Middlesex County lies along the Raritan River, between New York and Philadelphia. The region brings together nature preserves, gardens, historic sites and activities that you can explore in a variety of ways: on a paved trail, during a guided museum tour or on a self-guided walk. This variety is especially useful when planning your trip. You can focus on nature and outdoor activities, architecture and history, or seasonal cultural events.
Natural Areas, Gardens and Trails
Middlesex County has 32 nature preserves and protected areas covering a total of more than 7,500 acres. The Jamesburg Park Conservation Area alone includes more than 1,400 acres of pine barrens within the Spotswood Outlier. Rutgers Gardens offers another combination of nature and human activity: the 180-acre public botanical garden includes display gardens, natural areas, a student-run vegetable farm and university research areas. The Pollinator Garden provides food and habitat for birds, bees, bats and butterflies.
There are different ways to get around, too. The Middlesex Greenway offers a paved trail for walking, biking and jogging. At Helme Park, you can launch a boat for a self-guided, informational tour of the 5-acre Helmetta Pond. Water conditions and rules may change; check them before setting out. Middlesex County parks are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset, though individual facilities may have additional rules.
Explore the History
East Jersey Old Town Village is located along the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail. The Cornelius Low House is a preserved example of Georgian architecture and is associated with the former port community of Raritan Landing. Its architecture and connection to the former port community offer two perspectives on the region's history. The Cranbury Museum is associated with an original two-room house, probably built in 1834.
The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park offers guided museum tours featuring original artifacts and Edison phonographs, as well as a visit to the 1938 Edison Memorial Tower. The Center also includes a 36-acre state park with a nature trail and interpretive signs. Middlesex County's interactive history quests offer a different format: self-guided walks with 14 to 25 stops, designed to take 30 to 60 minutes. Here, you can choose between guided museum tours and an activity where you set your own pace.
Public programs at the historic Metlar/Bodine House include tours, lectures, reenactments and seminars. Together with the houses, the trail and the museum offerings, these programs show that history in Middlesex County is not just a collection of historic buildings, but also a subject presented in a variety of ways.
Seasonal Theater and Music Programs
Plays-in-the-Park presents three full-length musicals each summer, a musical for children in October, and the December tradition of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. The annual Music-in-the-Park series adds free live music on summer evenings in the county parks. Productions, dates and venues may change; check the current program before your trip.
Nearly all major north-south rail lines and road connections along the East Coast pass through Middlesex County. This regional transportation access is another factor to consider when planning your trip. Whether you're interested in natural areas, historic sites, a self-guided tour or a seasonal program, these different themes give you concrete ways to tailor your stay to your interests.
Discover more destinations: East Brunswick Township, Edison, North Brunswick, New Brunswick, Carteret, South Plainfield, Jamesburg, South Amboy, Highland Park, Woodbridge Township, Piscataway Township, Cranbury Township, South Brunswick Township, Plainsboro Township.
For the broader travel overview: New Jersey.
