Fun Friday at LifeTown Shoppes

Guest post written by Elizabeth, Madison town specialist and fellow local mom. She’s always on the hunt for hidden gems and fun family spots. If you’re looking for a quick, kid-friendly escape close to home, Elizabeth has you covered.

Happy “Almost Spring” to all the parents. The warmer weather is nearing, and we are so close to saying, “We made it!” This winter has felt especially long between school closures, extended holiday breaks, and those brutally cold days. I can’t wait to start sharing outdoor venues again, but in the meantime, I wanted to highlight a wonderful organization and place to visit: LifeTown in Livingston.

For those not familiar with LifeTown, their website summarizes their mission perfectly:
“LifeTown is a 53,000 square foot fully inclusive and accessible center where everyone celebrates and experiences life together. Our goal is to help the world become a place where people of special abilities are seen for the unique skills they have and the beauty they bring to the world.”

LifeTown is a phenomenal facility that includes a real-life “Shoppe,” designed to replicate a downtown setting complete with businesses, sidewalks, and bicycles for children to ride while practicing practical life skills. The facility also features a pool, café, sensory play park and wall, sand room, indoor water room, and cooking studio.

While LifeTown primarily serves families with special needs, portions of the facility are open to the public during the week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as Sunday mornings. They also host their iconic “Shoppes” experience every few weeks (more on that below). LifeTown even offers birthday parties, which is how my family was first introduced to their amazing space.

Their open play sessions provide access to the sand room, indoor gym, sensory room, playground, and art room. Sessions are two hours long and cost $18 per child. I had never seen an indoor sand room before, and my daughter absolutely loved having the chance to play in the sand when we hadn’t been to the beach in months. The playground is interactive and state of the art, featuring a giant trampoline in the center for everyone to enjoy. The sensory room was calming and offered a nice space to unwind after exploring the other areas.

While we haven’t tried it ourselves yet, LifeTown also offers swim sessions in their heated saltwater pool for $30 per person for a one-hour session. The pool can also be rented for larger private family bookings.

If your algorithm hasn’t already shown you videos of the LifeTown Shoppes in action, I highly recommend checking out one of @friendshipcirclenj’s pinned videos. Children truly get to experience “real life,” beginning their day with a visit to the bank to withdraw money, then exploring different stores while practicing street safety through biking and crossing on the simulated streets. During one recent session, a Livingston police officer even helped direct bike traffic!

The LifeTown Shoppes are open to the public only a few times each year, with the next session scheduled for Friday, June 19, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. In addition to the Shoppes experience, visitors also have access to the art room, sensory room, gym, playground, and sand room.

Overall, supporting this phenomenal organization is well worth it, and your children are sure to have an unforgettable outing.

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Laura Deutsch is a realtor who specializes in helping people relocate from the city to the suburbs of New Jersey.  Laura took the plunge herself from city to suburban living (not easy!) and is passionate about helping others do the same without all of the stress.  Finding the right town to call home is just as important as finding the perfect house, and that’s why Laura’s tailored approach ensures that you not only love your home, but also your new community.

• Contact Laura if you’re in search of a realtor who takes a personalized approach to finding the perfect home and community for you.
• Join Laura’s informational facebook group, Moving to the NJ Suburbs, to join like minded individuals also looking to move to the NJ Suburbs.
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