Gene Rabinovich

This is a great museum to visit with your kids or without, especially if you are an aviation enthusiast. The museum has a vast collection of historical airplanes, both indoors and in the adjacent outdoor pavilion. We had no idea that they have a free admission and extended hours on each first Thursday of every month. While our ignorance cost us a few extra $$, we were still able to enjoy the extra hours.

This is a nice and family-friendly local ski area, well within 1.5hr drive from the NYC metro area. We have bought a set of 2-day passes in advance - they offer discounted youth lift tickets for kids 18 and under. Almost all of their 23 trails were open with nice packed powder throughout. There is night skiing available on Saturday nights too. With a 700’ vertical drop and a balanced combination of terrain difficulty, there are plenty of opportunities to have fun.

This is a very nice coffee shop featuring Illy coffee. They have a variety of fresh pastry options ranging from sweet to savory. A great deal of attention is paid to the interior decoration, with rustic-looking chairs and wooden communal tables creating a relaxing ambiance. There is also a covered courtyard with two fountains adding to this place’s overall appeal.

It’s easy to overlook the historic significance of this tiny park when you stroll down Grand St on your way to the more exciting waterfront area. The site of the current park used to be home of the “Flying Camp” - a military formation during Revolutionary War, tasked with defending New Jersey from a potential military attack by the British troops.
The park also features an obelisk and the “Liberty Tree” - a magnificent Northern Red Oak - planted in 1976. It’s a tiny urban oasis mostly used by dog owners. It would benefit from re-pavement of the walkways and rehabilitation of the grassy areas.

You’ll find a simple yet delightful selection of traditional Italian fare at this pizza restaurant located in Monroe Center for the Arts. We have dined here with friends a few times now and each time walked away impressed and mentally noting the menu items we should try the next time we visit. The place is kids’ favorite, too, as they can always count on getting thin crust Nutella pizza here. You are always welcome to bring your own bottle of wine to enjoy with your meal. And if you didn’t bring one from home there is a nice wine store literally next door.