The Best Things in Life are Free: Mercer County, NJ Edition!

They say the best things in life are free, so we set out to find some unique complimentary tours and outings offered in the Mercer County, NJ area! This handful of ideas are all within an easy 20 minute-or-less drive from the Inn. Some require planning, so be sure to check the links for additional details!

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is a US Department of Energy national laboratory for plasma physics and nuclear fusion science. It is known for the development of the stellarator and tokamak designs. Public tours are offered the fourth Friday of most months at 11am. You MUST provide visitor information at least nine days in advance to comply with the site protection clearance process. 

WJHCS Heritage Tour: Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society (WJHCS) has placed nearly 30 Heritage Tour plaques in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood. Since the early 19th century, African American residents of Princeton occupied this segregated district as a proud, self-sufficient and self-sustaining community. The self-guided Heritage Tour marks historic sites with memorial plaques in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood and surrounding area.

Image courtesy of Princeton University Art Museum.

Princeton University Art Museum Outdoor Walking Tours: Princeton University is home to one of the most significant collections of twentieth- and twenty-first-century public sculpture in the country. Join a guided walking tour of the campus collections with an Art Museum guide and discover a variety of artworks by modern and contemporary sculptors, from Henry Moore to Maya Lin. Learn about materials and techniques and explore elements of design and balance.

Night Skies at Washington Crossing Simpson Observatory: Experience a tour of the night sky with the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton on Friday evenings from April to October. Check ahead for current status and parking directions as this is a weather dependent event. And remember no white lights!

Amazon Warehouse: Ever wondered what happens when you shop on Amazon? You can now tour an actual Amazon warehouse and see how people and technology work together to provide Amazon deliveries on a daily basis. If your preferred date is not available, check back mid-month when Amazon releases new tour availability!

Trenton Walks! Trenton Walks! is the name of a new program that features walks throughout Trenton between June and October 2024. Sponsored by the Trenton Green Team, with the support of the Mercer County Action Team, the community engagement program features walks in and around the capital city of New Jersey.

Drumthwacket: Serving as the stately home and grounds of the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey, Drumthwacket is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the most elegant executive residences in our country. Tour the historic residence and learn about the collection of 18th and 19th-century furniture, paintings, and objets d’art.  

Discover Central New Jersey this Summer!

Our Friends at Discover Central NJ have done a fabulous job bragging about the richness of our surrounding areas including some great ideas for day trips from New York City and Philadelphia. Read on!

New Jersey is home to the historic Delaware & Raritan Canal that is 70 miles long and follows V-shaped route that carried goods and produce between Pennsylvania and New York City. Today, the D&R Canal offers walking, biking, and paddling in a state park popular with locals. Throughout the area you can also find some fabulous, world-class wineries, distilleries, breweries, and farms - an easy 60- to 90-minute trip from New York or Philadelphia.

Central Jersey boasts a location that is midway between two of our largest cities has been a key pre-Revolutionary War asset. An officer fighting in the American Revolution in 1781 described the area as the “Garden of America,” a reputation that eventually inspired New Jersey’s “Garden State” nickname.

Central Jersey Craft Beer Scene

In 2022, the fast growing reputation of Central Jersey craft beer attracted a Canal Region visit from beer connoisseur Jimmy Carbone, who recorded a Beer Sessions podcast from Carriage Farm, home to Flounder Brewing and Bellemara Distillery.  They talked about the Somerset County Sip & See Trail that also features a cidery, another brewery, and a Brew Pub in trendy Downtown Somerville.

Additional breweries worth a visit include Descendant’s Brewing and restaurant in the quaint Delaware River town of Milford, where they’ve been brewing beer since Prohibition Days, and at Old Hights Brewing in Hightstown, where a group of friends have created a community gathering place.

Central Jersey Wine & Spirits

The reputation of New Jersey for winemaking has been rising since the 2012 “Judgement of Princeton,” when several New Jersey wines were judged comparable to fine French wines. One Central Jersey wine, from Unionville Vineyards, came in second among ten white wines. Unionville and neighboring Old York Cellars are in Ringoes, on the northern side of the Sourland Mountain, where visitors are treated to stunning sunsets. Many wineries host local talent on Summer evenings: Check out the performance schedule at award-winning Hopewell Valley Vineyards.

The Sourland Mountain conservation area is the largest forest in Central Jersey and the pure water of its aquifer may just be the most important ingredient in the gin, vodka, and whiskeys produced by Sourland Mountain Spirits, located on a farm in Hopewell, NJ. While you are there, be sure to visit the nearby Brick Farm Market and Tavern, for lunch or dinner.

Central Jersey Farms

Families will especially enjoy Central Jersey’s farms, where you can visit farm animals such as goats, alpacas, cows, pigs, sheep, and more. You’ll also find on-farm stores to pack up your trunk with Jersey Fresh produce, baked goods, sauces, and jams.  You can find it all Terhune Orchards, including farm-made wines.  The pick-your-own berry season begins with strawberries in late May!

Your visit to Central Jersey should also include a visit to one of its historic downtowns for shopping and a meal. Princeton is one of the best known towns in Central Jersey, home to the famous Princeton University, as well as a vibrant shopping district, and a dynamic farm-to-table restaurant scene.

Another historic downtown worth visiting is Flemington, made famous by the Lindbergh baby “trail of the century.” Lone Eagle Brewing in Flemington has become a popular community hub, with high-quality brews and a variety of special events.

Stay Overnight!

There’s so much to do in Central Jersey’s Canal Region, that you really should stay overnight. Overnight accommodations are widely available, whether you are on a budget or looking for a bit of luxury. In the Princeton area, consider the Inn at Glencairn if you are looking for a cozy historic inn.

For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com.  This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

Inn at Glencairn #3 in CN Traveler Readers' Choice Awards for Mid-Atlantic Region!

We are so excited to be a recipient of the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Award! Being ranked in the top 10 for properties in the Mid-Atlantic is such an honor. We are beyond grateful to our past and present guests who recognized us by voting.

Lydia, our amazing Innkeeper, and our housekeeping crew deserve the accolades. They are constantly striving to improve the guest experience and have been so resilient and dedicated over the past few years.  So, a big thank you to our guests and to our staff. We are beyond grateful to receive this award for the last three years!

Check out the list of winners for the mid-Atlantic below.

1. Sagamore Pendry Baltimore

2. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh

3. Inn at Glencairn

4. Asbury Ocean Club

5. The Ivy Hotel

6. The Reeds at Shelter Haven

7. The Asbury Hotel

8. The Rittenhouse

9. Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia

10. Hotel du Pont

Puzzles, puzzles, and more puzzles!

You may have noticed Lydia's penchant for puzzles during your last visit to the Inn.  She is an admitted puzzle "addict" and was fully immersed into the craze during the pandemic!  Her favorite spot to piece them together was the dining room table. During the slow days of the pandemic this was ideal until the random guest would show up!

After a few too many interruptions from the brave, infrequent guest and a need for the dining room table, Lydia finally treated herself to a really cool puzzle board (holding up to 1000 pieces and large enough for a 21" x 27" puzzle) that now sits in the Office.  Guests of all ages give her a hand on these puzzles while they visit, and she completes each one.

Flash forward to today: Lydia now has about 40 puzzles that she has completed and we are running out of shelf space at the Inn. 

PLEASE help us!!!!! 

Bring Lydia a new puzzle (that you have completed) and feel free to take one (or two) home from our office shelf. Forgot your puzzle, that's OK, just remember one the next time you visit. And, if you are a serious puzzle fanatic (or know one), Lydia is happy to share information on her puzzle board!  

The Slow Tourism Movement at the Inn at Glencairn

The pandemic has forced us to reevaluate our priorities. We were all forced to take a moment (maybe a year or two) of introspection and take stock of our existence. Some of us enjoyed having an excuse to work from home, or spend nightly dinners with our children and spouses, or put the brakes on our hectic lives. Travel and hospitality has followed suit. Travelers are wanting each and every experience to count because, you never know when you might be in lock down again. Guests are looking for an enriching experience, not just a mediocre bed and a run of the mill hotel to pass through. The buzzword is "slow tourism." Remember the slow food movement? Welcome to the slow tourism movement.

We at the Inn have been practicing slow tourism since we opened back in 2004. Walking through our doors transports guests back to a simpler time. As soon as you step in you realize this is not a cookie cutter hotel. Not everyone comes to us with their eyes wide open. Our favorite guests are the ones who walk through the door and have a skeptical look on their face. Maybe they were there because a spouse made the reservation, maybe a well-meaning travel agent assumed we were the Ritz because of our high ratings on TripAdvisor and Expedia, maybe a relative purchased a gift certificate as a gift. Not everyone walks in expecting a B&B in an 18th century farmhouse.

We recently had a guest who was "put up" at the Inn while giving a talk at a local institution. She was somewhat taken aback by the skeleton key. We know because she posted about it on facebook! What followed in the comments are priceless, ranging from, "18th century dungeon door key" to "do they require payment in schillings" to (my personal favorite) "is Narnia on the other side?" Well, on the other side was a well appointed four poster bed with a fluffy down comforter and silky softs sheets, a comfortable sitting area overlooking our back gardens, and a modern spotless bathroom with fluffy towels and handmade soaps. After one night, we had a convert and perhaps our biggest fan to date. She posted about the fabulous homemade breakfast featuring eggs benedict over baked prosciutto and arugula served with fresh jams, granola and a chocolate truffle along with a grapefruit dish that was so good "I wanted to cry!" When she left, she had a bagful of homemade granola and jams and our homemade laundry detergent.

When you walk into the Inn, you might be taken aback that it does not look like a hotel, it might have a few bumps and bruises because it is nearly 300 years old. We work tirelessly to keep everything maintained impeccably and our recent renovation brought the structure into the 21st century, but at its heart, the Inn is quite simply "an old farmhouse" and we celebrate it as such. So, make a reservation and come see what "slow tourism" is all about. You will not be disappointed.

Inn at Glencairn Laundry Soap

We have heard many times that people LOVE the feel and smell of our linens. Lydia makes our laundry soap in house and shares our recipe with anyone who asks. Now you can purchase a container and enjoy it at home! And, when you are ready for more, here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (3 lbs 7 oz)

• 1 box Baking soda (4 lbs)

• 1 box Borax (4 lbs 12 oz)

• 4 bars Fels Naptha (20 oz)

• 1 box OxyClean (7 lbs)

Directions:

• Grate the Fels Naptha.

• Mix all ingredients into a large container.

• When you use it, you may only need 2 Tablespoons per normal load.

(We do not add any fragrances to our detergent.)

Not Your Grandmother's Bed and Breakfast

I had the recent experience of visiting a college campus with my teen daughter. We stayed in a bed and breakfast near the campus. Sound familiar? The campus visit was a success, the B&B not so much.

After we checked in and looked around, my daughter said, “Is this what you’re implying when you say your B&B is “not your grandmother’s bed and breakfast?” Maybe the stuffed peacock in the corner, or the extensive collection of glass figurines gave her that idea.

Listen, there’s a B&B out there for everybody, and some people LOVE the stuffed peacocks and glass figurines, but when we opened our doors, we wanted to be different. The best compliment we can receive, is, “We hate B&Bs but we LOVE your place!”

The Hunt Room

Our decor is eclectic. The antiques we do have are mostly sideboards, end tables, and accent pieces. Our artwork is a mix of modern and traditional. Any surface you sit on is new. Don’t worry about encountering a wobbly 100-year old chair or a creaky bed and springy mattress. OK, full disclosure, our floors are random width pine, and crooked, and you can see through the cracks. But, we call that character!

You will never see doilies, stuffed animals, dingy wall to wall carpeting, or drab wallpaper at the Inn at Glencairn. You will see comfortable rooms that complement the era of the building and enhance the ambience. And, rest assured, our electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems are all up to date and working properly! Sure, they didn’t have central air conditioning in the 18th century or flat screen TVs, but wouldn’t it have been nice if they did?!

So, when you book at the Inn at Glencairn. Keep in mind, this is “not your grandmother’s bed and breakfast” and enjoy your stay!

Inn at Glencairn nominated for CN Traveler Readers Choice Award!

We are so excited to be nominated again this year for the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards! We placed seventh last year for the Mid-Atlantic Region and are so appreciative of the honor. It has been a challenging year to say the least, and to be nominated for this prestigious award among these top hotels and resorts means the world to us.

We would be thrilled to place again this year. To vote, just go to: https://www.cntraveler.com/rca/vote and search for the Inn at Glencairn under Hotels & Resorts. (You will be asked to sign up for a newsletter but you can always unsubscribe.) And, take a moment to recognize your other favorites. Chances are they had a rough year too and could benefit from a little positive recognition! Thanks for your support!

"Best Quiche Ever"

When your Chef and Innkeeper says she just made the best quiche ever, you take note, especially when guests tell you that they nearly proposed to her after having her scrambled eggs! Travel is still slow these days, but Lydia continues to try new recipes and perfect old ones. Here is her latest. Or as she calls it “one of the best quiches ever … really!”

Sausage and Spinach Quiche:

8 ounces of your favorite ground sausage

4 ounces of cream cheese

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

5 eggs

1 1/4 cup heavy cream

Handful of spinach

Directions: Brown the ground sausage. Add cream cheese and mix so sausage is covered. Remove from heat and pour into pie plate. Add a little water to the pan used for sausage and wilt the handful of spinach. Layer the wilted spinach on top of the sausage mixture. Cover with shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Blend the eggs with the heavy cream and pour over the mixture in the pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let the quiche rest for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

History of the Inn: Harry the Trapper

Ever wonder where we got the inspiration for naming our rooms? We dug into the archives of the nearly 300 years of Glencairn history and paid tribute to a few of its interesting inhabitants. The Baldwin Suite is named for perhaps the most fascinating character of Glencairn, Harry Baldwin, or more affectionately known as Harry the Trapper.

Harry lived in the Stone Wing of the house around the turn of the nineteenth century and was employed as a farmer on the property. The farm at that time ran up past Carter Road and onto the property now owned by Bristol Myers. Harry tended to the cows, chopped wood, and became known around the area as a first class trapper. He earned a fair amount of income from trapping animals and selling their fur. Children would bring their trapped muskrats, raccoons, and skunks to Harry, and Harry would skin them for 25 cents and sell them to a local buyer. Given his rough and tumble ways, Harry always smelled a little of skunk and had a habit of spitting tobacco wherever he pleased! Yet, despite his crude ways, Harry was also honest to a fault and known as a kind person.

The Great Room Fireplace

Years later, after we converted the farmhouse into the Inn at Glencairn, we were fortunate to strike up a friendship with a descendant of Harry, our dear friend Audrey. She loved Halloween, and made an annual pilgrimage to the Inn to stay in the Baldwin Suite hoping for a “visit” from her dear, departed relative. Harry never showed up, but we always enjoyed our visits with Audrey!

So, next time you walk into the stone side of the Inn and up to the Baldwin Suite, close your eyes and imagine a time when Harry was living there enjoying a good book by the fire or sharing some stories with the children who brought him their hides!

Central New Jersey DOES Exist!

Recently, we found ourselves sitting in a meeting of local businesses with the goal of highlighting agritourism in Central New Jersey.  We walked away even more in love with this special region we call home.  Years back, when we were city dwellers, we would make day trips to Central New Jersey along with other more popular areas upstate.  Time and again, we returned to this area and eventually put down roots here.  During the past 20 years, we have seen remarkable changes: The restaurant scene has exploded, thanks to the farm-to-table movement, the art scene has grown, and yet, the countryside remains largely untouched and the charming towns retain their small town appeal. (Spoiler: This is not the New Jersey of malls and exits.)

When we first opened the Inn at Glencairn, our guests were coming to the Princeton area for a reason.  They were visiting schools, traveling for business, or simply coming to see relatives.  Our favorite review came from someone who said, “if you can make my mother happy, you are a miracle!”  We clearly filled a need for people looking to avoid the cookie cutter hotels dotting the major highways, but most our guests were just passing through.

Now, we are starting to see more and more guests who are visiting the area as a destination.  Finally, people are beginning to see what we fell in love with 20 years ago.  Central New Jersey does exist and it has a lot to offer.  Guests can easily spend several days visiting the local farms, romantic vineyards, craft breweries and distilleries, and fascinating historic sites. The Garden State is alive and well in Central New Jersey!

Did you know:

• Central New Jersey is where the War of American Independence was saved, thanks to George Washington’s daring decision in 1776 to cross the Delaware River to win battles at Trenton and Princeton.

• Central New Jersey provided the nation’s first Capitol building, as the Continental Congress met at Nassau Hall, now the most famous ivy-draped building on the campus of Princeton University.

• Central New Jersey was the first “breadbasket” of America’s greatest city, New York, producing corn and wheat, tomatoes, and other crops critical to feeding the “Big Apple.”

• Central New Jersey is home to the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park, one of the most stunning historic and recreation assets you’ll find anywhere—though we’ve sort of kept it a secret. The canal was once vital to bringing the bounty of the Garden State to New York. Today, it is a highly accessible recreation area for New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia.

These are just a few reasons to come for a visit.  The bit above is “borrowed” from the Discover Central New Jersey website.  Take a moment to visit their website and start to plan your next retreat from the city.  Be sure to make the Inn at Glencairn your home base as you explore the area.  You cannot get more authentic than staying in an 18th century farmhouse that was overtaken by Hessians during the Revolutionary War.  And, while we cannot say for certain that George Washington ever stepped foot on the property, we are pretty sure he marched past on his way to Princeton!