Bridgewater Travel and Things to Do Guide

It's hard to believe that the 33-square-mile area of Bridgewater, today an affluent suburban township with all the ingredients in place for successful meetings and incentives, was originally purchased from a local Lenape Native American tribe and chartered by George II of Great Britain in 1749. And with pharmaceutical, telecommunications and financial industries enriching the area, Bridgewater event venues are just as diverse as the township.

The area has grown especially as Bridgewater has become more popular with New York City commuters. Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 30 miles away and the Bridgewater Train Station is served by the Raritan Valley Line of NJ Transit. There are three local airports, Solberg-Hunterdon Airport in Readington Township, Somerset Airport in Bedminster Township and Central Jersey Regional Airport in Manville. Other area airports include John F. Kennedy International Airport, which is 70 miles away, LaGuardia Airport, 55 miles away, and Philadelphia Airport, about 65 miles away.

Event venues in Bridgewater include the 6,100-seat TD Bank Ballpark, home to the Atlantic League Somerset Patriots, with the 150,000-square-foot New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center nearby. The Bridgewater Manor is another popular spot for meetings and events, as is the 300-year-old Van Horne House, the site of numerous important events during the Revolutionary War, and which can accommodate up to 80.

The 347-room Bridgewater Marriott is among the largest hotel venues in Bridgewater for meetings; in total, the area has more than 4,500 rooms in a variety of lodging options.

There is a diverse array of dining options in the Bridgewater area. Some popular groups choices include Maggiano's, which can accommodate group functions or meetings; and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, which relies on local seafood purveyors to obtain only the freshest local seafood.

Bridgewater Commons is an exciting shopping, dining and entertainment venue. Anchor stores include Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor and Macy's. For the golfers in the group, there is Green Knoll Golf Course. Washington Valley Park is a great site for biking, boating, fishing and hiking. Duke Island Park, on the Raritan Water Power Canal, offers a variety of walking trails.