May 2022: Thrills and Chills

Are you the type of person who craves an adrenaline rush, especially as the weather turns warmer and the urge to get outside and start exploring revs up? Or would you rather spend your free time in a more peaceful, relaxing manner? Either way, we’ve got you covered with our ultimate guide to New Jersey’s Thrills and Chills.

First up: Our list of exhilarating adventures, which spans across all areas of the Garden State, runs the gamut from swimming with sharks to riding the world’s fastest single-rail roller coaster (located at Six Flags Great Adventure) to racing high-speed cars to trying some truly adventurous restaurant dishes.

On the flip side, our peaceful pursuits include visiting some of the state’s most gorgeous secret gardens, walking a labyrinth where self-reflection is the goal, and luxuriating in the state’s best spa experiences. So get out there and start exploring.

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GARDEN VARIETY

NJ Forest Schools Take the Classroom Outside

Pandemic-related safety concerns and a desire to limit screen time have fueled a rise in outdoor learning.

NJ’s Plastic and Paper Bag Ban: What to Know

Starting May 4, large grocery stores in New Jersey can no longer provide paper or plastic bags to customers.

New Jersey Aims to Bring Back Native Plants

New Jerseyans can expect to see the Garden State bloom with more native plants soon, thanks to a new law that encourages gardeners to purchase them.

Collage illustration of mail, postage, and people writing and reading letters.

NJ Teens and Seniors Form Bonds in Pandemic Pen-Pal Program

Plus, other New Jerseyans are writing to children in Kenya, Brazil and beyond.

NJ ‘Bachelorette’ Favorite Olumide Onajide: ‘The Fans Might See Me Again’

The 27-year-old IT analyst, personal trainer and model went to Rutgers and lives in Newark, NJ.

Jonathan Koppell, Montclair State president

New Montclair State President Works to Elevate School’s Visibility

Jonathan Koppell has taken over for former President Susan Cole, who served for 23 years.

Red Hawks Rising Teacher Academy program students

Montclair State Program Teaches Newark Students How to Teach

A Montclair State program jumpstarts college credits for qualified Newark high school students, with the added bonus of a teaching job.

Treat Yourself to These Fun Springtime Finds

Celebrate the season with organic skincare and botanical scents.

Model wearing Veronica Beard linen jacket with a tank top underneath.

Indulge in Orchid, Spring’s Sassiest Shade

Incorporate this purplish-pink hue into your wardrobe as the weather warms.

ComedyCures Offers Comic Relief in Trenches of Cancer Treatment

Tenafly resident Saranne Rothberg, the founder of ComedyCures, believes laughter is the best medicine for those battling cancer.

Shaun Ananko of Grow It Green Morristown stands in front of a high tunnel built above one of the organization's gardens.

Morristown Nonprofit Gives Families a Place to Grow Their Own Produce

Grow It Green Morristown maintains sustainable farms and gardens while educating the community on healthy eating.

Blue Star Drive on Route 22 eastbound in North Plainfield.

Blue Star Memorial Highways, Honoring America’s Veterans, Began in New Jersey

Amid World War II, NJ’s Garden Club dreamed up “a living tribute” to military sons and daughters. Today, there are 39 such sites throughout the state.

Adventurous Things to Do in New Jersey

New Jersey’s most exhilarating adventures, from swimming with sharks at Camden’s Adventure Aquarium to skydiving.

The Biosphere Pool at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg.

Relaxing Things to Do in New Jersey

Your guide to the Garden State’s most peaceful pursuits.

Three visitors gaze at a sandbar shark at Adventure Aquarium in Camden.

What It’s Like to Swim With Sharks at Camden’s Adventure Aquarium

Sink your teeth into this wild, up-close-and-personal experience.

Six men unwind at Bear and Birch in Freehold.

NJ’s Russian Banyas Are the ‘Social Clubs’ of the Spa World

New Jersey has an endless array of spas, but only a handful of traditional Russian banyas.

A car zooms around Lightning Raceway in Millville.

Racecar Driving Experiences in NJ: Put Pedal to the Metal

Several New Jersey racetracks offer high-speed driving experiences.

New Jersey’s Nerf Arena Is a Blast for All Ages

Pups of War’s New Jersey location offers a 4,000-square-foot space where players can shoot each other with foam darts and balls.

Flowers bloom in the lush Cross Estate Gardens in Bernardsville.

Explore New Jersey’s Secret Gardens

Visit these tucked-away gems for a solid dose of serenity.

Samantha Funk outside Jefferson Hospital in Cherry Hill.

Excellence in Nursing 2022: Meet 5 Inspiring Health-Care Professionals

In the ever-changing landscape of Covid-19, we salute nurses, who have proven a bedrock of tireless support, dedication and professional expertise.

Metabolic nurse Karen Nunn stands outside St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Excellence in Nursing 2022: DAISY Foundation Award Honorees

Recognizing 298 medical professionals from New Jersey with diverse practice specialties at more than 70 participating hospitals and facilities.

The traditional lion dance at Montclair's first township-wide Lunar New Year celebration.

Asian Americans in NJ Face ‘Watershed Moment’ Ahead of School Curriculum Change

New Jersey public schools will soon be required to teach Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history and achievements.

An illustration of Belleville's Chinese New Year in 1876.

How Belleville Became the East Coast’s First Chinese Community

An embattled group of Asian immigrants fled California in the late 1800s, finding sanctuary in northeastern New Jersey.

Front Bottoms Return to Jersey City Roots With Shows: It’s ‘Very Full Circle’

The Front Bottoms, now a popular indie rock band, got their start playing in Ramapo College dorm rooms in the late 2000s.

The exterior of a 100-year-old houseboat in Barnegat Bay.

This Barnegat Bay Houseboat Is One of NJ’s Most Unique Homes

Affectionately known as Bay Heaven, this special family abode has been enjoyed for generations.

A tabletop smorgasbord of savory and sweet dishes at Amici in Cherry Hill.

Restaurant Review: Amici in Cherry Hill Offers Value in Italian, Mediterranean Cuisine

The restaurant has such a devoted following it moved to a larger location, though the food could use a little more refinement.

Eva Pfaff stands outside her grocery store, Fanwood Larder.

Meet Fanwood’s Friendly Neighborhood Grocer

Eva Pfaff was incensed when her Union County borough lost its A&P. A few years later, she opened a community-centric store of her own.

The Tour of Haiti sampler at First Republic in Elizabeth.

First Republic in Elizabeth Celebrates Haitian Cuisine, Heritage

The club-like bar and restaurant is an ode to the Caribbean country’s history.

The Sloppy Josephine sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries at Edison Automat.

Edison Automat Masters Café Favorites

The eatery offers charming breakfasts, tasty sandwiches and generous salads.

Fried whiting with sides of black-eyed peas, green beans and cornbread at Jameson's Southern Cooking in Neptune.

Casual Comfort Food Abounds at Jameson’s Southern Cooking

The Neptune restaurant serves such down-home staples as fried chicken, mac-and-cheese, peach cobbler and more.

Isolation Proof founder and distiller Jake Sherry mixes a batch of pink gin.

Why Gin Is Following in Rosé’s Footsteps

Gin joins the clamor for color made popular by the pretty pink drink.

Illustration of a young girl wearing a backpack adorned with Jersey-centric badges.

A Former Jersey Skeptic Finally Embraces Her Roots

Getting out of Central Jersey was once the goal. Now, it’s buying a first home that captures the spirit of the same region.