New Jersey

Getting Here

NY Waterway - bus & ferry info.

NJ Transit - Info on train & bussing around from NY to NJ.

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey - Info on path trains, tunnels & bridges, airports, ferrys and some general travel info.

NJ Resources

Weird NJ Magazine - Published 2 times a year, is a MUST HAVE for bored New Jersey natives. Order if from the web page or find it at Borders, The Montclair Book Center, your local comic book store, and just about anyplace these days. Local legends, ghost stories, alleged satanic gathering grounds, abandoned insane asylums.

USA CityLink: New Jersey - Similar to Citysearch, but it covers smaller cities like Newark, New Brunswick, Trenton, Flemington, Asbury Park, and several dozen more. Tourism, travel, & relocation.

New Jersey Folklore Archive - Archives Department, Alexander Library, College Avenue Campus, Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. Established in 1975, phone: (908) 932-7006. Access: walk-in, sign in. Research Facilities: reading room, card catalog. Size & Format: includes approximately 10 broadsides, 10 pieces of ephemera, 10 maps, 40 tape recordings. Key Collections: approximately 400 student papers on folklore topics, indexed by genre, nationality, religion, and New Jersey county. Publications based on collections: Cohen, David. Folklife of New Jersey, based in part on archival materials.

Entertainment Coupon Book - For around $25 (sometimes less if you know someone selling them) you get a thick book filled with coupons in your area, buy one get one free for select movie theatres, restaraunts (fancy ones, casual as well as fast food chains), car stuff, museums, theatre, and nationwide coupons for hotels & car rentals. For the NJ books there are things in NYC. Use about 4 coupons from the book and it's paid for itself, you can get an idea of what's in it on the website. It's a yearly book, starting Nov 1st each year.

I got a ton of brocures for various theatres & historical places in NJ at the northmost rest area on the NJ Parkway, I'd imagine they all have some. If you are a member of AAA you can get a lot of free maps and possibly guidebooks, but my favorites are the Hagsram (yellow) maps, they clearly show cemeteries, AAA sells these at a discount at some locations.

Lost Destinations - abandoned, unusual, wild & wierd NJ road trips. Dammit. This is what I wanted to do but my friends all suck and never wanted to do anything. It's a good site.

RockawayMall.com - wineries, museums, parks in that area, also links to other NJ Malls.

Haunted Places Ghosts, & Tours

Ghost Investigations conducted by Jane Doherty - She's an NJ Psychic and has info on this page about infamous haunted houses of NJ: Monmouth Battlefield in Freehold, Metlar-Bodine museum in Piscataway, Spy House Museum in Port Monmouth, , an Archaeological Dig in Middletown, Sea Holly Inn in Cape May, and outside NJ the Lizzie Borden House in Falls River, MA.

The De-Haunting of Spy House - more info on the Spy House in Port Monmouth, NJ.

South Jersey Ghost Research - The Deleware Valley's oldest ghost research group. On the site is the usual you'd expect from ghost hunters, they are also involved in cemetery preservation, and in the cemetery research section there are many photos of possible ghosts. There are also many cases of hauntings in NJ, including private homes.

New Jersey Ghost Hunter's Society - Meetings are held: 7:30 - 9:00 PM at, 425 E. Broad St. in Westfield, NJ (exit 135 off Garden State Parkway). Next meetings when I updated this page: Feb 25th, 2000 Mar 24th, 2000. (You may have to be a member to attend, which is $10/year)

Haunted New Jersey - All the ghosty info you need on NJ, possibly. They have lots of audio and video files and pictures on the site. There's a list of haunted places in the state, and they run haunted tours in Cape May closed in the winter. The tour claims to be all true, no fairy tales or legends and for a very reasonable price you get a full dinner, $30 (Hmph, no vegetarian entrees of course), I don't think you can get the tour without the dinner but I'm not really sure. There's a $1.00 off coupon on the site to print out too.

Cape May nightly Ghost Tour through its Victorian streets. Guides refer to local legends of ghosts, UFO’s and angel sightings as visitors enjoy the whimsical architecture of the historic district. For reservations, call (609) 88-GHOST. Cape May is also filled with Victorian houses.

From Haunted-Places.com - "Bernardsville Public Library. The ghost here is so active, the staff issued it a library card. Phyllis Parker's specter was first encountered in January 1877, in a private residence that now houses part of the library. The building had been converted from a tavern that was constructed during the Revolutionary War. Vealtown Tavern was the scene of a tragic love affair between the innkeeper's daughter and a tenant, Dr. Byram. Just after the two were married, Dr. Byram was hanged by General Anthony Wayne for being a British spy, and his lifeless body was delivered to the tavern. Not knowing what was in the large pine box, Phyllis opened it. On seeing the bug-eyed corpse of her beloved, she became hysterical and suffered a nervous breakdown. Her insane weeping is still heard in the old section of the library, which consists of the Meeting Room and the public Reading Room (where the casket was opened). After renovations in 1974, employees started seeing the apparition of Phyllis moving through the old wing. A videotape recording of a seance, held in 1987 in an effort to contact her spirit, can be played back by patrons in the Local History Room. In November 1989, a child saw the ghost of a woman in a long white dress in the Reading Room. (Bernardsville is 8 miles south of Morristown on U.S. Hwy 202, west of Newark. The library is downtown at 2 Morristown Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924. Phone: 908-766-0118.)"

Morristown, NJ Ghost Tour walks - Jack Rushing's Morristown Ghost Tour Walks and Ghost Story Hour, PO Box 128, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908 766-5376 or e-mail, headlesshessian@yahoo.com. Meet at Jimmy's American Bar & Grill, 217 South Street, Morristown, NJ Saturdays and Headquarters Plaza Hotel - Sundays. Also Somerville Neet o Rama on Main St. in Somerville on Sundays. These don't run during the winter, make sure to call or email before going.

The Rahway Historical Society's Ghost Night tour - I don't know if this still runs: Once again, candlelight and the flickering blaze of the kitchen fire will add a bewitching atmosphere to the Merchants and Drovers Tavern for three Ghost Nights scheduled for November. Last fall's sellout of our first Ghost Night for children, has prompted the board to plan two for children this year. A third will be created specifically for adults. Cathy Nevins, chairman of the fundraiser, emphasizes that this interpretive event is designed to let participants immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a circa 1800 tavern. Ghost tales and strange happenings add to the aura of yesteryear. Check the calendar elsewhere in this publication for dates. The price is $5 for the children's Ghost Night and $10 for the adult Ghost Night. Refreshments are included in the ticket price. Reservations may be made by calling Cathy at (908) 499-0279.

Weird Places & Folklore

The Pine Barrens of New Jersey

A Map showing location of the New Jersey Pineland

Pinelands reading list

The New Jersey Pinelands Commission Home Page

The Jersey Devil

The Jersey Devil Legend - A bunch of variations of the Jersey Devil story & bibliography

NJ.com's site on the JD - used to have directions to where the house is the JD was supposedly born. I'm not sure where that went, but the site also has sightings, ecards, films, books, etc about the JD.

Atlantic County Online: The Jersey Devil - Pines, origin, sightings, theories, deeds, etc.

Jersey Devil at Shadowlands.com - Takes a look at the many different versions of the legend and their origins.

Historical Places & Museums

Pine Barrens Enthusiasts - This is such a beautifully designed and informative site! It should go in every category because it has notable people, historic events (including a timeline from 170 million years ago), folklore, maps, ecosystem info, places to visit, and anything you could possibly want to know about the Pine Barrens.

The Newark Museum - Newark actually has some very old buildings, and I've yet to visit it but it seems like a nice museum. They have changing exibitions, and some of the static collections include art from all over the world, including egyptian. Part of the museum is the Ballantine House, built in 1885, a planetarium, a mini-zoo & natural science collection, more info on all of this is on the website. It is located in Newark's Downtown/Arts District, hours: Wed-Sun noon till 5pm, Thursdays open till 8:30pm, closed Mon & Tues, Jan 1, July 4, Thanksgiving day, Dec 25.

New Jersey Museums - organized by county.

Historic Sites and Districts in NJ - battlefields, houses dating back to 1700s, and forests.

Virtual Newark NJ - You'd never know what a dirty city it is now based on the old drawings and pictures of it. There is info on general history of the city and some cemteries.

Charles Addams's house - I have heard 3 different locations for the house that Charle's Addams lived in and was fed his inspiration for the Addams Family comic, this one claims it was 2 spooky houses in Westfield, NJ one on Dudley and one on Elm Street. There is a photo of one of the houses on this site.

Bergen County Historical Society - Includes The Steuben House, Campbell-Christie House and Demarest House, which are landmarks of Bergen Dutch sandstone architecture, all located near or on River Rd in Hackensack.

Historical Sites to Visit in New Brunswick

The Doll House & Miniature Museum of Cape May - Victorian doll houses dating back to the victorian era to 1970s are on display. Hours: Saturday 4 to 8 PM, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday 1 to 5 PM, and also by appointment. Admission for adults is $4, call 609-884-6371 for info. 118 Decatur Street, Cape May, NJ 08204.

Annabel Lee Guest House - The Annabel Lee, named after a favorite poem by Edgar Allen Poe, is a beautiful Victorian Lady. This Annabel Lee was built in the 1850's and offers beautiful, clean, cozy accommodations. Much of her natural beauty remains intact and we have renovated and decorated in an appealing Victorian style. 116 N. Broadway West Cape May, NJ 08204 Phone (609)- 898-1109.

Historic Burlington City

Beachcomber.com Cape May resources - Scroll down a bit and you'll find links to a photo tour, historical sites, historic accommodations, victorian guest accommodations, restaraunts, doll house & miniature museum.

Cape May Historical Sights

Beautiful Places/Things

Official New Jersey Travel & Tourism site - Very nicely designed site with great info on what to do in this little state, fall driving tours, more tours, biking trails by county, nj getaways, natural wonders, tourist attractions, historical sites, culture, mall listing, Parks & recreation.

Castles of New Jersey - Photos, descriptions, history, addresses, and museum info where applicable for many of them.

Wild New Jersey - Devoted to the wildlife and wild places in the Garden State. Includes columns, reports, book reviews, photographs and hundreds of annotated links. It starts off informing us that there are over 150 species of butterflies in this state, if you follow that link you are led to a set of articles on butterflies of NJ, including a photo checklist of possibly all the species. There is also info on birds & parks.

Palisades Interstate Park - I have read all about this place, and it sounds so beautiful. I've lived near it for the past 4 years or so and only haven't gone because it's very woodsy and probably the kind of place lone joggers vanish in, and my friends all suck. The site also has historical info, and directions, what's allowed (biking and whatnot), regulations, trail guides, and special programs. It's also home to the Blackledge–Kearney house, the oldest building in the New Jersey Section of the Palisades Interstate Park, dates back to 1750. Hours to visit the house: April - October, weekends & holidays, 12 - 5 PM or by appointment, November - March the house is closed. (Museum office open year-round).

New Jersey Division of Parks & Forestry - directions, maps, info on all (?) parks in NJ including some historic sites, listings of what parks you can bike, hike, picnic, horseback ride, birdwatch, etc in.

Waterford Gardens - Not much on the website, it's a garden supply but according to New Jersey Off the Beaten Path, they have beautiful pond & gardens set up and welcome visitors to just look. They have night blooming flowers and whatnot.

Gateway National Recreation Area - Gateway NRA is a 26,000 acre recreation area located in the heart of the New York Metropolitan area. The park extends through three New York City boroughs and into northern New Jersey. Park sites offer a variety of recreation opportunities, along with a chance to explore many significant cultural and natural resources. All the info you need is on the web site, including detailed, color pdf downloadable maps.

New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands - Located in Ringwood, NJ, open 8-8 every day, no charge for admission aside from a small parking fee on weekends from Mem day through Labor day. On the property is the Skylands Tudor-style Manor House, and Estate Gardens. You can get guided tours of the house one Sunday a month March through December for a fee and there are sceduled talks and events for $3 every few weeks.

Lakota Wolf Preserve - You can go and safely observe these beautiful animals in a natural habitat, located at 89 Mt. Pleasant Road Columbia, NJ 07832 877-SEE-WOLF. Wolf Watch program presented Twice Daily: 10:30 and 4:00 in the Summer, 10:30 and 3:00 Fall & Winter, no Appointment Needed Saturdays and Sundays, call for Reservations for Monday through Friday, meet at Camp Taylor Office 15 minutes before program. They have 18 adults and some puppies, various ages and breeds. The watch costs $15 for adults, $7 for children under 12. You can sponsor a wolf to help them out, depending how much you pay you are entitlted to a few more visits. They also have photography sessions for serious photographers, for $300 per half day, $500 per full day, you get to photograph from a few feet away, but still in safety.

Liberty State Park - exit 14 on the NJ Turnpike, here you can see lots of pretty things. It's home to Liberty Science center, a nature area, swimming, tennis courts, liberation monument, and ferries.

Cheesequake State Park - I pass the signs for this every time I visit my hunny in Matawan and still haven't visited it. Take exit 120 off the GS Parkway (there's signs for it too). Every Saturday at 1pm you can join in a 60-90 minute nature walk, I think it's free and it leaves from the Interpretive Center. Every Sunday at 1pm they have a different activity such as hikes, readings, and focusing on different animals, plants & nature topics. It's home to many magnificent wildflowers & birds including the endangered Osprey bird. There are also bike trails and camping grounds at the park. Phone: 732-566-3208. This is the only thing it says about admission prices: from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, $5 per car on weekdays and $7 on weekends.

Great Swamp Outdoor Eduation Center - I don't think the web site has been updated for 2 years, so check before going. Located at 247 Southern Blvd. in Chatham Township, New Jersey, open to the public 7 days a week, 9:00am to 4:30pm, September through June. They have, displays of New Jersey's wildlife and it's natural history, this Morris County park has 40 acres open to the public. There are two miles of trails, including a self-guiding trail, an observation blind, and a handicapped accessible boardwalk.

New Jersey Wineries - I put this here because this page doesn't have a proper category for it, it could go under historical I suppose, but most wineries are in pretty rural areas and have lots of nice scenery.

Cape May - The southern end of our Tiny State is filled with old Victorian houses and lots of ghosts.

Hidden New Jersey Photo Gallery at nj.com

Fun Places

Fairy Tale Forest - Located at 140 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge, NJ, 973-697-5656. This looks possibly too cutesy (it's meant for kids 10 & under) but fairy tales are fairy tales! You go through the forest and see more than 20 cottages with themes like Cinderella, Gingerbread Boy, Hansel & Gretel, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and lots more. They do seasonal themes, like goblins and witches for halloween. I've yet to visit, but it's near my office so I've driven past it once. Admission and Hours changes with season, in the summer they are open 6 days 11-5, closed Wed & major hoildays, adult admission is $7-$8.

Learn

Liberty Science Center - Winter hours: Tues-Sun 9:30-5:30, rest of year: 7 days 9:30-5:30. General admission for adults is $9.50, but you can just get into the IMAX theatre for $8.50, both for $15.50, $5 parking fee, more prices on site. Call 201-200-1000 for ticket info and reservations. They have the IMAX theatre, a 3-D laser show and lots of fun things. Detailed directions are on the site, but there are signs at exit 14 on the NJ Turnpike, and you can easily get there by path to light rail or bus, or ferry from NY.



Clubs Calendar Ethereal Journeys Dark Shopping Music Personal Boys Are Dumb Gothic Crafts Consumption Image Gallery Candy Library Toys Community help/site map links/webrings home		New Jersey See also: cemeteries, NJ travel books, clubs, calendar Getting Here NY Waterway - bus & ferry info. NJ Transit - Info on train & bussing around from NY to NJ. Port Authority of New York & New Jersey - Info on path trains, tunnels & bridges, airports, ferrys and some general travel info. NJ Resources Weird NJ Magazine - Published 2 times a year, is a MUST HAVE for bored New Jersey natives. Order if from the web page or find it at Borders, The Montclair Book Center, your local comic book store, and just about anyplace these days. Local legends, ghost stories, alleged satanic gathering grounds, abandoned insane asylums. USA CityLink: New Jersey - Similar to Citysearch, but it covers smaller cities like Newark, New Brunswick, Trenton, Flemington, Asbury Park, and several dozen more. Tourism, travel, & relocation. New Jersey Folklore Archive - Archives Department, Alexander Library, College Avenue Campus, Rutgers, The State University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. Established in 1975, phone: (908) 932-7006. Access: walk-in, sign in. Research Facilities: reading room, card catalog. Size & Format: includes approximately 10 broadsides, 10 pieces of ephemera, 10 maps, 40 tape recordings. Key Collections: approximately 400 student papers on folklore topics, indexed by genre, nationality, religion, and New Jersey county. Publications based on collections: Cohen, David. Folklife of New Jersey, based in part on archival materials. Entertainment Coupon Book - For around $25 (sometimes less if you know someone selling them) you get a thick book filled with coupons in your area, buy one get one free for select movie theatres, restaraunts (fancy ones, casual as well as fast food chains), car stuff, museums, theatre, and nationwide coupons for hotels & car rentals. For the NJ books there are things in NYC. Use about 4 coupons from the book and it's paid for itself, you can get an idea of what's in it on the website. It's a yearly book, starting Nov 1st each year. I got a ton of brocures for various theatres & historical places in NJ at the northmost rest area on the NJ Parkway, I'd imagine they all have some. If you are a member of AAA you can get a lot of free maps and possibly guidebooks, but my favorites are the Hagsram (yellow) maps, they clearly show cemeteries, AAA sells these at a discount at some locations. Lost Destinations - abandoned, unusual, wild & wierd NJ road trips. Dammit. This is what I wanted to do but my friends all suck and never wanted to do anything. It's a good site. RockawayMall.com - wineries, museums, parks in that area, also links to other NJ Malls. Haunted Places Ghosts, & Tours Ghost Investigations conducted by Jane Doherty - She's an NJ Psychic and has info on this page about infamous haunted houses of NJ: Monmouth Battlefield in Freehold, Metlar-Bodine museum in Piscataway, Spy House Museum in Port Monmouth, , an Archaeological Dig in Middletown, Sea Holly Inn in Cape May, and outside NJ the Lizzie Borden House in Falls River, MA. The De-Haunting of Spy House - more info on the Spy House in Port Monmouth, NJ. South Jersey Ghost Research - The Deleware Valley's oldest ghost research group. On the site is the usual you'd expect from ghost hunters, they are also involved in cemetery preservation, and in the cemetery research section there are many photos of possible ghosts. There are also many cases of hauntings in NJ, including private homes. New Jersey Ghost Hunter's Society - Meetings are held: 7:30 - 9:00 PM at, 425 E. Broad St. in Westfield, NJ (exit 135 off Garden State Parkway). Next meetings when I updated this page: Feb 25th, 2000 Mar 24th, 2000. (You may have to be a member to attend, which is $10/year) Haunted New Jersey - All the ghosty info you need on NJ, possibly. They have lots of audio and video files and pictures on the site. There's a list of haunted places in the state, and they run haunted tours in Cape May closed in the winter. The tour claims to be all true, no fairy tales or legends and for a very reasonable price you get a full dinner, $30 (Hmph, no vegetarian entrees of course), I don't think you can get the tour without the dinner but I'm not really sure. There's a $1.00 off coupon on the site to print out too. Cape May nightly Ghost Tour through its Victorian streets. Guides refer to local legends of ghosts, UFO’s and angel sightings as visitors enjoy the whimsical architecture of the historic district. For reservations, call (609) 88-GHOST. Cape May is also filled with Victorian houses. From Haunted-Places.com - "Bernardsville Public Library. The ghost here is so active, the staff issued it a library card. Phyllis Parker's specter was first encountered in January 1877, in a private residence that now houses part of the library. The building had been converted from a tavern that was constructed during the Revolutionary War. Vealtown Tavern was the scene of a tragic love affair between the innkeeper's daughter and a tenant, Dr. Byram. Just after the two were married, Dr. Byram was hanged by General Anthony Wayne for being a British spy, and his lifeless body was delivered to the tavern. Not knowing what was in the large pine box, Phyllis opened it. On seeing the bug-eyed corpse of her beloved, she became hysterical and suffered a nervous breakdown. Her insane weeping is still heard in the old section of the library, which consists of the Meeting Room and the public Reading Room (where the casket was opened). After renovations in 1974, employees started seeing the apparition of Phyllis moving through the old wing. A videotape recording of a seance, held in 1987 in an effort to contact her spirit, can be played back by patrons in the Local History Room. In November 1989, a child saw the ghost of a woman in a long white dress in the Reading Room. (Bernardsville is 8 miles south of Morristown on U.S. Hwy 202, west of Newark. The library is downtown at 2 Morristown Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924. Phone: 908-766-0118.)" Morristown, NJ Ghost Tour walks - Jack Rushing's Morristown Ghost Tour Walks and Ghost Story Hour, PO Box 128, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908 766-5376 or e-mail, headlesshessian@yahoo.com. Meet at Jimmy's American Bar & Grill, 217 South Street, Morristown, NJ Saturdays and Headquarters Plaza Hotel - Sundays. Also Somerville Neet o Rama on Main St. in Somerville on Sundays. These don't run during the winter, make sure to call or email before going. The Rahway Historical Society's Ghost Night tour - I don't know if this still runs: Once again, candlelight and the flickering blaze of the kitchen fire will add a bewitching atmosphere to the Merchants and Drovers Tavern for three Ghost Nights scheduled for November. Last fall's sellout of our first Ghost Night for children, has prompted the board to plan two for children this year. A third will be created specifically for adults. Cathy Nevins, chairman of the fundraiser, emphasizes that this interpretive event is designed to let participants immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a circa 1800 tavern. Ghost tales and strange happenings add to the aura of yesteryear. Check the calendar elsewhere in this publication for dates. The price is $5 for the children's Ghost Night and $10 for the adult Ghost Night. Refreshments are included in the ticket price. Reservations may be made by calling Cathy at (908) 499-0279. Weird Places & Folklore The Pine Barrens of New Jersey A Map showing location of the New Jersey Pineland Pinelands reading list The New Jersey Pinelands Commission Home Page The Jersey Devil The Jersey Devil Legend - A bunch of variations of the Jersey Devil story & bibliography NJ.com's site on the JD - used to have directions to where the house is the JD was supposedly born. I'm not sure where that went, but the site also has sightings, ecards, films, books, etc about the JD. Atlantic County Online: The Jersey Devil - Pines, origin, sightings, theories, deeds, etc. Jersey Devil at Shadowlands.com - Takes a look at the many different versions of the legend and their origins. Historical Places & Museums Pine Barrens Enthusiasts - This is such a beautifully designed and informative site! It should go in every category because it has notable people, historic events (including a timeline from 170 million years ago), folklore, maps, ecosystem info, places to visit, and anything you could possibly want to know about the Pine Barrens. The Newark Museum - Newark actually has some very old buildings, and I've yet to visit it but it seems like a nice museum. They have changing exibitions, and some of the static collections include art from all over the world, including egyptian. Part of the museum is the Ballantine House, built in 1885, a planetarium, a mini-zoo & natural science collection, more info on all of this is on the website. It is located in Newark's Downtown/Arts District, hours: Wed-Sun noon till 5pm, Thursdays open till 8:30pm, closed Mon & Tues, Jan 1, July 4, Thanksgiving day, Dec 25. New Jersey Museums - organized by county. Historic Sites and Districts in NJ - battlefields, houses dating back to 1700s, and forests. Virtual Newark NJ - You'd never know what a dirty city it is now based on the old drawings and pictures of it. There is info on general history of the city and some cemteries. Charles Addams's house - I have heard 3 different locations for the house that Charle's Addams lived in and was fed his inspiration for the Addams Family comic, this one claims it was 2 spooky houses in Westfield, NJ one on Dudley and one on Elm Street. There is a photo of one of the houses on this site. Bergen County Historical Society - Includes The Steuben House, Campbell-Christie House and Demarest House, which are landmarks of Bergen Dutch sandstone architecture, all located near or on River Rd in Hackensack. Historical Sites to Visit in New Brunswick The Doll House & Miniature Museum of Cape May - Victorian doll houses dating back to the victorian era to 1970s are on display. Hours: Saturday 4 to 8 PM, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday 1 to 5 PM, and also by appointment. Admission for adults is $4, call 609-884-6371 for info. 118 Decatur Street, Cape May, NJ 08204. Annabel Lee Guest House - The Annabel Lee, named after a favorite poem by Edgar Allen Poe, is a beautiful Victorian Lady. This Annabel Lee was built in the 1850's and offers beautiful, clean, cozy accommodations. Much of her natural beauty remains intact and we have renovated and decorated in an appealing Victorian style. 116 N. Broadway West Cape May, NJ 08204 Phone (609)- 898-1109. Historic Burlington City Beachcomber.com Cape May resources - Scroll down a bit and you'll find links to a photo tour, historical sites, historic accommodations, victorian guest accommodations, restaraunts, doll house & miniature museum. Cape May Historical Sights Beautiful Places/Things Official New Jersey Travel & Tourism site - Very nicely designed site with great info on what to do in this little state, fall driving tours, more tours, biking trails by county, nj getaways, natural wonders, tourist attractions, historical sites, culture, mall listing, Parks & recreation. Castles of New Jersey - Photos, descriptions, history, addresses, and museum info where applicable for many of them. Wild New Jersey - Devoted to the wildlife and wild places in the Garden State. Includes columns, reports, book reviews, photographs and hundreds of annotated links. It starts off informing us that there are over 150 species of butterflies in this state, if you follow that link you are led to a set of articles on butterflies of NJ, including a photo checklist of possibly all the species. There is also info on birds & parks. Palisades Interstate Park - I have read all about this place, and it sounds so beautiful. I've lived near it for the past 4 years or so and only haven't gone because it's very woodsy and probably the kind of place lone joggers vanish in, and my friends all suck. The site also has historical info, and directions, what's allowed (biking and whatnot), regulations, trail guides, and special programs. It's also home to the Blackledge–Kearney house, the oldest building in the New Jersey Section of the Palisades Interstate Park, dates back to 1750. Hours to visit the house: April - October, weekends & holidays, 12 - 5 PM or by appointment, November - March the house is closed. (Museum office open year-round). New Jersey Division of Parks & Forestry - directions, maps, info on all (?) parks in NJ including some historic sites, listings of what parks you can bike, hike, picnic, horseback ride, birdwatch, etc in. Waterford Gardens - Not much on the website, it's a garden supply but according to New Jersey Off the Beaten Path, they have beautiful pond & gardens set up and welcome visitors to just look. They have night blooming flowers and whatnot. Gateway National Recreation Area - Gateway NRA is a 26,000 acre recreation area located in the heart of the New York Metropolitan area. The park extends through three New York City boroughs and into northern New Jersey. Park sites offer a variety of recreation opportunities, along with a chance to explore many significant cultural and natural resources. All the info you need is on the web site, including detailed, color pdf downloadable maps. New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skylands - Located in Ringwood, NJ, open 8-8 every day, no charge for admission aside from a small parking fee on weekends from Mem day through Labor day. On the property is the Skylands Tudor-style Manor House, and Estate Gardens. You can get guided tours of the house one Sunday a month March through December for a fee and there are sceduled talks and events for $3 every few weeks. Lakota Wolf Preserve - You can go and safely observe these beautiful animals in a natural habitat, located at 89 Mt. Pleasant Road Columbia, NJ 07832 877-SEE-WOLF. Wolf Watch program presented Twice Daily: 10:30 and 4:00 in the Summer, 10:30 and 3:00 Fall & Winter, no Appointment Needed Saturdays and Sundays, call for Reservations for Monday through Friday, meet at Camp Taylor Office 15 minutes before program. They have 18 adults and some puppies, various ages and breeds. The watch costs $15 for adults, $7 for children under 12. You can sponsor a wolf to help them out, depending how much you pay you are entitlted to a few more visits. They also have photography sessions for serious photographers, for $300 per half day, $500 per full day, you get to photograph from a few feet away, but still in safety. Liberty State Park - exit 14 on the NJ Turnpike, here you can see lots of pretty things. It's home to Liberty Science center, a nature area, swimming, tennis courts, liberation monument, and ferries. Cheesequake State Park - I pass the signs for this every time I visit my hunny in Matawan and still haven't visited it. Take exit 120 off the GS Parkway (there's signs for it too). Every Saturday at 1pm you can join in a 60-90 minute nature walk, I think it's free and it leaves from the Interpretive Center. Every Sunday at 1pm they have a different activity such as hikes, readings, and focusing on different animals, plants & nature topics. It's home to many magnificent wildflowers & birds including the endangered Osprey bird. There are also bike trails and camping grounds at the park. Phone: 732-566-3208. This is the only thing it says about admission prices: from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, $5 per car on weekdays and $7 on weekends. Great Swamp Outdoor Eduation Center - I don't think the web site has been updated for 2 years, so check before going. Located at 247 Southern Blvd. in Chatham Township, New Jersey, open to the public 7 days a week, 9:00am to 4:30pm, September through June. They have, displays of New Jersey's wildlife and it's natural history, this Morris County park has 40 acres open to the public. There are two miles of trails, including a self-guiding trail, an observation blind, and a handicapped accessible boardwalk. New Jersey Wineries - I put this here because this page doesn't have a proper category for it, it could go under historical I suppose, but most wineries are in pretty rural areas and have lots of nice scenery. Cape May - The southern end of our Tiny State is filled with old Victorian houses and lots of ghosts. Hidden New Jersey Photo Gallery at nj.com Fun Places Fairy Tale Forest - Located at 140 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge, NJ, 973-697-5656. This looks possibly too cutesy (it's meant for kids 10 & under) but fairy tales are fairy tales! You go through the forest and see more than 20 cottages with themes like Cinderella, Gingerbread Boy, Hansel & Gretel, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and lots more. They do seasonal themes, like goblins and witches for halloween. I've yet to visit, but it's near my office so I've driven past it once. Admission and Hours changes with season, in the summer they are open 6 days 11-5, closed Wed & major hoildays, adult admission is $7-$8. Learn Liberty Science Center - Winter hours: Tues-Sun 9:30-5:30, rest of year: 7 days 9:30-5:30. General admission for adults is $9.50, but you can just get into the IMAX theatre for $8.50, both for $15.50, $5 parking fee, more prices on site. Call 201-200-1000 for ticket info and reservations. They have the IMAX theatre, a 3-D laser show and lots of fun things. Detailed directions are on the site, but there are signs at exit 14 on the NJ Turnpike, and you can easily get there by path to light rail or bus, or ferry from NY.