New Jersey showcases some of the State's hidden gems with the release of the Official 2007 Travel Guide...From horses to hippos, beaches to battlefields, and wineries to wolf preserves, the Garden State is brimming with year-round adventure and surprises

The New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism today announced the release of the state's annual Travel Guide, designed to help visitors discover the hidden gems across the Garden State.

This comprehensive 128-page publication is the essential resource for both New Jersey natives and visitors of all ages -- beyond the usual lodging, dining and attractions listings, the guide also features unexpected "only in New Jersey" treasures in some unassuming locations that are sure to surprise and delight.

"Travelers are more interested than ever in seeking out new adventures," notes Nancy Byrne, executive director of The New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism. "We designed this year's travel guide as a practical and exciting treasure map of New Jersey, guiding travelers to some of our most intriguing activities and venues, while also highlighting options such as shopping and lodging to simplify their journey."

As a sneak peek to some of the surprises that visitors may discover as they venture across the state using the official New Jersey 2007 Travel Guide, did you know ...

    1.  Hammonton, in the southern part of the state, is known as the blueberry capital of the world.

    2.  Adventure Aquarium in Camden is the only aquarium in the country with hippos.

    3.  New Jersey has a growing wine industry with 21 wineries producing over 40 different varieties of wines from dry and semi-dry to sparkling and fruit and dessert wines.

 4.  The first National Historic Park in America was established in 1933 in Morristown.

    5.  Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove is the longest running regular Saturday night rodeo in the entire United States.

    6.  Atlantic City holds the distinction of having America's first, and the world's longest boardwalk, built in 1870.  Atlantic City is also where the street names came from for the game Monopoly(R).

    7.  New Jersey is known as the "Crossroads of the American Revolution." More than 100 battles were fought on New Jersey soil, many of which are reenacted annually. annually.

    8.  New Jersey is home to the country's first National Reserve, the Pinelands.  Established by Congress in 1978, it includes portions of seven counties, and encompasses over one-million acres of farms, forests and wetlands.

    9.  There are over 4,000 scuba diving wreck sites off the New Jersey coastline.

    10. Picturesque Cape May holds the distinction of being the oldest seashore resort in the United States. Opening in the early 1800s, Cape May was frequented by Presidents Abe Lincoln, James Buchanan, Franklin Pierce, Ulysses S. Grant and Benjamin Harrison.

Featuring a cover shot of horses galloping along a portion of the state's 127-mile stretch of white, sandy coastline, this year's travel guide speaks to the pride in being selected as the home to the 2007 Breeders' Cup, being held at Monmouth Park racetrack in October.

However, neither the horses on the cover nor the Breeders' Cup selection of locale should be a surprise, since New Jersey has a large equine industry with more horses per square mile than any other state -- including Kentucky.

The travel guide is organized by the six travel regions in New Jersey. Each region is unique and contains its own adventures, ranging from the popular Atlantic coastline with over two dozen picturesque lighthouses, world- class gaming in Atlantic City, and the Pinelands National Reserve in the southern portion of the state, to horse farms, the Lakota Wolf Preserve, top notch skiing, and the Hudson River coastline in the north.

In addition, for ease of use, it spotlights topics including Annual Events, Great Resort Vacation Destinations, Fantastic Jersey Piers, and Wild and Scenic New Jersey -- Outdoor Adventures.

The free-of-charge travel guide and other State of New Jersey travel and tourism information are available online via the state's tourism Web site at http://www.visitnj.org, at all New Jersey Tourist Information offices, or by calling the New Jersey Office of Travel and Tourism at 1-800-VISITNJ.