Best things to do in Washington, including free and rainy-day options

Washington is a small borough, so the honest answer is that the best things to do are a walkable downtown half-day plus one bigger stop nearby. Pick by weather, time and whether you have a car.

Start in the downtown core. Washington's historic district is compact: a few blocks of 19th-century commercial buildings, a small grid of streets and the kind of main street that rewards an unhurried hour rather than a checklist. Walk it first, before the day gets busy, and you will have seen the borough's centre.

The Morris Canal Greenway follows the route of the 19th-century canal that carried coal and iron across northern New Jersey. The towpath sections are flat, shaded in places and free, which makes them the best low-effort walk in the area. Distances between access points vary; check the current map before you commit to a long stretch.

The borough's parks and memorials are small and local rather than destination sights. Treat them as a picnic stop or a leg-stretch, not a reason for the trip. For a bigger day, Morristown is the obvious add-on: historic sites, a walkable green and a denser choice of food and indoor things to do when it rains. Randolph, next door, has larger parks and trail networks if you want more miles underfoot.

If you are coming from New York or Newark, this is a car-first area. NJ Transit serves the wider Morristown corridor, but the last leg to the borough is easier by taxi, rideshare or your own vehicle. Build the day around one base and one add-on rather than trying to chain four towns.

The borough itself is cheap: streets, parks and the canal greenway are free, and the main spend is food, parking and fuel. Morristown's historic sites and museums charge modest admission, so budget for one paid stop rather than several. Prices below are 2026 estimates and worth confirming before you go.

Go on a weekday if you can. Weekend afternoons fill the small downtown lots and the greenway gets busier. Spring and autumn give the best walking weather; summer is humid and winter paths can be icy.

Wear shoes you can walk in on uneven pavement and towpath gravel. Carry water — the greenway has long stretches without services. If rain is likely, keep Morristown as your backup plan rather than cancelling the day.

Cell coverage is good across the borough and the corridor, so a phone map is enough. Download an offline map anyway if you plan to walk a long canal section.