A family-friendly area bustling with life, Ocean Township, New Jersey, is home to plenty of fun weekend activities for you and your loved ones to enjoy together. From adrenaline-pumping adventures to peaceful retreats, we have gathered some local must-visit spots for you to add to the family calendar. Here is our list of the most popular family activities near Ocean Township, New Jersey.
Hike at Shark River Park
If you hope to install a love of nature and a passion for exercise in your little ones, consider scheduling a family hike at Monmouth County’s Shark River Park. The area’s original community gathering space, the park spans a whopping 991 acres of land.
It is one of the best spots to admire local plant life, with lush, skyscraping trees and peaceful ponds. There are over 8 miles of trails to explore, each surrounded by woods and water. There is also a playground where kids can run off any excess energy, and there are plenty of scenic spots to stop for a snack or picnic.
Fishing fans might enjoy setting up camp at the Shark River, which is home to catfish, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. Note that a fishing license is required for anyone over 16. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the early summer. Closing time moves to 9 p.m. in the late summer and 8:30 p.m a few weeks later. For the most current hours, visit the Monmouth County Park System’s website.
Pedal a Swan Boat Around Wesley Lake
If you want to spend an afternoon on the water without getting wet, bring the family to Asbury Park’s sparkling Wesley Lake to rent a pedal boat. They are shaped like larger-than-life animals, so kids will likely get a kick out of the design.
You can choose to ride a swan, flamingo, dragon, or blue heron. You will power the boat with your feet, so it is a sneaky way for you to exercise. Consider peddling around sunset for beautiful views and milder weather. The park requires you to strap yourself in with an adjustable life vest to keep you safe while soaking in the sun.
You can purchase a half-hour ride in a pedal boat for $25. Each boat seats two adults and one child or one adult and two children. If you have a big family, consider splitting up and racing each other for some friendly competition. The lake is open for peddling from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 11:30 a.m. until dusk on weekends. The launching spot is just a short walk from the beach, boardwalk, and a host of restaurants, so you can celebrate afterward with a beachside stroll or a delicious meal.
Escape Together at Solve It Sherlock
For clever families eager to test their wits, Neptune’s escape room destination, Solve It Sherlock, offers mind-bending challenges the family can solve together. The facility offers five different rooms you can escape from by solving a series of progressively complex clues. An escape room is much fun that kids won’t even realize they are building critical skills like logical reasoning, problem-solving, and collaboration. There are all-ages rooms like Pirates of the Golden Skull, a seafaring game, and Legends of the Pines, starring a mythical beast.
There are also rooms more suitable for older kids who want a bit of a challenge and don’t mind some spooky themes. For example, you can battle a zombie outbreak with the Quarantine room. You could put a historical spin on things with The Magician’s Secret, set during the 1837 World Fair, or Sacred Stones, which places you in the middle of the Mayan empire. Solve It Sherlock is open from 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Scare Yourselves Silly at Paranormal Books & Curiosities
If you have older kids up for a spellbinding thrill, put on a brave face and head to Paranormal Books & Curiosities for a haunting afternoon. On the first floor, you can peruse many books about the eerie and strange, from ghosts and monsters to science and history. You can learn about the most bizarre parts of New Jersey’s past and present with the latest issue of Weird NJ. The bookstore also hosts regular events like seances and ghost hunting lessons. However, they are not for the faint of heart.
Upstairs, the building houses the Paranormal Museum, which is available only for private tours, so your family can bond with an incredibly frightening experience. Your guided tour features one-on-one time with artifacts like spooky dolls, interpretation of cryptids, and items from the Salem Witch Trials and the Civil War. Young children might feel uncomfortable, so they should stay home. The content is most suitable for tweens and teens. The museum prioritizes your safety and comfort, so you can always take a break if you get disturbed.
Take a Swing at Bluegrass Mini Golf
A beloved local spot for little ones to try out their athletic skills, Bluegrass Mini Golf offers an evening of slightly athletic fun for the whole family. There are two 18-hole courses, each geared to a different skill level. The name harkens to Kentucky, the horseracing capital of the country, and you will see odes to horseracing all over the courses. Given that the course is situated on Monmouth Park Racetrack, the equestrian-inspired theme is fitting.
Locals rave about the cleanly manicured greens, glittering blue ponds, and seasonal flowers decorating the course. Bluegrass Mini Golf has even been featured in the New York Times. The courses are open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission costs $10 for adults and $8 for kids under 12. Toddlers under the age of four get in for free.
This concludes our recommendations for popular family activities in the Ocean Township area. Contact us if you know of an excellent spot for family bonding that was not on this list. If you need a new Jeep that is sporty and spacious enough for all of your family’s adventures, we can help. Make a plan to visit The Jeep Store in Ocean Township, New Jersey, to learn more about our new and used Jeep vehicles.
*Featured Image – Photo by Juliane Liebermann on Unsplash.
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