As the summer months approach, you may find yourself looking for a shortlist of convenient places to take the kids. Jersey City, New Jersey, offers an abundance of family-friendly activities for children of all ages ranging from parks and pools to engaging museums and indoor play spaces. Here are our top picks for family fun around the city.

Liberty Science Center

Liberty Science Center offers an abundance of immersive, interactive activities and exhibitions designed just for kids. Visitors can step into a life-size version of Minecraft, uncover dinosaur fossils, view live exotic animals, explore how energy is made, build skyscrapers, play with pixel art, and more. Other exhibits include a real bustling beehive, a kitty hawk flyer, and a pair of million-volt Tesla coils.

The museum has something for visitors at any age, so you can easily keep the whole family entertained. Wobbly World caters to kids up to age five, while the Infinity Climber gym is designed for children at least 42-inches tall.

The Liberty Science Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Advanced general admission is $22.99 for children aged two to 12 and $27.99 for adults. Same-day general admission is $2 more.

Jersey City Public Libraries

The Jersey City Public Library system offers a full calendar of activities and events for children over the summer. On Make it Mondays, you can pick up craft kits for children, teens, and young adults at all library branches. On Wacky Wednesdays, you’ll find engaging STEM and STEAM activities taking place in library branch parking lots and local parks from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Tech Thursdays present a weekly theme for TikTok or content creation challenges that kids can participate in.

Children can also visit the library to sign up for summer reading challenges, check out a Chromebook, access free WiFi, or explore the library’s extensive collection of resources. All of the library’s offerings are free to the public with a library card. Library cards are free for anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Jersey City or who lives in Hudson County.

Berry Lane Park

Berry Lane Park offers an abundance of amenities that can keep kids entertained for hours. You’ll find a playground complete with swings, slides, net and rock climbers, and where visitors can run off energy. The spray park is a particular highlight during the warm summer months. Basketball courts, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, and a multi-purpose field offer ample space for sports and games. If you’re looking for dog-friendly destinations, you’ll be happy to find that you can even bring Fido and enjoy Berry Lane Park’s dog run.

Berry Lane Park features an extensive skate park for older children covering around 12,000 square feet. Features include a backyard bowl, roller, lay back bank, bump to ledge, clam shell, kicker gap, hipped quarter pipes, and more.

Newport Green Park

The Newport Green Park covers over four acres. In the center is a large turf oval where you can picnic or lounge. Free WiFi access means you can even bring your devices and get work done while the kids play.

Little ones will find no shortage of things to do with an expansive playground that features one structure for children aged two to five and another for kids aged five to 12. The pirate ship climber is great for imaginative visitors, while the rope climbers and rock walls offer ample challenges for athletic kids. The park even has water spray features to help everyone cool off on hot summer days.

The park also features a seasonal carousel, powerful observation scope, and outdoor ping pong. Along the edge, you’ll find more than 7,500 square feet of beach on the Hudson.

Milk Sugar Love

No summer is complete without some chilly treats. Take the kids to Milk Sugar Love for a dip of something special when you really want to ramp up the fun this season. This popular ice cream destination offers ice cream and milkshakes in over a dozen flavors. You’ll find classics like vanilla bean and strawberry alongside creative options like matcha Oreo, lemon olive oil, and honey lavender. This wide variety can cater to parents and kids alike so everyone leaves happy.

Milk Sugar Love offers a variety of other treats as well including ice cream sandwiches, root beer floats, brownies, cookies, and macarons. If you have a furry friend with you, you can even order a puppy froyo. Adults who need a pick-me-up before the next activity can order coffee drinks and affagato, too.

Pavonia/Marion Municipal Pool

Make a splash with the kids this summer at the Pavonia/Marion Municipal Pool. This facility offers a kiddie pool with depths from zero to three feet as well as a main pool that ranges from 3.5 to 5.4 feet deep.

The municipal pool is accessible for Jersey City residents with a current photo ID and proof of residence. The summer season runs from June 26 to September 6. Family swim time takes place from 10 a.m. to noon, 1 pm to 3 pm, and 4 pm to 6 pm on weekdays. On weekends, there are two family swim sessions running from noon to 2 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Funzy Play

Funzy Play is a soft, safe play space for children up to age 6. You’ll find a ball pit, jungle climbing structure, and dramatic play room where children can interact with one another and explore age-appropriate activities. Funzy also hosts classes like music and dance to provide added fun for children and adults alike. Admission is $14.99 for one child and one adult. Additional adults are $5.99 each.

What are your favorite summer destinations for the family? If we missed a great location, contact our team at New Jersey State Auto Used Cars and let us know! We want to make sure we always have the best recommendations in the city so we can point our customers in the right direction.