New Jersey: Here Is Our Most Popular Winter Destination

When planning a winter adventure, sometimes the best place to go is right in your home state. Sure, you can travel to the mountains or escape the cold to warm beaches. However, Reader's Digest recently highlighted the best winter destination all across the country, and in New Jersey, it's within a historical district.

The winter season in the United States is perhaps the time that offers the largest range of getaway vacation types. Of course, you have those that crave that 80-degree sunshine where you get a taste of a scene opposite of what you are experiencing at home. In Massachusetts, heading down south to Florida or to a tropical resort for winter break is a very common trip. In addition to that, ski trips are equally as popular. Health and wellness researchers Innerbody recently said that the most common travel destination for residents of the Bay State is heading to New York. However, Innerbody also said, "People in 45 of 50 states (plus the District of Columbia) are most interested in traveling within their own state this winter."

This point compliments Reader's Digest feature that details a Hunterdon County town in New Jersey named the best winter destination in the state.

"Lambertville has been rediscovered as a regional destination," their town website states. The region is best known for being a historical mark of George Washington, as he even slept at the Holcombe Farmstead. He also crossed the Delaware River in 1776 into New Jersey, a few miles south Lambertville.

Presently, Lambertville has approximately 4,000 residents. NJ.com shared that in 2013, Forbes named Lambertville one of the 15 prettiest towns in America. Five serene parks are scattered throughout the area. There are plenty of tree-lined streets to walk that provide excellent views of the river as well.

If traveling to Lambertville is in your plans for this winter, NJ.com also ranked their 11 best restaurants. They have everything from fine dining to pizza shops to coffee at Lambertville Trading Company.

There are some major benefits to taking a trip by yourself. The solitude gives you time to clear your mind and gather your thoughts. And it also enables you to create your own schedule, taking in the sights you set out for. Good Housekeeping published a report that details America’s best places for solo travel, and New Jersey was all over this list.

In addition, Fifty Grande recently conducted a solo travel survey. They found that “52% of respondents said they planned to take a solo trip before the end of the year, and 64% of them planned to take that trip in America.” Furthermore, they found that 40% of those that participated in their survey answered “10” on a scale of 1-10 on how comfortable they were to travel alone. 83% said answered a 7 or above.

Other interesting items to note were 89% of the people had already taken a solo trip. The main reason was to “explore a new place and/or immerse in a local culture.” 22.9% said they traveled alone because it was “more fun when I’m 100% in control.”

Moreover, 52% of people plan on traveling solo before the end of the year. Much of that will be within the United States, Fifty Grande shows.

New Jersey is filled with areas that are prime for solo travel exploring. Of course, Atlantic City has a major nightlife scene. There are pristine golf courses all throughout the state, some of which are in close proximity to New York City (if you want to head in for dinner or a show). Finally, there are miles of beachside attractions along the Atlantic and historic sites deep in the heart of the Garden State. So, let's take a look at the two New Jersey destinations that were named best for solo travel. They happen to over a hundred and thirty miles away from each other, and vastly different in terms of what you can explore there.

Home to the Ivy League Tigers, Good Housekeeping calls out the historic sites this central New Jersey town house to offer. "Princeton Battle Monument honors the battle fought and won by George Washington in 1777." The University Art Museum and the Morven Museum and Garden often attract tourists from all over the world. Lastly, Carnegie Lake is one of the most serene spots in the state.

"Spend your day wandering the cute shops, sunbathing at the beach or climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Pointe State Park," Good Housekeeping suggest. Cape May draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. It's very common that you will find families, couples, and solo travelers among them. In addition to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the east coast, you can visit winery's, theaters, safaris, or just rest along the shore of the beautiful beaches.