Surviving NJ

New Jersey often gets a bad rap from outsiders, but people who live here know our state has a lot to offer. We're the land of beaches, diners and farm stands. While Jersey folk are divided on where North Jersey ends, and South Jersey begins (hint: Trenton and Route 95 in my eyes), everyone can agree that New Jerseians offer a lot of personality, whether you like it or not! Not sure what there is to love about New Jersey? Here's a list of 50 reasons I love New Jersey in no particular order.

1. Long Beach Island
2. Six Flags "Great Adventure"
3. The Old Red Mill in Clinton, New Jersey and the great Ducky Race
4. Wildwood boardwalk
5. Charming Hopewell Boro (Main Street USA)
6. Atlantic City Casinos
7. Liberty Village in Flemington
8. Old West BBQ in Annandale (fall off the bone Babyback Ribs)
9. Trenton Makes Bridge
10. Rutgers and a renewed football team (my husband went to Rutgers)
11. NJ State Theater
12. Adventure Aquarium
13. Lots of great malls, including my favorite Quaker Bridge Mall
14. Diners, lots and lots of diners with great food!
15. Old Barney: Barnegat Light's Lighthouse
16. Cape May, New Jersey (Charming Victorian town)
17. Easy Access Roads: 95, 195, 295, NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway
18. Ocean City, New Jersey
19. NJ 101.5 "Not New York, Not Philadelphia" (I miss Craig Carton with Rossi at the 2pm slot)
20. Jenkinson's at Point Pleasant
21. Morey's Pier in Wildwood, can you say rollercoaster?
22. Grounds for Sculpture (gorgeous grounds, great for walking during spring and fall)
23. Princeton University
24. Lakota Wolf Preserve, Columbia, New Jersey
25. Scenic Route 29, River Road
26. Long Valley, New Jersey
27. Farm Produce Stands, and our own sweet yellow corn
28. Pennington, New Jersey
29. Hunterdon County
30. Location, location, location: close to NY City, Philly and Washington, DC
31. The Showplace, Beach Haven, New Jersey
32. Trenton Thunder
33. Somerset Patriots
34. Blueberries, and pick your own orchards
35. Small State, Big Personality
36. Hoboken, park your car and take the path train to New York City
37. Crabbing on the bay
38. Bon Jovi
39. Lambertville Station
40. New Jersey Devils
41. Columbus Farmer's Market
42. Popcorn Park Zoo
43. Uncle Will's Pancake House
44. Bruce Springsteen
45. Frenchtown
46. Every other Jersey Shore location not listed! There's something for everyone
47. Campbell's Soup
48. Joe Pesci
49. NJ.com
50. "At least we drive better than New Yorkers"...so we aren't at the bottom!