Western
Monmouth Upper Freehold
Bucolic may not be the first term that comes to
mind to describe busy Monmouth County, but
drive along the rolling back roads of Colts Neck,
Howell, Freehold and the more rural Millstone,
Upper Freehold and Allentown, and you will see
country estates, fields and orchards, barns and
stables and the magnificent colts and fillies of
Monmouth County’s beautiful horse country.
Several farms in the area offer visitors the
opportunity to ride, and equine enthusiasts will
want to visit Horse Park of New Jersey, a unique
competition venue in rural Upper Freehold. Visit
family-owned Holland Ridge Farms in Cream
Ridge, home to the largest tulip festival on the
East Coast, for u-pick tulips in the spring and
sunflowers in the fall.
In the summer, look for the Monmouth County
Horse Show, the annual competition that has run
yearly since the late 19th century, except for a brief
period during World War II. Established in 1853,
Freehold Raceway, the nation’s oldest and fastest
daytime half-mile harness-racing track, features
live standardbred harness races for trotters and
pacers, August through early June. The raceway
is open year-round for thoroughbred and harness
racing simulcasts.
There’s always something going on in Downtown
Freehold, home of the county seat and a bustling
60 www.sparkvisitmonmouth.com
Allentown
Colts Neck
Englishtown
Farmingdale
Freehold Borough
Freehold Township
Howell
Manalapan
Marlboro
Millstone Township
Roosevelt
center for business, entertainment and dining,
as well as a variety of events in the heart of town
year-round. This walkable town is located in the
center of Monmouth County, so it is a convenient
anchor for your trip, and you may be surprised
by how much there is for visitors to enjoy. Visit
downtownfreehold.com for a complete list of
outdoor concerts, dining and a whole lot goin’ on
throughout the year.
History buffs will discover a treasure trove
to explore in Western Monmouth: Monmouth
Battlefield, the New Deal cooperative community
of Roosevelt, and the home of Laird & Company
distillers, to name a few. In Allentown, visit
Monmouth County Park System’s Historic
Walnford, showcasing over 200 years of social,
technological and environmental history. Visit
the elegant country estate built in 1774, the
19th century gristmill and farm buildings, all set
among 36 acres of field, woodland, wetlands and
beautiful landscape.
Don’t miss the Monmouth County Park System’s
entertaining and informative annual Monmouth
County Fair, with 4-H exhibits, rides for the
kids, entertainment, stunt shows, fireworks,
pie-eating contests, classic cars, a variety of
delicious food vendors and competitions for best
vegetables, baked goods, crafts quilts and more,
Photo by Jenifer Rutherford
/www.sparkvisitmonmouth.com
/downtownfreehold.com
