Here is an assortment of day trips and activities that are (or sound) suitable for kids of all sizes. All are drivable from Northern New Jersey. Just click the links to get detailed information. I'm not giving detailed reviews, different kids(and grownups) enjoy different things - explore for yourself! And I'd love to hear about other places that folks have discovered - please leave me a note in my guestbook with any new places for us to explore.

        Museums Outdoor Activites Indoor Activities Amusement Parks Other Lists


        Museums
        Liberty Science Center
        In Jersey City. Fabulous! 'Nuff said.         		The Newark Museum
        In Newark, of course! Cute little planetarium, mini-zoo, some galleries of art and a reconstructed historic house.
        The Metropolitan Museum of Art
        In NYC - the biggie         		American Museum of Natural History
        Also in NYC - the biggie for science - also the huge Rose Center Planetarium
        Franklin Mineral Museum
        In Franklin. Small museum but cool rocks!         		Sterling Hill Mining Museum
        In Ogdensburg. Haven't yet visited here
        New Jersey Children's Museum
        In Paramus. Great for very little ones - 3-7 - hands on play areas         		The Morris Museum
        In Morristown. Animals and minerals, a dollhouse display, art, etc
        Montclair Art Museum
        In Montclair. Smallish art museum         		Whippany Railway Museum
        In Whippany. Teeny museum, and some old railway cars to explore
        Trailside Nature & Science Center
        In Mountainside. A small museum in a park with nature trails         		Meadowlands Interactive Learning Center
        In Lyndhurst. An indoor learning center and there is a boardwalk through the swamp
        New Jersey Naval Museum
        In Hackensack. Tour of a World War II era naval submarine - the USS Ling.         		Aviation Hall of Fame
        In Teterboro. Small museum with aviation memorabilia and an old airplane out back - and a replica of a M*A*S*H unit too for some reason!
        Morristown National Historical Park
        In Morristown. Washington's Headquarters, Jockey Hollow. Restored buildings and grounds         		Liberty Hall
        In Union. Restored colonial mansion, picnic area.
        Dey Mansion
        In Wayne. Briefly was Washington's Headquarters in Wayne- restored building and small grounds         		Lambert Castle
        In Patterson. Restored mansion of silk baron. Art collection.
        The Stickley Museum In Parsippany. Haven't yet visited. Ringwood Manor In Ringwood. Restored historic mansion and grounds
        Edison National Historic Site
        In West Orange. Haven't visited here since I was a kid.         		New York Hall of Science
        In Queens. Excellent hands-on museum.
        Staten Island Children's Museum
        In Staten Island, NYC. A nice children's museum - more of a museum than a play area.         		Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island
        Garden State Discovery Museum In Cherry Hill. I haven't yet visited, but it was recommended to me. New Jersey State Aquarium In Camden. I haven't yet visited, but it was recommended to me.
        The Hermitage In Ho-Ho-Kus. Haven't yet visited. Macculloch Hall In Morristown. Haven't yet visited.
        Museum of Early Trades & Crafts In Madison. Haven't yet visited. New Jersey Museum of Agriculture In North Brunswick. Haven't yet visited.
        Prison Museum In Burlington County. Haven't yet visited Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum In NYC
        Lake Hoptacong Historical Museum In Landing. Haven't yet visited The Stone Museum In Monroe Township. Haven't yet visited.
        Passaic County's Historical House Museums Wayne Township Historic House Museums
        Yeshiva University Museum In NYC. The Jewish Museum In NYC
        Museum of Jewish Heritage In NYC. Very nice. Of three floors, one is devoted to the Shoah. You can easily skip that for younger kids. National Museum of the American Indian-Heye Center In NYC. The bulk of the collection is now in Washington DC.
        Historic Richmond Town In Staten Island. Grounds For Sculpure In Hamilton. Haven't yet visited.


        Outdoors
        Turtleback Zoo
        In West Orange. Nice smaller zoo - with a train ride         		Van Saun Park Zoo
        In Paramus. Nice smaller zoo, train ride, carousel, very nice playground. Officially it's the Bergen County Zoological Park.
        Popcorn Park Zoo
        In Forked River. Haven't yet visited         		Space Farms Zoo & Museum
        In Sussex. Haven't yet visited, but the kids have gone with school/camp groups.
        Bronx Zoo, NY Aquarium, Central Park Zoo
        All in NYC.         		Great Swamp Watershed Association
        In Madison. Trails and boardwalks through the swamp.
        Passaic County Parks
        		 Parsippany Parks and Facilities
        25 Great Walks in Morris County
        		 Walks in Morris County, Honorable Mention
        Ringwood State Park
        In Ringwood. Botanic gardens, and many acres of parkland.         		Flat Rock Brook Nature Center
        In Englewood. Small Nature Center and some nice hiking/walking trails.
        Verona Park
        In Verona. Boating available         		Monclair Parks & Recreation
        Wild West City
        In Netcong. Old west street with some storefronts, shows, petting zoo and mini-golf         		Tomahawk Lake
        In Sparta. Lake with beach, swimming and boating. Also waterslides.
        NJ Jackals
        In Little Falls. Independent league baseball. Haven't yet visited         		Masker Pick It Yourself Orchards
        In Warwick, NY State. A bit of a drive, but the trees are low to the ground, and good for kids' picking.
        Black River & Western Railroad
        In Flemington. Steam engine trains and rail yard         		Waterloo Village
        In Stanhope. Restored historical village. Temporarily closed to the public.
        Pequest Trout Hatchery In Oxford. Haven't yet visited Middlsex County Parks
        Johnson Park In Piscataway. Nice park, with a small animal haven East Jersey Olde Towne In Johnson Park. Restored houses, relocated into a "village"
        James A. McFaul Environmental Center In Wyckoff. Hiking trails, nature center, and lots of daffodils in season Campgaw Mountain In Mahwah. Skiing, Snow tubing. Haven't yet visited
        New York Waterway The ferries from Hoboken and more Melick's Town Farm In Oldwick. Haven't yet visited
        Historic Richmond Town
        In Staten Island,NYC - Haven't yet visited         		Staten Island Zoo
        Also in Staten Island, NYC. Another smaller Zoo
        New Jersey Renaissance Kingdom
        This year, in South Orange         		New York Renaissance Fair
        In Sterling Forest, New York State
        PAWS Farm Nature Center In Mount Laurel. I haven't yet visited, but it was recommended to me. Tenafly Nature Center In Tenafly. Haven't yet visited.
        Hidden Valley In Vernon. Skiing and snowboarding in the winter, tennis and swimming in the summer. Haven't yet visited. Mountain Creek In Vernon. Skiing and snowboarding. Haven't yet visited
        Newark Bears In Newark. Atlantic league baseball. Haven't yet visited NJ Cardinals In Augusta. Class A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Haven't yet visited
        Willowbrook Golf Center In Wayne. Two outdoor miniature golf courses. Haven't yet visited. (Thanks for the info Lindy!) Lakota Wolf Preserve In Columbia. Haven't yet visited.
        The Raptor Trust In Millington. Wild bird rehabilitation center. Bear Mountain State Park In NY State
        Branch Brook Park In Belleville/Newark Fairway Golf Center In Piscataway. Haven't yet visited
        Wawayanda State Park In Hewitt. Haven't yet visited. Ring Homstead Camp In New York State. Middletown, NY. Haven't yet visited
        Race Farm In Blairstown. Pick your own apples and other produce. Lentini Produce In Newton. Corn maze, produce. Haven't yet visited
        Fort Lee Historic Park In Fort Lee. Haven't yet visited. Farms View In Wayne. Pick your own produce. Haven't yet visited.
        Duke Farms In Hillsborough. Haven't yet visited. Frelinghyusen Arboretum In Morristown, haven't yet visited


        Indoors
        Funtime Junction
        In Fairfield. Indoor playground         		Mudpie Ceramics
        In Wayne. Paint your own plates etc.
        Sports 'n Games Funplex
        In East Hanover. Indoor playground/arcade         		Sportsworld
        In Paramus. Haven't yet visited
        Floyd Hall Skating Arena
        In Little Falls. Two rinks, on the campus of Montclair State University. Check the website for public skating hours.         		Palisades Center In Rockland County, NY. Multi-level mall, with ice skating, IMAX, carousel and ferris wheel.
        Crayola Factory In PA. Haven't yet visited
        Kidz Cafe In Totowa. Haven't yet visited. Party and PlayIn Matawan. Haven't yet visited
        Time In FunIndoor play and party center in Randolph. Haven't yet visited Jeepers In Elizabeth. Indoor amusement park/playground in the Jersey Gardens Mall. Haven't yet visited.
        The Mad PotterIn East Green Brook. Haven't yet visited Brushes & BisqueIn Denville. Haven't yet visited
        Ice Vault In Wayne. Skating Arena. Ceramics By Design In Bogota.
        Bogota Golf and Sports Center In Bogota. Indoor miniature golfing. Haven't yet visited. Robert J. Novins Planetarium In Toms River. Haven't yet visited.
        In The Swing In Waldwick. Haven't yet visited. Little Ray's Activity Center In Bergenfield. Haven't yet visited.
        Bazaar Star Beadery In Ridgewood. Haven't yet visited Clay Cafe In Old Tappan. Haven't yet visited
        Let's Create In Boonton. Haven't yet visited Casa Picasso In Ocean Grove. Haven't yet visited.
        Amusement Parks
        Great Adventures Sesame Place It's in PA, but driveable from NJ
        The Land Of Make Believe Bring cash or your Discover card! They don't accept Mastercard, Visa or American Express. Fairytale Forest
        Bowcraft Mountain Creek Water Park
        Keansburg Amusement Park Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom In Allentown, PA. Haven't yet visited
        Other Lists
        Are We There Yet? NJ Arts Showcase
        Gateway Region Arts & Culture Inside NJ
        Guide to Pick-Your-Own Farms in New Jersey KidsGuide to NJ Museums
        Fun Sprouts Friendly NJ
        New Jersey Museums and Zoos Free Things to Do In Rockland County, NY
        Pick-Your-Own Orchards
        FunNJ Children's museums in NJ

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        Credits for graphics and webrings

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