Upper Bucks secret is out. Part of the Noximixon State Park. Nice elevated hiking trail with a real…read moreamazing formation at the top. You will need to hike yourself to reap the rewards. 20 -30 minute hike to the formation. Must See!

** 4-Star Review for John A. Phillips Cricket Ground**…read more John A. Phillips is a very well-maintained cricket ground with one of the better outfields I've seen lately. It's rare to find grounds these days with even a little bit of grass, and this one delivers -- the outfield is lush, making it a great place to play. The ground itself is huge, which makes clearing the boundary quite a task -- lots of running involved! The AstroTurf wicket has a nice bounce to it, which adds a good challenge for both batters and bowlers. Parking is decent but a little walk away from the actual field. The one downside is the lack of shade -- on a hot day, it can get brutal with almost no trees around. Also, no restrooms close by, which is definitely something to keep in mind. Overall, a solid ground for competitive cricket with a few areas that could make it even better. Four stars!

cute small park with some outdoor things for the kids baseball field basketball little gym and…read morebathrooms when they're working

Beautiful park with kids playgrounds, a nice lake, and we'll paved trails. You can get a nice…read morelittle hike in, go fishing, and take your kids to the playground in the same visit. This park has the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen in a park. There's also free Wi-Fi in this park. Legendary stuff. I've been to hundreds of parks and never saw free Wi-Fi offered. This is now my favorite park.

Located in Mountainside, New Jersey, this park is long and thin along with the three lakes it…read morereally encompasses, with a single road that follows and winds its way through the park alongside the three, long thin lakes. There are areas for lake paddle boating and a dog run, park areas to enjoy as grassy or snow covered depending on the season, and some parking, and there a few public bathrooms. It is just off the busy Route 22, on the eastbound side. Saw a few folks fishing, and some of the bikers slowly winding their way through the park. Not a bad local park to enjoy a nice day out.

This is a very cute place to go fishing!…read more They have a very large dock area for fishing with tons of benches. Even if a good amount of people are here to fish there is still plenty of space to spread out. I also love that there is a large playground area and very clean bathrooms. The park ranger was extremely friendly and had bandaids for us when my 3 year old clipped her finger with a fish hook (ooof). Plenty of parking and overall a fun and easy way to take my little kids fishing for the first time.

REVIEW IS FOR CABIN CAMPING…read more Whenever we need a little glamping getaway, we rent a cabin here. It's an easy drive, the staff are all very helpful, and the cabins are well maintained. Our cabin came with two rooms. The front room came with a full? maybe queen sized bed with a mattress. The back room had two bunk beds to accommodate a total of four people. Plenty of electrical sockets if you want to add an extra heater or fan. The front room has an AC unit. No bathroom, no kitchen. You get a nice sized spot facing mostly forest with a fire pit and a picnic table, which is great for cooking and eating. They also provide an outdoor spigot for non-potable water and a garbage bin. Easy walk to the very clean bathrooms where you can grab a hot shower if you want. Definitely book ahead.

Love this park and it's hiking trails. One of the trails has fitness stations which provide a great…read moreworkout. Plenty of bbq areas with grills and benches. If you want to have a gathering, they have a spot that you can reserve. Bathrooms are very clean and orderly. Playground has been updated with newer equipment.

This is my favorite park in the area, I absolutely love it. There are legitimate hiking trails, an…read moreexercise trail, several playgrounds, tennis courts, clean bathrooms and best of all, farm animals :). You can catch some wildlife as well. When I discovered it I was shocked I didn't find this gem sooner.

This is my family's favorite spot for a leisure stroll. We'd almost always come for a walk when the…read moreweather is nice, especially after a big meal. It allows for all sorts of activities in a compact 71 acre space. This is also a great spot to view the fall foliage. There are 2 entrances. The main entrance is off Pond Rd. There is a side entrance off Robertsville Rd but that parking lot can accommodate only about half a dozen cars. A typical walk is a round trip from between the 2 entrances and you'll rack up about 2 miles. There is an excursion trail around the outside boundaries of the park beginning at the Robertsville entrance. With that you can make up 3 miles which was what I used to do when I was training for the varsity cross-country team. The pond is good for boating and fishing and is stocked with trout every year. The playground is right by the pond and is a great photo spot for your kids. There is a stage and a nice-sized pavilion in front of it. Perfect for a summer concert or play. There are benches and picnic tables throughout. In my most recent visit (Oct'21) I was pleasantly surprised to find that they've added a large number of brand new benches and picnic tables made with recycled material. Also, the parking lot at the main entrance has been redone and doubled the capacity. For these surprises I'm bumping the rating up to 5 stars. PS. If you're into mountain biking, I'll let you in on a local secret. There is a technical course adjacent to the southeast side of the park and you can access it at the end of Brookwood Dr.

Definitely not the best maintained park in the area but still a hidden gem. Tucked away just behind…read morethe hustle and bustle on route 9 lies this picturesque little park. There is something for everyone to enjoy here. Bring your canoes or kayaks. There is a boat launch near the entrance. You can fish here, the lake is stocked with fish. We have yet to catch anything but plants and a snapping turtle. There is a nice trail along the lake to walk or bike. There is a little playground too but this is probably the worst maintained area of the park. There are no bathrooms here but there are porta potties. Every time I've been here when it's warm the ice cream truck has come in here. Other than that there are no concession stands. Just pack a lunch and enjoy at one of the picnic tables.

I am a local of this area and went to Allaire for the Duck Derby this past weekend. I must say: I…read moreloved it!!! The blacksmith shop was so interesting and the employee was super knowledgeable when I asked question. I felt really welcomed and I learned a lot. The event itself was fun and well organized. I enjoyed bringing my dog, the free glitter tattoos, and the atmosphere. I loved watching the ducks race down the creek, it was so fun!

Such a beautiful trail for hiking and biking we just so happened to pass it and go back to venture!…read moreThe beautiful little bridges and such are so pretty! The pathways are nice and clear and it's not very buggy! I can't wait to go back to do the whole trail!

Love this place! Different entrances, beautiful scenery and wildlife, very well maintained. Great…read moretrails, nice place to be in touch with nature & our dog loves it as much as we do. Warning--it's very wet after snow & rain.

My favorite place to walk through. So peaceful and well maintained. Occasional water views and easy…read moreto follow trails.

My girls had a blast here. The splash pad facility is so impressive. There are two huge play areas…read morewith tons of sprinklers, buckets and water tables. One area is a little bit better for smaller kids so it's nice that they have two different options. The best part about the splash pad is the reservation system. You must make a reservation online, and you have a 1.5 hour time slot. Splash pads can get packed on a hot day, so this was a great way to control the crowd. Once your time is up there's an enormous playground right next door. There is so much to see and do that you could easily spend hours here without getting bored. Overall this is a fantastic township recreation area. It's clean and well-maintained, and there are endless play options for kids.

This is one of the cleanest parks I have walked through in Monmouth County. There are trash bins…read moreeverywhere and 2.3 miles of paved trails for you and your family to enjoy. The trails are perfect for walking your furry dogs, in-line skating, cycling, easy walking and pushing strollers. There is also a repair station with a tire pump and tools found near the basketball courts. The Challenger Place has finally finished and is a designed playground for kids who are blind or visually impaired. Their sport courts include tennis and basketball courts, as well as an in-line skating rink. The athletic field is available for rental and may be used for baseball games but not for practices. I have heard they have swimming pools but I personally did not see it. Instead, I saw a spray ground (water-enhanced playground) which was to open in mid-May but given our current situation with the COVID-19 outbreak, this is doubtful for mid-May 2020 due to the pandemic restrictions. Normally, it would open mid-May through early September. I would imagine the busiest time to be there with kids is during the height of summer because summer camps are held there by the Monmouth County Park System and Challenged Youth Sports from Middletown.

This park is filled with wonderful treasures! They have held so much within this park, I don't know…read morewhere to begin but I will say, there is something for everyone! They have a great field for baseball. Please note, Freehold Little League is held here so if there is a game, parking will be hard. They also have many playgrounds for kids. They seem to have themed playgrounds so that if you are meeting other parents, just say, "we'll convene at the blue or pirate ship playground" and everyone will find it. They have a fenced in skateboard ramps for tweens and up which I personally think is a fabulous idea. The ramps are spaced and curved only for skateboards. Longboards should definitely stay only on the paved paths where they belong. Speaking of trails, their trails are mixed between paved and dirt. You can safely go on a light walking trail here either solo or as you are walking your dogs. They also provide a few stations with plastic bags for the owners to clean up after their dogs. They also have basketball courts, dog runs, picnic areas, a spray ground on hot summer's days and my favorite, a sports field with obstacle courses. Perfect for the bigger kids with lots of energy and to build coordination. I went in March where things are just somewhat starting to bloom. I can only imagine the splendor in late June where everything will be fully bloomed and the grass will be lush. I look forward to revisiting this park, especially when it's Freehold Township Day where there will be plenty of fireworks, rides and the Vets car show!

FREEHOLD: Take your dog for a walk on the fitness trail that loops around the park for about 3…read moremiles and alternates between pavement and dirt with views of baseball and soccer fields and plenty of greenery. The path is mostly flat with a mix of sunny and shady areas with water fountains to cool down. Also, check out the baseball field on the east side of the park that is popular for some off-leash play in a fenced area (be sure to make sure all gates are shut).