Go far, far away—without going far! Attractions in New Jersey's Gateway Region transport you to different eras, cultures, places, and now, galaxies. This winter, explore the northeastern part of the Garden State with a little assist from New Jersey Travel & Tourism. Plan your Gateway Getaway with this update about new things to see and do.
What's New in Jersey City: A Brilliant Addition to the Liberty Science Center
Are you ready for an outing that's truly out of this world? Always a "go-to" for innovative science and technology exhibits, Jersey City's Liberty Science Center invites you to travel the universe at the newly opened Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium and LSC Giant Dome Theater. The largest and most technologically advanced planetarium in the Western Hemisphere features a resolution of 88 million pixels, a lighting system that can produce over 281 trillion individual colors and new speakers blasting off with 30,000 watts of digital sound. Take your own "Star Trek" to see a high-definition recreation of the Orion Nebula before its official release at the American Astronomical Society. Also in Jersey City: Liberty State Park, where you can catch a ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
What's New in Montclair: A Retrospective of a Native American Icon
Montclair Art Museum (MAM) is proud to be the final national tour stop of works by one of the world's most celebrated Native American artists. This major retrospective of Kay WalkingStick, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, features more than 65 of her paintings, drawings, small sculptures and notebooks, as well as her acclaimed diptychs, the two-part artwork for which she is best known. MAM will offer programs and art classes for all ages in conjunction with the exhibition, which opens Feb. 3 and runs through June 17. Parents and children will enjoy two workshops: making gilded Valentines (Feb. 10) and creating mixed media diptychs (Mar. 10). Both are inspired by the techniques and style of this renowned American artist. Also in Montclair: the Wellmont Theater.
What's New in Newark: Legends Coming to NJPAC
On the heels of its 20th anniversary, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) offers a winter calendar brimming with legends, including renowned violinists Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman in a rare joint recital (Feb. 11), the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin (Mar. 25) and the world's most romantic singer, Johnny Mathis (Ap. 13).
Bookend your night out at NJPAC with dinner and an overnight stay. Here's your chance to see why the Ironbound District is Newark's culinary gem, as well as sample the signature Rodízio (an "all you can eat" of 10 different grilled skewered meats) at Iberian Peninsula. Or head to the city's up-and-coming restaurant row on Halsey Street, which links Newark Museum (the state's largest museum) and the Rutgers campus. (Try the Southwestern, Asian and Italian fusion dishes at 27 Mix.) Final stop: the Hilton Newark Penn Station or Hotel Indigo Newark, both offering attractive offers and packages. Also in Newark: the Prudential Center (home ice of the New Jersey Devils and home court of the Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball team) and the magnificent Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
From outlet shopping at The Mills at Jersey Gardens to genius history at Thomas Edison National Historical Park, the Gateway Region offers plenty of options to build your perfect "Gateway Getaway." For more in-state getaway ideas, go to VisitNJ.org, and don't forget to download a free NJ travel guide or sign up for e-news.
