New Jersey holidays

Six presidents have chosen Cape May for their holiday home, and you’ll soon see why when you walk along its beautifully maintained 18th-century streets and soft beaches. Spend an afternoon boutique shopping, stroll down the picturesque promenade, eat fresh seafood from gourmet restaurants, and end the day with a spine-tingling ghost tour.

Meanwhile, culture-lovers can peer into the past at Thomas Edison’s house and laboratory, or walk some of the most prestigious corridors in America with a student-guided tour through historic Princeton University. Take in the best views of the Statue of Liberty from New Jersey’s Liberty State Park, then catch a movie in one of the world’s biggest IMAX theatres.

Prefer to discover the great outdoors? Find out why they call New Jersey the Garden State when you explore the Delaware Water Gap, High Point State Park, the Pine Barrens, and Paterson Great Falls. And, of course, meet Lucy the Elephant.

The reputation of Atlantic City might be built on its casinos, but it's the city’s famous boardwalk which is most cherished by visitors. America’s first boardwalk runs for nearly six miles – having been extended from the original four built in 1870 – alongside the Jersey shore, weaving past beaches, hotels, restaurants and glittering casinos.

It might have been the first, but Atlantic City’s is not the only boardwalk in New Jersey. Just half an hour down the coast, the vibrant Ocean City Boardwalk is popular with cyclists, roller-bladers and walkers. You can sample saltwater taffy, check out the seaside attractions, and enjoy the panoramic views. Further north, Jenkinson’s Boardwalk is home to timeless fairground rides, an ice-cream parlour and an aquarium. At the southern tip of New Jersey, meanwhile, Morey’s Piers amusement park boasts more than 100 rides, with options for all ages.

Dotted along 130 miles of coastline, the state’s 44 beaches, 18 boardwalks and numerous resorts make New Jersey holidays perfect for families. But the attractions don’t stop there.

Six Flags Great Adventure theme park is filled with thrilling rollercoasters, family rides, live shows, and even a Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure animal experience.

Adventure Aquarium on the Camden Waterfront is home to 15,000 marine creatures and the largest collection of sharks in northeast America. Or, if you’d prefer to see animals in the wild, whale-watching trips run off the New Jersey coast between March and December every year.

And the great outdoors is on your doorstep, no matter where you are in the Garden State. Days of trekking, kayaking, fishing, natural swimming, and camping can be enjoyed by the whole family in High Point State Park or the Delaware Water Gap.

For the best combination of weather, attractions and smaller crowds, spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit New Jersey. Temperatures begin to rise above 15°C in April, and most days are warm between May and October. July and August are the hottest months, averaging 24°C – but they’re also the busiest. So May, June, and September are great options, if you want to avoid peak season. Whale-watching season runs from March to December.

Autumn’s changing colours bring a romantic feel to much of the state in October and November, and New Jersey is also a great choice for Halloween fun. Temperatures often fall below freezing from November to February, but the snowfall brings its own charm to the usually green towns and parks of the state.