Central Jersey

Halloween and Fall Foliage Train Rides for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Shari Simpson on Fri, 09/22/2017 - 2:30pm

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. 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.

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

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Mon, 09/18/2017 - 2:00pm

The air is crisp, the apples are ripe, and fall fair and harvest festival season is about to get underway! We've rounded up two dozen 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 Fall Festival at Spruce Street Harbor Park, 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 35 Things We Can't Wait To Do with NJ Kids This Fall.

Top Pumpkin Picking Farms for New Jersey Families

Submitted by Laurie R on Fri, 09/15/2017 - 12:30pm

Nothing says fall (or Halloween) quite like a pumpkin. When these festive gourds start appearing on front stoops and in windows across New Jersey, you know autumn really has arrived. This year, skip the grocery store pumpkins and take a day trip to one of NJ's excellent pumpkin patches, where you're sure to run into more fall fun, including barnyard animals, hay and corn mazes, and even the season's other favorite fruit: apples.

Red on for more than a dozen spots where you'll be sure to find the perfect pumpkin.

Closer to the New York border? Check out these Westchester and Hudson Valley pumpkin patches. If you're in south Jersey or headed for a Bucks County getaway this fall, our Philadelphia site has the scoop on Pennsylvania pumpkin patches.

Best Events This Fall for New Jersey Preschoolers

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Fri, 09/08/2017 - 1:30pm

This fall brings with it some super fun outdoor festivals, pick-your-own farm fun, new interactive art, train rides, and more for the 5-and-under set!

We've rounded up almost two dozen great events in New Jersey this fall (September through early November) that are perfect for preschool-age kids. Catch big names at preschool-friendly performances of Peppa Pig, Daniel Tiger, Shopkins, Disney On Ice, and Thomas & Friends at Liberty Science Center.

Or head outside with your little ones to enjoy the beautiful weather and colors at events like the Great Pumpkin Train ride, Terhune Orchards’ Fall Family Weekends, and Hefty Harvest and Scary Scarecrows at Camden Children’s Garden.

Read on for the full list of fun fall events for little ones in New jersey. Don't forget to check out our Fall Fun Guide and Event Calendar to find even more great things to do this season.

Amazing Corn Mazes at New Jersey Farms

Submitted by Laurie R on Wed, 09/06/2017 - 1:00pm

Get ready… get set… get lost in an amazing New Jersey corn maze! The Garden State is home to oodles of spectacular corn mazes, ranging from massive 10-acre labyrinths to simpler, child-friendly courses, including hay bale mazes just right for toddlers and preschoolers. Games, clues, and even techie bonuses enhance many of the more elaborate maze experiences. Got a tween or teen? Check out courses that are open after hours for a nighttime and sometimes spooky adventure.

Many of these 16 corn mazes we've rounded up are day trip–worthy on their own, but you'll also likely find apple and pumpkin picking options, hayrides, and even fall festivals, plus petting zoos in some instances. So get out your fall to-do list, and navigate your way through one of these great New Jersey corn mazes. Check out our Fall Fun Guide for NJ Kids to find even more ways to enjoy the crisp autumn days.

Best Fall Fairs and Festivals for NJ Families in September

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Fri, 09/01/2017 - 2:00pm

As the carefree days of summer draw to a close, NJ families can look forward to plenty of fun in the Garden State this fall. Explore nature at the NJ Wild Outdoor Expo, chow down on delicious seafood at the Atlantic City Seafood Festival, or listen to some exciting tales at the NJ Storytelling Festival.

Check out the 17 awesome festivals below, and visit our Events Calendar and September GoList for more fabulous fall ideas, or head over to our just released Fall Fun Guide if you're already envisioning fall foliage and that pumpkin spice.

Best Apple Picking Farms in New Jersey with Kids

Submitted by Rachel Sokol on Fri, 08/25/2017 - 1:40pm

There's a chill in the air, the kids are headed back to school, and you know what that means... That's right, it’s finally apple picking time! No matter where you live in New Jersey, there's bound to be a u-pick farm nearby, many of which also offer fun activities like corn mazes, hayrides and petting zoos.

So grab a few baskets and head out to one of these great farms this fall. Mmmmm.

Stargazing in NJ: Best Views, Observatories, Astronomy Clubs

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 1:00pm

If you have a little Galileo on your hands, you're in luck: New Jersey is home to a myriad of majestic outdoor stargazing locations, as well as many public observatories and astronomy clubs for the truly dedicated. With the proper equipment, information, and planning, your family can get an up-close look at planets, star clusters, and the moon.

And of course, don't miss our guide to safely enjoying the solar eclipse on Monday, August 21. Happy stargazing, NJ!

New Jersey Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free

Submitted by Laurie R on Fri, 08/11/2017 - 2:05pm

Who says there’s no such thing as a free meal? Restaurants throughout New Jersey offer free kid meal promotions nearly every night of the week. (Basically, you never have to cook again.) Visit your favorite family-friendly restaurant on a kids-eat-free night, and you won’t have to worry about overspending on kids’ entrees, especially the ones that are barely touched. Check out some of these New Jersey dining spots that feature free kid meals on certain nights of the week.

Best STEM Classes for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 3:25pm

Is your child interested in exploring the "hows," "whys," and "what-ifs" of the world around them? STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) enrichment classes can be a wonderful way to foster their curiosity and help them think critically and creatively. We've rounded up 11 NJ enrichment programs that offer instruction in coding, robotics, architecture, engineering, chess, and more.