Central Jersey
Drumthwacket
The Governor’s Mansion
Built in 1835 by then-future Governor Charles S. Olden, Drumthwacket is the official residence of the Governor. Drumthwacket and the surrounding land were sold to the state in 1966 and were made into the governor’s mansion in 1982. Located right off Route 206 in Princeton, Drumthwacket is close enough to Trenton, the state capital.
Drumthwacket replaced Morven, another Princeton mansion, as the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey, in 1982. The mansion is administered by the state Department of Environmental Protection, with the interior run by the Drumthwacket Foundation. Visitors can enjoy a stroll out in the beautiful gardens in the backyard.
Fun Fact: the name “drumthwacket” comes from two Scottish Gaelic words that mean “wooded hill”!
Grounds For Sculpture
Trenton
Located on Fairgrounds Road in Trenton, the Grounds for Sculpture is a sprawling park populated with a variety of sculptures. It takes about an hour to walk completely through the Grounds, but it is worth it—the art is very modern and in many cases the viewer can interact and touch it. The Grounds also houses galleries with regular exhibits, a café-style restaurant, as well as the critically acclaimed Rats restaurant for fine dining.
18 Fairgrounds Road Hamilton, NJ 08619 609.586.0616
New Jersey State House
Trenton
A tour through the State House is a chance to learn all about the state’s legislative process, the governor, and state culture in general. The architecture of this building is remarkable; it has been renovated twice in its history. The building has served as the seat of our state government for over two hundred years. Lots to learn, and it’s not boring! You’ll learn about the state flower, insect, and even the state dinosaur!
Tours are free.
*also visit theState Museum just down the block! (205 West State Street)
**this area in Trenton is called the State Capital Complex (state house, museum, planetarium, library, war memorial, etc.)
125 West State Street Trenton, NJ 609.633.2709
Duke Farms
Hillsborough
Hillsborough’s most famous resident Doris Duke invested a lot of money and a lot of time into her home and gardens. Duke Farms has remained protected and mostly unchanged for almost a century. The property spans over 2,700 acres and is owned and maintained by the Duke Farms Foundation. Four types of tours are offered: Country Manor Tour (main living areas of the estate, offered year round); Indoor Display Gardens Tour (September to May); Estate Park and Nature Tour (bus tour, April to November); and Outdoor Japanese Stroll Garden Tour (April to November).We highly recommend the Indoor Gardens Tour. There are eleven themed gardens, with total area being about an acre. From Italian to Chinese to Desert to Tropical themes, these gardens are breathtaking. Come see the renowned Duke Gardens the right way!
80 US Highway 206 Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Sourland Mountain Preserve
Hillsborough
2,870 acres of beautiful mountain, the sourland mountain is ideal for all hikers and nature-lovers. Besides hiking, recreational opportunities include mountain biking, bird watching, bouldering, and horseback riding. The preserve is owned bySomerset
County and administered by the Somerset County Park Commission. Three trails are marked with various difficulty levels, but all reward visitors with breathtaking views and lots of chances to see wildlife.
East Mountain Road Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Fun Fact: the name “sourland” is believed to be derived from “sorrel-land” which describes the sorrel (reddish-brown) colored soils encountered by the pioneering German farmers.
Princeton University Art Museum
Nestled within the Princeton University campus, the Art Museum is a small and intimate building, which nevertheless draws an impressive crowd on a regular basis due to special featured exhibits. The most prized piece of the Museum is perhaps a Monet Bridge, although the Museum also notably houses an impressive collection of Classical, Baroque, and Impressionist art. Each room is dedicated to a specific period in Art History, so the visitors aren’t overwhelmed by cavernous galleries.
Princeton, NJ (609) 258-3788
Terhune Orchards
The coolest apple-picking orchard around. Two locations of Terhune’s include one pick-your-own orchard (including raspberry, cherry, blueberry, and blackberry fields!) and the other includes a petting farm, a store with the best apple cider, pies, and donuts. You can pick your apples from over 21 varieties.
The apple picking season is from August-November (varying for each type of apple). The farm store and farm yard are open all year round.
330 Cold Soil Road Princeton, NJ 08540
The Princeton Historical Society
Princeton is one of the most historically important towns in New Jersey, and it is rich with cool historical facts and stories. Visit the Historical Society right on Nassau Street to view special exhibits, collect information, or pick up a self-guided historic tour. Great even for those who live in the
Princeton area; we guarantee you don’t know everyone who’s buried in the cemetery or where Einstein used to live!
Princeton, NJ 08540 609.921.6748
Princeton Record Exchange
Located conveniently one block away from the Princeton University campus, this CD shop is ideal for college-aged students low on cash. New and used CDs clutter the aisles of this one-of-a-kind store. People can sell back or buy CDs for cheap prices. The racks of $1.99 CDs are popular, always filled with students and other locals. It is possible to purchase five of your favorite CDs for less than $20.
Lambertville
On the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey overlooking the Delaware River, Lambertville is a quaint town filled with art galleries, antique shops, and cafes. Everyone is very friendly; drivers often stop to allow pedestrians lingering on the curb to jaywalk. Several restaurants are located on the scenic Delaware River, with opportunities to feed the ducks with bread. One of the highlights of the town is Sneddons, a personal and family-style diner specializing in waffles and other brunch menu items.
New Hope, PA, is just across the bridge, filled with more unique shops and cute ice cream places. There is a ferry service across the Delaware. In New Hope, you can try pumping your own gas (we did)!
Delaware Water Gap
The Delaware Water Gap gets its name from the area on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River cuts through the
Appalachian Mountains. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is open to the public for fishing, swimming, hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, and rafting. One of the summer’s most popular pastimes for NJ and PA residents is taking the weekend to go kayaking, canoeing, or inner tubing down the river. The water is usually very calm and enjoyable so people of all ages and experience can enjoy the river, while taking in the
Appalachians.
Camden Aquarium
Located on the Camden waterfront, the Adventure Aquarium is a gem in the midst of a not-so-great city. The aquarium is enormous, with three different “zones” of creatures, two theaters, and a large food court. This is a popular destination for school field trips, and has lots of exhibits especially geared to a younger audience. However, this doesn’t mean that adults don’t enjoy it. The fascinating exhibits include the Seal Shores and Penguin Island, as well as an alarming shark tunnel. Come within inches of sea turtles, hippopotamuses, and jellyfish (separated by glass, thank goodness!)
Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson
Known all over the world for the tallest rollercoaster in the world, Kingda Ka, Six Flags is more than just one great rollercoaster. Nitro, Medusa, and Batman The Ride are all classic, amazing rollercoasters. New for the 2007 season, El Toro is a wooden speed demon, whipping riders around like a bull ride. The entire park is great – there are lots of boardwalk games, restaurants, food stands, and even a DareDevil drop. Bugs Bunny land for the young visitors, the Wild Safari park next to the rides. The safari is extraordinary – where else in New Jersey can you drive next to giraffes and elephants and African monkeys? There’s something for everyone here at Six Flags.
* Make sure you visit the outlet mall minutes away, including Nike and Nautica outlet stores!
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