Summer is almost here. As Memorial Day Weekend approaches, you may be looking to plan some weekend getaways in the coming months. While it’s always fun to book a plane ticket to far off places, sometimes it’s nice to be able to plan a last-minute trip, hop in your car, and arrive at your destination all within a couple of hours. Luckily, there are plenty of places to explore both in New Jersey and its neighboring states.
In the Hoboken Girl Insiders’ Facebook Group recently, HG readers answered the call when a fellow Hoboken local asked for recommendations for weekend getaways within driving distance of the Mile Square. Shortly after asking for help, the post was swarmed with a ton of great suggestions. We rounded up all the recommendations for weekend vacations that are just a short drive away. Read on for the best weekend getaways within driving distance, according to Hoboken locals.
Weekend Getaways Within Driving Distance of Hoboken:
Mystic, Connecticut
Cape May, New Jersey
Block Island, Rhode Island
Ithaca, New York
New Paltz, New York
New Hope, Pennsylvania
Finger Lakes Region, New York
Lake George, New York
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Watkins Glen, New York
Newport, Rhode Island
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Warwick, NY
Beacon, NY
Hudson, NY
Cold Spring, NY
Salem, Massachusetts
Poconos, Pennsylvania
Providence, Rhode Island
Washington, DC
Read More: St. Simons Island: Your Next Must-Visit Vacation
Team HG also loves to hit the road for weekend escapes. Whenever we’re able to visit new places, we love sharing them with our readers. From booking a stay at Cape May’s Congress Hall, the oldest Victorian beach resort still in operation in the United States, to following a DC’s native guide to exploring the capital city, Hoboken Girl has plenty of travel guides to check out.
If you aren’t able to get away for a whole weekend, there are options for day trips in the North Jersey area as well that are just as fun as overnight stays down the shore or out-of-state. Some of our favorite things to do include exploring other towns in the area, enjoying the many public gardens in New Jersey, or visiting a local museum.
Read More: New Jersey Gardens to Visit ASAP This Spring + Summer
No matter what your summer plans are, there are definitely a lot of options for making memories. Whether you take a road trip up to Salem, Massachusetts to explore your witchy side or head down to the Jersey Shore to enjoy the beaches you know and love, you’ll be happy you took the time to get away for a little while.
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Guttenberg Resident Joins Pilots to the Rescue for an Animal Rescue Mission
Everyone loves a heartwarming story and here at The Hoboken Girl, we love to share them as much as we love to hear about them. On February 2nd, Maria Morgana, a resident of Guttenberg, joined Pilots to the Rescue — a nonprofit organization dedicated to animal welfare — to embark on a mission to save 28 dogs and seven cats in Virginia from euthanasia. Maria flew from New Jersey to Virginia to Massachusetts then back to New Jersey to help Pilots to the Rescue give these animals a second chance. Keep reading for all the details about this inspiring local story.
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
Maria's Journey
While Essex County locals were waiting to hear from Punxsutawney Phil (or Lady Edwina of Essex, IYKYK) on Sunday, February 2nd, Maria Morgana of @HudsonStaysGolden was flying across the East Coast to help save animals at risk of euthanasia. Joining two volunteer pilots from Pilots to the Rescue, whose mission is to "prevent at-risk animals from being euthanized by transporting them via air and ground transportation," as per its website, they flew from Essex County Airport to Virginia to relocate 28 dogs and seven cats from overcrowded shelters.
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
Read More: Meet the Local Resident Behind Hoboken’s Decorative Tree Stump
In Virginia, they were met by many shelter volunteers who helped the animals prepare for their travels. "Their dedication was evident as they worked quickly and efficiently to ensure the animals were given lots of love and [comfort] for their journey ahead," Maria told The Hoboken Girl.
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
From the lover state, Maria and Pilots to the Rescue flew to Massachusetts where the animals were taken to Wings of Freedom Animal Rescue, Live and Let Live Farm, and A Second Chance for Ziva Rescue to find their new homes. The group then flew back to New Jersey and took a special friend with them, Pesto, whose forever family was waiting for him in the Garden State. "By the time we landed back in New Jersey, the animals weren’t just passengers—they were starting new chapters of their lives," Maria said.
Maria shared with HG that this trip paid homage to Seuk Kim, a pilot who died in a plane crash in the Catskill Mountains while on an animal rescue mission on November 24th, 2024. Seuk Kim was rescuing four dogs that day. One was dropped off in Maryland and the other three were to be taken to the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley in New York, according to Times Union. Two of the dogs involved survived the crash and one by the name of the Whiskey was adopted this past week. In honor of Seuk Kim, the nonprofit Seuk's Army was founded. This organization was also in attendance during Pilots to the Rescue's mission on February 2nd.
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
"The real heart of this mission was the incredible work of the volunteers, the pilots, and the shelter workers who all came together to save these animals," Maria told The Hoboken Girl. "It’s truly amazing to see the power of community come together for a cause like this."
For Maria, this mission was more than just doing a good deed. "It was a reminder that, even in the face of tragedy, there is always room for hope, love, and new beginnings."
About Pilots to the Rescue
Photo Credit: Maria Morgana
After learning about a group of abandoned puppies in rural North Carolina who were scheduled for euthanasia due to the lack of space at the local shelter, Michael Schneider and fellow pilot Brian Orter flew to North Carolina for their first rescue mission in 2015. A year later, Michael founded Pilots To The Rescue.
Since its establishment, this organization has completed 283 missions, flown 312,066 miles, and saved 3,768 animals. In 2025 alone, Pilots To The Rescue has embarked on nine separate missions across the East Coast and Mid-West.
See More: All of the Candidates Running for New Jersey Governor in 2025
See here to donate to Pilots to the Rescue. "Even the smallest donation directly contributes to our operations and helps us spare more dogs and cats from suffering in overcrowded shelters," as per the organization's website.
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