Top Things to do in New Jersey
Top Hotels in New Jersey
Countries
What to do and see in New Jersey, United States: The Best History Museums
Whether you are looking for sun-drenched beaches or outdoor activities in beautiful countryside, New Jersey has plenty to offer. Those who love the great outdoors should head for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which runs along the Delaware River for forty miles. Here you can go rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking or fishing, or simply admire the stunning waterfalls. There is a huge range of hiking trails to choose from as well as historic sites to visit. In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing near Blue Mountain Lakes, and birdwatchers might be lucky enough to catch sight of bald eagles. If you are looking for a change, visit one of New Jersey's eleven lighthouses that are open to public, such as the one in Cape May. For art and history enthusiasts, New Jersey State Museum in Trenton has historic artifacts and American fine art from the nineteenth century to the present day as well as a Planetarium.
Restaurants in New Jersey
1. Avalon History Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
2. Museum of NJ Maritime History
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 121 reviews
Reviewed By R4960NKjustinw - Hasbrouck Heights, United States
I have to say that for a small museum I was very impressed by the amount of information that this museum covers. It is really an interesting and amazing place for a small museum at the shore. There are rooms that cover shark attacks, luxury liner disasters, ship wrecks, shore erosion issues, Coast Guard information, local history dealing with the sea and shore and lots of artifacts from wrecks over the last three hundred years. I was impressed by the information on the 1916 Shark Attacks that inspired the movie "Jaws" and the disaster of many of the luxury liners even after what we learned from the Titanic ten years earlier. There are all sorts of eye witness accounts recorded and all sorts of artifacts. There is a lot of information on Maritime history of the Jersey Shore and a lot about the resort history of the area. There is a lot on the resorts of not just Beach Haven but the surrounding shore towns. Each room is packed with information and can be somewhat overwhelming unless you have a few hours to spend here like I did. I found myself leaving after over two hours. Do not miss this little gem of a museum that is well worth the visit and has free admission. They ask for a small donation which is fair. The people who work here are very friendly and welcoming and will answer any questions.
3. Ringwood Manor
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By R4960NKjustinw - Hasbrouck Heights, United States
I love coming to Ringwood Manor at Christmas Time. It really is a special place when you see it all decorated for the holidays. The whole house is in full Christmas decor. Each room has a different theme to it and is decorated to the hilt. The Friends organization does a nice job showcasing the house at the holidays. I am sure that the family did not decorate that much. My favorite room was the formal dining room that was set for Christmas lunch with all the tableware and fake foods on the side board. The house is beautifully decorated but not overdone. Remember to visit the barn on the property to see all the arts and crafts for sale. In the smaller gift shop in the house, take time to see all the handmade ornaments. One of the crafters is really creative. There is also a small coffee shop in the next building to have a snack. It is really a nice afternoon at the Ringwood Manor.
4. Sea Isle City Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
The Sea Isle Historical Museum is located within the local library building (shown in photo), and is the repository of Sea Isle's 136-year history from its founding in 1880 as an envisioned "Venice of America" to the present. The museum welcomes all ages to explore an eclectic array of artifacts ranging from a hundred-year old trolley bell to a 1970s flight suit. Visual material includes thousands of photographs, maps, books, and monographs. Visitors are invited to browse through the many displays and collections, or to sit and research any desired subject at leisure. It's free - and there's no time limit.
Reviewed By NewJerseyGirl123
This is a must do in Sea Isle. The new Library is beautiful with scenic views of the bay and the Historic Museum is so cute and an interesting time.
5. Tatham Life Saving Station and Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By davidwgoodland
Tatham Life Saving Station is one of the sites featured in the New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge. I'm unsure about regular open house hours. However, this is a good place to stop and learn about the history of the Jersey shore and take in a great view of the ocean and bird sanctuary in Stone Harbor.
6. The Paranormal Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
The Paranormal Museum® is now a fully guided experience. Your 60 minutes in The Paranormal Museum will include a docent led tour to provide background and context for our collection. However, you will not also be able to get a little more up close and personal with many of our artifacts. We understand that your interest in the paranormal is more than academic. We, like you, crave experience.
7. Liberty Hall Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56 reviews
Welcome to Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University, home of New Jersey's first elected governor and signer of the Constitution, William Livingston. Built in 1772, on the eve of the American Revolution, Liberty Hall has been a silent witness to more than 200 years of American history. Over the last two centuries, the originally 14-room Georgian manor has grown into a 50-room Victorian-Italianate Mansion! The site houses extensive collections of antique furniture, ceramics, textiles, toys and tools owned by seven generations of the Livingston and Kean families. Liberty Hall has been home to Governors, U.S. Congressmen and Senators, entrepreneurs, and pioneering women with vision and strength. The stories of their lives, passed down from generation to generation, tell how this family met the challenges of a changing nation. Visit Liberty Hall Museum to discover the living past during house and garden tours, educational programs, special events, and lectures!
Reviewed By claimsgal - Union, United States
What a great day we had! The tea assortment was wonderful, the young lady who escorted us thru the Kean home was very knowledgeable & it was fun to learn not only thr history of the Kean family but also other notable famous people that lived & visited the home over the years - looking forward to going back in 2020
8. Newark Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 285 reviews
The Newark Museum, New Jersey's largest museum, invites you to enjoy unforgettable experiences in the arts and natural sciences. Take an inspirational journey through 80 galleries of world-class collections, travel to the stars in our popular Planetarium, and stroll through our beautiful sculpture garden.
Reviewed By Herstory_62 - Philadelphia, United States
At the center of the historic & once grand Newark downtown the first class museum with striking exhibit space offers insights into both the old & resurgent city. Adjacent to the elegant Ballantine mansion, overflowing with silver & handsome furnishings, the eclectic collection contains masterpieces from the 19th century & Hudson River School, Corning & Steuben glass, jewelry & modern crafts as well. Although we ran out of time, on our next visit - with discounts for seniors - we look forward to exploring the 20th century art.
9. Red Mill Museum Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 108 reviews
Reviewed By ScenicTrek - New Jersey, United States
This was a totally quaint experience with picturesque views, local history, and a cozy, home town feel. We went on a Saturday (November 30) when the weather was completely conducive to taking in the sights: it was fairly mild, sunny, and there was no precipitation at all. The crowds were very manageable, and we were able to get a parking spot in the first lot we entered (though I think it was literally the last one). Before we toured the mill itself we strolled around the museum grounds. There are several buildings to see, some of which you can enter (dynamite shed, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, and Peg Leg’s shack) and some you cannot (screen house, tenant house, and log cabin). There are several signs that provide some information about the buildings and quarry. The Winter Village consists of two outdoor, tented areas with vendors. The larger one is located behind the screen house and the smaller one in front of it. They are heated inside and have plastic floorboards anchored in place for ease of walking. Their literature says there are about 40 vendors, and this seemed accurate. We actually went in only the larger tent. Vendors there were selling: kaleidoscopes, soaps, lotions, sketchbooks, dog treats, clothing, artwork, wooden signs, dream catchers, toffee, Christmas ornaments, scarves, hats, and other items. The mill museum itself is housed on four floors: basement (main entrance level), first floor, second floor (closed to the public when we were there) and third floor / attic. Its collection consists of agricultural / farming equipment, industrial items, tools, and milling equipment. There are plenty of gears, pieces of large equipment, and pulleys and drive belts that you can see up close, especially on the basement level and on the third floor (attic). The current highlight of the collection is an antique radio and TV exhibit containing commercial equipment, speakers, transistor radios, tombstone style radios, and some equipment housed in decorative wooden cabinets. There is an old manager’s office containing a desk, log books, safe, some personal affects, and wooden crates. There is also a mock sound booth in one corner where you can interact with a video and see what it’s like to be a sound engineer. The Festival of Trees component of the museum consists of a few dozen decorated trees, wreaths, and centerpieces placed throughout the museum among its artifacts. In addition to the mill museum, the Winter Village, and the Festival of Trees, on the other side of the river is Main Street and the Hunterdon Art Museum. While we were there, a musical and dance performance (selections from Disney’s Frozen movie) was done in the patio area in front of the Art Museum. There is also a Santa’s workshop building there with plenty of goodies inside for children to see. Along Main Street on the south side (next to Dora Restaurant) there is a Christmas tree set up in a patio area with Santa there so you can take a picture with him. There is no cost for the photo, but the local Boy Scout Troop was soliciting donations. I gladly obliged. Main Street is adorned with the usual Christmas decorations, but there are also a few eye-catching decorations that bring a smile to your face, such as a mailbox for Santa, a small tree turned into a gnome-like creature, and a table built right on top of a vintage bicycle. And of course you can’t forget the bridge that crosses the river, which is decorated its entire length with wooden soldiers and garland. Some Helpful Things to Know: 1) The Winter Village Market only runs from November 29 to December 1. The Festival of Trees runs until December 8. 2) Admission to the mill museum is $10.00 per person, but it is free for museum members, children age 6 and under, and active military personnel. Considering that the admission revenue goes to the upkeep of the museum, I gladly paid it. You can purchase admission on site or in advance through their website. The admission booth has two lines: one for pre-paid (online) and credit card patrons and one for cash patrons. 3) There is a small trailer on site that is turned into a Photo Booth. Photos are free with your paid admission to the museum. Photos are in color and are the small strip kind you typically get from a photo booth. There is a stand next to the photo booth with props you can use in your pictures (e.g., various signs, reindeer antlers, smoking pipe). The photo booth attendant was very pleasant and cheerful. 4) There was a petting zoo for children. Admission is $5.00, and there were small goats, a rabbit, some sheep, and an alpaca. 5) There is a gift shop in the basement level of the mill. Items for sale include: walking sticks, coffee mugs, stuffed animals, Christmas ornaments, shirts, hats, scarves, embroidered drink coasters, and polished rocks. 6) Accessing all the museum exhibits involves walking up several flights of stairs. I am nearly certain that there is no elevator, so people with mobility concerns may have a difficult time getting around the mill. 7) The public restroom facilities for the museum amount to three portable bathrooms. 8) There are seven free municipal parking lots in the vicinity. I consider all of them but one to be within walking distance of the mill (3 blocks or less). The Winter Village area map shows that a shuttle bus runs to three of the lots with a drop off area right at the bridge that runs between the mill and Main Street. We didn’t use the shuttle, so I cannot confirm if it was running. 9) Main Street, a two-block stretch directly across the river from the mill, is delightful and has that yesteryear feel to it. It is lined with: shops and boutiques, two coffee houses, pharmacy, Christian bookstore, spa, antique store, visitor center, candy store, and bread / pastry shop, among others. There are four restaurants and a pizzeria within a two block radius. It also has the occasional alley between buildings lined with benches and a brick walkway. 10) There were horse-drawn carriage rides going on while we were there. I don’t know how much they cost. Our visit was an absolutely delightful experience. It started with lunch at Clinton House and continued with the Red Mill Museum, the Winter Village, the Festival of Trees, and a stroll down Main Street with a stop for hot beverages and dessert. We spent about 4½ hours there. I would definitely recommend the whole experience. I’m sure that families with children will find the area and its attractions to be a wonderful way to spend the day. If my review was helpful, please consider clicking the thumbs-up button. Thank you!
10. Allaire State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 176 reviews
Spanning more than 3,000 acres, this state park is best known for its 19th-century iron-making town, Allaire Village, and antique steam trains.
Reviewed By LuvTravel2011KD - Neptune, United States
A trip to see the train for our first visit. We will go back to do some more exploring in the Fall and hopefully everything will be open. Not crowded at all plenty of room to social distance and not wear a mask. Some people were riding their bikes and a few people at the picnic tables. A local park that you can enjoy without the crowds.
