The summer of 2025 promises to be the year of the “nearcation” as uncertainty about air travel and the economy are encouraging folks to seek drivable vacations to relaxing yet affordable destinations with lots to do.
Berry picking at Synders Farm in Somerset.
That makes Central Jersey perfect for more than 22 million Americans who live within a five-hour drive of a bucolic region midway between New York and Philadelphia. In some ways, Central Jersey is the quieter “the Jersey shore,” bordered by the Delaware River on the western side of the state.
Central Jersey offers a surprising variety of attractions! It is a center of agritourism, with numerous family-owned farms you can visit, serene vineyards and craft brewing; notable historic sites; trails for hiking and birdwatching; affordable inns and hotels; and a variety of cultural attractions and festivals. And for foodies, it is becoming known as the farm-to-table capital of the east.
So, skip the airport security lines and take a road trip to Central Jersey where you’ll find something for everyone.
Family Farms
Central Jersey’s bountiful farms and vineyards are a big draw, and a key reason why New Jersey’s nickname is the “Garden State.” One of the biggest draws, Terhune Orchards near Princeton, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer. The Mount family, owners of Terhune, deserve credit for launching agritourism in New Jersey when they bought a local farm with the idea of inviting the public to pick their own produce, learn about farm crops and animals, and attend their many festivals, including their Blueberry Bash, Firefly Festival, Just Peachy Festival, and fall family festivals.
Over the following decades many more Central Jersey farms have opened their doors and fields to the public. Norz-Hill Farm and Snyders Farm in Somerset County also welcome many visitors for berry and pumpkin picking and seasonal festivals. Several other farms are known for their local cheeses—Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Cherry Grove Farm, and Gorgeous Goat Creamery.
Terhune Orchards is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
A complete list of our farms can be found at the Discover Central New Jersey website.
Farm-to-Table
The bounty of local farms has made it possible for Central Jersey to enjoy a remarkable concentration of farm-to-table restaurants. Princeton alone boasts about a dozen farm-to-table businesses, including not only fine dining but also farm-to-table ice cream, baked goods, pizza, and crepes! Additional farm-to-table hotspots include Hopewell, Flemington, and Hightstown.
Live music at Needle Creek Brewery in Pennington.
Vineyards and Breweries
Central Jersey is increasingly recognized as a destination for wine lovers, with a growing number of high-quality wineries such as Unionville Vineyards, Old York Cellars, and Hopewell Valley Vineyards, and Federal Twist. These vineyards offer stunning views, live music, and great wines.
If you are a craft beer lover, you’ll find many choices. Flounder Brewing and newly opened Needle Creek are housed in historic barns, allowing you to combine an agritourism experience with great beer, while Sunken Silo Brewing’s name is a homage to the farms lost to the Round Valley Reservoir, now a recreation area. Several other breweries are in charming towns liked Princeton, Flemington, and Hightstown.
A comprehensive list of Central Jersey beverage makers is available here.
Charming Towns and Villages
Central Jersey offers some wonderful downtown shopping and cultural districts including the famous university town of Princeton, where you can shop, eat, and take a selfie at the university’s famous front gates, at the Trenton Battle Monument, or at the temporary Einstein’s Brain exhibit at Dohm Alley.
Another great downtown is historic Flemington, in Hunterdon County, with something for everyone. Stroll its tree-lined streets, where 65% of the borough is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Famously, the Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse was the scene of the Lindberg “trial of the century,” recently restored and available for visits by appointment.
Surrounded by 1,600 farms, Flemington has been the bustling agricultural and railroad hub of Central New Jersey for hundreds of years. It is now home to 450 businesses, including artisan coffee shops, farm-to-table restaurants, antique shops and boutiques, and craft beverages. A weekly farmer’s market on Saturdays at the old Stangl factory is popular, and you can enjoy weekend excursions on the historic Black River & Western Railroad, which offers a popular Wine Express.
The historic Inn at Glencairn in Lawrence.
If you like truly small, quaint villages, consider bicycling along the 70-mile-long D&R Canal State Park that passes through historic canal villages such as Frenchtown, Stockton, and Lambertville near the Delaware River, or through Kingston, Rocky Hill, and Griggstown along the main canal to the East. We love the D&R Canal so much, we’ve made it the defining feature of our Central Jersey Agritourism map.
Where to Stay
Central Jersey has lots of wonderful places to stay, but two of our favorites are the charming 1736 Inn at Glencairn and the 100-room Chauncey Hotel and Conference Center, both just outside Princeton in Lawrence Township.
Increasingly, the region is seeing the development of new destination inns and hotels designed with leisure travelers in mind. Indeed, this is only the second summer when Central Jersey has been an official tourism region of the Garden State, following a years-long effort that was even featured on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert!
This summer, come to Central Jersey and find out what all the fuss is about!
For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com. This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.
