Did you develop a case of cabin fever over the long, cold winter? Now that spring is finally here, you’ll find plenty of things to do in New Jersey, including these five activities.
Looking for a new family activity? Geocaching may be the perfect thing for your family. Duke Farm’s 45-minute Introduction to Geocaching class will teach you how to use your phone’s GPS technology to look for clues concealed in secret spots. At the conclusion of the class, you’ll be prepared to hit the trails at the Farm and find caches hidden along the way, or venture out and explore geocaching spots throughout the area.
The class begins at 12:30 p.m., will be held outdoors, and will involve walking and standing. Masks, social distancing and pre-registration are required for the $5 geocaching class.
View one of the largest daffodil collections in New Jersey at Daffodil Day at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum. Starting at 11 a.m., guests can stroll through the 50,000 colorful daffodils that make up the Daffodil Bowl. Daffodil Day activities include story walks, crafts, vendors, music, art exhibits, green goats, vendors and food trucks.
You’ll need to register in advance, as walk-in admission isn’t an option. Staggered entrance times will be offered to make social distancing possible. Admission is free for Arboretum members and children under 2. Non-member admission is $10.
Since its debut in 2012, the Exit Zero Jazz Festival has become one of Cape May’s most popular activities. This year’s festival will feature the music of the Madeleine Peyroux Trio, Bill Frisel, Immanuel Wilkins, Alphonso Horne’s Gotham Kings, Snacktime Philly, Sammy Miller and the Congregation, Pedrito Martinez Band and many other artists.
Artists and bands will perform at the headline venue, which consists of two stages at the Grand Green Space at the Cape May – Lewes Ferry Terminal, or the Hops Pass Venues. Hops Pass Venues are located at Cape May Brewing Company, Hawk Haven Winery, Nauti Spirits Distillery and Cape May Convention Hall Beach.
Tickets are $195 for a three-day, all venue entry, or $68 for three-day entry to Hops Pass venues. Venues offer seating pods to make social distancing easier. You’ll need to bring your own camp or beach chair. Food vendors and bars will be available at all venues.
Sponsored by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and New Jersey National Gas, Ocean Fun Day celebrates the state’s coastline. Educational exhibits will explore the science of New Jersey’s shoreline and provide information about protecting this important natural resource.
The day will include youth fishing clinics, touch tanks, fiddler crab races, face painting, coastal crafts and an energy-saving scavenger hunt. An open house at the NOAA/James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory and guides tours of Sandy Hook’s historic sites will also be offered.
If you’ve got a little bit of daredevil in you, you’ll want to try the Treetop Adventure Course, located next to the Essex Country Turtle Back Zoo. Participants navigate a variety of obstacles, all located at least 35 feet above the ground. A 10-foot high junior course for kids 6 years and older is also available. Parents may participate in the junior course with their kids if they wish.
Online reservations are recommended, as walk-in spots will be limited. Participants must wear masks while on the course. Temperature checks are also required. Sneakers are a must, and non-slip gloves are recommended. Admission fees are $30 for adults and $20 for the junior course.
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