Exploring Liberty State Park and the Jersey City Hudson River Waterfront by Bicycle with Lunch at Bistro La Source

After many shore weekends we have gotten back into exploring our region like a tourist.

This past Sunday we took our bikes over to Liberty State Park and enjoyed the park paths and then road the waterfront walkway up into Jersey City. It is a very exhilarating and beautiful trip by bike or foot. Just kept wondering why we hadn't done this sooner. After our ride we had lunch at a charming French bistro in Jersey City call La Source.

If you enter the park from Audry Zapp Drive you will immedietly see the awesome 9/11 memorial.

The map and photos below show more of our adventure.

At the north end of the park, there are two parking areas off Audrey Zapp Drive, a paid parking area on the right and further on a free 2 hour limit parking area on the left. If you enter at the south end by Morris Pessin Dr. There is another free parking ara by the lush picnic grounds.

To your right of the monument is the old Central Railroad of New Jersey train and ferry terminal and access to ferrys to the Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island. We will be exploring the terminal next time. It was such a beautiful day we just wanted to ride.

As you travel south on the well paved and maintained walk or bike path you have many majestic views of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the islands in the harbor.

Along the way you'll see happy fisherman and a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Imagine what people thought seeing this site for the first time back in the 1800's

There are many paths and nature areas with descriptive signs that make the park a great learning place for kids of all ages.

Further down there is a big open area where people fly kites and relax in a lovely picnic grove where you can grill.

There is path through the center of park where you can travel back up towards Jersey City. It is lush and green. The path eventually takes you through the marina and through a rough patch and over the bridge. This part of the path and the way into the Jersey City waterfront walkway is not all that well defined and may not be great for young kids.

The path along the water picks up again and there are lots of sites to see.

The walkway in Jersey City is very beautiful too with old and new monuments and a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline. On a sunny Sunday afternoon it is pretty quiet, not crowded like the NY side of the river.

Further on there are more beautiful sites like this beautiful fountain and the Serbian monument.

And an interesting sculpture "double check" dedicated to 9-11.

From end to end you have a view that spans from the George Washington Bridge to the Verazzano Bridge.

While riding through Jersey City we saw lots of nice looking bars and cafes. We decide to have lunch at this one called Bistro La Source, "Fine food and spirits is the motto of this French restaurant located in the heart of Jersey City"