We’re planning a family vacation out east this summer, and one of the things we’d like to do is visit NYC, but stay in New Jersey west of the metro area.
I know that NJT has extensive service in North Jersey, and we’re thinking of staying somewhere along the NEC, Raritan, M&E or Montclair lines – ideally west of say. Plainfield – and “commuting” in for a couple days. The kids (11 and 16) are looking forward to the train trips as much as the idea of seeing NYC.
So we’re looking for a town that would have some affordable motels (like Holiday Inn types) and parking at the local NJT station. Ideally, an area where crime isn’t a big issue, too.
I recommend Gladstone, end of the Gladstone branch. One of the most rural and laid back communities on NJT. I don’t know the motel situation, but they must have something. They do have the Brass Penny Restaurant, one of the best in New Jersey and close to the railroad terminal. The line branch from Summit to Gladstone still looks like an interurban line, but they are going to replace the wood catenary poles with steel soon. The branch aslo is quite scenic. Friendly townspeople.
How about the Metropark station where the NEC crosses the Garden State Parkway? There should be quite a bit of affordable lodging nearby and you can chose from NJT and Amtrak trains to take you to NYC. Look for hotels in Iselin or Metuchen, the two suburban towns near Metropark.
I would suggest Princeton Junction on the NEC–no changing trains to get into Penn Station, and there are affordable hotels nearby on US 1. It’s also one of the best and safest stations on the corridor for railfans.
Once you get to Manhattan, consider getting a day pass for NYC transit. Unlimited rides for $7 a person. The subways are actually pretty easy to ride and go everywhere you could possibly want to go. It’s helpful to have a subway map. I think they sell them for a few bucks at the information boothes. Thjere’s lots of good information on the Transit Authority’s web site.
I went to NYC this summer and also decided to stay in New Jersey. I would recommend staying around Newark Liberty International Airport. AirTrain links you to the terminals and hotels from the station. Lots of traffic, NJ Transit and Amtrak. Costs about $15 for an adult and around $3 for a child.
You can download the NY subway map and the MTA LIRR-Metro-North commuter map from the MTA website -in color. i usually access this website from www.lrta.org
You can get the subway and commuter (LIRR + MetroNorth) maps downloaded from the MTA website. I usually access this website via www.lrta.org, then to the Port Authority and Airtrain, then to the MTA.
Way too steep. The EWR station’s fares are way out of whack with the rest of the NJT system. If you got a good deal at the airport hotel, I’d recommend riding the 62 bus to Newark Penn (don’t know if it still stops at the Marriott any more; it used to, but if it doesn’t, there’s a shuttle bus to the terminals) and taking the train from there; both NJT and PATH are available, for a fraction of that exorbitant $15 fare.
(Of course, there was supposed to have been an extension of the Newark Subway connecting EWR with both Newark and Elizabeth; the portion between Newark Penn and EWR was funded a few years back, but never built! Must be that priority they’re putting on THE Tunnel, whose estimated costs were $2 billion a few years back, but have ballooned up close to $8 billion. At this point, I hope that tunnel never gets built…NJ remains in dire need of rebuilt intrastate routes…)
I’ve really enjoyed and appreciated the above posts, because I will go East in about three weeks, and the second part of the trip will have us tying up somewhere near rail transit in No. New Jersey.
If you’re interested, see my new topic, “HOW MUCH NJT IS GOOD FOR ME?” also in TRANSIT.
I lived in the central New Jersey for probably 50yrs.Anyplace that you are thinking about staying will be difficult to park.The commuters have yearly station parking permits and the residents around the stations are required to have resident parking passes on their cars to park in the street.
I would recommend staying in Raritan Center -about 1/2 mile from both Metropark and Metechuen(?).There are 2 new motels in Raritan Center-cost unkown but that entire area is expensive.You can either get a cab or shuttle from the hotel.
In lower Manhatten you can take a ferrys to the Statue of Liberty,Ellis Island,Liberty State Park(unbelinable view of NYC or a hydrofoil to the Atlantic Highlands.
I agree with Vince but also want to add our experience to this thread. We stayed two nights at the Robert Treat (yes, “Treat” not Trent) Hotel at 50 Park Place in downtown Newark, roughly midway between Newark - Penn Station (all Amtrak, much NJT and PATH) and Newark - Broad Street (many other NJT lines incl. many of those originating in Hoboken, at this time unfortuntely decimated by refurbishment activities). The hotel has a free van and we used it to get to either RR station (it’s best to reserve). Otherwise, metered taxis and gypsy cabs (Lincolns with quasi-official standing) cost about five bucks to Newark - Penn, seven to Broad Street. We did not have a car on the trip, didn’t want one, so I can’t tell you whether parking is included. (For all its nighttime emptiness and eeriness, this is a high-risey area and I would guess that any convenient parking is probably not cheap, unless the hotel offers some to its guests.)
Including tax, a room for one night midweek comes to about $125 apiece. It incuded a basic and mediocre free continental breakfast. (The hotel also has a typically hig