New Jersey Guide and Deals

Inflated structures, slides, and games fill the climate-controlled environs of the numerous BounceU locations that speckle the nation. At each site, staff members closely monitor all activities as little ones traverse obstacle courses or pull on oversized inflatable boxing gloves. The crew also invites parents to join in on the fun, letting them bounce alongside their kids or make sweeping edicts from atop a bouncy-castle throne. In addition to open sessions, the indoor-play haven sets the stage for the Preschool Playdate program, where instructors lead games and activities. Special events include family-bounce night, which lets parents join in the bouncing or relax in the party room and do grownup things, such as eat marshmallows with a knife and fork.

Inflated structures, slides, and games fill the climate-controlled environs of the numerous BounceU locations that speckle the nation. At each site, staff members closely monitor all activities as little ones traverse obstacle courses or pull on oversized inflatable boxing gloves. The crew also invites parents to join in on the fun, letting them bounce alongside their kids or make sweeping edicts from atop a bouncy-castle throne. In addition to open sessions, the indoor-play haven sets the stage for the Preschool Playdate program, where instructors lead games and activities. Special events include family-bounce night, which lets parents join in the bouncing or relax in the party room and do grownup things, such as eat marshmallows with a knife and fork.

At any given moment, 150,000 gallons of water are churning through CoCo Key Water Resort, fueling the nearly 1,000 feet of water slides weaving through the 55,000-square-foot indoor water park attached to the Hotel ML. On the slide Shark Slam, patrons plummet four stories, and on the Dip-In Theater little ones gently glide into a one-foot wading pool. Kids of all ages scale Parrot's Perch, firing water cannons across the colorful jungle gym and drenching playmates with buckets of water. Adults can take a relaxing approach to their day at the park and drift down the 300-foot lazy river or soak in the kid-free indoor and outdoor whirlpools.

Out of the water, the play-till-you-win Key Quest Arcade guarantees each gamer a victory on high-profile games, such as Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution. The water park also houses three on-site eateries and a full-service bar.

Tilt Studio's tenure as a family fun center dates back to 1972, a time when the menacing Pac-Man ghosts were still very much alive. Today, the 27,000 square-foot facility greets gamers with scores of arcade and ticket-redemption games plus spacious private-event rooms for corporate gatherings and birthday parties. Visitors receive a game card that works like a debit card, replacing cumbersome quarters that could otherwise be used to enter speed-drying competitions at the laundromat. In the arcade, up to four players can experience high-octane Formula One action, careening down a simulated Indy Motor Speedway, or land strikes on four lanes of virtual bowling, with backdrops depicting Rome, Japan, and Yosemite National Park.

The phosphorescent, indoor landscape at Monster Mini Golf immerses putters in an eerie universe that inverts the sun-soaked cheer of conventional courses. Rimmed in glowing green barriers, 18 holes lure swingers of all sizes to challenge their coordination and resolve in the face of winged monsters, scowling animated trees, a creepy clown, and their opponents' shockingly dazzling smiles. Sheltered from searing rain and howling wind, the indoor course enables play around hazards such as a spell well and luminous, ghostly windmill at any time of the year. An in-house radio station and DJ mask the sound of pounding hearts with lively beats and course commentary, and golfers looking for additional glory can win prizes by participating in regular contests or at the onsite arcade (arcade games not covered by this Groupon).

It takes copious amounts of energy to transform a child's body into an adult's, so it’s no wonder that such energy sometimes overflows. At Planet Kidz, a fleet of chipper teachers helps kids find constructive outlets for that energy, keeping bodies healthy and minds creatively engaged. The center’s dance and yoga programs tailor training toward developing bodies and students who love to learn in a non-competitive environment. During gymnastics classes, instructors challenge tykes to improve their coordination and flexibility, which help lay the fundamental physical foundation for other popular sports such as soccer or juggling Mom's vases. Self-discipline and self-defense share the spotlight during karate classes, and kids develop social niceties and fine motor skills at arts and crafts sessions.

While kids play and learn, parents can recline on couches, observe classes through a one-way mirror, or down beverages from a complimentary coffee and water bar. Cable TV ensures that adults stay on top of incoming broadcasts, and free WiFi keeps robot nannies from suddenly shutting down.