Morristown, New Jersey is home to hundreds of businesses that have shaped the city into a cultural and commercial destination for families across the state.
This small, accessible city will make you feel like you are on the streets of New York as you sit on a park bench in the Morristown Green in the center of the historic downtown shopping district featuring dozens of critically acclaimed kid friendly restaurants and shops. But Morristown is more than just an urban haven – the city is surrounded by some of the state’s most beautiful nature preserves and parks for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Whether your family is ready for a day of active fun with ice skating at Mennen Sports Arena, community gardening with Grow It Green, or trail rides at Seaton Hackney Stables, Morristown is the place to visit. Creative types will never run out of ways to celebrate art as a family, between fine art classes at Morris Museum, glass fusion at Glassworks Studio, and Guaranteed Musician programs at The Original Music School. Fall in love with Morristown by starting with NJMOM’s guide of the city’s best activities for families.
Here are Morristown’s Best Activities for Families:
Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmomhq and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
1. Seaton Hackney Stables
Make your children’s equestrian dreams a reality by starting horseback riding lessons at Seaton Hackney Stables. Stunning facilities and top-notch instructors makes Seaton Hackney one of New Jersey’s most trusted locations for your little horse-lovers. This stable stands out with several Petite Equestrian options for young riders. Baby Riders for ages 3 – 5 utilizes music and balance exercises to build the development of hand-eye coordination through interactive games on and off the horse. The Pony Grooming and Riding Program for ages 5 – 7 teaches children how to lead, groom, and tend to the horses, as well as the basics of riding and controlling at low intervals. Experienced riders will have no shortage of options at Seaton Hackney with program options including Cross Country Clinics, Dressage Lessons, Side Saddle Lessons, and Trail Riding.
440 South St, Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information, please call (973) 644-3355 or visit http://www.seatonhackney.com
2. Ice Skating at Mennen Sports Arena
Open to the public since 1975, Mennen Sports Arena has become a treasured destination for family activity in Morris County. The facility offers year-round ice skating, making it a perfect place to celebrate the cold winter months, or beat the heat during the dog days of summer. Grab a cute sweater and your favorite mittens, and bring the family to Morristown every Friday night for Open Skate and glide along with loved ones as a live DJ provides your skating soundtrack, or stop by throughout the week or weekend during General Admission hours. Mennen Sports Arena offers much more than ice skating; you will find special events running year-round, including the Annual Shrine Circus, cat and dog shows, antique and craft shows, National Night Out, and the very popular Garden State Comic Fest.
161 Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information, please call (973) 326-7651 or visit https://morristourism.org/outdoors-nature/sports-activities/mennen-sports-arena
3. Grow It Green
Give your children the gift of gardening by teaching the skills to grow your own fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. The goal of Grow It Green is, “to create sustainable farms and gardens that provide equal access to fresh, local foods and educate communities through programs focused on healthy eating and environmental stewardship.” After turning vacant Morristown locations into beautifully curated community gardens, families started paying attention. Today, Grow It Green is actively working to expand existing gardens and open new spaces to create new opportunities for families to grow together. Sign up for the “Be Your Own Gardener” class series and, “create a thriving organic vegetable garden,” in your own backyard or community garden plot. Classes are available for gardeners of all levels of experience, and include themes like Bee Keeping, Raising Chickens, and Storing Produce for the Winter. Sign up for a single class, or packages of 3 or 9 classes at discounted rates.
The Urban Farm: Located behind the Lafayette Learning Center, at 31 Hazel Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
The Early Street Community Garden: 17 Early Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information, please call (973) 206-4177 or visit http://www.growitgreenmorristown.org
4. Morristown Game Vault
For families who love gaming, friendly competition, and a fun day out together – take a trip to the Morristown Game Vault for access to dozens of retro arcade games that will keep you entertained for hours. Pass down your love for classic upright arcade games to your little ones as you re-discover the fun of Commando, Baby Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong Jr., Fix It Felix, Galaga, and much more. Get noisy with themed Pinball machines including The Addam’s Family, Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and Theatre of Magic. The Game Vault makes it easy to play as many games as possible, by offering timed admission and wristbands – no need to fumble with coins and tickets, as all games are set to free-play. When you have worked up your appetite, choose from one of Morristown’s many family-friendly restaurants, many of which are less than a block away from the Game Vault: Urban Table, Anthony’s Pizza, Pure Pita Morristown, and Monster Sushi are some NJMOM favorites.
22 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information, please call (973) 944-8500 or visit http://www.morristowngamevault.com
5. Hiking & Biking at Loantaka Brook Reserve
Don’t be fooled by Morristown’s stylish, urban environment – this city is framed with miles and miles of luscious, New Jersey scenery and nature destinations. Loantaka Brook Reservation spans an impressive 744 acres and is home to eight miles of trails, including paved trails and unpaved bridle paths between Morristown and Madison. Named after a Native American phrase for “the place of cold water,” this beautiful reservation is defined by the flowing Loantaka Brook which runs into the Great Swamp. With the right route, families can create a perfect loop hike or bike ride for a day of active fun. In the fall, enjoy the colorful foliage while the kids bring the family pup for a nature walk. Celebrate New Jersey’s beautiful snowfalls this winter by utilizing Loantaka’s well-maintained trails for cross-country skiing. Trails are handicap accessible, making this nature reservation a perfect location for all families in New Jersey to enjoy.
Access points at 468 South Street or 139 Kitchell Road, both in Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information, please visit http://www.nynjtc.org/park/loantaka-brook-reservation
6. Glassworks Studio
Family members of all ages can now learn the art of glass fusion in Glassworks Studio’s fun atmosphere conveniently located in downtown Morristown. Come in for an Open Studio experience – select from a variety of project types, learn the basics with a crash-course in glass fusing from a staff member, and start designing with brightly colored glass pieces to create your own work of art. Leave your creations with trusted professionals to fire up the kiln and solidify your project into a finished piece. After one week, you can take home your artwork – be sure to find a place where the sunlight can reflect off the colorful glass! Glassworks Studio is a perfect location for a family activity, birthday party, or group outing. Mom will want to come back on Wednesday nights from from 5:00PM – 10:00PM for Adult Night. When you are done with this fun, artistic activity, hop across the street to South Street Creamery & Cafe for Morristown’s best ice cream, and savory lunch specials.
151 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information, please call (973) 656-0800 or visit http://www.umakeglass.com
7. Morris Museum
For an educational family outing, look no further than Morris Museum. For hours and hours, families can explore art and science at a high caliber than you may have thought could only be found in a New York museum. Right in New Jersey’s backyard, this easily accessible Morristown facility features exhibitions that will peak your interest and curiosity, including rotating displays like Planet Ocean, Toothpick World, and Mega Model Trains. The community favorite permanent instillations include the Dinosaur Den, Rocks and Minerals, Mammals, and The American Indian. Morris Museum also features three stages for theatre and music performances. The Children’s Theatre is especially designed to showcase productions fit for your little one’s interests. A subscription of $24 will grant you access to any three children’s performances of your choice, while a combo ticket of $15 includes a Children’s Theatre performance ticket and admission to Morris Museum. Programs for children and teens at the museum run year-round; The Art Behind Animation, A Day With Picasso, and Quirky Sculptures are just some studio art classes that will boost your little one’s love for the arts in this all-encompassing museum experience.
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information, please call (973) 971-3700 or visit http://www.morrismuseum.org
8. Frelinghuysen Arboretum
Just a hop and a skip away from Morristown, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township is located in the heart of a luscious, green outdoor park maintained by the Morris County Park Commission. This facility promotes engaging and enriching education in horticulture. Take a look at the online events calendar and you will quickly see that there is no shortage of family entertainment at Frelinghuysen. From family photo scavenger hunts and garden tours to herb preservation classes and a Gingerbread Wonderland Craft Showcase, people of all ages can find a free or inexpensive activity every weekend that is grounded in nature and creativity. To make your visit even more interactive, take a family hike through the nearby Patriots Path Blue Blaze portion to top off your day of outdoor fun.
353 East Hanover Ave, Morris Township, NJ 07960
For more information, please call (973) 326-7601 or visit http://www.arboretumfriends.org
9. Sabrina’s Art Studio
Challenge yourself by learning new painting techniques at Morristown’s original paint studio, Sabrina’s Art Studio, owned and operated by Sabrina Diana, a local Morristown resident. Sabrina aims to expose children and adults alike to the fine arts in the comfortable family atmosphere of a small business. Choose from one of Sabrina’s family, kid-friendly, or paint and sip style classes, and have fun as you receive step-by-step instruction to paint your own canvas creation. Each experience will feature a different painting, making this studio a destination to visit time and time again. Perfect for group outings and birthday parties, painting classes are more fun when you participate with friends and family!
143 Morris Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information, please call (973) 538-2954 or visit http://www.sabrinasartstudio.com
10. The Original Music School
If you find your children singing in the shower, rockin’ the air guitar, or obsessively listening to their favorite bands on their iPods, then it may be time for lessons at The Original Music School in Morristown. The creators and music instructors at OMS have worked to reinvent what it means to learn an instrument by throwing out the old school methods of boring practice and gimmicky rock classes, to create their Guaranteed Musician program. In just three months, OMS guarantees that you will find yourself playing drums, ukulele, piano/keyboard, voice, or bass. It’s that easy – the passionate instructors at OMS eliminate issues with traditional teaching methods that might have caused your children to lose interest in the past, including misunderstanding technical words, too much information at once, not knowing how to practice in an efficient and interesting way, and not truly feeling like you are becoming a musician. Structured tests, a fun environment, and applicable lessons will guide your little musician through the steps needed to make their rock star dreams a reality.
26 Morris Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information, please call (973) 998-8977 or visit http://www.originalmusicschool.com/#intro
Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmomhq and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
