17 Great Places to Visit Spring Break Week

Are you looking for a new adventure with the family without having to fly? Try one of these staycation ideas for spring break. Schools in NJ will be closed either the week leading up to or the week after Easter, so check your calendar, check your kids’ interests and check out these great places to visit.

Get your Disney fix. Drive to Philly to see the new 100 Years of Magic exhibit. You’ll see tons of exclusive props, costumes and scenes.

Walk on the wild side. Cape May County Zoo has a rare Amur Leopard with all-white front paws. Lakota Wolf Preserve lets your kids go on an exciting adventure by checking out the resident canines.

Go under the sea. See Charlie, the newest giant Pacific octopus at Adventure Aquarium and learn why he only has seven arms. A baby blue penguin hatched in February so check out the rest of his colony on exhibit as well.

Go back in time. Howell Living History Farm offers free Saturday events like sawmilling, hog slopping and potato planting.

Be trailblazers and enjoy nature. Either go for a hike at Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park to see the 77-foot waterfall, take a bike ride around Duke Farms, or wander around Grounds for Sculpture where nature is combined with art. The New Jersey Botanical Garden offers child-friendly hikes.

Head to an indoor water park. Aquatopia at Camelback Resort give you all the excitement of a real vacation but as an easy day trip. The kids will love the slides, wave pool and lazy river and you’ll feel great knowing they are spending the day being active.

Get your amusement park fix. American Dream has so much for families to do, all under one roof. From Nickelodeon Universe to the DreamWorks Water Park to Big SNOW, two mini-golf attractions and a giant Ferris wheel, there is no way your kids will complain of boredom here. Six Flags Great Adventure opens for the season on April 1 and will have extended hours from April 5 daily through April 16. Visit on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays afterward until the season goes into full operation on May 25. Diggerland will be open on weekends and select days for Spring Break. Let kids ride and drive to their heart’s content at this awesome construction theme park.

Go for something sweet and squishy. PEEPS in the Village is a marshmallow wonderland open from March 13 to April 23. You can see art displays of this beloved Easter candy all around the village. Plus, there will be tons of shopping, eating and activities for everyone to enjoy.

Throw it all out there. If your kids are 13 or older, they’ll enjoy an afternoon of axe throwing to work off their school stress. Or for more activity, RPM Raceway is open daily for high-speed go kart racing, arcade games and virtual reality.

Plan some beach time. It’s been a mild winter so as the weather continues to warm up, you’ll surely be able to spot some seagulls or build a sandcastle. Jenkinson’s Boardwalk Amusement Park will be open for the season on certain days and kids can enjoy the rides again, weather permitting.

Mangia! After a long day of playing, everyone is sure to be hungry. Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in Edison brings the food directly to you via conveyor belt. Plus, the more dishes you order, the more prizes the kids get.