There is no other state like New Jersey, and that’s exactly how we longtime residents like it. The Garden State is small, to be sure, but it packs an enormous amount of culture and surprises into that compact area. New Jersey has great food, unique attractions, quirky memories – and even a shocking amount of natural beauty hiding in a dense urban state. There’s a little something for everyone here – and if you have strong roots in New Jersey like us, you probably want to show them off! That’s why companies like Wear Your Roots have developed unique lines of apparel for those who want to say “Yeah, I’m from New Jersey – and I’m proud of it!”. Speaking of state pride, here are eight experiences that can only be had if you’ve got roots in New Jersey!

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1. You Know Your Parkway Exit By Heart - And Probably Your Friends

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The NJ Parkway is one of the most extensive road systems in the state - a massive corridor going from Cape May to Woodbridge, with a total of 365 exits. And those key numbers are burned into any Garden State resident's memories - because it can be a long drive back if you miss it!

2. You've Picked A Side On Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham

Austin Murphy/Wikipedia
It's Taylor Ham in North Jersey, and Pork Roll everywhere else - but there is sort of a right answer. Taylor Ham is a brand of pork roll, the largest manufacturer in fact. Of course, the divided factions all agree on one thing - it's delicious.

You Have A Favorite Shore Town - And It's Not Atlantic City

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Hey, AC's great and we love it too. So are other popular tourist destinations like Wildwood and Point Pleasant Beach. But the unique culture of Asbury Park, the laid-back atmosphere of Belmar, or dozens of tiny little beach towns without the crowds have a big fanbase among locals - and here in NJ, beating the crowds is very welcome.

4. You Have A Go-To Diner Order

Thomas Johnson/Google Local
The diner is still king here in New Jersey, and almost every town has one. Many people order the same thing at each diner they visit, comparing and contrasting how the locals do their favorite. Mine is the roast top sirloin platter - what's yours?

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5. You Basically Grew Up In The Mall

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There have been many articles written about the decline of the mall - so of course, New Jersey just debuted one of the nation's biggest! The state is dotted with malls, and we all have memories of them - from back-to-school shopping, to movie nights, to hanging out there as teenagers.

6. You Keep An Eye Out For The Jersey Devil

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The Pine Barrens are one of New Jersey's top natural wonders - and also home to its most famous cryptid. Have you ever seen something unusual while exploring the swamp at night? If so, you're not alone!

7. You've Been To A Sopranos Filming Location - And Maybe Ate There

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Unlike many top Hollywood productions, The Sopranos was filmed on location in New Jersey and most of the locations are real businesses. This includes Holstein's, the beloved ice cream parlor where the divisive finale scene was filmed!

8. You Or Someone In Your Family Has An Action Park Story - And Maybe A Scar

Joe Shlabotnik/Wikipedia
If you're an 80s/90s kid like me, you grew up in the days when Action Park was still going strong. This wild, wicked, and often hazardous extreme theme park left countless kids with skinned knees and broken bones before it finally closed in 2014. Today it operates as Mountain Creek Waterpark and is much safer - but many New Jerseyans of a certain age have interesting stories to tell about the original.
Wear Your Roots

If you can’t wait to get your NJ apparel from Wear Your Roots, make sure to use code NewJersey10 to get 10% off your purchase and celebrate your deep roots in New Jersey with some new gear! Which of these New Jersey experience do you relate to? Let us know in the comments section! If you can’t get enough of unique things to explore in New Jersey, make sure to visit some of our other discoveries – like a New Deal-era mystery statue or a seafood shack feet from the water.

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