The Outlet Collection at Jersey Gardens is the largest mall in New Jersey. Not only is it home to scores of outlets where shoppers can pick up designer merchandise at rock-bottom prices, but it hosts an enormous IKEA, one of only two in the New York area. Among the stores that call it home are Coach, G by Guess, Calvin Klein, Puma and True Religion Brand Jeans. If you work up an appetite, stop in at one of its dozens of eateries.
Designed by the great Frederick Law Olmstead, designer of New York City's magnificent Central Park, Warinanco Park is a 204-acre expanse that features many of the architect's distinctive long, winding paths. In addition to a number of beautiful gardens, including an azalea garden and a tulip garden composed of 14,200 tulips imported from Holland, the park features recreation areas for nearly all sports, including a dozen baseball fields. Tourists can spend an afternoon strolling through here on warm days.
Elizabeth's premier theater is the Ritz. Opened in 1926, the theater shows a mixture of concerts, plays and musicals catering to a wide audience. Recently restored and currently featuring world-class performances, the building remains an art deco masterpiece and can accommodate more than 2,700 spectators. Famous acts that have graced its boards include the Marx Brothers, George Burns, Jack Benny, Ray Charles, Harry Chapin, Chaka Khan, Rodney Dangerfield and Miles Davis. Much of the programming is now geared toward the Hispanic community.
Broad Street and East Jersey Street each contain fine examples of historical architecture. Among these is the Belcher-Ogden Mansion on East Jersey Street, which dates to the 1600s and was, in colonial days, home to Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher. On East Broad Street, the First Presbyterian Church, constructed in 1668, was the scene of an important battle during the Revolutionary War. You can spend a few hours on a self-guided walking tour.
