New Jersey. The Garden State. A place that I call home. To give my home a bit more geographic accuracy; I live in Bergen County, NJ, which is literally across from New York City. That’s right. You can call it the gateway to the Big Apple, as it is home to both the George Washington Bridge and Lincoln Tunnel, historical landmarks of the American history.
Van Saun County Park 216 Forest Ave PARAMUS NJ 07652 – address verified by Addressy.com
So you want to know why I love NJ? Well, my friend, there so much to say that a book would be in order. And since you probably don’t have time to read something the length of a novel at the moment, here’s a few reasons why you may also grow to love New Jersey.
- New Jersey is home to the most diners in the world (525 & most likely, counting). At any time of the day, if the desire grows to drown pancakes in a river of syrup or even have chicken parmigiana, you are minutes away from complete satisfaction. Our pizza and bagels are some of the best in the country.
- A TV show buff? We are home to the Sopranos. In fact, Pizzaland, featured in the opening credits of the show is just a few blocks away from us.
- If you love sports, we got you covered. The Garden State is home to the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets, the Devils of the NHL, and the NY/NJ Red Bulls of the MLS. And to think that all of these teams play within only ten miles of each other.
- When it comes to shopping, we are minutes away from the fabulous Westfield Garden State Plaza, which is located in Paramus. One of the top 10 busiest shopping malls in America, it is home to over 350 stores, including a state of the art Fashion District, which houses upscale retailers such as Burberry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and more.
- The historical significance that New Jersey plays for the country is astounding. The first organized baseball game was played in the city of Hoboken, which also happens to be the birthplace of Frank Sinatra. Atlantic City is home to the first boardwalk in the world, built all the way back in 1870. The beginnings of Hollywood, America’s first brewery, the first town to be lighted by electricity, and so on and so forth, all lay claim in NJ.
- Living so close to New York means having access to different types of cuisines from virtually every country in the world. One of our favorites is a Japanese restaurant called Gyu-Kaku (321 W 44th St, New York, NY*). It’s one of the most famous BBQ restaurants in Japan that has gained quite a following in NYC for its unique umami (flavor in Japanese). * address verification powered by Addressy.com
- Broadway, Central Park, Times Square, MoMA, and Statue of Liberty (to name a few) are a short ride (via bus, car, ferry, or train) away.
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
The state of New Jersey is a pretty amazing place, and I absolutely love Bergen County and its proximity to NYC. We get beautiful summers to spend at the Jersey shore and a white Christmas to enjoy with the family. I have been to other parts of America, both for vacation and to live, yet every time I come back, it leaves me no doubt at all that I love the Garden State.
What about you? Where is home?
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