duke farms

Visit over 900 acres of landscaped property. Hike, bike, cross country ski and in the spring/summer take the tram to explore. It's like Central Park. Varied areas to explore including lakes and orchid greenhouses. The staff are really friendly and will make your day pleasant. From NYC take the train to Raritan and it's a quick taxi.

Great place for families, couples or just by yourself to take a long, head-clearing, refreshing walk. If you prefer to bike, you can bring your own or rent one for $5. I've been here many times during the spring and summer and never tire of the scenery. There's quite a mix: woods, lakes, a waterfall, old stone-faced structures, greenhouse.I highly recommend for a nice relaxing step back in time.

This oasis in the middle of suburbia offers miles of trails (different surfaces ranging from wood chips to gravel to asphalt), numerous small lakes, picturesque bridges, statuary, picnic tables, and more.

Really well done learning experience. Especially good for children to learn about the environment and some local history. There is a tram that takes you around the huge estate that was built by Doris Duke's father in the early 1900's. They also rent bikes and have a small cafe for lunch. Just 5 minutes south of the Somerville Circle.

The Duke Estate and Grounds are beautiful. Walk at your own pace and map helps identify the sites. There is a short video at the welcome center that provided a brief summary of the Duke Family and what the Foundation is now doing.

Duke farms is the old estate of famed tobacco heirress Doris Duke, We visited this place the first month that it opened and the crowd get bigger and bigger. We have walked the grounds I think there are like 17 miles of trails for all levels of walker or joggers. We often go ther to bike ride no traffic The farm is smoke free and they are very concerned about the enviroment. Thre are rest rooms spaced around the estate. The inside gardens are a must see with many kinds of flowers. The deer have been removed from the estate but there are plenty of other animals to see birds, fish, owls, hawks.

Took the Grandkids to Duke Farms for a day outside, fresh air sunshine, and a little education. A tram makes getting around with little ones very easy. The greenhouse was full of orchids, and other beautiful flowers, and the floating islands were a great little eco engineering surprise.

..in the middle of NJ. Admission is free. It is dedicated to the cause of sustainability, through the Doris Duke estate, with a world class visitor center and free trams going around the 2700 acre property. The retrofitted carriage house and all functions of the property are powered by a solar array. Bikes can be rented to tour the property. Or bring your own.They used to be free on the honor system, but it is NJ after all. Check out the old foundation, which would have been like Versailles in NJ, until construction was halted in 1911

We were at the farm on a cold, dry fall Saturday, arriving around 3 p.m. It was beautiful and simply no crowds. The farm is free and is self-guided but there are areas where using your cell phone, you can call into a recorded message about what you are viewing, You can take a tram ride through the entire area (again free), rent a bike or bring your own (helmets mandatory). Arriving as late as we did, we ran out of time so are coming back to see more!

Walk, run, ride a bike or ride a tram, you'll come across many surprises along an array of paths and trails. There is a lot of natural beauty as well as art, architecture and even some history. It's a very relaxing getaway without having to go far. There is no cost unless you use the tram or rent a bike for just a few dollars. Otherwise, bring your own bike. It' mostly flat and bike trails are mostly paved but there are a few inclines and declines but nothing very challenging. A relaxing experience and you'll want to visit more than once.

My family & I visited Duke Farms a few times this year - just the 4 of us, hubby & I with 2 other couples, & the 4 of us with 5 other families riding our bikes around. Every visit was great - fresh air, miles of trails to walk or bike ride, the Orchid Range - a glorious & serene greenhouse with 100s of varieties of orchids, along with many other plants. It is ALL so picturesque that to take a bad photo would be difficult. Go & enjoy!

The gardens are pretty, there are free bikes to use and a tram that circles the large property. The orchid garden is impeccably maintained and the plants are incredible. The main building is very large, comfortable and has a nice snack bar with high-quality food. I was pleasantly surprised by how large and nice the gardens are.

We spent more than 3 hours simply walking and exploring beautiful park. We were so much surprised how well maintained was the park, because it was absolutely free. Gorgeous orchids exhibit in the Greenhouse could leave you breathless. I've never seen such a great collection of these beautiful plants anywhere before. If you happen to be in this part of NJ, please come to visit Duke Farms and will not be disappointed.

This is a beautiful estate and it's incredible that its free to visit. Its a perfect destination for families or if your traveling solo. The restaurant has just been updated and offers a nice selection for lunch. I really liked the coffee they served. When I asked about it, they explained it was from a small local company, Black River Roasters. There is a great vibe at Duke Farms. The folks overseeing its development and maintenance truly care about the community.

I visited Duke Farms back in 2007 when the estate and green house were still open. It was a marvel in its own. Getting to tour the extensive mansion and gorgeous gardens are something I won't forget. Fast forward to last week. I visited the Farm again and was extremely disappointed in the lack of maintaining in the garden/greenhouse areas. The estate has been taken off the tour and is upsetting. Its a nice place, but no where as nice as a was.