Our area is wonderfully rich in attractions that are less well known, but nonetheless great places to visit.
495 U.S. Route 202, Flemington, NJ 08822 (map it)
Calling all model train lovers. You have to visit Northlandz in Flemington (NJ), the world’s largest model train railroad. Northlandz features up to 100 trains that travel on more than 8 miles of track. There are 40-foot bridges spanning huge canyons, as well as cities and villages with thousands of buildings. For a change of pace, you can also visit the Northlandz Doll Museum with more than 200 dolls and a 94-room dollhouse . Visit website >
80 Stangl Road, Flemington, NJ 08822 (map it)
For those who like bigger trains, take a ride on the Black River & Western Railroad offering round trip train rides between Flemington and Ringoes NJ, plus special excursions, such as Santa Claus and Easter Bunny trains. The summer round-trip rides are 75 minutes through scenic countryside, with a helpful and informative crew to make the excursion a real pleasure. Cost is very reasonable. Trains can be boarded at the Ringoes or Flemington (Liberty Village) stations. Visit website >
1661 Harding Boulevard , Norristown, PA 19401 (map it)
Come join the thousands of families, students, community groups and animal lovers flocking to the Elwood Park Zoo for its animal exhibits, educational programs, spacious playground, and special events all year round. The zoo is the perfect size for little ones. It has about 300 animals indigenous to the Americas, including jaguars, bald eagles, howler monkeys, bighorn sheep, and timber wolves. Visit website >
70 Wooden’s Lane, Lambertville, NJ (map it)
The Howell Living History Farm is a time machine that takes you back to the year 1900 when horses and buggies traveled the lanes of Pleasant Valley, New Jersey. You can experience what it was like to be a farmer then…If it is time to harvest corn, you can ride up into a field in a horse drawn wagon,help us shock and pick corn, and return to the barnyard to help shell it, grind it, and bake it into cornbread. You can help plant, cultivate, and harvest crops, to care for animals, sweep the barn, and make soap, butter, and ice cream. Visit website >
1201 Pawlings Road, Audubon, PA 19403 (map it)
Where do birds, art, hiking trails, and natural history intersect? The answer - at Mill Grove, the first American home of renowned artist, author, and naturalist John James Audubon. This 175-acre estate is a haven for birds and wildlife, with more than 7miles of trails and stunning views of Perkiomen Creek. The stone farmhouse, built in 1762, contains a museum displaying original Audubon prints, oil paintings and memorabilia . Visit website >
