New Jersey
Here are 12 ways to beat the summer heat in North Jersey
Cooling off at the splash pad at Dundee Island Park in Passaic
As temperatures soar into the 90s, children cool off at Dundee Island Park splash pad on Tuesday June 29, 2021.
Tariq Zehawi, NorthJersey.com
We’re in the midst of yet another summer heatwave, and we can all probably agree that it’s been a struggle staying cool. And while we’d probably all like to stay inside our homes with the air conditioner blasting, that’s not a fun way to seize the summer.
Whether you’d prefer to handle the heat by jumping into a body of water and zipping down a water slide, or are looking for some fun activities indoors, there are an abundance of options across North Jersey. And if you have a restless kid out on summer break, there’s many ways to keep them occupied, too.
Here are 12 ways to beat the heat in North Jersey:
Cool off at Van Saun County Park’s splash pad
While the splash pad at Van Saun County Park would have typically opened at the beginning of the summer, it has been closed for months of renovations. But with upgraded safety flooring, fixed water sprinklers and a new control system, the splash pad is officially reopened to the public.
This means that for the remainder of the summer, your family can cool off at one of Bergen County’s most popular parks for free. And while you’re there you can explore the park’s other attractions, which including recently reopened pony rides, playgrounds, a carousal, a miniature train ride and, of course, the Bergen County Zoo.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until Labor Day.
Go: 216 Forest Ave., Paramus; 201-336-7275, co.bergen.nj.us/parks-recreation-areas/van-saun-county-park.
Swim laps at the Palisades Park Swim Club
While it may be too hot to go for a walk or a run, you can easily get some exercise by swimming laps at the Palisades Park Swim Club instead. Open to the public — daily passes are $15 for Palisades Park residents and $20 for other New Jersey residents — Palisades Park Swim Club features a 25-meter swimming pool with diving boards and a separate kiddie pool area. There are also picnic tables and areas to barbecue available, as well as a snack bar.
Hours: Noon to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for members and noon to 7 p.m. for daily pass holders on Saturday and Sunday.
Go: 200 Roosevelt Place, Palisades Park; 201-585-4140, facebook.com/PalisadesParkSwimClub.
Take a dip in the Highlands Natural Pool
If you want to go for a swim, but still want to be among some of New Jersey’s most beautiful natural sites, you can. The Highlands Natural Pool is an Olympic-sized, stream fed pool located along Norvin Green State Forest in Ringwood. With cement walls, a clay bottom and ranging from four to 10 feet deep, the natural pool is a unique option for staying cool.
The pool’s deck area includes chairs and a diving board, as well as a small kiddie area with a sandbox near the pool’s shallow section. There are also several tables available and a snack stand full of food items, drinks and snacks.
The Highlands Natural Pool is open to the general public, and day passes can be purchased at the entrance. Admission is $20 for adults; $15 for seniors, active military and veterans; $10 for children ages three to 17; and free for children ages two and under.
Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. daily until Labor Day.
Go: 180 Snake Den Road, Ringwood; 973-835-4299, highlandsnaturalpool.org.
Splash around at Mountain Creek Water Park
For those looking to cool off while also appeasing their adventurous side, Mountain Creek Water Park is the perfect place to visit. The waterpark has more than a dozen waterslides for adults and young children, including attractions like the Colorado River Rapids, Surf Hill, the High Tide Wave Pool, Legendary Canyon Cliffs and more.
The waterpark also has a variety of food and drink options available to refuel your energy for the fun. Day passes to the waterpark are $49.99, and season passes for $89.99, which include 15% off food and drinks, as well as free parking.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Go: 200 NJ-94, Vernon Township; 973-827-2000, mountaincreek.com.
Sit back and relax at a cool movie theater
Catching one of today’s hottest new movie releases is one of the best ways to sit back, relax and escape the heat. And there’s so much movie theaters throughout North Jersey that it’s nearly impossible to count them all.
You can opt to visit and support one of our area’s local movie theaters, like The Clairidge in Montclair, Landmark Theater in Closter, Hawthorne Theaters in Hawthorne, Township Theatre in Washington Township and Westwood Cinemas in Westwood. But there are also several AMC movie theaters scattered throughout North Jersey, such as in towns like Paramus, Wayne, Clifton, Hackensack, West Orange, Rockaway.
Get energy out at Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
For some, staying cool in high temperatures means simply staying out of the high temperatures altogether. Staying inside during the summer can be just as fun, especially at Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park. Between climbing hills and walls, the tubes playground, dodgeball, the battle beam, a warrior course, classic trampolines and more, there’s plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained for hours. And the biggest bonus? You can enjoy all of these things in the comfort of air conditioning.
There are three main admission packages available: basic attractions for $25.99, deluxe attractions for $28.99 and ultimate attractions for $33.99. There’s also a $16.99 pass for children five years old and younger.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Go: 69 Wesley St., South Hackensack; 201-212-6454, urbanair.com/new-jersey-south-hackensack.
Putt around at Monster Mini Golf
Nothing quite says summer like battling it out on a mini golf course, and luckily you don’t have to sweat outside to play. At Monster Mini Golf, an indoor course in Paramus, you can putt among a world of flourescent monsters and neon lights while navigating an array of spooky obstacles. And after you play your way through all 18 holes, you can keep the fun going with arcade games and bowling.
Admission to mini golf is $13 for children, $14 for adults and $11 for seniors, members of the military, first responders and college students. Prices vary for the arcade games and bowling, and there are also combination packages available for access to all of the attractions.
Go: 49 E Midland Ave., Paramus; 201-261-0032, monsterminigolf.com/locations/us/nj/paramus.
Play laser tag, ride bumper cars and climb a maze at FunTime Junction
FunTime Junction is another entertainment destination filled with attractions that kids of all ages will enjoy, all while staying out of the heat. Here you can enjoy a climbing maze, laser tag, bumper cars, a giant LiteBrite, a funcade, crane machines and more. Admission is $13.95 for children 10 months to 15 years and $9.99 for adults ages 16 years and up.
Hours: Noon to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Preregistration is required to book an hour and a half timeslot.
Go: 400 Fairfield Road, Fairfield; 973-882-9777, funtimejunction.com.
Learn about the world at Liberty Science Center
Founded in 1993 and located within Liberty State Park, Liberty Science Center is the perfect place to stay cool while also fueling those inquisitive minds. The center consists of 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, large aquariums, a 3D theater and the country’s largest planetarium, among other attractions. Exhibitions here are changed regularly, so there’s almost always something new to explore.
For admission, tickets are $30 for adults and $25.99 for children ages 2 to 12 when purchased in advance. Tickets for same-day general admission are $32,99 for adults and $27.99 for children ages 2 to 12. You can also pay an additional $8 for access to the center’s theater shows or premium exhibitions.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Go: 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City; 201-200-1000, lsc.org.
Take in sights at the Montclair Art Museum
If you’re going to stay inside, you might as well do it somewhere filled with unique and eye-catching artwork. The Montclair Art Museum is filled with more than 12,000 works of Native American and American artwork, including paintings, works on paper, ceramics, basketry, sculpture, beadwork and more.
For the remainder of the summer, Montclair Art Museum is offering discounted tickets for all guests. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors, and free for children and members.
Hours: Closed Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Go: 3 S Mountain Ave., Montclair; 973-746-5555, montclairartmuseum.org.
Explore the attractions at American Dream Mall
Whether you’re looking to shop, dine, splash at a water park, play mini golf or just about anything else, the American Dream Mall has it all on a hot summer day. In addition to more than 450 stores, the mall has attractions like the DreamWorks Water Park, the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, blacklight and Angry Birds-themed mini golf, the Legoland Discovery Center and more. With so much to do all in one place, you’ll forget all about the heat — except for when it’s time to leave, of course.
Admission to the American Dream Mall is free, but admission to each of the mall’s attractions vary.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Go: 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford; 833-263-7326, americandream.com.
Devour a sweet treat
There’s nothing like devouring a sweet treat on a hot summer day, and thankfully North Jersey is full of places for you to get one.
For ice cream, you can visit local gems like Denville Dairy in Denville, Cliff’s in Ledgewood, Conrad’s in Westwood, Van Dyk’s in Ridgewood and Holsten’s in Bloomfield, among many others. But if you’re all ice creamed out — we don’t think that’s possible, but you never know — you can also opt for an ice cold cup of shaved ice. You can find this at places like Sunshine Ice in Weehawken, Little Bear Poke in Montclair and Caffe Benne in Fort Lee.
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.
In New Jersey, public libraries are treated as civic infrastructure under state law. They are primarily funded by a mandatory municipal tax under N.J.S.A. 40:54-8, known as the “1/3 mill” formula: 33 cents for every $1,000 of a municipality’s equalized, or true, property value. This minimum must be raised annually for library operations, regardless of local budget pressures.
Many municipalities choose to fund their libraries above this minimum. Libraries often receive additional support from grants, donations, and Friends of the Library groups.
But in municipalities like Princeton, where developers are receiving tax abatements known as PILOTs, or Payments in Lieu of Taxes, that baseline funding can be slowly and quietly eroded.
Under a PILOT agreement, a developer pays the municipality an annual fee instead of conventional property taxes. These agreements can last up to 30 years. The fee is typically far less than what full taxation would generate, and it flows directly to the municipality. The county receives 5 percent. The library receives nothing.
That matters because the 1/3 mill formula runs on equalized property valuation, which is the total taxable value of assessed property in a municipality. When a large apartment complex receives a PILOT, the building’s value is exempt from assessment. Only the land beneath it remains on the tax rolls. A development worth $60 million might contribute the taxable equivalent of a modest vacant lot.
The result: as a town grows — new buildings rising, new residents moving in, new cardholders walking through the library’s doors — the funding formula can stagnate. The tax base the library depends on reflects a version of the town that no longer exists.
The gap has drawn some legislative attention. A 2022 bill proposed adding the value of PILOT-exempt properties back into the equalized valuation used for state aid funding calculations, an acknowledgment that the standard formula fails to account for the full scale of development in PILOT-heavy municipalities. The bill never made it out of committee.
On this episode of New Jersey Politics with Laura Jones: Princeton University students, led by the Whig-Cliosophic Society, NAACP Princeton Chapter, and Vote100, host a non-partisan forum for Democratic candidates vying to replace retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in NJ’s 12th District. Student leader Alejandra Ramos joins us. Plus, Assemblyman Mike Inganamort explains why Governor Mikie Sherrill’s proposed shift from “net” to “gross” business taxation could impact small businesses operating on thin margins.
How to attract hummingbirds to your feeder in Oklahoma, what they eat
Discover what fuels hummingbirds on their migration journey and learn how to attract them with homemade nectar.
New Jersey bird lovers, now’s your time to track hummingbirds as they begin their spring return to New Jersey, with an interactive migration map offering a clear look at when the tiny birds are expected to arrive across the state as they head north from their wintering grounds.
With spring 2026 hummingbird migration season under way, the migration map tracks reported hummingbird sitings nationwide, giving New Jersey residents a real-time look at how the birds’ northward journey is unfolding as spring temperatures warm and food sources become available. The birds are already heading into New Jersey, though not North Jersey as much, but you can keep a close eye on the map to track the hummingbirds’ arrival in the state.
When hummingbirds arrive in New Jersey
The migration map shows early spring hummingbird sightings approaching the state — with the first ruby-throated hummingbirds typically appearing here in mid-April, followed by more frequent reports through early May as spring temperatures warm.
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, hummingbirds generally return to New Jersey in mid- to late-April, though North Jersey and New York City start seeing the tiny birds closer to early- to mid-May.
While weather and local conditions greatly impact hummingbirds’ return, most NJ residents see the fast-flapping birds come to their feeders and yards through early May — when sightings really ramp up.
Should you put out hummingbird feeders yet?
Yes — late April is still a good time to put out hummingbird feeders in New Jersey, especially as sightings increase across the state and more birds arrive from the south.
Putting feeders up now can help support early arrivals and won’t interfere with natural feeding habits. Use a simple nectar mix of four parts water to one-part white sugar, and avoid red dye, according to the National Garden Bureau.
Here’s a full story on hummingbird food tips and what flowers to plant to attract hummingbirds to your garden.
What hummingbirds look like in New Jersey
Most hummingbirds spotted in New Jersey are the ruby‑throated hummingbird, a tiny bird — about three inches long — with shimmering green backs. Look for fast wing beats (up to 80 beats per second) and rapid hovering as they sip nectar at tubular flowers and feeders.
Adult males have a distinctive ruby-red throat that flashes in the sunlight, while females lack the red coloring and appear more muted, with pale gray or white underparts.
How to use the hummingbird migration map
The migration map tracks reported hummingbird sightings as birds move north during spring, offering a snapshot of how close they are to New Jersey.
As sightings begin clustering just south of the state, it’s a strong signal that hummingbirds are arriving or will soon — making the map a useful tool to check throughout late April.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based news reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network’s Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.
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