Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Rockaway, NJ

  • Published 2022/07/19

The township of Rockaway, New Jersey, features famous restaurants and a wealth of art and literature.

Stop by the old streets scattered around this popular tourist site to learn more about its past while having fun and making priceless memories.

Rockaway Township sponsors various sporting activities to benefit the locals and potential tourist visitors.

It is worth visiting several well-known tourist attractions, including the Rockaway Town Square, Farney State Park, Rockaway Lanes, and many others.

Whether you’re organizing a long-awaited trip or a major shopping spree, this tourist destination has a lot to offer.

Below is a short guide to the best things to do in Rockaway, NJ.

Visit Farney State Park

A swamp at Farney State Park

bill-now, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Located in Morris County, NJ, Rockaway Township is home to the 4,866-acre state park known as Farny State Park.

The park comprises streams, mixed oak and hardwood forests, and marshes.

A historic logging road passes through the wooded environment of Farny State Park, which connects watershed areas.

The several pathways that transect the natural region, all of the varied complexity, are perfect for trekking.

The forest canopy of the Farny Natural Area is one of the best places in the Farny State Park for birdwatching.

It provides a habitat for the rare and endangered red-shouldered hawk and barred owl.

Listen to Jazz Music while Enjoying a Meal at Caffé NaVona

Caffé Navona offers regional Italian cuisine and wines.

The cafe also has a lounge where musicians play piano and live jazz music.

Other Italian restaurants in New Jersey cannot compare to Caffé Navona for traditional Italian cuisine in a chic, captivating setting.

To enjoy a beautiful evening of atmosphere and delectable cuisine, they are the ideal venue to bring family, friends, or just that special person.

At their bar, you may sip wine or savor traditional cocktails while listening to fantastic jazz and show tunes played on their grand piano.

There isn’t a more relaxed spot to spend time with close friends and family or a more romantic environment to share with your significant other.

Have a Fun Weekend at Rockaway Lanes

The best modern bowling alley in Northern New Jersey is Rockaway Lanes.

Rockaway Lanes is committed to providing the finest entertainment value.

Rockaway Lanes feature laser lights, disco lights, devices that spew out haze, and so forth.

You can enjoy cosmic bowling at Rockaway Lanes Laser Light Bowling.

Their contemporary bowling alley offers bumper lanes that are kid-friendly, an abundance of tiny shoes, and light bowling balls.

They have it all: birthday parties, business excursions, camps, league play, beverages, food, and family fun.

In addition, they host fantastic Laser Light Bowling activities for adults, teenagers, and children.

Grab Breakfast at Missy’s Main Street Cafe

At Missy’s Main Street Cafe, customers can expect excellent food and customer service.

This modest café in Rockaway is a fantastic place to have breakfast or lunch.

For example, one entrée might contain two eggs, two pancakes, home fries, your choice of meat, and bread.

Their Wild Turkey Sandwich is famous and has earned excellent reviews from locals and tourists of Rockaway, New Jersey.

On toasted multi-grain bread, this sandwich combines their slow-roasted turkey with swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.

In addition to the tasty Taylor Ham and Cheese, their Lumberjack is their best-selling breakfast item.

Pamper Yourself at Massage Envy

Do you need to choose the ideal location for practical massages, stretches, and facials?

Look no farther than the Massage Envy branch in Rockaway.

Professional massage therapists and estheticians passionate about making customers feel and look their best provide these services.

Everyone can agree that living a happy life should be pain-free.

The therapists at Massage Envy Rockaway treat any aches or pains you may be experiencing.

Their goal at the Massage Envy in Rockaway is to assist people in taking care of themselves.

Regular stretching might aid with performance and mobility as well.

Shop with the Girls at Rockaway Town Square

Exterior of Rockaway Town Square

NABFNJ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On Mount Hope Avenue in Rockaway Township, New Jersey, you can find a two-story super-regional retail center called Rockaway Town Square.

Rockaway Town Square initially opened on Labor Day weekend in 1977.

One of the most preferred shopping destinations is Rockaway Town Square, which offers a wide variety of stores with Macy’s and JCPenney as its main anchors.

You can find over 140 retailers, including Michael Kors, Coach, Eddie Bauer, and Pandora at Rockaway Town Square.

Other eating options include Red Robin, the Cheesecake Factory, and Chipotle, in addition to their Dining Pavilion.

Drink Cold Beer at Tavern on the Rocks

Tavern on the Rocks, formerly The Rockaway Hotel, opened in 2005 and reopened in 2021 under new management.

Tavern on the Rocks is a welcoming gathering spot in lovely Rockaway, New Jersey.

Tavern on the Rocks gives off a warm and distinctive vibe.

Choose from the eight beers always on tap at Tavern on the Rocks.

Likewise, you can enjoy their specialty beverages, a full bar, dart boards, a pool table, Television, and delicious food.

Enjoy refreshing beverages, a superb selection of mouthwatering pub grub from their menu, and lots of smiling faces.

Stay Overnight at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott

Experience excellent customer service and a convenient, comfortable stay at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.

This hotel has always invited customers to stay in their guest rooms and suites, which have plenty of space for working and unwinding.

Throughout your stay, the hotel’s free WiFi will enable you to connect.

Its pool and fitness facility will also help you remain on top of your health objectives.

Their spacious foyer has areas for gathering, relaxing, and working.

Take advantage of the complimentary breakfast offered in Rockaway, which now includes customer favorites like scrambled eggs, sausage, oatmeal, fresh fruit, and yogurt.

Business travelers visiting the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott will appreciate the suites’ long-stay traveler-friendly design and the hotel’s proximity to several business and government offices.

Delight in Thai Cuisines at Thai Nam Phet

Thai Nam Phet is a popular Thai restaurant with a warm eating area and a wide range of well-known dishes.

Rockaway in New Jersey has developed a local eatery with a distinctive experience at Thai Nam Phet.

For the benefit of their devoted clients, their menu offers an assortment of entrees and specialties, fish and seafood, drinks, sides, and desserts, as well as curry and appetizers.

Popular dishes include the beef massaman curry, grilled steak salad, and curry puff.

Thai Nam Phet’s menu highlights the genuine flavor of Thai cuisine.

Feel Adventurous at Escape the Mystery Room

In Rockaway, New Jersey, you can race against the clock to solve the thrilling puzzles at Escape the Mystery Room.

These masterfully designed rooms will raise your heart rate.

You and your team only have 60 minutes to figure out a series of hints, riddles, and puzzles.

Select between eight challenging and dangerously entertaining scenarios sure to make your heart race.

These Rockaway Mall escape rooms provide three different levels of difficulty, making them suitable for both novice and expert escape artists.

Explore Alcatraz, go inside Sherlock’s Library, enter an enemy bunker, and more.

Enjoy an unforgettable experience in this escape room in New Jersey.

Explore Splitrock Reservoir

Splitrock Reservoir is a 650-acre reservoir surrounded by 1,500 acres of wilderness on the boundaries of Rockaway Township and Kinnelon.

A mile-long dirt road identified as Split Rock Road leads to the reservoir, encircled by trees.

The three-mile-long reservoir has many sizable islands.

The southwest corner of the reservoir has an artificial dam.

In 2003, the government opened the reservoir and the nearby surroundings to the public.

Splitrock provides a range of outdoor pursuits.

You can check out three present overviews.

One is for hikers, one for fishermen, and one for those interested in the Splitrock/Cobb furnace’s historical development.

Visit the First Presbyterian Church

A monument in First Presbyterian Church cemetery

Church514, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Presbyterian Church was established and formally constituted on March 2, 1758.

Established in 1758, the First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway has become an institution in Rockaway.

Thirty perches and ten acres made up the original church property, which also comprised the land next to the current church and west of Wall Street.

People thought that a portion of the current cemetery was formerly a Native American burial ground.

According to tradition, the first family chose this location as a burial place.

The unmarked graves of some of the earlier settlers may lie beneath the enormous church parking lot or possibly beneath some of the cemetery pathways.

Appreciate the Greenery at Jackson Ave River Park

Jackson Ave River Park is a beautiful spot to spend the day with friends and family since it is tucked away in the middle of nature.

It is a favorite location for anglers since the Jackson River runs through the park.

Cast your line into the river to capture some fresh fish.

To maximize your time, you may also go boating on the river.

Jackson Ave River Park immerses you in magnificent greenery, putting you in the middle of nature.

There are some benches in the park alongside the river where you might relax for a long time and enjoy a peaceful respite from ordinary life.

Jackson Ave River Park also has a railway line running through it.

Go to Jackson Ave River Park to spend a calm weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Snack with Family at Anthony’s Pizzeria & Family Restaurant

You can find Anthony’s Pizzeria & Family Restaurant in Rockaway.

They provide a comprehensive Italian menu that includes all varieties of pizza, hot and cold sandwiches, antipasto, soup, pasta, chicken, veal, and seafood dishes.

Anthony’s Pizzeria & Family Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

They won the _Daily Record’_s 2007 Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Pizza.”

They provide a memorable dining area for celebrations, birthdays, vacations, and other events.

Ask them to help you host corporate dinners and functions.

They also provide takeaway services.

Anthony’s Pizzeria & Family Restaurant also offers a catering service for all occasions.

Since 1979, Anthony’s Pizzeria & Family Restaurant has prepared pizza, spaghetti, sandwiches, and traditional dinners.

Enjoy a hearty meal at this laid-back, traditional Italian restaurant.

Try Signature Dishes at ALEV Mediterranean Grill

Alev, which means “flame” in Turkish, is a family-friendly restaurant where guests may unwind, eat, and sample genuine, traditional Mediterranean fare.

They provide a varied and delectable menu to all visitors.

This restaurant combines the best Mediterranean food with its own culturally distinct traditional Turkish influences.

ALEV Mediterranean Grill takes delight in sharing delicacies with its customers.

These meals come from long-standing family recipes handed down through generations.

They provide only the best cuisine with the best ingredients to capture the authentic flavor of our Turkish origins.

ALEV Mediterranean Grill provides a vast selection of options on its menu.

Try their vegetarian, gluten-free, fish and meat meals, and much more.

You’re free to choose meals according to your fancy or preference.

Their chef suggests trying their kofte kebab, chicken chops, and falafel signature dishes.

Additionally, they provide food for any occasion, no matter the size of the event.

Final Thoughts

Explore and make memories in the featured tourist attractions above.

You and your family may spend a week or two enjoying various indoor and outdoor activities in the New Jersey borough of Rockaway.

Rockaway has a variety of fun places to visit, including a park, eateries, retail centers, and escape rooms.

Have fun engaging in all the best things to do in Rockaway, New Jersey.

Time is precious, so don’t let the chance pass and pencil in this place on your calendar.

You won’t regret choosing Rockaway, NJ, for your next vacation or holiday destination.

Book your trip today!

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