When you have the occasional guest or two during the winter in Hoboken, you tend to avoid going out all costs, which is totally unfortunate for those who have never experienced the fun of the mile square. But now that the weather is (finally!) warming up houseguests are starting to become more frequent. Hoboken is an amazing area to visit, especially in the spring and summer. Between going out and showing them the sights, having friends or family in town can mean spending more money than usual… but it doesn’t have to!
A few ideas on how to have fun with out-of-town guests without blowing your budget:
1. Eat In… with Local Specialties
Hoboken has great restaurants, and it can be fun to eat out… but it can also be fun to cook a meal with your guests, featuring some of Hoboken’s best local products (and lots of wine, of course).
A few ideas:
– Mozzarella from Fiore’s
– Italian sausage from Truglio’s
– Fresh pasta from Lisa’s Deli
– Salami from Vito’s {or pretty much anything}
– Cannolis from Giorgio’s… it’s easy to put together a feast, and as a bonus, shopping in these old-school Italian delis and bakeries is a lot of fun. If you don’t want to spend the whole night in, hit a happy hour before dinner or go out afterwards for a nightcap.
2. Go for a Hike
…Or just walk along the Hoboken waterfront, which is pretty spectacular. But if you have a car, going on a hike in Palisades Interstate Park is a great way to spend a few hours. It’s only about a half-hour drive north of Hoboken, and there are miles of beautiful trails that wind along the banks of the Hudson, with great views of NYC. If you want to stop for lunch (or dinner) on the way home, try Mitsuwa, a Japanese grocery store in Edgewater with a food court featuring ramen, sushi, curry, bubble tea, and more at super-affordable prices.
3. Go See a Broadway {or Off-Broadway} Show
Wait, what? Even if you stand in line at TKTS, most shows still run at least $40 or $50 per person, which can add up fast, especially if you’re treating your guests. But there are a couple of great theater companies that offer deeper discounts. Roundabout Theatre has a program called Hiptix, where people under 35 can sign up {for free} and then get $25 tickets to all of their Broadway and off-Broadway shows {I saw Cabaret with Michelle Williams and Alan Cumming for $25 this year!} Even better, each member can bring one guest, whether the guest is under 35 or not, so it’s a great option when parents are in town. Lincoln Center has a similar program called Linctix. The discount tickets sell out fast, so plan in advance for these.
Those are just a few ways to live the high life on a budget with guests in town.
What else do you like to do {that doesn’t break the bank} when you have visitors?
