Here are 12 ways to beat the summer heat in North Jersey

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.