West Orange, New Jersey, is a great destination to visit with the family. Located 15 minutes from Manhattan in Essex County, New Jersey, West Orange offers something for everyone.
The Main Street Corridor features four distinct neighborhoods: Eagle Rock, Tory Corner, St. Marks and the Valley. Each offers unique boutiques, restaurants and attractions.
For the outdoorsy family, head to South Mountain Reservation. Set on 2,110 acres, the nature reserve is part of the Essex County Park System. The complex features 19 miles of hiking trails, an adventure course, picnic areas, playground, fishing areas and horseback riding trails. The Turtleback Zoo is also located there. The popular zoo is home to 1,400 animals with species from all continents except Antarctica. The zoo is open daily.
Courtesy of Turtleback Zoo West Orange
West Orange offers several cultural attractions. Explore Thomas Edison National Historic Park, located right in downtown West Orange. See Edison’s house and laboratory to learn about the importance of his inventions. The Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center is a five-acre outdoor theater, perfect for listening to live music or catching a theatrical performance. The West Orange Arts Council
hosts various events, workshops and exhibits for all ages.
West Orange’s downtown hosts numerous family-friendly events this summer, including a weekly farmers market and Thursday night live music shows.
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