Things to Do in Hamilton Square

Rather than focusing on one angle of its state's history, the New Jersey State Museum encompasses four: archaeology, fine arts, culture, and natural history. Since 1895, the American Association of Museums–accredited complex’s staff has been dedicated to expanding field research and, more recently, public-school outreach. These efforts have culminated in collections of more than 2 million archeological specimens, 2,000 ethnographic artifacts, 12,000 works of art, and 13,000 state cultural artifacts. These pieces pique viewer curiosity in themed exhibits, exploring periods in local art, relationships between native Americans and European settlers, and the state flower’s childhood diaries.

The archaeology collections—assembled by museum staffers and university archaeologists—highlight textiles, beads, and hide works from Delaware Indians and other North American–natives. The fine art collection assembles works by American modernists and abstract artists. Massive Trenton-made furnishings, Civil War–flags, and maritime artifacts populate the cultural exhibits.

Though focused on history and art, the museum also immerses visitors in science with its 150-seat planetarium, which dazzles eyes with images of the solar system, faraway stars, and astronaut training during shows. Audiences witness traditional sky projections and laser-created programs comprised of 6,000 stars on the ceiling of the full 360-degree dome.

Miry Run Country Club unravels across a 6,657-yard track of tight fairways and fast greens to form its 18-hole, par 72 golf course. Groves of trees line the relatively narrow fairways throughout the course, placing a premium on accurate tee shots and precision golf cart driving so that players aren't forced to test out prototypes of golf bag floatation devices in the water hazards. With three tee options, the course offers a fair par-hunting test for clubbers of all abilities.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course

• Length of 6,657 yards from the farthest tees

• Course rating of 72.0 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 127 from the farthest tees

• Three tee options

• Scorecard

The nine-hole, 2,811-yard Clearbrook Golf Course charts an emerald path through densely wooded terrain, notable for its carpet-like fairways and smooth-rolling greens. The Hal Purdy design has received a number of recent updates, including refurbished sand traps, repaved cart paths, and improved drainage. Head course professional Scott Sterling conducts onsite lessons that cover pre-shot routine, alignment, and putting for players hoping to overcome a scoring plateau, as well as rules and etiquette for players unfamiliar with golf’s infield-fly rule.

Course at a Glance:

• Nine-hole, par 35 course

• Total length of 2,811 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 33.9 from the back tees

• Course slope of 123 from the back tees

• Four sets of tees per hole

The ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, the Trenton Titans compete against the country's top hockey prospects in the Atlantic Division of the league's Eastern Conference. Founded in 1999, the Titans won the Kelly Cup in 2005 behind captain Rick Kowalsky and leading-scorer Scott Bertoli, capping off an impressive six-year span in which the team missed the playoffs only one time. As the Titans continue their quest to replicate past glory, raucous fans clad in red cheer them on at Sun National Bank Center, aided by the team mascot Rivet, who energizes fans without throwing AA batteries into the stands.

“This ‘PC’ world has never been more ready for Sarcasm,” exclaims Sarcasm Comedy Club founder Steve Trevelise. The WIP radio personality and veteran comedian, who honed his emceeing and managerial chops at the esteemed Catch a Rising Star, believes that “the comedy stage is the last place for freedom of speech.” Although some shows are rated PG and some are hard R’s, Sarcasm Comedy Club refuses to sanitize its performers for sensitive ears. For those who can take a joke, the uncensored humor hub’s calendar offers two Saturday-night shows per week that spotlight local cutups and national headliners. Those who dream of becoming comedians themselves can enlist in the Sarcasm Comedy School, in which they’ll learn the craft of standup, including joke writing, audience mining, and how to make your own heckler spray.

Across the woodsball fields and speedball arena of Long Live Paintball, contenders dodge the colorful fire of their opponents as they leap over cable spools and post up behind a charred bus or towers of barrels. It's on these obstacle-ridden grounds that dye-slingers compete in elimination-style games or battle to complete a given mission, such as capturing the adversary's flag and using it to pick popcorn kernels out of their teeth. Admission rates range from simple entry fees for the fully equipped to all-day Gold packages that supply players with a marker, 500 paintballs, and all the other necessary provisions. Rentable chest protectors cushion trunks from crossfire, and disposable camo cuts down on the time players spend fusing their DNA with that of a tree. Although the field is generally first-come, first-serve, the staff can prepare for parties of 10 or more with an advanced reservation.