Most people know Paramus for its malls. Parents know there's more to it.
Tucked between Route 4, Route 17 and the Garden State Parkway are a county zoo, a miniature train, a carousel, pony rides, an education center and acres of trails. When the weather turns, there's a big indoor option or two just down the road.
This guide sorts the best family outings into outdoor days, rainy days and seasonal favorites. It also covers prices, ages and the Sunday rules that catch out-of-town visitors.
Hours and prices change from season to season. We've noted where we checked each one, so it's worth confirming before you pack the car.
Van Saun County Park: the place to start
If you only do one thing in Paramus with kids, make it Van Saun County Park on Forest Avenue. It packs a day's worth of activities into one park, and most of them cost a few dollars or nothing.
The Bergen County Zoo
The zoo is small, which is exactly why it works for young kids. You can see everything in a couple of hours without anyone melting down. Animals include red wolves, prairie dogs, a bald eagle, sloths, horses and donkeys, plus a condor exhibit.
- Hours: normally daily, 10am to 4:30pm, weather permitting (last entry 4pm). Winter and special-event hours can be shorter, so check the county’s current notice.
- Bergen County residents: $6 adults, $4 children 3 to 14, $2 seniors
- Out of county: $10 adults, $7 children, $4 seniors
- Free: children under 3 and active military with ID
Tickets are sold at the zoo booth or online. The Education & Discovery Center inside the zoo is open 10am to 4pm, unless it's booked for a program.
The train and the carousel
The miniature train loops through the park, and the Millennium Carousel sits near the zoo. Both cost $3 per person, per ride. They usually run 10am to 5pm, weather permitting. Ride tickets are sold only at the zoo ticket booth, not online.
Tip: buy all your ride tickets at once, so you don't have to walk back to the booth with a tired toddler.
Pony rides
Pony rides cost $5. Riders must be over 2, under 50 inches tall and under 90 pounds. They run on set days only, so check the county's park page before you promise them. When we checked, they ran on Mondays, Wednesdays and weekends, and not on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.
Playground and splash pad
Harmony Playground is built to be accessible for kids of all abilities, with a water sprinkler feature for hot days. There’s a separate splash pad in summer too. The water features are seasonal, so check the county’s notices before planning a splash-pad visit in October.
The park also has walking paths, picnic areas, ball fields and a dog park near the Continental Avenue entrance.
More outdoor spots
Saddle River County Park, Dunkerhook area
Saddle River County Park is a long, narrow county park that follows the Saddle River through several towns. Its Dunkerhook area sits on Paramus Road, on the Paramus–Fair Lawn line.
It's a good place to let kids roam. There's a playground, picnic tables, a small waterfall in the river and Easton Tower, a county historic site whose old stone tower looks like it belongs in a storybook. You can also fish here if you have a New Jersey license.
The park's paved path runs about 6 miles from Ridgewood to Rochelle Park. Kids learning to ride a bike love it because it's flat and away from cars. Try a short out-and-back from Dunkerhook rather than the whole thing.
If you’d like more space, drive to the nearby Wild Duck Pond area in Ridgewood. It has an accessible playground, ducks to watch and a pond that can open for skating when the county says conditions allow.
Paramus Mini Golf
Next to the Paramus Golf Course on Paramus Road is an outdoor mini golf course with nods to New Jersey landmarks. It's a cheap, easy hour on a warm evening. The course is seasonal, so check that it's open before you go.
Summer swimming
The Paramus Municipal Pool on Van Binsberger Boulevard has a kids' pool, a water slide and diving boards. It's membership-based, so check the borough's pool brochure for who can join and what it costs.
Indoor activities for rainy days
When it pours, Paramus is one of the better towns in Bergen County to be stuck in. Most of these places are within a short drive of each other.
Humdingers
Humdingers, on East Midland Avenue, is a big indoor fun center. It has bowling lanes with projected games, batting cages, a laser maze, an arcade and food. It works for a wide range of ages. Little kids bowl with bumpers while older ones head straight for the batting cages.
Monster Mini Golf
Almost across the street, Monster Mini Golf has a glow-in-the-dark indoor course with a friendly monster theme. It also has an arcade with prize tickets. School-age kids tend to love it. Very young or easily scared toddlers may find the dark a bit much.
BounceU
BounceU on Eisenhower Drive is a room full of inflatable slides and bounce houses. Its recommended age range is 2 to 12, with height rules for individual attractions. Non-walkers and young toddlers cannot use the equipment. Open Bounce runs on selected dates, and confirmed advance reservations are required—no walk-ins. Check the calendar before you book.
iFLY Indoor Skydiving
This is the one for older kids, or for a special occasion. At iFLY on Route 4, an instructor helps you float in a vertical wind tunnel. Flights are short but thrilling, and the staff are used to first-timers. Flyers must be at least 3 years old and, at Paramus, at least 40 inches tall. Check the other participation requirements and book online.
Movies and the mall
Westfield Garden State Plaza has an AMC theater and plenty of places to eat. On a weekday, walking the mall is an easy way for little ones to burn off energy when it's too wet for the playground.
The library
Don't overlook the Paramus Public Library. It runs storytimes and kids' programs through the year, and some need registration. Check its events calendar for this week's schedule.
Hours vary by day and season. Most of these places list Sunday hours, but always check before you go. Paramus has strict Sunday rules, and holiday hours can change too.
Through the seasons
Spring. This is the best time for Van Saun. The animals are active, the crowds are lighter than in summer, and the train and pony rides are back to their regular schedule.
Summer. Head to the splash pad and Harmony Playground’s sprinklers in the morning, before the heat peaks. In summer 2026, the zoo also offered late Wednesday openings in July and August, with animal spotlights and activities. Watch the zoo’s announcements for future dates.
Fall. The zoo’s ZOO BOO Halloween event is a local favorite. The county announced an evening program for October 23, 2026, with separate tickets. It’s also the season for long bike rides on the Saddle River path, when the trees turn.
Winter. Indoor spots carry the season. On cold, clear days, the zoo is quiet, and many animals are easier to spot. If the county says the ice is safe, Wild Duck Pond in nearby Ridgewood opens for skating. For first ski lessons, Campgaw Mountain in Mahwah is about 20 minutes away.
Practical tips for parents
Know the Sunday rules. Paramus closes nearly all retail on Sundays, including the stores inside Garden State Plaza and the other malls. Parks, the zoo, restaurants and movie theaters stay open. So a Sunday is great for Van Saun, but it's the wrong day for "zoo, then a quick stop at the toy store."
Pack a picnic for Van Saun. The park has plenty of picnic areas, and a packed lunch lets you take the day at a toddler's pace. Remember that ride tickets are sold only at the zoo booth.
Go early. On sunny weekends Van Saun fills up by late morning, especially near the zoo and the playground. Arriving around opening time gets you shorter lines for the train and the carousel.
Book ahead indoors. On rainy weekends, BounceU, iFLY and the bowling lanes at Humdingers can fill up fast. Reserve online the night before if you can.
Eating out. Routes 4 and 17 are lined with family-friendly chains, and kids eat well at most of them. Humdingers also has its own food, which makes it an easy one-stop afternoon.
Quick picks by age
| Age | Outdoors | Indoors |
|---|---|---|
| Toddlers (1–3) | Van Saun zoo, carousel and Harmony Playground | Library storytime; BounceU only when age and height rules are met |
| Preschool (3–5) | Train ride, pony rides, the Dunkerhook playground | BounceU, bumper bowling at Humdingers |
| Grade school (6–10) | Bike the Saddle River path, Paramus Mini Golf | Monster Mini Golf, Humdingers arcade and batting cages |
| Tweens and teens | Longer bike rides, a full day at Van Saun with friends | iFLY Indoor Skydiving, a movie at Garden State Plaza |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Paramus with kids?
Van Saun County Park. In one place you get the Bergen County Zoo, a miniature train, a carousel, pony rides and a big accessible playground, and most of it costs only a few dollars.
How much does the Bergen County Zoo cost?
For Bergen County residents, tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for children 3 to 14 and $2 for seniors. Out-of-county visitors pay $10, $7 and $4. Children under 3 and active military with ID get in free.
Is the Bergen County Zoo open on Sundays?
Yes, normally daily, weather permitting. Standard hours are 10am to 4:30pm, but winter, holiday and special-event schedules can differ. Paramus’s Sunday closing rules apply to retail stores, not to county parks.
What can kids do in Paramus when it rains?
Try Humdingers for bowling and arcade games, Monster Mini Golf, BounceU for younger kids, iFLY Indoor Skydiving for older ones, the AMC at Garden State Plaza or a storytime at the Paramus Public Library.
Are there free things to do with kids in Paramus?
Yes. The playgrounds at Van Saun and Saddle River County Park, the walking and biking paths, and most library programs are free. At Van Saun, the main costs are zoo admission and the rides.
Prices, hours and participation rules checked October 25, 2026. They change by season, so confirm them before you go.
Sources and updates
- Bergen County Parks: Van Saun County Park
- Bergen County Zoo: admission, standard hours and rides
- Bergen County Zoo: winter hours and visitor FAQ
- Bergen County Parks: Saddle River County Park
- Paramus Mini Golf: seasonal visitor information
- Borough of Paramus: 2026 Municipal Pool brochure
- Humdingers: activities and location
- Monster Mini Golf Paramus: activities and location
- BounceU Paramus: Open Bounce and advance reservations
- BounceU Paramus: ages, heights and equipment rules
- iFLY Paramus
- iFLY: participation requirements, including the Paramus height minimum
- Paramus Public Library: hours and program calendar
- Friends of Bergen County Zoo: 2026 Late Nights
- Westfield Garden State Plaza: Open Sundays
More around Paramus and Bergen County
Read What Is Open in Paramus on Sundays?, plan your first visit to Ramapo Reservation, or explore more Paramus stories.
