My New Jersey is not a commonly known area, but a small town tucked away in the north-western part of the state.
My New Jersey doesn't have a bunch of bars nearby playing techno music and a piece of the shore quickly accessible. My New Jersey is called Long Valley, and it's a little piece of heaven.
Growing up in Long Valley, everyone complains how boring it is and how much they can't wait to leave. No matter how far you go though, coming down a windy back road with your windows down with that country air is one of the best feelings.
We grew up having to be driven everywhere because there aren't really any shops or anything close together to walk to unless you traveled to a neighboring town. You could have a friend live next door or 25 minutes away and they still go to your school. Everyone knows everyone and it's a place where once you hit high school and can drive, there's nothing better than driving around aimlessly, blasting music with your friends.
Long Valley is known for its landscapes and scenery because it is truly gorgeous. When the leaves turn in the fall, there is nothing like the amazing colors you see driving up or down the mountain. It has some of the best farms (shout out to Ort Farms) and there's nothing quite like getting fresh produce straight from the farm stand or going pumpkin picking. In the warmer weather, it has some awesome hiking trails and is always safe to go for a run or play a sport at a local park. When it snows, it's like a little oasis in a snow globe with great hills for sledding, if you wish to leave the coziness of your home.
You know someone just about everywhere you go and it's the place where the people you grew up with and your friends will always know what you mean when you need to talk about home. And somehow, the friends you make in this town tend to stick for life, which is something no money can buy.
My New Jersey isn't the shore. It isn't smelly. It isn't fist pumping, spiking your hair, and tanning any second you get. My New Jersey is about the landscape, the open areas, the winding back roads, the friendships that last forever, the small town feel in a state that no one thinks has any small towns. My New Jersey is so much more than the New Jersey you think you know, and that's why I love it.
Check it our for yourself here, if you don't believe me.
