Spring Activities

30 Best Things To Do with Tweens in New Jersey

Submitted by Dore Duhaime on Sun, 07/15/2018 - 10:00am

Your tweens may be too big for bouncy houses and tea parties, yet too young for solo outings with friends. But they still love family fun (even if they won't always admit it). To keep those in-betweeners happy and engaged, find an activity that sparks their curiosity or stretches their growing limbs. When a trip to your local playground is met with eye-rolling instead of cheering, it's time to check out these amazing activities for older kids in New Jersey. The good news? You may genuinely enjoy competing with your tween in bowling and mini golf, tackling the fast slides at a water park, or seeing a play or concert together. Read on for 30 ideas that are cool enough for big kids.

9 Play Fountains Where NYC Kids Can Get Totally Soaked

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Sun, 07/08/2018 - 12:10pm

While all three of my kids love to go for a dip, heading to one of NYC's public pools requires advance planning and me donning a bathing suit. Often, our summer fun is more spontaneous. For those hot summer days when we're out and about or need a last-minute distraction, I keep this list of play fountains in the back of my mind.

A more immersive experience than standard sprinkler parks, these play fountains feature shallow pools of water for wading, plus jets shooting H₂O sky high. They're the perfect place for kids to frolic and get completely doused without mommy having to go all in—literally. Best of all? They're all completely FREE.

Here are nine fun play fountains in NYC where kids can get absolutely soaked. Most opened for the season over Memorial Day weekend, though some start flowing earlier if temperatures hit 80 degrees.

Pick Your Own Fun: Houston Farms for Fruit and Berry Picking

Submitted by Rachael Cherry on Fri, 07/06/2018 - 10:00am

The intoxicating smell of freshly picked berries can only mean one thing: sweet spring (and summertime) is upon us! And what better way to take advantage of the season's freshest fruit than by picking it yourself? Instead of purchasing pre-packaged strawberries, blueberries and blackberries at the grocery store, take a trip out to one of these "you-pick-it" farms and gather them yourself by the bucketful. Not only will you be getting berries straight from the source, you'll also be supporting small farmers and creating memories with your kids that will last a lifetime.

Register for Free Summer Swim Lessons for NYC Kids

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 06/07/2018 - 12:00pm

The New York City Parks Department offers FREE aquatic programs for children under 18 all year round, as well as adults, but you have to apply through an online lottery for each session. The FREE summer swimming lessons are on the horizon, and the lottery for registration for all three sessions opens Monday, June 11, 2018, at 7am.

Read on for the details on where to swim for free, or check our directory of paid kid swim classes, and mommy-and-me swim lessons for babies and toddlers, including those in Brooklyn and in Queens.

Pick Your Own Berry Farms in Connecticut

Submitted by Jacqueline Miller on Mon, 06/04/2018 - 10:10pm

The abundance and availability of fresh food at this time of the year is a real treat. Being able to pick our own fruits and vegetables at local farms makes the bounty taste even sweeter. Not only is it a fun family activity, it's also a great way to teach children about where their food comes from, and to engage them in its preparation process.

For more pick-your-own options in Connecticut, check out our posts about strawberry picking in Connecticut and blueberry picking farms. Happy picking - and baking - and eating! For more summer fun check out our CT Summer Fun Guide.

Free Outdoor Movies for NYC Kids This Summer: Hundreds of Them!

Submitted by Drew Kristofik on Fri, 06/01/2018 - 3:50pm

New York City will screen hundreds of FREE outdoor movies this summer, many of them just for kids and families. The popular Movies Under the Stars series, which debuted with screenings in parks and at playgrounds in all five boroughs in 2016, returns—along with many of our favorite annual series.

A few outdoor movie series, such as RiverFlicks for Kids in the West Village, are aimed specifically at children. But even grown-up series, such as those in Bryant Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park, include a few family-friendly screenings. Movies usually begin when evening falls, between 8 and 8:30pm, but plan to arrive early...the well-known series fill up fast, and many parks offer pre-movie entertainment.

Even if your local park is screening a flick you've watched a dozen or so times at home, it's a totally different experience viewing it in the open air alongside several hundred other fans. It's a thrilling, communal event, and a summer rite of passage for New Yorkers of all ages.

So grab your calendars and start plotting your FREE summer of entertainment now. And be sure to check out the other amazing seasonal activities in our Summer Fun Guide.

Best Free Things to Do in June With Kids on Long Island

Submitted by Thien August on Tue, 05/29/2018 - 1:30pm

No, you’re not dreaming. It’s June already, and that signals the end of another school year. Kids across Long Island are already looking forward to some much-deserved time off from homework. Parents look forward to summer too, but with the expenses of end-of-year functions, camps, and vacations, June can start to really add up.

Fear not, you and the family can still enjoy this last month of school and stay on budget. We’ve rounded up a list of the best FREE things to do on Long Island in June. You won’t want to miss a close-up visit with wildlife, outdoor family yoga, amazing magic tricks, hunting for treasure, and more.

For more ways to enjoy early summer, check out our June GoList. Remember, our Long Island events calendar offers exciting family options as they develop throughout the month. You might also want to visit our guide to Long Island theme parks and water parks as the weather (hopefully) gets warmer.

Zip Lines and Adventure Ropes Courses for Kids in and Around NJ

Submitted by Dore Duhaime on Mon, 05/21/2018 - 12:00pm

Gear up for an outdoor adventure at one of New Jersey's newest treetop obstacle courses, or buckle up for a soaring ride on a zip line. Swaying bridges, wobbly balance logs, cargo nets, high wires, and rope ladders are among the features at some sky-high ropes courses, along with tree climbers and platforms built right into tree trunks. Many treetop courses are best for older kids and teens, but some also offer tykes courses that are closer to the ground.

We've rounded up some of the coolest of these zip lines and ropes courses in New Jersey, a few in Pennsylvania, and even a year-round indoor option just over the state line in Westchester. You'll find these parks at local zoos, amusement parks, down the Jersey Shore, and even at some of the Poconos family resorts.