Drove about an hour to take my kids here. This is an awesome, free playground. The grounds are…read morebeautiful and clean. The castle is huge and freaked me out but my two older kids loved it. They have a lot of cool new equipment you don't see at other playgrounds. There is a smaller section was that was perfect for my 1.5 year old. It was pretty crowded even on a weekday, so I would recommend going during the week. My kids are already asking when we can go back.

Love this place! The whole playground is gated with only 1 entrance so u can let your kid run free…read moreand guard the entrance as needed. The castle itself is huge but quite cramped inside so it was alot of work following my 2.5 yo kid inside. The castle is targetted for 5yo and up. My toddler enjoyed the spiral slides. The rest of the playground is nice and clean as well. There's free parking available and the castle is a short walk from there. I went there on a Friday afternoon/evening in late august and it wasn't too crowded. I would come back again if I was in the area

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.

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.

Great park wonderful place to go and hang out we miss it everyday. There is always something going…read moreon.

Live coming here. It is peaceful, calm, such great way to be in nature. There is a little zoo,…read morelake, playground, fields, courts and picnic areas. You can reserve picnic areas for your events like birthday parties, baby showers or any other small gatherings. You can get food trucks with permissions.

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).

As someone who has lived in New Jersey my whole life and visited many parks and gardens, I can…read morehonestly say Deep Cut Gardens was one of the most beautiful places I've experienced in the state. We visited on a sunny day in early May around 11:30 AM. Not everything was fully in bloom yet, but the greenery, trees, shrubs, and gardens were absolutely beautiful and created such a peaceful, serene atmosphere. Parking is a bit limited, but we were able to find a spot fairly quickly. The grounds were easy to walk, beautifully maintained, and full of great photo spots. I also loved the maze garden area and the small reading/sunroom space, which added such a charming touch. I even saw people having picnics, and it immediately made me want to come back and do the same. Only small thing to note: we did notice some poison ivy in certain areas, so just be mindful. Overall, easy to get to, peaceful, and absolutely worth visiting. Already looking forward to coming back in June when everything is in full bloom.

You'll like this spot whether you're a plant expert or a casual observer like me who may need to…read moreuse "Shazam for plants" to identify garden croton. There's plenty to see outdoors, including a twisty tree and a koi pond, but when open, the showstopper is the greenhouse, with cacti and much more. And it's free!

This is a hidden gem in Marlboro. Iykyk. Best place for sunsets, picnics, dog walks, adventures and…read morebike ride. In the winter the hills are nice to sled down. It's the best park

This park is a great little local gem. It's definitely not one of the most popular Monmouth county…read moreparks, so it never feels overcrowded, but it is also never deserted. At one time this park was a local ski spot and there are still some remnants of the ski buildings remaining. Part of it was also used by the Marlboro psychiatric hospital, that was located across the street before being demolished. There are some remnants from the pig farm remaining. You can also get to the psychiatric hospital cemetery from the trails. Currently the park is home to a portion of the Henry Hudson trail. There is a climbing wall that is used maybe once a year by the parks department, follow their page for the free event. There is a pool used by local camps. There is also basketball courts and a playground here. The county has recently been removing invasive plants and adding bird houses. In the winter this is a semi-popular local spot to sled (although there is a lot more brush beneath the snow and at the top of the hill than the sledding hill at Holmdel park). If you're in the area this is a great spot to wander around.

The park is the site of a major battle between George Washington s Continental army and the British…read moreforces under General Clinton. The park is well laid out and it was filled with enthusiasm as volunteers acted out the battle on its anniversary. Staff here were unusually pleasant and helpful. Highly recommended.

What a gorgeous little activity we did today. Such a detailed museum with lots of information about…read morethe battle. There's a lovely man who knows everything about the battle and a movie. You unfortunately can't take photos inside. I definitely recommend it if you come here! 10/10

Great park for kids and adults alike. Great walking trails so many people also bring their furry…read morebabies for a walk. Note: please bring a plastic bag because this doesn't provide one for you. Kids can play in the playgrounds and it's mostly open space. Perfect for team sports to be played. Manalapan Day is held here, where there's fire crackers and a live brass band playing for everyone's entertainment. Easter egg hunts are also held here for little ones. I only minused a star because it could be maintained better but it's not the fault of the park. People walk their dogs but they need to please pick it up. Especially if it's on a trail. Currently as of March 2020, due to COVID-19, the park will be closed indefinitely.

Nice expansive complex but lacking in upkeep. Some of the backstops need to be repaired and there…read morearen't enough bathroom facilities. There is also no concessions unless there is a football game and no food trucks are permitted...only the diesel spewing ice cream truck which stinks up the place, idling in the parking lots. Nice walking/biking, jogging tracks, basketball, 9 baseball fields, and multiple soccer fields.

This center was adorable. I went on a play date with my daughter and her 5 friends , ages 10 months…read moreto 4 years old and it was perfect for them. When you enter you add a donation & go on your way. All the rooms are themed. It was a small center we were in and out within 30 min but they had a blast. As we were leaving there was a field trip from a school coming in. The kids looked about 10 years old. They quickly visited the center then headed for the canoes. I will definitely visit again before summer ends.

Beautiful, relaxing, quiet get away spot…read more There is something to be said about Jersey and the beautiful parks, reservoirs, acres and acres of trees and paths you can enjoy anytime of the year. Manasquan Reservoir is definitely my go to place for my weekly exercise, walking my pup and in general getting "lost" in my thoughts while I sit on one of the many benches donated for visitors to sit and watch the ripples of the water. As you walk along the few paths you see people out for their daily jog, power walking, biking or just leisurely strolling with their dogs. (on a leash of course). Mom groups with baby strollers, kids on nature walks with their school, its seriously just a wonderful place you can visit for free. I especially like that it is about 7 miles around from beginning to end and has lots of spots to rest and catch your breath. Because the summer can be warm and muggy here in NJ I try to do my walks early AM like everyone else- no joke its can get muggy nasty here..... in the fall and winter even with the cold air or light snow is not a problem I'll walk anytime. Hubby joins me on my walks and afterwards it's off to Meemon's for breakfast There are "johnny on the spot" bathrooms and I have yet to use one- but I see the staff cleaning them now and again. I just use the rest room in the visitor center- which by the way- the visitor is somewhere you should bring the kids, really informative and fun.