New Jersey has some of the cutest small towns, with their walkable Main Streets, fresh produce sold at farmers markets, outdoor summer concerts, downtown shopping areas and amazing restaurants. There’s a town in Bergen County that’s been recognized not just as one of the best, but also as one of the coolest towns in the country, according to the writers at Travel Curator.
Ridgewood has lovely boutiques (have you been to RHONJ Melissa Gorga’s Envy?), consignment shops, athletic stores, eclectic home shops and award-winning restaurants. The village is separated by train tracks, making it accessible for commuters – but with so many assets, why would you want to leave?
Foodies caused the S’mores Latte at Rey Sol Coffee to go viral, and love the healthy bites and espresso bar at Toastique. Latour, Felina, Roots Steakhouse, The Office and Shumi are all favorites for a nice night out. Spend time after dinner browsing the pastries at Sook, the chocolate croissants at Pierre & Michel, or the massive cookies at The Cookie Connect. (it’s hard to resist the Molten Lava Cake or stuffed Italian Rainbow Cookie). Summertime calls for an ice cream scoop from Van Dyk’s (cash only!) or Kilwins.
Nature lovers spend time at Saddle River County Park’s Wild Duck Pond, where you can walk or bike the trail, or bring your pet to the dog park. You can buy a day pass to Graydon Park, a lake that has a sandy beach with a Shore-like vibe. Van Neste Square is a nice place to sit and relax.
The events calendar is packed, too. Ridgewood has a popular Daffodil Festival & Earth Day celebration, Memorial Day Run and 4th of July celebration, plus summer concerts at the Kasschau Memorial Shell in Veteran’s Park, a weekly farmers market, outdoor movies at Van Neste Square, a fall craft street fair and Oktoberfest ahead of Halloween.
Over the past few years, Ridgewood has been named:
- A top place to live in New Jersey, according to Niche
- One of the best places to raise a family, according to Niche
- One of the safest towns in New Jersey, according to Safewise
- New Jersey town offering a “white picket fence life,” according to DatingNews.com
- Most in-demand neighborhoods in New Jersey, according to Realtor.com
- One of the hottest ZIP codes in the U.S., according to Realtor.com
- A town worthy of a Hallmark movie, according to Country Living
- One of the best places to live in the NY Metro area, according to Niche
- One of the best small towns in NJ, according to Travel + Leisure
These are the 35 Best and Coolest Small Towns in the U.S., according to Travel Curator:
- Sedona, Arizona
- Port Townsend, Washington
- Fredericksburg, Texas
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Eureka Springs, Arkansas
- Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
- Telluride, Colorado
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Leavenworth, Washington
- Frederica, Delaware
- Galena, Illinois
- Camden, Maine
- Chatham, Massachusetts
- Deadwood, South Dakota
- Key West, Florida
- Park City, Utah
- Mystic, Connecticut
- Moab, Utah
- Solvang, California
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- Woodstock, New York
- Saugatuck, Michigan
- Bisbee, Arizona
- Bayfield, Wisconsin
- Dahlonega, Georgia
- Taos, New Mexico
- Kennebunkport, Maine
- Beaufort, South Carolina
- Ridgewood, New Jersey
- Bend, Oregon
- Carmel-By-The-Sea, California
- Mackinac Island, Michigan
- Stowe, Vermont
- Rhinebeck, New York
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Read More:
The Best Things to Do in Ridgewood, NJ
Plan a Day Trip to Ridgewood
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