Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were from New Jersey
About 30 minutes south of New York City, in the suburban town of Holmdel, you can visit the Holmdel Park, a place where nature blends with history. This sprawling park offers several trails, including the 2.5-mile loop around the pond, perfect for a leisurely hike or a reflective stroll. Holmdel is notable for being the hometown of Jon Bon Jovi, whose rise from local beginnings to rock stardom is a quintessential New Jersey story. The park’s rolling hills and serene waterways provide an ideal setting to imagine the young musician’s early days. Spring and early fall are the best times to visit, when the foliage colors and blossoms create a vibrant backdrop, making the experience even more memorable.
Heading west, about 45 minutes from Philadelphia lies Cherry Hill, a suburb with an unexpected celebrity connection: Bruce Springsteen. Though often associated with nearby Freehold, Springsteen’s roots touch parts of this region. While in Cherry Hill, visitors can explore the Barclay Farmstead, a historic site preserved to showcase 19th-century farm life. Walking its grounds, one senses the grounded, working-class ethos that shaped many New Jersey artists. The farmstead is especially lively during fall harvest festivals, providing a glimpse into the culture that influenced Springsteen’s storytelling.
On the Jersey Shore, about an hour’s drive south of Newark, Point Pleasant Beach is not just a summer playground but a place tied to actress Meryl Streep, who spent part of her childhood in New Jersey. The Jenkinson’s Boardwalk here is a vibrant stretch of arcades, eateries, and aquarium exhibits that capture the classic boardwalk feel. Visitors can watch the sunset over the Atlantic while enjoying the nostalgic atmosphere that influenced many growing up along the coast. Summer evenings bring the boardwalk to life with music and fireworks, echoing the lively spirit that nurtured talents like Streep.
Farther north, in the heart of the Meadowlands near Secaucus, about 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan, lies the Meadowlands Environment Center. This reserve offers hiking trails and wetlands observation points where you might contemplate the contrasting urban and natural environments that shaped figures like actor Jack Nicholson, who grew up in Neptune City, just a bit further south. The center’s boardwalk along the wetlands provides excellent birdwatching opportunities, especially in spring and fall migrations, offering a peaceful counterpoint to Nicholson’s famously intense screen presence.
About an hour west of Newark, the town of Montclair boasts a flourishing arts scene and a connection to comedian and actor John Travolta, who was born nearby. Montclair Art Museum offers exhibits rich in American and Native American art, reflecting the cultural diversity that informs New Jersey’s creative output. Strolling through the museum’s galleries or attending a local theater performance captures the kind of eclectic, artistic environment that helped shape many entertainers from the state. The museum’s special outdoor sculpture garden is delightful in late spring when flowers are blooming.
A visit to Paterson, roughly 30 minutes from Newark, reveals the Great Falls National Historical Park, an awe-inspiring 77-foot waterfall that powered the nation’s first planned industrial city. This dynamic setting connects to the legacy of actors like Danny DeVito, who grew up in nearby Neptune. The park’s blend of natural grandeur and industrial history provides a vivid backdrop to understand the hard-working spirit emblematic of DeVito’s humor and style. Early morning visits bring misty, magical views of the falls, while fall foliage adds dramatic color.
Lastly, in the Princeton area, about an hour southwest of Newark, the Princeton University Art Museum holds treasures from around the world. This is close to the hometown of actress and singer Queen Latifah, who spent formative years in the greater Newark region. The museum’s collection of African art and contemporary pieces reflects the diversity of influences that artists like Queen Latifah bring to their work. Quiet afternoons spent wandering the museum’s halls in spring or fall, when the campus is at its most picturesque, offer a contemplative experience tying local talent to global culture.
These places across New Jersey reveal how the Garden State’s towns, parks, and cultural institutions have nurtured a surprising number of well-known figures. Each location, from serene natural settings to vibrant urban museums, offers visitors a tangible connection to the roots of these stars, inviting exploration beyond the usual tourist routes.