Fun Activities

Princeton Graduate Housing Playgrounds – Meet other Tigers with Cubs!

  • Lawrence has a big playground with swings (scroll down the page for the map) behind Building 6 and a toddler’s playground between Buildings 13 and 11. They both are open for everyone. There is visitor’s parking near the entrance of the parking lot. There is a community room doubling as a tiny playroom in Building 14 for residents (keys required).
  • Lakeside has a playground (yellow on the map) for everyone. There is a dedicated playroom in the Commons for residents (passcode required).

Indoor Family-Friendly Activities:

  • The Princeton Public Library has their third floor is dedicated to children with storytimes (0+) and play groups. They have train set, a special toddler’s play room, and a cool aquarium. They also have other kid’s events, including monthly storytimes in different foreign languages, acting groups, homework help, chess clubs, and other events.
  • The Costen Children’s Library on the first floor of the Princeton Firestone Library is an enchanting place with an indoor tree house and a puppet theatre.
  • Family Concerts at the Princeton University. You get 3 free tickets with Princeton’s Passport to the Performing Arts program each year. The University Chapel also hosts concerts.
  • Early Birds YMCA Program at the Henry Pannell Learning Center (note it’s not at the YMCA center) has stories and songs for 4 month – 3 years.
  • The Princeton Plainsboro hospital runs a Bright Beginnings play group for children from birth to crawling for parents/ caregivers of infants. Each week focuses on a different topic of interest to new parents. Infants and children under four years old are welcome to attend.
  • MarketFair’s Center Court hosts Movin’ and Groovin’ Thursdays, an interactive morning music event held on select Thursdays throughout the year. See website for more information and for specific dates.
  • Barnes & Noble at Market Fair has weekly storytimes and a small play area.
  • Pottery Barn Kids, which is right next to Barnes & Noble at Market Fair, also has weekly children’s activities.
  • Michaels at Nassau Park has many craft classes for free and paid.
  • Home Depot at Nassau Park occasionally has kids workshops.
  • Princeton Kids posts many local events, both indoors and outdoors.
  • Princeton Playspace is an indoor play area located on Alexander Road about two miles from the Lawrence graduate apartments. The playspace is designed for children ages 0-10. See website for pricing and for hours.
  • The Mercer County Public Library has storytimes, toddler science events, and children’s science events (slow website).
  • Go to museums for free with the Princeton Public Library’s museum pass program. Some good indoor ones: The Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences has a free butterfly room and a small petting zoo on the top floor. The Please Touch Museum.

Parent Support Groups:

  • Princeton Nassau Pediatrics (Princeton Shopping Center) runs a breastfeeding support group run by their lactation consultant. See their website or call for more information.
  • The Princeton Plainsboro hospital, accessible by Tiger Transit, runs Breastfeeding Support Groups on Tuesday and Friday mornings.
  • The Princeton Plainsboro hospital runs a Postpartum Adjustment Support Group at the Princeton Fitness & Wellness Center.

Outdoor Family Friendly Activites:

  • Princeton Kids posts many local events, both indoors and outdoors.
  • Go to museums for free with the Princeton Public Library’s museum pass program. Some good oudoor ones: Grounds for Sculpture has peacocks roaming around. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space museum is on an aircraft carrier.
  • Lots of farms to explore. At Terhune Orchards you can pick fruits and attend the annual summer Firefly Festival or weekly Fall Festivals, and other events throughout the year.
  • Princeton Farmer’s Market is held on Thursday’s next to the Princeton Public Library from 11 AM to 4 PM from June to November.
  • Hear the carillon bell music every Sunday at 1:00 – 1:45pm. You can go up the tower and see them play for all over 12 years of age.
  • Palmer Square events in downtown Princeton has events year round:
    • Halloween Parade – costume parade that goes through Palmer Square to the YMCA for an annual Halloween carnival (including trunk or treat, bounce houses, and more).
    • Winter Wonderland (11 Hulfish St.) – entertainment for little ones on the weekends in December.
  • Further away, the Cranbury Christmas Lights is free light show during late November through December that raises money for the local food bank.
  • Turning Basin Park, the Canal Trail. The straight trail along the canal is fun for everyone in the family. You can canoe at across the street from the Turning Basin Park parking lot.
  • The Watershed Reserve has nature-related events and also an annual summer Butterfly Festival.
  • Barbara Boggs Sigmund Park (Chestnut St & Hamilton Ave): Appropriate for toddlers and children under 10. There are baby swings, a small slide for toddlers, a larger play structure for children ages 5-10, and a sandbox filled with toys.
  • Marquand Park (Lovers’ Lane): The sandbox filled with toys here is legendary – children are known to spend full afternoons here without complaint. There are also swings for older children and a small play structure for younger children.
  • Further away, Mercer County Park is a large and beautiful park that has many trails (including paved ones that are good for strollers), picnic areas, tennis courts, dog park, Frisbee golf, ice skating center, and multiple playgrounds. In the summer, you can rent pedal boats, row boats, and kayaks. A large playground with swings is located near the Boathouse/ Marina.
  • For more parks in Princeton, please visit this website.