Hamilton, N.J. is less than an hour's drive from the Main Line, which makes a visit to Grounds for Sculpture a possible special-occasion day trip for a triple header: 22 acres of contemporary sculpture; an arboretum of over 2,000 trees, rose bushes, rhododendrons, unique evergreen and deciduous specimen; and very soon a world-class restaurant facing the serene lake on the property. Even now, there is a small cafe for an indoor or al fresco lunch and a gazebo facing a small pond for a leisurely cup of coffee and pastries.

At Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton N.J., visitors can see a beautiful water garden along with contemporary art.

J. Seward Johnson Jr. is the man behind this garden and museum, and his dream was to make sculpture more accessible, to permit the visitor to become more comfortable with contemporary art. His attitude is a far cry from the atmosphere in Philadelphia a century ago, when people were shocked by the nudity in the art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Men and women were not allowed to see the works at the same time. Frances Trollope, a widely read and heartily despised Englishwoman, was appalled and said so in her work "The Manners of the Americans."

We have certainly come a long way. Grounds for Sculpture showcases the work of American and internationally recognized artists in addition to stunning installations spread across the lush grounds. It's on the former site of a race track and the annual New Jersey State Fair. Still earlier, the fair grounds were the site of flying demonstrations by none other than the Wright Brothers. Some of the fair ground structures remain, such as the Motor Exhibit and Domestic Arts Buildings. (A rabbit image is still in place over the latter's front door). Two 10,000-square-foot glass walled museum buildings were originally state fair exhibit halls of the 1920s and '40s.

There is a tall piece of cast bronze sculpture in vivid glazurite finish titled "Summertime Lady," standing in her own triangular reflecting pool. A sleek, willowy figure in a scarlet gown, she is artist David Hostetler's tribute to the female form.

Behind a tall, white well, Francisco Leiro's large, writhing bronze figure is impaled torturously, as suggested by the artist's title, "Skewered." Leiro interprets nightmarish tragedy, and, according to a catalogue, "illustrates the delicate balance between mastery and failure, tempering the absurd with ironic and comedic statements in his powerful, emotive structures."

Johnson is represented by a number of enchanting pieces, including "On Poppied Hill," "The Eye of the Beholder" and others. The former, one of Johnson's more recent pieces, is based upon a work by Claude Monet, "Woman With A Parasol; Mme. Monet and Her Son," circa 1875. On the banks of the lake, there is Johnson's "If It Were Time" re-creating in sculpture Monet's "Terrace at Sainte Adresse."

Johnson, a grandson of one of the founders of the pharmaceutical firm of the same name, is a vigorous man, an enthusiast by nature. The objects beautifully installed indoors and out make it clear that here are a man and a staff who celebrate life.

Grounds for Sculptures' centerpiece for the fall and winter is the sculpture of Beverly Pepper, who refers to her work as "sentinels," "altars," and "markers." Vertical and monumental in scale, they resemble oversized hand tools and allude to icons past, present and future. An internationally recognized artist who lives in Todi, Italy and in New York, she has brought over 50 works to this exhibition following other installations in Paris and Venice.

On our second visit to these grounds, there were dozens of well-behaved, giggling, laughing and poking children off off on a morning's cultural spree. It was the ideal introduction to sculpture as it should be seen and enjoyed, on these awesome acres in the middle of the Garden state. Mrs. Trollope would be pleased.

Grounds for Sculpture is located at 18 Fairground Road, Hamilton, N.J. It can be reached by car or via Amtrak. Admission is free (hard to believe), as is parking. For information, call (609) 586-0616. Hours are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (by appointment).

Ralph Collier, a member of the Society of American Travel Writers, is heard in two syndicated radio series, "I Hear America Talking" and "In Conversation With Ralph Collier," on 15 radio stations.