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.
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. Liberty Science Center has a special Wild About Animals exhibit running through April 27; you can meet Buzz Lightyear on Sundays, too.
Go under the sea. Adventure Aquarium has sharks, mermaids and brand-new baby blue penguin chicks. Plus, from March 23 to April 7, the Bubble Bash brings the science of bubbles to you through demos, a scavenger hunt, photo ops and a poppin’ Bubble Bash Party.
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.
Go back in time. Howell Living History Farm offers free Saturday events like sawmilling, hog slopping and potato planting.
Head to an indoor water park. Island Waterpark at the Showboat in Atlantic City is family-friendly and open year-round, with 100,000 square feet of slides, a lazy river and splash pads. 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. Great Wolf Lodge will host a first-of-its-kind “bubly Beach Break” experience, which includes an indoor beach-themed party filled with fun floaties, prizes and free bubly sparking water ice cream floats.
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 Observation Wheel, plus Paradox Museum and TiLT Museum, there is no way your kids will complain of boredom here. Six Flags Great Adventure opens for the season on certain days in April. 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.
Keep the mind going. Learning is fun, and Liberty Science Center has a multitude of exhibits to keep the kids engaged while school’s off. Play a computer game where antibiotic kills a virus, check out how Pixar movies are made, learn about what lives under the sea and watch sound in motion.
Make a skate date. Roller skating is lots of fun all year. United Skates of America is a great place for family fun, but you can also plan a STEM field trip, fundraiser or scout event. Check the evening schedule for glow-in-the-dark skate.
Go for something sweet and squishy. PEEPS in the Village is a marshmallow wonderland open from March 11 to April 14. 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. iPlay America will have extended hours so you can play the boardwalk-style games, go on the rides and play in the arcade. Rent a bay at the Topgolf Swing Suite to compete in virtual sports games, or play laser tag. While at iPlay, check out The Loaded Spoon’s insane milkshakes for lunch or dinner, too. You can also throw axes, swing a golf club or put on a VR headset at Adventure Crossing USA in Jackson.
“Build” some memories. LEGOLAND Discovery Center has locations at American Dream in East Rutherford, or take a road trip to Westchester, NY. You’ll go behind-the-scenes of a Master Model Builder’s workshop, have an exciting LEGO building competition vs. a Master Model Builder, go on LEGO-themed rides, catch a movie in the 4D cinema, check out a display of local landmarks made out of a million bricks, and play play play!
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. The boardwalks are great for grabbing some ice cream and burgers while you enjoy the sun.
Take a sail. Circle Line offers a variety of iconic sightseeing boat tours, like the Best of NYC Cruise, Landmarks Cruise and Harbor Lights Cruise. You’ll see the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and the Manhattan skyline.
Rise high above NY. RiseNY is an interactive attraction where you “soar” above NYC while sitting in motion-activated seats. And at One World Observatory, the highest observation deck in all the Western Hemisphere, you can take an elevator ride to the 100th floor of the One World Trade Center for an interactive journey and the family-friendly restaurant ONE Dine. On April 2, don’t miss 11-year-old child art prodigy Mikail Akar’s live painting demo.
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