Mountain Creek (Vernon)

Put away your snowboard and get out your swimsuit. This fantastic family resort has as much to offer in the summer as it does in the winter, with 25 waterslides — including a a 99-foot drop on the H2-Oh-No speed slide — a wave pool, swimming holes, and dozens of rides for kids, big and small. Their Splash and Stay packages start at $59.75 per guest, and season passes to the park (if you just want to splash and don't want to stay), are $49.99. Opens May 26th. For further information call 973-827-2000.

Congress Hall (Cape May)

While it isn't inexpensive, the amenities, including a kid's club, make Congress Hall a great destination for parents and kids. The beautiful manicured grounds capture that Cape May magic, while the giant pool and beach cabanas make supervising swimming kids easy and comfortable. There are restaurants on site, as well as all that Cape May has to offer a bike ride away. Prices vary. For further information call 609-884-8421. If you want a little extra excitement and a lot of fried dough, you can drive 20 minutes and ride the coasters at Wildwoods.

Camping

I've written about my love of camping here at MPNJ several times before, and I stand by my assertion that for a low, low price you get the best concentration of fun, family bonding, dirt and sugar consumption. It can seem intimidating at first, but once you get the tent up and fire going, it doesn't really matter what you do with your time. I'm a fan of campsites without arcades and TVs, but that's a personal preference. I'm also a fan of campsites with clean bathrooms that don't have scary bugs in them, also a personal preference. So go have fun, and please report back in the comments if there's an NJ campsite you particularly like. 

Ross Mill Farm (Warminster, PA)

Feel like you already live with pigs? Well, guess what, for a decent price and a short drive, you can actually stay with (near) the snorting, squealing kind. Ross Mill Farm is a "a multi service facility dedicated to the pig as a household companion pet" and it's just over the border in Pennsylvania. It's also 30 acres of beautiful forest and streams, and situated on the property is a cottage for four, built in the 1600s. With a full kitchen and comfortable amenities, you can wile away the days wandering the woods with piggy companions or just rock on the porch swing. $120 a night. For more information call 215-322-1539. Ross Mill Farm is located 30-50 minutes from wonderful antiquing and strolling in Lambertville, NJ and tubing/kayaking in Frenchtown, NJ.