Tucked into the southwest corner of Essex County's South Mountain Reservation, this historic…read more28-acre public garden -- with its carefully curated and terraced gardens, fountains, and winding paths -- feels like a trip to another time and place. After spotting a social media post about the garden's Cascade fountain reopening after a 16-month restoration, my walking companion and I decided to check out this hidden gem. Greenwood Gardens was a private family estate until 2003, when it opened to the public under the auspices of a non-profit organization, and you can really feel that rich tapestry of the families' history as you wander through the grounds. The highlight of our visit was the Cascade fountain, which now features water flowing through it for the first time since the early 20th century! If you're looking for a peaceful, historic, and beautiful place to stroll, Greenwood Gardens is absolutely worth the visit. We'll definitely be back! Pro Tip #1: Plan on about 75-90 minutes for a self-guided walking tour, buy tickets online in advance ($15 for adults aged 14 to 64; $10 for Seniors aged 65+; $5 for children aged 5 to 13), and wear weather-appropriate attire/walking shoes. Pro Tip #2: Leave your tripod at home. Casual photos on your phone are welcome, but portrait or staged photography (for events, engagements, graduations, etc.) requires prior permission and special facility booking.

A dreamy, charming little escape with tons of greenery, statues, structures, and fountains. Even on…read morea weekend it wasn't crowded, so my fam could take pictures without cropping out strangers. Really friendly staff gave the kids a scavenger hunt page that turned our visit into part garden tour, part treasure hunt. Between the terraces, tile work, grottoes, and gardens, the whole place blends European formality with a whimsical, art nouveau vibe. Plenty of benches invite you to sit and talk, while fenced-in chickens, geese, and beehives bring the grounds to life. The gardens feel peaceful, playful, and magical all at once. The beauty here is truly un-beleaf-able! NOTES/TIPS: **Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors/students, and $5 for kids, with free parking close by. **Very limited wheelchair-accessibility: okay for the Main Terrace and some flat areas, but most paths are sloped or uneven, so access is limited. **Restrooms near the entrance.

We loved it here. This is a spacious park with trails, nice views and gardens…read more They were doing construction in some areas but the gardens were beautiful. I can't wait to come back when there are more flowers.

This was a fun surprise stop as there were a decent amount of daffodils in bloom. Parking is free…read moreas the park is located in a residential neighborhood. Entrance is $10 donation per person which is used to keep up the grounds. It was a nice smaller park you can spend probably a full hour to maybe two tops. We walked the whole property, took photos, and enjoyed the local artist display inside the house. I will say they should cap the amount of people entering because it was extremely crowded with many families with large strollers that took up the narrow pathways. A lot of couples I noticed come and have a picnic here which was such a cute idea for future visits if in the area again.

This has quickly and easily become one of my favorite spots to be grounded and immersed in nature…read more If you don't have time for an hours long hike or a ride to a huge forest, this place will do. I love that they have ample space in their parking lot, its easily accessible, and intriguing because it's a sensory trail. I appreciate how quaint it is. Very uplifting if you need a boost. Highly recommend!

This is my first time at this reservation and I must say that it is beautiful.. it is so peaceful…read moreand quiet. They have a lot space for picnics and trails to walk on(wear your comfortable sneakers) and the waterfall is so amazing!!

My little queens were tired of the same playgrounds. My bro's yelp review and pix impressed us all…read more We parked right in front and my kids (ages 3 and 5) ran to the castle-themed jungle gyms and had fun and freedom for the next 2 hours. There were so many structures that all the children had plenty of personal space. Special features included a roller-based slide, a zip-line, and a rope climb. It's an excellent playground I can add to the rotation. Come out and play! NOTES/TIPS: **Picnic tables, plenty of benches, and 2 porta-potties on-site. **If the main parking lot is full, additional parking is 200 ft. away. **The playground is next to a basketball court, baseball field, and soccer field.

Drove in around 12 noon on a Friday, noticed right away that although there was plenty of parking,…read morethe playground was packed. Benches for eating are at the entrance located close enough to watch your kids playing basketball or on the playground. This playground is neat... truly a castle inspired theme. Great for playing peekaboo with your toddlers with many mazes to get lost in and still be sure your child is safe and can't fall out the sides (too easily). There's also a slide that can be climbed which my son was very intrigued with, once he got to the top he'd jump on the big boy slide and come out the other end, he's 14 months so there's really so much for him to explore. There's also bigger slides for older kids, different monkey bars to climb, kiddie and big kid swings, little castles with benches and tables to picnic in, and plenty of benches surrounding the playground for parents to hang out in. We lived up to our mantra: PLAY HARD NAP HARD! Baby was knocked out as soon as we got in the car so I must say it was a good day. My name is Francis and I approve of this playground. YSA (yelp service announcement) When you come here punch into your GPS this address: 651 Shunkpike Rd. Chatham NJ otherwise you will get lost.

Winter wonderland at Nomahegan Park in Cranford!…read more Freezing winds but spectacular views! Parking lot near by! Paths along the park are cleared from snow!

Big playground. Great place to walk. We always bring our daughter here during the warm months.read more

Spring, Summer, and even a little fall are my favorite seasons to enjoy this park! The options for…read morewalking (a big, beautiful track), running, or playing basketball are wonderful. There's even a pond and fountain to relax and enjoy quietly. The most noise you'll here are the cars zooming by or kids playing soccer. It's a beautiful space with ample (free/non-metered) street parking.

Pond-erful! With three looped and paved options for walking/running you can choose your own…read moreadventure. One shaded and short (a quarter mile max) path is around a beautiful pond with tons of greenery, then another lush trail about 3/4 of a mile is to the right of a bridge, while a third polyurethane running track (1/4 mile around) has a very smooth and relatively soft surface if you're prone to tripping and falling. Then, feel free to fly a kite or run free in a large field surrounded by trees. I super recommend this park for young and old. NOTES/TIPS: **Park along Meisel Ave. **Gendered bathroom and non-gendered family bathroom **Has a fitness trail, running track, soccer field, baseball field, softball field, fishing

A nice area for hiking/walking that has some wide paths and not so overgrown. There are plenty of…read moretrails to diverge from. Hemlock Falls seems to be a draw and is very nice to relax around but can get a little crowded. Because there are multiple parking lots with easy accessibility, there's a bit of trash and broken glass here and there which is unfortunate. There were quite a few hikers, trail runners and dogs but it never felt claustrophobic. The hikes aren't that difficult but there are quite a few rocks and protruding tree roots. Montclair is less than 10 minutes if you want a bite to eat afterwards.

Great walk. Nothing like a walk through nature. Taking in the sights and sounds, what a beautiful…read morething!!!

Such an incredible playground! We went here twice with our young boys while visiting my in laws,…read morethey had a blast. Love the structures, it's fully fenced in, and there are tons if chairs on the sides for parents to sit. My kids could stay here all day if we let them. Wish there was a little more shade, but you can find some spots.

Located at the South Mountain Waterfront, the Essex County Regatta Playground is a nautical-themed…read moreplay area for kids and little ones. Nearby are the swan paddle boats, which can be rented. Also, the public bathrooms are near the Regatta Playground, as well as a picnic area and wooden lawn chairs. Note: The picnic area is sometimes reserved for private events/groups, but is otherwise available most of the time.