The first retail store in the American Dream mega-mall has officially opened its doors, and it's a sweet deal for candy lovers. IT'SUGAR, the first department store in the country devoted to candy, offers an insane assortment of sweet concoctions from old standbys like Pez and M&Ms to unique international bites. (Matcha-flavored Kit-Kat, anyone?)

A brand-new interactive play experience has come to Atlantic Highlands, and kids of all ages are going ape over it. Jungle Jim & Jane puts a new spin on indoor playgrounds with unique equipment and high-tech games that let kids go wild and have fun in a safe, clean space. 

This day trip–worthy play space, geared toward ages 0-8, opened in October. I visited recently with my three kids, and we were all impressed.    

There's more to Thanksgiving family time than turkey. If you're not prepping the main event or if dinner wraps up early, you might be left wondering, "Now what?" Use the time to make some extra-special Thanksgiving memories with the kids. We've rounded up 10 ideas to get you going, including ice skating, hikes, holiday lights displays, and visits with animals at NJ zoos and aquariums.

'Tis the season for festive lights, jingle bells, and, of course, figuring out clever poses and hiding places for your Elf on the Shelf every single day until Christmas. This holiday season, you can put a new twist on the holiday tradition with a performance The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical by Mills Entertainment​.

The show's nationwide tour kicks off on Thursday, November 14, in Easton, Pennsylvania, and continues through Tuesday, December 29, with stops in Atlanta, GA, Red Bank, NJ, Lynn, MA, Wallingford, CT, and Sugarland, TX, among others.

Families love to spend time together, but there are times when everyone—parents and kids—need a break. Whether it's for a daytime appointment (sans toddler) or to have the first date night in an eternity, New Jersey parents have plenty of flexible daytime and evening drop-off options, from day cares to trampoline parks, indoor play spaces, and beyond.

Read on for more than a dozen NJ places that can lend a hand, whether you need a drop-in day care, somewhere fun to send the kids when school's closed, or a relaxing parents' night out!

For many locals, one of the most picturesque spots in Hunterdon County is Clinton. This New Jersey town boasts lovely views of the Raritan River running through the historic downtown area, and a majestic red mill that's one of the most-photographed buildings in NJ. Clinton is just 1.5 square miles, but what it loses in size it makes up for in atmosphere—there are great nature spots for hiking, picnicking, and swimming, as well as museums and historic sites, holiday-themed festivals and parades, and family-friendly restaurants.

This charming small town makes for a picture-perfect family day trip all year round. Read on for the highlights.

Linden is now home to Union County's largest sprayground, and boy, is it worth a visit! Located in John Russell Wheeler Park, this 11,000-square-foot water playground, which opened in May 2019, boasts 33 kid-pleasing attractions and water features, including slides, sprinklers, sprayers, a dumping bucket, waterfall, pirate ship, and a giant water serpent. 

One caveat: It gets crowded! So before you pack up the kids and head down the Route 1 corridor, check out this must-have info to help you plan your visit. 

Looking for a new way to cool off this summer? How about slipping down a blow-up water slide and splashing into a beautiful NJ lake?

That's exactly what Lacey Township had in mind—so it's installing a huge new inflatable water park in Lake Barnegat (2nd Lake) in Forked River, which is slated to open in late June. Intended for swimmers ages 8 and older, the "hydro-playground" will combine slippery waters slides, bouncy inflatable climbers, floating balance beams, monkey bars, and more.

Not heading down the shore this summer? Residents of northern NJ can check out the water park at Lewis Morris County Park's Sunrise Lake Beach Club.