New Jersey played a major role in shaping our nation’s history, and much of it can still be found in Morris County, where George Washington once lived and the Revolutionary War was fought. Beyond the history, you’ll find plenty for your kids to do with interactive museums, NJ’s biggest lake (which really spans two counties—Morris and Sussex), and agro-entertainment at local farms. Hang with the animals at Brookhollow’s Barnyard in Boonton, see history come alive on The Green and Jockey Hollow in Morristown, or get active hitting the trails at the Schiff Nature Preserve in Randolph. Keep reading for all the best things to do in Morris County with the family. (featured photo credit: istock/Alex Poetemkin)
Top Things To Do In Morris County For Families
Alstede Farms
A favorite family destination year-round, Alstede Farms is the place for picking and farm fun. You’ll find seasonal fruit and vegetable picking, along with hayrides, farm animals, mazes, and festive events during holidays and in season. Don’t forget to stop by their farm store for delicious farm treats and homemade ice cream.
1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ 07930
Brookhollow’s Barnyard
At this family-run farm, littles will love feeding the alpacas and goats and taking a Moo-Moo Choo-Choo ride with a Thomas the Tank engine and open-air cow cars. Afterward, head to the play areas, with sandboxes, adorable play houses, and wooden playsets to round out the day.
301 Rockaway Valley Road, Boonton, NJ 07005
Frelinghuysen Arboretum
With beautifully landscaped gardens, wooded paths, and colorful seasonal displays, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum gives you a peaceful escape when you’re looking to spend time outdoors. Littles will love exploring the grounds, spotting birds and butterflies, and discovering new plants as they stroll through the winding paths.
353 East Hanover Avenue, Morris Township, NJ 07960
Fosterfields Living Historical Farm
Step back in time at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, where the whole family can experience what everyday life was like on a working farm more than a century ago. Costumed interpreters, farm animals, seasonal demonstrations, and hands-on activities make history engaging for kids of all ages while you can get a glimpse into New Jersey’s agricultural past.
73 Kahdena Road, Morris Township, NJ 07960
Hacklebarney State Park
Known for its rushing streams, wooded trails, and scenic stone bridges, Hacklebarney State Park is one of those things to do in Morris County for the whole family. Put on your walking shoes and take a hike along the Black River, enjoy a picnic beneath towering trees (you can pick it up in nearby Chester), and experience the changing scenery throughout the year.
119 Hacklebarney Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853
Historic Speedwell
Show your kids a world before texting at the Historical Speedwell, aka “Birthplace of the Telegraph,” where you can explore the Industrial Revolution through guided tours and interactive exhibits. Check out the S.S. Savannah Exhibit, which explores the maiden voyage of the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, and the Factory Building, where they conducted the first successful demonstration of the telegraph.
333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
Lewis Morris Park
If your family loves spending time outside, Lewis Morris Park offers miles of scenic hiking trails (including the original Patriot’s Path), fishing, picnic areas, and a beautiful lake. On Memorial Day through Labor Day, Sunrise Lake Beach provides a great place to cool off, making this park an amazing spot for a full day of outdoor fun.
270 Mendham Road, Morris Township, NJ 07960
Morristown National Historical Park
Discover the place where General George Washington and the Continental Army spent the winter during the Revolutionary War at Morristown National Historical Park. Take a tour of the preserved Ford Mansion to see where Washington lived, then head to the Green, a park in the middle of town that served as a practice ground for Washington’s army. After, take a ride to nearby Jockey Hollow, where kids can see the cabins soldiers once slept in and hid from the British, and the Wick House, a centuries-old home that once served as a command center during the war.
30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ 07960
Morris Museum
Fun fact— the Morris Museum is the only NJ museum with a Smithsonian affiliation in the state. Kids can learn about NJ’s Native American history, watch a model train wind through an ever-changing miniature display, or touch a dinosaur egg in the Earth Science Gallery. Don’t miss the Bickford Theatre events throughout the year, including storytelling workshops, community concerts, and children’s theatre.
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
Museum of Early Trades and Crafts
Focusing on culture, trades, and crafts over the last two centuries, this New Jersey museum has over 7,000 historic objects in its collection, spanning the early 18th and 19th centuries, with children’s programs including Toys and Tales and the American Revolution. Don’t miss their permanent exhibit, where you can learn all about how men and women worked in the 1800s and how technology, innovations, and breakthrough inventions changed the world.
9 Main Street, Madison, NJ 07940
