Loved it here. We came here for a morning walk. There weren't many people here and there were some flowers and plants. I'm sure there are more in the spring and summer. I loved the paths and sights here. I'm excited to come back here in the warmer weather to see more of the flowers. read more

Our visit to this arboretum marked my first public outing post-partum. The arboretum itself is lovely and most of it is stroller accessible, which I appreciated. However there are no public restrooms at all, which was a HUGE challenge for me, especially so soon after having a baby. There was one restroom, which closed at 4:00pm. I showed up exactly at 4:00pm, but was turned away by the staff. I tried again 15 minutes later, but they informed me that they clock out at 4:00pm and letting me use the bathroom would delay them getting home. I have been an hourly employee before and totally get this, but I was a little disappointed by the lack of humanity. Being out for the first time was physically (and emotionally) challenging, and I was hoping for a bit more understanding from the staff. read more

Frelinghuysen Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Morristown, New Jersey

When researching things to do in Morristown, Frelinghuysen Arboretum popped up. It's only a few minutes away from other local attractions in Morristown, and best of all, it's a free attraction with plenty of parking. I visited on a rainy and somewhat chilly day in April, so my visit was brief and I didn't get to explore as much of the property as I would have on a warmer and sunny day, but absolutely loved what I saw. From my understanding, the place is beautiful in May, but was pleasantly surprised to see some of the blooms which had popped up in early April. It's one of those places where you want to stop and smell the flowers, as some of them were really fragrant. One positive of the rain on my visit was that I got to explore parts of the arboretum peacefully on my own,, as the weather kept visitors to a minimum. If you like gardens or arboretums and are in the Morristown area, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum is definitely worth a visit. read more

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What a paradise!! As a tree hugger, I loved the numerous types of trees with its own identification tags. Highlights: This place is free There is parking There are numerous plants and flowers and I even saw a bunny The trees are amazing and big enough to hug I love the labyrinth Great for families, dates and friends hanging out read more

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Had a great visit.Really beautiful gardens but the place was very loud due to leaf blowers.

This is such a beautiful place! I wish I would have known about this it before coming to the area because I only happened to stumble across it on Yelp while looking for a brewery in the area. I would have loved to have a nice little picnic on the lawn, but we made the best of it. Me and gf came here to check it out and walked around and enjoyed all of its beauty. We did happen to have a blanket in the car so we went and got it and found a cool spot under the trees and laid around, talked and listened to some music. I could have fell asleep. There were a decent amount of people there in the day we came, but it was still peaceful. I would have liked to seen a cafe here to grab some drinks and snacks like most arboretums I've been to and especially on a hot day like we had when we visited. If you don't wanna add a cafe, call around and get some food trucks up there to park so people have some options. I'll be back the next time I am in the area, but this time the picnic basket will be packed and ready to go. Enjoy :) read more

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Nice park with plenty of parking. At least it was on July 4th at around 11:30. Maybe everyone was away, so I'm not sure how crowded it normally gets but the arboretum was pretty much empty that day. There are some easy (unpacked) trails with plenty of benches. Free to enter! read more

We were there this past weekend, and it's so nice to see that they seem to be back to their pre-covid beauty. It just makes me happy to walk through this place and see the wonderful colors. It's hard to describe, so pictures will have to provide the real review. The roses were still going strong, and the scent was intoxicating. read more

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This free nature escape welcomes daydreamers to buzz around! I'm extremely glad I happened upon this place. I spotted it on a drive to Madison, NJ and took a mental note of stopping by. They close at 4pm, and I had made it just in time, although the buildings were closed. On a map, this nature covered premises sits on a large mass pinched between E. Hanover Road and Whippany Road. There's even an herbaceous marsh with tiny fish, tadpoles, and croakers. A few ponds also add balance to its naturescapes. Every corner of the converted properties is surrounded by floral gardens. Hidden are horticultural beds of fruits and veggies, and stretches of vibrant colorful flowers being nurtured by bees. You can reserve sections of the arboretum for special events like a garden-themed wedding or photo shoots. Speaking of photography, the gardens provide a beautiful location to capture numerous stills. Cascade yourselves in nature's gifts. read more

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Totally in awe of the grounds at Frelinghuysen. There is so much to explore that you can spend hours walking around. There are so many different areas covered beautiful flowers and plants. I like how they have signage up that lets you know what you are looking at. There were so many unique plants that I had never seen before. The sprawling green lawn is a great place to lay out and have a picnic, and the main house has the most gorgeous courtyard with fountains, statues and tons of beautiful flowers. So many photo opps, and I was super impressed with how well-maintained the grounds are! I only visited in summer, but I'm sure it's beautiful no matter what the season. There are lots of pathways, so it's stroller friendly which is always a plus. Can't wait to return! read more

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Cool spot to walk around on a nice day. Love that it's free with easy parking, a nice visitor center with restrooms, etc. There are different trails depending on the vibe you're going for. The spring flowers are looking beautiful! read more

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It's so pretty and fun, I've even gone on a couple of dates there with my boyfriend! Apparently, it's also famous for ghost hunts - can you believe it? It has such a fascinating history; you can really feel the vibes, whether you're there solo or with someone. I totally recommend checking it out! read more

This is a super beautiful Arboretum. It is way bigger than I anticipated and an amazing location. If you want to take a nice long walk. We were there in the winter month so the trees and flowers weren't in full bloom. I am sure the spring time is beautiful here. read more

My husband and I got married in the Knot Garden a few days ago and it was so perfect. I never imagined that such a beautiful place would be so simple and inexpensive to book for a wedding! This is just the place, whether you want a no-fuss ceremony like we did, or to book a larger event. Our guests loved the ambiance, as we got married just before sunset. So memorable and relaxed. read more

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A free and refreshing escape from the daily hustle with gorgeous flowers, tons of greenery, water features, meadows, and trees. It's perfect for visiting solo or with loved ones. After parking in their easy-to-find lot, roam if you want to! This place boasts so many lovely spots for special occasion and family pix. My little fam had a great time just walking around and exploring. TIPS: **Always free and open 8am til dusk. **Parking's easy and clearly labeled. **Several buildings and grounds are wheelchair-accessible. **Restrooms are inside the Hagerty Education Center. read more

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Had a nice early afternoon here today. Buildings seemed like they were closed due to COVID but beautiful gardens and well kept trails and paths. Definitely going to head back sometime soon! read more

Great place to spend an hour with the family. Buildings are closed due to covid. Well kept grounds Plenty of parking Will return Plenty of seating read more

Frelinghuysen Arboretum - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Morristown, New Jersey

Once the country home of George Griswold and Sara Ballantine Frelinghuysen, the 124-acre Frelinghuysen Arboretum is operated by the Morris County Parks Commission as a well-maintained and serene place to relax. The Arboretum features a Colonial Revival mansion constructed in 1891 and well-maintained woodlands, meadows, and formal gardens that offer plenty of photo opportunities, as well as six easy paved, packed gravel, and dirt walking and hiking trails that traverse the property. The 0.6-mile Yellow-blazed trail loops around the remote western area of the Arboretum, the 0.4-mile Red-blazed trail curves around the southern corner of the Arboretum, and the 0.3-mile Orange-blazed trail meanders though the eastern end. The Purple, Teal and Green-blazed trails serve as connectors between the longer trails and can be incorporated into loops. You can put together a 1.3-mile loop from the main parking lot by following the Red, Yellow, Blue and Purple trails, in that order. In addition, the Arboretum is traversed by a 1.7-mile-long blue-blazed spur of Patriots Path, which leads to the Acorn Hall and Ford Mansion historic sites that are part of the Morristown National Historic Park. The Arboretum also offers permits for special events and professional photographers looking for a unique natural backdrop for their subjects. Pro Tip: Admission to the Arboretum and on-site parking is always free read more

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it was right under our nose and we did not get a hint of it. we visited one fine afternoon with parents. parking is easy to find. Stop at the visitor center and the roam this beautiful garden. Enjoy a picnic on the Great Lawn, take memorable family photographs under the Rose Garden Arbor, celebrate a wedding under a reservable tent, read a book next to a water feature, tour the Carriage House, and be amazed at the historic horse-drawn carriages. it was straight from 70s Cowboy movies. Frelinghuysen Mansion situated in the park looks great, but it was closed. the rose garden just beside it, was beautiful. This breathtaking site also offers a wedding. The first Sunday of every month, a free tour of the grounds is offered at 2 p.m., leaving from the Education Center. Monthly art exhibits provide interest when you need a respite from spring rains. The first weekend in May, The Friends of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum's Annual Plant Sale fills the big tent with carefully selected, well-bred plants. read more

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Que jardín tan bello, fui con mi madre y una amiga que aman las plantas fue una tarde muy agradable, lleve aperitivos hicimos un picnic no permiten los perritos, pero no importa lo hacen por cuidar la grama y las plantas que allí hay, la caminata es fácil y divertida a mi madre y amiga les encanto, lo recomiendo. read more

Serene and beautiful. Bring a picnic and déjeuner sur l'herbe. The stone labyrinth that honors lost loves is deeply meditative and comforting. read more

Beautiful location and we'll maintained grounds. There are lots of different areas to explore as well as small trails through the arboretum. Although the weather has been difficult, there were a good number of flowers in bloom. It was great to see the differences between the shade and sun gardens and all the plants thriving. Overall, we'll be back. Hopefully with the peonies and roses in bloom. read more

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What a beautiful hidden gem in Morristown! It's so serene and well-maintained, though I wish I had waiting to come here when the trees were no longer bare. Despite the fact that it hasn't really gotten that warm yet, a lot of the flowers were blooming and there was beautiful color all around. I can only imagine what it will look like in a few weeks when more of the foliage starts to come in. I'm definitely planning on coming back here then! The Arboretum is surprisingly really big and you can easily spend the better part of a day walking around. There are trails that you can follow with trail markers or you can chart your own path. It's not big enough that you'd get lost so I recommend having a random adventure. read more

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Frelinghuysen Arboretum is the centerpiece of horticultural culture and education in Morris County. It is a treasure for all those who appreciate the beauty of an arboretum set around a Colonial Revival Mansion built in 1891. Admission is free and the arboretum is open 8 am till dusk. As part of the Morris County Park Commission the arboretum hosts special events, lectures, seminars, tours, exhibits and photo classes. Check the schedule of events at arboretumfriends.org or just google (Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown, NJ).Bring your walking shoes and enjoy acres of trees and plants carefully designed and labelled for your education and enjoyment. read more

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Spectacular gardens in a large setting. While New Jersey hosts many gardens, all of which are well worth frequenting, Frelinghuysen Arboretum might be New Jersey's ideal arboretum. It's a large enough size to offer wooded hiking along the Whippany River, yet it has intimate gardens with great floral displays. And there are many intimate spaces with benches. The property is carefully maintained. Frelinghuysen Arboretum is on a hill, so there is a slight view from the wooded grounds to the hills around it. Because of its size, there are different sections of the property that you can enjoy. There is quite a bit of parking; I have always been able to park there. Note that the entrance is on E. Hanover Avenue. My car GPS took me to an exit on Whippany Rd; your cell phone will do just fine in finding it. And the area around the Arboretum has wonderful places to explore with restaurants. There are gardens nearby that you'll see if you scan with your map, such as Buck Garden and Schiff Garden. Some of the photos I have posted are just of flowers, but they are so magnificent at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. read more

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Beautiful little gem in Morris County. My fiancé and I visited to view the grounds and get more information of their trails and gardens. We loved it so much, we actually hope to reserve some gardens for potential wedding photo shoots in the future. We also really liked how community centered it is! There are so many on going events for children and all family members of any age. Be sure to stop by the education center to get more pamphlets of upcoming events and maps of the area. I wish the Matilda cafe were open, but it seems it won't be opening at all this summer. However, we hope to give it a try in the future. Thank you Ranger Gary for helping us find our way and giving us insightful information about the gardens! read more

The arboretum is a nice place to come and enjoy the beauty of gardens, flowers, and nature. There's a large amount of available parking with the cafe being right next to it. The cafe has outdoor seating which is cute and relaxing. The house looks beautiful but unfortunately you can't go inside. It would be interesting if we could though. The garden itself was beautiful but not that big. There were just a few bed of roses and some perennials. Yet, there weren't a lot of flowers besides those. It's still nice to walk around the garden. There is a large amount of grass areas though to sit and have a picnic. There were a few couples that had a picnic. Doesn't seem to be a lot going on at the arboretum but it's still a nice place to walk around, talk, have a picnic, and take some great pictures. read more

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It is a lovely place. Trees are identified with labels and there are nice paths to walk. Hope that they begin to invest in more native trees and plants. I only give three stars because of the number of invasives in the understory and the sound of highway 287 is loud in many areas of the park. read more

Note: This review is for the Gingerbread House Competition Only. Please understand. I grew up going to the State Fair, chowing on cream puffs and fried everything. I grew up watching fireworks in the park on a picnic blanket on July Fourth, while stuffing my face with fried chicken and potato salad (do you see a theme here?). So sometimes, I really, really miss my Americana. And the thing is, here in NYC, promising-sounding events are often marred by unbearable crowds and / or a disappointing reality that nowhere near matches the hype. Thus, when I find myself in need of an Americana fix, I often flee to New Jersey. Anyway, this apparently annual competition features scores of Gingerbread Houses, many of them really impressive, created by both kids and adults. And well, it had me at Heat Miser. In fact, the instant I spotted a display showcasing him and his bro, Snow Miser, of The Year Without a Santa Claus fame, I knew I'd made the right choice in schlepping to Jersey. Hey, sing it with me, "I'm Mr Mister Green Christmas. I'm Mister Sun..." Admission is only $2 (sa'weet!) so this event draws lots of families looking for something cheap and cheerful to do with the kiddies. Go early to avoid gridlock while making your way to check out the various Gingerbread Houses. read more

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One of my favorite places to walk and take pictures. Has nice trails and beautiful flowers. read more

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Tranquil atmosphere and gorgeous surroundings make this a great local get-a-way for families and couples looking to find time to enjoy all the Beauty of God's creation. Also, history of the Frelingheysen Family is interesting as one that continues to model the Great American Experiment. read more

My parents said that they took me here when I was little to relax, walk around, and fly a kite. Since we were out in the area, we decided to stop here again. Plentiful parking was available at the time we were here. There were small areas with flower beds, a cafe, and a grassy field. There was also a wooden deck with some seating and a little balcony which overlooked another field ahead. Doesn't seem like there's a lot, is there? Well, we saw the flowers and plants that were available for viewing. It looked really good. We also walked on the wooden deck and rested at the balcony for a few moments, which was nice. We also saw the open grassy field. Was this the spot where we had a picnic and went kite flying when I was a kid? Hmm... The grassy field served as a retreat for those who just wanted to relax under the sun, and maybe have a picnic. At the time I went, everything was calm and serene. You could read, write, or even Yelp while resting on this field. There wasn't even any litter around either, which was good. I thought this place was a lot bigger. I guess not, unless there were some areas that I may have missed out on. Everything here looked very-well maintained. Based on what I saw, I'd say this is a very good place to relax and see some of the plants that are available. I'll probably come back only if there's a certain occasion. This is as long as the review is going to go. read more

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I am sitting here at home, admiring my light tan, and tending to my sore muscles after an afternoon spent at the Arboretum. I feel some fatigue from the three miles of walking, and I feel light & relaxed from having spent the afternoon outside filling my lungs with fresh air. What a beautiful place to visit! First, I stopped by the visitor center to grab a map. I looked at the smaller gardens near the main house, then I spent a little over an hour wandering around the trails in the meadow and the forest. The trails change from pavement to gravel to mowed grass and back again. It felt and looked so natural that I thought I had wandered off track! But rest assured, they were all paths (my map said so!). And they were all gorgeous. Afterward, I stopped at Matilda's Cafe for a fresh smoothie to refuel & cool down from my walk. I sat outside on a bench near the irises to finish my treat. And then, as I headed to my car, I realized I didn't want to leave! I grabbed a blanket that I keep in my car, and I headed to the grassy hill to enjoy the beautiful day for just a little bit longer. Families & friends were playing frisbee and catch, admiring the rhododendrons along the border, and basking in the warm sunshine. Before I knew it, I had spent about 4 hours at the Arboretum! I can't believe Frelinghuysen has always been so close, and I've waited this long to take advantage of the beautiful gardens and serene paths they have to offer. read more

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I had extremely high expectations when I got there yesterday. Even though my expectations weren't met, the Arboretum was still pretty! There were different plants, flowers, and trees that was extremely aesthetically pleasing but it wasn't as much as I thought. They were mostly small areas with clusters of plants/flowers. There were a few nice sitting places and even a tiny pond/fountain area hidden away. I wish there was more accessible maps to get around. Had a little difficult finding our way. Still a nice place to visit. read more

I figured while I am visiting the GARDEN STATE might as well go and see a garden. Randomly found the arboretum, and honestly I don't think I gave enough time and dedication into enjoying the experience. read more

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We visited a week ago and it's a lovely place. There are 127 acres - including a rose garden & a gazebo - and it's very peaceful. A wonderful aspect is that volunteers maintain the gardens. Also, there's no admission charge. read more

This place is gorgeous! The gardens in this area are amazing and perfect for taking pictures. I get millions of gorgeous shots here and it's awesome! The people here are very friendly and are so welcoming. The entire place is outside except for a small building and cafe. The food at the cafe is good. Would ten out of ten definitely recommend. read more

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is beautiful. 127 acres of gardens, trails, fields, and trees. It's especially lovely in the autumn when the leaves are starting to turn and you can see all the beautiful colors against a deep blue sky. I was expecting a garden-like design to this place but it felt more like a wildlife conservatory. This place is huge...sprawling fields, trees, trails... It's very peaceful. There's a gazebo and flower garden up front as well as an education center. There's plenty of parking. This place hosts flower shows regularly and has lots of other events including garden shows and different tours around the grounds. It'd be a gorgeous place to have photos taken as well. You can go bow-hunting during hunting season and snowshoeing in the winter time. The grounds are open from 9:00 am to sunset daily and the education center is open 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Sunday (except holidays). Admission is free. read more

Amazing! 1) The garden is free! 2) Lots of parking. 3) Pure beauty. 4) Must see. read more

A wonderful experience. We decided to make s trip there from the Bronx on an early Sunday afternoon. The drive was supposed to be about an hour, but it took closer to an hour and a twenty minutes due to traffic getting out of the Bronx and crossing the GWB. Parking was easy. Lots of parking space there. Lots to see. Tons of plants and flowers as expected. Everything is labeled properly. There is an education center which at the time had a photography exhibit going on and was quite interesting. There is an information desk (the woman behind was very helpful) and restrooms there. There also seems to be a space that can be rented for events?!, though I am not 100% sure. There is a separate cafe (Matilda's Cafe), which I didn't get to visit, but I did look it up online prior to visiting and saw that they had beverages, as well as pastries and sandwiches for sale. Around the back of is a little tree ring exhibit that displays how to count the annual rings of a cross section of a tree. There were also more of the gardens being built and a sign that states that they are currently expanding. Aside from the main area with the education center and cafe, there are a few basic trails with scenic forest areas and a running stream. We started the trail but did not get far due to the real feel of 100 degrees on that particular day. It was a brutal one. An overall lovely time and it was all free. I would love to go back to finish the trails and see the stream. Recommended to any and everyone. read more

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