The Pine Barrens, or the Pines, is a beautifully diverse, protected eco-system that stretches over seven counties in New Jersey and is home to approximately1.1 million acres of forests with varied plant and animal life. The region also houses a multitude of rural and urban towns, with residents embracing the Pines and celebrating its beautiful bounty over the four seasons with festivals, outdoor activities, eateries, and folklore—watch out for the Jersey Devil!

Whether you are headed to the area to attend an event, searching for outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, and fishing, or simply want to drive through to spot changing flora and foliage in the fall or spring, the Pine Barrens do not disappoint. Read on for our favorite things to do with kids in the region, and read our roundup of state forests and parks to explore for more outdoor adventures.

If you’re driving an hour from Los Angeles to Orange County with two kids for an activity, the destination had better be worth the battle with traffic! Pretend City in Irvine is well worth any drive, boasting 17 interactive, interconnected exhibits built as a kid-scaled city. For hours, my kids explored their creativity and imagination, pretending to be cashiers and customers at Trader Joe’s, putting on a performance at the amphitheater, working on a farm, replacing a car’s muffler, and more. Find out what makes Pretend City so special and why it’s one of the must-visit children’s museums in Southern California for any and every family with young kids.

Why should cheese and crackers have all the fun? These dessert charcuterie boards can make any day sweet! It is not difficult to assemble one of these trays once you have the right ingredients and supplies in your kitchen. Dessert boards are no-cook, easy dessert recipes that are perfect for celebrating a birthday, holiday, or just to add a little fun to a night at home. You can use any flat surface to build your dessert board—we like to use a deep tray with handles, but a cutting board, serving tray, or any flat surface is a perfect stage to show off your delectable dessert creations.

From s’mores masterpieces to movie night treats, these five dessert boards will let you indulge your family’s sweet tooth. Find more dessert recipes and sweet kitchen inspiration in our Guide to Easy Recipes for Kids.

Hugging a baby goat will fix your whole day.

Brooklyn's already family-friendly waterfront is getting a cool new feature just in time for summer 2021: A new 18-hole mini-golf course dubbed Putting GREEN is set to open in Williamsburg.

Read on for more details on the project, which also includes a 20,000-square-foot sustainable farm, and start planning your summer day trip to explore all the fun along Brooklyn's East River shores from Brooklyn Bridge Park to Domino Park and beyond.

Spring is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy some animal encounters, and one of my favorite spots is the Cohanzick Zoo.

Located in rural Bridgeton, about 50 minutes south of Philadelphia, the Cohanzick Zoo is ideal for children—and adults!—of all ages. It is New Jersey’s first zoo, having opened in 1934, and despite its small size, it is home to more than 100 animals and almost 50 different species. A visit to the Cohanzick Zoo takes about half a day and feels as if it's open just for you.

Read on for all the reasons my family loves this zoo and find more fun animal encounters at these New Jersey zoos and aquariums.

These crafts for kids celebrate Earth Day the best way we know how—with recycling! You don’t have to buy any extra stuff to create one of these beautiful crafts. Basic supplies like scissors, glue, and paint allow kids (and their grown-ups) to do their part to save the planet. 

Clean out that recycling bin to gather supplies for these fun Earth Day activities for kids. From glass and plastic to packaging and cardboard, there is a treasure trove of crafting material just waiting to be reused. Whether you are taking a pile of cardboard boxes to the next level or turning T-shirts into totes, these easy crafts for kids provide a little inspiration to get you going. 

Editor's Note: As of September 2023, Garden of Eve has leased its farm to Waterdrinker Family Farm. Read more about Waterdrinker's original location here. Waterdrinker continues to operate many of the popular annual festivals that took place at Garden of Eve.
Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Market is a family-friendly, pick-your-own farm that is a cornucopia of flowers and produce, which hosts a bevy of kids’ programs, and amazing seasonal festivals for year-round fun.

Located in the East End town of Riverhead, this 50-acre certified organic farm was founded in 2001 by Chris and Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht, two experienced farmers and passionate environmentalists who have worked hard to create a haven for Long Island families looking to experience the wonder of farming and learn about the importance of sustainability.

Garden of Eve is a place where kids can experience nature and get their hands dirty while learning more about where their food and flowers come from. Adults will enjoy sampling the farm’s craft beers and buying fresh, organic produce from its market or through its CSA programs. The whole family can attend one of Garden of Eve’s many fun festivals and creative, educational, kid-friendly events.

Here’s a closer look at 12 things we love about this magical Long Island farm. Find more farm fun spanning from strawberry season to pumpkin picking in our Guide to Farms and U-Pick Produce.