Looking for outdoor birthday party ideas for New Jersey kiddos born in spring, summer, or early fall? Don't worry–we've got lots of outdoor birthday party ideas that take advantage of all the great natural beauty NJ has to offer. An added bonus is that outdoor parties are often more budget-friendly than indoor party palaces. 

Read on for New Jersey parks, playgrounds, and nature centers where kids can have some old-fashioned birthday party fun. And be sure to check out our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NJ for more party planning inspo. 

Thanksgiving may be a day to bond with your family and maybe watch some football, but let's face it: It's also a heck of a lot of cooking, cleaning, and organizing. In a season where family gatherings may be smaller and simpler than usual, a festive, pre-made Thanksgiving dinner takeout meal is an easy way to feed the family.

Restaurant curbside pick up has become part of our new normal, and it's the perfect way to take the stress out of Thanksgiving dinner. So, ditch the fuss of cooking, and try ordering a homemade Thanksgiving meal to-go from one of these restaurants or grocery stores. Doing so leaves you with more time to tune into the big Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or plot a family-friendly hike to work off some of those holiday calories.

I don't know about you, but as soon as that first crisp autumn breeze arrives, my family is ready for a day of apple picking in New Jersey. In addition to hayrides, hot cider, and barnyard animals, we decided that this year, we wanted to pick juicy, ripe, organic apples. After doing a little research, we learned that the woodsy (and buggy) climate here in Jersey can make organic apple farming a challenge. But that doesn’t mean local farmers aren’t doing their best to reduce the use of pesticides, using low-spray methods, and low-impact family farming practices.

Spend a perfect fall day at one of these four New Jersey farms and bring home a bushel of local, responsibly-farmed fruit.

The frigid air has finally arrived in New Jersey and you’ve got two choices – stay inside or play outdoors! For some outdoor winter adventure, bundle up and check out a Maple Sugaring Demo or Weekend Family Walk at Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center or bring your binoculars along for a Winter Waterfowl Walk at Liberty State Park. And if you’d rather be warm & toasty indoors, we’ve got you covered there too! Head to the Monmouth County Library for A Frozen Adventure in Music, Dance & Story, take the kiddos to see the latest Milk & Cookies interactive story time “One-Man Band” or get your tickets for Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For additional activity options, check out our Event Calendar.

Don’t let the mid-January blues get you down! Take a break from the day to day rush with a hands-on and educational outing such as the Maple Sugaring Demo at Great Swamp, the Family Art Adventure at the Montclair Art Museum or Crafts with Critters at the Cape May Zoo. For some great entertainment, little guys will love Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! and older kiddos will enjoy a performance of STOMP. And for a dose of both history and the fine arts, take the whole family to MLK Celebration: Embodying the Dream at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For additional activity options, check out our Event Calendar.

After the wonderful but hectic rush of the holiday season, January can feel like a breath of fresh air. As we ease back into school and work schedules, it’s also a great time to enjoy some laid-back weekend activities together as a family. The cold air has finally arrived in New Jersey, so bundle up for the Family Photo Scavenger Hunt at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, explore the outdoors during a Trail Treasure Hunt at Great Swamp or bring your binoculars for a Winter Waterfowl Walk at Liberty State Park. And for more January fun, check out the exciting Electronic Board Game Tournament, expose your little ones to art during Tots on Tour at Grounds for Sculpture or book tickets to see The Berenstain Bears Live: Family Matters. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For additional activity options, check out our Event Calendar.

As far as aquariums go, my family is a pretty tough audience to impress. We’ve been there, done that, from the huge Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta to the Miami Seaquarium in our hometown. But since moving to NJ last summer, we’d heard some great things about  Adventure Aquarium, so with (happily!) no big plans for the holiday weekend, we piled into the SUV and made the hour and a half drive from our Jersey City apartment to Camden along the Philadelphia waterfront. Having a 2 1/2 year old, we were mostly excited about the new interactive hands-on exhibit called KidZone, geared towards kids 6 and under.

The holidays are behind us but there are still a couple of months before spring is sprung, and it can be a challenge to fill up these lazy, winter days. As a mom to three young kids, I'm all for cozy afternoons watching movies, play-doh sessions in our pjs and finger painting to pass the hours. But sometimes, we need a change of scenery! A chance to get out of the house, explore, learn and fill another gray and chilly day. Fortunately, New Jersey offers up some awesome indoor activities. Bundle up, pile the gang into the car and check out our top 10 fun and educational picks.