Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, viewed from the second floor near Nordstrom, April 21, 2026. Photo: Dough4872 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized for display.

Paramus shopping may bring you into town, but it does not have to fill the entire day.

Between the retail centers, neighborhood parks, family attractions, and a historic tower beside the Saddle River, the borough offers several ways to turn an errand into a more interesting local outing.

The practical trick is choosing one shopping destination and one additional stop, rather than trying to cover every corner of Paramus.

Start with the shopping destination

Westfield Garden State Plaza is a familiar starting point, with stores, dining, and entertainment that make it more than a place to work through a shopping list.

Before leaving, check the directory for the particular business you want, because the center's general hours do not answer every store or restaurant question.

Paramus Park and Bergen Town Center offer other combinations of shopping and food, so the right choice depends on your errand and the people coming with you.

A family looking for lunch and one purchase may need a different plan from someone comparing several stores.

Keep the first stop focused, decide where you will meet if the group separates, and leave some room in the schedule.

Check Sunday plans business by business

Sunday is where a shopping-first plan needs extra attention.

Paramus Park lists the mall as closed on Sundays, while Garden State Plaza promotes a separate selection of Sunday dining and entertainment options.

Use Garden State Plaza's Open Sundays guide to see the distinction, then confirm the specific venue's schedule before heading out.

A restaurant or attraction being open does not mean the surrounding retail stores are open.

That small check can save a wasted trip and help you choose an outing that actually fits the day.

Trade the checkout line for a park path

Van Saun County Park gives families another kind of destination, with walking paths, picnic areas, playgrounds, and optional attractions including the Bergen County Zoo, miniature train, and carousel.

You can build a visit around a walk and playground time, or add a paid attraction when its schedule and your budget line up.

Check current operating information before promising a particular ride, especially when weather or seasonal schedules could affect the visit.

One enjoyable activity is enough; there is no need to turn a local afternoon into a race between attractions.

Bring water, choose a comfortable amount of walking, and let the park stop be its own part of the day.

Look for the older Paramus story

The county's historic sites guide identifies Easton Tower as a structure built in 1899 to pump water for fountains in Edward Easton's landscaped estate.

It is a reminder that the borough's landscape has a history reaching beyond its present shopping identity.

The Saddle River County Park guide places the tower within the Dunkerhook area's broader network of paths and recreation spaces.

Consult the area maps for your approach, and stay within public access routes rather than assuming every nearby parcel is open.

Pairing local history with a short walk gives the outing a different pace without requiring a full-day itinerary.

Make the next visit easy

Choose the purpose of your visit first: a purchase, a meal, playground time, a walk, or a look at a historic site.

Then check the relevant directory, map, and operating notices, leaving enough travel time between stops.

For a group with different interests, agree on the main activity before adding extras.

Shopping remains a useful starting point for getting to know Paramus, while its parks and historic places give you reasons to stay a little longer.

Sunlit picnic grounds at Van Saun County Park. Photo credit: Bergen County Department of Parks, official Van Saun County Park gallery.