New Jersey

Year of First Visit – 1993
Point of Entry – Bridge near Washington’s Crossing

I first arrived in New Jersey by surprise.

Our flight was late into Philadelphia on our way to Deer Park Campgrounds in New Hope, Pennsylvania. A friend was driving the van with us plus travelers from Missouri and Florida to the campgrounds. Because our flight was delayed we’d all missed the camp's dinner that night. The driver hung a right by Washington’s Crossing and took a very narrow bridge into New Jersey to go to a diner there.

I found other surprises in New Jersey as well. On our first drive to New York City, we took the Turnpike and found ourselves on the “double double” north of exit 8. I wasn’t quite ready for where the highway shifts in Newark and found opposing lanes on both my left and right.

I was surprised when I found the Princeton area to be quite beautiful. Many of the other places in the state I've visited were rather bland looking, but when I went up to spend a day with a friend who was there for a few weeks of training I was most pleasantly surprised at the beauty of the area.

I even surprised myself when the family and I ended up in Atlantic City. Who knew that someplace could be vibrantly tackier and spiritually darker than Las Vegas? It was good to get on the Cape May/Lewes ferry and head home.

I’m hoping to have some additional New Jersey memories to add to the list. Most notably, I want to take the kids up to Edison’s historic site. Don’t be surprised to see me there again soon.