WHY VISIT NEW JERSEY

The famed home of fictional gangster, Tony Soprano, New Jersey might be a compact state, but it packs in bustling cities, hedonistic seaside towns, and excellent beaches.

Separated from NYC by the Hudson River, New Jersey’s own cities might feel like an extension of the Big Apple, but they have a charm of their own. In fact, Jersey City’s creative culinary scene has wooed many visitors from the other side of the river, while Newark and Hoboken offer a gamut of cultural attractions, leafy parks, and hallowed Civil War grounds.

But the most fun is the Jersey Shore, an irresistible stretch of coastline luring beachgoers to expansive sweeps of white sand, historic boardwalks, and buzzing resorts.

Atlantic City, a kind of Vegas-by-the-sea, glitters most brightly with its palatial casinos, whirring arcades, and big-name shows, not to mention a full menu of watersports, as much saltwater taffy as your teeth can handle, and the state’s tallest lighthouse. For culture vultures, AC also boasts modern art parks, professional ballet corps, and the Noyes Arts Garage, home to working studios, galleries, and the African American Heritage Museum.

Escape the city at Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area of swamps, grasslands, and maritime forests frequented by hundreds of thousands of migrating birds each year. Or head further inland to Egg Harbor City, where the Renault winery has been keeping oenophiles tipsy for some 150 years, even continuing under a special permit during Prohibition (purely for medicinal purposes naturally).

Adventurers can bike gnarly trails at Mountain Creek during the summer and return in winter to ski, or saddle up and explore northern New Jersey by horseback.

WHAT TO SEE IN NEW JERSEY

• Atlantic City: this 150-year-old seaside resort was reborn as the east coast’s hub of casino gambling and entertainment in the 1970s. The result is a surprisingly fun beach town, second only to Las Vegas in terms of amenities and entertainment. Its four-mile-long boardwalk is the highlight with loads of shops, food vendors, attractions, and an amusement park. Atlantic City offers the rare pleasure of playing on the beach by day and hitting the casinos all night for as much partying as you can handle.
• Pinelands National Preserve: the Pine Barrens cover one-third of New Jersey, offering over one million acres of undeveloped nature to enjoy. This is the place for hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and horseback riding. Visitors can camp at one of the many grounds or book a room in border towns like Batsto Village, Hammonton, or Cherry Hill. The pine forests and cedar swamps provide unique hiking environments, while several mellow rivers offer ideal boating conditions.
• Cape May: the crown jewel of the Jersey Shore is Cape May, a historic seaside resort town dating back to the 1800s and boasting an enchanting Victorian atmosphere. It oozes romance and tranquility, even at the peak of summer. From the pedestrian Washington Street Mall to the soft sands of Sunset Beach, Cape May has it all, which is why it’s one of New Jersey’s top tourist destinations. See the town by trolley or horse and buggy, then experience an authentic Victorian house at the Emlen Physick Estate. Cape May isn’t cheap, but it’s worth every penny.
• Princeton: one of America’s oldest and coolest university towns, Princeton has plenty of history behind it to match the student energy that abounds. The town core is a true charmer, while the surrounding countryside is as pastoral as it gets in New Jersey. Soak in the heady academia of the campus and enjoy the relaxed taverns, cafés, and shops lining the historic downtown district before brushing up on your Revolutionary War knowledge at the Princeton Battlefield State Park, a turning point in the American Revolution.
• Lambertville: New Jersey is one of America’s oldest states, and its countryside is littered with colonial-era towns and hamlets that scream out for a multi-day road trip. Founded in 1705 along the banks of the Delaware River, Lambertville is one of the gems. Its historic downtown is filled with nicely restored Federal and Victorian homes and businesses, many of which local craftspeople and artists live. The town is one of the best shopping spots in New Jersey, especially for antiques and art. The 175-year-old Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath runs through town, offering an ideal place for walks and biking.
• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area: many would argue that the Delaware Water Gap is New Jersey’s most scenic outdoor recreation site. Straddling the Appalachian Mountains and 40 miles off the Delaware River, the park offers an incredible array of options for hiking, biking, boating, and fishing. With 70,000 acres, there are dozens of worthy natural highlights such as waterfalls, ridgeline viewpoints, and the 1,000-foot-deep Water Gap canyon itself.
• Six Flags Great Adventure: America’s largest seasonal theme park defines the concept of fun for children and adults alike. It’s a combination amusement park, water park, and wildlife safari so you are guaranteed to find something engaging. Live performances and over 100 thrill rides including the planet’s highest roller coaster are on hand. If you’re looking to get wet, Hurricane Harbor water park is also one of the world’s largest, while Wild Safari, a 350-acre preserve boasts the largest drive-through safari adventure outside of Africa.

WHEN TO GO TO NEW JERSEY

The best period to visit New Jersey is from June to September.

New Jersey has a humid, continental climate typical of the American northeast. This translates into hot, humid summers and cold winters, with a steady amount of precipitation throughout the year. There are four distinct seasons and each has its own merits and tourist draws. Depending on where you plan to travel, each region has a high period.

Summers are reliably hot and humid all over the state. From the river valley to the coast, the daytime highs range from 82 to 86°F between June and August, with nightly lows in the 60s°F. There are about 25 days each summer when the mercury tops the 90°F mark, but the coast usually offers decent breezes to temper the heat. The northwestern corner of the state experiences slightly cooler weather overall.

Winters in New Jersey are cold, averaging between 38 and 46°F from December through February. There are plenty of icy days when the temperature drops below freezing, and snow can fall at any time. Huge storms called northeasters to bring blizzard conditions when they hit. Spring and fall are mixed bags, with wide fluctuations in temperature and precipitation.

WHAT TO DO IN NEW JERSEY

Spend a weekend at the Jersey Shore

Snookie and the gang gave the glorious Jersey Shore a bad rap. Sure, if you want to GTL and fist-pump your way through a summer share, there’s always Seaside Heights. But the Shore offers far more than meathead mayhem. There’s the classic summer boardwalk experience in Point Pleasant and the upscale family vibe in Manalapan. You can still catch live music at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, where the last decade has seen a serious upgrade to the beachfront. The old Victorian homes in Cape May always make for a nice summer walk, too. The point is: Don’t judge the Jersey Shore by what you see on reality TV. You — yes, even you — can have a great time here.

Following is a list of typical festivals and celebrations of New Jersey.

• Suds Atlantic City Beer Festival: every March, the Atlantic City Convention Center gets taken over by 75 craft breweries from around the country and abroad as thousands of thirsty beer fans pour in to sample the newest creations from top producers. Live music, good food, and entertainment out this much-anticipated event.
• Cape May Music Festival: for six weeks in May and June, the town of Cape May lures a solid line-up of distinguished classical music performers from around the globe to the Cape May Convention Center and several other venues in town.
• South Shore Music Festival: for one day in the middle of June, the Cumberland County Fairgrounds at Carmel Green hosts a slew of superb folk bands and musicians to celebrate the summer solstice. The line-up is filled with big names from bluegrass, country, blues, and folk genres, while the fairgrounds are bursting with tasty food vendors and entertainment for kids.
• New Jersey State Fair: the State Fair is an American tradition, and New Jersey does not disappoint. The Sussex County Fairgrounds is the site for this annual August event that draws huge crowds of families and friends for carnival rides, livestock shows, farming competitions, musical concerts, and awesome food showcasing the Garden State’s hundreds of farms and agricultural businesses.
• Cape May Food & Wine Festival: every September, Cape May bids farewell to another summer with its annual food and wine festival. Dozens of restaurants and bars open their doors for special tastings and events that last the better part of a week. It’s a great way to indulge in high-end cuisine, seafood, and wine that make Cape May such a posh little holiday spot.
• Victorian Week: every fall in the middle of October, the town of Cape May opens itself up to the world, inviting visitors to explore the insides of its most impressive Victorian homes. In addition to the hugely popular house tours, the town puts on an array of Victorian-era events and performances.
• Patriots Week: Trenton celebrates its important role in the American Revolution each December with a week of reenactments, parades, theater performances, and other patriotic events. It’s a great way to break up the winter doldrums with a few days of colonial fun in New Jersey.

HOW TO REACH AND TRAVEL THROUGH NEW JERSEY

Unless you plan to spend your entire trip in the casinos of Atlantic City or the beaches of Cape May, you will need a car to get around New Jersey. It’s fairly easy to reach the state from other east coast cities, and most major travel hubs have a full selection of rental cars to choose from. Since almost all the attractions lie outside the towns, a car quickly pays for itself in convenience and memories. Roads throughout the state are in great shape and extremely scenic once you get out of the big cities like Newark.

Taxis are available in all of New Jersey’s main tourist towns like Cape May, Atlantic City, and Princeton. Outside of Atlantic City though, they rarely cruise around looking for fares on the street.

Travelers heading straight to Cape May can hop on a ferry from Lewes, Delaware to the south. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry transports passengers and vehicles every day, year-round. The short trip is a scenic and hassle-free way to reach Cape May.

Amtrak trains are a useful way to reach New Jersey from destinations along the eastern seaboard, but they don’t help much when traveling within the state. The Acela Express commuter train runs between Washington, DC, and Boston several times daily, with stops in Newark, Trenton, and Iselin. Seven other Amtrak lines pass through New Jersey, most often stopping in Newark or Trenton. Fares are reasonable and the seats comfortable.

More travel flexibility is possible by using the Greyhound bus network which runs between most of New Jersey’s large towns. This is the cheapest way to travel through buses are not particularly comfortable for long hauls. Several private coach companies also service New Jersey, such as Suburban Transit, DeCamp, and Martz Trailways.

Main airports are:

• Newark Liberty International Airport
• Atlantic City International Airport

GENERAL INFORMATION ON NEW JERSEY

health tips & vaccination: none

local currency: US Dollar

local time zone: GMT-5 (-4)

electricity: [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/A_plug.png”]type A[/su_lightbox] and [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B_plug.png”]type B[/su_lightbox] (120V – 60 Hz)

WHAT TO DO IN NEW JERSEY

Typical food in New Jersey

• x

Souvenirs from New Jersey

• x

Source

http://www.thebesttimetovisit.com/
http://www.roughguides.com/
https://www.iexplore.com/