Where are your favorite places to take toddlers?

773 Views 3 Replies 4 Participants Last post by NicaG, Feb 18, 2010

mommariffic

Discussion Starter · Feb 16, 2010

Cafes, indoor play centers, museums, parks -- that kind of thing.

With winter kind of putting a damper on my 2 year old DD's spirit [she's not a fan of the cold] we are looking for little day trips to take. Also looking for neat places in general for any season but yeah, specifically now.

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meganmarie

· #2 · Feb 17, 2010

Where are you? There are some places I can recommend, primarily North Jersey, in winter:

Children's Museum of NJ, Paramus ($10/person to climb on real fire truck, play in sandbox, shop in pretend grocery store etc.)

In the Swing, Waldwick ($5 to access "playland" climbing gym, call ahead to make sure they are not booked for a birthday party)

Garden State Plaza Mall, Paramus - "playtown" free small indoor foam structure play area, plus $2 carousel and some small car rides

Imagine That, Florham Park - children's museum with a great arts & crafts area

Liberty Science Center, Jersey City - children's play area downstairs with some water play, balls, cars, climbing equipment

Funtime Junction, Fairfield NJ - haven't actually been to this one, recommended by friend - another climbing gym open play space you can pay to go in when they don't have a birthday party going on

Any Barnes & Noble - weekly free storytimes (see website) plus Thomas train table in children's area

Ride the train - go to your closest stop, ride to the next stop, cross platform, get back on and go home - toddler heaven for about $3.

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Nazsmum

· #3 · Feb 17, 2010

Trailside Nature and Science Center Mountainside 908-789-3670

Reeves-Reed Arboretum Summit 908-273-8787

Liberty Hall Museum 908-527-0400-Sometimes they have afternoon tea parties

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NicaG

· #4 · Feb 18, 2010

Ikea (Paramus or Elizabeth). My kids can play for hours there. When they get tired of the play areas, we go jump around on the couches or cook in the model kitchens.

Livingston Mall. They've recently renovated and added a nice play area for kids, plus there's a Barnes & Noble. And it's small and manageable, so you can eat lunch there and even get a little shopping done.

The Montclair Art Museum has a nice program for kids once a month:
http://www.montclairartmuseum.org/parkbench/

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