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 50^th 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.

Last August, New Jersey made it official: Central Jersey is a region worthy of visiting. So, what’s the fuss all about? New Jersey’s official tourism website explains it this way:

Cherry picking at Terhune Orchards, near Princeton.

“The Central Jersey Region boasts a bumper crop of agritourism experiences. Dine in farm-to-table restaurants. Indulge your inner foodie at a variety of culinary festivals. Peek behind the scenes and pick your own fruits and vegetables at working farms and orchards. Taste the Garden State’s farm-fresh best from roadside produce stands. And sip and savor your way through the region with tasty craft brews, wines, and spirits.”

They have it exactly right.  While New Jersey is best known for its shoreline, the quieter Central Jersey region has been overlooked. This summer, why not discover the region’s unique charms with a long weekend or even a full week’s stay?

Patrons listen to music while lining up for local ice cream at Princeton’s Halo Pub.

Experience Princeton!

A great place to start is Princeton, the iconic college town that happens to be an epicenter of farm-to-table movement. Here you can find a dozen restaurants that prepare extraordinary meals with locally grown ingredients. The movement started locally in 1982 with the formation of the Momo Restaurant Group, later than it started in California and Oregon, but before the “slow food” movement began in Italy in 1986.

The Momos today have several local Princeton area restaurants, including Mediterra and Teresa’s Caffe.  In addition to fine dining, you’ll also find farm-to-table pizzerias, bakeries, ice cream shops, and crepes! The Princeton area also is home to great arts and culture, history, outdoor recreation and first-class accommodations.

And you’ll find many of the same amenities—farm to-table, craft beverages—in smaller town environments in Hopewell and Hightstown, all in Mercer County.

Love Flemington!

Another great starting point for a Central Jersey visit 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,” and it will reopen to visitors this summer.

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 cover of the 2024 New Jersey Visitor Guide with the owner (l) of Hidden Spring Lavender Farm.

The ‘Garden State’ for a Reason

Central Jersey’s bountiful farms and vineyards are a big draw, and one of the reasons New Jersey is still the Garden State. In fact, a Central Jersey farm—Hidden Spring Lavender and Alpaca Farm—graces the cover of the 2024 New Jersey Travel Guide Magazine.

For nearly five decades, the Terhune Orchards and Winery near Princeton has been a New Jersey agritourism leader, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors annually for berry- and apple-picking, harvest festivals, and an on-farm market that’s open almost every day. Norz-Hill Farm and Snyders Farm in Somerset County also welcome many visitors for berry and pumpkin picking.

Several other farms are known for their local cheeses—Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Cherry Grove Farm, and Gorgeous Goat Creamery. And you’ll find some remarkable vineyards offering stunning views, music, and great wines.

U-Pick blueberries at Snyders Farm in Somerset.

It’s a great year to experience Central Jersey’s booming breweries and distilleries, thanks to a major reform law that has freed breweries and distilleries to offer more live music and special events, and to coordinate with nearby restaurants and food trucks.

New Jersey’s ‘Highline’

This summer also brings the 50^th anniversary of the D&R Canal State Park, New Jersey’s “highline,” stretching 70 miles through all four Central Jersey counties and justifying Central Jersey’s identity as New Jersey’s “canal region,” as you’ll find when making plans with our interactive map.

Make sure to include a walk, run, bike, or paddle in whatever section is closest to your Central Jersey plans this summer, and keep an eye out for 50^th anniversary plans being developed for the fall.

Central Jersey may be new to the state tourism map in 2024, but locals have been aware of its charm for generations. Come see for yourself what inspired a 7-minute segment on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

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.

The D&R Canal State Park’s towpath in Franklin Township, Somerset County.

Running out of gift ideas for friends and family? This is the perfect year to give Central Jersey goodness, now that New Jersey officially put Central Jersey on the state tourism map!

Central Jersey farms, beverage makers, and merchants offer a wide variety of local gifts, many unique to the region. Among the possibilities are:

Terhune Orchards gift basket

• Farm Gift Baskets from Terhune Orchards and Hidden Spring Lavender, offering gifts for purchase online or in their on-farm stores.
• Cheeses and more from Gorgeous Goat Creamery, Cherry Grove Farm, and Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, all available on-farm or online.
• Local Fine Wines from Unionville Vineyards, Old York Cellars, and Hopewell Valley Vineyards.
• Locally distilled spirits from Sourland Spirits, Skunktown Distillery, and Bellemara Distillery.
• Seasonal beers from Sunken Silo Brew Works, Old Hights Brewing, Lone Eagle Brewing, Harvest Moon Brewing, Flounder Brewing, and Ashton Brewing.

Holiday display at the Cherry Grove Farm store.

One of Central Jersey’s best-known towns is Princeton, a hub for farm-to-table fare, locally made ice cream, arts & crafts, unique gifts, and more. Princeton’s Palmer Square has an enormous Christmas tree lit every night during the holiday season. And this year, for the first time, you can give the gift of Princeton with an Experience Princeton gift card that can be redeemed at over 50 businesses, including salons and wellness centers, restaurants, and theaters.  When you buy a gift card for at least $100 you get a bonus of $25 that’s good until March 24, 2024.

Princeton’s new gift card.

Another great shopping experience is available at the Stangl Farmer’s Market in Flemington, which is offering special holiday shopping on weekends in December. Flemington also offers many great gift and retail shops, and was recently featured as a holiday shopping destination in a local publication featuring several Discover Central NJ businesses including Unionville Vineyards, Matt’s Red Rooster, and Lone Eagle Brewing.

If you are looking for seasonally inspired events, Central Jersey has you covered. Consider a Holiday Lights Hayride at Norz-Hill Farm on weekend evenings through December 17. Or come to the Kringle Market at Flounder Brewing December 11 and 12 for 35 craft and food vendors plus Christmas trees and wreaths.

2023 has been a great year for Central Jersey! We finally received recognition as a center of agritourism, history, arts, and outdoor recreation.  We’re also a great place to celebrate—and shop—for the December holidays!

Santa visits Lone Eagle Brewing in Flemington.

Reenactors of General George Washington and his enslaved valet, Billy Lee, will ride on horseback along Canal Road in the Griggstown section of Franklin Township on Sunday, August 27, almost 242 years to the day after the American and French troops passed through the Millstone Valley on their way to win American independence at the Siege of Yorktown, in Virginia.

In addition, four reenactors of the 4th Regiment Continental Light Dragoons will ride on horseback alongside Washington and Lee.

Canal Road will be closed to motorized vehicles between the Griggstown Causeway and Route 518 for Franklin’s summertime “Walk and Roll” event that encourages safe walking and bicycle riding along a 5-mile stretch of the Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway. The road closure for the Walk and Roll event will run from 10 AM to 4 PM, while the reenactors are expected to ride between 11 and 2 PM.

The reenactors include John Koopman of Connecticut and Quinton Castle of Virginia. Both have reenacted their roles before, and Koopman has numerous screen credits as Washington, including “Washington and the Pursuit of Religious Freedom,” produced by George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The reenactors were arranged by the Millstone Valley Preservation Coalition with a grant from the National Park Service’s Washington Rochambeau National Historic Trail, a 700-mile trail from New England to Virginia that passes over Canal Road in Franklin Township and River Road in Montgomery and Hillsborough Townships.

Washington with the 4th Regiment Light Dragoons.

“Thousands of American and French troops passed through Franklin Township in 1781 on their way to win American independence in 1781,” said Brad Fay, a Griggstown resident who serves on the board of the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association, which commemorates the long march to independence. “We encourage people to come out to meet the reenactors, learn the history, and enjoy Franklin’s Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway, including its many historic homes and canal vistas.”

The Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway operates a Visitor Center in the old Bridgetender’s House at 2 Griggstown Causeway in Franklin. It’s normally open from 1 to 4 PM on weekends from May to October. During the road closure on August 27, Franklin Township Police will permit access by cars at reduced speed for people who live on that stretch of Canal Road.

PARKING ADVICE: Parking is available near the reenactor activity along the Griggstown Causeway in the D&R Canal State Park, or in the back lot of the Griggstown Reformed Church at 1065 Canal Road, just north of the road closure, or in the fields across from the church (assuming the ground is dry). Parking is also available in the D&R Canal State Park near Route 518 in Rocky Hill, about 5 miles south of where most reenactor events will occur.

A few years ago, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert took on a heated CONTROVERSY among New Jerseyans: Does “Central Jersey exist” as a distinctive region? The answer: Yes!

This summer is the perfect time for you and family or friends to answer the question yourself—and have a whole lot of fun! Central New Jersey offers some of the most picturesque landscapes, historic villages, and beautiful farms. New Jersey may be famous for its shore, but Central Jersey offers an entirely different experience:  Relaxing getaways featuring hiking and bicycling, agritourism, craft beverages, quaint villages, and memorable historic sites.

The D&R Canal crossing at Blackwell’s Mills in Franklin, NJ.

Within 90-minutes of New York City and Philadelphia, CENTRAL JERSEY it perfect for a week or weekend vacation, whether you STAY OVERNIGHT in a historic inn, traditional hotel, or short-term rental.

Enjoy New Jersey’s CANAL REGION, which features the 70-mile long D&R Canal State Park, traversing the entire region and is a great place to WALK, BIKE, AND PADDLE. Known mainly to locals, the D&R Canal State Park is the second-most visited park in the state, passing near or through quaint villages such as Millstone Borough, Rocky Hill, Princeton, Lambertville, Stockton, and Frenchtown.

Visit Central Jersey Farms

New Jersey’s reputation as the Garden State is earned in Central Jersey where families will especially enjoy visiting our BEAUTIFUL FARMS, where you can pick your own berries, apples, pumpkins and more; visit farm animals such as goats, alpacas, cows, pigs, sheep; and enjoy weekend music festivals. You’ll find on-farm stores to pack up your trunk with Jersey Fresh produce, baked goods, sauces, and jams.

A baby alpaca at Hidden Spring Lavender & Alpaca Farm.

Some of our favorite farms include TERHUNE ORCHARDS AND WINERY, the Central Jersey agritourism leader, and the outstanding local cheese makers of BOBOLINK DAIRY & BAKEHOUSE, CHERRY GROVE FARM, and GORGEOUS GOAT CREAMERY.  On weekends visit Hidden Spring Lavender & Alpaca Farm to feed, pet, and walk the alpacas while visiting a lovely lavender shop.

Come for fun, games, and outdoor movies at SNYDERS FARM in Somerset, which is open based on the harvest schedule, so check the website first. Norz-Hill Farm’s on-farm market is open daily during the summer and they offer SPECIAL EVENTS, especially during harvest season.

Historic Towns & Villages

Terhune Orchards in Central Jersey is managed by a mother-daughter-daughter team.

Central Jersey is steeped in history thanks to its convenient location midway between New York and Philadelphia that attracted farmers in the 1600s and Revolutionary troops in the 1700s.

Historic FLEMINGTON is Hunterdon County, NJ’s beautiful county seat, with something for everyone. Stroll its tree-lined streets, where 65% of the borough is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An hour from NYC and Philly and surrounded by 1,600 farms, Flemington has been a 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 is popular among locals and visitors, as are seasonal events like the CORN, TOMATO, AND BEER FESTIVAL.

Princeton’s shopping district draws visitors and students.

World-famous Princeton is one of the great Central Jersey towns, home to Princeton University, a VIBRANT SHOPPING DISTRICT, and the epicenter of the region’s dynamic FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT SCENE. Experience Princeton’s ARTS AND CULTURE SCENE with theater, concerts, galleries, museums, historic sites, and more. Plus, there’s outdoor music, movies, family-friendly events, and plenty of ice cream spots. One of the premier events is PRINCETON FESTIVAL from June 9 to 23, offering an eclectic mix of music and theater.

Central Jersey Wineries & Craft Beverages

Central Jersey is rapidly gaining a reputation for excellence in its vineyards and winemaking. UNIONVILLE VINEYARDS in rural Ringoes uses organic methods to grow grapes and make award-winning wine. In July they’ll host the SOURLAND MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL.  OLD YORK CELLARS offers reservations for its classy cabana tables overlooking the vineyard, plus lots of musical and comedy events. HOPEWELL VALLEY VINEYARDS regularly features local musical talent in their outdoor garden to go with European-style wines.

The rise of CRAFT BEVERAGES have prompted two Central Jersey counties to offer passport programs, such as the SOMERSET SIP & SEE TRAIL and the HUNTERDON BEER TRAIL. Destinations worth a visit include Flounder Brewing and Bellemara Distillery located together at Carriage Farm in Somerset County; Descendants Brewing, Lone Eagle Brewery, Sunken Silo Brewing, and Skunktown Distillery in Hunterdon.

Grab an Adirondack chair and a bottle of wine at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes.

In Mercer County, check out OLD HIGHTS BREWING, founded by a group of schoolteachers in Hightstown, and SOURLAND SPIRITS, located in a quaint Hopewell Borough, on the edge of a large wilderness area that produces clean water for distilling.

Spend a few days in Central Jersey, and you’ll agree this special region really does exist! In fact, we expect you’ll want to return again and again.

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.

Click above for interactive map.

With steep costs for air travel and gasoline, many New Yorkers are seeking affordable vacation alternatives. Look no further than across the river in CENTRAL JERSEY, an area recently named a top-10 AFFORDABLE DESTINATION by Travel & Leisure.

Explore our interactive map at DiscoverCentralNJ.com.

Less famous than the state’s seashore, Central Jersey offers stunning parks and wilderness areas, wholesome farms, scrumptious food and craft beverages, and noteworthy historic sites. Sometimes known as NEW JERSEY’S CANAL REGION, Central Jersey is straddled by a 70-mile-long trail and water system known as the D&R Canal State Park, one of the state’s best-kept secrets. Operating as a freight canal between the 1830s to the 1930s, the Delaware and Raritan Canal today offers dozens of entry points with great hiking, biking, and paddling among too many historic and scenic vistas to count.

You can visit Central Jersey by car, train, or bus and stay overnight affordably in one of its key hotel districts around New Brunswick and Somerset, Basking Ridge, Bridgewater, Flemington, or Princeton. Our FAVORITE HOTELS include a tiny, stone inn from the 1700s and a 100-room retreat, both on the outskirts of Princeton.

While visiting, you’ll find lots to do, whether you are here for a weekend or a week.

Visit Garden State Farms

New Jersey is known as the Garden State for a reason! Many BEAUTIFUL FARMS welcome visitors during the summer and fall months. Families with kids will especially enjoy the chance to see farm animals such as alpacas at Hidden Spring Lavender, playful goats at Gorgeous Goat Creamery, and grass-fed cows at Cherry Grove Farm and Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse.

Kids at Gorgeous Goat Creamery.

There are lots of activities for adults and children alike—including fruit and vegetable picking—at Terhune Orchards, the region’s agritourism leader, Norz-Hill Farm, and Snyders. Dogwood Farms offers a bucolic and historic setting with organically grown produce of all kinds, while Griggstown Farm’s on-farm market is perfectly suited to collecting provisions after a paddle on the D&R Canal, or a drive along the MILLSTONE VALLEY NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY.

Craft Beverage Makers

Central Jersey is emerging now as a major growth area for CRAFT BEVERAGE MAKING, as demonstrated by the new SIP & SEE SOMERSET trail through the heart of Central Jersey, combining five beer, cider, and spirits makers, plus visits to historic sites and parks. Another eight brewers are available on the HUNTERDON BEER TRAIL on the western side of Central Jersey. You’ll also fine award-winning wineries such as Unionville Vineyards.

Many of these beverage makers offer both indoor and outdoor seating, live music, and board games to pass the time with while sipping a local pilsner, gin, or flavored cider.

Downtowns for Food & Culture

Central Jersey is getting an increasing reputation for its eclectic mix of innovative restaurants, ARTS & CULTURE, and charming downtowns.  At the top of the list is Princeton and Hopewell with their booming FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT scenes; SOMERVILLE and NEW BRUNSWICK with wide varieties of ethnic cuisines and culture; and the funky little Delaware River towns of Lambertville, Stockton, and Frenchtown.

And don’t forget New Jersey’s capitol city of TRENTON, where you’ll find more history per square-mile than perhaps anywhere else in the country.

Bicycling is tremendously popular in Central Jersey, on-road and off.

Outdoor Recreation

Central Jersey is increasingly becoming a BICYCLING MECCA with both on-road and off-road cycling opportunities, as well as hiking appropriate to any experience level.

One of your best RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES is the hard-packed gravel towpath along the D&R Canal State Park, which offers hiking, biking, and walking free from automobile traffic. Mountain bikers are particularly fond of the enormous Six Mile Run Park in the Somerset section of Franklin Township. You can also find numerous opportunities for biking and hiking in the Sourland Mountain area, at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, or at many of the many state and county parks throughout the region.

If you still have a doubt about Central Jersey, consider the region has been endorsed by one of New York’s greatest brands, the New York Yankees. The SOMERSET PATRIOTS of Central Jersey are now the AA-affiliate of the Yankees, offering a great minor league experience in the Garden State.

So, skip the airport and come explore the beauty and bounty of Central Jersey, and plan on staying a while. You’ll be glad you did!

Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes.

New Jersey’s bald eagles produced a record 307 offspring in 2020, a remarkable 23% increase over the prior year. Even more impressive is the long-term trend, as eagles have made a stunning recovery in the Garden State.

For most of the 1980s and 1990s, there was just one nesting pair of eagles in New Jersey, a legacy of dangerous agricultural pesticides and habitat encroachment.  In recent decades, environmental regulations and a determined effort by New Jersey regulators, advocates, and volunteers have helped make eagle sightings almost routine. New data from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife shows 2020 was by far the best year in a lifetime for eagles, despite the pandemic that plagued humans.

The Duke Farms Eagle Cam last March showed an adult and eaglet chick.

Central Jersey is home to twenty nesting pairs, including the most famous of them all—the YOUTUBE STREAMING eagles of Duke Farms in Hillsborough, NJ. Their Real Eagles of New Jersey reality show can be watched anytime of day or night. The most dramatic video clips have attracted tens of thousands of views, including a one-sided fight between a Duke Farms eagle and a FOOLISH, SMALLER HAWK that paid a steep price for an unauthorized nest visit.

The Duke Farms YouTube Channel is the best and safest way to watch these eagles, but a  visit to the gorgeous pathways and stone bridges of the former Duke Estate will give you a chance to see eagles with you own eyes, soaring in the sky or perched on a high tree branch.

Seen at D&R Canal State Park near Princeton, this immature eagle has not yet developed a white head and tail.

The Discover Central New Jersey GUIDE TO RECREATION AREAS describes Duke Farms and several other places near eagle nests, including the Watershed Institute and the 70-mile long D&R Canal State Park that passes by eagle nests at Bordentown, Trenton, Princeton, Manville, and Bull’s Island.  Focus your attention on the skies and tree branches above waterways where eagles hunt.

Importantly, do not attempt to approach an eagle nest because of a serious risk of spooking the birds and causing them to abandon their nest. It may take you many trips before you get lucky enough to see an eagle on the move.

In January and February, female eagles are laying eggs that will require constant attention.  Interestingly, both sexes are equally involved in tending to the nest, sitting on the eggs, and raising young eaglets once they start hatching in March. They also share hunting duties equally, with the females slightly larger and stronger than the males.

Looking for a wintertime family outing in Central NJ? Click on image to visit Gorgeous Goat in Stockton.

The dominance of females was dramatically illustrated a few years ago when an intruding female eagle visited the nest at Bordentown, killed the resident female, and took her place with the same male. Call her Lizzie Bordentown, the eagle with a fatal attraction! Perhaps it was behavior of this kind that caused Delaware Valley resident Ben Franklin to advocate against the Bald Eagle as our national symbol for the birds’ “bad moral character.”

New Jerseyans are not making a moral judgment about our bald eagles. Most of us are delighted they have returned in large numbers to the Garden State, and particularly to Central Jersey. Credit the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in the 1970s, the Endangered Species Act, and the small army of volunteers who adopt and monitor the known nests here in New Jersey. Occasionally, the volunteers have been able to save young eagles who have fallen from their nests, or whose nest has been destroyed in a storm.

Thanks to so much work over half a century, every New Jerseyan has a chance to see an eagle soar.

Click on the map to Discover Central Jersey farms, vineyards, and historic sites.

The global health crisis has canceled 2020 summer vacations for thousands of New Jerseyans, making now the perfect time to be a tourist in your own backyard. Hop in a car with your family or companion and discover the farms, historic sites, and pathways that make Central Jersey one of the great agritourism and heritage tourism destinations in the nation.

The folks at Discover Central New Jersey have curated a handy online map with lots of suggestions for places to visit.  You can build a terrific daytrip every week this summer.  Bookmark our website and return regularly for staycation inspiration.

Here are some of our favorite ideas:

The D&R Canal State Park: Central Jersey’s Best Kept Secret

We’re surprised how many locals haven’t heard about the D&R Canal State Park, or if vaguely aware, they don’t realize it is 70 miles long and the second-most visited New Jersey State Park.

The canal and park form a “V” shape to define the Central Jersey region.  A western “feeder” canal wing stretches from Frenchtown south along the Delaware River to Trenton, while an eastern “main” canal travels from Trenton to New Brunswick. For nearly the entire length, there is a well-maintained crushed stone “towpath” that is ideal for walkers and bicyclists.

The D&R Canal and towpath offers great walking, biking, kayaking.

There may be hundreds of locations to enter the park, and nearly every stretch gives you water views and access to abundant wildlife, such as turtles, deer, great blue herons, woodpeckers, and songbirds. You could spend the entire summer walking every mile and stopping off to visit the cute canal villages such as Frenchtown, Stockton, Lambertville, Kingston, Rocky Hill, and East Millstone. Canoe and Kayak rentals are available during the health crisis at Princeton and Griggstown.

What’s more, the D&R Canal state Park is connected to the 22-mile Lawrence-Hopewell Trail, as well as the gigantic Circuit Trails system that is centered in Philadelphia. Explore them all!

Take the pathway less taken with D&R Greenway

D&R Greenway Land Trust has preserved 21,000 acres of farmlands and forest throughout Central Jersey, most of which offer well-maintained yet lightly traveled trails.

One of the most popular is St. Michaels Farm Preserve, over 400 acres of farm fields and pathways on the site of a former orphanage in Hopewell.  The Greenway Meadows in Princeton offers wildflower fields and a poetry trail that are particularly beautiful in midsummer. Both St. Michaels and Greenway Meadows offer innovative audio tours that can be enjoyed on-site via phone app or from home on your computer.

The view from Goat Hill in Lambertville was originally preserved by D&R Greenway.

Nothing beats the view of the Delaware River at Goat Hill in Lambertville, at the end of an easy family hike. If you want to explore Central Jersey’s largest forest, the Sourlands, D&R Greenway trailheads in Hopewell are located along roads less traveled. Find more preserves at DRGreenway.org.

Discover the Bounty and Beauty of Our Farms

Rather quietly, the Garden State continues to earn its nickname year after year. In fact, the pandemic has brought a resurgence to on-farm markets.  Be sure to check out our comprehensive listing.

Depending on the season, families can enjoy “U-pick” experiences of blueberries, strawberries, flowers, apples, pears, and pumpkins at farms like Snyder’s, Terhune, and Von Thun. Check farm websites to see if they are offering any socially-distanced entertainment on the day of your visit.

Duke Farms, on the former Duke Estate in Hillsborough, combines agriculture education with parklands walking and bike rentals that have earned the nickname “New Jersey’s Central Park.” On weekends they also host a farmer’s market, and most days you can visit nearby Norz-Hill Farm for open-air shopping.

Norz-Hill Farm offers personal shoppers in an open-air tent

Wherever your staycation day-trip may take you, consider bringing a cooler with ice packs to store fresh farm products you find, and make a point of choosing an on-farm market as your last stop of the day. You can find local meat, poultry, baked goods, vegetables of all kinds, and just-picked fruit. On weekends, Hidden Spring Lavender in Skillman offers a wide range of lavender products as well as friendly alpacas for the kids to enjoy.

Another way to enjoy Central Jersey’s bounty is through one of our farm-to-table restaurants. With indoor dining still closed, many offer outdoor dining, take-out, or both—such as Eno Terra and Mediterra in the Princeton area, and Brick Farm Market and Tavern in Hopewell.

Craft Beverage and Wine Makers with Outdoor Tastings and Dining

A changing regulatory environment has fostered an explosion of craft beer making and distilling, to go along with a decades-old tradition of New Jersey winemaking. The reopening of outdoor dining has led to alfresco wine tastings amid the vines Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Old York Cellars, and Unionville Vineyards—but make sure to check websites to confirm hours and whether reservations are required or recommended.

Sourland Mountain Spirits, New Jersey’s Farm Distillery, offers outdoor cocktails overlooking farm fields. Ironbound Hard Cider and Farm offered a gorgeous outdoor “Cider Garden” dining area long before the pandemic and has expanded the farming of vegetables on site.

Enjoy farm views with a cocktail at Sourland Mountain Spirits.

Craft breweries are setting up outdoor tastings and dining, including Harvest Moon in New Brunswick and Triumph Brewing in Princeton. Reservations recommended. Foodies may also enjoy the growing outdoor dining and craft beverage scene in downtown Somerville.

Scenic Drives You Won’t Forget

The “Sunday Drive” is making a comeback in 2020.  Once a staple of the mid Twentieth Century when family cars were something of a novelty, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it the return of the family drive any day of the week.

Red Barn Milk Co. offers farm-to-table burgers, ice cream and more.

Central Jersey offers some remarkably scenic roadways.  The Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway and the Delaware River National Scenic Byway are the only two nationally-designated byways in New Jersey, and both will take you through quaint villages along the D&R Canal as well as their namesake rivers.  They’ll also take you near some terrific on-farm markets like Griggstown and Bobolink.

Although not a designated “byway,” Country Road 579 between Trenton and Bloomsbury is one of the prettiest drives in New Jersey, taking you through quaint villages such as Sergeantsville, Quakertown, and Pittstown, with nice side trips to Hopewell, Lambertville, Frenchtown, Milford, and Clinton, and farms nearby such as Bobolink Dairy and Bakehouse and Ironbound. And Red Barn Milk Company along the route in Ringoes makes the ideal stop for farm-to-table burgers and ice cream.

A Rich History You Can Enjoy Outdoors

Wherever you go on a Central Jersey day trip, you’ll be surrounded by a rich history that can be appreciated safely outdoors without stepping foot into a museum.  Visit the park where Washington crossed the Delaware or where the battles of Trenton and Princeton were fought. Walk the campus of Princeton University, where the Continental Congress was first held at Nassau Hall. Stroll the grounds of Rockingham, Washington’s last Headquarters at the end of the Revolutionary War.

Hidden Spring Lavender is a Century-old farm with a gift shop and alpacas.

Visit the Red Mill in Clinton to learn our early industrial history, simply by walking the grounds and getting your own selfie in front of the most photographed historic site in New Jersey. Likewise at Prallsville Mills in Stockton, where you can also learn about the engineering marvel that is the D&R Canal.

Too often, we save local tourist sites for the entertainment of out-of-town visitors.  Decades from now, when you tell your grandchildren about the disruptive events of 2020, wouldn’t it be great if you could also tell them about the special Central Jersey places you discovered for yourself during that same historic summer?

We’d love to hear about your daytrips this summer.  Drop us a line and tell us what you discovered in Central Jersey.

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