New Jersey for the LGBTQ Community
Located on the Atlantic Coast, New Jersey has long been a popular destination for tourists with its picturesque coastal towns and resorts, quaint harbors, many national parks, and a wealth of museums and historical sites. While New Jersey may be one of the smallest states, it doesn't lack beauty or entertainment with the likes of Atlantic City and being only a stone's throw away from New York City, making it a wallet-friendly place to stay when exploring the city.
Not only is New Jersey a highly popular tourist destination, as the second state to recognize the importance of teaching LGBTQ history in schools, after California, New Jersey has a reputation for being highly LGBTQ friendly. With recent movements making waves of progress, many businesses have now welcome and support LGBTQ individuals in which you'll easily identify these venues as many have created rainbow flag decals in their windows.
So what are you waiting for? Here are some of the top things to do in New Jersey this summer that are inclusive of the LGBTQ community.
The Annual Gay Pride Festival
Head on over to Asbury Park to participate in Jersey Pride, the state's annual gay pride festival that's sponsored by a non-profit organization. The event features music acts from well-known musicians, a parade and rally, hundreds of interesting vendors, great food, and a buzzing family-friendly atmosphere.
If you're looking for somewhere fun and upbeat, this festival sure is that. What's more, if you're visiting for an extended holiday, you may even want to get involved with volunteering in the event. Whether it's a few hours, days or even weeks, there's plenty to do to get further involved in this festival, including working on the magazine that's produced for the event, helping to gather materials, helping with staff fundraisers, answering the phones to provide general help and information or on the day you could become a lead marcher or a traffic marshal. Getting involved in the event makes it even more supportive and enjoyable.
For more info on visiting or volunteering at Jersey Pride, visit the website.
Morey's Pier
Located at Cape May and along some of the most stunning sandy beaches, Morey's Pier is one of the best days out with its six blocks of amusement venues and even a water park. Having first opened in 1968 with just one water slide and a concession stand, the venue has really developed over the years thanks to ongoing developments by the Morey Brothers, who have continued to invest.
Today, Morey Pier features amusements for every age with classic rides such as tilt-a-whirl, bumper cars, and a 156-foot Ferris wheel. And for the daredevils, there are plenty of rollercoasters and even a go-kart track. One of the best attractions is the interactive ghost ship that will have you screaming or laughing hysterically as you board the vessel! To top it off, Morey's pier features two waterparks that offer water slides, a lazy river, and pools with floating snack bars. It's the perfect day out!
Liberty Science Center
This one is a real highlight for families; lying on the tip of Liberty State Park, the interactive science museum offers an array of hands-on exhibits and displays that showcase the latest science and technology. With show stoppers such as the planetarium that hosts regular shows on the night sky and outer space, a 3D theatre and a whole host of interesting exhibits from a pixel art wall to an infinity climber, it's impossible to get bored when visiting this place.
If you have children in tow, the venue holds regular educational talks, with topics ranging from robotics, to bees, engineering, energy, and much more. Tickets can be bought in advance on the website to avoid lengthy queues on the day, with an adult ticket costing $24.99 and child tickets costing $19.99. In addition, there's an on-site cafeteria, meaning no need to stress over taking a packed lunch. And be sure to head to the gift store before you leave for a selection of mind boggling puzzles, home science experiments, and T-shirts with science slogans on to help you remember the experience!
New Jersey Casinos
Whilst not so family friendly, New Jersey is known for its fantastic variety of casinos across the city, and in recent times New Jersey has become host to an array of online casinos, too. Some of the state's best casinos include Borgata Casino and Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City, and Gateway 26 Casino in North Wildwood.
However, if you've had a long day of exploring and are looking for some entertainment from the comfort of your hotel room, a New Jersey online casino can be an excellent option. With no need to get dressed up in any fancy attire, online casinos can be enjoyed from the comfort of your room and often feature attractive deposit bonuses and risk free play for up to 24 hours. So whether you're a seasoned casino player or just looking for a big night in on your vacation to New Jersey, an online casino is the way to go. Or, if you fancy a more vibrant scene, be sure to head over to one of the big venues in Atlantic City for a night of games, cocktails and music, and perhaps you could even try a few of the best LGBTQ bars and restaurants after.
So there you have some of New Jersey's best attractions that are sure to keep you busy for a few days. As one of the most welcoming and LGBTQ-friendly states, New Jersey provides a whole host of attractions, quality bars and restaurants and hotels for an enjoyable and unforgettable stay!