Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Parsippany, NJ

  • Published 2022/04/14

Parsippany-Troy Hills Township is a small, scarcely populated township in Morris County, New Jersey.

The name of the place comes from its long history of residence and agriculture in native American communities.

Parsipanong is the native American term for ‘the place where the river winds through the valley.’

While Parsippany is not a particularly popular destination among tourists, the beauty of this place attracts many people every year.

Today Parsippany is known for its adventure sports, natural landscapes, shopping center, food and drinks, and a lot more.

Parsippany is a perfect blend of the country and the city, with people coming in and going out all the time.

If you are someone who would rather stroll lazily through the forest on a sunny morning than go to a day party, Parsippany will be a treat to the soul.

Let’s check out some of the best things you can do the next time you visit Parsippany and make sure you have a great time while you are at it.

Let’s find out more about seeing the town and landscape from a hot air balloon, getting the thrill of adventure sports, going on a wine tour, and hiking through the woods.

Hiking in the Loantaka Brook Reservation

Scenic daytime view at Loantaka Brook Reservation

Glenda Esperida / Shutterstock.com

The Loantaka Brook Reservation in Morris County offers a great chance for visitors to idle away on these 883 acres of open fields and forests.

Visitors can enjoy the full glory of this place on a clear, sunny day when they take a cycle to ride through the trails.

If cycling is not for you, hiking would be equally enjoyable.

A naked tree near the waters of Loantaka Brook Reservation

Glenda Esperida / Shutterstock.com

Until 1957, this area was private property.

Loantaka Brook Reservation is ideal for spring and summer when the plants and trees wake up to new life.

It is a popular spot for many events for the local community, and visitors would feel welcome, too.

Bikepath lined with trees at Loantaka Brook Reservation

Tomwsulcer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Take a Historical Tour of Grover Cleveland Birthplace

One of the most historical places in the township is the Grover Cleveland Birthplace, which was the birthplace of the 22nd and 24th United States President Stephen Grover Cleveland.

It became a part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 when it was already a privately-owned museum.

If you are a history buff who likes to see first-hand the places that are witness to many historical events, you will like a tour of the Grover Cleveland Birthplace.

Located just outside the Parsippany township near Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell, this historic place is run by a group of patrons and volunteers.

You can visit this place from Monday to Friday, and upon getting there, you can get a guided or self-guided tour of the museum.

Go on a Botanical Adventure at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum

Exterior of Frelinghuysen Arboretum's main house

Tomwsulcer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum hosts an awesome collection of trees, plants, flowers, shrubs, and everything that’s green living, making it a haven for budding botanists or botany enthusiasts.

If you are traveling to Parsippany with kids, you must visit this park with them to teach them about the local vegetation of New Jersey.

Autumn trees framing the Frelinghuysen Arboretum's trail

Dave Blinder / Shutterstock.com

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is ideal for morning and evening walks when you want to bask in the greenery without the deafening sound of cars and people.

The Branching Out! Garden is exclusively run and maintained by children aged 5 to 13, making it a perfect place for your children to spend some quality time.

Located at 353 East Hanover Avenue, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum is free to enter all seven days of the week.

A pathway lined with colorful shrubs at Frelinghuysen Arboretum

Tomwsulcer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Stay at Sonesta ES Suites Parsippany

If you are planning for a medium to a long-duration trip to Parsippany, you would want to stay in a hotel that offers the best.

Sonesta ES Suites Parsippany promises just that.

This 3-star hotel offers some of the best facilities you can find anywhere in Parsippany.

It includes Stop by The Pour coffees and smoothies, barbecue grills, the shoppe, and grab-and-go breakfast.

The Sonesta ES Suites is popular for both corporate and casual tourists and offers adequate corporate meeting facilities.

Located at 61 Interpace Pkwy in Parsippany, this hotel is less than 30 miles away from New York, making it convenient for weekend getaways from the city.

Part of the Sonesta International group, the Sonesta ES Suites Parsippany is among the finest hotels which give you the best of food, comfort, and experience.

Play Golf at the Knoll Country Club

Golf aficionados will be up for a treat when they visit the Knoll Country Club, a 360-acre private space with two 18 hole golf courses.

There are many membership options to choose from at Knoll Country Club, which means that you enjoy a few days here even if you are coming for a short vacation.

Charles H. Banks designed and established this golf course in 1927, and the section designed by him is now known as Knoll Country Club West.

Hal Purdy founded the Knoll Country Club West East in 1961, and the two sections combined to make the present Knoll Country Club.

The place is located at Greenbank Road, Boonton, and you can visit their website to book a slot or buy a membership.

Live the Country Life at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm

Exterior of Fosterfields Living Historical Farm's house

Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com

The Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is a unique open-air museum and farming area at the junction of Mendham and Kahdena Roads in Morris Township.

It is home to many farm animals, and visitors get to spend time with them on the farm premises.

Kids especially love this space since it’s full of welcoming and friendly horses, pigs, goats, sheep, and other animals.

History marker of Fosterfields Living Historical Farm

Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Visitors eager to go to the Fosterfields Living Historical farm have to get tickets online.

It’s a very important spot for Parsippany since it was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Visitors do not need to pay anything to enter this farm, and, on top of that, you can make the most of the hiking and cycling trails here.

Take Your Furry Friend along the Central Park County Dog Park

Parsippany is not just fun for us humans but also for our dearest furry friends, the dogs.

If you are traveling to Parsippany with a dog (or any other pet), you cannot afford to miss a visit to the Central Park County Dog Park.

Located at Collins Rd, Parsippany, this park is open from 9 am to 7 pm all seven days of the week.

It has large open spaces for dogs and pups to run around and socialize with other dogs, making it a great spot for all pet owners.

Not just your dog, but even you would have a good time among a lot of dogs and wide, open, green spaces.

Take a Tour of the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center

Those who love history and know about the Revolutionary War must have heard of Jockey Hollow.

The Jockey Hollow Visitor Center preserves that history to this day.

The continental army used this place for their winter encampment at a time when it was the family estate of the Wick Family.

Apart from the historical value, it is a serene and scenic place to spend some time in the full glory of nature.

The visitor’s center hosts a lot of historical material and documents about the history of Jockey Hollow, the Revolutionary war, the continental army, and much more.

The place is open every day from 10 am to 4 pm.

But you should try to get in touch with the authorities before visiting to know whether the visitor center is open or not.

Learn about the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey

The United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey, located at 104 Morris Ave, is one of the most unique offerings of Parsippany.

The organization that runs this society is not-for-profit, and it continues to work towards preserving New Jersey’s historical railroads and trains.

Since volunteers run this place, they’re more than eager to show tourists around the place apart from conducting different events.

If you are someone who has an explainable affinity for historical railroads, the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey is a must-visit place for you.

It is also a great place to take children since the entire museum is filled with informational and historical artifacts that any child would appreciate.

Know the History of Farming at The Ayres/Knuth Farm Foundation

Exterior of the The Ayres/Knuth Farm Foundation's house

Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Agriculture is at the heart of Parsippany culture, and the Ayres/Knuth Farm Foundation is a living testimony to that.

Since its inception, the farm has been operational and is one of the best examples of 19th-century agricultural infrastructure.

The Ayres/Knuth Farm Foundation fights for the preservation of nature and old agricultural techniques.

Located at 25 Cooper Road, Denville, anyone can visit this farm foundation from Parsippany.

This farm is also a part of the National Register of Historic Places.

Challenge Yourself at the Turkey Mountain

There are two popular hiking mountains in Parsippany, and Turkey mountain is the less popular of the two.

Being less popular also means there are fewer people and comparatively difficult trails, which bring the best out of hikers.

Located on Boonton Avenue, this mountain is nature at its rawest.

Since it is a difficult trek, it’ll be better if you start early in the morning with ample time in hand.

If you love trekking and hiking, Turkey mountain is the place to be the next time you are in Parsippany.

Have Fun with Ponies at Jack’s Petting & Pony Farm

If you are looking for a wholesome and refreshing place to visit with your family, Jack’s Petting & Pony Farm will be a great option.

Located at Boonton Avenue, it is one of the most loved places in all of Parsippany, mostly because of the cute ponies.

If you or your kids are keen on a pony ride, Jack’s loving ponies would be glad to give you the fun of a pony ride.

It is also a popular spot for parties and events where the ponies also come as guests.

The owners, Jack and Sam, will ensure that you have the time of your life at Jack’s Petting and Pony Farm.

Go Fishing at The Bee Meadow Park

Parsippany is as much for anglers as it is for hikers and cyclists, and Bee Meadow Park is a case in point.

Located off Reynolds Avenue in Whippany, the place is open from 7 am to 9 pm every day.

It is a great spot for angling, swimming, or simply relaxing by the waters.

There’s also an 89-acre field where the young and old play different games together.

Whether you’re a child or an adult, Bee Meadow Park has something for both.

Swim and Boat at Sunrise Lake Beach Club

Daytime view of Sunrise Lake Beach Club

Kidzet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you like safe spaces for swimming and boating with the kids, the Sunrise Lake Beach Club is a great place.

It is one of the best private-owned water parks with ample space for swimming and boating.

While the place is more popular among kids, even young adults and adults will find a lot of things to do here.

The park remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

It opens from 11 a.m. – to 6 p.m with a $13 and $11 tickets for adults and children, respectively.

When looking for a place to swim or boar in Parsippany, you need not look beyond Sunrise Lake Beach Club.

Play Games at Black Brook Park

Black Brook Park is the destination for all sports lovers in Parsippany.

With volleyball, tennis, handball, and baseball fields, it is a haven for sports lovers.

Located at 40 Sunset Dr, Whippany, it is easily accessible from Parsippany.

Apart from Mondays and Thursdays, the park is open every day from 6:30 am to 8 pm.

Overall, it is a great place to spend some quiet time or get competitive with friends and family.

Know the History of the Land at Morris Plains Museum

Parsippany is full of historic places, and the Morris Plains Museum makes you aware of this history.

The museum opens only on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, or you can contact the authorities for a private tour.

The collection of items reflects the long history of the county and the town.

Located at 51 Jim Fear Drive, it is very close to the city center.

Visiting the special exhibitions will give you the best possible experience of a tour through the history of Morris County.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a place away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you will enjoy a trip to Parsippany.

Its proximity to major cities makes the place accessible for all.

Once you are in Parsippany, check out these places and events for a great experience.

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