Flemington
Charming Victorians, Unlucky Lindy, rustic farmsteads, and outlet shopping. How’s that for diversity?
by Ashley V. Neglia

1 Walkabout: Along Main Street, Victorian homes illuminated with holiday lights add charm to winter. Embrace old-world living with modern amenities at Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast (194 Main St, 908-782-4928), a 1901 manor house featuring period antiques and linens.

2 (Pre-O.J.) Trial of the Century: The nation zeroed in on Flemington in 1935 as the Lindbergh baby murder trial unfolded at the Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse (75 Main St, 908-782-2610). Call for courtroom and jail tours.

3 Scribes Slept Here: Head across the street to the Union Hotel (76 Main St, 908-788-7474), now a restaurant and banquet hall. Yellowed press passes hang in the foyer, a nod to journalists who covered the 46-day trial.

4 Redux: Twice Told Tales and Moonstone Mystery Bookstore (12-14 Bloomfield Ave, 908-788-9094) carry 35,000 new and used books. Perfect for your favorite bookworm.

5 Hey Neigh-bor: A Dutch stone farmhouse built in 1790 and three barns still stand on Dvoor Farm (Rt 12 Circle), first owned by William Penn. A horse-and-cattle-trading center since the 1800s, the farm exemplifies Flemington’s agricultural spirit.

6 Bargain Hunt: With more than 50 stores, including J. Crew and Michael Kors, Liberty Village Premium Outlets (1 Church St, 908-782-8550) makes for one-stop shopping.

7 Pretty Plates: Formerly the home of Stangl Pottery, renowned in the 1940s for hand-painted dinnerware, the Pfaltzgraff Outlet (50 Mine St, 908-782-2918) offers enough [settings] in its 17,000-square-foot facility to make your head spin.

8 Nosh: Boylan’s Root Beer nicely complements a dirty-water hot dog with cooked onions from Buddy’s Grab ‘n Go (22 Main St, 908-788-2777). Freshly baked cinnamon-sugar doughnuts at the Dutch Farmer’s Market (19 Commerce St, 908-806-8476) are worth a short drive across Route 202.

Good Eats: Follow the fork and knife embedded in the sidewalk in front of Matt’s Red Rooster (22 Bloomfield Ave, 908-788-7050). Located in a restored red-and-white Victorian with a wide front porch, the restaurant combines a casual feel with upscale comfort food. Stop for lunch at the Shaker Café (31 Main St, 908-782-6610), an eclectic eatery decked out with a chair in the shape of an open hand, hanging beads, and paper-lanterns lights.

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