Destination desk · All nine

Nine ways into New Jersey.

Not a ranking. Not nine cloned city pages. Each chapter contributes a different material, pace and reason to go.

001North JerseyNewark & the IronboundBrick, brass, basil and late trains.002Hudson CountyHudson Waterfront: Jersey City & HobokenThe skyline view belongs to this side too.003Passaic CountyPaterson & the Great FallsWater power, mill brick and migration.004Central JerseyCentral Jersey: New Brunswick, Princeton & TrentonThree cities, one defended middle.005Monmouth CountyAsbury Park & the Monmouth ShoreMusic town, beach town, reinvention town.006Atlantic CountyAtlantic City & Absecon IslandThe Boardwalk after the postcard ends.007Cape May CountyCape May PeninsulaPainted wood, migration skies and a slower tide.008South Jersey interiorPine Barrens & HammontonCedar water, sugar sand and the long way through.009Northwest New JerseyDelaware Water Gap & the SkylandsRidge, river, rock and room to breathe.

How to choose

Pair one dense place with one open place.

01

City + river

Newark or Jersey City with Paterson’s falls or the Delaware Water Gap.

02

Music + quiet

Asbury Park after dark, then a slower Monmouth Shore morning.

03

Boardwalk + forest

Atlantic City or Cape May paired with a Pinelands route.