New Jersey Off the Beaten Path, 8th (Off the Beaten Path Series) [Paperback]

Bill Scheller (Author), Kay Scheller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2006 | Series: Off the Beaten Path Series (Book 8)

The real New Jersey lies beyond the turnpike and rest stops travelers know well. Find a place called Fort Nonsense in Morristown, ride along the Black River and Western Railroad from Ringoes to Flemington, attend the Cowtown Rodeo in Woodstown, or stand beneath Lucy the Elephant in Margate City.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Tired of the same old tourist traps? Take the road less traveled and discover the hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales other guidebooks just don’t offer. Off the Beaten Path® features the things you’d want to see—if only you knew about them! From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits, you’ll say over and over again: “I didn’t know that!”
Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, let New Jersey Off the Beaten Path show you the Garden State you never knew existed. Visit the world’s largest collection of snowmobile memorabilia and a barnyard animals petting zoo at the Snowmobile Barn Museum; hunt for the Jersey Devil in the vast Pine Barrens; or spend a few nights in the Glenwood Mill B&B, a 200-year-old flour mill. So if you’ve “been there, done that” one too many times, get off the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.

About the Author

William G. Scheller is the author of twenty books, including New York Off the Beaten Path (with wife Kay). A resident of Waterville, Vermont, his articles have appeared in the Washington Post Magazine, the Christian Science Monitor, Islands, and National Geographic Traveler.

Kay Scheller is a contributor to National Geographic's Crossing America, Fodor's Boston, and the New England volume in National Geographic Society's Driving Guides to America series. She lives in Waterville, Vermont.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: GPP Travel; 8th edition (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762740558
• ISBN-13: 978-0762740550
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,249,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > Travel > United States > States > New Jersey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a great book!, September 18, 2009

By 

New Jersey Memories (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Jersey Off the Beaten Path, 8th (Off the Beaten Path Series) (Paperback)

This book gives you a truly comprehensive look at all that the Garden State has to offer. There are so many interesting things to see and do in New Jersey. What's great about this book is that many of the places discussed are truly "off the beaten path." I've lived in New Jersey my whole life and had never heard of many of the places in the book! There are wolf preserves, museums dedicated to snowmobiles and the state police, farms, historic towns, deserted villages, the Pine Barrens, and the Jersey shore. Since the eighth edition is already 3 years old, I would advise everyone to check online to make sure some of these places are still open. I highly recommend this book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not true NJ, February 2, 2011

By 

WishinUK (NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Jersey Off the Beaten Path, 8th (Off the Beaten Path Series) (Paperback)

As I read through the first few pages I couldn't help focusing on repeated errors anyone from NJ would recognise instantly. Being a life long resident of NJ I find this very annoying. Missing or lazy writing does not make for a good "guide book".

In the beginning of the book the author gives information about the phone area codes of NJ. Simple enough right? I mean if you can't get the area codes correct how can you trust any info in the rest of the book? They completely missed the 908 and 609 area codes. I mean c'mon 609 was one of the original 2 area codes in the state for over 50 years. Maybe I'm just picky.

Then they have a section on "major" newspapers in the state. For South Jersey they list The Philadelphia Inquirer? HUH?? An out of state newspaper?!
Yet they fail to list 1)The Asbury Park Press which covers a great swath of the Shore area, 2&3) either Trenton Newspaper which just happen to cover the state capitol region or 4)the Courier-Post which is the major paper in the Cherry Hill area covering the south west.

Since the author was born in North Jersey, and went to college in North Jersey, Then moved to Vermont, it's very apparent to this Jerseyan he fails to really know anything about NJ below Newark.

Also apparent is the author hasn't been to any shore towns other then Ocean Grove and Cape May. The Shore section lacks much basic information on great places and shore towns that are truly "off the beaten path" Unfortunately Ocean Grove and Cape May sit right in the pot hole of the beaten path.
They also give the obligatory paragraph on Springsteen and The Stone Pony but fail to mention Bon Jovi and The Fastlane or The Wonder Bar.

The entire guide book is made up of their unrealistic division of the state. Some how they include The Watchung mountains and the surrounding towns like Mountainside, Summit, Westfield, Scotch Plains and clearly the Central towns of Woodbridge or Perth Amboy as part of the "Urban Northeast" section which is ridiculous.

Looking through the lists of resturants, places to stay, etc. They routinely place locations that fall in their odd mapping from the "urban north" instead of the "central" completely confusing a nonlocal about the locations.

If you buy this book skim it as an idea finder then Google for more acurate information. The authors live in Vermont and are truely out of touch with NJ and what one would concider as off the beaten path locations. I'm no author but if Insiders Guide wants to improve their Off The Beaten Path series for NJ contact me. I'd be glad to fill in and correct the gaping holes.