Newark sits to the far east of New Jersey, meaning you can get in your hire car and head east to New York, or west, south and north to explore the rest of the Garden State.

For the towering delights of New York, you have a number of options, depending on where you’re headed – Newark makes a great base for bouncing in and out of NY. Drive through the Holland Tunnel to emerge in Soho, the Lincoln Tunnel transports you to Midtown, while the Varrazano Narrows Bridge takes you to the increasingly hip Brooklyn.

Newark itself is exceptionally well served by highways and interstates. The I-95 will take through Jersey City and further north until you cross the Hudson River. Take it south and you’ll pass through Elizabeth, East Brunswick and on to Trenton, close to the border with Pennsylvania.

Newark streets are easy to navigate, being based on a common-sense grid system. Of course, you’ll be driving on the right and overtaking on the left. Speed limits will be clearly signposted and there are some local laws it’s worth familiarising yourself with before you arrive. For a handy, downloadable guide, check out this official manual.

There are numerous scenic drives you can take from Newark, although it has its fair share of iconic sights within the city limits. Fans of the legendary TV show The Sopranos should take a drive over the three-mile long Pulaski Skyway, featured in the opening credits.

A memorable episode also featured the Pine Barrens, a wooded area covering some seven counties. They’re about a 90-minute drive from Newark, south on the I-95 before joining the US-206. After exploring the UNESCO-protected nature reserve you’re only a short drive from the eastern seaboard, Atlantic City, Long Beach Island and plenty of charming seaside towns.

Newark is so much more than just a NYC neighbour. It’s a city all its own, with fierce pride in its local sports teams and its own state culture to celebrate. The Garden State isn’t short of wonderful parks to explore, not just in the spring and summer but in the autumn (or ‘fall’) when the leaves turn golden and brown.

Committed to culture

The Newark Museum is a genuinely world class museum whose architecturally sensitive redevelopment at the close of the 20^th century has improved it even further, and which shows New Jersey’s commitment not to just to local but also world culture. The variety is mind-boggling, from native North American artists to contemporary installations, decorative arts, brilliant Asian and African collections and a range of Tibetan art ranked as one of the world’s best. This multi-faceted centre (with some 80 galleries) also finds space for a zoo, planetarium and hosts a summer concert series featuring jazz in the garden.

Just around the corner is NJPAC – the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Since opening in 1997 this has become the place in New Jersey for live performance, dance, orchestra, talks and more, having hosted nights with Aretha Franklin and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Home of hockey

There are a few sports teams with a New York prefix that actually have their home in New Jersey, but the New Jersey Devils are the real deal and are based out of Newark. Playing in the NHL – National Hockey League – they’re a professional ice hockey team with a large and passionate local following. They were an underperforming franchise until the mid-90s, since when they’ve won the Stanley Cup – the highest attainment in ice hockey – three times. Try and catch a game at the Prudential Center in Newark, especially if they’re playing their rivals, the New York Rangers from just across the Hudson.

Blossom at Branch Brook

Take some air in the city at Branch Brook Park in Newark’s North Ward. A serene, beautiful place, it can lay claim to more cherry blossom trees than anywhere else in the United States, a riot of pink and crimson when in bloom. Come in April to see them at their finest. The rest of the park spans some 360 acres and is hugely popular with joggers, cyclists and birdwatchers. Wander around the lakes, ponds and streams, cross the beautiful bridges and seek out the seasonal delights including outdoor theatre and concerts, dedicated sports fields and a roller rink.

After all this culture, sport and park life, you deserve some good food. Grab a table at the highly rated Mompou on Ferry Street. You’ll find it in the Ironbound District, an area that has really opened up to new eateries in recent years, having traditionally been an Italian-American enclave. The tapas here are top notch – perfect jamon, olives, patatas bravas, croquetas – and they’ve also pioneered the brilliant stackable tapas tray – the perfect space-saving tool for those who may order too many dishes.

With great access to New York and plenty of things to see and do in the city itself, car hire in Newark makes perfect sense the next time you’re flying to the USA.