Looking for things to do in New Jersey? Here are seven amazing ones and many other tips 😉
New Jersey, if you’ve not been to it already, is a state to place on your bucket list and make sure you tick it off.
This state, one of the original 13 in the United States, lies in the north-east of the country and has New York sitting to its north and north-east, Delaware and Pennsylvania to its west, and, on its east and southern sides, the Atlantic Ocean.
Although small in area, New Jersey is highly urbanized and has an extensive transportation system. New Jersey is renowned for its long and beautiful coastline with over 50 resort towns, including the famous Atlantic City, one of the best places to visit in NJ.
Of course, you can easily also hop into the Big Apple for a day trip or more if you wish to. You just need to cross one of the tunnels.
When I live in New York City I used to go to NJ very often, particularly in the summer to enjoy its seaside towns.
From strolling around Atlantic City’s promenade to historically important sites, below is a look at seven fantastic things you can see and do when visiting New Jersey.
Table of Contents
7 Best Things to Do in New Jersey
1 – Visit Liberty State Park
Perhaps one of the most famous attractions in New Jersey is Liberty State Park. You can’t visit the state and not visit the park, especially since entry is free.
This park covers around 1,200 waterside acres and overlooks Upper New York Bay, Liberty Island and Ellis Island, home of course to the famous Statue of Liberty. Incidentally, if you do wish to see the statue up close, you can take a ferry to the island.
But the park has some highlights of its own, although they’re a little sombre. These include monuments such as Liberation, which commemorates the Holocaust, and Empty Sky, a memorial to victims of 9/11 who had ties with New Jersey.
More uplifting are the opportunities for picnics, kayaking and cycling in the park.
2 – Play in a casino
Despite the US’ more conservative attitudes towards gambling, New Jersey holds a more relaxed attitude towards the activity, so you might fancy trying your luck at one of the New Jersey casinos.
Did you know that New Jersey was the first state to legalize online gambling?
Yes, it is. In 2013, the governor signed a bill that made it legal for service providers to offer poker, craps, baccarat and other games online that met the state’s standards for casinos.
So even if you can’t get to a casino, you can still play from the comfort of your hotel room or wherever in New Jersey you may be.
3 – See Princeton Battlefield State Park and Institute of Advanced Study
Princeton is renowned for its university, and you might wish to see the Institute of Advanced Study, which is where Albert Einstein conducted his final work.
The grounds of the school cover around 1, 600 acres and the tours of the school, which was established in 1756, are highly informative.
Meanwhile, the battleground site covers more than 200 acres and is the location of the Battle of Princeton. In this battle, which took place in 1777, George Washington would triumph over the English in the American Revolutionary War.
4 – Explore Liberty Science Center
The Liberty Science Center, which lies on the northern tip of Liberty State Park, is an interactive science museum and features lots of hands-on exhibits.
It’s superb for families and one of the best things to do in New Jersey with kids.
The planetarium offers shows about the night sky and outer space, and the 3D cinema displays immersive films about science, technology and nature.
An interactive pixel wall, the Infinity Climber (a suspended climbing play space) and exhibits about bees, robotics and engineering are further highlights at this amazing center.
5 – Stroll along Atlantic City’s Boardwalk
The resort town of Atlantic City is one of New Jersey’s most famous attractions, and the boardwalk is the town’s most iconic location.
This promenade is four miles long and was constructed in 1870. Even today, it’s the place where you’ll come across most of the sightseeing opportunities.
If you don’t fancy strolling along the boardwalk, however, you might wish to visit the Steel Pier instead. This amusement park is an entertaining alternative and features a Ferris view that provides its occupants with fantastic views over the city and ocean.
Once you’re in Atlantic City, don’t miss the opportunity to take one of these tours:
6 – Take a trip to the Adventure Aquarium
Situated on the Delaware River, in Camden, the Adventure Aquarium serves as a home to more than 8,500 marine animals. This includes sharks, turtles, penguins and stingrays. There are even hippos at the aquarium.
The facility even gives you the chance to meet animals such as turtles and penguins up close. Better still, and if you’re brave enough, there’s even an opportunity to get in the water with the sharks.
7 – Battleship New Jersey
Also on the Delaware River, you’ll find the mammoth USS New Jersey, the national navy’s most decorated battleship, which is now a floating museum and is one of the largest military vessels ever built.
As you walk around this Iowa-class battleship, you’ll see artifacts and exhibits from the ship’s involvement in war zones, from the Second World War through to operations in the Middle East in the 1980s.
You can also visit the bridge where Admiral Halsey — the famous fleet commander who became known for his daring tactics —commanded the Pacific Fleet and see the ship’s monstrous 16-inch guns.
Guided tours are available, but you don’t have to simply take a walk around the ship during the daytime and then jump off and on to your next attraction. As the ship offers overnight stays, it’s possible to spend a night aboard the ship.
Why not live your best life and spend a little extra for the privilege of doing one of the most unique things to do in New Jersey and staying onboard a battleship?
New Jersey is packed with interesting places to see and things to do, whether it’s visiting a museum or institution, exploring marine life, strolling down its board or relaxing in some of the state’s major parks.
While you’re in New Jersey, you might soak up some of its more liberal attitude towards gambling and call in at one of its casinos, or simply just play online after a busy day of exploring.
However, you choose to spend your time in NJ you can be sure you’ll enjoy yourself.
Safe travels and have fun in New Jersey.
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More posts about that might interest you:
- How to Save Money on a Trip to New York City
- Best Things to Do in Park City in the Summer
- 7 Best Things to Do in Las Vegas
- The US Cities Every Sports Fan Must Visit
- Three days in the Bahamas
- Pig Beach, Bahamas
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