December 29, 2021
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Compiled and Photographed by Sarah Einhorn
I’ve shared many of my favorite places in these pages before, but the trips highlighted were not necessarily nearby. For some readers, time and transportation are issues, so for this mid-winter season, I decided to focus on a mix of fun and convenient trips that are within an hour’s drive from the Marine Park area*.
Billy Beez
Nyack, NY
Billy Beez is unique in the way that you see adults playing alongside children, turning the trip into a lasting family trip for all to remember. They offer a plethora of activities in the 20,000 square foot park for both children and “children at heart.” Wherever you look, you see slides snaking through the other activities and each other. Big slides, small slides, long slides, short slides, red slides, blue slide, yellow slides, green slides… The rainbow wave slide is lots of fun to race down. The foam ball area, featuring many activities and upper lever canons, offers a safe place for an exciting ball fight. The enclosed soccer and basketball fields offer a place for youngsters to perfect their game of their favorite sport. Bouncing on the trampoline is another preferred activity. Billy Beez offers a section designed especially or the little ones under 42”. In this section, toddlers can play on their own mini slides and soft play toys.
Note: Masks are required for entry.
Address:
Palisades Mall
1282 Palisades Center Drive
West Nyack, NY 10994
Hours:
Monday – Friday11 A.M. – 6 P.M.*
Saturday – Sunday 10:30 A.M. – 8 P.M.*
*Admission Desk CLOSES 1 hour prior to listed park closing time*
Price:
Infant: free with paid child or toddler or $13.95 for infant + 1 adult
Toddler (ages 1-3) $16.95
Child (ages 4-17) $20.95
Adult (18+) $7.95 (Weekends $10.95)
Approximate Distance from Flatbush: 1 hour
Website: www.billybeezus.com
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Creatively Yours
Ridgewood, NJ
Creatively Yours offers many opportunities to stretch your creativity. Some options are only done in classes, such as canvas painting and wine glass painting. Glass fusion is a cool form of art made of actual pieces of colored glass, which are fused together into a solid decorative or useful glass piece, such as a tray, frame, or coaster. Ceramic painting is a less expensive option. There are so many shapes and items at a variety of prices. There is a rainbow of paint colors and stamps in countless designs and shapes available to aid in painting the ceramics. There is a studio fee of $5 plus the price of whatever project you choose to create. All painted pieces, except the canvas painting, must be left in the studio and are picked up once they’re glossed with an added finishing layer. We visited on the spur of the moment, but due to COVID-19, reservations are now required for all visitors.
Address:
Phone Number:
Hours: By appointment only.
Price: $5 Studio fee + project cost of whatever you choose to create.
Approximate Distance from Flatbush: 1 hour
Website: www.createartstudios.com
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Urban Air
South Hackensack, NJ
Urban Air is not just a regular trampoline park; it’s so much more than that. They have all the trampoline attractions found at other parks, such as trampoline basketball and dodgeball courts, open jump trampolines, battle beam, drop zone, and a tumble track, but Urban Air has additional attractions that make it uniquely fun. Their Warrior Obstacle Course is challenging with so many different obstacles! Falls are cushioned by a fun ball pit. The climbing hill (for children under 52” and 100 lbs.) is a steep inflatable hill that leads to a slide. The tubes playground is a great area for children under 52” to enjoy themselves. There are soft play climbing areas and many types of slides. There are also five different themed climbing walls for climbers over 41”. There are also virtual reality games to try at an extra charge.
Address:
69 Wesley Street
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
Phone Number:
(201) 212-6454
Hours:
Check online for current hours.
Price:
Ultimate Attractions: $32.99
Deluxe Attractions: $27.99
Basic Attractions: $24.99
5 and under: $16.99
Urban Air Socks No personal socks allowed: $3.49
Virtual Reality Single game play: $9.99
Approximate Distance from Flatbush: 55 minutes
Website: www.urbanairtrampolinepark.com
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High Exposure
Northvale, NJ
Each of the different elements in the 14,000 square foot climbing facility is designed in exciting ways. There aren’t just rock-climbing walls, although there are plenty of those, too. There are walls with frames of all sizes and shapes to use as footholds. There is a wall with “knots and bolts”, a wall with pipes, and even a toilet seat up on top! There are holes all the way up one wall and spinning wheels on another. If you are brave, you can try the 32-foot stunt jump, and if you are really skilled you can try the most difficult 42-foot Crazy Climbing Cube. In addition to all the climbing in the Action-Adventure section, there is the Ninja Warrior section with warped walls, ropes and swings to hang from, vaulting boxes, Devil Steps, and a cliff hanger.
Address:
266 Union Street
Northvale, NJ 07647
Phone Number:
201-768-8600
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 10 A.M. – 10 P.M.
Saturday: 10 A.M. – 8 P.M.
Sunday: 10 A.M. – 6 P.M.
Price:
2 Hour Pass: $25
Toddler: $12
Approximate Distance from Flatbush: 1 hour
Website: www.highexposureclimbing.com
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The Amazing Escape Room
Bloomfield, NJ (Multiple other locations)
We visited The Amazing Escape Room and did the challenge of the “Down the Hole” room at the Bloomfield, NJ location. The room’s theme is Alice in Wonderland theme, and we had to find Alice who had gone missing and send her back home. The room was adorably set up with many different cute props that were used to make the challenge more exciting. Once all the clues were found and solved a door opened to a second room where there were additional challenges to solve. The Bloomfield location has some metered parking outside. Bloomfield was not my favorite town, but The Amazing Escape Room has multiple locations including Staten Island, Freehold, and Montclair. Each location has a few rooms specific to that place, and there are very few rooms that are the same at more than one location. I won’t give away the secrets of the room we worked on and how to solve the challenge since I’m sure you’d love to try it. The Amazing Escape Room was truly amazing!
Address:
281 Liberty Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Phone Number:
(973) 866-5337
Hours:
Check online for location hours.
Price: $30
Approximate Distance from Flatbush: 50 minutes
Website: www.amazingescaperoom.com
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Hudson Play
Jersey City, NJ
The activities at Hudson Play are versatile: some are geared for little children under the age of five and other activities are for five and above. Each age group has activities appropriate for them. Little children up to age four have a specially designed soft play area. There are plenty of riding toys, a pretend area, and soft building blocks for the little tots to use. There is also a moonwalk and huge Connect-4 game as well as a mini- Lego table which is popular for all ages. Ages five and up are able to enjoy the 2-speed rock climbing wall, a 4-lane Ninja Obstacle Course with nets, swings, monkey bars, and many more challenges, as well as the 12-foot warped wall which we loved trying again and again. There is also a virtual reality roller coaster to be enjoyed for an extra fee. Parents don’t need to pay unless they are joining in activities during adult play times. I was especially impressed at how clean the facility is. Hudson Play is a great destination for a day of wholesome fun for all ages.
Address:
189 Brunswick Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Located in the Community Center
Phone Number:
(201) 431-3293
Hours:
Wednesday-Monday: 9 A.M.-6:30 P.M.
Tuesdays: Closed
Price:
Open Play:
90 min PLAYpass: $15
Approximate Distance from Flatbush: 42 minutes
Website: www.hudsonplaynj.com
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Information, prices, and hours posted here are current as of the posted or updated date. It is advisable to call ahead or check online to confirm hours and prices.
*Please note times are based off Google map estimation and not real time traffic.
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