New Jersey can be a pretty welcoming place, but it might take some effort to feel like you truly belong here. Make yourself at home in the Garden State – but first, you’ve got to experience a little of what we have to offer.

1. Spend some time down the shore.
Flickr / Peter Miller
Whether you like the rowdy New Jersey beach towns like Asbury Park or Wildwood, or prefer a quieter retreat to Cape May or Brigantine, spending time down the shore is a rite of passage.
2. Hike to the top of Mount Tammany, at the Delaware Water Gap.
Flickr / Nicholas A. Tonelli
The most iconic hike in New Jersey takes you up 1.5 steep miles to the summit of Mount Tammany. From here, you'll see for miles across the Delaware Water Gap and into Pennsylvania. It's one of the best views on the East Coast.

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3. Pick a city, and fall hopelessly in love with their sports teams.
Flickr / Doc Searls
Here in New Jersey, we're constantly rooting for other places. We tend to gravitate towards New York City or Philadelphia sports teams - and then let our happiness depend on their successes. That one is particularly tough for Philadelphia fans...
4. Drive the sandy back roads of the pine barrens.
Flickr / Bob
The Pine Barrens are a truly unique ecosystem, and the sandy back roads will take you for miles through this beautiful preserve. Getting lost in the Pines will make you truly feel like you belong in the Garden State!
5. Catch a breathtaking view from the Palisades.
Flickr / June Marie
If you find the Pine Barrens to be a little too rural, you're in luck, because New Jersey also has some beautiful scenery closer to the city. Walk along the Palisades and look across the Hudson River to New York City.

What do you think the most important rites of passage are for people new to the Garden State? What made you feel like you finally belong here in New Jersey? We would love to hear your opinions in the comments below!

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