Popping The Bubble: The Princeton Battlefield State Park

If you’re already sick of stuffy libraries and want to take advantage of these last, oh-so fleeting days of pleasant weather, read on. This week’s bubble-popper takes you just minutes off campus but hundreds of years back in time.You’ve probably heard the story of that cannon buried in Cannon Green (we even get our own Wikipedia page about our little cannon - this is the big time, Princeton). And of that big chunk taken out of Nassau Hall by a renegade cannonball during the Battle of Princeton.But what you perhaps haven’t heard is that the Revolutionary War left us with more than just a cannon and an endearing Orange Key fact about everyone’s favorite campus building – it left us with a big, open, leafy, green space perfect for hiking, reading, picnicking, or just plain enjoying the outdoors.The Princeton Battlefield State Park, 100 acres located just a mile and a half south of campus on Mercer Road, commemorates the Battle of Princeton, considered, according to the park’s website, to be “the fiercest fight of its size during the American Revolution” (but they might be a little biased). There, GW racked up his first on-field victory against British regulars before taking his now-famous boat ride across the Delaware River.Also in the park is a Princeton battle monument, as well as the Clarke House Museum, once the home of Thomas Clarke, where General Mercer died nine days after the battle.For the hiking (or running) set, the 588-acre Institute for Advanced Study woods are just adjacent to the park, offering trails of varying levels of difficulty. And lest you think the park is only a worthwhile trip in warm weather, just whip out your cross-country skis and – voila! – instant winter activity.The bottom line? The Princeton Battlefield State Park is close enough to visit without missing late meal, yet far enough to remind you that life exists beyond deepest darkest Firestone.