Amusement Parks and Zoos

There's more to amusement parks in New Jersey than the famous Great Adventure. Here are some great theme parks, zoos, and amusement parks that the kids would love, as well as adults.

Adventure Aquarium: Immerse yourself in our watery world and get ready to experience the life aquatic at the Adventure Aquarium on the Waterfront. Now you can get hands-on, up close and more interactive than you ever imagined with these creatures of the sea.

Bergen County Zoological Park: The Zoo is open 365 days a year (weather permitting) from 10 am - 4:30 pm.

Clementon Park & Splash World: The 100 year-old family park opened on Memorial Day Weekend in 2008 with new ownership, new management, a new logo and millions of dollars in improvements including a massive new Polynesian-themed multi-level aqua playland to be called Laguna Kahuna.

Six Flags Great Adventure: Six Flags Great Adventure, located in Jackson, NJ, offers travelers an encompassing time of fun complete with thrill rides, live shows, dining options and more, including, new for 2008, The Dark Knight Coaster! Guests will find a varied time of themepark fun with areas including Wiggles World, Looney Tunes Seaport, Main Street and Fantasy Froest.

Spacefarm Zoo & Museum: Featuring more than 500 animals of 100 different species, Space Farms has the largest private collection of North American animals, in their natural surroundings in the United States. The zoo also has many exotic species from around the world. Space Farms is internationally famous for their bear and lion cub breeding programs.

Jenkinsons Boardwalk: Jenkinson's Boardwalk offers your family a wide range of activities. Whether you are visiting for the day or the entire summer, you will always find something to excite every member of your family. From free weekly events to yearly festivals there is always something extraordinary to experience here at Jenkinson's.

Morey's Piers: Morey's Piers offers over 100 exciting amusement park rides and attractions, including TWO large beachfront waterparks, kiddie rides, roller cosaters and more! Avoid the long theme park lines and come enjoy a classic seaside amusement park with your family!

Mountain Creek: We've all been awaiting the perfect cure for summer's sizzle. Mountain Creek Waterpark is open 7 days a week! Keep your cool no matter what day it is or how hot.

Storybook Land: Just 10 miles west of Atlantic city is Storybook Land. The timelessness of childhood will ring true as your family literally walks through its all-time favorite stories and nursery rhymes at Storybook Land. Children’s classics are interspersed with exciting new family rides and attractions in a remarkably clean and enjoyable park setting.

Wild West City: Wild West City is a western heritage theme park that brings the old west back to life through portrayals of real-life western characters, legendary events and a frontier town re-creation. Featuring twenty-two (22) different live action shows throughout the course of the day, Wild West City offers the visitor the chance to “live” in the old west!

The Great Outdoors

There is so much to do outdoors in and around New Jersey. Besides the history, culture, shopping and nightlife, there's hiking trails, parks, horseback riding, rafting, cycling, golf and more.

Ballooning: Scary? Exhilerating? But did you know that hot air balloons have the safest flight record of all aircraft?

Camping: New Jersey has campgrounds at the shore, in the skylands, at the Delaware River, the Gateway and more

Canoeing and Rafting: There are lovely state and county parks around for kayaking, canoeing, rafting and more.

Cycling: There are plenty of areas for enthusiasts to bike around New Jersey. The NJ Department of Transportation lists Towns, counties and bicycle clubs that provide maps and information about trails, routes and other facilities for bicyclists. Information is available from these sources.

Fishing: Although one of the smallest and most densely populated state in the nation, New Jersey offers endless fishing opportunities. From spring migrations of striped bass and American shad in the Delaware River to bayshores and the Atlantic coastline, there's something for all anglers. And progressive management and fish culture and stocking programs means a greater of variety of fish are available than ever before.

Golfing: New Jersey has over 350 golf courses to choose from!

Hiking and Backpacking: You'll be amazed at the number of forests and hiking trails around New Jersey.

Parks & Forests: Whether you are looking for an action packed day of hiking and swimming, or camping under the stars, there are plenty of things to see and do in New Jersey's 42 parks, 11 forests and 3 recreation areas. With more than 50 historic sites and districts, New Jersey's past is rich with stories to tell. This is evident in the historic homes, landscapes and battlefields where Washington and the Continental Army spent almost half of the American Revolutionary War.

About Staycations

According to the Urban Dictionary, a STAYCATION is a vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home, and one's home environments, have to offer.

In my opinion, a Staycation can even involve staying at a hotel, B&B or other accommodation, but still relatively close to home. Instead of spending a $600 a day to take the family on a vacation that involves airline travel, and major chain hotel - stay at a BandB or local hotel near an area that has plenty to do!

With the price of gas soaring, a Staycation is what most Americans will experience during the summer of 2008. According to a 2005 study by the Families and Work Institute, up to one-third of employees who get paid vacation time don't use it all. Many people said they would get too behind on the job if they took time off, while others cited not being able to afford to take a trip.

One of the tricks to a successful Staycation, especially if it's a going to be a day trip, is to take care of the home chores beforehand. Mow the lawn, do the dishes, the laundry, etc., so that's not on your mind all day, or all weekend! Being away, yet so close to home, it may haunt you the entire time!

I've started to compile a list of ideas, and links to area (I'm from NJ) resources, of things to do on a Staycation.

If you really think about it, there's probably a LOT do do where you live. For instance, I'm from NJ. I'm MINUTES from NY. Do you know how many times I went on a cruise out of New York? ZERO. Visited the Statue of Liberty? ZERO. Why? Because it's right there...it'll always be there (so we think). We take what's around us for granted.

Sit...think...what's near you? Swimming in clear blue water of a nearby lake, river or ocean, tennis and a little bicycling, hiking, camping in a beautiful parkland, barbecued meals, a concert under the stars, a ballgame with fireworks, maybe even a museum or two... and all for free. Well, okay, not for free – but for a fraction of what other people will pay.

Lets say you live near the New York area, like me. Think of the broadway plays, museums, sightseeing tours, river boat trips, dinner cruises, Statue of Liberty...do you know how many people come here each year to see these things? It's right at my back door and I'm ashamed to say, the only thing I've done - and force myself to do every month with friends - is go to a Broadway play.

Try it...You'll like it!! A Staycation is a fun and affordable way to enjoy your time off!