Friday, November 23, 2012

For Interesting Walking Tours New Brunswick Will Suit Your Needs

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By Tamera Keith


A new city is always best explored on foot. In a car or tour bus, you miss out on the sounds, smells and small things that define the city's character. On foot, however, you not only get to engage all of your senses, but you can stop and take a break where you want to, when you want to. If you love walking tours New Brunswick in New Jersey will definitely suit you.

Located on the banks of the Raritan River in New Jersey, the city has its origins with the Lenape people who first lived here. In 1681 the first Europeans settled in the area and named the village Prigmore's Swamp. After being known for a few years as Inian's Ferry, the name New Brunswick was given to the village in 1714. It was declared a town in 1730 and officially became a city in 1784.

The settlement was an important commercial center in the days of the Founding Fathers. Their famous words known as the Declaration of Independence were read publicly for the third time in New Brunswick, at a site near the corner of Albany and Nelson Streets. The bells rang out from the tower of Christ Church nearby, calling the townspeople to come and listen to what would become America's most important document. You can still visit both the site of the reading and the church.

Ten years earlier, in 1766, the city became home to a new school. Queen's College later became known as Rutgers University, today one of America's most prestigious universities. Much of New Brunswick's identity is centered around this institution and its museums and other facilities. If you're a science buff, you will enjoy the Geology Museum, while art lovers should pay a visit to the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum.

One of the nicknames given to the city is The Healthcare City, since there are so many medical institutions and facilities here. Hospitals and medical research institutions are often part of the university in some way. However, a private institution that has its headquarters here is Johnson & Johnson, manufacturers of medical supplies like bandages as well as hygiene products.

Factories like that of Johnson & Johnson attracted workers, many of whom were immigrants. One of the biggest immigrant communities that settled here is the Hungarian community. To find out more about their story, you may want to visit attractions like the Hungarian Heritage Center. Today there is a significant Hispanic community too and if you want to add some Latin flavor to your day, head to French Street.

The ethnic diversity has brought with it a plethora of places of worship. There are several beautiful churches and synagogues that will especially appeal to you if you're interested in architecture. Since they're mostly contained in a small area downtown, it is easy to explore them on foot.

If you prefer guided walking tours New Brunswick has tour guides who will take you on an organized walk that lasts about two hours. If, however, you prefer to go it alone, you will find tourist maps online to help you plan your route. Most of the attractions are located in an area spanning a couple of blocks, making this New Jersey city easy to navigate.




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