OT: Underrated towns in NJ

[JL23]

In order to get my mind of last night's game, I figure I'd start a positive thread about some of the more underrated towns in the great Garden State. While driving yesterday on Rt. 9 North, I decided to skip the usual GSP exit and continue on, as I hadn't been through South Amboy in quite a while.

I always remember it as kind of cool and up & coming. I was pleasantly surprised that it has made a lot of gains since I had last been there ~20 years ago. Nice mix of older properties with new development, cool main street area, and a bunch of really nice houses and condos right near the high school on the water.

There's also a beach area there, and I never realized Staten Island was that close (looked like less than 1 mile away, although the swim would be tough). I could see if you had some cash to plunk down getting a spot in one of those newer places near the water for the summer and enjoying the town with all of the shops / restaurants, etc.

What say you - any nice, underrated towns in NJ that you've been to recently?

 

[RutgersClassof2004]

Bedminster, Peapack Gladstone, Harding

 

[leftoright]

Atlantic Highlands. Drive up to the Eastpointe condo. Beautiful ride. and lookout.

 

[Knight Shift]

Atlantic Highlands. Drive up to the Eastpointe condo. Beautiful ride. and lookout.

Highlands. Twin Lights

 

[kupuna133]

Keeping with the Monmouth county coastal theme I throw Keyport into the discussion. Great restaurants and rejuvenated downtown and marina area.

 

[Scarlet1984 redux]

I found this thread to be a challenge, because any halfway decent town gets hyped these days.

Metuchen, for example, was underrated for years. Now it’s flipped into overrated. And i raised my kids there and I still officially reside there (I mostly live in also-not-underrated Spring Lake.)

 

[Knight Shift]

I found this thread to be a challenge, because any halfway decent town gets hyped these days.

Metuchen, for example, was underrated for years. Now it’s flipped into overrated. And i raised my kids there and I still officially reside there (I mostly live in also-not-underrated Spring Lake.)

IMO Spring Lake is overrated, particularly when you consider the cost of housing. But opinions on these things vary. People who live in Spring Lake love it.

Always felt Metuchen earned it's solid reputation.

 

[ClassOf02v.2]

Mine is underrated. I’m not telling any of you about it because I want it to stay that way.

 

[Rutgers Chris]

Mine is underrated. I’m not telling any of you about it because I want it to stay that way.

He’s right, but since I’ve moved I’ll out his location for a sizable fee in my DM’s

 

[RUforester72]

Flatbrookville

 

[kupuna133]

Flatbrookville

I thought I heard of every town in NJ. This place looks awesome.

 

[CollegeSenior]

I grew up in the shore area but moved to the north of the state after RU. As nice as the NJ shore is I think most of the towns are overcrowded and overrated and an awful lot of the towns in the rest of the state are under-appreciated and underrated.

 

[RU05]

Atlantic Highlands. Drive up to the Eastpointe condo. Beautiful ride. and lookout.

There's some hidden dirt roads up in them hills.

 

[RU05]

Keeping with the Monmouth county coastal theme I throw Keyport into the discussion. Great restaurants and rejuvenated downtown and marina area.

Still quirky too. Not all boujee like Red Bank.

 

[BigRnj]

South Amboy and Keyport, underrated? Did their Gentleman’s clubs go full nude??? ‍

 

[RUforester72]

I thought I heard of every town in NJ. This place looks awesome.

Although when previous plans for the Tocks Island Dam would have flooded the entire area, the general store was removed, along with many homes and buildings. I seem to recall it was the only building in the area.

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area was established after the Dam proposal died, thanks to the newly enacted National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which required public review and environmental assessment. Damning.

One of my favorite places in NJ.