New Jersey

A Dozen Museums for Kids and Families in Central and Southern NJ

Submitted by Michelle Vames on Fri, 02/22/2019 - 11:00am

Winter's not over yet, and if you're running out of ideas, don't despair—there's plenty of indoor fun to be found at museums throughout central and southern NJ. At these wonderful and varied spots, you can explore a battleship, learn all about insects, ride a vintage train, gaze at the stars, and even see a shrunken head!

For more educational fun, check out our list of the best museums for kids in northern NJ, or take a ride across the river to check out one of the many excellent museums in Philadelphia.

Family-Friendly Bowling Alleys in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Thu, 02/21/2019 - 10:00am

If you’re looking for a fun, indoor activity that will appeal to the whole family, bowling may be right up your alley! (Sorry, we couldn't help ourselves.) Here in New Jersey, there are plenty of bowling facilities that offer year-round fun: small-town/neighborhood spots that offer traditional games with modern touches, such as automatic scoring and gutter bumpers; and newer, flashier bowling alleys that feature high-tech bells and whistles like interactive games, video walls, and glow ball. In addition, fun centers throughout the state often include bowling alongside laser tag and arcades.

And bowling alleys are an ideal spot for low-maintenance birthday parties, play dates, and weekend day trips.

Beat the Winter Blues at Unique & Free Indoor Spots in NJ

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Wed, 02/20/2019 - 2:00pm

You've bounced at trampoline parks, visited all of the play spaces, and tried all the indoor activities you can think of—and it's STILL winter. If you're looking for some alternatives to the usual indoor fun spots, you've come to the right place: we've rounded up eight FREE NJ locales that can help you escape the winter doldrums without breaking the bank.

From admiring exotic orchids and art to visiting a charming children's library, you can mix up the routine while staying warm. For more no-cost fun, don't miss our roundup of free indoor play spots.

Weekend Fun: Rosie Revere, Maple Sugaring, Comic Book Fest

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 02/19/2019 - 2:30pm

February comes to a sugar-coated close with a weekend full of sweet festivities. There's no shortage of maple sugaring event this weekend; check out demonstrations at Great Swamp, Reeves-Reed, and Tenafly Nature Center. Keep the sugar high going at Melick's Marshmallow Roast & Scavenger Hunt and Jakes Branch Birthday Bash.

Relax at family-friendly performances this weekend of Cinderella or the Story of Bigfoot, Rosie Revere, Engineer, and Storybook Showcase. Comic books, trains, and carnival games round out the weekend fun.

Find even more weekend options in our Winter Guide, including the Top 12 Indoor Play Spaces for Kids Across New Jersey. And look to our February GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

21 Wacky Ways to Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday with Kids

Submitted by Ally Noel on Mon, 02/18/2019 - 10:34am

“If we didn’t have birthdays, you wouldn’t be you. If you’d never been born, well then what would you do?” Thank goodness Dr. Seuss’ birthday comes once a year—and it always gives us great reason to cheer!

On March 2, we’ll celebrate literacy and Seuss with fun crafts, treats, and other activities in honor of the literary rhyming master. Dr. Seuss’ birthday kicks off a nationwide reading celebration known as Read Across America Day. Schools, libraries, and community centers across the country observe the day with read-alouds, crafts, and Seuss-a-rific treats!

Use this list of 21 zany activities to commemorate the day at home with the kids. Whether you want to start it off with some green eggs and ham or plan your next family vacation to the birthplace of Dr. Seuss himself, there is something for everyone on this list of Dr. Seuss-themed crafts, recipes, and activities—no matter how small.

25+ Art Studios with Drop-In Sessions for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Sun, 02/17/2019 - 10:00am

Like the idea of crafting with your kid but cringe at the thought of paint and glitter all over your house? Lucky for us, New Jersey is home to a variety of drop-in art studios that offer your spontaneous painter, potter, glassmaker, and jeweler the chance to get their craft on. The perfect destinations for a cold winter day, these craft-tastic spaces let you skip the mess at home while catering to your budding artist's creative impulses.

30+ Play Spaces with Drop-In Hours for Central New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Fri, 02/15/2019 - 12:00pm

Central Jersey is home to lots of indoor play spaces that feature bouncy rooms, arcades, rock walls, imaginative play, and much more. From tots to teens, cabin fever is no longer a danger with these fun spots. Read on for more than 30 of our favorites.

Find Family Fun for All Ages at the Morris Museum

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 11:00am

If you’re looking for an interactive museum experience the whole family will enjoy, head over to The Morris Museum. While smaller and simpler than a big-city institution, the museum, housed in an old mansion, features an eclectic showing of family-friendly exhibits.

Located in a quiet residential neighborhood near Morristown’s historic district, Morris Museum has become one of my family's go-to's for a quick weekend day trip or a stopover at one of its annual festivals. The vintage musical instruments, model train exhibit, and rock and mineral collection remain big hits with my tweens.

In addition to the hands-on exhibits, the museum features a children’s theater and a robust lineup of family programs and events. There are plenty of reasons that Morris Museum is on our list of 100 Things to Do in NJ with Kids!

The Frozen 2 Trailer Is Out and We Are So Here for It

Submitted by Jody Mercier on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 10:08am

Elsa and Anna are BACK! Disney just released a Frozen 2 trailer, the sequel to the Let It Go fever that swept up both parents and kids a few years ago.

When Frozen debuted back in 2013, I had an instantly obsessed 4-year-old Elsa wannabe. We knew, like so many other families with young kids, that this Disney musical franchise was going to be a mainstay in our home. Catchy songs and strong, independent princesses, what's not to love?

Fast-forward to 2019, and that obsessed 4-year-old's baby sister is now a kindergartner pining to see the Broadway iteration of Frozen.

All three of us were thrilled to watch the Frozen 2 teaser together. Take a peek to see what you think! My girls are already making me promise we'll see the flick this fall.

Presidents Day Weekend Events for NJ Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 02/12/2019 - 10:45am

Happy birthday, George and Abe! Not only is Monday Presidents Day, but it's also part of the February break for NJ schools. Bring on the long weekend with activities that honor our former presidents, including George Washington's Birthday Celebration at Washington Crossing, Remembering Lincoln at Macculloch Hall, and Presidents Day at Morris Museum.

It's a big show biz weekend, too, with performances of Darci Lynne & Friends, Junie B. Jones, and Jack Hanna's Into the Wild. And you can indulge your sweet tooth with a Marshmallow Roast & Scavenger Hunt and Maple Sugaring Demonstrations.

Keep the kids entertained on Monday at State Theatre's Family Day and Alstede Farms' Craft and Story Time.

Find even more weekend options in our Winter Guide, including Free Admission for Kids at 50 of NJ's Biggest Attractions. And look to our February GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.