Living in the Garden State can be a luxury especially during times of economic crisis. It is a state where one can find a variety of things to do on a dime – anything from downtown window shopping to a visit to the beach. All of which is within an hour driving distance from the other.
New Jersey boasts all sorts of attractions that make it easy for the people who live there to find things to occupy themselves with. The following is just a sample of what a typical Saturday can be devoted to, whether it be with family or solo.
Rutgers Gardens, Rutgers University
Located on the outskirts of New Brunswick, Rutgers Gardens have many things to boast about. Besides the Farmer’s Market that opens in the warmer months and the lake-side cabin, the Garden also boasts miles of trails to get lost in, a beautiful stream to sit by and fantastic views of the Raritan River that are perfect to sit beside with a good book and waste an hour.
In addition to the natural resources that are available year round, the University also regularly updates their events page with news on what’s going on every month. Most recently, Rutgers Garden hosted a Flower & Garden show.
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
When looking for something to spend a day doing that’s more versatile, Point Pleasant can be a rather impressive with a long boardwalk, clean shorelines and various opportunities for fishing and boating.
Located just off Ocean Avenue is Jenkinson’s Boardwalk offering a small arcade right off the parking lot. Past that, the building feeds directly onto the boardwalk with a patio leading onto a small expanse of beach. It is a great place for a small picnic lunch or walking around soaking up the locale.
Downtown Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton University is at the heart of this college town. The campus is large and takes up a large portion of the surrounding area. Within the University limits, there is a fantastic library and art museum that is small enough to devote a couple of hours to.
In addition, the beautiful historic homes that line many of the streets lead into small store fronts and restaurants that are perfect for window shopping. Be sure to make a stop at Princeton Record Exchange on South Tulane Street and pick up one of their many budget CDs for the ride home. Even in this economy, PREX is still an affordable way to treat yourself without breaking your budget and a great way to end a day of exploring.
