Part of the Essex County Park System, Verona Park offers a little something for everyone. There’s a 1.2 mile paved loop surrounded by weeping willows (this will be especially beautiful in April), a lake with seasonal paddle boating and fishing, a boathouse restaurant, a softball field and bocce courts, a children’s garden, and plenty ofContinue reading “Verona Park: Verona, NJ”
Tag Archives: Dog-friendly
Hemlock Falls: West Orange, NJ
Hemlock Falls is on a 5.8 mile loop in South Mountain Reservation, but there’s a 1.2 mile toddler-friendly shortcut. It was easy enough for my 2.5 year old and 4.5 year old to do (with snack bribes and plenty of stops to throw rocks in the brook along the way). Big plus: It’s in aContinue reading “Hemlock Falls: West Orange, NJ”
Anderson Park: Montclair, NJ
Anderson Park is the perfect place to teach a child how to ride a bike, scooter, or skateboard. It’s also stroller-friendly and wheelchair accessible. There is a small 3/5 mile flat, paved loop with plenty of benches for snacking or resting, and a large field that’s great for picnicking and ballgames. You can even bringContinue reading “Anderson Park: Montclair, NJ”
Fall at Mill Creek Marsh: Secaucus, NJ
Mill Creek Marsh is our favorite lazy day escape. We reserve it for days when I’m too tired to drive very far, but still want to get outside and run/walk. There are two short and flat 3/4 mile trails (North Tidal Pool Trail and South Tidal Pool Trail) with educational signage posted throughout describing theContinue reading “Fall at Mill Creek Marsh: Secaucus, NJ”
Watchung Reservation Sensory Friendly Trail: Mountainside, NJ
We visited Watchung Reservation’s Sensory Friendly Trail today with our 2 year old and 4 year old after hearing such wonderful things about it from other local families. Wow, what a cool place! It’s wheelchair accessible, stroller friendly, offers educational signage with audio and Braille, and is a short little 0.3 mile loop just perfectContinue reading “Watchung Reservation Sensory Friendly Trail: Mountainside, NJ”
Autumn at The New Jersey Botanical Garden
We were about a mile into a whimsical nature walk through secret gardens, surrounded by trees dressed for autumn, when dozens of leaves started dancing above us, fluttering gracefully down like rain. Time stood still for a moment as we stood on tip toes and eagerly reached to catch them before they blanketed the coolContinue reading “Autumn at The New Jersey Botanical Garden”
Fall at Cheesequake State Park: Matawan, NJ
We visited Hooks Creek Lake at Cheesequake State Park in the summer, but didn’t make it past the sand pit with our enthusiastic little diggers, so we were excited to explore more of the park last weekend. Autumn has most certainly arrived here, and the trees are dressed as stoplights, shining brightly in crimson, gold,Continue reading “Fall at Cheesequake State Park: Matawan, NJ”
Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve: Franklin Lakes, NJ
Kayak rentals. Chipmunks scurrying. Picnic tables expertly positioned in bucolic settings. Paved and gravel trails with lake viewing platforms. What a gem. We discovered Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve in late July and loved it. The stroller-friendly/wheelchair accessible trail is short, about 0.25 mile, but we just lapped it back and forth, picnicked, and watched chipmunksContinue reading “Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve: Franklin Lakes, NJ”
Richard Rutkowski Park: Bayonne, NJ
Situated adjacent to the Hackensack Riverfront Walkway and the expansive Stephen R. Gregg Park (both of which I also recommend), Richard Rutkowski Park is perfectly suited for leisurely strolls, biking, scooter riding, picnics, and bird watching. There are (2) quarter mile paths to explore – a paved and largely shaded biking path and a mostlyContinue reading “Richard Rutkowski Park: Bayonne, NJ”
Natirar Park: Far Hills, NJ
Spanning 4 towns (Peapack, Gladstone, Far Hills, and Bedminster), Natirar Park is HUGE and traverses hundreds of acres of fields, meadows, and woodlands, offering river access, paved and gravel walking trails, and plenty of space for running, biking, scooting, ball playing, and picnics while socially distancing with ease. Fun facts: Natirar is the reverse spellingContinue reading “Natirar Park: Far Hills, NJ”