Take a break from the fast pace of New York City by traveling to one of these national parks just outside city limits. Both have historic significance that helped to shape what the Big Apple is today.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Thomas Edison National Historical Park is one of the more unique national parks in the country. It consists of Edison's home and laboratory, where he resided and invented things like the motion picture camera, phonographs, sound recordings, and silent movies. Kick off your visit with Invention Factory, a 20-minute long orientation film that tells the story of Edison's famous lab. See where this master inventor created the inventions that would change the world, and make sure to pace through the courtyard as he did when pondering new ideas.

Morristown National Historical Park
Established in 1933, Morristown National Historical Park is home to the quarters of General Washington and the Continental Army's encampment during through the treacherous winter of 1779. Get a first hand feel for their challenging living conditions on an interactive tour through a replica of a soldier's hut, and then walk through the Ford Mansion, the home that George Washington occupied during this time period. Not only is Morristown a memorial of a pivotal moment in our nation's history, but it is also the country's first national park.

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Beyond the hustle and bustle of New York City lie two national parks that were built to commemorate unique moments in American history. One is the home of a beloved First Lady, and the other is a former haven for artists seeking refuge outside of the city.

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Amidst the 180-acre rural sprawl lies "Val-Kill," the only property that Eleanor Roosevelt ever owned. She purchased this modest cottage with encouragement from her husband, Franklin, to use the home and land as a means to develop her numerous endeavors. During the Great Depression, she used the cottage as a furniture factory to teach young men the trade. The house and its surrounding units are now open year-round to visitors for walk-through tours. There are also trails throughout the land nearby.

Weir Farm National Historic Site
Weir Farm National Historic Site is located in Ridgefield, Connecticut, 60 miles northeast of New York City. This structure was once home to a legendary artist community started by famous impressionist painter J. Alden Weir. Take a guided tour through the house where Weir and other painters, like Childe Hassam, Albert Pinkham Ryder, and John Twachtman, developed the skills that would later define the period. There are even art supplies provided free of charge for guests to make paintings of their own, if the house and its history should inspire you.

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