American Dream Mall for a few hours with my 79 yo mom

[Anonymous]

My mom and I are going to drive up to New York on a Sunday in a few weeks for my cousin's birthday party. My mom wants to leave at 9am for a 4pm party, so we'll have a chunk of time in the middle with nothing to do. I saw on the map that we'll pass right by the American Dream mall, and I figure we could stop there for lunch. Is there anything we should definitely do while there? We only have a few hours, and while she's active, she's still 79 yo. There are Blue Laws in New Jersey so many stores will be closed, and I hate shopping anyway. It's just such a big mall that I don't want to waste time deciding right then what to do. Any suggestions are appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I went to the American Dream Mall once and it really wasn’t that great. It’s big and there are some high-end stores, but about a third of it was empty. I think there is an indoor ski hill there, which I didn’t see. If you love malls and shopping, you might enjoy it, but didn’t do much for me.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the info. Any suggestions for where we can stop on our way from Maryland to Stony Hill, NY for a few hours?

[Anonymous]

Kingston and Rhinebeck?

[Anonymous]

Just a heads up NJ as a state doesn’t have blue laws, but Bergen County, where American Dream is, does.

[Anonymous]

Would she be interested in an escape room or mini golf? They have both there.

[Anonymous]

What does SHE like?

For example, going to a mall would feel like punishment to me.

I would enjoy a surprise picnic near a lake or something. Is there a nature center along the way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does SHE like?

For example, going to a mall would feel like punishment to me.

I would enjoy a surprise picnic near a lake or something. Is there a nature center along the way?

These are good points. A mall is not a fun leisurely activity for me. I did go to American Dream Mall. It was OK. Only reason I went to it is we were going to an event at the Meadowlands, which is adjacent to the mall.

IMHO, a better stopping point in NJ is Liberty State Park in Jersey City. It’s not too far off of 95 and has postcard views of Lower Manhattan. Nice spot to take a walk and enjoy river and skyline views. Jersey City is also has some really good restaurants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom and I are going to drive up to New York on a Sunday in a few weeks for my cousin's birthday party. My mom wants to leave at 9am for a 4pm party, so we'll have a chunk of time in the middle with nothing to do. I saw on the map that we'll pass right by the American Dream mall, and I figure we could stop there for lunch. Is there anything we should definitely do while there? We only have a few hours, and while she's active, she's still 79 yo. There are Blue Laws in New Jersey so many stores will be closed, and I hate shopping anyway. It's just such a big mall that I don't want to waste time deciding right then what to do. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Here’s a place in Jersey City that has a good view of Manhattan and is about two blocks away from a shopping mall: https://bestofnj.com/directory/restaurants/seafood/north-jersey-seafood/hudson-county-seafood/battello/

[Anonymous]

Maybe scope out a bookstore and cute cafe for lunch?

[Anonymous]

Maybe just find a cute main street and do lunch and hit some cute gift shops. Maybe Montclair NJ? (Not sure what county that is in.) I would try to avoid a mall in the middle of a sunday right before xmas just to kill time, it will be a madhouse.

[Anonymous]

It was evacuated for a bomb threat.

[Anonymous]

It is huge and loud. Create a game plan first.