Super gorgeous and loved the paths, will visit again. The paths were clean and there was no…read moreelevation on the paths we went to!

What a fun [and free!] way to connect with nature. We came by the Great Swamp mid-day on a Friday…read moreand nearly had the whole refuge to ourselves. The walkways and grounds are incredibly well kept and the paths are very navigable. While we unfortunately did not see any wildlife besides one or two birds, the relaxing atmosphere at the Great Swamp still made for an enjoyable afternoon to get some outdoor exercise in. One of my favorite parts was that there are viewing platforms with blinds so that you can spot wildlife, without it spotting you. After speaking to the rangers on the way out, we will opt to come back either at dusk or dawn next time for optimal wildlife viewing!

This is a beautiful little park. It's the perfect place for a quick stroll if you want to get a bit…read moreof fresh air. The space isn't huge, but it is very well maintained with fresh cut grass, lots of trees and pathways. During autumn there are some wonderful oak and Japanese maple trees, so I'd definitely suggest stopping by when foliage is at its peak. There is also a large map in the center of the park with a numbered guide to all of the trees. It was fun to learn about the wide variety of trees in the park. I haven't lived nearby during summer, so I'm excited to see everything in full bloom. I also think there is a summer concert series here, so that will be really nice. Oh, and this park is also adjacent to the town public library. Grab a book and read it in the park -- what could be better? Love having Roberts Garden so close to home!

This Historical Garden Wears Many Hats…read more One can not help but notice this large patch of green in the heart of the Morris Plains Community next to the Morris Plains Library. This park was once part of the Roberts estate and was donated to Morris Plains as a permanent green space. Roberts Garden normally serves as a sort of community Arboretum but it also plays host to a number of events in Morris Plains which as of now also includes 3 Poke Stops for Pokemon Go. In the summer Roberts Garden is the venue for the Concerts in the Park every Sunday in July from 6pm - 8pm. These concerts will feature local bands and bring out folks from the community. Music, lawn chairs, picnics, and kids playing through the grounds are a staple of these events. During Halloween it serves as the starting point of the Morris Plains children's trick-or-treating parade. This attracts families from Morris Plains and beyond which results in a sea of adorabeezle trick-or-treaters who will proceed to parade to Simons Park just a few blocks up Mountain Way under the careful watch of the Morris Plains PD. From Simons Park, the kids disperse throughout the surrounding communities for some good old fashioned trick-or-treating. The Morris Plains PD will continue to patrol around to ensure that trick-or-treaters and locals are staying safe while the event is on. My son loved the Halloween Parade so much that he wanted to do it every day for a few weeks after the event. During the snow season you can find young children and their families snow sledding behind the Morris Plains Library after a healthy snow. The hills here are big enough to be fun for smaller children to sled down, but small enough for concerned parents to feel safe about the situation. Try as I might, I could never get enough speed/momentum to get close to hitting one of the big trees at the bottom of the hill. If you come and check out the fun without a sled do not fear, the friendly people of Morris Plains will most likely offer to share some of theirs with you and your little one(s). There are no bathrooms here but that's not unexpected as this is not normally a place where you'll be coming to if you are farm from your (or a friend's) house. If the Morris Plains Library is open you can use the bathroom there. The true gift this park offers is the abundance of green grass, variety of trees, shade, and winding paths that let your stroll through the grounds.

In just a few days, the upcoming Lunar New Year brings the Year of the Dragon on February 10th…read moreamong East and Southeast Asian cultures. It's fifth in the 12-animal Chinese zodiac cycle and the only animal that's a mythical creature. This afternoon, my partner and I arrived at the Woodland, located off of Woodland Road in Maplewood, to celebrate Lunar Fest NJ 2024--Maplewood Arts & Culture. Completed in 1930, the Georgian Revival-style mansion and adjoining auditorium have been a hub for Maplewood's vibrant cultural and civic life for over eight decades. The unique event features lion dance, performances representing Chinese, Mongolian, Thali, and Korean cultures, children's activities, and delicious food trucks, which brought out the crowd.

Just attended an event at the Woodland. Aside from its being a big old barn, the parking area is…read moreway too small for a facility as large as yours. Not only that, the lot is narrow and dangerous to navigate, especially when a large crowd is trying to park. But the most infuriating aspect of the parking situation is the number of spots unusable for the general public, which are labeled "24-hour parking permit required," Are you kidding?? I had to gingerly back out of a prohibited spot and circle the neighborhood (most of whose streets had "no parking anytime" signs) for 10 minutes before finding a spot where I could park. Your facility needs to expand the available parking immediately. I advise any group considering holding an event at the Woodland to physically view the parking situation before booking an event.

A nice area for hiking/walking that has some wide paths and not so overgrown. There are plenty of…read moretrails to diverge from. Hemlock Falls seems to be a draw and is very nice to relax around but can get a little crowded. Because there are multiple parking lots with easy accessibility, there's a bit of trash and broken glass here and there which is unfortunate. There were quite a few hikers, trail runners and dogs but it never felt claustrophobic. The hikes aren't that difficult but there are quite a few rocks and protruding tree roots. Montclair is less than 10 minutes if you want a bite to eat afterwards.

Great walk. Nothing like a walk through nature. Taking in the sights and sounds, what a beautiful…read morething!!!

Pleasant walk in September. Nice greenery and small pond…read more We came by around 11 am and it was a sweet time to explore.

***2 1/2 stars***…read more There are a lot of people out there who can and do enjoy this park. If you're a birdwatcher, this is a great place to ogle some waterfowl, probably one of the best in the area. Young pups can easily traverse the boardwalks and there's a lot of kid-friendly educational material for them to access along the way, so that's a selling point as well. However, if you're looking for a place to hike, this is one of my least favorite places to do it, and this review is from that specific perspective. I came here on Sunday with my chum and her Wee One for a low-stress 2.9-mile hike. We started in the early afternoon, and it took about 2 1/2 hours. That probably seems inordinately high for the mileage, but it will make sense shortly. Unfortunately, it was cloudy throughout. I've been here once before and to areas of the nearby Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge a handful of times - it's definitely more enjoyable visually when it's sunny out, especially with so much water nearby to conveniently reflect the sunshine. Alas. Our adventure took us on the Yellow Trail from the eastern side of the Environmental Education Center, veering right multiple times and going by Lily Pad Pond and the East Observation Tower. We then headed toward the boardwalk area via the Wood Duck Loop, traversed the Boondocks Boardwalk and headed back on the Red Trail past the Great Swamp Oak to complete a quasi-circular loop. The absolute worst part of hiking here is that it does not matter when the last rainfall occurred - I have been here when it's been dry for a week and, as was the case this time, when it rained the day before. It's soggy and not a lot of fun to hike in and involves a lot of off-trail improvising through sticker bushes that massively slows you down. And if it rained recently? Forget it. Huge swaths of the path are glorified streams. They've spent a lot of time (and I suspect money) on their boardwalk section, but if they're trying to lure hikers in, that yellow trail really needs some TLC. Maybe you can just import some soil in there so it's a little higher, but it's rough going. Same token, the boardwalk is definitely deteriorating in parts. We saw sections that had recently been repaired, but there are still a lot of decaying/mossy boards out there. I don't recall a point where we were seriously concerned that the boardwalk was going to give out underneath us, but it's heading in that direction. Second worst part of hiking here? No pooches allowed. Very sad, and I'm not sure if that rule is in place because of the terrain or out of an abundance of caution for the creatures who live here. But regardless, I did not have the pleasure of seeing any canines enjoying the fresh air. Additionally, there were no bathroom options when we came. They probably have facilities in the Educational Center but that was closed on Sunday. I definitely remember seeing a port-a-potty off to the side on my prior visit, but it wasn't there this time. One positive though that deserves mention - the trail markings are excellent. I think some of the trails could be better assigned/distributed (there were multiple occasions when the yellow trail would fork, but it would be yellow both ways). We had a specific hiking itinerary but I'm sure that can be confusing for others. I'd just make one of the prongs of the trail fork a different colored trail. But regardless, every intersection was carefully noted and most had very visually appealing signs. I'm not crazy about a lot of the hiking options in this area (mostly because the terrain isn't challenging and there aren't a lot of fun viewpoints), but I'd recommend Jockey Hollow over this. That said, if your idea of a great Sunday is staring at herons, by all means make the trek over here.

my son and i spent a summer afternoon at imagine that and had a nice time. there were plenty of…read moreactivities to keep him busy and he had fun exploring the different play areas.

Quite a bit to explore, ages 2-7 is ideal. Clean bathrooms, and decent food menu-- veggie burger…read morewas made well. Fresh fruit available. Usual favorites such as pizza, hot dog, French fries and ketchup. Floor plan allows multiple parties and plenty of space for many kids.

It has been over a year since I last visited Acorn Hall. I was given an inside tour after helping…read morewith a redesign of the gardens. It was pre-Covid-19 and the members of Rutger's agricultural extension office were invited to participate in restoring the grounds. The exterior had already been worked on. What the status of Acorn Hall is today, I could not say. This is a review of Acorn Hall in September of 2019. Acorn Hall began with the construction of a modest home in 1853. With the renovation and enlargement of the home by the Crane family in 1860, Acorn Hall became one of the prominent homes in the area. Named after the two large oak trees which once presided over the front lawn, this Victorian-Italianate mansion gives visitors a glimpse of mid-Victorian life. There are two floors open for viewing. Some pieces are original to the Crane family while other furnishings, fabrics and art work have been donated from other collections and Victorian homes in the Morris County area. In addition to the permanent collections , Acorn Hall is now displaying the Florsheimer custom wedding gowns from the 1980's created by the renowned designer Paula Varsalona. Also on temporary display, beach fashion of the early 1900's along with photographs .I found this display joyfully amusing. Acorn Hall was open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 am-4 pm with the last tour at 3{15 pm. Sunday tours are from 1 pm-4 pm, also with the last tour at 3}15 pm. Admission is Adults $6, Seniors $5, Students $3 and children under 12 are free. The gardens are open from dawn till dusk. Access to the Patriot's hiking path starts east at the Carriage House which is behind Acorn Hall. Check with Acorn Hall to determine their visiting hours at the present time.

The old oaks are no longer standing out front but their leaves and acorns live on inside on the…read morewallpaper and furniture. Built 1853, significantly enlarged 1860, electrified in the early 1900s, yet somehow all those families never had the energy to replace the original wallpaper nor change the carpets! Acorn Hall today is stuffed with period decorations and furniture, preserved over the decades by family members then donated intact to the Morris County historical society in 1971. The hall is mostly the history of the Schermerhorn, Crane and Hone families, plus one upstairs room dedicated to Greystone psychiatric hospital, plus one more room showing the history of Arnold's tavern. The $6 admission includes a half-hour tour by the docents, going through on your own would be a mistake because the portraits are not labeled and the docents give a nice sense of what's there. Don't bring young children here LOL, just far too boring, what kids enjoy gazing at 12 foot tall mirrors and other gorgeous wood furniture? Getting a big paint job in spring 2018, the old mustard yellow and dark red color scheme will be replaced with gray.

Have you played Disc Golf yet? Most people I ask say they'd never heard of it. I started when I was…read morea freshman in college at UM in College Park Maryland, rumored to be the first Disc course on the east coast at the time (1982). I've played all over the country now. Harry Dunham is a beautiful hilly park. Great for walking, picnic Pavillion, soccer fields. But twisting through the park is one of the best disc golf courses I've ever played and I refer to it as my home course. You can easily play 9 holes in 90 minutes or less. Warmer weather can get a little backed up but not bad. Give it a try! You can play with any disc you're comfortable with but there are hundreds of professional disc companies styles and weights. After you play a bit you'll notice you like certain throws and conditions. I'm hoping to bring more Disc Golf reviews to Yelp. It's a great activity for the whole family. Playing once a week is awesome exercise. The cool thing about Harry Dunham is it's easy to get to, quick to play, diverse holes, and you could easily play a few times a week and not get bored. Come play disc golf at Harry Dunham Park or one of the dozens of other courses in the area.

I'm actually not the biggest fan-- I don't come here all that often-- but, objectively speaking,…read moreit's a nice park that definitely has a lot to offer. It's not far from where I live, and I used to jog here occasionally with a friend (she lived within a half mile of it). However, she got married, moved away, and I personally prefer Mountain Park, a mile or 2 up the road in Warren (no Yelp entry on it, so I haven't been able to write about it), when I do a solo jog (or a "fast walk" these days; my knees aren't what they used to be). If I were being purely subjective, it might rate a star lower because I come here so rarely now. But, in the interests of being objective-- well, its got a lot to offer. I can't imagine anyone not liking it. There's ample parking if you drive here. There are a couple of athletic fields, there's a playground for kids, there's a covered pavilion or gazebo (actually, if I remember right, I think there are 2) where cooking can be done and that I think can be rented out for groups. Evidently, there's also an indoor facility that's available, although I've never paid much attention to it. At the opposite end of the park, there's a roller/hockey rink set-up. When I was last "fast walking" in the park, a fairly large Asian group was having some sort of dance class/exercise session there, which was interesting to observe if not actually participate in. Throughout the park are benches to take a breather on, or, if you're with someone, have a conversation on, or maybe just to sit on and "people watch," if that's your thing. Ever hear of "disc golf?" No? I haven't either, but the park has the necessary set-up for it, if it's your thing. It does have its fair share of adherents, judging by the people participating in it during the spring/summer months. They have a nice 9/11 memorial in the center area of the park. My favorite aspect of it all is the wooded area that surrounds much of the park; it has a nice, well-tended path (paved with wood chips) winding its way through at least a portion of it. When I was last here, the sun was setting with a haunting beauty, its rays filtering down through the trees and becoming lost in the thick foliage of the forest itself as twilight deepened, and it was like being in nature's grand cathedral--- I'm essentially an agnostic, but if I do have anything within me that could quality as religious feelings, I have them when I'm out in the midst of such ethereal loveliness and splendor. I guess it's a little TOO popular, in my humble opinion; it always seems a little too crowded for my taste (then again, that could be dependent upon what time of day you go here, or what day of the week/weekend you go). Sometimes you have to dodge kids barreling down the paths on their bicycles, or jump to avoid a "projectile" coming at your head from one of the overly-enthusiastic "disc golf" guys. But, this is, objectively or subjectively, a nice park, and it offers a lot for people with families, groups, the athletically inclined, or those who might just want to take a meandering, meditative walk through a pleasant rural setting by themselves. I'm not entirely sure who Harry Dunham is (or was), but he has a nice park named after him. We should all be so lucky!