hi hoping someone can advise, feel free to pm. I am from the UK and imyH coming to Lakewood with my 2 young children for a wedding at the end of august. i have never been to lakewood before and do not know america well! ideally once we are flying in and taking off work, we would love to come for an extra week for a vacation. I have no idea where to look that will have stuff for the kids (1 year old and 7 year old) and have access to kosher food. we are basic , we dont need restaurants and the kids are happy with a park/pool/zoo simple activities. ideally somewhere drive-able from lakewood to stay for 1 week, out of the city (and not another flight) and that is on the cheaper end. would be so grateful for ideas thank you!!

Pensilvania zoo. Many families came from Lakewood over Pesach. It's a 1.45 hour drive

thank you! is that a day trip or somewhere to stay?

The Philadelphia zoo is more of a day trip. Its about an hour and a half out of Lakewood, but there's a lot to do in Philadelphia if you care about American history/it's political system, so you could stay over as well. There's also the Cape May zoo which has the benefit of being free (they ask for a donation but you can give a couple of dollars). Its about the same far from Lakewood but is still in NJ. Its less impressive than the Philadelphia zoo. But still pretty good, especially considering the price difference.

thank you so much! I am more looking for a place to stay for a week , after which I can drive to lakewood for the wedding. I can look for an airbnb, but don’t know which locations are best

Tannersville NY is a frum vacation spot in the Catskill mountains. 3 hour drive from Lakewood

Jackson Toms River Howell (right outside lakewood) all have parts that are countryish Catskills (2-2.5 hours from lakewood) is where all the frum Nyers go for summer If you do not mind the drive I second Tannersville/Hunter its cool and very nice.

what area of these mentioned out of lakewood will have the most reasonable (reas budget friendly) accomodation to rent? and where is best place to look? airbnb?

I would start on airbnb or vrbo, looking in the map view and filtering based on how many bedrooms I need, etc

Lancaster, PA is a very popular vacation spot. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hx7hkzfpJJSVaMpA6?g_st=ac is a reasonably priced hotel that has a kid pool area with slides etc. During peak Lakewood vacation time the hotel even has minyanim and separate swimming hours, but that will probably have ended by the end of August. Lots of activities like cherry crest farms (must go), apple picking, dutch wonderland amusement park, old windmill farm, Amish horse and buggy tours, etc You can stop in Philly on the way to/from Lakewood for the Zoo, please touch museum. Franklin institute or Longwood Gardens. https://www.degelisrael.org/prayertimes has information on minyanim and kosher. You can get a disposable cooler and stock up + ice in Lakewood

thank you this is so helpful!!