Now forming part of New York City’s urban sprawl, East Rutherford was established as a borough in 1894 on the site of Boiling Springs Township. It’s home to the state-of-the-art MetLife Stadium where the New York Jets and New York Giants play their home games, as well as the family-friendly attractions and shopping malls of the American Dream.
Things to do in East Rutherford
You can watch the New York Giants and New York Jets in action at the MetLife Stadium, which was the most expensive stadium in the United States when it was completed in 2010. It forms part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, which features the harness racing circuit of the Meadowlands Racetrack and the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
If you need a retail fix, head to the shopping mall of the American Dream, which boasts around 450 stores and more than 100 eateries. Kids can let loose at Nickelodeon Universe, cool off at the DreamWorks Water Park or enjoy a skate on the NHL-sized ice rink. Also forming part of the complex is an indoor ski slope, two miniature golf courses and a Legoland Discovery Center.
East Rutherford lies on the banks of the Hackensack River and is just a stone’s throw from the Hackensack Meadowlands Conservation and Wildlife Area. At the HMDC Nature Center, you can stretch your legs along a network of riverfront trails that connect to Richard W. DeKorte Park, a former landfill that provides habitat for a variety of bird species.
Getting around East Rutherford
East Rutherford is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Newark and 25 minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport. Regular trains connect to the Rutherford and Meadowlands Sports Complex railway stations and buses travel throughout the borough.