The Local Girl 
Many were surprised when New Jersey was chosen as the site of the 2026 World Cup, including the tournament championship match (it might be New York/New Jersey Stadium, but MetLife is definitely in New Jersey, capeesh?). But, let’s just say – we weren’t…because we know New Jersey is the best, the GOAT, whatever accolade you want to call it. And despite our traffic woes, NJ Transit stress, or reputation of unfriendliness, we really are excited to welcome visitors from all over the world to our home state. Let your visit to the Garden State be a chance to learn something new about our country, New Jersey. So here goes, from our team to you:
Thank You, New Jersey
So many things in our modern life wouldn’t exist without New Jersey. The light bulb, alkaline battery, baseball, and tootsie rolls, to name a few. The film industry was born here, and New Jersey is currently the leader of all US states in movie production. The first forward pass in football was thrown here in the Garden State; the Lackawanna Terminal in Hoboken inspired train station design worldwide; and the Port of Newark was the first container port in the nation.
Even the vibes are right here. New Jersey has inspired artists like Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Bon Jovi, Kool + The Gang, the Jonas Brothers, Queen Latifah + Whitney Houston; writers like Judy Blume, George R. R. Martin, Junot Diaz, + Harlan Coben; and other important contributors to pop culture like David Chase, the writer of The Sopranos, Stephen Colbert of The Late Night Show, iconic actress Meryl Streep, and multi-hyphenate Martha Stewart.
Many of these glitterati are memorialized in the best way New Jersey knows how: they have a rest stop on the Garden State Parkway named after them. If you don’t understand why a GSP rest stop is an honor, it’s ok; you’re not from New Jersey. Here, we love our local landmarks, and they only have to make sense to us. We can’t imagine anything better than responding to the perpetual question what exit?! by naming a New Jersey icon.
The Garden State
We’ve all heard the quip that New Jersey is the armpit of America. We respectfully disagree. New Jersey’s nickname of The Garden State is well-deserved. There are over 700,000 acres of farmland here. New Jersey has regions featuring natural diversity, including beaches, pine barrens, mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and beautiful rolling hills.
The nation’s first public park system was developed in 1895 in Essex County, paving the way for communities nationwide. Despite being the most densely populated state in the nation, New Jersey has conserved over 1.5 million acres of public open space, representing roughly 34% of its total land area.
Maybe the best way to experience the bounty of our state is to visit a local farmer’s market. Have you had a Jersey tomato at the peak of summer? One bite and you’ll know: this is something special.
Travel by Taste
Speaking of taste, there is nothing like the food in New Jersey. Between the heritage of Italian- and Portuguese-American cuisine plus the incredible diversity of international cuisine, you could truly dine your way around the world without having to leave the state (essentially, ever!). From the classic slice to a box of cookies from an Italian bakery to an omakase experience to tableside butter chicken, there’s no reason for foodies to be bored (yeah, that’s right, NYC).
A visit to a New Jersey diner is practically a requirement for any visitor. It doesn’t matter what time you visit or what you order (though might we suggest disco fries); you’ll be able to soak up the only-in-New-Jersey energy from your seat.
Down the Shore, fresh seafood is the move. It’s often caught fresh daily and prepared any way you’d like – spots like La Mondina. And while you’re DTS, don’t forget to get ice cream to eat on the boardwalk – it’s another requirement for visitors.
A Note on The Jersey Shore. And while we’re on the subject: we’d argue that Jersey Shore is yet another solid contribution to pop culture, but our beach towns are so much more than sweaty nightclubs and GTL (but we do have some, if that’s your vibe).
The Jersey Shore spans approximately 130 miles, and along this stretch of coast, you’ll find beautiful beaches, classic boardwalks, historical sites, and unique experiences. Up North, Asbury Park was named the best small beach town by Travel + Leisure, and served as something of a muse for Springsteen through much of his career. At Exit Zero, the very last exit on the aforementioned GSP, is Cape May, home of the country’s first seaside resort that feels more like a real-life storybook.
Welcome to NJ
We’re glad you’re here. New Jersey has a reputation for being gruff and unwelcoming to visitors, but we’re really just trying to beat the traffic. We want you to have a wonderful and memorable time while you’re here. Eat, drink, explore, and let the Garden State wow you – like it does us, every single day.
Xoxo
The Local Girl team
