Day Trip Ideas — Under 1 Hour

Animal Kingdom Zoo
Address: 1800 Jacksonville-Jobstown Road | Bordentown, NJ
Phone: 609.267.3111
Web Site: www.animalkingdomnj.net
Distance: approximately 25 miles. Driving time approximately 32 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Winter Hours, Oct 1st-Apr 1st, Open Daily 10am — 5pm. Exit Gate open until 6pm).
Admission Prices: Adults $9.00; Children $7.00; Seniors $8.00; children 2 and under FREE.
Highlights: Animal Kingdom boasts one of the most extensive wild animal collections in New Jersey. Many of our Animals are endangered species, which is why the zoo is so important. Our mission is to educate visitors about the importance of preserving the environment and, as a result, the animals that live here. Come see Giraffes, Monkeys, Tapirs, Camels and much more.

Bucks County Children’s Museum
Address: 500 Union Square | New Hope PA 18938
Phone: 215.693.1290
Web Site: www.buckskids.org
Distance: approximately 24 miles. Driving time approximately 37 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Friday, 10 AM – 4 PM, Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday, 12 PM – 5 PM, Closed Monday
Admission Prices: $7 (Ages 1 & Up). Metered parking is available throughout Union Square. Meters are CASH ONLY and cost 25 cents for every 20 minutes. Please pay for parking at one of the many kiosks labeled “P” and display the ticket on your dashboard.
Highlights: Bucks County Children’s Museum has exhibits that engage, teach and ignite imaginations, including a Town Square, Factory Works, Artifact Dig, Covered Bridges, Tree House and Hot Air Balloon Ride. The museum is designed for young children from 12 months (walking) up to 8 years of age who enjoy pretend play!

CoCo Key Water Resort
Address: 915 Route 73 | Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: 877.494.COCO
Web Site: www.cocokeywaterresort.com
Distance: approximately 38 miles. Driving time approximately 42 minutes.
Hours of Operation: The hours of operation vary. Closed most Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please check website for operating hours.
Admission Prices: Day passes are $39 Friday through Sunday and $29 Monday through Thursday. Children under 24 months are FREE. Special packages and memberships are available. Free parking.
Highlights: Located at the Mt. Laurel Marriott, CoCo Key combines the relaxation and enchantment of the islands with the wild excitement of a 55,000-sq. ft. indoor water park. Every day is a bright, sunny 84 degrees at CoCo Key, featuring a selection of signature attractions including: Parrot’s Perch Kiddie Slide, CoConut Grove Adventure River, a Dip-In Theater, Palm Grotto, 3 thrilling body- and raft-waterslides that”ll drive you wild and more. Arcade, Dining and Rusty’s Dive Shop are all on location.

The Funplex
Address: 3320-24 Route 38 | Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: 877.273.9666
Web Site: www.funplexmountlaurel.com/
Distance: approximately 39 miles. Driving time approximately 46 minutes.
Hours of Operation: The hours of operation vary. Generally Sunday – Thursday open from 10am – 10pm, Friday – Saturday open from 10am – 11pm. See website for details.
Admission Prices: Prices range from $28.95 for a Mega-Splash Band to $3.00 for a Foam Frenzy pass. Free parking.
Highlights: The Funplex is a 25 acre outdoor and indoor family entertainment center, open year round, hosting over 500,000 guests annually. What’s unique about The Funplex are attractions like, “Foam Frenzy,” “Splashin’ Speedway” and “Go-Karting.” Some of our other attractions include Adventure Mini Golf, Lazer Tag, Free Fall, Bumper Boats, Tilt-A-Whirl, Motion Simulator, Driving Range and a State-of-the-Art Arcade, and Funplex Lanes — a 16 Lane Bowling Alley.

Garden State Discovery Museum
Address: 2040 Springdale Road | Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Phone: 856.424-1233
Web Site: www.discoverymuseum.com
Distance: approximately 40 miles. Driving time approximately 50 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Open year-round 9:30 am to 5:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday. Open all Monday holidays and Mondays in July and August. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Admission Prices: $8.95 for adults and children 12 months and over; $7.95 for seniors. All programs are free with admission unless otherwise noted. There is an opportunity for a family membership for $99.00. This includes admission for two adults and their children. Please see website for more details. FREE parking outside the museum.
Highlights: This hands-on museum offers fifteen interactive exhibits where children can either build a house at Under Construction, fish at Down the Shore, or help a wounded animal at the Vet and Pet. There are also age appropriate classes such as Early Explorers and Mini Masters. Be sure to check their calendar for fun events and activities.

The Historical Society of Princeton
Address: Bainbridge House | 158 Nassau Street | Princeton, NJ 08542
Phone: 609.921-6748
Web Site: www.princetonhistory.org
Distance: approximately.1 miles. Driving time approximately 1 minute.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday — Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00pm. Winter hours may vary. For further information, please call 609) 921-6748.
Admission Prices: Free. Metered street parking available and near by parking garages.
Highlights: The Historical Society of Princeton has amassed, recorded, and exhibited a collection of over 40,000 artifacts, manuscripts, photographs, decorative arts objects, artworks, and articles of clothing dating from the 17th century to the present. It showcases these articles through exhibitions, walking tours, lectures, out-of-town trips and education programs for schools. The Historical Society offers several child friendly programs including Stroller Strides and kid-friendly exhibits throughout the year.

The Historic Village at Allaire
Address: 524 Allaire Rd | Farmingdale, NJ 07727
Phone: 732.919.3500
Web Site: www.allairevillage.org
Distance: approximately 49 miles. Driving time approximately 55 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Historic Building Hours: Memorial Day — Labor Day, Wednesday — Sunday from 12 noon to 4 pm; Labor Day — Nov. & May Weekends Only from 12 noon to 4 pm; Closed Major Holidays and Closed December through April except for Special Events and Student Tours.
Admission Prices: $3.00 for Adults, $2.00 for Children 6 — 12, Members Admitted Free.
Highlights: Visitors to this living history museum will step back in time and experience life in a 19th Century bog iron producing community. Craftsmen in period garb; such as blacksmiths, carpenters, leatherworkers, molders and tinsmiths; demonstrate their skills for visitors while explaining how their roles affected life at The Howell Works Company and the surrounding communities. Younger visitors to the Historic Village are even afforded the opportunity to learn what life was like for the children of The Howell Works Company by becoming apprentices to the master craftsmen. Costumed interpreters throughout the Historic Village’s homes offer visitors demonstrations in various aspects of 19th Century domestic life, such as hearth cooking, spinning, quilting and sewing, laundry, gardening and even proper etiquette.

Howell Living History Farm
Address: 70 Wooden’s Lane | Lambertville, New Jersey 08530
Phone: 609.737.3299
Web Site: www.howellfarm.org
Distance: approximately 16 miles. Driving time approximately 32 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Closed Mondays; Tuesdays-Friday 10:00am-4:00pm Feb-Nov); Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm; Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm April-Nov). Closed on Mercer County holidays and Easter.
Admission Prices: FREE admission, Fee for Children’s Crafts occurs every Saturday and fee depends on craft, but is generally $3.00) Fee for Corn Maze September-November) is $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids 5-12. Parking is FREE.
Highlights: For the history and farm animal lover in all of us, Howell Living History Farm provides an opportunity to travel back in time and experience turn-of-the-century farming. A self-guided tour takes about an hour and a half and every day there is a list of farming activities posted in the Parking/Picnic area. As the farm provides fun and interesting year round activities, it is always good to check their site for more information.

Ice Land
Address: 6 Tennis Court | Hamilton, NJ 08619
Phone: 609.588.6672
Web Site: www.ice-land.com
Distance: approximately 8 miles. Driving time approximately 15 minutes.
Hours of Operation: As hours vary, it is best to check the daily events calendar on their website.
Admission Prices: For public skating: $8 for adults, $6 for children 7 and younger, seniors $7. Figure and hockey skates can be rented for an additional $2.00. For lessons, please check their website for levels, dates and times. Additionally, prices are subject to change. Parking is FREE.
Highlights: Do you have a future hockey player or figure skater? Or trying to escape the heat or the winter blues? Ice Land is the place for you! With three ice rinks, two arcades, two snack bars, two heated lobbies which overlook the rinks, and two party rooms, your children are bound to have a blast. While there is open hockey and skating times, Ice Land is also home to local public and private school leagues as well as local youth and adult hockey associations. During their public skating there is no age minimum. As for hockey and figure skating, their skating lessons begin at age three.

iPlay America/span>
Address: 110 Schanck Road | Freehold, NJ 07728-2938
Phone: 732.577.8200
Web Site: www.iplayamerica.com
Distance: approximately 27 miles. Driving time approximately 50 minutes.
Hours of Operation: As hours vary, it is best to check the daily events calendar on their website.
Admission Prices: Pass is $19.95 for admission, additional fees for attracions. Check website for admission packages and deals. Parking is FREE.
Highlights: Play a Whole New Way at iPlay America, a Premier NJ Amusement Park
A family entertainment center. From two-story laser tag, boardwalk-style games of skill, a 4D theater, and over 200 arcade games, there is no other amusement park in New Jersey that offers everything you’ll find at our family entertainment center. Whether it’s laser tag or mini-bowling, experience a new adventure everytime you vist our indoor amusement park, Enjoy rides and go karts that are as fun as they are fast-paced, Show off your skills in a variety of original and traditional boardwalk games, With over 200 modern and nostalgic arcade games, iPlay America is sure to excite gamers of all ages!

Kids Castle
Address: Central Park | 425 Wells Road | Doylestown, PA 18901
Web Site: www.doylestownpa.org/P&R/DoylestownParks
Distance: approximately 43 miles. Driving time approximately 57 minutes.
Hours of Operation: The park is open 7 days a week, sunrise to sunset. The Castle closes after the first freeze.
Admission Prices: FREE. Parking is FREE.
Highlights: Located in a one hundred and eight acre family-oriented park providing for a multitude of active and passive recreational opportunities you will find Kids” Castle, an eight story wooden playground. The impressive structure was the result of a volunteer community effort to build a wonderland where kids could spend summer afternoons. As you cross over the drawbridge, you enter a magical world that includes a thirty-five 35) foot high castle with a really big twisty slide, a very friendly dragon, a tree house, a barn yard, a rocket ship, a downtown promenade for toddlers, a multitude of slides and swings and a children’s amphitheater.
In addition to Kids” Castle, Central Park offers tennis courts, volleyball, soccer fields, and 1.5 miles of biking and hiking trails. It is perfect for picnicking, with many tables and several covered pavilions.

Lee Turkey Farm
Address: 201 Hickory Corner Rd. | East Windsor, NJ 08520
Phone: 609.448.0629
Web Site: www.leeturkeyfarm.com
Distance: approximately 10 miles. Driving time approximately 20 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm-6:00pm.
Admission Prices: Once a season you fill out a picking pass for $2.00 and you pay for whatever you pick. Parking is FREE.
Highlights: Lee Turkey Farm is a great place for children and adults who appreciate fresh fruits and vegetables and most of all, take pleasure in picking them yourself. Enjoy picking fresh apples, strawberries, pears, and peaches as well as peas, broccoli, sweet corn and pumpkins — just to name a few. Who knows, the experience may transform a picky fruit and veggie eater! There is also a playground for customers, walking tours age suggestions on website) and in the fall there are hayrides. You can also pick up a delicious oven ready turkey for Thanksgiving dinner!

New Hope & Ivyland Railroad
Address: 32 West Bridge Street | New Hope, PA 18938
Phone: 215.862.2332
Web Site: www.newhoperailroad.com
Distance: approximately 24 miles. Driving time approximately 41 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Hours vary depending on the day and time of year. Please check site before planning a trip.
Admission Prices: Check online for ticket prices and reservations. There is a Railroad parking lot by the tracks.
Highlights: Is your child a Thomas the Train lover? Well then, the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad will be a thrilling experience! This vintage steam locomotive takes you a nine-mile round trip journey through countryside of Bucks County, PA in about an hour. Ride in the carefully restored cars and experience train travel in the early 1900s. In addition to their regular schedule, there are special family friendly train rides throughout the year including Song and Story Hour and the Polar Express, check their website for more details.

Northlandz
Address: 495 Highway 202 South | Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone: 908.782.4022
Web Site: www.northlandz.com
Distance: approximately 24 miles. Driving time approximately 40 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Monday 10:30am-4:00pm; Tuesday Closed; Wednesday-Friday 10:30am-4:00pm; Saturday-Sunday 10:30am-5:30pm.
Admission Prices: Adults $13.75, Children $9.75, Children under 2 FREE.
Highlights: Enter Northlandz and enjoy an astonishing tour through some of the finest scenery in America, all under one roof. Enjoy the Great American Railway a spectacular adventure on this 1 mile indoor tour through a miniature world), La Peep Dollhouse a 94 room mansion that is every dollhouse lover’s dream), the Raritan River Railway a 2/3 scale steam replica travels through tunnels and over bridges to give you a relaxing ride through our nature rich woodlands), the Doll Museum an exhibit of over 200 collectible dolls have been brought together for this display), the Music Hall a 2,000 pipe organ is the centerpiece to this 500 seat theater), and the Art Gallery a cultural array of over 250 paintings and works of art).

Peddlers Village
Address: Giggleberry Fair | Lahaska, PA 18931
Phone: 215.794.4000
Web Site: www.peddlersvillage.com/giggleberry/giggleberry.htm
Distance: approximately 28 miles. Driving time approximately 50 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Monday & Tuesday 10:00am-6:00pm; Wednesday & Thursday 10:00am-8:00pm; Friday & Saturday 10:00am-10:00pm; and Sunday 10:00am-7:00pm.
Admission Prices: There are several packages ranging from $5.99-$13.99 for children and $1.00-$11.99 for adults. Please check website for more details. Parking is FREE.
Highlights: Giggleberry Fair offers children 10,000 square feet of indoor fun! It is located in Peddlers Village, a 42 acre 18th century themed complex. Inside you will find the Grand Carousel, a beautifully restored 1922 carousel, Giggleberry Mountain, a three story indoor obstacle course for bigger kids, Discovery Land, an activity center for toddlers, and the Game Room, an area with a number of video games — all rated green, suitable for all ages, by the Coin-Operated Video Game Parental Advisory System.

Pine Creek Miniature Golf
Address: 394 Route 31 | West Amwell, NJ 08530
Phone: 609.466.3803
Web Site: www.pinecreekgolf.com
Distance: approximately 14 miles. Driving time approximately 26 minutes.
Hours of Operation: As play is always weather permitting, it may be good idea to call ahead. Generally speaking Spring & Summer hours are: Monday—Thursday & Sunday 10:00am — begin play @ 8:30pm; Friday & Saturday 10:00am-begin play @ 9:00pm. Fall and Winter hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00am-finish play before dark; Sunday 12:00pm-finish play before dark.
Admission Prices: Upper Course: Adult $8.50, Child under 13) $6.50, Senior over 61) $7.50, Lower Course: Adult $9.50 Child under 13) $7.50 Senior over 61) $8.50. Winter rates for all ages are $5 to play either course, and $9 to play both courses. Parking is FREE.
Highlights: Do you have a future professional golfer? Pine Creek Miniature Gold may be a great place for them to exercise their swing. Pine Creek offers two 18 hole courses in a beautiful natural, serene setting — no plastic animals here!

Princeton Airport
Address: 41 Airpark Road | Princeton NJ 08540
Phone: 609.921.3100
Web Site: www.princetonairport.com
Distance: approximately 4 miles. Driving time approximately 9 minutes.
Hours of Operation: N/A.
Admission Prices: FREE. Parking is FREE.
Highlights: Do you have a child that loves airplanes and helicopters? Than Princeton Airport is the place to take them! Just drive in, park, bring lunch or a snack and get a close-up and personal view of small planes and helicopters taking off and landing. Definitely a treat for every aircraft lover!

The Princeton Shuttle (Dinky)
Address: University Place and Alexander Road | Princeton, NJ 08550
Phone: 609.452.8988
Web Site: www.gmtma.org/prtnpark.htm
Distance: approximately.7 miles. Driving time approximately 1 minute.
Hours of Operation: This two car train runs often (6:00am — 12:45am) and you should check the latest schedule for departure times (NJTransit.com).
Admission Prices: One-way ticket to Princeton Junction is $2.00 for Adults, $1.00 for Children 4-11 and Children under 4 are FREE. Round Trip Princeton to Princeton Junction and back) is $3.25 for Adults, $1.75 for Children 4-11 and Children under 4 are FREE. There is metered parking at the station and the surrounding streets. You may have to walk a bit.
Highlights: Choo Choo! Chugga Chugga, Choo Choo! The Princeton Shuttle, or the Dinky as most of us know it, dates back to 1865 when the Princeton stop was taken off of the mainline and the community felt a connecting line to the new Princeton Junction station was necessary. You may want to avoid rush hour, 5:30am — 8:15am & 5:03pm-8:10pm. Either way, this 2.7 mile train ride is sure to delight any child!

Sahara Sam’s Oasis
Address: 535 N. Route 73 | West Berlin, NJ 08091
Phone: 856.767.7580
Web Site: www.saharasams.com
Distance: approximately 46 miles. Driving time approximately 55 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Hours are Tuesday — Thursday from 1:30—7:00pm, Fridays from 1:30-8:30pm, Saturday from 10:00am—8:30pm, and Sunday from 10:00am—6:30pm. Times are subject to change. Please check website for operating hours.
Admission Prices: You may purchase a 12-month individual Membership, Family Membership, or a full-day admission pass. Children 3 and under FREE. Free parking.
Highlights: This indoor waterpark offers 58,000 square feet of year round fun and excitement. Inside this water wonderland are multiple water features such as our signature ride the Flow Rider, Family Raft Ride, Tube Slides, Interactive Play Structure with giant tipping bucket, Adventure River, Shallow Activity Pool for the little ones, Basketball Activity Pool, and Crossing Activity Pool. Also available are a cafe, an enormous arcade, and a complete family style locker and shower facilities.

Sesame Place
Address: 100 Sesame Road | Langhorne, PA 19047
Phone: 215.752.7070
Web Site: www.sesameplace.com
Distance: approximately 20 miles. Driving time approximately 30 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Open May-October, but hours vary depending on the day and time of year. Please check site before planning a trip. Generally speaking, the park is open:June — August everyday from 10:00am-8:00pm and September-October Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am — 5:00pm.
Admission Prices: Single Admission: $41.95, Elmo’s ANY 2-Day Ticket: $41.95, Children under 2: FREE, Seniors $55+): $38.95, AAA Walkup Discount with valid card): $36.95, Twilight Admission: $23.95. There are 3 levels of passport membership which offer unlimited admission, please see website for more details. Parking General Parking is $10, Preferred is $14.
Highlights: Elmo’s World— enough said. This 14 acre park offers a dozen wet & over a dozen dry attractions. There are exciting parades and special events to enjoy with favorite friends such as Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Zoe and Baby Bear. Some of the rides require your child to be at least 42’ tall. For a fee, you can even have breakfast or dinner with your favorite characters, please see website for more details.

Six Flags, Great Adventure
Address: 1 Six Flags Boulevard | Jackson, NJ 08527
Phone: 732.928.1821
Web Site: www.sixflags.com/parks/greatadventure/index.asp
Distance: approximately 33 miles. Driving time approximately 40 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Vary depending on the day and time of year. Please check site before planning a trip. Generally speaking, the park is open 10:00am-8:00pm and often until opened until 10:00pm. Six Flags Wild Safari opens at 9:00 AM and closes at 4:00pm.
Admission Prices: Six Flags Great Adventure, One Day Admission $39.99, if you purchase tickets on-line, otherwise $59.99, a Junior Ticket, for guests under 54″, is $29.99, this includes FREE admission to the Six Flags Wild Safari, children 3 and under are FREE. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, One Day Admission $26.99, a Junior Ticket, for guests under 54?, is $23.99, this includes FREE admission to the Six Flags Wild Safari, children 3 and under are FREE. Six Flags Wild Safari, Wild Safari is FREE with a paid theme park admission ticket, otherwise $18.99 and Children 3 and under are FREE. Parking is $15 per vehicle.
Highlights: A safari, a water park and an adventure park all on the same property guarantees hours of endless fun, and a good night sleep. Six Flags Great Adventure is home to over 100 rides and there are shows and concerts throughout the season. There are three areas devoted to children, Bugs Bunny National Park, Balin’s Jungleland, and Koala Canyon. These areas offer age appropriate rides, shows and play structures.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is a 45-acre water adventure park with over 6 rides. There are three family friendly areas: Discovery Bay an interactive play area), The Blue Lagoon a wave pool), and TAAK IT EEZ EE CREEK a river that takes you on a half-mile journey around the park). Six Flags Wild Safari is a 350-acre natural preserve where you drive through and get an up-close look at FREE-roaming wild animals such as giraffes, African elephants, zebras, white Bengal tigers, bears, rhinos, bison and more.

Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed
Address: 31 Titus Mill Road | Pennington NJ 08534
Phone: 609.737.3735
Web Site: www.thewatershed.org/wm_library.php
Distance: approximately 8 miles. Driving time approximately 16 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Trails are open dawn to dusk daily. Office and Nature Center open Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm. Nature Center is also open Saturday 10am-4pm.
Admission Prices: FREE. There is a fee for the individual education programs. Parking is FREE.

Highlights: Over 860 acres await the nature lover in all of us. In addition to the many outdoor activities such as the 14 miles of hiking trails, there is also the Kate Gorrie Memorial Butterfly House and the Buttinger Nature Center where children can explore the wonders of nature. Here children can find butterflies, snakes, turtles, fish insects and even a beehive. There is also a Book Nook where one can read about animals or put on a puppet show in their mini puppet theater.

Terhune Orchards
Address: 330 Cold Soil Road | Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: 609.921.2310
Web Site: www.terhuneorchards.com
Distance: approximately 5 miles. Driving time approximately 10 minutes.
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 9:00am-7:00pm; Saturday & Sunday 9:00am-6:00pm. Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Admission Prices: FREE. Parking is FREE.
Highlights: For countless hours of fun, not to mention delicious fruit and doughnuts, Terhune Orchards is the place for you! Here you will find a barnyard of animals, a pond, a tractor riding area, a farm trail and nature trail, and a farm store filled with scrumptious eats to boot! Throughout the year there are special activities such as fruit picking, wagon and pony rides and different themed festivals. All in our backyard!