Day Trip: Allentown

This tiny borough on the Monmouth-Mercer border celebrates its 300th anniversary this year.

Posted May 28, 2008 by Michelle Kahan

Weaves carries hand-woven and hand-embroidered linens, including tablecloths, placemats, quilts, and pillowcases.

Christopher Villano

Pete Sensi Park

Christopher Villano

A wooden seaman at Old Mill Crafters.

Christopher Villano

A Lamborghini Gallardo from Exotic Car Rentals

Christopher Villano

Schnitzel central: Eat your fill of German specialties such as sauerbraten and Wiener schnitzel at Black Forest Restaurant on the first floor of the Old Mill (42 S Main St, 609-259-3197). Finish your meal with homemade pies or cakes from nearby Hoffmann’s Bake Shoppe, or sample Black Forest’s own puddings. 

Gifts galore: Head upstairs to Sarah’s Village (2nd floor of the Old Mill, 42 S Main St, 609-208-0919, sarahsvillage.com) for handmade beaded jewelry as well as candles, quilts, and sparkly sequined purses. Then head over to Off the Wall Craft Gallery (Old Mill Annex, 42 S Main St, 609-259-0725, offthewallcraftgallery.com), for pottery, glassware, jewelry boxes, kaleidoscopes, and wind chimes.

Teen scene: Penelope Grace (6 Church St, 609-223-3828, penelopegraceclothing.com) sells trendy teen and kids’ clothes and accessories. 

Temple of loom: Weaves (35 S Main St, 609-208-9990) carries hand-woven and hand-embroidered linen, including tablecloths, placemats, quilts, and pillowcases.   

Hot wheels: Drive around town in style with a car from Exotic Car Rentals (866-730-2277, exoticcarrentalsnj.com). The company rents sports and luxury vehicles such as the Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes SLK350, Dodge Viper SRT-10, and Porsche Boxster S.

Barnyard chic: Cows and sheep are popular themes at Down Home Country (7 ∂ Church St, 609-208-2992), which features the barnyard critters on dozens of art prints and table settings.

Sweet tooth: For a sugar rush, visit Chocolate ’N Dreams (4 Church St, 609-259-4350) or The Sweetest Things Candy Store (21 S Main St, 609-208-9064), where you can get “candy bouquets,” fudge, lollipops, and more.

Sitting duck: Pete Sensi Park, across the street from the Old Mill, is the perfect place to relax after a day of shopping. Sit on one of the benches or lounge on the dock and watch the ducks paddle by on the lake. 

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