More than 60 species of breeding birds call the Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary home. At Sourland Mountain Preserve, passive recreation in an undisturbed natural landscape is complemented by habitat for migratory and breeding birds. This combination of biodiversity and landscape gives Somerset a clear focus; historical discoveries add another layer of time.
Gardens, Trails and Landscapes
Colonial Park Gardens brings together a formal rose garden, a perennial garden, a sensory garden and other horticultural collections within a nationally accredited arboretum. Colonial Park also has a 1.4-mile fitness trail along a paved path used by walkers, joggers and cyclists. Here, landscaped gardens and a path with several designated user groups offer different ways to enjoy nature.
The Environmental Education Center at Lord Stirling Park covers 500 acres in the western part of the Great Swamp. Its landscape includes swamps, rivers, marshes, meadows, ponds and forests. The Center offers about 9 miles of hiking trails, natural history exhibits and programs led by naturalists. Lord Stirling Park has multi-use trails designated for hikers and horseback riders; the Environmental Education Center also has trails reserved exclusively for pedestrians. Since trail designations can change, check them before setting out.
Duke Farms is a 2,700-acre nature preserve in Hillsborough. Nature activities there include birdwatching, outdoor classes and keeping a field journal. Visitors begin their stay at the Orientation Center in the historic Farm Barn. Duke Island Park offers a different combination, with bike trails and wooded riverside paths for hikers, walkers and birdwatchers. These examples each have their own emphasis, from designated trails and nature programs to bird habitats.
Sites of Revolutionary War History
Van Horne House was an important site in the Battle of Bound Brook during the American Revolutionary War in April 1777. From 1778 to 1779, it served as the headquarters of General William Alexander, Lord Stirling. The sequence of battle and later use as a headquarters reveals two historical roles of the same house.
Jacobus Vanderveer House also served as a headquarters: General Henry Knox used it during the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778–1779. It is also the only surviving building associated with the Vanderveer family and Pluckemin Cantonment. This encampment is described as America’s first military academy. Wallace House, meanwhile, served as General George Washington’s winter headquarters during the Middlebrook Cantonment of 1778–1779. Revolutionary War Middlebrook Cantonment–Maryland Encampment was the site where the United States flag was first officially unfurled.
At Somerset County Historic Courthouse Green, you’ll find a 1909 marble courthouse, the 1910 Lord Memorial Fountain and a former Dutch Reformed church built in 1897 that now serves as a jury assembly room. The former Lord Stirling estate included an elaborate courtyard, stables, orchards, vineyards, a terraced garden and a stately Palladian-style mansion. Van Doren Farmstead is significant for its connection to early Dutch settlement in Somerset County and its collection of agricultural buildings.
Pluckemin School House is home to the Center of Contemporary Art, which holds art classes, workshops and exhibitions. Check the current program before you visit. Van Veghten House has a Revolutionary War Museum; here, too, it’s best to check visit details in advance.
A Taste of the Region
Somerset County farmers markets offer or feature local produce, meat, cheese, crafts and wine. Vendors and dates may change; check the current schedule for a specific market visit. As a rough guide to the region, Somerset County is about an hour from Philadelphia and New York City.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Liberty Corner, Basking Ridge, Hillsborough, Warren, Bridgewater, North Plainfield, Somerville, South Bound Brook, Bernardsville, Franklin Township, Branchburg Township, Montgomery Township, Green Brook Township, Manville, Raritan.
For the full travel overview: New Jersey.
