When Bruce Springsteen, one of New Jersey's best known native sons, sang of escaping a land of factories, refineries and giant Exxon signs, he reinforced the idea that the state was one big industrial wasteland—an idea that seems very true if you whiz through on the northern stretches of the New Jersey Turnpike.
But those travelers who turn off the pike will discover the state's better side—charming Victorian seaside villages, fine sandy beaches, world-class art collections and Revolutionary War sites. And if there were an Olympic medal for shopping, New Jersey would take the gold—its range of outlet stores is astounding, megamalls are everywhere, and you'll stumble upon antiques shops wherever you go.
Most visitors will want to spend their time in small towns such as Morristown, Lambertville, Stanhope and Princeton, as well as along the Jersey Shore, which has some of the most charming beach communities in the Northeast. Atlantic City's casinos and performers vie for your attention around the clock, and its vintage boardwalk offers a tangible link to the past. The industrial corridor in the state's northeastern corner and the urban areas of Newark, Trenton and Camden have less to offer vacationers, but visitors to New York City may be surprised to find that the Newark area offers several interesting sights.
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