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Doris Duke's former country estate is the headline in Hillsborough, a sprawling Somerset County township in central New Jersey about an hour from both New York City and Philadelphia. Once mostly farmland stretching from the Millstone River to the Sourland Mountains, it is now leafy and suburban but still keeps open fields, horse farms and wooded ridges.
Duke Farms, the tobacco heiress's estate, is now a vast nature preserve with miles of trails, lakes and an orchid conservatory. On the southern edge, the Sourland Mountain Preserve offers rocky forest trails and boulder fields. The tiny borough of Millstone, surrounded by Hillsborough, was the county seat during the Revolutionary War and keeps a well-preserved historic district.
Scenic country roads follow the Millstone River Valley, and the area is good for cycling, birding and quiet walks. Princeton, Somerville and the Delaware and Raritan Canal are all within a short drive, making Hillsborough an easy base for exploring central New Jersey.
The former country estate of heiress Doris Duke covers about 2,700 acres of meadows, woods and lakes, now managed as a model of environmental stewardship. Miles of paved and gravel paths are open for walking and biking, with sculptures, waterfalls and wildlife along the way. Entry is free; start at the Farm Barn visitor center.
A restored greenhouse at Duke Farms filled with thousands of orchids and other tropical plants, continuing a collection Doris Duke began decades ago. Something is always in bloom, and it is a warm place to visit in winter. It sits a short walk or bike ride from the Farm Barn; check its hours before you go.
A large Somerset County preserve on the Sourland ridge, with marked trails through mature forest, stream valleys and fields of giant diabase boulders. The Ridge Trail is a rewarding few-hour loop with some rocky scrambling. Wear sturdy shoes, and start from the main lot on East Mountain Road.
The small borough of Millstone, surrounded by Hillsborough, was the Somerset County seat until British raiders burned its courthouse in 1779. Its quiet streets keep 18th- and 19th-century houses, a historic forge and the old church. Walk the main street and then cross the river to the canal towpath.
A handsome white Greek Revival church built in 1828 for a congregation founded in the 1760s, with a tall steeple that rises above the village of Millstone. Its old churchyard holds graves of early Dutch settlers and Revolutionary War veterans. View it from the street, and respect services on Sundays.
A designated New Jersey scenic byway that follows the Millstone River and the Delaware and Raritan Canal past historic villages, farmland, old bridges and stone houses. It is lovely by car or bicycle, especially in autumn. Stop along the way at canal parking areas for short walks on the towpath.
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