Were you surprised to find you were reading a description of New Jersey? If so, you aren't alone. Even many New Jerseyans don't realize their small state is home to some of the nation's most diverse and beautiful landscapes. From the Kittatinny Mountains in the north to the beaches of Cape May in the south, New Jersey overflows with natural beauty, and Hiscano captures it all with unparalleled artistry in this magnificent collection of more than 100 photos taken over the past decade. Brief section openers describe each region's history, physical features, and ecological importance. In the spirit of Ansel Adams, who showed the world the previously overlooked magnificence of the Southwest, Hiscano allows us to view the state as never before, showing us its many splendors and varied seasons. His incomparable photographs are organized geographically-The Kittatinny Ridge and Valley, Highlands, Piedmont, Pine Barrens, and the shore. We view the state from its mountain tops and sand dunes. We see mighty oak trees and fragile wild roses. Waterfalls and beaver ponds. Snow-covered cedars and sun-drenched black-eyed susans. Sunrise and moonrise. Beauty in the most obvious and unexpected places. Hiscano's extraordinary portrayal of New Jersey in its most natural state also focuses our attention to the state's rapidly diminishing wildlands, and points out the urgent need to continue to preserve the landscape for future generations.
In what state you can see ten thousand hawks in one day? The birthplaces of Grover Cleveland, the electric lightbulb, the commercial blueberry, the ironclad ship, the diner, the drive-in theater, and modern baseball? Where George Washington crossed the Delaware River? In New Jersey, of course!
Barbara Westergaard has now updated her classic - the easy-to-use guide to the Garden State, from Bergen County to Cape May, from the Kittatinny Mountains to the shore. Arranged alphabetically by town and city name, the entries describe what there is to do and see in a community and its surrounding area and how each place is connected to its past. The book lists museums, parks, historical points of interest, natural and recreational areas, and many other attractions. There is also the beloved guided tour of New Jersey Turnpike that identifies what everyone has been whizzing by for so many years.
Whether you are a longtime resident or newcomer to New Jersey, a commuter, a visitor, or a resident of a nearby state, this guide will lead you to new discoveries and heighten your enjoyment of the familiar.
