113 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in New Jersey - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in New Jersey

Ogdensburg, New Jersey

Fluorescent Rocks of Sterling Hill Mine

Hundreds of glow-in-the-dark objects light up a museum in a historic zinc mine.

Jersey City, New Jersey

Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal

Hidden in plain sight on the Hudson River is an abandoned train station where nature has taken over.

Asbury Park, New Jersey

Paranormal Museum

A storefront museum in Asbury Park honoring the Jersey Shore’s deep history of mystery.

Hamilton Township, New Jersey

Grounds for Sculpture

A unique sculpture park that specializes in the huge and bizarre.

Egg Harbor City, New Jersey

Batsto Village

This historic New Jersey iron-working village is a ghost town but it looks like it was just built yesterday.

Clifton, New Jersey

Clifton's Gates of Hell

Series of storm drains connected to a dark urban legend.

Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

The Deserted Village of Feltville

This tiny New Jersey village has lived many lives but seems determined to remain a ghost town.

Lakehurst, New Jersey

Hindenburg Crash Site

The site of one of history's most indelible and horrific tragedies.

See All 113 Things to Do in New Jersey See All 113 Places

Unique Food & Drink in New Jersey

Beach Plum Jelly

This tangy East Coast spread is becoming increasingly hard to find.

Teaberry Ice Cream

This Pennsylvania specialty sometimes looks like Pepto-Bismol and smells like Bengay.

Birch Beer

This cousin of root beer has a long history and a surprisingly minty taste.

New Jersey Sloppy Joe

It's not what you think it is, unless you're from the Garden State.

See all 8 things to eat in New Jersey See all 8 things to eat in New Jersey

Community Forums / United States / US: Northeast

Top Discussions in the US: Northeast Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
Map of New England Oddities	15 March 29, 2020	7699	March 29, 2020
New England Road Trip	27 February 7, 2020	5257	February 7, 2020
Awful Awful	10 June 26, 2019	7428	June 26, 2019
Liederkranz Cheese	10 August 29, 2019	3010	August 29, 2019
Try our NYC culinary scavenger hunt!	4 July 18, 2019	1459	July 18, 2019

New Post Visit the Forum

Explore New Jersey

Launch Map

New Jersey Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent New Jersey Activity

jonahbuonsanto has been to Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital

jonahbuonsanto has been to Abandoned Summit Greenhouse

jonahbuonsanto has been to Brooksbrae Brick Factory

jonahbuonsanto has been to The Deserted Village of Feltville

caschrock wants to go to Sandy Hook Nike Launch Site

Stories About New Jersey

In Southern New Jersey, a curious tradition faces an uncertain future.

How South Jersey Keeps Muskrat on the Menu

An 80-year-old tradition brings a small town together to deep fry their mascot.

Ready, set, sail!

The Bittersweet Thrill of Iceboating in a Warming World

For hundreds of years, sailors have zipped across frozen lakes and rivers—but now chances are fewer and farther between.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

February 27, 2020

Winning isn't easy, but it should at least be possible.

On the Midway With the Carnival Game Investigators Out to Protect Your Summer Fun

by Jessica Leigh Hester

August 29, 2019

A German map from 1759 shows the border between East and West Jersey, separating the pink and yellow areas.

Central New Jersey Doesn't Exist, But Don't Tell Central Jerseyans That

Exploring what makes a region distinct.

by Dan Nosowitz

A sign warns visitors against fishing from the Passaic River in Newark.

The Swap-a-Fish Program That Traded Tilapia for Seafood Contaminated by Agent Orange

New Jersey's Passaic River has been unsafe to fish for decades.

by Reina Gattuso

Professor Ayeni shows off the project's peppers.

This Professor’s Hot Peppers Give New Jersey’s Immigrants a Taste of Home

The Exotic Pepper Project helps local farmers meet the diverse state's demand for heat.

by Reina Gattuso

February 25, 2019

Orchids grow at the Color Point wholesale greenhouse in Granville, Illinois.

The Century-Long Scientific Journey of the Affordable Grocery Store Orchid

Orchids were once considered the world’s most difficult and exotic flowers. So why can you buy one for $12.99 at Trader Joe’s?

by Sarah Laskow

October 2, 2018

A bag from Bamberger's department store, mid 20th century.

At the Newark Public Library, Shopping Bags Carry Local History

The New Jersey institution is home to a collection of more than 2,000 of these often overlooked items.

by Courtney Lichterman

September 25, 2018

Lists Featuring New Jersey