Of course, when in the Northeast of America everyone first thinks of visiting New York, the Big Apple! However, the city that never sleeps isn’t the only place worth a visit around this location. In fact, if you find yourself in this area then a trip to New Jersey, the Garden State is well worth your time as well. Just read on to find out how to get there, where to stay, what to eat and what highlights not to miss.
Places to eat
No matter where you visit food is always important. Happily, you’re in luck here as well, because folks from the garden state love their food, and that means they not only demand a high standard when they go out to eat but that they also make fantastic restaurant owners as well.
Of course, there are several places that you will not want to miss when visiting this area. In South Jersey, the location that you will not want to miss is Illiano Cucina Mediterranea, one of the best known Italian restaurants, serving authentic and delicious cuisine. In fact, there you can expect famous Italian favorites such as chicken cacciatore, and chicken Parmesan, as well as other dishes like black ravioli, and shrimp and veal Pavarotti that you may not have heard of, but will still find delicious. Oh, and don’t miss their desserts that change daily!
Another place that you just have to try if you find yourself in NJ is Cucharamama in Hoboken, a place that serves Latin American style tapas with a spicy twist. The service is excellent too, and it’s a pretty laid back place with a reasonably priced wine list, so it’s a perfection location for a relaxed family dinner.
Of, course if you find yourself in Hoboken, there is another food-related place that you just have to try as a well and its Carlo’s Bakery, made famous by the TV show Cake Boss.
Now, it’s not a place where you can eat in, but you can swing by and grab some cannolis, cookies, iced celebrations cakes, or other treats as well as some great coffee. You may even get to meet some of the stars of the show like Buddy, his sisters, and their husbands as they still work at the store.
Getting there
Of course, you can’t sample the edible delights of New Jersey without working out how to get there first. This will depend on the original location that you start in, but for many people, this will be New York. The reason being that international flights to the areas tend to get into JFK airport. In fact, there are several options to choose from if this is the case. The first is renting a car from the airport and driving to New Jersey. A trip that only takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take a flight from NY to NJ, although this can cost a lot, or even get the Greyhound bus for as little as $13 to Newark. The latter option being a sounder choice if you are an on a budget.
Where to stay
The best thing about the accommodation options in New Jersey is that, compared to the neighboring city of New York, they are super cheap. That means if you so choose you can afford to splash out on a smarter room or apartment and enjoy a little extra luxury during your stay.
In particular, you may like to stay at somewhere like the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel & Executive Meeting Center which is a four-star hotel will rooms at as little as $101 a night. There you will find an indoor pool, and the rooms are both clean and large. It’s just off the highway as well, which mean what you are planning to explore NY or NJ it’s easy to reach your desired destination.
Of course, not everyone wants to spend over $100 a night, or even stay in a hotel, but luckily in NJ, there are plenty of other options.
One of these is to go for a rental apartment close to the coast. Something that you can book through services like Airbnb. In fact, such accommodations are usually clean and well decorated in a coastal style, as well as being close to the beach and boardwalk, something that makes them the perfect choice for families wishing to stay in the area. Also at around $30pppn, it can work out a lot cheaper, while still have more space to spread out in your accommodation.
Sites to see
Of course, New Jersey isn’t just about the food, but about the wonderful places that you can cast while you are there as well. In fact, many of the sites are located along the east shore, otherwise known as the Jersey Shore which is a favorite hangout for a younger NJ crowd in the summertime.
In particular, you cannot miss the impressive Six Flags Great Adventure park in Jackson Township. This is mainly because they have some pretty fantastic thrill ride like the El Toro roller coaster and the Daredevil Dive. Although, those with less of an appetite for adrenaline or younger member of the family in tow will be pleased to note they also have some more sedate options such as Air Jumbo and a Carousel as well.
Also, be sure to check out the Adventure Aquarium in Camden too. A place where you can not only check out the underwater life in tanks but also get a bit more up close and personal and see them being fed as well. In fact, you can even attend the Hippo bedtime event where the animals come out of the water and walk to their enclosures behind the scene for the night!
Finally, when visiting NJ, you absolutely cannot miss the fantastic Liberty State Park in Jersey City. In fact, this is the ideal location for a stroll and a picnic, and as it also overlooks Ellis & Liberty island too. Something that means it’s a great place to take in the marvelous sites that both NJ and NY share and so should not be missed.
Jessica Lippe 
I’m from the UK and used to watch Cake Boss the people from NJ always seem so friendly.
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