The best kid’s attractions in New Jersey are scattered throughout New Jersey. This list describes the many amusement parks, zoos, children's museums, and geological wonders that will amuse kids of every generation.
New Jersey has many exciting family activities that thrive all year long. So if you're ever at a loss of what to do, pack up the car, buckle in the kids, and head to the Garden State to catch a children's show, explore a hands-on exhibit, browse through a museum, or for more excitement, head to an amusement park or a water park. In the winter there are day trip or weekend trip resorts with lodging for snow tubing and skiing.
Here is a list of the Best Kids Attractions in New Jersey
Northern New Jersey
Mountain Creek Resort
200 Route 94, Vernon (973) 827-2000
A rear round resort offering skiing, snow tubing, water tubing, mountain biking and more. Either for day trips or multi-day with lodging available.
Medieval Times Castle Dinner & Tournament
149 Polito Ave, Lyndhurst (201)933-2220
The most famous theme restaurant on the east coast. Great family jousting fun. Eat with your hands and drink from a Goblet as you watch some serious Jousting on Horseback. The imaginative new entertainment spot was based on the true medieval tradition of royal families inviting guests to a festival and feast to watch Knights compete on horseback.
Liberty Science Center
251 Phillip St- Jersey City NJ (201) 200-1000
An interactive science museum with the nations largest OMNIMAX theater, Exhibits are on three levels each floor having it's own theme. The environment floor features a Bug Zoo, a living salt marsh displays and an interactive play area. The Invention floor allows you to create your own masterpiece. Scientific demonstrations are presented throughout the day. The Kids and adults alike will not be able to see it all in just one day.
NJ Children's Museum
599 Industrial Avenue, Paramus (201) 262 5151
Play nursery, Play kitchen, Ballet dance studio, post office, pizza parlor, voting booth, grocery store, Indian teepee, Dinosaurs, fossils, pre-historic cave, TV Studio and Weather Station, Special Arts and Crafts, A Hospital , A Fantasy Castle and Knight, Doll House, Computer art ,Balloon Party Room, Carousel Party Room, A real helicopter flight Simulator, Airport Play sets, Funnel Fun, Fish Room, Train set, Architecture.
Turtleback Zoo
560 Northfield Avenue West Orange (973) 731-5800
Recently celebrating its 30th birthday, the Turtleback Zoo, houses 500 animals of 200 different species. Focusing on New Jersey wildlife, the collection includes cougars, bison, eagles, and wolves, all of which were originally found in the state.
Other animals include elk, llamas, white-tailed deer, otters, owls, sea lions, and others, as well as domestic animals that kids can feed. Attractions like a pony ride and train ride add to the fun and excitement of visiting the animals.
A number of special events take place here throughout the year, with activities and exhibits for everyone.
Central New Jersey
Six Flags Great Adventure
1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, 732-928-1821
NJ's most popular and largest amusement park with one of the largest drive through safaris, Hurricane Harbor water park and 3 exciting areas for small children.
Jenkinson's Boardwalk
300 Ocean Ave, Pt. Pleasant Beach, (732) 892-0600
Jenkinson's Boardwalk offers your family a wide range of activities. Whether you are visiting for the day or the entire summer, you will always find something to excite every member of your family. From free weekly events to yearly festivals there is always something extraordinary to experience at Jenkinson's.
Casino Pier & Funtown Pier
800 Ocean Terrace Seaside Heights, (732) 793-6488
Casino pier is the northern most one and features many rides for older kids such as roller coasters and thrill rides. There is a small section for younger children. Most rides require +36" inches without an adult.
The southern pier in Seaside feature mostly rides for small children. There is a small rollercoaster with a loop, great vista of the beach in Seaside Park and the Atlantic.
Popcorn Park Zoo
Humane Way at Lacey Road, Forked River (609) 693-1900
Popcorn Park Zoo is truly one of a kind. It was established in 1977 as a refuge for wildlife, exotic and farm animals that were abused, ill, injured, handicapped, elderly or exploited. Each animal faced a questionable future at best. Located on 7 acres in New Jersey's beautiful Pinelands, Popcorn Park offers an environment of safety, wonderful care, and peace to its residents, a diverse array of animals unfortunate enough to need a rescue, but lucky enough to wind up here.
Southern New Jersey
The NJ Adventure Aquarium
1 Aquarium Drive, Camden, 856-365-3300
See Liberty the penguin. Marvel at the Sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, seals, birds and more. A wonderful day trip with the kids.
Garden State Discovery Museum
2040 Springdale Road, Suite 100 in Cherry Hill
The Garden State Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum for infants to 10 year olds. The Discovery Museum offers fifteen larger-than-life, kid powered, and interactive exhibit areas. Every exhibit is an invitation to touch, explore, and create. Visitors can get inside of a gigantic bubble, scale a rock climbing wall, hop aboard a ship, bandage a wounded teddy-bear, "shop" at the farm or whip up meal in the Discovery Diner. Dabble in art; create some music, put on a show and more-- all under one roof!
Morey's Piers
3501 Boardwalk Wildwood, (609) 522-3900
Morey's Piers represents the largest seaside amusement center in the Western Hemisphere. The sprawling complex is actually a collection of four different amusement piers strung along Wildwood's five-mile long beach and two-mile long boardwalk, featuring over 70 rides of all descriptions, two full scale water parks and a wide variety of other activities that can fill a vacation. Open until 1st week in October.
Cape May County Zoo
4 Moore Rd, Cape May Courthouse, (609) 465-5271
Over 430 different individual animals which covers around 250 different species. They have Lions and Tigers, but no Elephants. It’s FREE (they ask for a donation when you enter.). For information call
About The Author: Copyright © 2006 New Jersey Leisure Guide
Frank Dalotto is a freelance writer and travel consultant. His specialty is writing articles about New Jersey travel, including attractions, events, and restaurant reviews. Frank works in New Jersey and is the owner and editor of
http://www.new-jersey-leisure-guide.com and a travel consultant for
http://www.leisuretravelmart.com. He is a member of ASTA (American Association of Travel Agents) and CLIA (Cruise Line International Association).
His academic credentials are:
MBA, Pace University
BSEE, University of Missouri.
