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11 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in New Jersey

11 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in New Jersey (2024)

New Jersey is a beautiful and interesting State to explore. Despite Media presenting a misleading reputation, New Jersey has always proven its bright side with industrialization as well as world-class tourism. New Jersey is home to various revolutionary war battles (in the past), national parks, fantastic natural beauty, miles of Atlantic coastline, fine science & art museums, and major Metropolitans. Either they are the hustled boardwalks, historic sites, or learning center, New Jersey has so much for travelers of all interests.

It’s not been very long when 116 million tourists from across the world visited New Jersey for exploration purposes forming a record in recent times. From serving as a popular summer destination of nearby States like Pennsylvania and New York to Princeton University being the ultimate goal of students across the nation, New Jersey has been on the priority list for all. If you are one amongst them and are looking for some good tourist attraction options in New Jersey, then the list below will guide you the best.

11 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in New Jersey

Have a look at the 11 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in New Jersey.

1. Liberty State Park

Liberty State Park is a lovely 1,212 acres public property that offers great views of the Upper New York Bay, Liberty Island, Manhattan skyline, and the Statue of liberty. Locals of New Jersey often visit here for day time picnic while enjoying the Hudson River view. From here, one can tour the ferry and head towards Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The State Park is also home to Liberty Walk promenade, a 36-acre tidal salt marsh, monuments & memorials, along with several other open spaces to relax, explore and enjoy.

2. Princeton Battlefield State Park

The small town of Princeton has earned a high reputation, all thanks to the university and research institutes. However, another prime attraction here is the Battlefield State Park that is known for the popular revolutionary battle fought amongst the American and British troops. Today the State Park preserves the original battlefield, the Clarke House Museum, the Ionic Colonnade, Stone grave of martyred American and British soldiers, along with parts of Stony Brook Village. The battle of Princeton has been one of the prominent wars that lead to American Independence. Hence, the State Park holds high sentimental and national value amongst the locals here.

3. Cape May County Park & Zoo

The Cape May County Park & Zoo is a year-round tourist attraction in New Jersey, dedicatedly in the Cape May Court House. Both the park and the Zoo together cover 220 acres and have been operating here since the year 1978. Noted as one of the best Zoos in the Nation as well as Globally, it hosts travelers throughout the year from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm except during the Christmas holiday. The main animal attraction here includes the African lion, zebra, bald eagle, giraffe, and ring-tailed lemur. Visitors can choose from guided tours to specialty tours where they can have a closer encounter with human-friendly animals and get a glimpse of behind-the-scenes operations. Apart from that, the park includes sports courts, disc golf, hiking, biking trails, and several other outdoor recreation opportunities.

4. Adventure Aquarium

One of the most popular attractions in New Jersey, the Adventure Aquarium is a blessing for marine and aquatic enthusiasts. It features a huge tank of over 2 million US gallons housing over 8000 marine animals, including penguins, sea turtles, sharks, turtles, chocolate-chip sea stars, and many more housed in their natural habitat settings. Adventure Aquarium is also noted as the only existing aquarium housing hippos. Visitors can meet up with penguins, sea turtles, dolphins, and other friendly aquatics from close. Authorities here also offer an in-water encounter with sharks and stingrays, which is noted as a one-of-a-kind experience.

5. Battleship New Jersey

Battleship New Jersey is one of the most historic and significant historic attractions in the State. It is noted as the longest battleship ever and the most decorated vessel of the US army. Today the battleship is turned into a floating museum settled over the Delaware River. The display here features numerous exhibits and artifacts that belong to World War II, and some of them are even imported here from the middle east. The major highlight here includes Admiral Halsey’s chair where visitors can sit and get clicked, huge 16-inch guns, and the bridge where the Pacific fleet was commanded. Visitors can choose from several guided tours or can even spend a night here at the ship by joining the twilight tour packages.

6. Six Flags Great Adventure

The Six Flags Great Adventure is an extravagant amusement park spread over an area of 160 acres along with a 350-acre spread of wildlife safari park. It is located in the Jackson township, and after the Disney animal kingdom, it is the second-largest theme park in the world. Six flags adventure is not like the regular amusement park with only adventure spots but there are several other notable attractions, including the Fantasy Forest, Lakefront, Adventure Seaport, Movietown, Frontier Adventures, Bugs Bunny National Park, and more. Further, the safari park in itself houses over 1,200 animals from six continents, and having a walk here around is one exciting experience on its own.

7. Sterling Hill Mining Museum

One of the most popular tourist attractions in New Jersey, the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, is worth visiting when you are in the State. It is a former iron and zinc mine that was operational until 1986 (the last working underground mine in the State), and soon after, in 1989, it got transformed into a museum space. Today the museum is known for its mineralogical samples, fossils, fluorescent mineral varieties, mining memorabilia, and meteorites. Visitors can walk through the 1,300 feet underground mine and grab one of the unique experiences to cherish for a lifetime. Apart from that, Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence and the Ellis Astronomical Observatory are there to explore.

8. Paterson Great Falls

One of the most-visited and top-rated attractions in New Jersey, the Paterson Great Falls is a landmark worth visiting. It is a 77 feet lush and prominent waterfall located within the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park known for its beautiful settings and overviews. Visitors can stop at the Overlook Park and grab a first-hand view or can head towards the Mary Ellen Kramer Park and feel the fresh spray. However, the best views are available from the bridge on top, especially during the rainy season or in winters when all the fall beauty is transformed into the snow. When here, you can also spend some time exploring the other regions within the historic park.

9. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a popular outdoor recreation spot amongst the locals of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Travelers from New Jersey can access the site via to designated visitors center and explore numerous points of interest, including the Kittatinny Point Visitor Centre, Appalachian Trail, Minisink Archaeological Site, and the Millbrook Village Historic Site. The New Jersey share of Delaware Recreation Area offers several opportunities for fun and adventure in the form of paddle boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, forest hiking, and overnight camping. After hiking up to the top of the rolling hills, you can grab a clear bird’s eye view of the 1,000-foot-deep Water Gap.

10. Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

The Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, though, is a small but one of the best Zoos in New Jersey. It was founded back in the year 1963 and today features animals from Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and Australia. Today it is home to over 1400 animals settled in several exhibits and habitats, including Reptile center, Shores of Africa, wolf woods, Big Cat Country, and more. The highlight here is the free-flight aviary with hundreds of beautiful birds. Even though the Zoo is open all throughout the year, Christmas is the best time to explore the site. From the glowing Christmas Light display to the beautiful ornamented decoration, everything here is a delight to watch.

11. Lucy the Elephant

Also known as Elephant Bazaar, Lucy the Elephant is the largest and tallest elephant statue in the world. It is entirely made up of wood and tin and sizes 60 feet long, 18 feet wide, 65 feet high, whereas weights 90 tons. This extravagant elephant houses a small museum inside that exhibiting the established and past years of Lucy. Visitors can even spend a night inside; however, reservations for that are a must. Anyone who is exploring the site from outside can do it for free; however, to enter inside an entry ticket is a must. Today the attraction is recognized as America’s Oldest Roadside Attraction and is also noted as a National Historic Landmark.

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