There's something for everyone in this little park. If you want to stroll around and see the…read morePassaic River at it's best, or worst (depending on how you want to look at things).The Red Bull soccer Stadium is also right across the river here and all the brand new apartments in Harrison the town accross. The park has tennis courts, baseball stadium, basketball court, soccer field, runners track and a little kids playground as well. The park is fairly clean and you can even watch the teachers take the pre-schoolers on a little walk as well weekly. In my opinion this is a great example that with little changes and everyone taking pride in their community the city of Newark can be restored to the great city it was back in the time of the great Industrial Boom.

Riverbank Park in the Ironbound has a number of sports-designated areas. There are a basketball…read morecourt, a soccer field with AstroTurf, a baseball field, lighted tennis courts, and a small track. A playground and fieldhouse are also in this park by the Passaic River. If you are not into sports, it's worth visiting at least once if you are into history. It's on the National Register of Historic Places because Riverbank Park was designed by the Olmsted brothers. It's a nice park for sports-aficionados and history buffs.

THE GOOD -----------------…read more+ Large, scenic park with LOTS and lots and lots of cherry blossoms (more than in Washington D.C.!) for viewing during Cherry Blossom season. + On specific days, during the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, there are special events - such as Family Day, Bloomfest - which include the presence of food trucks and activities (bounce castles, music) for kids. + Trails are easily walkable by people of all ages. + There is a clean, large playground, basketball courts towards the southeast end of the park. + A majority of the park encompasses a lake and a pond, which makes the walking very serene. + Parking is allowed inside of the park along the roads, so feel free to drive into it instead of parking outside of the park. THE NOT SO GOOD ----------------------------- - On those verrrrry popular days to visit (e.g., weekends during the Cherry Blossom Festival), parking can be chaotic inside of the park, so come early in the morning and bring your patience. MIXED THOUGHTS ---------------------------- = Nada. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = Nada.

Did you know, Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey, has the largest single collection in the…read moreUnited States, with about 5,300 trees in 18 varieties. April is the time to go as they are in their peak bloom season. You will be rewarded with beautiful and scenic walking trails and picnic lunches under cherry blossoms. The park runs its annual Cherry Blossom Festival as well as multiple events such as the Cherry Blossom Bike Race Challenge, and the Cherry Blossom 10K run that happened last Sunday, April 12th. The weather was excellent, and there was plenty of community pride as everyone showed up. You can also be a spectator, should you choose to, if you don't want to partake in the run. Family Day will be taking place on April 18th. For those who wish to take in the scenery only, the Cherry Blossom Welcome Center renovation has been completed since last Fall of 2023. Inside, there are comfortable bathrooms, an artificial but exceptional-looking year-round cherry blossom tree in full bloom, and a souvenir center where you can purchase sweatshirts, t-shirts, etc. Proceeds benefit Branch Brook Park Alliance in care of the park, according to the Branch Brook Park's website. The entire Welcome Center has a modern and open feel throughout the building as it has plenty of natural lighting and high vaulted ceilings. As you enter, to your immediate right, you will find the gallery space with historical displays and a mural depicting the vast collection of cherry blossoms and their history. If you are ever in the area, this is absolutely worth a visit and yes, it is completely free.

5/26/25: We went to visit the Tear Drop Memorial. It's also…read moreknown as the "Tear of Grief". It's located in Harbor View Park at 51 Port Terminal Blvd. Bayonne, NJ. This sculpture is "Absolutely Stunning" in person. It's made from Bronze, Stainless Steel and Steel. In 2006, the Tear Drop was a gift from the people of Russia as a memorial to the victims who died in the terrorist attacks on World Trade Center September 11, 2001 and the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. The Monument was created by Georgian- Russian Artist/Sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. The artist recently passed in April 2025. The Tear Drop Memorial is a "Must See" when visiting the NJ/NY area.

Beautiful memorial…read more 1) It is a must visit if you are around the area. 2) The memorial was build by the Russian Federation for 9/11 tragedy. 3) Lots of parking available.

I always see this as the "hub" before going on a hike in the reservation or perhaps before a fancy…read moreouting to the nearby Highlawn Restaurant. The Memorial is a sort of nook with a nice amount of benches, honorable memorials remembering 9/11 appropriately framed with a great view on New York City in the distance. There is a fair amount of parking and nearby there is a gazebo, field for open play with children and picnics. With that memorial is a good brief history lesson should you come up here accompanying children. Another reason I also call this the hub because although you can park near your desired trail, or outside the restaurant, this can be your first stop before or after going on to do any other activities - hiking or dining. The memorial area always appears to be well kept and visitors seem to do their part as well which is of course appreciated so coming here can be all the more enjoyable.

I'm surprised this doesn't have a page yet. Its a memorial built after 9/11 from one of the…read morehighest points in Montclair that has a terrific view of Manhattan. Its where tons of people went to watch on that fateful day. And for days afterward. Next to the Pavillion, which is a nice place to eat or go to a wedding/event, is this space. It was always there, offering a great view of NYC skyline. Now its a Memorial. Easy parking, its free of course and well landscaped and taken care of. I spent a lot of time in Montclair after 9/11 (after we were allowed to leave the city anyway), and had been coming to the vantage point for years already. Great hiking nearby. It can get windy up here, so be aware of that if coming on a windy day. If you come from the Montclair side you drive up a beautiful road to get here. Great place to come and reflect.

Don't look for this work of art. It's not there. If you were lucky enough to see it, write a…read morereview. It's pretty cool if you stare and stare. Then all of a sudden you realize what you're looking at! My photos are from April 14, 2016. It was a beautiful Spring Day. I am enjoying reminiciing about today during the Arctic Blast!

"Van Gogh's Ear", a public art sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset, is in place at 30 Rockefeller…read morePlaza, right across the street from the entrance to Sak's 5th Ave. The sculpture, by the same duo that brought us the Prada Marfa Store in the middle of the Texas desert, is a tribute to the ready-made style of Marcel Duchamp. The sculpture is a 30 foot tall swimming pool, taken out of its normal context and displayed in its side with a diving board built in at the top. One of my favorite elements are the working lights on the inside left and right of the pool sculpture. Being that it's out of context - a recreational object in the middle of a commercial center - it creates a sense of longing and desire for recreation over industry and gives you an off-kilter feeling (why am I going to work when I could be swimming!). Overall a great piece of colorful public art at placed I a great spot for the perfect season. The piece is on display from April 13th though June 3rd, 2016. Catch it while you can!

The Oculus is a beautiful representation of the New York spirit. It is a shopping center, an…read morearchitectural landmark, a transport hub, and a historic piece honoring NYC. It's a part of New York as much as Grand Terminal or Penn Station is. Oculus gets busy on a daily basis because of all the things I mentioned above. The shops in the Oculus are nice and tend to be on the higher end of a price range. You have a variety of selections from Apple Store to luxury brands. The service at any store is pretty representative of what the Oculus aspires to be; excellence. It's beautiful and bright and at its core, a beacon of hope.

I go through the Oculus almost every day and it has really become part of my routine. It is great…read morefor catching so many different trains and it makes getting around the city feel easy. I usually pass through when I am heading to Eataly or taking the Path, and I always end up stopping for something. I love the yogurt place there and the Häagen Dazs is another favorite. Yesterday I went with my niece and we had such a nice time. We walked around, got ice cream, and did a little window shopping. It was simple and fun, the kind of visit that feels relaxed and unplanned. The whole space is bright, open, and clean, and there are so many stores that you can always find something to look at. It is one of those places where you can grab a treat, pick up something you need, or just stroll for a bit. I never get tired of going through here.

Continuing south through New Jersey and crossing the Newark Bay, we got to cross on the Vincent R…read more Casciano Memorial Bridge. The bridge carries Interstate 78 and links Newark in Essex County to Bayonne in Hudson County. The bridge was completed on April 4, 1956, following years of advocacy led by Assemblyman Vincent R. Casciano, who championed Hudson County's inclusion in the emerging Turnpike network. It is a three-span continuous through-arch design, with a total length of 9,560 feet. Its main span stretches an impressive 1,270 feet, and it offers a clearance of 135 feet above the water to accommodate marine traffic bound for Port Newark. I do not believe that there is a specific toll to cross the bridge but it is part of the toll-regulated section of the New Jersey Turnpike, so you'll be paying for that. The vertical clearance for vehicles is approximately 15 feet, accommodating most commercial and passenger traffic. My Sprinter van cleared it easily. [Review 1150 of 2025 - 177 in New Jersey - 24703 overall]

Tour bus took us over this bridge on way back home. Bridge seemed well maintained with a smooth…read moresurface. Fast going over, although there was a big accident on the other side. Definitely seen worse bridges.

If you're going to date someone not hot and someone hot at the same time, and can't land yourself a…read more10/10, then you may as well date a 1 and 9 simultaneously. I've done it. Of course nobody likes the drawbridges on the Lincoln Highway and how could you? The iron grate makes it pretty dangerous honestly, because your car will slip around and whatnot. People don't like it for a good reason. And it's very narrow as you can imagine. Trucks can't even fit in the lanes to be honest, and yet they overlap and almost touch and it's just dangerous. There you go. I'm not afraid of it but I should be, so should you.

AH! The rumbling of the tires on iron grate! Is that HAIKU?…read more Traffic is a coin flip in this area. Good luck!

Beautiful walkway area of Central Park ,lined by trees featuring statues of literary greats. This…read morepaved area features many statues, information plaques on many, vendors along the way, and benches to sit on during a nice day and watch the world go by. It leads to the Bethesda Fountain and Naumberg Bandshell area where NYRR centers its race central during its many events throughout the year.

The Mall and Literary Walk in Central Park is a beautiful, popular and educational environment. The…read moreMall is one of Central Park's most important landscapes and horticultural wonders. The Mall is a wide, straight path lined by rows of American elm trees. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as a formal promenade and gathering space. Like many of my favorite areas in the Park, I enjoy strolling, sitting, people-watching, listening to music, contemplating monuments, and admiring trees. I was there recently and I can't wait for you to see my photos. It was a really enjoyable day in Central Park. When you visit the park be sure to set aside time for exploring the Mall and Literary Walk. Enjoy!