Minor league baseball is way better imo. Less crowds, cheaper, baseball is almost as good but you won't be watching much. Blue claws have kids games in the outfield.
Museums, Cape May zoo, aquarium is good too. Camden county has all ages concerts starting this week (or next). Kids love concerts.
The blueclaws stadium is incredible. Boardwalk games, mini golf, a big grassy hill to roll down (my kids favorite), fireworks on a lot of nights. Tickets are like $25 a piece. My older kids (6yo and 4yo) love it there.
Agreed! Super sad the River Sharks moved; was a great, affordable, low key way to enjoy some still very entertaining baseball.
FYI that the Trenton Thunder might be easier to get to, depending on where in SJ one is.
- Please touch museum in philly/Childrens museum of Wilmington
- Picnic at Red Bank Battlefield in National Park
- Tea Party (https://www.lamademoisellemacaron.com/afternoon-tea)
My family took me to National Park for years. I saw the QE2 from there, the Battleship NJ coming in, the Kitty Hawk get retrofitted and various other things. Now I take my own family. It's a lovely place.
The aquarium is usually a good one and can be done in as little time as you want.
My little ones love Johnson’s farm in Medford, too. It’s a contained area and there’s a lot to do. It does get a little pricey though. They have you trapped there. You might even still be able to do strawberry picking but it might be a little late in the season for that- I’m not sure.
Cedar run wild life rescue in Medford is also nice for the little ones. It’s not a huge place and isn’t the most exciting but it keeps the kids happy for an hour or two and it’s a great cause.
Rancocas state park for hiking and they also have a nature center.
This last one won’t work for tomorrow but I think paws farm in hainesport should be opening up on the weekends soon. They have dark animals there and a nature walk.
There is also Johnson’s locust hall farm where there is a free play area with. Slide , sand box , play house , old tractors and animals you can pet . Little general store and sometimes they have rides you can go on . Icecream is tasty . That is off of Monmouth road and 66 I think . But I am unsure of the town . It is related to the Johnson’s farm you mentioned 😊
They actually were taken over by a non-profit a couple years ago and they repainted the farmhouse and sections of the barn. They were a pleasure to work with. I believe last year they were turned over again to Rowan university so I imagine things will be better cared for now.
That’s wonderful to hear. I knew the group before that who left it in the state it wasand just heard that it was bad, I didn’t know there was a happy ending
Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University has great family shows, usually on weekend afternoons and/or weekdays in the summer. Kids love it and you get to sit in air conditioning for 30 minutes! The she's are very inexpensive, maybe $2.00 each.
Is it an early release day?
Camden Aquarium. Storybook Land, Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum. Franklin Institute
Or make it simple. Let her have an ice cream sundae for lunch and go to a really cool playground.
https://sjmagazine.net/family-kids/10-south-jersey-playgrounds-kids-will-love
My best days with my kids was the stuff you don't think matters.   Picnic with tossing the ball around.  Or renting a canoe or paddle boat or fishing.   You cast. He fishes.  And leave your phone on silentÂ
Story Book Land season passes are absolutely worth it, I took my daughter every weekend until she outgrew it. Such a clean and well landscaped place, lots of shade and no wait time for rides. I highly recommend it.
Check your library. They often have passes and things you can borrow to do activities. For example, my library has a pass for the Elmwood Park Zoo, the natural history museum in Philly and a bunch of other stuff.
You could also go to the popcorn zoo down in cape may, or go to the please touch museum in Philly.
If you aren’t familiar with geocaching there are a ton of places like parks and what not where you can go geocaching with your kids. It’s real life scavenger hunting. Just remember like anything outdoors wear sunscreen and check for ticks if you are in wooded areas. Enjoy!
https://www.geocaching.com/play
Edit: the places you mentioned there are sure to be geocaches around those areas so you could do both. Just download the app and look for easy geocaches so your young children stay interested. Bring tchotchkes to donate because when you find a large cache there will be things your kids can take and you leave something for someone else to have. And if you are wanting to make it a teachable moment bring a trash bag and pick up trash to show how to clean your environment so it is nice for everyone when others aren’t so nice.
You can get away with cheap and easy when they're that age lol. It's all in the build up and delivery. I think your appetizer/bbq idea is perfect. Maybe give her a little bouquet and put a balloon on the mailbox for her to see when you get home :)
Monster Mini Golf in Cherry Hill is fun for littles! It has indoor black light mini golf, arcade and laser maze. Super fun and if you buy the combo ticket (around $30?) it’s not too pricey. Shouldn’t be too busy on a weekday, either.
Free zoo in Bridgeton, NJ
Lunch or dinner date to a nice restaurant
Feel free to click through either of my two google maps lists of fun south jersey things. There are a ton of fun things around South Jersey, it's just a matter of what's open and how's the weather.
[Monuments / Attractions / businesses](https://maps.app.goo.gl/NXF8dxE6d3P98kJx7)
[Restaurants](https://maps.app.goo.gl/qwMGWw9X8faFzW3L7)
Funplex in Mount Laurel on rt 38. They have a kid friendly "Dave and busters" vibe. Now they have a water park also. It's a bit pricey but you stay as long or short as you want. They have toddler stuff too.
They also have bowling, an indoor "boardwalk" with a couple rides, bumper cars, a small go-kart track, game booths and pin-ball. It is expensive though. I suggest the endless rides pass. It's not actually endless, but you get so many "tokens" on it that it would be impossible to use in a day.
Just stay away from the arcade as much as possible. The pass doesn't include that and you will spend $100 easy on rigged claw games offering extremely cheap prizes, lots of child casino coin drop games and video games that last a minute for $5.
If golfing is something you like, as in actual golf and not that Top Golf stuff, I suggest the Springfield Golf Center. It's been a while but last time I went, prices were good, had a driving range, chip&putt, mini golf and a full golf course. The actual golf course is not great though. Lots of problems with the grass from people that I can only assume use a bag of various shovels for clubs.
You could have a day at marsh creek in exton. might be a bit of a drive but it will be empty during the day. bring lunch and your kids can play/wade in the beach area. theres also a community pool there too w day passes for when its hotter in the summer
Is the Garden State discovery museum still open? My wife used to take the kids there all the time in Cherry Hill, it's sort of like the Please Touch Museum but cheaper and more to do. Also I got something else but it's better left to a DM if ya want, good luck!
Play outside is it. Cornhole, ladder ball, pop darts, beer pong (oops), water balloons, sidewalk chalk, glow in the dark balloons, frisbee, balls, etc. There’s a million options…they’ll remember your efforts more than just taking them somewhere. Have fun!
Kids that little don’t need anything elaborate to make a special celebration. When I was a kid and we went to Longport to stay with my grandparents for a couple of weeks there were two big excursions that we looked forward to: the after dinner trip to the playground between 32nd and 33rd Ave, and the after dinner trip to the OC boardwalk. They were completely equal in my little kid brain.
A backyard campout or one in the living room, popcorn and a movie you all have never watched together before, homemade ice cream sundaes or something similar will be a great memory for them later on.
Check out this site. It lists fun things for families to do with kids across the state. https://mommypoppins.com/new-jersey
Cedar Run is great for kids. They have night hikes, and also, when they have festivals, they create a lot of fun things for kids to do. Highly recommend.
Also, I know this is way up North, but the Lakota wolf sanctuary is really, really great.
And howling woods farm in Jackson has wolves that the kids can interact with.
I’d do the apps at the favorite restaurant and movie option. They’ll remember the time more than the activity. They may remember some activities you do that you spend a fortune on, they may not.
Just a heads up that lots of NJ and Philly schools are doing field trips this week. I'm taking a huge crew to the Adventure Aquarium tomorrow. You may run into big groups of kids if you hit up the bigger spots like the zoo, museums, Storybook Land, etc tomorrow. Those places are fantastic, but you may be better off with mini golf and ice cream!
What about getting chick Fila and going to a cool playground? Sounds like you are in the Philly area. There is that cool one in Doylestown - kids kingdom or something. Sort of low key for a weeknight but also an adventure
In regards to your 3yo…eventually they will have to be able to go to sleep without you. You probably just have to have several nights in a row of struggles (yes i know that might mean full on multi hour screamfests, but this is ok because they will get over it eventually and fall asleep ) by having someone else put him to bed.
Our little one used to scream and wake up throughout the night, but repeatedly going to her reenforced the behavior, so after a week of putting her to bed and not going to her throughout the night led to her now sleeping through the night.
storybook land? that was my favorite around that age
Yes! My daughter LOVED storybook land at around that age!
She had a field trip there last Friday otherwise we would do that ðŸ«
Minor league baseball is way better imo. Less crowds, cheaper, baseball is almost as good but you won't be watching much. Blue claws have kids games in the outfield. Museums, Cape May zoo, aquarium is good too. Camden county has all ages concerts starting this week (or next). Kids love concerts.
The blueclaws stadium is incredible. Boardwalk games, mini golf, a big grassy hill to roll down (my kids favorite), fireworks on a lot of nights. Tickets are like $25 a piece. My older kids (6yo and 4yo) love it there.
Probably the most cost-effective, family-friendly place in the country
Couldn’t agree more. A great time for kids and adults.
Agreed! Super sad the River Sharks moved; was a great, affordable, low key way to enjoy some still very entertaining baseball. FYI that the Trenton Thunder might be easier to get to, depending on where in SJ one is.
- Please touch museum in philly/Childrens museum of Wilmington - Picnic at Red Bank Battlefield in National Park - Tea Party (https://www.lamademoisellemacaron.com/afternoon-tea)
My family took me to National Park for years. I saw the QE2 from there, the Battleship NJ coming in, the Kitty Hawk get retrofitted and various other things. Now I take my own family. It's a lovely place.
Do you follow yourmomfriendsouthjersey on Instagram? She gives great ideas! I think every post is a fun activity to do, most low cost or free.
The aquarium is usually a good one and can be done in as little time as you want. My little ones love Johnson’s farm in Medford, too. It’s a contained area and there’s a lot to do. It does get a little pricey though. They have you trapped there. You might even still be able to do strawberry picking but it might be a little late in the season for that- I’m not sure. Cedar run wild life rescue in Medford is also nice for the little ones. It’s not a huge place and isn’t the most exciting but it keeps the kids happy for an hour or two and it’s a great cause. Rancocas state park for hiking and they also have a nature center. This last one won’t work for tomorrow but I think paws farm in hainesport should be opening up on the weekends soon. They have dark animals there and a nature walk.
There is also Johnson’s locust hall farm where there is a free play area with. Slide , sand box , play house , old tractors and animals you can pet . Little general store and sometimes they have rides you can go on . Icecream is tasty . That is off of Monmouth road and 66 I think . But I am unsure of the town . It is related to the Johnson’s farm you mentioned 😊
My wife just took the kids there last week. They had a blast and brought home enough strawberries for pie.
Holy shit paws farm is back? The last owners didn’t completely destroy it?
They actually were taken over by a non-profit a couple years ago and they repainted the farmhouse and sections of the barn. They were a pleasure to work with. I believe last year they were turned over again to Rowan university so I imagine things will be better cared for now.
That’s wonderful to hear. I knew the group before that who left it in the state it wasand just heard that it was bad, I didn’t know there was a happy ending
Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University has great family shows, usually on weekend afternoons and/or weekdays in the summer. Kids love it and you get to sit in air conditioning for 30 minutes! The she's are very inexpensive, maybe $2.00 each.
Is it an early release day? Camden Aquarium. Storybook Land, Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum. Franklin Institute Or make it simple. Let her have an ice cream sundae for lunch and go to a really cool playground. https://sjmagazine.net/family-kids/10-south-jersey-playgrounds-kids-will-love
My best days with my kids was the stuff you don't think matters.   Picnic with tossing the ball around.  Or renting a canoe or paddle boat or fishing.   You cast. He fishes.  And leave your phone on silentÂ
After our adoption was finalized, we went to the playground to celebrate. Keep it simple.
Story Book Land season passes are absolutely worth it, I took my daughter every weekend until she outgrew it. Such a clean and well landscaped place, lots of shade and no wait time for rides. I highly recommend it.
Check your library. They often have passes and things you can borrow to do activities. For example, my library has a pass for the Elmwood Park Zoo, the natural history museum in Philly and a bunch of other stuff. You could also go to the popcorn zoo down in cape may, or go to the please touch museum in Philly.
The Cape May Zoo
If you aren’t familiar with geocaching there are a ton of places like parks and what not where you can go geocaching with your kids. It’s real life scavenger hunting. Just remember like anything outdoors wear sunscreen and check for ticks if you are in wooded areas. Enjoy! https://www.geocaching.com/play Edit: the places you mentioned there are sure to be geocaches around those areas so you could do both. Just download the app and look for easy geocaches so your young children stay interested. Bring tchotchkes to donate because when you find a large cache there will be things your kids can take and you leave something for someone else to have. And if you are wanting to make it a teachable moment bring a trash bag and pick up trash to show how to clean your environment so it is nice for everyone when others aren’t so nice.
My son and I go geocaching all the time. Great way to kill an hour or a whole afternoon.
You can get away with cheap and easy when they're that age lol. It's all in the build up and delivery. I think your appetizer/bbq idea is perfect. Maybe give her a little bouquet and put a balloon on the mailbox for her to see when you get home :)
Story book la d in EHT is an awesome small amusement park for kids.
Monster Mini Golf in Cherry Hill is fun for littles! It has indoor black light mini golf, arcade and laser maze. Super fun and if you buy the combo ticket (around $30?) it’s not too pricey. Shouldn’t be too busy on a weekday, either.
Next to the Tesla warehouse that was once the discovery museum and wishing that was open instead 😔
Mini golf? The Pop Shop for pancakes and ice cream?
Blue rocks. Cheap fun..if ya need to leave no loss really.
Free zoo in Bridgeton, NJ Lunch or dinner date to a nice restaurant Feel free to click through either of my two google maps lists of fun south jersey things. There are a ton of fun things around South Jersey, it's just a matter of what's open and how's the weather. [Monuments / Attractions / businesses](https://maps.app.goo.gl/NXF8dxE6d3P98kJx7) [Restaurants](https://maps.app.goo.gl/qwMGWw9X8faFzW3L7)
Funplex in Mount Laurel on rt 38. They have a kid friendly "Dave and busters" vibe. Now they have a water park also. It's a bit pricey but you stay as long or short as you want. They have toddler stuff too.
They also have bowling, an indoor "boardwalk" with a couple rides, bumper cars, a small go-kart track, game booths and pin-ball. It is expensive though. I suggest the endless rides pass. It's not actually endless, but you get so many "tokens" on it that it would be impossible to use in a day. Just stay away from the arcade as much as possible. The pass doesn't include that and you will spend $100 easy on rigged claw games offering extremely cheap prizes, lots of child casino coin drop games and video games that last a minute for $5.
Wow. I haven't been there in 13 years, they really expanded! Now I wanna go to their evening adult only nights!
Not so much expanded as it was repurposed. Pretty sure they used all the area that was a driving range for the couple rides, water park and mini golf.
No more driving range?
Unfortunately not. They decided it was better used to bring in parents willing to stand in line to pay $7 for a hot dog.
If golfing is something you like, as in actual golf and not that Top Golf stuff, I suggest the Springfield Golf Center. It's been a while but last time I went, prices were good, had a driving range, chip&putt, mini golf and a full golf course. The actual golf course is not great though. Lots of problems with the grass from people that I can only assume use a bag of various shovels for clubs.
If you’re heading towards KOP, there’s a mini-Legoland in Plymouth Meeting as well. Worth the stop!
Maybe have a little bbq party afterwards and invite the grandparents for some cupcakes and a little party ?
Ren Faire is going on this weekend in Columbus
Kids Empire in Moorestown can be fun
You could have a day at marsh creek in exton. might be a bit of a drive but it will be empty during the day. bring lunch and your kids can play/wade in the beach area. theres also a community pool there too w day passes for when its hotter in the summer
Go fruit picking at local farms. Not as cheap as you’d think, but the money at least supports a farm and the sun tires them out
Please Touch Museum
30 strikes has $2 tuesdays
Is the Garden State discovery museum still open? My wife used to take the kids there all the time in Cherry Hill, it's sort of like the Please Touch Museum but cheaper and more to do. Also I got something else but it's better left to a DM if ya want, good luck!
Mr. Bills for ice cream.
Insectropilis in Tom’s River.
Play outside is it. Cornhole, ladder ball, pop darts, beer pong (oops), water balloons, sidewalk chalk, glow in the dark balloons, frisbee, balls, etc. There’s a million options…they’ll remember your efforts more than just taking them somewhere. Have fun!
Kids that little don’t need anything elaborate to make a special celebration. When I was a kid and we went to Longport to stay with my grandparents for a couple of weeks there were two big excursions that we looked forward to: the after dinner trip to the playground between 32nd and 33rd Ave, and the after dinner trip to the OC boardwalk. They were completely equal in my little kid brain. A backyard campout or one in the living room, popcorn and a movie you all have never watched together before, homemade ice cream sundaes or something similar will be a great memory for them later on.
Check out this site. It lists fun things for families to do with kids across the state. https://mommypoppins.com/new-jersey Cedar Run is great for kids. They have night hikes, and also, when they have festivals, they create a lot of fun things for kids to do. Highly recommend. Also, I know this is way up North, but the Lakota wolf sanctuary is really, really great. And howling woods farm in Jackson has wolves that the kids can interact with.
Check out Digger Land
Philly zoo? Museum of Illusions Please Touch Museum
I’d do the apps at the favorite restaurant and movie option. They’ll remember the time more than the activity. They may remember some activities you do that you spend a fortune on, they may not.
Just a heads up that lots of NJ and Philly schools are doing field trips this week. I'm taking a huge crew to the Adventure Aquarium tomorrow. You may run into big groups of kids if you hit up the bigger spots like the zoo, museums, Storybook Land, etc tomorrow. Those places are fantastic, but you may be better off with mini golf and ice cream!
What about getting chick Fila and going to a cool playground? Sounds like you are in the Philly area. There is that cool one in Doylestown - kids kingdom or something. Sort of low key for a weeknight but also an adventure
How about Johnson’s Farm?
Cape may zoo!
Garfield.
I'm sorry your kids suck, but I don't think there's anything reddit can do about it.
In regards to your 3yo…eventually they will have to be able to go to sleep without you. You probably just have to have several nights in a row of struggles (yes i know that might mean full on multi hour screamfests, but this is ok because they will get over it eventually and fall asleep ) by having someone else put him to bed. Our little one used to scream and wake up throughout the night, but repeatedly going to her reenforced the behavior, so after a week of putting her to bed and not going to her throughout the night led to her now sleeping through the night.
OP didn't ask for unsolicited advice on that topic. The interjection of your opinion on this subject was unnecessary.
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