Springtime in New Jersey is the best! From gorgeous blooming gardens and theme parks to Minor League ballgames and kayaking, there’s so much to do now that spring is well underway. Here’s some inspiration to inspire your next day trip!
Stroll Through a Garden
New Jersey isn’t called the Garden State for nothing. There are tons of stunning gardens and arboretums to marvel at with the fam. Visit Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown for 127 acres of bike trails, rose gardens and open space. If you have budding artists on your hands, take ’em to Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, a garden boasting more than 300 unique and surreal sculptures, not to mention lily ponds and free-roaming peacocks. And there’s no shortage of natural beauty at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, where guests can explore over 1,000 acres of land, hang at the stunning Old Fountain, sniff their way through the Orchid Range and break a sweat on 18 miles of trail.  Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with festivals and kid-friendly programs. Holland Ridge Farms in Cream Ridge is gearing up for its spring festival weekends (including a new Dutch Fest) and u-pick tulips. A series of private gardens in Cape May will be open for strolling on May 10.
Many beautiful parks, gardens and arboretums throughout the state will be in full bloom with tulips, cherry blossoms and daffodils.
You can also take a road trip to Kennett Square, PA, to see the gorgeous tulips, hydrangeas, cherry trees and bonsai at Longwood Gardens that are outside on the grounds and inside the conservatories.
Head to a Springtime Festival
Earth Day is April 22 and many towns around the state are planning celebrations. You can tap into Mother Earth by doing yoga or forest bathing. The New Jersey Renaissance Faire is merriment for all with sword fighting, jousting, knights and jesters. Rutgers Day combines with Ag Field Day and the New Jersey Folk Festival to bring three sections of the New Brunswick campus to life with lots of greenery, food and activities. The Rock & Roll Steampunk Fair features music and street performers. Long Branch hosts a kite festival along the beach where you can watch the high-flying acts or bring your own. For more flying in the sky, Area 57 offers a hot air balloon fest in Warren County. If you want a combo of comedy, music, speakers and more, Prudential’s North to Shore Festival runs up and down the state during June, crossing multiple cities, with music, comedy and other shows at several venues. Dalton Farms in Swedesboro and Arrowhead Farmstead in Manalapan will have flower festivals complete with food trucks, photo ops and activities for kids.
Take the Kids Out to a Ball Game
NJ is home to several Minor League Baseball ballparks. Tickets are cheap, the food is great and the games are exciting, especially if you catch a glimpse of a Major Leaguer who is down for rehab. There are fun activities for kids, too, like running the bases, getting autographs or watching fireworks. There is lots of rebranding during select games to make the teams feel even closer to home: the Trenton Thunder will become the Trenton Goldens, the Jersey Shore BlueClaws will play as The Locals (vs. The Bennys) and the Somerset Patriots will once again play as the Jersey Diners.
Make New Animal Friends
It’s the perfect time of year to visit their favorite zoos and aquariums again. But there are more unconventional ways to get their wildlife fix. Have a howling good time at the Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, where the kids can take a Wolf Watch tour of the grounds and see three different types of wolves interact, eat and play. If you’re into bird watching, Washington Crossing State Park is a great place to start. Meet owls, hawks, bluebirds and other feathered friends who use the stream and ravine for resting and nesting. If the kids want something hands-on, nothing beats Bluebird Farm Alpacas in Peapack, who are at their fluffiest in April and May. Visit the barn to pet and feed these cuties, then shop alpaca yarn and more at the barn shop. Your little animal lovers will love exploring Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford, where they can hike, see rehabilitated animals and hang out in a special playroom for kids. The Atlantic City Aquarium finally opened after a 5-year closure, so you can welcome back Elliot the bearded dragon, Ray and the other cow nose stingrays, Max the American lobster, Bella the Colombian red-tail boa constrictor, and Big Mama the blue-tongued skink.
Explore a National or State Park
You might’ve hiked the usual suspects near you (we love Palisades Interstate Park in Alpine and Stairway to Heaven in Vernon), but have you crossed a national or state park off your list yet? Start with Gateway National Recreation Area in Highlands, which will take you to the beaches of Sandy Hook, a historic lighthouse and tons of fishing spots. History buffs and STEM kids will have a blast at Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, where they’ll get to see his lab complex, film studio and inventions. As for state parks, head to Allaire in Wall Twp. to get a taste of the 19th-century iron industry; Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park for clean, empty white sands and an ocean view; or Jenny Jump State Forest in Hope for canoeing, picnicking and boating. The Cape May Lighthouse has 199 steps to the top, and you can visit the nature center/museum next door for some sea-level learning within Cape May Point State Park.
When the kids have the energy to burn or it’s just too nice outside to stay indoors, head to a next-level park. Overpeck County Park in Ridgefield Park boasts walking paths and sports fields, plus climbing walls, a trampoline web, spinning monkey bars and more. Regatta Playground in West Orange is tucked away in South Mountain Reservation next to Turtle Back Zoo and has a massive ship centerpiece complete with sails. Bridgewater’s KidStreet, built entirely by local volunteers, has huge jungle gyms and obstacle courses for kids to take on (don’t miss the zipline!).
From private stables to recreational rides, there are tons of ways the kids can try their luck in the saddle. Morristown’s Seaton Hackney Stables is home to ring camps, trail rides and private lessons or take a guided ride on the open trail at Silver Bit & Spur Farm in Whitehouse Station. Rocking Horse Rehab has relocated to Lord Stirling Stables in Basking Ridge, and provides services for individuals with disabilities. Von Thun’s Equestrian division in Washington Twp. includes riding lessons, leasing and barn time. Rockin’ J Ranch in Egg Harbor City offers western-style horseback riding lessons, plus group trail rides, cow roping, barrel running and a small animal farm.
Spend the Day at an Amusement Park
Time to hit the coasters, ride the carousel and more at nearby thrill parks. Six Flags Great Adventure Resort in Jackson has your daredevil faves like Nitro, the Jersey Devil Coaster, and the newly debuted THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity. Hurricane Harbor will open in late May, for when you want to cool off on water slides. You can go through the safari via an off-road adventure, or stay the night by booking a luxury glamping stay inside the Wild Safari. Mountain Creek in Vernon boasts a mountain coaster, ropes course and golf during the spring, not to mention an epic water park over the summer. For the youngest of your squad, Land of Make Believe in Hope is set to open Memorial Day weekend. Think a pirate ship, wading pool, jumbo carousel and more. Your littles will see their favorite nighttime stories come to life at Storybook Land through a series of kiddie rides and attractions.
Make a Splash on the Open Water
Calling all thrill seekers! Nothing beats white water rafting, tubing or kayaking down the Delaware River. Hit the rapids with the fam for two to four hours, then settle in for a picnic lunch. Tubing trips are a great choice if you want to skip all that paddling; hit the water then stay the night at Delaware River Family Campground in Columbia. Want to keep your distance from the water? Head down the shore to whale and dolphin watch before peak season hits. Try Miss Avalon Dolphin and Nature Cruises in Avalon (starting in June), or a day cruise to see dolphins and whales aboard a Cape May Whale Watcher yacht. You can also chase waterfalls, donning water-resistant shoes and a camera.
Plan for Concert Season
There are lots of outdoor concerts at a venue like MetLife Stadium or PNC Bank Arts Center or your town’s waterfront park. Or check the schedule for a huge music festival, like Sea.Hear.Now (coming in September – but tickets sell out super quickly) or Wildwood’s Barefoot Country Music Festival. Towns are starting to announce their PorchFest plans, where you go from house to house listening to different musicians. If you prefer movies to music, bring a lawn chair or blanket and a cooler filled with snacks and you’ll have an enjoyable evening watching an outdoor movie. Find a drive-in theater for some nostalgic fun.
Go on an ice cream crawl this spring, starting with Ice Cream Charlie’s in Rutherford which scoops favorites like cannoli, frozen hot chocolate and Rice Krispy; and new flavors including caramel Kit Kat and Dubai chocolate. Hoffman’s Ice Cream is a Jersey institution, serving up sweets in Point Pleasant Beach and Spring Lake (be sure to try Jersey Monkey, a mix of banana ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate chips). Applegate Farm in Montclair is also a crowd fave, housed in an 1848 farmhouse, where they made Columbian coffee or white pistachio. Magic Fountain in Summit is a local favorite, offering everything from homemade specialty floats to custom cakes to top hats. The Bent Spoon in Princeton doles out artisanal scoops, not to mention gourmet hot chocolate, house marshmallows and baked goods. Jersey Freeze in Freehold, and at Bell Works in Holmdel, boast a full Jersey-inspired food menu in addition to homemade chipwiches, ice cream cakes, cupcakes and pies. Wait in line for Torico Ice Cream in Jersey City and you won’t be disappointed by the cases of ice cream, pies, cakes, sandwich cookies and sundae kits that surround you.
Discover a New (Down)town
New Jersey has charming spots for walking, shopping and dining. Areas of Cape May, Lambertville, Jersey City and Newark make you feel like you’re visiting a city overseas while staying close to home. Asbury Park, Frenchtown and Montclair are filled with creativity, like public murals, music and dance performances, and cool architecture. The boardwalks are also open, with tons of activities along the Shore, like in Ocean City, Seaside Heights and Wildwood.
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