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1. Kip's Castle

Take your lil’ prince or princess to tour the grounds of Kip’s Castle. This 9,000 square-foot mansion is another Verona treasure.

2. Hilltop Reservation

Keep an eye out for deer as you explore Hilltop Reservation, a 284-acre nature preserve, once the site of the Essex County Hospital Center.

Rent a paddleboat to take a ride around the lake in Verona Park. Photo by the Rose Gordon Sala

3. Swan Boats

Paddle around the giant 13-acre lake in the middle of Verona Park on a swan-shaped paddleboat.

4. Go for a Stroll

Verona Park’s 1.3-mile loop has a smooth surface that is perfect for strollers, scooters, and new bike riders.

7. Civic Center Movies Under the Stars

Bring a chair or blanket for a FREE family-friendly movie under the stars on the Civic Center lawn during the summer. Free snacks are also included.

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The Verona Park Playground has been recently redone and offers tons of space to climb, explore, and let imaginations run wild. Photo by Elaine Paoloni Quilici

6. Verona Park Playground

Visit the playground at Verona Park, one of the biggest and best in Essex County.

7. Verona Community Center

Avoid the crowds at the Verona Park Playground and visit the Verona Community Center Playground instead. Just up the road from Verona Park, this playground has smaller-scale yellow slides and a few animal climbers, making this low-key play space perfect for little ones.

8. Hit the Tennis Courts

Bring your tennis rackets and balls to play on one of Verona Park’s three public tennis courts.

9. Verona Inn Tavern

Grab the best burger in town—with a side of tater tots!—at Verona Inn Tavern.

Learning Express Toys is jam-packed with fun finds. Photo by the author

10. Learning Express Toys

Shop for last-minute birthday gifts at Learning Express Toys. They'll even wrap the gift for FREE.

11. Summer Concerts

Or, pack a picnic dinner and enjoy live music on the lawn as part of the Summer Concert Series.

12. Famous Ray's Pizza

Share a massive slice of pizza at Famous Ray’s Pizza of New York.

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Wander the new Fairy Trail at Grove Park. Photo courtesy of the Verona Environmental Commission

13. Fairy Trail

Walk the newly installed fairy trail at the Grove Park and Nature Preserve, which was created by a local Girl Scout.

14. Peckman Nature Trail

Find some adventure along the Peckman Nature Trail. Located behind F.N. Brown Elementary School, the trail runs along the Peckman River that flows through Verona, Cedar Grove, and Little Falls.

15. West Essex Trail

Or, take a hike along the West Essex Trail, which follows a short, 3-mile section of the former rail bed of the Caldwell Branch on the old Erie-Lackawanna Railroad between the Essex-Passaic county line.

16. Verona Diner

Have breakfast at the crowd-pleasing Verona Diner.

Enjoy breakfast on the patio at Blue Hippo Coffee Co. Photo courtesy of the cafe

17. Blue Hippo Coffee Co.

Enjoy an iced coffee, salad, and Nutella sammy from Blue Hippo Coffee Co. on its adorable back patio.

18. National Night Out

Take part in the activities, games, and an obstacle course at Verona's National Night Out celebration on the first Tuesday in August.

19. Bagelwich Bagel Bakery & Cafe

Get up early to snag a coveted rainbow bagel from Bagelwich Bagel Bakery & Cafe.

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Coof off with a treat from The Towne Scoop. Photo courtesy of the shop

20. The Towne Scoop

Cool off with delicious, homemade ice cream at The Towne Scoop.

21. Fireworks Displays

Don’t miss the annual fireworks show on Liberty Field, usually held a few days before the Fourth of July and accompanied by live music, food, and entertainment.

22. Green Point Juicery

Or, choose your own fruit to make a custom kids’ smoothie at Green Point Juicery.

The kid-friendly Compound Coffee Co. offers plenty more than a caffeine fix. Photo courtesy of the cafe

23. The Compound Coffee Co.

Go for coffee and light bites at Verona’s newest coffee shop, The Compound Coffee Co. (affectionately known as The CoCoCo).

24. Go Fishing

Yes, really! The annual Verona Park Fishing Derby is held in June

25. Baked Bouquet

Stop for a cupcake at Baked Bouquet, known for its beautiful cupcake bouquets.

Originally published in 2014. Laura J. contributed additional reporting.