The Trailside Science Center is a really great place to spend a few hours! I was impressed with the quality, especially since it's free to visitors. I took my 3-year old niece and she really enjoyed it. The highlights for us were the taxidermy animals (beautifully laid out in a tree and landscape that spans all 3 floors of the museum), the live animals (fish, turtles, snakes), and a short film/experience about nighttime noises and animals. There were a lot of things to touch and open -- good for the little kids, and the older kids will get more from reading through the exhibit signs. No food or drinks are allowed in the museum. However, there are a ton of picnic tables right outside so that could be a good place to enjoy a snack or lunch from home. There's also a short sensory walk through the woods (0.8 miles) that begins right outside the science center. read more

Took my 5 y/o nephew here as a last hoorah before kindergarten. With just an hour left before closing we were able to squeeze in quite a bit! He enjoyed the live animals, both land and sea. I liked the night theater, particularly love how it wasn't a screen but still entertaining and educational. Afterwards we strolled along the nature trail and checked out the sensory garden. This truly is a place for all to enjoy...and learn! Bonus: admission is free, bathrooms are clean and parking is plentiful. Had it not been so muggy out, we would've checked out more of the grounds as it seems there were more playgrounds to explore. read more

Trailside Nature and Science Center - Parks Near Me - Mountainside, New Jersey

TNSC is a wonderful little museum and environmental education center located in the Watchung Reservation, with many nature and outdoor programs and workshops for children & families as well as adults. It's a great place to take kids, and admission is free! The museum has exhibits, hands-on interactive displays, a cool night theater show, and a children's discovery/play room. You could also observe many beautiful and exotic bird species fly to and fro around the bird feeders out back through a large window. Upstairs are classrooms and a small library area. There are many hiking trails, including the Sensory Trail, a child-friendly 0.3 mile loop with special sensory exploratory features such as talking kiosks, musical play, and garden structures. There is also a playground and picnic areas in the vicinity. In addition, if you care to explore other parts of this 2,000+ acre reservation, drive or hike to nearby Watchung Stable to see the horses and riders; and for sure visit the Deserted Village of Feltville, a can't-miss area of Watchung with historic buildings dating back to the 18th century, and is a cool stroll. read more

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Free place to visit alert. I came here with cousins and when you don't want to pay $$ for admission for a lot of people, this place is amazing, will probably take you a half day. They have a park nearby too which is walking distance. The center itself is cool, has a kids toy play area, a reading section and another section to learn of different animals - fake and real. Lots of parking in the area and when you're done, there is food nearby, about 15 minutes away. Definitely recommend if you are on a budget because family trips get expensive. read more

This is a must to do if you live in Union County. We spent the entire day here. From exhibits in the science center, nature trails and the playground...we can't wait to go back. The nocturnal movie theater was the biggest hit of the day. We went twice. We are going back next week and bringing the whole family this time. Thanks for the amazing day! Side note, the mural about littering changed my 4 years life! She picked up trash all day at the park. She's going to save the planet now, one plastic straw at a time lol:) read more

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Great appt to take the kids on a rain day. Don't expect the liberty science center but I was pleasantly surprised.

Free admission. Great for kids. Trailside's vast outdoor area features a whole lotta nature- a butterfly garden, woodlands, fields, lakes, streams, and 13 miles of hiking trails for humans and dogs which sometimes get a little muddy after some rain. These areas don't look that exciting until mid-spring. Their small indoor museum has 3 levels and an elevator for strollers and wheelchairs. A huge beech tree thrusts through the center as a main showpiece. It's surrounded by small exhibits that could spark interest with rocks and minerals, different birds' eggs, and taxidermied woodland creatures and bald eagle- they see you! They know what you did! On the 2nd floor Library, children can read books from the 1960s onward about animals and nature with plenty of tables and seating. On the lower level, a Discovery Room features a live snake, a fluorescent rock exhibit, and a sand pit table where children can uncover a fossil and sift for seashells. This room also has several toy bins of dinosaur figures and toddler puzzles. Within the same floor, an accessible unisex bathroom has hand sanitizer and hand soap. Year-round, they offer several day camp programs and live shows including magicians, animals, and live music for toddlers to 6th grade and families. These have different rates for Union County residents and those out of county. Their website lists program details and registration info http://ucnj.org/parks-recreation/trailside-nature-science-center/. Parking's free and easy, just like your mom. =) read more

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Took the kids to this place for a friend's daughter's birthday party. It's not as big as other sciences centers but it something to do for kids. They have a small party room for you to host a party. You do have to provide your own food and drinks though. When the party started the hostess takes the kids into a library area where they explain all the different types of animals found in the wild. They showed them a turtle and snake where the kids participate to pet them. They hostess also read stories to them as well. After we were done with the party, the kids explored the three levels of exhibits they had. Its not a big place so you can finish the exhibits within a hour. I guess they have a guided tour outside but we did not go because it was cold outside and not properly dressed to be outdoors. Overall, its a nice place to take the kids if they are bored at home. I would recommend kids about 10 years and under would enjoy it more. read more

Trailside Nature and Science Center - Gift shop and front desk - Parks Near Me - Mountainside, New Jersey

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Came here for a 4 year old birthday party. There is a private party room which people can book for parties. The party started out with kids gathering in the classroom (away from the party room) with two hostess and learned the different reptiles such as snakes and turtles. After an engaging interactive discussion, the hostess brought out the live animals and let the kids pet them, which my 9 and 6 year old enjoyed. Afterwards, they used hand sanitizer and then head over to the party room. It's a cute small trailside science center. It has 3 floors of observation and some activities. Some were live animals and some were fun facts. There's plenty of parking and of course a trail activity which I heard is great for group observation or just anyone would like to take a walk. It's a great exercise and also pet friendly too. Because it was cold in late January, we decided to venture indoors after the party. read more

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If you have little kids it's worthwhile to get on the mailing list as they have interesting events now and then. In particular my son loved the maple syrup tour and tasting. read more

One of my favorite places to go as a child- my dad brought us here on weekends to look at the turtles, stop by the planetarium, and look at dead stuffed animals. It used to freak us out a little, but it was fun. A lot of the stuff was old and run down back in the day, but we didn't really care. Lots of trails to hike and a great place for families to hang out for the day. The boxes that you reach into that have secret things inside like fur and shells used to scare the crap out of us. Good memories. read more

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The Watchung Reservation is Union County's best place for hiking and seeing a diversity of animals, plants, mushrooms and natural beauty. In autumn, Lake Surprise is spectacular ~ there's no need to drive out of state to see the colorful foliage! There are 13 miles of hiking trails in the 2000+ acres that the reservation is in. There are some wildlife viewing spots that are great when you have your camera and/or binoculars with you. There are so many different areas to see and each is so very different during the changing seasons. The pine forest was one of my favorite places in the 70's & 80's when you would feel the big change in light and temperature as you walked through it. Now, a lot of sunlight filters through; it's still nice, but not as unique as it used to be. Trailside Nature & Science Center has many interesting exhibits and programs for children, especially during the summer months. This is the location of the Wildlife Sunday's in the spring. Behind the building is an area with stepping stones that have the tracks that many of the animals in the reservation leave. I've been going there since I was a child, when the original Trailside Museum was built (in the late 60's). When my son was 5 years old, I enrolled him in a few summer programs through the museum (back in 1983). One took place in the Deserted Village (historic village of Feltville), built in 1845. I sat under the pine trees on a soft bed of pine needles enjoying the quiet while he was learning about Pond Life. It's fun to drive over to the Watchung Stables and watch the riders practice and on occasion, watching people going on the trail rides. The stables are open to the public. All in all, for a place that's close to home, I give it a 5 star rating because you leave feeling more at peace and in touch with nature. Here is the link in the county's website: http://ucnj.org/community/parks-community-renewal/parks-facilities/watchung-reservation-history-trail/ read more

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We went for a hike here the other day. Now I am really curious why we don't come here more often. I was surprised how large the reservation is and how well maintained it was. Trail maps are available online or in the trail side museum. The trails were well marked and on the easier side. We will return. read more

Renovated in 2006, the 4,500 square foot, three level facility houses a modern interactive nature museum and science center. The Night Theater is an audio visual experience that allows the viewer to experience the sights and sounds of nature at night and is highly entertaining for children of all ages. There is also a 250 seat auditorium used for various programs complete with a large theater screen. The center piece of the museum is a 34' American beech tree which along with the other exhibits gives the center a nature immersion experience. There is plenty of taxidermy staged in habitat settings including a woodland stream which runs into a large aquarium with fish. Children are drawn to it. There is a children's Discovery Center for really young children which can keep them entertained with interactive play.The Land of Lenape is also eye catching. For adults like myself, I enjoyed The Bird Migration, Eggs and Nests, and Minerals exhibits. The well stocked library with free WIFI and computers was an unexpected surprise. Want to see the first NJ dinosaur, Hadrosaurus or the Cranford Mastodon, they have that too. Trailside has many nature related programs which are available year round for toddlers, 3-4 years, 4-6 years, middle school and high school students, as well as, adults. After exploring the museum and science center spend some time on one of the 13 miles of hiking trails which are peaceful, secluded and manageable. Trail maps are available at the trailside museum or online. I walked the Ruth Camstein Yablonsky self-guided geology trail and learned about basalt, puddingstone, glacial erratics, red and gray shale and how they were formed in the Watchung Mountains. Qcodes allow you to use your cellphone to get even more information. You can spend a hour or a day in this wonderful nature experience. read more

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I don't technically go here (it's the only place I can check in on Yelp when I hike). I love the Watchung Reservation. I usually take one of the dogs that I dog walk for (volunteering) here for a couple of hours and get good exercise as well. There is a lot of scenery and you bump into a lot of friendly people (especially if you have a cute dog...like their owner...=)). They have plenty of trails and it's a good way to tire yourself and your best friend. Grab a map and get going. ENJOY! read more

*****I DOUBLE MY FIVE STARS ON THIS REVIEW***** oh the ever so exquisite Watchung res.....I don't know where to begin! Just when you keep hearing of global warming and all that this world has amounted to...there's the Watchung reservation that continues to remind you that there is still some clean air left, untouched and not developed and kept very clean. This place is VERY peaceful and truly beautiful. My parents had their wedding here back in the day, as hippies did, and to this day you may see one going on-right in the middle of everything God created, it's breath taking indeed. A place to go alone to rejuvenate or bring the kids for the day of BBQ and playground action. ALOT of history exists here, even stories written in WEIRD NJ, so it can also serve as a great exploration date with a car load of curious friends.Pssst: go at night -it's scary! There are many activities offered here as well, and only a 1/2 hr ride from NYC- read more

Such a great place to learn about wildlife, and experience beautiful, clean nature.

Most of the reviews here are for the Watchung Reservation itself, but I'm reviewing the Trailside Museum tucked away inside the forest. If you need a cheap, short, educational activity for the kids, here's the place to go. This little museum is well done for its size and obvious lack of foot traffic. There are two main levels teaching about most aspects of the Watchung Reservation including Native American history, animal wildlife, bugs, plants, terrain, etc. There are several hands-on activities and interactive experiences that are really quite fun (for kids). They also hold special classes for larger groups of kids about biology, geology, etc. In all, this is a great little addition to a reservation--especially in the summer when you're desperate for some cool air. :) read more

We had our twins 6yr birthday party here this past weekend and the kids had a wonderful time. We had a dinosaur theme and the naturalists did a great job keeping the attention of 16 six yr olds- we will surely venture back! Some parents have even scheduled their child's party there- the grounds and center are beautiful. read more

Trailside Nature and Science Center - Parks Near Me - Mountainside, New Jersey

We visited on a summer Saturday afternoon with our six year old son and four year old daughter. The was plenty of parking and about three other families in the center while were there. So it seemed spacious and very comfortable compared to other family attractions which are more busy this time of year. The exhibits held our kids attention pretty well. They are to young to read the displays but they walked every bit of the center and looked at each display. There is a place where they have a flower garden outside a full wall picture window. They have guest book where you are to write down what wild life you see in the garden. My son really liked this and he saw a brown rat, a blue jay and a sparrow. He also saw flies and a bee. There is also a dark theater room with an audio program about sounds of the night. The kids enjoyed this and sat quietly through the entire program. After the center we walked a half mile trail called the red trail which forms a loop in the woods outside the center. I would recommend this center for families looking for a low stress activity to take a few hours with your kids. I plan to take my kids back about once a season from now on. read more

Definitely a great place to visit if you want to learn more about animals. The exhibits that they have here are very impressive.

This place is awesome. Very cool and entertaining activity stations for children that have appeal for both young and older kids. I was impressed by the exhibits. There are also some trails outside and a playground nearby. I was pleasantly surprised by this place and I will surely go again. There were fish tanks and an observation window with a bird feeder and a guide for birds that frequent the area. There were tunnels and rooms and other things for kids to explore not just look at. Our toddler loved it and ran all over the place looking at turtles and birds' nests. It was great. We live close by and did not even know it was there until today. read more

They recently redid the Trailside Nature Center, and quite frankly it's breathtaking. A must stop if you're in the area!

I love this place!! I come here often, Trailside has a great discovery room and we enjoy the loop too, I took lots of pictures here as well as Watchung which is one of the rare wooden castle like playgrounds. If you want to find out more of what we thought, find out more on nj playgrounds site listed on my profile (had to remove link because of Yelp Terms of Service) read more

This place brings me back to my childhood days when the Trailside Museum had a small zoo in front. I don't go often anymore, but when I do, it brings back to those sunny memorable days. read more

This is a great place to spend an hour or so. I have been coming here for over 30 years. The exhibits are very interesting, and change occasionally. The lectures and shows are always fresh and entertaining. The facility is not huge but big enough for a relaxing time. Out side is a great lawn to hike and explore. read more

Trailside museum is a terrific place to take the kids, and you can't beat the price. It's in a beautiful setting and a close walk to trails and a great open area and huge playground. read more

Free and has excellent hiking trails. Museum has 3 levels and they offer classes too. Did I mention it's free. Open even during winter times. Great for students and little kids. read more

Trailside Nature and Science Center - Parks Near Me - Mountainside, New Jersey

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I grew up roaming around (and loving) the Watchung Reservation and so it's nice to pass some experiences along to my daughter. I love the Trailside Center for just that reason - it's maintained the same charm all these years even though it's also nice to see progress in the updated programs and facility. Visiting the center (and the reservation) is the perfect antidote to our crazy, hectic lives. read more

Great indoor museum for a quick activity. My almost 10 year old still looks forward to walking around and re-discovering the displays, or at least did, until yesterday. Great little gift shop, but be aware there is a All Sales are Final policy on a teeny sign, located behind a display. That includes even exchanges for stuffed animals, which is just fabulous when there is one displayed outside the store where your kid may not see it until after you are already in mid-purchase. When my daughter declared, "I hate this place now," I realized just how much this policy stinks (part of this was delivery of the information from the one cashier) and also how much work I have to help her restore the positive image she had earlier in the day. I'm trying to take the angle that we just supported Trailside more than we intended. read more