One of the
Mid-Atlantic States, the tiny state of
New Jersey is often overshadowed by neighboring
New York City. Traveling south on the New Jersey Turnpike toll road from
New York, visitors will be stuck with the picture of popular imagination that has been the brunt of jokes with many an on-stage comedian. The ugly highway, traversing an industrial landscape of grey, smoking chimneys and factories, and passing bleak cities like
Newark and the state capital of
Trenton, does little to encourage visitors, while even the songs of
Bruce Springsteen describe his birthplace in disparaging terms.
But surprisingly
there is more to New Jersey than grey factories and industrial estates. One of the state's most treasured prizes is its 127 miles (204km) of sandy beaches along the Atlantic coast, lined with many holiday resorts, bustling boardwalks and quaint seaside towns that draw thousands of tourists to enjoy the sun, surf and excitement of the famous
Jersey Shore. The world's first boardwalk has its home in
Atlantic City, famous for its 24-hour gambling entertainment and casino hotels redolent of
Las Vegas, while the old-world charm of
Cape May takes one back to the Victorian age with beautifully restored 19th-century buildings home to some of the finest Bed and Breakfast Inns anywhere. In between are miles of fun and entertainment, from water parks and zoos to Ferris wheels, roller coasters, shopping and nightlife, along with surf and sand.
Nature lovers can enjoy wilderness hiking trails in the scenic hills of the Skylands that also offers perfect conditions for skiing in winter. Historically this region is known as the Military Capital of the Revolution and visitors can trace the movements of
General George Washington and his troops during the winter of 1779 at the
Morristown National Historic Park. The state's rich history also includes some of
America's greatest inventors and physicists such as
Thomas Edison and
Albert Einstein, and the
Liberty State Park overlooking the
Statue of Liberty and
Ellis Island that was one of the country's main immigration stations from 1892 to 1954.
