Winter break is just around the corner, and that means the kids will be home with nothing to do. Luckily, there are tons of fun places in South Jersey to experience even when it’s cold outside. Check out these activities to get the kids out of the house – and keep your sanity.
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge
4 Sawmill Road, Medford
856-983-3329
Spend your break with the animals. Visit mammals, eagles, small owls and other New Jersey wildlife who have been cared for at the refuge. For a day of extra fun, kids in grades kindergarten through six are invited to Cedar Run’s Day-Off Adventures. The days include hiking, games, live animals and crafts, with sessions available on December 29 and 30. Dress warm and sign up now – registration ends one week before the day of the event.
Garden State Discovery Museum
2040 Springdale Road, Suite 100, Cherry Hill
856-424-1233
For a day of hands-on fun, head to Garden State Discovery Museum. In a matter of hours, your kid can star in a play, anchor the news and give you a check-up. Make the trip extra special during one of the museum’s holiday celebrations. The museum celebrates every holiday, so stop by for a Christmas (December 17), Hanukkah (December 18) or Kwanzaa (December 27) party. Plus, if your little ones want to celebrate New Year’s Eve but can’t make it to midnight, the museum has its own celebration at noon. There is so much packed into this museum, you could stay for days.
Check Your Local Library for Events
Libraries all around South Jersey put on programs every day to keep your little ones entertained. Whether it’s story time or a craft hour (sometimes characters visit too!), there’s something for the the whole family at your local library. The Cherry Hill library will have a free screening of the 2016 hit “Ghostbusters” on December 29, and Burlington County Library branches are hosting winter break events like Play-doh playtime, holiday break crafternoons and a New Year’s Eve scavenger hunt throughout the county.
Historic Batsto Village
31 Batsto Road, Hammonton
609-561-0024
Take in some history while admiring the beauty of nature at this village dating back to 1766. Tours of Batsto Mansion are still given on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (to take a tour on Wednesdays or Thursdays, call the visitors’ center). The mansion’s elegant rooms are decorated for the holiday season, and the kids will be sure to love the Christmas tree dripping with ornaments. Since the village is surrounded by Wharton State Forest, this trip is the perfect time to try out a hike. Choose from one of the forest’s many trails (enough for beginners and experts) to admire the trees and wildlife.
Grounds For Sculpture
80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton
609-586-0616
South Jersey’s 42-acre sculpture park has more to it than outdoor exhibits. Explore art on the inside, then stay for the park’s Tots on Tour event. Children will hear a story and make art in a workshop just for them. The next one is Saturday, December 17. They’ll be Grounds For Sculpture experts in no time.
Cape May County Park & Zoo
707 Route 9 North, Cape May Court House
609-465-5271
Bundle up to get up close with the animals at the Cape May County Park & Zoo. Kids ages 5 to 9 can attend the zoo’s four-day holiday break zoo camp from December 27-30, where they’ll experience up-close encounters, hands-on activities and fun games. They’ll also learn about arctic animals and how the zoo’s inhabitants handle the cold. Or, stop by on your own to get a look at lions, tigers and lots of other animals, without the summer crowds.
