In April 2013 Kyle and I traveled to Newark, NJ via Southwest Airlines to see a UFC Fight at the Prudential Center and to visit a friend in New York City.

WORD TO THE WISE:

Traveling to Newark was fun, but a big wake up call were the Cabs. I can’t stress this enough—take the train or walk if you can! The cabs in NJ are not regulated and therefore, cabbies are allowed to charge basically whatever they want. If you do take a cab in NJ make sure you ask what the fare will be to your destination. Also, do not get sucked into taking a “Gypsy Cab”–these are fairly easy to spot because they are usually all black Lincoln Town Cars or black Lincoln Navigators and they are not marked—the prices are OUTRAGEOUS!

WHERE WE STAYED:
SpringHill Suites by Marriot —This hotel is conveniently close to the Newark Airport. It was in a nice area (safe part) of Newark. The hotel was clean and our room was large and spacious. The only downside to this hotel is that it is not very close to restaurants (none within walking distance). We got in pretty late and the only delivery service to our hotel was pizza. I booked this room using Hotels.com and found a really great deal. I would recommend this hotel 🙂

PLACES WE VISITED:
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart— We visited the church early on a Friday morning. This church is beautiful inside and out. The parking lot is lined with cherry blossom trees that were in bloom in April. The interior is grand with breathtaking stained glass art. The Basilica is a must see, even if you aren’t religious; anyone can appreciate the beauty. It is free to walk around and take pictures, but we put money into the tithe box on our way out. 🙂

The Prudential Center –We attended a UFC event at the Prudential Center. The seating was great, concessions were easily accessible, and getting in-and-out was easy. It does sit in an older, somewhat “sketchy”, neighborhood. I would recommend taking a cab if you go to an event here because there wasn’t much parking.

Canal Street aka Chinatown–Canal Street is a MUST if you are visiting NYC for the first time, or if you are a serial shopper like me. This is where you can find purses, watches, and perfumes! It also features many places to eat, and is home to Little Italy and many delicious Italian restaurants. I highly recommend visiting Canal Street. 🙂

WHERE WE ATE:

Wicked Wolf Tavern: This place was awesome! Located in Hoboken, this tavern is filled with young working adults, and was packed. The food was good (we tried 3 of the appetizers), but the drink specials were better! Each beer came with a shot the night we went. We had to hang around the bar for about 30 minutes to wait for a table, but it was great “people-watching” time. Get there early if you go for dinner—A fun time for young people! 😀

Hobby’s Deli: I read so many fabulous reviews of Hobby’s Deli that I just HAD to try it for myself. We got there pretty early after touring the Basilica, around 11:00am. I guess they weren’t prepared for early eaters because it seemed like the staff was busy doing other things. The sandwiches were HUGE and reasonably priced. Overall, it was still a great experience. The food was delicious and it had the traditional feel of a NY Deli, complete with pickles on the table.  I would definitely recommend Hobby’s Deli if you are in Newark. 🙂

Mecca Halal Restaurant: This was a spur of the moment decision. We were starving after leaving the Prudential Center and EVERY restaurant was packed except this place. It is a hole in the wall restaurant that serves a little bit of everything (cafeteria style) very reasonably priced! I had a veggie plate and Kyle had chicken and macaroni. The neighborhood surrounding this place was a bit sketchy, but the food was great. 🙂

Planet Hollywood: Conveniently located in Times Square–this is a classic tourist attraction. Honestly- they have such a wide variety of food on their menu it is sure to satisfy everyone’s cravings. Kyle is a very picky eater and enjoys classic hamburgers. I love pasta. Planet Hollywood has both! Prices are a little inflated, but your paying for the atmosphere. If you have never been to a Planet Hollywood restaurant then I would recommend trying it at least once 🙂

Chubby’s Diner aka The Diner: This Diner is located in the Meat-Packing District (my favorite area of NYC). We ate here because we missed our reservation at Catch. As unhappy as I was about eating somewhere else, I was pleasantly surprised by the great “Late-Night” menu. A variety of options of home-style cooking. Kyle had breakfast and I had the spaghetti and meatballs, and our friend Moses had the blackened catfish–all were delicious. I would recommend Chubby’s for breakfast or a late night snack 🙂

TRAVEL INFORMATION:

• I can’t reiterate enough about getting the price of cab fare BEFORE you take a cab somewhere in Newark.
• Say NO to Gypsy Cabs.
• The Train from Newark into Manhattan is fairly easy to navigate, but the trains throughout Newark are a bit harder
• The subway in Manhattan is your best friend.
• Hoboken is where the young people of New Jersey hang out.
• Visit Canal Street

HAPPY TRAVELS!

*Be sure to check out my travel tips!*