Sunday Drive: Frenchtown, NJ

New Jersey, along the Delaware River has surely captured a part of my heart. Many of my Sunday drives lead back to Hunterdon County, where life seems to be slower and the history richer.

On this particular Sunday we traveled I78 Westbound to Frenchtown,  a small borough right on the banks of the Delaware.We entered town from Route 12 at the bend of Race and Bridge Streets and we were quickly greeted with the lovely colorful shops below.

Like many of the towns in this area of the state, antiques and interior design shops line the main street

As you continue down Bridge Street you come to the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown bridge that leads to Uhlerstown, PA

You can drive or walk the bridge to cross the Delaware River

The bridge viewed from the south east

Back on Bridge Street, there are buildings that date back to the 1800's

Restaurants for every palate

Galleries

And shops that offer unique items

Not to mention the town Cycle Corner....

I just couldn't resist this tandem bike!

I started reviewing and editing this batch of photos Saturday night after seeing Eat Pray Love with my daughter. I've been wanting to see this movie for a few weeks now, just having the need to see a chic flick and try to find some deviation from the daily routine. We both enjoyed the movie finding some messages and solutions to life's little dilemmas. I found it quite ironic to discover Elizabeth Gilbert comes from Frenchtown... it's a very small world we live in!

Sunday Drive: Sergeantsville Revisited

A few weeks back we took another Sunday drive out west towards the Delaware River, this time we got back to Sergeantsville and the covered bridge

The country road leading from the covered bridge into town was lush with summer growth, quite a different view from our March visit!

Lower Creek Road runs along side theWickecheoke Creek, which was rather dry this warm Sunday afternoon.

We ventured up Lower Creek Road where we found a wonderful little farm

Western New Jersey offers views and experiences that are far from what one finds in the eastern counties. More open space and lives up to the "Garden State" name.

Clinton in Spring

I've fallen in love with Clinton NJ... one of the beautiful, quaint towns that gives one a better view of the "Garden State" than the dismal NJ Turnpike could ever do. Hidden along the Raritan River, way out west past the Watchung Mountains is a gem I've been enamored with since my first visit last November.

Last week I had the great pleasure of introducing my brother to Clinton. He was quite impressed with the lovely little town in the NJ Skylands!

Across from the Red Mill on the east bank of the South Branch of the Raritan River, this stone mill now is home to the Hunterdon Museum of Art.

After taking a few shots we strolled Main Street and enjoyed lunch in a little coffee house right on Main Street. Tree-lined Main Street is home to many shops keeping the Victorian shops in order

With many shops maintaining the welcoming touches of potted plants adorning their store fronts

Spring in Clinton is as beautiful as Autumn and Winter, I'd recommend a drive to anyone in the vicinity for a relaxing, enjoyable afternoon!

Stockton, NJ

Located along the Delaware River, Stockton is a small borough of approximately 560 residents as of the 2000 census.

The borough was incorporated in 1898. This is a very charming town with one of it's main attractions being the Centre Bridge-Stockton Bridge connecting Stockton to Solebury, PA. You can click on each photo to enlarge.


The view from the bridge, the Delaware looking south


Approximately a quarter mile east of the bridge is the D&R Canal path, a path we've been along several times over the last couple of months.


The Stockton Inn, supposedly immortalized by the Rogers and Hart song "There's a Small Hotel" from 1936 Broadway musical "On Your Toes" .


Along Bridge Street there are just a few little shops. This shop caught my eye, especially the horse painting.


This was a short and relaxing Sunday jaunt, we'll probably make another trip to Stockton to catch the last covered bridge in NJ which is in Sergeantsville and Prallsville Mills.

Autumn In Clinton - Part 2

Sunday Drive Explorers

Here is a continuation of our Sunday in Clinton, we'll have take a time trip back a few weeks

Decorating for the season was early and thorough, from the harvesting signs of the autumn corn

to the displays of gourds and mums in the shops around town.

As we walked along Center Street there were views of the river, clearly showing us Mother Nature's decorating skills!

Providing an opportunity to reflect on the beauty we should be grateful to have.

Homes on the river attempt to guard their precious access to nature


Their place for relaxation, contemplation


Or cherished conversation


But there you find a small local business with the hospitality to share their abundance, and assist with decorating the scene for visitors



In the town that brings one back to a time when life was slower, and Nature was more cherished, when even power came from the river.



Until next time ~ Live, Love, Laugh!

Autumn in Clinton, NJ

Sunday Drive Explorers

The exploring continues in Clinton NJ. We had a great day in this little town located in Hunterdon County and on the Raritan River.

I absolutely adored this basket setup in the window of the town framing center.

Clinton is known for the Red Mill, a source of area development and commerce in the 1800's. Learn more about The Red Mill Museum Village.

The South Branch of the Raritan River begins it's flow at Budd Lake and ultimately empties into Raritan Bay just south of Staten Island in Perth Amboy. I posted some summer shot of Raritan Bay here.

The river in Clinton provides a relaxing and reflective view of life in the area, this scene seemed to long for the not too distant past that was summer.

New Jersey's western countryside is a beautiful treasure deserving of the title "Garden State", far from the smoke stacks and factories that are viewable from I-95. Full of beauty and history these towns are worth the trip!

I'll be posting a few more pictures later, but here is a sneak peak of what's coming up!

Until next time ~ Live, Love, Laugh!

Sunday Drive

Steve and I have been taking little Sunday trips over the last month. And of course I made of point of having my camera with me every step of the way. Seems to me the month of October just went flying by! Our first Sunday drive was to Lambertville.

Lambertville Station has been converted into a restaurant, a complete 19th century restoration has made this a must see stop for visitors to the town.

Canal-side dining is also available, enjoy the calming sights and sounds of the D & R Canal.

This was our very first trip to this quaint and historic town located on the Delaware River. Formerly known as Coryell, George Washington's troops crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania from here. There is a brief and interesting history of Lambertville provided by the Lambertville Historical Society.

The town saw a resurgence of popularity during the 1970's - 1980's when many artists were drawn to the town.

Today the town is full of quaint little antique shops, proud of their location and decorating to keep up appearences.

Shops with antique bicycles and building clocks

Shops that offer the best of the confections

Or maybe just a glimpse of the owner's own treasures

A place where one can clearly see modes of transporation from bygone eras

Waterways

Rails

and Automobiles

A truly enlighting autumn day in the Garden State! More photos can be seen in my Flickr Lambertville Set.

Until next time ~ Live, Love, Laugh!

Happy Halloween!

Until next time - Live, Love, Laugh