Best Things to do in Princeton New Jersey (Top Fun Activities)

If you are looking for a fun day trip idea in New Jersey, I highly recommend visiting Princeton. Princeton is more than just an Ivy League University . It is a cute and charming town filled with rich history and so many fun things to do. Princeton is perfect to visit during any season – these activities can be enjoyed in both the warmer and winter months. Princeton is only an hour and half drive from New York City and only 50 minutes from Philadelphia. It is the perfect destination to spend exploring with your family, friends, or significant other! In this post, I’ll be sharing the best things to do in Princeton New Jersey.

Grounds for Sculpture

The first stop of your Princeton New Jersey day trip is to visit Grounds for Sculpture. This is a sculpture park and contemporary art museum located in Hamilton, NJ – which is about 20 minutes from Princeton. It is known for its extensive outdoor sculpture collection, beautiful landscape, and indoor galleries featuring contemporary artworks.

Here is what you can see on your visit to Grounds for Sculpture:

Outdoor Sculpture Gardens: The park features 300 contemporary sculptures by 150 different artists. They are displayed throughout its 42 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. The sculptures are created by both emerging and established artists.
Sculpture Exhibitions: Grounds for Sculpture hosts temporary exhibitions that feature specific themes or highlight the work of individual artists.
Sculpture Workshops and Programs: The park offers educational programs, workshops, and events for visitors of all ages.
Rat’s Restaurant: Grounds for Sculpture is home to Rat’s Restaurant. They serve seasonal French recipes for brunch, lunch, and dinner. It is a beautiful restaurant with stunning views that will make you feel like you are in a cozy French countryside cafe.
Indoor Galleries: In addition to the outdoor sculptures, the park has indoor gallery spaces that exhibit contemporary artwork.
Events and Performances: The park hosts various events and performances including live music, dance, and theatrical productions.

Advanced timed ticket reservations are required to ensure entry. Capacity is limited and sell out likely on weekends and holidays. You can reserve your time slot up to two weeks in advanced. Adult tickets are $20 per person. You can reserve your tickets here!

McCarter Theater Center

The McCarter Theatre Center is a performing arts venue located in Princeton, New Jersey. They host a variety of performances including classic plays, contemporary drams, and musicals. They also have concerts, dance performances and other special events.

Check out their schedule of events here!

Princeton Battlefield State Park

If you are interested in exploring more of the outdoors, I recommend visiting Princeton Battlefield State Park. It’s perfect for nature lovers and history buffs! This is a historic park that preserves the site of the Battle of Princeton. Visitors can explore the battlefield and learn about the events that took place during this moment in American history. Throughout the park, there are monuments and memorials dedicated to the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Princeton.

Princeton Battlefield State Park features walking trails that allow visitors to explore the historic landscape. When I visited, I did the Institute Woods Trail. It is a nice and easy walking trail that features a swinging bridge over a stream. There are two trail options: 2.2 miles or 3.6 miles. The 3.6 mile route is the full route where you will go through the Institute Woods, Swinging Bridge, and Princeton Battlefield. For the shorter route, in 2.2 miles you will go through the Institute Woods and Swinging Bridge and loop back. My favorite part of the trail was crossing the swinging bridge!

Here is an interactive map of the trail.

The park is also home to the Thomas Clarke House, which served as a field hospital during the battle. The house has been restored and is now a museum you can visit. The park also hosts educational programs, events, and guided tours so you can learn more about the history of the site and the events that occurred during the Revolutionary War.

Carnegie Lake

Carnegie Lake is a beautiful man-made reservoir near the campus of Princeton University. It is named after the industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who contributed to the funding of the lake’s construction. The primary purpose of creating Carnegie Lake was to ensure a reliable water source for the university and surrounding areas, but now it has become a popular recreational area for the Princeton community.

At the lake, you can participate in fun outdoor activities like kayaking, canoeing, rowing and fishing. There are also nature trails surrounding the lake where you can walk, run, or bike.

Carnegie Lake is also well known for rowing. The Princeton University rowing teams often train here. The lake has also hosted various rowing events and regional and national rowing competitions which is pretty cool!

Terhune Orchards

If you are looking for another fun outdoor activity in Princeton, you can visit Terhune Orchards. Terhune Orchards is a family owned 250 acre farm in Princeton, NJ that is known for its orchards, farm market, and various activities. Here are some of the things you can do at Terhune Orchards:

Pick Your Own: Depending on the season, you can pick your own apples, berries, peaches, flowers, and pumpkins.
Farm Store: Terhune Orchards has a farm store where you can purchase fresh produce, baked goods, and locally made products. You can find a variety of fruit, vegetables, flowers, and homemade pies.
Winery: Terhune Orchards has a winery on-site known as Terhune Orchards Vineyard and Winery. You can enjoy wine tastings and purchase bottles of their selection of award winning red, white, and fruit wines crafted from their very own vineyards and orchards. of locally produced wines. They also host fun seasonal events and activities such as their “wine and chocolate” weekends with live music.
Farm Animals: Stop by the barnyard to see their sheep, goats, donkeys, ducks, geese, and chickens that live there year-round.
Farm Trail: Take a stroll on the Farm Trail Discovery Walk and walk through their orchard, pond, and forest. You can enjoy this trail in every season and see the different wildlife.

Explore Downtown Princeton

Princeton is such a cute and charming town. The main street to explore in downtown Princeton where everything is at is Nassau Street. You will find a diverse array of shops, boutiques, and stores. The street has a mix of local businesses and well-known national retailers. On Nassau Street, you will also find a variety of restaurants and cafes. Nassau Street is also surrounded by historical landmarks, including buildings with colonial architecture.

Nassau Street also runs along the edge of the Princeton University campus. The university’s main gate, known as FitzRandolph Gate, is situated at the intersection of Nassau Street and Witherspoon Street.

Located just off Nassau Street, you will find Palmer Square. Wandering around Palmer Square is one of the top things to do in Princeton New Jersey! I loved walking around and checking out all the shops. In this open plaza, you will find brand-name retailers, clothing and home good boutiques, cafes, bars, and restaurants. Throughout the year, Palmer Square hosts various seasonal events and festivals. These events may include holiday celebrations, art fairs, live music performances, and even an ice skating rink in the winter!

Check out a list of stores in Palmer Square and upcoming events here!

Princeton University Campus

You can’t visit Princeton without walking through Princeton University campus. It is one of the best things to do in Princeton New Jersey! Princeton University is a beautiful campus filled with historic buildings and amazing architecture. Here are the top spots you need to visit on campus:

Nassau Hall – This is the oldest building on campus. It was completed in 1756 and even served as the United States Capitol building for four months. During the American Revolutionary War, the hall was used by British and American troops and was damaged during the Battle of Princeton in 1777. In the 1800s, it even caught fire twice. It was remodeled to the building it is today. I love the architecture of this building!
Albert Einstein House – From 1935-1955, Albert Einstein lived in this house on 112 Mercer Street. Even though visitors cannot go inside the house, the property is marked with a plaque, and the exterior of the house is visible from the street. It is great to pass by if you are interested in Einstein’s life and legacy.
Princeton University Chapel – This is a beautiful chapel built in 1928 and restored in 2002. I love the stained glass window design.
Morven Museum and Garden – This 18th century home is a house museum that showcases the cultural and political history of New Jersey. Visitors can explore the museum’s exhibits, which highlight the state’s role in American history, art and culture. The museum also sits on five acres where you can explore its beautiful garden.
Princeton University Art Museum – This is one of the world’s leading university art museums with collections of more than 112,000 works of art that range from ancient to contemporary art that has a focus on the Mediterranean regions, Western Europe, China, United States and Latin America.

Restaurants in Princeton

There are so many great local restaurants in Princeton. You will find a mix of fine dining, casual restaurants, cafes, breweries, and even vegetarian options! There is something for everyone. Here are some restaurant recommendations in Princeton:

Agricola Eatery – My family and I ate here for lunch. This farm to table restaurant is so good! I recommend their mushroom flatbread and seasonal ravioli!
Local Greek – Serves traditional Greek food and perfect for sharing plates
Witherspoon Grill – A classic American steakhouse with a casual spin
Nomad Pizza – A yummy local pizza spot
B lue Point Grill – A trendy seafood restaurant that is only open for dinner
PJ’s Pancake House – Serves delicious pancakes and is a great breakfast spot!
Jammin’ Crepes – A well known famous for its fabulous crepes
The Alchemist & Barrister – This is a great spot for drinks and upscale bar food

Bent Spoon Ice Cream

One of the best things to do in Princeton New Jersey is getting ice cream at Bent Spoon. It is located in Palmer Square. Bent Spoon is an organic ice cream shop that was actually just named as one of the world’s greatest ice cream shops by Financial Times. It has such awesome and unique flavors. Their classic flavors like Dark Chocolate and Madagascar Vanilla Bean are so good! And they have such cool seasonal flavors like sweet basil and and local organic sweet corn!