Essentials
ShopRite of Spotswood
380 Summerhill Rdopen 24 hours
good prices and high quality
CVS
330 Rues LnOpen 24 hours.
Food Scene
Bollywood Tadka
415 NJ-18Good food. Good atmosphere. Excellent value.
Colonial Diner-East Brunswick
560 NJ-18Traditional NJ diner. Large portions. Always enough for a doggie bag.
New Udipi Cafe
3029 NJ-27Vegan. Love this food. Excellent value.
Kosher, Middle Eastern food. Highly recommended by guests. Call before you go to make sure Eddie's is open.
Eddie's Falafel
39 Main StreetKosher, Middle Eastern food. Highly recommended by guests. Call before you go to make sure Eddie's is open.
River Thai Cuisine
50 Main StDelicious Thai food. Good value. Nice atmosphere.
Delicious food from Peru. Love the huge bowl of soup. Great value. Closed Mondays.
Don Pepe Peruvian I
25 Buckelew AveDelicious food from Peru. Love the huge bowl of soup. Great value. Closed Mondays.
Thai Shangri-La
2590 County Rd 516Always good Thai food. Good value.
Magnifico's Ice Cream
500 NJ-18Family operation for 30 years! Outdoor seating. Check hours before going.
Organic. Sandwiches, salads, platters. "rice and peas", plaintains, and more. Yum.
Simply Jerk Jamaican Grill
866 Cranbury South River RdOrganic. Sandwiches, salads, platters. "rice and peas", plaintains, and more. Yum.
Hunan Wok
100 Ryders LnTakeout Chinese. Recommended by friends.
A classic eatery in historic Cranbury, NJ. Always great breakfasts. Friendly people!
Teddy's Luncheonette
49 N Main StA classic eatery in historic Cranbury, NJ. Always great breakfasts. Friendly people!
Sandy's Pizza
322 Rues LnGreat pizza. Also a nice, local breakfast and lunch place. Fun to sit at the counter.
Good sushi. Several friends told me that this is their favorite Japanese restaurant in the area.
Wasabi House (East Brunswick)
77 Tices LnGood sushi. Several friends told me that this is their favorite Japanese restaurant in the area.
Recently discovered this great cafe! Crepes galore: sweet and savory. Breakfast and lunch menu. Late night food too. Wifi. (Reminds me of NYC!)
La Crepe French Bakery And Cafe
1020 NJ-18Recently discovered this great cafe! Crepes galore: sweet and savory. Breakfast and lunch menu. Late night food too. Wifi. (Reminds me of NYC!)
Love this food. BYOB. (They have a $2 per glass "bottle charge".) Middle Eastern. Family-run. Belly dancing on some nights. Call to find out when. Great ambience.
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Koy Turkish Grill
280 U.S. 9Love this food. BYOB. (They have a $2 per glass "bottle charge".) Middle Eastern. Family-run. Belly dancing on some nights. Call to find out when. Great ambience.
On the pricey side but an experience to experience at least once. Definitely a nice to celebrate an occasion. Lunch and dinner prices. Sitting at the bar is cheaper.
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The Frog & The Peach
29 Dennis StOn the pricey side but an experience to experience at least once. Definitely a nice to celebrate an occasion. Lunch and dinner prices. Sitting at the bar is cheaper.
Famous bakery. Especially famous for their eclairs. Check the website for times and read the reviews!
Mendoker's Quality Bakery
34 W Railroad AveFamous bakery. Especially famous for their eclairs. Check the website for times and read the reviews!
Open 7 days. Just had a great lunch there! Delicious fancy ice cream desserts. Delicious.
Mi Familia Authentic Mexican Cuisine
12 Snowhill StOpen 7 days. Just had a great lunch there! Delicious fancy ice cream desserts. Delicious.
Zagat winner in 2014. Upscale ambience. Great value. Located in quaint Jamesburg (the next town over). Lunch, dinner, and brunch menus. Closed Mon and Tues.
Fiddleheads Restaurant, New American Bistro
27 E Railroad AveZagat winner in 2014. Upscale ambience. Great value. Located in quaint Jamesburg (the next town over). Lunch, dinner, and brunch menus. Closed Mon and Tues.
Fresh bagels made every morning. Many times I have gotten them while they are still warm! Lots of varieties. In the ShopRite Spotswood mall.
Bagel One
95 Old Stage RdFresh bagels made every morning. Many times I have gotten them while they are still warm! Lots of varieties. In the ShopRite Spotswood mall.
Thin crust pizza! Very thin. Not easy to find. Delicious. Take-out menu (by the counter) has a $1.50 coupon for a large pie.
Michelangelo's Pizza
6 Edgeboro RdThin crust pizza! Very thin. Not easy to find. Delicious. Take-out menu (by the counter) has a $1.50 coupon for a large pie.
Local beers. Recommended by a guest. Part of the downtown nightlife of New Brunswick.
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Harvest Moon Brewery & Cafe
392 George StLocal beers. Recommended by a guest. Part of the downtown nightlife of New Brunswick.
Just ate here for the first time tonight. I ordered the vegetarian sampler (for 2). Absolutely delicious. The owner's husband works for United Airlines. He flies to/from Ethiopia every 2 months and brings back all the spices used in the restaurant. Authentic spices are not available in the US. Makes the food very special. Speciality item: The Coffee Ceremony. $25. For about 10 people. The coffee (from Ethiopia) is roasted fresh and brought to the table so guests can enjoy the aroma. It is all about process and taste. Available during off-peak hours. $$
Dashen Ethiopian Cuisine
88 Albany StJust ate here for the first time tonight. I ordered the vegetarian sampler (for 2). Absolutely delicious. The owner's husband works for United Airlines. He flies to/from Ethiopia every 2 months and brings back all the spices used in the restaurant. Authentic spices are not available in the US. Makes the food very special. Speciality item: The Coffee Ceremony. $25. For about 10 people. The coffee (from Ethiopia) is roasted fresh and brought to the table so guests can enjoy the aroma. It is all about process and taste. Available during off-peak hours. $$
Wegmans
15 Woodbridge Center DrHigh end grocery store. Better than Whole Foods!
Trader Joe's
3528 Brunswick PikeA shopping experience. Sometimes you can find great value.
Whole Foods Market
3495 US-1Yes, another Whole Foods. They are all over the place!
A local whole earth grocery store. Wander. Explore the coffees and teas and chocolates. Very close to downtown Princeton. Just wander North on Nassau Street and you'll find it.
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Whole Earth Center
360 Nassau StA local whole earth grocery store. Wander. Explore the coffees and teas and chocolates. Very close to downtown Princeton. Just wander North on Nassau Street and you'll find it.
Outside dining at wooden picnic tables. On the water. Lobster. Crab. Shrimp. (Sort of like Martha's Vineyard?) Good food and drink. Google for reviews. Nice summer atmosphere.
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Bahrs Landing Famous Seafood Restaurant & Marina
2 Bay AveOutside dining at wooden picnic tables. On the water. Lobster. Crab. Shrimp. (Sort of like Martha's Vineyard?) Good food and drink. Google for reviews. Nice summer atmosphere.
One of my Chinese guests highly recommends this Szechuan restaurant. She especially likes Sour Beans with Preserved Pork (Suan dou jiao la rou) and Spicy Pig Ear (Ma la zhou er). Yum!
Green Apple Chinese Cuisine
432 Renaissance RdOne of my Chinese guests highly recommends this Szechuan restaurant. She especially likes Sour Beans with Preserved Pork (Suan dou jiao la rou) and Spicy Pig Ear (Ma la zhou er). Yum!
Mancini Pizza
293 NJ-18Asbury Park Boardwalk
1300 N Ocean AveDrinks & Nightlife
Recommended to me by friends. Upscale. Nice place to celebrate an occasion.
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Clydz
55 Paterson StRecommended to me by friends. Upscale. Nice place to celebrate an occasion.
Fun place to try at least once. Noisy, so not the right atmosphere for intimate conversation. Lots of craft beers!
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Triumph Brewing Company
138 Nassau StFun place to try at least once. Noisy, so not the right atmosphere for intimate conversation. Lots of craft beers!
Checkout their website. On Tuesdays, from 9 pm until closing, the house jazz band performs with local musicians sitting in. Radam Schwartz on the organ. Highly, highly recommended. No cover charge.
Crossroads
78 North AvenueCheckout their website. On Tuesdays, from 9 pm until closing, the house jazz band performs with local musicians sitting in. Radam Schwartz on the organ. Highly, highly recommended. No cover charge.
Pier Village is a collection of bars and restaurants on the boardwalk at the beach in Long Branch. Lots of drinking and music and action. Not my cup of tea, so I cannot really recommend it, but you can google for reviews.
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Pier Village
50 Chelsea AvePier Village is a collection of bars and restaurants on the boardwalk at the beach in Long Branch. Lots of drinking and music and action. Not my cup of tea, so I cannot really recommend it, but you can google for reviews.
Shopping
open 24-hours
Not everyone shops here; but if you do, it is available. Has an organic grocery section.
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Walmart Supercenter
290 NJ-18open 24-hours
Not everyone shops here; but if you do, it is available. Has an organic grocery section.
If you like shopping, this is a very pretty mall with quality shops. Check out the website.
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Menlo Park Mall
55 Parsonage RdIf you like shopping, this is a very pretty mall with quality shops. Check out the website.
NJ has lots of shopping malls. Bridgewater Mall is a relatively upscale one, with lots of high quality stores. A nice place to window shop.
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Bridgewater Commons
400 Commons WayNJ has lots of shopping malls. Bridgewater Mall is a relatively upscale one, with lots of high quality stores. A nice place to window shop.
Very close to Menlo Park Mall. Much larger. Great place to walk for exercise, even if you don't intend to shop.
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Woodbridge Center
250 Woodbridge Center DrVery close to Menlo Park Mall. Much larger. Great place to walk for exercise, even if you don't intend to shop.
Getting Around
Location: 551 Old Bridge Turnpike, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Weekdays: Buses to NYC. Check Coach Suburban schedule. non-rush hour buses every 30 mins, 5 mins before the half-hour. On return trip, check with driver that bus is going to Transportation Center. (Some buses only stop at one of the 2 stops, not both.) On return trip, bus leaves from a gate close to gate 420. Check with dispatcher near gate 420 for exact gate.
Weekends: See Tower Center bus station.
Parking: garage. $5. Park on level marked 'Daily Parking'. Remember the number of your parking spot. Pay in lobby.
East Brunswick - Transportation Center station
Location: 551 Old Bridge Turnpike, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Weekdays: Buses to NYC. Check Coach Suburban schedule. non-rush hour buses every 30 mins, 5 mins before the half-hour. On return trip, check with driver that bus is going to Transportation Center. (Some buses only stop at one of the 2 stops, not both.) On return trip, bus leaves from a gate close to gate 420. Check with dispatcher near gate 420 for exact gate.
Weekends: See Tower Center bus station.
Parking: garage. $5. Park on level marked 'Daily Parking'. Remember the number of your parking spot. Pay in lobby.
Tower Center Bus Station (also called Nielsen Parking Plaza)
Daily: Buses to NYC. Check Coach Suburban schedule. non-rush hour buses every 30 mins, 5 mins before the half-hour. On return trip, check with driver that bus is going to Tower Center. (Some buses only stop at one of the 2 stops, not both.) On return trip, bus leaves from a gate close to gate 417. Check with dispatcher near gate 417 for exact gate.
Parking: garage. $5. Park on level marked 'Daily Parking'. Remember the number of your parking spot. Pay in lobby.
Tower Center Boulevard
Tower Center BoulevardTower Center Bus Station (also called Nielsen Parking Plaza)
Daily: Buses to NYC. Check Coach Suburban schedule. non-rush hour buses every 30 mins, 5 mins before the half-hour. On return trip, check with driver that bus is going to Tower Center. (Some buses only stop at one of the 2 stops, not both.) On return trip, bus leaves from a gate close to gate 417. Check with dispatcher near gate 417 for exact gate.
Parking: garage. $5. Park on level marked 'Daily Parking'. Remember the number of your parking spot. Pay in lobby.
Check the NJ Transit train schedule. Amtrak stops here too. 40 minutes to Penn Station, NYC. 35 minutes to Penn Station, Newark, NJ. (Both stations have the same name! Confusing.) Check prices for New Brunswick parking garage.
www dot njnbpa dot org / parking-info / parking-rates
Greater than 8 hours: $22
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New Brunswick station
Albany StreetCheck the NJ Transit train schedule. Amtrak stops here too. 40 minutes to Penn Station, NYC. 35 minutes to Penn Station, Newark, NJ. (Both stations have the same name! Confusing.) Check prices for New Brunswick parking garage.
www dot njnbpa dot org / parking-info / parking-rates
Greater than 8 hours: $22
Check the NJ Transit train schedules. Parking is cheaper ($5 daily rate) at this station than the New Brunswick station. South of East Brunswick. Parking info: www dot westwindsorpa dot com / parking-info dot aspx
Princeton Junction
Check the NJ Transit train schedules. Parking is cheaper ($5 daily rate) at this station than the New Brunswick station. South of East Brunswick. Parking info: www dot westwindsorpa dot com / parking-info dot aspx
Amtrak and NJ Transit stop. Check schedules. Parking rates: $5 to $9 daily rate. Check website for Metro Park station. About a 25 minute drive from our house. Exit 131 on the Garden State Parkway.
Metropark Rail Station Bus Lane 4
Amtrak and NJ Transit stop. Check schedules. Parking rates: $5 to $9 daily rate. Check website for Metro Park station. About a 25 minute drive from our house. Exit 131 on the Garden State Parkway.
Arts & Culture
Check the website for details. High quality art. Special programs. Free admission.
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Princeton University Art Museum
Elm DriveCheck the website for details. High quality art. Special programs. Free admission.
Historical NJ houses moved to this park setting and set up like a little village. Learn a little history about this part of NJ. I highly recommend the free tour. My tour guide was excellent.
Check out the East Jersey Old Town Village website.
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Saturday & Holidays
Guided Public Tours
Tuesday - Friday and Sunday 1:30 p.m.
No Tours on days when events are scheduled
(732) 745-3030
East Jersey Old Town Village
1050 River RdHistorical NJ houses moved to this park setting and set up like a little village. Learn a little history about this part of NJ. I highly recommend the free tour. My tour guide was excellent.
Check out the East Jersey Old Town Village website.
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Saturday & Holidays
Guided Public Tours
Tuesday - Friday and Sunday 1:30 p.m.
No Tours on days when events are scheduled
(732) 745-3030
The art museum on the campus of Rutgers University. Check out the website for current exhibits and special events. Admission fee.
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Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University
71 Hamilton StThe art museum on the campus of Rutgers University. Check out the website for current exhibits and special events. Admission fee.
Home of the NJ Symphony Orchestra. Check out their website for current goings-on. Lots of entertainers from NYC and Hollywood perform here. Call about rush tickets. If not sold out, tickets go on sale (at the box office) for half price 1 hour before the show.
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State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston AveHome of the NJ Symphony Orchestra. Check out their website for current goings-on. Lots of entertainers from NYC and Hollywood perform here. Call about rush tickets. If not sold out, tickets go on sale (at the box office) for half price 1 hour before the show.
Check the website for concerts, dance, plays, opera. All music genres. Many performances are free. In July, look for a free jazz concert by the Rutgers jazz faculty. They are described as "the best on the planet."
Mason Gross School of The Arts
33 Livingston AveCheck the website for concerts, dance, plays, opera. All music genres. Many performances are free. In July, look for a free jazz concert by the Rutgers jazz faculty. They are described as "the best on the planet."
Check out their website for current events. Last play I saw was August Wilson's Piano Lesson. A wonderful experience. Student discounts. (Ask if they have rush tickets.)
McCarter Theatre
91 University PlaceCheck out their website for current events. Last play I saw was August Wilson's Piano Lesson. A wonderful experience. Student discounts. (Ask if they have rush tickets.)
NJ Symphony plays here. As well as famous performers in all genres of music. Check out the website for current info. Yes: Count Basie lived in Red Bank.
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Count Basie Center for the Arts
99 Monmouth StNJ Symphony plays here. As well as famous performers in all genres of music. Check out the website for current info. Yes: Count Basie lived in Red Bank.
Sightseeing
The town of Cranbury is a National Historic Site. Many houses were built around the time of the Civil War. Self-guided and guided walking tours.
Cranbury History Center
6 S Main StThe town of Cranbury is a National Historic Site. Many houses were built around the time of the Civil War. Self-guided and guided walking tours.
The town of Cranbury is a National Historic Site. Many houses were built around the time of the Civil War. Self-guided and guided walking tours.
Cranbury Museum
4 Park Pl EThe town of Cranbury is a National Historic Site. Many houses were built around the time of the Civil War. Self-guided and guided walking tours.
History of East Brunswick. Did you know this town was a resort town before air conditioning? Self-guided walking tour.
East Brunswick Museum Corporation
16 Maple StHistory of East Brunswick. Did you know this town was a resort town before air conditioning? Self-guided walking tour.
This is where the guided walking tours begin. Fascinating tours of the town, the history, and the university. (I loved my tour!) This is not a tour of the university. Call for more info.
Historical Society of Princeton
354 Quaker RdThis is where the guided walking tours begin. Fascinating tours of the town, the history, and the university. (I loved my tour!) This is not a tour of the university. Call for more info.
Walk around the gardens. Enjoy easy hikes in the woods. Fridays is the Rutgers Farmers Market. Lots of vendors. 11 am - 5 pm. May thru Nov.
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Rutgers-Gärten
112 Log Cabin RdWalk around the gardens. Enjoy easy hikes in the woods. Fridays is the Rutgers Farmers Market. Lots of vendors. 11 am - 5 pm. May thru Nov.
Local museum. Learn the story of the man Cornelius Lowe and the history of Landing Lane. I enjoyed the exhibit on the history of NJ Diners.
Cornelius Low House
1225 River RdLocal museum. Learn the story of the man Cornelius Lowe and the history of Landing Lane. I enjoyed the exhibit on the history of NJ Diners.
Check out website to plan your visit:
www dot twinlightslighthouse dot com
Situated 200 feet above sea level atop the Navesink Highlands, Twin Lights has stood as a sentinel over the treacherous coastal waters of northern New Jersey since 1828. Museum. Great for families.
Navesink Twin Lighthouses
Light House RoadCheck out website to plan your visit:
www dot twinlightslighthouse dot com
Situated 200 feet above sea level atop the Navesink Highlands, Twin Lights has stood as a sentinel over the treacherous coastal waters of northern New Jersey since 1828. Museum. Great for families.
Built during the French and Indian Wars to house soldiers. Check out the website
www dot barracks dot org for visitor info and daily tours and events. A wonderful way to learn history!
Trenton Visitors Center
102 Barrack StBuilt during the French and Indian Wars to house soldiers. Check out the website
www dot barracks dot org for visitor info and daily tours and events. A wonderful way to learn history!