May 16, 2016
Entertaining your kids during the summer months can be a full-time job. Luckily, South Jersey is full of fun places even the most demanding kids will enjoy. You don’t have to take a week-long vacation to have a good time. Squeezing in a few day trips here and there can keep your children entertained without breaking the bank.
Here are six destinations that are an absolute must and will offer something for everyone:
The Camden County Waterfront is a play destination for kids of all ages. The Adventure Aquarium will spark excitement, with special under-the-sea exhibits that will allow your kids to get up close and personal with all kinds of amazing sea life. Kids can even catch a glimpse of the Great Hammerhead Shark — the largest and rarest of all sharks, and the only one to be featured in the country. The fun doesn’t stop there — nearby the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial allows you to relive adventure on the high seas. You can even drop your kids off and pick them up in the morning so they can experience an exhilarating overnight stay on the massive battleship. Nearby BB&T Pavilion, formerly known as the Susquehanna Bank Center, has plenty of events to tow your tweens and teens to including upcoming summer shows featuring Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, and 5 Seconds of Summer.
No South Jersey summer is complete without a trip to the Jersey Shore for sand castles, amusement parks and delicious fudge. Wildwood is a great destination for families on a budget with unlimited sunny days on the sand to the legendary boardwalk nights, classic car shows, and thrilling rides and waterslides at Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks. Just north, Ocean City offers eight miles of stunning ocean views paired with more wholesome family fun and entertainment. Along the boardwalk, treat your family to an Ocean City tradition at Manco & Manco Pizza. After dinner, pick up some delicious saltwater taffy and fudge at Shriver’s before heading to Playland’s Castaway Cove for rides, go karts and mini golf! From surfing and sunbathing to fishing and boating there are plenty of activities for the whole family. A trip to the Jersey Shore creates family memories that will last your child a lifetime.
Voorhees is the best destination for endless hours of fun and play for your kids. Tilt Studio is a mecca for challenging mini-golf, laser tag and kid-friendly bowling. It is also a family favorite for birthday parties and a mainstay for rainy days. Likewise, the Flyers Skate Zone is another must for fun-filled afternoons with family and friends. Sharpen your family’s skills on the ice and inspire your kids to imagine themselves as professional ice hockey players at the training center of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Kids young and old can’t resist a day spent at the amusement park, and South Jersey is chock-full of wonderful adventures to take part in. For instance, Storybook Land is a quaint family-oriented destination that celebrates the spirit of imagination through classic stories and nursery rhymes inviting wonderment for generations to come. Clementon Park has plenty of opportunities to get wet and wild, from the thrilling Big Wave Bay wave pool with 23,000 square feet of pure liquid fun to the thrilling Thunder Drop -- a 10-story tall stomach-dropper. South Jersey has rides for all ages, no matter how daring they are.
Retreat into Wharton State Forest, the largest state forest in New Jersey, which extends into the breathtaking Pine Barrens. Rich in diverse wildlife, this single largest track of land within the New Jersey State Park System is plentiful in hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, and horseback riding. It’s the perfect spot to take your young kids camping for the first time, or bond one last time with college-bound teens. Likewise, it’s the home of Batsto Village, a former bog iron and glassmaking industrial center from 1766 to 1867. Your kids will relish in informative tours about what life was like way back when on land that shows evidence of use dating back several thousand years.
Swing through Burlington County for more adventures for the whole family. The Funplex offers ample opportunities to play and make new friends, especially in the upcoming Splashplex waterparks that will feature four waterslides and a lazy river, offering something for everyone. For the little ones, there is the nearby Jellybean Jungle, a peanut-aware play and learn adventure center for kids 5-and-under.
South Jersey is full of endless opportunities for play and learning. From the wild adventures waiting in Wharton State Forest to nonstop fun at the Jersey Shore, South Jersey boasts endless opportunities for play and learning. A summer spent enjoying all the fun this region has to offer will leave your kids with memories they’ll never forget.
