We Love New Jersey, and Here’s Why

We have the good fortune to live in a part of New Jersey that is reasonably affordable and also quite diverse, and we’re not talking just about food and culture, though that certainly gets an A+ in our book. We’re talking about the fact that, as Middlesex County’s own born-and-bred Jon Bon Jovi once said, “heaven looks a lot like New Jersey.” We agree. New Jersey’s towns offer a nice mix of single-family homes, from modestly priced starter homes to multi-million-dollar mansions, as well as multi-family residences. We’re talking about our small towns with a decidedly old-fashioned feel to them and our bigger cities with a distinctly metropolitan vibe to them. We’re talking about our open spaces, great parks, mom-and-pop shops and, of course, amazing multi-cultural restaurants and cultural centers. We have easy access to the Jersey shore, and when we need a bigger n escape, there are three major airports in New Jersey and New York, plus one in Philadelphia, to get us on our way. We are within daytrip reach of lots of cool places, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, Shea and Yankee stadiums and the Bronx Zoo. And, we have fairly easy access to New York City, thanks to ample train lines connecting Middlesex County to midtown Manhattan. Schools boast relatively low student-to-teacher ratios, which we all know is good for the kids. There are ample opportunities for cultural experiences, including live theater and music. We are, after all, the point of origin for so many famous people, from Bruce Springsteen to Meryl Streep to Frank Sinatra. And, as we alluded to earlier, our culinary options are amazing! Take-out and food trucks are elevated to an art form in New Jersey, with the sheer diversity of our ethnic restaurants guaranteeing good eats no matter what you’re in the mood for. Plus, as every true Jerseyite knows, New Jersey pizza is second to none. So, the next time you hear someone bashing New Jersey, don’t be afraid to stand up for all that is awesome about our Garden State. While those who don’t know better might think that the Garden State Parkway and the NJ State Turnpike define us a portal only to bigger and brighter places, we know the truth. New Jersey rocks, literally and figuratively. We’re a little bit of heaven right here on earth.