Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
When planning a vacation, most folks target high-profile tourist areas, which tend to offer heavy crowding and exorbitant entrance fees to attractions. This year, why not consider the Garden State C New Jersey! Located south of the New England states on the east coast, this fun-filled state will provide plenty of family oriented activities for the duration of your stay. Interested? Read on for suggestions and highlights that will make the difference between taking a vacation and taking a great vacation!
Atlantic City is home to the Ripleys Believe it or Not! Museum. Youll be enthralled before you even go through the door C the building itself is bizarre! The museum is housed in a broken building which has a wrecking ball stuck into its face C but thats just the beginning of your journey into unreality. Some of the exhibits that you can expect to see include a collection of shrunken heads, a roulette table constructed entirely of jellybeans, the New Jersey Devil skeleton and a lock of George Washingtons hair. There are multiple exhibits, each one stranger than the last. For kids, an interactive funhouse is also included within the museum.
Also in Atlantic City, youll find the Ocean Life Center. Boasting eight huge tanks of live exhibits, the Life Center offers highlights which include fish from the New Jersey coast C sand tiger sharks, kingfish and stingray C as well as the Touch Tank, which permits tourists to handle sea stars, knobbed whelk and hermit crabs, to name a few. Though this is a three-story facility, children will especially enjoy the second floor, where all of the exhibits are interactive. Both the second and third floors offer indoor/outdoor observation decks with breathtaking views.
No-one with children should leave New Jersey without first paying a visit to Lucy the Elephant. Located in Margate, this marvelous steel structure is six stories tall, weighing 90 tons! Kids can roam around Lucys interior before joining their parents on the observation deck, which offers a wonderful view of the ocean. Built in 1881, this marvelous creature made its entrance into the world as a real estate marketing stunt. Since that time, shes awed adults and children alike, and holds the title for being the worlds biggest metal elephant. This attraction is a definite must see for the traveling family.
In Cape May, youll find the Cape May Zoo, with its 200 species of inhabitants. Stroll through the Aviary and the Reptile House, before moving on to the red pandas, reindeer and capybara. Youll also enjoy the African Savannah - with its giraffes, African Antelopes and many others C which you can watch from the safety of the boardwalk. The zoo also offers cat and primate exhibits, as well as animals that are native to the Garden State. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the Safari Caf and browse through The Ark in the Park C the zoos delightful gift shop. This large, wonderful zoo will make a great day trip for the whole family.
Discovery House, located in East Brunswick, is a hands-on museum thats dedicated to the enjoyment and enlightenment of children. Boasting over 100 exhibits in a variety of settings, kids can spend hours involved in activities which include Perception Connection, Craft Cottage, Water Works, Pirates Cove, Lazy River and Bubble Works. Adults are encouraged to join their children in an exploration of the facility, and to participate in the interactive playtime with their youngsters. This will be a real treat for kids who are fascinated by science and all of its workings. After having spent the day roaming through these unique exhibits, your family will have lots of memories as well as delightful photographs for the scrapbook!
Toms River, New Jersey is host to Fun Town Amusement Pier C a family entertainment park which is located within the Ocean County Mall. With over 40 attractions and rides, including Haunted Manor, Free Fall, Tower of Fear and Starship 2000, this park has some definite thrills and chills to offer to the entire family. There are separate kiddie rides for the very young, such as Dragon Wagon, the Rio Grande Train, the Spongebob ride and the Bounty Pirate Ship, plus lots more. Children will also be delighted by fictional characters that stroll through the park and interact with them. Families will enjoy their time together as they embark on a journey in safari jeeps. During the months of July and August, there are gorgeous fireworks displays held on Wednesday nights.
The Camden Childrens Garden, located on the waterfront in Camden, is a delightful place for children to play while enjoying the great outdoors. There are four acres of gardens which are available to children that include interactive playtime - Dinosaur Garden, Butterfly Garden, Railroad Garden, Treehouse and Amphitheater, to name a few. The Storybook Garden offers a variety of themes, such as Alice in Wonderlands Garden, the Three Little Pigs and the giants from Jack and in the Beanstalk. Ginkgos Gift Shop is on the premises for those whod like to take a souvenir or two home with them, as a reminder of this lovely childrens attraction.
The kids will love a trip to Six Flags Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey! Known as the worlds ultimate thrill park, Six Flags offers fun and excitement for the whole family. Of the numerous thrill rides, be sure to catch a ride on ErUPtion, Daredevil Dive, Skull Mountain and Stuntmans Free Fall. Youngsters will delight in riding the Enchanted Teacups, the Buccaneer, the Flying Wave and Jolly Roger, to start off. One impressive feature of this park is the ride reservation system, called Fast Lane. This allows guests to make reservations on select rides without having to wait in line. When its your turn to ride, youll be notified via an electronic device that the park provides, for your convenience.
Gilligans Island Water Theme Park, in Ocean City, will provide hours of entertainment for all members of the family. Race down the Shotgun Falls waterslide and plunge into a ten-foot pool at the end of your journey. Serpentine Slides C dual waterslides C are also on hand for those who enjoy fast body sliding. If the whole family wants to take the plunge together, then youll need the Giant Gang Waterslide, which allows a number of people to slide at once. If youre into tubing, youll enjoy Skypong Journey, which dumps you into an elevated pool C 15 feet off the ground! Lil Bucs Bay will accommodate the youngest members of the family, which offers a playground for the little ones where they can get sprayed with water as they play!
In Flemington, New Jersey, youll find a fantastic wonderland by the name of Northlandz. Housed within this huge structure are gigantic moving sculptures which feature 135 miniature trains, villages, a plane crash, monastery and a farm thats composed entirely of toothpicks! Children will especially enjoy the worlds largest dollhouse, and the 107 kiosks C which make up an entire art gallery C will be appreciated by the entire family. Every hour, youll hear the Wurlitzer pipe organ playing from within the theater. These exhibits C which are a mile in length C have used enough wood to build 40 homes. Youll never see anything quite like Northlandz!
Families who vacation in New Jersey will want to return for a second trip! Theres a great deal to see and do, and youll never be at a loss for fun and excitement. For further information on attractions and activities, contact the Department of Tourism or your local travel agent.
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