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Perth Amboy’s scenic waterfront and bustling downtown,
lined with superb restaurants, eateries and shops, offer a
variety of sites and activities for visitors and residents alike.
A lively arts scene includes outdoor concerts along Raritan
Bay, an arts festival and regular exhibits in the Gallery
Center for the Arts. Many restaurants offer live music and
dancing, and there are historic sites to visit year-round.
There are ample opportunities for outdoor recreation on
land and water. Visitors may fish at the city’s marina without
a permit, and saltwater anglers catch blues, stripers,
fluke, flounder and porgies. The Raritan Yacht Club, one
of America’s oldest, offers sailing classes for adults and
children, including non-members, and sailors may also crew
during the club’s Wednesday evening cruises and weekend
regattas. Visitors will find that the city’s miles of shorefront
paths are perfect for jogging, biking and walking, or simple
contemplation on one of the benches that line the routes
overlooking Raritan Bay.
The community runs multiple athletic facilities, including
playing fields, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds
and beach volleyball areas. Bring your chairs and blankets
to the soft sandy bayside beaches to read, talk with friends
or simply relax and watch the boats.
Perth Amboy is a superb destination for discovering a
diverse range of international cuisine. Local chefs create
unique dishes for visitors including Caribbean, Central and
South American, European, Asian, African, and traditional
American fare, serving everything from family-style to fastcasual
and romantic settings, as well as raw bars for fresh
shellfish. During the summer, many waterside restaurants
open their outdoor patios for live music and dining.
Looking to slow down the pace? Perth Amboys’ horsedrawn
carriage rides offer a wonderful way to spend a day
during the summer, proceeding along tree-lined streets,
rolling past historical and scenic sites, and along Bayview
Park overlooking the bay. A friendly community with many
beautiful places to visit and enjoy, Perth Amboy hosts many
special events, including a spectacular fireworks display on
July 3rd.
Visitors are invited to stroll through the downtown and visit
Perth Amboy’s historical sites. The city has served as a lively
commercial center, center of government and active port
since the colonial era. One of the most popular historical
sites is the Proprietary House, a mansion built in the 18th
century as the residence of Royal Governor William Franklin.
The completely restored building and interior feature rooms
with Colonial-period furniture and decor. Volunteers dressed
in period garments conduct tours on Wednesday and
Sunday afternoons and offer afternoon tea service.
A noteworthy destination is Perth Amboy’s City Hall, listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in the
1700s, this original structure is America’s oldest municipal
building and has been in continuous use since it opened.
Perth Amboy was one of New Jersey’s capitals and the
State’s General Assembly met in the city. On November 20,
1789, state legislators gathered in the building and voted
to ratify the Bill of Rights, making New Jersey the first state
in the nation to approve the first 10 amendments to United
States Constitution.
Photo by James Erwin
Photo by James Erwin
/DiscoverMiddlesex