Things To Do
Bear Mountain Inn
This spot is not only great for food but has a nice zoo, lake and hiking trails as well. We first went hiking here together on a very rainy day. It is one of our most memorable hiking experiences. We had a great time, but we would recommend going on a drier day if you can.
Books & Greetings
John's favorite bookstore! We went there after our third date and Shannon quickly learned that John could spend hours in a bookstore. This bookstore tends to host a lot of celebrity book signing events. Check out their schedule to see who will be there next!
Empire State Building
We went here when we first started dating. This was where Shannon first started to realize that John is an amazing tour guide.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church
The church we are getting married at has an adoration chapel that is open 24 hours a day! To enter after hours, go to the front entrance of the church. The first door on left is unlocked. Then you'll see the chapel is off to the left side. Also, for those who want to sleep in on Sunday the parish offers a wonderful 6:30 Sunday evening mass.
Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Another great spot for hikes! This is one of John's favorites. We went there spontaneously after Palm Sunday mass 2024. Shannon almost wore heels to church that day. Thank God she didn't.
Saddle Brook Diner
Shannon's favorite diner! Not 24 hours but is open until 2:30 AM most days! Great food & music! Shannon recommends their Santa Fe wrap. John recommends their Chicken Parm Panini. They both greatly enjoy the Chipotle Grilled Salmon Sandwich as well!
State Line Diner
John's favorite diner. Open 24/7! Great food & good prices! John recommends their Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. Shannon recommends their French Toast or Turkey Burger.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Pat's is an absolutely beautiful place to stop and pray when you are exploring the city.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The MET is a must see! It is definitely somewhere you can spend an entire day. We went here with some friends on Shannon's birthday this year. It was such a fun time! If you get a chance to stop by there John would recommend you see Washington crossing the Delaware.
Van Saun County Park
Van Suan is always a fun time! We both have gone here many times throughout our lives as we both grew up in Bergen County. This is one of our favorite date spots. Especially during Christmas time. If you stop by here, be sure to ride the train and say hi to Ellie!
Yankee Stadium
This place holds many good memories for Shannon with some of her favorite people. She is so happy to have added John to the list of people she has shared great times with at Yankee stadium. This is where she learned that John loves dancing to the YMCA.