Day Trip: Ridgewood

This vibrant Bergen County village, about 20 miles from midtown Manhattan, boasts a pleasantly old-fashioned shopping district.

Posted May 28, 2008 by Rema Rahman

The Cheese Shop

Peter Oumanski

Downtown Ridgewood

Peter Oumanski

Best read: A large selection of autographed books can be found at Bookends (232 East Ridgewood Ave, 201-445-0726), a cozy, independent shop where top authors such as James Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark regularly sign their works.

Don’t miss: Country Pancake House (140 East Ridgewood Ave, 201-444-8395) serves more than a hundred varieties of pancakes.

Show someone: P.S. I Love You (123 East Ridgewood Ave, 201-689-1414) carries gifts ranging from vintage T-shirts to jewelry.

Best homemade ravioli: A & B Ridgewood Bakery & Cafe (18 East Ridgewood Ave, 201-612-6888) carries more than a dozen varieties, including eggplant, lobster, and four-cheese ravioli.

Best pub fare: For good food and cheap drinks, try the restaurant upstairs at Mac Murphy’s (8 Godwin Ave, 201-444-0500), a favorite sports bar among the locals.

Take a tour: Schoolhouse Museum (650 East Glen Ave, 201-447-3242) provides a look at life in the Saddle River Valley in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Exhibits include Native American artifacts and a model of an early American Dutch colonial home. Open May through October; tours available by appointment year-round.

Hidden gem: Mela (47 East Ridgewood Ave, 201-445-6060) is an authentic Indian restaurant in a casual space.

Tell the rug rats: Eat Your Spinach (42 E Ridgewood Ave, 201-444-5503) has colorful original clothing designs and accessories for kids.

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