º£½ÇÉçÇø

America’s 3^rd State, New Jersey, bordered by the US states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, alongside the aqueous bodies: the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware River, and Delaware Bay, sits at the kernel of the heavily citified Northeast megalopolis. Flaunting in the northwest, the jagged Highlands and Piedmont topographical provinces, and in the southeast, the New Jersey Pine Barrens of the Outer Coastal Plain and the treasured Jersey Shore of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the Garden State and its aesthetically pleasing environs have been welcoming holidayers over several decades. Nevertheless, placed in the shadows of the state’s maximal attention-getting cities like Newark, Jersey City, and state capital Trenton, are innumerable stunning small towns that are perfect vacation spots worth sojourning on both short and long getaways.

West Cape May

West Cape May, often styled the ‘Lima Bean Capital of the º£½ÇÉçÇø,’ is a teensy town in Cape May County of Southern New Jersey. Coupled with a few sections of the City of Cape May, the historical nucleus of this suburban community inclusive of the Whilldin-Miller House has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In modern times, both dwellers and tourists get to enjoy the town’s dynamic streetside lined by antique shops like Antique Doorknob, and restaurants like Bella Vida Garden Cafe. The Wilbraham Park serves as a venue for the West Cape May Strawberry Festival in June every year, while the Lima Bean Festival celebrates the town’s agro-cultural legacy with a variety of special events in the Backyard Park on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend.

Lambertville

Set on the Delaware River banks in Hunterdon County’s southwestern portion is Lambertville, a pleasant town named in 1810 after John Lambert, the Acting Governor of New Jersey. Originally founded as an ‘industrial suburb,’ Lambertville presently woos visitors with its artfully renovated James W. Marshall House and the Lambertville House, art galleries like Haas Gallery, and diners like Lambertville Station Restaurant. Throughout the year, the canal path provides walkers, cyclists, and joggers a uniformly flat surface for exercising besides attention-grabbing panoramas of the Delaware River and the Delaware & Raritan Canal. Organized by the Greater Lambertville Chamber of Commerce yearly in April, the Shad Fest has vendor booths focalizing the native artistic realm, fine dining, and zillion family recreations.

Haddonfield

Primarily settled in 1682 by the English Quaker Francis Collins and baptized for the American pioneer Elizabeth Haddon, Haddonfield is located near the state border with Pennsylvania in Camden County of southwestern New Jersey. This 12,550-inhabitant town is popularly known for its exquisitely preserved heritage buildings, among which the Indian King Tavern is the noteworthiest. At present, exploration trips of the first and second floors of this colonial American tavern, as well as the foremost State Historic Site, are offered. Addedly, pay attention to the bronze replica of a hadrosaurid dinosaur - Hadrosaurus or ‘H²¹»å»å²â’ centrally installed on Main Street, the Hadrosaurus Foulkii Leidy Site in Pennypacker Park, and 33.10-acre Hopkins Pond Park.

Clinton

Clinton, a commuter town for hordes of urbanites employed in and around ‘The Big Apple’ and Northern New Jersey, is situated in the Raritan Valley region by the South Branch Raritan River in Hunterdon County. Spread over 175 acres, the Clinton Historic District features several notable contributing properties such as the Clinton House, Main Street Bridge, two old mills on the South Branch Raritan River’s opposing banks, etc. Every Halloween, the town’s open-air museum, Red Mill Museum Village, starring the prominent 1810-built Red Mill, is transmuted into the ‘Red Mill Haunted Village’, luring tourists from all over the Eastern Seaboard. Wanderers must also survey the Hunterdon Art Museum which exhibits works of globally recognized modern artists in a 19^th-century Stone/Dunham’s Mill, the Spruce Run Recreation Area, and the Round Valley Recreation Area.

Allentown

Christened after Nathan Allen - the husband of pioneer settler Robert Burnet’s daughter, Allentown, situated in Monmouth County’s extreme western portion, is rimmed by the municipalities of Mercer County’s Robbinsville Township and Monmouth County’s Upper Freehold Township. An assortment of heritage properties fills the 17-acre Allentown Historic District, including the Allentown Presbyterian Church, Allentown Mill, John Imlay House, etc. Browse the Downtown’s sundry gift shops like Perennial Home, children’s clothing stores like Petunia’s - A Children’s Boutique, and restaurants like Woody’s Towne Café, plus take part in ample out-of-doors activities at the Heritage Park.

Ocean City

Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area’s principal town, this family-attuned oceanfront resort, is located on a barrier island in Southern New Jersey’s Cape May County. Named for its setting on the Atlantic, the town presents weekenders miles of immaculate beaches, a 2.45-mile-long Ocean City Boardwalk, and the Downtown Shopping District on Asbury Avenue. Miscellaneous shopping malls like Surf Mall, Stainton’s, and Shoppes at the Asbury; homey cafes like Jon & Patty’s Coffee Bar & Bistro; entertainment venues like Ocean City Music Pier, and state parks like Corson’s Inlet State Park are must-visits when on a tour to Ocean City.

Spring Lake

Spring Lake on the Jersey Shore is an attractive seaside holiday destination in Monmouth County, about 63 miles from New York City. The town invites holidaymakers to wonder at its unsullied sandy beaches and the uncounted historical attractions like St. Catherine Roman Catholic Church, Martin Maloney Cottage, and Sea Girt Lighthouse. Spring Lake’s 1 & ½ mile uncommercial boardwalk along the Atlantic is an unparalleled place to adore the area’s incredible natural beauty. Watch musical shows and theatrical presentations at Spring Lake Theatre supplementary to participating in the annual ‘Spring Lake 5-mile Run’ - deemed as one of the nation’s biggest 5-mile running events circumventing the complete town.

Bordentown

Forming a portion of the Delaware Valley and the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area, Bordentown is situated in Burlington County at the meeting of Blacks Creek, Crosswicks Creek, and Delaware River, around 5.8 miles south of the state’s capital city. Excursionists visiting this northernmost municipality of the state get to observe an American Revolutionary War-era historical archaeological site - the Crosswicks Creek Site III, the one-time estate of French statesman Joseph Bonaparte - Point Breeze, apart from the plethoric vintage clothing stores like Rebecca’s Vintage Boutique & Consignments and Italian eateries like Marcello’s Coal Fired Restaurant & Pizza. Merrymakers should not miss events like the Iris Festival & Art Show and the Bordentown Historical Society-sponsored Peach Social and Holiday House Tour.

Cape May

A tiny seaside holiday resort in Cape May County, Cape May is set on the Cape May Peninsula’s southern fringe at the conflux of the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Every summer, incalculable sunbathers, swimmers, and surfers head to this oldest vacation resort destination in the country, awed by the pristine Cove Beach on Cape May’s southernmost tip. The entire 2,768-resident town has been designated a Historic District comprising over 600 late Victorian architectural style constructed painstakingly-maintained buildings. Also, take note of the Harriet Tubman Museum, Cape May Lighthouse, Washington Street Mall, clothing boutiques like Vagabond Cape May, and top-notch restaurants like Peter Shields Inn & Restaurant. Free up some time from your crazy routines for attending yearly events like the Cape May Food & Wine Festival, Cape May Jazz Festival, and Cape May New Jersey Film Festival.

Frenchtown

This 1,370-inhabitant town in Hunterdon County sits atop the Hunterdon Plateau alongside the Delaware River, approx. 32 miles northwest of Trenton. Spread over a 100-acre and embracing the community is the National Register-listed Frenchtown Historic District comprising numerous notable structures such as the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge spanning the Delaware River, the erstwhile Frenchtown Station for Belvidere Delaware Railroad, and the Frenchtown Inn. Downtown Frenchtown is an acclaimed shopping destination with plentiful gift shops like Modern Love, clothing accessories stores like Hidden Treasures, and restaurants like Frenchtown Cafe. Annually, try to be present at the July 14 La Fete Nationale, Wine & Art Festival, and RiverFest celebrations.

From the waterfront community of Cape May on the Jersey Shore to the bedroom community of Clinton, there is no shortage of sublime towns in the nation’s 5^th smallest and 11^th most populous state. While the charisma of adjoining urban metropolises is usually missing in these closely allied settlements, their soothing atmosphere, neat colonial buildings, spirited Main Streets, and wide-open spaces offering a profusion of outdoor pursuits, are guaranteed to leave an indelible impression on every Garden State visitor.