Awesome wedding venue!!! So well run, quick bartenders and food service. We were greeted by alpacas…read moreand beautiful scenery, shaded, grassy areas perfect for socializing with the crew. The cocktail hour was held in a separate building from the rest of the ceremony. There were a ton of food options for the cocktail hour. Charcuterie, a pasta bar with a delicious mushroom bolognese, and lots of drink options. Everything was beautiful, lots of decks and corners to round, and places to gather. Never had to fight anybody for a place to sit or anything. The actual reception room was large, but felt very intimate. The chairs were comfortable. The acoustics were good enough I could hear everybody at my table while the band was still playing. There were plenty of bathrooms. After the sun went down, they started a bonfire outside. There were lots of mosquitos out, though. We only sat out there a couple minutes because we were getting eaten up. I wouldn't expect them to spray the whole property, but I imagine there might be some sort of bug control solution that could work for event nights. Tiki torches? Citronella something? We had so much fun, and Waterloo really was beautiful. I'm sure that most events here play Waterloo by ABBA. It was a crowd pleaser.

This is a "town" lost to time. It is a piece of history that is in desperate need of…read moreacknowledgment and repair. But it is one that should be seen regardless. I have done here for years and it has always been a peaceful walk. I just happened to go up on canal day when a lot of the buildings are open and people are allowed to look around inside them. It is a great doorway to our country's past. I would suggest anyone to go at least once.

The memorial is set within the peaceful and scenic Horseshoe Lake Recreation Complex at 72 Eyland…read moreAvenue in Succasunna. It's a lovely park with walking paths, picnic areas, playgrounds, and a gazebo--making it a pleasant spot to visit. while reading about this, i found that- This spot also serves as the central location for Roxbury's Memorial Day Parade and ceremony. The township also honors veterans through the Hometown Heroes Banner Program, displaying personalized banners from Memorial Day through Veterans Day near the park and throughout the community. it is a calm and special place hidden inside a beautiful park. It's surrounded by paths, picnic spots, and a peaceful lake.

I have been disgustingly obsessed with this place for a good 20 years. When I used to live in the…read morearea, I'd drive on lake road just to get a few glimpses - or sneak up on the Matheny side to get a good look. When I saw that Blairsden was being served as the Mansions In May this year, I nearly died. The finest example of Beaux Arts architecture in the US ( built by Carr'ere and Hastings - who also built the New York Public Library & the Frick) So when tickets went up for $50 a piece - I quickly snapped a few up and alerted my wonderful BF (who has no interest in this) of what we were to do on Mother's Day. Turnout was expected to be tremendous, so 25 shuttles were offered to and from the mansion from the Fowler rd parking area. We got there at 12:00 and waited just a few minutes to board. By the time our shuttle was full, there was a good 20 people waiting for the next bus. We entered from the main gates on peapack rd and zipped up to the top of the hill. There were about 100 people waiting to enter the home in front of us - well worth the wait. Each room has been redesigned by interior decorators from around the US. Most of the rooms had tidbits of history here and there. Original sinks, faucets, lighting, fire hose, elevator, etc etc as well as molding, fireplaces, windows, flooring. This house was a masterpiece! I only wish they had spent more on the grounds as you were unable to see the ravine built for the home. Again - this is just for the month of May and all the proceeds to toward a good cause (Morristown Medical Center) GO GO GO!!

Beautiful tour this morning of the historic Rutherfurd Hall. Easily accessible off Route 80 [exit…read more19) in Allamuchy, NJ. Well preserved and run by a friendly staff with Joan Salvas (local historian and a great tour guide). They are planning a series of jazz concerts thru the spring, which should be interesting. The venue is also open for private parties and as a wedding venue.

Rutherfurd Hall is an amazing cultural center with an amazing historical story…read more This tutor-style house was designed by Whitney Warren, who later won the bid to design Grand Central Terminal. The landscape of the grounds were also designed by the Olmsted Brothers who became famous for designing/landscaping many of today's national parks. The Rutherfurd family lived here as early as the mid-eighteenth century, and over their families time here hosted many famous titans of industry and even future American presidents. There's a really fun/interesting story about FDR and Alice Morton. Later, Rutherfurd Hall was donated to the church and used as a type of retirement home for the nuns. Rutherfurd Hall is now owned by the Allamuchy School District who does a great job utilizing it to maintain this beautiful structure. If you go on a Wednesday, you'll be able to receive a tour through the beautiful home. Their tour guides are absolutely fantastic and know so much of the history so thoroughly it is really impressive. Rutherfurd Hall does weddings on it's own, but a local venue David's Country Inn also holds wedding ceremonies on the grounds. I'll be having my ceremony at Rutherfurd Hall and could not be more excited!

Verona/Montclair, NJ - this medieval castle-like mansion was the cozy home of industrialist…read moreFrederic Ellsworth Kip in the early 1900s, and, saved from the ignominious fate of being developed into a row of townhouses during the modern era, the estate is now part of the historic Essex County Park System and thankfully is being preserved as an eventual resource center for the arts & culture. Although the 11-acre grounds of Kip's Castle Park is open from dawn to dusk year-round, the house itself is normally closed to the public except for a brief few days around Christmas, when the home is decorated in vintage holiday splendor and the first floor is open to viewing. The home looks grand but is charmingly intimate inside. It doesn't take long to tour but makes for a lovely little visit if you happen to find yourself in the area over the holidays.

I absolutely love castles! First visit!…read more Kips Castle is a replica of a Medieval Castle! Located in Verona and Montclair New Jersey. The Castle was closed but you can explore the 11 acres of land on the ridge of First Mountain. You have beautiful views of the New York skyline. On our way out, saw the deers!!

Wow. What a unique, random gem and historic property. What is Fonthill and why is there a castle in…read moreDoylestown, Pennsylvania? Fonthill Castle was the home of archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer. (Also in Doylestown are two more Mercer buildings you can tour - the Mercer Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works building, the business Mercer ran and where most of the tiles in the castle were produced.) Henry Mercer seems like he was an interesting guy, and you can see that in his home - 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 200 windows, who knows how many staircases...! And designed and decorated in a way I've never seen anywhere else. The castle is an early example of poured-in-place concrete building and is a mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles. And there are, of course, Moravia tiles (and some historic and international tiles that he collected during his life) throughout the house - almost more than you could imagine. We visited last Saturday to experience their "Fonthill Castle Holiday Lights Meander Experience," which allows you to visit the castle through a self-guided experience (there were staff in various rooms who were happy to answer questions) and enjoy a series of Christmas trees on display throughout the home. I definitely enjoyed the experience but am definitely planning a return visit to see the castle in better light (not at night in the dark - which was perfect for the Christmas tree experience) - they offer 60-minute guided tours though the house for most of the year! The castle is pretty wild, and I look forward to visiting it again and experiencing it in a new way. If you are interested in architecture, art, crafts, the Arts and Crafts design movement, or just quirky, unusual places, definitely add Fonthill to your list and check it out!

Amazing property, it is a hidden gem. Went with my family for the tour and everyone enjoyed it!read more

4/3/26 Visit: Ford's Mansion is just one of many New…read moreJersey's historical sites. The tour is Free! Erik was our tour guide. We started out at the Washington Headquarters Museum. (In the museum, there's a video on Washington's stay in the winter of 1779-80. It'll give you an excellent overview, either before or after your tour). We then walked up a hill to Ford's Mansion. *It's a bit of a hike up the hill. In the mansion, George Washington had established his headquarters during the winter of 1779- 1780. During this winter, there was approximately 96 inches of snow. (I'll never complain about snow again). LOL... The Continental Army camped out about miles away at Jockey Hollow. The home is well preserved and maintained. After the tour of the home, we walked back to the museum. The museum was really wonderful to explore. The museum has a wonderful gift shop. Parking availability is in a small lot and on the street. Whether you're a history buff or not, think you'll enjoy the visit to Ford's Mansion.

PROS: Absolutely amazing! This building is all original and displayed properly. The land is…read morelandscaped well and the tour guide Fred was somewhat friendly. Free parking as well CONS: Almost all of the furniture inside are replicas and you can only come into this building on a tour and not on your own OVERALL: Any history enthusiast will enjoy this house tour! It's free admission, free parking, and there's a lot to see

On our random visit, entrances to the Lambert Castle and Tower were closed, but the road was open…read more We were able to admire this lovely structure from outside. Our intention anyway was to go hiking. That was accomplished. From the area of the tower, which sits higher than the castle, some panoramic views can be seen ofthe surrounding cityscape. You can also find other hiking trails that lead you further along the hilltop. A perfectly beautiful day also makes this spot... - lovely for a picnic - picturesque for a photoshoot - ideal for a background in your vlog - an escape from the noise of a busy week - nice for a nap or daydream - sweet for something romantic - zen for meditation

I took a tour of Lambert Castle a couple days prior and felt the need to explore the tower up the…read morehill. It was beautiful! Elegant stone work. A trellis covered in vines. Views of nature all the way to NYC that would've been glorious many decades ago. The valley is a bit over developed now, but still impressive. This tower would've been an extension of the extravagant home below. Just walking around it gives you a sense of power and incorporation into nature on this unique mountain in the middle of a densely populated city. Garret mountain, holds this gem, and many others. Well worth a visit!

Beautiful park to visit all year long! Amazing views!…read moreThe park includes a damn with water fall and walking trails along the Whippany River. My favorite time to visit is the Fall- the colors are spectacular!!

Nice park in Morristown. Good for a stroll. The waterfall is amazing. I love it in the fall. Some…read morebeautiful sights.