Many visitors experience Newark, New Jersey, exclusively as a travel hub: It’s 8 short miles (13 kilometers) from Manhattan, and many NYC tourists reach the Big Apple by way of Newark’s international airport. But those who are just passing through are missing out on what makes New Jersey’s biggest city a cultural hub in its own right. From the Newark Museum of Art and New Jersey Performing Arts Center to celebrity-chef-run brunch spots, Portuguese community restaurants, and pretty public gardens, there are many things to do in Newark. Truly, it’s so much more than New York’s next-door neighbor.
Spring is when Newark really shines. Branch Brook Park—designed by the Olmsted brothers, whose father famously developed New York’s Central Park—is home to the country’s largest collection of cherry trees (take that, DC). Visit in April, when the Cherry Blossom Festival is in full bloom. Summer is also a good time to flit among the boutiques of Halsey Street, enjoy warm-weather Brazilian and Portuguese fare in the Ironbound district, and scope the street art at the “Newark Allery.”
Newark Liberty International Airport is Newark’s major hub, putting the city on the map for scores of international travelers. Nearby is Newark Penn Station (not to be confused with Manhattan’s Penn Station), which is served by Amtrak, NJ Transit, and Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) train lines. The city is also served by NJ Transit buses, while taxis and ride-hailing services make it easy to get around town.
Celebrity chef Marcus Samulesson is famous for his celebrated Manhattan restaurants (like Red Rooster Harlem and Aquavit), cookbooks and TV appearances, and for winning multiple James Beard Awards—and now, he’s also a Newark restaurateur. Head to his restaurant Marcus B&P, located in the city’s historic Hahne & Company building, for a gourmet brunch, dinner, or cocktail out.
