| Author |
Message |
    
Darrenso
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2001 - 4:33 pm: |     |
Some Saturdays (Dadurdays?) I enjoy giving my wife a break and taking our almost-three-year-old son out for the day. Usually we take the train into the city and go to the Natural History museum, which we both enjoy. But I'd like to start exploring what NJ has to offer. Any ideas of interesting places a father and his preschooler can go for a weekend day? I've heard good things about the Newark museum and the NJ science center... |
Hismom
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2001 - 4:37 pm: | |
The Liberty Science Center is wonderful. When the weather warms up, the Turtle Back Zoo is a lot of fun, too. |
Kws
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2001 - 6:27 pm: | |
The Newark Museum is a little gem. They have a small kids zoo inhouse and the planetarium adds another nice element.
If you decide to do the Liberty Science Center I recommend that you get there early before the crowds. It can get pretty loud and crazy in a hurry. |
Tupperjo
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2001 - 8:57 pm: | |
There is a Kids Museum up in Paramus which would be great for his age. Does he like trains. Why not try the train museum out in Flemington, NJ. Or you can try either ice skating or roller skating. My first choice would be the Kids Museum in Paramus. It's really hands on for the kids and they can run, explore and just have a blast with all the stuff. |
Kmk
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2001 - 9:43 pm: | |
What about the Crayola Factory? It's on my list of things to do..... It's right next to a Canal Museum on the NJ/Pennsylvania border. I'm drawing a big blank on the town's name but I think it's a little over an houraway, due west. They have a web site for all the particulars!
Another fun outing is bowling! The lanes these days have bumpers that pop up and prevent gutter balls. Try the Madison Lanes in Madison (just past Chatham.)
Finally, give "Imagine That" a try. It's sort of a hands-on playspace on Route 10. It's great for the little kids - they can play pretend EMS workers in a real ambulance or sit in the cockpit of a real airplane. |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2001 - 9:54 pm: | |
The Crayola Factory is in Easton. First exit off route 22 after the bridge over the Delaware. |
Hobsonschoice
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 7, 2001 - 6:42 am: | |
Try Verona Park (boat rides and lots of ducks) or our own Memerial Park..During the summer Point Pleasant with the beach, boardwalk and amusement rides are good...Great Swamp out towards Morristown...Railroad Museum on Route 10 West just before 287 (Seasonal)... Railroad Models Club in Union off of Route 22 East
(may only be open to public durng Holidays, need to call), Aquarium in Camden or Brooklyn, Bronx Zoo or Turtleback Zoo in West Orange, when he is a little older, Cub Scouts at Camp Glen Gray (if it is not sold), Newark Bears Baseball or one of the other NJ minor league teams (check page two in Sports Section of Ledger during bb season), Seton Hall Basketball (Men or Women), Wick House and Museum in Morristown by Jockey Hollow Trail, Edison Museum in West Orange, South Mountain Reservation at the top of South Orange Avenue and
USS LING (WWII) Submarine in Hackensack. |
Algebra2
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 7, 2001 - 9:35 am: | |
Spring is coming, and we love Bocraft on Rt. 22. Small and clean amusement park. Watchung Reservation is there for hiking afterwards. |
Twig
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 7, 2001 - 12:28 pm: | |
Roller skating/blading at the Florham Park rink is always fun. |
Curb
| | Posted on Thursday, February 8, 2001 - 12:34 pm: | |
I didn`t think the State Aquarium in Camden was worth the trip. |
Nan
| | Posted on Thursday, February 8, 2001 - 1:46 pm: | |
Curb,
What was wrong with the Aquarium? It's on my places to visit list for next summer.
Darrenso,
I second the recommendations for Liberty Science, the Newark Museum, Paramas Kids museum, Turtle Back Zoo, Crayola Factory and Verona Park (and my spouse had a good time at the Newark Bears).
Other places I've enjoyed with a three year old (who is now five) were the Maplewood Library (giant maze for most three year olds), the Durand-Hedden House in Maplewood (events usually on Sundays-not always young child friendly-but some are great), Cait and Abbys in South Orange (they have some toys/books and great snacks!), the Whippany Train Museum on Route 10 (especially if he/she likes to push buttons), the Land of Make Believe (cheaper and closer that Sesame Place)and Waterloo Village (maybe wait until four-five for this one).
Other places we've enjoyed but don't like to admit to include the McDonalds Playlands (West Orange, Scotch Plains), the kiddie rides at the Livingston Mall, and the fountain at the Short Hills Mall.
For a while we were going to the mall too much. When our child started whining that he wanted to "go to the mall" in a thick Jersey accent we decided to find some new places to visit. I bought a book called "Day Trips in New Jersey" (not sure of the publisher) and we started going to the places listed in there. There is also a great (and free) kids guide that I have seen mentioned on this board with information on how to obtain it. I got a copy at my child's pre-school. |
Tupperjo
| | Posted on Thursday, February 8, 2001 - 1:57 pm: | |
Nan, I agree with Curb, last time we went to the NJ Aquarium it was a big disappointment. I would recommend the NY Aquarium in Coney Island. |
Davel
| | Posted on Thursday, February 8, 2001 - 3:35 pm: | |
Imagine That on Rt. 10 (just West of Home Depot)is also a great place for toddlers and preschoolers. They have hands on equipment such as an ambulance, a cessna, sandboxes, a post office, a grocery store, art supplies etc. that young kids love. |
Davel
| | Posted on Thursday, February 8, 2001 - 3:38 pm: | |
Please disregard |
Curb
| | Posted on Thursday, February 8, 2001 - 7:25 pm: | |
The Aquarium is about a 2 hour trip one way. We went through it in about an hour. I`ve been to other aquariums and the State Aquarium just seemed dull. |
Patty
| | Posted on Thursday, February 8, 2001 - 11:27 pm: | |
I second "Imagine That", "Turtle Back Zoo" (my kids always wanted to go there regularly) and Newark Museum (yes, a gem--btw, every Thursday eve they have a buffet/tapas, drinks and jazz combo in a gorgeous atrium-like space).
Trivia Tangent: This might be far for a little one right now, but one day you can go south to Haddonfield to see where, believe it or not, the first dinosaur bone in the country (eventually leading to the most complete mounted dino skeleton in the world) was found (the one with the pompadour bone dubbed "Elvis" in The Lost World movie--the hadrosaur from Haddonfield, get it?) Yea Jersey! |
Tip
| | Posted on Friday, February 9, 2001 - 3:42 pm: | |
When the weather gets warm there is a Park/Zoo in Bergen County that is reallllly inexpensive. Its around $1 or so to get in. They also have a train ride. It is called Van Saun Park and my kids love it. Check it out. |
Alidah
| | Posted on Friday, February 9, 2001 - 10:08 pm: | |
The Van Saun park is supposed to be fabulous. My sister in law lives near there and goes all the time.
Did anyone mention Point Pleasant beach and boardwalk in the summer? Rides, food nice beach.. . I prefer Seaside Heights, but it's a lot more honky tonk, much bigger, AND has the best pizza in the universe at Maruca's. |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Friday, February 9, 2001 - 11:41 pm: | |
Van Saun Park truly is fabulous! A real model park. Next time we'll visit the zoo and ride the train. But just the playground space alone is wonderful. Don't miss it.
Bacata |
Nina
| | Posted on Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 12:15 am: | |
How do you get to Van Suan Park? Thanks |
Duncanl
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 11:16 am: | |
We recently discovered the Explorer's Museum in East Orange. It's perfect for your son. A science room with a "SKINK", a harmless real type of lizard with no teeth that he can pet, a climbing wall, a mummy, and downstairs a miniature town with different stores and offices that kids can pretend in. Look them up it's so close by, and fun! |
Lah
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 10:12 pm: | |
One thing to know about the Explorer's museum is that it is open to the public for only a very limited amount of time during the week (Saturdays, I think). Otherwise it's for organized tour/school groups. Haven't been there myself, but my son and his class rave about it. |
Tip
| | Posted on Friday, March 2, 2001 - 12:20 pm: | |
Van Saun Park is in Bergen County. I took the pkway but don't remember what exit. You can call for directions-they are listed |
Bak
| | Posted on Friday, March 9, 2001 - 9:08 am: | |
A train ride into Manhattan and a visit to the Museum of Natural History is a favorite sojourn for my husband and <3 daughter. |
Nakaille
| | Posted on Friday, March 9, 2001 - 12:02 pm: | |
The train ride itself is a big event at this age. We took Julia to the circus in Manhattan with some friends a year or two ago. What she still remembers vivdly and talks about with great pleasure is the train ride! (I guess we don't get into the city enough these days!)
Bacata |
Maplemom
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 - 8:31 am: | |
Go to:
www.kidsguide.com
for a great kids fun guide to New Jersey |
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