Things to Do in Collingswood NJ

Collingswood is the kind of place that works best without an overfilled schedule. Its downtown is compact, the main commercial stretch is walkable, and independent shops and restaurants give visitors enough variety to build an afternoon around their own interests.

For anyone arriving from Philadelphia or elsewhere in South Jersey, here is a flexible way to spend the day—with Time Lapse as one of the stops rather than the only reason to leave the house.

Begin on Haddon Avenue

Start by walking a portion of Haddon Avenue before deciding where to spend the most time. The street's appeal comes from the businesses being close together: vintage shopping, gifts, food, coffee and services share the same blocks. Looking first keeps the day from becoming a sequence of destinations chosen from a screen.

Browse Time Lapse

At 689 Haddon Avenue, Time Lapse brings together vintage toys, video games, VHS, records, books, comics, clothing, Pokémon, contemporary collectibles and original creations. Give the store more than a quick pass; much of the fun is in the smaller objects between the obvious display pieces.

First-time visitors can read the short guide to Time Lapse, while collectors may prefer the more detailed vintage toy store guide.

Pause for food instead of rushing

Collingswood is known for its restaurant scene, and the walkable layout makes lunch or an early dinner easy to incorporate. Choose a place that fits the group rather than treating the meal as an interruption. A slower break also gives everyone time to compare what they found and decide whether another pass through the shops is warranted.

Let everybody choose one stop

For families or mixed-interest groups, allow each person to choose one business or category. That simple rule works especially well with teenagers and prevents one person's hobby from taking over the day. Our teen outing guide offers more ideas.

Getting to Collingswood

Drivers should allow time to find parking near the commercial district, particularly during busy dining and event periods. Collingswood is also served by PATCO, making it possible to visit from Philadelphia without building the day around a car. Check current transit schedules and local event information before traveling.

Before heading home

Return to any shop that kept coming up in conversation, take one last walk and avoid forcing the afternoon into a checklist. If Time Lapse was the favorite stop, browse the online exclusives later or follow @timelapsejersey for new arrivals.

Time Lapse's regular schedule changes occasionally, so confirm the current hours before planning your Collingswood day.