Travel Itinerary
Growing up in New Jersey meant having some of the most legendary amusement parks right in your backyard.
These weren’t just places to ride roller coasters and eat cotton candy. They were where friendships were made, first dates happened, and summer memories were created that would last a lifetime.
1. Palisades Amusement Park
Perched high above the Hudson River, this park was pure magic from 1898 to 1971. The Cyclone roller coaster made grown adults scream like kids.
Freddy Cannon even sang about it in his hit song, making it famous nationwide. The park’s neon lights could be seen from Manhattan across the water.
When it closed, thousands of heartbroken fans gathered for one final goodbye. Nothing could replace those cliff-top thrills and carnival atmosphere that defined childhood for generations.
2. Action Park
Nicknamed “Traction Park” by locals, this place was wonderfully dangerous in ways that would never fly today. The Alpine Slide sent kids flying off the track regularly.
Cannonball Loop, a water slide with an actual loop, was so intense it barely stayed open. Parents dropped off their teenagers knowing they might come home with battle scars.
Despite the chaos and occasional injuries, everyone wanted to go back. The park embodied pure teenage rebellion and summer freedom like nowhere else could.
3. Clementon Park And Splash World
This charming little park has been making families happy since 1907, proving that bigger isn’t always better. The wooden roller coaster still creaks and groans in all the right places.
Adding the water park section was genius, giving kids two parks in one. The lazy river became every parent’s favorite spot to actually relax.
Local schools still plan field trips here, continuing traditions that started with their grandparents. Sometimes the best adventures come in smaller, more personal packages that feel like home.
4. Storybook Land
Fairy tales came alive in this whimsical wonderland that opened in 1955. Little kids could actually walk through Humpty Dumpty’s wall and visit the Three Little Pigs.
The park stayed small and sweet on purpose, perfect for toddlers taking their first amusement park steps. Every building looked like it jumped straight from a children’s book.
Parents loved how manageable everything felt compared to massive theme parks. Three generations of families have made pilgrimages here, creating their own happily ever after stories together.
5. Steel Pier
Atlantic City’s famous boardwalk pier has been entertaining crowds since 1898, surviving storms, fires, and changing times. The diving horse shows were absolutely bonkers but unforgettable.
Big bands played here when Atlantic City was America’s playground. Frank Sinatra and the Rolling Stones both performed on this wooden stage over the ocean.
Today’s version keeps evolving with new rides and attractions. Walking out over the Atlantic waves while munching saltwater taffy still feels like stepping into a classic American postcard scene.
6. Fun Pier
Wildwood’s answer to boardwalk entertainment packed serious thrills into a relatively small space. The Giant Wheel gave you stunning views of the entire Jersey Shore coastline.
Kids saved their allowance money all year just for one epic Fun Pier spending spree. The arcade games were legendary, especially that basketball shooting game nobody could master.
Salt air mixed with funnel cake created the perfect summer cocktail. Even though it’s gone now, just hearing “Fun Pier” makes any Jersey kid instantly smell the ocean and hear seagulls crying overhead.
7. Hunt’s Pier
The Golden Nugget mine car ride was pure genius, taking families on a wild journey through a fake mountain. Flyer Coaster let you actually lie down while racing through loops and curves.
This pier pushed creative boundaries with rides nobody had seen before. The Jungle Ride featured live alligators, which sounds completely insane now but was totally normal then.
Hunt’s Pier proved that innovation and imagination could create magic. When it closed, Wildwood lost some of its quirky charm that made Jersey Shore summers feel uniquely special and wonderfully weird.