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15 Best Places To Visit In New Jersey, According To Local Experts

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15 Best Places To Visit In New Jersey, According To Local Experts


Cape May Lighthouse | Image credit: aimintang/Getty Images

Bordered by New York to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Delaware to the south, and Pennsylvania to the west, New Jersey stretches 150 miles (241 km) from top to bottom. And while some may joke that it’s just one big highway, residents and return visitors know of its many charms. The Garden State has something for just about every type of traveller (not to mention some great places to live), whether you prefer the sandy beaches and Victorian homes of Cape May, the nostalgic fun of the Ocean City Boardwalk, or the live entertainment in Atlantic City. We talked to insiders to get the scoop on the best places to visit in New Jersey.

These are the best places to visit in New Jersey 

Ocean City Boardwalk

best places to visit in new jersey
Ocean City | Image credit: DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

“The Ocean City Boardwalk is a famous promenade that’s been a source of entertainment for more than 100 years,” says Diane Wieland, chairperson of Southern Shore Region DMO. The wooden walkway has amusement rides for all ages, mini golf, arcade games, souvenir and sweet shops, and iconic boardwalk eats — hot dogs, burgers, fries, pizza, and soft serve.

Cape May

Cape May Lighthouse
Cape May Lighthouse | Image credit: aimintang/Getty Images

Situated at the tip of the Cape May peninsula, Cape May boasts sandy beaches, historic trolley rides, a striped lighthouse, and Victorian architecture. More than just a summer destination, the charming Jersey Shore town gets into the spirit for all the seasons — especially the holidays with festive decorations, tree lighting ceremonies, and a vendor village at Congress Hall.

Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks

Morey's piers & Beachfront water parks
Morey’s Piers & Beachfront water parks | Image credit: Hannah Beier/Getty Images

For summertime fun, look no further than Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks. “Families can spend the entire day on more than 100 rides, splashing around the two water parks right on the beach, and lounging in private cabanas,” says Jeffrey Vasser, executive director, the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism.

Wildwoods Boardwalk

best places to visit in new jersey
Wildwoods Boardwalk | Image credit:  Wildwoods New Jersey

In a state known for its seaside amusements, the Wildwoods Boardwalk stands out from the pack. Composed of more than 70,000 wooden planks, the 38-block oceanfront stretch draws crowds with everything from amusement piers featuring rides and games galore to water parks to classic eateries and shopping.

Wildwood’s Doo Wop Motel District

wildwood's Doo wop motel
Wildwood’s Doo Wop Motel District | Image credit: Wildwoods New Jersey

“Walking around Wildwood’s Doo Wop Motel District is like being transported to the 1950s,” says Vasser. Dotted along the two-mile (3 km) stretch between Atlantic and Ocean Avenues sits the largest concentration of mid-century motels in the country. “It’s really neat to see all the neon signs and retro details.”

American Dream

Nickelodeon Universe theme park
Nickelodeon Universe theme park | Image credit: American Dream

“American Dream is, quite literally, an indoor vacation one-stop shop that’s open year-round,” raves Vasser. From the Nickelodeon Universe theme park and the DreamWorks Water Park to skiing at Big Snow and surf lessons at Skudin Surf to the hundreds of stores (??it’s the second-largest shopping mall in the United States) and restaurants, it provides endless fun for the whole family.

Lambertville

best places to visit in new jersey
Lambertville | Image credit: Moelyn Photos/Getty Images

Founded in 1705, Lambertville brings history to life through its well-preserved federal townhouses, Victorian homes, antique shops, restored 19th-century train depot, and the James Wilson Marshall House. “The charming town also supplies family-owned wineries and photogenic vantage points such as Goat Hill Overlook,” adds Vasser.

Beneduce Vineyards

Beneduce Vineyards
Beneduce Vineyards | Image credit: andykazie/Getty Images

“Most people don’t realize New Jersey is home to more than 50 wineries,” says Vasser. “One of my favourites, Beneduce Vineyards, has great wine and fun year-round events such as live music and food trucks on Saturdays.” Plus, it’s located less than 75 minutes from New York City and Philadelphia.

Grounds for Sculpture

Grounds for sculpture
Grounds for Sculpture | Image credit: Grounds for Sculpture

Located on the former site of Trenton Speedway, Grounds for Sculpture is a 42-acre sculpture park and museum. Visitors can spend the day ogling art and grabbing a bite at the restaurant. The Hamilton cultural institution also hosts special events such as after-dark light and sound experiences in partnership with Klip Collective and the upcoming Def Poetry Jam Reunion.

Atlantic City

best places to visit in new jersey
Atlantic City | Image credit: DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

Approximately two hours from the Big Apple, Atlantic City — the East Coast’s answer to Las Vegas — dazzles visitors with its casinos, live entertainment, glitzy hotels, and big-name restaurants like Nobu. Steel Pier offers games, entertainment, boardwalk fare, an observation wheel with sweeping views, and the only helicopter ride at the Jersey Shore.

Frenchtown

Delaware River
Delaware River | Image credit: aimintang/Getty Images

Nestled along the banks of the Delaware River in Hunterdon County, Frenchtown is a vibrant community with plenty of Victorian architecture, art, and culture to keep travellers entertained year-round. Vasser suggests visiting over Labor Day weekend because that’s when Frenchtown Riverfest takes place. “There are all kinds of street fair activities along the river,” he says.

Cape May County Park & Zoo

Giraffe
Giraffe | Image credit: Joseph Hulik / FOAP/Getty Images

Located in the Cape May Court House section of Middle Township, the Cape May County Park & Zoo houses more than 550 different animals and is free to the public. There are also awesome playgrounds for kids of all ages just outside the entrance. “It’s truly one of the best-kept secrets in the area,” says Wieland.

Asbury Park

best places to visit in new jersey
Asbury Park | Image credit: Jon Bilous/Getty Images

Over the last decade, Asbury Park has become a creative hub and music mecca. There are so many venues to catch a show. Wieland recommends The Stone Pony, which is best known for launching the career of Bruce Springsteen. Asbury Lanes combines bowling, dining, and live entertainment. To admire eye-catching artwork, head to the boardwalk. The Wooden Walls Project collaborates with artists to turn blank walls into colourful photo ops.

Adventure Aquarium

Adventure Aquarium
Adventure Aquarium | Image credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

Adventure Aquarium protects more than 8,500 aquatic species, including penguins, turtles, stingrays, and the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast. It also gives visitors the chance to interact with hundreds of sea creatures at the touch tanks. “It’s a favourite for kids of all ages, especially if you’re looking for an indoor activity,” says Wieland.

Long Beach Island

Long Beach Island
Long Beach Island | Image credit: Eileen_10/Getty Images

With 130 miles ( 209 km) of Atlantic Ocean real estate, there’s no shortage of beautiful beaches in the Garden State. But the shores of Long Beach Island are particularly lovely. Besides its scenic Atlantic Ocean coastline, vacationers go for water sports, charming towns like Barnegat Light, and a laid-back lifestyle.


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(Feature Image Credit: aimintang/Getty Images)

This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com

What To Do, Where To Stay And What To Eat: The Ultimate NYC Itinerary




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Ice, freezing rain alerts expand to 10 N.J. counties. Wind advisory issued for 50 mph gusts Monday.

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Ice, freezing rain alerts expand to 10 N.J. counties. Wind advisory issued for 50 mph gusts Monday.


Winter weather advisories have been expanded to 10 New Jersey counties with freezing rain that could cause a dangerous layer of ice tonight.

The National Weather Service has also issued a wind advisory for 16 counties Monday with up to 50 mph gusts possible.

The more immediate concern is freezing rain already hitting the state Sunday evening.

The National Weather Service has expanded winter weather advisories to 10 New Jersey counties with freezing rain creating the potential for dangerous ice Sunday night. High winds gusting to 50 mph are expected Monday.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

Winter weather advisories for Bergen, Essex, Hudson Passaic and Union counties expire between 10 p.m. and midnight.

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Winter weather advisories for Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties take effect at 6 p.m. and run through 2 a.m.

As temperatures remain near or below freezing across northern New Jersey this evening, precipitation will fall as freezing rain, particularly in Warren and Morris counties where a glaze to one-tenth of an inch of ice accumulation is possible.

N.J. weather: Ice storm alerts expanded to 7 counties. Wind gusts up to 50 mph Monday.
The National Weather Service has expanded winter weather advisories to 10 New Jersey counties with freezing rain creating the potential for dangerous ice Sunday night. High winds gusting to 50 mph are expected Monday.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

The National Weather Service warns that even areas outside the advisory that remain near freezing at the onset of precipitation could experience localized icing, especially on shaded surfaces that have remained below freezing for more than 36 hours.

Temperatures will rise above freezing areawide during the pre-dawn hours Monday as a warm front lifts through the region, changing any remaining freezing rain to plain rain.

A brief break in the rain is likely prior to daybreak Monday.

The warm front will be quickly followed by a strong cold front Monday afternoon, bringing another period of rain that may be moderate in intensity at times.

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High temperatures Monday will reach the upper 40s along the coast before the cold front passes, bringing high winds to the area.

N.J. weather: Ice storm alerts expanded to 7 counties. Wind gusts up to 50 mph Monday.
The National Weather Service has expanded winter weather advisories to 10 New Jersey counties with freezing rain creating the potential for dangerous ice Sunday night. High winds gusting to 50 mph are expected Monday.AccuWeather.com and National Weather Service

The wind advisory for 16 counties runs from 10 a.m. Monday to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Just Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties are not under wind advisories.

“Strong westerly winds develop Monday with wind gusts up to 50 mph and a wind advisory has been issued,” the weather service said Sunday evening. “Some tree damage and power outages possible.”

Tuesday will be markedly colder with high temperatures struggling to rise above freezing even at the Jersey Shore.

Wind chills in the teens and low 20s are expected during the day.

Skies will be partly cloudy with continued gusty winds of 20 to 30 mph.

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N.J. weather: Black ice, freezing rain alerts issued for 6 N.J. counties
Freezing rain and wind gusts up to 50 mph are expected over the next 24 hours. AccuWeather

Wednesday brings slightly milder conditions with highs in the mid 30s to near 40 degrees, though it remains well below normal for late December.

The extended forecast shows below-normal temperatures continuing through the end of the week and into the New Year.

Thursday may bring a chance of snow showers as a weak cold front passes through, though accumulations are expected to be light.

Friday looks dry with highs in the low to mid 30s.

Another weather system may impact the area late next weekend, potentially bringing a mix of rain and snow, though forecast confidence remains low for that timeframe.

Current weather radar



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Deadly helicopter collision in New Jersey kills one, critically injures another

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Deadly helicopter collision in New Jersey kills one, critically injures another


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One person was killed and another critically injured when two helicopters collided and crash-landed in Hammonton, New Jersey, on Sunday morning, authorities said.

The Hammonton Police Department told Fox News Digital that it received calls of an aviation crash at approximately 11:25 a.m. involving two helicopters in the area of the 100 block of Basin Road.

Police, fire and EMS responded, extinguishing one helicopter that was engulfed in flames.

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The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and will investigate the crash, police said.

MIDAIR PLANE CRASH KILLS ONE PERSON NEAR COLORADO AIRPORT AS BOTH PLANES CATCH FIRE

Two helicopters collided Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Hammonton, N.J. (WTXF)

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way wrote on X that she has been updated on the midair collision.

The site of a deadly helicopter collision in Hammonton, N.J., on Dec. 28, 2025. (WTXF)

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“The Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management, Hammonton Police Department, and @NJSP personnel are on the scene,” she said.

This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.



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New Jersey Celebrities Who Died in 2025

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New Jersey Celebrities Who Died in 2025


These actors and musicians all called the Garden State home at some point in their lives. Though they have passed, their work and spirits endure.

Peter Greene

1965-December 12, 2025

Born and raised in Montclair. Greene attended Montclair High School but dropped out before graduating, according to his IMDB biography, and ran away from home as a teenager, he revealed in a 1996 magazine interview. He struggled with homelessness and drug addiction before pursuing acting and became best known for his villainous roles in the films Pulp Fiction and The Mask. Greene was slated to begin production on an indie thriller this January, the New York Post reported. He was 60.

Eddie Palmieri

1936-August 6, 2025

Eddie Palmieri

Photo: Shutterstock/lev radin

The Grammy-winning musician was a New York City native but was living in Hackensack when he died at home at the age of 88. Palmieri’s decades-long career was “marked by his groundbreaking fusion of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and jazz harmonies,” wrote Manahil Ahmad in an obituary for NorthJersey.com. “His orchestra La Perfecta, formed in the early 1960s, set a new standard for Latin music….showcasing his explosive piano style—a blend of precision, power and improvisational grit.”

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Palmieri performed at the Montclair Jazz Festival in 2019. Earlier this month, on what would have been his 89th birthday, the festival posted a tribute on their Instagram account. “We are so thankful to Eddie for his music and his friendship!” it concluded. “Long may his legacy continue!”

Malcolm-Jamal Warner

1970-July 20, 2025

The Jersey City-born actor, beloved for his role as Theodore “Theo” Huxtable on NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, died in an accidental drowning off the coast of Costa Rica, ABC News reported. He was 54. Warner played Huxtable from 1984 to 1992, and was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series in 1986. More recently, he starred as a surgeon on Fox medical drama The Resident until the show ended in 2023.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jersey City native Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” Governor Phil Murphy posted on social media. “[…] Malcom-Jamal brought joy and hope to millions of Americans. We are praying for the Warner family during this incredibly difficult time.”

Connie Francis

1937-July 16, 2025



The Newark-born pop singer, best known for ’50s and ’60s hits like “Who’s Sorry Now?” and “Where the Boys Are,” passed away at the age of 87 this summer. Dubbed “the girl with the million-dollar cry” by Dick Clark, she was the first solo female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Francis spent her early years in Brooklyn before her family moved back to New Jersey, where they lived in Newark’s Ironbound section and later Belleville. Francis attended Newark Arts High School for a few years before transferring to Belleville High School, where she graduated in 1955. She was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016 at a 2017 ceremony held at Asbury Park’s Convention Hall.

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Just two months before her death, Francis had responded to news that her deep cut “Pretty Little Baby” had gone viral on TikTo, six decades after its original release. “My thanks to TikTok and its members for the wonderful, and oh so unexpected, reception given to my 1961 recording,” she wrote in a Facebook post. Her publicist and record-label president, Rob Roberts, had informed her of her “viral hit”—a term she didn’t understand. “Clearly out of touch with present day music statistics terminology, my initial response was to ask: ‘What’s that?’” she continued. “Thank you everyone!”

Lenny Welch

1938-April 8, 2025

Though born in New York City, the pop singer was raised in Asbury Park, where he was shaped by the vibrant Black music scene on the city’s West Side. He attended Asbury Park High School and joined a local vocal group called the Mar-Keys, which, according to the Asbury Park Press, opened for Little Richard at city’s Savoy Theatre in the 1950s. He later became best known for his cover of “Since I Fell for You,” which hit number 4 on the Billboard chart in 1963.

During a 2011 panel about the history of race and music, Bruce Springsteen referred to Welch as “Mr. Asbury Park,” according to NJ.com. Later that year, Welch returned to his hometown to perform at the Soul of Asbury Park concert held at the Paramount Theatre. In 2012, he was inducted into Asbury Park High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. A few years before his death, in 2021, Welch told the Asbury Park Press that he thought about the city “every day” and hoped to return “before I leave this earth.” He said he wanted to “walk around, go up Springwood Avenue because that’s where I grew up….just walk up the street, look around, visit relatives’ gravesites […].” Welch died in Florida at the age of 86.

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