The Vibe: The Are So Many Reasons To Love The Garden State
Despite its tiny size,
New Jersey is an extremely varied state. First, you’ve got North Jersey, which tends to embody the East Coast stereotypes of being home to locals that live life at a faster pace, many of whom commute to New York City on a daily basis for work and pleasure from places like Jersey City.
Then there’s also South Jersey, filled with many smaller towns and more open greenspace, with most residents feeling more at home on the streets of Philadelphia than NYC. It’s often said that the people in South Jersey prefer life at a slower pace, being more polite and friendlier than their Northern counterparts, but that’s still up for debate.
Both places might as well be considered different states, with different customs, foods, and cultures the make each region special.
Local Flavor: There’s Always Something Going On In Jersey
The local events in New Jersey are just as diverse as the people that live there, with a wide range of big city happenings and small town festivals going on throughout the entire year.
A couple of the most noteworthy annual events in this state include Atlantic City’s Miss America Pageant, Wildwoods International Kite Festival, the largest of its type on the continent, and the Riverfest Food and Music Festival in Red Bank, the biggest food and music fest in the state.
Regardless of what you’re interested in, you’ll always be able to find an awesome way to spend your weekend in the Garden State.
Cuisine: As Diverse As The People And Twice As Delicious
The unique cuisine you’ll find in New Jersey is the result of the many generations of immigrants from around the world that have planted their roots in the Garden State.
For starters, there’s tons of awesome Italian food, specifically pizza, on seemingly every street corner, especially in North Jersey, while other dishes that get plenty of love in Jersey include bagels, pastrami, submarine sandwiches (commonly referred to as heroes depending on where you’re at), and the pork based scrapple.
There’s also a battle that’s been brewing over a meaty dish called a pork roll for years, which tends to be called by a popular brand name, “Taylor Ham,” the further north you get in the state you go. A packaged minced ham product, New Jerseyans can’t settle on a name, but they’ve discovered plenty of ways to eat it.
It’s also important to mention that diner culture is huge in New Jersey, with 24-hour service at hundreds of locations around the Garden State.
Nightlife: Dive Bars, Nightclubs, And Casinos, Jersey Has It All
If you want to find the best nightlife in New Jersey, some of the bigger cities will be your best bet. Neighborhoods notable for their great restaurants and bars in Jersey City include places like Newport and the Historic Downtown, providing a great mix of Jersey and New York City cultures, while the South Jersey town of Atlantic City often gets called the “Vegas of the East Coast” for its many casinos.
Weather: Four Great Seasons
New Jersey is one American state that gets a little bit of every type of weather, from hot humid summers, to plenty of snow in the winters, to the occasional tropical storm.
Typically, the New Jersey weather is nothing to complain about, with four vibrant seasons, each with their own appeal, as summers are perfect for beach days, fall is perfect for hiking through beautiful this state’s beautiful foliage, winters get cold but tend to stay above freezing, and spring has just enough rainfall to send the countryside into a full bloom.
The average summer temperature in Jersey tends to hang around the mid-70s, while winter months drop down to a month cooler, but still tolerable mid-30s. If you love experiencing four distinct, relatively mild seasons throughout the year New Jersey might be the perfect place for you to call home.
Safety & Crime: New Jersey Breaks All Of The Stereotypes
New Jersey is actually one of the safest in the country. The statewide crime rate is only 2,171 reported criminal acts per 100,000 residents, much less than the national average of 3,099. Even the big cities are relatively safe, with Jersey City reporting 2,527 criminal acts per 100,000 residents and Newark reporting 4,486, higher than the national average but lower than most cities around the country of its size.
Commute: You’ll Spend Plenty Of Time On The Road In Jersey
One downside of New Jersey life is the amount of time many residents spend in the car each day. The state average is around 30 minutes per trip, with some of the bigger cities taking even longer than that to get around. However, a lot of the bad traffic is restricted to North Jersey, as many people are forced to deal with getting to and from New York City.
If you’ve got your sights set on a smaller town in the southern part of the state, expect a much more manageable time behind the wheel.
Plus, like many East Coast places, the public transportation systems in Jersey’s more populated areas make it much easier to get around, even if you’ve got to commute across the Hudson.
Cost Of Living: Expect To Pay A Little More
It’s relatively hard to stretch your dollars in New Jersey. Much like most of the East Coast, the cost of living in New Jersey is much higher than the national average, scoring a 132 on the same scale that puts the average American city at 100. This is mostly due to the housing market, which is 69 percent more expensive in New Jersey than elsewhere in the country.
However, it is important to mention that the cost of living does vary greatly around the state, with the average likely skewed by the fact that North Jersey is much more expensive, with South Jersey often estimated to be roughly 30 percent cheaper.
Sports: A State Divided
Fan bases in New Jersey are all over the place. Thanks to North Jersey’s close proximity to New York City and South Jersey’s close proximity to Philadelphia, the fans in New Jersey tend to be a bit polarized when it comes to who they’re cheering for.
People in North Jersey tend to be diehard fans of teams like the Yankees, the Jets, and the Nets, while people down south root for teams like the Eagles and the Phillies. Sports are just one more area that keeps the different parts of this state unique.
Nature: Jersey Isn’t Just Big Cities
Despite being an East Coast state nestled between several huge metropolitan areas, New Jersey still maintains many natural attractions that make it easy to get outside and enjoy the sunshine during the warmer months of the year. Aside from having a beautiful coastline found down the Jersey Shore, nationally recognized areas like the Appalachians and the Paterson Great Falls offer great views and even better hiking.
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