Hello Winter! Oh my goodness! Is it winter already? We’re coming out of our busiest fall ever. Could it be that winter snuck up on us? Truth be told while the winter brings colder weather it also brings more time for family activities. Sports schedules tend to slow down. We’re less likely to rush rush rush and more likely to linger in one place. We love to stay home where it’s warm; while we also like to go out and explore. With the holidays, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Day, President Day’s weekend, kids have many more days off from school and more time for making great family memories. Whether you are looking for a new day trip in New Jersey or looking to spend one of those days off going beyond the state lines for a vacation, this guide is packed with great ideas for indoor and outdoor activities. See something in here you want to know more about? Chances are we’ve got even more details on JerseyFamilyFun.com. Look to us all winter long to help you prevent the “I’m bored” and replace it with the “This is awesome!” As we prepare to take a few days off to celebrate Christmas we can’t do it without saying thank you. This October marked our fifth year of doing business. Thank you for all of our support. We celebrated with birthday parties and 12 Days of Service across New Jersey. Our team of writers work so hard scouring the area for the best ideas for family fun and our advertisers make it possible for us to share those ideas with you. We wish you all a safe and joyous holiday,
We’ll see you online, Jennifer Auer, Editor
TABLE OF CONTENTS Events............................ .............................................................................................................................5 Activities....................................................................................................................................................21 Day Trips................................................................................. .................................................................36 Family Travel.............................................................................................................................................65 • Our Favorite Experiences at the Crayola Experience.....................................................................66 • Our Favorite Wheels at the America on Wheels Museum ...........................................................69 • See, Touch Do the Da Vinci Science Center ..................................................................................72 • TownPlace Suites by Marriott................................76 The Jersey Family Fun Team • Our Poconos Escape to the Skytop Resort...........78 • Our Visit to the Kalahari Indoor Water Park......82 Editor Jennifer Auer • 34 Ways to Enjoy Your Turkey Hill Experience..84 • Clip & Climbing Our Way to Fun.........................86 Writers & Team Members • New York Museums................................................88 Crystal Rodgers Melanie Cortese • My Favorite Moments During my First Visit to Joanna Gnudi Cortina Disneyland...............................................................89 Michelle Douglas • 7 Ways San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo Inn Martina Ferguson Welcomes Kids........................................................91 Jillian Fletcher • 9 Things My Kids Would Love About Beaches Jennifer Gaffney Turks & Caicos........................................................97 Lauran Randazzo Jones Traci Weston-Murn Nancy Moore Palutis
Click over! It’s not too late to find out about
Click the image for our complete calendar of events.
14+ Ways to Keep Kids Busy on Winter Break Winter break is always so exciting... at first. The kids love getting a break from school work, the parents are so happy to stop the constant shuttling back and forth to and from activities. Everyone is so happy to stay in their pajamas all day and relax. It all seems like a win-win, at least for the first few days... until cabin fever sets in. We've all been there: the house is a mess, the kids are tired of their movies and toys, someone has eaten all of the snacks, and they just want to do something else! Well here's our list of some great events to visit when that happens. Click on the titles for more information.
Holiday Activities In & Around New Jersey
Holiday Activities Outside
During Winter Break:
During Winter Break:
•
•
•
The Barron Arts Center Holiday Train Show:
Sciences, Philadelphia Saturday through Wednesday, December 26–30, All day &
Holiday Light Spectacular at the Turtleback
Reptiles exhibit until January 10, 2016. •
Sahara Sam's Winter Break: West Berlin Six Flags Great Adventure Holiday in the
• •
• •
ICE! At the Gaylord National Resort: National Harbor, Maryland. On display until January 3.
•
Tuckerton (Ocean). On display until December 31.
RiverRink: Philadelphia, PA. Happening through March 6.
Park: Jackson (Ocean). Until January 3. Tuckerton Seaport Festival of Trees:
Macy's Christmas Lights: Philadelphia. On display until December 31.
(Camden). Until January 3.
•
All-Star Days at the Academy of Natural
December 27.
January 3.
•
New Jersey
Woodbridge (Middlesex). On display until
Zoo: West Orange (Essex). On display until •
of
Free at the Kimmel Center: Philadelphia, PA. Happening through the new year.
•
Reading Terminal Market Train Display:
Tropicana’s Free Holiday Music Light Show,
Philadelphia, PA. On display until December
Atlantic City (Atlantic). Until January 3.
31.
Holiday Scavenger Hunt at Frelinghuysen Arboretum: Morristown (Morris). On display until January 3.
•
Dora and Diego Exhibit at Liberty Science Center: Jersey City (Hudson). On display until January 24.
With lots more ideas in the pages of this guide.
Bank of America’s Museums on Us On the first full weekend of every month, Bank of America's Museums on Us Program allows each card holder to get one free general admission at more than 150 museums nationwide. Look below for a list of museums in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. Each card holder gets one free general admission. All you need is a photo id and your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch card. Bank of America Free Admission Weekends Schedule January 2 & 3 February 6 & 7 March 5 & 6 April 2 & 3 Participating Museums in New Jersey Montclair Art Museum Liberty Science Center Newark Museum Aijira, a center for contemporary art (closed Sundays) Morris Museum Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center The Noyes Museum of Art at Richard Stockton College Garden State Discovery Museum Participating Museums in Philadelphia Philadelphia Museum of Art National Constitution Center National Museum of American Jewish History African American Museum in Philadelphia Allentown Art Museum Carnegie Museum of Art
Participating Museums in Delaware Delaware Art Museum (No Sundays) Delaware Museum of Natural History Participating Museums in New York The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Museum of Modern Art Staten Island Children's Museum Brooklyn Historical Society Children's Museum of Manhattan Queens Museum of Art Long Island Children's Museum Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum Long Island Museum of American Art, History, & Carriages (Closed Jan-Feb) Old Westbury Gardens (May - Dec Only)
Please Touch Museum offers $2 Admission Days On the first Wednesday night of each month your family can visit the Please Touch Museum for $2 a person. Schedule of $2 Admission Days At the Please Touch Museum Schedule Free parking will be offered as well during these times. No advance registration is required. We believe these to be the tentative dates. Please confirm before your visit. • • • •
Wed., January 6th 4pm to 7pm Wed., February 3rd 4pm to 7pm Wed., March 2nd 4pm to 7pm Wed., April 6th 4pm to 7pm
The Please Touch Museum is located at Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (formerly North Concourse Drive) in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Museum of Art During special Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art Pay What You Wish Days on the first Sunday of the month and Wednesday evenings your family can go to the Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art at at fraction of the price. On these special days you are invited to the museum and you can pay whatever you can afford, just please pay something as the museum says even if it's just a penny. It is a great way to introduce your family to the arts museum. Pay What You Wish Days 2016 Schedule No advance registration is required. Sundays 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and pay what you wish is all day. Wednesdays 10:00 am - 8:45 pm pay what you wish begins after 5 pm. Wednesday, December 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th Sunday, January 3rd Wednesday, January 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th Sunday, February 7 Wednesday, February 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th Sunday, March 6th Wednesday, March 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th Sunday, April 3rd Wednesday, April 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th The Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art is located at 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA 19130 Phone Number 215-763-8100
Franklin Institute
Free Admission Days During special Target Community nights you can go to Franklin Institute for Free! Free Admission nights generally occur on the third Thursday of the month. No advance registration is required however registration on site might be requested. Parking is also a discounted rate of $6 during the evening! 2016 FREE Admission Day Schedule • Wed., January 13th 5pm to 8pm ~ Space • Wed., February 17th 5pm to 8pm ~ Heart Your Heart • Wed., March 16 5pm to 8pm ~ Science of the Ancient World For tips on how to make the most of a Franklin Institute Free Admission Day click over to this blog post. The Franklin Institute is located at 222 N 20th Street in Philadelphia.
Give yourself the night off from cooking at a discount! Take advantage of these restaurants in New Jersey offering kids a free meal! We suggest calling the location to confirm participation and terms. For the specific schedule by day and locations visit our complete listing online. Atlantic County
Pizza Hut, Denny’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Zona Fresca, IHOP, Mays Landing Diner, Friendly’s
Middlesex County
Denny’s, The Station Tavern, IHOP, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Hooters, Pizza Hut, Pizzeria Uno, Brother Jimmy’s, Moe’s, Arirang, Buffalo Wild Wings, Miller’s Ale House
Monmouth County
Bergen County
Moe’s Southwest Grill, IHOP, Jalapenos, Rocca, Hooters, Ho-Ho-Kus Inn, Miller’s Ale House, IKEA, Horizon Diner, Lakeside Grille and Bar, Bennigans, Que Pasta
Court Jester, Buffalo Wild Wings, Rosalita’s, All Seasons Restaurant Diner, IHOP, Valentino’s, Inkanto, Red Oak Diner, Park East, Shore Cafe, Chubby Pickle, Chapter House, Sycamore Grill, Bubbakoos, Brass Rail, Nino’s Coal Fired Pizza, Main Street Bar and Grill, Blue Swan, Molly Maguire’s Gastropub
Burlington County
Morris County
Dennys, IHOP, Charley’s Other Brother, Sonic, Pizzeria Uno, Marlton Tavern, Al Dente
IHOP, Andrea’s Dining Room, Buffalo Wild Wings, Moe’s, Scallopini
Camden County
Ocean County
Oceanside Seafood, Cabanas
Bubbakoo’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, IHOP, Nino’s Coal Fired Pizza, Bubbakoo’s, 21 South, Sandy’s Cozy Corner, Lamp Post Inn, Farrell’s, Burger 25, Four Seasons Diner, Perkins, Pizza Hut, Sand Castle Diner, Toms River Diner, Tiff’s, Tuscan House
Cumberland County
Passaic County
Bennigan’s, Denny’s, Friendly’s
Chevy’s, Pizzeria Uno, IHOP, Hooters,
Essex County
Salem County
Qdoba, Denny’s, Tortilla Press, Pop Shop, Miller’s Ale House, Bob Evans, IHOP
Cape May County
IHOP, Nikko, Calandra’s Mediterranean Grill, Moonshine Supper Club, Franklin Steakhouse, Toro Loco, Verona Inn
Denny’s, Elmer Diner
Gloucester County
Pizzeria Uno, Landmark, Mozzarella Grill, Val’s Seafood Trattoria, Denny’s
Moe’s, Willie McBride’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, IHOP, Trio, Stoney Brook Grille, Stage House, Melting Pot, Uproot, Buffalo Wild Wings
Hudson County
Sussex County
Somerset County
Otaiko, Arthur’s, Elysian Cafe, IHOP, Qdoba, Cheeseburger in Paradise
O’Reilly’s
Hunterdon County
Molly MaGuire’s, Oh’Brian’s on the Green, IKEA, IHOP, The Station, Chevy’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Arirang, Stage House Tavern, Pizza Vita, Tiff’s
Riley and Jakes, Lovin’ Oven, The Rail
Mercer County
Town Diner, Pizzeria Uno, IHOP, Moe’s, Tavern on the Lake, Hooters
Union County
Warren County
IHOP, Bea McNally’s
Arden Theatre’s Hans Brinker & the Silver Skates This article from Jennifer Auer is available on Jersey Family Fun.
We have always loved the family friendly productions at the Arden Theatre and are incredibly excited for their production of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. What a great experience this would be on a weekend this winter. The story of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates has close similarities to The Greatest Skating Race a book that has always been close to my heart. It is a story based in the Netherlands, where my mother and her side of the family is from. Reading this story my boys and I get a sense of what growing up was like for our Dutch ancestors. Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates is a similar story, based in Holland, where ice skating plays a pivotal role in a family’s story. Knowing the quality of Arden’s shows I can not wait to see this story come alive on the stage and have my children build deeper connections with the story. The premise of the story is a great skating contest is announced, and the winner will receive a shiny pair of silver skates. But will Hans Brinker and his sister Gretel, with their hand-carved wooden skates, be able to compete against children who own fine steel blades? Set against a backdrop of frozen canals in 19th century Holland, this new production celebrates the importance of grit and determination, the value of generosity, and the thrill of flying down the ice on a pair of skates. Where are the Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates performances? Arden Theatre Company December 5, 2015 – January 31, 2016 40 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106 Ticket prices begin at $20. • Group discounts available for 20+ • Student Rush tickets at the door 30 minutes before curtain for $10 cash, pending availability (must present valid student ID) You can visit http://www.ardentheatre.org for more information.
Lowe’s Build & Grow Clinics Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Clinics are the perfect Saturday morning activity for kids ages 4 and up.
Here is what you need to know about Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Clinics: • Available two Saturdays a month from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (some exceptions may apply) • Registration is highly recommended. • Waivers must be signed for each child participating. • The Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Clinics are FREE! • Great for children ages 4 and up. • At every Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Clinics each child gets a free building kit, goggles, apron and patch. • Each Lowe's Build and Grow Kids kit comes with easy to follow directions. • Friendly Lowe's employees are on hand to help parents and children. • If you don't have time to the Lowe's Build and Grow Kids project that day, you can pick up a kit to take home (They make great projects for a snow day or school vacation.)
Why we LOVE Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Clinics:
• These Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Clinics are a great option for play dates and family days. Kids have such a fun time working together and showing each other their finished projects. • Each clinic has a theme that is usually associated with an upcoming movie or event. • Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Clinic participation helps children develop valuable skills. Building these amazing kits helps children enhance fine motor control and strength, increase eye-hand coordination and improve listening skills as they learn to follow directions. Social skills are also enhanced as children work together with friends and parents to make the projects. We have made so many fun and interactive projects last year at the Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Clinics. We are really looking forward to all the great projects Lowe's Build and Grow Kids Clinics will offer this upcoming year. Registration usually opens the Monday after the last workshop, and it is highly recommended as the clinics fill up very quickly.
Upcoming Clinics
• February 13, 2016 ~ Valentine’s Day • More are being scheduled throughout the fall. To find the latest Lowe's Build & Grow Clinics visit our Calendar of New Jersey Events or the Lowe's Build & Grow Clinics Schedule.
Home Depot Kids Workshops From race cars to boats to desktop calendars, Home Depot Kids Workshops offers a different workshop the first Saturday of the month intended for children ages 5-12. You can drop in between 9 am - 12 pm and have your kids create that month’s project. While Home Depot requests the Kids Workshop attendees register online, they can accept walk ins.
Here is some information about the Home Depot Kids Workshops and why we enjoy them. • Free and fun Home Depot Kids Workshops are for children ages 5-12. • Home Depot Kids Workshops are offered the first Saturday of the month at your local Home Depot store between 9 am – 12 pm. • All children keep their craft, receive a certificate of achievement, a workshop apron (for new attendees), and a commemorative pin. • Home Depot staff are there to assist with the projects. • This is first come, first serve. The apron and workshop kit is given to those who arrive earlier so there may not be sufficient supplies towards the end of the workshop. • Children need to be present at the store to participate in the Home Depot Kids Workshops. • At some stores, paint is offered for each project so it might be best to dress the kids for mess. • Registration for the Home Depot Kids Workshops is available online and is requested to ensure that there is sufficient supplies for all the attendees. • Finished projects can make great gifts for grandparents, godparents, or other relatives. • Summer workshops may be held outside. Make sure to register for Home Depot Kids Workshops on Home Depot’s website.
Home Depot Kids Workshops Upcoming Schedule • January 2, 2016 • February 6, 2016 • March 5, 2016 • April 2, 2016
Click over to read more about Jersey Family Fun’s experiences at the Home Depot Kids Workshops.
Lakeshore Learning Store
Free Make & Takes for Kids Every Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm Lakeshore Learning Store hosts a free craft and registration is not required. The crafts are for children 3 and older. The crafts are based on themes like current events or the season.
Upcoming Make and Take Events • • • • • • • • • • • • •
January 2 January 9 January 16 January 23 January 30 February 6 February 13 February 20 February 27 March 5 March 12 March 19 March 26
Lakeshore also offers: • A giant smart board where your children can play interactive multi-player educational games. • They also have tons of toys around the store that are open that your kids can test out before they buy them.
NJ Lakeshore Learning locations Cherry Hill Marketplace at Garden State Park 2020 Marlton Pike West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 856-910-0888 East Brunswick 275 State Route 18 East Brunswick, NJ 08816 732-967-8585 The East Brunswick Lakeshore also offers FREE crafts on Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm. Hackensack 449 Essex St. Hackensack, NJ 07601 201-441-9214
JERSEY FAMILY FUN ADVERTISERS offer fantastic fall fun!
Click over to their event schedules.
Kids Bowl Free with the
Kids Bowl Free Program
How to Prepare for a Snow Day Before the Flakes Fall Written by Julia Hunter, Wine in Mom, written on a past snowy day As I write this there are 6 inches of snow on the ground. Which for us in Southern New Jersey is a lot of snow and is probably why when I hear that it is going to snow we don't tend to believe it until the flakes have fallen. This also explains why this morning I was so unprepared for the winter wonderland that appeared outside my door. As I was running around the house searching for snow boots and gloves and ice scrapers, I realized that all of this would be much easier and enjoyable if I had a snow day plan. How •
to
Prepare
for a
Snow Day Before
the
Flakes Fall
Make sure you have a moderately stocked fridge. I'm not saying run out to the super market and load up your cart but do check your fridge for eggs, milk, coffee and whatever it is you consider essential. For me it's making sure I have my son's favorite snacks and ingredients to make breakfast. If you notice you are low, skip the supermarket; most essential items can be picked up at a local drugstore, convenience store or deli. This will save you from dealing with the crowds.
•
While at the store stock up on hot chocolate and cookie dough both of these are wintertime staples in my house.
•
Always have pre-made cookie dough or mix in the house. It is a great quick activity for kids of all ages and it warms the house up on a chilly day.
•
Check your hats, boots, gloves, snowsuits. Make sure you have all the pieces, that they still fit and that you know where they are.
•
Gather up coloring books, crayons, movies and play dough, anything that might be a novelty for your kid. Snow days can sometimes be long days especially if it's too windy or cold to play outside. I try to buy these kinds of things on sale or second-hand and stow them away for day
with bad weather. A new activity makes everyone happy. •
Locate snow shovel, ice scraper and salt. If you don't have these get them.
How •
to
Prepare
for a
Snow Day Once
the
Flakes
are
Falling
Bring the boots, hats, gloves and snowsuits out and place them near the door. Put everyone's items in a pile, so that they are ready to go.
•
If you plan to make breakfast put all your dry ingredients out, that way you can get right too it so that a warm breakfast will be ready for before or after playing in the snow.
•
Have a game plan for the day. How much time will be spent outside? Will it be too cold? What movies or games can the kids play? I love to be ready to stop boredom in its path.
How •
to
Prepare
for a
Snow Day Before You Bundle Up
Pull out hot chocolate supplies so that it can be made as soon as the kids come in. Better yet if they are old enough to play outside on their own, make it while they are outside.
•
Set up and tell everyone about where wet clothes will go. This avoids cleaning up drips and puddles throughout the house.
•
Have everyone use the bathroom. There is nothing worse than getting a little one all layered up and then hearing the words, " I have to go to the bathroom".
Snow Days are a rare break from the routine and rush of life. With a little planning you can enjoy the day without spending it cleaning up messes and looking for missing gloves. Enjoy your Snow Day!
If the cold is too much you can always check out our listing of indoor play areas.
Ready for school and beyond. At Bright Horizons, we provide an exceptional place for children to thrive. Our individualized, flexible curriculum and experienced teachers inspire children at every age and stage.
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Contact us to schedule a visit. Multiple locations serving many communities. To find a location near you, visit www.brighthorizons.com
Looking to get out of the house with the kids? How about a some fun winter fun in New Jersey? We're scouring our state to check out the best places to go sledding in New Jersey you want to know about. So many communities in the Garden State have great hills to enjoy sledding. These are the best sledding spots in New Jersey that we have heard about from readers like you. However, you should check with your township before heading out to sled for any restrictions or limitations.
NEW JERSEY’S BEST PLACES TO GO SLEDDING Atlantic County •
•
White Beeches Golf & Country Club, Haworth
Egg Harbor Township Police Athletic Club, Egg Harbor Township
Burlington County
•
Nature Reserve, Egg Harbor Township
•
Golden Pheasant Country Club, Lumberton
•
Manheim Hills, Galloway
•
Laurel Acres Park, Mount Laurel
•
Memorial Park, Cinnaminson
Bergen County
•
Tomlinson Park, Medford
•
Atkins Glen Park (The Sand Pit) Freemont
•
Stokes Hill, Moorestown
Avenue, Park Ridge
•
Millcreek Park, Willingboro
•
Borough Hall, New Milford
•
Steinhauer Hill, Maple Shade
•
Citizens Park, Ridgewood
•
Cobblestone Hill, Carlstadt
Camden County
•
Froggy Park, Tenafly
•
Audubon Lake Park, Audubon
•
Bear Mountain, Fort Lee
•
Blueberry Hill Trail, Gibbsboro
•
Hillside Elementary School, Closter
•
Bunker Hill Road, Woodcrest, Cherry Hill
•
Midland School, Paramus
•
Chestnut Branch Park, Mantua Township
•
New Milford Town Hall, New Milford
•
Fairmont Drive and Johnson Road,
•
Northern Valley Regional High School,
•
Gloucester Township
Demarest
•
Frank Donio Memorial Park, Sicklerville
Ramsey High School, facing Island Avenue,
•
Haddonfield Friends and Erlton School Park,
Ramsey
Cherry Hill
•
Ridgefield Park High School, Ridgefield Park
•
Haddonfield Hill, Haddonfield
•
Samuel Nelkin County Park, Wallington
•
Haddon Lake Park, Haddon Heights
•
TJ Hill/ Thomas Jefferson Middle School,
•
Penn Hill, Pennsauken
Fair Lawn •
Van Saun County Park, River Edge
•
Votee Park, Teaneck
Continued
on the next page
NEW JERSEY’S BEST PLACES TO GO SLEDDING CONTINUED Cape May County •
Stone Harbor Golf Club, Cape May Court
Ridgefield Park •
House
South Mountain Reservation, along Brookside Drive, West Orange/Millburn
•
Verona Park, Verona
Cumberland County •
City Park, Millville
Gloucester County
•
Union Lake Bluffs, Millville
•
Chestnut Branch Park, Mantua Township
•
St. Patrick's Elementary School, Woodbury
•
Turnersville Automall, hill with drainage ditch
Essex County •
Branch Brook Park, Newark
•
Brookdale Park, Rose Garden Hill, Bloomfield
•
Carteret Park, Glen Ridge
•
Cedar Hill, Livingston
•
Cameron Field, South Orange
•
Fisher Field, North Arlington
•
Flood's Hill, Meadowbrook
at bottom, Turnersville
Lane, South Orange •
Francis A. Byrne Golf Course, West Orange
•
Hillside School (Hillside Ave.) Livingston
•
Jefferson Elementary School, Maplewood
•
Leonia Swim Club, Grand Avenue and Moore Street, Leonia
•
Lincoln Woods, West Pierrepont Avenue and Carmita Avenue, behind Lincoln School, Rutherford
•
Maplewood Memorial Park, Maplewood
•
Montclair Public pool, sledding hill across the street, Montclair
•
Montclair University, Montclair
•
Mountainside Park, supervised sledding from 12pm - 4pm, Montclair
Hudson County
•
New Newark Baptist Church, Newark
•
Bayonne County Park, Bayonne
•
Nishuane Park, Montclair
•
Braddock Park, North Bergen
•
PIP Park, off North Central Road, Hudson
•
Bunny Hill, Kearny
Terrace at Palisades Interstate Parkway, Fort
•
Veterans Memorial Field, Kearny
Lee •
Pulaski park, Bloomfield
Hunterdon County
•
Redwood Elementary School, West Orange
•
Cold Brook Reserve, Tewksbury
•
Reinheimer Park, Nutley
•
Hoffman Park, Hampton, Union Township
•
Riker Hill Park, Livingston
•
Musconetcong Gorge Perserve, Bethlehem
•
Ridgefield Park Jr./Sr. High School,
•
The Sledding Hill at Tuccamirigan Park,
•
West Park, Rumson
Flemington
•
Wolf Hill Recreation Area, Oceanport
•
Old Belle Mountain Ski Area, Lambertville
•
Round Valley Recreation Area, Annandale
Morris County
•
Spruce Run Elementary School, Annandale/
•
Brundage Park, Carrell Road, Randolph
Clinton
•
Buck Hill Tract, Cherry Lane & Hardscrabble
•
Tower Hill Park, Bethlehem
•
Voorhees State Park, Glenn Gardner
Rd, Mendham •
Central School, Stirling
•
Chester Grove St. Park, Chester
Mercer County
•
Chubb Park, Chester Township
•
Banchoff Park, Ewing
•
Gillette School, Valley Rd., Gillette
•
Hamilton Public Library, hill behind,
•
Greenview Park, Pequannock
Hamilton
•
Hacklebarney State Park, Posted areas open 8am-4:30pm, Long Valley
•
Rosedale Park, Lawrence
•
Springdale Golf Course, Princeton
•
Highland Ridge Park, Chester Township
•
Veterans Park, Hamilton
•
Hopatcong State Park Landing
•
Mcgills Hill in Washington Crossings Park
•
Jacob Park, Morristown
•
Jockey Hollow, Designated areas dictated by
Middlesex County •
Visitors Park open 8am-5pm, Morristown
Buccleuch Park Between the Raritan River
•
Knoll Country Club, Parsippany
and Easton Avenue, New Brunswick
•
Lewis Morris County Park, Sledding
•
Donaldson Park, Highland Park
permitted from Mendham overlook to Doe
•
East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick
Meadow ballfield, Harding/Mendham/
•
Home Depot, Rt 9, Old Bridge
•
Jamesburg Park, East Brunswick
•
Mountain Way Park, Morris Plains
•
Red Barn Hill, New Brunswick
•
Robert Street Park, Wharton
•
Roosevelt County Park, Edison
•
Top of the World Park, Green Brook
•
Samsel Upper Elementary School, Sayreville
•
Schooley's Mountain Park, Washington
•
Thompson Park, Jamesburg, Monroe Township
•
Woodlot Park, South Brunswick/Kendall Park
Morristown
Township •
Telecordia Property, behind the white barn on North Road, Chester Continued
Monmouth County •
Atlantic Highlands Elementary School, Atlantic Highlands
•
Beacon Hill Golf Course, Middletown
•
Cheesequake State Park, sledding permitted adjacent to the Hooks Creek Lake parking area, Matawan
•
Glennwood Cemetery/Aldi, West Long Branch
•
Holmdel Park, Park hours are from 8am-7pm, Sunday - Thursday, and 8am-9pm Friday Saturday, Holmdel
•
Howell Public Library, Howell
•
Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Open daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm, Manalapan
•
Oak Glenn Park, Howell
•
PNC Bank Arts Center/Telegraph Hill Park, Holmdel
•
Tower Hill, Red Bank
on the next page
NEW JERSEY’S BEST PLACES TO GO SLEDDING CONTINUED •
Tourne County Park, a portion of the park
•
Phillips Field, Brookdale
road is designated as an official sledding hill,
•
Somerset County Vo-Tech High School,
Boonton area.
Bridgewater
•
Tower Hill Sled Run, Mountain Lakes
•
Valley View School, Watchung
•
Villa Walsh Academy, Morristown
•
Village School, on Burnt Hill Road,
•
Village Green Apartment Complex Golf Course- Budd Lake
Montgomery Township •
Warren Township Municipal, Warren
•
Watchung Hills Regional High School,
Ocean County •
60 Acre Park, Jackson
•
Beaver Dam Hill, Intersection of Route 88,
Watchung •
Watchung Lake, Watchung
Point Pleasant
Sussex County
•
Frenchies Pit, Little Egg Harbor Township
•
Andover Park, Andover
•
Ocean County Park, Lakewood
•
High Point State Park, Wantage
•
Old Stone Store, Manahawkin
•
Hopatcong State Park, Montague
•
Toms River Country Club, near it on
•
Sussex County Community College, Newton
Washington Street, Toms River
•
Swartswood State Park, Stillwater Township.
•
Winward Beach Park, Brick Union County
Passaic County
•
Briant Park, Summit
•
Bubbling Springs Park, West Milford
•
Cranford High School's Memorial Field,
•
Clove Road, between Clove and Long Hill Road, Little Falls
Myrtle Avenue, Cranford •
Echo Lake Park, at the Summer Arts Hill near
•
Eastside park, Paterson
•
Fallon Elementary School, Wayne
•
Galloping Hill Golf Course, Kenilworth
•
Garett Mountain, Clifton
•
Hillside High School, field across the street on
•
Gofffle Brook Park, Hawthorne
•
Nash Park, Clifton
•
Hughes School, Berkeley Heights
•
Packanack Golf Course, just outside of
•
Lenape Park areas that are not close to
Springfield Avenue, Westfield
Liberty Avenue, Hillside
Osborne Terrace and Lake Drive West, Wayne
waterways, Cranford
•
Ringwood State Park, Ringwood
•
Kramer Manor Park, Scotch Plains
•
Westside Park, behind Kennedy High School,
•
Lucent Hill, New Providence
Paterson
•
Meisel Park, Springfield
•
William Patterson University, Paterson
•
The Pit Ball Field, Lupine Way by Malvern
•
Zelenka Park, Clifton
Drive,a small hill perfect for toddlers, Clark •
Raritan Road hill just past the Parkway
Salem County
overpass by International House of Prayer,
•
Cranford
Fort Mott State Park, Pennsville •
Somerset County
Scotch Hills Golf Course, keep away from greens, Scotch Plains
•
Bayberry School, Watchung
•
Behind Tamaques School, Westfield
•
Central School, Mt. Bethel Road, Warren
•
Unami Park, Garwood
•
Chimney Rock Park, Martinsville
•
West Nine Golf Course, Plainfield
•
Duke Island Park, Bridgewater
•
Greenwood Meadows Park, Warren
Warren County
•
Hillside School, Bridgewater
•
•
Mt. Horeb School, Warren
Allamuchy Mountain State Park, Hackettstown
•
Meadow Breeze Park, Washington
•
Target, hill behind the strip mall, Phillipsburg
•
We hope you've enjoyed our listing of the best places to go sledding in New Jersey. Which one is your favorite?
Don't have a sled? Still want to enjoy one of these great sledding locations? Visit our friend, Stephanie over at Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom for some alternative ways to create a sled from things you probably already have at home.
New Jersey Roller Skating Rinks Most parents have fond memories of spending their childhood years at the town roller skating rink. Roller rinks are great places to go and spend some time together while burning off some energy. Check out our list of roller skating rinks across New Jersey and head out to one with your family! •
No need to buy skates - rentals are available at all rinks.
•
Unsure of your own skating skills? Call your local rink to see if they offer skating lessons.
Atlantic County Roller Rinks •
Rollway Skating Rink, Hammonton, 609-561-8061
•
Young's Skating Center, Mays Landing, 609-837-9741
Bergen County Roller Rinks •
Fun Force, Wallington, 973-777-0767
•
Inline Skating Club of America, North Arlington, 201-998-4722
Burlington County Roller Rinks •
Holiday Skating & Fun Center, Delanco, 856-461-3770
•
International Sports, Skating, & Fun Centre, Mt. Laurel, 856-273-2828
Camden County Roller Rinks •
Cherry Hill Skating Center, Cherry Hill, 856795-1919
•
Millennium Skate World, Camden, 856-7579460
•
International Sports, Skating, & Fun Centre, Cherry Hill, 856-428-8588
Cumberland County Roller Rinks •
•
Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center,
•
•
Deptford Skating and Fun Center, Westville,
•
Roosevelt Park, Edison, 732-494-3785
•
Pro Skate, Monmouth Junction, 732-9406400
•
Choice Inline Arena, Sewell, 856-582-1600
•
Franklin Skating Center, Franklinville, 856694-0600
Hunterdon County Roller Rinks •
Frenchtown Roller Rink, Frenchtown, 908996-6313
Kendall Park Roller Skating, Kendall Park, 732-297-3003
Morris County Roller Rinks •
Florham Park Roller Rink, Florham Park, 973-377-0465
Ocean County Roller Rinks •
Jackson Skating Center, Jackson, 732-3632222
856-845-7353 •
Woodbridge Community Center, Woodbridge, 732-596-4000
Newark, 973-482-8900 Gloucester County Roller Rinks
South Amboy Arena, South Amboy, 732-7271122
Skate 2000, Bridgeton, 856-459-3666
Essex County Roller Rinks •
Middlesex County Roller Rinks
Union County Roller Rinks •
Skate 22, Union, 908-686-6838
Warren County Roller Rinks •
Villa Roller Rink, Broadway, 908-689-6155
•
Excel Roller Skating Center, Hackettstown, 908-852-6029
Kids Skate Free Did you know there are roller skating rinks around the country that offer FREE roller skating for kids? Kids Skate Free has a nationwide listing of where kids can skate for free. We’re sharing the listing of New Jersey locations.
New Jersey locations where Kids Can Roller Skate for Free in New Jersey
To view more details or register for a center please click on their name. You will then be brought to their page where you will be able to sign up and start skating for free. About once a week you will get an email with information to download your free passes. You can register up to 4 children under the age of 12. Roller Skating Rinks in Mays Landing, Atlantic County, New Jersey Young’s Skating Center, 763 Park Rd., 609-625-1191 Roller Skating Rinks in Mt. Laurel, Burlington County, New Jersey International Sports, Skating, and Fun Centre of Mt. Laurel, 1 Hovtech Blvd, 856-273-2828 Roller Skating Rinks in Cherry Hill, Camden County, New Jersey International Sports, Skating, & Fun Centre, Cherry Hill, 600 Kresson Road, 856-428-8588 Roller Skating Rinks in Deptford, Gloucester County, New Jersey Deptford Skating & Fun Center, 510 Deptford Ave, 856 845 7353 Don't see your local skating center? Try to recruit them to be part of the program. Click here to print out a letter from Kids Skate Free for your local skating center.
How To Teach Kids
to
Ice Skate
Advice from 1 Parent to Another
written by Anne
proof pants. No one wants to learn to skate with a wet rear end. This also ensures that they will be
There is no sport more about winter than ice
warm enough. As an added bonus, snow pants
skating. Some of us learned when we are kids.
also provide a little cushion for all the falls they
We hope that we are able to remember how to
are going to take. You may or may not wish to
ice skate respectably, navigate around the rink,
have your child use a bike helmet. You will need
and perhaps even skate backwards. We decide
two pairs of gloves. Once they fall the gloves tend
to teach our kids...where do we start? How do
to get really wet so have a back up pair.
you ice skate? How do you teach your kids to ice skate? If you have questions these tips can help.
Step #3 Have them walk in the skates first Let your child get the feel of the skate. Show them
Tips to Teaching Your Kids How to Ice Skate
the skate and point out the toe pick on a figure skate or how to hold their foot. They won't have
Step #1 - Call your local ice rink. You need to
much ability to really push off even with a toe
know if there are public skate times, if they offer
pick. So if you have hockey skates you are not
rentals, and especially ice walkers. You may want
really at a disadvantage. It is a good idea to let
to pick a time when it is not crowded. Avoid
them walk around for five or ten minutes before
holiday public times as they will certainly be
heading out onto the ice.
packed. If you have the opportunity, it may even be good for you to try it alone to make sure you
Step #4 Take it slow and use the walker. Kids are
can still stand up on skates. It's important to be
far more resilient then we think. They naturally
able to keep your own balance before teaching
get that they have to try to keep balance. A
your little one.
walker really teaches them that balance. My did more walking on skates. He did start to glide a bit at the end but it was more walking and balance his first time out. Expect that and be ready to bend over and hold the walker and skate with them. You will be a bit sore afterwards because you'll be bent over for a long time. Step #5 Teach falling and getting up! Teach them to fall to their side and not squarely on their rump. This prevents injuries and makes it easier for them to get back up. Teach them to use the walker to pull themselves up. This takes practice and it will take a few tries before they can do it on their own. Step #6 Begin small techniques one at a time.
Walkers really help the first time kids get on
Teach them to push off sideways with one skate
skates.
and glide. Even if they want the walker discarded it is a good idea to let them really get the hang of
Step #2 - Gather the right clothes and safety
this before they start to try to skate without it.
equipment. You'll want to have your child (if under 8 years of age) in snow pants or water
Now get out there and have fun out there!
Ice Skating Rinks Don't just let your kids just pretend to ice skate this winter! Go do it at one of these ice skating rinks! •
Ice skates rentals are available at most rinks.
•
Unsure on the ice? Consider enrolling your child in a class before heading out to an open skate.
•
Ice rinks are cold! Bundle up!
•
Be ready to take a break in the middle for ice cleaning. But the Zamboni can be fun to watch!
Atlantic County Ice Rinks •
Flyers Skate Zone, Atlantic City, 609-441-1780
Bergen County Ice Rinks •
Fritz Dietl Ice Rink, Westwood, 201-666-9883
•
Ice House, Hackensack, 201-487-8444
•
ProSkate , Monmouth Junction, 732-940-6400
Ice Rink at Mackay Park, Englewood, 201-568-
•
Arenas at Woodbridge, Woodbridge, 732-596-
•
4000
3133 Burlington County Ice Rinks •
•
Rock Ice Center, Dunellen, 732-752-8600
•
Roosevelt Park Rink, Edison, 732-494-2980
Igloo Ice Rink, Mt. Laurel, (856) 638-0801 Monmouth County Ice Rinks
Camden County Ice Rinks
•
Red Bank Armory, Red Bank, 732-450-9001
•
Flyers Skate Zone, Pennsauken, 856-488-9300
•
Jersey Shore Arena, Wall, 732-919-7070
Flyers Skate Zone, Voorhees, 856-309-4400
•
Howell Ice World, Farmingdale, 732-378-6600
•
Essex County Ice Rinks
Morris County Ice Rinks
•
Clary Anderson Arena, Montclair, 973-744-6088
•
Aspen Ice At Randolph, Randolph, 973-927-9122
Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain, West
•
Mennen Sports Arena, Morristown, 973-326-7651
Orange, 973-731-3828
•
Twin Oaks Ice Rink, Morristown, 973-292-5699
•
Gloucester County Ice Rinks
Ocean County Ice Rinks
•
Hollydell Ice Arena, Sewell 856-589-5599
•
•
Winterland Ice Rink, Glassboro, 856-723-9069
Winding River Skating Center, Toms River, (732) 244-0720
•
Ocean Ice Palace, Brick, (732)-477-4411
Hudson County Ice Rinks • •
Richard J. Korpi Ice Rink, Bayonne, 201-858-
Passaic County Ice Rinks
6000
•
Floyd Hall Arena, Little Falls, 973-746-7744
Newport Skates, Jersey City, (201) 626-7465 SEA-
•
Ice Vault Arena, Wayne, 973-628-1500
SONAL •
Charlie Heger Ice Skating Rink, 201-547-4392.
Somerset County Ice Rinks
SEASONAL
•
Bridgewater Sports and Ice Arena, Bridgewater, 732-627-0006
Hunterdon County Ice Rinks •
•
ProTecHockey Ponds Ice Center, Somerset, 732868-9181
Aspen Ice at Flemington, Flemington, 908.237.1423
Sussex County Ice Rinks Mercer County Ice Rinks
•
Skylands Ice World, Stockholm, 973.697.1600
•
Ice Land, Hamilton, 609-588-6672
•
Aspen Ice Arena, Randolph, 973-927-9122
•
Mercer County Skating Center (seasonal), West Windsor, 609-371-1766
Middlesex County Ice Rinks •
Old Bridge Ice Arena, Old Bridge, 732-607-7971
Union County Ice Rinks •
Union Sports Arena, Union, 908-687-8610
•
Warinanco Ice Skating Center, Roselle, 908-2897850 SEASONAL
OPEN HOUSE January 4-10
TOMORROW STARTS
TODAY AFTER CARE CHILD CARE ENRICHMENT SPORTS
ARTS PROGRAMS DANCE CLASSES FITNESS CLASSES SWIM LESSONS
Free Memberships for ALL 7th Grade Students!
THE GATEWAY FAMILY YMCA ELIZABETH BRANCH
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Our Favorite Wintery Spots to Spend a Day in New Jersey
Gloucester County •
Heritage Glass Museum, for learning something new on a day off from school.
Atlantic County
Hudson County
•
Flyers Skate Zone, for old fashioned ice
•
Pole Position Race Way, for racing cars fun.
skating fun.
•
Liberty Science Center, for discovering science
•
Atlantic City Aquarium, for finding the
and finding Diego.
creatures of the beach without being on the beach.
Hunterdon County •
Bergen County •
Tenafly Nature Center, for learning how
Park for a hunt for fish below the ice. •
animals behave in nature in the winter months.
Spruce Run Reservoir or Round Valley State Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation, to tap a tree for Maple syrup.
•
Frenchtown Borough Park, for their free outdoor ice skating rink.
Burlington County •
International Sports, for an awesome place to
Mercer County
experience roller skating, inflatables, arcade,
•
fun zone and even indoor fields. •
Paws Farm, for experiences in the land, sea
Tulpehaking Nature Center, to seek out the birds of winter.
•
and forest areas as well as with farm animals.
Howell Living History Farm, to Harvest Ice. Yes, visitors can experience a winter activity that was familiar to Pleasant Valley families a
Camden County
century ago -- ice harvesting on January 30,
•
2016!
Cooper River Park, for their Winter Fest Skating Rink that grows bigger each year
•
giving more families more ice skating fun.
Middlesex County
Sahara Sams, where the temperature inside is
•
always warm enough to feel like summer.
for those little ones you have at home. •
Cape May County •
Woodbridge Mall, for the tiny town play area Roosevelt Park Ice Skating Rink, for taking some twists and turns on the ice.
Cape May County Park and Zoo, for watching animals that are more playful in the winter. Continued
Cumberland County •
Legacy Lanes, Bridgeton where all ages and abilities are welcome for bowling fun and hourly lane rates are available.
•
Skate 2000 Family Fun Center, Upper Deerfield for their budget friendly Thursdays night discounts for families from 7:00 - 9:00 pm, $5 per person admission (skate rental additional.)
Essex County •
Kidgits Indoor Playground for an indoor carpeted playground complete with a rocket ship to fly, caterpillar to climb on, a log tunnel to crawl through and more.
on the next page
Continued
from the previous page
Sussex County •
police station, fire station, diner, ice cream
Monmouth County •
• •
cart and more.
Holmdel Park, for the perfect supervised spot for sledding when two or more inches of snow
•
High Point State Park, for beautiful views to
cover the hill.
enjoy as you and the kids go cross country
Monmouth County Parks, for outdoor ice
skiing and snowshoeing on a half-day, full day
skating and ice fishing.
or season pass.
Thompson Park, to try out your skills at cross country skiing and snow-shoeing.
Union County •
Frelinghysen Arboretum, for a scavenger hunt
The Gateway Family YMCA, for playing sports and taking a swim, regardless of the weather.
Morris County •
Tagalongs, for indoor play in the pretend
•
Trailside Nature Center, for the indoor/
where along the way you’ll make a very special
outdoor center’s World of Wonder
memory.
Photography Exhibit and Saturday Story
•
Aspen Ice or Mennen Arena for ice skating
•
Pump it Up in Randolph, for jumping out all
Times. •
Echo Lake Park, for one of Union County's most popular sledding-approved destinations!
of that extra energy from being cooped up inside.
Warren County Ocean County • •
•
Rink, for ice skating fun.
the Delaware Water Gap.
Robert J. Novins Planetarium, for bringing stay warm while gazing at the stars.
hiking, ice fishing, cross-country skiing.
RollerMagic Roller Rink, for roller skating fun Tuckerton Seaport, for indoor outdoor fun
flatty to climbing a lighthouse. Passaic County Ringwood Skate Park for outdoor fun that includes a botanical gardens open year-round. Little Falls, for taking a tour of the Yogi Bear Museum and Learning Center. Salem County •
Fort Mott State Park, for fun that doesn’t end with sledding, there’s hiking, fishing, and skiing there too.
Somerset County •
RVCC Planetarium, for finding the big dipper without going outside.
•
Merrill Creek Reservoir, for 2000 acres of woods for all kinds of outdoor fun including
feasting on food truck delights from painting a
•
•
the wonder of the skies inside, where you can
from learning about aquatic environments to
•
Lakota Wolf Preserve, to listen to the howling of the wolves’ echo through the mountains of
times. •
•
Winding River Skating Center Ice Skating
Bridgewater Sports Arena, for sports fun on indoor courts.
to learn how and why trees are tapped. Participants will also help tap trees.
Written by Melanie Cortese Do you think you can only go maple sugaring in
Stony Brook-Millstone
Vermont?
•
31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington (609 7377592) www.thewatershed.org
Well, I am very happy to say that maple sugaring
•
What you can expect: Families will help
is a very important part of New Jersey's winter
the Teacher-Naturalists get ready for
tradition as well! Beginning this January,
maple sugaring season and will start their
parks will be offering amazing maple sugaring
adventure by attending a short talk about
programs in New Jersey for the entire family to
maple sugaring. Everyone will head out
enjoy. Not only are these events affordable, fun
on the property and assist in tapping
and educational, they are tasty too!
the maple trees that will be used for sap collection. Participants are encouraged to
While the dates for free and low cost Maple
come dressed for wintery weather (boots are
Sugaring Events in New Jersey is still being
recommended).
determined, we wanted to give you a heads up of where those events might be.
Echo Hill Playground •
Lilac Drive, Flemington (908-782-1158) www. co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/parks/programs.
New Jersey Maple Sugaring Locations
html#natureprograms Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center • •
•
What you can expect: Children ages 5 and
247 Southern Blvd., Chatham Twn. (973-635-
up along with their parents will meet at
6629) www.morrisparks.net
the playground and walk to the sugar bush
What you can expect: Participants will learn
(about 5-10 minutes). A Park Naturalist
all about the maple sugaring process by
will demonstrate how to tap a maple tree.
identifying and tapping maple trees, collecting
Participants will then tap about 30 trees!
sap and seeing syrup made over a wood-fired evaporator. Families can also take a taste test
Basking Ridge Environmental Education Center
of three distinct maple syrups: a store bought
•
Ridge (908 766-2489, ext. 332) www.
corn syrup, a farm produced sugar maple
somersetcountyparks.org
syrup, and the syrup made from the red maple trees at the Great Swamp OEC.
190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking
•
What you can expect: Participants will see how trees are tapped, view sap-collecting
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
methods past and present, and see the
•
165 Hobart Avenue Summit (908 273-
boiling process that produces delicious
8787) www.reeves-reedarboretum.org/
New Jersey maple syrup. The program lasts
childrenPrograms.php
approximately 90-minutes program and is
What you can expect: Families with children
conducted at the Sugar Shack, a ½-mile hike
ages 5 and up are invited to the Arboretum
from the EEC.
•
Continued
on page
75
Sahara Sam’s
Providing Inside & Outside Water Fun for Families Sahara Sam’s, located in West Berlin, has come to be a favorite water park among the Jersey Family Fun team. With so much to do inside and out there’s always guaranteed to be a way to have fun.
Some things we love about Sahara Sam’s
• They have life jackets galore. For little ones that aren’t good swimmers yet, it is great that they have these available all throughout the park for the kids to use. • It is unbelievably clean. We have visited other water parks and spraygrounds in the past where water shoes felt necessary because things were a bit icky. Sahara Sam’s has been spotless from top to bottom. The bathrooms were impeccable and had nonslip rubber mats for wet feet. • It is laid out perfectly. With little ones wanting to play in the toddler area and older kids wanting to explore Tim-buk-tu area, they are able to be next to each other, with chairs stationed in the middle, for parents to watch everyone at once. • The lifeguards were great. We frequently see the lifeguards go out of their way to keep the kids safe.
Upcoming Events for December
• Winter Break December 23 – January 3 (excluding December 25th) • Admission: 24.95 – 29.95 (Full day tickets 12/23, 12/24 and 12/31 are $24.95 online. Full day tickets purchased online for all other dates listed are $29.95)
What Sahara Sam’s has to offer:
• Tim-bu-Tu which includes two slides one closed and one open slide. • Mt. Kill Family slide for children 42 inches and taller. • The Mile Nile for children 48 inches and taller that is a body slide! • Snake Eyes: two slides side by side using a joined tube. • Lazy river • Lizard Lagoon only for the littler ones 42 inches and smaller. • Indoor surfing simulator (must be at least 8-years-old and 48 inches, waiver needed to be signed before using) • Basketball area in water • Outdoor Splash Pad during warmer months • Outdoor pool for warmer months
Hours of operation • • • • •
Wednesday, Dec. 23rd from 12 – 7 PM Christmas Eve (12/24) from 10 AM – 4 PM Saturday, Dec. 26 – Wednesday, Dec. 30 from 10 AM – 7 PM New Year’s Eve (12/31) from 10 AM – 5 PM Friday, Jan 1 – Sunday, Jan 3 from 10 AM – 7 PM
Sahara Sam’s really does make it easy for a simple day trip. All you really need is your bathing suits and towels. Don’t feel like lugging around a heavy bag of clothes? Rent a locker! Not in the mood for lunch at the snack bar/café? Feel free to go eat somewhere down the road or picnic in your car - your bracelet allows you to come and go out of the park as you please! It’s the perfect day trip for a family to warm up on a cold wintery day. Check the Sahara Sam’s website for the most up-to-date schedule. Sahara Sam’s Oasis is located at 535 North Route 73 in West Berlin in Camden County.
The Sights, Sounds, and Flavors of the Jersey Shore Comes to Burlington County! Written by Crystal Rodgers We had the pleasure of attending the opening celebration of the new indoor boardwalk area at The Funplex. The whole inside of the Funplex was revamped. We walked inside and both of my boys couldn't stop with the wows and the hey mom did you see they have this game in the arcade and that was before even making it to the boardwalk. We made our way to the back of the building to find the boardwalk area and boy were we impressed. There was a massive expansion, the go-kart track was bigger, there was a tilt a whirl inside, and as soon as the boys saw the new Air Shot ride they took off. It was just like visiting the boardwalk on a summer day. I could smell funnel cake and candy apples coming from the cafe, the sounds of kids playing the midway games and the pop of the balloons as a dart hit one, and giggles as they were all excited running to the rides. When standing in line waiting for the next ride, we loved looking around at the paintings around the boardwalk, they really pulled the theme together and helped encapsulate the feeling of the Jersey Shore.
The Funplex We had an amazing day, my 12 year old couldn't wait to try out the go-karts as he was finally tall enough. They didn't disappoint. He was able to maneuver the car with ease and was all smiles. I was impressed with the safety measures taken on this ride. Not only were their harnesses checked twice but because they are each on a remote controllable device when a rider started to try to get a little aggressive in his driving the ride attendant was able to slow that car down and warn them. When he got off the ride he was all smiles and said he wants to have his next birthday on the Funplex boardwalk so he can ride all day with his friends. The 14 year old couldn't wait to go on Air Shot. We rode it 3-4 times before we left for the day. He loved how it felt like you were flying over everyone. I'm not much of a rides person. For me I loved that I could sit back on one of the benches or in the food area and see the entire boardwalk area. I relaxed with a chocolate shake but I was still able to see where my kids were the whole time. Of course there is so much more to the Funplex than just the boardwalk area, which makes it one of our favorite attractions to visit all year long. There is a state-of-the-art arcade that has games for every skill level
and a bowling alley perfect for a day of fun when the weather isn't cooperating or for a playdate with a group of friends. I love that there is something for all ages whether its the foam frenzy balls or junior bumper cars for younger kids, laser tag and the larger bumper cars for the child just starting on bigger rides or the go karts and air shot for the thrill seekers. We look forward to many more days at the Funplex with friends and family. Information
about
The Funplex
Ice Cream, Popcorn and more. My personal
•
favorite was finding apple juice in the fountain
The Funplex is located at 3320-24 Route 38 in
Mt Laurel. •
drinks section!
There is no admission or parking fees to enter The Funplex, you pay as you play or for the
To learn more visit The Funplex website.
best value purchase wristbands
To see more Funplex photos from our visit visit our Facebook Album.
The Funplex Attractions There is something for everyone at The Funplex. Indoor Boardwalk Attractions •
Newly Redone Electric Go Karts
•
Foam Frenzy
•
Air Shot
•
Fun a Whirl
•
Boardwalk Midway Games
•
Boardwalk Cafe
•
Indoor Attractions
•
Bowling Alley
•
Bumper Cars
•
Jr. Bumper Cars
•
4D Theatre: The Dark Ride
•
Laser Runner
•
Motion Simulator
•
Arcade with over 100 games including cranes, wizard of oz, racing games, and adventure games
•
Food Area - Features, Pizza, Nachos, Salads,
Put Your Library Card to Great Use with the Museum Pass Program Many New Jersey libraries are participating in museum pass programs. The museum pass program varies from library to library contact your library for more information. The basic way it works is to visit your library and sign out passes to take your family to visit your favorite museums. Some libraries allow you to sign out the passes for 3 days at a time though some may require a refundable cash deposit. The New Jersey counties that have libraries that participate in the Museum Pass Program are listed below. Click here to see our complete listing that lists and links to participating libraries.
Check out these
• Bergen County • Burlington County • Camden County • Essex County • Gloucester County • Hudson County • Hunterdon County • Middlesex County • Monmouth County
Cape May Zoo Cohanzick Zoo Cape May Point State Park nature trails & buildings Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve Howell Living History farm Barnegat Lighthouse Heritage Glass Museum New Jersey State Police Museum Princeton University Art Museum Atlantic City Art Center Southern New Jersey All Sports Museum and Hall of Fame Hopewell Museum Cape May County Museum Princeton Arts Museum Princeton Historical Society New Jersey State House Twin Lights Historic Site Somers Point Mansion Sea Girt Lighthouse C.A. Nothnagle Log House Fort Hancock Historic District Kuser Farm Mansion Historic Batsto Village US Coast Guard Training Center The Korean War Memorial Zimmerli Art Museum
• Morris County • Passaic County • Somerset County • Sussex County • Union County • Warren County
NJ Day Trip locations with Free Admission
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 Burlington County Butterfly Garden 609-265-5858 Smithville Mansion Garden 609-265-5858 Barton Arboretum 609-654-3000 Sculpture Garden 609-894-9311 In Camden County Camden Children’s Garden 856-365-8733
Barclay Farmstead 856-795-6225 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 Essex County Presby Iris Gardens 973-783-5974 Avis Campbell Gardens 201-746-9614
Cora Hartshorn Arboretum 973-376-3587 Greenwood Gardens 973-2584026 In Hunterdon County Hunterdon County Arboretum 908-788-1202 In Mercer County Grounds for Sculpture 609-5860616 Sayen Park Botanical Garden 609-890-3630 Drumthwacket Garden 609-609-683-0057 Herrontown Woods Arboretum 609-303-0700
Morven Museum & Garden 609-924-8144 In Middlesex County Bucceluch Mansion Gardens 732-745-5112 Rutger’s Gardens 732-932-8451 In Monmouth County David Shaw Arboretum Deep Cut Gardens 732-671-6050 In Morris County Willowwood Arboretum 973-326-7600
Frelinghuysen Arboretum 973-326-7603 In Ocean County Edith Duff Gwin Gardens In Passaic County New Jersey Botanical Garden 973-962-9534 Laurelwood Arboretum 973-202-9579 In Somerset County Cross Estate Gardens 973-5392016 Leonard J. Buck Garden 908-234-2677 Duke Gardens 908-722-3700
Colonial Park Arboretum & Rose Garden 732-873-2459 Wagner Farm Arboretum 908-350-7383 In Union County Cedar Brook Park Shakespeare Garden 908-527-4900 Reeves Arboretum 908-273-8787 In Warren County Merrill Creek Reservoir Butterfly Garden 908-454-1213 Pohatcong Native Arboretum 908-343-5274
New Jersey Nature Centers In Atlantic County Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Warren E. Fox Nature Center In Bergen County Closter Nature Center Demarest Nature Center Flat Rock Brook Nature Center Lorrimer Sanctuary Meadowlands Environmental Center Ridgefield Nature Center Tenafly Nature Center James A McFaul Environmental Center In Burlington County Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Preserve Rancocas Nature Center Paws Nature Center Palmyra Cove Nature Center In Camden County Camden Co. Environmental Center In Cape May County Cape May Bird Observatory Nature Center of Cape May Cape May Point State Park The Wetlands Institute
In Cumberland County Albert J. Kolonich Jr. Nature Trail Meadow Wood Environmental Facility Maurice River Bluffs Nature Preserve
Huber Woods Environmental Center Poricy Park Allaire State Park Nature Center
In Morris County Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center Kay Environmental Center In Essex County Bamboo Brook Outdoor Essex Co. Environmental Center Education Center Cora Hartshorn Bird Sanctuary Schiff Nature Preserve The Raptor Trust In Gloucester County Scotland Run Park Nature Cen. In Ocean County Greenwich Lake Park Jakes Branch County Park Lighthouse Center for Natural In Hudson County Research Liberty State Park Interpretive Island Beach State Park Nature Center Center Cooper Environmental Center In Hunterdon County Wells Mills Nature Center Whittemore Wildlife Sanctuary In Mercer County Lawrence Nature Center Stonybrook Millstone Watershed Washington Crossing State Park Nature Center In Middlesex County Plainsboro Preserve In Monmouth County Manasquan Reservoir Env. Cen.
In Passaic County Garret Mountain Reservation In Salem County Alloway Creek Watershed In Somerset County Somerset Co. Environmental Center Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary Bernardsville Duke Farms In Sussex County Kittatinny Valley State Park In Union County Trailside Nature & Science Center In Warren County Pequest Trout Hatchery Merrill Creek Reservoir
watching, nature trails, Fort Hancock and the Sandy Hook lighthouse await! Delaware Water Gap Warren County. No entrance fee but amenity fees may apply from April - October. Mountains, streams, and the 1000 foot deep water gap are available for outdoor fun. Thomas Edison Historical Park - West Orange, Essex County. Explore Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory. Entrance fee $10, 16 and under free.
The National Park Service maintains 9 National Parks as well as other protected areas in New Jersey to explore, learn, and enjoy the outdoors!
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ADMISSION FEES • Fees vary, but there are free entry days at each park (mainly holidays and National Public Lands Day). • A park entrance pass can be purchased for $80/year or $10 for senior citizens (lifetime). • Free for military. • With the “Every Kid in a Park” initiative, all 4th graders get free admission to all National Parks.
NATIONAL PARKS IN NEW JERSEY Ellis Island - take ferry from Jersey City, Hudson County. No entrance fee but various ferry fees apply as well as fees for advanced tours. Visit the hall where 12 million immigrants entered on their way to an American life. Gateway National Recreation Area Sandy Hook, Monmouth County. Parking fees in summer only, no entrance fees. Beach, bird
Paterson Great Falls Paterson, Passaic County. No entrance fee. View the majestic falls and explore the Great Falls Historic District Cultural Center. Morristown National Historical Park Morristown, Morris County. $7 to enter, 15 and under free. Encompasses the sites of George Washington’s winter encampment from 17791780. Explore trails, museums, and the Ford Mansion.
NON PARKS, MAINTAINED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • Washington - Rochambeau Trail. Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, No fees. The trail preserves the march of the American-French allied forces in 1781-1783. • Appalachian Trail - Sussex and Warren Counties. No fees. The trail extends more than 2000 miles through 14 states. • New Jersey Pinelands Reserve - No fees. Biosphere reserve: 0ver a million acres over 56 communities. Check out the Junior Ranger program for added educational fun while visiting your National Park!
Which National Park will you visit?
NEW JERSEY STATE PARKS
Do you know about New Jersey’s State Parks? We’re all familiar with local town and county parks, many of which are reviewed on Jersey Family Fun. New Jersey State Parks are run by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and lands were acquired for providing outdoor recreational opportunities. They might have historic buildings within their confines, or have lakes or streams, but most do not have playgrounds so be ready for some walking and exploring. State parks offer lots of special events. Many are at an additional fee, but most are still a bargain! Find them here.
NEW JERSEY STATE PARKS ADMISSION FEES State parks generally charge a parking fee, usually $5 or $10 per car depending on the day. It is higher for out of state residents, so be sure to have your ID with you. Click here for the list of specific fees. State park passes are $50 for the year and free to senior citizens so be sure to sign up grandparents!
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• Allaire State Park - Wall, Monmouth County • Allamuchy Mountain State Park - Allumuchy • Barnegat Lighthouse State Park - Long Beach Island, Ocean County • Cape May Point State Park Cape May, Cape May County • Cheesequake State Park - Old Bridge, Middlesex County • Corson’s Inlet State Park Cape May County • Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park - Spans multiple western counties • Double Trouble State Park Lacey and Berkeley Township, Ocean County Edison State Park - Menlo Park, Middlesex County Farny State Park - Rockaway, Morris County Fort Mott State Park- Pennsville, Salem County Hacklebarney State Park - Long Valley and Chester, Morris County High Point State Park - Montague, Sussex County Hopatcong State Park - Landing, Morris County Island Beach State Park - Berkeley, Ocean County Kittatinny Valley State Park - Andover, Sussex County Liberty State Park - Jersey City, Hudson County Long Pond Ironworks State Park - West Milford, Passaic County Monmouth Battlefield State Park - Manalapan and Freehold, Monmouth County Parvin State Park - Pittsgrove Township, Salem County Pigeon Swamp State Park - South Brunswick, Middlesex County Princeton Battlefield State Park - Princeton, Mercer County Rancocas State Park - Hainesport, Burlington
• • • • • • •
County Ringwood State Park - Ringwood, Passaic County Stephens State Park - Hackettstown, Morris County Swartswood State Park - Stillwater Township, Sussex County Voorhees State Park - Glen Gardner, Hunterdon County Washington Crossing State Park - Hopewell, Mercer County Washington Rock State Park - Green Brook, Somerset County Wawayanda State Park - Vernon and West Milford, Sussex and Passaic Counties
NEW JERSEY STATE FORESTS The NJDEP also maintains the following state forests. Forest lands were acquired for conservation of natural resource (trees); timber production; watershed protection; soil erosion control; and demonstration areas for forestry practices. Many offer recreational
park activities such as camping, fishing and hiking. • Abram S. Hewitt State Forest- West Milford, Passaic County • Bass River State Forest - Tuckerton, Ocean and Burlington Counties • Belleplain State Forest - Woodbine, Cape May and Cumberland Counties • Brendan T. Byrne State Forest - New Lisbon, Burlington County • Jenny Jump State Forest - Hope, Warren County • Norvin Green State Forest - Bloomingdale, Passaic County • Penn State Forest - Jenkin’s Neck, Burlington County • Ramapo Mountain State Forest - Ringwood, Bergen and Passaic Counties • Stokes State Forest - Branchville, Sussex County • Wharton State Forest - Hammonton, Atlantic, Burlington and Camden Counties • Worthington State Forest - Columbia, Warren County
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
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
Cape May County Zoo (Cape May County) - 707 Route 9 North, Cape May. 609-465-5271. Our review Cohanzick Zoo (Cumberland County) - 45 Mayor Aitken Drive, Bridgeton. 856-453-1658. 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
New York Zoos Local to NJ Bronx Zoo - 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY. 718367-1010. 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
Dive into fun without getting wet at
New Jersey’s Aquariums Who doesn't love exploring an aquarium? There are so many great animals living under the sea, and an aquarium is a great place to check them out. Fish, seals, dolphins, and sharks! How can you pick a favorite? You have to check them all out. We are lucky enough to have several local aquariums for you to check out this summer. We've listed them here to help you plan your fall adventures.
Aquariums in New Jersey
• Adventure Aquarium (Camden County) 1 Riverside Dr. Camden, NJ 08103 (856) 3653300, Click over to read our Adventure Aquarium review. • Jenkinson's Aquarium (Ocean County) 300 Ocean Ave. Point Pleasant, NJ 07842 (732) 892-0600, Click over to read our Jenkinson's Aquarium review. • Atlantic City Aquarium (Atlantic County) 800 North New Hampshire Ave. Atlantic City, NJ 08401 (609) 348-2880, Click over to read our Atlantic City Aquarium review. • Marine Mammal Stranding Center (Atlantic County) 3625 Brigantine Boulevard, Brigantine, NJ 08203 (609) 266-0538. This is not an aquarium but does teach about aquatic life and may have other rescued animals in shallow pools.
Aquariums in New York
• New York Aquarium 2300 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10460 (718) 2205100 • Long Island Aquarium 431 East Main Street Riverhead, NY 11901 (631) 2089200
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
What kid doesn’t love planes? Writen by Traci Murn If you are looking for some different type of family fun and your kids love planes, check out these great New Jersey places to watch airplanes take off and land. Below are some of the best airports for plane spotting in New Jersey. They provide excellent viewing angles and lots of space for your family to enjoy the thrill of watching beautiful aircrafts in flight. TIPS FOR WATCHING PLANES WITH YOUR KIDS • Find your nearest airport and check out their website to see if they have an observation
park or area. • The best time to visit your local airport is in early morning or late afternoon on a weekday. • While plane spotting share your own stories about air travel and experiences you have had with your children. • Don’t forget your binoculars and camera.
NEW JERSEY PLACES TO WATCH AIRPLANES Bergen County Teterboro airport is located in Teterboro and has some playing fields located east of the airport on Redneck Drive. Bring some snacks and a picnic blanket. Burlington County Flying W Airport is located in Medford and has a restaurant located on Fostertown Road. In the back of the restaurant you’ll have a gazebo and some benches. On a nice day its common to see small airplanes and helicopters. Essex County Ikea cafeteria is located in Elizabeth and offers the best views for huge airplanes. It is right across the highway from Newark International Airport. Hunterdon County Sky Manor is located in Pittstown and is a fabulous location for for watching aircrafts. It even has a restaurant and you can sit right near the runway with some yummy snacks. Solberg Airport is located in Whitehouse Station and offers lots of great space for your family to enjoy watching small aircrafts take off and land.
There is something magical about trains for kids. Boys and girls alike always stop to stare as a train glides into the station, and think taking a ride on a train is way cooler than hopping in the car. We have rounded up our favorite places to see all kinds of trains in New Jersey to share with you. From museums to parks to historic terminals, pick your favorite destination and take your family for a train-tastic day! NEW JERSEY MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION ~ THE PINE CREEK RAILROAD AT ALLAIRE STATE PARK Monmouth County Founded in 1952, New Jersey Museum of Transportation’s Pine Creek Railroad is one of the oldest operating narrow gauge railway exhibits in the country. Trains run every weekend from noon to 4:30 (4:00 in November and December), weather permitting, from Easter until Christmas. Train rides are approximately 15 minutes long. Cost: $4 per person ages 3 and up. (See our Allaire State Park review.) MAGNOLIA TRAIN STATION MUSEUM Camden County If you are interested in learning the history of this local train station and seeing miniature train sets, Magnolia Train Station Museum is the place to go. The Museum operates by appointment only, and you may call to schedule an appointment. Cost: FREE! (See our Magnolia Train Station Museum review.) BLACK RIVER & WESTERN RAILROAD Hunterdon County The Black River & Western Railroad is an independently owned and operated railroad located in rural Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
From South to North, the railroad connects the towns of Lambertville, Ringoes, Flemington, and Three Bridges. Schedules and events vary, see the website for more details. Cost: Varies per event. (See our Black River & Western Railroad review.) WHIPPANY RAILWAY MUSEUM Morris County At the Whippany Railway Museum, you can enjoy an operating O-gauge model railroad layout, railroad artifacts, a gift shop, and outdoor railroad equipment. On the Whippany Railway, you and your family can enjoy various trips and events throughout the calendar year. All rides depart from and return to the Whippany Railway Museum site. Museum Cost: $1 for adults, $.50 for children 12 and under. Train Ride Cost: Varies by event. (See our Whippany Railway Museum review.) PATCONG VALLEY MODEL RAILWAY ATLANTIC COUNTY The Patcong Valley Model Railway hosts open houses where the railroad will be running and there are recently completed new track and
scenery changes that can be seen. Cost: The Railway is free (donations are accepted). (See our Patcong Valley Model Railway review.) CENTRAL RAILROAD OF THE NEW JERSEY TERMINAL Hudson County Located at Liberty State Park, the terminal is now the focal point of the three-part historic centerpiece that it shares with Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty on the Jersey City waterfront. The partially restored terminal is used as a visitors’ center and for exhibits and social and cultural events. The “Blue Comet” Auditorium on the first floor was formerly a ladies’ waiting room and part of the ticket office; it is used for interpretive programs about the facility. Cost: FREE! DELAWARE RIVER RAILROAD EXCURSIONS Warren County All year long you can ride along the beautiful Delaware river departing from Phillipsburg New Jersey or join one of the many themed excursions such as the Easter Bunny Train Rides, Corn Maze Train, Mine Train, The Great Pumpkin Train, The Warren County Winery Train, A Day Out With Thomas and The Polar Express. Cost: Train Ride Only $10 for children, $17 for adults. (See our Delaware River Railroad Excursions review.)
Friar Mountain Model Railroad Museum
Sussex County This model railroad museum contains both historical information and model train sets like Thomas and Friends, and holiday-themed trains. The museum is open on weekends only from April through the end of December. Cost: $6 per person, children under 4 are free. (See our Friar Mountain Model Railroad Museum review.)
RAILROAD PLAZA PARK – ALLENHURST TRAIN STATION Monmouth County Looking for an easy, free way to see trains? Visit Railroad Plaza Park, a playground located right next to a NJ Transit train station. Trains come and go regularly (see the NJ Transit website for a specific schedule) while your children play on the playground. Cost: FREE! (See our Railroad Plaza Park review.) Arrow River Train – Camden Children’s Garden’ Railroad Garden Camden County In the Railroad Garden is the 600′ long Arrow River Train Ride. It holds up to 38 children or 22 adults. As you travel on the train, for a small extra fee (after the admission fee), you’ll see: • Expanded “G” scale display of model trains running at different elevations • Miniature landscapes which includes a 10-foot high waterfall, several buildings made from natural products, and flowers • A village of custom houses and “Wally World”, a collection of storefronts. • A full-sized, 25-ton “Camden Caboose.” Originally used in 1942 for the New Haven Rail Line, this caboose was donated by Conrail. Written by Nancy Palutis
Who has a child who loves dinosaurs? They may have gone extinct over 65 million years ago, but children are still fascinated with them. I know my house is full of dinosaur books, puzzles, toys, and movies. If your family is like mine, you are always looking for new places to learn about dinosaurs. Well, New Jersey is full of opportunities for learning about dinosaurs. Here is a list of some of our favorite places to see dinosaurs in New Jersey and nearby.
8 PLACES TO SEE DINOSAURS IN NEW JERSEY Morris Museum: Morristown. The Morris Museum has an entire exhibit dedicated to dinosaurs called “Dinosaur Den.” In the Dinosaur Den children can view dinosaur fossils, touch a dinosaur egg, follow dinosaur tracks, and many more fun interactive activities. • Open Tuesday- Sundays • Admission: $10 for adults, $7 for children Camden Children’s Garden: Camden. The Camden Children’s Garden hosts the “Dinosaur Garden” exhibit. In this area of the garden children can visit with the Apatosaurus made from recycled car parts, or check out the Hadrosaur and his nest. • Open Wednesday - Sunday • Admission: $6 per person ages 3 and up Hadrosaurus Foulkii Site: Haddonfield. This historic site is a perfect destination for the future paleontologists in your family. It is the spot where the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton was discovered. In 1858, William Parker Foulke unearthed a skeleton of New Jersey’s official dinosaur, the hadrosaur. During your visit you can see the spot where the discovery was made and visit the “Ground Zero” of dinosaur paleontology.
New Jersey State Museum: Trenton. Another great spot to check out dinosaur fossils and learn more about these amazing creatures is the natural history exhibit at the New Jersey State Museum. • Open Tuesday- Sunday • Admission: $5 for ages 12 and older Sterling Hill Mine: Ogdensburg, NJ. While you are touring the mine you can add on a visit to the Fossil Discovery Center. Visitors can dig through the fossil area and see what types of fossils they can discover. Each paid participant gets to keep 6 of the fossils they discover. This is a perfect way to experience what it’s like to be a paleontologist. • Open daily. Tour times and discovery center hours vary • Costs: Tours of the mine $8-$11 for adults. The fossil discovery center costs an additional $4.50 per person. Garden State Discovery Museum: Cherry Hill. Any little dinosaur lover will have a blast in the Dinosaurium section of the museum. Children can climb inside a T-rex skeleton, dig for bones, hear what they sound like as dinosaurs, and explore the scientist’s tent. This would definitely be a fun and interactive way to learn
about dinosaurs and paleontologists. • Open daily • Admission: $12.95 for ages 1 and older. Rutgers Geology Museum: New Brunswick. The Rutgers Geology Museum contains several dinosaur-related artifacts that have been discovered in New Jersey. They also host several special events related to dinosaurs. • Open Tuesday- Saturdays Turtle Back Zoo: West Orange. Find some dinosaur fun for your little ones while you are visiting the zoo by checking out their dinosaur themed playground. The playground equipment is designed to look like dinosaur bones and there is a dinosaur skeleton to climb through and play on. • Open Monday- Sundays • Admission: $13 for adults, $10 for children
2 Nearby Places to See Dinosaurs The Natural History Museum in New York City. Every dinosaur lover needs to check out the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs at the museum. It is full of fossils from one of the two main groups of dinosaurs. The museum is home to close to 100 specimens. • Open daily • Admission: Pay what you wish donation The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. During a visit to Dinosaur Hall children can view over 30 dinosaur specimens. They can also dig for fossils and participate in interactive dinosaur activities. • Open Monday- Sunday • Admission: $17.95 for adults, $13.95 for children As you can see there are so many different opportunities to learn about dinosaurs in New Jersey. Written by Jillian Fletcher
New Jersey Museums Our list of New Jersey Museums was so extensive we just couldn’t fit it in this guide. Please click over to see our listing on Jersey Family Fun with New Jersey’s museums listed by county.
The Sky is the Limit at New Jersey Planetariums written by Lauran Jones When the leaves start to fall and the air becomes a bit crisper, my family and I prefer to find indoor events to attend. There is no better way to combine science and fun than by gazing at a sky full of stars. Whether it be a laser filled light show at a planetarium or a taking a closer look through a telescope at an observatory, New Jersey has some awesome places where families can explore space and the great beyond! So go ahead bring a little bit of the outside in, and head to your nearest planetarium!
Bergen County •
William D McDowell Observatory, Meadowlands Environment Center,
Ocean County •
College, Toms River, 732-255-0343, Open to
Lyndhurst, 201-460-8300, Public viewing hours Wednesday nights, weather dependent. Essex County •
Dreyfuss Planetarium, Newark Museum,
public on weekends. Somerset County •
3M Observatory and planetarium, Public
and planetarium
shows offered. Observatory open evenings
Hunterdon County Paul H. Robinson Observatory, (viewing sessions weather dependent), Buzz Aldrin Astronomical Center, Voorhees State Park, Glen Gardner, 908-638-8500, Daytime & nighttime sky viewing and tours. Opens in March for public events. Mercer County •
New Jersey State Museum Planetarium, Trenton, 609-292-6464, Largest planetarium in New Jersey. Open to the public weekends during the school year.
Middlesex County •
Robert A. Schommer Observatory, Serin Physics Lab, Busch Campus of Rutgers, Piscataway, 848445-8973, Open to the public on the 2nd & 4th Thursday monthly (weather dependent)
Morris County •
Longo Planetarium, Morris County College, Randolph, 973-328-5076, Digital theater & planetarium, Astronomer available for questions and give tours. Weekend shows.
Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium, North Branch, 908-231-8805,
Newark, 973-596-6529, Interactive theater
•
Robert J. Novins Planetarium, Ocean County
during public show hours. Union County •
Sperry Observatory, Union County College, Cranford, 908-276-STAR, Open to the public ever Friday- 7:30-10:30 pm (weather permitting-please check website). Informal presentations every Friday night at 8:30 pm.
Explore the World of Dora & Diego at the Liberty Science Center This article from Traci Murn is available on Jersey Family Fun. Explore the worlds of Nickelodeon’s “Dora the Explorer” and “Go, Diego, Go!” with the new interactive exhibit “Dora and Diego — Let’s Explore!” now through January 24, 2016 at the Liberty Science Center. Kids can explore different interactive play areas including Isa’s Flowery Garden, Journey to the Purple Planet, Tico’s Nutty Forest, the Animal Rescue Center, Tico’s car, a Rainforest Maze, Rocket Ship and the Pirate Piggies’ Ship. All of these exhibits are for children ages 3 to 10. My children are very familiar with Dora and Diego, and it’s one of their favorite TV shows. One of my favorite parts of the TV show is that it teaches my children some Spanish, and most of the discovery stations have that bilingual theme. My husband and I took our three children, ages 6 and twin 3 year olds to see the Dora & Diego exhibit.
What we loved about the “Dora and Diego — Let’s Explore” exhibit
• The discovery stations include lots of Dora’s friends. My children love Diego, Boots, Map, Backpack, Tico, Swiper and Isa. The room has plenty of space for children to explore and have fun. • My daughter loved playing in Isa the Iguana’s Garden. She picked some beautiful scented flowers and even pretended to be a butterfly, while my son got to pretend to be an astronaut in the Rocket Ship station. He put on a spacesuit and slid down a purple planet slide. • The Rainforest Maze is for very active preschoolers. My son loved swinging across the monkey bars and climbing across Jaguar Mountain. • My older son loved the large space ship. He enjoyed working the controls and pretending to blast off into space. • The big pirate ship was a hit with all my children. Everyone was a pirate going on a great adventure across the ocean. • In Diego’s Animal Rescue Center children can practice helping rainforest animals such as jaguars, monkeys, sea turtles and crocodiles. There is a first aid station and lots of veterinarian equipment. • My son drove Tico the squirrel’s tree car, while my daughter helped Tico pick nuts to fill his huge basket. We had to make sure to keep an eye out for Swiper! • In addition to the “Dora & Diego-Let’s Explore!” exhibit, there were several other great exhibits at Liberty Science Center.
What else can I see at the Liberty Science Center?
• My son loved the Infinity Climber. This suspended climber makes you crawl and balance your way through the pathways. • It’s as high as 35 feet above the atrium floor. I even enjoyed the climber. Some of pathways were a tight squeeze. I had to get on my hands and knees to crawl. It was so much fun! • In I Explore, children ages 2 – 5 can engage in several exhibits created just for them. My son loved the “Air Maze”, which is a twisted pathway of transparent tubes where you can watch soft balls zip through it and fly out. The giant light wall was also a huge hit. The “Clamber” was a climbing challenge in which all my children tried to reach the very top. • The Action Zone exhibit allows you to test your sports skills. My son loved the giant simulator where he tossed some dodge-balls at zombies. The balance beams and rock wall was also a huge hit with him. See more Liberty Science Center photos by checking out our Facebook Gallery. The Liberty Science Center is open daily from 9:00-5:30. It is located at 222 Jersey City Blvd. in Jersey City, NJ. To learn more about the Liberty Science Center, please visit their website.
Get Face to Face with Live Reptiles at the Academy! Written by Jillian Fletcher The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA is getting ready to open its newest exhibit on Wednesday September 30th. The new exhibit is titled “Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly.” The exhibit will be open until January 10, 2015. This new exhibit is extra exciting because it includes live animals! If you have a reptile fan in your house, you are not going to want to miss this exhibit. WHAT TO SEE AT THE “REPTILES: THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE DEADLY” EXHIBIT • Nearly 20 species of live reptiles will be on display including (depending on the day) a bearded dragon, Gila monster, crocodile, alligator, chameleon, gecko, python, viper, cobra, and more. • Watch live reptiles in realistic habitats. Watching the animals in a naturalistic habitat helps visitors get a feel for what the animal is like in the wild. This leads to a better understanding of the reptile world. • Practice “milking” a viper through one of the interactive components of the exhibit. • Learn to speak “croc” like a professional. • Test your knowledge of turtles and lizards by answering various trivia questions. The best way to learn about something is to see it in action. Many of these reptiles are difficult to find in their natural habitat, so this exhibit is the next best thing. “Reptiles have enduring appeal, and they are fascinating to watch and examine up close,” said Academy Senior Director of Exhibits Jennifer Sontchi. “Few people will ever encounter these animals in the wild, but it’s great that they can learn about them in the safety and the fun environment of our museum.” The reptiles in this exhibit are some of the most beautiful and exotic reptiles in existence. It is sure to be a one of a kind experience. ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES HOURS: • Monday-Friday 10am to 4:30pm • Saturday & Sunday 10am to 5pm • Regular admission is $17.95 for adults; $13.95 for children 3 through 12, seniors, college students, and military personnel; and free for members and children under 3. • There is an added fee to visit the reptile exhibit. The Academy of Natural Sciences is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Read more about The Academy of Natural Sciences and their regular exhibits by checking out our The Academy of Natural Sciences articles or videos on our YouTube Channel.
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Our Favorite Ways to Experience the Crayola Experience by Jennifer Auer One of the locations that’s been on my wish list forever is to take the boys to was the Crayola Experience. I had fond memories of taking a bus full of Girl Scouts nearly 15 years ago. I remember then how much there was to do and what a fun time it was for all of us. I was pretty sure it would still be fun today. I had no idea how much fun though and if my boys at ages 7, 9, and 11 had outgrown crayons and colors. They love to draw and create but would they love an experience that’s all about crayons? Is an 11 year old too old to enjoy the Crayola Experience? Take a look at my oldest’s review of the Crayola Experience. When I went to Crayola Experience I was amazed. There was 3 floors of awesomeness. My favorite part was the Color Alive Studio. Floor 1 was all about crayons. Floor 2 was about markers and floor three was about paint. On floor 1, I decorated my own crayon. (deep sea blue). I also drew on a tablet while my drawing came on a big screen. I found a Color Alive Studio were my drawing came alive too. AAAAWWWWEEEEESSSSOOOOMMEEEE!!!!!! I also saw the show on how crayons are made. Floor 1 was fun but floor 2 was equally exciting. Floor 2 had a room were your writing glowed. In that same room you can control a crayon person. The rest of floor two was a jungle gym that stretched all the way to floor 3! Floor 3 had a spot where you melt a crayon into a mold, paint a picture, and create wheel art. As you see my trip to Crayola Experience was awesome!
As you can see from my 11 year old’s Crayola Experience review, the experience did not disappoint. With the remodeling of years ago, there was even more to do. Floor after floor was filled with so many hands on activities. We could have easily spent all day there. Unfortunately, since this was a whirlwind quick trip to the Lehigh Valley, we only had a few hours at the Crayola Experience. That being said we made the most of the experience filling it with as much fun as we possibly could. We’re sharing our favorite experiences, but please know you can take a look at the Crayola Experience website to learn more about everything included with your admission. The activities listed here are included in your ticket price.
Our Favorite Ways to Experience the Crayola Experience Floor 2 Watching & Learning at the Crayon Factory Show! Once we sat down for the show it wasn’t long before Scarlet & Turk (Turquoise), animated crayon friends, and a Crayonologist showed us how crayons are made. We also learned some fascinating facts about crayons like how many are made every day.
Color Magic. We experienced more Crayola magic when we each selected a page to color and bring to life at the Crayola Experience. Yes, this mom got in on the coloring action. While my boys colored dragons that flew over a city firing up buildings, I colored a fairy and gave her life in an enchanted forest.
Dancing in the Rainbow Rain. It was raining melted wax! It was the kind of rain that we could play in but not get wet, the kind of rain that was affected by our movement yet we never touched it. With this virtual simulation wall, guests can watch the various forms of melted crayon react to their presence. Arts Alive. Create art on a tablet and project it onto the wall to watch it become an animated part of a bigger scene. Be the Star of your own coloring page. This area was crazy cool. Pose for the camera. Pick a background. Then print away. Next thing you know we were all holding coloring pages of ourselves! You can even pull up your image at the gift shop to have it printed on a t-shirt, canvas, or puzzle for an additional fee.
Floor 3 Doodle in the Dark. In this interactive dark room, your kids can write with vibrant neon colors onto a large doodle boards. I was especially touch with the message my oldest chose to write, “I love you, mom.” Continued on the next page.
Play on the Floor. In the Doodle in the Dark exhibit area, there is an interactive floor. From a floor of popcorn kernels to lily pads, from a hockey court to other fun images, it’s a floor that reacts to your presence. Walk, hop, or skip across it and see what happens. Animate a crayon. In the same Doodle in the Dark area is a large wall of screens where you will see three crayons waiting to be animated. Pick a spot to stand and watch how these crayons become animated and mimic your every move.
Climb the Crayola Climber. Wiggle up the melted wax tower, then bounce and splat across the paint bridge. Shimmy down the Pip Squeak marker and zigzag up the Crayola crayon while dodging and squeezing through obstacles. Slide out of the crayon box onto the chalk surface. My kids say they loved this area and I loved how it let them burn off some of the excitement they had from all the Crayola projects they were creating. Punch Out a Puzzle. Across from the playground is an area where guests can design their own puzzle. Everyone starts with a blank canvas. Create your image within the borders. When you are ready, select how many pieces you want for your puzzle. Then, with your puzzle on the conveyor belt and you turning the crank you have a new puzzle.
Floor 4 Melt & Mold. As if your child hasn’t created enough projects there is more creation magic on the top floor. Select a crayon color and a mold shape. With a few simple steps and four minutes you can turn that crayon into a ring, critter, or another special souvenir! Drip Art. Remember the spin art we had as a kid? The Crayola Experience puts their own twist on it. We were allowed to select two colors. Each color got its turn melting on the paper as we
pressed a button to determine the speed of our spinning paper. Our spinned drip art is one very unique souvenir. The Crayola Experience was such a unique one. Where else can you create all your own souvenirs and have the cost be included in the price of admission? What you should know before you visit the Crayola Experience. • The Crayola Experience is located at 30 Centre Square, Easton, PA 18042. • Crayola Experience hours vary depending on the time of year. Visit their website for more information. Continued on the next page
Continued from the previous page • Crayola Experience tickets are available online or in person. Regular admission is $16.99 for all ages. • A large parking lot with paid parking options is available across the street. • If your kids get hungry, the Crayola Experience has a cafe. • Click over to visit the official Crayola Experience in Easton PA website. View more of our Crayola Experience photos in our Facebook Gallery. Keep reading to see the rest of our Family Travel to the Lehigh Valley series.
Our Favorite Wheels at the America on Wheels Museum Written by Jennifer Auer Back when the kids were off for the NJEA Conference, we had a quick 24 hour trip to Lehigh Valley. Only 24 hours, because due to commitments and sports obligations that was all we could get away for, but we were determined to get away. We made the most of our family travel trip to the Lehigh Valley with stops at the American on Wheels Museum, Da Vinci Science Center, and the Crayola Experience. Truth be told, I hadn't even know the America on Wheels Museum until our friends from the Lehigh Valley tourism bureau told us about it. This is quite certainly a hidden Lehigh Valley treasure. It's a bit off the normal travel roads but is very worth the little bit of extra effort to get there. The America on Wheels Museum is 43,000 square feet with over 23,000 square feet of exhibit space divided into three main galleries and several smaller exhibits. With exhibits changing every 6 months and over 75 cars, trucks, motorcycles, & bikes to see there will always be something new with wheels to learn about. Now, you might think a museum filled with vintage cars and relics would have a hands off policy when it comes to kids, but that was not the case. The America on Wheels Museum is very open to families and welcome to kids exploring. I'd say it's a perfect side trip for your trip to the Lehigh Valley.
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museum and with their help I'm sharing our favorite parts of it.
5 Reasons
for families to love the
America
on
Wheels Museum
Our Favorite Wheels
at the
America
on
Wheels Museum •
•
It was not overcrowded. Since America on Wheels is still relatively unknown we found it
The Vintage Fire Engine! Down the main
easy to take our time to explore. Plus since we
corridor of the America on Wheels Museum we
went on a day when Pennsylvania students are
found the Vintage Fire Engine on loan to the
in school, but New Jersey students aren't we
museum. What an honor to be given very special
had the museum almost all to ourselves.
permission to take our picture with this old time
Easy for maneuvering with strollers and
fire truck. My boys wanted to stay on all day and
wheelchairs. The areas between the exhibit
explore every nook and cranny of it.
are open and spacious. Parents and caregivers
•
•
•
can easily push strollers around and up close
From the America on Wheels museum,
to exhibits.
"This 1918 Mack AC was built as a dump
Education at every exhibit. Each exhibit had
truck to be shipped overseas for the WWI
easy to read signs and some even had flip up
effort, but the war ended before it left
images to test kids on what they know.
the states. It was bought by the City of
Hands on fun. There were plenty of things my
Baltimore and converted to use as a fire
kids could touch and do. You can see some
truck. It served until it was retired by the
examples below.
Hyde Park MD volunteer fire department in
So much to see and think about. Visiting
1958."
the America on Wheels Museum we weren't limited to just learning about cars on wheels,
A large area of the first floor features different
but we also learned about bikes, people
vehicles that play a special role in our community
movers, trucks, and some aircraft and vintage
such as firetrucks, Mack trucks, a UPS truck, and
guitars.
more.
My kids truly enjoyed the America on Wheels
1920 Briggs & Stratton Flyer. We found this vehicle in the North Gallery area of the America on Wheels Museum. It's been fully restored but there is also one in its original condition. I admit I didn't know much about the history of it, but I thought it was cute and unique. I could see my boys and I riding that around the neighborhood or even on the Jersey Shore boardwalks. UPS Truck. When you enter the South Gallery of the America on Wheels Museum you won't be able to miss the UPS truck and your kids won't be able to resist it or playing inside. The full bed of the
truck is open for kids to learn about one of the
different decades. Bring your nickels and play a
ways we get our packages. Take this opportunity
song or two for a nickel each.
to get a cute picture of your kids trying to carry a stack of UPS boxes. I did.
Ready to use your wheels to get to the America on Wheels Museum?
The Campers of yesterday. To the right of the UPS Truck in the South Gallery of the
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE
America on Wheels Museum are the campers of
YOU VISIT THE AMERICA ON WHEELS
yesterday. What a difference to today's big RV's.
MUSEUM.
It looks like this was a cute and cozy way to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
•
America on Wheels Museum is located at 5 North Front Street, Allentown PA 18102. It is
The Mac Truck Simulator. In the South
at the end of a very long street. Look for the tall gray building.
Gallery of the America on Wheels Museum first floor just a few steps away is the Mack Truck
•
America on Wheels Museum is open Tues -
simulator. My kids learned how Mack Trucks use
Sat 10 am - 5 pm | Sun Noon - 5 pm (except
their specialty vehicles to help our communities.
holidays). Last ticket sales at 4 pm | Closed
But I think what they loved more was pretending
Mondays
they were driving it down the open road. They spent quite a bit of time here. Moms, when your kids act the same enjoy the break with a rest on the nearby bench. Parents can test their knowledge of auto tools and their uses while kids listen to audio of actual Mack employees and truck drivers talk about their experiences. Mini-Indy Race Car. In another corridor area on the first floor of the America on Wheels Museum is the mini-Indy racecar. My kids took turns stepping inside and pretending they were taking it out on the track. Hydrogen Car. In the North Gallery area of the America on Wheels Museum is the hydrogen car. This gallery features vehicles from America’s “first” cars every made, an early electric car, and the first type of car to mass produced. It's where my oldest discovered the hydrogen car and had fun filling it up with this natural gas. A larger hydrogen-fueled car is on display behind him. Kids can also investigate who actually built the first automobile, try to figure out just what the differences are between a car and a carriage, and even design their own car! Jukebox. In the gift shop area of the America on Wheels Museum is the old fashioned jukebox. Yes, not your typical wheel, but I have a soft spot for jukeboxes and 50's music. This jukebox is located in the gift shop and plays music from
•
All exhibits are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
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Regular America on Wheels Museum admission is $10. Seniors 62 and older are $7. Children 6-16 are $5. Children 5 & under FREE & 12 & under are FREE on Sundays.
•
America on Wheels Museum has a large parking lot where parking is free.
•
If your kids get hungry, the HubCap Cafe is a fully restored 1950’s soda fountain within the museum. They serve hot dogs, soft pretzels, chips, ice cream, floats, milkshakes, & more! The hours do vary so they are not always opened as was the case on our weekday visit.
•
Click over to visit the official America on Wheels website.
View more of our America on Wheels Museum photos in our Facebook Gallery.
See, Touch, Do the Da Vinci Science Center Written by Jennifer Auer When planning a trip with your family where do you look for information? Do you go with an agenda of all the places you want to visit? Or do you have a main destination in mind? When we planned our visit to the Crayola Experience, we knew we wanted to stay in the area overnight, and we knew we wanted to plan other activities for our area. What we didn't know though was what else the Lehigh Valley area had to offer families. That's when we discovered the Discover Lehigh Valley site. Discover Lehigh Valley had a wealth of resources for planning a trip to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton. They get all the credit for introducing us to two of the areas other treasures: The America on Wheels Museum and the Da Vinci Science Center. "The Da Vinci Science Center is a national award-winning science center that has connected science to life and lives to science since 1992. By awakening interests and promoting fundamental skills, the Center and its partners inspire and prepare kids to consider STEM careers that meet growing industry demands." Inspired, we were! The Da Vinci Science Center had so much for my boys to see, touch, and do that weeks later they are still talking about this fun science museum in the Lehigh Valley. Continued
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Da Vinci Science Center Activities
11 year old was glued to this station. Using KEVA building blocks and toy dinosaurs he made several animated dinosaur movies.
First Floor Rainforest Adventure ~ Now Jan. 18, 2016
•
Pin up yourself. The Da Vinci Science Center
The Rainforest Adventure is a maze as big as
created this pin wall using the ideas of how
your kids, as fun as an indoor playground,
pixels work with a television screen. The Pin
as educational as a classroom lesson and as
Wall features thousands of injection-molded
interactive as a game. Travel through the maze
pins that move when guests push their body
where how you answer a question determines
parts or other objects against it. I think my
the path you travel. Kids leap, jump, hang, climb,
kids could have stayed at this exhibit for
and smell as they explore a virtual rainforest with
hours. It certainly left an impression on us.
more than 40 playful challenges. It's not just
(See the picture below.)
rainforest fun but it is also learning about these threatened habitats and how we all can protect them. •
Swing across the jungle! With a jungle backdrop and monkey bars, kids can go across the jungle bars pretending they are swinging across the jungle.
•
Climb a spider web.
•
Glide in the air on a butterfly zip line.
•
Some of the other Da Vinci Science Center Rainforest Adventures include: leaping like a tree frog, navigating a maze of jungle vines, imitating the sounds of the rain forest, sniffing and smelling the plants and herbs of the rainforest.
•
Build with KEVA building blocks in the KEVA Build It Up exhibit. If your kids like to build,
First Floor Design Zone
they'll enjoy this area. My kids were inspired
In the design zone, kids can use their
by all the models built by previous guests but
imagination, building skills, and museum
still on display. Yours will be too.
building materials to put science to the test and create unique structures.
First Floor Tunnel Vision Can your kids find their way through the dark?
•
•
Railway Staircase. My 7 year old took to
The Da Vinci Science Center has a Tunnel Vision
creating what he called a railway staircase. He
tunnel. Crawl through a 72-foot maze-like tunnel
used wooden slats to form a path for a marble
in complete darkness. Feel your way in the light,
to go down. He asked that I make this video to
then dark and discover how your eyes adapt
capture his science learning in action.
to the difference. Tunnel Vision is open for 30
Make a movie at the Animation Station. At
minutes at a time several times a day.
the Animation Station exhibit guests can use the available materials to create their own stop-motion animation movies. Kids, like my son pose objects on a stage and take a series of still frame images. Between images, kids change the pose slightly. During our visit my
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Second Floor What Works • Pull on your muscles and test your strength. Four pulleys and a 120-pound weight don't just teach kids about leverage and how simple machines work, they also give guests a chance to test their own strength. The closer you get to the weight, the harder it becomes to lift. • Push your kids away with good reason. Sir Isaac Newton’s Second Law of Motion says that force is equal to mass multiplied by acceleration. In other words as you and your child sit across each other and push away from each other, you both roll backward. Who will go further? Faster? It's a fun experiment with force, mass, and acceleration. •
First Floor What's
the
Matter? Nanoscience
Control a dinosaur with robotic engineering. T-Rexroth, the Da Vinci Science Center’s
exhibits.
robotic dinosaur, sits upstairs calling to
Inquire about science, test ideas.
children. They are intrigued by buttons that
"Nanotechnology is the study of things that
make this robotic T-Rex move his head, open
are very small, less than one-billionth of one
his mouth, and light up his eyes. As they play
meter, or 3-5 atoms, wide." But small things
they are using the same technologies that
can still provide great fun and learning. Visitors
theme parks use to create some of the best
can build a giant model of a carbon nanotube,
attractions.
make nanomagnets move, and balance building We've told you so much about the Da Vinci
materials.
Science Center, and yet there's so many areas that First Floor What
on
Earth?
This first floor area has visitors learning about water, weather, and aquatic environments. •
Saltwater Aquarium. In the Da Vinci Science Center’s 560-gallon saltwater aquarium, watch hermit crabs peek from small rock caves. Find out why spider crabs camouflage themselves. The aquarium's LED lights bring out all the details of these sea creatures against their habitats. Throughout the day staff are available so that guests may touch the aquarium’s creatures.
still can be explored there. From a Little Learners
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Participants should arrive at the EEC 20-30 Lab for babies to preschoolers to the station
minutes before the program start time.
for engineering paper airplanes and every nook and cranny in between, your family
Trailside Nature and Science Center
could easily spend a few hours at the Da
•
Vinci Science Center. Visit their website for
452 New Providence Road, Mountainside (908-789-3670) www.ucnj.org/parks-
even more information.
recreation/trailside-nature-science-center/ •
What you can expect: Individuals of all ages
Special Note: The Animal Grossology exhibit
are invited to see how real maple syrup is
we loved at the Academy of Natural Sciences
made from the sap of a sugar maple tree.
is coming to the Da Vinci Science Center this
Participants will also learn what equipment is
March. Click over to read more about the
needed to collect sap as well as take part in a
Animal Grossology exhibit.
taste test to see if he/she can identify the real thing.
See, touch, do..what would your kids do first at the Da Vinci Science Center?
Maple Sugarin' Demonstration and Educational Program
What the
•
you should know before you visit
Da Vinci Science Center.
•
Lusscroft Farm - 50 Nielson Road and 4-H Trail, Wantage (973 262-4732) www. lusscroftfarm.com/maple-sugarin.html
The Da Vinci Science Center is located at 3145 Hamilton Blvd. Bypass Allentown,
•
•
•
What you can expect: Families can enjoy
PA 18103.
and learn about the maple sugaring process.
Da Vinci Science Center hours vary
Lusscroft Farms usually yields about 3,500
depending on the time of year. Visit their
gallons of maple syrup each season. Attend
website for more information.
this event for a chance to purchase your own
Da Vinci Science Center tickets are
bottle of their maple syrup!
available online or in person. Regular •
•
admission is $12.95 for ages 3 and older.
Maple Sugar Sunday
A large parking lot with free parking
•
Miller Cory House Museum - 614 Mountain
options is available in front of the main
Avenue, Westfield (908 232-1776) www.
entrance.
millercoryhouse.org
If your kids get hungry, the Da Vinci
•
What you can expect: Families can enjoy
Science Center has some vending
guided tours through the 1740 farmhouse
machines. Groups can order food ahead
provided by costumed docets. Open-hearth
of time. You may bring also in your lunch
cooking demonstrations are also available at
and snacks and eat in the cafe eating
the Frazee Building.
area. •
Click over to visit the official Da Vinci
I hope everyone has a fun and exciting time at
Science Center in Allentown PA website.
these amazing Maple Sugaring Events in New Jersey! Continue to check back with us at this link
View more of our Da Vinci Science Center
as we are always updating this list as new event
photos in our Facebook Gallery.
details arise!
TownePlace Suites Bethlehem Easton by Marriott Written by Jennifer Auer Have you stayed at a TownePlace Suites by Marriott? Our first visit to the Lehigh Valley area for our family travel series had us staying at a TownePlace Suites for the first time. The TownePlace Suites Bethlehem Easton by Marriott is positioned conveniently near Lehigh Valley's best attractions. We found the TownePlace Suites to offer the convenience and luxury of a hotel and the comforts of home. With a spacious room, oversized closet, table for 4, and inroom kitchenette the TownePlace Suites Bethlehem Easton could accommodate my family of 3 boys and give us the option to eat dinner in or out. Being able to cook in our room for dinner, took off the stress of where to eat and how much would it cost. We packed a cooler of ground beef, produce, cheese and other items. The meat was still partly frozen when we arrived so we were thankful for the microwave's defrost setting. With the two range stovetop and a kitchen stocked with pans, plates, utensils, and silverware, it was super easy to create a taco night in our room. The time we saved meant we'd be able to enjoy the TownePlace Suites indoor pool and money that was saved could be used for souvenirs at the Crayola Experience, America on Wheels, and the Da Vinci Science Center. After dinner my boys took to creating with their Crayola Experience souvenirs while I cleaned up. Clean up was super easy as well. The suite had a dishwasher and dishwasher soap was provided (WIN!). While we swam in the pool, the dishwasher took care of the dirty dishes. We came back to the room, where my boys exhausted from a day of Crayola and swimming fun, were soon out. It was a good thing too because the next day's agenda was packed with trips to America on Wheels and The Da
Vinci Science Center before we'd have to head
3800 Easton/Nazareth Highway Easton
back home for a travel soccer game.
Pennsylvania 18045. •
Plan ahead for your meals. Here are some
The TownePlace Suites was a great place to stay,
options you can consider.
especially for a whirlwind trip like our visit to the
•
Take advantage of the TownePlace
Lehigh Valley was. With everything we needed
Suites Bethlehem Easton complimentary
right there, we were able to maximize the fun
breakfast buffet, you can see some of the
we had not just at the Suites but also at Lehigh
breakfast options in our Facebook album
Valley's best family attractions. Click over to see
of photos. The buffet is available Monday-
our video tour of our room.
Friday 6 am - 9 am and Saturdays & Sundays 7 am - 10 am.
The TownePlace Suites Bethlehem Easton Marriott Studio Suite
•
by
Visit the Discover Lehigh Valley site for a list of restaurants within driving distance.
included:
•
•
2 queen beds
•
32” Flat-screen TVs with several kid-friendly
Bring food with you and take advantage of the full-size refrigerator, microwave, and stovetop.
channels •
If you plan to swim, the TownePlace Suites
•
Dresser and night stand
•
2 chairs for additional seating
Bethlehem Easton by Marriott indoor pool is
•
Standard size shower/tub combination
only accessible with a hotel key.
•
Fully equipped kitchen: Pantry area, full-size
•
does have steps in the shallow end.
refrigerator, 2 range stovetop, microwave, dishwasher with cleaning supplies, silverware,
•
Showers are available.
pots, pans, and serving dishes, dishes and
•
A jacuzzi was available as well.
glasses
•
The pool water was not heated.
•
Towels are available at the front desk.
What
you should know if you stay at
Suites Bethlehem Easton •
The pool goes from 3 feet to 5 feet and
by
TownePlace
•
The TownePlace Suites is located on
If you are traveling with babies or toddlers, ask about cribs.
Marriott. •
Parking is FREE in their lot. •
Wireless high-
speed Internet access is available throughout the facility at no additional charge. •
Room Rates
may vary so it's best to check the TownePlace Suites Bethlehem Easton by Marriott site for rates and availability. To view more TownePlace Suites Bethlehem Easton by Marriott photos visit our Facebook Gallery.
Our Poconos Escape to the Skytop Lodge written by Nancy Palutis With a family of five, overnight stays at a hotel can be tricky. Most places are not equipped for larger than a family of four, with a combination of too few beds or not enough space. Luckily, Skytop Lodge has it down to a science. They recommended we stay in adjoining rooms and it was the perfect solution. The parents' room had a king-sized bed, a bathroom with stand-up shower, and an entertainment center with a flatscreen TV, mini-fridge and safe. In the adjoining kids room was a king sized bed, a seating area with a chair and a desk, and a full-sized bathroom with a tub. Because we had three kids, there was an extra foldaway bed (not a small cot, but a large comfortable bed). It was the perfect set-up for our family - we had enough room to spread out and having two bathrooms for the five of us was the best luxury! Jersey Family Fun Room Tip: Bring your Netflix password! Each TV in the guest rooms was equipped with a Roku and has Netflix capabilities. The kids loved snuggling in their beds after a long day of fun and watching a movie. In terms of meals, we stayed under the "I Wish To Have a Christmas Tree" package which included three meals. We checked in at lunch time on Saturday and enjoyed the lunch buffet. There were plenty of hot selections in addition to a cold station with salads, cold cuts, and fresh fruit. There was a great assortment of desserts as well. Our favorite meal of the trip had to be the formal dinner. For adults, there is an a la carte menu as well as dinner specials. Children can choose from a children's menu with items like pizza or a cheeseburger, or a kids dinner buffet (offered
on busy evenings) with macaroni and cheese and chicken fingers. The food was delicious and the service was great. The selections were vast enough to please even the pickiest eaters. For breakfast the next morning, we chose the Sunday "brunch" buffet which is offered until 1 pm. There was a full selection of hot breakfast items like eggs and pancakes, as well as cereal, bagels, fresh fruit, oatmeal, and an omelet station. The other half of the buffet contained lunch items like flank steak, rice pilaf, and fresh vegetables. And the dessert table had plenty of selections as well. To say we were well-fed for our trip was an understatement! All of our meals took place in the Windsor Dining Room. We were a little surprised to see by the sign at the door stating that no cell phones or electronics were allowed. (Sssh, don't tell but I snuck mine in to grab a picture or two of the food!) We ended up absolutely loving that rule!
soda fountain. Another fun snack feature? Skytop Lodge holds a daily tea time in the lobby at 4 pm with an assortment of cookies (chocolate chip, sugar and gingerbread men for our visit), cold apple cider and of course tea. Jersey Family Fun Dining Tip: The Windsor Dining Room carries a dress code. No jeans, sneakers or t-shirts. Men must wear jackets. We loved the idea of dressing up for dinner because it's something we don't do much as a family. We saw some families in fancy dresses and one mom in an evening gown! The kids thought it was great.
We enjoyed our meals with no interruptions or
With spacious and comfortable
ringing phones, no fighting over tablets, and we
accommodations, plenty of dining options, and
had a peaceful meal just chatting with each other.
family friendly recreation galore, Skytop Lodge is
The folks at Skytop Lodge are definitely on to
an amazing spot to take your family for a few days
something and I'm thinking we need a similar
or even a week. My family had an awesome time
sign in our own family dining room.
and we can't wait to go back.
In addition to the Windsor Dining Room, the
Keep turning the pages for more information
Lakeview Restaurant at the Inn serves dinner
about how we enjoyed our Poconos escape.
on Friday and Saturday nights. The Lodge also has a restaurant with full bar called the Tap
For prices on accommodations, packages, and to
Room and serves lunch and dinner, but are not
make reservations, please check out the Skytop
a part of the Skytop Meal Plan. In addition to
Lodge website.
the restaurants, Skytop has the "Tea Room" that serves milkshakes, ice cream sundaes and old-
For more photos of Skytop Lodge, visit our
fashioned egg
Facebook album.
crèmes from a
Skytop Lodge’s Winter Wonderful Activities for Families Written by Nancy Palutis You already read about the accommodations at Skytop Lodge. Now you can check out what kind of amazing activities they have to offer! Skytop offers many packages for their guests that include activities for the whole family. Because our stay was right before Christmas, we had the "I Wish to Have a Christmas Tree Package". This included breakfast, lunch and dinner for our family, a custom wood-burned ornament, a hayride to the tree farm, a Christmas tree, valet parking, and more. During the winter months, they offer packages that include outdoor recreations like their toboggan run. I would definitely recommend looking into one of these packages for a stay at Skytop because it makes the entire trip so simple! It's almost like being at an all-inclusive resort. Because of the unseasonably warm December weather during our stay, we were able to participate in LOTS of outdoor recreation at Skytop. The property grounds are enormous (over 5,000 acres!) making Skytop an ideal spot for hiking. Even with my youngest child at four years old, we were able to go for a fairly long walk to see Leavitt Falls, which was absolutely breathtaking. The kids loved following the marked trails and looking for nature along our trek. (Unsteady on your feet? Check your closet in your room: each one is equipped with a walking stick.) Some other outdoor activities we were able to do during our visit were soccer, horseshoes, mini golf, and playing on the playground. All of the equipment was outside and waiting for us! In addition, Skytop offers a ton of other outdoor recreational options. In the winter months, the following activities are available: archery, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, geocaching, hiking, ice skating, indoor pool, ice fishing, fitness, paddle tennis, shooting, skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, tree top adventure course, and UTV. (Fees are associated with some activities.) One of our favorite spots at Skytop Lodge was the indoor pool. It was the largest indoor pool we've seen at a hotel or resort, with the deep end going up to 9 1/2 feet deep. There was also a great hot tub (for ages 16 and up, but kids may sit and put their feet in) that was perfect for this mom! There were plenty of clean towels available and big locker rooms for everyone to use. Not a swimmer? There's an abundance of lounge chairs surrounding the entire pool so that you can keep an eye on your kids while they splash. Continued
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away from the hustle and bustle of every day life and just enjoy spending time together as a family. For more photos of Skytop Lodge, visit our Facebook album.
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My children absolutely loved the "Skylites" program at Skytop. There were tons of free activities (the majority of which you don't need to sign up for in advance) happening all day, every day! From crafts to movies, scavenger hunts to marshmallow roasts, there are endless possibilities for your family to have fun together. Most take place (or begin) at the activities desk, which just so happens to be in the same exact place as the game room! With ping pong tables, arcade games, skeeball, claw games, and foosball, you will most likely spend tons of time with your kids in this awesome area. Skylites also offers seasonal activities: during our stay, Santa paid a visit to light to say hello and light the Lodge's Christmas tree. Coming soon a video below of Santa's arrival. We spent two full days at Skytop Lodge and we didn't even begin to skim the surface of possibilities. There are just so many available options and recreational activities that you would probably need more than a full week's stay to enjoy a great deal of them. We loved our visit at Skytop Lodge. It was the perfect place to get
Our Visit to Kalahari Indoor Waterpark This article from Melanie Cortese is available on Jersey Family Fun. Right inside the Kalahari Resort Hotel, steps from the lobby, is the Kalahari waterpark! The 100,000 square-foot park is open until 9 pm on weeknights so even with our after dinnertime arrival we had some time to spend exploring. The bonus for my crew was that this night, it wasn’t crowded at all! After using your wristband to enter the park, take some complimentary towels (what a great perk: not having to cart your own from home) and get to having fun! We were pleased with how warm it was inside. There are tables and chairs all over, and also lockers if you want more protection. You’ll find lifeguards and park staff all over, so if your kids are older and want to break away from you, no worries about them being unprotected. Aside from the main entrance, there’s only two more access points so children can’t easily escape. All children under 48” must wear safety vests, but there are more than enough available, provided by Kalahari. During the day, natural light shines through the glass roof and the paintings on the walls brighten it up inside. You have access to a snack bar and seasonally, there is a cafe open as well. No outside food is allowed inside but leaving to access food you have in your room is easy! Nothing in the resort is far away, so we chose lunch the next day at the cafe in the arcade. JFF tip- since there are no outlets in the waterpark it’s a good time to charge your phone. Music plays inside the waterpark at all times and since it’s such a large enclosed space it can be hard to hear each other talk. Cabanas with a flat screen tv, safe, and refrigerator are available for rent; while we visited we saw a birthday party in one.
So what about the water fun? Here’s what Kalahari Waterpark offers: • • • • • • •
Flowrider; try bodyboarding or surfboarding on the waves Anaconda; watercoaster Lazy River; coast through Kalahari waterpark on an inner tube Crocodile Cove; shallow pool at the entrance to the Lazy River Indoor/Outdoor Family Whirlpool; for children ages 6 and up - total relaxation! Whirlpool Spas; indoor hot tubs for more relaxation Wild Wildebeest; raft water slide
• • • • • • • •
Lost Lagoon; basketball pool Tanzanian Twister; free fall slide into a wild vortex and a big splash! Thirsty Turtle Swim Up Bar; adults only! Rippling Rhino; 400 foot long tube slide Zimbabwe Zipper; go up to 40 mph on this pipe slide Splashdown Safari; fun water playground for kids and adults! Barreling Baboon; fast and fun tube water slide Tiko’s Watering Hole; fun water playground and lazy river for the little ones
My children are 10 and 5; the one who’s tall enough for all the slides is a little apprehensive and the one who isn’t is a daredevil! No worries though, they had plenty to occupy them. We all went on the Anaconda watercoaster which was pretty thrilling as you speed through the slide in a two person tube. Lines weren’t long at all during our visit so we could go on multiple times without problem. We enjoyed the pools too! It was a rare treat to play basketball in the pool, and the Lost Lagoon has multiple nets for playing. Mom’s favorite was the indoor/outdoor family whirlpool. I could have been in there for hours (not recommended of course) using the jets to soothe aching muscles as the kids swam around. It wasn’t cold while we were there but even when it is, the outdoor hot tub is the perfect temperature. The two playground areas were great for getting energy out. Kids can climb the steps of the Splashdown Safari and take the tube slides back down; shoot water guns at each other and get splashed by the dumping buckets. Tiko’s Watering Hole offers similar water play and slides, but for the younger set. There’s even a 1 foot lazy river with tubes for the little ones. My children enjoyed these areas the best, where they could build their confidence for the bigger slides and bigger splashes on the waterslides. We spent over an hour the night we arrived, and at least 4 hours the next day inside the park. If you’re looking for a nearby, self contained vacation with full resort features, and all the water fun you can enjoy, take a look at our blog post about the Kalahari Resort Hotel and then get your family to Kalahari Resorts and Waterpark! Kalahari Resort Vacation packages start at $229 and daily passes range from $39-$59. Ages 2 and under are free. Learn more here. For more photos of Kalahari Resorts visit our Facebook album.
34 Ways to Enjoy Your Turkey Hill Experience By Jennifer Auer Ice Cream, Ice Cream... you scream, we scream, we all scream for ice cream!
With how hot this summer has been there was no way we weren’t going to make a stop to the Turkey Hill Experience on our visit to Lancaster. It’s summer time, you are supposed to have ice cream, right? ;-) My family has never had this experience and after a fabulous morning of climbing on the Spooky Nook climbing walls, this was the perfect day to do it. So while we didn’t scream there was certainly a lot of squealing as we worked our way around the Turkey Hill Experience visiting the exhibits and interacting with many of them. What I thought might be a simple tour about the history of ice cream with a brief experiment into making ice cream, turned out to be so much more. I could not believe how much there was to do and how much ice cream we were able to sample. Turkey Hill Experience Activities included with admission • Follow the map to get the most of your Turkey Hill Experience. • Learn about the history of the Susquehanna River Valley and how ice cream got started in this area. • Admire the uniquely-decorated cow at the start of your experience. • Count how many cows you see. • Walk inside a giant tea bottle to taste a variety of Turkey Hill teas. • Smell the different tea aromas. • Watch how Turkey Hill started making teas. • Discover your tea personality. • Catch a movie about how ice cream is made. • Appreciate how Turkey Hill Tea caps are repurposed. • Pose for pictures with various photo cut outs and props. • Examine what bacteria looks like. • Battle against the bad bacteria and help the good bacteria milk needs thrive. • Emboss and sniff the different scents and flavors that go into ice cream onto a card so you can bring those scents home with you. • Create your own virtual ice cream flavor. • Name your uniquely created ice cream flavor. • Jump into the homogenization ball pit (for younger kids). • Push the mixer in the mix tank and slide down the slide.
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
Measure out the right proportions to make a tasty and delicious ice cream. Match the right amount of ice cream to the right-sized container. Design your own ice cream packaging to go with your unique flavor. Check out what happens when you add a tub of blueberries into the Flavor Frenzy cooler. Step into the freezer. Star in your own Turkey Hill Ice Cream commercial. Will you interview a cow? Sing a jingle? Something else? Sample several flavors of ice cream, repeatedly if you like. A frozen yogurt and a sugarfree flavor were available during our visit. Go back in time with stories from milk delivery men. Pretend to drive the milk delivery truck. Milk a mechanical cow (No worries, it’s just water.) Rock in a rocking chair in the porch area. Participate in a Tasting Lab class (for an additional fee) for more delicious experiences. Get a pint of vanilla ice cream. • Drop in your flavoring. • Mix in your favorite additions like m&ms, jimmies, cookie crunch, and more. • Freeze then enjoy.
After our day of learning, creating, and eating we were all smiles. The cherry on this sundae was that EVERY staff member we met was absolutely fabulous. They were knowledgeable in all they taught us, courteous in their service, and generous with the samples. Which Turkey Hill Experience do you think your kids would enjoy most? ABOUT VISITING THE TURKEY HILL EXPERIENCE. • General admission is 8.95 for ages 5-17, $9.95 for ages 18 and older. The Taste Lab is $5 more. • Admission is free for children 4 and under. • On your ticket is a CYO code, that will link your virtual creations together so that you can work on your virtual ice cream product and email yourself your work. Each CYO can only be linked to one ice cream creation and one email address. If you are going as a family of 4 and everyone wants to create a flavor, you will need 4 email addresses. • Parking is free, at peak times off site parking is available with a free shuttle. • The lab is not allergen free. There are tree and ground nuts. • Allow for 1-2 hours for your visit. We went through most areas fairly quickly (the nature of boys) and still spent about 2.5-3 hours at Turkey Hill Experience during our visit. • The Turkey Hill Experience is located at 301 Linden Street in Columbia, Pennsylvania not far from Lancaster. To learn more visit their website. To view our Turkey Hill Experience pictures visit our Facebook Gallery.
Clip & Climbing Our Way to Fun written by Jennifer Auer Sp0oky Nook Sports in Manheim, Pennsylvania offers a climbing experience offered nowhere else on the East Coast. I remember when I first learned about the Spooky Nook. While I could only see one picture on their site I knew I had to visit with my boys. As much as I love Lancaster I did not want to return without making a visit to Spooky Nook and climbing those walls. We made our visit late this summer. Let me just tell you know the pictures on their website do not do the Spooky Nook justice. The Clip N’ Climb area was phenomenal! After signing waivers and getting suited up in our harnesses we got a brief training. Kids need to be clipped by a parent or staff member. Parents can clip themselves before climbing. Yes, parents can climb! Kids and parents can climb to their hearts’ content for either a half-hour or hour. We were treated to an hour and even that was not enough to climb everything. Spooky Nook has so many different climbing walls. You and your kids are sure to find one to meet your level of ability. You can even use a score card to track your progress and see who scores the most points. My boys and I tried to give each one a try. HERE’S OUR FAVORITES. • The Big Cheese ~ My seven year old’s favorite. With round, colorful circles and rims you could grasp this wasn’t too difficult. • The Skyscaper ~ My nine year old’s favorite. This climbing wall had square like sections where feet could rest as you grabbed the next set of squares to pull yourself up. • Steelworks ~ My ten year old’s favorite. This wall had steel-like siding with long red bars that ran vertically. It was easy for them, but looked a tad bit tricky for me. I passed on it and did the other walls including my favorite.
• Stairway to Heaven ~ This was my favorite and potentially the most difficult. Not only were my kids surprised I was going to climb at Spooky Nook, but they also couldn’t believe I was going to
attempt to get to the top of the Stairway to Heaven. The Stairway to Heaven has these green poles that go around in a circle shape. The poles are spread out and increase in height, from shorter to taller, as you work your way around to the top. My boys all gave it a try but couldn’t complete it. All of the poles were difficult, but the most extreme was the highest pole. You have got to take a huge step of faith, but there is a Spooky Nook team member there to encourage you. You can’t hesitate too long. The longer I waited the more my body and poles trembled. I took a breath and made the step. What a sense of accomplishment to reach the top. My boys were in awe!
What fun! Spooky Nook provided thrills for my boys and I and I cannot wait to go back. Spooky Nook is an indoor sports complex open year round. Their Clip N Climb program is $8 for 30 minutes or $13 for 60 minutes. They are located just outside Lancaster in Manheim. You can learn more at their website and see more of our Spooky Nook photos in our FB album.
Check out these
New York City Museums with Free Admission Enjoy our listing of New York City museums with free admission. You can learn more about each of these museums in our detailed listing here. New York City Museums with FREE Admission Everyday (or PWYW pay what you wish) • American Folk Art Museum • American Museum of Natural History (PWYW) • Bronx Museum of Arts (PWYW) • Brooklyn Museum (PWYW) • The Cloisters (PWYW) • El Museo del Barrio (PWYW) • Metropolitan Museum of Art (PWYW) • Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology • Nuseum of American Illustration • Museum of Biblical Art (PWYW) • National Museum of the American Indian— Smithsonian Institution • New York City Police Museum (PWYW) • P.S.1 MoMA (PWYW) • Socrates Sculpture Park • Staten Island Museum (PWYW) • Studio Museum in Harlem (PWYW) Museums with FREE Admission days or hours Monthly free hours • Bronx Museum (First Friday, 6-10 pm) • Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Second Weekend, before 11 am) • Brooklyn Museum (First Saturday, 5-11 pm) • El Museo del Barrio (Third Saturday, 11 am-8 pm) • Neue Gallerie (First Friday, 6-8 pm) • Noguchi Museum (First Friday, (PWYW)) • South Street Seaport Museum (Third Friday, 6-8:45 pm) Weekly free days or hours Mondays • Yeshiva University Museum Tuesday • Brooklyn Botanic Garden • China Institute 6-8 pm • Staten Island Museum 12-2 pm • Wave Hill 9 am-noon
Wednesday • Bronx Zoo (PWYW) • Brooklyn Children’s Museum 2-5 pm • Museum of Jewish Heritage 4-8 pm • New York Botanical Garden • Queens Botanical Garden April-October, 3-6 pm • Van Cortlandt House Museum • Yeshiva University Museum 5-8 pm Thursday • China Institute 6-8 pm • Museum of Arts and Design 6-9 pm (PWYW) • Museum of Chinese in America • New Museum of Contemporary Art 7-9 pm • Trinity Church: Concerts at One 1-2 pm (September through May) Friday • International Center for Photography 5-8 pm (PWYW) • Japan Society 6-9 pm • Morgan Library & Museum 7-9 pm • Museum of Modern Art 4-8 pm • Neue Galerie 6-8 pm • New-York Historical Society 6-8 pm (PWYW) • New York Aquarium 3 pm-closing (PWYW) • New York Hall of Science 2-5 pm (September through June) • Rubin Museum of Art 7-10 pm • Staten Island Museum 12-2 pm • Whitney Museum of American Art 6-9 pm • Yeshiva University Museum Saturday • Brooklyn Botanic Garden 10 am-noon • Jewish Museum • New York Botanical Garden 10 am-noon • Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 5:45-7:45 pm (PWYW) • Wave Hill 9 am-noon Sunday • Frick Collection 11 am-1 pm (PWYW) • New York Hall of Science 10-11 am (September through June) • Queens Botanical Garden April-October, 4-6 pm • Studio Museum in Harlem
My Favorite Moments During
everywhere. They were carved with designs of
My First Visit to Disneyland
into Mickeys, Minnies, and Goofys. I'm not sure
Tinkerbell, Mater, and more. They were shaped how they do it. Surely high amounts of pixie dust
Written by Jennifer Auer
must be involved.
This year has certainly been an incredible one
Getting my 60th Anniversary Cinderella-
for Jersey Family Fun and me both personally
jeweled Mickey Ears
and professionally. We took our first family
Who can't use a new pair of Mickey ears? Our
trip to Disneyworld. I've gone from blogger
first Disneyland stop had my fellow bloggers
workshops to blogger
pulling me into a
conferences. But in
gift shop where
October those worlds
we all bought
came together when I
matching ears.
attended the HP Print
With a touch of
& Pamper blogger
Cinderella we
conference in San
were ready to be
Diego, California. We
Disney princesses
were given the option
for the day.
to stay an extra day and visit Disneyland.
Taking in the wonders of the
Visit Disneyland?
Daytime Pixar Play Parade
There was no way I
My absolutely
was going to say no. I
favorite thing
arranged a 6 am flight
about the Disney
out of San Diego, I
parks are the
gave up many hours
parades. Rides are
of sleep, but I was
fun. I don't mind
super thrilled that I
the wait. But I
would be ending such
can absolutely not
a great conference
miss the parades.
with such a wonderful experience. Compared to
When we went to Disneyworld last May, I made
many I am still a Disney novice. Since this was
sure we saw every parade. This might have been a
going to be my first visit to Disneyland, I stuck
quick trip to Disneyland but I was determined to
close to my new friends: Victoria, ABC Learning;
see at least one parade. Luckily, I got to see two,
Ashley from Teachable Mommy; and Alison from
this and Paint the Night.
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades. They know all things Disney and were the perfect tour guides
I watched the parade. I danced along to the music
and companions. We had such an incredible
and took as many pictures and videos as possible.
afternoon that stretched into the evening that I
Floats with Disney Pixar Pals from Monsters,
will never forget. While I could share each and
Inc., Incredibles, A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, and
every fabulous moment I'll focus on my favorite
Toy Story were delightful. The acrobats and street
Disneyland moments.
performers were amazing. My boys would have loved it. I took so many pictures I had to give
Seeing how Disney does Halloween
them their own Facebook album.
We all know that the Disney parks go big when it comes to holidays and Disneyland did not disappoint. There were pumpkins, pumpkins
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they are the best part of Disney parks for me then the electric light parades are the best of the best. I was ecstatic that not only did we see the earlier Pixar Play Parade but we were going to see the Paint the Night parade as well. From our special seating area the view was magnificent. The one million colorful lights were radiant and majestic against the backdrop of the night sky. Tinkerbell appears to fly. Disney princesses dresses are a glow with lights. The Paint the Night parade is a definite must see for Disneyland park visitors and I'm hoping sometime in the near future my boys will see it to. For now, I've taken video and lots of Paint the Night pictures for you and them. Exploring a new place with new friends! Blogging sometimes turns us a bit into introverts. We are behind our laptops and computers so much that it can be hard to remember how to talk to others. But I met Victoria, ABC Learning; Ashley from Teachable Mommy; Continued
Finding a Hidden Mickey I might be a Disney novice, but I hear finding Hidden Mickeys is a pretty big deal. I thought it was pretty cool when I found one standing in line for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Disneyland Radiator Springs Between the thrill of racing a Cars movie car and taking in the gorgeous scenery of Radiator Springs this ride was certainly my favorite of the night. Honorary Citizen of Disneyland Not only did I get my pin for being a Disneyland first timer, but when we had a conversation with one of the cast members, she was impressed with how far we had come to enjoy Disneyland. She loved that we were having such a fantastic time and making new memories. As we talked about finding a first time visitor pin, she also pinned us as Disneyland Honorary Citizens. Oohhing and awwing over the Paint the Night Parade I've made my love of Disney parades known. If
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and Alison from Horseshoes & Hand Grenades the first day of HP Print & Pamper. Against the beauty of the California sunset at San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo Inn we got over our shyness and became friends. Their excitement for all things Disney was contagious. On our ride from the Inn to Disneyland they got me all hyped up with details about the must see Disneyland attractions. There was no way I could have had that experience without them and they certainly made it an incredible one. What are your favorite Disneyland moments? See more of our Disneyland pictures in these Facebook albums. Click on any of the links below. •
Disneyland Park Photos
•
Disneyland Pixar Play Parade Photos
•
Disneyland Paint the Night photos
Read more about our Disney park visits and Disney blog posts by clicking over to see our Disneyside.
7 Ways San Diego's Rancho Bernardo Inn Welcomes Kids Written by Jennifer Auer We're traveling a lot for Jersey Family Fun these days. There have been blogger conferences I went to alone and there are trips we're currently planning or in some cases are at right now. Look for some great additions to our family travel series within the pages of this guide. But no matter whether I am traveling with or without my kids, I always have my mom hat on. I'm always thinking, "Is this a place my kids would enjoy?" Such is the case when I visited the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego as part of the HP Print & Pamper blogger conference & retreat. My stay was included in my conference fee. The Rancho Bernardo Inn is a beautiful resort, with spacious grounds, beautiful fountains, and several glorious pools. At first glance, it doesn't look like a family resort. Continued
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•
Family Pool - The
Santiago family pool was large and went to 6 feet deep. It did not appear overly crowded. The pool is gated in with secure gates that keep children from getting through without the assistance of an adult. There are other pools on the property for adults who prefer a childfree pool experience. •
Miniature Golf ~
Adjacent to the pool, within the gates, is a mini golf course. When we were there it was decorated for Halloween. However, somehow in the course of events I had a question about something related to kids.
•
Places to Explore ~ The Rancho Bernardo Inn
I don't remember quite what it was but I do
resort is tucked away in Rancho Bernardo,
remember asking the concierge the question.
and from the front gates it doesn't look
What resulted was a great conversation about
very big. But the property is actually quite
just how welcoming the Rancho Bernardo Inn
expansive. You can walk around the grounds
is for families. Parents can have that luxurious
with your children and seek out all the
spa weekend without worrying about whether
fountains. How many can your kids find?
or not their kids can just be kids.
Which one will be their favorite?
7 Ways San Diego's Rancho Bernardo Inn Welcomes Kids •
Children are Welcome Attitude ~ When I started talking with the concierge, she told me how children are welcome at the resort. Rancho Bernardo Inn staff members will welcome them, their smiles, and squeals of excitement. There will be no shh's or those glances that make parents feel uncomfortable. In fact, the resort goes out of their way to make fun times possible for kids while still providing adults a relaxing atmosphere away from home. •
Family Fun Package - The Rancho Bernardo Inn offers a Family Fun package that includes a one-night stay, milk & cookies and S’mores n’ Snores for kids and a $50 resort credit.
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Kids menus ~ During my stay, Rancho Bernardo Inn was offering free unlimited dining for kids. All 3 of the resort's dining options had children's menus available.
•
Rancho Bernardo Inn Haunted Treasure Hunt Special Events ~ My October stay meant the Rancho Bernardo Inn was celebrating Halloween with their KIDS RULE! GHOULS DROOL promotion. I love that there were activities for little kids, big kids, and the whole family. .
•
Activities ~ There's so much for kids to do throughout the resort: from water basketball, foosball, ping pong in and around the Santiago Pool, to unlimited access to the golf driving range, cookie decorating, and a Treasure Hunt that could lead them anywhere!
With a property as beautiful as this and great learning from HP and the conference planning team (BSM Media), I certainly had a great few days in San Diego especially with my first trip to Disneyland while I was out there. Here's hoping next time I'll be back with my family. Click over for more information about our Rancho Bernardo Inn room with video and pictures (based on me staying without kids) or click over to the Rancho Bernardo Inn site for more information about this San Diego resort. From our Facebook album some of Rancho Bernardo Inn photos.
More ideas for family travel experiences. Click any image to be taken to our features on these favorite family destinations.
Traveling Outside New Jersey? Get to Know these Great Sites ALABAMA Northern Alabama – Rocket City Mom ARIZONA Yuma – Yuma Mom ARKANSAS Northwest Arkansas – nwaMotherlode CALIFORNIA Bay Area – 510 Families Los Angeles – Mommy Poppins La Jolla – La Jolla Mom Sacramento – Sacramento Kids COLORADO Denver Metro – Colorado Moms DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA/WASHINGTON, DC/MARYLAND DC Metro & Maryland/Virginia suburbs – A Parent in Silver Spring & Our Kids DC Metro – DC Cool Kids, Kid Friendly DC, & DC Thrifty Mom FLORIDA Flagler County – Flagler County Family Fun Orlando – Orlando Kids’ Directory Pensacola – Pensacola with Kids! Tampa Bay – What’s Doing Tampa Bay GEORGIA Atlanta – Atlanta With Kid Forsyth County – Cumming Local ILLINOIS Champaign-Urbana – Chambanamoms.com Chicago– Toddling Around Chicago & Chicago Kids Far western suburbs of Chicago – Go West Young Mom Lake County (North Suburbs of Chicago) – Little Lake County Near west suburbs of Chicago – {kidlist} activities for little kids INDIANA Indianapolis – Indy with Kids Terre Haute – Haute Happenings KENTUCKY Hardin County – Elizabethtown Family Louisville – Louisville Family Fun LOUISIANA Baton Rouge – Baton Rouge Moms City of New Orleans & Jefferson Parish – Jefferson Parish Parent Gulf Coast – MS Gulf Coast Parent North Shore New Orleans – North Shore Parent MASSACHUSETTS Boston – Boston Mamas MICHIGAN Ann Arbor – Ann Arbor with Kids Ann Arbor/Detroit – Kids Out and About Ann Arbor and Detroit Bay, Midland, and Saginaw Counties – Great Lakes
Bay Moms Grand Rapids – Grand Rapids Kids (grkids.com) Kalamazoo – Kalamazoo Kids MISSOURI St. Louis – stlparent.com & St. Louis Sprout & About NEBRASKA Omaha – Family Fun in Omaha NEVADA Las Vegas – Las Vegas Kids NEW HAMPSHIRE Portsmouth – Find and Go Seek NEW YORK Albanay – Albany Kid Saratoga County – Saratoga Mama Rockland – Rockland NY Mom (just outside NYC) OHIO Cincinnati – Family Friendly Cincinnati Columbus – cBus Mom Northeast Ohio – Northeast Ohio Family Fun PENNSYLVANIA Chester County – Chester County Moms Delaware County – DelcoPaMoms & Delaware County Moms Lehigh Valley – Lehigh Valley Family Fun & Find and Go Seek Montgomery County – Montgomery County Moms Philadelphia – Local Fun for Kids & Philly Fun 4 Kids SOUTH CAROLINA Greenville – Kidding Around Greenville TENNESSEE Nashville – Nashville Fun For Familes TEXAS Austin – Free Fun In Austin Houston – Big Kids Small City San Antonio – San Antonio Moms Blog VERMONT Vermont – Find and Go Seek VIRGINIA Dulles/Fairfax County/Loudoun County – Dulles Moms Fairfax County and Northern Virginia – Fairfax Family Fun Hampton Roads – My Active Child WASHINGTON Seattle – Seattle’s Child South Puget Sound Area – Sounds Fun Mom WISCONSIN Appleton (and surrounding communities) – Go Valley Kids Madison – Madison with Kids & Madison Mammas Milwaukee – Miltown Moms Waukesha County/Metro Milwaukee – Lake Country Family Fun
9 Things My Kids Would Love About Beaches Turks & Caicos Written by Jennifer Auer One of my most incredible adventures of the past year has got to be my trip to the beautiful resort of Beaches Turks & Caicos. It was such an honor to be invited to attend this special family blogger conference. While it wasn't a complimentary media trip, it was well worth the money and work to get a new passport. I enjoyed the radiant sun, the soft sands of the beaches, the coolness of the water, and the friendliness of the staff. Where else can you learn about the business of blogging while having your feet in the sand? I appreciated having such an incredible location to celebrate the past 5 years of Jersey Family Fun and to start making plans for the future. The only thing that would have made this trip more perfect would have been ...... to have my husband and 3 boys with me. School and work commitments kept them from being able to come, but I can assure you given the chance to go again I will most certainly work to have them join me. Exploring Beaches through my mom eyes, I kept thinking how much my boys would love this and that. I could see my youngest playing in the sand. I could see son number 2 willing to try a new water sport and my oldest would surely have been in a hammock somewhere reading. All 3 of them would have been over the top giddy to swim up to a pool bar and order a cold drink. If you're considering a family vacation to Beaches Turks & Caicos consider these reasons your kids would LOVE to visit. 1. Ice Cream Every Day What kid doesn't love ice cream? I admit, I love it too. I loved that almost anytime of day or night I could head over to Bobby Dee's for an ice cream sundae or milkshake. With so many activities to enjoy at Beaches I know my kids would be asking for ice cream a lot and Bobby Dee's would be ready. The restaurant and ice cream shop are open daily 11 am - 6 am. You can even swim up to the counter for your favorite milkshake or an ice cream sundae. 2. Kids Camp Babies, little kids, big kids, tweens, and teens.... Beaches seems to have a program for every age. There are pool and beach games. There are crafts. For the littlest of kids, Camp Sesame has adorable indoor safe places and their own pool. For the older kids, tweens, and teen places there are 'cool' places to hang out and socialize. Chalkboards list the weeks' schedule of activities. Continued
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problem finding a lounge chair to leave our belongings on while I swam or when I was ready to lay in the sun. 4. Family Nights Throughout the Beaches property are several displays with this signage. Every day of the week there seems to be some kinds of family night going on. During my visit, there were nights of dancing in the water park area, dancing in the clubs, a beach party and I am sure more that I missed out on. During my favorite family night there was an all out luau with music, food, limbo, maypole dancers, and a fire-eating performer. 5. Water Sports Beaches Turks & Caicos had so many water
Kids camp is included as part of the all inclusive
sports that weren't just limited to adults. There is
travel packages. You can see more pictures from
hobie cat sailing, kayaks sailing, an aqua cycle to
inside the Camp Sesame center and other kids
ride, snorkeling, diving, and more. These would
areas in this Facebook album.
be great activities to do with my boys for some unforgettable experiences. Kids can take lessons
No, my kids weren't with me but yes I had to
with or without their family. You can bring your
check it out for our awesome readers and so that
own life jackets and equipment or rent your own.
I know for when I do bring my kids. It's great to know that families can take a vacation that gives
6. Open Beaches & Spaces
them activities to do as a family and the grown
The beaches of Turks Caicos extends for miles.
ups time alone as well. Knowing my kids can
What's great about them is that there is plenty of
have safe, supervised fun means... maybe a family
beach to explore both at the shoreline and back
vacation is what we need so mommy and daddy
on the other side of the beach front cabanas. If
can finally have some date time.
you're nervous about little ones getting to close to the water, but still want playing in the sand time,
3. Family Friendly Pools So many pools.. so little time. That might be what you and the kids feel like when you explore the pools at Beaches Turks & Caicos. Each one felt more glorious with benefits parents and kids would love such as: •
Swim up bars that had several kidfriendly drinks and smoothies kids could enjoy while in the pool or sitting pool side.
•
The pools were deep enough to swim in but not too deep. At 5' 2" I could stand in the water without it going over my head.
•
Plenty of complimentary towels available pool side.
•
Ample seating as well. I never had a
check out an open area like below. It's near the water sports area. You can see the shore line but the pavilion acts as a barrier to a direct path to the water. There was lots of sand on the playground too. There were also lots of open green spaces. With benches, chaise lounges, hammocks, and other comfortable seating I could certainly see my oldest getting comfortable with a good book. I'd likely be in the next hammock sipping on a frozen lemonade and resting. 7. Water Park Pools where you can swim up for a cold drink, a pirate's cove where you can hide and look out over the water park, water slides for every thrill level... and much much more. The Treasure Island water park had something for everyone. There was a splash pad where cute sea creatures sprayed water over a soft ground. The path of the lazy river was beautiful and relaxing. There were several water slides, a surfing simulation, and a pirate playground. I might not have my boys with me.... but I still enjoyed the water park. There are chairs and towels nearby and even Bobby Dee's is near so you could easily spend a whole day in this area of Beaches Turks & Caicos. 8. On Screen & Off Screen Gaming If your kids are traditionally glued to their screens you can lure them to Sandals with promises of letting them play in the X Box Lounge. But encourage them to join you FIRST in some off screen gaming. Make an off-screen gaming memory! Beaches had a few of these open areas that had kid-size chess games set up. There are also tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, and basketball courts outside in open spaces and pool tables and air hockey tables in pavilion areas. Families can also check out board games at the activity center near the playground and use them in the open spaces or back in their rooms. 9. Characters Are we ever too old to enjoy Sesame Street? I think not. During one morning of Social Media on the Sand my fellow bloggers and I got to hang with the characters of Sesame Street. We were all clamoring for pictures with them. At Beaches, families can enjoy breakfast with the Sesame Street characters or arrange for one to visit at bedtime. But be ready with those cameras; you never know when you might just catch one walking around. What activities would your kids want to do at Beaches? If you'd like to learn more about Beaches Turks & Caicos visit their website. You can see more of our Beaches Turks Caicos pictures in this Facebook album.