Elizabeth
Introduction
Elizabeth is the seat of Union County in New Jersey, and it sits in the busy corridor of the state's northeastern cities, next to Newark. It is one of New Jersey's larger cities, so you'll find an urban setting rather than a small-town one.
Before you go
Elizabeth is a port and industrial city next to Newark, but it also has tree-lined streets and pretty houses worth seeking out. It is a very diverse place, with a Hispanic and Latino majority drawn from across Latin America — Colombians, Cubans and Puerto Ricans especially — alongside Portuguese and Brazilian communities, a large African-American community, and Italian, Polish, Asian and White Anglo-Saxon residents. Respect that diversity: racial remarks or slurs anywhere in the city can lead to serious confrontations.
As in many American urban areas, Elizabeth has good areas and bad ones, and common sense goes a long way. Don't wander into parts of town you know nothing about at night without someone who knows the area well, stick to well-lit streets if you're walking alone after dark, and avoid staring at groups of people. The downtown area near the Port of Elizabeth can be dangerous at night even for residents, so stay away from it after dark, and never handle large sums of money in public. By daylight, walking through the city is generally not a problem. North Elizabeth, Elmora and Elmora Hills are the calmest and cleanest parts of the city.
Getting there
Newark Liberty International Airport is the main gateway for the region, and part of it actually lies within Elizabeth's city limits. From the airport, NJ Transit's 62 bus runs between the airport and Elizabeth around the clock, every day of the week. Trains are another option: NJ Transit service from Newark is quick, though most trains carry a surcharge on top of the regular fare. For reaching New York City from the airport, you can take a cab (costly), a bus, or a train.
- By train: Elizabeth has two stations, Elizabeth Station on W Grand Street and North Elizabeth Station at 1180 North Avenue. NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines both stop at each. Amtrak does not serve Elizabeth, but most of its trains stop nearby in Newark, where you can connect to an NJ Transit train. Train travel is one of the best ways to arrive given the wide range of destinations it reaches.
- By car: From the south, take I-95 up the coast and then the New Jersey Turnpike directly into Elizabeth via Exits 13 or 13A. The city sits at the hub of several major roads, including the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 78, U.S. Route 1&9, U.S. Route 22, and Routes 27, 28, 82 and 439. You can also reach Elizabeth from Staten Island via the Goethals Bridge.
- By bus: For long-distance trips, Greyhound is the best choice, though you may need to arrive in Newark first and board another bus or train from there, which is easy given the short distance to Elizabeth. NJ Transit buses and Coach USA are also reliable.
- By boat: There is currently no passenger service to or from Elizabeth; only marine and cargo ships use the port. Plans exist for a ferry system connecting Elizabeth and New York.
Getting around
Elizabeth is well connected by rail and bus, and its two NJ Transit stations make train travel one of the easiest ways to move around and reach other destinations. Elizabeth Station sits on W Grand Street, while North Elizabeth Station is on North Avenue; both are served by the Northeast Corridor Line and the North Jersey Coast Line. Amtrak does not stop in Elizabeth, so if you're arriving on Amtrak, head to nearby Newark and transfer to an NJ Transit train. Newark Liberty International Airport is practically on the city's doorstep, with part of it lying within Elizabeth's limits. The NJ Transit 62 bus links the airport with Elizabeth around the clock, while most NJ Transit trains also stop at the airport station — though reaching it costs an additional fee on top of your regular fare. Cabs from the airport are available but cost far more than the bus or train.
NJ Transit buses run around Elizabeth, and Coach USA's ONE Bus also serves the area, making buses a practical way to move within the city and connect to neighbouring communities. Not all buses run at night or on Sundays, so check schedules in advance if you're travelling late or at the weekend. For long-distance bus travel, Greyhound is the best choice, though you may need to arrive in Newark first and then take another bus or train to complete your journey. Driving is straightforward: from the south, take I-95 up the east coast and then the New Jersey Turnpike directly into Elizabeth via Exits 13 or 13A, and from Staten Island you can access the city via the Goethals Bridge. Major roads serving Elizabeth include the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike, Interstates 95 and 78, U.S. Routes 1&9 and 22, and Routes 27, 28, 82 and 439. Arriving by boat isn't an option — only marine and cargo ships can enter the port, and a proposed ferry link with New York is not yet in operation.
Where to stay
Elizabeth has hotels and motels spread across the city, with a range of options to suit different budgets. If you're watching your spending, look to the motels along Rte 1&9. If you can spend a bit more for a comfortable stay, the Hampton Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, and ExtendedStay Hotels are worth considering; they offer room service, complimentary items, and indoor facilities.
For the best experience available, the Hilton Hotel and the Sheraton Four Points Hotel are the places to look at. If neither fits your needs, the Renaissance by Marriott and the DoubleTree Hotel—the latter in the sister city of Newark—are both available and no more than five minutes from the Jersey Gardens Mall.
Food & drink
Elizabeth's eating splits between familiar chains and long-standing local spots that have built reputations over the years. For a taste of the region's Italian-American tradition, seek out Tommy's Italian Sausage, a take-out-only storefront on Second Avenue that makes its own sausage. It arrives in the same style as an Italian hot dog: split open, grilled until crusty, and tucked into pizza bread — a cross between pita and Italian bread — with fried potatoes, onions and peppers. The sausage itself leans on pork rather than spice, with a coarse-ground, meaty texture.
Near the heart of downtown, Parador Rojo serves Colombian food in a cozy room with a varied soundtrack. It opens for breakfast, and the menu runs from fresh soups and appetizers through hearty entrees with assorted sides to freshly baked desserts. Portions are large enough to share, and the menu includes pictures if your Spanish is shaky.
What to see and do
Most of Elizabeth's landmarks cluster in Midtown, where you can take in the Art Deco Hersh Tower, St. John's Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church and the City Hall building. Monuments in the same area honour citizens who served as soldiers, the crew of the Challenger spacecraft and Martin Luther King, Jr. In front of the Elizabeth Train Station — itself a landmark — stands the 9/11 Tribute, dedicated to the citizens of Elizabeth who died that day, whether in the line of duty or at work in the World Trade Center. The Union County Courthouse in Midtown and the Elizabeth Seaport are two further destinations people find striking.
For entertainment, the Ritz Theatre on East Jersey Street in Midtown has been operating since 1926 and stages a range of shows, including stand-up comedy. Locals also head to the Dunn Sports Center, connected to Elizabeth High School, to watch the Elizabeth Minutemen play basketball and wrestle. In spring and summer, carnivals and parades take place across the city, and on the weekend of Memorial Day you can join the "Tour de Elizabeth", a citywide bike tour. Warinanco Park, which links Linden, Roselle and Elizabeth, draws people for baseball, soccer and track, as well as for rides in the park and ice skating at the rink.
Three days in Elizabeth
Day one: Start by getting your bearings in Elizabeth, the seat of Union County in New Jersey. The city is one of the most ethnically diverse in the country, and its neighbourhoods reflect waves of immigration from Latin America, Portugal, Brazil, Africa, Italy, Poland and Asia, alongside the older White Anglo-Saxon population. Wander the downtown streets and notice the Hispanic and Latino character of much of the city, shaped by Colombians, Cubans and Puerto Ricans among others. Ride NJ Transit trains into Elizabeth Station and use Grand Street as a starting point for an orientation walk.
- Elizabeth Station and Grand Street for your first look at downtown
- Downtown streets for a sense of the city's Hispanic and Latino life
Day two: Head north to explore North Elizabeth, using North Elizabeth Station on the Northeast Corridor as your anchor. North Avenue is the main commercial spine here, and the neighbourhood's mix of Portuguese, Brazilian and other communities makes it a good place to spend a slow afternoon on foot. From North Elizabeth you can also see how closely the city sits to Newark Liberty International Airport, a constant presence on the skyline and in the local economy.
- North Elizabeth Station on the Northeast Corridor
- North Avenue for the neighbourhood's commercial character
Day three: Spend your last day in Elmora and Elmora Hills, residential neighbourhoods that show a quieter side of Elizabeth. Take time to appreciate the everyday diversity of the city, where so many communities live side by side. If you want to extend your trip, NJ Transit trains from Elizabeth Station run directly to New York City, making the city an easy base for further exploration.
- Elmora and Elmora Hills for a residential wander
- Elizabeth Station for trains to New York City