Norz Hill Farm: A Family Owned Agricultural Gem

A family-owned and operated farm since the 1920's, Norz Hill Farm is an agricultural gem right outside the bustle of New York City. Growing crops from corn to soy and boasting an animal family that ranges from horses and cows to llamas and zonkeys (that's right, a donkey and zebra mix), it's no wonder that the facility is an exciting and educational destination for anyone. Proudly part of the New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program, Norz Hill keeps farm life alive while offering educational opportunities to its visitors and friends.

Norz Hill Farm
116 South Branch Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 371-2697
www.norzhillfarm.com

Newark Museum: World of Art

Where else in Newark can you gaze at the galaxies through a high-tech star projector, behold a Tibetan altar that’s been consecrated by the Dalai Lama and take a leisurely stroll through a sculpture garden? It’s all happening here at the Newark Museum, the largest museum in the state of New Jersey. Early American art, African art, Native American art, modern art and their collection of classical Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art are also part of the permanent exhibits at the museum. Also on the grounds and available for touring are the historic Victorian-era Ballantine mansion, a restored 1784 stone school house, and the Newark Fire Museum. The Newark Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Newark Museum
49 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 596-6550

Get Your Dose of Entertainment at the Bergen Performing Arts Center

New Jersey has a horrible reputation as a pretty lowbrow state, but institutions like Englewood’s Bergen Performing Arts Center buck that stereotype. Established in 2004 to rehabilitate the John Harms Center, which had been one of North Jersey’s most-respected arts venues until closing in 2003, the Performing Arts Center has grown to be a fantastic venue for performances of all types. The venue is now a primary location for the New Jersey Ballet, which performs there several times a year, as well as a wide variety of touring musicians from all genres of music. Attendees rave about the hall’s excellent acoustics and great sightlines. During intermission, walk over to the Intermezzo Art Gallery to take in great exhibitions by local artists. The Center also hosts a number of excellent educational programs for children in the community to learn about dance, theatre, and musical performance.

Bergen Performing Arts Center
30 N. Van Brunt Street
Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 816-8160
www.bergenpac.org

Lambert Castle: Travel Back in Time

To visit the Lambert Castle is to travel back in time to an era of grandeur and gentility known as the Gilded Age. The castle was built by silk industrialist Catholina Lambert, who came to the U.S. at age 17 as a lowly cotton mill laborer from Yorkshire, England. He quickly worked his way up the ladder of success to become one of the wealthiest men in the area. The castle marked the pinnacle of his achievement when it was completed in 1893. For a small fee you can escape the hustle and bustle of city life with a leisurely stroll through the beautifully landscaped grounds of the estate. Tours of the castle interior are also available for a nominal fee. Open every day from dawn to dusk.

Lambert Castle
3 Valley Road
Paterson, NJ 07503
(973) 247-0085

Paper Mill Playhouse: See Broadway’s Future Stars Today!

If Hairspray and Les Miserables make your heart sing and your eyes sparkle, then it’s time to queue up for a ticket to the Paper Mill Playhouse. Discovering and training emerging young actors is part of their mission, so their shows offer a great opportunity to see a budding young Broadway star before they hit the bright lights of New York City. This season’s roster of musical performances includes Disney’s Newsies, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Boeing-Boeing, Damn Yankees, and Once on This Island. Sign the kids up for their weekend Children’s Theatre Series, featuring interactive performances that are both educational and entertaining.

Paper Mill Playhouse
222 Brookside Drive
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 376-4343

Ellis Island: Where The American Story Begins

New York has long been regarded as the first stop for the waves of immigrants that poured into America from Europe over the last few centuries. From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island was the busiest Federal immigration station in the entire country, processing over twelve million individuals before it closed. In 1965, Ellis Island was added to the Statue Of Liberty National Monument and the disused buildings were transformed into the Immigration Museum, where the history of America can be traced through the footsteps of its immigrants. The museum has extensive genealogical resources for visitors to explore, as well as a 45 minute self-guided tour that is highly recommended. Stop for a while at the Wall of Honor, which boasts a flabbergasting 700,000 names of immigrants inscribed by their friends and family. Ellis Island is also located close to Liberty Island, home of the famous Statue of Liberty.

Ellis Island
www.ellisisland.org

Ground Zero Museum Workshop: Never Forget

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have left a mark on New York unlike anywhere else in the country. When the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell, the city lost the largest buildings it had ever seen, and the skyline was permanently changed. As a nation, we’re still trying to come to terms with the repercussions of that fateful day. The Ground Zero Museum Workshop was founded in 2005 by Marlon Suson, an actor, playwright and philanthropist who was tasked in the days following the attack to document the disaster and recovery with photographs. His images of the days, weeks, and months following the crisis are striking and humbling, celebrating the heroism of the respondents who combed the wreckage for survivors. It’s important that we remember the horrific effects of global terrorism on a human scale as well as a national one, so this museum is a must-visit for any American.

Ground Zero Museum Workshop
420 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 209-3370
www.groundzeromuseumworkshop.com

NJ Adventure Tours: Experience The Garden State

If you’ve watched too many episodes of The Sopranos, a New Jersey adventure might be the last thing you want. But don’t worry, the packages offered by NJ Adventure Tours don’t wind up with you in the trunk of a car behind a strip club. This company brings you to the myriad outdoor entertainments available in the Garden State, with a wide selection of tours for stay-cationers of all types. Rugged sorts love the awesome archery programs, including classes to master the bow and hunting excursions where the staff will work closely with you to take you on a trip you’ll never forget. NJ Adventure Tours also offers amazing horseback riding expeditions, trips through the state’s best mountain biking trails, and even day trips in a hot air balloon. There’s so much natural beauty in the Garden State it’d be a shame to not see some of it, and you’re in good hands with this outfit.

NJ Adventure Tours
(888) 877-8864
www.njadventuretours.com

Experience Pure Americana at the Montclair Art Museum

It can sometimes be hard to separate American art from the global traditions that influenced it—our melting-pot nature has given us a unique perspective, but sometimes at the cost of individual identity. One of the few museums in the world to concentrate exclusively on American and Native American works, the Montclair Art Museum boasts a spectacular collection of pieces from all over our nation. Consisting of more than 12,000 works, the permanent collection is incredibly impressive. Of particular note are the American Indian collections of textiles, pottery, and other crafts from seven distinct regions. The museum also has a permanent gallery devoted to noted local painter George Inness, who lived in and painted the Montclair area in the 19th century. Visiting exhibitions are well-attended and thorough, covering a wide spectrum of topic within the museum’s parvenu. The staff is friendly and informative and admission prices are incredibly reasonable—visit for free on Fridays.

Montclair Art Museum
3 South Mountain Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 746-5555
www.montclairartmuseum.org

Wicked: The Broadway Story Behind The Wizard of Oz

It’s foolish to visit New York without taking in a show, and one of the hottest tickets in town is Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre. Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, the show tells the tale of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz and her relationship with her sister Glinda, the future Good Witch Of The North. The clever updating of the classic fantasy has won raves wherever it played, and the stage production, which opened in 2003, has proved to be a staggering success, having played to over 5 million audience members in its run on Brodway. Theatergoers rave about the amazing set and production effects, which perfectly complement the excellent performances. The Gershwin Theatre is one of Broadway’s best venues, so you’re guaranteed a good seat with an excellent sightline. If you’re looking for an audience-tested musical that’s guaranteed to give you a good time, pick up tickets to Wicked.

Wicked
222 West 51st Street
NY 10019
(212) 586-6510
www.wickedthemusical.com

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