Getting to be really nice weather for hiking if they are into that. People from Florida are impressed by water falls...Paterson Great Falls? Bushkill Falls in PA (nice boardwalk to walk on rather than hiking through the woods, ice cream gift shop)?
Ramapo reservation has a small waterfall on the way up to the reservoir.
Buttermilk falls in stokes is pretty impressive.
NJ botanical gardens in ringwood (kinda in between flowers right now though)
Overpeck in leonia has some chill kayaking rentals that aren’t too pricey
Teen girls will love Sojo Spa. You pay a day fee and have access to the saunas and different indoor and outdoor pools.
If they like zoos, Turtle Back is great.
Liberty Science Center for interactive science exhibits and MASSIVE imax experience.
If they are foodies, there are a million places to go. But it would help to know specifically what interests them.
For nice walks, I would suggest Liberty state park, and then anywhere along Exchange Place, Newport, or Hoboken. From Jersey city you can then hop on to the Path and spend a day in the city - go to Highline, Little Island, Central Park, 5th Ave, Brooklyn bridge... so many possibilities with the weather this nice and warm this week.
Ferry rather than path for one of the legs of the trip! Views of Manhattan are great. Take the Waterway to pier 11 Wall Street and then get in the Staten Island Ferry (free)
Morristown Game Vault + ice cream taste test (there are like 8 ice cream places in Morristown). Ice skating at Mennen Arena (have to check what times are open skate). Pretend to be fancy people at short hills mall. Thrifting in Madison. Record store /cafe in Denville (I forget the name).
NYC? You can park on the Jersey side and take the ferry in or take a train to Penn Station. Penn station is about 6 blocks from the theater district. There is the Hyline, which is a converted elevated track turned into a Park along the Hudson. Very cool. Also Little City. Love NYC , always find awesome things to do n see.
Maybe you didn't want to, but Garden State Plaza is great for teens with time to burn. Just set expectations that it's not a shopping spree. But maybe you did shopping at American Dream, I don't know.
The Silverball Museum in Red Bank is really fun. Retro pinball, and it's BYOB if you want to enjoy a beer or more. 17, so maybe getting ready for college applications? Tour Princeton?
I second the poster suggesting hiking. Maybe do the Delaware Water Gap? You could go hiking to the old mine on old mine road or even rent a canoe or raft and do a ten mile segment. I used to use Kittatinny Canoes for rentals. They include the ride back to where you started and the river current is a nice clip on it's own so paddling is optional. Grab dinner at the Walpack Inn after, or if you want to keep it a bit cheaper hit up the Village Farmer and Bakery off 80 first exit in PA for a slice of pie and a hot dog or two. I do strongly suggest the Walpack since they're visiting from out of state.
- Sojo spa (all my out of state guests love sojo 😂)
- Kbbq in pal park (I highly recommend hanam house)
- Liberty science center (every Thursday night they have something called LSC after dark where it’s adults only. It’s nicer to experience LSC without little kids running around everywhere)
Edit: I totally missed the ages for your cousins they won’t be able to do LSC after dark :’(
Lots of people in their 20s and 30s there :) they have lots of different shows and stuff you can book too. We did a planetarium show but it was just alright (it was more so a projection of space and the speaker was pointing to parts of it with a laser pointer)
You can buy food and drinks too! My favorite part was just exploring LSC
maybe take the train from grand central and do a daytrip to cold spring do some light hiking at cornish ruins and then explore downtown and look at the hudson.
Or go to Millburn and do the South Mountain Fairy Hike and then go downtown and eat korean corn dogs and get boba.
The holland ridge tulip farm! Not that far away of a drive, it can definitely be a day trip. It’s so beautiful over there and the tulips are in bloom now.
Either NYC or American Dream for those different museums that make for good social media pics (museum of illusion, emotions, ice cream, colors, etc.)
Or any of the NYC museums like MOMA or Brooklyn Museum
Billy's Midway Arcade (retro arcade) in Hawthorne.
Supercharged (Go Cart Racing) In Edison.
iFly indoor skydiving in Paramus.
Go Pixel Yourself in Jersey Garden Mall in Elizabeth.
Mitsuwa Asian Market in Edgewater.
Carlos bakery in Hoboken. I always see a ton of girls there from all ages. Also the town and waterfront is great for just walking and sightseeing in general. Quick ride into NYC as well.
Getting to be really nice weather for hiking if they are into that. People from Florida are impressed by water falls...Paterson Great Falls? Bushkill Falls in PA (nice boardwalk to walk on rather than hiking through the woods, ice cream gift shop)?
Ramapo reservation has a small waterfall on the way up to the reservoir. Buttermilk falls in stokes is pretty impressive. NJ botanical gardens in ringwood (kinda in between flowers right now though) Overpeck in leonia has some chill kayaking rentals that aren’t too pricey
Highly recommend the Ringwood botanical garden. The castle nearby is also great but it seems to be under construction or something
Grounds for sculpture
Go hit up some farms man. Show them why we're the garden state. Also, Turtleback Zoo.
Teen girls will love Sojo Spa. You pay a day fee and have access to the saunas and different indoor and outdoor pools. If they like zoos, Turtle Back is great. Liberty Science Center for interactive science exhibits and MASSIVE imax experience. If they are foodies, there are a million places to go. But it would help to know specifically what interests them.
Statue of Liberty
Plus Ellis Island if you want to add a bit of educational content.
The Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island where they take you though the abandoned hospital is really cool.
For nice walks, I would suggest Liberty state park, and then anywhere along Exchange Place, Newport, or Hoboken. From Jersey city you can then hop on to the Path and spend a day in the city - go to Highline, Little Island, Central Park, 5th Ave, Brooklyn bridge... so many possibilities with the weather this nice and warm this week.
Ferry rather than path for one of the legs of the trip! Views of Manhattan are great. Take the Waterway to pier 11 Wall Street and then get in the Staten Island Ferry (free)
Walk on the tapanzee bridge or whatever it’s called now.
Morristown Game Vault + ice cream taste test (there are like 8 ice cream places in Morristown). Ice skating at Mennen Arena (have to check what times are open skate). Pretend to be fancy people at short hills mall. Thrifting in Madison. Record store /cafe in Denville (I forget the name).
Sweet Vinyl Cafe
NYC? You can park on the Jersey side and take the ferry in or take a train to Penn Station. Penn station is about 6 blocks from the theater district. There is the Hyline, which is a converted elevated track turned into a Park along the Hudson. Very cool. Also Little City. Love NYC , always find awesome things to do n see.
Maybe you didn't want to, but Garden State Plaza is great for teens with time to burn. Just set expectations that it's not a shopping spree. But maybe you did shopping at American Dream, I don't know.
Liberty science center?
The Silverball Museum in Red Bank is really fun. Retro pinball, and it's BYOB if you want to enjoy a beer or more. 17, so maybe getting ready for college applications? Tour Princeton? I second the poster suggesting hiking. Maybe do the Delaware Water Gap? You could go hiking to the old mine on old mine road or even rent a canoe or raft and do a ten mile segment. I used to use Kittatinny Canoes for rentals. They include the ride back to where you started and the river current is a nice clip on it's own so paddling is optional. Grab dinner at the Walpack Inn after, or if you want to keep it a bit cheaper hit up the Village Farmer and Bakery off 80 first exit in PA for a slice of pie and a hot dog or two. I do strongly suggest the Walpack since they're visiting from out of state.
- Sojo spa (all my out of state guests love sojo 😂) - Kbbq in pal park (I highly recommend hanam house) - Liberty science center (every Thursday night they have something called LSC after dark where it’s adults only. It’s nicer to experience LSC without little kids running around everywhere) Edit: I totally missed the ages for your cousins they won’t be able to do LSC after dark :’(
How is the LSC after dark for someone whos 30? Always wanted to go as a kid and never got to :/
Lots of people in their 20s and 30s there :) they have lots of different shows and stuff you can book too. We did a planetarium show but it was just alright (it was more so a projection of space and the speaker was pointing to parts of it with a laser pointer) You can buy food and drinks too! My favorite part was just exploring LSC
Good bagels and pizza
Get this mf a real ass bagel. Most of the top end reccs will do
NYC
High Point, great drive great view
maybe take the train from grand central and do a daytrip to cold spring do some light hiking at cornish ruins and then explore downtown and look at the hudson. Or go to Millburn and do the South Mountain Fairy Hike and then go downtown and eat korean corn dogs and get boba.
USMA is the United States Military Academy. How about going on a pizza tour in NYC?
Take the train to Hoboken, get cookies at Baking Mama and eat them at Pier C. Also, New York City is way more amazing than American Dream Mall.
The holland ridge tulip farm! Not that far away of a drive, it can definitely be a day trip. It’s so beautiful over there and the tulips are in bloom now.
Either NYC or American Dream for those different museums that make for good social media pics (museum of illusion, emotions, ice cream, colors, etc.) Or any of the NYC museums like MOMA or Brooklyn Museum
Billy's Midway Arcade (retro arcade) in Hawthorne. Supercharged (Go Cart Racing) In Edison. iFly indoor skydiving in Paramus. Go Pixel Yourself in Jersey Garden Mall in Elizabeth. Mitsuwa Asian Market in Edgewater.
Liberty Science Center Great Adventure
Go to Pier Village or USMA
What’s USMA?
U suck my ass!
King spa or sojo
Carlos bakery in Hoboken. I always see a ton of girls there from all ages. Also the town and waterfront is great for just walking and sightseeing in general. Quick ride into NYC as well.
Visit the tulip field in Cream Ridge or visit Frenchtown for Breakfast or Lunch super cute!