Buckle up for a soaring ride on a zip line through the treetops in New Jersey, or gear up for an outdoor adventure at one of our exhilarating obstacle courses. Swaying bridges, wobbly balance logs, cargo nets, high wires, and rope ladders are among the features at these sky-high ropes courses, along with tree climbers and platforms built right into tree trunks.

Many treetop courses are best for older kids and teens, but some also offer tyke courses closer to the ground.

We've rounded up some of the coolest zip lines and ropes courses in New Jersey, plus a few in Pennsylvania, and added a couple options just over the border in New York, including one year-round pick.

Check out our New Jersey Amusement Parks and Water Parks Guide for more thrills, which includes our rundown of the state's best amusement parks. 

During the warmer months, outdoor restaurants in New Jersey beckon, offering a chance to relax and linger over a summer meal with your kids. Restless kids are free to stretch their legs, explore, and watch the world go by.

The outdoor restaurants in New Jersey listed below have options ranging from waterfront decks and sandy patios to tree-shaded courtyards and grassy gardens.

Read on for our top picks for kid-friendly outdoor dining, and don't miss our round-up of NJ-themed restaurants with interactive dining or our rundown of places where kids eat free. You can find tons of other great things to do in the Garden State this season in our Summer Fun Guide.

Enjoy world-class cherry blossoms this spring in New Jersey at one of the region's premier festivals. The 2025 Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, held in Newark's Branch Brook Park from Saturday, April 5 through Sunday, April 13, 2025, allows you and your family to revel in rows and rows of gorgeous cherry blossoms. There's definitely no need to travel to D.C. to see a stunning display of lush blooms! 

The event features two festivals-within-the-festival, the Essex County Family Day and Bloomfest. Both Family Day and Bloomfest offer plenty of family fun, including performances, bounce houses, a nearby playground, live music, and Japanese cultural demonstrations. It all takes place under the fragrant canopy of the sprawling park's 5,000 cherry blossom trees—the largest cherry blossom tree collection in the country.

Read on for an overview of Branch Brook Park and the cherry blossom festival, along with tips for visiting with kids, and find more seasonal must-dos in our Guide to Spring Activities in New Jersey.