South Orange, Irvington & Maplewood, NJ

Out And About In South Orange, Irvington & Maplewood.

Parks: Cameron Park, in South Orange, offers 15 tennis courts. Floods Hill, located in South Orange, is used for sledding after a heavy snowfall in the winter. South Mountain Reservation covers over 2,000 acres in the central section of Essex County, extending through the municipalities of West Orange, Maplewood, and Millburn, bordering South Orange, and between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountain Range. It features a hiking trail, water fall, picnic area, biking trail, deer-hunting and a dog park.

Airports/Transportation: Newark Liberty International Airport is the most convenient airport to this region and is only about 12 miles away.

Child Care: Children’s Learning Tree is a day care offering affordable child care services in south Orange.

Elementary Schools: South Mountain Elementary School, located in nearby Maplewood, is two schools in one, South Mountain Elementary School, which serves grades 2-5 and South Mountain Annex, which serves kindergarten and grade one.

Middle Schools: South Orange Middle School, in South Orange, is a comprehensive school serving approximately 650 students in grades 6 through 8. Our Lady of Sorrows School - South Orange is a private Catholic elementary school that was established in 1890, and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. This school serves the communities of Essex County under the direction of the Office of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Newark.

High Schools: Columbia Senior High School, located in Maplewood, is a four-year comprehensive regional public high school, which serves students in grades nine through twelve within the South Orange-Maplewood School District. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1928. Marylawn of the Oranges Academy is an all-girl, private, Roman Catholic high school in South Orange. Science Park High School works to encourage and prepare its students towards successful further study and lifelong contributions in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Colleges/Universities: Seton Hall University is a 4-year Private, Catholic university located in South Orange. Essex County College is a public community college committed to providing quality educational programs and life-long learning activities. Bloomfield College and Rutgers University are also located nearby.

Restaurants: Cafe Arugula offers casual Italian and American cuisine with a Tuscan, New York flair. Gaslight Brewery & Restaurant is the only family-owned and operated brew-pub in Essex County. A few of our other favorites in the area include: Toro Loco Mexican Restaurant, Above Restaurant & Bar, Village Trattoria, Bunny's, Papillon 25, Town Hall Deli, Neelam Indian Cusine, and Hot Bagels Abroad.

Sports Venues: Meadowlands Sports Complex is home to the New York Giants and the New York Jets and is located just over 15 miles from South Orange. Prudential Center hosts the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall Men’s Basketball, the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, concerts, family shows, special events as well as other professional, collegiate and amateur sporting events.

Shopping: A few of our favorite shopping destinations in the South Orange region include: One-Stop Shopping Center in South Orange, Livingston Mall, Essex Green Shopping Center, and the Mall At Short Hills, which is the region's preeminent shopping destination, featuring 160 specialty stores and restaurants.

Museums: Montclair Art Museum features American & Native American art in Montclair. New Jersey Historical Society is a state-wide, private, non profit historical museum, library, and archives dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the rich and intricate political, social, cultural and economic history of New Jersey to the broadest possible audiences. Imagine That!!! Discovery Museum for Children is one of the few local museums that specializes in pre-school age and young school children. Visual Arts Center of New Jersey and the Turtle Back Zoo in nearby West Orange are also great places to spend the day.

Entertainment: South Orange Performing Arts Center presents elite artists in an intimate theater and also features cinema and event space. Newark Symphony Hall enjoys a long and rich cultural history as New Jersey's oldest and largest showcase for the arts, education and entertainment. Some of our other favorite spots to catch a live performance or a move include: Clearview Millburn Cinema 4, Paper Mill Playhouse Maplewood Theaters, Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre , and AMC Theatres - Essex Green 9.

Recreation: Diamond Gym, in Maplewood, is home to the Hardcore and the NPC New Jersey State Bodybuilding Championship. Inspirational Dance, in Maplewood, provides dance instruction for both children and adults. Some other great recreational centers in the region include: Blue Life Karate & Fitness Centers in Maplewood, Eagle Rock Lanes Inc, Orange Lawn Tennis Club in South Orange, and Williams Taekwondo in South Orange.