New Jersey is a northeastern US state that’s known for its glitzy Atlantic City casino resorts, boardwalk beaches and historic Cape May. It’s also a shopping and cultural hub, home to major metropolitan areas like New York City and Jersey City and Princeton University. From the Meadowlands District near New York City to the Delaware Water Gap and all the way up to Newark, New Jersey has a wide variety of things to see and do.
With its 127 miles of Atlantic coastline, the state has plenty to do at the beach, including fishing, surfing and sunbathing. Its other top attractions include the Liberty State Park, Newark Museum and Princeton University.
The Garden State is also home to horticultural edens and geographical wonders. From the sprawling Pine Barrens to the Palisades facing Manhattan to the broad marshes and swampland of the north and west, New Jersey’s varied landscape is one of its most distinctive features.
In its earliest colonial days, the land that would become New Jersey was part of the Dutch province of New Netherland. In 1664, it became an English colony under Gov. Philip Carteret. During the Revolutionary War, it took part in many battles, most notably at Trenton and Princeton, which helped boost American morale.
New Jersey has a rich history of industry, starting with the world’s first commercial railroad in 1835. The state’s manufacturing sector now includes pharmaceuticals, electronics, medical devices, chemicals and food processing. Agriculture is another big economic driver, with New Jersey producing a wide range of fruits and vegetables.
A number of New Jersey’s cities have a strong cultural scene, from the art galleries and museums of Newark to the theatre and dance offerings of Broadway. Some of the nation’s most famous universities call the state home, from Princeton and Rutgers to Newark’s Montclair College. And in 2012, the coast of the state was battered by Hurricane Sandy, which left 2.4 million without power and caused $38 billion in damage.
New Jersey’s famous boardwalk beaches and Atlantic City casinos draw 27 million tourists a year. But this state has a lot more to offer, from the quaint beach towns of Cape May and Asbury Park to the glitzy nightlife of Atlantic City. The state’s other main draw is its cuisine, with finger-licking eats such as hoagies, everything bagels, disco fries and Nathan’s Famous hot dogs.