50 Things to Do Indoors in NJ

Whether it’s raining, snowing or just too cold to go outside, here are 50 places indoors where the kids can have fun in a climate controlled environment.

Originally posted on: New Jersey Family The Essential Source for NJ Moms

Some days, you just need to stay inside. But you don’t need to stay home! Check out these great indoor kids activities to keep the brood busy when the weather keeps you inside your house.

1. Instead of climbing the walls, get them in a harness and have them do some rock climbing.

2. Enjoy the comforts of a heated pool at an indoor water park or swimming pool.

3. Learn to skate, or show off your triple lutz at an ice skating rink.

4. Don’t like the ice? Or the cold? Get your skate on at one of these great  roller rinks. Most will let you choose in-line or old-school four-wheels.

5. Even in the cold months you can go stargazing at one of NJ’s many planetariums and observatories.

6. Don’t let the weather strike you out… Go bowling (for free!)

7. Let the kids try for a hole in one at glow in the dark mini golf. Don’t forget to dress them in whites or neons so they can get the full effect.

8. Paintball isn’t an option for really little kids, but they can get some target practice in playing laser tag.

9. Climb, jump, run and have a blast at any of these indoor indoor play spaces.

10. Spend  a day “underwater” at Adventure Aquarium, or Jenkinson’s Aquarium.

11. Combine a day of learning and fun at the Newark or Morris museums.

12. Spice up your culinary skills at a cooking class.

13. Take a mommy and me yoga class at your local YMCA.

14. Watch a movie (some are free!) at an indoor movie theater.

15. Head to your local library for weekly activities, or checkout a bunch of books to read for that week.

16. Build your own wood creation, or learn some other cool DIY skills, every Sunday at a Home Depot Workshop, just for kids.

17. Get some exercise along with the kids at a Mommy and me gymnastics class

18. Enjoy a few blissfully quiet minutes of pampering (along with those nice foot massages) by taking your kid with your for a mani-pedi.

19. Show off your artistic side at Color Me Mine Pottery Studio.

20. Escape Earth (and the weather) at the Liberty Science Center, and don’t miss the awesome suspended-in-midair infinity climber.

21. Don’t let swim skills suffer in the winter, get lessons (or do some laps) at your local YMCA’s pool.

22. Play some pinball, and learn about its history at the Silverball Museum in Asbury Park

23. Create your own bracelets, anklets or necklaces, at a beading store  in Westfield or Montclair.

24. Take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry – just make sure you grab indoor seating!

25. See some impressive horse stunts, a full on joust and falconry at Medieval Times.

26. Hit an indoor amusement park. Head to iPlay America, which is like one of your favorite Jersey Shore boardwalks but indoors.

27. Learn some self defense and be on your way to becoming a black belt at a karate class.

28. PIck up a new sport like lacrosse or tennis at a local Sports Center, or Branchburg Sports Complex!

29. Do some glassblowing down the shore, or stay local in Morristown!

30. Got antsy kids? Take them to Insectropolis!

31. Go to your local Barnes and Noble for storybook reading schedules.

32. Got a kid who wants to be a fireman? Head to the New York Fire Museum to celebrate the FDNY.

33. Spend a rainy day with Mickey and friends at your local Disney store, doing arts and crafts.

34. Take a train into the city to see a Broadway show, or catch a smaller play near you!

35. Let them bang on some real drums instead of the pots and pans at a  Music Class!

36. After an hour long bouncing session at a trampoline park where they can do flips and play dodgeball, they’ll be exhausted and ready for a nap.

37. Before there were xBoxs and iPads, there were arcade games. Give your kids a taste of your youth at YESTERcades.

38. Stay home and watch a movie on Netflix. Not sure where to start? Here are our 8 faves for families.

39. Head just over the New York border to the Palisades Mall where you can shop, play at Billy Beez or Palisades Climb (a suspended obstacle course floating in the middle of the floors.

40. See and underground rainbow and watch rocks light up under UV lights at the Sterling Hill Mine Museum.

41. Grab some Betty Crocker mixes, a bunch of decorations (think sprinkles or m&ms) and invite their friends over for a cupcake making party.

42. Don’t mess up your house with craft projects and gluing gone wrong. Drop the kids off at the Craft Pit at Be Craftul in Fanwood.

43. Gather a group and take them to a place like Let’s Monet or Pinot’s Palatte to see if your kid is the next Van Gogh.

44. Grounds for Sculpture isn’t just for outdoor fun, they also offer art workshops. Tots on Tour for 3-to 5-year-olds and Young Artists for 6-to 14-years.

45. Celebrate a local sports legend at the Yogi Berra Museum.

46. Head to the Zimmerili Art Museum for family activities on the first Sunday of every month, like their popular scavenger hunt.

47. Brighten your day with some butterflies at the World of Wings.

48. Let the kids channel their inner Jeff Gordon as they drive go-karts at Pole Position Raceway or Funplex.

49. Take a trip to the Crayola Factory, where kids can color, learn the history and even create their own color crayon.

50. Everyone loves a good old-fashioned bounce house, and Bounce U, Pump It Up and Jump On In, offer inflatables galore so your kids can hop and slide all afternoon.