Ok, so we say this every season, but we really mean it this time! Did you know that the BEST season to visit the Princeton area is Springtime? The blooms are blooming and everyone is in such a good mood because Winter is finally over!
Here are our TOP FIVE reasons to visit Central New Jersey in early Spring:
Punk Rock Flea Market
Named "One of the Best Flea Markets in America" by Huffington Post, the legendary Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market embraces a life-long love of "punk rock and the arts, tattoos, copious amounts of coffee, the occasional Gin and Tonic, a well-timed beer and a solid, well-styled quiff."
Screening of "The Price of Silence" at Princeton Garden Theatre
The film offers an overview of the state’s history of enslaved people and shares the poignant family stories of its earliest freed slaves. Also explored is the Lost Souls Project, which is working to remember and identify African-Americans who were forcibly removed from New Jersey, the lasting impact of slavery in the state.
Princeton University Eating Clubs Tour
Join author Clifford Zink on a walking tour outside Princeton University’s majestic eating clubs. Learn about the architecture, origins, and development of the sixteen Classical and Gothic-style clubhouses, which date from 1895 to 1928.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band at McCarter Theater
New Orleans comes to McCarter Theater in the form of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The world renowned band has held the torch of New Orleans music aloft for more than 50 years, all the while carrying it enthusiastically forward as a reminder that the history they were founded to preserve is a vibrantly living history.
Princeton PorchFest
Porchfest is a walkable music festival where neighbors offer up their front porches as DIY concert venues. Talented local performers play rotating sets throughout the neighborhood during this day-long celebration of music, art, and our wonderful community. Stroll from porch to porch to enjoy live, local talent!
And, if that is not enough, you can also check out Holland Ridge Farms Tulip fields, Grounds for Sculpture, and Biking the D&R Canal or LHT.
The Princeton Area has so much to offer during Spring. Take advantage of our EARLY SPRING DEAL (Book one night and receive 50% off the second night for stays from today until the end of April) and plan your getaway now. Give us a call at 609.497.1737 or CLICK HERE to visit us online!
Spring Break: Eggs Benedict "Gone Wild"
It all started with Eggs Glencairn: Poached eggs, arugula, and crispy prosciutto atop a croissant, drizzled with Hollandaise sauce.
That version of Eggs Benedict (pictured here) placed in the top 10 for B&B breakfasts!
As Spring approaches, Lydia is excited to shake things up again with a few of her latest versions of this classic breakfast dish.
Here are five that she has lined up to try this Spring. Call ahead if you are interested in trying one and I am sure she will work it into the schedule!
Italian Eggs Benedict: Poached eggs, grilled bell peppers, fresh spinach, fried Pancetta over a Polenta slice, topped with Marinara sauce.
Greek Eggs Benedict: Poached eggs, chopped fresh onion and pepper, Feta cheese, lamb sausage over a toasted pita, topped with Tzatziki sauce.
Eggs Bollywood: Poached eggs, fried Paneer cheese, cooked spinach over toasted Naan, topped with Tikka Masala hollandaise.
California Eggs Benedict: Poached eggs, goat cheese, asparagus over toasted Sourdough bread, topped with avocado hollandaise.
PacNW Benedict: Poached eggs, cream cheese with chives and onions, salmon over Dave's Killer Bread, topped with Hollandaise sauce.
Summer Activities in Princeton!
Summer is upon us here in Princeton! If you have plans to visit Princeton this summer, here are some activities you might consider making time for in your schedule.
Music and Entertainment:
Palmer Square in Princeton has activities all summer long with dueling pianos entertainment, free movies, and discounted shopping experiences.
Mercer County Park has Festivals that have become a MUST DO while here on the weekends with amazing performances including Earth Wind & Fire Tribute band, Epic Soul, Kombo Latino, Morris Day, Rock Night, Soul Night, movie nights, Funk Salsa Urban, Best of the Eagles and more!
Princeton Shopping Center has music on Thursday nights in their large green space with restaurants and shopping so you can enjoy free music with dinner in an outdoor setting.
Lawrenceville Main Street offers free music outdoor in their Weeden Park Thursdays through August 18 starting at 6 PM. with local restaurants close by.
Wine-centric activities:
Hopewell Valley Vineyards has music and food every Friday and Saturday nights from 6-9 PM and Sunday afternoon from 3-6 PM.
Crossing Vineyard has music and food every Friday night at 7 PM rain or shine; Sunday picnics July 17 and grill and chill July 24; Thursday night wine, cheese, and charcuterie August 4 and September 15; Wine and bundt cakes Thursday August 11. Crossing Vineyard offers wine classes, sangria Sundays, cocktail camp, yoga and mimosas, tarot card reading, and wine pairing with chocolate.
Wine on the Waterfront at Washington Crossing Historic Park is Saturday, July 30th 3-7 PM.
Sip and Savor has small plates and locally grown wines Sundays, August 7 and 14 12-5 PM. sponsored by the Bucks County Wine Trail and Visit Bucks County.
These are just a sampling of the fun you can have (mostly for free) while you’re here. Give Lydia a call or email for details and date-specific activities that might interest you. And, while you are staying with us, you can always check out our three-ring binder full of activities in the Parlor!
Summer History Tour
After 20+ years of owning a property that dates back to the early 1700s, I tend to overlook and take for granted the rich history that surrounds us here in Mercer County. The fact that the Revolutionary War was fought literally in our front and back yard is mind blowing and often forgotten. Not only that, but according to a pretty well-documented account, the structure that is now the Inn was commandeered by the Hessians as a hospital during the Revolutionary War. And, legend has it, there was a young Lord Ralston who was bayoneted on the property by an angry mob when accused of "wenching" a local girl. That legend is less well-documented, and we had a guest historian poke many holes in the account, but we still like to share the story because it makes for good small talk and it’s pretty spicy!
Every once in a while, I consult google to see if any historians (who are far more knowledgeable about these things than I) have documented new evidence that George Washington actually took a break, had a snack, consulted a colonel or perhaps relieved himself in our front yard so many years ago. Thus far we have no solid evidence that George had indeed been on the property, but recently I was surprised to see that a few local historians have been busy during the pandemic unearthing and researching many local sites. Some of these sources have been around for a number of years, and a couple are brand new!
Check out these websites for a bevy of maps, tours, and information that should not be missed when visiting the area:
History buff or not, taking in some of these local sites is well worth a visit. And, better yet, spend a night or two at the Inn while you do it. What better way to connect with the past than staying the night at an Inn that dates back to 1736. And you can tell your friends that George "might" have slept here as well!
Inn at Glencairn recognized in TripAdvisor Hall of Fame!
We are so thrilled to be recognized in the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame for receiving the Certificate of Excellence award for five continuous years from 2015 to 2019. We strive to give each guest a wonderful visit, and we take our reviews seriously! Thank you to the nearly 400 guests who took the time to sit down and give us feedback on their stay. Luckily, we hit the mark more often than not with 98% of our reviews in the Excellent to Good category! Kudos to our past Innkeepers who have laid the groundwork and to our current Innkeeper, Lydia, who has elevated our breakfasts and customer outreach to an exciting new level. Looking forward to another great year at the Inn at Glencairn!
Lawrence Hopewell Trail, Lawrence & Hopewell Township, Mercer County
The Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) is a bicycle and pedestrian recreational trail and transportation corridor through public and private lands in Lawrence and Hopewell Townships, Mercer County, New Jersey encompassing 20+ miles. The LHT was conceived nearly 15 years ago by employees of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Lawrenceville campus in 2001 and then quickly embraced by staff from Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Take a walk or ride your bike along the trail and you will discover the following highlights:
Mercer County Equestrian Center
Princeton via Brearley House to D&R Canal
Looking for a little more adventure? Spend an afternoon geocaching along the trail. In geocaching, players try to locate the containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online. There are more than 50 geocaching sites in Hopewell alone. And there are more than a dozen along or proximate to the Lawrence Hopewell Trail. To see where they are, follow the link below:
http://www.geocaching.com/map/default.aspx?lat=40.40918&lng=-74.78599#?ll=40.3313,-74.73158&z=13
Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation
The Historic Hunt House
197 Blackwell Rd.
Pennington, NJ 08534
609-734-5254
www.lhtrail.org
Happy cycling!