Things to Do in New Jersey
Ten stops running from a preserved Victorian seaside town to a forest so distinct it's earned its own protected federal designation.
New Jersey packs a proper range into a small state, this list heads past what the quiz already covers toward Cape May's Victorian architecture, the properly unusual Pine Barrens, and a diner scene that runs deep into the state's actual identity. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Cape May's Victorian Seaside Town
A seaside resort town at New Jersey's southern tip, holding one of the largest collections of Victorian architecture anywhere in the country, over 600 buildings largely preserved following a devastating 1878 fire that led to a citywide rebuild in the same ornate style. Horse-drawn carriage tours and trolley rides both run regularly through the historic district, a proper, relaxed way to see the gingerbread-trimmed houses without much walking.
The town's beaches run considerably calmer and less developed than some of the busier Jersey Shore spots further north, a good fit if a slower, more historic beach town suits your trip better.
Best time May-September for beach weather
Address Cape May, NJ
Liberty Science Center
One of the largest science museums in the region, hands-on exhibits covering everything from a real tornado simulator to a live insect zoo housing tarantulas and other invertebrates most visitors wouldn't otherwise get this close to. The centre runs an IMAX theatre with one of the largest screens on the East Coast, a good add-on if the exhibits alone don't fill a full day.
This works particularly well for kids, most exhibits are built for direct, hands-on interaction rather than passive viewing, properly different from a standard museum walk-through.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-5.30pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City, NJ
The Pine Barrens
A properly vast, sparsely populated forest covering roughly a quarter of the whole state, protected as one of the country's first National Reserves, home to distinctive pygmy pine forests and small, close-knit communities with their own long-standing local folklore, the Jersey Devil legend among the most famous. Canoeing the Batsona and Mullica Rivers runs as one of the more popular ways to properly experience the area, tea-coloured water stained naturally by the surrounding cedar swamps.
This runs as one of the more remote, undeveloped stretches on this whole list, a real surprise given how densely populated the rest of New Jersey tends to be.
Best time Spring through autumn for canoeing
Address Pinelands National Reserve, NJ
Six Flags Great Adventure
One of the larger theme parks in the country, home to Kingda Ka, among the tallest and fastest roller coasters anywhere, alongside a properly substantial drive-through safari section, over 1,200 animals across nine miles of road you drive through in your own vehicle. This combination of thrill rides and wildlife safari runs fairly unusual for a single park, allow a full day given the scale of both sections.
The safari section works particularly well for younger kids or anyone who'd rather skip the more intense coasters, giraffes and rhinos both roam close enough to the road for a proper look.
Hours Seasonal, roughly April-October, check current schedule
Address 1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson, NJ
Delaware Water Gap
A dramatic gorge where the Delaware River cuts through the Appalachian ridge, forming the natural border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, hiking trails on the New Jersey side lead to Mount Tammany with sweeping views over the gap itself. The wider recreation area covers roughly 70,000 acres, waterfalls, historic farmsteads, and river access all within a reasonable drive of the gap itself.
Tubing and kayaking both run popular on the river through summer, a good, easy way to experience the gap from the water rather than only viewing it from an overlook.
Best time May-September for water activities
Address Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, NJ
Grounds for Sculpture
A sculpture park spread across 42 acres of former fairground land, several hundred contemporary sculptures integrated directly into landscaped gardens, ponds, and wooded paths rather than simply lined up for viewing. Several pieces reinterpret famous paintings in three dimensions, walking directly into a recreated scene from a well-known artwork, a properly unusual, immersive approach to sculpture.
This runs well for a full afternoon, allow real time to walk the full grounds rather than rushing through, the layout rewards a slow, unhurried pace.
Hours Wed-Sun, roughly 10am-6pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, NJ
New Jersey Diners & Pork Roll
New Jersey holds the highest concentration of diners anywhere in the country, chrome-clad, 24-hour institutions serving enormous menus that range from breakfast to full dinners at any hour, a proper part of the state's actual daily culture rather than a novelty. Pork roll, a processed pork product also called Taylor Ham depending which part of the state you're in, remains a properly contentious naming debate, worth knowing which term to use before ordering in either region.
Try a pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich at a proper local diner rather than a chain, this is the most common way locals actually eat it, usually on a bagel or a Kaiser roll.
Address Diners statewide
The Jersey Shore
New Jersey's Atlantic coastline runs through dozens of small beach towns, each with a properly distinct personality, Point Pleasant's family-friendly boardwalk, Seaside Heights's louder amusement pier scene, and Long Beach Island's quieter, more upscale stretch all within a relatively compact drive of each other. Fresh seafood and boardwalk classics, funnel cake and saltwater taffy among them, run throughout most of the coastal towns.
Each town holds a properly different atmosphere, research which specific stretch suits your group before committing, a family with young kids and a group looking for nightlife would likely want different towns entirely.
Best time June-August for swimming weather
Address The Jersey Shore, NJ
Atlantic City's Boardwalk
The original boardwalk, built in 1870 as a practical solution to sand tracked through nearby hotels, has since become the template for boardwalks in beach towns worldwide. Casinos line much of the modern boardwalk alongside more traditional beach town attractions, saltwater taffy shops and amusement piers among them, a proper mix of old and considerably more modern entertainment.
Steel Pier, extending directly out over the water, runs an amusement park with rides suited to a range of ages, a good add-on beyond the casinos if you're travelling with kids.
Best time Summer for the fullest boardwalk atmosphere
Address Atlantic City Boardwalk, NJ
Liberty State Park
A waterfront park directly across from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, offering properly close views of both without needing to book the ferry crossing yourself, a good, free alternative if you're short on time or the ferry tickets are sold out. The park also serves as the actual departure point for ferries heading to both landmarks, check here first if you do want to make the crossing.
The Liberty Science Center sits within the same park, a good combination if you're spending a full day in the area rather than treating them as separate trips.
Hours Daily, dawn to dusk
Address Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ
Best time to visit New Jersey
May through September covers the most comfortable window for the coastal and outdoor stops on this list, mild enough for beach weather without winter's real cold.
The Pine Barrens and Grounds for Sculpture both work well outside the beach season too, consider either specifically if visiting in spring or autumn.
Getting around New Jersey
A car is essential, the distances between Cape May, the Pine Barrens, and the northern cities run into a couple of hours each, this is a state best covered with your own transport.
Frequently asked questions
- Is New Jersey worth visiting beyond the Turnpike?
- Yes, easily, Cape May's Victorian architecture and the Pine Barrens both offer a completely different picture of the state than the highway corridor most visitors only ever see.
- How many days do you need in New Jersey?
- Five days gives a comfortable pace to cover Cape May, the Jersey Shore, and either the Pine Barrens or the northern attractions.
- Is New Jersey expensive to visit?
- Moderate, food and accommodation both run comparable to the wider New York metro area, particularly along the shore during peak summer season.
- What's the best New Jersey trip for kids?
- Six Flags Great Adventure and the Liberty Science Center both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a state that runs a lot deeper than the turnpike suggests.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
