This past summer a couple of our friends moved from California to New Jersey area. The Garden State has never been on my radar and I started wondering: was there something that I was missing? So as a professional blogger I started investigating.
I enlisted help from the locals and it turned out that in fact the Garden State is totally worse your attention – it is a small but interesting place. There are many fun ways to explore New Jersey with kids! Below is a list of all the things you need to know about New Jersey family vacation travel or may be even staying longer…
So where do you begin?
Pick the activities according to your kids’ age and interests
If you’re visiting New Jersey with your kids for the first time, make sure you adapt the activities to your kids’ interests, age, aspirations, etc. Even though it’s one of the smallest states in the US, NJ has so much to offer so you can easily pick activities that your family will enjoy – and this guide will help you do it. Take a look at our list and see what are the ways to explore New Jersey that your kids will love, and start making plans!
What to do in New Jersey to get to know the area better with your little ones?
Parents know that traveling and exploring with children is a whole other level of fun. They might not like the common sightseeing activities as adults do, but some creativity will make them fall in love with NJ on their first day. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss in New Jersey with kids.
Go to the best zoo in New Jersey
Turtle Back Zoo is often voted as the best zoo in the state. And there are a couple of reasons for it. The zoo includes over 200 animals from all over the world. It also welcomes visitors to different events all year round, so you will surely have fun whenever you go. Some of the favorite attractions include Treetop Adventure, Mini Golf Safari, and Butterfly Tent with over 700 species of these flying beauties. The Zoo is part of the South Mountain Reservation so it’s a perfect stop in exploring this amazing public park.
Want to explore further? New Jersey is home to some other amazing zoos and aquariums such as Bergen County Zoological park in Paramus, Adventure Aquarium in Camden, and Cape May County Park and Zoo. You can pick one that’s close to your new home and help your kids accept the new environment faster.
See the best view of Manhattan
If you want to impress your family with the most amazing view of Manhattan’s skyline – Liberty State Park is the place to go. It’s a favorite place among tourists for a couple of reasons. Apart from some exceptional views of New York City, your kids might love seeing the Central Railroad of New Jersey, spending some energy at the Liberty State Park playground, or learning something new at Liberty Science center. This park is a place where you can have fun with kids of all ages, so you shouldn’t miss it once you start exploring NJ.
Have fun at the mall
Visiting the mall may not seem unique or too fun. However, we’re not talking about any mall – it’s the American Dream. This entertainment and retail complex is located in East Rutherford, NJ. It’s a perfect place to make memories with your loved ones, even during winter. The place offers a lot of ways to have indoor fun – theme parks, mini golf courses, the rink, the underwaters sea world, Legoland discover center and so much more! American Dream is surely a dream of every kid so you can be sure everyone will have fun!
Be amazed by nature
New Jersey has a lot of nature spots that will catch your attention. One of the best ways to explore New Jersey with your kids is to visit some of these places and reconnect with nature. We recommend you pay a visit to the Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park. The Great Falls of the Passaic River and the surrounding area will amaze both kids and adults.
Want to explore further? Some of the interesting nature spots in New Jersey are also Lake Hopatcong, Wawayanda State Park, Spring Lake and so many more!
Explore museums that kids will love
There is a bunch of fun museums in New Jersey that kids are bound to enjoy because they offer some really cool activities such as going underground on a tour, exploring a real mine, checking out a great fossils collection and much more.
Plan for beach time!
We come from California and so we love a good beach. Turns out New Jersey has more than one. How about a dozen? Surprised? So was I! Check out the list of the great New Jersey beaches for families from NJMom.
Fall in love with Fall again
As a California gal I miss a good old change of seasons. If I were to be in New Jersey I would plan for the fall, for sure. You simply can’t miss fabulous fall foliage in the Garden State.
Celebrate holidays in New Jersey
Once autumn is over it is high time for the magic of the holiday season. And if you thought that Christmas in New York is the epitome of holiday festivities, take a second look at New Jersey. I was super excited to find this detailed guide to Holiday and Christmas events in New Jersey for families.
Now that I have set you up for activities and events in New Jersey throughout the year are you looking for more?
Plan a move to New Jersey?
If you decide to call New Jersey home after you visited it and found it pretty interesting, probably the best advice we can give is to have an expert help you settle in here for good. All the bothersome moving tasks should be trusted with an experienced moving team so you have more time and energy to deal with your kids. Also, make sure you start planning the move as early as possible. You’ll need time to do all the tasks from your moving checklist, but also talk to your kids and explain all the moving details.
Sometimes, kids don’t accept changes very well. They are hesitant to leave their old home, friends, and school. However, if you tell them the plans you have after the move – exploring New Jersey together, they’ll be more optimistic about making NJ their new home.
Wherever your life takes you next, I hope you find this New Jersey guide useful and if you do so, please, share it with others as it may help them with their plans too.
