Somerset & Mercer County Must-Dos

We love New Jersey – and we’re thrilled to have built (and to be building) so many homes and special communities here in the Garden State. We also love learning about and sharing fun things to do in NJ – especially when they’re so close to some of our communities.

That’s why we were delighted to see this recent feature on njmonthly.com: The One Thing You Must Do in Every NJ County. If you have the time and ambition, try them all! But at least check out their recommendations for Somerset and Mercer County, which we’re happy to share here:

Somerset County: Take the Scenic Route

No matter the mode of transportation, enjoy the scenery Somerset County has to offer. The Millstone River starts in Manville where it breaks from the larger Raritan River and ends in Kingston when it spills into Carnegie Lake. The Somerset County Park Commission offers several canoe and kayak programs throughout the summer months. For bikers, there’s a path adjacent to the river, part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, which covers a total of 70 miles throughout the state—far beyond Somerset County. Short on time? At approximately 27.5 miles, the Millstone Valley Scenic Byway is one of only two New Jersey roads with the National Scenic Byway designation. With roads on either side of the canal, be sure to take Canal Road in one direction and River Road in the other.

Mercer County: Marvel at the Ivy-Covered Buildings

One of eight Ivy League schools and the fourth oldest college in the United States, Princeton University was known as the College of New Jersey for 150 years. The university’s Orange Key guide service provides visitors with a one-hour campus tour year-round. The tour departure locations change based on the time of year. Find out more about the free tours here. Want to make a day of it? Enjoy a stroll around downtown Princeton, with its shops and trendy restaurants. For a unique shopping experience, stop by the Princeton Record Exchange. Dining hotspots include Agricola, for a locally-sourced lunch; Blue Point Grill for seafood; Mediterra for Mediterranean fare, of course; or La Mezzaluna for Italian. For a delicious dessert, visit the Bent Spoon, where you can expect a line.

Check out the full article on njmonthly,com here. Do you have other suggestions for fun, adventurous, exciting things to do in or around your Sharbell neighborhood? Let us know – we’d love to share your suggestions on our blog and our social media outlets!

From Maple Syrup to the Big Apple Circus… there’s plenty to do in Central NJ this month!

We know. The Super Bowl is over, the Oscars and Grammys have passed… but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do on your weekends. In fact, there’s a lot going on this month in Central Jersey… and here are a few fun suggestions for events happening very close to our Sharbell communities.

This weekend, Feb. 28-March 1, visit Duke Farms in Hillsborough. This 2,742-acre nature preserve, which is open year-round, is hosting a family-friendly Sugar Maple Celebration to highlight the importance of sustainably harvesting maple trees in New Jersey. (We’re all for that!)

Activities include nature hikes where you’ll learn how to identify sugar maple trees, a sawmill cutting demonstration (on trees that fell victim to Hurricane Sandy), sap tapping, and (best of all) sampling of local maple syrup. Yum! 10 am-2 pm each day – and it’s free! Duke Farms is located at 1112 Dukes Parkway West in Hillsborough. For more details, call (908-722-3700 or visit dukefarms.org. And check out the special selection of maple-flavored menu items in their cafe, from a Maple Soy Salmon Salad to Maple Banana Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Icing.

And from Feb. 26 through March 15, the renowned Big Apple Circus is back in New Jersey with its 2015 production of Metamorphosis at the TD Bank Ballpark, just off of Route 287 in Bridgewater! Every seat under the Big Top is within 50 feet of the ring, or close enough to (almost) touch the exceptional trapeze artists and contortionists. And the Big Top is heated in cold weather, so no need to worry about the cold. Enjoy dazzling thrills, adventurous circus animals, and of course, Francesco the Clown (what’s a circus without a clown?).

Tickets start at $20 and are available at www.bigapplecircus.org or by calling (888) 541-3750. Or visit the Circus Box Office at TD Bank Ballpark, Wed–Fri: 10 AM–8 PM, Sat–Tues: 10 AM–6 PM (open to 8 PM on Saturday, March 7). There are no service charges for tickets bought at the Box Office. Special Wednesday family shows at 11 AM and 6:30 PM include a Buy One, Get One ticket free.

Know something else fun to do in one of the areas around our Sharbell communities? Please share it with us, so we can share it with others!

Year-Round Delights at Princeton Farmers’ Market

We love to alert our residents and friends to fun, interesting and valuable things that are happening in and around the areas where our Sharbell neighborhoods are located – and here’s a great find. Who doesn’t love a good old fashioned farmers’ market? Fresh food, locally grown produce… it’s all good. Unfortunately, some markets close up shop during the winter season (especially those that are outdoors, of course). Not so at the Princeton Farmers’ Market.

The Princeton Farmers’ Market offers the community local organic produce, free-range beef, poultry, pork, eggs and cheese, baked goods, chocolates, jams, spices, flowers, honey grains, pickles, crepes, and a juice bar. During the winter, the market is held once a month in the Community Room of the Princeton Public Library, from 11am to 4pm. (in the warmer months, it’s held outside on Witherspoon Street, next to the library). The dates for the next markets are this week: Thursday, January 15th; and then next month on February 19th.

All of the farmers at the market are local and only sell what they can grow themselves. Food vendors provide freshly-made products that use healthy, wholesome ingredients. Click here to see the list of vendors who will be at the market during the winter season.

A visit to the Princeton Farmers’ Market is a great way to not only score some delicious, healthy food, but also to support local farmers in our area. And of course, being in Princeton, it’s not far from our Sharbell communities. Why not check it out this week – or add it to your calendar for next month? Happy, healthy eating, everyone!

Spooky Celebrations in Mercer and Somerset Counties!

Our Sharbell communities are located in some of New Jersey’s best areas: convenient to major transportation routes and mass transit options, for easy commuting or traveling… and close to so many tremendous entertainment, recreation, shopping and dining options. Fall is one of the best times of year to live in Mercer or Somerset Counties. There are so many festive activities and events happening all around the area, with hayrides, pumpkin picking and so much more to do.

With Halloween just around the corner, here are a few suggestions for our Sharbell homeowners and residents to celebrate the spooky season this fall, close to home!

Spooky Skies in Somerset

Saturdays throughout October at the Planetarium at Raritan Valley College, Lamington Road in Branchburg.

The planetarium at Raritan Valley College

The Raritan Valley College Planetarium is a great place to visit any time of year, with an ongoing series of public sky and laser shows. But throughout October, the shows explore the roots of Halloween, drawing parallels between celestial objects and famous monsters. It’s a spooky treat for the eyes! For more information on times and tickets, click here.

Haunted Hayrides in West Windsor

Weekends throughout October at Windsor Farm Market, Windsor Road, West Windsor

Windsor Farm & Market, site of the Haunted Hayrides

Get ready for the scariest hayride of your life at Windsor Farm Market. The 45-minute ride takes you through the farm’s haunted woods. Every 10 minutes, wagons leave the yard. The hayrides begin at dusk. Mom and Dad must accompany children ages 5 through 12. At night, children under 5 are not allowed on the haunted wagons. For more information, call 609-443-9379, or visit the farm site.

Princeton Ghost Tour

Weekends through October

They say Princeton is haunted. Find out, on this special Halloween event by Princeton Tour Company. The Downtown Ghost Hunt & Cemetery Visit is an opportunity to see the campus of Princeton University and its surroundings with real ghost hunters and their authentic equipment. After the campus visit, move on to Nassau Presbyterian Church to see the tombstones of notable figures. For more information, call 855-743-1415 or visit the tour’s site.

One of the stops on the eerie Princeton Ghost Tour. Note: this is NOT a Sharbell home!

Get out and explore the areas surrounding our Sharbell communities this fall! Wherever you end up, enjoy the season… and have a safe, “spook-tacular” Halloween!

See Some Special Champions Compete in Central Jersey!

Living at one of our Sharbell communities, you’re never far from plenty of great cultural, entertainment and sporting events happening in the heart of New Jersey. Here’s one that we’re particularly excited about – especially since so many of the events are happening close to home at venues in Central Jersey.

 

From June 14-21, New Jersey will host the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games, where more than 3,500 athletes from around the country will compete in 16 sports before tens of thousands of fans and volunteers.

Every four years Special Olympics conducts a National Summer Games in the United States that includes athletes from all 52 US Programs.  This year, New Jersey will host what promises to be the most dynamic, innovative and largest national Games to date, with sports to include aquatics, basketball, volleyball, cycling, soccer, tennis and lots more.

Many of the events are taking place just a stone’s throw from our Mercer and Somerset County communities, at venues including Princeton University, Rider University in Lawrenceville, The College of New Jersey in Ewing Township, Mercer County Park in West Windsor, Peddie School in Hightstown, Skillman Park in Montgomery and more. The opening ceremony will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark on Sunday, June 15… and the Closing Ceremony will be a little closer to home, to be held on Friday, June 20 at Trenton’s Sun National Bank Center. Check out the full list of events and venues by clicking here. For a complete schedule of events, click here.

Take some time during the next week, if you can, to attend some of these special events and show your support for these Games. They’re a great way to help foster understanding and acceptance of persons with intellectual disabilities in communities throughout New Jersey as well as the U.S. Good luck to all the athletes!

 

Celebrate the Luck o’ the Irish this Weekend in Central NJ

This weekend, a lot of central Jerseyans, Irish and non-Irish alike, will be wearing green and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. There are some terrific events planned near our communities in Mercer and Somerset Counties, including two great St. Pat’s parades!

In Robbinsville, the fifth annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be on Saturday, March 15th from 1–3 p.m. Opening ceremonies will be at 12:30 at the Foxmoor Shopping Center and the parade starts  at 1:00, with floats, Irish dance groups, marching bands, youth groups, civic groups and pipe bands. The parade is organized by the Robbinsville Irish Heritage Association. For more details, click here to visit their website.

Then on Sunday, Somerville is once again putting on the green in style for the 23rd annual St. Patricks’s Day Parade. The Somerville parade typically draws about 15,000 fans to enjoy pipe and drum bands, mummers, a bugle corps, a convoy of emergency vehicles from around the county and hundreds of Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies and Daisies, making the parade one of the state’s largest. The parade steps off at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on West Main Street just east of Grove Street. The parade is presented each year by the Somerville St. Patrick’s Parade Committee. For more details on the parade and the running order of the entertainment, click here to visit their official website.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, wherever and however you celebrate!