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Amazing Corn Mazes at Family-Friendly New Jersey Farms

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Thu, 09/05/2019 - 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 haunted corn mazes that are open after hours for a spooky, nighttime adventure.

Many of the 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 STEM Classes for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Thu, 08/29/2019 - 9:00am

Is your child interested in exploring the "hows," "whys," and "what-ifs" of the world around them? STEM classes can be a wonderful way to foster their curiosity and help them think critically and creatively. We've rounded up 14 STEM enrichment programs in New Jersey that offer instruction in coding, robotics, architecture, engineering, chess, and more.

For more kids' classes, be sure to check out our Guide to Classes and Enrichment Programs for NJ Kids.

35 Things To Do with Tweens in New Jersey

Submitted by Dore Duhaime on Sun, 08/18/2019 - 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). When a trip to your local playground is met with eye-rolling instead of cheering, it's time to check out these amazing things to do with tweens 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.

Easy Waterfall Hikes for Families in Northern NJ

Submitted by Kaylynn Chiarel... on Fri, 08/16/2019 - 2:00pm

There's a lot more to East Coast waterfalls than the iconic Niagara Falls in Upstate New York. New Jersey has plenty of beautiful waterfalls—many of them accessible via an easy hike or walk. From the roaring Paterson Great Falls—the second-most-powerful waterfall east of the Mississippi—to the charming Hemlock Falls in the South Mountain Reservation, we've rounded up a handful of waterfall hikes in northern NJ that you can tackle with even the littlest trekkers.

Waterfall hikes are great for goal-oriented kids and anyone who needs a reminder that sometimes the best adventures are in our own backyards. Read on for our picks.

Swim Lessons and Classes for New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Jaime Wisz on Thu, 08/15/2019 - 12:00pm

Looking for a way to introduce your child to the pool? Parent-child swim classes are a great way to help kids develop a love of swimming and instill confidence around the water. These programs teach water skills in a safe and age-appropriate way, and most allow children as young as 6 months to participate. Once your little one gets the hang of it, you can take the family to the pool, beach, or water park with confidence. And most programs continue to offer lessons for kids up to age 12 and beyond.

For more kids' classes, be sure to check out our Guide to Classes and Enrichment Programs.

Where To Go Pumpkin Picking with New Jersey Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Mon, 08/12/2019 - 11:30am

This year, skip the grocery store pumpkins and go pumpkin picking at a family-friendly New Jersey farm, 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 that are perfect for pumpkin picking with kids.

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.

Deals and Special Offers on New Jersey Kids Classes

Submitted by Jessica Laird on Thu, 08/08/2019 - 3:30pm

If it feels like kids activities are really busting your budget, you're in luck! Some of New Jersey's much-loved children's programs have offered to extend special money-saving offers to Mommy Poppins readers just in time for fall. Read on to find deals on academic enrichment courses, theater and dance classes, swimming lessons, kids cooking classes, and so much more.

Don't dilly-dally, because these deals will literally disappear as they expire. If you don't see a deal listed below it means the offer is no longer available. If you're looking for even more kids classes, visit our New Jersey Classes Guide, or you can even search our Directory by location and age!

Kip's Castle Park in Verona, NJ: A Day Trip Fit for Royalty

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Mon, 08/05/2019 - 2:00pm

Did you know there's an actual castle located in the heart of Essex County? Despite its location just off busy Bloomfield Avenue and Route 23, Kip's Castle Park is one of the best-kept secrets in the area. So secret, in fact, that I hadn't even heard of this hidden gem until recently, and I've lived in the area my whole life!

Since my 6-year-old daughter already fancies herself a princess, I figured a trip to this New Jersey park would be right up her alley. Sure enough, she happily explored the castle and pranced around the gorgeous green grounds, even without slides and swings. But playground action isn't far—we decided to pair our visit to Kip's Castle with a stop at nearby Verona Park, for the perfect double-header day trip.

Find even more warm-weather adventures in our Summer Fun Guide, plus check out these other super-cool summer day trips.

13 Exciting Boat Rides for Families in New Jersey

Submitted by Liz Alterman on Sun, 07/21/2019 - 10:00am

Adventures abound on the high and low seas of New Jersey with boat rides, tours, and cruises for families throughout the summer. Young pirates can dress up for a real pirate adventure; sailors can man the rigging aboard the historic A.J. Meerwald; and young naturalists will feel at home in the Meadowland marshes aboard specially rigged pontoon boats. Whalers will enjoy riding ships in search of whales and dolphins, and adventurers can always ride the wild white waters of the Delaware River either on rafts or tubes. Who knows when you may regain your land legs?

For more warm-weather fun, check out our New Jersey Kids Summer Activities Guide.

New NJ Play Space Is Filled with Imaginative Fun for Little Ones

Submitted by Danielle Halibey on Wed, 07/17/2019 - 12:30pm

As 90-degree temps have become the new New Jersey norm, it’s easy to see how moms, dads, and their active adventurers might need an inside alternative—and we found it in Northvale’s newest spot for the 0-7 set: Tay + Te Imaginative Play. Since opening in May, this super clean, creative, and modern indoor play space in Bergen County has been bringing smiles + then some to local families, and even those from afar (we saw many New York license plates when we visited).