New Jersey

The wall of brightly colored shoes is tempting, but the real magic happens when someone asks to see…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 3

A customer points through the glass at a bright salmon fillet, and a few minutes later, that exact…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 3

A neon sign hums outside, the counter stools are lined up like they have been waiting since 1955,…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 3

A deer steps between the trees just as breakfast starts sizzling over the fire, and before the coffee…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 2

Peacocks strut past giant sculptures, orchids bloom inside a former heiress’s estate, and Manhattan’s skyline flashes across the…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 2

The first thing you notice is not the marlin on the wall or the nautical carpet beneath your…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 2

A tiny silver diner built for a world’s fair, a former bank where steaks mature behind a vault…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 2

A burger arrives at the table with a half-pound of beef, a grilled cheese sandwich pretending to be…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 2

A plate of oysters can be a perfectly reasonable reason to drive two hours. So can a bowl…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 2

A white tower rises above rows of grapevines where you might expect to find nothing but scrub pines…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 2

Some days call for tasting menus and tiny explanations from the server. Others call for a cheeseburger placed…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 2

The oldest room at Portland Place does not sit behind the grandest doorway. It is the dining room,…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 1

A staircase climbs toward rooms that no longer exist. A hulking furnace stands cold after devouring entire forests…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 1

The Empire State Building looks remarkably different when there is a kayak paddle dripping across your lap. From…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 1

A paper bag that requires two hands is usually a promising start. Then come the cartons packed tightly…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 1

A stone tower rises above downtown Madison, its clock watching over Main Street while massive arches frame an…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 1

A half-day adventure should not require a 5 a.m. alarm, a trunk full of equipment, or a recovery…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 1

The beach looks very different when the sand is nearly a fifth of a mile behind you. At…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 1

A ceiling strung with upside-down umbrellas, a dining room inside an old bank, and bowls of pasta served…

By Duncan Edwards · Oct 1

A foil-wrapped sandwich emerges from a window on Second Avenue looking less like lunch and more like a…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 30

Some days call for white tablecloths and three carefully paced courses. Others call for a warm pot pie,…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 30

A dog trots into the meet-and-greet room, investigates three chairs, accepts a treat, and then settles beside the…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 30

A bright fiberglass cow stands near the post office wearing a blue-and-gold pattern inspired by fine porcelain. Elsewhere…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 30

A morning walk beside the bay, a quick train into Manhattan, a front porch on a quiet street,…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 30

The first thing through the door is not a person. It is the smell—a warm rush of yeasty…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 30

One minute, you are drifting down a tea-colored river beneath crooked cedar branches. A few hours later, you…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 30

A bolt of fabric can be surprisingly bossy. One minute, you are browsing without a plan; the next,…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 30

Some New Jersey views demand steep scrambles, aching calves, and an awkward slide down a boulder you confidently…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 30

A hot dog hits the fryer, its casing tightens, and then the side splits with a crisp little…

By Duncan Edwards · Sep 29