MAPLEWOOD, 1 of 25 coolest towns in America to visit in 2021
From www.matadornetwork.com
2020 HAS BEEN like a giant magnifying glass for our country, our cities, and ourselves. The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to reevaluate our priorities and examine what it is about travel that makes us all love it so much — and miss it when that privilege is taken away from us. It’s not the perks of an airport lounge or the Instagram likes you get on a vacation selfie. It’s the people and the places where we can connect with each other — be it with our travel companions or complete strangers.
In most places around the United States, 2020 saw the closure — temporary or otherwise — of those places where we connect: bars, restaurants, festival grounds, bookshops, museums, and other institutions that give a destination its character in the first place. Trying to highlight the “cool” in a decidedly “uncool” year might sound like a fruitless effort, but towns across the country have defied overwhelming odds to prove their resilience.
When we peek through the magnifying glass, it’s that resilience that looms largest. From cash-strapped communities scraping together donations to save a local bookstore to the creative reimagining of outdoor spaces to keep restaurants afloat, our towns are refusing to let a pandemic diminish their character. And that’s pretty cool.
2020 was the year we fell in love with domestic travel again, and we’re carrying that passion for safely exploring our own backyard into the new year. In no particular order, these are the 25 coolest towns in America that you should visit in 2021.
Editor’s note: Not every restaurant, bar, museum, or performance venue listed is currently open, nor is every event confirmed for 2021. We are writing optimistically in hope that these beloved institutions will be operational eventually in the new year. Please check local restrictions and safety protocols before planning a trip, and remember to mask up. Population counts are approximate and based on recent census data.
17. Maplewood, New Jersey
Population: 25,232
In this beautiful New Jersey suburb, Magnolia trees blossom in the spring, lending the neighborhood a storybook quality. Though Maplewood is just a short 30- to 45-minute commute from New York City and Jersey City by car, you probably won’t want to leave once you get there.
Art appreciators and free spirits of all kinds will thrive in Maplewood, where they’ll find spots like the Rebel Folk Studio, which describes itself as a space for “humans embracing the non-traditional.” The town also hosts the annual Maplewoodstock Music and Art Festival, a two-day jamboree packed with musical performances that encourages families to bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets to Memorial Park. During the summer, Porchfest invites neighbors to gather on grassy knolls on closed off streets and enjoy musical performances.
Speaking of parks, Maplewood is dotted with lush green spaces. In addition to the sprawling Memorial Park, Maplewood is home to the Wildflower Sculpture Park and Maplecrest Park. In fact, Maplewood is the ideal place to experience New Jersey’s natural landscape. Hemlock Falls is nearby, as are parts of the South Mountain Reservation, which covers 2,112 acres and features at least 22 hikes.
If you prefer the indoors, you might enjoy Maplewood’s bookstore, Words. After perusing the shelves, check out the extensive collection of bottles at Wine Barrel. Cap the evening at one of Maplewood’s many restaurants, from the romantic Restaurant Lorena’s to the classic Italian spot Arturo’s Osteria and Pizzeria.
P.S. Want to know the town’s best-kept secret? It’s The Jitney, a white school bus that picks up residents and drives them to Maplewood Train Station — a generous gesture that speaks to Maplewood’s community spirit.