NJ is full of fun adventures for you and your little ones. Looking for the best activities for kids ages 1-3? I got you! Check out our master list below and try something new to build great memories with your toddler.
Beach
New Jersey is known for wonderful beaches. Up and down the coast there are numerous options for great beaches where you can enjoy the sun, sand and surf. My beach of choice is Lavalette, NJ. There may not be a snack stand, but the beach attracts lots of families, is well maintained, and is frequented by ice cream trucks! When’s the best time to go to the beach with a toddler? We have thoughts!
2. Boardwalk
It isn’t summer on the Jersey Shore without a trip to the Boardwalk. My favorite toddler friendly boardwalk is definitely Jenkinson’s in Point Pleasant Beach but if you are looking for other vibes, check out the Boards in Seaside, Wildwood or Ocean City. You’ll find some great summer attractions at all of them.
3. Zoos
What toddler DOESN’T love animals? NJ is home to two great zoos and I highly suggest making time to visit them both! Added bonus– the Cape May Zoo is FREE (but we recommend making a donation because it is certainly worth it!) Read our blog about our trip here!
4. Bowling
I know that when you think of toddlers, bowling doesn’t initially come to mind but there are alot of family friendly bowling alleys that have equipment like bumpers and ramps to help you little one feel successful while bowling. It’ll also be fun for the older crew in your party. How did WE do bowling? Check out our BLOG!
5. Parks/Playgrounds
Want an easy, no-cost adventure? Check out a playground you have NEVER BEEN TO before. My favorite playground is the one at Trader’s Cove in Brick so you can also watch the boats but it’s easy enough to find a playground the next town over from you to have a great mini adventure that gets you out of your normal patterns. During summertime, I also love an evening visit to THIS park.
6. Music Man Ice Cream Shoppe
This place is so much fun! Come sit down to watch a little show and eat a little ice cream! It’s a really unique place to get a treat and have some silly fun. Just beware, you may be asked to sing a line– just for fun! If you go early in the season, you’ll avoid the crowds like we did! Read more HERE.
7. Kids Theatre
I love taking my little guy to see shows! There are great touring productions for kids that stop in NJ, but don’t forget to see what local theatres are doing! The Count Basie in Red Bank offers a lot of options for kids each year. We got to see Blues Clues!
8. American Dream Mall
All those years watching them build this and now we can have some fun there! There are a TON of fun options at the American Dream Mall but the attractions I’d put at the top of the list for you and your toddler are the Sea Life Aquarium, The Legoland Discovery Center, and Nickelodeon Universe for a few kiddie rides and their Paw Patrol show! We wrote about our exciting day!
9. Indoor Playground
Lucky for moms everywhere there are indoor playground options ALL OVER NJ. We’ve enjoyed Go Playland, Peekaboo Playground and Jungle Gym and Jane but a quick google search will show you what’s nearby to you.
Here’s a few we’ve visited and wrote about:
10. Storybook Land
This is the PERFECT toddler theme park. It’s big enough to spend the day here, but small enough that you won’t walk yourself ragged. There’s lots of rides and attractions themed after popular children’s stories and nursery rhymes that you can ride with your little one. It’s also really affordably priced. We love it here! Check out our blog about our perfect day at Storybook Land!
11. Diggerland
Once your little one hits 36 inches, you need to get to Diggerland! Toddlers LOVE watching trucks and excavators in action. At Diggerland, you get to be PART OF THE ACTION and play with them! Diggerland is located in West Berlin, NJ.
12. Land of Make Believe
Here's another place to enjoy kiddie rides, a water park and ice cream! This park has been helping families have fun for 70 years! We are hoping to try it out soon so we can share our thoughts! This park is in Hope Township, NJ.
13. Farms
Want to feed some goats? Pet an alpaca? See if a cow will moo back at you? Or maybe you just want to pick some flowers or admire horses? NJ has plenty of great farm options for you! We’ve had especially great times at Holland Ridge and Argos Farms! Enjoy some of our blogs abut farm visits below!
Our Apple Picking Adventure: https://www.njtoddler.com/post/early-apple-picking-and-peach-picking
Blueberry Picking at Argos:
Allaire Community Farm:
Holland Ridge for Tulips!
Alpaca Farm!
14. Liberty Science Center
Help them love science early through the fun they will experience at Liberty Science Center! There’s lots of classic exhibits here like the Planetarium but they also bring in special seasonal exhibits too! Kids will enjoy the hands on experiences and you’ll enjoy the fact that they will sleep the whole ride home. We took our toddler right before he turned 2! Read here!
15. Aquariums
Fishies! Aquariums are a hit with all ages! If you are in the Point Pleasant area, the Jenkinson’s Aquarium is a nice addition to your day and doesn’t take hours to get through. If you are looking for a fuller aquarium experience, you need to head down to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden and check out my favorite exhibit there– The Hippos!
16. Mini Golf
As long as you don’t expect your toddler to play correctly, mini golf can be lots of fun! I suggest going during the weekday when it isn’t so busy so you can take your time and have fun working towards a “hole-in-one.” Read about when we went to visit and golf with giant Barnacle Bill!
17. Splash Park
On a hot summer day, you don’t want the little ones outside too long without a cool down plan. Splash Pads/Parks are perfect for those hot days when you need to get the littles out of the house for your own sanity. There are great splash pads in different communities. Need a suggestion? Check out this one in Colt’s Neck! Or this one in Asbury Park!
18. Field Station Dinosaurs
Walk along scenic NJ trails until you come upon some lifelike DINOSAURS! The attraction also offers shows, games and activities!
19. Rainforest Cafe
Toddlers can be tough in restaurants so finding ones that are toddler friendly are KEY. Rainforest Cafe definitely fits this bill. In the cafes, there’s a ton of decor so your little one will have a lot to look at while they eat standard fare from the kids menu. Lunch or dinner is usually interrupted by a rainstorm with is also lots of fun! Don’t forget to hit the gift shop for a little toy on your way out! There are locations in Atlantic City and Menlo Park Mall.
20. Jersey Shore Pirates
Get on the water in a pirate ship with your whole family! This is a unique experience which will have your toddler swashbuckling with some other kids! We’ll be trying this experience soon, so keep your eyes peeled for a review!
21. Insectropolis
Little kids rarely have the fear of bugs that we all have so Insectropolic is actually fun for them! Brace yourself for some creepy crawlies!
22. Grounds for Sculpture
Enjoy sculptures that are larger than life at the beautifully manicured Grounds for Sculpture. Run and play on the trails and take lots of insta-worthy photos of you and your toddler.
23. Nature Trails
Don’t underestimate the simple fun of a nature walk! Look for the biggest (or smallest) pine cone you can find, listen for frogs or practice your bird calls! A nice walk in the woods can be medicine to souls young or old. We have especially enjoyed THESE nature trails.
24. Chuck-E-Cheese
Blast from the past right? If you have the rainy day blues, head over for some arcade games and pizza at Chuck-E-Cheese. Find a location close to you here.
25. Smithville
Walk the adorable historical village of Smithville! Don’t forget to stop to ride the Carousel and Train in between hitting up the shops, getting lunch, or grabbing an ice cream cone! I especially love Smithville! Give a read to my blog about one of my happy places!
26. Music Class
It’s not a secret that music does so much to help little brains develop! Give your little ones an edge in a mommy and me music class! We’ve had lots of fun at Little Rockers in Tinton Falls and even had a birthday party there! Read about our party, here.
27. Outdoor Concerts
Bring a beach chair, a blanket and some snacks and an outdoor concert makes for a great hangout! Different communities will hold concerts in their parks. I especially love when Lavalette hosts bands by the bay. The sunsets are incredible! Check the local town websites to see if there is an outdoor concert near you.
28. Parades
Parades make for some good classic fun! The best parades in NJ are for St. Patrick’s Day. Two popular parades that pull lots of families for their parades are the ones in Belmar and Morristown.
29. Minor League Baseball Game
Let’s be real. A toddler won’t sit and watch a whole baseball game but these are still great family nights out! Enjoy snacks and treats, watch a little baseball, walk around the stadium, and in some venues, like The Jersey Shore Blue Claws, catch fireworks at the end of the game!
30. Roller Skating
Once your little one is steady on their feet, why not make things difficult and add roller skates! As long as you can stay on skates comfortably enough to help your little one, it’s fun to take a few turns around with your toddler by the hand. We gave it a try ourselves! Read about it HERE.
31. Car Races at Wall Stadium Speedway
Grab the proper ear protection and head over to the races! We had so much fun at the Wall Stadium cheering on the drivers and making guesses on which car we thought would win! CLICK HERE to read about our night at the races!
32. Movies
Indoor or outdoor, movies are a classic fun treat! Outdoor movies at parks and beaches leave space for a break to run around if needed! Check your local beach town and park town schedules.
33. Great Adventure
Most of us Jersey kids have been coming here for years. Don’t forget they have a whole kiddie ride section! The Safari is also a fun experience for toddlers.
34. Water Parks
If your little one likes playing in the water, there are lots of big water parks with sections perfect for the little ones! Check out Breakwater Beach or Hurricane Harbor.
35. Bookstores for Storytime
Whether a local shop or Barnes and Noble, check their website for storytime options! We went to a storytime at Barnes and Noble and enjoyed it!
36. Restaurants with visiting characters
It is becoming more and more common for restaurants to bring in characters to spiff up their dinner rushes during the week. Close to Monmouth County? The Blue Swan often offers these special KIDS NIGHTS. During holidays, you’ll also often find that local non-profits will host breakfasts with Santa or the Easter bunny! We met baby shark HERE!
37. Gym classes
Show your toddler the importance of daily movement with a gymnastics class! Choose a bigger gymnastics gym or explore a gym built just for little kids! READ about our session at Epic Gymnastics here.
38. Local Library
Libraries are known for great kids events at our favorite pricepoint– FREE! Check your local library for a schedule of upcoming events right for your little one.
We had a fun day hearing FROG stories at one of our local libraries.
39. Monmouth Museum
Enjoy hands on learning activities in this kids centric museum that also houses a little indoor playground! This is a great rainy day activity or for when the summer gets really hot!
40. Medieval Times
Step into the world of Kings and Queens, knights and horses with this iconic dinner show! If your little one likes horses, they’ll probably think this venue in Lyndhurst is really cool!
41. Soccer Shots
Once kids turn 4, tons of options are available to them for classes. But what can you do if you want your 2 or 3 year old to start learning the joys of sportsmanship and get some time outside playing with other kids? We had an incredible experience with SOCCER SHOTS and can highly recommend it to get your little one outside and running around. Check out our blog about our Soccer Shots experience!
42. Painted Pinecone Society
This creative play club makes you feel like you are living in a nature-based pinterest post! Let your little one lead the way with specially curated activities that provoke learning and growing! CLICK HERE to read about our very first Painted Pinecone class.
43. NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum in Cape May
This place is not on most people’s lists but is really fun for little kids! You even get to climb inside some older planes! We had a great time when we went for a cousin’s birthday party. Read about it HERE.
44. Farmers Markets
Let your toddler pick out their favorite fruit or vegetable at the local Farmer’s Market! They don’t call us the Garden State for nothing! Need a great market suggestion? Check out the one in Brick!
45. Train Rides
Whether a simple train ride on NJ Transit, or a holiday experience on the Polar Express, train rides are an absolute blast for little kids! Here’s a blog about our ride on the good ole NJ transit!
46. Build-a-Bear
This is a must-do during your little one’s birthday month! Your base bear will cost only the age of your child! We got a bear here for $2 last year!
47. Disney on Ice
Disney On Ice always makes a stop in NJ! It’s a great way to get your fill of the mouse in between Disney trips. The costumes, music and atmosphere is loads of fun! We had a blast when we checked it out!
48. Fairy Trail
Take a nature walk and look for surprises in fairy remnants (like little houses and doors) in the trees and bushes.
49. Lakota Wolf Preserve
Go see wolves, bobcats, foxes and lynx up close at this special NJ Preserve. Tours must be scheduled in advance.
50. Wild West City
Take a trip back to olden days at the Old West themed city with attractions like stage coach rides, pony rides, shows and more!