Local Sites to Visit

By: Susan Berube | Published: February 6, 2025

Are you a student that resides on campus and would like to get to know the surrounding cities? Are you a commuter with no places to visit between classes? Whether you live on campus or commute, it is always a great opportunity to learn what sites there are around campus. This gives you the chance to spend time with friends, family, or just enjoy some time alone and take a break from the constant flow of work! 

Tower reporters discovered, researched, and listed places around campus that you can schedule a trip to whenever you’d like to explore life off campus.  

Recreation and Entertainment

1. Local Parks 

• Watchung Reservation: This park is located in Union County, NJ. It is a 2,000+acre preserve filled with trails, a Trailside Nature & Science Center, and a playground for kids of all ages to enjoy!  

• Warinanco Park: This park is located in Roselle, NJ and includes over a dozen activities for families to enjoy. There’s an ice-skating rink, a dog park, two playgrounds, a running track, pedal boats, and areas to play basketball, baseball, soccer, or volleyball!  

• Liberty State Park:Overlooking the shores of the Hudson River, Liberty State Park is located in Jersey City, NJ, offering a clear view of the Statue of Liberty. There are scenic trails as well as a Ferry service to Ellis Island.

2. Leisure Activities  

• YESTERcades of Westfield: Time for a throwback to the ’80s and ’90s! This nostalgic and retro-style arcade can be found in Westfield, NJ and includes vintage consoles and games for people to enjoy.  

• Inspirations: Is thrifting one of your hobbies? Inspirations is the place to go to thrift secondhand clothes, shoes, handbags, and professional clothing! This company has stores in multiple local locations such as Elizabeth, Union, and Linden.  

• Here’s the Story Bookstore: Are you a fan of small and cozy bookstores? This bookstore is located in Union, NJ close by to a cafe and a thrift store. All genres of books are sold as well as bookmarks and cute merchandise to decorate your home with!  

Food and Beverage Establishments

• Van Gogh’s Ear Cafe: This coffeehouse, located in Union, NJ, has a distinct and unique style, showcasing local art and staging live music on select days throughout the week.  

• Gong Cha: Just a block away from Green Lane Academic Building (GLAB), Gong Cha can be found in a plaza in Union, NJ, offering delicious bubble tea.  

• Parador Rojo: Located in Elizabeth, NJ, this Colombian restaurant serves traditional meals, desserts, and provides a welcoming atmosphere for a memorable night out. 

• KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot: The hype around Korean BBQ is well deserved, as the closest location in Union, NJ provides you with a unique and unforgettable dining experience, giving diners the chance to cook the food to their liking.  

Day Trips 

A trip to New York City sounds like the perfect way to spend a day with friends! The NJ Transit Union Rail Station, located near the Green Lane Academic Building, arrives in NYC from Kean University in approximately 45 minutes. Museums are engaging and informative, so listed below are two of the most popular ones to visit in NYC!  

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art 

• The Museum of Modern Art 

For students with Flex Dollars, there are many places off campus that accept this as payment. Accepting locations (Off-Campus) are listed below:  

1. Applebee’s (1721 Morris Ave., Union)  

2. Bubbakoos Burritos (1350 Galloping Hill Rd Unit 6, Union)  

3. Cold Stone Creamery (Shoppes at Vermella, Union)  

4. Flamin Feathers (996 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union)  

5. H&S Soul Food (1700 Stuyvesant Ave., Union)  

6. Habit Burger Grill (Shoppes at Vermella)  

7. Johnny Napkins (1424 Morris Ave, Union)  

8. KB’s BBQ Steakhouse (1077 Stuyvesant Ave., Union)  

9. Mark Twain Diner (1601 Morris Ave., Union)  

10. &Pizza (Shoppes at Vermella, Union)  

11. Suspenders Restaurant & Pub (1131 Magie Avenue, Union)  

12. Tropicana Diner (545 Morris Ave, Elizabeth)  

13. The Juice House (1181 Morris Avenue, Union)  

14. Vinci’s Pizzeria (895 Magie Ave., Union)  

15. CVS Pharmacy (Shoppes at Vermella, Union) 

Make the most out of your college experience both on campus and off campus!