Margaret Hargrove

Latest posts by Margaret Hargrove

Toys for Tots Donation Spots in New Jersey and More Places to Donate Toys

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Sun, 11/20/2022 - 9:55am

The Toys for Tots Foundation bring Christmas joy to children in need. Photo courtesy of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

Looking for Toys for Tots drop-off locations in New Jersey and other ways to make donations? Read on for a list of organizations accepting goods this holiday season.

The holidays are a time usually associated with feelings of joy, but for many New Jersey families, they're actually very stressful. Parents who struggle to provide their children with basic needs like adequate housing, food, and clothing worry about paying for presents and making the holidays special. Unfortunately, the reality for many families is that they cannot purchase any gifts at all.

That’s where toy drives come in. Toys For Tots, USPS Operation Santa, and many other organizations collect new toys every holiday season to deliver to kids in need. Police departments and government offices in towns including Burlington, East Newark, and Jersey City also host toy drives with conveniently located toy drop-off boxes.

Donating toys during the holiday season is a lovely illustration of what the holidays are truly about. Read on for ways your family can donate toys in NJ and spread around some of that good holiday cheer. Check out other feel-good holiday ideas, like our holiday and Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities for families, in our Guide to Christmas and Hanukkah in New Jersey.

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10 New Jersey Farms Where You Can Throw a Barnyard Birthday Party

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Tue, 10/18/2022 - 11:08am

Party with the piggies and more friendly farm animals during a birthday party at Brookhollow's Barnyard in Boonton, New Jersey.

If you want your animal-loving little one to cluck with joy, consider throwing a barnyard birthday bash at a New Jersey farm. Whether your little one wants to eat all the fruit, pick pumpkins, pet animals, or ride ponies, these 10 New Jersey farms have you covered.

Find even more ideas for birthday party fun in our New Jersey Birthday Party Guide, and be sure to check out our roundup of the best family-friendly farms in NJ.

Fall Bucket List for Kids: 45 Things To Do in New Jersey this Fall

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Sun, 09/11/2022 - 7:18am

Visit Von Thun Farms during Fall Festival Weekends for apple picking, pumpkin picking, games, and more. Photo by the author

If you're looking for fall bucket list fun in New Jersey, you've come to the right place. What's not to love about the season in the Garden State? There's the crisp, cool air, brilliantly colored leaves, apples ripe for the picking, pumpkins, Halloween celebrations aplenty...the list goes on. To celebrate the changing seasons, we've crafted this fall bucket list with 45 things to do in New Jersey with kids.

Be sure to check out our Activity Calendar, which is bursting with fun picks, as well as our Guide to Fall Fun in New Jersey.

Jenkinson's Boardwalk and Point Pleasant Beach: Top Tips for a Family Trip

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Sun, 08/14/2022 - 7:22am

Jenkinson's Boardwalk and Point Pleasant Beach are only about an hour away from NYC and Philly.

Jenkinson’s Boardwalk and Point Pleasant Beach have long been popular family-friendly Jersey Shore destinations. About an hour's drive from New York City and Philadelphia, this picturesque stretch of shoreline lies between the beaches of Monmouth County and the craziness of Seaside Heights. The boardwalk plays host to many kid-friendly attractions, including an aquarium, arcades, mini-golf courses, a ropes course, and an amusement park with a whole section that’s just right for toddlers and preschoolers.

I spent many summers here in my youth, and with my own little one in tow this summer, I headed down to Exit 98 to spend the day at this popular Shore spot.

Looking for more warm-weather fun? Check out our Summer Fun Guide and Jersey Shore Family Guide for ideas.

Visiting the Turtle Back Zoo: 10 Best Things To Do and See

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Fri, 08/12/2022 - 6:47am

Visiting the Turtle Back Zoo means plenty of cute photo ops.

Turtle Back Zoo is one of our favorite attractions in New Jersey, and for plenty of reasons: it’s an incredible, beautiful destination that appeals to kids of all ages, with great exhibits and programs. Crucially, it also offers several opportunities for kids to get hands-on experience with animals. The facility also hosts amazing holiday activities, camps, and family-friendly programming throughout the year.

Turtle Back Zoo is located in Essex County in the South Mountain Reservation, and there are tons of other things nearby for kids to do—including romping in a treetop adventure course and playing some mini-golf; read through our guide below for the many nearby activities worth checking out.

Turtle Back Zoo has been enthralling visitors since it opened in 1963, with a collection of 140 animals of 40 species, and it has continued to expand its rich offerings over the years. Should you go? Of course! Should you have a game plan? You better. Read on for what you should know before you and the family get wild.

If you're looking for other great New Jersey adventures, check out our rundown of the state's top things to do with kids. And be sure to peruse our guide to Zoos and Gardens for New Jersey Kids if you're on the hunt for other animal encounters.

12 Hidden Beaches on the Jersey Shore

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Tue, 07/12/2022 - 4:14pm

Sea Isle City offers the serenity of a small-town beach, but the action-packed boardwalks of the Jersey Shore are nearby. Photo courtesy of Sea Isle City

Searching for hidden beaches on the Jersey Shore is a bit of an impossibility. But year after year of hitting the same sandy spots can leave you craving something new. If your family wants to steer clear of the busiest Jersey Shore beaches, we have a few ideas for you. Here are 12 great hidden beaches on the Jersey Shore that are off-the-beaten-path but oh-so-fun to explore this summer and beyond. Just keep them between us, OK?

Bookmark our Jersey Shore Family Guide for more fun seaside picks all summer long.

Best Playgrounds in New Jersey: 12 That Are Worth the Drive

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 7:04am

The accessible playground at Watsessing Park is a dream come true for children of all abilities. Photo by Margaret Hargrove

The best playgrounds in New Jersey go above and beyond, with design features offering way more than the basic park down the block.

If you've been to your neighborhood playground so many times the slides and swings have lost their thrill, now's the perfect time to switch up your kiddo's routine. Spring has sprung, and these 12 amazing playgrounds are worth the trip.

From awesome jungle gyms to zip lines, a carousel, and even a zoo, these stellar rec areas allow kids to slide, swing, splash, climb, and imagine the day away. Pile into the car and visit each at least once—but we bet you'll want to return again and again.

For a comprehensive rundown on playgrounds with water features, check our rundown on 35+ sprinkler parks in New Jersey, and be sure to bookmark our Guide to Playgrounds & Parks in New Jersey.

Great Theme Parks and Amusement Parks Near New Jersey

Submitted by Margaret Hargrove on Sun, 05/08/2022 - 3:05pm

Six Flag Great Adventure brings big time thrills as one of our favorite amusement parks in New Jersey.

A trip to one of these local amusement parks near New Jersey is always high on my vacation bucket list, and lucky for us, New Jersey and the surrounding area is an epicenter of family-friendly amusement park adventures. We've rounded up 21 amusement parks in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania that are perfect for thrill-seekers of all ages. Some, like Storybook Land and the Land of Make Believe, are amusement parks for toddlers and preschoolers, while others, like Morey's Piers and Jenkinson's Boardwalk, offer a solid selection of kiddie rides in addition to bigger thrills. Many also include water attractions or adjacent water parks to cool down after a hot day of play.

Whether you're hoping to catch ocean views and sandy beaches at the Jersey Shore's boardwalk amusement parks, like Casino Pier and Castaway Cove, or you are dreaming of high-velocity thrill rides at mega parks like Six Flags Great Adventure, here are the best amusement parks to visit this summer. Of course, you can find more wild rides in our Guide to Water and Amusement Parks nearby.