Ultimate Guide to Winter IN-PERSON action for the entire family

We’ve found these in-person attractions and ideas for things to do...

Need help overcoming cabin fever? These wonderful venues have reopened for safe smart fun and for your in-person enjoyment. Please note, it is everyone's responsibility to abide by all COVID19 safety protocols. 

There is no order of what we've listed, but keep checking back as we will be adding as we learn of more good finds!

BIG SNOW AT AMERICAN DREAM 

Reserve a ski or snowboard package online.  Every day is a snow day at American Dream. Located at NJ’s newest family entertainment complex in nearby Secaucus. All the fun of skiing and snowboarding, only it’s indoors, temperature controlled at 28 degrees Fahrenheit, rentals, and lessons. www.bigsnowamericandream.com

AMERICAN DREAM MALL

Check out the largest indoor theme park with attractions such as Nickelodeon Universe, Big Snow, Dream Works Water Park, Angry Birds Not So Mini Golf Club, It’s Sugar Candyland adventure and more coming. Shop, eat, and just walk around. East Rutherford.

BERGEN COUNTY ZOO 

Free admission and open but capacity will be monitored. Zoo traffic goes one way. Walk around outdoors and spot the animals. Paramus

BRONX ZOO 

Reserve a date online for a winter admission ticket and enter the zoo within one hour of the entry time, then stay as long as you like. You can also book a private encounter for your group of six of more. www.bronxzoo.com

CENTRAL PARK ZOO 

Now open for your visit, but must have a date specific ticket and arrive within one hour of entry time. Visit Tisch children’s zoo, animal feeding from 10am-2pm. NYC

FUNTIME JUNCTION 

Indoor Children’s Entertainment Center

Reserve open play admission tickets online and access FunCade, vest-less laser tag, a helicopter carousel ride, toddler playground, Beam floor projection game, LiteZilla (Giant Lite Brite), and a multi-level climbscape and jump pillow. Fairfield, 973.882.9777, www.funtimejunction.com

IMAGINE THAT!!! CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

General Admission Tues - Sun - with Special Appearances at Weekend events. East Hanover. www.imaginethatmuseum.com

LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER 

Open this winter, Thurs-Sun. Buy tickets online. DC Superheroes, Making Mammoths, Sock Skating Rink, Planets Show, One World One Sky, Beyond Rubik’s Cube.... www.lsc.com

MINI GOLF AT MONSTER MINI GOLF

Reserve your optional tee time!  Swing your way to non-stop fun. Unique mini golf experience with 18 holes of glow-in-the-dark mini golf. Play in a state-of-the-art-arcade and enjoy a laser maze. Fairfield 973.244.0026, Paramus 201.261.0032, www.monsterminigolf.com

SKYZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK

Pinebrook, Mount Olive, Allendale, Springfield,  Ocean

Reserve for open jump or glow (at select locations) tickets. Some locations offer private group play. www.skyzone.com

IPLAY AMERICA 

Reserve tickets to this indoor amusement park full of rides for all ages, including go-karts, minibowling, carousel, rollercoaster, skyscraper, laser tag, 4D theater, arcade, and new ride - Reverse Time. 

Freehold. www.iplayamerica.com

SAHARA SAMS

Reserve a one day ticket or season pass to visit the indoor waterpark. Admission ticket allows access to all attractions, water rides, The Congo Bongo lazy river, Flow Rider, slides, obstacle courses, indoor pool, arcade and more! Special Lizard Lagoon toddler water area for little ones.  West Berlin. www.saharasams.com

STATUE OF LIBERTY

The new Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island has reopened, limited to 25% capacity. Tours available include the grounds of Liberty Island (Reserve Ticket) and the Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island (includes the Liberty Island Reserve Ticket); however, the Crown and Pedestal interior areas will remain closed. Ferry service to Ellis island has resumed, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum has also reopened to 25% capacity. 

HIGH POINT CROSS COUNTRY SKI CENTER

Go cross country skiing. Trek through the trails of this winter wonderland. Great sport and exercise as you navigate hills and the large expanse of forest. Group and private lessons available. Sussex. Rt 23.

GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE

A sculpture garden, arboretum, and museum. Experience a 42-acre landscaped park and its seasonal transformation; engage with new sculptures throughout the landscape with nearly 300 sculptures on view. Flat rate admission at the reduced price of $10. GFS’s six indoor galleries remain closed due to Covid-19. Grounds will be open Thurs-Mon from 10am–6pm thru March 31. 

GO SKIING, TUBING, AND BOARDING

Check out our list of resorts and what to do and expect, and how to plan before you go.  

GO ICE SKATING

We found these outdoor rinks opened! 

Princeton’s Palmer Square’s synthetic ice rink is located behind the Nassau Inn Hotel in Princeton. 

Skates available for rent and tickets are sold at the door thru Feb 28. Then walk around Princeton.

Van Saun Park RINK at the Winter Wonderland is open thru Feb 21. Purchase tickets online for a 50 min skate. Limited based on availability. Paramus

Winter Village at Bryant Park. Enjoy NYC’s only free ice skating rink, the Holiday Shops and cafes and cozy igloos. Fully outdoor experience. Skate time will be booked per timed session. Online booking required. 40st 6th ave.

Sock Skating Rink @ Liberty Science Center

Take off your shoes and take a spin on a rink made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface. 

Wollman Skating Rink @ Central Park

Enjoy the fresh air of winter, outdoors in Central Park. So much to do inside the park. Think Zoo, Park, NYC streets. 

AVIATION HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

Make online reservations to go see their unique exhibits including the rocket engine that propelled the X-15 to incredible speed and height records and the first American hovercraft invented by Charles Fletcher. You’ll also see real live aircraft, helicopters, airplane models, and the museum’s custom built “Fundamentals of Flight” interactive aerodynamics exhibit. Teterboro. www.njahof.org

MONTCLAIR ART MUSEUM

Galleries will be reopening February 6. Register for in-person winter classes and workshops. Montclair. www.montclairartmuseum.com

MORRIS MUSEUM 

Opened Saturdays and Sundays. For Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders, Free admission first weekend every month. Go see the Mega Model Train Gallery for train enthusiasts of all ages. Currently open to the public. 

Morristown. www.morrismuseum.org

PONY POWER THERAPIES 

Offering fun for the whole family with limited availability for winter riding and grooming sessions. This is a great way to be with horses. Families are limited to no more than 5 people in the grooming lesson. Great learning activity and outdoors. Mahwah. www.ponypowernj.org

ASBURY PARK

Stroll the streets of this revitalized beachfront town, with its eclectic shops, fantastic food options, The Stone Pony, arcade and Silverball Museum, and the boardwalk, including the newly expanded north end. Take a coffee break in one of many cozy cafes along restaurant row (Bangs and Cookman avenues), and then partake in the dynamic restaurant scene with so many choices.

Or choose your favorite beach destination and go for a hot chocolate, then walk the boardwalk and enjoy the outdoors!

SEATON HACKNEY STABLES

Go winter horseback riding! Year round lessons and trail rides are available. www.seatonhackney.com

WHITNEY HOUSTON’S MURAL 

Admire Whitney Houston, late Newark-born pop singer’s mural, a colorful 19- by 28- foot artwork comprised of more than 1,000 pounds of hand-cut glass mosaic on William Street, just three blocks from Prudential Center. Take some photos.

STORM KING ART CENTER

Get outside and experience art in nature. But advance tickets for Saturday or Sunday visits 10am-4:30pm. New Windsor, NY. 

www.stormking.org

Check out our list of outdoor winter sports ideas and places for these great activities, from snow shoeing, hiking, ice fishing, pond skating, sledding, snowmobiling...LINK 

VIRTUAL AT HOME THINGS TO DO

We’ve found a line up of AT HOME family friendly activities to keep the kiddos happy and busy!  Safe and friendly programs for all ages.

NEWARK MUSEUM - NMOAatHOME

MLK Jr Day Celebration, Jan 18, 10am-5pm

Virtual Workshops:Terrarium Making, Jan 20, 7pm 

Virtual Creative Play, Virtual Escape Room, Virtual Tours, Virtual Homeschool. www.newarkmuseumart.org

NJ PAC IN YOUR LIVING ROOM

Tune in their live events including weekly DJ dance parties, arts workshops and NJPAC Backstage celebrity interviews. Or dive into a treasure trove of videos from their archive for a creative boost. www.njpac.org

SHOWS AT RVCC PLANETARIUM

WATCH FROM HOME

Take a trip to outer space. See day and night skies from Earth. Watch stars and planets visible in tonight’s sky. For preschoolers to adults. Check website for dates. Currently showing: Birth of Planet Earth; Dinosaurs at Dusk; Earth, Moon & Sun; Legends of the Night Sky. www..raritanval.edu

VISUAL ARTS CENTER 

How to Fly: A virtual event for MLK Jr. Day.

Jan 18 @ 1-3PM. Free. www.artcenternj.org

NJ STATE MUSEUM

Small Explorers Program; educators will engage families with 1-2 pre-recorded videos per month on their social media for families to explore themes and books together.  www.state.nj.us/state/museum

BUEHLER CHALLENGER CENTER 

Let’s Launch! New Planetary Science Video Series. www.bcsc.org

CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE - CREATIVITY AT HOME

Crafty FREE Projects from printables, birthday crafts, cardboard crafts, coloring pages, colorful experiments, chalk creations model magic, and more. www.crayolaexperience.com/creativityathome

PENN MUSEUM AT HOME 

Travel the world and explore the museum from home. See events calendar for all events. 

Anthro LIVE: Story of the Chinese Zodiac: Jan 12

Anthro LIVE: Create a legendary Creature: Jan 19

Africa and the World: Jan 19

Trip to China and Beyond: Jan 20

Behind the Lion Dance: Jan 28

www.penn.mueum/calendar

RUTGERS GEOLOGY MUSEUM 

Ask A Geologist Live Stream Web Series. 

Virtual Open House - Jan 30. FREE. 

They engage children and answer their questions to the day’s geologic topic. Elementary and middle schoolers. www.geologymuseum.rutgers.edu