We've done the Bronx Zoo, the Flushing Meadows Zoo, even the Philadelphia Zoo, but the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo is my favorite by far and I will be more than happy to tell you starting with the FREE multi level parking lot (not sure if this was just because it was a weekday but it was free and that was a nice start). This is a HUGE zoo, you will be walking for hours, I strongly recommend comfortable shoes even hiking shoes as some areas require you to traverse up hills. You will be here from beginning to close because there is that much to cover for the day. If you are pushing a stroller you will get a full core and hamstring workout I assure you. Start with the train ride around the Giraffe exhibits with all the horns and railroad engineering to go with it. The Africa Adenture, Amazing Asia, Australia , Reptile, and Birds Exhibits are all wonderful. The carousel is painfully nostalgic and reminiscent of the good old days but I'm a good way, give it a go... you'll be glad that you did. The Zanzibar and Cafe is a perfect spot for lunch (no outside food allowed inside) but you do get a meal for 4 for about 60 dollars which isn't too bad for Zoo food. For $3 you can feed the birds with a feeder stick . Pony rides for the kids are also very nice to watch. They have a playground that is prehistoric themed and spacious (please watch your children, there tends to be many kids in this park some bigger than others, so if you have little ones be watchful). Face paint options for the kids $15 they can pick their design and parents watch from the side of the booth. For $5 dollars you can feed a Girafee like a FULL GROWN GIRAFFE , face to face (this night be a bit much for small children as the size of the gentle giant is immense up closer i must admit. After a long day of walking, nothing wraps up the day better then a stop by Patron Food Truck for a nice fresh smores funnel cake and ice cold peach sweet tea. We will definitely be back its worth a second go and plus we can all use the steps. Behold the Turtle Back Zoo in the photos attached.

A visit here is a truly special experience. You will tour several large buildings full of the actual relics of the earliest days of industrial invention in America. When Edison died, his sons mothballed most of the items that were at this property thereby saving them for posterity and history. See the original phonograph, hear a 100 year old phonograph played, walk through the chemistry building where Edison spent many years of his life while looking at the actual items he and his team worked with. His office alone is worth the visit as it takes you back in time to start your tour of the large workspace where metal and wood were fabricated into whatever was dreamed up in the lab. The big black building is a recreation of the original movie studio, where gems, like "Boxing Cats" were filmed and can be seen on a little TV. Friendly volunteers and rangers are happy to welcome visitors. A leisurely tour of the laboratory buildings took two hours. The beautiful grounds of Edison's mansion (Eastmont) is open, but the building itself is closed. PARKING is free and directly across the street from the main gate to the laboratory complex. There is a second lot half a block up the road (the sign makes the second lot easier to spot). Either location is safe and convenient.

Went for a hike on July 4 with the kids. It’s a very convenient location from NYC, literally get off the NJ transit at Millburn stop ($10/one way) and walk over to the entrance. They have many routes and can be challenging, the hike is nice, passing little creeks and falls. Hopefully we can hike all the way up to the zoo next time. A perfect 1 day trip from NYC, and downtown is also around the corner to get coffee and food, very accessible location for an outdoor fun day. And it was our first ever summer hike, though not as pretty as an autumn day colors, but greenery is beneficial too and not be stuck to the phone/scrolling/social medias. Highly recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an excellent experience visiting this movie theater. Everything was very clean, and the staff was super friendly and helpful. I was really impressed that they have a bar and a great food menu — something you don’t see in every theater. Honestly, I don’t understand why the current rating is so low because our visit was definitely a 5-star experience. We’ll definitely be back!

Eagle Rock is a beautiful place to visit. The view is stunning, the memorial is touching and the landscape is manicured. There are trails to hike and a fancy restaurant on top of the mountain overlooking Montclair all the way to the New York Skyline.

It is excellent picnic place. We get 02 and 04 passengers paddle boats. Excellent walking path all around pond. Seating arrangements for eating food. Green loan. Free huge parking near it