Although neither state is known for its quaint small towns, putting them together as a group affords an opportunity to highlight several of the "gems" of these two industrial states. I have chosen five (5) towns from each state in this convenient combination, listed in no special order. A photo album will follow shortly.

 

      1. Cape May, NJ – This small town at the southern tip of the state is recognized for its numerous examples of eighteenth century architecture.

 

      2. Atlantic City, NJ – Famous as the basis for the streets of the popular board game, Monopoly, Atlantic City has long been a beach resort. Its boardwalk was typical of the early American vacation spot. Today, it is more famous as a gambling venue with numerous casinos lining the oceanfront.

 

      3. Hoboken, NJ – Stroll the town’s Riverwalk and enjoy the many entertainment and art venues in this town along the Hudson River, in northern New Jersey.

 

      4. Ocean Grove, NJ – Similar to Cape May (see above), the town of Ocean Grove has preserved its 19th century appearance in combination with its long, sandy beach, and is still popular with tourists.

 

      5. Princeton, NJ – Most famous for its outstanding Ivy League university, the town is also pleasant to visit and explore.

 

      6. Easton, PA – This eastern-Pennsylvania town was extremely important during the Revolutionary War and maintains several locations associated with that time in American History. More recently, it became the home of the Crayola Crayon Factory and attracts visitors interested in the crayon-making process.

 

       7. Gettysburg, PA – One of the (perhaps the most) pivotal battles of the Civil War took place in 1863 throughout this quiet, farming community in southern Pennsylvania. The Gettysburg National Military Park attracts visitors from all over the world. The community itself, however, is also delightful to explore and provides a wonderful base of operations for the battlefield experience.

 

       8. Hershey, PA – Home of the Hershey Chocolate Factory, this adorable town with numerous chocolate-themed accents, is still popular because of all the chocolate-lovers around. Another draw to the area is Hershey Park, a theme park.

 

       9. Lancaster, PA – The "capital" of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Lancaster offers accomodations and sustenance for the hordes of visitors to this area, interested in observing the simple way of life of the Amish and Mennonite people who settled and are still prominent in this area.

 

      10. York, PA – This colonial era town, in the south-central part of the state, has managed to preserve its early American appearance and is a great place to stroll and explore the town’s significant role in the history of the US.