You don't have to fly overseas for a week to have a great summer vacation. There are plenty of exciting places to visit for day trips around Bergen County. To help you round out your summer calendar, our real estate agents have compiled a list of their favorite destinations that you can reach from Ridgewood in one hour or less.
Garret Mountain Reservation
8 Mountain Ave., Woodland Park, NJ 07424
Garrett Mountain Park sits just 32 minutes away from Ridgewood by car, making it a great option for an afternoon excursion. The park's 310 acres contain miles of hiking trails and beautiful vistas, all topped by a scenic overlook offering panoramic views of Paterson and the distant New York City skyline. After admiring the sights, you can head to the park's historic Lambert Tower and Lambert Castle. The castle has been converted into a publicly accessible museum and library, and the tower is always open for visitors to climb and explore.
New Jersey Botanical Gardens
5 Morris Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456
The New Jersey Botanical Gardens is located 34 minutes away from our Ridgewood homes for sale by car. This lush paradise comprises more than half a dozen distinct gardens, each featuring a lively assortment of plants and blossoms. Use the interactive map on their website to chart your course through the grounds or sign up for fun activities like scavenger hunts, guided family hikes, and tours of the gardens and on-site manor house.
Bear Mountain State Park
Palisades Parkway, Bear Mountain, NY 10911
Bear Mountain State Park is just a 43-minute drive away and offers family-friendly outdoor fun all summer long. Visitors can take a hike or bike ride on one of the park's many trails, swim in the lake or on-site swimming pool, take a spin on the wooden merry-go-round, check out the animals and artifacts on display at the Trailside Museum and Zoo, or climb the Perkins Memorial Tower to enjoy a spectacular view. Boat rentals are also available for an extra fee.
The Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460
While you'll have to cross state lines to get there, Ridgewood residents can make it to the Bronx Zoo in just 52 minutes. This beloved institution celebrates its 125th anniversary this year and is hosting a range of parades, performances, and more to mark the occasion. You can walk down the newly unveiled Animal Chronicles trail and enjoy the beautiful wildlife sculptures on display or visit some of the zoo's 640 species of animals in person. You can even book one of the zoo's Wild Encounters to see a specific animal up close and learn more about its habitat, diet, habits, and more from its zookeeper handler.
Franklin Mineral Museum
32 Evans St., Franklin, NJ 07416
The Franklin Mineral Museum may be the furthest location on this list (a 57-minute distance from Ridgewood), but its educational value and rich hands-on experiences make it more than worth the trip for families. Kids can tour the museum and participate in a fossil dig and gemstone panning, saving any treasures they find to take home at the end of the day. Adults can join in on the fun by going rock collecting in Buckwheat Dump, a world-famous site where local mining companies used to dump leftover rocks found during excavation.
These locations are just the start of what Bergen County has to offer. Contact us today to speak to our real estate team and learn more about how you can make this vibrant region your home.
