20110324

The Wonders of New Jersey: 91 - 100

  • 91 Round Valley Recreation Area Reaching depths of about 180 feet, Round Valley Reservoir is the deepest lake in New Jersey. The Reservoir covers about 2,000 acres with its clear-blue waters, and has a capacity of 55 billion gallons. The Round Valley Recreation Area is one of the few parks in the state to offer wilderness camping. These campsites are on the east side of the reservoir, which is accessible only by boat or by a hike of at least 3 miles from the nearest parking lot. The 9-mile Cushetunk Trail is the longest of 3 marked trails in the park. Scuba and skin diving are also popular activities available to adventurers. Lake trout are the prized fish for anglers, although there are 18 other species in the reservoir. The state record American Eel (6 lbs, 13 oz), Smallmouth Bass (7 lbs, 2 oz), Brown Trout (21 lbs, 6 oz) and Lake Trout (32 lbs, 8 oz) were caught in the reservoir. Clinton Township.
    • Round Valley Reservoir, New Jersey
  • 92 Hindenburg Disaster New Jersey struck the first blow against them Nazis on May 6, 1937. If you would like to visit the site, which is on a military base, call the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society at least two weeks in advance to register and be approved (U.S. citizens only) 732-818-7520.       
    A large zeppelin, next to a skeletal tower, burns violently in midair with a fireball larger than the zeppelin itself rising from the zeppelin's rear third.
  • 93 Battle of Trenton
     
  • 94 The Matawan Man-Eater In 1916 there were a series of Great White Shark attacks along the Jersey Shore between July 1 and July 12, 1916, in which four people were killed and one injured. Most of the action happened in Matawan Creek. The attacks inspired Peter Benchley's novel Jaws. These days Matawan Creek is much smaller than it was during that golden age of shark attacks because of the damming of the waterway to create Lake Lefferts. Matawan Creek is located in Matawan and Aberdeen.
  • 95 Downtown Mount Holly This is a historic town with pretty old houses and a few shabby areas that need restoration. Some of the sights include the Mount Holly Cemetery, Shinn Curtis Log Cabin, Burlington County Prison (haunted), the Old Courthouse Complex, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, the Friends Meeting House, Brainerd School, Relief Fire Company No. 1, Thomas Budd House, Stephen Girard House and the John Woolman Memorial.  Mount Holly.
  • 96 Downtown Westfield The only town east of the Mississippi to win a Main Street Award as of this writing. Sites include the Rialto Theater, over 40 restaurants and a mix of national and boutique stores. Westfield.
  • 97 Navesink River
  • 98 Downtown Ridgewood
  • 99 Ben Franklin Bridge A suspension bridge across the Delaware River connecting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden. Pedestrian walkways run along both sides of the bridge. From 1926 to 1929, it was the worlds longest suspension bridge. The bridge also has an impressive lighting system that puts on quite a show beginning in the early evening, flashing multi-colored lights at different intervals. Camden.
    014_11A by donr 014_11A from donr

  • 100 New Jersey State House The second oldest state house in continuous use in the United States. The dome is covered with 48,000 pieces of gold leaf...but you can't have any. Trenton. 
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20110316

Wonders of New Jersey: 101 - 110

  • 101 Popcorn Park Zoo Refuge for animals that were abused, ill, injured, handicapped, elderly or exploited. You are allowed to feed a lot of the animals popcorn which you buy at the zoo, hence the name.
  • 102 New Jersey State Museum Visit the Civil War Flag Collection of New Jersey. The Archeology and Ethnology department contains over 2 million prehistoric and historic specimens and over 2,000 ethnographic objects. Fine Art Gallery. Natural History. Cultural History Collection. Planetarium. Trenton.
  • 103 Cowtown Rodeo Oldest rodeo on the East Coast; competition May-Sept. Large flea market year-round. Yee-Haw! Marlboro Men by Cocoabiscuit Cocoabiscuit
  • 104 Downtown Princeton Includes the Lower Pyne Building, Bainbridge House, Old Princeton Bank & Trust Building.  Princeton Boro.
  • 105 Twin Lights An iconic former lighthouse and current museum overlooking Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook and the Atlantic Ocean. The castle-like Twin Lights are about 200 feet above sea level. Visitors can climb the North Tower for some spectacular views. Highlands.
    Navesink Twin Lights by mike bernardo Navesink Twin Lights from mike bernardo
  • 106 Sunset Beach Known for its beautiful, unobstructed sunsets over water—a rarity on the east coast. The evening flag ceremony—every sunset from Memorial Day to Labor Day—is a popular tradition. The "Concrete Ship," SS Atlantus is an interesting oddity. Cape May "Diamonds" (Quartz Crystals) can be found on the beach. Get something to eat at the Sunset Beach Grill.Sunset at Sunset Beach, Cape May, NJ by NYCArthur This sweet photo by NYCArthur via Flickr.
  • 107 Monopoly Board game based on Atlantic City streets and properties.
    Monopoly Logo 123.png 
  • 108 Downtown Cranford Some people call this town "The Venice of New Jersey," even though it is the mid-reaches of the Rahway River and not a canal that winds its way through the municipality. Cranford.
  • 109 "The Diner Capital of the World" New Jersey is that. Some of the well known diners include the Roadside Diner in Wall, the Americana Diner in Shrewsbury, and the Reo Diner in Woodbridge,  Throughout New Jersey.
  • 110 Trump Taj Mahal One of the largest poker rooms in Atlantic City. Comedy Shows and Concerts. Spa At The Taj and Salon At The Taj. Atlantic City.
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20110315

Ringwood, NJRingwood Manor,  via Wikipedia
  • 111 The Lenni Lenape Indians The original inhabitants of New Jersey were well-organized groups of Algonquins known as the Lenni Lenape.
  • 112 Adventure Aquarium 4-D theater. 40-foot Shark Tunnel. Currents Ballroom. West African River Experience complete with hippos. Irazu Falls two-story waterfall. Seal Shores. Penguin Island. Feed exotic birds at Feather Ridge. Swim With the Sharks. Camden.
  • 113 Atlantic City Convention Center Professional boxing and wrestling, concerts and more. 500,000 square feet of exhibit space. Atlantic City.
  • 114 Lindburgh Kidnapping
  • 115 Ringwood State Park This preserve in the heart of the Ramapo Mountains is home to the Skylands Botanical Garden, which has been designated as the official New Jersey State Botanical Gardens. It contains the beautiful crabapple vista, terraced gardens, perennial and annual gardens and woodland paths. Ringwood Manor is a beautiful country house, which was home for several well-known ironmasters for nearly 200 years. Iron production in this area began in the 1740s. In the mid-19 century, Ringwood Manor was owned by Abram S. Hewitt, America's foremost ironmaster. Skylands Manor was built in the Jacobean architecture common in the English countryside 400 years ago. The mansion contains antique paneling, large windows, some of which contain 16th-century stained glass medallions. Shepherd Lake is also of interest, as well as over a dozen trails.
  • 116 Cherry Blossom Festival You may dislike the yellow snow of winter, but you will surely love the pink snow of spring. That's because it is really made from pretty cherry blossoms falling on the ground! Held every April in Newark's Branch Brook Park is the Cherry Blossom Festival. The park has over 4,000 cherry trees in more than fourteen different varieties. About 10,000 visitors come each year to enjoy the festival.
    Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Park, Newark, New Jersey by SheepGuardingLlama Photo by SheepGuardingLlama via Flickr.
  • 117 Fort Dix
  • 118 Bon Jovi Hit songs include Runaway, In And Out Of Love, You Give Love A Bad Name, Livin' On A Prayer, Wanted Dead Or Alive, Never Say Goodbye, Bad Medicine, I'll Be There For You, Lay Your Hands On Me, Living In Sin, Bed of Roses, Always, It's My Life, Have A Nice Day and Who Says You Can't Go Home.
  • 119 Downtown Flemington Includes the historic Union Hotel.
  • 120 Morris Museum The fine arts collection is comprised of 19th and 20th century European and American painting and sculpture. There are also contemporary art, decorative art and a Costumes and Textiles collections. The museum’s geology and paleontology collection is one of the best in New Jersey. The Morris Museum was awarded the Murtogh D. Guinness collection of 700 historic mechanical musical instruments and automata (mechanical figures) and more than 5,000 programmed media, ranging from player piano rolls to pinned cylinders in 2003. Morris Township.
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20110314

Wonders of New Jersey: 121 - 130

New Jersey CoastImage by Roger Smith via Flickr
  • 121 The Jersey Tomato  
  • 122 Bridgeton Historical District The largest historical district in New Jersey, with over 2,000 buildings under its umbrella. These span the Colonial, Federalist and Victorian architectural periods. Includes the David Sheppard House. Bridgeton.
  • 123 The World Series of Birding Arguably the world's most famous birding competition. Participants compete to identify the most bird species throughout the state of New Jersey in 24 hours. Organized by the Audubon Society. All of New Jersey.
  • 124 Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook At 266 feet above sea level, this small park rests on top of the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic coastal plain. There are spectacular views of Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook, the Atlantic Ocean and New York City. The overlook also hosts the 1980 Iran Hostage Memorial and the Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial. Atlantic Highlands.
  • 125 Downtown Stone Harbor  
  • 126 Bear Swamp East Contains 115 acres of old-growth forest. Some trees are 600 years old—which means they were alive during the Late Middle Ages.
  • 127 Artificial Reef Network Constructed by sinking old ships, barges, subway cars, demolition debris and dredge rock on the ocean floor. This attracts fish, shellfish and crustaceans and provides opportunities for fishermen and scuba-divers. Plus it is kind of cool to know there's all that crap down there. These are the artificial reefs: Sandy Hook, Sea Girt, Shark River, Axel Carlson, Barnegat Light, Garden State North, Garden State South, Little Egg, Atlantic City, Great Egg, Ocean City, Townsends Inlet, Wildwood, Cape May, Deepwater.All along the Jersey Shore.
  • 128 Downtown Englewood
  • 129 Red Bank Battlefield
  • 130 Deal This small town's two claims to fame are its large Syrian Orthodox Jewish community and the scores of breathtaking mansions—of many varieties—one sees while driving through the borough. Deal.
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20110313

Wonders of New Jersey: 131 - 140

  • 131 Downtown Clinton 
  • 132 Bell Labs Holmdel Complex 472-acre campus that is anchored by a building designed by Eero Saarinen, which was called "The Biggest Mirror Ever." The water tower on the property is also of note because of its sculptural design. The complex is endangered by developers who would like destroy this historically significant property. Holmdel.
  • 133 Frenchtown Quaint shopping and fine dining can be found in this little ville on the Delaware River. There are three big festivals – Wine and Art in May, Bastille Day in July and RiverFest in September. Frenchtown.
    IMG_7971
  • 134 Renault Winery Resorts Founded in 1864, this is the oldest winery in New Jersey, and tours are available. Enjoy the unique blueberry champagne. The Tuscany House Hotel allows people the opportunity to gain a more in depth knowledge of the area. Antique Glass Museum. Vineyard Golf Course. There is also an annual Halloween costume ball. Egg Harbor.
  • 135 McCarter Theatre Embedded in the gothic setting of Princeton University, this cultural center offers over 200 performances of theater, dance, music and special events each year. Over 200,000 people come to McCarter each season. In 1994, the theater was awarded the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater.  McCarter Theatre, Princeton NJImage via Wikipedia
  • 136 Tillie
  • 137 Glenmont The pumpkin-colored home of Thomas Edison and his wife, Mina, who are both buried in on the estate's grounds. West Orange.
    Glenmont, Thomas Edison's Mansion, West Orange, New Jersey
  • 138 On The Waterfront Hoboken.

  • 139 Bally's Atlantic City Hotel and Casino Atlantic City.
  • 140 Incandescent Light Bulb Thank you Thomas Edison, for inventing the first practical light bulb in Menlo Park, a part of present day Edison Township. This was the first bulb which could stay lit without burning up quickly, so it pretty much allowed humanity to light up the night with electricity. Edison.
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20110312

Wonders of New Jersey: 141 - 150

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20110310

Wonders of New Jersey: 151 - 160

  • 151 Waterloo Village Some of the historic sites include the Waterloo United Methodist Church, the Canal House, the General Store, the Canal Museum, the Sawmill, the Gristmill, Stagecoach Inn and Tavern and a recreated Lenape Indian village.
  • 152 Sterling Hill Mine and Museum A 1,300-ft underground walking tour through the Sterling Hill mine is a featured part of the tour.  Within the mine passages are numerous pieces of equipment used while the mine was in operation, plus exhibits on the mining process. The Zobel Exhibit Hall contains over 20,000 mining-related items. The Rock Discovery Center is where children learn about rocks that are quarried in our region.  Economically important rock types such as coal, slate, marble, and basalt are included in this exercise. The Fossil Discovery Center allows children to dig for fossils in a big sand box and then keep them. An instructor will be on hand to educate you about the fossils. Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence 1,800 square feet dedicated to fluorescent minerals, fossils, gemstones, carvings, and everyday objects.  A display of antique ultraviolet lights is also on view. Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg, New...Sterling Hill Mine and Museum via Wikipedia
  • 153 Abbott & Costello
  • 154 Medford Lakes A small town in the Pine Barrens known for its log cabins and multitude of little lakes. Medford Lakes.
  • 155 Hudson River Waterfront Walkway  A partially completed trail which will eventually stretch from the Bayonne Bridge to the George Washington Bridge. The length of the path will be 18.5 miles and will allow bikers, walkers and rollerbladers to see many of northeastern New Jersey's most famous urban sights (many of which are mentioned in this list), as well as having views of Staten Island, the Hudson River and Manhattan. Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg, North Bergen, Edgewater, Fort Lee.
  • 156 Fort Lee Historic Park 33-acre Historic Park blends scenic beauty and history. At the north end of the Historic Park, two overlooks reveal spectacular views of the George Washington Bridge, the Hudson River, and the skyline of upper Manhattan. In the southern portion of the Historic Park, winding paths lead past a reconstructed blockhouse and to the historic section of the grounds, with reproduction gun batteries and firing steps. Opposite the battery, authentically reconstructed eighteenth-century huts, with a well, woodshed, and baking oven, serve as the focal point for interpretive programs. Fort Lee.
  • 157 Tuckerton Seaport 40-acre working maritime village with 16 restored and replicated buildings, including the Tucker's Island Lighthouse. Maritime history, heritage and lifestyle of baymen is preserved at this living museum. Tuckerton.The Tuckerton Seaport and Lake Pohatcong.Tuckerton Seaport via Wikipedia
  • 158 Lakota Wolf Preserve The observation area is in the center of four packs of wolves. The guide tells you about the social structure, eating habits and other interesting facts. If you are lucky, you may hear the wolves howl. Also, bobcats and foxes. Knowlton.
  • 159 Northlandz Railway and Doll Museum An interesting museum for model-train-nuts and, yes, even those who think model trains are boring (like me). There are 100 miniature trains and eight miles of track. The display features 35-foot mountains, 4,000 buildings and 300 bridges. The Raritan River Railway is a 2/3-scale steam-train replica that travels through tunnels and over bridges, giving visitors a relaxing ride through the Northlandz woodlands. The La Peep Dollhouse is a 94-room mansion with indoor swimming pool plus a ballroom with a dog band. The Doll Museum shows off over 200 dolls from around the world. In The Music Hall, there’s a 2,000-pipe organ at the centerpiece of a 400-seat theater. The Art Gallery has more than 250 paintings and other works of art.
  • 160 Walt Whitman
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20110306

Wonders of New Jersey: 161 - 170

  • 161 Downtown Haddonfield
  • 162 Spruce Run Recreation Area A 1,290 acre park encompassing the Spruce Run Reservoir, the third largest in New Jersey. The reservoir is used for fishing, boating and swimming.
    Lifeguard Station by saebaryo Lifeguard Station from saebaryo
  • 163 Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart Pope John Paul II celebrated mass here in 1995, and during the same visit elevated the cathedral to basilica status. If this Basilica was in Europe, it would be a major tourist attraction. Newark.
    • Newark-Cathedral-Basilica
  • 164 Allaire State Park Contains Allaire Village, a preserved 1830s settlement and ironworks. Wall, Howell.
    1st Style of Row Homes by Owls Flight Photography Owls Flight Photography via Flickr.
  • 165 New Jersey Museum of Agriculture North Brunswick.
  • 166 Long Pond Ironworks State Park According to the NJ Division of Parks and Forestry: "Long Pond Ironworks was founded in 1766 by German ironmaster Peter Hasenclever. Hasenclever brought 500 ironworkers and their families from Germany to build an ironworks "plantation," including a furnace, forge, houses, shops and farms...The remnants of the ironmaking industrial structures at this site date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Furnaces, casting house ruins, charging areas, ice houses, waterwheels and other structures are a part of the remains... The "Old Country Store" has been renovated and now houses the Long Pond Ironworks Museum.
    The original Village of Hewitt grew up around the 19th-century iron enterprise. This settlement included a church, a store/post office, schoolhouses, and dwellings and outbuildings for workers and managers. Many of these cultural resources remain intact or as ruins." Monksville Reservoir, which was built on top of the old village of Monksville, is a popular destination for sports fishermen and it is known for its Lake Trout, Muskellunge and Walleye. Ringwood.
  • 167 Museum of Early Trades and Crafts This museum is packed with artifacts from the 1700s and 1800s. Madison.
  • 168 Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton Duel Weehawken.
  • 169 Proprietary House The only Proprietary Governor's Mansion of the Original Thirteen Colonies still standing. Built in 1762 in the Georgian style, the house was commissioned by the Proprietors of East Jersey to be the official residence of Royal Governor William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's son. There is an annual re-enactment of the arrest of William Franklin for being a Loyalist. The atmospheric underground Tea Room is the prettiest part of the mansion. (Haunted). Perth Amboy.
  • 170 Merrill Creek Reservoir 650 acres of deep, pure water in a Warren County valley. Lake trout and walleye are popular targets for fishermen. A moderately tough trail circles the reservoir. Harmony.
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20110304

Wonders of New Jersey: 171 - 180

  • 171 American Dream This will be one of the largest retail and entertainment complex in the United States. East Rutherford.
  • 172 Downtown Ridgewood
  • 173 Kean University
  • 174 Official End of World War I The official end of World War I did not occur until July 2, 1921, when President Warren G. Harding signed the Knox-Porter Resolution in the Somerset County boro of Raritan. This happened in the library of the home of Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen. Raritan.
  • 175 Turtle Back Zoo
  • 176 Monmouth University Includes Woodrow Wilson Hall, formerly known as Shadow Lawn. West Long Branch.  
  • 177 New Jersey Seafood Festival Named as one of the top 100 events in North America. According to the organizers, the festival "spotlights Belmar’s scenic oceanfront and allows people from around the State to sample a wide variety of seafood specialties from their favorite restaurants including: Klein’s Waterside Cafe, Jack Baker’s Lobster Shanty and many others. Food offerings extend from the traditional shrimp, lobster and calamari, to the more exotic alligator sausage, sushi, conch fritters, and seafood paella." Belmar.
  • 178 Historic Smithville and Village Greene Restored colonial village: cobblestone paths, restaurants, car shows, parades and festivals.
  • 179 Iron Bound District More than 170 restaurants and eateries. Predominantly Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian. Also Mexican and Central and South American influences. Newark.
  • 180 Lake Hopatcong This is the largest lake in New Jersey. Unfortunately, most of it's shoreline is not accessible. So you are mostly out of luck unless you have a boat. The state record Channel Catfish (33 lbs, 3 ounces) and Rainbow Trout (13 lbs) were caught in Lake Hopatcong. Also, the lake is stocked with Muskellunge, Walleye and Hybrid Striped Bass, among other fish.
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20110301

Wonders of New Jersey: 181 - 190

  • 181 Downtown Summit Summit.
  • 182 Historic Bordentown
  • 183 Seton Hall University
  • 184 Meadowlands Racetrack East Rutherford.
  • 185 Jersey Corn The best corn in the world because of its sweetness. Not like that starchy, mealy stuff they grow in other places for swine feed and the disastrous ethanol scheme.
  • 186 Battle of Princeton According to the Princeton Battlefield State Park web page, "On January 3, 1777, the peaceful winter fields and woods of Princeton Battlefield were transformed into the site of what is considered to be the fiercest fight of its size during the American Revolution. During this desperate battle, American troops under General George Washington surprised and defeated a force of British Regulars. Coming at the end of "The Ten Crucial Days" which saw the well-known night crossing of the Delaware River and two battles in Trenton, the Battle of Princeton gave Washington his first victory against the British Regulars on the field. The battle extended over a mile away to the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).
    The famous Mercer Oak, once stood in the middle of the battlefield, not far from the spot where General Hugh Mercer fell during the Battle of Princeton. The Clarke House, built by Thomas Clarke in 1772, witnessed the fierce fighting and served as sanctuary for General Mercer, who died there nine days later. The house contains period furniture and Revolutionary War exhibits."
    Death Of General Mercer at the Battle of Princ...Image via Wikipedia 
  • 187 Montclair Art Museum Permanent collection includes Native American Art, 18th & 19th Century American Art and Modern and Contemporary Art. Montclair.
  • 188 Far Hills Race Meeting The most prestigious steeplechase event in the United States. Far Hills.
  • 189 The Glades Wildlife Refuge According to the Natural Lands Trust, "The Glades Wildlife Refuge is a 7,500-acre expanse of diverse landscapes: vast tidal marshes, wooded uplands, beaches along the Delaware Bay, and a remarkable old growth forest." Attractions include: Raybins Beach, which is one of the best places for spotting migrating birds and horseshoe crabs; kayaking and canoeing; tuliptrees over 100 feet tall; old-growth forest with trees over 450 years old; American Holly that grows over four times its normal height; and an observation tower. Downe.
  • 190 Mullica River
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