So you decided to come out to check out New Jersey - now how do you get around? Need to know where the ferries are? How to take NJ Transit? What about the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway - this is the place to look.
New Jersey Online Store
Check out our online store where you can find a wide selection of New Jersey related items for yourself or as a gift, If you're planning out that great NJ vacation, then make sure you don't miss our selection of recommended NJ travel books!
Event Guide
Trying to figure out what to do this weekend? Then check out AboutNewJersey.com's Event Guide. This NJ Event Guide allows you to search by city, county, date range and event type.
If you have a tourism related event, then please use our submit form and add it to the Event Guide so others know about it.
Attractions
Online Travel Show
Let AboutNewJersey.com show you New Jersey through our own online travel show called "Exploring New Jersey with Laura Crockett". Through five to ten minute videos, AboutNewJersey, along with your host Laura Crockett, showcase various attractions throughout NJ.
Guides
Extras
Fun & Games
Try your skill and have some fun with our New Jersey relate online games. We have several to choose from, with more planned to be added in the future.
E-Cards
Send a friend, a loved one or just spread the word about NJ to others. AboutNewJersey.com features a wide selection of electronic postcards covering ONLY New Jersey.
Survey
The #1 goal here is to help you out in planning your NJ vacation. Whether it's to one of the many amusement parks, the Jersey Shore, a historic site, museum or hiking through the mountains, AboutNewJersey.com wants to be the website you turn to first when looking for something to do in the Garden State.
You can help us accomplish this goal by letting us know how well we are doing, and what needs improvements. All suggestions are welcome.
AboutNewJersey.com - Main Page
Find out why this site was developed
or read one of the many editorials. If you're interested in promoting
New Jersey tourism - check out the petition section.
Read the announcements or get an idea of what to do on our weekly fieldtrip
guide.
About New Jersey
Discover New Jersey. Learn the history
of the state, the symbols and its flag. This is where you can find the
facts and figures about New
Jersey. Learn about the state's many firsts, the who's who of New Jersey.
If you're interested in learning about New Jersey - this is the place
to go.
Towns & Counties
Going to a particular town or county
in New Jersey and want to know what there is to do in the area? Check
out the Towns and Counties section. Here you can easily see what to do
in
the
area.
Amusement Parks
New Jersey has a huge selection
of amusement parks throughout the state. From parks geared toward
small children such as Storybook Land to the largest regional amusement
Park
in the country
- Six Flags Great Adventure, where you can plummet 215 ft at 80 miles an hour on
Nitro - not to mention the many water parks. There are things for all
age groups and
all interests.
Historical Sites
Come experience the many Historical Attractions found throughout New Jersey, from the
many places where Washington stayed and fought to where Thomas Edison
invented the incandecent lightbulb, the phonograph, movies and so much
more.
Jersey Shore
New Jersey has 127 miles of shoreline.
Come discover the many historic lighthouses, enjoy the excitement of
Atlantic City, Seaside Heights or relax in historic Cape May. Check out
the many wildlife refuges. There is something for everyone on the Jersey
Shore.
Cultural
Come check out the many museums, catch
a play at a theater or learn about the many New Jersey legends - including
the Jersey Devil. Learn about how an entire nation was frightened by
a Halloween radio joke and thought the earth was being invaded by martians.
Outdoor Recreation
Take a walk through one of the many
acres of our various state parks or just relax and go birdwatching. Hunting
is also available, as is kayaking, horsebacking riding and many other
activities.
Come explore the wilderness of New Jersey - from the mountains
in the north to the million+ acre Pine Barrens in the south to the wildlife
refuges along the Jersey Shore.
Sports
New Jersey has numerous professional
and minor league sports - as well as recreational sports you can take
part in. From golf to baseball to lacrosse - New Jersey has something
for everyone.
Interested in catching a game
while in New Jersey? Check out the New Jersey Devils - 3 time Stanley
Cup Champions
at the Meadowlands or the minor league baseball teams such as the Lakewood
Blue Claws. Interested in seeing a lacrosse game? We have TWO professional
teams.
NJ Restaurant and Lodging Guide
If you're looking for a restaurant in NJ or a NJ hotel, or even a great B&B in Cape May, then check out our NJ Restaurant and lodging guides. On the NJ Restaurant guide, you can find pizzerias, fine dining, steak houses, as well as famous NJ diners. This is all searchable by city, county and cuisine type.
On our NJ Hotel & Lodging Guide, you can find anything from world class hotels, to romantic B&Bs to over 80 NJ campgrounds. For over 200 hotels, you can even book your stay right through AboutNewJersey.com.
New Jersey Messageboard
If you have something to say about New Jersey and you want others to discuss it with you, then check out the AboutNewJersey.com Messageboard. Here people from all over the state, as well as around the world share their thoughts about NJ politics, traffic, best pizza, and everythng in between. Join the fun and meet people who share your interests.
Contact Us
Have something to suggest? Would
just like to make a comment about the site? Intested in advertising on
AboutNewJersey.com? Or would you like to contribute to the site? Please
contact us.
There
have been numerous attempts to come up with a state song
in the last century - in 1940, 1954, 1970 and finally in 1996. Out
of
the
50 states, New Jersey is the ONLY state which does not have a state
song.
In 1996 the New Jersey Arts Council began the task of finding a song
worthy to be the New Jersey State Song. They held a competition where
roughly 215 entries were received. Out of these, three were recommended
by the Arts Council to the New Jersey State Legislature - "New
Jersey My Home" by Patrick Finley
of Teaneck, "In
New Jersey" written
by a class of fourth-graders at Van
Holten School in Bridgewater and "Be
Proud to Be in New Jersey" by Mark
and Ellen Winter of Springfield.
Below you can learn about and listen to two of the three finalists,
along with "I'm from New Jersey".
"I'm From New Jersey"
Although it did not make the Art Council cut, it is being included
here.
As has been stated on the "New
Jersey State Symbols and Flag" page - AboutNewJersey.com
does NOT support this song at all. The only way I think this song
has even
been
considered
all
these years is because it is the
oldest
of the songs and
the person
has been lobbying for years.
It
is a very unimaginative song and can go for any state. As a matter
of
fact, many websites have many versions of this song with various names
inserted in the place of New Jersey. For an example of this, all you
have to do is look at the songwriter's official website - NJStateSong.com.
Does New Jersey really want a song that can be so easily hijacked?
It even contains a "Philly" version.
One thing against the song in my opinion is that
the music is so incredibly outdated. New Jersey
deserves a song
that can withstand the test of time and this is not one of them. My
biggest gripe however is that it
basically has NOTHING whatsoever to do with New Jersey - other than
the name. It doesn't mention ONE SINGLE thing that makes New Jersey
- New Jersey. Why would someone listening to this song, think "Let's
go to New Jersey"? Why would anyone singing this song really feel
a sense of pride of the state?
"I'm from New Jersey"
by Joseph Rocco aka Red Mascara
The song was written in the 60's and many people in the legislature
have and still do support this song. It has even somehow made it's
way onto the web where some sites actually wrongly state that it is the
New Jersey State Song.
In 1972 it almost became the state song by passing both houses of the
legislature, but then Governor Brendan T Byrne did not sign it into
law.
I know the person put a lot of work into this song and has been working
for decades to get it passed as the official song, I just don't think
that it meets the requirements that we, New Jerseyans, should be looking
for in our state song. "New Jersey My Home"
The main problem in my opinion with this song is that it sounds like
a stuffy old college song. There is nothing wrong with this style for
old alma
maters,
but I feel it does not make for a good state song. It mentions
various things throughout New Jersey, but it's not very exciting or
uplifting. It is a very slow song with little feeling to it.
"New Jersey My Home"
by
Patrick Finley of Teaneck
"In New Jersey" This is the song that AboutNewJersey.com supports. It
gives a mental image of the state. It mentions the Pine Barrens, the
mountains, industry, education, the history, as well as Cape May,
and the Jersey Shore. I
feel that this song represents the state very well.
"In New Jersey"
4th grade students
of
Van Holten Elementary School in Bridgewater.
I also feel that this song fulfills several main requirements for a
state song. It brings a good self image to the state, it talks about
what
makes
New
Jersey
- New
Jersey, and
it's singable, memoriable and upbeat.
In the future I plan on creating a
slide show by combining this song with various images around the state
to demonstrate
how well this song really does work as the Official New Jersey State
Song.