Looking for fun day trips, local favorites, and can’t-miss experiences across New Jersey (and just beyond)? This list is packed with restaurants, breweries, attractions, cultural spots, family outings, and weekend adventures — from charming downtowns...
Grounds For Sculpture is one of New Jersey’s premier cultural destinations — a sprawling 42-acre sculpture park, museum, and accredited arboretum where art and nature merge into an immersive outdoor experience. Located in Hamilton Township, New Jerse...
Grounds For Sculpture
American Dream is one of the most expansive entertainment and retail destinations in the United States — a 3-million-square-foot indoor complex in the Meadowlands Sports Complex that blends world-class shopping, family fun, and unforgettable attracti...
Best Indoor Amusement Park NY Metro - Water Park & Luxury Shopping Near NYC
Adventure Aquarium is a premier waterfront attraction on the Camden Waterfront, offering immersive underwater exploration and family-friendly adventure just minutes from downtown Philadelphia. Known for its stunning aquatic exhibits, interactive expe...
Adventure Aquarium | Underwater Family Fun In Camden, NJ
Located in Jackson, New Jersey, Six Flags Great Adventure is one of the largest and most exciting theme parks in the country, offering world-class roller coasters, family rides, live entertainment, and seasonal events all in one place. Thrill-seekers...
Six Flags Great Adventure - The World's Ultimate Thrill Park | Six Flags Great Adventure
🔬 Liberty Science Center is a hands-on science museum and learning destination in Liberty State Park, Jersey City, New Jersey, that inspires curiosity and exploration for visitors of all ages. With interactive exhibits, immersive experiences, live d...
Liberty Science
🦁 Cape May County Park & Zoo is a standout free-admission zoo and park destination in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, perfect for family outings, nature lovers, and animal enthusiasts. Open every day except Christmas, the zoo features a divers...
Park & Zoo | Cape May County, NJ
🦓 Turtle Back Zoo is a beloved family destination in West Orange, New Jersey, offering a fun, educational, and interactive wildlife experience for visitors of all ages. Home to hundreds of animals from around the world — including giraffes, rhinos, ...turtlebackzoo.com ) More than just a place to see animals, Turtle Back Zoo features hands-on activities, ride attractions, and conservation-focused programming that encourages curiosity about wildlife and habitat protection. Outdoor garden spaces, splash areas, and e...turtlebackzoo.com )
Turtle Back Zoo
The Wildwoods — made up of Wildwood, North Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest along the Jersey Shore — are iconic beach destinations known for wide sandy beaches, vibrant boardwalk fun, and classic coastal charm. With more than 5 miles of shoreline, the Wi...wildwoodsnj.com ) The famous boardwalk is a highlight for visitors, packed with rides, games, food stands, live entertainment, and seaside shops, making it a go-to spot for day trips and weekend getaways. Beyond the boardwalk, you’ll find watersports, beach bonfire...wildwoodsnj.com )
Wildwoods, New Jersey - The Best Place To Visit, Vacation and Dine
Nestled in the scenic Delaware Water Gap region of Columbia, New Jersey, Lakota Wolf Preserve is a unique wildlife sanctuary and nonprofit dedicated to the care, conservation, and education of wolves and other rescued wild animals including bobcats, ...
Welcome to Lakota Wolf Preserve
Located on the historic campus of Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, the Princeton University Art Museum is a world-class cultural institution with a wide-ranging permanent collection spanning ancient to contemporary art from cultures aro...artmuseum.princeton.edu ) Admission to the museum is free, making it a perfect stop for explorers, families, students, and visitors seeking engaging art and thoughtful exhibitions. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum presents rotating special exhibitions, e...artmuseum.princeton.edu )
Princeton University Art Museum
Located in Ogdensburg, New Jersey, the Sterling Hill Mining Museum offers a hands-on, immersive journey into the state’s rich mining history and geological wonders. Set at one of the oldest zinc mines in the U.S., this unique museum lets visitors exp...sterlinghillminingmuseum.org ) Visitors can descend into real mine passageways to experience what mining was like for early 20th-century workers, view an astonishing collection of minerals, and enjoy educational displays that bring geology, mining technology, and earth science ...sterlinghillminingmuseum.org )
The Sterling Hill Mining Museum
Step back in time at Historic Smithville, a charming turn-of-the-century village-style destination in South Jersey where cobblestone walkways, historic buildings, and small-town hospitality create a unique day-trip experience. Originally a simple sta...
Historic Smithville NJ - Historic Smithville
Peddler’s Village is a charming boutique shopping and entertainment destination in New Hope, Pennsylvania that brings old-world village charm to life with cobblestone walkways, unique specialty shops, artisan boutiques, and cozy eateries nestled thro...peddlersvillage.com ) Beyond shopping, Peddler’s Village offers dining experiences ranging from casual café fare to chef-driven meals, seasonal festivals, outdoor concerts, holiday celebrations, and relaxing spaces with fountains and garden views — making it ideal for ...peddlersvillage.com )
Peddler’s Village
Located on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is a scenic coastal destination centered around the historic Barnegat Lighthouse — an iconic red-and-white beacon that’s guided mariners since the 1850s. The park offers breatht...
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Located on the Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, this indoor aquarium is a family-friendly marine life destination with engaging exhibits and educational experiences for all ages. The facility is dedicated to marine conservat...
Aquarium | Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the iconic Mütter Museum is a one-of-a-kind medical history museum that invites curious visitors to explore the fascinating, weird, and wonderful side of science and anatomy. Part of The College of Physicians of...muttermuseum.org ) From preserved anatomical specimens and rare medical instruments to surprising collections like the Hyrtl Skull Collection and explanations of unusual pathologies, the Mütter Museum balances education with intrigue — making it a must-visit for sci...muttermuseum.org )
Mütter Museum Home
Step into a world of discovery at The Franklin Institute, one of Philadelphia’s premier science museums where hands-on exploration meets big ideas. Exhibits span three floors of interactive science adventures — from human anatomy and physics to space...
The Franklin Institute
Founded in 1812 and located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Academy of Natural Sciences is one of the oldest natural history museums in the United States. It’s a world-class destination where visitors of all ages can explore dinosaurs, wildlife di...ansp.org ) The museum features standout experiences such as towering dinosaur skeletons, the Butterfly Encounter, live animal ambassadors, and hands-on learning spaces that connect visitors with ecology, evolution, and Earth science. Family-friendly programm...ansp.org ) Whether you’re fascinated by ancient life, contemporary biodiversity, or the inner workings of ecosystems, The Academy offers a memorable blend of discovery, education, and adventure within a historic and vibrant museum setting. (ansp.org )
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University