New Jersey is full of great hidden gems for group travelers
New Jersey is full of surprises, offering beaches, boardwalks and a host of fabulous attractions. This itinerary highlights some of the state’s hidden gems, blending coastal charm, natural beauty, and cultural landmarks into one memorable journey.
Groups will experience everything from the Victorian elegance of Cape May to the sweeping mountain views at High Point State Park, with stops for live music, historic architecture, and iconic skyline views along the way.
Enjoy These Attractions and More:
- Cape May
- Wildwood Beach
- Asbury Park
- Grounds for Sculpture
- Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
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New Jersey Hidden Gems Itinerary
Day 1 of Attractions in New Jersey
Start your trip with a few morning hours in historic Cape May, a charming Victorian-era seaside town which is, perfect for lighthouse visits, dolphin cruises, and architectural window-gazing.
Choose to spend your time in Cape May at Washington Street Mall, an outdoor walking mall spanning three blocks, with brick pathways, decorative fountains and wooden benches surrounding garden planters. Or you can choose some of Cape May’s free activities throughout the year, including the Cape May County Park and Zoo, the Colonial House Museum, several parks and gardens, and free movies on the beach during the summer.
For lunch, The Lobster House overlooks Cape May Harbor and has proudly provided guests a variety of dining experiences for over four generations. Open year-round, its five dining rooms and full bar offer upscale family-friendly dining in a uniquely nautical atmosphere. Another dining option is Lucky Bones Backwater Grille, a casual restaurant where the food is made from scratch, the drinks are made well, and the service and atmosphere are warm and fun.
After lunch, take a short, 15-minute drive to Wildwood Beach, swap serene scenes for boardwalk energy, complete with rides, games, and ocean breezes.
The Wildwoods’ free beaches, named Best Beaches in New Jersey by USA Today, offer plenty of room for a variety of summertime activities, everything from surfing to boogie-boarding to body surfing to tossing a frisbee or playing beach volleyball to reading in the shade. And they are free to enjoy with no beach tags required.
The Wildwoods Boardwalk also offers 38 blocks of fun with more than 100 rides and attractions. The boardwalk features incredible shopping where groups can explore retail shops to renowned fudge shops, and everything in between. It also sports family-friendly arcades, carnival games, three beachfront waterparks, top-notch restaurants and three action-packed amusement piers.
For dinner, make a stop at The Waterfront Wildwood, which features gorgeous views from its upstairs deck overlooking Otten’s Harbor. It is known for excellent seafood and sandwiches and top-of-the-line drinks.
The Lotus Inn in Wildwood Crest offers excellent group rates to various types of groups when group reservations are made. It has a prime location near the Wildwood Boardwalk, local attractions and the free beach.
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Day 2 of New Jersey Hidden Gems
Pay a visit to the beautiful beach town of Asbury Park (approximately an hour and a half from Wildwood). Known for its arts scene and rich musical history, groups can stroll the historic boardwalk, catch live tunes at The Stone Pony and hit the Silverball Retro Arcade for classic pinball action. Asbury Park’s mile of sand and water has been drawing surfers, swimmers, sunbathers, fishers, and people-watchers for centuries. The Asbury Park Boardwalk is home to mini golf, music, playgrounds, restaurants, boutique shops, a splashpark, and more.
Judy’s is a popular dining spot in Asbury Park. Top Chef’s David Viana and Neilly Robinson opened Judy’s which features Italian American cooking with a Jewish flair. Consider the oysters, costolette or chopped salad.
Or you could choose to start your day at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton (almost two hours from Wildwood). Opened in 1992, the park draws visitors for its sculpture collection and exquisitely landscaped site, complete with more than 2,000 rose bushes, 1,000 trees and other flower beds and shrubbery.
A quality dining option in Hamilton is Rat’s Restaurant, a renowned spot that serves country-style French dishes presented in a chateau-like setting surrounded by a sculpture garden.
Day 3 Experiencing New Jersey
One way to start your day is to head to Newark and visit the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart (approximately 58 minutes from Hamilton Township). A treasure trove of stained glass and sacred art, the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is the fifth-largest cathedral in North America and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Envisioned as a “fitting monument to the faith,” construction began in 1899 and was finished in 1954.
Dickie Dee’s Pizza in Newark opened in 1958 and is a famed spot for Italian subs and pizza. It is also known for its Newark-style Italian hot dog, featuring a pocketed bread
slathered with mustard and ketchup and filled with a hot dog, and sauteed onions and peppers, then topped with fried potatoes. Another good option is La Cocina, a family-owned Cuban restaurant across from the Rutgers-Newark campus that offers great, no-frills, traditional Cuban dishes.
Double Tree by Hilton Newark is an affordable, four-star hotel that also has an airport shuttle.
Another option for the day is to travel two hours to High Point State Park, New Jersey’s highest point, which features incredible views, a monument for veterans and activities like hiking, camping, swimming and a 20-acre lake.
The view from High Point Monument, at 1,803 feet above sea level, is a spectacular panorama of rich farmland and forest, soft hills and lush valleys in three states. The blueline of the Delaware River divides the verdant ridges of New Jersey from those of Pennsylvania. High Point also features fabulous trails for hikers and skiers and quiet spots for campers and anglers.
For lunch or dinner, pay a visit to the Mountain House Tavern & Grill in Branchville. Situated on beautiful Kittatinny Lake, it features an evolving menu of tasty food, drink specials, delectable desserts, relaxing atmosphere and its tavern has a great selection of beers and entertainment.
If you choose to stay near the park, High Point Motel in Sussex offers free parking, air conditioning and free WiFi.
Group-Friendly Lodging Box
- Lotus Inn in Wildwood Crest (lotusinn.com)
- Double Tree by Hilton Newark(hilton.com)
- High Point Motel in Sussex (highpoint-mountainmotel.com)
For more great travel stories, Read the Full New Jersey Itinerary Guide and Subscribe to the Newsletter for FREE
Contact Info:
Contact For Domestic Groups:
- Name–Michael Styles
- Email–Michael.Styles@sos.nj.gov
- Phone–609-292-4239
Contact For International Trip Planning:
- Name–Ann Pilcher
- Email–Ann.Pilcher@sos.nj.gov
- Phone–609-984-9413
