Margaret Hargrove

Latest posts by Margaret Hargrove

Ultimate Halloween Guide for NJ Kids: Parades, Pumpkins, Parties

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Fri, 10/12/2018 - 10:00am

It's that special time of year when all thoughts turn to candy, costumes, parties, and pumpkins. The weeks leading up to Halloween are filled with costume parades, harvest festivals, pumpkin displays, and plenty of FREE Halloween happenings.

Whether your kids want to visit a haunted house, take a Halloween train ride, pick some pumpkins, trick-or-treat at the zoo, or parade through downtown streets dressed as their favorite superheroes, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best ways to celebrate—plus a list of drive-worthy day trips that offer up even more frightening fun.

So get your ghosts and goblins ready, fuel up on candy corn, and don’t forget to brush! Look to our Halloween Guide for even more frightening fun, and check out our Fall Fun Guide for seasonal activities beyond October 31.

Find Outdoor Family Fun Year-Round at Lewis Morris County Park

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Wed, 10/10/2018 - 11:15am

I begin my review of Lewis Morris County Park with a word of caution: the park does not have a playground, much to the disappointment of my 5-year-old daughter. While plans are in the works for a new play space (the previous one was removed several years ago), you won’t find any brightly-colored jungle gyms, slides, swings, or climbing walls here.

That said, Morris County’s second-largest park still offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun. You can swim, hike, bike, and even ski during a day trip to this four-season park. So with all that Lewis Morris has to offer, chances are your kids won't even miss the slides and swings.

Read on for more about this historic park. Find even more great day trips in our NJ Day Trip Guide, or check out our Parks & Playgrounds Guide to discover a new-to-you playground.

35 Free Halloween Events and Parades for NJ Kids

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Sun, 10/07/2018 - 12:40pm

No tricks here—just a list of 35 FREE Halloween events happening all around New Jersey. The weeks leading up to your kids' favorite holiday are full of festivals, parades, and plenty of opportunities for them to dress up and score some scary-good treats.

Read on for our top picks, and be sure to check out our Fall Fun Guide for even more seasonal fun. From pumpkin picking and corn mazes to harvest festivals and Halloween train rides, we've got you covered.

Happy Halloween, New Jersey!

Northeast's First Disney Junior Play Zone Opens at Menlo Park Mall

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Wed, 09/26/2018 - 3:40pm

Calling all Mouseketeers! A Disney Junior Play Zone—the first and only one in the Northeast—had its grand opening at Menlo Park Mall this past weekend. Located on the upper level near Nordstrom, the brand-new, FREE indoor play space features all your kids’ favorite Disney Junior characters—Mickey Mouse and Friends, Puppy Dog Pals, Muppet Babies, and more—in interactive displays, climbable play sets, and a variety of games and activities.

New Jersey families are no stranger to the hustling and bustling Menlo Park Mall. Located near several major highways, the shopping mecca is the perfect place for our region's inaugural Disney Junior Play Zone (the other three locations are in Texas malls). Already home to other family-friendly favorites including Rainforest Cafe, Color Me Mine, and Build-A-Bear, this 1.26-million-square-foot shopping destination now offers parents of young kids yet another reason to visit.

Read on, and get ready to play ‘til you drop!

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.

40 Things We Can't Wait to Do with NJ Kids This Fall

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Sun, 09/02/2018 - 8:45am

What’s not to love about fall? The cool autumn air, brilliantly colored leaves, apples, pumpkins, Halloween... the list goes on and on. Once fall begins, I always find that my calendar is bursting with activities, from pumpkin picking to harvest festivals and everything Halloween. Get outside and take advantage of all of the seasonal fun our Garden State has to offer. Here are 40 fantastic fall activities to enjoy with your family.

Looking for more? Check out our NJ Fall Fun Guide, which we'll continue to update throughout the season.

Special Needs Classes and Enrichment Programs for NJ Kids

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Thu, 08/16/2018 - 1:46pm

As we learn more about how kids develop and play, it has become evident that one size does not fit all. Parents of children with special needs often face a great challenge in finding after-school and weekend recreational and enrichment programs; most community-based programs are not designed to accommodate a range of abilities. Yet extracurricular programs that promote socialization, friendship building, and other enrichment opportunities can be of great benefit to children with autism, developmental disabilities, social challenges, or sensory sensitivities.

Luckily, we live in a very inclusive state that offers many classes, social skills groups, and enrichment programs that provide structured, supportive, and judgment-free environments where children with special needs can grow and learn while having fun. Here, we've compiled a list of special spots and activities where you can know that your child will feel welcomed and loved, just as they are!

Dino Dig Returns to Liberty Science Center for Another Summer of Fun-Filled Fossil Finding

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Mon, 08/06/2018 - 1:00am

Yes, back by popular demand, Dino Dig has returned to Liberty Science Center for a third fossil-filled summer! From now until September 3, little explorers are invited to sift through 35 tons of sand in the museum's completely transformed backyard in search of T. rex bones and teeth, an egg nest with a baby Maiasaura, and even a 6-foot-long Triceratops skull. Aspiring dino hunters will be wowed as they unearth replicas of fossils first discovered by Jack Horner, the famed paleontologist who inspired Jurassic Park.

Just one mention of "dinosaurs" and my own 5-year-old, pint-sized paleontologist was all in for a trip the much loved exhibit. So, with two of her best buds in in tow, we traveled back in time 66 million years via Route 78 and the New Jersey Turnpike, to see what we could dig up ourselves at LSC.

Margaret Hargrove

Margaret Hargrove

Latest posts by Margaret Hargrove

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