Whoever said New Jersey is the armpit of America is certainly ignorant and has never come to this beautiful state that millions of people call home. I have been lucky enough to call it my home for 18 years now, and even if I decided to live somewhere else there is something about being a Jersey girl that will always be in my heart. T.V. shows depict NJ as a place full of mobs, the parkway, and where everyone fist pumps like the rest of the "Jersey Shore" cast does. However, you will be pleasantly surprised to find out that NJ has a lot of nice features about it.
Here are my personal reasons why New Jersey is the BEST.
1. We are one of the very few states with all four seasons
Yep, that's right. We got summer, fall, winter, and spring for everyone to experience to its fullest potential and beauty. You can go to certain points in Jersey to see natures wonderful works.
2. The Jersey Shore
No, I'm not talking about the T.V. show. I'm talking about the beaches that New Jersey has to offer. If you're from northern Jersey going DTS (down the shore) is always no more than a 2-hour drive down the parkway. There are so many cute beach towns with restaurants, shopping, and boardwalks.
3. Diversity
Wallethub named Jersey City the most diverse city in America!
4. It's close to EVERYTHING!!
Jersey is nestled in between so many cities (NYC, Philly, Boston, D.C) you never have to drive that far to go anywhere
5. You don't have to pump your own gas
"Jersey girls don't pump gas." Jersey is one of two states that have full-service gas stations which makes life easier and provides more jobs.
6. Diners
There is nothing like a Jersey diner. Literally, you can never go wrong with disco fries (fries, brown-gray, and mozzarella cheese) or a TEC (Taylor ham, egg, and cheese). Diners are also the #1 late night restaurants after parties, football games, and summer nights.
7. It's called the Garden State for the reason
Jersey is known for all the fruits and vegetables that it grows: corn, tomatoes, blueberries, and asparagus are some of the well-known ones but the options are literally endless when it comes to fresh produce.
So hopefully this opened your eyes to the beauty that the Garden State really has to offer. I highly recommend that everyone goes to New Jersey at least one in your life, because "once a Jersey girl, always a Jersey girl!!"
man running in forestPhoto by 
