8 Best Attractions To Visit In New Jersey
New Jersey makes up two tri-state areas with New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. It is home to over 450 diners serving classic breakfasts and grilled delights, 130 miles of sandy beaches where visitors flock every summer, and a storied past spanning mining to power generation. Expansive urban parks combine arts, history, and nature, while Atlantic City’s boardwalk is a nostalgic coastal attraction that has been making summer memories since the 1870s.
With so much to see and do, it can be difficult to narrow down your choices. To make sure you hit a good mix of popular and lesser-known destinations, learn more about the eight best attractions to visit in New Jersey, with a little something for everyone.
Grounds For Sculpture
This stunning 42-acre sculpture park in Hamilton features over 300 contemporary sculptures and six indoor galleries where emerging artists’ exhibits and installations are featured throughout the year. It is an all-seasons attraction with an ever-changing landscape that takes on different forms and sights as the backdrop responds to nature’s patterns.
The park and galleries are the work of sculptor and philanthropist J. Seward Johnson, who set out to create an accessible space where everyone could experience contemporary art and sculpture. Characters in Victorian costumes appear throughout the gardens, captured on park benches, shaded under parasols, and transplanted from scenes right out of a Monet Painting.
The Hamilton location was ideal for Johnson's vision to combine sculpture, gardens, and an arboretum, made for self-guided journeys exploring the grounds. The contemplative outdoor space is designed to both inspire and relax the mind with a series of paved terraces, pergolas, and courtyards set against natural woodlands. Discoveries await at every turn, including tranquil ponds, bamboo groves, and sculptured rose-covered berms. Peacocks wander the expansive lawns, creating a sense of openness, while over 2,000 trees and a diverse selection of plantings completely transform the old New Jersey State Fairgrounds into a serene space of discovery.
The grounds also offer several dining options, including bougie summer picnics, two cafés, and the charming Rat’s Restaurant. Named after the character from The Wind in the Willows, Rat’s Restaurant is designed after cozy French countryside cafés inspired by Monet’s Giverny. A bridge, willow trees, and a pond dotted with lilies capture the artist’s work beautifully.
Sterling Hill Mining Museum
Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg offers tour experiences at the site of a former zinc mine. Take a walking tour of a mine tunnel to explore the conditions, equipment, and geology of mining, visit the rock and fossil centers, or see the former miners' Change House, where they stored their muddy work clothes after their shift.
Wonder at the unusual display of over 700 glow-in-the-dark rocks and objects. The world’s largest public display of fluorescent rocks at the Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence takes up four rooms of the 1916 old mill building at the mine. The Color Wall features 100 fluorescent minerals across a 16-ft-wide, floor-to-ceiling display. The largest specimens are as long as 2 to 3 feet and weigh over 100 pounds, with the entire wall using a sequence of different lights and periods of darkness to create the phosphorescence. Visitors experience the phenomenon via a tour where they can see the effects of longwave ultraviolet light and shortwave ultraviolet light on the minerals. Interactive displays allow visitors to take on the glow themselves when they touch certain minerals, and themed cases introduce different facets of fluorescence.
Liberty State Park
Sitting on the banks of the Hudson River, Liberty State Park is a must-see for some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. However, it is also home to several historic and natural features worth exploring.
One of the most dominant sites in this Jersey City urban green space is the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal (CRRNJ). Central to New Jersey’s transportation history, the building is located at the park’s north end, where you can explore the terminal constructed in 1889 and imagine the millions of passengers who passed through the site. The once elegant metal columns still stand above the departure boards, and trees and overgrowth have taken over the old train shed.
The Empty Sky 9/11 Memorial is a 210-foot-long, 30-foot-wide structure honoring the memory of approximately 750 New Jersey 9/11 victims. Walls made of brushed stainless steel still feature each name in 4-inch-tall engraved letters designed for hand rubbing. The design is meant to represent the World Trade Center Towers separated by a paved bluestone path.
The park also features a two-mile promenade, Nature Center, marina, and views from the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. Visitors can also take the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
White Manna Burgers
This New Jersey Landmark was dubbed the “Diner of the Future” when it appeared at the 1939 World's Fair in Queens. Aptly located in the “Diner Capital of the World,” the restaurant (often confused with White Mana in Jersey City) was disassembled and moved to Hackensack in 1946. Featured on shows like Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, White Manna is a burger lover’s destination where their irresistible combination of extra lean ground beef grilled with onions and cheese is served on a Martin's Potato Roll. The convenience of a dine-in option at the 13 stools has become the classic seating for diners across America.
Scarfed down by Guy Fieri and the late Anthony Bourdain, and named Thrillist's Best Jersey Burger and 31st of the 50 Best Burgers in America, it is well worth the detour if you are within an hour’s drive of Hackensack.
Liberty Science Center
This Liberty State Park destination deserves a mention of its own. The Liberty Science Center is a 300,000-square-foot learning center where visitors can explore 12 exhibition halls, discover 100 species in the center’s live animal collection, view the giant aquariums, and see what hurricane- and tornado-force winds can do in the wind simulators.
It is home to the Western Hemisphere's biggest planetarium, where the 89-foot full dome offers views of the night sky and distant galaxies. The domed theater features live and filmed performances, taking advantage of the lighting system's 281 trillion-plus colors and booming sound system.
Immerse yourself in nature adventures at the Joseph D. Williams 3D Science Theater, from the penguins of Antarctica to the depths of the ocean, or meet the fossil hunters who discovered the bones of a T. rex. The center offers several different dinosaur experiences, from the 3D movie to Dino Dig Adventures and the T. rex Experience’s prehistoric high-tech simulations.
A focus on interactive experiences keeps kids engaged. Pixel Art allows kids to experiment on a giant wall of 952 pixel dials where they can create different patterns and images.
Holsten's Brookdale Confectionery
You do not have to be a Sopranos fan to visit this iconic diner in Bloomfield. Although the highly controversial final scene of The Sopranos that left millions of fans hanging was shot in one of the soda shop’s booths, Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery has been a family-friendly diner since 1939.
From the chrome stools topped with red vinyl seats at the bar to the cozy booths complete with tabletop jukeboxes, this New Jersey landmark is a must-visit when you are in the Bloomfield area. Known for their old-school homemade ice cream and milkshakes, they offer over 20 delicious flavors of hand-scooped ice cream, whether you love a simple, sweet treat like vanilla or chocolate or comforting throwbacks like rum raisin or maple walnut. Order a classic sundae like a banana split or create your own with your choice of ice cream and toppings.
As a vintage diner, Holsten’s also serves up old-fashioned comfort foods with a full menu of burgers, sandwiches, and classics like cheesesteaks, along with filling breakfast platters. You cannot ignore their expansive candy counter, where their handmade chocolates and sweets are a must-take-home memory of your visit.
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is home to a 77-foot-tall waterfall on the Passaic River, where the roar and mist of the tumbling water are at the heart of Paterson’s urban center. Flanked by a massive rock wall on one side and the manmade power plant on the other, this National Historic Park tells the story of man’s ingenuity while introducing visitors to the awesome beauty of the falls.
The historic brick building built into the cliffside is surprisingly grand with its tower, arched windows, and green roof. The industrial building still uses the water to generate power and played a critical role in the founding of the town. In fact, Paterson was America’s first planned industrial city.
A bridge spanning the river offers a close-up look at the powerful falls, and visitors can take a guided tour to learn more about the natural phenomena that helped fuel Paterson’s economy. Discover the profound impact the concept of a planned industrial city had on the world and the people whose lives it touched. The hour-long tour covers a mile of the park and includes insights into the formation of the falls.
Atlantic City Boardwalk
Long before Atlantic City’s casinos, the boardwalk was an attraction that connected visitors to the expansive beaches, ocean, and local amenities. Today, the boardwalk continues to create wonderful summer memories with attractions that appeal to people of all walks. With so many things to explore along the famous oceanside walk, whether you are looking for activities with the kids, the excitement of the casinos, foodie experiences, or simply want to take in the ambience, Atlantic City’s Boardwalk connects you to all the city has to offer.
Ride the Wheel at the Steel Pier to take in the breathtaking views. Watch the taffy pulling at Fralinger's boardwalk candy shop and take home a box of the iconic oceanside saltwater taffies or some sweet creamy fudge. Snap a selfie in front of the impressive façade of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and grab a giant slice from Three Brothers From Italy Pizza to eat on a boardwalk bench overlooking the ocean.
These attractions are excellent options for people in either of the tri-state areas. You can map out a road trip to discover all New Jersey has to offer, from the excitement of Atlantic City to the iconic ice cream shop where the final scene of The Sopranos was shot, and the natural beauty of Paterson’s mighty waterfalls to the charming sculptures and parkland in Hamilton. Truthfully, the eight best attractions to visit in New Jersey are just a handful of possibilities to discover in this Atlantic coastal state. However, you have to start somewhere!
