Bc I've spent decades hanging out with relatives in Northern NJ. I think my folks when my dad drove were on Rt 9 on some occasion. It ends up in Ft Lee NJ by the GW Bridge.

Wow, you're really half way down the State. And that bay iscmore or less east of Phillidelphia.
And, wow, Cape May is practically straight eastward of DC.

I think bc when I've gone to DC rare by train, often by bus we go a bit westward into ?Pennsylvania, definitely Delaware, and Maryland so I associate them more southbound than NJ.
On the satellite map I saw the big forest you mentioned.

Totally different subject you might get a kick out of.
I saw PF at the Filmore East during their Atom Heart Mother tour. Not my favorite album... I like the earlier, and some later ones. They did play the 2 major pieces from the 2 earlier ones I wanted to hear. So yay.
They also did some interesting sound projection, too.

Have fun if you go see the cover band. 🎶🎵👍

The line also runs through southern N.J.

I recall, in the 60's when I got my license, driving to south Jersey. In Salem County, they spoke with a kind of southern accent.

Forsythe Preserve is a federal preserve (until Trump decides to sell it.). But it is not a forest. It is a tidal estuary. I would guess that maybe 2% of it is wooded. The rest is marshland. That is why I can see the Atlantic City tower, 20 miles from north of Atlantic City. It is a site that is nationally known by bird watchers, for the variety of water birds that live or migrate there. You can also find Mink and Otter - Otters.

Two years ago, an Otter gave birth in my stepdaughter's garage. She and the kits lived there for about two weeks. The place stunk because the mother was feeding them fish from the bay and the smell from the poop was, well what can I say.

A Southern kind of lilt in South NJ.

Mostly marsh, got it. And cool for local and migrating birds. South of JFK Airport is a big stopover area for birds.
Was in Atlantic City twice. Once family vacay, second a concert.

Too bad the otter adventure has a bad smelly side to it!

I love the Jersey shore.