Day Trip: Ridgewood

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

The Cheese Shop
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.

[justified_image_grid exclude="featured"]
Read more Towns & Schools articles.

By submitting comments you grant permission for all or part of those comments to appear in the print edition of New Jersey Monthly.

Required
Required not shown
Required not shown