Princeton is one of my favorite small towns in New Jersey for a good reason - it's one of the best shopping and dining hubs in the entire state, as well as being home to a world-famous university. But in looking forward to getting to my destination, I often passed right by one of New Jersey's best small towns. Kingston, New Jersey, located right outside the borders of Princeton, is a tiny town of under 1,600 people that often evades people's attention - you drive right through on the main road to Princeton, and you'll notice a quaint small town with a nice look but little to grab your attention immediately. But this town is hiding a gorgeous historic district, a delicious farmers' market, and a spinoff of one of the area's most popular restaurants. Come with us and discover why you should make a stop in Kingston the next time you're driving to Princeton!

Princeton is quite the enticing destination - but don't be in too much of a hurry to get there. You might miss a true gem.

Kingston is home to a unique historic district, containing 16 historic buildings including the famous Kingston Mill...

As well as two contributing structures, including one of the oldest bridges in the United States - dating back to 1798.

The Kingston area is also home to the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market, which is technically within Princeton's borders but is far closer to Kingston than downtown Princeton when you travel.

Many of the products in this unique Amish market come directly from Lancaster, PA - including some of the best shoofly pie around.

There is also an extensive hot bar of food like ribs and fried chicken - making this an underrated and affordable spot for lunch.

But the most well-known dining spot in Kingston is definitely PJ's Pancake House, a spinoff of the wildly popular Princeton college-area diner.

That location is often swamped with crowds and has a line out the door, so this is a great place to get your breakfast or lunch in a more laid-back environment before continuing to explore Kingston!

Have you ever stopped in Kingston, New Jersey before? Let us know about your favorite things to do in this charming small town in the comments section! You can find out more about Kingston on the Kingston Historical Society website, and you can find out more details about the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market and PJ's Pancake House on their official website. When you do head into Princeton, make sure you stop in at Whole Earth Center for some more delicious shopping, and if you're considering spending the night in the area, we highly recommend The Peacock Inn - it's one of a couple of historic hotels in the Princeton area, and it's gorgeous.