4 Strange New Jersey Attractions

New Jersey might not be the biggest state, but it was part of America right from the start. It was also one of the first states to get a highway back when driving an automobile was exciting and new. Even before then, vacationing New Yorkers would take the train down to New Jersey to enjoy the growing number of coastal resort towns. As a result, New Jersey has plenty of unusual attractions along its highways and in its cities. This list has a sampling of them to get you started.

1. Lucy the Elephant

Margate City is part of the Atlantic City metro and sits on the same barrier island. Walk along the beach far enough, and you’ll eventually spot Lucy the Elephant, a 65-foot elephant statue big enough to house its own gift shop and observation area. Lucy’s original name was “the Elephant Bazaar,” and her creator, James Lafferty, finished building her in 1881. That makes her the oldest official roadside attraction in America. Her owners still run tours and a gift shop through her interior to this day.

2. Sterling Hill Mining Museum

Up in the northern part of New Jersey is a town called Ogdensburg. Ogdensburg is part of the state’s old mining region, and near this town is an old zinc mine converted into the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. It has plenty of history and old mining equipment on display, but what makes this museum stand out is the Rainbow Tunnel. The zinc ore in the walls and ceiling of this tunnel are naturally fluorescent under ultraviolet light, making the walk through an unforgettable experience. You can then learn more about fluorescence in the Warren Museum collection.

3. Pirate Voyages

Head over to Ocean City south of Margate, and you can sign up for an ocean tour with a twist. Pirate Voyages is a family-friendly tour on a custom-built boat that takes you out to sea for an hour-long pirate adventure. Guests get to take part in some of the typical shipboard activities you’d see back during the Age of Sail, and you may have to fend off an attacking ship with one of the 16 water cannons on board.

4. Paranormal Books and Curiosities

Up near the northern end of the Jersey Shore in a town called Asbury Park, you’ll find a bookstore called Paranormal Books and Curiosities. It’s also home to the Paranormal Museum, which contains artifacts related to the paranormal history and supernatural stories that come from every corner of New Jersey. The collection includes haunted dolls, relics from haunted sites, and exhibits about cryptids like the Jersey Devil. You can also book a ghost tour of the town or join the monthly seance.

New Jersey can be a strange place to live, and the state has been around long enough to accumulate some interesting locations and fascinating stories. You can find strange attractions all across the state, but these four sites are a good place to start.

Image via Jim, The Photographer | Licensed by CC BY 2.0

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