7 Most Charming Cities in New Jersey
New Jersey, one of the nation's smallest states, borders New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. It is the most densely populated state in America, with around 9,000,000 residents and countless tourists for those iconic attractions, urban centers, and smaller hubs like Ocean City. The Garden State is very urbanized; 90% of the people live in urban areas, and many commute for work to NYC and Philadelphia. Enjoy the great PATH connection from the Big Apple to see most of this small state or visit one of its big charmers on a weekend trip. Despite the small state's size, the biggest cities offer night and day personalities.
Atlantic City
Atlantic City is the charming entertainment hub of under 40,000 residents, with endless gambling options and casinos. It is home to the Miss America pageant and more lively events for fans of everything else. Visit year-round for the real Jersey Shore deal of sunset strolls and the iconic wood-plank boardwalk filled with rides, games, first-grade restaurants, and a whole night scene by the waters. Enjoy your classic plethora of beachside activities that feel next level along this famed stretch of shore, like glitzy lounging and flashy water sports.
Visit anytime for a downtown full of galleries, museums, high-end shopping, and immersive attractions, or during a memorable free annual event like the Atlantic City Airshow, the LPGA Shoprite Classic, or Atlantic City Restaurant Week. The lively waterfront city offers seaside dining at sunset, open-air shopping, fishing, and dolphin sightings, along with the scenic Gardner’s Basin for refreshing nature walks. Take a cruise out into the blue or visit the Atlantic City Aquarium, and seek out New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse, Absecon, at Pacific and Rhode Island avenues on your daily parole through the city.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a beautiful historic city spreading densely along the banks of the namesake river, with just over 135,000 residents. New Jersey’s fourth-largest city, just south of Newark and not far from Manhattan, retains its status as an important port along Newark Bay. People flock to Elizabeth for strolls along the renowned River Trail with local art and shopping at the largest indoor outlet mall in the state, the Mills at Jersey Gardens. Visit in the spring for the violent cherry blossom blooms that lift the spirits with sights and smells across the streetscape, and paddle boat at Warinanco Park amid all this nature's bounty.
The gorgeous green spaces along the river call for picnics and lounging under the summer sun with water vistas and sunsets, while a fine collection of colonial-style buildings studding downtown is a joy to the eye on your search for entertainment and food. There is the cool Historic Heartline Walking Tour, with sights like the Liberty Hall Museum and Boxwood Hall, where Alexander Hamilton and George Washington made appearances. Stay on the lookout for superb grills and restaurants, and visit the old Ritz Theater tucked into the suburbs.
Hoboken
This charming waterfront city sits across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan in New York City. Hoboken is an exciting place to explore for a change of scenery and a new set of attractions on a getaway from the Big Apple, worthy of a trip from anywhere else. Visiting Hoboken feels like winning the lottery, with cheaper hotels than NYC's and iconic views of the Manhattan skyline. Enjoy easy access for a day trip or a weekend getaway via the 24-hour PATH underground train between Hoboken Terminal and 33rd Street and the World Trade Center in Manhattan, or a ferry service to NYC from the Waterway ferry station.
Hoboken's lively population of young professionals who take the daily commute lends itself to a variety of attractions, like a very active nightlife, particularly on the weekends. Relish in the fleeting escape moments at a great restaurant scene with pubs and entertainment venues, as well as year-round festivals. Come for unique culture and sights like the iconic brownstone buildings and ethnic cuisines of Mexico, Italy, and India. The family-friendly city is easy to explore on foot, from downtown to the waterfront, with places like Pier C Park for the kids and the Historical Museum in an old steel plant.
Jersey City
The state's second-largest city with a robust population of around 280,000, Jersey City is steeped in history from before the Civil War. It was also a significant Underground Railroad stop where four main railroad routes converged, leading to a secret place that housed and helped thousands of runaway slaves escape from the southern plantations. Recently redeveloped, and situated just south of Hoboken, Jersey City is a joy to visit and explore. It has easy access across the Hudson River from New York City, cheaper prices than the Big Apple's, including less expensive hotels for tourists, and excellent PATH connections to midtown or lower Manhattan. The mounting number of attractions and services includes shopping areas, restaurants, and the vibrant waterfront.
Seek nature at the meticulous Liberty State Park, with wetlands, designated recreational areas, and the 9/11 Memorial. It also offers the shortest lines to visit the Statue of Liberty while overlooking the New York City skyline. Stop by the Liberty Science Center and the historic CRRNJ railroad terminal, and head to the harborside for stunning views. Even well-versed travelers say there is no better sight in the world than the New York City skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island from this vantage point. Meander through the small ethnic neighborhoods for local culture, museums, and nationally recognized science learning centers, perfect for family visits. Enjoy go-karting at the Pole Position Raceway and take a selfie by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is your classic New Jersey getaway, with a charming college crowd and an upbeat vibe, thanks to one of the state's three Rutgers University campuses. Visit for the lively atmosphere, outdoors, and splendid attractions, including an active nightlife where the studious find their outlet. Stroll the university grounds, allegedly the nicest of the campuses, with its beautiful Rutgers Gardens, the Rutgers Geology Museum, and over 60,000 art works at the Zimmerli Art Museum.
Take a cultural stroll through the city's art galleries and museums, and visit the famed State Theater or the charming George Street Playhouse for an evening show. The clean city with a pleasant atmosphere also offers unique shopping and dining with student-geared price tags. Enjoy nature over picnics and strolls at Boyd Park and Buccleuch Park, a favorite place for outdoor recreation, complete with sights like the colonial Buccleuch Mansion, which is open for tours.
Newark
Newark is a popular quick getaway from New York City for a change of scenery and different attractions, with cheaper hotels for those wishing to see both places. Enjoy easy access of only five miles or seventeen minutes on a train from NYC to this revitalized city with world-class attractions and entertainment. The charming city along the Lower Passaic River is home to six historic districts, 72 historic places, and sights like Clinton's historic Red Mill, circa 1880, museums, as well as wildlife trails. Even its hub of rail transportation, Penn Station, is an art deco landmark. Venture downtown for major venues, restaurants, churches, and one of the nation's largest international airports, Liberty International Airport, which lends easy countrywide and international access.
The state's largest city by population of over 300,000 hosts the second-largest cherry blossom display in the United States and North America's fifth-largest cathedral. The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart took over fifty years to erect. Find this French Gothic, a lookalike of France's Cathedral Notre Dame at Chartres and Germany's Cathedral of Rheims, near Branch Brook Park on Ridge Street in Newark. Come for the week-long festival of the National Cherry Blossom, with peak blooms in the second and third weeks of April. There are over 3,000 cherry trees to enjoy on a park stroll with a picnic, as well as events like a 10K race, trolley tours, and Japanese cultural activities on Family Day.
Toms River
Just down the road from Seaside Park, Toms River is a New Jersey township of around 90,000 residents, living along the clearest waters in the state and some of the nicest beaches. This lends to a city vibe with a lively atmosphere and a unique cultural mix unlike anywhere else in the state. Come during the summer to hit the soft sands at the renowned Ortley Beach, one of the Jersey Shore's best. It will hold you captive for days of lounging and sunset views, the lapping crystal waters, dips, swimming, and possible stingray sightings.
The charming waterside city is a destination for the outdoors, beaches, family pursuits, and local culture. Venture to the vibrant downtown area with eateries and entertainment options under the extending beach vibe. Relish in the relaxed feel and cool places to visit, like the planetarium and a bug museum, as well as a great boardwalk for a relaxing afternoon, with nearby amenities and attractions by the water and the beaches.
The Mid-Atlantic state in the northeastern region of the US is famed for retro diners and the Jersey Shore, with applicable beaches. There is also that iconic view of the Manhattan skyline and cheaper places to stay than in the Big Apple. According to Abraham Browning, the state's Attorney General in the mid-1800s, it is an "immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends." Take a blind pick, visit the nearest, or choose meticulously, as none of them will disappoint.
