New Jersey is the Garden State, so get out and enjoy it!
One of the best ways to see just how much greenery the state has to offer is to float high up in a hot air balloon. Two major balloon festivals – the Warren County Farmers’ Fair Balloon Festival and the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning – will take place this summer, and visitors can launch high into the sky for a spectacular view of the state’s scenic countryside.
But if the idea of floating in the wind doesn’t appeal to you, perhaps cruising under your own power on two wheels is more your speed. So hit a bike rental shop and find out what New Jersey’s cyclists have always known – that their home state offers lots of great trails for cyclists.
Biking through the countryside and forests of the Garden State can be a great way to connect with nature, but if you’re looking to make contact with more aquatic forms of life, look no further than Adventure Aquarium in Camden.
The all-new aquarium (formerly the New Jersey State Aquarium) offers a glimpse of nature like you won’t see anywhere else, including a 40-foot walk-through acrylic tunnel that puts you right in the middle of a 550,000-gallon shark tank.
And if you’re planning a trip to Camden, there are two other attractions near Adventure Aquarium that draw upon the allure of the nearby Delaware River.
The Camden Riversharks are planning to blaze their way through another championship season, and the Battleship New Jersey will show off some firepower to visitors taking its new “Firepower Tour.”
For even more family excitement, there are more than a dozen amusement parks all around the state, offering thrills on a modest scale. Even though Six Flags Great Adventure is the biggest, some of the other entertainment centers, water parks and theme parks make up for their modest size with big-time fun. Some will actually let you bring your own food, and what could be better than packing a sub sandwich from one of New Jersey’s famous delis for a hillside picnic?
In this issue’s Restaurant Spotlight, we visit three of the state’s best-known and most unique delicatessens – Jersey Mike’s, Harold’s and Junior’s – in search of the quintessential Jersey deli.
And after you’ve visited those, turn to the Restaurant Guide to find an eatery offering any kind of cuisine you could want, in any part of the state.
After all, experiencing the hundreds of fun things to do in New Jersey this summer is guaranteed to build up your appetite!