Here are 14 day trips to take over spring break in New Jersey

Before we know it, schools across New Jersey are going to be on spring break and parents are going to be looking for ways to keep them occupied.

While you might not be able to plan for any elaborate vacations or getaways, there are tons of activities across New Jersey that the whole family can enjoy. And, the best part is, these are places you can take a day trip to for some much-needed adventure.

Here are 15 things to do over spring break across the Garden State.

Adventure Aquarium, Camden

Located along the Camden waterfront, Adventure Aquarium has been serving New Jersey since 1993. The aquarium features more than 15,000 aquatic animals throughout two million gallons of water. It allows guests to experience up-close animal encounters, interactive touch exhibits and the ability to learn about some of the ocean's greatest species.

Go: 1 Riverside Drive, Camden; 844-474-3474, adventureaquarium.com.

American Dream Mall, East Rutherford

The American Dream Mall is a one-stop shop for all things entertainment during spring break. Besides having more than 450 retail stores — making it the second-largest shopping mall in the country — American Dream Mall also has several other attractions for memorable family experiences.

Among these attractions is the DreamWorks Water Park, which is the largest indoor water park in the country. There is also Nickelodeon Universe Amusement Park — the western hemisphere's largest indoor theme park with 35 indoor rides and multiple playgrounds. There's also American Dream's Big Snow, the country's first and only indoor, year-round ski experience, as well as the Tilt Museum and Angry Birds Mini Golf.

Go: 1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford; 833-263-7326, americandream.com.

Diggerland, West Berlin

With four locations in England and its only United States location right here in New Jersey, Diggerland is a unique construction-themed amusement and water park. The attraction offers more than 40 rides and attractions, where kids have the opportunity to operate construction vehicles — kid-sized versions, of course — like bulldozers and excavators. The park also has a full service arcade, zip line and rock wall.

Go: 100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin; 856-768-1110, diggerlandusa.com.

FunTime Junction, Fairfield

FunTime Junction is an indoor children's entertainment center with activities that have been keeping families occupied since 1994. The center offers a 1,800-square-feet vest-less laser tag arena, a helicopter carousel ride, toddler playground, LiteZilla, Krazy Kars, a black light scavenger hunt and more. FunTime Junction's biggest attraction is a multi-level softplay climbspace with slide tubes, web ladders, bouncers and a jump pillow.

Go: 400 Fairfield Road, Fairfield; 973-882-9777, funtimejunction.com.

Insectropolis, Toms River

Also known as the Bugseum of New Jersey, Insectropolis takes guests through the insect world. Visitors are invited to view thousands of exotic insects from all over the world, and can even touch a live tarantula, millipede and a hissing cockroach. There are 12 different exhibits throughout, including an observation bee hive and a mud tube to crawl like a termite.

Go: 1761 Route 9, Toms River; 732-349-7090, insectropolis.com.

Liberty Science Center, Jersey City

Founded in 1993 and located within Liberty State Park, Liberty Science Center consists of 12 different museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, large aquariums, a 3D theater and the country's largest planetarium. The exhibits are constantly changing, with The Science Behind Pixar, Wild Kratts: Ocean Adventure and Touch Tunnel are among those currently open.

Go: 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City; 201-200-1000, lsc.org.

Mountain Creek, Vernon

While we might not see warm enough temperatures over spring break to enjoy the more than 30 attractions at Mountain Creek's waterpark, there are still other activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Mountain Creek offers ziplining tours, which are open to those of all ages, as long as they're at least 60 pounds and 48 inches tall. In this attraction, visitors will travel along a series of zip lines — ranging from 200 to 1,500 feet in length — while getting panoramic views of the tri-state area. And, if you're looking for something a little less daring, but still adventurous, trying Mountain Creek's TreEscape ropes course. Here, visitors must navigate rope walks, obstacles, climbing elements and zip lines while suspending above the trees.

Go: 200 Route 94, Vernon Township; 973-827-2000, mountaincreek.com.

RPM Raceway, Jersey City

In Jersey City, you can find an all-electric indoor go-kart and entertainment destination. RPM Raceway's state-of-the-art racing facility features two quarter-mile long European-style racetracks with Italian-made go-karts that can reach speeds up to 45 mph. The attraction also has other activities, like virtual reality battles, racing simulators, arcade games and billiards, and a snack bar.

Go: 99 Caven Point Road, Jersey City; 201-333-7223, rpmraceway.com.

Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson

For a day full of adrenaline, take a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson. The amusement park is home to 14 world-class roller coasts like El Toro, Kingda Ka, The Joker and Batman, as well as a variety of thrilling family rides like the Roaring Rapids and Skyscreamer.

Six Flags Great Adventures also features a 350-acre drive-through safari. The Safari Off Road Adventure takes guests on round-trip excursions aboard open-air vehicles where they can see as many as 1,200 animals from across the globe, including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes and lions.

Go: 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson Township; 732-928-2000, sixflags.com/greatadventure.

Space Farms Zoo & Museum, Wantage

Space Farms Zoo & Museum is a complex that spans 100 acres in Sussex County. The zoo has more than 500 live wild animals, including lions, tigers, bears, leopards and more. There is also nine large museum buildings on the complex, with more than 50 antique cars, motorcycles, old horse-drawn carriages, old farm machinery and more. There is also a large picnic area, playground and restaurant available.

Go: 218 County Road 519, Sussex; 973-875-5800, spacefarms.com.

Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Ogdensburg

For those with inquisitive minds, the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg a perfect spring break attraction. Guests can participate in a walking tour that explores approximately 1,300 feet of tunnel inside the first level of the mine. During the tour, guests will learn about the equipment, history, working conditions and geology of the mine and will get a look inside areas like the lamp room, shaft station and mine galleries dating back to the 1830s. Sluice mining is another attraction, where visitors can purchase a bag of sand, which is then poured into a tray and dipped in water to reveal a variety of minerals and fossils.

Go: 20 Plant St., Ogdensburg; 973-209-7212, sterlinghillminingmuseum.org.

Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange

First opened in 1963 and currently part of the Essex County Parks Department, Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange consists of 1,400 animals across 20 acres in the South Mountain Reservation. The zoo has major exhibits like African Adventure, Big Cat Country, Essex Farm, Sea Lion Sound and a stingray touch tank. Turtle Back Zoo also has other activities like a safari mini golf, a prehistoric playground, pony rides, face painting and a butterfly tent.

Go: 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange; 973-731-5800, turtlebackzoo.com.

Van Saun County Park, Paramus

Van Saun County Park spans more than 130 acres and offers attractions like ball fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, splash pads and even a miniature train ride. The park is also home to the Bergen County Zoo, where guests are invited to explore animal exhibits, take carousel and pony rides, as well as watch free live animal shows in the zoo amphitheater.

Go: 216 Forest Ave., Paramus; 201-336-7275, cobergen.nj.us/parks-recreation/van-saun-county-park.

Wild West City, Byram Township

First opened in 1957, Wild West City is a family-owned, Western-themed park created by the American Foundation for the Preservation for the Old West. The attraction's sandy main street features replicas of buildings from notorious Western towns like Dodge City, Kansas, and Tombstone, Arizona. The park has live-action shows, a barnyard, museums, history demonstrations and train, pony and stagecoach rides.

Go: 50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope; 973-347-8900, wildwestcity.com.

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.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Family fun things to do: 14 day trips to take over spring break in NJ