Things To Do in New Jersey

Captain Al's cooks plate a menu of casual American fare as servers decant 16 draft beers. Hands dig into hearty appetizers, kick-starting palates with options such as four La Frieda sliders—miniature hamburger patties topped with american cheese originally concocted for lilliputian barbecues ($10)—or loaded cheese fries coated in cheddar and applewood bacon bits, which are ripe for dipping into buttermilk ranch ($8). Knives carve into entrees, slicing through the stuffed chicken breast to reveal a savory filling of goat cheese and spinach ($13), and fingers run up and down the rack of ribs ($19), which doubles as a spongy xylophone. In between chews, diners wash down meals with sips of eclectic draft brews such as Delirium Tremens, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, and Smithwicks, or more common standbys such as Blue Moon, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Coors Light.

The KISS Expo draws in fans from near and far together under one roof for a day of celebrating their favorite rock band. For eight hours, attendees can gain an inside view of the band's work during panels featuring guitar designer Jim Cara, album artist Ken Kelly, and author Lydia Criss. Fans even have a chance to receive an autograph and take a photo with lead guitarist Tommy Thayer, giving them an exciting photo to show in place of their driver's license at traffic stops. Beyond panels and autograph sessions, fans can also add to their KISS memorabilia at stations set up by dozens of onsite merchants throughout the convention space.

Tucked alongside the Assunpink Creek, Trenton's Mill Hill neighborhood houses brick-faced 19th century homes and their lush gardens within a cozy 10-block area. For more than 200 years, residents of the historic neighborhood have taken pride in cultivating their scenic community. Each year, local homeowners open up their yards so that visitors can peek into their diminutive urban gardens. The scenic tour drew the attention of CBS Philadelphia, which wrote that “between and behind these historic homes, you'll discover some of the Delaware Valley's most cleverly designed compact gardens.”

Clifton Yoga Center focuses on the Kripalu yoga tradition—a form of Hatha yoga that asks its practitioners to rely on inner focus, meditation, standard yoga poses, and breathing exercises. Classes are taught by a certified Kripalu yoga instructor with 18 years of experience in the discipline.

Before New York City's subway system was built, a secret test train, powered only by forced air, once traversed the space beneath City Hall. This little-known fact is just one of many that patrons of Better Adventures may hear during story-filled tours of the Big Apple. Led by New York City natives, tours reveal the stories behind the locations, cluing guests in on the secrets of eclectic neighborhoods and landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park. The company doesn't just educate the public, either—proceeds from the tours help support Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC.

Because minds are at their most malleable in early childhood, the teachers at Little Footsteps Child Development Center take advantage of this time to coddle and mold the fragile intellects of infants, preschoolers, and kindergarteners and prime them for future learning. The nonprofit center, which is decorated to emulate the comforts of home, provides a welcoming environment for kids in a safe building that’s guarded by a security system as opposed to an enchanted troll bridge.

Because teachers oversee as few as 4 charges in the infant room and a maximum of 12 in kindergarten classes, they can give each child individual attention and gear hands-on curriculum toward the child’s needs. Lesson plans include age-appropriate forays into language arts, math, science, social studies, motor activities, and sessions with specialists for music, art, and computers.

Sessions take place in classrooms that house a variety of learning stations, which stimulate curiosity with bright colors and toys that encourage play between peers. On the playground, kids dart in and out of the jungle gym with friends or gather under the pavilion to discuss the day’s news or decide who gets to go down the big slide first.