Things to do in Morristown, NJ
By: Kristina Malmstrom
1. Play a Trap Door Escape Room
Our Escape Room in Morristown, NJ is pure magic! Super Powered Oddities to Witchcraft, it all combines for a conjuring of spectacle unlike anything you have ever seen. We are currently hosting three fantastical games in Morristown. Check out our Morristown Page Here to choose the best adventure for you!
The Greatest Freakshow
For family-friendly, light-hearted fun, check out The Greatest Freakshow. As the newest members of Xunder’s oddity troupe, it’s up to you to save the circus from the spell of an evil mermaid. This escape room even features musical elements for a fun and engaging experience to play with children.
Witch Hunt
Witch Hunt, on the other hand, is a touch more mature. During the Salem Witch Trials, you have to prove whether a woman accused of witchcraft is guilty or innocent. This creepy game is spell-binding but dark in nature.
Day of the Dead
Finally, Day of the Dead is a great mid-ground. This game is a rich Latin-American celebration of life and death. With more challenging puzzles but a much lower fear factor than other games, Day of the Dead is the perfect family friendly challenge for Holiday Family Time. Be sure to enquire about the fiesta package for adult groups!
2. Start Your Day with a Tasty Treat
For something delicious to begin your day on a great note, stop by The Artist Baker. Conveniently located just around the corner from Trap Door Escape Room, you have to indulge in their tasty treats and coffee. They serve everything that you’d expect at a cafe, as well as some delicious desserts and hot beverages.
Enjoy the Cozy Atmosphere
So whether you’re stopping for an early morning breakfast or mid-day lunch, you can’t go wrong! Its cozy atmosphere makes you feel right at home the moment you walk through its doors, complete with adorable furniture and decorations that accentuate the typical cafe ambiance. Whether you order a salad or a cake, their delicious options are sure to leave you wanting more!
3. Play Some Games
Looking for a fun activity to get your mind ready for the puzzles and challenges with Trap Door Escape Room? Spend some time at Morristown Game Vault, where you can enjoy a variety of classic arcade games and pinball machines. This game zone is fun for all ages, with a range of retro games like Pac-Man to modern gaming consoles.
Pinball Machines
And of course, what arcade is complete without pinball machines? This is a great way to relax and prepare your mind for the challenges ahead of you in a friendly atmosphere (unless, of course, you’re trying to set a new high record on a game).
Did we mention you only pay based on how long you spend in the arcade, rather than per game? Prepare your brain by gaming your day away with this huge variety of setups, then come over to Trap Door where you can put the warm up into practice!
For a quick, tasty lunch, try Pascarella Brothers Sandwich Shoppe. This Italian/American family eatery, owned by brothers Anthony and Gino Pascarella, prides itself on their dedication to customer service and satisfaction (and of course, their delicious food). They’re one of the top ranked sandwich shops in Morristown, with a wide range of options to choose from.
Menu Specials
They’re even experts in gluten-free meals, and do their best to accommodate an array of dietary restrictions. Their menu consists of hot and cold sandwiches, paninis, and, of course, their signatures (we highly recommend the ‘Thanksgiving Day’ for those whose favorite month is November) and more! Every meal is guaranteed to be delicious, and handmade with care by the sibling owners. Plus, they’re located only a few blocks away from Trap Door!
5. Take a Trip Back in Time with Living Museums
Leave the smartphones at home and travel back in time to the early twentieth century at Fosterfield’s Living Historical Farm. This 213 acre farm was originally owned by Charles Foster, who purchased the home from General Joseph Warren Revere, a grandson of Paul Revere. Charles lived in the home with his daughter, Caroline, who would later go on to donate the property and several of her personal belongings to this living museum.
At Fosterfield’s Historical Farm, visitors are transported back in time to experience life from 1918-1927. The property includes a 1920’s farmhouse and the Willows, the Foster family’s Gothic revival-style mansion that they lived in. This living museum includes workers dressed in the attire of the time completing their daily farm work, such as plowing or planting fields with ancient machinery.
Hands-On Fun
Visitors are encouraged to interact with these ‘workers’ to learn more about the lifestyle of both those who lived in and worked on the farm. They can even assist workers with the farm tasks, such as collecting eggs and tending to animals.
This is a wonderful place to explore history hands-on, rather than just reading about it in a book. They even celebrate special events or put on season-specific programs at certain times of the year, so you might want to plan your trip around those!
6. Dinner Time
The Committed Pig
Looking for a casual dining place that can still boast amazing food quality? Try The Committed Pig, located right off the Morristown Green. This unique burger and breakfast joint strives to combine comfort food with a gourmet quality that leaves you wanting to come back for more!
While particularly well known for their creative burger combinations, their brunch is also worth visiting if you’re coming in the morning! Plus since it’s BYOB, you’re welcome to bring your own beverage of choice.
Chef Freddy's Table
They boast a variety of innovative international dishes, putting a unique American twist on popular entrees from around the world. Though their meals are slightly more expensive than what you may expect, the additional cost is well worth the elegant atmosphere and elaborate dishes. Plus, they’re BYOB, gluten-free and vegetarian friendly, so you’re sure to have a great experience with your companions.
7. Connect with Betty Schuyler
Fans of the popular musical Hamilton will want to check out this piece of history! The Schuyler-Hamilton House is located in Morristown, and shares a fun relationship with the famous couple.
The History
The home was built in 1760, and played an important role in the budding relationship between the two love-birds during the winter of 1779-1780. At the time, Dr. Cochran was living in the house with his wife, who was the sister of General Philip Schuyler.
Mrs. Cochran invited her niece, Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Schuyler to spend the winter with them, as she was hoping she would attract a suitor from General Washington’s headquarters, which were only a quarter mile away (and where Alexander Hamilton happened to be stationed at the time).
Young Love
It’s rumored that the two actually met at this house, and whether or not that is true, they did spend that winter courting, which often took place at the house. They married in April of 1780, meaning that the (currently-named) Schuyler-Hamilton house really played a large part in the budding relationship.
How it Became a Museum
The house was later purchased by the Morristown chapter of NJDAR (New Jersey Daughters of the Revolution) in 1923, and named in honor of the relationship between Betsy Schuyler and Alexander Hamilton. It now acts as a museum where guests are encouraged to tour and see how the house was set up during that winter. It also homes a number of antiques, paintings, and historical memorabilia for people to view.
8. The Nations First Historical National Park
It’s rumored that the two actually met at this house, and whether or not that is true, they did spend that winter courting, which often took place at the house. They married in April of 1780, meaning that the (currently-named) Schuyler-Hamilton house really played a large part in the budding relationship.
Morristown National Historical Park
If you’d rather learn more about Alexander’s side of the story, you’ll have to visit Morristown National Historical Park. This 1,676 acre park honors the site of the Continental army’s winter encampment during the winter of 1779. It consists of four important Revolutionary War sites: Jockey Hollow, the Ford Mansion, Fort Nonsense, and the New Jersey Brigade Encampment. Morristown National Historical Park is also the first National Historical Park of the nation, established in 1933.
Hiking Trails
Visitors to the site are encouraged to explore the grounds with a 3 mile road for tours and 24 miles of hiking trails. The park also includes museums and exhibits for people to learn more about the importance of Morristown during the Revolutionary War, as well as a visitor center, an 18th century farm, and several reconstructed soldier huts. They also host special events and re-enactments throughout the year, if you’re looking to learn more about that critical, but brutal winter.
9. Indulge Your Sweet Tooth
While you’re in Morristown, you’re definitely going to want to check out some places for dessert!
Enjou Chocolat
While there are many great options in the area (and all of them delicious), Enjou Chocolat is a great place to go for those that have a highly active sweet tooth. This chocolate shop has it all, from simple chocolate creations to odd combinations you never would have thought could taste so delicious! With so many varieties to choose from, everyone in your party is bound to find something they love (even if they hate chocolate, check out some of their candy offerings).
They Have Ice Cream!
Plus, they even serve some of the best ice cream in Morristown- just check out the back of the store! This chocolate shop is a perfect stop to grab some treats to nibble on for the ride home or for a walk around town. Or, of course, take your chocolate to the nearby park and enjoy it there-we just highly recommend trying one of their creations!
10. See a Show at the Theatre
Mayo Performing Arts Center is your best option when it comes to live theater in Morristown! This center originally opened as a movie theater in 1937, but fell into disrepair in the 1980s and was expected to close for good. However, a team of volunteers worked tirelessly to restore life to the theater, converting it into a performing arts center along the way.
The Mayo Performing Arts Center finally opened in 1994 and has been running shows for the past 24 years. It even became recognized as one of New Jersey’s leading arts and cultural organizations, with more than 200 performances for over 200,000 visitors each year.
Bringing the Community Together
The Mayo Performing Arts Center’s real goal is to bring the community together to enjoy and be inspired by performing arts. They host a wide range of events, from classical music to modern dance and theater to pop artists, supplying a vast cultural enrichment to all who attend.
Nightly Performances
They run performances nearly every night, but you can view their schedule of upcoming events here so you can purchase your tickets in advance. Plus, they even have partnerships with certain hotels and restaurants, so you can get special offers and discounts just for being entertained!
11. Grab Some Drinks
Looking for the perfect place to wind down after your experience at Trap Door? Try Horseshoe Tavern, conveniently located right next door! This casual bar is a great place to either celebrate solving your escape room in time or come to terms with your defeat.
With a range of drinks and a tasty selection of appetizers and dinners, they’ll be able to satisfy any appetite you worked up. They even have specials and live music nearly every night of the week, which makes it a fun place for drinks with a group of friends. Or, enjoy a beer on game day, as they have plenty of TVs to watch your favorite team. Either way, you can expect to enjoy a great night out with even better drinks here.
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Mentioned Experiences
Days before the celebration, a fire took all the family photos needed to complete the Ofrenda. Luckily, each member of the family was buried with a portrait.
$39.99 Per Player
You have 60 minutes to escape, at $39.99 per person, plus tax. At a minimum of 1,000 square feet of playing space, this theme is sure to provide a thrilling adventure. Day of the Dead is three times larger than the average escape room experience. Additionally, this game has a Fiesta Package for $10 more per person. Most importantly, however, all bookings are private for your comfort.
You are Constables for The Sheriff of Salem and are tasked with finding evidence of Witchcraft before the town hanging.
$39.99 Per Player
You have 60 minutes to escape, at $39.99 per person plus tax. At a minimum of 1,000 square feet of playing space, this theme is sure to provide a thrilling adventure. Witch Hunt is three times larger than the average escape room experience. Most importantly, however, all bookings are private.
As Oddities in Xunder’s new sideshow act, you must stop the evil Mermaid Atina from stealing the show with her siren song.
$39.99 Per Player
You have 60 minutes to escape, at $39.99 per person plus tax. At a minimum of 1,000 square feet of playing space, this theme is sure to provide a thrilling adventure. The Greatest Freakshow is three times larger than the average escape room experience. Most importantly, however, all bookings are private.
Trap Door Escape Company
Trap Door Escape Room has 3 locations: 3180 Route 611 in Bartonsville, PA in the Poconos; 60 White St. in Red Bank, NJ; and 34A Speedwell Ave. in Morristown, NJ. The Red Bank location was the first of the 3 locations, opening in the fall of 2015. Morristown followed in the summer of 2017, and Bartonsville opened during the holiday season of 2018.
History
The idea came to Tone Purzycki back in 2011 after he wrote a screenplay that developed into a live-streaming game. The game revolved around an actor trapped in a situation and the audience had to solve puzzles to figure out where he was trapped. The “Find Me Event” had more than 1,000 people playing over the course of several hours. After the success of several other streaming events, the idea of an escape room was born.
Locations
Each location has different rooms from which to choose. Our Morristown location is home to Day of the Dead, Witch Hunt, and The Greatest Freakshow. In Bartonsville, you’ll find Cure Z, F5 Tornado Escape, Fear the Bogeyman, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, We’re All Mad Here, and Prisoner Z. In Red Bank we currently have Everest – our first 2 story escape room. Ripper of London is another game that will soon be available at this location.
Trap Door Escape Room also offers team building, streaming events, and birthday parties. For more information on any of our games, prices, and locations, explore our website or call 570-234-3366