Podcast Summary: "The Things Every Kid Must Do in New Jersey"

Podcast: All Of It with Alison Stewart, WNYC
Episode Date: February 20, 2026
Guest: Julie Gordon, Editor, New Jersey Monthly

Episode Overview

This lively episode centers on childhood in New Jersey: the bucket-list of classic (and new) activities, places, and adventures every Jersey kid should experience. Host Alison Stewart welcomes Julie Gordon, editor of New Jersey Monthly, to discuss their newly published feature, "50 Plus Things Every Jersey Kid Must Do." The conversation is enriched with listener calls and texts reminiscing about beloved spots and sharing insider tips for families today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rediscovering the Garden State's Outdoors (00:09–02:46)

• Fairy Trail at South Mountain Reservation

  • [00:16] Julie Gordon highlights the Fairy Trail in Milburn as a must-see:

    "It's just really fun and cool and kind of different." – Julie Gordon [01:16]

  • It’s a magical half-mile woodland trail lined with hand-crafted fairy houses, “hidden off the busy downtown.”

• Why Start with Nature?

  • Julie explains that New Jersey often gets a bad rap:

    "People don't always necessarily think about nature or the outdoors... But this is a way to get out in nature and be part of that beauty while still having fun." – Julie Gordon [02:04]

Winter-Friendly, Indoor Escapes (03:39–06:37)

• Classic & Interactive Museums:

  • Game Vault Arcade in Morristown for retro gaming and pinball.

  • Liberty Science Center (Jersey City):

    "It really is an incredible full day trip in New Jersey." – Julie Gordon [03:58]

    • New touch tank featuring local Hudson River creatures.

  • Insectropolis (Toms River): a “bug museum” [04:35]

  • Morris Museum (Morristown): Features "the Spark Lab – an interactive lab where kids actually do science experiments." [04:46]

• IKEA as a Destination:

  • Julie champions the Elizabeth IKEA as an airplane-spotting haven:

    "If you go to the café, it's the perfect place to watch planes take off and land at Newark Airport... grab some Swedish meatballs... and see the planes." – Julie Gordon [05:19]

• American Dream Mall:

  • "[It's] a giant mall... But there are so many kids activities." – Julie Gordon [05:56]
  • Features: indoor skiing, water park, Sesame Street experience, aquarium, mini Legoland, theme park.

Listener Favorites and Hidden Gems (06:37–12:36)

• Diners, Theaters, Art Spaces:

  • “Shut Up and Eat” diner (Tom’s River): Dress in PJs, get money off your bill – best tater tots [06:37]
  • Mile Square Theater (Hoboken): For young theatergoers [06:37]
  • Canary Art and Sensory Play Studio (South Orange & Montclair): Interactive play [06:37]

• Turtle Back Zoo & Local Nature:

  • Dee from Milburn calls in, praising:
    • Turtle Back Zoo
    • Essex County Park & South Mountain Reservation [07:18]
  • Alison shares, "I had a birthday party at Turtle Back Zoo." [08:08]

• Animals for All Ages:

  • Adventure Aquarium (Camden): Shark bridge, hippos, swim with sharks for teens

    "If you're an older kid... they have a swimming with the sharks experience, which is really for the adventurous type." – Julie Gordon [08:28]

• Lake Hopatcong Memories:

  • Kevin from Denver:

    "Three quarters of a century ago... my family used to go to Lake Hopatcong in the summers and it was the wilderness." [10:00]

• Grounds for Sculpture & Duke Farms:

  • Jerry from South Orange recommends these for outdoorsy fun and cheap/free activities:

    "You can get out there and ride bikes and see some amazing old architecture and also some incredible vistas." [11:01]

  • Duke Farms: Free entry, bike trails, orchid house, interactive experiences
    • Trailside Nature and Science Center (Wachung Reservation):
      "Kids really walk through different habitats in New Jersey." – Julie Gordon [11:41]

Unique and Nostalgic Amusements (13:38–14:59)

• Beyond Six Flags:

  • Fairy Tale Forest (Oak Ridge):

    "It's the opposite of Six Flags. It's very small... It's just old school." – Julie Gordon [13:38]

  • Storybook Land:
    "An amusement park with rides for young children; storybook themed." [14:13]

  • Wild West City:
    "Family owned, wild west themed shows and amusements." [14:22]

Animals, Nature & Summer Adventures (15:06–21:54)

• Cape May Zoo

  • Susan from Summit:

    "A giraffe came right up to them... I haven't heard one person say they did not like the Cape May Zoo." [15:06]

• Raptor Trust (Sterling, NJ):

  "They try to do their best to keep birds alive and happy... My daughter found a little baby blue jay... the blue jay was able to fly away." – Susan [15:06]

• Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge:

  • Boardwalks in all seasons, as relayed by a caller (Lawrence) [16:30]

• Long Beach Island & Seaside:

  • Nora from Ocean Grove:

    "We didn't even have TV... So the highlight of the summer would be one of the aunts or uncles would always take us to Seaside. Love it." [16:58]

New & Innovative Educational Spots (17:32–18:37)

• Edelman Fossil Park (South Jersey):

  "It costs $72 million... What's really unique about it is it's on an actual quarry, like a working quarry that researchers use. But kids can go in there and dig and find fossils." – Julie Gordon [17:42]

For Tweens, Teens & Pop Culture Fans (18:44–19:51)

• Winter Sports & Arcades:
  • Ice skating at the Igloo in Mount Laurel (Isabel Levito’s rink).
  • Mountain Creek for skiing and snowboarding.
  • Silverball Museum (Asbury Park): Pinball and video game history.
• Comic Culture:
  • Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash (Red Bank), owned by filmmaker Kevin Smith.

Living History & Local Traditions (19:58–21:45)

• Foster Fields Living Historical Farm:

  • Hannah recommends:

    "They show how to make butter... elderly people do volunteer work and show the kids how it used to be done." [19:58]

• Crabbing:

  • Debbie from Trenton shares a multigenerational tradition:

    "All you really need is a string, a weight, and a raw chicken neck... The best part about it is you're outdoors all day, you come home, you cook up a wonderful family feast..." [20:55]

Arts, Culture, and Treats (21:54–24:27)

• Zimmerli Art Museum (Rutgers University, New Brunswick):

  • Sally plugs:

    "It is always free. They have incredible contemporary exhibitions... public programming... a bilingual initiative... Rutgers Gardens as well." [21:54]

• Theater for Children:

  • Paper Mill Playhouse (Milburn):

    "It's a Tony winning regional theater... a great place to take your kid for their first show... very welcoming to families." – Julie Gordon [23:05]

• Sweet Treats:

  • The Candy Lab (Hamilton):
    "You can make your own candy – they have classes and events." [23:40]
  • Showplace Ice Cream (Long Beach Island):
    "There's a show that comes with every visit... the people who work there are singers and actors and they perform tunes while you have your ice cream." – Julie Gordon [23:40]

Memorable Quotes

• "Not every kid's going to want to go on a hike... But this [the Fairy Trail] is a way to get out in nature and be part of that beauty while still having fun."
  – Julie Gordon [02:04]

• "I took [my son] to Game Vault in Morristown... There's pinball, there's old Mario games, there's Pac-Man. We just spent a couple hours there. We had so much fun."
  – Julie Gordon [03:39]

• "If you go to Ikea, you can just look out the window... and see the planes."
  – Julie Gordon [05:19]

• "[American Dream is] really an indoor playground. I mean, there's a ton to do there."
  – Julie Gordon [05:56]

• "All you really need is a string, a weight, and a raw chicken neck... you cook up a wonderful family feast and you've just had a terrific time."
  – Debbie (caller from Trenton) [20:55]

• "It is always free. They have incredible contemporary exhibitions... and a bilingual initiative... Rutgers Gardens as well."
  – Sally (caller from New Brunswick) [21:54]

Notable Listener Contributions

• Shut Up and Eat (Tom's River): Diner with discounts for PJs; fun for kids.
• Grounds for Sculpture & Duke Farms: Culture and nature lovers’ favorites.
• Cape May Zoo & Raptor Trust: Beloved for animal encounters and wildlife rehabilitation.
• Crabbing as a family tradition
• Historic and quirky amusement parks
• Boardwalk nostalgia and shore trips

Useful Timestamps

• 00:09–02:46: The Fairy Trail and nature’s underrated role for Jersey kids.
• 03:39–06:37: Winter fun: arcades, museums, liberty science center, IKEA, American Dream.
• 07:18–08:24: Turtle Back Zoo and Milburn nature; listener calls begin.
• 10:00: Lake Hopatcong nostalgia.
• 11:01–12:36: Free and low-cost nature adventures.
• 13:38–14:59: Old-school amusement parks.
• 15:06–16:30: Animal sanctuaries (Cape May Zoo, Raptor Trust).
• 17:42: Edelman Fossil Park and new Jersey discoveries.
• 19:58: Living history (Foster Fields) and hands-on heritage.
• 20:55: Crabbing tradition.
• 21:54: Free art and cultural museum escapes.
• 23:05: Theater for families at Paper Mill Playhouse.
• 23:40: Unique dessert and treat experiences.

The Jersey Kid Experience: Takeaways

• New Jersey kids today have broader, more creative options than ever – from hands-on science to old-school amusement parks, wildlife encounters, arts, and unbeatable diners.
• Many activities are free or low cost, with outdoor adventure always accessible.
• Listener stories echo a deep nostalgia, with many activities treasured over generations, highlighting the lasting power of local traditions.
• The episode is a communal celebration of what makes growing up Jersey unique: inclusivity, diversity, quirkiness, and a blend of nostalgia with the new.

Closing Note:
Find the detailed “50 Plus Things Every Jersey Kid Must Do” article on New Jersey Monthly and revisit this episode’s transcript for more tips, stories, and essential stops across the Garden State.