At Boyd Park, views of the Raritan River sit alongside traces of canal history. The 20-acre waterfront park is a concrete starting point for getting to know New Brunswick through its theaters, riverfront spots and historic features. If you’re looking for a hotel in the city, you can consider which of these interests you’d like to shape your stay.
Theater and Cultural Work
The George Street Playhouse welcomes visitors at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in downtown New Brunswick. Its offerings include cultural education programs that give everyone the opportunity to experience theater. This means the cultural experience extends beyond a single performance: theater education is also part of the Playhouse’s profile.
The Crossroads Theatre Company is another part of the city’s theater history. It is described as the leading African American theater in the United States and received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Since its founding in 1978, the company has produced more than 100 works. The award and its production history offer two different perspectives: recognition of the theater and artistic work developed over decades.
If theater is an important reason for your trip, New Brunswick offers both a Playhouse that welcomes visitors and provides educational programs, and a theater company with an extensive production history. You can consider these aspects a cultural focus for your trip without needing to plan around a specific program or performance.
The Raritan River, Park and Canal History
Boyd Park brings together a waterfront setting and several historic features. The park offers views of the Raritan River and the New Brunswick skyline. Other features include a lighted towpath about three-quarters of a mile long, a historic swing bridge, a canal and locks. Historic interpretive signs explain the history of the Raritan River and the city.
These details give a visit to the park more than one focus: views of the river sit alongside the built traces of canal history and explanations on the signs. When planning, you can decide whether you’re mainly interested in the views or would also like to learn about the history of the river and the city.
New Brunswick Landing also offers views of the Raritan River, here alongside the bluffs of Highland Park. A pedestrian bridge leads from the Landing over the only remaining section of the Delaware and Raritan Canal in New Brunswick. Compared with Boyd Park, this offers different scenic viewpoints and a direct crossing over the canal section.
Buccleuch Mansion offers another way to explore local history. The Jersey Blue Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution maintains the mansion and organizes tours and exhibitions there. If you’d like to include a tour or exhibition in your plans, check the dates before your trip.
Plan Your Trip and Accommodation
New Brunswick has train connections to New York and Philadelphia and offers quick access to I-287, Route 1 and the Turnpike. This means you can travel by rail to the cities named above or use the road connections via the listed routes.
When looking for a hotel in New Brunswick, it helps to decide on a focus in advance: Should theater and cultural history be the main draw, or would you rather explore the Raritan River, parks and canal features? The places and themes mentioned offer different starting points for your stay; choose the focus that best suits your travel interests.
Discover more destinations: South Brunswick Township, Jamesburg, East Brunswick Township, Edison, Piscataway Township, South Amboy, Woodbridge Township, Highland Park.
To the regional travel overview: Middlesex.
