#Fun things to do new jersey how to#
#Fun things to do new jersey free#

You should absolutely give this place a go! It was fantastic. We had a chance to stop and explore Batsto Historic Village recently. It is one of our favorite parks! Love the rocks and river. Over a hundred bird species and wildlife such as black bear, woodchuck, deer and fox live in the park.” Three rare and endangered plant species exist within the park: American ginseng, leatherwood and Virginia pennywort. The gushing river against the grey boulders and dark green hemlocks creates a majestic beauty in any season. Today Hacklebarney is a favorite place for avid anglers, hikers and picnickers, yet in the 19th century the park was a mined iron ore site. Even in the heat of midsummer, the temperature of Black River gorge is cool and refreshing. Two tributaries, Rinehart and Trout Brooks, also course their way through this glacial valley, feeding the Black River. Here is some info from their website: “The freshwater Black River briskly cuts its way through rocky Hacklebarney State Park, cascading around boulders in the hemlock-lined ravine. We have been there with some friends, as well as just us, and this park has some great hiking trails. It is one of the state parks that doesn’t charge an entrance fee.

#Fun things to do new jersey how to#

It can be a little difficult to find where the hike starts, but if you read more about our visit you will see how to get there. We saw an amazing forest filled the the most beautiful yellow leaves (October!), and a cool sculpture, and of course the views! Across the street, the trail continues North, going through farm pasture, across the train tracks, and looks much easier. We hiked the more difficult side of the hike that scaled a side of the mountain, and it was all uphill on the way there. This hike is part of the Appalachian trail. You can find out more about them, including hours and directions HERE. It has always been an interesting experience. We have been there several times, you can read about our visit HERE. They are open to public seven days a week, and while the admission is free, a small donation is encouraged. It is a bird rehabilitation center located in Central New Jersey. You could visit Raptor Trust on the same day as the Environmental Center or Great Swamp. Raptor Trust was it’s own listing, but I decided to combine it together with the Great Swamp, they just fit so well together. Before heading out there make sure to see their website HERE for visitor information. The Great Swamp is a national wildlife refuge and covers a large area, and is a great place to get out and see some amazing wildlife. However, they are all down the road from each other. The Basking Ridge Environmental Education Center, Raptor Trust and The Great Swamp each had their own listing in the last year’s list.

#Fun things to do new jersey free#

Here they are: Free Or Inexpensive Places For Family Fun In And Around New Jersey Whenever you go somewhere outdoors in the summer time, don’t forget to wear a HAT, bring a WATER BOTTLE, and make sure to keep your belongings safe from water in a WATERPROOF POUCH! Don’t forget to mind the heat and the sun! Also, a simple PAIR OF WATER SHOES very helpful on many trips, especially to protect feet of your little ones. Recently I found us traveling without a few essentials, which made our trip much more difficult. Most of them are under $10.00, some are between $10.00 and $20.00 for the family. Some of the places further along the list have days with either free admission or highly discounted admission prices, so make sure to pay attention to dates and times!!! Some of the places below do have a small admission fee. ***This page contains affiliate links.***įirst here are the places with, to the best of my knowledge, no admission fee at all, though I am sure that donations are very much appreciated. Each place is amazing and fun, definitely worth a visit! However, please contact each place before going with any questions you might have! These are but a few. The ones I haven’t been to (you can tell by the lack of photos for the listings that we haven’t been to) are on my wish list of places to visit. I have been to the majority of these with my family, and enjoyed it. There are some truly amazing places in New Jersey area that the family can go for free, or at a very small cost. Here is our list of free or inexpensive places for family fun in and around New Jersey. Now, I am going to help you with your bucket list. Every year I love having a bucket list: a list of places I want to visit with the kids before the year ends.