Grounds For Sculpture Reviews

We loved this stop (family of 4, children 13 and 11). We were catching the train into NYC and this was our stop before heading in. We got to Hamilton a little earlier than planned so decided to hit Grounds in the afternoon rather than the next morning and maybe catch an earlier train to NYC. It was sold out for the day AND buying online is discounted (I did not know it was better to buy tickets online). I bought tickets online for the next morning and we really enjoyed walking around and seeing all the art.

What a great day we had exploring at Grounds for Sculpture. There is something different around every turn, you can put yourself right into the art and sculptures. The exhibits are vibrant and fun. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch by the lake at Rat's. The heaters made it possible to enjoy our meal outside. Totally enjoyed the experience.

Four of us made the rounds ofGrounds for Sculpture yesterday. I cannot think of a more pleasant way to spend the day. Hundreds of interesting sculptures in a setting whose landscaping matches the beauty of the sculptures. You can see the whole Grounds in a day, but you will be tired by the end.

Not too far away and super interesting! Little surprises and lots of unexpected hidden artworks! Ratz Restaurant looks remarkable and would love to enjoy a meal there one day. Van Gogh's Cafe' was a beautiful spot for a snack. Truly a great afternoon! Must see--the American Gothic Exhibit!

The setting of all the sculptures really separates this from other places. Walking outdoors on the peaceful winding paths coming upon different pieces of art is quite the treasure hunt.

I had seen an advertisement in a magazine and always wanted to see it and we finally did. Well worth the wait. It was incredible. Such talent of the artists. Very manageable to walk around and the displays, greenery, gardens, it was so well planned/designed. They should be very proud of what accomplished. Would highly recommend it and we will be back.
Not to mention a gorgeous day as well!!

We spent 2½ hours visiting this beautiful place, part botanical garden and part outdoor art gallery. After buying tickets at the welcome center/museum ($20 adults/ $17 for seniors – they would have been cheaper if we’d bought them ahead online), we explored the curving pathways through around the enormous park, discovering new sculptures (over 300 of them) at every turn. The art is an interesting mix of styles ranging from life-size characters from famous paintings to abstract creations, so there is something for everyone here. The lovey landscaping includes hidden grottos, bamboo groves, grassy meadows, a Japanese garden, reflecting pools, and a restaurant by a pond reminiscent of Monet‘s Giverny garden. It is hard to believe that all of this was once the abandoned New Jersey State Fairgrounds, with only seven maple trees!

Arrived with grandsons 8 & 10. They absolutely loved the space, lots to look at, climb on, interact with, including water features, etc. Easy paths, small places where you can sit & enjoy ice cream, soft pretzels, etc. Also a very nice restaurant, Rats, that offers outdoor & indoor seating. Can be appreciated by all ages. Can't wait to return.

Loved Grounds for Sculpture!! There is more to see than I could have imagined. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Lots of parking and must purchase timed tickets. The real peacocks wandering around were absolutely amazing!! Nice cafe to purchase drinks and food. The staff was very friendly. Can't wait to go back again.

Grounds for Sculpture is an unique art exhibit in a grand scale setting within a 42 acre park. You can easily spend entire day walking around while enjoying the various life size art exhibits as well as its beautiful landscapes. Some of the exhibits are literally intentionally hidden for you to discover. There is also a water front view of a lake that's so tranquil for you to sit and relax especially if you are tire from walking. With so many art exhibits that are both indoor and definitely outdoor, this is indeed a hidden gem for couple and family to see regardless if you are local from the city of Philadelphia or out of state.

While we agree this is an excellent place to visit, we found the times ticket entry is somewhat less desirable for us to experience.

I was visiting and this is one of my best memories of New Jersey. There was this guide that was so nice and informative, it was a plus to such a nice place. Highly recommended.

I went here with my family, including young kids, ages 7 & 5. We all loved it. It was so much fun walking around and exploring the scuptures. Don't be afraid to bring the kids. We even ate at Rat's Restaurant. I loved dining among Monet's Garden. Having been to the real gardens in France, I almost felt as if I were there. We got in around 11:30 on a summer Friday without a reservation. It was probably the best post-pandemic restaurant service I've gotten. Great wine list too.

I’ve had this place on my list of things to do this summer and I finally had the chance to go. I can’t even begin to tell you how beautiful the property is! It’s stunning! It’s so large, there’s so much to see, and it leaves you speechless. Great for kids, adults, teens, you do not have to be someone who’s into art to enjoy it here. There’s sculptures of literally everything! It’s like a movie set, there’s woodsy areas, lakeside areas, indoor museums I mean it’s all here. Such an amazing place for photographs. The pictures probably won’t even do it justice. Allow yourself at least 2 hours. Guided tours take around 45-1 hour. If you want a map you can buy a paper one for $1 or you can use a website. Keep your eyes peeled because every nook and cranny had a sculpture. You don’t wanna miss them! I highly recommend wearing shoes it’s a dirt, rocky path at times! Sunblock is a good idea too on a sunny day but there are shady spots and plenty of places to rest if need be. We also went to rats restaurant after too! Great day trip! Would come back again. We talked to a couple who’s been coming here for decades and said that every year it changes!

This is an amazing sculpture park that seems to have something different to offer each time I visit. I have enjoyed concerts there on several occasions, picnics, and strolling. It is a super fun place to take photographs, too.

I always love strolling through here- a surreal experience where art blends into life. The air and greenery all meld into a unique experience each and every time.

My sisters and I took a day trip to The Garden of Sculptures. We all loved it and were amazed at every turn by the sculptures. we did a guided tour which I would suggest, there is also a video you can watch before hand to learn about the place. You need to be prepared to walk and spend the whole day. Even then yiu need more time.

Boring, the Night show takes 1/2 hour to walk through, not worth the price of tickets. $30 is way overpriced. Total ripoff

This is one of our favorite plaes to visit. we are members of the GFS and visit as often as we can. There are the most amazing sculptures and art as well as beautiful landsca[ped gardens surrounding the art. Plus good food at Rats Restaurant and Cafe Kabul. Watch for the gorgeous peacocks as well.

If you get the chance to. But plan at least an hour or two. The grounds are great. Make sure you take a camera. Have some great pictures. Another great place to visit in Hamilton Township,Mercer County.

I have often driven past Grounds for Sculptures and this was my fist opportunity to visit (despite being a NJ native).
Tickets are best purchased online and have generous admission times - select a time and you have 30 minutes from the reservation to check in. Check in is easy - show your bar code at the front gate drive in.
Plenty of parking but be mindful some of the parking may be a bit of a walk for those with mobility issues.
I chose to start at the far end to make sure I did not miss much. It's also super helpful to print a map.
The sculptures are amazing and reach all different eras and themes. Rural America, French and English Provincial - mixed among the ponds, lake, trees and the very evident bamboo.
Wildflower gardens abound and you really must look around - don't merely speed on by in your walk - there are often little things to see.
There are indoor exhibits as well - and a few eateries - like Van Gogh's cafe. I grabbed a coffee in Van Gogh's cafe and enjoyed it on the outside patio. As my visit was a Summer Friday, Rat's Restaurant was very busy so I will save that for another visit.
I really appreciated the Main visitor center which contains the gift shop and also the story of how Seward Johnson met his wife, started his family and the Idea bloomed f the Sculpture Park.
While I covered a lot of ground on my initial visit, I am certain to return and think seeing the park in 4 different seasons will be just as wonderful as full bloom summer.

We loved, loved, loved this park. The landscaping complimented the sculptures perfectly. We took the docent lead tour. So glad because we heard great stories about the art and the park. A bonus was the male peacocks showing off during mating season. They were magnificent. The restaurants are wonderful. It’s funny because the life size sculptures look so real, we were not sure who was real and who was a sculpture- lol. Wonderful place to walk around when the weather is nice. A fun experience.

The Grounds for Sculpture is a large open space area with sculptures all over. Many of them are from famous works of art. Some are not for the very art conscious, but if you just take for what it is you will enjoy.

The sculptures are everywhere, you turn around and there is someone on the ground or on a bench or fishing in the lake. Some are getting old and show wear from the weather, but they are still fun and pleasant to look at.

There are indoor exhibits which change and the one when we there was a too modern art for me. There are a few cafes and the food is a bit overpriced, but not more than other places that are similar.

My favorite is indoors; it is a replica of Vincent VanGogh's painting of his room - the painting is Vincent,s bedroom at Arles. It is quite fun to actually be in the painting.

We consider ourselves so fortunate to have this venue “in our backyard.” There are sculptures for many tastes, all placed in perfect settings. There are many different art/sculpture shows each year. So return visits always provide many new things to see. Go!

Amazing place for all ages, as long as you are able to walk (or have a wheel chair). There are sculptures hidden everywhere. There is literally something for everyone here. Even toddlers will like it. I've taken several people here and everyone loves it.

Acres and acres of unique and mostly large sculptures in equally unique settings. Beautifully landscaped grounds/gardens with small water features as well as some sculptures on the nearby lake. Many of the sculptures are lifelike humans - both contemporary as well as from bygone eras. Great to take pictures with! Some of the sculptures are more abstract. Lots of sculptures are done by Seward Johnson - who is the originator of the museum grounds and part of the Johnson & Johnson family. We spent 2 hours there and did not see everything due to the excessive heat of the day. We'll be back.

I have been to Grounds for Sculpture several times and love the varied art forms and beautiful tree lined paths and views of the river. Monet's garden with water lily pond with arched bridge is so tranquil. Rat's restaurant is fabulous and is broken into many unique small, intimate dining areas as well as outside seating overlooking the pond. Lunch and dinner menus are always wonderful farm to table treat. Service is very professional but not stuffy. This visit we attended Night Forms and the light and sound show were enchanting. I have recommended Grounds for Sculpture and Rats to many friends and family. All have come away wowed and wondered why they had never heard of it before. We now live in Maryland and it is a 2.5 hour trip to get there - well worth the effort!

Like Storm King, I saw a sign for this place along the highway, made a note and finally visited. I became a Member right from the start so that I could visit starting at 8 am.
Now I feel like I am luckily committed to future visits. I didn’t do much prep work so it was a bit overwhelming to know even which direction to start walking. I asked the only other visitor there and she became my personal tour guide for the next hour! I really appreciated the detail given to the settings of the sculptures. It’s a mixture of modern sculpture and life size vignettes from paintings. And as my companion said, you can come just for the arboretum.

Incredible place. We spent 2 hours there and saw most of the outdoor sculptures. Really neat are pieces (and peacocks!) and it’s certainly a place you can take the family.

I'm a former Jersey girl but California transplant. At family visits, I'd been told for years about this neearby place that did not exist in the 50 or so years since I'd lived here. I kept waiting for someone to offer to take me, but this visit I took matters into my own hands. My husband and I visited on a drizzly day, but no matter. I enoyed the natural space devoted to the display of works of art. The sculptures are seemingly scattered around the extensive open space, but clearly are thoughtfully placed. The variety of types of artwork is engaging and often amusing. There are well displayed pieces and others tucked away "off the beaten path." Delights and surprises abound. On a sunny day, this would be a perfect place for a picnic and stroll. I love that such a large outdoor space has been devoted to appreciation of art and nautre. I will certainly come back next time I'm in NJ.

Despite very heavy showers these grounds are amazing The real size life like people are unbelievable. One of the best venues we have ever been to

The Grounds for Sculpture is an amazing place. It’s well worth the one hour plus drive down the Turnpike. There is something for everyone to enjoy. You just have to go to experience it. It is not expensive. There is a senior discount. Make sure you buy your tickets online ahead of time. Check with your library! We got our passes from the library’s Museum Pass program and it was free! The landscape is also beautiful. Lots of beautiful evergreen trees I’ve never seen anywhere else. I would say give yourself 3 hours to walk around and enjoy. We didn’t eat at the restaurant on the grounds. Next time!

I love this place. It's a hidden gem of New Jersey. You need good five to six hours to see all sculptures.

My wife and I went to the garden in early November, our anniversary. The weather was beautiful and we stayed there about four hours. The place is amazing, both the artwork and the gardens.Many of the exhibits are lifelike and humorous.There were no crowds when we went and there was no rush to get anywhere. It's a very interesting place and can be enjoyed by guests of all ages.

We had lunch outside at Rats Restaurant and especially enjoyed the view and the service. I recommend it.

The weather was fantastic. The sculptures were.... something we didn’t understand for the most part. We think one has to be sort of artsy to appreciate. Walking around was great because there are lakes and beautiful little waterfalls to enjoy. The larger than life sculptures were fun but there were not a lot of them But happy we saw it ONCE.
We ate in the supposedly wonderful Ratz restaurant which was a bit pricey. Wouldn’t have minded except the food left plenty to be desired. The chicken salad was tasteless, my hamburger was burnt at the top as if precooked then stuck under a broiler. It had absolutely zero taste. Very dry. The fries were bland and cold. But the pomegranate spritzer and lemonade were good.
Will we return? Not in this lifetime.

Don’t forget the peacocks!
This place fits everyone. It is nice to bring your own pack for a picnic. Not that fancy . Do not expect too much. Peaceful and quiet.

Fantastic great for pictures artistic unique experience beautiful outside experience lots of walking need 2-3 hours to see everything

An amazing, magical day! I felt like I was living in a painting. The grounds are so well-kept, and the art is whimsical and fun. Don't miss lunch at the beautiful restaurant, Rat's. Stop for a snack at Van Gogh's Cafe to see the murals. A lovely, kind gentleman (Fred M.) gave us an informative tour of the gallery to finish our day.

This was our sixth trip to the Grounds For Sculpture and each visit feels like our first. The weather was ideal and we spent two hours walking the Grounds and enjoying the installations. Since there are always new pieces and exhibits to see, it never gets old. The indoor exhibit on the Johnson family was quite informative and gives great insight into their history. The Grounds For Sculpture is one of the gems of New Jersey.

We visited yesterday and it was a perfect Saturday weather was beautiful grounds were wonderful flowers will still out in abundance and so were butterflies.Walking around this beautiful establishment can keep the interest of anyone of any age.Little kids might get bored but plenty of open space for them to run around

What a truly awesome place. The founder was a very creative individual.
The grounds are a a lot of area to cover. I guess it was the old fairgrounds site.
Many of the statues are so lifelike. Some were HUGE and really made it fun.
It was a hot day, in the 90s, but there was a lot of shaded areas.
One good thing was while visiting and walking around you really didn’t feel crowded even though there was a large amount of folks visiting the gardens.
You can bring your own water which was appreciated but not your own food. There were a few dining options and all were pricey.
There are a few indoor viewing areas. You must go thru the area in the welcome center to see the history of the grounds founders and a few additional sculptures.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring water and a camera.

Quite a collection of sculpture in a beautiful setting. The works are quite contemporary, but intriguing and thought-provoking. There's plenty of space and the exhibit halls are airy and very well-lit. A full tour of the park and the museums could very well consume two days, especially during those months in which all the flora will be green and in bloom. Don't pass up the Stewart Johnson exhibit inside the big museum... it's excellent!

Enjoyed being here. Some sculptures are simply unbelievable. Others not so much. The overwhelming majority are outstanding. Was not thrilled with the way women were treated in many of these sculptures. Parents beware: as with a lot of art there is nudity as well as some horror. Staff was extremely gracious and helpful.

Great day trip, had heard about this from friends and it was every thing they said and more! A delightful day and fun for all ages!!

This place is amazing. The sculptures were life like. We really enjoyed this place. Nice place to take photo too. Would recommend this place for sure.

My partner and I visited whilst struggling to find much to do in New Jersey, we ended up having a lovely afternoon, some of the pieces are awe inspiring and the grounds are perfectly manicured, I found the museum really interesting, but it’s just a lovely place to spend an afternoon, even if you’re not that into art! Make sure you visit Rats restaurant attached to the grounds for lunch, you won’t regret it! (Ps. If anyone is going to see the big Marilyn statue, she’s not there any more!)

The grounds themselves are awesome, just such a unique place!

However, there were sooooo many annoying, obnoxious groups of children running around ruining the experience for adults who just wanted to experience the beauty of nature and art. I cannot imagine trying to go on weekends when it's even more crowded.

And the food was terrible at Peacock Cafe, as were the staff. Oh well.

always a joy to be there in any of the 4 seasons
The permanent exhibit alone is worth the visit and the new installations are fabulous

Our visit to Grounds for Sculptures is always a treat. Many new sculptures to enjoy since our last visit and the new building contains many interesting art experiences.

Never saw anything like this before. Very creative pieces, and tons And tons of them... they just have to be admired for their creativity...,

Grounds not as maintained .... though not dirty. Costly tickets

It was a wonderful walk over very large grounds to see amazing sculptures of different sizes. It's fun to take photos of friends with different pieces.
My son posed at the back of the line of men waiting in a Depression Era breadline.
Granddaughters posed at tables with lunch-table
couple sculpture. At the 30-foot American Gothic, I photographed my wife pretending to steal a suitcase almost her height.

Fun family afternoon.

Well worth a visit. It is so well done, so beautifully landscaped along with fascinating art, that you will want to go here more than once, if you can. We have been there each season and they are all wonderful.

A beautiful lay out of different sculptures and figures were out standing.
I have never seen such a place laid out in acres of green land and beautiful trees.
Statues look so real. Even we were confused to figure out seeing some visitors sitting on bench or lying on grass.
I would definitely recommend everyone to visit this place, if you are around this area

I love to bring people here who've never heard of it to discover what an amazing hidden gem this is. It's a large park for you to explore and discover works from many different sculptors and artists. You are rewarded for treading off the beaten path by discovering small alcoves with hidden art pieces reserved for those of us who are driven by curiosity and the desire to uncover all the mysteries this place is hiding. I find something new every time I visit and they are constantly updating the grounds. Do yourself a favor and bring a date, they'll tell everyone how cultured you are for knowing about this place and how clever you are for finding it!

When I first visited GFS back in the '90's, the sculptures were wildly whimsical, laugh-out-loud funny, and/or impressive; the park offered a sweeping river view of totally undeveloped riverfront populated on the shore by those outdoor figures of realistic looking sculptures/statues of ordinary people in moments of ordinary life, and a very good but outrageously expensive Afghan restaurant. Yesterday, I was disappointed to find that most of the sculpture has been reduced to kitsch, the undeveloped vista has been filled in with ordinary looking houses, the Afghan restaurant is now plying ordinary American fare, and things have been allowed to decay some. Ah well. It's still a wonderful day-trip if you're in the Trenton area.

My visit to the gardens was ruined by the massive crowds of people. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and I thought,that since they only sell “timed tickets “ , there would be a more controlled attempt to not have it overcrowded!! The crowds were massive! You couldn’t even get close enough to take photos without them.

Very interesting place. Fascinating sculptures to study from different angles, and the botanical plantings make this an interesting garden experience as well. Something wondrous around every curve of every path.

It's definitely not Storm King, but a pleasant way to spend a few hours. The location in an industrial zone is a little odd, but they have created a very pretty retreat. You're totally unaware of the surrounding area once you drive through the gates. It was founded by sculptor Seward Johnson (heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune), so his work is featured quite prominently throughout the site. Heavy emphasis on representational work. The sculptural dioramas/recreation of famous impressionist works are some of the major attractions. Not exactly my cup of tea, but they are big crowd pleasers.

That being said, it is an attractive place to spend some time and interact with art/sculpture. If you are really into sculpture, would recommend visiting Storm King or the sculpture at the Pepsi headquarters in Purchase, NY.

As sculpture gardens go, this is by far, one of the very best. It’s expansive with both avant-garde and figurative works, some in obscure and hidden away places that make roaming about all the more fun and enticing. I can’t say enough good things about the gardens - having spend 4+ hours there.

Sadly, my experience at the Van Gogh Cafe was the complete opposite in terms of the pleasure factor. This was the WORST dining experience at a museum/sculpture garden in my life!! Many of the packaged food items — salads/sandwiches — were not labeled as to what they were. One that was labelled, the Mediterranean plate, looked ok and had a lot of dips. But no bread. I asked the counter person if there was bread. She said “no.” Then she pointed to something within the package. She said “Well, there’s this.” I asked what is was, and she said she didn’t know. Well, neither did I. I then pointed to another unlabelled item, a sandwich, and asked, “Is that PB and J?” She said it was. So I paid for that. And this was probably the worst PB and J I’ve ever eaten. (How can you ruin PB & J?) The bread was stale (it was hard and tasteless); the layer of jelly was so thin I couldn’t even determine what kind of jelly it was. And I didn’t know you could physically create a layer of PB so thin. It was a micro (or micron)layer. It didn’t taste like anything. What a waste. Then I got an iced almond milk latte and it looked like brown water and tasted like water. I would never eat at this cafe again.

We made another visit to Grounds for Sculpture. You might think a sculpture garden is not “worth a detour” but the folks who have designed the sculpture park have Fi7nd ways to deliver widespread appeal.

In addition to really cool “statement” sculptures and ones I think are rotating exhibition, they do a couple of other things to hold your attention.

They have life sized, fully painted human sculptures doing everyday things hidden within the foliage. Examples are couple of students with books who have fallen asleep,or a businessman stretched out on a bench, napping with the New aYork Times over his head.

They also have tableaux with similar human figures, although now they are representing famous impressionist paintings. These are very cool.

Are there negatives? The property is huge. Ideally, you want to,get in towns the center, where paths lead to unexpected “exhibits.” The first few paths you take parallel parking areas, so you are not surrounded why lawns and trees yet. You need to figure out how to get “inside.”

We like this a lot and plan on returning.

I don't know how I didn't discover this place until now! Even in the winter, this place was amazing!! What a perfect way to spend the day. Such a variety of sculptures! The paths were easy to follow and it was enjoyable to explore the little areas and discover hidden displays. The galleries were well presented. The gentleman in the gift shop was so warm and helpful. Can't wait to come back in the spring, summer and fall!

I heard one person describe it as NJ's best kept secret before I went. The place was unknown to me before I saw it last week and truly enjoyed myself. I am not an art or sculpture frequenter but you do not need to be. This is a place to stroll and enjoy some innovative stuff and get a few laughs too. It's sculpture and nature - difficult not to have a nice time.

This is a pretty easy escape from NYC—NJ transit (Hamilton Station) to the 608 local bus, which drops you off right in front for the Grounds for Sculpture. Round trip from Penn Station, maybe 2 hours? We got the most beautiful fall day and the combination of leaves changing and outdoor sculpture was really enchanting. Every time we took a turn it felt like we were surprised with something that was simply gorgeous. Some of the pieces weren't exactly my personal style but I think there's such a variety, that mixed with the nature, you're gonna love something there. There are two restaurants on the grounds, although Rats was closed on a Monday, which looked like it was torn from a picture book. All-in-all, I think we walked around for about 4 hours, it really keeps giving. I'm surprised I had never heard of this before, it's really a fun day trip from the city. And we left feeling really inspired and wondering why this gem of a spot isn't more well known. I'd highly recommend.

Been wanting to come to grounds for sculpture for many many years finally made it there about two weeks ago and it did not disappoint. The sculptures were beautiful it went from real life to Art Deco and free form. There were things inside and outside and we thoroughly enjoyed all of it. I would definitely recommend to come on a nice spring or fall day. We were there for about two hours and definitely could’ve spent another hour or two there. Make sure you get your ticket ahead of time online you save a couple dollars and you’re guaranteed of your time.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience. Loved admiring the diverse sculptures and being able to be apart of them too. I will let my photos explain it all.

Best kept secret in NJ.
Amazing collection of sculptures. The uniqueness comes from how they are displayed - randomly placed throughout multiple gardens, ponds, woods, buildings and fields.
Hundreds of unusual trees, shrubs, plants and flowers throughout.
You’ll feel like Alice in Wonderland!
When your wandering has ended Ratz Restaurant on the Grounds is a perfect ending. Wonderful 4 star restaurant and bar.

My friends and I had such an amazing visit to the Grounds for Sculpture today. You must reserve your tickets in advance. All the sculptures and people figures are so different and the grounds are so peaceful and clean. Everywhere you look there is something. We could not stop taking photos. We were so happy to we went here, it was something totally different.

This was my second visit to GFS. I started with a free guided tour, which was the best idea. The docent was so knowledgeable and introduced us to some of the highlights and newer pieces. I wish I had taken the tour the first time I visited. To know the history and backstory of a piece made it so much more meaningful. My friend and I spent 6 hours walking the grounds on a beautiful Fall day. I am already looking foward to my next visit.

What a worthwhile place to visit!!! All ages, all abilities, plenty to see and do and, their evening Night Forms exhibit is not to be missed. it is not a "light show' in any way. In addition, their customer service makes everything so easy and they are so polite and kind and helpful. A representative named Mills walked me through getting tickets for several different aspects and treated my request like it was the most important thing she had to do that day!

Loved, loved, loved our first visit here yesterday. Despite the forecast of rain it held off and we were able to walk the grounds. Best part is seeing and uncovering hidden sculptures throughout the grounds. Seeing well known artists in lifelike poses and gigantic world renowned paintings - THE SCREAM!! - was just wonderful. We will definitely be back. A hidden gem and well worth the two hour drive to get there. Soooo much better than Storm King!

I have been to the Grounds For Sculpture many times this year and especially enjoyed the First Friday evening events in the Summer. It's great to go when it's dark or light to see the cool sculptures and enjoy the surprises around every turn.

The focus is on life-size sculptures spread out on over 4 acres of land. There are sculptures representing all different types of scenes; however, don't miss the Seward Johnson building. The sculptor has an entire exhibit of his own, including a very special piece that survived the terror attacks in New York on September 11, 2001. Please note that you need to go on line and order time dated tickets. They only allow a certain number of people to entire at a time. However, once you are on the grounds, there is no time limit for your stay. Take your time, it is amazing!! This was my 5th visit and each time I have seen something new.

I havwe renewed my membership every year for the past 5 years. This is a very nice place to take out of town visitors. Lots to see, especially on a nice day, since many of the exhibits are outside.

The gardens with the lifelike sculptures of people were wonderful. The modern sculptures were nice, just not my taste in art. The cafe had a good variety of food for lunch. The restaurant with large patio looked very pretty. It has a great view of Monet's bridge and water lily replica. Don't miss the very large sculpture of two women on a park bench. It is a bit off of the main garden sections.

My family and I spent a wonderful Sunday afternoon strolling among the sculptures. Although a warmer time of year (and full foliage) would have added to the experience I would still highly recommend a visit.

It doesn't have to be a perfect day out but since most of the sculptures are outside a sunny day makes for a more pleasant experience. I'm not a huge modern art fan, but there's a wide variety of artists and sculptors. Seward Johnson's work is so lifelike and the detail/scale is incredible. Plan on 3-5 hours. They do allow you to bring in water bottles but no outside food. They have a nice sitdown restaurant and a snack bar. Cost is $20.00 for adults, $17 for Seniors and $10.00 for students.

The Grounds For Sculpture is a great place to escape during the pandemic. It is absolutely gorgeous, relaxing and provides a covid safe outing. The life size sculptures are amazing. It has a lot of different styles of art that anyone would enjoy. Due to limited capacity, the place has plenty of space for social distancing. You can go at your own pace. There are also plenty of opportunities to take a rest, as they have benches sprinkled throughout the park. We will be back in the spring to see the garden in bloom.

Hints: all the buildings are closed except one bathroom. You should dress warmly.

Cost: $10/ person, free for kids under 5
Parking: on the site (free)
Bathroom: clean
Stroller friendly: Yes

Covid safety protocols:
- limited capacity
- advanced tickets required
- masks required when social distancing is impossible

If you want to check out family friendly with covid safety protocols, please follow me at Instagram @NYC_Super_Mom

Be sure to buy tickets ahead of time. We were there for about 4 hours. Time flew by. It was amazing. there were so many sculptures and different places to see, indoors and outdoors, gorgeous setting, just amazing. The weather was great too so that helped, not too hot, not a drop of rain. My only suggestion would be to have a few more food options, as we were half way through and got really thirsty and hungry and it was hard to find a place to get something. that would be my only thing. Do not miss out!!!

The weather was perfect and we all, even my teenage daughters, had a ball. The grounds are designed to roam and discover. Many interactive pieces encourage you to "enter" the picture and take some photos. A great way to spend a day among art.

Visited in December - probably not the best time to visit for vegetation etc but kids had a great time. Very surprising place, in a good way!

What an experience! “Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) is a 42-acre (170,000 m2) sculpture park and museum located in Hamilton, NJ, United States, on the former site of the New Jersey State Fairgrounds. Founded in 1992 by John Seward Johnson II, the venue is dedicated to promoting an understanding of and appreciation for contemporary sculpture by organizing exhibitions, publishing catalogues, and offering a variety of educational programs and special community events.“

A nice walk and suddenly there’s a couple on the grass with mobile phones, Macbeth’s witches stirring a bigger than life caldron, people on a bench, Marilyn the size of a building direct from Palm Springs!

New place for lunch on the premises VanGogh’s is like entering “Starry Night” and Ratz can’t be beat fir dinner!

Hamilton NJ —a day trip for anyone in the Philadelphia area—not to be missed!

We had very relaxing Saturday. Beautiful park with very interesting sculptures. Nice restaurant near water where you can sit down and have a little rest with cup of coffee or ice cream. Very good place to spend time with family.

We went to Grounds for Sculpture on a beautiful day. We were mesmerized by all it had to offer. Sculpture that embraced all forms of art from representative art to more abstract. Gardens that were beautiful; and peacocks roaming the grounds (even one white [alabaster?] one.

You can spend hours and hours here: It's about 40 acres, so be sure to bring your walking shoes. When you need a break, there are two cafes, one gazebo, and a restaurant to get something cool (or hot) to drink and something to eat as well.

A great place to bring your family or guests.

This morning we took our grandsons and their moms to the Grounds fo Sculpture. It is a perfect spot for the boys to run free and explore while we admired the beautiful grounds as well as the many sculptures on the well maintained property, Plenty of shade if you want it and many places to sit and reflect or just relax. My only complaint I have is that there must have been a party near the Rats restauant and glasses were left and not picked up which became a danger and were full of bugs.One restaurant is under construction which is the kids friendly one so we did not stay for lunch on the property. The other cafe had very limited choices but looked lovely.

This special place is the vision of J.Seward Johnson (Of the Johnson & Johnson family),sculptor in his own right and generous philanthropist. There are 42 acres and 300 +- sculptures represented on the grounds. The fees are reasonable (adults $20 in person $18 online Seniors $17 in person $15 online Children under 5 are free). There are 3 buildings (I think) that offer both restrooms as well as a place to eat. We opted for the outside docent led tour. It lasted approximately an hour and was well worth the investment of time. Our Docent Barbara Essig enthusiastically guided us through a small portion of the grounds discussing artists, materials, placements, etc. She also explained the Grounds vision for ongoing sustainability. This included free interactive maps on mobile devices to cut down on paper maps and move toward no plastics. There is additionally an indoor tour but time did not permit. Not sure if it's by design (To encourage meandering) or not, but the way finding was non-existent or not placed in a helpful way. Furthermore, the workers/volunteers did not give explicit directions which was at times frustrating. We had a light lunch at Rat's Restaurant so named after the character Ratty in Kenneth Graham's "The Wind in the Willows". Ratty was known to throw extravagant parties and served only the finest wines and Seward Johnson fancied himself just such a host. The grounds surrounding the restaurant are reminiscent of an impressionist painting with water features as well as water lilies and other colorful flowers and fauna for eyes to feast upon. My travels forced me to visit during the heat of the summer. I think the ideal time would be either Spring or Fall.
Whenever you go, ENJOY!

Our family was highly impressed by Grounds for sculpture by the famous classical paintings that had been recreated through life size characters. The whole process is amazing from the molding to the actual real clothing submerged in resin and to my knowledge unique. So lifelike that we can confuse the statues for a real persons.
Our 8 and 10 year old grand daugthers loved it as much. Best place we toured this summer.
Real art both classical and modern. You will not be disappointed.

Walked thru 4 acres of sculptures and art
The grounds are well kept and art is in all the nooks and crannies
Everywhere you turned there was some sculptures, very real looking of people sitting in the park, eating,
Playing as well as abstract art
If you e never been here it is so worth spending the day here

One of the most uplifting surprises. We did not know what to expect. It turned out to be whimsical, magical, full of discoveries. It is a fantastic place for a romantic walk, a walk with kids, grand parents or friends! Worth a detour.

We had a lovely day walking around this sculpture garden and having lunch at the restaurant. Some very interesting pieces here. The garden is very well kept and beautiful to look at. Lots of variety here. Pick a good weather day and be prepared to do some walking. You will be really glad you came here. Very Nice.

My wife's cousin invited us up for the day to check out Grounds for Sculpture with the kids. We all had a great time. Its a wonderful place to just walk around and explore. The sculptures are everywhere, and they can all start conversations, even with kids.

We spent several hours there, walking around and exploring. I can't wait to go back again.

We came for the nighforms show, which is, as the name implies, only at night. I loved it. This is something that even if you aren't big into art, can still enjoy. There were several groups there with kids that were enjoying the experience too. It's art meets light show. Some of the exhibits you can go into and be part of the experience. It's well marked, you just follow the arrows and each is marked with the number exhibit it is. You can spend as little or as much time at each one. I would have loved to walk through a second time, but it was a little too cold. I hope they do this again. We also stopped in the Van Gogh Cafe, just got sodas and cupcakes, but the cupcakes were very good and just sitting under the Starry Night ceiling is very pleasant. We definitely plan on coming back in warmer weather so we can spend the day seeing all the regular exhibits.

FABULOUS...go! Acres and acres of magnificent sculptures from some of the best artists ever. Many with great poetry next to them. Great and beautiful grounds. They even have a Monet bridge, the lady with the umbrella sculpture, beautiful grounds and lake, a great day.

We thoroughly enjoyed the acres of sculpture at Grounds for Sculpture. We wished we had more time to see everything. I am a big fan of J Seward Johnson and his works were just out of this world.

Enjoyed our visit on a chilly overcast day, not many people. After an initial fear that it was just Seward Johnsons work we were pleasantly surprised that the grounds have a nice mix of many different artist. Beautiful landscaped grounds. Park is a nice size, not too big, but big enough to stroll for hours and explore. As mentioned by others buy your tickets online to save considerably. Two onsite cafes and restaurants available.

Bring comfortable walking shoes for this fantastic facility. Despite being limited by Covid-19 precautions to the limitless outdoor exhibits, there is still so much to see and be amazed at. Lifesize and oversize sculptures of people and animals, plus countless other abstract pieces, in all types of materials. Even the surrounding roads and highways have sculptures. The landscaping and vegetation varieties will add to your visual amazement as well. Allow yourself several hours, and you will still probably not see everything.

We took our Marriage Mentoring Life group to Grounds for Sculpture. This was my wife & my 2nd time there but the first time for our Life Group. Everyone had a great time and vowed to return in the summer.

Absolutely amazing place I had never heard of. Outdoor sculpture garden full of incredible installations. Seward Johnson founded this unique outdoor sculpture garden. His Beyond the Frame series creates sculptural three dimensional transformations of French Impressionist and Post Impressionist painters Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Édouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh and Gustave Caillebotte. Visitors wander around and through these unique presentations to experience and be present IN the paintings. An absolutely unique experience.

Family outing with 63-year-old grandparents, 30-something parents, and 4 kids, aged 6 through 11.

The kids loved walking around the sculptures and were very amused by the scenes referencing impressionist paintings.

We walked around for about 3 hours and the kids wanted to stay longer.

We saw the live peacocks up close.

Better signs for bathrooms would have been helpful.

It’s not cheap - $20 per adult, 10 for kids, but worthwhile.

You need timed tickets.
We went on a Sunday and bought our tickets Saturday night, and by then, the Sunday morning and early afternoon tickets were sold out, so buy early if you can.

It’s a very wide open area, 42 acres, so in April you need a jacket.

A must see. Make sure you allow yourself 2 1/2 to 3 hours to see everything. Awesome art pieces on acres and acres of property.

First Visit. Won't be the last. I'm sure we missed areas, but we were exhausted. Will return and revisit.

When we discovered Grounds for Sculpture, we realized we wouldn't have too much time there but decided to stop in anyway and we are So Glad we did. We were there 1.5 hours but could have easily spent a couple of more hours there. There are many types and styles of sculptures. There are also sculptures in the building where you purchase tickets as well as all over their 42 acre property. The building and grounds were clean and neat. Bathrooms are available indoors. I consider Grounds for Sculpture a "do not miss."

I always enjoy a trip to Grounds for Sculpture. Last Saturday was very busy (attributed to a wedding and a luncheon)and parking was handled very professionally. Over the past several years, I have watched this place grow, and grow, and grow.

As a quirky suggestion, I recommend bringing a dream symbol interpretation book. Later, while journeying home or chatting over dinner (maybe at "Rat's Restaurant"), refer to the book and recall the paths you took, the sculpture works, landscape(dreamscape),and the people(or peacocks)that left a personal impression. Imagine your experience at GFS as a meaningful dream and identify the symbolism that was most powerful. Cool, huh. An adventure here can become a fascinating way to understanding.

Or, it can be an interesting way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise. Wear sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and seasonal outerwear. I recall "walking in a Winter Wonderland" after a glistening snowfall. Grounds for Sculpture is truly a magical place for all seasons.

We stumbled across this place by accident one time and immediately bought a membership after our first visit. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, regardless of the time of year. We love the gardens and strolling around in winter, spring, summer, and fall. I'm not even an "art lover" per se, and don't really understand some of the sculptures, but them being mixed in and around the gardens, with the galleries, peacocks, etc - it truly is an experience everyone should have at least once! Highly recommended!

This place is ridiculously beautiful, especially on a crisp and sunny fall day!! We had an amazing time wandering the garden and making new discoveries at every turn. Wear comfortable shoes! We were disappointed we couldn't make a reservation at Rats, but we'll just have to come back.

Wonderful place to visit and explore. Spent about 3 1/2 hours and feel like we missed things. My only advice is wear comfortable shoes and bring water as there is no place open currently other than the main building to get a drink.

This was a great discovery for us! The entry fee is very reasonable and is totally worth it. The contribution of Seaward Johnson to the world of art is well explained here, obviously a great contribution by Johnson.
The garden offers two distinct forms of art, one is the almost real statues/ sculptures, most closely to any of the good wax museums; of various shapes, forms and sizes , the other is the intrinsic, thought provoking art pieces. The collection of art pieces are exemplary. At any point of time of the year, there's atleast one art show by a well known artist.
To be close to the peacocks dotting the garden is an absolute joy and it was stunning to see the beautiful white peacock.
The cafeteria food is not very inspiring, it's better to drive off to near by restaurants/ shopping strips, have a quick bite and come back as there's no restriction on In/Out.

Yes its nice but for anyone under 10 beware of the subject matter. A lot of nude and suggestive statues in nude states. So if you don't wany your kids to see this consider yourself warned. Nice layout and you can spend several hours there. Most of the scuptors are of a modern take and some recreations of famous paintings. Its an enjoyable place to relax for several hours. Would I personally go there every year? No. But say once every 3-5 years, yes.

I went as a date location and in that regard it was nice, after around two hours of walking around we realized we saw everything and there were plenty of benches both in open areas and more secluded areas where we could sit and chat. The problem is that I bought tickets earlier that way my date wouldn't have to pay at the gate. I went up to the guy at the booth and told him this, and I even suggested "Hey I can take a screenshot and send it to her that way you can scan it then". He told me no, that he was gonna scan both tickets now, and then if anyone came under the name "John Kyle" then they would be let in. As soon as I parked I texted her to use my name and that she should be let in, unfortunately they didn't let her in and forced her to pay.

That alone was unacceptable but on top of that we had to reschedule, and at $25 per person that meant that for the two of us to go to this place once it costs $125 which is absurd. I highly recommend you only go if you have the date and time set in stone, come with the people you're going with, and you figure out something else to do after the 2 hours or so it takes you to explore the whole area.

We came here as a family and were so glad we did. The place is beautiful and the sculptures are interesting. It is the perfect place to spend a nice day whether as a family or a couple or with a group.

I highly recommend visiting this place.

Grounds For Sculpture is a magical outdoor museum with stunning art and peaceful gardens. The sculptures are unique and make for amazing photo spots. Perfect for a relaxing day out!

Stumbled upon this place when I searched "Day Trips from NYC" and we're so glad we found this jewel. This museum is a wonderful combination of peaceful surroundings and delightful exhibits, stress levels are reduced to zero as soon as you start strolling through the grounds. Bring your camera!

This 42 acre park and contemporary sculpture museum founded by J. Seward Johnson in 1992 is an unsuspecting gem! Select a nice day, wear walking shoes, and take your time to ramble through the acreage and view each sculpture around the next corner. Lovely cafes on site, but the restaurant Rats deserves a visit!

Hi,
A friend of mine posted very beautiful pictures of this place and since then I couldn’t wait to go myself to enjoy the beautiful arts. One very important tip to star you must purchase your tickets in advance online we arrive at 2:20pm we were asked for our tickets so we told them we have not yet but then but we were happy to purchase at the moment of entrance well it was sold out so we had to get out purchase for 3pm luckily us were able to get tickets. After that everything was amazing while walking you keep finding very amazing pieces of arts in the ground place is huge so you need some time to explore the area they provided us with a map which I wish it had pictures of the sculptures so that might help to find faster what you are looking for but we were there for 2.5 hours and I think we saw enough and beautiful. Loved the idea of visiting in fall so the whole escenario was a fantastic nature beauty.
And staying until the end give you the opportunity of enjoying the sculptures with the lights. I will definitely go back in spring.

Grounds for Sculpture is a truly peaceful escape from the everyday. The beautifully landscaped gardens, winding paths, and thoughtfully placed sculptures create a calming atmosphere. Each turn offers something new to admire—whether it’s a serene pond, whimsical artwork, or a tucked-away bench perfect for quiet reflection. It’s an ideal spot to unwind, appreciate art in nature, and take a leisurely stroll surrounded by creativity and tranquility. Highly recommend for anyone seeking relaxation and inspiration in one place.

An asset to NJ and a place worth a visit. The sculptures are unique and very interesting, even if I did not understand them all. Having a guide explain them for us enabled me to appreciate them more. The "people" settings created by Johnson were thought provoking and presented a visual portrait in sculpture. Enjoyed it and the tour we engaged.

It was a bit hard to follow the map but loved this one. A new surprise with every turn. Incredible water lilies. One pond of very tall water lilies were so perfect I thought they might be fake. They were not. It can get very hot here. Lots of parking. Lots of sculptures to interact with.

In my opinion Grounds for Sculpture is a truly unique experience . It is the perfect destination for an outing with your family and friends, or just go by yourself, you will not be bored!

Grounds For Sculpture is a museum and a sculpture garden. Amount of the guests visiting on a daily basis is somewhere between 350 to 500.

You can discover hundreds of contemporary sculptures. There are also rotating exhibitions in six indoor galleries.

More than 260 sculptures by famous contemporary artists are thoughtfully and tastefully positioned on the beautiful landscaping (around 5,200 square feet), surrounded by thousands of exotic trees and flowers.

The staff is friendly and helpful with the appreciation of your visiting!

Visiting the Grounds for Sculpture is a unique experience. Visitors can view many of the sculpture works of Seward Johnson( of the Johnson and Johnson family) evoke realism and culture. Works of others artists are woven into fabric of the grounds. This is a great outdoor experience for families with many photo opportunities. There are also several dining options including the well known Rats, which requires reservations. This space is a hidden gem and is not often highly advertised. Maps are available for $1- a recent change in policy, but you can access the web site as a guide. I understand that the facility is available for weddings and other events. Be sure to visit the gift shop.

Beautiful place. Very open and not crowded. First time we have been here and can't wait to go again. Every where you turned you would find something so unexpected. We didn't follow the maps and just wandered around which made everything such a surprise. We were there for over 3 hours and I don't think we even scratched the surface!

There is one cafe and one restaurant (that I believe reservations are needed). We did the cafe and got some custom made sandwiches that were great (caprese and a roast beef). Wonderful hot chocolate but even better were the friendly employees. Bathrooms were very clean even though there were only a very limited amount (always just remember the main building and head there when you gotta go).

It rained a bit and was very cold. We went inside to the other areas and were so happy the rain made us detour inside. You will find some amazing work there. Rain was gone pretty quick and we got to head out again.

I can't even tell you where to head because it is all so amazing. We even found this tree lined path that was so magical. Our only advice is to just go, explore and wander. It does not disappoint!

I discovered the Grounds for Sculpture, when I was looking for an activity to break up a long car trip. I'm so glad I did. This museum is mainly outdoors, and sculptures are everywhere on the grounds. There are paths, nooks, and crannies to explore. There is a mix of modern and abstract art, also there are fun lifelike statues depicting scenes from Impressionist Art. The founder and contributing artist, Seward Johnson, was a fascinating man. Go, you'll love it.

What an interesting place to visit! Loved all the variation in the types of sculptures and liked being able to read about them via the online app. I'm giving it 4 stars rather than 5 for two reasons. 1) the online map was not letting me use the GPS feature on my phone to show me where I was on the map, so we found it difficult to know where we were and which paths we should take. There were also many little paths to choose from with hidden sculptures everywhere and I feel with a better map, we would have taken them all and not missed things. I also think a paper map should be offered as an option for those who don't want to look at a small phone screen the whole time. 2) the no cancellation, no exchange for different date policy is not very good service. The forecast was calling for rain and we would have rescheduled for another day but were not allowed to. This policy should be changed. It did rain on us for the first 1/2 hour of the 2+ hours we spent there but we still enjoyed our visit. Due to Covid, the restaurant and museum were closed which was a

I have been taking guests to the Grounds since 2010, and everyone enjoys it very much. Not only the sculptures are interesting and unique, but the vegetation, lake, flowers and trees are also an attractive to the place. Kids are amazed with the settings and surprising locations of some sculptures. They also appreciate the size and colors. Adults enjoy the walk and peaceful surroundings. Highly recommend if you need to entertain for half day.

Although I am sure it is amazing during the day, we were only able to get tickets for the night. Unfortunately, it was very poorly lit and the groundskeepers rushed us through (we were given less than an hour to walk through even though it states 2-3 hours is recommended). We were unable to see even half of the park in what little time we were able to spend there after paying a full price of admission. It was not very enjoyable. I recommend better lighting throughout if they're going to continue doing night exhibits and should allow patrons the proper amount of time to enjoy what they're paying for. I will be giving the park/museum another chance during the daytime hours in the future in hopes for a better experience, even though I feel I wasted my time and money on this visit.

Grounds for sculpture is such a beautiful place. It feels like a jungle with art all over the place. You turn the corner and BOOM! there is beautiful piece of art constructed by artists around the area. It’s family friendly and I would recommend it to anyone. There is also an amazing French restaurant run by grounds for sculpture called Rats and it’s also amazing!!!!

Absolute place of calm and amazi g place to wander around the well maintained gardens and marvel at the amazing statues and sculptures. Great resturant.. Fab food.

Don't waste your money in grounds for sculpture night forms lighting. Just couple lights and doesn't worth the price. Not good at all. Day time visit worth the every penny.

An amazing place for young and old. Families welcome. Bring your curiousity a comfortable pair of shoes and a good book if you are visiting solo.
Appreciate the many sculptures that seem to have sprung right from the canvases of classic art paintings. Choose a comfortable bench nestled among the many artfully conceived garden settings and relax. The "Grounds" staff are ever friendly, welcoming, and helpful. There are wheelchairs and electric scooters avilable to rent for a nominal fee - reserve before you go. I plan to visit again in the spring time to experience the changes in the park that a fresh season will offer. A visit will become an unforgettable experience and a happy memory.

This is a nice place to visit even for those not so knowledgable about art. The grounds are extensive & well landscaped with a lovely lake too. The sculptures are a delight with much variety....some abstract, some realistic, some humorous with others serious. The little cafe overlooks a little pond & there is a great gift shop as well.

Beautiful spot - enjoy the outdoors and artwork. Any season has its merit. Rat's is a wonderful spot for a bite to eat

The museum is presently showing the sculpture of Seward Johnson, who has created life size to larger than life sculptures of famous impressionists paintings. Especially Renoir outdoor scenes. All are tucked into beautiful garden settings that add to bringing the art alive. The details in each sculptured scene is amazing to see. You feel you are in the famous painting. To see all the grounds will take most of half a day, so you need to dress to be comfortable for that amount of time and be able to walk outside for that amount of time. There are places to eat if you get hungry.

Beautiful botanical garden complex featuring contemporary sculptures/ artwork. The gardens are located on the old Trenton Fairground/ Speedway site and features several of the original agricultural exhibit halls. I grew up within 20 miles of the gardens and was pleasantly surprised with the beauty of Grounds For Sculpture property. Plan on spending the better part of half a day to tour, as the property is very large. There is an upscale restaurant on the site, as well as ample casual dining options. Well worth a visit for out-of-towners and day trippers.

Friends and I recently toured the beautifully landscaped gardens and lakes.You are transported back to the 19th and 20th Centuries when you see the Impressionists' figures almost come alive in various settings throughout the Park. Men, women and children are life size and portrayed in period clothing. A lot of walking is necessary to see the sculptures and some walkways are hilly and done in a natural setting, so care must be taken and sensible walking shoes are recommended. This is not a park for young children. For a different experience, visit this beautiful park, and art galleries. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Excellent - Must see. Allocate Full day visit. Lots of sculptures and images. Beautifully placed and children can run around at park.

Grounds for Sculpture is like a magical blend of art and nature. Whether you're really into art or just looking for something cool, this place has something for everyone. The sculptures are awesome, and you can actually interact with some of them. I went in the fall, and it was so pretty with all the colorful leaves. Plus, they have a nice restaurant where you can grab some good food. I'm so glad I checked it out, and I can't wait to go back again!

We went on good day in terms of temperature and at a good Time too. We arrived just before 12.30 and while it wasn’t empty, it wasn’t packed either. There’s is a small shop as well as a cafe. Both the sculptures and exhibits were beautiful. Very well maintained and clean. A little something for everyone. Plenty of different kinds of works. We even got to see both a peacock and an albino peacock strolling out and about on the grounds lol! Cheap and a great way to spend the day. Kid friendly as well. Will be visiting sometime soon again.

This is such a great place for a visit. So much to see both sculptures and horticulture that was beyond expectations.

We didn't know what to expect, thinking perhaps that sculpture meant only odd modern amorphous shapes of metal. They have some of those, but they also have painted bronze scenes from famous paintings, and many of the pieces are kid-friendly. You can get up close to (sometimes in the middle of) most of the exhibits, and you can take your time walking through the extensive gardens. The only drawback is the lack of signs along the paths. The map they give you at check-in is cumbersome and some of the exhibits are not exactly where the map shows they are. Close by, but the map is confusing. All in all, a great way to spend a day!

Best time to visit with flowers are in bloom. It's a sunny day but with cold breeze. Perfect to walk around the grounds.

This is a lovely must stop attraction! We just spent a lovely afternoon wandering the beautiful grounds & buildings. Well maintained & tastefully arranged. Highly highly enjoyable. The quality of the sculptures is awe inspiring.

Peacocks roaming with a small garden Cafe with outdoor eating. Another option for eating near water with Koi in the pond. The sculptures are amazing, and the nature surrounding it is beautiful. I wish we alloted more than 2 hours.

This is such a unique place! You can easily spend four hours walking around. Make sure to plan for a day with good weather since almost everything is outside. The ground is uneven in most places, being that it’s grass, dirt, gravel, and there are big tree roots around. We took a jogging/all terrain stroller and it worked great! There are very few steps throughout, where we picked up the front of the stroller to go through, but even that could be avoided by going around a different way. The sculptures, of course, are amazing, but the nature is breathtaking! Make sure to look at the map so you don’t miss anything, it’s easy to walk in circles and feel like you’ve seen everything, but there’s probably more! We stopped at the Van Gogh Cafe when we first got there since it’s in the Welcome Center, and again on our way out for the ride home. The cafe was very cool and on theme! It was a great family day trip.

Absolutely enjoy seeing the magnificent sculptures. You would need two days to see the total ground. The museum was nice a bit pricey but that’s with most museums.

The fall days here have been spectacular. Perfect for a day outing at Grounds for Sculpture. So many beautiful things to see and a perfect setting for a picnic. If you don’t bring your own they have a spectacular restaurant on site. The food is beyond compare!

Very large grounds with many sculptures. Some left us wondering why, but most were very interesting. The sculptures being in gardens really enhance the experience.

Such wasted opportunities. The venue needs serious web design IT help to properly highlight the fabulous art works and the artists. Download the map (paper copies no longer available) and prepare to be utterly confused! Where you start, what routes you could take, how various “sections” of the grounds are named? All a complete mystery. Worst of all, the numbering of the sculptures is totally inconsistent; it’s an exercise in frustration to find a description of them. Audio explanation, only for some, not all. In short, fabulous art, but the guest experience hampered by woefully inadequate signage and an incomprehensible and entirely inadequate digital map.

We visited on a Saturday afternoon. Beautiful, well maintained grounds, but… off to a tough start when there are no paper maps of the grounds (and yes, I am mindful of the eco-friendly need for less paper) and a docent acknowledged that this visitor might be challenged to follow the paths to the restaurant. There are very infrequent path signs. Fortunately, I was able to follow a golf cart, which was carrying my three companions. Arrived at the restaurant and no paper towels in the men’s room. The restaurant offered NO flexibility for one member of our party who had food allergies.

I am not an art person, but thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Sculpture Garden. There are large abstract pieces throughout but the large life like statues set up in everyday scenes were my favorite. I was so amazed how a simple picnic or a farmer leaning on a fence became works of art that just impressed me. It was a lovely place to walk around and admire the creativity of the artistic minds.

Entertaining day trip (approx. 2 hrs.). Grounds for instance, Van Gogh pond, awesome. Fisherman statue beside the lake so "real" looking as well as all the life-size statues. Indoor art interesting also. Lovely day adventure. Worth it for $18 per person.

GFS is an amazing visit although somewhat unorganized and not a lot of direction as to how to make the most of your visit. The grounds are very peaceful as many of the walking trails are through the woods and sculptures pop up just about everywhere. You feel like you're in the middle of a painting at times. Has a delightful French themed restaurant called Rats (don't care for the name although its named after a child's cartoon character) that's located on a large pond with a nice patio for a relaxing lunch. To make the most of your visit, visit the museum first and watch a short video and then stroll through the museum as it tells a very interesting story. That will make your walk through the grounds more enjoyable. The grounds involve a lot of walking on uneven terrain so it' could be somewhat challenging if you have a disability of any kind.

What a special treat it was to walk the grounds here after a lovely lunch at Rats!!I Especially loved the sculptures done by E. Seward Johnson---each new one that we came upon, my first impression was that we were interrupting a private gathering or a "rendezvous"! He incorporates such thorough detail in each of his works. The grounds are expansive, well manicured and appropriate for such a large display of sculpted pieces by a variety of talented artists.

Loved being surprised and awed around every bend in this lush artistic landscape, every nook of bamboo held magical scenes of beauty

Another great find for a day trip venture nearby NY. 2 hours drive will get you a 40-acres of artists’ amazing works and bronze sculptures! Live peacocks, too! Highly recommend to join the free 1-hour walking tour while you are in the park! Very informative. Also, do remember to buy discounted online ticket before visiting to save $8 per person. 😝

What a great place to spend a sunny, fall day! The grounds are so beautiful and the art work is amazing.

GREAT PLACE! I highly recommend that park for everyone: families with kids, couples, solo trips and friends.
Tips: Bring water. Park is bigger than you think and it can take you some time to see everything, it's easy to get dehydrated. If you are from NJ, ask in your library if they have a free pass to park. Use map or you can skip few sculptures by accident. Best way is to spend there few hours and don't rush.

We went on a very warm Saturday, which helped the grounds not be too crowded. It was an amazing day! The sculptures are incredible and a fantastic way to spend a day. There are a few indoor spaces, which helped us break up heat exposure with some nice air conditioning blasts. In one building we were able to enjoy a glass of wine! I would absolutely go again and again.

Great pieces of artwork, lifelike, life-sized sculptures of people in realistic settings. Also, representations of classical paintings done with these sculptures. Really amazing grounds to walk around observing the artworks.

This is one of the most breathaking destinations I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. After walking the grounds, be sure to make a reservation to dine at Rat's for an amazing dining experience!

Tony O

The night forms show that’s going on in January 2023 is SOOOOOOO amazing!! Worth every penny of the ticket. We came on a weekday night and enjoyed the calming and peaceful walk thru the grounds with really neat up lighting, designs and visual light goodies. Night forms is something you have to just SEE and BE a part of.

1 - Timed entry! Get your tickets online
2 - Virtual maps, or, print your own ahead of time
3 - Lots of shade and air conditioned spaces
4 - Da sculptures! Should have made this #1 but forgot...

This was my first visit to Grounds for Sculpture. The guided tour was very interesting and well worth the time. I took some lovely pics of the sculptures. I plan to return for another visit and plan to eat at the lovely restaurant.

What an amazing experience! Great sculptures in a vast garden . This is truly a place to make a day trip too. Best in cool weather for sure.

I've been to GFS three times - once chaperoning a school trip, and two times by myself. This last time, I had a free pass from my local library - this took some of the pressure off to "see everything" (impossible, since there are so many different pieces, often tucked away in the maze of paths), although I did walk most of the grounds. With the pass I did not need an assigned time, but I did not find that the site was overcrowded - I got there about a half an hour after it opened and stayed for almost four hours.

Lots of flowers in bloom - I was able to appreciate the grounds themselves more this time.

"Awakening" was unavailable; a few spots were in the midst of replanting, but that was not a big deal.

I asked for help at the check-in to find more information about the poems that are posted in a few spots - the staff were able to help me get the names and titles and indicated that they're working on a digital map for the near future.

Wear comfortable shoes, use sun-block (a lot of shade but some exposed sections), bring water, and remove your watch or turn off your phones and just explore (and touch the installations that allow it).

The Grounds for Sculpture is 42 acres of beautiful gardens, sculpture and lifelike statues of people in lifelike tableaus. The sculptures are a mix of small and large, traditional and modern, famous works of art and tableaus of people in daily life settings and famous artists painting their surroundings. The day requires a lot of walking, but the paths are easy to manage. Other on-site features are a visitor and information center, ceramics building, museum, casual cafe, and gift shop. Additionally, Rat's, a beautiful contemporary French restaurant is also located on the grounds. The gardens are a great way to spend a few hours exploring nature and art.

I had never heard of this place-- but it is truly wonderful. Beautiful area with trees and fields and lakes along with interesting sculptures. Great gift shop and the cafe was fine-- well worth the trip on a nice fall or spring day

Really fun place to visit! Open spaced, unbelievable sculptures! I will return in the fall, for an evening visit.

The gardens are lovely and peppered with sculptures by various artists. We spent several hours there wandering about. Sadly did not try the restaurants.

Lovely lovely lovely. I was so lucky to pick this out of the list of Day Trips from NYC in Time OUT magazine. It was just splendid. Perfect weather in July not too hot, a vast spacious over 400 acre grounds with many sculptures by the founder, Seward Johnson as well as many more. There were humorous elements, many lifelike sculptures as well as engaging elegant modern sculptures. The cherry on the sundae was Rat's restaurant which was delicious - seasonal food, popovers served gratis & thoughtful service. I love that it was named after Ratty in "Wind in the Willows" one of my favorite books from childhood. ! The koi pond was lively, so many colors of fish - I think the fish wanted to join for dinner. An amazing visit - highly recommend. NJ transit from NYC to Hamilton NJ, Uber $10 or less from the train. Enjoy!!

A must see experience. The only thing I wish is that the trails were abit more easy for someone with a wheelchair.

We have been here twice, April 2018 & September 2018. It is absolutely beautiful. At first, I was a bit concerned about taking my 5 year old and 2 year old. Unsure of what was there, how they would behave, or even enjoy themselves. They love it as well. There is so much to see and it is all very interesting. The grounds are large. Making it relaxing to walk around.

Part botanical gardens and part art museum, Grounds For Sculpture is a really beautiful place! I can't imagine anyone not liking it here. For a $20 entrance fee ($17for seniors), you get to stroll around the enormous park at your leisure and stay as long as you want to. Interesting sculptures of lifelike people populate the premises and sometimes it's hard to tell from a distance if you're looking at a sculpture of a person or at another visitor!

Besides Seward Johnson's trademark realistic sculptures, there are also hundreds of different artworks on display both outside and in galleries. Part of the indoor space is dedicated to a biography of the founder and his family.

Everything here is comfortable for visitors with places to sit, get snacks/water, and use restrooms. The gift shop is tastefully curated with quality items.

Resident peacocks and Koi brighten up the grounds and contribute to the feeling of having traveled to someplace exotic.

We hadn't been here in years and thought it would be great to visit with our daughter while back in NJ. There are always some changes going on and they are all good. Easy walking paths,plenty of shade and benches. There are restaurants and places to have lunch, snacks and drinks. Worth the visit.

This was a such a fun experience! We had no idea it existed in NJ and are so glad we found it by accident. The sculptures are world class and the walk around the grounds is beautiful. There is a cafe and a restaurant on the property as well. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Was the first time we visited Grounds For Sculpture. I was disappointed because only the outside grounds were open. If we knew this we would not have gone. Wanted to see the whole exhibits. After traveling so far with friends, we went inside. Most of the sculptures were life like. 4/15 Saturday Not sure if I would want to go back.

Visited with my family including 2 grandchildren. We all loved the sculptures, especially the kids. It says timed tickets are necessary but they accept walk ins. Rats restaurant is outstanding in venue and food. What an experience!

NO TO BE MISSED!!!
Forty-two (42) acres and a surprise around every other corner.
Most of the sculptures are lifelike, others scary; some huge.
I was quite impressed with the sculptures relating to the French Impressionist painters.
GREAT photo ops everywhere.
As we wandered around we came upon a volunteer who guided us into a wooded area and pointed out a bicycle high up in a tree. Evidentially before the Grounds were created, someone had left a bicycle on a tree and as the tree grew it carried along the bicycle to great heights.
An attraction NOT TO BE MISSED!!!!

Had a wonderful time there. Lots to see and good place to grab something to eat 😊. The sculptures are very interesting and the walk is great. Would definitely recommend!

There are so many various types of sculptures + the great surrounding trees. It's a wonderful day to explore and experience the entire grounds. Don't forget to bring a camera, lots and lots of pictures to take.
They have a cafe to rest aNd or a restaurant. Don't think small children will enjoy, but perhaps under adult supervision they make play in a certain area .

Ground For Sculpture is a perfect place for weekend getaway from NYC and highly recommend to buy ticket online with only $10 instead of $16 at door.

It is a very nice place to visit. There are plenty of sculptures and exhibits, beautiful scenes near the lake, a gift shop and welcome center. Definitely worth a visit.

I had a good time with my wife and teenaged son (He was a little bored). A lot of good photo opportunities.

Well maintained and designed grounds with amazing monuments, arts and sculpture. Well spread out grounds offered the best of viewing at a leisurely pace giving a lot of time to admire each individual work of art. The variety of art and sculpture on display was mind boggling and one has to appreciate the maintenance and upkeep of the vast spaces and art on display. A must see grounds for anyone visiting New Jersey.

Fantastic, tour guide was wonderful. A map would have been good. Everyone was helpful. Sculptures were amazing, as were water view. Went to Ratz for lunch, the design and sculptures there were also wonderful. Went in the fall, can’t wait to go in the spring again.

This is a central new jersey treasure. A museum that is a nature preserve as well. The sculptures and the grounds are well appointed and getting there early leads to a great experience.

This is a worthy place to spend the day for a few hours. Be prepared for lots of walking in this beautiful grounds for sculpture with its many exhibits. It is a grand cultural experience all in a park like setting. There are live peacocks, refreshment areas and glorious pieces of art throughout. We stopped at Rat’s restaurant on the grounds for lunch. The ambiance is like no other. The food was secondary to the romantic and artsy setting. I have attached a picture from our table. There is a fee for admission to the park but not for the restaurant.

Grounds For Sculpture is like stepping into a creative wonderland. The sculptures mingle with nature in this outdoor museum, making it a chill spot for art buffs and anyone up for a laid-back escape. The mix of art and greenery creates a vibe that's just easy and enjoyable.

My review from several years ago still holds true. There are sculptures everywhere, one more unique than the next, and the grounds surrounding them are just as beautiful. Many places to just stop and sit on a bench and admire. They have a beautiful restaurant on premises, Rat's. This time we dined at the Peacock Cafe. Everone remarked how wonderful their meals were from here, which is welcomed surprise. There's another cafe to dine in, as well as a place to stop for ice cream on a warm day. Anytime I post photos, everyone asks "Where is this?", and I happily advise them where.

My family and I, including a 10- and a 14-year-old, spent about three hours of an afternoon here. I was hoping for a fun outdoor activity for us all to enjoy and build memories together, and I was not disappointed. This featured a well-manicured and picturesque garden filled with sculptures of various styles and sizes, both representational and abstract, each of which felt like it belonged in its special spot. The grounds were sizable enough to keep us well occupied for the duration, but not so sprawling as to make it difficult to get around with children. The 3D works by the founder that were facsimiles of recognizable paintings such as by Renoir, Matisse, Van Gogh, Monet, and Munch, were brilliant in their faithfulness to the originals and in their stunning attention to detail.

Artworks aside, the botanical aspect of garden was a pleasure in its own right. Some striking flora, such as the bountiful lotus flowers at several ponds. Outside of Rat's restaurant there was an herb garden that smelled like hearty soup. And there were even some live peacocks casually walking about here or there.

For those worried about too much sun, there were quite a few shaded areas, in addition to the air-conditioned buildings on the property, with places to sit.

A most enjoyable and memorable experience. I would highly recommend this for a family friendly way to spend a few hours or so in the outdoors.

Some tips:

--The sculpture collection throughout the garden is not organized by artists, styles, genres or otherwise as far as I could discern. Not saying that is good or bad. In this case, discovering a particular work was generally unplanned, like finding an Easter egg. I never knew when I would stumble upon any of various Seward Johnson facsimiles of existing paintings, or any his works consisting of a life-size, realistic human figure occupying a space normally for the viewing public, such as on a park bench where a guest could sit and pose with the figure, for example. I expect that was done by design. But on the downside for me, after leaving the Grounds it occurred to me that I somehow missed at least one Seward Johnson work, his facsimile of Manet's The Luncheon on the Grass (Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe), even though I thought we had gone everywhere by the time we left. Next time I might try the interactive map that was available by scannable QR code, or I might ask a personnel at the main building for locations of specific works before heading out to the garden.

-- Smaller children might have a hard time walking around without asking "When do we leave?" "How long have we been here?" "How much longer?" That seems to be the case with the younger kids, even the best of them, no matter how great the place is.

-- Outside food is not allowed. There are in-venue eateries, though we did not avail ourselves of them in our visit. The high-end restaurant, Rat's (themed on the character from Wind in the WIllows) was all booked when I tried.

--Beware, the garden features some walking paths that are unpaved and some that are sloped. Not suggesting there were dangerous conditions, but might be worth considering, especially for the mobility-challenged. Throughout the garden there are plenty of park benches. I don't recall seeing water fountains though, other than in the buildings by the restrooms.

The art installations are so unique and beautifully integrated with the landscape. It’s like walking through a magical garden filled with creativity. The place is huge, so wear comfy shoes and take your time exploring. Totally worth a visit if you’re into art and nature.

I visited GFS a few times with friends and family. Every time you find new hidden places and sculptures. Such a great place to get connected with nature and art. Pack some food and have a nice picnic there. I am sure you will absolutely love it!!!!

Large park-like area with ponds, beautiful landscaping of flowers, trees and shrubs along with of course the many beautiful and varied sculptures the place is named for. The main paths are nice and wide and then there are narrower paths to walk to some of the exhibits. Plan on spending at least 2-3 hours touring the place. There are benches around the park to sit and rest. There are also several restaurants for food.There are also indoor exhibits.There are several peacocks in the park. There is also a golf-cart type vehicle to take those with limited mobility. There is also a senior-discount admission.

We spent an outstanding day walking around the Grounds for Sculpture. It was one piece of art after another. It has to be seen. I will definitely return. It was just great and I really don’t know what else to say about it. Try Rats Restaurant while you are there.

If you love art, nature, or gardens (or any combination thereof), add the Grounds for Sculpture to your "to do list." My visit was on a perfect spring day - hard to beat! The Grounds, beautifully landscaped, are filled with trails that lead you to sculptures of all shapes and sizes (classical, modern, whimsical), with surprises around each bend. Adding to the fun are sculptures depicting figures from well-known impressionist paintings. Our outdoor table at Rats restaurant (named after the Wind in the Willows character) looked out over a pond and "Monet's Bridge" - I felt I was in an impressionist painting. Renoir's Boating Party comes to life on a trail behind the restaurant There are also a couple buildings housing indoor exhibits. The children were having a ball exploring all the pathways and unexpected works. In fact, the Grounds seemed to have the same effect on adults - they were "kids" again, having fun and anticipating the next surprise along the way.
Hints: Buy tickets online - you'll save a bit and ensure you can enter at your desired time. Be sure to watch the overview film and get a map to aid in your explorations. Wear comfortable walking shoes- the trails are mostly level here - take your time and enjoy. Bring your camera - you'll miss so many great photo opportunities if you don't. Choices of spots to eat. I wished I lived closer - I'd be a regular, exploring in all seasons and partaking the site's many special events. So glad I made the visit - I will return!

We had so much fun here at this place. I fell in love and did not run out of amazing things to photograph. I am looking forward to going back!

We walked the ground and than had a magical dinner at Rats I have been to Paris 6 times and visiting the Grounds and restaurant brought back my joys of the City of Light. The Ground and Rats is both a feat for the eyes and palate. go and be transported to a gentler place and time where manners and civility mattered

All I can say is 10yrs ago, I was blown away and used to go often. Today, it was bigger and better! Loved seeing old favs and lots of new ones too! I bought the tickets online and it was WELL worth it. I like exposing my 6yr old to all forms of art and this covered them. Bonus, it’s mostly out doors so there are spaces for her to run off some energy, as well as the 4 other cousins we were with. It is a lot of walking, and I would have enjoyed it a bit more with out children, but still loved it. Fell in love with one of my favorite places all over again.

The facility is honestly amazing! From the works of Art to the pain staking care of the gorgeous grounds. We were a group of 7 including 2 children and had a beautiful time on the grounds. We decided to eat at Rat’s restaurant and although the decor was charming, the long wait to receive our food and the portions and out of stock options were disappointing. We spent over $400 between entry free’s and lunch. The main problem accured as we were heading to our car and were rudely shouted at by a staff member for one adult didn’t have wrist band on, it was in a pocket because we were leaving and the employee named TREY was obnoxious and rude! What a way to end an other wise great time. Wha a shame.

The place is amazing! The grounds are beautiful and so well kept. The sculptures are so life like.
Four of us took the tram and our guide was excellent. She knew so much about the grounds and sculptures
that she shared with us (if you choose to do this, make a reservation beforeyou arrive as they book quickly).
You truly will not be disappointed. .

the sculptures are amazing, the flowers and gardens are gorgeous. take the tour (free) to get the most out of your visit. you can eat at the restaurant - Rats - or bring a picnic lunch. you can spend there at least two hours, but give yourself the whole day to discover all the sculptures.

The husband was surprised. I think he came to humor me and really enjoyed it. I had to drag him away from the peacocks, which really fascinated him, but he liked it! The variety of media, size and approach are wonderful so there is something for everyone. I am not a fan of large blobs of metal or slabs of rock, so I could hurry past those. So much and some of it hidden in nooks. We even drove the perimeter streets before we entered to be sure we didn't miss the far corners. Several pieces are at Rats restaurant and not accessible from inside the grounds. I will have to return when the water features are on. The grounds alone are also beautiful and several hours can be spent there. You must look in all corners, up and even across the parking lot where two figures could be seen running across a rooftop. While the pandemic is with us, you need pre-purchased tickets. Just get them two weeks in advance and it's easy.

Amazing is all I can say. Absolutely fabulous. Not only did they use fantastic sculpture, the vegetation was also used as sculpture. We loved all the plants, the artistic recreations and the new sculptures. Highly recommended.

Great way to spend a day any time of year. The Rats Restaurant is not open on Mondays but the Cafe is open and has fresh salads, hot chocolate and more. The Sculptures are beautiful and incredible. The Welcome Center has terrific indoor sculptures. Everything is beautifully laid out. Lots of surprises throughout.

What a magical experience!! I have not been for years. It has grown and is even more wonderful. At every turn there is another beautiful painting brought to 3D splendor. Or another piece placed in a perfectly planted garden that enhances both the art and the horticulture. Lots of benches scattered throughout to allow people with canes places to rest! Wheel chair accessible. Young children love the experience as well. Perfect.

Large outdoor area of various sculptures by various artists, plus a few buildings of other artist’s works. Some sculptures take a lot of thought & understanding to comprehend what the artist is trying to project. Worth your time for a nice experience

This is a great place to spend a few hours. The day I visited, only the outdoor garden was available to guests. There were several buildings which contained sculptures but were not accessible because of COVID restrictions. Tickets are required for entry so plan in advance. Tickets cannot be purchased on site.

This is a museum of sculptures set in a garden. Definitely more museum than garden so if you are a horticulturist this may not be for you. There are small paths everywhere which lead to more sculptures. I felt like I was doing a mini treasure hunt...or Alice looking for another sculpture in wonderland. All sculptures are labeled. There are abstract sculptures as well as these beautiful metal sculptures of people. The people sculptures were so life like and they were positioned in many unique places within the garden. For example, there was a sculpture of a couple stealing a kiss under an archway. Honestly, I had to look twice before I realized it was a sculpture and not real people!

My only real complaint about the grounds was the map for the site. Paper maps were not available due to COVID. There was only a virtual map from the website. The map was good for explanations of the sculpture but not so good for navigating. It would have been more helpful if it positioned you on the map. I also found it annoying that I had to keep reaching for my phone in order to figure out which way to go on the path. I was not a fan of the virtual map so gave up on it quickly. Navigating the paths without the map was okay but I would have preferred a paper map.

We enjoyed our afternoon at the Grounds for Sculpture. We took a free tour with a docent which was about an hour long. The docent, Andrea, was very knowledgeable and we had a fun and interesting tour. Then we had a delicious lunch at the Peacock Cafe, and then explored the gardens and sculptures on our own. I would recommend this to anyone who likes art, sculpture, and gardens.

This was a really nice afternoon. A friend was in town and we decided to spend some time at the Grounds for Sculpture. I've known about this place for years but I had never been here before. It was much larger than I expected. In fact, I think there was a section that we couldn't get to before we had to leave. We were there for several hours and enjoyed all of it. We didn't see any of the cafes open. That's one thing that I would have changed. It would have been nice to get a drink on such a hot day or a bite to eat since we were there for so long. Other than that, it was great. I will go again sometime.

Must be seen. Seward Johnson sculptures surround the property from the very entrance.
Beautifully manicured grounds. By far, the Monet Bridge is my favorite spot for outdoor dining. At night it is simply ethereal with the mist blowing and bet even more spectacular with a full moon. Spend the day and dine at RATS in the evening.

We went to see the great unique art sculptures! This is an outdoor experience!
The have 3 places to eat. It’s basically for adults! We were their 3-4 hours.
You have to look everywhere even on buildings! Great imagination!
Great Mother’s Day treat for me!

Been here multiple times and still can get enough of the grounds. Beautiful place to visit if you appreciate art.

An educational and fun way to experience the "art of sculpture." Grounds for Sculpture incorporates classical painting themes, humor and pathos into their presentations. So life like, and very memorable!
The Cafe was affordable and the patio setting was quite pleasant.

This is the fourth visit I’ve made to Grounds for Sculpture. I’ve been there before in the spring. This time it was late August. The sculpture is always terrific, but the flowers were not at their most beautiful. Late August is a transition time in this area of the country. Too early for mums and the colorful autumn leaves but too late for summer flowers to be at peak freshness. If you’d like to enjoy the botanical aspect of this lovely place, wait for fall of go in spring or early summer.

A nice mix of beautiful trails, contemporary sculptures, and delightful sculptural recreations of famous paintings by Manet, Renoir, and others.

This museum for sculptures is an amazing collection of art work scattered over an impressive garden .We walked through beautiful trails and were delighted to find beautiful treasures tucked in unexpected corners.Famous paintings were transformed to 3D.I was pleased to see Monet’s painting, “Waterlilies” come to life. Even the bathroom courtyard was an adventure.Our tickets were booked online and it was helpful to note that the museum was closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.A separate reservation was needed for a table at Rats Restaurant, so had lunch at the Van Gogh cafe.It was a casual eatery with a good selection of snacks and a gorgeous water view.Prepare to spend at least a couple of hours at the grounds.It will be worth your time.

From the moment I stepped onto the GFS I felt like I was in a fairytale. Even if you don’t have an active imagination this place will spark something youthful and inspiring in you. My fiancé and I took amazing photos at GFS. Around every corner there is something to discover. It’s super easy to book your photo session on the grounds. We didn’t actually book a time. We just went with our family photographer. Although I do recommend going through the proper Channels to book a shoot. No matter if you are single or married with children this is a great place for everyone in the family. And would definitely impress for a date night!

On a beautiful, clear and warm day, time spent at Grounds for Sculpture is well worth your time. A destination for large scale art lovers, Grounds for Sculpture is beautifully landscaped and tugging at your curiosity at every turn. Each pathway leads you to a delight for the senses, with beautiful secret gardens revealing sculptures by John Seward Johnson, and many other artists. The only point that tugs at an excellent rating, is the cafes. While there are wonderful options available, the service is slow - they just haven't figured out the efficiencies on the food service. Don't hold it against them, the grounds are well worth the trek to Hamilton Township in NJ. Plan to spend the next sunny Spring, Summer or Fall day losing yourself in the meandering gardens and beautiful artwork at every turn.

What a beautiful outdoor garden with nooks and crannies to explore. Gorgeous, fascinating, sometimes whimsical and diverse scupltures.

A most unusual park and setting for the arts. The park, on old fair grounds, was donated by Seward Johnson of the J&J pharmaceutical family. The grounds were particularly beautiful on the Fall day I visited. One of the finer restaurants on the grounds caters weddings and other functions.

Grounds For Sculpture seamlessly merges art with nature, where sculptures organically emerge from the landscape, fostering a harmonious connection between man-made and natural elements. Strolling through the gardens, you'll experience a spectrum of emotions, from whimsy and playfulness to introspection and contemplation.

Wonderful sculptures placed at various locations as you stroll through the 42 acre park. Maps are easy to read and help. Attendants cheerful and helpful. Sculptures ar ed numbered and labeled. Therd is a gift shop and indoor museum. Only downfall is the overpriced restaurants. No other places to eat or drink. No food or drink can be brought into the park. Lots of benches for resting and there are shady areas. They have different events whiched can be checked out online. Open till 9pm in the summer.Grounds empty out around 5-6 anx there ar ed lighted paths fof night strolks
Strollers and wheelchairs accessible.

We were staying with friends in Princeton New Jersey- visiting from Toronto and Grounds for Sculpture was suggested to us. The drive to the grounds was 20 minutes and the admission just under $20, so it sounded logistically right for us. As we approached the area and began to see the sculptures our jaws dropped...and basically stayed in that mode the entire visit including the trip out when we drove away on a different route and saw other sculptures outside the grounds.
This place is unreal, and was a special treat having a big emphasis in the collection on Impressionist art. We went on a guided tour which was about an hour and a quarter and free with admission. Whatever joy we got from viewing the grounds on our own was enhanced dramatically by the informed, engaged and humorous docent who cleverly chose how to share and reveal the art and the story behind the art to the group.
In the 2.5 hours we were there, we saw a lot, but not nearly enough. We really cant wait to come back one day and revisit and see more of what we missed.
The funny thing is that Grounds For Sculpture was only a 20 minute drive from our location in Princeton, but it is NOT listed in any list I can currently view online of things to do in and around Princeton NJ. It definitely should be. If we ever find ourselves within a FOUR hour distance away from Grounds For Sculpture, we would most definitely take advantage and return to this one of a kind art experience! We would especially love to visit with our kids who are young adults.

We tried to go a couple of times and only succeeded when we bought the tickets online - but the park itself is pretty impressive, worthwhile spending a few hours there

I would strongly recommend visiting this place during a sunny day so you would be able to see and enjoy everything. This sculpture park is enormous so be prepare to walk if you want to explore most of it and take some water with you. What i like the most about this park is that you get to enjoy art in a very different way. It's fun and exciting, it just makes you feel that you are part of it. I had a great time and will be back to enjoy of such a wonderful gem.

Great park for sculptures. I'd also recommend the restaurant Rat's. I spent 2 hours and did not see the entire grounds.

We went for a beautiful, peaceful and discovered a wonderful happy place. You need more than one day to experience the 42 acres. These are filled with trees, flowers, shrubs, sculptures, there are benches to rest and dream. Hard to describe, you have to experience it.

Park Avenue Art Studio Summer Camp goes to Grounds for Sculpture every year. It is always one of our favorite places to go to in New Jersey. Yoriko was our contact person for group sales, and she went above and beyond in helping us have a creative and wonderful field trip.
Thank you also to Gary Garrido Schneider, Executive Director and his amazing team for consonantly making the grounds so beautiful and sharing such amazing art with us. Highly recommend and will return,

This attraction is super cool. Even if you aren't a sculpture enthusiast, it is a great time. Roaming around looking at some incredible pieces is good fun, especially looking for the ones that were hidden. You definitely want to go when the weather is nice out and for sure want to wear some very comfortable shoes because it is a huge area and it's all on foot outside. There is a great cafe for snacks and drinks. There is a kiosk about halfway thru the park that you can get wine or beer to carry around and sip on. Afterwards I heard the restaurant on the grounds is very good but we did not make plans to go there. We took the train in from NYC, about an hour and a half ride, and then about a 5 minute UBER ride to the Grounds, so it was very easy to get there. We had to get back were not able to go through the museum or see any of the inside exhibitions, so we'll definitely go back and do that. Pets are not allowed. Kids would enjoy being outside in big open spaces to run around in because it is laid out over a huge area. I would recommend taking this adventure!

My husband and I and our soon-to-be Rider U freshman, all LOVED this place. It's beautiful, peaceful, interesting, informative, and historic.

You could spend hours here. We took the free tour and it was great. Normally I am not much into guided tours but this time it made a big difference in enjoying the tour. Kim, our tour guide gave the stories behind many of the pieces. He also pointed out many of the pieces that we may not of seen hidden away in the landscape.

We could have spent all day there.

Great place for any age. You can even enjoy this place by yours elf. So many things to experience. The sculptures are amazing

We took out of town visitors to Grounds for Sculpture during their recent visit. This was a great choice. Although it was early November, there were still leaves on the trees. There was lots of color. They have plenty of evergreens too.

This is a sculpture park near Trenton and close to the Hamilton Train station on New Jersey Transit. Like many museums, they need to figure out how to make a visit interesting for younger audiences.

There is no printed map. Paths wind through the grounds. I think it is about 46 acres. They have plenty of spectacular sculptures, but they also have life size figurines that look a,most real. It might be a coup,eve gracing behind a bush or a person sleeping on a bench.

They have scenes where a famous artist is working on what appears to be a famous painting, with the scene directly in front of you.

I mentioned there is no paper map. You download an app to your phone. Through the app, you know where you are at all times, the details about the sculptures nearby and how to get back to the main building.

They also have a spectacular gift shop.

Are there negatives? Although this is a large outdoor park, you book timed tickets in advance. They run about $18 as I recall. If you wait until the last minute (to be sure the weather will be good) the tickets might be sold out.

This is a great attraction, suitable for all ages.

We had an ok stroll through the gardens on a sunny day though we felt a bit cheated that some of the flowers were plastic. My children quite liked the dreadful kitchy sculptures of Mr Johnson but this is not a collection for serious art appreciators, and it features little to nothing of any well known or interesting artists.. All in all the space seems to be the eccentric indulgence of a wealthy, unremarkable wannabe sculptor.

Had a nice weather day so the wife and I drove to GFS. Saw lots of new exhibits and had a chat with the peacocks. A good time was had by all

Spent a very nice early fall Saturday here. Well worth it!
The weather was perfect, sunny, low 70's, comfortable.
The sculptures vary widely, but all worth seeing. The grounds, buildings, etc. are all very well maintained and kept very clean. You can see that a lot of effort goes into the whole package. A lot of thought went into the placement of the sculptures. You will find yourself looking at off of the path areas trying to find more. You will also do double takes on whether something is a sculpture or a live person.
We were looking for two rather large pieces, but could not find them. We did see them in a maintenence yard toward the end of the day, in need of some minor work.
Bottom line, I thought the experience well worth the admission cost. There are places for snacks, food, and drink, but a bit pricey. I would recommend for all.

Superb arrangement of sculpture from many important names in the art world, laid out in glorious gardens. We spent six hours there and it simply wasn't enough. Works by the likes of Caro jostle against sculptural interpretations of Impressionist masterpieces. Simply wonderful.......

Friends brought us here as a surprise and we can only say WOW! It's immense-plan to spend a full day with at least a lunch break and a snack break. Hundreds of outdoor sculptures in a pastoral setting. Indoor exhibits as well. Sculptures for all tastes, some realistic easily understood ones and some more modern/abstract. Not fussy and photos and touching with respect is allowed almost everywhere. Great for families too. It does sell out on nice weekends so reservations suggested.

a super interesting experience, worth the trip, I want to return a couple more times! I really enjoyed

What a perfect day for a day trip to the Grounds of Sculpture?!?! Located in Hamilton, NJ, Grounds of Sculpture offers a peaceful place to admire the sculpting world of art while basking in the sounds and feels of nature. The idea of the grounds started back in 1984 when Seward Johnson wanted a place to show the appreciation of the arts, especially sculpting. 1989, construction began and three years later, in 1992, the Grounds for Sculpture opened to the public. There are hundreds of sculptures on 42 acres of property with a few exhibits inside a few buildings. I do have to say that you do have to reserve your tickets because they do sell out fast; I made that mistake and the person manning the gatehouse was a bit annoyed (sorry guardsman). There are a few cafes on property, but there is a full service restaurant called Rat’s which transported me to the French countryside. Highly recommend visiting the Grounds of Sculpture for a peaceful day trip and appreciate art and nature.

Grounds for Sculpture is a beautiful sculpture garden. It makes for a great day out. I recently started learning photography and this was a great place to practice. You could easily spend hours wandering around the grounds. There is a restaurant and multiple cafes on the grounds for snacks, refreshments, and lunch. If you’re looking for something different, this is a great place to check out.

My family has been going to Grounds for Sculpture for years. It's the perfect spot to explore and we always find new things each time we go. Rats restaurant is next to the grounds too; we like to take a glass of wine onto the grounds after we eat.

The sculptures are interesting and unique and the gardens are beautiful. The flowers, trees, and shrubbery are always so well maintained. Kids love it and they enjoy the sculptures. Great place to view some attractive art and take in the outdoors. I call it a hidden gem of the area.

Well planned out park. Interesting and whimsical sculptures. Great for all ages, lots of space, plenty of restrooms and cafes. Landscaping is beautiful. We paid at the park prior to entry but you can buy tickets online for slightly cheaper. Staff are very pleasant.

If you like sculpture or just a walk in the woods with sculpture, this is the place. Note there are NO printed maps though, for the price of admission, printed maps SHOULD be available. They are proud of their navigation by smart phone...come with your phone fully charged. Clever app. But still tricky to find your way. Absence of directional signs. We had a great deal of trouble find our may back to the Visitors' center. They emphasize the need to arrive with a timed ticket purchased on line. They limit the number of visitors and there is just enough parking space for the timed tickets. Not impossible to buy a ticket at the Visitors' Center when you arrive......if there is capacity. Would give Grounds an "Excellent" rating if there were some directional signs.

Memorial Day walk about was the theme of the day for many many participants. The place was mobbed. The exhibits were interesting and I love that they change frequently. I plan on becoming a member of the GFS and participate at their member only events.

Visiting the Grounds for Sculpture is a delightful way to spend a few hours. The sculptures are varied. Some are stunning, others whimsical, others awe-inspiring, and a few … well … just perplexing. (All the more fun!) The gardens are exceptionally beautiful, and marvelously designed to complement the sculptures. Though some reviewers may suggest seeing the works in a particular order, our group wandered somewhat aimlessly, and found it very pleasing. We were joyfully surprised at many turns, and found an undirected approach enabled us to better appreciate this Central Jersey treasure.

I am a local and member of Ground for Sculpture. It is a local gem and a place I frequently visit during the year. It is also a place I recommend to visitors. At GFS you will find outdoor beauty throughout the seasons in a landscape so beautiful and filled with delightful surroundings and surprises and nooks and crannies. Art and sculpture is found everywhere amongst this beauty and tours are available. Indoor galleries hold current exhibitions, there are always events going on especially on weekends. Several places to eat are on the grounds, including g a 2 cafes and the expensive Rats restaurant. Plan to spend a minimum of 2-3 hours or all afternoon. It is open until dark in summer on Fridays. The most beautiful time of course is spring when all the trees are in bloom and fall when the leaves change. Bring your camera, this place is a favorite for pictures. and just for a lovely stroll. and yes, children are ok here, just teach them to be respectful of the art and not climb all over it.

A very nice exhibit combined with beautiful grounds makes it a perfect place to visit and to enjoy. It has a very highly rated restaurant with incredible surrounding gardens.

Absolutely wonderful. Been here several times and somehow, each visit feels like its the first time. Still not sure I've seen the entire grounds. can't wait to go back. However, I found the Van Gogh Cafe lacking. Very overpriced cold sandwiches. The $14 Ham & Brie sandwich was dry and cold. One thin slice of ham and a one-inch wide, thin slice of brie. Also, beware the pushy tip screen at register. I ended up leaving an $11 tip on our family lunch bill of $110. 10% was the lowest choice and I fell for the scam. Next time we'll pack a sandwich and will picnic by the lake.

I honestly did not know what to expect when we came here on a whim with the kids.

What we got was a great afternoon of walking around the grounds and discovering all the different sculptures. We were greeted at the entrance by a peacock which we all thought was fake at first, but then it started walking around! The kids loved exploring and wandering around.

Theres also a nice little pond with fish toward the back of the grounds. We didn't realize there was a restaurant in this area that we would like to come back and visit at some point.

Would definitely recommend a visit and plan on spending a couple hours here.

Imagine statues of people that you have to ask - "are they real?". On two occasions we were about to take pictures of sculptures but then realized they were live people. The sculptures are sooo superb and the walk around the gardens is invigorating and memorable. If you intend to dine at the Rat's restaurant here's a hint. Park at the restaurant lots then walk the gardens (you can access them through the restaurant itself) then enjoy the grounds with all its diverse art and then dine in a first class restaurant (Rat's) without the first class prices. Plan a half day at least, if you want to see everything the Gardens have to offer

Just loved it! I would go back one day to revisit my favorite paintings that come alive in front of you. Very entertaining park. Grounds are easily accessible and so much to see. Would recommend taking time and not to rush as I have missed some of the sculptures and I regretted later.

The pictures actually do not do justice to the experience. Yes, CoVid 19 has modified the experience, but you will not regret a Sunday stroll here. This was a Father's Day gift and I was impressed. You will not be able to see everything in one visit - but that's ok - as there can be sensory overload. Walk, look, hold hands and enjoy.

I was not sure what to expect, but I wasn't disappointed. The grounds are beautiful and the sculptures are so different so there is something for everyone to enjoy. It's funny how you keep doing double takes because some statues look so real. Inside the Van Gogh Cafe, the ceiling is painted like Starry Night, very cool. But we ate at Rats for lunch on the patio looking out on the water to the Monet Bridge. Both food and atmosphere were wonderful!

My friend wanted to take me here, as I’d never been before - even though I’d visited her often over the years.

I loved the sculpture inside near to the gift shop and its connection to 9/11. It was very poignant.

The grounds itself were very well done and I loved the history to each piece and also how they were a mix of various times in the past.

As an avid art fan, I loved the Claude Monet bridge and Van Gogh sculpture positioned outside the cafe where he was painting the cafe….

At times it felt like being back in a park in Paris with all the sculptures from the turn of the century…..really lovely.

It’s well worth the day out - albeit a bit expensive but my friend had a discount code, so it was manageable for the 5 of us.

Such an experience to join right in to scenes that the sculptures create. Freedom to walk on the grass and get off the paths and lack of dogs was refreshing. Had a wonderful time.

You must see it to believe it! Awesome enchanting, artsy The New Jersey Fairgrounds used to be here. There's so many great things about the sculptures all around, not to mention all the landscapes!

The sculptures are done great and there are plenty of them. Individuals that want to get some fresh air and exercise while seeing good art this is for you.

This is a large and beautiful grounds full of amazing sculpture, art and flora.

There is an entrance fee to get in and nice cafes inside. The grounds are vast - so much to walk around and see.
Along with beautiful life size, abstract and larger than life sculptures, there are also a lot of beautiful horticulture of plants and trees from around the world, elegantly and artfully arranged.
Great place to walk around and very family friendly.

WE came here under the suggestion of my cousin. We went to Rat's Restaurant first and then onto the Grounds. The first surprise was the live Peacocks that stroll around the entrance to the Center. That was wild! We then walked around for about an hour and saw some really interesting sculptures! It was very fun! We finished our day there at the cafe and sipped some hot cocoa! Every worker was very nice and informative! We will be back!

Grounds for sculpture is incredible! The art work is amazing, and you get to choose your own adventure around the space as you spot sculptures in plain sight and hidden in the landscape. We also loved how much wildlife the grounds offer. We saw peacocks, frogs, turtles, and koi fish. The plants and flowers are also worth admiring. I definitely recommend!

I had never heard of this place and the grounds are impressive. The day we went (late July) it was in the 90 +degree range and although there was plenty of shade, I would have preferred to visit on a more moderate day.
That said, we enjoyed it . Plan to spend time reading the information on the exhibits inside, which explain a lot about the place.
If you are with youngsters who do not like to read, then plan less time, more in-depth could spend 3 hours, I think.

If you like sculpture and arboretums this is heaven. If it’s a nice day it’s heaven on steroids. There are so many cool things
To see. Check out some of Seward Johnson’s 3-d renderings of monet paintings. Find the nude girl in the shower,
The men in the breadline. Enjoy the trees and shrubs. You can eat at Rats. Terrible name good food. Or you can leave and go elsewhere. See my review of Aryana grill and kabob

I enjoyed my time there. A lot of walking, but I saw different interesting sculptures. Some of them looks life like.

Wow! you want to see some interesting sculpture(s)? Visit Grounds for Sculpture. Fabulous display of art. Highly recommend seeing this place. Don, Trenton

Something unique at every turn in a beautiful wooded setting and meadow! Bring your camera! You will be taking many photos! Perfect place to walk on a nice day! Save time for lunch or dinner at Rat's! Definitely a NJ hidden gem!

We went here for the first time today. Lived in NJ for 12 years. It was crazy hot, but we really enjoyed walking around and seeing the cool art. Definitely check out Rat’s if you get a chance— was amazing!

I took the tour since it was my first time visiting Garden for Sculpture and I was so glad I did. The insight and information Ruth shared made the experience richer. Every inch of this property is designed to enhance the art displayed. The Beyond the Frame element was my favorite. It was a wonderful day and will return to see this in a different perspective in the winter or spring.

Grounds for Sculpture is like an oasis. It is situated in an old industrial site near Trenton, NJ. Sculptures of all types cover several acres of well manicured park land surrounding a lake and other water features. Add to that the fact that the main building contains a great restaurant and bar and what more could you want? The restaurantis named "Rats" and is themed after The Wind In The Willows.

A great place to stroll, take in some amazing sculptures and relax. There's 42 acres and we had a docent tour, which made it so much more enjoyable. Wish it was closer to my house because we'd come more often.

I went there on a cloudy day but it was still nice. The statues are so big it doesn't really have to be sunny. Everyone there was nice, except one of their grounds people named Mikhail made me feel uncomfortable as I was waiting for someone to come out of the bathrooms.

I went with 2 friends and my teenage son. We all enjoyed strolling the grounds and seeing the sculptures. There are varying art styles which we really liked. Additionally, the gardens are very nice. There were flowers and beautiful trees that would be at there peak in another week or so. Afterward, we enjoyed a lunch in the Peacock garden. Definitely worth a trip

I have visited there a couple of times. It is a delightful place to wander around the beautifully landscaped grounds and admire the unique sculptures displayed in their settings.

They change some of the sculptures at times, so there is always something new to discover.

Plan at least a half day visit. It is a great place to take young children, they have the freedom to touch and roam freely through the park.

My friend and I went to Grounds for Sculpture ona Sunday afternoon in October and had an absolutely great time. The artwork that is on display throughout the property is Incredibly creative and truly inspiring to see, and we took full advantage of the life-sized pieces by injecting ourselves into many displays! I haven’t been to Grounds for Sculpture in about 10 years, and I didn’t realize that some displays are on loan and therefore are different than when I went before. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I have recommended it to many people since we went. It is a wonderful way to spend a few hours, and is truly a highlight of New Jersey!

I love this park. It's so beautiful and fun to explore. It was raining when we were there, but I didn't even mind. If you like art and/or nature, it's definitely worth a visit. My favorites are the sculpture recreations of famous paintings. So neat.

What a unique and fabulous place!
Wonderful art, loads of photo ops, and even great motorized scooters for those of us that have trouble getting around!
Well worth the time!

What an adventure to walk the Grounds and see the Augmented virtual reality center by William Paterson University professor, Michael Rees. Cool day, wonderful people at the center eager to direct around the grounds.

I'm no expert on sculpture but I like Seward Johnson's collection of works by artists of greater and lesser repute. Sometimes it is the whimsy demonstrated by well-aimed titles like "Pondering the benefits of leisure" (associated with some of the more louche French-style picnickers you are likely to meet) or the steaming cauldron of realistic looking human? bones that is presided over by giant witches and labelled "Has anyone seen Larry?" Sometimes its the drama of artificial mist layered over a lily pond that hosts large koi and a giant disembodied head. Or the affecting story that goes with "The Survivor" or the slumped resignation of George Segal's iconic Depression Bread Line. There are so many expertly placed pieces amid such well thought out plantings that it would be very difficult to choose a favorite. I first visited these Grounds about a decade ago and hadn't been back since. The differences are all to the good because there are now many more sculptures, more mature landscaping and a cavalcade of giant figures beside the approach road for a mile or more before you reach the park itself. This place is good for families with young children, teenagers, and adults of all ages, even in less than ideal weather. You probably won't get to see everything in an afternoon and , like Venice, you'll probably get lost and have to wander around before taking the right path to the exit, but the time will pass quickly and there's always ice cream and cold drinks located in strategically placed booths to provide refreshment or a trip to the in-park restaurant Rats for larger meals. The park is a great (and under celebrated) resource for New Jersey that should be known to people everywhere.

We had some time to kill before a business endeavor. Took a little time to go through the outside part of the sculpture garden. It was fun and unique- would recommend!

Beautiful park and wonderful time however I want express my disappointment with the unprofessional and rude behavior we experienced from the staff member at the entrance booth during our recent visit.

We received free tickets for park entry via email, which we had printed out to present upon arrival. However, the Russian woman at the entrance booth—who spoke Russian to us—ripped our printed tickets and rudely stated that we could not use them, insisting we had to purchase tickets instead. She went as far as to shame us for having received the tickets for free.

After we proceeded to the ticket counter and showed the email confirmation, we were immediately granted free entrance as promised and without issue. This incident left us questioning why this staff member felt the need to act in such an arrogant and dismissive manner, especially when we had valid documentation.

It is incredibly frustrating and disappointing to encounter such treatment at a venue known for its beauty and cultural significance. Guests should feel welcomed and respected, not berated or humiliated.

Come visit this wonderful place and indulge you and your family members in the world of arts! You won’t regret it as your memory will live long enough!

The Grounds is a combination of facsimilies of paintings and modern sculptures. They are both very attractive and very interesting. There is a small pond with a restaurant overlooking it and a French-type setting. There is a model of the pond in Monet's home in Giverny. There also are some items inside a building. Overall, it was a very enjoyable place to visit and our grandchildren enjoyed it, too. We have two suggestions, both would increase the learning experience. First, names and identifcations of the facsimilies would help. We knew many but not all of them. Second, the map they provide of the Grounds is old and out of date. A better map would help.

The most amazing sculpture gardens I’ve ever seen and I have been lucky to see a lot.

You will never see impressionist paintings made into 3 dimensional life like people & landscape. The your was great. We ate at the restaurant n the pond and thought we were in Monet’s Giverney. I would spend a couple of days there.

Visit and enjoy the sculptures, guided tours provided if you would like, large area for enormous sculptures

We visiting Grounds for Sculpture on a recent visit to New Jersey to visit family. What an incredible place! Even our kids enjoyed it! We took many photos and we loved looking at all the sculptures. Highly recommend!

Grounds for sculpture has grown too fast . . What used to be a pristine exhibit is now an aging ill maintained selection of decaying sculptures fading colors over grown paths an super overpriced food. 2.5 hours drive from new england. Never again!

This is a place you could spend several days at and not see it all. Also the staff is very friendly.

This place has been on our list of places to go for years. My daughter and I finally did a spur of the moment trip to the Grounds of Sculptures. We were NOT disappointed! We arrived at opening and left around 6:30 after covering the entire property in one day. We had so much fun by taking a map and marking off every single sculpture. The place is absolutely beautiful. We Will be returning again to see the new installations. Great family day with the kids!

Went a few times. Took a friend visiting from abroad in October, 2019. Love the place. Feeds my inner child. Only criticism is that maps and directions are confusing. Hard to navigate way around. But love the visits every time.

Absolutely amazing place to visit. Beautiful grounds and spectacular sculptures - both abstract and lifelike! You feel like you’re in a painting! Visit Rats’s Restaurant while you’re there! Delicious food with an artistic flair and a patio with a spectacular view.

This place is just fabulous. To really enjoy the sculptures be prepared to spend about 3 or more hours. There all kind of different sculptures. The ones with the people are really life like at times. There everyday sculptures and olden times sculptures. If you love to take pictures this is a great place to visit. There are cafes on the grounds so you can find a place to eat while you are there. Enjoy!

Heard about it from a friend at work & decided to go. Easy to get to. You would never know that it's where it is or how big the place is from the outside. We went on a sunny afternoon but it is probably a cool place to visit in the evening. It was $20 per adult to visit. I think well worth it!! It is alot of walking but pleasant stroll thru shaded paths & sunny lawns. I think it would be a great place to take the kids. One of my favorite spots was by the Monet bridge. The water features were beautiful! There were large koi, beautiful water plants. The statues thru out are so lifelike that you will think you are coming upon a couple/person along the paths. I suggest you bring water. There are tables that you could eat at but not a specific picnic area. You could just sit in the lawn. There was cafe but we didn't stop in to eat. We spent about 2 1/2 hours walking around. At one point we ran into a guided tour but I'm not sure how you become part of that but it probably would be nice to hear about the background of the art. I definitely recommend going. I took so many pictures!!

This is a great place to spend several hours viewing the many sculptures and walking the beautiful grounds. We found the sculptures of people to be amusing and some of them to be very real looking. This truly is a unique place.

I'm not sure if this is a hidden gem. I've lived in NYC for over twenty years and never knew it existed. But, wow, what an amazing place. Took my family here which included two young children and grandparents. Everyone had a great time. There was enough variation in sculpture styles that both young and old were entertained. We loved Grounds far more than Storm King. There are many more sculptures to look at and the pieces of art are much closer together than Storm King where you have to walk considerable distances to go from display to display. The grounds were well kept and manicured. I, personally, am not much of an art person but this place had me captivated. That's saying a lot.

This was my second time here because my girlfriend was never here before. It's an awesome experience for one visit. Going back a second time unless with someone who was never there before is a bore.

I am not really one for sight seeing and culture, but I was pleasantly surprised by grounds for sculpture. It was set on large grounds, with lots of beautiful sculptures to view as we walked around. It was great to be able to take photos, touch the sculptures, and at some points even climb on them. Really interactive and cool. There are cafes, a gift shop and a little museum on site too. The only pity was that marilyn monroe was no longer here. Would definitely recommend a visit!

There is a mix of modern art sculptures and realistic, people sculpture. Some of the art is quite large, other pieces are of a more average person size. All of it enjoyable. The grounds are beautiful and on a nice day a leisurely stroll about the grounds is ideal. There are benches throughout, and it was especially lovely by the lake. Additionally, there is a whole area of Monet sculptures copied from his paintings. Don't rush, give yourself 2-3 hours or more.

We spent a day at the Grounds for Sculpture and had a terrific time. We took a tour with David, our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and funny. We found out that even though we’ve been at the park before, there was a lot we did not know and learned many interesting facts. After the tour, we spent a few hours just strolling through the grounds and discovering many surprises around many corners. The grounds are kept spotless, everything is in great shape.

We liked the time we spent there today. About an hour and a half...it's an awesome place. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because it's a bit confusing to know which way to walk to and when u have to choose left or right, u sometimes wind up back where you were or aren't sure if u already went down that path ...it would be good to have the paths numbered so u can follow them and see everything...we think we saw most of the items but may not have gone down all paths. Weather was perfect.. 70s.. be sure to wear comfortable shoes. We bought tickets about 12 days ago.. fortunately it wasn't too hot

I just came back from visiting the Grounds for Sculpture and it really was so much fun! I was there for about 4 hours, taking my time, and there is quite a lot to see. I am a big fan of Seward Johnson and he also has some of his works at National Harbor, MD as well but besides his art, there is quite a varied range of all types although if you are a fan of classical works, this may not be to your taste. What a blast to walk around the corner and see a lifelike sculpture of a couple on a date or a copy of Botticielli’s Venus and they are in places where you wouldn’t expect —-by the riverbanks and near the parking lots. You need to go everywhere! Make sure you have good walking shoes and take water with you although they have a lot of shady areas with benches to sit. I would equate this to a sculptural Longwood Gardens for a comparison. Not sure if small children will get much out of this —- I did hear some of them complaining that they were ready to leave but certainly teenagers and older kids will enjoy most of it. Lots of places to eat as well—- I didn’t get a chance to try any of them but will next time. Oh yes, can’t forget to mention the peacocks strolling around as well — some people thought they were part of the sculptures! For anyone who is into creative art with a hint of pop culture in an unusual setting, you will love this. Well worth the admission price!

I would give it a 4 (rounding up from a 3+), my wife would give it closer to a 5. The reason I would not give it higher is I feel that the way it is laid out, it is not easy to see everything, and very easy to miss things. While nice that there are little trails to go off on (only a minute or two), you often need to make a decision which direction, and then would need to walk back the other direction to get out. Tough to explain, but once you are there, you will see that there should be some way to lay it out so that people could follow certain markings or ways to be able to see everything that they would want. Some items were very neat to see, in how the sculptures are laid out via the "painters", and the "paintings". One type of item I feel it is missing that other places have are some kinetic items.
On leaving, we happened to go on a certain road, and saw a number of large sculptures on the way, through the town. They were neat to see. However, it was by happenstance that we drove that way. We would have liked to know if there were other things to see on other roads, but have no idea. That should be publicized in some way, so people could drive by and see them if they want to, which we would if we knew where to go.

A fabulous way to spend half a day (or more). As a horticulturist and art lover I was delighted around every corner. Better labeling of plants would be nice for the casual viewer. It's easy to get lost, as the map is totally confusing to the directionally-challenged like me. Bring a hat and sunscreen as you'll be outside continually. Had a nice sandwich at the VanGogh Cafe (look up at the ceiling) and was pestered by a peacock for my sandwich! Loved it!

Saw a story in philly paper about this place as good place to visit during covid since so much art is outside to wander round. Once they let non members visit I brought my kids (2 8 year olds and a 10 yr old). My older kid was really into it and my twins were sort of. I really liked it and was nice to see art since i doubt I would go to an indoor gallery for a while. Much to see. I found the online map hard to use due to sun glare. So we just wandered around on our own. We were here for probably 2 hrs. It got hot and my kids were tired from heat. So we called it a day. If it was closer I probably would pay for a membership. I could see us coming back once a year to visit. My kids loved the peacocks.