If you often travel to New York City, you’ll sooner or later notice that the state of New Jersey is just a stone’s throw away. In fact, the Hudson River, which surrounds Manhattan, is the natural border between the two states. I’ve been to New York City five times, and it is still one of my favorite cities in the world. However, if you have a couple of days to spare, visiting New Jersey while you’re in Manhattan can be a great idea. In this post, I’ll tell you 5 reasons why you should visit New Jersey, even if just for a day.
How to get to New Jersey from Manhattan?
The easiest and probably fastest way to reach New Jersey from Manhattan is via public transportation, such as trains or buses. During our last visit, we stayed in Secaucus, NY and the bus stop was right in front of the hotel. We paid 8.50 USD per person for a roundtrip ticket to Times Square station, which was around a 25-minute ride).
Tip: if you visit Manhattan, don’t rent a car because the traffic there is crazy, and parking is expensive. Stick to Subways and trains instead. New Jersey, on the other hand, is a different story.
1. Cheaper accommodation
Staying in New Jersey is usually cheaper than staying in Manhattan. Hotels and Airbnb deals in New Jersey are less expensive, especially if you’re willing to stay in areas such as Jersey City or Hoboken. On the other hand, each transfer takes time, so try to stay close to public transport access.
2. Less crowded and traffic friendly
As a world-famous metropolis, Manhattan is bustling with both locals and tourists. Add daily commuters and get a mixture of real street chaos. While New Jersey is densely populated in many areas, it still offers a much quieter environment compared to New York City. Not to mention the traffic, which offers easier navigation and plenty of parking space.
3. Cheaper shopping
While shopping in Manhattan is a dream of almost any woman, wise people shop in New Jersey. It still offers great shopping malls and outlets, but it is a bit cheaper, and it comes with a bonus: no sales tax on clothes! Which means, you’ll save 8.8 % when shopping for clothes and shoes above 110 USD.
4. From sandy beaches to a gambling paradise
New Jersey offers a rich mix of attractions to satisfy nature, history, and urban life lovers. Less than a 1.5-hour drive from Jersey City you can reach beautiful neighborhoods like Middletown, and Sandy Hook with nice (bit distant) views of Manhattan. 2 hours’ drive towards the south you can unleash your gambling beast Atlantic City. If you are not keen on spending your money, you can stroll through the iconic boardwalk, watch the seagulls on the beach, and buy a cheap souvenir or expensive coffee.
5. Beautiful views of Manhattan
The view of the Manhattan skyline is one of my favorite views, even though I am a nature person who prefers hiking vistas. New Jersey offers unobstructed and picture-perfect views from several areas – and with zero crowds. We stopped at Weehawken Public Playground by coincidence and had the place almost to ourselves. Other great options for your Instagram shots are Liberty State Park in Jersey City and Hoboken waterfront.
Need more convincing?
New Jersey is much more than just New York’s neighboring state. I’ve done some homework, but unfortunately ran out of time to see other great spots like the Delaware Water Gap or the Six Flax Great Adventure Park. Yep, there’s still a child in me who likes to have some fun from time to time.
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