Jersey Girl at Heart

(Atlantic City)

I was born and bred in good ole Indiana... but I am a Jersey Girl at heart. My Dad and his side of the family resides and are from the Garden State. My Dad lives 15 minutes from NYC by train, so I get to visit that AMAZING city all the time... and now I'm over 21 and will be able to visit some great Bars and Clubs in the city! 

The reason all this comes up is because my boyfriend and I are leaving next week to visit family for my birthday. I am beyond excited to see my cousins, aunt, uncle, grandfather, and my DAD!!! 

I love going to Jersey to eat all the AMAZING foods, do some tax free shopping, and spending time with my crazy Polish family! (Side note: Jersey Pizza is a real thing, if you haven't tried it you are MISSING out. The chain stores here in Indy are not the same at all...) It is like a different world compared to what many of us are used to, and I LOVE IT! People there can be rude, terrible drivers, and extremely LOUD... But to lets be honest, we are like that at some points... 

Let me mention that I'm not sure that I could live in New Jersey full time, or raise a Family... but I love everything about being there. I've been going to the "Jersey Shore," also known to locals as Seaside Heights, since I was an infant! I've always loved the beaches there, getting my printed shirt (before it was cool), and playing games on the boardwalk. Every year our entire family would rent a house and spend the week in this amazing area.

Now NJ it is not a midwest area... duh, it isn't in the midwest... but it is not corn fields and farmland. It is a large area with a high population of people who Immigrated many years ago! It is a VERY diverse area, all colors, cultures, and languages. There are more diners than I could count, and it is much better than a majority of chain restaurants around here. Most of all it is a good town, they have amazing stores, cities, people, food, and entertainment! 

I really want to take a moment and break some stereotypes about New Jersey. The whole state is not like the show "Jersey Shore," but I will say people are a lot like those who were cast, just less drunk... On the real when you visit Seaside it resembles the show quite closely, it is a party town in the summers, it is also hella fun! I'm sure now it has gone down a bit for people like me because now there a bunch of tourists who want to meet Snookie and Pauly D... but it is a great place to vacation! The nightlife is what gets CRAZY! 

 If you ever visit there a few foods you HAVE to try!

-Jersey Style Pizza (grease will drip down your arm)

-Taylor Ham (Taylor Ham, egg, and Cheese on an everything bagel... to be precise... with a Snapple) 

-DISCO FRIES (Fries with brown gravy and mozzarella cheese) 

-And a "Jersey Sub" Sandwich (NOT SUBWAY) 

In the long run Jersey will always be my second home. If you have any negative feelings about Jersey then you probably have never been there! Everyone should visit at least once, and MAKE SURE TO EAT ALL THOSE FOODS too!