The Great Escape: Get a Taste of History at Milleridge Village

Today's escape will take us back in time to a small town alongside of The Milleridge Inn known as Milleridge Village.

As you park in the lot just south of the inn, you will notice a hanging wood banner inviting you into the village. Enter this quaint village here and begin to feel transformed to a gentler time. 

There are seven shops to uncover and most touch upon a historic theme. The first store that will catch your eye is The Toy Shoppe and it's loaded with toys from floor to ceiling.

Like traditional towns of this period, you will naturally come across a General Store filled will all kinds of housewares, retro candy, goodies, and trinkets.

As you meander around the plaza, your nose will lead you to the scent of freshly baked goods. The aroma is coming from Bread & Jam bakery. Once inside you will find pies, danish, breads, cookies, and more, baked fresh daily. 

On the opposite side is the Confectionery- designed to look like a soda pop shop of yesteryear. Besides the fountain drinks and ice cream, you can order up lunch Monday through Friday. And if it's a nice day, take advantage of the outdoor seating.

To the left of this mint-colored building, you will see Murphy's Good Things. There are lots of interesting seasonal merchandise and flowers to check out. 

At the far end of the courtyard is the Christmas Shop, bursting with holiday merchandise all year long. Connected to this store is Lonny's Furniture, where you will find period style furnishings and decorative accessories.

Across the way is Cranberry Cottage. If you love fine china, it is here where you can peruse shelf after shelf of beautiful tea sets, Majolica, transferware, and reproduction pressed glass. 

During the spring, starting Easter Sunday and continuing every Saturday night until Thanksgiving day, you can listen to live music from a banjo band along this charming street from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Starting now and ending on Oct. 30, the inn is celebrating Oktoberfest with all kinds of festivities geared to the theme. Make sure to head outdoors for dinner, DJ, and dancing in the Biergarten. It offers six German beers on tap. For additional entertainment, on Sept. 23 and 30 and on Oct. 14 and 28, you will be able to enjoy performances by German folk dancers while you listen to live music from The Edelweiss Oompah Band (every Friday).

During all the big holidays (Mother's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) folks flock to the village to see costumed characters dressed as either Mother Goose, the Easter Bunny, Tom the Turkey, or Santa Claus. Depending upon the holiday, you may find balloon artists, magicians, pony and carriage rides, and a mini train offering trips around the property, all for free.

The inn itself is steeped in history and you can learn all about it here.  But are you wondering how it came to be called the Milleridge Inn? In the 1940's, a man named Clyde Miller purchased the property but other tales say there was a mill on the premises near a ridge. By the 1960's, the Murphy family took it over and it is still in the family to this day.  

Address: 585 North Broadway, Jericho, NY

Phone:  516-931-2201