A 90s summer wasn’t complicated.
You found something to do… you ate popsicles…”bedtime” was a loose term, and somehow that was enough.
No overscheduled itineraries, no social media to document it… just unstructured time and whatever you could find to fill it.
These are the best places in the Northeast to recreate a 90s summer with kids… arcades, roller rinks, drive-ins, places stuck in the 90s, and playgrounds where kids can run around for hours.
Classic 90s summer activities to do with kids
These are the classic 90s summer activities that are still a hit with kids today.
The best part?
Most are drop-in, affordable, and don’t require a lot of planning… which makes them perfect for spontaneous summer days.
Funspot Arcade (Laconia, NH)
Funspot in Laconia, NH holds the record as the world’s largest arcade!
Over 600 arcade games, plus bowling, kiddie rides and indoor mini golf. It’s one of the best ways to recreate a classic 90s summer when you need an indoor activity.
If your version of a 90s summer day involves air conditioning and burning through a pocket full of quarters… Funspot is where you’ll want to bring your kids.
Guptill's Roller Skating Arena
(Cohoes, NY)
Guptill’s Arena has been a New York staple since 1951 and holds the title of world’s largest indoor roller rink.
You’ll recognize the vibe immediately… the music, the lights, that slightly chaotic first lap where everyone is gripping the wall.
It’s one of the most nostalgic 90s-style activities you can still do today, and it hits different when you’re watching your own kids figure it out.
Check the schedule before you go, free skate hours vary.
Four Brothers Drive-In (Amenia, NY)
Four Brothers is one of the best drive-in movie theaters in Southern New York for a real 90s-style summer night with kids.
Nightly double feature, real food ordered right to your car, kids playing at the playground before the movie starts… it checks every box.
If you want to take it to the next level, you can stay overnight in a vintage Airstream on-site, which makes it a full summer memory instead of just a movie night.
Raptors Falls Mini Golf (Arundel, ME)
Mini golf was a staple of a 90s summer day out, and Raptors Falls in Maine is the version that still holds up.
Animatronic dinosaurs, waterfalls, and enough hidden extras to keep kids engaged the entire time.
It’s an easy add-on when you’re in the Kennebunkport area. Bring cash for the extras and don’t forget sunscreen.
Need even more ideas? Check out our summer bucket list and start planning…
Outdoor places for a 90s summer
(no screens in sight)
If you want a 90s summer that feels authentic, it usually starts outside.
No cell phones, no asking for the WIFI password… just kids riding bikes all day and running around until someone has a million bug bites and is ready to go home.
Kids Castle Central Park
(Doylestown, PA)
This is the kind of playground you would have ridden your bike to, stayed way too long at, and only left when someone’s parent showed up.
Kids Castle Central Park in Pennsylvania is a massive wooden castle with tunnels, towers, and endless places to run around…
Slide Hill
(Governors Island, NY)
Governors Island is the kind of place that makes a 90s summer feel possible again… no cars, wide open space, and the longest slide in NYC.
A quick ferry ride over, bikes for getting around, and a stop at Slide Hill where they’ll climb, slide, and do it all over again without you needing to plan a thing.
Ringing Rocks County Park
(Upper Black Eddy, PA)
A free, seven-acre musical boulder field in PA where the rocks actually ring when you hit them.
You park, walk a short trail in, and then it’s full freedom… climbing, exploring, testing sounds, and seeing what happens next.
Bring a few hammers (they all sound different), and don’t skip the short hike to the waterfall after…
Pack a picnic and this turns this into a full outdoor day instead of just a quick stop.
Lake Morey Resort (Fairlee, VT)
Step back into 90s summer mode at Lake Morey, where a summer day pass gets you access to a 545-acre Vermont lake and everything that comes with it.
It’s basically summer camp for families… swimming, boating, biking, tennis, bocce, an indoor heated pool, and more lawn games than you’ll finish.
A day pass allows access 8am to 6pm, starting at $22 for kids and $46 for adults.
Jenkinson's Boardwalk
(Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk on the Jersey Shore is the kind of place where the kids will want to do EVERYTHING… beach in the morning, arcade and aquarium in the afternoon, rides once the sun starts going down.
It’s busy, loud, a little chaotic, and exactly what kids love.
If a 90s summer had a headquarters, a Jersey Shore boardwalk would be it.
Need even more ideas? These are some of the most fun places to go in the summer when you want a 90s vibe… outside.
Nostalgic places that feel like a 90s childhood
Some places just bring back memories the second you get there.
These are the spots that still feel like a 90s childhood… bringing you back to the products you loved in a way your kids will enjoy.
Retro McDonald's
(Hicksville, Long Island, NY)
This Long Island McDonald’s hasn’t changed since the 90s and still has the old bright interior and a PlayPlace for some epic childhood nostalgia.
This is less about grabbing fries and more about letting your kids see the version of McDonald’s from your memories.
Obviously, you’ll need to end with a classic McDonald’s ice cream cone. (if the machine is working)
Jell-O Museum
(LeRoy, NY)
The Jell-O Museum is a small quirky museum about all things Jell-O, and one of the best things to do in Upstate New York when you’re on a summer road trip.
It’s exactly the kind of stop that kids will talk about because it’s not like anything else and a fun way to give kids a taste of a product that we all remember from childhood.
AriZonaLand
(Keasbey, NJ)
AriZonaLand is one of the most fun, free factory tours in the Northeast.
Fun interactive displays, AriZona brand history, a behind-the-scenes look at production, tons of samples (sometimes including unreleased flavors), and a gift shop at the end.
AriZona launched in 1992, so there’s something kind of perfect about this new experience… a drink from your own 90s summers, turned into a real day out for your kids.
American Treasure Tour Museum
(Oaks, PA)
American Treasure Tour Museum is like nothing you’ve ever seen…
Sit for a 45-minute tram ride through 100,000 square feet of neon signs, animatronics, music machines, old cars, and more 90s pop culture than you’ll be able to process in one visit.
Bring the kids, but this one’s really for you.
Places you'll recognize from 90s movies
If you grew up watching 90s movies, you’ve seen these places before…
These are real filming locations from iconic 90s movies that you can visit in real life, which makes for a different kind of summer day.
Parrish Shoes sign from Jumanji (Keene, NH)
If Jumanji was part of your 90s summer movie diet, this is the stop. The Parrish Shoes sign was painted for the movie and is still standing in downtown Keene, where many of the exterior scenes were filmed.
Downtown Keene is walkable and worth an hour… good restaurants, independent shops, and a permanent Jumanji mural that went up for the 30th anniversary in 2025.
Ghostbusters Headquarters
(New York City, NY)
Hook & Ladder 8 in Tribeca is the real Ghostbusters firehouse and it still looks exactly like it did in the movie.
It’s free to visit, and if the crew happens to be around, they’ll sometimes open the doors and sell you a t-shirt or patch on the spot. (bring cash) 14 North Moore Street
Hocus Pocus filming locations
(Salem, MA)
Hocus Pocus was filmed all over Salem in 1993 and you can still visit many of the locations… Max and Allison’s school across from Salem Common, the Ropes Mansion, and a handful of others scattered around town.
Show up with the movie fresh in everyone’s head and it becomes a different kind of day.
Rye Playland Amusement Park from Big (Rye, NY)
Big came out in 1988 but lived in every 90s kid’s VHS rotation, so it counts.
Tom Hanks filmed the iconic Zoltar scene right on the Rye Playland boardwalk, which has been there since 1928 and still looks the part.
Find the Zoltar machine, get your fortune, and ride the Dragon Coaster… a classic wooden coaster that has been running since 1929.
Frequently asked questions about planning a 90s summer
What made a 90s summer different from today?
A 90s summer ran on unstructured time. No screens, no scheduled activities, no reservations required… just drop-in friendly places where kids entertained themselves for hours.
Arcades, roller rinks, boardwalks, drive-ins, and big outdoor spaces were the default for a reason.
What are the best summer activities for kids that don't require planning?
The best no-plan summer activities for kids are arcades, roller skating rinks, boardwalks, drive-in movie theaters, and large outdoor spaces like playgrounds and parks.
Most are drop-in friendly, affordable, and don’t require reservations… which makes them ideal for spontaneous summer days.
What are the best nostalgic summer activities for millennial parents?
The best nostalgic summer activities for millennial parents are the ones that still exist today… roller rinks, drive-in movie theaters, arcades, boardwalks, and real filming locations from 90s movies.
The Northeast still has all of them, many unchanged from the way they looked in the 90s.
What 90s movies were filmed in the Northeast?
Several iconic 90s movies were filmed in the Northeast. Jumanji filmed exterior scenes in downtown Keene, NH.
The Ghostbusters firehouse is still a real working firehouse at 14 North Moore Street in Tribeca, NYC.
Hocus Pocus was filmed in Salem, MA in 1993. And the Zoltar scene from Big was filmed on the boardwalk at Rye Playland in Westchester, NY.
What are the best free or cheap summer activities for kids in the Northeast?
The best free and low-cost summer activities for kids in the Northeast include Ringing Rocks County Park in Upper Black Eddy, PA, AriZonaLand in Keasbey, NJ, and the Jumanji filming locations in downtown Keene, NH.
Boardwalks, state parks, and large public playgrounds like Kids Castle in Doylestown, PA are also free to visit and easy to build a full day around.
For more ideas on how to save money this summer, check out our affordable family vacation ideas to fill your summer days.
Are there still drive-in movie theaters in the Northeast?
Yes, there are still a dozen or so drive-in movie theaters still open across the Northeast.
Four Brothers Drive-In in Amenia, NY is one of the best drive-in movie night options for families near New York City, offering double features, food service to your car, and one of the most unique places to stay near NYC… a vintage Airstream on-site.
Ready to start planning a 90s summer?
Start with the TLJ Maps… hundreds of weird, wonderful, and family-friendly spots across the Northeast, organized so you can find what’s near you.
