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This charming New Jersey town was just named the best arts + culture town in America — with world-class art galleries, 15 miles of riverfront trails, and a fairytale downtown

One of the best things about living in our favorite city is how easy it is to trade the skyscrapers for a completely different kind of scenery.

New York puts us within easy reach of charming towns, scenic trails, riverfront escapes and all sorts of adventures just beyond the five boroughs, and sometimes, the best getaway is the one that doesn’t require a flight, a packed itinerary or much advance planning at all.

And there’s one New Jersey destination that deserves a particularly big spot on your weekend-getaway radar right now. Frenchtown was just named the Best Arts + Culture Town in America by Travel + Leisure as part of its 2026 list of America’s Best Small Towns, putting this tiny Delaware River town on the national map for its outsized creative spirit. But spend even a little time here and it’s easy to see why.

Located in Hunterdon County, roughly halfway between NYC and Philadelphia, Frenchtown packs an impressive amount into its walkable little downtown. Think independent galleries and artist studios, charming shops, a beloved bookstore, creative restaurants and breweries, and miles of scenic riverfront trails, all wrapped up in a town where local art and community life effortlessly overlap.

America’s Best Arts + Culture Town Has World-class Art, a Walkable Downtown, and 15 Miles of Riverfront Trail

Frenchtown, New Jersey pairs world-class arts programming with charming streets, independent shops, and a community that prizes creativity over convention.

Ditch Summer Shore Crowds for These Restful Retreats

“Central Jersey’s western small towns border Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and offer a slower-paced alternative to the shore at just over an hour drive north: Colonial-era taverns transformed into charming inns, riverside dining, antique and art shops, tubing and paddle boarding, plus scenic winery, brewery, and farm trails. Our itinerary revolves around bike rides and hikes along the Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath with pit stops (or overnight stays) in Lambertville, Stockton, Frenchtown, and Flemington. Here’s our recommendations for how to experience a weekend exploring Hunterdon:

Make the Stockton Inn or Woolverton Inn (both in Stockton) your headquarters as both offer onsite restaurants and quick car rides to neighboring towns. Start the morning with pastries at Chez Alice (Lambertville) or brunch at D’Serve (Flemington) then spend the afternoon wine tasting at Beneduce Vineyards or Mount Salem Vineyards (both in Pittstown). Not to be missed are fireside chats and snacks at The Ciderhouse at Ironbound Farm (Asbury), browsing Church Street’s vintage shops (Lambertville), or exploring Black Shed’s unique mix of garden center, café, bar, food trucks, and live music (Stockton). For art, catch an exhibition or performance at ArtYard, browse Studio Route 29, or other independent galleries in Frenchtown. You could also fuel up for tubing or paddling on the river with a picnic of local cheeses from Fourchette Fromagerie (Clinton) and enjoy post-river craft beers at Wild Fern Brewing (Frenchtown) before settling into a BYOB dinner at de Floret (Lambertville).”

Living In Stockton, N.J.: A Friendly River Town

“There’s a small hotel / with a wishing well,” goes the refrain of a Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart tune recorded by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and others. Its inspiration was the Stockton Inn, built around 1710 and now home to a boutique inn and restaurant — its stone well intact on the terrace. It’s one of a number of businesses breathing new life into the small Delaware River borough of Stockton, N.J.

The 50 Best Restaurants in New Jersey

Everyone has a favorite neighborhood pub, sushi spot, pizza place—and the list goes on. That’s one reason our annual Top Restaurants list is a must-read for New Jerseyans.

Crafting the list is no simple task. Throughout the year, our editors and critics have checked out buzzy restaurant openings, revisited old favorites and tasted countless dishes and drinks—culminating in a meeting of the minds to whittle down our list.

In recent years, the list featured 30 restaurants. Last year, it grew to 40. This year, we’ve expanded to 50 spots, both to celebrate 50 years of New Jersey Monthly and to reflect the ever-growing dining scene in the Garden State. There are so many great places to eat—the only problem is deciding where to go.

What you’ll find below is a list of the 50 restaurants in New Jersey that our editors and critics feel are worthy of being on this selective annual list.

Each establishment features extraordinary food, service and ambience, and will present an unforgettable dining experience for any New Jerseyan who visits. Enjoy!

Light Beer Isn’t a Joke Anymore — and Science Shows Why

“Advancements in hops and yeast science are helping brewers create better, lighter beers, says Warren Wilson, chief of brewing operations at Readington Brewery & Hop Farm.”

“’New designer hops come out every year, making it easier to build flavors without calories,’ says Wilson. ‘Yeast is key too. Yeast are responsible for alcohol production, so we use a very hungry yeast that will munch on the sugar or wort and help create higher alcohol levels, with few calories.’”

“Selecting the wrong yeast and trying to ‘force’ a light beer creates off flavors, says Wilson.”

“’If you get a stressed yeast, you’ll get Band-Aid and other off notes,’ he says.”

“’The real science of replicating body and softness comes down to pH and water chemistry,’ says Bryan Fela, head brewer at New Jersey-based Sunken Silo Brew Works. ‘This is incredibly easy to overlook, but it is a massive contributor to the final product. This starts during the mash phase. A pH level that is just a few points too low or too high can easily lead to under-extraction, leaving you without enough fermentable sugar, or pull highly tannic, bitter flavors that completely ruin the style.’”

“Water chemistry can also completely change mouthfeel, says Fela, noting that gypsum and calcium chloride can change the mouthful.”

Skip the Hudson Valley. The Best Weekend Trip Right Now Is in New Jersey.

“New Jersey doesn’t exactly scream ‘weekend getaway’ unless you’re headed to the Shore — and anyone who’s sat in summer traffic outside the Holland Tunnel knows that escape comes at a price. But an hour west of the city, hugging the Delaware River, Stockton makes a compelling case for heading west instead of the Hudson Valley.”

“What surprised me most wasn’t the scenery: It’s that a corner of Hunterdon County has assembled the most stacked restaurant lineup in New Jersey. The surprise isn’t that there’s very good food here; it’s the number of excellent options. (As a native New Jerseyite, I regularly lament how New York pilfers our talent, in no small part due to handicapping liquor laws that demand restaurateurs shell out $500K or more compared to New York’s $5K for liquor licenses, but I digress.)”

“A big reason to plan a visit is the Stockton Inn, a 300-year-old landmark that spent nearly a decade in disrepair before local couple Steven Grabowski and Cheryl Olsten bought it in 2022. Working with Anthony Rudolf, whose résumé includes Per Se and Jean-Georges, they reopened the property in stages beginning in 2024. Bob Truitt leads the kitchen, whose resume spans El Bulli and Marea in the Michael White-era. After that, Truitt opened Mexico City-influenced Casa Pública in Brooklyn.”

“At the inn, there’s a tavern and a dining room anchored by the same menu that stretches from polished to casual fare. There’s also the boutique hotel as well as a standout Stockton Market two doors down. That market, owned by Dana Rae Ashburn, features Chadd Jenkins at the helm, who’s cooking daytime meals as well as monthly market dinners. Jenkins founded Philadelphia’s Little Fish before he sold it and headed to the area.”

“Another good meal awaits a few miles away in Sergeantsville, where former Momofuku Ko executive chef Sean Gray is turning out the kind of food I want to eat in a neighborhood tavern. Gray helped Ko earn two Michelin stars between 2009 and 2021; at the Sergeantsville Inn, that pedigree translates to a more relaxed format — oysters and deviled eggs alongside Griggstown chicken, scallops, and an $85 chef’s-choice menu.”

“I’ve now eaten in both the tavern and dining room at Stockton Inn, attended one of Jenkins’s monthly market dinners, and made the trip to Sergeantsville. Here’s how I’d spend a weekend.”

These New Jersey River Towns Are Packed With Americana Charm and Creative Energy—Just 1.5 Hours From NYC

The drive north along the Delaware River from Lambertville to Riegelsville is just over an hour. This idyllic stretch of western New Jersey is dotted with postcard-pretty towns that blend Americana charm with elevated local eats, funky cultural gems, and a refreshing lack of pretension. Set against a backdrop of rolling hills, bucolic farms, and a winding river that seems to slow time, the region invites you to breathe a little deeper.

Each town along the way—Lambertville, Stockton, Frenchtown, and Milford—has its own personality, from Lambertville’s art-forward sophistication to Milford’s low-key magic. But they all share a certain alchemy: a deep sense of history, an easy relationship with nature, and a thriving creative spirit that feels both timeless and very now.

I’ve been lucky enough to call Frenchtown home for over five years, and I’m still discovering gems tucked into these river towns. Whether it’s a new farm stand, a hidden hiking trail, or a pop-up jazz show, the region is endlessly surprising—and impossible not to fall in love with.

The Best Beers In The World—Winners Of The 2026 World Beer Cup

As is tradition, the Brewers Association ended its annual Craft Brewers Conference by announcing the winners of the World Beer Cup. The Brewers Association is a trade association representing America’s small and independent breweries. While it is based in the United States, the Brewers Association opens entries to the World Beer Cup to breweries from around the world. This year, breweries from 50 countries entered.

Category: 22: Experimental Beer – 93 Entries

Gold: Catharina Sour Caju Pytang – Caju & Pitanga, Cervejaria UNIKA, Florianópolis, Brazil

Silver: Karo Ya Maro, Terranaut Beer, Bend, OR

Bronze: House Red, Odd Bird Brewing, Stockton, NJ

These 7 Towns Are New Jersey’s Best-Kept Secret

New Jersey has long been a favorite destination for travelers, attracting over 123.7 million visitors. Even with all the attention it gets, there are several towns in the state, home to fewer than 10,000 residents, that offer an authentic New Jersey experience while still allowing you to enjoy all the sights. If countryside bed and breakfasts are your thing, you can settle in at Stockton’s Woolverton Inn or spend a seaside weekend at Ocean Grove’s Carriage House. And if eclectic antique markets sound even better, we also have that covered in Lambertville at the Golden Nugget Antique & Flea Market. If stops like these sound like a good fit for your vacation this year, you’ll surely appreciate these seven under-the-radar New Jersey towns.

Michelin-Starred Chef Sean Gray Brings Manhattan Edge to NJ’s Sergeantsville Inn

If you take an award-winning chef out of Manhattan and plunk him down in rural New Jersey, will the inventiveness used to survive in the city dwindle as the pressure to perform downshifts? If the chef in question is Sean Gray, the answer, blessedly, is no.

Gray, who took the reins at the Sergeantsville Inn in 2024, made his name at the now-closed Momofuku Ko in New York’s East Village, where he won a couple of Michelin stars. The versatility he showed there is fast turning the inn into an if-you-know-you-know kind of place.

If you know, for instance, that his spicy, quadruple-fried chicken helped secure those Michelins, you might not be surprised to see squads of regulars filing in at 4 pm, when he offers the exact same bronzed, exceptionally crusty drumsticks for $5 apiece.

And if you know they’re but one of several tantalizing snacks comprising the inn’s ridiculously cheap “blue plate special” menu, a concept Gray now offers during a two-hour daily window, you’ll have come prepared to delight in an atmosphere that intentionally blurs the line between simple and sophisticated.

The Sergeantsville Inn is achieving a tricky balancing act in the kitchen with Gray, who grew up a few miles away in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Since setting up shop in New Jersey, the chef says, he’s figured out his culinary M.O. “The restaurant can sort of wear whatever hat you want it to,” he says. “If you don’t want to come in for a massive dinner, but you want to pop in for a beer and a plate of nachos and see your neighbors, great.”

Hunterdon County heats up as summer draws to an end

With summer giving way to fall, head to Hunterdon County to enjoy a slate of activities and events that promise to please the entire family.

As the summer winds down and the weather cools, Hunterdon County is the perfect place to enjoy lively fall festivals, beautiful wineries serving Hunterdon’s savory vintages, fall foliage and bargain-filled back-to-school shopping options. There is also still time to enjoy the warmer weather with al fresco dining at the many restaurants in our storied downtowns.

To experience all the county has to offer, ride or bike along the 579 Trail, which extends from the rolling hills of Bethlehem Township to the picturesque Delaware River Valley.

Central Jersey Exists’ wines to celebrate new legislation to put Central Jersey on state tourism map

Central Jersey Exists and Old York Cellars has the wine to prove it.

To celebrate this long-awaited validation, Old York Cellars is partnering with Discover Central New Jersey, a collaborative agritourism initiative, in creating a special Central Jersey Exists wine collection. Designed to celebrate the landmark towns and beautiful scenery that makes the central region so remarkable, this eight custom label wine collection has something for everyone, including a Central Jersey Barn Red blend, and a Central Jersey River Blush Blend that honors the Delaware River and the D&R Canal.

Things To Do In Hunterdon County This Summer

Instead of the Jersey shore, family travelers should consider a visit to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, this summer, located about a 90-minute drive from both New York City and Philadelphia.

Hunterdon County boasts more than 120,000 acres of farmland. Enjoy an interactive farm experience during your visit. Snuggle and feed baby goats at Bubbly Goat or try goat yoga at Mad Lavender Farm. WoodsEdge Farm hosts Lunch with the Llamas this June. Pick your own fruit and flowers at farms including Bonacorsi Berry Farm, Philips Farms and Melick’s Town Farm

New Jersey Town Just Outside of Bucks County Considered State’s Most Up-and-Coming Area

Lambertville is connected to Bucks County by the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge, where locals and visitors can either drive or walk over the bridge into the town. Considered by many to be a sister town of New Hope, the New Jersey town has a lot of the small town flare and charm that the Bucks County town has. Rife with antique shops, inns, and fine dining establishments, this town has a lot packed into a little area. Divided by the Delaware River, Bucks County residents have easy access to another magical town that is a fun place to visit.

Read more about Lambertville at Lite 96.9.

Delaware Township, N.J.: A Farming Town With One Traffic Light

A commitment to preservation has kept this Hunterdon County township bucolic: “There’s no traffic, unless you get stuck behind a tractor.” Aside from a few historic villages and the adjacent residential neighborhoods, most of Delaware Township is farmland, rolling hills and woodlands. Through restrictive zoning, environmental protections and a dedicated open-space fund, close to 40 percent of the town’s land mass has been preserved..

2023 N.J. Destination of the Year Finalist Spotlight: Flemington

If you haven’t driven through Flemington lately, we don’t recommend that you do; because, well, Flemington is not a drive-through town. This historic Hunterdon County hamlet, just under a mile-and-a-half square, is as inviting as a swing on a painted porch — so you’re going to want to stay a while.And, like a cozy porch swing, Flemington’s momentum is sure and steady, always something new popping up, year upon year. A self-described crossroads for shopping, agriculture and the arts, Flemington is all of that and more. It’s latest distinction? Jersey’s Best 2023 Destination of the Year finalist. Here’s just some of what you’ll find in Flemington.

2023 N.J. Destination of the Year Finalist: Lambertville

If this were merely a beauty contest — which it isn’t — Lambertville just might have an unfair advantage over its competition for Jersey’s Best 2023 Destination of the Year. Ranked among the “Top 15 Prettiest Towns in America” according to Forbes magazine, there’s no debating Lambertville’s lovely looks. But looks alone can’t take this crown; we’re looking for substance. Take a look at what we found — it’s pretty substantial.

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