With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, many New Jersey residents choose to flock to the Jersey shore — but a great vacation doesn’t have to require a change of location. Hoboken is full of fun activities that could make any staycation a memorable one. We’ve rounded up a list of ideas for a Hoboken staycation so you can just focus on relaxing on your time off. Read on to learn how to spend your Hoboken staycation.
Picnic | Pier A, Elysian Park, + More
Hoboken is full of parks and greenery that make for excellent picnic spots. Pier A is a great choice downtown with the wonderful view of the city — and Elysian Park is also a prime picnic spot, full of trees and in a quiet setting. You can pack your sandwiches or buy some to bring (we recommend one of these spots). See our favorite spots for a picnic here.
Play! Hoboken | 1012 Grand Street FL3 FL2
This business in Hoboken provides all kinds of fun to its guests. From an arcade to bowling to indoor golf, there are plenty of attractions that make this spot a great staycation destination. Play! Hoboken also hosts weekly events like pool tournaments, D + D games, and more.
Tipsy Tie Dye Downtown | 155 1st Street
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This family-owned business started by a brother and sister is one of the best places to unwind. It lets you unleash your inner creative child through tie-dyeing — and you can do it with a drink in your hand if you choose. Tipsy Tie Dye is BYOB so you can create a colorful new shirt while sipping on some wine, liquor, or beer. What more could you want from your staycation? You can book your reservation here.
Ferry Trip to NYC | 1401 Frank Sinatra Drive
If you don’t regularly commute to NYC, you should consider using your time off to hop aboard. It offers fantastic views of NYC from the middle of the Hudson, and if it’s a nice day, the breeze feels wonderful from upstairs. Once you get to the city, there are several complimentary NY Waterway buses to take you to your destination.
Hoboken Historical Museum | 1301 Hudson Street
From Frank Sinatra to baseball to Hazel Bishop, Hoboken is full of rich history. After all, the Hoboken Historical Museum is packed with facts, stories, and exhibits. You can pick up walking tour maps of historic sites and points of interest if you want to do your own exploring around Hoboken afterward.
Hudson Golf | 16 Hudson Place
Hudson Golf is the best of both worlds — with professional golf simulators and a dinner + drinks menu. Maybe you’re just getting to the game of golf and want to learn some basic skills or are a seasoned hobbyist. Visitors here can come solo or bring a group of friends to play a course or hit some balls in one of the bays, equipped with TrackMan technology. Hudson Golf is also known for its kitchen and bar, which has a menu filled with modern flare.
Sweets Tour
From Baking Mama to Thomas’ Ice Cream, KikiLu Gelato, and beyond, there’s no lack of dessert shops here in town. You can explore and taste your way around Hoboken’s local dessert shops — because, let’s face it, it’s your staycation and you deserve it. See our guide to desserts here and ice cream shops here. If you’re a tried-and-true foodie, here are 7 items we’re currently obsessing over.
Pizza Tour
There are so many spots to find an amazing slice of pizza in Hoboken… the only question is, where will you start? We recommend checking out Benny Tudino’s (featured image + largest slice in town), Tenth Street, or Napoli’s. You really can’t go wrong with any of them, so naturally, we have a list — based on preferences — to check out here.
Coffee Tour
Hoboken is home to so many wonderful coffee shops. If you’ve done your pizza + sweets tour and you’re looking for another fun way to sample around the city, consider treating yourself to a coffee tour. bwè kafe, Black Rail Coffee, and The Hive are a few awesome options to try. If you can’t decide, browse our caffeine itinerary here.
A Boating Aventure on the Hudson
The Hudson River may separate New York from New Jersey, but there are so many fun activities to do out on the water. From relaxing sailing charters leaving from Hudson Valley river towns to epic party boats, who needs the Atlantic Ocean when there are so many options to take advantage of? Try the Sea the City Hot Tub Tours (yes, that’s a real thing) if you’re looking to relax. For a more boozy cruising style, consider the BYO Sappho Sailing. And if you’re still unsure, don’t worry — we’ve got a guide, of course.
Kayaking | Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse, Frank Sinatra Drive
If the weather is nice, taking out a boat on the Hudson is a great way to spend a day — and if you’re feeling a little more low-key than a rented catamaran, this is a more relaxed and cost-effective option. The Hoboken Cove Boathouse organizes free kayaking from Maxwell Place — yes, free. It also has stand-up paddle boarding and outrigger canoeing. No reservations are required, so you can show up whenever you’d like.
Frank Sinatra Self-Guided Walking Tour
For any history and Sinatra fans out there, this is the activity for you. Known as the ‘kid from Hoboken who got the breaks,’ Sinatra has tributes to him all over town, as Hoboken was his birthplace and where he found his fame. The city is decorated with all things Sinatra from restaurants to landmarks that feature all parts of his life. We’ve created a self-guided walking tour so you can see all the noteworthy Sinatra spots around Hoboken.
Rock Climbing at Gravity Vault | 1423 Clinton Street
If you’re searching for something adventurous on a bad-weather day, you can go indoor rock climbing at Gravity Vault, Hoboken’s 25,000-square-foot rock-climbing center. This fun staycation activity also happens to be a fantastic workout for your entire body.
Uptown Hoboken Farmer’s Market | Under the 14th Street Viaduct
Every Saturday, local vendors come together under the 14th Street Viaduct for the uptown Hoboken Farmer’s market, a truly lovely way to spend time outdoors and secure some fresh produce. The market runs from 9AM – 1PM
Mile Square Theater | 1400 Clinton Street
Hoboken has a wonderful theater for anyone craving a show. The Mile Square Theater — which is a non-profit theater — is always putting on some fantastic shows and is a great way to pass the time with friends or family.
Outdoor Bars + Rooftops
There are tons of great bars with lots of outdoor seating so that you can bask in the sun while sipping a cocktail. Some great outdoor bars include City Bistro or Metropolis (both rooftops) — but really, anywhere with outdoor seating is great. Pier 13 is also a prime outdoor summer spot for drinks and food trucks.
Retail Therapy
What better way to spend a staycation than doing a little shopping? With the plethora of boutiques in the area, there are so many to choose from regardless of your style. A few faves are Washington General Store, Mint Market, Dor L Dor, Francesca’s, and more. Check out our guide to Hoboken’s boutiques, then check out at the register of your favorite shop.
Looking for more adventure in Hudson County? You can check out our Hudson County Bucket List and take your Hoboken staycation just outside Hoboken.
Saunas to Get Your Sweat on in Hoboken + Jersey City
If you're looking for a new way to relax and indulge in self-care, saunas could be just what you need. Not only do saunas feel amazing, but they also provide numerous health benefits, and lucky for us, Hoboken + Jersey City are full of saunas aplenty for everyone to enjoy. Keep reading to discover where you can get your sweat on in Hoboken and Jersey City, New Jersey.
Traditional Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas
Before we get into the benefits, it’s important to understand the difference between traditional saunas and infrared saunas. Infrared saunas use infrared wavelengths that heat your body, unlike regular saunas which use humidity or steam to heat the room around you. Because of this, infrared saunas do not need to be as hot, which also means you can stay in the sauna longer. Traditional sauna sessions are usually about 10 to 20 minutes, while infrared sauna sessions can be anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes.
Owner of SW3AT Wellness in Jersey City, Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez, explains to Hoboken Girl that both infrared saunas and steam saunas provide therapeutic and wellness aids such as relaxation and weight loss. However, their benefits differ due to their unique heating methods. Alyza further explains, “Infrared technology is more efficient as it promotes more sweating which provides one of the best detoxification methods out there. This detox is excreting harmful environmental toxins such as aluminum, cadmium, nickel, and more.
Read More: New Medspa Open on Park Avenue in Hoboken
The waves emitted by infrared saunas can penetrate deep inside the body and heat your tissues several inches deep, allowing your body to feel the heat from the inside which causes you to produce sweat releasing more toxins. In addition, this results in increased blood circulation which can reduce the risk of heart disease. Infrared saunas also alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and aid in muscle recovery. The Journal of American Medical Health even claimed you can burn up to 600 calories in a 30-minute session."
Hoboken
120 Degrees F | 720 Monroe St Suite E310A
120 Degrees F in Hoboken has infrared sauna sessions available for one person or two for a duration of 30 or 60 minutes. Aside from sauna services, 120 Degrees F also offers a multitude of spa services like facials, cupping, and massages. Memberships and packages are also available on the website.
Attain Medspa | 720 Monroe St Suite E407
Attain Medspa offers infrared sauna services in addition to their array of medspa specialties. Attain recommends using infrared saunas as a winter retread to help boost metabolism and detoxify.
Crunch Fitness | 113 River Street
Crunch Fitness is a gym that provides both a sauna and steam room with membership. This spot, located near the waterfront, is just a short walk from the PATH. For those who hate running on the treadmill, burn some extra calories during a sauna session.
Local Barre Social Club | 720 Monroe Street C300
This spa in Hoboken provides a full-service infrared sauna, which is available to book daily from 8AM to 8PM. Each session includes 30 minutes in the sauna and five or 10 minutes in the private sauna room. Guests can book by calling the front desk at 201-904-2330 or through the business's app.
Psyth Sauna | 36 Newark Street, Suite 402
Psyth Sauna offers infrared sauna therapy for in 30 minute, 45 minute, and 60 minute sessions. Guests can even book with a friend. Psyth Sauna also offers red light therapy, halo therapy, and compression therapy.
Woodhouse Spa | 225 River Street
Woodhouse Spa offers infrared sauna sessions to support clients full body renewal. Woodhouse Spa suggests pairing a sauna service with a sports massage and black sand exfoliation session.
XCEL Athletic Lifestyle | 125 Marshall Street, 7th Floor
XCEL Athletic Lifestyle is a rooftop fitness club offering everything from aquatics to group classes and personal training sessions. A dry sauna is also available in-house.
Zen Om Studio | 129 Washington Street # 200
At this Hoboken spa, Hudson County locals can enjoy various kinds of cryotherapy, LED light therapy, compression therapy, PEMF therapy, and, of course, infrared sauna therapy. As a lovely addition, Zen Om Studio includes chromotherapy, a specific kind of light therapy, with every sauna session. Note that this spa requests a 2-hour notice for sauna bookings.
Jersey City
Basebody Spa | 60 Christopher Columbus Drive
Photo credit: Basebody Spa
At Basebody Spa in Jersey City, guests can find sauna, stream, and towel services. In addition, this spa specializes in massages, including CBD deep tissue massage, chakra balancing massage, prenatal massage, and stress fix massage. Other amenities of the space include luxury locker rooms, fitness classes, personal training, and more.
Chilltown Fitness | 517 Communipaw Avenue
Chilltown Fitness is a strength and conditioning gym in Jersey City that also has an in-house sauna program. For more information and pricing visit the website.
Enso Sauna Studio | 390 Central Avenue
Enso Sauna in Jersey City Heights offers innovative infrared sauna light therapy. The sauna studio has both red light therapy and color-light therapy to promote healing and cellular regeneration. This gentle experience is a great way to unwind and can support health goals, muscle relaxation, and more.
om.life Wellness | 18 Park View Avenue, Suite 2A
Photo credit: om.life Wellness
Om.life Wellness provides infrared sauna services and customizes them according to each client’s needs. Customers can use the LCD touch-screen control panel inside the sauna to choose their desired results such as detoxification, anti-aging, weight loss, relaxation, cardiovascular, pain relief, or a custom one. Om.life also offers chromotherapy. After the session, guests are invited to drink a cup of alkaline Kangen water in the upstairs lounge while looking over the beautiful marina.
META Bodywork | 75 Montgomery Street, #202
META Bodywork in Jersey City is best known for their massage services. As an add on, customers can also experience the HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket after a massage for extra detoxification.
Salvation Wellness | 30 Provost Street
This gem in Jersey City covers all of your self-care needs, from facials to massages to sauna services. The infrared sauna is located in their studio and can be experienced through the deluxe package. The infrared sauna experience, which lasts for 30 minutes, can be paired with a massage, meditation, or enjoyed on its own.
Suite Tee | 172 Newark Avenue, 3rd Floor
Suite Tee in Jersey City is the go-to for all your beauty services. In addition to waxing, nails, and tanning, this spot provides sauna services.
SW3AT Wellness | 317 Central Avenue
Photo credit: SW3AT Wellness
SW3AT Wellness, Jersey City’s first infrared sauna studio, is located in the Historic Downtown area of the city. Each sauna is situated in a private room, making it a comfortable experience for customers. Visitors can take advantage of the complimentary chromotherapy, or color therapy, in each of the saunas to adjust emotional or mental states. Another perk that customers can enjoy is listening to their own music on a speaker inside the sauna. There is the pricing for one-time sessions, as well as membership packages for added savings and perks.
Bonus
Island Spa + Sauna | 1769 Lincoln Highway, Edison
This Korean spa in Edison provides eight kinds of sauna services, some of which include Aromatic Therapy Sauna, which utilizes high humidity levels and essential oils, Ice Island, an ice sauna that aims to cool the core body temperature down, and more. See all the kinda of sauna services offered here.
See More: A Trip to Aura Head Spa in Montclair, New Jersey
SoJo Spa Club | 660 River Road, Edgewater
SoJo Spa Club is a Korean bathhouse known for its distinctive saunas and rooms. At this spa, guests can find a Himalayan Salt Sauna, a Charcoal Sauna, a Red Clay Sauna, a White Clay Sauna, a Ganbanyoku Sauna, which features a Japanese-style “bedrock bathing” experience, and a Far Infrared Sauna.
SweatHouz | 725 River Road Edgewater
SweatHouz will soon be opening an infrared sauna in Edgewater focusing on contrast therapy (immediately transitioning from hot to cold). While no official opening date has yet to be released the website states that the space will include private suites, with infrared saunas, cold plunges, and vitamin C showers.
