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 a 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 own sandwiches or buy some to bring.
Tipsy Tie Dye Downtown | 155 1st Street
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
(Photo credit: @nywaterway)
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.
Sweets Tour
From Baking Mama to Insomnia Cookies, Carlo’s Bakery, Jun’s Macaron 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.
Read More: Summer Day Trips in NJ
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), Tony Boloneys, and Grimaldi’s, where you’ll find gluten-free pizza.
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, and Black Rail Coffee are a few awesome options to try.
Hudson Cat Sailing Charters | Sovereign, 1301 Frank Sinatra Drive
(Photo credits: hudsoncat.com)
Hudson Cat has private catamaran rides on the Hudson River for you and five your closest friends. Nothing says vacation more than relaxing on a luxury boat — and thanks to Hudson Cat, you can do this right in your own backyard. You can find out more about the cruise offerings here.
Kayaking | Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse, Frank Sinatra Drive
If the weather is a 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.
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 + Roofs
Image: Instagram via @emagem
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, Pilsener Haus & Biergarten, + Northern Soul — but really, anywhere with outdoor seating is great. Pier 13 is also a prime outdoor summer spot for drinks and food trucks.
See More: Guide to Best Jersey Shore Beaches
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.
Looking for more adventure in Hudson County? You can check out our Hudson County Bucket List and take your Hoboken staycation just outside Hoboken.
