Top 8 Things To Do In New Jersey’s Winters (2024)

New Jersey has always been known for its coastline, but did you ever think what winters would look be like in the Garden State? On the one hand, New Jersey is home to the Atlantic coast of the United States, whereas, on the other hand, it has mountains, parks, and islands; in short, the State of New Jersey is neck packed with several fun attractions and spots. Even though you can plan a vacation here during any time of the year, but if your luck falls during winter, make sure you catch it within the snowy grounds of New Jersey.

Winters in New Jersey begin from the mid of November and goes until the end of March. Similarly, the end of November begins welcoming Snowfall making January and February the coldest yet most beautiful months of the year. It is when the temperature touches near 2 degrees Celsius, and there is snow until knee in most of the interior regions of Jersey. The holiday season blooms during this time frame, and there are plenty of things readily available to do.

Top 8 Things To Do In New Jersey Winters

Below are the Things to do in New Jersey:

1. Go for Ice Skiing

The idea of Snowy winters and Ice Skiing goes hand in hand. And once it begins to snow in New Jersey, there isn’t a better place to visit than the Mountain Creek Ski resort in Sussex County. This 167-acre resort offers you four skiable peaks where you can do ice Skiing, Night Skiing, snowboarding, ziplining, snow tubing, fat biking, and alpine coasting. Mountain Creek is New Jersey’s largest ski resort, and no matter if you are a beginner or a professional, there’s everything for varied interests. If not Mountain Creek, you can also head to the Campgaw Mountain or the Thunder Ridge ski area and book yourself an ultimate level of snow skiing fun.

2. Have Fun at the Sahara Sam’s Oasis

An epic waterpark and one of the best places to visit during Winters in New Jersey, the Sahara Sam’s Oasis is a must-visit. While half of New Jersey is covered in layers of snow, this indoor waterpark will unleash fun adventure in the most pleasant manner. Located in West Berlin township, Sahara is known to be the first stand-alone indoor waterpark in the United States, and no matter what age you are, your inner child will have unended and unfiltered fun here. No matter how much the temperature has dropped outside, you will be at the ease of nearly 28-degree Celsius (heated) when you are inside the waterpark. They also operate a snack and restaurant center where you can refill after a tiring adventure session.

3. Be a Part of the Challenging Polar Bear Plunge

An activity not for faint-hearted, but if you are up for some thrilling adventure, then make sure you be a part of the Polar Bear Plunge when in New Jersey. It is basically a charity event organized annually to raise funds for Special Olympics New Jersey. During the event, thousands of brave hearts take an icy dip into the ice-cold water of the freezing Atlantic. What adds more challenge is that the event gets organized anytime during the first quarter of January. Atlantic then can even go as low as 1 degree or sometimes even in minus, making the event real-time challenging. It might sound insane to some, but do not miss the chance if you are daring enough.

4. Do Some Winter Hiking In The Beautiful Watchung Reservation

One of the largest natural reserves in New Jersey, the Watchung Reservation turns into a wonderland during winters. The entire 2000 acres of lush woodlands, streams, and rivers settle down under a thick snow blanket that transforms the region into an incredibly picturesque land. Pack your snowshoes, take along and snow sticks and walk through the snow-packed trails. Begin from the Sierra circuit, join the orange trail, and then finally head towards the blue trail to reach the scenic stream and gorge. Even though you can choose any day, but if it happens to be a sunny afternoon, nature will bless you with some truly beautiful and shiny sites.

5. Ice Skate At The Indoor Facilities

If outdoor snow adventure is not your jam, then head to the indoor rinks in New Jersey. The Garden State is home to several rinks where you can ice skate in a closed and safe environment. Especially if you have kids, the indoor facilities here will provide you with a more suitable option. There are several rinks in the State, including Flemington Ice Arena, Flyer’s skate zone, Glice skating, Holly dell ice arena, Ocean Ice palace, Protec Pounds ice center, and several more.

6. Watch The Wilds Enjoying In The Lakota Wolf Preserve

If you are here in New Jersey during winters, make sure you do not go back without touring the Lakota Wolf Preserve. Owned by Jim Stein and Becky Mace, it is an excellent place to bring both kids and adults for education and fun purposes. Once you arrive here, you will be welcomed by a scenic 1/2-mile nature walk that leads you to the wolf preserve. Once you are here inside, you will be surrounded by four different packs of wolves enjoying their time in their natural habitat settings. The tour here educates about the eating habits of wolves, their interaction with humans, the social structure of packs, and much other worthy information. Because the preserve is within a hilly region, during winters, it is all covered with snow, and with wolves pass through the scene, it looks no less than a clip from the Twilight movie.

7. Visit the Walpack Center, A Town Where No One Lives

The Walpack center can be reached in the Flat Brook Valley 6.7 miles west of Branchville, a town where no one lives. The town was once a farming community, but in the last century, during the 60s, the ill-fated Tocks Island dam project destroyed the sight making the residents leave one by one. Later on, a few residents then visitors experienced paranormal activities in the town, and if stories are believed, you might still experience the odd instances here. However, the isolated little town has a few attractions to explore, including Methodist Church, One room schoolhouse, the Walpack Centre Historic district, and a post office. Even though there aren’t the most famous sights here if you want to explore the off-beaten paths in New Jersey, make sure you stop at the Walpack Centre.

8. Celebrate Christmas with Jersians

Winter vacations are always about two things, Snowfall, and Christmas. While spending winters in New Jersey, never miss the chance to celebrate Christmas with the Jersians. The top destination for festivity in the State definitely is the town of Cape May, where you can see the colorful Victorian homes soaked into the glittery vibes of Christmas. Further, head towards the Red town and enjoy the annual Holiday Concert & Town Lighting event. Next, the Ho-Ho-Kus borough might tickle you with its name, but the entire month of December will entertain you with events and festivities to the core. For a laid-back and peaceful Christmas time, choose Lafayette as your ultimate destination, or if you are looking for true beauty, head to Clinton, the bucolic town.