Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Hackettstown, NJ

  • Published 2022/09/20

Hackettstown is located in New Jersey’s Warren County, perfectly situated along the banks of the Musconetcong River.

It’s also home to Centenary University and Mars Chocolate North America.

The town was incorporated in 1853.

Its name came from Samuel Hackett, the earliest and largest landowner in the region.

The Morris canal serves as a border of this town’s northwestern side, while the Musconetcong guards its southeastern portion.

This family-friendly town also offers some of the most exciting destinations that you could ask for.

Here are the best things to do in Hackettstown, New Jersey:

Go Fishing at Stephens State Park

A river at Stephens State Park

Fourpenguins, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Stephens State Park is located on Willow Grove Street, in the northern part of Hackettstown.

It is near Basking Ridge, Budd Lake, and Denville.

This 805-acre park is also close to the Musconetcong River, giving a fresh and different touch to the mostly foresty area.

Due to Stephens State Park’s proximity to the waters, fishing enthusiasts usually flock here.

The rocky pathway to the Musconetcong River also has shaded areas perfect for picnicking or just sitting while admiring the view.

You and your loved ones can also camp at the park.

Tents, small trailer sites with fire rings, and well-maintained toilets are available.

Boat rides are also allowed in Musconetcong River.

You are highly advised to wear a floatation device; only electric and gas motor boats are allowed.

If you’re not in the mood to camp inside Stephens State Park, several accommodations are readily available in the nearby areas.

Pick Your Own Produce at Donaldson Farms

Donaldson Farms is a 500-acre produce farm located on Allen Road.

This farm offers freshly picked fruits and vegetables.

Meat, raw honey, dairy products, baked goods, and more are available here.

Most of the produce sold at Donaldson Farms is grown within the farm, while other products are sourced from other local farms and producers.

Aside from buying, you can also personally pick your produce at Donaldson Farms.

Raspberries, blackberries, apples, and pumpkins can be picked straight from the farm, depending on the season.

Music events during summer and horse-drawn wagon rides during winter can also be enjoyed at Donaldson Farms.

Enjoy Quiet Time at Hackettstown Riverfront Park

Hackettstown Riverfront Park is a popular hiking spot in the town.

Located on Seber Road, it’s a combination of pathways of Riverfront Park and SandBar Park.

Its 2.7-kilometer loop trail will let you enjoy some peaceful time with yourself.

Hackettstown Riverfront Park is the perfect spot if you want to quickly recharge and destress from the everyday chaos of city life.

It only takes an average of 32 minutes to roam around the park.

Other activities you can do here are running and dog walking.

Wheelchairs and strollers might find reaching the steeper sections a bit challenging, so assistance or supervision is advised.

Benches are placed in some areas of Hackettstown Riverfront Park, so you can rest once you get tired from hiking or walking.

Have a Drink at Czig Meister Brewing Company

Czig Meister Brewing Company is located on Valentine Street.

The shop’s building was built in 1900 and used to be a carriage house when Hackettstown was just starting its horse-drawn carriage industry.

This craft brewery offers an outdoor biergarten where you and your friends can have a drink and hang out.

All the furniture inside Czig Meister Brewing Company was designed and built by hand.

Its tasting room bar top is made out of 150-year-old reclaimed barn wood.

You will surely have a great time at Czig Meister Brewing Company for its beautifully crafted drinks and relaxing atmosphere.

Appreciate Art at the Hackettstown Center for the Arts

This arts center is home to New Jersey’s finest and most amazing arts.

Hackettstown Center for the Arts is a non-profit cultural venue that serves as a venue for concerts, poetry reading, film festivals, recitals, plays, and art and photography shows.

A piano competition is also hosted at the Hackettstown Center for the Arts.

It is located inside The Strand Theater on Main Street.

The Hackettstown Center for the Arts ensures you’ll enjoy watching a play inside their hall with state-of-the-art stage lighting, an HD projector, dimmable lights, and others.

Play Golf at Minebrook Golf Club

Minebrook Golf Club, built in 1919, is one of the oldest golf courses in New Jersey.

It was initially known as Muscenetcong Country Club.

Minebrook Golf Club was redesigned in the 1960s for additional nine holes to form Hidden Hills Golf Club.

The course measures around 6,316 yards.

Minebrook Golf Club’s 18-hole par-70 course is perfect if you’re planning a golf game with your friends or family.

After playing, you can order some food and drinks at the golf club’s Traditions Bar & Grill.

The breathtaking view of the golf course’s landscape will mesmerize you while enjoying your food and drinks.

The picturesque landscape of Minebrook Golf Club is among the top choices for couples looking for a wedding venue.

You can find this attraction on Schooleys Mountain Road.

Take a Trip Down Memory Lane at the Hackettstown Historical Society

Exterior of the Hackettstown Historical Society

Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Hackettstown Historical Society is a museum that houses over 13,000 artifacts and memorabilia about the history of Hackettstown.

It can be easily located on Church Street, beside the Hackettstown Free Public Library.

Here, you’ll see more than a thousand photographs and nearly 200 genealogical files showing the early homes and buildings in the town.

Portraits of ancestral families in Hackettstown can also be found here.

The Hackettstown Historical Society also contains records from Olde Presbyterian Burial Ground, the oldest cemetery in the town.

You’ll also get to see vintage clothing, books, and other historical artifacts from Hackettstown and nearby areas collected from the past 150 years.

Chill and Destress at Man Skirt Brewing

Man Skirt Brewing is located on Main Street.

It’s owned by Joe Fisher, who serves as the head brewer.

This brewery offers traditional English and German-styled beers, but hard seltzer and non-alcoholic sodas are also available.

Man Skirt Brewing also offers private event space for parties and other occasions.

It can accommodate up to 30 people, and guests are welcome to bring their food and soft drinks.

Spend the Afternoon at Farmview Golf Center

Farmview Golf Center, located on East Avenue, is a family owned business situated on a 160-acre farm at the center of Hackettstown.

Aside from its 18-hole miniature golf course, there are also ponds, waterfalls, and streams.

If you want, you may avail a lesson from a certified PGA golf professional before playing.

This golf center offers golf lessons for children ages seven to 13, juniors under 18, and adults.

Farmview Golf Center also hosts birthdays and other special events.

Witness Different Art Performances at Centenary Stage Company

Located on Grand Avenue, Centenary Stage Company aims to make arts accessible to everyone.

This is done by hosting affordable art performances such as plays, dance, and live music.

Centenary Stage Company, which opened in 1985, is also the premiere regional theater in New Jersey.

Its Sitnik Theatre comprises 504 seats where you can enjoy the highest quality of entertainment.

Centenary Stage Company is also ideally situated within the Centenary University near some of the most historical areas of the town, like the Morris Canal and Schooleys Mountain.

Sample Some Beer at Jersey Girl Brewing

Jersey Girl Brewing can be easily located on Sand Shore Road in Mount Olive.

This is where you can enjoy fresh and delicious New Jersey Craft Beer.

It features an indoor sample room open all year round.

You can spend the day with your friends, relaxing and tasting beautifully crafted beers.

Picnic tables, chairs, wooden barrels, and high-top tables are also set up during spring, summer, and fall.

Things are always exciting at Jersey Girl Brewing as they are constantly hosting events and attending beer festivals.

Play with Friends at Stryker Airsoft

Stryker Airsoft is an indoor airsoft arena located on NJ-57.

The current playing field is a war zone inspired by popular video games.

Stryker Airsoft’s 15,000-square-foot playing arena is guaranteed to give you and your friends a fun and exciting airsoft experience.

The prices of the games depend on each game package.

Stryker Airsoft may also be your next birthday celebration location.

It hosts Nerf Parties, where you can use nerf to play rental guns and darts for two hours.

Other Things to Do Nearby

See Beautiful Flowers at Orchard View Lavender Farm

With just a 12-minute drive away from Hackettstown, you can see and cut your lavender flowers at Orchard View Lavender Farm in Port Murray.

Aside from the lavender flower, you can also buy household, culinary, bath and body, teas and tea accessories, and more made out of the lavender itself.

This hidden oasis also hosts private events.

In 1765, a private residence sat on this 10.5 acres of beautiful land but was restored into a picture-perfect lavender farm and village.

Orchard View Lavender Farm boasts an extensive garden, terrace, brick patios, walkways, pavilion, gazebo, and pergola.

Book a Tour at Waterloo Village Historic Site

Waterloo Village Historic Site in Stanhope is just a 10-minute drive from Hackettstown.

It is a living history village between Schooley’s Mountain and Allamuchy Mountain near the Musconetcong River.

You can see and admire Victorian homes, sawmills, grist, and a blacksmith shop.

It is also home to wildflowers and native plants.

Some structures inside Waterloo Village Historic Site can be traced back to the 1700s.

It was a restored 19th-century canal town in Sussex County and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since September 1977.

Be Amazed by Performances at the Pax Amicus Castle Theatre

The Pax Amicus Castle Theatre is a cultural and educational foundation located in Budd Lake, 13 minutes from Hackettstown.

This community theater, founded in 1970, produces a year-round season of Broadway and off-Broadway revivals.

It stays true to its vision of being a not-for-profit foundation that is not supported by the government or any other organization.

The Pax Amicus Castle Theatre survives only on ticket sales, private donations, and its patrons’ loyalty.

Final Thoughts

There is a wide selection of exciting destinations to visit in Hackettstown.

With parks, golf courses, art centers, farms, breweries, and more, there is never a boring day in this town.

Its rich historical value and breathtaking landscapes will surely make you come back for more.

So, what are you waiting for?

Start your adventure and explore these best things to do in Hackettstown, New Jersey.

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