Travel Alert: CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, BRANCH BROOK PARK

Did you know that New Jersey can boast we have more Cherry Blossom Trees to Explore than Washington DC? Well as a day trip option, rather than getting on the Acela, you can take a short drive to Newark to the Branch Brook Park, which runs through Belleville and Newark, and showcases over 5,200 Japanese cherry blossom trees. Many New Jersey residents take part in one or more races the Cherry Blossom 10K Run or the Cherry Blossom Challenge Bike Race in Newark.

Photo property of the Essex County Park System Facebook Page

The History from the State of New Jersey website: 

The park first adopted a pink and white hue in 1927, when Caroline Bamberger Fuld donated 2,000 cherry blossom trees to the Essex County Parks system in memory of her late husband.

Branch Brook Park also holds the distinction of being the first county park in the United States opened to the public.

It was designed by the famed Olmsted Brothers landscape architectural firm, established by the sons and successors of Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park in New York City.

Have a suggestion for a place to explore on a day out of Raritan? Please let me know!

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