5 Places in New Jersey I Wouldn’t Take My Worst Enemy

I don't know if I'll ever get tired of exploring New Jersey. The Garden State is relatively small but so densely developed that every inch of it is packed with things to do—from unique dining options to creative tourist attractions, natural beauty, and charming small towns. I could live here my whole life and not explore all of it, but that doesn't mean everything in the state is something I'd come back to.

Some places in New Jersey are best avoided, be they overpriced money-sinks, unpleasantly chaotic, or just not to my taste. Some of these are only to be avoided based on specific circumstances, while others just have better options available. I'm sure most of them have devoted fans, too—which means you can enjoy them without me getting in the way! These are the overrated attractions, chaos spots, and tourist traps in New Jersey I'm not coming back to anytime soon.

1. Atlantic City Casinos

I'm a huge fan of the Atlantic City Boardwalk. It's a true American icon, and it's packed with amazing restaurants, shops, and attractions. However, there's one place you won't catch me: gambling in the actual casinos. I tried a few times and was shocked by how quickly my $20 turned into a butterfly and floated away. While some casinos have great food options, I would much rather head a few blocks away to New Jersey's best Afghan restaurant.

2. MetLife Stadium

I've gotten into live music much more lately, traveling to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Washington, DC to see some of my favorite country artists, as well as catching several shows here. However, you'll never see me at an arena show at MetLife Stadium. Capable of holding 82,000 people, the concerts here tend to be the most overwhelming experiences in New Jersey; after all, this is an NFL stadium! And if that's not enough, good luck getting out of here—traffic tends to be backed up for miles leaving, and all the buses are jammed.

3. The Lobster House in Cape May

New Jersey's shore is packed with fantastic seafood restaurants, and many of them will send the contents of your bank account down to Davy Jones' Locker. The Lobster House, while it certainly serves quality seafood, has a reputation as one of the most overpriced tourist spots in South Jersey, but it's certainly not deterring the visitors; you'll usually find a huge line out the door during the busy season! Give me a fried scallops box at Keyport Fishery instead, please.

4. New Jersey Malls at Christmastime

New Jersey is the mall capital of the United States, and I'm a huge fan; I can't get enough of the state's newest mall, the spectacular American Dream. After all, what other mall can offer a pour-your-own-wine bar after you fight evil in 7D? But there's one time you won't find me pretending I'm in the movie Mallrats: weekends in December. The Christmas season brings out the craziest crowds you've ever seen in New Jersey malls every year, and I'm not getting body-checked by holiday bargain-hunters!

5. Anywhere Serving Fat Sandwiches

This one may be sacrilege, because it is as close as it gets to Central New Jersey's signature food, but I don't get these massive sandwiches. A Rutgers original, they take the basic sub sandwich and add as many fried toppings as you can possibly imagine. It's common to top a sandwich of chicken fingers with French fries and mozzarella sticks—and that's just getting started. It sounds like a grease bomb to me, but if it sounds like heaven to you, RU Hungry offers this NJ specialty not far from where the original Grease Trucks operated.

Have you explored any of these controversial spots and tourist traps in New Jersey? If you want to find out about them for yourself—or if you disagree with me and want another Fat Sandwich right now—tell a friend about this article and head to your favorite ASAP!

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.