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.

Charming stone Dutch farmhouse/museum from the 1800s when New Jersey still had a strong Dutch…read moreinfluence. One can go inside the house and museum on Sundays from 2-4 pm, other days one can walk around the outside which is still pretty good to see if you are in the general vicinity. Entrance is in the back down some stairs.

From the owner: Historic Dutch Farm House in 3 time periods Early American Federal and Victorian. Learn about the…read morePast and History of the area "Walk in the Footsteps of the Past"

Interesting history lesson in the shadows of the Manhattan skyscrapers…read more Excellent presentation by the docent. Both park employees were quite knowledgeable about various topics. The tour covered many different topics of that era. You could see yourself imagining what life was like at that time. Don't miss the portrait painting on the 2nd floor.

Soooo if you happen to live in Northern NJ and happen to have family visiting, and that family…read morehappens to be huuuuge history buffs -- then y'all should probably visit the Dey Mansion, aka George Washington's Headquarters way back in the late 1700's. Full disclosure: it was my mother who looked up the Dey Mansion and requested to go there on a recent-ish visit. It wouldn't have been my first choice of things to do on a sunny Saturday but she's the guest and a total history nerd and it was something to check out. I can't say I didn't enjoy it at least a little bit... while my mom is a history nerd, I'm a design nerd and the house itself, built by the Dey Family, is beauuuuuufitul. The brick, the wide plank wood floors inside, the gorgeous [paint] colors used throughout were just striking on every level. Then the layout and design and function of the house back in the 1700's is so different then how we live in our homes now -- so interesting. The gardens surrounding the property are also so lovely. Here's my one issue with the historical site and tour -- when we inquired we were told it was 'less than an hour for sure' depending on how many people/questions. While the tour guide was nice enough, he was verrrrrrry long winded. There were 6 of us.. and that tour was most definitely longer than an hour. Not sure if that's the case every time but just something to be prepared for should you decide to visit. Cost for the tours was supposed to be $5 but during out visit they had just begun some restorations and certain spaces were closed off... so they didn't insist on guest paying. They still accepted donations though. Parking is also free, fyi. And the mansion is easy to get to from routes 23, 46 and 80.

Awesome retro arcade! My son and I had a blast playing games. Def a must do for gamers. Highly…read morerecommend!

Great time spent today at Billy's Midway! $15 pp per hour. Think it's $10/half hour. They take…read morecredit cards. We enjoyed air hockey, pinball and loads of retro video games. I think I did a phenomenal job at Tetris and Dr Mario. We had such a good time and want to make it a Black Friday tradition. As we were leaving my daughter spent $2 on a play to win plushy claw machine. She was able to grab the stuffed grape boba so her day was made. Street parking was ample and easy.

Great Restoration Hard Working Volunteers Keep Improving The Grounds County Got This One Right…read more Built in the early seventeen hundreds this piece of history had gone uncared for many years until the Garretson Forge & Farm Restoration folks tirelessly restored the property. They hold events throughout the year that range from recreating a Dutch farm garden to Dutch Christmas complete with a visit from Sinterklaas. Fish weirs, mostly built by Native Americans of the Lenape Nation can still be seen in the Passaic River near the farm. They provided the early settlers with a reliable and valuable source of protein consisting of shad, alewives, striped bass and eels. A weir can be clearly seen approximately 200 feet North of the Fair Lawn Avenue Bridge, the only reason they still exists is due to the fact that this part of the river was not navigable for commercial purposes and restoration efforts. Allen Lutins & Anthony P. DeCondo reaserched and wrote a great article for the Archaeological Society of New Jersey you can read it here http://www.lutins.org/weir/ HISTORY "One of the oldest sites in Bergen County, this pre-revolutionary sandstone house is officially listed on the New Jersey State and the United States National Register of Historic Places. This living Dutch farm museum, located at 4-02 River Road, Fair Lawn, New Jersey, sponsors activities involving restoration, preservation, historic digs, compilation of local history and folklore, educational programming, colonial agriculture, horticulture and crafts. Garretson Farm is owned by Bergen County and is administered by volunteers of the Garretson Forge and Farm Restoration, Inc. The history of the Garretson family in America began with the emigration of Gerrit Gerritse, his wife Annetje Hermansse and their son Gerrit from Wageningen, Gelderland, in 1660. The junior Gerrit, purchased the Slooterdam Patent from David Daniellse in 1719. This tract of land extended from the Passaic to the Saddle Rivers. The house was built shortly afterwards by Gerrit's son, Peter. Six generations of the Garretson family resided on the farm. The Garretson homestead is on what was once an extensive farm, but through the years the land was sold off. The present site consists of 1.84 acres along River Road. Archeologists believe that the property was once the site of an Indian encampment due to the numerous artifacts found along the Passaic River. The kitchen wing, the older section of the house, is built of rubble and undressed stone. On a late 19th century photograph of the house, remnants of a brick beehive oven can be seen on the outer wall and thus has been restored. The main section of the house, added in 1760, was built using dressed stone. The sandstone blocks are held together with a mortar made of river mud, mixed with straw and hog's hair. It was under this section that the fragments of clay pipes (c. 1720) and other artifacts were uncovered. Extensive changes were made in the house in 1902. The present gambrel roof replaced a steep gable roof; a second front door was replaced with a window. An inner stairway to the basement replaced cellar hatches and a stairway to the second floor was built. The large pillared porch was also added. A mid-nineteenth century carriage house still stands on the property along with several other out - buildings." Preserve History!

Really enjoyed visiting the Garretson Forge and Farm for their butterfly festival. Volunteers do a…read morevery nice job with the garden and the event was a lot of fun for kids. Interesting place to visit.

I have a soft spot for small, niche museums, and the Yogi Berra Museum on Montclair State…read moreUniversity's campus is exactly my cup of tea. Located near the entrance to MSU's ball field which bears his name, this museum is dedicated to the life and legacy of Yogi Berra, best known for his 18 seasons with the New York Yankees. One of the baseball's all-time greats, Berra is a fascinating figure whose career achievements belie his humble origins and ethical propriety. Known also for his many clever quips, Berra was a family man and devoted husband, a long-time resident of Montclair, and an all around nice guy. The museum covers his life story from the early days through the legacy he left behind. There's plenty of information about the history of professional baseball; you'll get to see catcher's mitts throughout the ages, as well as a progression of catcher's masks that show just how far the sport has come in terms of player safety. One unexpected exhibition that I greatly enjoyed is a relatively new installation about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on both baseball and The Bronx, home of Yankee Stadium and an area disproportionately impacted by the virus. Thoughtfully curated and quite timely.

A great museum dedicated to the beloved American Baseball Player, Manager and Coach Yogi Berra…read more In front of the museum, you'll see a beautiful statue of Yogi Berra. Mr. Berra was a wonderful family man. During his lifetime, he embraced the importance of giving back and helping others. President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Metal of Freedom to Yogi Berra. The museum has a pitching area, where you can test your speed. There's a wonderful display of the evolution of catchers mitts from 1895- 2016. During your visit to the museum, please stop in the theater to see an overview of Yogi Berra's life, narrated by Tom Brokaw. The winning banners of the Yankee from 1947 -1962 hang in the theatre. Ticket prices are as follows: Adult- $10, Senior $5, Under 18 $5, Montclair University Students and Veterans Free. There's a designated parking area for visitors to the museum.

Where American Labor Movement began. 100 years ago forbetter working conditions an 8hr/ 40 hr work…read moreweek and child labor Laws also better working conditions.

Amazing place. You may visit there based on donations. However, make sure to ring the bell, or else…read morethey keep the doors closed. It is a must visit Museum in Passaic County.

A couple old (1700s) Dutch stone homes with period furnishings. interior museums open by…read moreappointment, grounds open dusk to dawn

The Muth Museum is located in the historic district of Paterson, New Jersey adjacent to the Great…read moreFalls. The museum is on the second floor of Hinchliffe Stadium on the southeast corner. It is a National Historic Landmark since 2013.. Admission is free. The museum showcases Negro baseball, Paterson's elite athletes and the history of Hinchliffe Stadium. The stadium opened in 1932 and became the homefield for the the New York Black Yankees. Legendry players who played at Hinchliffe Stadium included Larry Doby (a Paterson High School standout, first Black player to enter the American League (Cleveland Indians, July 5, 1947), Hall of Famers (Josh Gibson, Monte Irwin and Jackie Robinson) also played in Hinchcliffe Stadium. Probably the best shortstop ever the play the game, Honus Wagner (1933) played for the Paterson Silk Sox. Twenty "Hall of Fame players" played at one time or another in Hinchcliffe Stadium. Aside from baseball, Hinchcliffe Stadium was also the home of midget car racing and Paterson High Schools major sporting events. The museum has historic photographs, baseball memorabilia, and many other interesting displays. As a baseball fan, I was very excited to see the museum.