Turnpike East - East Brunswick, NJ

Middlesex County's rich history includes the founding of Rutgers University in the late 18th century and Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb in the late 19th century. Head over to Rutgers’ Zimmerli Art Museum to learn more about this area's history from an excellent collection of American art.

The State Theatre in downtown New Brunswick hosts many performances, from ballets and orchestras to comedy acts. On the last Saturday in April, check out the annual New Jersey Folk Festival, free of charge. While New Brunswick has more options, there are several closer to home. Playhouse 22 and the East Brunswick Community Players present a full season of shows each year, and the Annual Fine Arts Festival, also in East Brunswick, draws quite a crowd.

Popular chain restaurants, pizza spots and delis line the several major roadways that run through this area. Stop by European Homemade Provisions to enjoy a menu featuring more than 50 creatively named, hand-crafted sandwiches. It also sells authentic Eastern European food to cook up at home. The fresh kielbasa is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Spend a quiet night at home and order in from the family owned and operated Mancini Pizza. For a delicious twist on traditional Sicilian, try the Grandma pizza. Whatever you choose, make sure to top it off with an order of garlic knots. Comfi serves traditional American breakfast and lunch fare with a Polish twist. Enjoy the homemade pierogis on their own or in an omelette.

If you're a beer enthusiast and sports lover, head to The Ale House Tavern and Tap, which offers a top-notch, regularly updated craft brew selection and wall-to-wall TVs to watch your favorite teams. Take in a concert at the Starland Ballroom. This spacious but intimate, general-admission music venue hosts many big-name acts, as well as local talent. With several bars conveniently spread throughout the club, drinks are especially tempting, but they're very expensive, and many prefer to grab a few cheap drinks beforehand down the road at The Brass Monkey.

For something different, head to Clydz in downtown New Brunswick, where the eclectic drink and food menus are likely to feature something you've never tried. The python ravioli or alligator sausage might interest the more adventurous, but those seeking familiar dishes also have many appealing options. The only beers served at Harvest Moon Brewery & Cafe are those it brews. Talk to the knowledgeable bartenders for help selecting the perfect brew to wash down the amazing chicken wings served with homemade blue-cheese dressing. Dance off those calories at Perle Night Club & Lounge, where the cover charge is waived for ladies on Saturday nights. Be aware that this is a college town, and while much of the student crowd sticks to the cheaper Easton Avenue dive bars, you're still likely to encounter some of this crowd downtown.

Most residents here use cars as their main mode of transportation, with easy access to both of New Jersey’s major highways, the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway, via Route 18 and Route 9, respectively. However, NJ Transit buses also service the area. Much of the neighborhood consists of spacious suburban streets, so recreational biking and walking can be enjoyed in the immediate area, but will likely be difficult elsewhere due to the high-traffic major roadways running through the area.

Cabs are prevalent in downtown New Brunswick, but not within the neighborhood, though there are many cab companies to call; Uber also services the area. Public parking is readily available except in downtown New Brunswick. Metered street parking fills up quickly here, but if you can snag one of these spots on a Saturday night, you can enjoy free parking all night and all day Sunday. There are several large parking structures with readily available spots, but they can be a little pricey.

Small parks are spread throughout the area, but they pale in comparison to Cheesequake State Park, less than 10 miles east of the neighborhood. Hike the beautiful trails, then rent a camping lot for a reasonable nightly fee to rest your head under the stars.

Enter the bamboo garden or the shade tree collection at Rutgers Gardens for a leisurely stroll when you need to unwind. Take a guided tour of the many other gardens on display to brush up on your horticultural knowledge. Here, you can also find a seasonal farmer's market and an annual fall festival in October. Entrance the day of the festival and guided tours cost a small fee, but most other attractions can be enjoyed for free.

The closest train station is in downtown New Brunswick and you can get to midtown Manhattan for $13. The cost of living here is about 24 percent cheaper than the cost in New York City, with median rent for a one-bedroom apartment at $1,036.82. You can easily find a beer for $2 or $3, but these deals are less common in New Brunswick. The gas price is about 14 percent lower than the national average cost.

Brunswick Square Mall houses many mid-range stores such as American Eagle and New York & Company. For higher-end stores, such as Banana Republic and LOFT, head to The Shoppes at Old Bridge. You don’t find boutique or specialty stores in this neighborhood. Try Finale in downtown New Brunswick for unique women's fashion. Then, head across the Raritan River into Highland Park for an interesting selection of local businesses. The Fallout Shelter, a comic book store, Raspa’s Jewelers, Jimmy's Watches, Robert’s Florals and Century 20 Antiques are just a few of the independently owned establishments you can visit. For a fun and different activity, check out Make Me Take Me, where you can select and paint one of the many ceramic pieces. Leave them with the staff to be glazed, and come back in a week to collect the finished product.

You have your pick of major grocery chains on Route 18 and Route 9. For fresh local produce head to Giamerese Farm & Orchard. Purchase fresh produce grown on premises at the farm stand May through December. Pick your own fruits seasonally, and enjoy some fall festivities such as hay rides and a corn maze. In December, choose and cut your own Christmas tree. Even when the farm stand is closed during the winter, this local farm continues to serve the community by selling firewood.