Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones who have already planned your spring break getaway to some place warm and sunny.   However if you are like a lot of us, the budget didn’t allow for a getaway vacation and you are facing a week of having the kids home with nothing to do.  Not to worry, we have complied a list of the top 25 great day trips destinations only a short drive away.   

  1. Splash, surf and slide at Sahara Sam’s NJ largest indoor waterpark where it’s always 84 degrees and sunny! 60+ thousand square feet of weather-proof water park fun!Get tickets online ahead of time for only $29.95 for Spring Break (March 28 – April 12).
  2. Create great memories at iPlay America with a spectacular array of more than 200 video and skills games, Cosmic Battle: The Extreme Laser Experience - a two-level laser tag arena, 4-D Movie Theater, indoor boardwalk, concerts, and other events. Guests select from Go Karts on the iPA Speedway, Bumper Cars, the Kite Flyer, Skyscraper, Boardwalk Mini Bowling, and a variety of other rides and attractions for younger children.
  3. Make your plans to visit Diggerland and dig into an awesome construction theme park.Tickets are $29.95 but use the promo code DIGSB15 when you purchase Spring Break tickets online and save $5 on full day admission.
  4. Your kids will jump for joy at Air Trampoline Sports in Cliffwood, NJ. Check out 4 foam pits, 3 basketball lanes, 3 dodgeball courts, and over 8,000 square feet of trampoline fun.
  5. See the Best of New York City on Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises.Depart on Circle Line's most popular cruise and discover over 101 city sights by water.
  6. Visit Abma’s Farm Market, Greenhouse, & Petting Zoo in Wyckoff.Pet the sheep and cows, feed carrot tops to the rabbits, and watch baby chicks play in their barn.They also have pheasants, turkeys, goats, ponies, donkeys, and calves.The zoo is open to the public year round during Market hours.
  7. Putt your way through a fun round of glow in the dark Monster Mini Golf.Locations in Eatontown, Edison, Fairfield, Marlboro, Paramus, and Union.
  8. WheatonArts is one of southern New Jersey's best cultural arts destinations. The Museum of American Glass has one of the largest collections of American glass in the country including the world’s largest bottle. You will watch hot molten glass transformed into works of art during the Glass Studio demonstrations and interact with the artists in the Ceramics, Paper and Flameworking Studios. Other highlights include a scenic playground and picnic area, award winning museum stores and an onsite café.
  9. Ripley's Believe it or Not! Times Square showcases some of the most incredible exhibits found in New York! With over twenty galleries spanning two floors, Ripley's Times Square is the largest Ripley's attraction in North America and is home to the most amazing exhibits, including the Little Apple, the Impossible LaseRace, and the Spinning Vortex! Save 20% when you buy tickets online.
  10. Jump On In is a HUGE place built for fun! Their award-winning facilities feature GIANT inflatable and other jumping equipment, which means one thing: FUN! Locations in Boonton & Hasbrouck Heights.
  11. Buehler Challenger & Science Center provides an unforgettable experience for both children and adults. Fly a variety of different space missions in their simulator and enjoy unique hands on experience to learn more about science and space exploration.
  12. Get the kids cooking at Classic Thyme Cooking School with their spring break class on Tues April 7.Register now kids ages 5 – 10 to make Inside Out Cheeseburgers and homemade roll, Mac and Cheese Muffins, Carrot Fries, Homemade Ice Cream, Bake and decorate Vanilla Sheet Cake, Fruit Smoothies.
  13. The Robert J. Novins Planetarium is one of the largest and most active planetariums in New Jersey. New technology provides Planetarium staff with exciting new ways to bring you the wonders of the universe and you'll find a variety of programs for all ages.
  14. Madame Tussauds in New York City is the ultimate celebrity experience.Get close enough to hug your heroes and take the perfect photo with wax figures of the world’s most famous faces.
  15. Try one of the many School Break Camps at Chelsea Piers.They offer young athletes the opportunity to learn a variety of sports from expert, caring instructors at one of the best athletic facilities in the world. Camps include Multi-Sport, Gymnastics, Little Athletes, Junior Golf, Ice Hockey and Urban Adventure.
  16. Open Year Round, Zoom Ziplines at Mountain Creek is the only guided zip line tour in New Jersey! Located at in Vernon, this fun-filled activity is suitable for kids and adventure seekers alike. 
  17. Casino Pier welcomes children, families, thrill-seekers, and boardwalk pleasure admirers.Check their schedule for open days during spring break.Located in Seaside Heights, they offer classic children’s rides such as the Boats, Motorcycles, and Speedway whip cars.  Family rides include the Tilt-A-Whirl, Moby Dick, Hot Tamales Roller Coaster, and Fun Houses.  Or stroll through the Casino Arcade which is jam packed with all of the latest video & redemption games of chance, along with all of the classic slot machines, skee ball and pin ball games.
  18. Explore the Penn Museum’s new exhibition – Beneath the Surface Life, Death & Gold in Ancient Panama.On Sunday, April 12, 1-4 pm join their Family Second Sunday Workshop - Panamanian Gold.Take inspiration from the artifacts in the exhibition and work with foil to etch your own gold plaque to take home. Free with Museum admission.
  19. Storybook Land Family Amusement Park in Egg Harbor Township opens for the season March 28!
  20. Liberty Science Center is featuring a new exhibit Sesame Street Presents: The Body Exhibit.Get to know what’s under everyone’s skin in this interactive adventure featuring Elmo, Oscar, Grover, and the rest of the Sesame Street gang. Large-scale exhibition areas are filled with delightful, hands-on activities that teach children how the body works and how to stay healthy as they hop, jump, and dance through a re-creation of Sesame Street.
  21. The Cape May Whale Watcher has something for everyone…whale, dolphins, and porpoise watching with a guarantee to see one of these mammals or you get a free cruise.
  22. Take a trip to see two of the world’s most famous landmarks – the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Statue Cruises offers departures throughout the day from both New York and New Jersey. Get your Statue of Liberty tickets at their website at the guaranteed lowest price.
  23. America's most decorated Battleship is now the area's most exciting museum, open for tours, events and overnight encampments. From strolling across forecastle to climbing the original ladders up to the bridge, and beyond, each step in your journey brings you closer to understanding what life was like for a sailor on the Battleship New Jersey.
  24. Lions, Tigers, & Bears Oh My! Head to one of the many great zoos throughout NJ – Cape May County Zoo, Cohanzick Zoo, Turtle Back Zoo, Popcorn Park Zoo, Space Farms Museum & Zoo, Bergen County Zoological Park, and Johnson Park Zoo.
  25. Dedicated to rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sea mammals and turtles, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine save the lives of hundreds of sea creatures every year.The center contains an education center and gift shop, pool house, an intensive care unit, and observation tank.