New Jersey | Things to Do
The “Armpit of America,” is Much Nicer Than You Think
Get off the highway and actually stop by
From TV to Broadway, How I Met Your Mother to Hamilton, there’s a lot of media mentioning my home state from a New York City perspective, often in negative way. It’s important to remember what that perspective entails: people who pay a premium to live where they do, and need to justify that decision to themselves. Not to knock their life choices, but they’re knocking mine, and maybe it’s time we in New Jersey fought back.
What Exit Are You Off the Highway?
If your view of my state is the highway on the way to NYC, you’re going to see a lot of industrial sites. Shipping. Factories. It’s a real part of my state’s economy, but it’s not everything.
You know what we have in my state? Here’s a small sampling of things to do in New Jersey.
Princeton University
You don’t have to be a student to appreciate this famous institution’s offerings. Princeton is an iconic ivy league school, with arts and sporting events the public can attend. Visit its art museum. The campus is stunning to walk around. The town has great dining and restaurants, and is decently walkable. Princeton has one of this country’s few remaining branch lines, affectionately known as the “dinky,” which connects the town and campus to the Princeton Junction train station on the northeast corridor. This means it’s possible to take a train from New York City to Princeton without getting in a car. Try it sometime.
Mountains
You think my state is completely vertically challenged? Think again. That honor goes to Florida. New Jersey’s not even in the top 10 flattest states! Our northern areas, especially in the northwest, are wonderfully hilly and provide fantastic hiking. One of our best hikes, Mount Tammany, has gorgeous views of the Delaware water gap, the Delaware river and nearby Mt. Minsi. The Appalachian Trail runs through the northwestern corner of my state. If you’re looking for a hike with mountain views, we do in fact have those!
High Point State Park contains the highest point in the state. At 1,803 feet above sea level, it’s no Everest or even Mount Washington, but it’s ours, and we put a monument on top!
The Pine Barrens
Sometimes called the Pines or Pinelands. We have so much pine forest that we have an urban legend, the Jersey Devil, who lives there. That’s where our hockey team got their name. The pine barrens have a haunting beauty. The sandy soil makes for great exploration on foot or bike. The Batona Trail is a great way to explore this forest ecosystem. Can you tell I like hiking and backpacking?
Professional Sports
For sporting events, the New Jersey Devils are the obvious first choice, since they’re honest and include New Jersey in their name. You can see them in Newark at the Prudential Center — another easy train stop off of the northeast corridor. Now for the dishonest teams. American football teams the “New York” Jets and Giants both play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. If you like soccer, the New York Red Bulls play at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. For baseball, we have some minor league options like the Somerset Patriots and Trenton Thunder.
Six Flags Great Adventure
Are you a fan of rollercoasters and thrill rides? Six Flags Great Adventure boasts the world’s tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka! Maybe you prefer a safari? Six flags has you covered! They also have a water park called Six Flags Hurricane Harbor! Take yourself or your whole family for a day full of amusement!
The Jersey Shore
This is the thing you’ve been waiting for me to mention because it’s about the only thing people know about my state. Yeah, our beaches are incredible!
You think you know the Jersey shore à la Snooki, right? Think again. It’s not all parties. We have wonderful family-friendly beaches and boardwalks. It’s picturesque in Cape May, with its Victorian houses and dolphin pods swimming by. There’s so much to do at the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ. And if you just want to visit a nice beach for an affordable price, you can’t beat Island Beach State Park (arrive early though! This spot fills up!)
New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country. It’s incredibly diverse. You can meet people from anywhere in the world here. Try food from anywhere in the world. You will not be bored on a trip to my home state. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still visit NYC for Broadway shows, and go for hikes in the Catskills. But the anti-New-Jersey dialogue tends to come from people who haven’t explored this state.
Get off the highway and try the pizza from any family-owned restaurant. Many locals say their favorite pizza is better than in NYC. We would know. We’ve actually been there.
