Many people ask me why I live in New Jersey.

The answer is always the same. You get a little bit of everything all within driving distance.

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Beaches, mountains, pinelands, we've got it all.

Plus, we're a short trip to New York City and Philadelphia.

 

There's one aspect of the Garden State that many forget. History.

There is a ton of history in NJ. Many centuries' worth of history has shaped our state over time.

As you'll see, several towns are stuck in time and that's what makes them so special.

Don't be surprised if you've never heard of many of these towns.

These are the hidden gems that you need to visit to get the complete feel of our diverse and unique state.

Are the taxes high? Yes. Is it congested? Absolutely. Have all of us at one time or another questioned what the heck we're actually doing living here. Yup.

Really, when you look at the positives and the negatives, I believe the pros far outweigh the cons. But, that's just me.

Is any state perfect? I don't think so. It's easy to find faults. It's towns like you're about to see that make Jersey so awesome.

Keep track of the towns that you haven't been to and make plans to visit and explore as the weather gets nicer.

30 Special and Unique New Jersey Towns Everyone Must Visit

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in New Jersey

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New Jersey using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.

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