Branchburg Sports Complex: Indoor Rec for All Ages

The Branchburg Sports Complex offers seemingly endless entertainment opportunities within its 78,000 square feet indoor recreation arena. Newly opened in 2010, BSC is a destination for families to enjoy hours of active varieties of fun together. You can hit a homerun in one of the four batting cages, get lost in its sprawling arcade area, or play team sports on one of the three indoor turf fields. People rave about the themed laser tag arena, open after 4 p.m. and popular enough to encourage reservations. Longer-term programs at BSC include Sports Performance Training for high school students, adult courses including Zumba and pilates, and basic team sports for youngsters. Various facilities can be rented for birthday parties, corporate outings, and team practices. BSC opens at either 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., though hours for specific activities and classes are available on their website.

Branchburg Sports Complex
47 Readington Road
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 203-1600

Dunellen Theatre: Dinner and A Movie

The Dunellen Theatre is an old-fashioned cinema that holds charm for family outings, first dates, or nights-out with friends. Built in the 1920s, the theatre stills bares the latticework, tin detailing, and décor of the era. The unique interior sacrifices some modern amenities, such as multiple screens and stadium seating, but creates a more intimate vibe. For prices lower than a typical movie theatre, $7 for adults and $5 for children and seniors, Dunellen offers dinner and a movie in one location. The Cinema Café references an old tavern in style and a diner in menu options. You can take a seat at tables inside the theatre to munch on sandwiches and pizza. There’s also a selection of cheap beer and booze. Movies are typically family-friendly, with the daily showtimes listed on the website. Affordable group rates also make the Dunellen a popular birthday spot.

Dunellen Theatre
458 North Avenue
Dunellen, NJ 08812
(732) 968-9010

Grounds for Sculpture: Explore Art in the Great Outdoors

Trenton’s gorgeous Grounds for Sculpture is one of the most unique outdoor art experiences in America. Featuring over 240 works by modern artists, this astounding year-round exhibition located on the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds was opened to the public in 2000 and has been an incredibly popular destination for art lovers and dilettantes alike for over a decade. Regulars recommend not going with any particular goal in mind. Just wander the sprawling grounds exploring the myriad paths that snake through groves of trees, encounter the occasional wild peacock, and feast your eyes on some truly astounding artwork. Equal attention is given to the plant life on the grounds, making this one of the best places to just lazily explore on a nice day. See if you can find the hidden hammocks by the side of the pond for an afternoon nap. The park also features a world-class restaurant in Rat’s, a spectacular eatery that launched the career of Top Chef winner Kevin Sbraga.

Grounds for Sculpture
18 Fairgrounds Road
Trenton, NJ 08619
(609) 586-0616
www.groundsforsculpture.org

Zimmerli Art Museum: A Gem for Art-Lovers

Part of Rutgers University, the Zimmerli Art Museum features a permanent collection of over 60,000 pieces of art along with several ever-changing galleries of contemporary and classic art from varied mediums. Included in the permanent collection is an impressive array of Russian and Soviet nonconformist art, French late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century prints and posters, and contemporary American prints. The visiting exhibitions frequently reflect similar themes to the permanent collections, including illustrations from children’s literature, contemporary Soviet photography, work by women artists, and retrospectives on famous photographers. The collections at ZAM are accessible for all, with $6 admission for adults and free admission for Rutgers students and faculty, members, and children under 18. ZAM is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekends from noon to 5 p.m., and is closed on Mondays, major holidays, and during the month of August.

Zimmerli Art Museum
71 Hamilton Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 932-7237

Plainfield Curling Club: “Chess on Ice”

If you got into the curling craze during the last Olympics, try out your hand at the sport at the Plainfield Curling Club. The Club features a skating rink but curling doesn’t require you to stay balanced on skates, instead you use a broom to carefully push granite stones toward the goal. Curling requires a level of patience and methodic movement that garners the nickname “chess on ice.”  PCC is open to members who pay fees to access regularly scheduled weeknight and weekend leagues from November to April.  A two-hour session gives members access to the rink and instruction from experienced curlers. Members also have access to club equipment but can also purchase their own. People from as far as New York City head to PCC for their one-of-a-kind facilities. Groups of 8 to 16 people can also sign up for team-building sessions at the club.

Plainfield Curling Club
133 McKinley Street
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
(908) 668-9460

Rutgers Garden: A Garden Oasis in New Jersey

Students may already be in on this secret oasis but even townies are welcome to stroll through Rutgers Garden. With free admission and open 365 days a year, Rutgers Garden provides a wooded sanctuary from city life from 8:30 a.m. until dusk. Rutgers Garden features over ten areas to meander through, have a picnic in, or enjoy time with your family. One particularly unique area lets you wonder through a Bamboo Forest where evergreen bamboo towers above your head. Other areas include the Rhododendron and Azalea, the Shade Tree Collection, and American Hollies. The Rain Garden, featuring plentiful fountains, highlights the Garden’s commitment to conscience horticulture while creating a tranquil environment. Rutgers Gardens holds educational programming including gardening classes for adults and field trips for youths. Throughout the year, the Gardens also hosts events such as season-long farmers’ markets, wine tastings, and festivals for families.

Rutgers Garden
112 Ryders Lane
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 932-8451

Rutgers Geology Museum: It Really Rocks

For the geology geek, the Rutgers Geology Museum opens it doors for exhibits on geology, natural history, and anthropology. As admission is free, the museum is worth poking your head into, even if you’re not particularly excited over rocks. Some of the more widely appealing exhibits include a dinosaur trackway excavated from Towaco, NJ, a skeleton of a Mastodon, and a 2,400 year old Mummy. Other exhibits include extensive mineral and fossil collections studied by Rutgers scholars. Many of the minerals and rocks are mined from New Jersey, telling the natural history of the area through its geology. Events at the museum include their Late Night series every First Wednesday with themed activity stations for families from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The museum is also a popular destination for school field trips and it organizes off-site field trips for uncovering fossils of your own.

Rutgers Geology Museum
85 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 932-7243

Amber Lion Antiques: Lion’s Hunt

Tucked away behind a bus strop, Amber Lion Antiques appeals to people willing to search a little bit for a good find. In business for over 23 years, the antique store has had plenty of time to acquire a wide range of one-of-a-kind vintage furniture, interior decorations, clothing, and more. Within the slightly cramped and musty interior, you can wander through gems such as animal hair upholstered furniture, vintage hats, dark wooden spindles, classic books, and old collections of stamps, and preserved butterflies. 

The selection may be geared towards an older clientele, with homes to decorate and specific taste, but younger crowds can sift through vintage clothes and rock n’ roll records. Prices vary depending on the item’s age and rarity. Amber Lion is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and offers free, walk-in appraisals.

Amber Lion Antiques
356 George Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 214-9090

Visit the USGA Museum For a True Appreciation of Golf

The USGA Museum is dedicated to the history, education, and appreciation of golf. The beloved sport is commemorated and studied throughout the museum's various exhibits (from Diamond Heroes on the Links to The Father of American Golf: Charles Blair Macdonald) and artifacts (from historical equipment to clothing, trophies, documentation, and other odd ephemera), while the hall of Champions features the complete history of America's National Championships (U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open, etc).

USGA Museum
77 Liberty Corner Road
Far Hills, NJ 07931
(908) 234-2300
www.usgamuseum.com

Take a Summer Float Down the River With Delaware River Tubing

Is there any better way to while away a hot summer afternoon than with a float down the river? Pack some snacks and some drinks, keep them in waterproof bags, and let Delaware River Tubing do the rest. This well-reviewed outfitter provides everything else you need for a day on the river—they’ll set you up with a tube, drop you off at the river’s mouth at the Frenchtown roller rink, and pick you up at the end of the day. They provide you with everything you need to enjoy your afternoon, including paddles and safety advice. Midway through, you’ll be treated to a meal at the famous River Hot Dog Man, a ridiculous floating food vendor that serves up dogs, burgers, and more from the middle of the water. Belly full, hop back in your tube and continue your journey down the river, which typically lasts between two and three hours depending on the amount of rainfall the area has received.

Delaware River Tubing
2998 Daniel Bray Highway (Route 29)
Frenchtown, NJ 08825
(908) 996-5386
www.delawarerivertubing.com

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