If you’re planning a trip to Trenton, New Jersey, for your next vacation and look for the best things to do in Trenton, then brace yourself for some pleasant surprises. Fun fact; did you know Trenton was once the capital city of the United States? Well, maybe you do. But now as the New Jersey capital city, Trenton encapsulates a diverse mix of cultures, laid-back thrills, and educational experiences that you need to experience firsthand to really appreciate. From excursions to the gold-domed New Jersey Statehouse to watching the Trenton Thunder baseball team, this dynamic location offers an irresistible and extensive spectrum of engagements that just about anyone can appreciate.
That’s not all, Trenton boasts an extraordinary line-up of hidden treasures that will certainly pique your interest. So, if you’re still undecided about the things to do during your upcoming vacation, join ViewCation on this journey as we discuss some of those engaging activities you don’t want to miss in the best things to do in Trenton, New Jersey.
Cadwalader Park
If nature is your thrill, then you should not miss out on the oldest green park in Trenton. Seated gracefully on a 100-acre green space, Cadwalader park encapsulates several enticing walking trails for your enjoyment, including a trail that courses alongside the Raritan Canal and Delaware River. Your little ones will also love the deer paddock and the playground, making it a perfect spot for some family time. There’s also a picnic pavilion for you with tables and tasty grills. Cadwalader park additionally incorporates diverse points of historical interest, such as the Ellarslie Museum and several memorials for the Civil war.
New Jersey Statehouse
The moment you set your feet in Trenton, you’ll know you’re in for a memorable experience. But a day trip to the New Jersey statehouse will validate this feeling even more. With a history that dates back to about three centuries ago, the New Jersey statehouse is still one of the few functional and the second oldest capitols in the United States. Over time, it has lived through countless renovations, with the most prominent being in 1999 when its dome was overlaid with 48000 gold leaf pieces.
In addition, there is a painted ceiling room, where you can appreciate the dashing and elegant artistic presentation of New Jersey history, highlighting the ups and downs in its timeline. If this sounds exciting to you, be sure to call ahead to make a reservation for the best tour experience.
Trenton Lower Bridge
Trenton Lower Bridge spans the Delaware River to serve as a link between Morrisville and Trenton. Natives also call it the Trenton Makes Bridge as it features large lettering reading “Trenton Makes, the World Takes”, on its side. Your trip to Trenton is incomplete without visiting the two-lane truss bridge at Night. The professionally blended steel and iron fixtures give a particularly scenic and relaxing feel at this time, with the lettering illuminated and arranged gracefully amidst enchanting neon lights. Merely observing its magnificence and the Delaware river complementing it is enough to make your travel experience fulfilling.
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Trenton Thunder Ballpark
If you’re looking for something to raise your spirits? The boisterous and energetic crowd at a Trenton Thunder’s home game will get that job done in no time! Trenton, NJ is home to a huge population of baseball fans who are always ready to support their minor league baseball team. With affiliations to New York Yankees, Trenton Thunder boasts over 10 million fans with records of winning three minor-league trophies – so you know you’re in for some intense entertainment.
But best of all, there are discounts for game tickets bought in advance. When you buy a group table in one of the private boxes, you can also enjoy a full-featured buffet while enjoying the game with astounding vistas abounding everywhere. The season runs from April to September, so be sure to plan your vacation for this period.
New Jersey State Museum
This is the perfect activity for every aspiring virtuoso, aesthete, and history buff. This museum dates back to the mid-1890s. It is a location committed to preserving history, science, and art with exhibitions that span across an expansive range of topics, objects, prehistoric beasts and specimens, cultural artifacts from the 1600s till today, and boundless pieces of captivating artworks. Visitors are always welcome to appreciate these exhibitions solo. But for a much more fulfilling experience, you can go on a guided tour. In addition, there are a lot of activities you can engage in, including a 140-seater planetarium to enjoy on school holidays and weekends.
Old Barracks Museum
Are you still up for some historical tours? Then head over to the Old Barracks Museum. This museum is another example of the colorful history Trenton boasts, and it is the last of its kind within the state. It was originally created to accommodate British soldiers in war. But over the years, it has lived through various evolutions and served various purposes. Today, it serves as a venue to educate tourists and history buffs about life in the 18th century and the histories of Trenton in this era.
You will also find original stone inscriptions of ancient soldiers on either side, realistic expressions of the medieval epoch and colonialism, as well as reenactments of battles. In a nutshell, the old barracks museum doubles as the best place to appreciate the vibrant artistic expressions and reflect on history.
Sun National Bank Center
Only a few attractions will please tourists more than the Sun National Bank Center does. This is Trenton’s biggest and the most famous arena for almost every game, event, or shows you can imagine. The arena has previously hosted sold-out shows of many celebrities, including Carrie Underwood, Cher, and Bruce Springsteen. But that’s not all. The music center doubles as the home to basketball tournaments, hockey games, and international superstars including the Harlem Globetrotters.
Sun National Bank Center was opened over a decade ago and contained three seating levels – including the upper luxury floor and the general admission level. In addition to this, the arena boasts 7 concession stands, two sumptuous grill restaurants, and multiple bars. Basically, with the Sun National Bank Center, you can never experience a dull moment in Trenton.
William Trent House Museum
Does learning about history pump you up? Then you can never go wrong with visiting the oldest house in Trenton – the William Trent house museum. It is the home to the founder of Trenton, William Trent, and is made of brick and mortar with a history that dates back to 1719. Situated on the banks of Delaware, this museum embodies a history of life and love and was the residence of almost every New Jersey governor from 1742. In fact, the US Congress recently recognized it as a landmark as a way to preserve it’s uniqueness and cultural significance.
The museum is filled with exhibits that cover several facets of the 1700s, including gardening techniques, popular plants, and more. There are also picnic grounds to have some family time. The regular touring time spans between Wednesdays through Sundays for roughly 4 hours daily. If you’re lucky, your trip may coincide with live music and food events.
Grounds For Sculpture
Artists will find this location particularly appealing. Situated at the heart of Trenton, Grounds for sculpture spans over forty acres and features over 250 sculptures. The grounds are surrounded by outstanding vistas with a carefully carved landscape of continuously changing beautiful sculptures scattered all around. Also, you will find the influence of both seasoned and budding artists heavily apparent in the location, such as the works of Clement Meadmore and Kiki Smith, among others.
Visitors can take pleasure in the absorbing moonlight tours across the location as well as enjoy the opportunity of participating in sculpture classes. It also has a perfect spot to host almost every kind of personal event, from weddings to bar mitzvahs.
Trenton Battle Monument
The Trenton Battle monument is a column-styled memorial situated just around Trenton’s 5-point Neighborhood. Here, you’ll find a monument with an awe-inspiring statue created to celebrate the first Trenton Battle in the 1770s. Not only does it signify a major historical success, but it also doubles as a way to pump up the morale of the soldiers who were engaged in the battle for independence.
It used to have an elevator to take visitors up to the top of the monument. But even though the elevator has been out of service for some time, there are benches right at the monument’s base where you can relax, get some time for yourself and your family, and also enjoy the views.
So, that concludes our list of the best things to do in Trenton, NJ. Now, we’d love to hear from you. What attraction featured in this video did you find most interesting? Did we skip any of your favorite thing to do in Trenton, NJ? Let us know in the comments. And before you go, be sure to give this video a like and subscribe to ViewCation if you haven’t already. Also, hit the notification bell to be regularly updated on our latest content.