Confession time — I wasn’t born in New Jersey. Like a lot of New Jersey transplants, when I first entertained the concept of actually living in New Jersey, my mind was filled with all those “what exit” and “how far from those tanks” sort of horrors that many go through when pondering relocating to this much maligned state.
But after living here 40 plus, years it is my joy and my privilege to introduce you to just a small sampling of some of the hidden gems and wonders that exist here in the appropriately named Garden State. Far from being a wasteland, New Jersey is a treasure chest filled with wonders – if only you have the spirit to look for them.
Explore roadside attractions across New Jersey with this guide — and let us know if we missed any!
South Jersey and Central Jersey coming soon.
Located within the Garret Mountain Reservation, Lambert Castle and Water Tower were once owned by silk manufacturer Catholina Lambert. The mansion built in 1892 and tower built in 1896 have been restored and are available to visitors (in non-covid times). The 70-foot tower offers stunning views of the NYC skyline.
In 1972, the Warner Brothers opened this theme park consisting of a drive-through safari and walk-through animal exhibits. At its height 1,500 animals were featured and over 5000,000 visitors had paid admission. Closed in 1976 as a theme park, it is now a park with miles of hiking trails; remnants of the old amusement areas still remain to be discovered and photographed.
Explore more of Passaic County with our guide.
MURALS OF JERSEY CITY
(Hudson County)
This could be a guide all on its own! Since 2013, artists from around the world have contributed over 130 murals to the urban landscape of Jersey City. The program is run by the Jersey City Mural Arts Commission and it has brought both beauty and tourists to the city to photograph and enjoy these modern artist creations. The 180-foot David Bowie mural, by Eduardo Kobra, added in 2016 is a great example of street art at its best.
Explore more of Hudson County with our guide, and North Jersey, too.
Let us know what we might have missed in the comments!
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