Verona/Montclair, NJ - this medieval castle-like mansion was the cozy home of industrialist…read moreFrederic Ellsworth Kip in the early 1900s, and, saved from the ignominious fate of being developed into a row of townhouses during the modern era, the estate is now part of the historic Essex County Park System and thankfully is being preserved as an eventual resource center for the arts & culture. Although the 11-acre grounds of Kip's Castle Park is open from dawn to dusk year-round, the house itself is normally closed to the public except for a brief few days around Christmas, when the home is decorated in vintage holiday splendor and the first floor is open to viewing. The home looks grand but is charmingly intimate inside. It doesn't take long to tour but makes for a lovely little visit if you happen to find yourself in the area over the holidays.

I absolutely love castles! First visit!…read more Kips Castle is a replica of a Medieval Castle! Located in Verona and Montclair New Jersey. The Castle was closed but you can explore the 11 acres of land on the ridge of First Mountain. You have beautiful views of the New York skyline. On our way out, saw the deers!!

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park…read more Great. Free.Great place just walk around and do nothing. You can go all the way to the top and walk the bridge. Waterfall was perfect. Clean place but needs some love. Great place for a picture. Just beautiful. FYI, the show "The Sopranos' was filmed here too. Highly Recommend

The waterfall itself has an impressive amount of water, but everything else was disappointing…read more The biggest issue was the condition of the river. There was floating trash everywhere, a lot of foam on the surface, muddy brown water, and a strong unpleasant smell. Instead of enjoying the scenery, I just wanted to leave. Parking was also difficult, especially during busy hours. I understand this is a historic landmark, but based on my experience, it wasn't worth the drive. The waterfall has potential, but the cleanliness and overall maintenance really need improvement.

Always wondered where people got those super close views of the George Washington Bridge in their…read morereels, and finally found this place! People might get confused by the two names--Palisades Interstate Park and Fort Lee Historic Park--but it's the same location. Parking is metered, and the rates vary by day. On weekends, it's around $2.50/hour. We spent almost 2 hours here, and it was totally worth it. The park is very clean and well maintained. There are several viewpoints where you can enjoy beautiful views of the George Washington Bridge and the Hudson River. There are also a few historical displays that tell the story of the area, which makes the visit even more interesting. There are plenty of benches to sit, relax, and enjoy the scenery. It was peaceful and not too crowded when we visited. On the other side of the park, you'll find old cannons, restored military buildings, and other historic structures from the Revolutionary War period. The views from that side are just as amazing. Overall, it's a great place to spend a couple of hours if you're visiting the Palisades.

Gorgeous park. I biked here from Bushwick Brooklyn and it was worth the soreness! Absolutely…read moreincredible views of the Hudson River. What a peaceful place to bird watch, relax and get some fresh air. Reading about the history of the site really makes being present on the same land feel quite significant.

As we enter peak summer, it is time to take advantage of the weather by visiting one of the many…read morebeautiful North Jersey hidden gems. Located on the Saddle River Bike Path between Route 4 & Saddle River Road in Paramus, this structure is made of a stone and wood frame with a wood-shingle, gabled roof built in 1900. Easton Tower is a unique historic site. Originally, used to pump water to irrigate the estate of Edward Easton. Mr. Easton was a founder of the Columbia Phonograph Company, which later became Columbia Records. The scenic tower was a favorite of photographers and appears in many contemporary postcards. People came from miles around to this beautiful spot. It was placed on the State and National Register of Historic Places and in 2008 was completely restored by Bergen County. It can be viewed from the Saddle River Bikeway and visited year-round. A sign on-site instructs on how to access a phone tour that gives its entire history. It's picturesque, but there's really not much to do here but take a peek in the tower and snap a handful of pictures.

This was a very nice historical place. You can go inside, spin the water mill, walk around the…read morepremises, and there's even a sign explaining it's history

This park is located on Bloomfield Ave. near Kingsland Rd. and is a great little park that is well…read morekept by Nutley as are all their other parks. There is a basketball court, soccer field, and softball field all within close proximity. The playground is small but that's a good thing if you have a couple of speedy kids to keep an eye on which I do. On the far end of the park there is a creek with a walkway for any nature walk enthusiasts out there. A restroom and water fountain is also located on grounds. It is also a regular stop for an ice cream truck so be prepared to buy ice cream. A really nice park to enjoy with kids.

I really like parks that have something for everyone. it has a softball field and basketball…read morecourts. You can find swing sets for children of any age as well as some really good slides. My daughters love coming here and hanging out for the day. When we are done with this section you can go for a nice walk along the paths located in the park. Park has a bathroom and water fountain for kids that is kept pretty clean. An ice cream truck does stop by regularly but unfortunately it's not Mr Softee and only specializes in ice creams bars. If your looking for a nice place to sit back relax and watch your kids play I recommend stopping by. If you're hungry stop by Louis Place Pizzeria for a slice, which is only to blocks away

This one's for the deer, not for us, but they've been through a lot so hopefully they'll enjoy it…read more I was none too pleased on my first visit when I didn't see the advertised features, but it turns out I misunderstood a conceptual study of what might be here one day. For now, there are birds and trees, and if it hasn't rained too much recently the terrain will be navigable enough for you to walk to the Peckman River. It's not a tourist destination known internationally or maybe even in most of Passaic County but this was a good for a dose of faux rural vibes.

I absolutely love this place. It is so beautiful and almost always very quiet. The diversity of…read moreplants, animals, stones, etc. is so great to look at and observe. It's clearly a very well cared for preserve and it's my favorite place to walk around.

An oasis in the middle of urban NJ. Borders Montclair, Bloomfield and Clifton. Tranquil nature…read morepreserve to get some peace and quiet. Entrance is on Riverview Drive off Alexander avenue. Another entrance on Daniels Drive off Chittenden road. Please respect this space.

We had a great docent, Robin, who was so well-informed & fun! We had a small group, we 4 & another…read morecouple who lives right nearby us. I highly recommend taking the tour - so interesting & enjoyed every moment

Very cute arts and crafts show! I happen to see this event through Yelp and decided to stop by…read moresince my passion is in arts. Every craft was truly unique in its own way and very affordable. I've never been to an arts and crafts show so I thought maybe the creators would be there to describe their work as well as how their business (if any) is going. However, they weren't there. Also the event runs quite long! I believe it started 10/27 and ended 12/3! I learned there were other arts and crafts shows around the area. My boyfriend and I purchased this super cute snowman :)