The town of Hammonton is part of Atlantic County along the Jersey Shore.
Its location gives it a sandy and acidic soil, which, coupled with a humid subtropical climate, makes for the perfect conditions to grow blueberries.
Dubbed the “Blueberry Capital of the World,” the town supplies around 80% of the county’s blueberry production.
Not much is known about the area before Europeans settled in, but most of Hammonton was occupied by the Unalachtigo Lenape back then.
Their population quickly declined because of diseases, emigration, and the loss of land to European settlers.
The first modern settlement was recorded in 1812 when William Coffin and his family purchased the land and built a farm and a mill.
Coffin named the town “Hammondton” after his son John Hammond Coffin, but the “d” was dropped over time.
Here are the best things to do in Hammonton, New Jersey:
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Located on Batsto Road is the historic Batsto Village.
The abandoned unincorporated community was once a thriving iron works village founded by famed ironmaster Charles Read in 1776.
At its peak, the village supplied arms to the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
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However, it was the Richards family who are widely credited for building most of the structures in the village when they took over the property in 1779.
Today, there are over 40 structures within the village, including a sawmill, carriage houses, stables, a blacksmith shop, and a post office that’s still in operation.
Batsto Village’s centerpiece is the beautifully renovated 32-room Italianate-style mansion, with 14 of its rooms open for public viewing, including bedrooms, parlors, and a dining room.
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Plagido’s Winery is a family-owned and operated winery located on North 1st Road.
It specializes in handcrafted wines produced in small batches using a basket press.
The 14-acre estate first started as a family-produced farm in the late 19th century but was eventually turned into a vineyard in 1999.
Initially named “Placido’s Winery” after the owner’s Italian great-grandfather, it was renamed to “Plagido” to avoid confusion with a Tuscany-based winery of the same name.
Today, it produces carefully pressed wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and many more grape varieties.
Plagido’s Winery also produces fruit wines from apples, blackberries, cranberries, and blueberries that are abundant in the region.
The winery has a tasting room where you can sample three of its specialty wines paired with a cheese platter.
Hammonton Lake Park is an outdoor recreation area located on Sports Drive.
The park is part of the Pines Barren ecosystem and serves as home to hundreds of bird and animal species.
Around the lake is a forest filled with deciduous woods and white cedars, which turns into a beautiful color palette of red, orange, and yellow during the fall and hosts colorful birds during springtime.
Some of the species you can find in the forest include White-throated Sparrows, Yellowthroats, Great Blue Herons, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
Hammonton Lake is also a popular spot for fishing, with its waters well-stocked with crappie, sunfish, largemouth bass, brook trout, and catfish.
If you’re looking for a short walk, there’s a paved 1.9-mile trail that goes through the woods, which will take you around 35 minutes to complete.
Tomasello Winery & Banquet Hall is a family-owned-and-operated vineyard located on North White Horse Pike.
Berry farmer Frank Tomasello founded it in 1933 after the Prohibition Act was repealed and new wine licenses were issued.
The first wines produced by Tomasello were named after his wife’s maiden name: Rainier Red, Rainier Rosé, and Rainier White.
Today, the 70-acre estate is in the hands of third-generation owners Jack and Charles Tomasello who were instrumental in growing the winery’s catalog to more than 30 grape varieties and nearly 50 types of wines.
Tomasello Winery & Banquet Hall now has multiple locations across the state and its wines are distributed to 37 other states and select locations in Canada.
You can book wine tasting which includes cheese, crackers, grapes, and chocolate truffle pairings.
The Noyes Galleries at Kramer Hall is an art museum located on Front Street.
Founded by philanthropists Fred and Ethel Noyes in 1983, the museum was originally located in Oceanville in Galloway Township, but the lack of funds caused its closure in 2016.
Its collection has since moved to four affiliate locations, and Kramer Hall is one of them.
Situated in Downtown Hammonton’s Art District, The Noyes Galleries features seasonal exhibitions from local and international artists.
A mix of selected and submitted artworks of artists from New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region as well as Stockton University faculty and students can be seen in the gallery.
Located on Bellevue Avenue is the Mexican restaurant El Nuevo Mariachi Loco.
It offers classic favorites including tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, and other central Mexican dishes.
The colorful restaurant is hard to miss as its intricately designed red-and-white façade is strategically located on the corner of Bellevue Avenue and North Egg Harbour Road.
Come in hungry and get a Burrito Ranchero, which is filled with crispy fried pork and rice and drizzled with house-made green sauce, fresh cheese, and sour cream.
The Quesadillas Super Grandes are also must-tries, which come with either corn or flour tortilla.
For a more filling option, go for the beef or shrimp chimichanga.
All El Nuevo Mariachi Loco dishes come with complimentary chips and house-made salsa dip.
Gear-Up Paintball on South White Horse Pike is an outdoor recreation spot that offers paintball adventure for all skill levels.
Gear-Up Paintball center accepts players of all ages from eight years old, with separate obstacles and battlefields for beginners and advanced players.
If you’re a beginner, you have the option of playing with a low-impact paintball marker with up to 500 shots.
Rentals are available for groups, but individual walk-ins are also welcome.
Advanced-level rentals include a standard paintball marker, ammo belt, and electric hopper to make you feel as if you’re a special forces agent.
Looking for a different kind of night out?
Why not enjoy a bowling night at the DiDonato Family Fun Center?
Located on South White Horse Pike, this family-owned-and-operated bowling center has been a go-to entertainment spot for locals since 1952.
Initially just a four-lane alley, it now has 26 state-of-the-art alleys and an open-air train ride for kids to enjoy.
The DiDonato Family Fun Center also has an upscale bar and grille where you can have snacks and drinks after a round or two of bowling.
The bar also has a frozen tap with local beers and specialty drinks.
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Wharton State Forest is a 122,880-acre state forest that’s part of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
Located on Batsto Road, it encompasses the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, and Camden and is the largest of New Jersey’s state parks.
It’s part of the Mullica River watershed, making it a favorite spot for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.
Electric motors, trailers, and cartop boat launches are available along the river, but canoeing can also be enjoyed on Batsto, Oswego, and Wading Rivers.
Wharton State Forest also has an extensive system of unpaved trails where you can enjoy horseback riding, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing.
Spot bald eagles, great blue herons, hummingbirds, beavers, wild foxes, and deer.
There are several camping grounds within the park offering spaces for tents, trailers, and primitive campsites for those who want to stay overnight.
On 13th Street lies the local brewery Three 3’s Brewing Company.
The family-owned-and-operated brewery is known for its rotating selection of beers of various styles and its signature Bougie Bubbles Hard Seltzer line.
As of now, the brewery’s beers are only distributed in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania, so it’s a must-try if you happen to be in the area.
Three 3’s Brewing Company has a tasting room where you can sample bestsellers such as the Bougie Bubbles Hard Seltzer: Cranberry Apple 5% ABV and a wide selection of Indian pale ales.
There’s also a Beer Garden where you can enjoy your ice-cold beer while watching the sunset.
Located on Vine Street, Eagle Theatre is a historic theatre featuring regional theater productions starring local artists.
The theatre first opened as a silent film era movie house in 1914 until 1927 when it was repurposed as a church for 15 years.
A local family running an auto-parts company then bought the property in 1959 and transformed it into a storage facility.
It wasn’t until 2009 that it was bought and renovated by the non-profit organization Eagle Theatre Inc., which reopened it as a modern movie theater.
Today, Eagle Theatre hosts seasonal theater productions starring both professional artists and students from in and around Hammonton.
You can’t say you’ve been to Hammonton without going to a blueberry farm.
Located on 11th Street, Blueberry Bill Farms is a family-owned-and-operated blueberry farm offering quality fresh blueberries.
The farm has been producing blueberries and blackberries for more than 50 years, so you can be assured that you’re getting only the best and freshest.
During harvest season, usually between June and August, you can experience picking your own blueberries straight from the bushes.
If you’re into blueberry picking, you can simply buy 12-pint crates of blueberries to take home.
You can even try growing your own berry bushes at home, as Blueberry Bill Farms offers blueberry and blackberry bushes that are around two to four years old, and ready for pickup.
If you want to take home something unique from your trip, drop by Antique Marketplace Hammonton.
The antique shop offers two floors of rare antique pieces at reasonable prices.
Find interesting knickknacks, home decor, fashion, and collectibles from more than 45 vendors.
Sports fans will have a great time in this store with its wide selection of memorabilia from stars of the past, including jerseys, photocards, and signed baseballs.
If you’re into music, there are antique guitars as well as vinyl records, magazines, and merchandise featuring your favorite bands and musicians.
Antique Marketplace Hammonton also has a great variety of Chinaware, tea sets, and plates that you can add to your collection.
Located 24 minutes away from Hammonton on East Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township is Storybook Land.
The 20-acre amusement park is known for its family-friendly rides that people of all ages will enjoy.
Opened in 1955, Storybook Land has themes based on storybook characters that kids know and love, including the T_hree Little Pigs, Alice in Wonderland, and _Snow White.
The park’s most famous ride is the J&J Railroad, which is a miniature steam engine that loops around the park.
Other popular rides include Bubbles the Coaster, Whirly-Bug, and Old Tymers.
Located just 10 minutes away from Hammonton on Atsion Road, Shamong is Pinelands Adventures.
The canoe and kayak rental service offers boating equipment for those who want to paddle along Mullica River.
They also have guided paddling tours that will take you around the Pine Barrens and the Kirkwood Cohansey aquifer.
Pinelands Adventures also has ecology tours where you can learn about the flora and fauna of the Pygmy Pines.
Bird enthusiasts can explore the Franklin Parker Preserve with experienced guides to spot rare birds and other wildlife.
Hammonton may be known for its blueberries, but the town has so much more to offer.
A lot of businesses and restaurants are family-owned, which is a testament to how tightly-knit this small town is.
If you’re looking for a laidback getaway, try these best things to do in Hammonton, New Jersey, on your next holiday.
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