Water's Soul, Jersey City (Hudson County)

Water's Soul is an 80-foot tall sculpture by Jaume Plensa It is located on a historic Hudson River waterfront pier and is Plensa's tallest sculpture to date. Water's Soul pays homage to the pier's rich history which saw much of the trade coming in and out of New York Harbor on ferries and rail barges during the 19th and early 20th centuries. 

 

Big Rusty, Hainesport (Burlington County)

Big Rusty is a metal, cement, and wooden troll created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. The sculpture's body is made of found material from an old abandoned structure that still stands by his side today. Big Rusty is one of over 120 trolls across 17 countries. The sitting giant is located at the end of a road, taller than the original building.

 

Oak Ridge Ghost Bridge, West Milford (Passaic County)

Located in the Oak Ridge Reservoir, the "Ghost Bridge" is the last mark of a long lost village. When the reservoir is drained are we only able to see the bridge. In the late 1800's, the East Jersey Water Company acquired the land to flood it in order to supply Newark with clean water; company officials  also had to buy water rights from the factories along the Pequannock. The homes in Oak Ridge and in nearby Wallace's Corners were linked by the Ghost Bridge to Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike, which facilitated trade and travel across New Jersey's Highlands. The bridge is crafted from stone blocks, spans three arches and sticks up about 20 feet above the Pequannock River. 

 

Willowwood Arboretum, Chester Township (Morris County)

 

Willowwood Arboretum was first cleared for farming in the 18th century, which formed the meadows that currently exist. It was named Willowwood after Henry and Robert Tubbs purchased the land in 1908 after the natural collection of willow trees that exist in the area. They expanded the farmhouse that dates back to 1792 and made it their family home. The property was formed into a private arboretum run by Rutgers University for plant and tree research It became part of the Morris County Park System in 1980. 

Warner Bros. Jungle Habitat, West Milford (Passaic County)

Jungle Habitat was a theme park opened in 1972 and closed in 1976. The park was home to over 1500 animals and consisted of a drive-through and walk-through section. There were animals that had broken out of their enclosures, guests who were attacked, and outbreaks of animal tuberculosis. The park closed following a township vote due to poor management, competition from Great Adventure, and the park's inability to easily expand. The site's deteriorated buildings remained, and there were rumors in the years following the park closure that animals still roamed the property (none of which were true). The site is part of Long Pond Ironworks State Park and is administered by Ringwood State Park.

Blueberry Hill Trail, Gibbsboro (Camden County)

Blueberry Hill holds three miles of paved and dirt trails that open up with a view of Philadelphia's skyline- bringing together nature and man-made beauty. There's also an old quarry that provides an interesting track for off-roading vehicles.

 

Lambert Tower, Paterson (Passaic County)

Situated within Garret Mountain Reservation, the 70-feet tall Lambert Tower was built in 1896 by silk mill entrepreneur Catholina Lambert. In 2014 the tower renovations were completed and it was reopened to the public.

 

Ferry House Historic Site, Titusville (Mercer County)

The Johnson Ferry House, an early 18th-century gambrel roof farmhouse and tavern near the Delaware River, was owned by Garret Johnson, who operated a 490-acre colonial farm and a ferry service across the river in the 1700s. The house was likely used by General Washington and his officers during the Christmas night crossing of the Delaware

 

Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, Boonton (Morris County)

Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area in Montville is 1,675 acres of rugged trails, fields, forests, rock outcroppings, and wetlands. The highest point if 934 feet with a magnificent view of the New York City skyline.

 

Sybil's Cave, Hoboken (Hudson County)

Sybil's Cave is a manmade cave that was excavated 30 feet to a natural spring in 1832, and then an elaborate Gothic-style entrance was built in front of it. Visitors could sit down at a table and spend a penny on a cool glass of spring water. The real surge of visitors came in the summer of 1841 when Mary Rogers was found murdered near the cave, a crime which to this day has not been solved. The area turned to industry and the cave was destroyed in the 1930's. Only in 2007 was the cave again excavated after some explorers rediscovered it. It's located in Hoboken.

 

Burlington County Prison Museum, Mount Holly (Burlington County)

The Burlington County Prison is a historic museum property located in Mount Holly Township. It operated from 1811 to 1965 and it was the oldest prison in the nation at the time of its closure. Designed by Robert Mills, its design exemplified period thinking in a progressive prison design, with individual cells, good ventilation, and fireproof construction. It is reportedly haunted by a tall male in a uniform in the basement, and the third floor is claimed to have a flurry of paranormal activity

 

USS Enterprise CV-6 Nameplate, River Vale (Bergen County)

There have been a succession of ships throughout history known as the USS Enterprise. The seventh USS Enterprise was one of America's first giant aircraft carriers. She took to the sea in 1936 as one of the few US aircraft carrier commissioned prior to WWII. The nearly 800 ft. long vessel could hold up to 90 aircraft. The ship served during WWII, primarily in the actions against Japan, taking part in conflicts from the Battle of Midway to the Guadalcanal, earning it more decorations that any other US ship in WWII. However by 1945, the country was already building bigger and better aircraft carriers, making the Enterprise obsolete. The 16 foot long, one ton nameplate was refurbished in 2000 and placed in Veteran's Memorial Park in River Vale.

Strauss Mansion Museum, Atlantic Highlands (Monmouth County)

The Strauss Mansion Museum is a 21-room Queen Anne-style home built in 1893 that overlooks Sandy Hook Bay. It served as a summer cottage to Adolf Strauss, a wealthy New York importer and merchant, and his wife Jeanette. Strauss Mansion is the only Queen Anne-style structure in Monmouth County that is open to the public.