Things to see and do in New Jersey (Jersey City, Trenton: houses, rent)

[kikanakala]

Since we're moving to New Jersey soon, I wanted to know all the fun things to see and do (and eat!) there. We will be in either north or central NJ, but I want to hear about things/places all over the state, and even the surrounding states within driving distance. I already know about the major NYC attractions, but I want to know things that aren't just for tourists! For families with small children, and for adults. Thanks for your help!

[Soxfan64]

The Adventure Aquarium is great. You can take a boat across to Philly and take the time to walk around there! There is a battleship museum there too. We did it with our kids.

I just saw these books I cehcked them out of my library and haven't read them yet but...

Barnes*&*Noble.com - Books: New Jersey Off the Beaten Path, by William G. Scheller, Paperback, 8TH

Amazon.com: New Jersey Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff: Books: Peter Genovese,Pete Genovese

[66nexus]

Six Flags/Wild Safari/Hurricane Harbor
Atlantic City:
the Pier at Caesar's (very nice)The Pier Shops At Caesars
the Walk
The Walk at Atlantic City | Forging Partnerships | CRDA
the Shops at Harrah's/90ft dome spa Atlantic City Shopping at Harrah's Atlantic City

Soon to be Xanadu: Colony Capital - Meadowlands Xanadu

[NewHomeHappy]

Great, now I have that song stuck in my head.
OK I'm going to share. Here are a few links to some of my favorite places in NJ.

Battleship New Jersey
Awesome daytrip. Not for Old folks & little kids (lots of stairs)

Calendar (broken link)
Ahhhh Art in Princeton.

https://www.premiumoutlets.com/vip/
Great shopping. Sign up for their VIP membership (free) and get the voucher for a free extra coupon book.

Six Flags Great Adventure
Fright Fest is coming soon. Boo !

Sprayground (broken link)
Soooooo nice ! Clean ! Free !

Cape May New Jersey August 2007
The Victoria Christmas Tours are fabulous. Horse & buggy rides in the winter.

[BrianG]

Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ : Reviews of Liberty Science Center - Yahoo! Travel

[BrianG]

New Jersey Tourism - Fun, Fantastic Family Attractions

[kikanakala]

Thanks for helping me get excited about my move! Keep them coming, and add some food places in there too!

[JerZ]

Oh, there's the cutest children's museum in Paramus. It's pretty near you, too. You had said Montvale, right? Or was that somebody else? Paramus is 10 minutes down Rte. 17; 15 minutes if there's heavy traffic or something.

Just in case this isn't the same poster as that last time (I'm so sorry, I don't remember), also try:

Van Saun Park & Zoo in Paramus, NJ
Bear Mountain Trailside Zoo at Harriman State Park, NY
Oktoberfeast up at Bear Mountain--autumn only
Wooddale Park in Woodcliff Lake (I think? Or is it Hillsdale? How could I NOT know that?)--this is just a park, but it's awfully pretty with a pond, children's swings, etc.
The Duck Pond in ummmmmmmmmmm...Paramus? It's adorable. Many people, especially adults, believe it or not, sail their remote control boats in the pond and kids always love to see that.

Try eating at:
Blue Moon in Hillsdale or Woodcliff Lake (there I go again)
El Bandido's in...in...in something-something New York (could be Pearl River...or Nanuet...but either way...really close by you)
Panera Bakery in Ramsey, NJ
Casa del Sole in Park Ridge, NJ
Golden Pond (the looooooooooooons, Norman! The looooooooons!) Chinese food in Hillsdale, NJ
The Saloon in Pearl River, NY...the hugest menu you ever saw, adorable atmosphere, but beware, it's cash only!

Go to the movies at:
The big complex on Rte. 17...the theatres are just a scootch bigger/more seats than some of the other divided-up theatres
The Triplex, I think it is, in Emerson on Kinderkamack Road

Buy your Christmas tree (if you celebrate this) in...
THE MARSHALL'S PARKING LOT IN EMERSON! Anywhere else you'll pay $40-60 for a four-foot tree. The Marshall's parking lot has a dude every single year who sells 5-foot and bigger trees for like $25.

Shop at:
Shop Rite in Hillsdale for the cheapest prices, but sometimes the floor is dirty and their produce isn't great. Ewwwwwwwwww.
The "Big A&P" in Woodcliff Lake if you're willing to shell out a bit more $$$.
WalMart in, ughhhhhhh, what is that again, right over the border in New York...somebody help me here...uh...Nanuet?
To find a Paramus, NJ-based shopping mall, swing a dead cat. You'll hit one. Or go over the border to the mall in Nanuet.

For holiday fun:
I don't think Montvale has its own winter holiday thingie, but definitely crash one of your neighbor's celebration. Westwood has an adorable one in the Gazebo at nighttime with a dude selling chestnuts, honest to goodness, I kid you not. The stores are all lit up. There are a bajillion little kids and everybody gets a candy cane. Or crash the one in Park Ridge. They give out free cocoa and the band plays and the choir sings songs. See if Montvale has the "Santa Claus on the firetruck" thing. Some of the towns around there do. About the third week in December, each different day on a certain week Santa Claus rides around in a different part of the town at night and you hear "Heeeeeeeere comes Santa Claus!" and the kids all freak out and run screaming with joy out of their houses, and watch Santa Claus go down their street on a fire truck, and elves hand out candy canes.

Okay. Now I'm seriously envying you! LOL.

[hrjersey]

Terhune's Orchard (Princeton) for Blueberry picking
Johnson's Corner Farm (Medford) for Peach/corn/apple picking
Pt. Pleasant Boardwalk - family fun and a "real" boardwalk and Jenkinson's aquarium
Island Beach State Park - great swimming beaches and wildlife
Annual Balloon Festival - Readington


Restaurants: Highlawn Pavilion - West Orange (Pricey-good for special occassions great views of NYC and great food)
Reservoir Pizzeria in South Orange (very unique thin crust pizza - nothing like it anywhere)

[Kin Atoms]

Hrjersey,
Bless you for recalling Highlawn Pavilion. I've been gone from NJ for over 12 years but that place stands out as a landmark for me. I was a concierge in a hotel and got recommendations as well as gave recommendations for that place. I couldn't recall the name until I saw your post.
Kikanakala,
Try going to the USS Ling in Hackensack, which is a submarine; I second Van Saun Zoo, the state's AAZPA zoo; enjoy Grey Towers in PA, just a hop over from Sussex County; While in Sussex County try High Point and Stokes State Forest for hiking and camping; Enjoy some of the canals across the river from Trenton NJ, which also have bike paths. The Von Steuben house used to be a neat visit when I was a boy and there's a whole slew of places where George Washington slept.
Regarding restaurants, I also recommend Mt Fiji in Hillburn NY, Arthur's Landing in Weehauken, and Steve's Sizzling Steaks in Carlstadt NJ. While in Carlstadt, enjoy the Meadowlands and the arena. There may still be the last primeval forest down by Rutgers, so try to find that. Otherwise, enjoy NJ.