After a particularly cold and snowy winter, spring has finally arrived. That means it’s time to step out of the house and into the outdoors. Start your spring planning with our cover story, which outlines 50 free things to do in New Jersey. Our state offers so many places, from parks and trails to museums and historical sites, that welcome the public free of charge. Also in this issue, you’ll find an interview with American Idol contender Jake Thistle, of Paramus, who’s made it all the way to the Top 20—so far; an interview with Senator Cory Booker about his new book, his new marriage, and his future political plans—including whether he’ll run for president again; and a fascinating story about a special mud, harvested in South Jersey, that is baseball and football’s secret weapon in terms of preparing balls for play.
