Back in January of 2012, I did the Disney College Program and like everyone there, we all shared where our homes are. So when it came time to tell everyone where my home was, I reluctantly mumbled New Jersey. I was met with “But you don’t look like the typical Jersey Girl”.
But little did I know what an obsession my great state became down in ol’ sunny Orlando, Florida. After Hurricane Sandy blew through my great state, I had more love for my actual home than I did for my second home. I’m sure you, the reader, understands what you love so much about your state -- what makes it your home. Well, I know what Jersey is like and what makes it home for me — so today, I’m going to take you on a short trip and show you what things there are to do in New Jersey for the summer.
11. Music is made here
We the state that gave birth to Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, My Chemical Romance, Overkill, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, The Misfits, Akon, The Fugees, Bouncing Souls, Streetlight Manifesto, The Gaslight Anthem, Senses Fail, Hidden In Plainview—the list goes on and on and we’re always turning out more musicians and bands than anyone else. Basically we’re musically inclined.
10. The Jersey Shore
No, not the version that you see on television with Snookie and the gang. While the show did bring in a lot of revenue to the shore, what’s portrayed on television is not what the real jersey shore is like. The Jersey Shore that I know, has miles of boardwalks with outside arcades, random vendors with everything that you could possibly never need that’s all over priced, and we can’t forget the food -- specifically salt water taffy. Let that sink in. You can thank me later.
9. WAWA
Located throughout Central and Southern New Jersey, Wawa isn’t just a place to get gas and delicious food. Wawa is a way of life. Enough said.
8. Malls
Malls, malls everywhere! In New Jersey alone, there are over 100+ malls. I live in between three shopping malls within less than a 15 minute card ride. We have some of the best outlets in the state and the best part of this all: no sales tax on clothing; unless you’re wearing something with fur, and in that case, go live under a rock and pay your six percent tax on your fur coat. Hope you’re happy.
7. We have nature galore here
Considering we’re known for our beaches, there’s a reason why New Jersey is called “The Garden State”. We have beautiful botanical gardens, hiking trails, as well as fresh produce. If you’re considering going to a botanical garden here in Jersey, check out Rutgers Botanical Garden and Skylands New Jersey Botanical Gardens.
6. We have plenty of museums around, all rich with history
We have plenty of museums in the state that will cure your hankering for culture. We have everything from a Sterling Hills Mining Museum, Liberty Science Center, Newark Museum, Grounds for Sculpture, New Jersey Navel Museum—we even have a battleship, the Battleship New Jersey—and isn’t she lovely?
5. Rook Coffee
Sure, there’s Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks, but for some real local coffee, there’s always Rook. Thankfully I work across the highway from one, so I can always stop in and get an iced coffee at any time during the day that I want.
4. We’re weird
No seriously, we’re a very weird state. We have The Jersey Devil (to which it’s been proven by many that it still exists), Marlboro State Psychiatric Facility, Graystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Shades of Death -- we even have our own magazine called “Weird NJ”. If that doesn’t say that we’re weird and unique, then I don’t know what does.
3. Best food in the world
Ok, that’s my personal opinion. But we’re known for our Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese on a hard roll (or as others like to call it pork roll egg and cheese), saltwater taffy, fried Oreos, funnel cakes—everything just tastes better in New Jersey.
2. Jersey Girls are tough cookies
We take nothing from no one. As our founding father, Jon Bon Jovi once said, “Jersey girls have this inner glow that makes them more beautiful than any other girls”. We might have mermaid hair in the summer and sun kissed skin and walk in the door with sand all over the place, but don’t ever get on our bad side.
1. We’re a lot stronger than we look
And thanks to Hurricane Sandy, the state banned together and helped one another in rebuilding our gorgeous state. A 100-year hurricane might have tried to break us, but it’ll never break our spirit. We’re stronger than the storm
