New Jersey in an unfairly underrated state where anyone can enjoy a fantastic vacation. Visitors can choose from a broad range of world-class activities. Whether you’re interested in nature, the arts, history, or sports, you can find something exciting to do. Here are 5 activities you can enjoy in New Jersey.
#1. Visit the Jersey Shore
New Jersey boasts 141 miles of oceanfront that is renowned for its many arcades, water parks, amusement parks, casinos, and boardwalks. There are many wonderful vacation spots along the shore, each with their own character and main features.
Cape May, at the southern tip of the state, is a great choice for people who love history as well as the sea. The town is a National Historic Landmark featuring over 600 restored Victorian structures and was America’s first seaside resort.
A town trolleybus tour can provide you with an overview of this historic resort. Check out the Emlen Physick Estate to learn about the Victorian elite of New Jersey. This Victorian house museum demonstrates what life was like for the Physick family when they moved into their new, 18-room mansion in 1879. The house is said to be haunted by original resident Aunt Emily and the family dog.
The 1859 Cape May Point Lighthouse is a popular spot to enjoy panoramic views, but you’ll have to climb the 199 steps first. From Cape May, you can also enjoy both a sunrise and a sunset over the water because it sits on the end of a peninsular. Both can be observed by standing at Cape May Point, which is on the very tip.
Cape May is also a great place to surf, parasail, jetski, or swim. You can take a boat trip to watch whales and dolphins or explore the inland salt marshes on a paddleboard or kayaking tour. The Cape Island Wildlife Management Area is also popular for birdwatching.
Atlantic City is a more popular vacation spot on the Jersey Shore, known for its sandy beaches, iconic boardwalk, and, of course, its casinos. Gambling was legalized in New Jersey in 1976, so you can lose your shirt playing poker at famous establishments such as The Borgata, Caesar’s Atlantic City, and The Golden Nugget.
AC is a great place to enjoy live acts, and many famous entertainers perform in Atlantic City’s upscale hotels. Local up-and-coming acts perform in beachside venues, such as the Landshark Bar & Grill. There are also many fine-dining restaurants along AC’s iconic boardwalk.
Many tourists flock to AC for beach vacations and to enjoy traditional family beach activities. You can lounge on a beach chair while your kids paddle in the Atlantic or build a sandcastle. AC is also a popular spot for surfing, and you can hire boards and take lessons on the beach.
#2. Learn about the invention of modern America
One of the most fascinating historic sites you will ever visit in your life is the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange. Not only is this where you’ll find Thomas Edison’s groundbreaking laboratory, but it’s also where he made his home for the latter part of his life.
Thomas Edison’s West Orange laboratory was built in 1887 operated for over 40 years and produced some of the most important technological developments of the early twentieth century, including sound recordings, motion picture cameras both for silent and sound films, and nickel-iron alkaline electric batteries. This complex is arguably the birthplace of modern America.
Edison’s Queen-Anne-style house is also found within the park. It was erected between 1880 and 1882 with all the modern conveniences of the time. After it was discovered that the original owner stole money from his employer to fund construction, Edison purchased the property in 1886. One of his children born in the property became the governor of New Jersey and another a captain of industry in the mid-twentieth century.
#3. Observe wolves in the wild
When you think about wolves, you probably imagine the forests of Alaska and Northern Canada. However, you don’t have to go to the ends of the Earth to enjoy the wonder of wolves in the wild. You can visit the Lakota Wolf Preserve in Knowlton Township, New Jersey.
The preserve boasts packs of Arctic, British Columbian, and Timberwolves as well as bobcats, foxes, and lynxes. This provides you with unique wildlife photography opportunities on guided educational tours through the preserve called Wolf Watch Tours. The scenic mountains of the Delaware Water Gap provide an ideal background for your photographs.
During a Wolf Watch Tour, you are introduced to the eating habits of wolves, their social structure, and behavior in the wild. This is probably the only chance you’ll ever have to see wolves playing in a natural environment. If you’re lucky, you might even see them howl.
#4. Enjoy America’s longest-running rodeo
No, you don’t have to travel to the Wild West to enjoy a rodeo. The longest-running weekly rodeo in the nation is held in Pilesgrove Township, New Jersey. The Cowtown Rodeo has entertained cowboys and cowgirls with “The Best Show On Dirt” since 1929.
Events you can observe include bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, and tie-down roping. And for your kids, there’s free face painting from 6:30-8:30 pm and a best-dressed cow child contest from 6-7 pm on rodeo nights.
While in town, you may want to take a selfie with the 22-foot-tall Cowtown Muffler Man. Also, check out the year-round Cowtown Farmers’ Market and the Cowtown Cowboy Outfitters for looking the part.
#5. Appreciate fine art
New Jersey boasts a fine selection of world-class art galleries and museums. One of the most interesting is Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township. As you approach, you’ll see giant red and blue heads beside the highway. Near the entrance is a 20-foot King Lear. Inside, you meander through lush green gardens populated with sculptures of all kind, from giant origami-like abstract pieces to life-like figures you might mistake for visitors.
The Newark Museum of Art boasts colorful galleries of abstract modern art and an innovative approach to attracting new art lovers. Late every Thursday, the museum invites guests to see live art performances, watch painters in action, and sip free wine. They have even provided dance lessons to live music on occasion. The museum aims to educate people about how art of all kinds is an integral part of our lives.
In Atlantic City, check out Noyes Arts Garage. This is where street art and graffiti meet museum fine arts. Watch out for the amazing wall murals. The Arts Garage is associated with Stockton University and is a key institution in AC’s Arts District. They promote art education, provide space, materials, and guidance to emerging artists, and introduce cutting-edge art to the local community.
