Things to see and do in New Jersey

Attractions in New Jersey

Adventure Aquarium

View ocean life at the Adventure Aquarium (www.adventureaquarium.com) on the Camden waterfront. The experience combines entertainment, science and cutting-edge technology with some 5,000 aquatic animals and over 80 individual fresh and salt water exhibits.

Allaire State Park

Spend the day at Allaire State Park in Farmingdale. The park is a restored 18th-century bog-iron mining village with period shops, bakeries, churches, the Pinecreek Railroad train, craft and antique shows. Join in square-dancing on weekends.

Atlantic City Boardwalk

Play the casinos and attractions at the Atlantic City Boardwalk. It is lined with dazzling casinos, amusement rides, games and shops on one side, and 10km (6 miles) of sand beach and surf on the other.

Branch Brook Park

Visit Branch Brook Park (www.branchbrookpark.org) in Newark, which plays host to the annual cherry blossom festival, and has more cherry blossoms than Washington, DC in the springtime.

Cape May

Relax at the popular Victorian seaside town of Cape May (www.capemay.com). This National Historic Landmark has many bed & breakfast inns, trolley tours and the superb Cape May County Zoo.

Circle Line ferry

Ride the Circle Line ferry (www.statueoflibertyferry.com) to the Statue of Liberty (www.nps.gov/stli) and Ellis Island (www.nps.gov/elis). The ferry services operate from Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

Delaware River

Raft on the Delaware River. Hiking, canoeing and fishing can also be organised during the summer. Ice-skating, tobogganing, snowmobiling, skiing and ice fishing are available during the winter.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Pack up the camping gear for a summer trip to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (www.nps.gov/dewa). Enjoy a variety of watersports in one of the cleanest rivers in the area.

Edison National Historic Site

See the Edison National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/edis) in West Orange, and take a tour of Thomas Edison's home, laboratory and library. See the equipment and chemicals with which Edison invented the first incandescent lightbulb, photograph and motion picture.

Einstein

View the house where Einstein lived during the years he was a Princeton University lecturer, until his death in 1955 (www.princetonhistory.org/historic_sites.cfm).

Land of Make Believe

Visit the Land of Make Believe (www.lomb.com) in Hope. This 12-hectare (30-acre) park fulfills childhood fantasies with rides, attractions and a waterpark.

Liberty Science Center

Explore the Liberty Science Center (www.lsc.org) in Liberty State Park, Jersey City. It offers a hands-on science museum with an IMAX Dome Theater, plus exhibits on inventions, technology, environment and health.

Morristown National Historic Park

See battle re-enactments at the Morristown National Historic Park (www.nps.gov/morr). This historic park is the site of George Washington's winter encampments, and the Ford Mansion is now a museum.

Mountain Creek

Ski or snowboard the slopes at Mountain Creek (www.mountaincreek.com), New Jersey's four-season resort destination only an hour and a half's drive from Manhattan.

New Jersey State Planetarium and Museum

Delve into New Jersey's history (dating back to 500BC) at the New Jersey State Planetarium and Museum (website: www.state.nj.us/state/museum) in Trenton.

Newark Museum

Tour the Newark Museum (www.newarkmuseum.com), one of the nation's most comprehensive fine arts museums and the largest museum complex in the state, with 80 art and science galleries, a planetarium and a mini-zoo.

Old Barracks Museum

Step back in time at the Old Barracks Museum (www.barracks.org) in Trenton, the site of the famous day-after-Christmas battle during the Revolutionary War. Walk through restored soldiers' quarters, 18th-century period rooms and antiques.

Palisades Interstate Park

Explore Palisades Interstate Park (website: www.njpalisades.org), with its enormous children's fun park. Located north of Newark, the park has 1,012 hectares (2,500 acres) of scenic roads, stunning views, picnic areas, a historic museum, nature sanctuary, and hiking and skiing trails.

Pine Barrens

Camp, canoe, swim, fish, ride horses or hike in a venture to the Pine Barrens (website: www.pineypower.com), the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River. The New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve (website: www.nps.gov/pine) was recognised by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 1983.

Point Pleasant Beach

Cruise off Point Pleasant Beach aboard the stern-wheelers River Belle or River Queen (www.pointpleasantbeach.com), or take a deep-sea fishing boats charter.

Princeton University

Take a walking tour of Princeton University and the battlefield where Washington's army defeated the British in 1777 (www.visitprinceton.org).

Renault Winery

Taste the grapes from one of the oldest vineyards in the USA - the Renault Winery (www.renaultwinery.com) in Egg Harbor. Visit the nearby Museum of American Glass (www.wheatonvillage.org) for a dazzling display of glass from talented artisans.

Shore Region

Explore the Shore Region (home to rock stars Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi), which boasts white sandy beaches, rolling farmland, quaint seaside resort towns and historic sites. Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant have boardwalk amusement rides and games, while quieter towns like Spring Lake and Ocean Grove offer charming bed & breakfast inns (www.state.nj.us/travel/regions_shr.html).

Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari

Thrill to adrenaline rides and see the world's largest safari park at Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari (www.sixflags.com) in Jackson. Splash into more fun at Hurricane Harbor waterpark.

Trump Plaza Hotel

Step into Atlantic City's opulent Trump Plaza Hotel, then try your luck at Trump Taj Mahal Casino (www.trumptaj.com), one of the largest in the world.

USS New Jersey Museum

Climb aboard a battleship at the USS New Jersey Museum (www.battleshipnewjersey.org) in Camden. The USS New Jersey is one of the most decorated battleships in US naval history.

Wildwoods

Visit the Wildwoods (www.wildwoodsnj.com) and Ocean City (www.oceancityvacation.com) boardwalks that buzz with excitement, in contrast to the quieter retreats of Stone Harbor (www.stoneharbor-resort.com) and Avalon (www.avalonbeach.com).

Tourist offices

New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism