26. Crayola Experience – The Crayola Factory in Easton, PA is a magical place where creativity rules and everything is hands-on. Perfect for a family day trip. http://www.crayolaexperience.com/easton
27. Hike – There are plenty of hiking trails in Morris County, so why not pack a picnic lunch and make an afternoon of it? A new hiking backpack and boots are a good gift to go with this experience! http://www.morrisparks.net/maps-zoom.asp
28. Imagine That – This Children’s Museum in Florham Park is a learning experience as well as a wonderful place to let your children’s imaginations run wild. http://imaginethatmuseum.com
29. Rent a Boat – When the weather warms up, Lake Hopatcong is a great place for water sports and boat activities. Lakeside dining is available. http://www.lakehopatcong.com/lake-hopatcong-boat-rentals.html
30. Roller Skating – Roller Skating always seems to be in style. Head on over to the Florham Park Roller Rink for open skate, private lessons or group lessons. www.florhamparkrollerrink.com
31. Aquarium – My kids absolute favorite day trip, the Adventure Aquarium in Camden or the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk are both drivable and worth the trip. If you go before the holidays you can see “Scuba Santa”! http://www.adventureaquarium.com http://maritimeaquarium.org
32. Visit to Sterling Hill Mining Museum – Take an underground mine tour, do geology field work or catch a monthly viewing session Ellis Astronomical Observatory. http://sterlinghillminingmuseum.org
33. Grounds for Sculpture – Visit this impressive outdoor collection of artwork in Hamilton Township. One day passes make a great stocking stuffer. http://www.groundsforsculpture.org
34. Randolph Climbing Center – Have some fun rock climbing and using the different gymnastics equipment, trampolines and inflatables. Friday nights are open gym nights. http://www.randolphclimbingcenter.com
35. Gymnastics class and open gym events– head over to our favorite kids' gym - The Little Gym of Roxbury - it's a great way to spend an afternoon either beating the heat or the rain!
36. Trip to Raptor Trust – Located in Millington, the Raptor Trust is another favorite in my household. Raptor Trust features a state of the art medical and rehab facility for wild birds, housing for hundreds of birds and an education center. There is no charge but a donation of $2 or more per person is encouraged. http://theraptortrust.org
37. Delaware River Tubing - there are many outfits now offering self guided tour options. A great way to stay cool in the late summer heat! Just check the river updates as a low river means for a very SLOW trip and a need for extra sunscreen!
38. Pick your own fruit – Blueberry season is likely winding down but you may still find raspberries for picking and of course August is the perfect month to pick your own peaches. Many local farms offer pick your own including Alstede Farms in Chester and Ort Farms in Long Valley.
39. Trampoline Center – Skyzone in Mt. Olive is fun for the whole family and there’s something for everyone. Open jump, ultimate dodgeball or Skyrobics class to name a few. http://www.skyzone.com/mountolive
40. Visit to Historic Smithville – Historic Smithville is a quaint little town in Burlington County with 60 unique stores and 7 places to dine. There’s a carousel, train and paddle boats and the town hosts 30 events each year including a pet parade, a ghost walk, a children’s festival and a Renaissance Faire. http://historicsmithvillenj.com
41. Funplex – This indoor amusement center in East Hanover features MagiQuest, Go Karts, Foam Frenzy, Lazer Tag, Bumper Cars, Free Fall, Skyscraper, a 4D theater and an arcade. Late night and early bird specials available. http://funplexeasthanover.com
42. Pool Membership for the summer –Chester Pool is a great option and you don’t need to be a resident of the town to join. There’s a main pool, shallow interactive pool and an infant pool plus one of the best concession stands I’ve ever been to. Then start a countdown to Summer! http://chesterborough.org/Pool Also check out Frog Falls at the Picatinny Arsenal which now offers public memberships https://picatinny.armymwr.com/programs/frog-falls-water-park
43. Spa Day - How about a mother/daughter mani/pedi day? Bring Grandma along too for some girl fun. There are dozens of places around Morris County!
44. Airsoft- If your kids are 10+, they can participate in kids nights at StrikeForce Sports Airsoft in Hackettstown. This real-live video game experience can be fun for girls and boys alike! https://strikeforcenj.com/
45. Morris Museum Membership – There are a number of membership levels and the museum houses multiple exhibits, events and even a theater http://www.morrismuseum.org
46. Football training camp - both the Jets and Giants offer options to come for a few hours during their training camp and watch, participate in some fun activities, and sample food items.
47. Do an ice cream tour - why not give the kids a YES day and take them to sample ice cream from a variety of locations! You can host your own best of contest and have the kids try different flavors and vote!
48. Outdoor movie night - many local rec departments are hosting outdoor movies this summer, but you can have just as much fun setting one up at home! Use your trampoline or blow up mattresses or pool floats to lie on and project a movie onto a sheet or projection screen in your yard!
49. Look at the stars - August is known for shooting stars. Set up a stargazing party at your house, or check out the largest public telescope in New Jersey located in Vorhees State Park in Califon/High Bridge: https://visitnj.org/new-jersey-astronomical-association
50. Catch fireflies - though their season is winding down, there are still plenty of them outside for little ones (and big ones) to catch in a jar. The wonder of this activity is a priceless core memory I have from growing up!
