Known as the Garden State, this area along the Eastern Seaboard offers big-city excitement and outdoor wilderness retreats.
New Jersey, just south of New York City, provides easy access to all the activities of the giant metropolis, but offers plenty of appeal in its own right.
Enjoy gardens, gambling, ocean and the Appalachians.Enjoy endless sand at Cape May beaches. Climb the Cape May Lighthouse and look over the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. Take a boat trip to watch for whales and dolphins.
For a different type of oceanfront excitement, visit Atlantic City. Here a dozen casinos offer not only gambling opportunities, but also top-billed entertainment. Find family-friendly activities along the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, with restaurants, shops, beaches and ever-popular saltwater taffy.
Visit Ocean City for more great beaches and a quieter boardwalk. You’ll also find mini-golf, arcades, amusement parks and more kid-focused entertainment. Enjoy the Ocean City Pops Orchestra throughout the summer. Try surfing the Atlantic Ocean.
Go to Liberty State Park in Jersey City for views of New York City and a pleasant stroll along the Hudson River or a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty. See the Empty Sky New Jersey 9/11 Memorial, engraved with names of the 749 New Jersey residents who died during the 2001 attacks. The monument’s geometry draws viewers’ eyes to the site of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.
Farther up the Hudson, visit Palisades Interstate Park. Follow 30 miles (48 kilometers) of trails along the Hudson’s west banks at water level or upon tall cliffs offering views of the George Washington Bridge and New York City beyond.
As the Garden State, New Jersey lives up to its name with the New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands. Wander the gardens and 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of woodlands and listen to summer concerts under the stars.
New Jersey’s largest city, Newark, is so close to New York City it’s practically a sixth borough. Enjoy sporting events, performing arts and shopping. Drive an hour west to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail. From ocean to mountains, New Jersey delivers a splendid vacation.