Plan Your Family Day Out With 5 Things To Do in Essex County NJ
There are so many great places for families to visit in Essex County, New Jersey. From historic gardens to sprawling zoos to interactive museums, this area is full of attractions that families with kids of all ages can enjoy. As a local family photographer, here are some places I recommend to anyone looking for family fun and things to do in Essex County, NJ.
Plan A Fun Family Weekend Adventure With These Exciting Things To Do In Essex County, NJ
Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052
If you are an Essex County, NJ animal loving family, Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange is worth a visit! This zoo provides enriching experiences to children of all ages, helping them form an appreciation for wildlife and nature. The zoo’s exhibits include African Adventure, Sea Turtle Recovery, Touch Tank, Amazing Asia, Big Cat Country, Reptile House, Black Bear Exhibit, and Butterfly Tent. In addition to animals, kids can enjoy a variety of attractions like mini golf, a zoo train, a playground, boating, pony rides, an aviary exhibit, a carousel, and face painting. This zoo is a place where you can spend an entire day!
NJPAC
1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102
If you want your Essex County, NJ kids to have a good appreciation of culture and community, NJPAC in Newark is a great family place to visit. This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to entertaining audiences of all ages with performances, providing community education programs, and engaging the public with free events and festivals. Upcoming events for families include Paw Patrol Adventure, a “paw-ty” unlike any other. With plenty of action and interactive songs, Paw Patrol comes to life in this fun play that will leave your kids cheering. NJPAC also offers classes for children, including acting and musical theater. If your child is a natural-born performer, nurture their creativity with one of these amazing classes.
Imagine That
4 Vreeland Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932
Imagine That is the place to find Essex County, NJ children’s entertainment in Florham Park. This is a learning experience, unlike any other and fun for the entire family. This interactive, fun learning environment offers open play for parents and kids to explore at their own pace, whether they want to spend an entire day or burn off some energy before nap time. This 16,000-square-foot hands-on facility includes a craft room, a 3-story playscape, a music room, a pretend grocery store, and much more. This museum is also a fun place to host a magical birthday party.
Branch Brook Park
Park Ave and Lake Street, Newark, NJ 07104
Branch Brook Park is a wonderful Essex County, NJ place for families to visit. This is the nation’s first county park, featuring the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the United States. This park includes trails, small parks, and beautiful landscapes. Other features that families can enjoy include a playground, ball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, horseshoes, bocce ball courts, a greenhouse, an urban farm, a roller rink, and a children’s garden. Branch Brook Park also hosts an annual Cherry Blossom Festival, where families can delight in the stunning blooms.
Greenwood Gardens
274 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078
Greenwood Gardens is a 28-acre garden in Short Hills and welcomes thousands of visitors every year for tours and specialized programs and events. This garden was a former private estate that contained 2,110 acres of parkland. Greenwood Gardens feels like a magical hideaway, with terraced gardens, meadows, woodlands, grottoes, and fountains. Families can stroll through winding paths and enjoy a backdrop of nature, beauty, and history. Stroll through beautiful fountains, hidden grottoes, winding paths, and terraced gardens, taking in the sights and sounds of nature. This is a great place for kids to wander and explore.
I Hope Your Family Enjoys These Fantastic Things To Do In Essex County, NJ, As Much As Mine Has
As a New Jersey family photographer, I know these are some local family-favorite things to do in Essex County, NJ. Essex County is full of great destinations for kids of all ages to enjoy, from sprawling zoos to beautiful gardens to interactive and engaging museums. Whether you want to spend a day in nature, get up close and personal with wildlife, or have fun participating in STEM-friendly exhibits and experiments, Essex County has an adventure to suit every family’s idea of fun.
If you want to capture this special season in your life, consider booking a family photoshoot with me. I love photographing New Jersey \families, giving them priceless images they can look back on and smile. Kids grow up so fast, so why not remember the joy of childhood with a family photoshoot that represents your family’s unique story?
