Basking Ridge: Easy Livin' in central Jersey
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NJ: A place where animals lounged and basked in the sun in days past is a place where human beings love to hang out and live in the present. Basking Ridge, New Jersey is today’s featured “charming town.”
Located 36 miles west of New York City in central New Jersey, Basking Ridge is a combination of rural simplicity and small-town amenities with big-city proximity.
Basking Ridge residents take great pride in the Somerset County township's beautiful green spaces, diverse housing stock of antique, vintage and new homes, and the community's friendly disposition. The township earned its name from the foxes, deer and other wildlife that travelled up from the Great Swamp (now a national wildlife refuge) to "bask on the ridge" where the town is situated. Although Basking Ridge is officially one of several communities that make up Bernards Township, most of the 24,000+ residents who live in Bernards Township consider Basking Ridge to, in fact, be home.
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Living in Basking Ridge
As is true in most communities, housing stock in Basking Ridge consists of assorted types of homes -- Tudors, colonials, Cape Cods, and split levels -- of varying age -- everything from antique dwellings to new construction. In town, most lots are a minimum of one acre with many being three acres or more. In The Hills (newer construction that straddles neighboring township Bedminster), single family homes may be on smaller lots or even consist of garden homes or townhouses. In-filling is occurring throughout Basking Ridge, but available land for such new construction is becoming increasingly scarce. Many homeowners are choosing to remodel or expand existing, smaller homes, although ordinances are in place to ensure that McMansions do not spring up on undersized lots and diminish the character of the town. These influences, as well as such factors as superior schools and proximity to New York, result in the an average home price in excess of $481,000.
In spite of its reputation for easy living, residents in Basking Ridge are rarely bored. Public green spaces and local parks abound. The popular Pleasant Valley Park houses an amphitheater (theater productions is held there every summer) and the community pool. Next door, the VA hospital boasts a nine-hole golf course that is maintained by the township. Harry Dunham Park hosts features a sand volleyball court and disc golf course. And when the weather turns cold, the town offers simple ice skating rinks at Fortenbacher Field and Southard Park. War Memorial complex offers a Paws Park dog run. Perhaps most unique, however, are the stables situated near the center of town at Lord Stirling Park (below left). In addition to offering horseback riding instruction, the park is also home to a lively schedule of events year round. Today, for example, Lord Stirling hosted a canine scavenger hunt (below right). Other dog-related activities are featured throughout the year, as are antique car shows and combined riding events.
Continue down Lord Stirling Road and natural amusements abound. The Environmental Education Center provides information on environmental features of the area. A little further along is the The Raptor Trust, a bird sanctuary where injured or orphaned wild birds from throughout the state are brought for care and healing. Snowy owls reside next to Red-Tailed Hawks and a Bald Eagle. And, depending on the season, nature buffs can witness birds in migration, butterflies at play and wildflowers in bloom at the 7,500-acre Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Wander back towards town and visit the magnificent 600-year-old Big Oak Tree on the grounds of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church (a structure which is itself listed on the National Register of Historic Places). It is said that George Washington picnicked under this tree while travelling through New Jersey in the 1770s. For more history, don't miss a visit to the Brick Academy -- only opened on the first and third Wednesdays of each month and on Sunday afternoons -- and be regaled with stories of local history and lore by Bernards Township historian June Kennedy or members of the Historical Society of the Somerset Hills.
Basking Ridge celebrates its tremendous history and community spirit each May during the annual Charter Day celebration and street fair. In December, the town also comes together along Finley Avenue for the annual tree-lighting.
Shopping & Eats
Basking Ridge offers a vibrant retail and dining environment. Although only a couple of blocks long, the town center offers stores with distinctive merchandise and restaurants with varied cuisine.
City Meets Country, a gift and home accessory shop (center above), is owned by vibrant resident JoDee Saunders. Always aiming to please customers who quickly become friends, Saunders features a mix of Jersey-centric gifts, country-chic home accessories, beautiful jewelry and customizable gift baskets. Meli Melo offers stylish home accessories, antique furnishings and sophisticated gifts. Proprietor Debra Blanchard, a former fashion executive in New York City, has an eye for beauty and an understanding of the latest trends in home decor. For outdoor types, the place to shop is Base Camp, which stocks supplies and apparel for camping, skiing, snowboarding, hiking and kayaking. The shop also organizes customer outings and events. If cycling is your chosen form of exercise (and in these parts, the sport is HUGE), then Liberty Cycle is the store for you and Greg Cordasco is the man to know. Serving the needs of both competitive and recreational cyclists, Liberty Cycle sponsors a bike club as well as Team Olde Mill Inn, which competes in local and regional events. Apogee offers fine women's clothing and accessories; House of Bliss is the place to go for women's accessories; and Bliss Pottery features handmade pottery. More recent additions to the Basking Ridge town center retail scene include Karen's Doll House & Gift Shop and women's clothier Eagle's Nest.
Worked up an appetite after all that shopping? Consider a bite at the cheeky Lemon Lounge. In addition to fresh dishes, yummy desserts and fruit-flavored smoothies served in a citrus-themed setting, guests can also enjoy the weekly live music offering or dine alfresco. Other town center culinary favorites include The Store, The Ridge Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, The Copper Kettle or Brush's Deli.
Additional shops and restaurants are located throughout the township including those in the popular Riverwalk complex (Chic 3 West, Italian eatery Ciao and Chinese Ling Ling; ); the simulated town-center atmosphere of Dewey Meadows (casual dining Cafe Figaro , steak joint Flames and sushi restaurant Tsuru and knitting/pottery at Anglefire Studio); Highlands Village in The Hills (Bentley's Fine Jewelers, Color Me Mine Pottery); the established Lyons Mall (pizza spot Siena); and the historic Liberty Corner district (sumptuous sweets -- don't miss the cheesecake -- at the Gourmet Touch Specialty Bakery).
Shopping in the township is not limited to store fronts. Numerous farm stands (English Farm, Crane Farm Stand) abound from June through October, offering locally grown produce and down-home activities like you-pick crops in the summer and hay rides in the fall.
Visiting Basking Ridge
Basking Ridge has many lovely inns and local hotels to welcome visitors who come for a weekend. Consider any of these hospitable venues:
- Ole Mill Inn - Adorable Inn with excellent Grain House Restaurant and terrific weekend brunch. Also, don't miss the recently relocated Sandra John Interiors across the street for unique home furnishings and accessories. www.oldemillinn.com
- North Maple Inn - situated on the grounds of the former AT&T/current Verizon corporate campus. A four-star resort and conference center. www.northmapleinn.com
- Somerset Hills Hotel/The Inn at Somerset Hills - sister properties that provide beautiful amenities and exemplary service. www.shh.com/enter.html
Best For: Relocation if you have a young family or school-aged children
Relaxation over a weekend or for a day trip. If for some reason you don't find enough to
keep you occupied, visit neighboring towns Bernardsville, Far Hills, Bedminster or
Harding (all future "charming town" features).
Cons: Property taxes in New Jersey are some of the highest in the nation so not an ideal location
for retirees looking for economical alternatives.
Just The Facts
Township Population: 24,575 (2000 US Census)
Households: 9,242/6,487 families in the township
- 37.6% had children under 18 years of age
- 63% married couples
Median Household Income: $107,204
Median Family Income: $135,806
Racial Makeup:
- 89.2% Caucasian
- 7.85% Asian
- 2.95% Hispanic/African-American/Other
Township Area: 24 miles
Communities within the town: Basking Ridge is technically a part of
Schools: Run by the
- High School:
in the nation, in Newsweek’s 2006 list of the Top 1000 high schools in the
States
underway and scheduled to be completed in 2008.
- Middle School:
- Elementary Schools: Cedar Hill – 624 students; Liberty Corner – 608 students; Mount Prospect – 628 students; and Oak Street – 608 students.
Housing:
- 6,187 Total Housing Units
- $481,449 Average Home Price
- 84% of homes are owner-occupied
Location:
- 36 miles west (45 minutes by car) of
- 78 miles northeast (90 minutes by car) of
- Accessible by car via I-78 and I-287
- Accessible by train via NJ Transit/Morris-Essex Gladstone line (Basking Ridge,
- Accessible by plane via
I have lived in Basking Ridge for about 4.5 years and I think this article did great justice to Basking Ridge. I think everything was touched upon about the small town. Also I would like to add that Basking Ridge radiates a Gilmore Girls-esque (Stars Hollow) feeling, always has something interesting going on and looks like the quaint small town that it is.
Love the plug for Gourmet Touch's cheescake- I can't eat cheesecake anywhere else
I lived in Basking Ridge from when I was 3 until 18. At the time I took it for granted. It's a beautiful little American town, and despite the gloss of ritzy clone-homes and suburban sprawl, there is a lot to do, if you're willing to find it.