INSIDE: FUN THINGS TO DO . Enrichment . Programs . Summer Camps
May/June 2023
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NJ Kids On The Go! is published by NJ Kids Media Group, Inc. PO Box 542, Roseland, NJ 07068. We assume no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions, nor do we recommend programs, nor do we warrant the accuracy or reliatbility of any of the information contained in this book. Nothing herein contained may be reproduced in any manner without written permission of NJ Kids Media Group, Inc. Copyright 2023 NJ Kids On The Go!
May/June 2023
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Ultimate Spring FUN Guide!
Ultimate Spring FUN Guide!
Go on a nature walk, hike with the kids, enjoy a picnic, wander around gardens or go camping. Here are some family friendly things to do. We’ve gathered our lists so that your family can enjoy this fabulous Spring season. Use this as your spring bucket list, a Mother’s Day Guide, or Memorial Weekend outing. Travel further and experience all of these venues together. Go on the websites for hours and fees.
Go on a nature walk, hike with the kids, enjoy a picnic, wander around gardens or go camping. Here are some family friendly things to do. We’ve gathered our lists so that your family can enjoy this fabulous Spring season. Use this as your spring bucket list, a Mother’s Day Guide, or Memorial Weekend outing. Travel further and experience all of these venues together. Go on the websites for hours and fees.
EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS
EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park
This is one of central Jersey’s most popular recreational destinations for canoeing, jogging, hiking, biking, fishing and horseback riding. Enjoy over 70 miles of level multi-use paths along the historic canal. You’ll find so many ways to explore with the additional trail networks connecting forests and fields across several counties. The scenic tow path (picture above), running for many miles both north and south of Princeton is one of the best bike rides in central Jersey. Nearby is Princeton, Sculpture Park and Washington Crossing State Park.
This is one of central Jersey’s most popular recreational destinations for canoeing, jogging, hiking, biking, fishing and horseback riding. Enjoy over 70 miles of level multi-use paths along the historic canal. You’ll find so many ways to explore with the additional trail networks connecting forests and fields across several counties. The scenic tow path (picture above), running for many miles both north and south of Princeton is one of the best bike rides in central Jersey. Nearby is Princeton, Sculpture Park and Washington Crossing State Park.
Duke Island Park
Duke Island Park
You can spend hours in this great escape in Bridgewater, NJ. Truly an “island” park,
You can spend hours in this great escape in Bridgewater, NJ. Truly an “island” park,
it is traversed by the historic Raritan Power Canal. The Park provides a wide variety of active and passive recreational opportunities. Enjoy paved trails for biking and walking (suitable for families), walk to water falls and the mini dams, and take in the scenic beauty. Catch wildlife along the river, large pond and wooded areas. Although trails are easy, you can do a 5K run and trail biking. Somerset County.
it is traversed by the historic Raritan Power Canal. The Park provides a wide variety of active and passive recreational opportunities. Enjoy paved trails for biking and walking (suitable for families), walk to water falls and the mini dams, and take in the scenic beauty. Catch wildlife along the river, large pond and wooded areas. Although trails are easy, you can do a 5K run and trail biking. Somerset County.
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center Walk 2 miles of flat trails and boardwalk and enjoy spectacular view of the swamp, habitats and wildlife. Covers 7,768 acres of varied habitats and is an important resting and feeding area for more than 244 species of birds; Fox, deer, muskrat, turtles, fish, frogs, wildflowers and plants can be found on the refuge. Morris County.
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center Walk 2 miles of flat trails and boardwalk and enjoy spectacular view of the swamp, habitats and wildlife. Covers 7,768 acres of varied habitats and is an important resting and feeding area for more than 244 species of birds; Fox, deer, muskrat, turtles, fish, frogs, wildflowers and plants can be found on the refuge. Morris County.
Liberty State Park is a 1,200 acred state park offering miles and miles of trails and pathways for biking, running and walking. Walk along the 2-mile waterside walkway Liberty Walk and take in panoramic views of the NYC skyline, linking the picnic area, Interpretive Center and the NJ Terminal. There is a ferry service to State of Liberty and Ellis Island. Nearby: Liberty Science Center. Hudson County.
Palisades Interstate Park
Choose one of two main trails each covering most of the approximately 13-mile length of the Park. The Shore Trial (except for the Giant Stairs and the northern terminus) and The Long Path trail covers easy to moderate terrain. Bergen County
Central Park of Morris
Central Park of Morris County is the county’s first fully accessible outdoor athletic facility. The multi-faceted sports complex comprises of 420 acres. Enjoy 11 miles of paved and natural trails, as well as an all access play area, picnic area, and a 5-acre dog park. Morris County.
South Mountain Reservation
This is the largest parkland in Essex County with 2,112 acres of nature reserve. There are 19 miles of hiking and walking trails, 27 miles of carriage roads for jogging, horseback riding, & cross-country skiing, fishing at Diamond Mill Pond, Hemlock Falls and various wildlife. Trails range from half a mile to 6 miles. For families with young kids, try the Rahway Fairy Trail, a half mile trail inhabited by fairies! Essex County.
EXPERIENCE ART IN NATURE
Storm King Art Center
Walk around this 500-acre outdoor museum and look for large scale sculptures. Special exhibitions are opening May 20. Open Wednesday-Monday, 10AM - 5:30PM.
New Windsor, NY.
Grounds For Sculpture
Features a sculpture garden, arboretum, and museum in a 42-acre landscaped park. Engage with nearly 300 sculptures. Tots for sculpture and Family Open Studios (on the first Saturday of each month). Hamilton, NJ.
Admire the Statue of Liberty
Visit the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum on Ellis Island. The Ellis Hard Hat tour is also available. All ticketed guests have access to the new Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island at no additional cost.
VISIT A ZOO
Bergen County Zoo, Paramus
Cape May Zoo, Cape May, NJ
Central Park Zoo, NYC
Cohazink Zoo, Bridgeton, NJ
Johnson Park Zoo, Piscataway, NJ
Lakota Wolf Preserve, Columbia, NJ
Lehigh Valley Zoo, Schnecksville, PA
Popcorn Park Zoo, Forked Way, NJ
Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange, NJ
Field Station Dinosaurs
Walk the trails and find over 30 life-sized, moving, realistic dinosaurs come to life.
Overpeck County Park, Leonia, NJ. Opens May 27.
Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure @
Six Flags, with 1200 animals to see.
GOT KIDS? WHAT TO DO! SPRING FUN GUIDE
OUTDOOR FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
OUTDOOR FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
Secaucus Green Festival
Secaucus Green Festival
May 6, 11AM-3PM. FREE admission. Secaucus’ Green Festival celebrates the planet with environmental activities for children, music, arts & crafts, fun activities, and educational experiences. secaucus.
May 6, 11AM-3PM. FREE admission. Secaucus’ Green Festival celebrates the planet with environmental activities for children, music, arts & crafts, fun activities, and educational experiences. secaucus.
Mother’s Day Weekend Spring Bazaar @ Asbury Park Convention Hall.
Explore the shore with the family on these two Ocean Fun days. Outdoor fun with coastal crafts, youth fishing, search for natural treasures, touch tanks, crab races and more! njseagrant.org
Explore the shore with the family on these two Ocean Fun days. Outdoor fun with coastal crafts, youth fishing, search for natural treasures, touch tanks, crab races and more! njseagrant.org
Annual NJ Renaissance Faire
Annual NJ Renaissance Faire
May 13 - 14, 12-5pm.
Mother’s Day Weekend Spring Bazaar @ Asbury Park Convention Hall. May 13 - 14, 12-5pm.
Lake Hopatcong Block Party 2023
Lake Hopatcong Block Party 2023
Main street style experience in a beautiful lake setting. Hopatcong, NJ
Main street style experience in a beautiful lake setting. Hopatcong, NJ
May 20, 10am-4pm
May 20, 10am-4pm
South Jersey Arts Festival
South Jersey Arts Festival
Held at Appel Farm, Elmer, NJ
May 20-28 and June 3-4, 10AM-6PM. The most interactive Faire with talented villagers dressed in period costumes, sword fighters, dancers, musicians, comedians, jugglers, acrobats, magicians, fire breathers, sword swallowers. Bordentown.
May 20-28 and June 3-4, 10AM-6PM. The most interactive Faire with talented villagers dressed in period costumes, sword fighters, dancers, musicians, comedians, jugglers, acrobats, magicians, fire breathers, sword swallowers. Bordentown.
Fleet Week New York 2023
Fleet Week New York 2023
May 20, 11am - 3pm
Held at Appel Farm, Elmer, NJ
May 20, 11am - 3pm
Ocean Fun Days
Ocean Fun Days
May 20, 11AM-3PM at Island Beach State Park (GSP Exit 82)
May 20, 11AM-3PM at Island Beach State Park (GSP Exit 82)
May 21,11AM-3PM at Sea Grant Consortium at Sandy Hook (GSP Exit 117).
May 21,11AM-3PM at Sea Grant Consortium at Sandy Hook (GSP Exit 117).
May 24-30. Celebrate the sea services with week long festivities beginning with the parade of ships. Meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, tour ships, watch musical performances, demonstrations...New York Harbor, NYC.
May 24-30. Celebrate the sea services with week long festivities beginning with the parade of ships. Meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, tour ships, watch musical performances, demonstrations...New York Harbor, NYC.
International Kite Festival in Wildwood
International Kite Festival in Wildwood
May 26 - 29. FREE to spectators. Featuring kite makers from around the world! Wildwood Convention Center, Boardwalk.
May 26 - 29. FREE to spectators. Featuring kite makers from around the world!
Wildwood Convention Center, Boardwalk.
GO CAMPING
New Jersey is a great place to experience the outdoors, and there’s no better way to do that than by camping! With plenty of campgrounds to choose from, here are a few family-friendly campsites:
Pleasant Acres Farm Campground is a family-friendly campground with over 200 campsites, visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, and swimming. The campground also has a playground and a recreation hall. Sussex.
Pine Cone Resort in Freehold offers over 150 campsites; enjoy hiking, fishing, swimming, and even a game room and a playground. Freehold.
Seashore Campsites & RV Resort, located in Cape May, offers over 500 campsites,; enjoy hiking, fishing, and swimming, as well as easy access to the beach. Cape May.
Wharton State Forest is the largest state forest in NJ and offers over 500 campsites to enjoy hiking, fishing, swimming, and even canoeing or kayaking. Hammonton.
DISCOVER GARDENS
Many gardens are open year round. These are places for children to explore science and nature and discover the wonders of STEM.
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden at The New York Botanical Garden
Open year round, walk through 12 acres of lush landscape. Climb boulders, see a pond, woodlands, and a meadow. Bronx, NY.
Frelinghuysen Arboretum
Walk on a mile of paved paths and enjoy this 127 acre park with garden workshops, plant
sales, and weekly family photo scavenger hunts. Morris County.
New Jersey Botanical Gardens
Wander through The Garden of the Garden State with 96 acres of formal gardens, and gentle paths winding through the woods. Enjoy new monthly blooms, incorporate a hike and explore miles of marked trails among the 1000 acres of woodlands. Family woodland hikes on May 21. Passaic County.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
Visit one of the largest daffodil collections. Walk through lovely historical grounds, display gardens, and blooms. Families can hike wooded trails and walkways. Kids can learn about nature, the outdoors, plants, flowers, and wildlife. Union County.
Rutgers Garden
Explore 180 acres of gardens and natural habitats at Rutgers Garden. Kids can make their own nature discoveries. Plenty of gardens to see including vegetable, flower, rain, tree collection, bamboo grove, woodland, frog pond, and more! Located at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers. New Brunswick.
Van Vleck House & Gardens
Wanter through this beautiful oasis in the heart of Montclair. Private garden is open to the public year round. Workshops, plant sales, music, art. Essex County.
Willowwood Arboretum
For nature lovers, this arboretum is an amazing gem hidden away; a great location to come take a stroll, sit down for a picnic, or watch the wildlife. With 130 acres of rolling farm land, a public park, there are about 3,500 kinds of native and exotic plants, many of them rare. Morris County.
INDOOR PLAY IDEAS
BIG KAHUNA
Reserve a one day ticket or season pass to visit this year round 60,000 sq ft indoor waterpark. Admission ticket allows access to all attractions, water rides, The Congo Bongo lazy river, Flow Rider, slides, obstacle courses, indoor pool, arcade and more! Special Lizard Lagoon toddler water area for little ones. Plus a state of the art arcade. West Berlin.
FUNTIME JUNCTION
Indoor Children’s Entertainment Center Reserve 90 minute open play admission tickets online and access FunCade, vest-less laser tag, a helicopter carousel ride, toddler playground, Beam floor projection game, LiteZilla (Giant Lite Brite), and a multi-level climbscape and jump pillow. Fairfield.
MINI GOLF AT MONSTER MINI GOLF
Reserve your optional tee time! Unique mini golf experience with 18 holes of glow-inthe-dark mini golf. Play in a state-of-the-artarcade and enjoy a laser maze. Arcade and bowling available in Paramus. Fairfield and Paramus.
PALISADES CLIMB ADVENTURE
Visit and experience the world’s tallest indoor ropes course (85 ft tall, 5 levels of ropes), located inside the Palisades Mall (level 4). Ropes course for tots too. West Nyack, NY.
AMERICAN DREAM MALL
Check out the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park and experience the tallest, steepest and longest rides. Other attractions include Dream Works Water Park, Mirror Maze, It’s Sugar Candyland adventure and Lego Land, The Rink, TILT Museum, Sea Life. E. Rutherford.
