If you’re considering a vacation this fall, you should consider New Jersey. Known as the Garden State for its rich, fertile soil, New Jersey also has some of the best fall foliage in the world. One of the best places to catch views of fall foliage is on the Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise, which is hosted by SeaStreak. It’s a 4 hour cruise that takes you through spectacular foliage displays in Manhattan, Palisades, and the Hudson River. SeaStreak charges about $70 per person but the cost is well worth it. Reservations are required, so make sure you plan ahead!

In addition to great foliage, New Jersey has some wonderful wineries which allow you to explore the different flavors and varieties of wines produced in the Garden State. There are hundreds of them all over the state, so researching online will help you to determine which ones you’d like to visit. After your winery tours, consider a stop at a local farmers market which you’re bound to find close by. You haven’t tasted fresh fruits and vegetables until you’ve tasted them here! The soil is like no other and it’s evident in the food that we grow here.

You’ll find lots of fall activities for the family here in New Jersey, also. Fall Family Fun Days at Alstede Farms provides hayrides, pony rides, a giant hay pyramid, animal petting area and so much more. Your kids will have a blast! Fall Family Fun Days even has a corn maze and is open every day until Thanksgiving.

To the uninitiated, Newark International Airport might seem like nothing short of chaos. That’s because it is. Newark Airport in New Jersey has the unsavory reputation of being one of the most tardy airports in the nation. As if that wasn’t enough, the terminals are connected by various busses, shuttles, inter-airport rail systems, even a monorail. You shouldn’t need a GPS to get to the car rental counter. Here’s your escape plan.

When you land at Newark International Airport, you will arrive at terminal A, B, or C. These terminals are connected to each other by the Newark Airport Monorail. It’s an extremely effective system, transporting passengers from one terminal to the next. What’s important to note here is that the car rental stations are located to the south, in stations P1 and P2. The following car rental companies are in P2: Budget, Dollar, and Enterprise. The premium car rental companies are located in P1: Avis, Hertz, and National.

If you’re not renting a car this time, you’re in luck: New Jersey boasts quite an impressive public transit system. To get there, instead of taking the monorail south as if you were going to the car rental counters, take the monorail north, past the parking garage. The parking garage also hosts valet parking as well as courtesy shuttles. You will finally reach the Newark Liberty International Airport Station. From there, you can transfer onto the rail system and head anywhere in New Jersey, as well as New York.

Just remember when you land: if you head south, the car rental companies are located in P2 and P3. If you head north, you will end up at the parking garage and rail terminals. Have happy and safe travel!

Scalini Fedeli

Constructed from the insides of a two hundred and fifty year old farmhouse, this Italian bistro is a mainstay of Jersey and is one of the most beautiful restaurants in the city. It features antique wood floors, a high vaulted ceiling and is the dim-lit Tuscan bistro feel makes you feel like you’re dining with royalty. Scalini Fedeli is also a bring-your-own alcohol establishment.

Rats Restaurant

Rats Restaurant brings the feel of a historic English village to the middle of Jersey in this Parisian eatery. It is located on 35 acres of beautiful gardens and scenery featuring many hand carved European sculptures. The menu is comprised of many French classics like Beef Wellington and Coq au Vin.

Cafe Mattise

Cafe Mattise is known by locals and nearby New York City foodies as the best restaurants in the entire state of New Jersey. Located in an old firehouse and nestled next door to an international wine store, Cafe Mattise brings Spanish classics like Paella and pot-roasted pheasant to a level of perfection not found in very many American eateries.

The Ivy Inn

The Ivy Inn has consistently been rated high in the “Top Restaurants of New Jersey” feature in New Jersey’s Star-Ledger. It is also known as the most romantic place to eat in the city. It features a much laid back atmosphere as well as a live jazz quartet every weekend. The food is a fusion of classical French, Italian and New-American cuisine.