With a plethora of parks, historic farms, and gorgeous nature preserves, Somerset County is where you can find a sweet spot to make your family happy. Whether it’s admiring orchid gardens and renting bikes to explore Duke Farms, hanging with animals in the barnyard and honey production at Abma’s Farm, or trying out a Civil War-era handpumper at the Somerville Fire Museum, there’s plenty for all ages and interests. Scroll down for our top kid-friendly things to do in Somerset County. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
Things To Do In Somerset County With The Kids
Abma’s Farm: Market, Greenhouse, and Petting Zoo
Got kids who love animals? Visit with the goats, sheep, alpacas, donkeys, cows, pigs, peacocks, emus, ducks, as well as the ‘Nursery Barn’ and ‘Rabbitat’ at Abma’s Hillside location. You can also learn hands-on about farm life at the Education Barn, including crop growing, animal husbandry, egg laying, flower pollination, bees and raw honey production, and more. In the fall, the farm goes all out with hayrides, pumpkin picking, and a corn maze.
282 Amwell Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Bridgewater Commons
With over 150 stores and restaurants, including Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Apple Store, Macy’s, and Bloomingdale’s, this is a classic NJ mall where you can shop and make a pit stop for lunch or dinner. Kids can find plenty to eat in the food court, or if you’d like to sit down, stop by The Cheesecake Factory for their hearty salads. Or, better yet, have dinner served at your seat while watching a movie at the AMC Dine-In Theatre.
400 Commons Way, Bridgewater Township, NJ 08807
Colonial Park
In Franklin Township, this 685-acre park is near the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Millstone River. Experience its recreation facilities, horticultural displays, and even Spooky Brook Golf Course, an 18-hole championship golf course. Walk, jog, or bike on their 1.4-mile fitness paracourse, and visit their three ponds stocked each year by the NJ State Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife. Or visit their splash park, putting course, and paddle boats.
156 Mettlers Road, Somerset, NJ 08873
Duke Farms
Spend a peaceful afternoon at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, home to over 1,000 acres of gorgeous land. Walk or bike through the paths and stop by the Orchid Range for tropical and subtropical species. Take advantage of their bike rental program, see the tiered waterfalls, grab a bite in their farm-to-table cafe, and go geocaching (a treasure hunt using GPS on your phone) with the fam.
1112 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum
During the winter of 1778-79, this house served as the headquarters of General Henry Knox, and it’s the only surviving building associated with the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment, America’s first military academy. A National and New Jersey historic site, the Vanderveer House interprets 18th-century Dutch-Colonial life through the Vanderveer and Knox families and underscores the Pluckemin Cantonment’s role in helping the Continental Army defeat the British during the American Revolution.
River Road Park, 3055 River Road, Bedminster, NJ 07921
John Long Spray Park and Michael Lepp Spray Park
These splash parks are free and open to the public, with their numerous buckets and other spray elements. They are open from June 1 to mid-September.
John Long: 85 Mercer Street; Michael Lepp: 22 Park Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876
Kidstreet Playground
This playground is a part of Slattery Park, named after William Slattery, a politician and coal merchant. With a bunch of wooden climbing structures, a two-story pirate ship, and a zip line, there’s a lot of equipment that appeals to all ages.
700 Garretson Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Leonard J Buck Garden
This garden features one of the premier rock gardens in the eastern United States and consists of a series of alpine and woodland gardens situated in a 33-acre wooded stream valley. The garden features rare and exotic rock garden plants, wooded trails, and ferns. Visit in May and early June to see the azaleas and rhododendrons.
11 Layton Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931
Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden
This charming one-acre rose garden is home to more than 3,000 roses across 345 labeled varieties. Take a stroll through the garden, where you’ll find popular modern hybrid roses, species roses, and heirloom “Old Garden roses” (types grown before 1867). From late spring through fall, the roses really come alive, and peak bloom is celebrated in early June with the annual Rose Day Festival.
156 Mettlers Road, Somerset, NJ 08873
Snyder’s Farm
Heading to Snyder’s Farm in Somerset is a treat for the whole family—what’s better than a seasonal farm with U-pick berries, festive events, and plenty of fresh flowers, honey, and jam to buy? Gather your crew to pick and spend the day at the farm, playing lawn games and exploring on a wagon ride. In fall, take a hayride, shoot corn cannons, and enjoy pumpkin and sunflower picking during their fall festival.
586 S. Middlebush Road, Somerset, NJ 08873
Somerville
Challenge your kids to Frogger at Yestercades, with its arcade video games; let your kiddos run and climb at the KidStreet Playground near Somerville; or get wet at Michael Lepp Park. When it’s time to refuel, head down Main Street to stop at the Village Brewing Company for locally sourced classic American cuisine like burgers, seared fish tacos, and craft brews. Afterward, stroll along the pedestrian area and sink your teeth into homemade goodies like cupcakes, cake, and more from the Blue Sheep Bake Shop.
Somerville Fire Department Museum
The Somerville Fire Museum, built in 1888, transports you back in time as soon as you step inside. Originally, the museum housed only a hand-pulled hose reel and a horse-drawn hose wagon. A few years later, it added the first motorized fire pumper. With two floors of exhibits and artifacts, including a pre-Civil War hand pumper, equipment, hoses, ladders, helmets, and uniforms, be sure to set aside ample time to take in the building’s rich history. Want to feel like you were there during the 1800s? Let your little ones operate the hand pumper and a restored alarm box system.
85 North Gaston Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876
Sourland Mountain Preserve
The 6,300-acre Sourland Mountain Preserve is one of those places to visit in Somerset County with an undisturbed natural setting and is an ideal spot to hike, mountain bike, bird watch, and go horseback riding. The Preserve occupies a portion of the northeast “point” of the Sourland Region, which stretches southwest across Hillsborough and Montgomery Townships through southern Hunterdon and northern Mercer counties to the Delaware River.
421 East Mountain Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
Discover the fascinating history and remarkable contributions of the founding African American families in the Sourland region of Central New Jersey. The museum honors and celebrates the ingenuity, brilliance, resilience, and indomitable spirit of the African American community, from the days of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade to today. Enjoy a private tour, join fun scavenger hunts, explore collection items hands-on, and take a scenic guided walk through the Heritage Garden.
189 Hollow Road, Skillman, NJ 08558
TD Bank Ballpark
The Somerset Patriots, a minor league team with a pipeline to the Yankees, call this stadium home. Make sure to go during one of their promotional games, including ones with a post-game firework show, a baseball-themed bingo game, and various giveaways. There are even a handful of “Kids Run The Bases” events, where kiddos (and their families) can run the bases after the game and meet Somerset Patriots’ mascot, Sparkee, the schnauzer.
1 Patriots Park, Bridgewater Township, NJ 08807
The Mahan Collection Foundation Inc
If you have a little truck lover, this is the place in Somerset County to visit. This foundation collects, restores, and maintains one of the largest Antique Truck collections in the world. See over 200 trucks ranging from the early 1900’s to the 1990s. It’s an ideal place to learn about American Trucking History. They offer semi-private tours, private tours, and also host birthday parties.
53 Cross Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
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