Brite nites in Warren, NJ.

We've been busy with the fall activities lately.  One of our favorites is the Brite Nites Halloween display and Scary house.  Over 1,000 carved and lighted pumpkins! A Haunted House showcase that will spook you to your bones. Treats and refreshments in the Black Hat Café. Entertainment to get you in the Spirit of Halloween. Only for 2 weekends end of October.  We made it this year and we LOVED it. 

Wagner Farm Arboretum’s Brite Nites Event appeals to all ages.All proceeds from Brite Nites will be used to maintain the Arboretum and expand educational programs related to gardening and preserving nature. 


Get tickets in advance from http://www.wfafnj.org/

Below are our favorite pictures from the nite.

Hundreds more displays, you MUST check it out at least once.  I didn't take photos in the haunted house but it was equally fabulous.

XO

Turtle back Zoo!

We love museums but my younger son really loves animals.  So off we went to the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, NJ recently with friends.

It is fun filled wild afternoon in Essex county, NJ.

Attractions include a giant python, animal theme play area, walk thru prairie dog exhibits, farm petting area, pony rides and mini train ride.

You can rent strollers or bring your own or just walk around, it isn't too big for older toddlers.

There is a picnic area for BYO food, or buy something in the cafe.

They have educational worksheets for readers and activity sheets for all ages.

It is mostly open 10-4 but hours vary depending on the season or day of the week.  Also they have a discount afternoon when some services are limited but great for walking around.

Note: the kids slide in the play area is almost always mobbed with kids of different ages so beware with younger kids.

Parking is ample and free!

XOXO

Dinosaur time!

We love museums and the boys are especially drawn to dinosaurs and natural history.  So off we went to preview Field Station Dinosaurs recently and it was amazing.

It is like walking back in time to the Jurassic age (90 million years ago). It is a huge complex near the Meadowlands, but not at the Meadowlands (a Laurel Hill park ground in Secaucus nearby).

There are 31 life sized animatronic Dinosaur displays; the trip was fun and educational. There are workshops and games and worksheets. There is a fossil dig site half way thru the trail that gives the kids a break and they have fun digging up fossils.

There is a crayon site where the kids get to draw dinosaur related pictures. There is an amphitheater with regularly scheduled talks and workshops (we got to see various baby dinosaurs up close and ask questions).

There are a couple more archaeological outposts for viewing various archaeological site formats with objects an archaeologist might use in real life at a real dig site.

Lunch needs to be brought or pre ordered, as there is only a small gift shop with limited snacks available.

Photos are available at the gift shop with pics of the site near the entrance, however the pictures didn't seem to upload very quickly so we didn't get a chance to purchase any.

There are bathrooms at the venue but they are the nicer but portable ones.  Parking is available at a small fee.

My favorite displays were the raptors, seem like an amazing feat to be able to fly with that size bird.

Enjoy our pics.

XO