Summit, NJ

Summit's downtown revolves around its train station, where Midtown Direct trains carry commuters straight into Manhattan. Step off the platform and you are right on Springfield Avenue, surrounded by independent boutiques, coffee shops, and busy restaurants. The Village Green sits right next door, hosting a popular farmers market on Sunday mornings from spring through late fall. During the summer, downtown fills with live music on Thursday and Friday nights, making the center of town a lively meeting spot for dinner and evening strolls. The city actually owes its name to the rail line, which first reached the top of the ridge back in 1837.

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Just west of downtown sits Overlook Medical Center, a major regional hospital and one of the largest employers in Union County, providing top-tier healthcare right in town. For fresh air, the Summit Park Line turns an old rail corridor into a landscaped walking and biking path. The trail runs from the edge of downtown toward Briant Park, giving residents a quiet, car-free route for a morning jog or a walk with the stroller through tree-lined neighborhoods.

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Summit grew from 18th-century farmland into a scenic summer retreat for city dwellers after the Civil War, eventually evolving into an established suburb. You can still see that heritage in the varied architecture across town. Historic colonial and Victorian homes line the residential streets, while landmark brick buildings like the 1894 Summit Opera House anchor the downtown shopping district. The local historical society even operates out of the town's oldest standing home, built in 1747, giving the community a tangible link to its past.

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Cultural spots are woven right into the residential neighborhoods as well. On Elm Street, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey features rotating contemporary art galleries and runs art classes for children and adults. Over on Hobart Avenue, the Reeves-Reed Arboretum covers more than thirteen acres of historic formal gardens and wooded trails. It is open to the public daily, hosting seasonal family events, outdoor concerts, and quiet afternoon walks among daffodils and towering trees.