Tired of the cold and snow already? Check out these 11 locations where you can participate in summer activities in the warmth of an indoor facility.
Even though Old Man Winter left New Jersey alone for longer than usual, the brisk winds and frigid snowflakes have finally arrived.
If you're already tired of the cold and long for fun summer activities, there are plenty of places that keeps summer alive indoors.
Sahara Sam's Oasis Indoor and Outdoor Water Park is the perfect place to pretend it's summer while the cold winter winds blow outside. Water Parks
Sahara Sam's Oasis Indoor and Outdoor Water Park
535 North Route 73 West Berlin
856-767-7580
Sahara Sam's indoor water park is a tropical oasis where kids and adults alike can float, slide, or surf in this warm summer-like sanctuary.
Congo Bongo Adventure River spans nearly the entire length of the park and carries floating guests under the gardened terrace, past tropical warming pool, and through the exciting water slides.
Since the ocean in New Jersey is just too cold for surfing, Sahara Sam's Flow Rider gives guests a chance to catch a wave indoors where it's always summer time.
CoCo Key Water Resort
915 Route 73 in Mount Laurel
877-494-2626
Plunging slides, water cannons, and a lazy river make CoCo Key the perfect escape from winter's bitter chill.
Kids will love Parrot's Perch, an interactive aquatic jungle gym with slides, water cannons and a 300-gallon bucket that dumps periodically, surprising unsuspecting swimmers in the most refreshing way.
If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, take a dark voyage down the loops and turns of Barracuda Blast -- a 350-foot tube slide that sends riders flying towards the warm pool at the bottom.
The littlest guests will have a splashing good time in the Dip-In area -- a one-foot deep baby pool with a baby slide.
Biosphere Pool Complex
Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs Resort
3 Wild Turkey Way in Hamburg
855-977-6473
www.crystalgolfresort.com/play/pool-complex
This 10,000-square-foot indoor pool complex at Crystal Springs Resort will transport you to a lush, tropical island, complete with a German Foiltech roof that allows year-round tanning.
The freeform swimming pools are surrounded by lush tropical foliage, all with a background of the spectacular mountains that surround the resort.
An underground aquarium, grotto-like Jacuzzi, cave-themed steam room and sauna, and 140-foot water slide make the Biosphere perfect for visitors of all ages.
Montego Bay Resort and Conference Center
1800 Boardwalk in North Wildwood
800-962-1349
At Montego Bay's indoor water park, shore lovers can splash about in a boardwalk resort even when the sand is covered with snow.
With water slides such as the "aqua tube" which takes riders outside the building, over the Wildwood sidewalk, then back inside the hotel before splashing down in a warm pool, a 100-square-foot hot tub, and a 240-foot-long plunging water slide, Montego Bay keeps Jersey Shore summer fun alive all year long.
It's always summer time inside Camden's Adventure Aquarium. Aquariums
Adventure Aquarium
1 Riverside Drive in Camden
856-365-3300
Can't get to the warm beaches of Australia this winter?
Don't worry, because Adventure Aquarium in Camden has brought the beaches of Down Under to New Jersey.
Little Blue Beach is the aquarium's newest, indoor exhibit and is home to eight Little Blue Penguins who came straight from Phillip Island, Australia.
Surrounded by Palm trees, surf boards, and colorful beach cabanas that serve as nesting boxes, LIttle Blue Beach is a bright, warm, summer get-away in the middle of the dark, cold winter.
Jenkinson's Aquarium
300 Ocean Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach
732-899-1212
Visit sharks, penguins, stingrays, and seals in the warmth of the Jenkinson's Aquarium on
The Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk no matter what the weather may decide to do this winter.
Since June 1991, the sea-side aquarium has offered educational and recreational resources, and opportunities to get up close and personal with marine life from around the world.
And if you happen to fall in love with one of the cuddly penguins or majestic sharks, Jenkinson's Aquarium has an adoption program that not only benefits the animal, but comes with a sweet package including a plush animal, a color photo of your animal, aquarium passes and an invite to Parents Night at the Aquarium just for adopters.
Atlantic City Aquarium
800 North New Hampshire Avenue in Atlantic City
609-348-2880
If the weather outside is frightful, head to Atlantic City Aquarium to see something some may consider even more frightful -- maybe even frightening.
Visit a gang of Moray eels that may look scary, but are really just a large species of eel that like to live in warm climates around the world.
At the Atlantic City Aquarium, guests can also greet a Loggerhead sea turtle, Clownfish and Anemones like the ones from "Finding Nemo," and the Amazon's most ferocious fishies, Piranha.
At the touch tanks, visitors can pet tropical sharks and Cownose stingrays, and Iguanas, a Matamata turtle, and Motoro rays can be found in the Tropical Rainforest.
FunPlex brings the fun of an amusement park indoors during the cold winter months. Indoor amusements
The FunPlex
3320-24 Route 38 in Mount Laurel
856-273-9666
and
182 Route 10 West in East Hanover
973-428-1166
Let's face it -- it's just too cold to go to the Jersey boardwalk during the winter months.
But it's warm and cozy inside The FunPlex locations in Mount Laurel and East Hanover.
Jump on the Bumper Cars, Go-karts, Air Shot, and Fun-a-Whirl amusement rides in Mount Laurel, and the Free Fall and Super Twister in East Hanover, for a little taste of summer fun before the summer arrives.
The 4D Dark Ride theatre adds an extra thrill factor to both FunPlex locations by inviting guests into a world of stereoscopic graphics in a 360-degree, interactive adventure.
And just like the Jersey boardwalk, FunPlex has an arcade packed with Ice Ball, air hockey, or any of the best and newest video games in the industry.
iPlay America
110 Schanck Road in Freehold
732-577-8200
With amusement rides, an arcade, and fun boardwalk games, iPlay America is like a serious summer day stuck inside a heated building.
Hop on the Spin Zone Bumper Cars, Kite Flyer, or Skyscraper free fall ride to experience that same exciting feeling you get at outdoor amusement parks.
Inside the arcade, win big with ticket games and redeem those tickets for prizes, or drive, shoot, race, or fight while playing the newest and most high-tech video games.
Grab a prize in one of the many crane games or try your skee ball skills playing a classic arcade game.
And iPlay America didn't forget those fun boardwalk games like balloon darts, Whac-A-Mole, and Hot Shot.
Pump It Up
8 East Stow Road in Marlton
856-797-9663
www.pumpitupparty.com/marlton-nj
If the frigid air makes you want to jump around to keep warm, Pump It Up Marlton is the perfect place for some indoor fun.
With a building full of larger-than-life inflatables, kids can jump, bounce, and flop all over the soft, safe play area.
A great place for birthday parties and special occasions, Pump It Up also offers open jump times including Family Jump Time and a Snowball Feud Open Jump with plush snowballs that won't freeze your hands.
For the older kids, Pump It Up will turn down the lights and turn up the fun with special FX lighting and glowing accessories for a Go Glow party.
Other locations include Freehold, Hamilton, Piscataway, Randolph, Roselle Park, and Secaucus.
For more information, visit www.pumpitupparty.com.
High Elevations Trampoline Park
7 Enterprise Court in Sewell
856-270-2456
highelevationstrampolinepark.com
This 20,000-square-foot trampoline park brings the jumping fun of summer indoors.
With a large, open jump area, a dodgeball court, four slam dunk basketball courts, a foam pit, and a special jump area for kids 6 years old and younger, High Elevations is the perfect place to get your jump on during those cold winter months.
High Elevations is also a great place to get a cardio work out when it's too chilly to take a walk or jog outdoors.
Air Fitness classes and JumpFit classes offer plyometrics, cardio, and strength building for a full-body workout that can burn up to 1,000 calories.
Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.