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Rainy Day Things to Do Near Woodland Park, NJ (Plus Where to Eat Between Stops)
The forecast says rain. Again. Your plans for a hike up Garret Mountain just got washed out, the couch is calling your name, and somebody in the group chat already typed "so what now?"
Here is the thing: a rainy day around Woodland Park is not a lost day. It is a great excuse to do the stuff you keep saying you will get to, like that museum ten minutes away or the waterfall you have driven past a hundred times. And yes, it is the perfect excuse for a long lunch and a really good cocktail.
So we put together a small local itinerary. A few easy stops, short drives, and BASK46 right in the middle as your home base for food and drinks. Grab an umbrella. Let's go.
Your Rainy Day Game Plan at a Glance
Pick the version that fits your day. Both keep you mostly dry, both keep you well fed.
The Weekday Rain Check (Wednesday to Friday)
Time | Stop | Why |
11:30 AM | Great Falls, Paterson | The falls are at their loudest after a good rain. Quick look, big payoff. |
12:30 PM | Lunch at BASK46 | Doors open at noon. Soup, a big sandwich, done. |
2:00 PM | Yogi Berra Museum, Little Falls | Open Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 5 PM. |
4:00 PM | Happy hour at BASK46 | Monday to Friday, 3 to 6 PM. Cheap apps, $5 margaritas. |
Wednesday bonus | Stay for trivia | 2-for-1 pizza from 6 PM, trivia at 8 PM. |
The Weekend Washout (Saturday or Sunday)
Time | Stop | Why |
11:00 AM | Montclair Art Museum | Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM. |
1:30 PM | Late lunch at BASK46 | Brick oven pizza and a few plates to share. |
3:00 PM | Willowbrook Mall, Wayne | Shop, wander, or catch a movie at the Cinemark. |
Evening | Cocktails back at BASK46 | Open until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday. |
Now let's break down each stop.
Stop 1: See the Great Falls When They Are Actually Great
Hot take: the best time to see the Great Falls in Paterson is right after it rains. The water gets loud, wide, and a little dramatic. On a dry August afternoon it is pretty. After a soggy week it is a show.
A few things to know before you go:
• The park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, and rangers are around from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.
• There are no indoor facilities at the park, so this is a quick stop, not an all-day thing. Bring the umbrella and decent shoes.
• Ranger-guided walking tours run at 2 PM Monday to Thursday, plus 11 AM and 2 PM Friday to Sunday, staffing permitting. Call ahead if the weather is rough.
History fans, Lambert Castle is close by in Paterson too, and guided tours can be booked through See Passaic County. Fifteen minutes of waterfall, then you will be ready to get out of the rain and into a booth.
Stop 2: Warm Up With Lunch at BASK46
BASK46 sits right on Route 46 in Woodland Park, an easy hop from Paterson, Little Falls, and Totowa. Doors open at noon every day, so you can roll in damp and leave very, very happy.
Rainy day lunch has rules. It should be warm. It should be cheesy. It should make you forget your socks are a little wet. Here is what we would order off the menu:
• French Onion Soup ($8). The official soup of gray skies.
• Chili ($8). Hearty, cozy, and very good with a cold beer.
• Braised Beef Short Rib Grilled Cheese ($22). Grilled cheese, but make it a whole event.
• Grown Up Grilled Cheese ($17). For when you want the classic but fancier.
• A burger with fries. Every burger comes with fries, and the 46 Smash or The Cowboy hit hard on a cold day. Our guide to burgers in Woodland Park breaks down the whole lineup.
Can't choose? That happens a lot here. Our what to order when you can't decide post has your back.
Stop 3: Talk Baseball at the Yogi Berra Museum
Just up the road in Little Falls, on the Montclair State University campus, the Yogi Berra Museum is one of the best rainy day spots around, and plenty of locals still have not been. It is an easy, low-key way to spend an hour or two, even if you are not a die-hard baseball fan.
• Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 5 PM (closed to the public Monday and Tuesday).
• Admission: $15 adults, $10 kids under 18 and seniors. Veterans and Montclair State students get in free.
• Parking: In the lot across from the museum. Grab a visitor pass at the front desk.
Pro tip: the site says their phones have been down lately, so email or check online before you go.
Weekend Swap: Montclair Art Museum
If your rainy day lands on a weekend, head over to the Montclair Art Museum. Big galleries, plenty to look at, and zero chance of getting rained on once you are inside.
• Hours: Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM, Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM.
• Admission: $17 adults, $12 seniors and students, free for kids under 12.
Art first, pizza after. That is a solid Saturday.
Stop 4: Happy Hour, Because You Earned It
Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 PM, the happy hour menu at BASK46 turns a gloomy afternoon into a pretty great one. A few highlights:
• Chili with tortilla chips for $4
• Disco Fries for $7. Jersey fries, brown gravy, mozzarella. Rain was basically invented for these.
• Spinach Artichoke Dip for $7
• Half-price apps like Calamari, Cheesesteak Egg Rolls, and the Jumbo Bavarian Pretzel
• $4 Coors Light and Yuengling drafts, $5 Modelo, $5 House Margaritas, and $7 house wine, Swangria, or The Frank
Not sure which drink goes with which plate? Our simple guide to pairing drinks with food makes it easy.
Stop 5: Shop, Wander, or Catch a Movie at Willowbrook
Need to walk off lunch without getting soaked? Willowbrook Mall in Wayne is about as rain-proof as it gets, with 170+ shops and restaurants under one roof. Browse Apple, Uniqlo, or ZARA, or duck into the Cinemark for a movie in XD or ScreenX. Two hours in a dark theater while it pours outside is honestly kind of perfect.
Last Stop: Pizza, Cocktails, and No Plans to Leave
This is where the day lands. Back at BASK46, the TVs are on, the brick oven is going, and nobody cares what the weather is doing.
Order the pizza
Our brick oven artisan pizzas are the move on a rainy night. The Original Brick Oven starts at $14, and specialty pies like the Nonna, Fig & Blue, Funghi, and Hot & Spicy Upside Down are $16. Hungry crew? The Arugula pie is $18 and worth it.
Get a few things for the table
Rainy days tend to turn into "who else wants to come?" days. If your group grows, start with the Sampler Platter and build from there. Here is our full playbook for feeding a big group on Route 46.
Then the drinks
Check out the full drinks menu, but here are our rainy night picks:
• Bask Old Fashioned ($14). Bourbon, honey syrup, two kinds of bitters, orange peel, Luxardo cherries. Slow, warm, and made for sipping while it pours. New to the drink? Here is what an Old Fashioned actually is.
• Espresso Martini Bar. The Classic, or try La Cucaracha, The Dance! ($16) with reposado tequila, honey, cold brew liqueur, espresso, and sea salt. Instant second wind.
• Spicy Blackberry Margarita ($15). A little heat to cancel out the chill.
• Bask Mule ($13). Orange Irish whiskey, lime, ginger beer. Easy and bright.
Which Day Is Best for a Rainy Day Plan?
Any day works, but some days come with bonus points:
• Tuesday: Taco Tuesday. Korean, Classic, Shrimp, and Carne Asada tacos. (Heads up, the Yogi Berra Museum is closed Monday and Tuesday, so swap in the mall or the falls.)
• Wednesday: Trivia night with Joe Trivia. 2-for-1 pizza starts at 6 PM, trivia at 8 PM. Rain plus trivia plus half the pizza bill? Yes.
• Friday and Saturday: BASK46 is open until 2 AM, so there is zero rush to wrap up the night.
• Sunday: Montclair Art Museum in the morning, football on every TV in the afternoon.
See everything happening this week on our specials page.
Wait, Isn't This the Place From Kitchen Nightmares?
Yep. BASK46 was on Kitchen Nightmares in 2023, and we are still here and still cooking. If you are curious how it all went down, read the full Kitchen Nightmares story. Then come see for yourself.
Rainy Day FAQs
What are some indoor things to do near Woodland Park, NJ?
The Yogi Berra Museum in Little Falls, the Montclair Art Museum, Willowbrook Mall and its Cinemark theater in Wayne, and guided tours of Lambert Castle in Paterson are all close by. Wrap it up with dinner and drinks at BASK46 on Route 46.
Is the Great Falls worth seeing in the rain?
Yes, as long as you dress for it. The falls are usually at their most powerful after heavy rain. Just know the park has no indoor facilities, so keep the visit short and plan a warm spot to go after.
What time does BASK46 open?
BASK46 opens at 12 PM every day. It is open until midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday.
Does BASK46 have happy hour?
Yes. Happy hour runs Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 PM, with half-price appetizers and drink deals like $5 house margaritas and $4 drafts.
Let It Rain
A rainy day near Woodland Park can be one of the best days of the month if you plan it right. See the falls, hit a museum, kill some time at the mall, and let BASK46 handle the food and drinks in between. Grab your umbrella and your people. We will save you a booth.
BASK46
1530 US-46, Woodland Park, NJ 07424
(973) 256-2275 | info@bask46.com
Monday to Thursday and Sunday: 12 PM to 12 AM
Friday and Saturday: 12 PM to 2 AM
