Fun Friday

Good Morning we have made it through another week and now it's time to go on our weekly Friday adventure.

Can you guess where we are going this week? We are going to the  beautiful state of New Jersey

1.) Grounds For Sculpture The perfect day trip! Grounds For Sculpture (GFS), located in Hamilton, New Jersey (midway between Philadelphia and New York), is a forty-two acre not-for-profit sculpture park and arboretum founded by Seward Johnson. Its collection features more than 270 contemporary sculptures by renowned and emerging artists. Rotating exhibitions in six indoor galleries. With rich educational offerings, a robust schedule of performing arts, and fun family events, the park is open year-round. Shopping and dining options complement every visit. Members receive free admission year-round plus a host of other benefits. For hours, admission prices, membership information, and a calendar of events, visit us online

2.) Atlantic City Boardwalk Opened on June 26, 1870, the world-famous Boardwalk stretches along six magical and glittering miles of Atlantic City beachfront.

3.) Ocean City Boardwalk With its quaint storefronts, amusement rides and Music Pier, Ocean City is everything you'd expect from the real Jersey shore. This family-friendly town boasts a two-mile boardwalk dotted with amusements, pizza parlors, and seaside stores.

4.) Cape May County Park & Zoo hours of operation are 10-3:30pm  Have a wild time as you explore more than 85 acres of beautifully maintained exhibits. With 200 different species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles and approximately 500 animals, you're sure to see something new. The Cape May County Zoo is open 364 days a year (closed Christmas). Summer Hours: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Winter Hours: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. beginning November 2nd. No admission fee. That's right! The zoo is free of charge! Donations are GREATLY appreciated! Join the FUN, where the admission is always FREE!

5.) Cape May Lighthouse hours of operation are 9-5pm The 1859 Cape May Lighthouse is fully restored and visitors can climb 199 steps to the top for a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. The original Oil Storage Building is accessible and houses a Museum Shop and accessible displays. Open daily from April through November and weekends in the shoulder seasons. Evening trolley tours and Full Moon Climbs offered during the summer season. The Cape May Lighthouse has been restored and is managed by the non-profit Cape May MAC (Museums + Arts + Culture). While located at Cape May Point State Park, it is not affiliated with the State Park System. The State Park is open from sunrise to sunset and offers many opportunities for nature lovers, including the Hawk Watch platform and well-marked nature trails. Summertime programming is offered to introduce visitors to the history of the Lighthouse and is free of charge. The beach is free but swimming is not allowed. The park is “carry in, carry out;” please do not litter.

6.) Jersey Shore Alpacas IMPORTANT: OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT US FOR AVAILABILITY WITHOUT VISITING OUR WEBSITE FIRST for complete schedule information. Closed Sundays. Again, OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Fleece and Fun for Everyone! Jersey Shore Alpacas is a small, friendly farm located in Green Creek, just north of Cape May, NJ (about 3 hours from NYC). Please see our website for more information on visiting the farm. :) You'll love meeting our curious alpacas and browsing in our shop for soft, warm alpaca clothing and cuddly toys! We also carry more than 20 different types of alpaca yarn from Blue Sky Fibers, Alpaca Yarn Company, and farm yarn (when available). We also host occasional adult craft classes in knitting, needle felting, and wet felting! Hope to see you soon!

7.) Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum located in Cape May Naval Air Station Wildwood Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to restore Hangar #1 at the Cape May Airport, Cape May County, New Jersey, into an aircraft museum honoring the Navy airmen who died while training during World War II. Hangar # 1 was listed onto the National Register of Historic Places in September of 1997. Naval Air station (NAS) Wildwood was commissioned on April 1, 1943. The site served as an active dive-bomber squadron training facility from 1943 to 1945. Aircraft stationed at NAS Wildwood included TBM Avengers, Douglas Dauntlesses, Vought Corsairs and Curtiss Helldivers. Forty-two airmen perished while training at NAS Wildwood during World War II. In June 1997, NASW Foundation purchased Hangar #1 at the Cape May Airport. The 92,000 square-foot all-wooden structure was in a state of disrepair and required extensive renovation. Under the stewardship of NASW Foundation, the hangar was listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places at the National Significance Level. NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum now boasts over 26 aircraft displays as well as exhibits of military memorabilia, engines, photographs and more. Additionally, the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia has provided NAS Wildwood with a wealth of interactive exhibits that allow visitors to discover the science of flight. The museum also features a library, food vending area as well as a recently expanded gift shop. In its role as a community resource, NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum regularly hosts activities including fly-ins, aviation festivals, big band concerts, swing dances, veterans’ ceremonies, historical lectures, school field trips and senior tours.

8.) Wildwood Boardwalk The Wildwood Boardwalk in New Jersey is miles of magic with 100s of rides and attractions. Free beaches and oceanfront waterparks.

9.) Battleship New Jersey located in Camden hours of operation are 10-4pm Open for tours everyday from 10am to 4pm. The Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial is open for tours. Experience the Fire Power tour! Climb inside the 16-inch gun turret, track a tomahawk missile launch in the Combat Engagement Center, walk down Broadway and more! Purchase Tickets - https://www.battleshipnewjersey.org Our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/battleshipnewjersey

10.) Hartwood Acres Park hours of operation are 9-4pm Took the mansion/estate tour with a guide -- wonderful decorations inside and much fascinating history. House associated with the Finn family (of Senator William Finn fame). Tudor style mansion with English gardens. Beautifully furnished. check out the gift store; very unique gifts for every occasion! Highly recommend it!

11.) Turtle Back Zoo located in West Orange hours of operation are 10-4pm This is a pretty, well kept zoo. Considering its small size, there were many species on display note that there are no maps available; you will have to depend on the map on your phone (annoying). Consider printing out your own map ahead of time. Be aware that there are lots of intersecting paths and NO directional signs where they come together. Although it says it is wheelchair accessible there are a few places where the incline is to much for you to push a wheelchair 

12.) Storybook Land located in Egg Harbor Hours of operation are 4-8pm For over 60 years, Storybook Land has been keeping the spirit of childhood alive in an entertaining and educational atmosphere. We invite you to relive your childhood while introducing the innocent themes of wonderment to an entire new generation. Your children's and grandchildren'€s memories will be with them throughout their lifetimes! The timelessness of childhood will ring true as your family literally walks through its all-time favorite stories and nursery rhymes at Storybook Land. Children's classics are interspersed with exciting new family rides and attractions in a remarkably clean and enjoyable park setting. Join us several times a year for memorable family experiences. You are certain to enjoy your visits!

13.) Thomas Edison National Historical Park located in West Orange  There's too much to see if you only budget a couple of hours. The Edison lab grounds are definitely worth taking the time to see, and be certain to book a tour time for the Edison home in advance of your visit, as well. The lab(s) were spread over a greater area than I would have originally guessed, and have been well-preserved/restored. There were several flights of stairs at the labs, but I believe there was an elevator available if needed. The Edison home was impressive, and the guide had the forethought to use a portable PA system/microphone, which meant everyone on the tour heard his entire presentation. (I thought this was a great idea, and hopefully this approach is adopted by other NPS sites!)

14.) Silverball Retro Arcade Asbury Park hours of operation are 11-9pm The Silverball Museum Arcade, located in Asbury Park NJ is a living, breathing and blinking tribute to our pinball and video gaming past. With 600 games* in rotation, we are sure you will find your favorites while getting to know and enjoy some new machines. So, next time you are down at the Jersey Shore – stop in and experience a great piece of Americana.

15.) Barnegat Lighthouse State Park hours of operation are 8-8pm On the northern tip of Long Beach Island, this park includes a maritime forest, lighthouse, and access to great birding and fishing sites.

16.) Lucy the Elephant Originally named Elephant Bazaar, this six-story elephant-shaped building was built in 1881 by James V. Lafferty, Jr. in hopes of selling parcels of land located on the beach in Margate, NJ. Over the years, this unique structure has served many purposes -- most notably as a tourist attraction. Today, Lucy the Elephant is recognized as the Oldest Roadside Attraction in America and has been declared a National Historic Landmark. There is no charge to visit the site or to shop in the Gift Shop; however, visitors wishing to go inside the elephant must purchase admission tickets to the Guided Tour. Guided Tours through the elephant structure occur every 45 minutes during business hours. Cost of Admission: $8.50 Adults (ages 13 and up) $4.00 Children (ages 3-12) And don't forget to shop our Gift Shop for all of your elephant-themed items, including one-of-a-kind Lucy the Elephant souvenirs available nowhere else!

17.) Absecon Lighthouse located in Atlantic City New Jersey's tallest lighthouse awaits you at Pacific and Rhode Island Avenues in Atlantic City (walking distance from Showboat Casino). Take an amazing journey into time and above it all as you ascend the 228 steps of the Absecon Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses in the country. You'll see breathtaking views of the Atlantic City skyline and up top you'll come face-to-face with the original first-order Fresnel Lens, first lit in 1857.The lighthouse's recent multi-million dollar restoration also includes a stunning replica of the Lightkeeper's dwelling, an educational museum, charming gift shop, Fresnel Lens exhibit in the original Oil House and expansive grounds.The Absecon Lighthouse is on both the New Jersey and National Registries of Historic Places.

18.) Empty Sky - 9/11 Memorial Empty Sky is the official memorial to the state's 746 victims of the September 11 attacks. It is located in Liberty State Park in Jersey City at the mouth of Hudson River directly across from the original World Trade Center. It was dedicated on Saturday, September 10, 2011, a day before the tenth anniversary of the attacks. The memorial includes twin walls with a granite passage directed towards Ground Zero. Two 30-foot high rectangular towers stretch 208 feet 10 inches long, the exact width of the World Trade Center towers, a symbolic representation of the buildings lying on their sides. Each name of the 746 victims is etched in stainless steel on the walls and there are two original girders as a cross laid in front which are extremely poignant. The name of the memorial is taken from the Bruce Springsteen song which is about the "empty sky" where the towers once stood. An extremely emotional visit.

19.) Bergen County Zoological Park located in Paramus  It's small, but so is the entry fee- around $10/person. A train-ride around the zoo is $2 extra, the carousel ride was included in the ticket price. This park contains a zoo, a merry-go-round, sports fields, walking paths, bathrooms, places to purchase snacks, and much more. There are plenty of parking lots, and there is always something going on.

20.) Sterling Hill Mining Museum located in Ogdensburg  hours of operation are 10-3pm Step Into Earth Science.... Come take a ¼ mile underground walking adventure into the 4th oldest mine in the country and the last working underground mine in NJ. Most everything man made has something to do with mining. At the Sterling Hill Mining Museum well show you just how it's done. From drilling and blasting to the processing of the ore, we’ve got it all! While on tour you will see a mining equipment history display, a drilling and blasting demonstration and the world famous fluorescent "Rainbow Tunnel" where everybody gets to take home a fluorescent mineral specimen. Right here in NJ is one of the world's richest zinc ore deposits, the area boasts over 350 minerals, about 70 of which fluoresce. That's about 10% of the known minerals in the world right here in NJ. As well as the richest fluorescent mineral deposit in the world. You can collect minerals from all over the world, including fluorescence, yourself 7 days a week when the museum is open.

21.) The Newark Museum of Art The Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey's largest museum, invites you to enjoy unforgettable experiences in the arts and natural sciences. Take an inspirational journey through 80 galleries of world-class collections, travel to the stars in our popular Planetarium, and stroll through our beautiful sculpture garden.

22.) Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park hours of operation are 10-4:30pm The history of the City of Paterson includes its beginnings as the ambitious project of Alexander Hamilton and the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.) in 1792 at the Great Falls, the early development of water power systems for industrial use, and the various types of manufacturing that occurred in the District's mills into the 20th Century. These included cotton fabrics, railroad locomotives, textile machinery, jute, and silk spinning, weaving, and dyeing, among many others. The Great Falls also represents compelling stories of the lives of immigrants who labored in the mills, those who owned and operated manufacturing concerns and became wealthy, and the quest of laborers and the labor movement for better working conditions and pay. Immigrants still settle today in Paterson to pursue their versions of Hamilton's vision, creating a diverse and vibrant culture.

23.) Wild West City located in Stanhope Explore New Jersey's only Western Theme Park, disconnecting from the modern world and reawakening the spirit of the American West as Wild West City presents an interactive adventure bringing tales of the wild west to life. Wild West City is a special place in the beautiful, scenic, Skyland’s Region of Sussex County, New Jersey, where guests can step back in time and explore our unique 1880’s Theme Park. Families, couples, and groups of all ages come together in fun, creating memories and everlasting traditions. Our western theme park has been family owned and operated since 1957.

24.) Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge located in Oceanville  hours of operation are 10-3pm More than 43,000 acres of protected and managed coastal habitats for migratory birds.

25.) Old Barracks Museum located in Trenton In 1758, the Old Barracks was constructed to house British troops during the French and Indian War. During the Revolutionary War, the barracks was one of Washington's military hospitals. Today, the building is home to an interpretive museum, galleries, gift shop, and meeting space. Guided tours start on the hour from 10 AM - 4 PM, Monday - Saturday.

26.) Jenkinson's Aquarium located in Point Pleasant Beach  hours of operation are 10-5pm Jenkinson's Aquarium opened in 1991 and is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This indoor facility is dedicated to educating the public on various aspects of marine life and conservation. From Atlantic Sharks to Coral Reef and Local Fish the Aquarium has a variety of marine individuals. There is a Rainforest area with parrots and monkeys and a Pine Barrens area with turtles, frogs and even an owl. Touch tanks, Harbor seals and African Penguins are also included. Check out our Penguin Web Cam on the Aquarium website. You can come and go all day once you pay, so enjoy our exhibits then go out to the beach, rides, mini golf and return later in the day to see some animal feedings. Open year round.

27.) Museum of NJ Maritime History located in Beach Haven hours of operation are 10-4pm The NJ Maritime Museum is one of those very underrated museums that has interesting displays and wonderful information on both local and New Jersey history of the shore region. The exhibits on the 1916 Shark Attacks that inspired the movie "Jaws", the Castle Moro fire of the 1930's and the nautical exhibitions are very engaging and thorough. They tell an interesting story. The artifacts that are in the collection are excellent and well displayed. The staff at the museum is very engaging and will help you with any questions and are very proud of this museum. The museum is also free but try to leave a donation as this small museum is a wonderful place to visit when you are visiting Long Beach Island.

28.) Twin Lights Historic Site located in Highlands hours of operation are 10-4pm Museum & Tour open 10am to 4pm. Property Gate closes at 4:30 pm, please do not leave your vehicle unattended at the site.

29.) Batsto Village Once an industrial center for iron and glass, this village now contains over 30 historic buildings.

30.) Allaire State Park located in Farmingdale  Spanning more than 3,000 acres, this state park is best known for its 19th-century iron-making town, Allaire Village, and antique steam trains.

There are so many state parks and so many other amazing places to see and with so many different  things to do and see in the state you will surely find something for everyone and around every corner. 

I hope that you have enjoyed this week's tour and come back next week for another amazing adventure. Remember to always be kind as it costs nothing and if you see someone without a smile stop and give them yours a smile is contagious.

Written by: BeautifulChaos318