“I was raised out of steel here in the swamps of Jersey,” sings native son and poet Bruce Springsteen on his latest record. The Boss’s defiant affection for the Garden State is just one example of the pride with which locals call New Jersey their home. Reasons for this pride abound, from the famed boardwalks of the Jersey Shore to the wine trails and historic battlefields that lie further inland.
Miles of boardwalk along New Jersey’s shore bustle with things to do and see, including carnival rides and neon-lit arcades. Atlantic City is a sight to behold at night, when lights from the casinos and nightclubs reflect off the ocean’s glassy waters. In nearby Ocean City, the thrill rides at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier cast the boardwalk in a flashing glow. New Yorkers are not immune to the shore’s many charms, and they often spend the weekend surfing, swimming, and sailing along New Jersey’s 130 miles of coastline.
Speaking of water, the city of Paterson—otherwise known as the “Cradle of American Industry”—hosts one of the largest waterfalls in the country. The Great Falls of the Passaic River was once an integral part of New Jersey’s industrial growth, supplying the power for Paterson’s profusion of mills and locomotive works. Today, the waterfall serves a more scenic purpose, and people come from all over to view the rushing water from a bridge that extends across the river.
The liquid also flows freely at New Jersey’s more than 40 wineries. It’s not uncommon for these vineyards to share land with battlefields of the Revolutionary War, including Princeton Battlefield, whose peaceful woods transformed into a scene of chaos as Washington fought for his first victory against British Regulars. These battlefields aren’t New Jersey’s only claim to history. Among the state’s collection of historic homes are Walt Whitman’s former residence and Glenmont, the grand estate of Thomas Edison.