Take advantage of the warm weather this April with the #NJMOM list of our favorite outdoor activities. Enjoy the opening weekend of Jersey Shore Pirates, the blooming flowers at the New Jersey Botanical Gardens, and the nature trail of the Meadowlands at the William D. McDowell Observatory. We’re not called The Garden State for no reason – get outside and go exploring with your family this April!
Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
Here are 10 Outdoor Activities to do in April in New Jersey:
1. New Jersey Botanical Garden
Monday to Sunday | 8:00AM to 8:00PM
Ring in the new season with one of the best places to see spring florals in New Jersey. Now is the time to see water lilies, seasonal flowers, and 96 acres of specialty gardens, all greeting you with a wide array of colors and fragrances. (This is also a #NJMOMapproved Spring Bucket List item and while you’re there, why not take your spring family photos?) The Garden offers numerous free events in April, from an End-of-Winter Tree Walk on April 7 to a Family Woodland Hike on April 15, and more.
Morris Rd, Ringwood, NJ 07456
Cost: free admission, $5 parking for NJ vehicles, $7 for non-NJ vehicles
Bergen County Zoo. via
2. Bergen County Zoo
Monday to Sunday | 10:00AM to 4:30PM
Parks, trains, and carousels, oh my! These are just a few of the hidden gems at the Bergen County Zoo. Enjoy your child’s favorite creatures with a little spark of the Bergen County Zoo’s magic. The Zoo is hosting an Autism Awareness Day on April 29 with free admission, free rides, and live animal demonstrations.
Bergen County Zoo, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
Cost: Adults $8, children $5
3. Columbus Farmers Market
Thursdays through Sundays
Welcome to the Columbus Farmers Market: Delaware Valley’s oldest and largest flea market. Complete with an indoor farmer’s market, an outdoor flea market, and an Amish market, this an all in one stop for your family’s spring shopping needs.
2919 Route 206, Columbus, NJ 08022
Cost: free admission
4. Free Open Viewings at William D. McDowell Observatory
Wednesdays in April: April 4, 11, 18, 25, 2018 | 7:30PM to 10:30PM
A sky full of stars is the key to any young astronomer’s heart. Explore the nature trail surrounding the New Jersey Meadowlands, and then see space up close at the William D. McDowell Observatory. Canoe tours are also available for a first-person experience navigating the Hackensack River’s tidal creeks and marshes.
2 De Korte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
Cost: free
5. Kites at the Pier Festival
Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, 2018 | 9:00AM to 4:00PM
It’s a bird, it’s a plane… it’s a kite! The Parkway is calling your name and telling you to hit the beach a little early this year. Watch Long Branch’s sky fill up with every kind of kite imaginable from expert flyers from all around the eastern seaboard. Kids’ activities like the Running of the Bols competition and a Candy Drop (where candy is parachuted up a kite and then released from high in the sky) will make the day a true treat for everyone.
Ocean Ave and Centennial Drive, Long Branch, NJ
Cost: free
6. Dino Day & Bug Bonanza
Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, 2018 | 1:00PM to 4:00PM
Head to the Camden Children’s Garden for a trip to a world full of dinosaurs and insects. This day of exploration will consist of learning, themed crafts, and cupcakes. Little paleontologists are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite dinosaur.
3 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103
Cost: free for members, $9 for non-members
Jersey Shore Pirates. via
7. Jersey Shore Pirates
Opening Weekend: Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, 2018
Ahoy, maties! Transport your family into the world of plundering pirates at New Jersey’s #1 Day Trip. Make memories that will last a lifetime by battling other pirates with your crew and living the pirates’ life for a day. Voted Trip Advisors #1 Area Attraction and “Best of the Best Family Attraction and Outdoor amusement in Ocean County” by Asbury Park Press, this ship is one you can’t miss boarding!
Riverfront Marina
281 Princeton Ave., Brick, NJ 08724
Cost: $22 per person ages 3+, $12 for children 2 and under
8. Daffodil Day at Reeves-Reed Arboretum
Sunday, April 22, 2018 | 11:00AM to 4:00PM
Celebrate spring and Earth Day all rolled into one sunny celebration featuring thousands of daffodils at this festive, family-friendly event. There will be crafts, games, a goat petting zoo, entertainment, food trucks, outdoor market, music and more. Honor Earth Weekend and enjoy the beauty of Summit by leaving your car at home. Bikers can avoid busy Hobart Avenue by taking quiet Hobart Road off of Whittredge Road, or Beacon Road and Ridge Road off of Fernwood Road.
165 Hobart Ave., Summit, NJ 07901
Cost: free for RRA members; $10 per person or $25 per family non-members
9. Annual New Jersey Folk Festival
Saturday, April 28, 2018 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM
This one-day family-friendly folk festival will feature three stages of music, dancing, craft vendors, children’s activities and food. The theme this year, “Native Americans in New Jersey,” will feature three tribes: the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation, the Powhatan Renape Nation, and the Ramapough Lunaape Nation.
191 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Cost: free
Alstede Farms ice cream. via
10. Free Ice Cream Day
Monday, April 30, 2018 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM
We all scream for ice cream at NJMOM! Help celebrate Farmer Kurt’s Birthday at Alstede Farms and enjoy a free cup or cone of scrumptious homemade ice cream. Make a day of it and enjoy fun on the farm while you’re there.
1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ 07930
Cost: free
What are your favorite family outdoor activities in New Jersey? Let us know in the comments.
