Day Tripper: Elmhurst

Between keeping within your budget and scheduling time off from work, planning a vacation can be stressful.

If you find you have too little time to travel and not enough money in your bank account, there’s no need to fret.

Each Thursday, Douglaston Patch will profile one of the five boroughs’ unique neighborhoods, where you can sample some local culture and culinary delights.

This week’s pick is Elmhurst:

Noon

Start your day with lunch at Honest Eats (Upi Jaya), an Indonesian cafe at 76-04 Woodside Ave. Its menu includes a variety of combination platters, such as mixed vegetables, rice and jackfruit as well as beef, chicken, vegetable and seafood dishes.

2 p.m.

Spend your afternoon shopping at the Queens Shopping Center, which houses a total 182 stores and restaurants.

Shops at the center include The Children’s Place, Steve Madden, Skechers, Perfumania, Forever 21, Feather Groove, Godiva Chocolatier, Fossil, Bath and Body Works, Coach and Macy’s.

The mall’s restaurants include Grill Kabob, Cinnabon, Noodle House, McDonald’s, Pretzel Maker, Sarku Japan, Sbarro and Big Easy Cajun.

Visit the shopping center’s website to view a complete list of stores.

6 p.m.

Grab a bite of dinner at Gran Rancho Jubilee, a Latin club and restaurant with a menu that includes steaks, chicken dishes, salmon, empanadas, BBQ ribs, oxtail a la Jubilee, goat meat, fried yucca, pork belly and Dominican stew.

Gran Rancho is located at 23-04 94th St.

Click here to view the restaurant’s complete menu.

Evening

Then, stick around Gran Rancho for an evening of Salsa dancing.

The club, which is housed in a hut-like structure, has a tropical atmosphere, a thatched roof, DJs, a dance floor, theme nights and live Spanish bands.

Dress for the club is upscale.