So this entire time leading up to our flight to Spain on Sunday, I thought we had a 6 hour layover in Oslo, Norway. And instead of being bummed out about an uber-long delay to our destination, I was kind of excited because we decided that we would leave the airport and explore Oslo for a few hours. {I have no idea if that plan is even possible, but we would have figured it out there.}
Come to find out....
I checked our itinerary again, and our 6 hour layover is not in Norway, but in fact is in Newark. As in, Newark, New Jersey. And according to my mother, it is "The Butthole of New Jersey."
If you are from there, I apologize. Her words, not mine.
So now, we fly just a few short hours from Atlanta, Georgia to Newark, New Jersey, to which we will be stranded for 6 hours! What the...
Anyone have any suggestions on if we can leave the airport and find some sort of entertainment? Or is this place the ghetto and we may get shot if we leave the safety of the airport?
Any and all suggestions welcome.
And while you're thinking of suggestions, I would like you to please meet 3 of my lovely friends! Because isn't this what blogging is all about? Meeting new people and connecting? Can I get "Yee-haw!!"?
...
A little blurb from Nicole
Hi there! I'm Nicole, and I'm the girl behind the blog Treasure Tromp. My blog started as a way to document my attempts at finding life's hidden treasures ... and as a way to distract myself from my PhD program in psychology. When I'm not studying or working on program evaluations, I like to hike and camp around southern California, obsess over hedgehogs, make a mess in the kitchen and work on my photography. Come stop by my blog to say hello - I'm looking forward to meeting you!
BLOG / BLOG LOVIN' / TWITTER / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
...
{Read about it HERE!}
A little blurb from Kayla
Hello Mish and Dizzle followers, I'm Kayla coming at you from Houston, Texas. I'm an airline employee who works behind the scenes of the world's largest airline. I envy their plans of traveling the world though, we're always so limited by vacation time! I started my blog, Sealed With a Kay, to document our travels through standby flying, delicious recipes and maybe a few odd ball stories along the way. Odd ball stories? Well, there was the one about Growing up with Mannequins, or the story about how I Found my Sister on Myspace. My blog has become so much more than I had anticipated, and blogging has quickly become my favorite hobby. Not only have I been able to connect with others and share in happy times, I've also been able to learn through my writing about a tough time too. I love the blogging community and meeting new friends, some come on over and say hello!
BLOG / BLOG LOVIN' / TWITTER / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
...
A little blurb from Mackensie
My blog is a fun, not-so-serious place where I share my favorite music and recipes, document my fitness goals and experiment with hair, clothes and girly things. I'm a single aspiring writer living in Florida with a fat beagle mutt named Ziggy Stardust.
BLOG / BLOG LOVIN' / TWITTER / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
...
xoxo
I had more than 6 hours of layover in Newark! It's a massive airport! I didn't leave just because I had a lot of carry on items, but I literally went into every store, ate, and used free wi-fi!
ReplyDeleteGaaah New Jersey truly sucks!! The one time I flew into Newark I called my mom and told her it was the a**hole of America, not just of NJ! My husband was born and raised in NJ {his parents' doing, not his, so he's been forgiven :)} and going to visit up there is just torture. I don't suggest leaving the airport, the area surrounding it is ehhhh at best.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels!
Southern Living, Our Way ~ www.alexaandglenn.blogspot.com
Oh dung Newark!?!?!? I wish ya'll were leaving out Laguardia or JFK! I could totally have met up with ya'll for a couple hours to hang (spill drinks) if I wasn't heading to DC today. Whelp ... There always next time :) If you get airport cabin fever, you could take the NJ transit into Penn Station and explore NYC. It's a 30 min. ride. You'd have a good 2-3 hours to hang before having to head back to the airport. Sending positive energy your way ... Traveling can be draining!
ReplyDeleteoh em gee!! do NOT travel outside of newark airport!!! ESP since you are not from the area. I live in Jersey (way south of there) and its a really crappy area... HOWEVER, if you are inclined to leave--6 hrs is a long time! grab a cab and go to Elizabeth to the IKEA or Jersey Gardens Mall. Its REALLY CLOSE and you can kill time there. . . but if you have a lot of stuff with you i'd probably just stay put!
ReplyDeletei've never been to newark -- but i've heard it's pretty unappealing. stay in the airport :)
ReplyDeleteNewark is not that bad of an airport. I had a long delay there once (about four hours) but fortunately there are a lot of decent places to eat and lots of good shopping. It's a huge airport. I plopped myself inside of Vino Volo and had a few wine flights and used the free wifi. It flew by.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Newark, but my mom used to have a job as an IT consultant for Deloitte and Touche and they would send her on 6 month assignments to different places. One of those assignments was in Newark and I've heard nothing but bad things about it. My advice would be just to stay at the airport, use wifi to write blogs, read a book, get something to eat, etc.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Newark, but my mom used to have a job as an IT consultant for Deloitte and Touche and they would send her on 6 month assignments to different places. One of those assignments was in Newark and I've heard nothing but bad things about it. My advice would be just to stay at the airport, use wifi to write blogs, read a book, get something to eat, etc.
ReplyDeleteOops not sure why that posted twice!
ReplyDeleteOn my flight abroad I had a 12 hour layover in Philly! It was between two red eye flights and was horrible. I got to know the airport and all the areas to nap really well though! I'd suggest getting out of the airport for a few hours at least, even if its just going to a nearby town and finding a restaurant that's not in the airport. I also like all the suggestions about heading up to NYC, but be careful of the time! It would suck horribly to miss your flight to Spain because you couldn't catch the right train or got stuck in security. You can also ask the desk agents of your airline what they suggest, I'm sure they've had to kill time in random airports before! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHaha this had me laughing. Newark is definitely an um, interesting airport... can't say much for the city around it as I haven't explored it. Good luck! Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteMichelle- Newark Penn Station is only a 20 minute train ride into the city. As in NYC. Just ask someone how you can get to Newark Penn from the airport-there should be shuttles or something. And come into NYC for a couple hours! New Jersey is actually a very beautiful state. However, Newark... ghetto. Not much to see outside that airport.
ReplyDeleteNewark is SUPER close to NYC if you want to get out! I literally got off the train in Newark once instead of NYC (I thought the person said New Yorkkk- in a northern accent it's the same). But Newark airport is very blah and the area is not that safe so be careful!! That being said, I have only been to the Newark airport twice and to Newark to see a Lil Wayne concert- HA!
ReplyDeleteI recommend NOT staying in the airport. I've been stranded there for hours and it sucks like nothing else!
ReplyDeleteSorry you aren't going to Norway. I don't know much about Newark but it seems pretty much a drab. Butt or armpit, you choose :P
ReplyDeleteUgh what a let down :( I have never been to New Jersey, so I have nothing useful to say. I'm sorry girl.
ReplyDeleteIf you plan it right, you can definitely leave the airport (you'll just have to go through security again when you come back). And for about $25 each roundtrip, you can take a bus from Newark to Penn Station (it's not a long ride) and spend some time in NYC!
ReplyDeleteUgh! Newark stinks. Literally! What a bummer mix-up!
ReplyDeleteNewark isn't a bad airport--lots of great bars and restaurants, especially Vino Volo (mentioned above). That's where I waited for my flight to Spain this past May. However, 6 hours is a long time. NYC is a short distance away, but having lived there and knowing how inconsistent the transit system can be, plus carrying things around with you up/down/up/down/up/down steps and escalators and dealing with throngs of people, I would just as soon hang out at the airport and tie one on. If you had more time, like 12 hours or a whole day, I'd say absolutely head into the city. But w/ NYC, especially after the hurricane, you just never know. There's nothing just outside of the airport you could walk too--it's all highways and industrial things. Newark the city is still a train ride away (and it's not all bad, but for the most part it's yucky).
ReplyDeleteAll of you guys slamming Newark and New Jersey are brain dead assholes, especially the people who've never been there before?
ReplyDeleteHahahaha, so funny. I've had many a layover in Newark, and it's extremely close to NYC.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is, I had a 12 hour layover there all alone. It was a nightmare. I hope I never see Newark again!
That's fun that you're in Atlanta! It's always fun to read about other folks visiting the city you live in. :) I too am flying out on Sunday so maybe I'll see you at the airport! haha!
ReplyDeleteSo, I am originally from outside NYC, and I have FREQUENTLY flown into Newark since my parents still live up there. I recommend parking your butt in the airport! (And honestly - Newark airport is kind of stinky as far as airports go). There's nowhere cool to go unless you actually go into NYC, and I don't know if 6 hours is enough time to leave the airport, do something in the city, and then make it back. I've never gone into the city from Newark so I can't speak to that. Newark itself, however, is a bit of a dump. And when I say a bit, I'm being very nice. Good luck!!!
Viva La New Jersey!! Also, fun fact, Newark airport isn't in Newark - it's in Elizabeth.
ReplyDelete