Top 20 Things To Do With Thrill-Seeking NJ Kids

10/23/14 - By Stephanie Forton

My six year old son is a thrill seeker. I cringe at the playground watching him climb to the tippy top of the jungle gym. When we go hiking he is always the first to suggest trying the more difficult trail. While I admire his adventurous spirit, as a mom it's hard to not imagine the worst case scenario. That's why I'm so happy that I found some safe local activities that will satisfy both his need for thrills and my need to protect him. Check out our list below for some great activities for your adventurous child. If you have little ones, be sure to read our post 25 Things To Do With Preschoolers Before They Turn 5, and for October fun for the whole family make sure you check out our New Jersey Halloween Guide.

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  1. Get climbing at one of New Jersey's great Rock Climbing Centers.
  2. Visit the Treetop Adventure Course. This world class aerial obstacle and zip line course is great for kids as young as six years old.
  3. Enjoy the thrilling rides at Six Flags Great Adventure.
  4. Take an underground mine tour at the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. The tour offers a 1/4 mile underground walking adventure in one of the oldest mines in the country.
  5. Go snow tubing at the Dropzone Snow Tubing Park.
  6. Ride Mountain Creek's Alpine Mountain Coaster. This unique ride is a cross between an alpine slide and a twisting roller coaster.
  7. Explore the waterways near Princeton, NJ. Rent from Princeton Canoe & Kayak and explore the D & R canal and Lake Carnegie.
  8. Go horseback riding. Washington Riding Stables offers guided trail rides on their 500 acre property.
  9. Enjoy the thrills of indoor, electric go-kart racing at Cinnaminson's Speed Raceway.  
  10. Get shooting at one of New Jersey's great Laser Tag or Paint Ball facilities.
  11. Catch dinner on a fishing charter. New Jersey's coastal towns offer a variety of family fishing trips.
  12. Discover the underwater world by taking a scuba diving lesson. A & H Aquatic Adventures offers a Junior Scuba Diver program for kids age 10 and up.
  13. Learn to surf at the Jersey Shore with the Summertime Surf School.
  14. Get in some target practice by trying an archery class. New Jersey is home to several great archery schools.
  15. Schedule a family camping trip. Rent a cabin at Delaware River Family Campground and enjoy hiking, boating and tubing.
  16. Visit the Warren Township Municipal Playground. Adventurous kids will love climbing in this park's mega tower. It's loaded with 37 different climbing implements including 2 super long tube slides.
  17. Feel that adrenaline rush on a speedboat tour in the Atlantic. Ocean City's newest speedboat, the OC Rocket, runs tours through the end of October.
  18. Take a skateboarding lesson at the Montclair Skate Park. Kids as young as four can benefit from qualified instructors who can adapt a lesson to any skill level.
  19. Enjoy New Jersey when it is blanketed in snow by taking a snow shoeing tour with NJ Adventure Tours. With multiple trails for all skill levels, NJ Adventure Tours welcomes families and pets. (Tours generally last more than four hours, so this is great for tweens and teens)
  20. Learn to fly at Aerial Arts/The Circus Place in Hillsborough. Children six and older can take aerial classes which teach trapeze, silks and rope.

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