9 Secluded Towns in New Jersey

When the American Revolutionary War raged, the state of New Jersey was deemed the Crossroads of the Revolution because of its strategic location, as exemplified by the Battle of Trenton. Yet after years of fighting and earning its independence from the British Empire, New Jersey has now prospered into the “Diner Capital of the World” due to the abundance of diners in both major cities and the most secluded towns in New Jersey. From scenic seaside towns such as Cape May and Ocean Grove to more urban communities like Hoboken and Montclair, newcomers to New Jersey will appreciate the cultural and natural nuances each town has to exhibit. Even though some of these towns are secluded within nature or in the shadow of modern metropolises, you will not find it too difficult to find what you are looking for in these beautiful towns in New Jersey.

Madison

Although Madison is a small borough just 15 miles away from New York City, it is nevertheless a beautiful small town that has often been hailed as “Rose City” because of the surplus of rose flowers blossoming the town a cheerful red. Originally known as “Bottle Hill” until it was renamed after President James Madison, this small borough has attracted thousands of visitors from New York City and beyond thanks to its calm and soothing atmosphere that is a far cry from the often busy streets of the big city.

The town is situated on a ridge-like terminal moraine left by the Wisconsin Glacier more than 10,000 years ago, and the many “potholes” in Madison identify the last ice pieces of the glacier. At the Great Swamp to the southwest and the Black Meadows/Troy Meadows area to the northeast, you can venture into all sorts of habitats and biomes unique to New Jersey. Finally, you can watch artistic performances at the Shakespeare Theatre or learn all about the American Revolutionary War at the Sayre House, for which General Anthony Wayne once headquartered.

Cape May

Cape May, approximately an hour away from Atlantic City, entreats newcomers to some of the best attractions beside the state of Delaware, Delaware Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Whether you are soaking in the sun and having fun in the Atlantic Ocean from Sunset Beach or taking a panoramic boat ride through Delaware Bay, you will be awed and humbled by all the new experiences to be gained in this small town in New Jersey. Should one wish to go birdwatching, you can do so at the Cape May Point State Park and Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area.

Most importantly, you can be thrust back into the Victorian era of the U.S. when touring the Emlen Physick Estate. This living museum showcases how Americans used to live in the 1870s. No need to worry about lodgings, especially when you are spending your fruitful evenings at either the Chalfonte Hotel, the Grand Hotel of Cape May, or the Angel of the Sea.

Spring Lake

Travel about 45 miles from the city of Trenton and explore the “Jewel of the Jersey Shore,” the beautiful borough of Spring Lake. With its historic mementos and maritime exhibits at the Sea Girt Lighthouse and numerous recreational activities best enjoyed at the Spring Lake Beach, Spring Lake certainly shines on New Jersey’s Eastern Coast. To savor more of your outdoor experiences, visitors can admire the town’s wilderness sceneries at both the Divine Park and the Wall Township Reservoir. Best of all, one can watch a theatrical production called Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore on April 12, which is a comedy about romance and the sea. Those enthusiastic about seeing how brightly the Jewel of the Jersey Shore shines can do so by first booking a room at establishments like Hewitt Wellington, Spring Lake Inn, or The Breakers on the Ocean.

Lambertville

Lambertville, approximately 50 miles from Madison, sits​​ comfortably beside the Delaware River. Settled in 1705 as a thriving agricultural town, Lambertville became a hub of commercial manufacturing when the Industrial Revolution reached America. During the American Revolutionary War, George Washington used the Holcombe Farmstead as a headquarters against the British Empire in New Jersey.

In 1915, the town became even more involved in history when the Lambertville Station accommodated the transportation of the Liberty Bell—which rang when the Declaration of Independence was signed—towards Independence Hall in Philadelphia. More of Lambertville’s involvement in history can be appreciated at the James Wilson Marshall House Museum. Since the town has been considered the “Antiques Capital of New Jersey,” you can find all sorts of souvenirs and antiquities at places like Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market. So, if you intend to see more of what Lambertville has to offer, you can keep your belongings safe and sound at either the Chimney Hill Estate Inn or Lambertville House.

Hoboken

Hoboken, just a few minutes away from both New York City and Jersey City, is the birthplace of the famous singer Frank Sinatra. The place where he used to live can be found along Washington Street and Frank Sinatra Drive, which also happens to be replete with several bars, bistros, and global eateries. Hoboken’s name is based on the Delaware word "Hobocan Hackingh," meaning “Land of the Tobacco Pipe.” It was in 1784 that Colonel John Stevens, creator of the first American steam locomotive in 1825 for whom the Stevens Institute of Technology is named after, formally improved upon this town along the Hudson River. Sports enthusiasts might fancy visiting the first place an organized baseball game was played in 1846, or beer connoisseurs might want to see the the first brewery in America built in 1642. Travelers can admire the Manhattan skylines from the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and the many piers and parks along the Hudson River.

Frenchtown

From where the Delaware River establishes the separation between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the small town of Frenchtown is a few minutes away from Lambertville. In the 1700s, French immigrants fleeing from guillotine executions in France built a new home on land formerly belonging to the Lenni-Lenape Native Americans. Over the years, Frenchtown has entertained visitors with destinations like the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, and even two renowned authors, James Agee and Nathanael West, once spent a hiatus in Frenchtown to create their seminal works. Those of you interested in seeing Frenchtown in its cultural glory ought to wait for the month of May for the town’s annual Wine and Art festival, July for the Bastille Day, or perhaps September for RiverFest. Regardless of the date and month, you intend to visit Frenchtown, you should first consider places like the National Hotel or Widow McCrea House as viable lodgings for a comfortable stay in Frenchtown.

Clinton

Approximately 12 miles away from Frenchtown, Clinton welcomes newcomers to a number of attractions adjacent to the South Branch of the Raritan River in the Raritan Valley. Between the wildlife areas worth seeing, such as the Spruce Run Reservoir, the Capoolong Wildlife Management Area, the Ken Lockwood Gorge Wildlife Management Area, and the Round Valley Recreation Area, you will be convinced of Clinton’s arboreal enchantments in addition to Clinton’s historic appeal.

After all, it was in Clinton that much of New Jersey’s water power and quarry mining operations were prolific, as best seen in the mining artifacts at the Red Mill Museum Village. You should also see the modern exhibits at the Hunterdon Art Museum to greatly appreciate New Jersey’s aesthetic nuance. Even though it is rather a secluded small town in New Jersey, Clinton is without a doubt one of the best destinations worth seeing in the state.

Ocean Grove

About five miles south of Spring Lake, you will find the rejuvenating town of Ocean Grove. Where well-preserved quaint Victorian houses can be toured and where one can admire both drama and Sunday worship at a massive wooden theater called the Great Auditorium, you can explore a spectrum of sights and sites in Ocean Grove. Stroll along Ocean Grove Beach and Boardwalk to get a better feel of the sand and the seawater of the Atlantic Ocean. Savor the small but rewarding area of Ocean Grove Park beside Fletcher Lake. Finally, sleep peacefully in warm accommodations like the Carriage House Bed & Breakfast, Laingdon Hotel, or the House by the Sea.

Montclair

Approximately 11 miles from the city of Newark, the bedroom community of Montclair is one of the best cultural and commercial hubs in New Jersey. The area for which Montclair is situated was once called Watchung ("high hills") and Yantacaw ("place of the wood boundary") by the Lenape people before English immigrants from Connecticut established Newark in 1666. When traveling through Montclair, one might happen upon a boulder at the corner of Claremont Avenue and Valley Road which marks the site of "Washington's Headquarters,” which is basically where George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette once met to discuss wartime topics in October of 1780.

Oddly enough, Montclair has Sister City relations with three different cities in Europe—there is Graz in Austria, Barnet in England, and Aquilonia in Italy, and as such Montclair has exchanged cultures, supplies, and people between these three ever since World War II. One can admire the works of landscape painter George Inness and sculptor Thomas Ball at the Montclair Art Museum. Meanwhile, the Crane House and Historic YWCA espouses the Crane family who first founded Montclair. As for lodgings, places like The MC Hotel, Autograph Collection, and The George are suitable locations for a brief yet memorable stay in Montclair.

Conclusion

So named after the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel, the state of New Jersey promises new journeys for locals and tourists alike. You will find a number of secluded towns in New Jersey that will pique anyone’s interests due to their historical significance and modern natural appeal. With Clinton’s scenic landscapes and recreational areas, Lambertville’s contributions to the American Revolution and its earned independence, and Madison’s rosy wonders, visitors to these secluded towns will have a hard time wanting to leave so soon. Be patient and persevering when breaking through the isolation these New Jersey small towns exude.