Cold air and snow forecasts are here, but with so many fun winter activities in NJ, there’s plenty to do to keep the whole family warm. You can spend the day hitting the slopes, sliding down a sledding hill, trying a snow tube, skating on an outdoor rink, and even visiting an outdoor winter market. Scroll down to find our NJMOM bucket list of NJ winter activities, and get ready for icy adventures and frozen thrills this season. (featured photo credit: @mountaincreek)
Winter Activities In New Jersey
SPONSORED
DiDonato Family Fun Center
1151 South White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ 08037
Here Are 17 Fun Winter Activities In NJ
Grab your skis or hop on a snowboard
Whether you want to take a day trip with the littles or a week-long family vacation, you don’t have to go far to get on the slopes, making skiing one of the top winter activities in NJ. Sign up for lessons, spend the day on the trails, try boarding, or cozy up to an apres-ski fire pit—you can find a trail to fit your family’s needs at NJ’s biggest ski resort, Mountain Creek, Shawnee Mountain, or any of these ski resorts nearby.
Take on the thrill of snow tubing
If you want more thrill than a traditional sledding day but aren’t quite ready to hit the slopes of the ski mountain—try snow tubing. It’s a great way to get outside, breathe in the crisp air, and laugh the whole way down. Unlike skiing and snowboarding, no experience or lessons are required to enjoy it (plus, it’s often at ski resorts with snow-making equipment). Not sure where to go? Try one of the snow tubing spots in and around NJ for a day of thrills, or try out Camelback Resort.
SPONSORED
Five Star Swim School
Keep Your Kids Healthy and Happy This Winter! Swimming in winter is more than fun – it’s healthy! Regular swimming boosts your child’s immune system, improves lung capacity, and supports overall wellness. At Five Star Swim School, our 90°F warm pools make swimming safe and comfortable year-round. Swim lessons help kids stay active, build strength and endurance — key ingredients for a strong body and mind. Plus, consistent practice prevents skill regression and builds lasting water safety habits. Give your child a healthy head start this winter because strong swimmers make strong kids.
Shop at a winter farmers’ market or mall
Many farmers’ markets have extended from the warmer months into open-air markets for the winter. Bundle up and find more than produce—most farmers’ markets offer meats, baked goods, soups, chocolates, and artisan gifts all in one place. Check out these delicious winter markets around NJ. Or if you want to stay indoors, head to a mall in NJ where kids can find fun, and you can shop ’til you drop.
See the city
We’re lucky to border two world-class cities—New York and Philadelphia—making a day trip or an overnight stay within reach. Explore NYC classics like the Empire State Building and Central Park Zoo, or unique attractions like the Museum of Ice Cream in NYC. Philadelphia also has many historical sights and museums, including Independence Hall and The Franklin Institute, as well as unique Philly spots like Once Upon a Nation Storytelling.
SPONSORED
Ocean Casino Resort
Looking for something merry & bright? Give the gift of Ocean this holiday season. Explore signature holiday products, including the Ocean snow globe, the Ocean x Tipsy Elves Sweater, the Building Ornament, and more.
Available at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City
Climb to new heights
Climbing as a family at an indoor rock climbing space is a fantastic way to bond. Children and parents can brainstorm ways to overcome a difficult wall or to conquer unique challenges, such as blindfolded or three-legged climbing. Many also have zip lines or places to do bouldering, making you feel like you’ve escaped to a mountain range activity park.
Move playtime indoors
Missing the playgrounds? Go inside one of the NJ play spaces where littles can bounce around, climb the walls, or use their imaginations for creative play. Visit Livingston’s travel-themed Exceptional Explorers play space, climb and slide at HuckleBerry Play in Morris Plains, check out the fishing zone at The Great Story in Ridgefield, or run and play at the Jellybean Jungle in Evesham. And mamas—after a few hours, you can be sure a nice nap is in their future.
Glide around on an ice skating rink
Bundle up and skate the day away with the whole family, whether just learning together or having a blast sliding along to tunes. And with many outdoor rinks and indoor ones offering fun ways to slide along (Friday night DJ skate, anyone?), this is a great way to spend the day or night. Find an ice skating rink near you for a few spins around the rink.
Go on a winter hike
Grab your jacket, water bottle, and hiking shoes, and hit the trails—yes, even in the winter. You’ll get some fresh air, admire the beautiful scenery, and sneak in a dose of exercise. And if you’re looking for somewhere you’ve never been or for a hike close by, our hiking guide is organized by location and features the best hikes in the state.
Entertain the whole family
If you’ve got a family with kids in multiple stages (think toddler, tyke, and tween), a one-stop spot for everything entertaining is a must. Hit the indoor rollercoaster at the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park at American Dream, cheer on a jousting match at Medieval Times in Lyndhurst, load up your Power Card at Dave and Buster’s in Woodbridge, Atlantic City, or Blackwood, or become a kingpin at Humdingers in Paramus.
See how maple sugar goes from tree to tap
Wonder how the sweet stuff goes from the tree to your table? See the method up close at a maple sugaring demonstration. Check out the Great Swamp Education Center and Tenafly Nature Center in late January to March. You’ll learn how to identify maple trees, all about the taps, and how they boil down the sap to make the syrup. And if you’re lucky, you can sample the tasty rewards and take some home to top a fresh batch of flapjacks.
Slide down a hill
Let’s hope it’s a banner year for snow days, and there’s no doubt that sledding is one of the best ways to take advantage of them. But where to go? From hidden hills to big drops, check out our guide to the best sledding hills in NJ. And you don’t need snow for a snow day—head to Big Snow at American Dream for their Snow Play and Tubing package, where kids can whiz down a real snowy hill, all in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Take a trip under the sea
The temps may be dropping, but plenty of sea life can be seen indoors. From observing brilliant and bright fish at Jenkinson’s Aquarium in Point Pleasant Beach to hanging with the hippos at the Camden Adventure Aquarium, the aquariums in NJ are perfect for your little sea explorer. Or why not visit a zoo to see the animals in the winter? Stroll through the Turtle Back Zoo or stop by the Cape May County Zoo to see lots of furry friends. And if furry, soft creatures are more your speed, pose for cozy pics at alpaca farms in NJ.
Explore a museum exhibit
Now is a great excuse to visit the museum in New Jersey you’ve been wanting to check out. Witness art coming to life indoors and outdoors in cool weather at the unique Grounds For Sculpture. Or head to Liberty Science Center, where kids can experiment, explore, and discover new things in interactive STEM and STEAM exhibits that appeal to the senses and mind. The New Jersey State Museum in Trenton is another excellent option, and it’s free.
Travel in space
Sit back, relax, and get lost in space as you look up at the stars and watch a special film presentation in the domes of New Jersey’s educational and entertaining planetariums. Kids (and parents) of all ages will get lost in the enchantment of the dome’s crystal-clear projection—all while learning something new.
Head out for a weekend road trip
A long weekend road trip can be just what you need to recharge your family’s batteries after the holiday rush. Luckily, there are plenty of family-friendly resorts in and around NJ for all ages and budgets you can drive to in under 2 hours when you want a little getaway. Or if you’re going to stay closer but feel like you got away, why not explore an NJ downtown and find a new restaurant or shop?
Get your game on
Whether it’s a family challenge at indoor mini-golf, bowling, testing your speed at an indoor go-kart track, or bouncing it out at a trampoline park, you can have a ball no matter the weather. Most of these places are more than just one activity—many offer arcades, laser tag, games, and gourmet cuisine to make a full day of it. Or go retro and introduce your kids to the video games you played as a kid (hello, Donkey Kong) at a vintage arcade in the Garden State.
Splash around
Think waterparks are only a summertime thing? Nope—you can plunge down a waterslide, drift in the lazy river, or get knocked down in the wave pool. With temps always in the 80s, head to one of the indoor waterparks locally and nearby, including American Dream DreamWorks Waterpark in East Rutherford, Island Waterpark at Showboat in Atlantic City, and Sahara Sam’s Oasis Water Park in Berlin. Kids will have a ball getting soaked indoors, and you’ll all feel like you’re on a resort vacay miles away.
Want the inside scoop? Sign up for the NJMOM bi-weekly newsletter to get the lowdown on everything for your family in NJ (think of it as the ultimate cheat sheet for NY Moms). And don’t forget to tag your photos #NJMOM and @njmom for a chance to be featured.
