Belle Mead

Belle Mead is a city in Somerset County in New Jersey.

Understand
Belle Mead is a town in between Montgomery and Hillsborough Townships, New Jersey.

At one point the area belonged to Harligen (another town in Montgomery Township) but it was separated into its own identity in 1875. The area was first named Vanaken after the New York contractor who bought most of the farms in the area, split them up into roads,and tried to start a town. The town once revolved around a train station which closed in the 1940s, the structure still stands near Township Line Road and Route 206.

Today Belle Mead is a widespread community mostly consisting of residential areas, farmlands, parks, and shopping centers all sharing the zip code 08502. The area is still considered a farming region, with many of these farms being protected or preserved by Montgomery and Hillsborough Townships, however building and residential areas have been on the rise since the late 1990s. Despite the rise in building, Belle Mead still remains a small town with a cozy and inviting atmosphere

Get in
Between the townships, Route 206 runs through and will take you in and out of Belle Mead. Township Line Road runs through Belle Mead, separating Hillsborough from Montgomery. The area can also be accessed from route 601 which also goes through both townships.

Get around
The area is fairly large, making it difficult to get around by foot. A bicycle will work for traveling around residential and less populated roads. A car is the easiest and most ideal mode of transportation for getting around in residential areas and the always traveled main roads. There are no bus, train, or taxi services located in Belle Mead. Visitors seeking these services will find them in some of the neighboring towns.

See
The area has an abundance of recognized and protected historical places which are great for visiting. Most of the places date back to the American Revolution including homes, churches, bridges, and trails. The area contains two of the many historical districts in Montgomery Township, Bridgeport and River Road Historic Districts.

During the summer months and prior to July 4, towns and private communities in the area host firework shows which are very popular in the area. Montgomery and Hillsborough Townships host fireworks along with nearby Princeton Township. Private communities in Montgomery, Cherry Valley Country Club and Bedens Brooke Country Club also host shows open to the public.

The Montgomery Recreation Department holds special events for residents and the public during the summer months ranging from baseball games to presentations and everything in between.

Do
Much of the land in the area is still undeveloped making it a great place for a number of outdoor activities including fishing, biking, hiking, and kayaking.

A Fishing and Hunting License are required by the state of New Jersey for residents and visitors, they can be obtained online through the NJDEP or sporting goods store in any of the neighboring towns. A lot of fish species are native to the area. Popular species fished by local anglers include wild and stocked brown, brook, and rainbow trout, channel catfish, chain pickerel, small and large mouth bass, rock bass, common carp, and various sunfish.

During October many farms in the area host harvest festivals. Ranging from Pumpkin picking, cider tasting, hay rides, haunted houses, and corn mazes. Hillsboro Farm and Country Market, on Hillsborough Rd with access from Route 206 and Willow Road, hosts pumpkin picking, and corn mazes through October.

Drink
The once popular Woods Tavern was located in Belle Mead until it burned down in 1932, Horace Greeley gave a speech there during his 1872 campaign for President of the United States. Since the Woods tavern no other pubs/bars where built in the town. There are a number of bars in other parts of the two townships. The Rocky Hill Inn and the Tiger's Tale are located in Montgomery Township and are popular destinations for residents and travelers in the area. Located in Hillsborough Township is Petrock's Bar & Grille another popular destination with a connected liquor store and restaurant.

Sleep
There are no hotels or bed and breakfasts in the town. However there are hotels in Hillsborough Township and nearby Princeton.

Go next
Several tourist attractions/area are nearby, making the area a perfect place to travel to before adventuring on a day trip to a nearby location. Princeton, known for the Ivy league institution, Princeton University, is seven miles from the area.

New York City, Philadelphia, and the Jersey Shore are an hour and fifteen minutes from Belle Mead by car.