From New Jersey’s Mountains to Beaches: Explore all the Garden State has to Offer

Embark on a stimulating six-daytrip around the seven main regions of New Jersey. Experience all the Garden State has to offer, from local cuisine on the Anthony Bourdain Food Trail to beautiful wineries and scenic train rides to relaxing beach stays and engaging museum tours.

You will also make brief stops in the city that never sleeps, New York City and the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, taking advantage of New Jersey’s prime location between these two iconic cities, which makes access to them a breeze while you tour the Garden State.

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New Jersey itinerary at a glance:

  • Delicious eats along the Anthony Bourdain Food Trail
  • Rejuvenation in nature at the Delaware Water Gap
  • Shopping and entertainment at the American Dream
  • Wine and beer tasting
  • Casino hopping and board walk strolling in Atlantic City
  • Chocolate factory tours and saltwater taffy

Day-to-day New Jersey Itinerary

Day 1: Things To Do in New Jersey’s Skylands Region

Start your trip around the Garden State’s northwest Skylands Region enjoying a seasonal breakfast at the Rose Mary Inn Bed and Breakfast in Columbia. Located on 17 pastoral acres, this calming retreat-style B&B is minutes from the best attractions in the Skyland Region, including the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Lakota Wolf Preserve, the Appalachian Trail and more. After enjoying a delicious breakfast of the local season’s harvest, hop in the car and head northwest toward the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Hardwick for a morning out in nature. Enjoy bird watching, leisurely trail walking to see one of the many beautiful waterfalls on the Appalachian Trail, sunbathing, and swimming in the river.

Another option is to head east to Sussex for a visit to Space Farms Zoo and Museum. This hidden gem has over 500 zoo animals and an 11-building history museum showcasing early American history and local artifacts. Be dazzled with over 50 antique cars and motorcycles, old-fashioned carriages and wagons, a 100-year-old rare doll collection, Revolutionary and Civil War rifles and weaponry, and more. Next, head south around 30 miles from either Hardwick or Sussex to historic downtown Chester for shopping and lunch. Get a bite to eat at one of the many local eateries serving a variety of cuisines, including Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and American. Local farmer’s markets, boutique bakeries and coffee shops, artisanal wines and spirits shops, and more can be found on Main Street.

Explore the quaint local shop son Main Street as well where you’ll find everything from antiques and locally made candy to home decor, furniture, crafts, and gifts. If your group is still hungry after a day of shopping, head south to Lake Hopatcong for dinner and drinks at Alice’s. This chic lakeside restaurant features rustic decor, themed Supper Club dinners, and Big Fish Lounge where groups can enjoy signature cocktails, shuffleboard, darts, karaoke, Trivia Night, an open patio overlooking the lake, and live events like their popular Music Under the Stars lake side summer concert series. Finally, groups can head north31 miles to enjoy a resort-style stay at the Appalachian Hotel at Mountain Creek in Vernon. The Appalachian Hotel offers various lodging options with kitchens, fireplaces, mountainside views, heated outdoor pool and hot tub, underground parking, and a premium fitness center.

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Day 2: Attraction in New Jersey’s Gateway Region

Start your day bright and early by heading west40 miles to the world’s diner capital, the Gateway Region of New Jersey. Get a taste for New Jersey’s iconic diner food at the Nevada Diner in Bloomfield with a pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich, a New Jersey staple found only in the Garden State. Next, head east to the impressive American Dream for some shopping and indoor theme and water park fun in East Rutherford. It features America’s largest indoor water park, the Dream Works Water Park, mini golf, the Dream Wheel gondola ride offering breathtaking views of New York City, indoors now boarding, indoor roller coasters, and an elevated luxury shopping experience featuring brands like Hermes Paris, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co. and more. Enjoy lunch here, which features more than a dozen full-service food options including Yard House(featuring the world’s largest selection of draft beer along with a menu of more than 100 items made from scratch daily) and Carpaccio, which offers a classic, yet modern approach to Italian cuisine.

From there, take a short drive to Jersey City to experience the Liberty Science Center for fun, entertainment, and education the whole group can enjoy. The center has the largest planetarium in America, exhibits featuring dinosaurs, animals, sea life, plants, and so much more. For dinner, Jersey City is home to some of the best pizza in the country including Razza and Porta, both which serve a variety of pies. Finally, head to the chic yet affordable Watt Hotel in Rahway for a restful sleep before continuing your trip around the Garden State.

Day 3: Things To Do in Central Jersey Region

Grab a quick breakfast at the Watt Hotel before heading south41 miles to Robbinsville for an awe-inspiring visit to the recently completed BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, where you can do a self-guided tour or book one with the center. This spectacular site features a jaw-dropping13,499 individual carved stone pieces and was established to serve as a “place of understanding and appreciation of India art, culture and religion.” After exploring the Mandir, head north to iconic Princeton to take a tour of the famous ivy-league Princeton University where Albert Einstein and other famous scholars taught. Princeton features an enriching mix of history, buildings with ivy-covered walls, fine and eclectic dining, and a vibrant arts and culture scene. Take a stroll around Palmer Square for shopping, dining, and exploring the arts.

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Grab lunch at the upscale Mediterra Restaurant and Tavern before heading to your next stop. Then, make a quick stop a few minutes away in Montgomery to visit Hidden Spring Lavender &Alpaca Farm. Enjoy beautiful lavender fields, award-winning alpacas, and a gift shop full of lavender and alpaca inspired gifts. Another option is to take a short drive to picturesque Pennington where you can enjoy a quaint downtown with beautiful tree-lined streets, shopping, boutiques, and restaurants. Stop by The Painter’s Loft Art Studio to try your hand at pottery, painting, or candle making. Then, head over to Hopewell Valley Vineyards for wine tasting, a pizza dinner and live music. Head back over to Princeton for a quaint night’s stay at the Inn at Glencairn. This Inn was ranked in the Top 10 for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions by Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards and features the modern amenities of a boutique hotel in a masterfully renovated 1736Georgian manor.

Day 4: Shore Region Group Attractions

After a home-cooked breakfast at the Inn at Glencairn, drive east to Colts Neck to4JG’s Vinyard for wine tasting and events like Tiki Time, Watermelon and Wine, Soup and Sip, and more. Afterward, head east to Asbury Park for lunch at Frank’s Deli and Restaurant, the second destination on Anthony Bourdain’s Food Trail and the place to enjoy overstuffed sandwiches on the way to the beach. “As I always like to say, good is good forever,” said Bourdain about Frank’s. The Anthony Bourdain Food Trail pays tribute to Bourdain’s childhood growing up in Leonia, New Jersey, and summers spent at the Jersey Shore.

The trail spotlights 10 New Jersey restaurants featured on CNN’s Emmy Award-winning Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Once you’ve had your fill of delicious wine and food, head inland to Allaire State Parkin Farmingdale to tour the 19th-century iron making town, Allaire Village and take a trip on the Pine Creek Railroad. There is plenty to do in the park, including bird and wildlife viewing, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, a nature center and more. For dinner, enjoy a bite to eat at another one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite spots to eat at the Jersey Shore, Kubel’ sin Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island. Bourdain grew up eating clams at the Jersey Shore and enjoyed the nostalgia of Kubel’s delicious seafood, a Long Beach Island tradition since 1927.Finally, head down to Beach Haven on the Island for a restful night’s stay at one of Long Beach Island’s beautiful bed and breakfasts, The Gables Inn and Restaurant. They offer food, wine and spirits, and quaint Victorian style rooms for a lovely stay at the beach.

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Day 5: Greater Atlantic City and Southern Shore Region

Before leaving the Jersey Shore area, have breakfast at another one of Anthony Bourdain’s Food Trail hot spots, Lucille’s Luncheonette on Route 539 in Warren Grove. Lucille’s serves home style food in the famous Pine Barrens, including hearty breakfasts and homemade pies. Once you’ve had your fill of pancakes, eggs, and the Jersey Devil memorabilia, head37 miles to Atlantic City for some casino fun. In Atlantic City, luxury accommodations, spas, casinos, shopping, and entertainment line every street and section of the famous boardwalk.

For the casino lovers of the group, check out Bally’s Casino, Harrah’s Casino, Ocean Casino, The Borgata, Caesars and more. Not the gambling type? Go shopping in the luxury and boutique shops on and off the boardwalk. After slots and shopping, have lunch at any number of great restaurants including Dock’s Oyster House for classic seafood, Knife and Fork Inn for steaks and wine, or Tony’s Baltimore Grillfor pizza and pasta. You can’t be at the Jersey Shore without getting some original saltwater taffy, so after lunch, visit James Original Salt Water Taffy to try New Jersey’s sweet taffy treats. After an exciting day, rest your head in one of Atlantic City’s many four and five-star hotels. Another option instead of Atlantic City can be found in Cape May, where groups can shop at the Washington Street Mall where there’s something for everyone.

Shop the unique stores, have coffee at Art Block Cafe, and visit the Museum of Fine Arts and Popular Culture on Washington Street. Head across the street to Elaine’s Dinner Theater for a unique dinner and entertainment experience in Cape May. This hidden gem was voted one of the top five dinner theaters in America by the Food Network and is a must-experience while in Cape May. After dinner, end your day with a stay at a Victorian style bed and breakfast right on the beach, Angel of the Sea. This beautiful Victorian B&B offers ocean views on its wraparound porch and ginger bread detail architecture. You can sip wine while listening to the ocean from the porch or right on the beach and have a gourmet breakfast the next morning.

Day 6: Delaware River Region Attractions

Head to the Delaware River Region and make your first stop at the Cluizel Chocolate Museum and Shop in West Berlin for a chocolate-making tour, paint your own chocolate, chocolate tasting, and more After getting full on chocolate, head north to Camden and visit the Adventure Aquarium to touch a shark, walk the shark bridge and tunnel, see hippos and stingrays, watch divers swim with the sharks, and have a virtual reality experience of oceanic proportions. Before leaving Camden, have lunch at another one of the Anthony Bourdain Food Tour stops, Donkey’s Place on Haddon Avenue. Bourdain had one of their famous cheesesteaks and said it “should be a national landmark.” Another dining choice is the Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant in Maple Shade. This regional brew pub offers house made beers and elevated comfort food staples. With so many iconic locations and even more hidden gems around the Garden State, this itinerary offers a little of everything for your group to explore. From the mountains to the shining sea, this tri-state tour with its focus on New Jersey was packed with fun and sun, culture and cuisine.

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