3 New Jersey Nature Centers That Make Excellent Family Day Trip Destinations

Start your day at Rancocas Nature Center taking in the beautiful scenery with a hike through their 3 miles of trails. You'll see local wildlife and various natural habitats, including wetlands, forests, and meadows. Stop by all of the center's various gardens to see the plants and look for butterflies, dragonflies, and pollinators. Kids of all ages will love the activities in the children's garden and the sensory garden. Inside the Visitors Center, you'll find interesting natural history displays, live animals, and the Nature Store. Make sure you also take a look at the Facebook Page to see what's happening when you are ready to visit!

Science lovers will have a blast at Palmyra Cove Nature Park. Along with the 250-acre Nature Park, you can also visit The Institute of Earth Observations. Spend the first half of your day exploring the Institute and learn all about the science behind planet earth. Everyone in the family will love this engaging and interactive facility. When you are finished at the institute, you can head out to the Nature Park to spend the rest of your day exploring. The park offers 9.5 miles of trails, which take you through forests, meadows, wetlands, and along the large freshwater tidal cove. You'll love to hike, fish, and view all the local wildlife. The Palmyra Nature Cove is located along the Delaware River in Palmyra, NJ.

Set along the shore of the Cape May Harbor in Cape May, NJ you'll find the Nature Center of Cape May. Stop in the centers and see the aquariums and other live animals. Afterward, you can head up to the observation towers to take in the stunning jersey shore scenery. Next, you'll be able to take a stroll through the nature trail and through the various themed gardens. Throughout the year, they have a wide variety of hands-on educational programs that the entire family will enjoy. Check out their Website or Facebook Page to see what programs are coming up and to plan your visit!