Alison Reiser

Latest posts by Alison Reiser

30 Summer Day Trips from New Jersey for Families

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Tue, 06/04/2024 - 5:01pm

Take a hike or visit the nature center at Rancocas Nature Center this summer. Photo by Lisa Warden

Whether you have major travel plans this summer or just need a summer day trip from New Jersey to mix up your routine, road trips rock. These 30 summer day trips from New Jersey minimize the drive time and maximize the fun for families.

Gather fresh fruit at a pick-your-own farm, go swimming at a lake, hit the Jersey Shore's beaches and boardwalks, visit an amusement park, or maybe try something new off the beaten path. So pack your day bag and get ready to hit the road to one of our favorite summer day trips from New Jersey.

Need more inspiration? Check out our Summer Fun Guide for NJ Kids for even more ideas for family fun.

Best New Jersey Arcades To Visit with Kids

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 6:05am

Play a game of pinball at the Silverball Museum Arcade. Photo by Lisa Warden

A good New Jersey arcade can offer family-friendly diversions for all ages. Mom and dad can wax nostalgic over their youth, while kids can school the old folks on newer technology. At these indoor fun spots, kids and their parents can enjoy vintage attractions like skeeball, Donkey Kong, Asteroids, Space Invaders, Ms. Pac-Man, air hockey, and pinball—plus check out new games, updates of old faves, and even virtual reality adventures.

We've rounded up a few of the best arcades in New Jersey, from Game Vault in Morristown to the Silverball Museum Arcade in Asbury Park, where you can have fun and lose track of time together.

Check out our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for New Jersey Kids for more great entertainment ideas.

17 Best Family Campgrounds in New Jersey

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Mon, 05/09/2022 - 5:20pm

The Great Divide prides itself on its beautifully maintained facilities.

If warmer temps have you looking for ways to get the kids off-line and immersed in nature, it might be time to plan a camping trip. Camping with little ones isn't always easy, but these 16 campgrounds in New Jersey make the experience comfortable and fun for even the youngest family members. The state's many campground options range from rustic spots where you can pitch a tent to fully appointed cabins.

For other ideas about how New Jersey families can enjoy the great outdoors, check out our guide to the state's many scenic parks or our rundown of NJ's shade-drenched playgrounds. We also have info on New Jersey's easiest hiking trails and where to make a splash in family-friendly lakes.

Family-Friendly Escape Rooms in New Jersey

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Fri, 02/25/2022 - 9:10am

Little sleuths and code-breakers can show off their detective skills at one of these family-friendly escape rooms in New Jersey. Getting locked inside a room with your kiddos to solve a murder mystery or foil a cyber-attack adds a fun twist to family time and can be a cool alternative to other indoor fun zones, like these family-friendly arcades and trampoline parks.

Where to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Tue, 12/01/2020 - 5:45pm

Battenfeld's Christmas Tree Farm is pet- and kid-friendly! Photo courtesy of the farm

Few things are more quintessential than picking out the perfect Christmas tree. The smell of a fresh-cut pine is even sweeter when you've trekked to the farm, found the perfect Christmas tree for your family, chopped it down, loaded it on your car, and brought it home as a labor of love. The experience offers a chance for family bonding, fun seasonal photo opportunities, lots of laughs, and a diversion from the everyday.

We've rounded up eight cut-your-own Christmas tree farms in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. If you're not quite sure you're up to the challenge of chopping down your tree, many also offer fresh-cut trees to choose from.

So, load up the family station wagon and start a new holiday tradition this season. For more seasonal fun, visit our Holiday Fun Guide.

Tenafly Nature Center: Family-Friendly Hikes and Outdoor Fun for NJ Kids

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Wed, 10/24/2018 - 1:00pm

Photo courtesy of the Tenafly Nature Center

For suburbanites, the Tenafly Nature Center offers a special treat: the chance for a real walk in the woods, without straying too far from civilization. On a recent visit with an 11-year-old and two 8-year-olds, the intervals when we could neither see nor hear other visitors were just short enough for my comfort level and long enough to make the experience feel like an adventure for the kids.

Read on for more about this Bergen County nature preserve, and check out other New Jersey Nature Centers here.

Iconic Asbury Park Bowling Alley Reopens After Major Makeover

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Wed, 05/16/2018 - 2:00pm

Asbury Lanes will reopen on Friday, May 18, with a nod to the center's past and an eye to the town's future. The bowling alley-turned-music venue, which first opened in 1962, has been rebuilt with state-of-the-art bowling technology by Brunswick, and its performance space has been retooled to accommodate more than double the venue's old capacity of 300.

The new Asbury Lanes features six lanes and will offer bowling lessons for children and adults, while the performance space will host concerts and other performances for all ages. The reinvented space marks another step in Asbury Park's renaissance as both a hipster retreat and a great getaway destination for New Jersey families.

NJ Cat Cafes: Purr-fect for Feline-Loving Kids and Families

Submitted by Alison Reiser on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 2:00pm

If you're a cat-lover who craves a new place to sip a cappuccino while enjoying some downtime with your kids, then you're in luck: the cat cafe trend has officially arrived in New Jersey. Three kitty cafes have opened in the Garden State since July 2016—in Asbury Park, Rahway, and Palmyra—and the best part is, they're all kid-friendly. Guests big and small are encouraged to pick up a toy and get down on the floor to interact with the cafe's feline friends. For kids who go gaga for kitties, it's a cool alternative to a traditional indoor play space—and, since all of the four-legged residents are up for adoption, you just might leave with a new best friend.

Read on for more about NJ's three cat cafes and get ready to plan an a-meow-zing visit.