Where to Travel In North Jersey? Let’s Ask Carol!

Ever wondering where is fun to go around North Jersey during holidays? How about ask the expert! Carol Cain is an award-winning travel blogger — native New Yorker; in love with New Jersey. She’s familiar with so many good places where you can explore with the whole family. Nutley Kia interviewed Carol and couldn’t wait to share her story and experience with you. Let’s take a look!

1. Please introduce a little bit about yourself

My name is Carol Cain and I am an award-winning travel and food blogger, publisher of GirlGoneTravel.com, and freelance writer based in Maplewood, NJ. I came from a career in public relations and once aspired to be a cultural advisor to companies and executives looking to do business abroad. I even got an MBA for it! My goal was to be the one who would teach corporations about the cultural tradition, norms, practices, and etiquette to form the basis for a successful business relationship. That I am a travel writer now is a more fitting option, and I still get to inform and educate people about other cultures.

 

2. What motivates you to become a traveler and start this blog?

I initially started writing to share my insight as a native New Yorker and mother living in the big city. NYC had started to really gentrify by the time I started blogging in 2008 and few publications catered to traveling families like my own. I wanted to share a perspective that was more local, more real, more down-to-earth, and a lot more affordable. Eventually, I took this approach outside of the city boundaries, and now share similar insights from around the world.

 

3. As a New York native living in NJ, what is the biggest difference between the Big Apple and New Jersey? What do you like about NJ?

The immediate difference for me is the space and pace of living outside the city. I do love the energy of the city, but it can be draining. The biggest misconception was that life outside the city would be boring and void of creativity and originality. In fact, what I have found is that many writers, photographers, and other creatives that we admire either live in our neighborhood or somewhere in New Jersey. As a writer I love the silence to think and create that I feel here. As a mother, I love that my children have access to a lot of the culture and diversity we want them to be exposed to, with the room to play and grow. As a New Yorker, I love being able to go into the city for a few hours if I want, but as a New Jersey resident, I love being able to come back to a beautiful home and neighborhood.

 

4. What is your advice to plan a 3 day Christmas trip around North Jersey, where Nutley Kia is? What places will you recommend to include?

New Yorkers might get a kick out of visiting the quaint town of Nutley, childhood home of Martha Stewart. My kids like to go there for Jarets Stuffed Cupcakes (the Tress Leches are my favorite). Cooking classes for kids at Chef It Up are a fun option, but we also really enjoy the art museum in nearby Montclair and when in the season, the shows at the Nutley Little Theater can be a lot of fun.

**Check out our highlight of Montclair Art Museum

5. What do you think is the best activity you can do in NJ during wintertime?

My family and I love being able to enjoy winter performances of SOPAC in South Orange. We also enjoy the winter festivities held in the holiday lights at Turtle Back Zoo. We go on hikes to Wawayanda State Park in Passaic and in South Mountain Reservation in South Orange. The skiers and snowboarders in my family often venture to High Point State Park and Mountain Creek, though Grand Cascades is a nice getaway too for the whole family.

 

6. Anything you’d like to share?

When living in New York, New Jersey seemed like a world away and often times, when I get off the train to my house coming from the city, it feels like it but in a wonderful way that makes me smile…even though all the excitement I thought I would never leave is only a few minutes away. I’ve fallen in love with it so much that no matter where my travels take me, coming back home is something I always look forward to.

 

Check out more fun events and places to visit on our blog – Travel Tips. If you know any good places to go, let us know on Facebook.

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