Also known as the Borough of Trees, Rutherford is a calm and serene town, set in Bergen County of New Jersey. This lively location features parks, historic sites, museums, regularly organized programs, and much more to enjoy during your stay. It is also divinely blessed with verdure, featuring plants and trees such as red maples, red oaks, green ashes, and more to admire. And whether you are planning a family, solo, or romantic getaway, there are myriads of private vacation rentals and elegant hotels to stay. With must-see relics at Meadowlands Museum, memorials at Rutherford Memorial Park, fun activities at Lincoln Park, and a vibrant dining scene, a grand time awaits you here. Read on to discover the best things to do in Rutherford, New Jersey, and make your stay a one to remember.
1. Spend a day out at Rutherford Memorial Park
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Enjoy picnicking and a range of other activities in this beautiful park, covering 26 acres (10.5 hectares) in the West End. It was established in 1949, in honor of the heroes who died during the war. Nowadays, this venue is known for sporting activities, featuring six tennis courts, a football stadium, four shuffleboard courts, and eight baseball or softball diamonds where you can play till you drop. If you are coming with the kids, there are three playgrounds for them to have fun with other children. Picnicking in the beautifully mowed fields is also a popular activity here.
Rutherford Memorial Park
Address: 2 Darwin Ave, Rutherford, NJ 07070, United States
Website: Rutherford Memorial Park
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
2. See blockbuster movies at Williams Center For The Arts
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Williams Center For The Arts on Friday, January 8, 2016
Catch blockbuster movies in this vintage theater, constructed in the 1920s. It was initially established as a Vaudeville theater. The venue used to be the grounds for a variety of art genres and has hosted famous shows, including The Glenn Miller Orchestra and Abbott and Costello. Nowadays, this venue is a staple in downtown Rutherford, featuring three movie screens and a relaxing outdoor terrace and hosting a range of local events. You can get updated information about upcoming movies and activities on their official website.
Williams Center For The Arts
Address: 1 Williams Plaza, Rutherford, NJ 07070, United States
Website: Williams Center For The Arts
3. Tour the memorials at Lincoln Park
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
See prominent memorials and catch fantastic shows and even movies at night in this beautiful park situated close to the borough hall. It features significant history, including a 9/11 memorial with a scrap of steel from the grounds of the attacks and a cannon used during the Spanish-American conflict. The completely renovated park also hosts memorial programs and events such as the summer concerts organized by Rutherford Community Band and the Bergen County Cultural Festival held during the fall season.
Lincoln Park
Address: 176 Park Ave Rutherford, New Jersey 07070
Website: Lincoln Park
4. Enjoy fine dining at Cafe Matisse
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Café Matisse on Monday, May 3, 2021
Established in a former vintage horse and buggy firehouse, this classy restaurant’s exceptional atmosphere, customer service, and food has made it the borough’s favorite. It has a beautifully decorated, 45-seat dining room, featuring chandeliers and impressionist-style paintings and a separate 30-seat area to accommodate small parties. You can even dine in its stylish, European-styled outdoor garden area. The bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) eatery offers evening four-course meals, freshly made with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes frequently, but to give you an idea of what awaits you, think: honey vanilla soaked banana cake, spicy Panko-crusted crab cake, and cheddar-glazed shrimp.
Cafe Matisse
Address: 167 Park Ave, Rutherford, NJ 07070, United States
Website: Cafe Matisse
Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 5:45pm - 8:15pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
5. Learn about the local history at Meadowlands Museum
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
It's that time of year again...Our Annual Spring Plant Sale its here Place your order by Tuesday, April 27, for...
Posted by Meadowlands Museum on Sunday, April 25, 2021
The Meadowlands is a portion of land that includes East Rutherford, Rutherford, and other surrounding areas in New Jersey. The location was formerly a forest until the early Dutch settlers cleared it and made meadows. Meadowlands Museum sits in one of the last surviving houses of that era — a 19th-century farmhouse. Within, you will find temporary and permanent exhibits that reveal the great history of these old communities. Take a close look at the unique rocks and minerals, colonial home crafts, pre-electric kitchen, works of William Carlos Williams - a poet and doctor from New Jersey, old photographs, and much more. The institution also organizes kids’ and adults’ programs regularly.
Meadowlands Museum
Address: 91 Crane Ave, Rutherford, NJ 07070, United States
Website: Meadowlands Museum
6. Relish Italian fare at Suprema Cucina and Cafe
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Orecchiette pasta with fresh basil pesto, cherry tomatoes and burrata. Available for lunch until Saturday!
Posted by Suprema on Thursday, August 19, 2021
If you are craving tantalizing Italian fares, check out Suprema Cucina and Cafe during your visit to this beautiful place. The eatery is situated on Park Avenue, along with several other dining options, and it offers an ambient dining room. Some of the top dishes in the extended menu include Chicken Parm Fra Diavolo, pastas, eggplant parm, shrimp and calamari, and salad served in stylish deli-style bowls. The service here is also outstanding and there is a restroom for your convenience. The locals love this place so a reservation is recommended. Also, don’t forget to bring your bottles.
Suprema Cucina and Cafe
Address: 92 Park Ave, Rutherford, NJ 07070, United States
Website: Suprema Cucina and Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 10am - 4pm; Wed - Sat; 10am - 4pm, 5pm - 9pm (closed on Sun)
7. Tour the historic Iviswold Castle
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The Iviswold Castle is a historic late 19th-century building, constructed by Lloyd W. Tomkins, a land developer, and newspaperman. Its ownership has changed hands frequently and many additions, transformations, and renovations have been made over the years. The former two-story structure had one level added on top of it, as well as a carriage porch, a music room, and twenty-five rooms in 1887. A pool was added in 1930 and in the 1970s, it was purchased and made a campus by Fairleigh Dickinson University. It was finally sold to Felician University in 1997 and the new owners set out to transform the castle to its former glory. They made significant achievements and in 2004, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. History enthusiasts can’t miss a tour of this old wonder.
Iviswold Castle
Address: 1 Felician Way, Rutherford, NJ 07070, United States
Opening hours: Sat: 8:15am – 12:30pm; Mon - Fri: 8:30am – 4:30pm, 5:45pm – 10pm (closed on Sun)
Don't miss the lovely adventures in Rutherford
Whether you are visiting this place for business or leisure, you can add some spice to your getaway with some beautiful adventures. Rutherford is full of history, beauty, modernity, and many fantastic activities to put long-lasting smiles on your face. And with these top things to do in Rutherford, New Jersey, your vacation is bound to be one to remember.
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