About Newark, NJ

Probably the thing that people come to Newark for the most is the Cherry Blossoms Festival in April, especially "Cherryblossomland" at Branch Brook Park. The 360 acre park is the first county park and one of the finest urban parks in the U.S. With over 4,300 cherry blossom trees, Branch Brook Park contains the largest collection in the country. The serene landscape was voted one of the Top 10 Great Places in America by The American Planning Association in 2013.

Whether you come for the Cherry Blossoms or something else, stick to the safer neighborhoods of the Branch Brook district, Ironbound, and Riverfront. Newark used to be known as one of the top 10 worst cities in the U.S. for car thefts per capita. It's getting better, but this is still New Jersey after all.

You can avoid getting around by car by using the light-rail and PATH trains. They can take you anywhere from midtown, to Manhattan, to the Jersey Shore.

You'll probably notice a lot of graffiti however you choose to get around town. Graffiti artists have been pretty busy in Newark. There's a lot of unique street art and large city murals that are pretty interesting, especially at the Prudential center, Riverfront Stadium, and the subway.

People from New Jersey have a reputation for not being the friendliest, and Newark is no exception. Some magazines have voted Newark as one of the most unfriendliest cities in the country. Of course, that doesn't mean that everyone isn't nice, but it's just part of the culture that takes some getting used to.

For all of its trials and tribulations, Newark goes way back to the earliest history of our country. It is the third-oldest city in America after only New York City and Boston.