A family hike, a cruise to NYC, horseback ride or pick a snow chute or a nearby hill. Then it’s time for hot chocolate, toasted marshmellows and smores!

Who’s in for winter sports?! Brrrrr! Fight the cold, go outside and do it; your heart will be pumping and soon you won’t feel the cold any longer. Physical activity in the cold is healthy and best of all, there are fewer germs! The thrill at the top of a snow groomed hill! The excitement of watching your child shout for joy! Try cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling or horseback riding. Or lace up the boots, grab some gloves and enjoy an invigorating winter hike. Bring the sled and be close to the frosty mountains, icy ponds and adventurous trails among the dozens of state parks awaiting you. New Jersey and the tri-state area is a winter wonderland with hundreds of fabulous family destinations for day or longer getaways.

GO SLEDDING!

Grab your red flyer and hang on! We’ve found some of the best sledding hills in NJ:
• Chubb Park, Chester
• Echo Lake Park, Mountainside
• Hopatcong State Park, Hopatcong
• Ringwood State Park, Ringwood
• Round Valley Recreation Area, Lebanon
• Fort Mott State Park, Pennsville

GO CROSS COUNTRY SKIING!

Enjoy these great parks in our region. Most trails are ungroomed.

  • Palisades Interstate Parkway (Bergen County)
  • Wawayanda State Park (Passaic County)
  • South Mountain Reservation (Essex County)
  • Lewis Morris County Park (Morris County)
  • High Point State Park (Sussex County), groomed

GO SNOWSHOEING!

Here are some parks and trails:

  • Lamont Reserve and Rockleigh Woods Sanctuary (Bergen County)
  • Ramapo Mountain State Forest (Bergen County)
  • Pyramid Mountain Natural Area (Morris Cty)
  • Allamuchy Mountain State Park (Warren Cty)
  • Round Valley Recreation Area (Hunterdon Cty)

GO WINTER HORSEBACK RIDING!

Seaton Hackney Stables, Morristown
Year round riding lessons, trail rides, Ask about their Flexcamps held year round. 973-644-3355

GO SNOWMOBILING!

• High Point State Park, Sussex
• Wawayanda State Park, Hewitt
• Stokes State Park, Branchville
• Ringwood State Park, Ringwood

GO ICE FISHING!

Who says fishing is just for the summer months? Several parks around NJ are stocked and now is the perfect time to lower your hook. Try your hand at this cold weather sport:
• Allamuchy Mountain State Pk, Hackettstown
• Hopatcong State Park, Hopatcong
• Budd Lake, Mt. Olive
• Ringwood State Park, Ringwood
• Longwood Pond Ironworks State Pk, Ringwood

GO ZIPLINING:

All season soaring fun – clamp on the harness and get ready to soar above the snow-covered treetops.

Zoom Ziplines, Mountain Creek, Vernon

GO HIKING!

Winter fun doesn’t have to include just snow and ice… why not try an ‘off the beaten trail’ sort of adventure. Lace up the boots, grab some gloves and a hat and enjoy an invigorating winter hike. Dozens of NJ State Parks await and many trails remain open. Check out the nature centers and State Parks.

GO CRUISING!

Statue Cruises, 201-604-2800
Frequent departures from NY and NJ to visit Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island! Explore and learn about your ancestors!
Ellis Island is open! Or come up close to Liberty. statuecruises.com

GO POND SKATING!

Skating the old fashioned way - outside on a frozen pond is the best! There are quite a few parks that offer pond skating BUT make sure to call ahead to see if the pond is safe. NEVER skate on a pond that is not properly marked! Check out the State Parks.

SKATING RINKS - INDOOR

Pier Village in Long Branch
Just opened its rink right in the heart of the beach waterfront. Check out this cute rink in front of the stores of Pier Village an across the road from the ocean!

Protec Ponds Hockey.
Offering public skate sessions, group ice skating lessons, hockey leagues, figure skating programs, ice hockey tournaments. Somerset, 732.868.9181

Mennen Sports Arena
An indoor, all year round skating rink. Public skate times, learn to skate classes and lessons for all levels. Morristown,
973-326-7651

Woodbridge Community Center
General public skating Friday Night Cosmic Skate – the lights are tuned down, the music is turned up, and the fun is non-stop! Woodbridge, 732-596-4000

Codey Arena
You will find all sorts of skating and non-skating activities in the vicinity including zoo, zipline, trains, mini-golf. W.
Orange, 973-731-3828

Union Sports Arena
Public skate 7 days a week, plus lessons, Learn to Skate programs and more. Union Sports Arena, 2441
Route 22 , Union, 908-687-8610

Bridgewater Sports Arena
Public Skating, figure skating lessons, Learn to Skate and more.Bridgewater, 732-627-0006

Chelsea Piers – Sky Rink, NYC
Twin rink facility with public skating, group and private lessons, youth and adult leagues. Pier 61 @ 23rd Street and Hudson River, NYC

Trump Rink in Central Park, NYC
7 days a week, plus lessons, hockey, figuring skating.

Red Bank Armory
Public Skating Friday – Sunday. 732-450-9001

The Igloo Ice Rink
Public Skating, hockey lessons, skating lessons, clinics. Mt Laurel, 856-638-0801

Ice World Family Ice Arena
Public Skating, figuring skating, hockey, curling, lessons. Farmingdale, 732-378-6600

Ice House
Public Skating Saturday and Sundays, lessons, Friday night skate jam, 9:30-Midnight. Hackensack, 201-487-8444

Click here for more skating rinks.

OR GETAWAY IN THE MOUNTAINS!

Pack up the family
- what better way to recharge, reconnect and make some family memories than to head off for a weekend (or longer!) getaway. And luckily, some of these have an indoor waterpark equipped with heated pools for those who need to defrost. These great resorts are just a short drive away.

Woodloch Pines Resort
A four-season resort – winter fun includes snow tubing, ice-skating on a huge pond, skiing (off property) wagon rides…and that’s just the beginning. Plus endless indoor fun for the entire family. 731 Welcome Lake Rd, Lackawaxen Twp., PA, 800-966-3562

Crystal Springs and Mountain Creek
A perfect getaway – and close by! Snow tubing, skiing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing – and more! Enjoy all the outdoor winter adventures, plus an amazing indoor biosphere pool. Crystal Springs, Hamburg, NJ. 973-827-5996

Rocking Horse Ranch
Yes, they have winter horseback riding, but they also have skiing, sledding, horse drawn wagon rides, tubing, an indoor water park…..

Click here for more Getaway Ideas