May 23, 2023
By Bethany Negron
Staff Writer
1. Adventure Aquarium is located at 1 Riverside Dr. in Camden. The tickets at Adventure Aquarium are limited by entry time and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets for adults (13-64) are $27.99, children (2-12) are $18.99 and seniors 65+ are $25.99. You can also get an Explore membership to be eligible for 365 days of unlimited visits for adults for $64.99 and children for $44.99. The aquarium offers many attractions like Penguin Park, Shark Bridge, Shark Tunnel, Stingray Beach Club and Touch a Shark. There are 17 attractions from which to choose, and all are worth it. The aquarium is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
2. Want to cool off in the water? Visit DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream, a retail and entertainment complex in East Rutherford. With over 40 water slides including the world’s tallest drop slide, DreamWorks Water Park is the largest indoor water park in North America. All-access passes for a full day of unlimited rides and slide access start at $79. Spring Season Splash Passes, which allow for unlimited visits through the month of June, are available for $179. Private skybox suites and poolside cabanas can be purchased starting at $150.
3. Want to visit a scenic beach with a calm boardwalk and cute stores? Long Branch is the place to go. Daily beach badges cost $3 Monday-Friday and $9 on weekdays and holidays. For those between 14-17 years old, beach passes cost $3 daily. Annual passes are available for $70 for adults and $30 for those 14-17. The beach is always free for those 13 and under, those 62 and older with an ID and for disabled individuals. While you can make your visit to Long Branch a day trip, the town also has a variety of hotels to stay at, and the best time to go is the springtime because accommodations are more affordable and the beaches are less crowded. Furthermore, the food is delicious and reasonably priced. A restaurant I recommend you go to is Branch Cantina, they have amazing rice bowls and wings. For tasty treats, try Coney Waffle, Ice Cream and Sweet Shop, which has the best ice cream flavors and popular items including ice cream cakes, ice cream pies and homemade fudge.
4. Enjoy thrilling rides at Six Flags Great Adventures in Jackson Township. This amusement park features 14 roller coasters and 58 attractions with multiple food courts and gift shops. Hours of operation vary by the day, and a general one-day ticket costs $44.99. Six Flags sells passes at the diamond, gold and platinum levels, which are useful if you plan to go frequently. Gold pass is $74.99, platinum is $99.99 and diamond is the highest pass at $149.99.
5. Sky Zone in Springfield is where you can jump for hours and have fun completing different obstacle courses. Everyone loves going to Sky Zone because it is filled with many fun activities including a Battle Beam, Boulder Balls, Foam Jump, Freestyle Jump, Junior War Course, Ninja Warrior Course, Skyslam, Trapeze & Swing and Warped Wall. Ticket prices are $29.99 for one hour, 30 minutes. You can also purchase an all-day pass for $45.99, which grants you at least two hours of access. Sky Zone is closed on Mondays, but Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, Sky Zone is open from 4-8 p.m. Friday hours are 4-9 p.m, and Saturday hours are 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sky Zone offers food, which is called the FuelZone, with drinks being priced $1-$6. FuelZone also offers a variety of combos, hot foods, pizza and snacks.
6. Supercharged Entertainment in Edison is the place to go if you want to have the most fun with friends or family. It offers so many different and fun activities to experience. On Friday-Sunday, you can enjoy axe throwing for 60 minutes for $28 per person, 90 minutes for $40 per person or 120 minutes for $52 per person. The Bionic Bonic Bumper Cars/Spin Zone has great bumper cars with a cool, spacious indoor arena providing everyone to have fun only for $7 per person without having to buy a play card, which is a card for the arcade. All you have to do is sign a waiver. This ride is open Monday-Sunday, Hours on Monday-Thursday and Sundays are 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-midnight. Using the same play card, you can also enjoy a thriller ride, which is the Drop & Twist Tower. The ride costs $9 and you must be at least 3’6 and up to go on this ride and sign a waiver. The time slots are the same as the Spin Zone. The Gaming Arcade is where people love to stock up on tickets to achieve cool prizes. The pricing is $5 for 20 credits, $10 for 44 credits ($1 bonus), $20 for 96 credits ($4 bonus), $50 for 240 credits ($10 bonus) and $100 for 520 credits ($30 bonus). These prices are reasonable and can last you a while playing games. The arcade is open all week and weekend, Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Fridays 11:30 a.m.-midnight, Saturdays 9 a.m.-midnight and Sundays 9 a.m.-11 p.m. The most popular place is Indoor Karting. There are two tracks and two types of speed called pro speed and semi-pro speed. Each race is seven minutes long, and the winner is by the fastest lap. Pricing is one race for $29, two races for $56 (not available Friday-Sunday) and three races for $81 (not available Friday-Sunday). Tickets are available online, and there is a safety video provided once you go inside.
7. Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange is the perfect place to see animals and get a glimpse of sea creatures. The admission rate for adults 13 and over is $19, with tickets for children 2-12 and seniors 62 and over for $16. Children under two can visit for free. Tickets can be purchased online or in person. Turtle Back Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors can observe animals in 20 exhibits, visit the gift shop or participate in education programs. There is so much to do at Turtle Back Zoo and attractions that people of all ages can enjoy.
