If you’re looking for a new perspective, a road trip to a lookout point may be right up your alley.
News and entertainment site Stacker compiled a list of six unique vantage points in New Jersey, based on data from the travel website TripAdvisor, including reviews and ratings.
The offerings include everything from lush forests to the sea to amazing views of the New York City skyline.
Here’s what they ranked as the top lookouts in the Garden State.
World War II Lookout Tower, Lower Township
A historic fire control tower that is New Jersey’s last freestanding World War II Lookout Tower. It was built quickly in 1942 and was one of 15 towers in Delaware and New Jersey “used as observation posts to detect enemy vessels and direct the artillery fire from nearby coastal batteries,” according to Cape May County MAC (Museums, Arts, Culture). It now includes a wall of honor that recognizes local citizens who served during the war, as well as changing exhibits highlighting various historical topics. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit capemaymac.org/experience/world-war-ii-tower to learn more.
Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook, Atlantic Highlands
Part of the Monmouth County Park System, the 266-foot-high overlook “sits on the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic seaboard (excluding islands) from Maine to the Yucatan, providing beautiful views of Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York skyline,” according to the park system. The 12-acre site is also home to Monmouth County’s Sept. 11 memorial, honoring 147 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. It contains a beam from the World Trade Center. Learn more at monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2534.
Hudson River Waterfront Walkway
Spanning nine towns − Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg, North Bergen, Edgewater and Fort Lee −the walkway is planned to continuously connect the tip of Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge with a 30-foot-wide path. It offers spectacular views of the river, as well as walking, jogging, biking, fishing, boat and kayak launching and more, according to the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy. Learn more at hudsonriverwaterfront.org.
Rockefeller Lookout, Englewood Cliffs
Named for John D. Rockefeller Jr. to honor his preservation work of the Palisades, the lookout located along the Palisades Interstate Parkway offers a peaceful place to relax, as well as views of Manhattan, the George Washington Bridge and Hudson River. Learn more at njpalisades.org/pipway.html.
Wildcat Ridge Hawkwatch, Rockaway Township
An official Hawk Migration Association of North America “hawkwatch,” this is a top spot to see migrating hawks in the spring and fall “as they ride the thermals along the ridgetop,” according to New Jersey Fish and Wildlife. It offers views of the Highlands forest and valleys, and even peeks of the New York City skyline on clear days. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, “no other area in North Jersey has the large unfragmented forests needed to preserve populations of endangered hawks, owls, and increasingly rare songbirds. These forests are also highly important to the millions of people living in urban centers whose drinking water comes from the lakes and streams of the Highlands, purified by its forests and open space.” Learn more at dep.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/wildcat-ridge-hawkwatch.
State Line Lookout, Alpine
Another beautiful area off the Palisades Interstate Parkway, this spot is located about a half-mile south of the New Jersey/New York border. It includes a refreshment stand, as well as access to hiking and cross-country skiing trails, as well as incredible views. Visit njpalisades.org/stateline.html to learn more.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Scenic overlook NJ: From lush forest views to spectacular city sights
Source Agencies
