Photo courtesy of Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
 

Humpback Whales

Bring your little whale watchers on a journey into the curious world of humpback whales. After being driven to near-extinction 50 years ago, humpbacks have made their return and splashed into NYC’s American Museum of Natural History in this 2D and 3D adventure. Touching on the communication, playing, singing and feeding of these remarkable whales, your kids will get to fully immerse themselves in this underwater world.

MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition

Burst into the Mythbusters exhibit at Jersey City’s Liberty Science Center to find answers to a few of life’s unanswered questions, including whether or not toast actually falls butter-side down. Make sure to join the MythBusters crew before they take off, as this limited-time exhibit is only open until September 4. Have your little ones use scientific observations and curiosity to search for answers to these questions. As the largest gallery at the center, view aspects of the exhibit from all around the building.

P.S. Art 2017: Celebrating the Creative Spirit of New York City Kids

Celebrate the artwork of New York City public schools by checking out the works of talented young artists from Pre-K through grade 12. Prints, sculptures, paintings, mixed-media works and photographs are just a few of the many art mediums covered in this expansive collection. Let your little Picassos be inspired by the over 100 colorful and expressive pieces included in this annual exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Butterfly Tent

Frolic through the seasonal Butterfly Tent and immerse yourself in the Turtle Back Zoo’s collection of over 700 live butterflies. Six unique species of butterfly flutter through the 100-foot-long tent that’s jam-packed with flowers and other little critters. Watch as caterpillars and other chrysalis types transform from eggs to beautiful butterflies at this West Orange gem.

Ladder 11

On the main floor of the Staten Island Children’s Museum, little firefighters can check out the Ladder 11 exhibit filled with tons of firefighter-themed activities and hands-on exploring. At this permanent exhibit, hook up hoses, try on gear, manipulate gauges, ring the bell, slide down the old-school pole and hop on the 1941 Seagrave fire truck. Designed for hands-on learning, this fire truck is jam-packed with tons to do.

Caribbean Currents

This twisting display at Adventure Aquarium in Camden features 15 different exhibits within it, all bubbling with unique, exotic fish and underwater creatures. Even the tiniest of aspiring divers will be captivated by the hundreds of brightly colored tropical fish, lobsters, seahorses and huge schools of fish.

Summer at the Planetarium

Float around space in the out-of-this-world, Hi-Def Planetarium at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton. In this state-of-the-art Full DomeVideo, mini-astronauts will feel the sensation of soaring through space and beyond.

Maker, Maker

Grab the kids for a day in NYC and stop by the Children’s Museum of the Arts for this group exhibition. Featuring handmade works including ceramics, woodworking, crochet, casting, quilting and more, this exhibit takes art to a whole new level.