The town’s first dedicated espresso house just opened to great fanfare, as if you didn’t already have enough reasons to visit Frenchtown, with its cute shops, great bike paths, and laidback vibe.
The brainchild of proprietors Patrick and Kimberly Legin, Early Bird is a cool space, with its decidedly minimalist SoHo vibe and the best barista for miles (that would be Carolyn Gadbois), has fast become a hit with ex-pat NYers, locals, and day-trippers alike.
Like many New Yorkers, Patrick—with a passion for the nuance of fine coffee–stumbled into Frenchtown by surprise. “Kimberly grew up in Hunterdon County. I first discovered Frenchtown when I dropped her off one day for one of her hair appointments at Euphoria [Salon]. I instantly fell in love. At that moment, I knew I wanted to be a part of this community.”
They found this little storefront available in a 19th century building and just went for it. “We wanted to respect the natural character of the space, but mix in some of the charm of the many farms in the area with a little city attitude.”
Start your day with an Americano at the Early Bird, the best place to fuel a weekend of adventure in Frenchtown.
How to get there: Take the Transbridge Bus from Port Authority (the Doylestown, Flemington, Frenchtown route takes about two hours, costs $23.80/one way or $45.25/roundtrip, and has free wifi).
Stacey Wolf James is a psychic and astrologer with a commitment to sustainability and an addiction to travel. She is the author of five published books including Never Throw Rice at a Pisces, the first wedding planning guide for brides who like astrology. When she’s not soothing her globe-trotting soul, she’s on back country roads with her Harley-riding husband or strolling their two bulldogs around Frenchtown, New Jersey. Read more about her: staceywolf.com.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram