Have a few hours to kill and want to get some shopping in? We have some suggestions…

Starting downtown, park in the Bloomfield Avenue parking lot, where you can enjoy several hours of free parking, and then walk over to Broadway. Going down one side and up the other, you’ll find quite the array of unique, independently owned stores to provide a little retail therapy. Most of them are owner-operated and you’ll find the owners stocking their shelves, ringing up your purchases, and the last one to leave at the end of the day. Whether you want treats for your pup (Mutts on Broadway), a fun gift for a tween (Wish), or a soft stuffed animal for a new baby (Sisters), it’s easy to find something for everyone on your list.

Hop back in your car and go south on Route 53. Along the way you’ll see Dickerson’s Corner, a great spot with Dollar Tree and Flowers By Candle-Lite. Keep going and head west on Route 10 to the Shoppes at Union Hill and the Denville Commons for a little more. There you’ll find high end chains like Gap, Talbots, Janie & Jack, and more. Plenty of ample free parking and easy access to all the stores in these shopping strips make it a pleasurable and convenient experience. Don’t miss a stop at Trader Joe’s for their popular Everything But the Bagel seasoning (if you know, you know). And if you need a little sustenance during your excursion, there are plenty of options including caffeinated beverages at Starbucks, juicy burgers at Five Guys or the Alexis Diner, or grab and go snacks at Corrado’s.