Known for it's gorgeous views of New York City, the Hoboken waterfront is one of our favorite places to take a stroll and bring visitors from out of town! You can also walk down onto the piers which get you even closer to the views (and we love it since Pier A is where Nick proposed ;)).

Hoboken is home to some of the cutest coffee shops that make a great cappuccino, chai tea latte, or any other caffeine-based beverage that you like! While the staples like Starbucks and Dunkin are available, we recommend Bwé Cafe (either location) or Mojo Coffee Company if you're looking for a place to sit. For a grab and go, with the added ability to get fresh beans ground to take home, definitely check out Empire. If you're feeling really crazy, head over to the Hive - you may just get lucky if they're not sold out of their LEGENDARY Cinnamon rolls - they took over Instagram in 2024. Or come back early Sunday to beat the line and secure your taste buds' trip to heaven.

Home to some of the cutest boutiques, Washington Street in Hoboken is the place to be! Within this 15 block span, you can find anything from local shops to the big players like Madewell, Anthropologie and Sephora. There's also some famous food places like Carlos' Bake Shop from Cake Boss - though we don't recommend eating too much, as there will be quite the spread once the reception kicks off :)

Just a 5 minute drive from the Residence Inn hotel in West Orange, Montclair is another NJ town worth exploring! Montclair is a "suburbs-meets-city town" that has been dubbed “the Brooklyn of New Jersey,” known for its buzzing center for the arts, culture, and amazing locally-owned small businesses.

The Residence Inn hotel is also only 5 minutes away from several parks, such as the Thomas Edison National Historic Park and Verona Park. Weather dependent, take in a cool, crisp, fall afternoon and enjoy the foliage New Jersey has to offer!