10 Stress-Free New Jersey Towns For A Weekend Retreat
Black bears roam the forests above Ringwood and apple cider donuts fly off the shelves at Vernon farm stands. New Jersey keeps these weekend escapes tucked into its quietest corners. You can climb the 199 steps of the Cape May Lighthouse one weekend and bike past the 1857 Barnegat Light the next. George Washington camped on Bridge Street in Lambertville before crossing the Delaware. These ten towns serve up trout streams and boardwalk taffy in equal measure. Each one delivers a slow weekend within a tank of gas.
Ringwood
This Passaic County town sits on the New York State border, close enough for an easy getaway. In the early 20th century, Ringwood was a summer resort destination. Cottages and cabins were built around its lake communities. Today, Cupsaw Lake, Erskine Lake, and Skyline Lake provide a relaxing escape with shorelines dotted with waterfront homes. Many of these houses have direct access to the lakes for canoeing, kayaking, and sailboating, though motorized boats are prohibited. The Shepherd Lake Recreation Area offers 74 acres of outdoor recreation within Ringwood State Park. It also has a sandy swimming beach and picnic pavilions.
The grounds of the historic Skylands Manor now serve as the New Jersey Botanical Garden. The gardens include 5,000 species of plants and flowers and pathways through landscaped grounds. You can even stay in the 1920s manor by booking The Castle at Skylands Manor. The venue also serves as a popular wedding destination. The surrounding forests are home to white-tailed deer and a growing population of black bears.
Anglers will find the Monksville Reservoir is filled with trout. The North Boat Launch has paddleboard and kayak rentals available from Flatwater Paddle. Construction of the reservoir displaced a collection of historic buildings later relocated to Long Pond Ironworks State Park, just to the north of the reservoir. Those buildings are now part of an open-air museum open to tours. The park also features the Long Pond Ironworks Multiuse Trail for hiking and mountain biking.
Vernon
A little farther west, also on the New York state border with Warwick, New York, you'll find Vernon, New Jersey. Mountain Creek Resort makes it an easy choice for a relaxing getaway. The resort has hot tubs, saunas, and heated outdoor pools. Nearby spas such as the Minerals Hotel offer massage and mineral treatments.
The valley's apple orchards support local farm markets. Heaven Hill Farm is stocked with locally made cheeses, honey, jams, pickles, and other pantry items sourced from local growers. Pochuck Valley Farm Market has apple cider donuts and a large selection of pies, including seasonal apple, cherry, peach, and pumpkin options.
One big attraction in town is Wawayanda State Park, which includes a picturesque white sand beach on Lake Wawayanda. The park also has picnic areas and trails for hiking and horseback riding. On the opposite side of town, the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge protects wetlands where waterfowl such as mallard ducks, American black ducks, and Northern shovelers can thrive.
Montague
Montague sits in the far northwest corner of the state, where Pennsylvania and New York come together. The township includes New Jersey's highest point, aptly named High Point. It is part of the Kittatinny Ridge and rises 1,803 feet above sea level. Trails lead to the High Point Monument, dedicated to the state's veterans. The peak is surrounded by 16,000 acres of High Point State Park.
For a quiet weekend in the woods, grab a campsite in Stokes State Forest. The forest has 63 miles of hiking trails leading up to Sunrise Mountain. At 1,653 feet, it is lower than High Point, but the views reach across the state line to the Pocono Mountains. The Appalachian Trail also passes through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in this part of the state.
Frenchtown
This Hunterdon County town sits directly on the Delaware River, across the water from Pennsylvania. The first European settlers in the area were a group of Huguenots from France, though the town was not originally named for them. The name came later, following the French Revolution, when the land was sold to a Swiss fugitive who spoke French. The river, canal, and railroad shaped the town's growth. As canal traffic faded, Frenchtown developed into an arts community.
ArtYard is a contemporary art exhibition and performance space supporting provocative art and creative expression. Programming includes residencies for artists, performances, and gallery shows. The Roxey Ballet brings professional ballet performances to town throughout the year. For a slower afternoon, sit at the Bridge Cafe with coffee and watch the Delaware River flow by. All these stops are around the corner from The National Hotel, first built in the early 19th century as a stagecoach stop.
A covered bridge sits just across the river. Cross the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge to see the Historic Uhlerstown Covered Bridge. The 101-foot wooden structure was originally built in 1832 and rehabilitated in 1985 to ensure its safe operation.
Lambertville
A little farther downriver is Lambertville, where George Washington camped with the Continental Army along what is now Bridge Street. The historic main street looks like a movie set, with historic storefronts and brightly colored buildings. It sits directly across the Delaware River from New Hope, Pennsylvania. Together, the two communities are often compared favorably to Provincetown, Massachusetts, and they attract LGBTQ tourists.
Arts and performance are an important part of the local culture. The Music Mountain Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Hunterdon County, offering 30 shows each year for both adults and children. The Riverside Symphonia is a professional orchestra based in Lambertville, with performances at regional venues.
If you love history, you can stay at The Lambertville Station Restaurant and Inn. The inn occupies a converted railroad station that once served the town. The train no longer stops there, but the historic New Hope Railroad is just across the river. Its trips include relaxing dinners, wine and cheese tours, and Sunday tea service with scenic views from vintage railroad cars. For a more hands-on historical experience, check out the Howell Living History Farm. The functional period farm is set in 1900 and highlights farming techniques from the last century. The farm also sets up a corn maze each season.
Princeton
Closer to Trenton, New Jersey and home to Princeton University, Princeton is a relaxing small town that is easy to reach from Manhattan on NJ Transit commuter trains. The center of town around Palmer Square features restaurants such as Agricola Community Eatery, with a menu focused on locally sourced farm-to-table dining. Aspendos Mediterranean Cuisine serves a Mediterranean-inspired menu. There are plenty of casual meals in Princeton too. Options include Ayat, a Palestinian chain founded in Brooklyn, and Hoagie Haven, where you can find an oversized Italian hero.
Stay in the center of it all in the 18th-century Nassau Inn where members of the Continental Congress once stayed while meeting in the nearby Nassau Hall. Princeton's downtown is filled with great shops too. The Princeton Record Exchange sells favorite albums on vinyl, CD, or cassette, with new and pre-owned music. Labyrinth Books, just around the corner, is an independent bookstore that regularly hosts authors and book events.
Princeton has plenty of outdoor recreation too. The former Delaware Canal has been converted into the D&R Canal State Park, a 70-mile linear park connecting five counties between Trenton and New Brunswick. Battlefield State Park, where George Washington defeated the British, has gravel paths and hiking trails connecting to the canal for a little added history.
Cape May
Cape May puts you at the southernmost tip of New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. This Victorian-era seaside retreat retains many of the charming 19th-century houses overlooking the water along Beach Avenue. For slightly less crowded sunbathing, Cape May Point State Park sits just outside of town with a beautiful sandy beach and the Cape May Lighthouse. You can climb the 199 steps for views all the way to Delaware.
If you need to get out of the sun, check out the tasting room at Nauti Spirits on the mainland side of the canal. This farm-to-bottle distillery has a full selection of top-shelf spirits and colorful cocktails. Enjoy them on the wide open lawn after a tour of the production facility.
History is omnipresent in this old town. If you are not renting one of the historic cottages, check out The Chalfonte Hotel, the oldest continuously operating hotel in town, dating to 1876. Cape May has several museums too. The Fireman's Hall History Museum features a 1920s-era antique fire engine. The Harriet Tubman Museum celebrates the abolitionist's life, and the Emlen Physick Estate offers guided tours highlighting Victorian Stick Style architecture.
Somers Point
Heading up the coast, you'll come across Somers Point, a sleepy town on Great Egg Harbor Bay. It is situated between Ocean City, New Jersey and Atlantic City, New Jersey. The town is also an easy hour-long drive from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A tiki-themed sunset cruise across the bay fits the mood here. Pau Hana Tiki Tour's private charters cater to intimate parties on the calm bay waters. Book a spot at the Tavern on the Bay Hotel & Marina, and you can stay in a room overlooking the water.
A low-key night in Somers Point is ideal for people looking to relax like a local. The Porch is an unassuming, intimate bar serving drinks to locals and tourists alike. Next door, Josie Kelly's Public House serves Irish pub fare, while Smitty's Clam Bar offers a fresh-from-the-sea raw bar and fish fry.
Barnegat Light
Located at the northern tip of Long Beach Island, the tiny seaside town sits directly across Barnegat Bay from the mainland Barnegat Township. The borough, located on the narrow barrier island, is a quiet beach community. The explorer Henry Hudson first came across the inlet in 1609. It later became an important access point to New Jersey's Intracoastal Waterway, connecting the Metedeconk River and Toms River to the open ocean.
The namesake Barnegat Lighthouse was built in 1857-58 and first lit in 1859. A solitary walk through Barnegat Lighthouse State Park and the surrounding sand dunes is one of the town's simplest pleasures. Bring a bottle of water, because there are no trees to shade the path out to the beach. For an easy walk out to the beach, check out the North Shore Inn, a family-run hotel just a block from the water and a short stroll from the lighthouse.
One great way to enjoy the island is on a bicycle. Ocean County Road 607 and Long Beach Boulevard have wide shoulders for biking, and you can easily rent a manual or electric bicycle from Surf Buggy Bike Shop in nearby Surf City. You can also spend a lazy afternoon licking a soft serve ice cream from Andy's At The Light, right next to the lighthouse.
Point Pleasant Beach
A relaxing weekend at the shore does not have to involve a long trip, which makes Point Pleasant Beach an easy choice. Regular NJ Transit trains from Manhattan and Newark make getting there easier than many other Jersey Shore towns. Asbury Park is nearby too.
On the north end of town, you can find accommodation at the Casa Del Mar, a boutique hotel overlooking the Manasquan Inlet and just two blocks from the entrance to the boardwalk. Along the Jenkinson's Boardwalk, you'll find low-stress activities including Jenkinson's Aquarium, stocked with exotic fish, and the Jenkinson's Sweet Shop, stocked with salt water taffy and chocolate. For a more adult night out, Martell's Tiki Bar serves fruity cocktails and hosts nightly dance parties overlooking the surf in the Atlantic Ocean.
A Jersey Shore weekend calls for Italian American food. Joe Leone's Italian Specialties has hero sandwiches, prepared foods like chicken Marsala, and a grocery section filled with fresh mozzarella and imported Italian products. For a more casual red sauce experience, Luigi's Famous Pizza serves pies, pastas, hot and cold subs, and housemade meatballs.
You Can Find A Stress-Free Escape Without Leaving the State
New Jersey has laid-back weekend destinations in the woodlands, along rivers, near historic sites, and beside the ocean. Travelers can climb the state's highest peak, explore colonial-era history, or settle into a Jersey Shore boardwalk afternoon. These towns offer an easy escape without leaving the state.
