Growing up in New Jersey was a blessing because I was introduced to so many amazing things it has to offer that I know many states don’t have.

One of the great things would definitely be the food. I have been to several different states and of course food is good in general, but I don't think any food is as good as food in New Jersey. Pizza slices are ones that won’t compare to places like Domino's or Pizza Hut. They aren’t small, thin pieces of pizza that you can finish in a matter of 20 seconds. No, these slices of pizza are big, not too thick but not too thin and are ones that you must try at least once in your life. I know, you’re probably thinking what could be so good about pizza, it’s just pizza. Until you have tried a slice of pizza from New Jersey, you will not experience good pizza. Another great food that I think will not compare to any other state would be the bagels. These aren’t your ordinary bagels you can find at Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. These bagels are enormous, fluffy, soft and everything above. You can get a pork roll egg and cheese smothered in ketchup, salt and pepper or even a plain bagel with butter. No matter what kind of bagel you decide to get, it won’t disappoint.

One of the other great things about growing up in New Jersey is being so close to so many popular places such as New York City, Philadelphia or the beaches. I was fortunate enough to be only an hour away from the city and the beach. It gave me so many opportunities to take road trips with my family and friends to such great places. The beaches in New Jersey are beautiful. Obviously we don’t have the clear water you will see in Bora Bora, however, it’s great being so close to such a great place to go to. Jersey doesn’t really get hot like Arizona or Nevada does, so you never have to worry about those 110 degree days. A perk of living near the beach, too, is every time you go there, it’s common to get either Surf Taco or Playa Bowls. For those of you that have never heard of either of those or have never experienced them, they are both delicious and are a must when visiting a New Jersey beach. Surf Taco has crunchy, delicious tacos that can be filled with literally anything, from chicken to steak to fish. Or you can get a burrito or quesadilla, and of course, you can’t forget about the yummy chips and guacamole. Playa Bowls are tasty bowls filled with either acai or pitaya topped with fruits or granola or even Nutella. You can’t pass up an opportunity with Nutella in it. Living near New York City was great too because an hour train ride right to Penn Station was the easiest thing to do. I was able to attend so many Broadway­ shows, concerts at Madison Square Garden and of course shopping in the enormous department stores.

Whether you like to go to have a chill night or spend a night listening to great music, Jersey has it all. Princeton or Hoboken are two great towns that I have come to love because of the great atmosphere, cute shops and great food at the restaurants. However, if you like to go to concerts, there are so many venues and stadiums that will host popular artists that are within driving distance of any location.

Jersey is also great when it comes to the weather. It has every season and every temperature. Summer is hot; it can get up to 100 degrees a few days every summer. It’s humid, but it’s still really hot, which can be good for a beach day. You can also expect summer thunderstorms. It can rain for days with thunder and lightning, which is perfect for a night in with some friends and a few great movies. Spring can range anywhere from 70 to 80 degrees, give or take a few degrees. It’s a comfortable temperature for a few months, not too hot but not too cold either. The saying “April showers bring May flowers” actually happens in New Jersey. Fall is a cool time, literally. It’s cool because that’s when the leaves start changing colors, but it literally is cool when the temperature is 50 to 60 degrees. You usually start to see people wearing pants and coats with scarves sometimes. All of our winters are cold, but it is usually a hit or a miss with the snow. Every winter we get snow, but some winters have more snow than others. We can get as low as the negatives when it comes to the temperature, but it can also be 40 degrees one day. New Jersey has every temperature and every weather type, which can be a good thing and a bad thing. If you’re someone who likes to have a little of everything then New Jersey is definitely for you but if you are someone who doesn’t necessarily like freezing cold winters or really hot summers, then it may not be the place for you.

All in all, growing up in New Jersey is something I will forever be grateful for because I was able to experience so many great things that I may not have been able to experience if I had lived somewhere else.