Don't listen to the jokes that mention New Jersey as the armpit of America.
Because it is not. With over 100 miles of shoreline, New Jersey is a beautiful state. It also looks like it's gaining some hipster ground with many local breweries popping up. We took a brewery tour this past weekend with our friends and am loving that things are happening locally. Read on to get a map of the places that we visited so that you can try it out this weekend. Depending on your time, you can do this in a few hours. Get a designated driver for safety!
A picture guide to all things Portland, Oregon. From nature to coffee to donuts to local and sustainable food. Find a downloadable itinerary in this post.
Car camping in the Catskill is an easy and inexpensive way to get out of New York City and enjoy nature. The fall foliage this time of year is spectacular. Get some fresh air and grab some local, hot, apple cider and donuts.
I was in love with New York. I do not mean ‘love’ in any colloquial way, I mean that I was in love with the city, the way you love the first person who ever touches you and never love anyone quite that way again.
I fell in love with New York City at the age of 21. My roommate and I attended a New Year's party at Webster Hall and we had one of those random, New York nights weaving in and out of different crowds and neighborhoods. It was an unusually warm New Year so New York in the early morning felt special. As a girl growing up in New Jersey, New York was a 40 minute train ride away. At 22, I interned at the Met Life building on top of Grand Central commuting by bus. Each time the bus curves towards and away from the New York City skyline, I also smile. Post college, I accepted a job in New Jersey and would take a day or two to explore the city every few months. I eventually ended up working in New York City, but the grind of the daily commute, the constant push of tourists when all you wanted to do was get to your office got to me and I fell out of love with New York. I admired New York from afar, enjoying the skyline and the quietness that came with it. Add another year or two and I'm now back into falling in love with New York, but now with new eyes. What follows are tips on how to enjoy New York city without generating too much waste. I call this being a conscious traveler. My ask is to fall in love with New York, but don't leave it broken-hearted with waste and trash.