7 Most Underrated Towns In New Jersey
The true story of New Jersey is drowned out by HBO’s The Sopranos, the affluence of Atlantic City, and its proximity to America’s greatest metropolis. There is a quieter New Jersey when one looks closely. The Garden State is meant to be explored and savored. When one stops close enough, it turns out there are worlds within worlds awaiting. Discover what those who have lived in the Union’s third state have known all along: New Jersey’s towns are made of magic.
Morristown
Hunker down in the town George Washington deemed fun enough to select as his winter headquarters. The Whippany River spreads beauty everywhere it reaches, just as Speedwell Lake opens itself up to migrating birds, much to the delight of watchers on the ground. Theater-going travelers tend to keep an eye on the schedule of the Mayo Center for Performing Arts, known locally as MPAC. MPAC sets itself apart from similar facilities by always ensuring visitors stay inspired during intermissions. Venture upstairs between curtains this season for a peak at the exhibition Traditions and Transitions: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives in Black Art. Do not ever skip town without a jaunt through the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. The Frelinghuysen is open and free every day, the way it ought to be.
Haddonfield
Movie buffs who have emptied gas tanks looking for a Haddonfield in Illinois ought to head east. New Jersey has everything. Debra Hill, co-writer of Halloween and legendary Hollywood producer, is from Haddonfield, New Jersey, and used it as the inspiration for Laurie Strode’s hometown. Haddonfield is abundant with inspiration. The town is surrounded by a breathtaking network of creeks, streams, and ponds, not to mention the Cooper River that touches the beautiful Evans Pond. The streets are speckled with immaculate historic properties such as the Indian King Tavern Museum. The Museum is where the nascent New Jersey Legislature met in 1777 and adopted the state seal. It became the very first State Historic Site in 1903. Celebrate the legacy of Bonnie and Clyde with a staging of a musical version of their story with the Haddonfield Players 2024 season.
Madison
Try to find another spot on Earth, like Madison’s Shanghai Jazz Club and Restaurant. The 1920s Shanghai-themed joint opened by David Niu and Martha Chang was voted by Downbeat Magazine as one of the Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the World. Making a reservation would be wise as Shanghai gets busy enough to turn away takeout orders on the weekends. Explore New Jersey’s hands-on history at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts. The Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey showcases the best of the bard as well as noteworthy 20th-century plays.
Cliffside Park
Stand in the middle of Honor Park in New Jersey’s Cliffside Park, turn, and contemplate the possibilities. Cliffside Park residents can gaze across the Hudson to Harlem, New York, knowing the tranquil Hackensack River flanks them to the east. Hikers are in heaven whilst on the borders of the Palisades Park Recreation Area. While the area runs twelve miles north-south, it is only half a mile wide. Trek through the park and spend an evening sampling cocktails and appetizers from Edgewater’s De Novo European Pub. Television comedy fans have savored many a glimpse of the understated King of Queens house. Hungry tourists can find themselves hypnotized by the tantalizing scents of La Estancia, a renowned pandemonium of Guatemalan flavors.
Hackensack
Welcome to the home of Wally Schirra, the fifth American and ninth human to travel into space. Dream of space in the same spot as he once did in Foschini Park with a view of the bending Hackensack River. The area was touched by Europeans in 1639 by the Dutch, then the French, and finally the British later in the century. It was once called New Barbadoes, but the name did not stick, if for no other reason than the winters. Dinner and a movie never require a second location in Hackensack. AMC Riverside has a dine-in option. Axe throwing, however, is discouraged inside movie theaters. For that, proceed to New Jersey’s Bury the Hatchet location, a mere fifteen-minute drive from downtown.
Summit
Hikers trekking by the nature-embraced historic properties in the Watchung Reservation will find that a town suddenly springs from the Reservation’s northern exit. Summit represents a breath of urbanity before moving on to the South Mountain Reservation just northeast of town. Treasure hunters find their fill at the Summit Antiques Center, once known as the Neighborhood House when the building opened in 1904. Contemplate the economic center of the world that awaits down altitude, one state over, with a pint of Liquid Asset Lager from Bull and Bear Brewery. Do not skip town without indulging in the aromas of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum.
East Windsor
East Windsor is laid out like a nursery rhyme with natural assets donning names like Pettie Lake and Rooky Brook. Sample the best of the East Windsor outdoors with the trails at Etra Lake Park. When the sun sets in East Windsor, the nursery rhyme becomes a dark fable. Horror fans flock every year to Field of Terror, the state’s top melange of spooky attractions. Stand in awe of the architectural marvel BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. With a height of 213 feet, the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham is the largest Hindu mandir in the United States and the second largest in the world.
Discover New Jersey's Hidden Highlights
New Jersey has always stood witness to the development of the human story. In the Jurassic Period, millions of years before people existed, the state touched Africa. The violence of the meeting of the two great lands birthed the Appalachian Mountains. For nearly 10,000 years before Europeans arrived in North America, other humans flourished. It is incumbent on mindful travelers to attempt, by any means possible, to repair the damage Europeans brought. Consider patronizing Native American-owned businesses whenever possible. Donate legal fees to nations currently pursuing land claims. Let New Jersey witness a new era of peace, prosperity, and wonder.
