When I was growing up in Los Angeles I never understood why nearly every comedian constantly made fun of New Jersey as if it was hell on earth. It was always like, “This place is the pits, but at least it’s better than New Jersey.” So years later when I finally visited New York and then later moved there, I was interested to find out why.
Here’s why New Jersey has the horrible reputation
So, as it turns out, New Jersey is easily one of the most beautiful states in the country. The only part of it that is bad at all is the area between Newark Airport and Manhattan, which also happens to be the only area that most New York residents ever see. When you land at Newark, it’s an industrial-looking area with an IKEA right across the freeway, and as you get closer to Manhattan it turns from industrial to post-apocalyptic.
Honestly, it looks like the area was once rich in minerals, and it has been strip mined with no apologies for 100 years. There are a handful of power plant-looking things mixed in, but it’s mostly a mangled wasteland.
And this is why most New Yorkers make these jokes
As you probably know, New York City has 3 airports, except that one of them is really in New Jersey. And since flights from Newark are often cheaper than those from JFK or LaGuardia, many New Yorkers use the airport regularly. Another notable factor is that Newark Airport parking is much cheaper than parking near the other airports, so many locals drive their cars through this nightmarish strip on their way to Newark, and that’s all they ever see.
Other parts of New Jersey
I used to work for a company that had its headquarters in Heightstown, New Jersey, so I spent my fair share of time there. It’s a nice wooded area, just about 10 miles from Princeton, but it’s not too special. I’ve also spent a decent amount of time in the hotels in Atlantic City, but to be honest that area might be the second worst part of the state.
It really wasn’t until I had the opportunity to drive through the southern part of the state on the turnpike, as well as along the Garden State Parkway that I really saw what was so special about the place. Aside from Newark itself (which isn’t really that big of a city), can you name a large city in New Jersey? There’s Jersey City and Hoboken, both suburbs of Manhattan, and the capital is Trenton, which also isn’t a large city.
That’s the thing, it’s all small cities and towns, and if you get anywhere off the main highway and especially if you avoid the area between Newark and Manhattan, it’s lovely.