Looking for some staycation ideas in between those cozy PJ days at home? Here are some of our favorite things to do over the holiday break:
1. Go on a Science Adventure
Liberty Science Center has its ongoing exhibits open, plus the new SUE the T. Rex exhibit, which is the most complete Tyrannosaurus skeleton in the world. The Infinity Climber and the Touch Tunnel are always favorites, plus during Holiday Adventures you can get up close to animals on select dates. Be sure to book a laser show inside the planetarium.
2. Head Outdoors
Take the kids skiing, snowshoeing or ice skating close to home. Take a First Day Hike  on January 1st or dare to jump in the ocean at a Polar Plunge.
3. Hit the Circus
 Get tickets to the newest Big Apple Circus in New York City (through January 4).
4. Go Bowling
Head to a local alley with your crew; curly fries optional. Or level up with a trip to Albatross in Edison, which not only has 24 lanes with an upscale vibe, but also 18 holes of movie-themed mini golf.
5. Go Karting or Hit the Driving Range
Your teens will love hitting the karting track at Supercharged in Edson. There are two tracks that make up the longest indoor karting track in the world! There’s also axe throwing, bumper cars, a Drop & Twist tower and dozens of arcade games. Topgolf is next door, too. RPM Raceway in Jersey City has a must-see multi-level electric go-kart track, too.
6. Take in the Holiday Lights
There’s still time to see light shows and holiday houses all over New Jersey.
7. Go Prehistoric
Check out Jurassic Quest, a hands-on exhibit where you will see life-sized dinos roaming around the convention center. Or head to Edelman Fossil Park & Museum, where you can see similar dino displays inside, but also dig for real fossils outside in the quarry.
8. Bring History to Life
Get a glimpse of our Revolutionary History during Patriots Week throughout Trenton, where there will be a Colonial Ball, battle reenactments and a puppet show. You can also watch as a series of flags from the Civil War are unveiled. The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia has a special exhibit on the Declaration of Independence, in addition to General George Washington’s war tent, a true-to-life narration by the indigenous peoples, a ship replica you can walk in, and a kid-friendly discovery zone.
9. Take a Day Trip
Visit some of the most Christmassy towns in New Jersey, like Vernon Twp. (home of Mountain Creek Ski Resort), the Wildwoods, Lambertville, Morristown and Cape May. A holiday visit to NYC and Philly is always on our list and no trip is complete without a stop at Bryant Park and the Rockefeller Christmas tree in NYC and LOVE Plaza in Philly.
10. Inspire the Kids Creativity
Art studios around NJ are offering camps for the week; Around the Corner Art Center in Freehold Twp. and Marlboro will assign your kids projects like painting on canvas, sculpting, and painting with acrylic. All Children’s Art Center of NJ, with studios in Boonton, Bound Brook and Denville, has art camp plus theater and acting classes.
11. Sign up for a Mini Camp
Camps offer a fun, hands-on way for kids to keep the learning going while school is out. Campers at Tenafly Nature Center’s Winter Break Camp will hike along scenic trails to see wildlife, make crafts, listen to stories and play games that are winter-themed. Iron Peak Sports & Events has School’s Out Camps later this month, where kids will hang on the climbing walls, make crafts, watch a movie, and play on the sports fields.
12. Head to a Museum
Plan a day trip to the Newark Museum of Art in Newark, the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton (which has different, free workshops planned each day), or Imagine That!!! in Florham Park. Many of our best museums offer free admission.
13. Hit the Arcade
Play some old-school pinball at Silverball Retro Arcade in Asbury Park, add on bowling to your visit to DiDonato Family Fun Center in Hammonton, or compete in the G.I. Joe laser tag arena at The Gameroom by Hasbro at American Dream. Dave & Buster’s has multiple locations around the state, where you can grab a beer while the kids play Skee-ball or air hockey.
14. Plan a Day at American Dream
American Dream in East Rutherford is a massive complex with shopping, restaurants, Nickelodeon Universe, Big SNOW, LEGOLand Discovery Center, SeaLife aquarium, the DreamWorks Water Park, an ice skating rink, Angry Birds Mini Golf and blacklight mini golf. Visit TiLT Museum and Paradox Museum for exhibits that guarantee awesome pics. The Dream Wheel – a 300-foot observation wheel that overlooks NJ and NYC – has a family promo through January 15 that gives a discounted ride plus photo options. Check out our reels on Instagram for a preview.
15. See the NYC Skyline on a Cruise
Leaving on City Cruises from Weehawken or Circle Line from Manhattan, you can board a boat and take in in all the views of the NJ and NY skylines.
16. Get in Your Ride Fix
Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA is open on select days through January 4, and has special Kwanzaa and New Year’s parties planned.
17. Take to the High Seas
Battleship NJ in Camden lets you walk through three floors of the decommissioned Naval ship that is docked in the Delaware River. You can lie in the sailors’ bunks, walk through the mess hall, and even see the ship’s jail. The Intrepid Museum in NYC offers a similar experience, with the addition of the world’s first space shuttle, a nuclear weapons-carrying submarine, dozens of military aircraft, a supersonic spy plane, and the world’s fastest commercial airliner (the Concorde).
18. Burn Off Some Energy
New Jersey has its share of indoor sports complexed where kids can get out their zoomies during winter break. Branchburg Sports Complex has fields and courts for basketball, baseball, flag football and lacrosse, plus a laser tag arena, arcade, play maze and batting cages. Iron Peak Sports & Events in Hillsborough has sports fields, plus climbing walls, field games, a golf house an arcade, duckpin bowling and aerial ropes.
19. Ring in the New Year Early
Celebrate 2025 at a Noon Year’s Eve party, where festivities to welcome the new year include kid-friendly parties.
20. Treat Yourself to a Spa Day
SoJo Spa Club in Edgewater has epic NYC views and a vibe that is unmatched. Aside from the outdoor heated infinity pool that overlooks NYC, the spa has tons more to offer inside, where you can book an appointment for a massage, Korean body scrub, acupressure, or a volcanic sand bath. There’s a healthy lunch menu and you can book an overnight stay at the hotel.
Don’t forget to check our list of Things to Do This Weekend for more ideas on how to keep the kids occupied. Plus, we rounded up fun NYE parties the kids will enjoy!
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