After the cleaning and shopping are done, the afikoman is eaten and the seder plate is put away, it feels like you’ve finally crossed the finish line after a marathon of Pesach preparations. But what to do the rest of the week? Fortunately, there are plenty of great local activities from which to choose, close enough to home to prevent kids of all ages from asking the fifth question (“Are we there yet?”).
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Pack a picnic lunch and head to Van Saun County Park, conveniently located in Paramus. The park has plenty of activities for the whole family, spread out over 146 scenic acres. Picnic tables are located near the entrance to the nationally accredited Bergen County Zoological Park. The zoo is home to a variety of animals including mountain lions, alligators, anteaters, and spider monkeys; an added bonus is that there is no admission fee through the end of April. For a small fee, you can also enjoy a train ride around the zoo, pony rides, or a ride on the park’s carousel. The park also features several playgrounds and the historic Washington Spring Garden.
Van Saun Park, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ • www.co.bergen.nj.us
Reach New Heights
If it’s not picnic weather and your kids are starting to climb the walls, why not let them do it at High Exposure? This 14,000-square-foot rock climbing and extreme sporting facility features climbing walls, parkour, an action adventure room, a 40-foot climbing cube and a toddler play area. For fans of the popular American Ninja Warrior competition television show, High Exposure also has Ninja Warrior obstacles. High Exposure opened in Northvale last year, and owner Stephanie Shultz describes it as “one-stop shopping for enrichment for the entire family.”
High Exposure, 266 Union Street, Northvale, NJ • www.highexposureclimbing.com
Please note: All clothing must be fitted and comfortable, no baggy pants or skirts.
Coming Soon
Even though it won’t be ready by next week, something big is coming to Bergen County’s Overpeck Park, which covers parts of Leonia, Teaneck, Ridgefield Park and Palisades Park. Field Station: Dinosaurs, previously located in Secaucus, will open in its new location over Memorial Day weekend. “The only thing harder than going out into a dig and finding 65-million-year-old dinosaur bones is finding a really great site for a dinosaur park,” said Field Station: Dinosaurs President Guy Gsell. “We visited properties from Cape May all the way up to the Ramapo Mountains, and this site was the most amazing, remarkable site.” The park features over 30 life-size animatronic dinosaurs (including the massive Argentinosaurus, measuring 90 feet from nose to tail), as well as interactive workshops and activities connecting the story of the dinosaurs to our world today.
Field Station: Dinosaurs, Overpeck County Park, 40 Fort Lee Road, Leonia, NJ • www.fieldstationdinosaurs.com (opens May 28).
By Rachel Jager
