With a robust university, a bustling downtown, and an urban vibe, I knew Montclair had the ingredients for a city-centric day without crossing the Hudson. But what I didn’t expect was all the family-friendly things to do in Montclair and how much my kids would love exploring the sidewalks and feeling like they were in the big city. On a recent visit, we checked out everything from the Montclair Art Museum to downtown Montclair on Church Street, where we hit up spots like Doin’ Dishes, a ceramics studio, and stopped for a bite at the popular Raymonds, known for its upscale comfort food like baked mac and cheese. Read on for what to do in Montclair with kids and why it’s one of our favorite downtowns for a day trip. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
Explore The Town Of Montclair
For kids and kids at heart
Our first impression of Montclair brought to mind the Big Apple since you can see signs of New York City everywhere—especially since the city skyline looms in the distance. We zeroed in on exploring the downtown, which felt like a mini Greenwich Village. Our first stop was Just Kidding Around on Bloomfield Avenue, with unique toys for every age, from infants to tweens. Another fun shop was East Side Mags, a toy, hobby shop, and comic book shop all rolled into one with new and old single-issue comics, trade paperbacks, graphic novels, action figures/toys, games, cards, and collectibles. After, we spent some time at the Montclair Center with everything from the Alchemy Scent Bar, where you can make your own candles and home and body products, to the Charmed Beading Studio. We also stopped into Doin’ Dishes, which has creative pieces to paint and offers classes for kids or drop-in projects. Other fun kid-approved things to do in Montclair include lacing up your ice skates for classes or free skating at the Clary Anderson Arena, or having a “claydate” at Montclair Mud Clay Studio next to Wellmont Theater. Or, if you just want to take the day to explore it all, you can rent a bike from Diamond Cycle and take a tour of Montclair; rentals are first-come, first-serve.
Engage in the museums and history of Montclair
For culture, Montclair has its fair share of museums, including the renowned Montclair Art Museum at the top of the hill before you get to the downtown. With permanent collections of American art from the 18th century to contemporary, and Native American Art, families can explore the galleries through interactive family guides and a dynamic learning lab. A drive away is the campus of Montclair State University with the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center. My son was thrilled to see this museum with its collection of artifacts, interactive baseball experience, and illustrated history of the Negro Baseball League. We spent some time here, and found they have a learning center that has everything from baseball camps to interactive programs that combine disciplines like baseball and STEM. Although we didn’t make it to the Montclair History Center, you can take a self-guided, guided, or private tour of the Nathaniel Crane House, Clark House, and Library, or the Landsberger Learning Garden & Meadow to get a good understanding of Montclair’s diverse history in New Jersey and its roots in agricultural over a century ago.
See blooms and wildlife
Every city has a green space, and Montclair has plenty of parks and gardens for a dash of nature in a city landscape. From dawn to dusk 365 days a year, anyone can take a walk around Van Vleck House & Gardens for free (and there are lots of shaded areas to keep cool in the warmer months). My kids loved how we could pull the car up to the gardens, and the gate “magically” opened into what felt like a secret garden just minutes from the busy downtown. Then we visited the “rainbow on the hill” at The Presby Iris Gardens, where about 14,000 irises of about 3,000 varieties bloom from May to June. For more green space, the Avis Campbell Gardens, maintained by The Garden Club of Montclair, is a great stop to take a moment among the blooms. If you’re up for an adventure, the Alonzo F Bonsal Wildlife Preserve is known as NJ’s best-kept secret in Montclair, and it’s a beautiful and peaceful spot to enjoy nature and wildlife.
Eat, drink, and find the sweets
We were getting hungry and when it came to deciding on where to grab a bite, we were in awe of the choices. There are a bunch of cute cafe-in-the-city spots, but our favorite was Paper Plane Coffee Co. for unique drinks inspired by travel (with seats that resemble a vintage airline lounge). We found lots of ethnic restaurants, too, like Cuban Pete’s for classics like Pollo Cubano or Fisherman Stew or Egan & Sons, popular for gastropub entrees. For lunch, we went to Church Street to Raymond’s, a retro eatery known for its comfort food and seltzer bottles, where my kids feasted on burgers and grilled cheese. Looking for the sweet stuff? My kids were thrilled to check out ice cream sandwiches and The Pie Store, which is full of sweet and savory delights. We couldn’t resist checking out Chip City, which had everything from chocolate chip cookies to banana cream pie cookies, and next time, we vowed to try something unique like the Thai-inspired ice cream at Absolute Zero Ice Cream.
What to know before you go
Montclair is walkable in some spots and then it’s easier to drive to other places. The three main areas— Bloomfield Ave., Church Street, and Grove Street—and it’s best to park the car nearby at a garage or parking lot and explore. As you venture out of the downtown, it can be easier to travel by car to places like Van Vleck Gardens, the Crane and Clark Houses, and Edgemont Park. If you are headed north to stops like the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in Upper Montclair or Montclair State University, there is public transportation from downtown if you don’t want to move your car. During the year, mark your calendar for special events like the Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jamboree with several stages and food and artisan vendors. In October, the Montclair Film Festival brings together film lovers and professionals with 10 days of family events, independent films, and documentaries. If you want to stay over, the MC Hotel Autograph Collection on Bloomfield Avenue has a rooftop bar and contemporary rooms, while the boutique hotel, The George, offers an upscale chic design in a former historic inn.
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