New Jersey indoor activities for summer 2019: Beat the heat
When the weather isn't on your side, you're probably stuck wondering just what to do with the kids.
New Jersey residents don't have to look far; there are lots of fun attractions. Here are exciting places with indoor activities for kids and adults:
LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER — Jersey City
Head to the Liberty Science Center, New Jersey's newest and largest museum for a day of fun and adventure with the kids. They'll love all the scientific attractions, 3D shows, and interactive learning. Great exhibitions include iExplore, the Touch Tunnel and Wonder Why.
IPLAY AMERICA — Freehold
New Jersey's premier indoor theme park is iPlay America. The 115,000-square-foot family entertainment center houses go karts, laser tag, amusement rides, bumper cars, mini-bowling, a 4D Theater, and great food.
MONSTER MINI GOLF — Fairfield, Cherry Hill, Eatontown, Edison and Paramus
Monster Mini Golf has an 18-hole glow-in-the-dark golf course. They're at five different locations, Fairfield, Cherry Hill, Eatontown, Edison and Paramus. Visitors play golf alongside a monster-themed set of ghouls and goblins while a DJ plays music and gives away prizes.
MEDIEVAL TIMES — Lyndhurst
There's a one-of-a-kind dinner and tournament experience at the Medieval Times Lyndhurst Castle. You'll be a royal guest to an 11th Century jousting tournament between knights hosted by the king and his daughter, the princess. And it's okay (encouraged!) to eat the four-course meal with your hands.
REBOUNDERZ — Edison (and other trampoline parks)
Visitors bounce on the floors and walls of Rebounderz!.This indoor trampoline park also features the Ninja Warrior Course, dodgeball and basketball courts, and a tower to jump off ... with trampolines surrounding the areas.
Other indoor trampoline park options in NJ include SkyZone (Mercer County) in Hamilton and Get Air (Monmouth County) in Freehold.
THE FUNPLEX — Mt. Lauren and East Hanover
The FunPlex Amusement Centers are two of the most unique places for kids' fun in the area. These action-packed game centers/bowling alleys/water parks have everything from go-karts to outdoor bumper boats to huge indoor arcades.
RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT MUSEUM — Atlantic City
Inside the famous Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum are 14 separate galleries containing a collection of oddities and curiosities from around the world. There, kids will learn about current and historical bizarre people, objects and more. Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum is located on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
COCO KEY WATER RESORT — Mount Laurel
CoCo Key Water Resort of Mount Laurel is a wet and wild tropical escape from home. Packed with “gallons of fun” for kids of all ages, the indoor water park is made up of large pools with courses, adventures and slides. There's an indoor/outdoor spa with adult-only whirlpools for you to soak away the stress.
INSECTROPOLIS — Toms River
The Insectropolis in Toms River is a unique "bugseum." Visitors learn about exotic and beautiful insects from all over the world, including rare butterflies. There are more than a dozen educational exhibits.
ADVENTURE AQUARIUM — Camden
JENKINSON'S AQUARIUM — Point Pleasant Beach
Situated across from Philadelphia at the Camden Waterfront, the Adventure Aquarium is an indoor water-filled adventure. Kids and other visitors can discover the underwater world through the Aquarium's many realms from a safe-to-touch tank to zones, and get up close with creates from sharks to turtles to frogs to hippos.
Another aquarium option is Jenkinson's Aquarium (Ocean County) in Point Pleasant.
DISCOVERY MUSEUM — Cherry Hill
Among south Jersey’s largest attractions for family fun and discovery, the Discovery Museum gives kids a chance to explore science or make arts and crafts.
BRANCHBURG SPORTS COMPLEX — Branchburg
Branchburg Sports Complex in Branchburg offers lots to do for toddlers, kids and adults. There's an arcade and a four-level interactive laser tag arena. Plus, a PlayMaze just for young kids (ages 3-12).
BRIDGEWATER SPORTS ARENA — Bridgewater
Bridgewater Sports Arena in Bridgewater is known for its indoor ice skating rink, but there's also other year-round fun. Laser tag, an arcade, and a soft play area. The playmazium is for kids 9 and younger.
SPORTIKA — Manalapan
Sportika is the largest indoor amateur sports complex in the Tri-state area for teams, events, training, clinics, coaching & more. The Manalapan site is a 170,000 sq. ft. indoor facility, with turf fields for soccer, lacrosse, football, baseball & softball. There's also basketball courts and batting cages.
SAHARA SAM'S — West Berlin
Sahara Sam’s Oasis in West Berlin has distinction as New Jersey’s first free-standing, indoor water park. It offers 58,000 square feet of aquatic and arcade attractions.
BONKERZ — Princeton
Bonkerz Family Fun Center in Princeton location offers laser-tag, an arcade and a rock wall. There's also black-light Tiki mini-golf.
YESTERCades — Westfield, Somerville and Red Bank
YESTERcades: There's a haven for lovers of the classic arcade, at three spots in Westfield, Somerville, and Red Bank. Among dozens of games, there are classics like Space Invaders and Pac-Man, to Street Fighter and NBA Jam and pinball machines. They offer modern consoles, too.
SPEED RACEWAY — Cinnaminson
Speed Raceway in Cinnaminson is an indoor electric kart racing facility offering two sizes of karts: adults and juniors. Junior drivers and riders must be at least 6 years old and 48 inches tall.
RPM RACEWAY — Jersey City
RPM Raceway in Jersey City offers real kart racing. They welcome walk-in racers who want to race family, friends and other customers, as well as private groups. There are experiences for kids ages six years and older, with a minimum height requirement of 4 feet.
GRAVITY VAULT — Chatham, Middletown, Upper Saddle River, Flemington, Hoboken, Voorhees, and coming Soon in Brick (and other climbing gyms)
For rock climbers (or those who want to try), The Gravity Vault (Morris, Monmouth and Bergen Counties) has locations in Chatham, Middletown, Upper Saddle River, Flemington, Hoboken, Voorhees and, soon, Brick. Check the calendars for open climb options, varied by age and ability.
Other climbing options include NJ Rock Gym in Fairfield, Garden State Rocks (Monmouth County) in Morganville, ClimbZone (Monmouth County) in Howell and Rockville Climbing Center (Mercer County) in Hamilton.
KIDZ VILLAGE — Woodbridge and Kenilworth
Kidz Village is an indoor play spot that's open seven days a week. Both kids’ fun centers in Woodbridge and Kenilworth offer an indoor climbing structure with slides, bridges and tunnels. There are also a bunch of themed rooms for "playing pretend," including a grocery store, '50s style diner, hair salon, movie theater and construction zone.
JER Z JUMP — South Brunswick
JerZJump is an indoor bouncy house park with open jump hours for visitors. Come during the times where jumping is offered to all. They also offer a rock wall, bumper cars and an arcade! Note that you must go during open jump hours.
Other indoor bouncy house options include Pump It Up (Mercer County) in Hamilton and House of Bounce (Monmouth County) in Wall! Only offered during open jump hours, as well.
BOWLERO — North Brunswick
You don't have to wait untill night time for a bowling alley to have cosmic bowling when Bowlero is lit up all day long!.This 82-lane bowling alley is lit up with cool, neon lights. There is laser tag and an arcade as well.
iFly — Paramus
Every kid dreams of flying, but at iFly in Paramus, they can do it for real. Through this indoor sky diving chamber, visitors experience what it really is like to fly. Flights can also include a Virtual Reality Experience, for an additional charge.
— by Meredith Chambers, Erin Vogt and Elaina Francis