Frenchtown, NJ, is the ideal place to live if you’re looking for a new hometown that offers plenty to do. Located on the banks of the Delaware River, the former mill town is home to a bustling shopping and dining district and hosts a variety of community events throughout the year. Wondering what you can do in Frenchtown? Here are just a few suggestions.
Downtown shopping areas have disappeared in many areas, replaced by suburban malls and shopping centers that offer virtually identical stores no matter where you go. Luckily, Frenchtown still has a thriving downtown area that draws local residents and visitors alike.
You’ll find an assortment of galleries, shops and boutiques, many housed in buildings that once served as homes to the borough’s earliest residents. Businesses like the Modern Love, Sublime, or The Book Garden are the perfect places to find unique home decorations, buy your favorite author’s latest novel, or find a one-of-a-kind birthday gift.
There’s no shortage of places to dine in Frenchtown, whether you want to pick up a quick meal or are planning a special night out. The Frenchtown Café is a popular spot for lunch, as is the Bridge Café, Frenchtown Fresh and Napoli’s Pizza. For more upscale dining, The National Hotel Bar and Restaurant offers tempting entrees created by the area’s premier chefs. The National is reopening soon, so be sure to give it a quick Google before you go!
At just 1.3 square miles in size, Frenchtown may be small, but it certainly doesn’t neglect the recreational needs of its residents. In fact, you won’t have to walk far to find a park. The Old Frenchtown Field, Frenchtown Boro Park, Sunbeam Lenape Park and Trenton Avenue Park offer baseball and soccer fields, hiking trails, playgrounds, picnic tables, fishing and charcoal grills. The 29.9-mile-long D&R Canal State Park Trail (towpath) begins in Frenchtown and ends in Trenton and is a popular place to get out and go for a walk all year long.
During the summer months, Frenchtown residents enjoy spending time fishing, running, strolling or bird watching along the Delaware River. Several local companies offer river excursions in the area, including the Delaware River Tubing company. In addition to tubing, rafts, canoes and kayaks are also available for rent. Trips take about three to four hours.
Frenchtown has its own library, located on 2nd Street. If you have small children, you’ll want to stop by the library for storytime, held on the first and third Mondays of the month at 10 a.m. The library also hosts an adult book group that meets at 2 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.
Do you enjoy gardening? As a participant in the Frenchtown Community Garden, you can grow your own produce and share gardening tips with your neighbors.
Several popular events draw thousands of visitors to Frenchtown every year. The Bastille Day Celebration in July honors the borough’s French roots with live music, food, shows, raffles, a race and special sales in borough stores. Marie Antoinette has even been known to stop by the Celebration.
In early September, Frenchtown holds Riverfest, a celebration of the end of summer that features music, food, activities and paper boat races. In late October, the undead take over the town during the annual Zombie Crawl and Scavenger Hunt.
Many towns offer visits from Santa Claus around the holidays, but Frenchtown offers a twist on the usual experience. Instead of arriving by sleigh or fire truck, Santa leaves his reindeer behind at the North Pole and paddles down the Delaware River in a festively decorated canoe.
Are you interested in moving to Frenchtown but haven’t found the perfect house or apartment? Country Classics at Frenchtown offers 19 single-family attached homes and 92 luxury apartments in the borough. Leam more about floor plans and availability on our website.