Taking the family on a warm summer hike can be scenic, educational, and energizing, but also downright hot! Adding a splash of water to your hike ups the adventure and is a refreshing motivator. The Garden State is home to tons of hiking trails leading to waterfalls, beaches, streams, and other fun spots where kids can dip their toes in the water and cool off a bit in the process.

So, read on for our list of 12 hiking trails where you can enjoy a quick wade or dip. Be sure to pack water shoes as these trails can get wet and sometimes muddy—and a towel is helpful for young hikers who choose to go all in.

One New Jersey town has found a unique way to give its businesses a little lift. Giant, light-up seesaws have been installed in Westfield as part of its Glo Downtown promotion, and organizers hope these whimsical playthings attract visitors to its streets.

The seesaws are part of the touring public art installation dubbed Impulse, which features 15 illuminated, sound-producing seesaws, each holding up to four riders at a time. It's been installed in the North Avenue Westfield Train Station parking lot. The Impulse seesaws, which previously appeared in New York City, Montreal, Australia, London, and Boston, are FREE to ride and available daily through Sunday, March 21.

It's a challenge to stay on top of what's open now in New Jersey for families, but we're here to help. Many of our favorite destinations, from indoor play spaces to outdoor skating rinks, family-friendly restaurants, and more, have reopened to the public with safety protocols in place. While things may look a little different at these popular attractions, it's nice to have a reason to step out of the house and feel a sense of normalcy.

Read on for our list of what's open now in New Jersey, and be sure to bookmark this post; we'll update it as changes warrant. As always, you can find tons of things to do in our Event Calendar.

You might feel like you've been living in a bubble during the pandemic, but now you can actually dine in one. New Jersey restaurant owners have been thinking outside the box to keep businesses afloat during the winter months, which have been especially hard on outdoor dining.

Creative outdoor dining structures—from igloos to tents, greenhouses, and fire pits—are popping up at eateries throughout the state, providing customers with warm, safe alfresco dining opportunities. These outdoor seating options are heated, private, or socially distanced and disinfected between parties. Some ultra-cool spots even feature Bluetooth speakers and outdoor TVs, so you can enjoy your favorite restaurants and plenty of creature comforts, no matter the weather, all while supporting local New Jersey restaurant.

We've found more great ways to get outside this season and plenty of seasonal, family-approved fun in our Winter Fun Guide.

While 2020 is shaping up to be a simpler holiday season, there's no reason to skimp on your favorite holiday foods. Forgo the heavy cooking and treat the family to a delicious takeout Christmas dinner or Christmas Eve meal to-go from a New Jersey restaurant or market. We've rounded up a handful of options for your Christmas meal, whether you want to have the whole meal catered or just need a few a la carte entrees, sides, and desserts to round out your holiday spread.

Check out these no-fuss Christmas dinner takeout options throughout New Jersey. While making your holiday preparations, consider visiting one of these Garden State Christmas tree farms, and catch up with St. Nick himself at one of these awesome Santa encounters.

Playgrounds are the perfect destination when you need a change of scenery and a change of pace. Your kids get fresh air and exercise for FREE! But what happens when your school-aged children decide they’re too cool for their once-favorite neighborhood parks? My 8-year-old former playground-enthusiasts have recently begun to turn their noses up at the local swing sets. And if I do talk them into a playground visit, we last about five minutes.

Playground parents—don’t give up yet. I haven’t! There are some destination playgrounds in New Jersey with features and contraptions novel enough to satisfy even the pickiest playground cynics. These play areas include zip lines, crazy slides, Spiderman-type climbers, and other structures that challenge the ages 7-and-up crowd. We've rounded up some of our top picks across the state, and take note: These playgrounds all feature plenty to entertain the younger siblings as well.

Find more romping spots in our Parks & Playgrounds Guide for Jersey Kids.

After months of staying cooped up in the house, it's time to hit the road and explore all New Jersey has to offer this summer. Due to the pandemic and statewide closings, road trip options are a bit more limited than prior seasons, but there are still plenty of fun day trips in New Jersey. NJ state parks are open for hiking and biking. Most of New Jersey's beaches are open with social distancing guidelines. Brand-new drive-through activities offer unique opportunities for family day trips in New Jersey, too. 

Need more inspiration? Check out our Summer Fun Guide for NJ Kids for even more NJ day trips.

New Jerseyans who are itching to get to the the beach this weekend after months of lockdown have something to look forward to. On Monday, Governor Murphy announced the next reopening stage of the five stage "road back" reopening plan for our state, explaining which restrictions will be lifted and which businesses can reopen, with key safety guidelines. New Jersey has entered Stage 1 (after Stage 0 of maximum restrictions) which allows relaxed restrictions on low-risk activities if appropriately safeguarded. 

Beginning Friday, May 22, New Jersey beaches and lakes can reopen. Plus, outdoor activities like batting cages, golf ranges, and horseback riding facilities are set to remove restrictions. After two months of non-stop Coronavirus news, only seeing each other in car parades and 8pm howls, giving our kids quarantine haircuts and virtual birthday parties, we finally have the beginnings of a plan to get out and enjoy the Garden State's natural beauty.