Kids Restaurants in New Jersey

Nicknamed the “Garden State,” New Jersey is a densely populated state with an active and progressive populous. As a region that offers historic sites, eclectic architecture and a rich historic background, New Jersey has family friendly attractions such as theme parks, performing arts venues, museums and recreational areas ideal for camping and hiking. As a multicultural and forward-looking place, New Jersey also offers various dining destinations serving different cuisines. If it’s a restaurant for kids that you are looking for, New Jersey has several options catering to families ready to dine and have fun.

Rainforest Cafe?

• The Rainforest Cafe is a casual family friendly restaurant with a jungle-style atmosphere. Popular among families for its focus to cater to children of all ages, this restaurant features jungle characters that entertain kids while exploring the restaurant's rainforest. With a captivating ambiance and eye-catching decor sure to entertain the family while dining, the kid’s menu at Rainforest Cafe offers options like the Jurassic chicken tidbits, gorilla grilled cheese delight, python pasta and rainforest rascals, plus desserts such as the lava mud and safari sundae. The Rainforest Cafe opens daily for lunch and dinner.

  Rainforest Cafe?
  2201 Boardwalk
  Atlantic City, NJ 08401-6604
  609-345-5757?
  rainforestcafe.com

CB Huntington Family Restaurant?

• CB Huntington’s Family Restaurant is a kid friendly restaurant offering a separate children’s menu for 10 years and under filled with favorites such as chicken fingers, spaghetti with meatballs, pizza, chocolate milk, root beer floats and \"make your own sundae.\" The restaurant features fun for all ages by offering face painting, magic shows, a ferris wheel, roller coaster, safari ride, archery, miniature golf, jousting, go-carts, bumper boats, batting cages, video game arcades, a climbing wall and paint ball for kids 10 years and older. CB Huntington's Family Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

  CB Huntington Family Restaurant?
  140 Atlantic City Boulevard
  Bayville, NJ 08721-1229
  732-505-1294?
  blackbeardscave.com

Duffer's Restaurant

• Duffer's Restaurant has a comfortable, Victorian-style atmosphere that offers a lively and family friendly dining experience. The restaurant features the Duffer's Express train that runs through the restaurant, Herbie the bear who rides a unicycle on a tight rope as well as a miniature golf course, arcade games and a gift shop. The restaurant offers menu items such as breakfast crepes, stuffed French toast, deli sandwiches, steaks, chicken, a children’s menu as well as homemade ice cream, sundaes or banana splits for dessert. Duffer’s Restaurant is open daily and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

  Duffer's Restaurant
  5200 Pacific Avenue
  Wildwood, NJ 08260-4437
  609-729-1817?
  dufferswildwood.com

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Restaurants in New Jersey That Have Private Rooms

Also called the “Garden State,” New Jersey is an active and densely populated state with a progressive populous. As a region that provides a rich historic background, eclectic architecture and various historic sites, New Jersey has an array of attractions such as recreational areas for hiking and camping, museums, performing arts venues and theme parks. Thanks to its multicultural demographic, New Jersey also offers dining destinations serving many cuisines. If it’s a restaurant that features private rooms you are looking for, New Jersey has several options ideal for any type of event.

Biagio's Ristorante?

• Serving home-style Italian classic cuisine since 1987, Biagio's Ristorante is a family owned and operated restaurant that offers artistic dishes in an elegant atmosphere and family-friendly environment. Also favored among locals for its banquet facilities, this restaurant has private rooms that can accommodate 20 to 170 people. With a classic setting ideal for private parties such as birthdays, showers, meetings, weddings or anniversaries, this restaurant features three rooms specifically reserved for private catered events, and provides an extensive catering menu sure to have something for any palate. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Biaggio’s Ristorante also has an extensive wine list and full service bar.

  Biagio's Ristorante?
  299 Paramus Road
  Paramus, NJ 07652-1318
  201-652-0201?
  biagios.com

Scarborough Fair Restaurant

• The Scarborough Fair restaurant is set in a renovated farmhouse building from the 1800s. The building offers elegant charm featuring red brick, high ceilings and large windows to reveal a lush, green surrounding area to gaze upon while you dine. If you are dining for a special occasion or event, Scarborough Fair offers several private dining rooms to choose from such as the Lounge, Octagon and Butterfly room. The Scarborough Fair restaurant requests “smart casual” attire and is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

  Scarborough Fair Restaurant
  ?1414 Meeting House Road
  Sea Girt, NJ 08750-2203
  732-223-6658?
  scarboroughfairrestaurant.com

Moonstruck Restaurant

• Located within a Victorian-styled building, Moonstruck Restaurant features many windows to allow natural lighting, outdoor seating on wrap around porches and a romantic yet lively ambiance. The restaurant has three floor levels; the first floor is a bar area that features a cocktail lounge with soft piano or jazz music, the second floor offers another bar area and the main dining room, and the third floor is an additional dining room that can also be reserved for private parties and events. The Moonstruck Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

  Moonstruck Restaurant
  517 Lake Avenue
  Asbury Park, NJ 07712-7107
  732-988-0123?
  moonstrucknj.com

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Irish Restaurants in Central New Jersey

Central New Jersey is a progressive and active region offering plenty of commerce and tourism. Central Jersey is comprised of Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset counties, the Raritan Valley as well as Hunterdon County and Union County. Considered part of the New York City Metropolitan statistical area, it offers performing arts venues, shopping centers and theme parks, museums, eclectic architecture and historic sites. As a multicultural region, Central Jersey also features various restaurants offering different cuisines. If it’s an Irish dining destination you are looking for, Central Jersey has several options.

Molly Maguire's?

• Serving the community since 2002, Molly Maquire's Irish Pub & Restaurant is located in Union County, Central New Jersey. Popular among locals for its steaks, traditional Irish food and efficient staff trained to make your visit as enjoyable and comfortable as possible, Molly Maguire's is also known for its lively atmosphere ideal for socializing while enjoying traditional Irish beer and cuisine. Menu items served include dishes such as the shepherd’s pie, Guinness stew, bangers and mashed, chicken pot pie, Dublin meatloaf and the Irish mist steak, plus pub choices like Molly's colossal burger, French dip and the pub steak hero. Molly Maguire’s is open daily for lunch and dinner and Sunday brunch.

  Molly Maguire's?
  1085 Central Avenue
  Clark, NJ 07066-1113
  732-388-6511?
  mollymaguires.com

McLynn's

• McLynn’s Irish restaurant is located in Springfield, a Union County township in Central Jersey. McLynn's Irish-American restaurant has the appearance of an Irish tavern or pub both outside and in. The restaurant offers an atmosphere that is rich in Irish themed décor and memorabilia. McLynn’s features a full bar, live music as well as stand-up comedians. Some authentic Irish dishes served are the Irish skins, beer-battered onion rings, shepherd's pie and hot corned beef hash. McLynn’s is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner and dinner only on Sundays.

  McLynn's
  ?250 Morris Avenue
  Springfield, NJ 07081-1212
  973-258-1600?
  mclynns.com

Hailey's Harp & Pub?

• Located in Middlesex County, Central Jersey, Hailey's Harp & Pub? is a restaurant featuring Irish cuisine, live music on a regular basis, plus an array promotions and activities such as the Irish Whiskey promotion, karaoke nights every Tuesday, Hailey's Sunday brunch and Wild Wings Wednesday. Some menu items offered include Marilyn's Irish mussels, bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage and Guinness Irish stew as well as lighter fare such as sandwiches, burgers, salads and soups. Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Sunday, Hailey's Harp & Pub also has an extensive list of premium scotch and whiskey, Irish beer as well as other domestic and international draft and bottled beers, plus various wines.

  Hailey's Harp & Pub?
  400 Main Street
  Metuchen, NJ 08840-1807
  732-321-0777?
  haileysharpandpub.com

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Restaurants in Quakerbridge, New Jersey

The Trenton suburb of Lawrenceville in Mercer County, New Jersey, is home to Quakerbridge Road. On Quakerbridge Road, you can find a variety of destinations such as the fitness centers, churches and the Quaker Bridge Mall which is a major shopping center in Lawrenceville. Thanks to the region's multicultural populace, many dining destinations serving different cuisines can also be found on Quakerbridge Road, including American, Italian and Japanese restaurants.

Candela Pizzeria II

• A traditional pizzeria that is family-owned and operated, Candela has a large menu of Italian foods from the appetizer to the main dish. Though pizzeria is part of their name, they also have an excellent pasta selection and an option to create your own pasta dish by choosing pasta and sauce types. Other popular choices include pizza, of course, but also sandwiches, seafood, salad and even veal. For an Italian-style lunch or dinner meal, Candela is a good bet.

  Candela Pizzeria II
  4120 Quakerbridge Road
  Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
  609-799-8800
  
  candelapizza.com

Banzai Japanese Restaurant

• Banzai is a Hibachi-style Japanese restaurant that is located right in Trenton. Open for lunch and dinner, Banzai has a full menu from appetizers to desserts. Ice cream cake is one of the popular dessert options available at Banzai. With a full bar and a specialized banquet menu, Banzai is a great place for large parties. Popular menu items include teriyaki, sushi and tempura dinners with steak, chicken or fish.

  Banzai Japanese Restaurant
  3690 Quakerbridge Road
  Trenton, NJ 08619
  609-587-5454
  banzairestaurant.com

Villa Maria Restaurant and Pizzeria

• With a full menu of Italian food and delicious pizzas, Villa Maria has a dish for any lover of Italian food. Popular appetizer choices include eggplant caprese or mozzarella en carroze. Both of these dishes have cheese, Italian seasonings and other traditional Italian ingredients. One of the most popular entrees at Villa Maria is the prosciutto crostini. For those looking for simpler, but no less delicious fare, fish and chips, Italian rolled steak, and regular pasta with marinara sauce are available. Villa Maria's pizza offerings include creative pies such as lasagna pizza and cheesesteak pizza.

  Villa Maria Restaurant and Pizzeria
  3800 Quakerbridge Road
  Trenton, NJ 08619-1010
  609-587-4445

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Restaurants in the Marketplace in Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is a town with much to offer. With a progressive and active community, Cherry Hill is an affluent agricultural region that offers a rich historical background, many entertainment venues and various commerce centers, including the Marketplace. The Marketplace features many retailers and dining establishments. If you are planning a visit, The Marketplace features restaurants serving various types of food.

Peace A Pizza

• Peace A Pizza is an Italian restaurant that specializes in a wide variety of fresh-made pizzas. The restaurant is known for its exotic and unusual pizza options, such as honey lime chicken, "sexy chicken," bacon cheeseburger pizza and Mediterranean pizza. The restaurant also serves gourmet stromboli and salads, and offers catering. Peace A Pizza is open every day for lunch and dinner.

  Peace A Pizza
  Marketplace at Garden State Park
  2010 Route 70 W
  Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
  856-661-9300
  peacepizza.com

Cheeseburger Cheeseburger

• Cheeseburger Cheeseburger offers a wide selection of burgers made with 100 percent all-natural beef. There are eight cheese options and 34 toppings to choose, including peanut butter, artichoke hearts, chopped garlic and jalapeno peppers. The restaurant also serves a variety of wraps, has a broad salad menu and offers more than 70 milk shake or malt flavors. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner every day.

  Cheeseburger Cheeseburger
  Marketplace at Garden State Park
  2026 Route 70 W
  Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
  856-661-9700
  cheeburger.com

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

• Potbelly Sandwich Shop opened in 1977 as an antique store. The owners began making sandwiches for customers and gradually changed their focus from selling antiques to making sandwiches. The interior is casual, featuring rustic antique-style painted walls and signs, as well as booth and table seating. The restaurant specializes in made-to-order sandwiches with generous portions. Some signature classics are the pizza sandwich and the thin-sliced roast beef with provolone. The menu also offers salads, soups, shakes and smoothies. Potbelly Sandwich Shop is open for lunch and dinner every day.

  Potbelly Sandwich Shop
  Marketplace at Garden State Park
  2050 Route 70 W
  Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
  856-662-0082
  potbelly.com

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BYOB Restaurants in New Jersey

New Jersey is a state filled with active and affluent regions that have rich historical backgrounds, diverse architecture, museums, theaters and parks ideal for outdoor activities. Fitting a culturally diverse population, New Jersey is home to restaurants serving cuisines from every culture. If you want to enhance a meal by bringing your favorite wine or beer, New Jersey has several BYOB restaurants that will accommodate you.

La Mezzaluna

• La Mezzaluna in Princeton offers upscale Italian cuisine with superior service. The restaurant interior is lively and warm, featuring booth and table seating with chrome table tops and colorfully painted walls adorned with framed Italian themed paintings and artwork. The menu features Italian dishes such as pumpkin ravioli, carpaccio insalata and Italian eggplant fusilli with fresh tomato basil sauce. The restaurant welcomes diners who bring a bottle of wine to enjoy along with the Italian cuisine. La Messaluna serves lunch and dinner Monday through Sunday.

  La Mezzaluna

  25 Witherspoon Street

  Princeton, NJ

  609-688-8515

  Lamezzaluna.com

Avon Pavilion

• Avon Pavillion is a relaxed beachfront establishment located in Avon By the Sea. The restaurant's direct view of the New Jersey shore is a fit accompaniment to the fresh and eclectic dishes served. The Avon Pavilion welcomes patrons who bring their own beer or wine to compliment the fresh and flavorful cuisine. Menu items range from buttermilk pancakes and omelettes to baby back ribs, filet mignon and summer salad with brie, almonds, strawberries and wild champagne strawberry vinaigrette dressing. Avon Pavillion serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Sunday and dinner Sunday through Thursday.

  Avon Pavilion

  600 Ocean Ave

  Avon By The Sea, NJ 07719

  732-775-1043

  avonpavilion.com

Resto

• Located in Madison, Resto restaurant serves contemporary cuisine in a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. The interior features simple table seating with crisp white tablecloths, vibrant interior colors and scenic paintings set in antique-style gold frames. When dining at Resto, you can bring your own bottle of wine to enjoy along with the French cuisine. Menu items include yellow tomato gazpacho, roasted pork tenderloin served with red beet-creme fraiche emulsion and poppy seed gnocchi. Resto is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Sunday.

  Resto

  77 Main St

  Madison, NJ 07940

  973-377-0066

  restonj.com

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Cruises Departing From New York or New Jersey

Yankees and Southern transplants living in New York and New Jersey looking for a vacation combining gourmet dining, high-caliber entertainment, shopping, socializing, relaxing and touring new cities may find cruising an ideal match. With cruise ports in both the Big Apple and the Garden State, cruise enthusiasts will find many ships setting sail with itineraries for new adventures.

1. Carnival

   • Sail out of New York City and into Canada on a five-day itinerary aboard the Carnival Glory. Enjoy two days at sea and the Canadian cities of Saint John and Halifax, Nova Scotia. While off the ship, try port excursions: ride a horse drawn trolley or the Big Pink Bus, tour with a professional photographer, drive by the Bay of Fundy, kayak, golf the Rockwood Golf & Country Club, explore the Hopewell Rocks Biosphere Reserve and taste Moosehead beer.

     The Carnival offers four room styles: interior (no window), ocean view, balcony and suites. During your days at sea, enjoy ship attractions such as a casino, waterslide, nine-hole mini-golf course, arcade, kids’ areas, salon, fitness center, sauna and karaoke club. Eateries include two gourmet restaurants plus a sushi bar, coffee bar, steakhouse, pizzeria and 24-hour room service.

     Carnival
     888-227-6482
     carnival.com

   Princess Cruises

   • Spend more than two weeks aboard the Princess Cruises’ Ocean Princess ship, leaving out of New York City and sailing for 18 days on the “Fire & Ice Explorer” itinerary. During the trip, you’ll sail into Halifax, Nova Scotia; St. Anthony, Newfoundland; Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, Greenland; Grudarfjordur, Isafjordur and Akureyri, Iceland; the Shetland Islands and Edinburgh, Scotland. The journey ends in London/Dover, England. Excursions include Godafoss Waterfalls, the Laufas Folk Museum, Botanical Gardens, a trip to Edinburgh Castle, and a Viking experience tour at the New World’s first outpost site in Newfoundland.

     Select from five cabin styles on the Ocean Princess: inside, ocean view, ocean view obstructed (you’ll have a cabin with a window at a reduced rate because a lifeboat or other structure may block the view), balcony and suite. Features of the Ocean Princess include a jogging track, golf practice cage, card room, boutiques, pool, fitness area, casino, bars, lounges, wine/caviar bar and art gallery with auction.

     Princess Cruises
     800-774-6237
     princess.com

   Royal Caribbean

   • Board the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas at the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in New Jersey and set sail for 12 nights of the Southern Caribbean. The itinerary includes five days at sea, plus stops in Labadee, Haiti; Samana, Dominican Republic; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. John’s, Antigua and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Explore the port cities through trips such as a skyride, panoramic drive, wave jet tour, walking tour, butterfly farm, Dragon’s Tail Coaster and even a floating beach mat in Labadee.

     On board, four cabin options are available: interior, ocean view, balcony and suite. Keep up your energy with the Explorer of the Seas’ rock-climbing wall, inline skating, ice-skating rink, nine-hole golf simulator, fitness center and full-size basketball court. Also on board is the University of Miami Ocean Lab, plus dining choices such as an Italian restaurant, mystery dinner theater, '50s style diner, coffee bar, ice cream bar and three daily buffets.

     Royal Caribbean
     866-562-7625
     royalcaribbean.com

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Places to Visit Near Mickleton, New Jersey

Like Philadelphia across the Delaware River, Mickleton, New Jersey, oozes history. The community is much smaller than the City of Brotherly Love, but its Quaker past is just as evident. While the town's historic structures are largely privately owned, you can check out the exteriors of Revolutionary War surgeon Dr. Bodo Otto's house and the circa 1809 Little Red Schoolhouse. Time your visit right to enjoy the schoolhouse's annual yard sale, egg hunt and pig roast. Otherwise, your best bet is to drive less than 8 miles from town to immerse yourself in an area brimming with antique shops, parks and historic sites.

Mullica Hill

• Mullica Hill -- a picturesque town lined with historic Colonial and Victorian buildings occupied by an eclectic assortment of antique shops, specialty stores and eateries -- is less than 5 miles from Mickleton. Many of the shops are closed for business on Mondays and Tuesdays, so you'll want to visit later in the week, but preferably not on summer weekends when traffic can be heavy. Be sure to stop at Yellow Garage Antiques, a 6,500-square-foot antique consortium housed in an old bus terminal. Then there's Murphy's Loft, a barn turned multi-dealer bookshop, collectibles and antique furniture center specializing in vintage postcards. The Old Mill Antique Mall, in a Revolutionary War-era barn, has everything from buttons and bottles to fine china and midcentury furniture, but when your stomach starts to rumble, head to Amelia's Tea and Holly. The Christmas shop and tearoom is lavished with Victorian decor, an ideal spot for sipping cherry rose tea and noshing on freshly baked scones.

Swedesboro

• Swedesboro, another scenic berg that's worth a visit, is less than 5 miles from Mickleton. The town's main street has a small stretch of restaurants and specialty stores, dominated by Botto's Italian Restaurant and Tavro Thirteen, an upscale eatery housed in a Colonial home built in 1771. King's Things, a Christian thrift shop, has some great finds. Be sure to stop into the award-winning Sweetsboro Pastry Shop, known for its cheesecakes and fruit pies. History buffs will appreciate the Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church, downtown Swedesboro's most prominent structure. The brick church stands on one of South Jersey's oldest deeded church properties; the building is open only by appointment, but a walk around the grounds reveals a cemetery where many Swede pioneers are laid to rest.

Woodbury

• Centuries-old brick buildings and formerly grand houses line Woodbury's main thoroughfare. Less than 5 miles from Mickleton, the Revolutionary War-era town lies along the banks of the Delaware River and is packed with historic sites. While some of the area is rundown, you can walk along Broad and Delaware Streets to view the Friends Meeting House, an 18th-century Quaker gathering place, and the G.G. Green Building, a former Victorian-era opera house. The Hunter-Lawrence Jessup House, once the boyhood home of "Don't give up the ship" Captain James Lawrence, is open for tours, as is the Friendship Fire Company Museum.

Parks

• Travel roughly 3 miles from Mickleton to relax in Greenwich Lake Park with picnic tables, grills, a boat launch and year-round, licensed fishing opportunities at its 40-acre spring-fed lake. Less than 8 miles from the town, Red Bank Battlefield has playgrounds, nature paths, picnic areas and a small Delaware River beach. It's also the site of the American victory in the 1777 Revolutionary War battle of Red Bank, when the Continental army kept British-service Hessians from attacking Philadelphia. The Ann Whitall House, a 1748 Quaker farmhouse that survived the battle and served as a battlefield hospital, is open for free tours.

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Things to Do Near Long Branch, New Jersey

Long Branch, New Jersey started as a hot summer resort filled with sun, sea, gambling and horse racing for newly-monied players from Philadelphia and New York City. With its heyday behind it by the end of the 19th century, the once-bustling town entered a period of economic decline. In recent years, however, the "Friendly City" has leveled most of its waterfront area, rebuilding from the ground up to reinvent itself as one the Jersey Shore's premier vacation spots. Long Branch is once again courting visitors to its beaches, boardwalk and bevy of shops and restaurants.

Municipal Beaches

• A wide stretch of pristine, white-sand beach is Long Branch's main attraction. While 2012's Hurricane Sandy caused extensive damage, the municipal beaches are back in business. These beaches are not free, however; to put flip-flops to sand, beach-goers between the ages of 14 and 62 must purchase a beach tag. But it's worth the nominal fee to enjoy the surf and view. Dolphins splash just beyond the breakers and tanned vacationers swim, build sandcastles and play volleyball. Licensed fishing is permitted in designated areas. In addition, surfers like Sam Hammer, a well-known name in New Jersey surfing, often hang 10 at Pavilion Avenue Beach and an area referred to as "The Pit" at Brighton Avenue.

Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park

• President Ulysses S. Grant had a summer home on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch, while President James A. Garfield attempted to recuperate at the shore after a gunshot wound. In all, seven presidents vacationed in Long Branch during its gilded age, so it's not surprising that one of the town's best-known attractions is Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park. Operated by the Monmouth County Park System, the 38-acre park has slightly higher beach badge fees than the municipal beaches, but the facility is packed with fun. Licensed fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, body boarding and surfing are permitted along its mile-long shoreline. The smoke-free park offers volleyball courts and the year-round Tony's Place playground. While the county has no plans to re-open the in-line skating rink after it was damaged by Hurricane Sandy, the year-round Skateplex -- a skateboarder's heaven with a bowl, wedges and quarter pipes -- is fully operational.

Shopping and Nightlife

• Pier Village, a high-end oceanfront condo and retail complex, was developed after the city's raze-and-rebuild phase. Although somewhat pricey, trendy boutique shops and eateries offer a convenient escape from the sand and surf. Free live bands play on Thursdays during the summer at Festival Plaza, a grassy area open to the public. In addition, a series of charity walks and runs are sponsored by businesses throughout the year. Other Pier Village events include sidewalk sales -- held every couple of months -- and the annual Tree Lighting event in December. For nightlife, the Brighton Bar has been a favored music venue with locals for decades. It may look like a dive, but some up-and-coming bands from around New Jersey and the U.S. come to play here.

Monmouth Park

• Throughout the summer season, Monmouth Park in nearby Oceanfront has live thoroughbred horse racing. You may have seen the racetrack featured in episodes of "The Sopranos" and "Law & Order." Families can get an insider's tour of the track on summer Saturdays and Sundays during the Dawn Patrol. The facility is much more than a racing venue, however. Restaurants, a gift shop and the Bluegrass Mini Golf course all call the park home. In addition, a calendar of special events includes crab cake cook-offs, barbecues, beer festivals and family days, when kids can enjoy free pony rides, live music, face painting and bounce house thrills.

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The Best Places for Crabbing at the New Jersey Shore

If you're a fan of crab meat, you'll find blue crab is easily caught along the New Jersey shore during the summer months. Crabs find their way to shallow waters during the warm months to feed on summer's bounty and produce the next generation of these delicious crustaceans. Success is easy using little more than a bait line, trap or dip neck and a piece of chicken or fish that's starting to smell. While just about any shallow bay, pier or creek mouth will get you a chance at blue crab, there are a few places along the state's shoreline you won't want to miss.

Best Place to Learn the Ropes

• If you've never been crabbing, you won't want to miss a ride on the Skimmer at Cape May National Wildlife Refuge in the southern part of the state. The flat-bottomed 40-footer skims through refuge waters while you get hands-on experience in all phases of crabbing. You'll learn how to bait lines and traps, the most productive areas for crabbing and how to pick up a crab without getting pinched. You'll get to keep any legal crabs you catch. The boat runs from mid-June through August.

Way Up North

• Monmouth County has the northernmost shoreline on the New Jersey shore. Use a dip net to capture blue crabs and spider crabs that cling to pier pilings at Keansburg Fishing Pier on Point Comfort. The pier rents scoopers and has bait available on site. Ten miles south, you'll find prime crabbing spots at the mouth of the Navesink River, as well as upstream areas near the confluence with Claypit Creek and Oceanic Bridge. Rent a skiff to find your ideal spot at the Oceanic Marina as well as crab traps and nets.

Crabbing in the Center of Things

• You'll find the greatest number of great crabbing spots in Ocean County, which reaches from Point Pleasant down to Great Bay. Island Beach State Park stretches 10 miles just off shore, with quiet coves where you can escape the crowds. Best crabbing is in shallow waters on the southern end of the island on the Bay Side. Berkeley Island County Park is an enjoyable spot to crab with kids. The park's playground and lifeguard-attended swimming beach make enjoyable diversions before or after crabbing.

The Southern Tip

• Cape May juts out into the water at the far southern end of the state, separating Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. In the city of Wildwood Crest along the Atlantic shoreline, Lakeview Docks maintains a fishing and crabbing pier accessible for a daily fee. Bring your own trap or rent one from the dock. You can also rent a fishing boat or kayak and explore the network of streams, lakes and sounds where crabs travel to feed and reproduce. The dock lies just a couple of blocks northwest of the beach on Sunset Lake.

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Ice Skating in Roosevelt Park, New Jersey

Edison, a New Jersey township first settled in the late 1600s, changed its name in 1954 to honor the feats of Thomas Alva Edison. The inventor made many of his famed discoveries -- including the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph and the first recording of sound -- in the late 1870s at his Menlo Park research laboratory. Although nationally known Menlo Park is the site of a memorial tower and museum that pays homage to Edison's work, another of the township's historic parks -- Roosevelt Park -- is heralded regionally for its outdoor theater and year-round recreational amenities, including an ice skating rink.

About the Park

• Roosevelt Park, Middlesex County's oldest park, opened in 1917 and is about a mile south of Menlo Park's Edison tower and museum. The 217-acre facility's recreational amenities include an eight-acre lake for fishing, tennis courts, sports fields, paths for walking and biking, three playgrounds and several picnic areas. In summer months, the park's outdoor amphitheater is home to Plays-In-The-Park, a series of community theater productions that dates back more than 50 years. In the winter, however, the main attraction is ice skating.

Scenic Setting

• Roosevelt Park's Family Ice Skating Rink, typically open from mid-November to late March, is an uncovered outdoor rink that provides scenic views of Roosevelt's lake and the surrounding parkland. The rink has a concession stand that sells hot and cold beverages, sandwiches and other snacks. Basketball courts, a gazebo and a lakeside walking path are adjacent to the skating rink, and a parking area and restrooms also are nearby.

Skating Schedule

• In recent years, the Roosevelt Park rink typically has been open five days a week. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, the rink is open on other weekday evenings. On Saturdays, open skating is divided into three sessions from late morning to early evening, with two sessions on Sundays. The ice skating rink typically has longer weekday sessions during holiday periods when area schools are on break. The rink is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and also may shut down in periods of inclement weather.

Things to Know

• A nominal fee is charged for each ice skating session at Roosevelt Park, with children and seniors receiving a slightly discounted rate. Other optional services include skate rental and skate sharpening. All beginning skaters are urged to wear helmets, which are required for skaters ages 6 and under. Helmets are available for purchase at the rink. The park also provides weekly skating instruction for ages 5 and above. Lessons begin in early January and include skate rental and skating during any public session.

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Blueberry Festival in Hammonton, New Jersey

Nothing screams summer quite like the bursting sweetness of ripe blueberries. Every year since 1987, the sleepy town of Hammonton, New Jersey, comes alive in celebration of its largest crop -- blueberries -- at the Red, White and Blueberry Festival. This thriving residential community is located halfway between the metropolis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the coastal playground of Atlantic City, New Jersey. It’s also home to the largest blueberry farming industry in the world, which earns it the nickname, "Blueberry Capital of the World."

Background Information

• Generations of Hammonton families have tended to the sandy soil and harvested their plump, juicy berries, making it the ideal location to honor this humble and delicious fruit. Although the town's very first blueberry festival was held in 1953, it didn't become an annual event until 1987, when organizers started it as a quiet community event. Over the years, it has grown into a relatively large festival with an estimated 10,000 visitors. Admission to the Red, White and Blueberry Festival is free and parking is also free. Shuttles are available to take you from the school parking lots to the festival grounds.

Blueberries: Star of the Festival's Menu

• Unsurprisingly, blueberries take center stage on the menus of food vendors at the festival. You’ll find everything from sweet treats such as blueberry cannolis, pie and ice cream to savory specialties such as blueberry sausages, salsa and blueberry-pomegranate chicken tacos. Local growers bring roughly 800 cases of fresh berries to sell at the festival, ensuring that there are more than enough juicy gems to go around. If you're looking for a more lasting souvenir, farm stands such as the DiMeo Farms stand sells non-GMO blueberry bushes so that you can grow your own berries at home.

Juicy Festival Entertainment and Shopping

• Between snacking, you might want to check out some of the other attractions at the blueberry festival. For example, if you're looking to outfit your home with a blueberry theme, you're in luck. From tissue holders and potholders to pillows, coasters and napkins -- vendors sell a variety of home goods and crafts that honor the lovely berry. In addition to its 60 craft vendors, the festival also has a play area for kids, with inflatable slides and other amusements. Other entertaining options include entering the blueberry pie-eating contest, watching the classic car show and listening to live music that plays throughout the festival.

Nearby Lodging

• There are a few lodging options in the Hammonton area. The Red Carpet Inn and Suites is located approximately 3 miles from Hammonton High School, where the festival is held. It is across the street from Grog Rock Golf & Country Club, on Route 30 East. Rodeway Inn is roughly 4 1/2 miles away, near Wharton State Forest. This pet-friendly hotel welcomes up to two pets weighing 30 pounds or less in each room for an extra nightly charge.

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