For a family going on a New York City vacation, Newark is often the point of entry for Manhattan. This New Jersey city is located just across the Hudson River and has so much more to offer than just a place to touch down when you travel. Newark is coming into its own as a true travel destination.Often overlooked due to its proximity to New York City, Newark is the 3rd oldest of the major U.S. cities and possesses its share of unique treasures. As the largest city in New Jersey, Newark offers an exciting mix of culture, arts and shopping plus a growing business environment. A key center for travel, Newark is best known for the bustling Newark Liberty International Airport.The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, opened in 1997, has attracted numerous big-name concerts and events and stimulated growth of the Downtown Arts District. Similarly, the completion of the Bears and Eagles Stadium has revived community spirit and attracted droves of sports fans to support local teams. Among other valuable resources, several prominent local museums display a wealth of fine art and informative exhibitions. There's the Montclair Art Museum, filled with the works of great American painters, as well as the Newark Museum, which features art and natural history exhibits, a planetarium and mini-zoo. The city also boasts the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the Institute of Jazz Studies, the world's foremost jazz archive. While on a NYC vacation, Newark is not too far to go for some great jazz at the local clubs.