New Jersey Nature and Culture Loop

From Newark, drive about 45 minutes south on Interstate 95 to get to New Brunswick, dotted with a stunning array of places to add to your must-see list. Learn about the town’s role during the American Revolution, when colonists fought the British for independence and British soldiers took over the town in 1776-77. Among historic sites to visit are Christ Church, where the third reading of the Declaration of Independence took place, and Buccleuch Mansion, a 1739 building – now a museum – perched atop a hill in a park overlooking the Raritan River. See wonderful collections at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University and the Rutgers Geology Museum. In addition to live music venues and comedy clubs, you can attend live performances at the State Theatre New Jersey, Crossroads Theatre Company, George Street Playhouse and the American Repertory Ballet.

Drive for about 35 minutes on U.S. 1 southwest to get to Princeton. In downtown Princeton, go on a guided tour offered by the Historical Society of Princeton. You’ll want to explore the Ivy League campus of Princeton University, which includes the Art Museum, Chapel, Nassau Hall and McCarter Theatre Center. Get an authentic feel for Princeton at Nassau Street and Palmer Square, both neighborhoods where you can enjoy diversions in local restaurants, bars, coffee shops and stores.

Trenton, the state capital, is about 20 minutes away. In Trenton, make a point to visit the New Jersey State Museum and Planetarium. Then, take a guided tour of Revolutionary War-era British barracks, hear lectures and view exhibits at the Old Barracks Museum. Visit the onsite Quartermaster’s Store to buy exclusive Old Barracks Museum souvenirs or an enlightening book about the war.

After leaving Trenton, drive south on U.S. 206 for about an hour to your next stop. Hammonton is known for its exceptional blueberry crop. Pick your own juicy berries at one of the area farms during the June to August season, and enjoy the celebration of all things blueberry at The Red, White and Blueberry Festival typically held the last Sunday in June. The land here produces other tasty treats as well. All year, you can sip wine and craft beers from local vintners and brewers around Hammonton by visiting 13 stops on the Wine & Ale Trail of South Jersey. There’s even more natural bounty in the wilderness here: Follow trails or paddle rivers to spot wildlife at Wharton State Forest. The forest is also home to a 32-room mansion in Batsto Village, a former iron and glassmaking industrial center dating from the mid-1700s to mid-1800s.

Head back north on U.S. 206 for about an hour and a half to get to Lambertville, a haven for artists and craftsmen along the Delaware River. Known for its collection of antique stores – including the Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market and The People’s Store – Lambertville also features many art galleries and boutiques. Enjoy the character of historic bars, cozy coffee shops and places such as Lambertville Station, a restored 19th century train depot with a waterside restaurant and elegant inn. Delve further into the American Revolution at Washington Crossing Historic Park Park in Titusville. This is where George Washington and the Continental Army famously crossed the icy Delaware River and began marching to Trenton to confront enemy troops.

For the final stops on your road trip, drive about an hour north on NJ-31 to get to Columbia, one of three stops in northern New Jersey’s Skylands Region. Later, you’ll drive an hour north to visit Sussex, then an hour south to Morristown. Enjoy a leisurely drive on country roads in valleys, around mountains and through quaint towns and counties. Stop often to visit picturesque parks, paddle waterways, hike forest trails, fish in rivers and see wildlife. Skiing, snowboarding and other snow-based activities are the main winter attractions. A must-visit place is Crystal Springs Resort, which features a world-class wine cellar, golf course and spa, in addition to winter activities such as skiing, skating and tubing. In Columbia, enjoy nature in the Columbia Wildlife Management Area and at the Columbia and Delaware lakes.

More outdoor adventures await in Sussex, especially at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge and High Point State Park. From May to October, tour the Elias Van Bunschooten Museum, a Dutch colonial farmhouse built in 1787. The highlight of the last stop is Morristown National Historical Park, home to George Washington’s Revolutionary War headquarters; learn more about the era at the Washington’s Headquarter’s Museum, Fort Nonsense and Ford Mansion. Don’t miss the outstanding exhibits at the Morris Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate. From Morristown, it’s a quick 30-minute drive back to Newark Liberty International (EWR) to catch your flight home.