The New York City Traveler

This guest post comes from Mary Jo Manzanares, Travel & Culture Channel Editor and blogger at Flyaway Cafe.
 
 
The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, is an impressive French gothic cathedral with intricate sculptures, bronze doors, and over 200 stained glass windows.  It’s about the size of London’s Westminster Abbey – only in Newark, New Jersey.
Following nearly 95 of planning, building, planning some more, and changing plans, the cathedral was finished in 1954.  The Cathedral was elevated to the status of a Basilica by Pope John Paul II when he visited …read more

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If Water Taxi Beach simply isn’t cutting it any longer, try a getaway to one of the New York area’s finest beaches.  Some are close enough for a day-trip while others are best enjoyed by spending a weekend. 

Rockaway Beach, Queens   Watch the longboarders catch some of New York’s best waves at this surfers delight.  Close to the city, Rockaway Beach Park offers a quick get-away.  Free admission.  A to Broad Channel then S to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th St. 
Jones Beach State Park, NY   If you don’t want to wade in the surf of this 6.5 mile beach, try …read more

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New Jersey’s largest outlet mall is just across the Hudson River in Elizabeth, New Jersey.  Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall has dozens of restaurants, an AMC movie theater, and over 200 stores including:

Neiman Marcus Last Call
Lucky Brand Jeans Outlet Store

Gap Outlet
Steve & Barry’s

Filene’s Basement
Tommy Hilfiger Company Store

Ann Taylor Loft
Victoria Secret Outlet

Sax OFF 5th Avenue
Perry Ellis Company Store

Gymboree Outlet
Calvin Klein Company Store   COMING SOON!

One of my favorite reasons to visit Jersey Gardens:  No sales tax on clothing and shoes!
A visit to Jersey Gardens is perfect if you have a long layover at Newark International Airport.  Jersey Gardens offers shuttle transportation …read more

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The New York Water Taxi traverses the Hudson River from New York’s Battery Park to New Jersey.
Photo credit: personal collection
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This summer, forget the Hamptons and leave Atlantic City behind.  Visit Spring Lake, New Jersey and enjoy this sophisticated beach town.  Yesterday I introduced you this picturesque town on the Jersey Coast and today I share my short list of favorite accommodations and restaurants. 
Where to Stay:  Spring Lake has unique accommodations to meet the needs of every visitor.  From a beach house to a quaint bed and breakfast to an inn, here are a few of my favorite places to stay.  

The Grand Victorian at Spring Lake  General Manager Steven Hyatt makes guests feel welcome and tends to every …read more

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The weather is getting warmer and it won’t be long before New Yorkers look for a way to escape the sweltering city.  Spring Lake, New Jersey offers an idyllic setting for a quick weekend getaway.  Located just 65 miles south of New York on the Jersey Coast, Spring Lake has everything that makes for a relaxing weekend: great accommodations, fine restaurants, a quaint commercial district, and a beach that rivals anything found on outer Long Island, all located within a picturesque town.
What to Do:  If you’re looking for something more than just relaxing at your inn and reading …read more

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The New York City Traveler is on the move… to New Jersey for three days!  I am on the way to Penn Station this morning to hop NJ Transit to the Jersey Shore, or more specifically, Spring Lake, New Jersey.
Located just 60 miles from New York on the Jersey Shore, Spring Lake boasts white sandy beaches, fabulous dining, historical sites, and beautiful Bed & Breakfasts.
The weather has been great for the past few days in New York, so I am hoping that trend will continue through my trip.  Stay tuned for my dispatches and photos from beautiful …read more

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Nearly 200 personal photographs are on display at The Newark Museum’s new exhibition, Now is Then: Snapshots from the Maresca Collection.  The images are from a collection of over 500 dating from the 1920s to the 1960s–the “golden age” of snapshot photography. 
Guest curator Marvin Heiferman, who has organized exhibitions for The Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, The New Museum, the International Center of Photography, Exit Art andP.S. 1, explains that the Now is Then exhibition “invites visitors to consider snapshots not as simple or inconsequential little pictures but as compelling and complex cultural artifacts.”
In addition …read more

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I could always see the giant blue warehouse with the big yellow letters as I drove north on the Jersey Turnpike. But I never took the time to figure out how to exit the turnpike. Luckily, IKEA has solved the problem for those “transportation-challenged” residents of New York City by offering a free shuttle.
Every Saturday and Sunday the IKEA store in Elizabeth, New Jersey runs a free shuttle from Manhattan to New Jersey.
Depart Manhattan: Buses depart from Gate #5 at Port Authority Terminal (at Eighth and 42nd Street) on the lower concourse near Academy Bus line.
Time and …read more

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