New Jersey is full of adventures for families with kids of all ages and interests. Whether you’re looking for animal encounters, space to engage with nature, interactive museums, or jaw-dropping rides and arcades, these are some of the best family-friendly destinations that I recommend to my clients in New Jersey. As a local maternity and family photographer, I always love hearing about the newest and greatest kid-friendly things to do in New Jersey.
560b Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052
Turtle Back Zoo is the perfect place to visit with kids! This kid-friendly zoo is committed to wildlife education and conservation, inspiring generations of New Jersey kids to understand and appreciate wildlife. Animal exhibits include African Adventure, Sea Turtle Discovery, Touch Tank, Amazing Asia, Reptile House, Wild America, and a Black Bear Exhibit. In addition to animals, there are many other attractions at the zoo for families, including mini golf, a zoo train, a playground, pony rides, and a carousel!
4 Vreeland Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932
If your child loves to roam, explore, and imagine, Imagine That in Florham Park is worth visiting. This kid-friendly discovery museum provides enriching learning experiences that are fun for New Jersey kids of all ages. Little ones can learn through play, in an interactive space where they can go at their own pace. This 16,000 square foot hands-on museum is perfect for exploration. There is a craft room, a three story playscape, a music room, and a pretend play area.
192 Dodd Street, East Orange, NJ 07017
Jersey Explorer Children’s Museum is a 11,000-square-foot museum that includes immersive exhibits that enrich young minds. This museum features many different exhibits and educational areas where kids can learn about a variety of topics. If your little one loves outer space, this is the perfect museum to visit. They can take their place in the modular control center and learn about the different crew roles. They can also create their own planet, learning about terraforming and building components to a perfect new world.
182 NJ-10, East Hanover, NJ 07936
The Funplex is everything its name implies. This immersive, exciting space in New Jersey hosts kid-friendly seasonal celebrations, daily visitors, and thrilling events. There is always an extraordinary experience to be had at The Funplex. This one-stop destination includes activities for all ages, including go-karts, laser tag, bumper cars, Foam Frenzy, Super Twister, and the Warrior Course. The Funplex arcade includes air hockey, claw machines, and a variety of timeless classics. There are also onsite restaurants to visit, so you can make the fun last all day.
353 East Hanover Ave, Morris Township, NJ 07960
Frelinghuysen Arboretum sits among 124 majestic acres, offering a peaceful setting for families to relax and explore. This public arboretum houses natural beauty and encourages learning, with over 2,000 species of trees and plants in formal gardens, woodlands, meadows, walking trails, and even a historic mansion. There are endless opportunities to roam and explore this gorgeous garden setting, including enjoying a picnic on the beautifully manicured Great Lawn. Every season offers something different at Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
As a local maternity and family photographer, these are some of the most recommended kid-friendly things to do in New Jersey. Whether your children love animals, art, pretend play, music, thrill rides, obstacle courses, arcades, or gardens, these local destinations are perfect for families.
As you’re thinking about your next family outing, consider booking a photoshoot with me. I am a New Jersey family and motherhood photographer, and I love capturing life’s special moments! Kids are only young for a brief period of time, and family photography is the best way to capture stunning images of this special time of life.