Hello Spring, After a winter like this, aren’t we ready for spring? Even as I type this and put the pages of this guide together it is snowing heavily outside. Haven’t we had enough?! I want to get out outside. My boys want to run in the park! Hike a trail! Get out and explore! Aren’t you ready? Check out this guide. From spring break trips to animal adventures, from opening days at New Jersey’s minor league baseball teams to gardens, lighthouses and more, we’ve got LOTS of ways for you to have fun with your kids this spring. Trust me when we say there’s no reason NOT to have a fun spring. Happy Spring, Jennifer Auer
Table of Contents
The Jersey Family Fun Team
5 Great Spring Break Day Trips in New Jersey 2 NJ Minor League Baeeball Team Events 4 Animal Adventures 5 The best as selected by our readers 6 Rutgers Day 7 Nature Centers 9 Gardens & Arboretums 10 Kids Bowl Free 11 Lighthouses 12 Celebrating Easter in New Jersey 13 Finding More Family Fun 15
Editor Jennifer Auer Events & Ast. Editor Crystal Rodgers
Click the image for our complete calendar of events.
Writers Melanie Cortese Joanna Gnudi Cortina Jillian Fletcher Melissa Garner Lauran Randazzo Jones Traci Weston-Murn Nancy Moore Palutis
5 Great Spring Break Day Trips in New Jersey Despite the snow on the ground, spring is on its way! Before you know it spring break will be starting. A week off from school is a great time for a family day trip, but where should you go? Here are 5 places worth checking out in New Jersey over spring break.
Diggerland USA Diggerland USA, in Berlin, is a constructionthemed amusement park. It’s 14 acres of over 23 attractions. Children and adults can ride and even operate construction vehicles that have been turned into amusement park rides. Some of the attractions at Diggerland include the “Dig a Round.” which is a merry go round made up of the scoops from construction vehicles. Children and adults can ride and operate a real backhoe. There is a gigantic ropes course and playground to navigate. It is a dream come true for any construction truck lover in your family and definitely worth the trip. Diggerland USA opens for their second season on March 14th. Click over to read our Diggerland USA blog post series.
Liberty Science Center The Liberty Science Center, in Jersey City, is full of exhibits and attractions to interest every member of your family. Younger visitors can visit the Sesame Street Body exhibit to learn all about the human body, while older children might want to try out the infinity climber, a play structure that reaches over 30 feet high. Kids can use their sense of touch to get through the touch tunnel or also learn how animals communicate or learn about sky scrapers. Between the exhibits and the Imax theater, this is a great place to visit over spring break! Our own editor, Jennifer Auer will be visiting soon and reporting back on Jersey Family Fun about her family’s experience.
Insectropolis If you have a bug lover in the family you need
to check out Insectropolis- The Bugseum of New Jersey in Toms River. You can spend your day exploring many types of bugs and the habitats they live in. Investigate how bugs eat, how they move, and why they do the things they do. There are even examples of bugs from around the world.
World of Wings World of Wings, in Teaneck, is a fun and educational way to spend a spring break day. Start your visit by seeing the reptile and amphibian exhibits. Spend some time checking out the butterfly atrium where you can explore a tropical oasis of plants and flowers while watching butterflies in their natural habitat. Next, you can visit the illusion room and see if you can trick your mind. Finally, you can end your visit by stopping at the “Just Bounce” floor. Children can spend 30 minutes bouncing, sliding, and jumping!
Camden Children’s Garden The Camden Children’s Garden is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm and would be a great place to visit during spring break. Spend some time exploring the different gardens on the property including the dinosaur, butterfly, and fitness gardens. Take a ride on the carousel or train. There’s even a ride that simulates what it’s like to be a butterfly.
Where do you want to go?
NJ’s Minor League Baseball Teams 2015 Opening Days & Upcoming Events Lakewood BlueClaws
Fan Fest: March 14th, 10am-3pm - face painting, free hot dogs, chips and soda, inflatable rides, Buster the mascot, live Irish music and corned beef and cabbage to help celebrate St. Patrick’s day.
Opening Day: April 9th - first 1,000 people in receive 15th season commemorative tickets. Fireworks show to follow the game. Bark in the Park: May 9th - bring your dog to the park and enjoy the game together! BlueClaw Kids Club: Free to enroll. Open to children 14 and under. Provides various specials throughout the season such as FREE general admission to every Sunday game, chances to run the bases, 10 % off merchandise, kids eat FREE Sunday and Monday vouchers and much more. Enroll at their website.
Trenton Thunder Opening Day: April 9th, 6:30 pm - first 2,500 fans will receive Arm and Hammer welcome mats. Free Hot Dog Day: April 18th & 19th Family Fun Sunday: May 3rd - first 1,000 children under 12 will receive Boomer mini bats. Boomer Kids Club: Free to enroll. Open to children 12 and under. Provides various specials throughout the season such as free food, player autographs, giveaways, field passes, and much more. Enroll at their website.
Somerset Patriots Kids Opening Day: May 3rd - first 1,500 kids receive youth jerseys. Mother’s Day Celebration: May 9th - Pre-game autograph session on the field. Somerset Sluggers Club: Membership is $15. Includes 6 game tickets,VIP passes to special events, logo baseball, inflatable slider doll, membership badge and lanyard and 20% off of store merchandise. Enroll at their website.
Camden Riversharks Opening Day: May 1st - First 1,000 fans get salt & pepper shakers, kids run the bases, firework show after the game. Family Fun Sunday: May 3rd - Iron Man character appearance. Mother’s Day Sunday: Captain America character appearance, $5 promotion code for tickets. Riversharks Kids Club: Membership is $20 and includes: pre-game batting practice, admittance to the Fitzone & Carousel areas, free Pizza Hut personal pizza, limited edition kids club bracelet, chance to sing during the 7th inning stretch and a 10% discount in the stadium store.
Montclair Jackals Opening Day: May 29th, We were not able to find any additional information at this time. Jr Jackals Kids Club: Membership is $25. Includes: 8 ticket vouchers, autograph sessions with the team, birthday card, 10% coupon to the stadium store and a special gift pack when you sign up!
New Jersey Zoos Turtle Back Zoo (Essex County) 560 Northfield Ave, West Orange. 973-731-5800. Our review Space Farms Zoo & Museum (Sussex County) - 218 County Road 519, Sussex. 973-875-5800. Bergen County Zoo (Bergen County) - 216 Forest Ave, Paramus. 201-262-3771. Our review Popcorn Park Zoo (Ocean County) - 1 Humane Way, Forked River. 609-693-1900. Our review Cape May County Zoo (Cape May County) - 707 Route 9 North, Cape May. 609-4655271. Our review Cohanzick Zoo (Cumberland County) - 45 Mayor Aitken Drive, Bridgeton. 856-4531658. Our review
Other NJ Places to View Animals Lakota Wolf Preserve (Warren County) - 89 Mt Pleasant Road, Columbia,. 908-496-9244. Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (Morris County) - 568 Tempe Wick Road, New Vernon. 973-538-3500. Pequest Trout Hatchery (Warren County) 605 Pequest Road, Oxford. 908-637-4125. Six Flags Great Adventure (Ocean County) 1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson. (732) 928-2000
Pennsylvania Zoos Local to NJ Elmwood Park Zoo - 1661 Harding Blvd, Norristown, PA. 610-277-3825. Lehigh Valley Zoo - 5150 Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville, PA. 610-799-4171. Philadelphia Zoo - 3400 W. Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA. 215-243-1100. Our review
New York Zoos Local to NJ Bronx Zoo - 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY. 718-3671010. Central Park Zoo - 64th Street and 5th Avenue, New York, NY. 212-439-6500. Prospect Park Zoo - 450 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. 718-399-7339. Staten Island Zoo - 614 Broadway, Staten Island, NY. 718-442-3100. Our review
The Best as Selected by Jersey Family Fun Readers Place To Spend a Spring Day Johnson Corner Farm ~ Burlington County Six Flags Great Adventure ~ Ocean County Longstreet Farms ~ Monmouth County Brookhollow Barnyard ~ Morris County Children’s Garden ~ Camden County Seaside Boardwalk ~ Ocean County Ocean City Boardwalk ~ Cape May County Colonial Park ~ Somerset County Wildwood Boardwalk ~ Cape May County
Restaurant For Mother’s Day Ponzios ~ Camden County The Melting Pot ~ Atlantic & Monmouth Counties Ron’s Landmark ~ Morris County Franklinville Inn ~ Gloucester County Tropicana’s The Palm ~ Atlantic County Publick House ~ Somerset County Red Stone ~ Burlington County
Outdoor Activity for Kids
Museum
Ocean City Boardwalk ~ Cape May County Grounds for Sculpture ~ Mercer County Popcorn Park Zoo ~ Ocean County The Fairy & Pirate Festival at Turkey Brook Park in Mount Olive ~ Morris County. Wildwood Boardwalk ~ Cape May County Somerset Patriots Game - Somerset County Parvins State Park ~ Salem County
Garden State Discovery Museum - NJ Liberty Science Center - NJ Monmouth Museum - NJ Morris Museum - NJ Ben Franklin’s House ~ PA Academy of Natural Sciences ~ PA
Park & Playground Lindenwold Park ~ Camden County Imagination Playground ~ Pemberton Dorbrook Park ~ Monmouth County Mt. Playmore ~ Mt. Olive ~ Morris County Jake’s Place ~ Camden County Castle Park ~ Ocean County Kid Street - Somerset County Malaga Lake Park ~ Gloucester County Ocean City 34th street ~ Cape May County
travel to for Spring Break Lancaster PA to visit the Amish attractions Ocean County’s fun aquarium & indoor arcades Boston, MA - There is so much to do for kids and so much history to learn about. Please Touch Museum Adventure Aquarium Center City Philadelphia to see all the great historic sites. Ocean City NJ ~ Cape May County
Rutgers Day Maybe you’re like many of our NJ residents who attended Rutgers. Maybe you’re a Rutgers sports fan; or maybe you’ve never given the school much thought. Whether you are, were, or never were a student, there’s no better day to visit Rutgers than Rutgers Day - this year on Saturday, April 25. Encompassing the much loved Ag Field Day and the New Jersey Folk Festival, Rutgers Day now includes the Rutgers football team’s spring game, as well as countless other activities, demonstrations, and performances.
Reasons to go • Animals! On the Cook Campus farms you’ll find a petting zoo, farm tours, and you can even watch a 4-H dog show. Pet the seeing eye puppies and fall in love with the dogs as everyone else does. • Bugs more your thing? There’s plenty of those too as well as demonstrations from the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (think touch tanks)! • Science is everywhere! Tour the Keck Center where spinal cord injury research takes place, view a fun Physics lecture/ demonstration and much more. All academic departments are encouraged to participate in Rutgers Day. Departments such as the medical school, dental school and more, there’s no end to what your children will learn. • Food for all palates. While this year’s participants may vary, in the past we’ve enjoyed some great fair food at the NJ Folk Festival, as well as food homemade by student groups. Look for homemade dog treats, ice cream and barbecue. You might even catch some Dining Services chefs giving demonstrations or find a Food Scientist explaining why food tastes the way it does. • Music and talent all around too! Delight in the sounds of the Rutgers Marching Band as they travel down College Avenue during the parade, or visit the Singer Songwriter stage at the NJ Folk Festival. Don’t miss the “acrobatic danger show”at the NJ Folk Festival it will have you amazed and impressed (and a little scared, in a good way!). • Crafts and swag! Most demonstrators have something hands on to do or give out. We’ve tried out face painting, sand art, coloring pages, bookmarks with our names in Japanese and more! You’ll definitely not go home empty handed. • Sports! This year’s Spring football game will be on Friday April 24th, but Rutgers Day is a great day to learn more about Rutgers Athletics and the Big Ten. There will be a 1:00 Baseball game and a noon Men’s Lacrosse game. The majority of the Rutgers Day activities are free. Free parking is available on Busch and College Avenues and Cook/ Douglass campuses. The New Brunswick campus is on the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor train line, and the university has an extensive campus bus system. There’s no way to do it all, so it’s advised to try to keep it to one campus. The Rutgers Day schedule will be available soon, and viewing it in advance will give you plenty of time to plan a memorable, educational and FUN free family day out!
Nature Centers In Cumberland County Albert J. Kolonich Jr. Nature Trail Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Meadow Wood Environmental Facility Refuge 609-652-1665 Warren E. Fox Nature Center 609-625- Maurice River Bluffs Nature Preserve 1897 In Essex County Essex County Environmental Center In Bergen County 973-228-8776 Closter Nature Center 201-750-2778 Demarest Nature Center 201-403-3183 Cora Hartshorn Bird Sanctuary 973-376-3587 Flat Rock Brook Nature Center 201567-1265 In Gloucester County Lorrimer Sanctuary 201-891-2185 Scotland Run Park Nature Center Meadowlands Environmental Center 856-881-0845 201-460-8300 Ridgefield Nature Center 201-943-5215 Greenwich Lake Park Tenafly Nature Center 201-568-6093 James A McFaul Environmental Center In Hudson County Liberty State Park Interpretive Center 201-891-5571 201-915-3403 In Burlington County Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Preserve In Hunterdon County Whittemore Wildlife Sanctuary 856-983-3329 Rancocas Nature Center 609-261-2495 908-439-1201 Paws Nature Center 856-778-8795 In Mercer County Palmyra Cove Nature Center Lawrence Nature Center 609-844-7067 856-829-1900 Stonybrook Millstone Watershed 609-737-3735 In Camden County Camden County Environmental Center Washington Crossing State Park Nature Center 609-737-0609 856-216-7130
In Atlantic County
In Cape May County Cape May Bird Observatory 609-884-2736 Nature Center of Cape May 609-884-2736 Cape May Point State Park 609-884-2159 The Wetlands Institute 609-368-1211
In Middlesex County Plainsboro Preserve 609-897-9400 In Monmouth County Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center 732-751-9453 Huber Woods Environmental Center 732-872-2670 Poricy Park 732-842-5966
Allaire State Park Nature Center 732-9193500 In Morris County Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area 973-334-3130 Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center 973-635-6629 Kay Environmental Center Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center Schiff Nature Preserve 973-534-6004 The Raptor Trust 908-647-2353 In Ocean County Jakes Branch County Park 732-281-2750 Lighthouse Center for Natural Research 609-698-8003 Island Beach State Park Nature Center 732-793-0506 Cooper Environmental Center 732-270-6960 Wells Mills Nature Center 609-971-3085 In Passaic County Garret Mountain Reservation 973-881-4833 In Salem County Alloway Creek Watershed 888-627-7437 In Somerset County Somerset County Environmental Center 908-766-2489 Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary Bernardsville, 908-766-5787 Duke Farms 908-722-3700 In Sussex County Kittatinny Valley State Park 973-786-6445 In Union County Trailside Nature and Science Center 908-789-3670 In Warren County Pequest Trout Hatchery Merrill Creek Reservoir 908-454-1213
Gardens & Arboretums In Atlantic County Egg Harbor Twp Arboretum 609-926-4093 In Bergen County Theilke Arboretum 201-447-0452 James McFaul Environmental Center Garden 201-891-5571
In Essex County (cont.) Cora Hartshorn Arboretum 973-376-3587 Greenwood Gardens 973-258-4026 In Hunterdon County Hunterdon County Arboretum 908-788-1202
In Ocean County Edith Duff Gwin Gardens In Passaic County New Jersey Botanical Garden 973-962-9534 Laurelwood Arboretum 973-202-9579
In Burlington County Butterfly Garden 609-265-5858 Smithville Mansion Garden 609-265-5858 Barton Arboretum 609-654-3000 Sculpture Garden 609-894-9311
In Mercer County Grounds for Sculpture 609-586-0616 Sayen Park Botanical Garden 609-890-3630 Drumthwacket Garden 609-609-683-0057
In Somerset County Cross Estate Gardens 973-539-2016 Leonard J. Buck Garden 908-234-2677 Duke Gardens 908-722-3700
In Camden County Camden Children’s Garden 856-365-8733 Barclay Farmstead 856-795-6225
Herrontown Woods Arboretum 609-303-0700 Morven Museum & Garden 609-924-8144
Colonial Park Arboretum & Rose Garden 732-873-2459 Wagner Farm Arboretum 908-350-7383
In Cape May County Emlen Physic Estate 609-884-5404 Butterfly Garden 609-861-0700 Leaming’s Run 609-465-5871 Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Garden 609-898-2300
In Middlesex County Bucceluch Mansion Gardens 732-745-5112 Rutger’s Gardens 732-932-8451
In Union County Cedar Brook Park Shakespeare Garden 908-527-4900 Reeves Arboretum 908-273-8787
In Monmouth County David Shaw Arboretum Deep Cut Gardens 732-671-6050
In Warren County Merrill Creek Reservoir Butterfly Garden 908-454-1213 Pohatcong Native Arboretum 908-343-5274
In Essex County Presby Iris Gardens 973-783-5974 Avis Campbell Gardens 201-746-9614
In Morris County Willowwood Arboretum 973-326-7600 Frelinghuysen Arboretum 973-326-7603
Kids Bowl Free with the Kids Bowl Free Program Kids Bowl Free provides bowling games to children nationwide age 15 and under at participating centers. It’s a great way to start a busy day of fun or to wind down after a long day of running. The free bowling is also a great perk on a rainy day. It gave the kids a reason to get some exercise and get out of the house for a bit. Many programs start this May.
How The Kids Bowl Free Program Works: •Complete the FREE registration form on KidsBowlFree.Com for the bowling alley you want to attend. (Please note you can go to more than one participating alley but you will need to register for each one separately using a different email address as per the KidsBowlFree.Com website). •Kids get to bowl up to 2 free games per day, all summer long. Some of the alleys are actually starting their free game passes this month. You can find out start and end dates on each location’s registration page or the Jersey Family Fun website. •The Kids Bowl Free playing times are available 7 days a week. Check the registration page for the times your alley allows. •Kids must be 15 years old or younger. •Shoe rentals are not included, but some of the bowling alleys do offer a shoe rental pass for purchase. You would have to check with your bowling alley for fees. •Some alleys offer a discount on food, check with each individual alley. •You’ll receive an email every Sunday containing a link to the coupons for that week. Just print them out and bring them with you. •There’s also a Family Pass that allows up to 4 adults to bowl all summer. The pass costs $24.95 and can be added on to your account at any time. An adult is considered anyone 16 and up.
Find participating bowling alleys at these sites: Jersey Family Fun Kids Bowl Free
New Jersey Lighthouses In Atlantic County
Absecon Lighthouse 31 S Rhode Island Ave, Atlantic City Admission adults $7 to climb, seniors $5, children 4-12 $4, Atlantic City residents with ID $3, Active military & kids under 4 free.
In Cape May County
Cape May Lighthouse 215 Light House Ave, Cape May Point Admission adults $7, children 3-11 $3, free for under 3 (If you go the visitor’s center they give you free tickets to children 12 and under.) Our review Hereford Inlet Lighthouse 111 N Central Ave, Wildwood Oct. 20 - May 23 Open Wednesday - Sunday 10 AM - 2 PM. Please call to confirm hours during these months. May 24 - Oct 21 Open daily from 9 am – 5 pm. Admission adults 12 yrs. and up $4, 11 yrs. and under $1. Call 609 522-4520. Buy combination tickets for both Cape May County lighthouses at Hereford Lighthouse. Our review
In Cumberland County
East Point Lighthouse 10 Lighthouse Rd, Heislerville There is no online available information about admission but you can call (856) 546-7810.
In Gloucester County
Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse 2nd St, Paulsboro No fee to climb but they ask for a donation. Our review
In Monmouth County Twin Lights Lighthouse 2 Light House Rd, Highlands There is no fee to climb.
Sandy Hook Lighthouse Gateway National Recreation Area, Highlands There is no online available information about admission but there is a number to call. Sea Girt Lighthouse 9 Ocean Ave, Sea Girt
There is no online available information about admission but you can call (732) 974-0514.
In Ocean County
Tuckerton Seaport Tucker’s Island Lighthouse 120 W Main St #1, Tuckerton Climb is included in Tuckerton Seaport admission. Our review Barnegat Lighthouse 208 Broadway, Barnegat Light Admission is free before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Our review
In Salem County
Finn’s Rear Range Lighthouse Old Fort Mott Rd, Pennsville No fee to climb but they ask for a donation. Our review
Celebrating Easter New Jersey’s Best Easter Egg Hunts Submitted by our readers Ocean City Beach, Cape May County Casino Pier, Seaside, Ocean County Pier Village, Long Branch, Monmouth County Mt. Olive Kiwanis Club, Morris County Kingsway Church, Cherry Hill, Camden County Wildwood Beach, Cape May County Far Hills Fairgrounds, Somerset County Mercer County Park, Mercer County
Click below for a complete listing from our Calendar of Events
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in New Jersey Best place to have Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Submitted by our readers
Imagine That ~ Morris County Gloucester Township Rec Center ~ Camden County Grain House Inn ~ Somerset County New Jersey Motorsports Park ~ Cumberland County F&M Deli ~ Burlington County
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