Travel guide for planning a vacation or trip to New Jersey, including top tourist attractions and tips on transportation.
New Jersey is one of America's most interesting places. Located on the densely crowded north eastern seaboard corridor between New York and Pennsylvania, this small state has much to offer any visitor.
Fortunately for tourists, getting access to New Jersey is very easy. Many people travel there by plane via Newark Liberty airport, one of the nation's busiest. Newark Liberty offers travelers one huge advantage: easy access to nearby New York City. Newark is actually closer to Manhattan than JFK and LaGuardia, the other two major New York City area airports. Visitors to New Jersey who want to consider flying into JFK or LaGuardia should be aware that travel into New Jersey will take at least an addition hour once on the ground.
In addition to being located directly adjacent to the New Jersey city of Newark, Newark Liberty is also less than half an hour from Manhattan. The airport has several bus and train lines that allow visitors to get to mid-town quickly. Newark airport is located in the northern part of the state.
Anyone who wants to visit the southern part of the state should consider flying into Philadelphia International Airport. Fares can sometimes be cheaper than in Newark and the airport is roughly an hour's drive from popular shore destinations like Atlantic City and Cape May. Atlantic City has an airport but the airport is small and lacks service to many destinations.
Once you're there you'll find the state of New Jersey is divided into several regions. The northwestern part of the state is often noted as an area of great natural beauty. In the summer visitors can camp in several lovely area parks that offer all kinds of outdoor activities from swimming and rafting in the pure waters of the Delaware Water Gap to hiking nearby hills that extend into Pennsylvania's gorgeous Pocono Mountain region. The same slopes have great skiing and sledding in the winter.
The Northeastern part of New Jersey is an area of dense population growth. Here visitors can sample some of the nation's best shops at famed malls like the Willowbrook, Jersey Gardens, and Woodridge mall. A true shopper should not pass up the chance to see The Mall at Short Hills. The beautifully designed shopper's paradise has soft leather seating areas and large skylights. The Mall at Short Hills is located in one of New Jersey's most upscale suburbs and offers visitors an amazing variety of very upscale and exclusive shops.
This area is one of the nation's most accessible places. Major roads include interstates 78, 80 and 287. The area is also well served by public transportation. Many buses and trains routes criss-cross central New Jersey, making it easy to travel from one place to another or into nearby New York City.
The southern part of the state has one of New Jersey's greatest assets: the shore. From the small town of Keyport in the North to the glorious Victorians of Cape May at the very tip, the Jersey shore has something to offer every visitor. Stop at Long Beach Island for public access to one of nation's best shore parks. Try your luck in the casinos at Atlantic City where cheap buffets and fanciful hotels are the rule.
If you're looking for quintessential Jersey shore experience, stay in the Wildwoods. North Wildwood has a lovely beach with white sands and great waves. Wildwood has eye-catching art deco hotels that date from the mid-fifties. The adjacent boardwalk has dozens of rides, two water parks and lots of great seafood restaurants. Go to the very end of the shore to see Cape May. The Cape has a terrific public beach. When you're done with the beach, walk around the town to see some of the nation's loveliest homes. The Cape has dozens of homes preserved from the Victorian and decorated in the most outrageously wonderful colors.
Whatever you like to do, chances are you'll find somewhere to do it in New Jersey.
