Free Tips on Planning a Fun Trip around New Jersey for the Whole Family

Garden State is where people “go down to the shore” if they wanted to enjoy a vibrant beachside vacation with their families. The boardwalks are always abuzz with a flurry of activities, its streets lined with arcades and amusement centers. What the trip will be about diving into the delicious world of maple butter twists, mini cinnamon rolls, bagels, pizza, pastrami and submarine sandwiches (hoagies, fine) and then tackle hundreds of rides at parks along Jersey Shore. We know people from all around NJ, NY, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland who make day trips to the boardwalks and nightspots in Garden State on holidays.

Thanks to its picturesque backdrop and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and unique neighborhoods, the filming of Jersey Shore, Beach House music video, two episodes of True Life filmed, and The Real Housewives of New Jersey took place in Seaside Heights and parts of NJ.

If you’re planning a short 3-day stay to such a fun, adventurous state, here are places to consider. By all means, add and subtract on your own. No list and no suggested itinerary is perfect, so, this is just something I reckon you would like to do too. So, customize as you go along and have a blast during your New Jersey vacation!

Day One – Out and About in Perth Amboy and Staten Island

Great for getaways from the bustling city center, Perth Amboy is an ancient-like little town, considered by many a watering hole with many quiet summer retreat options. Its historic waterfront has gone through a few revitalizations efforts and has developed as a resort town for the Raritan Bayshore area starting around the 1990s. It has pebbled walkways reminiscent of Old England and naturally transports its park-filled neighborhoods and hillside gardens into another time and place.

Amplified by a large number of restored and preserved Victorian homes, it attracts people of rich, antiquarian taste. One of the last remaining first-settled cities in New Jersey with a marina and culture surrounding water and seafood, people would also make their way to the city for events like Concerts by the Bay, Mayor’s Concert Series at Bayview Park, and the Waterfront Art Festival. Here, trips to the oldest yacht club in the country, The Raritan Yacht Club, is a norm.

• The Proprietary House

149 Kearny Ave, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
(732) 826-5527
Tours: Held every Wednesday and Sunday 1pm to 4pm; call ahead for booking if visiting on Sunday
Afternoon tea: $10 per Adult, $5 per Child
www.theproprietaryhouse.org
Built in 1746, it is one of the most historic buildings in the United States of America. Having served as the residence of NJ’s last royal governor, a hotel, boarding house, a private mansion and now a museum, it holds the record for being the last few remaining royal governor’s mansion standing today. It continues to serve the community with storytelling sessions, ghost tours, lectures, high teas, and tours. The encapsulating building also makes it runs as a venue for weddings, gatherings, luncheons, meetings, and dinners.

• Sandy Ground Historical Museum

1538 Woodrow Rd, Staten Island, NY 10309-1716
(718) 317-5796
If rubbing shoulders with the locals, dipping your toes into art programs for adults and children, learn about diversity and traditions, give the people of Sandy Ground Historical Museum a call to find out how you can work with this recipient of the NYC Mayor’s Award for Art & Culture. It conducts ongoing research and preserves the history of the city and it African American community dearly and there’re loads to learn and enjoy! It’s a marquee of NJ traditions.

• Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park

37 Christie St, Edison, NJ 08820
(732) 549-3299
Hours: Thursday to Saturday 10am – 4pm
Tours: Groups of 1 – 9 people; groups of 10 or more people must call and sign up in advance; group visits are more than welcome by appointment
www.menloparkmuseum.org
Small it might be, it’s packed to the hilt with all kinds of information about Thomas Edison and his parade of inventions. Designed for the general public regardless of age, the fascinating exhibits are best enjoyed with an escorted tour where the nuts and bolts are carefully unearthed by guides. After the tour, head out for a lovely walk along the 36-acre nature trail.

• The Sea Hawk Party Boat Fishing

260 Front St, Perth Amboy Harbourside Marina, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
(732) 615-7531
Hours: Mon, Tue, Thur and Fri 7.20am – 7.29am; Wed 5pm – 9pm; Sat 4pm – 8.30pm
www.njseahawk.com
If you’re looking for a quieter way to view the Statue of Liberty, snap unforgettable pictures of the New York City skyline, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, or enjoy a memorable birthday cruise with your family, hopping on a ship/yacht along Raritan Bay may be what you’re looking for. The lofty lighthouses beckon you from the comfy Sea Hawk and if you’re you’re on a fishing trip with colleagues, it will be a blast you won’t soon forget.

• Cornucopia Cruise Line

401 Riverview Dr, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
(732) 697-9500
info@cornucopiacruise.com
Hours: Mon to Sat 10am – 7pm; Sun 10am – 5pm
www.cornucopiacruise.com
A romantic dinner cruise along the New Jersey and New York waterways, sightseeing, a chartered storybook wedding cruise, a family outing, a night filled with a gastronomic buffet brunch and fun entertainment is what the cruise is all about. Typically taking off from Perth Amboy with another from Hoboken, NY, visit their website for detailed info, schedule, pricing, and conditions!

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Did you know on July 28, 1945 an Army Air Corps B-25 crashed into the Empire State Building at the 79th floor level. 📷 by @saschakoellefornia #didyouknow #newyorkcity #nycskyline #manhattanskyline

A post shared by Official New York City Page (@city_of_newyork) on Jul 9, 2018 at 7:39am PDT

You can continue reading this article for useful information, details, phone numbers, addresses and URLs on the best that New Jersey has to offer.  Read about best kid-friendly attractions in Woodbridge, how to book your own fishing cruise, explore scenic streams and woodlands with the help of professionals, or where to find the best boardwalk entertainment!


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11 Awesome Free Attractions in Garden State for Families on a Shoestring Budget

You don’t have to have big bucks and an extravagant budget to enjoy what New Jersey offers. It’s an undeniable fact that when you make full use of promotional packages, discounts and visit free attractions in Garden State, and they range from wooded parks to sun-kissed boardwalks, it’s absolutely possible to have an amazing time without breaking the bank. It doesn’t even matter whether you’re visiting with your family, enjoying a weekend getaway with your loved ones, or spending your honeymoon along the beaches of NJ.

The state boasts of a diverse range of options like golf hotels, Atlantic City, the serene beaches of Cape May, quiet lodges offering palate-pleasing local cuisine, weekend spa destinations, waterfall hiking trails, fishing spots, free firework displays, free indoor AND outdoor movie-going experiences and much, much more! You can also spend the day languidly strolling around Morristown National Historical Park to brush up on your George Washington knowledge, bring the kids to Cape May County Zoo or Cohanzick Zoo where admission is free, let the kids loose at the beautiful Overpeck County Park, KidStreet in Bridgewater, Regatta Playground in West Orange, or Newport Green in Jersey City. You can also volunteer at a community-based organization or nature center, go skating around NJ’s best roller rinks, scout for bargain buys at Monmouth County Fair, or have a picnic lunch at Duke Farms in Hillsborough.

We’re merely skirting around a long list of options of free entertainment and attraction with the following list of 11 attractions. There are more of them out there and all you need to do is do to a little bit of homework on the Internet. And without further ado, here are just a few of our favorites.

1. Howell Living History Farm

70 Woodens Ln, Lambertville, NJ 08530
(609) 737-3299
www.howellfarm.org
Even if you’re not either into history or farming, let’s admit that sometimes, we just need time away from the city buzz. Howell Living History Farm presents you with various ways you can do that on the cheap. Formerly known as Joseph Phillips Farm, the 130-acre farm is a living museum with an open-air setting located at the heart of Hopewell Township.

While most tourist hotspots are located within a short distance from beaches and famous boardwalks areas, the living museum is found approximately 1 hour 10 minutes away from Jersey City. The trip, however, will be well worth the trip if you’re looking for a fun learning experience. You’ll get a good glimpse into what life was like for early pioneers and how a proper horse-powered farm worked. Admission into the museum is free but if you are bringing a group or your young children for the corn maze and hayrides, a minimal fee is required. The museum is maintained by county officials as well as The Friends of Howell Living History Farm and their period depiction of a small turn-of-the-century farm is on point.

Tours will take you around to topics related to the grain-growing days of the farm during the 1700s (when most families in New Jersey were farmers) to its modern-day growth. The passion of the staff is infectious and helps the kids learn a lot more than they would have otherwise.

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Our tree is up in the South Tower! 🎄 Thanks, @ryanshvalen for taking this great shot👍🏻 #TwinLights #Lighthouse #GetConnected

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2. Navesink Twin Lights

2 Lighthouse Rd, Highlands, NJ 07732
(732) 872-1814
twinlightshistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Hours: Wed to Sun 10am – 12pm, 1pm – 4pm; park grounds are open 9am – 4pm
www.twinlightslighthouse.com
The twin lighthouses are not just sights to behold, but also offers wondrous views out towards the shoreline of New Jersey from Highlands, NJ. The Navesink Twin Lights are non-operational today but that doesn’t stop people from visiting it. It overlooks Sandy Hook Bay, the bay along the vast Atlantic Ocean and the entrance into the New York Harbor.

200 feet above sea level, with one flashing the other fixed, the Navesink twin lights look sentient from across the treacherous rocks and waves coming in from the north side of New Jersey. They have been around since the early 1820s and although no longer a beacon for incoming and outgoing seafarers, it is the highlight of the New York Harbor. It’s saved thousands of ships and lives after a revamp by Joseph Lederle in 1862 who adopted a unique design to distinguish one from the other. Today, the twin lights are run by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Parks, and Forestry Division together with Twin Lights Historical Society. The lighthouses represent a patchwork of NJ’s historical past and the society aims to preserve as much of it as possible; the structures were also a part of the NJ Coastal Heritage Trail Route, listed under the National Register of Historic Places and was the first American lighthouse to give the Fresnel Lens a shot.

A word of caution, however, is warranted because although the Twin Lights keeps a regular opening hour schedule, the weather can play a rough hand sometimes. Call them or confirm your visit a few hours before the trip to ensure that nothing affects your trip to the iconic New Jersey landmark.

Before you go!
There are 10 other awesome, cool budget-friendly attractions you can read about in the article which was published originally on our website. Continue reading (complete with contact info, links, images and social media updates) right now! We have many more coming your way and they’re listed on our Articles page.

Include trips to Empty Sky at Liberty State Park in Jersey City to soak in the scene of the Manhattan skyline, bring the kids out for a fun day at Cape May County Park & Zoo for an excursion, and if you’re into art, don’t forget to include a quick tour around Princeton University Art Museum or Heritage Glass Museum! Go on and read more at the link!

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Professionally trained consultants certified by the Department of Transportation are always here to answer any question you might have about renting NJ charter buses, coaches, mini buses and school buses from us. We’ll walk you through the entire process, guide you in deciding, and pulling out tips and tricks for a smooth-sailing excursion anywhere in New Jersey. With the right 49-passenger charter bus, a 24-passenger mini bus, or a 30-passenger executive mini coach, we’re sure you’ll have the peace of mind of immersing yourself in your trip instead of worrying about transportation.

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Visit our Articles page for more useful tips and we’ll keep updating them with new ideas on how to have a blast in NJ! In the meantime, do visit us on our social media sites – Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter.