Saturday. What’s the more? We hear: agricultural events, animal exhibits, carnival, petting zoo, crafts, flower and vegetable shows, art and photography, and a chainsaw artist. It’s at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta. (973) 948-5500 or www.newjerseystatefair.org.

But enough horsing around. Go clam up in Highlands. The town is holding its 13th Annual Clam Festival. Local restaurants will be in Huddy Park serving—besides clams—soft shell crab, shrimp, oysters, crab cakes, lobster, scallops, gumbo jambalaya, chowders, mussels. It starts today and runs until Sunday. www.highlandsnj.com.

Or take a fishing break. Flying Fish Brewery in Cherry Hill is letting visitors in for a tour. You’ll see how they brew beer and best of all, get some samples. Tours begin at 1 p.m. Visit www.flyingfish.com or call (609) 489-0061.

Don’t forget the Peach Festival in Chester ( our subject this past Tuesday). Go to the Community Presbyterian Church (www.cpcchester.org), which is sponsoring the event, for peaches, pies, and a great country auction. Things get going Saturday at 10 a.m.

It’s never too soon to begin your fall shopping blitz. The Outlets (www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=13) in Flemington and Jackson are hosting a back-to-school and fall preview sale all weekend.

Or hit Nordstrom (www.nordstrom.com) at Garden State Plaza Saturday and the folks at Ed Hardy ( www.donedhardy.com) will design one of their red hot tattoo graphic tees just for you. Call 201-843-1122, extension 1530, to schedule an appointment.

No dog days of summer around here. We’re betting on that.