Isn't it crazy how winter feels like it will never end, and then before you know it, summer is almost here?! With temperatures topping 80 degrees and spring break coinciding this week, summer is on everyone's mind. If your family is thrilled (or terrified) by the idea of 3 whole months of no school and rising temperatures, take heart! There's an abundance of family friendly activities within driving distance. Here's just a few ideas for keeping your crew entertained this summer:

The Jersey Shore

You can't think about summer in New Jersey without thinking of the Jersey Shore. With 130 miles of coastline, NJ has some of the best beaches in the nation. A few that are particularly family friendly, offering convenient parking and dining options are Long Branch, Point Pleasant and Asbury Park.

Nature Walks and Parks

If you're interested in the great outdoors with a little less sand check out the fantastic trails and programming available at these wonderful New Jersey locales.

Paterson Falls - A National Park in our own backyard. These falls are truly breathtaking.
Watchung Reservation and Trailside Nature and Science Center - Trailside offers programming for toddlers and preschoolers plus the Nature Center is a great place to cool down after a a hike. The reservation also offers the Loop Playground for kids of all ages.
South Mountain Reservation - South Mountain has miles of manageable trails, a fairy village, and a dog park for your 4 legged friend.
Great Swamp Watershed - Miles of trails plus fun checklists for spotting all the wildlife that abounds.
Echo Lake Park Pedal Boats - Take a pedal boat out on the lake then head over to the playground and enjoy some ice cream.
Liberty State Park - For breathtaking views of lower Manhattan plus the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, head to Liberty State Park. You can even catch a ferry to Lady Liberty or visit the historical railroad terminal.
Cheesequake State Park and Island Beach State Park - Perfect for hiking, fishing, camping, or swimming, these state parks combine the best of the parks with the best of the beach.

Farms, Aquariums, and Zoos

Why not let your little wild animals run around with some real wild animals? Even the littlest kids will enjoy seeing their favorite animals up close and personal.

Alstede Farms and Brookhollow's Barnyard offer farm fresh goodies and a chance to view your favorite farm animals up close.

Valley Shepherd Creamy is all about sheep! In addition to delicious cheeses, they also offer tours of the sheep shearing and cheese making processes.

Fosterfields Living Historical Farm - While not a petting farm, Fosterfields allows kids to see farming as it was done in the 1920s!

The Staten Island, Turtle Back, and Central Park Zoos are all on the smaller side and totally manageable in a day or even an afternoon. There's plenty to do with little kids, and you won't have to worry about what to see and what to skip.

The Bronx and Philadelphia Zoos, while a bit farther, are larger and offer some impressive experiences like a monorail and tiger terrace!

Go big at Camden Adventure Aquarium or go small at Jenkinsons Aquarium.

Museums

Check your local library before planning a day at one of these great NJ museums. Many offer FREE passes with just your library card!

Outdoor Theater

While traditional theater is challenging for children, outdoor theater and puppet theater provide a unique opportunity to enjoy a show even with young kids.

Swedish Cottage Theater - Older kids may enjoy classical marionette theater in this historic cottage in Central Park.

Roosevelt Park Edison - With outdoor performances at convenient times for little ones (1 & 4pm), Plays in the Park (Roosevelt Park, that is) are perfect for capturing kids attention.

Boats and Trains

It's not the destination, it's the journey right? Explore some new modes of transportation with little ones where both the journey and the destination are sure to please.

Staten Island Ferry - For unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty, take the FREE Staten Island Ferry round trip from Battery Park.

Train to Somerset Patriots Game - Take the Raritan Valley line to the Bridgewater Station Stop and enjoy $2 off tickets.

Train to Long Branch or Asbury Park - Combine the best of the beach with the thrill of the train and take NJ Transit to the shore.

Amazing Playgrounds

Finally, you can always keep it simple with a trip to the playground especially when there are so many awesome playgrounds to visit this summer.