New Jersey
Appealing attractions in every direction
From serene to bustling, New Jersey has a range of beach experiences. Island Beach State Park, flanked by the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay, is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches. The 1,214-hectare park offers educational programs, trails, swimming and vantage points for watching birds, especially ospreys.
Year-round resort towns such as Seaside Heights and Cape May are famous for their boardwalks, fishing piers and activities and events like the Polar Bear Plunge, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and seafood and barbecue festivals.
Nightlife doesn’t get better than in Atlantic City, where the famous beachfront boardwalk guides visitors to casinos, shops and hotels. Spend time in Newark and Jersey City for dining, shopping and culture. Combine a love of art and history at attractions such as the Newark Museum, the Morris Museum in Morristown, the New Jersey State Museum and Planetarium in Trenton and smaller venues throughout the state. In East Rutherford, you could spend days exploring the shopping and entertainment mega-complex known as American Dream. It boasts retail shops, dining and major attractions such as the Nickelodeon Universe theme park and DreamWorks water park. An added bonus for all your New Jersey shopping: There is no tax on clothing and shoes in the state.
The Garden State offers activities in all four seasons, from beach vacations to winter skiing on the slopes at Campgaw Mountain in Mahwah and Mountain Creek in Vernon. Opportunities abound for golfing, riding horses, hiking, parasailing, and fishing in the ocean, bays and lakes.
Fun Fact
New Jersey is known as the “diner capital of the world” for its many low-key, cozy restaurants serving up nostalgia and comfort foods.
Nearly 300 American Revolutionary War battles and skirmishes took place in New Jersey. This history is honored throughout the 5,581-square-kilometer Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area.
Atlantic City lays claim to the world’s first boardwalk, and New Jersey’s longest. It was opened in 1870.
Must see places
Liberty State Park
Cape May Historic District
Atlantic City Boardwalk
Grounds for Sculpture
The Stone Pony
Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area
Anthony Bourdain Food Trail
Wine & Ale Trail of South Jersey
Appalachian Trail
Black Heritage Trail
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