Top 5 Spring Day Trips from New Jersey
D&R Canal State Park (various locations along the Delaware)
This New Jersey State park encompasses 70 miles of multiuse trails, making it nearly impossible to cover it all in one day, especially with kids.
If you prefer a leisurely stroll and would like to keep littles in their stroller, I suggest parking in quaint Lambertville, New Jersey. From here you can explore the shops and restaurants in town and even walk over the bridge into New Hope, for even more shopping and dining options. With bellies full and wallets empty, you can hop on the D&R Trail headed either north or south. The scenery is picturesque as you work off your lunch on the trail. If you head south on the trail leaving Lambertville, there is a playground where kids can burn off some energy too.
If you are a family that likes to ride bikes, I suggest heading slightly further south to Washington Crossing State Park. Here you will find more plentiful parking and a more quiet section of trail. Head north or south on the path, depending on your preference, and don’t forget to pack a picnic lunch to be enjoyed while watching the Delaware float by. You can also walk your bike across the bridge at Washington’s Crossing and enjoy the Pennsylvania side of this historic region.
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk at Point Pleasant
It may not be beach weather, but spring is a great time to visit the boardwalk. The expense of the boardwalk can add up quickly, especially for a budget conscious family like ours. We save by buying all of our ride tickets during their Easter sale. Jenkinson’s sells their ride tickets at 50% off Easter weekend, both online and in person. Last year we were even able to get a book of tickets for the boardwalk games at a discounted rate. We happen to love the arcades, but only play during Happy Hour to help us stay within our budget. We prefer Pavilion Arcade, which is currently closed for refurbishments. While that is not available, we like to play at Jenkinson’s South, which has Happy Hour daily from 3-5pm. This is a HUGE money saver. Our family of four can play for the entire 2 hours for under $40.
Food is pricey on the boardwalk. Pack a lunch and head out to the northern end of Point Pleasant. There is a small parking lot at the inlet and a playground for the kids. Watch the boats come in and out as people fish off the pier and the kids get some energy out. For a yummy splurge, head over to Point Lobster just around the corner and grab some lobster rolls for takeout. They are one of our favorites!
Legoland, Goshen, New York
This is a new favorite for us. We purchased the Elite Pass during their Black Friday sale and saved a bundle. Legoland opens March 31st and we cannot wait to visit. If you have a LEGO fan in your family, this is a must do. They currently (3/20/23) have annual passes for as low as $99 which is a huge money saver if you plan to go more than once this year. Besides a spring trip, you will want to return after Memorial Day when their new splash area opens for the season.
When we were there for Christmas, there was only one restaurant open and it was packed all day. We had an early lunch in the car on the way up to to the park, had a few snacks in our backpack, and then called in a pizza as we were leaving. Nearby Village Pizza was absolutely delicious and saved us a ton of money compared to park food.
Turtleback Zoo, West Orange, New Jersey
We have been members of the zoo since our youngest was born. Membership not only gets you in to the Turtleback Zoo, but you receive discounts at over 100 AZA accredited zoos throughout the country. If you travel often and like to visit other zoos, this is a big money saver.
The zoo is incredibly diverse for a local zoo, with everything from giraffes to penguins to bald eagles to cheetahs. Be sure to pack some quarters to buy goat feed in the barnyard section and a few dollars for the pony rides and carousel (they are $2 each and they will take credit cards). The train ride is a classic and is included with the price of admission. Despite the amazing animals, my oldest’s favorite part is the Dinosaur Playground. And in case we didn’t get enough fun in, we often stop by the Regatta Playground before we head home. Regatta Playground is located on the opposite side of the reservoir from the zoo. You can either leave your car parked at the zoo and walk over on the walking path or drive around and park at the lot designated for the playground.
While they do have a cafe at the zoo, we prefer to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it at one of the tables or benches located throughout the zoo. The zoo gets busy on weekends when the weather is nice, so be sure to arrive early. If you can get ahead of the crowd, you can be off to Regatta Playground while everyone else is waiting in line for the train.
A Playground Crawl!
Remember bar crawls in college? This is like that, but you’ll feel much better the next day. A sunny weekend in the spring is the perfect time to put the kids in the car and go on a playground crawl. We have already told you about some of our favorites including Van Saun Park in Paramus, NJ, Regatta Playground in West Orange, NJ and Lion’s Pride Park in Chalfont, PA. You can also head over to Instagram @nj_parksharks for tons of great recommendations in and around the Garden State.
I find planning for 3-4 playgrounds is a great way to spend the day. Plus, you never know what else will catch your interest along the way. If you have little ones that still nap, plan a longer drive between playgrounds to get that car nap in.
What is your favorite springtime activity in and around New Jersey? Head over to our social media accounts for photos and videos of our favorites and be sure to leave us a comment with some of yours!