My visit to NJ, after a long time (Newark, Toms River: home, neighborhood)

[Johninwestbury]

I had a chance to visit some areas in New Jersey, the past couple of weekends. My first trip was to Toms River. I happen to live hiking in piney woods, and here on Long Island where I live I have visited numerous areas in the pine barrens. Now I do not drive, but getting there was fairly easy, as I took a nice NJT Coach bus, which went express down the Garden State Parkway (here on LI, we dont have any express buses, only Hampton Jitney for coach service, and they only travel between the east end and NYC and charge $35 one way).
The Toms River bus term is in kind of an industrial area but nothing seedy, one thing that strikes me about NJ is how many more power transmission lines you have versus here, I guess thats why LI's electric rates are much higher.
Anyway I cross the Toms River and go down several streets and wind up going south on Double Trouble road. A nice, safe blue collar neighborhood, the kind we used to have here on Long Island, before they became slums.
I visit this brand new park, called Jakes Branch park. I actually found quite a few folks hiking in there, on Long Island I rarely run into anyone hiking, especially in pine barrens. Even a few young women there, on LI, young women make it a point to stay out of the woods.
The pines in Jakes Branch were beautiful, and there were also beautiful Atlantic White Cedar swamps. We hardly have any left on Long island, most of them were destroyed for timber.
The nature center wasn't open at the time (it was Easter) but I hear it has a great observation deck, I'll have to come back. What a beautiful park, easily beats anything we have here on Long Island, and I'll post photos in another thread.
Going back I took a bus that went down route 542, past Ocean County Mall. And a college, with more beautiful piney woods around it and swamps too.
I notice you guys have chains like Arby's and Wawa, which dont exist at all on Long Island. We used to have Arbys, but they closed their LI locations years ago. It's a shame because I love Arby's, their food tastes so much fresher and better than McDonald's, Wendy's, and BK, all 3 of which I cant stomach and pretty much own the LI fast food market.
Even riding past the refineries and power plants along the NJTP was kind of scenic, with all that open space there.
I was also at Freehold Raceway Mall and the Old Bridge woods, very nice again. The mall was beautiful, certainly much nicer than what we have on Long Island.
I've been to Paramus in the past and liked it too. Sorta the way it used to be here on Long Island. Maybe this Long Islander will have a future in NJ?
Many folks on LI have moved to NJ, maybe I'll join them in the future.

[Thosepeskyfacts]

Have you posted that on the Long Island board. According to many there, New Jersey is nothing but swamps and oil refineries.

[Just1Lion]

i found from my experience that North Jersey and Nassau Co on LI are similar. atleast they look similar.

[Thosepeskyfacts]

It depends on where in North Jersey. Most of Sussex County bears little resemblence to most of Bergen, for example.

[Just1Lion]

northeastern NJ (eastern morris co, bergen, passaic, essex) reminds me of nassau co in/on long island

[gradstudent77]

Originally Posted by Johninwestbury

Even riding past the refineries and power plants along the NJTP was kind of scenic, with all that open space there.

I feel the same way about the refineries and everything on the turnpike. The turnpike (north of exit 9 or so) is beautiful to me because its such a different view than most roads in the world-industrial, airport, the architecture of overpasses and city skylines. It's amazing.

[jcjh20]

Originally Posted by gradstudent77

I feel the same way about the refineries and everything on the turnpike. The turnpike (north of exit 9 or so) is beautiful to me because its such a different view than most roads in the world-industrial, airport, the architecture of overpasses and city skylines. It's amazing.

The view of Newark Airport alone is very very scenic on the NJTP.. It's such a HUGE airport.. Are there any international airports bigger in the country? I've never been to JFK or LaGuardia. Plus the distant skyline of NYC a little past the airport is awesome and majestic too.

[Johninwestbury]

Originally Posted by Just1Lion

i found from my experience that North Jersey and Nassau Co on LI are similar. atleast they look similar.

I find that Bergen has nicer parks and less shady areas than Nassau, plus 3 awesome malls (Garden State Plaza, Riverside Square, and Paramus Park).

[Johninwestbury]

Originally Posted by gradstudent77

I feel the same way about the refineries and everything on the turnpike. The turnpike (north of exit 9 or so) is beautiful to me because its such a different view than most roads in the world-industrial, airport, the architecture of overpasses and city skylines. It's amazing.

Yeah I really enjoy that as well, LI doesn't have awesome views like this.

[Gerania]

I'm so glad that you mentioned Jakes Branch Park. I noticed the sign while driving home from a hike in Double Trouble last year and completely forgot about it.

It sounds as though you had a nice time visiting NJ.