The 8 Best Attractions to Discover in New Jersey

New Jersey's cultural, geographic, and historic diversity make the state a mecca for visitors seeking opportunities to explore its charms. WorldAtlas recently compiled a list of some of the best well-known and lesser-known attractions one can find in the Garden State.

The Atlantic City Boardwalk offers a historic coastal experience, with attractions, eateries, rides like the Steel Pier Wheel, and enduring boardwalk sights from the past to the present.

Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton is a 42-acre outdoor sculpture park featuring more than 300 contemporary works, six indoor galleries, dining, and a blend of art and gardens, including an arboretum.

Holsten's Brookdale Confectionery in Bloomfield is a historic diner celebrated for homemade ice cream, classic dishes, and ties to The Sopranos. According to the WorldAtlas, "the highly controversial final scene of The Sopranos that left millions of fans hanging was shot in one of the soda shop's booths."

Liberty Science Center in Liberty State Park features 12 exhibition halls, an extensive live-animal collection, giant aquariums, a major planetarium, interactive exhibits for kids, a 3D theater, and Dino Dig Adventures.

Liberty State Park in Jersey City offers views of Manhattan, access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, the Empty Sky 9/11 Memorial, a two-mile promenade, and ferry access to nearby points of interest.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park centers on a 77-foot waterfall along the Passaic River and highlights Paterson as America's first planned industrial city through guided falls tours and related industrial history.

Ogdensburg hosts the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. This attraction offers mine tours, rock and fossil centers, and the world's largest public display of fluorescent minerals with interactive glow experiences.

In Hackensack, White Manna Hamburgers stands out as a historic diner famed for its onion-and-cheese burgers on Martin's Potato Rolls, a recipe popularized at the 1939 World's Fair and later featured on television shows like Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.