It’s amazing that one minute you can be in New Jersey’s second most populous city and the next you can be on a 1,200-acre state park. But that’s one of the many lifestyle aspects that makes Jersey City desirable.

Liberty State Park is connected to Jersey City via the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, which runs all the way down to Bayonne. Thanks to the new $13 million Liberty State Park Bridge, it’s now easier for vehicles to get there from downtown Jersey City, too.

The majority of the park is landfill that was used by the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ) and the Lehigh Valley Railroad, both of which began operating here in the mid-19th century. Though neither is still operational, the CRRNJ Terminal still exists at the northern tip of the park (more on that later). It was in 1976 that the land was officially dedicated as a state park, and improvements to create additional public space are still being undertaken today. In fact, Liberty State Park was the most popular state park in the state in 2020, seeing 4,016,946 visitors, according to NJ.com (it saw close to 5 million the previous year).

Here are all the things to enjoy during a day on Liberty State Park:

Liberty Walk
Liberty Walk is a two-mile promenade along the waterfront that connects both ends of the park and has spectacular views of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. It's a great place to walk, run, go for a bike ride, or picnic.

Barbecue
You can find barbecue areas at the south end of the park closer to Bayonne, where groups of up to 20 are free to set up. There are tons of picnic tables, but picnicking is always a fun option, too. For larger groups or events, you can make a reservation for one of seven open-air group picnic areas, which come with eight picnic tables and one large charcoal grill. 

Take in the wildlife
Also at the south end of the park are spots for fishing and crabbing (popular catches are bluefish, shad, striped bass, and blue claw crabs), as well as a 36-acre state Natural Area consisting mainly of salt marsh, which you can explore via a self-guided nature path. This is considered a prime spot for bird watching, where you may even get lucky enough to see a falcon. 

Liberty Science Center
If you’re bringing the kiddos along, the Liberty Science Center is not to be missed. The interactive science museum boasts 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, hurricane- and tornado-force wind simulators, and the Western Hemisphere's largest planetarium. 

CRRNJ Terminal
This historic terminal building was constructed in 1889 to service the Central Railroad of New Jersey. It had ferry slips to connect passengers from New York City with points south and west. It’s now used as a station for ferries to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. But it’s a preserved remnant of this exciting time in Jersey City’s (and the country’s) history. The building and concourse are original, and the train tracks are still there, as are the schedules for the old-time lines like the Blue Comet that went to Atlantic City.

Empty Sky Memorial
The Empty Sky Memorial is New Jersey’s official September 11 memorial to the state’s victims (it's adjacent to the CRRNJ Terminal). It’s made up of two 30-foot-high rectangular towers that stretch 208 feet 10 inches, the exact width of the World Trade Center towers. Names of the 746 NJ victims are etched in the stainless steel slabs, which are oriented to create a view of the Twin Towers site. 

Liberty House
If all this exploring gets you hungry, let us suggest a meal at Liberty House. The event venue/restaurant has delicious seasonal food and cocktails, and you can enjoy it while overlooking the skyline and Statue of Liberty. They have an expansive outdoor area that includes fire pits and a life-size chess set.