Gorgeous Lake! Would recommend! Came from Mass. to take my…read moredad here. He was delighted!

Lake Hopatcong is the largest lake in New Jersey. It is 9 miles in length with 2,500 acres of fresh…read morewater. It was once part of the Morris Canal which stretched from Phillipsburg to Newark some 90 miles carrying iron, coal and zinc in the 1800's. Lake Hopatcong has both private and public beach access. Lake Hopatcong State Park has the largest public beach access. Swimming is restricted to Wed.-Sun. from 10am-9:30pm while lifeguards are on duty. The park itself opens at 8am. Lake Hopatcong has a short but nice sand beach and swimming area. Be aware that once the parking area is filled everyone coming later will be turned away. If you get to the park by 8am, hike the short trails or start up your grill for breakfast, lunch or dinner. All the grill areas have picnic tables and most have tree shaded locations. They are first come first serve.. The park also has a boat launch for larger motor boats, kayaks, sailboats, jetskies etc that can be brought unto the lake..A sand court volleyball area, basketball courts, a soccer field and playground equipment are on-site, as well. For those that have a New Jersey fishing license, fishing areas are available. Large mouth bass, sunfish, catfish, perch and pickerel can be caught. In the winter you can ice fish. The restrooms have showers and changing rooms, The concession stand has fair prices and serves burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, funnel cakes, and drinks. Dogs are premitted but must be kept on a leash no longer then six feet.

Hurd Park is a Scenic Park located in Dover which features a Veterans of War Memorial Honoring Site…read moreCommemorating and Cherishing Our National and Local Heroes who have payed the Ultimate Sacrifice for our Freedoms. Scenic walking trails and paths which wander throughout this Park lead to clusters of oak trees and cherry blossoms. This is a very popular destination for wedding photos on the bridge or gazebo as well as the entire Park. It's very rare not to see wedding parties taking pictures here especially on weekends. Local Ceremonies are also held at this Park which is the perfect backdrop for any engagement that Officials deem worthy of "Special" Town business.

What a beautiful park! This park is meant for exploring the beautiful scenery! This park is not…read moremeant for climbing on plastic toys. Parking is right up a small dirt road or in the back. My family and &I were waiting for the cherry blossom tress to be in full bloom & Hurd Park did not disappoint! Amazing trees and cute wooden bridges! We also loved the dedication to the army and military. There is a whole area dedicated to them and it is beautifully done. This just adds such a special meaning to the park. The park is very well taken care of. What a memorable place. This park also boast lots of scenery for great pictures for any occasion. My children had a great time running, exploring, reading about the soldiers and resting under the trees.

Loved it here. We came here for a morning walk. There weren't many people here and there were some…read moreflowers and plants. I'm sure there are more in the spring and summer. I loved the paths and sights here. I'm excited to come back here in the warmer weather to see more of the flowers.

Our visit to this arboretum marked my first public outing post-partum. The arboretum itself is…read morelovely and most of it is stroller accessible, which I appreciated. However there are no public restrooms at all, which was a HUGE challenge for me, especially so soon after having a baby. There was one restroom, which closed at 4:00pm. I showed up exactly at 4:00pm, but was turned away by the staff. I tried again 15 minutes later, but they informed me that they clock out at 4:00pm and letting me use the bathroom would delay them getting home. I have been an hourly employee before and totally get this, but I was a little disappointed by the lack of humanity. Being out for the first time was physically (and emotionally) challenging, and I was hoping for a bit more understanding from the staff.

Small and simple. Has a playground, gazebo pond and fountain with a small walking trail with three…read moresmall bridges over a brook.

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.

The area we were directed to park made me initially think I had come to the wrong place (the…read moreinitial path went thru an overgrown but worn path thru the woods that looked like we were headed into more woods). Eventually the path ended to a grassy area with a sign pointing to the mansion where we found the water tower and garden area. The garden was quite nice. Loved seeing the water tower (and appreciated the signage explaining the history and inner workings). Pro tip for newbies like us: You can walk on the road or drive closer to the mansion instead of taking the woodsy path. Oh, also there are NO trashcans at this location (even for doggy doo bags, diapers, etc), so come prepared. No nearby restroom to the garden either.

Beautiful garden that is well maintained. Free admission. Keep place clean! Restroom is far, see…read moreflyer for instructions. Parking is limited. See images and video for reference

Griffith Park was closed on 25 June 2020 for construction, restoration, and beautification. This…read moreis likely a 4-6 week effort.

Very small park but it's a quiet place to sit and have coffee, or to just listen to the water…read more Several lures caught in the trees seem to indicate there are some fishing opportunities but I prefer my fish pre-caught & on a plate! There are a number of benches, or you can sit on the rocks by the water. Great place to chill!

Beautiful spot with a pond, lots of open space, and a playground for the kids! Highly recommend for…read morefamilies.