With careful observation, the Garden State can transform into a realm where fairy tales come to…read morelife. Between the highways, farmlands, and beaches lies a series of historic mansions and modern palaces for guests to explore. Wealthy owners constructed many of NJ's castles during the Gilded Age. The late 19th century was a boom time for industrialists and capitalists, and it became fashionable to showcase one's wealth. Located on Garret Mountain overlooking the City of Paterson, this well-known landmark was once a private residence fashioned after an English castle, where my partner and I returned after undergoing 6 years of significant restoration work. Their website made it easy to book a reservation, ensuring reduced wait times, comfortable capacity management, and a smooth, welcoming visit for everyone. Built in 1892 and originally called Belle Vista, Lambert Castle was the domain of silk moguls Catholina and Isabella Lambert. It was constructed in the Medievel Revival architectural style out of local sandstone and granite. Lambert's fortune rose and fell with the silk industry, and he later auctioned off most of the works to pay his debts. Upon arrival at the visitor center, formerly the carriage house, we were greeted by the staff, where all guided tours begin, lasting 1 1/2 hours. Our guide was Mary Beth. She provided us wonderful information, pointed out small details like the door hinges or artwork, and answered our questions as a group of 19 patrons looked at each room much brighter. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited inside to preserve the interior for future visitors and make patrons appreciate what they were looking at. Lambert Castle serves as a physical time capsule that reflects the shifting fortunes, societal values, and architectural ambitions of the eras in which it was built and would be great for a visit.

4/10/26 (Update) After many years, I was so excited to see…read morethe reopening of the refurbished Lambert Castle. You can purchase your tickets online or at the new visitors center. The admission tickets are $10. Zak was a wonderful tour guide. He gave us the history of the castle owners. In 1892, the castle was built by Catholina Lambert (the owner of the Paterson Silk Mills for his wife). Please see my original review for the history. We were informed "Not to photograph any of the interior in order to preserve the interior for future visitors". Upon entering the castle, you will be required to put booties on over your shoes. This is in order to preserve the floors. The castle does have 3 levels along with an elevator. In the foyer overhead, you'll see a magnificent colorful rectangle shaped Tiffany light fixture. It extends approximately 2' Wide and 6' in length. The furnishings were very elegant, yet very homey. All the rooms are filled with stunning sculptures and artwork. Some of items were on loan from different places. For example: The beautiful Grandfather clocks really caught my eye. They were on loan from the Ringwood Manor. (The Ringwood Manor is presently being refurbished and will be reopening soon). Hope everyone gets a chance to see this beautifully refurbished castle. Lambert Castle has two levels of parking.

Montclair Art Musuem is a small, regional museum. Emphasis is on whatever special exhibits they…read morehave on as well as Native American and American art. They have an excellent collection, some of which is always on display, is George Inness, the landscape artist who lives in Montclair. The selection of paintings is well curated and often highlights different themes and techniques in the art work. Drawbacks - It is too small to spend more than an hour, two on the outside, there. Some exhibits do not have exhibit plaques next to the paintings, so you have to use on the the bound books to figure out who painted what. Personally I found this unnecessary cumbersome. Very much worth a visit.

Attended the 20th Anniversary Birthday Bash Tasting celebrating Amanti Vino!…read more Wine tasting was awesome! The food from Turtle and The Wolf restaurant and the Van Hook Cheese & Grocery were delicious! Great accommodations at Museum!!

LOVED spyscape! Amazing for family or group event. Clean facility and well coordinated from staff…read more It was a nice break from the hustle! The staff was beyond helpful finding a lost piece of jewelry! Forever grateful for their professionalism and diligence with recovery!!

This was such a fun and unique experience! I surprised my boyfriend with this for his birthday, and…read morehe absolutely loved it. The challenges, puzzles, and games really make you think--you definitely have to process the clues carefully! There are multiple levels to complete, and throughout the experience you're asked questions that determine what type of agent you are, which was a really cool touch. It was challenging, but in the best way. Now that I understand how everything works, I definitely want to go back and do it again to see if I can do even better! If you're looking for something interactive, different, and a lot of fun, I highly recommend checking this place out. We'll definitely be back!

I love history and love visiting historical sites when I travel. I came here at the tail end of a…read moretwo week roadtrip around America and Canada with my son. Entrance was $15 for me and free for my son. We all know of Edison and the lightbulb, but touring his research laboratory and learning about so many of his additional inventions and patents was fascinating. It's a self guided tour with many signs giving plenty of information, plus hands on areas where kids can experiment with sound or blueprints, for example. I particularly enjoyed the park ranger explaining and demonstrating music on one of the many phonographs in one room. There was also a volunteer in the Black Maria (film production studio) explaining how the building worked. Great value, very educational and inspirational, highly recommend to other history buffs out there.

12/7/25: (Update) We stopped in the visitors center to pick up a visitors pass to the Glenmont…read moreEstate of Thomas Edison in Lewellyn Park (West Orange, NJ). We had previously purchased Glenmont Estate tickets online. After a visit to estate, we stopped back in again to view several of films: The Wizard of W.Orange The Glenmont Estate Tour The Invention Factory The Great Train Robbery (Silent Movie) The Visitor center has restrooms along with a nice gift shop of cool Thomas Edison souvenirs. A large parking lot is available across from the historical park.

On Wednesday we went to Van Vleck House and Gardens. Gorgeous grounds and property. Such a nice…read moreplace to visit all year around. The Gardens are open from dawn to dusk and is free to the general public. Only human entry, so you'll need to leave your canine at home. Personal photography is allowed, but you'll need a permit to do any professional photo shoots on the premises. Bathrooms are in the Visitor Center, which is near the entrance closer to Van Vlek St and N Mountain Ave. While you're there, check out Tiny Gallery Montclair inside the visitor center.

Van Vleck House & Gardens turned out to be one of those places that feels like a hidden gem…read more It's not a large botanical garden, but that's actually part of its charm. The gardens are beautifully maintained, peaceful, and much less crowded than many other places nearby. I really enjoyed walking around and taking photos without feeling rushed. There's a free parking lot on-site, which is always a bonus. Don't expect to spend an entire afternoon here, but if you're already in the Montclair area or looking for a quiet place to unwind, I'd definitely recommend stopping by. It's especially nice during the blooming season.

4/3/26 Visit: Ford's Mansion is just one of many New…read moreJersey's historical sites. The tour is Free! Erik was our tour guide. We started out at the Washington Headquarters Museum. (In the museum, there's a video on Washington's stay in the winter of 1779-80. It'll give you an excellent overview, either before or after your tour). We then walked up a hill to Ford's Mansion. *It's a bit of a hike up the hill. In the mansion, George Washington had established his headquarters during the winter of 1779- 1780. During this winter, there was approximately 96 inches of snow. (I'll never complain about snow again). LOL... The Continental Army camped out about miles away at Jockey Hollow. The home is well preserved and maintained. After the tour of the home, we walked back to the museum. The museum was really wonderful to explore. The museum has a wonderful gift shop. Parking availability is in a small lot and on the street. Whether you're a history buff or not, think you'll enjoy the visit to Ford's Mansion.

PROS: Absolutely amazing! This building is all original and displayed properly. The land is…read morelandscaped well and the tour guide Fred was somewhat friendly. Free parking as well CONS: Almost all of the furniture inside are replicas and you can only come into this building on a tour and not on your own OVERALL: Any history enthusiast will enjoy this house tour! It's free admission, free parking, and there's a lot to see

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.

For me & my husbands 19 year anniversary we had the pleasure of celebrating our journey at Art is…read moreBond, an interactive art gallery based in Montclair NJ. This space was/is in a word Amazing. We entered the space and was greeted by some awesome music & the lovely founder, who gave us a quick review of what to expect while walking through the space. The first interactive feature was the cool red carpet plus step & repeat featuring the name of the space(an ode to the 90's colloquialism "word is bond") Upon entering you can tell the founder was very intentional with the placement of each & every nostalgic piece of black art. It's a beautifully brilliant ode & execution of black culture, our layered nuances, our style, fashions, phrases, beauty & brilliance. This space is a content creation haven filled with endless creative possibilities. Naturally you'd think this was a pop up selfie museum, but it's much more. Not only is this space designed to go down memory lane of the 80's & 90's, you can see and touch some relic gems. You can rent the space for special occasions such as Birthdays, art showcase, book signing, just to name a few, the whole space can be transformed to fit your individual need. From the lovely living room set adorned with animal print wall paper, beautiful black art, quotes, a rotary dial telephone, a cozy couch with colorful throw pillows & last but not least a working record player with plenty of old school vinyl to set the mood. Making your way further inside your met with a wall covered with framed still photos of classic black cinema from the 80's & 90's. As your looking over your fav's, the founder ask's how many of the 24 movies can you name(an absolutely fun prompt). To your left a life size magazine perfectly named "Highly Melanated", to live out your fantasy of being on the cover of a magazine. A nostalgic bedroom scene featuring a wall covered in pictures of black stars from movies, music and iconic tv-shows. A wall covered with books from black authors(it's the intentional thoughtfulness for me). A spot dedicated solely to the one & only Queen Bee Lil Kim, with colorful fur coats, wigs & glasses to perfectly imitate our Queen. Since it's too hard to choose a favorite installation, because each & every one is amazing. I'll share that I absolutely loved the walls honoring black cinema and the opportunity to sit at a cute curated desk & write a letter to your younger self (there's that intentional thoughtfulness)you can leave the sealed letter for someone else to read or take it home! In a nutshell, this colorfully curated establishment is a must to experience & create fond memories that'll last for years to come. PS There's a lot more details, perks & installations I didn't mention 20+ to be exact. Word is bond tell a friend to tell a friend to come skip down memory lane & reminisce about back in the day!

Art Is Bond's owner, Te'Niijah, was wonderful to work with and she was super professional but warm…read moreand caring, with great communication. This venue is beautiful and they offer great packages at reasonable prices as a one-stop shop. Packages include food, drinks and entertainment options. We encountered some personal obstacles during the process of planning our 25th High school Reunion. Te'Niijah was so helpful with helping us figure out solutions which she didn't have to do, which we appreciated so much. This will be my first choice in the future next time I need to throw a party or event.

Spotless theater & restrooms, very comfortable seats, also enjoyed the movie"AI doc", very…read moreinformative. Very welcoming ticket takers.

Located in the heart of Montclair on Bloomfield Ave, the Montclair Film is a beautiful space for…read moreyour next event or party. It's more than accommodating for large groups of people, as it provides ample and comfortable seating to kick back and relax. The snack bar in the back has cubbies to store your belongings and also space for food and drinks. It also has a large projector screen to play movies or slideshows, and a loudspeaker system and microphone to more than get the party going.

After brunch at Sunday Motor Co Cafe, a friend and I went to this museum. It happened to be a day…read morewhere it was donations only which was a pleasant surprise for two unemployed gals! The museum took us about an hour to get through. We learned a surprising amount and were both intrigued and humored by different things we saw, such as seeing the tools used to slaughter animals, or the funny words that were chosen for certain items. The museum definitely has something for all ages and is a quick stop if you're in the area.

Small museum in a beautiful building. Interesting. Well curated. Take about an hour to walk through.read more