Hamilton travel guide and discussion

Visiting family in Jersey City, I’ve got one open day to finally see a New Jersey museum. I’m split between Liberty Science Center (love interactive stuff, also good if the weather turns) and Grounds For Sculpture (looks gorgeous for a slow wander and photos). I’m not trying to do both—just one solid day. If you’ve done both, which delivers the better first-timer experience and why? Or, if there’s a different NJ museum you’d pick instead for a single day, what would it be?

Finally saying goodbye to the gloomy weather this weekend! With good weather, outdoor activities are a must 🌿 Here’s a list of 10 outdoor spots within 1.5 hours of Philadelphia that we often visit. It includes gardens, forests, parks, and some lesser-known estates! (Listed from farthest to closest) 1️⃣ Duke Farms (1.5h) P5-8 A massive ecological farm where you can bike or hike. Bikes are available for rent in the park. 2️⃣ Grounds For Sculpture (1.5h) A combination of art and gardens, perfect for photography. It feels like an outdoor art museum. (Avoid the French restaurant inside—it’s not worth it.) 3️⃣ Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve (50min) A relatively unknown wildflower preserve with a more natural and wild vibe. It’s especially stunning during spring when flowers bloom. 4️⃣ Valley Forge National Historical Park (45min) P12 A large grassy area combined with a historical park, ideal for picnics, kite flying, and leisurely walks (free entry). 5️⃣ Tyler Arboretum (35min) A more natural botanical garden with treehouse trails. It’s quiet and comfortable (tickets required). 6️⃣ Ridley Creek State Park (30min) A mix of forest and creek! A favorite among locals, perfect for unwinding. 7️⃣ Morris Arboretum & Gardens (25min) P6-11 UPenn’s botanical garden with a treetop walkway. Great for photography and worth visiting in both spring and fall. 8️⃣ Chanticleer Garden (25min) P1-P4 A garden with strong design elements and meticulous details, perfect for spring visits. (Parking reservations required.) 9️⃣ Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum (20min) A lesser-known estate garden with great riverside views. It’s elegant and perfect for a leisurely stroll (tickets must be reserved in advance). 🔟 Wissahickon Valley Park (20min) P14-15 Philadelphia’s own “backyard garden.” You can visit anytime, super convenient. (Highly recommend dining at the park’s restaurant! Eating by the creek is delightful.) These are some of our favorite spots 🌿 It feels like there’s always more to discover around Philadelphia. If you have any outdoor recommendations, feel free to share them!

🫐① Linvilla Orchards Blueberry Festival 📍137 W Knowlton Rd, Media, PA The annual Blueberry Festival features not only picking but also a farmers market, live music, kids' games, and blueberry pies. 🕒 Farm hours: 8am–6pm (festival activities usually start at 10am) 🎟️ Free admission; picking charged by weight (about $5–8/lb) 🍴 Recommended: Linvilla Grill, Blueberry Donuts 📍 Nearby attractions: Longwood Gardens (20 minutes), Brandywine Museum 🌉② Benjamin Franklin Bridge Centennial Walk 📍6th St & Race St, Philadelphia To celebrate the bridge’s 100th anniversary, it’s rarely open for pedestrian walking. The view of Philadelphia’s skyline from the center of the bridge is stunning. 🕒 Weekend only (morning or evening recommended) 🍴 Recommended: Reading Terminal Market (1136 Arch St) 📍 Nearby: Old City, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell all within 10 minutes. 🎬③ Brooklyn Bridge Park Free Outdoor Movies 📍334 Furman St, Brooklyn One of the most iconic summer events. Bring a picnic blanket, watch a movie, enjoy the river breeze, and take in the Manhattan night view. 🕒 Entry at dusk, movie starts around 8:30pm 🍴 Recommended: Time Out Market (55 Water St) 📍 Nearby: DUMBO, Jane’s Carousel, Brooklyn Bridge all within walking distance. 🎨④ Grounds For Sculpture 📍80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ Over 100 large sculptures scattered throughout the garden, perfect for photos and a popular spot for families. 🕒 10am–5pm 🎟️ Adults about $25, children about $12 (booking on the official website recommended) 🍴 Recommended: Rat’s Restaurant 📍 Nearby: Sayen House & Gardens 🍕⑤ Time Out Market New York 📍55 Water St, Brooklyn No need to queue or run all over New York; here you can try multiple popular NYC restaurants in one place. 🕒 8am–11pm 🍴 Must-try: Juliana’s Pizza, Pat LaFrieda Burger, Jacob’s Pickles 📍 Nearby: Brooklyn Bridge, Empire Fulton Ferry Park

#NewYorkFlightEvent 📍Grounds for Sculpture, NJ, USA Grounds for Sculpture, a sculpture park located in Hamilton, New Jersey. It is not familiar to us, but it is said to be a place where the wonderful works of John Seward Johnson Jr., a popular sculptor in the United States, are gathered in one place‼️ I heard that it is more beautiful and shining at night, so I immediately booked a ticket and went!! After checking the ticket, I went to the park and there were so many human sculptures that even people passing by looked like sculptures😂 I thought it would be hard to see at night, but they shot videos over the sculptures to make them look better, and thanks to the videos, I was able to focus more on the works, which was nice😄 There were places where videos and audio that seemed like alien invasions were playing, and there were places where well-known works such as Munch's The Scream were displayed in large displays, so I spent over 3 hours looking around🥰 I recommend going during the day and going at night to see the wonderful sculptures💕☺️

#Goodmovie #movietrip Went to go see the new movie Megan and paid extra for the high class seating and recliner chairs definitely worth the money for the movie and the seating very comfortable