As a New Jersey native, you are spot on with the fact that we are a very much underappreciated state. It's just that New Yorkers get to sell their narrative of us to everywhere else, and people don't wanna even veer 5 miles off the Parkway or the Turnpike to try and change their perception of the state.
As a lifelong New Jerseyan, I say 'bravo' to your video, you give a fairly accurate description of our fair state. The fact that you used the term "down the shore" to describe a trip to the beach shows you've done your homework. Yeah, we're known to be rude, our beaches are overcrowded and our big cities can be depressing and dangerous but there's a reason there is so much wealth here- it can be a beautiful and vibrant place. The fact that NJ has a strong "home rule" mentality is one of the reasons we're such a high tax state; 565 municipalities crammed into this little peninsula means people are protective of their towns and want a lot of services. Sitting between New York City and Philadelphia has made us rather possessive of our little slices of heaven, and we might have a little chip on our shoulder because they get all the press. After all, my favorite NJ T-shirt says it perfectly "Welcome to New Jersey. Now leave". Thanks Kyle!
We’re just good for being New York City’s suburbs…. And food is good here…. That’s about it. Expensive/taxed to death/people are ok or horrible but honestly better then lot of other states…. Weather can be nice I suppose but winters suck and to random for my liking like how some summers are great some suck, same with winters. I only like fall really. If we had like half the population and taxes were reasonable this state would be good. Beaches are dirty and boring and overcrowded… north Jersey is to crazy hate it here. South Jersey is ok, not sure about Philly suburbs but Trenton is brutal. Newark is avoidable. Screw Hoboken/JC. Idk for money you spend here you can live better life elsewhere but if you love Manhattan then I guess commute is worth it idk.
You forgot to mention that NJ has more diners than any other state! And what about jughandles? As for tomato pie, unlike most pizzas, it's usually allowed to cool down to room temperature before eating. Great video!
You're describing Philly style tomato pie, which is consumed at room temperature and is very different from Trenton Tomato Pie, which is best eaten hot and fresh out of the oven.
NJ born and raised here. The cities here do not do the state justice, definitely focus more on the suburbs and go ‘down the shore’ (that’s what we say). Culturally, couple of things to note: we typically refer to where we live by the county we’re in if we’re explaining it to a fellow new Jerseyan, and a lot of us live within close proximity to a parkway or turnpike exit (garden state parkway and NJ turnpike are two of the most important highways in our state). Lots more to discuss here, but thanks for this video Kyle!
Good video! I’ve lived in New Jersey for 55 years. Love the 4 seasons. Love the parks, beaches and foods. Taxes are crazy. Sarcasm is our official language. We are the garden (😅) state. Most shocking things to most visitors is you can’t tell where one town ends and the other one starts!
I was born in NJ in 1960, and lived most of my life there. I moved out 3 years ago due to $21,000/yr property tax on a 2,000 sq ft house. You treated NJ quite fairly, and I'm happy with that. Just a few problems. You didn't mention the existence of Princeton University, one of the best in the world. M&M's are made exclusively in NJ. You mention farming in the south-west, but the north-west has lots of farming, too. The weather varies far more than you stated; it can be 20 and snowing at High Point, and at the same time 50 and raining in Cape May. There is a hidden tax, which is mandatory car insurance, which can cost you over $4,000 a year if you have teenage drivers. Figures are very deceiving; $89,000 income sounds high, but you are just barely surviving in NJ if you are making that as a family of 4 or more. The desperately poor can survive because of heavy subsidies from the government. I'm really glad you showed the really beautiful parts of the state, like the shore, the Pine Barrens, and the Delaware Water Gap. New Jersey isn't all a toxic waste dump and Snooki, like so many people think it is. Thanks for showing New Jersey in a fair light.
I’m I agree he did a fair job of describing Nee Jersey. I guess he can’t get everything in the video. I’m sure there are plenty of things you missed as well.
@@blainegabbertgabonemhofgoa6602 Liability is what I meant. Some states like New Mexico and Idaho don't require liability insurance, and let you post a bond for a minimum amount in place of insurance. New Hampshire has no insurance requirement for most drivers. I'm certainly no expert on this; I just know that a small handful of states don't require it. My point was that car insurance is so insanely expensive for young drivers in NJ that it can be considered a hidden tax. Hidden, until you're forced to pay it.
Born/Work/Live in Jersey... Great video as always! NJ has its issues for sure but its nice being an hour or so drive to anything (beaches, cities, mountains, rural areas). The weather isn't terrible and people really aren't as nasty as the rumors say😉. Just like many other places, it has areas that show sharp income gaps but here its all just "closer".
I live just a couple blocks away from Jersey City, and Jersey City is a really great and underrated city. Its really diverse and a lot of restaurants from many countries, and there is a lot of developments. In fact, the tallest building in the state is here with 79 stories high and 950 feet tall. It has its own skyline and its growing. Oh, and it has a really great transportation system, from buses to trains.
Great video! I was born and spent 1/2 my life in NJ. One thing you didn't mention is Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. It occupies 42,000 acres in the Pine Barrens. The base is the only tri-service base in the United States Department of Defense and includes units from all six armed forces branches.
NJ played an important part in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Edison made history here with his inventions even starting the original Hollywood in Fort Lee. The old silent movies were filmed on the Englewood Cliffs creating the term "cliffhangers"
My grandmother lived in Hells Kitchen in NYC and used to take the ferry to Ft Lee as a teenager to be an extra in the silent films made there. She had some awesome stories.
This video was awesome! I’m proud of my home state and even prouder of the fun people poke. We laugh and say, “Yeah it is!”, when New Yorkers call New Jersey a landfill because we know, in reality, that our state has more relevance than our most famous city, so take that, NY (I currently live in New York, by the way). I have one thing to mention and it’s that Washington didn’t cross the Delaware at Trenton. He actually crossed nearly 10 miles north, landing at the village of Titusville. They re-enact the crossing every Christmas and my neighborhood used to bundle up and walk down to the river to watch. There’s even a small museum up the hill in Washington Crossing State Park with all sorts of Revolutionary War artifacts. It’s truly a beautiful area where even New Yorkers vacation, and it’s by no means the only pretty, densely forested region on our peninsula. Thanks so much for making this, Kyle!
I live in South Jersey. One thing about NJ is that we often divide it as North and South, with the north pretty much being an NYC suburb and the southwest a Philly suburb. Being from south jersey, most people I know have never even had a Taylor ham/pork roll sandwich and barely know what it is. Most of the foods you mentioned seemed more specific to north jersey. I’d say our regional foods mostly consist of Philly cheesesteaks, pretzels, and hoagies (Italian subs). It can be tough to get away from all the people in NJ, but it definitely has some great spots. Don’t forget about South Jersey it’s a great place!
I'm a Burlington County resident, and can enjoy Philadelphia, the shore, rural areas, see major musical groups, from rock to Bluegrass (Woodstown Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival) Even go to a real rodeo.
I mean as a native to southern NJ, I honestly think the state in its entirely in my opinion aside from a few differences, is pretty homogeneous culturally. Like I don’t feel like I am in a different part of the country when I go from Philly to NYC. The atmosphere in those two cities feels almost the same just that NYC is a lot bigger in scale. Philly metro area vs NYC metro area similarities. 1. Both metro areas touch each other (Burlington county borders Ocean county). 2. Both metro areas have independent pizza shops that aren’t pizza chains. 3. Both metro areas touch the atlantic coast. 4. Both metro areas go into the appalachian mountains. 5. Both metro areas have the same weather and plant foliage. 6. Both metro areas are in NJ. 7. Both metro areas have state forests like Pine Barrens, Delaware water gap, High point state park, Mohonk mountain house. 8. Both metro areas have ski resorts. 9. Both metro areas have Acela and NEC. 10. Both metro areas have of the Middle colonies etc.
Great job summing up my home state! I honestly hate that you can't pump your own gas, but some of the things I love about NJ include: - diners, pizza and bagels - great beaches (seriously, don't take them for granted) - easy access to NYC and Philly via public transportation - easy access to great hiking (e.g., Hudson Valley, Delaware Water Gap) - variety of landscapes/enviroments
Jersey Girl here (though currently living in South Carolina)! Be coming home soon! Miss it so much, especially Diners, bread/bagels & of course, my Jersey Tomatoes, baby! 🥰☝️❤
Overall great video. One thing about Trenton though, George Washington crossed the Delaware in a small town called Hopewell Township, and the battle of Trenton took place in the northern portion of Trenton.
Some things worth noting The Red Bulls both play in NJ and until very recent history were a NJ team until a recent rebrand Taylor Ham isn't really how you cook it it's a specific product the food your talking about is usually called a Taylor Ham Egg and Cheese. NJ property tax situation is interesting because counties and municipalities can't levy local taxes without state permition so that often comes out in the property. Cities and towns in NJ often have problems with boroughization where larger communities would break off into smaller collections of towns which can make NJ cities seem smaller than the built environment would indicate.
As a lifelong resident of New Jersey, you nailed this video. I used to work at a gas station on the border of NJ/PA and would get so many confused looks from people who were from out of state. Porkroll egg and cheese and tomato pies are the best Jersey staple foods that any tourist should try! Great vid as always 👑
Driving cross country I took a wrong turn coming from Philly into NJ and ended up in Camden. Had the feeling if my car would have broke down, myself and that car would have been severely damaged. It was almost funny how anybody from NJ I told that story to said the exact same phase word for word....You don't go there without a pistol. Like 5 different people said the exact same thing. Other than that NJ and the shore was good times.
As a lifelong resident of New Jersey and a historical scholar it is , was , and will always be Taylor Ham . You knuckle dragger need to get it straight!!
Born & raised in NJ. There are tons of nice areas in NJ. The whole Pinelands area is a wilderness all its own. South Jersey is a best kept secret. Everyone stereotypes the state as this concrete jungle. Little do they know. You can be in areas that you'd swear you were in Alabama or some mountain town in Tennesee. Plus NJ has the highest per capita population of horses!
I grew up in NJ, and recognize many of the places you showed. High Point HS was in our athletic conference at the time, and I've been up in the monument at the actual high point. While caddying soon after finishing my freshman year of college, an old caddy asked if I'd ever seen a US President. No being the answer, he suggested we drive 15 minutes or so to the falls historic district in Paterson, which Gerald Ford was dedicating as a national historic landmark that day. It's a vague memory now, but not nearly as vague as an extra 9 holes of caddying that was the alternative. Google tells me it was June 6, 1976 and that it was pretty much an excuse for a campaign stop. One great thing about growing up in NJ, is that from age 14, my parents generally let me take the 42 minute bus ride from our suburb, into NYC alone or with friends, for any halfway decent excuse.
Thank you ! Taylor Ham with egg on a roll is fantastic !!! BTW the Meadowlands Race Track is home to many, many harness horse racing records !!! Also back in the day you could be hanging out at the “Stone Pony” and Bruce could enter , especially in his early days, thanks for giving NJ some love ❤️ !
Born in NJ, raised in NJ, now live on Long Island. I’ve often said Long Island is just like Jersey, just flatter. I love your comment at the the end about the NJ Devil….”it’s never been DISPROVEN!”
NJ Native here: Yes, The Garden State is underappreciated. And I think you gave the short shrift to the Pinelands...at 1,700 square miles, it's the largest track of open land from Maine to Richmond, Va. and is larger than Yosemite! Check it out, and considering pulling together a video on the Pinelands...it has a unique beauty...and is much more than the NJ Devil.
I'm a native New Jerseyan and life-long resident and there were a few facts in Kyle’s New Jersey profile that I didn't know and happy to learn. And for the out of state viewers, it just goes to show you can live someplace for your whole life and not know everything, so you can't watch a 24-minute profile and think you know enough to make a judgement. I enjoyed watching this profile and Kyle did a nice job, but I think the focus on the cities at the beginning overshadows the rest of the profile including the part at the end when Kyle says it’s not just an urban wasteland and if you check it out, you might be surprised. To me, New Jersey is mostly middle- and upper-class suburban neighborhoods and a great place to live. There’s plenty of good paying jobs, very high education standards, a low crime rate and New Jersey is among the top states in wealth. Thank you, Kyle, for including that NJ is a donor state. That doesn’t happen because the state is just urban cities with high poverty rates. What many visitors don’t see are the many small towns and family-friendly neighborhoods that make up much of the state.
Left out of this video is that New Jersey has one of the largest Jewish populations of any state, with Jewish communities of various denominations all over - from the famous yeshiva (men's seminary) of Lakewood near the Jersey Shore to Reform temples and in between. (The relatively small and new Hasidic population of Jersey City was mentioned in passing, but that's all.) And Rutgers, my alma mater, has one of the largest Jewish student populations - if not the largest - in the entire country!
i love these videos, thank you for making them! i never would've known that the largest concentration of cherry trees is in NEWARK, or what a pine barren is
Great video on NJ. Grew up there and now live right across the river from NW NJ. Glad you mentioned the Jersey Devil. A few more things about NJ. Home of the Jersey Barrier, the concrete divider that splits a lot of highways. Jersey is also eliminating most of its traffic circles where many states are implementing them. some states call them Rotaries or Round-a-bouts, When I took my drivers test back n the 70's, part of the test was navigating two circles. NJ also use to have the most Drive-In Theatres in the country. where I grew up there were four of them with 30 minutes of our home. Speaking of Drive-Ins, NJ was Hollywood before there was Hollywood.
You missed the best parts; another five or six videos are necessary; like Red Bank, Spring Lake, Bay Head, Montclair, Caldwell, Long Branch, Brielle, HIghlands, the highest point on the east coast below Maine, the racetracks, Ocean Grove, the fishing industry, Princeton, New Brunswick, Rutgers, yachting, railroads, trolley cars, Edison; the first movie studio, light bulb, phonograph etc; Copper, zinc, oil, shipyards, Island Heights, the Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, the refineries, the ammunition storage and depot for US Navy Atlantic Fleet, Perth Amboy, Keyport, etc etc etc (whew).
I'm actually glad that most of the country's perception of the Jersey Shore comes from that vapid MTV show. The south Jersey Shore is mostly really nice (AC being the big exception), and the lack of national attention means that it keeps most of its local character. And, I'm not saying I believe in the Jersey devil, but once when I was camping in the Pine Barrens, we noticed a strange point of red light that was moving around off in the distance. In retrospect, it was probably someone using a red lense flashlight to maintain their night vision. Still, I've never seen something like that elsewhere. No wonder so many strange legends come from the Pine Barrens.
I live a few short miles from Trenton (on the PA side). I find it a tragically beautiful place, so un-romantic that it's almost romantic. The rest of Mercer County is actually very nice, and Central Jersey as a whole is actually quite beautiful. (Yes, Central Jersey exists, I will die on that hill). Fun fact, at Arm & Hammer park where the Trenton Thunder play it is technically possible to hit a home run into another state.
Western Nj is gorgeous. Some areas on Jersey shore or more north are nice but it’s nothing compared to NE beaches or South Carolina and Florida or Cali/Oregon coast… water is dirty here air is dirty here. To crowded this state, really only worth it if you work in NYC and live in NJ with a family otherwise not worth cost/taxes.
I'm partial to Burlington County, living in Mt.Laurel (which has been rated a top 10 place to live). We have plenty of shopping, large parks, easy access to so many areas, nice residents, friendly people surprise! Better places to live, okay, worse places yes, NJ I'm not hating it. It's home.
Jersey born and raised, I enjoyed your description of the Garden State but left out a few things: 1. New Jersey is the only state in the country that is between four major cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington. 2. The only president to serve two non consecutive terms (Grover Cleveland) was born here. 3. Not only two of the oldest colleges in the country reside here (Princeton and Rutgers), both took part in the first college football game. 4. The one meal that you can find in every diner: disco fries.
Left out our diners! No 1 in that too. And the Port Jervis area there's a spot you can stand on and be in NJ NY & PA at the same time. Overall great video tho
Love to see this video as a Jersey native. I cover dining and food history in NJ and have done an article on the history of the Trenton tomato pie, so I was happy to see it mentioned here!
NJ has a fair number of electric passenger railroad lines, something quite rare outside the north east. Also very heavy with toll roads with the ability to draw much revenue from traffic criss crossing the north east corridor.
I grew up in Sussex County NJ Any border win against NY is a plus. We are all taught that colonial NJ and NY had a war and NJ lost a significant amount of land as a result. So hell yeah, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are ours!
I’ve been to Philly and NYC, but on my next trip to either city I need to take time to go to Jersey. I’d love to go to the Stone Pony as a big Springsteen fan, and I’d love to see the Delaware Water Gap since it might become a National Park in the future. Plus as a novice birdwatcher the Jersey shore is a legendary place to watch birds during the spring and fall migrations
Another great profile video. Another interesting thing about NJ is that you always pay a toll leaving NJ and never when you come into NJ. Definitely looking forward to more profile videos. Ohio is one I’ve been wanting to see
I went through New Jersey for the first time on October 2nd, 2021. I took I-95 from Connecticut to I-80. It was my plan to stop at Paterson Great Falls NHP. You need your GPS to get there because there were no signs to point you there. I didn't need to get gas in New Jersey, so I didn't have to think about someone else pumping my gas. The falls are lovely, and it said to be the second largest falls east of the Mississippi. New Jersey also has Morristown and Thomas Edison National historic parks. There is great egg harbor in the south part of the state. They also share gateway national recreational area with New York City. I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of New Jersey, and I look forward to seeing more of the state this summer. Thanks for another great video.
@@MichaelRei99 I was passing through the state and only had time to stop at one place. I will look up Bergen county. It is my goal to go to all the national parks first in the state and then see other things when I have time.
I grew up in Budd Lake, NJ (home of the 2nd highest point in the state and the largest natural lake in the state.) I love surprising people by telling them that I grew up on the woods with large swaths of farmland nearby. The scenery was beautiful and there was so much to do without having to travel very far. That being said, I live in Colorado now and can't imagine ever living there again. 😆
@@pulsarlights2825 I was at the BLD in 2019 and there were still waitresses working there that were there when I had last been there in 2006 or so! I follow them on FB now and they are pretty active with their social media posts. I swear, they have the best cheesecake of all time.
Thanks for another informative video, Kyle! I do a fair amount of travel, and wanted to offer the use of my photos of anywhere I might have been in recent years for use in your future videos. The best way to browse through them all are on my facebook albums, which is essentially my portfolio. I live in Chicago, and have taken many roadtrips into Wisconsin and Michigan, but really all over the U.S. Keep up the good work, thanks!
I lived in North West NJ for about 7 years as a kid. Sussex county. My dad would commute to Morris Town. I lived in a small town of Sparta, as all the townships are very quaint in this corner of NJ..the best part was the nature and hiking the Appalachian trail in Stokes. So many lakes too, I swam in lakes in the summer months and ice skated them in the winter. When we would visit family in Ohio we would pass through the Delaware water Gap on I80 to get to Pennsylvania. The mountains are so pretty to drive through on that stretch of highway. We moved back to California when I was 9. I miss the greenery of the state and the beautiful autumn leaves.
Originally New Jersey was East Jersey and West Jersey between 1674 and 1702. After many disputes, colonists turned governing of both to Queen Anne in 1702.
As someone who has grown up in NJ their entire life, thank you for giving NJ the credit it deserves. A lot of people love to shit on it, but it can be really beautiful. Specifically where I live just outside of Lambertville on the Delaware River, there's so much farmland there it's completely different from most parts of the state. Also the Trenton tomato pie is fantastic and you mentioned the wrong pizza place! DeLorenzo's is the superior tomato pie in the state. But thank you for the well done video.
@@mardyneszelc9771 there’s three locations now that the old Trenton one is gone. Robbinsville is the best, Yardley PA is the second best, then Hamilton is the worst.
You did a pretty fair job describing our state. And although it’s not too important, you misnamed Taylor Ham as pork roll. If you looked into NJ history you would see that John Taylor invented Taylor Ham not pork roll. Some goofy judge forced him to change the name to pork roll but purists continue to call it Taylor ham. Also an Italian hot dog is nothing at all like a calzone. I guess you’ll have to try one to understand. If you ever do get the chance I’d advise you to go to Dickie Dees in Newark , they are the best. Finally I’m not sure why you focused on grandma pie. It might be unique but it’s really not as popular as you made it out. However we are known for having the best traditional pizza in the country. I found this video very interesting and I hope you kept making more !!
Did you get into the western part of the state and the northern part? Out by Clinton NJ and up along Rt 31 going north you have forrests and farms and horse farms and wonderful lakes all over the northern part of the state up above Interstate 80.
Nicely done, Kyle. Interesting to see such diversity over a small geographic area. I think most people wouldn't really get that, unless they have traveled through the different areas. The Southern section of the state is geographically akin to the South. I don't know if they have the "Bible Belt" characteristics found in the South. Interesting to know more about the various ethnic groups that reside in the different neighborhoods. By the way, my favorite pizza in New Jersey was in Ridgefield! They made this amazing Spinach Sicilian style pizza. No tomato sauce either, but it was delicious! It was so long ago, that I can't remember the name of the establishment or if it still exists! Have you ever seen the Seinfeld episode where David Puddy paints his face to see the New Jersey Devil game? Cheers and keep up the awesome videos! You are one of my favorite channels.
Regarding Newark, it is also home to one of the grandest cathedrals in the United States, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. It's on my bucket list to visit. When you were talking about Cape May, the town shown in the aerial shots with the lighthouse is a small town called Cape May Point, which is completely separate. Regarding the shore, the lighthouse shown at the beginning of that segment is on the Delaware Bayshore (East Point Light) in Cumberland County. Also there is one coastal island that is still in its wild state. That is Island Beach State Park. Speaking of Hurricane Sandy, earlier in 2012 (in June) The Great Derecho hit the southern counties, knocking down thousands of street trees and utility poles. It did much more damage inland than Sandy did. Great overview. Oh, I almost forgot. One more tidbit- the largest unit of our State Park Service is in the Pine Barrens. It's called Wharton State Forest, and it currently covers 126,000 acres. That figures goes up from time to time because of State acquisitions of inholdings. I remember a time when it only contained 99,000 acres. Also several of the county seats in the southern counties are small towns, and some of those are unincorporated places.
If you're ever in New Jersey, take a nighttime stroll through beautiful North Camden. Make sure to cut through a few alley streets while you're there. It won't be boring, I can guarantee you that.
Awesome vid and great Papa’s shoutout! DeLorenzos right up the street from there is legendary trenton tomato pie too, no exaggeration saying they’re some of the best pizzas in the country
👋Hi, I'm Shawn, im from South Jersey. Great video. Yes, I started out angry, but now I have a smile. Piney by nature, and a shoobie from the city. You said what I wanted to hear.... and some I didn't. Hell yea brother!
An excellent report but as a resident I'd like to add a few points: the NJ Turnpike is the main thoroughfare (at times 12 lanes) between NYC and Philadelphia. New Jersey's schools are excellent, usually rated highly in the country. You didn't talk much about Princeton or Rutgers or the other universities in the state besides NJIT and the Rutgers extensions. Many residents in northern NJ work in Manhattan and getting across the Hudson River can be difficult, with NJ Transit (more tunnels needed); the Hudson River crossings are usually packed with traffic jams -- the GW Bridge, the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. You might add that unlike beaches in the northeast, the ocean waters are usually warm in the summer, good for swimming. Netflix I think is building a huge studio complex. One of my favorite things is canoeing down the Delaware River in the summer.
NJ Native here ..... I think you nailed it with this video. That being said, my only complaint would be, I would have put WAAAAAY more emphasis on the Jersey Shore and what it means to the state and the PA and NY tourists (you missed a chance to say 'down the shore'). I know you touched on the Pinelands but for a state that's known as one big giant strip mall and urban sprawl, I would have made it known how big they really are (largest forest on the entire East Coast between Northern Maine and the Everglades). Yes to Taylor Ham and Italian hot dogs, all the way, and I've never heard of a tomato pie being a NJ thing but then again I'm not a Bennie !!!!
Great video. I will be going to Asbury Park next month to take the bus to Philly. This may not be a normal thing for anyone to do but it will be a great way to see part of the State away from big population or tourist areas.
As a New Jersey native, you are spot on with the fact that we are a very much underappreciated state. It's just that New Yorkers get to sell their narrative of us to everywhere else, and people don't wanna even veer 5 miles off the Parkway or the Turnpike to try and change their perception of the state.
As a New Yorker that moved to NJ, I agree. Growing up, I never imagined living in NJ, but it's actually really great 😄
These are the same New Yorkers that would pay 40-60K over the asking price for a home in Bergen or Morris County. It's hilarious.
@@Golfer908 welcome!
Many of my classmates were from Jersey. My perception remains unchanged.
@@b.w.9244 who asked?
As a lifelong New Jerseyan, I say 'bravo' to your video, you give a fairly accurate description of our fair state. The fact that you used the term "down the shore" to describe a trip to the beach shows you've done your homework. Yeah, we're known to be rude, our beaches are overcrowded and our big cities can be depressing and dangerous but there's a reason there is so much wealth here- it can be a beautiful and vibrant place. The fact that NJ has a strong "home rule" mentality is one of the reasons we're such a high tax state; 565 municipalities crammed into this little peninsula means people are protective of their towns and want a lot of services. Sitting between New York City and Philadelphia has made us rather possessive of our little slices of heaven, and we might have a little chip on our shoulder because they get all the press. After all, my favorite NJ T-shirt says it perfectly "Welcome to New Jersey. Now leave". Thanks Kyle!
We’re just good for being New York City’s suburbs…. And food is good here…. That’s about it. Expensive/taxed to death/people are ok or horrible but honestly better then lot of other states…. Weather can be nice I suppose but winters suck and to random for my liking like how some summers are great some suck, same with winters. I only like fall really. If we had like half the population and taxes were reasonable this state would be good. Beaches are dirty and boring and overcrowded… north Jersey is to crazy hate it here. South Jersey is ok, not sure about Philly suburbs but Trenton is brutal. Newark is avoidable. Screw Hoboken/JC. Idk for money you spend here you can live better life elsewhere but if you love Manhattan then I guess commute is worth it idk.
I have learned that out west you go to the coast, in the south you go to the beach, and in the mid Atlantic you go to the shore.
@@GeographyKing As a westie both coast and beach are said. We drink pop not soda.
@@GeographyKing Actually, in New Jersey you go ... "down the shore" !
I love NJ!!
You forgot to mention that NJ has more diners than any other state! And what about jughandles? As for tomato pie, unlike most pizzas, it's usually allowed to cool down to room temperature before eating. Great video!
The hell it is!
You're describing Philly style tomato pie, which is consumed at room temperature and is very different from Trenton Tomato Pie, which is best eaten hot and fresh out of the oven.
NJ born and raised here. The cities here do not do the state justice, definitely focus more on the suburbs and go ‘down the shore’ (that’s what we say). Culturally, couple of things to note: we typically refer to where we live by the county we’re in if we’re explaining it to a fellow new Jerseyan, and a lot of us live within close proximity to a parkway or turnpike exit (garden state parkway and NJ turnpike are two of the most important highways in our state). Lots more to discuss here, but thanks for this video Kyle!
Exit 63 on the GSP!
@@helenh6442You’re from LBI, I’m guessing?
Good video! I’ve lived in New Jersey for 55 years. Love the 4 seasons. Love the parks, beaches and foods. Taxes are crazy. Sarcasm is our official language. We are the garden (😅) state. Most shocking things to most visitors is you can’t tell where one town ends and the other one starts!
I was born in NJ in 1960, and lived most of my life there. I moved out 3 years ago due to $21,000/yr property tax on a 2,000 sq ft house. You treated NJ quite fairly, and I'm happy with that. Just a few problems. You didn't mention the existence of Princeton University, one of the best in the world. M&M's are made exclusively in NJ. You mention farming in the south-west, but the north-west has lots of farming, too. The weather varies far more than you stated; it can be 20 and snowing at High Point, and at the same time 50 and raining in Cape May. There is a hidden tax, which is mandatory car insurance, which can cost you over $4,000 a year if you have teenage drivers. Figures are very deceiving; $89,000 income sounds high, but you are just barely surviving in NJ if you are making that as a family of 4 or more. The desperately poor can survive because of heavy subsidies from the government.
I'm really glad you showed the really beautiful parts of the state, like the shore, the Pine Barrens, and the Delaware Water Gap. New Jersey isn't all a toxic waste dump and Snooki, like so many people think it is. Thanks for showing New Jersey in a fair light.
I’m I agree he did a fair job of describing Nee Jersey. I guess he can’t get everything in the video. I’m sure there are plenty of things you missed as well.
Also most of the world’s glitter is produced here in New Jersey, specifically in two factories.
what do you mean mandatory car insurance? full coverage or liability only? I belive liability is required in every state.
@@blainegabbertgabonemhofgoa6602 Liability is what I meant. Some states like New Mexico and Idaho don't require liability insurance, and let you post a bond for a minimum amount in place of insurance. New Hampshire has no insurance requirement for most drivers. I'm certainly no expert on this; I just know that a small handful of states don't require it. My point was that car insurance is so insanely expensive for young drivers in NJ that it can be considered a hidden tax. Hidden, until you're forced to pay it.
What hidden tax? Every state except New Hampshire has mandatory car insurance.
babe wake up a new state geography profile just dropped
Born/Work/Live in Jersey... Great video as always! NJ has its issues for sure but its nice being an hour or so drive to anything (beaches, cities, mountains, rural areas). The weather isn't terrible and people really aren't as nasty as the rumors say😉. Just like many other places, it has areas that show sharp income gaps but here its all just "closer".
I live just a couple blocks away from Jersey City, and Jersey City is a really great and underrated city. Its really diverse and a lot of restaurants from many countries, and there is a lot of developments. In fact, the tallest building in the state is here with 79 stories high and 950 feet tall. It has its own skyline and its growing. Oh, and it has a really great transportation system, from buses to trains.
great for american standards, theres still much more room for improvement
Great video! I was born and spent 1/2 my life in NJ. One thing you didn't mention is Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. It occupies 42,000 acres in the Pine Barrens. The base is the only tri-service base in the United States Department of Defense and includes units from all six armed forces branches.
NJ played an important part in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Edison made history here with his inventions even starting the original Hollywood in Fort Lee. The old silent movies were filmed on the Englewood Cliffs creating the term "cliffhangers"
My grandmother lived in Hells Kitchen in NYC and used to take the ferry to Ft Lee as a teenager to be an extra in the silent films made there. She had some awesome stories.
omg!!! Fort Lee has the history like that. i didn't know that.
No, cliffhanger originated from a book in the 1800s before silent movies were a thing
I would recommend checking out the Hudson River waterfront in Hoboken. The city itself is really nice - definitely happy to be living there!
I grew up in NJ and I learned so many things about my home state watching this video 😳
This video was awesome! I’m proud of my home state and even prouder of the fun people poke. We laugh and say, “Yeah it is!”, when New Yorkers call New Jersey a landfill because we know, in reality, that our state has more relevance than our most famous city, so take that, NY (I currently live in New York, by the way). I have one thing to mention and it’s that Washington didn’t cross the Delaware at Trenton. He actually crossed nearly 10 miles north, landing at the village of Titusville. They re-enact the crossing every Christmas and my neighborhood used to bundle up and walk down to the river to watch. There’s even a small museum up the hill in Washington Crossing State Park with all sorts of Revolutionary War artifacts. It’s truly a beautiful area where even New Yorkers vacation, and it’s by no means the only pretty, densely forested region on our peninsula. Thanks so much for making this, Kyle!
I live in South Jersey. One thing about NJ is that we often divide it as North and South, with the north pretty much being an NYC suburb and the southwest a Philly suburb. Being from south jersey, most people I know have never even had a Taylor ham/pork roll sandwich and barely know what it is. Most of the foods you mentioned seemed more specific to north jersey. I’d say our regional foods mostly consist of Philly cheesesteaks, pretzels, and hoagies (Italian subs). It can be tough to get away from all the people in NJ, but it definitely has some great spots. Don’t forget about South Jersey it’s a great place!
As a Northern NJ native I can respect that!
I'm a Burlington County resident, and can enjoy Philadelphia, the shore, rural areas, see major musical groups, from rock to Bluegrass (Woodstown Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival) Even go to a real rodeo.
Don't forget Central Jersey. We exist ;)
how about central jersey. LIke Edison and Iselin
I mean as a native to southern NJ, I honestly think the state in its entirely in my opinion aside from a few differences, is pretty homogeneous culturally. Like I don’t feel like I am in a different part of the country when I go from Philly to NYC. The atmosphere in those two cities feels almost the same just that NYC is a lot bigger in scale.
Philly metro area vs NYC metro area similarities.
1. Both metro areas touch each other (Burlington county borders Ocean county).
2. Both metro areas have independent pizza shops that aren’t pizza chains.
3. Both metro areas touch the atlantic coast.
4. Both metro areas go into the appalachian mountains.
5. Both metro areas have the same weather and plant foliage.
6. Both metro areas are in NJ.
7. Both metro areas have state forests like Pine Barrens, Delaware water gap, High point state park, Mohonk mountain house.
8. Both metro areas have ski resorts.
9. Both metro areas have Acela and NEC.
10. Both metro areas have of the Middle colonies etc.
Great job summing up my home state! I honestly hate that you can't pump your own gas, but some of the things I love about NJ include:
- diners, pizza and bagels
- great beaches (seriously, don't take them for granted)
- easy access to NYC and Philly via public transportation
- easy access to great hiking (e.g., Hudson Valley, Delaware Water Gap)
- variety of landscapes/enviroments
Love that I don't have to pump gas!
NJ native/resident here to wholeheartedly agree with everything you listed - except I'm content not pumping gas ;)
Jersey Girl here (though currently living in South Carolina)! Be coming home soon! Miss it so much, especially Diners, bread/bagels & of course, my Jersey Tomatoes, baby! 🥰☝️❤
I miss grabbing a buttered kaiser roll, as a breakfast. Nowhere else seems to do that, except NJ.
Overall great video. One thing about Trenton though, George Washington crossed the Delaware in a small town called Hopewell Township, and the battle of Trenton took place in the northern portion of Trenton.
Some things worth noting
The Red Bulls both play in NJ and until very recent history were a NJ team until a recent rebrand
Taylor Ham isn't really how you cook it it's a specific product the food your talking about is usually called a Taylor Ham Egg and Cheese.
NJ property tax situation is interesting because counties and municipalities can't levy local taxes without state permition so that often comes out in the property.
Cities and towns in NJ often have problems with boroughization where larger communities would break off into smaller collections of towns which can make NJ cities seem smaller than the built environment would indicate.
You overlooked Rutgers Law school. And that New Jersey is the state with the most horses! But thank you for shining a spotlight on our great state.
As a lifelong resident of New Jersey, you nailed this video. I used to work at a gas station on the border of NJ/PA and would get so many confused looks from people who were from out of state. Porkroll egg and cheese and tomato pies are the best Jersey staple foods that any tourist should try! Great vid as always 👑
You mean Taylor ham.
Driving cross country I took a wrong turn coming from Philly into NJ and ended up in Camden. Had the feeling if my car would have broke down, myself and that car would have been severely damaged. It was almost funny how anybody from NJ I told that story to said the exact same phase word for word....You don't go there without a pistol. Like 5 different people said the exact same thing. Other than that NJ and the shore was good times.
As a lifelong resident of New Jersey and a historical scholar it is , was , and will always be Taylor Ham . You knuckle dragger need to get it straight!!
Born & raised in NJ. There are tons of nice areas in NJ. The whole Pinelands area is a wilderness all its own. South Jersey is a best kept secret. Everyone stereotypes the state as this concrete jungle. Little do they know. You can be in areas that you'd swear you were in Alabama or some mountain town in Tennesee. Plus NJ has the highest per capita population of horses!
You forgot to mention that most of the nice areas are in north west NJ.
I grew up in NJ, and recognize many of the places you showed. High Point HS was in our athletic conference at the time, and I've been up in the monument at the actual high point. While caddying soon after finishing my freshman year of college, an old caddy asked if I'd ever seen a US President. No being the answer, he suggested we drive 15 minutes or so to the falls historic district in Paterson, which Gerald Ford was dedicating as a national historic landmark that day. It's a vague memory now, but not nearly as vague as an extra 9 holes of caddying that was the alternative. Google tells me it was June 6, 1976 and that it was pretty much an excuse for a campaign stop.
One great thing about growing up in NJ, is that from age 14, my parents generally let me take the 42 minute bus ride from our suburb, into NYC alone or with friends, for any halfway decent excuse.
Thank you ! Taylor Ham with egg on a roll is fantastic !!! BTW the Meadowlands Race Track is home to many, many harness horse racing records !!! Also back in the day you could be hanging out at the “Stone Pony” and Bruce could enter , especially in his early days, thanks for giving NJ some love ❤️ !
PORK ROLL, you heathen.😛
Princeton and New Brunswick are awesome college places. Definitely worth visiting!
I was wondering why Kyle skipped over Princeton and Edison.
Born in NJ, raised in NJ, now live on Long Island. I’ve often said Long Island is just like Jersey, just flatter. I love your comment at the the end about the NJ Devil….”it’s never been DISPROVEN!”
Any presentation of New Jersey must include some of it’s fabulous towns.
Rural NJ reminds me of rural Missouri. Beautiful.
Many thanks - I'm starting to plan a trip around all 13 original states, so videos like this help greatly.
NJ Native here: Yes, The Garden State is underappreciated. And I think you gave the short shrift to the Pinelands...at 1,700 square miles, it's the largest track of open land from Maine to Richmond, Va. and is larger than Yosemite! Check it out, and considering pulling together a video on the Pinelands...it has a unique beauty...and is much more than the NJ Devil.
Pinebarrens are 1.1 Million Acres. 22% of our state.
I've lived many years in Rockaway new jersey and now I am living in new Egypt nj. I can tell you the weather varies a lot.
@14:50 That is the Wildwood boardwalk, with the old giant wooden roller coaster in the background. You'll never walk a more massive beach in your life
I'm a native New Jerseyan and life-long resident and there were a few facts in Kyle’s New Jersey profile that I didn't know and happy to learn. And for the out of state viewers, it just goes to show you can live someplace for your whole life and not know everything, so you can't watch a 24-minute profile and think you know enough to make a judgement. I enjoyed watching this profile and Kyle did a nice job, but I think the focus on the cities at the beginning overshadows the rest of the profile including the part at the end when Kyle says it’s not just an urban wasteland and if you check it out, you might be surprised. To me, New Jersey is mostly middle- and upper-class suburban neighborhoods and a great place to live. There’s plenty of good paying jobs, very high education standards, a low crime rate and New Jersey is among the top states in wealth. Thank you, Kyle, for including that NJ is a donor state. That doesn’t happen because the state is just urban cities with high poverty rates. What many visitors don’t see are the many small towns and family-friendly neighborhoods that make up much of the state.
Yep, I agree
Agreed
Yeah I feel like Jersey's charm is in its smaller, walkable "townships" and "boroughs" like Montclair, Caldwell, Asbury, Princeton, and so on...
Also for tidbits Camden is home to the most decorated battleship in history, USS NJ.
Left out of this video is that New Jersey has one of the largest Jewish populations of any state, with Jewish communities of various denominations all over - from the famous yeshiva (men's seminary) of Lakewood near the Jersey Shore to Reform temples and in between. (The relatively small and new Hasidic population of Jersey City was mentioned in passing, but that's all.) And Rutgers, my alma mater, has one of the largest Jewish student populations - if not the largest - in the entire country!
i love these videos, thank you for making them! i never would've known that the largest concentration of cherry trees is in NEWARK, or what a pine barren is
Cherry blossom trees not cherries. But yes in Branch Brook park.
He forgot to mention that the Pinebarrens covers over 1 million acres, and it's a protected area.
I didn't realize how much I didn't know about New Jersey. Thanks for informing me Kyle!
Love the shout out for the great swamp!
Nothing like the Jersey Shore in the summertime. I live in Ocean City NJ. Not to be confused with OC Maryland. Great Video!
Great video on NJ. Grew up there and now live right across the river from NW NJ. Glad you mentioned the Jersey Devil.
A few more things about NJ. Home of the Jersey Barrier, the concrete divider that splits a lot of highways. Jersey is also eliminating most of its traffic circles where many states are implementing them. some states call them Rotaries or Round-a-bouts, When I took my drivers test back n the 70's, part of the test was navigating two circles. NJ also use to have the most Drive-In Theatres in the country. where I grew up there were four of them with 30 minutes of our home. Speaking of Drive-Ins, NJ was Hollywood before there was Hollywood.
You missed the best parts; another five or six videos are necessary; like Red Bank, Spring Lake, Bay Head, Montclair, Caldwell, Long Branch, Brielle, HIghlands, the highest point on the east coast below Maine, the racetracks, Ocean Grove, the fishing industry, Princeton, New Brunswick, Rutgers, yachting, railroads, trolley cars, Edison; the first movie studio, light bulb, phonograph etc; Copper, zinc, oil, shipyards, Island Heights, the Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, the refineries, the ammunition storage and depot for US Navy Atlantic Fleet, Perth Amboy, Keyport, etc etc etc (whew).
been waiting for the NJ video ! we also are known for our diners
Nj native here - loved the Bob Dylan hurricane reference when you mentioned Patterson
Ironically enough, the nicest people I've ever met in my life are from New Jersey.
people are nice, but then get in their car and cut you off at any opportunity on the park way 😂
@@the.abhiram.rnot our fault you cant drive👋 you could always just drive around jersey instead of through it.
i have been to every county in new jersey!
I'm actually glad that most of the country's perception of the Jersey Shore comes from that vapid MTV show. The south Jersey Shore is mostly really nice (AC being the big exception), and the lack of national attention means that it keeps most of its local character.
And, I'm not saying I believe in the Jersey devil, but once when I was camping in the Pine Barrens, we noticed a strange point of red light that was moving around off in the distance. In retrospect, it was probably someone using a red lense flashlight to maintain their night vision. Still, I've never seen something like that elsewhere. No wonder so many strange legends come from the Pine Barrens.
Thank you Geography King! You're one of my favorite RUclipsrs! All your content is great!
Thank you very much!
Nice work with the Bob Dylan lyric you snuck in there, Kyle!
Left out all of Hunterdon County, Princeton, New Brunswick, and Rutgers main campus.
I live a few short miles from Trenton (on the PA side). I find it a tragically beautiful place, so un-romantic that it's almost romantic. The rest of Mercer County is actually very nice, and Central Jersey as a whole is actually quite beautiful. (Yes, Central Jersey exists, I will die on that hill).
Fun fact, at Arm & Hammer park where the Trenton Thunder play it is technically possible to hit a home run into another state.
Western Nj is gorgeous. Some areas on Jersey shore or more north are nice but it’s nothing compared to NE beaches or South Carolina and Florida or Cali/Oregon coast… water is dirty here air is dirty here. To crowded this state, really only worth it if you work in NYC and live in NJ with a family otherwise not worth cost/taxes.
Central jersey does not exist. Mercer County is South Jersey
@@louisiv5809 Incorrect
@@bonecanoe86 A New Jersey native, I agree. Geographically Mercer County is Central Jersey.
I'm partial to Burlington County, living in Mt.Laurel (which has been rated a top 10 place to live). We have plenty of shopping, large parks, easy access to so many areas, nice residents, friendly people surprise! Better places to live, okay, worse places yes, NJ I'm not hating it. It's home.
Jersey born and raised, I enjoyed your description of the Garden State but left out a few things:
1. New Jersey is the only state in the country that is between four major cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington.
2. The only president to serve two non consecutive terms (Grover Cleveland) was born here.
3. Not only two of the oldest colleges in the country reside here (Princeton and Rutgers), both took part in the first college football game.
4. The one meal that you can find in every diner: disco fries.
Atlantic City, NJ is home to the world’s largest Pipe Organ. It’s currently under renovation and/or restoration, but it has over 30,000 pipes.
Left out our diners! No 1 in that too. And the Port Jervis area there's a spot you can stand on and be in NJ NY & PA at the same time. Overall great video tho
Love to see this video as a Jersey native. I cover dining and food history in NJ and have done an article on the history of the Trenton tomato pie, so I was happy to see it mentioned here!
Really interesting! Glad to see another side to it, a more elaborative insight.
NJ has a fair number of electric passenger railroad lines, something quite rare outside the north east. Also very heavy with toll roads with the ability to draw much revenue from traffic criss crossing the north east corridor.
I love New Jersey !
I grew up in Sussex County NJ
Any border win against NY is a plus. We are all taught that colonial NJ and NY had a war and NJ lost a significant amount of land as a result.
So hell yeah, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are ours!
I’ve been to Philly and NYC, but on my next trip to either city I need to take time to go to Jersey. I’d love to go to the Stone Pony as a big Springsteen fan, and I’d love to see the Delaware Water Gap since it might become a National Park in the future. Plus as a novice birdwatcher the Jersey shore is a legendary place to watch birds during the spring and fall migrations
Lived there 18 years, and I think you nailed it. Well done.
Thank you! I appreciate that coming from someone who knows the state well.
Another great profile video. Another interesting thing about NJ is that you always pay a toll leaving NJ and never when you come into NJ. Definitely looking forward to more profile videos. Ohio is one I’ve been wanting to see
I went through New Jersey for the first time on October 2nd, 2021. I took I-95 from Connecticut to I-80. It was my plan to stop at Paterson Great Falls NHP. You need your GPS to get there because there were no signs to point you there. I didn't need to get gas in New Jersey, so I didn't have to think about someone else pumping my gas. The falls are lovely, and it said to be the second largest falls east of the Mississippi. New Jersey also has Morristown and Thomas Edison National historic parks. There is great egg harbor in the south part of the state. They also share gateway national recreational area with New York City. I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of New Jersey, and I look forward to seeing more of the state this summer. Thanks for another great video.
Too bad you missed out on the most historic part of the state , Bergen county. If you ever come back make it your business to do some research.
@@MichaelRei99 I was passing through the state and only had time to stop at one place. I will look up Bergen county. It is my goal to go to all the national parks first in the state and then see other things when I have time.
Good job with this video….but when talking about swamplands ya gotta mention the Meadowlands.
I grew up in Budd Lake, NJ (home of the 2nd highest point in the state and the largest natural lake in the state.) I love surprising people by telling them that I grew up on the woods with large swaths of farmland nearby. The scenery was beautiful and there was so much to do without having to travel very far.
That being said, I live in Colorado now and can't imagine ever living there again. 😆
Is the Diner still there?
@@pulsarlights2825 I was at the BLD in 2019 and there were still waitresses working there that were there when I had last been there in 2006 or so!
I follow them on FB now and they are pretty active with their social media posts. I swear, they have the best cheesecake of all time.
Thanks for another informative video, Kyle! I do a fair amount of travel, and wanted to offer the use of my photos of anywhere I might have been in recent years for use in your future videos. The best way to browse through them all are on my facebook albums, which is essentially my portfolio. I live in Chicago, and have taken many roadtrips into Wisconsin and Michigan, but really all over the U.S. Keep up the good work, thanks!
As a proud new jersian, I thank you for making this video :)
I lived in North West NJ for about 7 years as a kid. Sussex county. My dad would commute to Morris Town. I lived in a small town of Sparta, as all the townships are very quaint in this corner of NJ..the best part was the nature and hiking the Appalachian trail in Stokes. So many lakes too, I swam in lakes in the summer months and ice skated them in the winter. When we would visit family in Ohio we would pass through the Delaware water Gap on I80 to get to Pennsylvania. The mountains are so pretty to drive through on that stretch of highway. We moved back to California when I was 9. I miss the greenery of the state and the beautiful autumn leaves.
Thank you for your fair profile of this beautiful state.
West Coast? No. Not ever. Not even once.
"Martin Brodeur drunk and stumbling around"!! Ok. You got me back.
Love the state profiles, glad to see a new one! I'm from Michigan and live in Nevada and you did great with both states.
Originally New Jersey was East Jersey and West Jersey between 1674 and 1702. After many disputes, colonists turned governing of both to Queen Anne in 1702.
Forgot to mention the countless lakes and ponds throughout the state
Weiner?
Drew P Weiner that’s hysterical!!😂
Will there be a Geography King March Madness this year? Last year was a hit!
As someone who has grown up in NJ their entire life, thank you for giving NJ the credit it deserves. A lot of people love to shit on it, but it can be really beautiful. Specifically where I live just outside of Lambertville on the Delaware River, there's so much farmland there it's completely different from most parts of the state. Also the Trenton tomato pie is fantastic and you mentioned the wrong pizza place! DeLorenzo's is the superior tomato pie in the state. But thank you for the well done video.
I agree your area is nice as well
I've had Delorenzos Tomato pies, good stuff. Robbinsville is highly rated, never tried it.
@@mardyneszelc9771 there’s three locations now that the old Trenton one is gone. Robbinsville is the best, Yardley PA is the second best, then Hamilton is the worst.
Kyle, you are my favorite RUclips Channel.
Thank you!
Great episode. One thing failed to be mentioned is Camden is birthplace to C Hamp- Geography King enthusiast and author of this post.
Fair assessment, solid video. Would’ve been good to mention the universities (Rutgers, Princeton) like are mentioned for the other state vids.
Rowan University in Glassboro is expanding constantly.
You did a pretty fair job describing our state. And although it’s not too important, you misnamed Taylor Ham as pork roll. If you looked into NJ history you would see that John Taylor invented Taylor Ham not pork roll. Some goofy judge forced him to change the name to pork roll but purists continue to call it Taylor ham. Also an Italian hot dog is nothing at all like a calzone. I guess you’ll have to try one to understand. If you ever do get the chance I’d advise you to go to Dickie Dees in Newark , they are the best. Finally I’m not sure why you focused on grandma pie. It might be unique but it’s really not as popular as you made it out. However we are known for having the best traditional pizza in the country. I found this video very interesting and I hope you kept making more !!
I've always been curious about New Jersey, so it was good to learn something about it; thanks!!
I can't describe my level of confusion and bewilderment the first time I got gas in Jersey.
It weird when I travel out of NJ to 😂
Did you get into the western part of the state and the northern part? Out by Clinton NJ and up along Rt 31 going north you have forrests and farms and horse farms and wonderful lakes all over the northern part of the state up above Interstate 80.
Nicely done, Kyle. Interesting to see such diversity over a small geographic area. I think most people wouldn't really get that, unless they have traveled through the different areas. The Southern section of the state is geographically akin to the South. I don't know if they have the "Bible Belt" characteristics found in the South. Interesting to know more about the various ethnic groups that reside in the different neighborhoods. By the way, my favorite pizza in New Jersey was in Ridgefield! They made this amazing Spinach Sicilian style pizza. No tomato sauce either, but it was delicious! It was so long ago, that I can't remember the name of the establishment or if it still exists! Have you ever seen the Seinfeld episode where David Puddy paints his face to see the New Jersey Devil game? Cheers and keep up the awesome videos! You are one of my favorite channels.
NJ DINERS have taken a dive. It's hard to find a decent one in my area.
Thank you for doing jersey. Lived in south jersey my whole life and ya I really enjoy southern jersey. It really has a lot to do
I live in Colorado I'm so fascinated by NJ
Love these state profiles!
Can’t wait to eventually get all 50 😊
Regarding Newark, it is also home to one of the grandest cathedrals in the United States, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. It's on my bucket list to visit. When you were talking about Cape May, the town shown in the aerial shots with the lighthouse is a small town called Cape May Point, which is completely separate. Regarding the shore, the lighthouse shown at the beginning of that segment is on the Delaware Bayshore (East Point Light) in Cumberland County. Also there is one coastal island that is still in its wild state. That is Island Beach State Park. Speaking of Hurricane Sandy, earlier in 2012 (in June) The Great Derecho hit the southern counties, knocking down thousands of street trees and utility poles. It did much more damage inland than Sandy did. Great overview. Oh, I almost forgot. One more tidbit- the largest unit of our State Park Service is in the Pine Barrens. It's called Wharton State Forest, and it currently covers 126,000 acres. That figures goes up from time to time because of State acquisitions of inholdings. I remember a time when it only contained 99,000 acres. Also several of the county seats in the southern counties are small towns, and some of those are unincorporated places.
Great video, however, I was surprised you didn't mention Princeton which is a different and interesting area of NJ.
I love your channel man, thanks for all the great work and simple explanations. Not sure if you already did Missouri but its a suggestion
If you're ever in New Jersey, take a nighttime stroll through beautiful North Camden. Make sure to cut through a few alley streets while you're there. It won't be boring, I can guarantee you that.
Awesome vid and great Papa’s shoutout! DeLorenzos right up the street from there is legendary trenton tomato pie too, no exaggeration saying they’re some of the best pizzas in the country
👋Hi, I'm Shawn, im from South Jersey. Great video. Yes, I started out angry, but now I have a smile. Piney by nature, and a shoobie from the city. You said what I wanted to hear.... and some I didn't. Hell yea brother!
An excellent report but as a resident I'd like to add a few points: the NJ Turnpike is the main thoroughfare (at times 12 lanes) between NYC and Philadelphia. New Jersey's schools are excellent, usually rated highly in the country. You didn't talk much about Princeton or Rutgers or the other universities in the state besides NJIT and the Rutgers extensions. Many residents in northern NJ work in Manhattan and getting across the Hudson River can be difficult, with NJ Transit (more tunnels needed); the Hudson River crossings are usually packed with traffic jams -- the GW Bridge, the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. You might add that unlike beaches in the northeast, the ocean waters are usually warm in the summer, good for swimming. Netflix I think is building a huge studio complex. One of my favorite things is canoeing down the Delaware River in the summer.
don't forget that PATH is painful as hell to take, 1 train every 30 minutes
WOW! incredible good review of New Jersey!
I've never been anywhere near Jersey but I am a Devils fan
This was SO interesting! I would really enjoy more of these about states. Specifically Georgia!!
Always excited when you have a new video!🎉
I'll try to keep it up with the content.
NJ Native here ..... I think you nailed it with this video. That being said, my only complaint would be, I would have put WAAAAAY more emphasis on the Jersey Shore and what it means to the state and the PA and NY tourists (you missed a chance to say 'down the shore'). I know you touched on the Pinelands but for a state that's known as one big giant strip mall and urban sprawl, I would have made it known how big they really are (largest forest on the entire East Coast between Northern Maine and the Everglades). Yes to Taylor Ham and Italian hot dogs, all the way, and I've never heard of a tomato pie being a NJ thing but then again I'm not a Bennie !!!!
This Central Jersey native and resident had never heard of a tomato pie either! I'm also with you on the shore and the Pine Barrens!
Great video! One thing not mentioned - NJ has the tallest known roller coaster in human history!
And the best wooden coaster!!
Great video. I will be going to Asbury Park next month to take the bus to Philly. This may not be a normal thing for anyone to do but it will be a great way to see part of the State away from big population or tourist areas.