If you intend to visit New Jersey in the near future, there’s something you should know: it’s nothing like how it’s depicted in films.
A densely-populated region like New Jersey is often not deemed suitable as a tourism spot. However, people who have visited the state even once know that New Jersey has a lot more to offer than people think.
The state of New Jersey is home to historical monuments, art museums, theme parks, and cultural sites.
From sightseeing to exciting outdoor adventures, there’s so much that this state offers. Here are some of the top things you should see and do in New Jersey.
1. Spend a Day at Six Flags Great Adventure
If you want to do something rip-roaring while you are in New Jersey, you should spend an entire day at Six Flags Great Adventure, the second largest theme park in the U.S. From rides that make you go wild to drive-in concerts,
Six Flags has all kinds of amusements for people of all age groups. It has games, interesting exhibits, entertainment shows, a waterpark, eateries, places to shop, children’s play area, and even animal attractions.
Note: It’s not cheap but if you spend a whole day there with your family, it’ll be worth it — especially if you have children who are old enough to enjoy everything the park has to offer.
2. Spend an Evening in Atlantic City
Though Atlantic City is known for its casinos, bars, and nightlife, it offers way more than that.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk has some of the most amazing hotels, resorts, retail stores, museums, and rides for children. The most notable attraction of Atlantic City is Steel Pier. It offers parasailing and a helicopter ride that tours over the Atlantic Ocean.
3. Visit the Cape May Historic District
From historical landmarks and churches to good restaurants and hotels, Cape May Historic District has so much to offer. It’s one of the best seaside towns in NJ.
The Cape May Lighthouse is a must-visit site as it offers beautiful ocean views. The most enjoyable activities in the district are trolley tours, Cape May Ghost tours, boat rides, and sightseeing while strolling the streets.
4. Play at Morristown Game Vault
If you want to relive your childhood, the Morristown Game Vault is the best place to do that. This retro arcade offers a wide range of top 20th-century video games, pinball machines, and consoles. The best part is that you can play as many games as you want for free in a set period of time.
5. Visit Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
If you love self-guided outdoor activities, you must visit Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. From fancy sports like basketball to recreational activities like fishing and horse-riding, it has attractions for people of all age groups. It’s a perfect picnic spot and offers many free recreational activities.
6. Visit The Wildwoods
From retro-gaming to movie nights, The Wildwoods has all kinds of amusements and it’s one of the most popular tourism spots in South Jersey. With its free beaches, boardwalk foods, concerts, waterparks, and rides, it is considered as one of the best places to visit in New Jersey. It houses Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum that displays over 20 aircrafts, most of them from World War 2.
7. Hike in The Delaware Water Gap
The Delaware Water Gap constitutes the area where the Delaware river flows through the dividing line of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It’s a perfect place for hiking and other outdoor activities like fishing, rock-climbing, swimming, camping, kayaking, canoeing, and water rafting. One of the most popular landmarks of the Delaware Water Gap is Buttermilk Falls, the tallest waterfall in the state.
8. Visit Liberty State Park
If you feel like spending an inexpensive day out in New Jersey, the Liberty State Park is the best place to do that. It offers magnificent views of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the New York City skyline.
You can pack your picnic lunch and go to Liberty State Park to enjoy an inexpensive yet beautiful afternoon with friends and family. You can also stop by the Liberty Science Centre that lies in close proximity to the park.
Liberty State Park is the best place to know more about the U.S. history as it has many historical monuments like the Empty Sky 9/11 Memorial, the Liberation monument, and the U.S. Flag Plaza.
9. Visit Thomas Edison National Historical Park
The best play to visit in New Jersey on a bad weather day is Thomas Edison National Historical Park.
The park has two separate sites: Edison’s residence and his laboratory. Edison’s former residence has 29 rooms, modern-day amenities, a green house, and beautiful residential grounds.
Visiting Edison’s laboratory is an experience equivalent to time-travelling to the past to see how Edison developed his greatest inventions. The lab complex has a lot of buildings including a library.
10. Visit Battleship New Jersey
For history buffs, Battleship New Jersey is one of the most prominent attractions in New Jersey. It’s a museum ship berthed in Camden.
Battleship New Jersey is a perfect place to familiarize yourself with military history. It features many Navy-related artifacts, navy missiles, and ancient weapons. You get to see ship decks, travel across complex passages, climb ladders, and fully experience the life of a seaman. It also offers a majestic view of the Philadelphia Skyline at night.
11. Devote an entire day to Ocean City
From boardwalk amusements to classic shore activities, Ocean City has all kinds of tourism attractions. The city has long beaches, amusement parks, wonderful eateries, and other recreational areas.
Ocean City is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and is one of the best beaches in South Jersey. You can spend an entire day parasailing, surfing, swimming, and lolling in the sun on this beach.
Its amusement pier offers thrilling rides including a 141ft tall Ferris wheel. You can walk, bike, and rollerblade along the 3-miles long Boardwalk of Ocean City.
You might also want to visit the OC Waterpark if you have kids. It has a mini-golf course, serpentine slides, and a water playground for children.
Do you have tips to share for those interested in visiting New Jersey? If so, leave a comment below.
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