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.

This is an athletic field in the St. Cloud neighborhood of West Orange. There's a small area with…read moresome parking, but it's more ideal for residents in the area within walking distance. They have tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, and playgrounds for the kiddos. It's down the road from Turtle Back Zoo and the South Mountain Arena, and right by Mama Dag's Seafood & Pasta Bar.

Very nice little park in West Orange. They have baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, and…read moreplaygrounds.

A nice area for hiking/walking that has some wide paths and not so overgrown. There are plenty of…read moretrails to diverge from. Hemlock Falls seems to be a draw and is very nice to relax around but can get a little crowded. Because there are multiple parking lots with easy accessibility, there's a bit of trash and broken glass here and there which is unfortunate. There were quite a few hikers, trail runners and dogs but it never felt claustrophobic. The hikes aren't that difficult but there are quite a few rocks and protruding tree roots. Montclair is less than 10 minutes if you want a bite to eat afterwards.

Great walk. Nothing like a walk through nature. Taking in the sights and sounds, what a beautiful…read morething!!!

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.

This place is a true paradise garden hidden somewhere in New Jersey !!!…read more The whole place is so beautiful , very serene , easy to navigate and kept very clean and green . It is definitely somewhere to go for a romantic date . The only issue I found with the place is that we couldn't find the gift shop or the little concession stand - coffee and snack . That was disappointing. Also staff is friendly but doesn't seem to be very good at giving directions . Aside from that it is such a beautiful place to visit

Riker Hill is one of my favorite parks in Essex County because of its uniqueness. It's niche…read morebecause it's part artist studios, part Cold War historical site, and part local park for hilly walks/runs. There also is a small community garden, as well as EV charge station at the top of the hill. It's not a destination park - unless you have a specific interest in visiting the studios or in Nike missile sites. However, it's a quaint park if you are local and want a quick fix of nature and views from the highest elevation points in Essex county.

Love this little playground! It's the perfect size playground. It's not too big, like some of the…read morenewer playground I have taken my kids to. It is difficult to keep track of your little ones when the playground is wayyyy too big. Both my 2 and 6 year old boys enjoy their time here.

I recently discovered Orchard Park. It's a small park off of Ridgewood Ave in Maplewood, but you…read moreenter from De Hart Road, so it's kind of hidden. There's a playground for 2-5 year olds - with climbing forts, slides, a see-saw, and swings. There's a covered area in sight line of the playground, and tables and some benches to sit. There are also tennis courts and an open field. Cute park!

Orchard park is the overall best local park I have been to. The playground is completely safe and…read moreamazing for kids of all ages. It is great to bring the whole family, there is great seating like picnic tables and benches and built in bathrooms. We go there all the time and is an amazing experience.

not sure why people get confused with Regatta Playground, this is a review of the park (it's a…read moregated park) and the playground is a part of it. We were in the area for some work and had an hour in hand, I googled park near me and found this. what a great find it is! it was a cloudy day. not a very big park but I like small, cozy parks. it is offering something for everyone. The first thing that will hit you, is swan-shaped paddle boats (Essex County Paddle boat house) starting from $17. Excellent activity provides life vest, staffs are there to guide you, well maintained. Paved walkways that circle the lake (I did not complete it), looks really good. I even saw a toy train, not sure of the origin and end, but it's there and sure looks like fun. Playground: known to be one of the best playgrounds in the area. Covered Picnic area: you can bring your own food or get snacks from here (nominal charge). the area is neat and clean. Also nearby to McLoone's and the Safari mini-golf course. Lots of plastic chairs are there to sit near to lake and picnic area. Restroom: there are plenty of restrooms. Parking: across the road, plenty of parking spots, and its free

Joe V strikes again…read more We got ourselves a new paddle boat concession on the reservoir plus a new lit, walking path around the same. This gives you the opportunity to traverse the entire lake without having to enter the Zoo. It also seems to be dog-friendly which is a plus.

Gorgeous park and trails. I came here for the Susan G. Komen race last week and thoroughly enjoyed…read morethe trail we ran on as well as the scenery. Watch out: lots of hills! A great challenge.

5/31/26 (Update) Having been coming to this zoo forever. In…read morethe last 5- 10 years, I've really seen Turtle Back Zoo grow into a first rate zoo! It's not as large as the Bronx Zoo, but it's certainly getting there. -Animals: We saw beautiful, large flamingos, penguins, numerous wildcat species, giraffes, bald eagles, hyenas and more... -Living Conditions: All the animals are protected by high fences. The animals appear to be very healthy. Their living conditions appear to be very clean. -Sea Turtle Recovery Center: Besides the wonderful animals, there's a Sea Turtle Recovery Hospital on the premises. You can visit the "patients". It was an interesting experience. Once the sea turtles have regained their health, they're be released back into their natural habitat. -Food: You'll probably get hungry during your visit. The zoo has several food kiosks and a large indoor and outdoor café called Zanzibar. -Gift Shop: Of course, there's a cool gift shop at the zoo. Lots of adorable stuffed animals for purchase. -Parking: Parking was free this past Sunday. There's several indoor parking garages with clearly marked animal logos. Looking forward to my next visit to Essex County Turtle Back Zoo.

Came here while visiting family in Nj. It is a decent size zoo but when we came there were no lions…read moreand no giraffes. We went to the welcome center and there no changing tables in the restrooms there. For a children's place there should be changing tables in all the restrooms. Also, they charge for every little thing once you are inside. $3 for the carousel, $3 for feed, and $5 for the butterflies. The butterflies are very small and definitely not worth an additional $5. I have been to other zoos and aquariums with a large butterfly conservatory and there was no extra charge. They have a train but we didn't have time to go on it. It is clean and they do have a large selection of animals including the red panda, black bear, monkeys, hyena, sloth, toucan bird, flamingos, kangaroos, cheetahs, snow leopards, a bison, they also have a touch tank. The prairie dogs were super cute. They have farm animals where you can feed a goat. It is a nice thing to do with children and my daughter had a blast! They do pony rides for $3 but my daughter was too small, you have to be 2 years old.