Whether you’re looking to get away for romance, relaxation or adventure, your weekend destination is right here in New Jersey. Take a peek at four distinctive ways to weekend, and start making your escape plan.
1. The Cozy Weekend
Heard about hygge? It’s the Danish lifestyle trend that’s all the rage. But New Jersey innkeepers have been creating that quality of coziness and comfort since…well, George Washington slept here. For old-fashioned romance, hide away in a country estate near the Delaware River. Selected as one of the Top 10 B&Bs in the U.S., the Woolverton Inn in Stockton has been wooing guests for years with luxurious amenities and lavish three-course country breakfasts—served in bed if you like! For an equally cozy experience with a boutique ambience, try the Bungalow Hotel in Long Branch. Steps from the Atlantic Ocean and Pier Village shopping and dining, the Bungalow exudes minimalistic style and features rooms and suites with fireplaces and kitchenettes.
2. The Farm Fresh Escape
Count on the Garden State to nurture your inner farmer with accommodations set on real working farms. A purveyor of farm-fresh bounty to Cape May restaurants, Beach Plum Farm now welcomes guests to stay in five historic cottages and barns, equipped with full kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms and screen porches. Wake up (or not!) with the rooster and enjoy down-on-the-farm amenities and food. If you’re an oenophile, you’ll savor the opportunity to stay in the midst of the vineyards at New Egypt’s Inn at Laurita Winery. In Chesterfield, Fernbrook Farms, a 230-acre preserved farm offering a CSA program, environmental education and plant nursery, also accommodates guests in its gracious, antique-filled seven-room Inn at Fernbrook Farms.
3. The Glam Getaway
Love a little nightlife? You’ll go for these glamorous weekend getaways. At the Hard Rock in Atlantic City, chill out in your room or suite before you check out over 20 dazzling on-site nightlife and dining options. In addition to live entertainment at Sound Waves and Howie Mandel’s Comedy Club, you can indulge in treatments at Rock Spa and Salon or even reserve a Fender guitar for a private jam session. For country sophistication, head to the Skylands Region and Crystal Springs Resort. This all-season resort offers plenty of choices—like Grand Cascades Lodge, which surrounds you in Adirondack-style luxury. Don’t miss dining at the award-winning Restaurant Latour and sampling from Crystal Spring’s impressive 1-acre wine cellar that features thousands of labels. At the W Hoboken, stay in a room or suite with Manhattan views, book a treatment at Bliss Spa and enjoy local, sustainable cuisine at Halifax. Located on the waterfront in the heart of Hoboken’s Mile Square City, the W is steps from dining, nightlife and culture, and close to PATH and the NY Waterway Ferry.
4. The Amazing Overnight
Kids of all ages will go wild for these unique overnights at three of New Jersey’s most popular family attractions. Plan an unforgettable birthday party for your young sailors aboard Battleship New Jersey. Overnights feature mess hall chow, bunk accommodations and lockers to store your gear. Turn a scout outing into a deep-sea adventure with the “Shark in the Dark” overnight program at Adventure Aquarium. And you won’t have to worry about the weather forecast with a “camp in” at Liberty Science Center. Stay and sleep by your favorite exhibit!
For more ideas on weekend getaways, go to visitnj.org, where you can sign up for e-news and download a travel guide. And don’t wait to plan your week at the Jersey Shore. Summer is coming. Really!
