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Best things to do in Trenton

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Where in the world: USA  /  New Jersey  /  Trenton

Top 15 things to do in Trenton

1. Old Barracks Museum

The Old Barracks Museum, also known just as the Old Barracks, is a historic building located at 101 Barracks Street in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Built in 1758 to house soldiers of the British Army, it is the only remaining colonial barracks in the state and is one of the only tangible surviving elements of the 1776 Battle of Trenton. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 25, 1971 and listed as a National Historic Landmark on November 28, 1972, for its significance in military history. It is now a state-run historic site and museum.
Suggested duration: 1h 30 min
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2. Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton

A celebration of all things sculptural, Grounds For Sculpture, features a beautifully landscaped park and museum located on the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds. Founded in 1992 by John Seward Johnson II, the park contains over 270 large-scale contemporary sculptures by Johnson and other international artists. Most notable is the 7.9 m (26 ft) tall sculpture of Marilyn Monroe in her famous white billowing dress from the film "The Seven Year Itch.” Rat’s restaurant is well worth a visit, designed by Johnson to make customers feel as if they are dining in Claude Monet’s beloved town of Giverny.
Suggested duration: 2h 30 min
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4. Princeton University, Princeton

Established in 1746, Princeton University sits on a 200 ha (500 acre) campus and welcomes 8,000 students each year who learn about humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Take a guided tour of the campus to find out about its educational, cultural, recreational, and athletic aspects. Walk through the grounds and buildings to get a feel for the university's community and culture, and see what one of the wealthiest schools in the United States looks like. The main campus, with its gothic structures and 20th-century sculptures, has been named one of the country's most beautiful by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Suggested duration: 2 hours
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5. Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton

Part of one of the nation's most prestigious academic institutions, Princeton University Art Museum displays an array of works ranging from antique sculptures and mosaics to modern photography and contemporary pieces. Visit the free museum and explore its collection of more than 90,000 pieces of artwork laid out in a multitude of exhibits and themed sections. Wander the halls and admire ancient Greek bronze sculptures, Roman mosaics, medieval stained glass, paintings from Renaissance greats, Chinese calligraphy, and more. Afterward, swing by the gift shop to pick up a print or souvenir inspired by one of the museum's famous works. Be sure to check the museum website for information about its frequent temporary exhibits.
Suggested duration: 2 hours
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6. Sesame Place Philadelphia, Langhorne

Based on the beloved television show, Sesame Place Philadelphia brings Sesame Street to life through amusement park rides. Water attractions, shows, parades, and holiday events have added to the park’s fun since it opened in 1980. The 2014 addition to the park, Cookie Monster Land, features five imaginative rides, adventurous net climbing, and a soft play area for the park’s youngest guests. Of course, no visit to this park is complete without meeting your favorite Sesame Street characters.
Suggested duration: 8 hours
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7. Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson

Not only a popular amusement park but also a renowned concert venue, Six Flags Great Adventure contains eleven themed areas, three of them designed with small children in mind. In 2012, the complex combined its 65 hectares (160 acre) with a 140 hectare (350 acre) animal park, making this one of the largest amusement parks in the world. Choose from over 100 rides, shows, and special events, or go on an off-road safari adventure for a chance to see and feed a range of big and small exotic animals. To help find your way inside the enormous park, pick up a map at the front gate. Save money and avoid long lines by buying your tickets online.
Suggested duration: 2 hours
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8. New Jersey State House

The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232,225 (2020 figure). Each district has one senator and two members of the New Jersey General Assembly, the lower house of the legislature. Prior to the election in which they are chosen, senators must be a minimum of 30 years old and a resident of the state for four years to be eligible to serve in office.
From 1844 until 1965 (when the Reynolds v. Sims US Supreme Court decision mandated all state legislators be elected from districts of roughly equal population), each county was an electoral district electing one senator. Under the 1844 Constitution, the term of office was three years, which was changed to four years with the 1947 Constitution. Since 1968 the Senate has consisted of 40 senators, who are elected in a "2-4-4" cycle. Senators serve a two-year term at the beginning of each decade, with the rest of the decade divided into two four-year terms. The "2-4-4" cycle was put into place so that Senate elections can reflect the changes made to the district boundaries on the basis of the decennial United States Census. If the cycle were not put into place, then the boundaries would sometimes be four years out of date before being used for Senate elections. Rather, with the varied term, the boundaries are only two years out of date. Thus elections for Senate seats take place in years ending with a "1", "3", or "7" (i.e. next elections in 2023, 2027, and 2031).

Interim appointments are made to fill vacant legislative seats by the county committee or committees of the party of the vacating person (since a constitutional amendment passed on November 8, 1988). The office is on the ballot for the next general election, even if the other Senate seats are not up for election in that year (such as in years ending with a "5" or "9", such as 2009 or 2015). The sole exception to this is if the vacancy occurred within 51 days of the election, in which case the appointment stands until the following general election.
Suggested duration: 2 hours
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9. The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie

Galleries on three floors display permanent and changing exhibits of art, decorative arts and historical artifacts, causing visitors to return again and again.
Suggested duration: 2 hours
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10. Tyler State Park, Newtown

Tyler State Park is a day-use Pennsylvania state park on 1,711 acres (692 ha) in Newtown and Northampton Townships, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the United States.
Park roads, trails, and facilities are nestled within the original farm and woodland setting. Neshaminy Creek meanders through the park (no swimming), north to south. Tyler State Park is home to many different species of birds thank to the diversity of habitats, including mature forests and maintained grassland. The creek is home to water snakes, turtles, eels, and panfishes. The quieter sections of the park are home to foxes, deer, beavers, racoons, rabbits, and coyotes.

Tyler State Park contains a 36-hole disc golf course, a community theater, an art center, several picnic areas, a children's playground, and many miles of hiking and walking trails. One of the main attractions in the park is the Schofield Ford Covered Bridge, originally built in 1874. The bridge burned down due to arson on October 7, 1991, but was rebuilt with raised funds and reopened on September 7, 1997.
Suggested duration: 2 hours
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11. Artworks Trenton

Suggested duration: 2 hours
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12. Duke Farms, Hillsborough

Duke Farms is an estate that was established by James Buchanan Duke, an American entrepreneur who founded Duke Power and the American Tobacco Company. Located in Hillsborough, New Jersey, the property is managed by the Doris Duke Foundation after the death of Doris Duke, James B. Duke's daughter and the second owner. After extensive reorganization, "Duke Farms" was opened to the public on May 19, 2012.
Suggested duration: 2h 30 min
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13. New Jersey State Museum

Soar through the skies in the Museum's spacious Planetarium, featuring precision projection of more than 6000 stars. The largest planetarium in New Jersey, it seats 140 visitors in specially-designed reclining seats that transport an audience to any astronomical destination. Now featuring state-of-the-art Full Dome Video, visitors will feel the sensation of zooming through the Solar System and beyond. This cutting-edge digital technology immerses audiences within images covering the entire 360 degree inner dome. The Planetarium offers something for everyone; with both traditional sky and laser programs, it is the only planetarium of its kind in New Jersey. Made possible by the New Jersey State Museum Foundation through the generous support of the Prudential Foundation.
Suggested duration: 2 hours
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14. World War II Memorial

Suggested duration: 2 hours
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