Day Tripper: Woodside

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 Woodside:

Noon

Start your day with lunch at De Mole, a Mexican restaurant with an extensive menu that includes Grilled Steak Encebollado, a variety of styles of enchiladas, huevos con chorizo, burritos, slow cooked chicken leg, tacos, grilled tilapia, quesadillas and salads.

The eatery is located at 45-02 48th Ave. To view the complete menu, visit De Mole’s website.

2 p.m.

Spend your afternoon walking through Woodside. Be sure to stop by Little Manila, which stretches from 63rd Street to 71st Street along Roosevelt Avenue. This section of the neighborhood is home to numerous Filipino businesses.

Pay a visit to Doughboy Park, which is bounded by Woodside Avenue, 52nd Street and 39th Avenue.

The park includes the Woodside Doughboy monument, which pays homage to American soldiers from World War I who were referred to as “doughboys” by British troops because of the large buttons they had on their uniforms.

Also, be sure to take a look at the elaborate Divya Dham Hindu temple, located at 34-63 56th St.

5 p.m.

Grab a bite of dinner at SriPraPhai, a popular Thai restaurant located 64-13 39th Ave.

The eatery, which has been listed in the Michelin Guide as one of the borough’s best and often cited as the city’s top Thai food destination, has a massive appetizer list, a variety of noodle options, soup, soft shell crab and rice with chicken, pork, stewed beef, duck, shrimp or BBQ chicken.

Visit SriPraPhai’s website to view the entire menu.

Evening

Have a drink at one of Woodside’s numerous Irish pubs, most of which are located near the intersection of Woodside Avenue, Roosevelt Avenue and 61st Street.

In the 1930s, the neighborhood had the largest Irish American population in the borough. If you wander around the community, you’ll likely find a few Irish-themed cafes and stores.

And it’s a possibility that your pub of choice could be tuned into a soccer game.