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Exploring New Jersey’s Neighborhoods

If you're in the mood for a more local itinerary, check out our Neighborhood Guides, where we have top picks for the best things to do with kids in family-friendly hot spots ranging from Hoboken to Cape May and all the areas in between.

Money Saving Tips For Exploring NJ

As we mentioned, the Garden State can be hard on a family budget, but we like to think of ourselves as the curators of family fun on the cheap. To that end, be sure to bookmark our Guide to Free Fun Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids, where we share all our top tips for how to score free admission to top New Jersey attractions, plus places where kids can play for free, eat for free, and even go down The Shore for free.

Top Things To Do in New Jersey for Visitors

While this list of the best things to do in New Jersey is geared toward locals, we've got plenty of top picks for family fun for out-of-towners, too. Here are a few helpful roundups for anyone visiting New Jersey with kids:

• 3 Days on the Jersey Shore with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom

• Top Attractions in New Jersey: Best Things To See and Do With Kids

• Guide to Museums and Art for New Jersey Kids

• Best Family-Friendly Hotels on the Jersey Shore

Best Things To Do in NJ with Kids By Age

• 12 Fun Things To Do in NJ Before Your Baby's First Birthday

• 35+ Things to Do With New Jersey Preschoolers Before They Turn 5

• 40 Things To Do in New Jersey with Tweens

Top Low or No-Cost Things To Do in New Jersey With Kids

1. Cape May Zoo

Walk the boardwalk at the FREE Cape May County Zoo to see buffalo, bears, and zebras.

2. Liberty State Park

Play in the giant playground in Liberty State Park and enjoy the spectacular view of Manhattan any time of the year.

3. Appalachian Trail

Hike the New Jersey portion of the Appalachian Trail. Big kids might even be able to conquer the Stairway to Heaven trail, which starts flat before hitting the mountain.

4. Fairy Trail

Play, picnic, hike, and look for fairy houses at the South Mountain Reservation or Columbia Trail.

5. Hike the Stream

Pick a hike with water, a river, or a stream, and the kids will complain less, I promise!

6. Rutgers Day

Celebrate the state university system with an action-packed, family-friendly festival, Rutgers Day, held in April every year.

7. Washington's Headquarters

Brush up on your Revolutionary War history at Washington's Headquarters in Morristown.

8. Allaire State Park

Bike through Allaire State Park.

9. Great Falls

Watch the impressive Great Falls crash in Paterson.

10. Maple Sugaring at New Jersey Parks

Go maple sugaring in the late winter.

11. Cattus Island Park

Hike the "hidden beach trail" in Cattus Island County Park.

12. Watchung Reservation

Visit Watchung Reservation for easy hiking trails, an awesome playground and nature center, and a brand-new sensory trail—or hit another one of our favorite NJ reservations.

RELATED: 10 Favorite NJ Parks and Reservations with Fun for Kids

Visit High Point State Park for a view of the tri-state region. Photo by Jessica Delfino

13. High Point State Park

See three states from the top of the monument at High Point State Park.

14. Thomas Edison National Historic Park

Visit the home and laboratory of one of America's greatest inventors at Thomas Edison National Historic Park.

15. Iris Gardens

See thousands of irises in bloom from May through June at Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.

16. Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Stop by the Discovery Center at Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit, or visit during one of its many family-friendly festivals, such as the Daffodil Festival in the spring.

17. Washington's Crossing

Watch the annual reenactment of Washington's Crossing of the Delaware on Christmas Day.

18. Stargazing

Go stargazing at the historic Batsto Village in Wharton State Forest.

19. Destination Playground

Take a drive to one of NJ's top playgrounds that go above and beyond with unique equipment. 

RELATED: Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in New Jersey

Hit the playground after a stroll along Pier C in Hoboken. Photo by Shinya Suzuki via Flickr

20. Pier C

Stroll along Pier C in Hoboken and take in amazing views of Manhattan while your kids play in the park.

21. Pine Barrens

Try to avoid the Jersey Devil in the Pine Barrens.

22. Greenwood Gardens

Explore the magical grounds of Greenwood Gardens, or soak up the scenery at another one of NJ's gorgeous gardens and arboretums.

23. Duke Farms

Bike ride through Duke Farms landscaped grounds; when everyone gets hungry, pull over for a picnic.

24. 9/11 Memorials

See the Empty Sky 9/11 memorial at Liberty State Park, or the wall of names perched atop Eagle Rock Reservation, looking out toward the NYC skyline.

RELATED: Great Day Trips to New Jersey State Parks and Forests

Sit under Tripod Rock, perched here long ago by glaciers. Photo by the author

25. Pyramid Mountain

Take selfies under Tripod Rock after hiking Pyramid Mountain.

26. Family Music Festivals

Bring the whole family to an outdoor music festival like Maplewoodstock or Hoboken's Arts and Music Festival.

27. Camp Under the Stars

Bond with your crew in nature at these family campgrounds.

28. Cherry Blossom Festival

Be awed by the world-famous Cherry Blossom Festival in Branch Brook Park in Newark in April. This New Jersey park has more cherry trees than the famed Washington, DC, fest.

29. Palisades Interstate Park

Take in the view of New York as you hike at Palisades Interstate Park.

Top Action-Packed Things To Do in New Jersey With Kids

30. Storybook Land

Brush up on your fairy tales at Storybook Land, or just hit the kiddie rides.

31. Six Flags

Ride the roller coasters at Six Flags Great Adventure, and splash in the wave pool at Hurricane Harbor.

32. Ice Skate

Lace-up your skates and hit the ice rink. We love the pop-up rink at Van Saun Park in Bergen County during the holidays

33. River Tubing

Tube down the Delaware River when the kids finally learn to swim. It's one of those iconic summer activities you've got to try.

34. Wild West City

Or play cowboys and cowgirls at the western-themed Wild West City in Sussex County.

35. Diggerland

Take your bulldozer-obsessed child to the construction-themed amusement park and water park, Diggerland.

36. Lake Swimming

Spend the day swimming in a refreshing New Jersey lake and building sandcastles on the shore.

37. Water Parks

Cool off at the amazing water parks in New Jersey, enjoying splash pads when they're young and the thrill slides when they're teens.

38. Land of Make Believe

Hit the rides and visit Santa at the Land of Make Believe.

39. Hunt for Haunts

Do you have the mettle to take on one of these New Jersey ghost tours?

RELATED: Best Splash Pads, Splash Parks, and Water Playgrounds in New Jersey

Cool off in the amazing water playground at Van Saun Park. Photo by the author

40. Van Saun Park

Ride the train through the Bergen County Zoo in Van Saun Park and then take in the carousel, playground, and splash pad.

41. Freedom & Fireworks 4th of July Show

Stay up late to watch the big fireworks display on July 4th in Liberty State Park.

42. Red Bulls

Take the whole family to a Red Bulls soccer game in Harrison.

43. Big Snow

Ski at the indoor snow park at American Dream Mall.

44. Baseball Game

OK, so we don't have a pro baseball team, but kids never want to stay for the whole game anyway, right? Root for the home team at one of these minor league baseball stadiums around the state.

45. Newport Green

Play and splash around at Newport Green in Jersey City or one of NJ's other awesome water playgrounds.

46. Canoe NJ's Waterways

Take a canoe or pontoon boat through the Meadowlands or another local river or lake.

47. Mountain Creek

Ski or snow tube at Mountain Creek, enjoy the water park, or just rest up at one of its sumptuous hotels.

48. Medieval Times

Cheer for your knight at Medieval Times.

49. New York Jets Training Camp

See the Jets Training Camp at their center in Florham Park during the late summer.

50. Easter Egg Hunt

Race to find Easter eggs in the Jersey shore sand, at Liberty Hall, or at another NJ hunt.

51. Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

Toss the plastic tree and go cut down your own beauty on one of NJ's Christmas tree farms.

RELATED: Best STEM Classes in New Jersey for Kids

Walk on the moon at the Liberty Science Center. Photo by Karen Turner

Indoor Things To Do in New Jersey With Kids

52. Liberty Science Center

Head to the Liberty Science Center, and visit its state-of-the-art planetarium.

53. Morris Museum

Spend a day at the Morris Museum and be sure to save time for its maker space, which is open Wednesdays through Sundays.

54. Indoor Water Parks

Warm up at the DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream Mall or another nearby indoor water park.

55. Battleship New Jersey

Visit Battleship New Jersey for a big-time thrill.

56. American Dream Mall

There are so many fun things to do at this New Jersey mega mall, you'll need more than a day to see and explore it all.

57. Climb Inside Lucy the Elephant

A national historic landmark, Lucy was erected in 1881. Visit her and the rest of these off-the-beaten-path attractions for an only-in-Jersey experience. 

58. Old-School Arcades

Become a pinball wizard at the Silverball Museum Arcade in Asbury Park or the Morristown Game Vault.

59. Northlandz

Bring your train lover to Northlandz to see the miles and miles of model trains and its doll collection.

60. Indoor Playground

Play pretend, climb, slide, and play at an indoor playground.

61. Newark Museum

Visit the Newark Museum to see an amazing art collection, along with cool science exhibits, planetarium shows, and rotating exhibits. 

Best Things to Do on the Jersey Shore

62. Sandy beaches

Enjoy an outing to one of the many Jersey Shore family beaches, such as Seven Presidents and Cape May. We love a beach day trip in the summer, but a winter walk is great, too!

63. Cape May Lighthouse

While you're in Cape May, let them work off that energy by climbing the 199 steps to the top of the Cape May Lighthouse. Or, climb or visit one of the many other NJ lighthouses. 

64. Ocean City Baby Parade

Watch (or enter your little one in) the Ocean City Baby Parade, held every year in August.

65. Putt Putt on the Boardwalk

Go mini-golfing on (or off) the boardwalk.

66. Escape to AC

Enjoy a night or two in Atlantic City with the kids. It's surprisingly filled with free family entertainment, including a brand-new beachfront water park.

67. Asbury Park

See the murals and famed boardwalk in Asbury Park.

68. Sail With Pirates

Go sailing with pirates, or hit the water on another exciting boat ride.

69. Polar Bear Plunge

Be a spectator (or participant) at the NJ Polar Bear Plunge.

70. New Jersey Shore Boardwalk Amusement Parks

Ride a thrilling coaster at one of New Jersey's famed boardwalks, play at the arcades, and enjoy sailing above the coastline in swings, wheels, and more rides.

71. Boardwalk Food

Afterward, stroll the boardwalk and fill your bellies with amazing Jersey Shore food: Johnson's popcorn, Shriver's fudge and saltwater taffy, and Kohr Brother's frozen custard, to start.

72. Jenkinson's Aquarium

Get a behind-the-scenes tour at Jenkinson’s Aquarium, or just enjoy the penguins and other sea life at this New Jersey aquarium located right on the boardwalk.

Top Calm Things To Do in New Jersey With Kids

73. Grounds for Sculpture

Explore the massive outdoor art installations at South Jersey's Grounds for Sculpture.

74. State Theatre

See a Broadway show at the spectacular State Theatre in New Brunswick. Also, keep your eyes peeled for Milk and Cookies performances, a low-cost way to introduce kids ages 3-8 to the world of performing arts.

75. Pick Apples

Fill a bag with apples at Terhune Orchards, or another of the Garden State's pick-your-own farms.

76. Ride the Rails

Take a nostalgic train ride at the Whippany Railway or another historic NJ railroad. These trains offer fun holiday trips like Halloween rides in the fall, Santa visits in December, and the Easter Bunny in the spring. Sometimes Thomas the Train rolls in, too.

77. Sunflower Fields

Puzzle your way through the Sussex County Sunflower Maze, or just pick the pretty summer blooms at these NJ farms.

78. Ice Cream Shops

Enjoy homemade ice cream on a hot summer day at Denville Dairy or one of these NJ ice cream spots.

79. Nutcracker Ballet

Catch a fantastic kids' show or holiday Nutcracker performance at one of NJ's many family-friendly theaters, including Mayo Performing Arts Center, Bergen Performing Arts Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, or South Orange Performing Arts Center—many of which offer sensory-friendly performances!

80. Corn Maze

Let the kids lead you out of one of these New Jersey corn mazes that pop up in late summer and early fall.

81. Sterling Hill Mining Museum

Tour the Sterling Hill Mining Museum and mine for treasures.

RELATED: Pick-Your-Own Adventures Await on the Many Gorgeous Flower Farms of New Jersey

Pick fresh tulips at Holland Ridge Farms. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala

82. Holland Ridge Farms

Pick tulips from among the millions planted at this New Jersey flower farm in the spring and gorgeous sunflowers in the fall.

83. Dig into Jersey Donuts

Treat yourself to over-the-top confections at NJ's incredible doughnut shops.

84. Historic Smithville Village

Ride the train, carousel, and paddleboats at the old-time Smithville Village.

85. Tick Tock Diner

Eat disco fries at Tick Tock Diner.

86. Cranberry Festival

Celebrate New Jersey's cranberry harvest at the Annual Cranberry Festival in Chatsworth.

RELATED: 25 Fun-Filled Fall Day Trips from New Jersey for Families

The bucolic setting of the Red Mill Museum is gorgeous no matter the season. Photo by Anthony Cuffari via Flickr

87. Red Mill Museum

See the falls at the historic Red Mill Museum quarry or visit during the Haunted Village...if you dare.

88. Walkable Small Towns

Ride NJ Transit to one of the wonderful and walkable small towns in our state.

89. Character Brunch

See Santa or the Easter Bunny and make memories over a yummy breakfast feast.

90. Drop-In Art Session

Make a memorable, one-of-a-kind art keepsake with your child at a drop-in art studio.

91. Pumpkin Picking

Celebrate fall by wandering the farm for pumpkin picking. Get the perfect photo by bribing them with the farm stand ice cream.

92. Christmas Lights

See an over-the-top block of Christmas lights at these New Jersey houses and neighborhoods.

Top Things to Do in NJ with Kids Who Love Animals

93. Field Station: Dinosaurs

See prehistoric creatures up close at Field Station: Dinosaurs.

94. Raptor Trust

View hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls at close range at the Raptor Trust.

95. Adventure Aquarium

Walk the Shark Bridge at Adventure Aquarium, or enjoy its scuba Santa during the holiday season.

96. Turtle Back Zoo

Gape at the lions, giraffes, and bison up close at the Turtle Back Zoo.

97. Family-Friendly Farms

While away a perfect fall day at a favorite nearby farm, feeding animals, taking a pony ride, or picking what's ripe.

RELATED: Animal Encounters in New Jersey Where Kids Can Walk Alpacas, Feed Giraffes, and More

Visit the farm animals at Brookhollow's Barnyard. Photo Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner

98. Brookhollow's Barnyard

See baby animals at NJ farms, including Brookhollow's Barnyard. It has a sweet sandbox, playground, and playhouses that the kids always adore. Feed the animals from a little bucket. 

99. Howell Living History Farm

Learn about the past at Howell Living History Farm.

100. Meet Alpacas

Take a stroll with an alpaca or tour the farm at Out of Sight Alpacas.

This article was first published in February 2013 and has since been updated.