Having been born and raised in the Garden State, and choosing to make this my permanent home, New Jersey is very dear to my heart. However, when I travel and meet new people from different states and countries, I tend to get strange looks and flippant comments when I tell them where I’m from. I’ve decided to jot down a few of these remarks by those unfamiliar with NJ so I can come back with a witty, well-composed retort, helping to rid the world of these common myths and misconceptions surrounding New Jersey.

“Hey, so you’re from New Joisee?”

That’s funny, I could have sworn I just said “New Jersey.” I’m not sure I know where this place “New Joisee” is.

Seriously, regarding the New Jersey accent, it is more pronounced and prevalent in counties and towns closest to New York city, namely Bergen, Union, and Hudson Counties, and most often stems from folks moving from New York to New Jersey. Most people I have known with a strong accent were born in New York and then raised in both states. Some people in New Jersey and New York have a tendency to make “er” sound like “ah”, for instance, “yestaday” instead of “yesterday.” Also, the short vowel "a" sound in words like "stand" often mimics the "eah" in "yeah." Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish “are” from “our.” We’ll also combine words like “want to” into “wanna” and “going to” into “gonna,” but that’s common in many other areas of the country. Other nuances can be heard on words like “water” and “daughter,” but overall, there’s nothing too pronounced in a New Jersey accent, unless, that is, you’re from someplace else!

“What exit?”

Oooh, are you gonna come visit me?

This stereotype of New Jersey being one long roadway can be attributed to the small size of our state and the efficient New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, two toll roads that traverse the entire state North to South. Both roadways begin east of New York City, with the Turnpike traveling to the southwest corner of the state bordering Delaware and the Parkway hugging the coastline.

The Turnpike

The entire Turnpike can be traveled in approximately three to four hours. Exit 18W will get you to the George Washington Bridge and into “the city”; Exit 16W for the Meadowlands is home to Devils hockey, Nets basketball, and Giants and Jets football (yes, these teams play in New Jersey, not New York); while the Exit 14 extension drops you off at Newark Airport or the Holland Tunnel into downtown NYC. Turn around if you missed the mid-town Lincoln Tunnel at Exit 16E. Further down the state, Exit 10 crosses over into Staten Island; Exit 9 will drop you off at Rutgers University, one of the oldest colleges in the nation; and Exit 7 is tons of fun—Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park!

Exits in the southernmost portion of New Jersey roll through the sprawling farmland that gives this state its nickname. The turnpike in this region is mostly straight as an arrow, which prompted me to ask as a young child, “Why is it called a Turnpike if there are no turns?”

The Parkway

The 173-mile Garden State Parkway is popular for its access to NJ shore and beach destinations. This is also a toll road, but instead of picking up a ticket where you enter and paying where you exit as on the Turnpike, there are toll booths at each county line (35 cents) and at selected exits (25 cents). The convenient EZ-Pass electronic toll system has made some of the long lines at toll booths a thing of the past.

Traveling southbound from Bergen County, the first beach locale on the Parkway is Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook, Exit 117. Catch a concert at the next exit; you’ll be at the PNC Bank Arts Center (formerly known as the Garden State Art Center). Point Pleasant at Exit 98 offers boardwalk amusements, and this same exit for Belmar beach is popular with college students and is often a stop on the Pro Beach Volleyball tour. Next door, Spring Lake’s mix of large turn-of-the-century and contemporary homes overlooking the ocean makes a stroll down the boardwalk a welcomed respite. The family-oriented Long Beach Island is about thirty exits farther, and Atlantic City gambling is accessible via Exit 38. During this part of the ride, you’ll drive through some of the one million acres that comprise New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, or Pinelands. Wildwood’s boardwalks are all the way down at Exit 4, and you can continue until the road ends for charming Victorian Cape May, located on the southernmost peninsula of the state.

"I'm going down the shore."

This phrase can be heard throughout the state, referring to the fact that you're going to the shore! "Down" is used because a great majority of New Jersey residents travel south to reach the beach. I never realized how strange this phrase was until a non-resident pointed it out.

East and West

There are two main East-West highways, I-80 and I-78, which bring you from New York City into Pennsylvania, although they are aren’t the roadways you refer to when answering the question, “What exit?” But most of us from New Jersey ignore the question, because really, if we were to answer “123” would you really know what we meant?

“It’s not as bad as people say, right? There’s not that many oil refineries, is there?”

Not as bad as people say? Oil refineries? I’m sorry, but you must be watching too much of “The Sopranos.”

Don’t Judge New Jersey by the Airport

Those who know of New Jersey by flying in and out of Newark Airport will typically only see the most congested area of the state, and yes, there are several oil refineries, loading docks, garbage dumps, warehouses, and other industrial areas concentrated here, logically so, considering the close proximity to bustling New York City. These are the same areas you’ll see on the opening credits of HBO’s “The Sopranos” and are not indicative of the rest of the state.

Travel just 10 to 15 miles west of New York City and you’ll reach quaint suburban townships that slowly give way to more rural landscapes. New Jersey villages like Madison and Summit flourish along the commuter train lines, boasting picturesque old-fashioned downtown areas you might find in a Rockwell painting. Artsy towns like Red Bank and Lambertville sit on New Jersey rivers and offer antique shops, gourmet restaurants, galleries, and funky stores displaying unique works by local artisans. Quiet, semi-rural communities like Bedminster and Mendham claim famous residences and expansive estates. Patterson was planned to be the first urban area in America, and Newark, the largest city in the state, is being revitalized, having recently opened the New Jersey Center for the Performing Arts.

We Cherish Our Open Spaces

New Jersey has four National Wildlife Preserves, more than any other state in the East. With 127 miles of sandy beaches, one million acres of Pinelands, thousands of lakes and streams, and 73.4 miles of the Appalachian Trail, this state has a lot to offer the avid outdoorsman.

Monmouth and Ocean Counties were recently named one of the top five places to live in the USA by “Money” magazine. Judging criteria included quality of schools, cost of living, high employment rates, safe neighborhoods, and access to entertainment. A relaxing 45-minute ferry ride from Atlantic Highlands into downtown New York City has made Monmouth and Ocean popular communities for many city commuters.

Steeped in History and Culture

New Jersey’s historical significance is impressive; the state is home to more than 100 Revolutionary War battle sites, and in Morristown you’ll find Ford Mansion, the 1779-1780 winter headquarters for General George Washington. The military camp “Jockey Hollow” is a few miles south of the Headquarters.

Princeton, settled in the late 17th century, is of course home to the prestigious university that bears its name. Famous scientific scholars such as Albert Einstein once roamed Princeton's halls, and now two prolific modern writers, Toni Morrison and Joyce Carol Oates, bring much prestige to their Creative Writing department.

Thomas Alva Edison also settled in New Jersey, with his laboratory and residence located in West Orange, Essex County. The first motion picture, “The Great Train Robbery” was filmed in New Jersey in 1903, and it is curious to think that had it not been for the winter weather and Mr. Edison’s retirement, West Orange may have been the modern day Hollywood! Seventeen hundred films were produced in the area prior to 1930.

It may also surprise you that New Jersey is home to the following organizations:

- The US Equestrian Team
- The US Bicycling Hall of Fame
- The US Golf Association National Museum & Testing Center

“You don’t have to pump your own gas?”

This one is absolutely true! It is against the law to pump your own gas. You must wait for the attendant to do so, which has its pros and cons. On wintry days, it’s nice to stay protected and cozy in your heated vehicle. And, you never get gas on your hands! On other days when you’re in a hurry, there’s no rushing the attendant. There could be one person trying to handle several cars at once, which means you’ll just have to wait.

So you see, we really do love our home…and hope you will, too

I hope I’ve been able to dispel a few of the misconceptions surrounding this fine state. New Jersey isn't an industrial wasteland trapped between New York and Philadelphia, but rather a collection of vibrant suburban and rural communities with excellent schools, great business opportunities, and millions of acres of parks, lakes, mountains, and farmland.

So the next time you meet someone from New Jersey, kindly mention how beautiful their state is and how lucky they must be to live in such an exciting area. You’ll pleasantly surprise the NJ resident and most likely strike up an interesting conversation, making a new friend.


Recommended: Yes

Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime