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Whippany is the heart of Hanover Township, and it packs a lot into a small stretch of Route 10: a working railway museum with holiday trains, the main branch of the Morris County Library, a riverside trailhead for Patriots’ Path, and a few longtime local restaurants. The village marked its 350th anniversary this year, and here is how we would spend a day there.
Ride the Rails at the Whippany Railway Museum
The Whippany Railway Museum at 1 Railroad Plaza has been preserving New Jersey’s railroad history since 1965, and it is the main reason many families know Whippany at all. The museum closes its exhibits for the winter, but the trains keep running for the holidays.
In the fall it runs the short Pumpkin Patch Train, where every kid comes home with a pumpkin (our Pumpkin Patch Train guide has the details). From late November through December, the station becomes home to New Jersey’s Polar Express ride. Tickets go fast, so read our Polar Express in Whippany guide before you book.
Spend an Afternoon at the Morris County Library
The Morris County Library sits at 30 East Hanover Avenue in Whippany. It is the county’s main library, with a big children’s section, study space and a steady calendar of free programs, author talks and story times. On a rainy Saturday it is one of the easiest free outings in the county.
Walk Patriots’ Path Along the Whippany River
Patriots’ Path is more than 70 miles of trails that follow the Whippany and Black River corridors across Morris County, and Whippany has two handy places to start. The Bee Meadow Park trailhead is at 22 Howell Street, and the Central Park of Morris County trailhead is on Eden Lane. The surface changes from section to section, from crushed stone to narrow dirt path, so wear real shoes.
If you start at Central Park, look for the grove of 13 trees the county planted for America’s 250th. We wrote about it in our guide to the 250th grove.
Bee Meadow Park, the Township’s Backyard
Bee Meadow Park is where Hanover Township gathers. It has the fields, the township’s Bee Meadow Pool on Reynolds Avenue in summer, and the Patriots’ Path trailhead. It also hosts the township’s big events, including the Food, Wine and Brew Festival each September. In summer, keep an eye out for Hanover Township’s free Monday night concert series.
Where to Eat in Whippany
- Chimney Rock Inn, 750 Route 10. A family spot known for its thin crust bar pies. Open daily from 11:30 a.m., until 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
- Whippany Diner, 417 Route 10 East. The classic Jersey diner move, open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Burgers, breakfast and comfort plates.
- Il Capriccio, 633 Route 10. The dress-up dinner in town, a long-running Italian restaurant that is a go-to for anniversaries and family celebrations.
- Paulie G’s. A local deli for breakfast and lunch, open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Make It a Day
A good Whippany day looks like this: a morning walk on Patriots’ Path from Bee Meadow Park, lunch at the diner, an hour at the Morris County Library with the kids, then thin crust pizza at Chimney Rock Inn. From late November on, swap the library for the Polar Express. Want more town guides? See our picks for things to do in Chatham, a short drive down the road.
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