| In the shadows of New York City, just five | | | | fifth largest cathedral in North America. The |
| miles and a seventeen minute train ride away, | | | | French Gothic structure took more than fifty |
| Newark, New Jersey has plenty to offer | | | | years to build and earned Basilica status |
| visitors, or the New York City tourist who | | | | from Pope John Paul in 1955. Located near |
| chooses to visit or stay nearby at less | | | | Branch Brook Park on Ridge Street, the |
| expensive restaurants, and hotels. This is | | | | architecture closely resembles two of the |
| not a city to spend a considerable amount of | | | | world's great cathedrals at Cathedral Notre |
| time in, but it's an excellent destination | | | | Dame at Chartres in France and the Cathedral |
| for a day trip or weekend getaway, or even | | | | of Rheims in Germany. Contact: 973-484-2400 |
| for the budget conscious tourist looking for | | | | The New Jersey Performing Arts Center Houses |
| a place to stay when visiting NYC. One of the | | | | two venues that attract the world's best |
| nation's oldest cities, after Boston and New | | | | performers in Prudential Hall, one of the |
| York, Newark was a thriving 19th-century | | | | world's great concert halls, and the Victoria |
| industrial giant and at the turn of the | | | | Theater. It is also home to the New Jersey |
| century made huge investments in cathedrals, | | | | Symphony Orchestra. Contact: 888-GO-NJPAC The |
| museums, parks, a major art deco train | | | | Newark Museum New Jersey's largest museum |
| station, and other art deco architecture, | | | | provides experiences in the arts and natural |
| that today stand as world class attractions. | | | | sciences. In operation since 1909, it |
| Newark also has a good Subway system. The | | | | includes an 1885 brick-and-limestone restored |
| system is a subway-surface light rail line | | | | mansion, the Dreyfuss Planetarium, and a zoo |
| which runs underground downtown and | | | | with more than 100 animals. Take an |
| above-ground in outlying areas. The line is | | | | inspirational journey through 80 galleries of |
| 5.3 miles long and runs between Newark Penn | | | | world-class collections including American, |
| Station and Grove Street in Bloomfield. After | | | | Asian, African and Classical. Take a walk |
| World War II, similar to other urban U.S. | | | | through the beautiful sculpture garden, visit |
| cities where loss of manufacturing jobs and | | | | the museum shops and enjoy a delicious lunch |
| urban decay began to occur, Newark | | | | or snack at the cafe. Contact: 973-596-6550 |
| experienced similar decline that continued | | | | The Prudential Center This new 18,000 seat |
| until it reached bottom with 1960s riots. | | | | arena is one of the finest in the country and |
| Since then the city has been slowly climbing | | | | home to the New Jersey Devils NHL hockey team |
| back. While its churches, museums, schools | | | | and other college basketball, indoor soccer, |
| and public buildings are certainly to be | | | | concerts, family shows and special events. |
| admired, they also are off the tax rolls and | | | | Contact: (201) 507-8900 Riverfront Stadium A |
| with brings an unusually high burden of tax | | | | new $30 million 6,200 seat, state of the art |
| exemption that has held back the pace | | | | stadium, is the home of the Newark Bears |
| Newark's revitalization programs. Since the | | | | minor league baseball team. Situated in the |
| sixties, the city has made great strides | | | | downtown area, the stadium enjoys a terrific |
| forward with a major drop in street crime, a | | | | urban setting surrounded on three sides by |
| downtown that can be walked around, and the | | | | the city with a view of the Manhattan skyline |
| development of major downtown entertainment | | | | off in the distance. Contact: 1-866-55-4BEAR |
| venues and hotels that bring to Newark an | | | | Hotels Hilton Newark Gateway The hotel is |
| arena, a professional NHL Hockey team, a | | | | located in the heart of the downtown business |
| 6,200 seat minor league baseball stadium and | | | | district in the prestigious Gateway Center. |
| a performing arts center with a concert hall | | | | The Hilton hotel is directly connected to |
| and theatre that attracts the world's best | | | | Penn Station and the Gateway Center, which |
| performers. Coincident with the development | | | | makes it very convenient for travelers to |
| of entertainment venues, office skyscrapers | | | | reach it via Amtrak, New Jersey Transit or |
| have risen as homes to corporate employers | | | | PATH. Contact: 1-973-622-5000 Robert Treat |
| and jobs. These are all attractions that can | | | | Hotel The contemporary and elegant Robert |
| be easily accessible by public transportation | | | | Treat Hotel is located in the heart of the |
| or car with plenty of safe, affordable | | | | downtown district with views of New York and |
| downtown parking. The hub of rail | | | | the city's skyline. Contact: 1-800-637-7200 |
| transportation is the restored Penn Station, | | | | Restaurants The Ironbound section, is a |
| an art deco landmark, used by over 70,000 | | | | Portuguese neighborhood with Ferry Street, |
| commuters per day. Major Attractions Cherry | | | | being its commercial hub, is noted for its |
| Blossom Festival The second largest Cherry | | | | moderately priced Portuguese, Spanish and |
| Blossom display in the Unites States with the | | | | Brazilian restaurants. In the mood for an |
| National Cherry Blossom display in | | | | ethnic lunch or snack? Try one of Ironbound's |
| Washington, DC being the largest and usually | | | | cafes and bakeries. Enjoy a sandwich or some |
| occurs about two weeks earlier. Held in | | | | pastry and a cup of dark South American |
| Branch Brook Park, there are over 2,700 | | | | coffee. With the revitalization of the city, |
| cherry trees. The blossoms can be best | | | | new restaurants are beginning to emerge that |
| enjoyed by a casual walk or picnic in the | | | | offer the diner a variety of different dining |
| park. The cherry trees usually flower in the | | | | choices. Adega Grill - Spanish-Portuguese |
| second and third weeks of April. This is a | | | | 130-132 Ferry St 973-589-8830 Casa Vasca - |
| weeklong festival with many events including | | | | Spanish-Portuguese 141 Elm St. 973-465-1350 |
| a 10K race, trolley bus tours, and family Day | | | | Maize Restaurant - Traditional American fare |
| with Japanese cultural activities, including | | | | Robert Treat Hotel, 50 Park Pl. 973-639-1200 |
| demonstrations on origami, bonsai, ikebana, | | | | Theater Square Grill - Creative American |
| and martial arts. Contact: 973-268-2300 | | | | fare. New Jersey Performing Arts Ctr. 1 |
| Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart The | | | | Center St. |