Things to do in Mount Laurel
Whether or not Mount Laurel, New Jersey, counts as a suburb of Philadelphia remains subject to contention, but this township east of the Delaware River stands on its own as a community built around green, open spaces and bustling centers of business.
Highlights
4816 Church Rd, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054, USA
If you are in Mount Laurel between May and December, it is worth your while to check out the produce at Cheyenne’s Road Market. This rustic locale on Church Street is open every day except Wednesdays, but visitors should call ahead (856 983-6361) to make sure. You will be rewarded with the best of what’s in season, be it Jersey Tomatoes, Bosc Pears, giant pumpkins, or their own brand of honey. During the month of December, the market is open every day until 8pm before going into hibernation mode after Christmas.
528 Mt Laurel Rd, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054, USA
Need a machete to traverse your backyard? A visit to Eric’s Nursery and Garden Center may be in order. They do not sell machetes, but they do have a successful team of landscape architects and gardeners to provide full-service to corporate and individual customers. If that sounds a little excessive for your needs, Eric’s is also a great place to find flowers for your sweetheart or a shrub for your underachieving nephew.
320 Evesboro Medford Road
There are those who will stubbornly claim that it’s impossible to find a good bagel outside of New York City. Whether this was true at one point in time I am, thankfully, too young to say, but it certainly isn’t true anymore. I think I can easily make my case with Free World Bagels in Marlton. This small operation bakes fresh bagels every day—from plain to multigrain—and has all the requisite trimmings to create a divine snack. Want lox, red onion, tomato, and capers? You got it. More into the humble egg and cheese sandwich? This is the place. Open daily until 2 p.m.
Evesham Township, NJ 08053, USA
Despite a massive increase in popularity over the last few decades, soccer still doesn’t cause the same widespread euphoria in the United States as in other countries. But the beautiful game is gaining converts every year thanks to youth leagues and the ambassadorship of players like David “my-body-is-a-temple” Beckham. And it’s really fun to play. One of the best places to do so around Mt. Laurel is on the Evesboro Downs, which boasts 42 acres of well-maintained fields.
230 N Maple Ave # A7, Marlton, NJ 08053, USA
Visiting the Philadelphia area and not eating at least one hoagie is like traveling to Rome and passing on St. Peter’s. Luckily, Lee’s Hoagie House is a mini-chain that has popped up in a number of spots since it first opened in northwest Philly in the early ‘50s. The unassuming Marlton outpost on Crispin Square is definitely a no frills affair, but for a killer Italian sub there is no place better. After eating here, you are unlikely to ever again utter the phrase, “that sure was a big sandwich.”
200 Country Club Pkwy, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054, USA
Whoever claimed that golf is a good walk spoiled (and no, it wasn’t Mark Twain) clearly never experienced the bliss that comes after a round of hitting every green in regulation and sinking every putt. I haven’t either. But I refuse to stop trying. The Ramblewood Country Club in Mt. Laurel is one of New Jersey’s most popular public courses, giving pros and duffers alike a chance to test their mettle on 27 holes. The course is open all year, as long as there is no snow on the ground.
554 Fellowship Rd, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054, USA
For folks who think that the best way to relax is with a pint of lager, a basket of boneless chicken wings, and live NFL coverage, Miller’s Ale House in Mount Laurel will put their mind at ease. This massive sports bar may be part of a chain that employs half the state of Florida, but the food is consistently good and there are over thirty beers on tap. What’s not to like? If it’s the person sitting next to you at the bar, you can always divert your attention to one of the roughly ten thousand TV screens that flicker overhead.
555 Fellowship Road
If the movies are to be believed, interesting things happen in hotel bars: transient strangers hatch elaborate schemes, secret lovers hold trysts, international spies exchange intelligence, that kind of stuff. Of course, one could also just go for a well-made drink and some bar nuts. Bar 555 at the Westin Hotel in Mt. Laurel won’t disappoint with its numerous whiskeys and smartly curated wine list. Open until 2 a.m. on weekends.
915 NJ-73, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054, USA
The CoCo Key Water Park Resort in Mt. Laurel provides aquatic entertainment for all ages. Open year-round, this resort is an all-indoor affair, with the exception of an open-air hot tub, and the water slides that protrude from the building’s exterior like an elaborate, serpentine garden sculpture. (Don’t worry, you enter and exit the slides with a roof over your head.) If you’re less amphibious in nature, CoCo Key also has an arcade and restaurant—so you can enjoy yourself while staying dry.
2341 NJ-38, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, USA
For a classic American diner experience, the Cherry Hill Diner in, yes, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is the place to go. This 24/7 locale has been around for decades, and is as renowned for its freshly baked cakes as it is for its gargantuan omelets. If you can, try to swing by at night when the lights are aglow and the whole vibe harkens back to the days of mid-twentieth century USA.
Powhatan Indian Reservation Dr, Hainesport, NJ 08036, USA
Head northeast from Mt. Laurel on Hainesport Road and in a few minutes you’ll reach Rancocas State Park, a protected area of creeks, marshes, and hundreds of acres of hardwood forest. The park includes a replica of a seventeenth century Native American village, as well as a nature center that was formerly run by the Audubon Society. Speaking of running, the trails in Rancocas are great for jogging. But mind your footing; the terrain can be a little rough.
201 Kings Hwy E, Haddonfield, NJ 08033, USA
It’s heaven for the tots at The Happy Hippo, a locally owned toy store on the corner of Haddonfield’s main drag. The selection here tends to favor the classics—think slinkies and jack-in-the-boxes, but there’s also a good supply of higher-end, German-made products (yes, German engineering prevails even when it comes to toys), and musical instruments designed for mini-Mozarts. The owners seem to have a thing for model trains, as several sets were simultaneously in motion when I stopped by.
2011 Marlton Pike W, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, USA
There are few things better then fresh, grilled flounder, filleted tableside; if it can be preceded by homemade pasta and paired with a glass of pinot grigio, then all will feel right with the universe. Everything definitely feels right in Caffe Aldo Lamberti, an Italian seafood restaurant that has been delighting South Jersey residents and visitors for over 20 years. Open for lunch and dinner, Aldo Lamberti does everything well, from opulent dishes like seafood towers and Florida stone crabs, to more subtle tasks like rendering an exquisite mushroom risotto.
2825 NJ-73, Maple Shade Township, NJ 08052, USA
Feel like knocking down some pins? A great place to do it around Mt. Laurel is Laurel Lanes, a bowling alley boasting an impressive 64 lanes. Open until late every night of the week and 3 a.m. on weekends, Laurel Lanes is popular with serious league rollers and gutter-balling amateurs. There’s also an arcade, pool tables, sports bar, and even a pro shop. On weekends the “Millennium Madness Light Show,” i.e., disco bowling, starts at 10 p.m., so if things suddenly get a little psychedelic, it’s not because you’re going crazy.
1045 S Church St, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054, USA
Laurel Acres is an ideal spot for a short jog, a lazy summer evening watching kids play baseball, or in the winter, a fun day of sledding. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, and features multiple soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and a playground. Licensed visitors can fish the Laurel Acres pond, which has been known to yield impressive rainbow trout.
121 Kings Hwy E, Haddonfield, NJ 08033, USA
If you want to hit the trails in the Mt. Laurel area, but forgot to pack your running shoes, chances are you can find something suitable at the Haddonfield Running Company on Kings Highway East. A specialty shop for runners of all levels, this store is known for its meticulous “fit process,” which takes several factors into consideration when helping you find the perfect pair of shoes. Of course, not everyone wants to have their gait analyzed or the shape of their feet subjected to close scrutiny, so you can always just pick up some really snazzy socks.
146 Kings Highway East
Even during the time when British culinary culture was the subject of cruel punch lines, there were some dishes that no one did better than the English. That might be because they were dishes that the English invented, but still—a well-made Shepherd’s Pie is nothing to scoff at. The British Chip Shop in Haddonfield does many of the classics and does them well, from bangers and mash to freshly baked scones. And you might have to cross the Atlantic to find a superior fish and chips. BYOB.
929 Haddonfield Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, USA
Learning Express in Cherry Hill is a toy store for active kids of all ages. With an emphasis on products and brands that engage children intellectually, as well as physically, this place has a great selection of construction toys, puzzles, and games. Just be sure to play it cool when your six-year-old has you in checkmate.
