Kid-Friendly Hudson County
From delicious bites to dazzling backdrops, Hudson County allures visitors with a variety of attractions. Especially, its kid-friendly activities which is one of the biggest draws. In this Northern New Jersey getaway, families can enjoy hands-on museums and kid-friendly culinary experiences. As well as, nature immersions that mom and dad enjoy too. So if you and the little ones are planning a day out, here’s how to enjoy a kid-friendly tiny trip in Hudson County.
Tiny Trip Highlights
- The American Dream | East Rutherford
- Liberty Science Center | Jersey City
- Newport Green | Jersey City
- Hoboken Fire Department Museum | Hoboken
- Hoboken Maxwell Place Park | Hoboken
- Bayonne Bridge Walkway | Bayonne
- Hudson’s House of Play | West New York
- Hackensack River Keeper | Secaucus
Trip Time
Time varies based on activity, from one hour to a full day.
Transportation Options
- The American Dream, most accessible via car, rideshare, or NJ Transit bus
- Liberty Science Center, most accessible via car, rideshare, or Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
- Newport Green, most accessible via car, rideshare, PATH to Hoboken, or NY Waterway ferry to downtown Hoboken
- Hoboken Fire Department Museum, most accessible via car, rideshare, NJ Transit bus, PATH to downtown Hoboken
- Hoboken Maxwell Place Park, most accessible via car, rideshare, NJ Transit Bus, or NY Waterway to Hoboken 14th Street terminal
- Bayonne Bridge Walkway, most accessible via car, rideshare, or (with one-mile walk) Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s 8th Street stop
- Hudson’s House of Play, most accessible via car, rideshare, or (with half-mile walk) NY Waterway ferry to Port Imperial terminal
- Hackensack River Keeper, tours leave from Laurel Hill County Park, accessible via car, rideshare, or NJ Transit train to Secaucus Junction
Trip Overview
Few Hudson County experiences are as exhilarating for kids as The American Dream, a 3-million-square-foot entertainment, retail, and dining oasis in East Rutherford, just beyond Secaucus. Kids can enjoy everything from the DreamWorks Water Park to Angry Birds Mini Golf. Not to mention Nickelodeon Universe and an indoor ski haven, Big SNOW.
And Hudson County’s immersive, family-friendly experiences hardly stop there. The Liberty Science Center, a longtime favorite among locals and visitors, boasts 300,000 square feet of kid-friendly fun, with 110 species of live animals, a mesmerizing aquarium, hurricane and tornado-force wind simulators, and the western hemisphere’s largest planetarium.
Another kid-friendly Jersey City experience, Bambino Chef, teaches little ones how to cook through classes, camps, and more. Add Jersey City’s Newport Green, an urban beach and waterfront park with jungle gyms galore, and it’s obvious why families flock to this Hudson County destination.
The family-friendly adventures continue well into Hoboken. Perhaps the star attraction—at least in little ones’ eyes—is the Hoboken Fire Department Museum. Here, kids can get hands-on with historic fire-fighting gear, including the red Ahrens Fox fire engine, circa 1932. Grown-up exhibits, including Hoboken’s fire-fighting history and gear, ensure mom and dad enjoy the visit, too. And, at Hoboken’s Maxwell Place Park, families can relax under the sun with stunning Manhattan panoramas while little ones frolic away on the playground. Older kids can join mom and dad for kayaking via the adjacent Hoboken Community Cove Boathouse, and ice cream lovers of all ages can enjoy artisan frozen-yogurt joint 16 Handles just steps from the park.
For a scenic and safe family stroll, take the family to the new Bayonne Bridge Walkway. The pedestrian walkway, which features a 12-foot wide path, connects Bayonne and Staten Island, sans car traffic. It’s one of New Jersey’s highest bridges.
Other family favorites in Hudson County include the adorable and experiential Hudson’s House of Play in West New York, where little ones from five months to five years old can play in kid-friendly themed rooms, such as the marketplace, with birthday parties and classes available. And, kids who love all things nature and wildlife will rave about the Hackensack Riverkeeper eco-cruises, which educate visitors (including kids!) through narrated tours along wildlife habitats within the Hackensack River Watershed.