The New Jersey State Museum was a pleasant surprise. First of all, I had no idea we had a State…read moreMuseum. I only happen to find out, because I had tickets to an event in the State Museum Auditorium. The museum is free and on weekends parking is easy in the free adjacent lot. There is also a Planetarium, which has a $10 admission. The museum is housed on three floors with exhibits illustrating some of New Jersey's history. There is a section with artwork, some Native American history, a natural history area with dinosaurs, history of Trenton, and much more.

This place is a gem. We didn't know about the free parking but the staff did inform us so we will…read moreuse that next time. They had a great exhibit for the 150 year anniversary of the USA, interesting to compare to 250 years. Staff was friendly. Easy to walk, gift shop had great items and affordable. Tables out front to eat at. The upstairs archives collection is so cool. The museum goes on and on. Love how some exhibits are annual and then they have some rotating ones. It's free to go. They just charge for the planetarium or you can do a member membership, which actually is pretty reasonable because you get reciprocal access to other museums in other states.

These days it can be rare to find staff that are truly engaged and/or happy to serve others,…read moreregardless of where you choose to spend your money and time (restaurant, museum, etc.). This place was an exception. Every staff member we encountered, from the ticketing/check-in clerks, to the dig site guides, to those positioned throughout the exhibits, were genuinely friendly and proactive in engaging us. Our group consisted of two moms and two kids under 7, and we spent time at the dig site (on a particularly hot day) along with the museum. At the dig site several guides came up to us and offered personal insight and aid, checking to see if we had any questions and taking care to ensure we each found something interesting. One of the guides, Jeff, took time to passionately inform us about the details of different specimens, encouraged us in our digging, and helped us find a beautiful shark tooth. Another, Chris, kindly redirected us to another good spot to dig, then stuck around and produced several cool finds which he gave us to take home. Every interaction felt like it was an overflow of genuine excitement from the staff; it's clear they enjoy what they do, know their subject matter, and are eager to share with others in the spirit of learning. They also were patient and friendly enough to engage the kids. The grounds themselves were also beautifully curated; a thoughtful integration of natural landscape and native plant installations (like blueberry bushes) that felt tasteful and balanced. We loved the rustic material choices of the museum's facade, and the playground was the coolest design we'd ever seen. Inside, the lobby was bright, cheerful, clean, and full of yet more friendly staff that were eager to greet and guide us to next steps. The exhibits were engaging, with different interactive elements for kids, and a game they could play to rack up points as they visited various stations. The info plaques felt just right, not overwhelming. Downstairs you could peer into a real, active lab with ongoing restorations going on, and enjoy many kid friendly exhibits like a room full of interesting critters complete with a touch tank. The layout flowed well and felt like just the right size for a fun wander after an hour roasting in the sun without leaving you with the info fatigue that's so common in bigger museums like The Met or Museum of Natural History. The cafe had a nice selection of drinks and gluten free snacks which was appreciated. We didn't end up eating or visiting the gift shop based on where the kids were at by the end of the trip, but they both looked enticing. All in all, we can't wait to come back with more family. It was really a joy to explore every aspect of this place, and totally worth the 1.5+ hour drive.

Went here for the first time today and had a pretty good time. They take a different approach to a…read moremuseum as far as having a tracking card for you to view content as you walk through the museum. The grounds are interesting (you're able to dig for fossils, which we didn't do, and their playground had a neat play structure). The only two things I wished they did was having a couple shaded areas, like in the playground or on the walkways, and I wish they had a card recycle option for when your visit was over. Would recommend people to come and check it out if you haven't been.

This museum is a treasure in Mercer County. Nestled in the middle of beautiful Cadwalader Park,…read morethe musuem has beautiful exhibits and a fantastic gift shop. A great afternoon out for the family or when you just need a little quiet time for yourself. Enjoy the musuem. Museum entrance is still free of charge.

Today is the 4th of July . I saw that the museum was open…read moretoday, a perfect time. Parking is close and if you prefer elevator to stairs you are IN LUCK. As I approached the covered front patio there were folks on the chairs after their visit just enjoying the cool breeze and contemplating their visit together. You are in the historic Boone Farm after all. It seems fitting. Welcoming. Make your way to the front desk -at your left. You can get some good information . Get your map. Lots to see even there. A huge Selma Burk relief sculpture. Seems quite fitting. She represents so much of the story. Her Bucks County connection and historical connection! She designed the dime in your pocket. The museum honors the African American experience and especially locally. You have the opportunity to learn so many precious stories. BIG BEN! William & Daisy Meyers! Local folks! Even Fredrick Douglas came to BucksCounty & 300+ people came to Newtown Hall, to hear him speak. Harriet Tubman came to and through Bucks County. Learn these stories and so much more. It's quite amazing. Today there were oodles of docents. What an opportunity to learn from them some of which are accomplished authors . I spent two hours and I really could have spent more time. Thanks to all the hardworking people who made this museum possible. Past, present and future. Very inspiring in so many ways.

Visited the new location. Excellent experience this weekend. Lots of history about the Underground…read moreRailroad, Black History and the general Langhorne area. It all ties together. Fresh and newly renovated environment. Staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. Giving you personal insights about their research. Admission is very reasonable. A must for the bucket list.

It's an impressive ship - once the flagship of the US Navy fleet, especially during World War II…read more It's a living monument. The parking lot near the aquarium is just a 5-10 minute walk from here and as of this writing, only $10 to park for the whole day. If you're a military history nerd, or if you are fascinated by engineering, this ship is worth a tour. We had a Philadelphia City Pass, which allowed for us to do a self-guided tour, which was perfect for us managing three kids. The self-guided tour has a painted green line that you can follow and stop at different areas of interest. Some spaces are quite cramped, which gives you an appreciation for the thousands of sailors who were posted here over the decades. Inside the main part of the ship, there are many plaques highlighting major missions and theaters where the New Jersey played a major role. While I feel a way about us humans building monstrous machines with the purpose of destroying each other, I can't help but feel awe at this incredible feat of human engineering and logistics to keep such a floating citadel running. A great piece of history to experience.

Five stars for a battleship may sound like too many. It is, unless the battleship is the New…read moreJersey. My son and I have taken to volunteering aboard her recently. We spend our time elbow-deep in blueprints, cataloging the skeleton of this steel leviathan. He comes home covered in dust and joy, which is all a father really wants. The crew of staff and volunteers on board are absurdly knowledgeable. They know every bolt, every rivet, every ghost story. They speak with the authority of engineers and the reverence of monks. This is not a floating pile of history. This is a cathedral to the twentieth century and to the people who tried to steer it. Walking her decks is like strolling through a very loud poem written in armor and oil. The museum does not sanitize or sentimentalize. It informs. It remembers. It honors. There are four different self-guided tour routes available, each with unique portions of the ship to explore. I suggest you take all 4 if you have the stamina and dexterity to navigate the ladders. If you are the sort of person who ever wondered how a nation flexes its will across oceans or how a young man from Nebraska could end up staring at the sky through a periscope hatch, the New Jersey is waiting for you. She is not quiet, even when at rest.

A great place to put visitors in the mindspace of the many peoples (indigenous, European settlers,…read moreand both free and enslaved black people) that lived in eastern North America at the time of the American Revolution. There is a great sequence for walking through to experience the context before the war. We get to see the various groups that comprised the populations of the 13 colonies. There are rooms where you can experience a battle, places to hear people speaking, including members of the Iroquois Confederacy debating which side to take during the war. While military exploits are covered, it is an experience that ultimately centers on the people. Appropriately, the final room shows photos of people who lived through the Revolution and long enough to see the advent of photography. The whole space could span hours to visit and experience everything. With small children, we had to rush the second half, but we enjoyed it all. I believe there is a play room for small kids. Check-in is easy (we had a Philadelphia City Pass) and you can leave and return at your leisure once they give you a wristband. Would absolutely come back.

I love popping in here when I'm in old city. The first weekend of the month is free if you have a…read moreBank of America credit/debit card. I walk through the new exhibit on the declaration of independence. It was very interesting and I learned a few new facts. I didn't get a chance to see the regular exhibit, but I'll go back again to see those. The children's area that was previously in the basement has moved upstairs to the ground floor. I didn't even know they had one. It's very nicely done with a lot of hands-on activities for the Littles. The gift shop is nice with some unique items related to history. There's also a café. The bathrooms are our being also very clean. The lobby is a grand space the grand staircase. It's nice to sit in. The entrance to the museum has a nice big space out front with some concrete sort of benches that you can sit on

A great yearly event that hasn't been reviewed much lately. Judging by the crowd it appears to be a…read morevery popular event. There is live music, a craft, beer, garden, food trucks and crab fenders. There's a bunch of things to do for the kids. What I thought was cute was that you can kiss a pet for a dollar I believe it's the first weekend of every October.

Take a trip back 300 years to a date when we were still a colony in the British Empire, when many…read moreestablished towns grew as trading posts and became horse feeding stops between large city designations. Such is the humble beginnings of Allentown New Jersey, halfway between New York & Philadelphia. This was all before Snookie & MTV trashed all things Jersey and created late night TV fodder for all those talking heads, despite the fact that those Jersey Shore invaders were not Jerzee natives. In 1706 Nathan Allen bought much of the farmland and built 3 mills and the area was known as Allen's Town, and morphed into today's Allentown. George Washington slept here on his way to Crossing the Delaware. That building is still on Main St. So many historical little goodies for you history buffs. Now, for the fest right on Main St. The 2nd weekend of October every year. The weather makes all the difference, ... get a nice sunny day and you can take in all the charm of this lively little town and enjoy and stuff your face with your favorite Jersey tasty treat. Pork roll-n-cheese, sausage-n-peppers, sweet local corn, Fried clams/clam rolls, Zeppoles (Jersey's fried dough with powdered sugar, so bad and soooo good) and then every local restaurant sets up shop to show off their signature dishes. When you're done prepare to roll out smiling with a satisfied pallet! The Civil War reenactment in the adjacent park is very well done and Nerdvana for us History geeks :-) Definitely a cool stop on fall day!

Wonderful venue The…read morearchitecture is outstanding, a test I ent to 100 year old attention to detail. Every seat has a good sightlines and the sound was excellent. The concession line moved quickly. There is a large parking lot with free parking. The staff was friendl5and helpful.

I really enjoyed going to the scottish rite auditorium for a concert. there are no bad seats…read morebecause of the smaller size of the venue, seats are a tad stiff, but it has a lot of charm otherwise. the people who work there are friendly and helpful, there are beverages and snacks available. parking is right on site and free. pretty refreshing these days.