New Jersey boasts an abundance of exciting and engaging indoor attractions for residents to enjoy, from world-class museums to spectacular planetariums – there’s sure to be something fun and educational in New Jersey for everyone of any age!
Burn off some energy at state-of-the-art indoor playgrounds such as Xtreme Energy and JellyBean Jungle, or create light bulb moments at Liberty Science Center.
Planetariums
New Jerseyans don’t lack for spectacular outdoor stargazing spots, but for an extraordinary stargazing experience consider visiting an indoor planetarium. Equipped with state-of-the-art DomeVision technology, planetariums provide extraordinary views of the sky and stars and are great fun for everyone in the family.
Planetariums are space-like theaters with domed ceilings that enable visitors to experience virtual flights through the solar system and beyond. These immersive, multimedia shows combine slides, computer graphics, video projection and other forms of media to teach about astronomy, planets, constellations and the night sky – some even include live narrators or interactive features!
At an astronomy show, you can explore the night sky with an experienced astronomer and get up close and personal with planets and stars in our universe. Additionally, you will gain insights into planetary cycles, Sun life cycle and Milky Way Galaxy; in addition to hearing about any new scientific breakthroughs or discoveries.
Planetariums usually offer public shows tailored specifically for children of various ages and interests. Children can enjoy flying through the solar system on a Star Tour or embarking on a mission to discover our nearest neighboring planet, while adults and older children may explore the night sky with Moon Tour or Space Extreme programs.
Planetarium shows are great at suspending disbelief and simply providing an enjoyable experience, all you need to do is turn off your phone and embrace the magic – even for just an hour-and-a-half, they can transform you back into a childlike state of wonderment!
From the late 20th Century through World War II, most planetariums were constructed by German firm Zeiss. Following WWII, many were moved or rebuilt while new ones were constructed from scratch. Nowadays, most US planetariums use digital projection and/or an optical mechanical (OM) projection method.
OM projectors may be expensive, but their images provide superior clarity and resolution compared with high-definition TV screens. Upgradeability makes these projectors an appealing option for many facilities, while they may also be useful in areas of science that don’t lend themselves well to dome projection.
Indoor Mini Golf
Indoor mini golf can be an excellent way to practice your putting skills or just have some family-oriented fun, whether that be to work on improving them or just for pure entertainment purposes. Golf enthusiasts often enjoy playing outdoor courses; when the weather doesn’t cooperate however, indoor mini golf facilities offer a more diverse set of activities compared to their counterparts; such as hosting parties and special events.
Indoor mini golf offers businesses a unique advantage in that it can be played year-round. While outdoor courses may close due to poor weather conditions during the winter months, indoor courses remain open all year-round so as to draw more customers and generate revenue all year long. This provides businesses with an incredible opportunity to attract customers while driving revenue all year long.
Families can make an outing out of these locations by enjoying arcade games and attractions such as rock climbing or laser tag – or Monster Mini Golf’s multiple locations across New Jersey that feature glow-in-the-dark courses with monster characters greeting players at each hole! At their Paramus location, children and kids-at-heart will especially love Monster Mini Golf’s glow-in-the-dark course that greets players like they’re walking the red carpet!
At some facilities, mini-golf goes one step further by incorporating elements of science and technology into its experiences. At Meadowlands Discovery Center’s 18-hole scientifically themed course challenges children to navigate a maze while learning various aspects of science. This can foster creativity while developing a passion for learning among both children and teenagers alike.
Glowgolf at Roosevelt Field Mall provides visitors with an enjoyable indoor putt-putt experience under blacklight, featuring animated creatures. Yogi Berra Museum and Museum of American Dream is another must-visit for golf lovers, featuring portraits of baseball great Yogi Berra as well as vintage mitts and bats from his collection.
Boondocks in Clifton offers adults-only miniature golf action with two outdoor mini-golf courses and indoor bowling and arcade games – as well as 12-Buck Tuesdays and Thursdays where unlimited laser tag, bowling and arcade gaming is available at just $12 per person! For even more action on your putting game visit Boondocks for some adult-oriented fun.
Rock Gyms
Rock climbing is a thrilling and engaging way to stay physically fit while having lots of fun! New Jersey boasts many indoor rock gyms offering various levels of climbing that make this activity accessible for kids and adults of all ages, like Gravity Vault in Hoboken which provides top rope and bouldering climbing as well as hosting classes, clinics, competitions and birthday parties!
Urban Jungle Play offers innovative educational classes for children five months to six years old that focus on core pillars of child development in various classes, enhancing cognitive, social-emotional, and motor abilities.
iPlay America is a family entertainment complex that recreates the ambience of New Jersey Shore’s Boardwalk while featuring brownstones and shops on an adjacent streetscape. Furthermore, this entertainment hub features two-level laser tag arena as well as various rides and attractions for an enjoyable family outing experience.
The New Jersey State Museum
The New Jersey State Museum offers families an ideal setting to meet their daily dose of education – and have some fun while doing it! Housing over two million artifacts from natural and cultural history, archaeology and ethnography, fine arts and more, the museum provides tours, hands-on activities, lectures Planetarium programs interaction with real fossils browsing the galleries as well as special programs and exhibitions tailored towards schools scouting badges teacher professional development programs and exhibitions for education scout badges and teacher professional development programmes for these subjects and much more!
Trenton’s New Jersey State Museum makes for an enjoyable family travel itinerary stop, boasting eclectic finds from near and far – Native American artifacts, Civil War flags, Paleozoic fossils, 9/11 artifacts and an exceptional Georgia O’Keeffe collection among other delights. Additionally, rotating exhibitions like Pretty Big Things: Stories of New Jersey History will instil pride of state pride in all.
Since 1895, the Museum has quickly expanded into multiple buildings and its scope has since broadened to encompass industrial, natural history and archaeological artifacts from across North Carolina and around the globe. Now considered one of the nation’s premier institutions, its exhibitions showcase North Carolina’s rich past within an international context.
Not only is the museum home to world-class exhibitions, it is also host to an impressive botanical garden and historic sites. Visitor can watch artist demonstrations in glass, pottery and flameworking studios; learn about New Jersey folk traditions at the Folklife Center; shop in the museum store; picnic on the grounds or walk the nature trail – these experiences await them at Newark Arts. The New Jersey State Museum’s education community also hosts an array of workshops, performances, and family programs throughout the year. Tues.-Sun. from 10-5 is free admission; donations to the Museum Foundation are accepted with pleasure; planetarium tickets cost extra; parking options exist on weekends in lots adjacent to the Museum or metered street parking on weekdays; for more information visit their website.
