John Gilman and Robert Heide might be two of New Jersey’s biggest fans. Last week they were at the Rutherford Public Library telling residents to get out of town. The kings of Jersey day tripping may now hail from Greenwich Village, NY, but they spend their weekends carousing the back roads of the Garden State and know every back road from Hoboken to Cape May. Now they’re convincing many others to get away through their two guidebooks: "O’ New Jersey: Daytripping, Backroads, Eateries, Funky Adventures" (St. Martin’s Press) and "Backroads of New Jersey: Your Guide to New Jersey’s Most Scenic Backroad Adventures" (Voyageur Press).

"It seemed logical [to write these books]; New Jersey did not at the time have a guidebook," Heide says.

Heide was born in Irvington and spent much of his life in New Jersey. As a child his parents would pack him in the car and take day trips often to visit relatives in Bayhead, Point Pleasant and Kenilworth.

Heide met John Gilman, a Honolulu, Hawaii native, in New York at Caffe Cino, a theater coffeehouse. Heide was a playwright for the "off- off- Broadway" company and Gilman was an actor. Much of their love for New Jersey began as the two would take trips, navigating the back roads of New Jersey in search of play props at flea markets.

"We looked at the things we collected and saw that they told a story," Gilman explains.

The adage, "It’s the journey not the destination that makes the trip" comes through in their books and they cry out for readers to hop in the car and drive. Both books cover the whole state, with maps and route recommendations and background information on each place highlighted.

Northern Highlands

"The new one is geographic, although we highlight places to go and things to do," Gilman says of their latest guidebook, "Backroads of New Jersey".

The book covers the state in six regions, beginning with the Northern Highlands and working its way south. The Northern Highlands begins with Ringwood State Park and High Point. Each location comes with snippets of American history, ranging from George Washington to Frank Sinatra. Gilman and Heide also highlight the Delaware Water Gap and the impressive natural views and make their way to the colonial towns of Madison, Morristown and Chester.

Gateway Region

"Backroads" includes a "Diner Quest" that goes through the Meadowlands area, with stops at the Miss America Diner and the White Mana Diner in Jersey City, The Colonial Diner in Lyndhurst, The Bendix Diner in Hasbrouck Heights and The White Manna Diner in Hackensack. The "tour" includes information on the Meadowlands’ history and suggestions to visit William Carlos Williams’ grave at Hillside Cemetery in Lyndhurst and the Meadowlands Environment Center. All other routes in the books are the same: full of education, details and a love and respect for New Jersey.

Gilman says there are "600 diners of the ‘good variety’," which includes the architecture, "mica and stainless steel done for efficiency."

Central Belt

Those who are looking to visit central Jersey have their choice of seeing the Raritan and Delaware canals, farms in Clinton, Flemington and Somerville or places to find good antiques, such as Lambertville. The authors show that central Jersey has something for the environment-conscious, history buffs or avid shoppers and offer a tour of our state capital.

Heide says he likes towns like Lambertville where there is "still much of the town left…rather than the shopping mall concept." In the book, Heide and Gilman go back to a time before New Jersey became so developed and try to find the places that have remained the same.

North Jersey Shore

When asked to describe his favorite place, each author had trouble choosing just one. Both mentioned Island Beach State Park and Ocean Grove in Seaside Park. Other spots discussed in "Backroads" include the famous Jersey amusement parks, of course including "Tillie," the late famous clown painting from Palace Amusements of Asbury Park, as well as the natural, untouched aspects of the shore.

"We always stay at the House by the Sea [in Ocean Grove]," Gilman says, and later admits it’s one of his favorite spots in New Jersey.

South Jersey Shore

Some might think that the Jersey Shore is one constant as soon as you drive over the bridge, but Gilman and Heide divide the shore into two parts. The south Jersey shore, which begins with Island Heights near Toms River, offers the birthplace of the "Jersey Devil," complete with devil legend and the Victorian quaintness of Cape May. Attractions also include Lucy the Margate Elephant and the natural beauty that can be seen from the Cape May Bird Observatory.

"It’s a good year for New Jersey shore," Heide says, speaking of the rise in gas prices leading people to save money and stay in-state for vacations. "People still have to go somewhere."

Pine Barrens and Delsea Region

Finally, "Backroads" ends with the Pine Barrens. South Jersey, featuring the winter resorts of Lakewood to New Jersey’s own cranberry bogs and much more. A route is offered to Camden, where Walt Whitman lived, and proves that the "Garden State" is in fact an accurate name—discussing Jersey’s main crops. Vineland begins the "garden spot" of the state, where all vegetables are grown and canned.

The region also highlights the undeveloped land that is home to Jersey wildlife.

"We connected the dots to green places [and were] amazed at how much there is…thousands and thousands of acres of wildlife management areas," Gilman said.