Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to New Jersey! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to New Jersey.
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New Jersey gets a bad rap. I must agree that portions of the New Jersey Turnpike are indeed very ugly, but overall New Jersey is a very attractive state. I see two distinct regions in New Jersey. The northern region sits in the shadows of New York City and doesn't get as much respect as it deserves (there's quite a lot to do and see there). The southern region is packed with awesome oceanside towns and some of the finest beaches on the northern half of the East Coast. In the middle of the state, amusement park junkies flock to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, one of the top-rated rollercoaster parks in the country. Families looking for quality seaside amusements and beaches will enjoy Ocean City or Wildwood, and adults looking for a romantic getaway enjoy Cape May at the southern tip of the state.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN NEW JERSEY
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in New Jersey? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in New Jersey, in no particular order:
✮ Take the family to Ocean City, one of the best family-friendly seaside towns in the U.S.
✮ Explore the shops, restaurants, and Victorian architecture of Cape May
✮ Walk among hundreds of art sculptures at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, which I feel is the top outdoor sculpture park in the U.S.
✮ Photograph the amazing views of NYC from Liberty State Park in Jersey City
✮ Visit Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, one of the best and most famous rollercoaster parks in the U.S.
✮ Go aboard the Battleship New Jersey in Camden, the "most decorated U.S. Navy battleship"
✮ Hop on a ferry from Liberty State Park to visit the Statue of Liberty
✮ Have fun on the liveliest beach boardwalk in New Jersey: Wildwood
✮ Cycle the Delaware & Raritan Canal, a 70+ mile rail trail that is considered NJ's best long distance bicycling trail
✮ Visit the American Dream in East Rutherford, one of the largest malls in the country
If I could select only one place to visit in New Jersey, I would choose Ocean City. I love Ocean City's beach, beach boardwalk, and seaside amusements. You'll feel like a kid again.
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN NEW JERSEY
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in New Jersey. I believe each of these attractions should be on your New Jersey bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northern New Jersey (north of interstate I-195)
✮ Allaire State Park, Wall Township - features a historic 19-century iron making town and a narrow-gauge train ride; good fishing and hiking
✮ American Dream, East Rutherford - one of the largest malls in the U.S.; includes an indoor theme park and indoor skiing
✮ Big Snow American Dream, East Rutherford - indoor skiing at the American Dream mall; as of 2022, this is the only indoor skiing in the U.S.
✮ Colgate Clock, Jersey City - giant riverfront clock along the Hudson River; a fun photo-op
✮ Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park - 70+ miles of hiking and cycling trails along a historic canal
✮ Empty Sky - 9/11 Memorial, Jersey City - a moving 9/11 memorial with great views of NYC
✮ Gateway Nat. Rec. Area-Sandy Hook Unit, Middletown Township - beaches, nature trails, bike paths, and great birding
✮ Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park, Allison Park - fun zip-lining tours
✮ Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton - one of the best outdoor sculpture parks in the U.S.; one of my all-time favorite places
✮ High Point State Park, Sussex - drive or hike to the top of New Jersey
✮ Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, Hoboken - paved cycling and walking path that has great views of NYC
✮ Lakota Wolf Preserve, Columbia - one of the top wolf sanctuaries in the U.S..
✮ Liberty Science Center, Jersey City - great science museum with a huge planetarium
✮ Liberty State Park, Jersey City - beautiful views of NYC
✮ MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford - home of the New York Giants and New York Jets professional football teams
✮ Palisades Interstate Park, Alpine - riverfront park with tall cliffs and 30+ miles of hiking
✮ Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton - one of the best university-based art museums in the U.S.
✮ Princeton University, Princeton - beautiful ivy-league campus
✮ Statue of Liberty National Monument - to visit from New Jersey, hop on a ferry at Liberty State Park
✮ Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Ogdensburg - take a short underground tour into the 4th oldest mine in the country
✮ Thomas Edison National Historical Park, West Orange - visit Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory
✮ Wawayanda State Park, Hewitt - 60 miles of hiking trails and a lake beach with swimming
Southern New Jersey (south of interstate I-195)
✮ Allaire State Park, Wall Township - features a historic 19-century iron making town and a narrow-gauge train ride; good fishing and hiking
✮ Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, Long Beach Island - visit one of the tallest and most famous lighthouses in the U.S.
✮ Battleship New Jersey, Camden - tour the "most decorated U.S. Navy battleship"
✮ Black Pearl Pirate Tours, Beach Haven - interactive pirate ship cruise on Long Beach Island
✮ Cape May County Park & Zoo, Cape May - New Jersey's best zoo
✮ Cape May Lighthouse, Cape May - climb up one of New Jersey's best lighthouses
✮ Cape May Point State Park, Cape May - popular bird-watching site with a lighthouse, beaches, and good hiking trails
✮ Corson's Inlet State Park, Ocean City - undeveloped beaches and sand dunes (no swimming allowed), plus great bird-watching
✮ Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Oceanville - a bird-lovers paradise
✮ Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park - "the crown jewel of the Jersey Shore"
✮ Jenkinson's Boardwalk / Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Beach - boardwalk packed with amusement rides & more
✮ Jersey Shore Alpacas, Cape May - beloved alpaca farm; by appointment only
✮ Long Beach Island, Beach Haven - one of the best beaches in New Jersey
✮ Lucy The Margate Elephant, Margate City - 65-foot tall roadside attraction made of wood & tin
✮ Morey's Piers and Beachfront Waterparks, Wildwood - a classic seaside amusement area with miles of beach, shops, food, and fun
✮ Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, Cape May - lots of vintage aircraft on display
✮ Ocean City Boardwalk, Ocean City - perhaps the best family-friendly beach boardwalk in the U.S.
✮ Revolution Rail Company, Cape May - one of several areas in the U.S. for "rail biking" (ride a pedal-powered machine on a railroad track)
✮ Salt Marsh Safari The Skimmer, Cape May - top-rated boat tour on the bays of Cape May county
✮ Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari, Jackson - the largest amusement park in NJ and one of the top rollercoaster parks in the U.S.
✮ Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Township - storybook-themed buildings and rides
✮ Sunset Beach, Lower Township - one of the best beaches in New Jersey
✮ Victorian houses of Cape May - much of this town on the southern tip of New Jersey is oozing with Victorian charm
✮ Washington Street Mall, Cape May - popular shopping district of Cape May
✮ Wildwood Boardwalk, Wildwood - perhaps the most lively beach boardwalk in NJ
I didn't list any of the casinos of Atlantic City above, and that's because I'm personally not that impressed by them. Most of them were constructed decades ago and most are starting to show their age. The area around most of the casinos also isn't the best (or safest) in my opinion. Atlantic City has definitely seen better days, but I do hope for a revival at some point.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk is another famous attraction in New Jersey, but there are better boardwalks in the state to visit (e.g. Ocean City, Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant Beach, Wildwood)
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in New Jersey? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
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PA
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN NEW JERSEY
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These towns and cities in New Jersey are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Asbury Park - one of several small oceanside towns in NJ with a beach and beach boardwalk; has many shops and art galleries
✮ Atlantic City - this small city has one of the greatest clusters of casinos outside of Las Vegas; there's also a beach and a beach boardwalk
✮ Cape May - this small town is famous for its Victorian architecture; the town has many boutique shops, restaurants, and B&Bs; the town also has whale-watching tours and good bird-watching
✮ Ocean City - this family-friendly beach town has a great beach and an awesome beach boardwalk; packed with seaside amusements
✮ Wildwood - one of several small oceanside towns in NJ with a beach and beach boardwalk; has many seaside amusements
If you like casinos, stay in or near Atlantic City.
If you like family-friendly beaches and seaside amusements, stay in or near Ocean City.
If you want a romantic getaway, stay in Cape May.
If you want to visit New York City, stay in Jersey City or Hoboken.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
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WHAT IS NEW JERSEY FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that New Jersey is famous or well-known for:
✮ amusement parks
✮ beaches
✮ beach boardwalks
✮ can't pump your own gas law
✮ diners
✮ gambling/casinos
✮ gardens
✮ pine barrens
✮ seaside amusements / family-fun attractions
✮ water parks
Click here if you'd like to learn what other U.S. states are famous for.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN NEW JERSEY
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There are currently no national parks or national forests in New Jersey. There are several other federally-managed parks and properties in the state though, including:
National Monument
✮ Status of Liberty National Monument (e.g. Ellis Island) - to visit from New Jersey, hop on a ferry at Liberty State Park
National Recreation Areas
✮ Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Gateway National Recreation Area
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks
✮ Appalachian National Scenic Trail
✮ Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
✮ Morristown National Historical Park
✮ New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
✮ Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
✮ Thomas Edison National Historical Park
✮ Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
For more information on New Jersey's national parks, visit the New Jersey page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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STATE PARKS IN NEW JERSEY
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New Jersey has more than 35 state parks. Many would agree that these represent New Jersey's finest state parks:
Northern New Jersey (north of interstate I-195)
✮ Allaire State Park, Wall Township - features a historic 19-century iron making town and a narrow-gauge train ride; good fishing and hiking
✮ Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park - 70+ miles of hiking and cycling trails along a historic canal
✮ High Point State Park, Sussex - drive or hike to the top of New Jersey
✮ Liberty State Park, Jersey City - beautiful views of the NYC skyline; a ferry can bring you to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty
✮ Palisades Interstate Park, Alpine - riverfront park with 30+ miles of hiking and tall cliffs
✮ Wawayanda State Park, Hewitt - 60 miles of hiking trails and a lake beach with swimming
Southern New Jersey (south of interstate I-195)
✮ Allaire State Park, Wall Township - features a historic 19-century iron making town and a narrow-gauge train ride; good fishing and hiking
✮ Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, Long Beach Island - visit one of the tallest and most famous lighthouses in the U.S.
✮ Cape May Point State Park, Cape May - popular bird-watching site with a lighthouse, beaches, and good hiking trails
✮ Corson's Inlet State Park, Ocean City - undeveloped beaches and sand dunes (no swimming allowed), plus great bird-watching
✮ Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park - "the crown jewel of the Jersey Shore"
My favorite state park in New Jersey is Liberty State Park. The view of the NYC skyline from this state park is amazing.
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN NEW JERSEY
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New Jersey has an estimated 40-50 natural waterfalls. Here are some of the best waterfalls in New Jersey, all of which are in northern New Jersey:
✮ Buttermilk Falls in Stokes State Forest, Sandyston
✮ Chikahoki Falls in Norvin Green State Forest, Ringwood
✮ Hemlock Falls in South Mountain Reservation, South Orange
✮ Paterson Great Falls (aka Passaic Falls) in Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Paterson
✮ Silver Spray Falls in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Tillman Falls / Tillman Ravine in Flatbrook Fish and Wildlife Management Area, Newport
I am not aware of any notable waterfalls in southern New Jersey. If you know of any, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a listing of all known waterfalls in New Jersey, visit the World Waterfall Database.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN NEW JERSEY
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in New Jersey:
✮ Palisades Scenic Byway - a 42-mile paved route from the NJ side of the George Washington Bridge to Bear Mountain State Park in NY
✮ Southern NJ Coastline - a 38-mile paved route along the ocean from Ocean City to Cape May using a variety of roads (e.g. Ocean Drive)
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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BEST OCEAN BEACHES IN NEW JERSEY
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New Jersey offers more than 40 Atlantic Ocean beaches. Here are some of its finest beaches:
Northern New Jersey (north of interstate I-195)
✮ Asbury Park beaches
✮ Avon Beach, Avon-By-The-Sea
✮ Belmar Beach, Belmar
✮ Gateway National Recreation Area beaches (e.g. Gunnison Beach)
✮ Island Beach State Park, Lanoka Harbor
✮ Manasquan Beach, Manasquan
✮ Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant
✮ Ocean Grove Beach, Asbury Park
✮ Sea Bright Beach, Sea Bright
Southern New Jersey (south of interstate I-195)
✮ Atlantic City Beach, Atlantic City
✮ Brigantine Beach, Brigantine
✮ Cape May Beach, Cape May
✮ Corson's Inlet State Park beach, Ocean City (no swimming is allowed here)
✮ Higbee Beach, Cape May
✮ Pearl Beach, Cape May
✮ Ocean City Beach, Ocean City
✮ Poverty Beach, Cape May
✮ Sea Isle City Beach, Sea Isle City
✮ Seaside Park beaches
✮ Stone Harbor Beach, Stone Harbor
✮ Sunset Beach, Cape May
✮ Wildwood Beach, Wildwood
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN NEW JERSEY
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Here is a list of some the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in New Jersey:
Northern New Jersey (north of interstate I-195)
✮ Columbia Trail - 15-miles
✮ Delaware & Raritan Canal ("D&R Canal") - 70+ miles; this is widely considered NJ's best long-distance rail trail
✮ Paulinskill Valley Trail - 15-miles
✮ Saddle River County Park Bike Path - 8-miles
✮ Sandy Hook Multi-Use Pathway - 9-miles
✮ Sussex Branch Trail - 18-miles
✮ Union Transportation Trail - 9-miles; a large portion of this trail is south of I-195
Southern New Jersey (south of interstate I-195)
✮ Union Transportation Trail - 9-miles; a small portion of this trail is north of I-195
For detailed information on all known rail trails in New Jersey, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN NEW JERSEY
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New Jersey is nationally famous for its amusement parks and water parks. There are many of them, especially smaller-sized parks found all along the coastal towns where tourism runs strong during the warmer months. Here is a list of the best amusement parks in New Jersey:
Northern New Jersey (north of interstate I-195)
✮ Land of Make Believe & Pirate's Cove, Hope
✮ Mountain Creek Water Park, Vernon Township
✮ Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream, East Rutherford
Southern New Jersey (south of interstate I-195)
✮ Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach Waterpark, Seaside Heights
✮ Diggerland, West Berlin
✮ Morey's Piers & Beachfront Water Park, Wildwood
✮ Playlands' Castaway Cove, Ocean City
✮ Ocean Oasis Waterpark, Wildwood
✮ Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson - this rollercoaster park is the most famous amusement park in New Jersey
✮ Splash Zone Waterpark, Wildwood
✮ Steel Pier Amusement Park, Atlantic City
✮ Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Township
✮ Thundering Surf Waterpark, Beach Haven
✮ Totally Tubular Aqua Park, Ocean City
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BEST MUSEUMS IN NEW JERSEY
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New Jersey has a few excellent museums. The best museums in New Jersey include:
Northern New Jersey (north of interstate I-195)
✮ Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
✮ Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton
✮ Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Ogdensburg
✮ Thomas Edison National Historical Park, West Orange - visit Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory
Southern New Jersey (south of interstate I-195)
✮ Battleship New Jersey, Camden - tour the "most decorated U.S. Navy battleship"
✮ Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, Cape May - lots of vintage aircraft on display
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BEST DAY HIKES IN NEW JERSEY
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New Jersey has several great hiking trails/areas, especially in the northern half of the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in New Jersey:
Northern New Jersey (north of interstate I-195)
✮ Buttermilk Falls, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - one of New Jersey's best waterfalls
✮ Giant Stairs, Palisades Interstate Park
✮ Hemlock Falls, South Mountain Reservation - one of New Jersey's best waterfalls (25 feet tall)
✮ High Point State Park trails (e.g. Monument Loop, Appalachian Trail) - take note that you can drive up to High Point instead of hiking
✮ Kittatinny Ridge, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Mount Tammany, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - beautiful overlook of "the Gap" in the Delaware River
✮ Stairway to Heaven Trail, Wawayanda State Park - hike to one of New Jersey's best views
Southern New Jersey (south of interstate I-195)
✮ Apple Pie Hill, New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
The highpoint of New Jersey is High Point (1,803'), found within High Point State Park in the northwestern corner of the state. You can either drive or hike up to the top.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN NEW JERSEY
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There is only a limited number of places where you can go backpacking in New Jersey. One is obviously the Appalachian Trail. With a permit, you can also backpack the 53-mile Batona Trail in the Pine Barrens region of New Jersey.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN NEW JERSEY
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New Jersey offers a surprising amount of outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking the Batona Trail - permits are required to backpack this 53-mile trail
✮ Bouldering in Sourland Mountain Preserve
✮ Bouldering in Tourne County Park
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Pine Barrens
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Rahway River
✮ Cycling the Columbia Trail - 15-miles long
✮ Cycling the Delaware & Raritan Canal ("D&R Canal") - 70+ miles long; this is generally considered NJ's best long-distance rail trail
✮ Cycling the Paulinskill Valley Trail - 15-miles long
✮ Day hiking Mount Tammany in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Day hiking the Giant Stairs in Palisades Interstate Park
✮ Day hiking the Stairway to Heaven in Wawayanda State Park
✮ Hot air ballooning in Ashbury
✮ Hot air ballooning in Lebanon
✮ Mountain biking in Allamuchy Mountain State Park
✮ Mountain biking the Mountain Creek Bike Park
✮ Mountain biking in Six Mile Run Park in Somerset
✮ Parasailing in Ocean City
✮ Parasailing in Wildwood Crest
✮ Rock climbing in Allamuchy State Park
✮ Rock climbing in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Skydiving in Sussex, West Creek, or Williamstown
✮ Tubing the Delaware River
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SKI RESORTS IN NEW JERSEY
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New Jersey only has two notable ski areas: Mountain Creek in Vernon Township, which offers 46 trails, and Big Snow, which is an indoor skiing venue found within the gigantic American Dream mall in East Rutherford.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN NEW JERSEY
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in New Jersey:
✮ bagels
✮ crumb cake
✮ deep-fried hot dogs
✮ disco fries
✮ hoagies
✮ Italian hot dogs
✮ pizza (e.g. Neapolitan-style, Jersey pizza)
✮ pork roll sandwich / taylor ham
✮ salt water taffy
✮ sloppy joes
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in New Jersey (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in New Jersey (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY NEW JERSEY INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about New Jersey:
State Capital:
Trenton
Major Airports:
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR); you can also fly into New York City, NY (which has 2 major airports) or Philadelphia, PA and then drive into New Jersey
Largest Cities:
Newark (318,431), Jersey City (301,419), Paterson (162,438), Elizabeth (139,764), Toms River (93,638), Trenton (92,063)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-76, I-78, I-80, I-95
State Highpoint:
High Point (1,803') in High Point State Park in northwestern New Jersey; you can hike to the top or drive very close to the top, and then walk up to it
Professional Sports Teams:
NFL: None, although the New York Giants and the New York Jets both play in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium
NHL: New Jersey Devils
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Buttzville, Cheesequake, Ho-Ho-Kus, Loveladies, and Wyckoff
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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High Point monument in High Point State Park, New Jersey
Ocean City boardwalk, New Jersey
Lucy the Elephant in Margate, New Jersey
Victorian houses in Cape May, New Jersey
rail-biking in Cape May, New Jersey
Giant Steel Hockey Player in Newark, New Jersey
sign in Wildwood, New Jersey
Ocean City Beach, New Jersey
Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township, New Jersey
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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