Trenton
Contents
- 1 Get in
- 1.1 By plane
- 1.2 By train
- 1.3 By car
- 2 Get around
- 2.1 By bus
- 2.2 By rail
- 2.3 By taxi
- 3 See
- 4 Do
- 5 Learn
- 6 Buy
- 7 Eat
- 8 Drink
- 9 Sleep
- 10 Stay Safe
- 11 Get out
Mill Hill Park during one of Trenton's famous Pork Roll festivals
Trenton is in Mercer County, and is the capital of New Jersey. The city's strategic location in between New York City and Philadelphia has historically contributed to its growth and significantly impacts local culture. Located on the Delaware River across from Pennsylvania, Trenton is the only capital city in the United States to border another state.
Get in[edit]
By plane[edit]
The nearest airport is Trenton Mercer Airport (IATA: TTN) in Ewing, NJ. Trenton Mercer Airport is commercially served exclusively by Frontier Airlines, connecting TTN to Atlanta, Chicago (Midway), Columbus (OH), Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Orlando, Raleigh/Durham, and Tampa non-stop year-round, and New Orleans non-stop seasonally. Other air options are to fly into major airports in Newark (IATA: EWR) or Philadelphia (IATA: PHL), both of which allow access to Trenton both by road and rail.From Newark, take the Northeast Corridor NJ Transit Line (it is cheaper than the Amtrak line) to Trenton.From Philadelphia, take the R1 SEPTA Airport Line to the R7 SEPTA Trenton Line.
The #608 bus connects the airport to the West Trenton SEPTA station, and the Trenton Transit Center, for a $1.60 fare. https://d2g63oyneaimm8.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/bus_schedules/T0608_2.pdf
If you wish to take a taxi, a trip to the West Trenton SEPTA station should be around $8 or so, and a taxi to the Trenton Transit Center should be about $35.
By train[edit]
Trenton is located along the Northeast Corridor rail line, accessible to most of the Northeast's major cities. Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and SEPTA all stop at the Trenton Amtrak Station (72 S. Clinton Avenue). If you are traveling from New York City or Philadelphia, taking NJ Transit or SEPTA respectively will be much cheaper than Amtrak. An alternate which is right in the vicinity is the West Trenton Station, where SEPTA's R3 terminates.
By car[edit]
U.S. Highway 1 is the only major highway the runs through the city; however, I-95 runs nearby and offers easy access to Trenton along US 1. NJ Route 129 connects US 1 in the city with the New Jersey Turnpike, I-295, and I-195.
Get around[edit]
By bus[edit]
New Jersey transit runs a number of bus lines through the city to the surrounding communities. See New Jersey Transit's website for more details.
By rail[edit]
Trenton is the southernmost stop on the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor Line, which regularly runs trains from NYC to to Trenton. Trenton is also northernmost end of the River Line light rail system, which serves communities along the Delaware River from Trenton to Camden, and the R7 SEPTA line, connecting Trenton and Philadelphia.
By taxi[edit]
Trenton also offers taxi services throughout the surrounding regions by companies such as Yellow Cab and United Cab Company.
See[edit]
The beautiful dome of the NJ State House on West State St.
- Arm & Hammer Park, One Thunder Rd, Trenton, NJ 08611, (609) 394-3300, Home of the Trenton Thunder, a Double-A minor league baseball team called the Trenton Thunder currently affiliated with the New York Yankees.
- Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 E Front St, Trenton, NJ 08605, (609) 392-0766, Gothic revival building that hosts the Passage Theatre Company, which produces an eclectic schedule of plays and other shows throughout the year.
- New Jersey State House, 125 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08608 (609) 633-2709, Tours M-F hourly from 10AM-3PM, 1st & 3rd Saturdays noon-3PM, closed on state holidays. Offers tours of the state legislature house, assembly, senate, and, when schedules permit, the governor's office. Walk-ins are fine and the tour is free. Reservations are required with a one month notice for groups of 10 or more.
- Old Barracks, 101 Barrack St, Trenton, NJ 08608 , (609) 396-1776, This is the place, where on Christmas Day, George Washington attacked Hessian troops during the Revolutionary War after crossing the Delaware River. The Old Barracks is on the US Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.
- Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Dr, Trenton, NJ 08608, (609) 984-8484. The War Memorial seats more than 1,800 people for music events, graduations, and plays.
- The Planetarium at New Jersey State Museum, 205 NJ-29, Trenton, NJ 08625, (609) 292-6333. This facility, which seats 150 people, has been a tradition for years. Thousands of school children and visitors travel to the planetarium located at the New Jersey State Museum each year to see laser shows and exhibits of the solar system. The planetarium's schedule changes often, depending on the season, so be sure to check their website.
- Roebling Wire Works, 675 South Clinton Ave Trenton NJ, To add your own event or check the event listings visit the website (http://hiddentrenton.com/locations/roebling-wire-works/) Historic large complex that houses special events throughout the year like the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market and Art All Night.
- Sun National Bank Center, 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton, NJ 08611, (888)-SBA-TIXX. The Sun National Bank Center, formerly known as Sovereign Bank Arena. This is a location for events of all kind. Such as graduations, sporting events, musical events, circuses, etc. It is a great place for families and people of all ages for a reasonable price. Being that Trenton is not an extremely large city, word of events happening there spreads pretty fast, and a lot of people come out to the things going on. The Sun Center is rather large and never gives a crowded feeling, no matter the event. Website
- William Trent House, 15 Market St, Trenton, NJ 08611 , (609) 989-3027, Open 12:30pm-4PM Weds. - Sun, closed on municipal holidays. This location is the home of William Trent, who is the namesake of the city.It is the oldest house in Trenton. It has been a residence for three Governors. It is common to visit the William Trent House for tours. A very interesting place to see, having its history and being around for as long as it has. There have not been very many architectural changes to the building so it still has its old and preserved look to it. Website
- Trenton Battle Monument , Trenton, NJ 08608 , (609) 448-1947 , A column-type structure, it commemorates the December 26, 1776 Battle of Trenton. (An historical win for the Continental forces during the American Revolutionary War. Located in an area of the city, commonly known as "Five Points". The Five Points was at the intersection of Warren (King) Street, North Broad (Queen) Street, Brunswick, Pennington and Princeton Avenues. This is where the American artillery was placed. The monument stands at 150 feet tall, and if you take the elevator to the top of it you can see the entire city in front of you.
Do[edit]
Capital City Book Fair in Mill Hill Park
- Artworks Trenton, Stockton Street between Front and Market Streets, Creative space hosting events, workshops and classes.
- Cadwalader Park, 299 Parkside Ave, 609 989-3632, Historic park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also developed Manhattan's Central Park. Every summer there are football, baseball, and basketball leagues where the city youth have something to be apart of and everyone is invited to come and watch for free. Trenton's City Museum at Ellarslie is located in the park.
- Capital Green a large public space right in front of the state capital; makes a nice place for photographs. On certain Saturday evenings in the summer, the Trenton Downtown Association hosts free concerts as part of the Levitt Pavilions AMP your city national series.
- Marine Terminal Park, south of Arm and Hammer Park, has a public boat ramp and offers a great place for fishing in the Delaware, especially with new renovations made to the surrounding land.
Special Events
- Capital City Book Fair Two-day event in the spring organized by Classic Books and the Trenton Downtown Association.
- Capital City Food Truck Battle, Events at Trenton Social and Rho Waterfront. Usually in September.
- Levitt AMP Trenton Concert Series, Saturday evening free summer concerts on the Capital Green. Lawn chairs & picnic blankets are a must.
- Patriots Week, This week, in between Christmas and New Year's Day, showcases the life and times of the the city's Revolutionary War-era history. 2015 schedule
- Pork Roll Festivals, Pork Roll originated in Trenton and has since become synonymous with New Jersey, as the state's "favorite breakfast." There are two festivals usually in May: the Pork Roll Festival in Mill Hill Park and the Trenton Pork Roll Festival at Trenton Social.
- Taste Trenton, A restaurant crawl through the Chambersburg section of Trenton in May.
- Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market, Takes place three times a year, with plenty of vendors and food trucks.
- Trenton Half Marathon Two-state race on the first Saturday in November.
- Jazz On The River Every August there two nights dedicated to a Jazz Festival. There is food, family, and good live music.
Learn[edit]
- The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)
- Thomas Edison State College
Buy[edit]
Although there is not much recreational shopping in the city of Trenton, the surrounding area is full of options. Just a few minutes up Route 1 is the Quaker Bridge Mall as well as several strip malls and shopping centers containing dozens of stores.
- Downtown Trenton , 16 E Hanover St, Trenton, NJ 08608 , A lot of the natives of Trenton spend a lot of time Downtown. There is a KicksUSA, City Blue, Bryer's Men's Shop, etc.
- Capitol Plaza Shopping Mall , 1500 N Olden Ave, Ewing Township, NJ 08638 , Another place for quick one stop shopping. With a footlocker, AJ Wright, Forman Mills, etc.
Eat[edit]
When people think of eating in Trenton, one special place that comes to mind is Chambersburg. This was once an Italian American area, but now there are countless new Mexican and Central American restaurants, along with some old staples. However, there are notable restaurants throughout the city; here are some of them:
- 1911 Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, 11 West Front Street,( 609) 695-1911, Website Downtown's spiciest addition.
- Amici Milano, 600 Chestnut Ave, (609) 396-6300, Website This is the last remnant of old Italian Chambersburg, like walking into a time machine.
- Blue Danube, Elm & Adeline Streets, 609-393-6133, Website Fine-dining, Central and Eastern European fare.
- Chencha y Chole Authentic Mexican Kitchen, 865 S Broad St, Trenton, NJ, (609) 394-7700, Review Casual Mexican restaurant with a renown Chicken Mole.
- Frankye's Restaurante Guatemalan Grill, 1500 S. Clinton Ave, (609) 777-5337, Review Specializes in meats and seafood.
- Hummingbird Restaurant, 29 S Warren St, (609) 278-9555, Facebook Page Downtown casual Jamaican.
- Jerry's Pizza and Grill, 701 S. Broad St, (609) 392-2944, Website Many of the famous Trenton tomato pie shops moved to the suburbs. Jerry's has kept the Trenton tradition alive.
- NJ Weedman's Joint, 322 East State Street, (609) 337-9973, Website No other place like this in the state.
- Restaurant El Mariachi, 762 Roebling Ave, (609) 393-0035, Review Best homemade salsa in Trenton.
- Rozmaryn Restaurant & Bistro, 925 N Olden Ave, (609) 656-1600, Website Trenton's Polish staple.
- Settimo Cielo, 17 East Front St, Trenton, NJ, (609) 656-8877, Website Downtown, Northern Italian cuisine. Closed weekends
- Thomasena's Restaurant, 241 E Front St, (609) 392-0675, Soul-food spot known for their "live lunch" music series. Website
- Abruzzi's Pizza , 1556 N Olden Ave, Ewing Township, NJ 08638, (609) 245-0181 [1]
Drink[edit]
- Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street, (609) 695-9612, Cozy bar known for jazz series on Saturday nights, and comedy shows every 3rd Sunday of the month.
- Championship Sports Bar & Grill, 931Chambers St, (609) 394-5502 Facebook Page
- Mill Hill Saloon, 300 S Broad St, (609) 989-1600, Historic downtown bar. The dive bar part is in the basement and sometimes features live music.
- Rho Waterfront, 50 Riverview Executive Plaza. 609-393-7300. Trenton's most renown place to party. George Clooney was even here in the 1990s. Website
- Tir Na Nog, 1324 Hamilton Ave. 609-392-2554 Website One of the most iconic Irish Pub's in the state.
- Trenton Social, 449 S Broad St, (609) 989-7777 Posh bar & lounge across from Sun National Bank Center. Website
Sleep[edit]
- Wyndham Garden Trenton, 1 W Lafayette St, +1 609 421-4000 Beautiful downtown hotel.
Stay Safe[edit]
Unfortunately, Trenton has a relatively high crime rate. The areas immediately north & east of Downtown have the highest crime rates. [2]
Get out[edit]
- A few miles north of Trenton is Princeton, home of the famed university.
- Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township (New Jersey)
- Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Rd, Langhorne, PA (take Route 1 S into PA and take Oxford Valley exit), +1 215 752-7070, Website. Great for families, a Sesame Street-themed amusement park featuring water rides and kid-friendly thrill rides. $53 a person, but discounts are regularly available.
If you are looking for a different experience close to the area, the Jersey Shore is perfect. Point Pleasant, Seaside, and Belmar all offer beaches and boardwalks within 45 minutes of the city via I-195.
Trains also provide a quick ride to both Philadelphia as well as New York City.
Routes through Trenton
| Philadelphia ← Bensalem ← | SWNE | → Princeton → New York City |
| New York City ← Hightstown via and ← | NS | → Bristol → Philadelphia |
| New York City ← West Windsor ← | NS | → Jct S → Langhorne → Philadelphia |
This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
