Red bank is a great town. It has just about everything great shopping excellent restaurants and a…read morenice walkway along the Shrewsbury river.

A fantastic location for the 4th of July fireworks over the water!!…read moreIt was recommended by my hotel, Molly P. Lots of benches and space to see the fantastic view!! Clean and open! Very beautiful to see the boats passing by ! I loved my time here!!

A lovely park next to the library…read more Well maintained and a gorgeous view of the water!! Public bathrooms here. (Pay homage to two local people who passed away on 9/11. A beautiful tribute. ) Several murals to enjoy. In the center of town. Really lovely and thoughtful town.

RED BANK: a fun place for your pup to run around with great views is Riverside Gardens Park, off of…read moreWest Front Street! Walk along the sidewalk path or take your dog off-leash and play fetch in the great lawn. Follow the path down to the waterfront for close-up views of the Navesink River! So pretty and peaceful! This is the same location for Movies in the Park where dogs are also allowed! Bring a blanket or chair! Movie begins at dusk and food donations are accepted for a food drive

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.

Amazing park! Children's park, boat launch ramp, and fishing peer. The people there are very…read morefriendly and the views are amazing

Mantoloking Bridge Pier Park and Fishing Pier is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. With ample…read moreparking available, accessing the park is hassle-free. The fishing pier offers breathtaking views and a serene atmosphere, perfect for a relaxing day out. Whether you're an avid angler or simply seeking tranquility by the water, this park delivers an unforgettable experience. With its convenient location and picturesque setting, Mantoloking Bridge Pier Park is a gem worth visiting time and time again. Crabbing here always yields results and to the North is Point pleasant and to the South Toms River/Seaside so if you want to hit the shore and dine driving is easy, access from Rt. 35 or off 70 From Brick, a nice way to spend an afternoon and there are restrooms on site.

Gorgeous, hidden, great scenic overview. Ample parking, seconds off RT36. Worth a detour!read more

While it is not a destination, it is surely worth a stop when in the area. For some it has far…read moregreater significance than it does for others. Located right off of highway Route 36 and about a mile from the Historic Twin Lighthouse, Mount Mitchell affords fantastic views of the bay, Atlantic Ocean, Manhattan, Freedom Tower, Verrazano Bridge, Statin Island and Brooklyn. Bring your binoculars or use the coin operated viewing machines. The best photo opportunities require a 500+ mm lens. It's a small park with manicured grounds, paving and a small but nice playground with apparatus to keep the kids entertained. There is a well done 9/11 memorial to those who lost their lives in the twin towers that day. The memorial includes the various towns and the names and ages of those who died that day. There is a time line on the pavers which indicates when the first tower was hit, the second tower, the Pentagon and the plane crash in Pa. .Information plaques can be read concerning the area and Mt. Mitchill. It's only 500 feet off of Route 36 and well worth the 15 minute stop. Locals consider it a romantic spot.

It's that time of the year again! The Garden State Parkway is flooded with cars driving down to the…read moreJersey Shore all summer long. Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park is one of my favorite destinations for an enjoyable beach day. If you prefer a quieter and more peaceful type of beach experience, this is the right place for you. Hours are from 8AM-9:30PM. Guarded swimming is from 10AM-5PM. Admission is $10 per person and parking is $10 per vehicle. While this price may seem hefty for some, I think it's worth it. They have a huge parking lot with immediate walking access to the beach. You won't have to worry about finding street parking like many other Jersey beaches. Anyone ages 17 and under get free entry. Military and veterans (including their spouse and children) get free admission and parking. I wish they provided a discount for senior citizens. After 5pm, it's free for all individuals. What I love the most about this beach is how clean and quiet it is. You can tell that the park rangers take very good care of it. There isn't any trash laying around and the sand is clean. It's never overly crowded, so there's plenty of space to lay around. Most patrons are respectful and well behaved. They don't provide chair or umbrella service, so you have to bring your own. No, the water isn't completely crystal clear..... lol but as of lately, it's been looking a lot more blue, clearer, and prettier :-) There are designated areas for surfing. Waves can be rough and high tide is no joke, so don't sink okayyyyy. There are bathrooms and showers available. Other than the beach, there's a large playground, skateplex, and volleyball areas. The only major con is that there's not much else to do. There isn't a boardwalk, so you won't have access to a lot of food, bars, shops, and entertainment. They have one food/snack pavilion that offers your traditional greasy American fare - burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, etc. Breakfast bagels and sandwiches are served until 11AM. There are plenty of picnic tables and umbrellas around to enjoy your food. If you want more of a food scene, the Long Branch Pier Village is literally a 3-5 minute drive away. See yaaaaaaaaaa at the shore!

What a great family, friendly beach. As others have mentioned, there is a parking lot right on site…read morewith immediate access to the beach for only $10 per vehicle. And $10 more per adult. If you have a car full of kids it's a great deal. Unlike many other of the jersey beaches that do not have food without a big boardwalk this one has a concession stand where you can grab snacks, ice cream, burgers, fries etc. Also showers and bathrooms. There is also a playground area however at this point it has been torn down as they are revamping it. You can also choose to sit closer to the hotels which are down towards the right where you can take advantage of the staff walking around selling alcoholic beverages to sip on for the beachgoers. However, the main part of the beach is super quiet with no riffraff and loud music blasting. Just families and friends enjoy enjoying company and the water. I did not notice any trash in the sand or in the ocean, which is a huge plus. Lifeguards were very on top of it as when we went a couple of days ago there was a strong current, and people kept getting swept off to the side of the flags. Will definitely be returning over and over again this summer.

Cute little playground in Newtown. The facilities are fairly new and there's all sorts of stuff for…read morekids to do; swings, multiple slides climbing area, you name it. There's plenty of parking nearby and there's also an area with picnic tables, bathrooms and a soda machine.

What a fun park! This park is beautiful. I love how the playground has a soft, pliable play area…read moreinstead of wood chips what a great idea. There is a ton for kids to do as well as adults. I love how there is a paved trail that I can take my daughter and do a couple laps around. I'm so happy I found this park. I've been twice in one week already.

Beautiful park! Great for people of all ages and abilities. There are multiple trails for bikers,…read morejoggers, people with strollers, walkers and kiddos. Deeper into the park there is a lake where people bring canoes! I love that this park has so many layers. Even when there are many people there, using the playground, hanging out at the lake, hiking, etc., it feels like you're all alone because there are so many spots for people to be! It never feels crowded like other parks which make me feel like there was no point in going (I go to escape crowds!). It can get a little swampy after the rain, so wear suitable shoes. I slid down a hill once and my shoes saved the day. Lots of winding trails and water views, so bring a camera!

Named after the social welfare reformer Geraldine Thompson (who was an influential woman in NJ…read morepolitics and history way back in the day when Republicans actually believed that the government should be proactive in ameliorating social ills), this park features a beautiful restored estate home, beautifully maintained landscaping, and numerous activities for the public. This park is simply elegant and an oasis away from the world. Thompson had a long career of political activism and public service on behalf of prison reform, public health and juvenile justice in New Jersey, and was a generous benefactor of psychiatric services and college scholarships for the needy. Geraldine Thompson was active for many years in the state's Republican Party, and, in 1923, became the first female New Jersey delegate to a Republican National Convention. She shared a great many social welfare interests with her lifelong friend, Eleanor Roosevelt. During her later life she played an influential role in preserving Island Beach as a state park, and promoted the conservation of wildlife habitat. This park is a truly fitting monument to this woman's memory, and it is thankfully a treasure which the public can utilize for recreation and the elevation of everyday life.

Great park for 2-5 year old. Bathrooms are on site. Benches and grass area for picnicsread more

This is THE destination for families with young children in Scotch Plains. At first blush, that…read moreseems crazy, as the park is situated directly off of the busy Westfield Road. But, as one of the only fully fenced parks in the neighborhood, it has a fantastic setup to control the chaos that is the toddler phase. The park features a couple sets of swings, a few small areas with interactive pieces for smaller children, and a red merry-go-round that survived the 2023 park renovation. While I wouldn't recommend this park for older kids or those in the upper grades of elementary school, it's a perfect way to kill an afternoon with littler gremlins.

This playground is one of my favorite in the area. It seems to be on the newer side, as the…read moreequipment is in great shape. There's an area for younger kids, and an area for older kids; and both sections have robust options. (That's not always the case!) There's also ample shade here. I cannot stress how delightful that is, especially in the summer. There's an area of musical instruments, which I've seen at a handful of other playgrounds, but, again, it's in pretty great shape here. The sand area is relatively clean. At least for now! It's also close to downtown in case you have any errands you need to do on your way.

This is a very nice playground. It's an interactive space with plenty of different areas to explore…read morefor children that may have different interests. There are musical instruments, swings and multiple structures to climbs, as well as a small sand park area. Many of the structurs have ages printed on them. I would suggest that parents definitely watch smaller kids on some of the structures so they don't hurt themselves. There's a structure with rolling pieces and I would definitely see a kid falling and hurting themselves or getting a finger pinched while moving across. The swingset has swings for different stages and abilities which I love. People form the community gave back to build this wonderful park and it's a great addition to the neighborhood. Be careful walking across the street. The multiple stop signs make drivers impatient and they speed up almost as if to scare you out of the way, despite rushing to another stop sign.