Family Tides
The dog days of summer don’t always bring sunshine. One moment you’re packing the cooler for a beach day and the next, storm clouds are rolling in. Luckily, there are plenty of local spots, including a few new ones, that are perfect for whiling away a rainy day together as a family.
From bouncing on wall-to-wall trampolines to unplugging around a board game, here are four family-friendly ways to make the most of a stormy day — and maybe even create some new memories.
Connect as a family
The newly opened The Board Room in Ocean City offers the perfect excuse to unplug and reconnect. The stay-and-play game space invites families to gather around the table and unwind with a board game or puzzle — just like the good old days. With a library of more than 200 games, you can grab a snack and pick a classic or discover a new favorite.
The Board Room also hosts free events and plans to add more as it continues to grow. The front of the store doubles as a retail space, so visitors can browse and buy unique, quirky games — some they may never have heard of — to take home for more fun.
Pricing is $5 per person, per hour. Summer hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, visit theboardroomocnj.com.
Bounce the day away
There are few things kids love more than bouncing on a trampoline. Fortunately, our area has great options for helping cooped-up big and little ones burn off energy.
Get Air in Mays Landing lets kids bounce off the walls — literally — with thousands of square feet of trampolines. Jumpers can also check out the dodgeball area or launch into an oversized foam pit, among other features.
Rates start at $15.99 for one hour for “Little Air” jumpers (under 46 inches) and $17.99 for “Big Air” jumpers. Grip socks are required and can be purchased on site. Get Air also offers toddler-only hours. For more information, visit getairsports.com/mays-landing.
Or check out the recently opened TakeOff Adventure Park in Pleasantville. Beyond trampolines, kids can swing through a rope course, slam-dunk on a trampoline basketball court, tackle a ninja course, climb walls, play arcade games and more.
Pricing is $26 for 1.5 hours and $20 for two hours for kids under 42 inches. Jump socks are $3.50. For more information, visit takeoffpleasantville.com.
Beat the clock
Test your wits as a family at one of the many escape rooms across the Shore. These interactive attractions challenge players to work together to uncover clues and solve puzzles in order to “escape” a room, usually within 30 minutes to an hour.
Themes range from Ocean City’s Shore to Escape and its Curse of the Hidden Temple room to Wildwood’s Cloak & Dagger Escape Rooms and its Legend of the Jersey Devil challenge. Atlantic City has options, too, including Escape AC at the Tropicana and PanIQ Escape Room. Other spots include OC Escape Room and Exit 4 Escape Rooms in Ocean City, as well as Escape May Escape Rooms in Rio Grande.
Check ahead for hours, themes, age limits and group size requirements. Most places also require a reservation. Even if you don’t beat the clock, escape rooms are a surefire way to laugh, bond and make memories as a family.
Get cozy and creative
If snuggling up and getting crafty on a rainy day is more your speed, try painting pottery at Glazed Over Studio in Ocean City. Pick a piece, select your colors and settle in to paint. Staff will fire your creation in the kiln and reach out when it’s ready for pickup.
Glazed Over is walk-in friendly, with pricing based on the piece you choose. The studio is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit glazedoverstudios.com.
Another option is the Art Block Cafe in Cape May, a cafe and art studio where you can pair a paint-your-own project with drinks like boba tea, coffee, lemonade or matcha. Tucked along the Washington Street Mall, this cozy spot offers plenty of projects to fill an afternoon and a variety of unique drink creations and baked goods to enjoy. For Labubu-obsessed kids, the cafe currently has paint-your-own Labubu keychains and other projects. For more information, visit artblockofcapemay.com.
Madison Russ is an award-winning journalist, copy editor and adjunct professor of communication based in Atlantic County. An Ocean City native, Madison is passionate about telling stories that matter to locals, often spotlighting nonprofits and exploring the area’s vibrant arts scene.
