Some of the best school trips in the memories of New Jersey's students involve the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia—and for good reason. Where there are usually, in most museum settings, a few examples from a lot of different fields of study and interest, the Franklin Institute almost literally has everything under one roof. It's a favorite of teachers and class chaperones, and Kat Stein, public relations director for the Franklin Institute, knows why: “Our exhibitions and experiences are created to appeal to all ages. There is literally something for everyone.” “The Franklin Institute has …

It's the fall season, and kids are wide-eyed with wonder. They're taking in everything around them. So why not take advantage of that alertness, and sneak in a little fun-filled education? Imagine That! Children’s Museum, at 4 Vreeland Road in Florham Park, could be what you're looking for. “Our target age bracket is from one to nine years old,” said Deborah Bodnar, the director for the museum. Imagine That! Has been in existence for more than 20 years, and the location in Florham Park has been available to families for seven. It that time, the facility has grown and changed to accommodate …

The summer of 2012 has passed and a few things are apparent, not the least of them is just how early it's starting to get dark outside. By now, you might be craving for some extra light as you begin driving home in the dark. Janet Peterson, marketing and public relations director for Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, believes she might have the cure for those darker weekend nights. “The Museum of American Glass has over 7,000 objects on display," she said. "There is a 2:30 p.m. tour that is offered with the price of admission. Private tours are available for groups. A new exhibit opens …

Record stores have undergone a necessary transformation over the last decade, as the entire music industry has changed. At first, the CD revolution in the early 1990s disrupted the vinyl record segment (and buried cassette tapes). Vinyl became fringe, the refuge for punk and alt-rock bands looking to distinguish themselves from the standard issue, but the cost of manufacturing became prohibitive and extinction loomed. In a way, the best things to happen to vinyl were the ascendance of the MP3 and new models (like Apple's iTunes) for buying music over the Internet. The backlash from …

Comic art today is considered just that—art. It's known to the scholars as “sequential art.” And it's highly valued. The materials that were used to create cartoons, either in storyboard, production painting, or animation cel form fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars in a collectors’ market. But those materials haven't always been saved. They were often given away or discarded. The comic book was printed, the movie was shot—and the materials used to create them were no longer deemed useful. With so few examples left from certain time periods, what remains is prized. Maybe you're rich and …

New Jersey is very fortunate in the sense that even though it is no longer dominated by farms life, there’s still plenty to remind us why it is called the “garden state.” Because of farmers markets, we're still quick to think of apple cider, baked goods and arts and crafts as the holidays roll in—but we don't necessarily think of wine. And that's a shame: it can be a great gift for the host or hostess of your favorite holiday party. Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road in Princeton, is a family-owned and operated destination with a long history. Gary and Pam Mount bought Terhune Orchards in …

Lighthouses are curious structures. When taking in the mysterious, almost gothic implications of the tall buildings, jutting out from shorelines to shine light across the open waters, you can very easily forget these are functional and very important structures, even today in our digital age. Back before the satellites, however, they were a necessity. At Cape May Lighthouse, on Tuesday, you have the opportunity to learn just how needed they were and still are. The country’s National Lighthouse Celebration at the Cape May Lighthouse takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and promises education, and…

Have you ever actually seen the Liberty Bell? You’ve heard about it, maybe you read about it during history class, or seen iconic images of it, but have you actually seen it? Now is a great time to check it out and Jeffrey Lew of the architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the project architect for the Liberty Bell Center, which has housed the bell and exhibited it to the public, explained how the impressive home for the bell came about. “The 1997 master plan of Independence Mall envisioned the making of a great American place in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic district. In keeping …

The corridor of time between Memorial Day and Independence Day tends to get people thinking of the sacrifices of America’s fighting forces, both past and present. With the impending anniversary of the United States' entry into World War II, that connection is felt even more this year, especially for New Jersey. Gary L. Edelson, of the Township of Ocean Historical Museum, 703 Deal Road, Ocean Township, said their current exhibit, Loved Ones Go to War: Local Stories of World War II, is about "remembering those who did so much for the war effort." "We have had exhibits about the war before, but …

We know many Patch readers have been taking the column to heart and have been making visits to our suggested destinations. But some of you haven’t. Well, that cannot stand. So, for this week’s entry we’re sending the whole lot of you to jail ... to be more precise, you’re going to the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site in Philadelphia. It's our "Day Tripper" pick of the week. DAY TRIPPER DIGEST Estimated Travel Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes Why it’s Worth the Trip:  How many times can you say you went to prison and were released the same day? How about adding in a visit to a historical …

How many shows at the PNC Arts Center have you seen? If you live in New Jersey, the chances are good you’ve seen at least one. Was it the reunion of The Who? Was it Paul Simon and Brian Wilson, or maybe Elvis Costello and The Police? Squeeze or Rush? The open-air auditorium has been a staple of New Jersey summertime entertainment and has been wowing visitors far and wide for decades. Paul Davon, while not directly affiliated with the Arts Center, was so impressed he took it upon himself to get the word out about it. “In 2009, I visited New Jersey on holiday and heard great things about the …

If there is any American town that would know something about Independence Day, it would have to be Philadelphia. So it isn't surprising that this city has scheduled 10 days worth of attractions to celebrate July Fourth. Elizabeth Evans, public relations agent for the Philadelphia Wawa Welcome America event said of the multiple-day activities, “(It is) the nation’s largest, free July Fourth festival in the heart of America's birthplace, from June 25 through July 4.” “There's no other place nationwide where families can experience the “Largest Free Concert in America”; two breathtaking …

New Jersey and the institution of the diner just go together so well. Is it any wonder? A diner merges the convenience of fast food with the feel of sit-down dining. You can have either a large meal or just a cup of coffee, with a party of many or a party of one. So for this week’s Day Tripper, we’re looking at two different diners with a couple things in common. Both are in Monmouth County, but we may get an appetite for checking out diners in other parts of the state in later installments as well. The Roadside Diner in Wall has been an area institution since the 1940s, at the intersection …

Continuing the theme of festivals and outdoor events, this week’s Day Tripper destination finds Peddler's Village (Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, PA) readying the 20th edition of its Fine Arts and Contemporary Crafts Show. This juried outdoor exhibition features original artwork including paintings, drawings, photographs, sculpture, jewelry and contemporary crafts with cash prizes being awarded in three categories: "Fine Art," "Contemporary Crafts," and "Photography.” Eve Gelman, public relations manager for Peddler’s Village, wanted to make sure people understood this was not merely an insider’s…

Brooklyn's known for being hip. Artists and performers are drawn to it. And fans are drawn to them. This summer, as in years past, it happens again with the Celebrate Brooklyn summer-long festival, now in its 34 year. Located in the Prospect Park bandshell, the events, opportunities and shows offer a diverse slate of entertinament. Among the attractions: The "Music and "Movies" series, which pairs iconic films (projected onto the festivals huge outdoor screen) with live music performances. A 35th anniversary screening of "Saturday Night Fever" (Tony Manero costumes welcome!) will get an …

To be fair, adults viewing the television commercials for Six Flags Great Adventure can't be faulted for thinking their favorite rides from their youth have disappeared. After all, the Six Flags company prides itself on being one of the most current amusement park chains, fully leveraging its partnership with one-time owner Warners, Inc. through rides that feature characters from its properties: Batman, Superman, and Green Lantern. These are all great thrill-rides, and Bugs Bunny, Foghorn Leghorn as well as many Cartoon Network icons dot the park. But what if you’re feeling nostalgic? There …

Live music almost always makes for a worthwhile day trip, and two unique opportunities are arriving soon. The Princeton Symphony Orchestra will make an appearance in Monroe Township (at Monroe High School, 200 Schoolhouse Road, Monroe Township) May 12, courtesy of the Monroe Arts Committee, and returns to its home auditorium the next day. "In fact, our regular Classical Series concert in May, Spun Beauty, takes place Sunday, May 13 at 4 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium in Princeton," Meredith Laing, spokeswoman for the orchestra, said. The program includes "Disquiet" by Sarah Kirkland Snider, "…

New York is up to its eyeballs in superheroes. You can’t walk down the street without tripping over one of them. New Jersey has only one superhero, Toxie, and that’s enough for us. Toxie, or "The Toxic Avenger," is the titular character of the cult film featuring New Jersey’s first superhero, borne from the mutative effects of toxic waste, or more precisely the iconic, psychotic, (Tromatic?) Troma Entertainment. In the tradition of small-budget studios from the 1950s through the 1970s, Troma wasn’t out to make art-house fare, peppering its movies (often corralled under the “exploitation” or “…

New Jersey and the institution of the diner just go together so well. Is it any wonder? A diner merges the convenience of fast food with the feel of sit-down dining. You can have either a large meal or just a cup of coffee, with a party of many or a party of one. So for this week’s Day Tripper, we’re looking at two different diners with a couple things in common. Both are in Monmouth County, but we may get an appetite for checking out diners in other parts of the state in later installments as well. The Roadside Diner in Wall has been an area institution since the 1940s, at the intersection …

New Jersey can often get a bad reputation, if not by the amount of suburban neighborhoods, then by the industrial compounds that line the Turnpike. And yet, there are still so many regions that have acres of natural beauty to be explored, provided you are respectful in your approach. Respectful was a key description of Jacques Cousteau, a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water. He co-developed the Aqualung, pioneered marine conservation, and became the face and name for …