Where to Go in Montclair + Northern NJ When You Need a Good Cry
The changing of the seasons is usually one that brings positive feelings: weekly “hot girl walks” with friends can be scheduled again, eating outdoors becomes an option, and planting flowers to bloom throughout the season is a new great pastime. However, with great change comes other great emotions — sometimes ones that don’t feel as great. Whether it be the finals season breakdowns, planets being in retrograde, or the usual “Sunday scaries,” a real cry can be necessary in order to enjoy the good of what life has to offer. Read on to learn MG’s best places in Montclair + Essex County for when you need a good cry.
Driving Along Bloomfield Avenue | Essex County
The 4.5-mile street that spans from Newark’s North Ward to Belleville is not only great for shopping and dining, but it’s also perfect to measure the duration of a beneficial cry. The nearby pedestrians can also help any driver feel like they’re not alone – the stoplights are also great checkpoints for using tissues. Bonus points are allotted to crying during a gorgeous sunset while blasting Taylor Swift for all the feels to hit just right.
Read More: A Guide To The Essex County Park System
Brookdale Park | Bloomfield
The iconic park, known for its cherry blossoms in the spring, can be a comforting sight for any visitor who needs a good cry. If you’re not up for walking the blacktop trails with sunglasses, bring a picnic blanket and rest under a tree with a journal to “brain dump” all of your thoughts — even if tears splash on the page, the cherry blossoms are there to remind you that this, too, shall pass.
Edgemont Park | Valley Road, Montclair
If the idea of gazing out at a fountain on a pond while letting some tears roll sounds nice, then Edgemont Park might just be the spot for you. You can longingly watch families of ducks swim by from the comfort of a bench that overlooks the pond. Just be sure to avoid the aggressive geese, as they could give you even more reason to cry.
Good Vibes Yoga Bar | 237 Franklin Avenue, Nutley
View this post on Instagram
Meditating is a great coping mechanism for stress and anxiety, and it’s alright if a few tears roll down your cheeks during a hot yoga session. Good Vibes Yoga Bar provides beginner to advanced-level classes in a group setting, but sitting in the back helps if a cry is needed. Melt into the ambient sounds and let the guided meditation purge the sadness within.
Presby Iris Gardens | 474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Montclair
Known as "The Rainbow on the Hill", the Iris Gardens are the epitome of a good cry spot. Be sure to save your tears for the summer months though, as the irises are not always in bloom. You can stroll through the 14,000 irises as you let tears roll at their beauty.
Kingsland Park | Nutley
A hidden gem among Nutley’s many parks, Kingsland Park has several trails for pedestrians to unwind in both beautiful and gloomy weather. Put on some headphones and take in the foliage as you walk along the Third River. Tears are sure to pop up on this walk, whether it be from grieving, gratitude, or both.
Watchung Plaza | Montclair
There’s something about an often forgotten pocket of a suburban city that makes it the ideal escape for a good cry. Watchung Plaza is one of the corners of MTC, which is, although not much appreciated, a very pretty backdrop for a cry. With Watching Booksellers on the corner and Watchung Park across the street, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to where one decides to hide away to cry. For the next few weeks, however, you might be stuck crying while gazing at the views of its construction.
Montclair Art Museum | 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair
View this post on Instagram
Having an excuse for a cry can be a great cop out for when you just need to let it all out. Montclair Art Museum has some amazing exhibits to get lost in; or, just staring at a painting Ferris Bueller-style can make a great moment for a public cry. The museum also has a big parking lot and walking grounds, so the extra few minutes of sobs on the walk back to the car will count.
Montclair Book Center | 221 Glenridge Avenue, Montclair
Nothing feels safer than being tucked away in wooden bookcases for book-lovers. Montclair Book Center houses the most comfortable atmosphere for an avid reader to get their cry on, no matter if the cause is from an emotional story or an outside force. The Horror section, in particular, is in the corner and makes for a great place to hide away.
Montclair State University Campus | 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair
As college students are known for their periodic semester breakdowns, a university campus is a good place to cry if one needs to feel like they’re not alone in their emotions. Anyone can take a stroll through the beautiful walking paths and find a bench on campus amidst the busy student body rushing from classes and extracurriculars. If you don’t want to be noticed in public, the Carpe Diem parking garage is a great hideaway to park the car and weep. Or, try behind Stone Hall so you can at least gaze at the NYC skyline while shedding some tears.
Van Vleck House + Gardens | 21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair
The picturesque beauty of Van Vleck makes it the ideal spot for a good cry. The property is gated and private, making it just the right hideaway to let out some tears. With benches to sit on, and flowers to gaze longingly at, this really is a quintessential place.
Verona Park | Verona
View this post on Instagram
This 54-acre park has beautiful views when the weather is exceptional, along with enough space for one to express their emotions. Whether it be walking on its trails, paddle-boating in the lake, or buying a hot dog from Chris’ Red Hots cart, a little time outdoors can do wonders for the upset mind. A little time “touching grass” can go a long way when overthinking kicks in.
See More: Need a Good Cry? The Best Spots in Hoboken + Jersey City, Rated
Bonus: Willowbrook Mall | 1400 Willowbrook Boulevard, Wayne
This mall may be located in Passaic County, but it is a reliable venue for not only finding the perfect pair of jeans, but also a good place to let out all the tears. From the movie theater and dressing rooms, to restaurants and the food court, anyone can find their place to cry and be inspired by retail therapy to put on a happy face once again.
