'''New Brunswick''' [http://www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/] is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It's the home of Rutgers University.
Get in
By car
New Brunswick can be accessed by Interstate 287 Exit 10 (Easton Ave, New Brunswick), Exit 9 off of NJ Turnpike/I-95, U.S. Route 1, NJ Route 18, Livingston Ave, and Route 27 by way of Highland Park, across the Raritan River.
By commuter train
'''New Jersey Transit - Northeast Corridor line''', [http://www.njtransit.com/]. Service between New Brunswick station and New York City's Penn Station can be between 30 and 70 minutes, depending on the time of day and whether the train is running on the local or express route (both run at different times throughout the day). Local service is available to other New Jersey Transit commuter stations such as Newark Penn Station, Newark Airport, and Trenton (as such, New Brunswick is also an easy trip from Philadelphia via transfer from SEPTA).
By bus
'''New Jersey Transit''' [http://www.njtransit.com/] buses have several stops in New Brunswick. One which happens to be on Route 27. However, the major New Jersey Transit bus hub is centered upon the New Brunswick train station (at its northern end) and along George Street (which is essentially the centerpiece of New Brunswick's downtown area).
'''Suburban Transit''' [http://www.coachusa.com/suburban/] stops in front of the train station, and comes from both Princeton and New York. The main Suburban Transit bus depot is also in New Brunswick, and is next to the New Brunswick White Castle restaurant. (Yes, Harold and Kumar fans, there ''is'' a White Castle in this town.) It is further down the bus route from New York City than the train station is, but only a couple of minutes further.
By long-distance train
'''Amtrak''' [http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage] serves New Brunswick station. Note that Amtrak is not a good alternative to NJ Transit for trips to and from New York City or Newark, because though it is an express train and therefore somewhat faster, the cost of a ticket is so much more than the cost of an NJ Transit train that it is not worth it unless money is no object. However, for those traveling from Baltimore and other points south, it is a good option, and some travelers from as close as Philadelphia may also choose Amtrak in order to have a one-train trip and avoid having to change from the Philadelphia-area SEPTA trains to NJ Transit in Trenton.
On foot or by bicycle
From Highland Park, several of the bridges across the Raritan River are open to pedestrians and cyclists. The river is rather broad but easily walkable for healthy individuals. One can also come in from the south by way of Millstone (New Jersey) from East Brunswick or up Ryders Lane in East Brunswick, or by walking down the sidewalks of Easton Avenue from the west. (Note: Approaches from the south and west can get pretty hilly.)
Get around
Buses (and bicycles) are the most effective means of traversing throughout New Brunswick. NJ Transit travels throughout the city. Rutgers University has buses that travel all around the campus, and you don't have to be a student to utilize them. Taxis are also prevalent (but relatively expensive), and the size of the town is such that walking is not out of the question.
Driving is also possible but parking is difficult to find in the downtown area and expensive. Most on-street parking in the downtown area is 2-hour only Monday-Friday, and parking garages tend to run about $1.50-2 per hour. On-street regulations are suspended on the weekend but most of it is taken up by residents. Some garages, such as the Lower Church Street garage, are free on Saturdays if you park before 5:00PM.
See
'''Rutgers University''' [http://www.rutgers.edu]. Located in northeast New Brunswick, Rutgers University is a major aspect of the city. The College Avenue Campus is home to several dorms and lecture halls, with frathouses nearby. The Zimmerli Art Museum, Geology Museum, and the Rutgers Student Center are places of attraction, as well as Old Queens (as a historic centerpiece). The College Avenue Gym is also the site of the first ever intercollegiate football game in which Rutgers defeated Princeton by a score of six to four in 1869, commemorated by both a plaque on the outside of the Gym as well as a statue outside Rutgers Stadium on the University's Busch Campus. In the spring, in recent years, there have been the colorful and dynamic '''Tent State University''' protests as well.
'''Downtown''': Downtown New Brunswick is home to a plethora of restaurants and bars. For entertainment, there are clubs such as Club Platinum for dancing and The Stress Factory for comedy. New Brunswick's nightlife is excellent for a city its size. The Court Tavern is the best place to catch up and coming local bands, helping make famous such acts as the Smithereens, Ween and DefTime. Johnson and Johnson's, the makers of the Band-Aid and Johnson's Baby Shampoo, has their headquarters here.
'''George St/Monument Square''': George St./Monument Square is home to the Performing Arts of New Brunswick (as well as an art gallery and urban planning school). The State Theater, where big name acts are constantly booked, is here. At the George St playhouse, right next to it, you can catch a variety of plays.
'''Bucceleuch Park''': Located up College Avenue from the train station, past the college campus. A Revolutionary War mansion is the centerpiece of this park.
'''Chabad House''', the '''old churches''', the '''Theological Seminary''', and '''Congregation Poile Zedek''': New Brunswick's colorful religious institutions. Those are located both on College Ave. and downtown.
'''Hospitals''': While not exactly attractions, both Robert Wood Johnson and St. Peter's Medical Center are located in New Brunswick, giving it the title of the Health Center of New Jersey.
Do
There are several pleasant parks within the city limits.
Concerts and theatrical performances take place at several venues including the George Street Playhouse [http://www.georgestplayhouse.org/] in the center of town.
Rutgers University has Division I NCAA teams in several sports, including football and basketball. Attend a match.
Buy
Antiques, five-and-dime stuff, clothing, old books, etc., can be found in the George St. district. Rutgers-branded merchandise is sold in many shops on Easton Ave.
Eat
New Brunswick is home to several 4-star restaurants and, typical of a college town, it has dozens of options for casual dining. Most of the upscale dining is clustered in the downtown section around George St, all within easy walking distance of the train station. Most of the college-oriented restaurants are focused on Easton Avenue, also within easy walking distance of the station (albeit uphill), although there are some downtown as well.
'''The Frog and The Peach''', 29 Dennis St, ''+1 732'' 846-3216, [http://www.frogandpeach.com/].
'''La Fontana Ristorante''', 120 Albany St, ''+1 732'' 249-7500, [http://www.lafontanaristorante.com]. Serves fine Italian cuisine, representing all twenty regions of Italy.
'''The Stage Left Restaurant''', 5 Livingston Ave, ''+1 732'' 828-4444, [http://www.stageleft.com]. Located next to the George Street Playhouse and known for one of the best wine lists in the world.
'''The Grease Trucks''', a College Ave. landmark of Rutgers student life. (Those are actual trucks and trailers where one can grab a bite of a "Fat Cat" and other such delicacies - stuff on a roll, essentially.)
'''Stuff Yer Face''', good boli restaurant and sports bar, Easton Ave.
'''Edo''', Japanese restaurant, Easton Ave.
'''Evelyn's''', Lebanese cuisine, Easton Ave.
'''Efes''', Turkish restaurant, Easton Ave.
'''Hotoke''', George St. Japanese restaurant.
'''Tumulty's Pub'''. American cuisine. George St.
'''Harvest Moon Brewery'''. American cuisine. and Microbrewery George St. [http://www.harvestmoonbrewery.com/]
'''Makeda'''. Ethiopian Cuisine
'''Chardas Hungarian Restaurant'''. Hungarian cuisine. 214 Somerset St.
Several lunch-oriented places are in the downtown district as well.
Drink
Since New Brunswick is a college town, you can't walk far without bumping into a few bars. There are two main bar areas in New Brunswick. Easton Ave. is mostly a college-age crowd, while George St. caters to young professionals and a somewhat older crowd. There are other bars scattered about New Brunswick that cater to a non-college clientele.
Clydz.
McCormick's Irish Pub. 66 Somerset Street. 732) 247-7822.
Sleep
'''The Heldrich''', [http://www.theheldrich.com] 10 Livingston Avenue, features 248 guest rooms with views of downtown New Brunswick and the surrounding area. The hotel is in the cultural heart of New Brunswick, just a half hour from Newark Liberty International Airport. Across the street from the aforementioned theaters and the Mason Gross art gallery, as well as the Bloustein School lecture hall.
Hyatt Regency New Brunswick. wo Albany Street. New Brunswick, NJ 08901. ttp://www.newbrunswick.hyatt.com. 288 guest rooms. 6-story Hotel, 2 blocks from New Brunswick train station. Conveniently close to restaurants and shopping.
Get out
New York City.
Princeton is not very far away and is a very pleasant small college town.