We went here as part of our visit to Morristown National Historical Park. The fort, which sits on…read moretop of a hill, is easily accessible from downtown Morristown. I liked the view from the top. It was good, but not great, as there's a lot of trees limiting what you can see. But I have to give them credit, the view is in the direction of New York City and you can see some of the taller buildings in the distance. As for the fort, there's a canon, and a short path which follows where a wall used to be. The whole area is wooded, which was nice but there's simply not much to see or do here. I probably wouldn't go back again.

Excellent quiet woods with picnic table. Walkable from downtown. Cool in the summer . Great view…read morefrom the field with the cannon. There's also a walking trail with wild life. Saw two deers while hiking

Visits to Historic Speedwell are free, maybe start with the eight-minute video in the visitor…read morecenter. $5 buys you a guided tour of the large Vail house (guided tours only) and the small factory with the wheel house (also self-guided tours). The factory explains how Alfred Vail prototyped the telegraph for Samuel Morse. The Ironworks exhibit in the large carriage house has detailed pictures and explanations along with artifacts like molds and patterns made by Stephen Vail and his men. Only the red buildings and the white mansion are original, others like the Estes House (under renovation in 2018) were moved in much later. Unfortunately the cast-iron water wheel wasn't running when I visited the factory, awaiting repairs and money in the Park Commission budget. Don't miss the bone grinder in the shed with the big water wheel! You do not exit through the gift shop here LOL.

Beautiful grounds, with a great little shop for visitors…read more We come here often as they offer historical and art lessons. The teacher is wonderful and it's a very unique experience. Recently we did one of the longer homeschooling lessons- it was calling "Open Heart Cooking" and all the students worked together to cook an entire multi course meal in the fireplace like olden times. They had a great time and what a lesson in teamwork and patience. I would call them to ask about upcoming programs and classes. Or even just visit as a tourist one day- they have two small museums and guided tours.

Maplewood Civic House is a recreational facility located at 124 Dunnell Road in Maplewood's…read moreMemorial Park. It hosts municipal programs and YMCA classes, and offers a welcome pair of gendered restrooms. The building's gain faux Tudor architecture blends beautifully with its leafy, suburban surroundings, while its public restrooms are thankfully modern. Yet the glaring flaw lies in its older plumbing: The original restrooms, located in the event space, appear to be suffering from a lack of maintenance. On a recent visit, a plastic bucket had been placed under the leaky water fountain. Few people enjoy paying for maintenance and repairs, even though the alternative is far more costly in the long term. For the sake of Maplewood residents, I hope the proper officials take steps to remedy this jewel.

I checked this place out because of a recent Civil War reenactment event, and I was incredibly…read moreimpressed. It could have been an all day event and I wish I had come earlier because I missed some things like the weapons demonstration. Aside from the regular buildings, there was a camp set up with soldiers, nurses, doctors, cooks, and other professionals that would have been part of a civil war brigade. The reenactors were extremely knowledge and informative with various props and photos from the era. We did get sucked into the singing presentations at the tavern featuring the Libby Prison Band and Matthew Dodd singing period stories and telling comical tales. They alternated presenting on the hour with new songs each hour. For a free presentation, it was thorough, entertaining, and thoughtful. There was plenty of parking and a small gift shop (not too many site specific souvenirs though). I will keep an eye on the calendar and return for future events.

Wonderful place to learn NJ history. I grew up in NJ and…read moredidn't learn about it until a recent visit with a friend.

retired IRS tax preparers who come out to help seniors with their tax preparation free of charge.read more

The Baird is the fourth "part" of Meadowlands park (See my review of Meadowlands park). The Baird…read moreis like the central hub for the park serving as the community center for not just the park, but really the town, handling pretty much all recreational affairs and park usage. For my job for example, if we wanted to use the field we had to select a time to reserve it for practice with whatever sport we'd be preparing for. I like this because it's organized and fair. The Baird is also where you purchase and renew your badge for the pool which convenient. The building hosts other things such a book drives and classes for kids but also houses the Pierro Gallery where many exhibits and events take place on the second floor and are too well organized. Surrounding the Baird are basketball courts and tennis courts making feel very much a part of Meadowlands park.

I noticed this building as soon as I walked past it because of the gold.ornatr entrance…read more Here is some information that I found out about it. The magnificent 38-story French building was designed in 1927 by the architectural firm of H. Douglas Ives and was the business headquarters for the famous real estate tycoon Fred Fillmore French who also built Manhattan's famous Tudor City and Knickerbocker Village residential complexes. An ornate blend of art deco, ancient Babylonian and European styles, the innovative skyscraper significantly contributes to Fifth Avenue's international identity. Mastery in design and attention to detail is evident from the moment you enter 551 Fifth Avenue. Created with the finest materials and finishes, the lobby has been designated an interior landmark and features Roman travertine floors, St. Genevieve marble walls, cast bronze elevator doors and a collection of patterned glass chandeliers. Equally classic is the building's exterior which boasts a striking vertical facade of limestone and brick that rises dramatically from a three-story limestone base, and is adorned with orange brickwork, terracotta décor with black trim on the setbacks, themed rectangular patterns and decorated with significant bronze paneling and bronze framed storefronts.

Standing at the center of the Morristown Green (one of very few greens remaining in New Jersey),…read morethis 50-foot-tall granite memorial was erected in 1871 to honor local soldiers and sailors who died during the American Civil War. Topped by a vigilant bronze figure of a Union soldier, the monument is inscribed with the names of major battles in which Morris County troops fought, including Gettysburg, Antietam, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Appomattox. This park once hosted Revolutionary War drills and now serves as a gathering place for civic life. The old days are generally forgotten but this obelisk stands and serves to anchor those sacrifices that were made for the ideals of liberty and unity. [Review 1050 of 2025 - 171 in New Jersey - 24604 overall]

Bland new library in Union, NJ. We had some small library around area, but now we have big library…read morein the center of town, next to city hall. There is big parking in the back. Small one in front. Library is in new building shared with art theatre. Nice welcome addition to Union, NJ just opened in 6/2025.

I've been looking forward to the opening of our new library for over a year, and unfortunately, my…read morefirst visit was disappointing. I really wanted to love this space and make it a regular stop for my kids and me, but our experience left me feeling unwelcome. When I arrived, I wasn't greeted at all. The staff at the front desk were engaged in a personal conversation and didn't acknowledge me for several minutes, even though I was standing in line clearly waiting for assistance... I had a few questions and just needed some direction, but felt overlooked and ignored from the moment I walked in. Later during our visit, we were in the soft foam children's reading area. I removed my Crocs so I could sit comfortably on the foam blocks and read with my toddlers, assuming that shoes weren't meant to be worn in that particular area on the mats to keep it clean and safe for kids. A staff member by the name of Emily Head of youth services) asked me quite abruptly to put my shoes back on. I politely explained that we were sitting in the foam block area and that's why my shoes were off, but she responded with , "Well, that's very unsavory," and laughed. (Not in a friendly way) in front of others. It was embarrassing and completely unnecessary, especially since we weren't causing any disruption and were quietly reading together. After that exchange, I no longer felt comfortable in the space and decided to leave. We had walked 30 minutes in the heat to get there, excited to enjoy the new facility, but instead left feeling disappointed and dismissed. I truly hope the library staff can work on being more welcoming, especially to families and caregivers who just want a safe and calm space for their children to enjoy books. First impressions matters and unfortunately, this one missed the mark.