Are you looking for some day trip inspo during Spring Break week? Most NJ schools will be closed either the week leading up to or the week after Easter. Here are some great ideas close to home to inspire your planning.
Walk on the wild side. Cape May County Zoo will be welcoming new penguins and flamingoes to its exhibits, in addition to its Easter EggstravaganZoo from April 18-25. The zoo has a park too, and both are free to visit daily. Lakota Wolf Preserve lets your kids go on an exciting adventure by checking out the cutest wolves, bobcats, foxes and lynx for you to interact with. Adventure Aquarium’s newest little blue penguin, named after Saquon Barkley, should be out on exhibit with his family by then.
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. Plus, April 19 kicks off National Park Week, so you can visit any of NJ’s 12 national park sites for free!
Go back in time. A massive dino fossil museum is opening at Rowan University, complete with skeletal reconstructions, learning stations, a fossil research workshop, nature trails and on-site fossil digging. Howell Living History Farm offers free Saturday events that show you what life was like on the farm in the 1800s. April activities include lambing, potato planting, henhouse visits, beekeeping and tree planting. Kids can work on a themed craft during each session. At Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morris Twp., experience farm life from 100+ years ago through farm tasks like butter churning, corn cracking and collecting eggs, or visit The Willows, a 1854 Gothic Revival family home built a grandson of Paul Revere. Starting April 19, head to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia for the opening of its exhibit, Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags, which displays 17 total flags, including 16 from the Revolutionary era, to mark the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
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 (plus it’s next to the Lucky Snake arcade. 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 has not only the water attractions but a magic scavenger hunt, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, bowling alley, gigantic arcade and late night dance party. DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream is themed with your kid’s favorite animated movies. Big Kahuna’s in West Berlin has tons of slides in a tropical setting.
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 exhibits that’ll keep the kids engaged while school’s off. Play a computer game where an antibiotic kills a virus, learn about what lives under the sea, watch sound in motion and immerse yourself in a Curious George playground. There’s also a special Wild About Animals program for 2025. Your school-minded kids may enjoy a trip to a museum, whether the central theme is art, history or exploration. Or pique their interest with a visit to a museum based on music, dinosaurs or baseball. NJ has several planetariums where your kids can reach for the moon and the stars. The New Jersey State Museum has a handful of drop-in activities, like making the Earth using sand, or learning how to clean up an oil spill.
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 24 to April 27. You can see art displays of this beloved Easter candy all around Peddler’s 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. The Supertrack (which is the world’s longest indoor go-kart track) at Supercharged in Edison has over 25 elevation changes; plus there are arcade games, virtual reality, axe throwing at the Drop Tower ride. 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. You can also throw axes, swing a golf club, or put on a VR headset at Adventure Crossing USA in Jackson. The FunPlex in Mount Laurel will be open its outdoor rides and attractions all week.
Ride the rails. Depending on when your kids have off, check the schedule for train rides that include a special visit by the Easter Bunny along with an egg hunt and lots of candy.
See Art in Action. Hoboken has two must-see exhibits for the season: Charm Harbour is an installation of seven climbable sculptures along the waterfront, while Star Light Star Bright is a walkable sculpture by day and glowing installation at night. And both are free to view.
“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. 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.
Get a hit of dopamine. Dopamine Land opens at Garden State Plaza on March 15, with areas like Scribblescape, Cosmic Oasis, Euphoria Grove and Sunset Lagoon to stimulate your senses. You can also increase your endorphins by climbing to new heights at HAPIK Climb Gym at American Dream, which has 50 climbing routes of 24 feet each.
Keep winter fun going. Big SNOW at American Dream has ski and snowboard slopes inside the mall complex.
Or welcome spring at a festival. Alstede Farms in Chester will hold its Springtime & Easter Festival with lots of outdoor activities for kids (wagon ride, hay maze, climbing pyramid, bounce house) plus breakfast or brunch with the Easter Bunny. The Dino & Tulip Festival at Arrowhead Farmstead in Manalapan will have kids roaring over 30 animatronic dinos that are spread throughout the flower fields.
Climb a lighthouse. Make the trek to the top of any iconic lighthouse in NJ that is open on the weekends. The view from the top is worth it!
Explore New Jersey’s downtowns. Whether you visit a creative arts town, active city, beautiful boardwalk, or the Jersey Shore, spend a day in a quaint or bustling Garden State downtown.
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, the Empire State Building, the 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 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.
- Jennifer Amato contributed to this story.
Get the latest on the best things to do with your family in and around New Jersey by signing up for our newsletter and following us on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!
Read More:
Plan a Spring Break Getaway to Crystal Springs Resort
It’s Not Too Late to Plan These Spring Break Getaways
Spring Break Road Trips Your Crew Will Love
