Some people will comfortably describe New Jersey as New York’s less popular younger sibling. In reality, New Jersey is an incredible state that deserves attention and clout for its separate reasons. For one, New Jersey is far more affordable than New York City when it comes to groceries, rental costs, and other expenses. The cost of living alone ends any comparison between New Jersey and New York with the former always thought of as the underdog.
New Jersey is located in the northeastern portion of America, full of incredible landmarks and historical sites. 9.267 million people reside in New Jersey as it stands today. Deciding where to permanently live and raise a family is a big decision for just about anyone. Settling down in a place you can call “home” isn’t taken lightly by many. Stats prove that millions of people can agree that New Jersey is worth the investment.
When it comes to the weather year-round, New Jersey has humid summers with warm weather and winters that are occasionally snowy. That being said, anyone interested in experiencing different seasons throughout the year will find exactly what they’re looking for if they choose to move to New Jersey. On the topic of traveling to different destinations based on the weather, click here to uncover the best winter destination in every state.
To compile this list of 20 things, New Jersey is widely known for, 24/7 Tempo consulted several travel websites. Some of these sources include Travel Drafts, Nomads Unveiled, La Vida Nomad, Visit the USA, and Awesome America.
New Jersey’s Nickname: The Garden State
Every state in America gets its own official nickname. For New Jersey, the official nickname is “The Garden State.” The reason for the nickname is due to the heavy amount of agriculture that blooms and grows in New Jersey. About 15% of New Jersey has been reserved for farming. Since such a huge chunk of New Jersey’s economy relies on agricultural growth, the official nickname is fitting.
Liberty State Park
The visit to Liberty State Park while spending time in New Jersey is an absolute necessity for travelers coming from out of town. Admission is free to Liberty State Park and there are tons of parking lots to choose from. Some of the parking lots do require a paid fee, so keep that in mind before heading over.
Liberty State Park offers a spectacular backdrop of the cityscape along with tons of trees and lush greenery. It covers about 1,122 acres for people to recreationally enjoy. Dog walkers, runners, speed walkers, couples enjoying picnics, and anyone who loves being outside is welcome to spend time there.
Ellis Island
There’s no way to leave Ellis Island out of the conversation when talking about New Jersey. When it comes to the American dream, Ellis Island is a wonderfully symbolic representation of that. It’s the reason more than 12,000,000 immigrants were welcomed into the United States.
Before it was an immigration station, Ellis Island had a much darker past. Pirates and criminals were put to death there before its purpose changed. In the beginning, Ellis island only covered 3.3 acres of space. Now, it’s approximately 27.5 acres in size. Its expansion has been intentional and welcomed over the years.
Jersey Shore
Reality TV lovers are likely familiar with the hit show “Jersey Shore.” The first season of “Jersey Shore” premiered in 2009 and ran for six successful seasons. It focused on a group of young adults in their 20s partying for a summer season under one roof.
Some of the most famous names to come from the show include Nicole Polizzi, also known as Snooki, and Mike Sorrentino, also known as The Situation. The show was hosted and filmed on the beaches of Jersey Shore. Jersey Shore beaches are full of restaurants, stores for shopping, and quirky backdrops for photo opportunities.
The New Jersey Devils and other sports teams
There are tons of talented sports teams to support if you live in New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils are an ice hockey team that moved there from Kansas in 1982. Whether the Devils are playing against the Panthers, the Ducks, the Sharks, or any other team, New Jersey fans love showing up to give their support.
The Harlem Wizards are a beloved basketball team and the Somerset Patriots are a well-liked baseball team from the state. New Jersey currently doesn’t have an NFL team, but that doesn’t mean it will remain that way forever. It’s possible for a football team to relocate to New Jersey from another state at some point. It’s also possible for a brand-new team to be built from the ground up.
Saltwater taffy and other iconic desserts
Salt water taffy is one of the most iconic desserts a person can come across in New Jersey. Unlike what many might assume, saltwater taffy doesn’t actually include any salt water on the ingredients list. It’s a simple combination of corn starch, corn syrup, and sugar. It’s easy enough to find places along New Jersey’s boardwalks selling fresh saltwater taffy to customers.
Another sweet dessert from the state would have to be the cannoli. Cannolis are made with sugar, ricotta, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, candied fruit, and a few other tasty ingredients.
Princeton University and other college campuses
As far as Ivy Leagues go, Princeton University is certainly a competitive school to get into. Other Ivy League schools include Brown University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, and Dartmouth University. The only Ivy League located in New Jersey, though, happens to be Princeton.
Colleges students can enroll in aside from Princeton include Montclair State University, Rowan University, The College of New Jersey, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Kean University, and Stockton University.
Adventure Aquarium
Adventure Aquarium is an entertainment attraction to track down in Camden, New Jersey. It’s family-friendly, which means members of the entire family are welcome to go. The exhibits and attractions inside Adventure Aquarium are abundant. Hippo Haven is full of hippos while Ocean Realm is full of sharks, turtles, stingrays, and more.
The shark tunnel is an amazing area to walk through since it depicts the appearance of sharks swimming around you and above you from every angle. Adventure Aquarium also offers a virtual reality experience where guests can wear a special VR goggles inside pods to experience what it’s like to dive into the real ocean.
Beautiful beaches and lakes
Folks who adore splashing around in bodies of water will find exactly what they’re looking for in New Jersey. There are tons of gorgeous beaches and beautiful lakes to experience. Some of the best beaches in New Jersey include Stoneharbor, Cape May, Manasquan, Point Pleasant Beach, Long Branch, Sea Bright, and Sea Isle City.
A handful of the most beautiful lakes in New Jersey include Lake Hopatcong, Wawayanda Lake, Swartswood Lake, Lake Atsion, Round Valley Reservoir, and Lake Carnegie.
“Mean Girls” and other blockbuster movies
Plenty of “Mean Girls” fans have no idea that scenes from the movie were filmed in New Jersey. The blockbuster flick hit theaters in 2004 starring Rachel McAdams and Lindsay Lohan in the leading roles. Montclair High School in New Jersey was used for all of the school scenes.
Other movies filmed in New Jersey include “The Irishman” from 2019, “The Wolf of Wall Street” from 2013, “Goodfellas” from 1990, and “Once Upon A Time In America” from 1984.
Hotdogs, hoagies, and other iconic foods
The same way saltwater taffy and cannolis are prized gems when it comes to New Jersey desserts, the state also has some iconic entrees to order. Hotdogs, hoagies, pork rolls, and tomato pie are a few savory options you’ll come across on plenty of New Jersey restaurant menus. Hoagies are similar to sandwiches full of cheese, meat, peppers, oils, and more.
Hotdogs in New Jersey are similar to hotdogs you’ll find anywhere else – aside from the way chefs rip the sausage ends open before serving. Pork rolls are usually served at breakfast time along with cheese and eggs. Tomato pie is comparable to pizza since it’s full of tomato sauce, crushed garlic, and grated mozzarella.
John Travolta, Meryl Streep, and other celebrities born in New Jersey
New Jersey is the hometown of several talented celebrities. John Travolta was originally born in Englewood, and some of his biggest movies of all time include “Grease,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “Saturday Night Fever.” Actress Meryl Streep was born in Summit. Her career will go down in history things to movies like “The Devil Wears Prada,” “The Bridges of Madison County,” and “Mamma Mia!”
Queen Latifah is another celebrity born in New Jersey, and Newark is her hometown. Some of her biggest projects include “The Equalizer,” “Last Holiday,” and “Girls Trip.” New Jersey isn’t just hometown to talented actors, though. Whitney Houston and Frank Sinatra were both born in the state in Newark and Hoboken, respectively.
National Museum of Immigration
The National Museum of Immigration is an interesting place to visit for people spending time in New Jersey. It’s located in the heart of Jersey City and functions from 9:45 am until 4:45 pm all seven days of the week. The museum is full of artifacts and passenger records that tell the intricate story of US immigration. Anyone interested in this side of American history will have a chance to get their questions answered there.
The “Diner Capital of the World”
New Jersey has affectionately been nicknamed the “Diner Capital of the World” along with its general nickname of the Garden State. It snagged this additional nickname because there are 530 diner is located in the state. No other states across America have as many diners. These eateries are ideal for guests ready to order food at all hours of the day. These diners have menus full of items like mashed potatoes, Greek salads, tuna melts, and more.
The Statue of Liberty
When people think of the Statue of Liberty, they often think of New York instead of New Jersey. Technically, the Statue of Liberty can be admired from both states. It’s located east of Liberty State Park in New Jersey near the tip of Manhattan in New York City. The Statue of Liberty was originally constructed in France back in July 1884.
She was designed to represent a Roman goddess with crown spikes added to represent the oceans and continents of America. Interestingly enough, Lady Liberty gets struck by 600 bolts of lightning every year. Still, she continues to stand tall. Her original color was copper, but she’s now turned a greenish-blue shades of teal. The Statue of Liberty is thought of as one of New Jersey’s most special and iconic sites.
Cape May Music Festival
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Instruments are lined up as band members register during the during the Yorkshire Brass Band Championships at Huddersfield Town Hall on March 03, 2024 in Huddersfield, England. Brass bands from around Yorkshire competed across all sections during the weekend long event with the winner going forward to represent Yorkshire in the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
New Jersey residents always have something exciting to look forward to each year. The Cape May Music Festival happens annually. The Cape May Music Festival has been in motion for 35 years now. It exists to celebrate the idea of bringing lovely songs and beautiful melodies directly to the people of Cape May.
Symphonies full of musicians playing various instruments are present at the Cape May Music Festival every year. Listening to talented people play violins, cellos, flutes, and other instruments is a pleasurable passtime every summer.
New Jersey State Museum
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 20: Sanford Biggers is seen during a tour of the museum at the unveiling of two outdoor sculptures by renowned artist Sanford Biggers at the Newark Museum of Art on October 20, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for The Newark Museum of Art)
Taking time out of your schedule to visit the New Jersey State Museum is fabulous for folks who love history and science. This museum has tons of exhibitions to explore. Some of the exhibitions include the New Jersey Artist Series, The Civil War Flag Collection of New Jersey, the Fossil Tales of New Jersey. Guests can also check out the American Perspectives: Fine Art Collection, the 9/11 Collection, and the Interpreting the Archaeological Collection.
Laws against pumping your own gas
Even though you’re legally allowed to pump your own gas in every other state in America, that act is illegal in New Jersey. Pumping your own gas used to be banned in multiple states for safety reasons, but that hasn’t been a widespread issue for many years now.
New Jersey is the only state where motorist are not allowed to refill their own fuel. If you’re curious to know whether or not you’re supposed to tip the gas station attendants in New Jersey while visiting, there are no tipping mandates. It’s each individual person’s is prerogative.
Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park
Nickelodeon is a kid-friendly network that’s been around since the spring of 1979. Some of the most popular TV shows to come from Nickelodeon include “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Henry Danger,” “Victorious,” “iCarly,” and “Zoey 101.” New Jersey locals and guests have access to an entire theme park dedicated to the beloved network.
It’s called the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park. Some of the roller coasters and rides to can enjoy include the Pepsi Orange Streak, the Fairly Odd Coaster, and the Back at the Barnyard Hayride.
John Gorka’s 1991 song “I’m From New Jersey”
A musician named John Gorka released a song called “I’m From New Jersey” back in 1991. This song was part of his album “Jack’s Crows.” Gorka sings, “I’m from New Jersey. I don’t expect too much. If the world ended today, I would adjust.” He goes on to include lyrics comparing New Jersey to Ohio, referencing mafia books, and mentioning how the women of the state wear their hair in bigger hairstyles.
He also sings about how New Jersey isn’t similar to Texas, his mother’s Italian heritage, and the reality of constant toll roads throughout streets of the state. “I’m From New Jersey” is an iconic songs in America. For other iconic songs that have played on radios over the years, click here to discover the absolute best songs in history.