Girlfriend Getaways: Lambertville

This picturesque spot along the Delaware River will win your heart with its architectural appeal and abundance of enticing shops and restaurants. The town (population: 4,000) is ultra stroll worthy, whether along the scenic D&R Canal towpath, or on Bridge Street, the main thoroughfare, with its restored Victorian- and Federal-style buildings. Perusing the multi-dealer antique centers and well-curated boutiques is a full-day affair. When you are ready, you’ll find eclectic restaurants for lunch or dinner, plus enticing spots to sip a cocktail or a coffee and settle in for a girlfriend chat.

Stay: Book your rooms along the river at Lambertville Station. The inn unveiled a makeover in 2014, upgrading its 46 guest rooms with Ethan Allen furnishings and flat-screen TVs.

Shop: Our finds at Palette (63 Bridge Street) included a funky midcentury-modern Lucite table; a polka dot, Peter Pan-collared dress à la I Love Lucy; and an array of mint-condition collectibles from home décor to jewelry. The 40-plus vendors at People’s Store (28 North Union Street) fill a four-level showcase of vintage clothing, accessories, silver, furniture and more. If that’s not enough, pile into your car for the short ride to the expansive indoor/outdoor Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market (1850 River Road), open Wednesdays and weekends. The goods range from kitsch to couture. On one visit, a pristine circa-1950 Cartier clutch with matching wallet for $95 was a heart-fluttering temptation. (Now’s when you need your bestie to help you decide.)

Beyond nostalgia, there’s the upscale Blue Raccoon (6 Coryell Street) for modern furnishings; Zinc Home and Garden (74 Bridge Street) for urban farmhouse-chic goods; and Greene Street (14 Bridge Street), a designer consignment shop for gently used men’s, women’s and kids’ fashions.

Eat & Drink: Dine al fresco at Lilly’s on the Canal (2 Canal Street), where healthy meets gourmet, and desserts like chocolate-peanut butter cake are worth the splurge. A selection of local wines is available, or BYO. El Tule (49 N. Main Street) doles out generous portions of authentic Mexican and Peruvian cuisine. At Hamilton’s Grill Room (8 Coryell Street), tablecloths are white, the atmosphere is polished (even in the outdoor courtyard), and the seasonal farm-to-table menu features seafood and steaks.

After dinner, make your way to the Boat House (8 Coryell Street), a cozy bar set off the street at the end of an industrial-looking path. From its ivy-covered exterior to its well-worn wooden floors, boating memorabilia and vintage photographs, the Boat House will remind you of an old-world pub. Settle into the comfy couches upstairs, or sidle up to the downstairs bar, where locals will embrace you like a neighbor and the drinks are generous. (Careful, you may find yourself sleeping on one of those couches.)

Don’t Miss: The Wine Cellar at Lambertville Station. A large fireplace, stone walls and 19th-century beams infuse this intimate lower-level bar with charm. The wingbacks, club chairs and sofas are perfect for kicking back with the girls. The wine-and-spirits list is ambitious, with 50 boutique wines by glass or bottle. The locally sourced light-fare menu offers lots of options.