I remember the thrill of my first time; walking, that is, somewhere all on my own, as a kid growing up in Queens. It wasn’t a huge adventure — maybe just down to a place called Park Lunch, near Cunningham Park, where you could buy candy — but it felt like one. My brother and I would routinely pocket our bus fare and instead walk the 20 or so blocks home from the library in Fresh Meadows so we could make a pit stop at a Carvel along the way. Then for 13 years, I lived in Forest Hills, where you could walk to movie theaters, bookstores and scores of restaurants and retail shops. Moving to Montclair, I gave the realtor one major must-have: Show me a house where you can walk to stuff. I found that house and my kids have learned to love the pleasures of seeing where a walk can take you, even when it’s just a trip to CVS (it’s the journey, not the destination…).
Baristaville realtor Lina Panza shares that love of walking. Her blog Walkable Suburb sings the praises of walking where you live and living in a place where you can actually walk. Here are her top 10 favorite most walked-to places in Montclair. Tell us where you love to walk, or the trips you make by foot instead of by car in comments.
1. The train station (any one of the six)
2. Watchung Plaza for a dozen bagels on Sunday morning
3. The farmer’s market on a Saturday in June for local rhubarb and asparagus
4. Tierney’s Tavern on the way home from work for a retro burger and beer (no phone, no credit cards!)
5. The Wellmont Theater on a Saturday night to see David Byrne, Kathy Griffith or Rosie O’Donnell
6. Tinga Tacqueria on Monday and Tuesday nights when kids eat for $2
7. The “all children” playground in Edgemont Park on a weekday afternoon in spring
8. Anderson Park (pictured) on the way to work for early morning Tai Chi
9. American Royal Hardware (aka Mr. Charlie’s) for that whatchamadoohickey that you’ll never find at Home Depot
10. Van Vleck House and Garden for a leafy respite