Need to get away? Planning day trips in South Jersey can be just the vacation you need if you’re itching to go somewhere but don’t have the time or wallet for a longer trip. Thanks to our prime location in the Garden State, you can have sand between your toes, hike along scenic wooded trails, climb a lighthouse, or walk in the footsteps of history, all while feeling like you’ve been far, far away. Read below for the best spots that satisfy any family vacation craving, and for overnight vacations without a plane ride, check out our guide to family resorts in NJ. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
Day Trips In South Jersey That Feel Like A Vacation
Hang with the animals
Want to see hippos and the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast, all in one place? Take a trip to South Jersey’s Adventure Aquarium in Camden. Ranked as a top ten aquarium by USA Today, it’s also known for its astonishing Shark Tunnel (where you walk over real sharks swimming underneath you) and over 15,000 aquatic animals. You can’t go wrong at the Cape May County Park & Zoo, with a variety of animals, playgrounds, an animal carousel, private guided tours, animal encounters, and the best part? It’s FREE. If you are looking for something different, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center Sea Life Museum, New Jersey’s only facility for marine mammal rescue, has been saving aquatic lives for over 45 years, and it has a public educational visitor center in Brigantine. Or visit The Wetlands Institute, a natural conservation area rich with mollusks, turtles, horseshoe crabs, whelk, mud snails, and a Terrapin Station in Stone Harbor. And don’t forget about the oldest zoo in New Jersey, the Cohanzick Zoo, which offers free entry, Zoo-Education workshops, and even a Zoo Camp.
Visit a lighthouse
Explore the Cape May Point State Park Lighthouse for outdoor fun, with scenic trails, birdwatching, and classic lighthouse views. Or stop at Old Barney and climb 217 steps to the top of the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse in Absecon is also one of the oldest in the country, and it has the first-order Fresnel Lens first lit in 1857 (it’s the only NJ lighthouse with its original Fresnel lens still at the top). Other South Jersey lighthouses include the East Point Lighthouse in Heislerville, Finns Point Range Light in Pennsville, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in North Wildwood, Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse in Paulsboro, and Tucker’s Island Lighthouse in Tuckerton.
See the unique parts of SJ
Stop by Margate to see Lucy the Elephant, a National Historic Landmark named “The World’s Largest Elephant” structure. Or did you know New Jersey has one of the oldest operating rodeos in the US? Cowtown Rodeo opened in Pilesgrove in 1929 in conjunction with the Salem County Fair, and it’s the longest-running weekly professional rodeo in the USA. It’s also the only place to see a professional rodeo in the Garden State. If you are looking for a little nostalgia, the all-new Doo Wop Experience and Neon Sign Garden highlight architecture, design, music, pop culture, and everything else that put Wildwood on the map. See vintage lamps, clocks, and cool mid-century furniture.
See why it’s called The Garden State
Why is New Jersey called the Garden State? It ranks fifth in blueberry production, third in cranberry, spinach, and bell pepper production, and third in peach production. And don’t miss the opportunity to pick your produce, and you can visit the organic farms, too. Fun fact—the family favorite, Welch’s Grape Juice, can trace its origins to Vineland, NJ, where it was first used as an alternative to wine for church communion services.
Head to a quiet beach
Skip the rowdy crowds and buzzing boardwalk and head to a quieter spot by the shore for a beachy day trip in NJ. Start your morning with a peaceful walk on the boardwalk in Ocean City and take in the gorgeous views. Buy a badge, stake out your spot on the beach, and finally relax on the pristine shore renowned for its cleanliness and family atmosphere. Spend the day in LBI, catch some rays in Stone Harbor and Avalon, or head all the way down to Exit 0 in Cape May.
Hit the boards
With the slogan “America’s Greatest Family Resort,” the Ocean City boardwalk delivers the amusement park—Playland’s Castaway Cove (in the middle of the boardwalk) —offering a wide selection of rides for kids of all ages. You’ll also find JiLLy’s Arcade, plenty of mini-golf options, go-kart rides, escape rooms, and shopping. For food, stop by Shriver’s to get a glimpse of candy-makers twirling saltwater taffy and stand in line for a slice from the famous Manco & Manco Pizza (definitely worth the wait). Most people go to AC to gamble, but the 160-year-old Atlantic City boardwalk is the oldest and longest in America, and a must for any AC trip. You can head to Steel Pier, the oldest themed amusement park (since 1890), with lots of thrills, including the iconic Wheel, which offers sweeping views of AC beaches. Or it’s technically called The Wildwoods, but if you’re from NJ, you call it Wildwood. And there’s something for everyone on its 38 blocks—more than 100 rides and attractions, including three beachfront waterparks, arcades, classic boardwalk games, mini-golf, go-karts, escape rooms, and unique dining, including breakfast in a 156-foot Ferris wheel at Morey’s Piers, or be sure to visit during the Wildwoods International Kite Festival.
Stay and play in South Jersey
In Egg Harbor Township, Storybook Land brings classic stories to life with walk-through displays and themed rides like the Beanstalk Bounce and the Out-on-a-Limb swings. Or, if your kids are into construction, you won’t want to miss Diggerland USA, an amusement park where you can drive, ride, and operate specifically engineered real machines and then cool down in The Water Main water park. If you want to stick with the water theme, then Island Waterpark at Showboat in Atlantic City is the perfect year-round stop, where it’s always 80 degrees, and bonus– it’s also home to Lucky Snake, the largest arcade in the world. And DiDonato Family Fun Center is always worth a stop as it’s filled with bowling, an arcade, and seasonal events with a train ride, characters, and lots of special treats.
Spend some time on the farm
Down South is where the Garden State thrives, earning its nickname from the fields and farms that grow much of our state’s produce. You can visit the farms for picking, stands for scooping up produce, and special events throughout the season. Visit Coombs Barnyard for their Egg & Veggie Hunt in the spring or their Barnyard Bash in the fall. Creamy Acres Farm has fall and Easter events, along with their holiday Night of Lights light display. Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm features a sunflower field, fall events, a farm market, pick-your-own, and Christmas activities. Duffield’s in Sewell has a story time and festivals at select times throughout the year. Lots of Love Farm is one of the biggest petting zoos in NJ, with over 175 animals in its Williamstown location. Johnson’s Corner Farm is another popular spot with goats, chickens, cows, sheep, and miniature donkeys, and they also have pick-your-own opportunities throughout the year and a Farm Market.
Discover South Jersey’s downtown destinations
From the blueberry capital of the world in Hammonton to downtown Cape May, the Garden State has a variety of unique southern spots. See where the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton, Hadrosauraurus Foulikii, was discovered in Haddonfield. Walk around historic Smithville with charming shops, monthly festivals, and an adorable vintage carousel. Or head to Batsto Village, which was incorporated in 1766, and it looks like it’s frozen in time, looking the same as it did back then. The post office (one of the four oldest operating in the United States), the mansion, the icehouse, the gristmill, and the general store are all authentic and transport you to colonial times in our state history.
Explore cockpits and battleships
Travel back in time to explore military and aviation history at the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum that features hands-on exhibits and activities for everyone. See the restored Hangar #1 building, learn about how Cape May was a crucial point during World War II, and view over 25 historic airplanes, helicopters, and jets. Your kiddos will love sitting in the cockpits of select aircraft, taking part in interactive STEM displays, and even climbing into an actual air traffic control tower. Or climb aboard the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, where you’ll learn about the military history and inner workings of the USS New Jersey, an impressive Navy vessel built in 1942 and measuring the length of three football fields.
Live and learn
The Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum occupies 40 acres along Tuckerton Creek at the center of the Jersey shore. The entire area is an interactive peek into New Jersey’s rich maritime history, artistry, heritage, and environment, highlighting the unique contributions of its baymen. Tour museum exhibits, climb the lighthouse, or participate in their make-and-take crafts. After, head to the historic Captain’s House and Tea Room for a freshly baked scone and a spot of tea. And the newest museum you won’t want to miss is the Edelman Fossil Park and Museum at Rowan University, located above a quarry filled with 66-million-year-old marine and terrestrial fossils. This interactive museum will captivate all ages and includes observing an active paleontological excavation at a fossil site to see how scientists search for dinosaurs and fossils.
Spend the day in Cape May
The oldest seaside resort in the United States, and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, Cape May was named after Dutch Sea Captain Cornelius Jacobsen Mey. Today, you can walk the streets in this Victorian-era town with charming homes, restaurants, and a pedestrian walkway that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a Hallmark movie (especially during the holidays). Opt to spend a few days at the iconic Congress Hall, which has hosted families in its beachfront setting since 1816. Whether you watch for whales and dolphins, shop at Washington Street Mall, or see the Cape May Zoo, there are many iconic activities in town. And then take a trip to Willow Creek Winery for a drink before you head home.
There’s more to see in PA
Right over the border of New Jersey are a variety of Pennsylvania spots worth a visit. Sesame Place is for your Sesame Place kid or kid at heart, where they can go on amusement rides, splash in the water park, and be a part of lots of seasonal Sesame-themed events. Take a trip to Peddler’s Village in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a place that feels like you’ve wandered straight into a storybook (or Disneyland, which inspired the founders to build a village with striking detail). Or see everything from fountain shows to a huge holiday display at Longwood Gardens; this Brandywine Valley attraction is worth a visit any season. If your littles love seeing animals, then the Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo, does not disappoint, including the unique Zoo360 trails that hover above you while you walk. And while you are in Philadelphia, you won’t want to miss attractions like the Franklin Institute or the historic Liberty Bell. We also found unique Philly spots in the city of Brotherly Love, like Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens or the Please Touch Museum, where kids can get hands-on with everything.
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