getaway

With the end of your work week rapidly approaching, we’re sure you can’t wait to have fun this weekend! The great thing about Jersey is there are always so many amazing things to do, and we have some great suggestions. From activities right in your backyard to daily getaways, take a look at our list below to get some fun ideas for the weekend.

1. Camping. Camping is the perfect activity for the summer months! Get the whole family away from technology and spend some time hiking, swimming, reading, and just talking and playing games. Taking the whole family to cook on the camping stove (or the fire), set up tents, and gaze at the stars will be sure to bring everyone closer together. Look here to find campsites near you, or you can even set up a tent in your backyard! Just make sure your kids don’t have keys to get back inside the house!

2. Have a Bonfire. Nothing says “summer” like a huge bonfire. You can get a cheap bonfire pit at Walmart for less than $40, and you can use it for years to come. Make some s’mores and tell your scariest campfire stories. You can even pick up some glow sticks and grab some other candy (like Reeses) for some special s’mores. For the adults in your group, check out Brit + Co’s s’moretini recipe for a sweet drink with an extra kick.

3. Flea market. Not only are flea markets a ton of fun, the whole family can look to find projects to fix up together. By finding antiques that your kids can sand down, repaint, or otherwise repair, they will quickly learn the reward of hard work. Furthermore, it will lead them to get up and moving! Find a project for the whole family to work on and you will have some great bonding time. I personally love the Golden Nugget flea market in Lambertville, but you can check out New Jersey Isn’t Boring‘s list here to find a good flea market near you.

4. Lambertville/New Hope. Right on the NJ border, Lambertville is situated in NJ, and New Hope is located in PA. The two towns have great relations, and you can easily cross between the two via a short walk over the connecting bridge. The twin towns thrive off of their artsy reputations, and have countless unique shops: lots of antique stores, the Lambertville Pasha Rugs store, Moo Hope ice cream shop, Olive-n-Grape (the New Hope seasoning and olive oil store), cafes, and tons of other unique options.

5. Head to the Shore. This weekend is going to be a scorcher, so how better to enjoy it than to head down to the shore? Grab a cooler, some umbrellas and chairs, and get ready for a great day in the sand.

6. Princeton. Head into Princeton with the whole family and you won’t be sorry! With a cute town, lots of shopping, and a beautiful university campus, it’s the perfect excursion for a day trip. This weekend you will be especially happy, because Princeton has not only one, but two great places for ice cream: Thomas Sweet, and The Bent Spoon. Princeton also has a recurring Summer Music Series each Saturday. This weekend, Sun Dog is playing, with contemporary, classic and country rock music.

7. Make a huge breakfast. How better to start a weekend than with a huge breakfast? Make some waffles, fruit, biscuits, pastries, or anything else your heart desires! Making a big breakfast is a great way to make your kids feel involved, because they can help mix batter and have fun in the kitchen. I have so many childhood memories of big breakfasts on Saturday mornings. There’s nothing like a big morning meal in your PJs with a good cup of coffee!

8. Brewery Tours and Tastings. Luckily for Jersey residents, we have access to NewJerseyCraftBeer.com, which is an incredibly thorough website with all information about beer events and tastings in our state. Check out their list here which includes every tour and tasting for the weekend. There’s sure to be a brewery you haven’t been to nearby!

9. Go tubing on the Deleware River. I mentioned this once in a previous post, but I had to mention it again! I love tubing on the Deleware, and this is the perfect weekend for it because it’s going to be so hot outside. There are two companies that provide tubes and busing to the river: Deleware River Tubing (on the NJ side) and River Country Tubing (on the PA side). Both have access to the Famous River Hot Dog Man, where you can buy hot dogs, candy and ice cream as you float down the river!

10. Cool off with water games. When the whole weekend is going to be in the 90s, it’s important to stay cool. Check out our list of best ways to beat the heat! From pool-less Marco Polo, to DIY Slip-n-Slides, to nearby waterfalls to visit, this list has the best ideas for activities during a heat wave.