New Jersey

Indoor Obstacle Courses, Ninja Warrior Training, and Aerial Arts for NJ Kids

Submitted by Dore Duhaime on Thu, 09/20/2018 - 12:49pm

Got kids who are obsessed with American Ninja Warrior and want the thrill of climbing warped walls? Or junior acrobats hoping to twirl in the air like circus performers in The Greatest Showman? Well, they're in luck, because New Jersey is home to many indoor ninja-style obstacle courses and gyms with aerial arts training where your little acrobats and ninjas can practice the stunts and tricks they have seen on TV and under the big top.

These indoor adventures will get your kids climbing, vaulting, swinging, and balancing. From ropes courses and rock walls to trapeze swings and even plate-spinning, these New Jersey facilities will keep your adventure-seekers moving right through the winter. Many offer birthday party packages and group rates too.

Find more active spots for NJ kids in our Kids' Sports Centers Guide and Indoor Play Spaces Guide.

Weekend Fun: Harvest Fairs, Oktoberfest, Children's Book Festival

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 09/18/2018 - 3:00pm

With a roster full of harvest festivals, apple picking, and corn mazes, it's beginning to look a lot like fall on this first official weekend of the season. Take in everything autumn has to offer at seasonal festivals like Morey's Piers' Annual Oktoberfest, Wildwood Crest's Annual Seafarers Celebration, and harvest festivals in Hopewell and Allaire. Experience the flavors of fall at Warinanco's Taste of Fall and Tenafly's Apple Cider Making.

The new season also brings fresh museum events. Explore New Jersey State Museum's Smithsonian's Museum Day Live, Morris Museum's Chemistry Day, and Montclair Art Museum's Drop-In Studio. The Princeton Children's Book Festival offers another option for indoor, educational fun.

Check out our Fall Fun Guide for NJ Kids for more options for family fun, including 20 Fall Day Trips and 50+ Fall Events for NJ Preschoolers. And look to our September GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Interactive “Crash, Splash, or Moo!” Invites Young Readers to Play Along

Submitted by Janet Bloom on Tue, 09/18/2018 - 11:00am

My daughter and I have read Bob Shea’s brand new Crash, Splash, or Moo! so many times now that I’m pretty sure I could transcribe it here from memory. But instead of giving away the much-anticipated outcomes of the interactive book that plays out like a totally wacky quiz show, I’ll tell you why it’s quickly become “The Song that Never Ends” delivered in book form to our household.

The Best New Jersey Party Places for Your Kids' Birthday Bash

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Mon, 09/17/2018 - 11:00am

Call off the online search! Close out the spreadsheet! We've rounded up some of the best New Jersey birthday venues for kids and teens so that you can spend more time celebrating you kiddo and less time frantically party planning from your iPhone. From awesome indoor amusement parks and fun-filled playspaces, to STEMtastic activities, cookie baking, and real-life escape rooms, there's something for birthday girls and boys of all ages.

Looking for even more ideas? Head over to the New Jersey Party Guide, or browse our directory for party places, entertainers, and even party supplies.

Harvest Festivals, Hayrides, and Fall Fair Fun in New Jersey

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Sun, 09/16/2018 - 12:00pm

The air is crisp, the apples are ripe, and fall fair and harvest festival season is about to get underway! We've rounded up 26 great harvest fests in New Jersey, all packed with signature autumn activities like hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin decorating (and picking), pie contests, scarecrow making, live animals, live music, and more. Some even incorporate a little early Halloween fun.

Read on to find an event near you, including the Great Pumpkin Festival, the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival, and more.

For more seasonal activities around the Garden State, be sure to check out our Fall Fun Guide and our list of 40 Things We Can't Wait To Do with NJ Kids This Fall.

Best Kid-Friendly Hotels for a Los Angeles Family Vacation

Submitted by Arianna Menon on Sat, 09/15/2018 - 10:10am

Finding bliss and relaxation on vacation is so much easier when the kiddos are happy. Whether you're visiting Los Angeles, housing out-of-town guests, or indulging in a staycation (though we can recommend some kid-friendly hotels all around the world), why not choose a hotel that caters to the smallest guests? These LA resorts offer a little slice of paradise, family-friendly amenities, and unique experiences that might make you want to ditch that faraway destination and spend the weekend in SoCal. The best part is watching the kids have a blast, too.

Cool Pumpkin Displays, Festivals, and Decorating Events in NJ

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Fri, 09/14/2018 - 12:16pm

Are your kids already preparing for Halloween, with visions of candy, costumes, and pumpkins dancing in their heads? Kick off the festive fall season at one of the many wonderful pumpkin-themed events happening around NJ, from elaborate pumpkin exhibits and carving competitions to good old-fashioned pumpkin picking and decorating fun.

Read on for our top picks, plus a bonus event that’s worth a drive across the state line. You can find even more even seasonal events in our Fall Fun Guide.

Halloween and Fall Foliage Train Rides for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Thu, 09/13/2018 - 9:30am

Halloween and hayrides go hand in hand, but if you really want to up your game this year, take a trip on a Halloween train! If you have a junior conductor in your family, don't miss out on one of these four seasonal NJ railway adventures—plus one across the Delaware in Pennsylvania.

From spooky to scenic, these rides offer a unique bit of fall fun for the whole family: passengers can take a seat in a vintage caboose, travel through gorgeous fall foliage, visit a pumpkin patch, and even trick-or-treat onboard. After the ride, round out the day with autumn activities like corn mazes, crafts, and a costume party.

Check out our NJ Fall Fun Guide for even more seasonal family fun around the state.

Weekend Fun: Civil War Weekend, PlayDay South Orange, Fall Fests

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 09/11/2018 - 1:10pm

On this mid-September weekend, get ready to jump into fall like a big pile of leaves. Make room on your calendar for seasonal favorites like Terhune's Family Fall Fun Weekends, corn mazes at Alstede Farms and Stony Hill Farms, and the spooky, pre-Halloween Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure.

Take advantage of end-of-summer, almost-fall temperatures when you bask in seaside adventures at the Wind & Sea Festival, old-fashioned fun at Fall Harvest Fest, and an all-night celebration at Family Overnight Campfire Festival. Plus, don't miss local festivals like Jersey City's All About Downtown Street Fair, PlayDay South Orange, Fanny Wood Day Street Fair, and Bridgewater's Community Day Featuring Touch-a-Truck & Dog Day.

Check out our Fall Fun Guide for NJ Kids for more options for family fun, including 40 Free Things To Do with New Jersey Kids in September. And look to our September GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

Apple Recipes to Make with Kids: Making the Most of Apple Picking Adventures

Submitted by Audrey Trieschman on Mon, 09/10/2018 - 10:30am

What do with all those apples? Whether we've plucked our bounty from an orchard or market, there comes a time each fall when we feel like we'll never make a dent in our fall harvest. That's why we at Mommy Poppins decided to pull together our favorite family recipes for using up all that red, green, and gold goodness. After you've checked out an apple picking spot in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Westchester, or Connecticut, set aside a cozy morning or afternoon to prepare one or two of these family-friendly treats with your little sous-chefs.