If you were to go on the city's stereotype alone, Newark would not be most people's first choice for a family vacation. However, the problem with stereotypes is that they are often wrong and while Newark has had its fair share of problems in the last couple of decades, it is in the midst of a strong rebound. Newark’s detractors often ignore just how much there is to see and do in New Jersey's largest city. Newark has a long and storied past along with many excellent sights that will be of interest to visitors of different ages and from a range of backgrounds. Check out some of these things that are great for families to do while visiting Newark, NJ.
Visit the Newark Museum
This is New Jersey's largest museum and offers you and your family a variety of exhibits in categories that range from art to the natural sciences. Among the things to see here are the museum's 80 galleries that feature artifacts from all over the world. They have science collections and a planetarium as well. You and your family can experience the museum’s collections, take a walk through its sculpture garden and dine at its café.
Visit the Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Here you will find Thomas Edison's laboratory and home preserved for visitors who are interested in the history of modern technology. This is where the motion picture camera was invented as well as the nickel-iron alkaline battery. The park features Thomas Edison's laboratory furnishings and equipment as well as various products and inventions such as electrical appliances and telephone apparatuses.
Relax in Branch Brook Park
This park consists of 360 acres where you will find lawns, playing fields and lakes. It has several notable landmarks such as its Octagon Shelter and multiple historic bridges. Along with activities like skating and tennis, you and your family can enjoy concerts and movies. In the spring, there is a festival celebrating the blossoming of the park's 4,000 cherry trees. Branch Brook Park has the largest single collection of cherry trees in the United States.
View Sights at Liberty State Park
This park is located on the New York Harbor and provides a stunning view of the Statue of Liberty, among other things. This is the former home of the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal through which many European immigrants from the early 19th-20th centuries entered into the United States. The park offers an interactive science museum in the Liberty Science Center and a memorial to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Whether you're visiting Newark because you've got family there, or you're just passing through on your journey to another place, there are plenty of things to do in this overlooked city. Planning a trip to New Jersey before school starts? E-Z Rent-A-Car has got you covered. We're conveniently located right in the Newark Liberty Airport and we can't wait to travel with you on your next trip. Reserve your vehicle today!
Image Credits
Downtown Newark, NJ by Ken Lund
Masters of American Comics by jmm
Thomas Edison National Historic Park by Ken Lund
Wall by Hope Abrams
Manhattan From Liberty State Park by Ludovic Bertron
