Gotta catch ‘em all! You already know that the busier the area, the more Pokémon can be found. NYC of course is where those little digital creatures will practically fall in your lap and spawn, but if you’re looking to stick closer to home, here are some top places to go in or near Bergen County. Plus—we give you the inside scoop on what’s currently up with the craze.
Malls
Obvi! Malls and shopping centers are a great place to collect Pokémon (such as Paramus Park Mall and Palisades Center) but the best mall hands down (or, hands up, since you will be holding your phone in front of you playing the game) is definitely Garden State Plaza—for no other reason than the ratio of Poké Stops to stores and restaurants where you want to shop and dine will be the highest.
Parks
Parks and playgrounds are just teeming with Pokémon. Just pick a park! However, if you’re looking for the best Poké Stops and the best attractions – like the Bergen Zoo, the Washington Spring Garden, train, carousel, and pony rides – then Van Saun Park is your best bet.
Historic towns and Revolutionary War Sites
Summer brain drain? What summer brain drain? It’s kind of genius that an interactive game is giving us all new reasons to get out there and brush up on American history. You could even visit the library ahead of time, select age-appropriate historical titles and then offer an incentive (i.e. how about we read for two hours this morning and then binge on Pokémon GO all afternoon?). Tappan, NY, Northvale, NJ, Leonia, NJ, Hackensack, NJ, and Paramus, NJ are all great towns with
historic or revolutionary war spots and you will definitely find a lot of Pokémon.
Museums!
Kids love hanging around museums, and apparently those Pokémon do too! Top spots include the Hermitage Museum in Ho-ho- kus, The Fort Lee Museum in Fort Lee, and The Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum in Teterboro, NJ.
Where to go outside of Bergen County
NYC
So… we haven’t yet calculated the exact number of Pokémon in relation to the population to NYC, but it’s a lot. You can pretty much go anywhere and make a ton of Pokémon friends, but if you’re looking for large clusters, Times Square and Museums are the best places to start.
Beaches
Aren’t you just dying to see what Picachu looks like in a bathing suit? Not only can you find more Pokémon here than sand toys, but you can collect the really rare ones too. The closest beach to Bergen County that is good is Long Branch Seven Presidents Beach.
Amusement Theme Parks
Stand in line and you’ll be able to find at least one Pokémon on each ride at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ!
What Else to Be on the Lookout For…
Heads up on the following news: McDonald’s announced that they are the first official sponsor location of Pokémon GO to help drive customers to their locations. They are the only ones to have an exclusive deal with Pokémon GO developer, Niantic, to turn their locations into “gyms” – the spots where players go to train and battle their Pokémon. In addition, you may find exclusive or rare Pokémon only at McDonald locations. The first launch is in Japan at 3,000 food store locations but is expected to come to the US and other countries soon.
Rumors are that in December 2016, more new Pokémon will be released. This will help keep the game fresh and exciting, encouraging people to continue to play.
Concerned about your kids constantly looking at their phones and not paying attention to their surroundings? In September, players can purchase Pokémon GO Plus which is a a wearable accessory that notifies you when a Pokémon is nearby by vibrating and flashing.
Still looking for more insider news? Here are 12 Pokémon GO Facts and Features.
Now… GO!
